Identify this Critter - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

ratbastid · 08-28-2003, 04:05 PM

Okay, so lurkette and I were taking a hike in the mountains on a recent trip, and as we were making our way up a trail that crosses the site of an old rockslide, this fuzzy little <i>something</i> came running past us. It perched on a rock and made a sort of dog-like "Rawp!" noise. Another of its kind Rawped from a rock above, and he took off like a shot, looking for its friend.

We figured it was half squirrel and half rabbit. We named it "Squabbit". Before long we were singing, "Kill the squabbit.. kill the SQUAbbbit!" as we tromped along the trail.

Showing these pictures (and making the "Rawp!" noise) to our family yielded no help in identifying said critter. They mumbled things like "Potgut" and "Rockchuck" and "Yellow Bellied Marmot".

So what the hell <i>is</i> this thing? Anybody know?

lurkette · 08-28-2003, 04:13 PM

I hafta amend my dear husband's entry - the "rawp" noise was sort of like a high-pitched, well, "yawp" but it didn't sound like a dog to me, it sounded like a croaky sort of bird call.

I know this probably doesn't help, but had to pitch in my $.02.

Giant Hamburger · 08-28-2003, 04:25 PM

Dear Lord!

That face, those eyes, those merciless black eyes from some sunless stygian pit in the bowels of the nethermost regions of hell. I hoped to never return that calculating, impenetrable gaze, ever again. The malignant intelligence, the steel-coiled muscles rippling beneath tawny fur, the unspeakable ears, this is a foul recipe for macabre horror on the most profound and mind-blasting level. I can barely type.

It’s a marmot.
-GH

bermuDa · 08-28-2003, 04:29 PM

hmm, it does sort of look like a marmot...

but the ears look a little big, and its fur isn't quite long or wiry enough.... maybe it's just a youngster

ratbastid · 08-28-2003, 04:36 PM

It was about a third the size of a marmot, is the thing, and more consistently colored.

It's sort of guinea pig-sized.

MacGnG · 08-28-2003, 04:52 PM

never seen one of them b4 it looks semi cuddly

lol, i've never heard of a marmot either.

Averett · 08-28-2003, 05:12 PM

It's a ROUS... Rodent Of Unsual Size

Halx · 08-28-2003, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Averett
It's a ROUS... Rodent Of Unsual Size

No, those are only found in Fire Swamps

WhoaitsZ · 08-28-2003, 05:15 PM

dude...... that on the leftf with the leaves? that's lurkey!

YOUR WIFE

geeeeeeeeeeeeez

-----

it looks like a giant sized mouse with manners or a short chubby otter...

its like plummie's chinchilla.. its a CUTE little..... ohmygodwhatthehellisthat!

Ganguro · 08-28-2003, 05:52 PM

plummies chincihlla? are we talking about the same thing here Z?
*wink wink, nudge nudge*
*cues porno music*

cetacean · 08-28-2003, 07:01 PM

I've done some small mammal trapping (for conservation monitoring, we just count and let them go...), but only in the northeast. I don't recognize this critter. If you tell me what region you are in, I can look in the mammal books.

fallen_angel · 08-28-2003, 07:07 PM

looks kinda like a rabbit and a geuinie pig

The Geek · 08-28-2003, 08:49 PM

Muskrat?

mingusfingers · 08-28-2003, 09:05 PM

ack. I've got no idea. I guess I should get outdoors more.

zxello · 08-28-2003, 09:25 PM

By the off chance that you're the first to find/report it, i would take the pictures to a wildlife conservation or somethin to report it, you may get to name it and classify = )

my .02$ = )

Cobalt_60 · 08-28-2003, 09:31 PM

Damn, it looks huge in the first picture.

KeyserSoze · 08-28-2003, 09:53 PM

What you found there is a Degu.

See the following link:

http://www.degus.org/

This will tell you everything about the lil tike

Double D · 08-28-2003, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KeyserSoze
What you found there is a Degu.
See the following link:
http://www.degus.org/

A Degu, huh? Don't see one of those every day.
Congrats, KeyserSoze on being TFP's super sleuth.

bundy · 08-28-2003, 10:38 PM

a degu...
wow, never even heard of such a creature...

i thought it seemed quite similar to a hyrax, but those distinctive ears are different (and a hyrax is african and is wee bit bigger).

theguyondacouch · 08-29-2003, 01:10 AM

looks like a pika.

K-Wise · 08-29-2003, 01:21 AM

LMFAO ever hear of a Wombat yo? Thats what that is. Lil bigger than most rodents.

Asta!!

K-Wise · 08-29-2003, 01:26 AM

Hmm guinea pig sized eh? Wombats get pretty fuckin big prolly not

Asta!!

PulpMind · 08-29-2003, 01:29 AM

Pikachooo!

they both make a good case.. though the one in question seems a bit large in comparison..

K-Wise · 08-29-2003, 01:43 AM

Okay so far we have...
Degu

Marmot

Muskrat

Wombat

The deciding factor would be the tail....if you saw the tail. Cause one has a very thin tail....other has a thick one....and I think the other two have small short ones.

Asta!!

K-Wise · 08-29-2003, 02:17 AM

Actually now that I think about it....It looks more like a Pika than anything else.

They live in western north america. In places like Colorado. By process of elimination....Degu's on top a bein pretty rare are primarily found in the Andes Mountains, The Marmot is a rock dwelling creature but is too bulky and the ears are too small, Muskrats are aquatic dwelling animals like beavers, and Wombats live on land and burrow or live in hollowed out tree trunks. So unless you were mountain journying in Chile the creature you saw is actually more than likely a Pika. By process of elimination. Your mind can rest easy now hopefully.

Asta!!

ratbastid · 08-29-2003, 04:53 AM

Halleluia! My mind can rest easy now! It'll be the first time in 29 years!

K-Wise has nailed it, I think. These pictures were taken at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon just east of Salt Lake City. Not too likely to run across a wombat, unfortunately, but the geograpy is just right for a Pika. That picture you included there even captured his nonchalant and sort of dismissive attitued toward the larger mammals in his presence. He was kinda snooty.

Thanks everybody!

Midlandmadman · 08-29-2003, 05:13 AM

Man, are you lucky to survive that encounter, Thats Chippy the Death Hampster !!!!!!!!

lurkette · 08-29-2003, 07:05 AM

And it had no tail that we could see.

theguyondacouch · 08-29-2003, 07:08 AM

Yay, I was right. See, you should pay attention in bio class.

Hard8s · 08-29-2003, 07:58 AM

could it be a jackalope without his horns?
http://www.sudftw.com/jacklope.gif

cchris · 08-29-2003, 08:26 AM

It's definately not a Kangawallafox

Double D · 08-29-2003, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ratbastid

K-Wise has nailed it, I think. Thanks everybody!

Kewl! A rookie nailed it!
Wow, I'm even more impressed now. K-Wise, how much time did you spend researching this?

Edit: theguyondacouch thought of it first! Way to go!
guy: How did you come up with this?

Wile E · 08-29-2003, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by theguyondacouch
looks like a pika.

Lets give credit where credit is due. K-wise had the analysis down, but theguyondacouch seems to have been the first with the correct answer.

ratbastid · 08-29-2003, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wile E
Lets give credit where credit is due. K-wise had the analysis down, but theguyondacouch seems to have been the first with the correct answer.

Darned right. Sorry, K-Wise, but theguyondacouch beat you out.

Between the two of you, I'm convinced. And I have a new favorite varmint! Pika!!!!

WhoaitsZ · 08-29-2003, 10:08 AM

one thing for sure, it's cute.

(I DIDN'T SAY CUTE, I MEANT 'FUCKING COOL")

pretty neat find, sir ratbastid.

splck · 08-29-2003, 12:11 PM

Bah...I knew it was a pika...I'm just too damn slow.

flamingpeach · 08-29-2003, 01:09 PM

aww, its cute. you should have caught it and mailed it to me.

I love exotic pets.

GuttersnipeXL · 08-29-2003, 01:12 PM

Snuffalupagus?

Double D · 08-29-2003, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GuttersnipeXL
Snuffalupagus?

Oh a Sesame Street alum!
I think *Snuffy* was just a tad larger than our little friend, but nice try

.

Sun Tzu · 08-29-2003, 03:44 PM

That top shot is great! It looks almost surreal like an oversized bunny.

08-28-2003, 04:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	Identify this Critter Okay, so lurkette and I were taking a hike in the mountains on a recent trip, and as we were making our way up a trail that crosses the site of an old rockslide, this fuzzy little <i>something</i> came running past us. It perched on a rock and made a sort of dog-like "Rawp!" noise. Another of its kind Rawped from a rock above, and he took off like a shot, looking for its friend. We figured it was half squirrel and half rabbit. We named it "Squabbit". Before long we were singing, "Kill the squabbit.. kill the SQUAbbbit!" as we tromped along the trail. Showing these pictures (and making the "Rawp!" noise) to our family yielded no help in identifying said critter. They mumbled things like "Potgut" and "Rockchuck" and "Yellow Bellied Marmot". So what the hell <i>is</i> this thing? Anybody know?

08-28-2003, 04:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
lurkette My future is coming on Moderator Emeritus Location: east of the sun and west of the moon	I hafta amend my dear husband's entry - the "rawp" noise was sort of like a high-pitched, well, "yawp" but it didn't sound like a dog to me, it sounded like a croaky sort of bird call. I know this probably doesn't help, but had to pitch in my $.02. __________________ "If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing." - Anatole France

08-28-2003, 04:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
bermuDa don't ignore this--> Location: CA	hmm, it does sort of look like a marmot... but the ears look a little big, and its fur isn't quite long or wiry enough.... maybe it's just a youngster __________________ I am the very model of a moderator gentleman.

08-28-2003, 05:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
Averett Is In Love Location: I'm workin' on it	It's a ROUS... Rodent Of Unsual Size __________________ Absence is to love what wind is to fire. It extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.

08-28-2003, 07:07 PM	#12 (permalink)
fallen_angel Psycho Location: Somewhere between the Havens and the Earth	looks kinda like a rabbit and a geuinie pig __________________ from the Havens I have fallen. . . to the earth as a mangled form. . . writhing in pain, my wings torn and bloodied. . . I have one purpose, only one goal. . . to find you and love you, for I am your. . . fallen angel

08-28-2003, 04:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
Giant Hamburger Gastrolithuanian Location: low-velocity Earth orbit	Dear Lord! That face, those eyes, those merciless black eyes from some sunless stygian pit in the bowels of the nethermost regions of hell. I hoped to never return that calculating, impenetrable gaze, ever again. The malignant intelligence, the steel-coiled muscles rippling beneath tawny fur, the unspeakable ears, this is a foul recipe for macabre horror on the most profound and mind-blasting level. I can barely type. It’s a marmot. -GH

08-28-2003, 04:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	It was about a third the size of a marmot, is the thing, and more consistently colored. It's sort of guinea pig-sized.

08-28-2003, 04:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
MacGnG Know Where!	never seen one of them b4 it looks semi cuddly lol, i've never heard of a marmot either.

08-28-2003, 05:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
WhoaitsZ Crazy Location: right behind you...	dude...... that on the leftf with the leaves? that's lurkey! YOUR WIFE geeeeeeeeeeeeez ----- it looks like a giant sized mouse with manners or a short chubby otter... its like plummie's chinchilla.. its a CUTE little..... ohmygodwhatthehellisthat!

08-28-2003, 05:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ganguro Army of Me	plummies chincihlla? are we talking about the same thing here Z? wink wink, nudge nudge cues porno music

08-28-2003, 07:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
cetacean Insane Location: New York, NY	I've done some small mammal trapping (for conservation monitoring, we just count and let them go...), but only in the northeast. I don't recognize this critter. If you tell me what region you are in, I can look in the mammal books.

08-28-2003, 08:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
The Geek Upright	Muskrat?

08-28-2003, 09:05 PM	#14 (permalink)
mingusfingers Psycho Location: uhhhh	ack. I've got no idea. I guess I should get outdoors more. __________________ Still Looking

08-28-2003, 09:25 PM	#15 (permalink)
zxello Addict Location: P-Town, WA	By the off chance that you're the first to find/report it, i would take the pictures to a wildlife conservation or somethin to report it, you may get to name it and classify = ) my .02$ = ) __________________ Old signature just wasn't doing it for me anymore, so now I have this new one. It's equally as stupid but at least it looks really long. I'm probably just going to keep typing until I run out of things to babble about and see how many people actually read this. I once ran down a hill, fell down and hurt my elbow; my mom said I would be ok, she kissed it and made it all better. I've run out of things to say now, so if you have read this whole thing, congratulations you get a gold star!

08-28-2003, 09:31 PM	#16 (permalink)
Cobalt_60 Addict	Damn, it looks huge in the first picture.

08-29-2003, 01:10 AM	#20 (permalink)
theguyondacouch salmon? Location: Outside Providence	looks like a pika. __________________ "Lick my frozen metal ass!"

08-28-2003, 09:53 PM	#17 (permalink)
KeyserSoze Psycho Location: Lost Angeles	What you found there is a Degu. See the following link: http://www.degus.org/ This will tell you everything about the lil tike __________________ THERE IS NO KEYSER SOZE!!

08-28-2003, 10:38 PM	#19 (permalink)
bundy . Location: Tokyo	a degu... wow, never even heard of such a creature... i thought it seemed quite similar to a hyrax, but those distinctive ears are different (and a hyrax is african and is wee bit bigger). __________________ Ohayo!!!

08-29-2003, 01:21 AM	#21 (permalink)
K-Wise It's All About The Ass!! Location: In a pool of mayonnaise!!	LMFAO ever hear of a Wombat yo? Thats what that is. Lil bigger than most rodents. Asta!!

08-29-2003, 01:26 AM	#22 (permalink)
K-Wise It's All About The Ass!! Location: In a pool of mayonnaise!!	Hmm guinea pig sized eh? Wombats get pretty fuckin big prolly not Asta!! __________________ "I love music and it's my parents fault (closing statement)." - Me..quoting myself...from when I said that...On TFP..thats here...Tilted Forum Project *It ain't goodbye, it's see ya later! I'll miss you guys!* - Asta!!

08-29-2003, 01:29 AM	#23 (permalink)
PulpMind Addict Location: Portland	Pikachooo! they both make a good case.. though the one in question seems a bit large in comparison..

08-29-2003, 01:43 AM	#24 (permalink)
K-Wise It's All About The Ass!! Location: In a pool of mayonnaise!!	Okay so far we have... Degu Marmot Muskrat Wombat The deciding factor would be the tail....if you saw the tail. Cause one has a very thin tail....other has a thick one....and I think the other two have small short ones. Asta!! __________________ "I love music and it's my parents fault (closing statement)." - Me..quoting myself...from when I said that...On TFP..thats here...Tilted Forum Project *It ain't goodbye, it's see ya later! I'll miss you guys!* - Asta!!

08-29-2003, 02:17 AM	#25 (permalink)
K-Wise It's All About The Ass!! Location: In a pool of mayonnaise!!	Actually now that I think about it....It looks more like a Pika than anything else. They live in western north america. In places like Colorado. By process of elimination....Degu's on top a bein pretty rare are primarily found in the Andes Mountains, The Marmot is a rock dwelling creature but is too bulky and the ears are too small, Muskrats are aquatic dwelling animals like beavers, and Wombats live on land and burrow or live in hollowed out tree trunks. So unless you were mountain journying in Chile the creature you saw is actually more than likely a Pika. By process of elimination. Your mind can rest easy now hopefully. Asta!! __________________ "I love music and it's my parents fault (closing statement)." - Me..quoting myself...from when I said that...On TFP..thats here...Tilted Forum Project *It ain't goodbye, it's see ya later! I'll miss you guys!* - Asta!!

08-29-2003, 04:53 AM	#26 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	Halleluia! My mind can rest easy now! It'll be the first time in 29 years! K-Wise has nailed it, I think. These pictures were taken at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon just east of Salt Lake City. Not too likely to run across a wombat, unfortunately, but the geograpy is just right for a Pika. That picture you included there even captured his nonchalant and sort of dismissive attitued toward the larger mammals in his presence. He was kinda snooty. Thanks everybody!

08-29-2003, 05:13 AM	#27 (permalink)
Midlandmadman Redwing fan extraordinaire Location: Michigan	Man, are you lucky to survive that encounter, Thats Chippy the Death Hampster !!!!!!!! __________________ Its good to be back.

08-29-2003, 07:05 AM	#28 (permalink)
lurkette My future is coming on Moderator Emeritus Location: east of the sun and west of the moon	And it had no tail that we could see. __________________ "If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing." - Anatole France

08-29-2003, 07:08 AM	#29 (permalink)
theguyondacouch salmon? Location: Outside Providence	Yay, I was right. See, you should pay attention in bio class. __________________ "Lick my frozen metal ass!"

08-29-2003, 07:58 AM	#30 (permalink)
Hard8s Addict Location: Wherever I am!	could it be a jackalope without his horns? http://www.sudftw.com/jacklope.gif __________________ If ignorance is bliss, then wipe this smile off my face!

08-29-2003, 08:26 AM	#31 (permalink)
cchris Junkie Location: Sydney	It's definately not a Kangawallafox __________________ There's a fine line between participation and mockery

08-29-2003, 10:08 AM	#35 (permalink)
WhoaitsZ Crazy Location: right behind you...	one thing for sure, it's cute. (I DIDN'T SAY CUTE, I MEANT 'FUCKING COOL") pretty neat find, sir ratbastid.

08-29-2003, 12:11 PM	#36 (permalink)
splck it's jam Location: Lowerainland BC	Bah...I knew it was a pika...I'm just too damn slow. __________________ nice line eh?

08-29-2003, 01:09 PM	#37 (permalink)
flamingpeach hip mama Location: redmond, washington	aww, its cute. you should have caught it and mailed it to me. I love exotic pets. __________________ I've eaten my veggies all my life so bring it on, I am educated and strong for the revolution.

08-29-2003, 01:12 PM	#38 (permalink)
GuttersnipeXL Giggity Giggity!! Location: N'York	Snuffalupagus? __________________ When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. HST

08-29-2003, 03:44 PM	#40 (permalink)
Sun Tzu Conspiracy Realist Location: The Event Horizon	That top shot is great! It looks almost surreal like an oversized bunny. __________________ *To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit.- Stephen Hawking*