'" CARD 261 I MOUNTAIN REEDBUCK

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

ORDER Artiodactyla

FAMILY Bavidae

GENUS &: SPECIES Redunco fulvarufula

The mountain reedbuck is a graceful antelope that is found in parts of Africa. This agile creature makes its home on

sparsely vegetated rocky hills and mountains.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Height to shoulder: 2-2~ ft. Body length: 3 ~-4~ ft. Tail length: 8 in.

Weight: 65 lb. Female slightly

heavier than male.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 1 year.

Mating: No specific period.

Gestation: Almost 8 months.

No. of young: 1 .

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Active by day. Lives singly,

in pairs, or in herds.

Diet: Grasses, leaves, twigs, roots,

and shoots.

RELATED SPECIES

There are 3 subspecies of moun­

tain reedbuck and 2 other species

of reedbuck: the Bohor reedbuck,

Redunco redunco, and the southern

reedbuck, R. arundinium.

Range of the mountain reedbuck.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in scattered areas of hilly highland in central and eastern

Africa and in parts of southern Africa.

CONSERVATION

During periods of drought and when grazing is poor, the moun­

tain reedbuck suffers greatly because it will not move away to

fresh pastures.

FEATURES OF THE MOUNTAIN REEDBUCK VARIATIONS IN SPECIES

Coat: Thick and woolly. Light grayish brown with red tinge on head, neck, and upper side of tail. Bare patch underneath the ear.

Female: Slightly heavier than male. Lacks horns.

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

Bohor reedbuck: Yellowish coat. Short horns have 5 to 10 rings and are thick at the base.

Southern reedbuck: Gray-brown coat. Large horns with 10 to 15 rings. White stripe over lips, on chin , and below eyes.

us P 6001 12 073 PACKET 73

Small, isolated groups of mountain reedbucks are scattered

over parts of sub-Saharan Africa. A sedentary animal, the

mountain reedbuck never leaves its familiar rocky habitat.

Because it cannot adapt to new environments, this antelope

suffers greatly during droughts and when grazing is poor.

~ HABITS The mountain reedbuck lives in

hilly and mountainous country

at altitudes of up to 16,500 feet.

In contrast to many other species

of antelope, the mountain reed­

buck is sedentary, never straying

from known ground. The male

usually holds a territory of about

10 square miles. Instead of mark­

ing this area with dung or glan­

dular secretions, he lets out a

series of sharp whistles while he

patrols the boundaries.

Although it may live in groups

like most grazers, the mountain

reedbuck also lives alone or in

pairs. When a predator such as

a jackal or leopard appears near

a herd, one member lets out a

harsh, piercing whistle and the

animals scatter. The mountain

reedbuck is more vulnerable to

predators when it is alone. But

its familiarity with its territory

usually enables it to escape.

Right: Left alone after birth, the young mountain reedbuck soon joins a herd of females and calves.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The vegetation in the mountain

reedbuck's habitat is sparse and

mostly tough. But because it

grazes on such harsh terrain,

this antelope faces little compe­

tition from other herd animals.

When it feeds near human set­

tlements, however, the moun­

tain reedbuck must compete

with domestic sheep and goats,

and its diet suffers as a result.

The mountain reedbuck usu-

Left: The mountain reedbuck gets most of the water it needs from the vegetation it eats.

ally feeds in the early morning

and early evening. It consumes

grasses, leaves, twigs, and the

tender roots and shoots of vari­

ous plants. Its ability to eat large

amounts of vegetation without

stopping to rest makes up for

the poor quality of the food.

Although water is often scarce

in its habitat, the mountain reed­

buck can survive for long peri­

ods of time without drinking.

Right: The mountain reedbuck is an alert creature, always on guard against danger.

Left: The female mountain reed­buck is hornless and slightly gray­er than the male. Her dull coat has the advantage of blending well into the arid habitat.

DID YOU KNOW? • The mountain reedbuck is

said to be fairly tame and

easy to approach. This may

be why it lacks prestige as a

game animal-hunters can

get close for a shot too easily.

~ BREEDING The mountain reedbuck does

not seem to have a set breed­

ing season. But births frequent­

ly occur at a time of year when

there is sufficient plant matter.

These times vary in different

parts of Africa.

The male may mate with sev­

eral females from his own terri­

tory or w ith any other females

that pass through it. During the

courtship ritual, he scrapes the

ground with his forefeet, low­

ers his head toward the female,

• The mountain reedbuck is

able to jump over obstacles

more than four feet high.

• When fleeing a predator,

the reedbuck holds its tail up,

showing the white underside.

and then kicks out his hind legs.

Occasionally both male and fe­

male leap into the air.

Almost eight months after

mating, the female gives birth

to one calf that weighs about

six pounds. The uncoordinated

newborn exhibits a strong urge

to conceal itself. This instinct is

crucial to its survival, since the

mother leaves her young almost

immediately. The calf soon leaves

its hideout to join a small herd

of females and young .

RED UAKARI

ORDER Primates

FAMILY Cebidae

GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Cacajao rubicundus

The red uakari is a shy monkey that lives in the canopy of the Amazon rainforest. The forlorn expression on its red face

gives it a startling, almost human appearance.

KEYFACTS ____________________________ ~

SIZES

Length: Head and body, 20-22 in.

Tail, 6 in.

Weight: 7-10 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 3-6 years.

Mating: Any time; births usually

coincide with abundance of food.

Gestation: 6 months.

No. of young: 1.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Day-active; sociable, living

in groups of 15-50.

Diet: Mainly fruit, leaves, seeds,

and flowers; occasionally insects.

Lifespan: Unknown.

RELATED SPECIES

Among the red uakari's closest rel­

atives are the black uakari, Cacajao melanocephalus, and the white ua­

kari, C. calvus.

DISTRIBUTION

The red uakari is confined to a relatively small area of the Ama­

zon basin, from the Rio Japura in Brazil to the Rio Huallaga in

Peru and west to the Andean foothills .

CONSERVATION

The red uakari has long been hunted for its flesh. Although it is

now very rare in Peru and has declined in Brazil, its numbers

seem to have stabilized recently.

FEATURES OF THE RED UAKARI

Face: Hairless. Varies in color from light pink to bright red . The shade indi­cates the monkey's mood and, in the male, its breed­ing condition.

Tail: Short and hairy. In­capable of gripping, un­like the useful prehensile (gripping) tail of most other American primates.

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

Hands: 5 long digits, with a marked cleft

between the index and middle fingers.

Coat: Shaggy. Color varies from

dull brown to golden red .

Limbs: Extremely powerful. The

animal can grip with its hind feet to hang upside down,

or walk upright on its hind limbs along a branch.

US P 6001 12077 PACKET 77

The red uakari is closely related to the saki monkeys, which

also live in the Amazon basin region. Like the sakis, the red

uakari has a cleft between the index and middle fingers.

This characteristic gives these monkeys a firm grip on fruit

as well as on branches. Both the sakis and uakaris have

suffered a decline in numbers and are now rare in the wild.

~ HABITS The red uakari inhabits a small

area of rainforest in the Amazon

basin region of South America.

It makes its home up in the tree

canopy, where it can find plenty

of food. This monkey rarely de­

scends to the ground because

the river basin is usually flooded

or waterlogged.

The red uakari is very easy to

recognize. Its hairless crown and

face range in color from light

pink to bright red. The shade

of red changes according to the

monkey's mood. In males the

shade also changes to indicate

the animal's breeding condition.

The red uakari's tail very rarely

grows to more than a third of its

body length, and it cannot grip

branches. The monkey is still an

agile climber, however, although

it avoids making dramatic leaps.

The red uakari lives in a troop

containing 15 to 50 individuals.

The troop is made up of females

and their offspring plus several

males-adults or subadults­

that act as the leaders. The troop

wakes up at dawn and spends

the day browsing in the high

branches, always keeping an

eye out for enemies. The mon­

keys are often preyed upon by

the savage harpy eagle, which

swoops into the tree canopy to

snatch its victims. However, the

uakari is safe from most ground

predators--except humans.

Right: The female uakari forms a strong bond with her young, which lasts up to three years.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The red uakari feeds in the trees

on fruit, leaves, seeds, and flow­

ers. It also eats insects whenever

plant matter is scarce.

Uakaris usually feed in trees

that have just blossomed. They

often share their meal with oth­

er monkeys and have even been

known to lead squirrel monkeys

to food .

Sometimes, however, there

is intense competition for food

Left: The red uakari may call out to intimidate an enemy.

DID YOU KNOW? • The red uakari's facial color

fades from lack of sunlight.

• The uakari is the only mon­

key in South America with a

short tail.

• The members of the family

Cebidae, to which the red ua­

kari belongs, vary widely in

among tree-dwelling monkeys.

To cope with this problem, vari~

ous species have developed dif­

ferent feeding habits. Titi mon­

keys can digest unripe fruit that

other monkeys do not eat. Noc­

turnal monkeys avoid daytime

feeders by foraging at night. By

feeding in the highest branches

of the trees, red uakaris avoid

competition with monkeys that

feed at lower levels of the forest.

Right: Its coat distinguishes the white uakari from the red uakari.

appearance. But all have wide­

bridged noses and common

teeth formations. In addition,

they all lack cheek pouches.

• Some experts believe white

and red uakaris are subspecies

of one species, since fur color

is their only major difference.

The red uakari may breed at any

time of year. Each female in a

troop mates with more than

one male, and once a male has

mated he may seek another re­

ceptive female. Adult uakaris do

not form strong pair bonds.

After a six-month gestation,

the female gives birth to one

offspring, usually when food is

abundant. The newborn climbs

onto its mother's belly, where it

suckles for several days. It later

spends several months on her

back. The troop shares the re­

sponsibility of bringing up the

young. All troop members help

the mother, grooming and de­

fending her and her young. The

male uakari is especially protec­

tive of his own offspring.

~RD263 QUOKKA "" ...... ________________ G_ ROUP 1: MAMMALS

.... ORDER .... FAMILY ~ GENUS &; SPECIES ~ Marsupialia ~ Macropodidae ~ Setonix brachyurus

The quokka is a marsupial that was once common across southwestern Australia. But it now survives only in scattered

parts of the continent and on two offshore islands.

¥ KEYFACTS

I i;&1 SIZES ~ Length: Head and body, 16-23

in. Tail, 10-14 in .

Weight: 4-11 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 2 years.

Mating season: Usually January

and February.

Gestation: 4 weeks.

No. of young: 1.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Nocturnal; solitary.

Diet: Grasses and low-growing

plants and herbs.

Lifespan: Up to 5 years.

RELATED SPECIES

There are 9 genera of kangaroo

and wallaby in the family Macropo­

didae. These include the eastern

gray kangaroo, Macropus gigan­

teus; and the rock wallabies in the

genus Petrogaie. The quokka is the

only species in the genus Setonix.

FEATURES OF THE QUOKKA

Keeping cool: Like many mammals in hot, dry climates, the quokka regulates its body heat by licking its feet , legs, tail , and belly until they are drenched with saliva. The evaporating moisture then cools the body.

Tail: Sparsely furred . Much shorter than that of most wallabies ; only about twice as long as the head.

Range of the quokka.

DISTRIBUTION

The quokka was once widespread in southwestern Australia.

Now it is mainly found on the islands of Rottnest and Bald,

off the country's west coast.

CONSERVATION

Although island populations are stable, a drastic increase in

numbers could exhaust the quokka's food supply.

Coat: Dense and fairly coarse , with long, soft underfur. Thickest on back. Grizzled gray brown color, sometimes with a reddish tinge.

rounded.

Legs and feet: Hind legs are much longer than forelegs, which is typical of wallabies. Sharp claws on all digits are useful for digging .

c C <l Q

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The quokka is a small/ solitary member of the wallaby

family that lives in the dense grass and undergrowth of dry,

scrubby habitats. Scientists have learned a great deal about

marsupials by studying the quokka in captivity. Howeve"

they know very little about this animal's habits in the wild.

~ HABITAT Like many kangaroos and wal­labies, the quokka has suffered from human encroachment. Habitat destruction and inten­sive grazing by domestic live­stock have greatly reduced its range. Once abundant in the swampy thickets of southwest­ern Australia, the quokka now lives only in a few isolated col­onies on the mainland and on the islands of Rottnest and Bald . In these locations, the animal is found primarily in dense grass and undergrowth.

The quokka holds a small ter­ritory that is about 20 acres. In­dividual territories may overlap, but the animals tolerate one an­other, and they are not aggres­sively territorial.

Within its grassy habitat, the quokka makes and uses run­ways and tunnels. In addition, it scratches shallow depressions in the ground to make tempo­rary refuges.

Right: Although scarce on main­land Australia, the quokka thrives on its island refuges.

DID YOU KNOW? • Rottnest means "rat's nest" in Dutch. Rottnest Island got its name from Dutch sailors who arrived on the island in 1658 and thought that the quokkas were rats.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The quokka feeds mainly be­tween dawn and dusk, but it rests in a shady ground scrape during the hottest part of the day. The animal grazes on the shoots of grasses, herbs, and other low plants.

In the dry summer months, quokkas on Rottnest Island of­ten move to areas near fresh wa­ter with lusher vegetation.

The quokka's digestive system is similar to that of a sheep. Bac­teria in its large stomach enable the animal to digest the large amounts of fiber in its diet.

Left: The quokka takes shelter in its ground scrape during the hottest parts of the day.

Right: The quokka sits up on its haunches to feed on the tender new shoots of shrubs.

• When grazing, the quokka often curls its tail between its hind feet and sits on it. Unlike many larger wallabies, how­ever, the quokka does not use its tail as a prop.

~ BREEDING The female quokka can breed at any time of year, but she is most receptive during January and February-the height of summer in Australia. Mating at this time of year ensures that the young, called a joeYt will leave its mother's pouch after the winter rains, when plants are most abundant.

After mating, the male often leaves the female, who gives birth after a four-week gesta­tion. The newborn joey weighs only a fraction of an ounce and

Left: The weath­er has little effect on the tempera­ture inside the pouch, so the joey is kept at a stable 9lJO F.

is deaf and blind. Using its strong claws, it climbs up its mother's belly into her pouch. For the next five or six months, it de­velops inside her pouch, at­tached to one of her teats.

Although the female usually produces only one joey each year, she often mates right af­ter giving birth. The newly fer­tilized egg does not develop, however, while a joey is in the female's pouch. If the joey dies, the egg develops and another young is born .

TAMANDUA

ORDER Edentata

... FAMILY ~ Myrmecophagidae

CARD 264

GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Tamandua mexicana, T. tetradactyla

Tam an duos, also known as lesser anteaters, are tree-dwelling creatures that live in South America. Although they resemble

their giant anteater cousin, they are only half its size.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

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

1 X-2X ft . Weight: 4~-15~ lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: Unknown.

Mating season: Fall.

No. of young: 1 .

Gestation: About 5 months.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Solitary; tree-dwelling; ac­

tive at night.

Diet: Termites, ants, and bees and

their honey.

Lifespan: Unknown in the wild.

At least 9 years in captivity.

• Range of tamanduas.

DISTRIBUTION

RELATED SPECIES

The northern tamandua, Taman­

dua mexican a, and the southern ta­

mandua, T. tetradactyla, are closely

related to the silky anteater, Cye/opes

didactylus, and the giant anteater,

Myrmecophaga tridactyla.

The tamanduas' range overlaps that of the giant anteater, from

southern Mexico to Paraguay and Argentina. The southern spe­

cies is also found in Trinidad.

CONSERVATION

Tamanduas have become rare mainly due to the loss of their

habitat. They are listed as endangered by the Convention on

International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

FEATURES OF TAMANDUAS

Northern tamandua: Both northern and southern tamanduas have dense, bristly hair and light brown coloring. But the northern species has a black area along its back that extends onto its neck and around it-si(hlle, somewhat like a vest.

•

Tail: Long, scaly, and partly hairless, unlike the tail of the giant anteater. Acts as a fifth limb to give a firm grip on branches when climbing.

Tongue: May be up to 16 inches

long. Tamanduas have no teeth and use their tongues

to lick up food .

SOUTHERN TAMANDUA

The coat of the southern tamandua varies throughout its range, but the light, sandy coloring predominates.

Black or dark brown individuals oc­cur in Peru, in the foothills of the Andes in Ecuador, and around the Amazon delta.

(; o ill

a.. (f) ::::>

When they were first discovered, tamanduas were

thought to be very clumsy creatures. They cannot gal/op

like the giant anteater, and they move with stiffly held

limbs. Yet these creatures are perfectly equipped for life

in the trees, where they consume enormous quantities

of insects such as termites and ants. Tamanduas can

also fight predators much larger than themselves.

~ HABITS Tamanduas are solitary animals that are active at night. They mostly inhabit the edges of for­ests and wooded savannas in South America, where they live in hollow trees. They may also be found in scrubland, plains, and rainforests.

A tamandua communicates either with a loud hiss or by emit­ting a pungent odor. In this way an individual announces its pres­ence, which serves as a defen­sive measure.

A tamandua's arms and legs are very powerful, but its hands and feet are less specialized than those of other anteaters. Never­theless, tamanduas can demol-

ish termite mounds, anthills, and other insect nests.

Tamanduas are quick to de­fend themselves against pred­ators. If it is in a tree, the animal uses its hind feet and tail to form a tripod. This position allows it to stretch its arms, with its long claws bared, toward the enemy. If assaulted on the ground, a tamandua defends itself by lean­ing against a tree or rock. As a last resort it falls backward, hiss­ing loudly and slashing at the enemy with its hind feet, just like a big cat.

Right: Tamanduas are members of the order Edentata, which means "without teeth. "

Left: Aside from some differences in coloring, north­ern and south­ern tamanduas are similar. The southern species tends to live in more open hab­itats in Brazil and Venezuela and spends less time in the trees. It may also oc­cupya much larger range.

DID YOU KNOW? • Because of the smelly scent they emit, tamanduas are known by a local name mean­ing "stinkers of the forest." • The stomach of one taman­dua was found to contain more than one pound of ants and their larvae. • While foraging in the trees, a female may set her offspring

~ BREEDING Little is known about the breed­ing habits of tamanduas. They probably mate in fall. After a gestation of about five months, the female gives birth to a single young in the spring. She carries it on her back, both in the trees and on the ground.

Unlike the giant anteater, a young tamandua differs in col­oring from the adult. At birth its fur varies from black to white.

Right: A tamandua has a long, scaly, almost hairless tail that serves as a fifth limb.

on a branch, where it remains until she has finished. • Tamanduas spend most of the day asleep in trees. Their mottled coat coloring provides excellent camouflage. • At 91 0 F tamanduas have one of the lowest body tem­peratures on record of any ac­tive land mammal.

~ FOOD & FEEDING Tamanduas have a specialized diet, feeding mainly on small insects like ants and termites. They also eat bees and honey.

Tamanduas usually feed at night, using their long tails to grasp branches as they climb slowly through the trees and sniff for insect nests. When a tamandua finds a nest, it breaks

into it with its curved claws and uses its long, sticky tongue to lick up the insects.

At times a tamandua may slash open a nest, only to be covered by a swarm of ants. Although its skin is tough and its coat thick, the tamandua may be bitten. In­tent on its meal, however, it continues to feed from the nest, perhaps pausing to scratch at a sting with a hind foot. After the meal is over, it gets rid of the ants on its coat by dropping to the ground and picking them off one by one.

Left: The gripping tail acts as a support, leaving the forepaws free for feeding.

" CARD 265 1

MOUSE OPOSSUM ,, _____________________________ ~G~R~O~U~P~l~: ~M~A~M~M~A=LS~~ .. ORDER .. FAMILY .. GENUS ~ Marsupia/ia ~ Didelphidae ~ Marmosa

Mouse opossums are marsupials. But unlike other opossums, the female lacks a pouch in which to carry her offspring. Instead, the

young cling to her back or hang between her hind legs.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: Head and body, 3-7 in.

Tail, 3~-11 in .

Weight: 1-8 oz.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 9 months.

Breeding season: Some species

breed year-round; others breed

seasonally.

Gestation: 2 weeks.

No. of young: 3-15.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Solitary; night-active.

Diet: Insects, small rodents, birds'

eggs, and fruit.

Lifespan: Approximately 1 year in

the wild.

RELATED SPECIES

There are 47 mouse opossum spe­

cies. Some of the better-known

species include the murine mouse

opossum, the ashy mouse opos­

sum, and the Mexican mouse

opossum.

Range of mouse opossums.

DISTRIBUTION

The 47 species of mouse opossum are found in Mexico, Cen­

tral America, and South America. They are absent only from

the Andes, the Chilean desert, and Patagonia.

CONSERVATION

Mouse opossums are in no danger of extinction. However,

their future could be jeopardized by brush clearance in the

Andes and the destruction of the rainforests.

FEATURES OF THE COMMON MOUSE OPOSSUM

Snout: Long and pointed.

Ears: Can be folded during sleep.

Feet: 5 digits on each of the 4 paws. Able to grasp.

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

Tail: Prehensile (gripping). Used for climbing and g rasping materi­al. In some spe­cies, base of tail swells up for fat

storage.

US P 6001 12074 PACKET 74

There are 47 species of mouse opossum and as many as

150 subspecies. These animals have naked ears, large

protruding eyes, and smooth shiny fur. With their long,

hairless, prehensile tails, mouse opossums are able to grip

branches as they move through the forest in search of food.

~ HABITS The 47 mouse opossum species live in Mexico, Central America, and South America. Their habi­tats range from tropical rainfor­est to semidesert areas.

To cope with their nocturnal lifestyle, most mouse opossums have keen vision and hearing. Their ears often twitch as they track different animal sounds.

The climbing ability of the dif­ferent species varies, depending on their lifestyle. For example, the ashy mouse opossum and the gray mouse opossum live in trees and are good climbers. Other species, like the Chilean mouse opossum, are adapted to life on the ground and have shorter tails and smaller feet.

Nest sites vary among mouse

opossums. Some make nests in hollow logs or under rocks. Oth­ers use abandoned birds' nests. The pale-bellied mouse opos­sum does not have a permanent nest. It spends the day in any suitable shelter and then moves on at night.

Mouse opossums are solitary creatures. When two individuals meet, they frequently threaten each other by baring their sharp teeth and hissing. Up to seven species may occupy the same part of a forest. But differences in body size and climbing ability ensure that they do not com­pete for food .

Right: Insects such as grasshoppers make up the bulk of a mouse opos­sum 's diet.

~ BREEDING Mouse opossums breed year­round in tropical regions and up to three times a year in cooler areas. While courting, the male approaches the female with a clicking noise. A fertile female usually lets the male mount her but drives him away if she is not receptive. For the pale-bellied mouse opossum, mating may last six hours.

Gestation takes two weeks. The litter size may vary from 3

left: With acute hearing and keen vision, a mouse opossum can for­age for food at night.

DID YOU KNOW? • Mouse opossums may nest in banana stalks. When the fruit is shipped to the United States, the mouse opossums turn up in grocery stores. • Not all mouse opossums are

to up to 15 in the case of the pale-bellied mouse opossum. Less than half an inch long, the embryonic newborns immedi­ately attach themselves to their mother's teats. Any that drop from the teat are left to die.

The young let go of the moth­er's teats after three weeks and cling to her back or hang be­tween her hind legs. Their eyes open at five weeks old, and they leave the nest a few days later.

Right: Breeding is timed so that food is plentiful when the young leave their mother.

as small as thei r name sug­gests. The gray mouse opos­sum grows to 18 inches long. • A newborn mouse opossum is not much larger than a grain of rice.

left: A mouse opossum grips branches with its strong tail as it moves slowly through the forest in search of food.

~ FOOD & FEEDING Mouse opossums feed mainly on fruit and insects and are very fond of large grasshoppers. A mouse opossum will leap up to catch a grasshopper in midair. It then discards the hard parts and lower legs and devours the rest of the grasshopper.

Mouse opossums also feed on small rodents, lizards, and birds' eggs. Raw sugar is a favorite of the murine mouse opossum, and it may damage sugar, ba­nana, and mango crops.

When it forages in trees, a mouse opossum moves slowly, gripping the branches with its strong, prehensile tail. The ani­mal may at times hang upside down by its tail and hold its meal in its forefeet while eating.

NYALA

ORDER Artiodactyla

FAMILY Bovidae

"", CARD 266

CROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS &: SPECIES Tragelaphus angasi

The nyala is a large, agile antelope that lives in a few small areas of savanna in southeastern Africa. A wary creature,

it rarely strays far from the cover of trees and bushes.

_____ ~~K_E_YFA~C~T~S~--------------------------~

SIZES

Head and body length: Up to 5 ft. Male larger than female.

Tail: Male, 17 in. Female, 14 in.

Horns: 2 ft. Weight: 250-280 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: About 3 years.

Mating: Peaks from August to

December and again in May.

Gestation: 7 months.

No. of young: 1.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Sociable, living in herds.

Diet: Grass, leaves, flowers, fruit.

Call: Deep-throated, roaring bark.

Lifespan: About 16 years.

RELATED SPECIES

In addition to the nyala, the genus

Tragelaphus includes the bush buck,

the sitatunga, the greater and less­

er kudus, the mountain nyala, and

the bongo.

j;;ATURES OF THE NYALA

Range of the nyala.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in localized areas of savanna in southeastern Africa, in­

cluding national parks in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa,

and Zimbabwe.

CONSERVATION

Although its habitat has been fragmented, the nyala is relative­

ly safe, thanks to strictly enforced protection laws in the coun­

tries in which it lives.

I Male: Charcoal gray with up to 14 thin white stripes and a darker shaggy band on the neck. Light crest along the neck and back, which is raised to warn off other males.

Horns: Dark Chestnut lower legs. Unusual long , black fringe runs from throat to rump.

are ivory­colored .

Head: Both sexes have large ears that pick up sounds of approaching predators. Male has white mark­ings between the eyes.

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

A few white spots on the thighs. Long, bushy tail.

Female: Much smaller than

the male. Pale chestnut coat

with bright white stripes

and spots and a short black

crest along the back. Both fe­male and male

young have the adult fema le's

coloring.

us P 6001 12078 PACKET 78

The nyala is distinctive because of the striking difference

between the male and female. The pale chestnut female

is marked with vivid white stripes. The much larger

charcoal gray male has a shaggy black fringe running

from throat to rump that is unique among antelope.

~ HABITS The nyala usually lives in low­

lying savanna. In the open, it is

vulnerable to predators such as

leopards and lions, so it stays

within reach of cover. If nyalas

are forced into the open in or­

der to feed or drink, they con­

gregate in larger groups than

normal for protection.

The nyala roams over a terri­

tory of one-quarter to one and

one-half square miles. It usually

lives in a herd that varies in size

from as few as 3 to as many as

30 individuals. Male and mixed

herds are led by a single male.

Family groups are often domi­

nated by a female. Nyala herds

are not territorial.

Males rarely fight fiercely, but

they may stand on their hind

legs and lock horns when com-

peting for a female. The male

may also display by raising the

fringe of hair along his back,

flipping his bushy tail up, and

prancing slowly about with his

legs held high. In addition, the

male may keep rivals away by

beating the grass with his horns

and pawing the ground with

his cloven hooves. In the few

cases of real aggression, males

may attack each other head-on

with their horns.

The nyala coexists peacefully

near other antelope. However,

it likes to keep some distance,

and it will move away if a herd

of another species comes too

close to it.

Right: The young nyala is guarded by its watchful mother at the water hole, where it is vulnerable.

~ BREEDING The female nyala gives birth to

one calf in a thicket. She leaves

the newborn for 18 days but re­

turns periodically to suckle and

clean it. The calf then joins its

mother in the herd and stays

near her until it is weaned.

It is difficult for the young to

survive the long dry season. So

births tend to peak in the wet

season, when the calf has a

chance to build up strength.

Left: The nyala usually lives in a herd, but individuals may wander alone for months.

DID YOU KNOW? • The name nyala comes from a Bantu word for the animal.

• The nyala frequently drinks

very near crocodiles, undis­

turbed by the threat of their

presence. Surprisingly, the

The male calf's horns appear

soon after birth but take four

years to grow to full length. Af­

ter he leaves his mother, the

young male joins a group of

two or three other males. He

feeds and plays with them but

soon grows more solitary. Fe­

males tend to stay in family

groups or join other females.

Mixed herds also occur, espe­

cially during mating periods.

Right: Most births are during the wet season, when there is plenty of grass for the calf to eat.

reptiles rarely attack the nyala.

• The nyala was once known

as Angas's bush buck, after

Douglas Angas, who was the

first European naturalist to

record the species.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The nyala feeds from late after­

noon until early the next morn­

ing. It eats a variety of grasses,

twigs, flowers, seed pods, and

fruit, as well as some crop plants.

In addition it eats the leaves of

more than 100 types of trees

and plants, including the acacia,

mustard tree, monkey orange,

and cucumber bush, as well as

the bark of the baobab tree.

The nyala usually feeds within

the herd's home range. It twists

its tongue around the food and

then breaks it off against its low­

er teeth. When grass is young,

the nyala eats the juicy shoots,

cropping them with its lips rath­

er than its teeth. Grass forms

about two-thirds of its diet, but

in the dry season it also eats fall­

en leaves.

BANK VOLE

ORDER Rodentia

FAMILY Muridae

GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Ciethrionomys g/areo/us

The bank vole is one of the smallest species of vole found in Europe. It lives in deciduous woodlands and hedgerows, where

it is often preyed upon by tawny owls and weasels.

KEY FACTS

SIZES Length: Up to 5 in. Weight: Up to 1 X oz.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 4-5 weeks. Breeding season: Usually from mid-April to December. No. of young: 3-6 per litter; 4-5 litters per season. Gestation: 17-21 days.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Usually solitary. Active in short bursts, especially at dawn and dusk. Diet: Seeds, berries and other fruits, bulbs, roots, and fungi. lifespan: 2 years maximum, but many die at a few months old.

RELATED SPECIES Members of the family Muridae in­clude the northern red-backed vole, Ciethrionomys ruti/us, and the field vole, Microtus agrestis.

THE BANK AND FIELD VOLES

Bank vole: Small , thickset, mouselike build. Adult can be distinguished from the field vole by its red-brown coat. However, the ju­venile bank vole is grayer and less distinct.

Feeding: The bank vole nibbles a neat hole in a hazelnut shell to extract the nut. A roughly split or halved shell may be the work of a squirrel.

©MCMXCVI IMP BV/IMP INC. WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

Range of the bank vole.

DISTRIBUTION The bank vole is found throughout Europe, except for the far north and parts of the Mediterranean region, and eastward to Kazakhstan in Central Asia.

CONSERVATION Despite habitat destruction across its range, the chemical poi­soning of rivers, and its many predators, the bank vole is not threatened.

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Field vole: Fur is usually grayish brown and sometimes

has a yellow-brown tinge on the back. Short tail and small ears.

Feet: Have sharp claws for gripping when running and for

clutching food when eating.

US P 6001 12 075 PACKET 75

The bank vole breeds often and quickly. It produces up to

five litters a yea" with three to six young in each litter. As a

result, its numbers can rapidly reach epidemic proportions.

This abundance is controlled naturally" however, since a

surge in the bank vole population is certain to be followed

closely by an increase in the number of its predators.

~ HABITS The bank vole has several short periods of activity throughout the day and night, but it is most active just before dawn and af­ter dusk. It lives in undergrowth along hedgerows and banks as well as in thickets on the forest floor. The bank vole has adapted to a more open habitat in some parts of its range, but it still seeks cover from birds of prey.

The bank vole travels on paths that have been worn through the undergrowth or along tun-

nels that are dug just below the surface. These routes form a net­work across the animal's home range, which is approximately 400 square feet. The bank vole often digs a nest burrow in soft soil between the roots of a tree or shrub. The burrow may have several entrances at the surface.

Bank voles can run, climb, and swim very well. However, de­spite their agility, large numbers of them fall prey to weasels, kes­trels, and owls.

DID YOU KNOW? • The Skomer vole is a "giant" subspecies, approximately the same length as the bank vole but weighing twice as much. It lives only on Skomer Island, off the coast of Wales. • In some areas the bank vole is considered a serious pest. It

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The bank vole feeds on seeds, nuts, fungi, roots, and bulbs. It also eats berries and other fruit. It forages along the forest floor and in trees, eating whatever is in season.

The bank vole gathers seeds, berries, and nuts during the fall to supplement its winter diet. It digs a small, isolated hole, fills it with food, and then covers it. In some regions there are signs that the bank vole digs special food chambers that are con­nected to its network of under­ground tunnels.

Left: The bank vole's diet changes with the seasons and varies with its location.

Right: Although the bank vole is usually solita'Yt individual territo­ries may overlap.

strips bark from small trees, es­pecially larches and elders. It also eats the buds of young conifer trees. • Ayoung bank vole calls out to its mother with ultrasonic squeaks that are too high for humans to hear.

r' . NATUREWATCH l Although its tiny size makes it it has been able to adapt to vulnerable to predators, the small groves of trees and to

I bank vole is common in many farmland . It is even seen near parts of Europe. water. The bank vole can be

It has suffered little from the quite difficult to spot. It often loss of hedgerows and the appears as just a rusty brown clearance of forests. Instead, streak on a woodland path.

~ BREEDING Like many rodent species, the bank vole has a short lifespan­sometimes just a few months. The animal therefore reaches sexual maturity a few weeks af­ter birth, and the female can pro­duce as many as five litters in one year.

The breeding season starts in thespring,and~peaksduring

June. The season may continue

Left: The young are not helpless for long. They leave the nest at a few weeks old.

into December if there is plenty of food.

After a gestation of 1 7 to 21 days, the female gives birth to three to six young in an under­ground nest chamber that she has lined with grass, moss, and feathers. The young are born blind and hairless. They suckle from their mother for two or three weeks. Soon they are able to breed, and females from the first litter of the season may pro­duce offspring later that year.

"" CARD 268 I RIVER OTTER "~ ______________________________ G_R_O_U_P_l _: M __ A_M_M_A_L_S~ ... ORDER ... FAMILY .. GENUS &: SPECIES

...... Carnivora ...... Mustelidae ~ Lutra canadensis

The river otter is the only freshwater otter found in North America. Like all otters, it is a powerful swimmer and a formidable

predator of fish, amphibians, and small aquatic mammals.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: Head and body, 3-4 ft. Tail, l-l~ft . Weight: 17 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 2 years, however

competition between males usual­

ly delays mating for an additional

3 years. Mating season: Late winter to

early spring. Gestation: 8-12 months.

No. of young: 1-5.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Family groups or solitary.

Diet: Mainly fish; also frogs, in­

sects, and small mammals.

Lifespan: Up to 16 years.

RELATED SPECIES

The genus Lutra contains 8 species.

Of these, the river otter is most

closely related to otters found in

the American tropics.

Range of the river otter.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in rivers and lakes in virtually all parts of North America,

from the edge of the Arctic tundra to the Gulf of Mexico.

CONSERVATION

As a group, otters have suffered badly from habitat destruc­

tion, the use of pesticides, and excessive trapping for their fur.

The river otter is becoming increasingly rare in the United

States and Canada.

FEATURES OF THE RIVER OTTER

Tail: Long and pow­erful. Acts as a rudder.

Eyes: Specially adapted to en­able the otter to see equally well above and below the water.

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

Feet: Webbed for swim­ming. Clawed and padded

for digging a holt (den).

Body: Slender and streamlined,

enabling the otter to move quickly in

the water.

Coat: Predominantly brown with lighter throat patch.

Sleek when wet.

0160200811 PACKET 81

The river otter is a sociable and playful animal that lives

in a family group in which both parents raise the young.

Because it has been extensively hunted for many years,

the river otter has become extremely wary of humans.

As a result, this animal is rarely seen in the wild.

~ HABITS The river otter is found in riv­

ers and lakes in North America,

from the Arctic tundra's edge

to the Gulf of Mexico. It builds

its den and forages along the

shores of wooded streams. It

may travel many miles over­

land in its search for new river

basins, or ice-free water in the

winter. It usually has a loping

gait on land. On snowy ground,

however, it moves in a series of

three quick jumps followed by

a slide along the snow or ice.

The river otter's strong legs,

webbed feet, powerful tail, and

streamlined body make it an ex­

pert swimmer. When swimming

slowly, it paddles with all four

legs. To pick up speed, it moves

its entire hindquarters in swift,

up-and-down movements.

The river otter is mainly noc­

turnal but may be seen by day

in remote areas. It is active all

winter except in the worst con­

ditions, when it takes shelter

for a few days.

~ BREEDING The river otter mates in late win­

ter or early spring. The gestation

period lasts 8 to 12 months be­

cause the development of the

egg may be delayed. The female

usually makes her holt, or den,

in an abandoned beaver lodge

or a burrow on the bank of a

stream or lake.

The female gives birth to one

to five kits (young). They are

fully furred but blind and help-

Left: The river otter lifts its head to sniff for the scent of predators.

DID YOU KNOW? • The river otter likes to "to­

boggan" down snowy slopes

by sliding on its belly.

• The river otter is able to see

equally well above and below

the water.

less. After 5 weeks their eyes be­

gin to open, and after 10 weeks

they venture from the den. The

female soon teaches them to

swim. At first she looks after the

litter, but the male often rejoins

the family when the kits are six

months old. The offspring are

sexually mature at age two, but

competition among males usu­

ally keeps them from mating

until they are five years old.

Right: The river otter is becoming increasingly rare in North America.

Left: The river otter is sexually mature at two years of age but seldom breeds until it has reached five years.

• On frozen lakes, river otters

lump and slide at speeds of

up to 19 miles per hour.

• In their travels on land, riv­

er otters cover as much as 55

miles each year.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The river otter eats mostly fish,

including minnows, trout, cat­

fish, sculpins, and perch. In ad­

dition, it feeds on frogs, insects,

and small mammals like shrews,

muskrats, and young beavers. It

hunts by swimming on the wa­

ter's surface. When it sees prey it

dives down and following a brief

chase captures its victim in its

sharp teeth. It often feeds on fish

Left: The river otter often drags larger prey onto land before de­vouring it.

Left: With its slender bod}/J strong tail, and webbed feet, the river otter is an excellent swimmer. It can swim from the age of four months.

while swimming on its back,

resting its meal on its chest.

An ingenious predator, the

river otter sometimes breaks

holes in beaver dams, waits for

the water to run out, and then

eats the stranded fish and frogs.

The river otter hunts at night,

often over a wide area. It swims

upstream to search for prey in

small inlets and streams. The

next day it hides in reedy lakes

and resumes hunting at night,

returning home in several days.

'" CARD 269 I DORCAS GAZELLE

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

ORDER Artiodactyla

FAMILY Bovidae

GENUS & SPECIES Gazella dorcas

The graceful dorcas gazelle has been known to humans since antiquity. Today, however, uncontrolled hunting is threatening its

existence, and only a few countries have taken protective measures.

"I KEY FACTS

I ~I SIZES ~ Length: 3-3~ ft.

Height: About 2 ft. Weight: 33-44 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: Female, 9 months. Male, 18 months. Breeding season: April to June. Gestation period: 6 months. No. of young: 1.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Social; lives in a herd. Diet: Grasses, leaves, shoots, fruit, other plant material, and locusts. Call: A quacking sound when alarmed. Lifespan: 10-12 years or more.

RELATED SPECIES There are 11 other species of ga­zelle, including Grant's gazelle, Gazella granti, and Thomson's ga­zelle, G. thomsoni. Both of these species are common on the plains of East Africa.

Range of the dorcas gazelle.

DISTRIBUTION Sparsely distributed throughout North Africa and from the Middle East to Pakistan and eastern India.

CONSERVATION Hunting and poaching have caused the dorcas gazelle to be­come extinct throughout much of its former range. It is now considered a threatened animal and is protected in Israel, So­malia, and Tunisia.

FEATURES OF THE DORCAS GAZELLE

Male: Distinguished by long, S-shaped, ridged horns that slope backward. The horns are about 15 inches long.

Coat: Color varies depending on area. Gazelles that live west of the Nile River are usually a sand color, while those east of the river are a redder tone. The belly is usually paler, and there is a white area around the tail's base.

Calf: Weighs less than 4 pounds at birth. It is slightly darker than its parents, but its coat lightens witbin a few weeks.

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

Female: Identified by

her horns, which display

the same ridged pattern as the

male's horns but are thinner and

steeper. They are also about half the size of

the male's horns, measuring only

6 to 8 inches.

0160200621 PACKET 62

The dorcas gazelle is a slender, beautifully formed

small antelope that inhabits a range stretching from

North Africa to eastern India. Distinguished by the

ridged patterns of its horns, this graceful animal is

widely regarded as the classic gazelle, and it clearly

exhibits the defining features of this group. Like

other gazelles, it can run at great speeds.

~ HABITS As the male dorcas gazelle ma­tures, he becomes increasingly territorial. He becomes especial­ly territorial during the mating season, when he uses an elabo­rate ritual to mark his territory with piles of manure.

The male dorcas gazelle be­gins by scraping the ground sev­eral times, first with one foreleg and then with the other. Next, he steps forward with his fore­legs, stretching his hind legs be­hind him and bringing his belly close to the ground. He urinates and then brings his hind legs forward so that he is squatting.

Finally, he defecates on the site where he has just urinated. Al­though other male gazelles per­form similar rituals, they are not as complex.

During the breeding season, a single male with a territory may acquire and dominate a group of females, along with their re­cent offspring. Other herds are made up of non breeding bach­elors without territories, or there may be groups that have mixed sexes of all ages.

Right: The young dorcas gazelle is fully weaned within a few months of birth.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING The dorcas gazelle is essential­Iya browsing animal. It feeds mainly in the morning and eve­ning on grasses, herbs, and the foliage of trees and shrubs. It usually eats whatever is green­est and most plentiful. During spring or after a rainfall, for ex­ample, it feeds mainly on fresh grass. Later in the year it may chew on leaves and fruit.

Dorcas gazelles roam widely in small herds across the arid

Left: The ridges on dorcas ga­zelles I horns may keep them interlocked during battle.

DID YOU KNOW? • Inscriptions from ancient Egyptian tombs suggest that the dorcas gazelle was kept in captivity as early as 2000 B.C. • The word dorcas is taken from the Greek word dorkas, meaning "gazelle." • Falcons and dogs are used to hunt the dorcas gazelle for its meat. The falcons strike

plains looking for vegetation. Although predominantly plant eaters, they may eat locusts if there is no suitable vegetation.

The dorcas gazelle does not require very much water. Un­like many animals, it does not need to drink directly from a pond or pool. Instead, the dor­cas gazelle is capable of absorb­ing the moisture it needs from succulent plants and fruits, such as wild watermelons.

Right: By playing at fighting, young dorcas gazelles learn how to defend their future territories.

the gazelle near its head, and the dogs bring it down. • To confuse its enemies, the dorcas gazelle uses a vertical hopping movement called stotting that is characteristic of small antelope and gazelles. • The dorcas gazelle can run very fast, reaching speeds of 40 miles per hour.

~ HABITAT The dorcas gazelle lives in open savannas, semi deserts, and des­erts. Its range includes North Africa and the Middle East, ex­tending across a belt that is bor­dered by the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea. The dorcas gazelle is scattered all over the Arabian peninsula and is found as far east as Pakistan and India.

~ BREEDING The male dorcas gazelle has a special nasal fold that allows him to sniff a potential mate's urine and discover when she is ready to mate. With his ears spread sideways and his head and neck outstretched, the male chases the female. He drives her in front and makes gurgling sounds. When she pauses, he may give her a light kick with his foreleg. If she flees, he may chase her until she con­cedes. If she just continues walk­ing, he follows behind, giving an occasional kick. The male

Although the dorcas gazelle prefers sandy areas with some vegetation, it has adapted well to desert conditions. It can sur­vive in very hot and dry terrain.

The dorcas gazelle is some­times a social animal, living in herds of up to 40 individuals. In parts of its range it appears common, but the overall pop­ulation has greatly shrunk.

sometimes needs several tries before he mounts the female.

After a gestation period of six months, the female gives birth to one offspring, usually in the spring. The newborn weighs less than four pounds. At first it is a darker color than its parents, but it becomes lighter within a week or two.

The female guards her calf for the first few days and attempts to hide it in the sparse under­growth. The calf is soon able to follow its mother and in a few weeks can equal her in speed.

GIANT ARMADILLO

,,~-------------~ ORDER

Edentata FAMILY Dasypodidae

GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Priodontes maximus

With its thick protective plates, the giant armadillo looks more like a heavily armored reptile than a mammal. It is the largest

of the 20 armadillo species in South America.

~ KEYFACTS __________________________ ~ I ~I SIZES ~ Length: Head and body, 3 ~ ft.

Tail, 1 ~ ft. Weight: 110-130 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: Unknown.

Gestation: Unknown.

No. of young: 1-2.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Active mainly at night,

sleeping up to 19 hours a day.

Usually solitary.

Diet: Termites and other insects,

spiders, worms, and snakes.

Lifespan: Unknown.

RELATED SPECIES

There are 19 other armadillo spe­

cies in South America, including

the hairy armadillo, Chaetophrac­

tus vi/losus. The closely related

nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus

novemcinctus, ranges as far north

as the southern United States.

Range of the giant armadillo.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in South American forests and some grasslands, from

Venezuela to northern Argentina.

CONSERVATION

The continuing destruction of the Amazon rainforest threatens

the natural habitat of the giant armadillo. However, the animal

is protected in national parks and nature reserves in Colombia,

Peru, Brazil, and Suriname.

FEATURES OF THE GIANT ARMADillO

Skin: Covered with tough, bony plates over the head, back, and sides. The plates on the back are arranged in bands.

Tail: Powerful and armored , used for protection when the animal is attacked.

©MCMXCVI IMP BV/IMP INC. WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

~~~

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Eyes: Small. The armadillo relies mainly on its excep­tional sense

of smell to find food at night.

Forefeet: Very powerful for dig­ging and armed with 5 claws. At

8 inches long , the sharp mid­dle claw is the largest claw of

any animal.

US P 6001 12 078 PACKET 78

In Spanish the giant armadillos name means "armored

one"-a reference to the thick, horny plates that cover

the animals head, back, and flanks. The giant armadillo

is a shy creature that preys mainly on small animals such

as insects. It generally flees at the first sign of danger.

~ HABITAT The giant armadillo is native to

South America. It has a wide

range but rarely ventures into

the cooler areas of the conti­

nent. As the growing human

population has forced the arma­

dillo into small, isolated groups,

its numbers have dwindled.

This shy, solitary creature lives

in the dense undergrowth of

tangled forest swamps. For up

to 19 hours each day, it sleeps

in a 6- to 10-foot-long burrow,

which it digs with its powerful

forefeet and sharp claws.

~ BREEDING Scientists know little about the

breeding habits of the elusive

giant armadillo. But it is known

that if there are two offspring in

a litter, they develop from one

fertilized egg so that both have

identical genes. Known as poly­embryony, this phenomenon

is rare among mammals. The

young have tough skin, and it

soon develops the protective,

horny scales of the adult.

Right: Although the young is heavi­Iyarmored, it has a much softer underside than that of the adult.

~ FOOD & HUNTING In its few waking hours, which

are at night, the giant armadillo

searches for termite mounds as

well as anthills.

The animal uses its keen sense

of smell to find most of its food.

When it sniffs ants and termites

under the earth, it gouges out a

tunnel, digging frantically with

the long, curved middle claw

Left: The giant armadillo uses its huge claws to dig up insects.

DID YOU KNOW? • A giant armadillo can hold its breath for six minutes or

more. This is useful when its

snout is deep in a burrow.

• While smashing a termite mound with its strong fore­

feet, a giant armadillo can

on each forefoot. It may use its

armor-plated back to hold up the roof of the tunnel while it

is digging . When it reaches the anthill or

termite mound, it consumes the

insects that adhere to its sticky

tongue. The giant armadillo

supplements this diet with spi­

ders, small snakes, and leaves.

Right: The giant armadillo's hear­ing and sense of smell are good.

-1 support itself with its hind legs

and tail.

• The giant armadillo has up to 100 teeth, more than any

other land mammal. Most of

these teeth fall out by adult­

hood, however.

The tough shield of the giant

armadillo is one of the most ef­

fective defenses in the animal

world. Made up of thick, horny

plates that are pinkish to brown

in color, the armor covers the

animal's head and back and ex­

tends down its sides. The plates

on this armadillo's back are ar­

ranged in bands, and those in

the middle are flexible to per­

mit maneuverability.

Although the giant armadillo

cannot curl up into a ball to de­

fend itself like smaller armadillo

species, its size and menacing

claws usually deter attackers.

The giant armadillo generally

flees when threatened and can

outrun most humans. Some

naturalists believe that the ar­

madillo senses vibrations from

footsteps that warn them of an

enemy's approach.