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"'" CARD 271 I GEOFFROY'S CAT """" ________________ GROUP 1: MArv1MALS ... ORDER ~ Carnivora
FAMILY Felidae
GENUS « SPECIES Felis geoffroyi
Ceoffroy's cat is one of the smallest spotted cats that inhabit the forests of South America. It rarely leaves its wooded
home, and little is known of its life in the wild.
KEY FACTS
SIZES Length: Head and body, 1 ~-2~ ft. Tail, 10-14 in.
Weight: 4-8 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 1 ~
years. Male, 2 years.
Mating season: October to May.
Gestation: 2~ months.
No. of young: 1-3.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary; active at night.
Diet: Small mammals, birds, rep
tiles, and fish.
Range of Geoffroy's cat.
DISTRIBUTION Lifespan: 11 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
Found in upland forest and scrubland in Bolivia, southeastern
Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Chile.
CONSERVATION There are 28 species in the genus
Felis, including the ocelot, Felis parda/is; the margay, F. wiedii; and
the mountain cat, F. jacobita. The
5 recognized subspecies of Geof
froy's cat vary in basic coloring.
Hunting of Geoffroy's cat for the fur trade peaked in the early
1980s when 80,000 skins were exported yearly. Now that this
trade is illegal, the eat's numbers are thought to be substantial.
FEATURES OF GEOFFROY'S CAT Senses: Keen sight and hearing pick up the slightest movement of potential prey.
Feet: Have strong, retractable claws used to grip tree trunks and branches and to hold prey firmly during a kill.
Coat: Coloring and markings vary depending on the
area. In the north of the cat's range, the coat's base
color is ocher. There are small, round black spots and a dark band running
down the back.
© MCMXCII IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILET'" PRINTED IN U.S.A.
VARIATIONS IN THE COAT
Tail: Spotted at the base, with
rings toward the tip. Aids
balance as the cat moves
through the branches.
0160200621 PACKET 62
Named after the French naturalist Geoffroy St. Hilaire,
this small, agile cat of the South American forests was
endangered by hunting for the fur trade. There was an
increased demand for its beautiful, densely spotted coat
when trade in the furs of larger cats became illegal in
recent years. Now, hunting of Geoffroy's cat is prohibited.
~ HABITAT Geoffroy's cat lives in the forest,
but it avoids dense areas. It pre
fers high, rocky ground with
scrubby trees and shrubs. It
can be found at elevations of
over 10,000 feet, which is too
high for most other cats.
An agile climber, Geoffroy's
cat spends most of its time in
the branches. It climbs by jump
ing up the tree trunk, gripping
with its claws. In the branches,
it relies on balance and agility
to move around.
Like most male cats, the male
Right: In daytime Geoffroy's cat is inactive, resting in the branches ofa tree.
Geoffroy's cat marks his territo
ry to warn off other males. He
sprays tree trunks and branches
with urine, and he also rubs his
scent glands on the branches
of his main hunting grounds.
~ BREEDING Geoffroy's cats are solitary and
come together only in order to
mate. When the female is in
heat, she gives off a distinctive
scent that attracts the male.
But she remains aggressive
and fights him off until she is
ready to mate. After mating,
she turns on the male again
and chases him off.
A pregnant female comes
down from her usual home in
the branches to prepare a den
between rocks that are con
cealed by undergrowth. She
Left: Geoffroy's cat has sharp teeth and powerful jaws for killing and devouring prey.
gives birth to a litter of one to
three young.
Like all newborn cats, young
Geoffroy's cats are blind at birth
and totally dependent. The fe
male cleans, feeds, and protects
them, keeping away adult male
cats that would readily kill and
eat the kittens. When the kittens'
eyes have opened and they can
move about freely, the female
teaches them to hunt. The fami
ly group breaks up when the
young Geoffroy's cats are a few
months old.
Right: Its attractive coat made Geoffroy's cat the target of fur hunters until recently.
Left: There is a rare type of Geoffroy's cat that is melanistic, or all-black in coloring. The parents ofa melanistic cat are generally the common spotted type.
r DID YOU KNOW? • In addition to Geoffroy's cat,
a bat and a tamarin are named
for Geoffroy St. Hilaire.
• Geoffroy's cat can be mated
with the domestic cat to pro
duce a hybrid known as the
safari cat. But one male Geof
froy's cat in a zoo killed all the
~ FOOD &: HUNTING At night Geoffroy's cat pads
quietly through its forest home,
looking for prey such as birds,
reptiles, and small mammals. It
is a good swimmer, and if it lives
near water it often preys on fish.
Geoffroy's cat uses ambush
and surprise tactics to hunt. Its
light movement and agility in
the branches are great advan
tages. Well camouflaged by its
densely spotted coat, the cat
listens, motionless and unseen,
for noises that reveal its victim's
position. It then lies in wait and
left: With its keen senses and agile build, Geoffroy's cat is a skillful and effective hunter.
domestic cats brought into its
cage for cross-breeding.
• In 1983, over 80,000 Geof
froy's cats were killed for their
spotted pelts.
• Approximately 25 Geoffroy's
cat pelts are needed to make I one full-length fur coat. ~
carefully chooses the moment
to pounce. After pinning its vic
tim to the ground, Geoffroy's
cat kills it with a bite and eats
the entire animal at once, chew
ing it with the carnassial (slic
ing) teeth located at the sides
of its mouth.
Like other cats that are active
at night, Geoffroy's cat usually
hunts in the half-light just after
dusk or before dawn. This small
cat must eat one or two meals
every day-unlike the big cats,
which may eat up to a third of
their own body weight at one
time and then not eat again
for a week.
""'=CARD 272 -- --LONG-NOSED POTOROO ~ '\ ... ORDER
"'IIIIIIII Marsupialia
FAMILY
Potoroidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS ",,"~~) ... GENUS &: SPECIES ~1I
"'IIIIIIII Potorous tridactylus
The long-nosed potoroo is a small, secretive pouched mammal that lives in Australia and Tasmania. It is one of the rat-kangaroos,
which are named for their rodentlike looks and rapid movements.
KEY FACTS ------------------------------------------------------~
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 13-16 in.
Tail, 6-10 in .
Weight: 2-4 lb.
BREEDING
Mating: Year-round. Births occur
from September to October and
January to February.
Gestation: About 5 weeks.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary; night-active.
Diet: Fungi, roots, grass, and other
plant matter; also insect larvae.
Lifespan: Approximately 5 years
in the wild.
RELATED SPECIES
The closely related broad-faced
potoroo became extinct in the
1870s, but there are thought to
be 2 species in the genus still in
existence. There are 4 other gen
era of rat-kangaroos.
• Range of the long-nosed potoroo.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in damp forests and grasslands on the southern and
eastern coasts of Australia and Tasmania.
CONSERVATION
The long-nosed potoroo has disappeared from much of its
former range due to habitat destruction from bushfires and
forest clearance for agriculture. It has also suffered from pred
atory species introduced by humans.
FEATURES OF THE LONG-NOSED POTOROO
Fur: Soft and thick to repel rain. Grizzled gray-brown on the head and back; offwhite on the belly. Eyes: Good nighttime
vision for foraging in the dark.
Forefeet: Long, sharp claws ideal for scratching in sandy soil.
Long in relation to the animars size, enabling the potoroo to hop very Quickly. Large first toe is used for grooming fur.
Tail: Able to grasp and hold objects. Sometimes tipped with white.
About the size of a squirrel, the long-nosed potoroo is an
extremely fast-moving marsupial. It is active mainly at night,
when it forages in the dense undergrowth for food. Once
common in Australia, the long-nosed potoroo disappeared
from much of that region when forest clearance destroyed its
habitat. Today this animal is abundant only in Tasmania.
~ HABITS The long-nosed potoroo lives in areas where dense, moist vegetation provides protection from its predators and shelter from rain . This animal is found in coastal forests as well as on damp heath land, where there is thick, low undergrowth and soft, sandy soil.
A nocturnal animal, the longnosed potoroo spends the day sleeping in its nest. It makes its nest from dry grass, which it picks up with its forepaws and mouth. It passes the grass under its body to its tail, which is prehensile-capable of grasping. With its tail curled around the bundle of grass, the animal returns to its nest site, drops
the bundle, and arranges the grass into a pile among the dense undergrowth.
The long-nosed potoroo is a solitary creature. The male's territory may overlap with the territories of females, but he rarely encounters other males.
The long-nosed potoroo can move very quickly and has two ways of getting around. It propels itself with its hind legs in kangaroolike hops, keeping its body horizontal and close to the ground. Or it moves in a shuffling gallop, using its forelegs as well as its hind legs.
Right: The long-nosed potoroo 's young leaves its mother's pouch after about four months.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING At night the long-nosed potoroo leaves its nest to dart nimbly over the ground in search of grass and other plant matter. It also digs shallow holes to uncover roots, tubers, mushrooms, and other fungi. During spring and summer the long-nosed potoroo searches for insect larvae among the debris on the forest floor.
The animal can process large quantities of vegetable matter
Left: The long-nosed potoroo often has well-worn routes to favorite feeding spots.
DID YOU KNOW? • The long-nosed potoroo was one of the first mammals discovered in Australia. It was called rat-kangaroo. • The name potoroo is derived from the Aborigine name for this animal. • The long-nosed potoroo inhabits areas that have annual
because its stomach is divided into several chambers, like the stomachs of cud-chewing animals such as sheep and cows. But the potoroo's teeth are not as specialized for grinding vegetation as the teeth of wallabies and kangaroos. The reason for this difference is that the potoroo's teeth have evolved to deal with a diet containing softer foods like insect larvae and fungi, as well as vegetation.
Right: The long-nosed potoroo picks up its food with its forefeet and eats while squatting on its hind legs.
rainfalls of at least 30 inches. • The long-nosed potoroo can cover eight feet of ground in one leap. • The long-nosed potoroo is preyed upon by foxes and by domestic cats and dogs. It is also killed in bushfires and by poison put out for rabbits.
Left: The longnosed potoroo uses its claws to scrape around in the soil for food. It uses the long toes on its hind feet for scratching and cleaning its fur.
~ BREEDING The male long-nosed potoroo mates with females he meets in his home range. Mating occurs at any time of year, but most births are at the end of either summer or winter. It is possible that implantation of the embryo can be delayed so that birth takes place only at these times.
Although the female has four teats, she gives birth to just one young. But she may suckle an embryo while feeding an older offspring. Like the young of all marsupials (pouched mammals), the newborn is poorly developed. It stays in its mother's pouch, attached to one of her teats for four months.
"" CARD 273 I KINKAJOU
,,~----------------------------------------~ ~
ORDER Carnivora
FAMILY Procyonidae
GENUS & SPECIES Potos flavus
The kinkajou is also known as the honey bear because of its glossy golden fur. This agile member of the raccoon family inhabits
forests in Mexico and parts of South America.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 1 ~-2 ft. Tail, up to 2 ft. Weight: 3-10 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male, 1-1 ~ years.
Female, just over 2 years.
Mating: Year-round.
Gestation: 4 months.
No. of young: 1-2.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Night-active. Lives alone, in
pairs, or loose groups.
Diet: Mainly fruit and nectar.
Lifespan: About 19 years in the
wild. Up to 23~ years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
The only species in its genus, the
kinkajou is similar to the related
olingos of the genus Bassaricyon, which share its habitat. Olingos
and kinkajous will sometimes for
age together.
FEATURES OF THE KINKAJOU
Range of the kinkajou.
DISTRIBUTION
The kinkajou lives in tropical forests from southern Mexico
south to Bolivia and Mato Grosso in Brazil.
CONSERVATION
The kinkajou is not listed as threatened despite widespread for
est clearance for agriculture, logging, and urban development.
Because it is active at night, the animal is rarely seen in its natu
ral habitat and its exact status is hard to confirm .
Feeding: The kinkajou eats sweet foods such as fruit and nectar. It also raids bees' nests, plunging its paw into the hive and licking off honey that sticks to its palm.
Coat: A rich golden brown color. Short but thick and very soft. May hang loosely from the body. Juvenile has a soft, dark-tipped coat.
Tail : Prehensile (gripping) . May be longer than
the body and very flexible. Provides extra grip
while climbing and feeding when coiled around
branches. Improves balance when thrust out
straight behind.
Tongue: Up to 5 inches long. Used for lapping nectar and licking the sugary juices of soft fruits. Also used for grooming fur.
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Hands and feet: Each has 5 digits with long claws. Used in gathering food.
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The velvet-coated kinkajou is the only member of its family
that has a prehensile tai~one that can grip branches.
It uses its tail as a fifth limb to help it move through the
trees of its tropical forest home. At a length of up to two
feet, the kinkajou's tail may be longer than its body.
~ HABITS The kinkajou is found in Mex
ico and parts of South America.
It inhabits tropical forests from
sea level to altitudes of 8,000
feet and rarely ventures down
to the ground.
During the day the kinkajou
sleeps in the hollow of a tree,
curled up with its forefeet over
its eyes. Occasionally it stretches
out on a branch to sun itself.
The kinkajou awakens at dusk.
After a ritual catlike stretch, it
sets out on its nightly search for
food. Although it is very agile,
it moves cautiously, releasing
its tail's grip on a branch only
when it has a secure hold on
another point.
The kinkajou lives alone, in
pairs, or in loose groups. It uses
scent to mark its territory and
to make its presence known.
The kinkajou has scent glands
on its throat, chest, and belly.
In contrast, most other mem
bers of the order Carnivora have
only anal scent glands.
~ BREEDING The female kinkajou may be sex
ually receptive at any time. She
indicates her readiness to mate
with a loud, submissive cry.
About four months after mat
ing, the female gives birth to
one or two young. The new
born has soft dark-tipped, sil
very gray fur. At 5 days old its
ears open, and at 17 days old,
its eyes open. When the young is about two months old its tail
can grip branches. The mother
carries her offspring with her,
holding it by the throat. It be
gins to eat solid food when it is
two months old, and it is fully
weaned at four months.
Left: To attract males, a female kinkajou marks trees with scent from her throat glands.
Right: The kinkajou gets much of the liquid it needs from moisture in the rainforest canopy.
DID YOU KNOW? • The kinkajou fits descriptions
of nero-nero, an animal said to
attack people in Bolivia's forests.
But there are no records of kin
kajou attacks on humans.
• The kinkajou is also called
~ FOOD &: FEEDING Although it occasionally takes
birds' eggs and nestlings, the
kinkajou lives mainly on nectar
and fruit such as figs, guavas,
bananas, mangoes, and avoca
dos. It also eats legumes, honey,
and soft-shelled nuts.
The kinkajou frequently hangs
upside down when plucking
fruit from branch tips. Its five
inch-long tongue is ideal for
Left: The kinkajou can gather fruit with its hands and feet, while keeping a firm grip with its tail.
the potto, but it is unrelated
to the actual potto, which is
a West African primate.
• The kinkajou is one of two prehensile-tailed members of
the order Carnivora.
lapping nectar and honey and
probing soft fruit. Groups of
kinkajous often gather on well
laden fruit trees. Although they
are usually tolerant of each oth
er, individuals hiss and scream
when competing for fruit.
The kinkajou's plant-based
diet distinguishes it from most
other members of the order
Carnivora, which eat flesh as
well as plant matter. Even the
related common raccoon eats
both animals and plants.
CARD 274
BANDED MONGOOSE
" ~ ORDER Carnivora
FAMILY Viverridae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Mungos mungo
The banded mongoose is found in much of sub-Saharan Africa. This extremely sociable animal lives in strongly supportive, well-organized troops that keep in constant, close contact.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 12-16 in.
Tail, 8-10 in.
Height to shoulder: 7-8 in.
Weight: Up to 3~ lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 9-10
months. Male, 12-14 months.
Mating: Year-round in moist cli
mates; during the rainy season in
drier areas.
Gestation: About 2 months.
No. of young: Up to 8, but usually
2-3. LIFESTYLE Habit: Day-active. Lives in tight
knit group of up to 30.
Diet: Invertebrates, mammals,
birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
Lifespan: 8 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The only other member of the
genus Mungos is the Gambian
mongoose, M. gambianus.
Range of the banded mongoose.
DISTRIBUTION
The banded mongoose occurs in much of Africa south of the
Sahara. It is absent from extremely moist central and western
regions of the continent.
CONSERVATION
The banded mongoose's group-based defensive behavior and
high rate of reproduction make it successful and numerous
across its range.
FEATURES OF THE BANDED M ONGOOSE
Coat: Coarse, with no soft underfur. Brownish gray with 10 to 12 dark brown or black bands that run across the coat from behind the shoulders to the base of the tail.
Build: Typical of its family, but the banded mongoose tends to be stockier than some species, with a shorter snout and tail.
Tail: Coarsely furred. Tapers toward the tip .
Feet: Naked soles. Each foot has 5 digits of similar size. Foreclaws are twice as long as hind claws.
~.\ MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.8A 0160200841 PACKET 84
The banded mongoose gets its name from the dozen or so
dark bands that straddle its back. This blunt-nosed, fairly
heavyset animal prefers to dwell in grassland and open
woodland. However, it is a resourceful creature and will
make its home in rocky terrain as long as there is some
ground cover to provide shade from the fierce sun.
~ HABITS The banded mongoose lives in a troop of 5 to 30 members. The troop occupies a home range of up to one and a half square miles-usually near a water source. Troop members daub rocks and logs with anal gland secretions to mark their territory, which may encroach on the home range of another group. Neighboring troops squabble if they meet while
~ ENEMIES Flesh eaters such as jackals and birds of prey are the main enemies of the banded mongoose, but the troop's social behavior is a great defense against such predators. While some troop members forage, others act as lookouts, uttering shrill alarm
foraging, but bloodshed is rare. Troop members share a den,
which they either dig or adapt from a hollow tree or an abandoned termite mound or aardvark hole. The den usually has several entrances and a large sleeping chamber. A troop may use the same den for a month or two, especially at breeding times, but it normally vacates the site after a day or two.
calls if an enemy nears. They also rush to each others' aid and may even rescue a companion from an eagle's grasp by lunging at the bird while spitting and growling . A troop will also band together to fend off a jackal, nipping at its heels.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The banded mongoose usually leaves the den early in the day to forage. It digs through grass and turns over stones to expose beetles, scorpions, spiders, and centipedes. It also feeds on small mammals and reptiles, amphibians, and birds and their eggs. To crack an egg, the mongoose holds it in its forepaws, then hurls it back between its hind
Left: The banded mongoose hunts in the open, making sure that other troop members are nearby.
DID YOU KNOW? • The banded mongoose's generic name, Mungos, is derived from a name in the Mahratti language of India for a mongoose species that is found in that country. • In contrast to the banded mongoose, many other mon-
legs against a rock or a tree. Troop members spread out to
feed over a wide area-up to five and a half miles if food is scarce. However, they keep in constant contact with soft, twittering calls. They may sometimes join forces to kill a larger mammal or a snake. If it is hot they take a rest at midday and forage again in the afternoon.
Right: Crickets, termites, and other insects are staple foods for the banded mongoose.
goose species are solitary and active at night. • After catching a frog, the banded mongoose rolls it in dusty soil to remove the slime on its skin before eating it. • This species is also known as the zebra mongoose.
~ BREEDING The banded mongoose breeds throughout the year in much of its range, especially in moist climates. In these areas, females may have up to four litters in 12 months, mating again a week or so after giving birth . But in drier regions they breed only in times of maximum rainfall.
The banded mongoose usually breeds only with another member of the troop. Mating is synchronized so that the females bear their young at about the same time. They give birth in a roomy, grass-lined chamber in the den . Each female may produce up to eight young but usually bears only two or three.
Left: Teamwork is second nature to a species that breeds, sleeps, and hunts in small troops.
The newborns are blind and helpless, weighing less than an ounce. They are sparsely furred but their dark bands are visible, their legs and feet are black, and their claws are long. The young develop quickly; their eyes open at 10 days old, and they venture out of the den at three weeks.
During the first few weeks of their lives, the offspring are left in the care of one or two young adult males during the day. Later, the troop's adults take turns guarding them, and foragers bring them beetles when they start eating solid food . Juveniles begin following the troop and foraging at approximately five weeks old . At three months old, they have full adult coloration and are almost fully grown.
BRUSH-TAILED RAT KANGAROO
"" CARD 275 I
,,-------------------------------------------~ ~
ORDER MarsupiaJia
FAMILY Potoroidae
GENUS &: SPECIES Bettongia penicillata
The brush-tailed rat kangaroo looks like a large rat but has long hind legs and feet like a kangaroo. The young spends its first weeks
in the safety of its mother's pouch, like the young of a kangaroo.
'\J KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 12-15 in.
Tail length: 12-14 in.
Weight: 2~-3 ~ lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 5~-6 months.
Mating: Year-round.
Gestation: 3 weeks.
litter size: 1 . Offspring spends 2
months in the pouch, and it is
weaned after about 4 months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit : Solitary, except when rear
ing young.
Diet: Fungi, tubers, insects, and
plant resin .
lifespan: 4-6 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 3 other species of Bet
tongia: B. gaimardi of eastern Aus
tralia and Tasmania, B. tropica of
Queensland, and the " boodie, "
B. lesueur, of western and south
ern Australia.
Original range of the brush-tailed rat kangaroo.
DISTRIBUTION
Formerly widespread from southern Western Australia to New
South Wales. Now present only in a small area in southern
Western Australia.
CONSERVATION
Once widely distributed in southern Australia, the brush-ta iled rat
kangaroo is now rare. In addition to being killed by foxes, it has
suffered from habitat loss and competition for food w ith rabbits.
FEATURES OF THE BRUSH-TAILED RAT KANGAROO
Tail: Thick and furred . May be up to 14 inches -almost as long as the body. Prehensile (able to grip), used to carry nesting material. Tuft of hairs at the tip gives the species its name.
I ,
Coat: Brownish gray, with lighter underparts.
© MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Eyes: Large, giving good vision
for activity at night.
Forelimbs: Short with
sharp, curved claws for
digging and holding food.
Hind limbs: Long and powerfu l for hopping. Can propel body forward
. SQCy.
0160200661 PACKET 66
The brush-tailed rat kangaroo is also known as
the brush-tailed bettong or the woylie. This marsupial
was once common throughout southern Australia. But
forest clearance destroyed much of its original habitat,
and the introduction of foxes posed a new threat to
its survival. Today the brush-tailed rat kangaroo is
restricted to a few pockets of woodland or forest.
~ HABITS The brush-tailed rat kangaroo
lives in southwestern Australia.
This solitary animal usually stays
in a territory that includes a nest
and a feeding area. For most of
the day it remains hidden in its
nest. Although the animal de
fends the territory near its nest,
several individuals may share
the same feeding grounds with
out any conflict.
The brush-tailed rat kangaroo
digs a hollow under a bush for
its nest. It then collects dry veg
etation and tree bark, which it
shreds. With its mouth and front
feet, it gathers together the nest
ing material and pushes it under
its body. It carries the material to
the nest site in its curled tail.
Rat kangaroos, like true kan
garoos, move by hopping on their hind feet. When foraging
for food, they usually hop slowly
with head down, back arched,
and tail extended. But they can
move fast and will drop to all
four limbs when they need to
change direction.
Right: It takes about four months for the offspring to be weaned from its mother's milk.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The brush-tailed rat kangaroo
feeds at night. In summer and
fall, it forages for fungi, using
its powerful foreclaws to dig
them from the soil. Since fungi
are low in protein, the animal
also eats roots, tubers, bulbs,
seeds, and insects. In winter it
gets valuable nutrients from
the resin of certain shrubs.
This marsupial has more than
one stomach. With its large first Left: Limited to small areas in Australia, the brush-tailed rat kangaroo is considered endangered.
Right: Some rat kangaroos dig up most of their food, but they also find insects on the ground.
I DID YOU KNOW? • The introduction of foxes to Australia placed the al-
ready declining population
of brush-tailed rat kangaroos
at even greater risk. The fox
is their main predator.
• A close relative, the boodie, has overcome the prob
lem of loss of ground cover
by living in burrows, like a
stomach, it is able to eat quick
ly, lessening the risk of attack
from predators lurking near the
feeding grounds. The food is
broken down by bacteria be
fore it is passed to the second
stomach and small intestine for
further digestion.
Right: The brush-tailed rat kangaroo holds food in the long claws of its forepaws.
rabbit. A colony on Barrow
Island has more than 60 in
habitants with 120 tunnel
entrances. But this species is
also declining because it is
preyed on by foxes and cats.
• At least one species of rat kangaroo that lived about
five million years ago was as
large as today's kangaroo.
The female brush-tailed rat kan
garoo can mate at six months
of age, and she breeds at any
time of the year. Three weeks
after mating, she gives birth to
one offspring and soon mates
again. In rare cases two young
are born, but only one survives.
The underdeveloped young
climbs from its mother's birth
canal to her pouch, where it
suckles milk for two months. Af
ter this period there is usually
another embryo in the pouch,
so the first offspring joins the
female in her nest. It is displaced
from the nest when the next in
fant leaves the pouch. The fe
male continues to produce one
offspring almost every three
months for the rest of her life.
Left: The brush-tailed rat kangaroo has powerful rear limbs and hops like a true kangaroo.
NAKED MOLE-RAT
,,-------------- GROUP 1: MAMMALS ----... ORDER ... FAMILY ~ Rodentia ~ 8athyergidae
GENUS &: SPECIES Heterocephalu5 glaber
The naked mole-rat is confined to a small area of Africa. A relative of the guinea pig, this mammal has wrinkled pinkish skin and protruding teeth. It lives in a large colony that has a cooperative social structure.
KEY FACTS
SIZES Length: 3-4 in.
Weight: Average, 1 oz .
BREEDING Gestation: About 10 weeks.
Litter size: 3-15.
LIFESTYLE Habit: Lives in large underground
colonies, never emerging above
the ground.
Diet: Tubers and roots.
Lifespan: Maximum of 16 years
in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES There are 5 genera and a total of 8
species in the family 8athyergidae
-the African mole-rats. All the spe
cies live south of the Sahara. One
other mole-rat family, Spalacidae,
has just 1 species and is native to
eastern Europe, southern Asia, and
the eastern Mediterranean region .
Range of the naked mole-rat.
DISTRIBUTION The naked mole-rat is confined to hot, dry areas of the Horn of
Africa. The animal is found in southeastern Ethiopia, eastern
Kenya, and Somalia.
CONSERVATION The naked mole-rat is quite abundant because its underground
lifestyle protects it from external influences. Its main enemies
are snakes.
FEATURES OF THE NAKED MOLE-RAT
Ears: Simple holes in the
Eyes: Tiny and ineffectual. The naked mole-rat is virtually blind.
Teeth: Two pai rs of very long, protruding incisor teeth . Used for gnawing tubers, digging tunnels, and attacking snakes.
©MCMXCVI IMP BV/IMP INC. WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Skin: Bare except for a few scattered hairs.
Claws: Small and sharp. Provide good grip while animal travels along its dusty tunnels.
US P 6001 12077 PACKET 77
The naked mole-rat is a burrowing rodent that is virtually
blind and never sets foot above the ground. It seems to
be the only mammal with a social organization that is
similar to the societies of bees, ants, and termites. Like
those insects, the naked mole-rat lives in a colony that
is dominated by the only breeding female, or queen.
~ HABITS The naked mole-rat lives in an underground colony of 70 to 80 individuals. The community's extensive system of burrows can spread over an area of a little over a square mile.
The shallowest burrows are around eight inches below the ground and often wide enough for only one animal at a time. Roadway burrows, about 20 inches down, are large enough for two animals. They may pass side by side, or the larger animal may crawl over the smaller one. At this level there are one or more nest chambers. Latrine ' chambers may also be at this level or slightly deeper. A num-
ber of deeper dead-end tunnels may be used as resting places or to hold floodwater during rainy periods. Sometimes the naked mole-rat makes volcano-shaped molehills to get rid of surplus soil and provide ventilation.
Like the queen in a beehive, only one female naked mole-rat breeds. This dominant female has one to three mates, which are usually larger than the average male. The other animals do not mate. They spend their time finding food and nesting material and clearing tunnels . They also defend the colony against predators, such as snakes, which may enter the tunnels.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The naked mole-rat eats tubers and roots exclusively. It feeds on wild species as well as sweet potatoes, which humans grow for food. The animal gets all of its moisture from its food and does not need to drink.
The naked mole-rat forages in its shallow burrows, which are at the level where tubers grow. It appears to forage randomly, depending on luck rather than its sense of smell to find food . When it discovers a large
Left: The naked mole-rat's tiny eyes are almost useless. Its ears are simple holes in the skin.
DID YOU KNOW? • The naked mole-rat is also called the sand puppy. • If a naked mole-rat wants to turn around in a narrow tunnel, it must back into a side tunnel to change direction. • The naked mole-rat makes approximately 1 7 different
patch of tubers, it digs many branch burrows to harvest the crop. The mole-rat frequently blocks off the shallow foraging burrows once the tubers have been found and eaten, but it may open them later.
Sometimes the naked molerat takes a few bites out of a tuber and then blocks up the holes with soil. This may help to ensure future food supplies, since the half-eaten tubers often continue to grow.
Right: The naked mole-rat uses its four protruding teeth to clear tough roots from tunnels.
sounds. These sounds include very loud chirps, trills, whistles, and sneezes. • Naked mole-rats eat their own and each other's droppings. This may provide extra protein and essential nutrients lacking in the diet.
The queen naked mole-rat mates almost every three months, within roughly one week of producing her last litter. She makes the first approach toward any breeding male while uttering a trilling sound. She mates with whichever one she happens to meet.
Gestation takes approximately 10 weeks, and there are usually 3 to 15 pups (young) in a litter. The queen, her mates, and, to a lesser extent, other members of the colony share in the care of the pups. The young of one litter may help look after the next.
Left: The queen of the colony may behave aggressively toward an approaching male.
Left: The naked mole-rat uses some of the burrow's deeperchambers as latrines. Co/onymembers mayrol/ in a latrine to mark themselves with its scent.
The newborn pup is a bright pink color and weighs even less than a piece of paper. The pup can walk in a few hours and can eat solid food when it is three or four weeks old. The mole-rat pups engage in play-fighting until they are two years old.
When the queen grows too old to breed, other females fight to succeed her. One female usually kills her rivals and takes over. It is not clear how the queen suppresses sexual activity in colony members. It may be througr a hormone that she emits with her urine. Naked mole-rats become sexually active after a few days away from the queen.
EUROPEAN SUSLIK GROUP 1: MAMMALS "''-------- --------
". ORDER ". FAMILY "1IIIIIIII Rodentia "1IIIIIIII Sciuridae
GENUS & SPECIES Spermophi/us eitel/us
The European suslik is a squirrel that lives in elaborate underground burrows. In winter these burrows are filled with
stores of food that the animal has gathered for its hibernation.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Body, 8-9 in. Tail, 2-3 in.
Weight: 8-1 2 oz.
BREEDING
Mating season: April to June.
Gestation: About 4 weeks.
litter size: 3-7.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable within communal
underground burrows, but solitary
within its own lair. Active by day.
Hibernates during winter.
Diet: Grass, seeds, grains, insects.
lifespan: 5 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The European suslik is one of 36
ground squirrels, 9 of which are
found in Eurasia, 26 in western
North America and Mexico, and 1
in both Asia and North America.
Range of the European suslik.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in central and eastern Europe. Also occurs as far east as
Syria and Israel, almost to the Caspian Sea.
CONSERVATION
The population has decreased across all of the European suslik's
range. Increased use of modern farming methods has deprived
the animal of important habitats.
FEATURES OF THE EUROPEAN SUSLIK
Coat: Upperparts are grayish yellow, with faint mottled markings. Belly is yellowish, and throat is white. Fur is soft but thin and looks somewhat spiky.
Eyes: Large for good all-around vision.
Forepaws: Strong and agile. Ideal for digging and holding food .
Burrow: Entrance is surrounded by a small mound of earth.
I ~ ell. :,.: c 0: c f'C
~ C C <C
0.
S!;
The European suslik digs an extensive maze of tunnels,
building an underground home that provides protection
from most predators. The animal stiJI falls prey to human
hunters, however. The European suslik has survived
because of its ability to adapt to new habitats.
~ HABITS The European suslik is found in
a variety of treeless habitats, in
cluding open steppes, pastures,
and farmland. Its range extends
from parts of central and east
ern Europe that are just above
sea level to more mountainous
regions. In certain parts of its
range, the suslik is migratory.
To find new fields, it may travel
up to 60 miles at a time.
For protection from predators,
the suslik feeds and travels in
colonies of up to 100 animals.
But within a colony's commu
nal underground home, each
individual lives in its own bur
row. An adult has a permanent
burrow and several small tem-
porary holes that it uses on for
aging trips. During the summer months
the animals rear their young
and gather food for hiberna
tion. The older adults start their
winter sleep as early as July or
August, but the younger ones
do not begin hibernating until
September. In the first months
of hibernation, the suslik's heart
rate and breathing slow down
and the animal feeds on its food
stores. By midwinter, the suslik
hibernates fully. It emerges from
its burrow only in early spring .
Right: The European suslik builds up fat reserves that let it survive its winter hibernation.
~ BREEDING The breeding season begins af-
ter the European suslik emerges
from hibernation in early spring.
Pairs mate between April and
June. The pregnant female then
retires to a breeding chamber
that she has lined with grass
before mating. The chamber
has two entrances. One slopes
gently to the surface, and the
other is vertical.
After a gestation period of
four weeks, the female gives
birth to three to seven young.
The newborns are hairless and
blind. Nourished by their moth
Left: Always alert, the European suslik looks for birds of prey before foraging for food.
er's milk, they open their eyes
within three to four weeks and
become quite active. The moth
er is very attentive to her young,
and she is alert to the presence
of predators. Choosing a spot
on raised ground, she sits and
watches over her offspring. At
the least sign of danger, she ut
ters a shrill whistle, and the en
tire family disappears down the
nearest tunnel.
The mother suckles her off
spring for six weeks. The young
then leave the nest and begin to
build their own burrows.
Right: The European suslik is most active during the morning and early evening.
Left: In areas where the summer is very dry and little food is available, the European suslik may sleep through the barren period.
DID YOU KNOW? • In Russia the fur of the European suslik is used to line coats.
Each year thousands of susliks
are trapped for this purpose.
• The European suslik blocks the entrances to its tunnels
~ FOOD & FEEDING Seeds, grasses, grains, nuts,
and an occasional insect are
the staple diet of the European
suslik. It is also fond of fungi
that grow underground and
digs them up with its forepaws.
The animal feeds in the early
morning and late afternoon,
never venturing far from the
safety of its burrow. As it for
ages, it often pauses to nibble
with clumps of earth and grass
so that snow cannot get inside
while the animal hibernates.
• The European suslik carries fleas in its fur that transmit the
deadly bubonic plague.
on a seed, holding the morsel
in its forepaws as it chews.
When collecting food for the
winter, the suslik holds it in its
cheek pouches before deposit
ing it in its burrow. With the
help of its plentiful food stores,
the animal builds up a fat re
serve to sustain it through its
winter hibernation.
In areas where large num
bers of susliks have settled on
farmland, the feeding animals
have had a devastating effect
on crops.
Left: The European suslik uses its agile forepaws to scoop up food such as fungi.
"" CARD 278 I CHINCHILLA ,,~--------------------------~~~~~~ ~ ORDER ~ ~ Rodentia ~
FAMILY Chinchillidae
GENUS &: SPECIES Chinchilla laniger
The chinchilla has one of the most prized furs of any animal. For this reason, it has been hunted almost to extinction in its natural
habitat. But it is raised for its fur around the world.
KEY FACTS
SIZES Length: Head and body, 14-15 in. Tail, 3-6 in. Weight: Almost 2 lb.
BREEDING Sexual maturity: 7 months. Mating: Year-round. Gestation: 3~ months. No. of young: 1-6. Up to 3 litters a year, but usually only 2.
LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable. Lives in small groups within colonies. Diet: Grass and herbs. lifespan: 20 years in captivity; 10 years in the wild.
RELATED SPECIES The chinchilla's closest relative is the viscacha, Lagostomus maximus,
which also lives in the Andes.
Range of the chinchilla.
DISTRIBUTION Found in the Andes in Peru, Bolivia, northern Argentina, and Chile.
CONSERVATION The chinchilla has been severely overhunted and is endangered. But its numbers have increased since 1970, as a result of protective legislation.
FEATURES OF THE CHINCHILLA
Coat: Thick, soft, dense fur protects the animal against the cold . At least 60 strands of hair grow from each follicle. The upper body is pearly blue or silvery gray with faint smoky markings. The underparts are paler.
Tail: Long and bushy. The hairs are coarser than the rest of the coat and
are marked with black or brown.
© MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILET ...
Ears: Rounded,
Legs: The hind limbs are long and muscular. Soft pads at the ends of the toes protect the feet on rocky surfaces.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Head: The large head has a broad snout and large black eyes. The long, bristly whiskers may be white or black.
0160200651 PACKET 65
The chinchilla is a tiny mammal that lives high
in the Andes. It has a very dense coat that keeps it
warm in its cold mountain habitat. At first sight the
chinchilla appears to be just a bundle of fur. Although
rare today, it was once very numerous in the wild.
Travelers in the 16th century reported seeing as
many as a thousand chinchillas in a single day.
~HABITS The chinchilla is found at eleva-
tions of more than 16,000 feet
in the Andes. On this rocky, arid,
and often snowy terrain, colo
nies of chinchillas live in holes,
crevices, or burrows between
rocks. Family groups of two to
five members often live togeth
er in a burrow. When chinchillas
were more numerous, over 100
animals could be found in a sin
gle colony.
The chinchilla is active mainly
at night and can easily scramble
over rocks in the dark. At any
sign of danger, it scampers back
to its burrow. It emerges in a
few minutes, with its nose quiv
ering, to test the surroundings.
The chinchilla likes to bask in
the morning and late afternoon
sun. It sleeps for most of the day
in its rocky crevice or burrow.
Right: The chinchilla's large ears pick up the slightest sounds, warning it of danger.
DID YOU KNOW? • The chinchilla's fur is at least
one inch deep. It is so dense
and thick that fleas cannot
penetrate it.
• The chinchilla's fur is dense
because 60 to 80 hairs grow
from each follicle. It has more
hairs per square inch than any
other mammal. The strands
are so fine that they are virtu-
~FEEDING The chinchilla feeds only on the
sparse vegetation that grows in
its environment-mainly coarse
grass and herbs. After plucking
the vegetation with its forefeet,
it sits on its haunches and holds
the food up to its mouth. The
animal's teeth grow constantly
to make up for the wear caused
by gnawing tough food.
In the high, arid mountains
there are few sources of water.
But the chinchilla gets all the
moisture it needs from the veg
etation it eats.
Left: Rarely seen in the wild, the chinchilla is found only in remote parts of the Andes.
Right: The chinchilla grasps food in its paws and nibbles with its sharp front teeth.
ally invisible to the naked eye.
• It requires more than 150
chinchilla pelts to make a full
length coat.
• When the Spaniards colo
nized much of South America,
they named the chinchilla for
the native Chinca Indians, who
valued the animal for its fur
and flesh .
~BREEDING The chinchilla can mate at sev
en months old, and it pairs for
life. The female is aggressive to
ward the male in the breeding
season, which is unusual among
mammals. A female can have
up to three litters a year, but in
the wild she usually has two.
One to six young are born in
a secluded burrovy. They are
well developed, although they
weigh just over an ounce and
measure only two inches. Fully
furred, the newborns have open
eyes and a full set of 20 teeth.
Within a few hours they can run
around, and they eat solid food
a day or two later. Both parents
watch over them until they are
fully weaned at about six weeks.
~ CHINCHILLA &: MAN The chinchilla's pearly blue or
silvery gray fur has been prized
since the 15th century, and the
animal has been hunted in vast
numbers. By the end of the 19th
century, about 500,000 skins
were being exported annually
from Chile alone.
Legislation was introduced in
the 1920s to ban the export of
furs and make hunting illegal.
But by then the chinchilla pop
ulation had been reduced to a
few areas high in the mountains.
At about the same time, it
was discovered that chinchillas
could be raised easily on farms.
The fact that its fur could be
obtained without hunting prob
ably saved the chinchilla from
total extinction in the wild. To
day it is found in large numbers
on ranches in North America,
South America, and Europe,
and in South Africa and Zim
babwe in Africa.
PYGMY MARMOSET
,,-----------------~
ORDER
Primates
FAMILY
Callitrichidae
CARD 279
GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES
Cebuella pygmaea
The pygmy marmoset is the smallest American primate, but its agility compensates for its small size. This animal moves nimbly
through the forest ~ tallest branches in search of tree sap.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 4~-6 in. Tail, 6~-9 in. Weight: 4-7 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2 years. Breeding season: Varies. Gestation: About 5 months. No. of young: 2 per litter. Female may have 2 litters a year.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Day-active; sociable. Lives in an extended family group, which defends a small territory. Diet: Tree sap, insects, flowers, and fruit. Lifespan: 5-8 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The family Callitrichidae has up to 21 species, including the common marmoset, Callithrix jacchus; silvery marmoset, C. argentata; Santarem marmoset, C. humeralifer; and 11 species of tamarin.
Range of the pygmy marmoset.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in the upper reaches of the Amazon and in parts of Ecuador, Colombia, northern Peru, and western Brazil.
CONSERVATION
The pygmy marmoset was once thought to carry yellow fever and malaria and was persecuted as a result. It was exported to zoos and for research until 1973. Today it is most threatened by the destruction of its forest habitat.
r EATURES OF THE PYGMY MARMOSET
Head: Long hairs around the crown and cheeks give the appearance of a mane. No ear tufts on this species.
Teeth: Chisel-like and adapted for scraping sap.
Limbs: Hind limbs are longer than forelimbs and well adapted for jumping. Sharp claws on all but the big toes help grip tree bark.
Tail: Ringed. Very long but not used for gripping when climbing trees.
-0 MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Coat: Fine, silky, brown , and marbled
or tawny-striped . Less colorful than many other mar
moset species.
---l 0160200791 PACKET 79
The pygmy marmoset is a tiny squirrel-like monkey
that lives high in the tree canopy of South America's
rainforests. This sociable creature lives in an extended
family group in which only a single female breeds at
a time. The other females in the group suppress their
reproductive instincts. Instead of mating, they
help the sole mother raise her offspring.
~ HABITS The pygmy marmoset is found in rainforests in South America . It usually frequents forest areas that are flooded or that border riverbanks, where it can find sap-producing trees. This marmoset makes its home in the tangled branches and dense foliage of the high canopy, below the treetops. This habitat offers protection from larger enemies and provides an abundant source of food.
The pygmy marmoset is active during the day, sleeping in tree holes at night. This agile monkey travels rapidly through
the branches with short, jerky movements. It may even scurry backward along a branch to escape a predator. The animal is easily alarmed and will shoot up a tree like a squirrel, hiding from danger behind a branch.
The sociable pygmy marmoset lives in family groups of 4 to 15 individuals. The group defends its territory with noisy calls and chases. If two families meet, the defenders turn and expose their rumps to the aggressors. The flattened fur around the rump fans out in an obvious gesture of defiance.
~ BREEDING The female pygmy marmoset can produce a litter at any time of year, but only one female within a group breeds in any one season. The other group members help rear her young. This form of cooperative breeding is unique among primates.
About five months after mating, the breeding female usually gives birth to two young. Each newborn is very large, weighing as much as 25 percent of the adult's body weight. But despite
left: Each species of marmoset lives in a similar habitat, but no two species share the same forest range.
its size, the young marmoset is totally dependent on its mother and the rest of the group.
The newborn pygmy marmoset feeds on its mother's milk for two weeks and is weaned soon afterward. The male parent frequently carries his offspring, and other group members help to feed and look after it. By the age of three months, the youngster is quite independent, capable of traveling around and obtaining food for itself.
Right: The pygmy marmoset has strong, sharp claws that help it grip tree bark.
left: The pygmy marmoset and the African gorilla are nearly at opposite ends of the order of Primates. The gorilla is at least a thousand times heavier than its tiny relative.
~ID YOU KNOW?
• Twin births are more the rule than the exception with pygmy marmosets, accounting for 90 percent of births. • Vision and hearing are the pygmy marmoset's two sharpest senses. • The pygmy marmoset uses scent in order to mark its family's territory.
• The pygmy marmoset's ears are very small and well hidden in its furry head . In contrast, some other marmosets possess large, tufted ears that are clearly visible. • The pygmy marmoset has a
variety 0,1 calls. Some are so I high-pitched that a human cannot hear them.
-------
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The pygmy marmoset spends much of its time feeding. Its favorite food is tree sap. To get at the sweet, sticky sap, the animal gouges out chunks of bark with its chisel-like teeth, while clinging to the tree with its strong and sharp claws. The bark is the tree's outer protection, or skin. When it is broken, the tree produces a chemical solution-the sap-that binds the wound and prevents infection.
The pygmy marmoset also
left: The pygmy marmoset may supplement its diet of sap and insects with fruit and flowers.
feeds on insects, which it gathers by ingenious means. Rows of army ants march through the forest regularly in search of food, carrying away what they find and disturbing hordes of other insects. The pygmy marmoset simply waits for a column of ants to approach. Then it picks up other insects as they are flushed from their homes trying to flee from the ants' path.
In addition to sap and insects, the pygmy marmoset eats flowers and fruit. It often grips the ends of a branch when feeding on fruit.
" CARD 280 I TASMANIAN DEVIL
,,---------------------------------------------~ ~
ORDER FAMILY Marsupialia Oasyuridae
The Tasmanian devil gets its name from its ratlike appearance and its reputation for being ferocious. However, this creature is fairly timid
and prefers to scavenge carrion rather than kill live prey.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Body, 1 ~-2~ ft. Tail,
9-12 in.
Weight: 1 3-26 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2 years.
Mating season: March to April.
Gestation: 3-4 weeks.
Litter size: 1-4.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Nocturnal; solitary but not
territorial.
Call: Growls, spits, hisses. Loud
yells used in aggression or when
frightened.
Diet: Carrion, vegetation, and live
prey such as small mammals, fish,
birds, reptiles, and insects.
Lifespan: 7-8 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The family Oasyuridae also includes
the native "cats" and a variety of
marsupial "mice" in Australia and
New Guinea.
Range of the Tasmanian devil.
DISTRIBUTION
The Tasmanian devil was once widespread in Australia. It is
now found only on the island of Tasmania.
CONSERVATION
The Tasmanian devil has few natural enemies and is in no im
mediate danger. Problems may arise, however, from increased
habitat destruction and from chemicals used for pest control,
which poison the Tasmanian devil and the animals it feeds on.
I FEATURES OF THE TASMANIAN DEVil
Coat: Thick and black with a distinctive white patch on the throat and
other patches on the rump and sides. The pink ears have no fur.
Mouth: Powerful jaws and sharp teeth for tearing flesh. The animal snarls loudly and gnashes its teeth in an intimidating defense display.
©MCMXCIV IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. US P 6001 12 067 PACKET 67
The Tasmanian devil is found in forests and scrubland
only on the island of Tasmania. It evolved more slowly
than most other mammals, which may be one reason
for its rather unusual appearance. With its thick, dark
coat, short limbs, and stumpy tait this stocky marsupial
resembles a small bear. But like other marsupials, the
female has a pouch in which she carries her young.
~ HABITAT The Tasmanian devil inhabited much of Australia until about
600 years ago. Today it lives only on the island of Tasmania, where it has few natural enemies. The animal is common throughout the island, except on the southernmost tip, and is often seen looking for food in suburban areas.
The Tasmanian devil is active mainly at night. It prefers to spend the day hiding in places that offer plenty of cover. These places include woodland and
forests where the trees have tough leaves, such as eucalyptus. But the animal can also be found living on rocky outcrops, dense scrubland, and coastal heath.
The Tasmanian devil sleeps in a variety of nests, which it makes in caves, hollow logs, or deserted burrows. Sometimes it digs a hole for itself in a sandy bank.
Right: Young Tasmanian devils squeal constantly while their mother is away looking for food.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The Tasmanian devil eats anything-from live prey to carri
on (dead animal flesh). Up to a dozen individuals may quarrel over a carcass, but they rarely attack one another.
This mammal climbs poorly and walks with awkward, loping movements. It runs even more clumsily, at a speed of approximately eight miles per hour. The Tasmanian devil prefers to scavenge rather than hunt live prey. But it has plenty of stamina and can track prey over long distances. Its
Left: Although it moves awkwardly, the Tasmanian devil can track prey over long distances.
victims include lambs, wombats, wallabies, ground birds, reptiles, fish, and amphibians. It even attacks and feeds on members of its own species.
In addition to eating animal flesh, the Tasmanian devil consumes any fur, feathers, and large bones. It crunches the bones in its powerful jaws using its large teeth.
This mammal also feeds on insects and vegetation. When food is plentiful, it grows sleek and rounded, storing quanti
ties of fat beneath its coat.
Right: The Tasmanian devil takes advantage of carrion left behind in animal traps.
Left: The Tasmanian devil sleeps by day in the safety of its nest and moves out to forage just before dusk. It has few enemies besides man, who is encroaching on its habitat.
fDID YOU KNOW? • The Tasmanian devil lived on mainland Australia until about
600 years ago. Its disappear-ance is thought to be linked to the arrival of the dingo.
• The sperm cell of the Tas-
I man ian devil is four times larger than a man's and is almost visible to the naked eye.
~ BREEDING The Tasmanian devil breeds in March or April. The sexes pair up for two weeks before mating, and the female stays in the male's den during that period.
After a gestation of three to four weeks, the female gives birth to up to four young. The fairly undeveloped offspring suckle from their mother in her rear-facing pouch. They remain there for eight or nine months, clinging tightly to her four teats to avoid falling out when she is on the move. During that time
• A greedy scavenger, the Tasmanian devil has been known to eat plastic, cotton socks, and rubber boots and gloves.
• After escaping from a zoo in Australia, one Tasmanian devil killed 54 chickens, 6 geese, a cat, and an albatross in a period of two days.
their eyes open, and their fur gradually appears.
When they finally emerge from the pouch, the young go through the most vulnerable phase of their lives. Left alone in a leafy nest while their mother hunts for food, they are easy
prey for marsh harriers and owls as well as older Tasmanian devils. In an attempt to protect her offspring, the female may carry them with her on her back, but the young often fall off during the ride.