Subject: So, what the heck is an Aplodontia?
Date: Jun 25 21:13:31 1999
From: Kelly Mcallister - mcallkrm at dfw.wa.gov




On Fri, 25 Jun 1999 Pterodroma at aol.com wrote:
> Kevin Li mentioned that Kelly McAllister, one of our regularly
> contributing members of the 'Tweeters' family, has written a paper on the
> Aplodontia in Washington. So Kelly, if you're lurking about, maybe you'd
> care to chime in.

Boy, I don't know where that "paper" is. It was just a college class paper
not a real "paper" like the ones published in peer-reviewed journals. I bet
my mom has it. She doesn't throw anything away.

I remember that Aplodontia are fecal re-ingesters, something you think of
as a rabbit characteristic. At the time of my reading on the animal, they
hosted the largest flea ever described. And, let's see, oh yeah, some
of the indians in the area made robes of their hides, probably sewing
together numerous pelts to make one robe. So maybe their hides are only
worthless by today's standards.

That's about all I'm good for. They're an interesting and uniquely
Pacific Northwest critter. They're also kind of like me and others
over 40, they don't see too good.

Kelly McAllister