Being able to perceive pain can be quite an annoying characteristic; any small scratches can be very disturbing and one would wish to be made of steel. But sensitivity to pain is actually an important ability that is bestowed to us by nature. If we were to not feel pain, would we not put our hand in the fire?

Nevertheless, Grasshopper mice view it differently. They are actually quite funny-looking animals of about 12cm in length and 60 grams in weight. They live in the southern part of Canada, the United States and the northern part of Mexico, preferring dry grasses and bushy lands where they make their nests in burrows. Their dark grey to reddish brown coloured fur camouflages them from predators such as large lizards, snakes and birds of prey.

The thing with their aggressiveness is not yet mentioned. For one, they are unfriendly to the same species of the same sex – they drive them out of their territory and threaten them with howls, somewhat like tiny little wolves. For another, they are icy-cold hunters. Grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, other small mice and even venomous scorpions in are their menu list. These well-fortified animals are overwhelmed by a particular ability of the mouse. For one, these mice do not feel pain. For another, they are immune to the deadly venom of the scorpions – the venom actually even works to them as anesthetics. The mouse sneaks onto their prey and ambushes them. The scorpion can only sting so often; it is doomed to be consumed by the rodent which, after attacking its prey, sits itself on the little back leg and lets out a high-pitched, squeaky shriek… just like the big predators.

Copyright and Source: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grash%C3%BCpferm%C3%A4use und http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/grashuepfermaus-der-schrecken-der-skorpione-fotostrecke-102900.html