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'" CARD 261 I MOUNTAIN REEDBUCK
,,~----------------------------------------~ ~
ORDER Artiodactyla
FAMILY Bavidae
GENUS &: SPECIES Redunco fulvarufula
The mountain reedbuck is a graceful antelope that is found in parts of Africa. This agile creature makes its home on
sparsely vegetated rocky hills and mountains.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height to shoulder: 2-2~ ft. Body length: 3 ~-4~ ft. Tail length: 8 in.
Weight: 65 lb. Female slightly
heavier than male.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Mating: No specific period.
Gestation: Almost 8 months.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Active by day. Lives singly,
in pairs, or in herds.
Diet: Grasses, leaves, twigs, roots,
and shoots.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 3 subspecies of moun
tain reedbuck and 2 other species
of reedbuck: the Bohor reedbuck,
Redunco redunco, and the southern
reedbuck, R. arundinium.
Range of the mountain reedbuck.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in scattered areas of hilly highland in central and eastern
Africa and in parts of southern Africa.
CONSERVATION
During periods of drought and when grazing is poor, the moun
tain reedbuck suffers greatly because it will not move away to
fresh pastures.
FEATURES OF THE MOUNTAIN REEDBUCK VARIATIONS IN SPECIES
Coat: Thick and woolly. Light grayish brown with red tinge on head, neck, and upper side of tail. Bare patch underneath the ear.
Female: Slightly heavier than male. Lacks horns.
©MCMXCVI IMP BV/IMP INC. WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Bohor reedbuck: Yellowish coat. Short horns have 5 to 10 rings and are thick at the base.
Southern reedbuck: Gray-brown coat. Large horns with 10 to 15 rings. White stripe over lips, on chin , and below eyes.
us P 6001 12 073 PACKET 73
Small, isolated groups of mountain reedbucks are scattered
over parts of sub-Saharan Africa. A sedentary animal, the
mountain reedbuck never leaves its familiar rocky habitat.
Because it cannot adapt to new environments, this antelope
suffers greatly during droughts and when grazing is poor.
~ HABITS The mountain reedbuck lives in
hilly and mountainous country
at altitudes of up to 16,500 feet.
In contrast to many other species
of antelope, the mountain reed
buck is sedentary, never straying
from known ground. The male
usually holds a territory of about
10 square miles. Instead of mark
ing this area with dung or glan
dular secretions, he lets out a
series of sharp whistles while he
patrols the boundaries.
Although it may live in groups
like most grazers, the mountain
reedbuck also lives alone or in
pairs. When a predator such as
a jackal or leopard appears near
a herd, one member lets out a
harsh, piercing whistle and the
animals scatter. The mountain
reedbuck is more vulnerable to
predators when it is alone. But
its familiarity with its territory
usually enables it to escape.
Right: Left alone after birth, the young mountain reedbuck soon joins a herd of females and calves.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The vegetation in the mountain
reedbuck's habitat is sparse and
mostly tough. But because it
grazes on such harsh terrain,
this antelope faces little compe
tition from other herd animals.
When it feeds near human set
tlements, however, the moun
tain reedbuck must compete
with domestic sheep and goats,
and its diet suffers as a result.
The mountain reedbuck usu-
Left: The mountain reedbuck gets most of the water it needs from the vegetation it eats.
ally feeds in the early morning
and early evening. It consumes
grasses, leaves, twigs, and the
tender roots and shoots of vari
ous plants. Its ability to eat large
amounts of vegetation without
stopping to rest makes up for
the poor quality of the food.
Although water is often scarce
in its habitat, the mountain reed
buck can survive for long peri
ods of time without drinking.
Right: The mountain reedbuck is an alert creature, always on guard against danger.
Left: The female mountain reedbuck is hornless and slightly grayer than the male. Her dull coat has the advantage of blending well into the arid habitat.
DID YOU KNOW? • The mountain reedbuck is
said to be fairly tame and
easy to approach. This may
be why it lacks prestige as a
game animal-hunters can
get close for a shot too easily.
~ BREEDING The mountain reedbuck does
not seem to have a set breed
ing season. But births frequent
ly occur at a time of year when
there is sufficient plant matter.
These times vary in different
parts of Africa.
The male may mate with sev
eral females from his own terri
tory or w ith any other females
that pass through it. During the
courtship ritual, he scrapes the
ground with his forefeet, low
ers his head toward the female,
• The mountain reedbuck is
able to jump over obstacles
more than four feet high.
• When fleeing a predator,
the reedbuck holds its tail up,
showing the white underside.
and then kicks out his hind legs.
Occasionally both male and fe
male leap into the air.
Almost eight months after
mating, the female gives birth
to one calf that weighs about
six pounds. The uncoordinated
newborn exhibits a strong urge
to conceal itself. This instinct is
crucial to its survival, since the
mother leaves her young almost
immediately. The calf soon leaves
its hideout to join a small herd
of females and young .
RED UAKARI
ORDER Primates
FAMILY Cebidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Cacajao rubicundus
The red uakari is a shy monkey that lives in the canopy of the Amazon rainforest. The forlorn expression on its red face
gives it a startling, almost human appearance.
KEYFACTS ____________________________ ~
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 20-22 in.
Tail, 6 in.
Weight: 7-10 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3-6 years.
Mating: Any time; births usually
coincide with abundance of food.
Gestation: 6 months.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Day-active; sociable, living
in groups of 15-50.
Diet: Mainly fruit, leaves, seeds,
and flowers; occasionally insects.
Lifespan: Unknown.
RELATED SPECIES
Among the red uakari's closest rel
atives are the black uakari, Cacajao melanocephalus, and the white ua
kari, C. calvus.
DISTRIBUTION
The red uakari is confined to a relatively small area of the Ama
zon basin, from the Rio Japura in Brazil to the Rio Huallaga in
Peru and west to the Andean foothills .
CONSERVATION
The red uakari has long been hunted for its flesh. Although it is
now very rare in Peru and has declined in Brazil, its numbers
seem to have stabilized recently.
FEATURES OF THE RED UAKARI
Face: Hairless. Varies in color from light pink to bright red . The shade indicates the monkey's mood and, in the male, its breeding condition.
Tail: Short and hairy. Incapable of gripping, unlike the useful prehensile (gripping) tail of most other American primates.
©MCMXCVI IMP BV/IMP INC. WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Hands: 5 long digits, with a marked cleft
between the index and middle fingers.
Coat: Shaggy. Color varies from
dull brown to golden red .
Limbs: Extremely powerful. The
animal can grip with its hind feet to hang upside down,
or walk upright on its hind limbs along a branch.
US P 6001 12077 PACKET 77
The red uakari is closely related to the saki monkeys, which
also live in the Amazon basin region. Like the sakis, the red
uakari has a cleft between the index and middle fingers.
This characteristic gives these monkeys a firm grip on fruit
as well as on branches. Both the sakis and uakaris have
suffered a decline in numbers and are now rare in the wild.
~ HABITS The red uakari inhabits a small
area of rainforest in the Amazon
basin region of South America.
It makes its home up in the tree
canopy, where it can find plenty
of food. This monkey rarely de
scends to the ground because
the river basin is usually flooded
or waterlogged.
The red uakari is very easy to
recognize. Its hairless crown and
face range in color from light
pink to bright red. The shade
of red changes according to the
monkey's mood. In males the
shade also changes to indicate
the animal's breeding condition.
The red uakari's tail very rarely
grows to more than a third of its
body length, and it cannot grip
branches. The monkey is still an
agile climber, however, although
it avoids making dramatic leaps.
The red uakari lives in a troop
containing 15 to 50 individuals.
The troop is made up of females
and their offspring plus several
males-adults or subadults
that act as the leaders. The troop
wakes up at dawn and spends
the day browsing in the high
branches, always keeping an
eye out for enemies. The mon
keys are often preyed upon by
the savage harpy eagle, which
swoops into the tree canopy to
snatch its victims. However, the
uakari is safe from most ground
predators--except humans.
Right: The female uakari forms a strong bond with her young, which lasts up to three years.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The red uakari feeds in the trees
on fruit, leaves, seeds, and flow
ers. It also eats insects whenever
plant matter is scarce.
Uakaris usually feed in trees
that have just blossomed. They
often share their meal with oth
er monkeys and have even been
known to lead squirrel monkeys
to food .
Sometimes, however, there
is intense competition for food
Left: The red uakari may call out to intimidate an enemy.
DID YOU KNOW? • The red uakari's facial color
fades from lack of sunlight.
• The uakari is the only mon
key in South America with a
short tail.
• The members of the family
Cebidae, to which the red ua
kari belongs, vary widely in
among tree-dwelling monkeys.
To cope with this problem, vari~
ous species have developed dif
ferent feeding habits. Titi mon
keys can digest unripe fruit that
other monkeys do not eat. Noc
turnal monkeys avoid daytime
feeders by foraging at night. By
feeding in the highest branches
of the trees, red uakaris avoid
competition with monkeys that
feed at lower levels of the forest.
Right: Its coat distinguishes the white uakari from the red uakari.
appearance. But all have wide
bridged noses and common
teeth formations. In addition,
they all lack cheek pouches.
• Some experts believe white
and red uakaris are subspecies
of one species, since fur color
is their only major difference.
The red uakari may breed at any
time of year. Each female in a
troop mates with more than
one male, and once a male has
mated he may seek another re
ceptive female. Adult uakaris do
not form strong pair bonds.
After a six-month gestation,
the female gives birth to one
offspring, usually when food is
abundant. The newborn climbs
onto its mother's belly, where it
suckles for several days. It later
spends several months on her
back. The troop shares the re
sponsibility of bringing up the
young. All troop members help
the mother, grooming and de
fending her and her young. The
male uakari is especially protec
tive of his own offspring.
~RD263 QUOKKA "" ...... ________________ G_ ROUP 1: MAMMALS
.... ORDER .... FAMILY ~ GENUS &; SPECIES ~ Marsupialia ~ Macropodidae ~ Setonix brachyurus
The quokka is a marsupial that was once common across southwestern Australia. But it now survives only in scattered
parts of the continent and on two offshore islands.
¥ KEYFACTS
I i;&1 SIZES ~ Length: Head and body, 16-23
in. Tail, 10-14 in .
Weight: 4-11 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2 years.
Mating season: Usually January
and February.
Gestation: 4 weeks.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Nocturnal; solitary.
Diet: Grasses and low-growing
plants and herbs.
Lifespan: Up to 5 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 9 genera of kangaroo
and wallaby in the family Macropo
didae. These include the eastern
gray kangaroo, Macropus gigan
teus; and the rock wallabies in the
genus Petrogaie. The quokka is the
only species in the genus Setonix.
FEATURES OF THE QUOKKA
Keeping cool: Like many mammals in hot, dry climates, the quokka regulates its body heat by licking its feet , legs, tail , and belly until they are drenched with saliva. The evaporating moisture then cools the body.
Tail: Sparsely furred . Much shorter than that of most wallabies ; only about twice as long as the head.
Range of the quokka.
DISTRIBUTION
The quokka was once widespread in southwestern Australia.
Now it is mainly found on the islands of Rottnest and Bald,
off the country's west coast.
CONSERVATION
Although island populations are stable, a drastic increase in
numbers could exhaust the quokka's food supply.
Coat: Dense and fairly coarse , with long, soft underfur. Thickest on back. Grizzled gray brown color, sometimes with a reddish tinge.
rounded.
Legs and feet: Hind legs are much longer than forelegs, which is typical of wallabies. Sharp claws on all digits are useful for digging .
c C <l Q
'!.
The quokka is a small/ solitary member of the wallaby
family that lives in the dense grass and undergrowth of dry,
scrubby habitats. Scientists have learned a great deal about
marsupials by studying the quokka in captivity. Howeve"
they know very little about this animal's habits in the wild.
~ HABITAT Like many kangaroos and wallabies, the quokka has suffered from human encroachment. Habitat destruction and intensive grazing by domestic livestock have greatly reduced its range. Once abundant in the swampy thickets of southwestern Australia, the quokka now lives only in a few isolated colonies on the mainland and on the islands of Rottnest and Bald . In these locations, the animal is found primarily in dense grass and undergrowth.
The quokka holds a small territory that is about 20 acres. Individual territories may overlap, but the animals tolerate one another, and they are not aggressively territorial.
Within its grassy habitat, the quokka makes and uses runways and tunnels. In addition, it scratches shallow depressions in the ground to make temporary refuges.
Right: Although scarce on mainland Australia, the quokka thrives on its island refuges.
DID YOU KNOW? • Rottnest means "rat's nest" in Dutch. Rottnest Island got its name from Dutch sailors who arrived on the island in 1658 and thought that the quokkas were rats.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The quokka feeds mainly between dawn and dusk, but it rests in a shady ground scrape during the hottest part of the day. The animal grazes on the shoots of grasses, herbs, and other low plants.
In the dry summer months, quokkas on Rottnest Island often move to areas near fresh water with lusher vegetation.
The quokka's digestive system is similar to that of a sheep. Bacteria in its large stomach enable the animal to digest the large amounts of fiber in its diet.
Left: The quokka takes shelter in its ground scrape during the hottest parts of the day.
Right: The quokka sits up on its haunches to feed on the tender new shoots of shrubs.
• When grazing, the quokka often curls its tail between its hind feet and sits on it. Unlike many larger wallabies, however, the quokka does not use its tail as a prop.
~ BREEDING The female quokka can breed at any time of year, but she is most receptive during January and February-the height of summer in Australia. Mating at this time of year ensures that the young, called a joeYt will leave its mother's pouch after the winter rains, when plants are most abundant.
After mating, the male often leaves the female, who gives birth after a four-week gestation. The newborn joey weighs only a fraction of an ounce and
Left: The weather has little effect on the temperature inside the pouch, so the joey is kept at a stable 9lJO F.
is deaf and blind. Using its strong claws, it climbs up its mother's belly into her pouch. For the next five or six months, it develops inside her pouch, attached to one of her teats.
Although the female usually produces only one joey each year, she often mates right after giving birth. The newly fertilized egg does not develop, however, while a joey is in the female's pouch. If the joey dies, the egg develops and another young is born .
TAMANDUA
ORDER Edentata
... FAMILY ~ Myrmecophagidae
CARD 264
GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Tamandua mexicana, T. tetradactyla
Tam an duos, also known as lesser anteaters, are tree-dwelling creatures that live in South America. Although they resemble
their giant anteater cousin, they are only half its size.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Body, 1 Y.1-2~ ft. Tail,
1 X-2X ft . Weight: 4~-15~ lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Unknown.
Mating season: Fall.
No. of young: 1 .
Gestation: About 5 months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary; tree-dwelling; ac
tive at night.
Diet: Termites, ants, and bees and
their honey.
Lifespan: Unknown in the wild.
At least 9 years in captivity.
• Range of tamanduas.
DISTRIBUTION
RELATED SPECIES
The northern tamandua, Taman
dua mexican a, and the southern ta
mandua, T. tetradactyla, are closely
related to the silky anteater, Cye/opes
didactylus, and the giant anteater,
Myrmecophaga tridactyla.
The tamanduas' range overlaps that of the giant anteater, from
southern Mexico to Paraguay and Argentina. The southern spe
cies is also found in Trinidad.
CONSERVATION
Tamanduas have become rare mainly due to the loss of their
habitat. They are listed as endangered by the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
FEATURES OF TAMANDUAS
Northern tamandua: Both northern and southern tamanduas have dense, bristly hair and light brown coloring. But the northern species has a black area along its back that extends onto its neck and around it-si(hlle, somewhat like a vest.
•
Tail: Long, scaly, and partly hairless, unlike the tail of the giant anteater. Acts as a fifth limb to give a firm grip on branches when climbing.
Tongue: May be up to 16 inches
long. Tamanduas have no teeth and use their tongues
to lick up food .
SOUTHERN TAMANDUA
The coat of the southern tamandua varies throughout its range, but the light, sandy coloring predominates.
Black or dark brown individuals occur in Peru, in the foothills of the Andes in Ecuador, and around the Amazon delta.
(; o ill
a.. (f) ::::>
When they were first discovered, tamanduas were
thought to be very clumsy creatures. They cannot gal/op
like the giant anteater, and they move with stiffly held
limbs. Yet these creatures are perfectly equipped for life
in the trees, where they consume enormous quantities
of insects such as termites and ants. Tamanduas can
also fight predators much larger than themselves.
~ HABITS Tamanduas are solitary animals that are active at night. They mostly inhabit the edges of forests and wooded savannas in South America, where they live in hollow trees. They may also be found in scrubland, plains, and rainforests.
A tamandua communicates either with a loud hiss or by emitting a pungent odor. In this way an individual announces its presence, which serves as a defensive measure.
A tamandua's arms and legs are very powerful, but its hands and feet are less specialized than those of other anteaters. Nevertheless, tamanduas can demol-
ish termite mounds, anthills, and other insect nests.
Tamanduas are quick to defend themselves against predators. If it is in a tree, the animal uses its hind feet and tail to form a tripod. This position allows it to stretch its arms, with its long claws bared, toward the enemy. If assaulted on the ground, a tamandua defends itself by leaning against a tree or rock. As a last resort it falls backward, hissing loudly and slashing at the enemy with its hind feet, just like a big cat.
Right: Tamanduas are members of the order Edentata, which means "without teeth. "
Left: Aside from some differences in coloring, northern and southern tamanduas are similar. The southern species tends to live in more open habitats in Brazil and Venezuela and spends less time in the trees. It may also occupya much larger range.
DID YOU KNOW? • Because of the smelly scent they emit, tamanduas are known by a local name meaning "stinkers of the forest." • The stomach of one tamandua was found to contain more than one pound of ants and their larvae. • While foraging in the trees, a female may set her offspring
~ BREEDING Little is known about the breeding habits of tamanduas. They probably mate in fall. After a gestation of about five months, the female gives birth to a single young in the spring. She carries it on her back, both in the trees and on the ground.
Unlike the giant anteater, a young tamandua differs in coloring from the adult. At birth its fur varies from black to white.
Right: A tamandua has a long, scaly, almost hairless tail that serves as a fifth limb.
on a branch, where it remains until she has finished. • Tamanduas spend most of the day asleep in trees. Their mottled coat coloring provides excellent camouflage. • At 91 0 F tamanduas have one of the lowest body temperatures on record of any active land mammal.
~ FOOD & FEEDING Tamanduas have a specialized diet, feeding mainly on small insects like ants and termites. They also eat bees and honey.
Tamanduas usually feed at night, using their long tails to grasp branches as they climb slowly through the trees and sniff for insect nests. When a tamandua finds a nest, it breaks
into it with its curved claws and uses its long, sticky tongue to lick up the insects.
At times a tamandua may slash open a nest, only to be covered by a swarm of ants. Although its skin is tough and its coat thick, the tamandua may be bitten. Intent on its meal, however, it continues to feed from the nest, perhaps pausing to scratch at a sting with a hind foot. After the meal is over, it gets rid of the ants on its coat by dropping to the ground and picking them off one by one.
Left: The gripping tail acts as a support, leaving the forepaws free for feeding.
" CARD 265 1
MOUSE OPOSSUM ,, _____________________________ ~G~R~O~U~P~l~: ~M~A~M~M~A=LS~~ .. ORDER .. FAMILY .. GENUS ~ Marsupia/ia ~ Didelphidae ~ Marmosa
Mouse opossums are marsupials. But unlike other opossums, the female lacks a pouch in which to carry her offspring. Instead, the
young cling to her back or hang between her hind legs.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 3-7 in.
Tail, 3~-11 in .
Weight: 1-8 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 9 months.
Breeding season: Some species
breed year-round; others breed
seasonally.
Gestation: 2 weeks.
No. of young: 3-15.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary; night-active.
Diet: Insects, small rodents, birds'
eggs, and fruit.
Lifespan: Approximately 1 year in
the wild.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 47 mouse opossum spe
cies. Some of the better-known
species include the murine mouse
opossum, the ashy mouse opos
sum, and the Mexican mouse
opossum.
Range of mouse opossums.
DISTRIBUTION
The 47 species of mouse opossum are found in Mexico, Cen
tral America, and South America. They are absent only from
the Andes, the Chilean desert, and Patagonia.
CONSERVATION
Mouse opossums are in no danger of extinction. However,
their future could be jeopardized by brush clearance in the
Andes and the destruction of the rainforests.
FEATURES OF THE COMMON MOUSE OPOSSUM
Snout: Long and pointed.
Ears: Can be folded during sleep.
Feet: 5 digits on each of the 4 paws. Able to grasp.
©MCMXCVI IMP BV/IMP INC. WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Tail: Prehensile (gripping). Used for climbing and g rasping material. In some species, base of tail swells up for fat
storage.
US P 6001 12074 PACKET 74
There are 47 species of mouse opossum and as many as
150 subspecies. These animals have naked ears, large
protruding eyes, and smooth shiny fur. With their long,
hairless, prehensile tails, mouse opossums are able to grip
branches as they move through the forest in search of food.
~ HABITS The 47 mouse opossum species live in Mexico, Central America, and South America. Their habitats range from tropical rainforest to semidesert areas.
To cope with their nocturnal lifestyle, most mouse opossums have keen vision and hearing. Their ears often twitch as they track different animal sounds.
The climbing ability of the different species varies, depending on their lifestyle. For example, the ashy mouse opossum and the gray mouse opossum live in trees and are good climbers. Other species, like the Chilean mouse opossum, are adapted to life on the ground and have shorter tails and smaller feet.
Nest sites vary among mouse
opossums. Some make nests in hollow logs or under rocks. Others use abandoned birds' nests. The pale-bellied mouse opossum does not have a permanent nest. It spends the day in any suitable shelter and then moves on at night.
Mouse opossums are solitary creatures. When two individuals meet, they frequently threaten each other by baring their sharp teeth and hissing. Up to seven species may occupy the same part of a forest. But differences in body size and climbing ability ensure that they do not compete for food .
Right: Insects such as grasshoppers make up the bulk of a mouse opossum 's diet.
~ BREEDING Mouse opossums breed yearround in tropical regions and up to three times a year in cooler areas. While courting, the male approaches the female with a clicking noise. A fertile female usually lets the male mount her but drives him away if she is not receptive. For the pale-bellied mouse opossum, mating may last six hours.
Gestation takes two weeks. The litter size may vary from 3
left: With acute hearing and keen vision, a mouse opossum can forage for food at night.
DID YOU KNOW? • Mouse opossums may nest in banana stalks. When the fruit is shipped to the United States, the mouse opossums turn up in grocery stores. • Not all mouse opossums are
to up to 15 in the case of the pale-bellied mouse opossum. Less than half an inch long, the embryonic newborns immediately attach themselves to their mother's teats. Any that drop from the teat are left to die.
The young let go of the mother's teats after three weeks and cling to her back or hang between her hind legs. Their eyes open at five weeks old, and they leave the nest a few days later.
Right: Breeding is timed so that food is plentiful when the young leave their mother.
as small as thei r name suggests. The gray mouse opossum grows to 18 inches long. • A newborn mouse opossum is not much larger than a grain of rice.
left: A mouse opossum grips branches with its strong tail as it moves slowly through the forest in search of food.
~ FOOD & FEEDING Mouse opossums feed mainly on fruit and insects and are very fond of large grasshoppers. A mouse opossum will leap up to catch a grasshopper in midair. It then discards the hard parts and lower legs and devours the rest of the grasshopper.
Mouse opossums also feed on small rodents, lizards, and birds' eggs. Raw sugar is a favorite of the murine mouse opossum, and it may damage sugar, banana, and mango crops.
When it forages in trees, a mouse opossum moves slowly, gripping the branches with its strong, prehensile tail. The animal may at times hang upside down by its tail and hold its meal in its forefeet while eating.
NYALA
ORDER Artiodactyla
FAMILY Bovidae
"", CARD 266
CROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS &: SPECIES Tragelaphus angasi
The nyala is a large, agile antelope that lives in a few small areas of savanna in southeastern Africa. A wary creature,
it rarely strays far from the cover of trees and bushes.
_____ ~~K_E_YFA~C~T~S~--------------------------~
SIZES
Head and body length: Up to 5 ft. Male larger than female.
Tail: Male, 17 in. Female, 14 in.
Horns: 2 ft. Weight: 250-280 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: About 3 years.
Mating: Peaks from August to
December and again in May.
Gestation: 7 months.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable, living in herds.
Diet: Grass, leaves, flowers, fruit.
Call: Deep-throated, roaring bark.
Lifespan: About 16 years.
RELATED SPECIES
In addition to the nyala, the genus
Tragelaphus includes the bush buck,
the sitatunga, the greater and less
er kudus, the mountain nyala, and
the bongo.
j;;ATURES OF THE NYALA
Range of the nyala.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in localized areas of savanna in southeastern Africa, in
cluding national parks in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa,
and Zimbabwe.
CONSERVATION
Although its habitat has been fragmented, the nyala is relative
ly safe, thanks to strictly enforced protection laws in the coun
tries in which it lives.
I Male: Charcoal gray with up to 14 thin white stripes and a darker shaggy band on the neck. Light crest along the neck and back, which is raised to warn off other males.
Horns: Dark Chestnut lower legs. Unusual long , black fringe runs from throat to rump.
are ivorycolored .
Head: Both sexes have large ears that pick up sounds of approaching predators. Male has white markings between the eyes.
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A few white spots on the thighs. Long, bushy tail.
Female: Much smaller than
the male. Pale chestnut coat
with bright white stripes
and spots and a short black
crest along the back. Both female and male
young have the adult fema le's
coloring.
us P 6001 12078 PACKET 78
The nyala is distinctive because of the striking difference
between the male and female. The pale chestnut female
is marked with vivid white stripes. The much larger
charcoal gray male has a shaggy black fringe running
from throat to rump that is unique among antelope.
~ HABITS The nyala usually lives in low
lying savanna. In the open, it is
vulnerable to predators such as
leopards and lions, so it stays
within reach of cover. If nyalas
are forced into the open in or
der to feed or drink, they con
gregate in larger groups than
normal for protection.
The nyala roams over a terri
tory of one-quarter to one and
one-half square miles. It usually
lives in a herd that varies in size
from as few as 3 to as many as
30 individuals. Male and mixed
herds are led by a single male.
Family groups are often domi
nated by a female. Nyala herds
are not territorial.
Males rarely fight fiercely, but
they may stand on their hind
legs and lock horns when com-
peting for a female. The male
may also display by raising the
fringe of hair along his back,
flipping his bushy tail up, and
prancing slowly about with his
legs held high. In addition, the
male may keep rivals away by
beating the grass with his horns
and pawing the ground with
his cloven hooves. In the few
cases of real aggression, males
may attack each other head-on
with their horns.
The nyala coexists peacefully
near other antelope. However,
it likes to keep some distance,
and it will move away if a herd
of another species comes too
close to it.
Right: The young nyala is guarded by its watchful mother at the water hole, where it is vulnerable.
~ BREEDING The female nyala gives birth to
one calf in a thicket. She leaves
the newborn for 18 days but re
turns periodically to suckle and
clean it. The calf then joins its
mother in the herd and stays
near her until it is weaned.
It is difficult for the young to
survive the long dry season. So
births tend to peak in the wet
season, when the calf has a
chance to build up strength.
Left: The nyala usually lives in a herd, but individuals may wander alone for months.
DID YOU KNOW? • The name nyala comes from a Bantu word for the animal.
• The nyala frequently drinks
very near crocodiles, undis
turbed by the threat of their
presence. Surprisingly, the
The male calf's horns appear
soon after birth but take four
years to grow to full length. Af
ter he leaves his mother, the
young male joins a group of
two or three other males. He
feeds and plays with them but
soon grows more solitary. Fe
males tend to stay in family
groups or join other females.
Mixed herds also occur, espe
cially during mating periods.
Right: Most births are during the wet season, when there is plenty of grass for the calf to eat.
reptiles rarely attack the nyala.
• The nyala was once known
as Angas's bush buck, after
Douglas Angas, who was the
first European naturalist to
record the species.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The nyala feeds from late after
noon until early the next morn
ing. It eats a variety of grasses,
twigs, flowers, seed pods, and
fruit, as well as some crop plants.
In addition it eats the leaves of
more than 100 types of trees
and plants, including the acacia,
mustard tree, monkey orange,
and cucumber bush, as well as
the bark of the baobab tree.
The nyala usually feeds within
the herd's home range. It twists
its tongue around the food and
then breaks it off against its low
er teeth. When grass is young,
the nyala eats the juicy shoots,
cropping them with its lips rath
er than its teeth. Grass forms
about two-thirds of its diet, but
in the dry season it also eats fall
en leaves.
BANK VOLE
ORDER Rodentia
FAMILY Muridae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Ciethrionomys g/areo/us
The bank vole is one of the smallest species of vole found in Europe. It lives in deciduous woodlands and hedgerows, where
it is often preyed upon by tawny owls and weasels.
KEY FACTS
SIZES Length: Up to 5 in. Weight: Up to 1 X oz.
BREEDING Sexual maturity: 4-5 weeks. Breeding season: Usually from mid-April to December. No. of young: 3-6 per litter; 4-5 litters per season. Gestation: 17-21 days.
LIFESTYLE Habit: Usually solitary. Active in short bursts, especially at dawn and dusk. Diet: Seeds, berries and other fruits, bulbs, roots, and fungi. lifespan: 2 years maximum, but many die at a few months old.
RELATED SPECIES Members of the family Muridae include the northern red-backed vole, Ciethrionomys ruti/us, and the field vole, Microtus agrestis.
THE BANK AND FIELD VOLES
Bank vole: Small , thickset, mouselike build. Adult can be distinguished from the field vole by its red-brown coat. However, the juvenile bank vole is grayer and less distinct.
Feeding: The bank vole nibbles a neat hole in a hazelnut shell to extract the nut. A roughly split or halved shell may be the work of a squirrel.
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Range of the bank vole.
DISTRIBUTION The bank vole is found throughout Europe, except for the far north and parts of the Mediterranean region, and eastward to Kazakhstan in Central Asia.
CONSERVATION Despite habitat destruction across its range, the chemical poisoning of rivers, and its many predators, the bank vole is not threatened.
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Field vole: Fur is usually grayish brown and sometimes
has a yellow-brown tinge on the back. Short tail and small ears.
Feet: Have sharp claws for gripping when running and for
clutching food when eating.
US P 6001 12 075 PACKET 75
The bank vole breeds often and quickly. It produces up to
five litters a yea" with three to six young in each litter. As a
result, its numbers can rapidly reach epidemic proportions.
This abundance is controlled naturally" however, since a
surge in the bank vole population is certain to be followed
closely by an increase in the number of its predators.
~ HABITS The bank vole has several short periods of activity throughout the day and night, but it is most active just before dawn and after dusk. It lives in undergrowth along hedgerows and banks as well as in thickets on the forest floor. The bank vole has adapted to a more open habitat in some parts of its range, but it still seeks cover from birds of prey.
The bank vole travels on paths that have been worn through the undergrowth or along tun-
nels that are dug just below the surface. These routes form a network across the animal's home range, which is approximately 400 square feet. The bank vole often digs a nest burrow in soft soil between the roots of a tree or shrub. The burrow may have several entrances at the surface.
Bank voles can run, climb, and swim very well. However, despite their agility, large numbers of them fall prey to weasels, kestrels, and owls.
DID YOU KNOW? • The Skomer vole is a "giant" subspecies, approximately the same length as the bank vole but weighing twice as much. It lives only on Skomer Island, off the coast of Wales. • In some areas the bank vole is considered a serious pest. It
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The bank vole feeds on seeds, nuts, fungi, roots, and bulbs. It also eats berries and other fruit. It forages along the forest floor and in trees, eating whatever is in season.
The bank vole gathers seeds, berries, and nuts during the fall to supplement its winter diet. It digs a small, isolated hole, fills it with food, and then covers it. In some regions there are signs that the bank vole digs special food chambers that are connected to its network of underground tunnels.
Left: The bank vole's diet changes with the seasons and varies with its location.
Right: Although the bank vole is usually solita'Yt individual territories may overlap.
strips bark from small trees, especially larches and elders. It also eats the buds of young conifer trees. • Ayoung bank vole calls out to its mother with ultrasonic squeaks that are too high for humans to hear.
r' . NATUREWATCH l Although its tiny size makes it it has been able to adapt to vulnerable to predators, the small groves of trees and to
I bank vole is common in many farmland . It is even seen near parts of Europe. water. The bank vole can be
It has suffered little from the quite difficult to spot. It often loss of hedgerows and the appears as just a rusty brown clearance of forests. Instead, streak on a woodland path.
~ BREEDING Like many rodent species, the bank vole has a short lifespansometimes just a few months. The animal therefore reaches sexual maturity a few weeks after birth, and the female can produce as many as five litters in one year.
The breeding season starts in thespring,and~peaksduring
June. The season may continue
Left: The young are not helpless for long. They leave the nest at a few weeks old.
into December if there is plenty of food.
After a gestation of 1 7 to 21 days, the female gives birth to three to six young in an underground nest chamber that she has lined with grass, moss, and feathers. The young are born blind and hairless. They suckle from their mother for two or three weeks. Soon they are able to breed, and females from the first litter of the season may produce offspring later that year.
"" CARD 268 I RIVER OTTER "~ ______________________________ G_R_O_U_P_l _: M __ A_M_M_A_L_S~ ... ORDER ... FAMILY .. GENUS &: SPECIES
...... Carnivora ...... Mustelidae ~ Lutra canadensis
The river otter is the only freshwater otter found in North America. Like all otters, it is a powerful swimmer and a formidable
predator of fish, amphibians, and small aquatic mammals.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 3-4 ft. Tail, l-l~ft . Weight: 17 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2 years, however
competition between males usual
ly delays mating for an additional
3 years. Mating season: Late winter to
early spring. Gestation: 8-12 months.
No. of young: 1-5.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Family groups or solitary.
Diet: Mainly fish; also frogs, in
sects, and small mammals.
Lifespan: Up to 16 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The genus Lutra contains 8 species.
Of these, the river otter is most
closely related to otters found in
the American tropics.
Range of the river otter.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in rivers and lakes in virtually all parts of North America,
from the edge of the Arctic tundra to the Gulf of Mexico.
CONSERVATION
As a group, otters have suffered badly from habitat destruc
tion, the use of pesticides, and excessive trapping for their fur.
The river otter is becoming increasingly rare in the United
States and Canada.
FEATURES OF THE RIVER OTTER
Tail: Long and powerful. Acts as a rudder.
Eyes: Specially adapted to enable the otter to see equally well above and below the water.
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Feet: Webbed for swimming. Clawed and padded
for digging a holt (den).
Body: Slender and streamlined,
enabling the otter to move quickly in
the water.
Coat: Predominantly brown with lighter throat patch.
Sleek when wet.
0160200811 PACKET 81
The river otter is a sociable and playful animal that lives
in a family group in which both parents raise the young.
Because it has been extensively hunted for many years,
the river otter has become extremely wary of humans.
As a result, this animal is rarely seen in the wild.
~ HABITS The river otter is found in riv
ers and lakes in North America,
from the Arctic tundra's edge
to the Gulf of Mexico. It builds
its den and forages along the
shores of wooded streams. It
may travel many miles over
land in its search for new river
basins, or ice-free water in the
winter. It usually has a loping
gait on land. On snowy ground,
however, it moves in a series of
three quick jumps followed by
a slide along the snow or ice.
The river otter's strong legs,
webbed feet, powerful tail, and
streamlined body make it an ex
pert swimmer. When swimming
slowly, it paddles with all four
legs. To pick up speed, it moves
its entire hindquarters in swift,
up-and-down movements.
The river otter is mainly noc
turnal but may be seen by day
in remote areas. It is active all
winter except in the worst con
ditions, when it takes shelter
for a few days.
~ BREEDING The river otter mates in late win
ter or early spring. The gestation
period lasts 8 to 12 months be
cause the development of the
egg may be delayed. The female
usually makes her holt, or den,
in an abandoned beaver lodge
or a burrow on the bank of a
stream or lake.
The female gives birth to one
to five kits (young). They are
fully furred but blind and help-
Left: The river otter lifts its head to sniff for the scent of predators.
DID YOU KNOW? • The river otter likes to "to
boggan" down snowy slopes
by sliding on its belly.
• The river otter is able to see
equally well above and below
the water.
less. After 5 weeks their eyes be
gin to open, and after 10 weeks
they venture from the den. The
female soon teaches them to
swim. At first she looks after the
litter, but the male often rejoins
the family when the kits are six
months old. The offspring are
sexually mature at age two, but
competition among males usu
ally keeps them from mating
until they are five years old.
Right: The river otter is becoming increasingly rare in North America.
Left: The river otter is sexually mature at two years of age but seldom breeds until it has reached five years.
• On frozen lakes, river otters
lump and slide at speeds of
up to 19 miles per hour.
• In their travels on land, riv
er otters cover as much as 55
miles each year.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The river otter eats mostly fish,
including minnows, trout, cat
fish, sculpins, and perch. In ad
dition, it feeds on frogs, insects,
and small mammals like shrews,
muskrats, and young beavers. It
hunts by swimming on the wa
ter's surface. When it sees prey it
dives down and following a brief
chase captures its victim in its
sharp teeth. It often feeds on fish
Left: The river otter often drags larger prey onto land before devouring it.
Left: With its slender bod}/J strong tail, and webbed feet, the river otter is an excellent swimmer. It can swim from the age of four months.
while swimming on its back,
resting its meal on its chest.
An ingenious predator, the
river otter sometimes breaks
holes in beaver dams, waits for
the water to run out, and then
eats the stranded fish and frogs.
The river otter hunts at night,
often over a wide area. It swims
upstream to search for prey in
small inlets and streams. The
next day it hides in reedy lakes
and resumes hunting at night,
returning home in several days.
'" CARD 269 I DORCAS GAZELLE
,,~--------------------------~~~~~~~~ ~
ORDER Artiodactyla
FAMILY Bovidae
GENUS & SPECIES Gazella dorcas
The graceful dorcas gazelle has been known to humans since antiquity. Today, however, uncontrolled hunting is threatening its
existence, and only a few countries have taken protective measures.
"I KEY FACTS
I ~I SIZES ~ Length: 3-3~ ft.
Height: About 2 ft. Weight: 33-44 lb.
BREEDING Sexual maturity: Female, 9 months. Male, 18 months. Breeding season: April to June. Gestation period: 6 months. No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE Habit: Social; lives in a herd. Diet: Grasses, leaves, shoots, fruit, other plant material, and locusts. Call: A quacking sound when alarmed. Lifespan: 10-12 years or more.
RELATED SPECIES There are 11 other species of gazelle, including Grant's gazelle, Gazella granti, and Thomson's gazelle, G. thomsoni. Both of these species are common on the plains of East Africa.
Range of the dorcas gazelle.
DISTRIBUTION Sparsely distributed throughout North Africa and from the Middle East to Pakistan and eastern India.
CONSERVATION Hunting and poaching have caused the dorcas gazelle to become extinct throughout much of its former range. It is now considered a threatened animal and is protected in Israel, Somalia, and Tunisia.
FEATURES OF THE DORCAS GAZELLE
Male: Distinguished by long, S-shaped, ridged horns that slope backward. The horns are about 15 inches long.
Coat: Color varies depending on area. Gazelles that live west of the Nile River are usually a sand color, while those east of the river are a redder tone. The belly is usually paler, and there is a white area around the tail's base.
Calf: Weighs less than 4 pounds at birth. It is slightly darker than its parents, but its coat lightens witbin a few weeks.
© MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILET ... PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Female: Identified by
her horns, which display
the same ridged pattern as the
male's horns but are thinner and
steeper. They are also about half the size of
the male's horns, measuring only
6 to 8 inches.
0160200621 PACKET 62
The dorcas gazelle is a slender, beautifully formed
small antelope that inhabits a range stretching from
North Africa to eastern India. Distinguished by the
ridged patterns of its horns, this graceful animal is
widely regarded as the classic gazelle, and it clearly
exhibits the defining features of this group. Like
other gazelles, it can run at great speeds.
~ HABITS As the male dorcas gazelle matures, he becomes increasingly territorial. He becomes especially territorial during the mating season, when he uses an elaborate ritual to mark his territory with piles of manure.
The male dorcas gazelle begins by scraping the ground several times, first with one foreleg and then with the other. Next, he steps forward with his forelegs, stretching his hind legs behind him and bringing his belly close to the ground. He urinates and then brings his hind legs forward so that he is squatting.
Finally, he defecates on the site where he has just urinated. Although other male gazelles perform similar rituals, they are not as complex.
During the breeding season, a single male with a territory may acquire and dominate a group of females, along with their recent offspring. Other herds are made up of non breeding bachelors without territories, or there may be groups that have mixed sexes of all ages.
Right: The young dorcas gazelle is fully weaned within a few months of birth.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The dorcas gazelle is essentialIya browsing animal. It feeds mainly in the morning and evening on grasses, herbs, and the foliage of trees and shrubs. It usually eats whatever is greenest and most plentiful. During spring or after a rainfall, for example, it feeds mainly on fresh grass. Later in the year it may chew on leaves and fruit.
Dorcas gazelles roam widely in small herds across the arid
Left: The ridges on dorcas gazelles I horns may keep them interlocked during battle.
DID YOU KNOW? • Inscriptions from ancient Egyptian tombs suggest that the dorcas gazelle was kept in captivity as early as 2000 B.C. • The word dorcas is taken from the Greek word dorkas, meaning "gazelle." • Falcons and dogs are used to hunt the dorcas gazelle for its meat. The falcons strike
plains looking for vegetation. Although predominantly plant eaters, they may eat locusts if there is no suitable vegetation.
The dorcas gazelle does not require very much water. Unlike many animals, it does not need to drink directly from a pond or pool. Instead, the dorcas gazelle is capable of absorbing the moisture it needs from succulent plants and fruits, such as wild watermelons.
Right: By playing at fighting, young dorcas gazelles learn how to defend their future territories.
the gazelle near its head, and the dogs bring it down. • To confuse its enemies, the dorcas gazelle uses a vertical hopping movement called stotting that is characteristic of small antelope and gazelles. • The dorcas gazelle can run very fast, reaching speeds of 40 miles per hour.
~ HABITAT The dorcas gazelle lives in open savannas, semi deserts, and deserts. Its range includes North Africa and the Middle East, extending across a belt that is bordered by the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea. The dorcas gazelle is scattered all over the Arabian peninsula and is found as far east as Pakistan and India.
~ BREEDING The male dorcas gazelle has a special nasal fold that allows him to sniff a potential mate's urine and discover when she is ready to mate. With his ears spread sideways and his head and neck outstretched, the male chases the female. He drives her in front and makes gurgling sounds. When she pauses, he may give her a light kick with his foreleg. If she flees, he may chase her until she concedes. If she just continues walking, he follows behind, giving an occasional kick. The male
Although the dorcas gazelle prefers sandy areas with some vegetation, it has adapted well to desert conditions. It can survive in very hot and dry terrain.
The dorcas gazelle is sometimes a social animal, living in herds of up to 40 individuals. In parts of its range it appears common, but the overall population has greatly shrunk.
sometimes needs several tries before he mounts the female.
After a gestation period of six months, the female gives birth to one offspring, usually in the spring. The newborn weighs less than four pounds. At first it is a darker color than its parents, but it becomes lighter within a week or two.
The female guards her calf for the first few days and attempts to hide it in the sparse undergrowth. The calf is soon able to follow its mother and in a few weeks can equal her in speed.
GIANT ARMADILLO
,,~-------------~ ORDER
Edentata FAMILY Dasypodidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Priodontes maximus
With its thick protective plates, the giant armadillo looks more like a heavily armored reptile than a mammal. It is the largest
of the 20 armadillo species in South America.
~ KEYFACTS __________________________ ~ I ~I SIZES ~ Length: Head and body, 3 ~ ft.
Tail, 1 ~ ft. Weight: 110-130 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Unknown.
Gestation: Unknown.
No. of young: 1-2.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Active mainly at night,
sleeping up to 19 hours a day.
Usually solitary.
Diet: Termites and other insects,
spiders, worms, and snakes.
Lifespan: Unknown.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 19 other armadillo spe
cies in South America, including
the hairy armadillo, Chaetophrac
tus vi/losus. The closely related
nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus
novemcinctus, ranges as far north
as the southern United States.
Range of the giant armadillo.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in South American forests and some grasslands, from
Venezuela to northern Argentina.
CONSERVATION
The continuing destruction of the Amazon rainforest threatens
the natural habitat of the giant armadillo. However, the animal
is protected in national parks and nature reserves in Colombia,
Peru, Brazil, and Suriname.
FEATURES OF THE GIANT ARMADillO
Skin: Covered with tough, bony plates over the head, back, and sides. The plates on the back are arranged in bands.
Tail: Powerful and armored , used for protection when the animal is attacked.
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~~~
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Eyes: Small. The armadillo relies mainly on its exceptional sense
of smell to find food at night.
Forefeet: Very powerful for digging and armed with 5 claws. At
8 inches long , the sharp middle claw is the largest claw of
any animal.
US P 6001 12 078 PACKET 78
In Spanish the giant armadillos name means "armored
one"-a reference to the thick, horny plates that cover
the animals head, back, and flanks. The giant armadillo
is a shy creature that preys mainly on small animals such
as insects. It generally flees at the first sign of danger.
~ HABITAT The giant armadillo is native to
South America. It has a wide
range but rarely ventures into
the cooler areas of the conti
nent. As the growing human
population has forced the arma
dillo into small, isolated groups,
its numbers have dwindled.
This shy, solitary creature lives
in the dense undergrowth of
tangled forest swamps. For up
to 19 hours each day, it sleeps
in a 6- to 10-foot-long burrow,
which it digs with its powerful
forefeet and sharp claws.
~ BREEDING Scientists know little about the
breeding habits of the elusive
giant armadillo. But it is known
that if there are two offspring in
a litter, they develop from one
fertilized egg so that both have
identical genes. Known as polyembryony, this phenomenon
is rare among mammals. The
young have tough skin, and it
soon develops the protective,
horny scales of the adult.
Right: Although the young is heaviIyarmored, it has a much softer underside than that of the adult.
~ FOOD & HUNTING In its few waking hours, which
are at night, the giant armadillo
searches for termite mounds as
well as anthills.
The animal uses its keen sense
of smell to find most of its food.
When it sniffs ants and termites
under the earth, it gouges out a
tunnel, digging frantically with
the long, curved middle claw
Left: The giant armadillo uses its huge claws to dig up insects.
DID YOU KNOW? • A giant armadillo can hold its breath for six minutes or
more. This is useful when its
snout is deep in a burrow.
• While smashing a termite mound with its strong fore
feet, a giant armadillo can
on each forefoot. It may use its
armor-plated back to hold up the roof of the tunnel while it
is digging . When it reaches the anthill or
termite mound, it consumes the
insects that adhere to its sticky
tongue. The giant armadillo
supplements this diet with spi
ders, small snakes, and leaves.
Right: The giant armadillo's hearing and sense of smell are good.
-1 support itself with its hind legs
and tail.
• The giant armadillo has up to 100 teeth, more than any
other land mammal. Most of
these teeth fall out by adult
hood, however.
The tough shield of the giant
armadillo is one of the most ef
fective defenses in the animal
world. Made up of thick, horny
plates that are pinkish to brown
in color, the armor covers the
animal's head and back and ex
tends down its sides. The plates
on this armadillo's back are ar
ranged in bands, and those in
the middle are flexible to per
mit maneuverability.
Although the giant armadillo
cannot curl up into a ball to de
fend itself like smaller armadillo
species, its size and menacing
claws usually deter attackers.
The giant armadillo generally
flees when threatened and can
outrun most humans. Some
naturalists believe that the ar
madillo senses vibrations from
footsteps that warn them of an
enemy's approach.