Speke’s pectinator (Pectinator spekei) or Speke’s gundi, Djibouti December 2024.

There are several species of gundi across North Africa including Speke’s, which is found in the Horn of Africa and geographically isolated from the other gundis. They are pretty easy to see among the rocks in the right habitat in Djibouti and Ethiopia’s Somali region.

Unlike the other gundis this species is also called a pectinator. I’m not sure why. Pectinate means comb-like. And gundis are characterised by “comblike rows of bristles on the inner two toes of each hindfoot”. So presumably this is no coincidence. Though why the other gundi species don’t share this moniker remains a mystery! If anyone knows please comment.

#mammalwatching #mammals #landmammals #wildlife#wildlifephotography #naturephotography #wildlifeplanet#wildplanet #discoverwildlife #naturegeography#wildgeography #ourplanetdaily #bbcwildlifepotd #rodentsofinstagram #gundi #djiboutimammalwatching ...

Beira (Dorcatragus megalotis), Djibouti December 2024

This beautiful desert antelope is found only in the Horn of Africa, with a range centred on Somalia, spilling into Djibouti, Somaliland and the extreme north east of Ethiopia. Extremely shy, they live on inaccessible rocky hills, so there are very few photos of the species in the wild. They were only discovered in Djibouti in 1993. Beira have likely always had a very small range across the Horn of Africa, and are threatened primarily by competition with the ever increasing numbers of livestock in the region. Every ‘protected area” in Djibouti and Ethiopia we visited was overrun with goats and camels, a problem which seems set to get worse given continuing rapid population growth.
#mammalwatching #mammals #landmammals #wildlife#wildlifephotography #naturephotography #wildlifeplanet#wildplanet #discoverwildlife #naturegeography#wildgeography #ourplanetdaily #bbcwildlifepotd #antelopeofinstagram #ungulate #djiboutimammalwatching ...

Maned - or Crested - Rat (Lophiomys imhausi)
Djibouti, December 2024

This spectacular rat is also spectacularly interesting. The world’s only poisonous rodent, they chew the bark of poisonous trees and then coat their fur in their now poisonous saliva. But they are considerate enough to provide a “toxic - do not eat” warning label via their boldly marked fur. One of several mega mammals we found in Djibouti this month.

#mammalwatching #mammals #landmammals #wildlife#wildlifephotography #naturephotography #wildlifeplanet#wildplanet #discoverwildlife #naturegeography#wildgeography #ourplanetdaily #bbcwildlifepotd #rodentsofinstagram #Djiboutimammalwatching ...

A great article in the New York Times all about watching mammals from @mihirzaveri A link to the piece is in my bio. ...

Sometimes I even stop to look at birds. ...

Goeldi’s monkey (Callimico goeldii), Bolivia 2024

Small, rare annd impish, Goeldi’s Monkeys are one of the harder South American monkeys to find in the wild. They are also one of the coolest primates on the planet. Fortunately there is now a reliable spot to observe them in Bolivia’s Pando province at a research station in the Amazon close to the Peruvian border.

#mammalwatching #mammals #landmammals #wildlife#wildlifephotography #naturephotography #wildlifeplanet#wildplanet #discoverwildlife #naturegeography#wildgeography #ourplanetdaily #bbcwildlifepotd #primatesofinstagram #boliviamammalwatching ...

Just a baby Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth (Bradypus variegatus) hanging with mum. You’re welcome. Bolivia 2024.

#mammalwatching #mammals #landmammals #wildlife#wildlifephotography #naturephotography #wildlifeplanet#wildplanet #discoverwildlife #naturegeography#wildgeography #ourplanetdaily #bbcwildlifepotd# #slothlove #slothsofinstagram #boliviamammalwatching ...

On Mongabay. Mammalwatching has huge potential conservation benefits. Full article at https://news.mongabay.com/2024/10/with-rare-mammal-tourism-observing-means-conserving-commentary/. Thanks @erikhoffner for your help. ...