Their parents are gone and the three new ones born in Spring are now residents here.
Scarface, the dad disappeared a long time ago and sadly the mother, our beloved "Squirry" that ran all over Marian in my past posts, are also gone. Her three children are all that's left here now. So, we continue to feed them, but there are no more physical touches anymore, as if they get to trust humans, they might get trapped and sold.
Beautiful as she sits and eats here on the window sill.
She saw her mother eating here, so she also comes to make a fuss at the window.
And so we had a good time playing with her.
But what do you think happened then?
Here is her brother and he was eating something else.
Can you see what he is eating here?
Here is your last chance to guess what he was eating.
Here is the answer!
It was the flesh of the "Phylum Mollusca" shells that we found on the beach.
We simply call the shells Moluscs, but they have a scientific name, and they are the only shells that the squirrels eat, as the meat supply the Squirrels with calcium.
You can see that all of the meat was eaten out of this shell.
Here is a proper description of the shell.
Dinoplax gigas normally reach a length of about 110 millimetres (4.3 in), but exceptionally may grow up to 170 millimetres (6.7 in). These large chitons are elongate, oval, carinate and moderately elevated. They have strongly arched grey or brown valves. The leathery girdle is greyish or brown, spotted with black and has tufts of short hairs.
This species is found around the South African coast from the Cape Peninsula to Durban, subtidally to at least 5 m.
Source
And That's All Friends!
Note: all pictures are my own and taken with a Canon Powershot SX60HS Bridge camera.
We hope that you have enjoyed the pictures and thank you for visiting a post by @papilloncharity
Disclaimer:
The articles, trademarks, and photos appearing on this @papilloncharity blog may not be used in any advertising or publicity, or affiliation with any product or service, or for private purposes, without the author's prior written permission.
All posts on this blog are placed without prejudice!
PLEASE DO NOT COPY