Non-Human Dermatoglyphics and the Unusual

Without first doing a Google search - what mammal comes to mind, when asked:

1) What is the only mammal that has no paw pads, but does have claws?

and

2) What is the only mammal with paw pads that are completely smooth.

( 1 you should know and 2 may take a little web searching)

even googling I can't find the answers!
The only thing I found for 2) was a stuffed teddy bear!

Lynn wrote:even googling I can't find the answers!
The only thing I found for 2) was a stuffed teddy bear!

A couple of hints:

You'll be lucky if you get one.

And the other is a clumbsy nocturnal animal like a hyaena.

Patti wrote:the other is a clumbsy nocturnal animal like a hyaena.

I'm clumsy, nocturnal, and I've been told I laugh like a hyena. Is it me?

I've been thinking about these questions all day, and am no nearer finding the answers! but thanks for the clue....

Lynn wrote:

Patti wrote:the other is a clumbsy nocturnal animal like a hyaena.

I'm clumsy, nocturnal, and I've been told I laugh like a hyena. Is it me?

(did they spell clumsy with a 'b' a hundred years ago - or did I copy wrong? )

Lynn wrote:I've been thinking about these questions all day, and am no nearer finding the answers! but thanks for the clue....

The first one is sort of hairy.

1. Sloth?
2. Aardwolf?

(I did some googling but cannot even confirm if those are correct)

The 2nd one is called an "Earth Wolf of the Cape"

mooky wrote:1. Sloth?
2. Aardwolf?

(I did some googling but cannot even confirm if those are correct)

2 is in the same family, I'd say correct!!

I read that the aardwolf has 5 toes. Does that make it clumsy?

And, is Sloth a wrong answer?

If not a sloth, how about a bat?

The aard-wolf of the cape is Pro-teles Lalandi and source I have for earth-wolf is Pro-teles iatus. I think they are the same animal.

http://books.google.com/books?id=uzZAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA553&lpg=PA553&dq=%22earth+wolf+of+the+cape%22&source=bl&ots=XuM6uKSDWA&sig=zeH1sm3T6yVT2xf5DgqQlzSfaiw&hl=en&ei=V6byTZacEonrgQfM3a3ECw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CC0Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=%22earth%20wolf%20of%20the%20cape%22&f=false

mooky wrote:If not a sloth, how about a bat?

Bat is interesting. I can see there is some kind of epidermal surface before the claws on their feet. I haven't found a close look at the claw on the wing yet.



Once you have the answer you can google it and the results say it's the only mammal without paw pads, so I guess the bat has already been considered...?

mooky wrote:I read that the aardwolf has 5 toes. Does that make it clumsy?

And, is Sloth a wrong answer?

Sloth is not the answer.

The clumsiness comes from the lack of grip on it's paw pads, which are supposed to be better suited for burrowing.

Blimey, researching this is like watching Discovery channel!
So far I've learnt that raccoons front paws look like tiny human hands! (but no thumb)
That Arctic foxes have furry feet.
That, unlike dogs and coyotes, wolves lack sweat glands on their paw pads.
That Marsh Mongoose has "unwebbed paws with underdeveloped pads, which are soft and sensitive, resembling those of a raccoon, with the thumb passively enhancing grip on slippery surfaces. The claws are short and blunt and used for digging . There is little hair around the anus ...."
oops sorry, too much information!

oh well done mooky!! I never heard of an aardwolf before!
I had wondered about bats. We have bats nesting in our roof and their dropping look like mouse droppings, so I thought they were rodents!

Ok... I got lucky and found the answer to #1. I'll leave it for others to find.

Lynn wrote:Blimey, researching this is like watching Discovery channel!
So far I've learnt that raccoons front paws look like tiny human hands! (but no thumb)
That Arctic foxes have furry feet.
That, unlike dogs and coyotes, wolves lack sweat glands on their paw pads.
That Marsh Mongoose has "unwebbed paws with underdeveloped pads, which are soft and sensitive, resembling those of a raccoon, with the thumb passively enhancing grip on slippery surfaces. The claws are short and blunt and used for digging . There is little hair around the anus ...."
oops sorry, too much information!

oh well done mooky!! I never heard of an aardwolf before!
I had wondered about bats. We have bats nesting in our roof and their dropping look like mouse droppings, so I thought they were rodents!

You have me doubled over and truly tonight!

Wolves lack sweat glands on the paw pads, that's interesting, I wonder why..? Not leaving a scent...?

mooky wrote:Ok... I got lucky and found the answer to #1. I'll leave it for others to find.

aha!! I found the answer to #1 too! In hindsight I notice that Patti already gave us a clue with an emoticon. Here's another clue, we used to have a pet one - it used to stay on the rug and not venture onto the polished wooden floor. Now I know why,,,,because it knew it would slip and slide with it's lack of paw pads!!

great quiz Patti! and well done Mooky!
can anyone else find the answer to
1) What is the only mammal that has no paw pads, but does have claws?

Lynn wrote:aha!! I found the answer to #1 too! In hindsight I notice that Patti already gave us a clue with an emoticon. Here's another clue, we used to have a pet one - it used to stay on the rug and not venture onto the polished wooden floor. Now I know why,,,,because it knew it would slip and slide with it's lack of paw pads!!

great quiz Patti! and well done Mooky!
can anyone else find the answer to
1) What is the only mammal that has no paw pads, but does have claws?

I've enjoyed the treasure hunt, mystery of it from this side, too. Thanks Lynn and Mooky for participating!!

ah!! finally light bulb goes on above my head and I understand Patti's original clue that says "You'll be lucky if you get one.". I think they are banned now, but they used to sell them when we were kids.

They're banned here, too, but you occasionally see fake ones as prizes at carnival games.