Ariocarpan

     The Ariocarpan (Ariocarpanus cotschoubeyukan) is a newly discovered species found in most deserts. They are approximately one and a half feet tall, and live near groups of cacti, inside shallow tunnels and burrows underground. Their long front claws help them burrow into the sand. The Ariocarpan’s diet consists of snakes and small rodents. Their strong back claws can stun a snake with one kick. The long sharp front claws help them kill and drag their prey into their burrow, where they can feed it to their young. If a larger predator attacks an Ariocarpan, it will usually defend itself with its tail. The tail has long cactus-like red needles and a poisonous tip similar to that of a scorpion's tail. The Ariocarpan also has extremely long eyelashes to protect its large eyes in case of a dust storm. Its vibrant colors help it blend into groups of flowering cacti. The Ariocarpan’s bite is extremely poisonous to humans, so it is recommended to stay far away when observing. The Ariocarpan is named after an endangered species (threatened by habitat loss) of cacti called Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus.