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Arici

De la Wikipedia, enciclopedia liber Salt la: Navigare, cutare Arici

Un arici

Clasificare tiinific Regn: ncrengtur: Subncrengtur: Clas: Ordin: Familie: Subfamilie: Animalia Chordata Vertebrata Mammalia Insectivora Erinaceidae Erinaceinae
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Ariciul este un mamifer mic, nocturn, ce aparine ordinului insectivorelor.

Cuprins

1 Descrierea speciei 2 Reproducerea 3 Arealul de rspndire 4 Clasificarea 5 Bibliografie 6 Legturi externe

Descrierea speciei

Ariciul este un mamifer mic ce aparine ordinului insectivorelor, avnd o lungime a corpului de pn la 33 de cm. Greutatea variaz de la 800-1200g, n dependen de specie. Ei au membre mici i puternice, membrele posterioare fiind puin mai mari i musculoase ca cele anterioare. Membrele au cte 5 degete, unde primul i ultimul deget sunt mai mici n comparaie cu celelalte degete i nu au gheare. Au nite ochi mici i o ureche extern slab dezvoltat. Au un bot mic i ascuit, cu o acuitate olfactiv foarte dezvoltat. Partea dorsal i lateral a corpului este acoperit cu nite ace lungi i ascuite, alctuite din cheratin i avnd o lungime de 10-20 de mm. Pe corpul unui arici pot fi pn la 15.000 de astfel de ace. Se deosebesc, n Europa, dup ariile de rspndire predominant, n est Erinaceus concolor (cel ntlnit i n Romnia), iar n vest Erinaceus europeus.

Reproducerea
Aricii se reproduc n sezonul cald, adic din mai pn n august. Perioada de gestaie dureaz 35-55 zile. De obicei se nasc 2-9 pui.

Arealul de rspndire
Aricii pot fi gsii n stepe, silvostepe, savane, pduri rare i, uneori, pe terenuri cultivate. Ei sunt prezeni n zonele temperate i calde din Europa, n Africa (n afar de Sahara) i n zonele temperate i calde ale Asiei (n afar de peninsula Indochina). n secolul al XIX-lea n Noua Zeeland a fost introdus cu succes ariciul european.

Clasificarea
Dup University of Michigan Museum of Zoology [1] Regn Animalia - Eumetazoa - Bilateria - Deuterostomia - Philum Chordata - Craniata Subphylum Vertebrata - Superclass Gnathostomata - Euteleostomi - Class Sarcopterygii Tetrapoda - Amniota - Synapsida - Class Mammalia - Subclass Theria - Infraclass Eutheria -Order Erinaceomorpha - Family Erinaceidae - Subfamily Erinaceinae - Genus Atelerix -Genus Erinaceus - Genus Hemiechinus - Genus MesechinusGenus Paraechinus Clasificare dup Fauna Romniei Mammalia vol.XVI Fas.I Insectivora de Dumitru Murariu Clasa Mammalia - Ordinul Insectivora - Familia Erinaceidae - Gen Erinaceus - Erinaceus concolor

Bibliografie

Fauna Romniei Mammalia vol.XVI Fas.I Insectivora de Dumitru Murariu Editura Academiei Romne, Bucureti, 2000

Legturi externe

Hedgehog reference at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology thehedgehog.co.uk Arici n Lista speciilor periclitate IUCN 2008. Ariciul - Sftuitorul lui Dumnezeu, 10 octombrie 2011, Nicu Prlog, Descoper

Keratin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Not to be confused with kerogen, carotene, chitin, or creatine.

Microscopy of keratin filaments inside cells. Keratin (/krtn/[1][2]) is a family of fibrous structural proteins. Keratin is the key structural material making up the outer layer of human skin. It is also the key structural component of hair and nails. Keratin monomers assemble into bundles to form intermediate filaments, which are tough and insoluble and form strong unmineralized tissues found in reptiles, birds, amphibians, and mammals. The only other biological matter known to approximate the toughness of keratinized tissue is chitin.[3][4][5]

Contents

1 Etymology 2 Molecular biology and biochemistry o 2.1 Cornification 3 Structural details o 3.1 Disulfide bridges o 3.2 Filament formation o 3.3 Pairing 4 Silk

5 Clinical significance 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

Etymology
Keratin derives from Greek the genitive form of meaning "horn" from ProtoIndo-European *er- of the same meaning.[6]

Horns such as those of the impala are made up of keratin Keratin filaments are abundant in keratinocytes in the cornified layer of the epidermis; these are cells which have undergone keratinization. In addition, keratin filaments are present in epithelial cells in general. For example, mouse thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are known to react with antibodies for keratin 5, keratin 8, and keratin 14. These antibodies are used as fluorescent markers to distinguish subsets of TECs in genetic studies of the thymus.

the -keratins in the hair (including wool), horns, nails, claws and hooves of mammals[verification needed] the harder -keratins found in nails and in the scales and claws of reptiles, their shells (Testudines, such as tortoise, turtle, terrapin), and in the feathers, beaks, claws of birds and quills of porcupines.[7] (These keratins are formed primarily in beta sheets. However, beta sheets are also found in -keratins.)[8]

The baleen plates of filter-feeding whales are made of keratin.

Although it is now difficult to be certain, the scales, claws, some protective armour and the beaks of dinosaurs were likely to have been composed of keratin.[9] Keratins (also described as cytokeratins) are polymers of type I and type II intermediate filaments, which have only been found in the genomes of chordates (vertebrates, Amphioxus, urochordates). Nematodes and many other non-chordate animals seem to only have type V intermediate filaments, lamins, which have a long rod domain (vs. a short rod domain for the keratins).

Molecular biology and biochemistry


For a complete list of keratins, see List of keratins. The usefulness of keratins depends on their supermolecular aggregation. These depend on the properties of the individual polypeptide strands, which depend in turn on their amino acid composition and sequence. The -helix and -sheet motifs, and disulfide bridges, are crucial to the conformations of globular, functional proteins like enzymes, many of which operate semi-independently, but they take on a completely dominant role in the architecture and aggregation of keratins. The alpha keratin helix is not a true alpha helix, as it only has 3.5 residues/turn, where the normal alpha helix has 3.6 residues/turn. This is important for the different helices to form tight disulfide bonds. Also, roughly every seventh residue is a leucine, so they can line up and help the strands stick together through hydrophobic interactions.

Cornification
Cornification is the process of forming an epidermal barrier in stratified squamous epithelial tissue. At the cellular level, cornification is characterised by:

production of keratin production of small proline-rich (SPRR) proteins and transglutaminase which eventually form a cornified cell envelope beneath the plasma membrane terminal differentiation loss of nuclei and organelles, in the final stages of cornification metabolism ceases and the cells are almost completely filled by keratin

During the process of epithelial differentiation, cells become cornified as keratin protein is incorporated into longer keratin intermediate filaments. Eventually the nucleus and cytoplasmic organelles disappear, metabolism ceases and cells undergo a programmed death as they become fully keratinized. In many other cell types, such as cells of the dermis, keratin filaments and other intermediate filaments function as part of the cytoskeleton to mechanically stabilize the cell against physical stress. It does this through connections to desmosomes, cell-cell junctional plaques, and hemidesmosomes, cell-basement membrane adhesive structures. Cells in the epidermis contain a structural matrix of keratin, which makes this outermost layer of the skin almost waterproof, and along with collagen and elastin, gives skin its strength. Rubbing and pressure cause thickening of the outer, cornified layer of the epidermis and form

protective calluses useful for athletes and on the fingertips of musicians who play stringed instruments. Keratinized epidermal cells are constantly shed and replaced. These hard, integumentary structures are formed by intercellular cementing of fibers formed from the dead, cornified cells generated by specialized beds deep within the skin. Hair grows continuously and feathers moult and regenerate. The constituent proteins may be phylogenetically homologous but differ somewhat in chemical structure and supermolecular organization. The evolutionary relationships are complex and only partially known. Multiple genes have been identified for the -keratins in feathers, and this is probably characteristic of all keratins.

Structural details

Keratin (high molecular weight) in bile duct cell and oval cells of horse liver Fibrous keratin molecules supercoil to form a very stable, left-handed superhelical motif to multimerise, forming filaments consisting of multiple copies of the keratin monomer.[10] Limited interior space is the reason why the triple helix of the (unrelated) structural protein collagen, found in skin, cartilage and bone, likewise has a high percentage of glycine. The connective tissue protein elastin also has a high percentage of both glycine and alanine. Silk fibroin, considered a -keratin, can have these two as 7580% of the total, with 1015% serine, with the rest having bulky side groups. The chains are antiparallel, with an alternating C N orientation.[11] A preponderance of amino acids with small, nonreactive side groups is characteristic for structural proteins, for which H-bonded close packing is more important than chemical specificity.

Disulfide bridges
In addition to intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds, keratins have large amounts of the sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine, required for the disulfide bridges that confer additional strength and rigidity by permanent, thermally-stable crosslinkinga role sulfur bridges also play in vulcanized rubber. Human hair is approximately 14% cysteine. The pungent smells of burning hair and rubber are due to the sulfur compounds formed. Extensive disulfide bonding contributes to the insolubility of keratins, except in dissociating or reducing agents. The more flexible and elastic keratins of hair have fewer interchain disulfide bridges than the keratins in mammalian fingernails, hooves and claws (homologous structures), which are harder and more like their analogs in other vertebrate classes. Hair and other -keratins consist of -helically-coiled single protein strands (with regular intra-chain H-bonding),

which are then further twisted into superhelical ropes that may be further coiled. The keratins of reptiles and birds have -pleated sheets twisted together, then stabilized and hardened by disulfide bridges.

Filament formation
It was theorized that keratins are combined into 'hard' and 'soft,' or 'cytokeratins' and 'other keratins'[clarification needed]. That model is now understood to be correct. A new nuclear addition in 2006 to describe keratins takes this into account.[12] Keratin filaments are intermediate filaments. Like all intermediate filaments, keratin proteins form filamentous polymers in a series of assembly steps beginning with dimerization; dimers assemble into tetramers and octamers and eventually, if the current hypothesis holds, into unit-length-filaments (ULF) capable of annealing end-to-end into long filaments.

Pairing
A (neutral-basic) keratin 1, keratin 2 keratin 3 keratin 4 keratin 5 keratin 6 keratin 7 keratin 8 B (acidic) Occurrence keratin 9, keratin 10 stratum corneum, keratinocytes keratin 12 cornea keratin 13 stratified epithelium keratin 14, keratin 15 stratified epithelium keratin 16, keratin 17 squamous epithelium keratin 19 ductal epithelia keratin 18, keratin 20 simple epithelium

The entries KRT23, KRT24, KRT25, KRT26, KRT27, KRT28, KRT31, KRT32, KRT33A, KRT33B, KRT34, KRT35, KRT36, KRT37, KRT38, KRT39, KRT40, KRT71, KRT72, KRT73, KRT74, KRT75, KRT76, KRT77, KRT78, KRT79, KRT8, KRT80, KRT81, KRT82, KRT83, KRT84, KRT85 and KRT86 have been used to describe keratins past 20.[13]

Silk
The silk fibroins produced by insects and spiders are often classified as keratins, though it is unclear whether they are phylogenetically related to vertebrate keratins. Silk found in insect pupae, and in spider webs and egg casings, also has twisted -pleated sheets incorporated into fibers wound into larger supermolecular aggregates. The structure of the spinnerets on spiders tails, and the contributions of their interior glands, provide remarkable control of fast extrusion. Spider silk is typically about 1 to 2 micrometres (m) thick, compared with about 60 m for human hair, and more for some mammals. The biologically and commercially useful properties of silk fibers depend on the organization of multiple adjacent protein chains into hard, crystalline regions of varying size, alternating with flexible, amorphous regions where the chains are randomly coiled.[14] A somewhat analogous situation occurs with synthetic polymers such as nylon, developed as a silk substitute. Silk from the hornet cocoon contains doublets about 10 m across, with cores and coating, and may be arranged in up to 10 layers; also in plaques of variable shape. Adult hornets also use silk as a glue, as do spiders.

Clinical significance
Some infectious fungi, such as those that cause athlete's foot and ringworm (i.e. the dermatophytes), or Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Chytrid fungus), feed on keratin.[citation
needed]

Diseases caused by mutations in the keratin genes include


Epidermolysis bullosa simplex Ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis Steatocystoma multiplex Keratosis pharyngis Rhabdoid cell formation in Large cell lung carcinoma with rhabdoid phenotype[15][16]

Furthermore, keratin expression is helpful in determining epithelial origin in anaplastic cancers. Tumors that express keratin include carcinomas, thymomas, sarcomas and trophoblastic neoplasms. Furthermore, the precise expression pattern of keratin subtypes allows prediction of the origin of the primary tumor when assessing metastases. For example, hepatocellular carcinomas typically expresse K8 and K18, and cholangiocarcinomas express K7, K8 and K18, while metastases of colorectal carcinomas express K20, but not K7.[17]

See also

List of keratins expressed in the human integumentary system List of cutaneous conditions caused by mutations in keratins

Erinaceinae
Aller : Navigation, rechercher Cet article est une bauche concernant un mammifre. Vous pouvez partager vos connaissances en lamliorant (comment ?) selon les recommandations du projet correspondant. Erinaceinae

Erinaceus europaeus Classification Rgne Animalia Embranchement Chordata Sous-embr. Vertebrata Classe Mammalia Sous-classe Theria Infra-classe Eutheria Ordre Erinaceomorpha Famille Erinaceidae Sous-famille Erinaceinae
Fischer de Waldheim, 1817

Erinaceinae est une sous-famille comportant des hrissons piquants, les hrissons vrais , par comparaison avec les hrissons d'Asie ou gymnures, qui ont un aspect comparable mais sont dpourvus de piquants et certaines espces plus grosses de la famille des Tenrecinae.

Sommaire

1 Liste des genres 2 Aspects culturels 3 Notes et rfrences 4 Liens externes

Liste des genres


Selon ITIS1 :

genre Atelerix Pomel, 1848 - des hrissons africains genre Erinaceus Linnaeus, 1758 - dont le Hrisson commun et le Hrisson oriental, les plus connus parmi tous les hrissons genre Hemiechinus Fitzinger, 1866 - des hrissons grandes oreilles

genre Mesechinus Ognev, 1951 - des hrissons des steppes genre Paraechinus Trouessart, 1879 - des hrissons des dserts

Aspects culturels
Article dtaill : Hrisson dans la culture.

Galericinae
(Redirig depuis Gymnure) Aller : Navigation, rechercher Cet article est une bauche concernant un mammifre. Vous pouvez partager vos connaissances en lamliorant (comment ?) selon les recommandations du projet correspondant. Gymnures

Grand gymnure Classification Rgne Animalia Embranchement Chordata Sous-embr. Vertebrata Classe Mammalia Sous-classe Theria Infra-classe Eutheria Ordre Erinaceomorpha Famille Erinaceidae Sous-famille Galericinae
Pomel, 1848

Les gymnures (Galericinae) forment une sous-famille de hrissons d'Asie , dpourvus de piquants, de la famille des Erinaceidae. Synonyme : Hylomyinae

Liste des genres


Selon ITIS1 et MSW2 :

genre Echinosorex Blainville, 1838 - Grand gymnure3 genre Hylomys Mller, 1840 genre Neohylomys Shaw & Wong, 1959 genre Neotetracus Trouessart, 1909 genre Podogymnura Mearns, 1905

Notes et rfrences
1. 2.

3.

(ITIS, 2010) (MSW, 2010) Meyer C., ed. sc., 2009, Dictionnaire des Sciences Animales. consulter en ligne [archive]. Montpellier, France, Cirad.

Liens externes
Sur les autres projets Wikimedia :

Galericinae, sur Wikispecies Rfrence ITIS : Galericinae Pomel, 1848 (fr) (+ version anglaise (en)) Rfrence ITIS : Hylomyinae Anderson, 1879 Non valide (fr) (+ version anglaise (en)) Rfrence Animal Diversity Web : Galericinae (en) Rfrence Mammal Species of the World : Galericinae Pomel, 1848 (en) Rfrence The Paleobiology Database : Galericinae Pomel 1848 (en) Rfrence The Paleobiology Database : Hylomyinae Anderson 1879 (en) Rfrence NCBI : Galericinae (en)

Gymnure
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2011) Gymnures & moonrats[1]

Moonrat

Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Erinaceomorpha Family: Erinaceidae Galericinae Subfamily:
Pomel, 1848

Genera Echinosorex Hylomys Neohylomys Neotetracus Podogymnura

The gymnure, also called a hairy hedgehog or moonrat, is a type of mammal belonging to the subfamily Galericinae, in the family Erinaceidae and the order Erinaceomorpha. Although more closely related to hedgehogs, their resemblance is akin to rats. Gymnures are thought to have appeared in Eastern Asia before their closest relatives, and changed little from the original ancestor, which is thought to have been also the ancestor of the shrews.

Contents

1 Distribution and appearance 2 Way of life 3 Classification 4 References 5 External links

Distribution and appearance


Gymnures inhabit moist jungle terrain in various locales of Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Sumatra, China and the Malay Peninsula. Although its closest relative is the hedgehog, full grown specimens more closely resemble large rats, or the North American Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginianis), with which it shares similar habits and ecological niches (an example of parallel evolution).

The gymnure's body plan is believed to resemble that of the earliest mammals, with a large toothy head about 1/3 the length of the total body, a naked furless tail for balance and thermoregulatory purposes, and a plantigrade stance. They also have an outstanding sense of smell, and tactile response in the snout region.

Way of life
Gymnures are primarily carnivorous. They are nocturnal or crepuscular: they come out to forage at twilight or in the night to search the forest floor, using smell to find the animals that they eat. Gymnures eat various arthropods, mice, small reptiles and amphibians, with occasional fruit and fungi. Gymnures keep territories, and individuals are solitary except when breeding. Gymnures have a very strong scent, typically described as a rancid garlic or onion smell, which is produced by its territory-marking scent glands. Several creatures similar in form and niche, such as the opossum and solenodon smell similar to the gymnure.

Classification
This subfamily has alternately been called Echinosoricinae, Galericinae, and Hylomyinae. Some researchers prefer Hylomyinae because the specific relationships of the extinct genus Galerix to living erinaceids are uncertain.[2] There are eight species in five genera:[1]

Genus Deinogalerix(Extinct) Genus Echinosorex o Moonrat (Echinosorex gymnura) Genus Hylomys o Hylomys megalotis (Large-eared Gymnure) o Hylomys parvus (Dwarf Gymnure) o Hylomys suillus (Lesser Gymnure or Lesser Moonrat) Genus Neohylomys o Neohylomys hainanensis (Hainan Gymnure or Hainan Moonrat) Genus Neotetracus o Neotetracus sinensis (Shrew Gymnure) Genus Podogymnura o Podogymnura aureospinula (Dinagat Gymnure or Dinagat Moonrat) o Podogymnura truei (Mindanao Gymnure or Mindanao Moonrat)

References
^ a b Hutterer, R. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. eds. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 212217. ISBN 978-0-80188221-0. OCLC 62265494. 2. ^ Gould, G.C. (1995). "Hedgehog phylogeny (Mammalia, Erinaceidae) the reciprocal illumination of the quick and the dead". American Museum Novitates 3131: 145. hdl:2246/3665. 1.

External links

Image of the Dwarf Gymnure Hylomys parvus

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family ANIMALIACHORDATAMAMMALIAEULIPOTYPHLAERINACEIDAE Scientific Name: Erinaceus concolor Species Authority: Martin, 1837 Common Name/s: English Eastern European Hedgehog, Southern White-breasted Hedgehog

Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria: Year Published: Assessor/s: Reviewer/s: Least Concern ver 3.1 2008 Amori, G., Hutterer, R., Krytufek, B., Yigit, N., Mitsain, G. & Palomo, L.J. Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Temple, H. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Contributor/s: Justification: E. concolor is widespread and common in at least parts of its range. No threats are known to be seriously affecting the species at present. Assessed as Least Concern.

Geographic Range
Range Its global range is Asia Minor to Israel, Syria, Lebanon, northern Iraq and Description: northwestern Iran; and the southern Caucasus (Wilson and Reeder 2005). In

the Mediterranean region, Erinaceus concolor occurs on Greece (Rhodes), Anatolian Turkey, Israel, Syria and Lebanon. Native: Countries: Armenia (Armenia); Azerbaijan; Belarus; Georgia; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Israel; Lebanon; Russian Federation; Syrian Arab Republic; Turkey; Ukraine Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population
Population: Population Trend: Very little population information is available. It is widespread in Turkey, and considered common in Jordan (Amr 2000). Unknown

Habitat and Ecology


Habitat and Ecology: Systems: The species' preferred habitat is urban, suburban and agricultural areas to natural vegetation. Hedgehogs are primarily nocturnal, feeding primarily on beetles and earthworms. The duration of pregnancy of E. concolor in captivity is 35 to 36 days and litters were 3-7 young (Zherebtsova 1992). Terrestrial

Threats
Major Threat(s):There are no serious threats to this species at present.

Conservation Actions
Conservation There is no information on any conservation measures in place for this Actions: species. Amori, G., Hutterer, R., Krytufek, B., Yigit, N., Mitsain, G. & Palomo, L.J. 2008. Erinaceus concolor. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Citation: Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2013. Disclaimer: To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>. If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown Feedback: on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided http://www.descopera.ro/natura/8846319-ariciul-sfatuitorul-lui-dumnezeu

Ariciul - Sftuitorul lui Dumnezeu


Nicu Prlog | 10.10.2011 | 23 Comentarii

+ zoom Ariciul - Sftuitorul lui Dumnezeu

Galerie foto (6) Cine nu cunoate simpaticul ghem viu de epi care iese agale la plimbare la ceas de sear? Este unul dintre primele animale cu care lum contact nc din copilrie, fiind o figur omniprezent n basme, povetie, i mai nou, desene animate. Dincolo de prima impresie, ariciul este un animal de-a dreptul fascinant, cu un mod de via interesant i cu un rol de mare importan n ecosistemele din care face parte. Dar, dincolo de mitologia sa absolut surprinztoare i de informaiile de ordin strict zoologic, vei (re)descoperi un animal tot mai des ncolit i periclitat de aciunile nesbuite ale omului. Aricii trebuie s supravieuiasc! Fr ei lumea ar deveni mai srac, iar toamna i-a pierde din farmec... Barcelona de la 88 Rezerv bilete de avion prin

Portret de bonom simpatic (Powered by Ggeni)


Probabil c nicio alt vieuitoare nu este att de asociat cu imaginea toamnei clasice - un lstri de pdure cu frunzele aurite, cer senin sau plumburiu, i neaprat un arici mergnd ncet la rostul lui, prin frunzele uscate. Silueta lui epoas este inconfundabil, iar rarele sale apariii ne strnesc ntotdeauna un sentiment de simpatie instantanee, dublat de curiozitatea primordial a copilriei. Dar ariciul "nostru" - specia care triete la noi - nu e singurul reprezentant al acestui grup. Zoologii au identificat pn n prezent un numr de 17 specii de arici, grupate n 5 genuri. Marea familie a aricilor are membri rspndii pe toate continentele, cu excepia celor dou Americi, Australiei, Noii Zeelande, i evident, Antarcticii. La noi n ar triete o specie distinct, diferit de ariciul comun, european, respectiv Erinaceus roumanicus, descris n premier n anul 1900 de ctre zoologul britanic

Gerald Edwin Barret-Hamilton, care a studiat civa arici capturai lng localitatea prahovean Ggeni. Conform reputatului zoolog, principalele diferene ntre aricii "romneti" i specia E. europaeus constau n faptul c aricii notri au botul de culoare mai nchis, capul mai rotunjit i le lipsete pata mai ntunecat , de forma literei V, care la aricii europeni pornete de la ochi spre vrful botului. Au, n schimb, o pat caracteristic, de culoare alburie, n zona pieptului. Specia Erinaceus roumanicus are 5 subspecii distincte, care triesc n Polonia, Austria, rile din Balcani, Grecia, Ucraina, Rusia, pn la Fluviul Obi. Subspecia de la noi este numit Erinaceus roumanicus roumanicus. Ulterior descrierii sale, datorit diferenelor de opinii ntre diveri zoologi, ariciul de la noi a fost considerat ca fcnd parte din specia Erinaceus europaeus, apoi Erinaceus concolor, pn cnd date genetice mai recente au argumentat ncadrarea lui ca Erinaceus roumanicus, specie distinct, confirmnd viziunea lui Barret-Hamilton din 1900. La prima vedere, datorit trupului su de forma unei pere, pare un animal lent i greoi, cu toate c, odat pornit la vntoare, dovedete o iueal i rezisten neateptate. Poate alerga chiar cu viteza de 10 kilometri pe or, performan notabil pentru un animal de talia i mai ales cu conformaia i proporiile corporale ale ariciului.

Aricii au drept rude ndeprtate chicanii, iar "designul" speciei lor a fost unul de mare succes n scenariul evoluiei mamiferelor. Paleontologii care i-au studiat strmoii au descoperit c nfiarea aricilor s-a schimbat destul de puin n decursul ultimilor 15 milioane ani. Ajuns la maturitate, ariciul are o lungime corporal de 25-30 centimetri, la care se adaug o codi de doar 2-5 centimetri. Masculii sunt cu puin mai mari dect femelele. Fr a fi un animal numeros n Romnia, este ntlnit n multe regiuni - n cmpii, zone umede, dealuri i muni. Populeaz pdurile de foioase, tufiurile, lstriurile, mrciniurile i chiar grdinile. O populaie important de arici triete i n Delta Dunrii, n zonele ceva mai nalte, cu dune i pduri. Clasificat n trecut ca membru al ordinului Insectivora, ariciul este inclus astzi ntr-un ordin distinct - Erinaceomorpha. Nu sunt deloc nite animale strict insectivore, cu toate c insectele constituie o parte important din dieta lor. Mai degrab sunt omnivori declarai! Ariciul este un mare amator de insecte (aduli i larve), rme - dup care este topit -, broate, oprle, erpi, cadavre, ou i puii psrilor care cuibresc pe sol, dar i ciuperci, fructe de pdure, iarb proaspt. Este un mare amator de pepeni, fie ei galbeni sau verzi, pe care-i consum cu aceeai plcere. Ariciul este unul dintre animalele care i petrec iarna hibernnd. nainte de hibernare, care ncepe de obicei din luna octombrie (sau chiar septembrie, dac toamna s-a dovedit aspr n anul respectiv), ajunge s-i dubleze greutatea prin acumulri de grsime. nc din perioada verii mnnc n exces pentru a intra n condiia optim care s-i permit s hiberneze pn n lunile martie-aprilie, cnd redevine activ. Hibernarea are loc ntr-o vizuin subtern, la adpost de gerul i viscolele iernii. Culcuul ariciului este ntotdeauna cptuit cu un strat gros de frunze uscate, cu rol izolator. Vizuina sa este deosebit de curat, ariciul fiind un iubitor de curenie. Atunci cnd intra n starea de hibernare profund, toate funciile fiziologice ale organismului su i ncetinesc considerabil ritmul. Numrul de micri respiratorii scade la doar 6-8 pe minut, fa de 40-50 respiraii pe minut nregistrate atunci cnd este treaz i activ. Atunci cnd afar sunt geruri crncene, aricii pot sa nu mai respire deloc pentru perioade scurte, de 5-10 minute. Ritmul cardiac se modific foarte mult, scznd de la 240-250 contracii pe minut la doar 20-24. Imediat dup ieirea din hibernare, aricii au un singur lucru n cap: sex! mperecherea are loc n lunile aprilie-mai, iar gestaia la aricii romneti este de 25-28 zile. Rezultatele apar sub forma a 2-7 pui, care nu depesc 5 cm lungime, cu trupuoarele acoperite de peri fini i moi, care se vor transforma ulterior n epii caracteristici. La mai puin de o lun de la venirea lor pe lume, puii ncep s exploreze mprejurimile, urmndu-i mama n peregrinrile ei. La trei luni sunt independeni, dar vor deveni maturi sexual abia peste un an de zile.

Din tainele biologice ale aricilor


-Ariciul este n mod natural un animal singuratic i independent n slbticie. Cu toate acestea, se domesticete uor. Acest caracteristic, dublat de simpatia pe care o trezete, a fcut ca aricii s devin n prezent unele dintre cele mai cutate animale de companie n rile occidentale. Tot acolo au aprut aa numitele "ferme de arici", de unde iubitorii acestor animale i pot cumpra pui cu acte oficiale, urmnd aceleai proceduri ca atunci cnd vor si cumpere o pisic sau un cine cu pedigree. -Pentru talia lor, aricii au o durat de via surprinztor de mare. Dac n natur triesc 4-7 ani, n condiii de captivitate i ngrijire atent pot atinge 10-16 ani. -Dac avei arici n grdin i vrei s le lsai hran pe timpul nopii, lsai-le fructe, carne sau nuci. n niciun caz lapte sau produse lactate. Dei le place mult laptele, s-a dovedit c le produce invariabil o form de diaree sever sau chiar moartea.

-Aricii sunt destul de glgioi i comunic mult prin sforituri, chiituri sau scncete. -Aricii au un oarecare grad de imunitate natural mpotriva mucturilor erpilor veninoi, la noi n ar fiind cei mai mari dumani ai viperelor. Secretul const ntr-o protein din musculatura lor, denumit erinacin. S-a constatat c aricii pot rezista la o doz de pn la 5 grame de cianur de potasiu, o cantitate uria pentru un animal de talia ariciului. -n captivitate, aricii se mprietenesc repede cu cinii i pisicile.

-n natur pot fi observai mai ales dup ploaie, cnd sap mai uor dup rme, mari delicatese culinare n lumea aricilor -Este un animal nocturn, avnd, n decursul celor 24 ore, 3 perioade de activitate distincte: una ntre orele 18-20, a doua dup miezul nopii, ntre orele 1-2, iar ultima aproape de ivirea zorilor, ntre orele 4-6. Ziua st ascuns n desiuri, sub trunchiuri de copac sau n propria vizuin. -Un duman natural al su este buha mare (Bubo bubo), pasre rpitoare de noapte care, prin dimensiunile sale mari i lungimea ghearelor, poate ucide uor un arici. Pe lista dumanilor naturali, urmeaz vulpile, lupii i dihorii. (Aricii exotici din regiunile calde sunt atacai i de manguste.) -Din nefericire, sunt deseori ucii sau chinuii de copiii din zonele rurale, care-i neap cu bee, "joac" fotbal cu ei sau, pur i simplu, le dau foc de vii pentru a se "amuza"... -Aricii pot fi observai deseori cum i ling epii, cercettorii nereuind nc s deslueasc

rostul acestui comportament. Conform unor teorii, aricii i camufleaz astfel propriul miros, cnd se aventureaz n teritorii necunoscute, sau saliva lor are un anume grad de toxicitate, iar nepturile primite de prdtori sunt astfel mai dureroase pentru acetia. - aricii se pot cra n copaci, pot escalada ziduri sau garduri i chiar noat excelent, cu toate c nu au fora i rezistena necesar traversrii unui ru sau lac de dimensiuni mari. -Ariciul este unul dintre cele mai folositoare animale pentru agricultur. Un singur arici cur grdina de insecte duntoare, consumnd doar ntr-o noapte circa 200 grame de larve, gndaci i alte insecte. -Aricii i oamenii sufer de multe boli i afeciuni comune. Bieii arici sufer i ei de cancer, boli ale ficatului sau afeciuni cardiovasculare. Ficatul gras este o afeciune des ntlnit, deoarece prefer s se hrneasc cu alimente bogate n grsimi i zaharuri. Aviz celor care-i in n captivitate! Aricii transmit omului i o infecie a pielii cu o ciuperc. Acest tip de dermatofitoz este cauzat de parazitul Trichophyton erinacei. Aricii care consum insecte contaminate anterior cu pesticide de ctre oameni ajung s aib probleme digestive i deseori mor. -Aricii au fost, n vechime, o important surs de hran n multe culturi. Erau mncai n Egiptul Antic, iar n gastronomia medieval european se ntlneau reete de preparare a aricilor. Beduinii au apreciat dintotdeauna carnea de arici, considernd-o un leac eficient n tratamentul i profilaxia reumatismului i artritei. -iganii nomazi au mncat mult vreme carne de arici, folosind sngele i grsimea acestui animal n scopuri medicale. Etnologul Manfri Frederick Wood descrie n lucrarea sa intitulat "In the Life of a Romany Gypsy", aprut n anul 1979, cum iganii aveau o metod crud, dar eficient de colectare a sngelui de arici. Nefericitul animal era inut de picioare cu capul n jos, dup care i se reteza nasul; ariciul murea zvrcolindu-se i chinuindu-se, iar sngele se scurgea ntr-un recipient. -ntrebarea cumva comic despre "cum fac sex aricii", fr ca masculul s se rneasc n spinii de pe spatele femelei, i-a gsit rspunsul n urma studiilor i experimentelor de laborator. n momentul copulrii, penisul mascului, care este situat n centrul abdomenului, nu este deloc rnit n timpul procesului, deoarece femela i ntoarce foarte mult coada i bazinul n sus.

epii sau viaa!


Cu siguran cel mai importan atribul al ariciului rmn epii si. Acetia nu sunt altceva dect fire de pr cu specializare extrem. Sunt de fapt fire de pr modificate, goale n interior, rigidizate datorit cantitii mari de keratin din compoziia lor. Aricii au n medie ntre 5.000-6.000 epi, poziionai pe spate, gt, ceaf i laturile corpului. epii nu sunt veninoi i nici nu prezint margini dinate mrunt, precum cei ai porcilor spinoi; n consecin, pot fi scoi uor din rni. Dac este foarte stresat sau bolnav, ariciul i

poate pierde epii. Aricii au o abilitate unic n regnul animal. Datorit unei musculaturi specializate, sunt capabili s se ghemuiasc foarte mult, pn cnd iau forma aproximativ a unei sfere. Pielea larg a ariciului se extinde, acoperind inclusiv capul i expunnd toi epii care, n aceast poziie de aprare, sunt orientai spre exterior. n faa unui pericol iminent, aricii iau urgent forma de sfer i rmn aa pn cnd pericolul trece. Cu toate acestea, epii nu sunt singurul mijloc de aprare. Conform studiilor recente, se pare c aricii prefer s fug i s se ascund atunci cnd sunt atacai, n loc s rmn pe loc, chircii n poziia caracteristic.

Demiurgul modest
Prezent n multe basme i poveti, ariciul, ca personaj, ascunde de fapt mistere mult mai vechi, fiind regsit n numeroase mituri i legende cosmogonice. Ocupnd un loc de seam n mitologia persan, ariciul apare i n tradiiile popoarelor turcice din Asia Central. Pentru buriai, ariciul este nscocitorul focului i sftuitor al oamenilor care, ascultnd de el, redesoper Soarele i Luna. Tot el este i responsabil de inventarea agriculturii, fiind aadar un important erou civilizator. n multe culturi indo-europene, ariciul este o figur central n cosmogonii. Simbolistica sa este legat mereu de nceputurile lumii, iar usturimea provocat de epii si este legat de originea focului i chiar a Soarelui. n mod paradoxal pentru un animal prin excelen nocturn i chtonian, ariciul a fost perceput i mai ales ca erou solar, pe baza asemnrii vizuale ntre astrul ceresc, cu razele sale luminoase, i micul animal nconjurat aijderea de sfera sa de epi. Erou solar, ariciul are, totui, i o latur chtonian, evideniat de cercettoarea Maria Gimbutas. Aadar, ariciul, cu vizuina sa subpmntean i obiceiul su de a se ghemui, era pentru oamenii din Paleolitic un simbol al matricei i misterului feminin. n cadrul interesantei i originalei mitologii str-romneti, ariciul are, de asemenea, rol cosmogonic prin excelen. n miturile noastre primordiale, ariciul particip alturi de Dumnezeu (Frtat) i Diavol (Nefrtat) la urzirea lumii. Iat-l propulsat n rolul de "inginer" al Creaiei. La fel ca n cazul miturilor primordiale indo-europene, asiatice sau chiar africane, ariciul este i la noi un purttor al inteligenei creatoare supreme i chiar al unei etici surprinztoare. El

este cel care pune ordine n succesiunea zilelor i prentmpin incestul Soarelui cu Luna, izbvind astfel lumea proaspt furit de greutatea unui pcat primordial. Descoperim aadar ariciul implicat n rolul neateptat de ajutor al lui Dumnezeau n procesul urzirii lumii. Ba chiar, n unele mituri, Dumnezeu greete Facerea Lumii, sau este n lips de inspiraie. Salvarea vine de la meticulosul i inteligentul arici care, prin intermediul a diferii soli animalieri (cel mai adesea, albine), vine cu soluiile potrivite pentru terminarea Lumii. l gsim i n rolurile de mediator ntre zi i noapte, ntre pmnt i ap, ntre suprafa i adncime, ntre ordine i haos, ntre norm i abatere, acionnd asemenea unui catalizator pentru armonizarea contrariilor i normalizarea ritmurilor Firii. Ca orice divinitate precretin teluric, ariciul este stpn i paznic al bogiilor pmntului. mparte acest rol cu arpele dar, spre deosebire de reptila care doar pzete comorile, ariciul este pstrtorul tainei unui dar al elementului pmnt. Este vorba de o plant magic, ce poate s nving bolile i moartea, ba chiar i uneltele i tehnologiile create de oameni. Aceeai plant are darul de a deschide uile Raiului, iar singur ariciul este cel care-i tie taina. Contrapartea sa feminin, "aricioaica," este depozitara unei alte taine. Conform unei credine populare de demult, dac cineva nchide puii aricioaicei ntr-o camer ncuiat cu lacte, mama lor umbl pn gsete mult rvnita Iarb a Fiarelor, o buruian magic pe care doar ea o poate gsi i cu care numai atingnd lactele i zvoarele, acestea se deschid de la sine. Din motive mai mult dect evidente, Iarba Fiarelor era cutat ndeosebi de hoi, de lotri, de ocnai i de haiduci.

Cu sau fr simbolismul su fascinant, ariciul rmne acelai spiridu al toamnei, a crui apariie ne ncnt privirea i ziua. Iubii-l i ocrotii-l ori de cte ori l ntlnii!

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