Wildlife Fact File - Mammals, Pgs. 111-120

" 'CARD 111

COLOBUS MONKEY

'(---------------------------------------------~

ORDER Primates

FAMILY Cerocopithecidae

GENUS Colobus

KEY FACTS SIZES Body length: 11 /2-21 /2 ft. Tail length: 1-3 ft. Weight: Up to 26 lb . BREEDING Sexual maturity: Varies according to species . About 2 years for females; 4 years for males . Breeding season: Year-round. Gestation: 4-6 months. No. of young: 1 .

LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable; lives mainly in groups in the trees. Diet: Leaves, bark, and flowers. Lifespan: 20 years . Call: Loud barks and croaks.

DISTRIBUTION Tropical and mountain forests across central Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia, and from Angola throughout Zaire to Tanzania and Malawi.

RELATED SPECIES 6 subspecies of black-and-white; 2 subspecies of red colobus; 1 species of olive colobus.

CONSERVATION Overhunting in the nineteenth century severely depleted the colobus's numbers. As man moves farther into its habitat, the colobus's numbers are decreasing once again .

Range of the colobus monkey.

FOUR SPECIES OF BLACK-AND-WHITE COLOBUS MONKEY

The colobus monkey is a shy, forest-dwelling primate. Three different species have similar lifestyles. Only the patterns of their coats distinguish them.

Abyssinian black-and-white , C. abyssinicus: Jet black cOloring. White mantle runs the length of body. Tail is black at the base, turning white with a bushy tuft.

Western black-and-white , C. velleros·us: Long white beard and whiskers. Thighs are covered in white mantle and the long tail is pure white without a bushy tuft.

Southern black-and-white, C. polykomos: GlOSSY black coat with white mantle around upper parts. Tail is long and white without any bushy tuft.

Angolan black-and-white , C. angolensis: Long , white whiskers and beard. Thick, black coat with white mantle on shoulders. Tail is black with white tuft.

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~ BREEDING The female mates with several different males when she is in heat (ready to mate). She leaves the group just before giving birth, returning a day later with her tiny offspring. For the first few days she holds the baby in her arms, but after two weeks it is strong enough to cling to her back as she swings through the trees. The olive colobus mother, however, carries her Left: The colobus eats, sleeps, and plays in the trees, rarely touching the forest floor.

newborn baby in her mouth and transfers it to her back after several weeks. This is because the fur of this species is short, making it more difficult for the baby to grasp. The baby is weaned at seven months, but after six weeks it begins to eat leaves and spend more time with youngsters its own age. The young colobus monkeys are very playful. Right: A young co/obus clings to its mother, gripping her fur with its strong hands.

Left: The

DID YOU KNOW? • According to Arab legend, a colobus monkey rips its skin when injured, rather than let a hunter catch it. • The name colobus comes from the Greek word for mutilated-a reference to the

black-andwhite colobus monkey is born with a white coat and spends the first few weeks in its mother's arms.

animal's lack of thumbs. • African legend calls colobus monkeys the messengers of the gods because some of them climb to the tops of trees at sunrise and sit silently, as if in prayer.

There are three species of colobus monkey-black-and-white, red, and olive. The black-and-white colobus is the most striking of these. Its long, white mantle and shiny black coat were once sought after by both African tribes and fashionable Europeans.

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The fur and long plumes of the colo bus were once used as ceremonial headdresses by African tribes. Although it is no longer hunted on a large scale, the colobus monkey is threatened by loss of its habitat.

~ FOOD & FEEDING

HABITS

Colobus monkeys live in dense forest and spend most of their time in the trees. They live in groups, the size varying ac- . cording to the species: about five black-and-white colobus, 15 to 50 red colobus, and 10 to 15 of the olive species. An old male leads each group.

Apart from people, the main predators of the colobus monkey are leopards and eagles. Although it can move quickly, the monkey hides instead of fleeing from danger; its coat provides excellent camouflage for it in the dense forests.

Colobus monkeys are territorial and defend their area with threatening calls and fierce displays. Group members spend most of their time in the center of the territory, swinging from branch to branch in the trees where they sleep and eat.

Leaves are the main diet of the colobus monkey. It also eats fruit, bark, flowers, and, occasionally, insects. Most species spend all their time in the trees, although the olive colobus monkey sometimes Left: The red colobus monkey eats leaves and shoots from only a few trees.

feeds on the ground. When feeding, the monkey sits on a branch and pulls twigs toward it, ripping off the leaves with its mouth. Sometimes it uses its hands to eat. The colobus monkey has a three-chambered stomach that allows it to digest coarse leaves.

CARD 112 ] _ _ SJ_ KE_Y_ F_A_CTS

WESTERN POCKET GOPHER GROUP 1: MAMMALS ORDER

FAMILY

Rodentia

Geomyidae

. . . GENUS ~ Thomomys

~

SIZES Length: Male, 5-9 in. Female smaller. Weight: 2-14 oz. Male usually twice the weight of female. BREEDING Sexual maturity: Male, 1 year. Female may breed at 10 weeks. Mating: Season and number of litters per year vary with location . Gestation: 17-20 days. No. of young: Usually 5. LIFESTYLE Habit: Aggressive. Separate territories except when breeding. Diet: Leafy plants above ground, roots and tubers below. Lifespan: 4 years in the wild . RELATED SPECIES The 6 species of Thomomys are closely related to eastern pocket gophers of the genus Geomys.

Range of western pocket gophers.

DISTRIBUTION Found in North and Central America, from western Canada to the southwestern United States and Mexico. CONSERVATION Many efforts have been made to control the population of western pocket gophers because they damage crops and irrigation systems. Their numbers remain high, however, because they reproduce at a rapid rate.

SPECIAL fEATURES OF WESTERN POCKET GOPHERS Incisors: Used in burrowing. Lips can close behind them to keep soil out of mouth.

Feet: Powerful, with long claws to aid burrowing. Forelegs can push soil from burrow.

Tail: Sparsely haired. Gopher uses it to feel its way when it runs backward in burrow.

Pouches: Extend back to the shoulder. Can be turned inside out for cleaning . Gopher packs them with food to carfY back to its burrow.

Western pocket gophers are rodents found in North and Central America. They are no longer than the span of a man ~ hand but can dig complex systems of burrows SO feet long.

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Western pocket gophers get their name from the fur-lined external cheek pouches on either side of the mouth. They use their forepaws to fill these pockets with food, which they then carry

to a secure underground burrow.

DID YOU KNOW? • Pocket gophers in areas with hard, dry soil tend to have bigger incisors than those in areas with soft soil. • Gophers can run as quickly backward as forward-

both on and underneath the ground. _ • To clean soil from their eyes, pocket gophers "cry" a thick fluid from their tear ducts. • Separated by impassable

~ FOOD & FEEDING

mountain ranges, colonies of pocket gophers have evolved in complete isolation. For example, the valley pocket gopher has more than 1 85 recognized subspecies.

• Gophers can promote plant growth by breaking up and aerating the soil, but large numbers can damage crops with their huge appetites and vigorous digging .

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Pocket gophers feed only on plants. Above ground, they eat leafy vegetation and often fill their cheek pouches to transport food underground. Below ground, they eat the juicy roots and tubers that they find when burrowing. The exact diet depends on the location, but pocket gophers eat mainly grasses and other fleshy plants ..A gopher in a dry area often adds waterrich cacti to its diet. left: A tapering body lets the pocket gopher move easily through its burrows.

Western pocket gophers prefer well-drained farmland soil, which is easy to dig, but they also live in deserts and upland meadows. They usually travel at night. Gophers use their four incisors (chisel-edged teeth at the front of the mouth) to cut away roots. They then dig the soil with the large claws on their forepaws . Their numerous burrows include nesting chambers as well as food storage areas. Each gopher fiercely defends its territory against other gophers, male or female, except during breeding season. Ter-

ritories seldom overlap, but boundaries change as individual gophers search for food and water. The male's territory is between 250 and 300 square yards. It is often twice the size of the female's territory but is still small for a mammal of this size. Where a male's territory touches the territory of one or more females, burrows and nesting chambers may be shared during breeding, although each animal has its own tunnels. Right: A gopher uses its forelegs to clear soil from a burrow entry.

Above: Gophers may appear in winter, but usually they block their snow tunnels with soil.

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BREEDING Most female gophers breed at least once each season, but many males are infertile. Gophers in agricultural areas may breed year-round and raise several litters, while those living among natural vegetation breed seasonally. Newborns are completely dependent. Cheek pouches open at about 24 days, eyes and ears two to three days later. Some species take up to 100 days to grow an adult coat. The young are weaned at 40 days but stay with the mother for about 60 days. Then they create shallow burrows nearby. Before the breeding season, they establish their own territory and dig a full-size burrow system.

""'CARD 113

BULLDOG BAT ,,~------------------------------------------~ ORDER FAMILY GENUS &: SPECIES ~

Chiroptera

Noctilionidae

Noctilio leporinus

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: 4-6 in. Forearm length: 3-4 in. Wingspan: 11-12 in. Weight: 2'/2 oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Mating: Winter. Gestation: About 16 weeks. No. of young: 1.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Nocturnal. Roosts in groups. Diet: Small fish and insects. Lifespan: Up to 20 years.

RELATED SPECIES Only the southern bulldog bat, Noctilio albiventris, which feeds mainly on insects.

Range of the bulldog bat.

DISTRIBUTION Forests and mangrove swamps in Central and South America from Mexico to Argentina. Also found in Trinidad and the Antilles. CONSERVATION Bat populations are declining worldwide because of habitat and roost loss, hunting, and the effects of pesticides. Many species are now endangered.

FEATURES OF THE BULLDOG BAT Head: Tip of the nose projects over nostrils. Thick skin folds above and below fleshy lips. Long, pointed ears.

Flattened toes cut down water resistance. Long sharp claws.

Body: Head, shoulders, and mid back are covered with short, red-brown fur that sheds water. Remainder of body is hairless.

Legs and feet: Legs joined at ankles by tail membrane, which can be folded up and lowered . Large feet well adapted for catching fish .

The bulldog bat's cheek pouches and large folds of facial skin give its face the appearance of a bulldog's muzzle. ©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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The bulldog bat, also known as the Mexican bulldog bat, lives mainly on a diet of small fish. It finds fish by using echolocation, then dips its hind legs into the water and scoops the prey up with its long, sharp claws.

~ FOOD & HUNTING The bulldog bat uses echolocation to find schools of fish . Echolocation means that the animal projects a sound that bounces off the fish or other prey. The bat can determine where the prey is when the sound bounces back. After it has located a school, the bat

looks for ripples on the water made by fish near the surface. The bat's interfemoral membrane (the thin tail skin that stretches between the hind legs) is tucked and folded up between its legs as the bat nears the water. The bulldog bat skims the

water, then trails its claws about one inch beneath the surface and sweeps for fish. The bat catches as many as 30 fish a night. After a sweep, the interfemoral membrane is lowered again so that it can be used for maneuvering as the bat flies off.

After catching a fish, the bulldog bat scoops it into its mouth . When the bat lands, it chews up the fish, breaking it into large pieces. The pieces are stored in cheek pouches and chewed again before being swallowed .

Left: The bat's

large wings enable it to glide over the water when hunting for fish. Right: The bat drags its feet through the water to catch fish. Below: The bulldog bat's pec.uliar shaped nose houses its echolocation system.

~ BREEDING During the day the bulldog bat sleeps, washes, and grooms at a roost inside a hollow tree or rock crevice. Large groups of bulldog bats congregate at each roosting place. The sites are easy

to locate, since the entire area smells of bat guano (waste matter) even as far . as 50 meters away. At dusk the bat leaves the roost to find food, avoiding obstacles by echolocation,

which the bat also uses when hunting prey. It hunts for both freshwater and saltwater fish . Sometimes the bulldog bat feeds in daylight near fisheating birds, but this behavior is unusual.

DID YOU KNOW? • The bulldog bat is somet ill)es called the fish -eating bat and the Mexican fishi ng bat. • Two other species of bat prey o n fish-the California fishing bat, Pizonyx vivesi, and the false vampire bat, Megaderma lyra, from India . The

false vampire bat also eats birds, frogs, and other bats. • Bats make up nearly onequarter of all mammal species found throughout the world . • Besides birds, bats are the only other winged vertebrates that are capable of

sustained flight. . • Bats roost in large n umbers. The largest bat roost in the world is in Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, where more than one million Mexican free-tailed bats gather during the summer.

Bulldog bats live in mixedsex groups at the roost for most of the year. The adult females group together for birth and during weaning . Males and females do not form pair bonds; that is, they mate with different partners each season . Mating takes place during the winter. One blind and hairless baby is born 16 weeks later. The mother carries it with her for about two weeks, and it begins to fly at 20 days . The young bat reaches adult size within a few weeks of weaning, but it may not reach its full body weight for several years .

'\: CARD 114

YAK

,,~----------------------------~~~ . , . GENUS & SPECIES ORDER

. , . CLASS ~ Artiodactyla

Bavidae

~

Bas mutus

I

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: Up to 11 ft. Height: Up to 6 1/2 ft. at shoulder . Weight: Males up to 2,000 lb. Females up to 800 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: Females, 1-3 years. Males, at least 5 years . Gestation: 9 months. No. of young: 1 calf. LIFESTYLE Call : A deep grunt, mainly during the breeding season . Habit: Cows and calves live in large herds . Bulls live alone or in groups of 2 or 3. Diet: Grass, lichen, and ground vegetation . Lifespan: Up to 25 years . RELATED SPECIES The yak is one of 5 species of oxen which includes domestic cattle, Bas taurus.

Range of the yak.

DISTRIBUTION The wild yak is rare in the high plateaus of its range in central Asia, north of the Himalayas. The domestic yak is more w idespread . CONSERVATION Threat ened by hunting, the w ild yak is classified as endan gered . In Ch ina numbers have fallen drast ically. Only abou t 500 now exist in the w ild .

SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS OF THE YAK The yak has a number of special adaptations that enable it to live in the extreme cold of the Himalayan mountains. Body: The yak has a short, compact body and thick, shaggy fur that keeps it warm in the severely cold climate.

The long-horned, shaggy-coated yak is one of the hardiest species of cattle. It is one of the few animals able to thrive on the barren Tibetan plateau where the air is icy and thin.

Legs: Short and powerful , giving the yak balance and agility on the steep , icy mountain slopes.

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~ BREEDING Like other cattle, female yaks, or cows, and their young gather together in large herds, while the males are either solitary or live in small bachelor herds . Females mate at one to three years of age, but males do not mate until they can establish a harem of females, usually when they are five or six years old. At the start of breeding season, the mature males, or bulls, join the main herds and begin competing for access to the females. During this period the males engage in fierce, noisy fights that are mainly tests of strength and seldom result in injury.

strong, once roamed the desolate high country

of central Asia. Because of overhunting, probably only 500 wild yaks remain today. The domestic yak is numerous, however, and plays a vital role in the lives of the tribes that live in the mountains north of the Himalayas.

~ HABITAT The wild yak lives high among the snow-covered mountains of Tibet at altitudes between 13,000 and 20,000 feet. Its thick skin and long shaggy coat, which almost reaches the ground, protect it from the bitter cold . Its coat is so thick and warm that the yak can sleep comfortably directly on the snow. Despite its heavy and ungainly appearance, the yak is actually an agile mountain

climber. Surefooted and hardy, it easily covers great distances through its rocky homeland . During the cooler summer months of August and September, the wild yak used to range over the highest snowcovered ground, only moving to lower, more sheltered areas as winter approached. Today the remaining wild yaks have been driven by man's presence into more remote areas.

The victorious bulls then mate with the cows that are in heat (ready to breed). Under the proper conditions female yaks bear offspring every other year, so nearly half the herd will mate.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The yak feeds on lichen, herbs, and coarse grasses that grow high in the mountains. As the snow melts during the brief summer, fresh vegetation sprouts high in the mountains, so the yak herds roam up into higher pastures . When winter returns, the yaks descend to graze the valleys. The yak is able to thrive on a meager diet because its digestive system is so efficient. Like other ruminants, or cud chewers, yaks partially digest their food in their first stomach before regurgitating it and chewing it a second time. They swallow the food once again . Eventually the food passes through three more stomachs that digest every bit of nutrition from it. Above: To find enough food to sustain itself, the yak must range over a large area every day.

DID YOU KNOW? • The yak was first domesticated in Tibet over 3,000 years ago. • The wild yak's original scientific name, Bos grunniens, means "grunting ox ." • The wild yak only grunts during the breeding season,

while the domestic yak grunts continuously. • The yak's stomach contents ferment at an internal temperature of 104° F, providing the animal with central heating so it can survive temperatures of 0° F.

Calves are born nine months later in June when food is plentiful. The calves grow quickly and become independent after one year. Below: The calves thrive on a diet of their mother's nutritious milk.

The yak's great strength and its ability to survive at high al titudes have made it invaluable to many nomadic mountain peoples. Domestic yaks are both ridden and used as pack animals. Their wool is spun into yarn for clothing, and their milk is drunk and made into cheese and butter. Both wild and domestic yaks are killed for their meat and skins. The domestic yak is somewhat smaller than its wild counterpart and its coat is less shaggy. The domestic yak is also more docile than the wild yak. Because of their hardiness, yaks are often crossbred with other breeds of cattle. Thus, if the true species is to be preserved, wild yaks must be protected. Above: The yak provides food, clothing, and fuel for the people of the Tibetan mountains.

CARD 115

WOOD MOUSE

--:s!IJI ~I

GROUP 1: MAMMALS ORDER

FAMILY

GENUS &. SPECIES

Rodentia

Muridae

Apodemus sylvaticus

.....,

KEY FACTS

SIZES Length: Head and body up to 4 in .

Tail 2'/2-4'/2 in . Weight: Up to 1 oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: Male at 1 h oz. Female at 1/4 oz. Mating season : March through early winter. Gestation: 21-26 days. No. of young: 4-7. Up to 4 litters a year. LIFESTYLE Habit: Several adults may live together in a network of underground tunnels . Diet: Mainly seeds, nuts, buds, insects, and arthropods. Lifespan: Up to 1 year. RELATED SPECIES Within the subfamily to which the wood mouse belongs there are 408 species in 89 genera.

Range of the wood mouse.

DISTRIBUTION Found throughout Europe (except northern Scandinavia and Finland) east to the Altai and Himalayan mountains. CONSERVATION The most common mouse throughout its range, the wood mouse is considered a pest but is not under any threat.

FEATURES OF THE WOOD MOUSE

Feeding: The wood mouse is a good climber and often scales .Q!anches to reach fruit or

HIND LEGS When the wood mouse explores, it stands up on its hind legs and sniffs the air.

The wood mouse, also known as the long-tailed field mouse, is a prolific and adaptable creature. It is probably the most numerous of all mammals throughout Europe ..

Coat: Sandy colored with white underparts. Very large ears. The tail is longer than that of other species of mice.

Feef: Large ; give the mouse a slight hopping motion when it moves.

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Despite the fact that the wood mouse is the most common mouse throughout Europe, it is rarely seen. This is because it is active only at night. It spends the day resting in its burrow, emerging at night to gather the food that it stores underground.

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BREEDING

Wood mice mate beginning in March and continuing through the end of autumneven into winter if the weather is mild and food is plentiful. The female gives birth just under four weeks after mating and can produce four litters a year, although two or three

DID YOU KNOW? litters is more common. Four to seven young are born in the nesting chamber, deep in a burrow. They are naked and blind at birth-their eyes do not open until they are 16 days old. By then they have grown a full coat of fur, although it is a darker color

than the adult's, and their teeth begin to come through. Wood mice live for little more than three or four months. The greatest population occurs in early autumn, and the smallest is in March and April when breeding season starts.

left: The wood mouse is a shy creature that is easily disturbed by man. Right: When wood mice are nervous they often wash and groom themselves. Far right: The young spend their first few weeks in a nest lined with leaves, moss, and grass.

~ ENEMIES The wood mouse is a vital food source for many nocturnal animals: the fox, weasel, stoat, and

badger, as well as the domestic

Right: After three weeks the mother forces the young out of the nest.

Although called the wood mouse, this little rodent will live just about anywhere it has enough cover to hide from predators. Besides woodlands, it inhabits newly plowed fields, hedges, and gardens. In urban environments it lives along railroad embankments and in undeveloped areas. The only place the wood mouse does not live is above the tree line, unless

there are walls and buildings to give it shelter. The wood mouse spends its life within an area about 600 feet in diameter. It burrows underground and digs a series of tunnels and entrances. Inside the tunnels it makes storerooms for food and a nesting chamber for the young. Several adult wood mice may live together in the same network of tunnels.

The wood mouse is primarily herbivorous, eating a diet of seeds, buds, fruits, and nuts. When these are scarce, however, it will eat snails, earthworms, and insects. The wood mouse hoards food-seeds and nuts in particular-to supplement its food supply during the winter. It packs its underground storerooms, then takes out seeds or nuts one at a time.

• The family Muridae, which includes the wood mouse, is larger than any other family of mammals, including man. Muridae contains 1,082 species in 15 subfamilies and 241 genera. • The wood mouse's sense of smell is so acute that it can detect the exact location of each seed in a newly planted row. It digs directly down to the seed rather than digging at random along the row. • Young wood mice produce ultrasounds as their temperature drops, attracting their mother's attention.

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NATUREWATCH

The wood mouse is difficult to spot in natural settings : it is nocturnal-even bright moonlight can keep it from emerging-and it is tiny. Wood mice that live indoors are distinctive from house mice because of their larger ears, eyes, and hind feet. They also leave larger droppings.

Below: When feeding, the mouse holds a nut in its forepaws as it nibbles through the shell to reach the soft fruit inside.

cat. Many species of owl also prey on the wood mouse. Many people view the wood mouse as a troublesome pest. . The wood moUse inflicts serious damage on both vegetable gardens and farmland alike, digging up seeds before they germinate and nibbling grain crops down to the ground.

CARD 116

ASIAN ELEPHANT GROUP 1: MAMMALS ORDER Proboscidea

FAMILY E/ephantidae

GENUS & SPECIES E/ephas maxim us

_____~~K-E~YFACT~S~------------------------------~ SIZES Length: 18-20 ft. Height: 8-10 ft. Weight: Up to 11,000 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 15 years. Mating: Usually in wet season. Gestation: 22 months. No. of young: Usually 1 . LIFESTYLE Habit: Cow and young form a family unit. Bull is mainly solitary. Call: Trumpets loudly when angry, excited, or separated . Also communicates by rumbling . Diet: Vegetation, fruit, twigs, small branches, bark, and roots . Lifespan: About 60 years. RELATED SPECIES The four Asian subspecies include the Indian elephant, Ceylon elephant, Sumatran elephant, and Malaysian elephant.

Range of the Asian elephant.

DISTRIBUTION Once found throughout India and southeastern Asia . Now restricted to mountainous parts of India, Indochina, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and southern China. CONSERVATION Worldwide, the Asian elephant's population stands at 42,600 to 57,500 (1990 figures). It is in danger of extinction throughout its natural habitat.

FEATURES OF THE ASIAN ELEPHANT Ancestry: African elephants spread to the cooler and moister environs of Asia about 17 million years ago and evolved as a separate Asian species.

Trunk: Used to tear foliage, fruit, and twigs from trees , to detect scents, and to breathe . Its length enables the elephant to graze from the ground without difficulty.

(

The Asian elephant is slightly smaller in size and has smaller ears than the African elephant. Long-living and intelligent, it has been domesticated by humans for the last 5,500 years.

Head: Foreshortened and domeshaped. Head of the African elephant, Loxodonta african, projects forward.

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~ BREEDING During the rutting (mating) season the Asian bull (male) elephant produces high levels of the hormone "musth" and acts more aggressive. Rutting occurs late in the rainy season, which is also when the females go into heat. The arrival of calves 22 months later coincides with a new rainy season and a plentiful food supply. During birth, a second elephant cow will protect the mother from lions, tigers, and hyenas that prey on calves. At birth the Asian elephant weighs over 200 pounds; it

A sociable animal, the Asian elephant protects other group members. Adults surround the young when danger threatens the herd. Females in the group adopt orphaned calves, and members stay to assist shot or wounded elephants, often putting themselves at risk.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The Asian elephant prefers to browse rather than graze. It uses its adaptable trunk to pick green leaves, fruit, and new plant shoots. The elephant tears off the soft bark of young trees and puts it into its mouth with the trunk. The Asian elephant needs over 300 pounds of food a day. If its trunk is damaged, the elephant will starve. The elephant also needs large

amounts of water, which it sucks up with its trunk and squirts into its mouth. The Asian elephant's great size makes it easy to travel long distances to find food and water within its large home range. Generations of elephants often follow the same paths between feeding areas, making wide "elephant roads" through even dense jungle areas.

DID YOU KNOW? grows rapidly the first few years. At 15 years growth slows, but it continues throughout the elephant's life. Between 20 and 30 years the bull elephants have another growth spurt. The female Asian elephant can live beyond childbearing age, which is unusual among animals. But today fewer elephants are living long lives. Only 50 percent of wild Asian elephants survive past 15 years, and only 20 percent reach 30. As hunters kill younger and younger elephants, the animal's chance for a long life dwindles.

Left: Wild herds roam the shores of

Right: Sri Lankans scrub a working

the man-made lake at the Periyar Reserve, India.

bull with methods used thousands of years ago.

• An adept swimmer, the elephant loves water and sometimes uses its trunk as a snorkel. • Like humans, the elephant cries when distressed . This occurs regularly in captive elephants. • The elephant, like the whale, emits low-frequency calls too low for humans to hear. Other elephants can hear the sounds more than 12 miles away. • To counterbalance its loss of habitat, the elephant regulates its population without human intervention . It reaches puberty later and extends the period between births.

~ BEHAVIOR The elephant grows throughout its life, so the largest elephant in a group is also the oldest. Despite its size the elephant can move quietly, and firm ground barely shows its tracks. When a member gets separated from the group in wooded and jungle areas it emits a grumbling purr to keep in contact. The sexes live apart most of the time. The female stays with the family unit of sisters and mothers and daughters with their offspring. Once mature, the female calf remains with the group while the young male joins a bachelor herd. When mature, a bull lives alone or in small, temporary groups. Right: The single calf stays close

to its mother and may even hide from danger under her belly.

For centuries humans have used the Asian elephant as a means of transportation, a beast of burden, a tool of war, and a religious symbol. But now its population stands at only 50,000. Still today, in forestry work, the elephant fells trees and transports logs. Hindu people value and revere the elephant.

"

CARD 117 ]

MULE DEER '(~----------------------------~~~~~~~ ~

~

ORDER Artiodactyla

~

FAMILY Cervidae

GENUS & SPECIES Odocoileus hemionus

KEY FACTS SIZES Height: 3 ft. to shoulder. Length: Body 6 ft. Tail, 1ft. Weight: 250-300 lb. Antlers: 2 1/2 ft. span. BREEDING Mating season: Late September to mid-November. Gestation: 182-210 days. Weaning period: 6 weeks . No. of young: 2; occasionally 3. LIFESTYLE Habit: Solitary. May form groups in winter. Diet: Twigs, shoots, grass, nuts, mushrooms, lichen . Lifespan: 10 years. RELATED SPECIES There are 11 subspecies of mule deer. Odocoileus virginian us, the white-tailed deer, is a close relative.

Range of the mule deer.

DISTRIBUTION The mule deer lives in western parts of Canada and the United States, extending into northern Mexico. CONSERVATION More than three million mule deer live in the Un ited States . Licensed hunting is permitted and the species is in no danger of extinction .

FEATURES OF THE MULE DEER Antlers: Widespread , multipoiAted forks. Shed between January and March . Replacement begins March or April. Reach full adult size by seven years.

Rocky Mountain mule deer: Distinguished by its black-tipped tail.

The mule deer lives in a variety of North American habitats. This shy, solitary creature is often difficult to spot, despite its fairly large population.

Pacific Coast mule deer: Distinguished by its black tail. This deer was previously listed as a separate species, but has been reclassified as a mule deer. ©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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Usually a timid animal, the mule deer buck will fight aggressively during mating season for a doe. The mule deer is closely related to the white-tailed deer, but they can be distinguished by their antlers.

~ BREEDING During the breeding season from late September to midNovember, the normally timid buck (male) fights aggressively for possession of a doe. He gathers a harem of about four does. They give birth in June or July, usually to twins. The fawns can walk immediately after birth. Left alone for much of the day, their fur camouflages them from predators while they hide in dense undergrowth. By September the fawns are weaned and have started growing their winter coats . At the age of nine months their antlers begin to show. Left: A young mule deer buck sports a distinctive black-tipped white tail. Right: Does with their fawns.

Inset: The fawn 's dappled coat camouflages it from predators.

~ HABITS Unlike many other species of deer, the mule deer is solitary. Living in habitats from the high mountains to deserts and plains, it does not form herds, but rather lives alone or in small family groups in a well-defined home range. In mountainous regions, the mule deer spends the summer on the slopes below the tree

~ FOOD & FEEDING

In summer the mule deer browses on shoots and twigs from pine and aspen trees. In winter it grazes on grasses and shrubs; it also eats mushrooms, nuts, and lichen. When food is scarce during the winter months, groups of

DID YOU KNOW? line. It has been seen as high as 7,500 feet above sea level on southeast and southwest facing slopes. After the fall mating season, the mule deer migrates into the valley. In winter, when food is scarce and buried beneath the snow, it may gather in groups of up to 50 in areas where food is more plentiful .

mule deer make "yards." They trample the snow to expose the food beneath, often causing extensive damage to the land. After all the food in a yard is exhausted, the group moves on to find a new feeding ground.

• A buck's fierce fight for a doe is often a bluff. One contestant turns away before a real battle occurs. • In 1924-25 an epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease killed thousands of mule deer in California; 22,000 were slaughtered to check the disease . • Mountain lions, bears, bobcats, golden eagles, coyotes, and wolverines hunt mule deer. • The mule deer is called "jumping deer" for its habit of jumping high when running. Right: Mule deer prefer to live alone or in small family groups.

~ MULE DEER & MAN The mule deer has historically been hunted by humans for its hide (buckskin) and for its flesh. Today, however, huntin does not threaten the

mule deer' s population. Fences are built to keep grazing mule deer out of some farm areas so they will

But in many areas food plants are grown especially to attract the mule deer so it can be hunted for its valuable hide and flesh. The mule deer population was threatened from 1905 to 1925 when hunters killed thousands of wolves, pumas, and coyotes on Arizona's Kaibab plateau. Without these predators, the mule deer population grew from 4,000 to 100,000 in 20 years. Because the habitat could not support such an enormous population, 60,000 mule deer died from starvation in one year. Today the mule deer is carefully regulated by hunters.

"" CARD 118

BARBARY APE

,,---------------------------------------------~ . . . ORDER ~ Primates

FAMilY Cercopithecidae

. . . GENUS & SPECIES ~ Macaca sylvana

I

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: Male, 2-21/2 ft. Female, slightly smaller . Weight: Male, 15-22 lb. Female,

9-15 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 3-4 years. Breeding season: November to March . Gestation: 147-192 days. No. of young: 1, occasionally 2. LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable, groups of 10-30. Diet: Fruit, seeds, roots, bark, and buds. Lifespan: 20 years.

RELATED SPECIES Other monkeys in the macaque (Macaea) genus include the pigtailed macaque, M. nigra, and the endangered lion-tailed macaque, M. silenus.

Range of the Barbary ape.

DISTRIBUTION Found in northwestern Africa in Morocco and Algeria. One colony exists on Gibraltar. CONSERVATION The total population is approximately 1,200 to 2,000 Barbary apes. Habitat destruction is causing a decline in numbers.

E BARBARY APE Sociable: Uves in groups of 10 to 30 The male helps care for the young in the group

Body: Sturdy. thick. and tailless.

Head: Round; sits on short neck.

1

Colt Yellow-

legs: Hmd

brown; shorter on belly.

legs shorter than front legs; walks on all fours. Stands erect to watch for predators.

Barbary apes were once common throughout North Africa. Today they are found only in the cedar, pine, and oak forests of the Atlas Mountains in Algeria and Morocco. ",MCMXCIIMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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Barbary apes are sociable animals that can live peaceably among other species of ape. These primates were once common throughout Europe but now live only in Algeria, Morocco, and Gibraltar.

~ FOOD & FEEDING

~ BARBARY APE &: MAN

In Algeria and Morocco, Barbary apes eat a varied diet of fruit, herbs, seedlings, seeds, and roots. In winter, when food is scarce, they eat buds, needles, and bark. These sociable apes share their watering holes with other species

Man is the main threat today to the Barbary ape's existence. This is especially true for those apes that live on the plains, where farmers hunt them because of the damage they do to crops . The only Barbary apes not found in North Africa today live in the colony on Gibraltar. These are descendants of the European apes that existed during the Pleistocene Era, although the

of ape during the dry season. Left: The young Barbary ape is

suckled by its mother for three months. It becomes independent at six months.

colony's population has been

reinforced by breeding with the North African apes. The population of the apes on Gibraltar has changed over the years. In 1858 only three Barbary apes survived an epidemic, and more animals were brought to the island from North Africa. During World War II, the British again restocked the colony on Gibraltar by adding to the population from the apes in Algeria and Morocco.

Above left:

The apes on Gibraltar are the only survivors of the European Barbary ape.

Left: An adult

grooms a young Barbary ape.

Below:

Barbary apes rarely exhibit aggressive behavior.

~ BEHAVIOR

Barbary apes are found on the plains and mountains of Algeria and Morocco. They can live at altitudes of up to 6,500 feet. The apes inhabit forest clearings and sparse undergrowth. They are often found among cedar, pine, and oak forests. There is also one colony that lives on the Rock of Gibraltar, which lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Barbary apes are sociable and live in highly organized communities of up to 30 animals. They

occupy territories of several square miles that sometimes overlap with those of troops of other ape species. The Barbary apes and the other species are able to live near each other without territorial problems. At night the Barbary apes sleep in trees or among rocks; during the day they roam their territory, jumping and climbing among the rocks and trees. The apes usually move on all four legs, standing on their hind legs only to survey the area for predators.

The male Barbary ape actively cares for the young of the group. He establishes strong bonds with individual infant apes and with other males. Because a female may have several males, it is not easy for researchers to determine paternity (fatherhood) of the young. Therefore, the reason for the bonding between a male and several infant apes is unknown, , since such bonding normally occurs only between the young and its parents. Some

naturalists believe that females may be more likely to choose nurturing males as mates, so the males try to exhibit this trait. The adult male begins caring for the young a few days after their birth. He grooms them, carries them around, and plays with them. He also may present a young ape to another adult male. All three apes then make chattering noises and embrace each other. This is seen as friendly behavior, though other species would consider it threatening.

DID YOU KNOW? • In 1942 Winston Churchill ordered the immediate restocking of the Barbary ape colony on Gibraltar, which was a vital strategic base for Great Britain during World War II. Legend had it that as long as there were apes on Gibraltar it would remain under British rule. • The Barbary ape's name probably comes from the "Barbary States." This term was once used for the North African states of Tripolitania, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco .

"" CARD 119 1

CAPE BUFFALO

,,~--------------------------~~~~ . . . ORDER . . . FAMILY GENUS SPECIES &;

'1IIIIIIII

Artiodactyla '

'1IIIIIIII

Bovidae

Syncerus coffer

KEY FACTS SIZES Height: 4-6 ft. Length: 8-11 ft . Weight: Female 1,000 lb. Male 1,500 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 2 years. Mating does not occur until 4-6 years. Mating season: Varies from region to region, peaking during the rainy season. Gestation: 340 days. Weaning: 6 months. No. of young: 1 . LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable, forming herds of up to 1,000. Also form smaller bachelor herds. Some old males are solitary. Diet: Grass, foliage. Lifespan: About 1 6 years. RELATED SPECIES The forest buffalo is a subspecies of the Cape buffalo, Syncerus coffer.

Range of the Cape buffalo.

DISTRIBUTION Africa south of the Sahara. The forest buffalo occurs in the lowland forests of central Africa, while the Cape buffalo lives across savannah regions . CONSERVATION Hunting for food and sport have decreased the Cape buffalo's numbers. It is also killed by farmers who think the animal spreads disease and raids crops.

FEATURES OF THE CAPE BUFFALO Oxpecker: The Cape buffalo allows the oxpecker to feed off the parasites living on its back.

Male: Stocky and larger than the forest buffalo. Blackish body with heavy horns curving out and then down before curling up to the tip. Large ears partially hidden by horns.

DWARF FOREST BUFFALO

Light build and smaller than Cape buffalo. Has thick, reddish or bright red hair.

Female and calf: Largest herds made up of adult females and calves under two years old. Female calves under two years stay close to their mothers while males stay within her vicinity. Three- to four-year-old males congregate together in small groups away from adult males.

The Cape buffalo is one of the largest animals on the African plains. Its great herds, sometimes hundreds strong, are highly organized, especially when fending off predators. ©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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~ FOOD & FEEDING The Cape buffalo primarily grazes, but it will eat the leaves of bushes. It feeds in the evening and chews the cud at night. It rests in the shade during the heat of the day. In the dry season, the Cape buffalo moves into available forests or wetter valley bot-

toms. Without a good supply of vegetation, it quickly loses weight. The Cape buffalo needs plenty of water. It makes daily drinking trips in the morning and evening. Old, solitary males spend much of the day wading in cool water.

Left: A Cape buffalo keeps cool during the hot African day by wading in mud pools.

Right: As this Cape buffalo drinks, an oxpecker feeds on the fleas living on its hide.

The Cape buffalo has a fearsome reputation among predators. With its massive

This large, powerful animal has little fear of predators. Hyenas and leopards kill stranded calves. Lions and large crocodiles prey on isolated adults such as elderly males. But the Cape buffalo usually fights back. Single lions often fail to capture them, and buffaloes can toss or gore the cats with

build and great, curving horns, the animal puts up a determined fight when attacked. Wounded buffaloes have been known to wait in cover, ready to charge their pursuers as they approach.

~

HABITS

The Cape buffalo roams across the grassy plains and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. It stays in areas with good cover and a reliable water source. Herds vary in size from small bands of fewer than 10 animals to huge groups of more than 1,000. The largest herds, composed mainly of females and offspring, are found on the open plains. Conflicts between males may occur during breeding season. These are limited to shows of aggression rather than actual fights, which could easily result in the death of both animals. The males' sociability

~ BREEDING

DID YOU KNOW? depends on their age. Threeyear-old males leave their mothers and form small allmale groups either within or outside the herd. The females drive away older males from the herd to fend for themselves on the plains.

• In spite of its size and bulk, the Cape buffalo can run at speeds of almost 37 miles per hour. • The Cape buffalo has a very thick, protective hide. If alarmed, it will readily escape

their horns. In large herds buffalo are almost immune to danger. They may initially run from a predator, but they quickly turn and form a compact group with the adults turned toward the danger. The herd also comes to the aid of animals in distress.

through dense thornbushes that would deter most animals. • During a fight between male buffaloes, the clash of horns was so violent that one bull was tossed in the air. Above: The charging buffalo chases away a lion. Left: Large herds use social organization. Right: A mother watches her calf.

Peak mating times occur in the rainy seasons when the animals are in the best condition. A female may mate with a succession of males, but she only becomes pregnant by one of her mates. Gestation lasts 11 months,

and in a normal year the female gives birth before the rainy season. This ensures that she has plenty of food to produce milk for the quickly growing offspring. The calf reaches sexual maturity in two years and breeds at the age of four.

"" CARD 12QJ

GOLDEN LION TAMARIN GROUP 1: MAMMALS ------------------------------------------FAMILY ORDER GENUS &: SPECIES Primates

Callithricidae

Leontopithecus rosalia

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: Head and body, about 1 ft. Tail, slightly shorter. Weight: 11/2 lb. BREEDING Sexual Maturity: About 15 months. Mating season: Year-round. Gestation: 5 months. No. of young: 1-3, usually twins. LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable in family groups. Aggressive to intruders. Diet: Fruit, flowers, tender vegetation, insects, and small

vertebrates.

Range of the golden lion tamarin.

Lifespan: 10-15 years in captivity.

DISTRIBUTION Found only in a stretch of coastal forest in South America, near Rio Sao joao, and the Poco d' Anta Reserve in Brazil.

RELATED SPECIES There are 8 marmosets and 14 tamarins in the family. The genus has 2 other golden tamarins : the golden-headed lion, and the golden-rumped tamarin .

CONSERVATION The tamarin is critically endangered everywhere, mainly through loss of habitat. It has recently been bred successfully in zoos around the world . Over 40 animals have been reintroduced to the rain forests of southeast Brazil.

Coat: Long, silky, and red-gold in color. Lionlike mane frames its face, sweeping back over the head.

The golden lion tamarin has a coot that shines like gold dust in the light. " It is a close relative of the marmoset and is one of the most endangered of all mammals.

Feet: Long and narrow; elongated fingers. Forearm is shortened ; hand as long as forearm .

II

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Hands: The three middle fingers are connected at the central joint by a flap of skin.

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~ GOLDEN LION TAMARIN & MAN With its striking appearance, the golden lion tamarin has long been hunted as a prize exhibit for zoos. Since the seventeenth century it has also been popular as an exotic pet. Until 1960, the capture and export of this animal were legal. But these practices still continue illegally today. Unlike some of its relatives, the golden lion tamarin does not settle in disturbed forest. The ever-fncreasing demands Left: The main threat to the tamarin is shrinking natural forest habitat.

The golden lion tamarin occupies only a tiny-and shrinking-area of the equatorial forest regions of Brazil in South America. Its two close

relatives, the golden-headed lion and the goldenrumped tamarins, live in similarly small locations in the states of Bahia and Sao Paolo and are equally as endangered.

~ HABITAT

The golden lion tamarin inhabits primal forest (forest that has not been affected by man). It lives high in the treetops. Because it is sensitive to direct sunlight, it usually retreats into dense foliage during the hottest part of the day. It needs continuous forest canopy for survival. The golden lion tamarin spends its day in quarrelsome play with other tamarins. It jumps easily through the trees, using its elongated fingers to hold onto branches.

Unlike many other monkeys, it does not use its long tail to grasp branches. The tamarin lives in family groups. Although sociable within its family, it is very aggressive with intruders. If startled, the tamarin raises its mane, bares its teeth, and makes high-pitched shrieks. Sometimes adults of the same sex fight to the death. Right: The golden lion tamarin has claws instead of nails. They help it grip branches.

put on the forest by man has meant that much of the animal's natural habitat has been destroyed. This is the main reason that it has become endangered. The United States began a program to reintroduce the golden lion tamarin into selected areas, particularly the Poco d' Anta Reserve, near Rio de Janeiro. But much of the reserve was destroyed by fire, forcing many of the 75 to 150 tamarins living there to move into areas that are not suitable as habitat . .

~ FOOD & FEEDING The golden lion tamarin is an omnivore: it eats both meat and plants. It collects food in its treetop home, such as fruits, flowers, and plant nec-

tars. It also searches in the branches for insects, frogs, lizards, snails, and bird eggs. Below: The tamarin uses facial expressions for communication.

DID YOU KNOW? • Only two to three percent of the golden lion tamarin's original wild habitat still exists. • Grooming is an important part of the golden lion tamarin's daily activity. It helps to reinforce family ties. Tamarins even pick and clean each other's teeth. • The male golden lion tam-

arin has been observed feeding its young. • The marmoset and tamarin group of monkeys includes the smallest monkey of all: the pygmy marmoset, which is only five and a half inches long. The golden lion tamarin is the largest member of the family.

The golden lion tamarin stays with one partner and breeds throughout the year. :rhe male assists at the birth and washes the young-usually twins. The newborn tamarin looks like its parents, but its hair and mane are short. It clings tightly with its hands and feet to either of its parents. Every two to three hours the male gives one young to the female. She nurses it for about 15 minutes and then hands it back to the male.

When the young tamarins are about three weeks old, they begin to explore their surroundings. They continue to ride on their parents' backs for about a month. At four weeks, the parents give their young soft food, although they are not yet weaned. They can be on their own at three to five months but continue to run to their parents if danger threatens. Many young stay with their parents, never leaving the large family group.