"'" CARD 181 I HUMPBACK WHALE ~~----------------------------------------~ ~

ORDER Cetacea

FAMilY Balaenopteridae

~ GENUS & SPECIES "'IIIIIIII Megaptera novaeangliae

During its migration the humpback whale can be seen in coastal waters around the world. At breeding sites it utters a mournful

"song" that is one of the most haunting sounds ever heard.

KEY FACTS SIZES

length:42-45 ft., up to 52 ft . Weight: Up to 72 tons.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 2-5 years.

Breeding season: Winter. Female

breeds every 2-3 years.

Gestation: 11-12 months.

No. of young: 1, rarely 2.

Weaning: About 1 year.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Social and migratory.

Call: Complex songs lasting 6-35

minutes and other sporadic sounds.

Frequencies from 40-50 kHz.

Diet: Krill, fish, squid .

lifespan: Up to 50 years.

RELATED SPECIES

The humpback is one of the six

species in the Balaenopteridae

family that have a dorsal fin . The

others are the blue, fin, sei, minke,

and Brvde's whales.

THE HUMPBACK WHALE

Blowhole: On top of the head. Spray may rise to about 10 feet.

Snout: Covered in knobs.

Range of the humpback whale.

DISTRIBUTION

The humpback whale frequents cold and polar seas for most

of the year and subtropical and tropical seas in winter. A few

populations live year-round in the tropics.

CONSERVATION

Hunting has reduced the total population of the humpback

whale from about 150,000 to between 6,000 and 8,000. Com­

mercial hunting has ended, but the population is still vulnerable.

Tail: Very large flukes may be slapped hard on the water to make a loud noise.

Flippers: Long, powerful , and serrated. Used in

-.-: .... --- surface displays and to protect young .

Hump: Visible when the whale rises to blow a number of times.

Tail: Raised just before the whale arches forward to sound (dive) . Mating: The male and female rise

up and half-emerge from the wa­ter in this embrace, which they may hold for 30 seconds before breaking away.

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The humpback whale is easy to distinguish

from other baleen whales. It has a broad tail,

long, white-edged flippers, and prominent knobs

on its snout. The humpback's narrow flippers are

almost one-third of its body length. They help this

giant mammal maneuver with grace both under

the water and at its surface.

~ HABITS The humpback whale may be

found in all the oceans of the

world at certain times of year.

There are three main popula­

tions: one in the North Atlantic,

one in the North Pacific, and

one in the southern oceans.

These populations are divided

into separate "stocks."

The humpback breeds in

warm coastal waters. It spends

the rest of the year in colder re­

gions. Migration between the

two areas follows set routes,

and there is little mixing be­

tween different stocks. One of

the longest migrations is under­

taken by Antarctic whales. They

swim 4,000 miles north and

breed in the Gulf of Panama.

Humpbacks are often seen in

clusters, usually with a female

and her calf at the breeding

area. These clusters may be

males vying for the female's

attention and acting as escorts.

Threat displays of the hump­

back include blowing a screen

of bubbles, lashing the tail side­

ways through the water, and

crashing the tail on the water's

surface. The whale often spy­hops (raises its head vertically

above the waves) or breaches (leaps out of the water to return

with a tremendous splash). It

may also lie belly up or with its

flippers in the air.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The humpback whale spends

spring, summer, and fall in

its polar feeding areas. In the

Southern Hemisphere it feeds

mainly on krill. In the north it

eats capelin and shoal fish .

When food is plentiful near

the surface, the whale lunges

toward it with its jaws open,

taking in a mouthful of water

and prey. Grooves under its

jaw allow it to enlarge its

mouth cavity for this pur­

pose. The whale strains the

~ BREEDING The humpback usually utters

its evocative song during breed­

ing season. Most "singers" are

solitary males trying to attract

mates. The song is a sequence

of cries, chirps, clicks, moans,

and groans. It varies from one

whale to the next and may last

for 35 minutes. It can be heard

underwater for 18 miles.

Above left: A whale makes a spectacular "breach. "

Right: A cow and calf are escorted in Hawaiian waters.

Below: The cow and calf form a close bond.

water out through its baleen plates (horny filtering plates

in the sides of the mouth),

leaving the prey inside.

The humpback uses various

methods to trap prey. Tail

slapping and breaching may

startle fish. Rising bubbles

or "nets" of air from whales

that are deep underwater can

confuse and enclose prey.

Right: The humpback rushes at plankton or shoal fish from below and gulps them down.

Mating has not been directly

observed. But whales have

been seen diving together and

rising vertically to the surface,

belly to belly, and it is thought

that they are mating at these

times. Gestation lasts almost a

year, and the young are born

back at the warm breeding

grounds. The newborn calf is

13 to 16 feet long. It stays close

to its mother for a year, taking

at least 1 0 gallons of milk from

her every day for the first five

months. The bond between

mother and calf is very strong.

The female humpback has been

known to protect her calf even

when she has been mortally

wounded by harpoons.

DID YOU KNOW? • Scientists did not record

the humpback whale's

complex song until 1969.

Recordings of the song

have been sent into space

on the Voyager probes.

• The humpback usually swims at 2 to 9 miles pE~r

hour, but it can reach 1 7

miles per hour.

• The humpback whale sometimes makes threat

displays against boats,

especially when they are

on its breeding grounds.

• An average humpback needs over a ton of food

per day, containing more

than one million calories.

• Scars from the teeth of killer whales are often seen

on humpbacks, especially

on the tail. But it is unlike­

ly that these predators

could kill a healthy adult

humpback whale.

• The humpback dives deep to feed--even to the

seabed 650 feet down. It

has been known to stay

under for 30 minutes.

GIANT FOREST HOG ~~--------------------------~~~ .. ORDER

'11IIIIIIII Artiodactyla FAMILY Suidae

.. GENUS &: SPECIES '11IIIIIIII Hylochoeru5 meinertzhageni

""' CARD 182 I

The giant forest hog is the largest of the eight species of wild pig. It inhabits the tropical forests and savanna of central Africa,

where people still hunt it as a pest.

KEYFACTS ____________________________ ~

SIZES Length: Head and body, 5-6 ft . Tail, about 1 ft . Height: 2)1,;-3)1,; ft. Weight: 350-600 lb. Male is

heavier than female.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 18 months.

Breeding season: All year, but

sexual activity increases slightly

in October and November.

Gestation: 18 weeks. No. of young: 2-6.

LIFESTYLE

Habits: Highly social; may be

active during the day or night.

Diet: Grass, leaves, berries, fruit,

roots, and carrion.

Lifespan: Probably 15-20 years.

RELATED SPECIES

There are 8 species of pig in 5

genera, including the bush pig,

Potamochoeru5 porcu5, and the

wild boar, SU5 5crota.

Range of the giant forest hog.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in isolated populations throughout forested areas of

central Africa. The largest numbers occur in Cameroon, Gabon,

Congo, and Zaire.

CONSERVATION The giant forest hog is not endangered, but it is threatened in

some areas by hunting. Farmers attack it because it may damage

crops and can infect domestic pigs with African swine fever.

FEATURES OF THE GIANT FOREST HOG

Warts: Male has huge, swollen cheek projections that protect eyes in dense undergrowth. Equipped with scent glands (especially in older males) to mark the hog's home range.

Tusks: Upward­pointed canine

teeth may grow to 14 inches.

Tail : Long and tasseled. May be used to swat insects. Never

carried upright.

Young: 2 to 6 in a litter. Born with straw-colored coat that

changes to brown, then black.

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Coat: Black guard hairs.

Often covered

Female: Smaller Hooves: 4 toes than male. Lacks on each foot. huge face warts.

0160200451 PACKET 45

In much of its range the giant forest hog is active

mainly at night foraging for food in an extended

family group. But in protected areas like national parks,

it often roams during the daylight hours. This creature

of habit follows tunnellike paths that it has already

forged through dense vegetation to its feeding sites.

Its food includes grass, leaves, berries, and carrion.

~ HABITS The giant forest hog inhabits both tropical forests and savan­na from sea level to an altitude of over 12,000 feet. In the hot­ter parts of its range and in areas where it is hunted by people, it usually sleeps by day and for­ages after dark. In protected areas it is often active by day.

The giant forest hog lives in a family group of about 10 indi­viduals. The group occupies an area of about eight square miles, which the hogs mark with secretions from the scent glands around their eyes and lips. The home ranges of several groups may overlap.

Each day the hog takes the same paths to its favorite feed­ing and drinking areas. It also regularly visits mud wallows. Bathing in the moist mud keeps the hog cool and rids its skin of ticks and other parasites. After bathing, the hog rubs itself · against a tree or termite mound to scrape the mud from its skin.

The group of hogs returns to its communal sleeping nest each day. The roof and walls are usually woven from dense un­dergrowth into a snug, dry shel­ter. In some areas the hogs may simply nest under an uprooted tree's roots.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The giant forest hog forages for food in a family group. As an omnivore, it eats both plants and animals.

In its tropical homeland the hog feeds mostly on the lush vegetation . In open savanna and at the forest edge it grazes on grasses and tender shoots. It also tears up bamboo, crush­ing the stems and leaves with its powerful cheek teeth.

Within the forest, the hog

Left: The oxpecker helps the giant forest hog by feeding on parasitic ticks in its skin.

DID YOU ·KNOW? • The large warts below and behind the giant forest hog's eyes are believed to shield it when it charges through thick undergrowth. • The hierarchy of hog soci­ety can be seen when family groups enter mud wallows and nest sites. The senior male

feeds mainly on leaves, berries, . and fruit, and it may gnaw on exposed roots. Unlike other pig species, it seldom digs with its snout.

At times the giant forest hog eats insects and their larvae, the eggs of ground-nesting birds, and carrion (dead flesh). It seeks out salt licks, such as termite mounds, to obtain needed minerals. It may also feed on and damage crops.

Right: The forest hog keeps re­turning to the same areas to feed and drink.

always leads, and the junior female brings up the rear. • Some African tribes make war shields from the skin of the giant forest hog. • The male giant forest hog has reinforced frontal bones to protect it during the ritual head clashes for dominance.

~BREEDING A dominant male usually leads each family group. Males es­tablish their position by ritual fighting, charging each other and cracking heads ferociously. Defeated males lead a solitary life away from the group.

Mating occurs throughout the year. The male approaches a receptive sow (female) in his group. If she accepts his ad~ vances, the pair mates noisily. Two to six young are born 18 weeks later in a nest that the

Left: Young hogs nurse fram their mother or from other milk­bearing females in the group.

Left: Dis­covered in 7904, the giant forest hog is one of the last large mam­mals to be­come known to naturalists. It is found in forests in central Africa.

sow builds at a distance from her group. When the young are about a week old, the sow leads them back to the group, where they are fed by any sows that can produce milk. The young hogs are weaned at about 1 0 weeks and become sexually mature at 18 months.

All of the adults protect the young, warning them of dan­ger and defending them from predators. Despite this care, only one or two of each litter survives. Some are crushed by their mother soon after birth, while others may be picked off by hyenas or large cats.

SHETLAND PONY

'" ... ORDER ~ Perissodactyla

FAMILY

Equidae

CARD 183

GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS &; SPECIES

Equus cabal/us

The Shetland pony is one of the smallest breeds of horse. For its size, however, this short-legged animal is the strongest

member of the horse family.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Height: Maximum in U.S., 4 ft.

Maximum in Great Britain,. 312 ft. Lowest recorded height: 2 ft .

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: About 3 years .

Mating season: Mid to late spring in native habitat.

Gestation: 11 months .

No. of young: Usually 1.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Sociable. Forms small herds in the wild .

Diet: Mainly grass .

Lifespan: 20 years, sometimes

more.

RELATED SPECIES

The Shetland pony belongs to the

same genus and species as all

horses and ponies. It is among the oldest breeds in existence .

Original range of the Shetland pony.

DISTRIBUTION

Thought to have originated near, and evolved on, the

Shetland and Orkney islands off the northeastern tip of

Scotland. Now present in many other countries worldwide.

CONSERVATION

The Shetland pony still exists in a semiwild state in its native environment. It is also bred in domestication in

many countries.

AMERICAN AND BRITISH SHETLAND PONIES

American Shetland Height: 11 hands (3~ feet) average. Build: lighter than British breed. Legs: Neat, with high knee action. Pony and man: Competes in pulling contests and trotting races and is used as a child's pony.

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British Shetland Height: 10 hands (3 feet) average. Legs: Shorter than those of Ameri­can breed. Body: Deeper and more heavily built than American breed. Winter coat: Thick and warm for pro­tection from the elements. Pony and man: like the American Shetland, it is used as a child's pony.

0160200441 PACKET 44

The Shetland pony gets its name from the stormy

islands off the coast of Scotland where it has lived

since prehistoric times. Island settlers soon recognized

the animal's hardiness and working potential,

and it has been domesticated since 500 B.C.

~ CHARACTERISTICS

The Shetland pony has a compact, stocky body with a deep girth and a short back.

It has short, muscular limbs and small, hard, open feet. Its small head and its short,

thick neck are almost hidden by its long, bushy forelock and thick, long mane. The

tail is also long and bushy. The pony may be any color,

but black and dark brown are most common.

During winter, when the weather is cold, windy, and

wet, the Shetland pony will grow a thick coat to provide warmth and waterproofing.

~BREEDING In mid to late spring, a Shet­land stallion will seek out a mare in heat. The ll-month gestation period ensures that the foal will be born early the next spring when the grass is at its best.

However, the breeding of Shetland ponies is usually care­fully controlled. The breeders choose which stallions get to mate, even when the ponies

Above left: The Shetland ponies in summer.

Below left: A family group.

DID YOU KNOW? • The American Shetland pony is used in trotting races. It has been timed at 1 minute, 55 seconds, over half a mile.

• The Shetland pony can pull twice its own weight, which means that it has about twice the power of most heavy horses.

• A 3-foot-high Shetland pony once carried a man 40 miles in one day.

• The Shetland is one of the five favorite breeds in the United States. Others are the thoroughbred, Appaloosa, standard­bred, and quarter horse.

are living in a semiwild state. The mare usually gives birth

to one foal, which she nurses until she becomes pregnant

Below: The wild stallion finds a mate in springtime.

Right: Usually only one foal is born.

~ FOOD & FEEDING

Like all horses and ponies, the Shetland is a grazer. When it has rich grass to eat, it may graze in short spurts during a 24-hour period. But if the pasture is poor, it may feed

for 22 hours a day. Because it manages to sur­

vive on the meager grass of

again . Sometimes, however, the breeder takes the foal from its mother when it is about eight months old.

its island homeland, the Shet­land pony has a reputation for "fattening on almost any­

thing." Domestic ponies need little more than hay in winter.

When the Shetland Islands

are covered with snow, the pony will paw at the ground to get at the grass and moss

... SHETLAND PONY ~ &MAN

The Shetland pony was used by island farmers for transport and to help work t heir proper­ty. Because it is very strong and takes to the harness, it has always been used to pull heavi­ly loaded carts. Today it is used in cart races.

In the nineteenth century Shetland ponies were used as pit ponies in the coal mines. Ponies that were bred for this purpose had large, ugly heads. With the demand for pit po­nies now gone, this feature has been bred out.

The Shetland pony was im­ported to the United States, and it has become so popular that this country now has its own "Shetland" breed.

under the snow. If this is not enough food, the pony may climb down to the beach to

eat seaweed and scrounge fish heads from fishermen.

Below: The grass on the islands is very poor in nutrients, and the pony often feeds all day to sus­tain itself.

PROBOSCIS MONKEY

"---... ORDER ~ Primates

... FAMilY '11IIIIIIII Cercopithecidae

... GENUS &: SPECIES ~ Nasalis /arvatus

"" CARD 184l

The proboscis monkey is related to the colobus monkeys of Southeast Asia. Rarely seen in the wild, this endangered species

lives only in the remote mangrove swamps of Borneo.

~.

KEY FACTS

SIZES length: Head and body, 1 y'!-2 ft. Tail, 2-2y'! ft. Weight: 15-50 lb. Male heavier.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: Female, 4 years.

Male, 4-5 years. Mating season: Throughout the

year, but births coincide with seasonal abundance of food. Gestation: About 6 months.

No. of young: Usually 1.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Lives in trees, in social

groups of up to 60 members. Diet: Mainly leaves, but some fruit and flowers.

lifespan: About 1 3 years.

RELATED SPECIES There are 31 species in 4 genera in the Colobinae subfamily. The genus Nasalis contains another

rare species, the pig-tailed langur, N. conca/or.

FEATURES OF THE PROBOSCI

Nose: The male makes a loud honking sound with his nose to frighten off predators. The long nose shoots into a horizontal position with each honk.

Range of the proboscis monkey.

DISTRIBUTION Found only in swampy mangrove forests along the coasts and on the tidal sections of rivers in Borneo.

CONSERVATION The proboscis monkey is classified as endangered as a result of hunting and habitat destruction. Protected since 1931, it still needs special reserves to ensure its future.

Habitat: The proboscis monkey is well suited to the swampy mangroves

of Borneo. It is a good swimmer, and it moves with great agility

among the trees. These skills help it escape from

predators, including people who hunt

it for food.

Tail: A vital balancing aid for the monkey when moving through trees or resting orr a branch.

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The proboscis monkey is named for the male's

long trunklike nose. This tree-dweller favors dense,

swampy forests, but much of its habitat has been cleared

by humans for lumber and land use. Before 1963 the

proboscis monkey had never been bred successfully

in captivit~ and it is now so rare that it has

received international protection.

~HABITS The proboscis monkey spends its life among the trees of dense mangrove forests and swampy river plains. It lives in groups of up to 60 animals, but this soci­ety, unlike most monkey societ­ies, is not highly structured. This loose organization may be be­cause the proboscis monkey spends most of its time finding and eating food, leaving little time for group activities.

Each group has a home range of almost one square mile. Pro­boscis monkeys are not aggres­sive, however, and they share their ranges with other animals.

During the day the proboscis monkey swings from branch to branch, foraging for food high above the ground. Surrounded by the leaves it eats, it rarely travels more than half a mile a day. Since the male is twice as heavy as the female, he moves more slowly.

At night proboscis monkeys sleep together in a group, ar­ranged along a branch in a row. They try to find a strong branch that leans out over the water because this location offers the best protection from predators such as leopards.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The proboscis monkey begins and ends each day by eating a big meal. Leaves and shoots are its favorite food, but it will also eat fruit and flowers. Be­cause the monkey does not digest its food very efficiently, it must spend most of the day eating to obtain the nutrients that it needs.

When feeding, the probos­cis monkey sits in the fork of a tree, grabs nearby branches, and strips them of their leaves.

Left: The large nose of the male proboscis monkey attracts fe­males in the mating season.

DID YOU KNOW? • The proboscis monkey eats so much that the content of its stomach can be over a quarter of its body weight. • Proboscis monkeys can jump into the water from a height of 50 feet and stay submerged for 30 seconds. • The proboscis monkey is

Its long thumbs, which are un­usual for a monkey, allow it to grip branches, and its sharp teeth are excellent for shred­ding leaves.

After a big meal the monkey rests in the tree to digest its food . But soon it must search for more food, either alone or in a group. When a group for­ages together, one of the larg­er males squats at the top of a tree and acts as a lookout.

The proboscis monkey rare­ly has to drink. It gets all the water it needs from the mois­ture in the leaves it eats.

hunted by clouded leopards in the trees and by crocodiles in the water. • The male snorts or honks loudly as a warning. The fe­male sounds like a goose. • The flesh of the proboscis monkey is a delicacy to the people of Borneo.

~ BREEDING Proboscis monkeys can breed throughout the year, however most of their young are born when good food supplies are widely available.

When the female is ready to mate, she chooses a male and stares at him, pursing her lips. If he responds with a pouting expression, the pair will mate.

The proboscis monkey usu­ally gives birth to a single in­fant about eight inches long. Its eyes are open at birth, and

Left: Another female looks af-ter an infant while its mother searches for food.

Left: The fe­male monkey is about half the size of the male and has a less prominent nose.

Below: The proboscis mon­key seems well suited to Bor­neo's dense mangrove for­ests. An excel­lent swimmer, it may drop from a high branch into the river below to swim to anoth­er tree.

it can cling to its mother's fur. The baby monkey is covered in short, downy hair, and its face is deep blue. This color gradually changes to the brownish pink of the adult, and the color of the baby's coat changes to grayish yel­low or reddish brown.

The females in a group fre­quently look after each oth­er's young, carrying them around and even nursing them. This behavior allows the mothers to move more freely through the trees when looking for food.

""CARD 185 I· CHAMOIS "' GROUP 1: MAM MALS "'~----------------------------------------~ ... ORDER ... FAMILY ... GENUS &: SPECIES ~ Artiodactyla ~ Bovidae ~ Rupicapra rupicapra

The chamois is a species of goat-antelope that lives in mountainous areas, mostly in Europe. Best known as the source of chamois

leather, its numbers are now severely reduced.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: 3-4 ft.

Height to shoulder: 2 /:1 -3 ft.

Weight: Male, 65-110 lb.

Female, 55-95 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 4 years.

Mating: October to December. Gestation: 5 /:1 -6 months.

No. of young: 1, rarely 2 .

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Females and young live in

herds. Males are solitary except

during mating season .

Call : Deep, rumbling bleat.

Diet: Grasses, bark, pine needles.

Lifespan: Up to 17 years in

captivity.

RELATED SPECIES

There are 9 subspecies of

chamois. It is closely related

to the Rocky Mountain goat,

Oreamnos americanus.

FEATURES OF THE CHAMOIS

Coat: The summer coat is light brown with a black stri pe down the spine. The winter coat is almost black.

Horns: The sharp, curved horns can grow up to 8 inches long. They are used to defend the animal against predators. They are also used by males battling for a mate during the rutting season.

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Range of the chamois.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in the Pyrenees, Apennines, Alps, and Carpathians. Also

found in southwestern Asia a~d introduced in New Zealand.

CONSERVATION

The chamois was once common throughout central and south­

ern Europe. But hunting for meat and trophies has caused many

populations to become severely depleted or even extinct. The

Italian subspecies, R.r. ornata, now numbers less than 400.

chamois has extremely acute senses of smell and sight.

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HOW THE HOOF GRIPS

THE ROCK

Thin , sturdy outer ridge grips rock, while soft inner pad keeps chamois from slipping. Hoof can be closed to grip narrow ledges or splayed to grip in snow.

Two simple toes on each foot keep chamois from slipping downhill.

0160200431 PACKET 43

The chamois is a sturdy, nimble animal that has

remarkable leaping ability. Its specially adapted

hooves have soft elastic soles to keep the animal

from slipping. These hooves allow the chamois

to grip the steep mountain slopes of its ranges.

~ HABITS During spring and fall the chamois lives in alpine forests, just above the tree line. The chamois does not live on

mountain tops, but it may move higher up the mountain in summer. In winter it moves down to slopes as low as 1,640 feet and settles in the forest,

Right: The chamois's black or dark gray winter coat becomes much lighter brown with a black stripe on the back in summer. The tufts of hair along the back are often dis­played in hunt­ers' caps.

where food is more plentiful. Females and young usually

live in small groups on their own . However, in winter they

may join with other groups to form a herd of up to 100 ani­mals. Males are solitary, join­ing the herd only during the rut (mating season) in the fall.

~ BREEDING During the chamois rut, from mid-October to December, t he males join the females and begin to fight for a mate.

Males mark their territory with a scent that is emitted from glands located behind the horns. They then chase each other, bleating deeply. They finally engage in a fierce 'fight, pushing and tearing at

Left: A yearling is allowed to rejoin its mother once she has weaned the latest kids.

DID YOU KNOW? • According to a Swiss leg­end, the chamois's curved horns act as shock absorbers in case it falls on its head.

• The first part of the cham­ois's scientific name comes

each other with their horns. Between April and June the

female gives bi rth to one kid, sometimes two. By that time the herd has split into small groups again . Just before they give birth, the females drive all the yearlings (young from last year's rut) away. Once the kids are weaned, the yearlings can rejoin the group.

Right: Early walkers, the young chamois are able to escape predators and find food.

from the Latin word rupes, meaning "rock."

• During the rut it is not uncommon for one of the fighting males to have its belly or throat ripped open.

~ CHAMOIS & MAN The chamois's predators in­clude wolves and lynx. Eagles have been known to prey on kids. But people are the main enemy of the chamois. Its skin is made into chamois leather,

Left: The chamois is extremely agile and can leap distances as far as 23 feet.

and the tufts of hair along the back of the male chamois are displayed in hunters' caps.

Since it was introduced in New Zealand, the chamois has flourished there. In fact, New Zealanders had to start a hunt­ing program to control the number of chamois.

~ FOOD & FEEDING

The chamois is a grazer and browser, with a diet that consists mainly of mountain grasses and lichen found on the rocky slopes. In the forest, however, the animal has been known to eat pine needles as well as bark.

Left: The chamois leaves the herd to search for food alone in winter when food is scarce.

PINE MARTEN

ORDER Carnivora

... FAMILY ~ Mustelidae

~D186

GROUP 1: MAMMALS ... GENUS &: SPECIES ~ Martes martes

In the past the pine marten was hunted extensively for its so~, thick fur. Although trapping is illegal today, this solitary carnivore

is now threatened by the destruction of its forest home.

KEY FACTS ---------~y---------- -------------------------------------------------------~

SIZES

Body length: 16-20 in . Female

smaller than male.

Tail length: 9-11 in .

Weight: 2-4 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 1-2 years.

Mating season: June to August.

Gestation: Delayed implantation of

up to 6 months is followed by a

true pregnancy of 1 month.

Litter size: 3-5; up to 8.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Solitary; night-active.

Diet: Small mammals, insects,

berries, fungi; occasionally car­

casses of large animals.

Lifespan: Up to 10 years in the

wild . 1 7 years in captivity.

RELATED SPECIES

There are 8 species in the genus

Martes, including the American

marten, M. americana, and the fish­

er, M. pennanti.

Range of the pine marten .

DISTRIBUTION

Found throughout Europe, except for the Iberian Peninsula,

Greece, and parts of Finland. Also found in Asia from the Caspi­

an Sea north to the Caucasus Mountains.

CONSERVATION

The pine marten has long been hunted for sport and for its fur.

Throughout its range, it continues to be threatened by destruc­

tion of the forests it inhabits.

FEATURES OF THE PINE MARTEN

Body: Sleek, lithe, and elongated; the size of a large cat. Large, rounded ears on a wedge-shaped head.

Paws: Large pad with hairy sales and long, sharp claws for gripping slippery branches.

\ I I ~A \ I nil

Coat: Soft and thick. Rich brown color on the back with grayish brown underparts and a creamy white or yellowish throat patch.

P ~ I I ~

'Tail: Long and bushy. Distinguishes the marten from the polecat, a similar species. Provides balance when the marten moves through branches.

I . P Rn 1 ~T

The pine marten is a weasellike animal that lives in forests

throughout most of its range. It makes its home in tree

hollows or in the abandoned nests of birds or squirrels. An

opportunistic feeder, the pine marten has a varied diet ranging

from insects and berries to birds and small mammals. This

agile animal has powerful legs and sharp claws that help it

bound through the branches when chasing prey through trees.

~HABITS A shy, solitary animal, the pine marten avoids human settle­ments and rarely strays from its forest home. It is active at night, especially at dawn and dusk, when it hunts for prey. The marten hunts and lives alone, keeping to its own terri­tory, which ranges from two to 10 square miles, depending on the availability of food.

The pine marten marks its territory with piles of drop­pings, called scats, and with an anal-gland secretion that it rubs on branches and rocks. Within its territory, the marten

travels along well-worn routes, visiting its food caches (stores) and its many dens.

The pine marten spends most of its time on the forest floor, but it is very agile in the trees. It has powerful limbs and large paws that can be partially retracted. It also has keen eyesight and a large bushy tail that helps it bal­ance. With these features, the pine marten is well equipped to run along branches in pur­suit of prey. Right: The pine marten preys on small rodents throughout its ronge.

~ BREEDING The pine marten mates be­tween June and August. The eggs remain in the female's womb for five or six months before they are fertilized . Ges­tation then takes only about a month. As a result of this de­layed implantation, the young are born in early spring, when the weather is warm and food is abundant.

The young, called kittens, are born in a nest hidden in a rock crevice or in the abandoned

Left: As the pine marten moves through the trees, its long, bushy tail serves as a balancing rod.

I DID YOU KNOW? • The pine marten some­times follows the tracks of other flesh eaters to find abandoned carcasses. This behavior is known as "para-, sitic tracking ." • When chasing prey, a pine marten can leap up to 1 0 feet between the branches of trees.

nestof a bird or squirrel. The lit­ter usually has three to five kit­tens, sometimes up to eight. The kittens are blind and deaf for the first two weeks. Their sparse whitish hairs develop into brown coats after a month . At six weeks they stop suckling and are fed meat by the female. The kittens first venture out of the nest at eight or nine weeks old. They leave permanently in midsummer, when the female is ready to mate again.

Right: At three or four months old, the young pine marten can kill its own prey.

• If alarmed, a pine marten utters a shrill squeal along with a gurgle, producing a noise that sounds like a cat. • The golden eagle is one of the few animals that prey on the pine marten. • The pine marten is also known as the marten cat and the sweet mart.

I' !" ~ NATUREWATCH The pine marten is found in forests throughout its range. It is rarely seen during the day. It is most likely to be spotted around dawn or dusk, when it hunts for prey.

If it is seen on the ground, a pine marten can be easily con-

~ FOOD fit HUNTI NG The pine marten's diet varies with its habitat and the season. Throughout its range, it often eats only berries and fruit in the fall. In the northern parts of its range, it preys on small rodents, rabbits, and hares during harsh winters. It also feeds on aban­doned carcasses of moose and reindeer. In areas where there is less tree cover, the marten preys on field voles and birds like grouse and wood pigeons. In wooded areas, it may take tits and treecroppers. It also digs up insect nests to feed on the larvae.

fused with a polecat or a fer­ret, which are similar in ap­pearance. The marten can be distinguished from these two animals by its larger size, bushy tail, and coat, which is a rich brown color with a pale patch on the throat.

The pine marten uses both stealth and speed to catch its prey. If it fails to take its victim in a surprise attack, the marten pursues its prey through the trees, bounding between the branches until it catches the animal. The marten then jumps onto its victim's back and kills it with a bite on its neck. Larg­er prey is pulled to the ground before being killed .

The pine marten frequently stores the remains of a kill in a cache under a rock or some­times in a tree hollow, to be eaten later.

RING-TAILED LEMUR

... ORDER ~ Primates

FAMILY Lemuridae

"" CARD 187 I

GROU P 1: MAMMALS ~ GENUS & SPECIES Lemurcatta

The ring-tailed lemur is distinguished by its long striped tail. The ring-tail belongs to the family known as true lemurs,

which are found only on the island of Madagascar.

KEY FACTS

SIZES Length: Head and body,

15-18 in. Tail: About 2 feet.

Weight: 5-8 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 Z2 years. Few males mate until 3 years old. Mating season: April. Gestation: 4-4Z2 months. No. of young: Usually 1 .

LIFESTYLE Habit: Active by day. Lives in social groups. Diet: Mainly fruit and leaves. Lifespan: Unknown in the wild. Up to 14 years in captivity.

RELATED SPECIES There are 9 species within the family Lemuridae, or true lemurs. These include the black lemur, ruffed lemur, and broad-nosed

gentle lemur. Many lemur species are now extinct.

Range of the ring-tailed lemur.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in dry, forested areas of Madagascar, mainly in the southwestern part of the island .

CONSERVATION

All lemurs are endangered because of habitat destruction. The ring-tailed lemur is more abundant than other species and inhabits at least six protected areas. It is not certain whether remaining lemur habitats can be preserved.

FEATURES OF THE RING-TAILED LEMUR

Scent glands: Lower-arm scent glands in both sexes, upper-arm glands in the male. The male wipes his tail on the inside of his forearms to mark it with his own distinctive scent.

Eyes: Large, forward-facing eyes. Brilliant yellow iris.

Snout Pointed, foxlike. Black, covered with sensitive whiskers. Tip of nose is naked and moist. Communication by smell is important.

Hands: Leatherlike palms. Opposable thumbs (as on a human) enable lemur to grip and hold objects.

Tail: Bushy black and white striped tail, longer than the body. Usually held aloft as a signal to other lemurs.

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

Feet: A long second toe on each hind foot is used for grooming. Leathery soles give a good grip on rocks.

0160200461 PACKET 46

Ring-tailed lemurs and humans share a common

ancestor that lived some 50 million years ago.

Since then, lemurs have evolved in isolation on the

island of Madagascar. They have retained many

primitive characteristics, and they do not

demonstrate the same intelligence as

their cousins, the monkeys and apes.

~ HABITS Most of Madagascar's true le-

murs feed at night and stay in the forest canopy. But the ring­

tail is active during the day and prefers open, scrubby areas or

dry rocky regions. It climbs well and is agile in the treetops.

The ring-tail usually lives in groups of 5 to 30. An adult fe­

male leaves the group she was born in to start her own group,

where she remains. But the male is likely to change from

one group to another. Males and females have sepa­

rate social ran kings within a group, but the female is domi­

nant overall . If food and water run short, the female eats and

drinks before the less impor­

tant male. The ring-tailed lemur has a

larger home range than most other lemurs. It defends its ter­

ritory from other groups by

marking the area with under­arm secretions and urine.

The ring-tail is sociable. But with the exception of mutual grooming, there is less interac­

tion between lemurs than there

is among other primates. In cold weather a ring-tailed

lemur will draw close to other

group members for warmth. It also likes to bask in the sun,

squatting with its limbs spread wide in the heat of the day.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The ring-tailed lemur will eat

insects, but it prefers plant matter, particularly wild f igs,

bananas, and fig thistles. Although its ancestors ate

insects, the ring-tailed lemur has teeth that are adapted to a

diet of fruit. The incisor and canine teeth in the lower jaw form a comblike structure that

can scoop out soft fruit.

left: The ring-tailed lemur has many calls. A loud yodel is its territorial claim.

DID YOU KNOW? • The ring-tailed lemur makes a variety of sounds-squeaks,

growls, snorts, clicks, and howls. When stroked, a tame ring-tail purrs like a cat.

• The male uses his tail to warn rivals. It is both a visual signal and a "scent wand,"

carrying its owner's odor.

Like most other primates, the ring-tailed lemur sits up to eat.

Gripping fruit in its hands, it tilts its head so that the juices run into its mouth rather than onto its fur. The ring-tail is a meticulously clean animal.

After feeding, it grooms itself, using its comblike teeth and

the long claw on the second toe of each hind foot.

Right: The ring-tail moves mainly on the ground, but it often feeds in trees.

• The long tail acts as a coun­terbalance for jumping.

• A youngster is suckled by any milk-producing female in

the group. Orphans from an­other group may be adopted.

• The eyes of newborn ring­tails are blue, not the brilliant yellow of adults.

The female ring-tailed lemur is

sexually receptive for part of

April. The male is sexually ma­ture at 20 months but rarely

mates until three years old. In what are known as "stink

battles," males fight for recep­tive females. Glands under the

male's arm produce a strong scent, which he smears on his tail. He then waves his tail as a

warning signal to rivals. Fight­

ing may follow, and the victor mates with the female. If she

does not conceive at that time, the female may become recep-

left: At about two weeks, the young lemur moves from its moth­er's belly to her back.

left: The ring­tailed lemur is able to move along very thin branches, even with its young clinging to its back. It uses its bushy tail for balance and grips with its leathery palms.

tive again a month or two later.

The female usually gives birth

to one offspring. After birth,

the young clings to the moth­er's underside, wrapping its tail around her back. She curls her

tail around it and carries it with her for about two weeks. Then

it moves from her belly to her back. At around three weeks

old, the youngster makes its first moves on its own, but it

scurries back to its mother at the slightest alarm.

The young lemur is suckled for about five months, and it may be cared for by the whole

group. It is not independent until about six months old.

",CARD 188 I PILOT WHALE

,,---------------------------------~

ORDER Cetacea

FAMILY Oelphinidae

GENUS fir SPECIES G/obicephala melaena, G. macrorhynchu5

The pilot whale gets its scientific name, Globicephala, from its bulbous, melon-shaped forehead. The sonar system that the whale

uses to locate prey is housed in its forehead.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: Longfin male, 20 ft.; fe­

male, 16ft. Shortfin male, 18 ft. ;

female, 14 ft.

Weight: Longfin male, 7,700 lb.;

female, 4,000 lb. Shortfin male,

5,500 lb.; female, 3,000 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: Male, 11-12

years. Female, about 6 years.

Breeding season: All year.

Gestation: 15-1 6 months.

No. of young: 1 .

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Sociable. Schools range

from about 40 to several hundred

individuals.

Call: Wide range of sounds.

Diet: Mainly squid but some fish .

Lifespan: About 50 years.

RELATED SPECIES

Both longfin and shortfin pilot

whales are members of the dol­

phin family.

Range of the pilot whale.

DISTRIBUTION

Northern longfins range from Canada to Scandinavia and the

Mediterranean. Southern longfins inhabit the cooler southern

oceans. Shortfins range throughout tropical waters.

CONSERVATION

In the North Atlantic the population of longfin pilot whales

has been greatly depleted, and killing continues in the Faroe

Islands. Elsewhere, numbers are stable.

FEATURES OF THE PILOT WHALE

Blowhole: The cloud produced when a pilot whale ex­hales can often be seen for miles. It is mainly water vapor along with oil droplets from glands lining the windpipe.

Head: The melon-shaped forehead houses the whale 's sonar system. With this system the whale lo­cates prey by sending out and receiving sound signals.

Flippers: The two long , sickle­shaped flippers taper to a fine point.

Skin: The only marking on the whale 's glossy jet-black skin is a white streak on the underbelly.

Dorsal fin: The low fin is sickle­shaped with a long base.

Calf: It is born beneath the water, tail first. As soon as it is born, the mother nudges it to the surface to take its first breath of air.

c M MXCI IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN . .A. P

There are two species of pilot whale. The longfin

pilot whale lives in cool waters in the North Atlantic

and the southern oceans. Sometimes it migrates to

warmer areas to breed. The smaller shortfin pilot whale

can be found in the warmer seas that encircle the globe

in a band north and south of the equator. Both species

are jet black with a white streak on the underbelly.

~ HABITS The pilot whale lives in a large

school (group) that may have

hundreds of members. Its name

is thought to come from the

whales' habit of following a

leader, or pilot.

Whole schools sometimes be­

come stranded on a beach, but

the cause is not completely un­

derstood. It may happen when

the whales hunt too close to the

shore. Or it may be caused by a

failure in their navigation system.

An adult longfin pilot whale

swims at two and a half to four

miles per hour; the shortfin at

five miles per hour. The pilot

whale often swims alongside

common or bottlenose dol­

phins. Like dolphins, it will spy­hop (stand vertically) in the

water or roll on its side when

its curiosity is aroused.

Pilot whales produce a range

of sounds, from shrill squeaks

to deep snores. These sounds

are used for communicating

and for locating prey.

~ BREEDING During winter the longfin pilot

whale often migrates to warm­

er waters to mate. There is no

set breeding season, but the

birthrate peaks in spring. Males

compete fiercely for mates, and

the young males bear the most

battle scars.

The whales' courtship may

also be violent. Yet the pilot

whale is capable of tenderness.

Groups may stroke one anoth­

er with their flippers or swim

along with bodies touching .

About 16 months after mat­

ing, the female gives birth to a

Left: The pilot whale is sometimes called the blackfish because of its black skin.

DID YOU KNOW? • The squid's camouflage is a useless defense against the

pilot whale, which hunts by

echolocation, not sight.

• The longfin is also known as

the calling whale because of

the many sounds it makes.

• When it is alarmed, the pi­

lot whale can swim at speeds

single calf. Suckling is difficult

underwater, but the mother's

milk is so rich in nutrients that

the calf does not have to feed

often. The mother suckles her

calf for 18 months or more.

Toward the end of this period,

the calf starts learning to hunt

for its own food.

Because the calf is not fully

independent for a long time,

the female whale breeds only

once every three years. She first

mates when she is six years old.

The male is probably twice this

age when he first mates.

Right: The pilot whale rolls onto its side when it wants to see out of the water.

as fast as 30 miles per hour.

• The mother's milk contains

40 to 50 percent fat; cow's

milk has only 4 percent fat.

• The pilot whale can dive to

a depth of over 3,200 feet.

• If a pilot whale becomes

separated from its group, the

others will look for it.

~ FOOD &: HUNTING The pilot whale belongs to the

suborder of toothed whales,

which eat fish. It has 7 to 11

teeth in each half of its jaw. The

teeth are used to grab prey­

mainly squid and cuttlefish but

also cod, turbot, and other fish.

The longfin eats 75 pounds of

food a day, while the shortfin

consumes 100 pounds.

The pilot whale usually swims

Left: The pilot whale's teeth are used for grabbing, but not chew­ing, its prey.

Left: The pilot whale breathes through a sin­gle blowhole in the top of its head. After a dive it must come to the surface and take a few breaths be­fore it can dive again.

close to the surface, rising to

breathe through its blowhole.

But when hunting, it may dive

to 200 feet and stay submerged

for 1 0 minutes.

Schools of pilot whales hunt

together. To locate prey, they

use echolocation-sending sounds that bounce off nearby

fish and tell the whales where

the fish are and how fast they

are moving. If there is a short­

age of food, the schools may

migrate to other areas.

FIN WHALE

ORDER Cetacea

FAMILY Balaenopteridae

'" CARD 189

GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS &; SPECIES Balaenoptera physalus

The fin whale is probably the fastest of the great whales, reaching speeds of up to 2S miles an hour. With its long, streamlined

body, it is second in size only to the blue whale.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: Female, up to 85 ft. Male,

up to 82 ft. Weight: 44-56 tons.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: Male, 6 years.

Female, 7 years.

Mating season: December to

February. Female breeds every

other year.

Gestation: 12 months.

No. of young: 1 .

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Highly sociable.

Call : Low-pitched sounds.

Diet: Krill, sardines, pollack, squid,

capelin, anchovies, and copepods.

lifespan: 80-100 years.

RELATED SPECIES

The 4 other species in the genus

Balaenoptera are the blue whale, sei

whale, Bryde's whale, and minke

whale.

Range of the fin whale.

--~============~

DISTRIBUTION

The fin whale is found in all the oceans of the world, but it

avoids the ice packs.

CONSERVATION

After taking the blue whale to the brink of extinction, whalers

turned their attention to the fin whale, reducing its numbers to

about 100,000. It is hoped that the population will increase

now that the fin whale is protected.

FEATURES OF THE FIN W HALE

Dorsal fin: Triangular, sloping backward. It is most visible when the whale humps its back before sounding (diving).

Head: Flat on top with tapering under­side. The left side of the lower jaw is dark, while the throat and right side are pale. This coloration may be a form of camouflage to help the whale approach prey unseen.

© MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

Flippers: Smooth and pointed. Small compared to body length.

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Like all baleen whales, the fin whale has pleated throat grooves that expand to increase the throat capacity when feeding .

0160200531 PACKET 53

Although its numbers have been severely depleted by

the whaling industry, the fin whale is found throughout

the world's oceans. It belongs to a family of whales known

collectively as rorquals. These whales are characterized

by small dorsal fins and pleated throat grooves

that they can expand when they are feeding.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The fin whale journeys to its

polar feeding grounds in early

spring. Depending on its loca­

tion, its prey ranges from krill

to large, fast-moving fish.

The fin whale is a baleen

whale: instead of teeth, it has

fibrous baleen plates in its

mouth to filter food. With its

~ BEHAVIOR The fin whale lives in pods, or

groups, of 6 to 14 whales. Each

pod contains juveniles and adult

males and females united by

strong family ties.

The members of a pod com­

municate with very loud low­

frequency sounds. Each sound

large mouth open and its

pleated throat expanded, it

gulps food and water. The

water is squeezed out through

the baleen plates, while the

food remains trapped inside.

Right: A fin whale feeds on the sur­face. Its baleen plates can be seen fringing its upper jaw.

lasts about a second, with sev­

eral sounds per minute. These

sounds seem to be strung to­

gether in a song pattern. This

sounding-off is most common

at feeding time.

Each year the fin whale mi­

grates thousands of miles from

winter breeding grounds near

the equator to food-rich polar

waters. While many whale spe­

cies always migrate in the same

direction from the equator, a fin

whale may move from one pod

to another and may travel to

the Arctic or the Antarctic.

~ BREEDING The fin whale mates during the

winter in warm tropical waters

after a sometimes playful court­

ship. The adult males in the pod

shield the females from imma­

ture males, who may form sepa­

rate bachelor pods or live alone,

visiting different pods.

A year after mating, the fe­

male gives birth underwater to

a single calf, which is born tail­

first. Another female is often

present to help the calf surface

to take its first breath.

The newborn is about 20 feet

Below left: A tall, spreading col­umn of spray above a very long, smooth back identifies the fin whale as it surfaces to breathe after a deep dive.

Below right: Near the tail flukes is the 24-inch dorsal fin that gives the fin whale its name. The fins of other rorqual whales are set at dif­ferent angles.

long and weighs almost four

tons. For its first six months, the

calf feeds from its mother, who

pumps milk into its mouth. The

rich, concentrated milk enables

the calf to develop so rapidly

that it doubles in length by the

time it is six months old.

After its population was dras­

tically reduced by hunting, the

fin whale's age of sexual matu­

rity dropped from ten years to

about six. This younger age

may be a natural adaptation to

increase the depleted species.

DID YOU KNOW? • The brain of an adult fin

whale weighs approximately

20 pounds.

• A fin whale's low-frequency 20Hz sounds can travel 500

miles or more underwater.

• A fin whale can travel about , 2,500 miles to and from its

breeding grounds each year.

• It is not known if migration

routes are learned from older

generations or if the sun and

moon are used as guides.

• A fin whale can dive down 820 feet and stay submerged

for about 25 minutes.

"" CARD 190 I SOUTH AFRICAN FUR SEAL ~" . \ " GROUP 1: MAMMALS '" ' . ) .... ORDER .... FAMILY .... GENUS & SPECIES ~ Pinnipedia ~ Otariidae ~ Arctocepha/us pusillus

The South African fur seal is the largest of all the fur seals. During the mating season in November and December, the huge males

engage in fierce battles for territory on the shore.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: Male, average 7 ft

Female, average 5 ft . Weight: Male, 400-500 lb.

Female, 125-150 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: Female, 3-4

years. Male, 4-5 years. Male un­

likely to breed before 9 years.

Mating: November to December.

Gestation: 7 months, but im­

plantation is delayed 5 months.

No. of young: 1 per year.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Social breeding, mainly

solitary feeding .

Diet: Small fish, plus octopuses,

squid, cuttlefish, and crustaceans.

Lifespan: Up to 20 years .

RELATED SPECIES

The Australian fur seal, Arctoceph­a/us pusillus doriferus, is found

around the Tasmanian coast and on

the islands and coast of Australia .

Range of the South African fur seal.

DISTRIBUTION

Found around the coast and islands of southern Africa from

southern Angola to South Africa.

CONSERVATION

The South African fur seal used to be threatened by hunting, but

today it is in no danger of extinction. In 1973 the South African

Sea Fisheries Institute became responsible for controlling hunting.

Pups between 7 and 10 months of age are still culled.

FEATURES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN FUR SEAL

Coat: Dense in both sexes with thick underwool for insulation. Changes yearly in January and February. Long. stiff white whiskers in both sexes.

Cow: Three times lighter than bull. Coat is brownish gray or brownish yellow. ...;;i.'itJ:.J~~

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

Bull: Thick layer of blubber pro­vides insulation and energy reserve

du ring breeding season. Coat is a coarse, blackish, streaked gray-brown.

Sometimes has short neck mane.

.Pup: Goes through three coat changes before achieving mature coloring:

black and woolly. to brown underfur with white tips, to Silver-gray.

0160200461 PACKET 46

Unlike the northern fur seal, the South African fur seal

does not migrate, but it is capable of traveling

long distances. Tagged pups have been found

nearly 1,000 miles from their birthplace at the

end of their first year, but these seals later return

to their place of birth in order to breed.

~HABITS A South African fur seal spends much of its time in deep water within a few hours of its breed­ing grounds. Although it can travel great distances, it never goes much more than 100 miles from land.

The fur seal does not swim deeply underwater as it must come to the surface to breathe. It uses its front flippers to swim, unlike true seals, which propel

themselves by moving their hindquarters from side to side.

The fur seal may ride a large wave from sea to land. On land it is surprisingly agile, propel­ling itself on both its front and rear flippers. It can move faster over rocks than a human can and is a good climber. The fur seal can drop from a height without injuring itself by using its chest to break the fall.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The bull (male) hardly eats in the breeding season as he is busy protecting his territory. But for 22 to 34 weeks of the rest of the year, he is away on feeding trips that are each two to three weeks long. The cow (female) spends less time away feeding . Once her pups can be left alone, she feeds at sea for one or two weeks a month.

Left: Unlike a true seal, the fur seal has ears, remnants of its ancestry as a land mammal.

DID YOU KNOW? • The South African fur seal was first sighted in 1483 off the coast of Angola by the crew of a Spanish ship. • Fur seals can dive to 400 feet, although they mainly hunt near the surface.

Usually the South African fur seal feeds alone, but a group may feed together on large schools of fish. Half the seal's diet is fish. It also eats octo­puses, squid, cuttlefish, rock lobsters, and crustaceans. It swallows small fish whole but brings larger fish to the surface and tears them into pieces.

After feeding during the day, the seal returns to its rookery (breeding ground) to sleep, unless it is too far away.

• Young fur seals eat stones and grit to stave off their hun­ger while the cows are at sea. ,. Rival males try to push each other over with their chests, and these contests can result in serious wounds.

Left: The male fur seal mates with all the females in his territory. But the fetuses do not begin to develop inside the females for five months after mating has occurred.

In mid-October the bull comes ashore and establishes his terri­tory. Latecomers may have to fight for a vacant area. The male arrives with an energy reserve of blubber (fat under the skin), and he rarely feeds in the next six weeks. He is too busy defending his territory and mating with the cows that occupy it.

The pups are born in late November or early December. Each measures about two feet long and may weigh up to 16 pounds. The cow stays with her pup during its first week, then goes to sea to feed for a day or two. Gradually she lengthens the periods she is away, and

Left: The female fur seal is much smaller and lighter than the more dominant male.

Above: The fur seal is surpris­ingly agile on land.

Left: Male fur seals fight fiercely for ter­ritory during the breeding season.

after a couple of months she may stay at sea for up to two weeks. But a fur seal pup has more maternal care than a true seal pup, which is tended for only about three weeks.

Pups play together when their mothers go to sea, becoming adept in the water. At three to four months the pup starts to find its own food. Soon it is tak­ing small fish and crustaceans nearby, and by six to seven months it spends two or three days at sea. Yet the fur seal con­tinues to suckle for about a year.

The cow mates with the bull a few days after giving birth, but her pup is not born for a year. The fetus does not begin to de­velop for five 'months, then ges­tation takes seven months.