AFRICAN ELEPHANT '\ ... CLASS ~ Proboscidea

ORDER E/ephantidae

"'" CARD 1

GROUP 1: MAMMALS ~ FAMILY . ~S Loxodonta africana

~~~;;~~·~",~c:t~~] ~ C ill E QJ

C~~~~~~~;i~ .. ~II)o"'i1tl 8 ai t -§ N

U

Although the African elephant is the largest and most powerful of a"'iving land mammals, it is also among the most gentle, living in

peaceful family units.

KEY FACTS SIZES

Height: Male 1 0 ft. to shoulder.

Female a little smaller.

Weight: Male up to 6 tons. Female

up to 4 tons.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 14-1 5 years.

Mating: Any time.

Gestation: 22 months.

No. of young: Usually 1 calf.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Live together in family

units; adult males are solitary.

Call: A throaty rumbling as

constant communication or loud

trumpeting when angry.

Diet: Entirely vegetarian-grass,

foliage, fruit, branches, twigs.

Lifespan: About 70 years.

RELATED SPECIES

Range of the African elephant.

DISTRIBUTION In most parts of Africa, south of the Sahara.

CONSERVATION

The slightly smaller Asian elephant

(Elephas indicus).

The African elephant is now endangered. Hunting is banned, but poaching for ivory is still widespread. In Kenya alone, __ numbers have been reduced from 150,000 to 30,000 in the last 10 years. Gamekeepers are almost powerless against the sophisticated machine guns used by poachers.

SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT

Ears: Used as fans to create a stream of air over the animal 's body.

Trunk: Used for breathing and smelling, and as an extra limb for picking up food, browsing in tall branches, drinking, and bathing.

Teeth: Only 4 functional teeth 12 inches long, 1 in each quarter of jaw. They can be replaced 6 times.

Tusks: Elongated incisor teeth that continue to grow throughout the elephant's lifetime.

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Feet: Undersides soft and cushioned so it can carry its great weight almost noiselessly.

WF OM NC 24

Essentially an animal of open grasslands,

the African elephant is adaptable enough to live

happily in a variety of habitats within its c o -g

sub-Saharan African homeland. But wherever it lives, ~ Q) u

the elephant never strays far from a supply of f ---------------------------------------------- ~

<1l

Left: African elephants never stray far from water.

Inset: A calf protects its skin against insect bites with a dust bath.

drinking and bathing water. :l! _________________________________________ o Lj~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ HABITS Elephants are social animals with strong family ties. So close are the relationships that they even bury their dead with twigs and leaves. They also grieve over their loss, staying by the "grave" for many hours.

Cows (females) and their calves, live in fa'mily units under the leadership of a mature female, to whom every other member of the group is related.

Young bulls (males) are driven from the family when they reach puberty to live in

Right: All elephants like to bathe daily and will immerse themselves completely if the water is deep enough.

separate bachelor herds. Adult bulls live alone and join a family unit only briefly when a female is ready to mate.

Herds may wander great distances, but they never move far from water. Ele­phants like baths every eve­ning, so they stay close to any available pool or stream. They'll make do with a shower-squirted from the trunk-if water is scarce. After

, bathing they coat their skin in dirt for protection from insects.

~ COMMUNICATION

When elephants are foraging for food out of sight of one another, they communicate by making rumbling noises similar to gargling. If an ele­phant senses possible danger, it will alert the others by stopping the noise.

Conflicts between ele­phants are communicated by a threat display in which the superior will twirl its trunk or throw dust into the air. Sometimes an elephant will also make the trumpeting noise for which it is famous. The display is also used to warn enemies. If its signals

:g, are ignored, the threatened ~ elephant may charge at its ;3 attacker. But charges are ~ rarely carried through; at the ~ last moment, the elephant ~ either stops short or turns cg aside.

~ FOOD & FEEDING

Elephants are entirely vegetar­ian. They eat a wide variety of grasses, foliage, fruit, and small branches and twigs. They gather food with the aid of their trunk and then place it into their mouths.

The few teeth elephants have are used to grind their food. Once an elephant has

DID YOU KNOW? • Elephants will eat up to 500 pounds of vegetation a day and drink up to 40 gallons of

water at a time. • An elephant can walk faster than a man, maintaining a steady speed of 5-51/2 miles per hour. A herd on the march can easily cover a

lost all its teeth, usually around the age of seventy, it can no longer feed itself and it dies of starvation.

Elephants have gigantic appetites. Night, early morning, and evening are their favorite eating and drinking times, but they also eat all day on the move.

distance of 50 miles a day . • When water is scarce during the dry season, elephants will dig for water in the sandy bed of a river that has stopped flowing . • The largest tusk ever re­corded was 1 0 feet long and weighed nearly 230 pounds.

~ BREEDING Elephants mate when they are 14 or 15 years old. Courtship involves a display of affection between the cow and bull in which they caress each other with their trunks. A single calf, standing about 33 inches high and weighing approximately 250 pounds is born 22 months later.

The calf is suckled for at least 2 years and remains in the family unit after the birth of its mother's next calf. A cow usually gives birth about every 4 years and will often have two or three calves with her at the same time.

Cows defend their young vigorously, charging any intruders.

Below: A three-day-old calf stands knee-high to its mother.

GORILLA '\ .. ORDER ~ Primates

FAMILY Pongidae

"'" CARD 2

~ GROUP 1: MAMMALS ~~)

GENUS & SPECIES ~S Gorilla gorilla

Largest and most powerful of all living primates, the .gorilla is a peaceful and sociable animal. It lives in the highlands and forests

of Africa in small family groups.

~ KEY FACTS

I i~ 1 SIZES <S7 Height: Males, 6 ft. Females,

5 ft. Weight: Males, up to 600 lb .

Females, up to 200 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: Males, 7-8 years .

Females, 6-7 years.

Mating: No particular season.

Gestation: 251-289 days.

Number of young: One.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Sociable.

Diet: Entirely vegetarian, mainly

fruit, leaves, and juicy stems.

Lifespan: At least 30 years.

RELATED SPECIES

Western, Mountain, and Eastern

lowland gorillas of Central Africa .

Range of the gorilla.

DISTRlBUTION

The mountain gorilla is found only in the Virunga Volcanoes

region in the highlands of eastern Zaire. The lowland gorilla

lives in forest areas, stretching from the northern bank of the

Zaire River to the Ubangai River in southern Nigeria.

CONSERVATION

Both mountain and lowland gorillas are endangered. Fewer

than 450 mountain gorillas exist in the wild.

THE GORILLA'S HANDS AND FEET

The gorilla moves on all fours with its knuckles on the ground, but its weight is supported by its feet.

©MCMXCIIMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILE'"

The gorilla's feet are characterized by the big toe. Unlike those of most apes, it is not widely separated from the other toes.

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Strikingly human in appearance, the hands are very broad and strong. The thumbs are smaller than the fingers , which helps the gorilla to grip as it climbs trees or grabs foliage .

0160200031 PACKET 3a

Gorillas live in the wild only in the Zaire River basin.

The two species-mountain and lowland-are

separated by about 600 miles. Both are now

recognized as being endangered.

~ BREEDING Gorillas mate year-round . The female produces one off­spring about every fourth year. If her offspring gorilla dies in infancy, which hap­

pens 40-50 percent of the time, she will breed more

frequently. A young gorilla re­mains with its parents three years after its birth.

Gorillas live in groups of ten

DID YOU KNOW? • When a gori lla d rinks, which is rarely, it soaks the back of its hand and sucks the water from the fur.

• As he matures, a male gori lla's skull develops a bony ridge which makes his head dome-shaped .

• Social grooming can relax a gorilla to the point that it will go into a trance.

to thirty females and their young, with one or more mature males, called silver­backs. Young adult males generally live alone, some­

times joining groups for short periods. Afterward, they resume their solitary exis­tence. Occasionally they take females with them to mate and start their own groups .

~ DIET The gorilla is herbivorous, or plant-eating (as opposed to carnivorous, or meat-eating) . It eats the fruit, leaves, and stems of a wide variety of plants that form the under­growth of the forest floor. Bamboo shoots are a favorite. The food it eats, together with the dew it drinks off of leaves, provides all the moisture a gorilla needs.

~ SOCIAL HABITS Each family group lives within

a fairly small area. However,

groups that occupy the same

area coexist peacefully.

One way in which gorillas

establish and reinforce bonds

is by social grooming . One

gorilla will groom the other

by combing through its fur

with its fingers and teeth . In

~ GORILLA &: MAN The gorilla's easy-going nature has made it possible for humans to mingle with wild family groups, and thus considerable study has been conducted on the gorilla . Unfortunately, gorillas have also been widely hunted for

food and sport. The greatest risk to the

gorilla, though, comes from man's invasion of its habitats.

promotes, social grooming

allows close contact and

touch between the animals.

Each evening, gorillas build

nests in trees in which to

spend the night. Up to the

age of three, the young share

their mothers ' nest. However,

the nest-building instinct is so

strong that they experiment

Right: 5mall group of gorillas crossing the road in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Zaire. Note the position of the hands.

The forests on which its survival depends are steadily being taken over as farmers

at an early age.

Nest building is not a

painstaking process. T he

gorilla simply pulls in any

branches that it can reach

and then squats on them to

make a platform.

Below: A family group; the dominant male is known as a silverback because the hair on his back turns groy with age.

and ranchers take advantage of the fertile land of the forest region .

~ WARNING DISPLAY The unexpected appearance of a strange male in the group may cause the silver­back to mount an elaborate warning display. He hoots

excitedly, building to an ear­splitting roar at the intruder. Then, after having risen to his full height, tearing at twigs and branches, the gorilla beats his chest with the

cupped palms of his hands. He may take a few steps to­ward the intruder, growling and gnashing his teeth .

If th is does not deter the stranger, the silverback may be provoked to charge, waving his arms and scream­ing with rage. The charge usually stops short of actual contact; the silverback will thrust his face right up to the intruder's, and they will stand nose to nose, glaring at each other, until one or the other turns and stalks off.

MEERKAT

FAMILY Viveridae

~ARD3 J

~~

". GENUS~~~C~: 1: MAMMAlS "~~) ~ 5uricata suricata

Meerkats live in complex groups with clearly defined duties. They rely on teamwork and cooperation to ensure their survival in the

hostile environment of the Kalahari desert.

u.: (f)

c:i D ~ o ra al 2 S o

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: 20 in. from head to

tip of tail.

Weight: 2 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 1 2 months.

Mating: Throughout the year.

Gestation: 75 days.

No. of young: 4-5.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Highly sociable. Colonies of

up to 30, but averaging 24. Call: A chirrup, trill, growl, or bark,

according to circumstances.

Diet: Very varied but largely

insects, grubs, scorpions, and

lizards.

Lifespan: About 1 ° years.

RELATED SPECIES

The gray meerkat, or Selous's

mongoose, is slightly larger with a

white-tipped tail.

I TYPICAL ~ERKAT GROUP

Baby sitter will stay close to burrow with youngsters in her care.

Sentries will scan the horizon and sky for predators

Hunters will dig for food , some of which will be given to the young .

©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM

Range of the meerkat.

DISTRIBUTION

Southern Africa, south of the Orange River, including Angola,

Namibia, South Africa, and southern Botswana.

CONSERVATION

The meerkat is in no danger of extinction, although erosion

of its habitat is believed to have reduced its numbers. Further

loss of habitat could change its status in a short time.

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

A teacher w/U show a juvenile

'how tID I'l1:Ult.

0160200051 PACKET 5

A species of mongoose,

the meerkat is about the same size

as a rabbit. Despite its sma.ll size,

however, it can drive off predators

much larger than itself by producing

an aggressive display.

~ HABITAT The meerkat is found ex­clusively on the semiarid plains of southern Africa. It avoids woodland and dense vegetation, preferring to live among the scrub.

Atnight, the meerkat retires to a network of burrows which it digs with

Below: A meerkat burrows for beetle larvae in the sands of the Kalahari desert.

DID YOU KNOW? • Meerkats are immune to the poison from a scorpion or a snake.

• A meerkat can dig through a quantity of sand equal to its own weight in just seconds.

its powerful forelegs. The burrows may be as deep as 10 feet. Sometimes the burrows are shared with other animals such as the ground squirrel and yellow mongoose. In rocky ground, the meerkat will make its den in the crevices between the rocks.

Right: A typical meerkat group stands on guard for predators against the African skyline.

• Meerkats band together in numbers to frighten off predators many times their size.

• The meerkat uses its tail for balance and as a signal.

~ BREEDING

When meerkats breed, the female will initially refuse the male, until he seizes her by the neck. Mating soon follows.

The young are born blind and hairless after a gestation period of 11 weeks. The usual number of the litter is four, and

~ BEHAVIOR The meerkat is the most sociable of all the mongooses, living in close-knit colonies numbering as many as 2 dozen. Each meerkat has special duties that benefit the group as a whole.

As meerkats emerge from the burrows, selected individuals will stand guard to keep watch for predators. They keep watch often in the branches of a tree, and bark out a warning at the first sign of danger.

When meerkats face the I threat of a rival group of

meerkats or a predator, they begin digging up the ground frantically in order to create clouds of dust to distract their aggressor. Also, with their hair bristling, a group of meerkats

within several days, the young are weaned. The mother then leaves the burrow to hunt; other adult meerkats protect her young.

At 3 weeks, the young meerkats emerge from the burrow for the first time,

may advance in a pack toward the enemy in a series of mock attacks designed to scare off the intruder.

During such confronta­tions, the meerkats make themselves as large and fearsome as possible by stretching their legs, arching their bodies, and holding their tails stiffly erect. Once this is done, the entire group continually leaps into the air and growls aggressively. If the intruder persists, the bolder meerkats will bite.

When forced on the defensive, the meerkat throws itself on its back with teeth bared and claws out­stretched to ward off its

attacker.

closely watched by their guardian. The mother intro­duces her young to unfamiliar food by running around with it in her mouth, encouraging them to snatch it from her.

At 2 months, young meerkats resemble the adults.

~ FOOD &: HUNTING Meerkats feed mainly on insects, spiders, and snails, but their prey also includes rodents, ground-nesting birds and their eggs, lizards, and bulbs and roots of select plants. They will even tackle dangerous prey such as scorpions and snakes.

Relying on its keen sense of smell, the meerkat is a successful forager. With its prey in sight, the meerkat strikes out with its paws before killing it with a bite. The meerkat tears into it before taking the remains back to the burrow to share

Below: A meerkat baby sitter will guard youngsters diligently for hours on end while the rest of the group is hunting.

"" CARD 4 ARCTIC WOLF " GROU P 1: MAMMALS ,,~------------------------------------~ .. ORDER

'IIIIIIIIIIII Carnivora FAMILY Canidae

GENUS & SPECIES Canis lupus arctos

The majestic arctic wolf lives in the silent vastness of the barren polar region, where darkness cloaks the land for up to five months

a year. Here it hunts almost every other living animal.

KEY FACTS SIZES

Length: Head and body, 3-5 ft.

Height: To shoulder, 25 -3 1 in .

Weight: Up to 175 lb. Females

lighter.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: Males 3 years .

Females 2 years.

Gestation: 61-53 days.

No. of young: Usually 4-5.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Lives in family groups of up

to 30, but usually 7-10.

Call: A chorus of howls.

Diet: Mainly arctic hares, musk ox,

caribou, and lemmings.

Lifespan: 7 years average.

RELATED SPECIES

The arctic wolf is a subspecies of

the gray wolf. Others are the

timber wolf of America and the

common wolf of Eurasia.

• Range of the arctic wolf.

DISTRIBUTION

Throughout the Arctic land mass, but not on the permanent

ice sheets of the sea ice.

CONSERVATION

Wolves in general have been under threat throughout history.

The arctic wolf is the only subspecies still found over the whole

of its original range, largely because it rarely encounters

humans.

THE SOCIAL STATUS IN A PACK

Social status with in a pack is expressed by a complex "language" of gestures, barks, and growls. High-ranking wolves constantly assert their position , making lesser members cringe or lie on their backs in submission. Despite th is behavior, there is very little friction .

©MCMXCIIMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200031 PACKET 3a

temperatures, months of darkness and weeks without

food, the arctic wolf lives in one of the few places on

earth where it is safe from

the greatest threat of all-man.

~HABITAT Arctic wolves inhabit some of

the most inhospitable terrain in the world. In April, the air temperature rarely rises above -220 F. The ground is perma­

nently frozen . The arctic wolf is one of the few mammals that can tolerate these conditions.

The wolf preys on lemmings and arctic hare, but its most substantial source of food is

DID YOU KNOW? • Wolves will often go days without food, but can then

eat up to 10 pounds of meat at a time.

• Food is so scarce in the Arctic that no part of a wolf's prey is wasted; a wolf will eat

the musk ox and caribou .

Because of the scarcity of grazing plants, animals must roam a large area in order to find enough food to survive.

Consequently, the wolf pack has to travel over areas of up to 800 square miles in search

of its prey. When winter temperatures

plummet, the wolves may fol­low migrating caribou south .

every part of an arctic hare, including the skin, fur, and bones.

• Several of the younger pack members will watch the cubs while the mother wolf is hunting.

~ FOOD & HUNTING

Full grown caribou and musk oxen are far too powerful for a single wolf to attack alone, so

wolves must always work together as a pack when hunting large prey.

Surprise attacks are almost impossible on the open

Throughout the fall and winter, wolves keep on the move, but after mating in March, the pregnant female leaves the pack to find a nursery den. She may dig a new one, but where the ground is frozen, she will be forced to return to an old den in a cave or rock cleft.

The cubs are born deaf, blind, and helpless. They are totally dependent on their mother, and she in turn relies on her mate to bring her the

food she needs. After a month, the cubs are

able to eat meat. From then on, the whole pack shares the job of feeding them with re­gurgitated meat from a kill.

The cubs may strike out on their own the following year.

tundra; by the time the pack

approaches, its prey is in a defensive stance. Musk oxen, for example, will form a circle with their calves safely on the inside. The wolf pack must then try to disrupt the herd.

The wolves circle the herd

Above: A unique glimpse of three-week­old sleeping cubs inside the den.

Right: Almost weaned, three cubs suckle their patient mother.

and prowl around, forcing the oxen to shift their ground to face them. If the wolves are successful, the oxen scatter.

Once the herd has scattered, the wolves give chase, trying to isolate a young or weak animal. If one wolf catches a

victim, the others will aid in killing it. A musk ox provides

enough food to last the wolves for several days.

Below: To kill a musk ox, the pack must first split the herd and then pick a victim that is too young, too old, or too sick to put up a fight.

Wolves usually live in small

packs, or family groups, consisting of a breeding pair, their cubs, and their unmated offspring from the previous two or three seasons. The

~ dominant, or breeding, pair ~ are known as the alpha male .g and alpha female. The other ~ wolves defer to them. All of ~ [II

E

" the adults in the pack cooper­ate in feeding and caring for

the cubs. Lone wolves are usually

~ young animals that have left ~ the pack in search of their ~ own territory. They avoid w ~ other wolves, unless they are £ potential mates. If a lone wolf i finds unoccupied territory, it ~ will claim it by marking it witr ~ its scent. It then attracts a ~ mate and starts a new pack.

"'" CARD 5

~,--E-~-RD-~-R A_L_T_I:_E_FA_~_IL_Y ___ " __ GENUS ~S:~C~~ 1: MAMMALS ~J "IIIIIIIIIII Carnivora "IIIIIIIIIII Felidae "IIIIIIIIIII Panthera tigris tigris

The exquisite grace and power of the Bengal tiger evokes both awe and fear in man. Capable of killing animals over twice its size, it is

one of nature IS most feared predators.

KEY FACTS

SIZES Length: Males, 9-10 ft., head to

tip of tail. Shoulder height: 36 in. Weight: Male 400-575 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 3-4 years. Mating: Usually in spring. Gestation: 95-112 days. Litter size: 2-4 cubs.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Solitary and nocturnal. Diet: Chital, wild boar, monkeys, gaur, buffalo. Call: Roar, growl, or purr. Lifespan: 15 years under normal conditions.

RELATED SPECIES There are seven other sub-species of tiger in the world. The color of

the coat distinguishes one sub­species from another.

THE BENGAL TIGER'S TEETH

Like its ancestor, the saber-toothed tiger, the Bengal tiger's teeth are vital to its surviv91. If it loses its canines (tearing teeth) due to injury or old age, it can no longer kill prey and will starve to death .

The saber-toothed tiger (below) had long canines which were used to stab its prey. Its jaw structure enabled it to kill with a powerful, downward bite.

©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

v Range of the Bengal tiger.

DISTRIBUTION

i '-

/'-I\ ' ~/

The Bengal tiger is most numerous in the Sundarbans regions of India and Bangladesh. It is also found in northern and central India and in Burma and Nepal.

CONSERVATION In 1900 the tiger population of India was estimated at 40,000-50,000. By 1972 this number had dropped to 1,850. A good conservation program has increased it to 4,000.

PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200041 PACKET 4

The Bengal tiger's characteristic reddish gold fur

and black stripes are easily visible to visitors in a zoo.

But in the tiger's natural habitat of forest

and reed beds., the markings act as camouflage and

enable it to disappear from view.

~BEHAVIOR The Bengal tiger is solitary and does not like to share its range with other tigers. All tigers mark their territory

with strong-smelling urine and also by shredding the bark of trees.

Bengal tigers drag the remains of a kill into the brush and bury it loosely with leaves, then return to eat it later.

Bengal tigers usually breed in the spring. A neighboring male will mate with a female in her home range. Of the 20-80 days he remains with her, she is fertile for only 3-7

days. After mating, the male

returns to his home range and

plays no part in rearing the cubs.

Approximately 15 weeks later, the tigress gives birth to two to four cubs. She suckles them for 8 weeks, after which

~HABITAT The Bengal tiger is most numerous in the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans in eastern India and Bangladesh where the River Ganges meets the Bay of Bengal. They are also found in other areas of

Above: Mother and cubs on a hunting trip in their home range.

Left: Tigers do not like excessive heat. They often lie in pools of water to keep cool.

Far Left: Bengal tiger cub at five weeks old.

she brings them prey to eat as well. At 11 months, the cubs can hunt on their own. The tiger cubs stay with their mother for 2-3 years, at which time she is ready to mate again .

India as well as some parts of Nepal and Burma.

Since Bengal tigers are

solitary and do not like to

share their hunting grounds,

they need large home ranges

in which to hunt. Males

~ FOOD & HUNTING Bengal tigers are nocturnal: they hunt at night. Though powerful and quick over short distances, they stalk their

prey because they cannot outrun faster prey. The tiger kills small prey with a bite on

the back of the neck and large prey with a bite to the

throat. Tigers mainly hunt gaur

(wild ox) and buffalo . Al­

though a tiger is capable of killing a bull gaur more than twice its size, it prefers to attack young or old animals that put up less resistance.

In the Sundarbans region of India and Bangladesh, the tiger's prey are.chital (axis deer), wild boar, and monkeys. Tigers will some­times attack porcupines. Right: Feeding tiger warns an intruder to keep its distance.

occupy about 20 square miles, while females typically require 17 square miles. A tiger usually has several dens in its home range and uses whichever one is most convenient at the time.

DID YOU KNOW? • The roar of a Bengal tiger can be heard 2 miles away.

• Bengal tigers purr. Domes­tic cats purr when breathing in as well as out-tigers purr only when breathing out.

• After killing its prey, the t iger always starts feeding from the hindquarters first.

• A tiger is a voracious eater. It can kill the equivalent of 30 buffaloes a year, and eat 65 pounds of meat in a night.

• Tigers, unlike many other cats, often eat meat that has begun to putrefy.

• The Siberian tiger, a cousin of the Bengal tiger, is the world's largest cat.

MUSTANG ~ ... ORDER ..

"IIIIIIIIIII Perissodactyla ~ FAMILY Equidiae

GROUP 1: MAMMAlS~

GENUS & SPECIES Equus cabal/us

Before the western United States was settled, the mustang roamed free in greater numbers than any other wild horse on earth, band­

ing together in herds to protect itself from wolves, coyotes, and other predators.

KEY FACTS

SIZES Height: Up to 14 hands (1 hand = 4 in .) .

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 3 years. Stallions do not usually head herds until

they are about 6 years old. Mating season: April to July. Gestation: 11 months. No. of young: Usually 1, occasion­ally twins.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Social. Live and wander together in small herds. Call: Soft whinnying and whicker­ing to one another; loud snorting to warn of danger. Diet: Grass and foliage. Lifespan: Up to 20 years.

RELATED SPECIES

The mustang is related to every other breed of horse.

FEATURES OF THE MUSTANG

Originally, mustangs were much finer looking than they are today, having descended from beautiful Spanish Barbs and Andalusian horses. Occasionally, a purer breed will be found .

©MCMXCI IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

Range of the mustang.

DISTRIBUTION

Sparsely distributed in remote areas in nine states in the northwestern United States.

CONSERVATION

After it had been brought nearly to extinction, laws passed in 1971 made it a federal offense to harass or kill mustangs. But they are still being killed by farmers and ranchers.

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Average height to withers = 14 hands.

Because mustangs have interbred with so many different types of horses, they have no uniform body type or coat color. But in' grder to withstand the hardship of the'ir enVironment, they remain small~ no more than 14 hands- with a sturdy build and a Wiry frame.

0160200051 PACKET 5

The mustang is descended from horses first brought

to North America by the Spanish in the sixteenth

century. The horses eventually broke free to run wild

and breed on the open prairies.

~ HABITS Mustangs form small herds that provide companionship and defense against preda­tors. A herd consists of one stallion and his harem of two to eight mares, their foals, and various young mustangs.

A herd will wander and graze in a specific territory. It will tolerate the presence of other herds on the outskirts of its range, and will some-

~ BREEDING The mating season is from April to July. The foals are born the following spring .

When it is time to give birth, the mares leave the herd and bear their foals

alone in well-hidden loca­tions. Although adult mustangs have a wide variety of coat colors, new­born foals have coats that blend in with the dusty

times join them in warding off attacks from predators.

When the herd is con­fronted by an attacker, an older female, called a lead mare, will lead the herd away from danger while the stal­lion remains to challenge the aggressor. It will snort wildly while pawing the ground with his front hoofs to raise a cloud of dust. ·

ground of their habitat. The foals are able to stand

within several hours of birth. After 2-3 days, mother and foal join the herd and remain with it for a year or more.

When the male colts reach about 3 years of age, they are driven from the herd by the stallion. The colts are too young to attract females, so they form a herd of their own

with which they roam for several years. They occasion­ally challenge the leaders of other herds, until they are successful in establishing a herd of their own .

Below left: 5tallions are vicious fighters if challenged.

Below: Foals suckle for about a month. By 4 months, they will be fairly independent.

~ FOOD & FEEDING

Like all horses, the mustang is an herbivore, eating nothing but vegetation. But, because of the scarcity and low nutritional value of the coarse grass, sagebrush,

and juniper which it eats, it has adapted to survive on a diet that would not sustain domesticated horses.

Centuries of living in such harsh conditions have enabled the mustang to go without food or water for several days if nec~ssary. The mustang has also learned

~ MUSTANG & MAN

By the late eighteenth century, mustangs were well established in nine western states and numbered be­tween two and five million. Then, as settlers moved west and began to cultivate the land, the mustangs were

Right: With its tough teeth and strong jaws, the mustang tears at the sparse, coarse grass of its inhospitable habitat.

how to break open frozen springs and to clear sedi­ment-clogged water holes by splashing and digging to

driven off and killed by the thousands.

The greatest destruction of the mustangs has occurred in this century; huge numbers were captured and used in both the Boer War and World War I. Others were caught

DID YOU KNOW? • The name mustang comes from the Spanish word mesteno meaning ownerless, belonging to la mesta- that is, to everyone and no one.

• To fight off an attack from wolves, mustangs group into a tight circle with the colts inside. As the wolves try to penetrate the circle, the mustangs stamp their hooves and snap their teeth viciously. • Mustangs were often ridden

by the Plains Indians. The I Cheyenne thought that mus­tangs spotted on the head and chest were sacred and would bring them victory in battle.

dislodge the debris. It will even chew prickly pear cactus to obtain moisture from the plant's juices.

and used as cow ponies, and many more were shot to be used as pet food and fertilizer. By the mid-1960s, their numbers were estimated at between 18,000 and 34,000, and by the early 1970s, there were less than 10,000.

GIANT PANDA

.. ORDER "IIIIIIIIIII Carnivora

.. FAMILY "IIIIIIIIIII Procyonidae

"" CARD 7

~ ~ GENUS ~;~C~: 1: MAMMALS ~~)

Ailuropoda melanoleuca

~ .... :.~~ ~ <ii

~="~~·1 1 ~

~~~~~ __ ~~~~~~~ __ ~~~ 0

Among the shyest and rarest of wild animals, the bear-faced panc1a, with its black and white coat and prominent black eye

markings, is one of the world's best-known mammals.

'U ~ KEY FACTS

~ SIZES ~ Height: 5 ft. standing erect.

Females slightly smaller. Weight: Up to 265 lb. Females

weigh less.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: Not known. Breeding season: Not known, but

thought to be April. Gestation: 5 months. No. of young: Usually single cub.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Solitary.

• Range of the giant panda.

DISTRIBUTION

Diet: Mainly bamboo, supple­mented by berries, fruit, flowers, fungi, grasses, bark, and occasion­ally small animals.

RELATED SPECIES

Southwestern China, notably the Qionglai, Daxiangling, Xiaoxionging, and Liang Mountains in Sichuan Province; also the Min Mountains and Qinling Range in Shaanxi Province.

CONSERVATION The name panda is taken from the animal now known as the cat-bear. The cat-bear is also known as the

lesser or red panda.

The giant panda is threatened with extinction. From an estimated 1,000 in 1983, the numbers have dropped to 300

following die-back of forest (see below).

LlFECYClE OF THE BAMBOO FOREST

Every 50 years or so, large areas of bamboo forest si­multaneously flower, seed, and die (foreground). The last time this phenomenon occurred was in 1983.

©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

Because the panda cannot cross inhabited villages and farmland, it is unable to migrate to areas of new growth and literally dies of starvation.

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

New growth

0160200131 PACKET 13

At first glance, the giant panda

seems to resemble a bear, but in fact

its features have much in common with those of a

racoon. Although its ancestors were meat eaters,

the retiring and peaceful panda is a plant eater,

feeding almost entirely on bamboo.

DID YOU KNOW? • The giant panda has larger molar teeth than any other mammal. • The giant panda spends 16 hours a day eating, in which time it digests only a small portion of the food .

• The giant panda was un­known in the Western world until 1869. • The panda's stumplike tail is used to spread secretions produced by the scent glands, which are located

~ HABITS Pandas are solitary animals. They spend two-thirds of their day feeding and the remainder of the day resting. Extremely agile climbers, they usually climb only when they are in danger from predators such as brown bears, leopards, and wild dogs. They take refuge in the nearest tree until danger has passed.

Pandas have no particular resting place; they simply lie down on the ground wherever they happen to be.

Pandas live in cold, damp conditions. They have excep­tionally dense waterproof coats that give protection against these conditions.

beneath the tail, onto the surrounding area. • The panda's hearing is so acute that it can detect even the most stealthy predators. • The panda does not

hibernate. ~

~ GIANT PANDA & MAN At one time, the greatest threat to the giant panda's survival was man, who hunted it for its pelt. Today the prin­cipal cause of its decline is the erosion of its habitat due to crop cultivation or from natural causes such as die-back of bamboo. As its natural habi­tat becomes increasingly sur­rounded by human settlement, the panda can no longer mi­grate to unaffected areas.

The Chinese people now support any measures neces-

~ FOOD &: FEEDING Although the panda is classi­fied as a carnivore, its diet consists almost exclusively of the stems, leaves, and young shoots of various types of bamboo. Because bamboo has a low nutritional value, the panda needs to eat huge

sary for the panda's protec­tion. As a result, those caught hunting the animal face se­vere penalties.

Special sanctuaries have been established in the panda's natural habitat with enough space for 500 to 600 animals. Scientists are study­ing the animal's habits and in­stituting a comprehensive conservation program.

Zoos are also collaborating in the development of a captive breeding project.

quantities-25 to 45 pounds a day-to sustain itself.

It also eats eggs and some seasonal vegetation.

Right: The peaceful panda requires nothing more than a plentiful supply of bamboo to survive.

I~l SPECIAL ~ ADAPTATIONS The panda has adapted well to its diet. It uses its carnassial (meat-tearing) teeth to slice

I through bamboo shoots. The forepaws of the panda

, have an extra "thumb" which, when used in con­junction with its "forefingers," enables the panda to grasp even small bamboo shoots with precision. Its paws are broad and have long, retract­able claws.

The mating season .is the only time pandas come together.

A single cub is born five months after mating in a nest constructed of bamboo. A panda rarely gives birth to twins; if she does, the second cub is unlikely to survive.

The tiny newborn panda cub is blind; it is six inches long and weighs only three ounces. It stays with its mother for 18

II months, until it is independent enough to establish its own

I . terntory.

j J left: Panda mother and :2 young, Madrid Zoo. Pandas ~ rarely breed in captivity and ~ are seldom seen with young in ; the wild. --;

'" CARD 8 NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO ,,~------------------------------------------~ ~

ORDER Edentata

FAMILY Dasypodidae

~ GENUS & SPECIES ~ Dasypus novemcinctus

The solitary and nocturnal armadillo has an armored skin composed of hard bony plates. Its head, legs, and tail are similarly

protected with bony scales.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: Body, up to 32 in. Tail, 14 in.

Weight: 12-15 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 6-12 months.

Mating season: Summer months.

Gestation: 120 days after delayed

implantation. No. of young: Always 4 identical

young of the same sex.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Nocturnal, solitary, and

burrowing. Diet: Insects, small animals, birds'

eggs, roots, fruits, and carrion.

Call: Grunts, squeals, and snuffling.

lifespan: 12-15 years.

RELATED SPECIES There are 6 species of long-nosed

armadillo, found in 3 subgenera.

All 6 inhabit Central and South

America.

Range of the nine-banded armadillo.

DISTRIBUTION

From Kansas and Missouri through Mexico and Central

America to Argentina and Uruguay.

CONSERVATION

Common enough to be considered a pest in some areas. It

has colonized new areas in the northern and southern

extremes of its range and has been introduced into other

places to combat insect plagues.

THE NINE-BANDED ARMADillO'S DE FE NSES

The hard bony plates covering the body provide effective armor against attack. The plates are arranged in bands over the middle of the back and are attached to flexible skin.

©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

Fore and hind limbs have strong, curved claws for digging in the ground. Armadillos dig to find food, to make nest burrows, and to escape predators such as jaguars, pumas, and coyotes.

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

The armadillo 's underside has no armor. The nine­banded armadillo protects itself by lying flat on the ground with its legs tucked under the shields on its shoulders and hips.

0160200081 PACKET 8

The nine-banded armadillo is the most

widespread of the armadillo species. It inhabits

the open grasslands and tropical forests of North

and South America. Still, it is unable to survive

in arid regions, such as deserts, or in areas

that are very cold.

~ HABITS Armadi llos generally spend the day sleeping in the safety of burrows. They may have as many as twelve burrows located throughout their range, which they dig with their strong front claws, kicking away the excavated dirt with their hind legs.

Each burrow may be from 20 inches to 12 feet below the surface of the ground. The burrow consists of a labyrinth of tunnels that can be as long as 23 feet. Two or more of the tunnels have nest chambers, which the

animal lines with grass and weeds.

Nine-banded armadillos will share their burrows only with members of the same sex. Each animal has its own territory, but those of males often overlap. Territories are marked with scent.

Days are spent in which­ever burrow is nearest at the end of the night's wander­ings.

Top: Farmers value the nine­banded armadillo because it preys on harmful insects, but its digging can cause soil erosion.

~ FOOD & FEEDING At night, the armadillo emerges from its burrow to look for food: insects, small animals, birds' eggs, fungi, roots, fruits, and carrion (rot­ting animal flesh) . It uses its strong sense of smell to detect food . Its long snout has

Right: A young nine-banded armadillo digs for food.

Below: Some armadillos roll themselves into armor-plated balls.

~ BREEDING Mating takes place during the summer, but the exact time varies according to location. Since armadillos have poorly developed senses of sight and hearing, it is thought that the males rely on their sense of smell to detect when a female is ready to mate.

After mating, the fertilized egg is not implanted into the female's uterus wall for 3 months. This delays the birth of the young until the fol­lowing spring, when more food is available.

particularly sensitive nostrils. In the southern parts of its

range, the nine-banded armadillo feeds on ants and termites. It pokes its long, sticky tongue into the nest holes and draws out both the insects and their larvae.

Right: The female always gives birth to four identical young, as the fertilized egg divides into four parts. They are born in the nest chamber and have a soft, pinkish, leathery skin at birth. This hardens in a few weeks to ~ ...... --.".rl

form the armor­like covering of plates and scales.

If food is detected under­ground, the armadillo begins to dig frantically. It uses its powerful forelegs to loosen the soil and, balancing on its forelegs and tail, kicks away the dirt from beneath its body using its hind legs.

DID YOU KNOW? • The nine-banded armadillo is the only armadillo species that can swim. It does this by inflating its stomach and intestines with air to keep it buoyant. It can also cross a small river or stream by walking on the bottom while holding its breath .

• Using its long, sticky tongue, the armadillo can eat more than 40,000 ants at one feeding . • Armadillos sometimes fall asleep on their backs, away from the safety of their burrows. When they do, they expose their vulnerable underside to attack from predators.

• The name armadillo comes from the Spanish word armado, which means "one that is armed."

• When d igging for prey, the armadillo avoids getting dust up its nose by holding its breath for up to 6 minutes.

VAMPIRE BAT '\ ~ ORDER ~ Chiroptero

... FAMILY ~ Desmodontidae

'" CARD 9

GROUP 1: MAMMALS ~~l ... GENUS & SPECIES ~ ~ Desmodus rotundus

Although it 's not the bloodthirsty te"or portrayed in ho"or movies, this ordinary-looking little bot really does feed

exclusively on the blood of other animals.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: Body, 2 3/ 4 in.

Wingspan: 8 in .

Weight: 1 oz .

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 9 months.

Mating season: All year.

Gestation: 6-8 months.

No. of young: 1 .

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Nocturnal. Lives in colonies

of 6-2,000, but which usually

number 100.

Diet: Blood of domestic animals,

particularly cows, pigs, horses.

Lifespan: 9 years in the wild; nearly

20 years in captivity.

RELATED SPECIES

There are two other species of true

vampire bat, Diaemus youngi iand

Diphyl/a ecaudata.

• Range of the vampire bat.

DISTRIBUTION

Central and South America, in tropical and subtropical regions

from Mexico to northern Chile and Argentina.

CONSERVATION

Considered a serious pest in areas where cattle and horses are

kept because they transmit rabies and other diseases. Vampire

bats are not currently endangered.

FEEDING HABITS OF THE VA' J MP'tkRI~W~

Vampire bats prey mainly on domestic animals, biting them on the neck, shoulder, rump, or ankle. The only thing the vampire bat eats is blood, which it laps from the wound that it makes in its host with its sharp teeth.

©MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.

The bat's tongue has two lateral grooves which alternately open and close while the bat is feeding. This action draws the blood up the deeply grooved lower lip, channeling it into the mouth. Chemicals in the bat's saliva prevent the blood from clotting and keep it flowing. An adult vampire bat will consume about five teaspoons of blood per day.

WF DM NC 21

Despite the vampire bat's tiny size-its body is no

larger than that of a mouse-this

blood-sucking bat is a threat to cattle

in its native Latin America. When it drinks the

blood of domestic animals, it can infect them

with the deadly rabies disease.

~ HABITS Vampire bats are active only during the darkest periods of the night. It is the time when they are most likely to avoid being caught by such noctur­nal predators as owls. Also, the domestic animals on which the bats feed are often sleeping, and so are easier to approach undetected.

During the day, vampire bats roost in colonies, hang­ing upside down in caves and hollow trees. They will some-

times move from one daytime roost to another which is closer to their prey. This kind of activity indicates that vam­pire bats learn from experience where their prey can be found.

Vampire bats also use rivers as navigational tools as they move from one part of their range to another. The rivers are easier to follow than wooded routes, and cattle often graze in pastures near water.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Vampire bats once preyed on wild animals, but now feed mainly on domestic animals. • Vampire bats have been known to feed on sleeping humans. • In a year, a colony of 100

~ FOOD £;[ FEEDING The vampire bat feeds on the blood of animals. Cows, pigs, and horses are its favorite hosts. The bat will usually choose to feed on the most docile or isolated animal in the resting herd. Using its chisel­like incisor teeth, the bat makes a small cut in the animal's skin. It usually chooses a fleshy area, like the shoulder or neck, where the blood vessels are closer to the skin's surface.

Left: Barely larger than a sparrow, the vampire bat is a fearsome sight. Its wedge-shaped incisor teeth are used for slashing open the skin of its prey.

Right: A bat drinks the blood ofa female pig. When larger prey is not available, vampire bats will attack turkeys and chickens.

vampire bats consumes a quantity of blood equivalent to the amount in 25 cows. • Vampire bats bite more calves than cows, probably because the youngsters sleep for much longer periods.

The bat then drinks the blood that flows from the wound. Chemicals in the bat's saliva keep the blood flowing for the 2-3 minutes that the bat feeds. Often two or three bats will feed from the same wound.

In most instances, the host animal suffers no ill effects from the loss of blood, al­though if too many bats feed on the same animal, it may be severely weakened.

~BREEDING The vampire bat's ability to reproduce is limited by its need to remain light enough to fly. It gives birth to a single offspring after an unusually long gestation period of six to eight months.

Born blind, the you ng bat is

carried by its mother for the first few days of its life. Its eyes open after a week, and it takes its first flight when it is three weeks old. The young bat is sexually mature at nine month: and breeds at any time of the year.

Left: Vampire bats mate year­round. Mating takes place while roosting upside down in the security of a cave. A single young is then born some 6-8 months later.

~ VAMPIRE BAT £;[ MAN The vampire bat can transmit rabies to livestock and man. To control the vampire bats, cattle have been injected with anticoagulants, substances that do not harm the cows but will cause internal bleed-

Right: Vampire bats feed almost exclusively on livestock, biting their victims in places such as the ear, where the blood vessels run close to the surface.

ing in the feeding bats. Antico agulants have also been smeared on the bats them­selves. When they return to their roost site, other bats in the colony groom them and ingest the fatal drug.

POLAR BEAR

ORDER Ursidae

~ARDllU

Ursus maritimus

The huge polar bear is one of the largest land carnivores in the world. Its coat, which varies in color from pure white to shades of yellow, blends in well

with its snow-covered environment.

KEY FACTS ---SI -------

[IJ SIZES / .. Height: 5 ft. to shoulder.

Standing height: 8-11 ft.

Foot size: 12 in. long, lOin. wide.

Weight: Males, 880-990 lb.;

females, 660-770 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 3-5 years.

Mating season: March-June.

Gestation: About 7-8 months.

Litter size: Usually 2.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Solitary, but sometimes

come together to feed.

Diet: Mainly seal fat and skin;

carrion; vegetation in summer.

RELATED SPECIES The polar bear is the largest of

the bear family, which includes

the North American Grizzly bear

and Kodiak bear.

~-. ~

: :':., . ,, - .. -) , - ' . . ..

' <;'- . ~() ... . , " '/!( . I ,<u~ \. ~;'\ ' ~. ' . ?i~

" '-, i\

Range of the polar bear.

DISTRIBUTION

Southern edge of the arctic ice cap.

CONSERVATION Conservation projects and regulated hunting exist in all countries where polar bears are found. After declining to about 5,000, the present world population is put at 40,000. Future depends on the protection of the arctic environments.

HOW THE POLAR BEAR HUNTS SEALS

Hunting: The polar bear preys on seals and their pups. It catches adults by ambushing them at their breathing holes in the ice. With its excellent sense of smell , -the polar bear can sniff out a pup in its den up to 3 feet under the ground. It then digs out the pup and devours it.

©MCMXCIIMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILE'M

Ringed seal : Lives around or under the coastal ice. The cow gives birth in a den l:lnder the snow and ice and p'rovfdes her pup with a breathing hole. The den keeps the pup warm and offers some degree of protec­tion from the predatory Arctic fox and polar bear.

PRINTED IN U.S.A. WF DM NC 14

Polar bears are well suited for life

on the icy tundra. They are immensely

strong and active-the sales

of their feet are covered with fur,

which gives them stability

on slippery, frozen ground.

~ FOOD & HUNTING Polar bears feed mainly on seals. They wait for them to come to the water surface to breathe, or stalk them while they rest on the ice. The seal is kil1ed by a crushing blow to

g' its thin skull. Polar bears eat ~ everything-they cannot afford ~ to leave anything edible behind. ~ In the late summer and early ~ autumn, polar bears will patrol

~ HABITS Polar bears are found throughout the polar region, but they spend most of their time along the southern edge of the icecap on coastal land near open water. They are solitary animals and are active at all times ofthe year.

Polar bears are also excel­lent swimmers. They cruise through the water at speeds of up to six miles per hour, using their front legs to propel them, with their hind legs trailing behind. With

~ their eyes open and nostrils ~ closed, they can dive under­~ water as well, remaining sub­~ merged for two minutes.

i When they emerge, they im­~ mediately shake the water § from their coats before it I-

freezes.

DID YOU KNOW? • Polar bears have a very acute sense of smell; they can smell carrion, such as a dead whale, from 20 miles away, and can sniff out seal dens that are covered with snow. • The black nose of a polar

I bear on the snow can be seen from six miles away on a clear

the coastal areas looking for whale and walrus carcasses. Sometimes ten to twenty bears may be found feeding together. At this time of year,

their diet is more varied, including such land mammals as lemmings, arctic foxes, and

eider ducks. Like most bears, polar bears

also eat vegetation.

Right : Solitary polar bears will often come together to feed on carcasses.

Below: Strong swimmers, polar bears have been seen swim­ming 50 miles from ice or land.

Springtime is the mating

season for polar bears, w ith

most activity taking place in

.x April. Males seek available

~ females; most females breed

~ every third year after separating E

~ from their young . I-

~ In October and November,

~ the bears dig dens in the snow '--..;;..,.,; ...... _::;a_,;...-;;....._.;;..;..; _ _ _ _ _ _ _______ ~ or tundra . The dens are usually

left: A polar

day through binoculars. It has been said that, when stalking seals, the polar bear will cover its nose with a paw to escape

detection.

• The temperature inside aJ polar bear's den can be 40 degrees warmer than the outside air temperature.

bear ;s no located on south-facing slopes

bigger than a of hills where northerly w inds rat when it is f pile up large amounts 0 snow. born.

Below: Two large cubs

~ snuggle up to .3 their mother ~ for warmth. ~ Two is the Ol

1l usual litter size ~ of polar bears. CfJ

w -;

The dens are used for giving

birth. Young are born in

November or December and

weigh only 16-32 ounces. They

are hairless, blind, and deaf.

They first emerge from the den

in March or April. They will

remain with their mother into

the third spring of their lives.