"'" CARD 71 SOUTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL "~ ______________________________ G_R_O_U_P_l_=_M_A_M __ M_A_L_S~ ... ORDER

'IIIIIIIIIII Rodentia ~ FAMILY ~ Sciuridae

GENUS & SPECIES Glaucomys volans

The southern flying squirrel looks like a small rodent when it moves along the branches of a tree, but when it glides through

the air, it appears to have the grace of a bird.

KEY FACTS

SIZES Length: Body, 6 in. Tail, 4 in. Weight: Up to 6' oz.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1-2 years. Breeding season: January to March .. Gestation: 40 days. No. of young: 2-6.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Nocturnal (sleeps by day).

Solitary in summer but lives in groups of up to 24 during winter. Call: A musical chirping sound or a squeal when threatened.

Diet: Nuts, seeds, fruit, insects, spiders, and birds' eggs. Lifespan: Up to 10 years.

RELATED SPECIES The northern flying squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus, also from North America, is often regarded as the same species.

Range of the southern flying squirrel.

DISTRIBUTION Throughout eastern North America from Canada to Mexico in areas where there are forests of various species of tall trees.

CONSERVATION The southern flying squirrel is in no danger of extinction while the North American forests are still standing . It is an adapt­

able animal that can live near human populations.

HOW THE SOUTHERN Fl VING SQUIRREL GLIDES

The flying squirrel.controls its flight with great precision. Before takeoff, it sizes up its target and judges the range and direction. It then leaps with limbs and membrane outstretched, gliding down through the branches. Just before landing, it lifts its tail and swoops upward, landing on the tree trunk with all four feet.

©MCMXCIIMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

This figure (right) shows how the flying membrane covers the body and is attached to the wrists and ankles and to the extensions from the elbows.

r---------------~ __ --------~

A thin cartilage stretches from fore­limbs to neck on each side of the squirrel 's body, forming an aerody­namic leading edge along the membrane. The squirrel uses its

forelimbs to alter the shape and tension of the membrane, thereby increasing or decreasing lift on each side so it can steer itself.

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A flying squirrel does not fly in the true sense

of the word. It does not have wings to power itself

through the air like a bird. Instead, it glides for long

distances, traveling from tree to tree by extending

a fur-covered membrane that is attached to its

hind and forelegs.

~ HABITS

Flying squirrels live in tall trees in the forests of North America . By gliding through the air among the trees, they avoid ground predators but are still vulnerable to attack by hawks. Flying squirrels feed at night, but they must remain alert to the presence of owls, which also prey upon them.

At dawn flying squirrels return to hollow trees, aban­doned woodpecker holes, or outbuildings and spend most

of the day sleeping. The number of squirrels in an area depends on the supply of suit­able places to rest and sleep during the day.

In summer individual squir­rels have their own resting places, but in winter they sleep in groups of 20 or more for warmth. During very cold weather the flying squirrels become lethargic and may emerge only to eat the food they gathered in the fall.

Above: At night the squirrel leaves its tree to forage for food.

Left: The flying squirrel can glide through the air for up to 160 feet before landing.

Right: The squirrel's chisel-like front teeth enable it to crack the hard shells of nuts and seeds.

-----'

BREEDING Approximately 40 days after mating, the female squirrel gives birth to two to six young in a nest she makes in a hole in a tree.

By the time the young are weaned at two months, they have already made short exploratory flights with their mother. As they mature, they follow her on nightly foraging trips. Fewer than a third of all young squirrels survive their first year.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING Flying squirrels feed on most types of vegetation. In addi­tion to nuts and seeds, they eat buds, shoots, soft fruit, lichens, and fungi. They also eat insects, spiders, and birds' eggs and nestlings.

Flying squirrels have large eyes that allow them to see clearly in the dark. Their keen eyesight, their acute hearing, and their long, sensitive whisk­ers, enable them to locate food.

Most of their food is eaten immediately, but nuts and seeds are often hoarded to be eaten later during the cold winter months. The squirrels' instinct to store food becomes stronger as fall approaches.

DID YOU KNOW? • Flying squirrels usually glide from tree to tree but often make sharp, acrobatic turns in

I the air before landing.

• The membrane's bulk makes

lflYing squirrels relatively awk­ward when on the ground.

• Australasian marsupials

Right: New­born squirrels are naked, blind, and helpless for the first few weeks of life. But they already have well-developed flying mem­branes.

called gliders use the same technique for moving through the forest canopy, but they are not related to flying squirrels.

• The giant Southeast Asian species of flying squirrel can glide 350 feet.

""'CARD 72

SAANEN DOMESTIC GOAT ~~ ______________________________ G~R~O~U~P_l~:_M_A_M __ M_A_l_S~ ~ ORDER ~ Artiadacytla

~ FAMILY ~ Bavidae

~ GENUS &: SPECIES ~ Capra hircus

The Soanen domestic goat is world-renowned for its high milk production and friendly, docile nature. Short-legged, and usually hornless, it typifies the modern domestic goat.

KEY FACTS SIZES Height: 28-32 in. at shoulder. Weight: Does, 130 lb. Bucks, 1751b.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: Does, from about 6 months. Bucks, 3 months. Breeding season: September to February. Gestation: 150 days. No. of young: Usually 2, but 1 or 3 not uncommon.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable, inquisitive. Diet: Fibrous, woody vegetation, herbs, and grass, usually supple­mented with vitamins. Lifespan: 14-15 years.

RELATED SPECIES Related to all other breeds of goat, the Saanen has provided the foundation stock for a number of hybrids.

Range of the Saanen domestic goat.

DISTRIBUTION

First bred in western Switzerland, the Saanen has been exported to most countries in central and northern Europe, and to North America, South Africa, Australia, and Japan.

CONSERVATION

As the demand for goat's milk is growing, purebred Saanens and Saanen hybrids are becoming widespread. Breed purity is maintained by national breed societies.

FEATURES OF THE SAANEN DOMESTIC GOAT

Horns: The farmer usually removes the horns soon after a Saanen kid 's birth. It is rare today for horns to be

Coat: The Saanen has a pure white short-haired coat.

selectively bred out.

Beard: Most Saanens have

a long, white J' beard.

Neck tassels: Some Saanens have two small , hairy buds on each side of the neck (not shown here).

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Milk yield: A Saanen produces an average yield of 400 gallons a year. The two teats are angled slightly forward

LO!~-----;~-- and outward to enable the kids to

. s4ck1e.

The 5aanen domestic goat is a modern breed

of goat raised especially for its milk. Its ancestors,

some of the first animals to be domesticated by man,

were raised chiefly for their meat and skin. Although

less hardy than other goats, it is favored

for its easy-going temperament.

~ ORIGIN Man first domesticated the goat in southwestern Asia 9,000 years ago, but the Swiss were the first to de­velop the modern milk goat 300 years ago.

In Asia, the domesticated goat was raised mainly for its meat and skin. Only in the more fertile countries of Europe was it discovered that it could be bred to pro­duce large milk quantities.

~BREEDING Since the Saanen is bred solely for its milk, most goat farmers keep only females,

called does. The males, or bucks, are expensive to maintain and, by mating with its own offspring, would give rise to inbreed­ing. So once a year, small­scale goat breeders must take their does to a stud buck to be mated. Artificial insemination is often used on large farms.

The doe comes into estrus every three weeks between September and February. A female kid (young goat) comes into estrus her first year, but is usually not mated until she is 18 months old. Ideally, the doe will be

The breeding of those goats with the highest daily milk yield and longest lacta­tion periods led to the crea­tion of the Saanen.

Today the Saanen is among the most productive of all milk goats, capable of pro­ducing over 400 gallons of milk a year. The Saanen has been crossed with various breeds to produce hybrids for even higher milk yields.

mated in November or December, so that her kids will be born in the spring.

Twins are common and are allowed to feed from their mother for four days. They will then be bottle-fed so their mother can be milked. When

~HABITAT Although wild goats still roam freely in barren, mountainous regions throughout much of the world, the Saanen goat thrives best in groups of other domesticated goats.

A long history of domestica­tion has given this goat a mild nature which makes it easily manageable. Furthermore, it dislikes cold or wet weather and needs access to shelter at all times, so herds are often kept permanently indoors, either in individual stalls or in covered yards.

DID YOU KNOW? • The Saanen goat gets its name from the Saane River valley near Berne, Switzer­land, where it was first bred .

• A goat has no cutting

the kids are 10 days old, the farmer will begin to feed them hay. Male kids are generally fattened and killed for their meat at six months of age.

Below: Triplets take turns at their mother's milk. They are suckled for only four days.

teeth, called incisors, in its upper jaw, but rather a hard pad of skin.

• Despite its small size, a Saa­nen can scale a six-ft. fence .

~SAANEN fit MAN The Saanen is the goat of choice for private and com­mercial farms alike due to its high milk yield and easy­going nature.

Still, before a goat can be milked, she must first be mated and give birth, since she only produces milk if she has offspring.

Serious milking usually be­gins when the kids are a month old. A Saanen is milked twice a day, morning and night, and will continue to produce the same quantity of milk for approximately a year. The amount will then begin to decrease, drying up completely by the end of the second year. Thus, most milk goats are mated every year for

• Fresh goat's milk tastes simi­lar to cow's milk. It may have an unpleasant taste when the goat eats certain food or when a buck is nearby.

maximum yield. Today there is an increasing

demand for goat's milk and goat's-milk products. Fewer people are allergic to goat's milk than to cow's milk, and

~ FOOD fit FEEDING The goat is principally a browser, rather than a grazer. This means that it is specially adapted to feed on tough, fibrous vegetation such as brambles, twigs, and shrubs, rather than on grass. Unfairly blamed for creating much of the world's desert, the Saanen domestic goat is often simply the last animal to survive in barren country.

The modern Saanen has adapted to a diet containing a high proportion of grass. Where grass is in short supply, the farmer will give the goat extra feed such as hay, kale, cabbages, and potatoes.

Above left: Kid nestling up to its mother. Young does are raised for their milk; young males for their meat.

the lower fat content makes it healthier and easier to digest than cow's milk.

Below: Sa an ens being milked. They have the highest milk yield of any domestic goat.

"" CARD 73 OKAPI "~ ____________________________ ~G~R~O~U~P~l~: ~M~A~M~M~A~L=S~~--~"'~ ~ ORDER ~ FAMILY .. GENUS & SPECIES

Artiodactyla Giraffidae ~ Okapia johnstoni

The okapi, native to Africa's densest jungle, is the giraffe's closest relative. It is so elusive that Western zoologists learned of its

existence only at the turn of this century.

KEY FACTS SIZES Height to shoulder: 5 ft. Length: 6-7 ft. Weight: 450-550 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: Females, from 1 9 months. Males, later. Mating season: Usually May-June or November-December, but can

occur anytime. Gestation: 14-16 months.

No. of young: 1 .

LIFESTYLE Habit: Solitary, or small temporary

groups. Diet: Leaves, fruit, and seeds. Call: Cough. Female bellows to attract males. Young bleats. Lifespan: Oldest captive, 33 years.

RELATED SPECIES The okapi's closest relative is the

giraffe, the only other species in the same family.

FEATURES OF THE OKAPI

Flank markings: Camouflage pattern on hindquarters and legs helps to break up the okapi's outline in the dappled light of the forest floor.

Head: The okapi's head is shaped like that of the giraffe, They both have specially adapted teeth for stripping leaves from

Okapi

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Range of the okapi.

DISTRIBUTION Found only in the equatorial rainforest of northern, central, and eastern Zaire, near the Sudan and Uganda borders.

CONSERVATION The okapi has had local protection since 1932, but some

hunting continues. Because the okapi's range is limited, its future remains insecure. Its elusive nature makes it impossible

to estimate how many live in the wild.

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The okapi is built more like a zebra

than like its only relative, the giraffe.

The male possesses small horns on his forehead,

similar to those of the giraffe. They are

covered with skin that is never shed.

~ HABITAT Active by day, the okapi pre­fers the pathways of those areas of forest where the growth is thick and lush, but not where the forest canopy is dense. It also inhabits large clearings in forest and bush regions, especially where water is close by.

The okapi has glands be­tween its hooves that secrete a scented substance, used to mark its range. It has also been

observed spraying bushes with urine. The okapi is not very territorial, although it does establish its own sleeping and resting areas.

Within its habitat, the okapi's only natural enemy is the leopard. If confronted by a leopard, the normally peace­ful okapi will lash out with its hooves in defense. Illegal hunting by local tribesmen is also a threat to the okapi.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The okapi is a browser, or grazer, and its favorite food is young shoots of forest plants. It also eats leaves, seeds, fruit, and some grasses and ferns.

It feeds by grasping branches with its long tongue and strip­ping off the shoots, leaves, and fruit. Like the giraffe, the okapi has lobed canine teeth that are a special adaptation; they help

left: With its wild population dwindling, the okapi is usually seen only in a zoo.

~ OKAPI & MAN The okapi first became known to the scientific community through the British explorer Sir Harry Johnston at the turn of the century. African pygmy tribesmen brought him part of an okapi skin, which the Zoo­logical Society of London later examined. They classified the animal as Equus johnstoni­johnston's horse . It was only later, when a complete skin and some bones were exam-

it strip the leaves from trees. The okapi cannot jump or

support itself on its hind legs to reach high into the trees to feed . Still, its neck, although much shorter than that of a giraffe, is extremely supple. With the use of its neck and long tongue, the okapi can reach branches 10 feet above the ground.

Below: The okapi reaches its food by grasping branches with its long, muscular tongue.

ined, that is was found that the okapi was not, in fact, related to the horse.

In its native habitat the okapi is wary and elusive: its acute hearing provides early warning of danger, and its effective camouflage enables it to move about in the wild undetected by man. There­fore, most knowledge about the okapi has been learned by observing it in zoos.

~ BREEDING Okapis are usually solitary animals; the males and females come together only to mate. Scientists believe that a female shows her readiness to mate by marking an area with urine.

A male attracts a female by curling his lip and by tossing his head to show off his white throat. At first the female re­sponds aggressively to his attentions, but she eventually mates with him.

Most births occur during the period of maximum rainfall, when there are plenty of new shoots for the mother and young to eat. The female retreats deep into the forest to give birth. The single young okapi is able to stand and suckle from its mother within

DID YOU KNOW? • Native pygmies of the Con­go gave the okapi its name, describing it to explorers as okhapi. • At 14 inches, the okapi's tongue is so long that it can lick its eyelids to clean them.

• The okapi keeps itself very clean by licking its body. Zoo keepers take advantage of

6 to 12 hours of birth. At this stage, the young okapi barely resembles its parents. In pro­portion, its head is smaller, its neck is shorter, and its legs are thicker and longer.

The female okapi is very protective of her offspring. In her natural habitat, she hides the youngster in the forest, returning at regular intervals, guided by its bleating calls.

The young okapi begins to browse, or graze, at six weeks but continues to suckle for at least six months and does not become fully independent until it is nine months old.

Below: Early discoverers of the okapi thought it was related to the horse.

this habit when an okapi needs medication by pour­ing it over the animal's back. The okapi licks it off at once and ingests the medicine.

• 1918 was the first year an okapi was kept in a zoo, but it was not until the 1950s that one was successfully bred and raised in captivity.

COYOTE '\ .. ORDER

"IIIIIIII Carnivora .. FAMILY

"IIIIIIII Canidae GENUS &; SPECIES Canis latrans

~ARD74

A lone coyote howling at the moon has become a symbol of the American West. But in reality coyotes are not solitary animals.

They mate for life and often hunt in packs.

KEY FACTS

SIZES Length: Head and body, 30-40 in . Tail, 12-16 in. Height: 18-22 in. at shoulder. Weight: 15-45 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 year. Mating season: January to March. Gestation: 58-65 days. No. of young: 2-12. Usually 6.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Social; nocturnal predator. Diet: Small mammals, carrion,

deer, and sheep. lifespan: Usually about 4 years. Up to about 22 years in captivity.

RELATED SPECIES There are 8 other species in the genus Canis, including the gray wolf, C. lupus, and the domestic dog, C. familiaris.

THE COYOTE'S DEN

Den: Site depends on terrain. May be dug by parents, stolen from a fox or badger, or built in a small cave.

Pups: Remain hidden in den while young. Parents bring them prey to eat.

© MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

Range of the coyote.

DISTRIBUTION

Found throughout North America, from Alaska south to Costa Rica, and as far east as New Brunswick, Canada.

CONSERVATION

Coyotes are protected in 12 states but are hunted elsewhere. As a species the coyote is also at risk from interbreeding with the red wolf, gray wolf, and domestic dog.

THE COYOTE AND WOLF COMPARED

Coyote: Narrower nose pad and more pointed ears than gray wolf. Fur mostly beige.

Gray wolf: Larger than coyote. Fur slightly grayer and less colorful.

\

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Unlike most other large North American predators,

the coyote has actually increased

its range since European settlers arrived on the

continent. Relying on its ability to adapt to new

habitats and live on varied foods,

it has survived extensive

hunting by fur trappers and sheep farmers.

~ HABITAT The coyote ranges from icy Alaska to Costa Rica. It can adapt to many habitats but is most at home in open grass­land and thinly wooded bush.

In its preferred terrain, it marks off its territory with

~ COYOTE & MAN Indirectly, human beings have helped to increase the coyote's numbers. By getting rid of the wolf in much of the United States and thinning or eliminating many forests, they have made it possible for the coyote to extend its range further east.

But people also hunt coyotes for their attractive pelts and to prevent them

urine and uses its howl and other loud calls to warn off intruders. In other habitats coyotes live a more nomadic life. In some areas they stay in the hills in summer and move to valleys in winter.

from killing sheep. During the early 1970s, up to 100,000 coyotes a year were trapped, poisoned, or shot from air­planes in the West. In 1977 the fur industry alone took more than 320,000 pelts throughout North America.

Today, however, the coyote is protected in 12 states and hunting is regulated in much of North America.

DID YOU KNOW? • The coyote's name sounds Spanish, but it comes from the ancient Aztec word coyotl. • Coyotes use at least ten distinct sounds to communicate in addition to their familiar high­pitched howl. • The coyote is also known as the prairie or brush wolf. • Coyotes and badgers sometimes cooperate in finding food. A coyote sniffs out rodents and then leads a badger to the bur­row. The badger digs the burrow open and the two share the prey.

Left: The coyote's thick pelt protects it from cold in the northern parts of its range.

~ FOOD & HUNTING Coyotes hunt mostly at night and can adjust their hunting technique to suit their prey and the environment. They are almost exclusively car­nivorous, with jackrabbits, ground squirrels, and other small rodents making up more than 90 percent of their diet.

Like foxes, coyotes usually stalk their prey and then pounce on it. Coyotes also pursue large animals such as deer and elk in small packs of around six. Like wolves, they work together to track down, harass, and kill these larger prey. But their packs are far less stable than wolf packs since they usually consist of a breeding pair and the young

~ BREEDING Coyotes usually mate for life, but those that live longer than average often have more than one partner.

During the breeding sea­son, the female is in heat (ready to mate) for about 10 days. After mating, she looks for a secluded place to make a den. Depending on the terrain, the den may be in a burrow dug by both parents, stolen from a fox or badger and enlarged, or hidden in a cave or dense thicket.

The pups are born after a two-month gestation period and are nursed for up to seven weeks. At about three weeks they begin to eat solid food that has been regur­gitated by the parents.

The pups are fully grown at about nine months and

still in their parents' territory. Coyotes feed on already­

dead animals (or carrion) as

sexually mature at one year, although many wait until their second year to mate.

Where food is plentiful, young coyotes may remain with their parents and hunt in a pack. But these packs seldom last long. When the

well as live prey. In some areas already-dead cattle and sheep make up half their diet.

Above: A coyote pup hunts its own food at an early age and is sexually mature at one year.

young mature, competition within the family forces them to leave. They typically travel more than 90 miles to estab­lish territories of their own.

Below: A coyote family works together to guard a dead animal from other scavengers.

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1

I I

""" CARD 75 WILDEBEEST

~~--------------------------------------~ ORDER

Artiodactyla FAMILY Bovidae

GENUS & SPECIES Connochaetes taurinus & C. gnou

The wildebeest is an odd-looking animal. It has the head of an ox, the mane and tail of a horse, and the horns of a buffalo,

but it is actually a kind of grazing antelope.

KEY FACTS

SIZES Height: At shoulder, 3-4~ ft.

Length: Head and body, 5-8 ft. Tail, 14-22 in . Weight: Males, 400-600 lb. Females, 300-360 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 2-3 years. Breeding season: February to April in South Africa; April to May in the Serengeti.

Gestation: 8-9 months. Number of young: Usually 1 .

LIFESTYLE Habit: Lives in herds; often

migratory; active by day. Diet: Grasses and succulents. Lifespan: 21 years in captivity.

RELATED SPECIES Relatives include the bontebok, Damaliscus dorcas, and the hartebeest, Alcephalus busephalus.

Range of blue wildebeest. Range of black wildebeest.

DISTRIBUTION Blue wildebeest are found from Kenya to northern South Africa. Black wildebeest are found only in South Africa.

CONSERVATION

The blue wildebeest is numerous and widespread, with an estimated 350,000 roaming the Serengeti plains. The black wildebeest was nearly wiped out in the 19th century, but its numbers have now risen to around 4,000.

FEATU RES OF THE BLUE AND BLACK WILDEBEEST Black wildebeest: Dark blackish brown in color, with tufts of stiff hair on the face, a bearded throat and chest, and a whitish mane.

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

Blue wildebeest: Slate gray in color, with darker stripes across the forequarters . A bristly face and black r white beard on the throat.

There are two species of wildebeest. The black

wildebeest, also called the white-tailed gnu, is found

only in South Africa. The blue wildebeest, known

as the brindled gnu, ranges from Kenya to

northern South Africa.

~ HABITS Although it looks frightening, the horned wildebeest is neither aggressive nor par­ticularly dangerous. When approached, it will stab the ground with its horns, stamp its hooves, and thrash its tail menacingly. It may even low­

er its head and pretend to charge. But if this display fails to stop the intruder, the wildebeest will retreat and then repeat its performance from a safe distance.

Territorial battles between males involve a similar con-

DID YOU KNOW? • The name gnu comes from a Bushman word for the wildebeest's bellow.

• Only one in every six calves survives its first year.

• Both males and females have horns, although the male's horns are thicker and

frontation. Trespassers are first threatened with loud bellowing calls. If this warn­ing is ignored, the pair meets in a head-to-head trial of strength. Horns may lock, but the fights are rarely bloody.

The wildebeest's usual response to danger is flight. Wildebeest live in herds of up to 100 animals. If a herd member spots danger, such as a pride of lions out hunt­ing, it sounds a warning and the whole herd flees.

heavier than the female 's.

• The largest known wilde­beest horns measure 33 inches across.

• To groom itself, the wilde­beest rubs its face either on

the ground o r against a tree or partner.

~BREEDING The breeding habits of the wildebeest vary depending on whether it belongs to a traveling herd. Traveling herds contain animals of all ages and both sexes. The mature male may establish a breeding territory and mate with any females entering it.

Sedentary (nontraveling)

wildebeest tend to be more organized . Females with

young form separate herds of 10 to 1,000. Males leave the female herds when they are about a year old and join separate bachelor groups. At the age of three or four the male leaves the group and attempts to establish

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The wildebeest lives in fertile plains and open woodland, where it grazes on short sweet grass. A taste for this type of grass often leads the wildebeest to recently burned areas, where the fire has cleared the tall, dry scrub, allowing shorter grass to grow. The wildebeest may also follow behind other grazing animals that eat the

Above: In the dry season wildebeest often travel up to 30 miles to find water.

Right: During the herd's migration, many die in fast-flowing rivers.

territories of his own. These territories may be held only briefly while the female herd is passing, or they may be maintained for many years. A male will then attempt to mate with any mature female that enters his territory.

The young are born at the beginning of the rainy season when food is most abundant. A wildebeest calf can stand

within 15 minutes of birth and can run shortly after. Until the calf is weaned, at about nine months, it stays close to its mother for protec­tion. But the calves are easy prey for large predators such as lions, and many die.

taller, coarser vegetation . It also eats succulent plants and browses on karroo bushes.

It begins grazing soon after sunrise, rests briefly at mid­day, and continues feeding until sunset.

Although wildebeest are

known for their seasonal migrations, not all wildebeest migrate. If there is a constant supply of fresh green grass,

Right: Males clash horns in a territorial battle.

Below: Calves stay near their mothers for nine months.

they remain in the same area all year. Only when there is severe seasonal drought does the wildebeest migrate in search of food. Herds of over 1,000 animals may then thunder over the plains, raising dark clouds of dust visible for many miles. Hun­dreds die on these journeys. Many drown as they try to cross fast-flowing rivers.

~ WILDEBEEST &: MAN The wildebeest is hunted for its skin, which makes a durable leather, and its tail, which is used to make fly swatters called chowries. Some hunters also shoot wildebeest for sport.

During the 19th century

the Boer farmers killed black wildebeest to provide meat for their workers and turned the hides into bags, belts, and other accessories. The massacre continued until 1870, when only 600 of the animals remained. The species was saved by two Boer landowners, who kept breeding herds on their lands, thus enabling the population to recover.

Because the wildbeest has the same diet as domestic cattle, it is seen as compe­tition for grazing land in

some areas .

'" CARD 76 INDIAN FLYING FOX ,,~----------------------------------------~ ~ ORDER

Chiroptera FAMILY Pteropidae

GENUS & SPECIES Pteropus giganteus

The Indian flying fox is one of the largest of all bats and has a wingspan of more than four feet. It does not prey on animals, feed­

ing, instead, almost exclusively on a variety of fruit. '

"'I KEY FACTS

I ~I SIZES <S7 Length: 12 in.

Wingspan: 50 in. Weight: Male, 3-4 lb. Female, 2 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1-2 years. Breeding season: July to October. Gestation: 140-150 days. No. of young: 1; twins rare.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Roosts in colonies; active at

night. Diet: Mangos, guavas, bananas. Lifespan: Usually 15 years. Maximum recorded in captivity, 31 years 4 months.

RELATED SPECIES There are over 60 species of flying fox in the genus Pteropus, includ­ing P. vampyrus, the largest of all bats. All are closely related to each

other.

Range of the Indian flying fox.

DISTRIBUTION

Widespread from the Maldive Islands of the Indian Ocean through Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Burma.

CONSERVATION

The Indian fox is less endangered than many of the less numerous island species of flying fox, but its numbers have been reduced where it has been hunted extensively and where its habitat has been destroyed.

FEATURES OF THE INDIAN FLYING FOX

Hind feet: Its hind feet have long claws that enable it to hang from branches while it roosts and feeds .

Eyes: Somewhat large for a bat. It does not use echolocation to navigate in the dark, as do other species of bat but relies on its excellent vision instead.

Hearing: Its hearing is acute. The female can identify her young by its call.

Wings: Its wings are longer and broader than those of most insect-eating bats and enable the flying fox to fly more powerfully. The wings are jointed in several places, and the bat wraps them around itself for warmth and protection while it is roosting .

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The Indian flying fox was named

for the shape of its head and its reddish brown fur,

which resemble those of a fox. Flying foxes are the

largest of all bats and are found widely throughout

Asia and Australia.

~ HABITAT The Indian flying fox lives in

tropical forests and swamps, primarily in coastal areas. Where it does live inland, the bat is seldom found far from large areas of water. It is wide­spread throughout the Indian subcontinent and is also found on the Maldive Islands.

The Indian flying fox is one of the larger species of flying fox bats, and its strong flying ability has enabled it to colonize many of the islands throughout the Indian and Pacific oceans. Many species of flying fox are, in fact, found only on specific island groups. It is likely that their ancestors flew to the islands from the main land or were blown there by strong winds.

By day the Indian flying fox roosts in communal sites, called camps, hanging upside down in a large tree. Favored roost sites are often used for

I DID YOU KNOW? • During flight the bat extends its legs outward to expand the span of its wing membrane.

• Bats need more water than do other mammals of the same size because they lose a lot of moisture through their wings.

many years, and the trees become stripped of bark and foliage by the bats' sharp claws. The camps also have a musky odor that is character­istic of flying foxes.

During the day the bats are noisy and active. Camps may contain several hundred to

• The largest bat in the world is a flying fox called the Kalong, which has a wingspan of nearly five feet.

• One reason that bats roost upside down is so they can take flight easily-by simply letting go with their feet.

• The flying fox is a strong

~ FOOD & FEEDING As darkness grows near, the Indian flying fox becomes in­creasingly restless. It leaves the roost with a group of other bats, and they fly to a feeding site that may be as far as 30 miles away. The Indian flying

Above: The flying fox spends its day in the roost, leaving at dusk to feed.

several thousand flying foxes. With in the roost there is often a pecking order whereby the more dominant males occupy the best roosting sites.

swimmer and crosses rivers using its wings as flippers.

• Fruit-eating bats pollinate flowers and distribute their seeds.

• Flying foxes sometimes drink sea water, possibly to obtain minerals absent from their sugary diet.

fox finds its way through the

dark not by sound, as insec­tivorous (insect-eating) bats

do, but by sight and smell . Its

eyes are far larger than those

of most bats and more closely

The Indian flying fox breeds from July to October. Mating takes place in the roost. In­dian flying foxes do not form strong pair bonds, and males mate with any adult females roosting nearby. After five

months-a long pregnancy for such a small mammal­the female gives birth to a single offspring. The young bat emerges feet first.

The newborn is in a far more advanced state than are most other types of bat of the

~ Fl VING FOX & MAN Despite its large size, the In­dian flying fox is less feared than other types of bats, such as the vampire bat. Rather than preying on animals, the Indian flying fox eats only fruit.

While it once fed mainly on wild fruit, the bat now increas-

resemble those of nocturnal primates.

The Indian flying fox uses its large, flat molars to chew up a

Below: A flying fox clutches a piece of fruit in its mouth.

same age. It is alert and its eyes are open. It is covered with fur and weighs as much as nine ounces-nearly a

third as much as its mother. The care and feeding of the young are provided only by the female .

For the first few weeks of its life, the newborn clings to its mother's breast, even when she flies from the roost to feed . The young bat is nursed for five months but remains with its mother until it is

ingly raids cultivated crops of fruit trees, which has brought it into conflict with man. In some areas it has posed such a threat to fruit farmers that it has been poisoned.

The Indian flying fox is also hunted in parts of Pakistan for

variety of fruit to obtain the juice. Very soft fruit such as bananas is swallowed, but usually the bat spits out the fruit pulp and seeds once it has extracted all the juice.

The Indian flying fox also feeds on the juice and pollen of various tree flowers. Be­cause the fruit on trees in a tropical forest does not

ripen according to season, the bat must determine which trees have fruit about to ripen. Where the fruit is thinly scattered, the bats spread out at the feeding site. But more often, an entire group of bats descends on a few heavily laden trees and picks them bare.

Above: Mating takes place from July to October.

eight months old . It is fully grown after a year but is not sexually mature until it is two years old.

its fat, which is used for medicinal purposes. In the past 50 years, many small oceanic islands have been almost completely deforested and, as a result, the flying fox populations have experienced

a decline.

CARD 77 1

EUROPEAN RABBIT

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

ORDER Lagomorpha

FAMILY Leporidae

GENUS &: SPECIES Oryctolagus cuniculus

The European rabbit is the type commonly sold as a pet in the United States, yet it originated in Spain and Portugal.

KEY FACTS

I ~I SIZES ..,., Length: Males up to 16 in. long .

Females are slightly smaller. Weight: Males, 4 lb. Females are

slightly less.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 4-5 months.

Mating season: Spring and summer primarily, but year-round to some extent. Gestation: 28-31 days.

No. of young: 2-8.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Highly sociable, lives in large communities. Diet: Mainly grasses, clover, herbs. lifespan: About 9 years. Continue to breed until 6 years old.

RELATED SPECIES The brown hare, closely related to the European rabbit, is distin­guished by its longer hind legs.

THE RABBIT WARREN

The warren, or burrow, wh ich the rabbits dig to a depth of up to 10ft., often covers a considerable area and will have a number of entrances.

Inside there is a complex network of passages and interconnecting tunnels, as well as living quarters and nesnng chambers. The nests are made of grass or straw, lined itJ'l fur that ttle female lucks from he body.

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Range of the European rabbit.

DISTRIBUTION Originally from the Iberian Peninsula and northwestern Africa, but now widespread across much of Europe, eastward to the Ukraine. Also introduced to many countries and islands, including Australia, New Zealand, and Chile.

CONSERVATION

There are over 50 species of rabbits and hares worldwide. Their numbers are controlled and they are in no danger.

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Able to adapt to almost any type of habitat,

the sociable European rabbit lives in underground

colonies that can be very large. So great

are their numbers that they are considered

pests in many parts of their range.

~HABITS the safety of its burrow.

When it senses danger, the animal sounds a warning to other rabbits by thumping the ground with both hind feet before running off.

~ RABBIT &: MAN

Because the rabbit causes extensive damage to crops and gardens, it is considered a pest by most farmers, many of whom kill rabbits to re­move them from their land.

In the 1950s, the wild rabbit population was dramatically reduced by an outbreak of the disease myxomatosis. The near-elimination of the rabbit had far-reaching ecological consequences in ,some areas,

'0 since the rabbits naturally .::J

':~~~~~J{/ii:~~ ~ controlled the spread of E ~ unwanted plants, such as o

Mainly nocturnal, the rabbit spends most of the day un­derground, emerging from the burrow at dusk. Because it has so many natural pred­ators, it is constantly alert to danger. It pauses as it emerges from its burrow, twitching its nose to smell the air for the scent of pred­ators. It never strays far from

Generally, there is a dom­inant female in the colony, called a doe, and she will fight the others for the best nest site.

~ gorse, bramble, and coarse

~1~~::j~II!~!~~~~~!~~~~~~~~III~lllllj~g~~~~ng~~. g In Australia, the rabbit pop-~ ulation has increased drasti-

~ BREEDING Rabbits breed continually. Litters of five or more rabbits are produced after a short ges­tation. Within hours of giving birth, the female (or doe) will mate again. She can produce up to seven litters a year.

Spring and summer are the peak reproductive periods, but breeding can start as early as January. Beginning in August, breeding is less intensive, and

..----------- ---------------'1 the doe often does not give

~ NATUREWATCH Unlike wild rabbits found in North America, European rabbits live in v~st, under­ground burrows called warrens. Tracks in the snow are signs that a colony lives nearby. Also, clusters of small, round droppings on the ground are an indication that a warren is close by.

<IJ B o .c CL

birth once she has conceived, but rather reabsorbs the

~ FOOD &: FEEDING Rabbits are herbivorous (plant eating) and feed mainly on grass, clover, and selected herbs. In winter, when vegeta­tion is scarce, they eat the bark of trees.

Their preferred feeding times are dawn and dusk. Because rabbits have enormous

Above: A rabbit sniffs the air before emerging from its burrow.

Right: Baby rabbits huddle together in the nesting chamber.

embryos into her body. The newborn young are

blind, deaf, and hairless. They are born in a nest made by the doe. After the birth, she returns to the nest for

appetites and often feed together in large groups, they can cause widespread damage to crops.

The rabbit's digestive sys­tem is unique. Unlike cattle and sheep, which chew to aid digestion, the rabbit rests in its burrow after feeding

cally. From a dozen rabbits that were introduced there in the 1850s, the population in 1988 numbered over 200

G million. A severe drought ~ occurred soon after, causing « ~ the starving rabbits to raid ~ and destroy crops. ~ In some countries, man "8 regards the rabbit as a game

_ ____ "'---"-....JI ~ animal. It is also bred forfood

only a few minutes every 24 hours to suckle them. She then leaves, covering the nesting chamber with dirt to protect the young from predators.

and passes soft droppings formed of partly digested food. The rabbit then eats these droppings to extract the maximum nourishment from the food. Afterward, the rabbit produces hard, pellet­like droppings which it de­posits outside the burrow.

and sport, and it is widely used for biomedical research.

DID YOU KNOW? • Glands under the rabbit's chin generate a secretion used to mark territory. • Badgers and foxes dig young rabbits from their burrow to kill and eat them . • In the Kerguelen Islands of Antarctica, rabbits survive the harsh winters by feeding on seaweed washed ashore by the storms.

"\ CARD 78 MOUNTAIN LION \(~ ______________________________ G_R_O_U_P_l_: _M_A_M_M_A __ LS __ ~ ",ORDER ~ Carnivora

",FAMILY ~Felidae

... GENUS &: SPECIES ~ Felis conc%r

Known also as the puma, cougar, and panther, the mountain lion is a highly adaptab!e wildcat. It lives in habitats ranging from

snow-covered mountains to tropical rainforests.

~ KEY FACTS

I ~ I SIZES ~ Height: ,To shoulder, 24-28 in.

Length: Head and body, 5-6 ft . Tail length: 26-30 in. Weight: 80-230 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: Males, at least 3 years. Females, 2 years. Mating: Year-round. Females usually breed once every 2 years. Gestation: 90-96 days.

litter size: 2-6, usually 3-4.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Solitary, generally hunt at dawn and dusk, but active by day in areas undisturbed by man. Diet: Mainly deer, most wild

animals. lifespan: Up to 1 8 years.

RELATED SPECIES

Several subspecies, two endan­gered: Fe/is conca/or caryi (Florida) and F.e. cougar (northeastern North America).

Range of the mountain lion.

DISTRIBUTION Throughout North and South America from southern Canada to Patagonia.

CONSERVATION The mountain lion is a protected species, but most farmers and cattle ranchers object to its presence. Many animals are shot to safeguard herds, in spite of evidence that mountain lions rarely attack domestic stock.

THE MOUNTAIN LION'S AGILITY

The mountain lion is renowned for its remarkable power, stamina, and agility. It can easily cover 23 ft. in a single bound, 0 It

and a leap of twice this distance has been recorded.

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. "

Cb~er in. the .d~nsefo[jage ' · . ' of a tree,:a mouritain 'Hop cailleap .up

. toaheight of 18 .ft. t6: land in th.e brariches. It may then climb .upward, ·

. looking for a SUitable vantage :p'oirit: It .' . : can. drop 65 ft. to 'the ground without .

' :injuring itseH,

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Long and lean, the mountain lion is immensely

powerful and capable of killing prey such as a bear

or bison with a single bite. Although it is usually red or

brown, its coloration varies. In Patagonia, where

mountain lions are particularly large, their coats

are often red-gray or silver-gray.

~ HABITAT Mountain lions are found in habitats as diverse as the cold, northern woods of Canada, the rocky, western country of the United States, and the tropical rainforests of Brazil. In Argentina, they live in the pampas, and their range ex­tends to the southernmost

tip of South America. Instead of occupying a per­

manent den, mountain lions rest and find shelter in caves, among rocky outcrops, and in dense vegetation. They generally migrate from the mountains in winter to follow deer and other prey.

~ FOOD &: HUNTING Mountain lions are carnivores (meat eaters) and generally hunt at dawn and dusk. Still, they are active by day in areas undisturbed by man.

Like other cats, the mountain lion stalks its prey, sprinting after it if it attempts to flee. Then, pouncing on the ani­mal's back with a powerful leap that knocks it to the ground,

the mountain lion kills its prey with a single bite to the nape of the neck.

Mountain lions have large hunting territories, and they eat most kinds of animals. Through-

~ BREEDING The territories of male moun­tain lions may overlap those of females, enabling the males to detect when the females are

ready to mate. During a 14-day period of

mating, a male and female will break their normally solitary habits to hunt together and sleep next to each other. The

female later gives birth to two to six kittens in a carefully hidden den, located between rocks or in a cave.

Blind at birth, the kittens have spotted coats until they are six months old. They be­gin to take meat provided by their mother at six weeks, while they are still suckling. Although they can hunt for themselves after nine months, they usually remain with their mother for two years. The cubs then leave her and may stay together for several months before wandering off to estab­lish territories of their own.

out their range, however, deer is their principal food. In the absence of deer, they eat anything available, including cattle and other domestic

livestock. Mountain lions can run very

fast over short distances, but they tire quickly. If an animal survives a mountain lion's first attack, it generally escapes. Mountain lions rarely share hunting territories and usually avoid each other, but they make no attempt to defend their own territories or take over those of others.

Right: Mountain lions mate during a 14-day period.

Below: At two weeks, this baby mountain lion is covered with soft, dark spots that will later fade.

Right: In wood­ed country, mountain lions do much of their hunting in the trees, moving with great agility and speed through the branches. This one has trapped a raccoon up a tree. Mountain lions stalk and eat large and small animals.

Once common across the western hemisphere, the mountain lion has been erad­icated in many areas, and its survival is threatened.

In some areas, mountain lions were wiped out in an attempt to protect deer pop­ulations. But eliminating a natural predator disrupted the balance of the environ­ment. Consequently, the deer multiplied rapidly, and their habitat was unable to support the large population.

DID YOU KNOW? • The mountain lion is found over a wider range than any other mammal in the western hemisphere, except for man.

• Mountain lions vary greatly in size.

• A mountain lion pounces so violently that it can drag its prey 20 feet along the ground.

ROCK WALLABY

ORDER FAMILY Marsupia/ia Macropodidae

... GENUS ~ Petrogale

~ARD79

The rock wallaby is one of the most distinctive animals in the Australian outback. It has many similarities

to the kangaroo but lives exclu~ively on rocky terrain.

KEY FACTS

SIZES Length: Head and body, 20-30 in .

Tail, 15-28 in.

Weight: 6-20 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 8 months.

Mating: Year-round when

conditions are favorable.

Gestation: 1 month, then 8

months in the pouch. No. of young: 1 .

LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable.

Call: Communicates by thumping

the ground with its feet.

Diet: Grasses, as well as leaves, bark, and roots in dry weather.

Lifespan: 14 years in captivity.

RELATED SPECIES The ringtailed rock wallaby,

Petrogale xanthopus, and the little

rock wallaby, Peradorcas concinna.

Range of the rock wallaby.

DISTRIBUTION Throughout the Australian mainland on rocky terrain from coastal ranges to inland hills.

CONSERVATION Nearly extinct over much of its range due to hunting

for its pelt during the late nineteenth and early twentieth

centuries. Conservation measures include the establish­

ment of protected areas and a breeding center.

FEATURES OF THE ROCK WALLABY

The rock wallaby belongs to the same marsupial family as the kangaroo: Macropodidae.

The rock wallaby has a fluffy tail that provides balance when it leaps from rock to rock. To help it climb, its large hind feet have sharp claws, flexible middle toes, and broad, thick pads with knobby soles.

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Development of the embryo in the mother's womb and of the joey (nursing baby) in the pouch con­tinue only if the female has enough food.

Many species of rock wallaby have thick,

attractive fur that was sought by fur traders

during the late nineteenth and early

twentieth centuries. As a result, the remaining

species are now rare or almost extinct

over most of their range.

~HABITAT The rock wallaby lives in the rocky deserts and the high mountain ranges of the Aus­tralian outback.

The wallaby shelters in deep, hidden crevices in the rocks. The rocks leading to the hid­ing places are often worn smooth by generations of wallabies using the same trail.

The brushtailed rock wal­laby lives in the mountainous region of eastern New South Wales. One species living on an island, at the eastern end of the Great Australian Bight, is at home either in the is­land's rocky interior or on the seashore among boulders washed by the surf.

~BREEDING The rock wallaby breeds all year when there is adequate food. During intense drought, when food supplies are scarce and the female cannot pro­duce milk for her young, she abandons the joey (nursing

baby). If the female with a joey in

her pouch becomes pregnant, the new embryo in her womb does not develop until her pouch is empty. The develop­ment of the embryo is also delayed in periods of drought.

When the rains return, the embryo immediately develops, the joey is born, and it makes its way into its mother's pouch. She then mates again, and another fertilized egg begins to develop.

Right: As soon as this joey leaves the pouch, another is born to take its place.

Left: There are few places as inhospitable as the rocky regions of the Australian outback. But the rock wallaby has adapted to the harsh environ­ment.

Right: No rock is too steep for the agile rock wallaby. But, away from the rocks, it moves slowly and awkwardly.

During hot weather the rock wallaby spends much of the day resting in the shade. In the cooler early morning and evening hours it may travel long distances from the rocks in search of grass, which forms the major part of its

diet. On cool days the rock wallaby spends much of its time eating.

When disturbed, the rock wallaby stands rigidly, then shows its unease by beat­ing its feet once or twice on the ground to warn other

DID YOU KNOW? • The rock wallaby had no natural enemies in Australia until European foxes were introduced in the nineteenth century. Faster and more cunning than the native dingoes (wild dogs), foxes killed many wallabies. • The first settlers in Australia thought the rock wallaby was a cat because it climbed so quickly and agilely. • The rock wallabies that live in the northern parts of West­ern Australia have thin, short hair to avoid overheating in the hot, tropical climate.

• Because the brushtailed rock wallaby has dull brown fur, it is not hunted for its pelt like other species with more delicate coloration .

• The rock wallaby is not found in either Tasmania or New Guinea.

wallabies. When it is very alarmed, the wallaby disap­pears among the rocks, leap­ing from one to another in a single bound.

Unlike its close relative, the tree kangaroo, the rock wallaby cannot climb trees.

OCELOT

ORDER Carnivora

FAMILY Felidae

GENUS & SPECIES Felis pardalis

The ocelot is a small nocturnal cat found in North and South America. The pattern and color of its coat allow it to blend in with

its scrubland and forest habitats.

"'l KEY FACTS

~ SIZES ~ Body length: 25-40 in.

Tail length: 10-16 in. Weight: 25-35 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 6-8 months. Mating: Once or twice a year, depending on location. Gestation: 70 days. Litter size: 2-4 kittens.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Solitary or may live in pairs. Coat color: Varies from rich yellow to gray, depending on habitat. Underside speckled white. Ringed tail. Lifespan: 17 years in captivity. Unknown in wild.

RELATED SPECIES There are 28 species of small wildcat found worldwide, with the exception of Australasia and the polar regions.

Range of the ocelot.

DISTRIBUTION

Ocelots range from Arizona in North America to Argentina in South America.

CONSERVATION

Ocelots have long suffered from extensive hunting for their valuable pelts. More recently, the ocelot received full protec­tion from hunters under international law, and commercial trade is now banned.

THE OCELOT'S COAT COMPARED WITH OTHER CATS'

Camouflage: Dark blotches on a rich golden brown or silver-gray base color. Perfect for the equatorial forests that form its habitat. Shown below right are pelt comparisons with the leopard and cheetah. Each cat is suited to its own lmvironment; the leopard to the dry

forest, and the cheetah to the id savanna.

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The ocelot is classified as a small cat belonging

to the genus Felis, but it is one of the largest cats

in this genus. Like other small cats, it has a bare nose

and long, sensitive whiskers; but unlike a

domestic cat, it will run swiftly from danger

rather than bolt up a tree.

~ HABITAT The ocelot inhabits both scrubland and forest. Forest­dwelling ocelots have rich, golden-colored coats that blend in with the golden­

brown hue of the trees. Ocelots that live in scrubland have duller, grayish-colored coats that provide camou­flage from predators.

An agile climber, the ocelot spends much of its time rest­ing in trees. Unlike domestic cats that can run down trees headfirst, the ocelot climbs down backward.

The ocelot is territorial and marks the boundaries of its territory by spraying trees with urine. Most ocelots are solitary, but some form pairs.

Above: In unfamiliar territory, the ocelot will rest during the day and hunt only at night.

~ FOOD & HUNTING Although its sense of smell is highly developed, the ocelot relies more on its hearing and eyesight to detect prey, which it hunts at night. The hearing of small cats like the ocelot is more acute than that of larger cats, and they are better able to pinpoint the location of their prey. Its whiskers are also important to the ocelot when hunting. They are so sensitive to touch that they help the cat maneu­ver in tight spaces.

The ocelot's prey includes agoutis, hares, mice, mon­keys, and birds. Although it spends a lot of time in the trees, all hunting is done on the ground. It will lie flat on its stomach once prey is spot­ted. It will slowly creep for­ward in this position and

~ BREEDING It is not known for certain when and how often the oce­lot breeds. It is thought that it breeds twice a year, in summer and in winter.

When the breeding season arrives, the ocelot will venture out of its territory to find a mate. The female starts the courtship by calling loudly to attract a male. During mating, the male holds the female by the back of the neck.

Before the kittens are born two months later, the female makes a well-hidden nest. This is sometimes lined with soft down plucked from her under­side.

Two to four kittens are born. As each one arrives, the moth­er breaks the birth sac to free

then rush at the prey over a short distance before pouncing and catching it with its razor­like claws. The ocelot sharpens its claws by scratching them

the kitten. She bites off the umbilical cord and licks the newborn clean and dry, then eats the afterbirth.

The kittens are born with fur, but they are blind and helpless for several days. Therefore, the mother will leave them only when abso­lutely necessary. For the first few weeks, the kittens feed only on their mother's milk. During this time, she will eat

their droppings so as to keep the nest clean.

When the kittens are older, the mother brings them live prey and teaches them how

Right: The disarming beauty of an ocelot kitten makes it, sadly, much sought after as a pet.

against tree trunks. The prey is killed quickly

with a bite to the neck. Small

prey is devoured headfirst, but with large prey, the ocelot

to kill it. Later they follow her on hunting trips to develop their skills. Once the kittens

begins eating at a soft part of the animal's body.

Below: With its keen senses and powerful incisor teeth, the ocelot is well equipped to hunt and kill.

become competent hunters, they leave the nest to find their own territories.

DID YOU KNOW? • In the dark, a cat's sight is six times better than a man's.

• Cats are the most carnivo­rous of all the meat-eating animals. They are therefore at the top of the food chain and have few enemies except man.

• Small cats eat by crouching over their prey, rather than lying down next to it as most big cats do.

• The ocelot sleeps lying down with its forepaws stretched out in front and its head resting on them, much in the same way that a dog does. It is the only small cat that sleeps in this manner.

• In 1968, North American fur traders imported a total of 129,000 ocelot pelts. • The mountain lion is the largest of the small cats.