'\ CARD 341 J
VICUNA ,,_______________ GROUP 1: MAMMALS
~ ORDER ~ FAMILY ~ GENUS & SPECIES ~ Artiodactyla ~ Camelidde ~ Vicugna vicugna
The vicuna looks slender and delicate, but it is actually one of the toughest animals in South America. It lives in a high-altitude
wasteland where few other mammals are able to survive.
--SJ [i]
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 4-6 ft. Tail, 6-10 in.
Height at shoulder: 2~-3~ ft. Weight: 75-145 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2 years.
Mating season: March to April.
Gestation: 11 months.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Lives in groups of 1 male
and several females with young.
Males may form bachelor groups.
Diet: Rough grasses and plants.
Call: Sharp, high warning bark.
Lifespan: 15-20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 3 other members of the
camel family living in South Amer
ica-the guanaco, Lama guanicoe;
the alpaca, L. pacos; and the llama,
L. glama.
FEATURES OF THE VICUNA
Senses: Pricked ears give excellent hearing. Large eyes give good vision over a wide area.
Coloration: Red-brown or cinnamon above and paler below. Shaggy white chest bib.
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Range of the vicuna.
DISTRIBUTION
Inhabits high-altitude grasslands on the plateaus of the Andes,
mostly in central Peru. Also occurs in western Bolivia, north
eastern Chile, and northwestern Argentina.
CONSERVATION
The vicuna was hunted almost to extinction earlier in this cen
tury. It is now protected in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina,
and export is banned. The population exceeds 80,000.
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High-altitude adaptations: The vicuna's thick, silky coat traps a layer of air next to its body. This helps
protect the animal from the chill mountain air. The vicuna also has almost twice as many red
blood cells as a human being , so it can make the most of the available oxygen.
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On the bleak plateaus of the Andes, the vicuna's warm coat
is essential to its survival, but its soft fleece almost caused
its downfall. By the 1960s this graceful animal was nearly
extinct due to hunting for its wool, which is considered the
finest in the world. The vicuna's numbers have since revived,
however, and now populations in some areas are even being
culled-selectively killed-to protect their grassland habitat.
~ HABITS The vicuna lives at elevations of
19,000 feet on the puna-the windswept plains on the high
plateaus of the Andes. The air is
very thin, but the animal's large
heart and lungs enable it to sur
vive. There is no rain during nine
months of the year, and it is very
cold. But the vicuna is protected
by its coat, which traps a layer of
warm, insulating air.
The vicuna lives in a group that
usually has one male leader and
several females with young. The
group holds a territory of up to
a tenth of a square mile, which
is marked with dung and urine.
The dominant male defends the
land from rivals. Males without
harems join bachelor herds of
up to 30 animals or roam alone
until they find females.
The vicuna feeds on the lower
slopes in daytime and walks to
a higher sleeping area at night.
Few predators can surprise this
animal. If a puma approaches,
the vicuna utters a high-pitched
call to alert the group. When it
is in real danger, the vicuna may
sprint away, running as fast as
30 miles per hour with its neck
outstretched and ears flattened.
Right: Water can be scarce in the mountains, so the vicuna drinks deeply after a rainfall.
~ BREEDING In March and April the male vi-
cuna mates with the receptive
females in his group. The ani
mals mate while lying on their
chests in their feeding area. In
the same area the female bears
one offspring 11 months later.
Soon after giving birth she may
mate again.
The young is able to follow its
mother within half an hour of
birth. But it lies low while she
forages, pressing close to the
Left: Its highly oxygenated blood helps the vicuna survive in the thin air of the high plains.
DID YOU KNOW? • The vicuna is the smallest
species of camel.
• To cope with the thin air of
the puna, the vicuna's heart is
five percent heavier than that
of any similar-size mammal.
• Certain Native Americans re
vered the vicuna, believing it
was the daughter of their fer
tility goddess. In Incan culture
ground to hide from pumas. It
suckles for up to 10 months and
is independent soon afterward.
Youngsters in a group play to
gether but act timidly toward
the male leader, stretching their
necks over thei r backs to indi
cate submissiveness. The leader
drives young males away when
they are barely weaned, at four
to nine months old. He drives
the young females out when
they are 10 to 11 months old.
Right: The vicuna breeds in captivity but has never been fully domesticated for its wool.
only nobles were allowed to
wear clothing woven from vi
cuna wool, and anyone who
was caught killing the animal
without permission was sen
tenced to death.
• Some people think that the
closely related alpaca-also
famed for its wool-is a cross
between a vicuna and a llama.
~ VICUNA &: MAN Vicunas have never been domes
ticated, but the Incas rounded
them up for shearing and then
released them. When the Incas
fell to the Spanish in the 1500s,
over 1.5 million vicunas ranged
from Ecuador to Argentina .
The Spanish killed 80,000 vi
cunas yearly until 1825, when
the species was protected by
law. But hunting plus the spread
of livestock continued to reduce
vicuna numbers. By 1965, only
6,000 remained in the wild. In
1969, the species was declared
endangered and serious conser
vation efforts began. Numbers
are now rising. In some areas vi
cunas are again being rounded
up, shorn, and released.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING Sparse clumps of short, coarse
grass and other fibrous plants
are all that grow in the puna's
poor soil . Ripping this tough
vegetation wears down the vi
cuna's incisor teeth, but it has a
special adaptation. It is the only
hoofed mammal with lower in
cisors that grow continually, like
a rodent's.
The vicuna's plant diet lacks
adequate salt and water. Fog of
ten provides the only available
moisture. But some areas of the
puna have salt lakes where the
animal laps brackish water. It al
so licks salt-bearing rocks to ob
tain this vital mineral.
'" CARD 342 I WEDDELL SEAL
,,~--------------------------------------~~ ~
ORDER Pinnipedio
FAMILY Phocidoe
GENUS &. SPECIES Leptonychotes weddelli
The Weddell seal lives in the waters surrounding Antarctica. It stays close to land and spends much of its time underneath
the ice, diving to great depths to find food.
"I KEY FACTS
I ~I SIZES ~ Length: Up to lOft.
Weight: Female, up to 1,000 lb.
Male, slightly less.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3-6 years.
Mating season: December.
Gestation: 11 months.
No. of young: Usually 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary in the water. Forms
colonies on land.
Diet: Fish, squid, and krill.
Lifespan: Probably over 20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are no other species in the
genus Leptonychotes. Relatives in
the subfamily Lobodontinoe are all
found in Antarctica and include
the leopard seal, Hydrurgo /ep
tonyx, and the Ross seal, Om
motophoco rossi.
Range of the Weddell seal.
DISTRIBUTION
The Weddell seal is confined to the shallow coastal waters sur
rounding Antarctica. It does not venture as fa r as the edge of
the pack ice.
CONSERVATION
The Weddell seal has no enemies other than humans. Its popu
lation may be as high as half a million, but the species is threat
ened by pollution and habitat destruction.
FEATURES OF THE WEDDEll SEAL
Flippers: Propel the seal thro ugh water but do not provide much support on land.
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Mother and young: During cold weather, the young pup huddles close to its mother for warmth. Her rich milk enables the pup to increase its weight by 2 pounds per day.
Head: Disproportionately smal l in comparison to
the rest of the body.
Coat: Typically dark brown to gray and covered In blotches, but may vary greatly between individuals. The coat is covered In fine hairs. A thick layer of fat under its skin protects the seal from the co ld.
01 RO?00CJCJ1 PAC:KFT CJCJ
The Weddell seal is found farther south than any other
mammal-in the shallow, freezing waters surrounding
Antarctica. One of the most proficient divers in the world,
it reaches depths that no other seals have been known to
attain. This animal belongs to the group of earless seals
known as the true seals, which are distinguished by their
streamlined shapes and inability to move easily on land.
~ HABITS The Weddell seal lives along the
coastline of Antarctica. It is never
found on the floating pack ice
surrounding the continent, stay
ing instead near the more solid
ice along the coast. In contrast,
its relatives the common, Ross,
and leopard seals are found far
ther out at sea.
During the long Antarctic win
ter, the Weddell seal spends the
majority of its time beneath the
ice, where it makes a great deal
of noise. Some of its noises may
be a form of echolocation, simi
lar to the sound waves used by
bats. These noises may enable
the seal to navigate and find its
Right: The highly aquatic Weddell seal is at home in the icy ocean.
prey when diving into the dark
depths of the ocean.
In order to breathe, the Wed
dell seal cuts holes in the ice with
its powerful teeth. Each seal uses
its own air hole, making a trill
ing call as it nears the hole. The
seals also emit deep grunts plus
sounds made by snapping the
teeth together- probably to
warn that enemies are near.
~ FOOD &: HUNTING The young Weddell seal feeds
exclusively on small crustaceans
such as krill. The adult eats both
squid and fish, particularly the
large Antarctic cod.
In order to catch its prey, the
seal must dive under the ice. It
dives to depths of up to 2,000
feet, deeper than any other seal,
and may stay under for up to 45
minutes before returning to its
Left: During the Antarctic winter, the Weddell seal spends most of its time under the ice.
DID YOU KNOW? • Weddell seals may sleep un
der the ice when the weath
er is too bad for them to haul
out. Their blubber makes them
buoyant enough to float just
under the surface.
• The Weddell seal is thought
to be the only member of its
subfamily, Lobodontinae, that
gathers in large herds during
ice hole to fill its lungs with air.
During a very deep dive, the
seal's body has to withstand a
pressure of over 840 pounds per
square inch. It is able to do so
because its surface blood vessels
constrict, ensuring a steady sup
ply of blood to its brain and its
heart. The animal can also with
stand a large amount of carbon
dioxide dissolved in its blood.
Right: The large Antarctic cod is a major part of the Weddell seal's staple diet.
the mating season, with the
bulls forming harems.
• Old and sick Weddell seals
at times try to distanse them
selves from their companions.
The seals' bodies have been
found on the sides of glaciers
as far as 35 miles from the sea
and up to 3,200 feet above
sea level.
~ BREEDING The female Weddell seal hauls
out on the ice to give birth dur
ing October and November
the Antarctic spring. All the fe
males stay together in groups
called rookeries, while the males
gather along the shore.
The newborn weighs up to 60
pounds and is more than four
feet long. Its fluffy coat, or lanu
go, is tan or gray with a dark line
along the back. By the time it
is weaned in up to eight weeks,
the pup has shed this coat and
grown the sleeker adult coat.
The pup gains weight rapidly
while suckling its mother's rich
milK, which is almost 50 percent
Left: The pup huddles close to its mother for warmth and protection.
Left: The Weddell seal population is about one-quarter to one-half million. Individuals never stroy very for from their Antarctic home.
fat. The nursing female does not
feed, so she can concentrate on
protecting her pup. During the
suckling period, the pup enters
the water, diving through an ice
hole kept open by an adult. It
also roams over the ice while its
mother basks in the sun. At this
time of year, the climate is warm
for Antarctica, with the tempera
ture rarely dropping below 23°F.
If snow falls, the pup huddles be
side the mother for warmth. If
danger threatens, she utters a
warning call.
The female mates after wean
ing her pup. She carries her fer
tilized egg for several months
before it begins to develop, in
time for the next spring.
RED BAT ,,~-----------------------~
ORDER Chiroptera
FAMILY Vespertilionidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS &: SPECIES Lasiurus borealis
Easily recognized by its rich reddish color, the red bat is one of the few North American bats that sometimes migrates. It is also
unusual because the male is more brightly colored than the female.
SIZES
Length: 4-5 in.
Wingspan: 6-7 in.
Weight: Il -~ oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Mating season: Late summer
to fall.
Gestation: About 3 months, but
implantation is delayed.
No. of young: 2-4, rarely 5.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Nocturnal and usually soli
tary, but females with young may
form small colonies. Some north
ern populations migrate.
Diet: Flying insects.
Lifespan: Unknown.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 10 other hairy-tailed bat
species in the genus Lasiurus. The
Galapagos bat, L. brachyotis, lives
only in the Galapagos Islands.
FEATURES OF THE RED BAT
Range of the red bat.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in southern Canada and throughout the eastern United
States except for southern Florida. Also in the western mountains
as far south as Panama and in Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica.
CONSERVATION
The red bat is common throughout its wide range. Because it
usually roosts on tree trunks, it is not affected by disturbances
at roosting caves, as many other bats are.
Male: Rich brick red frosted
Wings: Mostly made up of the bat's hand and supported by its finger bones
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elaborate ornamentation found in many North American bats.
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ROOSTING ON A TREE TRUNK
When roosting , bats hang upside down, gripping wi th their hind feet. Their hind claws are curved like hooks.
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Unlike most bats, the red bat is mainly a solitary animal,
never gathering in large roosts and seldom even using
caves or old buildings. Little is known about the social life
of this species, but red bats often forage in pairs. Two
of them may also travel together during migration.
~ HABITS The red bat is the most colorful bat in North America, and it is the most widespread species of hairy-tailed bat. It is common in much of the United States, but it tends to be solitary and is rarely seen in large numbers, in contrast to bats that live in huge colonies.
Red bats roost in the open, usually in a tree, rather than in caves or old buildings like other bats. They frequently select a site with a southern or western exposure, which may help them stay warm during the late afternoon and early evening.
In the northern section of its
range, the red bat is migratory, traveling south in September and October. During its seasonal journey the animal may cover hundreds of miles. However, the red bat does not migrate in the southern parts of its range. Instead, it tends to stay in the same small area all year.
Like all bats, the red bat navigates by echolocation emitting high-pitched sounds that echo back from objects.
Above: The red bat's elastic wing membrane, called the patagium, is supported by long finger bones.
Right: Like most other bats, the red bat preys exclusively on insects.
NATUREWATCH When it is hanging at rest in a tree, the red bat looks like a dead leaf, so it is usually not noticed. But this animal often clings to tree trunks, and then it is easy to spot. It frequently stays in its roost after other bats have begun to forage and does not fly until it is nearly dark.
~ FOOD & HUNTING The red bat feeds mainly on the wing. It waits until it is almost dark before it begins to hunt. While fluttering about, it uses its sonar to detect moths, beetles, and other night-flying insects. Once it locates an insect, it scoops its prey out of the air with its tail membrane.
The red bat may search for insects at streetlights. It sometimes even lands on the lamppost to snatch up insects that are resting there.
Although red bats are usually solitary, they may at times forage in pairs. The two bats fly up and down a river or above a road that takes them through the woods.
The red bat is easiest to see when it migrates in the fall, especially along the seacoast. Its flight is rapid, and its wings appear more pointed than when it is hunting. When it migrates over the dunes, the red bat is likely to be mistaken for a rustcolored swallow.
DID YOU KNOW? • The strong-flying red bat has been seen in Bermuda, which is more than 700 miles from the nearest part of the North American mainland. • The red bat is the only mammal species in North America in which the male and the female differ markedly in color. • The red bat generally roosts above a clearing. When evening comes, it can just drop
~ BREEDING The red bat generally mates in late summer or fall, before the northern populations start their southward migration. Implantation, however, is delayed for several months. Births do not occur until the next spring, after a gestation period of about three months.
The red bat is unusual in frequently having more than two offspring . A litter of four is not uncommon, and two females are known to have had litters of
from its perch and begin to fly. • The long bunches of Spanish moss that hang from trees in the Deep South are a favorite roosting place of the red bat. • The scientific name Lasiurus comes from two Greek words meaning "hairy tail." It refers to the furry tail membranes of the bats in this genus. The red bat's species name, borealis, is Greek for "northern./I
five. To suckle these young, the female has four nipples instead of the usual two.
Ayoung bat soon weighs as much as a third of its mother's weight. Perhaps because the young are so heavy, the mother does not carry them with her and may leave them hanging from a branch when she sets out for an evening's foraging.
Above: The red bat roosts in the open. Hanging from a tree, it may be mistaken for a dead leaf.