Wildlife Fact File - Mammals - Pgs. 211-220
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Transcript of Wildlife Fact File - Mammals - Pgs. 211-220
RED-SHANKED DOUC MONKEY
'" CARD iITJ "' GROUP 1: MAMMALS "'~-------------------------------
.... ORDER .... FAMILY .... GENUS &: SPECIES ~ Primates ~ Cercopithecidae ~ Pygathrix nemaeus
The red-shanked douc is one of the most colorful of all monkeys. Once common in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, its population was devastated by the bombs of the Vietnam War.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: 1 ~-2 ft. Male slightly
larger than female .
Length of tail: About 2 ft. Weight: Female, up to 10 lb.
Male, up to 15 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 5 years.
Mating season: Adults may time
mating to produce young in a
season when food is available.
Gestation: 5-6 months.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Social and peaceful. Forms
small groups.
Diet: Mainly leaves; some fruit.
Lifespan: 25 years or more.
RELATED SPECIES
The black-shan ked douc, Pygathrix nigripes, is of the same genus. The
Chinese snub-nosed monkeys,
Rhinopithecus, are closely related.
FEATURES OF THE REDSHANKED DOUC MONKEY Male and female doucs are very similar. The male is slightly larger. Hands: Black,
with short thumbs. Broad
white cuffs.
Coat: Very colorful-the douc is known as the "costumed ape." Mainly grayish mixture of black and white fur on body.
Legs: Chestnut brown below knees. Thighs are black.
© MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the red-shanked douc monkey.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in virgin and partially cleared forests in central Vietnam
and eastern Laos. Thought to have once extended over a
much wider range.
CONSERVATION
The red-shan ked douc monkey was hunted extensively in the
past. Threatened with extinction in its natural environment since
the Vietnam War, it is now a protected species in Vietnam.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Face: Bare. Orange-yellow, but darkens if
the douc spends time in the sun. "Beard" of long
white hairs.
0160200491 PACKET 49
The red-shanked douc and its close relative the
black-shanked douc belong to a tree-dwelling group
made up of colobus and leaf monkeys, known
collectively as langurs. Members of this large and varied
group are characterized by the absence of cheek
pouches and by their short thumbs. They are also noted
for the fact that leaves are the mainstay of their diet.
~ HABITS Across its range in Vietnam and Laos, the red-shanked douc's preferred habitat is mature rainforests at altitudes of about 6,500 feet. But so much of this land has been destroyed that the douc is now also found in younger forests.
The red-shan ked douc once lived in groups of 60 or more. But its groups now number only about 12 members, generally with more females than males.
Living in treetops, the redshan ked douc is very agile. It can easily jump across a gap of 20 feet, landing feetfirst on a
chosen branch. Although it forages in the trees for hours each day, the red-shan ked douc is not the most active of monkeys. It prefers to doze among the branches or to groom other members in the group.
When startled, a group of redshanked doucs may make loud barking noises and become very active in the trees, slapping at branches with their hands and feet. But when they leave the trees, the members of a group move through the forest very quietly in order to avoid attracting attention .
~ FOOD &: FEEDING Like most colobus and leaf monkeys, the red-shanked douc feeds mainly on leaves and supplements this diet with fruit. During the day, the douc monkey spends a good deal of its time foraging for the large quantity of leaves that it needs for adequate nourishment. The red-shan ked douc has a large stomach, which is divided into sacs that contain bacteria to help digest plant cellulose.
The douc seems to be quite a
Left: The red-shanked douc faces extinction in the wild but is being bred successfully in zoos worldwide.
DID YOU KNOW? • The red-shanked douc monkey is called the "costumed ape" because of its bright coloration. The word douc is of ancient Vietnamese origin. • Even though it is thought to be closely related to the douc monkey, Brelich's snub-nosed monkey does not eat leaves. It
fussy eater. It randomly plucks leaves and fruit from trees but then examines the pickings carefully. It throws down old leaves and under- or overripe fruit, littering the forest with unwanted food.
Feeding is a quiet activity, and members of the group do not squabble or fight among themselves while they collect food. They have even been seen offering their leaves and fruit to one another.
Right: The red-shanked douc feeds mainly on leaves, which it inspects carefully before eating.
seems to feed on wild cherries, pears, and cucumbers. • When playing, douc monkeys partially bare their teeth and thrust their chins forward. They may also close their eyes and paw at each other. • Both colobus and leaf monkeys have short thumbs.
The red-shan ked douc has rarely been observed in the wild, so little is known about its breeding habits. Most monkeys of this group time their mating so they produce young in a season when food is plentiful.
The female douc makes the first sexual advances. She lies face down on a branch in the mating position and eyes her chosen mate over her shoulder. The male responds by staring at her and then shifting his gaze
Left: The douc's orange face and colorful fur make it a very distinctive monkey.
Left: Not only were the redshanked doucs almost wiped out by the bombs of the Vietnam War, but they were also used by soldiers for target practice.
to a place suitable for mating. The single young is born with
its eyes open and is able to cling to its mother. It is covered with short, downy hair and has a dark stripe down its back. The coat reaches the adult color by the time the douc is 10 months old. The skin on its face gradually lightens as the douc gets older.
Observation of other leaf monkeys shows that an infant is often cared for by others in the group as well as by the mother, and it is even suckled by other females . The douc is fully grown when it is five years old.
'" CARD 212 I PIKA
,,~--------------------------------------~~ ~
ORDER Lagomorpha
FAMILY Ochotonidae
GENUS Ochotona
Pikas have a unique way of coping with winter, when there is little vegetation in their range. They build "haystacks" of food in fall, which they dry and store to eat during the bleak winter months.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 5-12 in., depending on
the species.
Weight: 4-14 oz., depending on
the species.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Ranges from 1
month to 1 year.
Breeding season: Spring to sum
mer, depending on the species.
Gestation: 20-30 days.
Litter size: 3-13, depending on the
species. Usually more than 1 litter.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Live singly or in pairs, family
groups, or colonies.
Call: Most species highly vocal.
Diet: Mainly vegetation.
Lifespan: North American species,
up to 6 years. Asian species, up to
4 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 1 7 species in Asia and 2
in North America.
Range of pikas.
DISTRIBUTION
The North American species are found in the Rockies, extend
ing northward to Alaska and the Yukon. The Asian species live
in Asia and the U.S.S.R.
CONSERVATION
Because of their remote habitats, pikas were unknown to scien
tists until the 18th century. Today they are used as laboratory
animals in some countries.
FEATURES OF A ROCK-DWELLING PIKA The stack of vegetation is dried between piles of rocks near the burrow.
Body: Small and shaped like a rat, a rockdwelling pika has short, broad, rounded ears and no visible tail. Its coat varies from grayish to yellowish brown.
~
~1I storage: A roc~d~ ling pika prepares for winter by gathering huge
ttnts')f vegetation , which it dries In the sun and stores in "haystacks."
© MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200551 PACKET 55
Pikas are found in the Rocky Mountains
of North America and in the colder regions of Asia.
Although they belong to the same order as rabbits and
hares, these small furry animals look more like guinea pigs.
Most pikas are highly vocal, and they are able to
"throw" their voices just as ventriloquists do.
~ BEHAVIOR
Most pikas live in rocky crev
ices. But some pikas, such as
the steppe pika, live in burrows
like rabbits. Steppe pikas and
rabbits have a similar social
hierarchy, with entire families
living in large systems of under
ground warrens.
The North American pika lives
singly in its own territory, which
it defends vigorously. Males
and females have adjacent ter
ritories that often overlap.
Another species, the north
ern pika, lives in pairs for most
of its life.
All pikas are active by night
and day, and they usually
move about alone.
Top left: A pika will spend hours sitting on a rock, basking in the sunshine.
DID YOU KNOW? • The steppe pika's call can be heard 330 feet away.
• Pikas are also called piping hares, whistling hares, or call
ing hares because of their
vocal habits.
• Pallas's pikas build three
foot-long rock piles around
their dens and runs.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Pikas usually forage for food at
sunrise and in late afternoon.
They often travel outside their
territories to find food. Pikas eat
most vegetation, which they
cut with their chisel-like teeth.
During the fall pikas gather as
much food as possible and store
it for the winter. Many species
dry the food in the sun before
storing it under a rock. One
species piles stones around its
food store to protect it.
Like rabbits and hares, pikas
eat some of their own drop
pings, from which they get
essential vitamins and carbohy
drates. This practice enables
them to get the most out of
the vegetation they eat, which
is not highly nutritious.
Below: This North American pika is also known locally as the rock rabbit.
• The "haystacks" of North American pikas are about two
feet high. A Pallas's pika's stack
weighs 35 to 45 pounds.
• Pikas' feet have hairy soles
that are good for gripping
sheer rock.
• Some pikas dig tunnel systems in the snow.
Above: In the fall, a pika begins to gather food for the winter.
Right: The elusive alpine pika periodically leaps out onto rocks to call to other pikas.
Pikas that live in burrows pro
duce the largest litters. The
steppe pika produces the most
offspring, probably because its
habitat offers little protection
from predators, and the spe
cies incurs high losses.
In a breeding season that
lasts only a few weeks, the
steppe pika produces three or
four litters with three to thir
teen young in each. The ges
tation period is 20 to 24 days,
and the young can breed at
three or four weeks of age.
Young steppe pikas grow
quickly. Within five days of
birth, they weigh about half
an ounce-double their birth
weight. Although they are
quite active by this time, they
do not open their eyes until
they are eight or nine days old.
The mother suckles the young
for three weeks. They leave the
nest three or four days later.
Top right: The open plains that the steppe pika inhabits offer little protection from predators.
CARD 213 1
ALPINE MARMOT "' ___________________ GROUP 1: MAMMAl~ .,. ORDER ... FAMILY ... GENUS & SPECIES ~ Rodentia ~ Sciuridae ~ Marmota marmota
The alpine marmot spends most of its life underground, where it rears its young and hibernates. This stocky, short-tailed rodent
has thick claws that are blunt from digging.
--"I KEY FACTS
I ~ I SIZES ~ Length: 16-21 in .
Weight: In spring, 5-8 lb. In fall,
8-12Ib.
BREEDING Sexual maturity: 2 years.
Breeding season: Spring.
Gestation: About 5 weeks.
Litter size: 1-7.
Weaning: About 6 weeks.
LIFESTYLE Habit: Burrowing. Lives in territorial
family groups. Hibernates through
out the winter.
Diet: Leaves and flowers of herbs
and grasses.
Calls: Piercing whistles.
Lifespan: 15-18 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
The genus Marmota contains 10
species of marmot: 4 in Eurasia and
the other 6 in North America.
Range of the alpine marmot.
DISTRIBUTION
Native mainly to the western and central Alps and the Carpa
thian Mountains. Introduced into parts of the eastern Alps,
the Pyrenees, and the Black Forest in western Germany.
CONSERVATION
The alpine marmot is hunted for sport. It is not currently at risk,
but it could become endangered in the future because it has a
slow breeding rate and a limited mountaintop habitat. ~
HE ALPINE MARMOT'S HOME f. ,,""
',~. "'. '- -,(:- .... ,,"'\ ..... ' ''. Site: The marmot digs Its summer
" burrow near the snow tine on a sunny , slope that faces south. There may also
be a far more complex wi nter burrow lower in the valle .
©MCMXCVI IMP BV/IMP INC. WILDLIFE FACT FILpM PRINTED IN U.S.A. US P 6001 12 054 PACKET 54
The alpine marmot was widespread over lowland
Europe during the last Ice Age. Having adapted to the
cold, the animal retreated into the cooler mountains
when the climate began to get warmer. Today the
alpine marmot is frequently seen on the grassy slopes
below the mountain peaks of central Europe.
~ BEHAVIOR The alpine marmot is a small,
burrowing mammal. It lives in
central Europe on open, sunny slopes above the tree line at altitudes of up to two miles.
The alpine marmot uses its forepaws to dig its burrow.
It pushes back debris with its hind feet and loosens large stones with its teeth. A burrow
has several entrances, roomy
living chambers lined with dry grass, and dead-end tunnels
that are used as latrines. Large
burrows may be the work of many generations.
Alpine marmots live in family
groups made up of a dominant breeding pair and its offspring.
The family marks its territory with scent, and the members
beat their tails and rattle their teeth to drive off intruders.
Right: The alpine marmot often stands on its hind legs. Here it is bending over to nibble at an itch.
~ BREEDING In early spring the alpine marmot emerges from hibernation
to begin breeding. Early mating ensures that the young will be sufficiently developed by winter to survive.
After mating, the female carries bedding material into the
burrow and remains there to
give birth. The average litter contains three young, born blind and helpless. After six
weeks, the young venture out of the nest and forage for food.
By the end of summer, their fur turns to the color of the adults' fur. They reach full size
after their second year.
Far left: Even though the alpine marmot is plump, it is agile and can easily scale steep slopes.
Left: Alpine marmots have close family bonds. Young marmots stay close to their mother and within reach of the burrow even when they are playing.
Below right: A pair of marmots cautiously sniff a plant before starting to eat it.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The alpine marmot leaves its burrow to feed in the cool
morning and afternoon. It cannot tolerate heat and may not
feed at all on very hot days. The marmot eats the leaves
and flowers of young plants, holding them in its forepaws as it nibbles. It also eats spiders
and worms. It feeds voraciously in order to build up a thick layer
of fat to sustain it during its winter hibernation.
~ HIBERNATION Near the end of summer, family members bring old stems into the burrow to serve as bedding. In October they plug up the burrow entrances in preparation for their winter sleep.
As winter falls, the marmots
huddle in the bedding chamber and fall into a deep torpor.
Their heart rate drops to five
beats per minute, and they breathe only one to three
times a minute, so that they use up their stored energy as slowly as possible. Their body temperature falls, almost matching that of the burrow. But if
the temperature approaches
the freezing point, they quicken their heart rate and breath
ing and burn more energy to avoid freezing.
DID YOU KNOW? • The alpine marmot can burrow in ground so hard that a pick can barely penetrate it.
• The marmot often rests on the mound of displaced soil
that accumulates at its bur
row entrance.
• A North American marmot
Winter is the time when the
most marmots starve, because their summer fat reserves run out. This may result from exceptionally cold weather or from warm weather that causes the animals to burn up fat too fast.
Below: A marmot lets hay dry in the sun before taking it into the burrow.
colony built a burrow system with 76 entrances in an area of only 0.03 square miles.
• The alpine marmot was once widely hunted for its
fat, which was believed to
relieve rheumatism when it was rubbed into the skin.
'" CARD 214 I THREE-TOED SLOTH
,,~----------------------------------------~ ,. ORDER
"IIIIIIII Edentata FAMILY 8radypodidae
GENUS &: SPECIES 8radypu5 tridactylu5, torquatu5, & variegatu5
Among the world~ strangest mammals, three-toed sloths spend most of their time hanging upside down. These solitary, slow-moving creatures live in the trees of South America ~ tropical rainforests.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 1 6-28 in.
Tail, %-3~ in.
Weight: 9-10 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male, 5 years.
Female, 3-4 years.
Breeding season: Probably March
and April.
Gestation: 5-6 months.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Call: Characteristic "ai-ai" noise.
Habit: Solitary; very slow moving.
Active by day and night.
Diet: A wide variety of leaves.
Lifespan: Less than 12 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The 2 species of two-toed sloth,
Choloepus didactylus and C. hoff
manni, are related but belong to
a different family.
Range of three-toed sloths.
DISTRIBUTION
The brown-throated sloth lives in forests from southern Vene
zuela and the Guianas to northern Brazil. The pale-throated
sloth ranges from Honduras to Argentina. The maned sloth is
found only in northeastern Brazil.
CONSERVATION
Three-toed sloths are widespread and common. Like all forest
mammals, they are threatened by habitat destruction.
FEATURES OF THREE-TOED SLOTHS RAINFOREST ADAPTATIONS
Feet: 3 toes on each fore- and hind foot, closely bound together with tissue and covered in skin and hair. Leathery palms give a sloth a good grip on branches.
Limbs: Arms are considerably longer than hind limbs. A sloth uses them to pull itself along branches.
Claws: Strong and curved, 3 on each foot. Give a sloth a vicelike grip around branches.
Senses: Sight and hearing are poor, but smell and touch are
well developed.
c MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE A T FILpM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
A three-toed sloth is agile and well adapted to life in the trees. When hanging upside down, rain drains off its underside via a parting of the fur along its belly.
1 PA
Three-toed sloths probably spend more time in the trees
than any other South American forest mammal.
In fact, a three-toed sloth may spend its entire life
living in the same tree. There are three species of
three-toed sloth-the maned, the brown-throated,
and the pale-throated--and they all share the
same distinctively sluggish way of life.
~ HABITAT It was once thought that threetoed sloths lived only in Cecropia trees (a species of trumpetwood tree), feeding on their leaves. It is now known that they live in at least 96 other tree species whose leaves they eat. The myth about their exclusive habitat arose because it is only in the open canopies of Cecropia trees that sloths are easily seen.
A male sloth may live in one tree throughout his life, but the female moves into other areas. She leaves her original range for the young to inhabit.
Unlike most mammals, a three-toed sloth cannot keep its body temperature constant.
Because it loses heat rapidly if the air temperature drops, it can survive only in a warm, humid environment.
One of the slowest moving of all mammals, a three-toed sloth moves upside down along tree branches. It uses its long limbs and powerful claws to pull itself forward in a hand-over-hand motion. It moves at a speed of about one-third of a mile per hour and travels less than 45 yards in a day. A three-toed sloth spends many hours hanging motionless from a branch. Its grip is so strong that it cannot be broken even when the sloth is asleep.
~ BREEDING Like all sloths, a three-toed sloth is solitary. It is not known how male and female come together for mating. But the "ai-ai" cry of both sexes may help to bring them together since the cry seems to increase during March and April, when mating occurs.
The male sloth scent-marks branches with secretions from an anal gland. Sloths also defecate and urinate at the base of
Left: Unable to support its body weight on its limbs, a sloth must drag itself along the ground.
DID YOU KNOW? • A three-toed sloth may spend 18 hours a day sleeping and dozing. • After a meal, a sloth's stomach contents can make up a third of its body weight. • A species of gigantic South American ground sloth called Megatherium became extinct
certain trees, possibly to leave signals for other sloths.
The female gives birth in a tree and tends the single, very small offspring by herself. The young sloth clings to the fur on its mother's chest and suckles for one month. It then eats leaves, but it continues to cling to its mother for up to eight months more. If it is separated from her, it makes bleating noises until she returns.
Right: A young three-toed sloth clings constantly to its mother for its first nine months.
only in the last several hundred years. • A sloth's grip on a branch is so strong that if killed it will hang until it decomposes. • Mites, beetles, and tiny moths live in a sloth's coat and feed off algae that grow in the hairs.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING A three-toed sloth's diet consists of leaves. Because it processes food slowly and is so inactive, it has little need of food for energy-a young deer of the same weight eats seven times as much food .
A three-toed sloth is most active when it is searching for and eating food. Unlike twotoed sloths, which feed at night, three-toed sloths feed during daylight. Since it has poor hearing, a sloth uses smell and touch to locate food and find its way through the trees.
Left: Three-toed sloths must eat many leaves to satisfy their nutritional requirements.
Left: Threetoed sloths usually hang motionless in the treetops, but they are surprisingly good swimmers. They may even cross rivers in search of new food sources.
A sloth plucks leaves slowly with its thick, horny lips and, with its rough tongue, pushes food toward the teeth at the back of its mouth. Chewing is slow, and digestion can take up to a month. To cope with its diet of leaves a sloth's stomach has several compartments containing bacteria that enable it to digest cellulose (the main component of plants).
Although sloths belong to the order Edentata, meaning toothless, they have cheek teeth for chewing fibrous leaves. These teeth have no enamel and grow continually, since they are worn down by chewing.
" CARD 2 15 I FOUR-HORNED ANTELOPE
,,~------------------------------------------~ ... ORDER '11IIIIIIII Artiodactyla
FAMILY Bovidae
... GENUS &: SPECIES '11IIIIIIII Tetracerus quadricornis
The four-horned antelope does not always live up to its name. In some males the two front horns never appear, and the
female of the species has no horns at all.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 3-4 ft. Height: About 2 ft . to shoulder.
Weight: 33-55 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Unknown.
Mating: July to September.
Gestation: 7- 8 months.
No. of young: 1-3.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary or lives in pairs.
Diet: Leaves, bulbs, shoots, grass,
herbs, and fruits. Daily water
essential.
lifespan: Up to 10 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The closest relative is the nilgai,
Boselaphus tragocamelus, which
lives in India on grassland and in
sparse forests. Nil, a Hindi word for
blue, refers to the nilgai's coat,
which turns from brown to blue
gray as it matures.
Range of the four-horned antelope.
DISTRIBUTION
The four-horned antelope is found in India and Nepal, in hill
side forest edges close to open ground and water.
CONSERVATION
The number of four-horned antelopes in the wild is hard to es
timate because this species keeps itself concealed most of the
time. It has been the victim of hunters and habitat destruction
and is not common in any part of its range.
FEATURES OF THE FOUR-HORNED ANTELOPE
Coat: Short and tawny. White underside, inner legs, and face patches.
© MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Horns: Present only on male. Rear horns grow to approximately 4 inches in length. Supplementary horns at front of head reach a maximum length of 2 inches.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200511 PACKET51
There is still a great deal to be learned about the habits
of the four-horned antelope. This shy, cautious animal
frequently lives in an inaccessible habitat. It needs a good
supply of water and never strays far from a permanent
source. Hidden for most of the day, the four-horned
antelope emerges at sunrise and sunset to feed.
~ HABITS The four-horned antelope's pri-mary need is a water source to drink from at least once a day. The water supply may be a lake, pond, or even a village water tank. The antelope also requires shelter with good grazing close by, which it finds in
meadows, parks, or at forest edges. The four-horned antelope is rarely seen feeding because it runs to the shelter of
trees at the slightest sign of danger. When it is not feeding, it
stays concealed in undergrowth. There it chews its cud, out of sight of predators and away from the heat of the sun.
Once a four-horned antelope has chosen a territory, it seems
to remain in that area for many years. As is the case with other antelopes, much of its habitat has been lost to agriculture.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The four-horned antelope feeds mainly at dawn and dusk, emerging from cov-er to graze on grasses and herbs. It also eats the young
left: The extra frontal horns of the four-horned antelope are small compared to the main pair.
Right: The four-horned antelope does not seem to use calls or visual displays to make its presence known. Instead, it stakes outa territory by defecating in specific places or by using glands on its face, groin, and legs to scent-mark vegetation.
leaves, buds, and shoots of bushes and trees. But before eating a plant or a leaf, most antelopes will sniff it to see if it is nutritious.
Right: Although it is primarily a grazer, the antelope also browses on trees and shrubs.
I DID YOU KNOW? • The ancestors of modern cattle closely resem bled the
four-horned antelope.
• In India the four-horned antelope is known as the chousingha, or "fou r horns."
• The four-horned antelope is the only mammal that has
~ BREEDING The four-horned antelope mates between July and Sep
tember. During this period, the male antelope can become very aggressive.
It is thought that the fourhorned antelope pairs for life, since most are seen alone or in pairs. During the mating sea-
left: The female leaves her fawn in dense vegetation, where it is hidden from predators.
four horns. Its head was
prized by trophy hunters.
• Leopards, tigers, jackals, and dholes all prey on the
four-horned antelope.
• Only the outside of an antelope's horn is true horn. The core is made of bone.
son, however, a buck may gather four or five does around him.
Approximately eight months after mating, between one and three young are born. Like most antelope species, the female four-horned antelope probably leaves her young hidden in the relative safety of the undergrowth while she grazes on more open land, returning at intervals to nurse them.
ANGORA GOAT "'______________ GROUP 1: MAMMALS
.. ORDER .. FAMILY .. GENUS & SPECIES ~ Artiodactyla ~ Bovidae ~ Capra hircus
The Angora goat is famous for its luxurious curly coat, which is the source of the fiber mohair. Originally bred in Turlcey, the goat
was named for the province of Ankara, or Angora.
KEY FACTS
SIZES Height: 2-2 ~ ft. at the shoulder. Weight: Female, 75 lb. Male, 110 lb .
BREEDING Sexual maturity: Female, about 6 months but often mated at 1 8 months. Male, 18 months. Breeding season: September to February. Gestation : 5 months. No. of young: Usually 1, but twins are common.
LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable, inquisitive, and playful. Diet: Fibrous, woody vegetation; herbs; and grass. lifespan: 14-15 years but often culled earlier.
RELATED SPECIES Related to all other breeds of goats, including the Saanen, Toggenburg, and Anglo-Nubian .
Range of the Ahgora goat.
DISTRIBUTION First bred in Turkey and now raised in South Africa, Lesotho, the United States, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand.
CONSERVATION Mohair represents about one percent of the world's output of natural fibers, but demand is growing steadily. The number of Angora goats worldwide is certain to increase.
Ooat: The Angora g{)at's thick coat is the source of the fiber mohair. Mohair is more luslfOtlS thal'l wool beoause eacl:! fiber is smooth and not covered with the overlapping seales tMat w(;lol has. The Ang:oral s d€lwny undemoaf prodwC8S cashmere but many other types of goats conlr~b \;lte to cashmere prGdl:fction as wel l. Ango ra wool comes from Angora rabbits , l'lot the Angora §oat.
Head: The Angora's head, especially the muzzle, has a thinner, shorter covering of wool than its
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Body fat: Despite its very thick coat, the Angora goat needs shelter in cold , wet weather. It feels the cold because it has a relatively thin layer of body fat.
0160200561 PACKET 56
There are approximately seven million Angora goats
in the world. They are raised almost solely for fiber
production. Each year Angora goats supply the textile
industry with nearly 28,000 tons of mohair. Today
the leading producer of mohair is South Africa.
~ ORIGIN Like all domestic goats, the An
gora is descended from the wild
goat of Persia. Wild goats typi
cally have long hair on parts
of their bodies, and they grow
thick coats in winter. Both natu
ral and artificial selection caused
these traits to become fixed.
Goats that were kept in the
Angora province of Turkey be
came renowned for the quali
ty of their coats. Turkey then
became the leading producer
of mohair and closely guarded
this trade. In 1838 Angoras
left the country for the first
time, when 12 males and a
female were shipped to South
Africa. Today South Africa is
the world's leading producer
of mohair, followed by the
United States and Turkey.
~ HABITAT Goats in the wild live in small
groups on the slopes of rocky hills and mountains. These sure
footed climbers roam craggy
uplands that only a few other
animals can reach. Flocks of
domestic Angoras live remark
ably similar lives in the moun
tains of Turkey. In contrast,
Angoras in South Africa live
on veldt (shrubby grassland) .
Today the Angora goat is
being raised more intensively
for the production of mohair,
and it is confined to fenced
pastures. Because it is adept
at escaping, the Angora is usu
ally kept behind an electric
fence. Strong wire netting is
also widely used.
Right: Angora goats provide mohair and cashmere fibers.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING Like its wild relative, the An
gora goat feeds on shrubs
more than grass. Its favorite
foods are fibrous brambles,
twigs, and woody shrubs, but
it also feeds on more tender
plants. Free-ranging herds are often left to eat whatever veg
etation their habitat offers. In
South Africa, they eat karoo
scrub and spekeboom, a com
mon shrub. In New Zealand,
goats are used to clear farm-
Left: Angora goats are friendly animals.
DID YOU KNOW? • To protect their exclusive supply of mohair, the Turkish
sultans prohibited the export
of Angora goats for centuries.
In 1838, when a doe and 12
bucks were exported to South
land of sweet briar and gorse.
Such unrestricted diets often
result in poor-quality mohair and a low rate of reproduction.
For this reason, many Angora
goat farmers fence in their
flocks on top-quality pasture
land. In winter the goats are
provided with hay or silage.
Dietary supplements may be
supplied to pregnant Angora
does (females) and to does
with kids (offspring).
Right: Angoras often stand on their hind legs to reach food.
Africa, the bucks were found
to have been castrated. But
the doe was pregnant and
gave birth to a male kid. In
this way the South African
mohair industry began.
~ ANGORA GOAT &: MAN The Angora is bred for its coat,
which is the source of mohair.
This fiber is silky, warm, light, fire
resistant, mothproof, and easy
to dye. It is in great demand for
high-quality fabrics. The goats
are sheared twice a year-usual
ly six weeks before the young
are born and six weeks before
mating. Angora goats also pro
vide skins for leather, and their
meat is eaten in many countries.
~ BREEDING The breeding season begins in
fall. The doe comes into season (is ready to mate) every 18
to 23 days. She indicates her
readiness by bleating and wag
ging her tail. The buck (mature
male) begins to call insistently
and develops a musky odor.
Although Angora goat farm
ers often let their goats mate
naturally, they sometimes con
trol breeding by confining a
buck and bringing females to
him. Artificial insemination is
sometimes used to introduce
fresh bloodlines into a flock.
Angora bucks are frequent
ly mated with does of other
breeds. After five generations
are mated with Angoras, the
offspring are upgraded to full
Angora status.
"'CARD 217 I SUGAR GLIDER "~ ____________________________ ~G~R~O~U~P_l~: ~M~A~M~M~A=LS~~ ... ORDER ... FAMILY ... GENUS & SPECIES ~ Marsupialia ~ Petauridae ~ Petaurus breviceps
The sugar glider is one of the most striking Australian mammals. Launching itself from the top of a tree, this marsupial acrobat
can glide for a distance of almost 200 feet.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Head and body length: 6-8 in.
Tail length: 6-8 in .
Weight: 3-5 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 7-1 0 months.
Mating season: Usually August.
Gestation: 3 weeks.
No. of young: 1-3, usually 2.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Active at night; nests in
groups of up to 12. Diet: Gum, sap, nectar, pollen,
insects and their larvae.
Call: Shrill yapping to warn of
predators.
Lifespan: 10 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 2 other species in the
genus Petaurus: the fluffy glider,
P. australis, and the squirrel glider,
P. norfolcensis.
Range of the sugar glider.
DISTRIBUTION
The sugar glider is found in Tasmania and neighboring islands,
in the forests of eastern and northern Australia, and as far north
as New Guinea.
CONSERVATION
The sugar glider is one of the most abundant native Australian
mammals, but its preferred habitat of patchy, open forest is
threatened.
FEATURES OF THE SUGAR GLIDER
Patagium: This layer of thin, furred skin stretches from the wrist to the ankle of the hind limb. It helps the animal glide . . Eyes: Large and
bulging, typical of a . nocturnal animal.
Coat: The upper parts are gray with a dark stripe from nose to rump. The underparts are
pale yellow or gray. The face has several stripes.
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Flight (viewed from below) :
The curvature of the patagium
can be altered to . adjust the flow
of air over it, causing a change in direction.
Tail: Long, fluffy, and nonprehensite (cannot grip
a support firmly) . Used somewhat like a rudder to
change direction when
gliding.
0160200591 PACKET 59
Competition for food is keen in the dense Australian forests
where most sugar gliders live. This tiny animal's ability
to "fly" between the trees gives it a strong advantage.
Not only can it move quickly from one food source
to another, but it also avoids potential predators.
~ HABITS The sugar glider lives in the forests of Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. It prefers open forest where it has enough space to glide from tree to tree.
Active at night, the sugar glider spends the day in a nest in a hollow of a tree. This social creature nests in groups of up to 12 individuals. In summer these groups may become smaller.
When constructing its nest, the sugar glider often hangs by its feet from a branch and grabs leaves with its hands. It may also
use its feet and tail to collect leaves. It then scuttles along a branch to a suitable hollowunable to glide because of the leaves' bulk.
As it moves about the forest at night, the sugar glider calls to other group members. It has good hearing and a highly developed sense of smell. It can identify other members of its group by their odor.
Right: In order to obtain protein, the sugar glider eats insects as well as gum and sap.
~ BREEDING The male sugar glider has scentmarking glands on his forehead, chest, and near his anus. Scent is part of its mating ritual. Dominant males also spread their scent among group members.
Mating usually occurs in August, depending on the availability of food. In the nest, a male first rubs scent from his forehead on a female's chest. To accept a partner, the female rubs her head on the male's chest. Sugar gliders do not form pair bonds, and a female may mate with several males.
The gestation period is three weeks, and usually two young are born. Dependent on their
Left: Just before landing on a tree trunk, the sugar glider pulls itself upright to slow down.
DID YOU KNOW? • The sugar glider is one of the most common native Australian mammals. • The sugar glider's nest is notorious for its foul smell, which comes from the animals' urinating on the leaves
mother, the blind newborns weigh a fraction of an ounce.
The mother helps her newborn into her pouch, where each immediately latches onto one of her four nipples. The babies develop quickly on her protein-rich milk and leave the pouch after about 1 0 weeks, when they are too big for the mother to carry about.
The young stay in the group nest for the next month. When they are about 15 weeks old, they first accompany their mother on feeding forays. The young are almost independent at this stage, but they may stay at the nest for several years.
Right: With her powerful claws, a mother sugar glider can cling to stems when carrying her young.
to dampen them down. • The sugar glider's generic name is Petaurus, which is derived from the Latin word petaurum-referring to a springboard that was used by Roman athletes.
r
1.8- SPECIAL ADAPTATION The sugar glider can "fly" up to 200 feet between trees because of its patagiu~a thin, furred membrane that forms a rectangular area stretching
~ FOOD & FEEDING The sugar glider gets its name from its fondness for sweet sap and gum. It prefers the gums of eucalyptus and acacia trees. It also eats pollen, nectar, insects, and insect larvae.
The trees that give the sugar glider so much of its food are not common and are often spread out in the forest. The sugar glider is able to use this food source because it can travel quickly over long distances.
When it finds a suitable tree, the sugar glider grips the trunk
from the wrist to the ankle of the hind limb. When the animal is not gliding, the membrane is visible only as a dark, wavy line along its flanks .
---1
with its powerful claws. Clamping its sharp teeth into the bark, it laps up the sweet sap with its tongue. It vigorously defends a good feeding site.
Tree sap and gum help sustain the sugar glider's active lifestyle, but these carbohydrate-rich foods do not provide enough energy for reproduction. In order to reproduce, the sugar glider needs to eat protein-rich insects and pollen, so it usually breeds only in times when insects abound.
"'" CARD 218 1 JERBOA ,,~----------------------------------------~ ... ORDER
"1IIIIIIII Rodentia FAMILY Dipodidae
GENERA Various
Although they are closely related to rats and mice, jerboas look more like miniature kangaroos as they hop
across the desert sands in search of food.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Body length: 1 ~-6 in.
Tail length: 3-10 in .
Hind foot length: 1-3 in.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 11 weeks.
Mating season: Varies, depending
on where the species lives. Most
species breed twice a year.
Gestation: 3-6 weeks.
No. of young: 2-6 in each litter.
Average, 3.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Usually solitary. Some desert
jerboas live in small groups.
Diet: Various fruits, plants, seeds,
and some insects.
Lifespan: Thought to be 2-3 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 31 species of jerboa in 11
genera. They are all closely related
to rats and mice.
TWO JERBOA SPECIES
Mongolian five-toed jerboa, Allactaga bullata. Found in western China and Mongolia.
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Range of jerboas.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in desert, semidesert, and steppe regions of North Africa and Eurasia east to Manchuria.
CONSERVATION
Jerboas are in no danger. They are preyed upon by animals in
arid regions and sometimes hunted by desert tribes. In some
years great numbers of young jerboas die as a result of floods or extreme droughts.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Desert jerboa, Jaculus jaculus. Found in North Africa, the U.S.S.R., Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan .
0160200611 PACKET61
/erboas live in areas that offer very little cover-
deserts, semideserts, and the vast, treeless grasslands
of Russia and China. In order to survive, these tough
rodents live in underground burrows, where they
are protected from heat as well as cold.
~ HABITS Jerboas are usually solitary, but
they may form loose colonies.
Jerboas live in underground
burrows, which they dig with
their small front paws. They use
their huge back feet to kick soil
or sand out of the way.
Desert jerboas often build
complex burrows with food
chambers, living quarters, and
escape hatches. At depths that
reach six feet, these burrows
protect jerboas from the sun's
intense heat. Some Asiatic jer
boas also build winter burrows
in which they hibernate.
~ SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS Jerboas are well adapted to
their environment. A jerboa's
back feet are four times as long
as its front paws and covered
in fine fur. They act like snow
shoes on the soft sand, spread
ing a jerboa's weight to keep
it from sinking. The long tail
with its flattened, hairy tip
also helps a jerboa stay on the
sand or soil without sinking.
Most rodents run from pred-
~ FOOD & FEEDING Jerboas forage for food during
the night. They feed mainly
on seeds and plants, and they
sometimes dig up roots. A few
species eat beetles and other
insects. Other species eat fruit,
especially melons. They feed
on the soft flesh and juice but
ignore the hard seeds, which
their weak jaws are unable to
process. These species have
left: A jerboa's extended back legs enable it to hop great distances.
ators, but jerboas hop away,
covering 1 0 feet in one leap.
They can veer sharply to the
right or left and reach speeds
of 15 miles per hour.
Some jerboas, such as the
great jerboa, have large ears
that lose heat and help the an
imals stay cool. Others, such
as desert jerboas, have folds of
skin that close over their nos
trils when they are digging.
become pests to fruit farmers.
Jerboas hop quickly and
cover a great deal of ground
in a single leap. As a result,
they are able to travel long
distances on their hunting
trips with a minimum amount
of effort. They sometimes dig
temporary burrows in which
to rest during their long forag
ing trips.
Right: Most desert jerboas have sand-colored coats.
~ BREEDING Most jerboas breed twice a
year. Northern species proba
bly mate after their winter hi
bernation so the young will be
born when food is plentiful.
Three to six weeks after mat
ing, the female gives birth to
two to six young. The hairless
babies use their forepaws to
drag themselves along the
ground. The long back legs do
not develop for several weeks,
and the young cannot hop
until they are 11 weeks old.
Young jerboas are weaned
at 8 weeks of age and are sex
ually mature at 14 weeks.
left: A keen-sighted jerboa hops out at night to find food.
DID YOU KNOW? I • In very hot areas, some jerboas go into a state of
torpor, or semihibernation,
until the temperature cools.
Others hibernate in winter,
living off their body fat.
• Some desert jerboas can leap three feet into the air.
• Some jerboas plug up their burrow entrances to
to keep out hot or cold air.
• In World War II, General Montgomery's troops in
North Africa were called
/I desert rats" after the jer
boas in that region.
• Jerboas are preyed upon by almost all mammals as
well as birds and snakes.
ORYX
"'= ... ORDER ~ Artiodactyla
FAMILY Bovidae
CARD 219
GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Oryx leucoryx, O. dammah, O. gazella
Oryx have a remarkable ability to survive in harsh desert conditions. They constantly roam the savannas of Africa in search
of water, and they are able to sense rainfall far away.
.-----\1 KEY FACTS ------------------------------------------------------~
li1 SIZES
Length: Body, 5-8 ft . Tail, 1 ~-3 ft. Height: 3-4~ ft . to shoulder .
Weight: 220-460 lb .
Horns: 2-5 ft. long.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 ~-2 years.
Mating: Year-round .
No. of young: 1 . Gestation: 8-1 0 months.
Weaning: About 4 months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable; travel in herds.
Diet: Grasses, herbs, berries,
leaves, bulbs, fruits.
Lifespan: 20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 3 oryx species-the
Arabian oryx, Oryx leucoryx; the
scimitar oryx, O. dammah; and
the South African oryx, O. gazella.
The East African oryx, O. gazella
beisa is a subspecies.
Original range of oryx.
DISTRIBUTION
The Arabian oryx is now found only in Oman. The scimitar oryx
now occurs only in Chad, but was once found in northern Africa
from Senegal to the Sudan. The East African oryx is found from
Eritrea to Tanzania. The South African oryx occurs in southern
Africa, especially Namibia and South Africa.
CONSERVATION
Hunting and habitat loss have greatly reduced the number of oryx.
FEATURES OF THE EAST AFRICAN ORYX OTHER ORYX SPECIES
Coat: Light grayish brown with white underparts, black and white markings on the head, and a black line down the throat and across the flanks . Like the South African oryx, it has a short mane.
Horns: Long and almost straight. The horns slope
backward and
oryx species, it has facial markings.
Legs: Long and slender. Broad hooves support the
an imal 's weight on soft sand.
/~. "
Scimitar oryx: The smallest oryx. Long , curved horns. Pale coat with rusty brown neck, chest, face , and flanks.
.. South African oryx: The largest
A::;:s;:;:S=::::::=;;:=~5a; • • ;:::;::=~==~~ ... _ 1 oryx, also known as the gemsbok. Gray coat with dark brown on flank and tops of legs.
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Also known as desert antelope, oryx once roamed
in great numbers throughout the desert regions of Arabia
and Africa. But because of their beautiful horns and hides,
these creatures were killed for many decades by hunters
seeking trophies. Oryx have also suffered from the loss of
their habitat. They are now endangered animals in many
areas, and some species survive primarily in captivity.
~ HABITS Oryx herds may have only six or
over a hundred members. They
roam the African savannas look
ing for food and water. To rest,
they usually dig shallow beds
under trees or large shrubs.
A cow leads the oryx herd in
its search for water or a sleeping
place, while the dominant male,
or alpha bull, brings up the rear.
If the cow loses the way, the al
pha bull moves to the front and
stands sideways to put the herd
back on course. He then leads
the group for a while.
Some herds have only males;
others are made up of families;
and still others are all-female
harems led by one alpha bull.
Bachelor males frequently roam
alone. They test each other in
horn fights, but these are usual
ly harmless rituals.
Oryx are prey for cheetahs and
lions. Their young are attacked
by smaller predators such as hy
enas and jackals. If threatened,
an oryx kneels and lowers its
head, ready to bring its pierc
ing horns up into its attacker.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING Oryx need water and succulent
vegetation to survive in their dry
habitat. Because the rainfall is so
unpredictable, oryx drink when
ever they can, usually from wa
ter holes or streams. They graze
on grasses, shrubs, and herbs
and also eat juicy roots, bulbs,
and even melons.
Oryx can sense distant rainfall.
A herd may travel hundreds of
miles to feed on new vegetation.
Oryx can find even tiny trickles
of water and will unearth succu
lent roots or dig holes in dried
up riverbeds to reach ground
water. To conserve their body
Left: The East African oryx lives in semidesert areas in Ethiopia.
-- --I DID YOU KNOW?
• Oryx can sense rainfall so
well that one animal traveled
over 50 miles in response.
• Oryx are highly valued for
their hides, which make good
leather. Their heads and horns
are prized by hunters as tro
phies. African tribesmen once
used the horns as tips for their
spears. Oryx meat is consid-
fluids and avoid water loss from
panting, oryx stay in shade dur
ing the hottest part of the day.
At a water hole, a noisy con
flict may break out between two
different herds, even if there is
enough water for all. But this
contest is usually only a suprem
acy display or a bloodless lock
ing of horns.
Because they eat food low in
nutrition, oryx must spend long
hours feeding. Some herds in
southern Africa may graze from
sunrise to mid-morning and
then graze again in the after
noon until sunset.
Right: Oryx usually drink from water holes but may dig for water.
ered a delicacy and is believed
to have medicinal properties.
• Leucoryx, the scientific name
for the pale Arabian oryx spe
cies, comes from leucos, the
Greek word for "white."
• The Arabian oryx became
extinct in the wild in the 1970s,
but it has now been reintro
duced in Oman.
l
Oryx mate at any time of year.
When courting, the bull and
cow run in what is known as a
mating circle. They also pace up
and down and lock horns. A fe
male that is not ready to mate
deters the male by standing be
hind him. When ready, she low
ers her head and lets the male
approach . He gives her a ritual
kick between the rear legs be
fore they mate.
Left: Once common in northern Africa, the scimitar oryx is now found only in Chad.
Arabian oryx is specially adapted to the desert. Its white coat reflects the sun, while its dark legs absorb heat from the ground during cold early mornings.
A single calf is born after eight
to ten months. Birth can occur
at any time of year but is usually
between September and Janu
ary. The calf weighs 20 to 30
pounds. It has a tufted tail and
a brown hide with markings on
the tail and knees. Males have
tufts of hair on their throats.
After four months, the calf can
feed on its own. It stays with the
parent herd for a while but rests
or grazes away from its mother.
The calf reaches sexual maturity
at one and a half to two years.
PADEMELON
""'"-------~ ORDER Marsupia/ia
FAMILY Macropodidae
'\\: CARD 220 I
GRO UP 1: MAMMALS GENUS Thy/oga/e
Pademelons are small wallabies that become active at twilight. During the night they usually roam alone, foraging for plants
and leaves in their rainforest habitat.
KEY FACTS
SIZES Body: 1 ~-2~ ft. Male usually larger
than female.
Tail: 11-20 in.
Height: 16-20 in.
Weight: 4-27 lb.
BREEDING. Sexual maturity: 1-2 years.
Breeding season: All year, de
pending on climate.
Gestation: 1 month .
Litter site: 1, very rarely 2.
Weaning: Young live in pouch for
6-7 months.
LIFESTYLE
Range of pademelons.
DISTRIBUTION Habit: Solitary; active at night.
Diet: Leaves, grasses, berries, and
succulent plants.
Lifespan: About 4-5 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The red-legged pademelon lives along Australia's eastern coast
and in New Guinea. The red-necked pademelon is found in
New South Wales. Tasmanian and New Guinea species are lim
ited to their respective and nearby islands.
CONSERVATION The red-legged, red-necked, Tas
manian red-bellied, and New
Guinea pademelon all belong to
the genus Thy/ogo/e.
The red-bellied pademelon has disappeared from the Aus
tralian mainland. Other species are threatened by habitat loss.
I FEATURES OF THE RED-LEGGED PADEMElON
The four species of pademelon are very similar. The redlegged pademelon (shown here) has reddish brown legs.
Tail : Held out stiffly while hopping.
Arms: Short but strong. Used for clearing passages in forest habitat and for digging snow to find food in mountainous territories. Strength of arms is an important factor in determining the rank of the male.
© MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Ears: Quite large. Hearing is well developed.
Legs: Large. But pademelons are
not as good at jumping as most
wallabies and kangaroos.
0160200511 PACKET 51
Also known as shrub wallabies, the four species of
pademelon are similar in behavior and appearance.
Well adapted to their forest home, they use their
strong arms to clear tunnellike passages in the
dense undergrowth. They hop along these paths,
looking for food. Unlike most wallabies, however,
pademelons are not very good at jumping.
~ HABITS During the day pademelons sleep in thickets and under bushes. During twilight and at night they become active. With their large eyes they see well in the dark, dense forest.
Pademelons are adept at clearing long passageways through the undergrowth with their strong arms. They use the same paths again and again in their search for food . This ritualized behavior enables them to learn escape routes from predators like foxes and dingoes.
Although pademelons are solitary animals, they have a
social hierarchy within a certain area. Rank is determined by size and weight, but the strength of an animal's arms is also a factor in establishing its status.
If a pademelon is disturbed within its territory, it becomes curious and may let an intruder get very close before running away. A pademelon often stamps its hind feet twice when approached. If there is no answering signal, it hops away. But if the visitor also stamps twice, the pademelon may wait to see who it is.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING Although they forage alone, pademelons may feed near others if a rich supply of food is discovered . Grass is their staple food, but pademelons that live near the coast of Queensland or in New South Wales also eat berries, leaves, and fruit. When feeding, pademelons grind their flattened cheek teeth together with a steady motion.
A pademelon tends to leave the forest at the same time
Left: The red-legged pademelon is the only Australian species also found in New Guinea.
DID YOU KNOW? • The New Guinea pademelon, Thylogale brunii, is named after Cornelis de Bruyn, a Dutch painter who saw one kept as a pet in Indonesia in 1 714. He was the first European to publish a description of a kangaroo or wallaby.
• The pademelon used to be
each night, taking the same route to search for food. For safety, it comes out only after dark to feed in nearby meadows. But it never strays far from the shelter of the forest.
During severe winters, especially in Tasmania, pademerons use their strong arms to clear the snow away from plants.
Finding food is seldom a problem for any of the pademelon species, and fights over
food are rare.
Right: The strongest male pademelon occupies a territory at the edge of the forest.
hunted for its fur and meat.
• The name pademelon is believed to come from an Aboriginal word, paddymal/a. • Most pademelons have a territory of about one-tenth of a square mile, but the red
bellied pademelon's may be I seven times as large. ~
Pademelons tend to breed whenever weather conditions allow. The red-bellied pademelon species breeds seasonally, depending on the severity of winters in the mountains. The red-necked pademelon living in Queensland's rainforests may breed year-round .
When she is sexually receptive, the female is pursued by several males. The chase usually follows a set course along paths that form either a figure eight or
left: The female carries the growing young in her pouch for about six months.
left: Pademelons have powerful arms for digging. The red-bellied species of Tasmania and nearby islands sometimes damages crops when looking for food.
a semicircle. Mating takes place soon after the chase has ended. The male pademelon does not stay with the female to help rear the offspring.
A month after mating, a tiny young is born, weighing a fraction of an ounce. On rare occasions, twins are born. Although the mother gives birth to only one offspring, she has four teats. The immature pademelon lives in its mother's pouch, feeding on her milk, for six or seven months unti l it can fend for itself. It reaches sexual maturity at one to two years of age.