African Crested Rat Applies Deadly Poison

08-19-2011 • arclein

They found that the African crested rat chews the roots and bark of a highly toxic tree, and then smears the lethal mixture on its specially adapted fur. Any animals that attack receive a mouthful of potentially deadly poison. It is the first time that this behaviour has been reported in a mammal, the researchers write in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.