"'" CARD 181 I

HUMPBACK WHALE
~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Cetacea
FAMilY
Balaenopteridae
~ GENUS & SPECIES
"'IIIIIIII Megaptera novaeangliae
During its migration the humpback whale can be seen in coastal
waters around the world. At breeding sites it utters a mournful
"song" that is one of the most haunting sounds ever heard.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
length:42-45 ft., up to 52 ft .
Weight: Up to 72 tons.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-5 years.
Breeding season: Winter. Female
breeds every 2-3 years.
Gestation: 11-12 months.
No. of young: 1, rarely 2.
Weaning: About 1 year.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Social and migratory.
Call: Complex songs lasting 6-35
minutes and other sporadic sounds.
Frequencies from 40-50 kHz.
Diet: Krill, fish, squid.
lifespan: Up to 50 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The humpback is one of the six
species in the Balaenopteridae
family that have a dorsal fin. The
others are the blue, fin, sei, minke,
and Brvde's whales.
THE HUMPBACK WHALE
Blowhole: On
top of the head.
Spray may rise
to about 10 feet.
Snout: Covered
in knobs.
Range of the humpback whale.
DISTRIBUTION
The humpback whale frequents cold and polar seas for most
of the year and subtropical and tropical seas in winter. A few
populations live year-round in the tropics.
CONSERVATION
Hunting has reduced the total population of the humpback
whale from about 150,000 to between 6,000 and 8,000. Com-
mercial hunting has ended, but the population is still vulnerable.
Tail : Very large
flukes may be
slapped hard on
the water to make
a loud noise.
Flippers: Long,
powerful , and
serrated. Used in
-.-: .... ---surface displays
and to protect
young.
Hump: Visible when the whale rises
to blow a number of times.
Tail: Raised just before the whale
arches forward to sound (dive) .
Mating: The male and female rise
up and half-emerge from the wa-
ter in this embrace, whi ch they
may hold for 30 seconds before
breaking away.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200431 PACKET 43
The humpback whale is easy to distinguish
from other baleen whales. It has a broad tail,
long, white-edged flippers, and prominent knobs
on its snout. The humpback's narrow flippers are
almost one-third of its body length. They help this
giant mammal maneuver with grace both under
the water and at its surface.

The humpback whale may be
found in all the oceans of the
world at certain times of year.
There are three main popula-
tions: one in the North Atlantic,
one in the North Pacific, and
one in the southern oceans.
These populations are divided
into separate "stocks."
The humpback breeds in
warm coastal waters. It spends
the rest of the year in colder re-
gions. Migration between the
two areas follows set routes,
and there is little mixing be-
tween different stocks. One of
the longest migrations is under-
taken by Antarctic whales. They
swim 4,000 miles north and
breed in the Gulf of Panama.
Humpbacks are often seen in
clusters, usually with a female
and her calf at the breeding
area. These clusters may be
males vying for the female's
attention and acting as escorts.
Threat displays of the hump-
back include blowing a screen
of bubbles, lashing the tail side-
ways through the water, and
crashing the tail on the water's
surface. The whale often spy-
hops (raises its head vertically
above the waves) or breaches
(leaps out of the water to return
with a tremendous splash). It
may also lie belly up or with its
flippers in the air.
FOOD & FEEDING
The humpback whale spends
spring, summer, and fall in
its polar feeding areas. In the
Southern Hemisphere it feeds
mainly on krill. In the north it
eats capelin and shoal fish.
When food is plentiful near
the surface, the whale lunges
toward it with its jaws open,
taking in a mouthful of water
and prey. Grooves under its
jaw allow it to enlarge its
mouth cavity for this pur-
pose. The whale strains the
BREEDING
The humpback usually utters
its evocative song during breed-
ing season. Most "singers" are
solitary males trying to attract
mates. The song is a sequence
of cries, chirps, clicks, moans,
and groans. It varies from one
whale to the next and may last
for 35 minutes. It can be heard
underwater for 18 miles.
Above left: A
whale makes a
spectacular
"breach. "
Right: A cow
and calf are
escorted in
Hawaiian
waters.
Below: The
cow and calf
form a close
bond.
water out through its baleen
plates (horny filtering plates
in the sides of the mouth),
leaving the prey inside.
The humpback uses various
methods to trap prey. Tail
slapping and breaching may
startle fish. Rising bubbles
or "nets" of air from whales
that are deep underwater can
confuse and enclose prey.
Right: The humpback rushes at
plankton or shoal fish from below
and gulps them down.
Mating has not been directly
observed. But whales have
been seen diving together and
rising vertically to the surface,
belly to belly, and it is thought
that they are mating at these
times. Gestation lasts almost a
year, and the young are born
back at the warm breeding
grounds. The newborn calf is
13 to 16 feet long. It stays close
to its mother for a year, taking
at least 1 0 gallons of milk from
her every day for the first five
months. The bond between
mother and calf is very strong.
The female humpback has been
known to protect her calf even
when she has been mortally
wounded by harpoons.
DID YOU KNOW?
Scientists did not record
the humpback whale's
complex song until 1969.
Recordings of the song
have been sent into space
on the Voyager probes.
The humpback usually
swims at 2 to 9 miles
hour, but it can reach 1 7
miles per hour.
The humpback whale
sometimes makes threat
displays against boats,
especially when they are
on its breeding grounds.
An average humpback
needs over a ton of food
per day, containing more
t han one million calories.
Scars from the teeth of
killer whales are often seen
on humpbacks, especially
on the tail. But it is unlike-
ly that these predators
could kill a healthy adult
humpback whale.
The humpback dives
deep to feed--even to the
seabed 650 feet down. It
has been known to stay
under for 30 minutes.
GIANT FOREST HOG
~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ ~
.. ORDER
'11IIIIIIII Artiodactyla
FAMILY
Suidae
.. GENUS &: SPECIES
'11IIIIIIII Hylochoeru5 meinertzhageni
""' CARD 182 I
The giant forest hog is the largest of the eight species of wild pig.
It inhabits the tropical forests and savanna of central Africa,
where people still hunt it as a pest.
KEYFACTS ____________________________ ~
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 5-6 ft .
Tail, about 1 ft .
Height: 2)1,;-3)1,; ft.
Weight: 350-600 lb. Male is
heavier than female.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 18 months.
Breeding season: All year, but
sexual activity increases slightly
in October and November.
Gestation: 18 weeks.
No. of young: 2-6.
LIFESTYLE
Habits: Highly social; may be
active during the day or night.
Diet: Grass, leaves, berries, fruit,
roots, and carrion.
Lifespan: Probably 15-20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 8 species of pig in 5
genera, including the bush pig,
Potamochoeru5 porcu5, and the
wild boar, SU5 5crota.
Range of the giant forest hog.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in isolated populations throughout forested areas of
central Africa. The largest numbers occur in Cameroon, Gabon,
Congo, and Zaire.
CONSERVATION
The giant forest hog is not endangered, but it is threatened in
some areas by hunting. Farmers attack it because it may damage
crops and can infect domestic pigs with African swine fever.
FEATURES OF THE GIANT FOREST HOG
Warts: Male has huge, swollen cheek
projections that protect eyes in dense
undergrowth. Equipped with scent
glands (especially in older males)
to mark the hog's home range.
Tusks: Upward-
pointed canine
teeth may grow
to 14 inches.
Tail : Long and tasseled. May be
used to swat insects. Never
carried upright.
Young: 2 to 6 in a litter. Born
with straw-colored coat that
changes to brown, then black.
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Coat: Black
guard hairs.
Often covered
Female: Smaller Hooves: 4 toes
than male. Lacks on each foot.
huge face warts.
0160200451 PACKET 45
In much of its range the giant forest hog is active
mainly at night foraging for food in an extended
family group. But in protected areas like national parks,
it often roams during the daylight hours. This creature
of habit follows tunnellike paths that it has already
forged through dense vegetation to its feeding sites.
Its food includes grass, leaves, berries, and carrion.

The giant forest hog inhabits
both tropical forests and savan-
na from sea level to an altitude
of over 12,000 feet. In the hot-
ter parts of its range and in areas
where it is hunted by people,
it usually sleeps by day and for-
ages after dark. In protected
areas it is often active by day.
The giant forest hog lives in a
family group of about 10 indi-
viduals. The group occupies
an area of about eight square
miles, which the hogs mark
with secretions from the scent
glands around their eyes and
lips. The home ranges of
several groups may overlap.
Each day the hog takes the
same paths to its favorite feed-
ing and drinking areas. It also
regularly visits mud wallows.
Bathing in the moist mud keeps
the hog cool and rids its skin of
ticks and other parasites. After
bathing, the hog rubs itself
against a tree or termite mound
to scrape the mud from its skin.
The group of hogs returns
to its communal sleeping nest
each day. The roof and walls are
usually woven from dense un-
dergrowth into a snug, dry shel-
ter. In some areas the hogs may
simply nest under an uprooted
tree's roots.
FOOD &: FEEDING
The giant forest hog forages
for food in a family group. As
an omnivore, it eats both plants
and animals.
In its tropical homeland the
hog feeds mostly on the lush
vegetation. In open savanna
and at the forest edge it grazes
on grasses and tender shoots.
It also tears up bamboo, crush-
ing the stems and leaves with
its powerful cheek teeth.
Within the forest, the hog
Left: The oxpecker helps the
giant forest hog by feeding on
parasitic ticks in its skin.
DID YOUKNOW?
The large warts below and
behind the giant forest hog's
eyes are believed to shield it
when it charges through thick
undergrowth.
The hierarchy of hog soci-
ety can be seen when family
groups enter mud wallows
and nest sites. The senior male
feeds mainly on leaves, berries, .
and fruit, and it may gnaw on
exposed roots. Unlike other
pig species, it seldom digs with
its snout.
At times the giant forest hog
eats insects and their larvae,
the eggs of ground-nesting
birds, and carrion (dead flesh).
It seeks out salt licks, such as
termite mounds, to obtain
needed minerals. It may also
feed on and damage crops.
Right: The forest hog keeps re-
turning to the same areas to feed
and drink.
always leads, and the junior
female brings up the rear.
Some African tribes make
war shields from the skin of
the giant forest hog.
The male giant forest hog
has reinforced frontal bones
to protect it during the ritual
head clashes for dominance.

A dominant male usually leads
each family group. Males es-
tablish their position by ritual
fighting, charging each other
and cracking heads ferociously.
Defeated males lead a solitary
life away from the group.
Mating occurs throughout
the year. The male approaches
a receptive sow (female) in his
group. If she accepts his
vances, the pair mates noisily.
Two to six young are born 18
weeks later in a nest that the
Left: Young hogs nurse fram
their mother or from other milk-
bearing females in the group.
Left: Dis-
covered in
7904, the
giant forest
hog is one
of the last
large mam-
mals to be-
come known
to naturalists.
It is found in
forests in
central Africa.
sow builds at a distance from
her group. When the young are
about a week old, the sow leads
them back to the group, where
they are fed by any sows that
can produce milk. The young
hogs are weaned at about 1 0
weeks and become sexually
mature at 18 months.
All of the adults protect the
young, warning them of dan-
ger and defending them from
predators. Despite this care,
only one or two of each litter
survives. Some are crushed by
their mother soon after birth,
while others may be picked off
by hyenas or large cats.
SHETLAND PONY
'"
... ORDER
~ Perissodactyla
FAMILY
Equidae
CARD 183
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS &; SPECIES
Equus cabal/us
The Shetland pony is one of the smallest breeds of horse. For its
size, however, this short-legged animal is the strongest
member of the horse family.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: Maximum in U.S., 4 ft.
Maximum in Great Britain,. 312 ft.
Lowest recorded height: 2 ft .
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: About 3 years .
Mating season: Mid to late spring
in native habitat.
Gestation: 11 months.
No. of young: Usually 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable. Forms small herds
in the wild.
Diet: Mainly grass.
Lifespan: 20 years, sometimes
more.
RELATED SPECIES
The Shetland pony belongs to the
same genus and species as all
horses and ponies. It is among the
oldest breeds in existence.
Original range of the Shetland pony.
DISTRIBUTION
Thought to have originated near, and evolved on, the
Shetland and Orkney islands off the northeastern tip of
Scotland. Now present in many other countries worldwide.
CONSERVATION
The Shetland pony still exists in a semiwild state in its
native environment. It is also bred in domestication in
many countries.
AMERICAN AND BRITISH SHETLAND PONIES
American Shetland
Height: 11 hands ( 3 ~ feet) average.
Build: lighter than British breed.
Legs: Neat, with high knee action.
Pony and man: Competes in pulling
contests and trotting races and is
used as a child's pony.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
British Shetland
Height: 10 hands (3 feet) average.
Legs: Shorter than those of Ameri-
can breed. Body: Deeper and more
heavily built than American breed.
Winter coat: Thick and warm for pro-
tection from the elements. Pony and
man: like the American Shetland, it is
used as a child's pony.
0160200441 PACKET 44
The Shetland pony gets its name from the stormy
islands off the coast of Scotland where it has lived
since prehistoric times. Island settlers soon recognized
the animal's hardiness and working potential,
and it has been domesticated since 500 B.C.
CHARACTERISTICS
The Shetland pony has a
compact, stocky body with a
deep girth and a short back.
It has short, muscular limbs
and small, hard, open feet.
Its small head and its short,
thick neck are almost hidden
by its long, bushy forelock
and thick, long mane. The
tail is also long and bushy.
The pony may be any color,
but black and dark brown
are most common.
During winter, when the
weather is cold, windy, and
wet, the Shetland pony will
grow a thick coat to provide
warmth and waterproofing.

In mid to late spring, a Shet-
land stallion will seek out a
mare in heat. The ll-month
gestation period ensures that
the foal will be born early the
next spring when the grass is
at its best.
However, the breeding of
Shetland ponies is usually care-
fully controlled. The breeders
choose which stallions get to
mate, even when the ponies
Above left: The Shetland ponies
in summer.
Below left: A family group.
DID YOU KNOW?
The American Shetland
pony is used in trotting
races. It has been timed
at 1 minute, 55 seconds,
over half a mile.
The Shetland pony can
pull twice its own weight,
which means that it has
about twice the power of
most heavy horses.
A 3-foot-high Shetland
pony once carried a man
40 miles in one day.
The Shetland is one of
the five favorite breeds in
the United States. Others
are the thoroughbred,
Appaloosa, standard-
bred, and quarter horse.
are living in a semiwild state.
The mare usually gives birth
to one foal, which she nurses
until she becomes pregnant
Below: The
wild stallion
finds a mate in
springtime.
Right: Usually
only one foal
is born.
FOOD & FEEDING
Like all horses and ponies, the
Shetland is a grazer. When it
has rich grass to eat, it may
graze in short spurts during
a 24-hour period. But if the
pasture is poor, it may feed
for 22 hours a day.
Because it manages to sur-
vive on the meager grass of
again. Sometimes, however,
the breeder takes the foal from
its mother when it is about
eight months old.
its island homeland, the Shet-
land pony has a reputation
for "fattening on almost any-
thing." Domestic ponies need
little more than hay in winter.
When the Shetland Islands
are covered with snow, the
pony will paw at the ground
to get at the grass and moss
... SHETLAND PONY

The Shetland pony was used
by island farmers for transport
and to help work t heir proper-
ty. Because it is very strong
and takes to the harness, it has
always been used to pull heavi-
ly loaded carts. Today it is used
in cart races.
In the nineteenth century
Shetland ponies were used as
pit ponies in the coal mines.
Ponies that were bred for this
purpose had large, ugly heads.
With the demand for pit po-
nies now gone, this feature has
been bred out.
The Shetland pony was im-
ported to the United States,
and it has become so popular
that this country now has its
own "Shetland" breed.
under the snow. If this is not
enough food, the pony may
climb down to the beach to
eat seaweed and scrounge
fish heads from fishermen.
Below: The grass on the islands
is very poor in nutrients, and the
pony often feeds all day to sus-
tain itself.
PROBOSCIS MONKEY
"--- ... ORDER
~ Primates
... FAMilY
'11IIIIIIII Cercopithecidae
... GENUS &: SPECIES
~ Nasalis /arvatus
""CARD 184l
The proboscis monkey is related to the colobus monkeys of
Southeast Asia. Rarely seen in the wild, this endangered species
lives only in the remote mangrove swamps of Borneo.
~ .
KEY FACTS
SIZES
length: Head and body, 1 y'!-2 ft.
Tail, 2-2y'! ft.
Weight: 15-50 lb. Male heavier.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 4 years.
Male, 4-5 years.
Mating season: Throughout the
year, but births coincide with
seasonal abundance of food.
Gestation: About 6 months.
No. of young: Usually 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Lives in trees, in social
groups of up to 60 members.
Diet: Mainly leaves, but some
fruit and flowers.
lifespan: About 1 3 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 31 species in 4 genera
in the Colobinae subfamily. The
genus Nasalis contains another
rare species, the pig-tailed langur,
N. conca/or.
FEATURES OF THE PROBOSCI
Nose: The male
makes a loud
honking sound
with his nose to
frighten off
predators. The
long nose
shoots into a
horizontal
position with
each honk.
Range of the proboscis monkey.
DISTRIBUTION
Found only in swampy mangrove forests along the coasts
and on the tidal sections of rivers in Borneo.
CONSERVATION
The proboscis monkey is classified as endangered as a result
of hunting and habitat destruction. Protected since 1931, it
still needs special reserves to ensure its future.
Habitat: The proboscis monkey is
well suited to the swampy mangroves
of Borneo. It is a good swimmer,
and it moves with great agility
among the trees. These
skills help it escape from
predators, including
people who hunt
it for food.
Tail: A vital balancing aid for the
monkey when moving through
trees or resting orr a branch.
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The proboscis monkey is named for the male's
long trunklike nose. This tree-dweller favors dense,
swampy forests, but much of its habitat has been cleared
by humans for lumber and land use. Before 1963 the
proboscis monkey had never been bred successfully
in and it is now so rare that it has
received international protection.

The proboscis monkey spends
its life among the trees of dense
mangrove forests and swampy
river plains. It lives in groups of
up to 60 animals, but this soci-
ety, unlike most monkey societ-
ies, is not highly structured. This
loose organization may be be-
cause the proboscis monkey
spends most of its time finding
and eating food, leaving little
time for group activities.
Each group has a home range
of almost one square mile. Pro-
boscis monkeys are not aggres-
sive, however, and they share
their ranges with other animals.
During the day the proboscis
monkey swings from branch to
branch, foraging for food high
above the ground. Surrounded
by the leaves it eats, it rarely
travels more than half a mile a
day. Since the male is twice as
heavy as the female, he moves
more slowly.
At night proboscis monkeys
sleep together in a group, ar-
ranged along a branch in a row.
They try to find a strong branch
that leans out over the water
because this location offers the
best protection from predators
such as leopards.
FOOD & FEEDING
The proboscis monkey begins
and ends each day by eating
a big meal. Leaves and shoots
are its favorite food, but it will
also eat fruit and flowers. Be-
cause the monkey does not
digest its food very efficiently,
it must spend most of the day
eating to obtain the nutrients
that it needs.
When feeding, the probos-
cis monkey sits in the fork of a
tree, grabs nearby branches,
and strips them of their leaves.
Left: The large nose of the male
proboscis monkey attracts fe-
males in the mating season.
DID YOU KNOW?
The proboscis monkey eats
so much that the content of
its stomach can be over a
quarter of its body weight.
Proboscis monkeys can
jump into the water from a
height of 50 feet and stay
submerged for 30 seconds.
The proboscis monkey is
Its long thumbs, which are un-
usual for a monkey, allow it to
grip branches, and its sharp
teeth are excellent for shred-
ding leaves.
After a big meal the monkey
rests in the tree to digest its
food. But soon it must search
for more food, either alone or
in a group. When a group for-
ages together, one of the larg-
er males squats at the top of a
tree and acts as a lookout.
The proboscis monkey rare-
ly has to drink. It gets all the
water it needs from the mois-
ture in the leaves it eats.
hunted by clouded leopards
in the trees and by crocodiles
in the water.
The male snorts or honks
loudly as a warning. The fe-
male sounds like a goose.
The flesh of the proboscis
monkey is a delicacy to the
people of Borneo.
BREEDING
Proboscis monkeys can breed
throughout the year, however
most of their young are born
when good food supplies are
widely available.
When the female is ready to
mate, she chooses a male and
stares at him, pursing her lips.
If he responds with a pouting
expression, the pair will mate.
The proboscis monkey usu-
ally gives birth to a single in-
fant about eight inches long.
Its eyes are open at birth, and
Left: Another female looks af-
ter an infant while its mother
searches for food.
Left: The fe-
male monkey
is about half
the size of the
male and has a
less prominent
nose.
Below: The
proboscis mon-
key seems well
suited to Bor-
neo's dense
mangrove for-
ests. An excel-
lent swimmer,
it may drop
from a high
branch into the
river below to
swim to anoth-
er tree.
it can cling to its mother's fur.
The baby monkey is covered
in short, downy hair, and its
face is deep blue. This color
gradually changes to the
brownish pink of the adult,
and the color of the baby's
coat changes to grayish yel -
low or reddish brown.
The females in a group fre-
quently look after each oth-
er's young, carrying them
around and even nursing
them. This behavior allows
the mothers to move more
freely through the trees when
looking for food.
""CARD 185 I
CHAMOIS
"' GROUP 1: MAMMALS
" ' ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
... ORDER ... FAMILY ... GENUS &: SPECIES
~ Artiodactyla ~ Bovidae ~ Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a species of goat-antelope that lives in mountainous
areas, mostly in Europe. Best known as the source of chamois
leather, its numbers are now severely reduced.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 3-4 ft.
Height to shoulder: 2/:1 -3 ft.
Weight: Male, 65-110 lb.
Female, 55-95 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 4 years.
Mating: October to December.
Gestation: 5/:1 -6 months.
No. of young: 1, rarely 2.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Females and young live in
herds. Males are solitary except
during mating season.
Call : Deep, rumbling bleat.
Diet: Grasses, bark, pine needles.
Lifespan: Up to 17 years in
captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 9 subspecies of
chamois. It is closely related
to the Rocky Mountain goat,
Oreamnos americanus.
FEATURES OF THE CHAMOIS
Coat: The
summer coat is
li ght brown wi th
a black stri pe
down the spine.
The wi nter coat
is almost
black.
Horns: The sharp, curved
horns can grow up to 8
inches long. They are used
to defend the animal against
predators. They are also used
by males battling for a mate
during the rutting season.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILE' M
Range of the chamois.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in the Pyrenees, Apennines, Alps, and Carpathians. Also
found in southwestern Asia a ~ d introduced in New Zealand.
CONSERVATION
The chamois was once common t hroughout central and south-
ern Europe. But hunting for meat and trophies has caused many
populations to become severely depleted or even extinct. The
Italian subspecies, R.r. ornata, now numbers less than 400.
chamois has
extremely acute
senses of smell
and sight.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
HOW THE HOOF GRIPS
THE ROCK
Thin, sturdy outer ridge grips
rock, while soft inner pad keeps
chamois from slipping. Hoof can
be closed to grip narrow ledges
or splayed to grip in snow.
Two simple toes on each foot keep
chamois from slipping downhill.
0160200431 PACKET 43
The chamois is a sturdy, nimble animal that has
remarkable leaping ability. Its specially adapted
hooves have soft elastic soles to keep the animal
from slipping. These hooves allow the chamois
to grip the steep mountain slopes of its ranges.
~ HABITS
During spring and fall the
chamois lives in alpine forests,
just above the tree line. The
chamois does not live on
mountain tops, but it may
move higher up the mountain
in summer. In winter it moves
down to slopes as low as 1,640
feet and settles in the forest,
Right: The
chamois's
black or dark
gray winter
coat becomes
much lighter
brown with a
black stripe on
the back in
summer. The
tufts of hair
along the back
are often dis-
played in hunt-
ers' caps.
where food is more plentiful.
Females and young usually
live in small groups on their
own. However, in winter they
may join with other groups to
form a herd of up to 100 ani-
mals. Males are solitary, join-
ing the herd only during the
rut (mating season) in the fall.
~ BREEDI NG
During the chamois rut, from
mid-October to December,
t he males join the females
and begin to fight for a mate.
Males mark their territory
with a scent that is emitted
from glands located behind
the horns. They then chase
each other, bleating deeply.
They finally engage in a fierce
'fight, pushing and tearing at
Left: A yearling is allowed to
rejoin its mother once she has
weaned the latest kids.
DID YOU KNOW?
According to a Swiss leg-
end, the chamois's curved
horns act as shock absorbers
in case it falls on its head.
The first part of the cham-
ois's scientific name comes
each other with their horns.
Between April and June the
female gives bi rth t o one ki d,
sometimes two. By that time
the herd has split into small
groups again. Just before they
give birth, the females drive
all the yearlings (young from
last year's rut) away. Once the
kids are weaned, the yearlings
can rejoin the group.
Right: Early walkers, the young
chamois are able to escape
predators and find food.
from the Latin word rupes,
meaning "rock."
During the rut it is not
uncommon for one of the
fighting males to have its
belly or throat ripped open.
~ CHAMOIS & MAN
The chamois's predators in-
clude wolves and lynx. Eagles
have been known to prey on
kids. But people are the main
enemy of the chamois. Its skin
is made into chamois leather,
Left: The chamois is extremely
agile and can leap distances as
far as 23 feet.
and the tufts of hair along the
back of the male chamois are
displayed in hunters' caps.
Since it was introduced in
New Zealand, the chamois has
flourished there. In fact, New
Zealanders had to start a hunt-
ing program to control the
number of chamois.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The chamois is a grazer and
browser, with a diet that
consists mainly of mountain
grasses and lichen found on
the rocky slopes. In the forest,
however, the animal has been
known to eat pine needles as
well as bark.
Left: The chamois leaves the herd
to search for food alone in winter
when food is scarce.
PINE MARTEN
ORDER
Carnivora
... FAMILY
Mustelidae

GROUP 1: MAMMALS
... GENUS &: SPECIES
Martes martes
In the past the pine marten was hunted extensively for its
thick fur. Although trapping is illegal today, this solitary carnivore
is now threatened by the destruction of its forest home.
KEY FACTS

SIZES
Body length: 16-20 in. Female
smaller than male.
Tail length: 9-11 in.
Weight: 2-4 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1-2 years.
Mating season: June to August.
Gestation: Delayed implantation of
up to 6 months is followed by a
true pregnancy of 1 month.
Litter size: 3-5; up to 8.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary; night-active.
Diet: Small mammals, insects,
berries, fungi; occasionally car-
casses of large animals.
Lifespan: Up to 10 years in the
wild. 1 7 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 8 species in the genus
Martes, including the American
marten, M. americana, and the fish-
er, M. pennanti.
Range of the pine marten.
DISTRIBUTION
Found throughout Europe, except for the Iberian Peninsula,
Greece, and parts of Finland. Also found in Asia from the Caspi-
an Sea north to the Caucasus Mountains.
CONSERVATION
The pine marten has long been hunted for sport and for its fur.
Throughout its range, it continues to be threatened by destruc-
tion of the forests it inhabits.
FEATURES OF THE PINE MARTEN
Body: Sleek, lithe, and elongated; the
size of a large cat. Large, rounded
ears on a wedge-shaped head.
Paws: Large pad with hairy sales
and long, sharp claws for gripping
slippery branches.
\ \ I nil
Coat: Soft and thick. Rich brown
color on the back with grayish
brown underparts and a creamy
white or yellowish throat patch.
P I I
'Tail: Long and bushy. Distinguishes
the marten from the pol ecat, a similar
species. Provides bal ance when the
marten moves through branches.
I . P Rn 1
The pine marten is a weasellike animal that lives in forests
throughout most of its range. It makes its home in tree
hollows or in the abandoned nests of birds or squirrels. An
opportunistic feeder, the pine marten has a varied diet ranging
from insects and berries to birds and small mammals. This
agile animal has powerful legs and sharp claws that help it
bound through the branches when chasing prey through trees.

A shy, solitary animal, the pine
marten avoids human settle-
ments and rarely strays from
its forest home. It is active at
night, especially at dawn and
dusk, when it hunts for prey.
The marten hunts and lives
alone, keeping to its own terri-
tory, which ranges from two
to 10 square miles, depending
on the availability of food.
The pine marten marks its
territory with piles of drop-
pings, called scats, and with
an anal-gland secretion that it
rubs on branches and rocks.
Within its territory, the marten
travels along well-worn routes,
visiting its food caches (stores)
and its many dens.
The pine marten spends
most of its time on the forest
floor, but it is very agile in the
trees. It has powerful limbs
and large paws that can be
partially retracted. It also has
keen eyesight and a large
bushy tail that helps it bal-
ance. With these features, the
pine marten is well equipped
to run along branches in pur-
suit of prey.
Right: The pine marten preys on
small rodents throughout its ronge.

The pine marten mates be-
tween June and August. The
eggs remain in the female's
womb for five or six months
before they are fertilized . Ges-
tation then takes only about a
month. As a result of this de-
layed implantation, the young
are born in early spring, when
the weather is warm and food
is abundant.
The young, called kittens, are
born in a nest hidden in a rock
crevice or in the abandoned
Left: As the pine marten moves
through the trees, its long, bushy
tail serves as a balancing rod.
I DID YOU KNOW?
The pine marten some-
times follows the tracks of
other flesh eaters to find
abandoned carcasses. This
behavior is known as "para-,
sitic tracking."
When chasing prey, a
pine marten can leap up
to 1 0 feet between the
branches of trees.
nestof a bird or squirrel. The lit-
ter usually has three to five kit-
tens, sometimes up to eight.
The kittens are blind and deaf
for the first two weeks. Their
sparse whitish hairs develop
into brown coats after a month.
At six weeks they stop suckling
and are fed meat by the female.
The kittens first venture out of
the nest at eight or nine weeks
old. They leave permanently in
midsummer, when the female
is ready to mate again.
Right: At three or four months old,
the young pine marten can kill its
own prey.
If alarmed, a pine marten
utters a shrill squeal along
with a gurgle, producing a
noise that sounds like a cat.
The golden eagle is one
of the few animals that
prey on the pine marten.
The pine marten is also
known as the marten cat
and the sweet mart.
I' NATUREWATCH
The pine marten is found in
forests throughout its range.
It is rarely seen during the day.
It is most likely to be spotted
around dawn or dusk, when it
hunts for prey.
If it is seen on the ground, a
pine marten can be easily con-
FOOD fit HUNTI NG
The pine marten's diet varies
with its habitat and the season.
Throughout its range, it often
eats only berries and fruit in the
fall. In the northern parts of its
range, it preys on small rodents,
rabbits, and hares during harsh
winters. It also feeds on aban-
doned carcasses of moose and
reindeer. In areas where there
is less tree cover, the marten
preys on field voles and birds
like grouse and wood pigeons.
In wooded areas, it may take
tits and treecroppers. It also
digs up insect nests to feed on
the larvae.
fused with a polecat or a fer-
ret, which are similar in ap-
pearance. The marten can be
distinguished from these two
animals by its larger size, bushy
tail, and coat, which is a rich
brown color with a pale patch
on the throat.
The pine marten uses both
stealth and speed to catch its
prey. If it fails to take its victim
in a surprise attack, the marten
pursues its prey through the
trees, bounding between the
branches until it catches the
animal. The marten then jumps
onto its victim's back and kills
it with a bite on its neck. Larg-
er prey is pulled to the ground
before being killed.
The pine marten frequently
stores the remains of a kill in a
cache under a rock or some-
times in a tree hollow, to be
eaten later.
RING-TAILED LEMUR
... ORDER
~ Primates
FAMILY
Lemuridae
"" CARD 187 I
GROUP 1: MAMMALS ~
GENUS & SPECIES
Lemurcatta
The ring-tailed lemur is distinguished by its long striped tail.
The ring-tail belongs to the family known as true lemurs,
which are found only on the island of Madagascar.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body,
15-18 in.
Tail: About 2 feet.
Weight: 5-8 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 Z2 years. Few
males mate until 3 years old.
Mating season: April.
Gestation: 4-4Z2 months.
No. of young: Usually 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Active by day. Lives in
social groups.
Diet: Mainly fruit and leaves.
Lifespan: Unknown in the wild.
Up to 14 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 9 species within the
family Lemuridae, or true lemurs.
These include the black lemur,
ruffed lemur, and broad-nosed
gentle lemur. Many lemur species
are now extinct.
Range of the ring-tailed lemur.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in dry, forested areas of Madagascar, mainly in the
southwestern part of the island.
CONSERVATION
All lemurs are endangered because of habitat destruction.
The ring-tailed lemur is more abundant than other species
and inhabits at least six protected areas. It is not certain
whether remaining lemur habitats can be preserved.
FEATURES OF THE RING-TAILED LEMUR
Scent glands: Lower-arm
scent glands in both sexes,
upper-arm glands in the
male. The male wipes his
tail on the inside of his
forearms to mark it with his
own distinctive scent.
Eyes: Large, forward-facing
eyes. Brilliant yellow iris.
Snout Pointed, foxlike.
Black, covered with
sensitive whiskers. Tip of
nose is naked and moist.
Communication by smell is
important.
Hands: Leatherlike palms.
Opposable thumbs (as on a
human) enable lemur to grip
and hold objects.
Tail: Bushy black and white striped
tail, longer than the body. Usually
held aloft as a signal
to other lemurs.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Feet: A long second toe on
each hind foot is used for
grooming. Leathery soles
give a good grip on rocks.
0160200461 PACKET 46
Ring-tailed lemurs and humans share a common
ancestor that lived some 50 million years ago.
Since then, lemurs have evolved in isolation on the
island of Madagascar. They have retained many
primitive characteristics, and they do not
demonstrate the same intelligence as
their cousins, the monkeys and apes.
~ H A B I T S
Most of Madagascar's true le-
murs feed at night and stay in
the forest canopy. But the ring-
tail is active during the day and
prefers open, scrubby areas or
dry rocky regions. It climbs well
and is agile in the treetops.
The ring-tail usually lives in
groups of 5 to 30. An adult fe-
male leaves the group she was
born in to start her own group,
where she remains. But the
male is likely to change from
one group to another.
Males and females have sepa-
rate social ran kings within a
group, but the female is domi-
nant overall . If food and water
run short, the female eats and
drinks before the less impor-
tant male.
The ring-tailed lemur has a
larger home range than most
other lemurs. It defends its ter-
ritory from other groups by
marking the area with under-
arm secretions and urine.
The ring-tail is sociable. But
with the exception of mutual
grooming, there is less interac-
tion between lemurs than there
is among other primates.
In cold weather a ring-tailed
lemur will draw close to other
group members for warmth.
It also likes to bask in the sun,
squatting with its limbs spread
wide in the heat of the day.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The ring-tailed lemur will eat
insects, but it prefers plant
matter, particularly wi ld f igs,
bananas, and fig thistles.
Although its ancestors ate
insects, the ring-tailed lemur
has teeth that are adapted to a
diet of fruit. The incisor and
canine teeth in the lower jaw
form a comblike structure that
can scoop out soft fruit.
left: The ring-tailed lemur has
many calls. A loud yodel is its
territorial claim.
DID YOU KNOW?
The ring-tailed lemur makes
a variety of sounds-squeaks,
growls, snorts, clicks, and
howls. When stroked, a tame
ring-tail purrs like a cat.
The male uses his tail to
warn rivals. It is both a visual
signal and a "scent wand,"
carrying its owner's odor.
Like most other primates, the
ring-tailed lemur sits up to eat.
Gripping fruit in its hands, it
tilts its head so that the juices
run into its mouth rather than
onto its fur. The ring-tail is a
meticulously clean animal.
After feeding, it grooms itself,
using its comblike teeth and
the long claw on the second
toe of each hind foot.
Right: The ring-tail moves mainly
on the ground, but it often feeds
in trees.
The long tail acts as a coun-
terbalance for jumping.
A youngster is suckled by
any milk-producing female in
the group. Orphans from an-
other group may be adopted.
The eyes of newborn ring-
tails are blue, not the brilliant
yellow of adults.
The female ring-tailed lemur is
sexually receptive for part of
April. The male is sexually ma-
ture at 20 months but rarely
mates until three years old.
In what are known as "stink
battles," males fight for recep-
tive females. Glands under the
male's arm produce a strong
scent, which he smears on his
tail. He then waves his tail as a
warning signal to rivals. Fight-
ing may follow, and the victor
mates with the female. If she
does not conceive at that time,
the female may become recep-
left: At about two weeks, the
young lemur moves from its moth-
er's belly to her back.
left: The ring-
tailed lemur is
able to move
along very thin
branches, even
with its young
clinging to its
back. It uses its
bushy tail for
balance and
grips with its
leathery palms.
tive again a month or two later.
The female usually gives birth
to one offspring. After birth,
the young clings to the moth-
er's underside, wrapping its tail
around her back. She curls her
tail around it and carries it with
her for about two weeks. Then
it moves from her belly to her
back. At around three weeks
old, the youngster makes its
first moves on its own, but it
scurries back to its mother at
the slightest alarm.
The young lemur is suckled
for about five months, and it
may be cared for by the whole
group. It is not independent
until about six months old.
", CARD 188 I
PILOT WHALE
,,---------------------------------
~
ORDER
Cetacea
FAMILY
Oelphinidae
GENUS fir SPECIES
G/obicephala melaena, G. macrorhynchu5
The pilot whale gets its scientific name, Globicephala, from its
bulbous, melon-shaped forehead. The sonar system that the whale
uses to locate prey is housed in its forehead.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Longfin male, 20 ft.; fe-
male, 16ft. Shortfin male, 18 ft. ;
female, 14 ft.
Weight: Longfin male, 7,700 lb.;
female, 4,000 lb. Shortfin male,
5,500 lb.; female, 3,000 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male, 11-12
years. Female, about 6 years.
Breeding season: All year.
Gestation: 15-1 6 months.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable. Schools range
from about 40 to several hundred
individuals.
Call: Wide range of sounds.
Diet: Mainly squid but some fish.
Lifespan: About 50 years.
RELATED SPECIES
Both longfin and shortfin pilot
whales are members of the dol-
phin family.
Range of the pilot whale.
DISTRIBUTION
Northern longfins range from Canada to Scandinavia and the
Mediterranean. Southern longfins inhabit the cooler southern
oceans. Shortfins range throughout tropical waters.
CONSERVATION
In the North Atlantic the population of longfin pilot whales
has been greatly depleted, and killing continues in the Faroe
Islands. Elsewhere, numbers are stable.
FEATURES OF THE PILOT WHALE
Blowhole: The cloud produced when a pilot whale ex-
hales can often be seen for miles. It is mainly water
vapor along with oil droplets from
glands lining the
windpipe.
Head: The
melon-shaped
forehead houses
the whale's
sonar system.
With this system
the whale lo-
cates prey by
sending out and
receiving sound
signals.
Flippers: The
two long, sickle-
shaped flippers
taper to a fine
point.
Skin: The only marking on the whale's
glossy jet-black skin is a white streak
on the underbelly.
Dorsal fin: The
low fin is sickle-
shaped with a
long base.
Calf: It is born beneath the water, tail
first. As soon as it is born, the mother
nudges it to the surface to take its
first breath of air.
c M MXCI IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN . .A. P
There are two species of pilot whale. The longfin
pilot whale lives in cool waters in the North Atlantic
and the southern oceans. Sometimes it migrates to
warmer areas to breed. The smaller shortfin pilot whale
can be found in the warmer seas that encircle the globe
in a band north and south of the equator. Both species
are jet black with a white streak on the underbelly.
~ HABITS
The pilot whale lives in a large
school (group) that may have
hundreds of members. Its name
is thought to come from the
whales' habit of following a
leader, or pilot.
Whole schools sometimes be-
come stranded on a beach, but
the cause is not completely un-
derstood. It may happen when
the whales hunt too close to the
shore. Or it may be caused by a
failure in their navigation system.
An adult longfin pilot whale
swims at two and a half to four
miles per hour; the shortfin at
five miles per hour. The pilot
whale often swims alongside
common or bottlenose dol-
phins. Like dolphins, it will spy-
hop (stand vertically) in the
water or roll on its side when
its curiosity is aroused.
Pilot whales produce a range
of sounds, from shrill squeaks
to deep snores. These sounds
are used for communicating
and for locating prey.
~ BREEDING
During winter the longfin pilot
whale often migrates to warm-
er waters to mate. There is no
set breeding season, but the
birthrate peaks in spring. Males
compete fiercely for mates, and
the young males bear the most
battle scars.
The whales' courtship may
also be violent. Yet the pilot
whale is capable of tenderness.
Groups may stroke one anoth-
er with their flippers or swim
along with bodies touching.
About 16 months after mat-
ing, the female gives birth to a
Left: The pilot whale is sometimes
called the blackfish because of its
black skin.
DID YOU KNOW?
The squid's camouflage is
a useless defense against the
pilot whale, which hunts by
echolocation, not sight.
The longfin is also known as
the calling whale because of
the many sounds it makes.
When it is alarmed, the pi-
lot whale can swim at speeds
single calf. Suckling is difficult
underwater, but the mother's
milk is so rich in nutrients that
the calf does not have to feed
often. The mother suckles her
calf for 18 months or more.
Toward the end of this period,
the calf starts learning to hunt
for its own food.
Because the calf is not fully
independent for a long time,
the female whale breeds only
once every three years. She first
mates when she is six years old.
The male is probably twice this
age when he first mates.
Right: The pilot whale rolls onto
its side when it wants to see out
of the water.
as fast as 30 miles per hour.
The mother's milk contains
40 to 50 percent fat; cow's
milk has only 4 percent fat.
The pilot whale can dive to
a depth of over 3,200 feet.
If a pilot whale becomes
separated from its group, the
others will look for it.
~ FOOD &: HUNTING
The pilot whale belongs to the
suborder of toothed whales,
which eat fish. It has 7 to 11
teeth in each half of its jaw. The
teeth are used to grab prey-
mainly squid and cuttlefish but
also cod, turbot, and other fish.
The longfin eats 75 pounds of
food a day, while the shortfin
consumes 100 pounds.
The pilot whale usually swims
Left: The pilot whale's teeth are
used for grabbing, but not chew-
ing, its prey.
Left: The pilot
whale breathes
through a sin-
gle blowhole in
the top of its
head. After a
dive it must
come to the
surface and
take a few
breaths be-
fore it can
dive again.
close to the surface, rising to
breathe through its blowhole.
But when hunting, it may dive
to 200 feet and stay submerged
for 1 0 minutes.
Schools of pilot whales hunt
together. To locate prey, they
use echolocation-sending
sounds that bounce off nearby
fish and tell the whales where
the fish are and how fast they
are moving. If there is a short-
age of food, the schools may
migrate to other areas.
FIN WHALE
ORDER
Cetacea
FAMILY
Balaenopteridae
'" CARD 189
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS &; SPECIES
Balaenoptera physalus
The fin whale is probably the fastest of the great whales, reaching
speeds of up to 2S miles an hour. With its long, streamlined
body, it is second in size only to the blue whale.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Female, up to 85 ft. Male,
up to 82 ft.
Weight: 44-56 tons.
BREEDI NG
Sexual maturity: Male, 6 years.
Female, 7 years.
Mating season: December to
February. Female breeds every
other year.
Gestation: 12 months.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Highly sociable.
Call : Low-pitched sounds.
Diet: Krill, sardines, pollack, squid,
capelin, anchovies, and copepods.
lifespan: 80-100 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The 4 other species in the genus
Balaenoptera are the blue whale, sei
whale, Bryde's whale, and minke
whale.
Range of the fin whale.
- - ~ = = = = = = = = = = = = ~
DISTRIBUTION
The fin whale is found in all the oceans of the world, but it
avoids the ice packs.
CONSERVATION
After taking the blue whale to the brink of extinction, whalers
turned their attention to the fin whale, reducing its numbers to
about 100,000. It is hoped that the population will increase
now that the fin whale is protected.
FEATURES OF THE FIN WHALE
Dorsal fin: Triangular, sloping
backward. It is most visible when
the whale humps its back before
sounding (diving).
Head: Flat on top with tapering under-
side. The left side of the lower jaw is
dark, while the throat and right side
are pale. This coloration may be a
form of camouflage to help the
whale approach prey unseen.
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Flippers: Smooth and pointed.
Small compared to body length.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Like all baleen whales, the fin
whale has pleated throat grooves
that expand to increase the
throat capacity when feeding.
0160200531 PACKET 53
Although its numbers have been severely depleted by
the whaling industry, the fin whale is found throughout
the world's oceans. It belongs to a family of whales known
collectively as rorquals. These whales are characterized
by small dorsal fins and pleated throat grooves
that they can expand when they are feeding.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The fin whale journeys to its
polar feeding grounds in early
spring. Depending on its loca-
tion, its prey ranges from krill
to large, fast-moving fish.
The fin whale is a baleen
whale: instead of teeth, it has
fibrous baleen plates in its
mouth to filter food. With its
~ BEHAVIOR
The fin whale lives in pods, or
groups, of 6 to 14 whales. Each
pod contains juveniles and adult
males and females united by
strong family ties.
The members of a pod com-
municate with very loud low-
frequency sounds. Each sound
large mouth open and its
pleated throat expanded, it
gulps food and water. The
water is squeezed out through
the baleen plates, while the
food remains trapped inside.
Right: A fin whale feeds on the sur-
face. Its baleen plates can be seen
fringing its upper jaw.
lasts about a second, with sev-
eral sounds per minute. These
sounds seem to be strung to-
gether in a song pattern. This
sounding-off is most common
at feeding time.
Each year the fin whale mi-
grates thousands of miles from
winter breeding grounds near
the equator to food-rich polar
waters. While many whale spe-
cies always migrate in the same
direction from the equator, a fin
whale may move from one pod
to another and may travel to
the Arctic or the Antarctic.
~ BREEDING
The fin whale mates during the
winter in warm tropical waters
after a sometimes playful court-
ship. The adult males in the pod
shield the females from imma-
ture males, who may form sepa-
rate bachelor pods or live alone,
visiting different pods.
A year after mating, the fe-
male gives birth underwater to
a single calf, which is born tail-
first. Another female is often
present to help the calf surface
to take its first breath.
The newborn is about 20 feet
Below left: A tall, spreading col-
umn of spray above a very long,
smooth back identifies the fin
whale as it surfaces to breathe
after a deep dive.
Below right: Near the tail flukes is
the 24-inch dorsal fin that gives
the fin whale its name. The fins of
other rorqual whales are set at dif-
ferent angles.
long and weighs almost four
tons. For its first six months, the
calf feeds from its mother, who
pumps milk into its mouth. The
rich, concentrated milk enables
the calf to develop so rapidly
that it doubles in length by the
time it is six months old.
After its population was dras-
tically reduced by hunting, the
fin whale's age of sexual matu-
rity dropped from ten years to
about six. This younger age
may be a natural adaptation to
increase the depleted species.
DID YOU KNOW?
The brain of an adult fin
whale weighs approximately
20 pounds.
A fin whale's low-frequency
20Hz sounds can travel 500
miles or more underwater.
A fin whale can travel about
, 2,500 miles to and from its
breeding grounds each year.
It is not known if migration
routes are learned from older
generations or if the sun and
moon are used as guides.
A fin whale can dive down
820 feet and stay submerged
for about 25 minutes.
"" CARD 190 I
SOUTH AFRICAN FUR SEAL . \
" GROUP 1: MAMMALS '" ' . )
.... ORDER .... FAMILY .... GENUS & SPECIES
Pinnipedia Otariidae Arctocepha/us pusillus
The South African fur seal is the largest of all the fur seals. During
the mating season in November and December, the huge males
engage in fierce battles for territory on the shore.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Male, average 7 ft
Female, average 5 ft .
Weight: Male, 400-500 lb.
Female, 125-150 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 3-4
years. Male, 4-5 years. Male un-
likely to breed before 9 years.
Mating: November to December.
Gestation: 7 months, but im-
plantation is delayed 5 months.
No. of young: 1 per year.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Social breeding, mainly
solitary feeding.
Diet: Small fish, plus octopuses,
squid, cuttlefish, and crustaceans.
Lifespan: Up to 20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The Australian fur seal, Arctoceph-
a/us pusillus doriferus, is found
around the Tasmanian coast and on
the islands and coast of Australia.
Range of the South African fur seal.
DISTRIBUTION
Found around the coast and islands of southern Africa from
southern Angola to South Africa.
CONSERVATION
The South African fur seal used to be threatened by hunting, but
today it is in no danger of extinction. In 1973 the South African
Sea Fisheries Institute became responsible for controlling hunting.
Pups between 7 and 10 months of age are still culled.
FEATURES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN FUR SEAL
Coat: Dense in both sexes with thick
underwool for insulation. Changes
yearly in January and February. Long.
stiff white whi skers in both sexes.
Cow: Three times lighter than bull.
Coat is brownish gray or
brownish yellow.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Bull: Thick layer of blubber pro-
vides insulati on and energy reserve
during breeding season. Coat is a
coarse, blackish, streaked gray-brown.
Sometimes has short neck mane.
.Pup: Goes through three coat changes
before achieving mature coloring:
black and woolly. to brown underfur
with white tips, to Silver-gray.
0160200461 PACKET 46
Unlike the northern fur seal, the South African fur seal
does not migrate, but it is capable of traveling
long distances. Tagged pups have been found
nearly 1,000 miles from their birthplace at the
end of their first year, but these seals later return
to their place of birth in order to breed.
~ H A B I T S
A South African fur seal spends
much of its time in deep water
within a few hours of its breed-
ing grounds. Although it can
travel great distances, it never
goes much more than 100
miles from land.
The fur seal does not swim
deeply underwater as it must
come to the surface to breathe.
It uses its front flippers to swim,
unlike true seals, which propel
themselves by moving their
hindquarters from side to side.
The fur seal may ride a large
wave from sea to land. On land
it is surprisingly agile, propel-
ling itself on both its front and
rear flippers. It can move faster
over rocks than a human can
and is a good climber. The fur
seal can drop from a height
without injuring itself by using
its chest to break the fall.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The bull (male) hardly eats in
the breeding season as he is
busy protecting his territory.
But for 22 to 34 weeks of the
rest of the year, he is away on
feeding trips that are each two
to three weeks long. The cow
(female) spends less time away
feeding. Once her pups can
be left alone, she feeds at sea
for one or two weeks a month.
Left: Unlike a true seal, the fur seal
has ears, remnants of its ancestry
as a land mammal.
DID YOU KNOW?
The South African fur seal
was first sighted in 1483 off
the coast of Angola by the
crew of a Spanish ship.
Fur seals can dive to 400
feet, although they mainly
hunt near the surface.
Usually the South African fur
seal feeds alone, but a group
may feed together on large
schools of fish. Half the seal's
diet is fish. It also eats octo-
puses, squid, cuttlefish, rock
lobsters, and crustaceans. It
swallows small fish whole but
brings larger fish to the surface
and tears them into pieces.
After feeding during the day,
the seal returns to its rookery
(breeding ground) to sleep,
unless it is too far away.
Young fur seals eat stones
and grit to stave off their hun-
ger while the cows are at sea.
,. Rival males try to push each
other over with their chests,
and these contests can result
in serious wounds.
Left: The male
fur seal mates
with all the
females in his
territory. But
the fetuses do
not begin to
develop inside
the females for
five months
after mating
has occurred.
In mid-October the bull comes
ashore and establishes his terri-
tory. Latecomers may have to
fight for a vacant area. The male
arrives with an energy reserve of
blubber (fat under the skin), and
he rarely feeds in the next six
weeks. He is too busy defending
his territory and mating with
the cows that occupy it.
The pups are born in late
November or early December.
Each measures about two feet
long and may weigh up to 16
pounds. The cow stays with her
pup during its first week, then
goes to sea to feed for a day or
two. Gradually she lengthens
the periods she is away, and
Left: The female fur seal is much
smaller and lighter than the more
dominant male.
Above: The fur
seal is surpris-
ingly agile on
land.
Left: Male
fur seals fight
fiercely for ter-
ritory during
the breeding
season.
after a couple of months she
may stay at sea for up to two
weeks. But a fur seal pup has
more maternal care than a true
seal pup, which is tended for
only about three weeks.
Pups play together when their
mothers go to sea, becoming
adept in the water. At three to
four months the pup starts to
find its own food. Soon it is tak-
ing small fish and crustaceans
nearby, and by six to seven
months it spends two or three
days at sea. Yet the fur seal con-
tinues to suckle for about a year.
The cow mates with the bull a
few days after giving birth, but
her pup is not born for a year.
The fetus does not begin to de-
velop for five 'months, then ges-
tation takes seven months.