"'" CARD 71
SOUTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL "~______________________________G_R _O_U_P_l_=_M _A _M __ M_A_L_ S~ . . . ORDER 'IIIIIIIIIII
Rodentia
~ FAMILY
~ Sciuridae
GENUS & SPECIES Glaucomys volans
KEY FACTS SIZES Length: Body, 6 in. Tail, 4 in. Weight: Up to 6' oz.
BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1-2 years. Breeding season: January to March.. Gestation: 40 days. No. of young: 2-6.
LIFESTYLE Habit: Nocturnal (sleeps by day). Solitary in summer but lives in groups of up to 24 during winter. Call: A musical chirping sound or a squeal when threatened. Diet: Nuts, seeds, fruit, insects, spiders, and birds' eggs. Lifespan: Up to 10 years.
RELATED SPECIES The northern flying squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus, also from North America, is often regarded as the same species.
Range of the southern flying squirrel.
DISTRIBUTION Throughout eastern North America from Canada to Mexico in areas where there are forests of various species of tall trees.
CONSERVATION The southern flying squirrel is in no danger of extinction while the North American forests are still standing . It is an adaptable animal that can live near human populations.
HOW THE SOUTHERN Fl VING SQUIRREL GLIDES r---------------~
The flying squirrel.controls its flight with great precision. Before takeoff, it sizes up its target and judges the range and direction. It then leaps with limbs and membrane outstretched, gliding down through the branches. Just before landing, it lifts its tail and swoops upward, landing on the tree trunk with all four feet.
This figure (right) shows how the flying membrane covers the body and is attached to the wrists and ankles and to the extensions from the elbows.
The southern flying squirrel looks like a small rodent when it moves along the branches of a tree, but when it glides through the air, it appears to have the grace of a bird. ©MCMXCIIMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
__
--------~
A thin cartilage stretches from forelimbs to neck on each side of the squirrel's body, forming an aerodynamic leading edge along the membrane. The squirrel uses its forelimbs to alter the shape and tension of the membrane, thereby increasing or decreasing lift on each side so it can steer itself.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
0160200141 PACKET 14
DID YOU KNOW?
A flying squirrel does not fly in the true sense
of the word. It does not have wings to power itself through the air like a bird. Instead, it glides for long distances, traveling from tree to tree by extending
I
a fur-covered membrane that is attached to its hind and forelegs.
~
-----'
HABITS
Flying squirrels live in tall trees in the forests of North America . By gliding through the air among the trees, they avoid ground predators but are still vulnerable to attack by hawks. Flying squirrels feed at night, but they must remain alert to the presence of owls, which also prey upon them. At dawn flying squirrels return to hollow trees, abandoned woodpecker holes, or outbuildings and spend most
BREEDING Approximately 40 days after mating, the female squirrel gives birth to two to six young in a nest she makes in a hole in a tree. By the time the young are weaned at two months, they have already made short exploratory flights with their mother. As they mature, they follow her on nightly foraging trips. Fewer than a third of all young squirrels survive their first year.
of the day sleeping. The number of squirrels in an area depends on the supply of suitable places to rest and sleep during the day. In summer individual squirrels have their own resting places, but in winter they sleep in groups of 20 or more for warmth. During very cold weather the flying squirrels become lethargic and may emerge only to eat the food they gathered in the fall. Above: At night the squirrel leaves its tree to forage for food.
Left: The flying squirrel can glide through the air for up to 160 feet before landing.
Right: The squirrel's chisel-like front teeth enable it to crack the hard shells of nuts and seeds.
~
FOOD &: FEEDING Flying squirrels feed on most types of vegetation. In addition to nuts and seeds, they eat buds, shoots, soft fruit, lichens, and fungi. They also eat insects, spiders, and birds' eggs and nestlings. Flying squirrels have large eyes that allow them to see clearly in the dark. Their keen eyesight, their acute hearing, and their long, sensitive whiskers, enable them to locate food. Most of their food is eaten immediately, but nuts and seeds are often hoarded to be eaten later during the cold winter months. The squirrels' instinct to store food becomes stronger as fall approaches.
• Flying squirrels usually glide from tree to tree but often make sharp, acrobatic turns in the air before landing. • The membrane's bulk makes flYin g squirrels relatively awkward when on the ground . • Australasian marsupials
l
Right: Newborn squirrels are naked, blind, and helpless for the first few weeks of life. But they already have well-developed flying membranes.
called gliders use the same technique for moving through the forest canopy, but they are not related to flying squirrels. • The giant Southeast Asian species of flying squirrel can glide 350 feet.
""'CARD 72
SAANEN DOMESTIC GOAT ~~______________________________G~R~O~U~P_l~:_M_A_M __ M_A_l_ S~ ~ ORDER
~ Artiadacytla
~ FAMILY
~ Bavidae
~ GENUS &: SPECIES
~ Capra hircus
KEY FACTS SIZES Height: 28-32 in. at shoulder. Weight: Does, 130 lb. Bucks, 1751b. BREEDING Sexual maturity: Does, from about 6 months. Bucks, 3 months. Breeding season: September to February. Gestation: 150 days. No. of young: Usually 2, but 1 or 3 not uncommon. LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable, inquisitive. Diet: Fibrous, woody vegetation, herbs, and grass, usually supplemented with vitamins. Lifespan: 14-15 years.
DISTRIBUTION First bred in western Switzerland, the Saanen has been exported to most countries in central and northern Europe, and to North America, South Africa, Australia, and Japan.
RELATED SPECIES Related to all other breeds of goat, the Saanen has provided the foundation stock for a number of hybrids.
CONSERVATION As the demand for goat's milk is growing, purebred Saanens and Saanen hybrids are becoming widespread . Breed purity is maintained by national breed societies.
Range of the Saanen domestic goat.
FEATURES OF THE SAANEN DOMESTIC GOAT Horns: The farmer usually removes the horns soon after a Saanen kid's birth. It is rare today for horns to be selectively bred out.
Beard: Most Saanens have a long , white beard.
Coat: The Saanen has a pure white short-haired coat.
J'
Milk yield: A Saanen produces an average yield of 400 gallons a year. The two teats are angled slightly forward LO!~-----;~-- and outward to enable the kids to . s4ck1e .
Neck tassels: Some Saanens have two small , hairy buds on each side of the neck (not shown here).
The Soanen domestic goat is world-renowned for its high milk production and friendly, docile nature. Short-legged, and usually hornless, it typifies the modern domestic goat. ©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
PRINTED IN U.SA
The 5aanen domestic goat is a modern breed
of goat raised especially for its milk. Its ancestors, some of the first animals to be domesticated by man, were raised chiefly for their meat and skin. Although less hardy than other goats, it is favored for its easy-going temperament.
~ ORIGIN Man first domesticated the goat in southwestern Asia 9,000 years ago, but the Swiss were the first to develop the modern milk goat 300 years ago. In Asia, the domesticated goat was raised mainly for its meat and skin. Only in the more fertile countries of Europe was it discovered that it could be bred to produce large milk quantities.
The breeding of those goats with the highest daily milk yield and longest lactation periods led to the creation of the Saanen. Today the Saanen is among the most productive of all milk goats, capable of producing over 400 gallons of milk a year. The Saanen has been crossed with various breeds to produce hybrids for even higher milk yields.
FOOD fit FEEDING The goat is principally a browser, rather than a grazer. This means that it is specially adapted to feed on tough, fibrous vegetation such as brambles, twigs, and shrubs, rather than on grass. Unfairly blamed for creating much of the world's desert, the Saanen domestic goat is often simply the last animal to survive in barren country. The modern Saanen has adapted to a diet containing a high proportion of grass. Where grass is in short supply, the farmer will give the goat extra feed such as hay, kale, cabbages, and potatoes.
DID YOU KNOW? • The Saanen goat gets its name from the Saane River valley near Berne, Switzerland, where it was first bred . • A goat has no cutting
~ BREEDING Since the Saanen is bred solely for its milk, most goat farmers keep only females, called does. The males, or bucks, are expensive to maintain and, by mating with its own offspring, would give rise to inbreeding. So once a year, smallscale goat breeders must take their does to a stud buck to be mated. Artificial insemination is often used on large farms. The doe comes into estrus every three weeks between September and February. A female kid (young goat) comes into estrus her first year, but is usually not mated until she is 18 months old. Ideally, the doe will be
~
~ HABITAT Although wild goats still roam freely in barren, mountainous regions throughout much of the world, the Saanen goat thrives best in groups of other domesticated goats. A long history of domestication has given this goat a mild nature which makes it easily manageable. Furthermore, it dislikes cold or wet weather and needs access to shelter at all times, so herds are often kept permanently indoors, either in individual stalls or in covered yards.
teeth, called incisors, in its upper jaw, but rather a hard pad of skin. • Despite its small size, a Saanen can scale a six-ft. fence .
• Fresh goat's milk tastes similar to cow's milk. It may have an unpleasant taste when the goat eats certain food or when a buck is nearby.
Above left: Kid nestling up to its mother. Young does are raised for their milk; young males for their meat.
~ SAANEN fit MAN mated in November or December, so that her kids will be born in the spring. Twins are common and are allowed to feed from their mother for four days. They will then be bottle-fed so their mother can be milked. When
the kids are 10 days old, the farmer will begin to feed them hay. Male kids are generally fattened and killed for their meat at six months of age. Below: Triplets take turns at their mother's milk. They are suckled for only four days.
The Saanen is the goat of choice for private and commercial farms alike due to its high milk yield and easygoing nature. Still, before a goat can be milked, she must first be mated and give birth, since she only produces milk if she has offspring. Serious milking usually begins when the kids are a month old. A Saanen is milked twice a day, morning and night, and will continue to produce the same quantity of milk for approximately a year. The amount will then begin to decrease, drying up completely by the end of the second year. Thus, most milk goats are mated every year for
maximum yield. Today there is an increasing demand for goat's milk and goat's-milk products. Fewer people are allergic to goat's milk than to cow's milk, and
the lower fat content makes it healthier and easier to digest than cow's milk. Below: Sa an ens being milked. They have the highest milk yield of any domestic goat.
KEY FACTS
"" CARD 73
OKAPI "~____________________________~G~R~ O~U~P~l~:~ M~A~M~M ~A ~L=S~~--~"'~ ~ ORDER Artiodactyla
~ FAMILY Giraffidae
. . GENUS & SPECIES
~ Okapia johnstoni
SIZES Height to shoulder: 5 ft. Length: 6-7 ft. Weight: 450-550 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: Females, from 19 months. Males, later. Mating season: Usually May-June or November-December, but can occur anytime. Gestation: 14-16 months. No. of young: 1 . LIFESTYLE Habit: Solitary, or small temporary groups. Diet: Leaves, fruit, and seeds. Call: Cough. Female bellows to attract males. Young bleats. Lifespan: Oldest captive, 33 years. RELATED SPECIES The okapi's closest relative is the giraffe, the only other species in the same family.
Range of the okapi.
DISTRIBUTION Found only in the equatorial rainforest of northern, central, and eastern Zaire, near the Sudan and Uganda borders. CONSERVATION The okapi has had local protection since 1932, but some hunting continues. Because the okapi's range is limited, its future remains insecure. Its elusive nature makes it impossible to estimate how many live in the wild.
FEATURES OF THE OKAPI Flank markings: Camouflage pattern on hindquarters and legs helps to break up the okapi's outline in the dappled light of the forest floor.
Head: The okapi's head is shaped like that of the giraffe, They both have specially adapted teeth for stripping leaves from Okapi
The okapi, native to Africa's densest jungle, is the giraffe's closest relative. It is so elusive that Western zoologists learned of its existence only at the turn of this century.
©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
PRINTED IN U,S.A
0160200131 PACKET 13
~
~
FOOD & FEEDING
The okapi is a browser, or grazer, and its favorite food is young shoots of forest plants. It also eats leaves, seeds, fruit, and some grasses and ferns. It feeds by grasping branches with its long tongue and stripping off the shoots, leaves, and fruit. Like the giraffe, the okapi has lobed canine teeth that are a special adaptation; they help
it strip the leaves from trees. The okapi cannot jump or support itself on its hind legs to reach high into the trees to feed . Still, its neck, although much shorter than that of a giraffe, is extremely supple. With the use of its neck and long tongue, the okapi can reach branches 10 feet above the ground.
left: With its wild population dwindling, the okapi is usually seen only in a zoo.
Below: The okapi reaches its
food by grasping branches with its long, muscular tongue.
BREEDING
Okapis are usually solitary animals; the males and females come together only to mate. Scientists believe that a female shows her readiness to mate by marking an area with urine. A male attracts a female by curling his lip and by tossing his head to show off his white throat. At first the female responds aggressively to his attentions, but she eventually mates with him. Most births occur during the period of maximum rainfall, when there are plenty of new shoots for the mother and young to eat. The female retreats deep into the forest to give birth. The single young okapi is able to stand and suckle from its mother within
6 to 12 hours of birth. At this stage, the young okapi barely resembles its parents. In proportion, its head is smaller, its neck is shorter, and its legs are thicker and longer. The female okapi is very protective of her offspring. In her natural habitat, she hides the youngster in the forest, returning at regular intervals, guided by its bleating calls. The young okapi begins to browse, or graze, at six weeks but continues to suckle for at least six months and does not become fully independent until it is nine months old. Below: Early discoverers of the okapi thought it was related to the horse.
The okapi is built more like a zebra than like its only relative, the giraffe. The male possesses small horns on his forehead, similar to those of the giraffe. They are covered with skin that is never shed.
~ HABITAT Active by day, the okapi prefers the pathways of those areas of forest where the growth is thick and lush, but not where the forest canopy is dense. It also inhabits large clearings in forest and bush regions, especially where water is close by. The okapi has glands between its hooves that secrete a scented substance, used to mark its range. It has also been
~ OKAPI & MAN observed spraying bushes with urine. The okapi is not very territorial, although it does establish its own sleeping and resting areas. Within its habitat, the okapi's only natural enemy is the leopard. If confronted by a leopard, the normally peaceful okapi will lash out with its hooves in defense. Illegal hunting by local tribesmen is also a threat to the okapi.
The okapi first became known to the scientific community through the British explorer Sir Harry Johnston at the turn of the century. African pygmy tribesmen brought him part of an okapi skin, which the Zoological Society of London later examined. They classified the animal as Equus johnstonijohnston's horse . It was only later, when a complete skin and some bones were exam-
ined, that is was found that the okapi was not, in fact, related to the horse. In its native habitat the okapi is wary and elusive: its acute hearing provides early warning of danger, and its effective camouflage enables it to move about in the wild undetected by man. Therefore, most knowledge about t he okapi has been learned by observing it in zoos.
DID YOU KNOW? • Native pygmies of the Congo gave the okapi its name, describing it to explorers as okhapi. • At 14 inches, the okapi's tongue is so long that it can lick its eyelids to clean them. • The okapi keeps itself very clean by licking its body. Zoo keepers take advantage of
this habit when an okapi needs medication by pouring it over the animal's back. The okapi licks it off at once and ingests the medicine. • 1918 was the first year an okapi was kept in a zoo, but it was not until the 1950s that one was successfully bred and raised in captivity.
~ARD74
COYOTE '\ . . ORDER "IIIIIIII Carnivora
. . FAMILY "IIIIIIII Canidae
GENUS &; SPECIES Canis latrans
KEY FACTS SIZES Length: Head and body, 30-40 in . Tail, 12-16 in. Height: 18-22 in. at shoulder. Weight: 15-45 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Mating season: January to March. Gestation: 58-65 days. No. of young: 2-12. Usually 6.
LIFESTYLE Habit: Social; nocturnal predator. Diet: Small mammals, carrion, deer, and sheep. lifespan: Usually about 4 years. Up to about 22 years in captivity. RELATED SPECIES There are 8 other species in the genus Canis, including the gray wolf, C. lupus, and the domestic dog, C. familiaris.
Range of the coyote.
DISTRIBUTION Found throughout North America, from Alaska south to Costa Rica, and as far east as New Brunswick, Canada. CONSERVATION Coyotes are protected in 12 states but are hunted elsewhere. As a species the coyote is also at risk from interbreeding with the red wolf, gray wolf, and domestic dog.
THE COYOTE'S DEN
THE COYOTE AND WOLF COMPARED
Den: Site depends on terrain. May be dug by parents, stolen from a fox or badger, or built in a small cave. Coyote: Narrower nose pad and more pointed ears than gray wolf. Fur mostly beige. \
A lone coyote howling at the moon has become a symbol of the American West. But in reality coyotes are not solitary animals. They mate for life and often hunt in packs.
Gray wolf: Larger than coyote. Fur slightly grayer and less colorful.
Pups: Remain hidden in den while young. Parents bring them prey to eat. © MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
0160200341 PACKET34
Unlike most other large North American predators, the coyote has actually increased its range since European settlers arrived on the continent. Relying on its ability to adapt to new habitats and live on varied foods, it has survived extensive hunting by fur trappers and sheep farmers.
DID YOU KNOW? • The coyote's name sounds Spanish, but it comes from the ancient Aztec word coyotl. • Coyotes use at least ten distinct sounds to communicate in addition to their familiar highpitched howl. • The coyote is also known as the prairie or brush wolf. • Coyotes and badgers sometimes cooperate in finding food. A coyote sniffs out rodents and then leads a badger to the burrow. The badger digs the burrow open and the two share the prey. Left: The coyote's thick pelt protects it from cold in the northern parts of its range.
~ HABITAT The coyote ranges from icy Alaska to Costa Rica. It can adapt to many habitats but is most at home in open grassland and thinly wooded bush. In its preferred terrain, it marks off its territory with
sexually mature at one year, although many wait until their second year to mate. Where food is plentiful, young coyotes may remain with their parents and hunt in a pack. But these packs seldom last long. When the
Above: A coyote pup hunts its own food at an early age and is sexually mature at one year.
young mature, competition within the family forces them to leave. They typically travel more than 90 miles to establish territories of their own.
~ FOOD & HUNTING urine and uses its howl and other loud calls to warn off intruders. In other habitats coyotes live a more nomadic life. In some areas they stay in the hills in summer and move to valleys in winter.
~ COYOTE & MAN Indirectly, human beings have helped to increase the coyote's numbers. By getting rid of the wolf in much of the United States and thinning or eliminating many forests, they have made it possible for the coyote to extend its range further east. But people also hunt coyotes for their attractive pelts and to prevent them
~ BREEDING Coyotes usually mate for life, but those that live longer than average often have more than one partner. During the breeding season, the female is in heat (ready to mate) for about 10 days. After mating, she looks for a secluded place to make a den. Depending on the terrain, the den may be in a burrow dug by both parents, stolen from a fox or badger and enlarged, or hidden in a cave or dense thicket. The pups are born after a two-month gestation period and are nursed for up to seven weeks. At about three weeks they begin to eat solid food that has been regurgitated by the parents. The pups are fully grown at about nine months and
from killing sheep. During the early 1970s, up to 100,000 coyotes a year were trapped, poisoned, or shot from airplanes in the West. In 1977 the fur industry alone took more than 320,000 pelts throughout North America. Today, however, the coyote is protected in 12 states and hunting is regulated in much of North America.
Coyotes hunt mostly at night and can adjust their hunting technique to suit their prey and the environment. They are almost exclusively carnivorous, with jackrabbits, ground squirrels, and other small rodents making up more than 90 percent of their diet. Like foxes, coyotes usually stalk their prey and then pounce on it. Coyotes also pursue large animals such as deer and elk in small packs of around six. Like wolves, they work together to track down, harass, and kill these larger prey. But their packs are far less stable than wolf packs since they usually consist of a breeding pair and the young
still in their parents' territory. Coyotes feed on alreadydead animals (or carrion) as 1-----
--
well as live prey. In some areas already-dead cattle and sheep make up half their diet. -
Below: A coyote family works together to guard a dead animal from other scavengers.
---------~-
---
------~
1
I
I
""" CARD 75
WILDEBEEST
~~-------------------------------------ORDER FAMILY GENUS & SPECIES ~
Artiodactyla
Bovidae
Connochaetes taurinus & C. gnou
KEY FACTS SIZES Height: At shoulder, 3-4 ~ ft. Length: Head and body, 5-8 ft. Tail, 14-22 in . Weight: Males, 400-600 lb. Females, 300-360 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 2-3 years. Breeding season: February to April in South Africa; April to May in the Serengeti. Gestation: 8-9 months. Number of young : Usually 1 .
Range of blue wildebeest.
Range of black wildebeest.
LIFESTYLE Habit: Lives in herds; often migratory; active by day. Diet: Grasses and succulents. Lifespan: 21 years in captivity.
DISTRIBUTION Blue wildebeest are found from Kenya to northern South Africa. Black wildebeest are found only in South Africa.
RELATED SPECIES Relatives include the bontebok, Damaliscus dorcas, and the hartebeest, Alcephalus busephalus.
CONSERVATION The blue wildebeest is numerous and widespread, with an estimated 350,000 roaming the Serengeti plains. The black wildebeest was nearly wiped out in the 19th century, but its numbers have now risen to around 4,000 .
FEATU RES OF THE BLUE AND BLACK WILDEBEEST Black wildebeest: Dark blackish brown in color, with tufts of stiff hair on the face, a bearded throat and chest, and a whitish mane.
The wildebeest is an odd-looking animal. It has the head of an ox, the mane and tail of a horse, and the horns of a buffalo, but it is actually a kind of grazing antelope.
© MCM XCI IMP BV/IMP INC W ILDLIFE FACT FILET...
Blue wildebeest: Slate gray in color, with darker stripes across the forequarters . A bristly face and black r white beard on the throat.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
~ BREEDING
There are two species of wildebeest. The black wildebeest, also called the white-tailed gnu, is found only in South Africa. The blue wildebeest, known as the brindled gnu, ranges from Kenya to northern South Africa.
~ HABITS
Although it looks frightening, the horned wildebeest is neither aggressive nor particularly dangerous. When approached, it will stab the ground with its horns, stamp its hooves, and thrash its tail menacingly. It may even lower its head and pretend to charge. But if this display fails to stop the intruder, the wildebeest will retreat and then repeat its performance from a safe distance. Territorial battles between males involve a similar con-
frontation. Trespassers are first threatened with loud bellowing calls. If this warning is ignored, the pair meets in a head-to-head trial of strength. Horns may lock, but the fights are rarely bloody. The wildebeest's usual response to danger is flight. Wildebeest live in herds of up to 100 animals. If a herd member spots danger, such as a pride of lions out hunting, it sounds a warning and the whole herd flees.
DID YOU KNOW? • The name gnu comes from a Bushman word for the wildebeest's bellow. • Only one in every six calves survives its first year. • Both males and females have horns, although the male's horns are thicker and
heavier than the female's. • The largest known wildebeest horns measure 33 inches across. • To groom itself, the wildebeest rubs its face either on the ground o r against a tree or partner.
The breeding habits of the wildebeest vary depending on whether it belongs to a traveling herd. Traveling herds contain animals of all ages and both sexes. The mature male may establish a breeding territory and mate with any females entering it. Sedentary (nontraveling) wildebeest tend to be more organized . Females with young form separate herds of 10 to 1,000. Males leave the female herds when they are about a year old and join separate bachelor groups. At the age of three or four the male leaves the group and attempts to establish
territories of his own. These territories may be held only briefly while the female herd is passing, or they may be maintained for many years. A male will then attempt to mate with any mature female that enters his territory. The young are born at the beginning of the rainy season when food is most abundant. A wildebeest calf can stand within 15 minutes of birth and can run shortly after. Until the calf is weaned, at about nine months, it stays close to its mother for protection. But the calves are easy prey for large predators such as lions, and many die.
Above: In the dry season wildebeest often travel up to 30 miles to find water.
Right: During the herd's migration, many die in fast-flowing rivers.
Below: Calves stay near their mothers for nine months.
~ WILDEBEEST &: MAN
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The wildebeest lives in fertile plains and open woodland, where it grazes on short sweet grass. A taste for this type of grass often leads the wildebeest to recently burned areas, where the fire has cleared the tall, dry scrub, allowing shorter grass to grow. The wildebeest may also follow behind other grazing animals that eat the
Right: Males clash horns in a territorial battle.
taller, coarser vegetation . It also eats succulent plants and browses on karroo bushes. It begins grazing soon after sunrise, rests briefly at midday, and continues feeding until sunset. Although wildebeest are known for their seasonal migrations, not all wildebeest migrate. If there is a constant supply of fresh green grass,
they remain in the same area all year. Only when there is severe seasonal drought does the wildebeest migrate in search of food. Herds of over 1,000 animals may then thunder over the plains, raising dark clouds of dust visible for many miles. Hundreds die on these journeys. Many drown as they try to cross fast-flowing rivers.
The wildebeest is hunted for its skin, which makes a durable leather, and its tail, which is used to make fly swatters called chowries. Some hunters also shoot wildebeest for sport. During the 19th century the Boer farmers killed black wildebeest to provide meat for their workers and turned the hides into bags, belts, and other accessories. The massacre continued until 1870, when only 600 of the animals remained. The species was saved by two Boer landowners, who kept breeding herds on their lands, thus enabling the population to recover. Because the wildbeest has the same diet as domestic cattle, it is seen as competition for grazing land in some areas .
' " CARD 76
INDIAN FLYING FOX ,,~----------------------------------------~ ORDER FAMILY GENUS & SPECIES ~
Chiroptera
Pteropidae
Pteropus giganteus
"'I I
~I
KEY FACTS
SIZES Length: 12 in. Wingspan: 50 in. Weight: Male, 3-4 lb. Female, 2 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1-2 years. Breeding season: July to October. Gestation: 140-150 days. No. of young: 1; twins rare. LIFESTYLE Habit: Roosts in colonies; active at night. Diet: Mangos, guavas, bananas. Lifespan: Usually 15 years. Maximum recorded in captivity, 31 years 4 months. RELATED SPECIES There are over 60 species of flying fox in the genus Pteropus, including P. vampyrus, the largest of all bats. All are closely related to each other.
Range of the Indian flying fox.
DISTRIBUTION Widespread from the Maldive Islands of the Indian Ocean through Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Burma. CONSERVATION The Indian fox is less endangered than many of the less numerous island species of flying fox, but its numbers have been reduced where it has been hunted extensively and where its habitat has been destroyed.
FEATURES OF THE INDIAN FLYING FOX
Hind feet: Its hind feet have long claws that enable it to hang from branches while it roosts and feeds .
The Indian flying fox is one of the largest of all bats and has a wingspan of more than four feet. It does not prey on animals, feeding, instead, almost exclusively on a variety of fruit.'
Eyes: Somewhat large for a bat. It does not use echolocation to navigate in the dark, as do other species of bat but relies on its excellent vision instead.
Hearing: Its hearing is acute. The female can identify her young by its call.
©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Wings: Its wings are longer and broader than those of most insect-eating bats and enable the flying fox to fly more powerfully. The wings are jointed in several places, and the bat wraps them around itself for warmth and protection while it is roosting . PRINTED IN U.SA.
0160200151 PACKET 15
The Indian flying fox was named for the shape of its head and its reddish brown fur, which resemble those of a fox. Flying foxes are the largest of all bats and are found widely throughout Asia and Australia.
~ FOOD & FEEDING As darkness grows near, the Indian flying fox becomes increasingly restless. It leaves the roost with a group of other bats, and they fly to a feeding site that may be as far as 30 miles away. The Indian flying
fox finds its way through the dark not by sound, as insectivorous (insect-eating) bats do, but by sight and smell . Its eyes are far larger than those of most bats and more closely
resemble those of nocturnal primates. The Indian flying fox uses its large, flat molars to chew up a
The Indian flying fox breeds from July to October. Mating takes place in the roost. Indian flying foxes do not form strong pair bonds, and males mate with any adult females roosting nearby. After five months-a long pregnancy for such a small mammalthe female gives birth to a single offspring. The young bat emerges feet first. The newborn is in a far more advanced state than are most other types of bat of the
same age. It is alert and its eyes are open. It is covered with fur and weighs as much as nine ounces-nearly a third as much as its mother. The care and feeding of the young are provided only by the female . For the first few weeks of its life, the newborn clings to its mother's breast, even when she flies from the roost to feed . The young bat is nursed for five months but remains with its mother until it is
Below: A flying fox clutches a piece of fruit in its mouth.
~ HABITAT The Indian flying fox lives in tropical forests and swamps, primarily in coastal areas. Where it does live inland, the bat is seldom found far from large areas of water. It is widespread throughout the Indian subcontinent and is also found on the Maldive Islands. The Indian flying fox is one of the larger species of flying fox bats, and its strong flying ability has enabled it to colonize many of the islands throughout the Indian and Pacific oceans. Many species of flying fox are, in fact, found only on specific island groups. It is likely that their ancestors flew to the islands from the main land or were blown there by strong winds. By day the Indian flying fox roosts in communal sites, called camps, hanging upside down in a large tree. Favored roost sites are often used for
many years, and the trees become stripped of bark and foliage by the bats' sharp claws . The camps also have a musky odor that is characteristic of flying foxes. During the day the bats are noisy and active. Camps may contain several hundred to
several thousand flying foxes. With in the roost there is often a pecking order whereby the more dominant males occupy the best roosting sites.
• The largest bat in the world is a flying fox called the Kalong, which has a wingspan of nearly five feet. • One reason that bats roost upside down is so they can take flight easily-by simply letting go with their feet. • The flying fox is a strong
swimmer and crosses rivers using its wings as flippers. • Fruit-eating bats pollinate flowers and distribute their seeds. • Flying foxes sometimes drink sea water, possibly to obtain minerals absent from their sugary diet.
Above: The flying fox spends its day in the roost, leaving at dusk to feed.
I DID YOU KNOW? • During flight the bat extends its legs outward to expand the span of its wing membrane. • Bats need more water than do other mammals of the same size because they lose a lot of moisture through their wings.
~
variety of fruit to obtain the juice. Very soft fruit such as bananas is swallowed, but usually the bat spits out the fruit pulp and seeds once it has extracted all the juice. The Indian flying fox also feeds on the juice and pollen of various tree flowers. Because the fruit on trees in a tropical forest does not ripen according to season, the bat must determine which trees have fruit about to ripen. Where the fruit is thinly scattered, the bats spread out at the feeding site. But more often, an entire group of bats descends on a few heavily laden trees and picks them bare.
Above: Mating takes place from July to October.
eight months old . It is fully grown after a year but is not sexually mature until it is two years old.
FlVING FOX & MAN
Despite its large size, the Indian flying fox is less feared than other types of bats, such as the vampire bat. Rather than preying on animals, the Indian flying fox eats only fruit. While it once fed mainly on wild fruit, the bat now increas-
ingly raids cultivated crops of fruit trees, wh ich has brought it into conflict with man. In some areas it has posed such a threat to fruit farmers that it has been poisoned. The Indian flying fox is also hunted in parts of Pakistan for
its fat, which is used for medicinal purposes . In the past 50 years, many small oceanic islands have been almost completely deforested and, as a result, the flying fox populations have experienced a decline.
CARD 77 1
EUROPEAN RABBIT
,,~-------------------------------------------ORDER FAMILY GENUS &: SPECIES Leporidae Oryctolagus cuniculus ~ Lagomorpha
KEY FACTS
I
~I
..,.,
SIZES Length: Males up to 16 in. long . Females are slightly smaller. Weight: Males, 4 lb. Females are slightly less. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 4-5 months. Mating season: Spring and summer primarily, but year-round to some extent. Gestation: 28-31 days. No. of young: 2-8. LIFESTYLE Habit: Highly sociable, lives in large communities. Diet: Mainly grasses, clover, herbs. lifespan: About 9 years. Continue to breed until 6 years old. RELATED SPECIES The brown hare, closely related to the European rabbit, is distinguished by its longer hind legs.
Range of the European rabbit. DISTRIBUTION Originally from the Iberian Peninsula and northwestern Africa, but now widespread across much of Europe, eastward to the Ukraine. Also introduced to many countries and islands, including Australia, New Zealand, and Chile. CONSERVATION There are over 50 species of rabbits and hares worldwide. Their numbers are controlled and they are in no danger.
THE RABBIT WARREN The warren , or burrow, wh ich the rabbits dig to a depth of up to 10ft., often covers a considerable area and will have a number of entrances. Inside there is a complex network of passages and interconnecting tunnels, as well as living quarters and nesnng chambers. The nests are made of grass or straw, lined itJ'l fur that ttle female lucks from he body.
The European rabbit is the type commonly sold as a pet in the United States, yet it originated in Spain and Portugal. ©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
0160200111 PACKET 11
~ RABBIT &: MAN
Able to adapt to almost any type of habitat,
Because the rabbit causes extensive damage to crops and gardens, it is considered a pest by most farmers, many of whom kill rabbits to remove them from their land. In the 1950s, the wild rabbit population was dramatically reduced by an outbreak of the disease myxomatosis. The near-elimination of the rabbit had far-reaching ecological consequences in ,some areas, '0 since the rabbits naturally .::J ':~~~~~J{/ii:~~ ~ controlled the spread of E ~ unwanted plants, such as o ~ gorse, bramble, and coarse
the sociable European rabbit lives in underground colonies that can be very large. So great are their numbers that they are considered pests in many parts of their range.
~ HABITS Mainly nocturnal, the rabbit spends most of the day underground, emerging from the burrow at dusk. Because it has so many natural predators, it is constantly alert to danger. It pauses as it emerges from its burrow, twitching its nose to smell the air for the scent of predators. It never strays far from
the safety of its burrow. When it senses danger, the animal sounds a warning to other rabbits by thumping the ground with both hind feet before running off. Generally, there is a dominant female in the colony, called a doe, and she will fight the others for the best nest site.
~1~~::j~II!~!~~~~~!~~~~~~~~III~lllllj~g~~~~ng~~. g
~
~ BREEDING
. . - - - - - - - - - -- ---------------'1
~ NATUREWATCH Unlike wild rabbits found in North America, European rabbits live in v~st, underground burrows called warrens. Tracks in the snow are signs that a colony lives nearby. Also, clusters of small, round droppings on the ground are an indication that a warren is close by.
Rabbits breed continually. Litters of five or more rabbits are produced after a short gestation. Within hours of giving birth, the female (or doe) will mate again. She can produce up to seven litters a year. Spring and summer are the peak reproductive periods, but breeding can start as early as January. Beginning in August, breeding is less intensive, and the doe often does not give birth once she has conceived, but rather reabsorbs the
Above: A rabbit sniffs the air before emerging from its burrow.
G
~
«
~
Right: Baby rabbits huddle together in the nesting chamber.
~ ~
"8
_
_ _ __
"'---"-....JI
embryos into her body. The newborn young are blind, deaf, and hairless. They are born in a nest made by the doe. After the birth, she returns to the nest for
only a few minutes every 24 hours to suckle them. She then leaves, covering the nesting chamber with dirt to protect the young from predators.
appetites and often feed together in large groups, they can cause widespread damage to crops. The rabbit's digestive system is unique. Unlike cattle and sheep, which chew to aid digestion, the rabbit rests in its burrow after feeding
and passes soft droppings formed of partly digested food. The rabbit then eats these droppings to extract the maximum nourishment from the food. Afterward, the rabbit produces hard, pelletlike droppings which it deposits outside the burrow.
~
B o
.c
CL
FOOD &: FEEDING Rabbits are herbivorous (plant eating) and feed mainly on grass, clover, and selected herbs. In winter, when vegetation is scarce, they eat the bark of trees. Their preferred feeding times are dawn and dusk. Because rabbits have enormous
~
In Australia, the rabbit population has increased drastically. From a dozen rabbits that were introduced there in the 1850s, the population in 1988 numbered over 200 million. A severe drought occurred soon after, causing the starving rabbits to raid and destroy crops. In some countries, man regards the rabbit as a game animal. It is also bred forfood and sport, and it is widely used for biomedical research.
DID YOU KNOW? • Glands under the rabbit's chin generate a secretion used to mark territory. • Badgers and foxes dig young rabbits from their burrow to kill and eat them . • In the Kerguelen Islands of Antarctica, rabbits survive the harsh winters by feeding on seaweed washed ashore by the storms.
"\ CARD 78
MOUNTAIN LION \(~______________________________G_R_O_U_P_l_: _ M_A_M _M _A __ LS__~ " , ORDER ~ Carnivora
" , FAMILY ~ Felidae
. . . GENUS &: SPECIES ~ Felis conc%r
~ I ~I ~
KEY FACTS
SIZES Height: ,To shoulder, 24-28 in. Length: Head and body, 5-6 ft . Tail length: 26-30 in. Weight: 80-230 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: Males, at least 3 years. Females, 2 years. Mating: Year-round. Females usually breed once every 2 years. Gestation: 90-96 days. litter size: 2-6, usually 3-4. LIFESTYLE Habit: Solitary, generally hunt at dawn and dusk, but active by day in areas undisturbed by man. Diet: Mainly deer, most wild animals. lifespan: Up to 18 years. RELATED SPECIES Several subspecies, two endangered: Fe/is conca/or caryi (Florida) and F.e. cougar (northeastern North America).
Range of the mountain lion.
DISTRIBUTION Throughout North and South America from southern Canada to Patagonia. CONSERVATION The mountain lion is a protected species, but most farmers and cattle ranchers object to its presence. Many animals are shot to safeguard herds, in spite of evidence that mountain lions rarely attack domestic stock.
THE MOUNTAIN LION'S AGILITY The mountain lion is renowned for its remarkable power, stamina, and agility. It can easily cover 23 ft. in a single bound, and a leap of twice this distance has been recorded.
Known also as the puma, cougar, and panther, the mountain lion is a highly adaptab!e wildcat. It lives in habitats ranging from snow-covered mountains to tropical rainforests.
0 It
. "
©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Cb~er in.the .d~nsefo[jage ' · . ' of atree,:a mouritain 'Hop cailleap .up . toaheight of 18 .ft. t6: land in th.e brariches. It may then climb .upward, · . looking for a SUitable vantage :p'oirit: It .' . : can. drop 65 ft. to 'the ground without . ' :injuring itseH,
PRINTED IN U,S.A,
0160200131 PACKET 13
Long and lean, the mountain lion is immensely powerful and capable of killing prey such as a bear or bison with a single bite. Although it is usually red or brown, its coloration varies. In Patagonia, where mountain lions are particularly large, their coats are often red-gray or silver-gray.
~
~
~
HABITAT
Mountain lions are found in habitats as diverse as the cold, northern woods of Canada, the rocky, western country of the United States, and the tropical rainforests of Brazil. In Argentina, they live in the pampas, and their range extends to the southernmost
tip of South America. Instead of occupying a permanent den, mountain lions rest and find shelter in caves, among rocky outcrops, and in dense vegetation. They generally migrate from the mountains in winter to follow deer and other prey.
FOOD &: HUNTING
Mountain lions are carnivores (meat eaters) and generally hunt at dawn and dusk. Still, they are active by day in areas undisturbed by man. Like other cats, the mountain lion stalks its prey, sprinting after it if it attempts to flee. Then, pouncing on the animal's back with a powerful leap that knocks it to the ground, the mountain lion kills its prey with a single bite to the nape of the neck. Mountain lions have large hunting territories, and they eat most kinds of animals. Through-
BREEDING
The territories of male mountain lions may overlap those of females, enabling the males to detect when the females are ready to mate. During a 14-day period of mating, a male and female will break their normally solitary habits to hunt together and sleep next to each other. The female later gives birth to two to six kittens in a carefully hidden den, located between rocks or in a cave. Blind at birth, the kittens have spotted coats until they are six months old. They begin to take meat provided by their mother at six weeks, while they are still suckling. Although they can hunt for themselves after nine months, they usually remain with their mother for two years. The cubs then leave her and may stay together for several months before wandering off to establish territories of their own.
out their range, however, deer is their principal food. In the absence of deer, they eat anything available, including cattle and other domestic livestock. Mountain lions can run very fast over short distances, but they tire quickly. If an animal survives a mountain lion's first attack, it generally escapes. Mountain lions rarely share hunting territories and usually avoid each other, but they make no attempt to defend their own territories or take over those of others.
Right: In wood-
ed country, mountain lions do much of their hunting in the trees, moving with great agility and speed through the branches. This one has trapped a raccoon up a tree. Mountain lions stalk and eat large and small animals.
Right:
Mountain lions mate during a 14-day period. Below: At
two weeks, this baby mountain lion is covered with soft, dark spots that will later fade.
Once common across the western hemisphere, the mountain lion has been eradicated in many areas, and its survival is threatened. In some areas, mountain lions were wiped out in an attempt to protect deer populations. But eliminating a natural predator disrupted the balance of the environment. Consequently, the deer multiplied rapidly, and their habitat was unable to support the large population.
DID YOU KNOW? • The mountain lion is found over a wider range than any other mammal in the western hemisphere, except for man . • Mountain lions vary greatly in size. • A mountain lion pounces so violently that it can drag its prey 20 feet along the ground .
~ARD79
ROCK WALLABY ORDER Marsupia/ia
FAMILY Macropodidae
. . . GENUS ~ Petrogale
KEY FACTS SIZES Length: Head and body, 20-30 in . Tail, 15-28 in. Weight: 6-20 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 18 months. Mating: Year-round when conditions are favorable. Gestation: 1 month, then 8 months in the pouch. No. of young: 1 . LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable. Call: Communicates by thumping the ground with its feet. Diet: Grasses, as well as leaves, bark, and roots in dry weather. Lifespan: 14 years in captivity. RELATED SPECIES The ringtailed rock wallaby, Petrogale xanthopus, and the little rock wallaby, Peradorcas concinna.
Range of the rock wallaby.
DISTRIBUTION Throughout the Australian mainland on rocky terrain from coastal ranges to inland hills. CONSERVATION Nearly extinct over much of its range due to hunting for its pelt during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Conservation measures include the establishment of protected areas and a breeding center.
FEATURES OF THE ROCK WALLABY The rock wallaby belongs to the same marsupial family as the kangaroo : Macropodidae.
The rock wallaby has a fluffy tail that provides balance when it leaps from rock to rock. To help it climb, its large hind feet have sharp claws, flexible middle toes, and broad, thick pads with knobby soles.
The rock wallaby is one of the most distinctive animals in the Australian outback. It has many similarities to the kangaroo but lives exclu~ively on rocky terrain.
©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Development of the embryo in the mother's womb and of the joey (nursing baby) in the pouch continue only if the female has enough food.
~ BREEDING
Many species of rock wallaby have thick, attractive fur that was sought by fur traders during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. As a result, the remaining
DID YOU KNOW? • The rock wallaby had no natural enemies in Australia until European foxes were introduced in the nineteenth century. Faster and more cunning than the native dingoes (wild dogs), foxes killed many wallabies. • The first settlers in Australia thought the rock wallaby was a cat because it climbed so quickly and agilely. • The rock wallabies that live in the northern parts of Western Australia have thin, short hair to avoid overheating in the hot, tropical climate. • Because the brushtailed rock wallaby has dull brown fur, it is not hunted for its pelt like other species with more delicate coloration . • The rock wallaby is not found in either Tasmania or New Guinea.
The rock wallaby breeds all year when there is adequate food. During intense drought, when food supplies are scarce and the female cannot produce milk for her young, she abandons the joey (nursing baby). If the female with a joey in her pouch becomes pregnant, the new embryo in her womb does not develop until her pouch is empty. The development of the embryo is also delayed in periods of drought. When the rains return, the embryo immediately develops, the joey is born, and it makes its way into its mother's pouch. She then mates again, and another fertilized egg begins to develop.
species are now rare or almost extinct over most of their range.
~ HABITAT The rock wallaby lives in the rocky deserts and the high mountain ranges of the Australian outback. The wallaby shelters in deep, hidden crevices in the rocks. The rocks leading to the hiding places are often worn smooth by generations of wallabies using the same trail. The brushtailed rock wallaby lives in the mountainous region of eastern New South Wales. One species living on an island, at the eastern end of the Great Australian Bight, is at home either in the island's rocky interior or on the seashore among boulders washed by the surf.
Right: As soon as this joey leaves
the pouch, another is born to take its place.
Left: There are
few places as inhospitable as the rocky regions of the Australian outback. But the rock wallaby has adapted to the harsh environment. Right: No rock is too steep for the agile rock wallaby. But, away from the rocks, it moves slowly and awkwardly.
During hot weather the rock wallaby spends much of the day resting in the shade. In the cooler early morning and evening hours it may travel long distances from the rocks in search of grass, which forms the major part of its
diet. On cool days the rock wallaby spends much of its time eating. When disturbed, the rock wallaby stands rigidly, then shows its unease by beating its feet once or twice on the ground to warn other
wallabies. When it is very alarmed, the wallaby disappears among the rocks, leaping from one to another in a single bound. Unlike its close relative, the tree kangaroo, the rock wallaby cannot climb trees.
"'l
OCELOT ORDER Carnivora
~ ~
FAMILY Felidae
GENUS & SPECIES Felis pardalis
KEY FACTS
SIZES Body length: 25-40 in. Tail length: 10-16 in. Weight: 25-35 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 6-8 months. Mating: Once or twice a year, depending on location. Gestation: 70 days. Litter size: 2-4 kittens. LIFESTYLE Habit: Solitary or may live in pairs. Coat color: Varies from rich yellow to gray, depending on habitat. Underside speckled white. Ringed tail. Lifespan: 17 years in captivity. Unknown in wild. RELATED SPECIES There are 28 species of small wildcat found worldwide, with the exception of Australasia and the polar regions.
Range of the ocelot.
DISTRIBUTION Ocelots range from Arizona in North America to Argentina in South America. CONSERVATION Ocelots have long suffered from extensive hunting for their valuable pelts. More recently, the ocelot received full protection from hunters under international law, and commercial trade is now banned.
THE OCELOT'S COAT COMPARED WITH OTHER CATS' Camouflage: Dark blotches on a rich golden brown or silver-gray base color. Perfect for the equatorial forests that form its habitat. Shown below right are pelt comparisons with the leopard and cheetah. Each cat is suited to its own lmvironment; the leopard to the dry forest, and the cheetah to the id savanna .
The ocelot is a small nocturnal cat found in North and South America. The pattern and color of its coat allow it to blend in with its scrubland and forest habitats.
©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
PRINTED IN U.S.A
us P 6001
1201 0 PACKET 10
The ocelot is classified as a small cat belonging to the genus Felis, but it is one of the largest cats
in this genus. Like other small cats, it has a bare nose and long, sensitive whiskers; but unlike a domestic cat, it will run swiftly from danger rather than bolt up a tree.
~ HABITAT
~ FOOD & HUNTING
The ocelot inhabits both scrubland and forest. Forestdwelling ocelots have rich, golden-colored coats that blend in with the goldenbrown hue of the trees. Ocelots that live in scrubland have duller, grayish-colored coats that provide camouflage from predators. An agile climber, the ocelot spends much of its time resting in trees. Unlike domestic cats that can run down trees headfirst, the ocelot climbs down backward. The ocelot is territorial and marks the boundaries of its territory by spraying trees with urine. Most ocelots are solitary, but some form pairs.
Although its sense of smell is highly developed, the ocelot relies more on its hearing and eyesight to detect prey, which it hunts at night. The hearing of small cats like the ocelot is more acute than that of larger cats, and they are better able to pinpoint the location of their prey. Its whiskers are also important to the ocelot when hunting. They are so sensitive to touch that they help the cat maneuver in tight spaces. The ocelot's prey includes agoutis, hares, mice, monkeys, and birds. Although it spends a lot of time in the trees, all hunting is done on the ground. It will lie flat on its stomach once prey is spotted. It will slowly creep forward in this position and
Above: In unfamiliar territory,
the ocelot will rest during the day and hunt only at night.
~ BREEDING It is not known for certain when and how often the ocelot breeds. It is thought that it breeds twice a year, in summer and in winter. When the breeding season arrives, the ocelot will venture out of its territory to find a mate. The female starts the courtship by calling loudly to attract a male. During mating, the male holds the female by the back of the neck. Before the kittens are born two months later, the female makes a well-hidden nest. This is sometimes lined with soft down plucked from her underside. Two to four kittens are born. As each one arrives, the mother breaks the birth sac to free
the kitten. She bites off the umbilical cord and licks the newborn clean and dry, then eats the afterbirth. The kittens are born with fur, but they are blind and helpless for several days. Therefore, the mother will leave them only when absolutely necessary. For the first few weeks, the kittens feed only on their mother's milk. During this time, she will eat their droppings so as to keep the nest clean. When the kittens are older, the mother brings them live prey and teaches them how
to kill it. Later they follow her on hunting trips to develop their skills. Once the kittens
become competent hunters, they leave the nest to find their own territories.
Right: The disarming beauty of
an ocelot kitten makes it, sadly, much sought after as a pet.
DID YOU KNOW? then rush at the prey over a short distance before pouncing and catching it with its razorlike claws. The ocelot sharpens its claws by scratching them
against tree trunks. The prey is killed quickly with a bite to the neck. Small prey is devoured headfirst, but with large prey, the ocelot
begins eating at a soft part of the animal's body. Below: With its keen senses and
powerful incisor teeth, the ocelot is well equipped to hunt and kill.
• In the dark, a cat's sight is six times better than a man's. • Cats are the most carnivorous of all the meat-eating animals. They are therefore at the top of the food chain and have few enemies except man . • Small cats eat by crouching over their prey, rather than lying down next to it as most big cats do. • The ocelot sleeps lying down with its forepaws stretched out in front and its head resting on them, much in the same way t hat a dog does. It is the only small cat that sleeps in this manner. • In 1968, North American fur traders imported a total of 129,000 ocelot pelts. • The mountain lion is the largest of the small cats .
