"'" CARD 181 I HUMPBACK WHALE ~~----------------------------------------~ ~
ORDER Cetacea
FAMilY Balaenopteridae
~ GENUS & SPECIES "'IIIIIIII Megaptera novaeangliae
During its migration the humpback whale can be seen in coastal waters around the world. At breeding sites it utters a mournful
"song" that is one of the most haunting sounds ever heard.
KEY FACTS SIZES
length:42-45 ft., up to 52 ft . Weight: Up to 72 tons.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-5 years.
Breeding season: Winter. Female
breeds every 2-3 years.
Gestation: 11-12 months.
No. of young: 1, rarely 2.
Weaning: About 1 year.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Social and migratory.
Call: Complex songs lasting 6-35
minutes and other sporadic sounds.
Frequencies from 40-50 kHz.
Diet: Krill, fish, squid .
lifespan: Up to 50 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The humpback is one of the six
species in the Balaenopteridae
family that have a dorsal fin . The
others are the blue, fin, sei, minke,
and Brvde's whales.
THE HUMPBACK WHALE
Blowhole: On top of the head. Spray may rise to about 10 feet.
Snout: Covered in knobs.
Range of the humpback whale.
DISTRIBUTION
The humpback whale frequents cold and polar seas for most
of the year and subtropical and tropical seas in winter. A few
populations live year-round in the tropics.
CONSERVATION
Hunting has reduced the total population of the humpback
whale from about 150,000 to between 6,000 and 8,000. Com
mercial hunting has ended, but the population is still vulnerable.
Tail: Very large flukes may be slapped hard on the water to make a loud noise.
Flippers: Long, powerful , and serrated. Used in
-.-: .... --- surface displays and to protect young .
Hump: Visible when the whale rises to blow a number of times.
Tail: Raised just before the whale arches forward to sound (dive) . Mating: The male and female rise
up and half-emerge from the water in this embrace, which they may hold for 30 seconds before breaking away.
© MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200431 PACKET 43
The humpback whale is easy to distinguish
from other baleen whales. It has a broad tail,
long, white-edged flippers, and prominent knobs
on its snout. The humpback's narrow flippers are
almost one-third of its body length. They help this
giant mammal maneuver with grace both under
the water and at its surface.
~ HABITS The humpback whale may be
found in all the oceans of the
world at certain times of year.
There are three main popula
tions: one in the North Atlantic,
one in the North Pacific, and
one in the southern oceans.
These populations are divided
into separate "stocks."
The humpback breeds in
warm coastal waters. It spends
the rest of the year in colder re
gions. Migration between the
two areas follows set routes,
and there is little mixing be
tween different stocks. One of
the longest migrations is under
taken by Antarctic whales. They
swim 4,000 miles north and
breed in the Gulf of Panama.
Humpbacks are often seen in
clusters, usually with a female
and her calf at the breeding
area. These clusters may be
males vying for the female's
attention and acting as escorts.
Threat displays of the hump
back include blowing a screen
of bubbles, lashing the tail side
ways through the water, and
crashing the tail on the water's
surface. The whale often spyhops (raises its head vertically
above the waves) or breaches (leaps out of the water to return
with a tremendous splash). It
may also lie belly up or with its
flippers in the air.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The humpback whale spends
spring, summer, and fall in
its polar feeding areas. In the
Southern Hemisphere it feeds
mainly on krill. In the north it
eats capelin and shoal fish .
When food is plentiful near
the surface, the whale lunges
toward it with its jaws open,
taking in a mouthful of water
and prey. Grooves under its
jaw allow it to enlarge its
mouth cavity for this pur
pose. The whale strains the
~ BREEDING The humpback usually utters
its evocative song during breed
ing season. Most "singers" are
solitary males trying to attract
mates. The song is a sequence
of cries, chirps, clicks, moans,
and groans. It varies from one
whale to the next and may last
for 35 minutes. It can be heard
underwater for 18 miles.
Above left: A whale makes a spectacular "breach. "
Right: A cow and calf are escorted in Hawaiian waters.
Below: The cow and calf form a close bond.
water out through its baleen plates (horny filtering plates
in the sides of the mouth),
leaving the prey inside.
The humpback uses various
methods to trap prey. Tail
slapping and breaching may
startle fish. Rising bubbles
or "nets" of air from whales
that are deep underwater can
confuse and enclose prey.
Right: The humpback rushes at plankton or shoal fish from below and gulps them down.
Mating has not been directly
observed. But whales have
been seen diving together and
rising vertically to the surface,
belly to belly, and it is thought
that they are mating at these
times. Gestation lasts almost a
year, and the young are born
back at the warm breeding
grounds. The newborn calf is
13 to 16 feet long. It stays close
to its mother for a year, taking
at least 1 0 gallons of milk from
her every day for the first five
months. The bond between
mother and calf is very strong.
The female humpback has been
known to protect her calf even
when she has been mortally
wounded by harpoons.
DID YOU KNOW? • Scientists did not record
the humpback whale's
complex song until 1969.
Recordings of the song
have been sent into space
on the Voyager probes.
• The humpback usually swims at 2 to 9 miles pE~r
hour, but it can reach 1 7
miles per hour.
• The humpback whale sometimes makes threat
displays against boats,
especially when they are
on its breeding grounds.
• An average humpback needs over a ton of food
per day, containing more
than one million calories.
• Scars from the teeth of killer whales are often seen
on humpbacks, especially
on the tail. But it is unlike
ly that these predators
could kill a healthy adult
humpback whale.
• The humpback dives deep to feed--even to the
seabed 650 feet down. It
has been known to stay
under for 30 minutes.
GIANT FOREST HOG ~~--------------------------~~~ .. ORDER
'11IIIIIIII Artiodactyla FAMILY Suidae
.. GENUS &: SPECIES '11IIIIIIII Hylochoeru5 meinertzhageni
""' CARD 182 I
The giant forest hog is the largest of the eight species of wild pig. It inhabits the tropical forests and savanna of central Africa,
where people still hunt it as a pest.
KEYFACTS ____________________________ ~
SIZES Length: Head and body, 5-6 ft . Tail, about 1 ft . Height: 2)1,;-3)1,; ft. Weight: 350-600 lb. Male is
heavier than female.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 18 months.
Breeding season: All year, but
sexual activity increases slightly
in October and November.
Gestation: 18 weeks. No. of young: 2-6.
LIFESTYLE
Habits: Highly social; may be
active during the day or night.
Diet: Grass, leaves, berries, fruit,
roots, and carrion.
Lifespan: Probably 15-20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 8 species of pig in 5
genera, including the bush pig,
Potamochoeru5 porcu5, and the
wild boar, SU5 5crota.
Range of the giant forest hog.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in isolated populations throughout forested areas of
central Africa. The largest numbers occur in Cameroon, Gabon,
Congo, and Zaire.
CONSERVATION The giant forest hog is not endangered, but it is threatened in
some areas by hunting. Farmers attack it because it may damage
crops and can infect domestic pigs with African swine fever.
FEATURES OF THE GIANT FOREST HOG
Warts: Male has huge, swollen cheek projections that protect eyes in dense undergrowth. Equipped with scent glands (especially in older males) to mark the hog's home range.
Tusks: Upwardpointed canine
teeth may grow to 14 inches.
Tail : Long and tasseled. May be used to swat insects. Never
carried upright.
Young: 2 to 6 in a litter. Born with straw-colored coat that
changes to brown, then black.
© MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Coat: Black guard hairs.
Often covered
Female: Smaller Hooves: 4 toes than male. Lacks on each foot. huge face warts.
0160200451 PACKET 45
In much of its range the giant forest hog is active
mainly at night foraging for food in an extended
family group. But in protected areas like national parks,
it often roams during the daylight hours. This creature
of habit follows tunnellike paths that it has already
forged through dense vegetation to its feeding sites.
Its food includes grass, leaves, berries, and carrion.
~ HABITS The giant forest hog inhabits both tropical forests and savanna from sea level to an altitude of over 12,000 feet. In the hotter parts of its range and in areas where it is hunted by people, it usually sleeps by day and forages after dark. In protected areas it is often active by day.
The giant forest hog lives in a family group of about 10 individuals. The group occupies an area of about eight square miles, which the hogs mark with secretions from the scent glands around their eyes and lips. The home ranges of several groups may overlap.
Each day the hog takes the same paths to its favorite feeding and drinking areas. It also regularly visits mud wallows. Bathing in the moist mud keeps the hog cool and rids its skin of ticks and other parasites. After bathing, the hog rubs itself · against a tree or termite mound to scrape the mud from its skin.
The group of hogs returns to its communal sleeping nest each day. The roof and walls are usually woven from dense undergrowth into a snug, dry shelter. In some areas the hogs may simply nest under an uprooted tree's roots.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The giant forest hog forages for food in a family group. As an omnivore, it eats both plants and animals.
In its tropical homeland the hog feeds mostly on the lush vegetation . In open savanna and at the forest edge it grazes on grasses and tender shoots. It also tears up bamboo, crushing the stems and leaves with its powerful cheek teeth.
Within the forest, the hog
Left: The oxpecker helps the giant forest hog by feeding on parasitic ticks in its skin.
DID YOU ·KNOW? • The large warts below and behind the giant forest hog's eyes are believed to shield it when it charges through thick undergrowth. • The hierarchy of hog society can be seen when family groups enter mud wallows and nest sites. The senior male
feeds mainly on leaves, berries, . and fruit, and it may gnaw on exposed roots. Unlike other pig species, it seldom digs with its snout.
At times the giant forest hog eats insects and their larvae, the eggs of ground-nesting birds, and carrion (dead flesh). It seeks out salt licks, such as termite mounds, to obtain needed minerals. It may also feed on and damage crops.
Right: The forest hog keeps returning to the same areas to feed and drink.
always leads, and the junior female brings up the rear. • Some African tribes make war shields from the skin of the giant forest hog. • The male giant forest hog has reinforced frontal bones to protect it during the ritual head clashes for dominance.
~BREEDING A dominant male usually leads each family group. Males establish their position by ritual fighting, charging each other and cracking heads ferociously. Defeated males lead a solitary life away from the group.
Mating occurs throughout the year. The male approaches a receptive sow (female) in his group. If she accepts his ad~ vances, the pair mates noisily. Two to six young are born 18 weeks later in a nest that the
Left: Young hogs nurse fram their mother or from other milkbearing females in the group.
Left: Discovered in 7904, the giant forest hog is one of the last large mammals to become known to naturalists. It is found in forests in central Africa.
sow builds at a distance from her group. When the young are about a week old, the sow leads them back to the group, where they are fed by any sows that can produce milk. The young hogs are weaned at about 1 0 weeks and become sexually mature at 18 months.
All of the adults protect the young, warning them of danger and defending them from predators. Despite this care, only one or two of each litter survives. Some are crushed by their mother soon after birth, while others may be picked off by hyenas or large cats.
SHETLAND PONY
'" ... ORDER ~ Perissodactyla
FAMILY
Equidae
CARD 183
GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS &; SPECIES
Equus cabal/us
The Shetland pony is one of the smallest breeds of horse. For its size, however, this short-legged animal is the strongest
member of the horse family.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: Maximum in U.S., 4 ft.
Maximum in Great Britain,. 312 ft. Lowest recorded height: 2 ft .
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: About 3 years .
Mating season: Mid to late spring in native habitat.
Gestation: 11 months .
No. of young: Usually 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable. Forms small herds in the wild .
Diet: Mainly grass .
Lifespan: 20 years, sometimes
more.
RELATED SPECIES
The Shetland pony belongs to the
same genus and species as all
horses and ponies. It is among the oldest breeds in existence .
Original range of the Shetland pony.
DISTRIBUTION
Thought to have originated near, and evolved on, the
Shetland and Orkney islands off the northeastern tip of
Scotland. Now present in many other countries worldwide.
CONSERVATION
The Shetland pony still exists in a semiwild state in its native environment. It is also bred in domestication in
many countries.
AMERICAN AND BRITISH SHETLAND PONIES
American Shetland Height: 11 hands (3~ feet) average. Build: lighter than British breed. Legs: Neat, with high knee action. Pony and man: Competes in pulling contests and trotting races and is used as a child's pony.
© MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
British Shetland Height: 10 hands (3 feet) average. Legs: Shorter than those of American breed. Body: Deeper and more heavily built than American breed. Winter coat: Thick and warm for protection from the elements. Pony and man: like the American Shetland, it is used as a child's pony.
0160200441 PACKET 44
The Shetland pony gets its name from the stormy
islands off the coast of Scotland where it has lived
since prehistoric times. Island settlers soon recognized
the animal's hardiness and working potential,
and it has been domesticated since 500 B.C.
~ CHARACTERISTICS
The Shetland pony has a compact, stocky body with a deep girth and a short back.
It has short, muscular limbs and small, hard, open feet. Its small head and its short,
thick neck are almost hidden by its long, bushy forelock and thick, long mane. The
tail is also long and bushy. The pony may be any color,
but black and dark brown are most common.
During winter, when the weather is cold, windy, and
wet, the Shetland pony will grow a thick coat to provide warmth and waterproofing.
~BREEDING In mid to late spring, a Shetland stallion will seek out a mare in heat. The ll-month gestation period ensures that the foal will be born early the next spring when the grass is at its best.
However, the breeding of Shetland ponies is usually carefully controlled. The breeders choose which stallions get to mate, even when the ponies
Above left: The Shetland ponies in summer.
Below left: A family group.
DID YOU KNOW? • The American Shetland pony is used in trotting races. It has been timed at 1 minute, 55 seconds, over half a mile.
• The Shetland pony can pull twice its own weight, which means that it has about twice the power of most heavy horses.
• A 3-foot-high Shetland pony once carried a man 40 miles in one day.
• The Shetland is one of the five favorite breeds in the United States. Others are the thoroughbred, Appaloosa, standardbred, and quarter horse.
are living in a semiwild state. The mare usually gives birth
to one foal, which she nurses until she becomes pregnant
Below: The wild stallion finds a mate in springtime.
Right: Usually only one foal is born.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Like all horses and ponies, the Shetland is a grazer. When it has rich grass to eat, it may graze in short spurts during a 24-hour period. But if the pasture is poor, it may feed
for 22 hours a day. Because it manages to sur
vive on the meager grass of
again . Sometimes, however, the breeder takes the foal from its mother when it is about eight months old.
its island homeland, the Shetland pony has a reputation for "fattening on almost any
thing." Domestic ponies need little more than hay in winter.
When the Shetland Islands
are covered with snow, the pony will paw at the ground to get at the grass and moss
... SHETLAND PONY ~ &MAN
The Shetland pony was used by island farmers for transport and to help work t heir property. Because it is very strong and takes to the harness, it has always been used to pull heavily loaded carts. Today it is used in cart races.
In the nineteenth century Shetland ponies were used as pit ponies in the coal mines. Ponies that were bred for this purpose had large, ugly heads. With the demand for pit ponies now gone, this feature has been bred out.
The Shetland pony was imported to the United States, and it has become so popular that this country now has its own "Shetland" breed.
under the snow. If this is not enough food, the pony may climb down to the beach to
eat seaweed and scrounge fish heads from fishermen.
Below: The grass on the islands is very poor in nutrients, and the pony often feeds all day to sustain itself.
PROBOSCIS MONKEY
"---... ORDER ~ Primates
... FAMilY '11IIIIIIII Cercopithecidae
... GENUS &: SPECIES ~ Nasalis /arvatus
"" CARD 184l
The proboscis monkey is related to the colobus monkeys of Southeast Asia. Rarely seen in the wild, this endangered species
lives only in the remote mangrove swamps of Borneo.
~.
KEY FACTS
SIZES length: Head and body, 1 y'!-2 ft. Tail, 2-2y'! ft. Weight: 15-50 lb. Male heavier.
BREEDING Sexual maturity: Female, 4 years.
Male, 4-5 years. Mating season: Throughout the
year, but births coincide with seasonal abundance of food. Gestation: About 6 months.
No. of young: Usually 1.
LIFESTYLE Habit: Lives in trees, in social
groups of up to 60 members. Diet: Mainly leaves, but some fruit and flowers.
lifespan: About 1 3 years.
RELATED SPECIES There are 31 species in 4 genera in the Colobinae subfamily. The genus Nasalis contains another
rare species, the pig-tailed langur, N. conca/or.
FEATURES OF THE PROBOSCI
Nose: The male makes a loud honking sound with his nose to frighten off predators. The long nose shoots into a horizontal position with each honk.
Range of the proboscis monkey.
DISTRIBUTION Found only in swampy mangrove forests along the coasts and on the tidal sections of rivers in Borneo.
CONSERVATION The proboscis monkey is classified as endangered as a result of hunting and habitat destruction. Protected since 1931, it still needs special reserves to ensure its future.
Habitat: The proboscis monkey is well suited to the swampy mangroves
of Borneo. It is a good swimmer, and it moves with great agility
among the trees. These skills help it escape from
predators, including people who hunt
it for food.
Tail: A vital balancing aid for the monkey when moving through trees or resting orr a branch.
© MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200451 PACKET 45
The proboscis monkey is named for the male's
long trunklike nose. This tree-dweller favors dense,
swampy forests, but much of its habitat has been cleared
by humans for lumber and land use. Before 1963 the
proboscis monkey had never been bred successfully
in captivit~ and it is now so rare that it has
received international protection.
~HABITS The proboscis monkey spends its life among the trees of dense mangrove forests and swampy river plains. It lives in groups of up to 60 animals, but this society, unlike most monkey societies, is not highly structured. This loose organization may be because the proboscis monkey spends most of its time finding and eating food, leaving little time for group activities.
Each group has a home range of almost one square mile. Proboscis monkeys are not aggressive, however, and they share their ranges with other animals.
During the day the proboscis monkey swings from branch to branch, foraging for food high above the ground. Surrounded by the leaves it eats, it rarely travels more than half a mile a day. Since the male is twice as heavy as the female, he moves more slowly.
At night proboscis monkeys sleep together in a group, arranged along a branch in a row. They try to find a strong branch that leans out over the water because this location offers the best protection from predators such as leopards.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The proboscis monkey begins and ends each day by eating a big meal. Leaves and shoots are its favorite food, but it will also eat fruit and flowers. Because the monkey does not digest its food very efficiently, it must spend most of the day eating to obtain the nutrients that it needs.
When feeding, the proboscis monkey sits in the fork of a tree, grabs nearby branches, and strips them of their leaves.
Left: The large nose of the male proboscis monkey attracts females in the mating season.
DID YOU KNOW? • The proboscis monkey eats so much that the content of its stomach can be over a quarter of its body weight. • Proboscis monkeys can jump into the water from a height of 50 feet and stay submerged for 30 seconds. • The proboscis monkey is
Its long thumbs, which are unusual for a monkey, allow it to grip branches, and its sharp teeth are excellent for shredding leaves.
After a big meal the monkey rests in the tree to digest its food . But soon it must search for more food, either alone or in a group. When a group forages together, one of the larger males squats at the top of a tree and acts as a lookout.
The proboscis monkey rarely has to drink. It gets all the water it needs from the moisture in the leaves it eats.
hunted by clouded leopards in the trees and by crocodiles in the water. • The male snorts or honks loudly as a warning. The female sounds like a goose. • The flesh of the proboscis monkey is a delicacy to the people of Borneo.
~ BREEDING Proboscis monkeys can breed throughout the year, however most of their young are born when good food supplies are widely available.
When the female is ready to mate, she chooses a male and stares at him, pursing her lips. If he responds with a pouting expression, the pair will mate.
The proboscis monkey usually gives birth to a single infant about eight inches long. Its eyes are open at birth, and
Left: Another female looks af-ter an infant while its mother searches for food.
Left: The female monkey is about half the size of the male and has a less prominent nose.
Below: The proboscis monkey seems well suited to Borneo's dense mangrove forests. An excellent swimmer, it may drop from a high branch into the river below to swim to another tree.
it can cling to its mother's fur. The baby monkey is covered in short, downy hair, and its face is deep blue. This color gradually changes to the brownish pink of the adult, and the color of the baby's coat changes to grayish yellow or reddish brown.
The females in a group frequently look after each other's young, carrying them around and even nursing them. This behavior allows the mothers to move more freely through the trees when looking for food.
""CARD 185 I· CHAMOIS "' GROUP 1: MAM MALS "'~----------------------------------------~ ... ORDER ... FAMILY ... GENUS &: SPECIES ~ Artiodactyla ~ Bovidae ~ Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a species of goat-antelope that lives in mountainous areas, mostly in Europe. Best known as the source of chamois
leather, its numbers are now severely reduced.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 3-4 ft.
Height to shoulder: 2 /:1 -3 ft.
Weight: Male, 65-110 lb.
Female, 55-95 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 4 years.
Mating: October to December. Gestation: 5 /:1 -6 months.
No. of young: 1, rarely 2 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Females and young live in
herds. Males are solitary except
during mating season .
Call : Deep, rumbling bleat.
Diet: Grasses, bark, pine needles.
Lifespan: Up to 17 years in
captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 9 subspecies of
chamois. It is closely related
to the Rocky Mountain goat,
Oreamnos americanus.
FEATURES OF THE CHAMOIS
Coat: The summer coat is light brown with a black stri pe down the spine. The winter coat is almost black.
Horns: The sharp, curved horns can grow up to 8 inches long. They are used to defend the animal against predators. They are also used by males battling for a mate during the rutting season.
© MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILE'M
Range of the chamois.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in the Pyrenees, Apennines, Alps, and Carpathians. Also
found in southwestern Asia a~d introduced in New Zealand.
CONSERVATION
The chamois was once common throughout central and south
ern Europe. But hunting for meat and trophies has caused many
populations to become severely depleted or even extinct. The
Italian subspecies, R.r. ornata, now numbers less than 400.
chamois has extremely acute senses of smell and sight.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
HOW THE HOOF GRIPS
THE ROCK
Thin , sturdy outer ridge grips rock, while soft inner pad keeps chamois from slipping. Hoof can be closed to grip narrow ledges or splayed to grip in snow.
Two simple toes on each foot keep chamois from slipping downhill.
0160200431 PACKET 43
The chamois is a sturdy, nimble animal that has
remarkable leaping ability. Its specially adapted
hooves have soft elastic soles to keep the animal
from slipping. These hooves allow the chamois
to grip the steep mountain slopes of its ranges.
~ HABITS During spring and fall the chamois lives in alpine forests, just above the tree line. The chamois does not live on
mountain tops, but it may move higher up the mountain in summer. In winter it moves down to slopes as low as 1,640 feet and settles in the forest,
Right: The chamois's black or dark gray winter coat becomes much lighter brown with a black stripe on the back in summer. The tufts of hair along the back are often displayed in hunters' caps.
where food is more plentiful. Females and young usually
live in small groups on their own . However, in winter they
may join with other groups to form a herd of up to 100 animals. Males are solitary, joining the herd only during the rut (mating season) in the fall.
~ BREEDING During the chamois rut, from mid-October to December, t he males join the females and begin to fight for a mate.
Males mark their territory with a scent that is emitted from glands located behind the horns. They then chase each other, bleating deeply. They finally engage in a fierce 'fight, pushing and tearing at
Left: A yearling is allowed to rejoin its mother once she has weaned the latest kids.
DID YOU KNOW? • According to a Swiss legend, the chamois's curved horns act as shock absorbers in case it falls on its head.
• The first part of the chamois's scientific name comes
each other with their horns. Between April and June the
female gives bi rth to one kid, sometimes two. By that time the herd has split into small groups again . Just before they give birth, the females drive all the yearlings (young from last year's rut) away. Once the kids are weaned, the yearlings can rejoin the group.
Right: Early walkers, the young chamois are able to escape predators and find food.
from the Latin word rupes, meaning "rock."
• During the rut it is not uncommon for one of the fighting males to have its belly or throat ripped open.
~ CHAMOIS & MAN The chamois's predators include wolves and lynx. Eagles have been known to prey on kids. But people are the main enemy of the chamois. Its skin is made into chamois leather,
Left: The chamois is extremely agile and can leap distances as far as 23 feet.
and the tufts of hair along the back of the male chamois are displayed in hunters' caps.
Since it was introduced in New Zealand, the chamois has flourished there. In fact, New Zealanders had to start a hunting program to control the number of chamois.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The chamois is a grazer and browser, with a diet that consists mainly of mountain grasses and lichen found on the rocky slopes. In the forest, however, the animal has been known to eat pine needles as well as bark.
Left: The chamois leaves the herd to search for food alone in winter when food is scarce.
PINE MARTEN
ORDER Carnivora
... FAMILY ~ Mustelidae
~D186
GROUP 1: MAMMALS ... GENUS &: SPECIES ~ Martes martes
In the past the pine marten was hunted extensively for its so~, thick fur. Although trapping is illegal today, this solitary carnivore
is now threatened by the destruction of its forest home.
KEY FACTS ---------~y---------- -------------------------------------------------------~
SIZES
Body length: 16-20 in . Female
smaller than male.
Tail length: 9-11 in .
Weight: 2-4 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1-2 years.
Mating season: June to August.
Gestation: Delayed implantation of
up to 6 months is followed by a
true pregnancy of 1 month.
Litter size: 3-5; up to 8.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary; night-active.
Diet: Small mammals, insects,
berries, fungi; occasionally car
casses of large animals.
Lifespan: Up to 10 years in the
wild . 1 7 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 8 species in the genus
Martes, including the American
marten, M. americana, and the fish
er, M. pennanti.
Range of the pine marten .
DISTRIBUTION
Found throughout Europe, except for the Iberian Peninsula,
Greece, and parts of Finland. Also found in Asia from the Caspi
an Sea north to the Caucasus Mountains.
CONSERVATION
The pine marten has long been hunted for sport and for its fur.
Throughout its range, it continues to be threatened by destruc
tion of the forests it inhabits.
FEATURES OF THE PINE MARTEN
Body: Sleek, lithe, and elongated; the size of a large cat. Large, rounded ears on a wedge-shaped head.
Paws: Large pad with hairy sales and long, sharp claws for gripping slippery branches.
\ I I ~A \ I nil
Coat: Soft and thick. Rich brown color on the back with grayish brown underparts and a creamy white or yellowish throat patch.
P ~ I I ~
'Tail: Long and bushy. Distinguishes the marten from the polecat, a similar species. Provides balance when the marten moves through branches.
I . P Rn 1 ~T
The pine marten is a weasellike animal that lives in forests
throughout most of its range. It makes its home in tree
hollows or in the abandoned nests of birds or squirrels. An
opportunistic feeder, the pine marten has a varied diet ranging
from insects and berries to birds and small mammals. This
agile animal has powerful legs and sharp claws that help it
bound through the branches when chasing prey through trees.
~HABITS A shy, solitary animal, the pine marten avoids human settlements and rarely strays from its forest home. It is active at night, especially at dawn and dusk, when it hunts for prey. The marten hunts and lives alone, keeping to its own territory, which ranges from two to 10 square miles, depending on the availability of food.
The pine marten marks its territory with piles of droppings, called scats, and with an anal-gland secretion that it rubs on branches and rocks. Within its territory, the marten
travels along well-worn routes, visiting its food caches (stores) and its many dens.
The pine marten spends most of its time on the forest floor, but it is very agile in the trees. It has powerful limbs and large paws that can be partially retracted. It also has keen eyesight and a large bushy tail that helps it balance. With these features, the pine marten is well equipped to run along branches in pursuit of prey. Right: The pine marten preys on small rodents throughout its ronge.
~ BREEDING The pine marten mates between June and August. The eggs remain in the female's womb for five or six months before they are fertilized . Gestation then takes only about a month. As a result of this delayed implantation, the young are born in early spring, when the weather is warm and food is abundant.
The young, called kittens, are born in a nest hidden in a rock crevice or in the abandoned
Left: As the pine marten moves through the trees, its long, bushy tail serves as a balancing rod.
I DID YOU KNOW? • The pine marten sometimes follows the tracks of other flesh eaters to find abandoned carcasses. This behavior is known as "para-, sitic tracking ." • When chasing prey, a pine marten can leap up to 1 0 feet between the branches of trees.
nestof a bird or squirrel. The litter usually has three to five kittens, sometimes up to eight. The kittens are blind and deaf for the first two weeks. Their sparse whitish hairs develop into brown coats after a month . At six weeks they stop suckling and are fed meat by the female. The kittens first venture out of the nest at eight or nine weeks old. They leave permanently in midsummer, when the female is ready to mate again.
Right: At three or four months old, the young pine marten can kill its own prey.
• If alarmed, a pine marten utters a shrill squeal along with a gurgle, producing a noise that sounds like a cat. • The golden eagle is one of the few animals that prey on the pine marten. • The pine marten is also known as the marten cat and the sweet mart.
I' !" ~ NATUREWATCH The pine marten is found in forests throughout its range. It is rarely seen during the day. It is most likely to be spotted around dawn or dusk, when it hunts for prey.
If it is seen on the ground, a pine marten can be easily con-
~ FOOD fit HUNTI NG The pine marten's diet varies with its habitat and the season. Throughout its range, it often eats only berries and fruit in the fall. In the northern parts of its range, it preys on small rodents, rabbits, and hares during harsh winters. It also feeds on abandoned carcasses of moose and reindeer. In areas where there is less tree cover, the marten preys on field voles and birds like grouse and wood pigeons. In wooded areas, it may take tits and treecroppers. It also digs up insect nests to feed on the larvae.
fused with a polecat or a ferret, which are similar in appearance. The marten can be distinguished from these two animals by its larger size, bushy tail, and coat, which is a rich brown color with a pale patch on the throat.
The pine marten uses both stealth and speed to catch its prey. If it fails to take its victim in a surprise attack, the marten pursues its prey through the trees, bounding between the branches until it catches the animal. The marten then jumps onto its victim's back and kills it with a bite on its neck. Larger prey is pulled to the ground before being killed .
The pine marten frequently stores the remains of a kill in a cache under a rock or sometimes in a tree hollow, to be eaten later.
RING-TAILED LEMUR
... ORDER ~ Primates
FAMILY Lemuridae
"" CARD 187 I
GROU P 1: MAMMALS ~ GENUS & SPECIES Lemurcatta
The ring-tailed lemur is distinguished by its long striped tail. The ring-tail belongs to the family known as true lemurs,
which are found only on the island of Madagascar.
KEY FACTS
SIZES Length: Head and body,
15-18 in. Tail: About 2 feet.
Weight: 5-8 lb.
BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 Z2 years. Few males mate until 3 years old. Mating season: April. Gestation: 4-4Z2 months. No. of young: Usually 1 .
LIFESTYLE Habit: Active by day. Lives in social groups. Diet: Mainly fruit and leaves. Lifespan: Unknown in the wild. Up to 14 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES There are 9 species within the family Lemuridae, or true lemurs. These include the black lemur, ruffed lemur, and broad-nosed
gentle lemur. Many lemur species are now extinct.
Range of the ring-tailed lemur.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in dry, forested areas of Madagascar, mainly in the southwestern part of the island .
CONSERVATION
All lemurs are endangered because of habitat destruction. The ring-tailed lemur is more abundant than other species and inhabits at least six protected areas. It is not certain whether remaining lemur habitats can be preserved.
FEATURES OF THE RING-TAILED LEMUR
Scent glands: Lower-arm scent glands in both sexes, upper-arm glands in the male. The male wipes his tail on the inside of his forearms to mark it with his own distinctive scent.
Eyes: Large, forward-facing eyes. Brilliant yellow iris.
Snout Pointed, foxlike. Black, covered with sensitive whiskers. Tip of nose is naked and moist. Communication by smell is important.
Hands: Leatherlike palms. Opposable thumbs (as on a human) enable lemur to grip and hold objects.
Tail: Bushy black and white striped tail, longer than the body. Usually held aloft as a signal to other lemurs.
© MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Feet: A long second toe on each hind foot is used for grooming. Leathery soles give a good grip on rocks.
0160200461 PACKET 46
Ring-tailed lemurs and humans share a common
ancestor that lived some 50 million years ago.
Since then, lemurs have evolved in isolation on the
island of Madagascar. They have retained many
primitive characteristics, and they do not
demonstrate the same intelligence as
their cousins, the monkeys and apes.
~ HABITS Most of Madagascar's true le-
murs feed at night and stay in the forest canopy. But the ring
tail is active during the day and prefers open, scrubby areas or
dry rocky regions. It climbs well and is agile in the treetops.
The ring-tail usually lives in groups of 5 to 30. An adult fe
male leaves the group she was born in to start her own group,
where she remains. But the male is likely to change from
one group to another. Males and females have sepa
rate social ran kings within a group, but the female is domi
nant overall . If food and water run short, the female eats and
drinks before the less impor
tant male. The ring-tailed lemur has a
larger home range than most other lemurs. It defends its ter
ritory from other groups by
marking the area with underarm secretions and urine.
The ring-tail is sociable. But with the exception of mutual grooming, there is less interac
tion between lemurs than there
is among other primates. In cold weather a ring-tailed
lemur will draw close to other
group members for warmth. It also likes to bask in the sun,
squatting with its limbs spread wide in the heat of the day.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The ring-tailed lemur will eat
insects, but it prefers plant matter, particularly wild f igs,
bananas, and fig thistles. Although its ancestors ate
insects, the ring-tailed lemur has teeth that are adapted to a
diet of fruit. The incisor and canine teeth in the lower jaw form a comblike structure that
can scoop out soft fruit.
left: The ring-tailed lemur has many calls. A loud yodel is its territorial claim.
DID YOU KNOW? • The ring-tailed lemur makes a variety of sounds-squeaks,
growls, snorts, clicks, and howls. When stroked, a tame ring-tail purrs like a cat.
• The male uses his tail to warn rivals. It is both a visual signal and a "scent wand,"
carrying its owner's odor.
Like most other primates, the ring-tailed lemur sits up to eat.
Gripping fruit in its hands, it tilts its head so that the juices run into its mouth rather than onto its fur. The ring-tail is a meticulously clean animal.
After feeding, it grooms itself, using its comblike teeth and
the long claw on the second toe of each hind foot.
Right: The ring-tail moves mainly on the ground, but it often feeds in trees.
• The long tail acts as a counterbalance for jumping.
• A youngster is suckled by any milk-producing female in
the group. Orphans from another group may be adopted.
• The eyes of newborn ringtails are blue, not the brilliant yellow of adults.
The female ring-tailed lemur is
sexually receptive for part of
April. The male is sexually mature at 20 months but rarely
mates until three years old. In what are known as "stink
battles," males fight for receptive females. Glands under the
male's arm produce a strong scent, which he smears on his tail. He then waves his tail as a
warning signal to rivals. Fight
ing may follow, and the victor mates with the female. If she
does not conceive at that time, the female may become recep-
left: At about two weeks, the young lemur moves from its mother's belly to her back.
left: The ringtailed lemur is able to move along very thin branches, even with its young clinging to its back. It uses its bushy tail for balance and grips with its leathery palms.
tive again a month or two later.
The female usually gives birth
to one offspring. After birth,
the young clings to the mother's underside, wrapping its tail around her back. She curls her
tail around it and carries it with her for about two weeks. Then
it moves from her belly to her back. At around three weeks
old, the youngster makes its first moves on its own, but it
scurries back to its mother at the slightest alarm.
The young lemur is suckled for about five months, and it may be cared for by the whole
group. It is not independent until about six months old.
",CARD 188 I PILOT WHALE
,,---------------------------------~
ORDER Cetacea
FAMILY Oelphinidae
GENUS fir SPECIES G/obicephala melaena, G. macrorhynchu5
The pilot whale gets its scientific name, Globicephala, from its bulbous, melon-shaped forehead. The sonar system that the whale
uses to locate prey is housed in its forehead.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Longfin male, 20 ft.; fe
male, 16ft. Shortfin male, 18 ft. ;
female, 14 ft.
Weight: Longfin male, 7,700 lb.;
female, 4,000 lb. Shortfin male,
5,500 lb.; female, 3,000 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male, 11-12
years. Female, about 6 years.
Breeding season: All year.
Gestation: 15-1 6 months.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable. Schools range
from about 40 to several hundred
individuals.
Call: Wide range of sounds.
Diet: Mainly squid but some fish .
Lifespan: About 50 years.
RELATED SPECIES
Both longfin and shortfin pilot
whales are members of the dol
phin family.
Range of the pilot whale.
DISTRIBUTION
Northern longfins range from Canada to Scandinavia and the
Mediterranean. Southern longfins inhabit the cooler southern
oceans. Shortfins range throughout tropical waters.
CONSERVATION
In the North Atlantic the population of longfin pilot whales
has been greatly depleted, and killing continues in the Faroe
Islands. Elsewhere, numbers are stable.
FEATURES OF THE PILOT WHALE
Blowhole: The cloud produced when a pilot whale exhales can often be seen for miles. It is mainly water vapor along with oil droplets from glands lining the windpipe.
Head: The melon-shaped forehead houses the whale 's sonar system. With this system the whale locates prey by sending out and receiving sound signals.
Flippers: The two long , sickleshaped flippers taper to a fine point.
Skin: The only marking on the whale 's glossy jet-black skin is a white streak on the underbelly.
Dorsal fin: The low fin is sickleshaped with a long base.
Calf: It is born beneath the water, tail first. As soon as it is born, the mother nudges it to the surface to take its first breath of air.
c M MXCI IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN . .A. P
There are two species of pilot whale. The longfin
pilot whale lives in cool waters in the North Atlantic
and the southern oceans. Sometimes it migrates to
warmer areas to breed. The smaller shortfin pilot whale
can be found in the warmer seas that encircle the globe
in a band north and south of the equator. Both species
are jet black with a white streak on the underbelly.
~ HABITS The pilot whale lives in a large
school (group) that may have
hundreds of members. Its name
is thought to come from the
whales' habit of following a
leader, or pilot.
Whole schools sometimes be
come stranded on a beach, but
the cause is not completely un
derstood. It may happen when
the whales hunt too close to the
shore. Or it may be caused by a
failure in their navigation system.
An adult longfin pilot whale
swims at two and a half to four
miles per hour; the shortfin at
five miles per hour. The pilot
whale often swims alongside
common or bottlenose dol
phins. Like dolphins, it will spyhop (stand vertically) in the
water or roll on its side when
its curiosity is aroused.
Pilot whales produce a range
of sounds, from shrill squeaks
to deep snores. These sounds
are used for communicating
and for locating prey.
~ BREEDING During winter the longfin pilot
whale often migrates to warm
er waters to mate. There is no
set breeding season, but the
birthrate peaks in spring. Males
compete fiercely for mates, and
the young males bear the most
battle scars.
The whales' courtship may
also be violent. Yet the pilot
whale is capable of tenderness.
Groups may stroke one anoth
er with their flippers or swim
along with bodies touching .
About 16 months after mat
ing, the female gives birth to a
Left: The pilot whale is sometimes called the blackfish because of its black skin.
DID YOU KNOW? • The squid's camouflage is a useless defense against the
pilot whale, which hunts by
echolocation, not sight.
• The longfin is also known as
the calling whale because of
the many sounds it makes.
• When it is alarmed, the pi
lot whale can swim at speeds
single calf. Suckling is difficult
underwater, but the mother's
milk is so rich in nutrients that
the calf does not have to feed
often. The mother suckles her
calf for 18 months or more.
Toward the end of this period,
the calf starts learning to hunt
for its own food.
Because the calf is not fully
independent for a long time,
the female whale breeds only
once every three years. She first
mates when she is six years old.
The male is probably twice this
age when he first mates.
Right: The pilot whale rolls onto its side when it wants to see out of the water.
as fast as 30 miles per hour.
• The mother's milk contains
40 to 50 percent fat; cow's
milk has only 4 percent fat.
• The pilot whale can dive to
a depth of over 3,200 feet.
• If a pilot whale becomes
separated from its group, the
others will look for it.
~ FOOD &: HUNTING The pilot whale belongs to the
suborder of toothed whales,
which eat fish. It has 7 to 11
teeth in each half of its jaw. The
teeth are used to grab prey
mainly squid and cuttlefish but
also cod, turbot, and other fish.
The longfin eats 75 pounds of
food a day, while the shortfin
consumes 100 pounds.
The pilot whale usually swims
Left: The pilot whale's teeth are used for grabbing, but not chewing, its prey.
Left: The pilot whale breathes through a single blowhole in the top of its head. After a dive it must come to the surface and take a few breaths before it can dive again.
close to the surface, rising to
breathe through its blowhole.
But when hunting, it may dive
to 200 feet and stay submerged
for 1 0 minutes.
Schools of pilot whales hunt
together. To locate prey, they
use echolocation-sending sounds that bounce off nearby
fish and tell the whales where
the fish are and how fast they
are moving. If there is a short
age of food, the schools may
migrate to other areas.
FIN WHALE
ORDER Cetacea
FAMILY Balaenopteridae
'" CARD 189
GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS &; SPECIES Balaenoptera physalus
The fin whale is probably the fastest of the great whales, reaching speeds of up to 2S miles an hour. With its long, streamlined
body, it is second in size only to the blue whale.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Female, up to 85 ft. Male,
up to 82 ft. Weight: 44-56 tons.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male, 6 years.
Female, 7 years.
Mating season: December to
February. Female breeds every
other year.
Gestation: 12 months.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Highly sociable.
Call : Low-pitched sounds.
Diet: Krill, sardines, pollack, squid,
capelin, anchovies, and copepods.
lifespan: 80-100 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The 4 other species in the genus
Balaenoptera are the blue whale, sei
whale, Bryde's whale, and minke
whale.
Range of the fin whale.
--~============~
DISTRIBUTION
The fin whale is found in all the oceans of the world, but it
avoids the ice packs.
CONSERVATION
After taking the blue whale to the brink of extinction, whalers
turned their attention to the fin whale, reducing its numbers to
about 100,000. It is hoped that the population will increase
now that the fin whale is protected.
FEATURES OF THE FIN W HALE
Dorsal fin: Triangular, sloping backward. It is most visible when the whale humps its back before sounding (diving).
Head: Flat on top with tapering underside. The left side of the lower jaw is dark, while the throat and right side are pale. This coloration may be a form of camouflage to help the whale approach prey unseen.
© MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Flippers: Smooth and pointed. Small compared to body length.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Like all baleen whales, the fin whale has pleated throat grooves that expand to increase the throat capacity when feeding .
0160200531 PACKET 53
Although its numbers have been severely depleted by
the whaling industry, the fin whale is found throughout
the world's oceans. It belongs to a family of whales known
collectively as rorquals. These whales are characterized
by small dorsal fins and pleated throat grooves
that they can expand when they are feeding.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The fin whale journeys to its
polar feeding grounds in early
spring. Depending on its loca
tion, its prey ranges from krill
to large, fast-moving fish.
The fin whale is a baleen
whale: instead of teeth, it has
fibrous baleen plates in its
mouth to filter food. With its
~ BEHAVIOR The fin whale lives in pods, or
groups, of 6 to 14 whales. Each
pod contains juveniles and adult
males and females united by
strong family ties.
The members of a pod com
municate with very loud low
frequency sounds. Each sound
large mouth open and its
pleated throat expanded, it
gulps food and water. The
water is squeezed out through
the baleen plates, while the
food remains trapped inside.
Right: A fin whale feeds on the surface. Its baleen plates can be seen fringing its upper jaw.
lasts about a second, with sev
eral sounds per minute. These
sounds seem to be strung to
gether in a song pattern. This
sounding-off is most common
at feeding time.
Each year the fin whale mi
grates thousands of miles from
winter breeding grounds near
the equator to food-rich polar
waters. While many whale spe
cies always migrate in the same
direction from the equator, a fin
whale may move from one pod
to another and may travel to
the Arctic or the Antarctic.
~ BREEDING The fin whale mates during the
winter in warm tropical waters
after a sometimes playful court
ship. The adult males in the pod
shield the females from imma
ture males, who may form sepa
rate bachelor pods or live alone,
visiting different pods.
A year after mating, the fe
male gives birth underwater to
a single calf, which is born tail
first. Another female is often
present to help the calf surface
to take its first breath.
The newborn is about 20 feet
Below left: A tall, spreading column of spray above a very long, smooth back identifies the fin whale as it surfaces to breathe after a deep dive.
Below right: Near the tail flukes is the 24-inch dorsal fin that gives the fin whale its name. The fins of other rorqual whales are set at different angles.
long and weighs almost four
tons. For its first six months, the
calf feeds from its mother, who
pumps milk into its mouth. The
rich, concentrated milk enables
the calf to develop so rapidly
that it doubles in length by the
time it is six months old.
After its population was dras
tically reduced by hunting, the
fin whale's age of sexual matu
rity dropped from ten years to
about six. This younger age
may be a natural adaptation to
increase the depleted species.
DID YOU KNOW? • The brain of an adult fin
whale weighs approximately
20 pounds.
• A fin whale's low-frequency 20Hz sounds can travel 500
miles or more underwater.
• A fin whale can travel about , 2,500 miles to and from its
breeding grounds each year.
• It is not known if migration
routes are learned from older
generations or if the sun and
moon are used as guides.
• A fin whale can dive down 820 feet and stay submerged
for about 25 minutes.
"" CARD 190 I SOUTH AFRICAN FUR SEAL ~" . \ " GROUP 1: MAMMALS '" ' . ) .... ORDER .... FAMILY .... GENUS & SPECIES ~ Pinnipedia ~ Otariidae ~ Arctocepha/us pusillus
The South African fur seal is the largest of all the fur seals. During the mating season in November and December, the huge males
engage in fierce battles for territory on the shore.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Male, average 7 ft
Female, average 5 ft . Weight: Male, 400-500 lb.
Female, 125-150 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 3-4
years. Male, 4-5 years. Male un
likely to breed before 9 years.
Mating: November to December.
Gestation: 7 months, but im
plantation is delayed 5 months.
No. of young: 1 per year.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Social breeding, mainly
solitary feeding .
Diet: Small fish, plus octopuses,
squid, cuttlefish, and crustaceans.
Lifespan: Up to 20 years .
RELATED SPECIES
The Australian fur seal, Arctocepha/us pusillus doriferus, is found
around the Tasmanian coast and on
the islands and coast of Australia .
Range of the South African fur seal.
DISTRIBUTION
Found around the coast and islands of southern Africa from
southern Angola to South Africa.
CONSERVATION
The South African fur seal used to be threatened by hunting, but
today it is in no danger of extinction. In 1973 the South African
Sea Fisheries Institute became responsible for controlling hunting.
Pups between 7 and 10 months of age are still culled.
FEATURES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN FUR SEAL
Coat: Dense in both sexes with thick underwool for insulation. Changes yearly in January and February. Long. stiff white whiskers in both sexes.
Cow: Three times lighter than bull. Coat is brownish gray or brownish yellow. ...;;i.'itJ:.J~~
© MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Bull: Thick layer of blubber provides insulation and energy reserve
du ring breeding season. Coat is a coarse, blackish, streaked gray-brown.
Sometimes has short neck mane.
.Pup: Goes through three coat changes before achieving mature coloring:
black and woolly. to brown underfur with white tips, to Silver-gray.
0160200461 PACKET 46
Unlike the northern fur seal, the South African fur seal
does not migrate, but it is capable of traveling
long distances. Tagged pups have been found
nearly 1,000 miles from their birthplace at the
end of their first year, but these seals later return
to their place of birth in order to breed.
~HABITS A South African fur seal spends much of its time in deep water within a few hours of its breeding grounds. Although it can travel great distances, it never goes much more than 100 miles from land.
The fur seal does not swim deeply underwater as it must come to the surface to breathe. It uses its front flippers to swim, unlike true seals, which propel
themselves by moving their hindquarters from side to side.
The fur seal may ride a large wave from sea to land. On land it is surprisingly agile, propelling itself on both its front and rear flippers. It can move faster over rocks than a human can and is a good climber. The fur seal can drop from a height without injuring itself by using its chest to break the fall.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The bull (male) hardly eats in the breeding season as he is busy protecting his territory. But for 22 to 34 weeks of the rest of the year, he is away on feeding trips that are each two to three weeks long. The cow (female) spends less time away feeding . Once her pups can be left alone, she feeds at sea for one or two weeks a month.
Left: Unlike a true seal, the fur seal has ears, remnants of its ancestry as a land mammal.
DID YOU KNOW? • The South African fur seal was first sighted in 1483 off the coast of Angola by the crew of a Spanish ship. • Fur seals can dive to 400 feet, although they mainly hunt near the surface.
Usually the South African fur seal feeds alone, but a group may feed together on large schools of fish. Half the seal's diet is fish. It also eats octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, rock lobsters, and crustaceans. It swallows small fish whole but brings larger fish to the surface and tears them into pieces.
After feeding during the day, the seal returns to its rookery (breeding ground) to sleep, unless it is too far away.
• Young fur seals eat stones and grit to stave off their hunger while the cows are at sea. ,. Rival males try to push each other over with their chests, and these contests can result in serious wounds.
Left: The male fur seal mates with all the females in his territory. But the fetuses do not begin to develop inside the females for five months after mating has occurred.
In mid-October the bull comes ashore and establishes his territory. Latecomers may have to fight for a vacant area. The male arrives with an energy reserve of blubber (fat under the skin), and he rarely feeds in the next six weeks. He is too busy defending his territory and mating with the cows that occupy it.
The pups are born in late November or early December. Each measures about two feet long and may weigh up to 16 pounds. The cow stays with her pup during its first week, then goes to sea to feed for a day or two. Gradually she lengthens the periods she is away, and
Left: The female fur seal is much smaller and lighter than the more dominant male.
Above: The fur seal is surprisingly agile on land.
Left: Male fur seals fight fiercely for territory during the breeding season.
after a couple of months she may stay at sea for up to two weeks. But a fur seal pup has more maternal care than a true seal pup, which is tended for only about three weeks.
Pups play together when their mothers go to sea, becoming adept in the water. At three to four months the pup starts to find its own food. Soon it is taking small fish and crustaceans nearby, and by six to seven months it spends two or three days at sea. Yet the fur seal continues to suckle for about a year.
The cow mates with the bull a few days after giving birth, but her pup is not born for a year. The fetus does not begin to develop for five 'months, then gestation takes seven months.
Top Related