'" CARD 331 I TREE KANGAROO ,, ________________________________ G_R_O_U_P_l_:_M_A_M_M __ A_lS __ ~ ... ORDER ... FAMILY ... GENUS ~ Marsupia/ia ~ Macropodidae ~ Oendro/agus

Tree kangaroos live high in the tree canopy, where they feed on the abundant supplies of fruit and foliage. These animals have remarkably long tails, which help them balance in the trees.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: Body, 1 ~-2~ ft. Tail,

1 ~-3 ft . Weight: 9-31 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: Probably 18

months.

Mating: Year-round.

Gestation: Probably 1 month.

No. of young: 1.

Time in pouch: 13 months.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Night-active. Lives alone or

in groups of up to 4.

Diet: Leaves and fruit.

Call : Loud alarm growl.

RELATED SPECIES

The 6 species of tree kangaroo in

the genus Oendro/agus include the

black tree kangaroo, Lumholtz's

tree kangaroo, and the rare Mat­

schie's tree kangaroo.

Range of tree kangaroos.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in highland and adjacent lowland forest in New Guinea

and in rainforest in Cape York Peninsula, northeast Australia.

CONSERVATION

Several species have declined in number recently because of

forest clearance. In New Guinea, Goodfellow's tree kangaroo

and Doria's tree kangaroo are threatened by hunting.

FEATURES OF TREE KANGAROOS

Fur: Mottled blackish brown; cream­colored underparts. Fur parts on the back or on the neck, and hairs above the part grow forward.

TWO OF THE SIX SPECIES

Bennett's tree kangaroo: Predominantly light brown with dark brown feet and

0160200991 PACKET 99

There are six species of tree kangaroo. Fossil evidence

suggests that the ancestors of these animals developed in

Australia. Toda}/t howeve" four of the species live in New

Guinea. All tree kangaroos are specially adapted for life in

the trees. They are strikingly different in build from their

cousins, the ground-dwelling kangaroos and wallabies.

~ HABITS The six species of tree kangaroo

inhabit tropical forests in New

Guinea and northeastern Aus­

tralia. They are difficult to study

since they often live in moun­

tainous terrain-in New Guinea,

at heights of up to 10,000 feet.

A tree kangaroo rests or sleeps

in the day, crouched high on a

branch. At night it feeds alone

or in a group of up to four ani­

mals. To suit this tree-dwelling

lifestyle, its body is very different

from the bodies of other kanga­

roos. The structure of a tree kan­

garoo's hip allows the animal to

move its hind legs independent­

ly of each other-something

no other kangaroo can do. As a

result, a tree kangaroo prefers to

walk instead of hopping like its

ground-dwelling relatives.

When this kangaroo climbs a

tree, it grips the trunk with its

forefeet and pushes itself up us­

ing alternate strides of its hind

legs. When descending, it backs

down, moving its forelegs alter­

nately while its hind feet slide

against the bark. This agile ani­

mal moves rapidly among the

trees, leaping up to 30 feet be­

tween branches.

Right: A tree kangaroo spends a great deal more time in the pouch than its ground-dwelling relatives.

~ FOOD & FEEDING Tree kangaroos feed both in the

trees and on the ground. They

eat some fruit but feed primari­

lyon leaves. Since leaves are not

highly nutritious, a tree kanga­

roo must consume a great num­

ber. Its stomach can hold and

Left: Goodfellow's tree kangaroo is one of the most brightly colored of all marsupials.

DID YOU KNOW? • In Australia tree kangaroos

are also known by the Aborig­

inal name boongarry.

• A tree kangaroo can jump

to the ground from a height

of more than 60 feet.

digest large quantities at a time.

A tree kangaroo bites off fo­

liage by pulling a small branch

toward its mouth. This very dex­

terous animal can also bend its

forepaw at the wrist and grasp

stems between its fingers .

Right: A tree kangaroo employs its long tail as a balancing pole while climbing in the trees.

• Tree kangaroos are hunted for their flesh in New Guinea.

Hunters climb trees and catch

the kangaroos by their tails or

scare them to the ground­

where dogs are waiting.

Left: Lumholtz's tree kangaroo is a common animal in Aus­tralia's coastal rainforests. It feeds at night on leaves and fruit.

Food is plentiful all year in the

tropical forests, so tree kanga­

roos do not have a set breeding

season. Courtship and mating

may occur at any time.

In Lumholtz's tree kangaroo, a

male courts a female by making

a quiet clucking sound and gen­

tly pawing at her head. When

she turns away, he follows and

paws her tail. The animals mate

soon afterward.

Rival males may fight savagely

-wrestling, biting, and striking

out with their forepaws. Often

one male attacks another from

behind without warning.

The female gives birth to a sin­

gle joey (young), which crawls

into her pouch and attaches it­

self to one of her teats. Once

weaned, the joey continues to

develop in the pouch for up to

13 months.

Left: The rare Matschie's tree kan­garoo of New Guinea is a particu­larly good climber.

CRABEATER SEAL

ORDER Carnivora

FAMILY Phocidae

GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Lobodon carcinophagus

The crabeater seal is perfectly at home in the gloomy waters beneath the Antarctic pack ice-a world so forbidding and remote

that scientists knew little about the seal ~ habits until recently.

~ KEY FACTS

I i"~ 1 SIZES ~ Length: 6~-8 ft. Female slightly

larger than male.

Weight: 440-660 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 2-6 years.

Breeding season: From Septem­

ber to November (early summer

in the Antarctic).

Gestation: 11 months, including

delayed implantation of 6 months.

No. of young: 1.

Weaning: 4 weeks.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Lives alone or in groups of

3. Rarely comes ashore.

Diet: Mainly krill. Also other crus­

taceans, squid, and fish.

Lifespan: Oldest known, at least

33 years.

RELATED SPECIES

One of the crabeater seal's closest

relatives is the Weddell seal, Lep­

tonychotes weddelli.

Range of the crabeater seal.

DISTRIBUTION

The crabeater seal lives in Antarctic waters, generally south of

the Antarctic Convergence. It occasionally appears as far north

as South Africa.

CONSERVATION

The crabeater seal is easily the most abundant of all the seal

species. Although some controlled hunting takes place, the

species is probably increasing in number.

FEATURES OF THE CRABEATER SEAL

Body: Slender, reaching up to 8 feet in length .. Weight of up to 660 pounds.

Head: Relatively long compared with other seal species. As a "true" seal , this species lacks ex­ternal earflaps.

Foreflippers: Have 5 digits. Cannot support the body weight, making the seal clumsy on land .

Coat: Silvery gray-brown with blotches. Changes to creamy white as the seal ages.

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THE SEAL'S TEETH Each tooth in the lower jaw has 5 points, which interlock with the corresponding upper tooth . Water is strained out th rough narrow gaps between the teeth , wh ile kril l is trapped behind.

0160200951 PACKET 95

The crabeater seal inhabits its icy environment in huge

numbers. With an estimated population of 75 to 40 million,

the crabeater seal is probably more numerous than all the

other seal species put together. One reason for its thriving

population may be its diet. Rather than feeding on crabs,

as its name suggests, this mammal eats mainly krill-tiny,

shrimplike animals that are abundant in Antarctic waters.

~ HABITAT The crabeater seal may appear

near the southern tip of South

America, southern Australia,

and New Zealand. But it lives

primarily in Antarctic waters,

around the floating pack ice

that rings the continent. It may

climb onto the ice to rest and

breed but rarely goes ashore.

The seal is most common in

the waters west of the Antarctic

Peninsula. Large numbers mi­

grate to the Ross Sea in sum­

mer as the ice retreats. It swims

alone or in a trio made up of an

adult male, female, and pup.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The name crabeater seal is mis-

leading, since this animal feeds

mainly on krill, which provide

94 percent of its diet. It also eats

other crustaceans, squid, and

small fish.

Although other animals, such

as baleen whales, feed on large

quantities of krill, the crabeater

seal population consumes the

greatest amount-at least 66

million tons a year.

Like baleen whales, the crab­

eater seal employs a straining

method to eat its prey. Feeding

Left: The crabeater seal's unique interlocking teeth let it filter food from icy waters.

DID YOU KNOW? • The crabeater seal is called the white seal because its fur

becomes very pale as it ages.

• One crabeater seal was re­corded "sprinting" across ice

at 15 miles per hour.

• On a few occasions crabeat­er seals have appeared as far

north as South Africa. These

seals are usually young pups

mainly at night, it swims into

a school of krill with its mouth

open and sucks in its victims.

After it engulfs the krill, it closes

its teeth and forces the water

out through its jaws using its

tongue. Its five-pointed lower

teeth interlock with the upper

teeth, allowing the water to be

strained out through narrow

gaps between the teeth while

the krill are trapped behind.

The seal probably repeats this

filtering action until it has a

mouthful of krill to swallow.

Right: For the most part, the crab­eater seal has escaped commercial exploitation by humans.

that are caught up in ocean

currents around the limits of

their range.

• The crabeater seal at times makes unexplained trips far

inland. In 1966, a helicopter

crew found a live pup on an

Antarctic glacier 70 miles from

open water and 3,000 feet

above sea level.

~ BREEDING The crabeater seal mates on the

pack ice between September

and November. The fertilized

egg stays alive but inactive in­

side the female for about six

months, then implants itself in

the wall of her womb and be­

gins to develop. This delays the

pup's birth until at least the fol­

lowing September, early in the

Antarctic summer.

The pup weighs only about

45 pounds at birth but grows

Left: When providing milk for her pup, the mother may lose up to half her body weight.

Left: The crab­eater seal usu­ally lives at the edges of Ant­arctica's pack ice. It may also be found un­derneath the pack ice, as long as it can find breathing holes.

to over 240 pounds after suck­

ling for a month. A male often

accompanies the female while

she suckles her pup. Instead of

being the pup's father, he is l:Jsu­

ally another male that is waiting

to breed with the female. He

lingers nearby, protecting the

pup from any leopard seals and fighting off rival males. If he gets

too near the female, however,

she is likely to snap at him, leav­ing bite scars on his head and

neck. He must generally wait for

the pup to be weaned before he can mate with its mother.

DESERT HEDGEHOG

.. ORDER ~ Insectivora

FAMILY Erinaceidae

~RD ffi]

GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Paraechinus aethiopicus

The desert hedgehog survives even in the harsh terrain of the Sahara, eating whatever it can catch. An expert hunter of insects,

it can also kill and eat venomous snakes and scorpions.

____ ~ __ K_EY_ FAC-T-S--------------------------------~ [I] SIZES

Length: Head and body, 6-9 in.

Tail, ~-1 ~ in .

Weight: 1-1 ~ lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 9-11 months.

Mating season: July to September.

Gestation: 5-6 weeks.

No. of young: 2-10.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Solitary; night-active.

Diet: Very varied, but prefers ani­

mal matter.

Lifespan: Up to 10 years on record

in captivity.

RELATED SPECIES

The genus Paraechinus includes the

Indian hedgehog, P. micropus, and

Brandt's hedgehog, P. hypomelas, which lives in the Arabian Peninsu­

la and Asia Minor.

Range of the desert hedgehog.

DISTRIBUTION

Occurs across Africa in two distinct bands on the northern and

southern fringes of the Sahara Desert. Also found in scattered

locations throughout the Arabian Peninsula and in Iraq.

l CONSERVATION

The desert hedgehog is widespread and does not face any seri­

ous threats. It is well protected against natural predators and is

not heavily hunted by humans.

FEATURES OF THE DESERT HEDGEHOG

Defensive posture: like the European hedgehog, the desert species curls up into a ball and raises its spines to de­ter potential predators.

Fur coloration: Brown and white stomach; dark brown sn0ut and tatl. The white fur framing the face has a distinct parting on the forehead .

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Spines: Up to 1 inch long. Mousy gray­brown with white tips. Several

thousand extend from the crown to the rump and

down to the flanks.

Claws: Long and sharp. Useful for burrowing in loose sand or soil.

The hedgehog cannot use its claws to groom its spiny back, however, and is often riddled with hundreds

of tiny pests and parasites.

0160200921 PACKET 92

With the exception of its large ears and pale, furry face,

the desert hedgehog closely resembles the European species

of hedgehog. Like the familiar visitor to European gardens,

the desert hedgehog sniffs out prey at night, under the cover

of darkness. At the first hint of trouble, this animal assumes

a defensive posture, quickly curling up into a prickly ball.

~ HAB ITAT The desert hedgehog is found on the northern and southern fringes of Africa's Sahara Desert and in the arid lowlands of the Middle East. Because its kidneys are adapted to cope with a low water intake, this animal can live in regions with annual rainfalls of less than an inch. It does not like to get wet and avoids the cold, rainy climate of highlands like the Ethiopian mountains.

The desert hedgehog roams over a very limited home range. Where possible, it burrows 16 to 20 inches into the sand or soil to escape the sun's heat. On hard ground, it holes up in cracks be­tween boulders and makes do without a nest lining.

~ CHARACTERISTICS The desert hedgehog hunts at night, walking squarely on the soles of its feet. It uses its keen sense of smell to test its environ­ment and to identify its mate and enemies. Like many night­active animals, it has good eye­sight. It also has good hearing. Its earlobes are broad, perhaps to help it lose heat.

On its back the animal has an even coat of spines with alter-

Left: The desert hedgehog uses all of its senses to hunt for insects and snakes at night.

DID YOU KNOW? • The desert hedgehog may descend from Zalambdales­test a small insectivore whose fossil remains were found in 80-million-year-old rocks. • A hedgehog's spines bend

l without cracking because they are made of flexible tubes.

nate dark and light bands. Like all hedgehogs, it has a set of dor­sal (back) skin muscles under its spines that let it roll into a tight ball. When contracted, these muscles fit like a snug cap over the animal's body and head.

The desert hedgehog favors temperatures from 104°F to 108° F. It hibernates if its burrow cools to below 68° F and is le­thargic in excessive heat.

Right: The desert hedgehog is inde­pendent after six weeks, and it can breed within a year.

• The desert hedgehog was featured on a Tunisian post­age stamp in a series on na­tive fauna printed in 1968. • The Cape hedgehog, an en­dangered relative of the des­ert hedgehog, is sometimes kept as a pet.

~ FOOD & HUNTING The desert hedgehog eats most­ly insects but will feed on almost anything else, even dead flesh.

The hedgehog likes scorpions, but it must first bite the stinger from the tail. It also eats snakes. To catch one, the hedgehog ap­proaches it slowly, then makes a

~ BREEDING The desert hedgehog produces a litter of 2 to 10 young every year. Courtship can last several days, after which the pair stays in the female's shelter until she gives birth . She then chases the male away.

The newborn weighs no more than an ounce but looks chub­by because its skin has a high water content. The skin shrinks within 24 hours, leaving the off­spring wrinkled and much thin­ner. After licking her young, the mother places them on her belly to suckle. She is protective of her offspring and rushes at aggres-

Left: The fur on its belly keeps the hedgehog warm at night and also protects it from the hot sand.

dash, with its head spines erect. It bites the victim's body to sev­er the spinal cord. Because its spines are usually longer than the snake's fangs, the hedgehog is rarely hurt. It eats the snake without being poisoned, so it may be immune to the venom.

sors with her head spines erect. A newborn has closed eyes

and ears for two or three weeks. It has a gray, hairless back and a pink belly. Its spines are covered by a layer of skin to protect the mother during birth. But rows of white spines about a quarter­inch long poke through this lay­er right after birth . The spines and hair are fully grown by the youngster's third week. It can­not roll up until it is two weeks old, but its back muscles are vis­ible a few days after birth.

At a week old, the young start to butt one another with erect head spines to compete for milk. After six weeks they are weaned and go out on their own.

VERREAUX'S SIFAKA

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

ORDER Primates

FAMILY Indriidae

~ARD334 1

GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS &: SPECIES Propithecus verreauxi

Verreaux's sifaka is also known as the leaping lemur for good reason. In its forest home on the tropical island of Madagascar,

this agile mammal can jump up to 30 feet between trees.

KEYFACT~S ____________________________ ~

SIZES

Length: 15-22 in.

Tail length: 18-24 in.

Weight: 8-13 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 2-3 years.

Breeding season: From late Janu­

ary to March.

Gestation: About 5 months.

No. of young: 1.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Day-active tree dweller.

Sociable, living in groups of 4 or

more members.

Diet: Leaves, fruit, flowers, bark.

Call: Soft "coo" as a contact call .

Rattling and grunting alarm calls.

RELATED SPECIES

There are 3 other species in the

family Indriidae: the woolly lemur,

the diademed sifaka, and the indri.

There are 4 subspecies.

Range of Verreaux's sifaka.

DI STRI BUTION

Verreaux's sifaka is confined to forest reserves in the western re­

gions of Madagascar.

CONSERVATION

Classed as vulnerable, Verreaux's sifaka has been reduced to iso­

lated populations as human settlements have encroached upon

Madagascar's forests. The species occasionally breeds success­

fully in captivity.

FEATURES OF VERREAUX'S SIFAKA

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Coat: Thick and silky. Naked black face, palms, and soles. Mostly white or yel­lowish white , often with black or maroon patches on arms, legs. and head.

Hands and feet: Narrow and long. Pads on palms and soles. Second toe has a grooming claw.

0160200941 PACKET 94

Verreaux's sifaka is extremely well adapted to life above

the ground, where it moves with ease among the trees.

This monkey spends very little time on the forest floor,

where it feels awkward and uncomfortable. When it does

find itself at ground level, Verreaux's sifaka bounces along

with clumsy, almost clownish-looking movements, holding

its arms up as if to grab hold of an invisible branch.

~ HABITS Verreaux's sifaka inhabits Mada-

gascar's rainforests as well as its

dry woodlands. The animals live

in groups of up to 13 members

led by a dominant male. Each

group's territory is usually from

50,000 to 250,000 square feet

but can be up to four times that

size. To mark their territory, all

the group members urinate on

tree branches and trunks. The

males also use throat glands to

rub their scent on branches.

The group moves to a differ­

ent patch of its territory every

few days. If two troops' home

ranges overlap, a group may

not defend its entire territory.

When two groups meet, vocal

threats and chases may occur,

but serious clashes are rare.

Verreaux's sifaka is active by

day. At sunrise it separates itself

from the troop to sun for a few

hours on a branch. It may take

time out from sunbathing to

groom its fur or that of anoth­

er group member. It licks and

combs the fur with its lower in­

cisors. To comb its tail, it holds

the tail in its hands. At midday

it retreats to the shade.

Extremely agile, Verreaux's

sifaka launches itself from one

tree and falls through the air to

land with precision in the next.

In this way it can cross clearings

without touching the ground.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING Verreaux's sifaka feeds primarily

on leaves, buds, and fruit, but it

also eats some flowers and bark.

It spends about a third of its day

foraging in the trees.

Group members feed togeth­

er, but they spread out to find

the best spots. The oldest mem­

ber has priority over the others

and may force its way to a fruit­

laden tree.

Although it usually feeds in

the forest canopy, Verreaux's

Left: Verreaux's sifaka sunbathes with its limbs outstretched in a tree.

DID YOU KNOW? • Verreaux's sifakas rub noses

as a greeting.

• Madagascar's unique wild­

life is threatened by human

encroachment on the area's

rainforests. Its 15 protected

reserves cover only one per­

cent of the island. Verreaux's

sifaka is still trapped and shot

for food by local people.

sifaka may visit the ground to

eat fallen fruit. It does not need

water sources because its diet

of fruit and foliage has a high

moisture content.

Verreaux's sifaka stays alert for

predators while feeding. It gives

a loud alarm call that warns its

companions of danger.

Right: To move swiftly through the trees, the sifaka grips the branches with its hands.

Below: Verreaux's sifaka uses the grooming claw on its second toe to scratch itself.

BREEDING Verreaux's sifaka mates at any

time from late January to early

March. Each female is receptive

for only two days. As a result, ri­

valry between males can be ex­

tremely intense, especially since

the female only mates with the

most dominant fighter. Some

males may change groups be­

fore the breeding season to gain

a better chance of mating. But

they may be greeted by aggres­

sive warning grunts from the

resident dominant male.

The female gives birth to one

offspring in summer. The young

Left: Verreaux 's sifaka has trouble walking on all fours and bounds along awkwardly.

has hairless black skin and clings

tightly to its mother's belly. Af­

ter about two weeks, the moth­

er may let other members of the

group touch her offspring, per­

haps permitting them to groom

or clean it. At about one month

old, the youngster climbs onto

its mother's back to ride around

in the branches. The female con­

tinues'to carry her offspring with

her for about six more months.

The young suckles for its first

five months but begins to take

solid food at three months old .

By seven months old, it is inde­

pendent and can leap around

the forest canopy with other

group members.

BLUE MONKEY ,,---------------------------------------------~ ~

ORDER Primates

FAMILY Cercopithecidae

GENUS &: SPECIES Cercopithecus mitis

The blue monkey gets its name from the bluish tinge of its primarily gray fur. This inquisitive monkey grimaces and shakes its whiskered head when its interest is aroused.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Head and body length: Male, 2

ft. Female, 1 ~ ft. Tail length: 2~ ft. Weight: Male, 18-22 lb. Female,

9-11 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 5-6 years.

Mating season: Varies, depending

on location.

Gestation: 5-6 months.

No. of young: 1.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Females live in troops with

1 male. Other males are solitary.

Diet: Mainly fruit, but also plant

matter, insects, birds, lizards, and

small mammals.

Lifespan: 20-30 years in captivity.

RELATED SPECIES

There are about 15 species in the

genus Cercopithecus, with a num­

ber of subspecies.

Range of the blue monkey.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in forested areas from Zaire, the Central African Repub­

lic, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, and the southern Sudan

south to eastern Cape Province in South Africa, with isolated

populations in western Angola.

CONSERVATION

The blue monkey is at risk because all of its forest habitats are

threatened with destruction to some extent.

FEATURES OF THE BLUE MONKEY

Tail : Long. Helps the blue monkey balance in the trees. Usually held in an arched position.

Coat: Soft and thick. Dark brown to bluish black on legs and shoulders; grizzled gray-brown on the back and sides.

Head: Rounded , with short snout. Forward-pointing hair on eyebrows. White ear tufts.

Legs: Hind legs are longer than forelegs. The blue monkey can run nimbly along branches.

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The blue monkey is a shy tree dweller that usually lives

in a troop. It is one of the largest guenons-a group of

primates that are the most common monkeys in Africa.

All guenon species are known for the beauty of their

soft, dense fur, and the blue monkey is no exception.

~HABITS The blue monkey inhabits for­

ests in mountains and on river­

banks. It spends most of its time

in the highest branches and is

most active in the morning and

evening. In the hot afternoon it

rests in the trees' shade.

Female blue monkeys live to­

gether in a group that consists

of 10 to 30 females and a single

mature male. The females are

often related, since they usually

stay with their mothers for life.

The male may remain with the

troop for a few weeks or stay

unchallenged for several years.

Troop members often engage

in social grooming at midday.

This is the main form of contact

between individuals. At night

the troop retires to a favorite

sleeping area high in the trees,

where the animals sleep sup­

ported against branches.

A blue monkey group occu­

pies a territory, which it defends

against neighboring troops. But

small groups sometimes mingle

during the day.

Right: The blue monkey finds wel­come shade from the sun in the for­est's thick foliage.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The blue monkey feeds mostly

on fruit. But it also eats seeds,

flowers, buds, leaves, and bark,

as well as insects, lizards, birds,

and small mammals. In fact, it

has been said that guenons will

eat anything that is digestible

and not poisonous.

The blue monkey swings easi­

ly through the branches while

Left: In some areas the blue mon­key has a white collar that stands out against its dark fur.

DID YOU KNOW? • The blue monkey can swing

through the trees of the forest

canopy faster than a human

can move on the ground.

• When it is excited or angry,

foraging. It may use one or both

hands to gather food. Its tail en­

ables it to balance on a branch

as it plucks and eats fruit.

Blue monkeys sometimes raid

crops and strip the bark from

young trees in plantations. For

this reason, the animals are fre­

quently regarded as pests by

farmers and foresters.

Right: The agile blue monkey can easily feed on leaves and fruit high in the trees.

a guenon rolls back its lips in

order to reveal its teeth. This

grimace is the origin of the

name guenon, a French word

meaning "fright."

~ BREEDING In wet tropical forests, the blue

monkey mates in the dry sea­

son, whereas at high altitudes it

usually does so in fall. In other

areas the monkey may breed at

any time of year. Courtship is a

simple affair, since mating males

and females are already familiar.

If a troop has more than one re­

ceptive female, a visiting male

may join the group temporarily

to mate with her. Each female

breeds only every other year.

The female usually gives birth

to one young at night, in the

tree where she sleeps. The new-

Left: When it leaves the for­est canopy for open ground, the blue mon­key must be on guard for leop­ards as well as eagles.

born clings to its mother's belly,

keeping hold of her nipple while

she supports it with one arm. At

this stage its long tail is prehen­sile (able to grip) and helps to

secure it in the trees.

The young blue monkey soon

moves onto its mother's back,

and she carries it through the

trees. As it gets older, it leaves

her for short periods, learning

how to feed and interact in the

troop. Young males leave the

group when sexually mature.

They either live alone or join a

group of females.

NUTRIA

ORDER Rodentia

FAMILY Myocostoridae

GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Myocostor coypus

The nutria is a large, muskratlike rodent ideally suited to life in the water. It has webbed feet for swimming and dense

water-repellent fur that keeps it warm and dry.

~~EYFA~C~T~S~ ________________________ _

I ~~I SIZES <S7 Head and body length: 1 ~-2 ft .

Male larger than female.

Tail length: 9-17 in.

Weight: 11-22 lb.

BREEDING

Mating season: Usually Septem­

ber to October.

Gestation: 4-4~ months.

No. of young: 7-10.

Weaning period: 7-8 weeks.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Social, living in pairs or in

colonies. Active at dawn and dusk.

Diet: Mainly aquatic vegetation;

also some mollusks.

Call: Low moan.

Lifespan: Probably 5 years or less

in the wild.

RELATED SPECIES

The closest relatives of the nutria

are the many species of hutia, some

now extinct, of the Caribbean.

FEATURES OF THE NUTRIA

Nose and eyes: Set high on the head, enabling the nutria to see and breathe while almost fully submerged .

Range of the nutria.

DISTRIBUTION

Native to southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Argenti­

na, and Chile. Feral populations exist in North America, north­

ern Asia, East Africa, and parts of Europe.

CONSERVATION

The government of Argentina outlawed the hunting of nutrias

in 1931. The farmed population of nutrias is large, but the wild

animal is scarce in its natural habitat.

Coat: Long , coarse guard hairs conceal the soft, velvety fur beneath, preventing the nutria from

becoming waterlogged. The dark gray-brown underfur and fawn-colored guard hairs give

~.fJ.~~~fill!~~ the coat a grizzled appearance. The chin and A> tip of the muzzle are white.

Incisors: Orange color. Large and constantly growing. Used to gnaw tough plants.

© MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

Hind feet: Webbed for swimming.

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Tail : Long and tapering. Scaly

and almost hai rl ess.

0160200961 PACKET 96

Hunted for centuries, nutrias are now raised on farms

in many parts of the world for their soft/ velvety fur.

These captives, and the feral populations that they

have given rise tOt far outnumber the wild nutrias,

which once thronged the swamps of South America.

~ HABITS The nutria lives in swamps and

irrigation ditches, on riverbanks

and lake shores, and near tidal

waters. It can tolerate cold and

thrives wherever natural preda­

tors are scarce. In agricultural

areas, it is often a pest.

Nutrias generally live in pairs

but sometimes form colonies.

Although the animal may build

a large, floating nest from water

plants, it usually takes shelter in

an abandoned burrow or one it

has dug itself. The burrow nor­

mally has one tunnel leading to

a chamber but is extended in

crowded conditions, especially

in the breeding season.

To remove dirt and parasites

from its dense fur, the nutria sits

up on its haunches. It transfers

oil from two fat glands near its

mouth to its forepaws and then

grooms its coat, keeping its fur

lubricated and water-repellent.

Clumsy and slow on land, the

nutria heads for water if it senses

danger. It swims well and can

dive for five minutes at a time.

Right: After young nutrias leave the nest, they follow their mother for several weeks.

DID YOU KNOW? • The nutria's generic name,

Myocastor, is a combination

of two Latin words meaning

"mouse" and "beaver."

• Feral nutrias often live in ex­

tremely cold conditions, kept

~ FOOD & FEEDING The nutria spends most of its

time in the water, gathering

food. Its diet consists most ly

of aquatic plants such as reeds.

However, it also eats mollusks

such as snails and mussels.

The nutria has an efficient di­

gestive system to cope with its

tough diet. Special bacteria in

its stomach break down the

fibrous tissues in plants. As a

result, the nutria can extract

nutrients from plant matter

that other animals may be

unable to exploit.

Left: When cornered, the shy nutria arches its back and bares its large orange incisors.

Right: Sitting upright, the nutria gnaws plants while holding them in its forepaws.

warm by their fur. But it is not

uncommon for their bare tails

to freeze off. This does not af­

fect their health, however.

• The nutria is also known as

the swamp beaver.

Nutrias have long been hunted

for their soft fur. In the 17th cen­

tury the Spanish began sending

skins to European furriers . Early

in the 20th century nutrias had

almost died out. But laws ban­

ning the killing of wild nutrias

forfurwereenacted in 1931.

Today, nutrias are farmed in

many parts of the world. Many

of these farm-bred animals have

escaped and created large feral

populations in North America,

Asia, Africa, and Europe.

~ BREEDING The nutria usually breeds in fall,

but the female may have more

than a single litter in a year. The

gestation period lasts up to four

and a half months. During that

time the female feeds heavily in

preparation for suckling her 7 to

10 offspring.

The young are born with fur

and open eyes. They suckle for

seven to eight weeks. The fe­

male carries them on her back

and later gives them swimming

lessons. They can feed from her

while in the water since her nip­

ples are high on her flanks.

COATI

ORDER Carnivora

FAMILY Pro cyon idae

GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Nasua nasua

The coati is a raccoonlike mammal found in Central and South America. It has an unusually large, trunklike nose,

which it uses to sniff for food in the undergrowth.

~ KEY FACT_S_. _~_ I ~I SIZES ~ Length: Body, 1 ~-2 ft. Tail, 1-2 ~ ft.

Height: 12 in . at the shoulder.

Weight: 7-13 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 2 years.

Mating season: Varies.

Gestation: About 2~ months.

No. of young: 2-7.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Day-active. Male is solitary;

females and young form highly

organized groups.

Diet: Invertebrates, reptiles, small

mammals, eggs, and fruit.

Lifespan: About 14 years.

RELATED SPECIES

The other 3 species of coati are the

white-nosed coati, Nasua narico;

Cozumellsland coati, N. nelsoni;

and mountain coati, N. olivacea.

FEATURES OF THE COATI

Coat: Mainly red-brown fur with darker lower limbs and snout. Paler buff-colored chest and undersides.

Tail: Very long and bushy, with defined rings.

':' MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

Range of the coati.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in South America, from northern Argentina, Paraguay,

and Brazil up through Colombia and Venezuela. Also occurs in

Central America, Mexico, and a small part of the United States.

CONSERVATION

Although the coati is hunted for meat in some parts of its range,

numbers appear to be stable. The animal is not thought to be

in any danger.

Head: Long and slender, with flexible snout. Unlike other species of coati , there Is no face

Claws: Sharp and curved for gripping branches.

PRINTED IN U.S.A

White-nosed coati: Black face mask with white tip of snout. Long tail.

Cozumellsland coati: Black­and-white face mask. Soft and silky brown fur.

Mountain coati: Smaller than the other coati species; longer snout and shorter tail .

0160200971 PACKET 97

The coati can cope with extremes of climate, from the

humid forests of Central America to the arid scrublands

of Mexico. Its hardy nature allows this animal to survive

even on the high, forested slopes of the Andes in South

America. The coati is able to adapt to such very different

habitats for two basic reasons-it has a varied diet, and

it lives in highly organized, close-knit family groups.

~ HABITS The coati lives in areas as diverse

as oak forests, tropical lowlands,

dry mountain forests, and grass­

lands. It climbs trees easily, grip­

ping with its paws and balancing

with its long tail. Its strong legs

also make it agile on the ground.

Adult males are mostly solitary.

But the females and young live

in family groups of 4 to 40. The

animals feed in the early morn­

ing and late afternoon and rest

in the heat of the day. While the

adults indulge in long periods of

grooming, the young chase one

another and hold mock fights.

At night the coati climbs into a

tree and curls up to sleep in the

fork of a branch or in a hollow.

The coati has a territory of less

than half a square mile. A male's

territory may overlap with the

home range held by a family of

females and young. When this

occurs, the animals usually tol­

erate one another. Sometimes

individual males cross over to

join their neighbors.

~ BREEDING In the breeding season, the male

coatis compete to join a group

of females. The dominant male

wins by being submissive to the

females, often grooming them.

He scent-marks and defends a

territory around the group. He

may inflict deep wounds on an

intruder with his sharp claws.

A pair often mates in a tree.

The females then drive the male

from their group, probably to

keep him from killing and eat­

ing the young.

The gestation period is about

two and a half months. Three or

Left: At night the coati climbs up into a tree. It sleeps curled up in a forked branch.

four weeks before it is over, the

female leaves the group to find

a quiet place to give birth. The

two to seven newborns weigh

only four to six ounces. Feeding

on the mother's milk, the young

grow quickly and soon attempt

to leave the nest.

When the mother rejoins the

group, immature or unmated

females help rear her offspring.

The father may be allowed back

into the group briefly to groom

his young. This enables him to

identify his offspring, reducing

the risk of his killing them later.

Right: The coati's thickly padded paws and strong claws make it an agile climber.

DID YOU KNOW? • The coati adapts well to dif­

ferent habitats and climates,

but it is still vulnerable to the

cold. At high elevations where

the temperature drops below

32° F, the tip of the coati's tail

may freeze off.

• When a coati is three or four

weeks old, it constantly tries to

leave the nest. But the mother

~ FOOD & FEEDING The coati feeds mainly on such

insects as beetles, ants, and ter­

mites. It also devours scorpions,

spiders, centipedes, and land

crabs. Occasionally it catches

frogs, lizards, and small mam­

mals, and it is quite fond of liz­

ard and turtle eggs. The coati

also eats fruit, scooping out the

flesh with its long claws.

Family groups feed together.

Each coati holds its tail erect

Left: The coati uses its long nose to sniff for food in the undergrowth.

keeps a watchful eye and re­

turns it by the scruff of its neck.

• The coati is often hunted for

its meat in South America. But

the quality of its fur is not con­

sidered good enough for use

in the fur trade.

• Local people believe that the

solitary male coatis are a sepa­

rate species.

and sniffs the leaf debris with

its long snout. It may also dig

at a rotten tree stump, looking

for signs of edible life. When it

flushes a mammal from hiding,

the coati chases it. It pins down

reptiles and mammals and kills

them with a bite on the back

of the neck. The coati grasps in­

sects in its thickly padded paws

and rolls them around until they

are dead. This activity removes

any sharp or poisonous spines

before the creature is eaten.

QUOLL

ORDER Morsupio/io

FAMILY Oosyuridoe

GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Oosyurus viverrinus

The quoll is a weasel-like marsupial that belongs to a group of animals called the native cats. Small populations are found

in parts of southeastern Australia and Tasmania.

'\:II KEY FACTS

I ~I SIZES -Si' Length: 14-18 in.

Tail length: 8-12 in.

Weight: Male, 2~ lb. Female,

1 ~ lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 1 year.

Mating season: May to July.

Gestation: 3 weeks .

No. of young: Up to 20. Only

about 6 survive.

Weaning period: 3-4 months.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Night-active.

Diet: Insects, small mammals, nest­

ing birds, reptiles, and carrion .

Lifespan: 3-6 years.

RELATED SPECIES

The closest relatives of the quoll

include the New Guinea marsupial

cat, Oosyurus olbopunctotus, and

the Western Australian native cat,

O. geoffroii.

FEATURES OF TH E QUOLL

Coloration: In the same litter, 2 distinct color phases may occur. The most com­mon coloration is brown­ish gray with creamy white spots. The less common coloration is black with wh ite spots.

Feet: 4 digits on hind feet , but th ird and fourth are almost fused togeth­er and look like 1 claw. 5 digits on forefeet.

,,;, MCMXCII IM P BV/IM P INC WILDLIFE FACT FILE'M

• Range of the quoll .

DISTRIBUTION

The quoll is most abundant in the forests and open scrublands

of Tasmania. But it is also found in small pockets throughout

southeastern Australia.

CONSERVATION

Although abundant in Tasmania, the quoll has suffered badly

on the Australian mainland. It is still persecuted by farmers,

who consider it a threat to pOUltry.

PRINTED IN USA.

Fur: Soft, thick, and fairly short.

-,oW' -.r

Tail: Lacks spots but is often tipped

with white.

016020097 1 PACKET 97

Unlike its cousins, which feed mainly on plant matter,

the quoll is a ferocious meat-eating predator. This small

marsupial employs a combination of speed and agility

to catch its prey. Then the quo" kills the victim by giving

it just a single deadly bite on the back of its neck.

~HABITS The quolilives in southeastern

Australia and on the island of

Tasmania. It is found in dry for­

ested areas, on open moors and

plains, and on farmland. This

inquisitive animal once thrived

in great numbers in the suburbs

of such cities as Melbourne and

Sydney. However, a mysterious

epidemic almost wiped it out at

the beginning of the 19th cen­

tury. Today the largest popula­

tions are found on the island of

Tasmania. The mainland popu­

lation is nearing extinction.

The nocturnal quoll is a good

Right: The nocturnal quoll emerges from its tree crevice to feed at dusk.

climber, but it prefers to spend

most of its time hunting on the

forest floor. Throughout the day

it sleeps either under a rock or

in a tree crevice lined with dry

leaves. It sleeps curled up in a

ball, with its ears folded down

to block out noise. Right: The quoll frequently stops feeding and sits up on its hind feet to groom itself.

~BREEDING The quoll breeds between May

and July. The female gives birth

to her underdeveloped embry­

onic offspring after only a three­

week gestation period. She may

produce as many as 20 young,

but only 6 can survive, because

that is the number of teats she

has inside her pouch.

The female has a shallow, rear­

facing pouch that has a flap of

skin as an entrance but can be

kept shut by a sphincter muscle.

It is visible only when young are

inside it. The newborns make

their way to this second womb,

Left: Although the quoll is an agile climber, its feet are not specially adapted for the task.

DID YOU KNOW? • The first settlers in Australia

used the collective term native

cat for the quoll as well as its

relatives because they thought

these animals resembled their

domestic cats.

where each one attaches itself to

a teat. This helps the offspring

stay in place as the mother goes

about her business.

At birth the young weigh only

one-half ounce, but they grow

quickly. Their eyes open when

they are seven to eight weeks old .

As soon as they leave the pouch,

the young are fairly active, but

they still return to feed from the

mother's teat. At this stage they

may be fed some meat as well .

They are fully independent at

four to five months old and sex­

ually mature at a year old.

• The family Oasyuridae con­

tains the smallest marsupials,

the insect-eating marsupial

mice, as well as the largest

carnivorous marsupial, the

now-extinct Tasmanian wolf.

~ FOOD &: HUNTING The quoll belongs to a group

of mammals known as the Aus­

tralian carnivorous marsupials.

Well known for its ferociousness,

the quoll eats anything that it

can overpower. It feeds primar­

ily on insects plus sma ll mam­

mals and birds, but it also eats

reptiles and fish.

The quoll hunts during the

Left: The new­borns are tinYt but they grow rapidlYt tripling in size within the first week. Only the mouth and paws are developed at birth.

night, employing many of-the

tactics cats use to track and kill

prey. It either lies in wait to am­

bush a victim or tracks it down.

It may at times leap from a low

branch onto an animal passing

below. After catching its prey,

the quoll kills it with a bite on

the back of the neck.

The quoll is often blamed for

attacks on poultry and is per­

secuted by farmers as a result.

Near human settlements, the

animal lives off the abundant

supply of scraps left by people.

Left: The quoll searches the under­growth for insects, which form part of its staple diet.

~D~ BUSHBUCK ~ ..

~O-R-D-ER----"'--F-A-M-IL-Y----"--G-EN-U-S-~_RS-~-~~E~ : MAMMALS '\.. \...~ "IIIIIIII Artiodactyla '11IIIIIIII Bovidae "IIIIIIII Tragelaphus scriptus

The bushbuck is an elegant-looking African antelope with spiral horns. Because it is not a skilled runner, it relies on defensive tactics and camouflage to cope with its numerous predators.

---~-\J [jJ

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Head and body length: Male, 4-5

ft. Female, 3 ~-4 ft.

Tail length: 8-10 in.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 1 year.

Breeding season: Dry season.

Gestation period: 6 months.

No. of young: 1.

LIFESTYLE

• Range of the bush buck.

DISTRIBUTION

Habit: Mainly solitary, in a small

territory. Female often lives with

one or more young. Active in the

early morning and late afternoon.

Diet: Grass, herbs, leaves, fruit,

and bark.

Lifespan: 12 years. Found in Africa south of the Sahara from Ethiopia to Cape

Province, southwest Africa, southwest Angola, and Zambia. RELATED SPECIES

CONSERVATION The genus Tragelaphus includes 6

other African antelope: the nyala,

mountain nyala, sitatunga, greater

kudu, lesser kudu, and bongo.

The bush buck is common and widespread in Africa. It is not

considered a good game animal because of its lack of speed.

FEATURES OF THE BUSH BUCK

Coat: Short, with longer patches on the breast and neck. The adult male has a crest of hair running the length of his spine, which he can erect dur­ing displays. Color and markings vary greatly between individuals and ac­cording to location .

Horns: About 12 inches maxi­mum length, with a ridge , or keel. Twisted to complete half a spiral.

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

TWO BUSH BUCK SUBSPECIES

Southern bushbuck: Chestnut or blackish brown coat with white spots. Paler head .

Western bushbuck: Bright chestnut coat with stripes and spots. Pale buff head .

0160200951 PACKET 95

The bush buck probably has a greater variety of markings

and coat colors than any other large African mammal. This

antelope is well camouflaged in its many different habitats,

having evolved whatever markings blend in best with its

background. For example, forest-dwelling bushbucks are

dark and heavily marked, while bush bucks that live in

dry, open country are pale, with faint stripes and bands.

~ HABITS The bush buck is able to survive in hilly country, swampy low­lands, scrubland, or any other habitat providing good cover and some water. It is not as fast as other antelope, but it protects itself by stealth. When it senses a predator such as a leopard, lion, or cheetah, the bush buck may fall to the ground to hide from its enemy. Or it may make short, bounding runs and then freeze. Its markings blend with its sur­roundings the instant it stops.

The bush buck feeds during the early morning and late after­noon . It may continue into the evening, especially if there is a clear sky and the moon is out. Although the female may have several generations of young

with her, the bush buck is main­ly solitary. Both the male and fe­male have small territories, and these may overlap with other bush bucks' home ranges.

The animals cross territories without fighting, and mature males avoid each other, espe­cially in the breeding season. A strict hierarchy based on age is observed by bushbucks living in one area, so conflicts are usually avoided. If the hierarchy is upset, competing males stage ritual­ized displays. They lock horns and leap into the air but gener­ally avoid real fighting. However, clashes sometimes occur, and a bush buck can seriously injure an opponent by stabbing him in the neck with a horn .

~ FOOD & FEEDING The bush buck is a selective eat­er, feeding primarily on grasses, herbs, and shrubs, especially the nutritious new growth . It also nibbles on low branches and is fond of the seed pods of acacia trees, as well as fallen fruit. The animal needs only a little water because it gets moisture from plants and the morning dew. It

Left: The southern bushbuck 's col­oring blends with the arid terrain of its habitat.

DID YOU KNOW? • Not only is the bush buck a good swimmer, but it can al­so leap over obstacles that are more than six feet high. • Although the bush buck has a poor sense of smell, it has ex­cellent sight. When it spots a predator, it gives a hoarse bark to warn other bush bucks. • The bush buck is extremely

obtains additional minerals by licking rocks and eating soil.

When foraging, the bush buck moves stealthily, staying alert for predators while frequently stop­ping to browse. It often stands under a tree in which a baboon or a green monkey is feeding and waits for the other animal to dislodge fruit.

Right: The bushbuck is a fussy eat­er, nibbling grasses and picking at low-growing shrubs.

susceptible to rinderpest-a disease that is carried by ticks and other parasites. Although it is unable to keep itself free of these tiny parasites, it tries to remove them by rubbing its rump and its back with its horns. It also tries to get rid of them by scraping its cheeks and its neck on branches.

The bush buck's breeding sea­son varies, depending on its lo­cation. But mating is generally timed so that births occur in the dry season. The male may pass through several territories to find a receptive female. If he meets a rival, he may perform a display to establish dominance.

Six months after mating, the female gives birth in a hidden thicket. She leaves the calf each day to feed and returns at night to suckle it. To prevent predators from discovering the defenseless youngster, she eats its dung. At about four months old, the calf begins to follow its mother. It

Left: Young male and female bush­bucks look alike, and their horns are scarcely visible.

Left: The bush­buck calf does not have any way to defend itself against its many predators. It must rely on its camouflage to hide it in the undergrowth when the fe­male leaves each day to feed.

usually stays with her for over a year but stops suckling at about six months.

The bush buck starts to devel­op horns at about 10 months. By the time it is 15 months old, its cone-shaped horns are about three inches high. The first twist begins to appear three months later. When the animal is two years old, its half-twisted horns are 10 inches long, and at three years they are 12 inches, with a well-defined twist.

The bush buck is sexually ma­ture after about a year, but it does not mate for at least one more year. In fact, the male be­gins to look different from the female only when he is more than two years old.

SQUIRREL MONKEY

"" ... ORDER ~ Primates

FAMILY Cebidae

CARD 340

GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS &: SPECIES Saimiri sciureus

The squirrel monkey moves through the forest with the remarkable agility of its namesake. It runs with ease along slender branches as it searches for fruit and insects to eat.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Head and body length: Male,

11-12 in. Female, 10-11 in.

Tail length: Male, 13-18 in. Fe­

male, 13-16 in.

Weight: Male, 1 ~-2~ lb. Female,

1 - 1 ~ lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: Male, 5 years.

Female, 3 years.

Mating season: Often November

to December, but may vary de­

pending on the climate.

Gestation: 5 months.

No. of young: 1.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Day-active. Lives in groups.

Diet: Mainly insects and fruit.

Lifespan: Up to 25 years .

RELATED SPECIES

One of the closest relatives is the

Central American squirrel monkey,

Saimiri oerstedii.

Range of the squirrel monkey.

DISTRIBUTION

Found from Colombia through French Guiana south through

Ecuador and Peru to western Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay.

CONSERVATION

The squirrel monkey's habitat is disappearing quickly because

of slash-and-burn agriculture and cattle ranching.

FEATURES OF THE SQUIRREL MONKEY

Paws: 4 fingers and an opposable thumb on each. The fingers are very dexterous and help the animal move with great agi lity along branches and through undergrowth.

Tail : Longer than the body. Not capable of grip­ping, but helps the mon­key balance while moving.

,9 MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILET" PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Fur: Dense and soft. Warm yellow on limbs and underside, turning reddish toward the hands and feet. Black tip

of tail and head markings, with characteristic fac ial mask.

0160200971 PACKET 97

The squirrel monkey has strong, delicate, and extremely

dexterous hands. It uses them to uncurl leaves and to catch

flying insects, as well as to grip branches while it moves

through the forest. This sociable monkey lives in a large

group that may number as many as 50 individuals. Easily

excitable, it is quick to utter a high-pitched alarm call to

alert other troop members to the possibility of danger.

~ HABITS The extremely adaptable squir­

rel monkey is sometimes found

in towns, farm fields, and citrus

groves. But it prefers more se­

cluded places offering plenty of

cover such as rainforests, savan­

na forests, mangrove swamps,

and marshland. The monkey es­

pecially favors humid lowlands

such as the Amazon basin .

A sociable animal, the squirrel

monkey usually lives in a troop

of 30 to 50 members in an area

of about a square mile. A troop

often forages and sleeps close to

a group of capuchin monkeys.

The capuchins react quickly to

danger, giving a bark that alerts

not only othermonkeys but also

some birds. The squirrel mon­

key has a high-pitched, peep­

ing alarm call, which it uses at

the slightest disturbance. At the

sound of the alarm call, the en­

tire troop frequently leaps away

to a place of safety.

The squirrel monkey sleeps

huddled on a branch. It stirs at

dawn and leaves its roost within

15 minutes. But the troop usual­

ly waits for an hour before mov­

ing to its morning feeding area.

The adults may rest together for

several hours and then begin to

eat while the youngsters play to­

gether. The animals rest again

in the hottest hours, then feed

closer to the ground until dusk.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The squirrel monkey eats soft

fruits, nuts, and berries, as well

as small birds, insects, and rep­

tiles. It favors figs, and they ac­

count for 90 percent of its fruit

diet when they are in season.

This monkey prefers to forage

in troops high in the forest can­

opy, among wide-crowned trees

where it can hide from predato­

ry birds. However, it will come

to the ground to look for insects

Left: The squirrel monkey prefers to live in a habitat that provides plen­ty of cover.

DID YOU KNOW? • As part of his sexual display,

the male squirrel monkey per­

forms a foot-washing ritual. He

urinates on his hands and then

rubs them on the soles of his

feet. Some other South Amer­

ican monkeys also do this.

• When a squirrel monkey gets

wet, it squeezes water from its

and pick fruit from low trees.

It rarely climbs higher than 90

feet, but it can if necessary.

The monkey uses its dexter­

ous hands to feel for insects in­

side curled leaves, to turn over

twigs, and to pull branches to

its mouth. It also hangs from

branches by its feet to reach for

fruit. After depleting the fruit in

one area, the troop may travel

for several days to find more.

Right: A varied diet enables the squirrel monkey to thrive in many different environments.

coat by rubbing against trees.

• The squirrel monkey's facial

markings resemble a human

skull, so Germans also call it

the death's head monkey.

• Trappers used to capture the

squirrel monkey for medical

and space research, as well as

for the pet trade.

In the breeding season the male

squirrel monkey aggressively es­

tablishes his status within the

troop. But this does not guaran­

tee him a mate, because the fe­

male does not always mate with

the dominant male.

During her five-month gesta­

tion period, the female is less ac­

tive than other members of the

troop. She gives birth to one in­

fant, which weighs about four

ounces. The newborn crawls on­

to its mother's back and wraps

its tail and hind legs around her.

It rides in this way for its first few

Left: The squirrel monkey spends its first two months holding onto its mother's back.

Left: The squir­rel monkey's nimble hands help it catch small insects. With its excel­lent eyesight it can detect prey moving in the trees or on the ground.

weeks. To suckle, the youngster

either swings around under its

mother's arm or feeds upside

down from between her legs

while clinging to her back. At

four weeks old, the young mon­

key leaves its mother in order to

play with other youngsters on

the ground or in low branches.

An "aunt" (a nonpregnant fe­

male) may help a mother rear

her offspring. The aunt may lift

the baby off its mother's back

and let it crawl over her. Preg­

nant females and nursing moth­

ers make up a separate traveling

group, generally in sight of the

males. But males that try to en­

ter the troop are often repelled.