鼩鼱 the winter, the skull shrinks

red-toothed Photo Source: Karol Zub
Skull atrophy is fatal for most animals, but not for this red-toothed(Sorex araneus, pictured). According to a study published on
on October 23rd, the small mammal's head shrinks by 20% each winter and resuses to its original size when spring arrives.
to understand the phenomenon, researchers used live traps to capture 12 animals between June 2014 and October 2015 . They then anaesthetized the animals and then tracked them using microchips for later identification, as well as X-rays of their heads.
researchers found that at the start of winter, the size ofskulls decreased by an average of 15.3 percent, compared with an average growth rate of 9.3 percent in spring.
how this process works, but scientists believe that the tissue in the fibrous joints that connect the skull may deteriorate before regeneration.major organs of the brain, including their brains, also lose weight in winter. The researchers say these shrinkages may help animals survive the food shortage season. (Source: Science Network Jin Nan)