Pair of BIG brown balls!

[Trithor]

We normally find them after the first Spring rains, these are a bit early.
This picture shows them in hand for size reference, and the second puts them in context. Anyone guess what they are?
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[Clark]

Canon balls.

Couroupita guianensis

 

[biothanasis]

Very interesting!!!
The flowers of the tree are so beautiful!!

 

[SlipperKing]

Beatle balls?

 

[Rick]

Dung beetle balls?

 

[NYEric]

Dung beetle balls?

ditto.

 

[Eric Muehlbauer]

Hollowed out elephant turds?

 

[NYEric]

Unhand me! Ouch! :evil:

 

[chrismende]

Got me!

 

[rdlsreno]

ditto.

Dung beetle egg case! Phweeyu!

Ramon

 

[Trithor]

Yes, obviously too easy a question. These are the hardened outer case of dung beetle balls. The dung ball was housed in the smooth interior. As the first rains arrive and the larvae consume the dung ball which they were laid in, they are targeted by Honey Badgers and Brown Hyena. They are dug up, broken open and all the larvae licked out. Favourite Badger snack! In the second picture it is plain to see the disturbed dug up ground around the balls.
In the following picture you can just make out a print of a brown hyena on top of my shoe print. Sorry that I could not get a crisper print, but we are in the dry season and our August winds have arrived. It is not too unusual to find badger, hyena and leopard prints overlaying your own, as they are quick to investigate where you have been and what you have been doing
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[Trithor]

Unhand me! Ouch! :evil:

Eric, may I suggest a bit of moisturiser? They are very dry and cracked!:rollhappy:

 

[Scott Ware]

Eric, may I suggest a bit of moisturiser? They are very dry and cracked!:rollhappy:

Considering all that honey badger action, it's a wonder the situation isn't much worse.

 

[NYEric]

Fascinating! We would love to see animal photos!!

 

[NYEric]

Considering all that honey badger action, it's a wonder the situation isn't much worse.

"..and all the larvae licked out." A short party! :evil:

 

[SlipperFan]

You live in a fascinating land, Trithor!

 

[Trithor]

Thank you all. I am pleased that I have managed to pique your interest.