"'CARD 111

COLOBUS MONKEY
'(----------------------------------------------
~
ORDER
Primates
FAMILY
Cerocopithecidae
GENUS
Colobus
The colobus monkey is a shy, forest-dwelling primate.
Three different species have similar lifestyles. Only the
patterns of their coats distinguish them.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Body length: 11 /2-21 /2 ft.
Tail length: 1-3 ft.
Weight: Up to 26 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Varies accord-
ing to species. About 2 years for
females; 4 years for males.
Breeding season: Year-round.
Gestation: 4-6 months.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable; lives mainly in
groups in the trees.
Diet: Leaves, bark, and flowers.
Lifespan: 20 years.
Call: Loud barks and croaks.
RELATED SPECIES
6 subspecies of black-and-white; 2
subspecies of red colobus; 1
species of olive colobus.
Range of the colobus monkey.
DISTRIBUTION
Tropical and mountain f orests across central Africa from
Senegal to Ethiopia, and from Angola throughout Zaire to
Tanzania and Malawi .
CONSERVATION
Overhunting in the nineteenth century severely depleted the
colobus's numbers. As man moves farther into its habi t at,
the colobus's numbers are decreasing once again.
FOUR SPECIES OF BLACK-AND-WHITE COLOBUS MONKEY
Abyssinian black-and-white, C. abyssinicus: Jet black
cOloring. White mantle runs the length of body. Tail is
black at the base, turning white with a bushy tuft.
Southern black-and-white, C. polykomos: GlOSSY black coat
with whi te mantle around upper parts. Tail is long and white
without any bushy tuft.
MCMXCI IMP BVf lMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Western black-and-white, C. vellerosus: Long white
beard and whiskers. Thighs are covered in white mantle
and the long tail is pure white without a bushy tuft.
Angolan black-and-white, C. angolensis: Long, white
whiskers and beard. Thick, black coat with white mantle
on shoulders. Tail is black with white tuft.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200291 PACKET 29
There are three species of colobus
monkey-black-and-white, red, and olive.
The black-and-white colobus is the most striking of
these. Its long, white mantle and shiny black coat
were once sought after by both African tribes
and fashionable Europeans.
~ HABITS
Colobus monkeys live in dense
forest and spend most of their
time in the trees. They live in
groups, the size varying ac- .
cording to the species: about
five black-and-white colobus,
15 to 50 red colobus, and 10
to 15 of the olive species. An
old male leads each group.
Colobus monkeys are
territorial and defend their
area with threatening calls
and fierce displays. Group
members spend most of their
time in the center of the
territory, swinging from
branch to branch in the trees
where they sleep and eat.
~ BREEDING
The female mates with several
different males when she is in
heat (ready to mate). She
leaves the group just before
giving birth, returning a day
later with her tiny offspring.
For the first few days she
holds the baby in her arms,
but after two weeks it is
strong enough to cling to her
back as she swings through
the trees. The olive colobus
mother, however, carries her
Left: The colobus eats, sleeps, and
plays in the trees, rarely touching
the forest floor.
DID YOU KNOW?
According to Arab legend,
a colobus monkey rips its
skin when injured, rather
than let a hunter catch it.
The name colobus comes
from the Greek word for
mutilated-a reference to the
newborn baby in her mouth
and transfers it to her back
after several weeks. This is
because the fur of this spe-
cies is short, making it more
difficult for the baby to grasp.
The baby is weaned at
seven months, but after six
weeks it begins to eat leaves
and spend more time with
youngsters its own age. The
young colobus monkeys are
very playful.
Right: A young co/obus clings to
its mother, gripping her fur with
its strong hands.
animal's lack of thumbs.
African legend calls colo-
bus monkeys the messen-
gers of the gods because
some of them climb to the
tops of trees at sunrise and
sit silently, as if in prayer.
Apart from people, the main
predators of the colobus mon-
key are leopards and eagles.
Although it can move quickly,
the monkey hides instead of
fleeing from danger; its coat
provides excellent camouflage
for it in the dense forests.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Leaves are the main diet of
the colobus monkey. It also
eats fruit, bark, flowers, and,
occasionally, insects. Most
species spend all their time in
the trees, although the olive
colobus monkey sometimes
Left: The red colobus monkey
eats leaves and shoots from only
a few trees.
Left: The
black-and-
white colobus
monkey is
born with a
white coat
and spends
the first few
weeks in its
mother's
arms.
The fur and long plumes
of the colo bus were once
used as ceremonial head-
dresses by African tribes.
Although it is no longer
hunted on a large scale, the
colobus monkey is threat-
ened by loss of its habitat.
feeds on the ground.
When feeding, the monkey
sits on a branch and pulls
twigs toward it, ripping off
the leaves with its mouth.
Sometimes it uses its hands
to eat. The colobus monkey
has a three-chambered
stomach that allows it to
digest coarse leaves.
CARD 112 ]
WESTERN POCKET GOPHER
ORDER
Rodentia
FAMILY
Geomyidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
... GENUS
~ Thomomys
Western pocket gophers are rodents found in North and Central
America. They are no longer than the span of a man ~ hand but
can dig complex systems of burrows SO feet long.
__ SJ_ KE_Y_F_A_CTS
~
SIZES
Length: Male, 5-9 in. Female
smaller.
Weight: 2-14 oz. Male usually
twice the weight of female.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male, 1 year.
Female may breed at 10 weeks.
Mating: Season and number of
litters per year vary with location.
Gestation: 17-20 days.
No. of young: Usually 5.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Aggressive. Separate terri-
tories except when breeding.
Diet: Leafy plants above ground,
roots and tubers below.
Lifespan: 4 years in the wild.
RELATED SPECIES
The 6 species of Thomomys are
closely related to eastern pocket
gophers of the genus Geomys.
Range of western pocket gophers.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in North and Central America, from western Canada
to the southwestern United States and Mexico.
CONSERVATION
Many efforts have been made to control the population of
western pocket gophers because they damage crops and
irrigation systems. Their numbers remain high, however,
because they reproduce at a rapid rate.
SPECIAL fEATURES OF WESTERN POCKET GOPHERS
Pouches: Ex-
tend back to the
shoulder. Can be
turned inside out
for cleaning.
Gopher packs
them with food
to carfY back to
its burrow.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Incisors: Used
in burrowing.
Lips can close
behind them to
keep soil out of
mouth.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Feet: Powerful , Tail : Sparsely
with long claws haired. Gopher
to aid burrow- uses it to feel
ing. Forelegs its way when it
can push soil runs backward
from burrow. in burrow.
0160200351 PACKET 35
Western pocket gophers get their name from the fur-lined
external cheek pouches on either side of the mouth.
They use their forepaws to fill these pockets
with food, which they then carry
to a secure underground burrow.
Western pocket gophers pre-
fer well-drained farmland soil,
which is easy to dig, but they
also live in deserts and upland
meadows. They usually travel
at night.
Gophers use their four in-
cisors (chisel-edged teeth at
the front of the mouth) to cut
away roots. They then dig the
soil with the large claws on
their forepaws. Their numer-
ous burrows include nesting
chambers as well as food stor-
age areas.
Each gopher fiercely defends
its territory against other go-
phers, male or female, except
during breeding season. Ter-
ritories seldom overlap, but
boundaries change as individ-
ual gophers search for food
and water.
The male's territory is be-
tween 250 and 300 square
yards. It is often twice the size
of the female's territory but is
still small for a mammal of
this size. Where a male's terri-
tory touches the territory of
one or more females, burrows
and nesting chambers may
be shared during breeding,
although each animal has its
own tunnels.
Right: A gopher uses its forelegs
to clear soil from a burrow entry.
DID YOU KNOW?
Pocket gophers in areas
with hard, dry soil tend to
have bigger incisors than
those in areas with soft soil.
Gophers can run as quick-
ly backward as forward-
both on and underneath the
ground.
_ To clean soil from their
eyes, pocket gophers "cry" a
thick fluid from their tear ducts.
Separated by impassable
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Pocket gophers feed only on
plants. Above ground, they eat
leafy vegetation and often fill
their cheek pouches to trans-
port food underground. Below
ground, they eat the juicy roots
and tubers that they find when
burrowing.
The exact diet depends on
the location, but pocket go-
phers eat mainly grasses and
other fleshy plants .. A gopher
in a dry area often adds water-
rich cacti to its diet.
left: A tapering body lets the
pocket gopher move easily
through its burrows.
mountain ranges, colonies of
pocket gophers have evolved
in complete isolation. For
example, the valley pocket
gopher has more than 1 85
recognized subspecies.
Gophers can promote
plant growth by breaking up
and aerating the soil, but
large numbers can damage
crops with their huge appe-
tites and vigorous digging.
---------------------------
Above: Gophers may appear in
winter, but usually they block
their snow tunnels with soil.
~ BREEDING
Most female gophers breed at
least once each season, but
many males are infertile. Go-
phers in agricultural areas
may breed year-round and
raise several litters, while
those living among natural
vegetation breed seasonally.
Newborns are completely
dependent. Cheek pouches
open at about 24 days, eyes
and ears two to three days
later. Some species take up to
100 days to grow an adult
coat. The young are weaned
at 40 days but stay with the
mother for about 60 days.
Then they create shallow
burrows nearby. Before the
breeding season, they estab-
lish their own territory and
dig a full-size burrow system.
""'CARD 113
BULLDOG BAT
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Chiroptera
FAMILY
Noctilionidae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Noctilio leporinus
The bulldog bat's cheek pouches and large folds of facial skin give
its face the appearance of a bulldog's muzzle.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 4-6 in.
Forearm length: 3-4 in.
Wingspan: 11-12 in.
Weight: 2'/2 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Mating: Winter.
Gestation: About 1 6 weeks.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Nocturnal. Roosts
in groups.
Diet: Small fish and insects.
Lifespan: Up to 20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
Only the southern bulldog bat,
Noctilio albiventris, which feeds
mainly on insects.
Range of the bulldog bat.
DISTRIBUTION
Forests and mangrove swamps in Central and South America
from Mexico to Argentina. Also found in Trinidad and t he
Antilles.
CONSERVATION
Bat populations are decl ining worldwide because of habitat
and roost loss, hunting, and the effects of pesticides. Many
species are now endangered.
FEATURES OF THE BULLDOG BAT
Head: Tip of the
nose projects
over nostrils.
Thick skin folds
above and below
fleshy lips. Long,
pointed ears.
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Flattened toes cut
down water -
resistance. Long
sharp claws.
Body: Head, shoulders, and mid back are
covered with short, red-brown fur that
sheds water. Remainder of body is hairless.
Legs and feet: Legs joined at ankles by tail
membrane, which can be folded up and lowered.
Large feet well adapted for catching fish.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200191 PACKET 19
The bulldog bat, also known as the
Mexican bulldog bat, lives mainly on a
diet of small fish. It finds fish by using
echolocation, then dips its hind legs
into the water and scoops the prey
up with its long, sharp claws.
During the day the bulldog
bat sleeps, washes, and
grooms at a roost inside
a hollow tree or rock crevice.
Large groups of bulldog bats
congregate at each roost-
ing place. The sites are easy
DID YOU KNOW?
The bulldog bat is some-
t ill)es called the fish-eating
bat and the Mexican fishi ng
bat.
Two other species of bat
prey on fish-the California
fishing bat, Pizonyx vivesi, and
the false vampire bat, Mega-
derma lyra, from India. The
to locate, since the entire
area smells of bat guano
(waste matter) even as far
. as 50 meters away.
At dusk the bat leaves the
roost to find food, avoiding
obstacles by echolocation,
false vampire bat also eats
birds, frogs, and other bats.
Bats make up nearly one-
quarter of all mammal spe-
ci es found throughout the
world.
Besides birds, bats are
the only other winged verte-
brates that are capable of
FOOD & HUNTING
The bulldog bat uses echo-
location to find schools of fish .
Echolocation means that the
animal projects a sound that
bounces off the fish or other
prey. The bat can determine
where the prey is when the
sound bounces back. After it
has located a school, the bat
which the bat also uses when
hunting prey. It hunts for both
freshwater and saltwater fish .
Sometimes the bulldog bat
feeds in daylight near fish-
eating birds, but this behavior
is unusual.
sustained flight. .
Bats roost in large num-
bers. The largest bat roost
in the world is in Carlsbad
Caverns in New Mexico,
where more than one
million Mexican free-tailed
bats gather during the
summer.
looks for ripples on the water
made by fish near the surface.
The bat' s interfemoral mem-
brane (the thin tail skin that
stretches between the hind
legs) is tucked and folded up
between its legs as the bat
nears the water.
The bulldog bat skims the
Left: The bat's
large wings
enable it to
glide over the
water when
hunting for
fish.
Right: The bat
drags its feet
through the
water to catch
fish.
Below: The
bulldog bat's
pec.uliar
shaped nose
houses its
echolocation
system.
water, then trails its claws
about one inch beneath the
surface and sweeps for fish.
The bat catches as many as
30 fish a night. After a sweep,
the interfemoral membrane
is lowered again so that it
can be used for maneuver-
ing as the bat flies off.
After catching a fish,
the bulldog bat scoops it
into its mouth. When the
bat lands, it chews up the
fish, breaking it into large
pieces. The pieces are
stored in cheek pouches
and chewed again before
being swallowed.

Bulldog bats live in mixed-
sex groups at the roost for
most of the year.
The adult females group
together for birth and during
weaning. Males and females
do not form pair bonds; that
is, they mate with different
partners each season.
Mating takes place dur-
ing the winter. One blind
and hairless baby is born 16
weeks later. The mother car-
ries it with her for about two
weeks, and it begins to fly at
20 days . The young bat
reaches adult size within a
few weeks of weaning, but
it may not reach its full body
weight for several years.
YAK
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ ~
.,. CLASS
~ Artiodactyla
ORDER
Bavidae
.,. GENUS & SPECIES
~ Bas mutus
'\: CARD 114 I
The long-horned, shaggy-coated yak is one of the hardiest species
of cattle. It is one of the few animals able to thrive on the
barren Tibetan plateau where the air is icy and thin.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Up to 11 ft.
Height: Up to 6
1
/2 ft. at shoulder .
Weight: Males up to 2,000 lb.
Females up to 800 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Females, 1-3
years. Males, at least 5 years.
Gestation: 9 months.
No. of young: 1 calf.
LIFESTYLE
Call : A deep grunt, mainly during
the breeding season .
Habit: Cows and calves live in
large herds. Bulls live alone or in
groups of 2 or 3.
Diet: Grass, lichen, and ground
vegetation .
Lifespan: Up to 25 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The yak is one of 5 species of oxen
which includes domestic cattle, Bas
taurus.
Range of the yak.
DISTRIBUTION
The wild yak is rare in the high plateaus of its range in
central Asia, north of the Himalayas. The domestic yak is
more widespread.
CONSERVATION
Threat ened by hunting, the wild yak is classified as endan-
gered. In China numbers have fallen drast ically. Onl y about
500 now exist in the wild.
SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS OF THE YAK
The yak has a number of special
adaptations that enable it to live in
the extreme cold of the Himalayan
mountains.
Body: The
yak has a
short, com-
pact body
and thick,
shaggy fur
that keeps
it warm in
the severe-
ly cold
climate.
Legs: Short
and powerful ,
giving the yak
balance and
agility on the
steep, icy
mountain
slopes.
i MCMXCllMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
The yak's cleft, or split, hooves
help it grip the often icy and
rocky ground.
0160200321 PACKET 32
strong, once roamed the desolate high country
of central Asia. Because of overhunting, probably
only 500 wild yaks remain today. The domestic yak is
numerous, however, and plays a vital role in the
lives of the tribes that live in the mountains
north of the Himalayas.
~ HABITAT
The wild yak lives high among
the snow-covered mountains
of Tibet at altitudes between
13,000 and 20,000 feet. Its
thick skin and long shaggy
coat, which almost reaches
the ground, protect it from
the bitter cold. Its coat is so
thick and warm that the yak
can sleep comfortably directly
on the snow.
Despite its heavy and un-
gainly appearance, the yak is
actually an agile mountain
climber. Surefooted and
hardy, it easily covers great
distances through its rocky
homeland.
During the cooler summer
months of August and Sep-
tember, the wild yak used to
range over the highest snow-
covered ground, only moving
to lower, more sheltered areas
as winter approached. Today
the remaining wild yaks have
been driven by man's pres-
ence into more remote areas.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The yak feeds on lichen,
herbs, and coarse grasses that
grow high in the mountains.
As the snow melts during the
brief summer, fresh vegetation
sprouts high in the moun-
tains, so the yak herds roam
up into higher pastures. When
winter returns, the yaks
descend to graze the valleys.
The yak is able to thrive
on a meager diet because its
digestive system is so efficient.
Like other ruminants, or cud
chewers, yaks partially digest
their food in their first stom-
ach before regurgitating it
and chewing it a second time.
They swallow the food once
again. Eventually the food
passes through three more
stomachs that digest every
bit of nutrition from it.
Above: To find enough food to
sustain itself, the yak must range
over a large area every day.
~ BREEDING
Like other cattle, female yaks,
or cows, and their young gath-
er together in large herds,
while the males are either
solitary or live in small bach-
elor herds. Females mate at
one to three years of age, but
males do not mate until they
can establish a harem of fe-
males, usually when they are
five or six years old.
At the start of breeding sea-
son, the mature males, or
bulls, join the main herds and
begin competing for access
to the females. During this
period the males engage in
fierce, noisy fights that are
mainly tests of strength and
seldom result in injury.
DID YOU KNOW?
The yak was first domesti-
cated in Tibet over 3,000
years ago.
The wild yak's original
scientific name, Bos grun-
niens, means "grunting ox."
The wild yak only grunts
during the breeding season,
The victorious bulls then
mate with the cows that are
in heat (ready to breed).
Under the proper conditions
female yaks bear offspring
every other year, so nearly
half the herd will mate.
while the domestic yak
grunts continuously.
The yak's stomach con-
tents ferment at an internal
temperature of 104 F, pro-
viding the animal with cen-
tral heating so it can survive
temperatures of 0 F.
Calves are born nine
months later in June when
food is plentiful. The calves
grow quickly and become
independent after one year.
Below: The calves thrive on a diet
of their mother's nutritious milk.
The yak's great strength and
its ability to survive at high al -
titudes have made it invaluable
to many nomadic mountain
peoples. Domestic yaks are
both ridden and used as pack
animals. Their wool is spun
into yarn for clothing, and
their milk is drunk and made
into cheese and butter. Both
wild and domestic yaks are
killed for their meat and skins.
The domestic yak is some-
what smaller than its wild
counterpart and its coat is less
shaggy. The domestic yak is
also more docile than the wild
yak. Because of their hardi-
ness, yaks are often crossbred
with other breeds of cattle.
Thus, if the true species is to
be preserved, wild yaks must
be protected.
Above: The yak provides food,
clothing, and fuel for the people
of the Tibetan mountains.
WOOD MOUSE
ORDER
Rodentia
FAMILY
Muridae
CARD 115
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS &. SPECIES
Apodemus sylvaticus
The wood mouse, also known as the long-tailed field mouse,
is a prolific and adaptable creature. It is probably the
most numerous of all mammals throughout Europe ..
--:s!IJ-KEY FACTS
I ~ I SIZES
....., Length: Head and body up to 4 in.
Tail 2'/2-4'/2 in.
Weight: Up to 1 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male at 1 h oz.
Female at 1/4 oz.
Mating season: March through
early winter.
Gestation: 21-26 days.
No. of young: 4-7. Up to 4 litters
a year.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Several adults may live
together in a network of
underground tunnels.
Diet: Mainly seeds, nuts, buds,
insects, and arthropods.
Lifespan: Up to 1 year.
RELATED SPECIES
Within the subfamily to which
the wood mouse belongs there
are 408 species in 89 genera.
Range of the wood mouse.
DISTRIBUTION
Found throughout Europe (except northern Scandinavia and
Finland) east to the Altai and Himalayan mountains.
CONSERVATION
The most common mouse throughout its range, the wood
mouse is considered a pest but is not under any threat.
FEATURES OF THE WOOD MOUSE
HIND LEGS
When the wood mouse explores,
it stands up on its hind legs and
sniffs the air.
Feef: Large; give the mouse a slight
hopping motion when it moves.
MCMXCI IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTFD IN lJS A
Feeding: The
wood mouse is
a good climber
and often scales
.Q!anches to
reach fruit or
Coat: Sandy colored with white
underparts. Very large ears. The tail
is longer than that of other species
of mice.
Despite the fact that the wood mouse
is the most common mouse throughout Europe,
it is rarely seen. This is because it is active only
at night. It spends the day resting in its burrow,
emerging at night to gather the food
that it stores underground.
Although called the wood
mouse, this little rodent will
live just about anywhere it has
enough cover to hide from
predators. Besides woodlands,
it inhabits newly plowed
fields, hedges, and gardens.
In urban environments it
lives along railroad embank-
ments and in undeveloped
areas. The only place the
wood mouse does not live is
above the tree line, unless
there are walls and buildings
to give it shelter.
The wood mouse spends
its life within an area about
600 feet in diameter. It bur-
rows underground and digs a
series of tunnels and en-
trances. Inside the tunnels it
makes storerooms for food
and a nesting chamber for the
young. Several adult wood
mice may live together in the
same network of tunnels.
~ BREEDING
Wood mice mate beginning
in March and continuing
through the end of autumn-
even into winter if the weather
is mild and food is plentiful.
The female gives birth just
under four weeks after mating
and can produce four litters a
year, although two or three
left: The wood
mouse is a shy
creature that is
easily disturbed
by man.
Right: When
wood mice are
nervous they
often wash
and groom
themselves.
Far right: The
young spend
their first few
weeks in a nest
lined with
leaves, moss,
and grass.
Right: After
three weeks
the mother
forces the
young out
of the nest.
The wood mouse is primarily
herbivorous, eating a diet of
seeds, buds, fruits, and nuts.
When these are scarce, how-
ever, it will eat snails, earth-
worms, and insects.
The wood mouse hoards
food-seeds and nuts in
particular-to supplement its
food supply during the winter.
It packs its underground
storerooms, then takes out
seeds or nuts one at a time.
litters is more common.
Four to seven young are
born in the nesting chamber,
deep in a burrow. They are
naked and blind at birth-their
eyes do not open until they
are 16 days old. By then they
have grown a full coat of fur,
although it is a darker color
[l:J NATUREWATCH
The wood mouse is diffi-
cult to spot in natural set-
tings: it is nocturnal-even
bright moonlight can keep
it from emerging-and it
is tiny. Wood mice that
live indoors are distinctive
from house mice because
of their larger ears, eyes,
and hind feet . They also
leave larger droppings.
than the adult's, and their
teeth begin to come through.
Wood mice live for little
more than three or four
months. The greatest popula-
tion occurs in early autumn,
and the smallest is in March
and April when breeding
season starts.
Below: When feeding, the mouse
holds a nut in its forepaws as it
nibbles through the shell to reach
the soft fruit inside.
DID YOU KNOW?
The family Muridae, which
includes the wood mouse,
is larger than any other
family of mammals, includ-
ing man. Muridae contains
1,082 species in 15 sub-
families and 241 genera.
The wood mouse's sense
of smell is so acute that it
can detect the exact loca-
tion of each seed in a newly
planted row. It digs directly
down to the seed rather
than digging at random
along the row.
Young wood mice
produce ultrasounds as
their temperature drops,
attracting their mother's
attention.
~ ENEMIES
The wood mouse is a vital food
source for many nocturnal ani-
mals: the fox, weasel, stoat, and
badger, as well as the domestic
cat. Many species of owl also
prey on the wood mouse.
Many people view the wood
mouse as a troublesome pest.
. The wood moUse inflicts serious
damage on both vegetable gar-
dens and farmland alike, dig-
ging up seeds before they
germinate and nibbling grain
crops down to the ground.
ASIAN ELEPHANT
ORDER
Proboscidea
FAMILY
E/ephantidae
CARD 116
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS & SPECIES
E/ephas maxim us
The Asian elephant is slightly smaller in size and has smaller ears
than the African elephant. Long-living and intelligent, it has been
domesticated by humans for the last 5,500 years.
_____
SIZES
Length: 18-20 ft.
Height: 8-10 ft.
Weight: Up to 11,000 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 15 years.
Mating: Usually in wet season.
Gestation: 22 months.
No. of young: Usually 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Cow and young form a
family unit. Bull is mainly solitary.
Call: Trumpets loudly when
angry, excited, or separated. Also
communicates by rumbling.
Diet: Vegetation, fruit, twigs,
small branches, bark, and roots.
Lifespan: About 60 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The four Asian subspecies include
the Indian elephant, Ceylon
elephant, Sumatran elephant,
and Malaysian elephant.
Range of the Asian elephant.
DISTRIBUTION
Once found throughout India and southeastern Asia. Now
restricted to mountainous parts of India, Indochina, Sri
Lanka, Indonesia, and southern China.
CONSERVATION
Worldwide, the Asian elephant's population stands at
42,600 to 57,500 (1990 figures). It is in danger of
extinction throughout its natural habitat.
FEATURES OF THE ASIAN ELEPHANT
Ancestry: African elephants spread to
the cooler and moister environs of
Asia about 17 million years ago and
evolved as a separate Asian species.
(
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Trunk: Used to tear foliage, fruit , and
twigs from trees, to detect scents,
and to breathe. Its length enables the
elephant to graze from
the ground without difficulty.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Head: Foreshortened and dome-
shaped. Head of the African
elephant, Loxodonta african,
projects forward.
0160200261 PACKET 26
A sociable animal, the Asian elephant
protects other group members.
Adults surround the young when danger
threatens the herd. Females in the group
adopt orphaned calves, and members
stay to assist shot or wounded elephants,
often putting themselves at risk.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The Asian elephant prefers to
browse rather than graze. It
uses its adaptable trunk to
pick green leaves, fruit, and
new plant shoots. The ele-
phant tears off the soft bark of
young trees and puts it into its
mouth with the trunk.
The Asian elephant needs
over 300 pounds of food a
day. If its trunk is damaged,
the elephant will starve. The
elephant also needs large
amounts of water, which it
sucks up with its trunk and
squirts into its mouth.
The Asian elephant's great
size makes it easy to travel
long distances to find food
and water within its large
home range. Generations of
elephants often follow the
same paths between feeding
areas, making wide "elephant
roads" through even dense
jungle areas.
~ BEHAVIOR
The elephant grows through-
out its life, so the largest ele-
phant in a group is also the
oldest. Despite its size the ele-
phant can move quietly, and
firm ground barely shows its
tracks. When a member gets
separated from the group in
wooded and jungle areas it
emits a grumbling purr to
keep in contact.
The sexes live apart most of
the time. The female stays
with the family unit of sisters
and mothers and daughters
with their offspring. Once ma-
ture, the female calf remains
with the group while the
young male joins a bachelor
herd. When mature, a bull
lives alone or in small, tempo-
rary groups.
Right: The single calf stays close
to its mother and may even hide
from danger under her belly.
~ BREEDING
During the rutting (mating)
season the Asian bull (male)
elephant produces high levels
of the hormone "musth" and
acts more aggressive.
Rutting occurs late in the
rainy season, which is also
when the females go into
heat. The arrival of calves 22
months later coincides with a
new rainy season and a
plentiful food supply.
During birth, a second
elephant cow will protect the
mother from lions, tigers, and
hyenas that prey on calves.
At birth the Asian elephant
weighs over 200 pounds; it
Left: Wild herds roam the shores of
the man-made lake at the Periyar
Reserve, India.
grows rapidly the first few
years. At 15 years growth
slows, but it continues
throughout the elephant's life.
Between 20 and 30 years the
bull elephants have another
growth spurt.
The female Asian elephant
can live beyond childbearing
age, which is unusual among
animals. But today fewer
elephants are living long lives.
Only 50 percent of wild Asian
elephants survive past 15 years,
and only 20 percent reach 30. As
hunters kill younger and younger
elephants, the animal's chance
for a long life dwindles.
Right: Sri Lankans scrub a working
bull with methods used thousands
of years ago.
DID YOU KNOW?
An adept swimmer, the
elephant loves water and
sometimes uses its trunk as
a snorkel.
Like humans, the elephant
cries when distressed. This
occurs regularly in captive
elephants.
The elephant, like the
whale, emits low-frequency
calls too low for humans to
hear. Other elephants can
hear the sounds more than
12 miles away.
To counterbalance its loss
of habitat, the elephant
regulates its population
without human interven-
tion. It reaches puberty
later and extends the
period between births.
For centuries humans have
used the Asian elephant as a
means of transportation, a
beast of burden, a tool of war,
and a religious symbol. But
now its population stands at
only 50,000.
Still today, in forestry work,
the elephant fells trees and
transports logs. Hindu people
value and revere the elephant.
" CARD 117 ]
MULE DEER
' ( ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ORDER ~
~ Artiodactyla
FAMILY
Cervidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Odocoileus hemionus
The mule deer lives in a variety of North American habitats.
This shy, solitary creature is often difficult to spot, despite its
fairly large population.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: 3 ft. to shoulder.
Length: Body 6 ft. Tail, 1 ft.
Weight: 250-300 lb.
Antlers: 2
1
/2 ft. span.
BREEDING
Mating season: Late September
to mid-November.
Gestation: 182-210 days.
Weaning period: 6 weeks.
No. of young: 2; occasionally 3.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary. May form groups
in winter.
Diet: Twigs, shoots, grass, nuts,
mushrooms, lichen.
Lifespan: 10 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 11 subspecies of mule
deer. Odocoileus virginian us, the
white-tailed deer, is a close
relative.
Range of the mule deer.
DISTRIBUTION
The mule deer lives in western parts of Canada and the
United States, extending into northern Mexico.
CONSERVATION
More than three million mule deer live in the United
States. Licensed hunting is permitted and the species is in
no danger of extinction.
FEATURES OF THE MULE DEER
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Antlers: Widespread,
multipoiAted forks. Shed be-
tween January and March. Re-
placement begins March or
April. Reach full adult size by
seven years.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Rocky Mountain mule deer: Dis-
tinguished by its black-tipped tail.
Pacific Coast mule deer: Distin-
guished by its black tail. This
deer was previously listed as a
separate species, but has been
reclassified as a mule deer.
0160200311 PACKET 31
Usually a timid animal, the mule deer
buck will fight aggressively during mating
season for a doe. The mule deer is closely
related to the white-tailed deer, but they
can be distinguished by their antlers.
HABITS
Unlike many other species of
deer, the mule deer is solitary.
Living in habitats from the
high mountains to deserts
and plains, it does not form
herds, but rather lives alone or
in small family groups in a
well-defined home range.
In mountainous regions, the
mule deer spends the summer
on the slopes below the tree
FOOD & FEEDING
In summer the mule deer
browses on shoots and twigs
from pine and aspen trees. In
winter it grazes on grasses
and shrubs; it also eats mush-
rooms, nuts, and lichen.
When food is scarce during
the winter months, groups of
line. It has been seen as high
as 7,500 feet above sea level
on southeast and southwest
facing slopes.
After the fall mating season,
the mule deer migrates into
the valley. In winter, when
food is scarce and buried be-
neath the snow, it may gather
in groups of up to 50 in areas
where food is more plentiful .
mule deer make "yards." They
trample the snow to expose
the food beneath, often caus-
ing extensive damage to the
land. After all the food in a
yard is exhausted, the group
moves on to find a new feed-
ing ground.

During the breeding season
from late September to mid-
November, the normally timid
buck (male) fights aggressively
for possession of a doe. He
gathers a harem of about four
does. They give birth in June
or July, usually to twins.
The fawns can walk immedi-
ately after birth. Left alone for
much of the day, their fur
camouflages them from
predators while they hide in
dense undergrowth. By Sep-
tember the fawns are weaned
and have started growing
their winter coats. At the age
of nine months their antlers
begin to show.
Left: A young mule deer buck
sports a distinctive black-tipped
white tail.
Right: Does with their fawns.
Inset: The fawn's dappled coat
camouflages it from predators.
DID YOU KNOW?
A buck's fierce fight for a
doe is often a bluff. One
contestant turns away be-
fore a real battle occurs.
In 1924-25 an epidemic
of foot-and-mouth disease
killed thousands of mule
deer in California; 22,000
were slaughtered to check
the disease.
Mountain lions, bears,
bobcats, golden eagles,
coyotes, and wolverines
hunt mule deer.
The mule deer is called
"jumping deer" for its
habit of jumping high
when running.
Right: Mule deer prefer to live
alone or in small family groups.
MULE DEER & MAN
The mule deer has historically
been hunted by humans for
its hide (buckskin) and for its
flesh. Today, however, hunt-
in does not threaten the
mule deer' s population.
Fences are built to keep
grazing mule deer out of
some farm areas so they will
But in many areas food plants
are grown especially to at-
tract the mule deer so it can
be hunted for its valuable
hide and flesh.
The mule deer population
was threatened from 1905 to
1925 when hunters killed
thousands of wolves, pumas,
and coyotes on Arizona's
Kaibab plateau. Without
these predators, the mule
deer population grew from
4,000 to 100,000 in 20 years.
Because the habitat could
not support such an enor-
mous population, 60,000
mule deer died from starva-
tion in one year. Today the
mule deer is carefully regu-
lated by hunters.
"" CARD 118 I
BARBARY APE
, , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
... ORDER
~ Primates
FAMilY
Cercopithecidae
... GENUS & SPECIES
~ Macaca sylvana
Barbary apes were once common throughout North Africa. Today
they are found only in the cedar, pine, and oak forests of the Atlas
Mountains in Algeria and Morocco.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Male, 2-21/2 ft. Female,
slightly smaller .
Weight: Male, 15-22 lb. Female,
9-15 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3-4 years.
Breeding season: November to
March.
Gestation: 147-192 days.
No. of young: 1, occasionally 2.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable, groups of 10-30.
Diet: Fruit, seeds, roots, bark,
and buds.
Lifespan: 20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
Other monkeys in the macaque
(Macaea) genus include the pig-
tailed macaque, M. nigra, and the
endangered lion-tailed macaque,
M. silenus.
Range of the Barbary ape.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in northwestern Africa in Morocco and Algeria. One
colony exists on Gibraltar.
CONSERVATION
The total population is approximately 1,200 to 2,000
Barbary apes. Habitat destruction is causing a decline in
numbers.
E BARBARY APE
Sociable: Uves in groups of 10 to
30 The male helps care for the young
in the group
Body: Sturdy.
thick. and
tailless.
Head: Round;
sits on short
neck.
1
Colt Yellow-
brown; shorter
on belly.
legs: Hmd
legs shorter
than front legs;
walks on all
fours. Stands
erect to watch
for predators.
",MCMXCIIMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200271 PACKET 27
Barbary apes are sociable animals that can live
peaceably among other species of ape. These primates
were once common throughout Europe but now
live only in Algeria, Morocco, and Gibraltar.

Barbary apes are found on the
plains and mountains of Algeria
and Morocco. They can live at al-
titudes of up to 6,500 feet. The
apes inhabit forest clearings and
sparse undergrowth. They are of-
ten found among cedar, pine,
and oak forests. There is also one
colony that lives on the Rock of
Gibraltar, which lies between the
Atlantic Ocean and the Mediter-
ranean Sea.
Barbary apes are sociable and
live in highly organized commu-
nities of up to 30 animals. They
occupy territories of several
square miles that sometimes
overlap with those of troops of
other ape species. The Barbary
apes and the other species are
able to live near each other with-
out territorial problems. At night
the Barbary apes sleep in trees or
among rocks; during the day
they roam their territory, jump-
ing and climbing among the
rocks and trees. The apes usually
move on all four legs, standing
on their hind legs only to survey
the area for predators.
FOOD & FEEDING
In Algeria and Morocco, Bar-
bary apes eat a varied diet of
fruit, herbs, seedlings, seeds,
and roots. In winter, when
food is scarce, they eat buds,
needles, and bark.
These sociable apes share their
watering holes with other species
of ape during the dry season.
Left: The young Barbary ape is
suckled by its mother for three
months. It becomes independent at
six months.
The male Barbary ape actively
cares for the young of the
group. He establishes strong
bonds with individual infant
apes and with other males. Be-
cause a female may have sev-
eral males, it is not easy for
researchers to determine pater-
nity (fatherhood) of the young.
Therefore, the reason for the
bonding between a male and
several infant apes is unknown,
, since such bonding normally
occurs only between the
young and its parents. Some
naturalists believe that females
may be more likely to choose
nurturing males as mates, so the
males try to exhibit this trait.
The adult male begins caring
for the young a few days after
their birth. He grooms them, car-
ries them around, and plays with
them. He also may present a
young ape to another adult
male. All three apes then make
chattering noises and embrace
each other. This is seen as friendly
behavior, though other species
would consider it threatening.
BARBARY APE &: MAN
Man is the main threat today to
the Barbary ape's existence. This
is especially true for those apes
that live on the plains, where
farmers hunt them because of
the damage they do to crops.
The only Barbary apes not
found in North Africa today live
in the colony on Gibraltar. These
are descendants of the European
apes that existed during the
Pleistocene Era, although the
colony's population has been
Above left:
The apes on
Gibraltar are
the only
survivors of
the European
Barbary ape.
Left: An adult
grooms a
young
Barbary ape.
Below:
Barbary apes
rarely exhibit
aggressive
behavior.
reinforced by breeding with the
North African apes.
The population of the apes on
Gibraltar has changed over the
years. In 1858 only three Barbary
apes survived an epidemic, and
more animals were brought to
the island from North Africa.
During World War II, the British
again restocked the colony on
Gibraltar by adding to the popu-
lation from the apes in Algeria
and Morocco.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 1942 Winston Churchill
ordered the immediate
restocking of the Barbary ape
colony on Gibraltar, which
was a vital strategic base for
Great Britain during World
War II. Legend had it that as
long as there were apes on
Gibraltar it would remain
under British rule.
The Barbary ape's name
probably comes from the
"Barbary States." This term
was once used for the
North African states of
Tripolitania, Tunisia,
Algeria, and Morocco.
CAPE BUFFALO
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ ~ ~
... ORDER ... FAMILY
'1IIIIIIII Artiodactyla ' '1IIIIIIII Bovidae
GENUS &; SPECIES
Syncerus coffer
"" CARD 119 1
The Cape buffalo is one of the largest animals on the African plains.
Its great herds, sometimes hundreds strong, are highly organized,
especially when fending off predators.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: 4-6 ft.
Length: 8-11 ft .
Weight: Female 1,000 lb. Male
1,500 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2 years. Mating
does not occur until 4-6 years.
Mating season: Varies from region
to region, peaking during the
rainy season.
Gestation: 340 days.
Weaning: 6 months.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable, forming herds of
up to 1,000. Also form smaller
bachelor herds. Some old males are
solitary.
Diet: Grass, foliage.
Lifespan: About 1 6 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The forest buffalo is a subspecies of
the Cape buffalo, Syncerus coffer.
Range of the Cape buffalo.
DISTRIBUTION
Africa south of the Sahara. The forest buffalo occurs in the
lowland forests of central Africa, while the Cape buffalo lives
across savannah regions.
CONSERVATION
Hunting for food and sport have decreased the Cape buffalo's
numbers. It is also killed by farmers who think the animal
spreads disease and raids crops.
FEATURES OF THE CAPE BUFFALO
Oxpecker: The
Cape buffalo
allows the
oxpecker to feed
off the parasites
living on its
back.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Male: Stocky
and larger than
the forest
buffalo. Blackish
body with heavy
horns curving
out and then
down before
curling up to the
tip. Large ears
partially hidden
by horns.
DWARF FOREST BUFFALO
Light build and smaller than
Cape buffalo. Has thick,
reddish or bright red hair.
Female and calf: Largest herds made up of adult
females and calves under two years old. Female calves
under two years stay close to their mothers while
males stay within her vicinity. Three- to four-year- ol d
males congregate together in small groups away from
adult males.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200251 PACKET 25
The Cape buffalo has a fearsome
reputation among predators. With its massive
build and great, curving horns,
the animal puts up a determined fight
when attacked. Wounded buffaloes have
been known to wait in cover, ready to charge their
pursuers as they approach.
~ HABITS
The Cape buffalo roams across
the grassy plains and open
woodlands of sub-Saharan
Africa. It stays in areas with
good cover and a reliable
water source.
Herds vary in size from small
bands of fewer than 10 ani-
mals to huge groups of more
than 1,000. The largest herds,
composed mainly of females
and offspring, are found on
the open plains.
Conflicts between males
may occur during breeding
season. These are limited to
shows of aggression rather
than actual fights, which could
easily result in the death of
both animals.
The males' sociability
depends on their age. Three-
year-old males leave their
mothers and form small all-
male groups either within or
outside the herd. The females
drive away older males from
the herd to fend for them-
selves on the plains.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The Cape buffalo primarily
grazes, but it will eat the leaves
of bushes. It feeds in the
evening and chews the cud at
night. It rests in the shade
during the heat of the day. In
the dry season, the Cape
buffalo moves into available
forests or wetter valley bot-
Left: A Cape buffalo keeps cool
during the hot African day by
wading in mud pools.
DID YOU KNOW?
In spite of its size and bulk,
the Cape buffalo can run at
speeds of almost 37 miles per
hour.
The Cape buffalo has a very
thick, protective hide. If
alarmed, it will readily escape
toms. Without a good supply
of vegetation, it quickly loses
weight.
The Cape buffalo needs
plenty of water. It makes daily
drinking trips in the morning
and evening. Old, solitary
males spend much of the day
wading in cool water.
Right: As this Cape buffalo
drinks, an oxpecker feeds on the
fleas living on its hide.
through dense thornbushes
that would deter most
animals.
During a fight between
male buffaloes, the clash of
horns was so violent that one
bull was tossed in the air.
Above: The
charging
buffalo chases
away a lion.
Left: Large
herds use
social organi-
zation.
Right: A
mother
watches her
calf.
This large, powerful animal has
little fear of predators. Hyenas
and leopards kill stranded
calves. Lions and large croco-
diles prey on isolated adults
such as elderly males. But the
Cape buffalo usually fights
back. Single lions often fail to
capture them, and buffaloes
can toss or gore the cats with
~ BREEDING
their horns.
In large herds buffalo are
almost immune to danger.
They may initially run from a
predator, but they quickly
turn and form a compact
group with the adults turned
toward the danger. The herd
also comes to the aid of
animals in distress.
Peak mating times occur in the and in a normal year the fe-
rainy seasons when the animals male gives birth before the
are in the best condition. A rainy season. This ensures that
female may mate with a suc- she has plenty of food to pro-
cession of males, but she only duce milk for the quickly grow-
becomes pregnant by one of ing offspring. The calf reaches
her mates. sexual maturity in two years
Gestation lasts 11 months, and breeds at the age of four.
"" CARD 12QJ
GOLDEN LION TAMARIN
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
-------------------------------------------
ORDER
Primates
FAMILY
Callithricidae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Leontopithecus rosalia
The golden lion tamarin has a coot that II shines like gold dust
in the light. " It is a close relative of the marmoset and is
one of the most endangered of all mammals.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, about
1 ft. Tail, slightly shorter.
Weight: 11/2 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual Maturity: About 15
months.
Mating season: Year-round.
Gestation: 5 months.
No. of young: 1-3, usually twins.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable in family groups.
Aggressive to intruders.
Diet: Fruit, flowers, tender
vegetation, insects, and small
vertebrates.
Lifespan: 10-15 years in
captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 8 marmosets and 14
tamarins in the family. The genus
has 2 other golden tamarins: the
golden-headed lion, and the
golden-rumped tamarin.
Coat: Long, silky, and red-gold in
color. Li onlike mane frames its face,
sweeping back over the head.
'uMCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the golden lion tamarin.
DISTRIBUTION
Found only in a stretch of coastal forest in South America,
near Rio Sao joao, and the Poco d' Anta Reserve in Brazil.
CONSERVATION
The tamarin is critically endangered everywhere, mainly
through loss of habitat. It has recently been bred successfully
in zoos around the world. Over 40 animals have been
reintroduced to the rain forests of southeast Brazil.
Feet: Long
and narrow;
elongated
fingers.
Forearm is
shortened;
hand as long
as forearm.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Hands: The three middle fingers
are connected at the central joint
by a flap of skin.
0160200211 PACKET 21
The golden lion tamarin occupies only a tiny-and
shrinking-area of the equatorial forest regions
of Brazil in South America. Its two close
relatives, the golden-headed lion and the golden-
rumped tamarins, live in similarly small locations
in the states of Bahia and Sao Paolo
and are equally as endangered.
~ HABITAT
The golden lion tamarin in-
habits primal forest (forest that
has not been affected by
man). It lives high in the tree-
tops. Because it is sensitive to
direct sunlight, it usually re-
treats into dense foliage dur-
ing the hottest part of the
day. It needs continuous for-
est canopy for survival.
The golden lion tamarin
spends its day in quarrelsome
play with other tamarins. It
jumps easily through the
trees, using its elongated fin-
gers to hold onto branches.
Unlike many other monkeys,
it does not use its long tail to
grasp branches.
The tamarin lives in family
groups. Although sociable
within its family, it is very
aggressive with intruders. If
startled, the tamarin raises
its mane, bares its teeth, and
makes high-pitched shrieks.
Sometimes adults of the
same sex fight to the death.
Right: The golden lion tamarin
has claws instead of nails. They
help it grip branches.
~ GOLDEN LION TAMARIN & MAN
With its striking appearance,
the golden lion tamarin has
long been hunted as a prize
exhibit for zoos. Since the sev-
enteenth century it has also
been popular as an exotic pet.
Until 1960, the capture and
export of this animal were
legal. But these practices still
continue illegally today.
Unlike some of its relatives,
the golden lion tamarin does
not settle in disturbed forest.
The ever-fncreasing demands
Left: The main threat to the tam-
arin is shrinking natural forest
habitat.
DID YOU KNOW?
Only two to three percent of
the golden lion tamarin's orig-
inal wild habitat still exists.
Grooming is an important
part of the golden lion tam-
arin's daily activity. It helps to
reinforce family ties. Tamarins
even pick and clean each
other's teeth.
The male golden lion tam-
put on the forest by man has
meant that much of the ani-
mal's natural habitat has
been destroyed. This is the
main reason that it has be-
come endangered.
The United States began a
program to reintroduce the
golden lion tamarin into se-
lected areas, particularly the
Poco d' Anta Reserve, near Rio
de Janeiro. But much of the
reserve was destroyed by fire,
forcing many of the 75 to
150 tamarins living there to
move into areas that are not
suitable as habitat . .
arin has been observed
feeding its young.
The marmoset and tam-
arin group of monkeys in-
cludes the smallest monkey
of all: the pygmy marmoset,
which is only five and a half
inches long. The golden lion
tamarin is the largest mem-
ber of the family.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The golden lion tamarin is an
omnivore: it eats both meat
and plants. It collects food in
its treetop home, such as
fruits, flowers, and plant nec-
The golden lion tamarin stays
with one partner and breeds
throughout the year. :rhe
male assists at the birth and
washes the young-usually
twins.
The newborn tamarin looks
like its parents, but its hair
and mane are short. It clings
tightly with its hands and feet
to either of its parents. Every
two to three hours the male
gives one young to the fe-
male. She nurses it for about
15 minutes and then hands it
back to the male.
tars. It also searches in the
branches for insects, frogs,
lizards, snails, and bird eggs.
Below: The tamarin uses facial
expressions for communication.
When the young tamarins
are about three weeks old,
they begin to explore their
surroundings. They continue
to ride on their parents' backs
for about a month.
At four weeks, the parents
give their young soft food,
although they are not yet
weaned. They can be on their
own at three to five months
but continue to run to their
parents if danger threatens.
Many young stay with their
parents, never leaving the
large family group.