Unusual Rodents, Raccoons and Marsupials

Just about everyone is familiar with the Rodents of Unusual Size (R.O.U.S.) in the movie, “The Princess Bride.”

They were one of the dangers that threatened Wesley and Buttercup in The Fire Swamp.

When DH and I visited the Yucatan in January, we went early one morning to a place noted for great snorkeling. 

We walked down a trail in the jungle well ahead of the noisy crowds.  As we went, DH spotted a movement just off the path.  We got a few pictures of a large rodent at a feeder on the forest floor.

Not an ROUS, it was an agouti; a shy rodent related to the

 guinea pig and about the size of a large domestic cat (yeah, like our Thomas, that big).

They are shy herbivores, mostly nocturnal, that can run and swim. They live on fallen fruit, leaves, and roots and have teeth strong and sharp enough to open Brazil nuts without tools.

In only a few moments the agouti was pushed away from the feeder by a coati.  We had seen coatis before in Guatemala.

Coatis are from the raccoon family.  They are the size of a small dog and eat ground litter, fruit and even small lizards and birds.

The coati we saw in Guatemala was used to tourists and was looking for a handout.

All I had in my pocket were airplane peanuts.  This guy wasn’t impressed.

I’m guessing most people have never heard of the unusual creatures mentioned above. 

Another exotic fuzzy animal is the quokka.  I’ve never seen a quokka and probably never will.

 (Photo by skyreal photos)

They are marsupials also about the size of a house cat that are found on the smaller islands off the coast of Western Australia.  They are nocturnal herbivores.  They are rare and their status is vulnerable.  Their name might come in handy in a Scrabble game.  You’re welcome.

As for me…I kinda feel like Wesley who had the life sucked out of him in the Pit of Despair.  As Miracle Max said, “It just so happens that your friend here is only mostly dead.  There’s a big difference between mostly dead and all dead.”

Miracle Max’s cure for Wesley was a miracle pill coated with chocolate, “The chocolate makes it go down easier.  But you have to wait fifteen minutes (in my case fifteen days) for full effect."

I got chocolate covered miracle pills delivered to me the other day from a young gentleman who knows first hand about the long days of recovering from surgery. 

Along with this kind of help and a prince of my own who does laundry, cooks and vacuums and goes out on demand for Hot and Sour Soup and Won Tons; I’m feeling much better.  And like Wesley said, “I’ve always been a quick healer.”