Rhinograde
- This article or section should be merged with Rhinogradentia.
Rhinogrades or Snouters is a fictional mammal-like order invented by the German zoologist Harald Stümpke. The animals appeared in his 1957 book Bau und Leben der Rhinogradentia.
Snouters were first discovered on the main island of Hy-dud-dye-fee (or Hiddudify) of the Pacific archipelago of Hy-yi-yi (or Hi-aiy) by the Swedish explorer Einar Pettersson-Skämtkvist in 1941. Pettersson-Skämtkvist was a Japanese Death Camp escapee. The tropical archipelago measured some 1,690 km², and the largest peak (2,230 m) is on Hiddudify. Hiddudify was inhabited by the Huacha-Hatchis. Unfortunately for science and the Huacha-Hatchis, the archipelago, together with its renowned Darwin Institute, was destroyed by a nuclear test.
Snouters are distinguished by their large elaborately protruding noses (proboscis). This morphological structure is called the nasarium. Most Rhinogrades use their nose for locomotion, like the shrew-like Hopsorrhinus aureus, whose nasarium is used for jumping.
In 1962, Stümpke's book was translated in French: Anatomie Et Biologie Des Rhinogrades — Un Nouvel Ordre De Mammifères was published by the respectable and renowned biosciences and medical publisher Masson, which caused a little stirrup.
Islands in the Hi-aiy archipelago
- Annoorussawubbissy
- Osovitissy
- Owsuddowsa
- Noorubbissy
- Miroovilly
- Towteng-Awko
- Nawissy
- Hiddudify
- Naty
- Ownavussa
- Lownunnoia
- Mittuddinna
- Vinsy
- Shanelukha
- Mara
- Lowlukha
- Koavussa
- Awkoavussa
Selected References
- Petterson-Skämtkvist E. (1946). Aventyrer pa Haiaiai-öerna. Nyströms Förlag och Bokhandel, Lilleby.
- Bromeante De Burlas Y Tonterias J. (1948). "A systematica dos Rhinogradentes". Bull. Darwin Inst. Hi. 2: 45.