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'" CARD 331 I TREE KANGAROO ,, ________________________________ G_R_O_U_P_l_:_M_A_M_M __ A_lS __ ~ ... ORDER ... FAMILY ... GENUS ~ Marsupia/ia ~ Macropodidae ~ Oendro/agus
Tree kangaroos live high in the tree canopy, where they feed on the abundant supplies of fruit and foliage. These animals have remarkably long tails, which help them balance in the trees.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Body, 1 ~-2~ ft. Tail,
1 ~-3 ft . Weight: 9-31 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Probably 18
months.
Mating: Year-round.
Gestation: Probably 1 month.
No. of young: 1.
Time in pouch: 13 months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Night-active. Lives alone or
in groups of up to 4.
Diet: Leaves and fruit.
Call : Loud alarm growl.
RELATED SPECIES
The 6 species of tree kangaroo in
the genus Oendro/agus include the
black tree kangaroo, Lumholtz's
tree kangaroo, and the rare Mat
schie's tree kangaroo.
Range of tree kangaroos.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in highland and adjacent lowland forest in New Guinea
and in rainforest in Cape York Peninsula, northeast Australia.
CONSERVATION
Several species have declined in number recently because of
forest clearance. In New Guinea, Goodfellow's tree kangaroo
and Doria's tree kangaroo are threatened by hunting.
FEATURES OF TREE KANGAROOS
Fur: Mottled blackish brown; creamcolored underparts. Fur parts on the back or on the neck, and hairs above the part grow forward.
TWO OF THE SIX SPECIES
Bennett's tree kangaroo: Predominantly light brown with dark brown feet and
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There are six species of tree kangaroo. Fossil evidence
suggests that the ancestors of these animals developed in
Australia. Toda}/t howeve" four of the species live in New
Guinea. All tree kangaroos are specially adapted for life in
the trees. They are strikingly different in build from their
cousins, the ground-dwelling kangaroos and wallabies.
~ HABITS The six species of tree kangaroo
inhabit tropical forests in New
Guinea and northeastern Aus
tralia. They are difficult to study
since they often live in moun
tainous terrain-in New Guinea,
at heights of up to 10,000 feet.
A tree kangaroo rests or sleeps
in the day, crouched high on a
branch. At night it feeds alone
or in a group of up to four ani
mals. To suit this tree-dwelling
lifestyle, its body is very different
from the bodies of other kanga
roos. The structure of a tree kan
garoo's hip allows the animal to
move its hind legs independent
ly of each other-something
no other kangaroo can do. As a
result, a tree kangaroo prefers to
walk instead of hopping like its
ground-dwelling relatives.
When this kangaroo climbs a
tree, it grips the trunk with its
forefeet and pushes itself up us
ing alternate strides of its hind
legs. When descending, it backs
down, moving its forelegs alter
nately while its hind feet slide
against the bark. This agile ani
mal moves rapidly among the
trees, leaping up to 30 feet be
tween branches.
Right: A tree kangaroo spends a great deal more time in the pouch than its ground-dwelling relatives.
~ FOOD & FEEDING Tree kangaroos feed both in the
trees and on the ground. They
eat some fruit but feed primari
lyon leaves. Since leaves are not
highly nutritious, a tree kanga
roo must consume a great num
ber. Its stomach can hold and
Left: Goodfellow's tree kangaroo is one of the most brightly colored of all marsupials.
DID YOU KNOW? • In Australia tree kangaroos
are also known by the Aborig
inal name boongarry.
• A tree kangaroo can jump
to the ground from a height
of more than 60 feet.
digest large quantities at a time.
A tree kangaroo bites off fo
liage by pulling a small branch
toward its mouth. This very dex
terous animal can also bend its
forepaw at the wrist and grasp
stems between its fingers .
Right: A tree kangaroo employs its long tail as a balancing pole while climbing in the trees.
• Tree kangaroos are hunted for their flesh in New Guinea.
Hunters climb trees and catch
the kangaroos by their tails or
scare them to the ground
where dogs are waiting.
Left: Lumholtz's tree kangaroo is a common animal in Australia's coastal rainforests. It feeds at night on leaves and fruit.
Food is plentiful all year in the
tropical forests, so tree kanga
roos do not have a set breeding
season. Courtship and mating
may occur at any time.
In Lumholtz's tree kangaroo, a
male courts a female by making
a quiet clucking sound and gen
tly pawing at her head. When
she turns away, he follows and
paws her tail. The animals mate
soon afterward.
Rival males may fight savagely
-wrestling, biting, and striking
out with their forepaws. Often
one male attacks another from
behind without warning.
The female gives birth to a sin
gle joey (young), which crawls
into her pouch and attaches it
self to one of her teats. Once
weaned, the joey continues to
develop in the pouch for up to
13 months.
Left: The rare Matschie's tree kangaroo of New Guinea is a particularly good climber.
CRABEATER SEAL
ORDER Carnivora
FAMILY Phocidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Lobodon carcinophagus
The crabeater seal is perfectly at home in the gloomy waters beneath the Antarctic pack ice-a world so forbidding and remote
that scientists knew little about the seal ~ habits until recently.
~ KEY FACTS
I i"~ 1 SIZES ~ Length: 6~-8 ft. Female slightly
larger than male.
Weight: 440-660 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-6 years.
Breeding season: From Septem
ber to November (early summer
in the Antarctic).
Gestation: 11 months, including
delayed implantation of 6 months.
No. of young: 1.
Weaning: 4 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Lives alone or in groups of
3. Rarely comes ashore.
Diet: Mainly krill. Also other crus
taceans, squid, and fish.
Lifespan: Oldest known, at least
33 years.
RELATED SPECIES
One of the crabeater seal's closest
relatives is the Weddell seal, Lep
tonychotes weddelli.
Range of the crabeater seal.
DISTRIBUTION
The crabeater seal lives in Antarctic waters, generally south of
the Antarctic Convergence. It occasionally appears as far north
as South Africa.
CONSERVATION
The crabeater seal is easily the most abundant of all the seal
species. Although some controlled hunting takes place, the
species is probably increasing in number.
FEATURES OF THE CRABEATER SEAL
Body: Slender, reaching up to 8 feet in length .. Weight of up to 660 pounds.
Head: Relatively long compared with other seal species. As a "true" seal , this species lacks external earflaps.
Foreflippers: Have 5 digits. Cannot support the body weight, making the seal clumsy on land .
Coat: Silvery gray-brown with blotches. Changes to creamy white as the seal ages.
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THE SEAL'S TEETH Each tooth in the lower jaw has 5 points, which interlock with the corresponding upper tooth . Water is strained out th rough narrow gaps between the teeth , wh ile kril l is trapped behind.
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The crabeater seal inhabits its icy environment in huge
numbers. With an estimated population of 75 to 40 million,
the crabeater seal is probably more numerous than all the
other seal species put together. One reason for its thriving
population may be its diet. Rather than feeding on crabs,
as its name suggests, this mammal eats mainly krill-tiny,
shrimplike animals that are abundant in Antarctic waters.
~ HABITAT The crabeater seal may appear
near the southern tip of South
America, southern Australia,
and New Zealand. But it lives
primarily in Antarctic waters,
around the floating pack ice
that rings the continent. It may
climb onto the ice to rest and
breed but rarely goes ashore.
The seal is most common in
the waters west of the Antarctic
Peninsula. Large numbers mi
grate to the Ross Sea in sum
mer as the ice retreats. It swims
alone or in a trio made up of an
adult male, female, and pup.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The name crabeater seal is mis-
leading, since this animal feeds
mainly on krill, which provide
94 percent of its diet. It also eats
other crustaceans, squid, and
small fish.
Although other animals, such
as baleen whales, feed on large
quantities of krill, the crabeater
seal population consumes the
greatest amount-at least 66
million tons a year.
Like baleen whales, the crab
eater seal employs a straining
method to eat its prey. Feeding
Left: The crabeater seal's unique interlocking teeth let it filter food from icy waters.
DID YOU KNOW? • The crabeater seal is called the white seal because its fur
becomes very pale as it ages.
• One crabeater seal was recorded "sprinting" across ice
at 15 miles per hour.
• On a few occasions crabeater seals have appeared as far
north as South Africa. These
seals are usually young pups
mainly at night, it swims into
a school of krill with its mouth
open and sucks in its victims.
After it engulfs the krill, it closes
its teeth and forces the water
out through its jaws using its
tongue. Its five-pointed lower
teeth interlock with the upper
teeth, allowing the water to be
strained out through narrow
gaps between the teeth while
the krill are trapped behind.
The seal probably repeats this
filtering action until it has a
mouthful of krill to swallow.
Right: For the most part, the crabeater seal has escaped commercial exploitation by humans.
that are caught up in ocean
currents around the limits of
their range.
• The crabeater seal at times makes unexplained trips far
inland. In 1966, a helicopter
crew found a live pup on an
Antarctic glacier 70 miles from
open water and 3,000 feet
above sea level.
~ BREEDING The crabeater seal mates on the
pack ice between September
and November. The fertilized
egg stays alive but inactive in
side the female for about six
months, then implants itself in
the wall of her womb and be
gins to develop. This delays the
pup's birth until at least the fol
lowing September, early in the
Antarctic summer.
The pup weighs only about
45 pounds at birth but grows
Left: When providing milk for her pup, the mother may lose up to half her body weight.
Left: The crabeater seal usually lives at the edges of Antarctica's pack ice. It may also be found underneath the pack ice, as long as it can find breathing holes.
to over 240 pounds after suck
ling for a month. A male often
accompanies the female while
she suckles her pup. Instead of
being the pup's father, he is l:Jsu
ally another male that is waiting
to breed with the female. He
lingers nearby, protecting the
pup from any leopard seals and fighting off rival males. If he gets
too near the female, however,
she is likely to snap at him, leaving bite scars on his head and
neck. He must generally wait for
the pup to be weaned before he can mate with its mother.
DESERT HEDGEHOG
.. ORDER ~ Insectivora
FAMILY Erinaceidae
~RD ffi]
GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Paraechinus aethiopicus
The desert hedgehog survives even in the harsh terrain of the Sahara, eating whatever it can catch. An expert hunter of insects,
it can also kill and eat venomous snakes and scorpions.
____ ~ __ K_EY_ FAC-T-S--------------------------------~ [I] SIZES
Length: Head and body, 6-9 in.
Tail, ~-1 ~ in .
Weight: 1-1 ~ lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 9-11 months.
Mating season: July to September.
Gestation: 5-6 weeks.
No. of young: 2-10.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary; night-active.
Diet: Very varied, but prefers ani
mal matter.
Lifespan: Up to 10 years on record
in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
The genus Paraechinus includes the
Indian hedgehog, P. micropus, and
Brandt's hedgehog, P. hypomelas, which lives in the Arabian Peninsu
la and Asia Minor.
Range of the desert hedgehog.
DISTRIBUTION
Occurs across Africa in two distinct bands on the northern and
southern fringes of the Sahara Desert. Also found in scattered
locations throughout the Arabian Peninsula and in Iraq.
l CONSERVATION
The desert hedgehog is widespread and does not face any seri
ous threats. It is well protected against natural predators and is
not heavily hunted by humans.
FEATURES OF THE DESERT HEDGEHOG
Defensive posture: like the European hedgehog, the desert species curls up into a ball and raises its spines to deter potential predators.
Fur coloration: Brown and white stomach; dark brown sn0ut and tatl. The white fur framing the face has a distinct parting on the forehead .
© MCMXCII IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Spines: Up to 1 inch long. Mousy graybrown with white tips. Several
thousand extend from the crown to the rump and
down to the flanks.
Claws: Long and sharp. Useful for burrowing in loose sand or soil.
The hedgehog cannot use its claws to groom its spiny back, however, and is often riddled with hundreds
of tiny pests and parasites.
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With the exception of its large ears and pale, furry face,
the desert hedgehog closely resembles the European species
of hedgehog. Like the familiar visitor to European gardens,
the desert hedgehog sniffs out prey at night, under the cover
of darkness. At the first hint of trouble, this animal assumes
a defensive posture, quickly curling up into a prickly ball.
~ HAB ITAT The desert hedgehog is found on the northern and southern fringes of Africa's Sahara Desert and in the arid lowlands of the Middle East. Because its kidneys are adapted to cope with a low water intake, this animal can live in regions with annual rainfalls of less than an inch. It does not like to get wet and avoids the cold, rainy climate of highlands like the Ethiopian mountains.
The desert hedgehog roams over a very limited home range. Where possible, it burrows 16 to 20 inches into the sand or soil to escape the sun's heat. On hard ground, it holes up in cracks between boulders and makes do without a nest lining.
~ CHARACTERISTICS The desert hedgehog hunts at night, walking squarely on the soles of its feet. It uses its keen sense of smell to test its environment and to identify its mate and enemies. Like many nightactive animals, it has good eyesight. It also has good hearing. Its earlobes are broad, perhaps to help it lose heat.
On its back the animal has an even coat of spines with alter-
Left: The desert hedgehog uses all of its senses to hunt for insects and snakes at night.
DID YOU KNOW? • The desert hedgehog may descend from Zalambdalestest a small insectivore whose fossil remains were found in 80-million-year-old rocks. • A hedgehog's spines bend
l without cracking because they are made of flexible tubes.
nate dark and light bands. Like all hedgehogs, it has a set of dorsal (back) skin muscles under its spines that let it roll into a tight ball. When contracted, these muscles fit like a snug cap over the animal's body and head.
The desert hedgehog favors temperatures from 104°F to 108° F. It hibernates if its burrow cools to below 68° F and is lethargic in excessive heat.
Right: The desert hedgehog is independent after six weeks, and it can breed within a year.
• The desert hedgehog was featured on a Tunisian postage stamp in a series on native fauna printed in 1968. • The Cape hedgehog, an endangered relative of the desert hedgehog, is sometimes kept as a pet.
~ FOOD & HUNTING The desert hedgehog eats mostly insects but will feed on almost anything else, even dead flesh.
The hedgehog likes scorpions, but it must first bite the stinger from the tail. It also eats snakes. To catch one, the hedgehog approaches it slowly, then makes a
~ BREEDING The desert hedgehog produces a litter of 2 to 10 young every year. Courtship can last several days, after which the pair stays in the female's shelter until she gives birth . She then chases the male away.
The newborn weighs no more than an ounce but looks chubby because its skin has a high water content. The skin shrinks within 24 hours, leaving the offspring wrinkled and much thinner. After licking her young, the mother places them on her belly to suckle. She is protective of her offspring and rushes at aggres-
Left: The fur on its belly keeps the hedgehog warm at night and also protects it from the hot sand.
dash, with its head spines erect. It bites the victim's body to sever the spinal cord. Because its spines are usually longer than the snake's fangs, the hedgehog is rarely hurt. It eats the snake without being poisoned, so it may be immune to the venom.
sors with her head spines erect. A newborn has closed eyes
and ears for two or three weeks. It has a gray, hairless back and a pink belly. Its spines are covered by a layer of skin to protect the mother during birth. But rows of white spines about a quarterinch long poke through this layer right after birth . The spines and hair are fully grown by the youngster's third week. It cannot roll up until it is two weeks old, but its back muscles are visible a few days after birth.
At a week old, the young start to butt one another with erect head spines to compete for milk. After six weeks they are weaned and go out on their own.
VERREAUX'S SIFAKA
,,~---------------~
ORDER Primates
FAMILY Indriidae
~ARD334 1
GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS &: SPECIES Propithecus verreauxi
Verreaux's sifaka is also known as the leaping lemur for good reason. In its forest home on the tropical island of Madagascar,
this agile mammal can jump up to 30 feet between trees.
KEYFACT~S ____________________________ ~
SIZES
Length: 15-22 in.
Tail length: 18-24 in.
Weight: 8-13 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years.
Breeding season: From late Janu
ary to March.
Gestation: About 5 months.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Day-active tree dweller.
Sociable, living in groups of 4 or
more members.
Diet: Leaves, fruit, flowers, bark.
Call: Soft "coo" as a contact call .
Rattling and grunting alarm calls.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 3 other species in the
family Indriidae: the woolly lemur,
the diademed sifaka, and the indri.
There are 4 subspecies.
Range of Verreaux's sifaka.
DI STRI BUTION
Verreaux's sifaka is confined to forest reserves in the western re
gions of Madagascar.
CONSERVATION
Classed as vulnerable, Verreaux's sifaka has been reduced to iso
lated populations as human settlements have encroached upon
Madagascar's forests. The species occasionally breeds success
fully in captivity.
FEATURES OF VERREAUX'S SIFAKA
© MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Coat: Thick and silky. Naked black face, palms, and soles. Mostly white or yellowish white , often with black or maroon patches on arms, legs. and head.
Hands and feet: Narrow and long. Pads on palms and soles. Second toe has a grooming claw.
0160200941 PACKET 94
Verreaux's sifaka is extremely well adapted to life above
the ground, where it moves with ease among the trees.
This monkey spends very little time on the forest floor,
where it feels awkward and uncomfortable. When it does
find itself at ground level, Verreaux's sifaka bounces along
with clumsy, almost clownish-looking movements, holding
its arms up as if to grab hold of an invisible branch.
~ HABITS Verreaux's sifaka inhabits Mada-
gascar's rainforests as well as its
dry woodlands. The animals live
in groups of up to 13 members
led by a dominant male. Each
group's territory is usually from
50,000 to 250,000 square feet
but can be up to four times that
size. To mark their territory, all
the group members urinate on
tree branches and trunks. The
males also use throat glands to
rub their scent on branches.
The group moves to a differ
ent patch of its territory every
few days. If two troops' home
ranges overlap, a group may
not defend its entire territory.
When two groups meet, vocal
threats and chases may occur,
but serious clashes are rare.
Verreaux's sifaka is active by
day. At sunrise it separates itself
from the troop to sun for a few
hours on a branch. It may take
time out from sunbathing to
groom its fur or that of anoth
er group member. It licks and
combs the fur with its lower in
cisors. To comb its tail, it holds
the tail in its hands. At midday
it retreats to the shade.
Extremely agile, Verreaux's
sifaka launches itself from one
tree and falls through the air to
land with precision in the next.
In this way it can cross clearings
without touching the ground.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING Verreaux's sifaka feeds primarily
on leaves, buds, and fruit, but it
also eats some flowers and bark.
It spends about a third of its day
foraging in the trees.
Group members feed togeth
er, but they spread out to find
the best spots. The oldest mem
ber has priority over the others
and may force its way to a fruit
laden tree.
Although it usually feeds in
the forest canopy, Verreaux's
Left: Verreaux's sifaka sunbathes with its limbs outstretched in a tree.
DID YOU KNOW? • Verreaux's sifakas rub noses
as a greeting.
• Madagascar's unique wild
life is threatened by human
encroachment on the area's
rainforests. Its 15 protected
reserves cover only one per
cent of the island. Verreaux's
sifaka is still trapped and shot
for food by local people.
sifaka may visit the ground to
eat fallen fruit. It does not need
water sources because its diet
of fruit and foliage has a high
moisture content.
Verreaux's sifaka stays alert for
predators while feeding. It gives
a loud alarm call that warns its
companions of danger.
Right: To move swiftly through the trees, the sifaka grips the branches with its hands.
Below: Verreaux's sifaka uses the grooming claw on its second toe to scratch itself.
BREEDING Verreaux's sifaka mates at any
time from late January to early
March. Each female is receptive
for only two days. As a result, ri
valry between males can be ex
tremely intense, especially since
the female only mates with the
most dominant fighter. Some
males may change groups be
fore the breeding season to gain
a better chance of mating. But
they may be greeted by aggres
sive warning grunts from the
resident dominant male.
The female gives birth to one
offspring in summer. The young
Left: Verreaux 's sifaka has trouble walking on all fours and bounds along awkwardly.
has hairless black skin and clings
tightly to its mother's belly. Af
ter about two weeks, the moth
er may let other members of the
group touch her offspring, per
haps permitting them to groom
or clean it. At about one month
old, the youngster climbs onto
its mother's back to ride around
in the branches. The female con
tinues'to carry her offspring with
her for about six more months.
The young suckles for its first
five months but begins to take
solid food at three months old .
By seven months old, it is inde
pendent and can leap around
the forest canopy with other
group members.
BLUE MONKEY ,,---------------------------------------------~ ~
ORDER Primates
FAMILY Cercopithecidae
GENUS &: SPECIES Cercopithecus mitis
The blue monkey gets its name from the bluish tinge of its primarily gray fur. This inquisitive monkey grimaces and shakes its whiskered head when its interest is aroused.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Head and body length: Male, 2
ft. Female, 1 ~ ft. Tail length: 2~ ft. Weight: Male, 18-22 lb. Female,
9-11 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 5-6 years.
Mating season: Varies, depending
on location.
Gestation: 5-6 months.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Females live in troops with
1 male. Other males are solitary.
Diet: Mainly fruit, but also plant
matter, insects, birds, lizards, and
small mammals.
Lifespan: 20-30 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
There are about 15 species in the
genus Cercopithecus, with a num
ber of subspecies.
Range of the blue monkey.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in forested areas from Zaire, the Central African Repub
lic, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, and the southern Sudan
south to eastern Cape Province in South Africa, with isolated
populations in western Angola.
CONSERVATION
The blue monkey is at risk because all of its forest habitats are
threatened with destruction to some extent.
FEATURES OF THE BLUE MONKEY
Tail : Long. Helps the blue monkey balance in the trees. Usually held in an arched position.
Coat: Soft and thick. Dark brown to bluish black on legs and shoulders; grizzled gray-brown on the back and sides.
Head: Rounded , with short snout. Forward-pointing hair on eyebrows. White ear tufts.
Legs: Hind legs are longer than forelegs. The blue monkey can run nimbly along branches.
© MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200921 PACKET 92
The blue monkey is a shy tree dweller that usually lives
in a troop. It is one of the largest guenons-a group of
primates that are the most common monkeys in Africa.
All guenon species are known for the beauty of their
soft, dense fur, and the blue monkey is no exception.
~HABITS The blue monkey inhabits for
ests in mountains and on river
banks. It spends most of its time
in the highest branches and is
most active in the morning and
evening. In the hot afternoon it
rests in the trees' shade.
Female blue monkeys live to
gether in a group that consists
of 10 to 30 females and a single
mature male. The females are
often related, since they usually
stay with their mothers for life.
The male may remain with the
troop for a few weeks or stay
unchallenged for several years.
Troop members often engage
in social grooming at midday.
This is the main form of contact
between individuals. At night
the troop retires to a favorite
sleeping area high in the trees,
where the animals sleep sup
ported against branches.
A blue monkey group occu
pies a territory, which it defends
against neighboring troops. But
small groups sometimes mingle
during the day.
Right: The blue monkey finds welcome shade from the sun in the forest's thick foliage.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING The blue monkey feeds mostly
on fruit. But it also eats seeds,
flowers, buds, leaves, and bark,
as well as insects, lizards, birds,
and small mammals. In fact, it
has been said that guenons will
eat anything that is digestible
and not poisonous.
The blue monkey swings easi
ly through the branches while
Left: In some areas the blue monkey has a white collar that stands out against its dark fur.
DID YOU KNOW? • The blue monkey can swing
through the trees of the forest
canopy faster than a human
can move on the ground.
• When it is excited or angry,
foraging. It may use one or both
hands to gather food. Its tail en
ables it to balance on a branch
as it plucks and eats fruit.
Blue monkeys sometimes raid
crops and strip the bark from
young trees in plantations. For
this reason, the animals are fre
quently regarded as pests by
farmers and foresters.
Right: The agile blue monkey can easily feed on leaves and fruit high in the trees.
a guenon rolls back its lips in
order to reveal its teeth. This
grimace is the origin of the
name guenon, a French word
meaning "fright."
~ BREEDING In wet tropical forests, the blue
monkey mates in the dry sea
son, whereas at high altitudes it
usually does so in fall. In other
areas the monkey may breed at
any time of year. Courtship is a
simple affair, since mating males
and females are already familiar.
If a troop has more than one re
ceptive female, a visiting male
may join the group temporarily
to mate with her. Each female
breeds only every other year.
The female usually gives birth
to one young at night, in the
tree where she sleeps. The new-
Left: When it leaves the forest canopy for open ground, the blue monkey must be on guard for leopards as well as eagles.
born clings to its mother's belly,
keeping hold of her nipple while
she supports it with one arm. At
this stage its long tail is prehensile (able to grip) and helps to
secure it in the trees.
The young blue monkey soon
moves onto its mother's back,
and she carries it through the
trees. As it gets older, it leaves
her for short periods, learning
how to feed and interact in the
troop. Young males leave the
group when sexually mature.
They either live alone or join a
group of females.
NUTRIA
ORDER Rodentia
FAMILY Myocostoridae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Myocostor coypus
The nutria is a large, muskratlike rodent ideally suited to life in the water. It has webbed feet for swimming and dense
water-repellent fur that keeps it warm and dry.
~~EYFA~C~T~S~ ________________________ _
I ~~I SIZES <S7 Head and body length: 1 ~-2 ft .
Male larger than female.
Tail length: 9-17 in.
Weight: 11-22 lb.
BREEDING
Mating season: Usually Septem
ber to October.
Gestation: 4-4~ months.
No. of young: 7-10.
Weaning period: 7-8 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Social, living in pairs or in
colonies. Active at dawn and dusk.
Diet: Mainly aquatic vegetation;
also some mollusks.
Call: Low moan.
Lifespan: Probably 5 years or less
in the wild.
RELATED SPECIES
The closest relatives of the nutria
are the many species of hutia, some
now extinct, of the Caribbean.
FEATURES OF THE NUTRIA
Nose and eyes: Set high on the head, enabling the nutria to see and breathe while almost fully submerged .
Range of the nutria.
DISTRIBUTION
Native to southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Argenti
na, and Chile. Feral populations exist in North America, north
ern Asia, East Africa, and parts of Europe.
CONSERVATION
The government of Argentina outlawed the hunting of nutrias
in 1931. The farmed population of nutrias is large, but the wild
animal is scarce in its natural habitat.
Coat: Long , coarse guard hairs conceal the soft, velvety fur beneath, preventing the nutria from
becoming waterlogged. The dark gray-brown underfur and fawn-colored guard hairs give
~.fJ.~~~fill!~~ the coat a grizzled appearance. The chin and A> tip of the muzzle are white.
Incisors: Orange color. Large and constantly growing. Used to gnaw tough plants.
© MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Hind feet: Webbed for swimming.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Tail : Long and tapering. Scaly
and almost hai rl ess.
0160200961 PACKET 96
Hunted for centuries, nutrias are now raised on farms
in many parts of the world for their soft/ velvety fur.
These captives, and the feral populations that they
have given rise tOt far outnumber the wild nutrias,
which once thronged the swamps of South America.
~ HABITS The nutria lives in swamps and
irrigation ditches, on riverbanks
and lake shores, and near tidal
waters. It can tolerate cold and
thrives wherever natural preda
tors are scarce. In agricultural
areas, it is often a pest.
Nutrias generally live in pairs
but sometimes form colonies.
Although the animal may build
a large, floating nest from water
plants, it usually takes shelter in
an abandoned burrow or one it
has dug itself. The burrow nor
mally has one tunnel leading to
a chamber but is extended in
crowded conditions, especially
in the breeding season.
To remove dirt and parasites
from its dense fur, the nutria sits
up on its haunches. It transfers
oil from two fat glands near its
mouth to its forepaws and then
grooms its coat, keeping its fur
lubricated and water-repellent.
Clumsy and slow on land, the
nutria heads for water if it senses
danger. It swims well and can
dive for five minutes at a time.
Right: After young nutrias leave the nest, they follow their mother for several weeks.
DID YOU KNOW? • The nutria's generic name,
Myocastor, is a combination
of two Latin words meaning
"mouse" and "beaver."
• Feral nutrias often live in ex
tremely cold conditions, kept
~ FOOD & FEEDING The nutria spends most of its
time in the water, gathering
food. Its diet consists most ly
of aquatic plants such as reeds.
However, it also eats mollusks
such as snails and mussels.
The nutria has an efficient di
gestive system to cope with its
tough diet. Special bacteria in
its stomach break down the
fibrous tissues in plants. As a
result, the nutria can extract
nutrients from plant matter
that other animals may be
unable to exploit.
Left: When cornered, the shy nutria arches its back and bares its large orange incisors.
Right: Sitting upright, the nutria gnaws plants while holding them in its forepaws.
warm by their fur. But it is not
uncommon for their bare tails
to freeze off. This does not af
fect their health, however.
• The nutria is also known as
the swamp beaver.
Nutrias have long been hunted
for their soft fur. In the 17th cen
tury the Spanish began sending
skins to European furriers . Early
in the 20th century nutrias had
almost died out. But laws ban
ning the killing of wild nutrias
forfurwereenacted in 1931.
Today, nutrias are farmed in
many parts of the world. Many
of these farm-bred animals have
escaped and created large feral
populations in North America,
Asia, Africa, and Europe.
~ BREEDING The nutria usually breeds in fall,
but the female may have more
than a single litter in a year. The
gestation period lasts up to four
and a half months. During that
time the female feeds heavily in
preparation for suckling her 7 to
10 offspring.
The young are born with fur
and open eyes. They suckle for
seven to eight weeks. The fe
male carries them on her back
and later gives them swimming
lessons. They can feed from her
while in the water since her nip
ples are high on her flanks.
COATI
ORDER Carnivora
FAMILY Pro cyon idae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Nasua nasua
The coati is a raccoonlike mammal found in Central and South America. It has an unusually large, trunklike nose,
which it uses to sniff for food in the undergrowth.
~ KEY FACT_S_. _~_ I ~I SIZES ~ Length: Body, 1 ~-2 ft. Tail, 1-2 ~ ft.
Height: 12 in . at the shoulder.
Weight: 7-13 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2 years.
Mating season: Varies.
Gestation: About 2~ months.
No. of young: 2-7.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Day-active. Male is solitary;
females and young form highly
organized groups.
Diet: Invertebrates, reptiles, small
mammals, eggs, and fruit.
Lifespan: About 14 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The other 3 species of coati are the
white-nosed coati, Nasua narico;
Cozumellsland coati, N. nelsoni;
and mountain coati, N. olivacea.
FEATURES OF THE COATI
Coat: Mainly red-brown fur with darker lower limbs and snout. Paler buff-colored chest and undersides.
Tail: Very long and bushy, with defined rings.
':' MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the coati.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in South America, from northern Argentina, Paraguay,
and Brazil up through Colombia and Venezuela. Also occurs in
Central America, Mexico, and a small part of the United States.
CONSERVATION
Although the coati is hunted for meat in some parts of its range,
numbers appear to be stable. The animal is not thought to be
in any danger.
Head: Long and slender, with flexible snout. Unlike other species of coati , there Is no face
Claws: Sharp and curved for gripping branches.
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White-nosed coati: Black face mask with white tip of snout. Long tail.
Cozumellsland coati: Blackand-white face mask. Soft and silky brown fur.
Mountain coati: Smaller than the other coati species; longer snout and shorter tail .
0160200971 PACKET 97
The coati can cope with extremes of climate, from the
humid forests of Central America to the arid scrublands
of Mexico. Its hardy nature allows this animal to survive
even on the high, forested slopes of the Andes in South
America. The coati is able to adapt to such very different
habitats for two basic reasons-it has a varied diet, and
it lives in highly organized, close-knit family groups.
~ HABITS The coati lives in areas as diverse
as oak forests, tropical lowlands,
dry mountain forests, and grass
lands. It climbs trees easily, grip
ping with its paws and balancing
with its long tail. Its strong legs
also make it agile on the ground.
Adult males are mostly solitary.
But the females and young live
in family groups of 4 to 40. The
animals feed in the early morn
ing and late afternoon and rest
in the heat of the day. While the
adults indulge in long periods of
grooming, the young chase one
another and hold mock fights.
At night the coati climbs into a
tree and curls up to sleep in the
fork of a branch or in a hollow.
The coati has a territory of less
than half a square mile. A male's
territory may overlap with the
home range held by a family of
females and young. When this
occurs, the animals usually tol
erate one another. Sometimes
individual males cross over to
join their neighbors.
~ BREEDING In the breeding season, the male
coatis compete to join a group
of females. The dominant male
wins by being submissive to the
females, often grooming them.
He scent-marks and defends a
territory around the group. He
may inflict deep wounds on an
intruder with his sharp claws.
A pair often mates in a tree.
The females then drive the male
from their group, probably to
keep him from killing and eat
ing the young.
The gestation period is about
two and a half months. Three or
Left: At night the coati climbs up into a tree. It sleeps curled up in a forked branch.
four weeks before it is over, the
female leaves the group to find
a quiet place to give birth. The
two to seven newborns weigh
only four to six ounces. Feeding
on the mother's milk, the young
grow quickly and soon attempt
to leave the nest.
When the mother rejoins the
group, immature or unmated
females help rear her offspring.
The father may be allowed back
into the group briefly to groom
his young. This enables him to
identify his offspring, reducing
the risk of his killing them later.
Right: The coati's thickly padded paws and strong claws make it an agile climber.
DID YOU KNOW? • The coati adapts well to dif
ferent habitats and climates,
but it is still vulnerable to the
cold. At high elevations where
the temperature drops below
32° F, the tip of the coati's tail
may freeze off.
• When a coati is three or four
weeks old, it constantly tries to
leave the nest. But the mother
~ FOOD & FEEDING The coati feeds mainly on such
insects as beetles, ants, and ter
mites. It also devours scorpions,
spiders, centipedes, and land
crabs. Occasionally it catches
frogs, lizards, and small mam
mals, and it is quite fond of liz
ard and turtle eggs. The coati
also eats fruit, scooping out the
flesh with its long claws.
Family groups feed together.
Each coati holds its tail erect
Left: The coati uses its long nose to sniff for food in the undergrowth.
keeps a watchful eye and re
turns it by the scruff of its neck.
• The coati is often hunted for
its meat in South America. But
the quality of its fur is not con
sidered good enough for use
in the fur trade.
• Local people believe that the
solitary male coatis are a sepa
rate species.
and sniffs the leaf debris with
its long snout. It may also dig
at a rotten tree stump, looking
for signs of edible life. When it
flushes a mammal from hiding,
the coati chases it. It pins down
reptiles and mammals and kills
them with a bite on the back
of the neck. The coati grasps in
sects in its thickly padded paws
and rolls them around until they
are dead. This activity removes
any sharp or poisonous spines
before the creature is eaten.
QUOLL
ORDER Morsupio/io
FAMILY Oosyuridoe
GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Oosyurus viverrinus
The quoll is a weasel-like marsupial that belongs to a group of animals called the native cats. Small populations are found
in parts of southeastern Australia and Tasmania.
'\:II KEY FACTS
I ~I SIZES -Si' Length: 14-18 in.
Tail length: 8-12 in.
Weight: Male, 2~ lb. Female,
1 ~ lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Mating season: May to July.
Gestation: 3 weeks .
No. of young: Up to 20. Only
about 6 survive.
Weaning period: 3-4 months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Night-active.
Diet: Insects, small mammals, nest
ing birds, reptiles, and carrion .
Lifespan: 3-6 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The closest relatives of the quoll
include the New Guinea marsupial
cat, Oosyurus olbopunctotus, and
the Western Australian native cat,
O. geoffroii.
FEATURES OF TH E QUOLL
Coloration: In the same litter, 2 distinct color phases may occur. The most common coloration is brownish gray with creamy white spots. The less common coloration is black with wh ite spots.
Feet: 4 digits on hind feet , but th ird and fourth are almost fused together and look like 1 claw. 5 digits on forefeet.
,,;, MCMXCII IM P BV/IM P INC WILDLIFE FACT FILE'M
• Range of the quoll .
DISTRIBUTION
The quoll is most abundant in the forests and open scrublands
of Tasmania. But it is also found in small pockets throughout
southeastern Australia.
CONSERVATION
Although abundant in Tasmania, the quoll has suffered badly
on the Australian mainland. It is still persecuted by farmers,
who consider it a threat to pOUltry.
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Fur: Soft, thick, and fairly short.
-,oW' -.r
Tail: Lacks spots but is often tipped
with white.
016020097 1 PACKET 97
Unlike its cousins, which feed mainly on plant matter,
the quoll is a ferocious meat-eating predator. This small
marsupial employs a combination of speed and agility
to catch its prey. Then the quo" kills the victim by giving
it just a single deadly bite on the back of its neck.
~HABITS The quolilives in southeastern
Australia and on the island of
Tasmania. It is found in dry for
ested areas, on open moors and
plains, and on farmland. This
inquisitive animal once thrived
in great numbers in the suburbs
of such cities as Melbourne and
Sydney. However, a mysterious
epidemic almost wiped it out at
the beginning of the 19th cen
tury. Today the largest popula
tions are found on the island of
Tasmania. The mainland popu
lation is nearing extinction.
The nocturnal quoll is a good
Right: The nocturnal quoll emerges from its tree crevice to feed at dusk.
climber, but it prefers to spend
most of its time hunting on the
forest floor. Throughout the day
it sleeps either under a rock or
in a tree crevice lined with dry
leaves. It sleeps curled up in a
ball, with its ears folded down
to block out noise. Right: The quoll frequently stops feeding and sits up on its hind feet to groom itself.
~BREEDING The quoll breeds between May
and July. The female gives birth
to her underdeveloped embry
onic offspring after only a three
week gestation period. She may
produce as many as 20 young,
but only 6 can survive, because
that is the number of teats she
has inside her pouch.
The female has a shallow, rear
facing pouch that has a flap of
skin as an entrance but can be
kept shut by a sphincter muscle.
It is visible only when young are
inside it. The newborns make
their way to this second womb,
Left: Although the quoll is an agile climber, its feet are not specially adapted for the task.
DID YOU KNOW? • The first settlers in Australia
used the collective term native
cat for the quoll as well as its
relatives because they thought
these animals resembled their
domestic cats.
where each one attaches itself to
a teat. This helps the offspring
stay in place as the mother goes
about her business.
At birth the young weigh only
one-half ounce, but they grow
quickly. Their eyes open when
they are seven to eight weeks old .
As soon as they leave the pouch,
the young are fairly active, but
they still return to feed from the
mother's teat. At this stage they
may be fed some meat as well .
They are fully independent at
four to five months old and sex
ually mature at a year old.
• The family Oasyuridae con
tains the smallest marsupials,
the insect-eating marsupial
mice, as well as the largest
carnivorous marsupial, the
now-extinct Tasmanian wolf.
~ FOOD &: HUNTING The quoll belongs to a group
of mammals known as the Aus
tralian carnivorous marsupials.
Well known for its ferociousness,
the quoll eats anything that it
can overpower. It feeds primar
ily on insects plus sma ll mam
mals and birds, but it also eats
reptiles and fish.
The quoll hunts during the
Left: The newborns are tinYt but they grow rapidlYt tripling in size within the first week. Only the mouth and paws are developed at birth.
night, employing many of-the
tactics cats use to track and kill
prey. It either lies in wait to am
bush a victim or tracks it down.
It may at times leap from a low
branch onto an animal passing
below. After catching its prey,
the quoll kills it with a bite on
the back of the neck.
The quoll is often blamed for
attacks on poultry and is per
secuted by farmers as a result.
Near human settlements, the
animal lives off the abundant
supply of scraps left by people.
Left: The quoll searches the undergrowth for insects, which form part of its staple diet.
~D~ BUSHBUCK ~ ..
~O-R-D-ER----"'--F-A-M-IL-Y----"--G-EN-U-S-~_RS-~-~~E~ : MAMMALS '\.. \...~ "IIIIIIII Artiodactyla '11IIIIIIII Bovidae "IIIIIIII Tragelaphus scriptus
The bushbuck is an elegant-looking African antelope with spiral horns. Because it is not a skilled runner, it relies on defensive tactics and camouflage to cope with its numerous predators.
---~-\J [jJ
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Head and body length: Male, 4-5
ft. Female, 3 ~-4 ft.
Tail length: 8-10 in.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: Dry season.
Gestation period: 6 months.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
• Range of the bush buck.
DISTRIBUTION
Habit: Mainly solitary, in a small
territory. Female often lives with
one or more young. Active in the
early morning and late afternoon.
Diet: Grass, herbs, leaves, fruit,
and bark.
Lifespan: 12 years. Found in Africa south of the Sahara from Ethiopia to Cape
Province, southwest Africa, southwest Angola, and Zambia. RELATED SPECIES
CONSERVATION The genus Tragelaphus includes 6
other African antelope: the nyala,
mountain nyala, sitatunga, greater
kudu, lesser kudu, and bongo.
The bush buck is common and widespread in Africa. It is not
considered a good game animal because of its lack of speed.
FEATURES OF THE BUSH BUCK
Coat: Short, with longer patches on the breast and neck. The adult male has a crest of hair running the length of his spine, which he can erect during displays. Color and markings vary greatly between individuals and according to location .
Horns: About 12 inches maximum length, with a ridge , or keel. Twisted to complete half a spiral.
© MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
TWO BUSH BUCK SUBSPECIES
Southern bushbuck: Chestnut or blackish brown coat with white spots. Paler head .
Western bushbuck: Bright chestnut coat with stripes and spots. Pale buff head .
0160200951 PACKET 95
The bush buck probably has a greater variety of markings
and coat colors than any other large African mammal. This
antelope is well camouflaged in its many different habitats,
having evolved whatever markings blend in best with its
background. For example, forest-dwelling bushbucks are
dark and heavily marked, while bush bucks that live in
dry, open country are pale, with faint stripes and bands.
~ HABITS The bush buck is able to survive in hilly country, swampy lowlands, scrubland, or any other habitat providing good cover and some water. It is not as fast as other antelope, but it protects itself by stealth. When it senses a predator such as a leopard, lion, or cheetah, the bush buck may fall to the ground to hide from its enemy. Or it may make short, bounding runs and then freeze. Its markings blend with its surroundings the instant it stops.
The bush buck feeds during the early morning and late afternoon . It may continue into the evening, especially if there is a clear sky and the moon is out. Although the female may have several generations of young
with her, the bush buck is mainly solitary. Both the male and female have small territories, and these may overlap with other bush bucks' home ranges.
The animals cross territories without fighting, and mature males avoid each other, especially in the breeding season. A strict hierarchy based on age is observed by bushbucks living in one area, so conflicts are usually avoided. If the hierarchy is upset, competing males stage ritualized displays. They lock horns and leap into the air but generally avoid real fighting. However, clashes sometimes occur, and a bush buck can seriously injure an opponent by stabbing him in the neck with a horn .
~ FOOD & FEEDING The bush buck is a selective eater, feeding primarily on grasses, herbs, and shrubs, especially the nutritious new growth . It also nibbles on low branches and is fond of the seed pods of acacia trees, as well as fallen fruit. The animal needs only a little water because it gets moisture from plants and the morning dew. It
Left: The southern bushbuck 's coloring blends with the arid terrain of its habitat.
DID YOU KNOW? • Not only is the bush buck a good swimmer, but it can also leap over obstacles that are more than six feet high. • Although the bush buck has a poor sense of smell, it has excellent sight. When it spots a predator, it gives a hoarse bark to warn other bush bucks. • The bush buck is extremely
obtains additional minerals by licking rocks and eating soil.
When foraging, the bush buck moves stealthily, staying alert for predators while frequently stopping to browse. It often stands under a tree in which a baboon or a green monkey is feeding and waits for the other animal to dislodge fruit.
Right: The bushbuck is a fussy eater, nibbling grasses and picking at low-growing shrubs.
susceptible to rinderpest-a disease that is carried by ticks and other parasites. Although it is unable to keep itself free of these tiny parasites, it tries to remove them by rubbing its rump and its back with its horns. It also tries to get rid of them by scraping its cheeks and its neck on branches.
The bush buck's breeding season varies, depending on its location. But mating is generally timed so that births occur in the dry season. The male may pass through several territories to find a receptive female. If he meets a rival, he may perform a display to establish dominance.
Six months after mating, the female gives birth in a hidden thicket. She leaves the calf each day to feed and returns at night to suckle it. To prevent predators from discovering the defenseless youngster, she eats its dung. At about four months old, the calf begins to follow its mother. It
Left: Young male and female bushbucks look alike, and their horns are scarcely visible.
Left: The bushbuck calf does not have any way to defend itself against its many predators. It must rely on its camouflage to hide it in the undergrowth when the female leaves each day to feed.
usually stays with her for over a year but stops suckling at about six months.
The bush buck starts to develop horns at about 10 months. By the time it is 15 months old, its cone-shaped horns are about three inches high. The first twist begins to appear three months later. When the animal is two years old, its half-twisted horns are 10 inches long, and at three years they are 12 inches, with a well-defined twist.
The bush buck is sexually mature after about a year, but it does not mate for at least one more year. In fact, the male begins to look different from the female only when he is more than two years old.
SQUIRREL MONKEY
"" ... ORDER ~ Primates
FAMILY Cebidae
CARD 340
GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS &: SPECIES Saimiri sciureus
The squirrel monkey moves through the forest with the remarkable agility of its namesake. It runs with ease along slender branches as it searches for fruit and insects to eat.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Head and body length: Male,
11-12 in. Female, 10-11 in.
Tail length: Male, 13-18 in. Fe
male, 13-16 in.
Weight: Male, 1 ~-2~ lb. Female,
1 - 1 ~ lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male, 5 years.
Female, 3 years.
Mating season: Often November
to December, but may vary de
pending on the climate.
Gestation: 5 months.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Day-active. Lives in groups.
Diet: Mainly insects and fruit.
Lifespan: Up to 25 years .
RELATED SPECIES
One of the closest relatives is the
Central American squirrel monkey,
Saimiri oerstedii.
Range of the squirrel monkey.
DISTRIBUTION
Found from Colombia through French Guiana south through
Ecuador and Peru to western Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
CONSERVATION
The squirrel monkey's habitat is disappearing quickly because
of slash-and-burn agriculture and cattle ranching.
FEATURES OF THE SQUIRREL MONKEY
Paws: 4 fingers and an opposable thumb on each. The fingers are very dexterous and help the animal move with great agi lity along branches and through undergrowth.
Tail : Longer than the body. Not capable of gripping, but helps the monkey balance while moving.
,9 MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILET" PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Fur: Dense and soft. Warm yellow on limbs and underside, turning reddish toward the hands and feet. Black tip
of tail and head markings, with characteristic fac ial mask.
0160200971 PACKET 97
The squirrel monkey has strong, delicate, and extremely
dexterous hands. It uses them to uncurl leaves and to catch
flying insects, as well as to grip branches while it moves
through the forest. This sociable monkey lives in a large
group that may number as many as 50 individuals. Easily
excitable, it is quick to utter a high-pitched alarm call to
alert other troop members to the possibility of danger.
~ HABITS The extremely adaptable squir
rel monkey is sometimes found
in towns, farm fields, and citrus
groves. But it prefers more se
cluded places offering plenty of
cover such as rainforests, savan
na forests, mangrove swamps,
and marshland. The monkey es
pecially favors humid lowlands
such as the Amazon basin .
A sociable animal, the squirrel
monkey usually lives in a troop
of 30 to 50 members in an area
of about a square mile. A troop
often forages and sleeps close to
a group of capuchin monkeys.
The capuchins react quickly to
danger, giving a bark that alerts
not only othermonkeys but also
some birds. The squirrel mon
key has a high-pitched, peep
ing alarm call, which it uses at
the slightest disturbance. At the
sound of the alarm call, the en
tire troop frequently leaps away
to a place of safety.
The squirrel monkey sleeps
huddled on a branch. It stirs at
dawn and leaves its roost within
15 minutes. But the troop usual
ly waits for an hour before mov
ing to its morning feeding area.
The adults may rest together for
several hours and then begin to
eat while the youngsters play to
gether. The animals rest again
in the hottest hours, then feed
closer to the ground until dusk.
~ FOOD & FEEDING The squirrel monkey eats soft
fruits, nuts, and berries, as well
as small birds, insects, and rep
tiles. It favors figs, and they ac
count for 90 percent of its fruit
diet when they are in season.
This monkey prefers to forage
in troops high in the forest can
opy, among wide-crowned trees
where it can hide from predato
ry birds. However, it will come
to the ground to look for insects
Left: The squirrel monkey prefers to live in a habitat that provides plenty of cover.
DID YOU KNOW? • As part of his sexual display,
the male squirrel monkey per
forms a foot-washing ritual. He
urinates on his hands and then
rubs them on the soles of his
feet. Some other South Amer
ican monkeys also do this.
• When a squirrel monkey gets
wet, it squeezes water from its
and pick fruit from low trees.
It rarely climbs higher than 90
feet, but it can if necessary.
The monkey uses its dexter
ous hands to feel for insects in
side curled leaves, to turn over
twigs, and to pull branches to
its mouth. It also hangs from
branches by its feet to reach for
fruit. After depleting the fruit in
one area, the troop may travel
for several days to find more.
Right: A varied diet enables the squirrel monkey to thrive in many different environments.
coat by rubbing against trees.
• The squirrel monkey's facial
markings resemble a human
skull, so Germans also call it
the death's head monkey.
• Trappers used to capture the
squirrel monkey for medical
and space research, as well as
for the pet trade.
In the breeding season the male
squirrel monkey aggressively es
tablishes his status within the
troop. But this does not guaran
tee him a mate, because the fe
male does not always mate with
the dominant male.
During her five-month gesta
tion period, the female is less ac
tive than other members of the
troop. She gives birth to one in
fant, which weighs about four
ounces. The newborn crawls on
to its mother's back and wraps
its tail and hind legs around her.
It rides in this way for its first few
Left: The squirrel monkey spends its first two months holding onto its mother's back.
Left: The squirrel monkey's nimble hands help it catch small insects. With its excellent eyesight it can detect prey moving in the trees or on the ground.
weeks. To suckle, the youngster
either swings around under its
mother's arm or feeds upside
down from between her legs
while clinging to her back. At
four weeks old, the young mon
key leaves its mother in order to
play with other youngsters on
the ground or in low branches.
An "aunt" (a nonpregnant fe
male) may help a mother rear
her offspring. The aunt may lift
the baby off its mother's back
and let it crawl over her. Preg
nant females and nursing moth
ers make up a separate traveling
group, generally in sight of the
males. But males that try to en
ter the troop are often repelled.