ELAND

ORDER
Artiodactyla
FAMILY
80vidae
CARD 32!J
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS & SPECIES
Taurotragus oryx
Almost oxlike in appearance, the eland is the largest antelope
in the world. This once common mammal lives in Africa,
where it is now found primarily in national parks.
____________________________
I SIZES
<Si' Length: Head and body, 6-11 I;; ft.
Horn length: Female, 2-21;; ft. Male,
up to 3/'; ft.
Height at shoulder: 41;;-6 ft.
Weight: 1,000-1,500 lb. Full-grown
bull can weigh up to 2,100 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 3 years.
Male, 4 years.
Mating season: Varies with loca-
tion. Births occur at any time.
Gestation: 8-9 months.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Day-active; sociable.
Diet: Mainly leaves and fruit.
Lifespan: 8-10 years in the wild;
15 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 9 species of spiral-horned
antelope in the genus Taurotragus,
which also contains the giant eland,
T. derbianus.
I FEATURES OF THE ELAND
Coat: Beige-brown, turning gray with
age. Old bulls appear slate gray as
their coat falls away in patches. Whit-
ish stripes run across shoulders and
a black stripe runs down the back.
Tail has a tufted black tip.
.0 MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Male
Range of the eland.
DISTRIBUTION
Found on game reserves and ranches in eastern and southern
Africa. A wild population occurs in the Drakensberg Mountains.
CONSERVATION
The eland was once widespread in open habitats from south-
eastern Sudan through eastern Africa and most of southern
Africa. Numbers have been drastically reduced by hunting,
agriculture, and disease.
Female
PRINTED IN U.S.A
Horns: Spreading, with two
spirals. Larger on male.
Head: Narrow with a long,
tapering muzzle and long,
pointed ears. Bull has a dark,
tufted forehead and often a
white chevron between the eyes.
Neck and throat: Each sex has a
short, tufted neck mane. A dewlap
at the base of the throat has a tuft
of black hairs and is conspicuous
in old bulls.
n1 PAr':KFT
The eland once roamed widely over the sparsely wooded
plains of Africa, grazing beside zebras and gemsboks.
During the last century, this antelope declined drastically
as a result of disease, farming, and hunting for its flesh
and elegant, spiraling horns. However, the eland does
well in captivity, and it has been bred successfully in
the United States with the use of embryo transfers.
~ HABITS
The eland can live in a variety of
habitats, from semiarid scrub to
grassy regions in foothills. But it
prefers plains with scrub or scat-
tered trees for cover.
The eland lives in loose herds
of 25 to 70 animals. In the rainy
season the herds swell, some-
times to as many as 1,000 indi-
viduals. The animals move freely
from one herd to another. Each
herd generally has a number of
cows with their young plus one
or two bulls. If there are more
bulls, they are subject to a strict
hierarchy. The juveniles tend to
form their own groups. In con-
trast, old bulls are often solitary.
The eland roams widely to find
food, especially in the wet sea-
son. As a result, it is seldom ter-
ritorial and does not defend its
home range, which varies in size
with the season and locality.
The eland is placid, shy, and
generally silent. But it is always
alert, and it barks a gruff alarm
call when it detects lions or hye-
nas. Herd members gallop off
when they hear the alarm call.
However, females may stay be-
hind to defend their calves.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Although the eland sometimes
eats grass, it feeds mainly on
foliage and fruit. Its small, low-
crowned teeth are typical of a
browser rather than a grazer.
The eland usually feeds in the
morning and evening. But dur-
ing the summer, it may also for-
age at night, escaping the heat
of the day by lying in the shade
of a tree or bush. When forag-
ing, it seems to be constantly on
the move, usually at a fast walk.
It stops from time to time to eat
leaves and succulent fruits such
Left: The bull rubs his forehead in
mud, then daubs it onto landmarks
such as trees.
DID YOU KNOW?
As it moves, the eland makes
a clicking noise that is proba-
bly caused by the two halves
of each hoof striking togeth-
er. The sound carries some dis-
tance and is a good indication
of an approaching herd.
The eland is very agile and
can jump over a six-foot-high
fence. Herd members often
as melons, which it favors. It al-
so consumes seed pods, flow-
ers, and bark. It uses its horns
to knock down branches, and
when food is scarce in the dry
season it paws the ground to
dig up roots and bulbs.
When it finds water, the eland
drinks freely. But it can go for a
long period without drinking,
apparently surviving on mois-
ture in its food. It readily drinks
the brackish water of salt pans,
replenishing its body with salt
and essential minerals.
Right: The eland avoids forests,
preferring open plains with scat-
tered trees.
leap over one another when
fleeing from danger.
Eland are portrayed along-
side native Bushmen in the
ancient rock paintings in the
Kalahari Desert.
The horns of the giant eland
are longer than those of the
eland. The longest on record
measured four feet.
~ ELAND & MAN
In the last 100 years, the eland's
numbers have plummeted, es-
pecially in southern Africa. Game
hunting is mainly to blame. Al-
so, the spread of agriculture has
reduced the eland's habitat and
brought disease. Rinderpest, an
infectious virus carried by sheep
and cattle, killed many South
African herds at the end of the
~ BREEDING
The eland's breeding season var-
ies with its location, sometimes
starting in December or January.
When ready to breed, cows of-
ten form herds to attract males.
However, only the most domi-
nant males mate with the cows.
After a gestation of eight to
nine months, the female gives
birth in dense undergrowth. She
generally has one calf. The new-
born weighs 50 to 80 pounds
and stays hidden for at least two
Left: The eland drinks readily but
can survive up to a month without
fresh water.
last century. Today, eland live
mainly in national parks, partic-
ularly in East Africa.
The eland has been domesti-
cated in parts of Zimbabwe and
also in Russia. An alternative to
cattle, it is valued for its hide, its
rich milk, and its tender flesh. In
addition, the eland is used as a
beast of burden.
weeks. The cow returns several
times a day to suckle it.
After a few weeks the calf fol-
lows the herd, bleating to stay
in touch. It is weaned in four to
five months but may stay with
its mother for up to a year, or
even longer if it is female.
The male eland continues to
grow even after he reaches sex-
ual maturity, developing the
massive si ze and large dewlap
that are typical masculine fea-
tures. Although males are able
to br.eed at four years old, few
do so for at least another year.
HARE WALLABY
ORDER
Morsupiolio
FAMILY
Mocropodidoe
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENERA
Logorchestes, Logostrophus
The hare wallabies are the smallest members of the kangaroo
family but among the most athletic. Although none of the species
is much bigger than a hare, some can leap higher than 2S feet.
'" KEY FACTS
I ~ ~ I SIZES
~ Length: Head and body, 12-20 in.
Tail, 10-20 in.
Weight: 1 ~ - 1 0 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Can usually breed
by a year old but often wait until the
second year.
Mating: Throughout the year, with
peaks that vary depending on the
species and climate.
No. of young: Usually 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Night-active; solitary.
Diet: Spinifex and other grasses,
herbs, and shrubs.
Call: Warning hiss, high-pitched
alarm squeak, and gentle click.
RELATED SPECIES
Of the 5 species, 2 are extinct. They
are the eastern hare wallaby, Logor-
chestes /eporides, and the central hare
wallaby, L. osomotus.
Range of hare wallabies.
DISTRiBUTION
The spectacled hare wallaby thrives in Queensland and on Bar-
row Island but is sparse in other regions. The rufous hare walla-
by inhabits the Tanami Desert, and the banded hare wallaby
lives on Bernier and D o m ~ islands.
CONSERVATION
All the hare wallabies need protection. But only the rufous and
banded are officially classified as rare.
THE THREE HARE WALLABY SPECIES
Spectacled hare wallaby: Rings of
rusty brown fur around the eyes and
ears. The rest of the coat can vary in
color from grizzled gray brown to
rich chestnut.
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Rufous, or western, hare walla-
by: Buff, with longer orange-red
hairs on the rump and back.
Sandy white underparts.
Banded hare wallaby: Dense,
soft coat. Medium brown with
darker bands across the back,
from the shoulders to the tail.
0160200961 PACKET 96
Of the five recorded species of hare wallabYt only three
are known to survive in the wild. One is the banded hare
wallabYt which technically belongs to a different genus.
The second is the spectacled hare wallabYt which possesses
reddish orange rings around its eyes and its ears. The third
is known by two names-rufous, or western, hare wallaby.
All three species are found in Australia or on nearby islands.
~ HABITAT
The spectacled hare wallaby is
common in both open forests
and grazing lands in Queens-
land and on Barrow Island. Dur-
ing the day, it rests in a tunnel
or form (shallow excavation) un-
der spinifex hummocks, where
the temperature usually stays
below 86F.
The two other species of hare
wallaby are rare. Their popula-
tions declined sharply when the
settlers began burning spinifex
grasslands, leaving the animals
no hiding places.
The rufous hare wallaby once
lived throughout Australia's dry
regions. But it is now found only
in a tiny area of the Tanami Des-
ert in the Northern Territories,
where it lives among termite
mounds and shrubs. The Ab-
origines used to hunt this hare
wallaby by burning sections of
vegetation in a mosaic pattern.
This promoted plant regrowth
without destroying the habitat.
Conservationists are now trying
this method in the Tanami Des
ert. They are also introducing
captive animals to boost the
wild population.
In the past the banded hare
wallaby ranged widely across
Western Australia. Today, the
only wild survivors live in acacia
scrub on Bernier and Dom is-
lands off the West Coast.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
Hare wallabies feed at night on
grasses, shrubs, and leaves. Al-
most half of the banded hare
wallaby's diet is grass, but it al-
so feeds on pod-bearing and
mallow shrubs. The rufous and
spectacled hare wallabies favor
the tips of spinifex grass. They
depend so much on the plant
for food and shelter that Aus-
tralians call them "spinifex rats."
The rufous hare wallaby has a
Left: At night the spectacled hare
wallaby comes out of hiding to feed
on grass.
DID YOU KNOW?
The extinct eastern hare wal-
laby was a great jumper. One
animal astonished John Gould,
the 19th-century explorer and
zoologist, by leaping directly
over his head.
The genus name Lagorches-
I tes comes from Greek words
meaning "dancing hare."
The central hare wallaby-
stomach that can cope with a
high-fiber diet. At night the ani-
mal often moves from the shel-
ter of tall spinifex stands to a
recently burned terrain where
new plants have sprung up.
Hare wallabies produce so lit-
tle urine that they can almost
survive on moisture in food. If
they eat dry food, which is hard-
er to digest, they reduce their
intake and drink more water.
Right: In the Tanami Desert, the ru-
fous hare wallaby feeds on herbs,
shrubs, and seeds.
the smallest species-is now
officially extinct. However, it
may still survive on Aboriginal
and wildlife reserves within the
Northern Territories and West-
ern Australia.
The rufous hare wallaby has
a variety of local names. A few
examples are wurrup, mala,
and whistler.
~ BREEDING
Although the spectacled hare
wallaby breeds throughout the
year, the birth rate on Barrow
Island peaks in March and Sep-
tember. The female usually gives
birth to one offspring. Like all
marsupials, the newborn spends
its beginning days in its moth-
er's pouch, suckling her milk. It
stays there for five months or so,
until its eyes open and it grows
hair. The females become sexu-
ally mature at 12 months. The
rufous hare wallaby has a similar
breeding pattern.
The banded hare wallaby usu-
Left: The spectacled hare wallaby
gets its name from the rust-colored
rings of fur around its eyes.
ally bears its young in late sum-
mer. Females that do not con-
ceive in early spring may breed
successfully later on in the year.
Some females mate again short-
ly after giving birth, but the fer-
tilized egg remains inactive until
the first offspring dies or is ready
to leave the pouch.
The young banded hare wal-
laby spends about six months in
the pouch and is weaned three
months later. Males and females
can breed before they are a year
old but generally wait until their
second year. The female usually
produces only one offspring at a
time, although she is capable of
bearing two.
WHIPTAIL WALLABY
,,---------------
... ORDER ... FAMILY
'11IIIIIIII Marsupialia '11IIIIIIII Macropodidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS & SPECIES
Macropus parryi
The whip tail wallaby is named for its slim, tapering tail,
which is just as long as its body. The tail helps this marsupial
balance as it moves around Australian grasslands.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Head and body lengt h: Male, 3
ft. Female, 2 ~ ft .
Tail lengt h: Male, 3 ft. Female,
2 ~ f t .
Wei ght: Male, 45-55 lb. Female,
25-33 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual mat urity: Male, 1 ~ - 2 years.
Female, 2 years.
Mating: No known season.
Gestation: 5 weeks.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Day-active; sociable.
Diet: Grasses and ferns.
Call : Female makes an unusual
hissing, growling noise when she
is annoyed.
lifespan: Up to 18 years.
RELATED SPECI ES
The genus Macropus includes 14
species of kangaroos, wallabies,
and wallaroos.
Range of the whiptail wallaby.
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread throughout southeastern Queensland and north-
eastern New South Wales.
CONSERVATION
The whiptail wallaby is in no immediate danger thanks to Aus-
tralian national parks and nature reserves. Like all kangaroos
and wallabies, it is protected by Australian state legislation, but
some culling (selective killing) is allowed.
FEATURES OF THE WHIPTAIL WALLABY
Snout: Dark
brown with
white stripe from
cheek to chin.
Ears: Large and
rounded.
Forepaws: Have
long, curved
claws.
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Coat: Brownish
gray upperparts
with paler,
whitish belly.
0160200881 PACKET 88
The whiptail wallaby has a strikingly beautiful face, with a
dark brown band flanked by white stripes that run down
the cheeks to the chin. These markings inspired the animal's
original scientific name, which meant II elegant wallaby. II
Today, this marsupial's attractive features are reflected in
its common nickname: the pretty-faced wallaby.
~ H A B I T A T
The whiptail wallaby lives in Aus-
tralia, where the rich grasslands
- have provided it with a secure
habitat and abundant food for
many years. It also lives in open
eucalyptus forests, but these are
gradually being cleared. Even
though it is losing much forest
habitat, the whiptail survives in
large numbers in national parks
and on nature reserves. Its pop-
ulation is densest in southeast-
Right: The whiptail wallaby feeds
on vegetation, holding food in its
forepaws when eating.
ern Queensland and in north-
eastern New South Wales.
~ BREEDING
The adult female whiptail walla-
by is either pregnant or suckling
her young most of the time. Like
other marsupials, she keeps her
partially developed joey, or off-
spring, in her pouch after giving
birth. The female bears only one
joey at a time, but after it leaves
the pouch a blastocyst (dormant
embryo) often comes to life as a
new fetus, which is born a few
days later.
Gestation takes five weeks, but
the joey stays in the pouch un-
til it is over eight months old. It
often remains with its mother
after weaning, which takes ap-
Left: The whiptaiJ's main enemies
are humans and dingoes. Disease
also takes a toll on the population.
DID YOU KNOW?
The first kangaroo appeared
on a European map during the
1770s. It was probably a whip-
tail wallaby or a red kangaroo.
The whiptail wallaby is called
the "gray flier" because of its
speed when hopping. It is also
known as Parry's wallaby, after
proximately 15 months. The
mother sometimes plays with
the joey, teaching it aggressive
maneuvers like neck grasping
and kicking, as well as gentle ac-
tivities like licking and grooming.
The whiptail wallaby lives in
groups where social ranking can
be very competitive. Younger
males often fight with older ri-
vals for females. The dominant
male of the group often gets in-
to the fight to maintain his pos-
ition over the other males. But
while aggressive over sexual
rights, whiptail groups appear
tolerant of male newcomers.
Right: The whiptaiJ wallaby licks
its arms in order to cool itself dur-
ing hot weather.
a 19th-century American bot-
anist and explorer.
The Australian expression
"on the wallaby trail" means
wandering about aimlessly,
since wallaby trails in the bush
frequently do not appear to
lead anywhere.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The whiptail wallaby eats thin-
stemmed and bladed grasses,
such as kangaroo grass, and oc-
casionally ferns. It grazes in a
loose group of 2 to 10 animals.
Although it sometimes shares its
feeding areas with the eastern
gray kangaroo, the two species
eat different grasses. Whiptails
avoid the carpet grasses that
other wallabies favor.
The whiptail often sits up to
Left: The whiptail wallaby is active
by day but sleeps in the shade dur-
ing the hottest hours.
Left: The joey
weighs only a
fraction of an
ounce when it
is born. The
mother suckles
her single off-
spring for ap-
proximately
15 months.
eat, holding food in its delicate
forepaws. Unless the weather is
very hot, it rarely drinks from
pools or rivers, getting enough
moisture from food and dew.
Unlike most wallabies, which
tend to stay hidden by day, the
whiptail starts grazing at dawn
and feeds at intervals all morn-
ing. It only stops eating to rest
in the shade for several hours
when the sun is hottest. It then
feeds again from late afternoon
until nightfall-but at a more
leisurely pace.
"" CARD 324 I
LONG-EARED BAT
" GROUP 1: MAMMALS
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ - - - - - - - - ~ ~
~ ORDER ~ FAMILY ~ GENUS & SPECIES
~ Chiroptera ~ Vespertilionidae ~ Plecotus auritus
The long-eared bat is one of the most common of all the
bat species. This unusual-looking creature is named for its
enormous ears, which are nearly as long as its entire body.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Head and body length: 1 ;..s -2 in.
Ears:1-1 ;..s in.
Wingspan: 9-11 in.
Weight: 1:;-/5 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years.
Mating season: Varies, but usually
in spring after hibernation.
Gestation: Unknown.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Active at night. Solitary dur-
ing hibernation. Females form large
breeding colonies in summer.
Diet: Spiders; also butterflies, cater-
pillars, and other insects.
Lifespan: Up to 12 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The genus Plecotus has 6 species, in-
cluding Townsend's big-eared bat,
P. townsendii, of North America.
Range of the long-eared bat.
DISTRIBUTION
Found throughout most of Europe except northern Scandi-
navia. Also occurs across temperate Asia to Japan.
CONSERVATION
The long-eared bat is common across most of its range. It is
at greatest risk in Germany, where it has been affected by the
chemicals used in treating lumber. Other populations suffer
from similar poisoning.
FEATURES OF THE LONG-EARED BAT
Ears: Almost as large as the bat's
body. Extremel y sensitive to aid
echolocati on. Angled forward during
flight and folded back under the
wings at rest. Tragi (long. leaflike
st ructures) In the base of each e
help channel sounds.
in some bat species
r; MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILE"" PRINTED IN U.S.A
Wings: Folded
agai nst the body
when the bat IS
at rest
0160200981 PACKET 98
The long-eared bat is widespread across temperate regions
of Europe and Asia, from Spain and Ireland as far east as
Japan. Although it is not dependent on human settlements,
the long-eared bat has become more and more closely
associated with human habitation. It frequently makes
its home in the attics and cellars of buildings, and it
can also be found in trees in parks and gardens.
~ H A B I T A T
In spring and summer, the long-
eared bat is found primarily in
open woodland. Colonies of five
to ten animals roost in tree hol-
lows, buildings, or birdhouses.
In October or November, the
long-eared bat begins its solitary
winter hibernation. During this
period it roosts in a cave or cellar,
a rock crevice, or even a mine
shaft-generally close to the en-
trance. The hibernating bat pre-
fers temperatures of 36to 41 F.
If the air warms to about 4SC F,
it may awaken and move to an-
other spot. From time to time, it
flies out to forage.
Near the end of March, the
long-eared bat starts to emerge
from hibernation. It returns to
its spring and summer roosting
site, which may be as far as 25
miles away.
Right: During hibernation the
long-eared bat needs a constant
temperature below 45' F.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The long-eared bat usually flies
out from its roost well after dark
to forage. But in northern parts
of its range, it may depart earli-
er-half an hour or so after sun-
set Before it leaves its roost, it
grooms itself vigorously for up
to 45 minutes.
The bat flies from tree to tree
in a swift, gliding motion close
to the ground. Among the trees
the flight is fluttering, as the bat
hovers close to the branches. It
holds its body at a 45-degree
angle and picks insects off the
leaves. To find prey it uses echo-
location-emitting ultrasonic
pulses and analyzing the echoes
Left: The long-eared bat's highly
sensitive oversize ears can detect
ultrasonic echoes.
DID YOU KNOW?
Most European bats belong
to the same family as the long-
eared bat
Long-eared bats have been
known to appear on ships in
the North Sea. This suggests
that some of the bats have
migratory habits.
A hibernating long-eared
bat can survive in a tempera-
that bounce back from insects.
The long-eared bat frequently
lands on a wall, a tree stump, or
the ground, where it continues
to forage. It feeds on mayflies,
gnats, butterflies, spiders, sow-
bugs, caterpillars, and other rel-
atively small invertebrates. It eats
small prey in flight but tackles
larger prey on the ground or at
a special feeding site.
The first foraging flight each
night may last for an hour. Then
the bat returns to a resting place
and hangs to digest its food. It
soon flies off again, continuing
its feeding flights until about an
hour before dawn.
Right: The long-eared bat tackles
and eats most insect species that
come its way.
ture of 26F for a few days.
For optimum reception, the
long-eared bat emits sounds
at a frequency of 44 to 45kHz,
the center of its hearing range.
The long-eared bat emits
extremely quiet ultrasonic sig-
nals. This may help it distin-
guish insects from their leafy
hiding places.
In some parts of the range long-
eared bats mate when they start
to emerge from their hiberna-
tion. Others do so in April and
May, when hibernation is over.
Expectant females usually gath-
er in attics, forming brooding
colonies that may number over
100 animals. juveniles and a few
males often join these colonies.
In june or july the female gives
birth to a single blind offspring
whose long ears are folded back
Left: Echoloca-
tion enables the
long-eared bat
to find prey. It
also enables the
animal to navi-
gate inside the
caves, cellars,
and other dark
sites where it
hibernates.
against its sides. The youngster's
eyes open after four days, and
its ears become erect five days
later. It stays in the roost while
its mother forages, The young
can fly at about six weeks old,
and it is weaned by late August
At that point, the breeding col-
ony usually breaks up.
The young is dark gray-brown
and gets paler as it matures. It
can breed in its second year but
may not do so for another year.
'" CARD 325 I
SILKY ANTEATER
" GROUP 1: MAMMALS
" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
". ORDER .. FAMILY ". GENUS &: SPECIES
~ Edentata ~ Myrmecophagidae ~ Cyclopes didactylus
The silky anteater lives in the forests of Central and South America.
With its padded paws and hooklike claws, it carefully scales the
trees while using its sensitive nose to sniff out ants and termites.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 6-9 in.
Tail: 6-12 in.
Weight: About 1 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: About 1 year.
Mating season: July to August.
Gestation: 6 months.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Night-active. Lives alone or
in pairs.
Diet: Ants, termites, bees, and oth-
er small insects.
Call: Occasional soft whistle.
Lifespan: Over 2 years in captivity.
Unknown in the wild.
RELATED SPECIES
The only species in its genus. Its
closest relatives are the giant ant-
eater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla,
and the tamanduas, Tamandua
mexicana and T. tetradactyla.
Range of the silky anteater.
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread throughout tropical forests from southern Mexico
to Bolivia and Brazil.
CONSERVATION
The silky anteater is under no real threat at the moment, and
its numbers are relatively stable. Like many other creatures liv-
ing in the American rainforests, however, it is suffering from
habitat destruction.
Coat: Golden yellow in northern part
of the range. Becomes progressively
grayer in populati ons farther south.
claws to be
turned back un-
der the foot to
Tail : Long and powerful. Used for
gripping branches. Completely
hai rl ess on the underside.
Forefeet: Curved claws on the sec-
ond and third toes are used for
feeding and as defensive weapons.
MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Tongue: Coated
in a sticky se-
creti on pro-
duced by the
saliva glands.
Sticky tongue
used to catch
insects.
0160200901 PACKET 90
Like its close relative the giant anteater, the silky anteater
has two large, curved claws on the second and third toes
of its forefeet. These claws are very sharp, providing this
gentle animal with its only means of defense. The silky
anteater also uses its claws to break into ants' nests and
termites'mounds. In addition its claws enable it to cling
to the precarious tree perches where it makes its home.
~ HABITS
The shy and peaceable silky ant-
eater inhabits forests in Central
and South America. It spends
most of its life in the trees, but if
it does come down to the forest
floor it walks easily, turning its
long, curved claws inward and
walking on the sides of its feet.
This anteater sleeps by day,
curled up in a ball in a tree hol-
low. It becomes active at dusk,
climbing into the tree canopy in
search of ants and termites. The
animal has a good grip due to
its large foreclaws and the thick,
disklike pads on its paws.
When it is on the ground, this
slow-moving creature has trou-
ble fleeing from predators. The
silky anteater defends itself with
its very sharp foreclaws, which
can inflict severe injuries. When
threatened, the anteater raises
itself up and holds its foreclaws
near its face. If a predator is not
frightened away by this display,
the anteater lashes out with its
long arms.
However, the silky anteater is
safest in the trees. To hide itself
from the sharp-eyed harpy ea-
gle, which is its deadliest ene-
my, it usually feeds just below
the top leaf cover.
Most animals avoid conflict
with the anteater's lethal claws,
but the harpy eagle is rarely de-
terred. Swooping down into the
canopy, this huge bird plucks
the anteater from the branches.
~ BREEDING
Because of its secretive nature
and nocturnal lifestyle, the silky
anteater is hard to study in the
wild. As a result, there is little in-
formation about its reproduc-
tive cycle. It is thought that one
young is born in December or
January, after a six-month gesta-
tion period. The male and fe-
male place their offspring in a
leaf-lined nest in a tree hollow.
Left: Toughened pads on its feet
give the silky anteater an excellent
grip on thin branches.
DID YOU KNOW?
The silky anteater is some-
times called the two-toed ant-
eater because of the big claws
on each of its forefeet.
The silky anteater is often
found in the silk cotton tree.
This tree's seed pods are clus-
ters of soft, silvery fibers that
very closely resemble the ant-
eater's fur and therefore pro-
After the young is weaned, it is
fed regurgitated semidigested
insects by both parents.
During its first few months,
the youngster travels with its
mother, clinging to her tail. At
about nine months old, it be-
comes semi-independent and
gradually begins moving away
from its mother on increasingly
distant forays.
Right: The hairless underside of its
tail helps the silky anteater cling to
tree branches.
vide excellent camouflage.
The silky anteater's method
of defense is so effective that
even ferocious jaguars avoid
conflict with the animal.
The forest around the Ama-
zon River basin is frequently
flooded. This is no problem
for the silky anteater, which
is an excellent swimmer.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The silky anteater feeds on ants
and occasionally termites and
bees. It often attacks insects'
nests, ripping them open with
its specially adapted claws and
lapping up the creatures with its
long, sticky tongue. It also feeds
Left: The silky anteater uses its
long, thin, sticky tongue to lap
up termites from their mound.
from columns of marching ants
that it finds on branches.
The silky anteater does not
have teeth, so it cannot chew
the large quantities of hard-
bod ied insects that it eats. To
cope with this diet, a section of
the anteater's stomach is lined
with special muscles that crush
the food so it can be digested.
Left: When it is
unable to flee
from danger,
the silky ant-
eater rears up
on its hind legs
and brandishes
its curved fore-
claws at its
assailant.

SAMBAR

... ORDER .... FAMilY ... GENUS &: SPECIES
Artiodactyla Cervidae Cervus unicolor
The sambar is one of the largest deer in Southeast Asia.
It is sometimes known as the Ceylon elk because like the elk,
or wapiti, it is large, with a rather shaggy, dark coat.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Head and body length: Male,
ft. Female, 5-6 ft .
Tail: Male, 12 in. Female, 9 in.
Shoulder height: Male,
Female, ft.
Weight: Male, 290-540 lb. Fe-
male, 240-400 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-4 years.
Mating season: September to
October, depending on location.
Gestation period: 8 months.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Usually most active at
night. lives in pairs or groups.
Diet: Grasses, foliage, and fruit.
Call: Loud, high-pitched bark.
lifespan: 20 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 8 species in the genus
Cervus, including the elk (wapiti),
C. elaphus.
FEATURES OF THE SAMBAR
Range of the sambar.
DISTRIBUTION
Southeast Asia from the Philippines through southern China,
Indonesia, and Myanmar (Burma) to India and Sri Lanka. Intro-
duced to Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
CONSERVATION
Although the sam bar is prized by hunters because of its size
and the male's large antlers, populations are stable in most ar-
eas. However, habitat loss has had some negative effect.
Antlers: Present only
on male. Can grow to
feet long.
Coat: Dark brown with paler, yel-
lowish coloring under chin, on the
insi de of the limbs, and under the
tail. The coat often becomes thick-
er and paler during the winter.
Ears: Rounded and
large (almost half the
size of the head) to
pick up the faintest
sound of danger.
Tear gland: Be-
low each eye.
The sambar can
make the gland
protrude at will.
Male: Darker
and slightly
larger than the
female.
MCMXCII IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Throat: Has a peculiar bare
patch of skin in the middle,
about 3 inches across, with tiny
spots of blood in the center.
The purpose of this glandular
lesion is unknown. It disappears
on captive sam bars.
0160200901 PACKET 90
The sam bar stands almost five feet tall at the shoulder and
measures up to eight feet long. But despite its large size, this
wary deer rarely emerges during the day. Instead, it prefers
to lie low and rest in the woods until early evening, when it
emerges from cover to forage. The sambar's cautious nature
is understandable since the male is a highly prized game
animal, mainly because of his impressive antlers.
~ HABITS
The sam bar lives primarily in
woods but also in other habi-
tats that provide cover, such as
dense scrub. In some parts of
its range, it is wary of humans
and appears in the open only
at night. In other areas, where
it has become used to people,
it may emerge from cover to
feed in the afternoon.
The sambar lives in pairs or
small family groups but rarely
in large herds. It rubs scent on
tree stumps and rocks as a sig-
nal for other sambar groups.
But except for a period during
the breeding season, it is non-
territorial and tolerant of other
deer in its vicinity.
A sedentary animal, the sam-
bar generally stays in one area
year-round. But populations in
mountain forest habitats tend
to move to higher altitudes in
spring and summer in order to
feed on fresh shoots and grasses
under the melting snow. Since
this deer is a good swimmer, it
can cross a river or small lake
when necessary.
If alarmed, the sambar raises
its bushy tail to reveal a patch
of paler rump hair. It may also
stamp its foot on the ground
and bark loudly.
Right: The sambar fawn generally
stays at its mother's side for at least
one year.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The sambar feeds on any coarse
vegetation, from grasses to fo-
liage. It also eats fruit and is very
fond of blackberries, often strip-
ping whole areas of them.
The sam bar begins feeding in
the late afternoon or early eve-
ning, leaving the woodland for
more open country. It often trav-
els long distances to find water.
Because it has a fibrous veg-
etable diet, the sambar must eat
Left: The male's magrificent ant-
lers grow larger each year, until he
reaches about eight years old.
DID YOU KNOW?
The branches of a deer's ant-
lers are called tines. Although
most deer have four tines on
each of their antlers, sambars
have only three.
The sambar was introduced
into Australia from Sri Lanka
in 1861 so that it could be
hunted. It has also been intro-
duced to the North Island of
large quantities to get enough
nutrients. The food it consumes
at night is stored in part of its
multichambered stomach. Lat-
er in the day, while resting, the
sambar regurgitates and then
chews and swallows the food
again to extract all the nutrients.
This method of digestion, called
rumination is common to many
animals with a similar diet, such
as giraffes, cows, and camels.
Right: A good swimmer, the sam-
bar may wade far out in a lake to
feed on water lilies.
New Zealand and three areas
in the southern United States.
It thrives in all three countries.
When his antlers begin to
grow each year, the male sam-
bar requires plenty of calcium
to help them develop. To get
enough, he licks the ground
or the rocks in salt licks-areas
that are rich in calcium.
The sambar's mating season, or
rut begins when the soft cover-
ings on the male's antlers peel
off and the antlers harden. The
male's neck also thickens, and
he may grow a shaggy mane.
During this season the male
scent-marks his territory, and he
challenges other males over ter-
ritorial rights. Rival males lock
antlers in trials of strength, but
the contests are more like wres-
tling than actual combat, and
injuries are rare. Once a domi-
nant male chases a challenger
off, he mates with all the females
that enter his territory. A recep-
tive female releases a scent to
indicate her readiness to mate.
Left: The sam-
bar has a tear
gland beneath
each of its eyes.
Because it is
able to make
these glands
protrude, the
animal is also
known as the
four-eyed deer
in China.
After an eight-month gesta-
tion period, the female finds a
hidden spot in the undergrowth
and gives birth to one young.
She eats the afterbirth and then
leaves her fawn, coming back at
regular intervals to feed it.
The young male grows antlers
after two years. At first they are
just straight sticklike horns on
each side of his head, without
any branching. These horns are
cast off, but they grow back the
following year. They then have
two branches on each side. By
the fourth year, the antlers are
fully developed, but they con-
tinue to lengthen yearly for at
least four more years.
LONG-TAILED WEASEL
ORDER
Carnivora
FAMILY
Mus teiidae
~ GENUS & SPECIES
""'1IIIIIIII Mustela frenata
" CARD 327 I
The long-tailed weasel has the widest range of all the American
weasels. It feeds mainly on rodents and other small mammals,
but it may raid henhouses and is therefore persecuted by farmers.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Male, 9-14 in. Female,
much smaller.
Tail: 5-10 in.
Weight: Male, 7-12 oz. Female,
up to 7 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male, 1 year.
Female, much younger.
Mating season: Warm months.
Gestation: Delayed implantation,
with young born in spring.
No. of young: 3-9 each year.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Usually solitary.
Call: Variety of calls, including soft
mews and loud screams.
Diet: Rabbits, hares, rodents, rep-
tiles, and amphibians.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 16 species in the genus
Mustela, including the short-tailed
weasel, or ermine, M. erminea, and
the least weasel, M. nivalis.
Range of the long-tailed weasel.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in southern Canada, the United States, Central America,
Peru, and Bolivia.
CONSERVATION
The long-tailed weasel is not endangered, despite its persecution
by farmers who see it as a threat to poultry stocks. The only en-
dangered mustelid is the black-foQt ed ferret, which shares the
long-tailed weasel's range but lives exclusively on prairie dogs.
THE LONG-TAILED WEASEl'S COAT
Summer coat: Medium brown, with
creamy yellow underparts. Black tip
on tail. The short-tailed weasel is sim-
ilar but has white underparts and feet.
Face: In the southwestern part of its
range, the long-tailed weasel has
white facial markings.
Winter coat: In the northern part of its
range, the animal's coat turns entirely
white except for the black tail tip.
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A 0160200991 PACKET 99
In the northern part of its range, the long-tailed weasel is
frequently confused with the short-tailed weasel, or ermine,
because both animals' coats turn white in winter. Howeve"
as its name suggests, the long-tailed weasel has a longer
tail than the short-tailed weasel. In addition, it is larger.
~ HABITS
The long-tailed weasel adapts
to many different habitats. This
fast, agile animal climbs well,
but it hunts on the ground.
The long-tailed weasel is usu-
ally solitary and busiest at night.
However, it may emerge during
tile day and use its ability to see
color. To rest, it finds a site in a
rock crevice, under a woodpile,
or in another animal's burrow.
This weasel fiercely defends
its territory, marking the bound-
aries with a musky fluid from its
anal glands. Fights with intrud-
ers are rare but potentially dead-
ly. The male is much larger than
the female and has a bigger ter-
ritory that often overlaps with
several females' ranges.
When it runs, the long-tailed
weasel's sleek body is fully ex-
tended. In overgrown areas it
may stand on its hind legs to
view its surroundings.
Left: Another animal's abandoned
burrow often provides a safe nest
for the long-tailed weasel.
Right: With its slender body fully
extended, the long-tailed weasel
views its surroundings.
~ BREEDING
In the warm months, the male
and female long-tailed weasel
may mate several times within a
few hours. But implantation of
the fertilized eggs in the womb
is delayed so that the young are
born the following spring, when
food is abundant.
The female constructs a cozy,
warm nest. During their initial
weeks, the young are rarely left
by themselves, and the mother
moves them to a new nest if
she is disturbed.
Left: The long-tailed weasel uses
fallen trees to mark boundaries.
The young suckle from their
mother at first, but when they
are three to five weeks old she
starts to bring them meat. Their
eyes open when they are five
to six weeks old. They are fully
weaned at about three months.
The young weasels are play-
ful, indulging in mock chases
and hunts. Eventually they fol-
low their mother on hunting
trips. By the beginning of win-
ter they can hunt alone and
leave their mother's territory.
Right: In the white winter coat, the
tail's tip remains black.
~ FOOD &: HUNTING
The long-tailed weasel uses its
keen senses to hunt. If it smells
underground prey, it burrows
feverishly to catch the animal.
At ground level it may pick up
a slight sound, which it follows
with its head held low. This an-
imal's good sight lets it spot
prey from several yards away.
The long-tailed weasel's agil-
ity and speed are clearly evi-
DID YOU KNOW?
The long-tailed weasel utters
a piercing scream upon catch-
ing its prey.
Young long-tailed weasels
attain their adult coloring at
four to five weeks of age.
If cornered, the long-tailed
weasel fights its enemy in-
stead of running away.
dent when it is chasing prey. It
even follows its victim into wa-
ter if necessary.
This weasel can take on prey
much larger than itself. It first
catches the scruff of its prey's
neck and uses its sharp claws
to rake the animal's underbelly.
It then kills its prey with a bite
through the skull and drags its
victim off to a safe place.
Left: Sniffing
warily, a long-
tailed weasel
approaches a
rabbit carcass
on the road. It
prefers to kill its
own prey.
In the southwestern part of
its range the long-tailed wea-
sel may have white markings
across its face.
When they are first fed solid
food, young weasels lick sali-
va from their mother's mouth.
They may do this in order to
obtain liquid.

MEDITERRANEAN MONK SEAL
,,'--______________ 1: MAMMALS
.. ORDER .. FAMILY .. GENUS &: SPECIES
'11IIIIIIII Pinnipedia '11IIIIIIII Phocidae '11IIIIIIII Monachus monachus
The Mediterranean monk seal is rarest mammal. This seal
was once a common sight on sandy beaches, but today experts
estimate that there are no more than S 00 surviving individuals.
_-Sl- KEY FACTS
I SIZES
Length: ft.
Weight: 660-700 lb .
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 4 years.
Breeding season: From Novem-
ber to January.
Gestation: 11 months.
No. of young: 1 every 2 years.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: May form small groups of
up to 6 animals.
Diet: All types of fish as well as oc-
topus and algae.
Lifespan: Up to 16 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 2 very closely related
species. The Caribbean monk seal,
Monachus tropicalis, lives around
the West Indies but may now be
extinct. The Hawaiian monk seal,
M. schuainslandi, lives around the
Hawaiian islands and is very rare.
Range of the Mediterranean monk seal.
DISTRIBUTION
Mainly in the eastern Aegean Sea. Also in the Black Sea, in the
Mediterranean off Cyprus and North Africa, and in the Atlantic
off the Madeira and Canary islands and northwestern Africa.
CONSERVATION
With a population of no more than 500, the Mediterranean
monk seal is classified as endangered. It is legally protected,
and efforts are underway to save it from extinction.
FEATURES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN MONK SEAL
Tail : Helps the seal
steer underwater.
Body: Streamlined; can grow over
12 feet long. Coat is dark gray-brown
to black on back, lighter on underside,
sometimes with white spots on belly.
Tips of hairs are sometimes yellowish.
MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Head: Small and
rounded with large
eyes and flat nose.
Whiskered muzzle
may be pale.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Flippers: Propel
the seal through
the water.
0160200901 PACKET 90
Humans have been directly responsible for the drastic
decline of the Mediterranean's only seal species. Marine
pollution and the fishing industry have taken a heavy
toll on the population. However, the main cause of the
Mediterranean monk seal's slide toward extinction has
been habitat loss-tourists have taken over the quiet,
sandy beaches where this shy seal used to breed.
~ HABITS
The Mediterranean monk seal is
most common in the eastern
Aegean Sea around the Greek
islands. Small numbers of these
animals can also be found off
the coasts of Turkey and Cyprus
and the Mediterranean coasts of
Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco.
Human activities have led to
a sharp drop in this seal's popu-
lation as well as to changes in
its habitat. Once common on
sandy beaches, it is now found
only on small islands and cliff-
bound rocky coasts-habitats
that are relatively inaccessible
or unattractive to humans.
This monk seal is wary of peo-
ple but may attack fishing boats
that enter its fishing or breeding
territory. When it is disturbed, it
makes a noise like a wounded
dog and sometimes howls. It is
an intelligent animal, and cap-
tive seals frequently become
attached to their keepers, fol-
lowing them around and obey-
ing simple orders.
DID YOU KNOW?
People once believed insom-
nia could be cured by placing
a monk seal's right flipper un-
der the head at night.
The Mediterranean monk
seal is depicted on coins dat-
ing from 500 S.c. The ancient
Greek city of Phocaea, which
was on the Turkish coast, was
named after the seal-the
~ FOOD & HUNTING
The Mediterranean monk seal
eats eels, whitings, sardines, and
lobsters, all of which it may take
from fishing nets. It also feeds on
algae and is very fond of octo-
pus. It can swallow an octopus
weighing over 20 pounds.
Wi th the exception of very
small fish, the monk seal seizes
prey in its teeth and squeezes
tightly, forcing out the entrails.
It then swallows its victim. The
seal occasionally plays with its
food, tossing it up in the air and
catching it again.
Left: The Mediterranean monk seal
is most active in the early morning,
when it begins hunting.
Right: This monk seal hunts mainly
in shallow water, diving to depths
of 100 feet.
Greek word for seal is phoce.
Some North African people
. believe that if they kill a monk
seal they will die at sea within
several weeks.
The monk seal's name is de-
rived from the Latin monachus,
meaning "monk," and refers
to the fact that these seals are
often found alone, like monks.
Little is known about the breed-
ing habits of the Mediterranean
monk seal. In the past, it relied
on sandy coasts for its breeding
sites, but it lost these beaches
to tourists. Today, the seal uses
caves that are often accessible
only from under the water.
Monk seals mate in the water.
After an ll-month gestation pe-
riod, the female bears one pup
Left: The Mediterranean monk seal
is the only true seal species that in-
habits warm temperate waters.
Left: Although
it spends much
of its time alone,
the Mediterra-
nean monk seal
may form small
groups. Unlike
many other
seal species,
however, it
nevergath-
ers in large
herds.
between October and Decem-
ber. Unlike most seal species,
which produce young once a
year, the monk seal does so only
in alternate years.
The female feeds her young
for six or seven weeks, lying on
her side on a rock to offer the
pup her four teats. When it is
weaned, the seal sheds its wool-
ly black coat and enters the wa-
ter for the first time. It stays with
its mother for three years and
breeds in its fourth year.
WILD GOAT
,,------------------------------------------
~
ORDER
Artiodactyla
FAMILY
Bovidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Capra aegagrus
The wild goat is the ancestor of the familiar domestic goat.
Majestic, sweeping horns and a straggly beard distinguish this
hardy, mountain-living creature from modern breeds.
KEY FACTS
- - - - - - - - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ------------------------------____________________ -J
SIZES
Length: 4 - 4 ~ ft.
Height: 2-3 ft.
Weight: Male, 165-265 lb. Female,
110-120 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years.
Mating season: Fall.
Gestation: 5 months.
No. of young: 1-2.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable, living in herds of
up to 20 animals.
Diet: Grass, leaves, shrubs, and
any other available vegetation.
Call: An explosive snort, used by
the adult to sound an alarm.
Lifespan: 10-18 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 123 species within the
family Bovidae. Experts disagree
about the number of subspecies,
but they include the Cretan wild
goat, Capra aegagrus cretini.
Range of the wild goat.
DISTRIBUTION
Found on the Greek islands and in Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan,
Oman, the Caucasus, and parts of Pakistan.
CONSERVATION
The wild goat is facing extinction in many parts of its range.
This is due to centuries of persecution by hunters, as well as to
current competition from domestic sheep and goats for food
and space.
FEATURES OF THE WILD GOAT
Male: Stocky, thickset body with
strong legs and broad hooves. May
weigh twice as much as an adult fe-
male. The muzzle, beard, and front
of the neck are usually dark brown.
The back varies from brown to gray.
The horns are scimitar-shaped and
ridged. They may be more than 3
feet in length.
Coat: Both male and female develop
a thick undercoat to protect them
against the cold
in winter.
(f MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.SA
Female: Smaller than male
and usually more yellow-
brown in color. Horns are
shorter and straighter.
Coloration: There may be consider-
able variation in the color of the wild
goat's coat because increasingly the
species is interbreeding with domes-
tic goats or goats that have reverted
to the wild. The color of the coat al-
so changes as the animal gets older.
01 60200981 PACKET 98
The wild goat is an extremely agile animal, with excellent
balance and a remarkable ability to judge heights. It
readily scales the steepest and most treacherous rocky
inclines, picking its way carefully on its broad, cloven
hooves. This climbing ability makes it possible for the
wild goat to escape to a safe refuge when threatened
by many of its would-be predators, including humans.
~ H A B I T S
The wild goat lives in the eastern
Mediterranean and southwest
Asia. It tolerates a wide range of
terrains and climates, living at
elevations that range from sea
level to 11,500 feet.
The wild goat prefers to roam
over rough, uneven ground. It
has broad, cloven hooves that
are well adapted to coping with
rocky terrain. It can even scale
nearly vertical cliff faces. When
the wild goat is threatened by
predators, its best defense is to
retreat to a high, craggy hillside
where it can outmaneuver other
animals. This nervous creature
also climbs high into the hills if
disturbed during the day and
stays there until early evening.
The wild goat lives in a herd of
up to 20 members, usually led
by a dominant female. Males re-
main on the fringes, sometimes
breaking off to form their own
herd. They join the females and
young for the breeding season.
The herd climbs up the moun-
tainside in spring and summer
to find fresh vegetation revealed
by the receding snow line. But
at the onset of winter, the herd
moves back down to avoid the
colder weather.
The wild goat is active mainly
by day. But when the weather
is very hot, it feeds late in the af-
ternoon and into the night.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The wild goat is a very hardy an-
imal that can survive in the most
barren and arid environments.
In the rainy season it grazes on
grass and low-lying shrubs. In
the dry season, when most of
the grass has died, the herd is
forced into extremely precarious
areas in search of food. At such
times the wild goat browses on
bushes and low tree branches,
Left: Horn size reflects the strength
of the male, 50 that fighting is fre-
quently unnecessary.
DID YOU KNOW?
The wild goat was first do-
mesticated more than 8,000
years ago in the foothills of
southwest Asia.
The longest wild goat horns
on record measured five feet.
During the mating season,
the male wild goat may uri-
nate on himself, apparently
to enhance his appeal.
sometimes standing on its hind
legs to reach them. It goes to
great lengths to find food, walk-
ing boldly out on an overhang-
ing branch even when there is a
huge drop below.
During the monsoon season
the wild goat gets all the mois-
ture it needs from grasses. But
in the dry season it must find a
watering hole every day.
Right: In order to survive, the wild
goat must adapt its diet to the veg-
etation that is available.
As the wild goat grows old-
er, its hair gets steadily grayer.
The wild goat's hooves con-
tinue to grow throughout its
life, which keeps them from
being completely worn away
by the rocky terrain.
The wild goat can leap to a
height of almost six feet from
a standing position.
~ WILD GOAT &: MAN
Ancient carvings indicate that
the wild goat had all important
role in Greek mythology. For ex-
ample, the god Pan was half-
man and half-goat.
The wild goat is an excellent
animal to domesticate. This ex-
tremely tough creature is able
to thrive within hostile environ-
ments. Its milk can be drunk or
~ BREEDING
The wild goat mates in the fall.
The young are born from late
January to late March-when
food is most plentiful. The mat-
ing season, or rut, is marked by
a period of frenzied sexual activ-
ity that may include fighting be-
tween rival males.
Most of the courtship rituals
are performed by the male. He
stretches out his neck and head,
sticks out his tongue, and curls
his lips back over his teeth. One
female may mate with several
males in the herd. The stronger
and healthier the female is, the
Left: In very hot weather the wild
goat takes shelter by day and starts
feeding at dusk.
made into cheese, its flesh can
be eaten, and its hide can be
used for making clothes.
The wild goat has long been
hunted for its horns as well as
its bezoars-small balls of swal-
lowed hair that form smooth,
hard pebbles in the goat's stom-
ach. Bezoars are mistakenly be-
lieved to have medicinal value.
more attention she will attract.
After a five-month gestation,
the female gives birth to one or
two kids. The newborn is cov-
ered in silky grayish fur and can
walk within a few hours. It is
well developed and seemingly
independent at an early age but
remains close to its mother for
some time. It suckles for the first
four months, but it is then en-
couraged to feed on its own.
The female fiercely protects
her offspring, and her kids may
remain with her until she gives
birth again. Even then, a young
goat stays within the herd, be-
coming sexually active at two or
three years old.
TAVRA
"''-------
~
ORDER
Carnivora
... FAMILY
'11IIIIIIII Mustelidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Eira barbara
The tayra is a large, weasel-like animal that inhabits the forests of
Central and South America. A fierce hunter, it pursues prey quickly
and relentlessly, often killing it with a bite on the neck.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 22-27 in.
Tail , 15-19 in.
Weight: 9-11 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 6
months. Male, 1 year.
Mating season: From January
to February.
Gestation: About 2 months.
No. of young: 2-4.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: May be solitary but often
lives in small family groups. Active
day and night.
Diet: Small mammals, birds and
their eggs, fruit, and honey.
lifespan: 18 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
The tayra is the only species in its
genus. The family Mustelidae to
which it belongs includes mink,
weasels, martens, badgers, and
the wolverine.
FEATURES OF THE TAYRA
Fur: Short and coarse. Gray-
brown or bl ack with paler head
and neck. Sometimes yellow
or white patch on chest.
Tail : Long. thick,
and muscular. Helps
the tayra balance
when climbing.
~ MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the tayra.
DISTRIBUTION
Inhabits the forests of southern Mexico, Central America, and
South America as far south as Argentina and Paraguay. It is also
found on the Caribbean island of Trinidad.
CONSERVATION
The tayra is hunted for its fur and flesh. But habitat loss, rather
than hunting, is probably the main reason for the population
decline over the last 50 years.
Body: Long and sl ender with
strong limbs and
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
a long neck.
Head: Broad with rounded ears,
large eyes, and tapering muzzle.
Excellent senses of sight ,
hearing. and smell.
Feet: Large with naked soles
for gri pping branches. The
strong claws are not
retractable.
0160200911 PACKET 91
The tayra is an active predator. Constantly alert, it uses
its sharp senses of smell, sight, and hearing to find prey
in its forest home. Although it spends much of its time on
the ground, the tayra is a good climbe" gripping with its
sharp claws and balancing with its long, muscular tail.
~ HABITS
The sociable tayra often lives in
a small family group. When it is
tired, this forest dweller rests in
tree hollows or tall, thick grass.
But it is active much of the time,
both by day and night. It tends
to be up and around very early
on cloudy days.
From time to time, the animal
rises on its hind legs to scan its
surroundings for danger. If sur-
prised by a predator, the tayra
attacks instead of running away.
The tayra is very agile, able to
dash up smooth tree trunks and
run along branches. It is also a
very good swimmer. If the forest
floor becomes flooded when a
river bursts its banks, the animal
can swim from tree to tree.
~ BREEDING
The female tayra produces a lit-
ter of two to four offspring in
the spring, after a gestation of
just over two months. She gives
birth in a nest, which is usually
a tree hollow lined with leaves
and mosses.
Born blind and helpless, the
young receive a great deal of
care from their mother. During
their first six weeks, she suckles
them. Then she brings them
food from hunting trips.
The young grow quickly and
Left: A very active creature, the
tayra is alert both day and night,
rarely pausing to rest.
I DID YOU KNOW?-
Local hunters believe that
the tayra possesses aphrodisi-
ac properties. They kill the an-
imal and put shavings from its
bones into drinks.
The female tayra goes into
look like the adults within two
months. The offspring are very
active and playful-tumbling
about, chasing each other, and
engaging in mock fights. They
constantly try to escape from
the nest and must be dragged
back by their mother.
At about six months old, the
youngsters are able to leave the
nest with some degree of safe-
ty. However, they are not fully
independent until they are ap-
proximately a year old.
Right: Although agile in the trees,
the tayra spends most of its time
hunting on the ground.
heat up to three times a year.
The tayra is such an efficient
hunter that local people use it
to rid their homes and gardens
of rodents. When it is tamed,
it can even make a playful pet.
~ FOOD &: HUNTING
The tayra is a flesh eater, feed-
ing mainly on small mammals
like agoutis, tree squirrels, guin-
ea pigs, and brocket deer. It al-
so takes nesting birds and their
eggs and can even catch birds
as they alight in the open.
The tayra tracks down its prey
using its keen senses of hearing,
sight, and smell-a vital combi-
nation because it often hunts
at night in dense undergrowth.
After locating its prey, the tayra
combines stealth and surprise
to catch it. If the animal is small,
the tayra kills it immediately by
biting the back of its neck. But
Left: The tayra's quick reactions
enable it to snatch any small crea-
tures it finds in the branches.
Left: The tayra
can run quickly
along a hori-
zontal branch.
Its very sharp
claws help it
grip, and its
tail helps it
balance.
larger animals require more ef-
fort to subdue. If the victim es-
capes its grasp, the tayra chases
the animal, not stopping until it
has captured the quarry again.
After killing an animal, the tay-
ra drags it off to a storage place.
It then returns to the same spot
and remains until it has caught
all the available prey. The tayra
kills even when it is not hungry
and stores the food instead of
eating it right away.
Unlike most of its close rela-
tives, the tayra supplements its
diet of flesh with honey as well
as fruit such as berries and ba-
nanas. Its taste for fruit brings it
into conflict with humans, since
it damages banana plantations.