Smithsonian Animal

ITU SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION M
THE DEFINITIVE VISUAL GUIDE

TO THE WORLD'S WILDLIFE
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2012
http://archive.org/details/animalOOdavi
ANIMAL
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Oft
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am Editors-in-Chief
David Burnie & Don E. Wilson
1/ i\ik in, Ni v> Y( irk. Sydney, Delhi,
Paris, Mi nii h, andJohannesbi rg
DORLING KlNDERSLEY, LONDON StNEWYORK

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Published in the United States by DK Publishing, Inc

375 Hudson Street. New York, New York 10014
First American edition, 2001
First paperback edition, 2005
2 4 6 8 10 9-531
Copyright © 2001, 2005 Dorling Kindersley Limited
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Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
Animal.
p. cm.
ISBN 0-7894-7764-5 (alk. paper)
ISBN 0-7566-1634-4 (paperback)
1. Zoology. I. DK Publishing, Inc
QL45.2 A56 2001
590-dc21
2001028346
Color reproduction by Colourscan. Singapore
Printed and bound in Hong Kong, China by L.Rcx Printing Ltd
see our complete catalog at

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1
Editors-in-chief David Burnie & Don E. Wilson
Main Consultants
MAMMALS BIRDS REPTILES AMPHIBIANS
Dr Juliet Clutton-Brock Dr Francois Vuilleumier Chris Mattison Professor Tim Halliday
& & & &
Dr Don E. Wilson Carla Dove Ronald Cromkii Ronald Crombie
FISH NVERTEBRATES
Professor Richard Rosenblatt Dr George C. McGavin. Dr Richard Barnes. Dr Frances Dipper
& &
Carole Baldwin Dr Stephen D. Cairns, Timothy Coffer, Dr Kristian Fauchald. Dr M.G. Harasewych,
Dr Stanley Weitzman Gary F. Hevel, Dr W. Duane Hope, Dr Brian F. Klnsley. Dr David L. Pawson, Dr Klaus Ruetzler
Contributors and Consultants

Dr Richard Barnes Dr Richard Cloutier Dr Anthony Gill Dr Douglas Long Prof. Christopher Perrins Dr David D. Stone
Dr Paul Bates Malcolm C. Coulter Dr Joshua Ginsberg Dt Manuel Marin Dr Ted Pictsch Dr Mark I
Dr Simon K. Bearder Dominic M. Couzens Dr Colin Groves Chris Mattison Dr Tony Prater Dr Da\id H. Thomas
Deborah Behler Dr Timothy M. Crowe Dr Jurgen H. Hafler Dr George C. McGavin Dr Galen B. Rathbun Dr Dominic Tollii
John Behler Dr Kim Dennis-Bryan Prol Tim Halliday DrJeremy McNeil Dr [an Redmond Dr Jane Wheeler
Keith Betton Dr Christopher Dickman Gavin Hanke Dr Rodrigo A. Medellin Drjami s 1) Rising Dr Ben Wilson
Dr Michael dc L Brooke Joseph A. DiCostanzo Dr Robert S. Hoffman Dr Fridtjof Melilum Robert H Robins Dr David B
Dr Charles R. Brown Dr Philip Donoghue Dr Cindy Hull Chris Morgan JelT Sailer l)i Hans Winkler
Dr Donald Bruning Dr Nigel Dunstone Dr Barry J. Hutchins Rkk Morris Dr Si i >tt A. Schaeffcr Dr Ke\in Zippel
George H Bin, Dr S. Keith Eltringham Dr Paul A. Johnsgard Dr Bryan G Nelson Dr Karl Schuchmann
Dr Kent E. Carpenter Prof. Brock Fenton Dr .Angela Kepler Dr Gary L. Nuechterlein Prof John D Skinner
Norma G. Chapman Joseph Forshaw Dr Jiro Kikkawa Jemima Parry-Jones Dr Andre* Smith
Ben Clemens Susan D Gardieff Leader-Williams Malcolm Pearch Dr Ronald L. Smith

CONTENTS
PlUFACt RODENTS 144
Aroui uiis book 10
The Animal Squirrel-like rodents 146
Kingdom Mouselike rodents

Cavylike rodents
150
157
CETACEANS
Introduction 12 Baleen whales
160
162
Toothed whales 166
WHAT ARE ANIMALS? 14
CARNIVORES 178
EVOLUTION 16
Dogs and relatives 180
CLASSIFICATION 18
Bears 188
ANIMAL GROUPS 20
Raccoons and relatives 194
ANATOMY 24
Mustelids 196
BEHAVIOR 26
Civets and relatives 204
LIFE CYCLES 28
Hyenas and aardwolf 206
ANIMALS IN DANGER 30
Cats 208
CONSERVATION 32
mammals 84 SEALS AND SEALIONS 216
ELEPHANTS 220
MAMMALS 86 AARDVARKL 222
Habitats 34 EGG-LAYING MAMMALS 90 HYRAXES 222
MARSUPIALS 91 DUGONG AN D MAN ATE ES 223
WORLD HABITATS 36 INSECTIVORES 102 HOOFED MAMMALS 224
GRASSLAND 38 BATS 108 Horses and relatives 226
DESERT 42 FLYING LEMURS 114 Rhinoceroses 228
TROPICAL FOREST 46 ELEPHANT-SHREWS 114 Tapirs 231
TEMPERATE FOREST 50 TREE SHREWS 115 Pigs 232
CONIFEROUS FOREST 54 PRIMATES 116 Hippopotamuses . ... 234
MOUNTAINS 58 Prosimians 118 Camels and relatives 236
POLAR REGIONS 62 Monkeys 122 Deer 238
FRESHWATER 66 Apes . 132 Pronghorn 241
OCEANS 70 ANTEATERS AND RELATIVES 138 Giraffe and okapi 242
COASTS AND CORAL REEFS 74 PANGOLINS 140 Cattle and relatives 244
RABBITS. HARES. AND PIKAS 141 i MAM MALS IN DANGER 257
'
I
TROGONS 326
AND RELATIVES
KINGFISHERS 327 FISHES 458
WOODPECKERS AND TOUCANS 332
PASSERINES 336 FISHES 460
BIRDS IN DANGER 361 JAWLESS FISHES 464
CARTILAGINOUS FISHES 465
sharks 466
skates and rays 475
BIRDS 258 REPTILES 362 BONY FISHES 478

Fleshy-finned fishes 480
BIRDS 260 REPTILES 364 Primitive ray-finned fishes 481
OSTRICH 264 TORTOISES AND TURTLES Bony-tongued fishes 482
RHEAS 264 TUATARAS Tarpons and eels 483
CASSOWARIES AND EMUS 265 SNAKES Herrings and relatives 486
KIWIS 265 Boas, pythons, and relatives Catfishes and relatives 488
TINAMOUS 265 colubrids Salmon and relatives 493
PENGUINS 266 Elapids 391 Dragonfishes and relatives 500
LOONS 268 Vipers 394 Lanternfishes and relatives 501
GREBES 268 blind and thread snakes 399 Cod and anglereishls 502
ALBATROSSES AND PETRELS 270 LIZARDS 400 Spiny-rayed fishes 505
PELICANS AND RELATIVES 272 Iguanas and relatives 402 FISHES IN DANGER _ 521
HERONS AND RELATIVES 277 Geckos and snake-lizards 409

FLAMINGOS 280 Skinks and relatives 412
WATERFOWL 282 Anguimorph lizards 418
BIRDS OF PREY 286 AMPHISBAENIANS 423
GAMEB1RDS 295 CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS 424
CRANES AND RELATIVES 298 REPTILES IN DANGER 427
WADERS. GULLS. AND AUKS 307
PIGEONS 309
SAN DG ROUSE 310 AMPHIBIANS 428 INVERTEBRATES 524
PARROTS 311
SPONGES 528
CUCKOOS AND TURACOS 315 AMPHIBIANS 430
CNIDARIANS 529
OWLS 316 NEWTS AND SALAMANDERS 432
FLATWORMS 533
NIGHTJARS AND FROGMOUTHS 371 CAECILIANS 439
SEGMENTED WORMS 534
HUMMINGBIRDS AND SWIFTS 373 FROGS AND TOADS 440
MOUSEB1RDS
ROUNDWORMS 535
376 AMPHIBIANS IN DANGER 457
MINOR PHYLA 536
MOLLUSKS 538
ARTHROPODS 546
Insects 548
Centipedes and millipedes 578
Crustaceans 579
Sea-spiders 585
Horseshoe crabs 585
ARACHxms 586
ECHINODERMS 594
TÊRTEBRATE CHORDATES 596
'ERTEBRATES IN DANGER S07
PREFACE
This book is \ < elebrai k >n of the ri< hness of the the patient help of experts in the field. The result is an out-
animal kingdom, produced at a critical moment in its standing collection of photographs that we believe to be
history. Compiled by an international team of over 7(1 unparalleled in a book of this kind.
zoologists, biologists, and naturalists, it forms a complete
survey of the animal world, from familiar species that are

The species profiles themselves include a range of new
encountered almost every day. to extreme rarities that

additions to the catalog of the world's animal life. Among
them are newly recognized kinds of monkeys, a third species
only a lew scientists have ever seen and fewer still have
of elephant, and some of the world's most elusive whales. At
had the chance to study. It includes not only vertebrates,
the other end of the size spectrum, new thinking is reflected in
but also a broad selection of invertebrate life creatures
the coverage of invertebrates, where classification and species
that form the immense hut often overlooked majority of totals draw on the
latest research in this rapidly moving field.
animal species on earth. In addition,some long-accepted aspects of behavior are
brought up to date as new studies reveal that, even with well-
Altogether, oxer 2. (Hill species are profiled in Animal. Nearly known animals, our knowledge is often far from complete.
all arc illustrated with either a color photograph or artwork.
These images represent the combined work of hundreds of Animal follows today's general consensus on how different
wildlife photographers and professional zoologists, and they animal groups should be classified, but it also points out places
show not only the animals themselves, but also key aspects where opinions differ, or where often as a result of cladistic
of their biology and ecology. Because of the difficulties of analysis - views have recently changed. Throughout the book,
locating and photographing some species in the wild, a color-coded panels give a summary of the classification levels
number of the photographs show specimens in captivity, but for each group of animals, making it easy to see how they fit
the majority are of animals living in their native habitat. The into the broad sweep of the animal world. The book is
pictures include award-winning portraits taken by some of the organized with mammals at the start, and invertebrates at the
world's leading nature photographers, as well as rare images end. and. within each group, the sequence of animals follows
that have been tracked down after months of research, with the order generally adopted by experts working in each field.
At a time when animal life faces a great variety of threats, television, the loss of smaller and less appealing animals
the remorseless decline in species numbers forms a sobering rarely elicits the same concern. Yet many biologists believe
backdrop to modern life. Statistics suggest that, timing the that the current steep decline in the earth's biodiversity
production of this book, as many as 5,000 animal spec ies m.t\ triggered mainly by habitat change, but also by pollution and
have disappeared. The vast bulk of these will have been small unsustainable exploitation is one of the greatest threats that
invertebrates, unnoticed even by experts, but some more affects our planet today. When species disappear, ecological
visible casualties also feature on the list. Among them was the links become disrupted, and the checks and balances that
last wild Spix's macaw, which vanished in December 2000, operate in nature risk being stretched until the) finally break.
after a decade as the last free-ranging member of its kind. If this happens, the result is ecological instability a situation
that can have grave implications for animal and plant life, and
It is a poignant fact that, in this book's lifetime, some other therefore for human welfare as well. In the distant past, life
animals it features are likely to share the same fate. At the end has climbed back from even greater crises, although the
of each section of this book, lists summarize species that are proi ess has taken immense lengths of time. But there is no
the most likely victims - animals that are currently classed as precedent for a sustained assault on biodiversity triggered by
critically endangered by the International Union for the a single species - one that now dominates life on earth.
Conservation of Nature IUCN . These include a host of well-
known species, such as the tiger, the black rhinoceros, and the Unlike previous generations, we live in an age in which there
orangutan, as well as a collection of amphibians, fishes, is growing recognition of this danger, and of the potentially
insects, and other invertebrates, whose general status is often fragile state of the living world. Wildlife tan no longer be taken
poorly known. Some, like the Spi.x"s macaw, may be preserved for granted, and the wish to conserve rather than exploit it is
in captivity. Others are likely to vanish forever. something that unites people across the globe and has given
rise to a number of high-profile conservation organizations.
While most people would mourn the loss of animals such as Knowledge and awareness are essential first steps: this book
tigers, bears, and rhinoceroses, which have become very aims to provide both in a way that conveys the variety, beauty,
familiar to most of us through zoos and nature programs on and richness of animal life as a whole.
David Burnie & Don E. Wilson

Editors-in-Chief
ABOUT THIS BOOK
ABOUT THIS BOOK The Animal

Animal organized into three main sections: a general
is Kingdom
INTRJ 1< ).\ to animals and their lives; a section on
)i)i .'( 1 This section of Animal is divided into
the world's HABITATS; and the main part of the book, six chapters: mammals, birds, reptiles,
amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates.
THE Animal KINGDOM, which is dedicated to the
Each chapter begins with an intro-
description of animal groups and species. At the end of
duction to the animal group. Lower-
the book, a detailed glossary defines all zoological and ranked groups such as orders and
technical terms used, while a full index lists all the groups families are then introduced, followed
and species featured, by both scientific name and English by profiles of the species classified
common name, including alternative common names. within them. The invertebrates are
organized slightly differently (see right),
while passerine birds are profiled at
family level, with only representative
Introduction species shown. A list of critically
Animal begins with an overview cycles, evolution, behavior, and endangered species ends each chapter.
of all aspects of animal life. This conservation. In addition, there
includes an account of what an is a comprehensive presentation
animal is - and how it differs of the classification scheme that
Habitat symbols Rivers, streams, and all flowing
from other living things. It also underpins the species profiles in water
Symbols in profiles are listed as shown
examines animal anatomy, life The Animal Kingdom. below, not in order of main occurrence. 1L Mangrove swamps, above or below
the watertine
^rT Temperate forest, including
woodland
has Coastal areas, including beaches
and cliifs. areas just above high
^W Coniferous forest, including tide, in the intertidal zone, and
woodland in shallow, offshore waters
fiL Tropical forest and rainforest Seas and oceans

m*. Mountains, highlands, scree slopes Coral reefs and waters immediately
-T. Desert and semidesert
around them
jkj*. Open habitats including

Polar regions, including tundra and
grassland, moor, heath, savanna,
fields, scrub JOL Urban areas, including buildings,
WSS Wetlands and all still bodies of

parks, and gardens
water, including lakes, ponds, Liilil Parasitic: living on or inside
pools, marshes, bogs, and swamps another animal
Data field SEX Fishes only

Whether the species has separate males
Summary information is given at the start
Measurements are and females Male/Femalt . i> a
of each profile. for adult
Hermaphrodite, or a Sequential hermaphrodite.
males of the species and may be a
Habitats range, single-figure average, or
typical
maximum, OCCURRENCE Invertebrates oni)
depending on available records. + indicates Number of species in the family, or
This section looks at the world's life, and the types of animals an estimate based on available data.
class,
phylum; their distribution and the micro-

main animal habitats. Coverage found there. The pages that habitats they can be found in.
of each habitat is divided into immediately follow describe how
LENGTH all groups, except Invertebrates'
MAMMALS: head and body BIRDS: tip of bill
Status [all groups
two parts. The first (illustrated those animals have adapted their to tip of tail. REPTILES: length of carapace Animal urn* the IUCN see p. 31 and other
below) describes die habitat itself, anatomy and beha\iour to suit for tortoises and turtles; head and body, threat categories, as follows:
including climate and plant including tail, for all other species, fishes &
its the conditions in their habitat.
amphibians: head and body, including tail. EXTINCT IN THE WILD IL c N Known only
to survive in captivity or as a naturalized
description of more specific dotted lines identify distinct
TAIL Mammals only) Length.
habitat sub-type zones within habitat population well outside its natural range.
WEIGHT Mammals. Birds, and Fishes CRITICALLY ENDANGERED II I N Facing an

only, Body weight. extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
in the immediate future.
SOCIAL UNIT Mammals only ENDANGERED R N ( Fai tag a VCT) high risk
Whether a species lives mainly alone
of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Individual ), in a Group, in a Pair, or varies
vulnerable it. ( N Facing a high risk
between these units .Variable).
of extinction in the wild in the medium-
Plumage (Birds oni) term future.
Whether sexes are alike or differ. LOWER risk it t \ Dependent on
conservation measures in order not Go
Migration Birds only)
qualify for one of the above threat
Whether a bird is a Migrant, Partial migrant,
categories; or close to qualit
\onmigrant, or Xomndic.
\-ulnerable; or of least concern.
BREEDING Reptiles and Fishes onrj COMMON non-U cn fairh widely
Whether the species is Mnparous, Oviparous, distributed and found at rchuv.K high
(parous. densities throughout the I
HABIT Reptiles and Amphibians i nh LOCALLY COMMON non-U ( \ found at
relatively high densities within a restricted

Whether the species is partly or entirely
Terrestrial, Aquatic, Burrouing. or Arboreal. area or areas.
BREEDING SEASON Amphibians only For fuller details see the IUCN web site
'ap showing global photographi [ho n prtsi niatwt feature on I

The time of year in which breeding occurs. www.hi< n
distribution of habitat
— 1
ABOUT THIS BOOK

< Major groups
Each of the 6 majoi animal groups is introduced with an
overview of
INVERTEBRAI 1. ANIMALS
its de/u ics. These pages
(
key aspects of evolution, lift cycle, and behavior. that in ordei to provide representative
< Phyla, classes, .1 whole, this
and orders book focuses on profiling thi

taxonom , order,
Within each main,
and famil) rathei than individual
lower-ranked groups such as
orders art described m separate i I'll- introducdon to an order or class,
1
introductions. These identify supported by a description of one or

the animalsfound in the group.
family illustrated b) represi
km characteristics, and i
explain mam of the terms used illustrated bv species thai repi

in the species profiles.
distinct groups or types withii
< i nstac cans . a description of a phylum
illirstr.il
that phylum (used for minor ph\ I
< Lower-ranked croi ps

In main chapters, animal groups are divided
into smaller groups, such as families.
An introditi turn to each of these smaller

sections describes common anatomical
features. Relevant aspects of reproduction
and behavior are also introduced.
taxonomii ranks above die group are

^^^.
Classification key named upper pan ol the table,
in the
In each animalgroup introduction, a while the number of lower rank- thai
V Species profiles
color-coded panel shows the position in it contains are shown below it. In some Over 2,000 u ild animals an profiled
the animal kingdom of the group being introductions, an extra Classification in TheAMMAL KWGDOi
desi nln d The group is identified bv a Note is included, to list subgroups or profile contains a text summary and.
white outline and an arrow The idciuih areas of debate.
in must cases, a color illustration and
a distribution map.
SCIENTIFIC NAME Data field
The species scientific ' Core information is provided in summary
name appears in a form at the start of each species ,-rttn. It,
colored band at the categories vary between groups
start of each entry _
Felis yagouaroundi
Common name
r
common name "lasruarundi
°
appears below the '
P ^tK~i '•""-5
scientific nan
alternative common \rs
"names given in the ~
^*«\\v
text profile below W
Location 5 USA to South
Location .— -
Social unit Individual
Scaurs Lower risk

Color maps indicate
the world distribution
for each ./
3l^ ta
further details given u
the caption below
Mm< mustelid than felid in overall
oportions, with a pointed snout,
'
long both, .mil shortish lc«s. the
Habitat symbols jaguarundi has several color forms
These define the ol Luipatterned fur, from blat k
•'- in which m, link in forests to pair' gray-brown
the animal is found 01 red in dry shrubland. I his cal
(see left for key).
hums In day, often
on the ground,
Additional
information may
in habitats ranging from semiarid Fi m RE BOXES
Profiles men
also be given in the scrub in rainforest and swamp. It*.
features on anatomy
text profile below 'main pre) are birds, rodents, rabbits,
matron
reptiles, and invertebrates 'blue box/, behavior
Text profile /
'i (green box)
Each entry has a
description of the
most characteristic Feature
and noteworthy profiles t>
features of the species S/>,,i, s oj particular
double pu
Illustrations _ I la s,
_
consist o) a
Most entnes include
a color photograph vith fen tu 1
or artwork of the boxes, a spectacular

he animals close-up pt
IK normally and. in sum, cases,
adult males
an actum sequence.
Animals form the largest of the natural
world's five kingdoms. Although they

evolved after other living things, they are
now the dominant form of life on earth.
Among the attributes that have made them
so successful are the abilities to adapt their
behaviour and to move. In addition to the
features that set animals apart, this section
looks at their evolution, their often
complex responses to the world around
them, and the way biologists classify them.
It also examines the manv threats thev lace.
WHAT ARE ANIMALS?
WHAT ARE ANIMALS? reproduce. Insects, on the other hand, are easy
prey for many animals, and their small size
means that their bodies are not as ener?\ -efficient
as those of large animals. But. since thev can
WITH ALMOS1 TWO million SPECIES identified to date, and even more breed rapidly when conditions are favorable,
than that awaiting discovery, animals are the most varied living things on their numbers can increase at a prodigious rate.
the planet. For over a billion years, they have adapted to the changing
world around them, developing a vast array of different lifestyles in VERTEBRATES AND
the struggle to survive. At one extreme, animals include fast-moving INVERTEBRATES
predators, such as sharks, big cats, and birds of prey: at the other, there Almost all the world's largest
are the inconspicuous sorters and sifters of the animal world's leftovers. and most familiar animals
are vertebrates - animals
living unseen in the soil or on the deep seabed. Together, they make up
that have backbones. They
the animal kingdom - a vast collection of living things that are linked include the fastest animals
by a shared biology and that occupy a dominant place in life on earth. on land, in water, and in
the air, and also the world's
most intelligent species, one
CHARACTERISTICS THE SCALE OF ANIMAL LIFE of which - Homo sapiens - is
quite outstanding in this
OF ANIMALS The world's largest lhing animals, baleen whales, latter respect.
INATRTEBRATE
Animals are usually easy to distinguish from other can be up to 82ft ;25mi long and weigh 132 tons. Vertebrates are all related to
MAJORITY
forms of life because most of them can move. At the other end of the spectrum are microscopic each other, sharing a common Vertebrates make up
However, while this rule works for most animals organisms - rotifers and tardigrades only ancestry that stretches back less than 3 percent of
that live on land, it does not apply to some that 0.05mm long; - and submicroscopic flies and millions of years. However, the worlds animals.
live in w ater. Here, many animals spend their beetles (about 0.2mm long These animals are so
. despite leading the animal The remaining 97
adult lives in one place, and some have trailing tiny that their weight is negligible. Even so. thev kingdom in so many fields, percent are
arms or tentacles that make them look very much possess all the body sy stems needed for survival. vertebrates make up a tiny invertebrates.
like plants. A more reliable way of identifying Different body sizes allow animals to live in minority of the animal species
animals is by their basic biological features: their different ways. Whales have few natural predators; known today. The vast majority of species are
bodies are composed of many cells, and they have and the same is true of elephants, the largest land invertebrates - animals without backbones.
nerves and muscles diat enable them to respond animals. Their massive bodies are highly energy- Unlike vertebrates, invertebrates often have very
to the world around them. Most important of all. efficient because they process food on such a large little in common with each other, apart from their
they get the energy they need by taking in food. scale. However, they take a long time to a backbone. The giant squid, the largest
Animals are highly complex, and remarkably reach maturity, and thus are slow to but
responsive, compared with other forms of life.
Even the simplest animals react quickly to changes

around them, shrinking aw av from potential
danger or reaching out for food. Animals with
well-developed nervous systems can go much
further: they can learn from experience - an
ability that is unique to the animal world. MINIATURE ANIMALS
.Microscopic tardigrades (also
STATIC LIFE
called uater bears) move abou.
Sea squirts are
on tiny legs. Their behavior is
typical "sessile"
as complex as that of tndmab
animals: they spend
thousands of times their size.
their adult lives
fixed to a solid
surface. The young,
which resemble
tadpoles, can move
freely, enabling sea
squirts to spread.
>**
KINGDOMS OF LIFE PLANTS FUNGI PROTISTS MONERANS
Biologists classify all living things into
Animals are multicellular Plants are multicellular Most fungi are Prorists are single-celled Monerans. or bacteria,
overall groups, called kingdoms. The organisms that obtain organisms that grow by multicellular. The*, organisms that typically are the simplest fully
members of each kingdom are alike in energy by ingesting food. harnessing the energy in collect energy from lKr in water, or in independent lhing
fundamental ways, such as in the nature .-Ml animals are capable Light. Thmugh a process orgaruc matter, which permanently moist things. Their cefls are
of their cells or in the way they obtain of moving at some
least called photosynthesis, they do not ingest but habitats. Their cells are prokaryobc. meaning
energy In the most widely used system of pans of themselves, and they use this energy to break down externally larger and more complex they lack organelles - the
many can move from build up organic matter using rnicTOseopic than those of bacteria. specialized structures
classification there are fi\-e kingdoms, of
place to place. from simple materials, threads that spread Some prorists beha\e like more complex celk use
which the animal kingdom is the largest. creating most of the food throughout their food. plants, collecting energy for carrying out different
In recent years, a new classification on which animals rerv. Many fungi are too small from sunlight; others, tasks. Bacteria gather
system has been proposed. In this, to be seen, but some known as protozoa, are energy from various
there are three "superkingdoms ": form large ^^^^^ more like animals, sources, including
Archaebactcria. the Eubacteria. and

Eukarvota. The first and second reflect
chemical and physical differences within
^
fruiting
^^
^^H A acquiring
energy bv
ingesting food.
organic and
bacteria. The third contains the living: PARAMECIUM

TERRESTRIAL flBM
things that, unlike bacteria. Iwe complex
cells: prorists, fungi, plants, and animals.
WHAT ARE ANIMALS;
SUPPORT SYSTEMS in warm conditions, but they slow down if the separate animals. < ailed polyps, that capture food,
Many invertebrates mch temperature drops. The) ( an absorb some heal l>\ digest it, or reproduce. They dangle beneath a
as leeches have no hard basking in sunshine, but if the temperature falls giant gas-filled polyp thai acts as the colony's float.
body parts; to keep theii below about 50"F (10°C) their muscles work so
shape they rely on the slowly thai they End difficult to move. Birds and
FUEL FOR LIFE
it
pressure q) their hudy fluid: mammals, on the other hand, are barely affected
Simple chordates, which by this kind of temperature change. Their internal Animals obtain their energy from organic matter,
unhide lancelets, have
heat and good insulation enable them to remain or food. They break food up by digesting it, and
a strengthening rod or
active even when temperatures fall below freezing then they absorb the substances that are released.
notochord that runs along
These substances are carried into the animal's
the length of their ho/lies.
cells, where they arc ombim-d with oxvgen to
VertebraU r, which are
mure advanced chordates,
INDIVIDUALS AND release energy. This process - called cellular
c
-
are the only animals COLONIES respiration is like a highly controlled form
of burning, with food acting as the fuel.
thai 'lave internal
skeletons made
Physically, vertebrates function as separate units, The majority of animals are either herbivores,
of bone.
even though they may live together in families or which eat plants, or carnivores, which eat other
larger groups. In the invertebrate world it is not animals. Carnivores include predators, which hunt
unusual for animals to be permanently linked and kill and
which feed in or on
prey, parasites,
together,forming clusters called colonies. Colonies the living bodies of other animals. There are also
often look and behave like single animals. Most omnivores, which eat both animal and plant food,
it is very much an exception. Most invertebrates are static, but some - particularly ones that live and scavengers, which feed on dead matter - from
are tiny, and many live in inaccessible habitats, in the sea - can move about. decaying leaves and corpses to fur and even bones.
which explains why they are still poorly known All animals, regardless of lifestyle, ultimately
compared with vertebrates. provide food for other animals. All are connected
by food chains, which pass food - and its energy -
from one species to another. However, individual
WARM- AND COLD- food chains are rarely more than five or six links
BLOODED ANIMALS long. because up to 90 percent of an

This is
animal's energy cannot be passed on: it is used

Most animals are cold-blooded (or ectothermic), up in making the animal's own body work.
which means that their body temperature is
determined by that of their surroundings.
CARNIVORE 3
Birds and mammals are warm-blooded (or
The food chain ends with a "top
endothermic), which means that they generate
predator" - in this rase an osprey When
their own heat and maintain a constant internal LIVING TOGETHER it dies, the energy in its body is used by
temperature regardless of the conditions outside. This branching coral is covered with a living "skin " that scavengers, such as insects and bacteria.
This difference in body temperature has some connects its individual animals, or polyps. The polyps are in
far-reaching effects on the way animals live; this is constant contact with each oilier but otherwise lead separate lives.
because animal bodies work best when they are Each has a set of stinging tentacles and catches its own food.
warm. Cold-blooded animals, such as reptiles, CARNIVORE 2
amphibians, and insects, operate very effectively Colonial species include some of the world's The perch lives almost exclusively <
most remarkable invertebrates. Pyrosomes, for other animals. A perch feeding on dragonfly
HEAT CONTROL
example, form colonies shaped like test tubes nymphs is a second-level carnivore, receiving food
A ba\hng butterfly that has already been through two other animals.
that are large enough for a diver to enter. But. in
soaks up the sunshine.
ecological terms, the most important colonial
By basking, or by
hiding in the shade.
animals are reef-building corals, which create
butterflies and other complex structures that provide havens for a
cold-blooded animals range of other animals. In reef-building corals, CARNIVORE 1
can adjust their themembers of each colony are usually identical. Dragonfly nymphs are typit al (irst-level carnivores,
Usui- mixture Of speed and stealth to hunt small
But in some colonial species, the members have
,i
body temperature.
prey. Tadpoles .ur a good rood source
Even so, they have different shapes designed for different tasks. For
and often feature in their diet.
difficulty coping with example, the Portuguese man o'war - an oceanic
extreme temperatures, drifter that has a high!) potent sting - looks like
:,, i., /..'
> s/i, , i. .
a jell) lish but consists < il
HERBIVORE
During their early lives, tadpoles use their jaws to reed
on water plants B\ digesting the plant food, and
therefore turning it into animal tissue, die, change
plan! l< od into a form that i ai n i ires i .Hi use,
At
rK PLANT
IK synthesizing sunlight, plant
theenergj that drives most ol life on earth
In this food i li.im. waterweed is the Erst link,
rW
i I
thai i .m then I* passed on
FOOD CHAIN
INSULATION / his is a '!.
vote habitat
In sub em .iindiliuns. sujieib nisiiliilinii keeps
:>d through the chain, bean
tlie body temperature these young mpt ret ymism mis anotha Tht
of <
•
chain me
penguins at an almost constant I til I W '
animal that has no nature
mimals body is uliimuuh |
I huh hot lit soil.

EVOLUTION
EVOLUTION nunc
ranges, 01 bv
isolated groups,
bv physical barriers, sue h
> hanges
whi
in
h are kept apart either
.is seas and mountain
behavior. If these groups
remain separate for long enough, they evolve
LIKE ALL LIVING THINGS, animals undergo changes as each new their own i harai teristii adaptations and become
generation succeeds the one before. These changes are usually so si i dilli can no longer interbreed.
rent that the)
Speciation is difficult In observe because it
slight that they are very difficult to see, but oxer thousands or millions
occurs SO slowly, bul evidence of it is not hard to
of years they can completely alter the way animals look and also the find. Manv animals from butterflies to freshwater
w.i\ they behave. This process of change is called evolution. It allows fish show distinct regional differences. In time.
these Iih al forms or subspe< ies can become
animals to exploit new opportunities and to adapt to changes that take spe< ies in theii <>w n right.
place in the world around them. Evolution works by modifying existing

characteristics, usually through a series of extremely small mutations. EXTINCTION
The result of this is that every animal is a living store of evolutionary Extinction is a natural feature ni~ evolution
history one that helps show how different species are related. bo ause for some spec ies to succeed, others must
fail. Since life began, about 99 percent of the
earth's spec ies have- disappeared and. on at least
This weeding-out process called natural selection. live occasions, huge numbers have died out in a
ANIMAL ADAPTATION Natural selection operates
is
all the time, invisibly relatively short time. The most recent of these
Evolution is made possible by the variations thai si rceniini all come about
the subtle variations that mass extinctions, about 65 million years ago.
exist within animals, and it occurs because animals when animals reproduce. Lor example, for main swept away the dinosaurs and many other forms
compete with each other for limited rcsourc es. animals, camouflage is a valuable aid to survival. ol file. However, despite such catastrophes, the
Mil h as spare and food. In this competition, some Natural selection ensures that any improvements in total number of living
iharai teristii s prove to be mine useful than others, an animal's camouflage a slight change in color, spe< ies has. until
and their owners are more likely to thrive, and lo pattern, or behavior - are passed on to the next recently, followed
generation, increasing its chances of survival and a generally
BLENDING IN therefore chances of producing young.

its upward trend.
Most owls ham brou n plumage,

Adaptations such as camouflage last only as Today, the extinction
which helps them to hide m tret s.
long as they are useful: if an animal's lifestyle rate is increasing
'
i snou i owl, from the m changes, the path that evolution follows i hanges rapidly as a result of
This has happened many times with human
treeless
while
Arctic tundra,
- an adaptation thai
is mamlj
•• too.
some lineages have evolved the power of
birds:
flight in natural
interference
increast i its chances of ti .

Only to lose it when they lake up life on land. ec osystems.
catchingfood and „'v»?v i
4'
J^'/tt
raisingyoung. ,..„*. .
SPECIES AND SPECIATION

A species is am
group of animals that has the VANISHING SPECIES
potential to interbreed and that, under normal Tlie golden liiad.Jrnm the highlands «/ Central America, is oru
circumstances, does not breed with any other oj ilu feu. species whosi apparent extinction has been closely
.. .
- group. Speciation is the evolutionary process that monitored. Il normally breeds in /ores/floor pools, but sina
brings about new species. It usually occurs whin the early 1990s the species has vanished without trace.
an existing species becomes split up into two or

TAWNY OUI,
Primates, tropical birds, and many amphibians
SNOWY OWL
are particularly threatened. For the foreseeable
produce the most young. Animals with less useful future, this dec line is set to continue because
features face more difficulties and find it harder to evolution generates new species far more slowly
breed. The least successful animals arc therefore than the current rate of extinction.
gradually weeded out, while those with "winning"
characteristics become widespread.
A HISTORY OF LIFE
CONVERGENCE
<.,n/ie'l\t\ ill. lilt fllllll's llt\lnr\ llllil f'llliiih i III! I ill li I I'jll />]
GERMAN FORM JAPANESE FORM Unrelated animals often develop very noticeable
urn/in lihwi, ill i /«;//»! \. mill a\ bursts of volcanic at li.ilx. SPECIATION similarities, rbr example, sharks and dolphins
nilliMiiin hctntrn ttmlint-nh. <» alterations m climate. Main The Apollo butterfly is a highly variable species. Manyforms arc fundamentally very different, bin both have
a! then periods have ended in worldwide mass extinctions, are restricted la specifu parts o) the northern hemisphere. Sunt streamlined bodies with an upright dorsal En
both mi land and in the sea. Fbi eat h period tit si ribed below, the Apollo often lues on mountains, its djflerenlforms tend to a shape thai gives them speed and stability
the date Junta indicates tht period's end. remain apart. In tunc, theseforms < ould a oloe into m underwater while moles and marsupial moles
PRECAMBRIAN CAMBRIAN ORDOVICIAN SILURIAN DEVONIAN CARBONIFEROUS

I his \ .i ;t i igii tunc ian Period During this period, life was Mill Silurian tunes In Devonian times, jawed and jawlcss Bah During this period, which is
sum hes from when the continents was marked l>\ an extraordinary confined to the sea. Animals saw the diversified rapidly, which is wrn the period also caOed die "Coal Age,"
formed to when animal
first explosion of animal lit*- in the included the earliest crusts evolution ol is known as the "Aqi <>i Fishi a.*
1
Man) fish a warm global i Innate
hard body parts first appeared in the ambrian animals in< and some ol the earliest jawlcss the fiist fish lived in freshwater, where warm conditions encouraged the growth **t
I
-
tl i mi .
. ..
fish. TrilobJtes [arthropods with a with iaw> ami and falling watei levels encouraged the forests on swamp) ground
ilu bi ginning oi Pn i
imbi h ids. These were among three-l ibedbod i>l giant sea evolution oJ primitive lungs. As a result. home in amphibians and
about 3.8 billion years ago The date iht first rcatun to have hard, as win- long-shelled nantubids si 01 [nuns amphibians evolved, becoming the first IK iny insects, im hiding
[in ihc fu si mimal i
li ss i ertain: i
arts. IK predatory mollusks with sui Icer- relatives vertebrates to li\< on lam) < )n land, insects dnigonllics with wingspans
leil lew ill the i
ilo the ( Iambi ian ol today's became widespread, and tht fust true of up to 23 in 60cm
i
isions "i animal life, Period, the Ordovician ended in a -it .ii hnjds I he Ebresta began to form. The Devonian ended In the sea, ammonoids
,i m| burrows and i phyla, dial i
xisl today had mass extra don, probabt) • ausi d lira land plants with the third mass extinction, which killed mollusks related to today's
ti billion years old). been established 1>\ < limaiit i hanges. appeared. up to 70 percent oi animal species. nautiluses . were oonarnon.
1 EARS AGO (MILLIONS): 54 417 354
PALAEOZOIC ERA
EVOLUTION
share a range of adaptations for life underground. MIXED BLESSING

Amphisbaenians and caecilians also look very ••at ticks and other parasites that Ike on the
similar, although the former are reptiles and skin of large animals, but they also feed on bloodfrom
the latter are highly unusual amphibians. Su< li wounds - a habit that is less helpful to their hosts.
similarities .ire the result ol convergent evolution, a

process in which natural selection tomes up are oxpeckers and large mammals,
with the same set of adaptations to a and corals and microscopic algae
particular wa) of life, reshaping Many partnerships are loose ones but.
a^ with pollinating insects and plan)
some are so highly evolved that
El RASIAN MOLE
r the two partners
without each other. B\
a commensal partnership
( ann< it survive
*»2 MARSl'PIAL MOLE

such as that between n
and their host li-li see p.J14
is one in which one sp
SIMILAR SHAPES
Apartfrom their different! an moles and but the other neither gains noi loses.
marsupial moles an alikt in many caj However, they are not Partnerships may appear to be mutually
at alldosel) related; their similarities art a result of convergence. beneficial, but each partner is driven purely
b) self-interest. If one partner can tip the
body pans or whole animals until the) outward!) balani e in its favor, natural selection will
look the same. Convergence is responsible for a lead it to do so. The ultimate outcome is
whole series of striking similarities in the animal parasitism, in which one animal, the parasite, lives
kingdom. It can make die task of tracing evolutii in on or inside another, entirel) at the host's expense. of the most important effects an be seen on i
extremely difficult, which is why the details ol remote islands, such as Australia and Madagascar,
animal classification often change. which have been isolated from the rest of the
BIOGEOGRAPHY world for millions of years. Until humans arrived,
The present-day distribution of animals is the their land-based animals lived in total seclusion,
ANIMAL PARTNERSHIPS combined result of many factors. Among them unaffected by competitors from outside. The
Over millions of years, animals have evolved are continental drift and volcanic activity, which result is a whole range of indigenous species.
complex partnerships with each other and with i i instantly reshape the surface of the earth. By such as kangaroos and lemurs, which are found
other forms of life. In one common form of splitting up groups of animals, and creating nowhere outside their native homes.
partnership, called mutualism or symbiosis, both completely new habitats, these geologic processes Animals are separated when continents drift
species benefit from the arrangement. Examples have had a profound impact on animal life. One apart, and they are brought together when thev
collide. The distribution of animals is evidence
ol such events long after they occur. For example.
ARTIFICIAL SELECTION Australasia and Southeast Asia became close
The variations that natural selection works on are often difficult to see, neighbors long ago. but their wildlife remains
One herring, for example, looks very much like another, while si
entirely different: it is divided by "Wallace's line."
in a flock are almost impossible to tell apart. This is because n an boundary diat
invisible indicates where the
selection operates on a huge range of features among many continents came together.
individuals in a species. However, when animals are bred in
controlled conditions, their hidden variations are \
bring out. Animal breeders rigorously concentrate

reproduction of particular features, such as a spec ilic
size or color, and by selecting only those animals

with the desired features they can exaggerate those
features with remarkable speed. This process, called
artificial selection, is responsible- for all the world's
domesticated animals and all cultivated plants.
W
PERMIAN TR1ASSIC
FAMILY LIKENESS
I All domesticated dogs
from
selection,
established in a
tlie
CHIHl AHl'A
gray wolf. Through
individual breed
nay
<
Jitirt time.
GRAY WOLF
nrtifi
JURASSIC CRETACEOUS
.
(
BRAZILIAN TAPIR DISTRJBLTIOS
MM
Isia;
IYSIAN IVPIR DIsrRtBlTION
SPLIT BY CONTINENTAL DRIFT
another three lue

South America. Thi\ indicates that these
two landmasses were once joined.
m
; Southeast
Central
TERTIARY
and
iff
VIM VI s| C\
Qt ARTERN ARY
1 UMK
RrpuU-N Ix-t .urn ilu During ih in> period, know Mamma] 'litis (irriod
dominant Luul on d their >uld irw Irwin before tins period began,
.imm.il> rcptflci dominated life
•
The continents lormnt earth. They included (lying position .»> the dominant Eoi ix-riod Uit 1 1
1
iidmass pterosaurs, swimming hi* . 1 Iu-% int lu*)' 1 plant- tnd animals tli.n nahled
Thr period riulrcl with tor in- nn li as no and tin . i nth id thr\ m.unituU in c\t>hr rapid]
i
Moll ,ni(l u hthyosaurs, and the indmuch M. imm.il*
pmli.ibK from ( limatr first true dmosaui
change and volt .tint ni.iiiini.il
i)l over 7") but with reptiles in the uJarrji poUmaring insei is. Birds oonrinem
1 prn mi cif Luul spa ies .is*endani tin j n me ihe
i and tnt i 90 pnrrni <>nl\ .i minor ,
248 205 142 65 1.8 PMSIN1

Ml so/ H( 1 K\ 1 \ NOZOM i K\
CLASSIFICATION
CLASSIFICATION These additional
simply
levels do not mean
basic classification system docs not work: they
reflect the fact that classification levels are
that the
labels rather than things that actuatt] exist in the

At LEAST million DIFFERENT kinds of animals have been
1.5 natural world. The only category that really
identified by and more are added to the list every year. The
scientists, exists is the species, and even at this level an
animal can be very difficult to pin down.
total number of animals in existence may be as high as 30 million, and. I raditionally. species are defined as groups of
consequently, the task of locating and identifying all the world's fauna living things that share a set of characteristics and
might never be complete. To make sense of this bewildering diversity, that are able to interbreed in the wild. However,
deciding whether a group fits this definition is
biologists use formal classification systems, in which all the past and sometimes difficult, and various researchers mav
present life on the planet is named and organized into groups (known come to different conclusions. As a result, many
ot today's scientists prefer to determine species b)
as taxa). Each type of animal is assigned a unique species name and
examining genetic data, which provides a more
placed in the group containing the species to which its evolutionary detailed record of the similarities and differences
development suggests it is most closely related. between animals. This approach has resulted in the
"discovery" of new species among animals thai
are already known - the forest elephant see p.22 1
PRINCIPLES OF hierarchy. Identifying the groups is a key pan of is one. Howev er, genetic data do not solv e all
the classification process, and often involves classification puzzlesbecause researchers still
CLASSIFICATION complicated research to tease apart the confusing have to decide if two animals' genes are similar
Modern scientific classification dates back to the clues that evolution leaves behind. enough to warrant their being classed as one species.
eighteenth century to the work of Kari Linnaeus, a
Swedish botanist and explorer. Linnaeus de\ised
a system in which all organisms are identified by
CLASSIFICATION LEVELS GATHERING EVIDENCE
two-part fbinomial) scientific names, which are The diagram below shows a classification Nearly all of today's animal groups were identified
written in Latin. The first part of the name hierarchy for the tiger. However, for many other before genetic analysis became available. The
indicates the genus to which the animal belongs: animals - for example, insects or snakes - the groups were established on the basis of anatomical
the second part denotes its species. This system hierarchy would look different in that it would evidence both in living species and in those
remains in use today. At first si^ht. these names have one or more extra lev els. This is because preserved as fossils. Anatomical studies can be
may seem cumbersome, but they have two animals do not always fit neady into die categories very useful in tracing the path of evolution because
immense advantages: unlike common names, that scientists devise. Intermediate levels, such as they often show how certain body parts - such as
they can be understood by scientists all over the superclasses or suborders, have to be created to limbs, jaws, or teeth - have been modified,
world, and they act like signposts, showing accommodate certain groups. sometimes drastically, for different uses.
exactly where a species fits into the living world.
In si ientific classification, the species is the basic KINGDOM
unit. Species are organized into groups, called A kingdom is an overall division The kingdom Animalia contains multicellular
paB
genera, which in turn are organized into families. containing organisms that work in organisms thai obtain energy by eatingfood. -—
-tf^ fffi
This grouping process continues working upward fundamentally similar ways. Most have nerves and muscles, and are mobile. iBMH^BH^
through orders, classes, phyla, and. finally, into
kingdoms, which are the largest groups of all and
YLUM CHORDATA f,
the highest level in the hierarchy.
phylum is a major subdivision of The phylum Chordata contains animals
Each group in the hierarchy has a common akkingdom, and it contains one or with a strengthening rod or notochord running the
ancestor, which becomes increasingly remote more classes and iheir subgroups. length their bodies, for all or part
of of their lives.
from a species with each higher level of the
MAMMALIA
A classa major subdivision of a
is The class Mammalia contains chordaUs that are
phylum, and it contains one or warm-blooded, hare hair, and suckle their young.
more orders and their subgroups. The majority of them give birth to live young.
ORDER CARMVORA
An order
a class,
is a major subdivision of
and it contains one or more
families and their subgroups.
The order Camivora contains mammals
teeth specializedfor biting
them, including the tiger, live

and shearing.
that
Many
primarily on meat.
have
of
m
TV
FAMILY FELIDAE
^ A family is a subdivision of an The family Felidae contains carnivores with
>4^ order, and it contains one or short skulls and well-developed claws. In most
more genera and their subgroups. cases, the claws are retractable.
GENUS PAXTHERA
A genus is a subdivision of a family, The genus Panthera contains large cats that
and it contains one or more species :uli-cd lanm with elastic ligaments,
TIGER CLASSIFICATION and their subgroups. i nlike other cats, they can roar as well as purr.
In this book, panels such as the one above are used to identify
the position of animal groups in the taxonomic hierarchy. The
larger panel on the right defines the various taxonomic ranks, SPECIES PAKTHERA TIGRIS
starting with the kingdom (the highest rank) at the top and A species is a group of similar The tiger is the only member of the genus
ending with the species. Taking the tiger as an example, it also individuals that are able to Panthera that has a striped coat when adult.
shows how a particular animals physical characteristics are interbreed in the wild. There are several varieties, or subspecies.
used to determine its place in the classification scheme.

CLASSIFICATION
NEW DISCOVERIES
Two centuries after scientific classification began, zoologists believe
that relatively few terrestrial vertebrates remain completely unknown
CARTILAGINOUS FISH
to science. Marine life is less well known, so it is quite likely that
Although ih, : look supafo iallj
main types of fishes have yet to be found the Indonesian coelacanth
tr.li, >. i artilaginous fishes are different in
(see p. 480), an example of a recent find. But in
discovered in 1997. is
i .table of these
coming decades, the vast majorirj of "new" animals will be invertebrates.
differences is their skeleton, which is
According to some estimates, less than one in 20 invertebrate species
u,,i,l, oj rubber) i
have so far been identified and named.

insteadof bone.
They ah
SAMPLING FOREST LIFE reproductive organs
a sum, \
Survey i
of some habitats
particularly tropicalforest *
and the shallow seabed
BONY FISH
I i, lii, u nlagmous fishes, bonyfishi
frequently turn up new species A NEW FORM OF LIFE ,
a/ invertebrates. The vast l,'/i occasionally, a completely

single flap covering their gills, a gas-filled swim bladder, ^B
an hmh and a made of bone. These key features show
skeleton
majority of thest new kind of animal mines In light.
that cartilaginous and bony fishes are not close reltiu,
easy to identify becaust it
This one is a loriciferan - a type
is deal that they belong of marine invertebrate first seen in
In groups that are already 1983. Its iimijiii features warranted single, separate order of mammals - Pinnepedia -
known and well documented. ih, i nation of a phylum of it' on n. but a detailed study of their anatomy suggests that
pinnepeds may actually consist of two or perhaps
mammals that have evi >1\ ed
three separate lines of
The limbs of four-legged vertebrates, or bodies, adaptations to a highly active life in independently from different kinds of carnivores.
tetrapods, are an excellent example of this kind of water. Judged b\ thesetwo characteristics alone, If this is true, the pinnepeds are an artificial
evolutionary modification. The basic limb pattern, these two fishwould appear to make up a single grouping, rather than one that actually indicates
dating back over 300 million years, is built around group of animals. However, when they are the path of evolution, and they could therefore
three main sets of bones: a single bone at the point examined in more detail, these similarities be divided into separate clades.
where the limb meets the body, two bones farther turn out to be only skin-deep: the many As today's scientists apply cladistics to the animal
away, and five sets of smaller bones at the limb's underlying differences between them show that world, many well-known and long-established
outermost point. As tetrapods spread to various cartilaginous and bony fishes belong to separate groups are being shown to have been built on shaky
habitats - on land, in water, and in air - the limbs branches of the evolutionary tree. foundations. Reexamination of animal groups is
of the different groups became specialized in shape A specialist would be unlikely to confuse these part of a constant process in classification science
and size, and in the way they worked. However, two kinds of fish but, with animals that are already in the same way that reinterpretation of past
since evolution always modifies what already related, convergence can make relationships events is constandy applied to human history. This
exists - rather than starting from scratch - the extremely difficult to unravel. One example of reassessment helps produce an ever more precise
underlying pattern of bones was preserved in all this can be seen with walruses, seals, and sea lions. picture ofhow animals are related, and how the
the different groups. For classification specialists. These animals are traditionally classified in a animal kingdom came to look as it does today.
this one of many pieces of evidence showing
is
that all tetrapods evolved from a shared ancestor.

In classification, tetrapods are said to form a CLADISTICS
natural group, or clade. A clade is made up of an Pioneered in the 1 950s. cladistics is a classification and humans, and relatively few with tarsiers. So. it
ancestral species and all its descendants. Together, technique that involves comparing large numbers is reasonable to deduce that gibbons are among the
they form a complete and sell-contained branch of characteristics to see how closely different species human being's close relatives, while tarsiers are not
from the evolutionary tree of life. are related. The resulting data are used to
produce When cladistic analysis first became widely used it
a cladogram - a diagram that shows branch points generated heated debate because it divides many of
in evolution, together with the sets of nested the traditionally recognized groups and it combines
groups, or clades. that the branch points create. some that traditional classification keeps apart. For
Cladistics is concerned with new. or derived, example, birds and dinosaurs probably form a
features rather than with primitive ones, so the clade so. eladisticallv. a bird is simplv a feathered
cladogram does not indicate when different groups dinosaur that flies. Today, cladistics is generally
evolved. Instead, it shows the most likely order in seen as a very useful means of tracing evolution.
which derived features arose, and the number of
PRIMATE CLADOGRAM
these features that different groups share. In the
This diagram sht lades containing all the
cladogram below, gibbons are shown to have
"advanced" (non-prosimian) primates. Fm comparison, the
many derived features in common with great apes
groups used in conventional classification aie shown at the
DOLPHIN FLIPPER
! h elude contains all the species, living or extinct, thai
III, 1,1 1 s)um a set of derivedfeatures
ARMS AND FLIPPERS s thest art listed on each clade's baseline.
.-I hitman arm and a dolphin's flipper look very different in "I
Each cladt also shares all the /, ,: .
life, but they bulb contain tin sum, arrangement of hones. the eludes ;cil/un which it is nested.
This similarity is strong t vidian that chimpanzees

humans) and dolphins evolved /mm a common am,
CLADES
The clade concept has had a major impa onvergeni e
a process thai makes unrelated spe< ies develop in
Hj|it.irhini
particular w.ns to suit similai ways of lifi
p.lfi). Cartilaginous and bom fishes are a tvpii aJ

example of this: both have fnis and streamlined
ANIMAL GROUPS
ANIMAL GROUPS
The FOLLOWING FOUR PAGES summarize the
classification scheme used in this book. The animal Anteaters and relatives
Xenarihra
world is divided here into vertebrates and invertebrates,
although vertebrates actually form part of just one Pangolins
phylum while invertebrates account for all the rest of order Pholidota SPECIES
animal life. Like all classification schemes, based

this is
on current thinking, which is liable to change. Here, Rabbits, hares, and pikas
order Lasjomorpha
groups are '"nested" to show how they are related;
informal groups, having no distinct biological identity, Rodents
are bounded by dotted lines. Some of the species srder Rodentia FAMILIES '
SPECIES 1.702
totals, particularly for invertebrates, arebased on Squirreluke ROD1.N is

suborder Sduromorpha FAMIUES SPECIES
estimates; these figures are the subject of much debate.
Mouselike rodents
VERTEBRATES suborder Mvomorpha FAMILIES 5 SPECIES l,13i
Cavylike rodents
Mammals suborder Cavii >morpha FAMIUES 1 SPECIES 188
|
class Mammalia Grevy's zebra

...
Mammals are vertebrates belonging mammalogists feel that they are so Cetaclans
to thephylum Chordata. Biologists differ diverse that they should be classified in
order Cetacea FAMILIES 1 SPECIES 83
on how main orders make up the class as many as seven different orders. There
Mammalia. In this book, mammals are is also disagreement about seals and sea Baleen whales
classified into 21 orders. Marsupials are lions: many mammalogists think that suborder Mvviuiti FAMIUES 4 SPECIES 12
traditionally classed as a single order - they are simply aquatic carnivores rather
putting them on an equal footing with than animals deserving their traditional
egg-laying mammals - but some place in an order of their own. Toothed whales
suborder Odontoceti FAMIUES 9 SPECIES 71
Egg-laying mammals
order Monotremata FAMILIES 2 SPECIES 5
Carnivores
Marsupials order Carnivora families 7 species 249
order Marsupialia FAMIUES 22 SPECIES 292
Docs AND RELATIVES
family Canidae species 36
I.NSECTIVORES Bears
order Insectivora FAMILIES 6 species 365 family I rsidae species 8
R \( ( OONS AND RELA1 EVES

Bats family Procyonidai species 20
order Chiroptera FAMIUES 1 species 977 Ml sJKI.IDS
family Musielidae species *j7
Flying lemurs Civets and relatives

order Dermoptera FAMILIES
family \i\erridae species 7i>
1 SPECIES _'
Hyenas and aardwoli

family Hvaenidae species 4
Elephant-shrews
order Macroscelidea FAMIUES 1 SPECIES 1
Cats
family Felidae species 38
Tree shrews
order Scandentia FAMILIES 1 SPECIES 19
Seals and sea lions
order Pinnipedia
Primates
order Primates species 356
Elephan I s
Prosimians
suborder Strepsirhini
"
Monkeys VND APES Aardyark

suborder Haplorbini order Tubulidentata
Monkeys
FAMILIES ) species 242 Hyraxes
Hyracoidea families 1
API s
FAMIUES J SPECIES 21
DUGONG AND MANATE1 S
order Sirenia FAMILIES 2
1 5 9
ANIMAL GROUPS
Hoofed mammals Gri bi s
order Podicipediformes famiues SPECIES 22

OIJ1J-I"01.D Hi II H 1 I) M \MM \l.s
1
order Perissodactvla families 3 SPECIES 19
HoKsl.s AND RELATIVES .ALBATROSSES AND PETRELS

family Equidae species 1 1
order Procellariiformes famiues 4 SPECIES 108
Rhinoceroses
family Rhui'H rotidae species
t 5
Peek vns and relatives
Tapirs order Pelecaniformes famiues 6 SPECIES 65
family [apiridae species 4
Herons and reiahyes

order Ciconiiformes famiues 6 SPECIES
Even-toed hoofed mammals 1 1
order Artiodactyla famiues 10 SPECIES 225
Pk;s Flamingos
">
family Suidat- species 14 order Phoenicopteriibrmes famiues 1 SPECIES
I'l ( ( ARIES
family Tayassuidae species t
\\ Ml KM AM
Hippopotamuses
order Anserifbrmes families _'
SPECIES 1 I'l
family Hippopotamidae species _'
Camels and relatives

FAMILY C.illll lltl.ll species Birds of prey
Deer order Falconiformes families 5 SPECIES ill 7
family Cervidae species 4-5
Musk deer
family Moschidae species
GaMEBIRDS
order Galliformcs famiues 6 SPECIES 281
Chevroi UNS
family Tragulidae species 4
Pronghorn Cranes and relatives

family Antilocapridae species
order Gruiformes famiues 12 SPECIES 204
Giraffe AND okapi
family ( .iraiUdae species 2
Cattle and relatives Waders, gulls, and auks

family Bovidae species 1441 order Charadriiformes famiues 18 species 343
Pk,f;i ins
order Columbiformes famiues 1 SPECIES 309
Sanix.roise
Birds order PterocUdiformes families 1 SPECIES 1
class Aves NORTHERN ORIOLE

In the classification scheme that is used schemes combine the large flightless Parrots
in this book, birds are separated into birds, or ratites, into a single order, while order Psittaciformes famiues 2 species 353
29 orders. One of these orders - the others combine flamingos with herons
perching birds, or Passeriformes is vast, ir relatives. At a more detailed
and contains as many species as all the level, there is t onsiderable disagreement
( :i i Kims wii uracos
other orders combined. In contrast, about how many families of passerine order Cuculilbrmes famiues :i SPECIES 1 1 ll 1
several orders of birds contain just a single birds there are. Some ornitholi igi
family, consisting of less than 10 species. • 60 or fewer, while others pul
( )\M s
In bird i lassificarion. some alternative at more than 80.
order Strigiformes famiues _'
species 205
Ostrich
order Struthioniformcs famiues 1 SPECIES 1 Nightjars and frogmouths
order ( rmea families 5 SPECIES IIH
Rheas
order Rheiformes FAMIUES 1 SPECIES 2 Hi MMINl. BIRDS \ND SWIFTS
order Vpodiformes famiues i SPECIES 124
Cassowaries ,\nd emus

order Casuariifbrmes FAMILIES 2 SPECIES 1
Mousi
order Coliiformes famiues 1 SPECIES
Kiwis
Trogons
order Apterygiformes FAMIUES 1 SPECIES
order Lrog formes famiues 1 SPECIES
Tlnamous KJNGFISHI RS wii Rl I Ml\ I

s
order Tinamiformes FAMILIES SPECIES 1
1
order Coraciiformes famiues Hi SPECIES I'M
Penguins Will llll'l l Kl RS \N1) nil l \\s

order Sphenisciformcs FAMIUES 1 SPECIES 1
OROER I'l FAMILIES 6 SPfCES
Loons PaSSI RINl S

SPECIES ORDER 1' iam. SPICHS
order Gaviiformcs FAMIUES .
1
"l
ANIMAL GROUPS
Reptiles Fishes
class Reptilia African striped skink Despite superficial similarities fishes arc American paddlefish
only an informal collection of relatively
Snakes, lizards, and amphisbaenians. man) features, their evolutionary hisiorv
which make up the largest reptile order. is As a result, many biologists
ver) varied
diverse animals. Of the four classes ashes make up the largest class about %
in which li\ing fish species are generalh percent of species The major subclass
Squamata. account for over 95 percent of belie\e that theyform an informal group
classified, two are jaw less - a characteristic of this group ray-finned fishes contains
living reptile species. While reptili -
rather than a natural group or clade.
shared by the earliest vertebrates from so many orders and families that it is
oxer 500 million years ago Today bony. divided here only to superorder leveL
Tortoises and turtles
Chelonia Jawless fish
H.u.rlxH
TUATARAS
order Rhyncocephalia families 1
Lampreys
class Cephalaspidomorphi
SQL'AMATES
Squamata SPECIES c. .'''"<
Snakes
suborder Serpentes SPECIES .
._'.'
Cartilaginous fish
class Chondrichthves ORDERS 14 FAMIUES SPECIES C.810
BiH\ PYTHONS, AND RELATIVES
SUPERFAMILY Htllopilidia FAMIUES
Sh UUCS AND RAYS
subclass Elasmobranchi
COLUBRIDS \ND RELATIVES
SUPERFAMILY Caenophidia Sharks 1
ORDERS 9 FAMIUES 33 SPECIES -
COLUBRIDS
family Colubridae species 1.858
Burrowing asps Skates and rays
family Alractaspidae SPECIES ORDERS 4 FAMIUES 14 SPECIES C.450
VlPERS
family Viperidae
Elapids
Ghtmaeras
family Elapkhe 1
subclass Holocephali ORDERS 1 FAMIUES 3 SPECIES 30
Blind \nd thread SNAKE!

SUPERFAMILY
BONY FISHES
class Osteichthyes orders 46 families 437 species c. 23.500
Lizards Fleshy-finned fishes

suborder Lai rrtilia FAMILIES i
(
SPECIES C. 4.500
subclass orders FAMIUES S
!
Sarcopterygii 3 4 SPECIES
[GUANAS WD RELATR ES
SUPERFAMILY IgUiUUa FAMIUES | SPECIES 1,412 Ray-ftoned fishes
GEC k< >^ AND SN \KL LIZARDS >ubclass Acunopterygn
SUPERFAMILY Citkkota FAMIUES 4 SPECIES 1,054
Primitive ray-finned fishes
Skinks \ND KEI \U\ ES ORDERS 4 FAMIUES 5 SPECIES 43
SUPERFAMILY S, UK OITtOrpha FAMIUES SPECIES 1.890
ANGUIMORPH LIZARDS
BONY-TONGUED FISHES I
superfamily An suimorpha FAMIUES SPECIES 1 73
SUPERORDER Osieoglossit'ormCS FAMIUES 5 SPECIES 215
Amphisbaenians Tarpons and eels

suborder An;) :
SUPERORDER Elopomorpha ORDERS 4 FAMILIES J- SPECIES 1
Herrings and relatives

|
superorder C lupeomorpha orders 1 FAMIUES 4 SPECKS 363
Crocodhjans
order (_ rocodilia SPECIES _>
: Catfishes and relatives 1
superorder O-iariophysi orders 4 FAMIUES t>J SPECIES C. 6.000 1
Salmon and relatives

Amphibians superorder Proiacamhoptcrygii orders 1 FAMIUES 14 SPECIES 316
class Amphibia Pacific giant salamander

Dragonfishes \m> relatives
b 'ads make up the largest order and salamanders most closely resemble SUPERORDER Sieiiopiervgli ORDERS 1 FAMIUES 4 SPECIES C-250
of amphibians, and show the widest range ancestral amphibians; caecilians arc an
of adaptations for terrestrial life. Newts aberrant and relatively little known group.
Lanternfishes \ND relatives
superorder ScoI f pomorpha orders J FAMIUES 1 6 SPECIES
Frogs and ioads
order Anura SPECIES c.4,380
Cod and anclerfishes
superorder Paratamhopicrveii orders 8 FAMIUES 46 SPECKS .1.260 1
Newts \m> salamanders

C.audata SPECIES C.470
Spiny-rayed fishes
|
suMuwiiat Acanthopterygii orders IS FAMIUES 259 SPECIES C. 13300 1
C : \K UJANS
Gymnophiona
1 1
ANIMAL GROUPS
INVERTEBRATES Arthropods
phylum Arthropoda SPIDER-HUNTING WASP 1
^\
Sponges Arthropods form the largest phylum also 1 >m. -in- two othi i giant grofaps
in the animal kingdom. Insects make up i mi i. u i aus and araehnids which dwarf
phylum Porifera classes 4 ORDERS If! FAMILIES 80 SPECIES 1 10,000
ili- biggest subgroup, bui the phylum man) phyla in thi invertebrate world.
Cnidarians Mandibulates
subphylum Mandibulala CLASSES 1) ORDERS .""j
FAMILIES C 1 660 SPECIES C . 1 million
phylum Cnidaria classes 4 ORDERS 27 FAMILIES 236 SPECIES 8,000 9,000
Hl.XAI'ODS
uperclass Hexapoda CLASSES \ ORDERS 12 FAMILIES 980 species 1 , 1 million
Flat wo rms [NSEl IS

CLASS lll.i 1 l.i ORDERS 2*1 FAMIUES 949 SPECIES i.l nillllOr
phylum Platyhelrninthes classes 4 orders 35 families 360 species c 17,500
BRISTLI I Mis Parasitic lice
order Archaeognathi SPECIES 1 150 order Phthirapti i
SPECIES C.6,000
Roundworms SlLVERFISH
ORDER 1 )r, nun .1 SPECIES 1 170
Bugs
order Hcmiptcra SPECIES c.82,000
phylum Nematoda classes 4 ORDERS 20 FAMILIES 185 SPECIES 00 Mayflies Thrips

ORDER Ephl Hi' n i| m 1
SPECIES . 2,500 order 1 hssajioptera SPECIES 1.5.000
Damsel.fi.ii-s and dragonflies DOBSONFUES \ND MIII.RII IIS
Segmented worms order
CRII Kl
I )donata
Is \mi i.k \ss

SPECIES
Tl Rs
1 .5,500 order
Snakefi
Mi-y-.a
ies
p lcra SPECIES r SI Ml
phylum Annelida classes 3 ORDERS 31 FAMILIES I 10 species .12, order Orthoptcra SPECIES 1
0,000 ORDER kn|-l(iulM.|.n 1 1 SPECIES
Stoneflies ANTLIONS, L\CEWl.\t s, AND RELATIVES

order Plecoptera SPECIES . 2,000 order Ni uroptera SPECIES c.4,000
MOLLUSKS Rock crawlers

order lirvUoblattodr. 25
Beetles
order ilcoptcra SPECIES
SPECIES I u . 170,000
PHYLUM MolhlM.t CLASSES 8 ORDERS i"> FAMILIES 2 '.J SPECIES i ]IHHH)(J
Stick and leaf insects STREPSII'II k vNS
order Phasmatodea SPECIES . .' 51 II
oroer Sim [..ijii. 1., SPECIES ' 560
Earwigs Si ORPIONI LIES

Minor phyla order 1 X rmaptcra SPECIES 1 |,900 oroer Met opti 1.1 SPECIES (.550
Mantids 1 1 1 \s
Invertebrates are classified in about 30 ROTIFER ORDER M.mn-li 1 SPECIES 1 2,000 ORDER Siphlni.ipKT.I SPECIES C.2,000
phyla, which vary greatly in size. In this minor phyla also appears on pp.536 7 Cockroaches Flies
hunk, major phyla are treated separately Most of these minor phyla contain marine order Blattodea SPECIES C.4,000 ORDER 1 ll|in i,i SPECIES . 122,000
(see above and below . but a selection of animals or ones thai live in damp habitats.
Termites Cadoisflies
ORDER IsoplCra SPECIES C. 2,750 OROER llli In ptl in SPSCltS
I»K \l HII ll'i H)N W.vii R i;i \rs
Web-spinners Mi )1 Ms sND BUTTERFLIES
phylum Brachiopoda species c.350 phylum Tardigrada species c.600
order Embioptcra SPECIES C.300 ORDER LCpil 1' '1 >'' SP^KS 1
|
Arrow \yi irms Ribbon worms Angel insects Bees, wasps, wis. AM) SAW II II s
phylum Chaetognatha species c.90 PHYLUM \( liuilr.i species c. 1,200 order Zoraptcra SPECIES 1
II order Hymenoptera SPECIES c.198,000
(
Comb jellies Velvet worms BaRKI.KI SND I'"' Kl.lt!
phylum Ctcnophora species c.100 phylum Onychophora species c.70 ORDER PSOI Optl in SPECIES . l.'lllll
BKYt )ZOANS Spoonworms

phylum Bryozoa species c.4,300 phylum Echiuia SPECIES c.150
Sl'RIV.I MIS
Hemichordates Horseshoe worms 1 :lass Collembola ORDERS 1 FAMIUES 18 SPECIES . '. "
phylum Hemichordata species c.85 phylum Phorona species o.20
PEANUT WORMS 10 OTHER MINOR INVERTEBRATE 'Ron rans

1
phylum Sipuncula species c.350 :lass Protura ORDERS FAMILIES SPECIES (Hill
GROl PS Mil REPRESENTED IN
I t
Rotifers 1 His BOOK

J
PHYLUM Kolili'ia SPECIES C. 1.800 )IPLURANS
:lass Diplura ORDERS 1 FAMILIES '1 SPECIES 1.800
Echinoderms VlYRIAPODS
uperclass Myri ipoda CLASSES 1 ORDERS Hi FAMILIES 144 species c. 3,700
i
J
1
phylum Echinodermata classes i> orders 36 families 1-ti species, fi.iinii
:ri si vceans
1
UPERCLASS CLASSES' ORDERS 17 FAMILIES >|l SPECIES 1. 40.000
Invertebrate chordates
(
Invertclirati c hord.ttrs .irr animals thai UNll.AII .
share some i haracteristii s with vertebrates [unicates an immobile, and thi )

oft n Chelicerates
but l.ii k a l>< >ii\ skeleton. The) are have baglike bodies as adults; lam elcts SUBPHYLUM Chdil CLASSES i ORDERS I 1 FAMIUES 480 SPECIES c.76,500
divided into two subphyla the tunicates are mobile and beai strong resemblances
lad
\l Ml
(the majority ol species and the lancelets. to vertebrates, despiti theii ol I
CLASS \l.l. Itlllll.l OROERS !

(AMILIES ( ll SPECIES :.75,500 1
Tl Ml \ll.s
subphylum I Iroi hordata Si \ -i'
CLASSES 3 ORDERS FAMILIES l"> SPECIES . 2,100 CLASS Pyi ORDERS FAMIUIS SPECIES c. 1,000 1
i.w 111 rs HORSI sin 11 CR.MIS

Mill. slum. It.
\
subphylum Ccphalochordala CLASS 1 ORDERS PAMUB 1 SPECIES
I ORDERS I FAMILIES 2 \
ANATOMY
ANATOMY characteristic feature of arthropods

ol invertebrates that includes insects, crustaceans.
and arachnids. These cases, or exoskeletons. cover
a huge group
the entire body and include structures as strong

ALL BU I 1 Hi. VERY SIMPLEST ANIMALS are made up of various pans. Their as a crab's pincers or as delicate as a butterfly's
smallest fully functional parts are cells, which are shaped in different ways antennae. Unlike shells, body cases cannot grow.
so periodically they have to be shed and replaced.
according to the tasks that they carry out. Groups of similar cells are
Internal skeletons endoskeletons . usually
organized into tissues, and tissues are grouped together to form organs. made of bone, provide support from within. Found
Organs themselves are linked to form organ systems, which earn' out only in vertebrates, they have rwo big advantages:
all
they are light for their size - important for land
the processes essential for survival.The design of these systems varies animals that have to move quickly - and thev can
widely between one type of animal and another, and also between grow. In this kind of skeleton, some bones meet
aniniah that live in different ways, but the work thev do is the same. at flexible joints. Other
bones, particularly those
in the skull, lock together
BODY SYSTEMS system the pans that form the outer covering -
for extra strength.
SHELL
Animals have up to a dozen separate body protect the body from physical damage and. in
A snail's shell grows at
systems. In many species, the muscular and terrestrial animals, from the threat of drying out.
its lip. getting progressive!)
skeletal systems make up a large proportion of Two key systems enable animals to obtain energy
larger uith its owner.
the body's total weight, while the integumentary from food. The digestive system breaks food down
Some species can seal the
so that it can be absorbed: and the respiratorv
genital shell with an operculum
chamber
s\stem delivers oxygen to the body's cells so that or "door."
EXOSKELETON
food substances can be "burned" and their A crab s body case covers all the
chemical energy released. The respiratory system surfaces of its body, including its
alsoremoves carbon dioxide - a potentially toxic ike an insect's exoskelelon.
waste product formed during the production it is reinforced with calcium.
of energy. In many animals, including all
vertebrates, oxygen and carbon dioxide are

SIMPLE INVERTEBRATE BODY SYSTEMS carried by blood in the circulatory system.
Simple invertebrates, such asflatworms. do not have respirator)-
Carbon dioxide is usually exhaled: other kinds of
organs or a circulator) system. The digestive system often has dissolved waste are removed, before they have a
just one opening, the mouth, and the reproductive system is
chance to build up. by a separate excretory system.
typically made up of both male andfemale organs.
Animals use two different systems to coordinate
their bodies, and to react to their surroundings.
intestines form part of stomach .
tubular du±-
The nervous
system deals with
anydiing that needs a fast response,
processing information gathered by
sense organs. In all animals, it triggers built-in
or instinctive behavior, but in some. especiaUv
---- -- vertebrates, it also stores information, allowing
animals to adapt their behavior according to

their past experience. The endocrine svstem works
m ci injunction with the nervous svstem. releasing
ARTHROPOD BODY SYSTEMS
hormones, or chemical messengers, that help the SYMMETRY
nervous svstem coordinate long-term processes. Some animals" bodies are circular, without
The tubular digestive system is open at both ends. The blood Finally, the reproductive system carries out the a head or tail. This type of anatomy called
flows partly through vessels and partly through bod) spaces.
most important producing young. Unlike
task: radial symmetry, can be seen in sea anemones
Oxygen is supplied via gills or via minute /yi
other body systems, it often functions only during and other cnidarians. and also in ctenophores
aim ays called tracheae. =
ison, and then only in mature animals. or comb jellies. The v ast majority of animals
large brain - show bilateral symmetry, which means they can

kidneys remove waste £ be divided into halves. The halves are not always
SKELETONS AND SUPPORT equal: male fiddler crabs, for example, have very
Animals need lo keep the shape of their bodies unequal claws, and flatfish have different sides.
stable. Many invertebrates achieve this without tiull I A

RVDLAL SYMMETRY
any haid body parts at all. Instead, thev relv on the
A sea anemone can be
pressure of internal fluids to keep their bodies firm
divided into two equal
in the same way This
thai air stabilizes a tire.
halves on any axis. It
system, called a hydrostatic skeleton, works well on
has a central mouth
a small scale. But in larger animals, particularly and body uiOt
canity,
land ones, thi* ivpr ol skeleton is often not strong feeding tentacles
enough to support the body's weight Animals arranged in a ring.
have developed two quite different solutions to

this problem: external shells and body cases: and
VERTEBRATE BODY SYSTEMS internal skeletons, typically made of bone.
The nervous system is highly developed, and the brain is
BILATERAL
Shells are made up of one or two parts, and SYMMETRY
topically larger than in invertebrates. The circulatory system i\
thev grow in step with their owner. They can be Frogs and toads havejust
closed, and blood is pumped under high pressure by the heart.
seen in marine animals called brachiopod- or one axis of symmetry:
lampshells. but thev are most highly developed in Externally, the two
KEY TO SYS1 EMS
bivalve mollusks. which can grow shells over 3 ft •
halves look identical;
CIRC I 1.ATORY EXCRETORY
m across. Bod) cases are more complex than
H_ DIGESTIVE
RESPIRATORY
NERVOUS
REPRODICTIVF
1
shells: they consist of a large number of separate

internally,
lie to
some organs
the left or the right.
plates that meet at flexible joints. They are a

MUSCLES AND MOVEMENT RESPIRATION
Muscles work by contracting. This means they can For small and thin animals, obtaining
pull but not push. In most cases, they are arranged oxygen is a simple matter because it seeps
in pairs or groups that pull in opposing directions: from outside. At the
into their bodies
when one muscle or muscle group contracts, its same time, carbon dioxide escapes in
partner is brought back to its normal resting shape. the other direction. For larger animals,
Muscles make animals move in different ways. respiration is more complex. In relative
In animals without limbs, such as earthworms and terms, they have a much greater '
jellyfish, they work to change the body's shape. In volume than surface area, so there
earthworms, opposing muscles alternately shorten is less room for gases to move in
and lengthen the animal's segments so that it an < and out. To breathe, they rely on
creep through soil. In limbed animals, one set of respiratory organs structures that jj
muscles pulls the limb down or back, while the elfec lively pack a large surface area
other lifts it up or forward. into a small amount of space.
relaxed bellfills circulai muscles watet expelled In aquatic animals. '_;ills are the most
wilh water. contract, from bell common respiratory organs. Typical
gills consist of thin, flat, or feathery
surfaces that bring blood into close
contact with the water outside.
However, most gills do not work
in air because - out of water -
their surfaces collapse and stick
MOVING WITHOUT LIMBS together. Land animals therefore
Jellyfish sunn In rhythmically contracting the bell -shaped part have hollow respiratory organs
of their boelr. This expels water 1mm the hell, which pushes the that carry air deep inside their
jellyfish forward. Jellyfish make little headway against the bodies. In insects, these organs arc-
current: they sunn mainly In keep at the right level in the wain: tubes, called tracheae, which divide
into extremely fine filaments that reach
inns/It's contract In
individual cells. In land-dwelling vertebrates,
propelfrogforward
the organs are lungs - air-filled chambers throws light onto a "screen," or retina. In
surrounded by a network of blood vessels. arthropods, the eye has up to 25,000 separate
Muscles make the lungs expand or contrai i. compartments, each with its own lens system;
JUMPING sucking air in or blowing it out. these compound eyes create a mosaic-like image
When a frog leaps, its legs ad as levers, and are espei i.ilk good at detecting movement.
Mammals are the only animals with prominent
propelling
to cushion
il
its
into the air. Its
body from the impact when

front legs fold up
it lands.
NERVES AND SENSES earflaps. Vertebrates' ears are alua\s on ihe head.
Nerve cells, or neurons, are the animal world's but in some animals they are positioned elsewhere.
In addition to making animals move, muscles equivalent of wiring. Neurons conduct brief Most grasshoppers and crickets have ears on
serve other purposes. They lone loud through bursts of electricity, known as impulses, which their abdomen or legs. Organs that detect taste
the digestive system (peristalsis) and pump blood carry information from sense organs or make and smell can also be in a variety of positions.
around the circulatory system. Unlike most other muscles contract. Corals and other simple animals Like ears, they can be used in ommunii ation, i
muscles, the heart muscle has a built-in rhythm that have a network of nerves scattered throughout as well as for avoiding danger and finding food.
keeps it contracting throughout an animal's life. their bodies. But in most animals, the nervous Main animals have senses that are more ai Uti
system converges on the brain. than those ol human beings, and some can sense
Some animal senses, such as touch, operate things that humans cannot. For example, most
BODY COVERINGS through nerve endings scattered all over the fish can sense pressure waves in water, and many
Animal cells are easily damaged. To protect body. A similar sense, which works internally, tells can detect weak ele< tin fields. Some snakes ( an
them from injury and disease, animals have body animals about their posture. The most important "see" warmth, enabling them to attack warm-
coverings, most of which consist largely of non- senses - vision, smell, and hen ing work blooded prey in total darkness.
living matter. Mammalian skin is covered by dead through organs that form some of the
cells, while insect body i ases are most elaborate stun tines In the body.
covered by hard proteins and Vision is essentia] f'oi mam animals,
waterproof wax. In many cases, and eyes show a wide variety of
these protective layers are designs. At their simplest for
themselves protected: mammals example in snails they do
often have a coat of fur. while little more than distinguish
mail) oilier animals have S( ales. between light and dark,

Some of these extra coverings In main animals,
have developed additional uses. particularly arthn >| >ods
Suit feathers and fur help to and vertebrates, they
retain body heat, while extra- loi ns light onto large
Strong leathers are used in (light. I »i s cil nerve
( lolors or patterns a( t as ( ells, building up a
camouflage or help animals detailed imagi ol
re< ognize theii own kind. tin sin roundings. In

vertebrates, these eyes
h.i\ a single lens, \\ hii h
BODY BARRIERS i
li'nd feathers, butterfly uales, ami

mammal fut an modi "I nonli ing BINOCULAR VISION
substances that an produced b) living Jumping !pidi
cells. Feathers andfui an replaced

during tin a owner's lifetime, but tin m bint
butterfly Kales are not. along a lump.

BEHAVIOR
BEHAVIOR ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE

Intelligence is the ability to make decisions based
on and understanding. This ability is rare
insight
Ax animal's BEHAVIOR encompasses all the things that it does as in the animal world and difficult to identify and
measure. For example, some herons use bait to
well as the way that it does them. Behavior ranges from simple actions,
catch fish. They look as il they understand their
such as eating or keeping clean, to highly elaborate activities, such as actions, but their behavior is instinctive - it
hunting in a pack, courting a mate, or building a nest. In some animals, involves no insight at all. Chimpanzees, however,
will probe for insects with twiys that they shape
behavior is almost entirely predictable; in others it develops with to increase their effectiveness. To shape the twig,
experience, so the more that an animal does something the more skilled the) must first form a mental picture of how-
it will work - a process that humans also use.
it becomes. As with all aspects of animal biology, behavior is the
They also have a complex vocabulary of sounds
product of evolution, which means that it gradually changes as time goes that allows them to exchange information.
by. These changes enable species to react in the most effective way to
the opportunities and dangers that they encounter in daily life.
can change. As animals repeat certain tasks,

INSTINCT AND LEARNING such as making a nest, their performance often
In simple animals, behavior is "hardwired" improves. This is particularly important for some
governed by inherited instincts - which means animals - such as male weaverbirds - that use
that it consists of fixed sequences of actions their nest-building skills to attract a male.
prompted by triggers. For example, day-old birds Apart from octopuses and their relatives, most
instinctively beg for food when their parents invertebrates have narrow limits when it comes
appear at the nest. At this stage, they are usually to learning. For vertebrates, on the other hand,
blind: then behavior is triggered by noise and learned behavior is often extremely important. THE SIGNS OF INTELLIGENCE
movement rather than by the sight of food itself Frogs and toads quickly learn to avoid animals Chimpan yest an sol i problems, and they are able to learn
Instinctive behavior max seem basic, but it can thai t.iste unpleasant, while mammals acquire a sign language to communicate with humans. They can
produce quite remarkable results. The structures wide range of skills From their parents, including i, ,u n symbolsfor objects and actions, and they occasionally
that animals build - from nests to dams - are the how to hunt. Among primates, individuals very combine the symbols in ways that resemble spoken phrases.
results of inborn behavioral impulses. When occasionallv "invent" new behavior, which
then is
beavers set out to make a dam, they do so without copied by their neighbors. This copying process
any knowledge of engineering principles. Yet the produces culture patterns of behavior that are
structure the) make is shaped to withstand water handed on down the generations. Culture is
COMMUNICATION
pressure as if it had been scientifically designed. something that humans, as a species, have For most animals, keeping in touch with their
Beavers do not have to think how to build, just developed to a unique degree. own kind is essential to their survival. Animals
as spiders do not need to figure out how to weave communicate with each other for a range of
wrljs. Even so. the results of instinctive behavior reasons, including finding food, attracting a mate,
and bringing up their voting. Different methods
of communication have their own advantages and
drawbacks. Both language - which includes facial
expressions and physical displays works well at
close quarters but is ineffective at a distance and in
habitats where dense vegetation gets in the way. In
such cases, communication bv sound is much more
practical. Whales call to each other over immense
distances, while some small animals produce
remarkably loud sounds for their size. Treefrogs.
ci(adas. and mole crickets, for example, can often
LEARNING TO FEED
be heard ,tl a distance of over mile 2km Each 1 .
Eurasian qystercatchers learn

species uses its own distinctive "call sign," and
hoik i" feed In u atching
thai parents. Somt birds many behave like ventriloquists, pitching their calls
in a way that throws predators off their track.
hammer at sin II \
to break
them, whilt others stab at .Animals that are capable of producing light also
the shells ' hingt i to fon i
use identifying call signs. These can consist of
them to open, Once a bird specific sequences of flashes or in many deep-sea

has Inn mil om technique, fish - illuminated body patterns. But. like body
it uses 1 1 for life. language and sound, this form of communication
works onlv when the signaler is active!) signaling
Scent communication is quite different because
NIGHT LIGHT
INSTINCTIVE WEAVING Femaleglou worms
Spiders often build lughh use light to signal then
comph « webs, but they to tin mull >.
iilu ays product them to ei InJi //] overhead.
one parti ulai a\ sign. Asa Signaling ,-, ilh light can be
result, il is often possible to dangerous because it can
identif) a spidei from its web attract predators m

alone. I hi* garden spider addition to potential
will iiî its web fin just one males. If aglou -a arm
day; thru it u ill eat it beftm vnger, she quickly
tailing on ii replacement. "switches off " her light.

BEHAVIOR
the members are all closely related. Examples

of -u< h extended families include wolf packs
BEHAVIORAL CYCLES
and kookaburra "clans." where the young Some kind- of behavior, including self-defense,
remain with their parent- instead of setting ( an be provoked any time. Others are cyclical,
at
up independently. This kind of group-living : keep animals in step with
bv cues that
caches its extreme in social insects, such as around them. One of the most important
mites and ants, which cannot survive alone. eve les i- tin- alternation between night and day.
( Jthers include the rise and fall of the tide and
the annual sequence of changing seasons.

DEFENSE AND ATTACK Cyclii al behaviors arc all instinctive. They may
Both predatory and prey animals use specialized Ik- stimulated by external changes, by built-in
behavior to help them survive. For example, while "biologic al < lot ks." or by a combination of the
many prey animals simply try to two. Birds, for example, often gather to roost late
JOINING THE CHORUS escape, others keep perfecdy in tin- day, a form of cyclical behavior thai
By howling, wolves advertise their ownership of a hunting still, reiving on camouflage , is triggered by falling light levels as the sun
territory to any other wolves that may be in the area I to protei i them. A wide nears the horizon. On a much longer
often howl at night, after they have made a successful kill. -pec iis. hem lime scale, ground squirrels show an
moths to lizards, ua annual cvrle in body weight, getting
the signal lingers long after the animal that made it to make themselves heavier before they enter hibernation.
has moved on. Animal scents are specific, allowing appear dangen tus 1 >v However, ground squirrels maintain
animals to lay trails and to advertise their presenc e their cycle even if kept in conditions
RESPONDING
to potential mates. Some male insects are able to
TO THREAT of constant temperature and day
respond to individual molecules of airborne scent, length,which shows that the rhythm
11 hen threatened, pufferfish
allowing them to track down females far upwind. enlarge themselves by gulf v is controlled biologically. Biological
water. Once distended, they can

i lot k- often involve hormones, but the
way they work is
LIVING IN GROUPS barely move, but their spines make
Some animals spend all their lives alone and never

them practically impossible to attack.
U-JHv not yet fully
understood.
encounter another member of their species. But. exaggerating their size or by revealing colored
formany, getting together is an important pan of spots thai look like eves. Sometimes such threat-
Animal groups vary in size as well as in how
life. are real: for example, the brilliant colors of
long they last: mavflies, for example, form mating p. >isi in-arrow frogs indicate diat they contain some
swarms that last just a few hours, while migrating of the animal kingdom's most potent poisons.
Predatory animals use one of two techniques to
GROUP
FORMATION catch prey: they either wait for it to come their w ay
By forming a V tor
or they track down. "Sit-and-wait" predator- are
it
i can reduce ifien amouflaged, and some actively entice dieir

i
the amount of energy vii thus within range. In angler li-h. for example,
needed to migrate by the snout ha- a long, luminous protuberance.

flying in the leading called a lure,which the fish dangle appetizinglv in
birds' slipstream. They front of their mouths: anything swimming close to FEEDING TIME
take turns leading. inspect this lute i- -napped up whole, for active Fuidler crabs emerge from their burrows to pick over the
hunting, nature put- a premium on speed and keen nutrient-rich sediment for small particles offood. They
senses, whi< h 1- wh) animal- such a- cheetah-. cannot feed underwater, so theirfeeding behavior is
peregrine falcons, and blue marlins are among governed by the daily rise aiuifall of the tide.
the fastest in the world. Some active predators

operate in groups. Bv working
together, grav wolves, African wild
ind lion- 1 an tackle pre)
mill h larger than themselves.
PACK HUN ISO I
.-1 pack of African wild dogs pulls down a

wildebeest that they have run to exhaustion
Once their victim is dead, the dogs will
share out the remains and take

SAFETY IN NUMBERS some back to any pups that hat
In open habitats, such as grassland, where predators tend to been left behind
befast and hiding places scarce, prey mammals typically live nl their den.
in targe groups. This group of zebras has further increased

its security b\ grazing mar a herd of wildebeest.
birds often assemble for several weeks. Man) other

animals, including fish and grazing mammals,
form groups that arc maintained for life.
Groups of animals may seem to Im- easy targets

for predators, but the opposite i- usually true.
Predators find it difficult to single out individuals
from a group, so living together gives animals a
bettei chance ol survival. Groups an also more
difficult to catch bv surprise because there i- always
more than one animal alert foi signs ol danger.
In most animal groups, the members l« li
do not m cssai ilv share the sarin

-ingle species but <
parents. However, in the mosl Dght-knil groups,

LIFE CYCLES
LIFE CYCLES widespread throughout the animal world, which

demonstrates its long-term value. Even species
dial are capable of reproducing without sex
periodically include a sexual phase in their life
An animal's life cycle consists of all the stages between the cycle, thereby getting the best ol both worlds.
beginning of one generation and the beginning of the next. In some
species - especially insects and other small invertebrates the entire ANIMAL SEXES
cycle is completed within a few weeks: in much larger animals it often All animals that reproduc c sexual!) with a partner
how long of the opposite sex show dimorphism

takes many years. Regardless of it takes to complete, an that is.
the males and females arc- anatomic ally different
animal'slife cycle always involves steps: a period of growth and two main and behave in different ways. In some species, the
development, followed by reproduction. Some animals reproduce once differences are not obvious, but in others they are
quite distinct Dimorphism exists because- the- sexes
and then die: for them, reproduction marks the end of life as well as the developed different roles in reproduction and
have-
completion of the life cycle. For many reproduction continues throughout need different body forms to earn them out.
adulthood, giving animals more than one chance to produce young. However, not all sexually repnjducing animals
Some earthworms and
are of opposite sexes.
example an- hermaphrodite
terrestrial snails, tin
a variety of ways. Hydras, for example, produce (they have both male and female sex organs
REPRODUCTION small buds that grow into complete new animals.
.
1 In- abilitv in reproduce is the cornerstone of life while sea anemones literally tear themselves in two.
because n allows living things to multiply, exploit Some animals produce eggs that develop without
new opportunities around them, and evolve. fertilization - a process called parthenogenesis.
Animals reproduce in one of two ways: #
.•;•'•
•"
This is common in aphids and other sap-
asexually without sex or sexually sucking insects, but it is rare in vertebrates
In asexual reproduction, a hiptail lizards are one of the lew
single parent partitions off pan of examples:. Asexual reproduction is
form a new animal. The

itself to niativeiv quick and simple, but it has
partitioning process can happen in one important disadvantage: since
onl\ one parent is involved, the
SEXUAL REPRODUCTION'
offspring are either genetic allv
As a female common frog lays her eggs, her
identical to that parent or
mate sprays them with sperm toferttiizt them
very similar to it. As a result,
Each tadpole will be genetically unique.
parent and offspring are DIMORPHIC PARTNERS
cquallv vulnerable to threats In some animals, sex differences are extreme. Here, a wingless
such as disease: if one animal female vapourer moth (seen on the right i ha* attracted
dies, the rest will often follow suit. male. After mating, thefemale will crawl away to lay her eggs.
Sexual reproduction gets around this problem
bee ause the involvement of two parents leads to This simplifies sexual reproduction because any
Each one
offspring that are genetically varied. adult of a species is potentially a suitable mate for
has a unique combination of characteristics, and another. A further variation is that some species
as the fittest survive, the species slowl) evolves. have separate sexes but individuals can change sex
However, the disadvantage of sexual during adult life. Parrotlish. for example, often live
reproduction is thai it is much more complicated: in schools dominated In a single male. If the male
the parents must be of the correct spec ies and sex. dies, a female changes sex and takes his place.
ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION and most cases they must cooperate to breed.

in
In addition, only the female actuallv produces

/ •
tea anemont
does by tearing
is in tin final stag
itself in half.
I
qj
The
reproducing,
result will be young, so some reproductive potential is lost.

COURTSHIP
two individual* that ban t xm tiy tin same genetic makeup. Despite these difficulties, sexual reproduction is Before an animal cm mate-, it has to find a partner.
This is eas) enough for species that live in groups,
but for those that Eve alone it poses problems.
LIFESPANS BODY SIZE
Solitary animals locate potential mates bv sending
In general, animal lifespans are directly related to out signals, such as sounds or airborne scents.
adult body size: the larger an animal is. the longer Ea< h spec ies has its own "call sign," ensuring that
it is likely to live, although there are exceptions to such individuals find others of their own kind.
this rule. One important factor affecting lifespan is
( )ne e the sexes are in contact, one partner
metabolic rate - the rate which an animal uses at male- has to overcome the other's
usually the-
energy to make its bodv work. "Cold-blooded"
|
wariness and demonstrate his suitability as a male.

animals, such as amphibians and reptiles, have a
I his process is known as courtship. Ii often takes
relatively low metabolic rate and tend to be long-
the form of ritualized behavior that displays the
In cd. while "warm-blooded" animals, such as birds
male's physical fitness or his ownership ( il a good
and mammals, have a high metabolic rate and tend common toad (cold-blooded): provision of food. If the female is sufficiently
to be- relatively short-lived. This is especially true of 35years impressed, she will accept him as her male.
small spec ies because a low body mass means that
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS While- some form lifelong partnerships.
species
heat escapes quickly from the body and has to be
constantly replaced by lbod. Environmental factors, housefly (at 77'F/i many go ways alter mating. In the
their separate-
such as temperature and humidity, also have an

effect Houseflies, for example, often die within six
'
^T ii
1
housefly (at
!
59 F/
8 weeks
latter case, the males tvpie allv mate with several
females but take no part in raising the- voung.

weeks in warm max survive for many
conditions but FACTORS DETERMINING LIFESPAN More- rarely, tiling work in the opposite wav. with
months if it is and some microscopic animals
cool, Three of the majorfactors influencing an animal's lifespan one- female mating with several males. Where this
survive for decades if they remain in a dormant are illustrated above. The life expectancy of each animal happens for example in phalaropes see p.306
state. In general, animals rarely live for long after is represented by a colored bar. indicating the degree to the female is more brightly colored than the male
their reproductive life has come to an end. which a factor can affect its lifespan. and often takes the lead in courtship. In general,
these females take little or no pan in rearing; voting.
LIFE CYCLES
STARTING LIFE LIVING TOGETHER

Most animals except for the ones thai use Many animals associate with their own kind bul
asexual reproduction Stan life as a single continue to lead independent lives. However.
fertilized egg i ell. II the egg has been fertilized euscK spe< ies. sui h as termites, ants, and
ial
externally, it will already, be outside the mother's bees, form permanent groups or colonies in
bi "l\. perhaps drifting in tin sea or glued to
which just one member the queen produces
all the colony's young. As a result, the colony's
seabed plants or sand. 11 the egg has be n
members are closely related and in many ways
fertilized internally, it will either be laid, to hatch
behave like a single organism. The greal success
afterward, oi il will be retained inside the mothei
ol the system is apparent in the fact thai these
while u begins to develop into a young animal.
insects are anions the most numerous on earth.
The degree development that takes place at
ol
COURTSHIP RITUAL am one stage varies from one type of animal to

,-1 male Jrigalehird inflates his throat pouch to attract the
another. Oviparous spa ies, such as birds, lay their
attention '// a female. Bud* have good color vision, which LIVE BIRTH
explains whj males often havt striking plumage. Animals thai give birth have
relatively few offspring,
FERTILIZATION hut they often show a

high level of parental
Marking the start of a new life, fertilizatii in irs female seal
when a male sperm and female egg cell fuse. In will look after her cub
animals, it takes place in one of two ways: either Jor man)
outside or inside the female's body. QUEEN TERMITE
External fertilization used by many animals is
Hidden deep inside a teimit, nest, it hen do is attended by
that either live permanently in water or return to her workers, a queen tervdh lax up to 30,000 eggs a day.
it to breed. In the simplest version of this process

- In In i complete dependence on the uorkers for food, she
seen in static invertebrates such as corals - vast represents the ultimate form of reproductive specialization.
numbers of and female sex cells are

the male
shed into the water, where they mingle so that
fertilization can occur. A more advanced version of metamorphosis. It allows animals to live in
this, seen in animals that can move around, such different ways - and often in different habitats
as frogs, involves two partners pairing up. Although during their young and adult lives.
they appear to mate, fertilization nevertheless takes fertilized eggs before fetal development begins. In Although metamorphosis is most common in
place in water rather than inside the female's body. birds, development is often deferred for several invertebrates, it does occur in amphibians and
External fertilization does not work on land more days until the clutch is complete; it begins some fish. .Animals that undergo the metamorphic
because sex cells soon dry out and die when as soon as the parent starts to incubate the eggs. process spend die early part of dieir lives as larvae.
exposed to air. Most terrestrial animals therefore Ovoviviparous species, which include many In the sea. larvae often drift near the surface as
use internal fertilization. In general, this involves reptiles and sharks, incubate their eggs internally, part of the plankton, and because they are carried
the male injecting sperm into the female. However, "giving birth" at the moment when the eggs are far and wide they play an important role in helping
some terrestrial animals, such as salamanders and about to hatch. Viviparous species - which include their species to spread.
newts, do not copulate. Instead, the male deposits virtually mammals, as well as some reptiles,
all In the insect world,
a package of sperm (a spermatophore near the i
amphibians, and lish - give birth to live young. metamorphosis occurs
female; she then collects it with her reproductive in two ways. Incomplete
organ so that internal fertilization ran take place. metamorphi >sis. show n
METAMORPHOSIS by grasshi >ppers and
.\J1 animals change shape as they grow and bugs, involves a series
develop. In some the changes are gradual and of gradual changes
relatively minor, but in Others they thai are made as the
far-reaching that the animal is compli ti h yi lung inset t, oi ny mph.

transformed. This transformation is called matures. ( < unplete
metamorphosis shown
bv butterflies, beetles,
and tlies involves mi hi
drastii i hanges, whi< h
i
ii
i ui dm ing a resting
Stage, I ailed pupation,

when the l)"<lv is broken
INTERNAL down and rearranged. zoi i ivkv \
FERTILIZATION
Like all insects, flat-footed
Vllt I 1 I UUi
in pah up m that
the female- eggs
boms.
Mating takes
r**»
EXTERNAL FERTILIZATION
i lis into
do lln\ by 'ii. changing phases of

m a natural flock that I ROM 1 \HV t III Vl)t I I
limni-i
tin ii breeding behavior.

'ii Ian a.
ANIMALS IN DANGER
ANIMALS IN DANGER HUNTING. FISHING. AND

COLLECTING
Unlike many of the world's resources, animals
UNTIL a CENTURY AGO, the earth still contained large areas of wilderness can reproduce. This means that - in theory -
where animals had litde or no contact with human beings. Since then, the useful species can be harvested without their
ever running out. However, many species have
human population has grown rapidly, use of energy and raw materials has been exploited to excess, with the result that a
escalated with it, and there are now very few parts of the planet that are considerable number of them are now in serious
truly beyond human reach. Natural habitats are disappearing, and earth's danger while others have died out altogether.
The list of casualties of hunting includes the
biodiversity - the sum total of all living species - is in rapid decline. This African blue buck, which died out in about 1800.
is potentially dangerous for human beings because it makes the world a and the N< >rth American passenger pigeon - once
the most numerous bird in the world - which
less stable place and wipes out resources that may one day be needed. For
became extinct in 1914. These animals were
animals, the results can be disastrous. The worst affected species have now killed primarily for food, but animals are now
reached the point where, ironically, they rely on human help to survive.
findenough to eat. Fragmented habitats are also

HABITAT CHANGE exposed to more intrusion and disturbance from
Humans first started to alter habitats when they humans and domestic animals, making it much
discovered fire, but it was with the start of farming harder for wild animals to feed and breed.
about 10.0110 years ago. that habitat destruction
became rapid. Agriculture has been the main
driving force behind deforestation, which swept
POLLUTION
the Northern Hemisphere in previous centuries Pollution occurs when chemicals or other agents
and continues in the Tropics today. It has also infiltrate and disrupt natural ecosystems. Sometimes
been responsible for the destruction of some of pollution has a natural origin, but in most cases it
the world's major natural grasslands in addition is the result of human activity It can affect animals AWAITING EXPORT
to marshes and other freshwater wetlands. physically - for example, by entangling them in Packed in tiny wire cages, these parakeets are destined to supply
In recent years, mangrove forests have been waste or clogging them with oil - but its chemical the pet-bird trade. The trade is driven by money from dealers
destroyed to make way for shrimp farms, while effects inside the body or in an animal's environment overseas. However, in the birds' native countries, collecting birds
coral reefs have been "mined"" for building are often more serious, in addition to being may sometimes be the only way of earning a living.
materials. Both of these activities have a far- harder to identify and predict.
reaching effect on marine animals because they The most problematic chemical pollutants are
remove the nursery areas that many species use synthetic-organic carbon-containing substanc e&
to breed. Coasts and rivers are affected by dam- such as solvents, pesticides, and herbicides.
building: the silt that normally accumulates in a Hundreds of thousands of these chemic ats
river's delta, helping to protect the shoreline, is now exist, and new kinds are produced every J
trapped behind the dam. This results in the year. Because of their chemical structure,
erosion of the shoreline in addition to allowing they are often absorbed by living tissue,
where they cause the most damage. Som<
FROM PRAIRIE
of these substances are toxic to all life,
TO FARMLAND
North America's forests
forms, but others are more selective.
and prairies underwent an
They are passed on when predators
explosive burst
their prey, so they accumulate in
of habitat
change with the arrival of
species at the top of food chains,
European settlers. Both were

as whales, polar bears, and birds
originally home to a wide prey. The low breeding success of
variety of animals, such as
some predators - beluga whales
bears and bison, which were in theGulf of St L.av\Tence. for
hunted and then displaced example - is thought to be a direi
as agriculture expanded. result of this kind of pollution.

Much of theforest has grown Animals are also affected by
back, but the prairies are pollution,which occurs mainly
now almost entirely devoted when fuels are burned, causin:
to grain farming: the original poisonous gases to be released
grassland habitat lias largely into the atmosphere. This creates
LRUS HELD disappeared. localized problems such as acid
rain, which has a highly dama
saltwater to flow into freshwater habitats. Fast- effect on freshwater fish. On a
growing cities have created further pressure on much broader sc.de. it is also
the natural habitats that remain. responsible for global wanning
I he pattern that the process of habitat change an environmental change that
takes is i iften as important as its scale. For example, could ultimately affect almost
if large areas of a habitat are preserved in their ever) animal species on earth.
original slate, then the habitat can often function as
it did previously, albeit on a reduced scale. But
WARNING SIGN
il same amount of habitat is fragmented
the
Fish art particularly tensitwe ><• chem
dh up into smaller isolated pieces the effect
ided pollutants and to changes that reduce
on animals is much more severe. Hiis is because water's oxygen content. Mass fish di
main species, particularly predators at the top of are often the first sign that a stretch of
food chains, need extensive territories if they are to water has been seriously polluted.
ANIMALS IN DANGER
meet SHRINKING ICE

often hunted to less pressing needs.
Polar bean use winter sea ice as a
Elephants are in demand for their tusks, and
platform for catching teals. With
rhinoceroses are killed for their horns. Tigers are
global warming, the Arcti
hunted for their fur and body parts, which fetch
•minishing. making it more
increasingly inflated prices as the number of
difficult for polar bean to stock up on
surviving animals falls. At sea, fish have become
food during this crucial tin
victim to the kind of excessive exploitation on< e
reserved for animals on land: plummeting stocks
of once-common species, such as the Atlantic
cod. are a warning sign that many commercial!)
important fish are experiencing major difficulties.
A range of animals are collected for the pet
trade. Apes and tropical parrots .in- particular!)
at risK. Si ime are trapped as adults, but man) air
taken when they are young. Deprived of parental
care, the) often fail to survive
INTRODUCED SPECIES than those that have occurred in die past, and complicate matter-.
Even before Christopher Columbus first traveled evolution does not work at such speed. Extra animals cannot net
K?
essaril)
to the Americas, explorers and colonists had warmth - in itself - will not necessarily be the breed even if they find a
introduced animals to new parts of the worid. The problem: in many cases, the difficultv will >mi i i suitable habitat and a
process increased rapidly during the sixteenth and In mi changing vegetation zones on land, and partner. This is because
seventeenth centuries, and the result - hundreds of i
hanging water levels and current patterns at sea. mam species breed in EXTINCT IN THE WILD:
which the PRZEWALSKl'S HORSE
years later - is that the wildlife of some isolated There are already some signs that animals are groups in
regions has been overwhelmed by a host of over- feeling the effects. Studies have shown that some presence of numerous
assertive intruders, from rats and cats to sheep, mountain animals are shifting to higher altitudes, others is essential to
deer, and goats. Some of these introduced species and some birds are beginning their breeding trigger reproductive
cause problems by preying on local wildlife. Others cycle earlier in spring. In the sea. coral bleaching behavior such as
harm native animals indirectly by competing with see pp.74 and 529 is widely believed to be linked courtship and
them for territory or food. to climate change. These changes are happening nestbuilding. The
In Australia, introduced species have disrupted now: whatever agreements are reached to tackle passenger pigeon was CRITICALLY ENDANGERED:
the ecology of an entire continent. Kangaroos climate change, the problems are bound to a classic example of a BLACK RHINOCEROS
still thrive, but mam small marsupials now live multiply in die decades to come. communal breeder,
in a tiny fraction of their original range, in nesting in colonies that
marginal habitats that introduced species find extended for main
difficult to reach. Similar problems affect New ANIMALS ON THE BRINK square miles. Ev en when
In the 2000 IUCX Red List of Threatened several thousand
Species (see below), over 5,400 species of animal remained, the species had ENDANGERED: QUEEN"
are reported to face a high risk of extinction in already stepped over the ALEXANDRA'S BIRDWING
the near future. In almost every case, the threat threshold into oblivion.
is the result of human activities. The number of
threatened species represents less than a tenth
THREAT CATEGORIES
The IUC\ Red List of
of one percent of all the animals that have been
Threatened Species places
identified to date, but IUCN recognizes that the
animals in one of eight categories
figure is seriously underestimated. This is bet ause
according to the degree of risk
many of the world's animals are poorly known,
they face: the most threatened
UNWELCOME ARRIVALS which makes it very difficult to assess changes as the tiger and the VTTNERABLE: WANDERING
Rabbits were introduced to Australia in the mid-nineteenth in their population size. For birds and mammals. black rhinoceros) are "critically ALBATROSS
century for food and their fur. They quickly spread inland, the statistics are more reliable, and they make endangered;" the next category
displacing native animals and destroying vegetation. In dry disturbing reading: nearly one in four mammals (including the orangutan and
areas, soil erosion set in, permanently changing the landscape. are included in the 80 species being
list, with 1
Queen Alexandra's birdwing) are
critically endangered. For birds, the total is one 'endangered," and so on. Details
Zealand and Madagascar. On much smaller in eight, of which 82 species are at critical risk.
1
of the categories - which are also
oceanic islands the situation can be even more Near!) 6.000 species of plant are also listed a used in this book - can be found
severe: their native birds are often wiped out figure of crucial importance to the animal- that on page 1 0.
by cats and- tenacious newcomers that are
rats depend on them for survival. ,
extremely difficult to eradicate. In this age of Being "on the brink''

rapid travel and expanding tourism, die threat means different things for THE RED LIST
from introduced species increases unabated. different species. Some, The Red List of Threatened Species
is published bv the iiuernatiim.il
particularly invertebrate-, Union Conservation of Nature and Natural Resoun es 11 ( \

for the
an reproduce rapidlv when The IUCN, founded in 1948 In the United Nations, carries out a range of
CLIMATE CHANGE i
conditions are good, whu h

activities aimed at it- work 1- the
safeguarding the natural world. Part of
The regular compilation of the Red

which draws togethei information
Li-t.
earth's climate complex thai hanges
is so i gives them the potential ti i
provided b) over 10,000 scientists from all over the world; this li-t has
are not easv to explain and even more difficult to make a fast iiimeli.u k. But
become a global directory to the state of living duns- on our planet.
predict However, over recent decades one trend man) spei ies are -low
Ihe ui rent Red List -how- thai threatened spei ies are often grouped
i
has become clear: the planet'- surfai e is quite breeders and take a long
in particular pan- <il the world. Today's "hot spots" in< hide East Africa,
rapidly warming up. This is almost ertainl) the i time tn recover if their
Southeast Asia, and the Amerit an ropii -. me >! the reasons for this i-
1 (
result of increasing carbon dioxide levels caused numbers fall. Albatrosses are
that these regions have a much greater diversity ol spe< ies than i
by burning fossil fuels. a IV] ih al example: they take

American Tropk example, are
farther north or south: the -. foi parti( ulariy
Animals an- well equipped to deal with gradual up to seven years to bei ome rich in IhhI -pei ies. In re< ent years, these areas have seen rapid habn.it
m climate because the) are able to adapt mature, they la) just one change particularlv deforestation which has come about paru) because
and evolve. Bui die hanges expei ted during the
< egg, and the) often breed an expanding human population need- more land on whi
coming century an- Likely to be nun h raster mlv in alternate yeai -. 1"
I
CONSERVATION
CONSERVATION However, most conservationists believe

breeding
survival rates.
is not a longterm route to improving
There are two reasons for this: first,
that captive
it requires a huge commitment of time, money,

The NEGATIVE IMPACT thai HUMAN BEINGS have on wildlife grows day and space: and. second, if the reason for a species'
by day. but does the impact of conservation. Across the world,

so. too, decline is habitat loss then captive breeding will not
help because there will be now here for the animals
organizations large and small are engaged in a concerted effort to preserve to live when they arc released into the wild.
nature in its original state or to ensure that it is used in a sustainable way.
It is a huge task, and one that raises some difficult practical questions. CONTROLLING INCOMERS
Which is the best way of safeguarding species? How do you go about
In isolated parts of the world, introduced - or
saving an animal that is on the verge of extinction? And, if resources are "alien" species ( an make life extremely difficult
for native animals, not just by preying on them but

some animals more "important" than others? Experts do not
limited, are
bv i ompeting with them for food and territory.
always agree on the answers, but there is no doubt that conservation is
an urgent priority if today's threatened species are to survive.
condor, when onl\ about 24 birds were left in the

HABITAT PROTECTION w ild. During the 980s. a breeding program1
By far the most effective wav of safeguarding was initiated. As the wild population continued
animals is to protect their natural habitats. An to clei. line, all the remaining birds were caught
animal's habitat provides everything necessary a drastic measure that caused considerable
for its survival, and in its natural state it can controversy at the time. Two decades later, the
continue to do this indefinitely as food and intervention seems to have been vindicated: the
energy is passed from one species to another. totalpopulation has reached about 1 70. and about
This is the thinking behind the establishment 40 of these birds have been released into the wild. EXCLUDING INTRUDERS
of national parks and wildlife reserves. Even Even better results have been achieved with the In Western Australia, this electric fence protects the Peron
small parks can be effective particularly when Hawaiian goose, or nene, and the Arabian oryx. Peninsula from introduced mammals, such as cats. The entire
they protect breeding grounds - but, as a general With new developments in genetic engineering, peninsula - covering 390 square miles 1 1.000 square km) -
rule, the larger the area that is protected, the there even the possibility that recently extinct
is is to become an "alien-free" haven for endangered marsupials.
greater the number of species that benefit and species could be "brought back to lite.
the more likelv it is that the habitat will become Cats, foxes, and rats head the list of these
genuinely sell-sustaining. Canada's Wood Buffalo READY FOR RELEASE troublesome incomers, although plant-eating
National Park - which straddles northern Alberta Raised in captivity, Urn California condor may one mammals can also cause immense damage. In
day help to swell the population in the wild.
and the Northwest Territories - is the world's some of the worst affected regions, such as
largest, with an area of 17.300 square miles
However, m comparison with lifi in
Australia and New Zealand, conservation
aptii it), life in the wild can
1 1 807 square km
North America's . It protects
i
programs are now underway to reduce

difficult
largest surviving buffalo herds, and its remote the threat to indigenous animals.
and even
location insures thai human intrusion and In an island that is as vast as Australia,
hazardous.
disturbance are kept to a minimum. eradicating feral cats and foxes is not
a feasible goal. However, in some parts of
the country, large areas have been fenced off to
1
protect bandicoots, bilbies. and other vulnerable

marsupials from immigrant predators. In these
-
giant enclosures, alien species are either trapped
f
I mk TJft""***
ANIMAL APPEAL
One problem with animal conservation is
that human reactions to individual species
..— i
.^^b'.-.î differ. Some endangered species arouse
immense and sympathy, while others

interest
WATERSIDE VANTAGE POINT elicit A good

indifference or even distaste.
example of the former is the giant panda,
Specially constructed blinds allou \
isilon to watch buds in a
which has become an international svTnbol
wetland reserve. After centuries of drainagefor agriculture,
an vitally important mwn for nature conservation. The latter includes
to .. etland specu r.
thousands of animals, such as beedes and

other insects, that are generally dismissed
In more accessible parts of the world, national
as "creepy crawiies." To be effective,
parks and reserves can suffer as a result of their
conservation must protect all animals in
own popularity as well as from the pressure for a habitat, from the so-called "charismatic
f
resoun Galapagos Islands, for example,
es. In the megafauna" - big animals with star
ionservationists are engaged in an often diffi< ult appeal - to invertebrates that few
to ialani the needs of w ildlife against
1 i
people see and even fewer can name.
the demands of an expanding human population
and increasing numbers of visitors.
POLES APART
The giant panda and the European
CAPTIVE BREEDING long-horn beetle are at opposite ends of

the spectrum of public interest and
\\ Inn an animal species is in immediate danger concern. 1 1 hile thepanda attracts
ol extinction, captive breeding can be a highly funds and media attention, the beetle
effective wa\ of bringing it back from the brink. and its like rarely arouse comment.
In 1982. this was the situation with the California
i
CONSERVATION
or controlled by poison bait. The poisons used are

substances taken from native plants: these are ideal
because they affect only the alien species, leaving
native ones unharmed. Killing for conservation
is a difficult and divisive issue, particularlv when
the victims are cats that have run wild. However,
there no doubt - as far as Australian marsupials
is
are concerned - that it is highly effective.

Introduced species are even more of a problem
on offshore islands, where they can devastate land
animals and colonies of nesting birds. Manv of the
world's most remote islands, such as Kerguelen in
the Southern Indian Ocean, have been overrun by
rats, which arrived aboard ships several centuries
ago. Rats can be extremely difficult to control. On
Kerguelen. eradication programs have failed,
although they have succeeded on several islands off
the coast of New Zealand where rats have been
removed to create havens for tuataras - one of the
world's most endangered reptiles. The small size
of these islands makes them ideal ""arks'" because
they are relatively easy to keep mammal-free.
LEGAL PROTECTION 1960s to about 2,000 today, and tigers, which TOURIST ATTRACTION
After centuries of indiscriminate exploitation. are reduced to a total population of about 7,000. 1 1 itched by a group of tourists, a cheetah relaxes in the evening
endangered animals are now protected by a Both these animals are killed for their bodv parts, sunshine. Its tameness is unusual and is a sign that tourism's
host of international agreements and national which fetch extremely high prices in Asia. intrusion into its habitat is affecting its natural behavior.
laws. One of the most important of these is
the Convention on International Trade in
divided. The African elephant
Endangered Species, or CITES (see panel, right .
COMMERCIAL different conservation bodies are at
is a case in point:
odds about
Other agreements protect specific habitats, such as
wetlands or - as with the .Antarctic Treaty - entire
EXPLOITATION the exploitation of ivory. One side believes that
the legal, albeit controlled, sale of ivory is bound
continents. Some international bodies promote Few people would condone the sale of rhinoceros tohave a damaging effect on elephant numbers
conservation as a way of managing wildlife horn or tiger bones, but some conservationists do fand inevitably help to sustain poaching). The
resources. For example, the International Whaling believe that - where possible - wild animals should other believes that, if it is carefully regulated,
Commission, which was set up in 1 946. originallv be made They take the view
to "pay their way." the sale of ivory could actually safeguard the
supervised the "sustainable harvesting" of whales. that animals are best conserved if they generate species by generating money to protect it.
When it became clear that numbers of most great income, for this provides an incentive to protert At present, no one knows for certain whether
whales were plummeting, whaling limits were them. Then- are two main ways in which this can commerce has a real and useful place in wildlife
gradually tightened until, in 1986. a complete happen: wildlife tourism can be encouraged, conservation. If it does, one thing is certain: the
ban on commercial whaling was introduced. with some of the revenue it generates being used income generated by wild animals will have to
Such legal protection is an essentia] part of for conservation work; or the animals them benefit local people, for their cooperation is
wildlife conservation. In the case of whales, for can be managed as a resource. ial to making conservation work.
example, has almost certainly saved some
it Wildlife tourism is a booming business,
species from extinction. However, its effect although it has undeniable drawbacks, such
is sometimes undermined by loopholes or illegal as habitat disturbance. On the use of animals CITES
activity. Two notorious examples of the latter are The Convention on
as a resource, however, wildlife International Trade in
the poaching of black rhinoceroses, whose Endangered Species CITES was instituted to
experts are more sharply
numbers have collapsed from control the movement of live wild animals, animal
about 100.000 in the early products, and wild plants across international
borders. Signed in 1973 by 81 countries, it
came into force in 1975 and today has over 120

signatories. CITES completely prohibits trade
in over 400 species, including many turtles and
birds, and requires special permits for trade in
others. It ha.s been successful in some areas but,
despite increasing vigilance at ports and airports.
smuggling is still a problem.
BANNED GOODS
All the items shoun
m this photograph are
made of turtle shell -
an animal product
that cannot be exported
under CUES
nizulathin
national
it illegal to
oi(7j animals or objects

listed hi ( lll-s
1
i
m
4
on
The Earth is the only place in the universe
known to support life. Like all other living

things, animals occupy a zone between the
lower part of the Earth's atmosphere and
the lloors of its oceans. Although animal
life is warm, wet conditions of
richest in the
the Tropics, some animals have adapted to

life in the hostile conditions found in arid
deserts, high mountains, and the polar ice-
caps. Wherever they live, animals interact

with each other, with other living things,
and with their nonliving surroundings
to produce complex, constantly changing
environments known as habitats. This
section looks at the habitats of the world
and the animals that live in them.
WORLD HABITATS
WORLD HABITATS
HABITATS OF THE WORLD
This map shows the distribution of major habitats
world,
The
and also cities with populations
habitat distribution shown here is
across the
of 1 million or more.
uould
the pattern that
man-made changes, resultingfrom urbanization and

Seen from space, the MOST STRIKING FEATURE of the earth is its exist if
the spread agriculture, had not occurred.

of
sheer physical variety. Not only is there dry land and open sea, but
there are also mountains, plains, rivers, coastal shelves, and deep oceanic
trenches. The earth also varies in its climate: in some parts of the world, GRASSLAND
weeks or months pass by under almost cloudless skies, while in others, DESERT
the ground is scoured by icy winds or soaked by intense tropical storms. TROPICAL FOREST
Differences like these create a complex jigsaw puzzle of varied habitats,
TEMPERATE FOREST
enabling the earth to support a rich diversity of animal life. Some species
CONIFEROUS FOREST
are highly adaptable and can survive in a wide range of conditions, but
MOl-
MOUNTAINS
the vast majority are found in one kind of habitat and nowhere else.
POLAR REGION
RIVERS AND WETLAND

WHAT ARE HABITATS?
CORAL REEF
In its narrowest sense, a habitat is the environment
in which something lives. For some animals, a URBAN AREA

habitat might be as restricted as a temporary pool
in a desert or as small as a piece of decaying wood
In a broader sense - the one used in this book -
On and at sea, temperature changes
coasts
a habitat can mean a characteristic grouping of are usually more gradual than they are inland.
lhing things, together with the setting in which However; warmth - or lack of it - still determines
they are found. In ecology, a habitat defined in where some habitats are found. For example, reef-
thi^ way is known as a biome. EFFECTS OF CLIMATE building corals do not thrive at temperatures of less
Habitats contain both living and nonliving These two habitats - in Argentina (left) and Chile (right/ - than about 68'T 2' C m most reefs are found in
i
. ,
matter. In some - for example, true desert - are at the same latitude, but they have very different climates, the Tropics. However; on the west coast of Africa
living things are thinly scattered, so the nonliving and therefore very different plant and animal life. The contrast and the Americas, reefs are rare because, although
part of the environment is dominant. In others, is created by the Andes, a mountain barrier that blocks rain- the climate is warm, cold currents pass close to the
such as forest and coral reefs, living things are so bearing winds. Chile is on the windward side of the Andes. shore. Mangrove swamps present a similar pattern:
abundant diat diey fill all die available space and in the Southern Hemisphere they reach as far as
create habitats for each other. In these habitats, rain-bearing winds. On the windward side of the South Australia: in the Northern Hemisphere
huge numbers of species exist side by side, mountains, heavy rainfall often creates lush forests they extend only just out of the Tropics.
forming extraordinarily complex webs of life. teeming with all kinds of animal
But in the life.
"rainshadow," to the lee of the mountains, low

rainfall can produce desert or scrub, where only
BIODIVERSITY
FACTORS THAT drought-tolerant animals can survive. From the earliest days of scientific exploration,
SHAPE HABITATS Temperature is another climatic factor that has naturalists noticed great variations in biodiversity,
an important effect both on land and in the sea. or species richness. In the far north and south,
Geology plays a part in shaping habitats, but by For example, in the far north, coniferous forest species totals are low compared with the numbers
far the most important factor is climate. As a result, eventually peters out in the face of biting winter found near the Equator. Arctic tundra, for
differences in climate -which sometimes occur frosts. This northern treeline. which runs like a example, is inhabited by just a few hundred species
over remarkably small distances - can have a huge ragged ring around the Arctic, marks the outer of insect, while in tropical forests the total is
effect on plant and animal life. A classic example range of crossbills, wood wasps, and many other probably at least a million. A similar picture -
of this occurs where mountain ranges intercept animals that depend on conifers for survival. albeit on a smaller scale is true for mammals
and birds. However, high-latitude habitats make
up for their lack of biodiversity by having some
CHEMICAL CYCLES phenomenally large species populations. The seas
In all habitats, living things take part in eyries around Antarctica, for example, harbor perhaps
that shutde chemical elements between lhing 40 million crabeater seals - the most numerous
and nonliving About 25 elements are
matter.
large wild mammals on earth.
essential to life and, of these, just four make up
The reasons for such variation in biodiversity
the bulk of li\ing things. These are hydrogen,
are still not fully understood, although climate
oxygen, nitrogen, and - the key element -
almost certainly plays a pan. However, in an age
carbon. In the nonliving worid, carbon can be
found in the atmosphere a gas), in water (in
fas
dissolved form), andground Tin rocks and
in the
fossil fuels,. Plants absorb carbon dioxide from
the atmosphere, and most other forms of life

give off carbon dioxide when they break down
carbon-containing substances to release energy.
Carbon is also released by burning fossil fuels.
THE CARBON CYCLE

This diagram shows some of the main pathways in the TROPICAL TREASURY
carbon cycle. The time taken for each part of the cycle
plantand animal The hummingbirdfamily vividly demonstrates the high level
to be completed varies greatly. Carbon may stay in remains broken down dead be found in the tropics. Only a
enter soil in of species diversity that is to
living things for only a few days, but it can remain by microorganisms remains handful of hummingbird species live at high latitudes - and
locked up underground for thousands ofyears. most of these are migrants - but on the Equator, the number
of species rises to over 150.
WORLD HABITATS
to form scattered "refugia" - islands of forest

surrounded by grassland. Even today, these areas of
forest still contain a wider variety of birds than the
relatively new forest that has grown back. Ice ages
also affect sea levels, by locking up water as ice.
When sea levels fall, land habitats expand; when
they rise, the land Is drowned again and plants
and animals are forced to retreat.
Since the last ice age ended, natural
changes have not been the only ones that
have affected the world's habitats. On a
local and global scale, human activity
t>iu..,r
has had an increasing impact and, as a
result, the pattern we now see is pardy
man-made. This is especially true of
forests, which have been cut back to
make space for agriculture, but it is also
some grasslands, wetlands, and
true of
even deserts. In some remote regions -
particularly in the far north - the original
pattern still remains, but in populated regions
1, it has been transformed, creating a world where
wild animals can have difficulty finding a home.
LEVELS OF LIFE
Even in the most remote places on earth,
animals very rarely live entirely on their own.
Instead, they interact with other individuals and

in which main animal species are endangered, develops inside figs; and coundess bees that depend other species. Taken together, these interactions
create a range of different ecological levels, from
biodiversity - and ways of maintaining it - has on particular flowers. Not all plant-dependent
local populations,communities, and ecosystems
become an important topic. Tropical forests and animals are insects, however. The robber crab -
- to the whole biosphere - the sum total of all the
coral reefs are especially rich in species, which is the largest and heaviest terrestrial crustacean
places where living things can be found. Because
\\li\ so much attention is currently focused on feeds predominantly on rotting coconuts, which
microorganisms are so widespread, the biosphere
preserving them and their animal life. it scavenges along the shore (see below). As a result,
extends high into the atmosphere, and probably
it is found only where coconuts grow. Mammals several miles underground.
can be just as particular. The giant panda - one of
ANIMAL DISTRIBUTIONS the most famous examples - depends on about two INDIVIDUAL
A glance at the map on this page shows that dozen species of bamboo, which arc found only at An individual animal is
various types of habitat are spread across large midaltitudes in the mountains of central China. normally an independent
expanses of the world. However, with a few- unit that finds its own
exceptions, most of their animals are not. Instead,
each species has a characteristic distribution, which
CHANGING HABITATS (a food. It often
a set home
lives>
range.
within
comes about partly through its evolutionary history In nature, habitats change all the time. Forest
'see p. 7), and partly as a result of its way of li!i\
1 and grassland catch fire, rivers burst their banks, POPULATION
In many cases, an animal's lifestyle shapes its ,iiid stoi ins battel oral reefs and coasts. Such
I
.-1 population is a group
distribution in unexpectedly subtle- ways. For unpredictable occurrences are facts of life, and of individuals that
example, in the Amcrii as, the blown pelic an is animals along with other living things - have belong to the same
found along the western coast, except for the
all evolved ways of surviving diem. Habitats can also species, live in one
far north and south: in the cast, it does not reach < hange in much more profound ways, over much area, and interbreed.
south of the Caribbean. The reason for this is longer periods of time. Here the driving force is
that, unlike its relatives, the brown pelican feeds usually climate change, a natural process that is
COMMUNITY
by diving for and needs clear water to spot its
fish, triggered by a host of factors, including continental .-I connnunih is a
prey. The Caribbean is lear, but farther >m ii the

< ^< drill. < )n several occasions in the distant past - collection of populations.
Although they h,
Amazon pours vast amounts of mud-laden water most recently about 12,000 years ago - the polar
to different species, they
into the sea. For the peli< an, this muddy watei is a ice caps have expanded, destroying existing
depend on each other
barrier that cannot b<- 1 tossed. habitats and evi< ting their animals. On each
Im survival.
Man) animals' distributions are linked to those in ( asiou. when the e has eventually melted,
ic
of particular plants. Extreme plants have moved ba< k into the empty
ECOSYSTEM
examples include the yucca jtitt&fe^. l.uidsi ape. .mil mini. lis have followed
. suit.
, bi ecos) stem is modi up
moth, wliic h depends The world's i Inn. ites are interrelated, whi< h
of a community and its
on \in ca plants; means that c h.inges in one an a ( an have
physical surroundings.
the fig wasp. long-term effe< is all ovei the globe. Foi
Characteristic ecosystem
which example, during the last i< e age, the
types are bw
climate in the Tropii s bo ame drier,
biomes (or habiia
and the Amazon rainforest slu.mk
BIOSPHERE
COCONUT-EATERS The biosphere consists
Grasping a fallen unarm/, tivo robber of all the ecosystem on
i robs tussle ovei Iheii fa\
>< earth, and therefore all the
The robber crab is one of man i >/" I it from the earth's

whose distribution is determined bj the i rust in tin abnosphen
pn tenet oj a singlt plant in this that living things inhabit.
ease, the coconut palm.

GRASSLAND
GRASSLAND
IN PARTS OF THE WORLD where it is too
dry for trees to grow, yet moist enough
to prevent the land from becoming ^
desert, grasses are the dominant plants.
Grasses are unusual in that their stem
grow from a point near the ground.
This means that unlike most other
plants, which grow from their tips,
grasses are unharmed by grazing.
In fact, grazing animals help grasses
maintain their dominance by
stunting the growth of competing
plants. This creates a vast, open habitat
in which there is plenty of plant food -
for those that can digest it - but little

shelter from the elements.
TEMPERATE GRASSLAND
Before the advent of farming, grassland covered
large parts of the temperate world, notably
in the Northern Hemisphere. These vast
grasslands - which include the prairies
of North America and die steppes of
Europe and central Asia - are nearly all
in the centerof large landmasses. far away
from coasts and their moisture-laden winds.
Summers are often warm, but winters can
be long and cold, with biting winds.
An unusual feature of this kind of habitat is that
most of the plant matter is hidden below ground -
the exact opposite of die situation elsewhere on
land. This is because grass plants direct much more
energy into growing roots than into producing
lea's es, and their roots form a continuous mat. w hich
protects the surface of the
ground by holding the soil in
place. If grasslandis burned
or affected by drought, it can

soon recover because the
grass can draw on its buried
eserves in order to start
growing again. The root mat
the largest areas of makes a useful source of
temperate grassland are found food for insects and other
in .\orth America, South small animals. It is also a
America, eastern Europe, and
good medium for burrowers
central and eastern Asia.
because it is easy to dig
through and. unlike loose soil, rarely caves in.
Above ground, the food supply is closely tied to the
seasons. In temperate grassland, most of the year's
water usually comes in the form of spring rain or
melting snow. This creates a flush of growth in
spring and early summer, when most grazing
animals breed. By late summer, the grass is brown
and dry. although for a while during autumn grass
SOME BIRDS, -itch OS
seeds make a valuable harvest Winter is a difficult
this burrowing owl. lay
time for all grassland animals, but particularly for their eggs in underground
grazers because they often have to survive on low- burrows because there are
grade food that is hidden under snow. no trees to provide nest-hole.

GRASSLAND
SAVANNA
Savanna is tropi< al or subtropical grassland that
contains s< attered shrubs and trees. The grasslands ol
east Africa are a familiar example, with their diverse
wildlife and distinctive vegetation panic ulaiK the
flat-topped a< a< ia trees .
( lompared with temperate
grassland, savanna is ver) variable: in some savanna
habitats, trees .in- few and Far between; in others, the)
form scattered merging thickets, into open woodland.
AERIAL SCAVENGERS. ices have a major impact
I
such as this ,. kih backed on the savanna's animal life.

vulture, exploit tht savanna's
I his is ho ause the) produce
strong thermals,
a wide variet) ol food,
uninterrupted
views, and
including wood, leaves,
abunddnct flowers, and seeds: and
of wildlife. they also create shelter and
breeding sites for animals
ground. The
that live oil the SAVANNA IS FOUND lll/imh
balance between trees and in Central and South Amenta,

grass is a delicate one that tropii [frit a, anthem Asia, 11/ .
issometimes changed by the and northern lustralia. .
animals themselves. For example, elephants destroy

trees by pushing them over so that they can reach
their leaves. However, elephants also help trees
reproduce because they ingest the trees' seeds, which
are then passed in their dung - an ideal medium for
jromoting seed growth. Browsing mammals often
keep trees in check by nibbling saplings before they
have had a chance to become established. Fire
THE GIRAFFE'S also hilps hold back trees, and its effect is most
r
ttraordinarj reach is apparent in places where trees grow close together.
responsiblefot tin umbrella- Unlike temperate grassland habitats, savanna
likt shapt o) many African is usually warm all year round. There is often a
grassland tret r.
ong fin season, when most trees lose their leaves,

followed by a wet, or "rainy," season, which produces
.i rapid burst of growth that turns
the landscape
green. During this wet season, plant-eating animals
rarel) have to contend with .1 shortage of food; in
the dry season, the threat of starvation is never far
away, and man) animals trawl long distances to
find water and food.
FLIGHTLESS CONSERVATION
birds, such as tht
At one- time, natural grassland
covered about two-
ttrich, thri) t in sat anna,
fifthsof the earth's laud surface. With the spread of
hen running is an effii ft'i i
vansofescafi
agriculture, much of this was adapted for growing
crops or raising livestock, and now there are onl)
small remnants of grassland containing its original
vegetation and wildlife. However, farming has also
created grassland: the hill pastures of Europe and New
/(•aland, for example, are the result of deforestation
that occurred several centuries ago. ( )ld pasture
can be a ri< h resource foi wildlife; modem
pastuic has a much
11.11 rower range
ol plants and.
consequendy, less
varied animal life.
CHANGING
HARVESTS
In the spaa a/ less than
percent oj North
TERMITES I
brairit
can) plant matin grassland /;«> been
md, helping ed to farmland.
tn in al, vital nutrient
LIFE IN GRASSLAND
LIFE IN GRASSLAND
Despite centuries of human disturbance, grassland
supports some of the largest concentrations of animal
life on earth. Survival in grassland habitats is far fi
easy,however: aside from the lack of shelter and t
plant diversity, there are hazards such as drough

and fire to contend with. Added to this is the
ever-present risk of attack by some of the
world's fastest and most powerful predato-
HERDING
Life in open grassland is often dangerous
because there are few places to hide. To
increase their chances of survival, many
large plant-eaters live in herds. This makes it
more difficult for predators to attack

because, while most herd members are
eating, some on the lookout for danger.
are
Today's largest herds are found on .Africa's
plains. Here, migrating wildebeest can form
herds over a quarter of a million strong and
25 miles 40km) long, although even these
herds are small compared with some that
existed in the past. During the nineteenth
century, springbok herds in southern Africa
sometimes contained more than 10 million
animals. In North America, bison herds
MOVEMENT
probably reached similar sizes before hunting In grassland and savanna, there is a premium
brought the species to the edge of extinction. on speed. It is no accident that the world's sprinting, even if
Life in herds does have its problems, one fastest land animals, such as the cheetah to be four times f
of which is the risk that an and the pronghorn. arc found in this habitat.
animal might wander off
and become lost. Most
Natural selection favors predators that are
last enough to catch food and prey animals
LIVING UNDERGROUND
herding species have scent that are fast enough to escape. Some grassland animals find safety not by
glands on their hooves so Most of the last runners are mammals, running away but in retreating into burrows
that if an animal becomes however grassland also has nature's fastest- below ground. There they can stay out of
isolated it can follow the running birds, including ostriches, rheas, reach of most predators and find some
scent tracks to rejoin the and emus - giant species that have lost the protection from the worst of the elements.
herd. Another problem is ability to fly. These birds can reach speeds Subterranean animals include a wide variety
giving birth. To prevent of up to 44mph 70kph . More importantly, of species, ranging from mammals to insects.
their young from being the) are able to maintain such speeds forup Some animals, particularly snakes, do not
trampled or attacked, to 30 minutes - long enough to outrun most excavate their own burrows; instead they
many grazers give A nl their enemies unless a predator launches adopt existing ones. The largest burrows.
birth in cover, and MM an attack from a very close range. made by African aardvarks, are big enough
rejoin the herd a Despite the man) last runners, grassland to accommodate a person, and are a serious
few weeks later. life often appears tranquil. This is because
Some, however, running is extremely energy-intensive, and
MAKING A HOME
BELOW GROCND
are born in the animals run only when the) absoluteh have
A black- tailed prairie
open and have to be to. Prey animals have invisible "security
dog collects grass to
able to keep up with thresholds'" that van, according to the threat line a nesting chamber.
the herd when they they lace, for example, gazelles often let The coloirp, or town,
are just a few hours old lions approach to within about 630ft 200m consists of tunnels up
deep.
because they are instinctively aware that
lions that are visible at this distance are
|f* unlikely to be stalking prey. A solitary
K-. cheetah, on the other hand, will
FLIGHTLESS BIRDS
Standing guard over its chicks, a greater rhea
Hatches for danger. Like otherflightless birds
that live in grassland, it uses its height and
to spot potential predators at a
distance so that it has time to run for safety. PRAIRIE-DOG BCRROWS

LIFE IN GRASSLAND
MIGRATING WILDEBEEST
In Tanzania > Serengeti National Park,
FIRE
wildebeest migrate in a cyclical path to
Fires, ivr/iiiied by lightning arc a natural feature
of grassland life, clearing away dead growth
take advantage offresh plant growth
at different times of the year. They
and allowing fresh grass to sprout. In the long
run. fires help grassland wildlife, but while they
spend the wet season in open grassland,
are burning they can be lethal. As the (lame
and the dry season in wooded savanna.
Iront advances, most animals react by running
or living for safety, often abandoning their
usual caution in an urgent bid to escape.
Some animals, such as bustards and storks,
have learned to make the most of this frenzied
exodus from the flames. They gather lose <
to fires and snap up and other small

inset ts FEEDING BY THE FLAMES
animals as they scurry away: and once the .-1 white stork searches for small animals feeing before an
fire has moved on, they pick over the charred advancing fire. Soaring high over the plains, the stork has
ground lor casualties. been attracted to the scene by the fire's smoke.
INSECT-EATER
ard to vehicles; the most extensive are
The giant antealer uses its powerful
: by prairie dogs and other rodents.
clous to break open termite mounds
Before farming became widespread in North and reach the insects inside.
erica's prairies, some prairie-dog burrow-

systems KAcred a thousand square miles
and housed millions of animals.
jjf Termites are also accomplished builders,
constructing giant, elaborate, subterranean
nests that extend highabove ground level.
house large, cooperative
..These nests
communities that can contain over 30 million
inhabitants. Along with ants, they make up
a very large part of the habitat's animal life
COLLECTING DUNG
and provide food for the large insect-eaters.
Dung beetles make use
of the large amount
FEEDING of dung produced by

grazing mammals.
Although grass rich in nutrients and easy They gather the dung
is to
into balls, which they
find, it is difficult to digest. Many mammals,
then roll away and bury
including humans, cannot break it down at
below ground where it
all because it contains large amounts of is used as foodfor the

cellulose- a carbohydrate that most animals beetle's grubs.
cannot digest. Grazing mammals, however,

have special microorganisms in the gut that example, the small dik dik antelope feeds
break down cellulose so that the body is able on shoots and fruit and rarely touches grass,
to use it. Some nonmammai species also use while the much larger eland will eat almost
microbes to digest plant material. In tropical anything from fruit and seeds to roots
savanna, for example, termites rely on them scraped up from the ground.
In break down dead leaves and wood. Scavengers, whit h also play an important
The animals that are most efficient at using part in the habitat's ecology, include birds
cellulose are ruminant mammals antelopes, as well as i oyotes, jackals, and hyenas. Most
buffaloes, and git, dies, for example whit h airborne s< avengers are vultures, but there
helps to explain why these animals dominate are several spet ies ol stork, one of which, the
grasslands. The ruminant's complex stomach in. ii. (bou. rivals the Andean condor for the
,u is like a fermentation tank, working to title of the largest living animal in the world.
extrat i the maximum amount of nutrients
from lood. The animal assists in the process
esophagus rumen
b\ regurgitating its lood and (hewing it a
setoud time, making it even easier to break
down. Nonruminant plant-eaters, sut h as
zebras, have less effit ienl digestive systems
and must therefore eat mote to sun ive.
pure grassland, plant-eaters ompete

In i
for the same lood. although eat h m.i\ have

a preferent e foi a different type ol grass.
In savanna, the present e ol trees and
shrubs makes foi a widei range ol lood.
REACHING FOR FOOD DIGESTING GRASS
mini mi!, ,,,,.>.
and browsing mammals have minimized
I lllll, In/,. . !!;,
The larg, wth, tAe
I lii i 111, an i that although
competition further b) evolving specifit w.i\s
i
bacteria and pi
at the shoulder, it can l>> ol feeding 1 Ins means that a remarkable 'hat turn
much higha lhar, th numbet ol spet ies t an live side l>\ side. Foi 'its that can then he absorbed.
DESERT
DESERT
Deserts are places of extremes.
Besides being dry. they experience SANDGROISE
intense sunshine and a greater daily 7U tht
problem of
temperature range than any other land supplying watei to
habitat. Rain - when it comes - typically nestling! by trem
in their breast feathers.

falls in downpours,
brief but torrential
it
while strong winds pick up sand and

grit, carrying it almost horizontally
through the air. Although no two
deserts are identical, true desert is
usually defined as having less than Gin

(15cm) of a year. Semidesert
rainfall
has more - up to 16in (40cm a
rainfall
year - which typically falls during a
\. K
THE SCIMITAR-HORNED
relatively short spring or wet season oryx, like other nondrinkers,
ean get all the water it needs

followed by months of drought. from its food.
TRUE DESERT
Most of found in
the world's true desert is
I
two belts, one straddling each of the Tropic
Here, zones of high atmospheric pressure
persist for months at a time, preventing low-
pressure air from bringing in rain. Desert al
THE GOLDEN JACKAL
forms where mountains block rain-bearing
is able to Hie nocturnalh.
winds, and where cold coastal currents chill the
lows it to avoid
air so that it carries very little moisture inland.
In true desert, the amount of rain is so meager daytime heat.
and so unpredictable that very few plants can
survive. The ones that do - such as cacti
and other succulents - are highly effective at
i. *
collecting and conserving what little water nature
provides: they have large networks of shallow roots
which drain the surrounding "round so thoroughly THE THORNY DEM L '
that, often, nothing else can grow near by. protective spines in addition
For animals, this arid to the good camouflage

that other slow-moving
environment creates some
ground dwellers often
interesting effects. With
depend on
SO few plants, there
very little soil,
severely limits
which
is
3
invertebrate life.
Most small animals,

TRl E DESERT OCCtttS at Mich as insects.
nudlatttudes in the Xorihern are found either on
and Southern Hemispheres. the plants themselves DESERT
and it ean have less than 2in
or in the debris that SNAKES, such
' rain a year.
accumulates immediately as the horned viper,
beneath them. Larger animals, such as reptiles will pursue their prey
into their burrows.
and rodents, venture away from these pockets of
greenery, but even they have to be careful to avoid
the worst of the daytime heat.
Lack of vegetation means that most of the ground
is exposed. Bare ground absorbs warmth very quickly
when the sun rises, and reradiates it once die sun

has set. The dry air accentuates this effect, allowing
daytime surface temperatures to soar to over 158°F
THE WESTERN
(70°C). As a result, most animals li\ ing in true desert SPADEFOOTTOAD
are active after dark. During the day they hide away. of the desert amphibians that
leaving little sign of themselves except for their tracks. tf) underground.
DEsERT
SEMIDESERT
Comparedwith true desert, semidesert is more
videspread, and it is also much more biologically
iroductive. It is found in ever) continent,
including
some regions far outside the Tropics.
The modest but nevertheless reliable rainfall
DESERT BATS play that semidesert receives has a dramatic effect on the
a
zilal ecological role landscape and the types of animal that it can
because the)' feed support. Plants often grow in profusion, creating
on insects and tangled thickets of
pollinate flowers.
vegetation that provide
plenty of cover. There are
woody species, which store
most of their water in
underground roots, and
fleshy succulents, which
store it above ground in their
SEMIDESERT BIRDS, stems and leaves. Most of

!Uc/l
as the roadrunner. often nest these desert species are well

among spiny plants to protect protected from plant-eaters -
their young from predators. cacti, for example, have
extremely sharp spines, while
spurges exude a poisonous milk)- sap when they
are damaged - but, for animals that can overcome
these defenses, they are an important source of
food. Semidesert also has plants known as desert
ephemerals. which spring up rapidly after rain.
flower, set seed, and then die. This short life
cycle
produces extra fresh food for animals, and adds to
the stock of seeds scattered over the desert floor.
While some semideserts are warm or hot
throughout the year, others are surprisingly cold
in winter. In the deserts of central
Asia, and in
the northern parts of America's Great Basin -
the
desert region between the Rocky Mountains
and
the coastal ranges further west - temperatures
can
fallto --22T (-30°C In these areas, animals need
protection against winter cold as well as against
summer heat: small animals, such as insects, usually
THE MEERKAT become dormant in winter, and many burrowing
tried diet mammals hibernate until the spring
and cooperative foraging
technique help it to
Then food is scarce.
CONSERVATION
Compared with many other habitats in the world,
desert has experienced relatively little human
interference. Oil extraction can create
environmental
problems in desert, but a more serious difficult)
is
caused by the exploitation of the habitat by
livestock.
Goats .md other browsing animals can stunt or kill
shrubs and other plants; when these plants die.
tin-
sparse soil is often eroded, making
THE LOCUSTS migrator) it difficult for
vegetation to recover. The result is desertification,

in adaptation to a or
id ol desert into areas where
habitat whatfood supplier it did not
previously exist These newly treated deserts
are erratic and unpredictable. are of "W.
little value to wildlife.
VMM AI. IMPACT I

Because of their
exceptional climbing
shits, goats hair a
major impact on desert
shrubs. In areas where
large numbers of goats
art raised,
VR vs IT LAS hunt mainly
is often
'hem to
badly affected.
'id their prey after dark.
LIFE IN DESERT
that contain up to of seeds. But
LIFE IN DESERT for predators, and

11 lb ,5kg
animals that browse
for
on shrubs, creating such larders is not
possible. Their food is difficult to collect and
I.\ a HABITAT WHERE MOIS1 URE [S SCARCE, obtaining and conserving to transport, and even if it could be hoarded
water are every animal's top priorities. Desert animals practice a tight it would be unlikely to remain usable for more
"water economy." which means collecting water wherever they can, and than just a few da\ s. The answer is to store
food inside the body. The classic example
minimizing water loss wherever possible. However, being economical with of this is the camel, which stores surplus
water is not in itself enough to guarantee survival: desert species have had food, in the form of fat, in its hump. Several
to evolve various other adaptations to enable them to cope with a wide other species, such as the Gila monster and
fat-tailed dunnart. store food in their tails.
range of temperatures and the ever-present threat of food shortage. As a
result, these animals are able to live in some of the driest places on earth.
COPING WITH
For drinkers and nondrinkers
HEAT AND COLD
CONSERVING WATER has to be eked out to make
alike,
sure that
water
it lasts. In desert, the temperature rarely stay-
Most deserts have a scattering of oases, Compared with animals from other habitats, stead\ for more than a few hours, and it
where animals gather to drink. Some desert species lose very little moisture in can reach extremes of both heat and cold
species need to drink daily, which restricts their urine and droppings, and only a small very quickly. Humans lose excess heat by
roam from an oasis.
the distance they can amount is and in
released from their skin swearing but at very high temperatures this
Others can sunive on the resents stored in their breath. Desert species are also good at cooling system can use as much as 35 fl. oz
their bodies for days or even weeks. A withstanding dehydration. The dromedary. 1 liter of water an hour - far more than
remarkable feature of desert life is that some or one-humped camel, can lose nearly i >ne- any desert animal could afford.
animals can manage without drinking at all. half of its body water and survive. For Desert animals tackle the heat problem in
Instead, they get all their water from their humans, losing just one-fifth can be fatal. two ways: by reducing the heat they absorb,
food. Some from the moisture
extract it and by increasing the heat they give out.
some of the
contained in food, but most use the food
manufacture metabolic water, which is
to
STORING FOOD Light-colored skin or fur reflects
sun's rays,minimizing heat absorption; but a
created by chemical reactions when the To enable them to cope with erratic food much more effective method - used by
energy in food is released. Seed-eating supplies, many animals keep their own food many desert animals - is to avoid the most
rodents are expert at this: although their reserves. Some do this by hiding food away. intense heat by being nocturnal, spending
food looks dry. they are able to metabolize The North American kangaroo rat. for die day sheltering underground. Burrows
all the water they need. example, constructs underground granaries do not have to be very deep to make a
difference: while the desert surface may
moisture in metabolic water released by RAPID REFILL
be too hot to touch, the ground just a couple
food (10%) digesting food (90%) After going without water for several days, a camel can drink
of inches below it will be relatively cool.
âllons (50 liters/ in just a feu minutes. It also
metabolizes waterfrom surplus food, laid down as fat in its

Getting rid of excess heat is more difficult,
hump. Ih salt tolerance is high, which is useful in a habitat particularly when an animal's body
temperature is dangerously high. Lizards
urine moisture m moisture lostfrom skin

(23% droppu^ and in breath (73%)
WATER BALANCE
1 WATER OCT
This diagram illustrates how a kangaroo rat survives entirely
on the water in its food. The water taken in has to balance the
water lost to prccenl the animalJrom becoming dehydrated.
WATER-STORING FROG
The Australian water-holdingfiog stores water in ils bladder
and beneath ils skin. To prevent this waterfrom drying out. tl
frog then seals itself in a semipermeable cocoon underground.

LIFE IN DESERT
c COLD DESERTS hibernate, while birds often fly to warmer as dvi . these animals immediately set about
30
This graph shows Mammals keep warm finding mates because they have to complete
25 climates. by growing
the average annual
20 thick fur, or by taking shelter underground. their life cycles before the pools dry up again.
I i
temperature on the
III western edge of
5 tin Gobi Desert. EXPLOSIVE BREEDING MOVEMENT
Rom November
in
through to March, Deserl animals often have highly variable Desert sand makes life difficult for animals
_)5 temperatures fall bleeding seasons. Instead ol reproducing at on the move. Large animals sink into it, while-
below fid
a fixed time of year, many produce young small ones struggle to climb up and down
when there is the best < han< e of finding
MOVING ON SAND
food. Female kangaroos,
example, give for Flaps of skm between the web-footed
birth very regularly when food is plentiful, gecko 's toes make for snowshoelike feel
but when lood is scarce they stop breeding that allou il to run acros duiit
altogether. This flexible system is an efficient

way of using resources because it prevents ATTACK FROM BELOW
parents from having to tend hungry Guided b) vibrations overhead, this
desert go/den mole has emergedfrom

youngsters when they are hungry themselves.
its burrow to ambush a gecko.
Some desert species earn irregular breeding
to extremes. A number of desert species
paradoxically live or breed in water and, for
those species, reproducing is a highly
unpredictable and time-sensitive
enterprise. Such animals include
burrowing frogs and toads, in addition to
freshwater shrimp that live in temporary
pools. For months or even years, they are
an invisible part of the desert ecosystem.
with the amphibians hidden underground,
CHANGING COAT
are followed by
and the shrimp present only as eggs in dried-
In the deserts oj central . I •.in. freezing n •inters
soaring temperatures in spring. The Bactrian camel copes by

up ground. But immediately after a heavy
growing a thick con/ that /all\ off as toon as the spring warm- storm, the frogs and toads dig their way to slopes of shifting grains. To combat the
up begins. This camel is about halfway through this process. the surface, and the shrimp eggs hatch. Once problem, some animals, such as golden and
marsupial moles, move through the sand
and snakes arc often described as "cold- rather than above it. Others, such as camels
blooded," but this actually means that their and geckos, have extra-large feet, which help
body temperature rises and falls with that of to spread their body weight over the surface of
Although they thrive in
their surroundings. the sand and so increase stability. Sidewinding
warm habitats and can survive with a bod) snakes have a different solution: they throw
temperature of up to 1°F (44°C), they 1 1 themselves forward in a succession of
often have to sit out the hottest part of the sideways jumps, leaving a characteristic
day in shade. Some desert birds cool down pattern of J-shaped tracks. In addition to
by panting, which involves fluttering the flap saving energy, this method helps minimize
of skin over their throats. Desert kangaroos contact with hot ground.
and wallabies lick their front legs, covering Some and lizards have learned to
insects
them with saliva. As the saliva evaporates, tolerate hot ground by alternating the feet
LIFE IN BRIEF
the animal's blood cools down. Trapped in a tapidly shrinking desert pool, these adult tadpole
that are in contact with the ground at any
In high-latitude desert regions, such as shrimp Inn i tilth " /en- dms In lire, but the eggs they leave one time. Having long legs also helps since
the Gobi Desert of central Asia and the Inland i mi sin . ire in a dried-out state for severalyears - long they hold the animal's body away from the
Great Basin Desert of North America, winter enough to last until tht m xt hem i
storm, u hen tht i u ill hatch. sand's surface, where the heat is fiercest.
can be extremely cold. Animals have various
ways of coping with Most
this. reptiles
NOMADIC ANIMALS
Where food and watei supply is patchy some
animals adopt a wandering lifestyle. This
is i ommon in desert habitats, espe< ially
limals that can fly. Desert locusts are

famous For their huge nomadii swarms,
,ukI some desert birds, parti ularl) seed-
I ik imadii Hoc ks, I Fnlike
n< imai Ii animals do no) follow

fixed routes the weathei i iften di< tates
their course and the) breed erratically

wherevei they Bnd a good food supply
WILD BUDGERIGARS
NOCTURNAL ACTIVITY Australia's nomadii buds include tin budgerigar, the cock/.
Desert jerboas arc typical oj the small rodents thai Budgerigars can breed when jw
andfeed mainly on oin month old; and. sun c patents | an mis, several /aimln
habitats. The) art entire!) nocturnal, seeds.
Jerboas can trace! ova 6 miles 1

10km) in theis search fin food,
in quick succession, /links em build in prodigious number
hopping on then long bat I legs and balant ing i ith tht a tails
TROPICAL FOREST
TROPICAL
FOREST
Forests have flourished in the FOREST EAGLES have
- broad wings that enable them
Tropics for longer than the} have
to glide through the canopy in
existed anywhere else on earth, their search for prey.
which helps explain why the

animal species that live there
outnumber those of all other
land habitats combined.
Most large tropical forest animals
have been identified and classified,
but the invertebrate life is so diverse that
the task of cataloging it will never be SLOTHS spend most of their £
complete. There are two main types of i pendedfrom branches 9
in the forest cannj n
which is
tropical forest: rainforest, camouflage to avoid attack. z
closest to the Equator: and seasonal or
monsoon forest, which grows toward the
edges of the tropical belt.
TROPICAL RAINFOREST
Near the Equator, the climate is
year round, creatine ideal conditions for plant growth.

warm and moist all
Hi]
TROPICAL RAINFOREST
harbors a greater variety
of treefrogs than any

As a result, trees and other forest plants grow almost other habitat.
incessantly in an endless competition for light. Some
plants put all their resources into growing towering
trunks, while others are adapted for survival in partial
shade. As a result of these different growth patterns,
the forest is divided into clearly defined layer-., each
with its own characteristic animal species.
The highest layer, at about 245ft (75m). consists of
giant, isolated trees called emergents. These provide
nest sites for predatory birds and feeding platforms
for monkeys. Beneath this level is the canopy, where
copious light, combined with
some protection provided by HOWLER MONKEYS
the emergents, results in a of South .America's rainfore
continuous layer of branches are among thefeic prtmatt

that sunlit
and lush foliage up to 65ft
on leaves.
20m deep. This layer feeds
or harbors most of the
forest's animal life. Below the
TROPICAL RAINFOREST canopy is the understory - a

is found near the Equator, more open layer made up of
LEAFCLTTER ANTS
where annual rainfall exceeds shade-tolerant trees. On the
are found at all It
8'Aft (2.5m) and is evenly
forest floor, leaf litter is food rainforest, from the ground
spread throughout the year.
for some very small animals to the highest treetops.
as well as support for plants and saplings that grow

where through from above.
sufficient light filters
This zonal pattern is characteristic of lowland
rainforest the most common rainforest type .
At higher altitudes, the trees are lower and the

layers are more compressed - an effect that is
exacerbated as altitude increases until eventually
the trees form elfin forests little more than head
high. Soil is also a vital factor in shaping
r the forest.
, T1
w
.
TAPIRS, and other hoofei

Insome parts of the 1 topics, such as the RlO mammals, gatherfallen
Negro region of South America, infertile sand results fruit from the tropical
in the growth of stunted trees with leathery leaves. forestfloor.
TROPICA! FOREST
SEASONAL (MONSOON) FOREST

Unlike rainforest, where the limate is very stable, i
seasonal foresl grows where rainfall is concentrated

into wet, or rainy, season, which is called a
.1
monsoon. Up to 8 2.5m of rain can fall in just

ii
three months as much as some tropical rainforests

receive throughout tin- whole year. As a result.
seasonal forest is not as tall as tropical rainforest
t HORNBILLS
their long bill to collect
Use and. typically, the canopy
farther toward the ground.
is more open and extends
Immediately after the

monsoon, seasonal forest
I
is lush and green; but in
feed in tin stun, :cm.
the long dry season that
follows, many of the trees
shed their leaves, and the
fierce sunlight is able to rea< h
through the bare SEASONAL FORESTS grou
branches to tin forest nte of the Equator.
floor. Some seasonal forest Tin dry season lasts longer

the further the region is from
trees are unusual in that they
the Equator.
FOR STICK flower and fruit after they
insects and have lost their leaves. Where this happens, birds,
\ highly insects, and mammals congregate in large numbers
developed camouflage
to iced. In the
rainy season, the forest's animals are
is the kn
well hidden by the foliage; once the leaves have
fallen, they become much easier to find.
Despite the yearly cycle of deluge and
drought, the animal life of seasonal forest is
>me of the most numerous and varied in the

>rld. In southern Asia, which has the largest
area of this type of forest, the habitat supports

elephants, monkeys, leopards, and tigers. In .Asia's
-
seasonal forests there are some spectacular birds,
including; giant hornbills, and some of the world's
largest snakes. In Africa, seasonal forests abound
with browsing antelopes, while in Central America.
they are inhabited by pumas, coatis, and white-
tailed deer. Most of these animals breed during
the
atlas moth isfound wet scason when they can take advantage of the
,
ikiIforest, as are abundant supply of fresh leaves.

many of tin worlds other
large, winged insects.
M CONSERVATION
M
)eloi estation is currently threatening
f^P I
wildlife
in forests throughout the Tropics.
Nearly half
of the world's original tropical rainforest cover
has been destroyed during the last 40 years, and
large areas of seasonal forest have been cleared
either for lumber or for use as farmland.
International efforts are being made to preserve
FOREST CATS make up forests - in Costa Rica, for example,
almost 30
more than half »f the
percent of the countr) Ins been designated
as national
- The park but in many countries throughout the Tropics,
1
tiger is the largest and one forest clearance
of the most endangered. is continuing at
a rapid rate
asm FORMER FOREST

Tropicalforest clearance
mb follows the pattern set
- Ill nihil plllt-
ill the world, but it-
impact cm plant- and

SS\K1 s
animal- .
on ludi species that hunt on
many tpeda nt take.
I v* •:"
LIFE IN TROPICAL FOREST
LIFE IN TROPICAL vocal sack

w
FOREST
SOME TROPICAL FOREST ANIMALS spend on the ground. all their time
For most, however, daily around among trees. The
life involves getting
canopy holds most of the forest's food, so an animal that is good at
moxing around in the treetops has the greatest chance of thriving. Some
animals are so well adapted to life in the trees - breeding as well as
feeding there that the}' very rarely have to visit the forest floor. PRIVATE CALL
1 1 ith its zocal sack inflated, a male treefrog calls to deter
rival males and to attract potential mates. Female frogs react
MOVING IN TREES but many of the more primitive primates, only to the call of their own species; and the louder and
such as bushbabies, move about after dark, longer a male calls, the more likely females are to respond.
Small animals need relatively few special identifying their pathways pardy by smell.
adaptations for moving about in trees. Ants. Gibbons are also different: they travel see for more than a few yards, while tree
for example, are so light that it makes little underneath the branches by swinging hand- trunks get in the way on the ground. As a
difference to them whether they are traveling over-hand in a breathtakingly acrobatic result, many forest animals rely on sound
up and down trees or across the forest floor. manner. This unusual but highly effective and scent, rather than visual signals, to
But for larger animals, such as apes, monkeys, form of movement is called brachiation. claim territories and attract partners.
and other primates, climbing is a dangerous Tropical forest harbors a huge variety Some of the loudest animals in the world
occupation: if they lose their grip - as of flying animals - birds, bats, and fixing live in tropical forest. They include howler
occasionally happens - they risk a fatal fall. insects — thatswoop or hover among the monkeys, bellbirds. parroLs. cicadas, and an
Most primates climb by running or treetops. However, during the course of enormous variety of treefrogs. Like mammals
leaping along the tops of branches, often evolution, many unrelated animals, including and birds, each species of treefrog has its own
using familiar routes that act like highways mammals, and even snakes, have
frogs, characteristic call: some produce a short
through the trees. developed winglike flaps of skin that enable metallic "tink."" others generate a sustained
Monkeys follow these them to glide. Some of these gliders can trilling that sounds like machinery.
routes mainly by sight. travel over 330ft 100m; from tree to tree Signaling with sound can be dangerous
and. remarkably, many of them are most because it can attract predators as well
PREHENSILE TAILS
active after dark. as potential mates. Treefrogs and cicadas
Climbing sna/;es - such
minimize the problem by pitching their calls
as this oneroid tree boa -
use their tails to clamp COMMUNICATION so that the source
Other animals, including many mammals
is very difficult to locate.
themselves to branches.
The front of the snake's i any kind of forest, animals face problems and flying; insects, avoid the problem by using
body folds up. ready to keeping in touch. In the canopy, scent to stay in touch. One great advantage
straighten out a
leaves and branches of scent is that it lingers: for example, in
anything that ca
/ make it difficult to marking its territory, a jaguar or okapi leaves
within reach.
a signal that will last for several days.
\
KEEPING OUT OF DANGER

Tropical forest abounds with camouflaged
animals as well as species that mimic others.
Animals that use camouflage - chiefly insects
and spiders, but also snakes, lizards, frogs,
and toads - resemble a huge variety of
inanimate objects, from bark, thorns, and
bird droppings to branches and fallen leaves.
Many animals use camouflage to avoid being
(spotted and eaten, but some predators also
it to enable them to ambush their prey.
Mimicry, which one species "pretends"
in
be another, is a subdcr means of avoiding

attack. It involves a relatively harmless species
Revolving to look like one that is dangerous,
id it is most common in invertebrates. Some
ODpical forest spiders, for example, closely
resemble stinging ants and even move like
them as well. Matters are complicated where

rtoHng abuul in trees,
several species come to look alike. Some
mi Imp t» '
groups of unrelated butterflies, which contain

Ids midcan easily
on the ground.
poisons that are distasteful to birds, imitate
lliiw»t,'
each other: thus they have evoked the insect
equivalent of a shared warning trademark.
LIFE IN TROPICAL FOREST
DOUBLE PROTECTION Compared with flowers and fruit, tropical

Smith American thorn bugs not Animals
loirst leaves are difficult to digest.
Only look like thorns but feel lik that feed on these leaves generally pick them
them. The thornlike extension
while they are still young - before protective
m the thorax both disguises
toxins have had a chance to build up inside
them and make* tk
difficult to swallow.
them. Insects are the most prolific leaf-
eaters, but some of the forest's larger animals
also rely on this difficult diet. They include
several kinds of monkeys and sloths, and the
hoatzin - a highly unusual bird from South
America. The hoatzin processes its food much
as a grazing mammal does; after eating, it
is often so heavy that it can bareh fly.
Tropical forest predators range from some

of the world's smallest insects to the largesl
cats. In an environment that provides
'
V, lots of cover, most of them stalk their
prey rather than running it down.
Army and driver ants are the most
remarkable exceptions: they hunt in
"packs" over 50,000 strong, overpowering
and eating anything that cannot escape.
Warning signals are most developed in

REPRODUCTION
extremely toxic animals. For example, unlike For animals thatlive in trees, breeding can
other frogs, tiny poison-arrow frogs hop sometimes involve unusual adaptations. Some
nonchalantly about the forest floor, relying treefrogs come down to the forest floor to
on their extraordinarily vivid colors to warn lay their eggs, but many lay them high up in
PROTECTIVE NEST
other animals that they are not merely the canopy, either in water-filled tree-holes
These African treefrogs have grouped together to make a giant
unpalatable but highly dangerous to eat. or in the pools of water that gather in plants. foam nest hanging from a branch. The nests exterior hardens
Some frog species are more creative, laying to protect the eggs and to keep the interior foam moist. 1 1 lieu
their eggs in nests of foam

keep their eggs
FEEDING that the tadpoles hatch, they break out and drop into water below.
moist until the tadpoles are ready to hatch.
Near the Equator, trees grow, flower, and set Many tropical birds start in the safety of
seed all year round, generating a nonstop tree-holes, but climbing
life
mammals rarely build

ANT FOLLOWERS
In Central and South American forests, a single
supply of food. Many forest animals - nests,and many of their young start life in the
column of marauding army ants attracts up to
including bats, birds, and insects - live almost open. Young monkeys often cling to their
30 difFerent kinds of bird, all swooping down to
exclusively on the abundant nectar and fruit. mothers' chests, keeping a tight grip as the catch the tiny animals that burst out of the leaf
Some of these animals help trees spread parent runs along branches or leaps through litter to escape the ants. Some birds flutter ahead
their pollen and seeds. The quetzal, for the air. For young murine (mouselike) of the ant column; others dart among the ants
example, swallows fruit whole, and then opossums, which live in the American tropics, themselves. Some are Full-time ant Followers,
while others Follow the throng only For as long as
regurgitates the pits onto the forest floor early life is even more precarious because
the ants are marching through their territories.
where they can germinate. their mothers do not have well-developed
A Few small animals, including wasps and rove
pouches. Consequently, until their feet have
army on the ground.
beetles, travel with the
developed the ability to cling, these tiny Although this sounds dangerous, these animals
marsupials hang from their mothers' teats by mimic the ants very closely - an adaptation that
their mouths, their legs dangling in the air. prevents them From being attacked while gaining
them protection and Free Food. Army ants also
attract lizards and Frogs, as well as parasitic flies
that lay their eggs on the fleeing animals.
NECTAR FEEDERS
.1 hut laps upflowei nectar. Flowers
pollinated by bats and birds hare to he

mhos! ij iln i are not io h< damaged
by then visitors. Birds me attracted to
AERIAL ATTACK
certain flowers mainly by then bright
colors, hats by then pungent Kent
The blue-crowned motmot,
n pail time ant fill
RODENT OPPORTUNISTS distantly related to kingfishers.
Agoutis and other miall, ground- I Ac them, it snoops down on
dwelling mammals often follou Iln its pity, mines it hack to a

progress of parrots and monkeys perch, and hits it again si
through tin ti<e\ gathering the pieces o) a launch before eating it.
food that accidentally jail to the ground.

TEMPERATE FOREST
1
TEMPERATE
FOREST
Temperate iori.m grows MOTHS lay their eggs on
in regions that
lanes, buds, or bark. Their
have a wide range of climates. In some. caterpillars an often the
winters are cold and summers are cool: in most numerous leaf-eaters
in the /
others, the winter ,V^'
is relatively mild, and
the summer heat rivals that in the Tropics.
Where winters are cold, temperate forest
trees are usually deciduous, shedding
their leaves in winter and growing a
new set in spring; in warmer regions, TREECREEPERS/
m
;/'
trunks in search
many keep their leaves all year.
trees
tree
small insects hidden

of
in
Although temperate forest does not have bark en .
as many animal species as tropical forest

they are still among the richest wildlife
habitats on land.
DECIDUOUS FOREST
In the depths of winter, deciduous forest can seem
SQUIRRELS <f>cnd the
gaunt and empty, and largely devoid of animaJ life.
autumn colleetingfood.
But a- the days lengthen in spring, and buds begin
which they then store
to burst, the habitat
becomes alive with birdsong away for use in the winter.
and animals on the move. This transformation is
triggered by a sudden abundance of plant food -
one that nourishes large numbers of plant-eating
insec t- as well as the animals that feed on them.
Many of these forest animals arepermanent residents,
but they also include migratory birds that flv in from
distant parts of the world. .tf*^
Compared with tropical forest, temperate deciduous
forest has relatively few tree species: the maximum
number - found in some of the forests of eastern
Xorth America - is several hundred, while tropical
*'V
forest might contain several thousand. Nevertheless,
DEER feed on lean
temperate forest trees are
summer; in winter, they often
^"Syî powerhouses of life. Large

oak trees, for example, can
strip bark from shrubs and
young understor,
produce over a quarter of
a million leaves a year .> s
enough to sustain the
army of weevils, txall
wasps, and moth

caterpillars that feed
rapidly in spring and H--
Xorthern Hemisphere; most
early summer while the
temperateforest in the Southern
leaf crop
wild BOAR dig up the
is at its freshest
Hemisphere is evergreen. leaf litter with their snouts,
and most nutritious.
feeding on anim,.
Like tropical forest, deciduous forest has a clear.
and roots.
vertically layered structure, but there are some
important differences. The trees are rareh, more than
lOOfi 30m tall, and the canop) layer is usually deep
but open, allowing light to reach the understor)
and encourage plant growth. Fallen leaves rot
slowly in cool conditions, so deciduous forest has
an unusually deep layer of leaf litter that insects.
woodlice. and millipedes use as food and cover. As a
in THi moist andHions
result, while main small animals live in the
cracks theforestfloor, lungless
of
and crevices in bark, the place that is richest salamanders can absorb
in invertebrate life is not the trees but the ground. ox>gen through their skin.
TEMPERATE FOREST
EVERGREEN FOREST
Inwarm parts of the temperate world, many
broadleaved trees arc evergreen. Unlike trees
of deciduous forest, which grow in spring and
l RINGTAIL summer, evergreens grow in winter and sprint;.
possum has a when temperatures
:
are low but not cold, and when
tail, which /nips it
water readil) available. Described by botanists as
is
i limh along high bram hi i
sclerophyllous (meaning hard-leaved) forest, this

to reach /loucis and fruit.
habitat is found in several widely scattered regions
of the world, including
parts of California and
western South America, s *&z.
the Mediterranean region
in Europe, and large areas
of eastern and southwestern
Australia. In some of these
places, the forest is low-
growing, but in Australia, TEMPERATE EVERGREEN
w here eucalyptus is the forest is found in regions
HOOPOES swoop down dominant species, it includes with a Medilerianean-iypi

from tin canopy to catch the climate: mild, damp winters
tallest broadleaved trees
"i the ground. and warm, dry summers.
in the world.
Since temperate evergreen trees usually have open
crowns, the vertical layers are usually less
pronounced than they are in forests in cooler
regions, and plenty of light is able to reach
the
forest floor. As a result, these forests are rich
in
ground-based wildlife, and warmth-loving animals -
such as lizards and butterflies, which are usually
associated with higher levels - can often be seen
KOALAS sunbathing on the floor. The open structure also
Ihk the h),
III si
makes it easy for birds, such as kookaburras and
canopy, but also walk
other forest kingfishers, rollers, and hoopoes,
across the ground to reach to swoop
olated clumps qj tret i
down on animals moving around on the ground.
The air in evergreen forest often smells pleasantly
aromatic because most of the leaves are filled with
pungent oils. These oils help stop the leaves from
drying out, and they also protect them from animals.
They are a highly effective deterrent, for relatively
few animals - except for specialists such as the
koala
include these leaves in their diet.
WHITE'S TREEFROG has
exceptionally thick flan,
i huh minimizes moisture
loss mid enables it to cope CONSERVATION
with the dry conditions Deciduous forest once covered huge swathes
of the
» in evergreen fan «/ Northern Hemisphere. Now. after centuries
of
clearance for agriculture, only small pockets
of the
original forest remain. In general, the
forest cover is
no longer declining, and in some countries
it is
actuallyon the increase. However, evergreen forest
continues to be threatened both by logging and
by
clearance for industrial and residential
development
GRASSHOPPERS ^ In Australia, conservationists
have been engaged in a
protracted struggle to safeguard areas
and othei inst '..
such of untouched
•
foodfor forest from the
mdmammals that logging industrj
fitll On tin ground. and from farming.
SALINIZATION
These Australian
eucalyptuses /aire been
hilled by stilini-atwn
rising sail levels in the
ground. Saliniâtion is
caused by forest clearance,
which changes the water

SI N M KIM, F
balance of the ground.

md Minh< alien has! m the
Snlmi-ed land \
varm sunlight that bathes

Jor agriculture.
floor.
* LIFE IN TEMPERATE FOREST
LIFE IN TEMPERATE TREE GALLS

Common in broadleaved forest, galls are growths
FOREST whose development

other organisms. Galls often look
is triggered In insects
buttons on leaves and twigs. The) act as both

and
like berries or
home and larder, or nursery, allowing their

THE FACTOR THAI >m AFFECTS LIFE in temperate forest is the variable
.\l< occupants to feed unseen. In broadleaved forest,
most galls are produced by tiny wasps and flies.
food supply. At all levels - from the treetops to the forest floor the life
Each species of insect affects a particular tree,
cycles of forest animals li\*ing in temperate forest move in step with the and each produces galls of a characteristic shape.
seasons so that they produce their young when food is easiest to find. making them easy to identify
Life is relatively easy in spring and summer, but in winter, when the OAK GALLS
food supply is at its lowest, special adaptations are needed for survival. Oak marble galls are produced by
Andricus kollari. a wasp belonging
to the family Cynipidae. The wasp 's
FEEDING larvae develop inside the
galls. They then
As .1 deciduous temperate forest -

habitat, chew an exit hole
through the outer

the kind of forest found across much of the
surface to
Northern Hemisphere have one very
emerge as adults.
useful feature in common. The trees that
grow in them, such as oaks and beeches,
wasp larvae
produce leaves that are designed to last for
just cme growing season. As a result, these
leaves are usually thin and easy to eat. which WINTER GRANARY
is why vast numbers of insects feast on them In western North America,
acorn woodpeckers store Food
as soon as they begin to appear in spring. storage, or "caching." is practiced
acorns in trees, cramming
This sudden explosion of insect life 1 >y many forest birds and mammals. Jays
them into holes that they have
attracts an army of highly specialized avian >ury acorns in the ground, while acorn
previously drilled in the bark.
predators. In Europe, northern Asia, and These storage trees are called
w ( m xlpeckers store them in trees. Squirrels
North America, dozens of warbler species granaries. A single granary may hold bury seeds of all kinds,and red foxes bury
migrate north as the buds open. These birds 'DO acorns and be stocked by anything that is even remotely edible, from
have extremely acute eyesight, enabling up to a dozen woodpeckers working and half-eaten remains to food wrappers and
them to scour leaves for the tiniest grubs nesting together. The woodpeckers will alsi
discarded shoes. Some animals locate their
store acorns in fence posts and telephone poles.
and caterpillars, which they then pick up reserves by scent, but most can pinpoint
with their tweezerlike bills. Other birds, them by memory alone, finding and digging
including treecreepers, woodpeckers, and By midsummer, and
leaves stop growing, up their food even when it is covered by snow.
nuthatches, concentrate on the bark, seeking animal feeding behavior changes. Most Seed-caching has an important impact
out and pecking at the tiny animals hidden temperate trees are pollinated by wind, and on forest ecology; .Although animals that bury
among the crevices. do not need to produce enticing nectar-rich seeds have good memories, some of what they
flowers. However, they do produce large crops hide is always forgotten about. This means
FOREST-FLOOR FORAGERS
of nuts and other seeds, which are extremely that provided the seeds are not discovered
Watching Is, adult wild boars mot m the leaf
litterforfood. Wild boars feed on acorns and other nuts, and important foods for animals because, unlike by rodents or other animals, they remain
they also use their spadelike snouts to dig up roots, fungi, and leaves, they can be stored away and used effectively planted and ready to germinate,
! in soil or among fallen when other food is scarce. helping the forest's trees to reproduce.
NIGHT FUGHT
fed
HIBERNATION ( nlike most squirrels, . \orth American ,
flying squirrels feed at night. The

In autumn, many insect-eating birds migrate
<,',
flaps betu em tlirir legs
to warmer climates, leaving the forest's
illtlbli tin in In "lldt lm o; n 165ft
remaining animals to lace the winter cold.
iOm). I It, i steei , ith Iheii front
Animals that store food can remain active legs, and ust theii hug, , it
throughout this difficult time of year, but aft I\ in the dark.
others use a very different survival strategy:

they hibernate, living on the fat reserves they too often: activit) uses up their
have up during the summer months.
built bodily food reserves, and it therefore
How long and how deeply an animal puts them at risk of running out before
hibernates depends on where it lives. In the winter is truly over.
the forests of northwest Europe, hedgehogs Man) insects also hibernate, often hidden
may hibernate for up to six months, under bark: but. in some species, the adults
whereas farther south their winter sleep is die out. leaving behind tough, overwintering
much shorter. In eastern North America, eggs that will hatch in spring.
woodchucks - or groundhogs - typically
hibernate from October to February:
their wanderings early in the year are a
MOVEMENT b\ i'Iiihuiil! hi'-rh-pitchec
pulses of sound. These^

traditional sign that spring is not far off. While monkeys and gibbons are the most signalsbounce back from ^
Some hibernating animals, such as the impressive climbers in tropical forest, squirrels nearby objects in the same way
common dormouse, hardly ever interrupt are the experts in temperate forest. Unlike as those sent out by a bat's sonar system.
their winter break, even if they are picked many climbing mammals, they can run head-
first down tree trunks, as well as up them, by
LIVING IN LEAF LITTER
hooking their long, curved hind claws into
bark. Squirrels have excellent eyesight, and The leaf litter in temperate forest is one of
the) instinctively scuttle to the back of a tree the world's richest animal microhabitats.
if they spot a potential predator - a simple This deep layer of decomposing matter
behavior that makes them difficult to catch. harbors vertebrates, including mammals and
Temperate forests are inhabited by gliding salamanders, but its principal
rodents, and also - in Australasia - by gliding inhabitants are invertebrates that
marsupials. But for precise maneuvering feed on on fungi
leaf fragments,
among trees, owls and birds of prey are and on each other.
bacteria, or
unrivaled. Unlike their relatives in open Some of these animals - such as
habitats, most of these aerial hunters have centipedes and woodlice - are large
relatively short, broad wings that enable them enough to be easily seen, but
to twist and turn effectively. A prime example many others are microscopic.
of this adaptation to woodland life is the
HUNTER IN THE LEAVES
Eurasian sparrowhawk: rather than soaring
Lithobud i
entipt ii, i shown here)
and then swooping, it speeds among trees and
|
aliened bodies thai allou

SLEEPING THROUGH THE COLD
along hedgerows - sometimes only a few feet them to crawl under leaves and
Common dormice ust leaves and moss to makt well-insulated
its among bramble* and other plants. Here, part oj
above ground - ambushing small birds in fallen logs in addition to on
lb, n, rf has been temporarily removed to reveal the hibernating mid-air and carrying them away in its talons. the ground surface. Geophilid
animal, jasl asleep with its tail wrapped tightly around its body. Temperate forest provides ground-dwelling centipedes lm permanently
underground, and therefore
animals with lots of cover. As a result, small
have narrow, almost '
up. However, many hibernators behave in mammals, such as voles and shrews, abound
wormlike bodies.
a different way. II the weather turns warm, on the forest floor. To avoid being seen as they
they briefly rouse themselves: bats, for move about, these animals often use runways Animals that live
example, take to the air for feeding flights, partly covered by grass or fallen leaves. Voles deep in leaf litter
while hedgehogs often move out of one use combination of vision, smell, and touch
.1 exist in total darkness,
hibernation nesl and into another. But forest to find their way along these runs, but shrews, so most of them rely on their sense of
lulu i
nators have to be careful not to do this which have very poor eyesight, navigate partly touch to find food. This is especially true
of predators: centipedes lot ate their prey with
long antennae, while tinv pseudoscorpions
INSECT ENGRAVERS .
use the sensor) hairs that cover their pincers.
Female bark beetles tunnel through the sapwood ^j -^tl^KEA Like true scorpions, pseudoscorpions are
Ix'iieath living bark, laving eggs at intervals along :^fl venomous; but the) are so small that they
the u.ii The h, itched larvae eat their wa\ out ^fWt
.ti right angles to the original tunnel, creating <^H pose oo threat to am thing much biggei than
distiin tive "eallei ies" that ran be seen when ^H IHBBP^^k^^k themselves. Ehis is fortunate because in just a
dead bark kills awav. The side-tunnels cud ^^H &C^M T ./^ Jf?i«j;V'S lew square yards of leaf litter then numbers
in exit holes. Ii, ,iii ulu< h the dcveloncd ^^^H ^^H J AnMûya^ '
( f
.c
3hH9HC can run into millions.
Mies .111111. .ii ^H^H v-V wHib . ?1^B Dead leaves are a useful si reen, hiding
in deciduous loicsi. Ii.uk beetles i an lie t^^^^M I BARK GALLERIES
leaf-littei dwellers from other animals
highly destructive because thev often ^M i»X -<*'^^P Ih, adult bark!-.
inlet t trees with fungi. < >ne spe< ies ^B t
w has a cylindrn nl body and
foraging on the forest Qoor. However, u is not
the elm bark beetle spieads I )uu h ^^^H ^H a uiiind fronted thorax hiding most
totall) set inc. Some temperate forest birds.
elm disease. ,i fungus that has wiped out ^^^B ^B of tin In ad. The gallery patterns partit ularl) thrushes, pi< k up leaves and toss
•'litis in p.u i ,.l 1 .hi ope and North America. VHHP ^^^^^^ vary from one species to another. them aside, snapping up leaf-littei animals
.is tht \ tn in rush awa) from the light.
CONIFEROUS FOREST
CONIFEROUS
FOREST
C< HNHFERS ARE THE WORLD'S
toughest trees. Their small, needle-
THE ANIMAL LIFE
shaped leaves can withstand extreme cold coniferous forest provides
and are impenious to strong sunshine birds of prey, such as the
goshawk, with a year-round

and wind, and their relatively narrow. food supply.
upright habit enables them to grow-

closely together to form dense, sheltered
forest. As a result, conifers thrive where
lew broadleaved trees can survive,
such as the far north and in mountain
ranges. They also flourish in places that TREE TRUNKS
growing larvae of horntails
have very hea\y rainfall. In such areas and other wood u
they form temperate rainforest, home protection from the worst
of the winter cold.

to some of the largest trees in the world.
BOREAL FOREST
Named after Boreas, the ancient Greek god of the
north wind, boreal forest, or taiga, is the largest
continuous expanse of forest on earth. It covers about
6 million square miles 15 million square km and
stretches in an almost unbroken belt across the far
north, often reaching deep into the Arctic. In some

places, the belt is over 1.000 miles 1.600km wide.
Across the boreal forest belt as a whole, winter
temperatures routinely drop below -13°F - 25 C .
but in some of the coldest regions, such as northeast

Siberia, temperatures can fall below - 49'T - 45 C .
Summers in boreal forest are brief but can be warm. THE BROWN BEAR Can
climb but finds most
Compared with the types of forest that occur at trees, it
of its food on the ground.

lower latitudes, boreal forest has only a handful of
nee species and therefore provides only a limited
variety of food for herbivores. Plant diversity is
both by the
also restricted
amount of light that can
reach the forest floor
and by the high acidin
of pine needles.
Even in summer, the
interior of the forest is
GRAY \\OL\"ES hunt in
packs, a strategy that enables

often dark, with a thick layer
them to kill animals larger
BOREAL FOREST of dead needles carpeting than tliemseives. This is
icross much of the floor. Fungi thrive particularly important during
thefar north. There is no
in these conditions, winter, when food is scarce.
equivalent habitat in the
but the only forest-
Southern Hemisphere.
floor plants that live
here are the ones that can tolerate low light
levels and acidic soil conditions.
Apart from few animals can digest
insects,
conifer leaves or so most plant-eaters

wood,
concentrate on seeds, buds, and bark, or on
berries from low-growing shrubs. \\ hat this habitat
lacks in variety, however, it more than makes up
for in quantity, especially since there is relatively
FOR MOOSE and other
litde competition for food. This isone of the hoofed mammals, boreal
reasons why many boreal forest animals, from birds forest offers protection from
to bears, have far more extensive ranges than the cold winds and blizzard
species that live in warmer parts oi the world. conditions of winter.

'
CONIFEROUS FOREST
Wk TEMPERATE RAINFOREST
The win Id's largest areas of rainforest are found
in the Tropics, but rainforest also exists in parts of
the temperate world. grows where west-fai ing
It
THE GOLDEN- mountains intercept moist air blowing in from

CROWNED KINGLET IS the sea and. unlike boreal forest, it experiences
one of mart) ••mull insect- relatively mild temperatures all yeai round.
eaten that feed and nt st high
Compared with boreal forest, temperate rainforest
aboi i tin "round.
is a rare habitat, o< curring in a few widely separated
,ue. is. Iii the Southern
Hemisphere, is found in it
the South Island of .New

Zealand, and in parts of
mini n ( Ihile. In both of
esc places, most rainforest
if
trees are broadleaved species,
but in America's Pacific
Northwest where the TEMPERATE
owls, mch us this great
largest temperate rainforest RAINFOREST IS Imtitil On
horned on at night, west-facing musts.
in the world can be found -
I. // ,, hen
hunting the muni miall Inn. i rain lulls throughout
the trees are almost entirely
mammals and birds that much nl tin Mm
livt in temperaU rainforest.
conifers. Some are nearly
250ft (over 75m) high, and mote than 500 years old.
This kind of coniferous forest looks unlike any
other. On the ground and in the understory. even
sin hue draped with ferns or waterlogged moss.
is
Densely packed trunks, some over 9 3 It (3m) across, i
rise up to the canopy high overhead, where the sk\
is always laden with rain.

Temperate rainforest supports many animals that
are found in coniferous forest .ill over the world, but
it has some additional features that set it apart: the
mild, damp which make it a haven lot-
conditions,
:
.£& \M THE AMERICAN

slugs and salamanders, and the immense amount of
alien lumber, which creates opportunities for inse< is
porcupine a is flou and
that feed on dead wood. In its natural state, the
a. i
hi ard tret climber, but it
forest teems with mammals, as well as with owls and
ntanagi i to re/u/i tin tin-tops
to mt limh and bark.

other birds that need large, old trees as nest sites.
Unfortunately, these trees are in great demand by
'
Hi the lumber industry and,

temperate rainforest is
as a result,
increasingly rare.
untouched
CONSERVATION
( )f .ill the world's fbrestSj boreal forest has been least
altered by human
activity. However, this is changing
.is demand softwood and paper pulp inereascs.
for
the fisher belies its Rainforest, on the other hand, lias been subjected
muni in that it rarely lo immense change. In North America, much of the
catches fish. It is ont tin Pacific coast rainforest has been cut down, leaving
of
feu animals that includi i

nub small renin. mis of original, "old-growth" forest,
pon n/'im \ among its prey. separated by
planted forest.
( )f the in.m\
remnants that
have been
threatened b\
logging, some
THE STOATS slim body
have been saved
enabh i it to pursui minimis
lulu tin n burnt
........ a- s.*,«.
.............
.....; INDISCRIMINATE
v
*..»'.
i hum i o] i
u ape.
FELLING
'iing
II tin trues
in largt an
I slugs n, temperaU ing tin
'1 Z)
that /in
pet n
i on
i
"tin
and romi
animal inhabitants
i out.
^
LIFE IN CONIFEROUS FOREST
LIFE IN CONIFEROUS
FOREST
For animals and TREES ALIKE, life in boreal forest is dominated by the
need to survive long and extremely cold winters. Animals that remain
active in winter, such as wolves, need a constant supply of food simply
to avoid freezing. Conifers are difficult to exploit for food, which means
that animals that rely on them have developed some highly specialized
physical and behavioral characteristics.
tree trunks to reach the grubs inside.

FEEDING
Sawflies also face a threat from the
Compared with many broadleaved trees, ichneumon wasp, which drills through the
conifers arc well protected against attack. In wood with long ovipositor to lay its
its
addition to tough leaves, many have oily eggs on the sawfly larvae. It is thought
resins that make both their leaves and their that the wasp locates the larvae by
wood difficult to digest. Furthermore, if the
EXTRACTING
sapwood is injured, this resin oozes out and
SEEDS
traps insects and spiders as effectively as glue.
A crossbill's bill
Despite these defenses, some animals overlaps at it* tips,
manage to live entirely on coniferous trees. making it an ideal

Among the most successful are sawfly larvae. tool for extracting cone
hort periods,
These grubs bore deep inside the trunks, I •
crossbill nestlings can

leaving cylindrical tunnels in the wood. They
sunn, temperatures as
do not eat the wood itself; instead, they feed 31°F t-35°C
lou as
on a fungus that grows on the walls of the
tunnels they have built. Female sawflies earn smell. When the eggs
small amounts of this fungus with them when hatch, the ichneumon grubs
they emerge as adults, and they infect new eat their host larvae alive.
trees when the\ la\ thtir eggs. Hit. kind of Some animals, such as
symbiotic partnership is vital to sawflies, but the capercaillieand North
it is not entirely unique: in other habitats, American porcupine, eat large quantities of
particularly in the Tropics, ants and termites conifer needles, but moth caterpillars are the
also "cultivate" fungi as food. leading leaf-eaters: as always in coniferous
Although wood-boring grubs are safe forest, the number of species involved is
from most predators, they are not entirely small, but the damage they inflict can be
immune from attack. Coniferous forest is vast. This is especially true of species such as
the habitat of some of the world's largest the g\psy moth, which has been accidentally
woodpeckers, which hammer their way into introduced to many parts of the world.
- '
; MOTH ATTACK
_^^ ~-
i_
." Although the g)pi FINDING WINTER FOOD BROWSING DEER
,' itself does no dam .
Deer have a major impact on coniferous forest by eating young

caterpillar! Conifers do not have true flowers, but they
tree shoots and bark. Where deer arc numerous, such browsing
on conifers as well as on a nevertheless produce seeds. For birds and can kill small saplings tinset). Howrcer. this creates open glades,
range of deciduous trees.
small mammals, this seed crop is a valuable which are useful to other animals because they let in light,
winter fuel. However, accessing conifer seeds allowing fruit-forming plants - a goodfood source - to grow.
DRILLING THROUGH WOOD is not easy: they develop inside woody cones,
Bracing with ihfett, a female
itself
and the cones stay tightly closed until the Compared with seeds, bark is a low-quality
ichneumon wasp bores into a branch
seeds inside arc mature. food, but in winter it is some species'
\ital to
to lay eggs on a sawfly grub.
Coniferous animals have developed
forest survival. Deer strip away from the base
it
a variety <>l ways of removing these seeds of young saplings, while bank voles and
before the trees scatter them on the forest porcupines often climb trees to attack the
floor. Squirrels gnaw through the soft, unripe bark higher up. Bark stripping often stunts a
cone while it is still attached to the branch. tree's growth, and a severe attack can kill it.
eating the seeds and dropping the remains of
the cone on the ground below. Woodpeckers
often take fallen cones and wedge them
COPING WITH COLD
into tree-holes or broken stumps, using these Coniferous forest has its share of season, il
to hold the cone firm while they peck out visitors, principally insect-eating birds that
all the seeds. Crossbills are even more arrive in spring and then leave for the south
proficient: their bills are uniquely adapted once they have raised their young But for
for dealing with cones, enabling them to the rest of' its animals, long winters arc an
extract the seeds with surgical precision. inescapable fact of forest life. Some species
LIFE IN CONIFEROUS FOREST
POPULATION GRAPH
Fur trappers' records vividl) show hou
POPULATION CYCLES
WUMLshot-hare numbers m Canada \
Since there are relatively few animal spec ies
^^Hl/wn/ an andJail. Tht peaks,
in the northern coniferous forest, the lives ol
ui <
'art, are separated In
predators and prey are very closely linked.
During mild years, strong tree growth can
among
m
trigger a population explosion small
animals; as a result, the predators thai feed
on them begin to increase in number. These
conditions never last for long, though: as
the plant-eaters begin to outstrip the food
supply, their numbers start to fall again.
As the rate of the fall accelerates, the
predators soon follow suit.
Despite the unpredictability ot the

northern climate, these ups and downs
Occur with surprising regularity. In North
America, fur trappers' records dating back
over a century provide some long-term
evidence of population swings. For example,
thev show that the snowshoe-hare population
roughly follows a 10-year cycle, with two
or three good years, followed by a lengthy
slump. The Canadian lynx - one of the
snowshoe hare's main predators follows
the same pattern, but with a one- or
two-year lime-lag. Similar cycles involving
lemmings and other small mammals take
place in tundra (see p.65).
While there is little that they can do to
prevent this boom-and-bust pattern from
occurring, animals like the snowshoe hare
hibernate, but many remain active summer molt: and some species, such as are able to make a fairly fast recovery from
even during the coldest months, the stoat, use this molt to change color, a population slump by breeding quickly
relying on their insulation for survival. developing a white coat that provides better when conditions are favorable.
One group of forest animals, the camouflage for the winter.
mustelids. have that are exceptionally Keeping warm is relatively easy for large
well insulating.
ci >ats
This group includes pine mammals because their bodies contain a

IRRUPTIONS
In the northern coniferous forest, food supplies
martens, wolverines, minks, and sables, all large reserve of heat. But. for the smallest
are affected by the weather and the degree
of them agile hunters renowned for their warm-blooded inhabitants of coniferous nt competition. In winters that follow cool
thick and luxurious fur. As with most forest, winter conditions test their cold summers, the supply of seeds and berries can
mammals, their coats contain two different tolerance to its limits. Voles and other rodents be thin, leaving seed- and fruit-eating birds with
kinds of hair: long, outer guard hairs form can hide in burrows, but birds spend most little to eat. As a result, these birds llv south in
and waves, called irruptions, which ni.iv involve

the coat's water-repellent surface, while of their lives in the open. For wrens
traveling beyond their normal winter range- bv
shorter, much denser hairs tin- underfill
-
- tits, which often weigh less than ioz :
lOg),
as much as 930 miles ,500km Species that
1 .
trap a layer of air close to the body, keeping winter nights are a particularly dangerous
frequently irrupt include crossbills, u axv. ings,
the animal warm. Northern species all grow time. With such minute bodies, their fuel and titmice, in addition to nutcrackers and
an extra-thick coat reserves are tiny, so they must make special Other seed-eating members of the crow family.
after their late- provision if the) are to stav alive until dawn
when the search lor food can resume. Some
of them make the most of what
body heat they have bv
huddling together in
tree-holes, but
., few, -in h .is
the Siberian
tit. bed down
in the snow.
using it as an
sulating material.
RUNNING ON SNOW I I VIM. SOUTH

Cold winters actually mak Bohemian waxwings pausi during
ibilit) ta i mi at southwardJhght. Like other irruf
it In catch usually spread south whet a high
large animals, such as reindeer, u In, h i an

outpace it during the rummer months.
MOUNTAINS
MOUNTAINS /K A
gfh'k Ji
I\ MANY LAND HABITATS, climatic

conditions vary only slightly within
a region. In mountains, however, the
average air temperature drops by about
**£^+
dM
HOOFED MAMMALS.
1.8°F (1°C) for every 650ft (200m)
gained in height,oxygen becomes
as the bighorn sheep, surma
at high altitude. They can
::±..A±
often be found as high as tht
scarcer, and the air becomes less effective snowline.
at screening out ultraviolet light. As a
result, mountains can be divided into
distinct zones, each supporting plant
and animal life that is very different
from that of the zone above and below.
A wide range of animals Live in the low-
altitude foothills, but only the hardiest
survive year-round in the harsh
environment above the tree-line.
MARMOTS hibernate in
burrows, while some oilier
mountain rodents, such as
TEMPERATE MOUNTAINS pikas. stockpile food to
In temperate regions, a mountain's climate is

throughout the year. However,
relatively cool
seasonal changes are much more marked than ihey
are in the Tropics. At high altitude, above the tree-
line, there is a sudden burst of plant growth in
spring and summer. Some animals

migrate upward to make use <>!
this brief abundance of food, but

THE MOUNTAIN
Others, such as the marmot, are permanent residents lion an adaptable
is
between mid- and high altitude, surviving the winter predator that ranges from
}
cold by living in burrows and by hibernating for up • I to over
to eight months a year. High-altitude insects spend 9,900ft

main months in a dormant state, coming to life (3.000m).
when warm weather arrives. For many, this dormant

period is spent inside the egg. which hatches when
the d.i\s lengthen and the temperatures rise.
1 At lower altitudes, the
climate is warmer, and
JÔ*° -.y generally more

of the surrounding land.
like that
However, because the THE PEREGRINE
7 *lj sloping, rocky

is difficult to
mountainsides often
ground
farm, the
FALCON
of
points
steep cliffs as uantagt
and nest sites.
THE NORTHERN retain more of their

temperate zone's mountain tree cover than does
Hatter ground. In
peaks an earth. In the
undisturbed conditions,
I
mountains are smaller

these montane forests are
and more isolated. the natural habitat of large

mammals, such as mountain
lions, bears, and dec and also of a wide range ol
seed- and insect-eating birds.
Temperate mountains abound in birds ol prey.
Some, such .is the peregrine falcon, pursue their pre)
on fast-flapping wings, while eagles and buteos soar
high up. riding on updrafts. One characteristic :
mountain species, a vultun ailed the lammergeier,
LIKE MANY PI
turns the mountain landsi to it-- advantage 1>\ the while-tailed
carrying carrion bones alofl .-'hi dropping them vertically, feeding
onto the rocks to expose the edible marrow inside. tree-line in summer.
MOUNTAINS
TROPICAL MOUNTAINS
In tin- Tropics, the generally warm climate means
thatmountain vegetation zones extend much higher
than they do in montane habitats elsewhere in the
world. For example, near the Equator, trees often
grow at altitudes of up to 13,200ft (4,000m), which
is why main tropical mountains are forested to
their summits. Above this altitude is the tropical
alpine zone, an open landscape dominated by
grass and some highly-
specialized plants. This
zone is often above the
clouds, which means that
nights are cold and frosty
and yet the sunshine is fierce.
Many tropical animals
have successfully adapted
to life at high altitude. They TROPICAL MOUNTAINS
include the vicuna, which include a major chain.
can be found up to 18.100ft and isolated .
ranges in East Africa and

5,500m in the South
Southeast Asia.
American Andes, and the
yak, which reaches a record 19,800ft (6,000m just
north of the Tropics in the Himalayas. Birds also
ive at great heights: in South America, for example,
mountain hummingbirds called hillstars often feed
atover 13,200ft (4,000m). Because of the hillstar's
minute size, it has difficulty in storing enough
energy to enable it to survive the cold nights.
To combat the problem, its nocturnal heartbeat
slowsdown and its temperature plummets,
conserving energy.
I he cloud-covered forest
below the alpine
zone is the habitat of some of the world's most
endangered animals. They include the mountain
gorilla - a species restricted to the mountains of
central Africa - and the resplendent quetzal, a
bird that lives in the cloud forests of Central
America. The abundant moisture means that the
forest zone also teems with mam different species
of frog, living both on the ground and in trees.
CONSERVATION
Among the current threats to mountain wildlife
are deforestation, quarrying, and development for
hydroelectricity and However, in the long
ski resorts.
term, global warming
threatens even greater changi
by altering the pattern of vegetation zones. Some
mountain animals will benefit from this, but others
will be faced with a steadily shrinking
habitat. This i-
particularly problematic for those species that live at
specific altitudes on isolated ranges or peaks bee ause
mans of them arc unable to descend to lower ground
in order to find
other areas ol
suitable habitat.
ROCK REMOVAL
In >«m« parti of the
uorld. quarrying has
destroyed important
uildlif, habitats. As
road building and
constructior,
TROPICAL MOl'Vl MS
i fiogi lit c at all
the demand
altitudes, from foothillforests
continues 6
Ill I IN MOUNTAINS
LIFE IN MOUNTAINS Compared with mammals, cold-blooded

animals, such as reptiles, have fewer problems
with I hin air because they use oxygen more
slowly. For them, the main problem with
LIFE AT hk;h ALTITUDE CAN BE HARSH. Food is often scarce, the weather mountain life is cold: if the temperature
can be treacherous, and the thin air can make it difficult to breathe. is too low. their body processes slow down,
and their muscles have difficulty working.
However, there is also more space, relatively little interference from
humans, and fewer predators than there are lower down. Many animals
are "incomers," using high ground as an extension of their normal
MOVEMENT
range, but there are also some that live only on high ground. In large Mountains seem almost specially made for
soaring birds because strong air currents
mountain chains, many animals have a wide distribution, but isolated
make it easy for them to gain height. For
mountains are often inhabited bv animals that are found nowhere else. animals on or near the ground, moving
about is not so easy. Many insects are
Birds are unusual in being able to cope with and species do
BREATHING THIN AIR wingless, that fly usually
rapid changes in altitude without experiencing keep close to the rock to reduce the risk
At 19,800ft (6,000m). air is half as dons,- as it any ill effects. For mammals, moving from of being blown away by the wind.
is at sea level. As a result, it contains only half one altitude to another necessitates special For larger animals, the situation is even
tin- normal amount of oxygen so little that adjustment by the body, which is achieved more hazardous, lor a single misjudged move
anyone trying to breathe at this height would by acclimatization - a process that can can lead to a fatal fall. Many rock-dwelling
have difficulty remaining conscious. Vet some take several weeks to complete. During mammals therefore have feet designed to
mountain animals live even higher than this acclimatization, the number of red cells prevent slipping. In Australia, rock
because they have evolved specialized body in the blood slowly increases, boosting its ^^^^^^^ wallabies use their large back
systems that enable them to get the maximum oxygen-carrying capacity. This physical I feet to take leaps of up to
amount of oxygen into their blood. adjustment, which is shown by a broad 1 3ft (4m), with their
In the vertebrate world, birds are the range of mammals - including humans - long tails helping
unrivaled experts at high-altitude living is temporary. If an animal moves back to them to
This is because air passes through their lungs lower ground, the process is reversed. balance.
in only one direction, not in and out. which for mountain mammals, such as
However,
ensures that a high proportion of the air's the vicuna and ibex, adaptation to life high
oxygen enters the blood far more than up is permanent state, not something that
,i
enters a mammal's bloodstream in the same can be switched on and off. When measured
conditions. This fact is apparent from the as a proportion of volume, \icunas have three
height at which birds are capable of living. times more red cells in their blood than most
In the Himalayas, choughs have been seen other mammals, and the hemoglobin in
fluttering around campsites at over 26.400ft their red cells is unusually good at collecting
(8.000m). and there are records of vultures oxygen. As a result, vicunas can run almost
colliding with planes at over 36. 300ft effortlessly on the aluplano the high-altitude
(1 1,000m) far higher than Mount Everest. plateau that runs the length of the Andes.
NONSLIP FEET
I In kyrax's .mall, adhesiveJed am perfectfir negotiating rods,
although form species also use them fen climbing trees. In
addition In Irving high up. mil, hyraxes inhabit kopjes

miniature mountains of boulders on the African savanna.
In Africa and the Middle East, hyraxes run

over rocks and boulders with the help of
which work like suction cups.
specialized soles,
But most of the world's mountains, the
in
most adept climbers are hoofed mammals.
Hooves may seem far from ideal lor
climbing, and it is true that some hoofed
mammals, such as horses, have great difficulty
moving around on rocky slopes. But in
climbing mammals, such as mountain goals
and klipspringcrs. hooves haw evolved into
perfect aids for moving about in mountains:
they are small and compact, allowing them
to tit onto narrow ledges, and they have hard
edges surrounding rough nonslip pads.
These characteristics make good grip in
lor
all conditions, including rain and snow.

Getting a firm grip is essential for moving
on rock, but equally important is a strong
SOARING
sense of balance and a head for heights.
I pdrafts provide an almost effortless means of travel for
birds like the Andean eondor. which ean cover hundreds of

Most terrestrial mammals are afraid of steep
mil, > in a day br riding naves of rising air. drops, but. from an early age. mountain
dwellers sWHHhtt appears to lie a reckless
LIFE IN MOUNTAINS
mountain top to the forests lower down, but

some mountain forest species also migrate.
Among these latter migrants are birds such
as nutcrackers, which feed on conifer seeds.
If the seed crop fails, they fly downhill in a
form of sporadic migration called an
irruption see p.57 . Clark's nutcracker, from
the Roi k\ Mountains, is a typical example:
normally found at up to 8,21 Hi 2,51 >m it II II .
descends as low as sea level when food

becomes hard to find.
FINDING FOOD
As in most land habitats, a mountain's
animal life depends ultimately on plants, for
plants provide food for herbivorous animals,
which are. in turn, eaten by a wide range of
predators. However, some mountain animals
make use of a very different food source -
the small animals, mainly insects, that are
carried uphill by the wind to be stranded
disregard for their own Adult chamois
safety. VERTICAL MIGRANTS among the rocks, snow, and ice.
take 20ft (6m) leaps and can run down near- In mountainous regions, red deer spend the summer high up, Most of these wind-blown animals are
vertical slopes as easily as they can run up where food is plentiful and there are relatively few biting flies.
so tiny that they are practically imisible:
Their downhill migration in autumn often coincides with the
them. Their young are able to keep up with yet they provide useful nourishment for
start of the rutting season, when males grow a mane of hair
them when just a few weeks old. scavengers that above the snowline.
live
on the neck and compete with each otherfor the right to mate.
They consist almost entirely of invertebrates,
COPING WITH WINTER For other animals, the first autumn snows such as springtails and snow fleas, which can
are the signal to move downhill. These survive the very low temperatures of high-
In tropical mountains, conditions are often vertical migrations are a common feature altitude winters. During the depths of winter.
much the same all year round, which means of mountain temperate regions, and
life in they hide among rocks and moss, but when
that animals can stay at one altitude all their they are demonstrated by a wide range of the weather warms up they can often be
lives. But in temperate mountains, seasonal mammals and birds, from mountain sheep seen hopping across banks of snow, feasting
changes affect the food supply. Winter is the and deer to grouse. In many cases, the on the debris that the wind has brought up
critical time: anything that cannot survive migration involves moving from the exposed from lower altitudes.
the cold weather conditions and the shortage
of food has to move to lower ground or
hibernate until the return of spring.
LIFE IN CAVES
Many animals use caves temporarily, but some have sensors along each side of its body that enables
Animals that are resident at high altitude
adapted to spend their entire lives in them. These it to detect other animals several yards aw ay.
have a vane r> ot ways cl coping with the
permanent cave dwellers, called troglodytes, feed Although food is scarce, animals exist main
changes. Insects often enter a dormant either on each other or on the droppings deposited miles underground and have even been found in
diapause, which puts their
state, called by roosting bats and birds. pothole systems that have no
development on hold. Many small mammals, As a habitat, deep cases have the advantage thai direct contact with the
such as marmots, survive mountain winters temperatures remain fairly constant throughout the surface except via water
year. However, they are also completely dark. and. trickling way
by hibernating, while many of those that its
consequently eyes are useless. Bats, oilbirds. and

remain active live on food reserves collected
swiftlets use echolocation to navigate while
example, gather
earlier in the year. Pikas, for
underground, but permanent cave dwellers sense
up leaves and grass and build them into their surroundings largely by touch, often using
"haystacks" among the broken rocks around smell to track down food. Cave crickets detect
their homes. Before adding fresh supplies to a food using antennae, while spiders and harvestmen
stack, they sometimes spread them out to dry use their feet. In subterranean streams and pools.
cave salamanders, such as the olm. sense vibrations
m the sunshine, which reduces the chances
in the water. The case fish has a row of pressure
of the food rotting before it is eaten.
MIGRANT
Like mum temperate
mountain animals,
GIAN 1 \N I INN U
the nutcrch >
Cave crickets ' antennae, a hi, h i an be two or three

altitudes,
times the body length, locate the dead remains and
mi the
bat droppings that make up the animal's diet.
conditions: severe cold
m nhill.
UNDERWATER LIFE
' litionfor hkc mo\i aquat u olm
food on low ground i little pigment in its skin. lt\ eyes are
uphill d in
as soon as the water and remain m it throughout at

weather imj
rOLAR REGIONS
POLAR
REGIONS
The .Arctic and Antarctic are the
coldest places on earth. The Arctic is
a partly frozen ocean, hemmed in by
large expanses of windswept tundra: the
Antarctic is an ice-covered continent,
surrounded by the world's stormiest

seas. They are similar to each other
and unlike any other habitat - in that
they have 24-hour daylight in summer
and perpetual darkness in winter, but
they are physically different in ways that
have important effects on animal life.
In the Arctic, mam- animals live on
land: in the Antarctic, animal life is
based almost entirely in the ocean.
ARCTIC AND TUNDRA

Covering about 4.6 million square miles (12 million
square km), the Arctic Ocean is both the smallest
and the shallowest ocean in the world. For several
months in summer, permanent daylight produces a
constant supply of energy, which is harnessed by vast
quantities of planktonic algae. These form the first
link in die Arctic Ocean's food chain, which ultimately
nourishes animals as large as whales and polar bears.
Sea ice - or the lack of it - is a major factor in
determining where large mammals live, especially
during winter when the surface area of the ice is at
its greatest. Polar bears and Arctic foxes can traverse
the ice to find food, but seals and some other marine
mammals must maintain breathing holes to sunive.
Despite the ice. sea life is
plentiful in the Arctic since

cold water is rich in oxygen
and the seabed sediment is

rich in nutrients. On
land, though, trees
'1 cannot survive because
of the intense cold. The
TRUE TUNDRA IS found result is tundra - an open,
north of the Antic Circle, but often featureless, landscape,
tundra-like conditions exist on made smooth by glaciers in
some mountains elsewhere.
the last ice age. Today. Arctic
glaciers are restrictedmainly to mountains and to
the ice-op th.it covers Greenland, but large areas of
tundra are permanently frozen underground. This
frozen zone - the permafrost layer - prevents
spring meltwater from draining away, creating
waterlogged landscapes in a region where rainfall.
or snow, is paradoxically very low.
and early summer, tundra plants
In late spring
grow and flower very rapidly. Geese and other
migratory birds arrive to breed, and \-ast numbers
THE POLAR BEAR U tl
of mosquitoes emerge from tundra pools. The superb swimmer, and it is
migrants' departure, when the short summer draws at much at home on shiftim
to a close, marks the end of another biological year. pack ice as it is on tundra.
POLAR REGIONS
ANTARCTIC
Unlike the Arctic, mainland Antarctica is isolated
from the rest of the world. covered with ice, up
It is
to 13,200ft (4,000m i
thick, which continues out to sea
forming; large ice shelves. On
the Antarctic Peninsula
- a finger of land pointing towards South America
SKUAS. Jtilllirl in i
summer temperatures rise to a few degrees above
I
1
freezing point, but in the rest of the continent average

on carrion and on other
temperatures are below freezing all year round.
Algae and lichens grow
on bare rocks in many parts
of the Antarctic coastline.
Inn the Antarctic Peninsula is
the only pan of the continent

where terrestrial plants can
survive. This is also the only
place that has a significant
range of terrestrial animals. most of Antarctica,
although these are chiefly excluding the relati
Sphngtails, mites, and Antarctic Peninsula, ties
nematode worms - few of soulh °J " '
which are over in (5mm) '

>
long. The rest of
Antarctica's land-based animal life consists of
species that feed in the sea and come ashore to breed,
such as penguins, or those that scavenge food at these
animals' breeding grounds, such as skuas. With the
exception of emperor penguins, vertebrates desert the
ice at the end of summer to spend the winter at sea.
The Southern Ocean, which surrounds Antarctica,
is one of the most biologically productive seas in the
world, .\lthough species numbers are relatively low.
p< ipulation sizes are often enormous because the non-
stop summer daylight generates a vast supply of food.
Krill - small crustaceans that form the diet of seals
and whales - are especially prolific: some of their
swarms are estimated to weigh in excess of 10 million
tons and are large enough to be seen by satellites in
spa« e. .Vlthough the Southern Ocean is always cold, it
maintains a minimum temperature of about 28.8 "F

1.8°C); below this, seawater freezes. As a result, the
ocean is quite warm compared with Antarctica itself
CONSERVATION
Under the terms of the Antarctic Treaty, which came
into effect in 1961. Antarctica is currently protected
against commercial exploitation. In the Arctic, the
situationis quite different, with oil production,
mineral
extraction, and hunting taking place in mam areas. In
both polar regions but particularly in the Antan t»
wildlife faces habitat change brought about 1>\
atmospheric increases in carbon dioxide causing global
warming and by thinning of the atmosphere's ozone
layer causing increased levels of ultraviolet radiation .
GAPS IN THE ICE

In the rear 2000.
oeeanographers reported
finding large sin
of open water at the
North Pole - a region
that is normally covered
by floating ice. This
unprecedented melting
of the polar u;
most certainly
i
global
u arming.
LIFE IN TOIAK RLGIONS
Whales make breathing

LIFE IN POLAR REGIONS Instead, the)
tan come up
rarely
head lor polynia,
for air in open

holes.
where they
water. This less
laborious strategy does not restrict them to
Although they live at opposite ends of the earth, the animals one place, but it does have its dangers:
that inhabit the Arctic and Antarctic share many adaptations. Resilience groups of whales can become ensnared in
shrinking polynia, unable to reach the
toextreme cold is first and foremost among these, but almost as
next stretch of open water. There are
important is the ability to cope with a highly seasonal food supply. For records of narwhals the world's
some animals, winter is a good time for catching food, but, for most, most northerly whales being
hunger and cold make the long winter months a critical time of year. trapped in their hundreds, making
them easy targets for hunters.
Such trying conditions mean that in comparison with other parts of the
world the poles are inhabited by very few animal species. However,
those that do thrive can be extraordinarily numerous.
CHANGING COLOR
In the treeless Arctic tundra, camouflage is
COPING WITH COLD one of the most ways both of

effective
avoiding attack and of making an attack
Warm-blooded animals have to maintain a unseen. The summer and winter landscapes
constant body temperature, and, look so different that many tundra animals
consequently, combating heal loss is a major change their camouflage twice a year. The
priority in the polar environment. Cold- An in l<>\ is a classic example: its summer
blooded animals can function with a i oal is usually brownish gray, but in early
fluctuating body temperature, but even they fik'
:''
'
,^H autumn it turns white; in spring, the process
H • /
1%',' /'V'ta^
have limits in sub-zero conditions they is reversed so that the fox blends with the
can freeze solid. Fish are particularly at risk rapidly thawing tundra. In some parts of the
cil freezing while thtir body fluids normally
^Hn£*k far north, such as western Alaska and
freeze at about -30.6"F (0.8"C), polar northern Greenland, Arctic foxes develop a
seawater is often slightly colder To help
still. bluish winter coat instead. Some researchers
SLEEPING ON ICE
prevent freezing, the blood of many cold- A polar bear cub Polar hems have
haw is an adaptation to
suggested that this
rests at it-- mother's ride.
blooded species contains proteins that lower long body Jur and their fret have furry soles. This keeps them
coastal landscapes, where there is less snow.
its normal freezing point. Some insects can warm on the lie. while a thick layer oj blubber enables but since these foxes have been introduced
survive at - 49"F (- 45"C) without any ice them In retain body lout while avimming m the sen. by fur farmers this is hard to prove.
forming in their bodies. The least weasel, the world's smallest
Since mammals and birds cannot afford to SURVIVING UNDER ICE carnivore, changes its coat in a similar way,
let their internal temperature fall even slightly. as do ptarmigans and many other tundra
Whales and seals face problems during the birds. Some, such as the snowy owl.
long polar winter because sea ice restricts their keep their white plumage all year
access to air. They dive under the ice to round, which suggests that
feed, but they must then surface to breathe. good camouflage is
Some problem by moving
species avoid the most important in
to lower latitudes. Those that remain behind winter and less so
survive either by maintaining breathing holes in summer when

or by congregating in polynia areas where food is easier
the wind and currents keep the water ice-free. to find.
Seals start making breathing holes when the
ice is thin, rasping aw iv tt it with their teeth.
THE ANTARCTIC'S ICE FISH
Anion
As the depth of the ice increases throughout
//( the tie. fish lire in a world tlml is often roofed by
ice. I In high level oj oxygen in cold water allows some

winter, they continue to visit and work on
. liiiuii tii fish to survive without any hemoglobin in their their holes to make sure that they remain
blood. As ii result, then blood is almost clear rather than led. clear. The Weddell seal, which lives
farther south than any other species,

they need insulation to keep warm. Fur and spends so much time keeping its
feathers are among the finest insulating breathing holes open that its
materials, but many polar animals, such as teeth develop patterns of wear,
whales, seals, and penguins, have additional and by late winter its breathing
insulation in the form of blubber - a layer of holes can be 6 1
_>ft (2m) deep.

yellowish fat that is laid down under the skin. The seals have to find
Blubber, which can be up to 12in (30cm) their holes in almost complete
thick, is such an effective insulator that these darkness since during the
animals feel cold to the touch even when Antarctic winter the sun staya|
their internal body temperature is above below the horizon for weeks.™
100.5T (38°C). Blubber is particularly useful
inthe sea because water conducts heat away PAUSE FOR BREATH
.-f Weddell seal heads up toward a
from the body l't times faster than air. It
breathing hole in the n e. 1 1 cddi
also has
another valuable function: since fat stay underwaterjot ovrt an boat, making
contains lots of energy, blubber can be used return journeys oj uj> in 6 miles tlOkm)
as a food reserve when supplies are low. he/to, l/i, v hare to nunc up for air.
LIFE IN POLAR REGIONS
^^* -WP* /W*
LONG-DISTANCE MIGRANTS
In .Madia and northern Canada, vast herds of caribou migrate betueen their
summer grounds on open tundra and their winter grounds in coniferous forest.
Some travel over 620 miles 1,000km) 'tick way, nvimming across men ami s/a
inlets en route. Pregnant females lead the herd during the spring leg of the journey.
windy it is on the surface.
lemmings enjoy a benign
die
microclimate that allows them to feed all year.
WINTER mammals do not breed at high latitudes. In Antarctica, there are very few terrestrial
COAT
Instead, they puton weight and then return plants, and. therefore, almostno animals sta\
to warmer waters to give birth. During the active in winter on food gathered from land.
breeding season, they often do not feed at all. With so much ice, even food from the sea can
be difficult to reach. Male emperor penguins,
WINTER FOOD guarding their eggs, do not even attempt to find

it: huddling on the ice through the long night
Although the food supply in polar seas slowly of winter, they go without food until spring.
falls in autumn, there is still a reasonable
On
amount
so easy
to
difficult,
for animals to eat.
The growth of tundra plants comes
a complete halt and, to make matters more
the plants themselves are often
land, life is ni it
mm*
centred by deep snow. For herbivores, this
lack of accessibility is a major problem at a
<-T
critical time of year. In the Arctic tundra,
plant-eating animals reach plants in one of

..-
two different ways. ( laribou reindeer) and
musk oxen use their hooves to clear away
the snow, revealing the lichens
willows underneath. Lemmings
and dwarf
turn the snow
•
RUNWAYS LNDER THE SNOW

_
"0
*Hp6
SEASONAL COAT lemmings need cover to survive. In winter, they develop enlarged
to their advantageburrowing in it. The
1>\
front clous that enable them The
When the Arctic fox changes color, tl t its coat to tunnel in snow. tunnels keep
changes as util. //> u Mlt uinter coat has long guard hairs and snow protects them from predators and the them secure, although they must still contend with sparse winter
thick underfur. providing insulation. Its shorter brown summer weather outside: no matter how cold or food supplies, When the mow nulls, they move underground.
coat, with thinner underfur. preients it from overheating.
TUNDRA INSECTS
SUMMER MIGRANTS I'nlike Antarctica, the Arctic tundra teems with insei
W
i
including aphicK bumble bees, damselflies, and

life,
Near the poles, 24-hour daylight in summer unimaginable numbers of mosquitoes. The mosquitoes
creates the ideal conditions for rapid plant spend their larval and pupal stairs in tundra pools.
growth. This short-lived but profuse Mipplv emerging as adults in earl) summer. I'm warm-blooded
ol food has a dramatic effect on tundra life, animals, tundra mosquitoes are a serious problem. The
attrac ting vast numbers of migrants. ( Jeese females need blood before this can breed, and they are
Come to crop the plants with their bill,

relendess in their attempts to gel ii. When the mosquito
season is at its height, some animals head lor high
waders arrive to feed on worms and inset ts
ground, but most have no alternative bm to mi ii out
swamps ground, while tern-,
that live in find
Mosquitoes do bring some benefits: the larvae and pupae
food both in pools on the tundra and in an- a useful source ol protem lor waterfowl and waders.
water dose to the shore.
FROM WATER TO AIR
1 liis annual influx of visitors is mirrored
.1 dtmdof mosquitoes, caught m ih, tumma sunlight. .I>
in the sea. Mam baleen whales head toward adults, tundra mosquitoes lint /»' onh a leu weeks ///^/ long
polar waters in summer to take advantage ol enough to feed, mate, and In
annual upsurge in planktonic life.

tin- their breeding pooh with ice.
However, unlike migraton birds, these huge

[ RI si (WATER
FRESHWATER
EVERY YEAR, ABOUT 24.0(H) cubic miles
00.001 cubic km) of water evaporates
( 1 )
from the world's oceans, condenses,

and then falls as rain or snow. Most
of water disappears back into the

this
atmosphere to continue this cycle, but

about one-third returns to the oceans
by flowing either over ground or below
the land surface. This steady supply of
freshwater sustains all the world's land-
based life, as well as creating
highly diverse habitats - from
streams, rivers, and lakes, to
reedbeds, marshes, and swamps
which a wide range of different
animal and plant life can thrive.
LAKES AND RIVERS

For permanent wain dwellers, life in lakes and
rivers is shaped by many different factors. One of
these is the water's chemical makeup, which is often
dictated by the type <>f rock thai forms the bed of
a river or lake. Hard water, for example, is good
for animals that grow shells be< ause it i ontains
calcium that can be used as shell-building
material, while water that is especially rich in
oxygen is important for highly active predatory
fish, such as salmon and trout. Water that is very
(Irlic ni in oxygen, on the other hand, provides a

i<
poor environment for animal life as a whole because

relatively few aquatic species, except for specialized
worms, can survive in it.
In lakes and rivers, aquatic animals usually
occupy clearly defined /.ones. The brightly lit
water close to the surface
often teems with
waterfleas, copepods, and
other microscopic forms
of animal life. They live
here in order to feed
on phytoplankton the
microscopic algae that
IN GEOLOGIC TERMS, » ( ome extremel) abundant
lakt 1 and ri> en are highlj during the summer months.
changeable. Lakt 1
Feeding in the middle zone

fill with sediment, u hilt
and near the water's surface
ri en often change 1 ourst
are large] animals, such as
fish, that are able to hold their own against the
strength of the Current. Weak swimmers live near
the hanks, where the current is slower, or among
stones and sediment on the bottom. In still and slow-
flowing water, surface tension supports insects
that hunt by walking or running over the water.
Some animals that are asso< iated with
freshwater habitats are not net essaril)
pike are rit-and
pet tnani nt water dwellers; instead they
;< ait predators, using
divide their time between water and the atersuh vegetation
adjai enl land, entering the lake or river to hunt null III
or breed, 01 using ii as .1 nursery lot their young. ambush t/u

FRESH'.
WETLAND
A wetland is any waterlogged or flooded
.ma with a covering of water plants. In some
wetlands - reedbeds and bo^s. for example - the
plants hide die water completely. However, in most
wetland, areas of open water and dense vegetation
are mixed, creating a rich and complex habitat that
B FISH EAGLES heir long
can be exploited by animals of almost evcrv kind.
. talons to snatch fish from
Biologically, wetland is among the most
Z the surface of the water.
productive inland habitats,
sometimes surpassing even
rainforest in the amount
of food that it generates
for animals. In temperate
parts of the world, this
productivity reaches a peak
during spring and summer,
but in the Tropics and FRESHWATER WETLANDS
subtropics it is more affected include the Pantanal, in
South America, and the
by the water supply. Some
Okavango, an inland delta
tropical wedands - South
in southern Africa.
America's Pantanal, for
THE J AC ANA, or lilytrotter.
example - largely dry out during the dry season,
has long toes that spread the
but then look like vast lakes once it has rained.
Jit so that it can
stand on floating leaves.
In main wetlands, the water is no more than
3 It lm deep, which means that bottom-living
animals and surface dwellers are rarely far apart.
This kind of environment is ideal for air-breathing
swimmers, such as snakes and turtles, and also for
land-based animals that use water as a temporarv
FY
refuge from danger. Unlike large lakes, wedands
have an extra dimension in the form of emergent
which grow up through the waters surface
plants,
and into the These plants range in size from
air.
THE CAPYB\RV small grasses and rushes just tall enough to keep
worlds tai'^-
insects clear of the water, to water-loving trees
feeds on land, but uses
thatgrow to over I5fi 3.5m high. Trees act as
1
water as a refugefrom
attack by predators.
important roosting and breeding sites for
waterbirds. providing them with shelter and relative
safety from predators as well as keeping them
close to the source of their food.
CONSERVATION
CAIMANS, and many other Freshwater habitats an- affected by human activities in
crocodilians. can i
many ways. Water pollution is a general problem that
mam weeks when wetlands has profound consequences for a wide range of animal
dry out by wallowing in
life. However, in addition, large areas of wetland have
nwi'l mud.
Ix-en drained lor agricultural use. often because wetland
conditions produce highly fertile soil. Water abstraction,
both for agriculture and for domestic use, i*
also an increasing threat to freshwater habitats.
F.lli in-, to protect wetlands have produi
ed several lite
international agreements. One of these, the Ramsar
IH1 s\ \KF. NLC.KED ( ^mention,
• low metabolism adopted in 1971.

enables it to remain focuses on wedands
underwaterfor used In migrating
k long periods. waterfowl. 1
UK. II \N[) DRY
I
inland la>.-
v:
shrunk dramatically
water has been diverted

fields.
rrproof <
-::
I IFL IN FRESHWATER
LIVING IN AND OUT

LIFE IN FRESHWATER OF WATER
Most amphibians, such as hogs and toads,
Irish water is an ESSENTIAL RESOURCE for all land-dwelling animals, develop in Freshwater habitats and then,
but it is also an important habitat in its own right. Freshwater habitats as they approach adulthood, lake up life on
land, returning to water to breed. However.
vary immensely, from temporary pools to giant lakes, and from tiny
insects evolved amphibious lifestyles long
streams to rivers thousands of miles long. As a result, the problems that before the first trueamphibians appeared.
animals must overcome in order to survive in their environment can be Today, almost every patch of freshwater,
very different from one freshwater habitat to another. Strong currents, from the smallest puddle to the largest lake,
is inhabited by insects. Mosquito larvae Feed
periodic drought, and intense competition for food are some of the
on microscopic Freshwater life, whereas the
difficulties with which animals must contend. larvae of dragonllies and damselllies stalk
larger prey, catching it with a set of
STAYING IN PLACE For most lish. freshwater makes a much safer extensible jaws called a mask. These- insects
nursery than the ocean, and this justifies leave the water when they become adult, but
Anmi ils living m fast-flowing nv; rs It; ! i their long journey uprivcr to lay their eggs. water beetles and bugs remain in it for life,
( onstant battle with the current, and they However, because the Food supply in fresh- although their ability to Ilv makes it easy For
( ope w one of two main uavs. The
ith it in water is young eventually make
limited, the them to spread From one pool to another.
first is to avoid the problem In staying close for the much more dangerous, but also more Some larger animals have developed
to the riverbed, where the current is fruitful, environment of the open sea. The lifestyles that straddle water and land.
relatively slow. Main invertebrates, such as advantages of this are apparent where some, Snakes are good
stolidly .ind mayfly larvae, never venture but not all, members of a species migrate: sw immers, and
into open water; and to improve their those that swim out to sea usuallv grow a number
staying power ihev often have a flat profile, much bigger than those thai Stay behind.
so that il they position themselves with Like migrating birds, migi itmg ti h are
their heads facing upstream the current often remarkably accurate in pinpointing the
presses down on their hacks, helping them place of their birth, returning there to spawn
stay in plate.Remarkably, the same even though it might mean an inland journey
technique is used In dippers the only of over ,500 miles (2,500km). Each river
1
songbirds that \w<\ underwater: they has its own characteristic chemical fingerprint
are naturally buoyant, but as they walk and. with their acute sense of smell, migratory
upstream over the riverbed, the force lish are able to identify the estuary that they
of the current keeps them submerged. left as young lish. By monitoring the scent
The second solution is to compete with of the water as they progress upriver, they
the current by swimming against it. Species home in on their own spawning ground.
A DAYTIME REFUGE
thatcannot avoid the current match their Migrating lish often meet barriers to their
Htppns lounge in rivers mitt lakes In day and emergi at night,
swimming speed to the water How. enabling progress. Salmon are famous for jumping Mitntlimi «
them to stav in plate and they keep waterfalls and rapids, while eels tackle I Inn skin is linn and almost hairless, but ti exudes a special
swimming even when the) are asleep. obstacles b) slithering around them over «n ii /inn thai helps protect them from tin daytirm sun.
land. Eels usually do this alter dark, in damp

conditions, when the) can
survive out <>F water by
athing t
their skin.
COPING WITH THE CURRENT

Brown trout list in cool, fast-flowing streams, when it tali
• i hit :•! hi, 1^1 mhi/iIi In \t,t) iii filnt, . limit i mi hold their
oust fast-moving watei is usually rich in oxygen

i
hat ih, fish need to keep their muscL i u
MIGRATION
In addition to supporting Freshwater residents,
rivers and lakes receive visitors From the sea.
These are migrator) lish, which divide their
time between Fresh- and saltwater habitats.
\iiadromous species, mii h as salmon, breed
in rivers but spend most of their adult lives
offshore. ( latadromous species, such as some
eels, do exa< ilv the opposite: the) live in
freshwater, hut sv\ im out to sea to breed.
LIFE IN FRESHWATER
BREATHING AT THE SCRFACE

Mosquito larvae hang upside down at the waters surface,
breathing through snorkel-like tubes. The tubes are tipped
with water-repellent hairs that break through the surface film.
of species, such as the grass snake, specialize

DRV TIMES COMING UP FOR AIR
Tii o staring yellow eyes identify a common caiman in the mud
in catching aquatic animals. The anaconda. of a dried-out lake. During drought, caimans can simile being Freshwater animals need to breathe oxygen.
the heaviest snake in the world, uses water entombedfor many months as long as the mud stays moist. Fish use gills from the water,
to extract it
for cover and for support: despite its size, but many it from the
invertebrates collect
water buoys it up. reducing its effective Caimans and turtles also hide away in this air. These air-breathers include water snails,
weight to almost nil and enabling it to manner, although their scaly, waterproof many insects, and the water spider - the only
swim at considerable speed. skins make cocoons unnecessary. Being spider to have evolved a fully aquatic lifestyle.
In addition to providing food, freshwater '"cold blooded." or ectothermic. they need For animals living at the water's surface.
is a valuable resource for some land-based relatively little energy to stay alive, si i air is easy to reach. For fully submerged
animals seeking refuge from predators or they can survive drought-induced food ones, breathing requires periodic trips to
daytime heat. At dusk, birds often roost on shortages for months. the surface to replenish air reserves, which
lakes and reservoirs while, during the day. Animals that cannot survive drought often are stored in or on the insect's body, often
leave behind drought-resistant eggs, which forming a filmlike bubble that gives the
ROOSTING AMONG
THE REEDS hatch when water returns - an effective way animal a silvery sheen. The water spider has
tarlings, of bridging the gap between one wet period an exceptionally elaborate storage system.
and other flock- and the next. This survival strategy is used by It constructs a "diving bell" from strands of
|
nobirds water tleas. rotifers, tardigrades, and many silk, trapping a large bubble of air inside it.
often use reeds as
other "microanimals" that live in temporary The bell acts as both lair and nursery - a
overnight roosts. The
pools or in the film of freshw ater that a (vers unique example of an animal creating a
sleeping birds are
mosses and other plants. submerged habitat that resembles drv land.
relatively safe from
predators because
reeds are usually
surrounded by water.
LIVING IN SALT LAKES
Salt and soda lakes are the most saline habitats on earth, with up to 10
times a- much dissolved salt as the sea. They form where rainfall is low and
hippos, capybaras, and beavers spend a lot evaporation rates are high because temperature- often climb to over 104°F
of time in the water, emerging under the #0°C Relati'.eK few animals can cope with these extreme condition-, but
•
cover of darkness to feed on land. the one- thatdo can be extremely numerous be< ause the) face very little
competition. Salt-lake food chains are based on cyanobacteria - plantlike
inn roorganisms thai harness the energy in sunlight, turning into food.
SURVIVING DROUGHT it
In warm parts of the world particularly in

the Tropics and lakes often dry out
river-
completely for several months cadi year. In
LIVING IN BRINE
these conditions, freshwater animals need
Bnne shrimp are small
some unusual adaptations to survive. crustaceans that thrive in
When a hike's water level drops, its salt-rich desert lai.,
temperature increases. Warm, stagnant water breed rapidly, producing eggs
often (din. tins so little oxygen lh.it many that can withstand
years of drought.
lish suffocate, but lungfish characteristic
inhabitants of tropical lakes and wetlands
are experts at coping with drought. Thcv FILTER-FEED! K- i
i
Lesserflamh
gulp air at the surface and. when their home
their bill to filter
stalls to drv out, thcv burrow into the mud.
microorgau,
sealing themselves inside mucous co< oons. 1
t
Later in the year, when heavy rain falls and
soaks tin' mud. the cocoon breaks down. i
and the lish wriggle away.
OCEANS
OCEANS
The oceans form by far the largest
continuous habitat on earth and were
almost certainly the environment in
PLANKTOMC LIFE
which life first evolved. The underwater the surface of im >.
landscape is made up of mountains and consists partly oj
starting their Uses as lanae.

volcanoes, cliffs, deep valleys, and vast,
flat plains, many of them far larger than
any found on land. The oceans are so
immense they cover more than three-
quarters of the earth's surface - and
difficult to explore that scientific
know ledge of ocean wildlife lags behind
that of life on land. However, research
has shown that life is found at all levels, JELLYFISH, the largest
from the sunlit surface to the deepest planktonie animals, can

suim as well as drift near
trenches over 7 miles 1km down. 1
the surface. Some are over
across.
INSHORE WATERS
Some inshore waters are so shallow that
if the world's oceans were lowered
In just 245fi 75m huge areas of .
seabed would be exposed. Off western Europe, for MOST SHARKS tint in the
relatively shallou
example, the coast would be extended by about 25 1
.
the continental shi

mile- 200km). and in parts of Siberia by more than
than in the deep sea.
435 miles (700km These shallow waters owe their
.
existence to continental shelves - the gently sloping

plateau- that flankmany of the deep ocean basins.
Continental shelves are a key habitat for
sea life, supporting large schools of fish
and a diverse collection of other animals,

FISH Mich as cod shed u.
from lobsters and crabs to mollusks and burrowing
numbers of eggs near the
wui ms. This wealth of life is possible because, in
bed. The eggs float gradw
shallow water, sunlight can reach the seabed. upuard. and the
promoting the growth of algae, seagrasses, and youngfish tin
countless other organisms near the surface.
|tf^^Q^^>M^_ that need energy from light
1 to survive. Just like

plants on land, these
provide animals with a
year-round supply of food,
well as plenty of cover and
places to breed.
CON1 MENIAL SHELVES Some inshore animal-, such
.1- lobsters and flatfish, spend LOBSTERS an common
miles - in coasts close
most of dteir lives on the seabed scavengers, crawling
to deep-sea trenches - to over
seabed, while a few live 01 a the bottom in search of
620 miles (1,000km).
U: pny and dead remain >.
cntirek in midwater or at the i
surface. Others live in quite different habitat- at

different stages of their lives. For example, some
larvae develop as part of the surface plankton,
then move to midwater or the seabed as adult-.
Inshore water- are also visited by animals
from the open sea - most often l>\ passive
drifter-,such as jellyfish, but also by powerful
swimmers, such as whales and sharks. Some come to
breed, while others arrive l>\ accident. Occasionally,
LIKE MANY FLATFISH.
into difficulties: jellyfish often end up on th European plaice tines on th,
rid whale- can ba ome stranded when their seabed. It it camouflaged to
ktii
navigation systems guide them into shallow water. match the sediment.
**
1
OCEANS
OPEN SEA
Even in tlu- clearest seawater, light penetrates no
I, uihci than about 825fi 250m below the surface.
Mine than am other Factor, this has a cru< ial <
- 1 1
<
- e< .him- it detei mines wh.it there is in

WANDERERS, eat. In the brightl) lit surface /one. microscopi<
picbtrds,
algae grow by harnessing the energy in sunlight,
\jiilid mint of till
/hi out nt lea, !•'•

creating an invisible harvest lor planktonic animals.
land only to breed. This lood is passed on when the plankton are
themselves eaten in lood
c hains that eventually end

with sharks and other large
predators. Below the point
where the light lades and
finally disappears, then- is
no home-grown supply of
food. At this depth, and
further below, animals feed IF THE CONTINENTAL
either on each other or on shelves are excluded, the
the supply of dead remains average depth qf the world's

ocean basins is about
THE HUGE SUNFISH U that constantly drifts down
; 1200 I OOOi
from the surface.
Despite the unimaginable volume of the 0< cans.
hundreds of miles
often
lew of the world's animal species - perhaps 5
from land.
pen int live in open water. Since most of these
stay near the surface, where they can take

advantage of the relatively plentiful food supply,
animal life in the huge midwater zone and the
deeper abyssal zone is comparatively sparse.
In contrast with these central zones, much of the
sea floor abounds with animals. Deep-sea creatures,
which are known collectively as benthic animals,
include species that swim or crawl over the seabed
as well as those that burrow through it, mining the
softsediment for food. Many of these animals
appear to have changed little over millions of years,
for although the water is extremely cold and
the water pressure intense, the seabed is not
subjected to the changeable conditions
that can affect the surface. It is therefore
one of the most stable habitats on earth.
CONSERVATION
flu- main threats to marine wildlife .tic pollution and
overfishing Dissolved pollutants and floating waste are
now found in oceanic water
over the world, but the
all
greater problem for inshore marine- wildlife is fishing.

Improvements in te< hnolog) and a stead) in< rease in
the size ol the world's fohing Qeets have brought
about the collapse of some lish si,,eks and ma\ have
pei mam-nth altered the e< olog) of the i ontinental
shelf. International agreements now restrict fishing in
some environmental!) sensitive areas, but < ommen ial
pressures result
in numerous
lish still being
harvested at an
unsustainable rate.
LONG REACH
1 1 'lull traditionalfishing
methods
with pinpoint a
&
LIFE IN OCEANS
LIFE IN OCEANS BIOLUMINESCENCE

A variety "I marine animals produce light -
some to maintain contact with (heir own kind.
In THE billion or MORE YEARS since the first animal species evolved, Others to lure prey. In some species, notably
planktonic invertebrates, the value of light
competition for survival in the sea has become intense. Today, the oceans is
less cass to explain. Bioluminescence is most

arc home to the largest predators on the planet, as well as to vast numbers common in bathypelagic species those that live
very deep, open water Typically, the light
of microscopic animals that by unseen. As on land, ocean wildlife is
drift in . i*
produced by skin organs called photophores.

affected by local conditions, the most important being the supply of food. Light production is not always confined to the
For main, survival also depends on being able to defend themselves animal itself: some fish can eject luminous clouds
to distract predators while they make an escape.
against attack. In some regions, life is thinly spread, but in others, animals
are found in greater numbers than anywhere else on earth.
afford to miss any opportunity to feed. Many

FEEDING AT SEA of them therefore have gigantic mouths and
The oceans are so huge that, although they elastic stomachs that enable them to swallow
i ontain plentv of nutritious food, marine pre) almost as large as themselves.
animals face a challenge in Finding enough
to cat without expending too much energy
in the process.
CONTROLLING BUOYANCY
Some concentrate on large prey. The Very few marine animals - with the exception
sperm whale, for example, hunts giant squid of deep-diving mammals are found at all
atdepths of over 3,300ft (1,000m:. although levels in the sea. Instead, most are adapted for
LIGHTS IN THE DARK
most pursuit-hunters search for food near the life at a particular depth, and have buoyancy
Bristlemouths hare photophores that git e out a yellowish
surface rather than in the depths. Other large deuces that help to keep them there. Surface
green light, .is in most luminous fish, the photophores are
sea animals eat smaller fare, scooping it up in drifters, such as the violet sea-snail, have arranged in characteristic patterns that enable members of a
huge amounts, often straining it with their simple floats: filled with material that is lighter species to recognize each other in the dark. Photophores may
gills. This technique, known as filter feeding than water, they ensure that the animal stays shinefor extended periods or they may beflashed on and off.
is used by baleen whales and some of the at the surface, even in hea\-y surf.
largest sharksand rays. Most filter feeders live For animals that spend their lives fully
on plankton, which is so abundant that it immersed, remaining at one level requires do this, some use adjustable buoyancy aids
allows them to reach a gigantic size. Drifting more complex apparatus. They have to be hidden inside their bodies. Bony fishes, for
animals also feed on plankton, although on neutrally buoyant at their optimal depth and example, have a gas-filled chamber, called
a much smaller scale. Comb jellies or sea vet able to rise or sink as the need arises. To the swim bladder, just below the backbone.
gooseberries, for example, haul it in with If the fish needs to sink, it removes some of
Stinging tentacles that work like fishing nets. the gas from the swim bladder by pumping
On life depends almost
the seabed, animal it into the bloodstream: if it needs to rise, it
entirely on the dead organic matter that drifts pumps itback into the bladder. Cartilaginous
steadily down from above. Brittlestars are fishes, such as sharks, do not have swim
typical of these scavengers, collecting food bladders; instead they rely on their large,
particles with their arms. However, there are oily liver tokeep them afloat Manx sharks
also predators - bizarre fish, for example are actually slightly heavier than seawater:
that hunt in the total darkness on or near the swimming provides the lift that allows them
seabed. Animal lite at the bottom of the sea to control their depth.
can be sparse, so these predators cannot
ANIMALS ADRIFT
Tlu violet sea-snail hangs from a raft made of hardened bubbles
AVOIDING PREDATORS
of mucus. To improvt buoyancy, its shell is unusually thin.
FILTER FEEDING In the open sea. there is nowhere to hide.
It drifts with the currents, feeding on other surface animals.
uge flaps on either side of its which leaves animals highly vulnerable
head, a mania ray channels plankton into to predators. To survive, some rely on
lit mouth. Filter feeders like the mania camouflage or disguise: others behave in
are indiscriminate eaters, su allowing
ways that make them difficult to attack.
anything that becomes trapped by their
For slow -moving invertebrates, such as
those that make up plankton, one of the most
effective disguises is transparency. Planktonic
animals are often as clear as glass, which
makes them difficult to see. even at close
quarters. Most of these animals are only a
few millimeters long, although some tunicatcs
form translucent, tube-shaped colonics that
can be over 9 ft 3m in length. i
Some fish are transparent when they are

vci v camouflage of a
small, but then use
different kind as they get older. Almost all
species that live in brightly lit. open water
have dark backs but much paler undersides.
LIFE IN OCEANS
HYDROTH ERMAL VENTS

1 iisi seen in 1977 nil the Galapagos Islands.
hydrothermal vents arc remarkable ecological

oases nn the deep-sea bed. Vents are reated 1a i
voli .mi' .i' ii\ii\ releasing streams of intensely

hot, mineral-laden water into the ocean. They
an- .inn mt; the few habitats where life does not
rely on energy from the sun specialized
bacteria use tl»' minerals to produce
and vent animals either consume food reated c
!i\ the bacteria or eat each other. Over 300

animal spa ies have been discovered around
vents, and most are not found elsewhere.
g.
* V- tM
* 1 He? **OsW^fvE
GHOSTLY SHELLFISH
Like /««>/ vent animals, these crabs and clams - caught
in the powerful lights of a submersible - haie ven' little
pigmentation, explaining their white appearance.
A few animals, such as or three decades for the animal to mature:

dolphins, live in sophisticated during this time a turtle remembers pre< isel)
social groups. Dolphins use while it hatched so that when it is reach to

- pattern. kn< echolocation to locate prey, to warn breed it can make the long journey back.
,i- ( i puntershading, protects fish in each other of danger, and to organize On a smaller scale, many fish swim inshore
two ways: it hides them from predators deeper themselves during hunting. to spawn, while other slow-moving animals
down b\ disguising their silhouette against the migrate across the seabed. Caribbean spiny-
and conceals them from surface lobsters travel between shallow reefs, where
bright sky. it
MIGRATION
hunters, including seabirds, by making them the) breed, and deeper water, where they
blend in with the dark water beneath. Many marine animals including most of overwinter; they set off in single file, each
the largest whales migrate between breeding one following the tail of the animal in front.
grounds in the Tropics and feeding grounds Journeys like these are usually annual
athigher latitudes. The gray w hale probably events. But some animals migrate daily to
travels the greatest distances: its lifetime feed. Planktonic animals often rise to the
annual migrations total up to 500.000 miles Miilai e .it night, sinking back into the depths
800. 000km twin- the distance to the by day Some of the plankton's predators cop)
moon. Tuna arc also known to undertake this pattern, i rearing a 2 Hiour cycle involving
immense journeys: some schools travel the man) animals. These vertical migrations are
length of the Mediterranean; in the Pacific, clearl) revealed by shipboard sonar, which
one lish tagged in Mexico was recovered off shows a reflective layer rising at sunset
TRANSPARENT LIFE
Band-shaped mips haii dear, jelhlikt bodies that art difficult
Japan. Turtles show very precise migration and sinking at dawn.
for predator* to see. I '//
to -fin (Wen patterns, returning to the same stretch of
not can extend hundreds oj miles across th> oceans surface. beach year after yeai to l.i\ their eggs. This is
all the more remarkable bee ause it lakes two
LIVING IN GROUPS
On land, animal groups < an be very large,
bui none rivals the size of those thai < an
n i in .ii sea. 1 ish often live in si hools
thousands or even millions strong, while
some planktonic animals form swarms that
(,ui be over 60 miles 00km long. 1
MAIS MH.KUlos KOI II s
I hese gianl aggregations of underwater life

WINTER RANGE
often seem easy targets leu predators. Whales SUMMER RANGE
gorge on krill with almost none halant case,
UIIAI.l SON 1111 MO\ 1
while other predators make huge inroads into

make an
schools of lish. But. in general, animals
return trip b
living in groups are safei than they would be and ih, a Mimmer
.iloiH : the) arc more diflii till to single out and pounds an mini lln B
mm h more difficult to take by surprise. migrate beticeen I. n Siberia
COASTS AND CORAL REEFS
COASTS AND COASTS

Some habitats look much the same from one year to the next.
CUFFS are
important nest
CORAL REEFS but the seashore always changing Waves pound away at
is
rocks, undermining them and breaking them up, while coastal

currents reshape the shore in a less dramatic way by moving
gravel and sand. Superimposed on this is the rhythmic
sites for
seabirds.
although
many
same, tuch as terns.
In THE NATURAL world, the boundaries movement of the tides a twice-daily cycle thai has a nest on the ground above
the high-tide line.
between different environments are often profound impact on seashore wildlife.
fides vary enormously in different parts of the world.
rich habitats for wildlife. The world's coasts
Around islands in the middle of the ocean, the total rise and SUPRALITTOF
are the ultimate example of this meeting fall is often less than 2in JOcm while in deep bays and inlets
1 .
of habitats because they bring together on continental coasts it can be over 33fi 10m Whatevei its .
animals that live on the land and those height range, the tide divides the shore into three different
zones, each with its own distinctive animal life.
that live in the sea. Coastal wildlife varies
The highest of these zones is the supralittoral. which is the
according to local conditions but. in rocky part of the shore just beyond the reach of the highest tides.
coasts as well as sandy ones, shore animals Although this zone is never actually submerged, it is affected
are associated with clear-cut zones that are by salt spray: consequently animals that are sensitive to
salt - and also salt-intolerant plants are rarely found in this
usually determined by the tides. Coral reefs
zone. Below this is the littoral, a zone that is regularly covered
are a special kind of coastal habitat. Famed and then exposed as the tide Hoods and recedes. The animals
for their spectacular shape and color. found here, such as mussels and limpets, lead a double life in
that they have to be able to survive both in water and in air.
they can grow to vast proportions and
The next zone, or infralittoral, is always submerged, even
are unrivaled in the immense variety of
during the lowest tides. Musi of the animals that live in this
aquatic life that they support. Reef-building zone are fully marine, although a few leave the water to breed.
corals require specific conditions, the most Coastal wildlife is also affected bv the geolog) of the shore.
important being warmth and bright sunlight Many animals on rocky coasts, while others specialize in
live
sand or coastal mud. Compared with these, gravel is a

all year round. As a result, coral reefs are
difficult habitat for animals, although some shoreline waders
largely restricted to the Tropics. use- it as a place to nest.
CORAL REEFS
CONSERVATION There are two main types of coral: hard and soft. Coral reefs
I hr (hid threat to coastal wildlife is pollution. Some kinds. are formed by hard corals. The individual coral animals, called
such as oil spills, have very visible effects, but i oastal life is
polyps, secrete external skeletons that persist after they die. Soft
also affected by contaminants that often go unnoticed, such
corals are found all over the world, but hard, reef-building corals
a- sewage and industrial waste. Tourism can aggravate the
grow only nutrient-poor water, where their symbiotic
in clear,
problem: in heavily developed areas, pollution levels rise,
and animals that normally breed on the coast, such as algae can harness the energy in sunlight. Such is the richness of
turtles and birds, are often -.cared away. Coral reefs lace the habitat created bv coral reefs th.it a huge number of animals
problems from overfishing, pollution, and quarrying for are able to live side bv side without competing lor the same food.
coral stone but. worldwide, the most serious threat to coral There arc three main
is global warming. When sea temperatures rise above
tvpes of reef: fringing reefs,
certain levels, corals expel theii symbiotic algae, cutting;
which grow close to the
oil" one of their main sources of food. Such coral is called
shore: barrier reefs, which
"bleached." II the temperature remains high, the coral max
die. Mass bleaching has occurred in nearly all the world's
are separated from the coast
major reefs and. in some, the coral has failed to recover. by deep channels, sometimes
over 62 miles 100km wide;
and atolls, which are ring- or
horseshoe-shaped reefs that coral REEFS an
grow around oceanic islands, world when tht tea temperatun never drops
often where volcanoes have ''• > about 64'F IHC. The world's
subsided into the sea. tm &
sl '"> "" '" "" l»do-Pacifti region.
Although even- reef is unique, reefs share a common LAGOON I

structure. Depth and exposure are two important factors that
RAYS, and many other
influence this because corals vary in their need for light and in
bottom-duelling full. Jeed at
their ability to withstand the- force of the waves. The fastest-
animal* buried in tht < oral
growing corals, which need lots of light and relatively calm sand of reef lag<.
water, typically form the central zone of the reef, projecting an- well camouflaged
just above the surface .it the lowest tides. On its inshore edge,
X VICTIM OF OIL
The trade in oil « a major muru of pollution around the world's
the central zone- is often backed bv lagoons large' pools of
open water King over coral sand. Bv contrast, the seaward
coasts. Oil lolls seabirds by digging their feathers, which prevent!, them edge of the reef often forms a submarine cliff that drops
from flying and hunting. It also killsfish in addition to limpets, mussels, steeplv into the depths. The corals in this zone are solid and
and other invertebrate* that live in the zone between the tides. resilient because they have to withstand heavy breakers rolling
in from the open sea.
< starfish are common
in the littoral zone.
bivalves are found on all tppi i oj
COASTS AND CORAL REEFS
particularly on rock) ihort themseh i

-
to rocks, while other:
live buried in mud.
THELUMPFISH stays in SEALS spend most of their time in SEASHORE WORMS. ;
place by tricking itselj to the water but have to come ashore to <
"ii. hunt and scavenge on
V submerged rocks u ith
suckerlike pelvic fins.

its breed. Sorru breeding minutes contain
thousands of animals.
the seal', \!
filtering foodfrom the water.
INFRALITTORAL
SEAWARD SHELF
PARROT FISH USt

'
to ,',
ea 01 /
as sand,
TURTLES, ',, 1 MANY SEA SNAKES branching corals, mainly

,
Vcropora, SPONGES filerfood from
and the various small animals ml among coral water around reefs. Some are
s
in all in tii 1 1) minute, but deep-waterforms
parts oj reefs. i eels. each year.

1111 ON COASTS AND CORAL REEFS
ON THE SHORE
LIFE ON COASTS AND (
FEEDING
oasts provide a much 'greater variety of
CORAL REEFS food than the open sea. Hash up the shore,
an abundance of animal and plant remains
left in strandlines b) the retreating tide arc
onsumed by beach-hoppers, springtails.
COMPARED WITH OPEN SEA, coasts and coral reefs are
i
and other scavengers, which are then preyed

disproportionately rich in marine wildlife. Rocky coasts and mudflats upon by skills and w aders.
abound with seabirds and invertebrates, while coral reefs probably contain In the intenidal zone, filter-feeders are
at least a third Conditions in coasts and reels

of the world's fish species. common. Unlike the giant filter-feeders of the
open sea see p.72 . coastal ones are generally
are variable, so the animals that use them are often extremely specialized.
small and often spend their entire adult lives
Some roam over large areas of the shore, but for most a distance of fixed in one place. Mussels and other bivalves,
just a few yards makes the difference between an ideal which filter particles of food using modified
gills, are examples of these. Barnacles have
habitat and one in which it is impossible to survive.
a different filtering technique: despite their
resemblance to mollusks. barnacles are
ADAPTING TO TIDES crustaceans, with a set of leather) legs.
For coastal animals, life is governed by the At high tide, the legs protrude from the
rhythm of the tides. In addition to adapting to ;
barnacle's tase to collect food particles.
the twice-daily ebb and (low, the) have to Roc k\ shores are home to some fast-
adapt drawn-out rhythm of extra-large

to the moving swimmers other
as well as many
CLOSED ANEMONE OPEN ANEMONE
spring lido, which arc usuall) 14 days apart. animals that take a more leisurely approach
PREVENTING WATER LOSS
Knowing where die tide stands is important To prevail lining out at low tide, many sea
because animals caught unprepared run the withdraw their tentacles, turning into jellylike blobs
risk of either drying out or drowning. that can be seen on coastal rocks. They often lire under
Some shore animals, such as barnacles. "i out of direct sunlight.
adjust their behavior according to whether

oi not the) are submerged. Most aquatic biological locks, which march in step with
i
animaK. however, an- much more the tides.Even they are taken away from
it
sophisticated, reacting in their internal the shore and placed in a tank, their tidal
clocks continue to tick.
spring tide neap tide

<P n ng ^ fhis built-in abilit) to keep time enables
animals to anticipate events. For example,
submerged limpets crawl over rocks to graze
on microscopic algae. However, since they
FEEDING AT THE SHORE
are vulnerable away from their niche on the
Sandpipers wade into the sea in their search for food. Like
rock, the\ have to return home before the sea many coastal waders, they follow each want a< it retreats.
ebbs away. heir biological clocks them

i
8
— —— — i
9
i
10
i
II 12 13 M
when
1
to he. id back, ensuring that the) are

tell and then they scuttle back up the shore as the next one breaks.
securely in place before the tide goes out. to rinding food. Starfish and sea urchins are
TIDAL RHYTHMS
Conversely, the tiddler crab's biological clock among the slowest, crawling over rocks on
Tin.' chart shows hou the tea's height -.fine' over 14 day*.
prompts it to come out and leed at low tide hundreds of fluid-filled feet.
Spring and neap tide* incur when the sun. moon, and earth and then return to its underground burrow
form a right angle so that their graiitional pull is combined. beli lie the incoming tide engulfs it.
LIVING IN MUD AND SAND
Compared mud
MANGROVE SWAMPS with rocky shores, coastal
and sand seem to harbor only a limited
Mangrove swamps are formed by trees that are
amount of animal life. But appearances are
adapted for life in salt) intcrtidal mud. Found only
in the Tropics and subtropks, the) pla) a significant deceptive. Mud teems
in particular often
ecological role 1>\ and providing

stabilizing the coast with hidden life feeding on organic matter
inshore nurseries for and other marine animals.
fish brought in by the tide.
Must mangroves develop arching prop root-, which One of the advantages of living below
are exposed when the tide is out and submerged
ground is that despite the attacks of curlews
when it i^ in. I"hese provide anchoragi foi mollusks,
and other long-billed birds, it provides good
and ad as convenient perches for mudskippei a the
protection from most predators. The chief
air-breathing lisli that thrive in this habitat Mangrove
foliage istough and leathery, and eaten main!) In disadvantage is that tin- surface is constantly
iiiMi is; but the dense canop) attracts large numbers shifting cutting oil buried animals from the
of birds, which use mangroves .is breeding sins and water above and from oxygen and food.
overnight roosts. The mud in mangrove swamps is
Some of these buried animals have
deep and often foul-smelling, but ii is rich in organic
specialized body parts that enable them to
mailer that is replenished each da) l>\ the ride.
connect with the surface. Clams, for example.
I 'mil die l.ue twentieth century, mangroves escaped swamp vegetation
much ol die large-scale deforestation in die Tropics. M that can gmu m mud periodically have leathery tubes or siphons. In many
But, with the increase in shrimp farming, large areas flooded by the tide. I -partly
species the siphons can be retracted inside
of mangroves have been cut down, raising c oncerns became they are often rich m salt, but these coastal /
the shell, but insome they are too long to
about the long-term impac i i >n > I msi.i1 h lldlilc. important breed: . :'ds and marine animals. In stowed away. Species thai do not have
such accessories often live in burrows. The
LIFE ON COASTS AND CORAL REELS
NEW GENERATION
.1 giant i lam expels eggs into //«
sea. ///, /</(,(/, a /// drift away

to setth "a distant parti of the
a i /. Giant clams live on the food
generated by the ymbiotu algae
harboring in theirfkshy li/>\
LUGWORM CASTS
burrows halt tun Wn um jm mi mnmg
r aiiln
and anothei fw ejected waste. Tin wash forms apih 01 "cast"
that looks like muddy toothpaste squirted out oj a tube.
higworm is it makes a U-shaped

an example:
burrow, lining mucus to keep it intact
it with
so that seawater docs not make it collapse.
SYMBIOTIC PARTNERSHIPS
Symbiosis is a feature of life in all habitats, but
it is particularly apparent on coasts. In some
rases, the symbiotic partners are animals;
but, in many others, one is an animal and the
other is microscopic algae that live inside its
body. These algae, known as zooxanthcllac.

can be found in thousands of coastal animals,
including corals, jellyfish, and giant clams.
Zooxanthcllac live by photosynthesis - the
same process by which plants grow. Through
a complex series of chemical reactions, they otherwise low. For the partnership between
harness the energy in sunlight and use it to coral and algae to work, the corals have to
build up organic matter. The host animal encourage algae growth, which means the)
provides the zooxanthcllac with protection must live in bright sunshine near the water
from the outside and, in return, the algae surface. However, this limits their upward
surrender some of their manufactured food. growth because few corals can survive more
These partnerships are essential to reef- than an hour of exposure at low tide.
building corals because they allow the corals
where the food supply
to live in places is
REPRODUCTION A LIFE IN THE SEA
I h, r«a "tin is iln only ottei l" livt entire^ in water, it
MUTUAL BENEFIT Many land animals have adapted to life at gioes birth in iht tea, andfloats upsidt down to atekh its
Rather ihim harming clownfish, the sea anemom stinging
sea. Some are now fully marine, but others
's
:
young. This femah is m imming u ith hei cub on he cm ft.
tentach i protect them from predators, whih tin fish probably
Lip
such as turtles, some sea snakes, and seals
40<
help la tlu anemom clean. However, ih, partnership is
got entirely equal u Inh

and must come ashore to
their relatives dining the breeding season, congregating in
nil, mini, i can live alone. sreed. These animals arc often scattered over the same place each year to maximize their
i
1
"., nfish cannot. i wide area, so they tend to form colonies chances of finding a mate-. Main coastal
invertebrates, on the other hand, spend their
enure adull lives in one place. For them.
reproduction is an opportunity not only
to multiply but also to disperse. Then eggs
hatch into planktonic larvae, which ma\ then
drift long distances in coastal currents before
eventually settling down. For some spe( ies,
such as barna< les, choosing a home is an

irrevocable decision because .1 larva i anno!
detach itself nine il has settled. Chemical
Cues help to "make up its mind" before
it
il takes this momentous slep.

Senile lish come inshore to breed be< ause
the shoreline oilers plenty of hiding pla< es

for their eggs. An extreme example ol such
a fish is the California grunion, which la\s
ils eggs not in water bui in damp sand on
bea< lies. ( inmioiis stage mass spawnings
during high spring tides al night. Ai the
next spring tide, the eggs hatch <uu\ the
young are washed mlo ihe sea.
-
URBAN AREAS
URBAN
AREAS
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO, only about
3 percent of the world's population
lived in cities. Today, the figure is rapidly
approaching 50 percent, and the human
population has increased nearly sixfold.
This phenomenal growth in urban
living has transformed large areas
of the planet. It has created a wide
range of artificial habitats both in and
out of doors that animals can use as
their homes, as well as vast amounts of
waste that form the basis of animal food
chains. As a result, there is a wealth of
wildlife living with and among us.
CITIES that hni , a

population
than om milium peopL
an spread throughout
ih, , arid. I here are
limit than 2 )0 Oj thl U
tith i. and tht total is
ia/utll) increasing
OUTDOORS
For animals that ran cope with disturbance, < iiies and
towns can be good plates in live. They have plenty of
suitable plat es for sheltering or raising young, from
trees And window ledges to underground passageways
and for omnivorous species they provide a constant
supplx of leftover food. In winter, the artificial heat
ih. n es« apes from buildings oilers additional benefit.
Even better, cities are relatively sale: cats .uul dogs
aside, they are free of many of the predators that
animals would face in their natural homes.
Animals have adapted to urban expansion
with different degrees of sue ess. Some species c
are never found in cities, always retreating as the

concrete advances. ( )thers, su< h a-- migrating
birds and inserts, are occasional visitors, touching
down briefly before moving on. More adaptable
animals rat « OOns and red loxes. Im example are
equall) at home in (own or country, and treat built-up
,ue. is .is extensions of their natural habitat. Ti in
urban specialists, such as the ubiquitous feralpigeon

and the house sparrow, are now so fully adapted to
city living that they are rarel) seen anywhere else.
While pigeons can survive in the busiest city

feral
centers, main urban animals are found chiefly in

parks and gardens the small-scale versions of their
habitats in the wild. These animals vary from one part
of the world to another, but the) include tree-dwelling
mammals, such and opossums, and a wide

as squirrels
range of The spread of suburbia is normally a
birds.
THE BROWN RAT'S
threat to wildlife, but lot these spe< ies an actuall) it i
ig lifestyL enablei
be a help because it reates a pati hwork of suitable
«
it la list dose In people
> *o
,
habitats, sometimes with the bonus of food hand-outs. without being eas.
URBAN AREAS
In the natural world, many animals inadvertently

create habitats for other specie-, when they build
their nests. Humans do exacdy the same. However,
be< ause our "nests" are so extensive and complex.
the} can host an exceptionally wide range of animal
lit.-. Much of it is harmless, but some can cause
problems or at least inconvenience.
Most indoor animal- are small and nocturnal.
which helps them to avoid being noticed by their
human hosts. This is espec ially true of species that
share daily living areas and that s< a\ enge leftover
food. Silverfish, for example, emerge after dark
to search for flour and other starchy produce,

scuttling away if cabinets or drawn -
suddenly opened, exposing them to the

light. Cockroaches behave in a similar
way, but they are more of a nuisance

because they spread disease. At dawn,
nocturnal animals hide away, leaving the day
take over. Housetlies. for example, are most
hilt to
active during the day because they na\igate by sight.

In basements and attic-, wildlife is less affected by
the cycle of light and dark, and it is less frequently
disturbed by human comings and goings. For wild
animals, attics resemble extra-large tree-holes, while
basements resemble caves. Wasps, birds, and house
mice will all nest in attics if they can get in - and
thev sometimes share this habitat w ith roosting bats.

Basements and cellars provide a haven for spider-.
which can survive for long periods without tood and.
in many cases, catch their prey in total darkness.
The advent of central heating has been an
important factor in the increase in the number of
animals that choose to share our homes. For example,
cockroaches, which were originally found mainly in
warm parts of the world, are now widespread in
cooler regions. Soft furnishings and carpeting also
keep the home
m
If'
pla\ a part: as well as helping to
warm, they provide hiding places and nesting
material for various animals.
CONSERVATION
Lilian animals face a form of "unnatural selection'
f
in that any species that are not suited to cit\ life are
ruthlessly weeded out. regardless of how successful
they would be in the wild. Shortage of -pace, noise,
and pollution prevent many animal- from establishing
themselves in cities, while other environmental
factors, such as bright street lighting, deter main
more. Such arc the hazards of city life that even
experienced and otherwise successful urban animals
sometime- -uccumh to the danger-. Traffii "I course, .
'
is a major hazard
iv - ,V
\J[ ^ that claims the lives
of thousands of
animals including
ROAD HAZARD
I rban traffic, which has
increased massively over
the pa\t 50 yen
. .nY threats faced
In animals that live in

THE DADDY-LONG-LEGS
It 1 t particularly
i >
for nocturnal
the wild. Cellar* and dark
animal'.
rooms makf perfect artificial
LIFE IN URBAN AREAS
LIFE IN URBAN AREAS INTRODUCED

Species thai have set up home
SPECIES
in unfamiliar
parts of the world are plentiful in urban areas.
ANIMALS HAVE HAD MILLIONS OF YEARS adapt to earth's natural to Some have been introduced deliberately, while
others arrive with imported food. Pets. also, are
habitats, but only a fraction of that time to adjust to
life in cities. Despite
sometimes released, or manage to escape, into the
this, animals are never far away in built-up places. Their success is owed wild. Some of diese animals remain urban, but
such as the starling in North America -
mainly to "preadaptation"' - characteristics that evolved to suit one way a few
have gone on to colonize entire continents.
of life, or habitat, but that accidentally turn out to be useful for another.
Thus, some animals thrive in man-made habitats that resemble the FAR FROM HOME
The rose-ringed
ones they would use in nature. Others succeed because they are highly parakeet from tropical
adaptable and can exploit die opportunities that we inadvertently provide. Africa and southern
ymd at coping
with cold, so it can
as insects that attack other organic materials,
FEEDING thrive in parts of \ orth
.
such as wool. In many parts of the world -bnenca and Europe.

Some outdoor urban animals live on the these animals arc serious pests.
same foods that they cat in the wild, but for
scavenging species such as raccoons, foxes,
and pigeons the daih. fare is often very
LIGHT AND WARMTH that it is spring. Extra
by a range of animals, from
warmth is
butterflies to
appreciated
different from that of their natural homes. In cities, streetlights light up the night skv. birds. In some regions, starlings commute
These versatile creatures will try any kind while heat from buildings and traffic makes on winter afternoons to roost on
into cities
of leftover food, however unfamiliar it looks them far warmer than nearby countryside. buildings where they are relatively warm.
and smells, and this highly opportunists Artificial lights confuse insect navigation
the secret of their great success. systems and interfere with birds' biological
streak
Modern
is
loud packaging can sometimes clocks. As a result, songbirds sometimes sing

ROOFTOP ANIMALS
present problems, but they quickly learn late at night, and some species start building For birds and bats, the tops of buildings can
how to tear or peck away at plastic and nests in winter, convinced by the bright light make homes. High above the ground
ideal
paper to gel at the edible contents within. and undisturbed by people, animals
relatively
Indoor animals get their food from one of light bulk feed and breed unmolested. Some species nest
three sources: the things we eat, the- animals in attics or under eaves, while others favor
that eat those things, and the fabric of our the tops of chimneys. Swifts, swallows, and
homes. The first category contains a wide martins are foremost among rooftop dwellers
range of household pests, such as rats, mice, and are prime examples of preadaptation
houseflies. and cockroaches; the second at work: they naturally nest on cliffs or in
i ategory consists chiefly of spiders, but also crevices, but the rapid spread of towns and
centipedes and geckos in warm parts of the has provided alternatives that have
cities
world. Spiders arc almost perfectly adapted enabled them to extend their range to places
to indoor life and. although widely disliked, where they would otherwise be rare.
DRAWN TO THE LIGHT
they make a positive contribution by keeping
LIFE ON THE ROOFTOPS
Moths navigate by maintaining a >tt angle to the moon, u huh.
indoor insect numbers in check. Animals in
num. works a compass, enabling the A pair of white storks look
because ii is tofar tikr
the third category are the least welcome of moth tofolluw a straight line. With closer tights, mch <?> >//;;/- down on a town from their
these uninvited guests. They include wood- bights, the "compass " appears to the moth to dnjt. The moth chimney-top nest. Although
eaters such as term adjusts its path accordingly, and ends up \piraling inward they often nest on buildings,
and beetles, .is wd white storks feed in f elds.
DAWN RAID The\ were once common

Alertfor signs of danger, and using it< keen urban visitors in northern
sense of mu II and dexterous front paws, Europe, but changing
a raccoon sorts through garbage from a agricultural practice I have
'/ml 1/ hat overturned. reduced their numbers.
STRUCTURAL PESTS
Since humans fust started to build wood houses, wood-eating insects
have been a problem. Wood-earing beetles are common in temperate
regions, while termites attack wood in the Tropics. At one time, little
could be done to control severe attacks: today insecticides are effective

at keeping them in check. Even so. many of these animals are far
more widespread than they were because they have been exported in
the lumber shipped all over the world.
EATEN FROM INSIDE

Deathwateh beetle larvae
chew tunnels through old

wood. During thefineyears
thn take to turn into adults.
liter can weaken uood so

much that it eventually
A related species
attacks furniture wood.

I RBAN HUNTER
I In peregrine falcon is one of the m«</ adaptable 0/
all birds of prey. It feeds mainly on olhi 1 bit
it usually cat(be\ in mid-air. City noJlnp\ and Mge\

1 excellent vantage point for tin lab mi in /ml
mil its quarry before launching into a In
'i stoop.
W '*fy\
jb
I
Almost two million species of animals have
so far been identified - and it is thought
that the true number may be several times
greater than this. Members of the animal
kingdom range from invertebrates that arc
too small to be seen with the naked eye
to the blue whale, which is more than 1 00ft
(30m) long. The variety of lifestyles is
equally immense, from animals that filter

food from water while permanently fixed
to the seabed to agile predators that can
travel across the ground at over 60 mph
(100 kph). This section reflects the great
diversity of the animal kingdom, profiling
over 2,000 species, from the largest and
best known to the tiniest and most obscure.
/--W
a
^ -A
^<5v_i ^^^*^^\ \ *.
^
>•* s-*
w
\
on
MAMMALS
MAMMALS
PHYLUM Chordala MAMMALS, THE MOST FAMILIAR group of vertebrates,
CLASS Mammalia all nourish their young on milk produced by the female's
ORDERS 21
mammary glands (the unique skin structures after which the
F .„,uES 140
class is named). Most also give birth to live young and, with
SPECIES 4,475
only a few exceptions, have a covering of hair on their body.
Mammals are most widespread and diverse on land, but they have also
colonized air and water. Their success is largely due to their ability to
maintain a constant internal body temperature, regardless of changing
external conditions. They are also highly adaptable and often modify their
behavior to suit changing circumstances. Some mammals, especially
primates (the group that includes humans), form complex societies.
EVOLUTION differences in skull shape (see panel, YOUNG MAMMALS

left), the therapsids evolved a lighter, One of the key features that sets
The ancestors of mammals were more flexible skeleton. Another mammals apart from other animals is
a group of reptiles known as the change was the

significant the way thatfemales mckh then toting
therapsids. These small, active alignment of the limbs beneath on milk from their mammary glands.
carnivores lived during the Triassic rather than at the sides of the body, Sonn mammals look after then young
Period (which began 225 million which helped the early mammals until they are several years old.
years ago). The various features that become faster and more agile.
now separate reptiles and mammals The transition from reptiles to to shut down in low
in fact developed over a long period mammals was completed toward temperatures. Mammals,
of time and at different rates. In the end of the Triassic Period 195 however, were unaffected
addition to several important million years ago). This evolutionary by these fluctuations in
change coincided widi the rise of the temperature and were able to 3 types of teeth: incisors, which are
— dinosaurs, the reptiles that became survive the change in climate. used for biting, canines for gripping
DENTARY
— BONE
the dominant animals on earth and tearing, and cheek teeth molars
and premolars; for grinding. The
during the Mesozoic Era (225-65
million years ago) and threatened
ANATOMY shape and size of each npe varies
the mammals with extinction. The Several differences between the according to diet.
mammals' ability to regulate their skeletons of mammals and other Most mammals, unlike other
internal temperature may explain vertebrates can be seen in the skull. animals, have mobile external ears
why they outlasted the dinosaurs. Mammals are unique in having a pinnae to locate sounds and then
Zygomatic arch
During the Mesozoic Era. the climate lower jaw that is hinged directh funnel them to the eardrum, where
became cooler and daily to the rest of the skull - in other they are transmitted to the inner ear
hinge farther -~--"~ temperatures became vertebrates the connection is indirect,

forward than more variable. Like widi at least one other bone between nwlan premolars canine incisors
in early reptile TRIASSIC MAMMAL other reptiles, the the 2 parts of the jaw. This direct
bodies of dinosaurs articulation, and the fact that the
would have tended lower jaw is made of a single
bone see panel, left), makes the
MODERN MAMMAL
JAWS
Mammals
jau . in
haze a unique
u hull the
1
jaw a powerful tool for cutting
and dismembering food. Unlike
other vertebrates,
have a
mammals
set of specialized teeth,
also
TEETH OF A RACCOON
y
I EVOLVING SKULL
lowerjav
hinged directly
which reflects
varied diet
and
.\J1
facilitates their
mammals have
sharp
cutting
broad, grinding
surface
mulheusped
chewing
Mammals' reptilian ancestors had to the skull. The edge
uniform teeth and a jaw th.u was hippopotamus ha \
made of several hones and limited
to an up-and-down movement
B) the Triassic, mammal skulls
an unusually
large
a widejaw
mouth and
CARNIVORE
KSU HERBIVORE
v
OMNTVORE
had both a zygomatic arch to CHEEK CHEEK CHEEK
house powerful jaw muscles and TOOTH TOOTH TOOTH
mils one jawbone the dentary .
TEETH IN MAMMALS
Modern skull-, have specialized Many mammals, such as a raccoon (top),
teeth and a single jawbone often have mnsors. canines, and premolars and
capable of complex movements, molars (cheek teeth) that reflect their diet.
rhese features, in c ombination Carnivores hai e some sharp cheek teeth

wiih strong jaw muscles, allow for cutting bones, while hedriums have
mammals to (hew their food - broad cheek teeth to grind up vegetation.
a unique feature of the group. Omnivore cheek teeth are broad and
multiciopedfor chewing a variety' of foods.
\4
MAMMALS
; Kcept in monotremes. the vessels that carry heat to the skin's
HAIR milk is delivered through teats. In

addition to providing nourishment it
surface, raising or lowering
to trap or release
body hair
an insulating layer
Mammals are the only animals
is rich in proteins and fats), milk of air. and causing shivering to gain
with a covering of hair on the
contains antibodies, which help heat or evaporation via sweating or
body. A hair consists of a rod of
Being
establish resistance to infection. panting to lose heat Mammals can .
cells strengthened by the protein

nourished on milk during the early also control their body temperature
keratin. Hair can take several
weeks of life also means that young bv adopting special body postures: a
forms, including whiskers, spines,
mammals do not have to forage for monkey, for example, will hunch up
prickles, and even horns ,i- in
their own food, gready increases their in the cold and many mammals
rhinoceroses Most common is
ihances of survival. huddle together in small groups to
fur. which usually consists of an
Litter cizes van from 20 Virginia keep warm lemurs warm up in the
:
insulating layer of underfur and a

opossum to only orangutan 1 : early morning sun by sitting up and
projecting guard coat that protects
gestation periods range from 1 spreading their arms to expose their
the skin and gives hair its color
days short-nosed bandicoot to 22 thinly haired undersurface.
[which may aid camouflage .
months African elephant). Behavioral patterns also help

Hairs such as whiskers may also
regulate body temperature. For
have a sensorv function.
SKIN SECTION TEMPERATURE example, in the desert and in tropical
Each hair arises from
called the follicle. Xcxt

a pocket in the skin
to the follicle is an
CONTROL grasslands, in the heat of the day
erector muscle that raises or lowers the hair, Mammals, like birds, are endo-
changing the insulating properties of the coal. diermic. meaning that they maintain
a constant body temperature and can
MODIFIED HAIR therefore remain active at extremely
Porcupines have whiskers. long body hairs, and high or low external temperatures.
defensive spines (which are modified hairs). This is w hv mammals are able to
occupy every major habitat and are
more widespread than any odier
by 3 tinv bones, and to the brain. fertilization is internal see ;
_ vertebrates except birds . Many
The fennec fox has enormous. The group, the monotremes
first species, such as the seals and whales
sensitise pinnae: by contrast, true (which comprises the platypus and of the Antarctic, live in regions
seals have lost their pinnae. the echidnas a \ eggs. Members of
. l where the temperature is well below STAYING WARM
One of the most distinctive parts the other 2 groups give birth to live freezing for much or all of the year. Large mammals, such as elk. that do not
of a mammal's body is its skin. This young. Of these 2. however, the An area of the brain known as the hibernate in winter, sun-he and keep warm by
consists of 2 layers: a protective outer marsupials have no true placenta hvpothalamus monitors body tem- usingfat reserves built up during the summer.
layer of dead cells the epidermis see below When they are born,
. perature and adjusts it if necessary Over time, this leads to weight loss.
and an inner layer the dermis th.it marsupials are usually poorly Body temperature can be altered by
contains blood vessels, nerve-endings, developed and are nourished by their increasing or decreasing the
and glands, h is the glands in the mothers milk. In some species the metabolic rate.
dermis that are particularly unusual: young are kept in a pouch on the widening or ^k^^^^^^^^^fc
the sebaceous or scent glands outside of the mother's body until constricting _^ m t
secrete chemicals that mammals use they are more fully grown. The blood
to communicate with one another. largest reproductive group is referred
the mammarv glands produce the to as the placental mammals, in
milk used to nourish newborn which the unborn young develop
young, and the sweat glands in themother's uterus. During
together with the hair, which also pregnancy, food and oxygen pass
from the dermis see panel,
arises from mother to fetus through an
above - play an important part in organ known as the placenta, while
regulating temperature. w asle substances move in the
opposite direction. When born,
mammals
REPRODUCTION infant placental
mi 'i e highly developed than
are
Depending on the w ay they those of marsupials. i

reproduce, mammals are usually The juveniles of all mammals KEEPING COOL
di\ided into 3 groups. In all 3, are fedon milk secreted by the In hot climates,mammals avoid overheating by resting in the hottest part of the day. They
mother's mammary glands, which may also keep cool by panting, as this puma is doing. Panting helps lower the body
umbilical cord become active after the young are temperature through the evaporation of waterfrom internal surfaces, such as the tongue.
connects fetus
to placenta
HIBERNATION
Some mammals, especially small spe< ics. conserve energv COLD SLEEP
during the cold months by hibernating, iust as some reptiles Many bats that live in temperate
ifor example, the garter snake do. Their temperature falls, regions hibernate over the winter.
their breathing slows, their metabolism drops to almost While sleeping, the temperature
imperceptible levels, and ihev fast, drawing on stored fat of their body falls to that of the
reserves. When hibernating, the animal is torpid and roost site, as shown by the dew
difficult to rouse. A Western European hedgehog, for on this Daubenton's bat.
example, begins hibernation when the outside temperature

falls beta and in midwinter its body tempera-
I
ture lowers to about 43°1 6°C In some bats, rectal

=
temperatures of i2 F 0°C have been recorded during
PLACENTAL MAMMALS hibernation. Larger mammals, sin h as the Amerk an black
The fertilised <«£ of a placental mammal, such hen. do not trulv hibernate tliev sleep and become cold winter mm v\\ vv
ill: litis mam times and eventually H-ed more easily Related to hibernation is For hed^ •
becomes a fetus. As tht fetus grou t, the uterus estivation, which is torpidity during the summer. Like camouflage u an important
expands m si.y and weight. In the horse, hibernation, estivation saves energv, when food is short. part of winter hibernation.
pregnancy lasts about 11 months.
MAMMALS
The si/e of .m animal is a factor
AQUATIC MAMMALS in determining diet type. Since

small mammals have a high ratio of
up- cil maminaU have adapted UVING IN THE SEA
heat-losing -inline area to heat-
10 aquatic life, developing a streamlined Aquatic mammals, such
generating volume, diey tend to have
bod] and the ability to stay underwater as this humpback
for long periods although all of them evolvedfrom land-living
^fas^^te* high energy requirements and a high
i _*i metabolic rate. Mammals that
return to the surface to breathe . The mammals. Although the
weigh less than about 18oz 500g
largest group, the whales and dolphins, back limbs have been
are mostfj insectivorous because
are the most specialized. They have lost lost, some u hales retain
they cannot tolerate the -low.
their body hair and spend their entire life girdle.
complex digestive process of a
in water. Like whales, seals ,uu\ sea lions
herbivore. Larger mammals on the
i>h on subcutaneous keep warm,
fat to
Other hand generate more heat and
but tlie\ have retained their tin. which
less of this heat is lost. They can
is kepi waterproof b\ an oily secretion
therefore tolerate either a slower
from the sebaceous glands Sirenians
collection process those ih.it prey
(the manatees and dugong live in warm GRACEFUL MOVERS
on large vertebrates or a slower
coastal waters andand are the
estuaries s
h as this harbor seal, are
digestive process herbivores .
only herbivorous aquatic mammals. The highly acrobat th front

Furthermore, mammal- that weigh
sea otter is the only other mammal that and back limbs that have been modified
more than about 18oz 300g
spends most of its life in water. It lacks into webbedflippers. 1 "ngainly on land,
and instead keeps ^* ^- <-
usually cannot collect em >ugh
subcutaneous fat itsell they rarely venture Jar from the water,
inset during their waking hours to
t-
warm by trapping air in its dense fur. even to give birth to their young.
sustain themselves. The only large
insectivorous mammals are those
rodents retreat into cool, moist camouflage - where there is winter a varices of ua\s. Some eat animal that feed on huge quantities i il
burrows, while larger mammals mii >w. mammals mayturn white prey this is a carnivorous diet and colonial inset t- ants or termite- .
rest in die shade in cool depressions stoats or have a permanently white includes insect eating . Other
in the ground. Bodv coloring is coloration polar bears and possess mammals,
another important factor: dark extra-thick fur to compensate.
i.
plant-. An
called herbivores, eal
herbivorous diet includes
SOCIAL STRUCTURES
colors absorb heat: light colors sub-types such as fruit eating and Mammal- communicate socially
reflect it. Desert mammals are
FEEDING grass eating. An omnivore eats both by -cent, either from glands which
therefore often light fawn in color. animal prey and plants. may be located in the face, in the
while those living in cool climates To maintain a high, constant body Carnivorous mammals have a feet, or in the groin or in their urine
are dark. This arrangement ma\ temperature is "energy expensive" simple digestive trai t. because the or feces which contain sexual
I for mammals therefore need a nutritious proteins, lipids, and minerals found hormones They . also communicate
and plentiful diet. While the earliest in meat require little in the w ay i >1 by bodv posture or facial gesture,
mammals were probably predators, specialized digestion. Plant-.
different species have since adapted on die other hand, contain
to meet their dietary requirements in c < implex i arbi >h\ drates,
sui h as cellulose. The
digestive tract of an
FEEDING HIGH UP herbivore is therefore hosl
lammals avoid competing with one to bacteria that ferment
another by eating different foods or diese substances, and
by getting the samefood in different make them available for SUBMISSION EXCITEMENT
;ple. the long digestion. The bacteria FACIAL EXPRESSION
t of a giraffe all":, are housed either in a Some mammals communicate usingjacial t\f
^^^Kpfr'd at a height beyond muliichambered stomach litis ability is well developed in primates, such as the
• ach of other or in a large renin a c 'town by baring the teeth, submission

blind-ending sac in die by a pouting smile, and excitement by exposed
large intestine . teeth and an open mouth.
PLAY
A great deal of a young mammal's learnii!,
through play, when infant- experiment with adult
behaviors, such as fighting and hunting. Pla)
can also take die form of exploring and
displaying to one another. Hoofed
mammals, such a- deer, establish
'/
dominance rankings when young
to avoid conflict as adults This
reduce- the ii-k of serious injur)
that would make them vulnerable
to predator-. Predators must
Irani to -talk and kill pre) to
survive .ls adult.-.
cubs, KH play to practice pouncing,

biting, and ra/;ing with the back feet,
stopping before real damage is done.
FINDING THEIR PLACE

Like man, ilephanl
t>la\ to establish their rank
m the herd, liiung elephants also use
their trunks to examine novel objects.
4
MAMMALS
hot us. or tusks . In elephant seals iontat with the ground varies in
i
one of 3 different w.ivs see below

INTELLIGENCE and sea lions, as the
sexually receptive the
females bet
males bellow
ome
Locomotion is also related to the
.
In mammals thought to be intelligent su< h

of the animal. Predators,
and displav to establish dominance. lifestyle
as primates the "thinking" part of the brain,
Other species, such as BurchelTs wlmh require short, explosive bursts
the cerebrum, is larger relative to the rest
zebras, form small, permanent ol speed to catch their prey, have a
of the brain. Intelligence itself is not easy to
harem groups, in which one male flexible spine. For example, in the
define, but indications of intelligence include
leads and mates with a group of cheetah - the fastest terrestrial
the ability to learn, matched with behavioral
females. The subordinate males arc animal the backbone coils and
flexibility Rats, foi example, are considered
A MAZE relegated to bachelor bands unless urn oils with ever) stride, propeling
tobe highly intelligent .is they can learn to RAT IN
one can successfully challenge and the animal forward. It has been
perform new tasks, an ability that may be Animal intelligent! is "llin
expel a harem male. estimated that these movements
important when the) first colonize a fresh assessed In a creatun \ ability
compute
The final type of larger S0( lal increase the cheetah's speed by
habitat. In some mammals, food gathering to rimplt /««/.>. usually
a food I
group exhibited bv mammals is one about l'lmph illkph In contrast, .
appears to be related to intelligence: a deer //.///;< llli i III! , ///>
in wIih h the collection of individuals piev species, such as gazelles, niv

feeding on plants has a brain relatively smaller albino brown rat is finding
way through n maze.
consists of several males and females. on endurance to outrun predators.
than a cat that must "think" to outwit its prey //.
Such societies are restricted to They have a rigid back, and the
primates and the social arnivores < "energy ( ost" of their movement is
although some other species. su( h reduced as a of a lengtheningresult

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
as migrating wildebeests, form tem- of the lower segments of the limbs
Primates are rare among
porary mixed-sex groups). Among and a concentration ol the musi les
mammals in that some can use
baboons, for example, several adult i lose to the body.
a variety of objei t\ as tools,
males join a troop of females related
;Ju/i others clean theii food
to each other (but not to the males
prior to eating n. This Japanese
and compete for dominance and the
macaque has Inn mil in separah
right to mate with the females. These
wheat grains from sand by
power struggles result in a continual
immersing the fond in water.
change in the dominance hierarchy.
The sand rinks; the wheat
In lion prides, the males are related
grains Jltial mi tin surface.
to each other and cooperate in the
defense of the females rather than
by touch, and by sound, which may have a home range the area within competing lor them. In wolf pa( ks.
develop into complex messages. which an animal, or group, performs only the dominant pair breeds: the
Socialization begins at birth, when most of its activities), and in some other adults are the offspring from
signals between a mother and her these areas are developed into pie\ nis years who, instead of leaving
ii
infant facilitate su< kling. The process territories an area that the animal. to form their own packs, stay with
continues throughout the juvenile or group, defends against others of their parents to help rear their
period, when the young interact with the same species). younger siblings.
each other through pla\ see panel Solitary mammals, such as the
opposite, below and gradually learn
to interpret the behavior of adults.
aardvark and most cats, usually
occupy a territory that they defend
LOCOMOTION
Some mammals only interact to against members of the same sex. A Mammals dwell in a huge variety DIGITIGRADE
mate or to uui tun young, but main tigress, for example, will not permit of habitats and have accordingly
, form temporary or permanent social other females to enter her territory, developed a number of different WALKING GAITS
groupings beyond these minimal whereas the territory of a male tiger w.ivs of moving around. While When moving, plantigrade mammals, sueh
needs. The hoofed mammals, for overlaps those of several females. a quadrupedal (4-footed) gait is as bears, keep tin calcaneum In 1 1 bone),
example, form herds for safety as Some mammals, such as gibbons. the most of mammal
common form metapodials. and digits Itoes) of each foot on
predators are more live in monogamous pairs (with their locomotion, some species, such as tin ground. Digitigrade mammals, such as
likelv be spotted.
to immature offspring!, and each pair kangaroos, are bipedal (2-footed dogs, mute with mil) tin digits touching tht
Vf Interwoven with occupies and defends a territory. How- gait As mammals move, the wav
. ground. Ungutigradi mammals, melt as horses,
L social behavior ever, recent studies indicate that the in which the foot comes into walk and run on the tip of each digit.
is the use of assumption of "lifelong fidelity" is
wrong: surreptitious copulations

outside the pair are frequent, and
many pairs break up and find new
males alter some years.
Other mammals form largei
social groups, of varied
i omposition. In some
species, such as seals
and elephants,
sexes live separately
the
X
for most of the year.
Related females form
social units, and the
males eithei live alone
01 form small bachelor
groups. In mammals
living undei ibis system
there is ten k ii ius
i ompetition among
die males lul the light
lo mate. 1 lie most TERRESTRIAL MAMMAL: SNOW LEOPARD VOt \ 1 [< \1 VMM VI : DOI 1'IIIN
BENEFITS OF COMMUNAL LIVING sin i essliil males ale ADAPTABLE MAM MM s
Living 111 a group has several ad\ antagi i ft i

usiiallv the largest .mil tring hands
tuch ns thest dwarf mongooses, Fin example, then strongest indiv iduals hales and dolphins to adopt an aqu,
ilmm, ,,/ spotting predators, Ik burden of rearing wungcan lll.lt also have the best primates to moix freely through thi trees. Predatory land mammals, sui
In shared, ami tin territory can bt defended collect weapons antlers, n /It xibh 'i. and a long tail for balance.
EGG-LAYING MAMMALS
PHYLUM
EGG-LAYING
Chordata Also known as monotremes,
MAM
this group
AQUATIC LIFE
Mfite platypus
îKS swimmer.
is a
Its
CLASS Mammalia consists of the platypus and the echidnas tat is waterproof
Monotremes are the only mammals that and has a dense

ORDER Monotremata '"for
lay eggs. The platypus has a ducklike When
F «,,LKS 2 lation.
— 5
bill, a bcaverlike tail, and webbed feet.
Echidnas have a tubular beak, huge

'dhins.. lit'
closed.
claws for digging, and spines.

The platypus lives in freshwater in eastern
Australia; echidnas exist in varied habitats
in Australia and Xew Guinea. EEDING
The platypus uses its sensitive
ANATOMY bill to probe the beds of rivers
Monotremes arc short-legged animal or lakes for crustaceans and insect

with a small head and liny eyes. In a larvae. The short-beaked echidna
species,tin- digestive, urinary, and |

digs with its powerful (laws for
reproductive tracts empty into a-M ants, termites, or earthworms;

common chamber (the cloaca),^^ ong-beaked echidnas mainly eat
which terminates in a single exit earthworms. Adult monotremes
("monotreme" means "one hole lack teeth, food is ground between
plates or spines in the mouth.
between
dmt\
STICKY CATCH
DIFFERENT SNOUTS The short-nosed echidna
The platypus (top) lias a flattened WEBBED FEET uses its long, slender tongue
bill, covered with sensitive skin. In :, nln, tlu duck-bilua to catch termites and ants.
Echidnas, however, lion a cylindrical platypus is propelled by A sink] coating of saliva

beak. In both, the snout is used to powerful thrusts nfn^ hat tlh inset is do
probe for and locate food. fully webbed front feet. not escape.
Tachyglosstis aculeatus ^ciglossus bartoni Ornithorhynchus anatinus probing bill is very sensitive to both
touch and water-borne electrical
Short-beaked echidna Long-beaked echidna signalsfrom the muscles of its small
aquatic prey. It has an unusually high
Length 12- 18 in
10 r density of red blood cells to enable it
Tail I
to make deep dives in pursuit of its
Weight 11 2211) quarry Platypuses are solitary yet

We.ght '.'/.. 5 10kg Weight
1 II) 5 :
occupy overlapping home ranges.

0.8 ! icm
However, males in the breeding
Location Vustralia Social unit [ndnahi.il Location New Gu Social unit Imin uiu.il Social unit Individual
season defend these territories. The
Status Lowei risk Status Endangered Status Vulneiablet male has a poisonous spur on each
m ±. m i\ ** fiss
hind foot, with which he attempts to
wound his rivals.
burrow, usually about
Home
ll)ti
is a bankside
5m long
The spines of the short-beaked echidna The ducklike, beak-shaped mouth, but may reach up to 98ft 30m).
also tailed the spiny anteater - are sprawling, reptile-type gait, and After a gestation period of one
longer than the fur between them. flattened, almost scaly, beaverlike tail month, the female incubates her
Active both day and night, this make the platypus an unmistakable clutch of 1-2 soft, leathery-shelled
echidna is solitary and can become animal. Its waterproof plum-colored eggs here for 10 days. After the young
torpid in very cold or hot weather, lody fur has a plush texture that is hatch, she suckles them for 3-4
when its from the
temperature falls reminiscent of that of a mole. The months in the burrow, leaving them
normal 88-92°F (31-33°C to as low w ailed in for periods of up to 38
as (9°I I
-'(
It eats a variety of ants. hours while she forages.
termites, grubs, and worms. These are
partially webbed
detected by smell and perhaps b)
sensors on the long snout that detect
electric signals. [Tie small head joins The downcurved snout of this species
the shoulder-, with no external neck. nia\ exceed 20cm Sin in lenmh. with
a tiny mouth at the dp and small.
close-set eyes at its As
base. in other
echidnas, the female long-beaked
echidna clip's a burrow for her egg. but
in this species she carries and suckles
the hatched infant in her pouch. The
largest monotreme, it is slow moving,
rolling into a spiny ball for defense.
I he spines are often only just visible
through us long black fur.

MARSUPIALS
MARSUPIALS
Like other MAMMALS (apart from EARLY LIFE A
class Mammalia monotremes), marsupials bear live offspring Marsupial offspring are born in an
almost embryonic state after a very short
owe* Marsupial a i
and have nipples to supply their young gestation onlv 2 days in some bandicoot
1
FAMUES 22 with milk, yet they are distinct from all species The new born makes its way
.
to one of the mother's nipples, where

other live-bearers (together described as
it remains attached for several weeks.
placental mammals), in that they give Larger species have single births, but the
JISSIFICATION NOTE small quolls and dunnarts have litters of
birth at a very early stage of the embryo's
i\ sticmilii authorities up to 8. In many kangaroo species the
divide marsupials into development and nourish the newborn by female mates again while pregnant, but
aiders: .Vmerican
"shrew" opossums; milk instead of by a placenta. They are the new embryo remains dormant until AMAZING JOURNEY
iol«x olo; Australasian the previous voting leaves the pouch. This tiny tammar wallaby
marsupials; amazingly diverse, including animals such baby is hauling itself over
,; the marsupial
and wombats, possum*, as kangaroos, possums, and bandicoots. OVERCROWDING its mothers fur to reach
wallabies, kangaroos, and the A mother's pouch a nipple, to which it will

koala. For ease of reference, The Australasian marsupials, through a may be too small firmly attach itself. As
and because of their shared
reproducii\r biology, this book lack of competing species, have diversified to cam- several off- in most marsupials, the
treats all the marsupials as one spring. This murine nipples are protected by a
group order Marûpialia .
and become specialized insect eaters, mouse opossum has pouch. The joey will not
carnivores, and herbivores. In South no option but to relinquish the nipple until.
carry her babies months begins to

America, the marsupials are small and mostly arboreal; later, it
external!). explore the outside world.

only one species, the Virginia opossum, has spread
to North America. Marsupials inhabit
a huge range of habitats, from SPECIAL POUCHES
desert to rainforest. Most marsupials have a pouch to
carry their young. This 1 1 istern gray

kangaroo has a forward-facing pouch.
ANATOMY from which her joey's head

Some pouches face backward.
is protruding.
Externally, marsupials are highly varied,

although many have long back legs and
feet for example, kangaroos and elongated
snouts, and almost all have large eyes and
ears. Female marsupials have a unique
"doubled" reproductive tract see below .
and in some males the penis is forked.

The testes are held in a pendulous
scrotum with a long, thin stalk, which
swings in front of the penis. Apart from
their specialized reproductive system,
marsupials also differ from placental
mammals in that their brain is relatively
smaller and lacks a corpus callosum the
nerve tract connecting the two cerebral
hemispheres). The group that contains
the kangaroos, possums, wombats,
and the koala, and the group
containing the bandicoots,
have an arrangement called
syndactyly: the second and third ^tft
toes of the back foot are combined
to form a single digit with 2 claws.
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

MOVEMENT HOPPING V
Unlike placental The faster a large
mammals, which Although most marsupials run or scurry, uch as this

have a single uterus >f there are several variations. For example. red kangar*
"
and vagina (far wombats waddle, while koalas and the more energy
right), female possums (limb. Kangaroos and wallabies efficient it becomes.
marsupials have a lateral hop on their long back legs, using tin-
double system with 2 m^na extended middle toe as an extra limb
uteri, each with its own segment. Although hopping at low
lateral vagina (right). The speeds uses more energy than running
young is born through a on all fours, at speeds exceeding 6fi per GLIDING
separate, central birth canal. second 1.8m per second the larger Some possums, knout
In some marsupials this canal canal species begin to conserve energy. This as gliders, hast u
forms before each birth. In others
V vagi
because energy is ston d in the
i-. membram
it remains after the first birth tendons of the foot, and the heavy tail their front and back
(but sometimes fills with PLACENTAL swings Up and down like a pendulum. legs, u/iuh they use
connective tissue). marsupial providing momentum. as a parachute

MARSUPIALS
Found neai foresi streams and human except when breeding. The female
Marmosa murina Didelphis virginiana
habitation, thi-. opossum is pale biifl bears up to 18 per litter, yet has only
Murine mouse in gray mi the upperparts, < ream) Virginia opossum enough teats foi 1
'•.
The survivors
while below, with .1 black face mask. attach to the teats for 50 days, leaving
opossum lis diet in< ludes small invertebi ates the pouch at 7(1 days.
Midi .is insects and spiders, small
Length
cm vertebrates mii h as lizards, birds' eggs
Tail
11 14.5
and thicks, and some fruit. It is a last.
Weight l PLAYING POSSUM"
agile climber and rests by da\ in a
Weight Vit -1 Vs oz
tree-hole, old bird's nest, oi tangle of Location W i
15-45 g) I s\ M. >
The 5-8
i
[ui^- among the branches. Status Lowci riskf

Locauon \ Sou Social unit Individual
weaned
. 1
are at till 80 days

Status Lower n.l
1-
9S. S. ju^ A.
strongl)
3* prehensih The highly adaptable Virginia
tail
opossum is actively expanding its
IwSfll short, fim range in North America. It benefits

from human habitation, both for
prominent 1
shelter as it nests in piles of debris
or outbuildings. mv\ for food as ii
si avenges for scraps. A true omnivore, \\ hen threatened, the Virginia

its diet ranges from grubs and eggs ii i opossum feigns death in an
flowers, fruits, and carrion: it may attempt to make predators lose
Chironectes minimus
water-repellent fur: long, webbed raid farm poultry and damage garden interest It may lie immobile.
iocsmi its rear feet; and in both plants. The largest American partly curled on its side, for up to
Water opossum male and female a pouch with a marsupial, the Virginia opossum 6 hours. The mouth and eyes are
muscular opening that can i lose tight is nocturnal and usually open, and it does not respond to
underwater. The diet includes fish, tei restrial, but also stimuli, including touch. It may
frogs, and similar freshwater prey, climbs well and swims void a foul-smelling fluid from
detected and grabbed by the dextrous. strongly. .Although not its anus for added effect.
Weight 20
t law less front toes. It rests by day in a territorial, individuals
,50 300(
leaf-lined riverbank den. avoid each i
ither
C. Social unit Individual pali grqjf-
wldiejact
m^ ;»
Also called the yapok
this is the only
aquatic marsupial.
It has line, dense, tipped tail
Caluromysiopi irrupta Veophascogale lorentzii
Black-shouldered Long-clawed
opossum marsupial mouse
Length 6
Scruffy appearance
Tail'.
The ilrgim/i opossum's tw nana
from gray u> red, brown, and
Weight
black. Long, u/utt-tippfd guard
hairless, partly
. prehensile tail ham with thick under)

Social unit Location \. \, (.urn, Social unit Individual
it look unkempt.
Status Vulnerable Status Lowci rislef
$L .Xingauri ridei It hunts mainly b\ smell and hearing

in (lumps of spinifex hummock yiass .
Also called the speckled dasvure. this Wongai ningaui resting by day in thick undergrowth
species has short, powerful limbs with or an old hole dug by a lizard, rodent.
Length 2 int
very long claws on all toes. Its dark or large spider. After an incubation of
gray upper fur is speckled with long Tail J _' ) i
I i 21 days. 6 7 newborn ningaui
white hairs. It digs by day for grubs. attach in the female's teats in her
Weight
worms, and similar prey. Information relatively open pouch area for 6 weeks.
mi 111 sting and breeding is very 1 hey air weaned by i weeks. 1
Location Social unit liidiwdu.il

sparse; young have been recorded
1
i
in the female's pouch.
A broad I il.it k stripe from shoulders

JL ^
to front legs identifies this woolly formally described for
fi opossum. Ii forages 1>\
I i science only in 1975, the
in trees fol wide diet indudil .i wongai or inland ningaui is a
1
is lis densely furred small, fierce, solitary, nocturnal.
V
I
gray, turning white at the end, with a shrewlike predator ol invertebrates

hairless underside. Gestation i mii h as beetles, > ri< kets. and spider
litter si/e 2. mostly less than '/sin Km long
MARSUPIALS
Smtnlhopsis crassicaudala Antechinomys lanig similar small invertebrates. It bounds Pseudantechinus macdonnellemis
on its relatively large. 4-toed reai feet,
Fat-tailed dunnart Kultarr but lands on its front legs like a Fat-tailed
rabbit . It has large ears and dark-
Length.' in,
ringed eyes, a thin, pointed face, and Pseudantechinus
t a compact both. Its long tail has a
Length
tip. The fur is fawn or
dark-tufted
Weight
*"7* We,ght
brown above and white underneath. t
ocial unit Indnxjual Socal unrt lmiividu-,1 Weght
1
Status Lower n.k Status Vulnf raWr^
Social unit Indmiim]
JL ^ JL ^ Status Ij/wer rtslt*
Widespread in wood, scrub, and dr\ Well adapted to a range of habitats

grassland, the fat-tailed dunnart has from scattered woodland to scrubby
benefited from the spread of grazing semidesert. die kultarr pre) s at When well fed, this insectivorous,
farmland. It has fawn or brown upper night on grubs and nocturnal species, also called the red-
furand white underparts. It activeh eared antechinus, has a carrot-shaped
searches by night across open soil tail swollen with fat as a food reserve;.
and leaf litter for grubs, worms, and Parantechinus apicalis features include a white eye-ring, Its fur is gray-brown, with red patches
similar small invertebrates. It 1- w hite-flecked "grizzled" gray-brown behind the ears and gray-w hitc
solitary during the breeding season of Southern dibbler fin. a well-haired, short, tapering tail. underparts. It prefers dry. rocky are;is
August to March, but at other times and large canine teeth for killing prey. with clumped bushes and grass. After
Length I
small group;., of less than 10, may IO-16cra This includes small vertebrates such a gestation of 45-55 days, the female
huddle together in sheltered crexices, Tail .
a- mite, birds, and lizards, as well as carries 6 young, one on each teat in
logs, or burrows during cold periods. insects and other invertebrates. her pouch, fbi 40 days. She suckles
Weight
-
them in a nest until 14 weeks.
wide tail
Location s w Au>traki Social unit IndhtduaJ
base to
Status Fjidangcred
TTT kSSS
a gap of some 80 years, this

.Alter
specieswas rediscovered in 19G7 in
extreme southwest Australia and in
•
1985 on 2 offshore islands. Distinctive
Dasycercus byrnti lem long. The kowari is solitary and

extends its burrow after rain, which
Kowari
Length
H.5-18C
softens the stony soil in
sparsely vegetated desert habitat.
It marks burrow and honi
its
its harsh,
m
1 with tirine. feces, and chin- and chest-
gland scents, and communicates with
Weight !
neighbors through chatters, hisses,
-
and flicks, of its tail.

joaoofi ( .Australia Social unit Individual
Status Vuln.TaWi
JL Iff a*.
Like man\- female marsupials, the
Despite a squirrel-like appearance and Last seen on the Australian mainland quoll has a large litter, up to 24,
bushy, black-tufted tail, the kowari is in the 1960s, in
Sydney's suburbs, this but onl\ 6 nipples in her pouch,
a burrow-dwelling carnivore. It kills cadike marsupial some times called so only this mans can survive.
large pre \ su< h as lizards, birds, and the spotted native cat now survives The) attach for 8 weeks, then
rodents by holding them in its front onl) in l.isin.mi.i It hunts on the remain in the den as the mother
paws and and
biting repeatedl) ground b) night foi small mammals. goes off to feed and returns to
rapidly.
creatures,
It and similai
also cats insei
mosd) more than Vsin
ts birds, and other
insects,
carrion.
it
vertebrates,
also cats fruits, grass,
QuoUs m i
and large
up) varied woody,

and
suckle. She regularl) takes them
to new dens, often by piggyback. v
shrubby, and grass\ habitats, as
Spotted coat
D reus iristicauda
Ihis inhabitant ol sand) desert with provided by mixed agriculture,
Slim and agile, the eastern quoll
scattered spinifex hummock grass) lhc male is longer and
has uhits spots on brou-n or
Mulgara resembles the kowari above in bod) 51 1
pen eni heavier
black body, but not on the
its
tail.
form and. like several similai sjii i us. than the female. The tars are laree and erect.
Length i
has a fat-swollen tail base. Its fur is
Tail sand) brown on the upperparts, off-
white below, with a i list ol blai k

Weight
bans on the tail's uppei surface
toward the tip Its burrow varies from
Social unit lji.lr.wtu.il
single, simple, and short to a system ol
Status \ ulnrrablr
tunnels with ">
6 entrant es. At night.
the mulgara hunts small rodents,
JL ^ lizards, birds,
ma) also tat

and
kl<
large inso
large i entipedes.
ts, and
MARSUPIALS
Sarcophihts laniarius Myrmecobius Jasciatus Perameles gunnii
Tasmanian devil Xumbat Eastern barred

Length
bandicoot
Ta,l 6
^~
Weighi
Social unit InrlmduAl Location S W Vu,ii.tli.i Social unit Individual Weight I 3 'Alb
Status I M k Status \ ijlni rulili
m Status Vulnerable
I In largest
"devil" occurs in
marsupial carnivore, tin-
all Tasmania's major
The Tasmanian
solitary but its
devil
excellent sense of
is normally The numbat. or banded anteater. has
a long 4 in/ Idem tongue to lick up
m^ Hi
habitats and hunts pre) of varied sizes. smell means many can converge termites, or ven rarely ants, after the
from m possums and wallabies,
iiim-iis on a large carcass. Its powerful nest has been ripped open using the
as well a^ m avenging Nocturnal, it jaws and sharp, sturdy teeth rip large-< lawed, powerful forefeet It also
m lei'i lies in hi t,s and rears up if
I up the hide and crush gristle and has more teeth - 52 - than am other
alarmed. It makes its den in a burrow bone. The devils growl and snarl land mammal, although these are
or among rocks or roots. Born alter a at each other for the prime parts, \i iv small. Diurnal and solitary, the
gestation of 30-31 days, the offspring but stop short of physical clashes. numbat chases same-sex intruders
attach to the female's 4 teats from its territory. Offspring attai h to
in her shallow, rear- the female's 4 teats for 4 months, then
White on black
opening pout h. are sue kled in the nest
The devil has long
white patehes on its

for another A few hundred of these bandicoots
dust and rump.

2 3 months. survive in mainland Australia, in
Victoria, but the majority are found
bushy in Tasmania. This omnivorous
tail'
opportunist forages alone at night and
shelters by day in a simple nest of
grasses, leaves, and twigs. The eastern
barred bandicoot has rabbitlike ears,
3 4 whitish back stripes, and a white
tail Its life cycle is rapid: 12-day
gestation, weaning by 60 days, and
sexual maturity at 3 months.
Echymipera kalubu Mac > til is lagotis NotoiycUs typhlops

MOLE FOOD
New Guinean spiny Bilbv Marsupial mole
bandicoot Length Length
12 18 cm
Tail 8 11 V; in Tail V. 1 in
r~ .' -> i . ni
Weight Weight 1
Tail J Vin
Weight I 1 'All, Location U and C. Social unit P.nr Locauon s Social unit 1iii1imHii.i1
Status \ .tin. i,ii.!i Status Endantjcnsd

Locauon N nil Social unit I in Inula..]
niiroundi
Status I owi i risk
XL The marsupial mole tunnels down The marsupial mole eats soil-
lo Kit 2.5m
sandy deserts, loose-
in dwelling worms, grubs, centipedes,
Bandit oots are mosdv, insei tivorous, soiled grassland, and si rubby bush, and even small lizards, such as the
rat- lo rabbit-sized marsupials. The h "swims" through light sand, which gecko held here by the huge front
New Guinean spun bandicoot has 1 collapses behind leaving no perma- claws. Using smell and touch, it
a long, mobile snout, an inner coat nent tunnel, food includes fungi and follows small tunnels made by
of siill. stOUl hair- in shades of tubers as well as animal prey, which is potential prey in order to catch
brown, copper, yellow, and black, eaten whenever encountered. The its victims. It may forage on the
bull underparts, and a hairless tail. silkv. off-white to cinnamon fur is surface after rain.
Ii forages alone ai night for pn rubbed shiny by burrowing, and may
eats also fruits, berries, and other be stained deep red by
Wk Kv^H^H^M
plant
ton eyes and mall
matter. It aggressively repels others of iron minerals in the
ears hidden injur
its kind, and shelters bv da) in Also known as die rabbit-eared soil I'he female's
log. leal pile, or Self-dug buTTOW bandicoot, this omnivorous species is pout h. m whit h
ige ears, long back she carries 1 2
and
feet, tricolorei tail:
ilv
blue-grav,
. then black,
al young, does not
till w ith soil becaus i
with the last half white and feathery it opens rearvi aid.
II digs powerfully and shelters bv dav
in a bun. ,
n g and some
7lt 2m deep Pairs associate for the
Bl'RROWING MACHINE
bi , season and the 2 offspring, Sand and soil are probed by the born) nose pad.
born all ition. stooped aside by the front feet, and kieked up and twin, spadelike,
leave tin pouch after 8' back by the 3 large data M each rearfoot. front clan I
MARSUPIALS
in ( hange trees or promote

I'/ia t< olarctos cinereus
digestion by eating soil. bark,
Koala and gravel. Individuals
bellow to eai h other during
Length 26 32in large, rounded, whiie-
65 B2 i
m the breeding season and
Tail dominant males mate with
more females than do junior males.
Weight 8 1/4 - 331b
Copulation is brief and often
accompanied by bites and scratches
Social unit Individual After a gestation of 35 days the Bearlike marsupial
The koala sjace is large and
Status Lowe) risk
single offspring < rawls into the
wide, Ukt thai of a bear, with a
pouch, where it is suckled for
m 1 months. It then clings to the
1
mother's back. Among its early

smooth black muzzle: the body
and thick set. The
long, and mainly
The koala lives nearly all its life in solid food is the mother's m, uith
eucalyptus trees. It feeds for about droppings, which earn helpful slightly paler underparU. and
4 hours at night, eating some lib food-digesting and disease- molding on the rump.
51 II Ig of leaves, and dozes for the lighting mi( robes. Despite a
remaining time, wedged securely in a placid appearance, the koala .
branch fork. < )ccasionallv, it descends readily bites and scratches. !
CONSERVATION
Adult koalas have few
natural enemies apart from
large birds of prey
However, domesticated dogs
attack koalas when on the
ground, so they sometimes
need veterinary first aid shown
left). Disease caused by the The koala's short, powerful limbs
Chlamydia bacterium, which have sharp claws except on the
can be treated by antibiotic s, first rear toe) and granular paw
has also reduced koala numbers pads, to grip bark and branches.
in some areas. Land clearance for Toes 1 and 2 on the front foot can
farming, forestry, or building also oppose the other 3, allowing a
poses a considerable threat. pincerlike grasp of thin boughs.
Vombatus ursinus sunbathe by day Although wombats Lasiorhinus lattfrons

are generally solitary, and adult males
Common wombat tend to chase intruders from their home Southern hairy-
areas, they also seem to visit each
other's burrows on occasion. After the nosed wombat
Tail < -
I 1/4 ill
offspring has left its mother's pouch.
Length II
it stays at first in a nest chamber lined

Weight i5-881b
with dry grass and leaves, inside the Tail I
burrow The common wombat is not

Location 1 v. .u.iii. Social unit Individu.il Weight
dangerous to humans, but its holes l
Status Low may trip horses, harbor dingoes,

Location
undermine banks, and damage
m **
S. Australia
rabbit-proof fences. Status Lower risk*
The common wombat has a hairless The common wonib.u usually

coarse, de?i\,. gray-
nose and remarkably bearlike form. A ting, d, brown fa produces a single offspring, which
prolific burrower. its tunnel system remains in the mother's pouch Even siockier and shorter-limbed than
general!) has only one entrance for 6-7 months. It returns there the common wombat (see left), this
but main underground oo asionally over the species has longer ears. long. -ilk\ fill
branches, with a total following months to

;i mottled brown and gray, and gray-
li ngth ol up to 650ft mk kle or seek shelter. white hairs on the snout, li is
Preferred sites Weaning occurs when groups ol 5-10 occupying a fun row
are slopes above it is 1months old.
">
system w.u ren i overing several
i reeks and valleys, hundred square yards, rhis womli.n
where the wombat grazes at night on grass and othei low
grazes, main!) at Broad bl rrowfr wgetaiii >n. Senio] males repel strangers
night, oil Tht mbat's broad ol ihen kmil unless these are re< eprive
edges, tools, and anguha ht
females ai breeding rimi
tubers. In wintei and throng
ii m.i\ graze or make it an

xcomplished digger.
l>Mt 4
MARSUPIALS
Trichosurus itilpecula Phalanger orientalis Gymnobelideus leadbeateri
Silver-gray brushtail Gray cuscus Leadbeater's possum

possum ifi
Lengtti •
** Tail &*LV S Weight :

Weight ;
\ }
I9
Weight Socnl unit Indhidtu] Location S.E -
Omr.il HighL nd>.

1
SocoJ unit Group
Status Lower rvk Status Kndanerrcd

Location Au_s Social unit Individual
miludim; la
Status Lower risk £L
99. it Al Also known as the northern common
( use. us. the i oloring of this spei ies
Familiar in main habitats, ini luding varies ai toss n range of many s
|).uk- and Hardens, the silver-gra) islands, horn almost white to bla< k.
brushtail possum ha- main!) silver- I hei. is generally, however, a stripe

gray iin. which is short and
liiiilx along the back, and part of the tail is
tinged red in the north of its range, always hairless and white. Resembling
and longer and darker gray in the a combination "I sloth and monkey, it
south. It bounds and climbs with ease has deliberate bin agile climbing
as it forages for eucalyptus. a< a< 1.1. habits as it forages lor leaves, traits,
and other leaves, as well .is flowers, and other plant material. Docile by
B Hits. and. i
k < asii mally, birds' eggs nature, n is a common household pet.
and chicks 1 his vocal possum, with Notable for its rediscovery in 1961.
its range ol hisses, chitters, grunts, after 52 years of presumed extinction.
and growls, is solitary except in the Leadbeater's possum has a gra\ back
brief mating season. It lives in a with a dark central stripe from head
crevice or hollow in a tree, log, rock, to tail and off-white underside.
or roof. The usualh single voung Speed) and elusive in trees, it feeds
remains in tin- pouch lor ">
months. at night on small invertebrates and
tree juices such as gum. sap. and
nectar. Colonies of up to 8 consist
of a senior breeding pair and their
Petaurus notfolcensii
offspring, mainly males. Females
Squirrel glider defend the group's territory.
Dactylopsila trhirgala
Striped possum
Weight 'I I'livt
Social unit YariaMr
Status Lower nsi
Skunklike black and white stripes

and a bushy, black, white-lipped tail
are the distinguishing features of the

stripi'd possum. Like the skunk see
1 he squii re panel, p.200 it can emit a foul.

.
glider's furry ' proportions see penetrating odor from glands in the
1 gliding
extends from
membrane
e.u h
pp. 121
long, i
1
harcoal-
1 . the genital region. At night,
alone through tree branches, probing
it linages
tilth front toe 1. 1 the i ilored tail of the for wood-boring grubs, ants, and
back foot. The long. brushy-tailed termites with the extra-long claw on
bushy, soft-furred, ringtail has a hairless its front fourth toe. Il also eats fruits,
squirrel-like i.iil acts as a dp. Strongly prehensile, birds, and small mammals.
rudder when par.u Inning tail is used to grip boughs
as l.u as [65ft and to steer as this nocturnal
othei trees oi to est ape possum makes "free-fall'' leaps
enemies. I his possum lives ol some 9fl Jm through the
in small groups of one adult rainforest anopy. he main i 1
male. 1 i females, and their diet is leaves, with also some

offspring oi the season. It feeds How its and nits. Social life li
ill on
i
insects and
natures, as well as sap. gum.
similar small tree is flexible,
pairs,
with male female
mother young duos.
pollen,and seeds he J I I
or larger groups. 1 he single
remain in the pom h Ibl up offspring leaves the pouch
months and are weaned b\ 1 month aft) i i>
~
weeks.
MARSUPIALS
pincerlike grip. This noi turnal foragi i
Cercartetus Upidus Acrobales pygmaeus

Pelaurouli s volans
feeds in nu alyptus woodland (not
Greater glider rainforest), preferring the tender Little pygmy possum |

Feathertail glider
young leaves oi in^t a few eucalyptus
Length 2
ttim' spei forms female male pairs,
tes. It
Tail 18-2 uhn h share the same tree-hollow den Tail .

i -3in
for most of the year. The single

Weight Weight I/M-9/I6CK
J 1
II
offspring stays in the pouch for 5

(9-15 g)
months, then remains in the den or
Location I Social unit Group
Location E Australia Social unit I'.ui
rides on the mother's back for another
Status 1 owci n.k

-2 months. By 10 months, young Status 1 .owcr risk
males are driven

m at awa) by the
lather.
m £l
Groups of scratch marks on Also called the pygmy glider, this tiny,
tree trunks betra\ regular agile marsupial has a long tail w ith a
landing sites of the greater row ill stiff hairs on either side. The
glider, the largest gliding gliding membrane extends between
marsupial. Like other M the front and rear limbs and the
tree-duelling "dual-purpose" toes have sharp claws
j
marsupials, it . to dig into bark. Expanded, padlike
has sharp c law- ^h £ tips on the toes grip smooth, slum
to grip bark, and surfaces such as leaves - even glass
»_^k.
2 toes cm the front windows. The tongue is long and
fool oppose the brush tipped, to gather nectar, pollen,
other i. yi\ ing a 1 In smallest possum species, with a and small insects from flowers.
thumb-sized body, this is the only
pvgim -possum with gray fur on the
FACING THE FRONT underside: the upperparts are law n
i ii I in iun. It has a short, blunt face
and large, erect ears. The prehensile
tailcan support the animal's entire
m ight, and expands at its base to
store excess food as fat. Nocturnal and

usually solitary, this marsupial feeds in
low bushes and shrubs, or on the
ground, on a variety of small animals
from insects to lizards.
Hypsiprymnodon moschatus Potorous longipes

The greater glider's large eyes Color phases
and huge eats lace the front, so it
The great* Musky rat kangaroo Long-footed potoroo
>
forms or phases,
can judge distances accurately by
often in the sam< Length .
sit hum opk vision and stereo-
" black,
phonic sound. This enables the Tail i Tail 2 13in
.
ith /"nil n (as teen
glider to parachute horizontal 12 17 cm (31-33 cm:
Weight 5 - 24oz Weight 1 1/4 -4 I/I lb

distances of more than I
'>'
ill I
ttled cream.
1
at night and yel land precisely

Social unit Individual Location S.E. Australia Social unit Individual
on a tree trunk.
Status I owi :
rislf Status F.ndangered
gl ipping w ith the -harp claws on all

£L m
Distoechurus pennat
toes, and consumes insects especially rhis potoroo "rat kangaroo" is an
Feathertail i ii adas . as well as Dowers, net tar, and a< rive, solitary, nocturnal fungus-eatei
fruits.These possums appear to live It bounds kangaroo-like on its large
possum in 3, and the female
groups of 2 back feet, and scrabbles for food with
iarries 2 young in hei pom h,

1 i In shorter but strong front limbs.
Length 10.5
then riding on her back near the Some 30 fungus species make up four-
Tail nest. Details the SOI l.ll and . il lilths of its diet. It also eats insects
bleeding habits are, however, lai km: and green plant matter. After an
im ubation pei iod "I 18 d.i\s. the
single young sm pouch forkles in the

Social unit Group up to 5 months, and remains with its
mother foi anothei i months _'
Xeithei i.it nor kangaroo, this a

£ 1" -I nl marsupial sec i ighi
is
lis
prefei red habitat is thi< k rainforest

The feathertail possum is b forages alone b\ day, main!) on the
identified b) its white fai e ground foi fallen fruits such as figs, as
with I blac k sii ipes and well as palm mils, seeds, and fungi.
its feather- or quill-lik 1 also hoards loud at scattered sues
1
tail with i
pi unusual behaviot among marsupials
hensile tip. It and bounds cm all lout s. gripping with
moves through thi ' i|i|" isabli big i
n ea< h reai
the tree brant hes foot lioih sexes produi e a musk)
by darting l< aps. i ii
Ii ii pat in ul.iiK during breeding.
s'«%
MARSUPIALS
Macropus ru/iw DEFENSIVE MEASURES

Red kangaroo The dominant male of a group of
any
red kangaroos will fight off
challenge for supremacy from
#
Location Vustralia
Weight V5- 200 lb
25 90kg
other males. If one of a group
spies a potential predator,
warn
stamping
or thumping
the rest by
its foot
its
it will
Status Common tail on the

ground. The
m jl group
then
will
flee.
The largest living marsupial, the red taking

kangaroo is found over much of
Australia, with the highest numbers
living in open savanna woodland.
Its population varies greatly from
vear to year: when rainfall is high,

numbers may reach as many as 1
Play fighting
million, falling to 5 million in times When playing or fighting among themselves,
of drought. Females will conceive kangaroos may stand up and spar, but their
only if there has been enough rain to normal defense is to deliver a powerful kick.
produce plenty of green vegetation.

In a prolonged drought the males no
longer produce sperm. Red kangaroos
Alert to danger use a highly developed sense of smell
Red kangaroos usuallj brou u and
to detect water, and if it is scarce
graze bead down, but remain alert.
will migrate up to 125 miles (200km)
looking and listening for predators.
ran spot a from their usual grazing grounds to

Their sharp eyes
dingo I.I iOfi (350m) away, find it. They forage mainly at night, i.
and their largt eas eating succulent grass shoots, herbs, In full flight
ven sensitive, and leaves. They live in groups of Fleeingjrom danger, the red
2 to 10 animals, although 1,500 or so kangaroo bounds on its Inndligs.
may gather at a water hole during a It can reach 30mph (50kph)
drought. The dominant male of the for short periods.
group mates with several females. The

red kangaroo is regarded as a pest in
it-* native Australia, and is hunted for
its meat and skin. Apart from humans
and occasionally the wedge-tailed

eagle, its only predator is the dingo.
Rufous male
Males, u luili may be more than double the wei
of females, an usually orange-red. while females

are blue-gray - although coloration -caries.
In mother's pouch
its mother's pouch, before making its fin
>ulependent when a year old.

MARSUPIALS
Aepyprymnus
r the kangaroo family the name of
Bettongia pen id I la la rujescens
spectacled hare wallaby. It grazes bv
Brush-tailed bettong Rufous bettong Spectacled hare night, usually alone,on grasses and
herbs, and hides in a burrow or thicket
wallaby bv day Alter 29 il days' gestation.
the single young sta\s in the pouch tor
Length I
5 months, and is weaned by 7 months.

We.ght 1
.) We.ght j
Social unit i Social unit Variable
I Status I ... i-L

Location \ V.-v
m m ft.
[ike tin potoroo family see p.97),

the brush-tailed bettong also i ailed
the vvoylie is .1 fiingivore. Ii forages A conspicuous orange eye patch in the
in woodland soil In night, scraping generally shaggy, white-grizzled, gray-
earth to find the fungi, which form trown coal gives this small member of
90 pen t-iii of its diet. The remaindei
of its diet consists of roots, bulbs,
tubers, and worms, ["his bettong has .1 dense vegetation, it feeds at night on
Setonix brachyurus
tail .is long .is us head and body, with leaves, grasses, and fruits. Small family
.1 11 si ui
1 bla< k fur along the upper Quokka groups assiu iate as larger gatherings.
side, liv da) it shelters in a large, which maintain a group territory
domed nest of bark, leaves, and grass. ( testation is 27 days; the single young
< red-brown fur over the body
irizzled leaves the pouch alter (i months.
gives rat kangaroo its name ol
tliis
Weight II
rufous bettong, although some fui is 5 ! II)
white. It uses its grasping tail to gathei

CONSERVATION
grasses and stems for its tall, one- 1
Social unit Group Quokkas roam freely around their
shaped nest, which it builds on the Status Vulnerable stronghold. Rottnest Island, and
woodland 11 often against log or .1 are a popular tourist attraction.
tree: one individual may have 5 sin li ft. Well-meaning visitors may feed
refuges. The diet is fungi, grass, roots, these appealing wallabies, but
leaves, flowers, seeds, and small inver- Very rare on mainland Australia, the modern foods upset their sensitive
tebrates. The single young leaves the quokka survives on 1 islands nil digestive system.
pouch after 16 weeks. the southwest toast, mainly because
introduced predators such as foxes are
absent. This small wallaby frequents
Thylogale stigmatica Petrogale penicillata thick forest, open woodland, low

scrub, and swamp edges or river banks
Red-legged Brush-tailed rock where available. After
>ting bv day in
pademelon wallaby
Length Length Jl 1-23
Tail I! T
Weight Weight
Social unit Individual Location S I
Status Lower risk
m fl
I Ins slender-headed, stout-bodied,

ilm k-tailed padi melon a type "I
small wallaby tends to be brown-gray
in rainforests but palei fawn in open
woodland. Active day and night, is ii
usually solitary Inn may gather in

groups .it fruiting tree to feed. Other
.1
foods in< lude leaves and seeds.
Petrogale concinna Similar to the brush-tailed rock

wallaby see left in form and habits.
Pygmy rock wallaby this sp« it's also i ailed the nabarlek
I he mi k wallaby is specialized foi has short, silkv. reddish brown fur
Length 1
leaping and si rambling over boulders, 29-3 with a dark shoulder stripe and brush-
ililVs. ledges, and outcrops. It tail Tail 'I l_>,n tipped tail. It grazes alone by night on
make single bounds ol Ifl 1 1m . and grass and setlge. but its main food in
die soles of the rear feel are enlarged. Weight 2
the dry season is nardoo a tough
padded, and roughened for excellent fern To cope with this abrasive food,
.
grip. liv day this wallaby rests in a Social unit Individual

the wallaby's molar teeth slowly move
cool rock crevice or 1 ave, w 1 asionally Status Lovm i risk forward in the jaw as they wear, and
sunbathing At night it feeds on are then replaced by another set a
grasses, ferns, bush leaves, and fruits. ifi. Jut. process of repeated tooth replacement
Colonies may exceed 50 in number. unique among marsupials.
MARSUPIALS
although can walk and bound

BOXING" KANGAROOS
it
Dendrolagus < Mat rupus fulginosus
quickly on the ground. Doria's tree
Doria's tree kangaroo is one of the largest and. Western gray
like mosl othei spe< ies in its genus, is
kangaroo mosd) solitary and nocturnal, with a kangaroo
diet ii! various leaves, buds, flowers,
and Bruits. It lias black ears, a whorled 1 ra
fur pattern in the middle of the back. Tail 10 Win

and a pale brown 01 cream tail. After
Weight Weight
i
I
in period of about 10 days,
the singleyoung attaches to the

9
f 1 5 54 k
Social unit Individual mother's teat in her pouch and suckles Locaoon S \ Social unit Gn up
Status \ ulllr I.lill.-

for up to 10 months. Like other tree Status I t
kangaroos, Doi ia's is
dependent on a forest
habitat and is there-
99. a*.
^ females during the mating
fore threatened by One of the largest, most abundant season, and also lor lood
ogging and other kangaroos, the western gray or resting sites if these are
forms cil forest kangaroo has thick, coarse lui limited. The antagonists lock
as well that varies from pale gray-brown arms and attempt to push
as In hunting im to chocolate-brown, with a each other over. They may

paler chest and belly. It lopes also lean back on their tails
like a rabbit when moving and kick widi the rear feet.
slowly, using all four limbs, with As in most such contests,
Jront limb. long. the tail as a brace, but bounds serious injury is rare.
almost as long dense, on its back legs at high speed.
as rear limbs brown
Males are up to twice the size
Some species of tree
1
> nl females and can cover 33ft
Joey on board
Tht young orjoy remains
kangaroo occur chiefly across 1
Im in one leap. This
i
attached to Ike teat in the

New (iuinea and northeast Australia. species grazes primarily at
pouch for 130-150 days.
They have short, broad, stout feet and night, mainly on grasses, but From about 250 da\\ it
Ions; claws, for climbing through it also browses on leafy begins to leave the pouch for
branches, using the long tail as a shrubs and low trees. It lives short periods, but quukfy
counterbalance. Unlike other kanga- in stable groups of up to 15. returns if danger threatens.
roos, the tree kangaroo can move each The dominant male is usually
back leg independently. It spends most the only male to breed. The
of its time in trees, moving relatively incubation period is
slowly but with great precision. 30-31 days
Macropus parma It takes shelter there by day. thereby

Macropus robusttu Tarsipes rostratus
sunning very hot, dry conditions,
Parma wallaby Hill wallaroo and by late afternoon moves out to Honey possum
forage on grasses, sedges, and odier
Length Length 2
0.8 1.4 m leafy foods. The wallaroo resembles
Tail other brown wallabies but Tail 2 J/4 -4l/i in
(60-90 an) may adopt a distinctive
Weight TV* -13 lb Weight 13-1051b Weight 4 9/16 oz
pose with shoulders
15-47 leg
back, elbow s
Locator Social unit lndiMdu.il Location Australia Social unit Indmdua] Location S '
)
together, and
Status Lower risk Status Lower risk
wrists raised. Status Lower n>V
m m ik £L jl ^ «
The parma wallaby's distinguishing Also called die euro or hill kangaroo,
marks are a black stripe in the center the wallaroo is found in a range of
of the red- or gray-brown fur on the habitats, but usually in and around
bat k. from the net k to the mid-back, rocky outcrops, t lills. and boulder piles.
and a white stripe on the side ol the
muzzle .ind check. Solitary, shy, and
well camouflaged in dense vegetation, and back and
Im a .entur) it was believed extinct
bicolor
tail. Also
>Ut,
i
front
ailed die stinker or black
feet,
,
on the Australian mainland, but was Swamp wallaby wallaby, u feeds at
iicIim overed in 1967. Ins nighttime I night on a wide diet
grazer and browser feeds on a very of plain material,
wide range ol plants Tail Jl (In, including toxit
parts
s types -in Ii as One of the smallest possums, this tinv.
Weight J i 151b
hemlock. agill . in ii mi ii. il Sp«\ leave-. The

Im _'.."i-i in . bristle-tipped tongue
Unlike othei wallabies, this spe< ies gathers pollen and net tar "honey"
moves with Us head low and i.ul held In mi flowets. whit are hen -, raped 1 1 1
.in straight behind. Ii has coarse, 1

intodo mui h-rei lui d teeth upper 1
biown-bl, u k lui and a nuit Ii d.ukei . anines and lower in< i-. irs onh
insectivor.es
INSECTIVORES
fWTLUP* Chordata These small, mostly nocturnal
CLASS Mammalia mammals have a diet that consists
fo 0*0€»
FAMtUES
Insectivora
365
mainly of invertebrates, such as insects,
spiders, and worms. The anatomy of
S'ECiES
insectivores differs according to species
and lifestyle, but generally their eyes
and ears are small, and their snouts well developed
Some species are terrestrial, such as hedgehogs;
some, such as moles, are adapted for burrowing;
others, such as the aquatic tenrec. are
semiaquatic. Three of the families -
hedgehogs and moonrats: moles, shrew-
moles, and desmans; and shrews are
w idespread in most parts of the world.
The remaining families - solenodons.
tenrecs and otter-shrews, and golden
moles are much more localized.
ANATOMY
Main by a long.
species of insectivores are characterized
slender, mobile- snout, 5clawed toes on each foot, and
ver) primitive dentition. They have many different bod\
shapes, the 3 main ones being elongated otter-shrews
and moonrats cylindrical moles and squat hedgehogs
. .
and tenrecs [nsectivores are considered u> be among

.
the most primitive mammals - the) retain many features

of their ancient ancestors, such as a small brain with
few folds and testes that do not descend into a scrotum.
Insectivores usually
w move b\ placing the

and heel of the
sole
foot on the ground at
the same time this is
known as plantigrade
locomotion see p.89).
COAT TYPES
Some specie^. >//< h at the
tenrec (below left), have defensive
spines interspersed among their
body hairs. In hedgehogs, this
mechanism is rem further developed.
In contrast, the European mole

It/ has short. d, ...
fur that Ues equally well in any
direction. This helps it move freely
either
its
backward orfomard
underground tunnels.
in
FEEDING
Despite the name "insectivore." the
diet of these mammals i- not entirely
SENSES restricted to insects and insectivores
Although insectivores usualk have small ears are not the onlv mammals that eat
and minute eyes, the) can locate prey easily using insects a wide range of plant- and
their acute sense of smell. Moles, for example, animal- i- consumed by different
live underground, where vision and hearing are species. Water shrews, for example,
not as important as the abilitv to smell and feel. feed on small li-h. frog-, and crab-.
As result, the) have no external ear Daps, and
i while desert hedgehogs consume
their eves are hidden in the fur. Instead thev bird- eggs, small vertebrates, and
have a highlv t.u tile snout, a strong capacity UNI SUAL NOSE scorpion-. Main insectivores are
for detecting smells, and man) sensor) hairs. Thejlahj pml. tentacles that adapted for dealing with a specialized FEEDING TECHNIQUE
Hedgehogs, however, rely most on their sense of surround the snout of the diet. The highlv mobile, jointed nose peon hedgehog locates
hearing. It is believed that some species of shrews star-nosed mole enhance the i »f a m ilenodon. and the slender body food, such as earthworms, using its long.
are able to echolocatC, which mean- that thev -i of touch. They of a moonrat. for example, allow flexible snout and by digging with its clawed
>an orientate themselves or hunt bv bouncing also help with navigation both species to forage for food in front limbs, .is its mouth closes, the prey is
sound off objects or other animals in their path and prey manipulation. restricted spa< es. impaled on the 2 front lower incisors.
INStCTlVORTS
Hylontys suillus
The short-tailed gymnure resembles a
Echinosorex gymnura Podogymnura Iruei
largemouse Inn with a long, flexible
Short-tailed gymnure snout and a distinctively short, hairless Moonrat Mindanao gymnure
tail.Widespread in lowland and
Length 1 6in
In 1 Son mountain forests, it can climb in T
hushes, but feeds mainlv on the Tail
w
Tail >/s 1
i/i in 1
i.ni cm
ground by day or night on insects,
i
1
Weight 7
/ii, :' : /::.i/ Weight II II- Weight
worms, and other small animals, as ••
12 80g (0.5 2 kg)
well as seasonal fruits. Its soft, dense
SI. Location S.E Asi Social unit [ndi
Locatio V,,., Social unit Individual
fur is brown above with pain Social unit lu-liv nln.il
Status 1 a iwer nsk+ undcrparts. moonrat The lesser Status Low i iisL' Status Endangered
shelters in nests of dead leaves under
£t n H ks or logs. Its main self-defense is $L 4t
to run away from danger.
Like other moonrats (gymnures).
this species makes a territory-marking
scent likened to rotting onions. It
Erinaceus europaeus SELF-ANOINTING resembles a combination of hedgehog
Western European and small pig with harsh, rough, spiky
outer fur. streaked with black and
hedgehog gray-white, and a long, scaly, almost
hairless tail. Solitary, the moonrat
r
lcsis in a burrow or crevice by day;
Tail None at night it forages for small creatures
Weight J 2 1/4 lb such as and also swims
insects, after Inhabiting only one island in the
I.
fish and other aquatic prey. Philippines, this poorly known and
endangered species probabh lot ages
Locatic nEuropi Social unit Inilivitlu.il
on the forest floor by day or night,
Status (Junmon especially around marshes and
The purpose of "self-anointing." streams, for varied small animal prey.
SB Juk. Jfti when a hedgehog twists around to It lives alone, sheltering in a simple
lick and smear its spines and skin nest of leaves under a rock or log, or
The densely spined West European with its own frothy saliva, is not in an abandoned burrow. The long,
hedgehog roams in urban parks and clear. It may be a form of scent- soft fur is mainly gray-red shading to
gardens as well as in hedgerows, fields, marking that helps these normally gray-white on the underside. The
and woods at night, nosing with solitary animals to recognize distinctively pointed lower snout
piglike snuffling (hence "-hog", foi neighbors on their 0( casional extends beyond the bottom lip, and
small animals such as worms, insects, nightly encountei 5. the tail is short and coarse-furred.
and spiders. It also takes birds' eggs
and i anion. Its day shelter is a nest of
Agile defense
grass and leaves under a bush, log, or Hemiechinus auritus Solenodoii paradoxus
The hedgehog runs and climbs with surprising
outbuilding or in an old burrow. In self-defense
agilit) if tucks its nonspiri) li<<nl
During hibernation it may wake on and legs onto its billy ami rolls ml" <i prickly hull
Long-eared Hispaniolan
mild nights to feed. Mating lakes
place from May to hedgehog solenodon
October and gestatioi
Length
takes 31 35 days. !8 12cm
The spines of the I Tail
young appear within

Weight 2' lib
hours of birth.
lk B )
Social unit ImliMiki.il
Status Eiidangi red
Similar in appearance to the larger

Western European hedgehog, the
long-eared hedgehog has coarse fur
on the fat i . limbs, and belly, Inn
•in. micropus
is adapted rub and
to desei t. diy s< spines elsewhere. Banding on the
arid grassland, inn, lining mat tive ,n spines varies from blat k through
Indian hedgehog times ol harsh conditions uisuallv brown to yellow and while. Ii uses
drought). Natural shelters such as natural daytime resting places under
/'K Length > '/. 'In,
ll !
imk t rev it is sent- lor nests, bin the rocks and shrubs. It eats various small fhe two species ol solenodi in
Ta Indian hedgehog ma\ dig a short animals and i an bei nine inactive ( lubari ami Hispaniolan an largi
Inn row ltn ilns pin pose. It hunts when food oi water ale st an e. long-tailed, shrewlike, not tui rial
Weight li..,/
1 1
insei ts. st in pit ins. and othei small inset tivoits. Both .ne threatened.
100 1
,ii
t n. nuns, anil also eats lintls' eggs fhe Miiuit ni the I [ispaniolan
location s -
Social unit Indil idual niil si avenges for carrion. Tins solenodon is long and mobile. Its fur
Status 1,
li, dgi In "j max i ai he a, in loud, v.n ies liniii blai k to red-bn iwn, ami
t .uning ii ba< k in the nest foi latei lis feet, (ail. anil uppei 'ai s an il i
JL consumption. Coloration is extremel) hail less, li n fasl ami agile, Ii noses

variable, with very dark mi lann and and M rabbles on the li in si floor with
Similat to the long-eared hedgehog almost white albino hues relativel) its sharp t laws foi insects, worms,
'see right) in appearam e and habits, tonin In the w ild. anil also blown small lizards, h mis. ami t
.tin i plant
although slightk spinier, this spci ies ami m How banding pattei ns. The matter. Its poisonous Inn is u:
has a bare area ol skin on tin- head, li Inn a size is small, usualh 1 2. defense ami in stun prey
INSECTIVORES
Potamogale velox has a rounded muzzle, .1 long, flexible Mtt wpolamogale lam HemicenleUs semispirw u I i
body, and a long, muscular tail
Giant otter-shrew II. mi mil 1 1 sidi which ii

in side, Nimba otter-shrew Streaked tenrec
usrv in propel itself through water,
Length 1
["his spei ies inhabits a vai iety ol

Tail 9 freshwater habitats, from still pools
ii . mi >untain toi rents at altitudes "I Weight S
Weight Weight to
6,000ft 1,800m . I In- eyes and ears
(50
.in- small .mil high-set, foi swimming
Location u and C. Africa Social unit IikIimiIii.iI
low in the water, yet, unlike an otter,
Social unit Individual Location '
i
Social unit < iwup
Status Endai the toes lack webs. Mainly nocturnal Status I i
.mil 51 ilitai \ outside the Inn-ding

«. tssws season, die giant otter-shrew hunts £L
primarily at night for fish, frogs,
Easily mistaken al a glance for .1 small shellfish, and other freshwater animals. This spec ies is distinguished from
ottei whi< h is .1 mustelid rather than Itsbankside burrow, where it shelters othei tenrecs by its two-tone color of
.m insei tivore . the gianl otter-shrew 1a day has ,m imilerwalei entrain e. bat kground blai k with variable snipes
of white, yellow, or brown. Tin- fur is
to. use with scattered spines and a

uln-keis. small high-set eyes anil ears. patch of spik\ hairs on die crown,
Limnogale mergulm
.md webbed real feel « ith sharp which erect as a crest. The main loods
Aquatic tenrec i laws, used to grip slippery rocks and air win ins and grubs. The streaked
prev. 1 he short, dense, watci '-repellent tenrec lives in groups of 1 3 or more.
fur is reddish brown. The aquatic and all help protei t each female's
tenrec noses and weeds among stones litter ol 2 I
for water and crayfish,

insects, crabs, This otter-shrew is largely restricted
propelled mainly by means of its Ions, to upland forest streams in an area of
si antih haired tail. about 580 square miles 1,500 square
Location I M 11 1.1 Social unit Individual
km around Mount Nimba in West
Africa. It has a fleshy nose, rounded
head, compact body, and long tail.
fss Long, gray or dark brown fur usually

hides the eyes and most of the ears.
( )m 1 believed extinct, It is mostly not turnal. catching small
the only aquatic species fish, crabs, water insects, and similar
ol teniei lias been prey on short dives or along river
relocated in the wild but banks, and eating them on land. It
information is very scarce digs a short nesting burrow in soft soil.

It has an otterlikc form
with a broad, round-
muzzled head, long Selifer setosui Chrysochloris asiatka
Greater hedgehog- Cape golden mole

Tenrec ecaudatus tailless tenrec is the largest land-
dwelling species. 1 1 has coarse, gray tenrec
Tailless tenrec to reddish gray fur and sharp spines. Tail Nunc
Using its long, mobile snout, it grubs Weight No) i.lnl
Length 10 I
i i
!5 I
among leaves for worms and other Tail
Tail small creatures. It also si avenges .mA

Weight., lOoz Location Southern Mil Social unit Individual
hunts frogs and mice. In defense, a I
Weight iii lb
teniei squeals, erects the spiny hairs Status LocaO) rommon
Locaoon Madagasc Social unit Imlr
on its neck into a crest, jumps and nlii -
Social unit [ndi idual

bucks, and readily bites. It shelters
Status I i
mil b\ day in a nest u! grass and leaves
under a log. rock, or bush. After a £L jl*. African golden moles chrysochlorids
XL gestation of "ill on days, a litter of form .i separate family to true moles
10-12 is born. When young, they are talpids . The Cape golden mole has
I In 25 spe< ies ol teniei s are mainly mi ipril black and white. the soli, dense fur typical of moles.
from central Aim a and Madagascar. which may appear olive, brown, or
Most resemble a gray depending on the direi tion of
i nmliiii.ilii.il . il the light. Its snout has a hairless nose
shrew and pad, its eyes ami ears are tiny, and
hedgehog. I he each front leg has two large digging
not turnal, i laws all adaptations for a tunneling
lifestyle. It is solitary and eats worms,
grubs .md other soil creatures found
I his hedgehoglike tenrei has short, when burrowing or that have fallen
pointed, white-tipped spines on its into its more permanent tunnels.
ong both and coarse hair, varying
lion gray to .lac k. on the head and
i I \huiY fur
legs. Unlike true hedgehogs, ii is
active by day but. like them, it rolls
into a prickly ball when threatened.

limbs well and eats a wide
variety of worms, amphibians,
reptiles, insei is. , anion, fruits, and
berries. It becomes torpid lor SCVI 1.1I
wicks in adverse < onditions.
5
INSECTIVORES
Eremilalpa granti invisible eyes and ears, a hard, hairless autumn. .U'ter a gestation period of
nose pad. and three long broad claws 7 young are born in
Grant's golden mole on each foot. It pushes through loose a special breeding nest made from
sand as though "swimming," making grass and dry leaves. Larger
Length J
more permanent tunnels deeper down than die usual resting nest, this is
in -and or near the surface in harder, similarly sited under a log. root. rock.
Weight more compacted soil. The main or in an old burrow. The Eurasian
-
components of its diet are various shrew has a pointed, flexible snout,
small desert animal-, from ant-. and short legs. Its fur is dark brown to
Locations Ifrica Social unit Individual
termites, and beetles to lizards and Sov 2 unit Individiial
black on the back, paler brown on die
Status Vulin snake-, tii ant's golden mole is solitary, StKuS I
flanks, and gray-white on the under-
and probably active lor short period- side. It is territorial, making ultrasonic
through the day and night. It hardly, 99. ±+. squeaks, especially when a female
if ever, comes to the surface except to gathers her offspring. If cornered,
Long, soft, -ilkv fur covers almost the locate a mate. The specialized desert One of the smallest mammals, the this shrew readily bites.
entire bod\ of Grant's golden mole, habitat of this species under is Eurasian shrew is adaptable.
and varies from steel-gray to buff or increasing threat from mining and ssive. and voracious. It must
white. This mole has tins, almost other human activities. eat 80-90 percent of its b' >d\ long
weight every 24 hours, and it uhiskers
gray or buff upperparl
hunts in up to 10 bin •
activity, according to •
and conditions.Food
includes insects, worms,
and carrion. Adults are
solitary except for a brief
courtship in spring or early
The sole species in the genus Aeomys fodiens

v gigas
compact-bodied,
Xlegasorex, this large,
UNDERWATER ACTION
Giant Mexican but short-tailed shrew prods with its Eurasian water
prominent, pointed snout among
shrew leaves and loose soil for worms, grub-. shrew
millipedes, spiders, and other small
LengoS Length J
prey. The upperparts are dark brown
ir grayish brown, becoming paler on
4 5cm the underside. This shrew prefers 4.5 3 cm
Weight
areas of damp soil and moist
undergrowth in grassland and
forest,
Location su VI. Soc 2 unit lr..|i'.M'].il
ranging from the lowlands to altitudes Social unit Indhidual
Status Dnfitincd of 5.60i lit 1,700m Only some .

Status C ommon
v?*§*£&fiiBî*Zi
I
-51 _iu*_
20 giant Mexican shrews have been
studied and and
their nesting
breeding habits are not vet known.
m t« The \\ atei shrew -wim- by kicking
hard with its back feet, which

This shrew hunts aquatic insects, have fringing hairs to increase
small fish, and frogs. It also feeds on thrust. A row of hairs forms a
Marina bmicauda main prey of animals and
soil-living land, on worms, beetles, and grubs. keel along the tail to help steering.
- unlike the shrew group - smaller so. can survive in damp woods. The Trapped air forms silvery streaks
Northern short-tailed mammals such as voles and mice, and small eyes and ears, and the long. in the shrew- water-repellent fur.
even some plant matter. This shrew pointed snout are typically shrewlike.
shrew rests and feeds largely underground Solitary but less aggressive than other
Coloration
in runways and old mole or vole shrews, die Eurasian water shrew
This water shmc has distinctive demarcation
tunnels, usually 4 2<iin 10 50cm establishes a series of runways and
betueen its shiny black bark and sides and its
deep, and stores items in cold weather. burrows and has a nest of dry grass .ndemde.
iinv. and the and old leaves. Here, alter 14-21
snout Stouter and less pointed than days' gestation, the female suckles
in other shrews. her litter of 4—7 young
approximately 6 weeks.
grayish
blackjur
m Ak
Like most shrews, tin- large
robust -pet ics has po< >
sight but cm client sense
of smell, and its
poisonous bite due to

toxic saliva helps disable prey. It
inainlv scent and touch to hunt it

INSECTIVORES
flruscus
FAST FOOD
Elegant water shrew Hantu water shrew White-toothed
pygmy shrew
Taj .
Length
Weight V* n-VOfucd vVe ^r;

I
>DC.3. UNI h lr.;.iiL.U Social im Indhidual Woght is-l/»oi
Status t'noonfinricd Sodjs CrrorafK rndanQtird

z: 2 . t Individual
*L
A small, wan. secretive inhabitant of Known only from tin- Uhi Langat I 1m white-toothed pygmy shrew
cold, fast mountain streams in the Forest Reserve in Malaysia, this relic- on it- high-speed reactions
Himalayas and nearby mountains, relatively large but exceptionally rare .Also called the Etruscan or Savi's and its ability to launch a sudden.
ihi> tubby,semiaquatic shrew i- slate- shrew has a long tail relative to body shrew, this spe< ies actively hunts for ferocious, biting attack to over-
gray cm the upperparts and -ilvcn size, streamlined head and body. small prev such as inset ts, worms, come cold-blooded creatures
white beneath. Its snout i> blunt, its linv eves and ears, and feel fringed snails, and spiders, then rests for a few much larger than it-elf. It also
eve- and car-, tiny, and its black tail i- with stiff hairs to aid kick-propulsion hours, through day and -(avenge- for recently deceased
fringed by rows ol hair-- along each in water. Like man) water shrews, night. It nests in a small hole prev such as l>eedes and
side. It probably cats water insects, it spreads -kin through it- fur by
oils or crevice and is solitary most grasshoppers above .
and other small prey, earning

fish In. regular grooming, to maintain its of the year, forming pairs
them to a bank or a midstream rock coat's water-repellent properties. only in the breeding »
Classic shrew
for consumption. little is known of its I hit at- include fish traps, pollution, season. The
mute mammal
nesting or breeding habits. and deforestation. ge-tation period
ha* a pointed snout
is 27-28 days and large ears.
and litter size llsfuT is mainly
Crocidura leucodon shrew it- common name. It also has 2-5. witii up grayish broum.
long, thick whiskers vibrissae (nit- to t> litter-
Bicolored white- sharp-pointed snout, and a bicolored per year.

tail that is less than half the length of
toothed shrew the head and body. This adaptable
forager in grassland, scrub, wood
Length
edge, parks, and garden- cats worms,
grubs and odier small invertebrates,
-^
1
4 II cm hunting mainly bv night but also for

Weight
short periods bv daylight Like similar
shrew species, it build- a nest of dry
Soda! unit Individual white underparts, and has
grass in a hole or thick undergrowth. Diplomesodon pulchellum feet, tail. It
Status Un-cr rei' The male produce- strong scents from a very pointed snout and long
glands on his flanks during the Piebald shrew whiskers, even for a shrew. Active at
99. a*. breeding season, generally March to night when the desert habitat is cooler
October. Gestation is 51 and prey sue h as insects and small
Sharp demarcation between it dav-. average litter lizards become more energetic, it
gray-white upperparts ize i- 4. and hunts mainly on the surface but may
and whiiisb yellov weaning occurs also dig in loose -and for grubs and
.
underside give tin after 26 davs. worms. The average litter si/
Sd; i m : Indmdua] with several litters in a good year.
Status t Tn-nnfinwd
1 'hi- species derive- it-
name from il- coloration: gray

upperparts with a distinct oval white
patch in the middle of the back, mu\
1 \ mtgalura typically shrewiike in

although it
most
has a relatively long,
respects, s
rex somereni because it- vertebrae have interlocking
flanges or spine- no) only along their
Climbing shrew streamlined bodv. large and Armored shrew sides, a- in other mammal-, but also
prominent ear-, and a tail longer than above and l>elow. I he armored shrew
Length :
it- head and bodv. It- soft, vclvetv fur i- solitary and i- a skillful climber. It-
Tail 3 is brown on the upperparts and diet consists of worm-, insects, spiders,
Ttf- Weight
almost white on the belly. Both
terrestrial and arboreal, the climbing
and ( anion.
shrew hunts in -oil. leaf litter, and

Location W I Social unit Individual
_ branches using it- tail to
Dfinucd
balance . for worm-, beetle-, grubs.
( aterpillars. and similar prey Like the
HJ ^*. other 1' 1
1
v
-po ies, it i- m.
probably active in bursts through the
This species oct urs mainly in dav and night, and must eat almost it- riii- large, wool) coated shrew,
at Ixuli low and high altitude-, and own lx>dv weight in food even 24 also known as the hero shrew,
especially in moist conditions, but it is hours. Detail- of it- ecology and has a distinctively arched and
also found in drier grasslands. It is breeding are not known. tremendously strong back. This i-
INSECT1VORLS
above and silvery below, and its tail

l>, mi, una moschata CONSERVATION Galemys pyrenau u
slightly flattened from side to side like
Russian desman After centuries of being hunted. Pyrenean desman a rudder. A male and a female may
desmans are now subjec to legal t form a loose pan bund, with the male
Length 7 :; in
Length 3 in
protection and reintroducrion 12 "in chasing away rivals and the female
Tail 7 ::
programs. However, reliant on a Tail 51 in nesting in a bank burrow, but little
18 2! cm diet of aquatic inset is. frogs. 14cm more is known i it these mammals.
Weight Weight Vic >/i 02
,
crayfish, and similar water
1 1
1 -hi,-
creatures, they are still at risk

Europe to Croup Location \\ Eutopt Social unit liiflividu.il/Pair
Location 1 ( Social unit through the loss of their fresh-
Status Vulnerable
water habitat. This continues, Status Vulnerable
especially through land clearance,
tss = water diversion, and

and industrial contamination.
agrii ultural ii = ass
Desmans belong to the mole family, 1 In l'vrenean desman generally

but resemble water shrew s. The tail resembles the only other species
is head and body, and
as long as the of desman see left although it . is
flattenedfrom side to side for use as smaller, lakes lesser prey such as
both a paddle and a rudder. The rear the aquatic larvae of mayflies and
feet are fully webbed to the toe tips, stonellies, and is more suited to fast-
the front ones partly so. Using its flowing streams. Its long black snout
long, sensitive nose, it probes by night is almost hairless, its thick fur brown
for prey in riverbed mud and stones.
Unusually for an insectivore. the
desman lives in groups and several Euroscaptor micrura Similar to the European mole (see
max share a bank burrow. After below left), this species is slightly
40-50 days' gestation, the 3 5 young Himalayan mole shortei and slimmer, and colored dark
are i ared for by the Outer and inner coats brown with a silvery sheen. Also
female, and The soft, densi underfill of thi Russian desman known ,h the Asian mole, its massive
weaned by overed In long, coarsi guard hairs, the coat Tail 1/ front legs and sharp-clawed feet,
4 week: being rich brou u on the head and body, !cm dense fur. liny eyes, small ears, and
ding to ash-gray on the undersidi Weight I >A -2 V20 naked, sensitive nose are all
iO 70g
adaptations for tunneling. Like most
Social unit IikIimiUi.iI
other mole species, the Himalayan
Status Lowei rid mole is probably active in sessions
of 3-4 hours, patrolling tunnels
and digging new ones, with rests in
betwei 11. Its average litter size is 3-4.
Talpa curopaea Condylura cristata

TUNNELLING TOOLS LED BY THE NOSE
European mole Star-nosed mole
Length 1 i '. n
III M.. in
Tail 1
I in Tail 2 lil
2 cm 6 . ,
,,,
Weight _"/»- 5 oz
65 125 g vf Weight I /.,./
Location Europi [o N V 1
Status Common Status I..., .ills t
TTT Jl*. This mole's large from legs have

powerful shoulder muscles and
Virtually blind, this mole lives mainly broad, outward-fat ing paws This mole is an expert swimmer. An unmistakable snout, with 22
underground in tunnels radiating above with a strong, spadelike It has a long, sparse-haired, scaly tail, pale, fleshy rays (tentacles around
from a central chamber, feeding on claw on each toe. Anchoring itself which enlarges in winter w it li fatty the nostrils, allows the star-nosed
WOl in- and other soil animals. When with itsback feet, it uses its front loud reserves. In Lifestyle and habits mole lo snill and feel prey in the
plentiful, the worms are bitten to legs to scoop soil sideways and it resembles othei moles, ye! it is less water. It also forages foi foi id
paralyze them for future use. but, bat k. pushing it up as molehills. solitary and tolerates meeting others among reeds, mosses, and other
il uneaten, they ret over and escape. of ils kind, lis tunnels are about vegetation. As ii hunts, the fleshy
1 In h male digs a large nest I'/in Urn in diameter and 2 24in ravs around its nose wriggle .\nd
i lianilui. and after 4 5 60< in in depth. flex in constant motion.
weeks' gestation
gives birth Varied diet
n, ; i
I hi Mi/i nosed molt eats leec/u >
dense, near-
Volllli;
mails, tmaltjish, and othei blackfia
aquati pn i. as well as
soil animals.
Rl VI HS1B1.K H R
Short, dense, black Im thai can lit at
an) anglt aUau I this n
ard in its tunnels.

BATS
'
BATS
Bats are THE ONLY mammals that possess true,
class Mammalia flapping wings and the ability to fly (as opposed
order Chiroptera to flying lemurs, for example, which glide!. Bats'
wing membrane (the patagium), an extension of
the skin of the back and belly. provides a high degree
of maneuverability in flight. Wingspans vary w iclely.
CLASSIFICATION NOTE
ranging from over 5ft (1.5m) in the large flying fox to
Chiroptera has 2 ml
Megachiroptera, omprisiiig
»
as little as 6in (15cm) in the hog-nosed bat. Over half the
one l.imih Pteropodidac jnd
species echolocate to capture prey and to navigate at night.
.
:. other
Megachiroptcrans have
bats
Ibx-lifcc Lace tliat lads features
.1
Chiroptera is a huge order that comprises nearly one quarter

ini « holocatioii see beknt .
of all mammal species and is exceeded only by rodents

in terms of species numbers. Bats are common in tropical
and temperate habitats worldwide but are not found in environments that
are too cold to support a source of food, such as the polar regions.
ANATOMY jurearm
Perhaps the most distinctive feature of
bats is their winy-, which are formed
from a double layer of skin stretched
between the side of the body and
the 4 elongated fingers on each
hand. Blood vessels and nerves
run between these 2 Livers. Extra
support is required for the arms to
be used as wings, and this is provided

by features such as fused vertebrae.
flattened ribs,
The sternum breastbone
and a strong collarbone.
has a central ridge
ECHOLOCATION
to which the large muscles used in the downward SKELETAL FEATURES All microchiropterans echolocate. When used
stroke of the wing are attached. A short, clawed A bat's arms. legs, and greatly in flight, this navigation system makes them formidable
thumb is present in most species at the point where elongatedfingers provide the hunters. Sounds "clicks" are produced in the larynx,
the fingers join, and a cartilaginous spur the calcar framrworkfor the wings. Bats' emitted through the nose or mouth, and directed or focused
on the inside of the ankle joint assists in spreading legi haii been rotated 180 degrees by the nose-leaf (if present Once the clicks have reflected off
.
the tail membrane. so that the knee and the foot bend an object, the returning echo is picked up via the bat's sens
large
in the opposite direction to the knee ears. The time it takes to receive the echo reveals the
external
and back foot of other mammals. location of anything in the bal"s path.
USING SOUND TO FIND PREY

EQUIPPED FOR ECHOLOCATION All of the insect-eating bah use
Although bats 'eyes air well deieloped. hearing and the echoloeation to find airborne prey.
sense of smell are more important than sight. Man When searchingfor food, such as
microthiropterans. such as this neotropicalfruit bat. also mosquitoes and moths, the bat
have a large note-leaf which assists echoloeation. The emits a series of club, represented
function of the tragus (a lobe in the front of the ear) by red bars on this diagram. Ac
is uncertain: it may improve the accuracy of echoloeation. approach I the bat approaches its prey, tin
Megachiropteran bats generally do not echolocate and PHASES OF ECHOLOCATION AS A BAT time between clicks shortens. This
have larger eyes (for detecting prey/ and smaller ears. HUNTS AN INSECT helps the bat pinpoint its target.
CATCHING PREY FROM THE AIR
CLOSING IN ON THE PREY CAPTURE HOLDING ON FINDING A PLACE TO FEED

''
flotation, this fisherman bat has movement, the bat catches the fish The bat quickly transfers the fish from the claws In order to eat the fish, the bat must J
pinpointed a small surface- tu immingfish. by raking the water with its long, sharp clans. to the mouth, so that the fish cannot t scape. locate a tree on which to land.
BATS
FEEDING ON FRUITS CONSERVATION

FORAGING AND DIET Fruit-eating bats use their senses
sight and smell to locate flood Despite having very few natural
some species forage tor of
Many bats eat insects:
and so lackflacial ornaments used predators, bat population- have
Kin? shrubs and tree-, while others -kim
declined in recent years. Globally,
i
in echolocation. This Wahlbergs

the surface of the forest canopy to
catch higher-
epau letted fruit bat is eating a the main cause is loss of suitable
fixing insects. A single bat may eat hundreds of
woodlands
mango: a group of these bats on a habitats as. for example,
mosquitoes in one night thereby lessening the and old buildings are
plantation can cause considerable are destroyed
incidence of malaria in other animals Several bats
damage. As fruit bats require a converted. To learn more about
and some use their long tongue to feed
eat fruit-, and to aid conservation efforts.
constant supply of ripe jn bats
on pollen and nectar. Vampire bats use their icnti-t- an fit bats, such as this
areflound mostly in tropical areas. si t
sharp teeth to make a small incision in the skin bat below with radio-
Fruit bats often fleed in groups and fruit .
Lof an animal while it sleeps and then drink the transmitter collars and monitor
in search offlood.
fly long distances
(jlood. Carnivorous bats prey on lizards and their movements. Bats are now
progs: fish-eating bats use the hooked claw- on protected by law throughout
^fceir powerful feet to capture fish see below .
Europe and in some parts of North

America for example yet in .
FEEDING ON BLOOD many countries worldwide they

still receive no protection at all.
Vampire bats are well adapted
mtm blood. Tim have sharp
to
to cut into flesh, and tliey
~aliia that prevents the
dfrom dotting. This white-

i vampire bat commonly
i of chickens.
Sats often gather in great numbers at a single site, which

may be a cave, the roof of an old building, or a hollow
FLYING MAMMAL tree. -All roosting sites must pro\ide a resting plat e that
Bats, the only mammals that can fly, have structural offers protection from predators, the heat of die sun,
adaptations that allow them to make up-and-down the low temperatures of winter hibernating roosts and .
rain. Bamboo bats are small enough to roost in the
J
movements of their wings (in the same way as
:
hollow stems of a plant, while some species of leaf- A PLACE TO REST
birds). The r>p e n icings of thus .Xew World .
leaf stem- so that the leaf droops Bats, such as these fruit bats, commonly
nosed bat n veal the extent of the icing m, odo, nosed bats bite intc i
downward, forming a tent around them. Why bats roost in caves during the day,
gather in such large number- i- not fully understood: at dusk to fled. Some spti it
however, at the end of hibernation bats living in colonie- same roost flor mam years and gather
often weigh more than specie- that do not. in groups of nuviy thousands.
DEVOURING THE PREY ROOM FOR PLENTY ALMOST GONI

LANDING
has highh elastic cheeks, which can With its meal nearly finished, the f
As the bat attaches it
; during feeding. a begin the hunt for more flood.

mamtinue.s to hold tin fish firmly in its mouth.
iATS
Rousettas egyptiaew Epomops franqueti Epomophorus wahlbergi

underparts
Egyptian rousette Fran quel's Wahlberg's

epauletted bat epauletted fruit bat
Length I
Tail V. ;
y
We.ght Wetght 2
Locaoon W \ Socai unit Group -
-outhrri. V Status (M-mmon

location \V and ( Africa Sodal unitGmup Socal untt Variable
^±Ai Status I in emfirrned Status Ummm
Widespread .met adaptable, these £ Ai

fruit- .hhI leaf-eating bats are some-
times so i ommon thai the) rea( h p< si At night, male Franquet's epauletted
status and damage fai m crops I hey bats make monotonous high-pitched
are also the only fruil bai spei ies in whistling calls to attract females for
use ilu high-pitched i li< k- of c< ho- I li<- male is slighdy heavier
Fl'R-COYERED FOREARMS
location like smallei insectivorous than the female and has shoulder
insequently, the Egyptian patches of long pale
dark brown to slat/ gray on
rousette, also known as the Egyptian hairs. This spe< ies
the batk, with ligli'>
fruit bat, «.ui find 11^ u.i\ around gray underparts. I 'nusualty
needs al any time,
.incl roost in dark 1 aves, rather than among bats.Jur extendi about and twice yearly if its
sleeping in trees lib- other fruil bats. half- nay along each forearm. main diet ol figs,
guavas, bananas, other
fruits, <>n<\ soft, young
ROOSTING IN CAVES leaves is abundant. In addition to white "epaulette" fur
In thedaytime Egyptian fruit bats patches on the male's shoulders, both

congregate in the safety <>l dark pale patch of sexes have two white patches at the
caves. Conditions here are mcur fur at base base of eat h ear. These pale tufts may
humid and have .1 more constant of ear be disruptive camouflage, breaking up
temperature than outside. The bats the bat's outline when seen from
compensate for the coolness by below against dappled leaves. In the
crowding together, thereby retaining breeding season, the male's distinctive

warmth more efFe< lively 1 all to attract females resembles a
squeaky bicycle pump.
Pteropus rodricensis Tapho-ous mauritianus
Rodriguez flying fox Mauritian tomb bat
Location ht.li
Status CrilicaD]
%
Tad
Social unit Group

3
Location
Madagascar
W < t .Hid SooaJ unit (iroup
Status t .unmon
fl
I brmi riy the daytime mo.^ ot Also called the sharp-nosed bat. this
g fox < ontained spe< ies ha- a long, pointed nose and
more than 500 individuals. Due to streamlined appearance. It 1- a typical
habu.it loss through storm damage shows
small, insectivorous bat, but
and human intervention, and also unique roosting behavior as groups of
local hunting for food, the spe< ies "1
I" rarely more than W resi by
currendy numbers just a few hundred day in a line, nose-to-tail on a branch
in the wild. Several centers, however, 01 wooden beam. One adult male
have established sui 1 essful 1 aptive may dominate the group and may
programs. At night the bats defend their feeding area a nearby
in di y woodland for fruits pan h of water where they 1 atch
ol vai ious trees such .mall inset t-. A member of the -heath-tailed group,
as tamarinds, rose-apples, the Mauritian tomb bat is known
mangoes, palms, an !
ai toss Aim a for it- wide range of

Like many othei fruil bats, 1 In k-. squeaks, and other noises just
they squeeze out thi 1
audible to some human-. It also makes
soft pulp, rarely swallowing the ultrasonii sounds for ccholocation.
hardei pan-. ( >bservations in This active bat is watchful as it roosts
1apti\ ity -how thai eat h by day in the open on tree trunk- and
dominant male gathers a harem walls, including town buildings.
of up to 10 females, with which he It hunt- in clearings, especially over
roosts and mates. Subordii water, for flying insect-. The back i-
immature male- lend to roost ill grizzled brown-black; the underparts

anothei pari ol the i amp and wings are white.
BATS
This diminutive bat. with its head and

Macroderma gigas Anoura geqffioyi Rhinolophus hipposideros
both smallet than a human thumb, is
Australian false Geoffroy's tailless Lesser horseshoe bat widespread in woods and scrub yel
the species is at risk. Its underground,

vampire bat bat wintii hibernation sites, sut h
Tail caverns, have been disturbed, as

have summer day roosts in tree holes,
Tail t
|
i
I
i aves, ' himneys, and mine shafts.
We.ght 2
u Domi sin ( .its toll and
lake a heavy
We.ghr
destruction of woods and hedges
Status Vulnerable has reduced the availability of its prey
Location \\ and \ Social unit Group Social unit i .
of small thing insects. The lesser
Status Vulnerabti Status < " m jl horseshoe is
the 62 species of horseshoe bats.

one of the smallest of
ft ft
The small, fur-covered tail membrane
of tins bat gives it the appearance of
hair) legs. It also has a small, trian-
gular, upright nose leaf and a long
muzzle with protruding lowei jaw.
These features give it its alternative
nanus of Geoffroy's hairy-legged or
-nosed bat. It hovers in
front of night-
blooming iiow ris
to sip net i.u and
gather pollen
w it h its unusual
Also known as the Australian ghost brush-tipped
li.it. this bat derives its name from tongue, which is
the mistaken belief th.u it feeds on the length of its
M I
One of the largest micro- head. Geoffroy's
Baropterans, it preys on insects. tailless bat also Hipposideros speoris Nycteris grandis
and lizards. Its dei line
rags, rats inset is. such
ma\ be partly due to the increasing as beedes or Schneider's Large slit-faced bat
human use ol its roc k\ roosting sites moths. It roosts in
for mines and quarries. a\is and tunnels. roundleaf bat
Tail
N7 2
We.ght
V. lA
Rhinopoma hardwickei Pteronotus davyi Tail ] in
Lesser mouse-tailed Da\y s naked-backed We.ght

9 I2g
Social unit Group
Status Cnronfirmcd
bat bat location S V-m Social unit I froup
Length _' 2 ii Length

Status Common ft
<
-
3.5 7 . id I i.5i M
ft This slit-faced bat has a furrow down

m^ fy -,V
Tail
Weight
t
",
7.5 I in
Weight
Tail /<
in
tin
A medium-sized member of this

the face. This may be partly covered
by nose ""leaves." so ii looks like two
genus of about 60 species, this bat is slits running from nostrils to eyes.
Social unit I.
p a ivpn al, small insect-eater. It has a A powerful species, it swoops onto
Status Common Status Common flaplike "leaf" on the upper muzzle other bats, birds, scorpions, sun-
around the nostrils, with a U-shaped spiders, frogs, and even fish near the
ft JL ft part below. B\ clay, thousands i . k >st surface. By day it roosts in groups of
in caves, tunnels, and buildings. up to 60 in trees, caves, and buildings.
Also < ailed long-tailed hats, the four
Rkmopoma spec ies are the world's only
ml! insectivorous hats with thin,
Noctilio leporinus
trailing tails. The tail may be as long
as both
fives in
U"|>n
head and both. This
s( rub, semidesert,
forest. When food
and
spec ies Greater bulldog bat
\
,,| is plentiful,
it may double its both weight, storing
Fai (i ii
several weeks ol dry-season
inai mm.
I his bat is a common sight al night
in ai towns as it feeds on Hies, moths.

in.
light
I . .Mi. i
By day
in-i i
it
is attrat
roosts in
t<-t I
lai gt
to street
m fi ts
colonies in i aves and old mines, often along the middle ol thi '>
iai I
I
some (Iisi.uk e away from its feeding Also i ailed fisherman bats, the two by day in hollow trees or ( aves. \i
areas, Davy's naked-bat kr<l bai has spet ies ol bulldog bats have largi nighi it liiinis over watei oi sandy
wmgs thai join along the i entei ..I thi mis, path, drooping uppei lips, anil luai Ins i, ,i fish, 1 1. ilis. and other prey,
1 i.u k. ..lis. in nig the fui beneath. Bats ridged t Inns 1 he greatei build, ig I .at whii h it siiati In s from lln gn .iniil . .i
within this genus are also known as has velvety h ange, brow n, i
n watei using its largi and powerful,
niousi.H In (I oi leaf-lipped bats. gray with a distini rive pale sii ipe sliai |i-i lawed l..i
B A IS
Trachopi cirrhosus I'ljmln UtU lnj" in\ rotundus
Fringe-lipped bat Common pipistrelle Vampire bat

Length 2
Weight
Social unit
Status
Tail
I m
( ip
\
«£
Location
UKi i
1
H
pi
and
to
I l.u
Weight
Social unit
StatUS
rail
t
I
i.lriliinr
|.
> Weight
A m ik a. $L Jl Jfti The vampire

bladelike upper incisors are SO
bat's thin, pointed.
Whs ilii> broad-winged, strong-flying I he vampire bat is a strong flier, yet sharp that its victim rarels limn 1
s
bat's lips are studded uith papillae itcan also si mile over the ground as the) -lii e awa) a piet e ol flesh
small, wartlike- bumps is not i lear. with amazing speed and agility. about / in 5mm .11 toss.
Also known as the frog-eating bat, propped up on its forearms and ba< k
it hunts along streams, ditches, and leg n mi dusk it scan hes
I n fi .1
similai waterways, killing pre) such w;ii m-l)looded \ it tun. su< li .is .1 bird 1-
1
1 10 minutes, its saliva preventing
as nisei is. lilies, anil li/ards willi its tapir, hi 1. 11 in animal even a seal 01 a 1 lotting I Ins bat has ,1 communal
powi 1 mI bite. It lot aifs its victims b) human. The bat lands nearby, 1 tassb roost in a hollow tree, cave, mine, or
hearing theit si mnds, su< li as the closer, bites awa) an) fut 01 feathers, old building, which it shares with
croaking of male lings, rather than bs and laps Mime II 0/ I 2.")ml ol 'Mood hundieds of others.
its own echoloi at ion. In other respects
11 is a typical bat, roosting in tree Coloration
holes. In illi iw li igs. and i uses. I he genus Pipistrellus includes almost lit, lui h dan
711 similar spec its. of which this
paler, with a
spe< iesis one of the smallest and most
u idespread, iund in habitats from fi
forest to cit\ park. Ii is among the first
liais toemerge ea( h evening in

pursuit of small flying insects its I
h\ da) in revii es, buildings, and bat

t
boxes, and hibernates through winter

in similar sheltered plates. Nurser)
colonies ma) contain up to 1.000
mothers, each with a single young.
Thyroplera tricolor Njctalus nod ula / 'roderma hilobaium lam fir 111111 spectrum
Spix's disk-winged Noctule Tent-making bat Spectral bat

bat
Length I in
i£ Tail \..
I,,,,
We.ght '
Tail II in
ton
1
Weight Social unit l iroup Social unit Variabli

i 1
1
Sutus Lowi 1
nl Status I own risk
Location \1. Social unit Group
Centra) Amerit
\ ica 1 1
i
mill. nl
St mih
Status Common m a. «_
ill The most widespread of tin- not ml' Also 1 ailed Linnaeus' false or spectral
spec ies. this bat Hies high and power- vampire, the i
'
It lm wingspan
1 he disk-winged oi sut ker-footed bat lulh before diving steepl) to grab makes this bs far the largest bat in the
has a rounded, suckerlike structure Hying insects as large as 1 1 iikels ami Vim 1 1. .is As (he name suggests, it is
mi) '
.11 li thumb claw in the middle chafers. B\ das. it roosts, usually not a blood-sucker, but it is a powerful
liniil edge nl the wing, and a smallet alone, in an) available small hollow predator neat the top of tin- food web
I 1
sin
n 11 .
Hon
111 the sole
. up-, these grip
ol" e.ii li loot.
smooth, gloss\
lake tm\ lor
among
example,
rocks.
in a tree, building, or
The noctule migrates
and therefore
habitat loss. It
at particulai risk from
hunts other bats, small
leal siiitai es so that the bat an shekel 1
1,2 2,000km or more
iitles null ins sui li a- mil 1 and rats, and
within part-furled leases roosting between its wintet and summer sites. birds sin li as ssreiis. orioles, ami
head-up, unlike neat Is all othei bats In spring, die female 111,1s produce parakeets. Bs das it toosts in holloss
\I111 natively, it icsis w Lth othei s ol 3 s ig. iii 1 outlast to the single About bat spei ies from the leaf-
1
"1
tit-es in groups of up to 5 indts iduals.
its kind in small groups of up to 1(1. olfspiing ol most sin. ill bats. nosed group most in "tents" shelters
among unfurled leases. shaped like umbrellas, cylinders,
Spix's is the 1 ones. 01 ll.isks. and made b) biting
smallest of thi- leases sut h as palm 01 banana so
ll nee New that thes droop or fold over. 1 ..11 li
World disk- tent protei Is J "ill or more bats from

winged spec ies. sunlight, tain, ami predators, and lasts
and lei ds on small reatures, man) 1 up lo ! months. I'he tent-building bat

ol them nonliving sui h as jumping feeds mi a variet) ol leases and fruits.
spiders, It is slim and di In ati with . chewing them to a pulp .uu\ -in king
a dark 01 reddish brown bai k and out the juii is. It is gray-brown ssith
'Si whitish brown 01 yellow underparts. white stripes on its face and back.
ft
BATS
Molossus ater attracted to street lights It i- more .Vatalus strammau Otonycteris hemprichi
activearound dawn and dusk than
Black mastiff bat most bats, and roosts in the middle Mexican funnel- Desert long-eared
of the nighl as well j. b\ das. Huge
Length !
numbers of insects are stored in its

cared bat bat
HE
cheek pouches and onlv chewed and
Son
Length I
= U :
1
swallowed on return to the roost.
Weight
1 Tad .
4.7-1.9 cm
Social unit Group Weight
: Trinidad
Status ( cmtnon
.ocatjoo W - Social unit Group Social unit Group
^^ksA
'
s-j— = '
irairmed Status Cnconnrmcd
Medium in size. mastiff bats are also

called free-tailed velvety bat- for their
short, soft fur. This species often roosts The 5 species of tropical .American
in building-, and feeds on insects funnel-eared bats are tiny and delicate
w ith rounded ears, soft woolly fur.
and a tail joined by flight membranes
Plecotus auntus to the legs. The Mexican funnel-eared
bat has a rapid, agile (light, almost
Brown long-eared like a butterfly. It eats small fixing
insects and roosts bv dav in caves.
bat
4 jem Also known as the desert long-eared

tail longer
bat. this is one of the few bat spec ie-
+ 5 cm than head
content in dry. barren habitats.
••er--
and body
During periods of harsh weather, such
Status Vulnerable' as drought, it probably enters a period
of hibernation-like inactivity. Its

Status L. rt.rr risk* spectacular ears are 1 -I : in 4cm long
and often held almost horizontally in
m jl At flight,
the
such as
ground
when swooping onto
for insects and spiders.
A compact face and relatively large This bat roosts by day groups of at in
ears identify the four Plecotus species least 20 in a crevice, cave, or building.
of Old World bats. The fur is usually
brownish gray, the face darker. This
species takes a variety of insects,
Mops condylurus Myotis daubenlonii
including moths and beetles, cam ing
the meal to a perch to eat. Its other Angolan free-tailed Daubenton's bat
habits are typical of small,
--
insect-eating bats, with -^^H bat -T
4-6 an
winter hibernation * v- _
/iyA Tail l-.'in
in caves, mines. . A This medium-sized, pig-nosed, pale

bat tolerates a range of dry habitats,
;T
Tail
from grassland 4 cm
to scrubby desert and
Weight /s-ll/.oz
even the intense heat of California's
Death Valley. It detects victims by the Sta:us
sounds they make, consuming beedes. Location W. C. E. and Social unit Group
c rickets, spiders, centipedes, scorpions.
lizards, and pocket mice. The pallid

southern .Africa,
Status Common m
bat utters piercing directive ift Jl Daubenton's is one of about 87
audible to humans as it "rallies," species in the widespread bat genus
Dying in groups to locate its roost in Mjohs - litde brown or mouse-eared
rocky outcrops, trees, or attics. flutters 3'A -6 ft I 2m
above water to catch living insects by
mouth or in the pouch of its curled
Vrspertilio
Particolored bat
minima various
frosted
crcv
i
bat
ommon
Ii roosts by day in small
dins or buildings. In late

es in
name-, including
other name
tail membrane
of water bat.
hence
It
its
also skims \
it the surface and grabs small lish in its
autumn, males ll\ high near steep large back feet. Bv day. this bat roosts
rock faces and
^r~ Tail 1
courting calls
tall buildings, their
resembling the shrill
in trees, buildings,
bridges. It Dies up
old walls,
to 180 miles
and
whim- ol a high-speed metal-grinder. Common and widespread from 100km to it- winter hibernation
Weight ' A - " /« oz
deserts to rainforests, this bal
has a long, mouselike, "tree" tail.
-
Social unit t.pjuji

not endosed In the tail membranes.
Status Lower n»i* It displays the typical bat habit of
emerging from its daytime roost in
fix .«.» At noisy,Dapping groups, therein

lessening each individual's risk ol
Distant n\c ( oloration of almost bla< k being caught In a predaioi sm h as
wings and fai c, pale t ream fui Lx I >w, an owl. hawk, or snake. It hunt- living
and brown back hairs lipped with in-ei t-. eating them in the ail and
white give tin parti-colored bai u- (hopping hard pan- -en h a- the legs
FLYING LEMURS
Cynocephalus vai iegalus

.Vlthough still common in some areas,
FLYING LEMURS Malayan

lemur
flying
numbers of
rapidly in logged
this species
and farmed regions.
It has a small head relative to it> body
have declined
By EXTENDING a stroii" membrane that with large eyes, little rounded ear- and
Chordala
Mammalia
1 surrounds their body the patagium Qying .
a blunt muzzle. The fine, short fur is
class
oaotR Dermoptera
lemurs also known as colugos) are able to
glide more than 330ft 10(lm between
'*T •
brownish gra) with red or gray on the
back, often with lighter flecks to
mimic lichen-covered branches, and
Cynocephalidae
fafuues 1
trees, with very little loss in height. The \f .£,"•
paler on the underside. The Malayan
term "flying lemur" is misleading;, however, Hying lemur is active in twilight and at
Location s [ V Social unit Variabir
night, eating soft plant parts such as
as these mammals are not lemurs and are
5-^:_e. buds and young leaves,
flowers, fruits,
not capable of true flight. About the size of a domestic cat and scraping up nectar and sap with
they have large eyes, a blunt muzzle, strong £L MtL its comblike lower incisor teeth. It
claws for climbing and mottled fur for lives alone or in small, loose groups,
camouflage:, Flying lemurs, which inhabiting tree-holes or resting among
dense foliage high in the treetops.
live in the rainforests of
Aftei gestation period of about 2
,i
Southeast Asia, strain month-, the -ingle offspring clings to

food (fruits and it- mother a- she leaps and glides
flowers through among the tree- and
peculiar comb- i- weaned by
6 months.
shaped lower teeth.
which are also
used to groom
the fur.
GLIDER
A kite-shaped
membrane
called the
patagium allowsflying
'
lemurs to glide from tree
It is attached to the neck and to the
tips of thefingers, tots, and tail.
ELEPHANT-SHREWS
W4TLUW Chordata THE LONG. POINTED SNOUT,
which is
BCRROWS AXD TRAILS
CLASS Mammalia and highly sensitive, gives elephant-
flexible
Elephant-shrews an strictly terrestrial
shrews their name. All species have keen and Ike in a variety of habitats. The
OftOCft Macroscelidea
senses of hearing and vision, and long, rock elephant-shrew (right) prefers rocky
FAHNJES Macroscelididae)
1
powerful back legs for running swiftly around areas where it will either dig its own
SPECIES 15 burrow or occupy one that has been
their territory. These secretive animals are
abandoned. It maintains a system of
found only in Africa, where their habitat trails that leadfrom the burrow to
ranges from stony ground and grassland to forest undergrowth. feeding areas. This behavioral pattern
They forage mosdy by day. feeding on invertebrates. is seen in several elephanl-shrra species.
Elephantulus rufescens fruits, seeds, and buds. The 1 -2 young

Rhynchocyon chrysopygus
are born after a gestation period of 60
Rufous elephant- Golden-rumped
1 shrew
da) - A male-female pair defend
by drumming their bai k feel
territory
their
elephant-shrew
and chasing away the intruder. The
male chases out Othei male-, and the
Length .
female other females.

Ta,l 9
Weight : Weight
Social unit lr Location 1- Urica Social unit Individual/Croup
Status L Status Lndangrird golden patch on the rump. Its diet
consists of -mall invertebrate- such as

worm-, insects, and centipede-. When
threatened, this elephant— hrew -lap-
(.iav to brown with white underparts. This colorful species has hairless black its tail on the leave- to warn others,
this spei ies has a whiti eye-ring with feet, legs, and ear-, a mainly black, then bound- awav at great speed,
a dark patch on the outer edge. In white-lipped, sparsely furred tail. often with a stiff-legged leap to
addition to -mall creatures, n eats son in--, H olored head and body and a demonstrate n- vigor.
TREE SHREWS
fl^^HHI^^^H
TREE SHREWS SEEKING FOOD
i
Tret shrews are skill/til
THESE SMALL, squirrel-like mammals are i limbi rs and agile
not excusively arboreal (they spend much of uiimny Theyjomgi
their time on the ground) and are not true with their hands 1
imd pointed
shrews. In fact, they have some features
\nout.
that are associated with primates, such
as a large braincase and, in males, testes that
m
**y Vj» 1 »
9 v
i
descend into a scrotum. Tree shrews lack •
whiskers and seek prey, such as insects, using well-developed I

senses of hearing, smell, and vision. Most species have a long,
thickly furred tail. Tree shrews inhabit the
tropical forests of Southeast Asia.
m *
Ptilocercus lowi Anathana ellioti

colored shoulder stripe. The Madras also some fruits. At night it sleeps
tree shrew has a prominent head with in a rock crevice or tree-hole. The
Pen-tailed tree shrew Madras tree shrew a pointed muzzle, large eyes, and species is probably solitary outside the
furred ears. It forages actively by day breeding season and does not, as far
T— Length i
on the ground and among low bushes, as is known, defend a specific

17
Tailij 1
/.- 7" j ii as well as in trees, for small edible territory, but information is lacking.
Weight 7/b-
(25-60
2 i/«c
r Weight Hi/
16
[50 g
19cm items, mainly worms and insects but The female cares for the young.
g)
Location s 1. A i Social unit Y.in.ihli Location s \-i. Social unit Individual
Status I nconfirm< <1 Status I , iwcr risk
aBL A
Named for its mainly naked tail with Also known as the Indian tree shrew.
bushy white hairs at the tip, like a this mammal resembles a small,
bottle-brush or an old-fashioned quill slender gray squirrel. It is speckled
pen. this speeies brown is grayish with yellow and brown on the upper-
above and grayish yellow on the parts and has a distinctive i leam-
underside. It climbs skillfully with its
strong, sharp-clawed limbs, using its
tail and rarely descends

for balance,
Tupaia minor
to the ground. It makes simple nests
in hollow trees or on branches and Pygmy tree shrew
lives in pairs or small groups. Its
varied diet includes worms, insects,

mice, small birds, lizards, and fruits.
M
Tail 5-6 1/2 in
(13-17 cm)
4$u Weight 1 1/16 -2 1/2
(30-70
Dendrogale melanura
/*j\ g)
Locacion s 1 An Social unit Individual
Bornean smooth- Status Lowei n,k

l
tailed tree shrew «L

Length 4 i> in
[n 15cm This species is more tolerant than

Tail I i
,,, most other tree shrews of the loss of
'' I I mi natural forest habit.it to plantations,
Weight I
parks, and gardens. It is a skilled

( limber and has a wide diet. It forages
Location s V: Social unit Individual
I, ftui
by da\ along brant lies, in bushes,
among fallen logs, and undei roi ks for
small animals, fruits, leaves, seeds, and

XL carrion. Usually 2-3 young are born
aftera gestation period of H> 30
I his spec tes lives in mountain forests da\s. The female leaves the offpsring
at altitudesol 3,000 5,000ft (900- In a Icily nest among the foliagi
1 . iOOm . I In long In nl is .mil long claws while she feeds, ii -tin i
equip to grasp brani hes and

ii it sporadii alb to mu kle.
spends IlKin llinc in trees lli.in i.lliel I hi shows fall
tree shrews. The coloration ol its \li dm lo snakes.

iippei -parts is ,i mixture of bla< k and mongooses,
bufl in i inn, iiiioii, the uiulei parts and tree-dwelling
legs .in- more red oi oc Inc. Ii lives i ais, and diurnal
alone, feeding l>\ da) and sleeping birds i
'I pre) I he) often hold food b)
in .i leaf-lined tree nest at night. Aftei their front paws while silting up on
a gestation period ol about 30 days, their haunt hes, in the mannei i
iIk female produt cs 3 1 young. squirrel, to wan h foi dangi i

PRIMATES
PRIMATES
phylum Chordata Members of the order Primates SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
class Ma prosimians. monkeys, and apes (but see the Only orangutans and a few of the lemurs and galagos lead
order Primates Classification note, - are a diverse group left)
solitary lives; all other primates exist in social groups. Many
species - including most monkeys live in troops that consist
FAMILIES 1 1
that form highly complex social units. They of several females and either one or several adult males. In
SPECIES 356
are found in South and Central America. Mime species, such as the mandrill, drill, and gelada baboon,
huge troops of several hundred individuals periodically split
Africa and Madagascar, and Southeast and into subgroups of bachelor bands and one male and his
CLASSIFICATION NOTE harem, both of fixed composition. Chimpanzees and spider
eastern Asia. Primates mostly inhabit tropical
monkeys live in large communities of 20-100 individuals that
primates maj comprise
. -
2
rainforests, and their dextrous prehensile divide into groups of varying composition. Some species,
suborders: Sirepsirhini lemur-.
and
galagps, lorises, and pottos
(grasping) hands and feet are an adaptation mosdy New World monkeys, live in monogamous pairs.
Haplorhim tarsiers. apes, and
monke\ s larmiers ha\e feaiures
.
to a largely arboreal lifestyle (some species
linking them with both
in this book. the\
also have a prehensile tail). Traditionallv
are grouped whh Strepsirhini
primate authorities have recognized about
known as the
traditionallv
prosimians To allow adequate
.
180-200 species. However, in recent years

coverage, monkeys and apes
are presented here as separate
there has been a thorough reconsideration
gp tups. Humans do not appear
in this book but are classified, of primate species, partly because of the
with the apes, as hommoidv
Prosimians pp.llH 21
need to identify significant populations for
set
Monkeys conservation purposes. As a result, many

Apes pfi-132- 7
new species have been described since 1990.
ANATOMY
Primates form a highly varied group, with members
as diverse as mouse lemurs, which may weigh only
1 oz which can reach over 4401b
55g), and gorillas,
_'i h Ikg .
Mi on the fingers
isl species have flat nails
and toes - onlv a few have claws - and the big toe
alv. ays has a nail. Except the apes, most have a tail.
Apart from some toodied whale spec ies, the higher

primates have the largest brain relative to body size
of all die mammals, which helps explain dieir high
intelligence. The cerebral hemispheres whit h
process sensors information and coordinate
responses) are highly developed,
allowing sight keen enough for
accurate tree-to-tree leaps.
large braincase
jward-
Jacing eye sockets
SKILL STRUCTURE
Primates have a large, domed
braincase and Joruard-facing
eye rockets. This monkey skull
a I mi [hows the flattenedfacial
profile that is characteristic »/
most monkeys and apes.
SEEKING TERMITES DEXTROUS HANDS

/ himpanzee ha\ made a stick tool to obtain The ilumpan -j , uses its grasping hands to hold
food that would otherwise be inaccessible. and insert the stick into the termite mound.
PRIMATES
FEEDING EATING VEGETATION

Oj allprimaU s,
gorillas
CONSERVATION
As a genera] rule, small primates tend to cat probably eat the most Primate numbers arc declining
insetwhereas larger spec ies mostly eai leaves
is. plant material. In order severely in the- wild clue to habitat
and fruits (a large primate cannot sustain itself on to hunt, dou n cellulose loss and. more ice entlv through
insects alone). Small primates have a high it/tilrln irlnntll" lilt the illegal hunting of protected
metabolic rate and cannot afford the long digestion cell nutrients I, gorillas spec ies sue h as the gorilla foi meal.
times needed to proc ess vegetable matter. Some ha, , largt molai teeth As ,c result, mans spec ies are now
leaf-eating spec ies.such as colobus monkeys and and strong jau musch i ndangered. Primates are alsi i
langurs, have a complex stomach containing foi cheu ing. Their pot widely used in medical and space
bacteria to ferment cellulose; oilier spec ies have bell) houst i a long earch. Although a few spec ies an
bacteria in the cecum or in the colon. A leu ill", stii i Inn I. being re-introduced to the wild
species, including chimpanzees and baboons, from zoos with captive breeding
hunt vertebrate pre\ as well as eating vegetable programmes, and sanctuaries.
matter. Only tarsiers are entirely carnivorous. such as this himpanzee orphi c
in Zambia below provide some .
EATING MEAT refuse, the situation remains bleak.

Given the opportunity, somi primates
will hunt (somi itini i cooperative!)
and lull other animals. Tim

(lumpanzft is eating part oj a duikei.
MOVEMENT
Most primates spend al least part of their life in trees and have
adapted accordingly. To provide a strong hold on branches, the big

is separated from the other toes in all species except humans, and
thumb is always separated from the fingers, although it is fully

usable (that is. it can turn, face, and touch the other digits in the
d) only in apes and in some Old World monkeys. The arm
bones are not fused, which increases dexterity. Primates also
fiave "free" limbs - the upper part of each limb is outside the bod)
wall, which allows great freedom of movement. (In other mammals,
such as horses, the upper part is inside the body wall - the "armpit"
is in fact the elbow joint, which means movement is more restric ted.
Some species have a long;, prehensile tail, used as a "fifth limb."
SWINGING STANDING CLIMBING CLINGING

Spidei monkeys Primah >. such 1 lii most common I
and gibbons, such as chimpanzei s, U il) nl in 6 4 as thest
a\ this u lull -
that are capable on nil fours. Quad- mdri. ma, , I
'handed gibbon, ust qj and

standing rupeds, such as back hehi i
then long arms to walking on 2 this a ooll) spider They ha

raring from branch legs hunt n as monki i. usuall) developed back limbs
to branch. This is bipedalism), tend ha, , limbs of about for long leaps
called brachiation. to h, i. , long legs ili, sarm length
BALANCING \( : I EATING QUICKLY MORE OF THE SAME LEARNED BEHAVIOR

'.
e
ii, mil Most oj thi termites an swiftly gobbled befon Onci nl! On termites ham eithet been eaten • in in mammal
Stick h) le\tin« ll mi tin ,i/,/h,,iI, /in, mm cape, including an) on thi forearm. , scaped, tin chimpm 'hi proa ss. chimpanzees acquin thi • . adults.
PRIMATES
Prosimians
M()Ri: PRIMITIVE: than monkeys and "dental comb" i to 6 of the lower
front teeth that are pressed together
TARSI ERS
clau Mamniilia apes, prosimians comprise the lemurs and grov< slightly forward. This i- Not strict!) prosimians see the
of Madagascar, the galagos and pottos used for mutual grooming. Classification note on p. 1 1 .
tarsiers are unusual in that the\

of .Africa, and the lorises of Asia. Movement
Streps irhini
r
Lemurs (which include sifakas. the
indri. and the aye-aye have large ears,
Most lemurs are quadrupedal and
usually run or leap from branch to
have man) primitive features
-imilar to prosimians, yet the\
also exhibit characteristics linking
branch. Weasel lemurs, the avahi, them to monkeys and apes, such
an elongated body, long limbs, and
sifakas, the indri. and galagos are as a dry, hairy nose. The most
most have a long, bushy tail. Lorises, pottos, and galagos vertical dingers and leapers (see striking feature of tar-ier- is their
< )n the ground, sifakas and enormous
are generally smaller than lemurs and tend to have larger beli iv. eyes: each is -lightlv
indri move on 2 feet, employing heavier than the brain. Other

eyes. Prosimians mostly inhabit forests and are usually
sideways hop- with their arm- in characteristics include a large
nocturnal (some lemurs are diurnal). Deforestation has the air for balance. Lorises and head and ears, long digits with
endangered many prosimians, especially the lemurs. pottos usualK clamber slowl) along disc-like pad- at the tip-. \er\
branches, clinging tightlv at ever) lung leg- with elongated ankle-.
step although when startled they and a long tail. The 8 species of
Anatomy falling on the visual cells and can move -w iftl) . tarsiers are found in the forests
Prosimians have a black, doglike improves nighl vision. Since most of Southeast Asia, where they
snout and a sense of smell that is prosimians are arboreal, their hands Communication spend much of their time clinging
more highly developed than in other and feet are adapted for grasping Lemurs produce various calls, both to to upright tree stems, scanning
primates. They have large eye sockets although they are less dextrous signal alarm there air often different thi li iresl tloor for prey.
and a crystalline layer behind the than monkeys and apes:. The) have call- tn distinguish aerial and ground
retina of the eye that reflects light. flat nails on all digits except the predators and to communicate
This increases the amount of light second toe. which instead has a long within in between troops. Pail- of areas with "shi-fak" calls that sound
claw the "toilet claw" used for indri occupy treetop territories, and like hiccups. Male ring-tailed lemurs
grooming. All spet ies except these are maintained with loud and bamboo lemurs have a wrist
wailing calls: small gland with a -pur. which they use
silaka troops to mark territory by drawing the
ine their wrist sharply across a sapling. This
produce- a click, creates a -car.
and leave- a scent - a gesture that
is auditon. visual, and olfactory.
.Galagos leave -tent trail- around
eir territory by placing urine
their feet.
I
I'ROSIMIANS
I Ins small, slmi primate moves with Nycticebm coucang

Arctocebus calabarensis Loris tardigradus
great deliberation, gripping twi^s with
Calabar angwantibo Slender loris all t feet until it suddenly smells, Slow loris
sees, and with its front legs sn i
a small creature such as an insect or

lizard h also eats soft leaves and buds.
Weight Mlo! lnnis. and lanls' eggs,. By day, the
slender loris curls up in a tree hole.
dense leaf nest, or similar secure
Location \\ Al Location s .v.i cial unit tndividiial/FaJj place. Its fin olor ranges from yellow-
(
Status Vulnerable
gray to dark brown on the back, with Status Unconfirmed
Status I
silver-gray underparts.
3l
( I i i
inly _' Arctocebus species, this
REARING A FAMILY
one is orange to yellow on its upper- The female slender loris reai hes
pan-. ,m<l bull beneath. It i limbs sexual maturity at Ml months

carefully and deliberately using all and is receptive to the male twice
4 equal-length limbs. The second toe a year thereafter. After a
is tiny and the first widely separated gestation period of

from the other 3, giving a > lamplike 166-169 days, she
grip. Solitary and nocturnal, the bears 1-2 young,
angwantibo eats small creatures such whit h she suckles
as caterpillars, plus a few fruits. The for 6 7 months.
Othei species, the golden angwantibo.
lives farther south.
Aptly named be< ause ol its lack ol
speed, the slow loris has gripping
hands like the slender loris 'see left
and is also a nocturnal tree-dweller.

It creeps carefully toward its pus.
then lunges with its front limbs. 1 he
Ions lives alone or in pairs or groups,
and the adult male chases other males
from its territory, which is marked by
FOIR-WAY GRIP
On opposes the other 4 toes for
urine. The dense, soft fur is brown
rachfoot the big toe
a pincertike grip. The slender loris can even sleep with a white lace and underparts, and
holding out" b dark eye rings and ears.
Perodiclitin potto
of fruits, sap, gum, and small animals. Galago crasskaudatus The largest galago. this spei ies
A potto can remain immobile for locates insects at night using its huge
Potto hours to escape attention. II attacked, Greater galago eyesand ears, and snatches them by
it will tuck down
head and batter its hand in a split second. It also s rap ( -
Length 10
the enemy with horny the "shield'' of gum and sap with its comblike,
skin overing spiny bones on the
i T»l :
. protruding lower incisor and canine
upper back. The gestation period is teeth. Deriving its alternative name
Weight :
about 200 days, and the potential lift-

span is over 25 years.
t Weight 1
of bushbaby from
lives in
its
small family groups of a

childlike wails, 11
Social unit Variabli Location i Social unit \ male female pair or 2 females, with
southern Africa
Status Localh young. Compared to closely related
species, it tends to run on all fours
tfL more frequently and to leap in an
upright position less often.
A I areful, nocturnal (limber, the

potto has very mobile limb joints and
readies outat any angle to bridge
gaps between brandies, hs fur may be
gray, brown, or red. the eyes and ears
are small, and the diet consists mainly
Euoticus elegattlitlus Resembling othei galagos in form.

has an orange bac k. gray
this spei ies
Western needle- underside, pink hands and feet, and a

long, gray, white-tipped tail ["he oval
clawed galago eyes are rimmed by pale fur, <\m\ thin,
sh.up t laws grip well for 1 limbing
Length 1
td I in lion
.in
Like all galagos and lorises, the
pads on soles
Tail 7 set ond toe on the reai fool lias an
V . 1 cm iipwaid-l.ii ing, "toilet" i law, I.
Weight
275 '
si 1. in hing and i ombing fur. The
spi 1 ially . nl. 11 -I. I
En ml t< eth apsi i
Location u Social unit 1.

wi mil and balk 10 obi. 1111 gum and
sap. which make up three-quarters ol
the diet, along w ith .1 \.u iety ol G uil -
fl and nisei is. h may make I.IIIHI "gum

scrapes" per night.
PRIMATES
habitats, it feeds on a wide range of

Galago moholi Cheirogaleus medius Lemur Julius
fruits, Dowers, leaves, and sap. Living
South African galago Fat-tailed dwarf Brown lemur in often-changing groups numbering
from 3 to 1 2 individuals, each
lemur member smears urine on itself for
scent recognition. Group -ize and

Length
composition change frequendy.
Weight 1 /:-8V«lb
Social unit Variable Weight boz I N. and W.

Madaga>*"ar
Status (
.:.-. Status bwM-r risk*
Location W and S Social unit Individual /Group
Madaga* .!r
«. Status Lower nkk £.

The South African galago is also £L Extremely variable in color, from
called the lesser bushbaby. It leaps brown according to
to yellow or gray,
vertically in enormous jumps of 16ft subspecies, the brown lemur usualh
5m and . its grasping hands and feet has a dark face with pale eyebrow
gray, red,
are moistened regularly with urine to pan hes. Adaptable to different forest
or'buffju,
maintain grip. It snatches insects from
on upper
midair by hand or scrapes gum from
parts
trees with its comblike lower front Lemur macaco
teeth. This galago lives in small The fat-tailed
family groups, dwarf lemur Black lemur

which sleep huddled stores food as fat
together by day. in its body and
tail, to survive Taj 16-23 '/j u
diamond- the 8-month dry

shaped black season, during
which it remains
torpid, huddled Locaoon N Madagascar Soda) unit Group
with othei - i
it its Status 1
kind. When the black lemur i> also active for

active again, it part of the night. This behavior
becomes solitary mav result from hunting and other
and clambers in and bushes at trees A medium-sized species, i>nl\ the human disturbance. Ixd by one
night, seeking flowers, fruits, and male has the long, soft black fur for female, groups of 5 15 black
insects. It rests by day in a leaf-and- which it is named. Females are red. lemur- linage mainly in trees for
rwig nest in a tree hole or fork. brown, or gray. Unusually for lemurs. fruits, flowers, leaves, and soft bark.
Hapalemur gi Lemur catta

move I" other group-. Using their
hands, they gather flowers, fruits.
Bamboo lemur Ring-tailed lemur lea\ es, bark, and sap. After 1 34 - 38 1
days' gestation, the female bears one

sometimes 2 offspring It first clings
to the mother's underside and then
rides on her back. Like most lemurs,
Weight 5
23-33 kg
tliis lemur (aces mam
threats, especial])
Locaoon V an Socal unit Group Location 5 Social unit Group habitat loss.
Madagascar
Sratus I neonfirmed Status Vulnerable
1= A Catlike appearance
This lemur is catlike both in body
proportions and graceful mova
This lemur spends more time than its ite face has a dai*. I_nhke most other lemurs, the
relatives on the ground, even though the underparts are ring-tailedlemur enjoys basking
it is a skilled climber. Very sociable, it uhitish gray. The distinctive in sunshine, whether on the
forms groups of 5 - 25. with a core of tail is usedfor i-isual

ground or in trees. It sits upright,
and scent signaling.
with hands on knees in a "sun-
adult females showing a well-defined j
hierarchy anions; themselves and over worship" posture. Loud alarm

I any male-.. Young females remain with calls from others in the group
their mothers and alert it. when necessary, to

sisters; juvenile males possible danger one of
the benefits of a highly
[Tlis is the only lemur - social lifesn le
indeed the onh primate
- adapted to living in lake-
fringing reeds and rushes.
All-over gray with a
distinctive blunt snout, it
jumps between reed -talk- to

eat their leaves, -hunts, buds,
and Groups of 3-5
pith.
m.i\ expand up to 4H. led by
one dominant male. Disturbance «'t
iis restricted habitat threatens this

specialized lemur.
PROSIMIANS
proportion ol
Varecia vanegata
fruit than an)
Daubentonia madagascariensis CONSERVATION
Ruffed lemur other lemur. Aye-aye Several small t aptive breed insj
It builds .i colonies ol aye-ayes have been
1
Italy nt-st in established, lot studs and possible
Tail |l/! Ki a tree hole reintroclurtion ol individuals

1 I l
2m en link foi its into suitable habitats. Below, a
Weight lull, Weight lb
7 5
one-day-old aye-aye, born after
i
young.
,
2 !
,
i kg
The female a gestation period of about 170
Location 1 MadaRas. ,n Social unit Group gives birth after a
Location \ w and Social unit Variabli
days, is being weighed to impi 1 1\ i
I Madagasi ai
Status 1 ndangi red gestation period of Status Endangi red our scant knowledge of this
90-102 days. TheofBprin sei retive spei ies believed extint
A
i
remain in the nest foi £L until rediscovered in 1957.
several weeks after which

This l.u ii> spei ii-s is w hili i ii oddish they cling i< > her. Group The aye-aye has coarse, shaggy blat k
white except for black on the face, size 2-20, with

is several fill wnli a in. mile ol white guard
shoulders, i hest, flanks, feet, and tail. dominant females hairs. It is specialized as a night-time
The ruffed lemur cats a higher defending the tet i iti iry primate "woodpecker." It taps trees
with its long middle finger, listens
intently with its huge cars for wood-
Propilhtnn verreauxi Lepilemur mustelinus boring grubs under the bark, exposes
them by gnawing with its rodentlike,
Verreaux's sifaka Weasel lemur ever-growing front teeth, and extrai is
them with the middle linger. It also

Length 17 1 8 ill
i I r, . i
eats huits, including coconut flesh,
Tail 22 J I
seeds, and fungi. Aye-ayes share
large, stick-made nests but use
Long fingers
Weight 6 III. //// /li> il\' «M t il\ ,/,,//;,,//,,/
them in succession, not
I
,
I middle Jiiigtr, which has n double-
together. The offspring
jointed tip, to Ktracl grubi from
W
i
Location and Social unit Group Location \ M.nl.ij.t

i I.
stays with its mother der tree hark.
Status ( nu..ill\ endangcredt Status Lower risk for 2 vears.
*L
This large, mostly white lemur has
brown-black areas on the hue. crown,
and undersides of the limbs. It uses
its powerful legs to move among
Cactuslike trees with massive, spring-
loaded leaps. It eats a wide range of
leaves, fruits, flowers, and bark. Living
in variable social groupings, it makes
its "sifaka" call when tw i > groups
dispute territorial boundaries.
This nocturnal prosimian feeds mainly

on fruits and leaves. It has grasping
feet and long, soft, brown fur, which
darkens toward the tail tip. As with

other leaping primates, both eyes face
forward for good stereoscopic visinn
that enables it to judge distances Tardus bam anus front paws. The female gives birth to
precisely. The weasel lemur occupies one offspring aftei a gestation period
a tei ritorv of '/: '/i acres 11.15-0.5
I Western tarsier of about 180 days. At first the sonny
hei tans is carried by the mother, but it soon
learns to cling to her fur.
Tail : 'hii
also hints, (lowers, and seeds. Indiis 18 23cm

I ihli i i ml 1
Weight toz
live in pairs with their offspring. The I
Indri male defends then territory, and the

Location s \, Social unit
female has liist access to food. Indris I , l
are mainly black, with white pati hi s Status I t, I,,,,,, d
^L .1L
Weight 13 ill.
,. 1
This long-tailed, not turnal Asian

Location 1. Mad. Social unit Pail
prosimian is small and compact-
Status I ndan ;crcd bodied. Mainlv tree-dwelling, the
H westei n taisiei has slendet fingei

and
laws.
Us toes have pads and sharp
In. mi lies. It
s
i |i ii l;i ipping an (
'
• 'I iln lc i gn iup the indri turn its head in look bai kw.ud and
or babakoto "little father" has vers, di n i
i pi issible predatoi s oi pre) with
long n .11 leys. Iih i in, i mi his leaps, but its huge eves .mil keen i .11 s. Its diet
a \( i\ short tail. Although diurnal, it 1 iinsists mainlv nl nisei is I l.iv ing
is in.ii tive for long periods in the day. spotted us v u rim, it i reeps nearei and
The diet is t hielK young leaves, but then leaps on it and seizes 11 w nh its
PRIMA! I S
Monkeys
young Squirrel monkeys, on the "harems." with one adult male and
PHYLUM Chorriata This large, diverse group is split
.
i titi hand, live in verj large several lemales. Within all monkev
CLASS Mammalia into 2 broad, geographically separate groups, sometimes ovei 100, with soc ial groups, relationships are
OUCH Primates subgroups: the Old World monkeys man) females .md lew males. Spidei ( ommonlv verj i lose, and grooming
monkeys live in large communities i-a significant so, ial glue. However.
suborder Haplorhini (part) larger species such as baboons, as well
and split groups ol
into smaller males in some spe< ies. such as
FAMILIES 3 as colobus monkeys and langurs) and varying composition when foraging baboons, will fight furious!) with their
SPECIES 242 the New World monkeys 'such as In i ontiasi. ( )I<1 World monkeys long, sharp .mines for dominance.
i
usually exhibit just 2 types ol soc ial

marmosets and spider monkeys), which Inn licence
organization: baboons and mat aques
i
are distinguished mainly by nose shape. Monkeys are multimale troops; th<
live in large, Monkeys an- intelligent mammals.
normally found in forests throughout the Tropics. Most mandrill, thedrill, the gclada baboon. 1 Inv are quick to learn, inquisitive,
sûenons, and most langurs live in and have an excellent memory.
have short, flat, humanlike faces, although baboons and These abilities have helped monkeys
mandrills have a doglike snout. Man)' species are succeed in a rangi ol habitats, where
endangered by loss of habitat, and the rhesus they must learn lm example
what thev can eat and then
macaque is one example of a monkey used r< member when and
widely in laboratory research. d tli,'
Anatomy
Monkeys are characterized
\i\ a flattened ( lust, a hairy
nose, .i relativel) large

brain, .i deep lower j.iu.
and sharp .mine teeth. <
Although monkeys are

quadrupedal, the) are able
to sil u|)i ight .nid will
in i .iMun.ilK stand ere< i .
so that the dextrous hands

an freed foi manipulative
tasks -.in h as picking apart
li mis , I lux have grasping
hands and feet, each uidi 5
digits. Thru legs arc slightly
longei than then arms much
longci in leaping spei ies such
as the red i olohus . whit h alsi i
have a long, flexible spine.

Monkeys also have a tail that is
usualK longer than the body,
although in some spec ies it is tiny
and undeveloped. A lew spei ies.
such as spider monkeys, have
a pn hensile tail, sometimes with a
bare area at the end w ith oases i
and i idges that increase h it tion

loi grasping. I he tail maj also be
used as a balani ing organ and to
indie ate sot ial gestures.
I here are several anatomii al
different es between ( )ld and

New World monkeys. )ld World <
monkeys, wlm h are more loselj t
related to ape- than the New

World monkeys, have a nai row
nasal septum and the nostl tls lai e
forward oi downward. New World
monkeys have a broad nasal septui
and in isti ils that fai e sidewa) s.
Anothei majoi different e is that
( World monkeys have hard
)kl
silling pads on the rump, wlm an li
absent in New World monkeys.
Social groups
New World monkeys have
\.u iet\ i il soi ial i irganizadons.
Marmosets, foi example, usuall)
groups onsisting
live in ( i il a
monogamous pan and subadult

offspring that help reai the recent
H
MONKEYS
fruit-, but also for leaves, Dowers, Aleles geoffroyi Brachyleles arachnoides
Lagothrix carta
sap, -reds, and small creatures. hi- I
Gray wooly monkey peaceful, gentle monkey often allows Central American Wooly spider
members of another troop into its
spider monkey monkey
own troop'- territory.
period of 23
offspring is
5
born and
After a gestation
days, the single
clings to it-
_
mother- underside, moving onto S3 in
her back at 7 days. It i- weaned after

Weight 2\-»Va
Socal unit Group 6 month- Male- grow larger than
Status Vulnerable
females when mature.
Social unit Variable
«: Ml SCILAR MOVER Status CritkaQy rndangrrrd
Wool) monkeys are stout bodied and almost pot
Wooly monkeys have thick, soft. bellied, uilh powerful shoulders, hips, and tail
£L
for hanging from and swinging through trees.
dose-curled fur. which in this spe< ies
is gray with black flecks, darkei gray Also called the muriqui. the wooly
on the head, hands, feet, and tail rip. spider monkey has a heavy body, long
Insome individual-, then- i- a reddish limbs, and thumbless hands with
tingeon the underparts. It lives in a hooklike lingers. It is the largest New
mixed troop, which breaks into World monkey, and. being a leaf-eater,
subgroups to forage primarily for is critically endangered due to
destruction of Adantic coastal forests.

Just a few hundred are left in 4 or 5
CONSERVATION tiny groups on private ranches.
Monkeys such as the gray wooly
need large areas in which they can
roam freely. Their forest habitat.
however, is increasingly fragmented.
and their survival is additionally
threatened by hunting for their Also known as Geoffreys spider
meat, which is prized. monkey, this species has black hands.
head, and feet, and a cowl-like face
surround. Like other spider
monkeys, the thumbless hand act-
as a simple hook, to swing agilely
through trees or to pull fruit-laden
branches to the mouth.
Aleles chamek calls. On reaching maturity, females

leave to join another troop. .Alter a
Black spider monkey gestation of 225 days, the single
young is born. After 16 weeks it rides
on its mothers back and is weaned by
i 18 months. Offspring of females high
80-«8cint in the dominance hierarchy are more
Weight2llb
likely to survive to adulthood, when
*-
they mov e to other troops.
Location V\ - Socal unit Group
Status Lourr risk
3L
Aleles hjbridus wood. They whoop and whinny a- Long black fur and black facial skin
thev meet up again. Like all spider identify this otherwise typical spider
White-bellied spider monkeys, it has long limbs, a slim monkey, which feeds mamlv on
body, thumbless hands, and a fruits, berries, flower-, -oft li
monkey prehensile tail. grub-, termites, and honey. They

live in large territorial troops, each
Length
*.
\
•
pale inner
occupy i
_
surfaces of he
10 hectares). 1
limbs
troop splits into variable
Weight
subgroups i" feed, and meet-
in theevening with gi
Loaoon \ U 5 Socal unit Group
f&
The white-bellied spider monkev

ha- a conspicuous triangular white
patch on the forehead. It i- brown
hove with pale underparts giving
rise to it- common name. Mixed
troop- of about _'n split into single-sex long.
subgroup- of 3 t to feed on fruits. prehensile
juic v leave-, and. oclcllv. soft, dec aving tail
PRIMATES
Alouatta pigra Alouatta senkulus TREETOP LIFE

Mexican black Red howler monkey Like all howlers, the red howler is
wonderfull) adapted to life among

howler monkey trees. Its prehensile tail lat ks fur on
the underside near the tip. to help it
grip and work as a fifth grasping

Weight limb. Its climbing abilit) provides
.a i ess i<> .i wide variety of leaves
Weight 251b Howlers need to consume
1 I
Location N Social unit Group and fruit.
i. ".
II 5 kg
Status Lowa risk
up to 2 A lb I kg dail) of this
Location Modi •• ( ' nii.il Social unit Group plentiful, but low-energy, diet
£L ttL kss 1 In v spend up to three-

quarters of the day
£L Red howlers are the largest of the resting to conserve

nine howler spe< ies, whose loud energy.
howls, whoops, and other calls an") (
more than 1 'A miles 2km through

the forest, informing others of a
troop's presence or com eying alarm
signals. They live mainly in groups of
one male and 3-4 females. The male
is much heavier than the female.
When new male ousts an
a existing
male from a troop, he may kill
long face
die latter's offspring, so the
( )ih e c onsidered a subspecies of die females become reach to
mantled howler Alouatta palliata . this breed with him sooner.
monkey is completely black, except
for the male's white scrotal sack.
Loud whoops and howls at dawn strong.
and dusk proclaim a troop's prehensile tail

that can support
territory, whi< h ma) he up to
body illicit
1)2 acres 25 hectares Most troops 1 .
Golden saddle
i mi-i-i ul about 7 members with The northern red hou to / thown hrrr) has a
justone male, who is up to tu e as ii
reddish gold "saddle" on the body, ahuh contrasts
heavy as a female. This monkey eats with the maroon head, shoulders, arid limbs. Other
a plentiful, low-nutrient, leaf) diet populations are a uniform red color.
Pithecia monachus which in the monk, or red-bearded, Pithecia pithecia gray-brown with pale-tipped hairs and
saki forms a hood or cowl. Compared a dark face. Although it is vegetarian,
Monk saki to many other New World monkeys, Gnianan saki iLs teedi have a predator, appear. mt c.
this saki is shy and quiet, preferring to with sharp incisors for impaling Bruit
Length 1 ;
stav high in the trees, keep still, and and long canines to crack seeds and
Tail 16 remain unnoticed. It can make a loud nuts. A typical group is a female.
alarm call, but when threatened its male, and 3 young

1
Weight Weight I II
main defense is to bare its teeth. Its ja white nose

& .
(liit is fruits and seeds, and it lives in
,
palefaa
,
^^^ ilnfie IJmaU
Location N Social unit Group h ist -knit troops of 4-5, who spend Social unit I
i
<mly) s
Status Low much time grooming each other. Status Lower n>k
& iB kss
All 7 s.iki spei ies have broad No other New World monkey is as
noses especiall) the septum. different between the sexes: the malt-
the central portion between is black with a white or pale gold face
the in 'stnls . lank fur and a black nose, while the female is
i, ill- ii i
the sides from
the back and net k.
a bush) tail, anil grip powerfully and this saki can hang
Chiropotes salanas
extra-li ing fui In one limb as it feeds on seeds,hard
around Hi Brown-bearded saki Bruits, and small animals, crushing
I hem with well-developed molar teeth.
Length M I8ui
When excited, it "switches" its tail like
gray-black body Tail 12 I8ui a cat and emits a piercing whistle.

coloration
Weight 1
Locauor - Social unit (.mup
Status Ln<Luitirn-d
fi.
In this spei ies. die typical saki's long

chin fur firms a bushy beard, and the
long, dense head fur makes a thick
Ion head fringe. Both feet and hands
MONKEYS
Callkebus muloch
Cacajao calvus COLOR FORMS
Red uakari Dusky titi monkey
Length 10
cm ' 27 l
TailS' Tail 14 -"in
v.
1 1 18 3cm
Weight i,
lb Weight
Jr m
. .
i
I. 0.7 1 kg)
1
Location \ \\ South Social unit ( iroup Location \ -
Social unit Km
\m rii a
Status l.nd.mgercd Status 1 i iwi
ft ft
Red Li.ik.ari-- prefei "blackwater," part- The 20 or more titi species all have
Qooded forests along small rivers, Red uakari subspecies have a dm k. soft fur. chunky bodies, short
lakes, and swamps, rather than forests variety of fur colors, leading to limb-, and distini tively among New
Kinging large rivers. They forage li\ different names: white uakari World monkeys of their size - ears
da\ in trees for seeds, fruits, flowers, (above in northwestern Brazil, almost hidden in fur. They eat main])
and small animals, in golden uakari on the Brazil-Peru fruits, leaves, seeds, and grubs. The
a large troop oi males on the
border, red uakari duskv titi monkey's back is speckled
and females, usually Colombia -Brazil border. brown, the underparts mainly orange
It relies on its drab coloration and
HI _'ll but sometimes ^^^ and pale-backed red
up to 100. The troop ^^k uakari farther east. slow movements for camouflagi in
may mix with similar trees near swamps and pools. Female
primates such as squirrel and male form a close pair-bond and
Hairless face
monkeys to feed. defend a territory of 15 30 acres
//// red uakari has
(6-12 hectares). They intertwine tails
a hun I' u face and
forehead, tht
and sing a "duet" just after dawn to
varying from pink to maintain their family and pair-bonds,

deep red. and to proclaim their territory.
short tail tit
illation to body
Callkebus torquatus Cebus apella
Yellow-handed titi Brown capuchin

monkey
— Length I2-I8in
Tail ]
10
t
M..m
19 i
Length
Tail
Weight
1
II
i, /j-10lb
Weight 2i/i -3 'A lb

1 .5 kg
Status tower risk

Social unit Group/Pair
Aolus lemurinus formerly regarded as one species, Scjt'A I

am ft
genetic studies show there may be In
Night monkey species of night monkeys, also called ft Capuchins are often regarded as the
douroucoulis, or owl monkeys from most adept New World monkeys, and
Length 1
>f~ v 10 »2cm their hooting calls in the darkness. M.niiK dark brown the brown capuchin uses a variety ol
Tail II They are the only nocturnal monkeys, in color, tools, such as stones to crack hard
S ti ,,„
eating a mixed diet of fruits. leaves, except for its nuts. It also eat- fruits, insei is. and
We.ght 12 S4.>/
some vertebrates such as frogs, lizards,
and insects as the} lamber cautiously ( distinctive
through the branches. They live in white neck and even small bats, rhis species also
Location ( .<inr.il Arnrri .. Social unit I'jii
in. ilr communicate
Inn. ilc pairs and collar, and known ,i- the tufted apuchin
i
in N.U South America

Status Vulm-rablc by. sc ems and chest gland
in urine yellow hands, from the furry "horns" above
secretions. The single young is born this liti each ear, has the
ft aftei a gestation ol I'd days. Weaning 1 monkey has widest range ol
lakes months and. since juveniles
,'!
tin typical anyNew irld W
may also stay with parents, dose-knit Callkebus monkey Mixed
family groups of I 5 develop. features of gn in|i- ol
iluc k ! a thai ' 'I i -i uirs -14 are
speckled gra) jm th< i ai -. -loin body, usual as

mi back relatively short limbs, and members are
bushy, nonprehensile tail. not sexually
lis main loo. Is an linn mature until
Spei lallv ol /, whim 7 years old
palms. and seeds, leaves, l.uei than most
and nisei ts. I he monkeys of
ellow-handed tiii similar si/e.
tnonkev is less
.oi al than i it h< i liti tnonkev
spei ies. | louevei. ihe male
and female remain i lose at
dark, bush) tail tip
all nine-, gn 10m ea< h other,
\ anil mil
develop
t
a-
tVi it n
youngsters
tails 1 altlllv
-lav
groups
with then
underparts
pan 111- I
p to i viai s,
'RIMATES
ioaceus
in man) other American monkeys. Saguinus imp
Mm STACHE
The main color is brown, becoming ailed moustache of both males
Weeping capuchin paler on the arms, and even gra) i

>i Emperor tamarin andfemales contrasts uith the black
ted red- orgrajr-

yellow mi the face. Seeds, fruits, and
V Tail II
;: 16
small
insei
<
ts,
ii
i
.nun s,
omprise the main diet. The

espei tall) snails and
Tail 15
brown
tail fin.
body, and red-orange
weeping apui hin Ibi ms bands

i H i il
Weight Weight I6oi

in more, containing mosd) females
>
II
.ind young, with several males, bul

Social unn .
onl)one dominant male breeds. Location W 5 Social unit i
Status Low Mothers ma) look aftei each other's Status Vulnerable
offspring known as "allomothering" .
ZL I
p members keep in contact with 1 «*
a plaintive, "weeping" i ry.
Like iln othi i 5 or so capuchin Marmosets and i. mi. inns form a

iml habitually
species, the weeping has a robust mini
distinct group of about 15 America!
III III in i
build w nil relativel) short position

primate species. I he) are similar
limbs, and .1 prehensil. ii 1
1 ithei New World monk
tail. I here is no bare Inn ilillii iii bod) 1 hemistr
skin i hi the tail's have i laws rather than
underside, a* nails, and bear 2 rather
than one offspring
Identified b) its
flowing white
moustache, this
species feeds on
fruits in the wet
season, flower
net tar and tree sap in
the dry season, and Tamarins and marmosets have
insei ts, espe< tally crickets. relativel) long gestation periods
allyeai round Ii often for such small mammals, the
forms a mixed iron]) with emperor tamarin's being 140 14")
related species such as the days. I here are almost always

saddleback tamarin. Each 2 offspring, and the lather c.u 1 ies
•smallfact species responds to the other's them, as here, except when the)
al.u in i alls il .1 predatoi is are being suckled by their mother.
detected nearby.
Saimiri boUuiensis and cliu ks to disturb theii loud of

Callimico goeldii
varied, small creatures. The) ma)
Bolivian squirrel follow in the path ol other monkeys Goeldi's monkey
to obtain insei ts m theii wake. I he)
monkey aKo consume fruits and seeds In- I
Length
mature male becomes "fatted" around Ta

Length 10
26 f.'.m
the shoulders in the breeding season
W»ght2loz
Tail 15 and competes aggressivel) - the
winner mating with the most females.
Weight Hoi Location Y\\ South Social unit (inni])
Status Yulnrrablr
Location W, to 1 Sou Social unit i
Status Low A
ar. Goeldi's monkey is
target than most

No other New World monkeys form marmosets and
sin Ii l.u oc. at live in .ops as the tamarins. Its long
5 species ol squirrel monkey The) fur is black, and ii
regularly numhei In ")(>. ortasionalK has a "(

ape" ol Ion
200 or more, moving noisil) by hair on its head
i\.t\ with twin, i s and neck.
Within a squirrel monkey troop, Unlike similar
members coalesce into peer subspecies, it has jH
groups: adult males, pregnant wisdom teeth. I
females, females with \oung. and It eats Bruits,
juveniles. an individual locates
II sap and gum *~
loud, subgroup members quickly digging its jr^~~~ " £««
tail longer gather around to exploit the End. in. Mil teeth
than head make these
into bark to
and body How mv\ small
. insects,
slim tail
vertebrates such as lizards.
expands
The species forms stable.
to black.
Sqi mm n \n hi s
i groups of up to 10.
Ins. -knit
i
bushy lip
mainl) male female pans and
P
small, u hili face, n targe forehead, dark their young, and keeps to
ftp and muzzle dense vegetation such as
ii i nd ears. creeper-tangled bamboo.
MONkl.YS
long caf><
Saguinui oedipui Callithrix argentata Callithru pygmaea
a hind
Cotton-top tamarin Silvery marmoset Pygmy marmoset
__ Length
r Tail ;
Tail : 9in
10 M i
ii
Weight Weight I Weight i
mil 150 g '
Social unit ( p I'm Social unit Group/Pail
Status Tin Status Lower nsk+ Status I ,i
£L £L $L
I he long, white. Coloi is the main distinguishing I he smallest mi inkey in the
flowing fur on feature among in 15 very similar, world, a curled-up pygmx
the head crown i losel) related marmosets from south marmoset fits into a human
distinguishes this ol the Amazon rhis species has pale palm. However, it is long-lived
tamarin. found in silver-gra) fur on the back, cream) for such a diminutive mammal
an extremely yellow on the underside, and black on and may reach 12 years of age.
restricted range in the tail; the face has pink skin and I In pygmy marmoset differs from
Colombia. Like each small troop oi silvery

cars. In other marmosets m the way it eats
many marmosets marmosets, onl) one male and female gum: it gouges out 10 or more new
and tamarins, this breed. he rest are siblings, cousins,
1 holesin bark each day. scent-marks
species has a and other "helpers," who assist in them, and returns to these and older
varied diet and a "helper" earning and protecting the infants. holes at intenals to scrape up the
system ol rearing offspring, sin k\. oo/ing liquid with its long,
in whit h males and older lower incisor teeth. It also takes flower
siblings earn the very nei i. u. hints, and small creatures such
voting. In each troop of and spiders. The pygmy
a- grubs
10-12 only one male-female marmoset follows the reproductive
pair breeds; 4 out ol 5 births pattern of other marmosets, with one
are twins.The cotton-top breeding pair per troop of 5 - 1 0.
tamarin has been used in Other troop members, usually older
medical research, and offspring, are childcare "helpi rs,"
current]) there are more of w hi i i
,n i\ the two newest youngsters
these monkeys in captivity aftei the breeding male has cared for
than in the wild. them during the first few weeks.
I allithrix geqffroyi Leontopitkecui rosalia CONSERVATION

Geoffrov's marmoset Golden lion tamarin The plight of the golden lion
tamarin became symbolic of the
Length
'n 25cm consequences of forest clearance
Tail 12 I ii and has been the subject of
conservation efforts since the 1960s.
Weight
bred well
:
It in i aptivilv here, a
too
golden lion tamarin is seen using a
Location Social unit l.roup/Pair
I S
nesting box in a zoo and since the
[oao basin
Status < i in. ,ili i
ndangi I'' mid-1980s it has been re-introduced
into southeast Brazil. Although over
1 "ill ( aptive-bred tamarins and their
offspring are now living in the wild,
This tamarin weighs twice the average its situation is still
for the marmoset and tamarin group.

InI is d.ii k gia\ and the hands.
I. ii i
frngei s, and claws are long ,mA thin,

in probe into bark and in es fbi < i<
Lion's mane
grubs. Howevet some four-fifths oi
The long, silky, red-
the diet
and
sleeps
nei
,ii
is
i.u
fruit,
Ii
supplemented b\ gum
forages b) day and
night in tangled vegetation
gold head hair
of thij
met the
H
or, more often, a hole In a tree. shoulders in the
1 his m. ii moset prefei s I Inn is only one male female manner of a lion\
Secondary forest rcgrown breeding pair in the troop ol

\
appearan,
llln
,
sfii i
Ii igging or othei I its "helper" system
further threat, making
distill -bant e to pi mi.ii \ areas < ii n .u in- .i iung 2 i
iffspi nig
it vulnerable to the
of forest. It digs holes in tree In ing typii al foi the gn >u]
illegal pet trade.
bark with its long m, isors, marks sexual ai n\ it) "I iIh
ownership" with si enl from its helpel s Is in i|
peinie. il gland, and thi n n tut ns al suppressed.

intervals to si rape up the oozed gum. althi mull the)
Like other marmosets, iln- spe<
also eats fruits
onK one bleeding paii
but the other members
and insi i ts
in ea, h
also
I
ics
here is
troop,
i.nn and
do in piodiii
young until
the) form the
dominant
il e
ft
piotet i the young. pal llli I ship.
MS
MONKEYS
Mandrillus sphinx
Mandrill
Length
'
' Ion
Wetfit 82 lb
11
.il Afni .! Social unit Group
Status Vulnerable
A -< arlet nose with prominent, bony

blue flanges on either side are the
unmistakable chanu tei i-tu s of the
male mandrill The female's facial
coli n is much more subdued. She is
about a third the size ol the male,
which, at 23 in bOcm high to the A WARNING YAWN
shoulder. Ls the largest ol all monkeys. I \ 'hen threatened by a predator or approached by
Mai groups in dense

frills live in rivals, the male willyawn widely to reveal his
African rainforest, spending most of fearsome teeth, which can be 2'-i m (6.5cm) long.
their day on the ground looking for

speckled, o
fruit- and st-edv as well .is eggs and
small animals. \\ hen night
falls. the\ take to the trees for
safety. Troop- move over a
range of up ti i
_'' >
-qu.uv
miles 50 square km : they
mark their territory with
scent and defend it against
rivals. Much of what is
known about this species

comes from studies of
captive animals: in the
wild, hunted for meat, and
with its habitat being destroyed
by logging, the mandrill is
becoming in< reasingly scarce.
Bold advertisement
1 1 ith his spectacularh coloredface -
scarlet nu>< with blue flange*, andyellow
beard - the mandrill boldly deflates his identify to Life on the ground
other animals in the forest. Together with his The mandrill walks and runs on allfours - a
mauve- blue rump, these colors also announce the form of locomotion made all the more efficient by
male 5 six and display his anlity to females. having fore- and hindlhnbs of nearly equal length.
MANDRILL SOCIETY
Mandrill- usually mixed groups of about 20. which come together
live in to
form troops of many
250 individuals. There is a -triet hierarchy
as as
within the group: a dominant male
heads each group, matin? with
fertile females and fathering almost
all the infant-. Non-breeding male-
make up the lower ranks.
Male and female

The male u much larger than the female, with a
far mon alaffidjaa Sara mandrills may lay

m harems, with one mature male to 20 females.
Mother and child
The mandrill gives birth to one offapm
IS months or so. At first, the mother mil cam
the infant on her bells, but a I
mil nde !h< fa back.
Foraging party
Mandnll' all parties, gnaUuu
amsUmii) to >Mi m touJi. When it u time to
'
. dominant male will round up his
group with a J phase grunt or mar.

PRIMATES
Cercopithecus cebm torquatus and fossae pits below the cheeks. Its
Erythrocebus patas >.-.
powerful jaws and teeth easil) crack
Patas monkey De Brazza's monkey Red-capped most mils, which are held by hand.
lumps .it, a mixture of males, females,
mangabey and young. Males establish a hierarchy
T111 j ; ;: yet subordinates also mate sometimes
more often than their seniors.
Weight
Locauon ( to E tfri . Social unit Paii
Status 1
Location \\ \i
ft_
One of tin most terrestrial ol the 20 ft tSL
or so Cerzopil/ucus species, De Brazza's
monke) is one of the
also the onlj Troops of up to 90 red-capped
genus tlt.it male female pair
fi n ins mangabeys forage b) >\.i\ (bi hints
bonds. Widespread yet inconspicuous and seeds in their home range, usual!)
ovei lis wide range, marks its it along a rivet MainK terrestrial, this
territorj with ^.<li\ and scent, ye( .t species has soot) fur, a pink-gra) face,
avoids rather than challenges an)
intruders. It has blue-white upper-lip
and ( hill fin. mi(\ a thin, white thigh Papio anubii
stupe. It uses deep, booming ( alls to
communii ate, and eats main!) seeds Olive baboon

1 his is one of the fastest monkeys and hints.
when tinning. It has long, slim

"n
! .1
body, length) limbs, hands, and > Tail 1
feet, .Hid short diyiiv The white

Weight :
moustai In- .mil lie. iid contrast \\ith
the darkei face; tin- red ba< k
w liiti- Location U Social unit

( ontrasts with the liml >-- and 1 1
underside. It lives in trot ips 1 'l up Status Lowa risk
td In members, and the single Young olive baboons are tolerated

in. ilc ~i.i\non the pei i|>h(i\ to ,K 1 while in dark "bain fur." As they
.1- dei >\. di awing predators while
1 molt to adult coloration, females
the females and young hide. One of the largest baboons, and take their place at the base of the
common a< loss west and northeast troop hierarchy Males are driven
Africa, the male ma) be twi< e the oil. and must battle their
.1 lacaca fasckularis Macaca nigra female's weight. Both wa\ into another troop.
sexes have a thick
i»isfc-
Long-tailed Celebes macaque mtgBi
1 lucks Average Primate "dog"
macaque Length »
— troop si/e
01 (
100.
is Ji
asionall) over
The)
1
eat fruit,
"ii 1. Typically powerful
and doghL
baJwm i-
Tail leaves, inse< is.

. wdh a
;
I
md rwnp.
-J lizards, and
Weight Social unil I
sometimes larger
Status Endangered pre) siK h as gazelle
Location S.E \-..i
m
fawns.
ft
ft tss .TL hs= 1 he all-U. 11 k fur, \( t\ shod tail, and
homeland ol Celebes now Sulawesi
s;i\e this species the alternative name
of Celebes hlai k ape. A crest runs ><&
from tin forehead bat k ova the
crown. I sualk flat, it rises when the
animal is aroused. This species forms Papio papio varied: from tough roots to juicy
huge, mixed-sex troops of more than grubs and eggs, and sometimes farm
100, yet is generally an inconspicuous, Guinea baboon crops. Troops number up to 200,
quiet, fruit-eating forest dweller. although about in is nunc usual, with
Length _', in
several males gathering then
• Tail '
own harem of
females.
Weigh-
|ue is southeast
Asia's most common monkey, occurring
mainly in forests and m Location W Afrii ,i Social unit I
1
mds. It SatUS LuWCT n-k
climbs and swims well, spends time
on the ground, and exploits human jkJk.
habitation. I he 20 01 so mai
ire mostl) adaptable, with The male of the smallest baboon
varied dii ts. I his spa ies eats fruits spe( ics has proportionally the
i- .is well as aquatii animals, longest mane, rc.u hing almost to his
.md it forms quarrels lump Even lor a baboon, the diet is
MONkl'is
Papio w Theropithecus gelada Nasalis larvatus
Chacma baboon Gelada baboon Proboscis monkey

Length
Tail 21 33 in Tail 1; Tail 21
Weight ii -66 lb Weight 1 2 lb Weight 461b

15-30 kg
Location Souiiurn \ti u .i Social unit Group Location E Mrii .i Location S I Vsia Social unit Group
Status I -
-
Status Endangered
A JL k= 51a ttL
At birth, the young have a blue
The baboon, the chacma has
largest A close relative of baboons, the pink- \i ig the most specialized and face, dark fur. and a "normal"
a drooping snout and protruding chested gelada is restricted to the mammals, the proboscis
distim tive ol monkey nose. The coloration
nostrils. Fur color varies from yellow- windy, grassy Ethiopian highlands. monkey occupies very restricted changes and the nose grows
gray to black, paler on the muzzle. Its limited diet of grass blades, sterns, habitats near water in lowland with age. In females the
This intelligent, adaptable primate and seeds is picked by rapid, dextrous mangrove
rainforest, nose is much smaller
enjoys very fluid troop composition in hand movements as it sits and shuffles swamps, and coasts on than in the male, but it is
some parts of its range. Its wide diet along. Small groups of females and die island of Borneo. still large compared to
ranges from roots and seeds to insects young led by a The average troop is related species.
and young gazelles. In the wild, il is male may one male with 6-10
known to use took such as sticks. band into females and their
Large nose
young. The male
The proboscis monfxy's
defends his large
defining feature is its
group, honks nose. In mature males it is
loudly, bares c aid pendulous, and

his teeth, and E&. may play a role in
waves hi K&i; attracting a mate.
penis at any
aggressor.
partly
webbedjeet
TJfc"V~rtM
Semnopithecus entellus Colobus gttereza llunksand rump, and a bushy tail tip.
Each male leads a small troop of 4
Hanuman langur Eastern black and females and young,
defending his
white colobus territory with roars
Tail 27 Win and tremendous
Length 211 '/i-22 >/; i
leaps. The 3-part

Weight J till,
i
Tail 21 33 in stomach houses
gut microbes that
Lanka Weight 18 full,
Sri Social unit Gr.
break down
Status I w« : -ii i ellulose-based
Location C. and E Africa Social unit Group plant food,
WiiiiAJLA. Status Lower nsk + enabling this
species to gain
The Hanuman lansrur is found — twice as much
throughout south Asia, except lor nutrition than
rainforest areas. Coloration varies Also known as the mantled sruereza, other monkeys
from dark brown in individuals from this colobus is black aside from its from such a
tin Himalayas to pale lawn in those white face border, "veils" down its leaf-rich diet.
from Sri Lanka. Groups of females
ing ma\ be led b\ one or
•
'il al males, while othei males form trees or on the ground on its strong,
Rhinopithecus roxellana
bai In lui troops. stout limbs. Stubb) ringers pluck
Golden monkey leaves, fruits, seeds, and lichens. Large
troops ol several hundred split into
MIXED DIET Length I
bands of one male and many females
The Hanuman langui link mostl; 1 lor foraging and breeding.
on leaves, fruits, buds, and shoots.
Weight
which it digests easik in Us
compartmentalized stomach. Like
Location
main wild creatures, these monkeys 1 \ ..
Social unit 1
supplement their diet lis lit king s.di Status Vulnerable
hi cat in<4 mineral-rich soil. Troops

thai live around villages also often ttikik
benefit from leftovers and offerings
from local people, who hold the 111 i old in I. nil Ii in sis this monkes
spet n s sac nil. identifying ii with endures average winter temperatures
iln I Imilu iliii\ Hanuman. ol '
I <
< lis long tin ..ml bush)
i. nl give insulation, and it moves in
PRIMATES
Apes
Apes are mi. losesi relatives to <
A maturing young will attempt to once. Chimpanzees apparently pass
establish its own territory by singing on ustoms and technologies sot i.ilh.
i
humans. They arc similar to people not

OAOcpt Primates
5
only in appearance but also in that they
alone until ii finds ,i mate.
he orangutan is the only great
1
b\ example, rather than genetically.
ape that is solitary. A mature male Intelligence

$ufto«D€ftHaplorbini (part are highly intelligent and form complex
controls ,i large territory with deep, Apes an- extremely intelligent
FAMILIES 2 social "roups. Apes are divided into the resonant ( ailing. He has a< i ess i. . all even more so than monkeys. They
lesser apes (the gibbons) and the larger, tin females that enter his domain. appear to work through problems
he niliri great apes have well- in thesame way that humans do.
more humanlike great apes the 1
defined social groups. Gorillas live Chimpanzees, for example, use and
orangutan, gorillas, and chimpanzees. They are found in in troops "1 ">
10 i» i asionally up sometimes make simple tools, as
western and central Africa and throughout southern and in 10), consisting of several females, does at least oni population of
one dominant mature "silverback" orangutans in northern Sumatra.
Southeast Asia, mainly in tropical rainforests. Apes are
male, and possibly one or 2 other The orangutan isone example of
essentially vegetarian and mostly eat fruits, although silverbacks the sons or younger an ape that has performed several
some are omnivorous. They are threatened by loss of brothers "I the dominant male). complex tasks such as solving
Chimpanzees live in communities puzzles, using \ign language, and
their forest habitat, hunting and poaching often for their
of in 100. Although there is a learning to recognize symbols - in
skins or skulls), and capture for zoos and the pet trade. dominant male and a social research centers.
Chimpanzees were once widely used in medical research. hierarchy, individuals have almost
( omplete freedom to come and
go. Foraging occurs in small
Anatomy downward-directed, close-set groups, the omposition i
A shortened spine and a relatively nostrils. The great apis are very of which changes daily.
short, broad pelvis lower the center large: the orangutan is the largest ( chimpanzees found
ul gravity in apes, thereby facilitating arboreal mammal and the gorilla in wist Africa are
a more upright posture. Apes have mas weigh over 4 401b (200kg).
a broad chest, with the shoulder
blades at the back, which alb >w s
Social organization
.m r\c ipiii m.ilK wide range of The lesser apes form monogamous
movement in the shoulder joint. pairs. They mark their treetop
A gorilla, for example, can sii on territories with loud, musical songs
the ground and reach out in am in which the male and female Miig
dire< don to pull in different parts.
vegetation. Apes also
have .i (laltencd face,
well-developed
jaws, grasping
hands and
Int. and
t)
APES
consisting of about three-quarters of

Hylobales lar BRACHIATION
itii ital home range. ( lestation is 7- 8
White-handed gibbon months; the single i >
1
1
-| >i ing is suckled The gibbon's arm-hanging, hand-
for 18 months, is adult -i/i by 6 years, swinging method of movement is
and fully mature by 9 years. Lifespan i

ailed In. » huiioii. h saves energy,
in the wild averages 25 - 30 years. li\ maintaining momentum, using
Weight 1" 17 lb Deforestation and hunting by humans the bod) a- a pendulum. The gibbon
are the major threats. releases its grip with one hand at
the height of it- an of swing, a-
Social unit Pail ii- forward-fai ing eyes allow
Status Endangered stereoscopic, distant e-judging vision

to mother's
that help- to determine the next
A hand-hold, which ma\ be 9
3m away The small thumb
;
/i
is
It
set
The white-handed gibbon betomi - far back near the wrist and the
active shortly after dawn, whin a lingers work like a hook.
female and male "duet" to reinforce

their pair-bond. She l>< yii i> with a
arms approxin
series i ! loud, long hunt- thai
40 percent longer
Crescendo; the male responds as these
than legs
fade, with simpler, more tremulous
hoots. Each duet, repeated numerous White fringes
times, lasts 5 20 seconds at irding 1 - 1 1 Thi\ gibbon 's >hn is black
to region. Most ol this gibbon's day is and the fur around its face.
spent finding food and eating. Half hands, andje/t is white.
the diet is fruits, the rest being leaves, The rest of thejiir is
uniformly coloredfor
and flowi rs Some 15 minutes
insects,
each individual, but caries
each day is spent in mutual grooming
from cream to red, brown,
between partners. The white-handed •>r alma*! black.
gibbon rarely moves at night, resting
among tree branches or forks. .Also The feet of the lar and other
called the common or lar gibbon, the gibbons, like the palms of their
white-handed gibbon was thought to hands. have bare, leathery
make lifelong pair-bonds, but recent skinned soles for effective grip.
studies -how some serial monogamy The big toe is able to grasp in
with in casional partner changes, and opposition to the toes, so that they
even nun-monogamous groupings. can walk upright along branches.
Each pair or group defends a territory:
Hylobales syndaclylu
Siamang White-cheeked gibbon

Length J5in Length
90 Cm
«v > Tail Noni la
Weight 22 131b Weight 10
10 15 kg
Locaoon 5 i Social unti < Social unit I
Status Lower risk Status L n< onfirnM-d
g) A £. **
The largest gibbon, with a "standing'' Considered a subspecies
height of 5ft 1.5m . the siamang also of the crested gibbon
loudest i alls of the group, and until 1989. the infants,
st-knit families. The female adult females, and males
win i is dominant . male, and 1-2 "i this species have
more than 100ft
offspring rarch stra\ similar coloratii it
30m hum each other, and arc lilt . and tin "i rest" of
usualh less than Htm apart. 1 ifi II on the head.
About three-fifths of theii food intake spei ies are
is leaves, and one-third fruits, with a ished mainly by
few blossoms .mil small i reatures sue Ii geograpln : tin ( rested
gibbon in i hi -
northeast of ii.' S
BARKS AND SCREAMS Ma and & ing B
I In siamang's dark gray, clastic in Vietnam, while tin
throat skin inline- to the size of ,i white-cheeked is
grapefruit, to at t a- a resonator and in iIh -i luthwest. 1 In-
amplify its amaztngh loud calls. single young i- born

I In male's -i nam- an thought to station
di-i ' lurage other male-, while the pi n.iil ..I 7 !',
female's longer, more distinctive months and is

'
barklike sounds i- dependent on its
as-o, i.ited with territon defense. mothei Ii
'Rl MATES
Hylobates moloch Pan paniscus to 80 but is usually found in smaller

"roups, as and grooms.
it forages
Silvery gibbon Pygmy chimpanzee Sexual relations are between common
males, females, and young in various
combinations, and may be used to ease
social tensions. Females are dominant
Weight I2B> Weight L> u> m,lb and leave their family groups when
-
mature; males tend to stay.
Location SK Aa Social unit Pair Location C .VJ Social unit Group Face and fur
Status Crib. ally endangered Status r.ndane;ered
Tht lAzn uf the pygmy chimpanzee is mostly
black, even on a juvenile's fact. The
£ fur on the crown has a central
Pale eyebrows, cheeks, and beard merge The pygmy chimpanzee or bonobo I he pygmy chimpanzee is born
with the mainly silvery fur of this is only slightly smaller than the after 8 months" gestation, and
gibbon. Itssome leaves,
diet is fruits, Pan troglodytes chimpanzee (see suckled by its mother for up
and sometimes nectar and grubs. Like below but has a slimmer body
. to 3 years. The female
most other gibbons, the family group and relatively long, more slender continues to protect,
(female, male, offspring use calls to limbs. It on the
feeds chiefly groom, and share nests
defend their territory. Unlike the ground mainly on fruits and with her offspring for
white-handed gibbon (p. 133), the seeds, but also on leaves, another year or 2. The
male and flowers, fungi, eggs, and interval between births
female do ^^t~
J d<uk blue ~ small animals. This ape is about 5 years.
not "duet" *^K|k gmj/head can live in groups up i >t
together. 'Jfl K-
- for example, stripping side branches

Pan troglodytes
from a twig, which it uses to scoop VOCAL CHIMPANZEES
Chimpanzee out termites from their nest. The The chimpanzee makes more than
2 chimpanzee species are our closest 30 distinct calls including the pant-
living relatives, and their intelligence, hoot shown right which consists of .
Tail None range of emotions, and communication shrieks and roars that can be heard
Weight 1.6-130 lb and learning skills have up to 1 Vt miles (2km) away. It is used
1
made them valuable m many situations and is the most

to animal trainers, common adult sound. It is
-ocaoon \\ Social unit Group
and
'
collectors, thought to identify the caller

Status Critically endangered researchers. They within its community and solicit
are alsi killed for information from other members.

* the bushmeat
'
trade.
Chimpanzees live in communities of Facial features
15-1 20. Subgroup composition varies The chimpanzee uses a wide ninety
almost hinnh for activities such as uf i \pit ssions, clearly zisihte on the
ban skin on
hairless facial area. In particular
grooming, feeding, traveling, and
face darkens '
\iblt. protrusite tips
defending the territory. This last task with age to make grimacelike "smiles"
is usually carried out by adult male
that actually signify- fear.
parties, who may attack and kill strav,
i lump- from other communities. Musi

daylight hours arc spent eating - sparse black
ni.unK and leaves, but also

Bruits hair over
flowersand seeds. Raiding p. inn-- most of

body
sometimes cooperate to kill and eal Each adult chimpanzee builds a
animal piv\ such as monkeys, new. individual tree nest each
birds, and small antelopes. Social night, for sleeping. Rarely an old
bonds ni.n last years, but there longer renovated or reused. The
nest is
than legs
are no long-tei m male female chimpanzee bends over and inter-
bonds for reprodm turn he I twines many branches to make a
single young rarer) twins firm, leafy platform, usually
born aftei a gestation 10- 33ft 3 -10m above the forest
period of 8 months, is fed, floor, away from ground-based
knuckles
carried, and groomed !>\ il- predators. Infants generally sleep
used for
mother for 4 years li also learns
>
walking in their mothers' nests until they
her feeding techniques. Chimpanzees are about 5-6 years of age.
not onlv use tools but also make them
APES
In largest living primates, gorillas small, stable groups of 3-20 with

Gorilla gorilla
I
.in- day-ai tive forest dwellers thai feed strong bonds between the silverbai k
NERVOUS BEHAVIOR
Western gorilla on fruits, leaves, stems, and seeds, j> dominant in. lie- .mil the limalcs with
well .in .1 few small creatures such as offspring, tin- western gorilla uses a
termites. At night the) bend trei twigs wide range "I fat ial expressions, bod)
and hi.iiu hes tu tut in a gestures, and sounds to communii ate,
sleeping nest. including whimpers, grunts, rumbles

Living in ill contentment, and alarm barks. Its
home range ol 2,000 I. 1 50 ai res

800 1.800 hectares) may overlap
with neighboring groups but is not
.K tivdv defended. The young i*
single
born after a gestation of 8 Wi months.
It clings to the mother's bell) for 4-6 When nervous, gorillas ma)
months, then rides on her shoulders "yawn" above he) usuall)
I
or back. chews vegetation at

It fust avoid danger by walking quietly
4 months and is weaned ,\ yeai I
',
S. in single file into thick forest
tei med "silent flight." In ai tive
SILVERBACK defense the silverback barks and

///, adult malt gorilla (i almo
st.ues. II the threat persists, he
male, and has a tall

'
may charge see panel below .
and a "saddlt " ol
CONSERVATION
The main threats to western gorillas
are slash-and-burn clearance of
hunting
their forest habitat, illegal
for the commercial bushmeat trade,
and tropin poaching. Almost all
gorillas in zoos and parks belong to
this species, but reintroductions of
captive-bred individuals into the

wild are rarely attempted, partly
due to the gorilla's complex, close-
knit social life. Habitat conservation
mainly remains the long-term priority.
black fur
beringei
Eastern gorilla or jump kicking. A female who has

bred, is unlikely to transfer to another
male unless her original mate is
killed. The offspring remains with its
mother until her next birth, after

about I vrais. Some eastern gorillas
attract tourist income and receive
]in hi i tion. but others are at
Status ( ni'i a continued risk from poaching.
£1. MtL Gorilla groi p mountain subspei ies ol

/ / up /.. tfi usually
tstern gorilla has long, shaggy
Previously considered a subspecies of fur to retain bod) warmth at If barking does not deter an
- 'm ,
.
brotlu i
wfather
the western gorilla, this spet ies altitudes of up to 1,200ft 1 atlac kei sec panel above the .
ami kwi, 'ting in a

includes eastern lowland gorillas
multi-mali
1
'mi i„i. Onlv the face, silverback may begin to hoot. He
'
and one or mil, ,i . hands, and feet and the then stands upright, beats his
more subspecies ol mountain gorillas male's chest lack hair. ihist with cupped hands the bare-
sin h as Gorilla beringei beringei Each . skin amplifies the sound . and
group roams a home rangi i il throws vegetation. II this tails, he
I. 2,000acres 100 800
I in. iv charge with a huge roar, and
In tares ( whi( h, apart from a central . hand-swipe or knock over and
core area. m.i\ overlap with ncigh- bite the invader. _
" groups. Main loods are leaves.
shoot: and stems, especially, bamboo;
also ti iiits. roots, soli bark, and fungi.
( )( i asion.illv .mis are si ooped up and
swallowed quiekh before the) bite. At
dusk the group settles to rest tin-
adult maleson the ground, mail fi

-
and young sometimes in nests in trees.

Iai male shares a nest with her
li ti
( in n in offspring. The dominant

if I
1
1
in k lathers most ol all young in
tin group. I li gams the attentii I
ret eptive femali s « ith mo( k feeding,

hoots, i hest-beating, thumping plants,
PRIMATES
"Person of the forest"

Pongo pygmaeus CONSERVATION The male orangutan ithuh
Bornean orangutan Although the orangutan is

in Malay
-non of the forest"
looL\ strikingly
protected by law. infants are still
different from the female, with
ii 1.4m captured and sold illegally as pets
large cheek pads (u huh grow
Weight 88 1751b Projects to rehabilitate rescued
bigger as t/ie anhnaU age) %
H) B0ttg orangutans adults .is well as a long heard and moustache,
juveniles have a good success and a hanging throat
rale, but some animals find it pouch. He also has Ion

Location S F. Asia Social unit lruii\ Hiiial arm uhich fiangs
difficult to readjust to life in their hair,
Borneo
Status Kndangcrrd natural habitat - and in an) * ase like a cap<
arms an
this rapidly being destroyed.
A
is
llu orangutan is very much a tree-

dwelling animal, feeding, sleeping,
and breeding in the forest canopy.
with uiih males occasionally coming
to ground. It spends most of the day
looking for and eating fruits and other
food, and at night it builds a sleeping
platform by weaving branches together.
The female gives birth in a treetop
and the tiny infant clings to its
nest,
mother as she clambers around the
canopy. The pair will stay together now led to 2 distinct species being
until the youngster isabout 8 years old. recognized: the Bornean and the
orangutans live in widely scattered Sumatran Pongo abeliti. Loss of habitat
communities - probably determined presents the main threat to both species
by the availability of food. The \ are as their forest homelands are destroyed
mainly solitary but may meet up with by logging and tire, h is
others at fruit trees, and adol< estimated that Bornean
females may travel together for 2 or 3 orangutans now number
days. M\ are aware of neighboring 12.000-13.000. while
males from their roaring "long-calls." only J.000-5.000
Until fairly recently orangutans were Sumatran orang-
considered to be a single species - utans survive.
Pongo pygmaeus. Genetic research has
s
*3g-\ strong, grasping
-•& hands
r ,.
Arboreal ape
1 1 ith its long arms,
spanning w
mdjtd thai can
grasp branches like hands. this
male orangutan i\ well adapted to

lift in the tnetops. Its limbs are also
extremely Jlexible. uith u-rist. hip. and

shoulder join t\ allowing a greater range
of movement than in the other great apes
FOOD FROM THE FOREST

Fruits are the favorite food of orangutans,
hut they will also eat other parts of plants, as
1 well a^ honey, small animals such as lizards,

termites, nestling birds, and eggs.
Family group
A mother and her offspring
forage together in U
its and
Eating habits
*
i usi thur hands 'Iff.
i
prepan
/. stripping
plants and peeling

ANTEATERS AND RELATIVES
FHTtUM
ANTEATERS
Chordata ANTEATERS, SLOTHS, WD
AND
VRMADLLLOS now
RELATIVES
CLASS Mammalia collectively known as xenarthrans; previously TERMITE MEAL
ORDER Xcnarthra
called edentates arc among the strangest After breaking into a termite mound
of mammals
appearance. Although the
in
using the curved dam on its front feet,
FAMILIES 4 the giant anteater gathers termites with

3 famines bear no physical resemblance to
stick) tongue.
SPECIES 29
each other, they all have unusual joints in
the backbone, a small brain, and reduced
dentition (anteaters have no teeth at all). Armadillos and
anteaters are mainly insectivorous; sloths eat leaves, shoots,
and fruits. Xenarthrans are found in a variety of habitats
from South America to the southern USA.
ANATOMY
Xenarthrans are unique
in that they have special
articulations called
xenarthrales on the
vertebrae of the lower
back. These provide
extra support, which is
especially useful to armadillos HEAD SHAPES

when burrowing Additionally, The elongated head
anteaters arc characterized by a of anteaters (far left)
long, tubular snout: armadillos contrasts with the short,
have a protective, armorlike rounded head of sloths SPECIAL CLAWS

covering of hardened skin on I he armadillo \ Sloths ham highly modified
their head. back, sides, and limbs; head (tenter) is inter- hands andfeet with long,
flattened
sloths have a short, rounded head mediate in length and is curved claws, which are ideal
face
and long, coarse fur. ANTEATER \RM Mill I ( i
protected by bom plates. for their totally arboreal life.
Choloepus didactylus Bradypus torqualus CONSERVATION

Southern two-toed Maned three-toed Sloths are entirely tree-dependent - _! <tr
''
i
and cannot race away when loggers
sloth sloth
^ appear, so in Minn- areas the) are

carefull) captured before the forest
Length 18 -'"in
« 50cm is Felled. The sloths are marked for

Tail Tail 1
J ,ii future reference, measured,
"
1
weighed, and sexed. Other useful
Weight Weight
data is collected, including blood
:
samples for genetic studies, to

Social unit Individual Location K South Animi-.i Socol unit I
iiu rease our knowledge of these still

Status I ncoi Status I -i litde-understood mammals. Then
*L
1 his species has the typk al sl< ith's small most other mammal dark mane
head, and cars, and sin. ill tail
tin) eyes gh it a low bod)
i sj.
hidden in the fur. which contrasts with temperature of jusi

the large bod) and powerful limbs. above 86°F 30°C . Its main
Algae, mites, ticks, beetles, and even defense is to sta\ still and
moths live in the coarse outer coat, unnoticed or to lash out with
which is longer, darker, and manelike lis foi midable < laws. Alter
around the bead. neck, and shoulders. "i months' gestation, one
The underfill is line, dense, mv\ pale. offspring is born, weighing
The maned three-loerl sloth eats the about 9o/ 250g . It clings to
leaves, buds, and soft twigs ol a lew its mother's abdomen with its
Lime's two-toed sloth has _' hook- forest trees, notabl) Cecropia. It comes well-formed, hook-shaped
clawed toes mi each front fool Inn in the ground onl) to defecate, or to claws. I he young sni klcs for
Imi eai h real one. Its oarse fur isi move another tree if it cannot
tn up to 4 weeks and after weaning
gray-brown, palei on the lace, but, travel through the brant lies. On the sta\s with her, being arried and i
it ma)
like othei sloths, be tinged ground the sloth drags itsell along l>\ Ic.ii ning feeding patterns, for
green b) algae growing on the hairs. its long i in mgei front legs and another 6 months.
It eats a typical sloth's diet of leaves i laws. Sni prisingly, it can swim well.
and fruits and, in common with all In addition to physu al slowness,
its
Wrong-way ft r
sloths, solitary, moves extremel)
is the sloth's muscles are small and ham are angtid "lift" in the OppOSitt
slowly,and descends to the ground weakfoi its overall bod) size, and ilnn turn t» most mammals, »<» they hang dou-n
only to defecate aboul once a week . evi ii us metabolism is slower than ftoth is oi its normal moated positim
A\ HATERS AND RELATIVES
Mn inn up/iaga tridai tyla

Giant anteater
ANTS' EYE VIEW
This anteater rips open ant nests
and termite mounds with its big-
lawed front feet, and thin uses its
Dasyptu novemcinctm
Nine-banded
armadillo
5
>
i
1 J ..,
Tail 25 15 in tongue, which can protrude more

Length •
1
f
Weight tM-8hlb
'.1 11
than
The tongue
2fl 60< in
covered with
is
.
minute, backward-pointing spines

to take its prey.
Tail'l
21
V.i-I8ui
Ban
ft.
Location
bnerii ..
O ntr.il ! South Social unit
Status \nlii. rabli

In. 1
1
kIii i
and sticky saliva, to whit

pre) adhere,
termites then repair the nest.
["he remaining
li tun
Location s
>I s \ \|, .,.
Weight 5
t
Vj- 41b
Individual
1
Caribbean '
aC jlm. Status Locallv
The giant anteater has a long and and night, this species wanders its It sleeps in a hollow or in the shelter s.
tubular snout that widens to a small linine range, which may cover up to ill bush, its tail draped over its head
face with tiny eats and eyes. With its in square miles 25 square km . and body. This species is threatened The most commonly seen armadillo.
massive front legs and smaller rear depending on the availability of food. by hunting, and habitat destine timi. this species has 8 ID bony bands
legs, it walks with an ambling gait, around its middle, which allows some
black, .Jul, -niitm, I
protecting its large front i laws Narrow body and bushy tail flexibility. The bony armor and
.iiifn along null 'til.
from wear by walking / | ani,, tin has coarse, long fia on til leathery skin a mi for one-sixth ol
narrow body. /t<
the total weight. Like most armadillos,
on its knuckles
Active day it digs an extensive burrow system.
marking I
It takes most foods, from ants and
>/i\h\. i
birds to fruits and roots, and is solitary

yet ma) share a burrow with others of
its kind. Offspring are near!) always
quadruplets - 4 of the same sex.
Cyclopes didactylus Tamandua tetradactylu Chaetophractus villosus
Silky anteater Southern tamandua Large hairy armadillo
¥
Length J
Tail 1 6 in Tail :>
in,,,,
Weight S 1"../ Weight 7 Vi-I9lb Weight J
1.5 •
•
i i j lib.
Social unit IiiiIimiIii.i! Social unit Individual Location^ South \mcrica Social unit Iiu1im<Iu;i1
Status I iiiimfirmi'd Status Vuli.. Status t ii. oiUirmcd
*L JL
T i V^Lx
Also called the lesser anteatei. the
southern tamandua has a long,
narrow head and sparsely haired,
prehensile tail. It climbs well and
T P&
'.~.4^mKI
*£$
K
V*
L
likfcA
^ iL'
^*
HH
r'J9
leeds both in the branches and on the
ground, breaking into the nests of
ants, termites, and bees. It is ,u rive Im
When
rears
threatened, a
bat ks against a trunk
up onto its
tamandua
hindlegs. props
c k. ^\Jl
^tfS^^^f*;
•o*. *
*«
8-hour periods, da) oi night. A single and holds
months'
itself up b) its tail, it-
iLz^^SM ^v
offspring is born aftei t ')
pov 1 1 lul front leys outstretched.
gestation and rides on die mother. In this position ii can slash mil at
l,ni, ii bod) ils attackei with die long, sharp

Iripe Black vest (laws on its front feet.
li,, tamandua is pah ,,!!,,;, with [Tiis armadillo ol arid habitats has
Solitary and nocturnal, this anteatei ong, i n.use hairs projei ring between
ha- lung, dense, line fur, usualh thi 18 i >i -I ' distini bands
i
bony, i >l
sides, inn/ Ic
smoky gray with a silver sheen and a skin-covered ai moi on n- body
variable brown stripe mi he side "1 I Si urn 7 oi 81 lands are hinged,
the body. Specialized foi arboreal life, allowing the armadillo to roll nuo a
it grips strongl) with its feel and ball and protei I Us softt i. wlm
hooklike > laws, suppi n ted b\ its ii.iwn-lui red undi i sidi In summer,
prehensile tail, wlm h is bare on the il is main!) not turnal and eats varied
underside near the tip. Ii breaks open in. ill prey, in .in gi ubs i" rodents. In
tree-am nests ami lie ks nut the ants vi mil i .I. n\ it) is main!) In da) and
with its long, saliva-coated tongue. the die! includes more plain matter.
PANGOLINS
Zaedyus bod) armor lor protection: or it tail, and band along tin- lower edges
pic/iiy Priodontes maximus
wedges itself into a burrow with il^ it the plates. The especially large
Pichi armor facing outward. This small Giant armadillo third front claw is used to rip up soil
armadillo digs a short tunnel for lor small food items - mainly termites.
Length 1
-htltti and cats various small inse( IS, ants, worms, spiders, small snakes,
worms, other invertebrates, and and lizards. I he front claws also dig a
sometimes also carrion. burrow which the giant armadillo
in
Woghi'-.ii. shelters l>\ day It feeds in an area for
2 i weeks, then moves on. like most
Locations South America Social unit Individual Locaoon \ other armadillos, it shows liule sot ial
Status Lndingerrd
or territorial behavior. The gestation
period is 4 months, and the 1-2
offspring are weaned b) weeks and
an- sexualh mature b\ 12 months.
When threatened, the pichi By far the largest armadillo, this
squats down and draws
under
its
y species has
hinged plates over
11-13 slightly flexible.
and -4
rounded
sharps lawed feet its its body, 3

body, relying on its wide, low, domed over its neck. The long, tapering
tail i^ likewise armored. Thi
main bod) color is
a burrow to shelter in by day. It also brown, with a pale
Cabassous centralis
has a long. sti< ky tongue to lick up yellow-white head.
Northern naked- termites and ants in the manner of an
anteater. In common with other
tailed armadillo armadillos, it is mainly silent, perhaps
growling when threatened, as it tries
tc > dig ground so only

itself into the
the armored upper body is exposed.
Weight -
Occupying a w ide range of habitats,

this big-eared armadillo has large
i laws, especially the middle forefoot
i law. Ic ir digging up prey and making
PANGOLINS
PHYLUM Chordata SIMILAR in shape to armadillos and
CLASS MammaJia anteaters, pangolins are covered in

overlapping scales, which act as armor
order Pholidota
and camouflage. Pangolins lack teeth: t
FAMILIES 1 Manidae'
prey ants and termites is collected
SPECIES 7
with the tongue, and powerful
muscles in the stomach "chew"
the food. Pangolins are found in southern Asia and
Africa, in habitats ranging from forest to savanna.
Manis penladactyla belly When rolled into a ball. Manis temmincki Similar in most respects to the
no soft areas are exposed. The Chinese pangolin see left this species .
Chinese pangolin thin tongue, as long as ltiin 40cm . Ground pangolin up- open termite mounds and ants'
scoops up ants and termites. he I nests. In nil in trees and on the ground,
Length 2 Length J
strongly prehensile tail and long law ( wiih iis large claws, and licks up the
Tail in make this pangolin surprisingly agile Tail 16 -'"in occupants. This pangolin shows little
in trees and a powerful burrower. territorial behavior. The 1 2 young
We,ght Weight
are born after a gestation of about
**
l
120 days.
.ocauon I Social unit individual Locaoon E i> southern Social unit In.li.uiu.il
Africa
Status 1 Status Lower nsi ^^*
m£ AA. m ft -*^_
Bony, pale or yellow-brown scales, up

to 2in 5( in ,n n iss, 1 1 iver all pans ,,|
the ( Ihinese pangi ilin r\i ept fi >i n-

siioui. cheeks, throat, inner limbs. .m<l
RABBITS. HARES. AND PIKAS
RABBITS, HARES,
All HOUGH THESE SMALL to medium-sized
AND FEEDING
PIKAS
gnawing animals are similar to rodents in Lagomorphs are herbivorous
many ways (for example, both groups have and genei.ilK cat grass and other
succulent plants. Matter that cannot
large incisors), they differ in several respects, be digested initially is expelled in the
including the presence of a second set of form of a moist pellet and eaten,
usually straight from the anus. It
upper
and a lighter skull structure. incisors is then held in the stomach to be
Rabbits, hares, and pikas

termed "calling hares" on (also mixed with other food for second
digestion before being excreted as PLANT-EATERS
account of their varied vocalizations) the lagomorphs a dry pellet. In this way, most food All lagomorphs. such as this
are among the most hunted of all animals. Their natural travels through the digestive swem American pika, spend much
twice, enabling the animal to derive of their time feeding. During
predators are carnivores and birds, and the) are also
maximum nutrition horn its the summer, the pika also
hunted by humans for sport, food, and their fur. .All fills prO< ess is gathers mid stores food for
species are terrestrial and are found worldwide d refection. winter, creating a "haystack"
of driedfoliage out
(except the West Indies, the southern parts of rocky shelter.
South .America. Madagascar, and several

islands of Southeast Asia) in habitats ranginj AERIAL BOXING
from arctic tundra to semidesert. During the mating season, fights between
a frequently. The front feet are used
for boxing, and the powerful backfeet are
ANATOMY usedfor kicking. Males battle for access

females, and a female will drive off a male
to
The physical features of rabbits and hares reflect their ne< if s/i, if not ready to mate las shob
to perceive clanger and elude predators. Large ears provi
excellent hearing, eyes positioned high on each side of
head give almost 360-degree vision, and elongated back
legsenable impressive running speeds - hares can read
up 35mph (56kph L'nlike rodents, rabbits and hi
to .
have tails that are small and spherical, and they have
well-furred feet with hair on the soles, which providi
grip when running. Pikas tend to hide in crevices
burrows when threatened, and are more mousi
like in appearance, having legs of approxii
the same length (they cannot run as swifthjj

1 ties also have shorter, rounded ears and
visible tail. All spe( ies have slitlike nosi
that can be closed completely. L'nlike
most mammals, the females of soi
species arc larger than the males
u premolars
tooth
diastema I
lower incisor
RABBIT SKULL
em
Lagomorphs ha
.. incisor teeth.
'
developed, continually
Behind tin uppei in
REPRODUCTION
• mil fuur of smaller mason "peg In th \
"). Although lagomorphs are humed intensely
There is a large gap between the incisors and b\ main predators, the) are able to maintain
premolars m both jaws, called tin diastema. health) population levels through a big
reproductive ause o\ ulation is not
rate. Be<
cyclical but is instead triggered in response
FLEXIBLE NECK lo i opulation, finales ( an become preg.uil
In tin lagomorphs, ><// directl) aftei giving birth.Some species may FEEDING TIME
grooming is important even onceive a second liner before giving birth
<
. lit/nut^';
mutual grooming bt two n to the first Rabbits, the most prolifi) breeders birth in their but i
individuals is ran. Gnat ol all die lagomorphs. an produc e litters ol (

all bans are hot <
flexibilit) m the mil. up to _' young limes annually Furthei mote.

I 1
1
grown!. I
this European rabbit is rabbits are sexually mature al a your
iihli in rotate its head 1 1 ii
European rabbil is able to conceive when hidden durvig
it
tile day but
through 180 degra i only 3 moiiihs old . and the gestation period 'her al
allows them in reach may be very short the Florida cottontail
tin tm mi ilu back. rabbil gesiales for as lull, as 26 days visits to nursi them.
RABBITS HARES. AND PIKAS
Ochotona prim ip\ Ochotona curzoniae family occupies each burrow system
and members are sociable. In some
American pika Black-lipped pika areas this pika is so numerous .is to be
considered a pest. Females i.ui have
Length
up to 5 litters nt 8 young per year.
which are eared lor In both parents.
Weight I 607
Social unit Group
Found at high altitudes, this pika relics During late summer eat h pik.i This pika is sandy brown above and
on a talus - an area of piled, broken gathers grasses, herbs, and other dull yellow-white on the underside,
mi ks oinged by alpine meadows and greenery in .1 "hay pile" near its with a rust-hued patch behind the ear
similai low, grass) vegetation. At each burrow. This serves as a readily and a dark nose and lips. An extended
talus, solitary pikas use whistling c alls at 1 essible winter food reserve when
to defend territories that alternate snow < overs the area. I'ikas are
.a m— the an-a In gender, giving a careful to choose and store those
Romerolagus diarj Pentalagus furnessi
female male patchwork. A tspical plants th.it decompose
territory 6.400 square
is It 1111 isi slowly. Volcano rabbit Amami rabbit
lil in square m and has .
Length 9 Length
a foraging area and a
den in a burrow Tail /i- 11/4 in
or rock cm i< e.
Weight Weight I
Egg-shaped mammal
trika ha*
Location ( :
Ma Soaal unit lixtnidual/Croup
a rounded outline
resembling an eg Status t niianecnsd Status hndangrrrd
The fur is
varying shades 1*1 M* *+

of brown.
Restricted to open pine forests on Found only on 2 small Japanese
volcanic peaks near Mexico City, the islands, this rabbit's many distinctive
volcano rabbit lives in groups of 2 5. features mi lude an all-Mat k 1 tat,
Brachylagus idahoensis Sylvilagus aquation 1
Ii has very short, rounded ears for a pointed snout, small eyes and ears.
Pvsrmv rabbit Swamp rabbit rabbit, relatively small back legs and mu\ short, long-nailed limbs for
feet, and communicates by means of digging nest-holes. Nocturnal in habit.
Length 9 1 1 1/2 in
penetrating whistles. Its diet is mainly it eats forest plants such as pampas
Tail 1/2 lui the tall, dense grass leaves, sweet potato runners,
! 5 , in
grass, in which bambmi sprouts, nuts, and bark.
Weight I602
I !
loa/ of I
it also makes Sin and breeding habits are little
ial
yellow Hfei its burrow. known, although it communicates by

Location W USA Social unit Individual Location si 1 s \ Social unit 1 .11. up and I means of clicking sounds. The female
Status Lowcl n.k Status Uk.iIK
guard has 2 litters of _' 3 VOUnE each year.
hair*
The world's smallest rabbit, ihis arid-
adapted species digs a large burrow

system and feeds on big sagebrush
and closely related spet ies. I In long,
silky fur on its back is gray in winter
and brown in summer; the abdomen
is whitish. Unusually for a rabbit, it
<limbs well into bushes to feed, and,

although solitary, n also makes pika-
like whistling < alls to warn neighl k u s
"I approaching predators. Breeding rabbit both form with a reddish-

.S't7; ilagu $ florida n it s
details are poorly known the gestation topped while tail. In summer it feeds
period ma\ be 26 28 days, and litter Eastern cottontail on lush green vegetation; bark and
sl/e 8, u IthI Always associated with water, in twigs predominate in winter. (Jroups
up to 3 marshes, creeks, and pools, the swam] have established dominance
l"' r ' "'"
litters pei f% '
rabbit has bla< k to rusty brown fur. hierarchies. Average
It swims well and readily especially Litter size ranges from
Weight
if threatened, and feeds by day 01
J
"i in Ninth America
onij
night mi sedges, rushes, and other to 2 in South
Locaoon s Canada
aquatit plants, including swamp | to Social unit t
p America.
.i.
bamboos Arundirmria . The swamp X South Am. n. . i. Europe Statu!
rabbit li\es in small groups, usually

controlled by
male, and builds an above-ground
.1 dominant territorial ft? m fl jl ^
nesi 1 'I pi. un stalks and stems. The Widely distributed in main habitats
lines the breeding nest with over its and introduced
natural range,
her fur, in the typical rabbit manner to new areas of North America and
I he average littei size is I Europe, the cottontail has the typical
RABBITS. HARES. AND ITKAS
.\Jso t ailed the luisih rabbit after its

Otyctolagus cuniculus Caprolagus hispidm
coarse, dark brown fur. the hispid
European rabbit Hispid hare hare lives in tall "elephant grass"
country feeding by night on thi
I
Length 1
shoots and roots of the grass. It has

Till Tall I -"/on sin .n ears, and its back It l;s are not
much larger than the front 1
Weight Weight
2 I
li does not bill row but shekels in
-in fai < vegetation, living alone or

location Eui i| m \ \\ Social unit Group Location s \.i, :
Social unit Indi\Sdual/l*air
as a female-male pair. Repri h Ii
Mm .1 \u i
Status ( ommon Status Endangered information is scant but the suspected

litter size is small for a lagomorph,
Juk. perhaps 2 5. with 1 or possibly }
litters produced each year.
Originally from southwest Europe and "fhe rabbit's legendary powers of

perhaps northwest Afrit a. ibis species reproduction include a gestation
has been introduced to many other period of 28 i i days, and. in Lepus europaeus hares gadier in courting pairs i
and has hed severe pest

rea< good conditions, a litter size of up in I. He winter and spring. At this time.
status in some, devastating farmland to 8 average 5 . with as main .is European hare "boxing" may occur berween rival
and local wildlife. It is the ancestor of 6 litters a year The newborn are males or unreceptive females and
Length
all breeds of domestic rabbits. helpless \\ ith eyes i losed, and for rejected males.
Xm turnal and ver\ sociable, the warmth the mother lines the Tail 2 The young litter
European rabbit lives in colonies and nursery chamber with tin grass, size 1-10) are
Weight
figs complex tunnel systems warrens moss, and fur plucked from her 5
reared in a shallow-
with main entrances and emergem \ own belly She visits to su< kit- depression form)
Social unit Indi\-idu:il
exits. It eats mainly them for only a few minutes daily. in grass or
grass, herbs, twigs, I
i
bushes.
and some li.uk
Senior females nest i
the main warren but

lower-ranking This hare has a conspicuous tail.
mothers ma\ dig black on top and white bell tw. The
separate short gray ears have a black patch near i
burrows siups the outer tip. This species has been 1
for their young. introduced from Europe and West

Asia to many other regions, and *
Buff patches adapts to open woods, bush, mixed

Tin European rabbit is bit[J colored farmland, and even scrubby semidesert.
betueai the shoulders, and has a pale buff Its diet is grass, herbs, bark, and
eye-ring, inner limb \tafaees. and underside. rarer) carrion. Nocturnal and solitary.
Lepus californicus Lepus arcticus

WINTER COAT
Black-tailed Arctic hare flu An tie hare's thick winter coat
is almost pure white with black ear
jackrabbit 6l
provides both warmth and
tips. It
Tail ; .
camouflage in snow and ice. In
most regions the spring molt
Weight'
produces the gray-brown summer
coat, although in some areas this is
Weight I Location V ( anada, Social unit Variable
also white. The timing of the molt
Status (
ommoi depends on the number of daylight
Social unit Indi\idual
hours, detected by the eyes and then
A controlled via the body's hormonal
endocrine system.
JL The Arctic hare sometimes confused
with a similar white-in-winter spet ii 5,
I his Iran, long-legged hare's hugi the snowshoe hare, Lepus americanui is
ears (up to 6in/ 15 cm detect the hunt a true tundra species. It can survive in
sounds o! predators, .mil also an open, treeless habitat through the
rid the both ol ex< ess Ii mg and bittei cold si asi in Prefi rred
warmth in the hot summers sites .ue mi k\ outi lops oi hillsides
of its generally arid habitat. with crevices and crannies lor shelter.
It prefers su< culent grass .mil his h.m iii.i\ be solitary but.
I
herbs, but < an survive b\ IK in winter, and uniquel)

ibbling wood) twigs dm ing among lagomorphs, n shows
winter in drought. < )ne ol "lliw king" behavior in whit h large
the speediest groups ' 'I up io ;i ii i
gather, move,
lagomoi ])hs. ii run, and change direction almost as
.in run at
i
I In diei is a varierj ol low-
i'lmpli "itikph . growing grasses, herbs, and shrubs,
I he i oraplex mi hiding In Inns, mosses, and si
I
lurtship parts (In an in dwarl willow
i
it
involves th< However, these opportunistii hares

pan jumping, in.i\ also rat small animals n largei
< hasing, and . .ii ii. in I )ui ing the aggressive spi ing
lighting Courtship, die male follows tin I' in. ill
RODENTS
RODENTS large.
rHTLUH Chordata Representing over 40 percent of all SENSES

class Mammalia mammal species, rodents form a successful Most rodents enjoy acute
order Rodentia and highly adaptable order. They are found senses of smell and
hearing, which, in
worldwide (except Antarctica) in almost every combination with their
habitat: lemmings, for example, favor the cold »ng and numerous
Ii
touch-sensitive whiskers,
climate of the arctic tundra, while gundis provide them with a
CLASSIFICATION NOTE long uhlskrry
prefer the heat of African desert regions. Despite heightened awareness of their
Some manunalogists prefer surroundings. Nocturnal species have HIGHLY TUNED
to divide the order Rodentia the variety of lifestyles and habitats exhibited larger eyes than diurnal species to I \ ell-developed sense organs
into 2 suborders & iurognathi
and H\ -ii 'n ognathi ;
while
by members of this order, there are main maximize the amount of light received are present in most rodents
by the retina (the greater the amount
others advocate a division into
I
nil. irders di Lined by jaw
common characteristics: most rodents are of light the brighter and clearer the
and mar contribute to the
adaptability of spt
Si iuromorpha
squirrel-like n dents .
small quadrupeds with a long tail, clawed image Rodents communicate by smell as this brown rat. The large
Myomorpha odors are secreted from scent glands
rodents and Caviomorpha
mouse-like
feet,long whiskers, and teeth (especially the car* and eyes, elongated
.
on the body) and by an extensive snout, and long, whisker*

cavy-likc rodents
case of reference, the latter
1
long incisors) and jaws specialized for gnawing. range of vocalizations.

division is used in this book. Although generally terrestrial, some species
Squirrel-like rodents
are arboreal (such as tree squirrels;,
Mouselike rodents
burrowing (mole-rats, for
Cavy-Iike rodents
instance, live almost wholly
m pp.15? '/
underground), or
semiaquatic (such as beavers). Some
species, such as the woodchuck, are
solitary, but most are highly social and
form large communities.
ANATOMY
While the an, Homy of rodents is more uniform than
that of most other mammals, some characteristics.
such as a compact body and a long tail and whiskerjM
are shared by many species. The front foot usually 3
has 5 digits although the thumb ma\ be vestigia]
or absent the back foot has 5
. i digits, and the i
method of locomotion is generally plantigrade.

Different species use their tail to perform distinct
(unctions: beavers have a Hat. wide tail for propulsion
when swimming: the Eurasian harvest mouse tises its
prehensile tail when climbing in long grass. In some

spec its. part of the tail skin, or the tail itself, will
break off if caught, enabling the animal to escape.
Because indent anatomy is more generalized than
that ill other mammals, they can adapt easily and
are able to thrive in main different habitats.
temporal temporal eye socket
JAW MUSCLES
\ masseta mas tew I Rodents have an enlarged
(upper part) (deep part) chewing muscle (the masseter),
SQl IRREL-LIKE CAYYLIKE which permits hath a virtual
and afiru ard-and-hackuard
motion oj the lowerjaw. In *i/uiin/-/iki rodents, I he upper part
lassetei reaches tht hack of the skull, the deep part extends
malic arch, and the temporal muscle is matt. This LARGE INCISORS
i) stem allow} a strung jura aid motion when biting. In moii*cliL The 4 huge incisors (seen here in a marmot) distinguish
indent*, tin deep pint of the masseter extendi onto the upperjaw, rodents from most other mammal orders. These teeth are
tht uppei part is locatedjbrward, and the temporal is large. I hi* long, curved, and grow continually. Only the front surface
masseter I masseter I
pn mil- g a turn. In canlike rodents, the deep of these teeth has enamel, however - the back surface
(uppei pari part of tin massetei extend* injront a/ the eye. and the temporal of softer dentine, which is eroded by constant
consists
MOUSELIKE is tmalL 'litis give* a strongforward bite. gruming. This ensure* that the teeth remain *harp.
RODENTS
FEEDING OMNIVOROUS DIET

Some rod: a
REPRODUCTION
Most rodents have a plant-based diet that may omnivorous: they feed The high birth rate anions; rodents enables them
include leaves, fruits, seeds, and roots. However, on both plants and SBw'^f to maintain stable population levels in adverse
mail) species have alternative diets: water rats animal*, depending on conditions. As a result, predation and human
and the wood mouse eat snails; rice rats take availability. This Crete Wj- -^ ,» ^î controls (such as poisoning have litde effect on the
young turtles: muskrats eat clams and crayfish; \piny mouse eats mainly survival of a species, and in favorable conditions
the southern grasshopper mouse cits ants and vegetation but will also numbers may in< rease rapidly: A brown rat, for
scorpions; while the black rat scavenges in human feed on insects. example, is able to breed at only 2 months of age
food supplies. To assist digestion, rodents have and may yield litters of more than 10 young
,i large cecum, a blind-ending sac in the large every month or so. Voles are also prolific breeders:
This contains bacteria that split cellulose,
intestine. some species may produce more than 3 litters 1
the main component of plant cell walls, into HERBIVOROUS DIET annually. Smaller rodents tend to produce more
digestible carbohydrates. In some rodents, after
'
H Most rodents are young than larger species (such as the apybara I
food is processed in the cecum.

anus and is eaten again. Once in the stomach.
i( progresses to the
*
R -
'^t herbivorous, eating only as a result, small rodents form the staple diet of a
wider range of animals. In rodents, the complete
|fi plants. The European
the arbohydrates (amounting to 80 percent
i
^^Jtfr T^^Bqc H water vole shown here cycle of reproduction, from sexual attraction right
of the energy contained in die foodl are absorbed. |B*. >^ W *^ 9
=•
y~ , feeds on aquatic and through to raising young, is influenced by the
This highly efficient process, known as refection, 5^^>2&£JK»53Eme H land plants. Food may- emission of pungent glandular secretions. Female
leaves onlv a dry fecal pellet be storedfor consumption rats, for example, produce a pheromone about
to be excreted. H during winter shortages. 8 days after giving birth. This scented chemical
is secreted into the mother's feces and
helps prevent the offspring from

becoming separated from her.
&A
^*&&.-,
CAPYBARA FAMILY
Not all rodent species breed as prolifically as mice and rats do.
The eapybara, for example, usually produces only one litter
a year unless conditions are particularly favorable. Litter

size vanes between one and 8 but is usually 5. Capybara
offspring are well developed at birth and are soon able
j to follow their mother and eat solidfood.
SOCIAL ANIMALS
Among rodents, many species live in organized communities,
although some are solitary. These black-tailed prairie dogs,

like most ground squirrels, are highly m table. They live in a
system of burrows called "towns, " each of which may cover
:
an area up to A square mile ( I square km). The interconnected
i a town provide a refuge from predators and a safe
place to rear young. Within the town, prairie dogs form
subgroups known as coteries. Members of a coterie act
<eratively,for example to defend their ternton.
CREAT OPPORTUNISTS
Rodents are highly gregarious animals
and hoot many
successfully colonized
habitats, especially those created by human
RODENTS AND PEOPLE settlement, such
I
as garbage dumps and
Some rodents, mainlv rats and mil c,onsidered pests by people because
are i
forfood among the garbage.
thev are often in direct competition with humankind they occupv the
same habitats and eat the same food and are highly adaptable. Rodents
consume over 44 million tons 4ll million tonnes of human (bod ever) veai.
Contaminate stored food with their urine and fecal pellets, and are known
to transmit more than 20 disease-! ausing organisms. Although some control
ol rodent populations is brought about b\ the use of traps and poisons, man) GNAWING DWIAGE
s|)ei ies are suffii tend) intelligent to learn to avoid such measures. ( )nlv a lew I ti\t then well-dt
ol the 1,702 species ol rodents, however, are genuine pests: many benefit incisor teeth to gnaw. A beaoa can fell
people example, bv destroying insects and weeds or b) maintaining

foi trees, >ihIi «> this birch, by gnawing
the health ol forests bv spreading fungi. Beavers and chinchillas are (armed through th, trunk Branches and waller
toi thi n fur, while rats, mice, and guinea pit;-- are kept as pets and are used build
.
to
e\tc uMvelv in medical research. !i> dam a mer.

RODENTS
Squirrel- like rodents

This GROUP, which is defined by BALANCING ACT
PHYLUM Chorda ta
The Eurasian red squirrel uses
the arrangement ol the jaw muscles
CLASS Mammalia its tail for baton,
see p. 1 44 embraces a variety »f
. i
<**. Rodentia running alon^

rodents, such as beavers and squirrels. hramht \.
suborder Sciuromorpha
Members of the squirrel family all
cfi- IB 7 have long whiskers, a cylindrical body,
SECIES 377 and a well-haired tail. Species from
other families vary anatomically

.a i ording to lifestyle. Beavers, for example, are
semi-aquatic, and have webbed back feet.
Squirrel-like rodents are distributed

worldwide, in a variety of habitats.
Aplodontia rufa openings lead directly to food such Tamias si rial,

woods, especially birch, as well as
as bark, twigs, shoots, and soft plants. woody areas containing abundant
Mountain beaver which it brings back to eat or sunt-. Eastern chipmunk rock crevices. It can climb but forages
Also known as the sewellel, it climbs mainly on the ground for seeds and
Length 12-18in Length •
16 cm well and destroys many small trees. nuts, especially during midmorning
The long fur black to red-brown and midafternoon. carrying food
p
is Tail 2
^1 1
2-4 cm
1/2 in
above, yellow-brown beneath, with items in its cheek pouches. The basil
Weight Weight.
a white spot below each ear. coloring of the eastern chipmunk is
grayish or reddish brown, becoming
Location s \\ Social unit Indhidua] Locauon S.E Canada lo Social unit Individual
paler red on the rump. It has very
s\\ USA ( and E USA
Status Lower cti Status Locally common distinctive stripes on its back and face.
alone in burrow system and
Mtk SS m It lives its
hibernates during winter, although

may emerge on mild days to feed.
it
I liis and home

rodent digs its tunnels The eastern chipmunk is familiar in The nc iisy "chip" and "cuk" calls act
lodge under felled and so is trees, the wild, as a bold visitor to picnic asalarm signals for fellow chipmunks
increasing where commercial logging sites. It frequents mainly deciduous and other small animals living nearby.
CM uis. It lives alone and its tunnel
i
pale eye and

ear borders
Marmola monax America. February 2 Groundhog
is
Day, when the woodchuck supposedly

Woodchuck pi i i
s In mi itswinter burrow to assess
the weather. The woodchuck regularly pale-bordered
shows aggressive behavior to its body stripes
own kind, especially since males light

for dominance in the spring mating
Weight
season. It also vigorously defends
3-5 kg
its burrow by arching
its back, jumping,
Status Common llicking its stiffened
tail, and
as. MJtL. chattering its
bared teeth.
Marmola Jlaviventris ihort-muzzled.
Also called the groundhog,
broad head
this i- i me of the largest,
while aria
Yellow-bellied
ground squirrels.
It feeds mainly in the
around nose
marmot \mall.Jurred
.ill. i ii< n !). '
ift ii in a loose
group with others of its
a hilt -tipped.
kind, on a variety of seeds.
"grizzled"
grasses, lovers, fruits, and
small animals, su< h as
i
hairs on
upperparts
*V. Weight
brown ta
grasshoppers and snails. lawny Jk

Despite an its size, it is
Social unit (imup
able climbei and swims Status Localh common

Powerful buld
well. In autumn it
Ichuk has a stout pale-tipped
cm avates a deeper
body, small ears. J t,
9S MM, ** hairs
burrow for its long and a bushy tail.
hibernation. In North Adaptable in halnt.it. the yellow-

bellied marmot takes a wide diet of
grasses, dowers, herbs, and seeds. It
feeds mainly in the morning and late
afternoon, then grooms with others in
its colon) usually one male and
several females, ["he 8 young are
I
*^&S weaned alter 2n in days. The long

hibernation lasts up to 8 months.
SQUIRREL-LIKE RODENTS
feeding habits led to massive

Spermophilu s columbianus Cynomys ludoviciantu
destruction ol wheat and other cereal
COTERIES AND WARDS
Columbian ground Black-tailed prairie crops, and their burrows tripped
horses and farm -t<>( k. So prairie
squirrel dog dogs were subject to extermination
campaigns, which were very successful.
In recent times, the rodents have
been restricted mainly to parks and
reserves.Their drastic reduction in
Weight IK Weight
: J .
:
numbers has seriously threatened the

(0.85-1 kg.
black-footed ferret (see p. 197 . foi
which they were virtually sole prey. The basic prairie dog social unit
Status ! ... ill: i

omi Status Lowei risk
is the coterie ol one male, several
females,and their young Several
-» coteriesform a ward, meml »
guarding their territories and
The Columbian ground squirrel Preference for a grassy habitat and burrows with an energetic "jump-
("Columbia" being British Columbia, a barklike, doggy "yip" give 5 spej ies yip" display, bared chattering
Canada comes from mount. mi of ground squirrels their common teeth,and fluffed-up tails. Many
meadows and hilly grassland. Its diet name of prairie dogs. The bl.u k- wards form a township of up to
consists of fruits. tailed or plains prairie dog dwells 160 acres 65 hectares .
seeds, flowers, bulbs, at altitudes of 4.300 -6.600ft (1,300-

and on occasions 2,000mi across the Great Plains of
insects caught in North America and south into the Coloration
midair Living in a more arid, extreme north of Mexico. The black-tailed prairie dog
small colony, it 1 he body Hans ol the black-tailed is generally brown or reddish
brown on the upperparts,

"kisses" when it prairiedog are tipped black in winter
shading to white on the
meets other but white in summer, and the whiskers
underparts. The whiskers
Columbian ground and end third of the tail are black.
and tail tip are black.
squirrels, tilting its This rodent eats a range of seasonal
head to sniff the plants such as wheat grass, buffalo
oral scent glands grass, globe mallow, and rabbit brush small i
ft
-
1
f near the mouth. in summer, and thistles, cacti such as
prickly pear, and underground roots
and bulbs in winter. Prairie dogs
breed rapidly,' with up to 8 young
born after a gestation period of
33-38 days. In the past, then
Sciurui vulgaris Sciurus carolinensis

A'i ///i
BREEDING NEST
Cape ground Eurasian red squirrel Eastern gray squirrel
squirrel
Weight 7 |7oz
Status Lowei risk

Location Southern Vfrica Social unit Group
Status LocalK commont m ill ** The female

birth to 2
retl squirrel gives
5 blind, naked babies.

The "red" squirrel varies from red to She nurses them for 12 weeks in Introduced from North America into
brown, gray, oi black on its back, and the breeding nest, which ma\ be a parts of Europe, the gray squirrel has
The Luge claws of the C ape ground may turn gray-brown in winter. The larger version of the ball-shaped. a gray back and white or pale under-
squirrel can burrow in hard, dry ston) underparts are always pale oi white. twig drej in a brani h fork, or in a parts. The face. back, and forelegs
soil. The upper fur is brownish pink An excellent climber and leaper, it tree hole. The nest is lined with are brown tinged. This opportunistic
with a white Hank stripe and belly. feeds on the ground and in branches soft, line material to keep the feeder takes nuts, seeds, flowers, fruits,
The prominent eyes are circled with
white and the muzzle and feel are
white. There are black bands near
also
on seeds
nuts, as well as
especially those of conifers
mushrooms and other
. young warm in her absence. buds, and fungi.
its grass-
It
and bark-lined
ma\ emerge from
twit; nest
\
fungi, shouts, fruits, soft bark, and sap. iln\ in wintei to fi i
Bushy tail, tufted ears

the base and tip of the tail. Its dii i is Ii lives alone e» epl wh< n a female is
I -/n tail is
opportunistii . ranging from seeds, nursing young. •h as the
bulbs, and roots to inse< is and birds'
body, densely Jurred
'
ggs I Ins ground ham. Tin tan arc ahvays
squirrel lives in tufted, particularly
i olonies ol i) 10,
and in i ascs Mik
I
I
RODENTS
I his squirrel stretches oul us limbs

Petaurista elegans
in extend large pan Ik
Giant flying nl thin, loose, furred

skin between front
squirrel and rear legs, in a
parai hute-like shape.
\ glidei rather than a true Bier, n i an
Tail 12 travel more than l,300fl 100m al .1 tree-hole at
3-in-l glide ratio covering 5 times the night to End
Weight
distant e that n loses in height It conifer seeds, nuts
changes the glide angle using its from fruits, leaves, shoots,
Location s ind SJ \s Social unit l'.iir
ligs Glides are generall) from high in and buds. Fur color
Status Common one tree to lower in another, rather varies but is usually
than in the ground, and are often to taw in to reddish brown above, with
ft est ape danger. Unlike most squirrels, blai k rings around the large, "night-
this species is nocturnal, leaving iis vision" eyes and hairless ears.
CaUosciurm prevosti
nose to thigh. Ii lives alone or in small
Ralufa indica
l.nniK groups, communicating by
Prevost's squirrel birdlike calls and visual displays of the Indian giant squirrel
bushy tail. The diet includes fruits.
Length 5- 1 1 in Lengch
u
soft seeds, oily nuts, and buds, as well
Tail S'/4 -lOin as termites, ants, grubs, and birds' Tail 1 I .
eggs. After 46-48 days' gestation, the Dan

Weight 5 !8o* Weight
2 -
3 young are born in a large nest
.
: 150 500g
ol twigs and
Locauon S.E. Asia Location s \.i,. Social unit IiidividuaJ/fair
leaves, in a
Status I
tree-hole or Status \ ulni-rablc
among
ft Jll branches. ft
One of the most brighdy colored The huge, bushy tail of the Indian
mammals, this tree-dwelling. giant squirrel is usually longer than
twilight-at rive squirrel is black on it* the head and both combined. The
upperparts. vivid chestnut-red on upperparts are dark, the head and
the underparts, with a broad, gleam- limbs red-brown, and the underside
Lng white band along each side from whitish. This squirrel, alert and wan.
makes massive leaps of 20ft 6m
among branches as it lorages for
Heliosciurus gambianus Thomomys botlae fruits, nuts. bark, insei i-. and i 5 I
characteristic feeding posture is not

Gambian sun squirrel Botta's pocket upright but leaning forwards or down,
perched on its back legs with the tail
gopher as a counterbalance. It builds the
Tail • . I2in typical squirrel-type nest drc\ for
Length ;
resting and for rearing young.

Weight 9
Tail
Social unit liidnnlu.il/ P.u Weight I Va-2ox

Pappogeomys merriami Orlhogeomys grandis
Status Low
Merriam's pocket Giant pocket gopher
ft Status ommon
(
gopher
Mlk JLj*. Length
Tail
Botta's pocket gophei lives

alone. It digs an extensive Inn row
mainly Tail 2
*" Waght
Weight Social unit Iik1hkIu.i1

system lodge in loose soil, using its
strong forelegs equipped with large Status c i

i
,:.
i
laws I his underground
gopher stays
Locauon E Me Social unit I
most of its life, consuming roots, ft

tubers, bulbs, and other subsurface
plant parts. It is grayish brown above ik ft ** jl Like other pocket gophers, the giant
and browny orange below, and has pocket gopher digs a burrow system
adaptations typical of burrowers, sui h The pin ket gophers have a pocketlike lodge- using its strong, large-) lawed
Handed hairs m yellows, browns, and as a flat head, long whiskers, small pouch of furred on each cheek,
skin forefeet. It feeds on roots, bulbs, and
grays give the sun squirrel a speckled eyes, and small ears closed by flaps. for carrying loud back to the- nest other underground plant parts and
olive-brown appearani e 1 he tail has Ih^ spa ies cupies a variety of
i ,c also comes above ground al night to
1 I rings along its length and the eyes habitats from sea level up to almost forage lot stems and shoots, which it
are white ringed. In habit, tills 13.200ft 4,000m . Its front incisor carries to its lodge in its fur-lined
squirrel is a typical ground-and-tree teeth are verj long and can cope cheek pout lies. Normally solitary,
spei ies with a diet ranging fr im with man) kinds of plant foods, from during the breeding season the giant
seeds to birds' eggs. lis distinctive spik\ cat and farm rops gophers
ii i pocket gopher forms groups of out-
beha\ iors ini hide "basking" on sunn) i sometimes become a pest to male and 4 females. Two or more
brani hes, .is its name suggests, and fir tree needles and seeds. The young are born to each female in a
relining it-, nest ea< h night with freshl) upperparts are yellow/ brown, or grass-lined nesting chamber at the
pliu ked leaves. IB almost black; the underside is paler. lowest level of the lodge.
SQUIRREL-LIKE RODENTS
/'i/,/i apensh
mi I
othei invertebrates. When feed-
Microdipodops megacephalu *
I lie upperparts are gray-brown,
s i
ing, it tends to bend forwards and die underparts pure white. The
Springhare on lours. The 5 Dark kangaroo prominent eyes, large ears, long
— ^—r- Length II
j: i
lope rabbitlike
large front claws are specialized for
digging. When bounding
all
at lull speed, mouse

snout, and bushy whiskers indie ate
adaptation for a nocturnal lifestyle.
; Tail 12-1 lis tail curves up; when sitting up, its Like many small desert rodents, this
m r
^-r* .in tail is used as a support. 1 he spring- a seasonal opportunist. In
.ocation (
4 and 1 Vln. a
Weight.
Social unit
;
I
tkg
bare sleeps testing on
head tucked between
the tail wrapped around the whole
and
its haunt
us hindlegs,
lies.
*\!P Weight
rail 4 Von summer
in winter
hoarder
it
it
in
consumes mainly
switches to being a seed-
its burrow n< si. i
insects;
arrying
)ody. Nocturnal, the springhare food items in its external cheek
Status \ ulnerabli
lives alone or as a male- Location s U \ ISA Social unit Individual pouches. It also stores food as body
female pair, and digs Status Locally common fat in its dumpy tail. Each male dark
several extensive burrows. kangaroo mouse aggressively defends
The only member in There appears to be no peak JL MM. a territory of up to 7,900 squ.n i i
its rodent family. breeding season; the single (6,600 square mi against others of its
the springhare i.R young is born at an) nine of The dark kangaroo mouse is named species. Female territories tend to be
n -i mbles a rabbit- 'r%k ve.ii and is suckled in the main after its dark-furred large back legs much smaller, only about 480 square yd
kangaroo, wiili a N^fc breeding burrow for approx- which it uses lor hopping and leaping '400 square m). Each female produces
long, bushy tail and imately 7 weeks. ovei sand-dunes and soli, dry soil. a litter of 2 7 offspring.
large, narrow, uprigh

r
ears. It makes huge graji tn
- n overing 6 /
LAKESIDE LODGE
I.
i] i
.
i 1 t 1
brou in 'it pink Castor canadensis
(2m) per bound. The diet upperparts
consists mainly "I seeds, American beaver
stems, bulbs, and other
Length 29
plant pans, but also
includes locusts, beetles. Tail III I3in
Weight .'1 571b
very largt
hmdfcet Location North Ami Social unit Group
Status Locally common
The American beaver is well adapted Beavers rest by day in their lodge
to aquatic life. Its feet are webbed for a pile of mud and sticks built
Dipodomys merriami Castor fiber sw imming and the flat, scaly tail slaps in a pool or lake. The lodge's
the surface as a loudalarm signal. underwater entrances keep out
Merriam's kangaroo Eurasian beaver I'nderwatet. the ears and nose shut land-based predators. The beaver
with valvelike flaps and the lips close digs channels and builds dams of
rat behind the incisor teeth, which can mud. stones, and branches to
then be used for nibbling and maintain a system of waterways.
gnawing. The eyes have a third, These activities are believed by
Weight "II.
".I
transparent eyelid nictitating some to harm crops and trees.
membrane) to see below the surface. and affect local wildlife. Another
Social unit Group Long whiskers feel the way in the view is that beavers reduce local
Status Lowei n.k dark. The American beaver feeds on Hoods, and help return the h.ibii.n
the leaves, twigs, and bark of bankside to its natural stale.

la trees and water plants. It also gnaws
and fells small trees to eat the tender
Similar to the American beaver (see shoots and leaves. It uses the fallen TWO COATS
right in appearance, habits, and branches and small trunks lor building The American beaver's long guard coat (outer jur)
lifestyle, the Eurasian beaver is usually us lodge see panel and for dam varies Jrom yellowish brown to black, although
heavier. .As in its close cousin, glands construction, dragging them to the it is usually reddish brown. The dense underfur is
dark gray and retains body

at die base oi the lail produce an oily, dam site in dun strong jaws.
armth even hi
waterproofing so retion that is spread Following a gestation period of 107
freezing water.
through the fui when g ming In days, die > I kits young beavers
aie. is with many natural water- an but n lullv furred and are
ways, the Eurasian beavei weaned within _' inoni
does not build a sin ks-and-
miiil lodge bul digs tunnels in
flat. Mdly
die bank, with underwater entrant es. tail
RelativeK large ba< k legs and feet, foi Il eats b.uk. leaves, and plants, and
kangaroo-like hopping, and a very i an st.iv submerged for 20 minutes.
long, slender, tufted tail, foi balani e,
allow Mei 1 1. cin's kangaroo ral i" movi

at speed over s.tnek soil in its desert
habital I he- silk\ fui is gray above,
while on the undcrparts, with narrow
dark gray and white stripes along the
Hanks his kanga Iral n gulai K has
til dust-baths lo keep Us llll
and skin i lean. Il digs, bin lows, n
scan lies loi loud, espci i.iIK c ex kle-

antl sand-bun seeds in winter, and
cat ins seeds in summer 5S3*- n=G*.
,
RODENTS
Mouselike rodents
THIS SUBORDER - which is distinguished from
class Mammalia the other 2 rodent suborders by the way the jaw
muscles are arranged 144 - constitutes
(see p.
o«o£H Rodencia
over one-quarter of all mammal species. Within
Myomorpha
group are rats and mice including voles,
the
lemmings, hamsters, and gerbils), and
jerboas. Mouselike rodents often have a
pointed face and long whiskers, and are
usually small, nocturnal seed-eaters. They are found worldwide
except Antarctica . in almost all terrestrial habitats. Some
species, such as thenaked mole-rat. live underground: other-,
such as the water vole, occupy aquatic habitats. Species that
live in open areas may have longer legs and feet for quick
escapes), and larger ears to detect danger from a distance. *>*
Oxymycterus nasulus .Xxctomys sumichrasti One of the more arboreal and

brightly colored rats, this species has
Long-nosed hocicudo Sumichrast"s vesper tawny or pinkish brown upperpai is
with darker hairs along the center
Length J
rat of the back. It has pale flank?., white
1 underparts. a dark ring around the
, Waght i'Ao*
7-14.5 cm eye.
The
and a brown,
ears are short
scaly,
and
hairy
finely furred.
tail.
90g
On each foot the first toe is almost
Location L- South Amrnoa Social unit Individual
diumblike. developed for gripping
Status Locally common twig-. Sumichrast's vesper rat lives in
Location S '
Social unit Group a colony, builds squirrel-like nests of
S, Central America
Status LocalK- common tM iff-, leaves, and creepers, and rarely
descends to the ground. It is active
This large mouse rarely conies out «L mainly at night, eating a variety of
into the open. It forages by day under plants including figs and avocados.
leases, logs, and stones for creatures
such as grubs and worms, sniffing
with its long, flexible, shrewlike snout Reithrodontomys ravwentris Peromyscus leucopus den a sheltered place under tree
in
and scrabbling up prey with its large- root-, below a log or stone, or in a
clawed forefeet. Its back is black,
tinged with red or yellow,
darker along the midline;
and
its
is
flanks are
Saltmarsh harvest
mouse ~
White-footed mouse thicket; or they may dig a den in soil,
or take over an abandoned burrow.
The nest is made from soft, dry plant
yellow -brown; the underside yellow- matter, including shredded stems. The
C
is Tail .
Length 2
orange mixed with gray; and the i
pair forage principally at night for
!
Weight '/;-l 1/16 oz
short, scaly tail is sparsely haired. It Tail I
-
fruits, berries, seeds, and insect-,
rareh excavates its own tunnels or 4.5-1 1.5 cm staying;mainly on the ground even
Weight i-JAoz Social unit Individual
pathways, using those of other rodents. though they climb well. Food is stored
- -
Status Common in the den near the nest, covered with

Locauon U USA San Social unit Individual
Baiomys laylori Status Vulnerable m ik soil. In cold weather the white-footed

mouse may hibernate
hours each day. The female
for a few-
is
Northern pygmy fSB A widespread and common species, pregnant for 22-23 days.
this mouse resemble- others in the and the average litter
mouse Similar in appearance to the house deer mouse group, with its w hite size i- 4 5.
mouse see p. 1 56 . the saltmarsh and underparts. and

feet
harvest mouse has large ears and a brown fur on the
Ta long, slender, scaly, well-furred tail. back. White-
1 It builds a strong summer nest i 'I footed mice
M_ Weight

grass above ground in a bush or
undergrowth, and feeds on seeds.
and insects. In winter, it moves
usually live in
which
pairs,
occupy a small
Status Locallv common into a tunnel or burrow dug. but then
deserted, hv another rodent.
1 he female of this species, North

America's smallest rodent, can
become pregnant at the youngest age
of am New World mouse jusl 1
weeks. 1 he fur i- mid-brown on the
back and gray underneath. This

upies a tei it< >rj up to 100ft
i
i
JOm across and feeds at twilight on

plantsand seeds. It- nest is in a
burrow under logs or plants.
MOUSrUkl RODI \ In
Kunsia tomentosui Sigmodon hispidtu

• hi man) foods in< hiding plants Calomys laucha
i
> r 1 1, nun's i uining i raps sm Ii .is
Giant South Hispid cotton rat sweet pi itato and sugai i ane inset . ts, Small vesper mouse
and grubs. Being a g I swimmer, h
American water rat Length 5
I ;
Bin
20cm also lakes freshwatei < rabs, i rayfish,
Length .
Tail i
and frogs, and i IniiKs reeds ti 1 1 ai Tail 2 i
/ iin
Length
I. in I- '
ggs and i hit ks. It is at rive da)
Weight Weight
Tail 6 in
I
ami night, usiialh li\ ing alone in a

225g
.
grass) ni'si in a sheltered depression
Weight Not Location and E. South
i
in the ground or in a burrow up to ( !, Social unit Variable
7
America
V Status Lo
1 deep. The hispid ( otton Status ( iimmon
-ocation ( South Social unit [ndn idual i ai digs a shallow burrow as it feeds,
'
Status Vuli £L m± JL and establishes well-worn foraging A* fa

runways. Its still fur is brown
Juk. Vtz := I his is one "I 10 ( otton ral spei ies to brownish gra) on the bat k. gray- The small vesper mouse resembles the
in the Americas. Some are extremely white underneath. The female house mouse (see p. 56) not onl) in 1
A little-known species, this large. rare, others local!) numerous, even Ik i nines sexually mature in 6-8 appearance but also in living near
small-eared, short-tailed rat spends in. reasing ti i
pesl status when loud is weeks, and. after 27 days' gestation, human dwellings and m its oct asional
much time burrowing, using its strong plentiful. The hispid cotton rat feeds she gives birth in up to 12 young. population surges, when it may
feet equipped with long, curved claws. 1 iet (ime a pest. It is gray-white above
Its upper fur is dark brown with stifl and pale to dark brown on the
hairs, and the underneath hairs are underside, with a white patch behind
gra) with white tips. As the giant each medium-sized ear. and a long,
South American water rat tunnels, ii sparser) furred tail, ft builds a grass)
consumes roots, tubers, and other nest in any crevice such as under a
underground plant parts. During the Ii ig rock, floorboards, or even - being
flood season, however, water tills it> a skillful climber - in a tree fork. The
tunnels, so this rat stays mainly above main diet is plants of all kinds,
ground, where its diet changes to supplemented b) a few insei is such
mostly grasses and shoots. as beetles and i .mi pillars.
Phodopus roborovskh Cricetm mce/us
Desert hamster Black-bellied hamster

Length
_** Length B— 13
_.'
Tail 2 I in Tail i
: II cm
Weight Weight
Mesoi ricetm aurattu black stripe from each cheek to the
upper neck. The fur pales to gray-
Location I Vi i Social unit [niiiudu.il
Golden hamster white on the underside. Grooming is
Social unit Indnidii.i]
important keep the coat in good to Status I..
condition, and both front teeth and

JL Tail (laws are used for this purpose. This
mi,
I
hamster excavates a burrow down to

We.ght
Also called the dwarf hamster, this 6 2m), which rarely leaves The largest hamster, this species has
iQ^l Ii it
small, short-tailed,prominent-eared except to feed on a diet of seeds, nuts, distinctively thick for, which is red-
Location Am.
rodent is pale brown on its upperparts \\ Social unit Individual
and small creatures such as ants, flies, brown on the back and main!) >la< k I
with pure white underparts. Its real Status End cockroaches, bugs, and even wasps. It on the underside, with white pan ties
feel arc short and broad, with dense is aggressive toward other hamstei s. on the nose, cheeks, throat, Hanks,
fur on the underside for jumping and paws darker underside u
- 1 1 ill
across hot, loose desert sand. Like ation compared to the upperp.uiis
other hamsters, the desert hamster The golden hamster, familiar around SOLITARY GROOMING very unusual among mammals In
crams seeds into its internal cheek the world as a pet, is restricted in autumn the black-bellied hamster
poui hes and takes them bat k to its the wild to a small area of western hoards seeds, roots, and other plant
burrow for storage. It also cats insects Asia. golden coat may show a
Its matter, < at i \ ing ueuis m its l.n g,
such as beetles, locusts, and earwigs. darker patch on the forehead and a (Menial cheek pouches back tn Us
The nesting burrow is dug in firm burrow Ii then hibernates until spring,
rich golden
sand and is lined with hair shed b) waking ever) 7 days to ">
iced. In
i .line K .md sheep. suminei n also eats grubs, worms, and
other ( reatures Vfti r 18 20 da)
gestation, the female i
luces a litter
of up to 1 2. whit h are weaned I
weeks and lulK grown b) 8 weeks.

I ike man) i ithei hamsters, the
golden hamster li\es .done.
and so has in i id its own
t oal of dirt, old for,
tangles, and pests su( Ii as
fleas, rathei than rel) ing
on mutual grooming like
mam sin ial rodents.
ROBI'ST RODI SI
.'
fail a blunt
./.. and tin) tail.

RODENTS
Hypogeomys antimena Known locally as the votsotsa, this rat Pachyuromys duprasi Meriones unguiculalus
has tall, rabbitlike ears and large hind
Malagasy giant rat feet. Similar to a rabbit in behavior, Fat-tailed gerbil Mongolian jird
too. hops rather than runs and lives
it
Length I2-Min
in a family group of male, female,
Ta»8V2-IOui and offspring of the past 2-3 years. Ta.l J
The Malagasy giant rat digs a burrow

We.grtt 2 IA-31/4 lb Weight
system with up to 6 entrances in the
J sandy soil of coastal forests. It eats
Location \\ '.
Social unit Group fruits, -hoots, and soft bark, holding Location N Alr.r. Social unit Variable
Status Endangerrd them in the forefeet. It is threatened Status Local]
bv habitat loss and competition from

1 kss introduced black rat-.
rabbitlikf tan A Sahara dweller, the fat-tailed gerbil

has long, soft fur. a pointed snout, and
long rear feet. Coloration is chestnut-
c innamon on the back and
-ide-. with black tips to the
hairs, shading to white under-
neath. The club-shaped tail contains
a reserve of body fat for nourishment
and water. This gerbil emerges from
its burrow at dusk to search for insects
such as cricket-. It also eat- leaves,

-eeds. and other plant matter.
Familiar as a pet, this is one of some
1 3 gerbil species native to the Middle
East and Asia. It burrow- in dry
and is active by day and night,
-teppe-
summer and winter. It eats main])
seeds, storing excess in it- elaborate
burrow, which it may share with it-
mate and up to 12 young. Family

members groom each other but arc-
quick to attack a stranger. Mainly

brown haired with black tip-, the
underparts are gray or white.
Clethrionomys glareolus Aroicola terrestris
Bank vole European water vole

Length _> >A -5 'A in
i
Ta.l
We.ght Vi«-|i/4oz
12-35
Also known as the karroo rat from its This large, beaverlike rat has thick.
arid, rocky, saltbush habitat, this wary gray-browTi fur, a squat snout. -ti k kv Social unit Group
species feeds near its extensive burrow body, and short, rounded, scaly tail Status Common
bamboo
system dug hard earth. Its whistle
in
warns others in its colony of danger.
The fur is patchy yellow and brown-
It lives in thickets,
tunnels and nest chambers between
the roots. An excellent climber,
digging
it
m ik ;=
black, with yellow ears, gray-white feeds on bamboo roots and shoots Typically blunt headed, the bank
underparls, and reddish orange nose. as well as various seeds and fruits. vole'supperpart- vary from yellowish
to reddish or brown, with grav Hank-.
gray-white rump, white feet, and a
Tachyoryctes macrocephalus slightly bushy-tipped tail. The species
also varies gready in size, being twice
Big-headed mole as long and 3 limes as heavy in some
regions compared to others. The bank
rat vole is very adaptable, nesting in
burrow-, thickets, and tree stumps,
and eating a huge range of foods,
from fungi and mosses to -eeds. buds.
insects, and birds' egg-. Water voles that mainly burrow in
meadows and wood- are almost half
g
the -ize of those that live near river-,

Location Social unit \ ariablr
mar-lies. Both types eat
i
lake-, and
Status Lowtr risk* Burrowing adaptations include a blunt plant lot >ds and have thick fur. which
and rounded head, robusl body, short is gray, brown, or black on the
M+. J^- limbs, -mall eyes and car-, and thick upperpart- and dark grav to white
fur. This mole rat gnaws roots and below. I he rounded tail is half the
The big-headed mole rat lives like other plant pan- with it- Luge. bodv length. 1 hi- vole i- threatened
a mole, spending a great deal of time cting, orange-yellow incisors, bv pollution, loss of habitat, and an
in its burrow. This ma\ exceed 165ft and digs it- extensive tunnel system introduced
50m in length and houses one r.u ne way. predator, mink
MOUSELIKE RODENTS
Murutus arvalis Ondatra zibethicus

EXPERT SWIMMER
Common vole Muskrat The largest species
muskrat
of burrowing
well adapted
vole, the is to
Tail I
-I lii
-N V y*
Tails I
swimming with back feet that
large
have small webs between the toes
and ,i row of still hairs along one
Weight I '/I6-1 V» Weight I l/4-4l/jlb
edge, forming a ''swimming fringe."
Its long, lurless tail is flattened from
Social unit < .roup Location North .America Social unit I

side to side, which enables it to be
U I
e 10 N and E.
Vsia Status < lomrnon used as a rudder. The nostrils and

small ears are closed by llaps during
dives, wliic h may last 20 minutes.
It lm\ swim up to ! (Oft 100m
The muskrat usually lives in a group underwatei without surfacing.
of up to Ml. digging tunnels in the
bank or building a beaverlike home

lodge) from mud. plant stems, and fine underfur
iwigs. It eats reeds and other water with /«/<.
plants, and occasionally hunts for guard hain
crayfish, frogs, Gsh, and molluscs.

he female builds a nest in
1
Musky smell
a dry tunnel chamber / Uis namedfor the
or lodge platform, musky-smelBn^
where the litter of glands around its genital and anal
-3 young are born. region. The glands are especial!)'
This medium-sized vole is one i>l tin- Musk secretions are prominent in males and enlarge at
breeding time.
most numerous rodents in grass) and used with droppings and
farmland habitats. It has short fur.
gray-brown or sandy on the back
changing to gray underneath, a blunt
snout, small eyes and ears, stocky
body, and short, furred tail. It digs
burrows to make nest chambers and
food reserves, and eats < hiefly green
plain pails stub as grass blades. Ill
winter it may take refuge in a barn

or haystack and gnaw soli bark.
Apodemusjlavicoltis Apodemus sylvaticm Lemmus sibericus

AUTUMN RETREAT
Yellow-necked field Wood mouse Brown lemming
mouse Length 1
Tail 2V4-4I/4U Ta,
i7-llcm,
Weight Weight 15/a-5i/2<
Tail i 'J -5 i/i in
45 150 g
Weight S/8-1V402 Social unit Individual Social unit Group
Status Common Status i
U Social unit Indh/idua]
m ik a
i
Status I ommon tfa =^ Lively and energetic the brown .
lemming is an active, noisily

m ik Sometimes mistaken for a small
yellow -necked field mouse see let! .
I In brown lemming
colonies, breeds prolifically.
lives in large
and makes
squeaking burrower and feeder.
In autumn it descends to lower
the wood mouse may have- not only small-stale seasonal migrations tundra areas, lakes, and rivers, to
a yellow throat but also an orange- between high, shrubby grassland and dig sheltered tunnels under peaty
brown chest patch. Its upperparts are moors, and sheltered lowlands for mounds or make nests in clumps
gray-brown, the underparts gray- winter. Its migrations are much less i il vegetation. It feeds along
white, last and agile, it t onsumes spectacular than those of the Norwa) runways undei ihe snow.
many foods including mushrooms, lemming Lnnmus lemmus . which is
In 1 1 irs. hulls, woi ins. and insei is. sometimes driven by instinct to try
I In yellow throat of iliis large, long- It nests in a bin row or tree hole, to swim i i\ei s or s( iambic down
tailed mouse i ontrasts with the brown marks its. territory with urine, and i litis. I he blown hi nming eats
back and yellowish white underparts lights intruders \ ii ilendy mosses, sedges, heibs. and
The large, prominent eyes and big soli iwigs. and sometimes
ears indicate twilight and nocturnal buds' i ggs | he female
habits, and the long real feet allow builds a nesi in >m gi as.
prodigious jumps. The yellow-ne< ked and In i

i
iwn lui and.
field mouse i limbs trees to bbli _'( )m . alter a gestation period
searching foi seeds, berries, ami small nl 1!! days, priidui es
Creatures su< h as i atei pillars, spidei s, up to I 2 young
and millipedes. It nesis in any suitable
hole, among roots, oi high in a tree
Well-rounded shape
trunk, and aggressively chases away
mini nine including the similar and short U
wood mouse sec right .
absent in individuals from pari \ I
RODENTS
Coloration
Lagurus lagurus Cricetomys gambianus minutus
Tin Eurasian har:t<t moust has
Steppe lemming Gambian rat Eurasian harvest

fnrh and a mam
upprr-
Length 11 It.
mouse is rounded l>ut tht
y
,,
is pointed.
Ta.l I in Tail ) 1 1.':
Length 2 iin
17 45
We,ght I . Weight 2
T.„l
Social unit \ Location W < I Social unit Vai iabli Weight
ll Status 1 01
Social unit I
JL Status 1 '.v. . i
ii-L
Long waterproof fur, even covering •£ j^

and ears, keeps the steppe
lict
lemming warm in the old north i 1 his tin\ mouse is the onK Old World
Asian steppes. Ii has .1 blat k so ipi rodent with a prehensile tail. It feeds
along the middle of its pale gra) oi on seeds, nit hiding the heads ol
cinnamon back, ami pair underparts. wheat and other tanned cereals,
Burrows up in 12in 30cm) deep give beniis. and small animals such as
temporary shelter, while more inset b and spiders. In the breeding
permanent ones - 3 times as deep - season, the female gi\es birth to about
house grass-lined nests, ["here are 2— 6 young, occasional!) 12ot more,
5 litters per year of up to 12 young. alter a pregnane) lasting 21 days.
This rat eats a great variety of moist However, il food bet omes scan e, she
01 flesh) foods,from termites to ma) eat them a self-survival strategy
avoi ados, and also peanuts and that ' H i iirs in \.u urns rodents.
corn. Its huge cheek pom lies arry ,
items l>ai k to us burrow, whi( h has

extensive chambers lor lood. resting. BALL-LIKE NEST
breeding, and defecation. Its bristl) The harvest mouse constructs a
haii is buff-brown on the ba< k. fading spherical nest of finely shredded
to white on die throat and underside, grass blades and stems, perhaps
with a dark brown eye-ring. This using an old bird's nest as a base, in
large, big-eared, dm ile rat is kept both a thicket or grassy (lump. It is about
as a pet and lor meat. (8—1 2< in ai ross, and is
i
in
lot some 20 51in 50
ated 30cm 1
above ground level. The female's

Lemniscomys striates
stripesalong the bull or reddish breeding nest is mure substantial
orange back; underparts are brown- than the regular nest.
Striped grass tinged white. It lives mainly on the
ground with runways leading to
mouse feeding areas ol grass stems, leaves,
fai 111 and the occasional insect.
' rops.
Rattus muelleri
Also t ailed the giant Sunda rat. due
Length I
This nervous, jumpy mouse lives to its size and geographical ana of
Tail 1
III I
Sil
I ,,n
alone and may feign death "play M tiller's rat origin, this large, coarse-haired rodent
dead" 01 shed tin skm from its tail "
has grizzled buff-black upperparc
Weight Length i
when aught 1 b\ a predator with pale gra) or brown underparts.

Tail 9 It has a tvpii ,il. ratlike l.u e. small ears,
almost hairless feet, ami a brown tail.
Weight 5 /
1 1 »
Mtiller's rat eats mans pi. mis ami al-o
small animals su< h as snails, inset is.
Location S Vi.
1 Social unit Individual
and lizards. It is familiar across
Status 1 ilK common southeast Asia in various habitats,

The striped grass mouse is and near the ground
primaril) on in
paler in the wesi ol its range iiaasJll and also frequents
tropical forests,
compared to the east, with light human dwellings and outhouse-.
'/ Rallus rattus It prefers plant on the belly, and whitish 01 pink left. almost any material. The fleas carried
mallei such as seeds and fruits, but it I he female produces 4 10 young O) blat k rats spread diseases among
House rat i an sun i\e on inset ts. dead animals. alter a gestation period ol _'l I
24 humans, including bubonic plague,
let es. and refuse. Bl.uk rats gather in da) s. 1 his rat t an run. t limb, ami whit h has killed hundreds of millions
"packs" of 20 60 and ma) intimidate swim very well, and makes ,\ nest ol of people through the centuries.
l.ugei animals such as dogs. The basil tw igs .mtl giass. but often
coloration is bl.uk. but shades ol nests in a rool
brown also occur, with era) to white t a\ il\ and uses
Location '.
Abo i ailed die ship i.u. roof l.lt. ol

house i.u. in earl) Roman limes the
spread an Hind die world
blat k rat
from Asia in ships ot crates ol cargo

MOUSELIKE RODENTS
Rattus nun, onus

Swimming rat
7fa ^roien ra/ ij an exceptional swimmer and
Brown rat catches smalljish
water snails and aquatic

and crayfish, and crunches up
insects.
»4p^B»
^f Mr
f ^ *
Location \Ynrid*idr
*, As;-
Tail
Social unit
7- 9 in
Group
fXCrpt poUr rr«ion*
Status ( omirwwi
** *= ss At The brown rat is a herbivore by

origin and eats seeds especially
A hugely varied, opportunistic diet, grains . fruits, vegetables, and
sharp senses, and great agility have leaves. It has an extremely keen
enabled the brown rat. also called the sense of smeD and ranges more
Norway or common rat. to spread all than 1 i miles 3 km in a
around the world. "Packs" of up to night's foraging. Members
200. dominated by lame malt's, will of a pack identify each
attack rabbits, large birds, and even other by smell, and are
fish. After a gestation of 22 24 days, quick to attack rival packs
the female gives birth to 6-9 young or nonmembers.
in a nest of grass, leaves. pap< r. rags,
or almost any other material. This
species is the ancestor of rats bred
small eyes
as pels and for scientific research.
Coloration
The brown rat zones from brown to gray-brown
or black on its back. It is paler on the underside,
and has a long, sparsely haired tail.
^ .
Mallomys rothschildi Leporillus conditor Acomys minous \olomys ale.xis
RothchilcTs woolly Greater stick- Crete spiny mouse Spinifex h opping

rat nest rat Length 3 /: - 4 Vt in
mouse
Ta
Length
9-18cm
•'tr-
Tad 14 Tal5-9m
Werght . •'•; r ! -16 az Social unit Variable Weight

-. 150-150 <r
Social unit Individual Location W_ and C. Social unit Group
Status Lndanerrrrd S3t_' '
£. JtfL ^ JL
This large rat has an almost black Now confined to one island off .Also called the dargaw arra. this large
back, reddish-brown upperparts.
a pale underside, perhaps with a white
and Australia, the greater stick-nest rat
almost rabbit sized, with long ears, a
is mouse is named
desert grass called spinifex.
after the bushy, spikv
where it
I
band from the belly up each side. It rounded nose, and slim tail. It is gray- often lives. It obtains all its moisture
scamper through trees in search of brown above and white underneath. from leases, seeds, berries, and other
shoots, leaves, and other plant foods, and builds a strong surface nest of plant foods, never needs to drink, and
gripping with its sharp-clawed feet. sticks and twigs up to 5 ft 1.5m high. produces some of the most
concentrated urine of any
rodent. Very sociable, this
Hydromys chrysogaster len-yellow, ream, or
i
mouse lives in mixed-sex groups
even white, and the tail is of up to 1 0, shares nests, and breeds
Australian water rat thick and white tipped. This soon after am rainfall.
water rat is active at dusk and dawn
as a powerful predator of shellfish,
water snails, fish, Grogs, turtles, bud-.
mice, and even bats. -till hair- on the back and tail
give tin- mouse its common name.

It- lur varies from yellow to red, gray
LOQOOO \ Sooa unit [ndn idu .
oi brown above, and white below.

Taunanu A nocturnal forager, it takes anything
edible mainly grass blade- and seeds

Vs kSS - and build- only a rudimentary nest.
spe< ies, gestation is
Australia's heaviest native rodent has ">

6 weeks long for a mouse). Other
broad back feel and webbed •
females clean and assist the mother at

swimming, rhc upperparts vary from the birth, when the young an already
brown to gray, the underparts brown well developed, with open eyes.
RODENTS
Mus musculu The second most wideh distributed

mammal, aftei humans, this mouse SQUIRREL- LIKE LEAPER
House mouse survives on huge range of foods and
a Edible dormouse I he edible dormouse resembles
lives in a famil) group of dominant a squirrel with its long, bushy tail,
Length
male and several females. They large back legs for leaping in
communicate by high-pitched squeaks Tail 17m branches, and semi-upright
and mark their territory with scent
and urine. Maturity is at 8-10 weeks,
4jjT Weight .
posture.
dense fur
Its fine.
is brown m bushy
gestation 18-24 days, and litter size or silver-gray with
3-8. with 10 litters in favorable years. Location ( Social unit G dark eye patches and
Status Common The species has been widely bred for Status Low white underpays.
pets and scientific research.
I his species inhabits woods and out-

buildings, nesting in tree holes or
crevices in roofs and under
floors. It lays down fat in
autumn to provide reserves of

food for a 7-month hibernation
in a large, strong nest deep in a
burrow. The edible dormouse eats
leaves, seeds, fruits, nuts. bark,
mushrooms, sin. ill creatures such as
insects, and birds' eggs and chicks.
Like other dormice, it
Muscardinui avellanai in forms loose social group:

s
DEEP WINTER SLEEP and communicates In
Hazel dormouse squeaks and twitters.
While pregnant, the
Length .'
8.5 an female is solitary

Tail 2
Once "edible"
1
Weight
ancient Rome and
ra hod in autumn.
Location I ,
,. Social unit Individual
to be served at the dinner
Status Low table - hence its name.
m ik
Jaculus jaculus Allactaga tetradactyla
W
About the size of a house mouse Most dormice hibernate deeply
(see above:, the hazel dormouse is an in winter "dor" meaning Lesser Egyptian jerboa Four-toed jerboa
excellent climber and jumper. Feeding "sleeping" The hazel dormouse
.
mainly in trees, it changes its diet with rests for about 7 months in a nest
the season from flowers, grubs, and about 4 in <2cm in diameter -

1 Till I. "in
birds' eggs in spring and summer to larger than its summer quarters I5.i 18om
Weight Weight
seeds, berries, fruits, and nuts in This nest may be in a burrow or
autumn. Dormice are the onl) under moss or leaves. It stores
Social unit Individual Location N Social unit Individual
rodents that do not have a cecum food both in its nest and in its
a part the large intestine which
i >f . body as fat, to enable it to survive Status ( minion Status Endangered
ni.i\ indit ate that their diet is low in through the cold season.
cellulose. The nest is made of grass JL JL
in a thick bush or tree hole. Several
Variable coloration
individuals may live nearby and share Well adapted for desert sand, this
/ m common dormouse has yellow. red.
the feeding area. They communicate orange, or brou-n upperparts and a white underside.
jerboa has verj long hind legs, each
using a wide range of whistles and with ;i toes on a pad of hairs. It hops
growling noises. The female is .11 speed, balancing with its very long
pregnant for 22-24 days and has which has a black band near the
tail,
a litter of 2 -7young, with up fluffywhite tip. The fur is on iwn-

to 2 litters per war. ["he tail orange on the back, gray-orange
is bush) and its skin can along the sides, and whin- below
detatch if seized by a with a whitish hip band. The desert
predator. jerboa feeds at night on seeds, roots.
and leaves. By day. it plugs the
entrances to its burrow to keep out the
heat, predators, and other animals.
Each back foot of this jerboa has
an extra, fourth toe, which is small
compared to the 3 functional toes.
In other respects it is a typical jerboa,
with lis huge, hopping back feet and
tall, rabbitlike ears. The upperparts
are speckled black and orange, the
rump orange, the sides gray, and the
underparts while. The long, balancing
tail lias a black band near the white.
feathery tip. Emerging at night, the

jerboa eats grass, leaves, and soil seeds
CAVYLIKE RODENTS
crest of
Cavylike rodents
Erethizon dorsatum
long quills
North American
INCLUDED in mis "umbrella" «,roup
porcupine
are species as diverse as the semiaquatic
capybara. the largest living rodent: the New
Rodentia
Caviomorpl
World porcupines, which arc arboreal and
possess distinctive spines
tail: and African mole-rats, which
and a prehensile
live under-
*^P Ta.lt,
We.ght 73/»-|
[>m
5 lb
ground. The defining feature of the suborder Social unit Individual
is the organization of the jaw muscles (see

Status Common
and most species are characterized
p. 144,.
head, a sturdy body, a short tail, and slender

1>\ a relatively large
legs. Cavylike m Jfc
rodents are found throughout

The large crest of long quills, up to
Africa, the Amerii ,h.
3in (8cm long on the head, identifies
and Asia. safety in numbers
this stocky, short-limbed porcupine.
I he strong, broad feet have sharp
I i haras greatly
im rease the chances of
( lawsand naked soles, to aid grip.
splitting a predator I he Ninth American porcupine is Quills and fvr
before it ran very vocal, especially during courtship The main quills are yellow-uhite, u-ith black or
attack. in early winter, when it whines, brown tips. The rest of the body is furred and
screeches, grunts, mews, and hoots. spined in shades of broom.
CLUMSY CLIMBER
The North American porcupine
seems clumsy in trees. Vet it climbs
extensively for buds, bli
shoots, leaves, berries,and nuts. It

also eats grass and farm crops in
summer, and soft bark and conifer
needles in winter. Solitary most of
the year, it does not hibernate and
may share a den in cold spells.
Hystrix africaeaustralis These rodents sniff and forage for Coendou prehensilis
distances of up to 9 miles ikm at 1
Cape porcupine night, ale me. in pails, or in small Prehensile-tailed

groups, seeking roots, bulbs, berries,
porcupine
•
Length _>S-32in
10 an) and fruits. By day they rest in < aves
Tail 1 A -Sin or rocky i revices. After 6 8 weeks'
Length 2
10-5-13 cm gestation, the female produces 1 1
Location ( to southern
We.ght 441b
Social unit Variablr

young, and the male helps care for
them. The cape or crested porcupine
communicates by means of quill-
rattles, piping squeaks, and grunts.
w We.ght
Tail J.i
1 1 lb
Status Common
i«A. fat.
1
v Social unit Individual
Status Locally common*
1 he ('ape porcupine cannot an

spin,
shoot OUt its quills; but. if
1
intermingled alarmed, it raises them and I In- large, muscular porcupine climbs
It ith ordinary i harges ba< kward .it the enemy slowly bin surely with curved claws,
hairs 1 he quilK detai li easily and their naked-soled feet, and prehensile tail,
barbed tips work into the win. h is .ilinosi ,tv long a- the head
aggressor's flesh.
effe< Bvely detei .ui.u k-
animals, but these porcupines are
1 lies!- defenses
l>\ other
and body and lacks
lip. By da\ it sleeps
fur towards the
in a hole, in a tree
\
ii link, or in the ground. At dusk the
killed in large numbers In prehensile-tailed porcupine foi
humans because thes damage leaves, bark, linn-, and shoots, and
i rops, and Im their prized meat. inally small animals
. eyes set far

back in
rounded head
SIMM s \M) UIIISM KS

. fa handed
short bn.stli
ii uith
covered legs
RODENTS
Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris It is an excellent swimmer and diver

in rivers, lakes, and swamps. It DAILY ROUTINE
Brazilian guinea pig Capybara form- various groupings including
male-female pairs, families with
Length 8-liin
voting. <ind larger, mixed herds
\ Weight
dominated
with
roam a home
scent,
all
b)
females
and chase awa)

one male who mates
in his
range,
group.
marked with
I
intruders. After
hey
.1 1-8
gestation period of 150 days.
Status Common Status I

offspring usually 5 areborn fully
furred and can run. swim, and dive Capybaras rest in the morning,
Fss within hours of birth. The capybara's wallow during the midday heat,
numerous predators include humans, feed on water plants, buds, and
A close relative and perhaps ant estor The world's heaviest rodent, the who value the meat and hide. soft tree bark in the evening,
of the domestic pel guinea pig l capybara has partially webbed toe rest again around midnight, and
ihis is one of the smallest
. and its nostrils, eyes, ,
<;<-.
fin resume feeding toward dawn.
cavylike rodents. It has a large head, and ear- are set on They move on to find fresh
blunt snout, tail-less body, and short top of its head. grazing as necessary and may raid
leg-,with 4-toed front feet and 3-toed so that it can farm crops, which makes them
ten feet. The long, coarse fur is dark smell, see. pests in some areas.
gray-brown to black. It eats leaves, and hear
grasses, seeds, flowers, and bark. when
Guinea pigs live as close neighbors in swimming.
shrubby grassland, with communal
feeding runways but separate nest-.
Stoit swimmer
The capybara is heart' bodied, n-ith
short but sturdy limbs, hoojlikf clous,
and almost no tail.
Dolkholis palagonum
Patagonian mara
"
Length .
Tail lin
Weight
Loabon s Soulh America Social unre Pair
Status L. m cr risk Status Common Status EndinerrrtJ*
neck patch and whitish fringe to the

jtifc. short tail. The muzzle is long: the eyes ^_ Jl*. 3L
and ears large. The mara rails and
The mara or Patagonian cav-v is a jumps well, and is mainly a grazer on Pacas live alone, except for the mother
_- __i,l indent dial grass and low shrubs. Male-female and -ingle young, which -he -m kle-
resembles a -mall deer in looks and pairs stay together for life, digging a lor I) week-. This expert swimmer has
behavior. It has a white, collarlike large burrow lor their 1 3 offspring. a big head, squared-otl muzzle, robust
bodv. short, sturdv legs, and tinv tail.
The upper body brown, red. or

^îfc^^^f%_ is
I Dasyprocla azarae £_
grav with 4 pale "dotted-line"
stripes along each -ide: die
Azara's a g outi
Length -
f •
underpart- are white or buff The
pa< a rests in a burrow or hollow tree
In dav and emerge- to eat fruits,
Till lin
W' 1 leaves, bud-, and flowers at night.
It iffl The largest member of the chinchilla
Vfeghf tM ki- milv. the plains vi-cai ha lives in
/M*x. ^*** iVwl ~ noi-v colonic- of20 50. It dig-
Status Vulnerable
NflHHHHjBNHVH tunnel systems extending more than
'.'Suit 3l Mm At night it eat- a
.
uound the underside. I'he distinctive seeds, and roots, and collects sticks,
fi feet have 5 toe- on the front feet, but -tones, and Nines to pile at tunnel
3 on the hindleet. Azara's agouti eats entrances. The face is black and white
fill- Luge, social, dav-.u live •
and othei
a variciv of seeds, fruits, striped, the back is grav-brovvn fading
has prominent ears, short leg-, and a and barks when
plant material, to white underneath, and the tail is
tiny tail. It- fur is speckled pale to alarmed. People hunt for meat it brown tipped with black. The male is
mid-brown, perhaps tinged yellowish across much ol it- range. twice a- heavy as the female.
CAVYLIKI RODENTS
Endangered in the wild, the chinchilla 1 he strong, tapering, hairy tail and
Chini hilla lanigera Capromyi piloridt s
is common as a pet, with its appealing sharp, 1 nived elaws are adapted for
Chinchilla appearani e and usualrj h hi u IK nature. Desmarest's hutia support and gripping when tree
fhe fur is silver) gray-blue abovi and i limbing and when Imaging for its
cream or yellowish mi the underside, varied diet of fruits, leaves, soft bark,
with long gray and black hairs on the and, occasionally, lizards. latter size is
tail's uppei mh fa< e. In the wild, the 1 4. Hildas live onl) in the Caribbean,
Weight ill../ Weight 111
I I
chinchilla forms colonies of 100 oi
I ill.
and most species are either severer)
Mm ,1.1 ..
I
-1
7 kg
more in ro< k\ areas, shekel ing in 1 aves threatened or already extinct.
Social unit Group and most plant foods,
crevices. It eats Location i
Social unit [ndividual/Pai
Status Vulnerable
especially grass and leaves, sitting up Status I nil in I
to hold items m the front feet while
«* watching for danger. If threatened,

it rears up and spits hard at the
A
This rodent's thick, soft, -.ilk\ fur, aggressor. During the winter breeding Desmarest's hutia resembles a huge
which keeps out the bitter cold of its season, the female, which is larger vole with its typicall) bluntnosi largi
mountain habitat, has long been than the male, becomes more head, short neck, small ears, stock)
prized b) humans and. although now aggressi\e towards othei bulk, and short limbs. It has a white
protected, has been hunted and females. Up to 4 nose, red-brown to black upperparts,
farmed in main regions. young, but usual!) and gray 01 yellow-brown underparts.
2 — 3, are bin 11 alter a
Ihiik/y /mini station period of

bushy tail 1 1 1 days and are 1 1 1I1 mi s workers form head-to-tail
talus glaber
suckled for 6 - 8 "digging chains" to tunnel and gather
eeks. Naked mole-rat food. The naked mole-rat is not truly
naked but has pale, sparse hairs over
Length ; .11
B
its pinkish gray skin. As in other mole-
Tail I
rats, the massive incisor teeth are for
I
'
digging and eating, and the eyes and
Weight 1
ears are minute. The tail is rounded

and the limbs strong, with 5 thick-
Location E \l Social unit Group clawed toes, for digging. Colonies
Status Locall) i
01
consist of 70-80 individuals that
inhabit elaborate tunnel s\ stems.
JL Food-gathering galleries 6-20in
(15 -50cm) deep
up to 130ft radiate
This mole-rat's social system is unique 41 Im from the central chamber. New
among mammals. Only one dominant galleries are dug regularly for roots,
female, the "queen," breeds. She may bulbs, tubers, and other underground
have more than 20 pups per litter and plant parts. This rodent only surfaces
is tended by several nonworkers. The to travel to another colony.
Octodon degui Myocastoi coypus
Degu Nutria
Length In I2in
5 II cm
Tail i ".,,1
M+
Cryptomyi hottentotm Bathyergus janetta
I In 1
1 ivpu or nutria was farmed foi
us dense brown tm. bin escapees African mole-rat Namaqua dune

established colonies in man) areas
Length I
mole-rat
outside its native region.
head, small, high-sel eyes and ears, a
11 ibusl body, arched hindquai
It has a large-
tei s,
Tail
Icm
—
Weight
long, rounded tail, and webbed I
it I'
Tail
real feel Im rapid swimming.

he Location Southi Social unit Weight \
I e oypu eats most vegetation, e .....up
espee iall) water plants, and lives in Status Lea

Resembling mouse, Location n \\ u Social unit
,1 vci \ large this bankside tunnels in famil) groups. \\ \
mountain-dwelling rodent has a stoul M* Status Low

body Mainh brown, it has pale
underparts, and there ma) also be This moli--i.it has ,1 wide head, small JL kss
yellow lurry "lids'' above and below eyes and eai s, short, sturd) limbs.
i.ti li eye, and a yellow net k 1 ing. sun k\ body, and tliic k. dense fur. This spec ic-s tunnels in shifting sands,
The long tail, whic h has a tufted bla< k ( 1
1I1 H ation is pink-brown 01 gi a eiiln mi the nasi in inland h li\es
1 1
tip. breaks off easil) it grabbed b\ a .1 1 11 ive, w iih palei undei parts. Extra- 111 small colonies in a tunnel system up
predator. he degu lues m ninnies
I ,
large an is. 11 teeth bite through sml as 1 'li 200m long. I he large head
and cm avates extensive burrow will as bulbs, tubers, units, .mel other has missive protruding uu is, .1
%
systems. |i feeds b) da) on varied .1 subtei 'am an plant pat ts. ( lolonies ol the bod) is c \liinli 11 al, th< legs are
diet of plain mattei and. in die dr) 1 nidi\ iduals dig large, omplex
I 1
1 short bin strong and thi tail is tin)
season, cattle droppings, li stores runnel systems and store exi ess ,,| 1, ,,
The b.u k is dark brown, the sides
excess liind in tin burrow Im winter. alh mih the senioi pan breeds gray and thi hi ad and I
n U) I
ft
CETACEANS
CETACEANS
Cetaceans whales, dolphins, and porpoises
class Mammalia are perhaps the most specialized of all mammals
oader Cetacea with their fish-shaped, hairless body, flipperlike
FAMILIES 13 front limbs, and vestigial back limbs (located
SPECIES 8.;
within the body wall). However, they
arc true mammals: they breathe air
CLASSIFICATION NOTE
with lungs, and they have mammary
rhis book adopts ilu* traditional
method of classifying cetaceans, "lands with which they suckle their
whereb) the order is divided
into _' suborders the baleen
young. Cetaceans, which can be
whales and the toothed whales.
Alltiou^h carl\ moli
divided into baleen whales (such as
emed
ili. ii
-
baleen whales originated
to indicate
the humpback whale and the right
hum
relationship
the toothed whales, this
i< now in doubt.
whale),and toothed whales (such as
Baleen whales dolphins and porpoises), are found
'62 5
Toothed whales throughout the world's seas, and
-
mpp.161
some species live in tropical and
subtropical rivers. Many species,
including the blue whale, have been hunted in such
numbers that they are in danger of extinction.
ANATOMY
Cetaceans have a hairless, streamlined body to reduce water turbulence.
External projections are reduced to the essentials: flippers for steering, a
tail with '2 boneless, horizontal flukes fish have vertical flukes and usually .
a dorsal fin for stability. Even the genitals are concealed within folds. Other
adaptations to underwater life include a thick layer of blubber fat and oil
beneath the skin that conserves body heat, and
light, spongy, oil-filled bones. Cetaceans breathe
through one toothed whales) or 2 (baleen whales)

blowholes - muscular nostrils usually situated on
SENSES
the top of the head. Toothed whales have a brain Cetaceans have extraordinarily
that is relatively as large as that of primates, and sensitive healing. Vision is reasonable
they are known for their intelligence. Baleen - underwater it is excellent up
whales have a relatively smaller brain. to about 3 ift
1
|
Inn. and in air up
in',', 2.5m), but color vision is
li
formal very limited. Some species can focus

teeth both eyes ahead, above, or behind
them, and some can move their eyes
independently. Some freshwater
POWERFUL TAIL dolphins, however, are nearly or
um I beak I In cetaceans, the main entirely blind. Members of the
BALEEN WHALE TOOTHED WHALE propulsiveforte is the up-and- toothed whale group produce high- I
incoming incoming I
Instead of teeth, a baleen The teeth of the toothed dnu n nun email nf tin tail. frequency clicks for echolocation (reflected) clieks (reflected) clicks
whale has 111) 400 horny ,i hah group air ample, 1 Ins malum is pott ei/nl and ,in also communicate using
c USING ECHOLOCATION
(baleen) plak i on each tidt conical, and in most species enough for a whale, such as a wide range of sounds audible to Toothed whales avoid obstacles and catch
uf tin upperjaw. The inner numerous. I h,' jaws may tins humpback, in push two- humans. Other cetaceans employ prey by mulling lugh-jrequency clicks that are
edge of each plak has bristles be extended In form a beak, thirds a! its body out of the a variety of vocalizations, but these reflected off objects in their path. The melon (a
Used In Mill food. as seen in dolphins. icain when breaching. .iic less well studied. Cetaceans fluid-filled melling) changes shape to focus the
have no sense of smell. clicks. Incoming clicks pass through the jaw.
THE ASCENT THE FLIPPERS APPEAR STARTING TO GO DOWN ACROBATIC MANEUVERS

As this Southern right whale begins to breach, it The front flippers clear the surface as the whale As the upward surge, a huh is powered by the tail. As the whale crashes back into the wc
surfaces vertically, creating little water turbulence. continues to propel itself upward. L completed, nearly half of the whale is exposed. it also turns onto its side.
CETACEANS
OCEANIC GIANT
REPRODUCTION
This sperm whale has a typically large, elongated head Some whales, including rorquals (such as the humpback
that is continuous with the long, torpedo- shaped body. whale breed during the winter. They migrate from their
.
Like many cetaceans, sperm whales grow to enormous summer feeding grounds in polar seas to tropical wains
proportions - in males, up to 59ft (1 8m) in length usually around island groups or close inshore where they .
and over 55 tons (50 tonnes) in weight. give birth and then immediately become pregnant again.
In spring they return to colder waters to feed. Other whales
may breed seasonally, but do not migrate to do so. In all
cetaceans, copulation is very brief. The male's penis, which
is S-shaped. is held inside the body wall. It becomes erect WTiales have been hunted by
not by filling with blood but by straightening as a result of humans throughout history for
muscular action. After giving birth, the mother and in some their meat, bones, and blubber.
dolphins other members of the pod assists the newborn to In the 20th century, with the
the surface to take its first breath. emergence of intensive hunting
and new technology, such as factor)
CALF SUCKLING ships above;, species numbers
loung cetaceans are suckled on declined dramatically. However, the
milk until they are old enough International Whaling Commission
tn eat solidfood. The nipples banned hunting of certain species
of this Atlantic spotted in 1966. and these have recovered
dolphin are housed in a somewhat. Commercial whaling

pouch in the body was completely banned in 1986.
wall, as is typical The most serious threat to smaller
of cetaceans. cetaceans today is drowning when

they are caught in fishing nets.
SURVIVING UNDERWATER
Even though all cetaceans breathe air. they are able to remain
underwater for extended periods, returning to the surface only to
exhale "blow" In order to remain underwater, the heart rate
.
slows by a the water pressure squeezes blood out

half. .Also,
of the vessels near the skin - the blood can then nourish
die vital organs. The water pressure compresses the lungs,
which forces air into the trachea and nasal passages
where some of the air is absorbed by foamy secretions
along the respiratory tract wall. Some toothed
whales dive to great depths in search of prey.
RE-ENTERING THE WATER GOING UNDER MAKING A SPLASH THE WHALE DISAPPEARS
math In n ,i hah As the head disaf't >ntflipper I lu whale's rr-oifrj creates a huge splash compared With the .
ird up to 3,300fi (1,000m) away. and part of the body is risible. with the initial breach uf the waters tut/ace. again. Why whales breach
understood.
CETACEANS
Baleen whales
water. Rorquals are more active winter the) migrate to tropical
THE MOST STRIKING feature of baleen
hunters and usualh surround their water-. Here, although they feed
whales is their size,which ranges from prey.As the) feed, the grooves in little, they give birth and mate again
Cetacea up to 21ft (6.5m) in the pygmy right the throat are relaxed, and the lower immediately. In spring they then
jaw becomes a vast sac into which slowly move back toward higher
Mysticeti I whale
(33m) in the blue whale.
to 1 10ft
water is gulped. When the water is latitude-, with their suckling ( alves.
Also characteristic are the baleen expelled, the prey remains on the Although humpback whales usually
plates., which filter prey from the water. baleen plates. The larger species of migrate along coastlines, other
rorquals have finer bristles on their rorqual- prefer deeper water. Gray
The group consists of the gray whale,
baleen plates, which trap crustaceans whale- migrate farther than any
the rorquals which include the humpback whale and the such as krill and sometimes small other mammal: approximately
blue whale), and right whales. Although commonly fish. Smaller species have coarser I2,450miles 20,000km each year.
bristles to catch larger crustaceans
found in .Antarctic and Arctic regions, they are distributed and small fish. The gray whale feeds
Communication
throughout all the world's oceans, usually in deep water. by stirring up sediments with its Baleen whale- communicate using
relatively short, firm snout then a variety of sound-, from squeals to
gulping down its prey, often together rumbles. The most (ami ius whale
Anatomy Feeding with -and. silt, and pebbles. sounds are the "songs" of male
All whales in this group have 2 rows While the gray whale feeds on small humpbacks. These are produced
of baleen plates see p. 60 that are
1 1 crustaceans called amphipods which
Migration during winter breeding and consist
anchored to either side of the upper are found on the sea bottom right
. Most baleen whale species are of a repeated series of high and low
jaw. To support these structures, whales and rorquals eat planktonic migratory. Rorquals, which are notes that are gradually varied as
the jaws are elongated. .As a result, crustaceans, which live near the known for traveling long the season progresses. The songs are
the head, which has 2 blowholes, is surface. Right whales feed distances, feed in die communication in the
vital for vast
large in relation to the body. In by swimming slow ly Arctic and Antarctic oceans. Other species employ
right whales, the head comprises through dense shoals where krill is different sounds: the fin whale, for
up body length, and the
to half the of prey with their abundant during example. pr< (duces a call that i>
jaws are deep to accommodate long mouths open, the summer. In below die range of human hearing
baleen plates The body is relatively
. skimming the autumn and and travels huge distances
short and stout. Rorquals, on the plankton out through the ocean.
other hand, have a long, slender of the
body, and shorter baleens.
BALEEN WHALES
Eschnchtius robus* CONSERVATION SPY-HOPPING

Gray whale Gray whales feed near to shore,
so they are accessible to watchers,
^\«*^'" especially in the East Pacific. These
whales migrate groups of up to
in
*i
sW&jM r
0. north to the Arctic for summer
1
Â*$'&'9; -
feeding,and south to warm-water

lagoons to rest and produce calves
l
Social unit Group in winter. They make the longest
Endangen'd migrations of any mammal, up to
Status
12,500 miles 20,000km yearly.

Populations in the East Pacific have
risen since legal protection was
^SesS^^S^- -—
Gray whales filter-feed like other introduced in 194t>. However.
baleen whales. Unusually, however, Wisi Pacific numbers are still low. Many baleen whales, including
on diving to the shallov
the) also rely the gray whale, "spy-hop,"
seabed, scooping up huge mouthfuls becoming vertical in the water
series of 8-9 bumps mottled gra) r&n
with the head well out. They may
of mud. and filtering worms, starfish
replace dorsal fin encrusted with
shrimp, and other small creatures be detecting other whales, viewing
barnach r, ,, hah li,,,
with their short, coarse baleen. This and othn landmarks, or checking w ater
;
whale's sounds include grunts, wails, currents for migration. ( Si a\
moans, and clacking knocks whales swim in a coordinated

but the function of these way, staying in line or an hing
sounds is little out of the water together
understood.
Eubalaena glacialis Balaena mystketus The bowhead whale has a massive

FILTER FEEDING head, around one-third of the total
Northern right whale Bowhead weight. The bowhead stays near
spreading polar ice all year, enduring
weeks of darkness when it may echo-
sound to navigate between and under
floes. It surface-skims with its mouth
slightly agape. Dives of 5-15 minutes

also allow it to feed in midwater
or even grub at the bottom. The
newborn calf is 13 1 (4— 4.5m)
5ft
long and is suckled for 5 - 6 months.
I In most endangered of the large The northern right whale

w hales, this massive whale is at risk feeds alone or in small groups,
from collisions with ships and from swimming with mouth open to
fishing equipment because it swims filter plankton as water rams into
slowly, dives foi only a lew minutes, its mouth. The narrow baleen
and feeds ne.n the surface. It migrates plates, mainly blue-black but
to the far north or south in summer sometimes white, are up to
and returns to warmer, midlatitude 'i /dt 3m) long hey number
1
waters in winter, when die female 200 270 on each side of the
produi es i all I I 20fi 1 -6m) characteristically down-
I
in blowholes give a bushy, curved upper jaw.
V-shaped blow. Sounds in, ludi
flipper-slaps and breaching. I hi 1
bowhead has the longest

baleen of anv whale, flu- brown
or blue-black baleen plates rea< h
fill I. Inn in length, with
-'
K) 1 10 plati ! .H h side of the
strongly < urved oi "bowed" upper
|,iws hern e iwhead tin name In .
whale has no throat g

fills ves
Hi ,.l H£AD and no dorsal fin either, giving Us
body surfai e a remarkably
inn Inn, i, , I
appi .n.iiH ,
hale h<>
CETACEANS
migrations from high latitudes in

noplera physalus
summer, where it feeds on fish and RIGHT-SIDED FEEDING
Fin whale krill. toward tropical regions for Fin whales carry out high-speed
winter and breeding. The gestation lunge-feeding on krill and fish such
period is months, the newborn calf
1 1 as capelin or herring. The whales
21ft (6.4mj long, and weaning takes synchronize attacks and take in huge
place at 9-10 months. This means volumes of water, close the mouth,
each female has only one offspring and force out the water to trap fish
every 2 years, so low populations take on the baleen. The whale swims on
its right side, which may be why the
Location W'nrltUvui.- excepl Social unit Variable
decades to recover.
I Mediterranean Bala
Red Sea, Arabian < mil Status Endangered left part of the mouth is black but
Fin, flippers, and flukes
the right is white. Such asymmetry in
I Ik tni < bale's back, flippers, and flukes are gray.
The dorsal Jin. set two-thirds of the wen along tht

color is very unusual in mammals.
back, has a concave rear edge.
The fin whale is the second-largest
whale, and one of the
fastest. In addition to
some hums and squeals, it
produces an immensely loud, deep

moan that can be heard hundreds
of miles away. Like other great
whales, the fin whale undertakes long
Balaenoptera musculus swells to four times the normal width.

It closes its mouth, expels the water,
Blue whale and swallows the thousands of food
items retained by the baleen. Feeding
Length .... 9811
occurs mainly in summer, in and near
Weight I lOi/i 1761/4 rich polar waters. The blue whale is
thought to migrate to warmer, lower

latitudes for winter, when the females
give birth. The calf is 23ft '
7m long.
Location Worldwide is. .pi SocialunitIiidiMitn.il
2Vs tons (2.5 tonnes) in weight, and is
Mediterranean Balm Red
Si .i \i ..I .i.iij I >i ill Status Endangered suckled for 6-8 months. Blue whales
are usually solitary or in mother-calf \\ hen milking a deep dive, the
pairs, although the) may gather as whale "headstands." exposing its
loose groups to feed. They make distinctively wide tail flukes, then
The biggest animal on the planet, the grunts, hums, and moans, which at descends steeply to a maximum
blue whale can consume more than volumes greater than 180 decibels are depth of some 655ft (200m). The
7 tons (6 tonnes) of Euphausiidae the loudest of an) creature sounds. long, narrow flippers play no part
(small crustaceans), of which its diet in propulsion, the thrust coming
almost exclusively consists. It lunges
Venting the blowhole from the powerful back muscles
into a school of prey and its throat On return to the surface, the whalt releast a 1
thai swish the rear body and
"blow,
" abuul
)()[t (9m) high, made up of warm. flukes up and down.
Streamlined giant humid ah fi""i the lungs, mucus, and ocean water.
The hlue whale has a slim outline. * tpei mil] n:
winter, although itfattens in summer. Tht tiny

dorsal fin is \et well to the rear.
near the tail. Its coloration
is inaiiilv pale
blue-gray.
55 68 ikin gi
pleats run along half

ihi body length
( )ne i)l two similar species with ibis gray coloration thai is paler on the spci ies nl Bryde's whale are rapid
Balaenoptera edeni
name (pronounced "Broodah's" . the underside. 40 70 throat grooves, swimmers, changing speed and
Bryde's whale pygmy Bryde's whale is mainl) 1 oastal coarse-bristled baleen plaits, and a direction frequently. They sui
in the Eastern Indian and West Pacific small dorsal fin sei two-thirds ol die steeply 10 reveal the head first, arch
Oceans. The mine wa\ along the stock) body These Over, and expose the rear of the body
1
larger, offshore
Bryde's whale Balaenoptera brydei is whales dive for up lo 21) minutes to Inn not the tail flukes as they dive.
found in the Atlantic and Indian feed mainl) mi schooling fish and The female reaches sexual maturity al
( )i and parts of the North, East

rails, krill. They usually live alone or in 8 1 1 years and produces a single calf
and South Pacific. Apart from thru small, loose herds, but ma) gather in alter a gestation of 12 1111. mils
Location tropica] and Social unit Variabli
size difference, both species have blue- dozens where pre) is plentiful. Both
'
shaped dorsal fin
3 ridges on moui
40 70 %km
•
•1 pleats pah underside
BALEEN WHALES
Balaenoptrra borealis
Sei whales frequent more temperate There are 320 - 340 close-spaced, schools of 2 - 5 individuals. They
"
l/8-25°C than their delicate-fringed baleen plates hanging rarely dive deeper than 1 ,000ft
Sei whale more widespread close cousins, the from each side of the upper jaw. staying underwater for up
I
blue and fin whales. The sei whale is These enable sei whales to eat a to 20 minutes. Most births among
slender with a long. slim, pointed variety of plankton, from copepods sei whales are single, although twins
head and slightly dow ncurved jaw water-flea-like crustaceans less than occur occasionally.
line. Its upper surfaces are dark gray, 2/5 in 1cm across to schooling fish
with a relatively sharp transition to and squid 1 2in 30cm long. Sei
distinctively tall,
the white or pale gray underside. whales are usually found in
. pointed dorsalfin
smallflukes
approximately 50 .
throat en
Balaenoptera acutorostrata The smallest of the near ice sheets, coasts, fjords, and isborn in midwinter and weaned
rorqual whales, the minke has small estuaries. It feeds alone by gulping after about 4 months. A smaller
Minke whale baleen plates. 1 2in 30cm long, vi ith in tight-knit swarms of krill or fish. minke whale was recently recognized
230-360 in each side of the upper Yet it is not shy. and will approach as a separate species - the Antarctic
jaw. It has no universal migration stationary boats. The 9 A ft 3m calf minke Balaenoptera bonaerensis
pattern and is found in a variety of
» aters, including open ocean and
DOLPHINLIKE WHALE
Smoky patterns
The minke has a dolphinlike shape,
Sr; i .- : Indjivlu-tj The minke haj> gray, "smoky" patches where the
with a sharp snout, pointed head,
black back meets the white belly. The white band
Status Lo*»tr rel
on the flipper may extend to the chest.
and a ridge from the snout up to the
paired blowholes, which are
t= set well back on the
forehead. It is a
speedy, agile swimmer,
able to "surf" huge ocean
breakers, and makes an occasional
spectacular surface lunge.
smoky patches /
Mtgaptera noiaeangliae the knobby leading edges to the "cylinders" of underwater bubbles to Body and fins
longest flippers of any animal. In spite herd fish. An extremely vocal whale, it The humpback whale has a dumpy body and a
Humpback whale of its size, it is graceful and athletic, also emits numerous sounds, perhaps fatty pad at the base of the dorsalfin. which is
being able to leap out of the water partly to coordinate its feeding. In
variable in shape, from almost flat to tall and
trumgular. The span of the tailflukes is about
see below The humpback whale
i. winter cahing areas, solitary males
one-third the length of the head and body.
migrates from cold, food-rich summer produce a long, complex series of
u aters near the poles to warmer, sounds of amazing variety see
coastal shallows at lower latitudes below right
for winter cahing. Pregnant females
spend the longest in the feeding areas. fatty pad
Status Vulnerable It has a wide array of food-gathering
methods and small groups

kr= cooperate in blowing
"curtains
\ 12-36 throat
grooves or
The humpback pleats
whale is dark blue-
black above, with
paler or white patche SINGING
below. Color
variations,
particularb on the slight ndge from
underside of the an be used to
tail, < dorsalfin to tail
identify individual humpbacks, as can
BREACHING
The humpback whale generates
flippers up to I
fy
one-third q) f
sufficient upward lorn with it--
total body ' a the male humpback
>I
tail to lift almost all of its 20-plus length V.^ whale develops from year to war.
tons out of the water. It then Lasting up to 30 minutes, it may
twists in the airand falls on its attract females, warn off males,
Dack with a tremendous splash. or be a form of sonar to detect
leading edge to flippers
It is not lear why whales "bn-ai h,"
i
other whales. Above, a male
(pectoralfins) has
as mic h a movement oui of the humpb.uk moves into a singing
knobs or tubercles
water is It ma\ be to
(ailed. reatc I
posture, hanging vertically with
massive sound waves oi to ease head downward some
irritation from skin parasites. i'10-40m below the sui
CETACEANS
Toothed whales
PHYIUM Chorda ta A MUCH MORE diverse group than the at the front of the skull . Another teeth to hold wriggling prev. while
feature of many toothed whales is those that eat squid or octopu-e~.
CLASS Mammalia baleen whales, toothed whales make the Mieamlined head and the long, for example, have fewer teeth. Sperm
OKDEII Cetacea up almost 90 percent of all cetacean^. narrow beak seen in most species. whales have functional teeth only
The group in the lower jaw which is very
"—IT— Odontoceri consists of dolphins Feeding
<1 narrow and prey is held firmly
.
-i- . £5 9 including the killer whale . river While baleen whales trap their prey between these teeth and the
SPECIES 71 dolphins, porpoises, white whales, sperm en masse, toodied w hales capture roughened palate in the upper jaw.
whales, and beaked whales. Most are victims individually. The even, .All toothed whales use echolocation
conical teeth found in this group see p. 1 60 to help find prey and to
medium sized - although the sperm whale grows to up are perfect for catching slippery avoid objects in their path .
to 59ft id 8m) - and all possess teeth instead of baleen fish, which form the diet of most
Sperm Social behavior
plates. On the forehead, there is a fluid-filled swelling
species. whales, however,
mostly eat squid but also other Most toothed whales live in pods.
called the melon, in front of which there is usually a prey, such as octopuses . and beaked which vary in size from less than
beak. Most species are found all over the world in whales have a mixed diet of fish 10 to over 1,000 as seen in some
and squid. Killer whales eat other dolphin species The exact
deep water and coastal shallows, although a few live .
whales which they attack in organization of these associations

in freshwater. Some toothed whales migrate, but only packs fish, and seals, which they
. is poorly understood, although it is
the sperm whale travels long distances. sometimes seize from land, using thought that subgroups form to
waves to slide onto the beach. Thev perform independent tasks, such as
will also upset sheets of pack ice to feeding. Thi^ suggests the presence
Anatomy toothed whales have only one knock prey into the water. of complex social structures. Some
Toothed \\ hales have simple, blowhole, which means that the Fish-eating species including killer species, especially killer whales,
conical, pointed teeth that are not >kull is asymmetrical. The single whales usually have numerous appear to practice cooperative
divided into incisors, canines, blowhole usually opens at die hunting, whereby previs "herded"
premolars, and molars (as in most top of the head except in the trapped or surrounded. When
until
other mammals Each . tooth has a sperm whale, where swimming in formation, dolphins
single root and is either straight or the opening is often leap out of the water, which
slighdy curved. One set of teeth may simply be playful behavior,
lasts the whales lifetime. The or it may function as a type
number of teeth present varies of communication.
from more than 40 pairs in
each jaw in some dolphins,
io a single pair in the
lower jaw in beaked
whales. Unlike
baleen w hales,
'/
TOOTHED WHALES
1
1. ins oi lower, sharp teeth. The front Lipotes vexillifer
lakes and waterways. Like other river
Plata,'1151(1 v(lli<'t lit li
teeth extend outside the beak's tip. to dolphins, the Yangtze river dolphin
Ganges river dolphin form a < atching cage for fish, shellfish, Yangtze river has a long, thin beak and flexible
and similai prey on or near the neck, to grub in the mud for fish and
bottom. The flexible neck allows the dolphin other prey. There are 30-35 pairs of
head to bend at right .ingles as the Length )
peglike teeth in both upper and lower
dolphin grubs in the mud or "s< ans" jaws. Its tiny eyes are not fully formed,
the area with echolocaring sound Weight Z so this dolphin probably navigates by
pulses. The Ganges river dolphin lives touch and echolocation. Shy and
Location S Vu li Social unit
'
in small groups, usually 4-6 but secretive, it lives in small groups of

Brahi |
Status Endangered
occasionally up to 30. However, its 2-6. It faces a multitude of threats:
Systems Location K Asia Chang Social unit Variable
social life and breeding habits are depletion of prey by over-fishing,
its
»« larger) unknown. There are 2 sub- Status Critically endangered blockage of migratory travel routes
its
species: Platanista gangetica minor in the by dams, collision with boats,

Also known In the local names susu Indus river and its tributaries, and fa pollution by chemicals and waste, and
and bhulan, this ex( lusively freshwatei Platam\tn gangetu a gangetica in the engine noises that interfere with its
species has distinctively broad flippers <ranges Brahmaputra rivet system. One of the least-known dolphins, this echolocation. It has also been hunted
and a narrow beak armed with
Ions;, Both are extremely rare and face species is also called the baiji. It illegally for its meat and for its body
26-39 pairs of upper, and 26-35 numerous threats from humans. and middle Chang
inhabits the lower parts, used in traditional medicines.
Jiang Yangtze River and associated
Inia geqffn way and food mainly by echolocaring

sound pulses. The pink river dolphin CAUTIOUS APPROACH
Pink river dolphin has 25-35 pairs of teeth in both Known for its slow, apparendy
upper and lower jaws. At the front, lethargic lifestyle, the pink river
the teeth are peglike, for seizing prey, dolphin usually lives alone or in
but at the rear they are flatter with twos, occasionally in groups of up
peaks or cusps, and thus suited to to 20. In some areas it may approach
crushing freshwatei nabs, river boats or swimmers out of curiosity,
turtles, and armored catfish. The but in regions where it is hunted it
single calf, 32in 80cm long, is born has become more cautious.
Status Vulnerable
between May and July.
fe
.Also called the Amazon river dolphin
or boto (boutu . this species ranges
through the Amazon and Orinoi o fe
river systems. It possesses a long, slim
beak and flexible neck, for poking in
mud for prey during short dives of 1- Jf touch-sensi
touch rtnsitivt
2 minutes. Being small-eyed and living JV bristh i on beak
in murky water,it probably finds its
Drlphinapterus lem In- beluga, or while whale, keeps the bulging melon. The beluga feeds
CONSERVATION
I
11 i.i ii il\ to the edges of the Arc In li e on fish, mollusks. crustaceans, and
Beluga Gelds and has been radio-tracked other prey, which it crushes with its There is growing risk posed to this
fining lo 985ft SOOm . presumably 8-11 pairs of teeth in the upper jaw species by pollution of its native
Length I i- 18 ft
I
',
,m navigating In echolocation to find and 8-9 pairs below. The calf is dark waters. Moreover, hunting of the
Weight prey and breathing holes. This vocal gray and 5ft (1.5m) long at birth. It is beluga in small numbers is still
[ 5 lonni w hale emits vai ied alls including i paler by 2 years old, and blue-tinged permitted, and may add to the
squeaks, whistles, mews, i lii ks. and white In the age "I 5 years. threat to populations of tins whale
hums. These are audible through the in some areas of its Arctic range.
hulls ,,i boats, giving the beluga iis All-white whale
Status Vulro rabli nickname of sea .man. i he outgoing
I The only all-while cetacean, the adult beluga
. holoi .Hum sounds an

i
fix used by blend' with the Arctic iceflors and iccbi
unmet moti.
CETACEANS
lipsand tongue. Like belugas

Monodon monoceros MALE NARWHALS TUSK
indeed, often withthem narwhals
Narwhal can sometimes form large a hools of The narwhal's tusk grows with
thousands, which nu\ be segregated a<;e. through the upper lip.
Length 13- lift
".
h\ age and sex. he) communicate
1 spiraling clockwise, to reach
I I IT.
with a wide variety of sounds. 9 li im li ing. It may be a

im hiding humlike tunes which swordlike weapon to "fence" rival
ma.) be foi individual recognition. males at breeding time. Any use
in feeding seems unlikely, since
Social unrt Group most females lack tusks, but
Coloration An occasional male
survive well.
Tin nam hal (fanale pictured here) is fpedUedgrqf
ha- 2 tusks, or a female has one.
and black on a pale background, with more patches
fc= ( merging into larger areas oj dart. ^rfli.
The narwhal has the most

northerl) range of any mammal,
among and does of
icefields
An lii waters. It has onh one
growing tooth, the upper left
incisor, which forms a long tusk (see
C-shaped
right). Fish, mollusks. crustaceans, and small flippers
flukes
other prey are probably sucked into with upturned
the mouth by the narwhal's powerful tip
Phocoena phocoena activity. A major danger is being Phocoena sinu mammals. .\lso called the Gulf of
snared in underwater fishing nets California porpoise, its habits are little
Harbor porpoise when, as an air-breather, it Vaquita known. It is often solitary but may
asphyxiates. Apart from humans, also form small groups of up to
its main predators are killer whales, 7 individuals. It has a mixed diet of
Weight III! _>OOII> bottlenose dolphins, and large sharks. Weight 1051b small fish, squid, and other pre) Oil
The harbor porpoise general!) forages or near the seabed, and uses high-
alone, in waters down to 655ft (200m), frequency clicks for echolocation.
for seabed dwellers such as fish and The main body color Ls gray, darker
Social unit Variable Social unit VanahU-
shellfish. It uses very high-pitched above than below and also around the
Status Vulnerable echolocation and grips prey with it* Sratus ( ntn.ilh cndiJiirtrid eyes and mouth. The calf is only
spade-shaped teeth, numbering 28 - 32in 70- HI tern long at birth and
22 28 pairs in the upper jaw and t= is suckled by tin- mother for several
21 25 in the lower. Groups usually months. Such threats as entanglement
The most numerous cetacean over form because prey such as schooling This small porpoise's very restricted in fishing nets leading to over 30
much of its range, the harbor or fish are particularly rich in small range, in shallow waters less than deaths a year), pollution, boat noise,
common porpoise has nevertheless The single calf is born in early
areas. 130ft 40m deep at the and oil exploration make the vaquita's
suffered, like other inshore sea summer and cared lor by the mother northern end of the Gulf of future bleak.
creatures, as a result of human for up lo 12 months. California, makes it one of the
most \nlnerable of all sea
black or chocolate
brown back
Neophocaena phocaenoides ii leaps from the water onh rarely yet 10 or more. Small lish. mollusks. and
snout make it distinctive among the it may "spyhop" in the manner ol I uM.u cans on or near the sea bed
i
Finless porpoise 6 porpoise species. The finless whales, holding its bod) vertically, half are aught using the 3 22 pairs
i 1 i <(
porpoise frequents coastal waters out of the water, as though standing spade-shaped teeth in both upper
around the Indian and West Pa< ilk up to look around. It feeds alone or in and lower jaws. They sometimes
( )i cans, including estuaries and up small groups ol i 5, occasionally follow pre) on small-scale,
rivers. Like other porpoises and seasonal migrations.
unlike dolphins
W Social unit Variable
fc=
I. .u k .ii a dm sal fin makes this
medium-sized porpoise diffii nit to

identify, oi even see, as ii sui
briefl) and mils gentl) whili

breaths, fhe vaguely dolphinlike
TOOTHED WHAI ES
flippers are small compared to the Sousa teuszii feeds mainly on schooling fish. It has
PhiH oenoides dalli
body, and there are 23-28 pairs of 27 S8 pairs of stubb) teeth in ea< h
Dall's porpoise teeth in theupper jaw and 24-28 in Atlantic humpback jaw 1 his ili ilphin fi >i ms * hi »
the lower jaw Small schools ol Dall's to _'">

and jl-ii .inmii i. Hi > with humans,
porpoises sometimes merge to form dolphin following shrimp boats lor disturbed
Weight 180 11. i
II. \.im groups numbering thousands. fish or herding Ssh toward shore-
Length
They make a variety of clicking based nets in return for a share of
sounds, and feed on 1Kb and squid .'• the catch. It is very similar to Soma
from pilchards at the surface to plumbea, which frequents the Indian
Location North I Social unit I ,i.... (
.
lanternfish at middle depth. I he) < an ( )i .m. and Sousa hinaisii in the
i >
Status I "w r n.k swim up to about 34mph jjkpln. coastal West Pacific. The Atlantic-
Location VI.
I
humpback dolphin, however, i-- slate
Status l>- .1
gray with pale underparts. 1 hose in
donalfin the Indian Ocean are larger and

ts darker, perhaps with blue-black flecks.
Individuals around China are
The Atlantic humpback dolphin smallest, almost pink with gray flecks
inhabits shallow coasts, reefs, around the head and eyes, and the
mangrove swamps, estuaries, and dorsal tin lacks the inward curve on
rivers. It swims slnwK and its trailing edge.
white flank
This large, robust-bodied, rapid- pah 1
swimming porpoise is mainly bl.uk

except for a v, hite patch along each
flank and perhaps white tips to the melon forms I
flukes and dorsal fin. The head and angle with beak
Solatia Jluviatilis
coasts and river estuaries of northeast It may leap, somersault, and surf some places, local tradition forbids
South America, and as a river form in waves - but the reason for this is not hunting these dolphins. However,
Gray dolphin the lower reaches and lakes of the Prey up to 14in 33cm long
clear. is many are accidentally asphyxiated in
Amazon system. It is a different swallowed whole, ini hiding fish such fishing nets, and some are deliberately
Length * 1/4-6 '/2ft
species than the solely freshwater pink as anchovies and catfish, and squid. In killed for meat or fishing bait; the
river dolphin (see p. 167). The gray eyes and other parts have been valued
lan>e dorsal
dolphin lives alone or in twos as love charms.
fin
although larger schools occur, up to
Hi in rivers and 30 around the coast. prominent
Social unit \ m .1.1. beak
large, broad
tail ihihi i
ks=
The gray dolphin is one of the

smallest dolphins, stocky with large
flippers, flukes, and dorsal fin. It
occurs as a marine form around the flippei ban
Lagerwrh\n(hu\ as 3 subspecies based respectively schooling fish, such as anchovies, and

obsi urui
an Hind South Anierii a LagtVi squid: off New Zealand feeding is CONSERVATION
Dusky dolphin t\ fitzrovi . southern Africa mainly by night at middle depths.
[Lagenorhynehus obscurm obscurus . and Schools of duskv dolphins change
New Zealand unnamed . It prefers rapidly in sizeand composition.
waters ol 50 64°1 10 I8°C and varying numbei from 2 up to
in
less than 035ft 200m deep. Oil 1.000. Groups often engage in much
South America it feeds In da\ on leaping, chasing, and rubbing
Complicated patterns
I hi ilinii dolp/un has complex markings
in shad
i
a distint .'/ .
Like mam cetaceans, the dusks

The dusky dolphin i dolphin is at risk because ii i hases
mainly dark gray to us s( hi toling pre) into nets thai
blue-black on its people have sei to i ati h the same
upperside. and fish, [angled and unable to swim
pale gray or .i breathe properly,it soon
white on the asphy xiates, I his

iindri side. These areas are -|>ri lis is .lis,.
separated by a tapering gray stripe hunted oil the

from the face along the flank to near i nasi <>l Pa ii I, ,i its flesh, used as
the tail base. he head has a smooth
I
bait foi lisluiiL;. and as meal foi
profile that widens ui.nlu.ilK from direct human consumption.
beak to blowhole. The spe< ies o< i urs
CETACEANS
chus oblit/uidens the beak to level with the dorsal lin.

torhynchus alb distint angle. Coloration is main!)
t
A p. tie stripe from the tail basi extend dark gnq or black with variable gray
Pacific white-sided forward to level with the dorsal fin, White-beaked or white pan he- extending along tin
then it may fork, an iniiu ovei the upper and lowei Hanks: the underside.
dolphin shoulder region to near the eye. 1 his
dolphin including the beak, tends to be white.
dolphin eats a v alien of fish and It has _'_' 27 pairs of robust, cone-
Length
squid, using 23-36 pairs of small shaped teeth in both upper and lower
Weight teeth in both the upper and lowei jaw jaws, lm feeding on open-water
It forms fast-changing schools -i hoofing lish sui h as herring,
numbering tens to thousands, and although seabed-dwelling flatfish and
often associates with other dolphins squid are also eaten. I he single tall.
Location Nonh l'.u il'n Social unit Group Social unit Group
and whales. After a gestation period I h 4ft I in 120cm long, is born,
of 10 12 months, the femali . like man) other dolphins, in summer.
birth to a single t all. whit h is ilt White-beaked dolphin- congregate in

'•fit in Ions;. This dolphin makes up kv~ rapidly changing schools numbering
a sizeable part ol the i ,iti h in some > to iin ire :li. u. 1 ,1 H hi. They
Distinguished l>v it- Capering fishing industries of the I his large, stocky an dolphin is produce machinegun-like bursts "l
head, coloration, and tall dorsal northwest Pacific Ocean. acrobatic swimmer. Its stubb) beak t and a range of squeal- to
lit k-
fin, t hi-, dolphin often rides ship b( meets du- bulging melon of communicate with each other and
waves in theNorth Pacific. It has , the forehead at a also to navigate and find prey
dark ba< k. a gray-white bell
and a lower Hank
p. it. li from
Grampus griseus coloration. It forms schools of 10-15. many other dolphins. Risso's dolphin
but these may aggregate into groups suffers from human activities. It is
Risso's dolphin ot several hundred- mixed with othei asphyxiated in fishing net-.
cetaceans, especially smaller dolphins accumulates pollutants in thebody

and pilot whales. through tin- lm id chain, and -wallow
In i ommon with pie< es "I plastic and other refuse.
R1--1 i's dolphins dive deeply

and eat mainly squid. Water
I In- distim live dolphin is readily darkens with depth, so sounds of
identified by its large size, et holocation are more important
blunt and "beakless" than sight for locating prey
head, i entral i reasi Parties of dolphins may monitor
White with age
down the bulging each other's clicks and echoes,
1 1 bunds and scratches at i umulate u ith age. These
melon, tall dorsal heal as pa i. Older individuals,
to find pre\ more efficiently.
fin. and overall gray, white-scarred ppear almost white.
Tursiops truncatus the West Pacific. There ma\ even fin. In colder, open oceans thev are
be more spe< ies, considering the wide almost twit e .1- long, with propor-
ADAPTABILITY
Bottlenose dolphin variation across regions and habitat-. tionately smaller extremities. Social The bottlenose dolphin, named
Around tropical coasts, the botdeni isi groupings and feeding methods are alter its short and robust beak.
dolphin an average of 6 h
is ft 2m similarly varied over its range, as are i- an adaptable, successful
long, and has relativek large flippers, the leaps, water-slaps, sounds, and generalist It eats many kinds of
flukes, and dorsal calls of the bottlenose dolphin. lish. inollu-k-. and crustaceans,
which it grips with 18-27 pair- of
small, conical teeth in both jaws.
Location \\
1 he largest ol the beaked

di Iphins, [In- 1- tin' "p. 1 foi ming
-pi 1 ies "I in. 11 me life ( enters. In fa( t
then- are prohahlv two spet ies;
1 5 c •
•. whi' h 1- found Variable coloration
worldwide, and the -mallei i
"(oration of dark gray or blatk
whit h has a more limited underneath, varies in
H thi . oasl "I India and in hue and pattern between individuals.
Pa< ilii . with possibl) a fourth, dwari Gsh and squid. It forms massive
ella longirostns
subspecies in shallow coral reefs in tin- schools of hundreds or thousands,
Spinner dolphin dull Thailand. Each of the upper
ill which often associate with othei
and lowei jaws has 45-65 pairs of cetaceans, and even with predator)
Length 1
sharp teeth. Coloration is black or fish sueh as tuna although the

dark gray fading to a pale or white reason foi this is not clear.
underside, with black edging to the
eyes and lips, although this is verj
Body form
variable. The spinner dolphin
The spinner is slender but muscular, with a long.
dives deep to eat midwatei Urn beak !
r>'i or triangular
dorsalfin, and po flukes.
I In ai robatic spinner dolphin

performs high leaps when it twists
in the air or spins on its
vertical axis several

times. The purpose of this
behavior is unclear.It may be to
demonstrate fitness and/oi attrai I
a mate, or to dislodge parasites
Stenella altenuata
One of the most common cetaceans, behind the dorsal fin. The Hanks are juveniles, and mini -uli-i. nip- I In -<
this dolphin i- usuall) found in waters lighter gray and the underside is pale. all associate v\ith other cetaceans.
Pantropical spotted warmer than 72°F (22°C). It has a Large schools of thousands are often especially spinner dolphins and tuna
slender, streamlined body and slim segregated into fish. Pantropical spotted dolphins eat
dolph
hin beak with 4(1 pairs of teeth in both mothers with mainly mackerel, flying fish, squid,
upper and lower jaws. An elongated. young, older and other near-surface prey.
oval, dark gray "cape" extends from

the forehead to just
Stenella frontalis
head is immersed. It also uses various Stenella coeruleoalba
techniques to catch fish, squid, and
Atlantic spotted other prey from surface and midwaters. Striped dolphin
It has 32-42 pairs of teeth
dolphin in the upper jaw and the same in the
lower jaw. The Atlantic spotted
Length 3 !
dolphin forms schools of up to 15

Weight 3101b individuals near coasts, but these may
gather into larger groups to follow
seasonal food. Like its pantropical
relative above . tin- newborn calf
lacks spots. Tin si develop with age,
Status lj" alh starting on the belly and extending to Schools of 50-5(10 striped
the sides and ba< k ovei several years. dolphins race across the ocean
1 his spe< areas ofus lives in and may gather in thousands,
Stouter species changeable water temperature and leaping high and whistling to keep
The AUantic spotted dolphin / I ted dolphin is distinguished may dive as deep .is 655ft 20(lni in in contact. They ride pressure
beak sand from its pantropical species mainly by its
seize small fishand squid, using the waves just of migrating
digs with its in the in front
touter body and beak.
a poking so deep that
I
ied, 40-55 sharp-pointed pans ol great whales, and the man-made
the whole teeth present in each jaw. It equivalent ship bow waves,
derives its name from he- t espei ially in Mediterranean and
complex panel n ol Atlantic waters.
lila, k a,
SPOT THE HABITAT

In several spotted dolphin spec ies,
including the Atlantic and

pantropical, the dark pate hes ami gra) sn ipes along its bai k
rease in extent with age and Hanks This a( live- dolphin is
Ihi' in i' .iKii varv with habitat. i apable ol a wide vai ietj ol a< robatii
ttript
I lu-si uiai k- an- genei all) less leaps and spins. Although it is
prominent in oceanic groups. In ii lative-lv e iiuunon. its numbers have-

Coloration
populations that siav neaj enast- ele-i lined in rei eni yeai s In pai tit ular,
The thin black and ..
tin spi its in. i\ I" sn extensive- as ml. '

don bv a v n us in, a lnlli
fork and overlay a dart
Oob i a' the background color. ellasti, all) iidui eel Mediterranean w funk undtrsid i
(i. .| nil. in, uis in ili, ,

arl) I 990s
CETACEANS
This species has a yellow to buff blaze

Delphtnus dtlphts
along the flank, from the lace to
borealis CONSERVATION
Common dolphin below tile dorsal tin. It tapers to a Northern right-whale Due in pan to its schooling habits,
point, then widens again toward the the northern right-whale dolphin
tail, but as pale gray. There are alsi i
dolphin is at high risk of asphyxiation in
dark, narrow stripes from mouth vast drift nets set for squid in the
Length Up
corner to eye and chin to flipper. The central Pacific. In the 1980s some
common dolphin has 40-55 pairs of Weight I
1
1
died yearly, reducing its
small, sharp teeth in the upper jaw. lists numbers by perhaps 70 percent.
Soda) unit Group and the same in the lower jaw. It lives
S^:-s '
offshore in the deep ocean: tin
inshore form is sometimes regarded as Social unit Group
kc= a separate species. Delphinus capensis. S'-it-s
Both species hunt schooling fish and

-quid to a depth of 985ft M H im .
HotRGLASS PATTERN
TheJlanks kaz-e yellow and creamy gray
This sociable dolphin forms schools
areas that form a ttis
hourglass shape. of 100-20(1. which merge into

gatherings of thousands. It makes
varied sounds and associates
with other cetaceans, leaping
bow waxes. Its
high and riding ship Slim and fast
main foods are midw ater fish and The body is slender. ;nth relahzeh small flippers
SCHOOLING squid, down to 655fi 21 M Im . A and tailflukes, indicattng that this dolphin u a
rimer. It has no dorsalJin.
Common dolphins are \er\ social, similar species. Lissodelphts peronit. is
forming fast-swimming schools "i found in southern

thousands. They leap and tumble,
ride waves from ships and great
whales, and make many sounds
such a- lick-, squeaks, and creaks.
t
Their whistles are loud enough to

be heard from nearby boats.
Orcaella brevirostris head and body. The head muscles 930 mile* 1,500km in schools of 15 or fewer, feeding
allow a wide range of facial expressions. inland in the major waterway * i
>l on fish, squid, octopus, shrimp, and
Irrawaddy dolphin giving this dolphin an animated the Irrawaddy Burma and Mekong similar prey on or near the seabed.
appearance to human observers Vietnam Overall, however, this is
. using its 1 5-20 pairs of teeth in
relevance of such expressions to its an estuarine and coastal species each of the upper and lower jaw *.
own species is extremely conjectural. frequenting muddy, silt-laden river Gestation is estimated at 14 months
Some Irrawaddy dolphins live solely mouths and deltas. It swims slowly and the single calf is about 39in
in fresh water, roaming almost inn, m long and 261b 12kg at birth.
small dorsalJin set just In some regions, these dolphins
bulgingforehead
behind midpoint of back traditionally work with people to
herd fish into nets, receiving rewards
of food for their
ks cooperation, and
even being revered
This river dolphin's distinctive features as sat red. However, in other places
include a bulging forehead, no proper Irrawaddy dolphins are viewed as
beak but ridgelike lips, and reases" "( pests at river fisheries and/or killed
demarcating a neck region between slightly paler underside for their meat.
Cephalorhrnchus commersonii Commerson's dolphin has similar

Cephalorhrnchus hectori tapering snout and no distinct beak or
coloration to that of the killer whale. melon bulge. It is gray with black
Gommerson's Its forehead slopes smoothly from the Hector's dolphin Dippers, dorsal fin. and tail. The white
snout merging with its stocky body. underside extends a projection up
dolphin The newborn calf, 26— 30in 65 75cm each flank towards the tail. Active and
'/ long, is gray and become* two-tone sociable,it forms small schools of up
Length
Weight Up to 1251b
I
with age. The species forms schools of lo 5,and spends much time chasing.
Weight l"p to 1901b It" than In that sometimes expand touching, Dipper-slapping, and
up to 100. It feeds on seabed dwellers generally interacting with others. It
such as fish, crabs, starfish, and squid. Social unit Group feeds at various depths, mainly on fish
There are 2 populations probably Status l.i ulanecnti and squid. As an inshore specie*.
Location S. South America. Social unit Group subspecies separated by more than
. Hector's dolphin is at particular ri*k
Falkland Islands. Indian
.ncIm Islands Status Locally common lies 8, km those around from entanglement in fishing nets
South America being In Jin I and from pollution.
it k m shorter than those One of the smallest dolphins, this
in the Indian Ocean. spec ic-s is similar to a porpoise

in outline, with a
smoothly
Jingerlike white
flank markings
Pseudorca crassidens
False killer whale

paler underside patch between the
flippers, and perhaps pale pat< hes on
the sides of the head, h prefei s deep
oceans but appears occasional!) off
in
rarely
eanic islands, in schools of 10
up to 300. Equipped with 8-1
20.
1 <
The false killer
vai iet) ol e< holcx ating
communicating sounds, such as
whale makes a wide
lit ks and whistles, h also leaps w ith

and
CONSERVATION
TOOTHED WHALES
m
pairs of large, conical teeth in both agility and skillfully surfs breakers
the upper and lower jaws, this and ship bow waves. However, this
formidable hunter pursues large confident navigator is often stranded
oceanic fish such as salmon, tuna, on beaches in vast groups of up to
Status I * « ally common and barracuda. It 1,000. Why this happens is in it
also takes squid and known, but. with help to return to

even smaller the water, some survive.
dolphins.
One of the largest dolphins, this rapic
swimmer has a long, slim both an
a tall, sicklelike dorsal fin
Coloration is
uniform black 01
Bl LL-NOSED WHALE
dati -gi '•.
The pronounced, rounded mtloi
with a the absence of a beak gives the false killer whale
a bull-nosed profile.
Globicephala macrorhynchu.
BONDING
Short-finned pilot Pilot whales form schools ol tens io
hundreds and also associate with
whale other cetaceans su( h as bottlenose
and common dolphins, and minke
whales. Within a pilot whale school,
adultsform long-term bonds and
probably recognize each other b\
individual "signature" whistles.
Many offspring, however, are not
closer) related genetically to the
Status Lower n-k school's males, suggesting that

mating o( ( urs between schools.
Females past reproductive age mav
suckle calves that are not their own.
Xocturnally active, the pilot whale
feeds mainly on deep-water squid and
octopus, diving below 1.600ft 500m with battles for females. After a gesta- Stocky body
for more than 15 minutes. There are tion of almost 15 months, the female large, rounded The pilot whale has a stocky body, arm
2 very similar species: the short-finned gives birth to a single calf 4 dorsal fin bulbous forehead, and a dorsalfin set about
'/.' -6ft
(Globicephala macmrhynchus) has smaller 1.8m long Pilot whales are
1.4 still
one-third of the way along the body.
flippers pectoral fins than the long- hunted by driving them into the
finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas . shallows for slaughter.
In both there is an anchor-shaped
pale patch on the throat and chest,
and white streaks behind the dorsal
fin and each eye. Males are almost
twice the weight of females, who live

1 5 years longer, up to 60 years. Along
or black
with with skin scarring, these features
coloration
luggi i
i ompetition between males
Hyperoodon ampullatus The northern botdenose whale is the beak. Other teeth are present but prey. The body of the northern
one of about i' 1
Spei ies Ol braked the degree of growth above the bottlenose whale long and slim, the
is
Northern bottlenose whales mostl) medium-sized, open- Mill. II e i il till glims i'l upl.il ill is V('l\ flippers small, and the en. d il I'm 1
ocean Celai cans thai make long, deep variable. Feeding probably by is is set about two-thirds of the w.iv
whale ti -
dives tin squid, starfish, fish, i rab, and ii.tii n, using the tongue as a pi-i in i
the tail. Like most othei bi .iked
othei food rhis species has a bulging to draw in water, seabed mud, and whales, this spei ies ci mgregates in
in In ,nl and dolphinlike beak Males,
fi
small schools of up to 10. usuall)
Weight Not which grow largei than females, have containing individuals of the same
U ;i ith
2 nisklikc teeth growing at the dp of nth, se\ and ol similai
pedes
CETACEANS
the killer whale's diet is as diverse as Ingenious hunter

Orcinus orca I. ing a number
hunting techniques. Fishes, ranging
its
different techniques that give them one of the
Killer whale hum herring to gnat white sharks, of
diets in the oceans. They often hunt in
and marine mammals, iiii hiding whales
pre) "i herdingjishes together
and scab, an- taken, in addition to i, king liom different anglt\ I
turtles and birds. In some regions such living off southern South Ameru a have
as the northeast Pacific, however, 1 1 h i
<
perfected tht t, i Unique of cai
appear to be 2 forms of killer whale: In intentionally beaching themselves to
transients, which feed on mammals. punut ih- \ea lions in the shallows
hiU other methods
turtles, and birds: and residents, which
include tippin
Status I v.. i i
isle
cat onk fishes. Despite its name, the
unbalance seals ami
killer whale is approachable and very
/
and breiv I
te= inquisitive. It has a variety of elaborate

surface habits, including spy hopping
Distinctive black and whin- markings its head
rising slowlv vertically, until
make the killer whale the most easily isabove the water tail and Hipper .
reo ignizi 'I "I the k ithed whales and ti slapping, and breaching
dolphins. Ii is a highly social whale.

living in long-lasting family, groups
called pods, which consist of adult
males and females, and calves of
various ages. Pods typically number
up to 30 individuals, but groups of
up i" 150 whales occur when pods
i ome together to form superpods,
Pods are matriarchal and both male
and female calves tend to stay with
their mother for life. When the young Parental care
reproduce, thei] offspring remain to pod may provide parental can, hut
build up multigenerational groupings to ih mother - a bo
,i
'
around the original mother. Generally, that i, ill remain -'

I
its life.
Pod formations
travel in tight formations, u ilh tin females and call < I
€
ni the f enter, and the males on tht fringes, m spread across distances
-./ ii/j In mil, Ibti). [lie) umimunicale using \eh qj highly
distinctive* <lmli oho ml as \oiinl ugnah that
group identity.
taller, less
ved dorsal
.Jin in male
conspicuous
rounded,
tyep a, iii i
in/', ring saddle patch wide tail

head flukes.
i large, jiatlclle-
shaped /Uppers
> while
Built for hunting

The killer whale has a pou
i broad tail
and the dorsal fit,
stability I
of camouj
m
CETACEANS
and othei « features using Minion to body so that the whale is streamlined Older male Cuvier's beaked whales
Ziphitu cavirostris
Iced see northern bottlenose whale, foi fast swimming, using only it- tail tend to live alone. Most male- have 2
Cuvier's beaked p. 173). Hie jaw-line runes up at the dukes, down to great depths. The pale cone-shaped teeth, which project like
tip ol the snout and then down. brown to blue-gray body i- scanned by tusks from the lower jaw. Females and
whale Along uith the relatively smooth parasites and also, in males, by bites young are toothless. Younger males.
Forehead, this leads to the alternative from male- of this species. These females, and oil-print;, which are
ii.iiiii nl goose-beak whale. The small wounds probably occur during nearly 9fi 2.7m long at birth, form
Weight Uppers lit into indentations in tin dominance battles at breeding time. schools of rarely more than 1 0.
Status Lot aO
1 hi- -p< i ii- has the long, slim body

and small dorsal fin set well to the
scars from skin parasites
reai typical of the beaked whale
and battles with other males
family li feeds on deep-living squid
Kogia si mils
Smallest of the 3 species of -perm whale lives alone or in small schools gestation period appears to vary
whale, llii- whale dives to nearly fewer than 10). and releases a cloud between 9 and 1 1 months, and the
Dwarf sperm whale 1. 300m) for fish, squid.
1 1 of feces to repel predators. Litde is single calf, about 3ft lm long, is
crustaceans, and mollusks. The lower know n about its breeding habits: the usuallyborn in autumn. These whales
|.iw has 7-13 pairs of sharp teeth. seem prone to group strandings.
and i- slung almost sharklike under
tall, dolphmWa pale, crescent-
the large, bulbous head: the upper jaw
dorsaljin •haptd mating*
has only 3 pairs of teeth. Back. En,
llippers.and flukes are blue-gray,
Locaaonl.itijni.il. and Social unn \
shading to cream below. Just behind
worldwide
the mouth and eye is a contrasting,
pale crescent which, in size and
position, resembles the gill slit of a
li-h. A shy i nature, the dwarf sperm
see panel, right Between dues, the

SPERMACETI ORGAN
.
whale lies loglike at the surfat e, a

Sperm whale plume of misty emerging with air The sperm whale's enormous
each exhalation ai 45 degrees from head contains a spermaceti organ
the single blowhole. The long, narrow - a large mass of waxy oil. This
lower jaw is slung under the huge may work as a buoyancy aid.
head and bears 50 pairs of conical, becoming denser with changing
round-tipped teeth; there are no temperature and pressure, to
\ isibleupper teeth. The main color assist very deep dives. It may also
Social unit Individual/Croup
is dark gray or brown, paler on the function as a sound-lens, like a
Status Vulnerable underside, with white or cream dolphin's melon, to focus the
around the lower jaw. Bull male) whale's clicks and other noises.
sperm whales are twice the weight
of females and tend to migrate farthei
Ilir world's largest carnivore, this north and south, into colder waters,
massive cetacean make- extremely forsummer feeding They form loose, Keeping in touch
deep dives foi food, mainly -quid and bachelor pod- when voting but then Sperm whales nam
often near, touch, and caress
octopus, but also fish and, sometimes, become more solitary. Cows females others in their school. They also produce loud,
giant squid, ll can Stay submerged for stay nearer the Tropicsand form rhythmic clicking and banging rounds whuh mas
.ilniosi 2 hours and has been tracked mixed group- with their young and aid individual recognition.
by sonai to nearly 1,000ft l,200m juveniles to about 10 years old. In

deep, with indirect evidence, such as summer or autumn, after a gestation
wrinkled skin on rear
types ol bottom-dwelling fish found period ol 14 15 months, the single
parts of body
in ii-stomach, of dives below 10, 170ft call l- born, lift 4m long, and
J.lOl lm The ability to make -uch -in kit- for 1 \ears or more. Large head
deep dives may be in pan due to its The sperm whale's tall, narrow, boxlike head
spei mat eti organ makes up about one-third of its total length.
The low dorsalJin is set well to the rear.
knobs
along back
between dorsal
fin and tail
DIVING DEEP
sunlit upper levels of
m and heads into the dark ocean depths in
greater depths than any
other mammal, it descends at a rale oj uf

(3m) per second. Away from tin light, its
of little use and the u 'hah lion.

CARNIVORES
CARNIVORES
Chordae* Although the term carnivore is commonly used HUNTING
Ma to describe an animal that eats meat, it also refers Carnivores include some of nature's most skillful
Carnivore specifically to members of the order Garnivora. While and efficient predator'.. Most use kern sen
sight, hearing, or smell to locate prev. which they
most members of the group eat meat, some have catch either Ijy pouncing from a concealed place
>r by stalking and then running down their
249
a mixed diet or are entirely herbivorous. Meat-
quarry in a lengths chase or swift rush.
eating carnivores are die dominant predators on Main i animals larger than them-
.in kill
CLASSIFICATION NOTE
land in all habitats: their bodies and lifestyles selves. Weasels kill by biting the back of
In this book, earnKorrs air the head and cracking the skull, while
arranged in 7 families. Some are highly adapted for hunting. However, mere eats bite into the neck, damaging the
zoologists rrcognizr H families,
with mongooses in a separate is great variety within the group, which spinal cord, or into the
famih from ciwis .tnd rcJati\TS. throat, causing suffocation.
includes species as diverse as the giant
Dogs and relatives set Dogs shake prey vigorously
pp. 1 80-7 panda and the spotted hyena. Uniquely to dislocate the neck.
Bears set pp^ 188-93
Raccoons and
194-5
relatives among mammals, carnivores have 4 SOLITARY HUNTER
at pp.
Mustelids set pp.) 9G 203 carnassial teeth. have a penis They also The bobcat, which feeds man
Civets and relatives set
small prey such as the snowsh
pp.204 5 bone (baculum). Indigenous to most parts
Hvenas. and aardwolf ^gsûais alum.
w/P- of die world (except Antarctica), carnivores
Cats itrpp20S-15
have also been introduced to Australasia.
ANATOMY HUNTING IN PACKS

Lions generally hunt in groups to capture large
Although carnivores vary considerably in size and shape, most animals, such as uildebeests. Thefemales (adult
share several features that make them well suited to a hunting males rarely joat the hunt) usually stalk to nilhin
lifestyle. A typical carnivore is a and agile runner with
fast 98ft (30m), fanning out to encircle the prey.
sharp teeth and claws, acute hearing and eyesight, and a well- After a short charge, the animal is brought
developed sense of smell. Carnassial teeth (set below) are present down with a grab to the flank, then killed
in predacious living carnivores but are less well developed by suffocation with a bite to the throat.
among the omnivorous and herbivorous species. Carnivores
have either 4 or 5 digits on each limb. Members of the cat
family (except cheetahs have sharp, retractable claws used to
i
Hike prcv. defend themselves, and climb. Most other carnivores

have nonretractable claws, often used for digging.
JAWS AND TEETH SOCIAL

.\fost carnivores
and powerfuljaws for

hare sharp
lolling
teeth
and
GROUPS
disemboweling prey. The temporalis Although many carnivores
muscles, which art most effective when live alone or associate only
the jaws are open, are used to deliver in pairs, others form groups.
a powerful stab from the sharp These take main different
canines. The carnassial teeth are forms, and their structure is
sharpened cheek teeth m the upper often complex. Lion prides,
and lower jaws thai mesh together for example, consist o|
perfectly. In combination with the masseter several related families,

masseter muscles, which can be used muscle although most males leave the
when the jaw is almost completely pride into which they are born. Lions spend most
i lower carnassial
closed, they form a powerful shearing tooth
of their time together, hunt cooperatively; and tend
tool/or tearingflesh. HYENA SKULL each other's young In most other groups, the ties
between individuals are looser. Red and Arctic foxes.
for example, live in groups of one adult male and
several vixens, but each adult hunts alone in a
TIGER
different part of the group's territory
SKELETON
separate radius and ulna

maximize flexibility
SKELETON AND MOVEMENT

Predatory carnivores have several physical
adaptations that enable them to move lining carnivores develop that fighting skills
quickly over the ground in pursuit of through play. By playing together, these red
prey. The spine i< generally flexible, the foxes learn to test another animal's strength
bnbs are relatively long, and the collarbone without suffering painful consequences.
is reduced, maximizing the mobility of
the shoulders, lb increase the length of SHARED PARENTHOOD
their stride and to add to their speed, all These young slender- tailed meerkats are
carnivores have fused wrist bones, and not necessarily the offspring of the adult
dogs and cats walk on their toes (rather watching over them. Sharing parental duties
Siberian tiger than the soles of the feet). is common at many carnivore societies.
CARNIVORIS
FEEDING
Must carnivores live on a dirt of freshly killed
animal prey, from insects, other
ranging in size
invertebrates, and small vertebrates to anima

as large as buffaloes and caribou. Carnivores are
generally adaptable feeders, seldom restrit ting
themselves to .1 single fond type. Some su( h
as beats, badgers, and foxes eat amixed diet
of meat and plants while a few, nolabK the giant
panda, are almost entire!) herbivorous.
COMMUNICATION
( larnivores communicate with eaeh other u ith scent-markings,
visual signals, and vocalizations. Si enl m< ssages, whii h have
the advantage of being persistent, .in used 111 define territory
a to find potential sexual partnci by spraying
["he) are left
urine or leaving piles ol feces although some animals also rub
onto object from glands on their fa< e, I in ween their
1 laws, hi at the liasr of tin it tail. When
animals meet face to GREETING POS1 1 Rl 5
fat postun
' , 1.1I 1. 11 expression, and sound are used to pass Body language /> an importantform »/ communication /<»
on a wealth ol information, ini hiding threats, submissions, 1

which live in large packs. In this greeting
lovani s to pat tni rs, and warnings ol approai Ihiil; danger.
1
ritual, adult dn^ push then muzzles mtn each otha '1
faces.
CARNIVORES
Dogs and relatives

Members of the dog family - dogs, which consist of a dominant pair domestic dog - which descended
phylum Chordata
and their offspring, occupy and from the wolf over 10.000 years ago
class Mammalia wolves, coyotes, jackals, and foxes - are defend territories, which they mark - has always played an important
ow>» Carnivora collectively described as canids. They with urine. The young in a pack are role in a number of human activities.
are known
endurance (rather
for great of different ages because older From the tiny chihuahua to the huge
offspring remain in the group for St. Bernard the domestic dog
than sudden bursts of speed) and for some years, and may help rear new displays more variation between
opportunistic and adaptable beha\ior. young. Only the dominant pair types than any other domestic
breed, and the female digs a den in animal there are breeds specialized
Dogs are characterized by a slender build, long legs, and .
which to give birth. The pack will for hunting, herding, guarding,
a long, bushy tail. Wild canids generally inhabit open often perform a bonding ritual that performing, earning or dragging
grassland habitats the world over, and are absent only from involves mutual licking, whining, loads,and companionship.
and tail wagging. When hunting, However, despite these factors,
isolated areas such as Madagascar and New Zealand
the usual tactic is to track many canid species are considered
(where the domestic dog is present, however). a herd of deer or antelopes for pests. The gray wolf, for example,
example and then cooperatively has been hunted and persecuted as
maneuver to separate one animal. a killer of valuable livestock. As a
Anatomy jaws). Canids track their prey by This individual is then run down result, this species is now rare
Canids have a muscular, deep- scent, and the long, pointed muzzle and slashed at by pack members throughout its vast range and is
chested body covered with a fur houses large olfactory organs. until it falls, exhausted. On extinct in many regions. Other
coat that is usually uniformly Hearing is also acute, and the ears returning to the den. the hunters species have fared even worse: the
colored or speckled. The lower are large, erect, and usually pointed. regurgitate meat for the cubs to eat. bush dog and the maned wolf, for
limbs are developed for strength Sight is less important, but is still example, are on the brink of
and stamina: some of the wrist well developed.
Canids and people extinction; the red wolf now
bones are fused, and the front legs Throughout history, canids have survives only in zoos. On the other
cannot be rotated the bones at the Social groups proved useful to humankind in hand, the coyote and the red fox -
front of the leg are locked There. Smaller species, which usually feed many ways. Wild canids are, for both great opportunists - have
are 4 digitson the back feet and 5 mainly on small rodents and insects, example, important controllers of benefited from the spread of urban
on the front feet, and each digit has tend to have a flexible social rodent populations, which can environments and are more
a hard pad. The claws are short, organization but often live either in spiral quickly if left unchecked. abundant than ever before.
nonretractable. and blunt (other pairs (for example, jackals) or alone Furthermore, the
carnivores have sharp claw s . for example, foxesj. However, larger
Canids also have long jaws, long, species, such as the wolf and
fanglike canines (for stabbing prey), the African wild dog, live
and well-developed carnassiah the in social groups called
slashing teeth at the back of the packs. These packs,
DOGS
Vulpes cana
Vulpei
THE UNFUSSY FOX
Red fox In grassy or farmed areas, a large Blanford's fox
part of the red fox's diet consists of
Length ]lj'/2 in
(58- i.
lagomorphs, especially rabbits and
'•;
'*&. Tail 12
;.'
.
19cm
-191/2 in young
stalks its
hares. The
prey, then
fox stealthily
makes a dash to
Tail I2in
Weight- Weight? 3>AIb

catch the victim before it reaches its
i 11 kg
burrow 1
rabbit) or accelerates away
Locaaon An tit Sort! Social unit Pair (hare!. The prey is carried by the Location W .md S Via Social unit Individual
v.-irjli.i Status Common neck to a secluded spot where the Status Locally common
«Ai.- A. fox can eat at leisure. The red fox

also consumes beetles,
birds, eggs, mice, voles, fruits,
worms, frogs, M. *+-
Active by day and night, the red fox carrion, and refuse - in fact, This small fox has relatively large ears
is exceptionally widespread, and almost anything edible. and tail, patchy body coloring in
adaptable both in habitat, from Arctic black, gray, and white, white under-
tundra to city center, and in diet. parts, a dark stripe along the middle
Home is an earth den in a sheltered Not always red of die back, and a stealthy, feline
place - for example, an enlarged Coat color varus from grayish gait. It is a solitary, nocturnal hunter
among or rusty red to almost orange, of small creatures, including insects,
rabbit burrow, a crevice rocks
usually with black on the
or roots, or a space under an out- mainly in barren, hills androcky
backs of the ears, sometimes
building. The basic social unit is a grassy uplands. consumes
It also
on the lower limbs andfeet,
female [vixen and male dog 1
. who and an often black-tvtgi d
appreciable amounts of fruits and is
mark their territory of 0.4-4 square but pale-tipped tail.

found near orchards and groves.
miles 1-10 square km with urine. AU-blsck Litter size is 1-3.
droppings, and scent from anal and white forms
other glands. Single-male-multi- also occur.
female groups also occur but only

senior females breed. Mating is in late
winter or early spring when lemales
make eerie shrieks. Gestation is
49-55 clays and litter size up to 12;
averages van from 4-5 in Europe, to
-
6-8 North America. Both parents

in
and "helper" nonbreeding females
care for the cubs and feed them after , bushy
weaning at 6 - 1 2 weeks. (brush)
Vulpes macrotis Vulpes velox Vulpes zerda soft, hot sand. Mosdy nocturnal, the
diet of this fox ranges from fruits and
Kit fox Swift fox Fennec fox seeds to eggs, termites, and lizards.
Unusual among foxes, it associates in
Length 12 1/2 -20 >/2 ii Length 12 Length 'tVi-loin
38-52 cm. 138-53 cm) 24 Hem groups of up to 10, but relationships
Tail 8i/2-12 '/2 in Tail 7- lOin Tail ?-12in are not clear. Each member digs a
den several yards into soft earth.
Weight Weight ) IA-6 1/2 lb Weight 2
I
Mating occurs in January -Februan

and the 2-5 cubs remain in the den,
Location W USA Social unit Pair Location C. USA Social unit Pair Location N Afiri ., W Asia Social unit Group protected by the female, for 2 months.
Status Vulnerable* Status Unconfirmed Status L nconfirmed They are fully mature by mondis. 1 1
Hunted for its fur. the fennec fox is

JL ^ also trapped as a pet.
Recently recognized as a separate The smallest fox. the fennec has

species from the kit fox (see left . the relatively large ears and a
swift fox has a more easterly distribu- black-tinged tail tip. Its
tion. Its coloration is similar to that furred soles are adapted

of the kit fox. but it is grayei on the for walking i in
upperparts and buff-orange under-

neath. It has a bushy, black-tipped tail.
Both species dig dens about 3ft lm
deep, with 13ft 4m ol tunnels, and
mate from December to Januan
later in northern area-. I he gestation
pei mil is 50 60 da\s.
Similar to the >w ill fox see light in
appearance and habits, this sp
has a more westerly range, but with
Overlap and perhaps interbreeding in
I ex. is. I he kit fox has lunger. < loser-

set ears, a more angular head, and is
nini, hr.iv iK built iverall. There are
i
3 color forms: pale gray-brown, dark

gray-brown, and intermediate gray.
Its halm. us vary from grassland to
di 'ii and its diet is omnivorous

Both pari in- in-' thi I 1 1
young.
CARNIVORES
Alopex lagopus insects, seal and whale carcasses.

fruits, seeds, and human refuse. Its
Rueppell's fox Arctic fox a i iup i- likewise flexible, with
in. ill- female pairs, larger groups of
r ^*'- ' i-'~~
r - nonbreeders, or a breeding pair plus
I
"helper" females. The den site i-
extensive, with complex

Weight 2
burrow systems for
4 la
shelter and t
Social unit Group/Pair Social unit Group >
Sams Common
'
fcs The Arctic fox's summer coat

is half as thick as its winter
1 In Arctic fox has 2 color types one. with less than half of
in "phases." Foxes that are "white" the underfur. In summer,
phase are almost pure white in winter white-phase animals are
lm camouflage in snow and ice. gray -brown to gray above
This phase is associated with the true and gray below: those
tundra of open, treeless plains and of the blue phase are
Those of the "blue"
grassy hillocks. browner and darker.
phase are more prevalent in mixed stout, rounded
coastal and shrubby habitats and are body under
RueppelT- ln\ also tailed the sand pale gray-brown tinged with blue in thick fur Furred bi~ndle
fox i- similar to but slighter in build winter. The Arctic fox eats a huge The A -
hea small
than the red fox. It has soft, dense, variety of foods - mainly lemmings, I blunt muzzle,
and short legs and

sand\ or silver-gray fur to match its but also birds, eggs, crabs, fish,
tail, since these areas
arid habitat, black patches on the |
) lose heat fastest.

sides of the muzzle, and a white tail
Eiery part of its
tip. In some regions this species forms
bod) »'
monogamous pairs, but in others it
gathers in groups of up to 15. It rests H^ thickly
by day in a sheltered crevice or furred.
burrow, and changes its den every lew

days. Average litter size i- 2 i. limn
in early spring. It eats a wide variety

of foods, from grass to inset 1-.
reptiles, and mammals.
I 'rocyon cinereoargenteus With it- rounded, short ear-, the

short-eared dog resembles a raccoon
Grav fox d( ig see p. 1 83 but its fur is much
shorter and more velvety, gray to
black on die back and varying -hades
v I
Weight', j -151b
of gray tinged with red-brown on the
underside. The black tail is more
bushy and foxlike. Also known as
the small-eared zorro. this mainly
nocturnal and solitary
secretive, little-known inhabitant
dog i- a
of
Status Common
m Jto.
tropical forests.
stealth
It moves with
and probably eats mainly small
rodents, with some plant matter.
catlike
lied the tree fox. this long- The average litter size for th
bodied species prefers woodland. It lox is 4 range 10). Each new-
1
i limbs skillfully, leaping up tree trunks born cub is black furred and. like Pseudalopex ailpaetis rodent-, rabbits, bird- and (hi
and between branches with almost most foxes at birth, helpless, with and seasonal berries and fruits. Like
i .alike- agility. Active at night, it eyes closed. Its eyes open at 9—12 Culpeo main foxes, it -tore- food during
consumes various insects and small days and In 4 weeks it ventures times of plenty, burying the excess
Length 2
mammals, but may rely
i and seeds in certain seasons. The
more on fruits
gray
from the den and begins to climb,
guarded by a parent. It starts to Tail L!-I8ui
or wedging
for later
it under log- and rocks,
consumption. The
fox has a small, dark gray neck mane take solid food 2 weeks later. culpeo 's coat i- grizzled
Weight
ami i
and a red
entral bat k stripe, gray on the back and
and legs.
tinge i" the net k. flanks, shoulders, more tawm on
with buff or white chin and belly.
.i the head, neck, ear-,
Its den may be in an old burrow or :
and leg-, with a
log, but more often in a tree-hole 11 u lb. black-
up to 30ft 9m above ground, or M*. ^ tipped
on a building ledge or in a roof tail.
spat e. Mi isi gi ay i\ - live as (i - of open upland and pampas

breeding grassland, tin- Luge, powerful fox is
extensively hunted for it- Inl-
Grizzled gray and to prevent predation

J/d or grizzled
of livestock such as
coat it due to individual
lambs and poultry.
hairs banded in while, gray,
Ii- diet al-o
and black.
includes
Cerdocyon
Crab-eating fox
i.I.ii,
Nyctereutes procyonoides
Raccoon dog
along river banks, lakesides, and the
seashore. It lives in pairs or loose
I.unik groups; litters average 4-6.
The raccoon dog is abundant in
Japan, extinct in parts of China, yet
Speothos venaticus
Bush dog
Length 22 '/.-
(57-75 cm)
Win
DOGS
m
>
Tail : .
spreading rapidly in areas of Europe, I„|
where it has been introduced.

We.ght 1! mil, Weight II 1511,
(5-7kg)
Locaoon N an< 1 South Social unit Group I'm Social unit Grt>up/Fui READY FOR WINTER Location 1
Social unit Group
America loN. audi: South
Status ( oral Status 1 • - all) Vinrni ,i Status \lili hi.
m A. JkM. m fa SL Jl*.
In addition to crabs - both coastal This canid resembles a combination Long-bodied and short-legged, this
and freshwater tlii-, medium-sized ol i at and dog, with its black

t turn day-active predator lives in family-
fox eats much else, including fish, face "mask" and variable blat k I'm on based packs of up to 10. It is a power-
reptiles, birds, mammals, grubs, and the shoulders and upperside of the ful and persistent hunter of ground
Bruits. Widespread in many habitats, ii tail. It is nocturnal and has a huge birds and rodents up to the size of
shows much variation across ii- range, dinar, range, from fruits to birds, Azara's agouti (see p. 158). The pack,
although the bod) is generally gray- mice, crabs, and fish. It also forages however, tackles larger prey such as
brown, with reddish brown fai e, ears, rheas and capybaras, swimming
and front legs, a white underside, and the raccoon dog an unusual is efficientiy after victims. At night the
black on the tips ol the ears, tail end. member of the dog family - even group members sleep in dens, in
and the backs of the leys. At live at youngsters can climb well. It is deserted burrows, hollow logs, or under
night, it lives in loose sot ial groups also unique (for a canid) in that it rocks. Average Utter size is 4, born after
of an adult pair and their offspring. hibernates in winter. Autumn a gestation of 67 days. The male
feasting increases body weight by brings food to the
up to 50 percent A dee]) sleep suckling female
follows, usually sheltered in in the den.
an old fox or badger den.
Coloration
This rat coonlike flog has long,
n //.i.i -tinged) brown-blade bodyJur

(especially in winter), black Jacial
patches below the eyes, a white muzzle,

short furred legs, and a bushy tail.
Chtysocyon brachyurus fruits and berries. It is said to kill

Canis adustus Sometimes sighted foraging at night
livestoi k. especially poultry, and so near city centers, the side-striped
Maned wolf is hunted as a pest in some areas - yet Side-striped jackal jat kal is also found in grass, along
kept as a pet in others. Disease is
it is and in mixed farmland.
forest edges,
Length I Length 211-32 in
another major threat. The gestation (65-81 mi More omnivorous than other jackals,
Tail II I .".iii periodis 62 -66 days and the 1 "i
Tail 12-16in it eats rodents, birds, eggs, lizards,
28
pup- average 2 are born in an above- (3t>
and other invertebrates, refuse,
9
I ,: t
insects
. .
We.ght M 3 1 lb
ground den in thick grass or bushes. Weight i
tan and plant material such as

ion.
The mother cares for them alone, fruits and berries. The basic social
Location and
--in kling them for up to 15 weeks. ( [. Social unit Pair
group is a female-male pair with their
Status Low, Status 1 i. i.iilirnii '! young, which can number up to 6
M
(average 5 per litter). Offspring are
3?L juk. Al born after 57-70 days' gestation, in
a secure den such as an old termite
Similar to a red fox see p. 181) often indistinct mound or aardvark burrow. Weaned
but with very long legs, this whih and black by 10 weeks, they become independent
woll has long, tint k. reddish stripes al about 8 months.
yellow fur, a black

in k i
rest, i iiiu.il
i
gray-yellow
back stripe, and coal paler
black muzzle.
prefers open, grassy.
in low-s< nili habitats
Ii on underside
\
white
where it can peel tail lip
getatii hi li ii
prey and danger. Female

and male share a
territory, and mate each
year, usually in Ma\ i

n
June, but otherwise rarely

asscx i.itr. At live al twilight and
night die maned woll takes a
varied diet, in< luding rabbits,
birds, and mit e, ,i- well as
mall MH h as .units
grubs and .mis. and also
ibli amounts ol
i
planl material sut Ii as
CARNIVORES
STALK AND POUNCE

Golden jackal Covote
Length 2
%v Tail
Weight l3-33lb
8-l2in
10 cm)
m£^
Locaoon Ml.- N Social unit P.»ir
W.I M
Status Common Status Common
Golden jackal pups from
A±JA milk to solid food at
weeks. At this age they are too

transfer
about 8-10 m ** tt
These omnivorous, opportunistic young to hunt, so parents, older The coyote, like many canids. is The coyote, like many similar
jackals usually live as breeding pairs, siblings,and other young adults highly adaptable in habitat and species, uses a characteristic
but in areas with plentiful food, such regurgitate meals for them on opportunistic in diet. Once believed to pounce to catch small prey such
as refuse dumps near return from a successful outing. be always solitary may also form a
it as mice in snow or grass. It moves
human habitation, they breeding pair or. when larger prey i- forward slowly, watching and
form packs of up to common, gather as a small hunting listening intently. Hav ing located
20. The gestation pack. Food varies from pronghorns. the prey, it leaps almost vertically
period is 60 - 63 days. deer, and mountain sheep to fish, into the air and brings its front
Average litter size is tan 11 hi. and refuse. The coyote is feet down onto the animal,
gmger-
5-6 pups (range a rapid sprinter 40mph/65kph and pinning it to the ground before
colored
1-9), which are cared nose and
down jackrabbits. Its
often runs well- killing it with a bite.
for in a secure den. known nocturnal howl usually

announces an individual's territory or
Shades of gold location to neighbors. Mating occurs
The coat is mainly from January to March, gestation
pale yellow, gold, takes 63 days, and the litter size
or light brown,
is 6-18 average 6 The pups .
grower on the
are born in a secure den.
back and
gingery- on
the belly. Coloration

The grizzled buff coat is
yellowish on the outer ears, legs,
andfeet. Lnderparts an gray or
white. The shoulders, back, and

tail may br tinged black.
Canis mesomelas Cams simensis
Black-backed jackal Simien jackal

Length
l.n
Tail IO-16in Tail I3in

(26-tOcm)
Weight 1
3
-261b Weight ii -Hill)
Social unit Pair

Location E. Air- .1
Social unit Group
endangered
JL ^ Al
This jackal's range extends from city
suburbs to the deserts of southern
Africa. The main coloration is ginger Canis rufus and live in pack- with a social organ-
to red-brown with a distinctive black ization comparable to thai of the gray
saddle over its shoulders and back, Red wolf wolf see p. 186 . The coat i- tawny-
and a black, bush) tail. Female and cinnamon mixed with gra) and black,
L
male mate for life and hunt together and is darkest on the back.
as adaptable omnivores. Their prey 1
includes livestock such ,h sheep or

young Their breeding habits
cattle.
resemble those of other jackals.

Also known as the Ethiopian wolf, this
species' 3 remnant populations in the sndangrrrd*
Ethiopian highlands are
habitat loss, competition and diseases
from domestic dogs, and overgrazing,

at risk from
m t«
which has reduced their prey of hares, By the 1970s red wolves were believed
rodents, and giant mole rats. Groups to be extinct in the wild as a pure
ol up to 2 wolves congregate noisily
1 species, dm- chiefl) to persecution and
at morning, noon, and evening: most interbreeding with coyotes. Reintro-
hunting is around dawn and dusk. duced from 1987 in North Carolina.
Both parents and young adult the) have established a population of
"helpers" protect and regurgitate food more than 50. The) hunt mammals
for the i such as rabbits, coypu, and rat coon-.
DOGS
individuals are sut h hybrids. Pre)

PACK HIERARCHY Otocyon megalotis
mi hides rabbits, rodents, wallabies,
small kanya and buds. However. Bat-eared fox
the opportunist dingo can survive on
fruits, plant matter, and carrion, In
sm 1.1I behavior and
pat k system
resembles the
gra) wolf
it
1
I
Social unit I
iitnip
Status 1
fit SL jl*.
This dog has various!) been Young male dingoes may be Huge ears and a small face with a
I. gardi ubspet its ol the solitar) and nomadic. Breeding pointed muzzle are the bat-eared fox's
domestic do»: as .1 subspei ies ol adults usualK form settled packs, mam external features, bul its
the domestic dog's ancestor, the unless the population is widely too, are very unusual. They are much
gra) woll sec p. 1 86 . 1 ir as a spaced, when pairs are likely. smaller than those of a typical canid,
lull and separate spec ies in its About 5 pups range 10 are
1 and with up to 8 extra molars may
own unlit. It is likch that the born alter a gestation of 63 number 48 - more than any other
dingo descended from the days. Senior pack members nonmarsupial mammal. Its main diet
domestic dog within the past ach them their place in is insects, especially termites and dung
[0,1 II 10 years, and is mm able to the hierarchy by nips beedes. However, the breeding and
survive in the wild in many habitats. and other rebuffs. social habits of this species are more
are found throughout typicalK' foxlike
Australia, except for the southwest
and southeast, where dingo fences
exclude them from livestot k: they are Dingo or dog?
as pests both to farm animals The dingo's coat
varies from light
and for rabies control. Dingolike
sandy to deep red-
1
1 occur wild, scmifcral, or

ginger. Dingo-domestic
semidomesticaled. on the mainland
dog hybrids can look
and many South and islands of very similar, but mat
Southeast Asia. Dingoes he distinguished by their
interbreed readily with canine and carnassial

domestii dogs, and in parts tooth shape.
ol Australia one-third of
Cuon alpiim Lycaon pictus

CONSERVATION
Dhole African wild dog Once widespread across .Africa, in
Length
main habitat-, this wild dog is now
j
76-1 10 cm reduced to scattered, fragmented

Tail IS populations. It is still persecuted,
trapped, shot, and snared, and is
Weight 17
also killed accidentally by road
vehicles. It sutlers both habitat Ins,
Social unit 1 . ... Location V" Social unit I .1 in
and diseases rabies, distemper from
'--
Status Endangered domestic clogs. Survival depends on
m £. m* *fc ^ LCS
active conservation, including
tracking pack movements In
fitting radio ( oll.u-
VI 11 ailed the Asian red dog. this Probabl) the most i
» ial shown
spec us is widespread, but with a canid. the Ah an w ild oi
ii
here .
shrinking overall range and dei lining hunting dog lives in pat ks
numbers. It li\is in territorial, day- of 30 or more adults and
active packs of 5 1-'. usualK based m mng )nl) the <
on an extended family. I he fui 1

oloi dominant pan breed.
is even]) tawny or dark red. with a lui ing a Inn i ol
I
darket tail and lighti 1 underparts; the II) 12 rangi 2 19

relativcl) short. I he main .tin a gestation of
i
pre) is medium-sized hoofed 69 days. However, the I
mammals, supplemented b\ smallei whole pai k ares for and i
fruits, and othei plain food

i,
rgitating
i I
(i n them until the) develi ip
Illinium -kills b) about I 2 months.
I he pa< k .lis,, , ,,, | , ,,,,, .
to hum ver)
large pre) sui h as w ildebi est, u bra,
and impala Ins I dog has Ion
and a lean build, with a it lativel)
mall In mil a shi n t,
luzzle. I Inusuall) fi ti a i anid,

II has mik I toes "ll e.n ll fool lis
' ".ii patti rn isexo | all) variable,

but the muzzle is usuall) bla< k and
the tail tip is white.
CARNIVORES
Cams lupus
and habitat destruction. An intelligent Feeding pack
and social animal, its survival and Hazing captured their prey
Gray wolf meat success as a predator is the pack members u ait

behind the dominant pair
dependent on its organization into
Length for aceess to the kilt.
1-1 3m packs - family groups that commonly
Tail ! consist of 8-12 wolves. Pat ks
patrol territories, covering verj wide
Weight 35 -1301b
.mas. which they maintain 1>\ scent
markings. The clearly defined
Social unit Group hierarchy within a pack centers
Status Vulnerable around a dominant breeding pair that
usually mates for B\ hunting
m ik m± packs the gray wolf
wide range of
life.
is
prey, including
in
able to take a
moose
The gray wolf is the largest wild and caribou, that may be up to 10
member of the canid family and times a wolf's weight.
the ancestor of the domestic dog.
Once the world's most w idelv ranging
carnivore, its distribution has since
been restricted by widespread
human persecution
CARE OF THE YOUNG long muzzle
Dunns; the breeding season, which
jasts from January to April, the
dominant female give^ birth to

between + and 7 pups. After about a
month of suckling, pup-- emerge from
the den to receive scraps of iood
regurgitated by their parents and
other pack members. If their food
supply has been plentiful, pups will
have developed enough to travel
with the pack after 3 to ~>
months, POWERIC LLY PROPORTIONED
and by the next breeding season If has a strong, stocky
some juveniles will have chosen to build that makes it an effective
leave the pack altogether. hunter. Its sensitive nose and

ears help it detect prey.
Predator and victim

Although gray aofai can occur close to human
settlements, their mythical reputation forferocity has
led to their near extermination. Today, most
gray wolves live in remote areas, where
they hunt herds of large deer or
musk oxen.
I
''••
^*"
1
CARNIVORES
Bears
PHYLUM Chorda a t
THE BEAR FAMILY includes the world's Movement Dens and dormancy
CLASS Mammalia largest terrestrial carnivore, the brown Compared with other carnivores. Main bears, especially those in cold
bears walk slowly and deliberately, regions, become dormant in winter.
Oftotr. Carnivora bear, which can stand up to 1 1ft (3.5m) with all 5 toes as well as their heels During this time, they retreat to a
family Ursidae tall. Bears have a hea\ y build, a large touching the ground (plantigrade prepared den and live on reserves of
SPECIES skull, thick legs, and a short tail. They gait . They can. however, move body fat. This state differs from true
I quickly if the need arises. When hibernation see p.87 which involves
.
are found throughout Eurasia and North threatened or defending their a drop in body temperature. Cubs
America, and in parts of north .Africa and South America, territory, many bears stand on their are often born during dormancv.
mainly in forests. Unlike most carnivores, bears rely back legs to increase their already Since they have no fur. the newborn
considerable size. The majority of cubs are highly \-ulnerable and
heavily on vegetation as a food source. bears are agile climbers. benefit from the snug environment
created by their mother's bodv heat.
Anatomy in their large snout and small eyes
Feeding
Bears are either large or medium- and ears. Most bears have lost the The diet of most bears consists of CONSERVATION
sized, and males are up to 20 percent carnassial shearing function of a mixture of meat including insects
larger than females. Although the the molar teeth. Instead, the molars and fish and plant material from Only 2 of the 8 species of bear,
giant panda is one notable are flat with rounded cusps, making roots and shoots to fruits and nuts . the -American black bear and the
exception, most bears have a black, them effective tools for grinding Only the polar bear lives exclusively polar bear, are not endangered -
brown, or white coat, and many vegetation. Bears have large, strong on meat, while the giant panda and litis is due to considerable
feature a white or yellow mark on paws - a single blow' can often which is sometimes classified in conservation efforts.The main
the chest. Despite the fact that they kill another animal - and long, a family with the red panda and threats to bears come from hunting
have a keen sense of smell, bears' nonretractable is occasionally grouped with the mainly for their gall bladders,
sight and hearing are less claws. raccoon family is almost entirely which are used in traditional
well developed, herbivorous. Because bears depend medicine, especially in China
and this is on plants more than other carnivores, and destruction of habitat to clear
reflected they spend more of their time land for logging or settlement.
feeding. Most forage during
the day.
/
BEARS
bears move 60 miles 100km inland

Ursus marit,
in summer and vary their diet with PAW PADDLES
Polar bear birds' eggs, lemrnings, lichens, mosses, Polar be. us swim readily across
and carrion such as caribou and musk- open water at up to Otnph lOkph .
Length 7 1 1 tT
oxen. Mating occurs on sea i< e in The) paddle with the massive fore-
Till I
April -May. The pregnant female digs paws thereat legs trailing as
a den in snow or earth and gives birth rudders. The coat's hollow, air-filled
Weight H80-1, 5001b
to 2 cubs range 1 4 from November guard hails see also below aid
tojanuary. The cubs take solid food at buoyancy When diving, the eyes
Social unit Individual 5 months but are nol weaned for remain open but the nostrils < Ins, as
Status Lower n>k another 2-3 years. the bear holds its breath for up to 2
longer neck than minutes, coming up stealthily beneath
other bears
fc=
. .
straight
.
,
\ prey such as seabirds or surface-
pj
profile \ basking seals.
Vying w ith the brown bear as the
largest land-based carnivore, themale
\^m
polar bear can weigh tw ice as much
as a female. Its favored habitat is a
mix of pack ice. shoreline, and open Not quite white
water where seals are found. Some The polar bears
guard (outer) fur is
creamy rather than

STALK OR STILL HUNT pure while. Hollow
and
The polar bear's chief prey of seals I guard
translucent, the
hairs
and an occasional walrus, are transmit
'
caught by 2 main hunting methods. heal internally

In the stalk, the bear moves slowly dou n to tihii bast .
nearer its prey. relying on its camou- absorbed

flaging white coat and "'freezing" if by the black skin.
the seal looks up. It charges the last The dense underfur
50- 1 00ft (15-30m) at up to 34mph and thick blubber
55kph). In the still hunt, the bear \ under the

kin aid insulation.
waits motionless next to a seal's
breathing hole, and grabs the prey
partially fitrred
as it surfaces. The bear bites the
pau pads
seal'shead and drags it a short
retain heat
distance for consumption.
miL
T
l r$us americanus / 'rsus Ihibelanus cherries, bamboo shoots and leaves,
MAINLY VEGETARIAN grasses, herbs, grubs, and insects such
American black bear Asiatic black bear as ants. Where its natural forest
habitat has been farmed and become
Length I Length 4 'A -6 'A ft
I
S ! 9m fragmented, bear may raid corn
this
Tail 2 ,-6 in Tail \m recorded and other crops and. on occasions,
Weight 220 li"U, has caused human fatalities. Eight
Weight 120 -660 lb „ 200 kg
55 H)0 kg
months mating the female gives
after
birth in her winter den to 1-3 (usually
Social unit Individual Social unit Individual
2) cubs. The Asiatic black bear is
Status Lowei risk* Status Vulnerable hunted for its body parts especially
Some 95 percent of this bear's
m in m± diet is plant-based, including,
according to season, roots, buds,
«!M.iA the gall bladder . which are used in
Asian cuisine and
medicines.
The American black bear is adaptable shoots, fruits, berries, and nuts.
in habitat, but generally prefers which arc often obtained by
forested country. Its powerful limbs (limbing. They may also become
and short claws tear open adept at hunting
old logs to search for worms deer fawns and at
and grubs, and are also catching fish.
excellent for tree climbing,

when this bear plucks fruits X
with its prehensile lips. The
ears are larger and more erect
than those of the brown bear,
and it lacks a prominent
shoulder hump. It sleeps in
winter, which lasts up to 6
months in the north of its
range. This bear may break

into outbuildings or vehii les to
obtain food left by hum. ins. but
it usually flees on confrontation.
Black to blue bears

In the East black is the maw fur color, but in
the west it may be cinnamon or yellow-brown
and on the Paafh coast 'ui blue
CARNIVORES
name of dog bear

led to the local
The sun bear spends much time in
Sun be ar trees, even sleeping in a rough nesl of
bent-over or broken brani hes. It eats
.1 rangi of fruits, shoots, eggs, small
Tail N i". recorded mammal-., grubs, hone) another
Vy We.ght name is hone\ bear and varied plain 1
\
i
food. Habitat loss, as forests are

logged and converted to agriculture, is
Location S Social unit Individual

1 V
the major threat to the species, and it
Status I ndangeicd may raid crops, notably palm-tree

plantations for the shoots, leading to
£L persecution b) farmers.
The only truly tropical bear, the sun while to reddish "sun" chest
bear an elusive, nocturnal, little-

is patch vanes from a U shape
known omnivore of hardwood to a circle or irregular spot
lowland forest. Its sleek, smooth fur

Smallest bear
varies from black to gray or rusty.
The smallest bear species, the sun bear also
It in paler on the muzzle, which is
I) seized by a tiger or
comparative!) short. Its stockv doglike other predator, the loose skin around its neck
bod) proportions and small size have allous it to turn andfight.
CLIMBING CLAWS
The sun bear has extremely
long, curved claw s. an
adaptation for tree climbing.
It also hugs the trunk with its
front limbs and grips with its
teeth, to haul itself up. The

claws are also used to dig for
worms and insects, and to
tearup bark or old logs to
expose and extract termites
and remove honey from
wild bees' nests.
Mehtrsus ursinus
ON THE SCENT
Sloth bear Bears locate food mainly by smell.
sniffing with their long, mobile
Length 4 /? -6ft
1.4-1.8 m snout. The sloth bear specializes in
Tail 2 ants and termites, tearing open theii
7 12 an nests in soil, old logs, or trees with
Weight :.'u-4201b
its foreclaws. which are 3in 8cm
(55-190 kg)
long. Closing its nostrils and pursing
Location S Social unit Variable
its lips, it sucks the insects through
Status tlndangered the gap formed by its missing upper

The
« ik £l J L. Jl*.
incisor teeth.
makes can be heard up
100m away.
sucking noises
to 330ft
it
This small to medium-sized bear has

a stocky body and short, powerful
limbs. It c an survive in a variety of
habitats, including thorn scrub,
grassland, and forest, providing retractile foreclaws see panel above
its three major foods - ants, do not. in diis bear, permit effective
termites, and fruits are tree climbing. Like other bears, the
'I present it also cats honey adult sloth bear is usuall) solitary
and egsrs . Its |,,ng. noil- except during the mating season
June July . However, briei groupings
"
while chest mark of 7 bears have been observed,
varies fiom a U even without local concentrations of
shape to a 1 or food to attract them. The female
occupies a natural hollow or diss one Like other bears, the sloth bear
Shaggy bear and usually has 2 cubs in November can stand just on its back leys.
The sloth bear is January . The cubs stay in the den Once believed to be an aggressive
A by iti long,
foi _'
months, ride on the mother's
I posture, in fact the bear is gaining
rough fitr. especially
back clinging to her long fur for a clearer view of its surroundings
around the ears, rta.
another 6 months, and become and. more importantly, scenting
neck, and shoulders.
independent after about 2 years. the air to assess possible food
Color lariesfiom
black to brown or Threats include habitat loss, poaching or danger. Injuries to humans,
reddish: the mti'zlr tor body parts used in traditional mainly clawings, are usually the
is usually much pal medil ines . persecution, and cub of surprise encounters.
result
or even white. capture for training <uu\ performance.
Tremarclos omul in CROPS AND CONFLICT
Spectacled bear diet of the spectacled bear. 00
-*-- of the most herbivorous of bears.
includes a huge range of fruits, as
well as bromeliads. bulbs of wild

orchids and similar flowers, palm
Weight shoots and leaf stalks, and. in drier
areas, grass stems and cacti. Anima
Social unit Individual foods include insects, birds, eggs.
'
small mammals, and carrion. Raids
on nips, especially corn, and
iAli*
<
occasional attacks on livestock

provoke revenge killings
South Americans only bear, and its Cl/BS IN THEIR DEN

by tanners.
largest land mammal after the tapirs, Newborn spectacled bear cubs, like other baby
the spectacled or Andean bear is also bears, are liny, each weighing only 12< :
the most arboreal of the family. Most are born between December and /
Playing a prominent role in the

folkloreand mythology of main bending other branches to bring fruits
Andean peoples, its multitude of local within reach. These bears ma;
names include oso achupayero create a simple tree platform. I6fi
(bromeliad-eating bear yura mateo . (5m) or more across, for feeding and
(white-fronted bear yanapuma black . resting Most matings occur from
puma and ucucu
. after one of its April to June, but may happen at
rare vocalizations . The spei ies on< e almost am

rime so that the birth
occupied habitats from coastal desert correspi inds with greatest food avail-
to high-elevation grassland, but ability. The pan M.t\ together for 1—2
human presence increasingly limits it weeks. The cubs" eyes open at 42 days
to cloud forests at !,300 8,900fi and they may leave the den. in a
[1,000- 2,700m . Mainly vegetarian, hollow among rocks or tree roots, by
its massive jaw muscles and cheek 3 months. The cubs stav with the
teeth grind the toughest plants. mother yean, learning about

for 2
Low-growing plants, for example, are feeding methods, food types, and
simply torn up and chewed, despite threats.As with other bear--, the male
cactus spines or leaf barbs on puya plays no part in rearing the cubs and.
bromeliads. A common tree-feeding if he encounters them by chance, may
technique is to edge along a branch. attack and kill them.
Ailunpoda melanoleuca a den in a hollow tree or rock) ( ave

aftei 15 days' gestation. Only Gin
Giant panda 1 ~u ni long, I oz lOOg in More than 100 pandas are kept in
weight, the newborn cubs are captivity but only30 percent of
nearly naked. cubs born there survive more than 6
Ta.l I Sin months. In the wild, the panda cub
stays in the den for 4 - 6 weeks,
Weight 155 -'801b
then rides on its mother's back.
-
trots with her by 6 months, and is
Location I. Vi Social unit Iiuliviiin.i] independent by 18 months. Most

Status Endangered
tions are so small and
fragmented as to be genetically
«ikA nonviable and are still
from poaching. The future

at risk
Instantly recognizable as the world- may lie in habitat corridors
wide symbol of conservation, the and local support.
giant panda's own survival is î ill far

from secure. It has a highlv restrictec
diet 99 percent bamboo, using front limbs
different parts of the 30 or more more
bamboo species, taking new shoots muscled
than rem
in spring, leaves in summer, and
stems in winter Carrion, grubs,

(iimhin"
and eggs are eaten when
available. Xormallv solitary,
the panda feeds uiainlv at
dawn and dusk, and sleeps in
a bamboo tliii ket. It marks its
Black on white
home ranges with anal gland '
fianda is
scents, urine, and i law scrati lies.
white with black
avoiding \ using . diaped
The giant panda handles bamboo
overlapping areas at different times. with great dexterirj due to an
The female, four-fifths the male's size, should* extension of die sesamoid bone in
indicates readiness iii male bv moans, and limbs. It has the wrist, which projects as a pad-
bleats, and barks distint panda I I I like "false thumb." hisIan Ilex
i
calls have been identified Males oily guard ,uu\ oppose the tru< thumb Erst
gather, chase, and lighl cat h othei n (i lain up in ip stems and
i
the female ( )nc to 2 ubs are born in I I w In,

CARNIVORES
irctos
BROWN BEAR SUBSPECIES
Brown bear Several races of brown bear are
commonly recognized: grizzly bear.
Length I
Kodiak bear. Alaskan bear.

Eurasian brown bear. Syrian bear.
Siberian bear,Manchurian bear,
Weight 220 2,2001b
and Hokkaido bear. However, their
100- 1.000 kg
taxonomy is disputed, and rather
Location N. and N \V Population I'ndcr 180,000 than being "true" subspecies, they
North Ami i:
Status Lower risk*

may simply represent size variations
KODIAK i
Grizzly Eurasian due to disparities in food supply.
Kodiak bear
The brown bear enjoys the widest Weighing up to 1.7201b (780kg),
distribution of all bear species and th impnsswt Kodiak bear, Ursus

arctos middendorn,
varies widely in size depending on its
largest of the tubspecus.
food and habitat. Large areas of open
wilderness are important to its
survival,which explains why

populations can be found in
isolated areas such as parts of
Alaska and the Yukon, while
habitat destruction in the rest of
North .America and Europe has
seen a drastic reduction in its
numbers there. The brown Grizzly bear

bear's distinctive features are its This subspt
shoulder hump of muscle, and long Eurasian brown bear arctos horribilis. gets
Thu bear. I'rsus arctos arctos, is the its common name from
claws that help it dig for roots and
smallest member of the species. Rapid loss '"coat, the
bulbs. It can stand upright on its hind
of habitat has now restricted it to small hair being lighttr at
paw s in order to identify a threat or a
pockets of mountain woodland. the tips than
food source. .Although mainly the base.
herbivorous, brown bears will
readily eat meat when it is
available. To avoid winter
fi k K 1 shortage, they can den
up in dugouts in hillsides.
or in brush, for as lone as
6 months, during which
period the female also
gives birth to her cubs.
The lifespan of the
1 in iwn bear is about
25 years in the wild
and longer in captivity
concave profile
powerful limbs
coal usually dark brown, but

varies from blonde lo black
long, non-rt tractable
front claws
Powerful bltld
Broun bears are large, powerfully built
animals. Although there difference in
Brown bears arc comfortable in is little
body length betueen the sexes, males can be

water and may wait for hours at
up to twice as hean as females, which have
waterfalls or in the shallows of a
a smaller, lighter frame. Both sexes feed
stream ready to dive on their prey
intinswdyjhm spring to autumn in order to
As spawning salmon swim upstream put on weight in preparation for u-inter sleep.
the brown bear pounces, delivering
.1 c rushing bite with its powerful
jaws or a stunning blow from one of Aggressiat behav
its large, clawed paws. Salmon is a Due to its power, size, and unpredictable beh*
brown bear ha.\ long been considered a threat to i
vitalsource of protein for coastal
and livestock. (>n~zk hears noked in i
populations of brown bear, which

may act aggressively when defending themselves J
are usually the largest of the
have little opportunity to find the safety c
spe< ies; oni e caught, the lish rarely A mother with young cubs is a f
escape the bear's grasp. animal to encounter. Xnrrtheless, i
avoid coming into contact l

1
CARNIVORES
Raccoons and relatives

PHVUM Chordata Tins 1 vmii.y is typified by tin- raccoons, which Fll PING seed-dispersers in their rainfi
CLASS Mammalia
arc well known lor their mischievousness and Most spec its in this family are habitat. Raccoons use their dextrous
dexterity. They will boldly approach humans omnivorous, and tin-it diel varies hands to reach into streams to feel
CMOBI Carnivora
for food and can use their highly mobile with location, season, and the avail- fbi crustaceans, lish. and other prey
( AH,UES Procyonidae ability 1 >l food si mi t es. I he) vi ill t'.ti I In ii unttiss\ palate also brings
hands for opening doors and the like. In
«— 20
addition to raccoons, the family also includes
fruits, roots, shoots, and tints, as well them urban areas, where they
into
as inst-tts .md small vertebrates, raid trashcans and fearlessly solicit
coatis, ringtails, kinkajous. olingos. and the sin li .is amphibians, and
birds, ftx)d from house-holders. The lesser
CLASSIFICATION NOTE
lesser (or red) panda (but see the Classification reptiles. Kinkajous mostly eal fruits panda niainK cats bamboo leaves,
Mam authorities group du-

still
note. left). Common characteristics include .11 nl are important thereb) avoiding competition with
the giant panda, which is
ll ssti panda \%nh ran oona and distinctive tail rings and a dark mask pattern
relatives family Procyonidae found in some of the same
hut recent studies - .
.
on the face. The animals in this family are

egions and cats mostly
it b quite distinct and should lx-
typically arboreal, and are found in the bamboo stt-ms.
i [ossified in the fanul) Aihiridac
\Mth tin giant panda It i*
forests of the Americas. The only exception
treated here as .1 member ol
is the lesser panda, which lives in western
the informal "raccoon group**.
China and the Himalayas.
Anatomy have the ability to rotate

Members of the raccoon famil) their ankle joints and hang
arc all medium sized and short by their feet when feeding
legged, and have a flat-footed or descending tree
plantigrade], bearlike gait. The) trunks. Kinkajous
commonly have a pointed snout, a an- able to
relativelylong body, a broad face, hang by their
round or pointed ears, and brown tail alone.
or gray fur (except the lesser panda.
which has a short face and red
fur All species have short claws,
and raccoons feature front paws
developed into sensitive, mobile
hands. Highly arboreal species,
such as ringtails and kinkajous,
Ailurus Julgens
TREE CLIMBER
Red panda The red panda has partly
retractable daws and climbs well.
h uses nets not only for feeding but
Tail 1 1- 20in also to escape ground-based
predators, and to sunbathe high in
the canopy during winter. The
; 6 kg
female's nest may be in a tree-hole,
Locaoon s toSjS \-m Social unit Individual
lined with leases, moss, and other
Status t.tid.ms- r< d soft plant material, where she rears
her 1-5 usually offspring. Other

«ikA roots, and bamboo
_'
nesting sites are branch forks, tree

thickets.
In addition to leaves and bamboo
shoots, the lesser panda eats other
alternating
grasses, routs, fruits, and also grubs,
light and
small vertebrates such as mice and
dark rings
lizards, and birds' eggs and chicks. It
on tail
is mainly nocturnal and solitary, but
forms pairs during tin- mating season,

and offspring sta\ with their mother
lorup to a year. The panda stem-
marks its territory with droppings.
urine, and powerful musklike Also t ailed the ringtailed cat or
secretions from the anal inlands. It t m < imistle. this slender, agile predator
tommunii ates l>\ short whistles has a tail boldrj ringed in black and
and squeaks. Studies in while The upper bod) gray-brown is
captivity slum the or bull, with black eye-rings and white

gestation pei ioi I
is muzzle and "eyebrows." Nocturnal
probabl) 90 days plus and solitary, this procyorud hums
a \.tt iable time of small birds, mammals, and reptiles,
delayed implantation. and also forages for grubs, raids birds'
Prime habitats are nests, and eats fruits and nuts. It
dense temperate marks its territory with droppings and

mountain forests, urine and defends it against others of
6,000
.,1 l,200fl I the same sc\. (iestation is jl 60 days,
(l,800-4,000m). with an average litter size of 2 i.
RACCOONS AND RELATIVES
hands and feel and its long, Duffy,

Prot on lotor MASKED BANDIT Bassaricyon gabbii
nonprehensile tail for balance. Night-
Northern raccoon Olingo active, the olingo is solitary except for

the breeding season when female and
Length Length i
I
male all loudl) to each othei It^
f
i
TaJ in. mi diet is fruit, but it also catches
*5
Tai 4 in I l
ST Won grubs and other small creatures.

Weight -
Weight 2
Location S ' Social unit [ndividual Social unit In,!i\nlu.il
Status ( lonunon
he "bandit mask" of the northern
M Ik £
1
JL ffss 3L A. i.i. i oon appears to reflei t its I **

opportunistic habits. can climb,
It
Bold and adaptable, with a generalist dig. and skillfull) manipulate doors I his slim, almost . atlike procyonid
dirt, this raccoon is familial in main and I. m hes w ith its forepaws, and makes its home in most kinds of
habitats from prairie and \\ Hand to is agile enough to gain a< c ess to forest, especially moist, high-altitude
urban sprawl. Active day and night, many livestock enclosures. It m.n cloud forest. Ii moves with great skill
and normally solitary, raccoons ma\ rub dirt off the food before eating in the branches, rarely coming to the
gather in groups at plentiful food it. or rinse ii c lean ii there is ground, using its strongly grasping
sources such as rubbish dump. Male water available nearby.
and female tome
together briefl) for
mating with loud chirps and hitters. c
lavus grasping feet for great agility in trees.
Coloration
The female builds a breeding nest in Primarily nocturnal and herbivorous,
The northern raccoon's longjfa varies from pale
any sheltered site, sue b as a tree-hole, i
Kinkajou it also eats grubs, insects, and small
among under an outbuilding.
rocks, or The tan are short and rounded. vertebrates. The kinkajou makes varied
Lengch
Up to 7 offspring usually 3-4) are and tiu eyes sounds including squeaks, whistles,
born after a gestation ol 60 73 although the black Tail 1
1 1/; - 22 '/: grunts, moans, and barks, to proclaim
da\s; they venture from the nest ye patches make •
territory, attract a mate, and warn of

Weight 1 IA-I0lb
after 9 weeks, and them seem predators. The single young
larger.
are independent is born in a
by 6 months.
*L
The kinkajou boasts mam local
names, including mico de noche
and martucha. It has a
strongly prehensile
tail and powerfully
Nasua nasua vocal, it uses main different tails,

as well as tail movements, to keep in
South American contact. A barking alarm call sends
coatis scurrying into dense foliage or
coati the treetops. although they ma) turn
and mob the attacker. The coati also
Length 16 28 in
Procyon cancrivorus edge in streams, marshes, lakes, and sleeps among the branches. Adult
seashores, feeling with its sensitive, Tad 12 28ii males tend to be solitary and more
Crab-eating raccoon nimble-fingered paws lor shellfish. carnivorous, even cannibalistic on
Weight S ill.
fish, (tabs, aquatic insects, worms, "
I
young of their kind. Gestation

Length 2 i kg
and other small The female is 10-11 weeks, and the 2-7
>
prey.
Tail il 'ii gives birth to L' + (maximum 6) young shelter in a tree nest.
young after an incubation period "I
Weight s.!l
l
60-73 days, in a den inside a hollow
tree, lined with dr\ leaves and grass.
Loouon
in s South \tn
( .mi 1 \lliril.., Social unit lu.li.i.ln i
The male lakes no part m i are of the
Status ( oiiiinoii offspring,which are independent b\

the age ol !! months.
It mm fss =: s ,1L kss
Also i ailed the Iliap.K he or osilo

l.uadoi. this raccoon has short,
coarse fur. By nighl n
searches the watci 's
brown or gray /;/;
.'
with
I his pre* yonid's distini live features
bh„l.
include .1 long, pointed snout. It
forages in daytime in nois) groups of

in 20 rare.) ovei 60), which bustle
through vegetation, exploring for
anything edible, from fungi and
berries to inset is anil mice, wlul
lookouts around the pack's edge
waii h lot predators I lighl)
CARNIVORES
MUSTELIDS
Most mustelids have an excellent Reproduction
Of all the carnivores the mustelid
sense of smell for tracking prey and Female mustelids do not ovulate
family is the most diverse and contains
class Mammalia for communication. All have st enl automatically. Instead, ovulation is
order Camivora the highest number of species. The glands in the anus, which generally stimulated b\ copulation, whic h
- group includes terrestrial forms (such produi e an oily, strong-smelling

liquid known as musk. This is
ma) last up to 2 hours. This lengthy
procedure does expose pairs to
as skunks), arboreal species (such as secreted into the feces, which are predators, but fertilization
is almost
martens), burrowing species (such as used to mark territory. guaranteed. In main species, the
fertilized egg remains dormant and
badgers), semiaquatic species (such as minks), and fully Feedinc does not implant until onditions are
c
aquatic species (such as otters). With such a range of life- Reflecting their diverse lifestyles, favorable. Therefore, although the
the main physical link between species is short legs
styles, mustelids have a varied diet. Weasels is only
gestation period 2 months. 1
and ermines, example, are agile

lor pregnancy may last more than 12
and an elongated body. Mustelids are found throughout
,ind aggressive and are capable "I months. Most mustelids are solitary,
Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas. Although mostly killing prey larger than themselves, e\( ept during the breeding season.
occurring in forest or bush, they have adapted to such as rabbits. Some otter species
actively hunt Esh; others eat maink
Fur trade
populate almost every habitat type.
shellfish collected by feeling along Mustelid fur is much sought after
river beds with their sensitive paws. because it is soft, dense, and water
Anatomy the black-and-white stripes of The sea otter cracks open abalone repellent Of all the mammal
All mustelids have short ears and skunks are thought to convey shellsby floating on its back on the families, the mustelid family has
5 toes on each foot (most carnivores a warning to predators. surfai rand then hitting the shell more species with fur valued by
have only 4 on each back foot); against a rock balanced on its chest humans than any other. The most
most have a short snout, a long Martens, which are arboreal, catch highlv prized is the fur of minks, the
braincasc, a long tail, and long, and eat squirrels and birds. sable,and the ermine when it has
nonretractable, curved claws. Body while the striped polecat, its white winter coalThe American
.
form tends to be cither slender (as a burrowing spec ies, mink is farmed for its fur. and in
in weasels) or heavy and squat catches small rodents, Fiurope these have escaped in a
(as in badgers). Slimmer forms lizards, and insects. number of locations and established
have a flexible backbone and wild populations, often at the expense
employ a scampering, bounding of the indigenous European mink.

gait: stocky forms move with a The quest lor sea otter fur has
rolling shuffle. Mustelids have brought this species to the brink of
a fur coat that consists of extinction, although recently
warm undcrfur and longer. numbers have increased in
sparser guard hairs. Coat North .America.
color varies from dark
brown or black to spotted
or striped. In some
/ species, contrasting
patterns - for example
'/
MUSTELIDS
Mustek stoat and large weasel are disting- Mustek lutreok

Mustek erminea nivalis
uished by the former's blai It-tipped
Ermine Least weasel tail. Like stoats, weasels in northern European mink
I
lands turn white in winter lor
i amouflage in
Ta,l tin snow. This Tail I
spei ies lives

i
alone, making
several nests lined with
Location N. .n unit Individual
Social unit tiulivxlua] Social unit Individual grass and prey fur or 1
Status \j .rally common Status Locall) common feathei 5, in a crevice, Status Endangered
tree root, or abandoned
m iii m* «ikA burrow
period of 34
Aftei a gestation
37 days,
la
One of the smallest and most the female produces a The European mink Ls similar in
widespread mustelids, this species has litter of 1-7 average habitsand appearance to the
a small, flattened head hardly wider L 5). She care- foi American mink below . although
than the di i k. allowing it to enter them for 9-12 weeks. -lightly smaller. It hunts small prey
mouse burrows. It also eats voles, such as birds, mammals, frogs, fish,
other small indents, and birds. It is and crayfish on land and in water.
and night and must
active day The fur is dark brown to almost black
consume one-third of its bod) with a narrow white edging to the
weight each day to survive. hocolaie- lips This endangered mink is being
This extremely widespread mustelid ( herall size varies great!) bnru n upperparts. bred in captivity for release.
adapts to many habitats, and hunts across the huge range and less, and tail
varied prev from mil e. voles,and between sexes, widi the

small birds to rats and. often, rabbits. male being a quarter .
It has the typical mustelid's long, slim, long and up to twice

flexible body, pointed muzzle, small the weight of the
eve* and ears, and short legs. In the female. A small
north of its range, the summer coat
til russet to ginger-brown above,
demarcated from cream or white

below, turns all-white for winter, when
the stoat is often called the ermine.
However, the tail tip is always black.
Considered to be the domestic ferret "s taken to South

Mustek putorious
ancestor, the polecat has long bull to America,
European polecat black hairs with cream or yellow American mink Europe, and
underfur visible between them, and Russia for fur
Length 12
a "mask" across the face. It runs. farming. Escapees
1 limlis. .md swims well. II threatened. *S*&\ established wild
itreleases very pungent-smelling anal populations and
Weight Weight
.
gland secretions. As in main similar are regarded as

mustelids, male neighbors defend L threats to local
Social unit Individual Location North America, Social unit Individual - not
separate territories, as do females, wildlife
V and
Status Locally but male territories usually overlap Y and E- Asia Status Locally only to prey but
female ones. also to rival
tastes predators.
This opportunistic predator uses its

Color variation
partly webbed feel to hunt on land '
/ 1 ncan minks
and in water for a variety of small are dark brown to
animals including rats, rabbits, birds. almost black, but
frogs, fish, and t rayfish. Sinci its approximately I in
eyesight is not well adapted for 10 n gray -blue.
underwater vision, prey is located at

ill. surfai e and then pursued. In her
Mustek nigripes Exceptionally tare, partly due to

extermination ol its almost exclusive
in sting den among
the female suckles I
tree roots or rocks,
6 yi lung foi
\
Black-footed ferret prey ol prairie dogs see p. 1 17 . this ks. In its natural range the
spet ies w.is 1 onsidered extini American mink was oni e napped by
wild. < laptive brei ding and n tsand: in aboul 1900 it was
T.s have reestablished .1 few in Wyoming
li uses us prey down burrows and
1 1
.lis., s, is up a nest there, the female MINK TERRITORIES

giving birth to > 6 kits. American mink are territorial, with
Social unit I
t\pii al territory sizes i
miles ] ikm across foi the female

and 1 i\ (miles 2 ~>km lor the
male. Each marks its territory with
urine, droppings,and si ents fii mi the
anal glands. From February to April.
males try to male with lcm.il>
black tail tip adjai em ten ii
CARNIVORES
Maries Join a of all kinds, li also scavenges in refuse Marks pennanti Maries jlavigula
and eats fruits. It has a relatively short
Beech marten body marten long legs, and a
for a . Fisher Yellow-throated
wide, wedge-shaped head. The fur is
Length 16
12 ..
brown, with a paler "bow tie" throat
Length
marten
patch. Typical!) solitary, the den is Tai
iM lOin
Tail i
:
Length
>v
-OCatJOn EuTOfK
Weight
1

.:. 3
a nu k\ crevice, tree-hole,
rodent burrow. The territory of up

to 200 acres (80 hectares is marked b\
droppings. However, near towns, the
or old
^? Weight I
Social unit Individual Weight

Tail 11
8
I8in
Status Common marten may nest in an outbuilding Status Lower rislcf

:
'
and be less territorial, foraging with Social unit Individual
m jUk a. others ol its kind. As in many

mustelids, there a period of delayed
m ik Status I-ndanexred
This marten has adapted to human

habitation, and hunts around farms
implantation after mating 230
is
days followedby SO days' gestation.

275 Despite
ground
it-
prey,
name, the fisher hunt-
from mice to porcupines.
m ik
and other buildings for small animals Littei size averages 3 -4. as well as scavenging on carcasses.
Il make- den- in links root-, bushes,
bushy tail
and stumps, or high in tree-, where it
prefers to raise young Hunted for its

long, dense fur. fisher numbers have
recovered m some areas but new
threat- include disturbani e by logging
Similar to the European pine marten

see li It in it- i limbing agility and
long leap-, the yellow-throated marten
i- larger and has long dense lur and a
bushy tail. It- color varies from dark
orange-yellow to brown, with a yellow
or white throat patch. It feeds on
M mattes •
branches. Although extremely agile in small rodent-, birds, insects, and fruits.
trees and capable of great leaps, the on the ground and in trees. Pairs or
European pine pine marten family group- may catch young deer.
takes most of
marten itsprey on the
ground, feeding Poecilogale albinucha
Length
on small rodent
Tail 3-1 1 in birds, in-eet-. _^K large.
African striped
and fruits.
Weight i weasel
cream to
orange Jur on
Status Lower rbkt throat and
m ik chest
Almost catlike in its movement-, ihi- 5:: i m t Individual
sharp-claw ed mustelid climbs well and Status I
nests in a tree-hole or old squirrel

drey nest . It has a long, -lender body
and the fur i- chestnut to dark brown,
with a i ream to orange throat "bib." Ihi- exceptionally long, slim mustelid
It- bushy tail i- used for balance in l- black except for a white patch
running from the forehead over the
head to the neck, where it splits into
-jbellina
Compared to other species, it- legs are J white stripes, which each divide
longer, bushier, and its sharp again into along the back and sides
'/ it- tail _'.
Sable claws partly retractable. Fast and anile of the body. All 4 stripes unite at the
on the ground, the sable climb- well tail, which is white and bushy. The
but rarely. It has the typical marten African striped weasel dia- well with
diet of small animal- and fruits, anil it- long-clawed front feet, and eat-
takes over an old burrow for it- main almost exclusively mice and similar
Weight 2
nest; it also has various temporary den-. This polecat i- black with variable small rodents, in addition to occasional
white or yellow spots and -tripe-, and birds and tag-. In defense, it can
the typical black-and-white "face squirt a pungent spray from it- anal
Status Endani^red* mask." A species ol steppes and other glands more than J'Afi Im).
m ik dry,
and
open resion-.
at night for a variety
it hunt-
of small
at twilight
4
animals, especially hamsters. The den
few mustelids suffered more hunting i- an old, enlarged rodent burrow,
for fur than the sable, which i- now where the female gives birth to a litter
protected in some regions. It has a of 4 young When threatened, die

8
brown-black coat, with an indistinct, marbled polecat arches it- head and
paler brown throat patch, and the curls it- tail over it- body, and may
head is wide, with rounded ears. release it- pungent anal aland odor.
fc
MUSTELIDS
it la I a Ictonyx \ trial u\ Gulo gulo

• .11 il H .11 m ~111nl.11 1 .in asses in winter;
parts oi the carcass may be buried foi
Greater grison Striped polecat Wolverine latei use. In addition to scavenging,
the wolverine inns down vii nm- even

on soft snow, w 11I1 I.h Mil feel and
K«*' muscular limbs. Also
11
1 ailed the
Tail
V4
% Weight Weight 18 1Mb

6
glutton,
deer ami hares in
it takes various prey,
mi e, as well as
from
birds ami eggs, and seasonal fruits.

Location S. Mi Social unit [ndivitlual Location ( . cial unit IiliIi\ nlii.il
Active all year, it covers up to 3 miles
1
USA, HE.
Status Low rrisl Status \ ulnei ibli
'iiikm daily I In long, dense fin is
blackish brown, with a pale brown

m iii ** band along each side, from the
shoulder and II. ink over the rump to
Even for a mustelid, the greater grison md biggesl mustelid after the the base of the tail. There may be a
is and sinuous, with
Ions; .1 slim. giant otter, the male wolverine is a white chest patch. The wolverine lives
pointed head and flexible nei k; the third larger than the female. The in den among roots or rocks or dug
.1
tail, however, is relatively short. spei ies is sto< kv. strong, and bearlike, 6 '/2ft (2m) into a snowdrift. The
( 1
1I1 1 in. from a m is all gray, apart with extremely powerful jaws thai 1 an average litter is 2 - 3, and the female
while. U-shaped stripe running ai ross 1 1 inn h In 1/111 meat and bone of suckles her young for 8 - weeks. 1
the forehead, passing just above each

e\c and ovei ea< h car. tapering like build
1 he shoulder. There is also
black below on the muzzle, throat,
chest, and from leys. 1 In- grison lives
alone or in a male-female pair. i- an
agile runner, swimmer, and climber, Resembling a small -kt.nk see p.200),
and eats various small animals even the zorilla Atric an or striped polecat
worms as well as fruits. It- sounds i- jet bl.u k. apart from \ pint' white
include snorts, grow stripes that fan out from the head,
screams, and ong the back and sides, to the tail
barks. base. The llulh tail is
mottled white and gray. If

threatened, the zorilla hisses, screams,
and raises its tail to spray noxious
Quid from 11- anal glands. Ii ili_- with
its long-clawed, front feet for grubs,
mice, and other small creatun s
M Uii ora capensis Mih 1
COMMUNAL LIVING
Honey badger Eurasian badger Each badger Ian averages i
h members: usually a dominant

Length 23 Length 2
boar male with one or more sows

Tail l females and cubs. Their setl
an extensive system of tunnels and
chambers may have ID or more
entrances. Setts are kept clean and
Location U Social unit '
Location Europe to E Asia Socia
are maintained and enlarged over
I I
i ... U and S
Status 1.. iv> many generations. Badgers range
m fi — JL ++ m ovei a
"in I
tii ritory
"in
defend against other clans.

he< tares
of 125
. whit h they
170 at res
One group-dwelling
ot the few
mustelids, the badger has a small.
jointed head and short neck, widening fertilized bul do m il immediately Variable stripe
in a powerful body, with short, strong implant into the womb lining . and The badger's distinctive stripedjace varies slightly
mbs and a small tail. I he undet parts a gestation period of 7 weeks, the between individuals. It may allow dan
are blai k, the mam body and tail gray, female gives birth to up to members to recognize each
other or act as
and the fa< e and net k white, with a Shi -in kles
camouflage.
I >l.it k stripe i'ii each side, from the
i
the small eye to the ear. I he lOv i k
Eurasian badgei has pt 101 \ tsii m I ml

its In .a ing is better and il ha. a keen
i ii" il \ i
rial and
I he heavily limit honey badgi i 01 omnivorous, this badgei varii - its dit l
rate! i- silver-gray on the uppei head, with season and availability

bat k. and tail, and bla< k 01 dark 1 arthworms an a staph suppli mi . nti '1
Iscwhen In long I i i laws by iii-ei ts and gi ubs, in addition ti i
arc well adapti d for diggin I

:
frogs, lizards, small mammals, birds

nl this mustelid ini hides worms. and tin n i: h tut-., and
termites, s< 01 pions, pon u| lines, and other plant mallei Insii Ii thi group's
It also i ooperates with the pant 1 . tin nests are Lined
bl.u k-throated honeyguidc bird sci
hit h leads n to bees' nests moss, whit h i- ihanged regularly.

1
Igei i
ipens the nest to pn >\ idi \lli i up to I
11 month- nl tli I
honey and grubs foi 1" >th implantation whin thi egg in
CARNIVORES
Arctonyx collaris Taxidea taxus Melogale personal snails, small mammals, birds, and
plant matter sui h as fruits, and
Hos-badoer American badger Burmese ferret- sometimes climbs trees. This badger
is dark gray or brown, with white or
Length 22
,5
28 ill
...
badger yellow patches on the cheeks and
Tail t . 6 between the eyes. It lives in a burrow
and - like most badgers is fearless if
Weight 15 lllb Weight
threatened, releasing an offensive anal
:
Tail •
Social unit
Status Low
Group Location s
I s \ X Mario
W ( ,u Social unit Individual
Status ( ommon
IL Weight 2
gland odor and biting hard.
lop of the
I
head and neck

ripe on
m -* m
Smaller but similar
the Eurasian badger (see p. 199
in appearance
.
to
the
m ±k
Ann i i( an species is, however, solitary. Smaller than other
It open country with loose soil,
prefers badgers, the bushy-tailed
and feeds mainly on small mammals Burmese ferret-badger
such as prairie dogs and other ground has a long, flexible body
squirrels, which it digs from their resembling a ferret's. It
burrows. The shaggy fur is grizzled feeds at nigh) on insects,

gray on the upperparts, yellow -white
below, and black on the limbs.
Mydaus marchei Slow and ponderous, when attacked

Named for its looks and its tendency the Palawan stink badger accurately
to root and snuffle in the ground like Palawan stink badger squirts an extremely noxious tluid from
a pig. the hog-badger an excellent its anal glands over a distance of
b
is
digger, using the very long claws on 3 '/tfl 1m . It has a short tail, small
its front feet. In appearance and ears and eyes, a typically badgerlike,
habits
I
Iih
>.n Iyer
it resembles the Eurasian
see p. 199
omnivore with a very wide range of
Is. in mi fruits and hone) to worms
ii
. being a seasonal
^ % _ -tmk\ body, and a long,
almost hairless snout for sniffing and
rooting out small
worms, grubs, and slugs. The fur is
soil dwellers
flexible,
sL u h as
and mice. The whitish late has 2 dark brown with a yellow head cap
black stripes on either side. The upper that tapeis in a stripe between the
body is gra\ tinged with yellow, and shoulders. This badger lives alone in
:
the underparts are black. -A. a n h ky den or old porcupine burrow.
Conepalus humboldli Spilogale pulorius Mephitis mephitis
Humboldt's hog- Eastern spotted Striped skunk

nosed skunk skunk
Length
!
Weight
Tail '
I Tail
(30-57 cm)
Weight ;
Weight Social unit Individual
(500-1000 g)
Status I ommon
Location S South America Social unit Individual Social unit lndividu.il
Status Vulnerable* Status Louvr rok+ m jftt II threatened, the striped skunk
9S. ++ A. m In common
striped
with other skunks, the
shunk has black-and-white
duffs its fur.
lifts its tail.
remain, it
arches its
Should the aggressor

stands on
back,
its
and
front feet,
Uongwith iln typical small skunk warning coloration. Its diet includes rear feet in the air. and twists its
head, stock] body and ilullv tail, this in-ii ts. small mammals, birds and body. It then ejects a foul-smelling
ill skunk also has ,1 broad their eggs, lish. mollusks, fruits, seeds, liquid over head for up to
its
nose pad tin rooting up food lis fur is and human leftover food. It is solitary 9 '/» ft 3m
from 2 nozzlelike
.
lil.ii k hi reddish brown with a white but may gather in communal winter ducts protruding from its anus.
snipe along each side; the stripes meet dens among rocks, in old burrows, oi
on the head and extend onto the tail. under outbuildings. Th.
Coloration
It will feed on virtually anything young may stay with
u black uith a thin
edible, but mainly takes msci is. Like their mother for
:nfw on the muzzle,
nihil skunks, it 0C( upies a secure den more than *^w and uider. upper-
umli i a rock, in a burrow, or among Heavy bodied and shun legged, this back • ; •
bushes, ami n .an spray enemies with mustelid relies on striking coloration head to tail.
foul-smelling tluid. tn w.u n its enemies of the noxious

Quid sprayed from its anal glands.
W^ The
in
white markings on the body differ
every individual; there
however, a white pan h on the forehead
and a white tail tip. food includes
is usually.
a
if small animals, fruits, and
ill matter. Generally solitary.
up to 8 eastern spotted skunks may
share a den in winter.
MUSTELIDS
ii i ill I In real feet are webbed with

Lontru canadensis Aonyx capensis
small c laws on toes 3 and 4. The
North American Afric an claw less otter i lawless front toes resemble In.
and are able and hold to feel j
river otter The clans of paired adults and 2

Tail young are exceptionally playful, enji >
^*fc '- II
Length 26
ing mock fighting, mud-sliding, and
^
I I ill
*#" Tail
Weight 13
6
I
9kg
_'i i Ih
Bil
Location \Y E.. C:.. and

Weight 22
Social unit I'.n,

351b
noisy, yapping chases.
Status Lowei ritkt

Social unit IiiiIimiIii il
Status 1
The river otter's main pre) Ssh, is (!»» . hss
w hit h it catches by day. except in
fcs t= areas disturbed In people, where In common with other otters, the
the ottei becomes more nocturnal. African clawless otter's long, sinuous
Probably the most numerous otter, Crayfish, frogs, snakes, lizards. body, muscular tail, and short limbs
this species is similar to the European and nisii is in the water are also make it well adapted to swim and
otter see below and is solitary except devoured, t i' i asii malK tins ottei dive. It catches crabs, frogs, and fish,
at mating time, when it makes squeaks, m.i\ also takean aquatic mammal as well as lobster and octopus along
chitters, and whistles. It dwells along such as a water vole, or a small i oasts, crushing them with its large
river banks, lake shines,and coasts, water bird such as a duckling.
maintaining territories of 3 -15 miles
(5- 25km Home is a den in a
i.
Amblonyx cinerea
ol about 12. members keeping
SrNTJOUS AND SILVERY
riverside burrow, under a pile of in touch with noises and scents.
This long-bodied otter has red- or gray -brown to
rocks or a thicket near water, or in \ fur on tht back,pala rilvery or grqy-
Oriental small- Male-female pair bonds are especially
a beaver home (lodge). and strong. As in main similar spe< ies,
brou n !tn on underparts,
tht
throat tinged sitva oryellow-gray.

tt ith tht cheeks
clawed otter territories are marked with scent from
pale throat
must alar tail to

~~ Length IH-24in
paired glands
urine, and droppings
at the base of the
(spraints
tail,
Littei
aid swimming Tail 10 14 in size varies from one
I
to 6, average 2; both
Weight 2 I
'I 111b
parents care for
1
J leg
the young. / upf
Location S., E., .ind S.E. Social unit [ii'.li\idual/Group
Status Lower riskt
-v- fingerlike
front toes, for
Smallest of the otters, the oriental handlingfood
short-clawed otter has very short
claws that do not extend beyond the
Intra lutra sports. With it- waterproof coat. llesh\ end pads of the partly webbed
webbed paws, and stiff whiskers (to toes. The cheek teeth are broad, for
European otter feel currents from prey movement), crushing hard-cased food such as
this ottei is well adapted to its aquatic mussels and other shellfish, crabs, and
Length 22'/.>-28in
habitat. It hunts mainly fish, as well as hogs; unusuall) for otters, fish are
frw
Tail Id I6in frogs and other aquatic or amphibious relatively unimportant in the diet. The
15 Wan prey. Its coloration is mainl) brown. uppei parts are brown: the underside
Weight 15 221b
-
with .i paler throat, and the muscular i- paler, with variable white areas on
10 kg
»
tail is flattened from top to bottom. the lower face, throat, and chest.
Location .,„ V,., Social unit Individual
! i
Inland, the European otter hunts These otters form loose social groups
Status Vulnerable chiefly in twilight or darkness, while
along i oasts, it is mote at tive m
ifcsas : fc= daylight. The burrow holt is in a /'/, i.j//, tint brasiliensis
life make it ungainly on land. Its stout
bankside territory, 2 I . 1 2 miles whiskers and sensitive eyes effe< tivi K
The European ottei has suffi n d 4 20km long, marked by scent and Giant otter detect prey movements in water.
through hunting for fur, fisher) droppings Chi Eun ipean ottei is The short, dense fur is dark brown,
Length
protection, and sport, as well as from mostl) solitary, pairing for 2-3 appearing black when wet, with i nam
water pollution and loss ol i ivei months in early spring. Aftei 60 70 Tail 18 spots and pale lies on the chin, throat,
habitat caused by bank days' gestation, the 2 3 cubs are .\wt\ i hest, which may merge inti a i
Weight 19 nil,
clcaram e. irrigation, -in kled foi
'>
nths, and sta\ w nh "bib." The giant ottei forms groups of

and water the mothei foi more than a yeai 5 10: usualfj 2 parents, theii offspring,
and various youngei adults 1 Ins Live
oat uard
Status I :
in a i ommunal bank den oi burrow
hairs and densi i
and hunt b\ da)
5?L ts foi fish. I I. lbs
and other
I he biggest mustelid, this spei ies is
siinil.it in a m i% large t ivei otter. It
has slum leys, well-webbed toi -

and
a flattened, wide-basi 1
1 tail I, u
swimming and di\ ing

I lies, adaptations
foi aquatii
MUSTELIDS
Expert diver Enln dra lutris CONSERVATION

n spends much aj
i
I nod on the seabtd. Sea otter I'h iii i
ted from hunting, sea
pled to an aquatic existence. Its
arc now increasing in number, but
lungs are kio and a half tin
range.
only in part of theii original
of those found in land mammals of
Tail Efforts to relocate them to other
rimilai ,nderwater,
areas are continuing. Promoting
it can remain at a depth of 98ft
I minutes.
Weight H
the growth of kelp beds - one of
the sea otter's favorite habitats
-ocauon North Pacific Social unit Group shown below may also help the
Status I.uri.iriî ri d animal to thrive once again.
I he smallesl marine mammal, the

lives and feeds in the ocean.
It comes ashore only rarely, but is
commonly seen close to the coast

particularly near marine kelp forests,
floating on it> back with its paws out
of the water. Superbly adapted to its
aquatii u,t\ of life, the sea otter has
luxuriantly thick fur that keeps it and abalone, and has
sea urchins,
warm in the cold waters it inhabits. immensely strong teeth for crushing
It has a strong, flat tail that acts as a the shells. Before the sea otter
rudder, and large, flipperlike hindfeet sleeps, it may anchor
by itself
that propel through the water; the

it wrapping its Sea otters
body in kelp.
smaller forepaws have retractable are social animals, usually found in

daws, like a cat's, which the sea otter groups (rafts), with males forming
uses for holding food and grooming its separate rafts from females. In
fur. Excellent eyesight - both under- Uaska hundreds of animals mas-
water and at the surface - a good be found together. Hunted in the
sense of smell, and sensitive whiskers past for its fur - almost to
help it find food. It forages main]) on extinction in some areas - the sea
the seabed, looking for tubs. , lams, otter is now a protected species.
long hnu n
bod) fur
Grooming to stay warm

all animals
-
The sea otter has the densest fur of
up to 1 million hairs per square in (150,000 per
square cm). Grooming the fur. to keep it clean and
waterproof is essential.
SPECIALIST BEHAVIOR
The sea otter is a resourceful and adept animal, adapting its
behavior in a variety of ways in order to make the most of its
environment. Perhaps most remarkably n has learned to usi
stones as tools for cracking open shellfish.
Tool user
An abalout
be hard to crack, hut
the sea otter h
a reliable method.
I
I
he'll open
by hitting ii
a rock collectedfrom
the seabed.
Water baby
tter will
i ' soon takes

the water.
Until the f>

v
fitr, the mother
U on her bri
CARNIVORES
Civets and relatives

Animals in rras family which includes omnivorous, and eat small mammals over a considerable area. Individuals
civets, genets, binturong, mongooses often and birds, lizards, or invertebrates. communicate with high-pitched
class Mammalia Species that hunt prey usually stalk The meerkats
"beeps." of southern
treated as separate from the viverrids and .
oadc* Carnivora their victims in a cadike manner. Africa live in burrows, each with
fossa - usually have a slender body and a several entrances and each occupied
long tail. They are related to cats and hyenas SOCIAL GROUPS by a social group. While some
but are more primitive, with a longer snout Most species in this family are members are foraging, other- Maud
and additional teeth. Yiverrids are solitary, but dwarf mongooses live on back legs, on small
their
in large social groups that forage points, watching out lor predators.
distributed throughout Africa. Madagascar, southern Asia,
and southeastern Europe, and are found in forest, desert,
and savanna. Most are terrestrial, but there are arboreal
species (for example, the binturong) and semiaquatic
ones for example, otter genets).
ANATOMY
Yiverrids typically have a long body
and tail, short legs, an elongated
neck and head, and a tapered snout.
Most civets and genets have spots in
longitudinal rows along the body:
mongooses have a plain or striped
1 i.u. All species have scent glands
1
in the anal region, and in civets

these glands produce a substance
used to make perfume.
FEEDING
Some viverrids are carnivorous
while others, such as the two
spotted palm civet, eat only
fruits. Most, however, are
'
I
I nerra tangalunga
/
tail. It climbs only occasionally and rnonodon pardicolor Paradoxurus htrmaphroditus
feeds mainly on forest-floor creatures
Malayan civet including millipedes, giant centipedes Spotted linsang Asian palm civet
scorpions, and small mammals such
(62-66 on) as mice. Widespread and common
Tail ll-Hin throughout Southeast Asia, the
-
Malayan civet is nocturnal and
Waght
solitary, and lives for up to years.1 1
Sees ink I: :. idual
S".^s i
£L rV
In addition to the typical civet This adaptable, bushy-tailed civet is

coat of many dark spots forming brownish gray with black stripe- in i it-
lines along the body, this species has back, dark flank spots, and a polecat-
a distinctive black-and-white neck like "face mask." It stays mainly in
collar, white underside, black legs and trees but may rest by day in a house
feet, and about 15 bands along the or on an outbuilding roof. The diet
includes many fruits, especiallv figs,
as well as buds, grasses, small animals
1 Genetla genetla mammals, birds, eggs, grubs, and

In some areas it raids farms for
fruits.
such as insects and mice, and some-
time- poultry. Fermented palm tree
Small-spotted genet poultry and is considered a pest The juice is a favorite,
den is a sheltered area under roots or giving rise to a
Length
in thick bushes. After the gestation local name of
_>Oin period of 70 days, topically 2-3 "toddv cat.'
.. tie born with eyes closed. This small, slender, sinuous lmsang
seem.- to "flow" through the branches
with amazing grace, using its tail to
Jrvidual
balance and brake. Both sexes are
wuihero Aft
Status Common generally solitary and nocturnal, with
large ear- and big eves adapted for
99. .**_ night vision. The male is almost twice
the size of the female. Its diet consists
This verj catlike species, also known of small animals such as frogs, snake-,
as the common genet, has semi- rats, and mice, as well as carrion. The
retractile daws and is an excellent average litter size is J- 3. with peak
climber. It takes a variety of small births in February and August.
CIVETS AND RELATIVES
Brown on the upper parts, whitish

Arctictii binturong Eupleres goudotii
gray on the underside, with a long,
Binturong Falanouc slender snout and a short, bushy tail, Banded mongoose
the falanouc inhabits the Madagasi an
rainforests and marshes. It uses its
,_, — Length 12- 18 in
in 15 cm)
' long front claws to dig in soil for
' Tail b-!2in
Tail loin
r?r
a i
worms, grubs, insects, slugs, snails, 2/ (15-10 • in
Weight

,1,1
and rodents. The single young, born
with eyes open, can follow its mother
after only 2 days, and is weaned by
.ocation Aim
T .1
1
Weight 5
Social unit Variabli

'A -5
S
1/2 lb
Sums ( ommon Status Endangered

9 weeks. Falanoucs are threatened by Status Common
habitat loss, humans, dogs, and an
H £L Y» introduced competitor, the small Indian

i
ivel Viverricula indica).
The binturong lias shagg) black Im Common, and opportunistic,

lively,
and tufted cars. Its tail is long-haired this stocky mongoose has distinctive
and prehensile at the tip. It moves This mongoose is a yellowish buff crosswise bands over the rear of the
Cynictis penicillala
slowly and cautiously among branches color in the south of its range but body. The fur is coarse and grizzled,
in search of fruits, shoots, and small Yellow mongoose grayer in the north. The family group and populations from moist habitats
animals such as insects, birds, and (abreeding pair, their offspring, and are darker brown than drier-region
rodents. By day it curls up on a nonbreeding young adults) occupies individuals. Often kept as a pel, the
secluded branch to rest, but may and extends a tunnel system taken banded mongoose eats varied small
continue to feed. Individuals mark over from meerkats or ground items, from termites to birds' eggs. It
their territories with scent. The 1-3 squirrels. is often found in packs of 15-20 that
young, born after a gestation of 92 Occasionally include one dominant male.

days, reach adult size in one year. these species all
coexist in a large
burrow. The
main diet is insects
such as termites,
ants, beetles, and
locusts, in addition to
birds, eggs, frogs, lizards,
ind small rodents.
Helogale parvula Suricata suricatta Diurnal and sociable, the meerkat Cryptoprocta ferox
forms colonies of up to 30, which
Dwarf mongoose Meerkat enlarge the former burrow systems of Fossa
ground squirrels. In early morning it
Length 10 I Im Length 23 '/a Win
25 15 an emerges to sit up and sunbathe, then ,l,n 7h , in
Tail 5'/2-7 in Tail i.

'
' I'm forages for small prey. Coloration is Tail 22 28 in

(14-19 on) (17-25 cm)
pale brown on the underside and face, (55-70 cm)
Weight 7-1 3 oz Weight,' l»» Weight 21 311b

I
silver-brown on the upper parts, with

(200-350 g)
v< -''"J
8 darker bands on the rear back, dark
(9.5-14 kg)
Location Social unit Individual

Social l
eye-rings, and a dark tip to the slender M.id.it;.i\.
Status Common Status Common tail. After a gestation of 1 1 weeks, the Status Endangered
2-5 young are born in a grass-lined
nursery chamber in the burrow. ZL
The smallest mongoose, this species Resembling a diminutive brown
has thick fur, brown but fine-grizzled
Expert diggers "big cat," the fossa is lithe, agile,
The meet hit \ long front
very small eyes and
in red or black, and an excellent leaper and climber.
claws art used to dig its
ears,and long-clawed front feet. It Madagascar's largest carnivore, this
Imrwn mill In jnni //nit/.
forms packs of 2-20, which "rotate" mmtih m\eil\. \/>ttlrr\,

muscular, powerful predator hunts
around the termite mounds of their and "ili: i mail by day or night, using the slalk-and-
range They use the mound as sheltei animals, in addition pounce method. It originally
for a few days and feed on insects, to roots and bulbs, specialized in hunting lemurs but
lizards, snakes, birds, eggs, and mice. now also takes pigs, poultry,
All members of the pack help care and other domesticated
Im nil ipring, whii h may number up animals. A top
to li per female. carnivore,
the solitary-
fossa
While most pack members forage, naturally has
some act .is lookout senli irs. a large territory,
espec i.illy for hawks and Othei more than 1 1/2
aei i.il predators. Senrt ies stand at .i |u,in iinlrs I
vantage points su< h as on mounds -i|ii.in km . and llius
and heep oi cluck

aui\ in bushes, i
a low population
warnings. Sharp l>.uks ..r growls density. It is threatened
denote more urgent threats and 1>\ loss ill lis ll.||l|[,|l
the meerkats dive loi i ovei and pcrsei uled Im lis
aiiai ks mi livestot k
CARNIVORES
Hyenas and aardwolf

phylum Chordata Although members of this family zebras, ["his species is also a highly effort to obtain, and the murition.il
etlii ient s(avenger groups of value is surprisingly high. An
superficially resemble dogs, they are spi itted hyenas are < apabli aardwoU ma\ rat as mans as
n Carnivora in fact more closely related to eats and driving a lion off its prey. Striped 200.000 termites in a single night
civets and genets. They all feature a and brown hyenas, on the other
family Hvaenidae
hand, scavenge most of the time. Social groups
distinctive back line that slopes down- although thej m,i\ also capture While the aardwolf is solitary, and
ward from the shoulders to the tail. small prey. All hyenas are able to striped and brown hyenas live in
digest parts of a kill that other pairs or small groups, spotted hyenas
Hyenas and aardwolves are primarily found in Africa
mammals cannot process, sin h as live in larger groups called clans.
although the striped hyena extends to southern parts skin and bone. This means that they These clans m,n consist nf up to 80
of Asia in savanna, scrub, and semiarid habitats. They
.
ih iupy a nil he not tilled b\ must individuals males and females and
and dig dens that are used to nihil mammals. Portions of the their cubs When cubs are 1 i
are primarily nocturnal
.
meal cannot digest, such

that they months old, they are transferred to
shelter adults and cubs (except in the spotted hyena. as ligaments, hair, and hooves, are a communal den. where all are
where only the cubs seek refuge in dens). regurgitated in the form of pellets. suckled by any lactating female
Given these digestive adaptations, brown hyenas employ this system,
it is surprising that one member of too). 1 he cubs remain in the den
Anatomy FEtDING this family the aardwolf - does until they are weaned and ready to
Physical characteristics common to Hyenas have a broad muzzle and not eat large prey Instead it uses its accompany adults hunting and
the species in this family include a immensely strong jaws indeed, the smaller teeth and sticky tongue to foraging, which may be at as little
largehead and ears, long trout legs jaws are the most powerful of any feed on termites. There is little as 7 months of age. All hyenas are
and short back legs, a mane on the mammal of comparable size) and competition for this food source, it territorial, and their territories
nape that except in the spotted teeth for crushing bones. Of the 3 requires minimal are marked using an anal si ent
hyena extends down the back, hyena species, the spotted hyena is gland which can be turned
a bush\ tail, and short, blunt, the most voracious hunter. When inside out Spotted
.
nonretractable claws. Hvt nas have hunting cooperatively, spotted hyena clans patrol and
4 toes on both the front and back hyenas are able to take defend their territon,
feet; the aardwolf has 5 toes on the down large prey, communally
front feet and 4 on the back feet. such as
The coat is spotted or striped the
brown hyena has stripes on the
limbs onl\ .
m
HYENAS AND AARDWOLF
I 'mi 1 it i rislatus
front legs and down-sloping body are Parahyaena brunnea Hyaena hyaena
s
.1. i -
ntuated back 1>\ the < restlike
Aardwolf mane, most prominent on the neck Brown hyena Striped hyena
and shoulders. This erects undei stress Length
so the animal appears larger. Tin" fur 1 I „i
is pale buff or yellow-white with 3 Tail ft -/Jin Tail Sin
vi i in al stripes on each side, and

Weight 111 1051b Weight 77-8810
diagonal stripes across the fore- and !
hindquarters. The front teeth are

Location t. and southern Socialunitltidnidii.il
hyena-like but the molars arc small Location Soutl Social unit Variablr Location \V N and B. Social unit [ndividua]
Mm .
S A-i.i
Status I owi i riskt

pegs, tin- food being ground up by the Status Lower riskt Status Lower risk
muscular stomach. The aardwolf is
solitary and nocturnal, resting in a

burrow by day. It marks its territory
lit j<fc JL
A small relative of the hyenas, the with urine, dung, and anal gland This species ranges farther into Preferring savanna and open wood-
aardwolf's specialized diet is termites, secretions. The 2-4 cubs are born deserts than other hyenas, and can land, thishyena avoids extreme
particularly surface-foraging nasute after a gestation period of 90 days, scent carrion from 8 72 miles (14km). habitats such as deserts. It is gray or
snouted harvester termites. It also emerge from the den at 4 weeks, It has the typical hyena's powerful pale brown with 5-6 vertical flank
lie kv up maggots, grubs, and other forage with the mother from 9-11 jaws and shearing teeth for scavenging bars.The neck mane diminishes on
small, soft-bodied creatures. Its longer weeks, and are weaned by 11) weeks. on any carcass, including seal pups the back and merges with the bushy
along the Namib Desert coast. It also black-and-white tail. Generally
catches prey such as springhares. The solitary, this hyena may form a family
brown hyena forms loose clans that group when breeding. It scavenges,
defend their territory. Its coat is hunts prey from insects to hares, and
shaggy, dark brown to black, with a eats fruits and other
pale tawny neck mantle, a gray- plant matter.
patched lace, and barred legs.
mi or more iii prey-rich savanna. The

I .mi liln i Ill,
clan occupies a communal den, uses

HUNTING HYENA
Spotted hyena communal latrines, and jointly defends The spotted hyena is a powerful
its territory of lfi-390 square miles hunter. Several clan members may
Length 1 i
h
I in.
Hi 1,1 ii II I square km . delineated by form a pack to bring down large
Tail lOin calls, scent-marking, and boundary prey such as an adult zebra or
25 cm The spotted hyena makes
patrols. wildebeest. When hunting alone, it
Weight 135-1531
man) sounds, including whoops, to catches hares, ground birds, and fish
rally its group or locate cubs, and the in shallows and swamps. It gorges
Social unit < iroup famous hyena's "laugh," to signify on food, and is able to consume up
Status Lowci M-k submission to a senior to one-third of its body
clan member. weight at one
j* JL tai„ meal.
I lie spotted hyena is the largest hyena

Spei it s. I he female is some ID percent
short, undid
larger than the male, and her extci n.il
ears
sexual organs arc enlarged so that
ilie\ are difficult to distinguish from
the male's. The so< ial system is
Reversed mane
female-dominated and based on the
clan, which varies from 5 or fewet
1 hi
and
spotted hyena's nech
ertclik ilu ham

tmdbaek mant
tlopt forward rather than
is reversed sandy to
gray-brown
I
.itlulis and young in deserts to 50 back, and stand em u I hen tin hyena is t ci ited
thatfade
SIBLING RIVALRY u ith agi
I he spotted hyena mother is solel)
tesponsibli foi i ub re. unit;: the

male plays no pari I he average
lniei is 2 (range I I), I aftei
100 days' gestation and weaned at
I 18 months, when nearh full
1
grown. The dominant cub controls

o thi ilu die i when sin klmc;.
and, tunes milk shortage, ma)
ft
in nl
kill its sistt i in brother to improve

iis nun i hi nl survival.
ft
CARNIVORES
Cats
r«TLUM Chordata With their lithe, muscular body, can dilate widely for excellent night CONSERVATION
vision. The ears an- large, mobile.
class Mammalia acute senses, highly evolved teeth and and funnel shaped to draw in There is a conservation crisis for
and camouflage
claws, lightning reflexes, sounds made- b\ prey, while long, cats: the entire family is listed by
stiff high!) sensitive whiskers aid CITES, and some species are
family Felidae coloration, cats are model hunters. In
navigation and night hunting. criticallyendangered. Even the
fact cats are the most specialized of The sense oi smell is also well leopard - one of the great
the mammalian flesh eaters. They are developed, and in the roof of the survivors - is in danger. The main
mouth is a "smell-taste" organ, problem is hunting either for fur
unusual appear remarkably similar:
in that all species
called the Jacobson's organ, which there was a huge increase in
the differences between tigers and the domestic cat. for detects sexual odors. Secretions demand for fur during the 20th
example, are surprisingly small. As a result, classifying from scent glands on the hecks c century or for use in traditional
and forehead, under the tail, and medicines each year huge
smaller cats remains problematic: they can be either between the laws communicate
c quantities of tiger bones are
grouped together in the genus Felis or subdivided into information such as age and sex. smuggled into China to be made
into tiger bone wine Habitat
several genera. Cats are found throughout Eurasia. Africa, .
Hunting techniques destruction has also reduced

and the Americas (the domestic cat is found worldwide), While some cats actively search for numbers, since cats require large
from alpine heights to deserts. Many species live in forests. prey, others conceal themselves and areas to maintain their food supplv.
await passing victims. Many employ In a few areas, the trend of
All except the largest cats are expert climbers, and several
a combination of these 2 methods. declining populations has been
are also excellent swimmers. Most cats are solitarv. In either case, the cat's fur usually reversed: puma, tiger, and wild
pro\ides camouflage: a tiger's cat numbers have all increased
stripes, for example, blend in with slightly under protection.
Anatomy example), they spring forward via tall grasses, while many forest-living
Cats have a rounded face and a a mechanism similar to a jackknife. species are spotted, to mimic the
relatively short muzzle (but a wide The naked pads on the soles of the effectof sunlight through leaves. grass, and use "jack-in-the-box "
leaps
gape). The heavy lower jaw helps feet are surrounded b\ hair, which The distance a cat will chase its to surprise and flush out their prey.
deliver a powerful bite, and the long assists with silent stalking quarry varies between species. ( hunt anv animal they can
ats
canines are used for stabbing and Heavier-built cats, such as tigers, catch and overpower. The big cats
gripping. The carnassiaJs. modified
Senses prefer to stalk and pounce: the specialize in prey larger than
cheek teeth that slice bones and All catshave keen senses. Large, cheetah uses explosive speed - up to themselves, and are capable of
tendons, arc highly developed. Cats forward-facing eyes enable them 68mph ( 1 1 Okph . Some small cats, dragging a carcass some distance
are covered with soft fur. which is tojudge distances accurately. The such as the serval, hunt in Ion to a safe feeding spot. Smaller cats
often striped or spotted, and have a pupils can contract to a slit or to out rodents and birds
; some.
tail that is haired, flexible, and a pinhole depending on species) as the fishing cat. wade
usually long. There are 5 digits on in bright light and istreams and
the front feet and 4 on the back [scoop out fish
feet, and each digit has a curved,
retractable claw for holding prey.
The claws are normally retracted,
which helps keep them
sharp. However, when
required (during
climbing, for
a
CATS
The wild cat resembles a slightly the swamp or reed cat. It hunts along
Felis sylvestr,
larger, heavier-built, usually longer- marshes, river banks, shores, as well
Wild cat furred (especially in winter) version of Jungle cat as ditches and ponds and human
the domestic tabby cat. The species settlements, taking mammals up to
interbreeds with domestic cats, of 50 94 rail
the size of coypu, birds (including
which the African subspecies Felis Tail 'i 12 in poultry . reptiles, and. being a strong
sylvestris libyca is presumed to be the swimmer, fish and amphibians.
*&£.
: I , 111
Weight
Weight '/i- 81b
The S
Female and male may stay together,
i.
3 8 kg
1
ancestor.
habitat mixed broadleaved
is
wild cat's preferred
,?** i 16kg
and both protect the cubs.
Location Europe, \V Social unit 1
woodland, but habitat loss and Location \\ C . S . and Social unit Individual
( \'.u \ S.E Am,,. N E Africa unpatterned

Status Low amenity use of woods has driven it Status Lowei n*k +
m
to marginal habitats such as conifer
forest, rocky upland, moor, scrub,
swamp, and coast. It feeds on rabbits

' Al^
gray-brown coal
and small rodents Despite its main common
m
with well-defined such as rats, name, this slender,
mice, voles, long-legged cat also
ef
black stripes is
and lemmings. known more aptly as

This cat climbs
well and catches
young squirrels or Felis margarita main prey of gerbils and similar
birds in the brant lies; rodents, as well as an occasional lizard
carrion is also eaten. Sand cat or snake. It also excavates a den for
It mates between daytime shelter. The
January and March and average litter of 3
the gestation period is Tail I I I I in grows quickly and may
63-68 days. The female (28-35 cm) be independent in j
Weight i
1
7 ,11,
6 months.
.
gives birth to an average of

1.5-3.5
3-4 (range 1-8) cubs in its den
in a tree-hole, among rocks or Location N Ah u .i, W . C, Social unit Individual
and S Asia
tree roots, or in an old rabbit or Status Endangered*
badger burrow.
JL
Surviving on fluids in
horizontal stripes on legs; its food and very little
vertical stripes on body additional water, the
blunt-clawed sand cat digs well for its
Felis pardina Felis lynx CONSERVATION Felis rufus
Spanish lynx Eurasian lynx Despite conservation efforts and Bobcat

reintroductions in western
Length-'".' 4 Vi ft Length 26 I'M
(0.8-1.3 m) Europe, lynx remain rare because (65-1 10 cm)
Tail ini Tail 4i/4-10in of revenge hunting by livestock Tail I
I l, in (11-25 an) farmers, road kills, and mysterious (11-19 cm)

Weight 22-29 lb Weight 8 -84 lb Weight 8 <A- 34 lb
1
loss of male cubs - possibly

(10-13 kg) B 18 kg I 15.5 kg
caused by a genetic problem.
Location S W. Europe Social unit liuinnlii.il Social unit Individual Locations Canada, USA, Social unit Individual
Status Endangered Status Lower riskt Status Lowei riskf
99. jut « Hi M* «ik±^.

Very rare, critically restricted in Primarily a cat of mixed forest, this Named for its short "bobbed" tail, this
distribution, and fully protected by lynx has been driven by human medium-sized cat has a rufflike facial
law, the Spanish lynx is about half the presence and persecution to more border. Mainly tawny in color, it
size of the Eurasian species (see right). open woods and rocky mountain always has some spots; they may be
Now mainly confined to remote slopes. However, it still has one of the prominent all over or only on the
wetlands and uplands, it uses thickets widest ranges of all cat species. Its underside. It hunts lagomorphs. such
for shelter and open areas that favor major prey is deer, goats, sheep, and as cottontail rabbits in the south of its
its main food similar hoofed mammals up to 4 times range and snow-shoe hares farther
of rabbit ^,^_ tufted ears its own size, but. if these are lacking, north, but can survive on rodents.
with deer it hunts hares and pikas. deer, and carrion. Its habitat varies
fawns, from desert to mixed woodland and
Coat patterns
ducks, and \ distinctive conifer forests.
The Eurasian lynx has
other prey /'""' a '""'
_<^^BH
'
,
3 predominant i oat
in winter.
patterns; mainly
ttriped, mostly spotted )M

r'.v . and plain. M
'
CARNIVORES
Felis caracal
Caracal
Length ill/.- 36 in
Tail 9 12in
Weight 13 421b
Status I> ''
A±^
Also called the desert h/nx because of Resembling a small cheetah, with
its arid scrubby habitat, the caracal is its lean body and long limbs, the
tawny or reddish, although - as with serval has yellowish fur with dark
many cats - occasional black melanic spots. It prefers to live among reeds
individuals occur see Black panther, and rushes fringing wedands. Here
p .2 1 4 . It is famed for its ability to it hunts rats and similar prey, helping
spring 10ft (3m vertically and to to control rodents and thereby aiding
Head up
"bat" flying birds with its paw Its farmers tservals rarely attack livestock The \erval's relatively long leg^ and neck elevate its
main foods are rodents, The average litter of 2 young is head to 30in (75an) above ground, enabling it to
hyraxes, hares, born after 73 days' gestation. see and hear clearly in long grass.
small antelopes,
poultry, and other
livestock.
CAT POUNCE A little-known species, found mainly
Having located prey, usually at dusk in moist, lowland tropical forest, the
and mainly by hearing, the serial marbled cat resembles a small clouded
excels at the cat pounce. It leaps up leopard see p.2 14 . It is long tailed,
to 13ft 4ml horizontally and more
1
a proficient climber, and probably a
than 3 l
/4ft (lm) high, to strike the nocturnal predator of squirrels, birds,
victim with its forepaws. This cat and similar tree dwellers. Litde is
eats rats and similar-sized rodents, known about this cat. but data being
birds, fish, and large insects such as collected in Thailand should help to
locusts. Frogs are a favorite with shed some light on this species.
\\ edand-dw elling servals. Gestation is 81 days, litter size 1-4.
and sexual maturity is at 2 1 months.
Felis aurata
and other forest habitats, especially
Felis viver rinus
near rivers. Its prey is mainly rats and
African golden cat other rodents, hyraxes, small forest Fishing cat
antelopes, monkeys perhaps already
Length 24-39in Length SO 34in
(61-100 an! injuredj.and similar small mammals. 1
Tail'i /:-18in It may also catch birds, mainly on the Tail 10-I3in
ground but also in trees. !
Weight 12- 351b Weight 18 311b

8- 1 4 ks;
Social unit Individual Social unit Individual
Status Lower risk* Status Lower risk
£L Mtk Vzz HL **aL

rhis little-studied, medium-sized cat Olive-gray with black markings and As its name implies, the fishing
may vary from gray to red-brown. a short tail, the fishing cat is mostly cat is a semiaquatic hunter of
and it may be faindy spotted or plain. confined to rivers, lakes, marshes, and fish, frogs, snakes, water insects,
It occurs primarily in tropical rainforest coastal mangrove swamps. However, crabs, crayfish, and shellfish. It
its adaptations to water are largely scoops prey from the water with
behavioral: its toes are only slightly its paws, dives in pursuit, some-
Felis nigripes all-black undersides of the feet. Prey webbed, and its teeth are not times surfacing under a waterbird.
is likewise small: for example, mice. especially suited to grasping slippery It also hunts small land mammals
Black-footed cat insects from termites to locusts, prey. Locally common, such as mice.
spiders, small lizards, and birds. Well its population may
Length 13i/2-20in
adapted to the Karoo, the Kalahari, suffer due to its
Tail6-8in and other arid regions of southern dependence on

11 5-20 cm)
Africa, it seldom needs to drink water. water-edge habitats as
Weight li/ t -6'/2lb
wedands are affected
by drainage, intensive
Locaoon Souihrm Afhca
agriculture, human
habitation, and pollution
Civetlike cat
One of the smallest cats, the size of a This name, viverrinus
m
cat's scientific
ill pet cat. this species is pale i-md- or cr.etlikf
brown with bold which
stripes, proportions: long, stocky body and
thicken on the legs and merge into the relatively short tegs.
CATS
Felis planiceps Felis jacobita Felis pardalis CONSERVATION

Flat-headed cat Andean cat Ocelot Ocelots were extensively hunted
for fur in the 1960s and 1
trading at son _ tins per

v ear. The species is now protected
13-15 cm over much of its range by national
Weight Weight 23
legislation, and its numbers in
\5 113-16 kg
certain areas have since increased.
Location SE Asia Social unit Indhidual Soc il unit Individual Location S USA n Soc2 unit UKfividual However, the general threat of
1
Status Endangmrd* Status Lowrr risk*

due to deforestation
habitat loss
Status Vulnerable
poses new problems for this and
£. #S5 ItL £L ++. t« 3L many other forest-dwelling species.
Unusually small and low -set ears The chainlike rosettes and spots on
accentuate the flattened forehead of I iody are highly distinctive.
this semiaquatic fish predator. w hich Typically catlike in its nocturnal,
also eats shrimp, frogs, rodents, and solitary, tree-climbing lifestyle, the
small birds. Its toes are partly webbed ocelot is wide-ranging and adaptable,
and claws not fully retractable. The living in a variety of habitats from
upper premolar teeth are relatively grassland to swamp, as well as most
large and sharp to grip slippery food. types of forest. It takes a huge variety
Slighdy smaller than a tvpical pet cat. Litde is known about the habits of the of prev: chiefly small rodents but also
the flat-headed cat is usually sighted rare Andean, or mountain, cat. Small birds, lizards, fish. bats, and larger
around rivers, lakes, and swamps, and and bushy tail, it

sturdy, with a long, animals such as monkeys, turtles.
along irrigation ditches and canals. has thick, warm, gray-brown fur that young deer, armadillos, and anteaters.
is marked with vertical stripes along The ocelot has a gestation period of
the upper back, rosette-type spots on 79-85 days and an average litter size
the flanks, and bands around the legs of 3 range 1-2 . Females breed from
and This feline inhabits dry. rocky
tail. 2 years of age: males from
slopes above the tree-line - generally _ vears.
9.900ft 3.000m - and preys mainly

on rodents such as viscachas and
formerly chinchillas. Unlike many
other cats, this species is not direcdy
at risk from hunting or habitat loss.
but hunting threatens some of the

prev species on which it depends.
The smallest cat in the .Americas, the r Spots and

kodkod or guina closely resembles STRIPES
Kodkod Geoffroy's cat see below but with a

Similar in overall pattern
to tfu much smaller margay
thicker tail and smaller head. Its coat
'see beloicj. the ocelot has a
is black-spotted gray to ochre, with a
anablt tawny background
ringed tail and a dark throat stripe.
color. The black rosettes on
Found in moist, cool forests in the the back and sides grade
Weight 4 :-5'/2lb
Andean foothills of .Argentina and into spots on the limbs and
Chile, it makes its den in bamboo stripes on the head.
thickets in the understory. Its main
Status \ .
prey are rodents such as mice and
and lizards, captured on the
VBD
m rats,
ground as well as in trees. It probably

hunts In day as well as at night. grubs and spiders. It also occasionally
Felis wiedi
eats fruits. The margay is nocturnal,
Margay resting in the safety of a tree fork by-
protected, this species was hunted for day. The gestation period is 76-85
Felis geq£
its yellow-brown to silver-gray fur days and litter size is one. rarely 2.
GeofTrov's cat after the trade in ocelot fur see above, Following the decline in the availa-
right declined in the 1980s. of ocelot fur see above
bility .
regularly sized
Werght 5
margays became one of the most
sought-after small cats for the fur
\
Sc: a ink bdmdud trade. Hunting may still continue
and spaced black to Central and South
Wtjt! •
illegally in a few areas, but the
spots America Status Vulnerable*
primary threat to the margay is now

Social unit Individual A forest clearance.
Status Vulnerable*
A±^ The margay

abilities because of
has exceptional climbing
"reversible" rear feet, being able to

its almost
Geoffroy's cat, which is sometimes run head-first down a trunk or hang

called Geoffroy's o< clot, prefers from a bough bv oik paw It- main
scrub and shrub to forest and open tree-dwelling prey includes r
grassland. It hunts in the branches, mice, squirrels, possums,
on tin ground, and in water, for frogs young -loths. small
and fish as well .is the usual small-cat birds, and
fare of rodents, lizards, birds, and the
(introduced brown hare Now such a-
CATS
Panthera tigm CONSERVATION

Tieer Poaching, loss of habitat, and lack
of prey because of over-hunting
Length I
Young i in pose the biggest threats to the

i forfood Till 2 world's tigers, which survive only
thru It I' in scattered populations in eastern
Wetght 6601b
1_ and Sumatra, and

i.'o
I Russia. China,
-
obit to cat* from Vietnam Although

to India.
start breeding in ih Location S protected in most area*, tigers are
or fifth year, and In e >
Tiger in action
[fa Ranthambhore reserve in northwest Status Endangrrrd still killed illegally, mainh lor their
on aierage until the <i%<
skins and for use in traditional
0J8-IU. India heme been
samba deer
thetr prey. The

known
tigers m
to charge into lakes after
and become Julh submerged with
this art a fun < also been
m j* Chinese medicine. Various projects
exist Chirwan National
such as at
reported to fiaie killed and eaten crocodile*. The tiger is the largest membei of the Park in .Nepal, below
to monitor
cat family and its orange cu.it with tiger populations, and to identify
hl.uk stripes and white markings is the conservation measure*
instantly reeognizable. Its size, coat needed. Antipoaching task forces
and markings van according to have been set up. and there is an
X
color,
subspecies. Although 8 subspecies are international campaign to educate
recognized. have become extinct
13 users of traditional Chinese
since the 195Us. and the 5 remaining remedies about the role they are
are endangered. The geographical playing in the tiger's decline.
attribution of the tiger once extended

as far west as eastern Turkey, but it is
now restricted to pockets of southern

and eastern .Asia. The tiger's habitat
varies widely from the tropical forests
of Southeast Asia to the coniferous

woodlands of Siberia, but its basic
requirements are dense cover, access
to water, and sufficient large prev
Hunting mainly by night, it take*
mostly deer and w ild pigs, and cattle
gions. but it also eats
smaller animals including
monkeys, birds, reptile*.
and fish, and readih
anion. Tigci *
WlU young
also attack
minoceroses and
elephants. Thev ma\
( >>j
tip to 881b 40kg
*\^V^ Jfcf
of meat at a time /"VkV- f^^*"
and refill! V*^^"
B>large kill for
W-6 days. Tigers are
ustialK solitary, but
are not necessarily
Distinctive coat
antisocial. A male i*
The Bengal tiger. Panther tigris tigris, the most common of the
accasionalK seen resting subspecies, exhibits the classic tiger coat: deep orange with white
feeding with a female undersides, cheeks, and eye areas, and distinctive black markings.
d cubs, and tigers ma\ Tiger stripe*, which range from brown to jet-black. :an in number,
travel in groups. width, and tendency to split. „\'o 2 agm hat* the same markings.
LIVING TIGER SUBSPECIES

The 5 surviving subspecies of tigeis
differmarked!) from one another. In
general, those animals from southern
areas are smaller and more deep!)
colored than their larger mu\ paler
northern kin. Tigers th.it live m cold
climates also tend to have thicker tin.
St MATRAN TIGER
Siberian youngsters
I' mllui.i ligiis alt
l'.inilui.i tigris sum. 111. i,

CARNIVORES
Felts yagouaroundt
Jaguarundi
Felis concolor
Puma
its
It
fur i- uniforml) buff colored.
makes main sounds, including an
eerily humanlike scream when
courting, but it cannot roar.
.Xeofelis nebulosa
Clouded eopard 1
^1 Length .
Amazingl) adaptable, the puma lives
i
i

> Weight
67-105 kg

in habitats ranging from tropical
rainforest, high
forest to
.1- mice,
mountains, and conifer
desert Small
rats, rabbits,
the staple diet in many

mammals
and hares,
areas, as well
sut h
form
b
%
Locaoofi S S.E, and
Tail
Wagtit
H
'
South America Sotus Lcmrr risk

as occasional sheep, young cattle, Status Vulnerable
moose, and other livestock; the puma
«£ fcs rarer) scavenges. Births peak from 1 4kat* 1
February to September. The 2-3
More mustelid than felid in overall Larger than some "big" cats, the range 6 spotted tubs are born
1
proportions, with a pointed snout, puma - also called panther, cougar, or after an average gestation of 92 da\ -.
long body, and shortish legs, the mountain lion - is probably related in a den among rocks or in a thicket.
jaguarundi has several color forms more closely to smaller i ats. Most of Thc\ take solid food from 6 -7 weeks.
of unpatterned fur. from bl.it k
main!) in forests - to pale gray-brown
rear legs, for
or red - in dry shrubland. This cat
powerful
hunts by day, often on the ground, leaping
in habitats ranging from semiarid
scrub to rainforest and swamp. Its
main prey are birds, rodents, rabbits,

reptiles, and invertebrates. Blat k-edged. darker-centered.
irregular elliptical "clouds." on a
tawny, gray, or silver background, give
this smallest of the big cats its name.
Information on this extremely elusive
spe< ies i- scarce, but its climbing skills
rival many small cats, and it stalks,
avoids danger, and rests mainly in

trees. Prey include- monkeys, gibbons,
birds, porcupines, and young wild
boar and deer on the ground. Its
principal threats are loss of its forest

habitat and hunting for fur and meat.
Panthera pardus
BLACK PANTHER
Leopard Like main species of cats and other mammals, leopards may exhibit
melanism. As a result of this genetic change mutation . the skin and fur
Length .( 6 1/4 ft
contain large amounts of the dark
Tail I pigment, melanin. Most common in
60-1 10 cm moist, dense forests, melanic
Weight; ..
leopard-, known a- "black
panthers." were once viewed
as a separate
Status L> ih species. In
'
A± deserts, leopards
are pale yellow; in grass.
they are deeper yellow.
faintly iistbu
The
and
leopard
uses its
is an adept climber
immense strength
Few other wild cats are as varied to drag iis prey up into trees, for
in appe.uant e or m prey immediate consumption or for

preference as the leopard. caching hiding for future use ).
nr have a wider geo- In the branches, it can eat

graiihital range. It- undisturbed, and the meat
varied diet includes i- -ate from scavenging
small creatures such as hyenas and jackals.

dung beetle- and Lai ge
mammals many times its
Head and shoixders
own weight, such as antelopes. .'
A large victim may provide poiterful fau musdei to bite,

enough food for 2 week-, although kill, and dismember prey. Tht
such kill- are usually, made about houlders andfortlvnbs art
ever} I days, twit e as often for a also heavih muscled, to
female with cubs. The average litter of hold dour,
2 is born after 90-105 days' gestation. drag or haul prey
and i- .mil for by the mother. Weaned

1
In i months, they stay with her for

more, and siblings may
it
associate for longer. Adaptable to

human presence, leopards hunt
to within a lew miles of big ringed tail
cities. I hex have survived well,
tie-pite numerous threats.
CATS
Panthera uncia Acinonyx jubatus CONSERVATION

Snow leopard Jaguar Cheetah In Namibia, in order to monitor
the effect of wildlife management
Length Length ) 1/2 -5 ft
and LivestCH k protei tion measures,
I
] 1 I 9 m 1.1-1.5 m
Tail 18 I
Tail JS'/2-32in some cheetahs are caught and
i . '5 .
i,
fitted with radio collars. Following
Weight 55 1651b Weight; 1
Weight li> 16011)
below the animal's
'
I
their release .
16 kg J 1 72 kg
movements are tracked.
Social unit Imliv k1n.iI Social unit Indii idua] Location Aim .1 H V-i., Social unit Individual/Fair
Sqcus Endangered Status I

. Status Vulnerable
— *L ^ fa
Resembling the leopard see p.2 1 Renowned as the world's fastest land
gmmm
in its wide range of prey, this wooly animal, the cheetah can sprint at
furred big cat prefers crags and ridges over 62mph

in steppe, rocky shrub, and open (lOOkph)
conifer forest to altitudes of
16,500ft (5,000m).
hunt yak or asses,
prey are smaller - wild sheep,
Itcan
but most \& ® w^% for
seconds,
before
begins to overheat. If
10-20
it
Coloration
goats, marmots, pikas, hares, its prey can stay aheac
l/i' theelah isyellowish with
and birds. Breeding The New World's only "big" cat. for longer than this, it
small black spots. Desert
habits resemble the jaguar resembles the leopard invariably escapes. The I
animals tend to be paler
similar-sized felids, see p.2 1 4; but has rosettes with dark cheetah eats medium- with smaller spots, and
although 4-5 centers, and is more squat and sized ungulates such as the ''king cheetah,
cubs may be powerful, with a large, broad head Thomson's gazelle, as flam southeast AJrua,
has the largest spots.
reared. and heavily muscled quarters. It well as larger antelopes ai
prefers a watery environment, such smaller animals such as h;
slum. as permanent swamps and seasonally It is more sociable than any *»#
stinky flooded forest, where its main prey are other big cats except lions.
limbs. Jot medium-sized mammals such as deer, Siblings leave their mother
(limbing peccaries, and tapirs. Despite legal at 13-20 months, but may
protection and reduced hunting for fur, stay together for several
jaguars are increasingly at risk from more months - indeed,
habitat destruction and their brothers m.iv sta)
elimination from cattle ranches. together for years.
Panthera leo
ROLE-PLAYING
Lion Retracted claws and nonexposed
teeth show that these 2-year-old
Length 5 !
1.7-2.5 mi lionesses are "play-fighting'' to

Tail S-S 1/2 ft develop skills for the hunt. The
in
I
tussle helps determine whether

Weight iin 5501b
a lioness will be one of those who
chase and direct prey - or one who
Social unit Group i ai lies out the ambush and kill.
Status Vulnerable Play also helps to establish relative

social status within the pride-.
*. JL
////(/, maru /<" protei Hon
Unique among felids. lions form
1 lose-knit, longterm sot ial groups.
In females these are called prides, and
average I 6 related adults and their
' ill is. Females tend to give birth at the
same nine and suckle eat h other's
young Prides occupy home ranges
and members cooperate to hunt large The Asiatic linn Panthera leo
pre) such as zebra, wildebeest, unpaid, persica surv ms only in the (lit
and buffalo. Individuals also forage Forest region of northwest India,
alone foi small rodents, hares, and with a probable population of
reptiles. Adult males live alone, 01 m 200 500. It tends to be smaller
i
oalitions of usual!) 2 3 unrelated than the African lion, with .1
members oi I 5 relatives originating fold of skin along the central

from the same pride .
A i oalition underside ol the bell)
;i area against other males have shortei
in. ill i
oalitions, and holds mating manes. Prides are
rights over prides within it, but iliis also smaller, usual!)
tenure gcncrallv l.isis ,,nlv 2 2 related femall 5
and voting.
Mall and female

ml tin
Harness's
ifiranlly target than thai oj the female.

SEALS AND SEA LIONS
SEALS AND SEA LIONS

Chorriala ALTHOUGH CLUMSY ON LAND, pinnipeds (seals, TEMPERATURE
=1 and the walrus) are supremely agile
class
onoc*
Mammalia
Pinnipedia
sea lions,
underwater. They have a streamlined body
CONTROL
Pinnipeds have several heat-
FAMILIES 3 and powerful flippers and can dive to depths regulating adaptations. In cold water
:ies 34
of over 330ft (100m). Some species can remain the blubber insulates the internal
organs, and blood flow to the flippers
underwater for over an hour. The order consists is restricted. In warm conditions,
CLASSIFICATION NOTE
of 3 groups: true seals, which have no external some species wave their flippers to
Seals and ihcir allies were expel excess heat. In addition, true
traditionally classified in the ears and back flippers that point backward; seals and walruses can either contract COLOR CHANGE
order Pinnipcdi.i the system
used here. Today however, eared seals (sea lions and fur seals), which have the blood vessels near the skin's The blood vessels in the skin
most zoologists believe that surface to reduce heat loss in icy of these walruses are dilated
these mammals lx-long to small external ears and back flippers that can water or they can dilate these vessels to maximize the amount of
the order Canuvora. Scab
and their allies .ire broken be rotated forward for movement on land; to gain heat when basking in the heat they can absorb by lying
down into 3 families. sun. Eared seals, however, will enter As a
possible thai sea Lions
It is
famik and the walrus, with its distinctive tusks. Only in the sun. result, their
the water to avoid overheating. bodies turn pink.

Otariidae and walruses t.unik
Odobrnidac originated from eared seals and the walrus can support them-
beartikc an<
seals tamiK Fliot idac are
selves in a semiupright position on land.
UNDERWATER ACROBATS
more closely related to otters.
Pinnipeds are found worldwide, mosdy In water, pinnipeds such as these South
in temperate and polar seas. American sea lions are graceful, athletic, and
capable of suimming at high speed. 1 1 Ttilt
underwater, they can communicate by sounds
produced using air retained in the lungs.
ANATOMY
Most pinnipeds have a short face, a thick neck, and a torpedo-
shaped. flexible body. A layer of blubber beneath the -kin
provides insulation, aids buoyancy, acts as an energy store, and
protects the organs. .-Ml species are covered with hair, except the
LIFE CYCLE MALE AGGRESSION
In the breeding season,
walrus, which is nearly hairless. Pinnipeds have large eyes for Unlike the other marine mammals there is fierce competition
deepwater vision, excellent hearing, ear passages and nostrils ^cetaceans and manatees and the between males, such as
that can be closed underwater, and long whiskers that enhance dugong). pinnipeds have not abandoned these 2 Southern elephant
the sense of touch. Many species display land most species, during
entirely. In seals, for mating rights.
marked sexual dimorphism: Southern 4JBfcr--f""!*:. the annual breeding season males Only the strongest males
^^^^^^Jr head aids
elephant seal males weigh 4 times ^f^ti attempt to set up territories on suitable are able to secure a
underwater
more than females. beaches, fighting savagely for space breeding territory.
and excluding weaker males. Females

flexible ,» SKELETAL FEATURES move onto the beaches, sometime-
backbone
f Pinniped limbs have been several weeks after the males, and give
modified to form flippers: birth. A
few days after a pup is born
the arm and leg bones are ûsually only one young is produced . LARGE COLONY
short, stout, and strong, and the female mates with the male in Breeding beaches are
the digits are elongated and whose territory she has settled. For always crowded. A
flattened. Also, since the backbone's the majority of the gestation period, colony of South
vertebrae have fewer interlocking which lasts approximately 8-15 months, African fur seals
projections than most other mammals, the pinnipeds are mosdy at sea and return may consist of
spine is highly flexible. In true seals mou n to land only when it is lime to repeat scleral thousand
here), the back limbs are directed backward. the breeding process. individuals.
SEALS AND SEA LIONS
juveniles are a uniform tan color.

Callorfiiiius ursinus Arctocephalus pusillus £alophus californianus
Males have a peaklike head crest. The
Northern fur seal South African fur seal I
California sea lion main prey is schooling fish SUi as li
herring and squid, and. around the

Length Up
r
l
Galapagos Islands, sardines, caught

Weight HO 7901b Weight 610 on short (2-minute) dives down to
200 160 kg about 245ft 75m . In "El Niflo years
the diet switches to whiting, salmon,
and also birds such as guillemots.
Location Nonl. P. Social unit Vari-ible Location \\ USA, Social unit Variable During the breeding season Ma)
1
i
Status Vulnerable Status Locally common Status Vulnerable* Jul) . males fight for small territories
on the beaches and rock pools.
Its iv= However, after 1 weeks they must
swim oil to feed, and on return battle
The male northern fur seal is brown- South African fur seals tend to be a The "performing seal" of marine to regain a territory. The mother
gray, while females and juveniles are darker gray-brown than Australian parks and aquaria, this species rarely cares for her single pup rank _' fol 8
silver-gray above, red-brown below, individuals, and they dive twice as strays more than 10 miles 16km out days, then enters a cycle of 2 1 da) s
with a gray-white chest patch. The deep (to 1.300ft/400m.i. The young to sea,and often enters harbors and feeding at sea and 3 days suckling 1
front flippers are long and appear are about 28in (70cm) long and weigh estuaries for foodand shelter. The on land. This usually lasts for 8
"cut off" at the wrist. The diet 131b (6kg) when born, in November - male is dark brown and females and months until the next birth.
includes many fish, and also birds December. The)' play
such as loons and petrels. Most in "nursery" tidal
populations are migratory, with adult pools, while
males heading south in the mothers
August. The young feed at sea
stay on land for 4 for several
months and by davs at a
November
follow with
mothers.
Eumetopias jubata the female. Both are tawny or buff

Phocarctos Iwokeri Otaria byronia
colored, with black flippers furred
New Zealand sea lion South American sea Steller sea lion only on the upper side. Breeding
habits resemble those of other sea
lion Length 9 1/4-11 fi
linns - colonies numbering

Weight... .h '
II, Weight 1.290 -2,500 lb over 1 .000. Steller sea
(30O-J5O kg! (585- 1.1 -Mke lions dive deeply for fish.
Weight II, \ seals, and otters.
I'j
Social unit Variable Location V.nli l\n il Social unit Group

dark brown
Status Vulnerable Status Endangered or black pup
Status Vulnerable^ hSS
Also called Hooker's sea lion, this The largest sea lion, a male Steller
species is restricted to a few islands sea lion has a wide muzzle, a
south of New Zealand. It forages up An enormous, heavy head and brown huge head, and a thick neck, and
to 95 miles 1
1 50km fromi
land and fur that is paler or yellow on the mav be three times the weight of
then retires perhaps -'
i mile i 1km) underside identify this powerful sea
inland, to rest among cliffs or trees. lion. The male of this nonmigratory
Males are dark brown with silver-gray species has a copious shoulder and Arctocephalus gazella is medium-gray Males arrive at theii
hindquarters and a shoulder manei chest mane, and is twice the weight breeding islands in November and
females and juveniles are silvery or nl the female (as in many sea lions). Antarctic fur seal compete for territories in whii h the)
brown-gray above, yellowish or tan Its breeding (rookery) areas are used can mate with about 5 females.
Length
underneath. The diet includes fish, year-round for resting Almost exterminated bv lui hunting
Crabs, penguins, and seal pups. The mothers coax Weight:.... ...mi in tin 19th century, this
then pups into Okg species is again
the water alter threatened by
2 months increased fishing
Social unit V.in.iM.
a relativel) of krill, a major
early age fol Status l„.illi component of
a sea lion. itv diet.
The mane of the male Antarctic fur

seal is accentuated b) extra muscle
and fat, deposited undei the skin. He
is dark gray-brown while the female
SEALS AND SEA LIONS
Odobenus rosmarus moving fish. It dives more than 330ft own gatherings. Courting males make
1 00m deep, for 25 minutes or more. underwater pulses and bellow - t< >
SPARRING RIVALS
Walrus to find pre) using the touch of its attract partners, and mating occurs
whiskers and snout It then excavates between January and March. The
the food with its nose, aided In j. t~ of pup, born after 15 months which i
water squirted from the mouth. Items includes 4 months' delayed

5
are eaten main!) by suction with die implantation), is up to 4fi 1.2m long
mouth and tongue, rather than using and 1651b 75kg in weight It suckles
the teeth. Walruses are mh ial and fi- and is weaned over the
1 1 1
Social un* Group huddle on land or ice Hoes in large, follow ins; 18 months. Mothers are
Status Vulnerable* mixed groups of hundreds, which split extremely protective of their young,
at sea into smaller band- of less than and other females may "adopt" pups
m 5555 10; bachelor males tend to form their that have been orphaned.
Changeable color
The male walrus is twice the weight of
The walrus s skin shorn through its short, coarse
the female. The walrus's front flippers rough, heavily hair, and changes color uith activity. It is usually
resemble those of sea lions, and the creased skin ': or cinnamon-brown, but.
Most male walruses begin to
rear flippers those of seals. Its blunt, t'lhathmg. the skin breed at about 10 years. Males
thickly whiskered muzzle widens flushes rose-red. as displav and spar with their rusks
rapidly to the head, neck,and chest, though sunburned. extra-long upper canine teeth .
then tapers markedly to the tail. for a favored position at the

which is embedded in a web of skin. breeding site and. with it. access
1he walrus feeds mainly on sea- to females. Stab wounds may
bed dwelling worms, occur but are not usually fatal:
shellfish, sea-snails, older males have manv scars.
shrimp, and slow-
Monachus monachus Lobodon carcinophagus Hydrurga leplon

The solitary, sinuous leopard seal is
widest at the shoulders and. unusually

Mediterranean Crabeater seal Leopard seal for a true seal phocid swims with its
.
front flippers, which have claws on the

monk seal fingertips. Tin- head is reptilelike in
Weight l
r
«llb Weight 440 -1.0001b proportions, with no forehead and
a wide, deep lower jaw. The 1-in
Wetfit SMI-oSOlb 2.5-cm canine teeth are adapted for
seizing smaller seal-, penguins, and
Social unit \ .injIU. Social unit bMfividual
other birds; the diet also includes
squid and krill.
Location Mcdharancao, Social unit lixin-iduj Gnxip
Status Critically endanej-rrd i«S 5555
The long, lithe crabeater seal has

oar-shaped, pointed front flippers
and a silver-gray to yellow-brown i ".it silver or gray coat uith
with irregular darker spots and rings. variable dark spots
One of the most abundant and fastest
seals, it swims at 16mph 25kph .
A typical feeding dive i- down to 1 JOfl Leptonychotes weddelli other prey, it
40m for 5 minute-. Despite its name. dives to depth-

the crabeater seal strains bill using it- Weddell seal one hour. This seal bites breathing
unusual lobed teeth Breeding habits hole- in sheet ice with

Length
are typical for seals, although the its long, upper
male stays with female and pup until incisor
1 smooth, dark brown
hi- spec ies has weaning takes place at 3 week-. teeth.
fur. paler beneath, and eats mainly
fish, such a- eels, sardines, and tuna,
as well as lobster and octopus. On Social unrt Variable
land it is than most other

less social Status L, * alh common
seals, with the mother -pup pairs or
small groups being widely spaced,
["his extremely i
sensitive
to human disturbani e such as Bulkv. but small-headed and short-
tourism, and hides in -
flippered. the Weddell -eal has a
i ollapses, pollutii m ovei Gshi short, blunt muzzle and few. short
viral infection aj -
threats. whisker-. To find fish, squid, and
SEALS AND SEA LIONS
Mirounga leonina 1 he largest pinniped, the male Cystophora cristata

Ommalophoca rossi
southern elephant-seal is 4 5 times
Ross seal Southern elephant- the weight ol the female His hugi Hooded seal
nose resembles an elephant's trunk,
Length 8
Length j
! 7 I ni
seal which he inflates when roaring at
Weight J "II-
rivalsduring the 2-month breeding Weight- 9001b
Length II 20fi
i
season. To establish dominance. he
Weight !
i also rears up, slaps, and butts. The
singlepup is born after a gestation
Location \ni.ir. .1. ...ih i Social unit linlmetual of 1months (including 4 months'
1
Status \iilin table

delayed implantation) and is suckled
Social unit V.in.ilil.
for 19-23 days by the ever-present
Status I... ..II. < mum. .1

mother, who loses one-third of her
body weight during this rime. After
The Ross seal has a distinctively blunt breeding and molting, these elephant-
muzzle, a wide head, and long rear seals migrate south, diving to 2,000ft
flippers. Its fur is the shortest of any 1)1 lllnn for I'll minutes on
seal and is dark gray to chestnut- average and feeding on
brown with a buff underside and fish and squid.
broad, dark bands along the body in
both adults and pups. Less social than
most seals, on ice it lives alone or as
a mother-pup pair. The main food
is squid, krill, and fish, caught at The hooded seal has a wide, fleshy
depths of several hundred yards. muzzle that droops over the mouth.
In November and December, males The male intimidates his rivals at
battle for territories around breathing breeding time by inflating his nasal
holes in the ice used bv females. chamber to form a "hood," which
doubles his head size, and als< >\ i I
extruding an internal membrane from

his left nostril, which also inflates like
a brown-red balloon. Mainly solitary,
this seal migrates when not breeding
or molting to follow the pack ice.
The pup. born on an ice floe, is up to

i 2ft 1.1m) long and 661b 30kg] in
weight, and is weaned in 4-5 days -

the shortest time of any mammal.
Halichoerus grypus tan. The face has small eyes, widely Phoca sibirica Phoca vitulina
separated nostrils, and an angular
Gray seal nose. There are 3 populations: coastal Baikal seal Harbor seal
northwest Atlantic, coastal northeast
Length '. I. Length 4 4 . it Length i
Atlantic, and the Baltic Sea. The first

|
Weight 170 6801b group are 20 percent heavier and Weight
,
17",
.' I
1 m
,
!9^* Weight 120
1 1 I
'i
1701b
in
170 110 kg breed from December to February;

Baltic gray seals breed until April, and
those from the northeast July to

Location Nunli Social unit Variable Social unit Social unit Variable
\il. i
Dec ember. The male gray seal does I
not defend a set territory. Status I i

iv i
r i
isle
The male gray seal is gray- One of the smaller seals, and the- onl)
brown with a few pale solel) freshwater pinniped species,
patches; the fema the Baikal seal resembles its marine
is paler gray- cousins in most respei

However, it is.
is mainly solitary; and females tend
in mate with the same male over years
The harp seal has c lose-set eyes in a serial monogamy). The single pup is
Phoca groenlandicus
wide face, black fingertip < laws, and born in an ice lair, molts its wooly
Harp seal silver-white fur with curved dark while coal to the- silver)
marks on the bai k that form a harp gray adult fur aftei ii "
shape It cats cod. capelin, and similai reeks, .end iim\ sue kle Also known as the i ommon seal, this
fish, migrating with the edges of pack lor III weeks At is the- most widespread pinniped, with
i
i
Si » ial in iili i
hi n i .mil in water, "in 55 years, its at least subspei
"i s one ol the in.
ic
harp scab travel in dense, noisy lifespan is the Ungava seal, lives in freshwatei in
gn nips. Pups, boi n Febi uar) Man h longei than northern Quebec, Canada Below the
cm ice, have yellow fui that whitens man) large, set-bai k eyes, the
lor 2 weeks before the lit st molt othei set nostrils form a V shape (
seals. extremi K vat iabli . main!) dat k ti i
pale gra) -bn iw n with small i in
blotches. A wide-ranging opportunist,

Hi. harbot seal ma) i ause problems
in fisheries. Ii- main pre) are herring.
sand-eels, gobies, hake, and wl
cumin i
.ii ill. i
I
">
minutes
™
ELETHANTS
ELEPHANTS
phylum Chordata The LARGEST LIVING ANIMALS on land the FEEDING
class Mammalia male African elephant may be as tall as 1 3ft Elephants have large, ridged cheek
order Proboscidea (4m) and weigh nearly tons (10 tonnes) — 1 1 teeth molars and premolars) to
deal with their coarse diet of bark.
families 1 Elephantidae elephants are characterized by pillarlike legs, leaves, branches, and grass (African
a thickset body with a convexly curved spine. forest elephants also eat fruits). In
eating these foods elephants cause
large ears (relatively smaller in Asiatic
enormous damage: grass is pulled
elephants), and a hea\y head with a long, mobile trunk. .African up in tufts, branches are broken off.
and Asiatic elephants live in savanna and light forest: .African bark is stripped, and small trees are
sometimes uprooted. Some areas STRIPPING FOLIAGE
forest elephants (recently given species status) mainly live have alternated between closed Elephants use their mobile
deep in the African rainforest (the)' occasionally woodland and open savanna, trunk to pull down branches.
depending on the number An adult needs to eat about
venture on to the savanna). of elephants living there. 3501b (160kgj offood daily.
Elephants live for about 60

years - longer than any
other mammals except
humans. Males (and
females to a lesser degree)
grow throughout life: 50-
year-old males are noticeably
larger than 20 year olds.
ANATOMY
Perhaps the most distinctive feature is the trunk,
a flexible elongation of the upper lip and nose
that consists of thousands of muscle pairs. It is used
like a "5th limb" to pluck grass, pull down branches,
lift logs, or squirt water or dust. .Also immediately
noticeable are the tusks (upper incisors which are .
large, thick, and curved in most bull elephants: cows ^

have smaller tusks (in female Asiatic elephants they
do not protrude beyond the lip). The skeleton consists
of thick. hea\y bones, which are able to support the
animals great weight. The large, fan-shaped ears.
which contain a network of blood vessels, are constantly
in motion to aid heat loss. In aggressive displays, the
ears are spread sideways. The skin is thick.
finely wrinkled, and sparsely haired.
air cells
LIGHTENED SKULL DIGGING FOR SALT

The skull isfilled with air cells to lighten the Elephants often need to
weight of the bone. The long incisors (tusks supplement their diet with
have deep, downward-pointing sockets. The extra salt. This juvenile African
lowerjaw has a spoutlike chin that, African elephant is loosening trunk shape
unlike in most mammals, mines fragments of salt-rich soil African elephants have 2 opposing, fingerlike
horizontally during chewing. with its long tusks. Juveniles outgrowth (processes/ at the tip of the trunk:
molar I \ long chin
learn from older members of Asiatic elephants have one. In both, the
African elephant skull incisor (tusk)
the herd where tofind salt. processes are used to pick up small objects.
TAKING A DUST BATH
DAILY ROUTINE
ID—SUCKING UP THE DUST -Oh-
PROTECTION
-
REPELLLNG INSECTS
he skin healthy. African elephants Dust is sucked up into the trunk, which The dust acts as a sunscreen, protecting the Dust is also a good insect repellent, deterring
take a daily dust bath. is a tubular extension of the upper lip. elephant's skin from the direct rays of the sun. insects from biting the sensitive skin.
ELEPHANTS
SOCIAL GROUPS Loxodonta qfricana varied habitats from desert to high

rainforest. It has larger ears than the
Elephants live in family groups that consist of the oldest, most experienced African elephant Asian elephant, a concave curve to its
w
female (the matriarch and other females of various ages (and their young . back, and 2 processes on the tip of the
For prelection, or when feeding in lush areas, small herds of African trunk rather than one see left!. Both
elephants mavjoin together form groups made up of several hundred

to Tail male and female African elephants
individuals. .African forest elephants and Asiatic elephants live in small have forward-curving tusks incisor
Weight 4 1/8 - 7&/S tons
family groups only. Males, however, only join the herd when a female is teeth which are sometimes used as
.
sexuallv receptive and are otherwise either solitary older bulls or live tools to loosen mineral rich soil that
Adult bull Asiatic elephants have annual Location .Africa Social unrt Group then eaten. Requiring substantial
in bachelor groups (young bulls . is
periods of sexual excitement, called "musth" bull African elephants have Status Endangered amounts of food and a large area in
an equivalent condition, about which less is known . which to forage for it, a herd of
! t M. JL Jk*. African elephants may cause dramatic
PROTECTING YOUNG changes to the environment, especially
Elephant calves are protectedfrom predators Ahli' mgh it is also called the .African during prolonged periods of drought.
and other dangers by all members of the bush or savanna elephant, this
herd, which are usually blood relativi >. species - the largest of the 3
forward-
This Asiatic elephant calj is only a feu elephant species
cun-ing tusk
weeks old and remains close to its mother. lives in
Two smallerfemales arc dost by, read)
to assist the mother if necessary.
CONSERVATION
The Asiatic elephant is endangered
due to competition with people
Although this is becoming
for land.
a problem for .African elephants,
the real damage to .African elephant
populations was caused by hunting
- elephant tusks are the major
source of ivory. .As the gestation
is about 22
period of elephants
months, numbers are slow to
recover. In1989 a government-
approved burning of stock-piled
ivory in Kenya below sent a clear
message that the ivory trade Loxodonta cyclotis Elephas maximus
would no longer be tolerated.
In 1990. the international sale of African forest Asiatic elephant
ivory was banned, but demand
remains. Despite concerns about elephant Length Up w i in
poaching, controlled sales resumed

Length 93 A -13fi
- Tail 3V ( -5ft
in 1997 in 3 .African countries, and 3- 4m
some of Weight 2 2/8-5 Vstoi
the revenue is used for Tail .
2-3 tonnes
conservation purposes.
Weight - 32 8 tons
Group
v> Social unit
I
0.9 - 3 tonnes
LIVING TOGETHER Status Endangered
Location \\ and Africa Social unit Group
This is a typical African elephant <
family group. Communication u ithin Status Endangered &L M*

a herd takes many forms, including
vocalizations (some of which are £. MiL
below the range of human hearing),
touch, foot stamping, and body- Formerly regarded as a subspecies of
postures. Cooperative behaiwr - such the .African elephant, this species is
as employing a system of lookouts smaller, has darker skin, more rounded ,
while bathing - is common. ears, and a hairier trunk. The yellow

or brownish tusks are parallel and
point downward, adaptations that
allow the .African forest elephant to
move freely through dense vegetation.
Asiatic elephants have smaller ears than

the .African species, and a unique tip
to their trunk (see opposite . The tusks

are smalland may be absent in females
above The molar teeth are very like
.
those of the extinct mammoth, which

relationship between
them. The Asian elephant has a long
association with humans, and animals
DEPOSITING THE DUST KEEPING THE SKIN HEALTHY from all 4 subspecies Malaysian,
elephant blows out the dust through the Tn maintain good flan condition, regular dust Sumatran, mainland Indian, and Sri
k, depositing it on the back and head. baths are as important as water baths. Lankan have been domesticated.
AARDVARK
Orycteropus ajer
SEASONAL DIET
AARDVARK Aardvark
PHVUM Chordata THE ONLY SURVIVING MEMBER of the order

Tubulidentata is the aardvark, a solitary
CLASS Mammalia
animal found in Africa. It is characterized Weight ;;l 1401b
mm Tubulidentata
by nonfunctional, columnar cheek teeth,
FAMILIES 1 (Oryctcropodidac i
Social unit
a long snout, large ears, a piglike body, Iih1]\i'Iii,iI
SPECIES 1
and powerful limbs and shovel-shaped Status L nronfirmrd
claws for digging. Ears that can be folded

The aardvark favors ants as its
back (and a profusion of nostril food, which are more abundant in
hairs) helpkeep out dirt when Also known as the ant-bear, the summer, but it also eats termites
burrowing. The aardvark aardvark one of the most powerful

is at times when ants arc not
has a primitive brain mammal diggers, excavating burrows available. It breaks into a nest or
up to 33ft l()m long around its home mound using its front feet. The
and poor eyesight. It
range of Y* — 2 square miles 2 5 dense mat of hairs that surrounds
does, however, have square km The single young is born
. the aardvark's nostrils effectively
an excellent sense of after a gestation period of _'43 days filters dust as it digs.
smell. This is used to and weighs 3 Vrib (1.7kg Aardvarks .
locate termites and ants, chew one species of ant with their
molar teeth, but other species of Hunched back
which arc then captured, The
ant and termites are swallowed aard: ark ha\ a distmctut
using the animal's long, whole and ground up in cuned back, and its snout,
stickv tonsrue. can. and tad are long

theirmuscular
and tapering. The
stomach.
hn<tl\. \nint. brown
MASTER BURROWER fur is tinged uith
The aardvark is a fast and prolific mdgrays.
burrower, using its strong, clawedfront
limbs to dig and its back feet to push aw
excavated soil. Sunn aardvark bm
consist of an extensive tunnel network^
horta and provide temporary
refuge. The aardvark aha a)
burrow headfirst, as shown here.
Procavia capensis Dendrohyrax arboreus
HYRAXES Rock hvrax

Length 12 23ui
Southern tree hvrax
phylum Chordata ALTHOUGH HYRAXES resemble rabbits in

8-12in
and shape, genetic evidence suggests
size Tail
p class Mammalia
that the) arc more closely related to primitive Weight /.'-Illb
<
'.
order Hyracoidea
5 kg
hoofed mammals. The pads of their feet are
;
families (Procaviidae)
1
moistened by glandular secretions, which Social unit
make the soles more adhesive. This, along Status I*h .ill iu. in Status \ uhv i
ibi
with the opposable toe on each back foot,

jAl JL &. **
enables hyraxes to climb steep rock faces. They are found in
Africa and parts of the Middle East. Some species inhabit The rock hvrax has a plump body
rocky outcrops; others are arboreal. They can survive food and short, dense, gray or gray-brown
shortages since they eat almost ever) type of vegetation and fur. which is paler below Also called
the mi k classic, it lives in colonies of

require very little water their kidneys are highly eflk
4-40, usually of one dominant male,
other males, and females and young.
KEEPING WARM
Although found in a wide variety of
'nive poor /<
habitats, it usually lives in rocky

control. These
outcrops and crags, among boulders,
where u makes a grass-lined nest. The tree h\Tax or tree dassie has a
yellowish patch on the back near the
small, rounded ears otherwise gray-brown
rump, but is
with buff underparts. The head, legs,
and tail seem almost too small for the

stocky body. True to its name, the tree
hvrax lives among and
trees, shrubs,
vines, and nests in a tree-hole. It feeds
on the ground only occasionally. Like
all hyraxes, this species has poor
internal control of body temperature.

SO groups often sunbathe to warm up.
oi rest in shade to i "<>l down. Litters
of 1 3 are born after a gestation

period of 7 H months
DUGONC TEES
DUGONG AND MANATEES SRENIANS - 1 HE DUGONG and manatees - FEEDING

are large, slow-moving creatures with a Sirenians strip vegetation using their
streamlined body. They are the only marine large, mobile upper lip. Food is then
mammals that feed purely on plants. Sirenians crushed between horny plates on the
front part of the palate and on the
must rise to the surface to breathe, but they
iwer jaw. and finally ground
can remain submerged for up to !
Even though they have no

enemies apart from humans, sirenians
number only around 1 30,000 FORAGING ON THE SEA BED
Sirawms. such as this dugong. frequently
this is less than any other
Mpch the seabedfor the rhizomes
mammal order see nil,.- : of sea grasses, which
•)
panel, right .
^^^^^^mcentratwm of carbohydrates.
ANATOMY CONSERVATION
Sirenians have In the past sirenians were
paddlelike front hunted extensively for their
limbs and a fiat meat. hide, and oil. Today the\
tail to aid are \"ulnerable to injury or
propulsion. death caused by boat propellers
Their skin is below fishing nets, and the
.
thick and tough, pollution of coastal water?.

and they have a
relatively small brain
Due to the large volume of MC
given off during the digestion of^M^îirt/ snow Sirenians are i
plant matter, sirenians are highly bearing a single pair of usually only one calf is
buoyant. To compensate, their tusks and a marked produced aery 2 years. The
bones are hea\y and dense. Under indentation in the lower "mouthing" contact between this
w ater. sirenians can close their jaw are characteristic incisor manatee mother and calf helps
nostrils and contract their eyelids, features of a dugong skull. to preserve the family bond.
to follow marine plant growth and Trichechus manatus

avoid cold-water currents. Some fOOD INTAKE
Dugong dugongs are most form
solitary but West Indian manatee
loose groups averaging 10-20,
Length
exceptionally 100 or more, with little
1
Weight m.i ial structure. Members may gather ;. 3201b
to intimidate and butt predators such -
as sharks. Males compete for females

by ?ound> and pushes. Courtship and
Locaoon E Social unit Group
\v Aak, S Asia, s E Asia.
mating which is monogamou-
Australia. PacilV islands Status Vulnerable similarly auditor, and tactile. One Status Vulnerable
offspring, up to 4ft 1.2m long and
771b 55kg in weight, is born after a Feeding occurs from the surface
gestation of 13-14 months. It is cared down to about 3ft 4m The 1 .
The dugong has a crescent-shaped tail by the mother, with help from
for Best know n of the 3 manatee species manatee holds food with its
and short forefiipper?. Primarily older siblings and female relatives, fthe other 2 being the Amazonian flippers, and directs it into the
diurnal, it moves regularly each day and is weaned by 18 month? and African the West Indian
\ . mouth using its flexible lips. Dailv
between on- and offshore area? dugong may live for up to 70 yeai manatee lives along shallow shores food intake up
S
is to one-quarter
depending on the tides and food and estuaries, and in nearb\ rivers of its body weight, and may
supply: in some ana?, undertake? it and freshwater lagoons. Group include a few for protein
longer seasonal migrations - perhaps to 100 or more where food
11
fish .
.'
hundreds of miles -
is plentiful; however, there is little
and individuals come and Blunt front

I .
go. ranging widely. Reproduction is

like other sirenians. this species has tiny eyes, and
similar to the dugong? see left .
no external earflaps. Its gray or gray-brown skin,
although the manatee is polygynous. paler below, may harbor growths of algae.
short, paddle-shaped
foreflipper
ft
1 1
HOOFED MAMMALS
HOOFED MAMMALS a highly successful group. Their position

HOOFED mammals are
attributed largely
as the dominant terrestrial herbivores can be
to their speed and endurance (they are able to outrun most
predators), and to the fact that they are well equipped to break
the cellulose in their plant diet. Despite a variety
of
down
body forms, most species have a long muzzle, a complex
battery of grinding teeth, and a barrel-shaped body.
The
CLASSIFICATION NOTE
"1 tnal '" da sifu d

group consists of odd-toed hoofed mammals (such as tapirs)
i [ooli 'I
in 2 orders: P i
issod < i
la
and even-toed hoofed mammals (such as deer). Wild odd-
odd-toed I li d mammals)
[actyla even-toed
toed hoofed mammals are found in Africa, Asia, and
fed mammals}, Although
uperft
M I:
iall)
nol
similar, the 2
i In-- 1
relati d.
South and Central America. Wild even-toed hoofed
are distributed worldwide (except the West
i . ,
grouped together
thr Ren
(as here]
mammals
l» i .in . thi ) lhan .1 1
p Indies, Australasia, and Antarctica). Hoofed mammals

of common traits. Elephants,
hyraxi and the aardvark are are mostly found in open habitats, such as savanna.
alsosometime gardi a ri 'I
having hooves and mav I" Domestic hoofed mammals are found almost
im luded in the group, which is
.1K11 known as the "ungulates." anywhere there are humans.
ANATOMY
The ability of hoofed mammals to ran swiftly for
long distances is largely
powerful
due to the structure of the limbs, which are adapted for simple but
forward and backward movement. Each limb is embedded in the body
wall
this joint are the radius and
as far down as the elbow or knee joint. Below
ulna (front limbs) or tibia and fibula
metapodiai
(back limbs), then the gready reduced „ml y i
elongated metapodials (the palm "'""" /
^ fused
and foot bones in humans). This
1 in 1,
longer lower limb (and increased
movement in the shoulder joint)
gives a longer stride length and
hence more speed. These animals RHINOCEROS HORSE PIG CAMEL
also have a reduced number of toes,
which means fewer muscles and ODD AND EVEN TOES
tendons and therefore lower energy In odd-toed hoofed mammals (rhinoceros and
demands (which aids endurance). horse), the leg's weight rests on the central
They run on their (third) toe. In even-toed hoofed mammals (pig
toes (unguligrade and camel) the weight is borne by the third
gait), which are and fourth toes; the second and fifth toes are
encased in hooves. greatly reduced (pig) or lost (camel).
HORNS AND ANTLERS ESCAPING DANGER

Hoofed mammals must be able to detect danger quickly
Most hoofed mammals have antlers
to survive. To do this they have mobile, tubular ears ana
or horns. Antlers are bony outgrowths
shed acute hearing, an excellent sense of smell, and eyes on
of the skull, which in deer are
the side the head, giiing all-around vision. 1 hen
each year. Horns are permanent and ha& of 1
a keratinous sheath over a bony core. The frightened, they flee at great speed. Antelopes, such as
« "/><-
keratinous. these impala, often make spectacular leaps as they •
horn of the rhinoceros is entirely
SYNCHRONIZED CALVING
THE BIRTH BEGINS THE HEAD APPEARS A NEW LIFE
Most wildebeests calve in the same 3-week period
The newborn wildebeest emerges, partially
During labor, this female wildebeest is ulnerabh The calf is born headfirst, but the long front
1
so that, despite some losses, many calves survwe.

down and standing up. legs are first into the outside world.
covered by the amniotic membrane.
and mtltss alternately lying
33
HOOFED MAMMALS
FEEDING
Almost all hoofed mammals arc herbivores. The
plants they eat contain indigestible cellulose (the
major component of plant cell walls), which is
split into digestible carbohydrates via bacterial
fermentation. In ruminants (see below), food
passes slow ly through their system to maximize
the nutrition gained. These animals thrive
where food is limited but of high quality. In
hindgut fermenters (see below), food is not GRAZING
retained in the stomach and passes through Grazersfeed almost exclusively ongrass.
To find fresh pasture, some hoofed mammals
the system more quickly. These animals live
where food is plentiful but of poor quality. migrate long distances. The hippopotamus
As a result, a larger volume of food must be (above) usually feeds at night, using its
lips to crop the grass.

eaten to obtain enough nutrients. horny
alwiiiasitin .
omasum
passage oj food
(first I inif
offood
(second time)
passage of
jnod
A DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS
Ruminants, such as
the
buffaloes,
rumen, bacterialfermentation occurs; food

("chewing the cud") and swallowed,
system. Hindgut fermenters, such as
is
this time
HINDGUT
FERMENTER
have a complex stomach. In the first chamber,

then regurgitated, recliewed
passing through the digestive

zebras, have a simple stomach: the
BROWSING
Browsers eat almost any plant
material.
spend much of
is
diet
scarce
These mountain goats
-
their time in
mountainous areas where grass

they supplement their
by eating mosses, lichens,
fermenting bacteria are in the cecum and at the start of the colon.
herbs, and woody plants.
DEFENDING RESOURCES
Hoofed mammals living in
SOCIAL SYSTEMS
arid areas, such as these Hoofed mammals have a variety of social systems,
onagers, often form mixed- depending on factors such as habitat, body size,
sex herds. Males tend to whether breeding is seasonal, and whether they
defend resources migrate. The following examples are typical
rather than guard a hoofed mammal social organizations. Tapirs,
harem of females. rhinoceroses, and some forest antelopes are mosdy
solitary, and a male's territory covers that of
several females. Dik-diks live in pairs that occupy
small territories. In gazelles, males set up small
territories, and female herds wander in and out
DEFENDING A HAREM of these areas. Hartebeests and most zebras live

During the breeding season, some in harems consisting of a male and a number
male hoofed mammals, such as of females. Elk, on the other hand, form
this elk, gather a harem, which separate-sex herds except during the breeding
they defendfiercely. The loud season (which is known as the "rut"). Males
roaring and large antlers
fight with each other, and the most successful
the stag help deter rivals.
will collect a large harem of females.
of
STANDING UP REJOINING THE HERD

NUTRITIOUS MEAL PROTECTIVE INSTINCTS
limn 43 minutes Molhei and calf quickly rejoin the herd: in
M I The mother eats the afterbirth. Once this is .1 newborn calf is vulnerable, and the niutlui is The caff attempts In stand. In less
a group the young calf less nmspieuous.
stimulate reluctant to even another wildebeest approach. it will be able to run. reducing the risk of /inflation, is
done she will lick the calf to it. let
HOOFED MAMMALS
Horses and relatives

A\ END! RING SYMBOL of grace and and may browse on bark, leaves, their mothers or they mav join a
pHVtun Chordae a
buds, and fruits. Unlike cattle (for different group: young males leave
CLASS Mammalia freedom, horses and their relatives example the) do not ruminate
. at maturity and try to collect their
OMOER Perissodactyla
(equids) are the ultimate odd-toed but instead emplov a hindgut own harem. Wild asses and Grcw"s
fermentation system see p.225). zebras, on the other hand, have a
family Equidae
hooted mammals: they have just
This allows them to take in large different social organization, without
j
_,. a single toe on each foot. Equids amounts of food, which passes long-term associations. Breeding
onager and
horses, asses including the
f
l.ipidK through the digestive tract stallions defend large territories -
Since qualit) of food is therefore up to 6 square miles 1 5 square km
the kiang), and zebras - have a long neck and head and
less important than quantity, equids and these are marked by dung piles.
long, slender legs. They possess great stamina and can can survive in arid habitats. The) The Stallion mates with mares that
run at high speed: the swiftest wild equid, the onager, can usuallv rest during the heat of the range through his territory.
dav and forage in the morning Equids communicate with each
attain 43mph (70kph) for short periods. They are found in
evening, and night. other by whinnying or braving, and
grasslands and deserts of Africa and Asia, and various these vocalizations van. depending
Social groups on To
species have been widely introduced across the world. species. assess the sexual
Wild horses. Burchell's zebras, and condition of mates, stallions sniff
mountain zebras live in groups mares' urine. To analyze the scent
consisting of mares and their young back their upper
in detail, the) roll
Anatomy Feeding led by a "harem" stallion, who lip toinduce the inhaled air into the
Equids an- charai terized by a deep Horses and relatives eat m.unk protects and herds diem. This stallion Jacobson's organ, a special pouch
c best, a mane on the neck, a tufted grass (they have a battery of also defends the group's territorv in the roof of the mouth. This is
or long-haired tail, a solid hooi mi hard-wearing cheek teeth I and attempts to prevent called the "llehmcn" response.
eac h foot, areas of hard, thic ki mil tinshearing grass), tiller stallions from
skin (called chestnuts) on the inside although they • mating with his mares. Horses and people
cil the front legs above the knee, w ill also feed Young females mav The donkey, a descendant of wild
and mobile lips and nostrils. The . . remain in the asses, was domesticated in the
eyes, which have oblong pupils, are Same group as Middle East before 3.000Bt:. The
at the sides of the head for good domestic horse, derived from the
all-around sight (to help detect wild horse, appeared later (about
predators). Day and night vision is 2.500BC! probably from central
ex< ellent. The ears are long and can Asia.It displaced the donkey for a
twist to locate the sources of sounds, number of purposes including

without inning to move the body. transport, agriculture, warfare,
Hearing is acute. and recreation - although the
have a hea\ ily haired
All spec ies donkey remained a popular beast
coat, which is usualh uniform in of burden. Domesticated equids
color in horses and asses. Zebras continue to serve people, and most
have striking black-and-white horses aliv e today are domestic.
stupes; the function of these is Most of the wild equids are
thought to be cither si n i.il highly endangered due to habitat
rei ognition. temperature loss and hunting: only Burchell's
regulation, or to create zebra and the kiang are
a "dazzle" ellci t to relatively numerous.
i uiiluse predators,
HORSES AND RELAT IVES
Equus Equus onager Equus przewalskii MUTUAL GROOMING "I I
African wild ass Onager Przewalski's wild

Length 61/2-8 'Aft
horse
Tan
Length 7 /4-8>/lft
Weight HO Weight 440 -5701b

200 230 kg
Group Location \\ Social unit Group Weight 440-660lb

Locaoon E Africa Social unit 1
ju
-
S v
Status Grid all) Status Vulnerable
JL JL Status I \ttnrt in wild Social grooming is important for

this species, as formost wild
The African wild ass lives in rocky horses, serving to reinforce herd
desertswhere the ground temperature bonds. Usually two animals stand
exceeds 122°F (50°C). It eats almost This horse now survives in zoos, nose to tail so that they can look
any plant food, from grasses to thorny parks, and field stations, although out for danger in both directions,
acacia bushes, and goes without water there have been several attempts and each nibbles the other's
for several days. The upperparts are to reintroduce it in shoulder and withers. The tail
buff-gray in summer and tron-grav, in Mongolia. It lives in also makes a useful llv swat.
winter; the mane is sparse but erect. cohesive, long-term
Females mate only with mature herds dial wander
males that hold territories. great distances for
grass, leaves, and
buds. A iv] in .il
This .Asian wild ass eats a variety herd is led by .1
of vegetation, including grasses and senior mare and

succulent plants. Females and young has 2-4 other
onagers form loose, wandering herds mares, theii offspring,
while immature males gather in and one stallion who stays on the
bachelor groupv Solitary mature periphery. A single foal is born after
males kick and bite rivals to oc< upv a gestation of 333-345 days.
- the territory the) need for breeding
»_. variable
T^P transverse f.
Mainly buff, tawny, or gray in Small blt stocky
appearance, the onager is white Pr&walstd'i wild horse is heavily built, with a
underneath, with a dark mane, back and
i stripe, ear tips, and feathered tail tip.
thick neck, a large head,
domesticated horses.
short legs compared to
Equus grevyi Equus burche/li This successful and widespread zebra

has a diet that is nine-tenths grass; the
Grevy's zebra Burchell's zebra remainder is leaves and buds. The
main, long-term social unit is a
Length 7
stallion, his harem of one or several
Tall 18 mares, and their offspring. Maturing
stallions form loose bachelor herds
•
Weight 77119901b Weight I
and may challenge for the

harem with fierce lights of
Locaoon I \in Social unit i iroup biting and kicking. The singl
Status Ending n 'I Status 1 en

foal can stand within a lev
minutes of birth and

u
is
JL grazing after a week
The largest zebra and biggest wild A Burchell's zebra stallion, like
equid, Grevy's zebra has dense, other male equids. curls up his
narrow stripes that remain distinct all top lip in order to heighten his
the way down to the hooves: the belly sense of smell. Known as the
and tail base are white. Males occupy Qehmen response or, more
huge territories, up to 4 square miles colloquially, the "horse laugh.''
(10 square km). Females and foals roam this behavior is usually seen when
In rl\. perhaps gathering in small, loose die male stallion assesses the
herds to graze, but there are no readiness of a female mare) for
long-term herd bonds. breeding B\ t H i- means, he is able
to detect certain scents in die
mare's urine to determine if she is
receptive for mating
Distinctive stripes
Burchell's cchro has a different stnfn pat
<
•
- m
Burchell's xfbrm
"shacbu " itripa between the largeflani
4.
HOOFED MAMMALS
Rhinoceroses
Social systems Indian rhinoceroses have a home
WITH 1 HEIR huge size, bare, sometimes
Although rhinoceroses are mostly range that overlaps with the ranges
class M ammali a pleated skin, relatively short limbs, and si ilitary, subadults may travel in pairs, of several females, and is marked
Pe rissod actyl a 4 horned snout, rhinoceroses are almost female white rhinoceroses sometimes by dung piles up to 3 Tt lm high.
form groups, and Indian rhinoceroses Weaker males share the ranges of
Rhin ocerotidae dinosaur-like in appearance. They live
will share a bathing pond without stronger males but do not attempt
in the savannas of .Africa, and in the aggression. Adult males of all species to mate. When 2 strong Indian
tropical and subtropical forests and tend to be territorial; however, rhinoceros males meet, thev mav
females are not. Stronger male fight using their tusklike lower
swampy grasslands of Asia. .Although rhinoceroses are
incisors. Many such conflicts end in
often considered aggressive they will charge to scare the death of one of the combatants.
off an intruder - they are generally timid. .All 5 species The white rhinoceros, like the Indian
species, alsoemploys a "strong"
are endangered, 3 of them critically so. .All species
male "weak" male system. The
require a large daily intake of food (either strong males actively herd females
grass or stems, branches, and leaves into their territories, and then
prevent them leaving. Black
to support the massive body.
rhinoceroses, however.
have less well-defined
territories. Little is
Anatomy known about the
Rhinoceroses are large, heavily built social behavior
animals - the white rhino may of either the
weigh up to 2Ve tons (2.3 tonnes). Javan or the
Ihe species found in Asia support Sumatran
their bulky frame with thick legs, rhinoceros.
but African species have surprisingly
slim legs and are capable of
running at speeds of up to 28mph
45kph Each foot has 3 toes, each
.'.
with a hoof. The large head features

one or 2 horns (depending on
spec tes on the snout. Instead of a
bony core as in the horns of catde
and their relatives, for example), the
horns are composed entirely of
keratin - a tough protein also found
in hair and nails - and the horn
perches on a roughened area of the
skull rather than being "rooted" in
the skull Rhinoceroses also have
.
skin up to .in :2cm thick, and

bod) hair is usually inconspicuous
although all species have a tail tuft
and ear Asian rhinoceroses

fringes,.
have heavily folded skin. giv ing the
appearance of plates of armor.
Of all the senses, smell is the
strongest, although mobile, tubular
ears provide good hearing. The
eyes, however, are small, and
rhinoceroses have poor vision.
CONSERVATION
The entire rhinoceros family is
listedby CITES, mainly because

rhinoceros horn is. literally, worth
its weight in gold. In China it is
powdered and used as a drug

thought in reduce lever, and in
Yemen horns are carved to make
traditional dagger handles. These
2 factors are mainly responsible
for the dramatic drop in
rhinoceros populations ;it is a
myth that rhinoceros horn is
wideh used as an aphrodisiac :
rhinoceroses now number only

about 12.000. All rhinoceros
species are protected, but this has
largely proved ineffective due to
habitat loss and poaching.
Â
RHINOCEROSES
"saddle" over the neck with lumps Or

Dicerorhinus sumatrensis WALLOWING Rhinoceros sondaicus
nodules giving an armor-plated effect.
Sumatran rhinoceros Javan rhinoceros The horn rarely exceeds lOin
m
single
(25cm) long and is lacking in some
!.5 1.2 m females. A solitary, nocturnal browser,
it eats a wide range of plants. The
Tail Nol i 1' '1
Weight I odd 1 7601b Javan or lesser one-horned -

BOO kg rhinoceros was decimated by lowland
Tt- forest removal. Two remnant
.ocauon s .in, SJ \ i.. Social unit Individual populations survive, taking advantage
Status i mil ,ill\ endangered StatusCnCji.il!

of coastal mangrove and bamboo
The Sumatran rhinoceros, like all marshes. The male is probably
1 M. rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, and $L ttL territorial, marking his area with dung
similar sparsely haired mammals. piles and urine pools; he encounters
Solitary and secretive, this is the wallows in mud. which dries onto One of the rarest large mammals, this potential mates at suitable muddy
smallest and hairiest rhinoceros. It the skin. This is cooling and also species is hairless except for its ears wallows. After 16 months" gestation,
rests in wallows by day and browses at protects its delicate surface areas .mil tail tip. Its tluc k gray skin is one calf is born and stays with its
night on twigs, leaves, and fruits, also from Hies and other biting insects. divided by deep folds to make a mother lor 2 years, possibly longer.
felling saplings for tender shoots. lis
high-altitude habitat, once

relatively sale, is now
being lost to
loggers; ho
poachers are alst
a major threat ith
front horn may

reach 16in/40cm in
length). A single calf is
born after 7-8 months

gestation and st.ivs
with its mother for
18 months, until she
ne\i gives birth.
os unicornis Like other rhinoceros species, the the quality of habitat. The gestation
Indian rhinoceros is generally solitary period is 16 months and the calf may
Indian rhinoceros except for temporary male-female remain with its mother until her next
associations when mating, and a offspring is born, which may be 3 years

Length Up t<> 12
mother with her male and
calf Both later. Despite protection programs
female have a single horn, up to 24in and an encouraging recovery in
(60cm) long. Males have larger, sharp, numbers, remaining populations of

Weight I to
tusklike im isors for fighting rivals at
;.
the Indian rhinoceros are scattered
breeding time. Otherwise, they usually and fragmented, and therefore siill at
Social unit 1miIim.1h.iI
tolerate intruders into their ranges, some risk. These animals are also still
Status i.ml.m [ered which van, from /i 3 square miles
;
subjet t to poaching for their horns

(2 to 8 square km) depending on and other body parts.
gray-brown
coloration
PLATES AND RIVETS
The Indian rhinoceros's skin has

deep folds, its armor-plated
appearam ai entuated In i i
tub lumps espe< ially on

tl li ,
the sides and rear, whii h resemble

ii'.' ( 1 In pink skm within the
loliK is prone to parasites thai are
removed l>\ egrets and tick birds.
who also .u i ,is sentinels.
HOOFED MAMMALS
Black rhinoceros
Length
Ta.i ;
Weight i
t (0.9 1
-ocauon 1 .mi] ioilth( in Social unit Individual
Status Critically endangered
AJL^
Browsing on .1 variet) of bushes and
low trees, the black rhinoceros
1
11 1 upies a variet) of habitats but
mainly wooded savanna with mosaics
of grass and trees. As in other
rhinoceros species, its sight is poor but
hearing and smell excellent. It feeds
mainly by twilight and at night: days
are spent dozing in shade or
wallowing mud. The black in
rhinoceros and marks its
is solitary,
home range with piles of dung and

copious squirts of urine. It may
tolerate intruders of its own species,

or human . but this unpredictable
rhinoceros may suddenly charge or
jab with its horns. Two black rhino-
ceroses together are usually a mating
pair, associating for just a few days, or
a mother and calf. She gives birth
after 15months' gestation. The new-
born weigh- 8811 40kg begins to 1 .
take 51 ilid food after a few weeks, and

is weaned at around 2 years.
Ceratotherium simum The largest and most numerous be solitary An almost exclusive grazer,
rhinoceros, the white rhinoceros rivals the wide, straight upper lip - giving
White rhinoceros the hippopotamus as the biggest land the alternative name of square-lipped
animal after the elephants. Males rhinoceros - and hard lip pads crop
Length i
3.7 4 m weigh up to half a ton more than grass extremely close. Populations of
Til 28 in females, and have longer horns and a southern white rhinoceros (Cerato-
more pronounced nuchal crest. The therium simum soman are reasonably
Weight
front horn may reach 4 'Aft 1.3m in numbering more than 8,500,
I
secure,
length, the rear one 16in 40cm This . although still conservation-dependent
Social unit Group is also the most sociable rhinoceros. There may be fewer than 30 of the
Status Uttvrr risk generally placid, with mother-calf critically endangered northern white
pairs staying together for long periods rhinoceros [Ceratotherium simum cottoni,.
and up to 7 juveniles forming small A male rhinoceros's penis faces

herds. M.uure male-, however, tend to HfMPED SHOULDER the rear, so urine sprays out
The prominent nuchal crest behind the between the back legs. Male white
yellow-brown <ned hy the bones, mi rhinoceroses mark home ranges in
coloration and ligaments to support the huge head.
this way Each needs a territory of
about '/- square mile (1 square
km) to be selected for breeding.
CONSERVATION
A rhinoceros's
horns can be
quicklv cut off
under anesthetic,
thereby removing
the main target of
poachers, who have
been largely responsible for the
catastrophic decline in white and
black rhinoceros numbers over the
past 200 years. Since the horn is
made of a hairlike material, the

procedure is painless, and has little
effect on the rhinoceros's social life.
TAPIRS
Tapirs
short, broad and hard skin (except
tail species are entirely brown, gray, or
THESE mammals can truly be called "living
on the soles feet, which are
of the blackish, except for white ear rims
fossils" because as a group they have changed sensitive flu- body hair is usually in some. The mountain tapir has
=
.
little over the past 35 million years. They are sparse, except in the mountain tapir. striking whin- lips, while South
Peris sodacty la
medium-sized animals with a piglike body on which has a thick coat. Baird's tapir American and Baird's tapirs have
Tapiridae and the South American tapir have a light patches on the cheeks, throat.
relatively hia;h, slender legs, and a short,
short. bristlv mam which pro\ides and chin f )nh tin Malayan tapir
extensible trunk. Tapirs live in forest areas
protection if a jaguar bites Most . has extensive white body markings.
never far from water in Southeast Asia New born tapirs have white spots and
and South and Central America. Much of their time stripes in row s along the flanks
is spent in water with just their trunk exposed (like and limbs, which provide
escape predators and to keep good camouflage.

a snorkel . to
cool. Malayan, mountain, and Baird's
tapirs are all endangered by habitat
destruction and hunting.
ANATOMY
Tapirs have a streamlined shape,
which allows them to move more
easily through dense undergrowth.
Thev have a very deep face because
their nasal passages are gready
enlarged, with nostrils positioned at
the tip of the snout. The sense of
smell is acute and is vital in finding
food and smelling danger and other
tapirs. These animals also have large,
erect ears (providing good hearing

and small eyes that arc deep in the
socket, protected from thorns and
sharp branches. Their 3 toes spread
out on soft ground, which helps
support their weight and prevents
them from sinking. Tapirs have a
Tapirus terrestris Tapirus pinchaque Tapirus bairdii from buds and leaves to fallen fruits.
The gestation period is about 390-
South American Mountain tapir Baird's tapir 400 days and the female produces one
young very rarelv 2 which weighs
.
tapir Length 6ft
l.8ra 2m 1 1-1 8 lb (5 -8 kg). Baird's tapir

Tai 1 '/.'ft Ta uses shrill whistles to
Mi™ communicate with
Weight 3301b Weight 530 -8801b
its young or warn
150kg
other adults
Weight 500 -5501b Social unit Individual Sc< a jnn Individual
away from
Status rndant»rn-d Status Vulnerable its territorv.
Status Lowrr nsi M* £L

i The
is
largest American
dark brown, with pale gray-yellow
tapir. Baird's
This brisdv coated tapir cheeks and throat and white-edged

has white-tipped ears and ears. It e.tis a variety >>i plant pans.
a short, narrow mane. It
prefers waterside habitats, swims

well,
such as
and dives to escape predators
pumas and jaguars. Browsing
Tapirus indiius which helps break up its body outline
in shady forests. The Malayan tapir
\
selectively by night, it feeds on a wide Malayan tapir feeds on suit twigs and young leaves of
range of grasses, reeds. bushes and saplings, and also on fallen
fruits, and other 1 he furriest "I the 4 tapii fruits. I he male's average rai e
vegetation. species, the mountain tapir 5 square miles 1 3 square km overlaps

.is thick, dark brown to black the ranges of several
Weight
fur that keeps out the i old ol its females.
high-altitude habitat. The lips and
Locaoon S \ Social unit Individual
ears are usuallv white (ringed It eats
I
a variety of dwarf trees and shrubs, Status Vulnerable
main!) at dawn and dusk. Like other

tapirs, the mountain tapir hides in m
thickets In day. Its droppings contain
manv intact seeds, thereby assisting A striking, two-tone pattern
plant dispersal and consequendv distinguishes the largest and only Old
forest regeneration. I hev are solitary World tapir. Ii is blai k with a white
animals except lor mothers with young "saddle" ovei tin- back and rump,
HOOFED MAMMALS
Pigs
DESPl 1. \ REPl \l ion for gluttony, wild the wild boar) or sparse (as in the
phylum Chordata
1 i
babirusa). Most species have a mane PECCARIES

Mammalia
pigs rarely overeat and are intelligent,
Although the 3 species of peccary
class down the back of the neck. The tail
adaptable animals. Members of the pig
is thin, twisted, mobile, and usually together form a separate family
order Artiodactyla
family which also includes hogs, boars, and sparsely tufted.
Tayassuidae from pigs, the
family Suidae 2 groups are closely related.
the babirusa - are omnivorous rather than
purely herbivorous) and are characterized by
Fighting Peccaries differ from pisjs by
J The long tusks of males are used for
having short canines that point
a barrel-shaped body, curiously slender legs, downward instead of upward.
defense against predators and for
a short neck, and a large head. They are found in forests and
lighting other males for social status
(ink one lateral hoof instead of
grasslands throughout Africa and Eurasia and have also been or mates. Pigs demonstrate _'
2 on each back foot, an
successfully introduced to Australia. New Zealand, and the extremely short tail, a special
distinct fighting styles: lateral and
gland on the upper surface of the
Americas. The babirusa and the pygmy hog are both endangered head-to-head. Lateral conflict
rump, and a more complex
involves the combatants slashing at
because of habitat destruction. Almost all domestic pigs are stomach 3 chambers Peccaries
each other's shoulders. This lighting .
descended from the wild boar. st\ le is practiced by pigs, such as the
live in very large. mLxed-sex
sounders. These units are quite
wild boar, that have a long, narrow-
and will attack even big
Anatomy wear against the underside of the face, no facial warts, and small fearless
tusks. Pigs with a broad head, thick cats. Peccaries are found mosdy in
One of the most interesting features upper canines. In the babirusa, tni est areas from southwestern
skull, long tusks, and facial warts
of a pig's anatomy is its snout, however, the male's upper tusks ISA through Central America to
which lias a cartilaginous disk at its grow up through the skin of the for protection against wounds
such as warthogs and giant forest
northern Argentina. The Chacoan
up. enclosing the nostrils. The disk lace and then curve backwards.
hogs - tend to fight head-to-head. peccary is heavily hunted and is
is supported by a small bone the Female pigs have smaller canines in danger of extinction.
prenasal), not present in other female babirusas have no canines).
Family groups
mammals, and is used like a Pigs also have cloven feet. Two
bulldozer when foraging for food. large, flattened hooves bear the
Pigs live in sounders (families of mating season. Pigs are the only
Most spri us .tlsn have upper and animal's weight, but on soft ground a sow and her offspring which . hoofed mammals to have litters
the LI shorter, lateral hooves mas communicate by squeals and grunts. rather than one or 2 young only
lower canines that grow outward
Boars join sounders during the the babirusa has twins).
and upward to form tusks. The tips touch the ground and help spread
of the lower the weight. Pigs have thick skin.
with hait that is either long
and brisdv as in
Hylochoerm meinertzjiageni straw-colored piglets turn brown and Sus salvanius upper canines poke slightly out of the
then black as they mature, and the sides of the mouth. Both sexes dig
Giant forest hog long, coarse hair becomes sparser. Pygmy hog large troughs and line them with
Unlike its relatives, this pig does not grassy layers to form nests. Although
Length 1
: m root; instead it grazes and low- legally protected, this species is still at
Tail 12 lR.n browses on grasses, sedges, .nu\ riskfrom poaching and continued
shrubby vegetation. removal of its grassy, riverside habitat.
Weight . Weight U .'lib
Location \\ rrd* a ik endangrird
m £L k
Largest ol the pig family, ibis massive- Ibis i hunky short-legged pig. the
headed hog has 2 large, wartlike -km smallest species in the pig family lias
growths excrescences below and a tapering snout and head to push
behind each eve. and canines that through dense undergrowth. Its
grow horizontally from the jaw. The overall color is dark brown: the male's
PIGS
Sus scrofa Polamochoerus porcus
Wild boar Red river hog

'
Weight lc>u-2901b
+6-130 e
Social unit Group
4L
Bv far the reddest pig. this species -
also known as the bush pig - hi* long.
pointed ears with prominent tufts, a
narrow white stripe along the back.
and white facial stripes. It is omni-
vorous and nocturnal, like other pigs.
Highly sociable, the male stays with
hisharem of females and offspring.
and helps defend them. Sometimes
these family panics ,,t
4-6 congregate into

wandering
bands of
50 or
Babyrousa babyrussa Pecari tajactt
Babirusa Collared peccary

I^H Length till 3m
: an
length 3«-39iii
(73-100 an
Tail 1" Tail
Weight
12
Up lo 2201)
an
% Weight 29-66B>
1.5-5* .-m
Location S ! Social unit fodkidual/GiDup Location s V. Social unit Group

BnJnmi, T"gian. and S. South America
Mangolr island* Status Vulnerable Status Localh common
& Is: £L JL ^
Tlie warthog is a long-legged pig. with The warthog is the only pig
a large head. Winn running, it* tail is adapted for grazing in grassland.
held straight and upright. Generally Typically, it kneels on its padded
active b\ day it lives in mixed groups of "wrists" to nip off the growing
4-16 young males or female* with tips of grass, using its lips or its
A young: They shelter and raise their
d
young in grass-lined
J dug by themselves or
burrows,
incisor teeth. In the dry season,
u I. gds
with
imi underground stems
rhizomes
it-,
tooting for them
.
toughened snout
Maned
The
pig
uarthog's long, dark
Also called the javelina,
smallest ol the
It is
I peccary species.
generally dark gray with a
whitish, often indistinct, neck collar;
this is the
I
The distinctive upper canines of
mane extends from the
the young are reddish with a narrow
themale babirusa sjrow through the nape of the neck to the black stripe along the back. Found in
muzzle and curve back toward the middle of the back. a variety ol habitats, the collared
laic Up to 1 Jin 30cm long, the) arc -.there there is a gap: it peccary eat* mainly plant matter such
al*o loose socketed and brittle I he then continues on the rump. a* bcincs. shoots, tubers, and bulbs.
almost hairless hide varies in color but also grubs, worms, and small
from brown to gray. Males are vertebrates such .is snake* and lizards.
primarih solitary, while females and Peccaries an- notably gregarious and
their young travel in groups of about form bands of up to 3. of mixed age I
8 The gestation period of 133-158 and sex, which cooperate to repel

days is fairly t\pic al for the pig family; enemies. Members stand side In side
the litter size is onl\ 1 2. and rub face* in mutual grooming
HOOFED MAMMALS
Hippopotamuses
tinge on the underside and around feeding grounds. Each night, an
PHYLUM Chordata Members of the hippopotamus family
the eyes and skin folds. It is almost individual will eat about 881b (40kg)
CLASS Mammalia have a semiaquatic lifestyle and are hairless in most parts, and < il grass. The food is digested in a
order Artiodactyla thought to be more closely related to extremely thick and fatty. compartmentalized stomach the
Hippopotamus skin is unusual in fore-stomach contains bacteria that
FAMILY Hippopotamidae whales than to other even-toed hoofed
that there anno sebaceous glands. ferments cellulose Although this .
SPECIES 2 mammals. They can float and swim, and Instead, there are mucous glands system is slow, the hippopotamus
may remain submerged for over 5 whil h arc modified sweat glands) requires food than animals of a
less
that produce a viscous fluid to keep similar size because much of its life
minutes. The hippopotamus lives along rivers and lakes in
the skin moist when exposed to air. is spent supported in water. The
Africa, while the smaller, less aquaticpygmy hippopotamus This fluid, which is pink due to the pygmy hippopotamus eats roots,
is restricted to swampy forest areas in west Africa. The present e of a red pigment, m,n also grasses, shoots, and fallen fruits,
protect against infection and although little is known about its
hippopotamus is abundant, but the pygmy hippopotamus is prevent sunburn. feeding habits.
endangered due to habitat destruction and hunting. While the hippopotamus weighs
aboul 1 tons 1 .4 tonnes), the
Social groups
pygm) hippopotamus, which has The pygmy hippopotamus is usually
Anatomy toes; eyes, ears, and nostrils located relatively longer legs, a much found in small groups of up to 3.
Hippopotamuses have .1 long, at the top of the head these are smaller head, darker skin, and eyes Female hippopotamuses and their
heav) bod) with short, surprisingly often the 011Kpan of the animal at the side of the head, averages young, however, form groups of
insubstantial-looking legs. The protruding above water); and 011K about 5501b (250kg). usually 10-20 (but sometimes
enormous head features jaws thai the ability to (lose the up to 100) during the day night
allow a huge gape up to 150 degrees nostrils underwater. Feeding foraging is a solitary affair They .
•iiul carry long, tusklike canine and The gray

skin is The hippopotamus communicate via staccato grunts
inc isi n teeth. The nose is wide and with a pinkish moves inland at night to and deep rumbles that carry some
covered with sensitive bristles. The graze, generally following distance in the water. Each group
tail is short, tufted, and flattened. trails marked by dung occupies a home range along a
Adaptations lor life in piles that lead to its section of ri\er bank or lake shore,
water include within the territory of a dominant
webbed male. This male marks his territory
with heaps of dung that he
scattersby furiously
wagging his tail. Other
males enter the
territory, but they are
tolerated only if they
behave submissively
and do not attempt to
mate. Mating occurs
in the water, but the
calves are usually
born on land.
HITPOPOTAMUSES
Buoyancy
Hippopotamus amphibus
The density of the
Hippopotamus hippopotamus
slightly greater than
j body is
that of water, so it
sinks gently and can

walk light-footed along
1. Weight
Social unit
1
14 :
IndmduaJ
the bottom. However, if
it keeps
inflated
its
when
lungs well
breathing
at the surface, the extra
air reduces this density

Status C^nnmon
and it can stay afloat
with minimal effort.
The hippopotamus's nostrils, eyes,
and ears are all on top of its
Despite its massive bulk, the hippo- mud. However, the skins inner layer day s short for such a large mammal. head, so it can be almost total!)
potamus swims and walks underwater (dermis) is up to '/'in (3.5cm) thick

1 The mother is fiercely protective and submerged yet breathe easily and
with grace, and trots with surprising and formed of a dense mat of fibers the calf has few natural predators remain receptive to its surround-
rapidity on land on its short legs \ that provides great strength. The and hyenas.
apart from big cats ings. The nostrils and ears are
trulv amphibious mammal, its skin hippopotamus's main diet is grass, Hippopotamuses have been known to closed to water entry when di\ing.
has a thin outer layer epidermis . grazed at night, although they have attackhumans, if they feel threatened.
which dries out easily and is sensitive been observed eating small animals or
to the bites of pests such .is llics. scavenging. The dominant male mates
Despite specialized mucus-producing with females in his territory, and the TEMPORARY HERDS
skin glands, the hide soon cracks usually single calf is born, generally During the dry season hippo-
unless moistened regularly in water or underwater, after a gestation of 240 potamuses must wander to find
grazing. Instead of each animal
t/im outer skin returning to its home area by day.
,
(epidermis) some use a nearby pool as a short-
term "stop-over" wallow, thereby
extending its grazing range. This
leads to large gatherings at certain
pools, but they lack long-term
social or territorial structures.
Mother and calves

Calves remain with their mothers after weaning
(at 6-8 months) until about 5 years. In this way.
family groups develop.
Hexaprotodon libtriensis
interaction. The) forage at night, but adults have few predators except
following well-worn and spend
trails, for leopards and humans. Captive
Pygmy the day hidden in swamps or some- pygmy hippopotamuses have lived
times in a river-bank den enlarged many hippopotamuses:
longer than
hippopotamus from the burrow of some other 55 compared to about 45 years.
animal. After a gestation period of
196-201 days, the single calf is born, Land-based forager
in water or in the den. The calf risks A pygmy hippopotamus 's squat, narrow-fronted
falling prey to a crocodile or python, utied to pushing head down through dense
: 5Ki 6101b Jorest zYgetation during night foraging on land.
2*5 275 kg
\
Status Vuliw-rubtr
Evidence suggests that the

£L tss pygmy hippopotamus has
always been rare. It survives in
( )nl\ one-fifth the weight of ii- huge dense forests and marshes in
cousin ab, \c P
. the pygmy hippo- tberia and neighboring West
potamus has a relatively small, less African countries. Despite lcyal
angular head and narrower feet with protection, these areas are dillu ult
fewei webbed toes, as adaptations foi to patrol and subject to uncon-

more time on land. It also
. trolled logging and widespread
in a wider variety of plant hunting for the bushme.tt trade
material including shrubs, terns, and lhe llesh is said to resemble |*nk.
fruits Pygmy hippopotamuses are \et genetk studies indicate thai
usualK solitary; although their home hippopotamuses are mi in
ranges overlap, there seems to be little related to whales than to pigs.
fighting for territory oi other form <>!
ft
HOOFED MAMMALS
Camels and relatives

CAMELIDS CAMELS AND THEIR RELATIVES
class Mammalia have long, slender legs and a distinctive gait
okdc* Artiodactyla known
whereby the front and
as pacing,
pahilt Camelidae on the same side move forward

back legs
:
together in a rocking motion. Of the Old
World camelids - the camels - only one
species the Bactrian camel, from the border area between
western China and Mongolia) now survives in the wild. A
camel is able to drink up to one quarter of its weight at a time,
and can store the water for several days. The New World
members of this family, the guanaco and vicuna, are found
w ild in South .America; their domestic descendants, the llama
and alpaca, have been bred in the Andes since the time of the
Inca civilization. .All domesticated camelids are vital to human
survival: they provide people with hair. milk, and transportation.
Anatom\ reduced to only 1.000-2.000

Camelids have a relatively small individuals. It is taller and slimmer
head, a long, thin neck, and a split than its domestic counterpart and
upper lip. Camels have either one has more compact, poini
hump the dromedary! or 2 humps humps. Dome-tic
ithe Bactrian camel : these store fat Bactrian camels are
that can he drawn on during lean used for transport
times. All camelids have a thick coat in cold regions
that provides insulation against from northern
daytime heat and warmth during ( Ihina to Turkey
the cooler nights or at altitude. The dromedary i-

Unlike other hoofed mammals. extinct in the wild.
camelids rest their weight not on although feral hi
iluii hooves but on the undersides now live in central

of the 2 digit- on each foot, which Australia. Domestic
.tic ushioned by a fatty pad. This
i dromedaries are found in
is an adaptation to walking on sand) hot regions in north and
soil. Camelids are unique among northeastern Africa, the
mammals in that they have oval red Middle East, and northern
blood cells, possibly so that these India through to Kazakhstan.
iells can be transported around the As with other domestic animals
body easily, even if the blood i- there are different breeds, one
thickened due to dehydration. of which is kept for its speed
and i- used in camel racing.
Social interaction The llama is a domestic
In the wild, camelids form groups animal bred from the wild
that consist of one dominant male guanaco and is the traditional
and a harem of female-. "Surplus" pat k animal in the Andes.
males form bachelor bands. While The alpaca is also a domestic
the soi ial -\ -terns of the South species, bred for it- fine
American camelids have not been In the past, the alpaca w;
studied in great detail, more is known thought to be a desceni
about the way camels interact with of the guanaco. but
eai h other. Both species go through
') current generic e\idence
an elaborate and dramatic ritual indicates that it i- in
when a dominant male is fa< ed with fact a descendant of
a challenger. First, the harem leadei the vicuna, the finc-
grind- hi- teeth, rub- a gland on the fleeced. wild
back of his head against his hump camelid of the
(or front hump in the case of the high-altitude
Bactrian came] -mack- his tail
. Andes.
loudl) against his rump, and urinates
on his back legs. rump, and tail. The DESERT SPECIALISTS
2 camel- then pai e side by side, display •'.
a I these dromedaries, -
their tall, humped profiles, and an u el! adapted to life in hot elimates.
extrude a red bladderlike sac the Their brood feet provide stability on
dulaa from the corner of the mouth. dtsoi sand, emel they haa long eyelashes
and slillilcr. that afford-
Wild and domestic protection dunned;
The onrj living Old World wild
camelid i- the Bactrian camel.
although it- numbers are now
CAMELS AND LLAMAS
Lama guanicoe
Guanaco Vicuna
Length I
n Length
0.9 ! ,, 1.5 1.6 m
Tall 9 i i" Tail 8-l0in
!5 an
Weight 210 2901b Weight 88 -120 lb
96 I Ink-
1
Location \\ Soutl Social unit (.roup
Status \ Him r
|bll Status Endangered
« A±^ M. ^ Alpacas, bred mainly

once though)
thick fiber, were
t<>i then
The guanaco prefers cold habitats, Found in tundralike grasslands at to be domesticated from the
mainly grasslands, but also scrub Domestic Hamas arc descended 12,000 -16,000ft (3,600-4,80(ini the guanaco, in the high Amies , ,|
and up to 1:5.000ft
forest, at heights from wild guanacos domes- vicuna is a strict and selective grazer, central Peru, 6,000 -7,000 years
(4,000m;. It browses and grazes on ticated 6.000-7,000 years ago. grasping perennial grasses with its ago. New evidence now suggests
many grasses and shrubs, as well They have been raised by prehensile, cleft upper lip and snipping a vicuna ancestry
as lichens and fungi. Typical Andean peoples for theii wool off the tips against the tough upper
fiber meat, and skins, and have
. pad. It needs to drink daily. Family
also been used as pat k animals. groups of one male, 5-10 females, White bib
and their young occupy territories, / f/ale to dark
delineated mainly by dung; bachelor ith a variable
lamih groups consist of one male and males form rosing band ,, hilish <//<>/ "bib."
4-7 females with young. In the north

of its range, the offspring leave their
group at about one year of age,
compared to nearer 2 years in more
southerly populations. Young males
form bachelor bands; old males are
mosdy solitary in their lifestyle.
Coloration
.1 typical guanaco is pale to dark brown, with
whitish chest, belly, and inner legs, and gray to
black head with white-edged eyes, lips, and ears.
Camelus bad nanus Endangered in the wild (a domes- Camelus dmmedarius Extinct in the wild, this one-humped
ticated animal is shown . this domestic camel shows many adap-
Bactrian camel 2-humped camel can withstand Dromedary tations to desert life, losing up to 4i I
temperatures from -20°F (-29°C) to percent of body weight when food

its
Length 3 /.' 9V(fl
> 4 2 5 1 hi
100°F (38°C). After a drought, it can and water are scarce. Allowing its
Tail 21 in drink 29 gallons (110 litres) of water Tail 20 in temperature to rise in hot conditions,
S3 an 50 on it reduces sweating to conserve
in 10 minutes. It eats grasses, leaves,
\ Weight "III- 1.2101b
Weight '''in I.S.'Olb
^ and shrubs. During the rut. males pufl moisture. It feeds on a huge variety
l" 90 kg
out their cheeks, toss their heads back, of plants, including salty and thorny
Location r. V Social unit (.roup
and grind their teeth. The winner Social i
species,and also scavenges on bones
Status Endangered gains 6- 30 females and offspring. One Status Common and dried-out carcasses. Dromedarii s
young i
rarely twins is born after 406 form small herds of several females
JL days' gestation and is suckled for 1-2 and young, and one male, who
years. Females attain sexual maturity defends them by spitting, biting, and
relatively
erect humps at 3-4 years; males at 5-6 years. aning on opponents.
small ears
indicaM a
well fed f .Qi
animal _ y ~^H
HOOFED MAMMALS
Deer
autumn After breeding aLso known
ALTHOUGH SIMILAR in appearance .
MUSK DEER AND

as the "rut" . the antlers are shed.
class Mammalia to antelopes, deer are distinguished by It is not certain why anders are shed CHEVROTAINS
onoen Artiodactyla which are solid, usually
their antlers, and regrown each annual
year, since Musk deer familvMoschid.it
regrowth is metabolically costly - it and che\Totains family Trasjulidae
family CerA-idae branched, and are shed and regrown - also known as mouse deer
could be a chance to renew antlers
each year. Deer are mainly woodland damaged during the rut. Anders are have several features that separate
and forest dwellers but can be found first grown at 1-2 years of age and them from other deer famih
are initially simple spikes. As the Cervidac For example, both have
a range of other habitats, from arctic tundra to
.
in
years progress, the anders generally long upper canine teeth instead of
grassland. They live in northwest Africa. Eurasia, and become larger and more branched, anders. In males, these teeth
the Americas. Some species have also been introduced but regress again in old age. Antler project below the level of the
size is an indication of general body lower jaw and are used for
beyond their natural range, for example to New Zealand condition. Those species that do not fighting. The 7 species of musk
and to Britain and mainland Europe. have antlers, such as the Chinese deer found throughout .Asia are
water deer, instead possess canine endangered due to demand for
teeth modified into tusks. musk, which is secreted from the
Anatomy their antlers, which are present groin of males during the
Most deer have an elongated body, only in males except in reindeer,
Social groups breeding season and is used as an
a long neck, large eyes situated at where both sexes have them . In Social organization depends largely ingredient in many perfumes.
the side of the head, high-set cars. spring each year, the anders begin on diet. Smaller species are usually Chevrotains 4 species live in the
and a small tail. The well-developed to develop. They grow direcdy In iwsers
( and generally live singly rainforests of Africa and .Asia.
third and fourth bear the

digits from the skull and are initially or in small groups. This is because
weight, while the second and fifth covered by finely haired skin (called their food occurs in small pockets,
toes are smaller and usually do not velvet). .As they develop, the velvet which produces competition. Larger herds for protection from predators.
touch the ground. Each year the dries andrubbed off so that
is species tend to graze more open Such groups are usually single-sex.
coat is molted at least once. In the anders are ready to be used in habitats and therefore compete less except during the rut. when males
many species the young have spots fighting during the breedin. tor [sod. These deer often live in fight for possession of a harem.
on the coat for camouflage. ; their anders as weapons and
The most striking "i / 1 ornaments to attract mates).
SURVIVING HARD TIMES

km food becomes
scarce dun ite uvitsr browse on a varich of plants
to sitrri: < till usually feedffr longer
'
periods than hinds, possibly because during the
autumn rut they must fight for and defend their harem
and therefore can spend less time bu
DEER
Generally found within 820ft (250m) Moschus clui Muntiacus

hus aquatkus ret
.it water, this < hev ini.un is dark olive- 1
Water chevrotain brown, with while- markings thai Musk deer Reeves muntjac
include spots on the bat k. 1 I SD ipes
Length _';: 12 in Length . Length i
,ili ing i .ii h Hank, and i hin, thn at,
r Tail 4 and i hesi bands. Ii has short legs and Tail Ta.l
'-w ears, a stoul body, and swims well,

Weight .
which enables ii to escape land-based
Weight i, -401b Weight 22 m lb
i
'
predators sui i essfull) mosl ol tin-
.ocaaon Vln. lodividual/Giuup unit Individual Social unit Individual/Group
\\ i.i ( .1 Social unit
time, but incurs the risk of era odile I
Stacus Lower riskt

att.u k. Water chevrotains ge fbj 1 ' .
A
leaves and fallen fruits. Males live
singly, while females and theij young
form small groups.

ffiikA m £.
An inhabitant of rocky, forested slopes
at an altitude of 8,600 [l,900fi
bai k, and striped flanks and throat; : 600 1,600m the musk deer has
Tragulus meminna
.
however, these pale markings are lc« well-developed side toes to climb
Indian spotted distku t than thi ise "I the water rocks and even trees, and to mi i\ e
chevrotain abovi and the ma soft snow. It- coat is
chevrotain color brown with iin\ yellow

is i n h, ilaik brown mottled with
speckles. Males compete using their gray, paler underneath, with
Length 21
sharp, tusklike tipper canine teeth. a whitish chin and

Tail 1 'A in The single young is born alter a ear edgings. Its
gestation of 5 months. musk secretions

Weight (. 1/2 lb
are valued in the The muntjac'- diet varies from
perfume industry succulent shoots, herbs, and blossoms
Location S Asia Social unit Individual 1 In- has led to to tough grasses and nuts. The male
Status 1 in iinfirmrd hunting and a is in breeding condition all year, and
decline in num- he uses his short - 4in 1 0cm) or less -

a
j
ber- in the wild. pointed anders to push rivals '11
balance, so that he can inflict wounds

Like other chevrotains mouse deer . with his tusklike upper canines. Also
this species has 4 fully developed called barking deer, these small deer
toes on each foot (true deer haw 2 have been successfully introduced into
It skulks in cover, preferring rocky England and the Netherlands. There
patches within tropical rainforest. are some 8 other species of muntjac,
Nocturnal and solitary, it has a spotted all found in Asia.
Dama dama
Fallow deer
Length 1
1.4-1.9
m
Location Europe
Weight
Tail
Social unit
Status LocaUi
i
15
Group
i
In in
The (allow deer lawn. like most

ft? Jl*. young deer, "lies up" in thick
vegetation or among leaf litter,
Fallow deer have long been kept semi- as the mother feeds. The fawn's
domesticated for their beauty and instincts are to -tav -till and silent.
meat, and have been introduced to camouflaged from predators >\ it- 1
the Americas, Africa, and Australia. spotted coat. The mother nun n-
I he) are active al twilight, consuming at intervals to allow the fawn 10
mam plant foods, from grasses to suckle, and occasionally lead- it to
acorns.
rut to establish
a small patch
Herds may exceed 100. Bucks a new Iv in«-up site.
-)
V
-i I
mil. where
the) in. ii.
Earthy hubs
Commonl) Also • ailed the i hital, the axis deer
ith a lul< I
lives in targe herds ol b i more.
made up "I mixed males, females, I In -.unbar i- d.uk brown except loi
ng I he) graze in grassland rust) hues on the chin, innei legs, and
and browse in open woodland, often tail underside whi< h has a blai k dp
below uoop- ol langui - see p.] il . I he male- t-poini antlers umw to Hi
who kiim k fruits to the ground and I Jin long both sexes have a neck
einii warning i alls \\i- deei dash foi mane ol ilm kei fur; this is n
lOmph 65kph when ni in rutting mal< - Solitary,

ed I In male's andei h il a female with a lawn, and
brow tine prong . and a ic.u -directed perhaps .1 yearling, too, these nocturnal
main 1» am thai forks into two points. deer eai a v.u iet) ol vegetation.
ft
4
HOOFED MAMMALS
\J
Elk
•
laphus
X
'A
Length S
Tail |
12 an
Weight 145—1200>
65-190 kg!
Social unit Group

!£££££"
m ik —
Highly adaptable in habitat and diet, The sika deer has been kept in parks
the elk has been introduced to most and farmed for centuries, and has
continents and is widely farmed for been introduced into many regions.
meat, hides, and ander velvet. There Appearance varies among the 1
is great variation among the 28 or so subspecies, some of which are endan-

subspecies,which include the wapitis gered, but is generally rich red-brown
of China and North America. More brown than red with while spots in summer, and
Females hinds form herds led by a Elk or "red deer" are red-brown in summer, perhaps almost black with perhaps
in winter,
dominant hind, with separate male with a dark tine along the neck and bark, and vague \ague spotting on females.
bands except during the autumn rut. jtank spots, and then turn dull brown in winter. The white rump hairs can lx-
flared. The sika eats mainly
bamboo,
grasses, including Distinct from other deer in its body
RUTTING and rwigs and buds. form, diis species has a long, horselike
Elk males stags . like most other face, wide hooves, and a long tail.
male deer, batde during the rutting Also unusual are the male's stag's
season. The contest is part display "back-to-front" anders. The coat is
and part physical tussle. Stags roar dark gray-fawn in winter, bright red-
and bellow, thrash their antlers brown summer, with a dark central
in
against bushes and trees, and walk back and a w horled hair
stripe,
parallel to each other, as diey assess pattern on the rump. Extinct in the
whether to fight. If so. they lock wild, the species was saved by captive
anders. push, rwrst. and shove. The breeding in England from about
winner gains a harem. 1900. Since the 1980s, it has been
reintroduced into the wild in China.
Odocoileus hemionus Odocoileus virginianus Blastocerus dichotomies

YEARLY ANTLER CYCLE
Mule deer White-tailed deer Marsh deer
Length !
> Tail 4-l4in
Weight l20-460Ib
Social unit
I (I-
Group
35 c-m
.
Weight 115 -,1101b
Social unit Group
Status ljy*ri nsk Status Locally common
m m± JL ^ « ill ** « la
The mule deer is widely distributed in This species is extremely similar in Bv February, the male white-tailed
many habitats, and is recorded as appearance and habits to the mule deer deer will have cast its antlers.
eating hundreds of plant species. The see left and in zoos and parks the two
. In April -May. they start to grow
main color is gray-brown in winter. may happens
interbreed. This rarely again, protected by fur-covered
and rusty brown in summer. Despite in the wild, however, even though skin velvet . but in September all
its other name o( black-tailed deer, their ranges overlap. The numerous the velvet will have been rubbed
the tail is black on the upper surface subspecies become smaller toward off against trees.
only: the rest w bite. The face and
is the south of the range, shoulder leaving the clean
throat also have variable w hue areas, height ranging from 3 :
1 ft 1.1 in hone, before the rut.
with black chin and forehead bands. in Canada to 2ft

Rutting is in September November; 60cm m
1 2 young are usually born in June. Long legs and wide hooves allow the
marsh deer to move easily in swamps
and floodplains. The largest South
American deer, it is reddish brown
in summer and darker in winter, with
black lower legs, a pale face, and
black around the lips and nose. It eats
grasses, reeds, water plants, and
bushes, and lives alone or in groups
^f 2 i. It is threatened bv habitat
loss due to irrigation and conversion
to pasture or crops, water pollution,
m and competition from livestock.

PRONGHORN
Pudu puda Rangifer tarandus Capreolus capreolus

MIGRATION
Southern pudu Caribou Western roe deer
Length Urn Length 1 li Length I
mm,
;;
&40B* Tail I linn Tail 2 in

mi !5cm
Weight Up to 331b Weight 260 6601b Weight II 661b
15kg IS kg
Location S.W South SocialunitIndividu.il Location \ North Social unit ip

\ ic and, N
Status Vulnerable Euro] I IsLa Status t.iidangcrrdt
Some caribou travel 9 40 miles

m m* .4*4 M* (15 -65km)
region; others migrate
daily within the
up to
same
750
The southern pudu one of 2 small,
is Known Europe, the
as reindeer in miles ( 1 ,200km) twice yearly. In
stocky species of pudu. It is buff to caribou has long antlers with a some populations, females and
red-brown u ith rounded ears. The distinctive shovel-like brow tine on young move to the calving grounds
male's antlers are simple spikes. 3 1
> in one side. It grazes grasses, sedges, and in spring, males following later.
(8cm) long. Solitary and diurnal, it herbs in summer, and mosses, lichens,
dwells in moist forests, hiding in and fungi in the long winter. One calf
undei story thickets, where it feeds on is born in May June after a gestation
bark, buds, fruits, and flowers - but of 210-240 days.

seldom eats grass. It is sexually mature
Color variation
at 6 months.
American forms have
v/j /mill II < uill\ Willi
darker legs; European and

Asian reindeer (shown) This deer has a black muzzle band
,//, runn and variable white chin and throat
patches. The white rump patch, which
can be fluffed out when the deer is
alarmed, is heart shaped in the female,
kidney shaped in the male (shown).
The male has rough-surfaced. 3-point
anders. The sleek, bright red-brown
summer coat molts to a longer, denser
gray coat in winter.
Alces alces Called the elk in Europe, the moose is small family groups. Males rut in
the largest deer, with malesup to September -October. The 1-2 young MOOSE HEAD
Moose twice as hea\y as females. Found in are born after 242-250 days'
woods close to swamps, lakes, and gestation and weaned b\ 6 months.
1 1/4 -11 ft
i 5 ; , I, other water, it ma\ submerge in Coloration

summer to reach roots of lilies and The niuuu !• hrn,\iii\li gun in summer, grarei III
other aquatic plants. The winter diet umiii. //, paUr-hued, long legs have wide hooves
Weight inn 5501b
I. 1
is mainly twigs of trees such as willow for wading m mud and walking on soft mou
: 700kg
and poplar. Moose live alone or in
The elk's very broad muzzle and

flexible lips help to grasp water
plants and to strip leaves from
twigs. The male's massive antlers
ma) span 6'/2ft 2m); each has up
to 20 points, mostl) growing from
the palm-shaped "beam."
Pronghorn Antftocapra americana
Pronsrhorn
nm.un Chordata Named aii i.r i hi. "prong" on its horns, the
Length J 1/4-5 ft
Mammalia
pronghorn is the only species in its family. 1.5 m
The horns are unusual in that they consist Tail ; 7,i,
Artiodactyla
of a horny sheath on a bony core (as in Weight 79 1551b
*lv Antilocapridae
antelopes), but are forked and shed yearly
•nan 1
(as are deer's Social unit \ . i ill.
antlers Status I oi ill]
SWIFT RUNNERS
The pronghorn is oru
fastest mammals
i/m/i qj ova
In waiter, herds oj
animal may\
it
Wmph
gather.
ova
qj
can attain
(65kph).
I
ihi
000
I he pronghorn red-brown to tan,
uiih white iiiul.'i side, fai rump,
is
and net k bands, Hie male has a blai

neck patch, and horns thai are longe
i .
than the ears, m
prong
ovei 1
halfway, up.
are shortei than the ears
,000 form
into smallei groups in
plants feature in
h!i
in
.i forward-fax Lng
["he femali
1 (erds ol
winter, splitting
summer, Man\
the pronghorn's diet.
- horns
I
HOOFED MAMMALS
Giraffe and okapi

THE GIRAFFE and the okapi are the die pattern of which varies according (160 square km When. these overlap
to location. Both species have a long, which is often loose associations
.
class Mammalia last surviving representatives of a once copiously tufted tail. of up to 25 individuals form. The
oadcr Artiodactyla highly diverse family. They have long composition of these herds changes
Feeding daily. Males are nonterritorial. but a
family Giraffidae legs, a long, narrow head with small
Giraffids are browsers with unique dominance hierarchv is determined
„ 2
P
horns, and peculiar, lobed lower canines. 2- or 3Tobed canine teeth, which in a ritualized fight called "necking ":
The giraffe, with its distinctive long neck, can be used like a comb to strip 2 adult males stand side bv side.
leaves from small branches. They alternately swinging their heads and
is the tallest living animal - males can reach 18ft (5.5m).
also use their thin, mobile lips and hitting each other on the neck. Male
The 2 species, together known as giraffids. differ in their long black tongue - which can be giraffes have extra bone all over the
behavior and ecology because the giraffe lives in wood- extended more than 18in i45cm) in skull, which pro\ides reinforcement.
giraffes - to gather leaves and Only males of high social standing
land savanna fin .Africa, south of the Sahara), while the
shoots. They have a 4-i lumbered. have the right to mate.
okapi inhabits rainforest (in northeastern Zaire). ruminating stomach (see
p.225 Okapis. on the other hand, are
Male giraffes tend to be taller than mainly solitary animals and are
Anatomy male okapi has horns. The horns females and are therefore able to never found in herds. They have
With front legs longer than the back are different from those found in feed at higher levels. much smaller home ranges, and
legs, (he front parts of the giraffe other mammals in that they form as onk thedominant males maintain a
and the okapi are raised facilitating cartilage, turn to bone from the tips
Social systems territory (females move freely from
easier browsing). The giraffe has down, and are covered with skin. The giraffe and the okapi have one territory to the next Male
.
especially long front legs and these Giraffids have a thick hide to help contrasting social systems. Giraffes okapis mate with females that
are surprisingly sturdy. They are ward off predators. The okapi has a have home ranges of. on average, wander dirough their territorv.
sometimes used in defense: one kick velvety, dark brown coal with white approximately 62 square miles
can kill a lion. Both species have a stripes on the haunches and upper
long neck, but what is unexpected legs the legs arc white below the
about the giraffe's hugely lengthened 1
.iraffes have
neck is that it contains only 7 spotted coats,
vertebrae, as do almost all other
mammals. Each vertebra is
greatly elongated, however.

In the giraffe, both
sexes have horns,
while only the
GIRAFFE AND OKAPI
hornlih
Okapia Johns torn "FOREST ZEBRA"
structure!
Okapi (ossicones)
in mali
The okapi was not identified as a
distinct species until1900-1901.
Before that time had been sighted
it
occasionally, but mainly from the

nai. Being shy and secretive, it had
Weight mi
I 01b
dashed away from humans into the
200 150 kg
dense- forest. The impression of a
Social unit liiilivulii.il I'.iii
forest-dwelling zebra was reinforced
Status Lower nsk by the few specimens of old skin.
*L
An elusive browser of thick tropii al rump and upper part
rainforest, the okapi feeds In day on of the legs. The female
and
leaves, soft twigs, shoots, fruits bears a single calf in
other plant parts. mainh on It relies August -October, aftei a
hearing in the dense forest and makes gestation of 4-25 I'M d,iv-
a "chuff" sound on meeting another She defends her offspring
okapi. Rival males "neck-fight" like against predators, but the
giraffes in the presence "I a receptive bond between mother and
female, and emit soft moaning sounds young is not as strong as
during courtship; the female indicates in main hoofed mammals.
Sleek coat
her readiness with similar calls and
I In okapi's < >"!/ is
territorial scent-marking. She is slightly 1'he okapi curls its long, black,
short mill sleek. I In
taller than the male and 55 1 11)11)

darkei parti appem prehensile tongue around leaves,
(25 - 50kg) heavier. Both sexes look deep ml. purple, buds, and small branches, to draw
similar: long head and neck, dark murium, brou it. m them into its mouth. The tongue
muzzle and body (which slopes down hlii I. ad wding to tin is also used for self-grooming and,
from the shoulders), large, rear-sel
ears, and zebra-like stripes on the
angle «/ the light
V in the female, for cleaning her calf.
pulled away black tuft for whisking away flies. heads. This activity, "necking," is
Girajfa camelopardalis
to rake off The 2-4 specialized horns, called more a slow-motion ritual than a
Giraffe leaves between ossicones, are more developed in males forceful encounter. It occurs mainly
the lobe-edged than females. Feeding, drinking, and among young bulls, and when a new-
teeth. Among other activities occur in the morning male arrives in the area. The winner
the giraffe "s many- and evening, occupying about 12 reinforces success by sexually mount-
distinctive features hours, with rest (standing up, as in ing his defeated rival. Cows, after a
are large eyes and most hoofed mammals) taking place gestation period of 457 days, give
ears; a back that at night, and cud-chewing in the hot birth to one calf (in rare cases 2),
Social unit Variable slopes steeply from midday. Cows mate with local usually in the dry season. The new-
Status Lower risk
shoulder to rump; dominant bulls, who have born weighs up to 1551b (70kg) and
stiltlike legs with impeted with each other by stands 6V2ft (2m) tall. For 10-30
large, heavy feet: and swaying and intercurling days, the mother keeps it away from
a thin tail with a long necks, and even dashing the herd: weaning takes place by 13
A native of dry savannas and open months. The giraffe's main predators
woodland, the giraffe browses higher are lions, leopards, and hyenas.
Tallest animal
than any other mammal, mainly lor
A nhiiuh female measun i
leaves of acacia and wild apricot, but

also shoots, fruits, and other vegeta-
/ /
ilii
ii I
mull mill In
'mi in her horn-tips;
lft 1 1 mi taller.
DRINKING PROBLEM
tion. The combination of greath This difference lt<lf>s the sexes to The giraffe's great height means
elongated tongue, skull, neck, shoulder ii, mil feeding ' niiijii ittin'i as tin i that, io drink water, must
it
ii L'l'in pectoral girdle), and front legs nt ih j different levels. I hi plav its front legs, and even
provides the giraffe's great reach when iiiuiiiil an /s ///. longest of any lend When
at the knees.
I.
browsing. Usually a small branch itnimiil. xil still has mil) 1 iml
is upright, its heart has to
bom '. "i inii ill vertebrae, as in
drawn into the mouth with the long, pump blood upward at
most iitlm mammals.
flexible tongue: then the head is enormous pressure to
reach the brain, but when the
head lowers (o drink, a series of
PATCHY DISTRIBUTION one-way valves regulate the
Some 9 subspecies of giraffe are blood's lone and flow lo prevent
nized by skin pattern. The damage lo the brain.
I' in ulated giraffe (G. c. reticulata .
]in inn (I heir, has very large, sharp-

edged, deep c hestnut patches
sepai aled by line white lines. Other
subspecies have smaller, irregular,
fuzzy-edged patches, which vary
I
I yellow io almost blai k. with
Him Ii more whiti I >i tween. Each
giraffe's pattern is constant through
life, and ma) help other giraffes to
recognize although the colors
it,
lend lo vary with season and health.

HOOFED MAMMALS
Cattle and relatives

The - lateral toes also usually present). females (younger and weaker
PHYLUM Chordata SPECIES that make up this family is
1
The tail varies from small and males form bachelor herds Male j.
CLASS Mammalia the bovids - form a highly diverse triangular to longand tufted, and gazelles are territorial: they mate
ORDER Artiodactyla group. Members include cattle (wild the coat may be smooth and sleek with females that move, in groups,
or long and shaggy. Bo\ids are through their territories. Wild catde
family Bovidae L and domesticated) and their immediate
often hunted by large predators and buffalo, on the other hand, live
SPECIES 140 allies (such as bison); sheep and goats and have large, sideways-facing in less structured groups, although
and their relatives (such as the chamois); eyes (forgood all-around \ision); most of the mating is performed
long, mobile ears; and an acute by the dominant males.
and antelopes (such as the impala), which is a catch-all
sense of smell. Most species have
term for bovids with long, slender limbs. The highest scent glands located on the face, Bovids and people
diversity of bovids occurs in .Africa,where each species between the hoofs, and/or in the Domestic sheep, goats, and cattle
groin. The glands between the are farmed on large and small scales
occupies a slightly different niche. They are also found
hi ii ives release a scent onto the in most countries around the globe
in Eurasia and North America, and a number of species ground that an isolated animal and are therefore of huge economic
have been introduced to Australasia. Bovids mosdy can follow back to the herd. importance to people. Sheep and
Bovids also have a 4-chambered goats were probably domesticated
prefer grassland, desert, scrub, and forest habitats.
ruminating stomach see p.225). 8,000-9,000 years ago, in southwest
Food usually grass or leaves) is
:
Asia, and their w ild ancestors still
Anatomy horns are never shed, and in most pulled in using the dextrous tongue live in the same region. Cattle.
Although bo\ids exhibit a wide species they are present in both sexes. and then crushed between the
is however, were domesticated about
range of body forms, from sleek, Horns may be straight, curved, or lower incisors and a toothless pad 2.000 years after sheep and goats
graceful gazelles to the massive, spiraled: keeled, ridged, or smooth: in the upper jaw. also in southwest Asia but the.
stocky buffalo, all species have short or long. .Ml have pointed tips. ancestor of most domestic cattle,
unbranched horns consisting of a Bo\ids have divided ("cloven"
Social systems the aurochs, is uow extinct.
keratin sheath surrounding a bony hooves: the weight of the animal rests There is a huge variety of social Although many wild species are
core. Unlike the anders on the 2 central toes of each and breeding systems among bovids. abundant - the wildebeest, for
in deer. foot (a pair of small Duikers, for example, are solitary, example, numbers in the millions -
and dik-diks live in pairs. The some, including several species of
impala. however, lives in groups gazelle, are close to extinction
i >f a male with sex era! due to hunting.
ESCAPING DANGER
Like most hoofed mammals, the giant elana h
,1 fleetu henfrightened or chased b)
predators. Despite their size and massive build, the*
can gallop at speed* of up to 43mph (JOkphi and
are capable of jumping 5ft {1.5m) mfhc air to
clear obstacles hi their path.

CATTLt AND RELATIVES
and may live in groups of up (o 3. Tragelaphus a,

Tragelaphus spel
The single calf rank twins is born
Sitatungra aftei 2\~ days' gestation. There is no Xvala
spe< ili< breeding season.
Length ;
Tail II
WBgtl!
Location U and C, Africa Social unit Individual/Group Location Southern Africa Social unit Group
Status I Jtm t-r risk.'' Status Lower n.L
*t
Amphibious in habit, the sitatunga The largest and most distinctive forest
occurs in permanent swamps, antelope, the bongo has vertical white
marshes, and similar water, habitats. stripes along the body, and a white
Its long, pointed, widely splayed
hooves and extremely flexible foot
joints are specialized for soft,
ground.
based
When
predator, this
in danger from a land-
antelope retreats
mudch $ chest crescent, cheek spots, nose
chevron, and leg bands.
chestnut above, darker below, and
darkens in
The
older males. This selective

browser has lyre-shaped horns, longer
coat is
it
to water,and may submerge with only (up to 37in/95cm in the male, who is
its and nose exposed. At night,
eyes solitary. Females form herds of up to
males bark warnings or avoidant e 50, perhaps coalescing as their calves
calls to other males; if the) meet, the) associate into nurserv band-..
posture and "horn" the ground. The
vertical body stripes
sitatunga eats many kinds of aquatic The male mala i-. larger and heavier
and terrestrial plants, including reeds, than the female, with a charcoal-gra)
grasses, and shrubby foliage. While head and body, indistinct body
feeding, it may stand in water up to its stripes, tan lower legs, and horns up
shoulders. Only the male has ridged, to 28in 70cm long. Females have
spiraling horns. It also has a grayish no horns and. like juveniles, are
tinge to its coat, while the female's is red-brown, with a white V between
brown to chestnut; both sexes have the eyes, and vertical white body
white around the eyes, and on the &*~ '"« stripes. Nyalas prefer dense bush near
cheeks and body. Males are solitary. water, and both graze and browse,
however females are more sociable rearing up to reach higher leaves
Tragelaphus strepsiceros Taurotragus oryx proportions resemble cattle more than

Tragelaphus scriptus
antelopes. Also in the manner of
Bushbuck Greater kudu Common eland cattle, females band together to
defend young and repel predators
Length Length 6 /.' 8 '/• ft Length 7 lift
11 Lin. -in h as lions. The common eland
Tail B-lO'/.'in Tail I

4 Tail 2 browses in bush, plains and open
i
60 91) cm woodland. It gathers food with its lip-.,
Weight S5 1751b Weight 260 6901b Weight^) 2.2IIIII)
and digs up bulbs and tubers with its
120-315 kg
hooves. Like the camel, it allows n,
Social unit Individual Social unit Group Social unit Variable
body temperature to rise b) up to 13°F
Status Loralh Status I Status Lower risk / ( to aw iid losing watei as sweat,
and therein survives drought Herds
x£ 4* £. usually consist mainly of females with
calves and juvenilis; older malesma-
The male greater kudu is one of the The two species of eland are the lie solitary. These antelopes are
tallest and longest-horned [average biggest, most cowlike antelopes. Male relabvel) docile and are kept foi meat,
S'/.'ft/ 1.7m) antelopes, and has a long common elands an weigh up to i milk, and hides in Africa. Fhe\ are
throat fringe. Coloration in both sexes 2,2101b I. ni inky, and have spiraling also exported to regions sin h as Asia
l- gray-tinged red or brown, with horns up to 4li I.Jm long and a
6 10 white bod) stripes, and white bii iwn-blai k "topknot" of matted ban White stripes
nose and cheek marks. This kudu
eats leaves. Dowers, fruits, herbs, and
on the head Females are up to 1,3201b
1)1 Iky
II
with horns hall the length of
.
Common eland are mainly grayish fau-n. with a
black stripe along
15 whitish cream
me tenia of
vertical boii.
the back, and up to \
tubers. Females form groups ol up those ihi male < verall both
i 'I
to 6, as do males, except when they

shoulder
i ompete during
along
the breeding J ,
rrest
The bushbuck resembles a small

ritatunga (sec above), with less
twisted horns. Females from
bush-dwelling populations are
pale tawny; those in forests
Idi i Mali- in both

habitats are dark brown to bl.u k.
I he white marks on the throat, net k.
and body vary with the subspecies.

IIn- antelope is a browser and
solitary, except when < ourting oi

when a mother is with her young
HOOFED MAMMUs
Boselaphus Iragocamelus long 1 he male's eoat is gra) or bluish

Telracerus quadricornus fast-moving antelope are little known.
gray; the female's is tawny. The nilgai It grazes on grasses, sedges, and i ither
Nilgai prefers open wood-, to thi< k forest, i- plants, usual!) near water in wooded
verj wary, \s iili sharp senses, and flees hills, and communicates l>\ a low
Length I
1.8 2.1 m rapid!) In >m predators such as tiger-. whistle for identification or barks for
Tail 18 -_>lin It grazes and browses on a wide alarm. The brownish coat ha- a dark
variety of grasses, leaves, and fruits, stripe on the front of each leg. and a
Weight !
from early to mid morning and in the black muzzle and outer ear -uil.n t -.
300 kg
earl) evening Males compete for
Social untt Group territories and thus access to groups
Status Lowrr risk
of 2-10 females - by kneeling in front Status Vulnerable
of each other and lunging with their

m horns. Breeding occurs during much
of the year but most calves, either one
*L
Also called bluebuck or blue bull, the or 2, are born in June October, alter Also called the four-horned antelope.
nilgai is .i small-headed bin id with a gestation of the male chousingha has 2 pairs ol
longer from than rear legs, and, in the 243 247 days. horns - a feature unique among Ixivids.
male, stout, tapering horns 8in 2d m The front pair, at onl) I U l'/jin
i km long, are hall the length of
coarse,
the rear pair. The habits ol thi- shy,
iron-
Bubalus bubalis
Water buffalo
Weight I
Social unit Group
Status Kmianai-trd
is
At more than ton 1 in weight, the During the middax heat. Asian
Asian water buffalo or ami as it i- water buffaloes wallow in water
also known i- a massive, powerful or mudd\pools, sometimes almost
animal, with the widest horn span of completely submerged, with only
Bubalus depressicomis Bubalus quarlesi an) bovid more than 6 -It 2m Its . their nostrils show ing In addition
large, splayed feet and flexible fetlock 10 keeping them cool, w allow ing
Ano a Mountain anoa muddy, marshy
joints are suited to the helps to remove -kin parasites,
ground on which this water buffalo biting Hie-, and other pests that
graze- ill the morning and evening, infesl tropical swamp-.
and occasional!) at night, on lush
gia- and leaf) aquaiii vegetation.
Weight (30 6601b Weight Big-horned bovid
150 300kg
A -table clan of female- with young horns may curl upuard and mitard,
is led by a dominant matriarch .1- 111
or point straight out
Social unit liiilnulu..] Social unit Indtvidual/Pair
elephants while male- form bachelor
.
and narrow, uith small cars.
Status End Status I i

groups of about 10. Young males The body is slatt black
£L A spar to assert dominance but

avoid serious lighting, and then
mix with females at mating time.
fith pale hm
One of the smallest wild cattle Resembling it-lowland cousin see The Asian water buffalo has
species, the anoa is dark brown to left i
in size and overall form, the been domesticated foi
lil.n k.w iili a pale throat bib and mountain anoa has a woolier coat. thousands of years and spread
facial and leg pat< lie-, h ha- a [hick even when full) grown, and fewei around the world into various.
neck, plump body, and short leg-, and white marking-, especially on the mo-ilv smaller breeds of less
horns that sweep diagonally backward lowei legs .uul throat. Its horns are than 1,1001b (500kg). The
adaptations for pushing through smooth surfaced and short, about remaining wild populations
dense, swamp) forest Solitary except o 8 in 15 JUi in long those of the are -> attered and scant.
when breeding, it Iced- mainly in the lowland anoa .ue 7 1,'iin 18 38cm restrit ted mainl) to India.
nun mug on leaves, fruits, ferns, sap- long In general, the male i- large
. i Nepal, and perhaps Thailand.
ling-, and twigs. he single all is
1 i and darker than the female, with
born aftei 9 10 months' gestation. biggei horns. The mountain anoa is
one hi the few wilt! cattle species in

Southeast Asia that relic- on
undisturbed forest habitat, but such
terrain remote and difficult for field
i-
studies, and so the detailed habits and

population of the species remain
unclear. Most sightings are of solitar)
adult- oi females with a -ingle young
of tht born alter a gestation "t
year,
9 in months. The diet i- probabl)
a variet) of leaves, and also plentiful
mosses, but relative!) few grasses.
CATTLE AND RELATIVES
ma\ approai h twice the weight of the

Syncerus coffer
female and has more robust horns
HERD BEHAVIOR
African buffalo that meet in a "boss" on the forehead, African buffaloes arc very greg-
a thicker neck, a shoulder hump, and arious and gather at times of
Length i
II ti
2.1 3.4 m a small hanging fringe of hairs on the plentifulfood in herds of" 2,000 or
Tail ;n (3 in throat (dewlap . This buffalo feeds at more. In the dry season they split
7". 1
10 cm night and at cool periods of the day, into smaller groups of females and
Weight Mull.
1 ,i 10 1
on various grasses, leaves, and other young (including males up to 3

J
W„ C,
1
herbage. Males posture for females years), or bachelor bands of mature
Location F-.. and Socill unit Group and dominance, and may fight by males; older males are more solitary.
fcuhen, Uni a
Status Locally commont ramming heads. Herd

pressing or In any herd, large males dominate
members mutually groom and use smaller ones and also any females.
1 MtL ^ \ ~ mainly sound signals
moving on, (light, or
actions such as
for coordinated
Africa's only cowlike mamma] warning They may also cooperate to Dark coloration
frequents varied habitats at altitudes mob a predator such as a lion. The Tht Ajncan buffalo /ia.\ a \par\e. dark brown coal,
of up to 13,200ft (4,000m). However. single calf rarely twins) is born after big, drooping, havr-Jrvngtd ears, a naked mu ; M
v .
a long tail, and large Jeet witll rounded Inn,; ,
the African buffalo needs a daily drink 340 days' gestation, and is fiercely
and is never farther than about protected by the mother and often
tapenng horn
9 miles 15km from water. The male by other members of the herd. cum > in C shape
Buffaloes may be infested with

lice, ticks, fleas, and similar skin
parasites, which birds such as
oxpeckers nip off. to cat. The bird
is fed, and the buffalo cleaned.
However, the birds are also known
to keep wounds open to feed on
the blood, indicating a somew hat
parasitic relationship.
Bos javanicus and then upward; the female's are Bos grunniem at an altitude of up to 19.800ft
smaller and crescent-shaped. Banteng (6,000m), mainly from Kashmir
Banteng live in female-young herds of 2-40 Yak (India) east to Tibet and Qinghai
with one adult male, or in bachelor (China). dense undercoat of
Its soft,
Length 6 1 1/2 It Length Up to 1111
1.8 2.3 m)
herds.During the close-matted hair is covered by
Till 26- _'8in monsoon, Tail 2 I
ii generally dark brown to black outer
65 70cm they move hair. The yak grazes grasses, herbs,
Weight B80- 1.9901b Weight pto II.
mosses, and lichens, and crunches
1
to the hills,
( 100 kg i25kg
returning to iceor snow as a source of water.
Group Locition and E. .Asia Individual/Group
Socill unit
the lowlands S. Social unit
Females and young form herds, joined
Status Endangered for the dry Status Vulnerable by males in the breeding season;
season. The otherwise males form bachelor groups
H wild popula-
tions of this
or live alone. A single
every other year, after a gestation
calf is born
Ancestor of the domestic banteng and bovid are scarce, Domesticated yak are important to period of 258 days.
resembling domestic cattle in overall and their habitat many peoples in South and Southeast
form, the male (bull) banteng is black- is fast diminishing. Asia, for milk, meat. wool, and high, humped
brown to dark chestnut; the female transport. The wild yak is larger and JlllultlllK
i <i\\ young are red-brown. All

.uni extremely rare, and is restricted to
have white undersides, legs, and rump windy, desolate, bitterly cold steppe
patches. The male's horns are up to
30in (75cm) long, angled outward.
Bos sauveli The koupre\ also i ailed ( iambodian

forest o\. is similar to domestii cattle
Kouprey in general proportions. The male may
be black or dark brown with a
pendulous dewlap, and L-shaped
Tail ;
horns that split at the lips all. 3 i
I I I III
years' growth.Females m.n be grayer.
Weight II Both sexes have off-white legs and
I kg
pale underparts. They probably form
Social unit Variabh
small, loose herds. ( )ne ol the world's
Sutus ( in.. .11 endangered rarest spe< ies,
identified only in 1937

the kouprey
and
was
is at risk
H ffii I fcmmmi 4ft|
£L from habitat loss, political instability
poaching, and many othei dangers
Bison bison CONSERVATION Grazing nugrant

American bison Despite once numbering around In the days of the free -roaming
herds, bison would make annual
3D million, the American bison is
Length 7 1 ] ft migrations of hundreds of miles along
now virtually extinct in the wild,
4^ traditional routes. Howezer. of a current
largely due to widespread commercial 'flfti^^L't total population of 200.000 bison onh
hunting since the arrival of European fejL*S a :cn wall fraction of these animals
We.jht 770 2..'(Ni|l,
settlers. Although subsequent roam free in herds, and then only within the
330
conservation efforts have led to a boundaries of the national parks.
Location \\
America
Poputooon 300.000
significant increase in numbers, most l^-'*2 3fv
Status Lcmrr risk .American bison are either captive or r' '
-0p "^^t' -'
have come from captive stock. lJT*

SiiiA^ Yellowstone National Park
and Wood Buffalo National Park
USA
1Dc^Hi_^fc
fflH
ft
•
~4
m
? 1^
Also Iuiowti as the American buffalo,
the American bison is massively built,
Canada
which wild herds
are the only places in
survive.
'*srWPHI ii
but also deceptively tall, with shoulder

heights reaching 6 It 2m . Despite its
huge bulk, the bison can run at speeds

of up to 37mph 60kph Its sense of
hearing and smell are excellent, and
essential for detecting danger. Bison
spend much of their time grazing and
browsing, in loose groups, with rest
periods for ruminating. Adult females
and their young live in hierarchical
herds, which are led by a dominant
female. Malts usualrj live apart in
bachelor groups and only join females
during the mating season. Bison are not
territorial, and migration is dictated
by season change and adequate food
supply A subspecies, Bison bison
alhabascae. is recognized, but the validity
of its taxonomy is debated. Recent
genetic evidence suggests that the
European bison. Bison bonasus. is more
similar to its .American kin than
previously thought see p.250 .
Winter coats
Although '
h ith the warm, dry
plains of the American West, they arc also found
in mountainous regions, where they may experience
extreme temperatures. In fact, winters offer bison
frw problems a\ their heavy coats and thick manes

protect them from the ice and cold.
During the mating season male

bison will light fiercely for the
possession of females, usually by
head-to-head ramming. Females
wanting to mate with the dominant
bull gallop about to incite
competition between rival males.
pronounced shoulder
a short,
broad
upturned horns
hump in male
forehead
light brown,
short hair
MASSIVE FRAME
Tht bison's masswe build is
characterised by thr towering shoulder
hump. The hmwmsh black hair on the

neck, head, shoulders, and forelegs is
long and .shaggy, but the rest of the body

: m \horter and lighter-colored
hair. The large and heavy head sits on a

short, thick neck, and features a wide
forehead and straggly bearded chin.
r»a
tiwl
•'•«
**%
A
HOOFED MAMMALS
Bison bonasus 248 Formerly extinct in the wild, the

.
Cephalophus nataUnsis
European bison has been park-bred
European bison and reintroduced into the coniferous Natal duiker
Bialoweiza Forest which straddles the
Lengtf .
Polish and Belaru-sian border . where
original populations survived until the b
1910s. It has a slightly lighter and <M4rm
I W<sghn*O-2.03OIb
shorter coat than the American bison. WoghOL'.
but its habits and herding l>ehavior i
Social unit Group are similar. The horns, larger in the Location S 1 SocaJ unit Rur
] -.: male, are short and upturned. This Status Lower rsfc
bison browses on leaves, twigs, and

m ik bark,
The
and grazes on low vegetation.
is born after a
single calf
£- MM-
Various lines of evidence, including gestation period of 260-270 days. The natal duiker is one of 18 or so
some genetic studies, suggest that the It can run within 3 hours and is species of duiker - a small, arch-
European bison, or wisent, may be weaned by one vear. backed antelope with longer hindlegs
the same species a- the American than forelegs. This species has a red-
bison see page wdl-dntloprd orange to dark brown coat, with long,
shoulder hump coarse neck hairs, and a tail that is red
at the base and tipped
with black and white.
It lives mainly in
woods and forests,

and its habits are
similar to most
Among the biggest cattle, the gaur other duikers
iseladang or Indian bison has a huge see below left .
head and deep body in shades of red.

brow n. and black, and sturdy, whitish
limbs. The S-shaped horns are up to
m long, and the shoulder
1
hump dips in the lower back before

rising to the rump. Rutting males
"sing" vi ith bellows that deepen in
[Ditch and carry for mile
1 .5km
1 .
The social system and mixed herbage

diet are typical of other wild cattle.
Sykicapra grimmia Kobus ellipsiprymnus on the rump, throat, and muzzle, and Kobus Uche
white "eyebrows," rings above the
Bush duiker Waterbuck hi loves, and underparts. The horns, Lechwe
normallv present only in the male.
are up to 3 'A ft lm long. Some
90 percent of the diet is grass, the rest
browsed leaves. When threatened, the
rVe&H i-660lb Weight ,"
waterbuck usuallv dashes to water,
50-300 kg
where it swims fast or submerges
Sobs! unit Individual/Group
except for the nose. Herds of younger Social unit Group
Status Lower rtsi males, usuallv 2—5 but rarely 50 or Status Lcmer risk
more, have a hierarchy based on

£l ^ horn length, and
visual displays,
frequent Older 6 10 years
fights.
One of the heaviest antelopes, the breeding males occupy territories. The lechwe. or marsh antelope, eats
waterbuck has coarse, long, oily hair Female- are solitary or form loose grasses and aquatic plants exposed bv
that ranges in colorfrom gray to red groups of up to 1 0. seasonal variations in the weather.
brown and darkens with age. responding to water levels across
There are white markings floodplains and swamps. It wades and

swims well, forms
large herds, and has
the lek breeding
system see kob.
p.251 .The
chestnut to black
coat contra-ts
with the white
["he bush duiker has a tufted underparts and
forehead, large, pointed ears. and. black leg stripes.
usually only in males, sharp-pointed Onlv the males

horns about l/sin 11cm long. It is are horned.
gra\ to red-yellow haired above, with
white underparts. and has a dark nose
stripe. Adaptable in habitat, it is a
nocturnal browser and also take-
small animals and carrion. It lives
alone or in pairs, and male- defend
their territories against rivals.
I!
Kob
Kobus kob
Puku
Kobus vardonii uniform golden
are about 20in (50cm) in length.
yellow,
puku grazes morning

evening, and.
and the
plains antelopes, flees

rapidh from danger.
like othei
In
The
mis
,i\m\
Hippotragus equinus
Roan antelope
CATTLE AND RI I A I I VI s
m
^B^lw Tail 1 M/a lii.ii
Weight I in ' Hi Weight I I i mil, Weight Hii 6601b

H
I
,n ioo kg ,u 100 kg
Social unit Groui Location U to] \n Social unit liiili\i,liial t

p
.ocation \V (. ... 1 Social unit Individual/Group
Status Lower risk Status Lowei risk
The kob is a graceful Inn strong 1 he puku resembles the kob (see left) The roan antelope is red to brown
grazing antelope, pale cinnamon to in its breeding system: it has leks at coated, with white underneath and
brown-black, with while facial and high population densities: territories black and white facial markings. Both
throat markings, and black leg stripes at lower ones. The long coat is a sexes are horned and maned. The)
and feet. The male has ringed, lyre- sun ive on poor grass growth and
shaped horns. Kobs live at very high need to drink 2-3 times daily. Herds
densities, and males compete for a
Reduma redunca gland. The bohor reedbuck feeds consist of 12-15 females and young
patch of ground (known as the lcki. on grasses and tender reed wild mi dominant male, or ynungei
i
perhaps only 50ft (15m) Bohor reedbuck shoots. Small groups, of bachelor males
across. The winner of a female and young, or
this ( ..ntest gains mating horned males, merge into
rights over many females. dry-season herds.
Tiis small, fawn, lightweight savanna

intclope has white underparts, throat,
ind eye-rings. A conspicuous gray
>atch under the ear marks a scent
Hippotragus nigei
browsing replaces the usual grazing.
Oryx dammah resting by d,\\ m an\ available shade.
In the wet season, herds split into Itforms nomadic mixed herds of
Sable antelope bachelor groups of 2-12 males, while Scimitar-horned 20-40, males displaying and tussling
dominant males occupy territories in in, iu with females. .After 222-253
I Length.,
9 !
,,
and mate with the females there. Alter oryx days' gestation, the mother leaves
Tail I mm in initial concealment, calves form the herd to calve, but returns within
nursery groups, only joining their 1 1 _ 1
hours. Young are weaned 1>\ 1 I u. eks
Weight 11 .nil.
mothers to suckle. Tail 18
,
,'.ii, and are

150 100 kg
sexually
Location L iu SI. Vfrica Social unit Group Weight JJ nil, nooth
!"!,,
mature
horns
Status Lowci risk b\ 2 year
Location N. Al
This species wa:
Status i ,", ,11, ,
ndang n a' hunted almost to
extini nun. sun \\ mg onl)
Similar to the roan antelope (see on a reserve in nordi-
above right) in many respects, the central Chad. Captive-bred
Sable antelope gathers in herds of 100 Spei ialized for deserts, arid plains. animals were reintroduced
or more during the dry season, when and rocky hills, the scimitar-horned in Tunisia in 1991; further
oiw has mam physiological releases are planned.
Adult male adaptations t<> t onserve
Mature males are bod\ water Its
black but with th> kidneys are very

lamefacial efficient, and it
pattern as Sable calf sweats ullK

females: whiu I nil coloration u nnnlm to that oj aduUJemales
wheal its In ii \\
with a central chestnut oi \orrtL It is born often 240 280 days'

temperatun
dark bla ;, and ;., station, and initially is kept awq) from tht herd
exceeds I6°F I
cheek itripes. Both
it « i have flout,
li. (Ihe
heavily ringed large I vi
I/IHIIV spread the st.K k
body's weighl oi
suit sand I Ills
'
/anil •.in/it
m\ \ feed i hi a along In., i )
flank
wide varietj i il
plains in the early

nun mug and
evening, and mi
moonlit nights,,
K
HOOFED MAMMALS
Oryx aa-ella
supplying water. Nomadic herds of up Addax nasomaculatus
to 25 contain females, young, and a
PEACE IN THE SHADE
Gemsbok few males. Like many desert spa ies, Addax
gemsbok breed opportunistically, year-
round whenever food is available. The
single calf rarely twins) is born after
260-300 days" gestation, and stays
Weight .'.'» 1601b Weight 14.1 MOtt.
concealed but near the
main herd, with occasional
Locauon s W \l Social unit Group visits from the mother to Social unit Yarablr
Mil kle. lor up to 6 weeks.

Stms Cfibcaly mdangrrrd
msbok, or southern or\\. is a Rare and remote, the addax has

large, distin< Lively colored antelope of similar adaptations to the gemsbok
arid grassy scrub and true see left for desert survival. It wanders
desert. Its many adaptations in search of almost any vegetation,
for moisture conservation following rains, and rests in shade
include not panting or at midday. Formerly more numerous,
sweating until the body a mixed herd of up to 20 was led by
temperature exceeds an older male: individuals now live
113°F(45°C .kidneys alone or in small bands of

that make verj 2-4. The coat is gray-
concentrated urine, brown in winter,
and very dry sandy to white

droppings. The main in summer, with
diet is grasses and a white facial
low shrubs, with wild patch topped
( in umbers, melons, by a chestnut
and similar plants forehead tuft,
and spiralhorns
(1 "/2-3 turns
.*&& £>— ISjte.
Damaliscus dorcas flattened, lyre-shaped horns, which Damaliscus lunatus Alcephalus buselaphus
are ringed for most of their 28-in
Bontebok 70-< in length. Adult males posture Topi Hartebeest
and spar with their horns - although
Length 1 1 li
rarer) light a territory 11ns

to gain
allows them to dominate a herd of Tail l
females and young The male keeps I" 60cm

Weight 150 MODj
its members together
68 155 kg
and initiates the
herd's travels Females
give birth at traditional Status Lower n>k Status Ur»rr nsk
calving grounds, alter
a gestation
period of about
8 months; unlike Resembling the topi see left in diet
ni.li i\ -iimlar antelopes, and sloping profile, the hartebeest has
they do not isolate or heavily ringed horns, which are spiral
conceal their young. The or lyre shaped depending on the
single newborn can walk subspecies. Color varies from chestnut
within minutes, and
.")
or lawn to brown-gray, yvith paler hip
soon follows its mother: it patches, and black on the forehead.
is weaned by 6 months. The muzzle, shoulders, and thighs. This
bontebok grazes mixed antelope forms large, highly organized
grasses and herbs, early and herds of up to 300. dominated by
late in the day. It was almost territorial males but also containing
exterminated in the wild l>\ the sub-herds of non-territorial males
1830s, but herds were preserved The topi, or tsessebe, has a long head. and of females yyith young.
in parks and reserves. It is still a shoulder hump, and a downward-
south Africa's rarest antelope. sloping back. Its glossy, red-brown
ioat is purplish on the upper limbs

and darker on the upper muzzle, belly
and lower limbs. It has I.-shaped.
ringed horns. The topi lives in
seasonal!) Hooded grasslands, and
has 2 breeding systems according to
conditions: leks seekob, p.251 in
migrator) populations; and male

territories yyith harems when resident.
Ourebia ourebi
Connochaetes taurinus DANGEROUS JOURNEY Oreolragus oreolragus
Wildebeest Klipspringer Oribi

Length J I I
Length
"1
Tail J mi Tail 2
Weight 21 101b
( Weight Weight 11

4tjll.
Social unit Group Location 1 I Social unit Pair
Status I>.u- 1 n.k Status LOHTr n.-k Status Lower risk
mm.
Also called the brindled gnu or blue Although sonic wildebeest remain This small, short-muzzled, tiny-hoofed
wildebeest, this antelope has an in a home range, most band into antelope leaps skillfully over the steep,
unmistakable, large, long-muzzled large herds and migrate hundreds rock) terrain of its native mountains
head, cowlike horns, and high of miles on an annual journey to and riser gorges. It has a short tail
shoulders. The single calf is born find seasonal grazing The route and a dense, glossy olive-yellow coat
after 8-9 months' gestation. It bleats may be altered by unusual rains spei kit tl with vcllow and brown,
like a lamb, and its fiercely protective stimulating grass elsewhere. At fading to white on the underparts
mother lows like a domestic con in river crossings above . they are and legs. The male has
reply Males form bachelor herds at vulnerable to crocodile attack. small. spik\ horns. The
1 4 years of age. then try to establish klipspringer browses on
solitary territories, with "ge-nuu" evergreen and other shrul
calls, ritual posturing, and and lives in pairs with
pushing. Only winning 1-2 offspring. Small, slender, and long necked, the
males can mate. oribi has fine, silky fur, sandy to reddish
above, and white below and on the
chin and rump, with longer tufts on
the knees. The male has 2 small.
spiky, ringed horns. The diet consists
horns up to of grasses and. in the dry season,
bushy leaves. Oribi are socially flexible.
long m male
with male female pairs or small herds
of 7-8 with 2-3 adult males. The
Long mane male may help to clean and guard the
Thi .-. ddebeest's calf, which is weaned at 2 months.
copious black nuvu txUnds.
from neck to shoulders, and

/inn* ^j'lll over the forehead.
Madot/ua kirkii Antilope cervicapra
The main coat is silver-gray with
brown hues fading toward the rear

Kirk's dik-dik Blackbuck
i long and black.
Status Local] Status Vulnerable
A
The blackbuck grazes on grasses,
including grain crops. Females are
fawn to yellow, dominant males
become black with age. and othi I
males are brown. All have a white

Raphicerus campestns roots and tubers with its (bet, which underside, rump, muzzle, and c\
lack the 2 lateral toes. Its color is ring he male's horns, up
I _'"n
tip to -'"ill
Steenbok bright reddish-fawn, sometimes timjc Hi in long, are ringed
M
•
silver-gray, pale beneath. There is ah at the base and spiral up

a white eye-stripe or ring and black to 5 turns. When breed-
Tail "finger lines" in the ear, patches on ing, the male defends his
the nose, and between the horns, it i mi ii \ and harem.
Weight 15 151b
which are present onlj in the male. I In t dik-ihk spe< us are named after
then .il.u in i all. Knk's dik-dik has a
Location I. and southern Social unit In.
soft, lank c oat, nil/ /led graj to brown,
Status I - -
and more reddish brown on the head,
with a forehead i rest. I he rubbery-
boti d hi ii
ives ui ip effei tiveh, on
mi ks Ii eats a wiili i
angi oi plants
I
111 teenbok, oi stcinbw k. lives ,\\u\ lives as ,i i Iiim -bonded
• il i as a pair with larger) tali paii and a single oflspi ing,
separate lives, within a ten itorj bin n .iit« i 169 174 days' gi station.
marked 1>\ si cnts and dung. Ii both [Tienewborn remains hidden foi 2 i
browses and grazes, ,\\u\ digs up weeks, and suckles foi months I I
re
HOOFED MAMMALS
of one male and 2 4 females, w ith

Atpycems melampus Lilocranius walleri Anlidorcas marsupialis
offspring. Only territory-holding
Impala Gerenuk males breed, from about 3 years old. Springbok
Younger males form bachelor herds,
I Length Length *
although one male may attach to the

Tail Tail9-Hin periphery of a female band, and the
"i casional female mav lx- solitary.
Wetght 88 1451b We.ght'..'- 1151b
Sooa wit I i
Locaoon L Air Sodal unit Indn-idual/Group n V] r> a Social unit Gruup
Status Lcmrr nsk Status Lower risk Status Lowrrrisi
Impala are noisy antelopes. Males Also called die giralTe-gazelle. the The springbok is among several
(which are horned make loud, hoarse gerenuk has a very long, slender neck bovids that "stort" or "pronk" leap
grunts when mains: calves bleat: and and similar legs. can curve its spine
It stiff-legged, high and repeatedlv. as it"
all emit loud warning snorts as the) into an S shape, balancing its weight bouncing. Ibis behavior may serve to
race ofT with high leaps, kicking the over its rear legs, in order to stand deter predators. This adaptable
hindlegs out straight and landing on vertically for long periods. This allows herbivore is highlv gregarious,
ious.
Adaptable grazer-
the forelegs. it to browse higher than similar-sized but migrator, herds
browsers, impala form mixed herds in herbivores in open woodland and once millions-strong
the drj season. At breeding time scattered bush. Seen from the front, now number onl\ 1 ,500.
bachelor males compete for territories its neck. head, and long, wedge- Breeding habits are as
and females. The coat is reddish lawn shaped muzzle are extremely narrow. for other
with black streak- on the hips and tail. for probing into acacias and other gazelle
thorny foliage. The gerenuk uses it- species
long, pointed tongue, mobile lips, and
sharp-edged incisors to pluck and nip
die smallest leaves. It is mainh reddish
fawn, with a broad, dark band along
the back and upper sides, and while
on the underparts. neck. chin. lips,
and around the eves; the tail is black
tufted. Onlv the males have horns,
which are 14in 35cm long, relatively
diick and curved. Social units are
male— female pairs, or small groups
Gazella thomsonii Saiga tatarka

RAPID BREEDING
Thomson's gazelle Thomsons one of the few
gazelle is Saiga
bovids that can breed twice yearly.
The first calf is born in January or
February, after the rains; the second
in July. A newborn is quickly on its
••: W-wghi
r :
feet, but spends the first few weeks '

"
lying hidden, until it can keep up

Location Group Locaoon Group
t. Yli Social unit
with the herd, at 3—4 weeks. i Social urwc
Status Ltmrr risi It is weaned bv Status Vulnerable
4 months.
Jk*.
This small gazelle is graceful and bachelor bands, and even lone males, This medium-sized Asian "goat-
dark, rinsed
speedy It Moit-" see springbok, to migrate between grasslands in the antelope" has an enlarged nose with
above right energeticall) when rain) season and bush when it is dowTi-pointing nostrils, perhaps to
threatened by, for example, many of drier . Thomson's gazelle usual!) and/or give
control bodv temperature
the big cats, hyenas, jackals, .md produces a single offspring, which is a keen sense of smell. The thick.
similar carnivores, for which it is a born after 160-180 davs' gestation. vvooly coat is cinnamon-buff above.
staple part of their diet. The most Although initially mottled darker than paler on the underparts. and thickens
common gazelle in its region, it some the parent, the coat of the voting greatly for winter. The saiga lives on
times forms mixed herds with impala darkjingerlike gazelle lightens in 1 2 weeks. drv steppe and eats varied plants.
pattern on
and other gazelle species. It mainly Smaller breeding groups join to form
inside of ear
grazes short grasses, vet also browses. Distinctive markings huge herds for migration. Only males
Small herds of A black flank band separates the sandy faun back of the species have horns.
females and young from the white underside. The reddish head has a
join male darker blaze, and while nenngs that extend along
the nm--le. above the black cheek stripes.
3
I hi- wooly haired goat survive- browse and graze in mixed fi
Oreamnos americanus Hemitragus jemlahicus

among ice, snow, rocks, and glaciers. at altitude- ol 16,500fi 5,000m). Il
Mountain goat Its large, -harp homes have hard rims Himalayan tahr iron 11- to temperate forests .1- low as
and soft inner pads, to grip slippei J
8,250ft (2,500m) in autumn, when
Length
surfai es,and its long, yellow-white
I
in rds of 2-23 femali ai
Ta.l I 8in outer coat and thick, dense underfill Tail

,/^^fc* |i lined bv 1 uttina mali
10 20cm conserve bod) heat. [Tie sharp, back- whi lock
1 In mi- and
Weight I00-310lb Weight
curved horns are lOin 25cm long, irv lo toppli
:
Id 140 kg
and are slightly thicker in males, othei oil balani 1
nun
Social unit Variabli
which ma\ be 30 percent larger than
|i i
.
Young an- born
Status I-iH all) r

females. These goats feed on grass, the ii illov bag Ma;
moss, lichen-, and twigs. It forms or June.
-» groups of up to 4 in summer, uhii h
join to form larger herds in winter.
m m*
The sure-footed Himalayan tahr has a
ihaggv onspicuous mane on it- neck
i
Rupkapra rupkapra feeds on herbs and flowers and shoulders, extending to its knees:
in alpine pastures during its face and head fur are contrastingly
Chamois summer, and moves short. The horns, flattened from side
lower in wintei fi n to side,reach 16in 40cm in males
mosses, lichens, twice as long as in females. Like many
and shoots, as mountain mammals, the tahr migrates
groups high into the Himalayas in spring, to
disperse
Social unit Individual/Group

tau <n " Oviboi moschatus
meet at a central boss, curving down
Status ! inn .ili\ endangered fa and then up at the tips. The bod) is
darker Muskox massive; the neck, legs, and tail are
-* -hurt. In summer, the muskox grazes
"
Length 6 fi
vallev -edge- and grasses. In winter.
The chamois is an agile climber, Tail I l ii

11browses on higher ground, where
able to leap 6 /2ft (2m) high, spring
'
in
wind keeps the ground clear of snow
Weight
and run at 31mph Almost exterminated bv human-, the
1
20ft (6m) along,

i Okg
(50kph) - its flexible hoof pads giving muskox has recovered through wildlife
sure grip on uneven, slippery terrain. management and reintroductions.
Both sexes have slender, black, close-
set horns, which are up to 8in (20cm) Double coat
f
long, and curve back at the tips. It Jh. The muskox s outer coat of dark brown guard
hairs reaches almost lo Ihe ground, to shed ram
and snow The undercoat of fine,
The muskox is named after the strong
effectively. soft.
pair brown hair pn, datum.

Capra odor of rutting males, who charge
ibex
CLASH OF HORNS and ram each other for females. Both
Ibex sexes have broad horns, which nearly
shoulder
hump
1.2-1.7 in pala inn!
hn,
Tail 4-8in I,
Mi 20cm
Weight :: j3oib
15 150 kg
Location - 1 p u Social unit lndmdual/Gnjup
Status Endangeredt
jfe
The ibex dwells at or above the Like many

wild (and domestic
treeline. up to 22,000ft (6.700m). goats, male ibex compete tor
The female has a tan coat in summer herd dominance and female- b)
and the male a brown one with
rich postures, head tosses, and fights.
yellow-white patches on the back ( )pponents rear up on their back
and rump. Both sexes grow a thicker leg-, then lunge

uinlei coat of more variable color. In forward and
spring, thev migrate up to alpine clash heads
pasture, descending in autumn to and horns
ptowse buds and with skull-
shoots. Female jarring I
and young
lonn stal
groups ol
Huge horns
in 20; / . tlu>i..
males fi n m
single- I In: it,
herds. i/ji quartet

HOOFED MAMMALS
Capra aegagrus Ammotragus lenia
Wild goat Blue sheep Barbary sheep

Length i
Tail' Tail 1 Xin

IS 20 cm -
Weight ii- 2101b Weight flfatftf
Social unit Group LocaDon \ Air; Sodal unit Imlnidual/Group
Status Vulnerable Status Lower rbk Status Vulnerable
m± JL
The wild or Bezoar goat. probably Also called the bharal. the blue sheep
the ancestor of domestic goats, grazes is camouflaged to survive in rocky, icy
and browses in varied habitats, from alpine zones between tree- and snow -
arid scrub to alpine pasture. at line-. Malts are brown-gray, tinged
elevations up to 13.800ft (4.200m). with slate-blue, white below, with a
Females are red-gray to yellow-brown; white eyebrow strip, and black flank*
adult males [a young male is pictured: ami leg tripes. The smooth. 32-in
are bearded and silver-gray with dark 80-cm homs splav outwards. Females
markings. Both are are smaller with shorter horns, and
horned. Males light to lack most of the black markings.
dominate their bachelor herd Breeding habits resemble other sheep,
and for females. with rams competing for harems.
The reddish-tawny coat of the Barbary
The markhor occupies various habitats sheep, or aoudad. has a short, upright
,,i J. 100 i 104,000m . mane on the neck and shoulders,
eating tussock grass in summer, and anda much longer one on the throat,
shrubby leaves and rwigs on lower chest, and upper forelegs. Both manes
slopes in winter, when its short, red- and the crescent-shaped horns, to
gray coat becomes longer and grayer. 33in 84cm long, are more developed
[Tie spectacular spiral horns reach in males. These sheep eat a wide
V/4I1 1.6m in the shaggy-throated variety of plant matter. Males charge
males, yet only lOin 25cm in the each other, heads lowered, for
females. These are one reason why dominance and access to female
the markhor is threatened by hunting. groups for breeding.
Mali gali not only charge and clash Ovis canadensis

Ovii amnion
heads when rutting but also run in
Argali parallel and butt the opponent- flank Bighorn sheep
anil i hest Also called arkhar. thi- i-
the largest vi ild sheep, with elaborate,

ridged horns - up to 5ft 5m in 1 Tail J
males - that cork-new sideways,

Weight tpto-HOlb Weight 120 -'WHb
twisting 360 degrees or more with
age. The coat of this very gregarious
Individual/Group Social unit Individual/Group
Social unit
bovid is variably pale brown with
Status Endangered while legs and rump patch. Like main Status Lm.cr n-l
« ild sheep, it is threatened by human
hunting, and habitat loss to livestot k
Twin young are relatively common.
The bighorn sheep's glossy brown Like many wild sheep, when
summer coat of brittle guard hairs threatened, bighorn sheep use
Oiis orientalis are longer, up to 26in 65cm . in over crimped gray underfill lade- m their gripping hooves and climbing
males. -As in many other wild sheep, winter. Before the rut. males display; ability to retreat to near-v ertical
Mouflon females live in small groups with their walk away from each other, turn. rocky bluffs and cliffs, w here few
voting, while lone or bachelor-band advance with a threat jump, and then predators can follow. The young
Length
1.1 1.3m males compete for dominance and lunge to head butt with enormous bighorns learn about seasonal
I females. Success depends mi
> force. This may continue for hours pathways and suitable habitats
a male's strength in pushing, butting, until one giv es up. The 1 3 young are from adults in their group.
Weight
and ramming, and so most do not born after a gestation period of
In gin breeding until 6-7 years old. 150-180 davs.
Location \V Vm. Soda) unit Individual/Group
rutting in late autumn.
Status Endangered
Bigger horns
The smallest w ild sheep, and probable The male's horns curl almost in a
.tin estor t>( all domestic breeds, the trde and mar neigh as much as the Test
mouflon frequents uplands and of the skeleton - up to 3 lib (W%

female's horns are smaller and only sli£'.
shrubby, gras-v plains. I he coal is
ii with
dark central back
,i
stripe flanked by a paler "saddle"

patch, a short, broad, dark tail, and
paler underparts. The curved horns
MAMMALS IN HANGER
MAMMALS IN DANGER
CrunomfsfaUax Northern Luzon shrew ral
The below includes all those mammals classed as
list
A ndromtu errtayi Abu an climbing mouse,
i
Cetaceans
endangered by the IUCN (see p.31). Gravely
critically Dicrvstonyx vinogradoui (collared lemming] Balama rnysdeetui
ephalorhynchm
(bowhead]
(Hector's dolphin
Dipodomyi banrumni{\ subsp Morro Baj ( keeiori
threatened species occur in all major mammal groups, kangaroo rat); D. ingots (gianl Icangai Eschrvhtiw robustui < Jraj whale
abmdam Vinjos. kangar at; Maud Lipotes vexilUfa Vangtzi river dolphin)
but some are particularly badly affected. In relative terms, /) margaritat Margarita Island kangaroo rat); thuiiliii bti-rno\t!i\ bi.iw.nliK dolphin
/). nitratoides (2 subsp: Fresno kangaroo rat, Mahakam subpopulation]
primates fare worst of all, with over 40 species or sub- I iptor kangaroo rat) Phocoena muu vaquita
white-tipped tuAed-taued
species in imminent danger of extinction largely due Gerbillm bilensis
tftsftu
Bilen gerbil . G. burtom Buttons

ral
Carnivores
to the destruction of forest habitats. Habitat change is gerbil :
G man u t osen's gerbil); G. datiom
Ariwnyxjubatus (1 subsp: Asiatit cheetah]
(Dallon'sgi rbi] C !
«n I lower's gerbil);
Cams R<-<1 wolf); \i"i,n\i\ Simien jatkal)
also the main threat facing insectivores, bats, lagomorphs
rufui <
G pvbba i
ii .bb n g. ilnl G hoc&tmali
Hoogstraal gi rba G wei
;
Lowe's gerbil);
Piiiiilinn tea 1
1 subsp: Asiati< lion); R parous
and rodents, but with cetaceans, carnivores, and hoofed (4 subsp: South Arabian leopard. Amur
(, mntmiitttiiii- (Mauritian gerbil); C oeddutu
leopard. North African leopard. Anatolian
ion idental gerbil); C. principtdm (print ipal
mammals, hunting has played a major part in cutting- ' guadnmaadatus
gerbil ; (four-spotted gerbil);
leopard); R dgris (3 subsp: Amur tiger, South
China tigei. Surnatran tigi
G pr&w (sandgerbU)
i
numbers to the precarious levels seen today. While the HeteromjH nelsom Nelson's spin) pockel mouse]
rW i<"hi<(,irrl subsp. Florida COUgar, eastern
cougar)
marsupial list is relatively short, many other species in Hylopeles wavtom arrow -tailed flying squirrel)
Isolebodon portaricatsis Puerto Rican buna.
I 'rsus thibetamu 1 1 subsp: Baluchistan bear)
'Malabar large-spotted
thisgroup have already become extinct, particularly in Lebwuomjn bueUneri (groove-toothed Ibresl mouse
Viserra civettina civet]
hpUnnw f\,-oan\ (ltmg-looled water i.m. / R£no£ttJ

Australia, where small mammals have faced an onslaught IK River water rat] Seals and sea lions
MacTotarsomp uigeas (greater bigfboted mouse) Monachw monadim (Mediterranean monk seal
from aggressive introduced species. Mturuftnm*. elegam (lesser small-toothed rat)
Makalata occasiui
Mn!/iimv\ lytmwii 'alpine wool\ i.u
(armored spin) ran
Hoofed mammals
Mebmys rubicota Bramble Cay mosaic-tailed rati Addax riasotnacuhtm (addas
Marsupials Sanaa ater (black shrew i. $. mataui (Floras shrew Maiam dunff Cheng's |ird) AntUocapra ameruuma subsp: Baja California 1
1
s Tempi (Gabon dwarl shrew) Mesocapnmrys mgtkabmm Cabrera's hutia); pronghorn

Oraaimanui aceranwrcaf (Boli\ i.tn gra< tie opossum)
hn\utu\ I subsp: mf'nus hare-wallaby)
Inl/m \lrerti (Persian mole) W attritm largenared hutia); M. nanus (dwarf Am tauveh kouprej
!<if>ho:j>uy Imu^hUnti ^harp-nosed tomb b.n buna . \/ ianjebpensii ditile earth hutia) Bubtdm muidoreniii (tamaraw)
taswrfanui faefftn (northern hairy-nosed wombat)
Marmora mdrrsom (Anderson's mouse opossum
Wierotm axmnauii Evorsk vole . M mujaneasis Copra aegagrus ( 1 subsp: Chilian goat ; ( fal men
Primates (Muisk vole) ?! subsp: Tadjik markhor); C walk Walia
Marmosops handleyi (Handley's slender mouse
Mu\ kasaiaa (Kasai mouse) ibex)
Opossum) Atouatla bet&bu2(] subsp; red-handed howling
Mjfsakles garridoi Garrido's hutia) Crmhithmum datum 1
1 subsp: northern white
Paameks gunnu |'l sulisp: eastern barred bandicoot) monkey); i.cotbensii I subsp: Vzuero howling
_\'rr>ti>mu fiL\< if>f\ I subsp: San Joaquin Valley rh
Smmihopsis griseovmtn {\ subsp Boullanger Island monkey); A.guariba subsp: northern brown
I
Wooill.lt Cemus auvaucela \

1 subsp: swamp deer); C. eldii
dunnart) howling monkey
jYectomps parvipes (smaU-fboted watei ral (1 Manipur brow-antlered deei
subsp: .
\teUs Azuero spidei monkey

:.'/"/ l-"\i (2 subsp:
Shansi sika. Ryuk\u
C. nippon (5 sulisp;
Insectivores & bats brown-headed spidei monkey)
/irm-fnfrlr\ (iTiuhnouif. iwoolv spider monkc]
Jyfesolagus netscheri
Oehouma heJanshanensu (Helan slum

(Surnatran rabbit)
pika); North China sika. South China sika.
sika,
:\nthly\tmttL\ juluuui* (Juliana's golden niolei

.
0. paUasi 1 1 subsp: Pallas pika); 0. thibttana I-ormos.m sika)

li. kfpoxanikta (northern muriqur)
Aprotetts bubnerae (Bulmer's fruit bat) 1 1 subsp Moupin pika) DamaUscus hunim (Hunter's hartebeest)
Oillhri'iiy hiiii'iiia/irtruiiiif (northern Hainan blond
Biswamqyopttrui biswasi (Namdapha flying squirrel) Orthogeornyi i
uni ulm (Oaxai an pot kel gopher) Duamhmus sumaJrensis (Surnatran rhinot eros)
litii; (.'.
eombrm ( loimbra's titi)
Oi Dicems bicorrds (blat k rhinoceros
Charrrphfm <z<illa»lim ('( Gallagher's free-tailed bat) 1
jinn. ^ ;',//,;//,/;', f 7MM (ialapaôs lit r rat);
Cebtis aUnfrons 1
1 subsp Trinidad white-fronted
Cfnmarwgate hantu (Malayan water shrew); (! ;vir»rtsi itioigas's rite rati Elaphurm davidumus (Pere David's deer)
capuchin); C apeila subsp; Margarita Island I
(Querttaro pocket gopher) Equus qjricanm (African wild ass)

t
'
jumatrana Sumatra w alei shrew) Pappogeomys negieetus

capuchin); C. xanthosternm (yellow-breasted
(Jtltmittilfxi trtom\ Suniali golden mole) Perognalhns ahkala \\ subsp: white-eared pockel GaztUaga&Ua {'2 subsp: Acai ia gazelle, Musi al
c apuchin)
Qaysochlom tnsagiei (Vtsagie's golden mole) subsp: red-capped mangabey);
mouse i;
R (oninmetnbns (I subsp: Pacific pot kel gazelle)
Cercocebus afyi I
Ctkura teyehellensis Seyi helles -.heath-tailed bat) Hexaprotodon Sberiensis (I subsp pygmy
('.. valmtit* 1 1 subsp: Tana River tnangabe)
I
both < longo shrew Peromyscui po&motus 1 1 subsp: Perdido Key beach hippopotamus)
Certopitheeus diana subsp; Roloway monkey);
R pseudocrviitui
I
Qatddura onseUorum (Ansell's shrew C. caligmea mouse); ilalse canyon mouse); Hippotragus niger{\ subsp: gianl sable antelope)
('..
metttam 1 subsp: Stampfs greater spot-
Oas ammon
1
\tin.ni ln^\ -Iim w . ( ilt\f>nata (desperate /' rlami (Slevin's mouse) (2 subsp: Northern Chinese argaH,
nosed guenon)
sin, u ( dhnfarrnm Dhofai shrew); fogpnomeJomfs bnrijni ilowland brush mouse] Kara Tau argalii; I), canadensis \
1 subsp:
EuUnuirJukm il subsp: white-collared brown
( '..
mrntrauli last tit i .nil's shrew (". oraniipfs ...
ftftorotts gjdbertn (Gilbert's potoroo) Weems' bighorn sheep]
A macaco
i
lemur); j
I subsp: S< later's blai k
[Peters' musk shrew larenna i. ( .'.
harenna (1
shrew mouse]
PstudohydjOTtiys mutinus (eastern Procopra pr&ival.shi llV/ewalski's ga/elle)
lemur)
shrew); C. jenfonsi (white-toothed shrew Pseudomju fieM Alice Spring mouse); Rgfauats Rhinoceros \ondauus Javan rhinoceros)
(ionlla beringn 1 subsp liwiudi gorilla, mountain
Spci ies C, maantllam Mat millan's shrew);
.
Wue-gi .i\ mouse Rxtpicapra rupicapra (2 subsp: Chartreuse . bamois,
gorilla); f. gorilla 1 subsp: Gross River gorilla)
C. macowi (Macow's shrew); (.. negrina (Negros
1
Rattus engamu (Enggano rati, H monianm Tatra ehamois)

llapalemur OUHU3 Igctldeu lemur); // gristUi
shrew); Cphaeura (Curainha shrew); C, picea iNillu ran Sus cebijwns (Visayan wart) pig);
(1 subsp: Alaotran gentle lemur); //. umm
pit* li shrew); C, potia (fuscous shrew); C. rainryt Rhagpmys rujescais (Brazilian arboreal mouse) S, udoantm (pygm) hog)
greatei bamboo lemui
K. inn a .hn v\ i
lelford's shn w SuHsta arnunka (Armenian bin h mouse]
.
HyfobaUs In/ I subsp: white-handed gibbon

('..
shrew
ultima (ultimate Sigmoaantotnys aphrastui (Harris's nee water rat)
|
//. mnlnch l"i subsp sil\er\ gibbon. v\eslem

(.nfi'iihlmis j // (Van Zyl's golden mole)
1
SpermophUui bnameus (1 subsp: northern Idaho

Javan gibbon, central Javan gibbon)
Bkmscaptoi pan ideas small- thed mole)
Uontopitheeui causara blai It &i ed lion tamarin);
ground squirrel) SNOW LEOPARD
Hipposideros nn/wwi (Malayan roundleaf bat)
/_ thrvsopvy/\ bl. ii k I inn tamarin). / rosaUa
insamu t hnilterru rabbit) Pnyd for th fur and persecuted for
ffybanys parvus dwarf gymnure) bun tamarin) Tamwtnmbmts{\ subsp: New Mexico least
gi ddi ii
attacking livestock, the mow leopard
latidens talimahi Indian fruii bal chipmunk); / tanbrmm (I subsp: hidden Ibresl
Macaca pagmsis (3 subsp Mentawai mai aquc,
Mi'fn njangarat: (Niangara free-tailed ban chipmunk] currently listed as endangered, but its
Bagai macaque, Sibcrui macaque)
Micmgah dryas tree shn-w tenrec loiiii-iuuiiu\ htut\tmtcu\ \\ subsp Mount Graham remote habitat in the mountains
i
Vomascus tmeotoi subsp West Yunnan \

I blai k
Marina taubrosa gl \ lube-nosed bat) red squil nl
anpa (Rumpi moua shrew);
crested gibbon); \ concolor(] subsp: Central
qf Centra! Amu makes its population
\t schallm
Yunnan black crested gibbon) Thomamju ma&ma 1
1 subsp: ( lathlamet pot kel
& h 'Hi 's mouse shrew)
i
(Yellow-tailed wool) monke) gopher] leveL difficult to assess.

-Uni/js cobanensis (Gua alan myotis); A/. pbmUeps
uiii/ti
Shim. Hi. i .iiil'UI.ui

i
Jbhtdaia muenniaki (Muennik's spun ral ts

(flat-headed myotis Tylomyi ouUam Ihiapan limbing
Pmcobbus badius (\ subsp Miss WUdron's Baj [i i ral ;
ban Philippines tube-nosed bun bat

subsp: Bouvier*s red / rumbala limbing rat)
tumbalensis
colobus); Rpamanta I
i
Otomaps wroughtom Wroughlon's free-tailed ban Typhi ..i chapensii (Chapa pygm> dormouse)
colobus); /' ru/bmUntm l.m.i River red
megabits (Vietnam leaf-nosed ban y»*»mv.i palalilii (( arpentarian nn k-iai
colobus) ;
nraerocutura <yaum ((iniuer's show i
l
/ riifiit/ifiii\ ihittfaitit '"> subsp silk\ silaka.
~ pfittim ulaliLi . t iiir.il n>« k-i.u
VktBotii imogeru New Guinea big-eared ban
diademed sil.ika. IVi i\ sifaka); /'
i i« taUersaUi
PipistrtUm anthonyi (Anthony's pipislrelle); P.joffm
igolden-i 1'iwiied stl.ika); /' rrrn-tiuxi ' I subsp
Joflm pipistrcll.
crowned silaka'
I't.iulufu \ aaodanta (Fijian monkey-faced bal
WdnopUhecm aomadm flbnkin snub nosed
Ranceps Bougainville monkey-faeed ban.
monkey)
Baton s| h« d lb. ing lb: P. puUhm Siumm omtedii subsp: grey-crowned ( !cntral ( I
montane monkey-lac ed bal

American squirrel monkey
msvIoTu (Chuuk iKui-j lb
Ptrt>,fni- /'
Tradrppitfuttis deUuoari (Dcalacour's langui .
(Comoro hl.M k flying i"\ /' molossinus ,
/ potiocephahu (Francois's leal monkej

(rbhnp flying P. i
Mortloi i i
k
' .
'i l
subsp: red-mflcd lemui
ilytng fa / rlnphon (Bonin fruil bal P.
mdricensis Rodi iguez flying fox); P. m

(Pemba n
.
Lagomorphs 6^ RODENTS
uhmotophus con .
an inn-.. .In..- b.n ,| ll( ies) IfiDonu cihdau (African spun n m
Seetopfalus borboni us lexsei yellow bat) i
i Iranian jerboa)
'
ko/lov's Quitthilta n ii i
tailed < him hilla)
sllli \\ Ml ban > -n »|» ^l i
al
Sariauus lalmshi SaJ< nskis shrew) i mi I

land -
loud ral
on
BIRDS
PHYLUH Chordata Birds are the most
CLASS Aves accomplished of all flying
ORDER 29
animals. Their ability to fly has
FAMIUES About 180
SPECIES About 9,000

allowed them to spread throughout
the world, often to places, such as
remote islands and Antarctica, that are beyond the
reach of many other animals. Like mammals, birds are
endothermic (warm-blooded) vertebrates. However, unlike
most mammals, they reproduce by laying eggs. Birds have
several adaptations for flight, including wings, feathers, a light
but strong skeleton, and a highly efficient respiratory system.
EVOLUTION an advantage for animals that feed Archaeopteryx could fly or just glide,
on insects, which become inactive since lacked the keeled breastbone

it
Birds evolved From reptile-like and slow moving in cold conditions. that provides attachment sides for the TAKING OFF
ancestors, possibly from tree-dwelling Feathers, which were derived from muscles needed for powered flight. The power of flight has
dinosaurs that fed on insects. A reptilian scales, probably first evolved During the Cretaceous Period enabled birds In exploit aerial
lifestyle of arboreal hunting would to provide insulation, although they 42-65 million years ago), birds
( 1 niches. In many habitats, birds of
have promoted the development of were no doubt put to the purpose of diversified and their anatomy evolved ;
as this tawny tai.
such birdlikc characteristics as large flight very early on. to make possible increasingly efficient their powerful wing\. acute vision, and
eyes, grasping feet, and a long snout, The earliest-known fossil of a bird flight. It was in this period that the sharp bill and talons, are the top predatory
later to evolve into a bill. It might is about 50 million years old. dating
1 ancestors of living birds appeared.
also have resulted in the transition from the Jurassic Period (205-142 Toward the end of the Cretai ei ills, a panel below and p.262 they also :
from being cold- to warm-blooded million years ago). Known as wave of mass extinctions saw the end provide protection and insulation.
Archaeopteryx litlwgrapluca. this animal of the age of the dinosaurs. It is not The skeleton of a bird combines
was about the size of a crow and clear why birds survived - perhaps remarkable lightness with strength.
showed a combination of reptilian being warm-blooded helped them attributes that are essential for
and avian features: it had wings and to withstand a prevailing climatic powerful To restrict the bird's
flight.
feathers like a bird but also had a catastrophe. But having survived, weight. a number of bones are
snout, rather than a bill, and the birds as a group flourished into the
toothed jaws of a reptile. There is
some doubt about whether
diversity of forms alive today.
^b
K "U
impressions made ANATOMY
by feathers
ARCHAEOPTERYX FOSSIL
A bird has several physical
adaptations for flight. Its body is
Sr^JE*<£*
Archaeopteryx lithographica short, strong, and compact, w ith CROSS SECTION OF BONE
is thought to represent a link between powerful muscles for moving the Many bones in a bird are hollow, including
reptiles and birds: the jaws, maul, and wings and strong legs to launch it the major limb bones, parts of the skull, and
tail (which is supported by vertebrae) into the air and cushion the pelvis. This reduces the bird's weight, to
are reptilian, but the wings and impact of landing. Its feathers conserve energy for flight. The bones
feathers are birdlikc. form the flight surface (see are strengthened by internal struts.
FEATHERS FEATHER TYPES

Feathers are highly complex structures that are unique to Down feathers form an
birds. However, they are formed from the same material, m sulatmg underlayei.
keratin, that is found in the hair of mammals and the while small contour
si
wear and
.ilcs of
birds regular!)
reptiles.
tear.
I
Feathers are subject to consideral
To keep them
lean,
plumage using their bill, an activity known
oil,
in good condition,
and reshape their
outer vane
(uindward edge)
feathers proride a stream-
lined covering over the
body. 1 he long tail
feathers are usedfor

JDOWTS' CONTOUR TAIL
as preening. Other forms of maintenance flying and steering. FEATHER FEATHER FEATHER
include scratching, bathing, and sunning. WING FEATHER
Feathers are shed (molted) and replaced at The feathers along the
least ono a year. Flying birds have edge of the uing are long FEATHER STRUCTURE
I different kinds of feathers, each of and rigid with a clearly The structure of feathers is extremely
which is modified to serve a distinct defined shape, providing the complex. Most feathers have a central
function: there are 2 types of flight lift fin flight and maneuvering. shaft (rachis). from which closely spaced
leathers (wing and tail feathers),

quill
I 'alike the tail leathers, which branches (barbs) project outward to form
in addition to down leathers are often symmetrical, wing a continuous, pal surface. Minute side
and contour feathers. ft

ni in i i are unevenly shaped. branches (barbules) lock the barbs together.
BIRDS
the lungs. Instead of air flowing
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM alternately in

mammals, it
and out. as
flows in a single
it does in
Since they lack teeth, birds arc forced to break up panicles of food further
direction. Working in tandem w ith
down the alimentary canal, in the stomach. The lower part of the stomal h
this ellic ient oxygen-extrat don
HUMAN- (gizzard) grinds down material, often aided by an abrasive paste containing
ARM humerus system, birds have a large heart that
ingested grit or stones, while the upper part (proventriculus) secretes gastric
pumps at a relatively rapid rate.
juices. The food is often stored in the esophagus for later assimilation. In
fused unit humerus Birds need to maintain a constant
sonic birds, the esophagus expands near its base to make a saclike crop, a
internal temperature of about
further storage vessel. Food can be transferred there \er\
10 IT to ( to remain activ 1
quickly, allowing for large quantities to be ingested in a

.u hieve this, they control their rate
relatively short time. This is valuable for birds that
of heat loss (see belowy. In some
BIRD must risk exposure to predators while feeding.
WING species, when there is not enough
proventriculus energy to sustain the metabolism,
ARM BONES AND WING BONES the internal temperature falls and
In comparison with a human arm. a bird's the bird enters an inactive state
forelimb (or wing/ has undergone a dramatic called torpor. Some birds that live at
reduction in the number of bones, especially high altitude, such as certain
around the wrist and hand. hummingbirds, become torpid
overnight; others, such as some
greatly reduced in size, and many swifts and can stay
nightjars, in this
have fused together, making a rigid slate for days or even weeks.
frame without the need for large mtestuie CROP FEEDING
muscles and ligaments to hold the FEEDING AND STORING FOOD Adult pigeons are unusual
bones together. Most birds' bones .-1 bird's digestive system is adaptedfor a dynamic in producing a milky secretion
are also hollow, lacking marrow. To 'd is ingested without chewing, and can be from the crop to feed their
compensate for their lightness, th<-\ stored in the esophagus or the crop. This allows the bird young. Here, a turtle dove
are supported bv a network of to feed quickly, but to digest in a safer place. gives crop milk to a nestling.
internal struts trabeculae'i at points
anterior
of stress, giving them great strength.
thoracic
Several bones, including the humerus, exceptional vision, particularly owls
air sacs
contain air sacs, which are connected and birds of prey. With their high-
to the respiratory svstem. speed aerial lifestyle, birds rarely
A bird's wing is the anatomical and in some cases never use their
counterpart of the human arm, sense of smell.
although birds have relatively few
digits, and some of the "hand" bones RESPIRATION AND
which contributes
are fused together,
to the general rigidity of the
CIRCULATION
structure. Similarly, the "elbow" and Birds are active animals that have a
"wrist" joints of the wing bones are high metabolic rate. I'hev have an
inflexible in the vertical plane. As a efficient respiratory system that
result, when the bird is Hying, the extracts large amounts of oxygen
wings are held straight out and from air, and a circulation system
(lapped only at the shoulder, that can move the oxygen rapidly
providing rigidity and saving energy around the body. Efficient oxygen AIR SACS
by preventing unnecessary move- extraction is also necessary so that A birds lungs are only part of its air-intake
ment. The powerful wing muscles birds can remain active at high system. Connected to the lungs is a system
are attached to a keel, a large WOODPECKER altitude, where oxygen is less of air sacs, which have thin, nonmuscular
projection that extends at right abundant. Although the lungs are walls and perform a similarfunction to the
angles from the breastbone. FEET AND TOES small, they are connected to a series diaphragm in humans. In all, there are 9
Another feature unique to birds Ostriches and rheas have fewer toes than most of air sacs found throughout the air sacs throughout the body, 8 of which
is their light, flexible bill ,or beak). birds, enabling them to run quickly. The pipit body, which help inflate and deflate are arranged in pairs.
When the bill opens, both the upper has the perchingfoot typical of passerines,
and lower jaws or mandibles move. with 3 toes pointingforward and 1 back. RESTRICTING HEAT LOSS
giving a wide sjape - in mammals, The arrangement of a woodpecker's toes lb control the rate of heat loss from
only the lower jaw moves. The bill allows it to climb easily in all directions. the body, birds (here, a fieldfare)
itself has an external covering of adjust the volume of insulating
keratin, which is light and strong and and reflects its diet for example. air trapped between the skin
allows lor great variety in form. The finches have a strong, conical bill lor and the outermost feathers
bill shape always adapted to a

is i r.u kinn s< eds, whereas herons have ,. or fluffing, the
bird's particular method of feeding, a pointed, daggerlike bill for seizing feathers. The greater the
fish. Birds that feed on inset ts, su< h •

air. the
jaw extends to form bill covering of
y
as warblers, ha\e a small, slendei less heat is lost.
horny plates
bill, while in flesh-eaters, sui h as
hawks, the bill is sharp and hooked
for tearing open prey
Birds have between 2 and toes t
/
4 on
whii h
bai
their feet, then
shape varying according to the
wa\ cil life. Most have
k. a
I
u ies,
point forward and
pen hing
good system
arrangement and
foi
I
c
mi
i
bird's
>i
SKULL (see p.33t> Main swimming birds

.
The skull of a bird is very light, with many have webs between then toes.
of the bones fused together. The bill consul* Like humans, birds reh. primarily
of an upper and tou ei mandible, with a on then sense "l sight, followed l>\
highly variable harm sheath on both. hearing Indeed, main buds have
BIRDS
motion needed to increase airflow

over the surface of the wing and
produce lift. This is why most
birds have lo Hap their wings lo
take off. When gliding, birds
hold ii nii w ings outstretched and
stead) to the wind. A gliding bird
consumes little energy but it loses
height as its speed, and hence die
amount of lift, drop unless it is
riding a ( uncut of rising air).

Birds exhibit a great variet) of AERIAL MANEUVERING
wing shapes, reflecting the wa\ they Is an highl) i/i sim, in i m outline,
IK and iheii general lifestyle. Those tooting and gliding atom tin open team
that rel) on a rapid takeoff and a search offood. Their narrow, angular wings
short burst of speed to escape from i null/, them in lh with great spud and
predators tend to have broad. agility, ami tin characteristic long, forked
FAST FLYER rounded wings, since these provide luil Inl/is i/i, in steer.
.1 hliu and yelbu the required acceleration. Species

mat au in flight that fly for long periods and need to survival than flight. This is the case
displays its highly save energ) have long wings. Fast, for the ostrit h. w hit h can run quickly,
colorful plumagi unci long, powerful fliers, such as swifts and using its wings for balance: its long
elegant tail. Tin relatively falcons, have long, curved wings with legs can also delivei a powerful kick
•ma: tapering u ingi of macaws pointed tips to redui e drag, fail to lend off predators. In penguins.
enabli tin \e birds to jh remarkably shape is also important. Birds that the wings have become similar to
quickly, despite thai large size. make sudden changes of direction flippers and are used by the bird to
in midair, such as swallows and propel itself through the water.
kites, often have forked tails.
FLIGHT surfaces. Since it is the slower-moving Although most birds can fly. some
REPRODUCTION
air that exerts the greater pressure, are flightless these include the
Birds are not the only animals the resulting force is upward. The ostrich, rheas, cassowaries, kiwis, tin- Most birds are monogamous,
capable cil powered flight hats and strength of this upward force (called emu, and penguins. Ii is generall) breeding in pairs. In general, court-
inset is arc similarly able), Inn they lift mi leases with the si/e of the thought thai these birds evolved from ship consists of a male attracting a
include among their number die bird's wing and its forward speed ancestors thai once had the power female with a visual display or b)
largest and most powerful of all see panel, below). of flight, since nonliving birds have singing. Some
perform spec- birds
airborne animals. There are 2 main modes of flight: many adaptations for flight, such as tacular displays: the) mav show oil
A wing achieves lilt in the
bird's Happing and gliding or soaring. hollow bones and wings although ph) sii al attributes, evident in the
same \\ a\ as di les the w ing of an Flapping does not create lift directly; the wings of man) flightless birds dazzling plumage displays of pea-
air< all. As the bird moves forward.
i instead, ii generates the horizontal have since bei nine cocks and birds of paradise; engage
air Hows more quickly over the reduced ill si/e . in dam ing as. for example, in cranes,
upper surface of the wing I'lightlessiiess see below : oi make acrobatic flights,
than the lower one, creating seems to have such as the dramatic swoops and
a pressure differential come about in dives of eagles. Man) birds also
between the one of several draw attention to themselves using
wa\ s. some 1 J ii songs. I he song, which is unique to
birds in environments with relatively the species, selves to repel male rivals
FLAPPING FLIGHT lew predators, flight seems to have and establish a breeding territory; it
In the upstroke offlapping flight at thi left

In. Mine unnecessary many birds ma) be used to attract a mate.
also
in thii sequena I, a bird bends its u ings so thai the lips weka
of isolated islands, such as the All birds reproduce by hiving
an clost to /is body. On thi downstroke, during which and takahe of Xew Zealand which eggs, and they go to great lengths to
mostpowei isgenerated, thi wings an /«//; extended. are I loser) related lo cranes . arc in ensure the survival of their clutch.
thiscategory Alternatively, flighdess- Most do this b) placing theii egg or
ness may have arisen in situations eggs in a specially built nest, which
HOW BIRDS FLY where si/e and strength on the is cither hidden or placed out of
Birds have a large, keeled breastbone, to which massive flight mus< les ground were more important lor reach of predators, flic eggs are
are attai lied. When the muscles contract, they bring about the powerful
downstroke of which produces forward propulsion. When the
the wing, COURTSHIP DANCE
nnisi.lcs relax, the pulled back up. Feathers see p. '_'()<> also enable
wing is .1 mull andfemale Japanesi nam tab
limb to ll\ rll'u iently. 1 hose on the trailing edge of the wings and on the pail in n claboraU dana
tin at tin
tail are designed to provide lilt and aid maneuverability, while the visible uiisit ,i/ tin breeding season
bod) feathers contoui feathers streamline the bod) in flight. In most Om hi Imili birds
birds. Hying consists of wing Happing <>i gliding. Several birds are capable bob tin n In ails and
o) hovering in midair; hummingbirds can also IK backward. leap inlu tin mi.
v ail .'
" ssun
AERODYNAMICS OF THE WING

.1 bird's u ing is cur, ed outward
along flu nppn mrface. As a n mil,
., 0| a it lias In haul a
slightly longei distanci atafastei

pan than tin ail traveling along
surface. Thi sbv

in passing unda tin u ing i <erts
pn fsure, producing an
tpu mii forci knou n as lift.
BIRDS
EGGS AND NESTING

Although many birds lay their eggs directly onto the ground or some other
surface, most build a structure, known as a nest, in which to put them. Nests
provide safety, insulation, and a fixed point for the adults to concentrate on
nurturing their eggs and young. An important
part of nest building is choosing a suitable
site - one that will provide concealment
or inaccessibility from predators. Nests
are made from various materials, |
depending on what is available — fl
usually vegetation, but also animal

hair, feathers, or even -.lied snake skin I '^Kk
or human artifacts.
BLACK-HEADED
TROGON
J
BOUBOU
SHRIKE
PROTECTIVE NEST
The most common type
than one material: this chaffinch

is bound by
with moss,
spiders '
lichen, grass,
of
open cup. .Most nests are made of more
webs and
nest is
's
built
andfeathers.
an
nest
up
COMMUNAL FEEDING
Flamingos are among
a million or more) throughout
others. Even
the most sociable of all
their lives
their courtship displays are
together while roosting to share body

birds, living in vast
and performing
groups fsometimes flocks of
all licingfunctions in
communal, synchronized affairs.
MIGRATION
company with
heat and reduce heat However, loss.
EGG COLOR there are also disadvantages in being Many birds undertake seasonal
v**t
Birds' eggs have a wide range of part of a flock. If food is scarce, migrations. Most migratory species
colors. However, all shell colors are competition between group members breed in spring and summer in high
the product ofjust 2 pigments, one can cause weaker individuals to latitudes, taking advantage of the
derivedfrom hemoglobin and the other become marginalized, unable to feed relatively long days, but move in
NATAL CETT1 S BLUE from bile. These are added as the egg properly and vulnerable to predators; winter to lower latitudes. Main
CHAT WARBLER SHORTWTNG moves down the female's genital tract. such birds would be better off on species show complex patterns of
their own. Another disadvantage of movement, with only certain
social living is the threat of diseases, populations - or in some cases just
incubated by one or more adults, promotes its growth. Even so. when which spread more rapidly through females - leaving the breeding areas
almost always including the female. young birds hatch out. diey are often a group than they do among a while others remain behind. Birds
The number of eggs laid in a clutch poorly developed. In most species, population of solitary individuals. that behave in this way are referred
varies greatly between species, and the hatchlings are blind and without to as partial migrants. Not all birds
some birds produce more than a feathers; they also lack the ability to migrate, partly because migration
single clutch in a year. regulate their internal temperature, consumes a lot of energy; those that
A bird's egg is contained by a light so they must be brooded. These do not migrate at all including
but strong shell that protects the dependent chicks are referred to as many tropical species; are referred
developing embryo and acts as a nidicolous young and are completely to as sedentary.
barrier against bacteria. The shell is reliant on their parents for warmth The urge to migrate is triggered by
made of calcium carbonate, which and food. In contrast, some groups a combination of internal phy sio-
the female absorbs from her food. of birds, such as waterfowl and logical cycles such as hormone levels;
Despite appearing to be hard, the gamebirds, hatch nidifugous young, and changes in day length. As the
shell is porous, allowing for the free which are covered with down and time to migrate approaches, birds lay
exchange of oxygen and carbon are able to feed themselves within a down reserves of fat to sustain them
dioxide across its surface. Inside. few hours of hatching. FLOCKING TOGETHER on their journey and show signs of
the embryo is nourished by a large Common starlings feed and roost together, and restlessness. Some birds have an
reservoir of nutritive material that
SOCIAL GROUPS most also breed in small colonies. Starling impressive ability to navigate,
roosts are famous for their spectacular aerial traveling thousands of miles to
Birds vary greatly in the way that maneuvers prior to settling down. Up to arrive at a destination with pinpoint
the) relate to their own kind. Some 2 million birds may share the same roost site. accuracy (see panel, below .
are solitary or form pairs within a

defined territory Main meet up with
others for specific activities, such as MIGRATION ROUTES
roosting, feeding, or breeding. Others Birds have various ways of navigating.
live ingroups throughout then lives. hev orient themselves mainl) using
1
so iable lifestyle carries both

\ then efficient internal body clock, which
advantages and disadvantages. Birds enables them to measure changes in dav
in groups benefit from the ollective c .is well a- the position of the sun
effort put into searching for food, and, at night, of the moon and stars.
panic ularly where supplies are Man) sprues, ii not can also detect
all,
sparsel) distributed. Birds in vai unions in the earth's magnetic field,

flocks are also less at risk from which they use as a compass. Birds that
predators: to be our among have alread) made several migratory
man) reduces tin- i hances of journeys recall landmarks and m.iv use
I being singled out and caught, < lues -.in h as smells or ultrasounds,
•^fr^
DUCK HATCHLING and individuals an- more likel)
THE FIRST DAYS OF LIFE i< have earl) warning of a
i
Most \oung birds, including passerines (such predator's approach. his stati I Swallow populations that winter in different
as the blue Mj depend on adults for food and of ollrc u\r vigilant e means that
i parts of northern Europe follow a range of
warmth. Their eggs are laid in u ell-protected birds in a group an spend more i migration routes. Some tnm
nests. and gamebirds
Wader*, uaterfowl, umc feeding oi sleeping than the) short distance to southern Spain or .\orth
produce more independent young that can would if the) win- alone. In Africa. Others cover the length the African
of
walk and fend for themselves uithin hours. addition, sonic birds huddle
.
OSTRICH
Strulhio camelus
OSTRICH FIGHTING MALES

Ostrich
Chord ilia THE LARGEST OF ALL BIRDS, the ostrich is

Muh Ullriches compete for territory and vvfaghi a
Aves
unmistakable in appearance. It has a long,
\oaal statu* uith aggressive displays
I Struthioniformes
1 Struthionidae
bare neck and small head, a massive body,
and long, muscular legs. The wings arc small
and
of a
occasional!) by fighting.
contest acquires a territory

The winner
and several
Plumage &
Migration Nonnugrant
and covered with loosely packed feathers. females, although only one female, the
unique among birds in having common

The ostrich is
"major hen. " remains during ineubation Status \* .JK
and chick rearing.

only 2 toes on each foot. Although too hca\y
to fly, it is capable of running with remarkable speed and
stamina it can travel at up Once widespread in Africa and West
to 45mph 70kph for as Asia, ostriches are now restricted
largely to eastern and southern Afrii a,
long as 30 minutes. The
although they are also farmed in other
single species of ostrich is
parts of the world. In the wild, they
placed in a separate order are seminomadic, traveling long
from other birds. and other plant
distant cs to find grass
f<K>d. They
typically form mixed-sex
herds,and are rank found on their
own. During the breeding season,
males make lciiid. booming calls and
perform elaborate displays.
I Several females often lay in a
7 single nest, producing a joint

clutch of up to 30 eggs. The
male takes part in incubation:
once the eggs hau h after about
4h days he is USUaH) in sole
charge of the young.
Rltea americana impressive wing display The male

mates uith up to 12 females and
RHEAS Common rhea

Height
then scrapes out a nest, in which
the females lay
between them. After the eggs
up to <
<
Although rheas look similar to the

are laid, the male takes sole
Weight 13 661b
ostrich, they are much smaller and have iharge <>f incubation and
.-> rather than 2 toes on each foot. The Plumage S
protecting the young ihiikv
Rheifomies
head. neck, and thighs arc all covered with Y. I his rhea has suffered
1 Rheidae Loabon I Migration NonmteTanl through hunting and
feathers, and each wing ends in a claw, dark collar
America
habitat loss, although in male
used to fight predators. When Status .
which is
1
running, rheas use their wings for balance.

They occur on upland and lowland plains
JL ^ it is still
abundant.
relath
This long-legged, flightless bird lives

in grassland and semiarid scrubland.
s It is general!] gra\ to brown, and
white, the plumage

camouflage against
offering effective
tall grass and
\
V scrubby vegetation. The male has
a dark collar at the base of its neck
CARE OF THE YOUNG during the breeding season. A sociable
Only the male bird intubates the eggs ana bird, it lives in groups, although
over the young (lesser rheas are shown iu breeding males are solitary for part of
female goesvff in search of other males. the year In the mating season, males
produce a booming call to attract
females, then court them with an
T1NAMOUS
CASSOWARIES
These large, flightless birds from
AND EMUS Australia and
j
PMYVUM
CLASS
New Guinea have a long neck, long legs, and small
wings hidden under loose, hairlike plumage. In
C asu arii form e s
addition to being able to run quickly, they can also
swim. Cassowaries and emus have 3 toes on each
foot; in cassowaries, the innermost toe bears a sharp
claw, up to 4in 10cm long, which can inflict tribal
wounds. Cassowaries have a protective casque on their head, and
neck wattles that can change color according to the bird's mood.
Casuarius casuarius one found in Australia as Dromaiu wnaehollandiae

s
flocks that can
well as in New Guinea. contain dozens
Southern cassowary During the breeding Emu of birds. It feeds
season, males make a low mainly on seeds
booming sound to attract and berries, and
Weight females, but when net Weight ',6 -1 30 lb will travel long
breeding the adults distances
Plumage - Plumage Sexes alike
are solitary. Their when food
diet consists is hard to
Migration Nonnugranl
chiefly of
Migration Nonmigram find. Emus
fallen fruits. Status Locally common are now
£L powerful
legs
m jl extinct in
Tasmania, but on
the Australian mainland
All cassowaries inhabit dense tropical Australia's largest native bird, the emu they have benefited from
forest, and as a result are rarely seen. has shaggy, drooping, gray-brown grain farming, and are
The southern cassowary the largest feathers, large legs, but tiny wings. It now a serious pest in
of 3 cassowary spet ies i> the only is highly gregarious, and lives in loose some areas
Apteryx australis predators such as pigs, dogs, cats, and

SENSES stoats. When feeding, it walks slow
KIWIS
ly.
Although kiwis have Brown kiwi tapping the ground with its bill and
tight, they have sniffing. It may push its entire bill
-
The STRANGE, acute senses of hearing up to 6in Hem long - into the
pmyluh Chordata
and smell and a highly Weight .{1/4-8 V4 lb ground to get at food, which consists
have a
flightless kiwis
touch-sensitive bill. of earthworms, cicadas, beede larvae,
stout body covered in Plumage Sexes alike
centipedes, and fallen fruits. Females
o«oe« Apterygiformes
soft, hairlike plumage lay one to 2 eggs that
families 1 'Apterygidae Location New Zetland Migration Nonmigrant
a slender, curved bill, are very large in
Status Vulnerable proportion to
and no tail. Unlike
the bird- size.
larger flightless
9x _*^_ L—
birds, kiwis have 4 toes on each
foot. These nocturnal birds are Once widespread throughout New
native to New Zealand. Zealand, this short, stout brown
bird has been severely affected by
deforestation and introduced
Eudwmia elegans the elegant crested-tinamou has uin«>
TINAMOUS CAMOUFLAGE
1 1
.Indian
hen threatened,
motionti
Imamnu remains
this Elegant crested-
rinamou
that are spotted white.
runs behind
Ixiow
moves
it.
in
the- eye,
One light stripe
and another runs

This relatively shy bird usually
small to moderatcK
*myium Chordata These <-roi \ih.iyi\<,
excellent camouflage. groups thi and. grassland,
birds, which look Hcgnt
cuun Aves and brush
similar to grouse and Weight
oftota Tinamiformes
partridges, have a
-
AMn IS 1 I II, .HIM. I.,. Plumage
plump bod) and small
mats 4f>
wings. When niiinin
t
.ocation ** v Migration -
or Qying, the) lire

Status Locally cotnmoi
c-asiK because the) have a small heart
I inamous are common in woodlanc JL ^
scrub, and grassland throughout
["he long, usu.ilh forward-curving
( lentral and South America.
i
resi i* the disi iture ol
this rinamou. Light to dark brown,
i
PENGUINS
PENGUINS
PHYLUM Chorda ta These distinctive flightless SWIMMING
CLASS Aves seabirds are adapted for swimming Penguins use 3 different swimming
OADER Sphenisciformes and surviving extreme cold. life in techniques. When idling, they swim
slowly at the surface, paddling with
FAMILIES 1 Spheniscidae Penguins spend most of their lives their wings, and with their head and
SPECIES 17
in water, propelling themselves with tail raised. When hunting, they dive
below the surface and effectively fly
wings in pursuit of fish,
flipperlike underwater, flapping their wings to
krill. and squid. They have a thick coat of short, provide power. Most dives last about
a minute, but dives of 20 minutes DIVING
stiff, overlapping feathers that streamlines the bod)', have been recorded. The third form Penguins (here a ting penguinj move much
and conserves heat. Most species come
repels water, of movement is called porpoisitig. in more efficiently in water than they do on
which penguins swimming near the Some can swim at speeds of
ashore during the warmer months to breed, usually land. species
surface periodically leap out of the 9mph (14kph).
forming large colonies. On land, they do not perch water to breathe.
but instead stand upright and move with

a waddling gait. Penguins are confined
to the seas of the Southern Hemisphere.

Although most common in cold
climates, several species are also
found where cold currents
flow north into tropical regions.
Only 2 species, the emperor
and Adelie penguins, spend
the winter in Antarctica.
ANATOMY
Penguins have a plump body with short
legs and webbed feet that are set so far
back that they must stand upright on
land, balancing on their feet and short,
stiff tail. When walking, they put their
u eight on the soles of their feet, hence
their awkward gait. On snow or ice. they
may toboggan on their bellies, using their
feet and flippers for propulsion. A penguin's
body is streamlined in water, and is covered
with extremely short feathers that form a sleek. ,
friction-free surface. The wings are specially

flattened into flippers see below When .
COMMUNICATION IN COLONIES
underwater, they use their feet and tail as a Apart from the yelluw-eyed penguin, all
rudder. Penguins have 3 layers that provide penguins >uch as these ting penguins
waterproofing and insulation: a dense mass of form colonu . When gathered in large
overlapping, oil-tipped feathers, a thick layer of numbers, they use calls and visual
fat under the skin. and. in between, a layer of displays to locate their mates andyoung.
air that is warmed by the body. The plumage of
penguins is black or gray above and while below.
Am BURROWTNG
coloration or ornamentation such as rests
and eye tufts is confined to the head and neck.
i
COLONIES Xot all penguins nest above
Most penguins breed in colonies, ground. In open terrain,
bones
'
which can consist of hundreds of Magellanic penguins nest in
fiat, solid _ "elbow
thousands of birds. Xests are made shallou. burrows to protect
of grass, feathers, or pebbles, and from the elements

short fathers s
the female lays either one or 2 eggs. andfrom predators, including

In some species, once an egg is laid, mammals and other birds.
WING STRUCTURE the female leaves the nest to feed,
«
f a penguin is while the male keeps the egg warm.
unlike that of any other bird. holding it on top of his feet and
The bones are flattened to make a beneath folds of skin on his belly.
flipper, and are \ulid instead of hollow. Penguins are still able to walk when HUDDLING
g their density and strength. The the egg is in this position. The first In harsh conditions, emperor
icing <7s a u hole forms a rigid structun -
period of incubation can last weeks penguins and chicks huddle
•
only at the shoulder - or even months, during which the togetherfor warmth. The center
the joints that form the equivalents of tht male does not feed but lives on of a huddle can be about 18°F
and elbow in humans are niuHith inflexible. Uell- stored fat. When the female returns, warmer than the edges.
. as large as those of flying birds, the pair take turns to guard the eggs Birds take turns to occupy the
help power the flapping of the wings. while the off-dutv bird feeds at sea. outermost positions.
PENGUINS
sardines, and they nest in underground

Aptenodytes forster Sphemscus humboldti
burrows, caves, or crevices between
Emperor penguin Humboldt penguin boulders. Direct hunting and over-
fishing by humans have led to a
Height
in their population.
Weight I
Plumage - white
head stripe
Migration \ Migration Nonmigram \Jlesky pink

area at base
-'
Status Loi .'
of bill
tes — hss
The largest of all the penguins, this Small colonies of this penguin occur
bird lias highlv unusual breeding along the west coast of South America,
habits. In winter, the female lays one in the cold but fish-rich Humboldt
egg and goes to sea. not returning until ( urrent. Coloration is mostly blackish
the spring. The male carries tin egg h white underparts. but adults
on his feet and protects it with .1 have a distinctive black, horseshoe-

"pouch" of feathery skin, huddling shaped breast band and a white head
with other incubating males t,, keep stripe. The penguins usually hunt in
black legs
warm. He fast* until his mate returns, groups in shallow water, pursuing small,
andfeet
just as the chick hatches, and then schooling fishes such as anchovies and
goes to sea. later returning to help
rear the chick. This spet ies 1 an dive
to depths of 1,750ft 530m foi as bed of sticks or grass, and the parents
Eudyptula minor
long as 21 1 minutes, and travel up to take turns at incubation. Chicks are
625 miles 1,000km on foraging trips. Little penguin brooded for 7-10 days and guarded
for a further 13-20 days. At sea, the
litde penguin feeds alone or in small
groups, catching small fishes and

Pygoscelis adeliae Pygoscelis antarctka
swallowing them beneath the surface.
Adelie penguin Chinstrap penguin
Loot : - - Vustralia Migration Partial migrant
Weight Weight •
Status Common
Plumage S<-\r-s alikr Plumage Sexes alike

tessit
Migraoon Migrant Migration N This mainly blue-gray bird is the
Status I ornmon smallest species of penguin, and also
one of the few that remain fully active
kss — ks= — after dark.
at sea,
During the day
but after sunset in the breeding
it forages
One of the few penguins that nests ( h.u.ii terized by a thin black line season, it returns to land, coming
on mainland Ant.m tica. along shores that runs from ear to ear under the ashore under the cover of darkness.
thai are free of ice in summer, the 1 Inn. the chinstrap penguin is mosdy A it calls at sea and
highly vocal bird,
Adelie penguin i- mainlv blue-black blue-black with white underparts, on land. Litde penguins normally nest
with pure white underparts and ,1 < and throat. It prefers
heeks, chin, in underground burrows, but they also
distinctive white ring around it- eye. It areas of light pack ice. and breeds in breed in caves, crevices, under
breeds in summer in \.i-t colonies ol high-density, sometimes Luge. 1 olonies \ gi i.itii hi among rocks, and sometimes
<
200.000 or more synchronized pairs, on ice-free areas of coasts. The nests under houses. They lay 2 eggs on a
each female laying 2 eggs roughly ' imp] ise a circular platform of small
2 days apart. Both the male and the stones, with a shallow nest cup. and
female incubate the eggs in shifts. I h<- ofti n ini hide bone- and leathers. The one i hick ever survives to the fledgling
Adelie penguin is relativi Iv ,i_. soft hm-.ti.ip penguins stage - usually the chick from the
and adult- arc often observed stealing is highlv variable: il is lowei 111 Mar- Macaroni penguin second, larger egg. Both sexes share
mi k- from their when sea ice persists 1 lose ti • 1 olonies, incubation duties but. unlike most
Height
neighbors' since this restric ts access to the sea foi other penguins, the female takes the
li .I aging adults. Weight ! lir-t shift.
iihili
around
ring
1 \i
blue-black
*v Plumage S
j
Locations, - Migration Nonmigranr
Status \ uli
tea =
Lik< .ill 6 spe< ii k nguin,
has .1 conspicu-
ous ' rest "i golden plume- on its hi ad
li .il- 1 has .1 large, bulbous, ora
blown bill, ofu n ridged in adults.
Noisy, aggressive,and demonstrative,

makes raucous braying sounds in its
11
1 uli mi. - .11 land and gives shi

1
barks .1 1
.11 sea Mthough "1 onl)

LOONS
LOONS
PHYLUM Chordata ALS( ) KN( >WN AS DIVERS, loons are superbly
CLASS Aves
adapted for underwater swimming. With their
streamlined bodies, legs set far back on the
ORDER Gaviiformes
body for efficient propulsion, and strong,
FAMILIES 1 (Gaviidae)
webbed feet, they can reach depths of
5 p e c«s 5
250ft 75m and stay underwater for several
minutes. Dense plumage insulates them in
the Arctic and sub-Arctic waters where they live. Despite having
small, pointed wings and a pinlike tail, loons fly well. But with feet
set so far back, they are almost incapable of walking on land.
Gavia stellala
inland to lakes and marshes in Gaiia imn invertebrates, which it seizes with its
northern and Arctic tundra
forests bill, sometimes spearing them. It may
Red-throated loon during the breeding season, where it Common loon also dive to avoid predators such as
emits a loud yodel or wail to attract a mammals, hawks, and eagles. Both
Length J 2 -28 in
mate or establish territory. Courtship sexes care for the young, and the chicks
Weight 2 A -5 1/2 lb beha\ior invokes splashing dives. stay with their parents until fledged, at
dipping and shaking of bills, and about 10-11 weeks. Parents sometimes
Plumage Sexes alike Plumage Sexes alike
rushing across the water in pairs. swim with the voung on their backs.
Xests are usually a simple platform of
Location North America, Migration Migrant Location North America, Migration Migrant
reed, rushes, and grass.
Greenland. Europe. Asia Greenland V\ large white
Status Common
m ik Ihs hss A ffl a. ts

Distinguished from other loons by the This gray to black and white bird is
reddish brown throat patch at the usually solitary or found in pairs,

base of its thick, long neck, this bird aldiough large groups of up to 300
has a plump, oval body that is dark may be seen feeding along the coast
gra) i-.h to black with white spots; the when nut breeding. Like other loons,
underparts are whitish. An inhabitant this -pec ies can dive to great depths
of coastal bavs and inlet-., it moves when hunting for fishes and aquatic
Tachybaptus ruficollis Podiceps nigricollis
GREBES Little grebe

Length
Black-necked grebe
Length .
PHYLUM Chordata Found sheltered waters throughout

in 11 . I
Weight 4 -802 Weight

CLASS Aves
the world, grebes are strong swimmers and .." .. o :
ORDER Podicipediformes
accomplished divers. They are ideally Plumage Sexes alike Plumage S
suited to aquatic their small head and

life:
FAMILIES 1 Podicipedidaei Location Europe. Asia, Migration Partial migrant Migration Migrant
thin neck enable them to dive easily when Africa, Mada Europe. Asia. N and
SPECIES 22
hunting for food, and their feet - which are Status Locally common southern Africa Status Locally common
set well back on the body - have lobed toes

Al is t=
with highly flexible joints that give these birds great agility
when swimming. Their soft, dense plumage is very water- I In- smallest grebe in Europe and
Grebes are
resistant. northern Asia, this short-billed bird
isbrown with a bright chestnut throat
remarkable for their
and cheeks. It stands and walks on
often elaborate
land more easily than other grebes,
courtship rituals. and is also more likely to fly outside
of migration. Both sexes build nests of
aquatic vegetation, anchoring them to
surface water plants or branches of
bushes "rowing in water.
short, stout dark brown

This small, dark grebe non-breeding
Jt^^^. .
upperparts plumage shown with a slender, slightly
.
upturned bill, is highly social all year.

During the non-breeding season, it
WEED CEREMONY prefers saline waters, with thousands
During the weed ceremony, a courting pair gathering on some saltwater lakes.
there, great crested grebes) dive for However, it breeds in freshwater lakes
vegetation, then rise out of the water to and marshes, where it make- floating
face each other, holding the plants up high. nests. Adults cam' young on their
backs for the first few weeks, but little
parental care is required after 3 weeks.

GREBES
Podiceps cristatus COURTSHIP RUSH

Great crested grebe
Weight
0.6-1.5kg
Plumage Sexes alike
Location Europe Migraaon P.irbal migrant
Zealand Status LocaHv common Parents take turns carrying the Status Loyally common
young on their backs and bringing
f» them food. Each parent develops tss Its:
a preference for particular young,
The largest grebe in Europe and resulting in the adults dividing the A large grebe with black and white
northern .Africa, the great crested brood in order to care exclusively plumage, this bird has a long, slender
grebe is famous for its remarkably for their favorites. neck. Mates are in close contact from This species engages in an
elaborate courtship displays, which pairing to taking care of the young. energetic courtship, following die
involve complex, ritualized postures Both sexes build nests on water, same rituals as the great crested
dives, and head shaking: during Populations of the great crested grebe anchored to surface plants. Parents grebe. The most famous display
the displays, its crest is raised declined in the mid- 1 9th century, take turns carrying young on their is the "rush"shown above in .
and the tippets are flared. It but have reo wered with protection backs for the first 2-4 weeks, and which birds run across the water
often peers into the water while and an increase in man- feed them until they are 8 weeks old. side by side. If they continue to
swimming on the surface to made habitats. Mich At the end of the 19th century, tens be interested in each other, they
locate fishes, then dives as as gravel pits of thousands of these grebes were then perform the "weed dance"
much as 100ft 30m deep. and reservoirs. killed because they were hunted for see p.268 in which each bird
.
their silk) belly feathers, used in coats dives for aquatic vegetation, then
*™"' n and
grayish broam
upptrparts
hla(k W* and hats.
although they are
Populations have recovered,
still in danger from
holds it high while turning from
side to side. In established pairs.
pollution, oil spills, habitat loss, and the male brings fishes to his mate.
white
disturbance bv humans.
underparts
Plumage for all seasons

Unlike its smaller Sorth American relatives,
the western grebe does not develop any special
plumage in the breeding stason, and keeps its
black crown allyear round.
ps gallardoi unique "skv jabbing" display in whit h

males and females come face to face
Hooded grebe and vigorously move their heads up
and down. Populations are small,
Length I i 1/2 in
Mem occurring on isolated lakes in remote
Weight l9oz areas of Patagonia; the species winters
in sheltered bays along the Patagonian
Plumage Sexes alike
coast. It may be \-ulnerable to
t ^^^ pollution and to
Migration Nonmigram
B^ habitat disturbance
Status Lower risk ^SS^/l^m 'luring breeding.
Rollandia micropterum Poliocephalus poliocephalus

fc=
Short-winged grebe Hoary-headed grebe
First described in 1974. this medium-
Length l3'/.'-18in
and white grebe has a
sized, black
cinnamon and black crest and a small, Weight 22 02 Weight 8 -9oz
pointed bill. Courtship involves a
Plumage Scxo alike Plumage Sexes alike
Locaoon \V South Migrabon Nonmigrajit Locaoon Australia Migration Nomadic

Podilymbus podiceps water or in brackish estuaries 5
l
i-sTiticara (including Tasmania,!,
territorial and aggressive, it threatens Status Vulnerable*
7
dand Status Lowr rak+

Pied-billed grebe and chases birds of the same spi ies (
as well a- nihil waterbirds. Mates Iss Isa kss

Length I'-ISin
(31-38 cm) maj perform a "triumph ceremony"
Weight 9 »lcn aftei I basing nil an intruder: this From a distance, this medium-sized Distinguished by the "brushed back"
involves the pail rising into an upright South American grebe look- like plumes on its head
while, hairlike
Plumage Sexes alike
posture facing ^—^ dark bar man) ol its relatives, « ith a rested
head, bmwn back and Hanks, and
< and upper neck, this bird differs from
li other, .mil JHafHj^^ on bill In- in numerous ways. It flies
Locaoon North Kmenca Migration migrant
I'.rtial
turning bai k white underside. However, its wings more than other species of grebes,
SK South \itirm .i Status (Common and forth. \ black throat .in mil ill thai
,i . annol llv II ii i
and is probabl) the leasl vocal and
threatened, the short-winged grebe most sot ial. i
iften ! »und in huge
patters ai m** the water ai speed, tl.M kv C ourtship is ii i.ui\. I) simple
flapping wings rapid]) without
its compared with thai ol othei grebes,
Small and stocky, with a short, an lied bring able in lake oil. his unusual I and tin nests are typicall) built in
bill, this brown and white bird i- found Ihi is found primaril) on J large
1 1 shallowei water I In hoary-headed
in Ereshwatei In In in thi br lakes oi ili. ( 1'inial Andes, at an grebe has a dark bill with .. pale lip.
Hid winters in areas altitude of about I I 91 the males have longei lulls.
ALBATROSSEn AND PETRELS
»™»
ALBATROSSES
Chordata Albatrosses and ihkir relatives are
AND REPRODUCTION
PETRELS
CLASS Aves
oceanic birds that occur throughout the .Ml birds in thisgroup breed on
okdcr Procellariiformes
world. They are usually encountered far land, mostly on inaccessible islands
from land,
low over waves or dipping flying or cliffs. They return each year to
»»-*> established breeding sites, where
on fishes, plankton, or
!
into water to feed

they form large colonies of up to a
various other marine animals. Besides the
|
million pairs. The female alw ays

very large albatrosses, this group includes the lays .1 single egg. often in a burrow
smaller fulmars, gadfly petrels, and shearwaters, as well as the dug in soft soil or in rock crevices. BREEDING COLONY
tiny storm petrels and diving petrels. All members of the group After a long incubation, the parents Lik other birds in the group, fulmars often
feed the chick on their highly form dense colonies in safe, inaccessible
have tubular nostrils on their upper bill - a unique feature
nutritious but foul-smelling places. Many ipecies visit the colony only
among birds; as a result, they are often known as tubenoses. stomach oil. after dark, as protection against predators.
SOARLNG
The long icings of this black-
broued albatross are adaptedfor
ANATOMY extended soaring, often for hours

on end without a wingbeat.
.Albatrossesand their relatives have a short
neck. and legs. The front 3 toes are joined
tail,
by webbing. Most species have very long wings;

the wandering albatross, with a wingspan of ft 1 1
3.5m has the longest wingspan recorded for any

.
bird. .Another notable feature of birds in this group is their

exceptionally acute sense of smell, which they use to detect
food and locate nest sites in the dark. It is thought that each
bird may exude its own particular scent. FLIGHT
These ocean-going birds are adapted to
ALBATROSS BILL continuous flight, often traveling great distances
Birds in thu group hate a and riding out powerful storms. Their flight
bill with a hooked tip and method varies according to the bird's size and
bill made of
horns plates
sharp blades for dealing with wingspan. The larger species, including the
slippery prey. Albatrosses albatrosses, typically glide rather than fly. making
differfrom other species in use of die updrafts of wind over waves to give FINDING FOOD
honing nostrils positioned on them lift for long periods without expending too Storm petrels fly low over water in search
either side of the upper bill much energy a practise known as dynamic of food. Some species palter on tht
rather than being fused into Si taring The tiny, lightweight storm petrels fly
. with their feet to alarm their prey or draw
hooked tip one on the top. with a combination of wingbcats and glides. it toward the surface.
Diomedea exulans Thalassarche chlororhynchos

NESTING
Wanderine albatross This albatross' nest is a crude but Atlantic yellow-nosed
substantia] mound of grasses and
Length
11m moss, built on the ground. The albatross
Wfeight 18-25 lb parents take turn> to incubate the
8-11.5 k*
solitary egg. Once it
Plumage Sexes alike

has hatched, thev .- Weight
tend their chick i"

Migration Migrant Plumage s<-xrs aiikr
for 9 months
s
Status Vulnerable or more.
LocaDon N.ulh AtUjiar
ks Sams ljmrr mk
1 his Luge albatross has a wingspan

of up to lit 5.5m the longest of
1 .
any bird. It usually catches prey - The smallest albatross in the southern
mainly squid at the surface, but will ocean, thi- black and white species
occasionally dive underwater alter it takes name from the yellow

it-
This bird also scavenges offal thrown ridge and orange tip on ^^^
overboard fishing boats. It can breed its blai k bill. Squid ^^^
onl) every other year at best since and fishes make up the bulk
i i hick take- a year. It moults of its diet, but it also follow-
in the intervening year. ships, feeding on offal
thrown ovcrlioard.
Varying plcmage
Both parents rear
As a juvenile, this albatross is chocolate -broun all
the chick, which is
over except for a white face mask and undenting,
but it becomes tthiter with age. The adult male able to llv relatively
(left m picture) is mostly white with black-tipped quickh) for an albatross

wings and tail; the female u slightly brou-ner. within about 4 months.
ALBATROSSES AND PETRELS
Macronectes giganteus Fulmanu glacialh water Most petrels return to breed at Pagodroma nivea
the colons where the) were born, but
Southern giant petrel Northern fulmar the northern fulmar rarely does so. It Snow petrel
lays Us egg in a lurch lined hollow on
Length 16 in
Length
an earthy or grassy ledge, usually on i
Weight
92 an
11 lb
5 kg
Plumage Sexes alike

M Weigh:
Plumage
:
Si
cliff, bui
where there
predators.
ii will nest
is
The
on flatter ground
no danger from
adults go off in
Weight
Plumage Sexes
I I
alike
search of food once the chick

Migration Migrant Migration
is about 2 weeks old.
Status Vulnerable Status Lower riskt

II threatened, the Status Lov
youngster defends
fcs fc= itself by vigorously hss sss A.
spitting an
Large and aggressive, with a large bill The fulmar is a common bird of unpleasant- pure white dark eyes
capable of opening intact carcasses, northern waters, flying on characteristic smelling oil. plumage
this bird is one of a few petrels to stiff, straight wings. Its numbers have
obtain a significant amount of its food increased dramatically in the past 200
on Males in particular prey at
land. years, particularly in temperate waters
seal and penguin colonies and feed on of the North Atlantic, possibly due
the bodies of whales washed ashore. to the increase in otfal available from
The adult usually has mottled, grayish trawlers gutting fishes at sea. In
brown plumage, but some addition to scavenging from ships, ii One of the few birds, apart from
individuals may be white eats fishes, squid, and animal penguins, that breed on the Antarctic
with black flecks. plankton, seizing most of ^ continent, the dovelike snow petrel is
its prey at the surface rarely seen away from pack ice. It may-
but sometimes nest inland, up to 185 miles 500km
plunging into the from open water, but breeding is much
affected by snowfall, and in some years
wings held straight only one in 5 nesting sites may be
for gilding occupied. It fiercely defends its nest
from other petrels, spitting a foul-
smelling oil at them.
Pterodroma cahow Pachyptila vittata Oceanites Oceanian catches small fishes and crustaceans
when pattering on or hovering just
Cahow Broad-billed prion Wilson's storm-petrel above the surface. It can detect prey
by smell, and it has been suggested
I
,«^,; that prey are attracted when the bird

Weight''.-/ Weight i-8oz stirs its yellow-webbed feet around in
'150-225 When
^t
J, the water. faced with predators,
Plumage Sexes Plumage Sexes
alike alike
this petrel may squeak and eject
stomach oil at them.
Location Bermuda ocean Migration Migrant Location South Ailaniic, Migration Migranl
range 32.00(111 km I South Pacific, S. Indian
Status Endangered i
Status Lower riskt
tea ks
One of the world's rarest seabirds, This medium-gray bird has a darker A small, soot-black bird with a
the cahow was brought to the brink "M" across both wings, and white conspu uous white rump, the storm-
of extinction as long ago as the 1 7th underparts. Its bill is broad, with petrel is one of the world's most
century, as a result of predation by comblike plates used for filtering numerous seabirds. with populations
introduced mammals and competition planktonic prey from the sea. It feeds running into millions. It breeds around
for nesting sites with the white-tailed mainly by "hydroplaning" - with Antarctica, but during the southern
tropicbird. Conservation measures are wings outstretched and feet paddling, winter it flies north, especially to the
helping this black, gray, and white pushing the sieving bill through the northern Indian and Atlantic oceans.
petrel stage a gradual recovery. surface water to trap its prey. It ver\ rarely alights on the sea, but
Puffinus puffinus
Rhum in the Outer Hebrides filling sometimes lays its single egg under
the air with calls that sound like rocks. Both parents incubate the egg, COLORATION
Manx shearwater si reams and wails. Although ii feeds worl ing in shifts of 6-7 days, and
at sea In day. it is active at the colonies thi j 'd the chick for up to 70 days,
ii
only after dark, to avoid attack by leaving it about a week before starts it
Weight IS l8oz This bird usuall)

gulls. to fly. As winter approai lies, the
;-
500
,
nesls inan earth shearwater flies south to warmer

Plumage Srxes alike
burrow, but it waters n|] Brazil.
black
Location tuantii Migration Migranl
upperparts
Hooked bill
Status Lowa riskl
I Ii> Manx shams atei
has a retati
Lbs
i
151.uk above and white below, tins

and hookrd bid, with
ithiih
bird produces a i I i.ii . n t<i isiu
il Bfl
This shearwater breeds in the North black then white (lash as H dies
Atlantic, forming colonies on offshore .
m a frit I'M i the sea, looking for small
islands mainly Skomer and Skokholm yards undenvattr si hooling fishes sui h .is spral
oil i
) i
« western coast of Wales, and to purstu iis pn i
miCANS AND RELATIVES
PELICANS AND RELATIVES

1 This group of large seabirds FEEDING
includes pelicans, cormorants, and their relatives use a
Pelicans
Pelecaniformes darters, tropic birds, frigatebirds, range methods for catching Bsh.
<>t
Cormorants swim underwater in

6 gannets. and boobies. They are pursuit of prey. Darters hunt below
strong swimmers, being the only the surface but .u\o wait in ambush
for up to a minute before spearing
webbing between all 4
birds with li-h with their bill. Gannets, tropic
toes. Most species have broad wings, and frigatebirds liircK. boobies, and the brown pelican
dive from heights up to lOOfi 30m
and tropic birds spend much of their lives flying,
.
dropping onto lish at speeds up to

while gannets, cormorants, and darters are also 60mph 95kph . frigatebirds ste.d PLUNGE-DIVING
fish from other birds, naming them The broun pelican is the only pelican that
capable of sustained flight over open sea. All the in flight untilthey give up their catches fish by plunge-diving Just before
birds in this group feed on fish. Some species catch catch. In contrast, pelicans often impact, the bird pushes its wings andfeet
hunt cooperatively, forming lines back to maximi-e speed, and opens
their food by making spectacular plunge-dives
its its
and herding fish into shallows. bill, ready to seirj its prey.
from a considerable height, and have

several adaptations to protect them-
SCRFACE FISHING
selves when they hit the water at high Pelicans have a large throat pnuch.
speed. Pelicans and their relatives which they use to scoop fish from just
below the surface. The pouch is also
are found in most of the world's used to collect rainwaterfor drinking
seas. Darters, cormorants, and and to dissipate heat in hot weather.
pelicans also occur on bodies of

water far inland.
ANATOMY
A range oi physical features helps pelicans
and their relatives rati h their prey underwater.
The most aquatic members of the group, the
cormorants and darters, have surface feathers
that become soaked easily, reducing buoyancy
and making diving easier. The inner feathers
remain waterproof and provide insulation.
To reduce their buoyancy further, these birds
also swallow stones, and their bones have fewer
air spaces than those of most other birds. In
contrast, the other members of this group have
water-repellent plumage, and their bones contain
a relatively large volume of air space so that the
birds can float and fly with ease. In fact, the
plunge-diving spe< ies also have extra air sacs
beneath their skin to cushion the force of the
impact when they hit the water.
FEET
The large, u ebbed feet
of pelicans and their
relatives are usedfor both"

propulsion and steering. In
some specie*, such as this
blue-footed booby, the feet

are used in display >.
keep their eggs warm.

and In
REPRODUCTION FEEDING YOUNG
Young birds are fed on regurgitated
( Mten choosing remote islands or cliffs fond, which they remote from their
that are inaccessible to predator) parents ' bills. The food proiided by-
mammals, pelicans and their relatives adult pelicans there, a brown pelican)
nest in colonies. Some pelicans, darters, is sometimes known as fish soup.
cormorants, and frigatebirds nest in
" NOSTRILS
Pelicans and their relati
trees.Males use spectacular displays to
attract females for example, boobies
point their head and tail skyward and
wings known as sky-pointing
raise their
Nests are often large and usually built
. NESTING
Must (if the birds m this group
small or closed nostrils that by both members of a pair. The young, (such as these king cormorants)
preient water being forced into which arc helpless at birth, are fed on build substantial nests. (Collecting
their air,. oface. Cormorants, regurgitated food. Some young, notably enough material can require
boobies, and gannets (shown here), which have completely those of frigatebirds, are looked after many journeys back and forth
sealed nostrils, breathe through their mouth. for many months after fledging. from the nest site.
rEUCANS AND RELATIVES
i onsiderable height, i<> i . i ( < li squid Pelecanus occidentalu

Phaethon aethereus
.mil lislics. cspei 1.1IK 11 \ 1 1
1
n lishcs. An
Red-billed elegant bird with silk) white, pink- Brown pelican
flushed plumage, it has extremel) long
Length 3 A
tropicbird tail streamers that ii sv\ it< hes from side
[
5fl
id side in .in elaborate, airborne Weight (k.i lib
ikg
i ourtship display. The red-billed 1
Plumage Sexes alike

in ipii bird is one <>l onl) > spec ics in
iis family, all restricted to the Tropics.
Location North, Central, Migration Partial migrant
Caribbean Status ( ninintm Both parents incubate the eggs in
shifts of several hours.One or 2

Status !..».. rati 3L kss young very seldom 3- maybe
raised. Initially, the adults
t= The brown pelican is mainly silver- regurgitate food onto the nest
gray and brown, with a white or floor, but when the chicks are
although ii is a poor swimmer, white and yellow head and chestnut about 10 days old, they take fishes
spending little time cm the water, this mane. The greenish skin of the face directly from the parent's bill.
highly aerial seabird is often found and throat pouch becomes much more
hundreds of miles from land. It feeds vivid in the breeding season. The only
by plunge-diving, sometimes from a pelican that feeds by plunge-diving
instead of by swimming and fishing at
the surface, it glides low over the water
Pelecanus crispus cooperatively, forming a semicircle on outstretched wings, and on sighting

and driving fishes into shallow water, a fish, Hies up as high as 30ft 10m), (
Dalmatian pelican where the) an then scoop them up.

i before folding back its wings and
These pelicans often breed in large plunging into the sea. It usually nests
ioli inns, each pair usually rearing one in trees or shrubs - often in mangroves.
young. Once chicks are 3 or 4 weeks However, the Peruvian pelican - a
old, they live in "pods" largely race of the brown pelican
unattended by their parents which. - nests on the ground.
however, continue to bring them food.
Migration Partial migrant
At about 6 weeks, the chicks begin to
Status Lower risk
catch fishes, and a month or so later
they make their first real flight.
*« fc=
This pelican is the largest

found in Europe. Despite
its size and weight, it
is a strong flier,
soaring high up
during migration on
iis ver) Luge, broad wings, lis
'plumage is essentiall) silver) while,

with black tips to the wings, and it
has an orange-red pouch beneath

a pale yellow, orange-tipped bill.
The Dalmatian pelican feeds on a

wide variety of fishes, needing on
average 2'Alb (1kg) a day. It swims on
the surface, upending to seize prey.
Sometimes a number of birds Iced
Sulti nebouxii adept at diving into very shallow, Sula leucogaster for grabbing fishes. Making spectacular
inshore water even in rock pools. dives from 100ft (30ml or more, it
Blue-footed booby Small groups of birds sometimes dive Brown booby penetrates the water to great depths.
together for food mainly fishes mh Ii bombarding schools of squid and
Length 12 14 in Length 25 -"i 111
as living lishcs. sardines, am how. and 1.1 74cm) fishes such as mullet. With its long.
Weight 1 n. I'.k ilii mackerel, or squid. The blue- Weight sturdy wings, the brown booby is also
1,1
ikg looted one ol the rarer liooliles, a graceful flier, and the onlv member
1
is
1
<v*\- Plumage Scxi k-r Plumage Scxei alike

! . > 1 n
wiih a limited distribution. Even its of the family in which the male
dispersal is iclaiivclv restricted; foi advertises for a mate in flight.
Location \\ Mexico In Migration Partial ml Migration !'
niigi
example, the (lalapagos .1 rani
long, sturdy
Galapagos Islands Status Local!) comi birds move onlv to Status I -m. ills bill
nearby I'.t uador.
tesass fc=
densely streaked head
This distini tivc seabird. with vivid Like all boobies and gamuts, this
lone.
blue legs and feet, is one "I 9 species species is superbly adapted to marint
that make up the g.innel and iv I I feeding and diving. Il has a
family. Like iis relatives, il lias .1 streamlined, cigar-shaped
cigar-shaped body adapted foi plunge- I
n idy, .111 s.u s in i nshion
diving, and narrow wings thai angle the impai t hi
back |iisl before ii hiis the surface. plunge-div in
The in. ili is inn Ii smallci and lightei and a long.

than the female and so espei lallv tapering lull
apt*
hi
>
Hi
"
JM
•*
*Vvtf
PELICANS AND RELATIVE
then incubated by both pan

Moms bassanus
Young gannets typically leave the
Northern gannet nests around 3 months after hatching
and migrate without their parents.
Juveniles achieve full adult plumage
Wetghc I
within 5 vears.
PVjmage s< \<^ MmiLir
Migration Pjnui nnynuil
ihe northern gamut is a very

black, tapei
id seabird, with a torpedo-
WBIg&pS
iodv. long, narrow wings.
and a daggerlike bill, perfectly
adapted to plunge-diving for fish. It
nests m densely packed colonies or

"gannetries" on steep cliffs and
raised slopes. Higlily developed
«nair-bonding beha\ior
,
persists throughout the
fc nesting m-jm m and. • nu c
_ paired, gannets will remain
L" together lor veals.
^^^ftseturning to the same

Dazzling plumage
^^^Bnest season alter
The northern gamut a eery distinctive seabird.
irst breeding occurs
Most of its plumage
is
is dazzling white except for

m «•
etween the ages of 3 its jet-black wingtips. and the head and back of
nd j scars. One bluish the neck which have a buff-colored hue, contrasting
bite egg is laid and unth its uy blue eyes and bill.
Nesting gannets
I
•
colonus gamuts
space their nests at a distance of
2 birds ' reach, (iannetries are
so densely populated thai

lira ed from afar the high
utd cliffs can hare

the appearance of being
m mow.
Show of aggression
The northern gannet can be exceptionally
aggressive when defending its nest site, using its
powerful bill to stab and grip when fighting.
BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS
Few seabirds are ,i> sophisticated in their
behavioral patterns as the northern
gannet Both its plunge-diving technique
and pair-bonding behavior are highly
dramatic, while the level of parental
care it oilers is advanced.
I)KVM M lc |'| I \<a -IIH 1 K--
Horn up to I "iii/i
water, Ill, : i,
ultu
FeFJJINC A NESTLING
1
•ill" iis
PELICANS AND RELATIVES
Phalacrocorax auriius Phalacrocorax carbo although p.iir- of

birds usually
POWER-SWIMMING
Double-crested Great cormorant remain together
only for a single
cormorant season.
Weight I
p to
Zl Length 30-36iri
I
Plumage S
Weight 3 </< -4i/2 !b black body with
heat
Plumage Scx.cs alike Migration Partial misraju
* ' nhcm Africa Status Common

Location North Ammca Migration (Vtial migrant
Status Common fsa ss= tes Although the great cormorant

prefers to hunt in shallow water, it
t= One of the world's most widespread can dive to depths of 100ft 30m
coastal seabirds, the great cormorant or more. When underwater, it
rhis bird is the onlv cormorant in is also common inland and can be swims under its prev with its
North America that is w idespread found on almost any large area of wings pressed closely to its body.
inland as well as on the coast. It has a water - fresh, brackish, or saline. Sturdy legs with large webs make
streamlined body, a serpentine neck, natural or artificial - in Europe. for powerful propulsion.
and large, webbed feet, as with other .Asia, and Africa. It makes its nest
cormorants, but differs from diem in in a wide range of from habitats,
ha\ing a double crest on the head for cliffs and bare rocks to trees and
Long and sleek
a brief period in spring. Its increasing reedbeds. The great cormorant
rmorant has a spare,
population has made it a serious pest breeds in colonies, in some streamlined body, a flexible,
of catfish farms on the Mississippi. cases returning to the same serpentine neck, and a stout,
location year after year. hooked bill to help grasp fishes.
Phalacrocorax atriceps .\annopterum harrisi becoming waterlogged. The flightless

cormorant has a Ions, strong bill that
Blue-eved cormorant Flightless cormorant is useful for flushing octopus and fishes
from the sea bottom. It breeds in small

Length
groups. The male rears the young,
We.ght 5
continuing to feed them for several
months, while the female desert- them
Plumage Sexes alike Plumage S
to find a new mate.
Location t m unipolar Migration Partial mirrranl Location l .,: . j !

around Anlarcbra. S. South Isabela and Frmandina
Amenta. Falkland Islands Status Common
Anhinga melanogaster
L~
Indian darter
This distinctive, black and white This large cormorant has
Length )4-38in
(85-97om) cormorant, with blue eve from rings, is only the tiniest of wing- and
Weight 2 the Southern Hemisphere and found long since lost the abilitj to ll\ the
mostlv on rocky coasts and islands. A absence of terrestrial predators on the
Plumage Sexes differ
highly gregarious bird, it forms dense Galapagos Islands possibly having
y* '3j
winter flocks that forage offshore. In made flight unnecessary It produces
Location Africa Migration Partial migrant
summer, it mainly feeds alone. There very little oil from it- preen gland.
Australia. New Status Lov.rr risk are several subspecies of the blue-eyed but the soft, dense body plumage,
cormorant, differing slightly in color more like hair than leathers, traps
£L *« ssss and markings. air. which prevents the bird from
One of 4 similar species also known

as anhingas, this cormorant-like bird Fregala minor species one of 5 in their family inflated throat
usually swims with only its head and has a typically long, hooked black bill pouch on male
neck above the waterline, the rest of Great frisratebird and ,i long, forked he male is tail. I
slender, blue
black bill
the body being underwater. It has black, with a gloss\ green sheen and
spe< ialK adapted vertebrae in its neck long, pali- wingbars, and when courting
that form a Z-shaped kink, which Weight 2 exhibits a scarlet, balloonlike throat
straightens explosively and enables the pouch. The female is bl.uk and white.
darter to spc.ir its prey with its pointed The great frigatebird breeds on small.
bill. It builds a nest of twigs sometimes mostly uninhabited islands, forming
as high as 16ft 5m above water. Migration Partial migrant
colonies ol up to several thousand pairs
Status t ommon
N fc=
With their remarkably light bodies

and immense, slender wings, great
frigatebirds spend their lives gliding
effortiesslv over the sea, taking food

from die surface or from other birds.
Their plumage is not waterproof so,
when feeding, they dip only their bill
into the water, holding the wings up

to avoid geiung them wet This
HERONS AND RELATIVES
HERONS AND RELATIVES

THIS GROUP OF wading birds includes herons,
egrets, bitterns, storks, ibises, and spoonbills.
FEEDING
Most herons and their relatives use sharp eyesight to find
.Yllhave large, plump bodies with long necks their prey, scanning the water for signs of movement below
and powerful bills. Their long legs help them the surface. Once sighted, a Bsh oi frog will be grabbed but
rarer} speared with a thrust of the bill. Some birds refine the
to wade in shallow water, where they feed on
technique - for example, the black heron spreads its wings
fishes, amphibians, snails, and crabs. Most feed in i
shadow on the- water and lure fishes into the shade.
asi ,,
Not of these birds feed on live prey: the marabou stork

all
alone to avoid other birds disturbing their prey, but is primarily a scavenger thai feeds on carcasses.
at night they gather in groups to roost, and many
FEEDING INLAND
species breed in colonies. These birds are found in
I In cattle egret /mil* must
freshwater habitats throughout the world, mostly of its food away from the
in warm regions not subject to winter freezing. water. Flocks typical!) gather
around cattle una otha largt
mammals to lad mi insa >
ANATOMY BILL SHAPES

.1 long bill is a useful tool
disturbed by their movements.
Herons and their relatives have several fin pulling animali from
adaptations for walking and feeding in watei hi mud. Ibist I hat < a
shallow water. Long legs allow the bird to long, thin, dou n i
STRIKING AT PREY
keep its plumage dry while extends its it Herons hit, , a long, >//<»«/// When hunting, a heron bends it.
flexible neck to lower it> head toward the bill that tapt i s to a point. mil mtii a characterise
water. The feet have 4 widely spaced toes, A stork's hill ii similar in i >! feeing its prey
the front 3 joined by webbing to spread the shape but often curves up or tin heron thrusts its
^fcpw
bird's weight as ii walks on mud or marshy down at ihi tip, whik a headforward with
vegetation. All birds in this group have broad spoonbill's flat bill broadens lightning speed. Oni
wings. During flight, herons, bitterns, and at th, i nd tojorm a shape the prey is taught, it may
egrets retract their neck, similar to a \palitln. SPOONBILL subdued by a stabfrom the bill.
whereas most storks and

all ibises and spoonbills
Appearance
A dm togi ther, often in a lall nee. but
i cinerea I
and distinetwe bird.
sometimes on the ground I he female
urn has
Gray heron
:•
usuall) L,\ s i
5 eggs. 1 .ik< , ithei
a lung urck and
I, • they use ritual i ourtship and I
Length
defensi displays, sui 1, as streti hing plumage is gray,
Weight '
. Ii. upward w ith an an hing nei k
cjjj Plumage
1
Si
2kg
FISHING BY SIGHT
Location Europi \sw Migration Partial migrant
1 he gra) heron relies on stealth
Mm.,
SuiuS ( ,
, Minimi and rapid reactions to i ati h Hs
When
tb = pri j
to the water's edgi

movement of am
fishing, a stands
mi
fishes
initoi Lng
i
los,
i lose
by
the
h
1 he mosl or union and widespread
i a lish , is Within sir iking i
heron in Europe, this bird can bi found the heron tips forward and pai il'.
in all kinds ol shallow, freshwatei extends its net k. before suddenly

habital from reedbeds to lakes h flies stabbing wiih iis bill, Ii swallows
with slnwh [lapping, deeply bowed small fishes whole, bui lakes largei
1
Iray herons man foi life; the ones bat k to land.

male .md female Inuld 1 1 < m si
*
IER.ONS AND RELATIVES
Casmerodius albus
In the breeding season, long plumes tadpoles and snatches them up. I he
develop on the back, trailing over the hamerkop builds the largest roofed
Great egret relatively short tail. These egrets si. ilk Hamerkop in si oi any bird. Made of twigs, mud.
tin ii pre) alone or in loose groups, but and grass, ii is own-shaped with an
within groups individuals defend small entrance tunnel, up to 6 2m across ii
Weight territories, ["heir young in the nest are Weight I Jen and deep, and sited high up in a tree.
otog extremel) aggressive, often resulting While the hamerkop breeds solitarily,
Plumage v Plumage s
in the death of weaker chicks. nests are often found near each other.
Mrgraoon Partial migrant Migration V

Status t onunon Status ! - -.Us common
Is kc= fe
"
The mosi widespread of all herons. From the German "hammerknpl
the great egret found in .ill kinds of
is meaning hammerhead, this bird's
wetlands from the Anient as to Via common name is good description .i
and Australia. plumage is entirel)

Its nl its unusual shape, with its relatively
white, and the legs and feet are black. sin n l bill and heaw crest mi the bat k
til us head. Dull brown, ii has darkei
brown primar) leathers, and a palei
Butorides striates Nycticorax nyctkorax chin and throat. While man) water-
birds leed primarily on fishes, the
Green heron Black-crowned hamerkop's main diet consists ol

amphibians. It feeds in shallow water.
night-heron using its bill to rake die bottom Ibi frogs
and fishes: also Hies above groups of
V?
Weight I
it
Height 2
Plumage S
Weight
Balaeniceps rex
Location V i Migration I' mull migrant Plumage Si
Sou Shocbill
Location Noi Migration I'.inial migrant
Africa. Asia status i
Unlike most other herons, this small

Migration \
bird feeds at night or at dusk, using
its exceptional \ision to Status I
glossy
pinpoint its pre) in dim
/ black
light, and la
occasionally -^
also responding 1 he shoebill, ot whale-headed stork,
tn sounds. It grasps has a highl) distinctive, large, broad.
1 his highl) variable, medium-sized, food with its bill while clog-shaped bill. It often hunts for prey
se< retive heron is one of the feu birds standing still or in pools that are drying out. feeding
known to drop bait into the water to walking slowly in the main!) on lungfishes, as well as on
am. H t fishes. It has about 10 water. It usuall) feeds hog- ,\m\ small mammals. I hi
subspei ies, spread across the Tropii - singly, but nests and liftjuentK ailupts an unusual method
and subtropics. One common form, breeds coloniallv A good nl hunting: it plunges on prey as it
from South America, is generally gray- climber, it is often seen falling on it and then t uts up the
green above. The lava heron Butorides clambering over roots or
from the Jal
aukvalii . ( brant lies close to the
Islands, however, is entnek dark gray. « .iter's edge. extremely quick. White with black
MycUria amerkana
wing nps. ii has ,i dark gray head and
;
- I
American wood stork neck. The wood stork feeds eithei alone
bill. Like other bitterns, when or in groups, and breeds i olonially,
disturbed it assumes a peculiar defen- -.. building a m-si often over watei at
American bittern sive posture, with its bill upturned and Weight treetop level, and very occasional!) on
Height J
Weight 13-32oz
i i
m
its
the
in
neck extended, and may swa) in
wind with the surrounding grass
ordei to remain inconspicuous.
S Plumage S
the ground where there are no
ground predators.
Migrauon I'.irtial mtgram

Plumage Sacs alike
Location \ nh America, Migration M
Caribbean Status ( uiiiinun
The Anient an wood

v= ~ by both and touch, enabling it to
sight
stork lot ates food
I
feed b) da) oi night, and in murk)
With its streaked and mottled brown water [Tie seal) head and net k art-
plumagi thi torn i ii an bittei n is bald, .is leathers would be soiled when
superbly camouflaged for life in dense dipped in mud. While feeding 1>\
reedbeds and overgrown marshes. touch, the bird walks through the
This daytime feeder preys primaril) waie i with its long, thick bill open,
on fishes and frogs, stabbing w ith a moving from side it to side. When it
lightning-last lunge of its daggerlike encounters prey, its n-.u tions are
Ill RONS AND RELATIVES
Ciconia ciconia Leptoptilo s aiiiiit Hi/, 111 1 Threskiornis aethiopicus
European white stork Marabou stork Sacred ibis

Height
Weight V II. Weight !'/, lb
Plumage Sew l alike Plumage &
Migration Migrant Locaoon Ali Migration Migrant
Status l
Status [>„-.,!!
fs Al
I Ins huge, ungainl) looking stoik is I his medium-sized white ibis, with its
slate gray, black, and white, and has strikingly black, featherless head and
a w ingspan <il nearl) 9 (i Im om upper neck, was revered in ancient
of the largest 1 .1 an) land bird, lis I gypt \ gi mi 1
alized feeder, it
'llll.tsts ( ohabits with people and i onsumes

tdgt-shaptd
markedly with its hunched and a variety of foods refusi ami offal
bill. Ih pinkish to pale
unappealing aspei when mi the t around human habitations, insects in
magmla pinnh. ui
Becausi ol its feei ling habits untlh. lint:
grassland areas, and aquatic animals
see panel below . the marabou sioik in shallow pi
has don, \n\ well, ami is in< reasing

in numbers throughout its range. the bill.
In parts of northern Europe, this

elegant, bl.n k and white bird is .1
harbinger of spring, migrating

as fai awa\ as southern .\frica. where Although it is a stork, the marabou
ii spends the winter. Poday, largeh often behaves more like a vulture.
due to habitat 1 hange. far fewer sn.iks It si i.n s high up in search of food.
breed in northern Europe, but theii ami uses iis large bill to teai rotting
rooftop nests arc still eonsiderci I j. » id meal from an assrs. Like a true
1
luck. 1 he white sti.ik hed- primarily vulture, it has an almost featherless

in shallow watei and grassland, but head ami ncik an adaptation that
also .1! the edges ol 1 rop fields. It helps prevent it from getting soiled
migrates mainh ovet I. mil. where while it feei Is
(hernials help iis soaring flight.
Eudocimus ruber Gerontiau eremita
Scarlet ibis Northern bald ibis

Length 32in
We.ght N
Plumage S
Migration Xonmigrani Location \ \\

Migration
on the nape 01 its ne< k. and Inownisli

endangered
black iridescent plumage. It feeds neat
Is ITL t= fit Jl jkjik. pools and dry river beds, using iis
long, < urved lull to pn il

-
I his \ ividh 1 olored bird gathers in Once widespread throughout southern ither sin. ill animals m loose
large Hocks sometimes • .1 tens ol Europe, North Africa, and West Asia, ground. It nests m 1 1 ill inies on steep
thousands of birds in the bi lhr scarlet ibis feeds on the this ibis is now extremel) rare Ii has a dills, when- ii- atively
-i.ison. on tin- oastal wedands ol 1 ground during daytime, but at ban red hi ad, a straggly blai k crest sal. from alt.n k.
northern South America, in swamps, dusk, Hies up into waterside
it
and mangroves, as well as on trei •

1st. I his behav i< .1
tidal rivers. Birds ol .11 olon\ pan oil 1 0111 n among ibises, herons, I'lalalea alba relatives, 11 swings its bill from side 10
for breeding altl gh the\ often ami their relatives reduces the side in tin water, creating urrents that 1
mate with nher partners . 1

being attat ked In African spoonbill bring lishes within range, which the
101, building their m-sis predators at night. sp ibill speedil) snaps up. Ii ma\
in trees close to watci i i)\ night, looking foi fishes
Like other ibises, tin and 11111111114 aln 1 t In 111 in a sprint.
scarlet ibis finds its
11 1111.11 il\
In tout li
instead of In
si^ln 1
into soli mud w iih it s long.

VrvBD i oloration
gentl) i ur\ ing bill, usualb win
With ii< /
walking along Ii ma\ ah. •

fc< d lik.
a spoonbill, sweeping iis lull In mi fins grai : .1 whin bird

side io side in iIh wall r. Cra belongs to a gn iup ol 6 pecies thai
shelllish. .unl aquatic nisi . is •41 I lllell 11. line from till bio..
majot items ol pre\ 'In 11 bills Like Us

i
n AM1NGOS
FLAMINGOS
PHYLUM ( 'ln.nl. n. With their extremely long legs COLONIES GROUP DISPLAY
During courtship
class Aves and neck, and colorful pink or red Flamingos are among the most displays, jiamingoi
am Phoenicopteriibrmes plumage, these tall wading birds are soi iable of birds, even performing mm engage in "head-
their courtship displays in groups. " raising their
flagging,
FAMILIES 1 iPhoenicopteridae) striking and instantly recognizable. Thousands of individuals open their neck and bill, and
SPECIES 5
They are found in the Tropics and wings or lift up and turn their heads turning their had
in one vast, synchronized movement from side to side.
subtropics, usually in the shallows Ihese group displays seem to bring
of salt or brackish water or alkaline lakes, sometimes all the birds of the colony to the
same readiness to man-, to ensure
massed in vast tlocks of up to one million birds. rapid, synchronized egg laying a^
Despite their fragile appearance, flamingos occur in soon ,b conditions allow. Breeding
colonies often form when the water
main where few other animals can
parts of the world
level of a salt lake drops the
survive. They are frequently found in conditions of surface is suddenl) covered with
pilesof raised mud. which form the

extreme salinity or alkalinity, and are remarkably
flamingos' nests. he parents care 1 CRECHES
tolerant of changes in temperature. Flamingos are for their young for the first week or Voungflamingos form large groups of up
specialized feeders, using their unusual downturned two. Once young flamingo is able
.i to 3 00. 000 birds (here, lesser and greater
to walk and swim, it joins ,i flamingos). They are fed
still In tlieir parents
bill to filter tiny plants and animals "cretin-" see iii;ln . but are guarded by an unrelated adult
from water.
ANATOMY
Flamingos have a slender body set on greatly
elongated legs, which are longer in relation to body
size than those of any other bird. The limbs are

completely bare, allowing the birds to wade deep
in highly saline or alkaline water without soiling
their plumage. Flamingos have a long, flexible
neck that, in the case of the larger species, is also
remarkably thin. The head is small, and the bill
has a characteristic downward bend. The way in
which the upper and lower parts of the bill fit
together, combined with the comblike plates on the
bill's edges, make it a useful tool
lor sieving food from wati
right The flamingo's unique pink
.
I ater lamellar
or red coloration arises from a
dye extracted from food such
FEEDING BILL \ v .
upper bill
as algae and shrimps. By opening its
>"'"""" '""
A flamingo usualt) feeds while wading bill only slightly >k -<
in shallows, using its feel to stir up mud alien feeding, a CROSS SECTION
STANDING IN WATER on the bottom. To feed, it puts its head flamingo filters
Flamingo! (here, a greaterflamingo) to (lie surface so that its bill is upside out una anled large item >.
^^^^K
often stand on one leg for long pi nods. down and the tip points backward .-! second filtration happens
eien when asleep, with the head laid and sweeps its head from side to side. inside the bill, uhu- ^^ / ^H
on the body and the other leg tucked B\ a rapid action of the tongue, it liny plates, often with minute
under the abdomen. TMi posture cuts pumps water and out of the slight!)
in hairs attached, act a
heat loss through the legs andfeel. opened bill. Along the inside edge of to trap the smaller particles
the bill are rows of plates, known as that the flamingo needs. FEEDING
FEET lamellae, some of whu h have tin\ hails
Compai,
thefeet qfflamn^
The front 3
; legs, on them. The flamingo filters out food
particles b\ sieving them past the
lamellae and their hairs, the si/e of
^1 -,*^
^1
FEEDING ON ALGAE
Lessei flaming
^\ and
small. other smaller species
.and the back on, particles taken differs between species. usually feed from the
flamingos tend to feed on

\ » .
nid or crustaceans, mollusks. and worms. flamingos imnu

other soft I
and the smaller spec ies on algae. heads completely to feed.
FLAMINGOS
.mil ill all regions they lly long

Phoenicopterus ruber
distances sometimes up to 300 miles
MASS BREEDING
Greater flamingo 500km to find food, traveling al lor a social species, the greatei
night I he greatei flamingi i's largi flamingo shows a remarkable range
size enables it to wade out into ol colon) size. In some parts oi the
relatively deep water, whereas othei world, breeding colonies contain
flamingos are rest] icted to thi huge- numbers ol birds, but in
shallows; it also sometimes swims. others such as the Galapagos

upending like a duck in order to reach Islands the) may contain only a
lood. 1 his flamingi i
usually feeds with lew dozen. This variability is one of
Vsi i Vl'rii '
Status I n ...i.
its head fully immersed, sometimes the reasons why greater flamingos
keeping it underwatei for up to are relatively easy to breed in
fa HL kss 20 seconds. Unlike smaller flamingos, captivity, unlike sonic of their relatives.
it rarer) takes from the sui fai I I i
With its exceptionally long neck and which reduces competition with them.
legs, the greater flamingo is the largest Diet is varied, and ini hides insii is. < lourtship involves complex,
member of the flamingo family. It is worms, microscopi( algae, and pieces ^s in fironized dances - neck
found in a wide variety "I freshwater ol vegetation ["he greater flamingo strett fling, ritualized preening,
and saline habitats, particularly s.ih feeds in. unl'. dm ing the day, even loud honking performed by
Likes, estuaries, and lagoons. Greater in the hottest conditions. Highly large numbers of males and
flamingos outside the Tropics often gregai i ius, it breeds in i olonies "I females. It ha- a quietei i ontact
migrate to warmer regions for winter. up to 200.000 monogamous pairs i all while feeding.
NESTS AND CHICKS exceptionally

long, thin neck .
As with all flamingos, nests of greater

flamingos are flattened cones of
mud. often surrounded by a shallow
or red
PlNKOl
Pink
"moat." and spaced about 5ft .5m 1
apart, just beyond pecking distance. ^ The grea

greater flamingo is generally
funk, but 2 distinct subspecies

Both parents incubate the single ^L
gg hey defend the nest when
I
breeding, but are otherwise non-

S
^^fc
dlffrr
differ
World su
ill
III hue,
I
Mthspecies being
noticeabl) redder than

noticeably
with
its
territorial. Once
walk, the) gather in large creches
under the supervision of a small
the chic ks i an
blunt,
angled bill /
^ OUi
webbed
1 \» Id counterpart.
short,
number of adults. toe.
Phoenicoparrus CONSERVATION
Puna flamingo With ii- small population and
localized distribution, the puna
Height I :>
flamingo is vulnerable to anything

We.gtu I II, that affects its reproductive success
2 kg
For centuries, its eggs have been
Plumage \ ( .
collected by Andean people for

I I. which may account for its
Migration \
i in rent low numbers. Ibis bird is
'
now protected by guards at one ol

its most important breeding sites.
fa Pollution is also a potential threat

since it could jeopardize the
This flamingo derives its common flamingo's food supply The smallest but most numerous
name from its habitat "puna" is the flamingo, the flamingo may be
lessei
local word foi a high Andean plateau. light to dark pink, with a relatively
Its diet consists dl diatoms long, dark-colored beak. It is non-
microscopic algae that abound in salt migratory, but will readilv mi r
lake-. It leeds bv da) in shallow water. new site in sean h i 'I food. Its diet
(walking slowly forwards with pink
its bill onsists almi is) entirel) ol mi
dipped just under the walei surface coloration
blue-green algae, abundant in
Diatoms are filtered out ol the walei soda lakes. It leeds
in the bill and swallowed. I his in -hallow watei
flamingo has a variet) ol i alls, both at dusk and
when feeding and when flying. Ii is aftei dark.
one of ! South AincTic an flamingos, avoiding
the other 2 being the ( Mean flamingi i
ivtirne •
[Phoenkopt and the Andean wind Si ime
flamingo Phoeni All i .
, Ii inii s an
hi bi found togethei in salt a million strong
lakes, usual]) ai altitudes ov< i 9 900ft among the largi si
3,000m Mi ist puna flaming igrate bud aggn gatii ins in

to lowei altitudes in winter, but some tin world. ( ourtship
remain at hikes when- there arc hot rituals often involve
springs. 1 h< courtship and breeding hundreds ol birds
habits ol tin- bird an simil u and displaying
ol thi greatei flamingo see ab i
in -vn. I
.
WATERFOWL
WATERFOWL
ALS< ) KX( >WN as wildfowl, members REPRODUCTION
class Aves of this group include ducks, geese, The reproductive cycle of waterfowl is
suited to a life spent on water, which

o«u>eR and swans, as well as a family of
Anseriformes
often involves exposure to < old and
3 South American species known predators. L iilike most birds, the males
as screamers. Aided by waterproof have an organ similar to a penis, which

is inserted inside the female's cloaca,
plumage and webbed feet, they are making it possible for them to mate
among the dominant birds of freshwater wetlands. on the surface of water. Waterfowl YOUNG
usual!) nest near water, most often latch in a well-/!'
They are also found in estuaries and inshore coastal among ground vegetation, although \tale. with their eyes open and a covering
waters, while a few species are entirely marine. some species use holes in trees or rock of down that dries quickly. Hours after
crevices. 1 he females ol some species, hatching, the docks (such a
Waterfowl are strong swimmers. They feed mostly such as ciders, pluck their own down to Canada geese) can walk on
from the surface of the water, although many ducks make an insii, adult
and soon
dive in search of food, and some species to the re iter,
\food.
(notably geese, swans, and screamers
graze on land. Waterfowl are powerfu
B I
fliers, and some species undert;
annual migrations of thousands
of miles between their wintering
and breeding areas.
ANATOMY
Waterfowl have a plum]), buoyant body, with
a small head and. usually, a short tail. Most
species have a broad, flattened bill sec below
and a long neck for reaching down to feed
underwater. Manx species are gaudily
colored. When molting, most lose all their
flight feathers simultaneously. To hide
them from predators during the period
when they are unable to fly, the males
drakes acquire a drab coloring, known
as an eclipse plumage. Waterfowl are
insulated from cold by a layer of down
a layer of fat beneath the skin. Screamers
look different from other waterfowl in sevei
respects: they have longer legs, spurred wings, a
chickenlike bill, and toes webbed onlv at the base
TAKING OFF
BILL Although some waterfowl can spring
waterfowl, the common almost vertically from water, the heaiier
Mduck has a wide, flattened bill. species have to resort to a running takeoff.
The edges have small ridgts. called Swans, in particular, need a long
lamellae, which are used to grip runway, gaining speed by pattering with
prey orfilter edible particles out of their feet across the surface tt)
the water. The tip of the upper

broad
bill
bill may he hardened into a nail
for tearing vegetation.

MOVEMENT
Several adaptations help waterfowl move
easily through water. The smooth outline ol
PREENING their body reduces water resistance, while
Plumagi i are is important fui waterfowl their webbed feet sec left act as powerful
such as this graylag goose, because it is paddles. Thick plumage adds to their
1 1 \nitial that then feathers remain buoyancy, although main duck species th.it
,-«
aterproqj. . 1 gland on the bird's dive to find food sleek their plumage to expel
rump FEET air and reduce their buoyancy before FLYING FORNLVFION
I
n i
repellent oil. The ! I

'
use their webbed submerging. With their huge wings and Flocks of waterfowl thi n
bird stimulates feet tn help propel themselves exceptionally light bones, screamers can fly .
m a characteristic I
-
the gland with through water. Only the font for hours on end. often soaring. Other formation. By staying in the
its bill and then 3 Iocs are webbed, the smaller spet ies of waterfowl have smaller wings that slipstream of the leading bird,
spreads tin oil hind toe being rai- must be Happed constantly when in flight. those farther back meet with less
around ,'
enables than to walk on land, Once airborne, however, they are fast and turbulenceand thereby >,.
by rubbing and although they do so with a powerful fliers, with some species capable of The position of hard-working
preening waddling gait. exceeding 60mph lOOkph in level flight. leader is changed regularly.
WATERFOWL
na comula Dendrotygna eytoni Cygnui alar about 5 months. Young

remain with their parents for longer
Horned screamer Plumed whistling- Mute swan than this, but they are driven away by
the male at the onset of the following
duck breeding season. It tak
Weight t .. fol the young to become fully mature
Length
and able to raise young of their own.
Plumage v
Weight
Migraoon N'onmigrani Plumage -

Status I . - J common
a*. Vs: Status Ij* all
Although related lo other waterfowl. ta Originally from Europe and

screamers have mam distinctive Central Asia, this extremely
feature-., including lurkeylike bodit s, Like all H species ol whistling-ducks, elegant bird has been introduced as
narrow bilk, and Liil: legs ending in this species has long ley- and an ornamental species in mans i ithei
partly webbed feet. The largest ol t hi- webbed feet, with a netlike patt parts nl the world. When \oung, the
3 species in the screamer family, the the ankle and heel, a charat ten-tic that mute swan i- grayish brown, but the
horned scrcamci i- bla< k and white, ismore typical ol a goose than a duck. adult has pure white plumage, an
with remarkable slender spike, up lo
.1 The plumed whistling-dut k also has orange-red bill, and black legs and
4in 10cm long, that curves upward some gooselike behavioral traits: it feet. One of the world's heaviest
and forward from it* forehead. Like it- mostl) feeds on land, living birds, it runs or paddles across
relatives, it often feeds on land rathei pulling and i lipping i to take off, but once airborne,
than in water. Females lay \ 6 grassi s. It is is a powerful flier, making a distinctive
a neslon the ground, and these take' beheved to remain pulsating sound with its wings. Mute
6 weeks to h.iti h monogamous for life. The swans feed mainly on water, often
male also cares for upending to reach plants and small
the young animals in underwater mud. Ihe\
straw-colored, mate for and life nest b\ the water's
'edjlank
fioinlec edge "t on small islands, making a
blunu mound of vegetation often more than
i It 1 m at i oss. Females lay up to 8
and take sole charge
ggs in a clutch,
of incubation. the young haw Once
hatched, both parents look aftei them
until they become independent at
Cjgnus airalu\
FAMILY TIES Anseranas semipalmata Ansa anser
Black swan Magpie goose Graylag goose

Length Length
„.^»
\ '
-
Weight Weight •
Plumage
Migration
S
ife-4- Plumage Sexes able
Migration Partial mierjiu

Plumage S<\\rs alike
^ration Miirrant
Like other swans, ilii- spe< ies is

Status Common
strictly monogamous. The male
*=: and female have a strong bond and
both participate in building the
This is the onl\ swan that i- almost nesl and caring for the young The graylag goose i- the wild ancestor
entirely black. I he innermost flight ot barnyard geese, originally bred in
feathers are < uriously twisted, and central Europe, and the basis for
when threatened, the swan raises most othei swans, black swans are almost all European aoose folklore.
these feathers and . xposes the whin high]) sociable, and also semi- 1 he name "graylag" derives from its
primaries. Exclusively vegetarian nomadit Aftei breeding, -
: and the fact that it
it on aquatic plants;
feeds the) sometimes gathei in undertakes late migrations, or "lags"
nally. it may graze ll' ' k- thousands son ing behind other geese. Males
on land. ( lompared ti swim in an erei posture I
^- bright red bill

lo attract the female,
LONG-NECKED s\\ KS
and mating is often
;< hilt
inly -pt i ies in n- family, this mutual
I by
primaries gooselike bird i- unique anion.: head dipping
uj) mui r rvl in main way
than halj lit, ink - 1
1
>_; h 1 1 \ webbed; the him I
unusually long, enabling ii to perch

easily <m small branches; and it i- the
only waterfowl with lei;- so long that
the end- . il the feet extend be\ontl the
i. ul during flight. It i- also the only
waterbird to form breeding gn
one male and 2 females, I he male i-
larger. with a more disrini rive bony

"bump" i
hi hi- t town.
WATERFOWL
Alopochen aegyptiaca
Egyptian goose
"'':"-".:
S^:_s Status Lowr fist1 Status Lu aDy common

Canada geese are diurnal feeders,
.. .=: foraging on dry land a? well as on »=;
water tor plants. Now a common
Originally from Norili America sight in parks outside their native With reduced webbing on its toes, this
the highly sociable Canada range, flocks leave the water at dove-gray goose has adapted for life
goose has been introduced dawn to feed on grasses, seeds, mainly on land. Its black, stubby bill
widely to northern Europe and grains. is mostly hidden by a pale green cere
and New Zealand. It is - a fleshy pad at the base of the upper
becoming increasingly part of the bill. Aggressive and
common, a of
result territorial, it performs several threat
its ability to adapt to a wide displays, and may bite or strike with
range of climates, tolerate itsknobbly wings. Mating occurs
ecological change, and feed on land and is followed by a
on grass as well as other low "triumph" ceremony by pairs relative ol the common
vegetation. One of the most after aggressive encounters shelduck see below, left . this long-
variable of all geese in -ize. with rival males. legged bird lives in lakes, rivers, and
subspecies range from the small subtropical wetlands, but also spend-
Arctic forms, up to 4 .lb 2kg to . much of its rime on land. Its "bullying"
the large, most southerly populations, bcha\ior toward smaller species is
which may occasionally weigh as notable, a* is its aggressive behavior

much as 181b within it- own species. The female
chooses the mo-t aggressive male as
Coloration a mate, which means there is much

This goose has a black head and nick, white
lighting during the pairing season.
cheeks, and a brown body, with blackish wing tips Males have husky calls, while females
and lighter underparts. The bill andfeet are black. make loud, nattering sounds.
Tadorna ladorna Anas platyrhynchos
Common shelduck Mallard

Length 2 Length 20-26in
i
Weight .
Plumage Sexes differ P im i;s Sera
Location Europe. Asia. V Migration Partial migrant Location North America, Migration Partial migrant Location North America. Migration Parual migrant
S rth AlLanbc. S. GrrciilaiKL. Europe. Asia Europe including Iceland.
Mediterranean. W. Pacific Status LocalK' common Status C Africa S^:-s
Mallards often feed by upending
ju*. bsz ^ *=: to reach submerged plants and
invertebrates. They also eat by
»=:
An inhabitant chiefly of marine or The mallard has a wide distribution in dabbling, grazing or. rarely, The smallest dabbling duck of
saline waters, thisduck has iridescent, the Northern Hemisphere, it- success diving in shallow water. At North America and Europe,
greenish black, white, and chestnut being due to its great flexibility - it certain times of the year. the teal breeds in tundra.
plumage. The male has a knob at the can adapt to almost all types of Uiey are a comn. nd. forest, and forest
top of its red bill, absent in the female aquatic habitats for breeding, even in fields of grain crops. ad in relatively small bodies
shown below . Like all shelduck-. it is urban environments, and is able to of water. Its tiny bill helps it to feed
intermediate in behavior between a feed in a number of ways see panel on small seeds of aquatic plants:
goose and a typical duck. It I. u _ right The male has a low-pitched
. mollusks. crustaceans, and inset ts also
the tidelinc. usually standing in shallow quack and a sharp whistle, while the form part of its diet. The male has
water, probing for mollusks and female is more vocal and has mam bright breeding plumage, and utter-
other marine invertebrates. distinctive quacking calls. a cricketlike call that is a double-note
.Vesting often takes place in whistle, while females produce high-
holes, such as the abandoned pitched quacks. Both sexes have a
arrows of other animals green wing patch called "speculum."
Female
The female is mottled brown, buff.
'he non-breeding male
.
has a similar plumage,

called eclipse
Breeding male
The breeding male
has a green head with

a white neck ring, a rufous
breast, gray flanks, black
rump, and a white tail with
centralfeathers. 7
WATERFOWL
and bn iad ai ting as a brake to slow

Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos
the dm Is down before n lands in the
iiers. 1 1 also has mi \ large eyes, which Blue duck

help II see al night. Ihe manil.n in
Feeds on land, in llir trees, and in
wan i. where it dabbles, upends, and Weight
-,
; it it
011K rarel) dives. lis diet i onsists ol

; i
Plumage &
seeds and nnis. as well as some
invertebrates su< h as inset is and laud
sn.nls. ( ourtship is highl) soi ial, with Location New /< Migration
several malescompeting foi a female's Status Vulni rabli
attention. )riginalh from l.as! Asia,

( aquatic larvae of inset is such as
inuodui rd buds have established
il Ives in westei n Europe.
— caddisflies, mayflies, stoneflies.
midges, whit h it obtains by diving.
and
It
The male mandarin in iis breeding I n ii uc |

among waterfowl for its also Feeds by dabbling at the surface,
prominent crest liny nr\
plumage is among the most ornate slate-blue plumage, t his duck is highly upending, and Foraging around the
and beautiful of all birds. It has a adapted for life in cold, clear, rapidly riverbed rocks and boulders, where
prominent crest on head, golden it-, flowing streams, where Few other birds it uses its unique bill to scrape wet
hackles, and a pair of usually bright can survive. Its main lood is the algai bom the rocks.
yellow, sail-shaped feathers on
eaeh inner wing. These an (
b er& ted above the Hanks Zealand (see above) is its closest
Merganetta armata
- their function is punk ecological counterpart. It dives and
ornamental. Females Torrent duck swims upstream, remaining very close
and non-breeding to the bottom, probing under roi ks
males are mostly 13
and among stones For insect larvae and
olive-brown. Weight 16oz pupae. Females are ruFous, while males
,n,
9
I his is one l
are black and while.
Plumage s, ., ,1,11,,
of the most
arboreal of all ducks,
Location \\ South Migration Nonmigranl
often roosting or perching
on branches and nesting in tree Status Lowei rislc]
cavities; ducklings have to jump

lioin the nest hole to the ground at
harp claws
M* SS5
only one day old. Like other perching
ducks, its claws are sharp, to help it Fhis highly streamlined, Andean duck
cling to branches, and its tail is long never leaves rapid mountain streams,
a habitat that Few other ducks are
to exploit owing to the swiFtness oF
i airina moschata toes all adaptations foi perching in I he i in lents the blue duck oF New
trees. The adult male also has a slight
Muscovv duck crest on the top oF the head, a knob
above the nostrils, and ban-, wart) Melanitta fusca
Length 26 I I in
66 84cm skin around the eyes. Domesticated

Weight I
' I! '/i II,
bulls beli iw slum main vai i.ini i i ill >i - White-winged scoter
2 ii
I inisiialK for a duck, both sexes are
Plumage Si ltd aiiki
nearly mute.
Migration \, ,,,,,, ,-,.,,,
£L ««
I his large, heavy-bodied thu k is
mosih blackish as an adult (brownish

black when young), and has a long
I. nl. broad wings, and sharpl) i lawi d
Polystii in rtellen eat h side, is probabl) adapted foi
si raping invertebrati s off roi ks, 01

Steller's eider ma) serve as a tat rile de\ it e when
foraging in deep, dark wain s. h lives
Length 17-18 in
l I
I .
,,,
entirel) in the open sea ext epl during
Weight.'; I'...- the breeding season, win n it ma) be
6;
observed in coastal wains. jusi before The w hili -winged si olei. also i ailed
'lumage Si « difli
I
luilding us nisi in low. grass) tundra. the velvet s< oter, spends nun h ol the
\e.n .a sea. although n breeds on
Location YW North Migration Migrant heshwalei inland, and sometimes
i I
N I \ ... Status \ bli

w inleis on large lakes II .i", I, ,i i
i)
depths ol 23fl 7m often

hss 5SS — di\ ing io
n in, lining
minute, or longei
nndei wall foi ne.ilb a
in
i
deeper wati
.
rs
This is the smallest ol the I eider Ii is a sloiil t Ii it k. wall a hi aw bill
Spei H and the onl) one with an

s, ai lapti -I foi eating mollusks. lis large
oi ange-rusl breast and underparts nostrils may be related to well-
I
ling males onl) . lis gra) bill devi loped glands thai exi rete sails
win. h has soft, flaplikc margins on from an\ se.i waiei ih.ii a sw.i
BIRDS OF PREY
BIRDS OF PREY
PHYLUM Chordata Of all birds, these are the chief carnivores HUNTING
CLASS Aves and the most accomplished predators. .Although ( iat< hing live much practice and often has a high
prey takes
ORDER Fal c oni forme s many other birds feed on living animals, the failure rate. Aduh
birds arc usually better hunters than young
ones, bin even adults mi-.-, nunc often than the) strike. Some
5
FAMILIES
birds of prey are set apart by their remarkably species vary their technique according to their pre) buzzards,
SPECIES307
acute eyesight, muscular legs, and sharp bill for example, hover over small mamm
als bul search for
earthworm-- on the ground. Others, such as tin- osprey, are
and talons as well as by their aerial ability and more spei talized see below Most birds of prey hunt alone.
.
sophisticated hunting techniques. This large group (sometimes but in a lew species including some eagles pairs work
together, one bird Gushing out the prey and the other striking.
also referred to as raptors) includes eagles, hawks, \-ultures,
buzzards, ospreys, and falcons, among others. Most birds of FISHING
prey hunt by day. which distinguishes them from owls. As a The osprey feeds almost
entirely anfish and has a
group, raptors feed on a large assortment of living animals, unique catching technique. It
from worms and amphibians, mammals,

snails to fish, reptiles, approaches in a low- angled
due and throws its long legs
and other birds. They also eat carrion. Birds of prey are forward to grab a
found almost worldwide but are most common in open its talon \
osprey ma
country in warm parts of the world.
ANATOMY
Birds of prey range in size from falconets, no larger than a sparrow,
to condors, which have a wingspan of up to 10ft (3.2m). Some are
broad-winged and hea\y. while others are slight and streamlined.
Most species have a large head and short neck, although vultures
have a long, bare neck that allows them to reach inside an as c
One of the most distinctive features of the group is the bill:

in almost all spec ies. it is powerful and hooked, with sharp
edges for tearing flesh. The exact form of the bill varies,
reflecting differences in diet see below, right). A bird of n |
other main tool is its feel, which are strong and muscular
with long, sharp claws known as talons isee below, left .
The plumage of most species is in subdued colors -m h

as brown, gray, black, or blue), often combined with white.
thick, scaly
slan
hooked
bill
(•>
BALD EAGLE
BILLS
long, backward- tooth-like
pointing talon
The distinct hook and sharp
edges of a bald eagle \ hill
TALONS are typical of mam birds of

Most birds of prey kill with their talons rather than prey. Variations on this sha/ie
their bill. The talons pierce vital organs and break HA' can be seen in other species.
slender bones. Three of the 4 toes point forward, and Hawks and falcons have a
long,
one points backward In many species I including this toothlike ridge in the upper
hooked
white-tailed sea eagle), the backuard-pointing claw is
_ bill
bill for breaking the tpine of
the longest and sharpest. It gives the fool a powerful u lul, !lu mail kilt
pincerlike action for holding and crushing prey that uses its long, hooked bill to
can be difficult for the bird to release. SNAIL KITE pull snails from their shells.
SENSES deep eye

canity fnniard-facing
Birds of prey hunt mainly by sight, and they are

renowned for their acute vision. It is estimated
that they an see at least
( times as much detail 1 EYE PROTECTION
as a human, an ability that helps them pick out Like many birds of
prey from a great distance. This results from goshawk has a
having a high concentration of tone cells in the inch cy,. which provides
retina, and from having relatively large eyes. shade and protects the eye
Some spec ies have excellent hearing, notably the from struggling prey. In
harriers, which hunt over thick vegetation. A few many species, the eye is also
vultures also have an exceptional sense of smell, protected by a transparent third

by which they can locate hidden carrion. eyelid (nictitating membrane).
hlRDs of prey
FEEDING CARRION FEEDERS

I '/<
to 6 rpecia •
Most birds of prey feed on live animals; the may gather annate
larger the spe< ies. the larger the pre\ that the\ nl am lime, each feeding on
arc able to carry. The bald eagle, for example, different pails of Ihe body.
is capable of taking a deer lawn it ii is not For example, som,

too heavy. Many birds of pre\ arc spe< ialized on toft bod) parti u lule
feeders, including thehone\ buzzard which others eat the skin and bide.
Bats wasps and their grubs and the secretary . The lappet-faced ntlture
bird (which eats snakes . In addition to live w of the largest
prey mam spe< ies also eat carrion from time species and is often dominant
to time. A few, such as vultures and kites. Iced oca others.
almost entirely on dead animals. One carrion

feeder, the lammergeier, eats bones, breaking
the larger ones by dropping them onto
rocks. The palm-nut vulture, named
unusual in
alter
that
its
it
favorite food,
feed-,
is
mainly on plants.
4&
FEEDING
PERCHES
Ratlin than eating in
flight, many birds of
' v their kill to a favored perch,
carefully remove all unpalatable
parts before eating it. This European
sparrouhawk (above) is plucking a blackbird.
FLIGHT
All birds of prey are able fliers.
Tin \ use different patterns of flight
nit the way they hunt. Using their
large, broad wings to ride thermals or
updrafts next to cliffs, vultures and
condors can stay aloft for hours, barelv
flapping their wings and using their
high vantage point to search for carrion.
In mtrast. the slim-bodied falcons attack
1
1
other birds in midair, maneuvering on long,

thin, pointed wings and sometimes diving or
stooping from a great height see below Hawks .
plan their strikes and then use a burst of speed

to surprise or ambush prey. Harriers flv slowly
forward over the ground and then drop onto
unsuspecting prey. Kestrels and buzzards can
hover in one place, watching for movement below
and then lunging down, talons first
AERIAL KILLER
One of the most distinctive features
of birds nl prey is the way they kill
u-ith theirfeet, sei-ing prey from the
ground, u ater, m S
eagle (seen here) uses its feel to catcli
Pacific salmon. It also htm

linns, and young
'
mid vultures have the largest icings of all birds
oj prey 'the lammergeier, above, has a uingspan of up to
{ft/ 3m). Both are common in mountainous areas, where

'J
using currents of air help keep them aloft.

Mam hud ol prey --jx > ies are
threatened. All falcons ate I1-.1 «-\ STOOPING
< llfcS, and the ( alili n nia c ondoi is Most large falcons lue m
one <<t the world's most endangered open country uith little
animals, with a population ol just inceal them from

1
7n lincU of prey, mic h as the their prey. Tn catch birds
peregrine falcon left . are vulnerable that could evade them in
In < ause they are at the tup of the flapping flight Ihn often .
food < ham. where they are sensitive climb to great heights and
in. ill tin factors affecting theu prey then dive or sloop on their
Siiuii spei ies are nuilincK killed h\
humans because ol the perceived
thiiai thai the) pose to livestoi k Deed of
I J 'jo
BIRDS OF PREY
Cathartic aura
i- known aboul its courtship behavior,
Vultur gryphus
Andean condors feed mainly on
the turkev vulture has been seen carrion, and soar at altitudes of up to
Turkev vulture performing a ritualized dance on the Andean condor [8,000ft 3,500m to search for food.
ground. The female lays 2 egg- and Their wide ranging habit- are reflected
Length
both parents bring food to the young, 1 Lim in their diet, w hit h ini hide- not onrj
Weight which arc fed l>\ regurgitation from Wergtu . mountain animals, but also the remains
the parents' crops. Once past their of stranded marine animals, such as
Plumage S<-\<-, ajii-t Plumage S
Brsl year, the young birds are likely to seals and whales. In Mime places, they
live for 12-17 years. also feed at seabird colonies, plundering
Migration Partial migrant Migration Nonmierant
long, broad wings large numbers of eggs. rhej breed mi
Status ( nmmon for soaring Status I-invrr risk inland clifls and reproduce slowlv.
Mitti A±^ Jt A±^ks typically laying a single
Often called a "buzzard'" The Andean condor has the

in tin USA, the turkey wing area of any bird.
largest
vulture is found in an Because of it- immense size,
exceptionally wide it relies on updrafts from
range "I habitats from mountains and coastal cliffs to

southern Canada remain airborne, and can travel
tin i njgh to Tierra del huge distance- with only an
Fuego. This vulture occasional flap of its wings. Fn un
and its close relatives the ground, its silhouette is highK
are the only birds of prey with distinctive, with it- large flight feather
a good sense of smell, enabling spreading out like the fingers of a
them to locate food even in thick hand. Unlike most birds of pre\. the
jungle. It soars and glides as soon males are larger than the female-.
as the dav has warmed up. and While both sexes have bald heads.
strong.
often feeds on road kills, a habit the male- also have a characteristic
ban legs.
that may explain its increase in white ruff at the bast
populated areas. Although litde of their necks.
Gymnogyps californianus Pandion haliaelus he eye. It pluck- live fish from

the water during a spectacular,
California!! condor Osprey sometimes totally
feet-first dive,
submerging itself Its feet have evolved

Length 4-4 '/• ft
to hold onto slippery prey with spiny

Weight 18 31 lb dry scales on the underside- and a
l
reversible outer toe for carrying li-li
Plumage Si Plumage Sexes difler
head-on through the air.
Migration Nooirugranl
Status Critically endangered Status Common
j6k JL .~
The California condor is the largest One of the most widespread

flying bird inNorth America, and also birds of prey, the ospre\ i-
one of the most endangered. In 1987, found on every continent

the few birds still in the wild were except Antarctica. It has chocolate-
captured and formed the nucleus of a Black plumage brown upperparts and white
t aptive breeding program (see panel The California condor has mainly black plumage underparts. with a dark stripe through
below) that is slowly helping it recover. with unit/ tip* on the smaller inng feathers and
California condors are expert at a black neik ruff. The head and netk lack feathers.
soaring and spend much of their time and tine-, but improved refuse disposal
circling high in the air. At one tune. food source rapidly declined. Today, has made it much less common. It
they fed mainly on the remains of captive-bred condors that have been nests in tree-, often using old nests of
bison and pronghorns. but with the released feed mainly on dead cattle crows, laying 2 1 egg- each year.
arrival of Europeans, this abundant and deer.
pale head
CONSERVATION
Through the California
Condor Recovery Program,
N. Ui.,i ( .u
a captively bred population Cjj* V.-rd. islands Status Vulnerable!
of California condors
numbering
1980s
just 27
has grown to about
in the m
1 70 individuals. 40 of which Kite- are agile fliers, typically with
now live in the wild. Released long legs and forked tails. The red kite
bird- have had mixed is the largest species, feeding mainly on
fortunes, but the aim of the small mammal-, carrion, and young
program i- to reestablish the birds. It flies with its wings partly bent,
( lalifornia condor as a wild and uses its tail like a rudder, constantly
breeding bird, a goal that is tilting it as it searches for food. Two
-;ill some years away. centuries ago. the red kite was a
common scavenger in European towns
BIRDS OF TREY
feeding snails. It inserts its line, heavih Gypaetus barbatus

Pernis apivorus Rostrhamus sociabilis
curved, hooked bill into the snail and
Western honey- Snail kite cuts the muscle that attaches it to its Lammergeier
shell, allowing it to
Length
buzzard Length 16-I8in
(40-45 an remove the
!>/< 1 It
Weight 13 11"/ animal's body. Weight 10-I5lb

(4.5 -7 kg)
150 i
Adult males arc
Plumage Sexes dill' Plumage Sexes alike
i
dark gray with

black primaries;
Plumage o aUki Location SI. s Migration Partial migrant Migration N'onmigrant
Si 1 \
females are brown
(Florida!. Cuba xall\
Migration Migrant bull undcrparts.
Status ( i
.r « in m .11 «« Rare in its south Mnk Jut.
Florida range,
«ik^
it
Formerly called the Everglades kite, can be abundant The lammergeier one of the largest
is
this bird is a specialist feeder on aquatic elsewhere, as on Old World huge wings,
vultures, with
Compared to similarly sized birds ol snails. It flics slowly over shallow the Argentine a conspicuous wedge-shaped tail, and
prey, the western honey buzzard has marshland, snatching up surface- pampas. distinctive beardlike feathers at the
small feet, relatively undeveloped base of its bill. It eats carrion, but it
talons, and a shallow, curved bill. also specializes at feeding on bones,

This reflects its unusual lifestyle as a Haliaeetus vocifer it is easy to spot perching on high carrying large ones high into the air
predator of wasps and other insects. branches beside rivers. When it locates and then dropping them onto
It catches its food in midair, and also African fish eagle a fish, swoops down to catch it with
it rocks below. Once the
follows insects back to their nests, a backward swing of the feet. It will bones have shattered.
to feed on their developing also eat small mammals, birds, and the lammergeier lands
grubs. Because it depends carrion, as well as steal fish from other to feed on the
on insects, it has to eagles and fishermen. marrow
migrate southward inside
in winter.
Location Africa isnuiji of Migraoon Nonnugranl
Sahara)
shallow
Status Common
lull
Known as the "voice of .Africa,"

'
>>- this eagle throws its head back
and gives a loud, yelping cry. Neophron percnopterus
With its distinctive white head.
Egyptian vulture
Length 23-28in
Gyps africanus (58-70rml

FEEDING Weight 3 'A -4 1/2 lb
African white-backed White-backed vultures are (1.5-2kg)

Plumage Scm-s .iliLi-
legendary for their ability
vulture to find food. They have a
Migration Partial
poor sense of smell, but inii;r.uil
Length I? in
94, ,„ extremely good eyesight, Status Common
33
enabling them to spot dead
Weight 8 'A -1 5 lb
Plumage Sexes
i
kg
..*! ikf
remains from high in the
air. Vultures also keep an
AJL^ At
eye on each other. If one This is the smallest Old World vulture,
Location Africa south ol Migration \un migrant: bird sees food and makes with a much wider distribution than
Sahara)
Status (itimmon a sudden descent, odiers its name suggests. Adults have yellow
quickly follow suit. faces and off-white plumage apart
from their black flight feathers;
juveniles are speckled brown (shown
This widespread African scavenger is here).Egyptian vultures scavenge all
while primary
a griffon vulture - one of a group of feathers
kinds of food, but are renowned for
collar of
7 species which have long necks that using stones to break open the eggs ol
feathen
appeal to be bald, but that are ostriches and Othei birds.
down. This
actually covered in line Because of their
thin hill
absence of large neck feathers allows small size, they
griffon vultures to reach deep have difliculty
into carcasses without bet timing competing
soiled. The African white- with oilier
backed vulture nets its name vultures at
In mi liar of while leathers i .in asses.
at llii top ol Us l>at k, uliii li ami are

t ontrasts with its gray often the
net k. This spe< ies is last in feed.
one of Africa's
most common
off-white /
I iiIiiim and is
-.
plumage
"h> n seen in large
blackflight
numbers where food an t i
LaROF. WINGS ftalhen

found. It makes a variety of hissing Ihr Iniof. tmmil :ciri^\ <>/ Iht . Ifnidli while
and cackling sounds as h josdes for l«i, ked uli'tn tnabU it to mm and cirde on
a chant I- in eat, thermalsjor hours, looking fur carrion.
1
I
.
BIRDS OF PREY
Amekm as k us Haliaeetu.\ leucocephalus

1 1 1 1
_ i ate si parati then ( ome togethei
/ again al breeding sites rhe
<mpuuou\ appearance Bald eagle theu paii bond through i
>ft< n
'"/ head, has
ular flight <lis]>l,i\.. invoh ing
Length '
undulating flight, swooping .it one

I \l
Weight! i ! Illl. .mi ither, .mil i art-wheeling th
\
tli. .in with i
lasped feel fi igether
Plumage s
"tinted
the) Imilil .i vet) large nesl in .i tree
„,, run in sometimes on the ground . reaching

Migration Bald eagles start
l'.ini.il migrafll
up to I Hi Ini tall.
Status Vulni to breed al abi iu( 5 yeai s ol aj
eggs are Although

« ik fc ss usually 2 oi laid.
!
te; as the young are cared for l>\ both parents

for many weeks, a high percentage do
The majestii bald eagle is a la mil survive their first vear.
powerfiilly-buill bird, with a wingspan

of up in 8 ill 2.5m). Although often
found well awa\ from watei when
wintering, bald eagles are commonly
jeen ( and
lose to lakes, rivers,
areas, where they have ample access
to fish. Bald eagles pair for life, and
while sedentan birds sta\ together
koughout the year, those that
Distinctive features
Tht bald eaglt is i bun white
head and tail. it.\ broad, brown-black wings, and
hill f ;:',
Us largt vetlou ./
gain lull adult plwnagt
FEEDING HABITS
The bald eagle takes food Fishing technique
from range of sources, li\
a ///. bald tagh uses its
and dead, including small Ttrong /"I equipped
birds, ' ai i ion (especially with than} daws to
match fishes from the

during the winter months .
and fishes. When hunting

Ini fishes, it lines not
usually enter the water like
the osprej see p.288 . but
instead searches liii dead
dying fishes oi those th.
live near the surface.
Food fight
In addition to pirating food from
other predatory birds tuch

bald eagle* often fight between them
bn i items.
Wis ll R nil l
bald esgh i
"« i / in large
groups </"w /«i when

uilmiot , ..'•
birds of run
Circaetus pectoralu shoulders and black-edged, white

secondary; Qighi feathers; males
Black-breasted snake Bateleur eagle have black set lindanes. The long.
pointed, almosl fait onlike win^s
eagle Length 2
60 cm
: u,
and die short lail make ibis bird
unmistakable in flight It tilts from
length
(65 an)
side In side like a tightrope walker
Weight 2 1/4 -5 1/2 lb in ing in balani e. 1 lie bateleur is
s Plumage
I
Si
Migration Nonmigranl
Status Common
2.5kg
Location
S.ili.ir.i
AJL^
Aim. i MMth d Migrauon
Status Conunon
V inn
in. link
small
eggs,
eagles
when
a scavenger, bin will also take
mammals, blub,
and
the insects
inset
ma) gather
is. (,
al
fly
reptiles, lishes.
roups of these
termite
from
mounds
their nests in
breed. During courtship, die bud
«. JL The bateleur is a colorful eagle with displays a mi king and Killing (light,
a chestnut-red mantle on its back, a almosl slopping in midair with the
black bods and head, and .1 bare, red wings held open. It builds its large
large
or orange fate. Females have gray stick nest in an open-brant bed tree.
yellou eyes
Circus cvaneus Accipiter gentilis Northern goshawks feed on birds up

to the size ol rows and pigeons, and
i
Hen harrier Northern goshawk mammals up to the size of small

hares. l'he\ often hunt from a
Length Ii
perilled position at the forest edge,
Weight Weight J and are shaped for pursuit in i lost-
I I 5kg quarters, wuh rounded wings
short,
Plumage Sena (finer Plumage S
and a long tail that is used for steering
and braking. Apart from these sudden
Location v.nli America Migration Migrant Location Canada ic Migration Partial migrant
sorties after their prey, the) are
ii. \ ( entral Amen .1 !
Opc ASM
Status ( lommoo Status Onrnmr-n set retive and often go unseen. When
courting, prospective partners call
«lkli loudly as the) soai into the air, and
once their nest is built, they are
smallJed A high-speed hunter of woods and extremely territorial, driving awa) an)
loresis. the northern goshawk varies intruding birds away. In cold winters,
considerably across its very wide range. when food is scan e. they are
A spc< i.ilisi hunter of reptiles, the Asian birds are usually pale, while sometimes found well to the south of
black-breasted snake eagle has lightly North American ones often have dark their normal range.
meshed seales on its legs and toes to heads. Females are always larger than
protect from snakes that might bite.
it males sometimes weighing up to half wink front
Il has a large head with large yellow as much again and young birds are while hrtra with gray barring
eyes. The bird has strong legs, bare of Instead of soaring, the hen harrier brown, eventually turning gray.
feathers, and small feet. It is often flies (lose to the ground with ^
found soaring over open hill slopes lis wings held in a shallow
as ii searches for prey; and will "V." Ii has keen eyesight
in i asionally hover. It feeds primarily on and good hearing, which it
snakes usual!) avoiding poisonous uses to locate small animals hidden in

ones but will also take li/ards. birds. vegetation. The female shown above
bats, and even fishes. The female lays is larger than the male, and is brown,
one egg and in< ubates h for IK days. with a white rump, whereas the male
Both parents care for the young; on< e is gray. Unusually for a bird of prey,
fledged, die young is di pcndenl foi thehen harrier nests on die ground,
up to 6 months. making a nest of sticks and grass. long lail
Buleo buleo espei i.illy in winter, feeding Buleo galapagoensis The female is considerably larger than
on insects and earthworms. the male. This hawk hunts inainK
Common buzzard During courtship, the Galapagos hawk from the air, gliding in to take prey,
buzzard displays a high, but can also hover. Ii feeds on small
Length 21 Length 22in
>|| 57cm soaring flight with mammals, birds, lizards,
Weight 19 spe< I. ii ul.u i limbs and We.gtu i

halt lung tunics and
525 I.OOOg sloops, and the male © ./ 650. BSOg tortoises, and ins. i is.
Plumage Sew Jiki

passes nesting
Plumage s< na tlik.
Both parents ( are for
material to the the young usually
female in
Locaoon (...1 Migraoon N njgranl one for up to t
Status ( ommon midair. Status Vulnerable- months before

away
m Hi m* 1 jfltv JL
driving it
This medium-sizi d raptor, also known This is the only diurnal bird of pre)
as the Eurasian buzzard, has large, on the Galapagos Islands. It is also
broad wings and a shortish tail, and is one of die few bird species thai have
built for soaring on (hernials. Ii is very cooperative breeding habits females
variable in color. Although large, the dial have extra males helping them
common buzzard i ati hes relative!) are more successful in producing
small prey such as voles, mice, and young. The Galapagos hawk is soon
insei is. It is often seen on the ground, brown all over, with a gray-barred tail.
BIRDS OF PREY
At/ ii i la chrysaetos
FEEDING THE YOUNG Pithecophagajejj
Golden eagle This eagle lias a wide-ranging diet, Philippine eagle

including (anion and living prey, SUi li
Length Length ;
I
as rabbits, squirrels, and grouse, and

Weight'.' 141b even tortoises in the southern parts ol Weight 10
it-, range. Parents feed their chicks, by

Plumage s, „ aliki Plumage Sexes Jik-
tearing food into snips, for several
months after they have Hedged. Young
Location Nurlh \m. n..». Migration Partial migrant
birds take 4 .")
years to mature, but Migration Nonmi^ram
Burap \ .1.1. N Africa
mortality is high, especially in the first Status Critically endangered
2 months.
I —
With wingspan of up to 7 2ft (2.3m),
a prey by cruising low down across Threatened by forest clearance and by
this striking bird is one of the largest suitable terrain. It breeds on cliff ledges hunting, this gigantic eagle is one of
land eagles in the Northern Hemi- and in tall trees, making platform the world's rarest birds of prey. It feeds
sphere. Its plumage is generally dark nests up to 6VSft (2m) across. Widely on a wide variety of animals, including
brown, but it gets its name from the pi 1 . • uted in the past through monkeys, snatching them in a low-
taum or gold leathers on its nape and the mistake n belie! that 11 attacks level attack. Attempts are being made
crown. The golden eagle is skilled at livestCK k the golden eagle is now to breed the eagle in captivity, but with
soaring, but it generally cat< hes it- protected in many countries. a rapidly shrinking habitat, its future
looks uncertain.
Broad wings
1 hi: eagle In': broad wings foi soaring, ami ''slotted"
flight Itiiilit 1 \ spread lib tin fingers oj a hand, providing

increased lift. It soars at a 1 onsidt rablt height, flapping it*
wings as little as /mwihlr. sunning the land below for food.
on a wide range of animals, make stick nests

Aquila audax Harpia harpyja
including other birds and rabbits, and high up in old
Wedge-tailed eagle it also eats carrion, taking the place Harpy eagle trees, and they often perch on exposed
of vultures in a continent that has no branches, watching the forest canopy
"1. Ml vultures of its own. Wedge-tailed below for signs of prey.
Weight 1 eagles usually nest in trees, lining then Weight :
Plumage Si
- '
nests with leaves.
'> ; Plumage Sc Powerful predator
The harpy eagle has gray. Mark, and
-oauon S New Guinea. Migration Nonmigrani
white plumage and a long, barred
Migration Nonmicjrani
in ".ii. hiding tail. It has a doubh
Status ( ommon Stacus I ower risk strong bill, and very
m sm JL j^ £L
thick, powerful
legs midfeet.
I his 1 agle is Australia's largest bud oi In habitat and lifestyle, this immense
prey, with dark brown plumage, and a bird closely mate lies the Philippine
long, graduated tail that gives it a eagle see above . although it lives in
distinctive silhouette in flight. Ii feeds a different part of the world. Despite
11- great size, it 1- unusually agile,
whit h enables it to steer through the
Polemaetus it 11
steppes to foothills, .mi\ also in treetops tO 1 all h It- prey Moths
moderately forested an as make up about a third ol n- food l>\
Martial eagle Itsprominent brow but 11 also eats a wide 1 ange
H
gives a menac ing 11 ol nihil animals, ini hiding snakes.
.xpn ssii hi In I lizards, and macaws. Harp) eagles
abdomen is white
with gray to >l.it k
CONSERVATION
I
spe< kling.
in. n rial
I he
eagle soars 1 he population ol the harp) eagle is
/
li ii ' Mended periods ili 1 lining as .1 result of habitat
Status Villi
in good weathi 1
destrui tion. b needs a verj lai
tA± sean
sin
Iiiiil;
h as gamebirds,
hares, hyraxes, small
foi pre) to hunt,
when a
divided into isolated
which makes
continuous strett
it
tracts.
vulnerable
h of forest
Young
is
This is the largest ol the African eagles antelopes, monitoi birds are 111 pm In ing radio-trat Iced \ ia
and one of the- biggest eagles in the ][ in I anil 1 ilh. 1 -an Uiti to di iii mine ihi 11 range and
world. It lives in a w ide vai ict\ ol medium-sized the- space the) need to SUP i
open habitats, In >ui semideserl and vertebrates.
^
BIRDS OF PREY
iiu serpentarius
< resl resembles .1 number of rjnill pens,
Falco punctata*
as used in ilie- pas( 1>\ sei retaries. I he
Secretary bird Qighl feathers are black, and the rest Mauritius kestrel
ol the I k >d\ plumage is gray The
powerful legs are used for striking prey
and running aftei faster quarry. The
se< retary bird walks up to 15 miles
24km a da\ through grassland
sean hing foi pre} Food includes
Migration Nonnugrani ud other large Migration Nonnugram
"
insects, small mammals, frogs, Status Vulnerable
and
JL ^ snakes, lizards,
The
stamping on
bird Rushes out the pre} b\
tufts
tortoises.
of grass. Ii then
With its storklike legs, long, wedge- runs after and catches moving items. This chestnut-brown, cream-fronted
shaped tail, and resl "I black Feathers
i dealing them repeated blows with its bird nearh became extinct because ol
on the back of its head, the se< retary strong feet. The wings acl as shields destruction of its natural
bird is unlike any other raptoi when the bud atta< ks snakes. habitat
primary forest, but is
now being raised in
Caracara plancus MkrastuT I his spei ies has long and slender legs. zoos and encouraged
ruficollis
with small feel and sharp talons. It to inhabit
Crested caracara Barred forest falcon hunts from trees, with short dashes secondare forest
out to latch Lizards, and also catches and scrub. In die
Length i ^—j-—> ^-j. Length . M5in
army ants on the ground. iere were
Weight !
/4-3 1/4 lb ^^H Weight thought to be
[0.85 -1.5 kg)
only 4-8 birds
Plumage -
Plumage Sexes alike y
left. but. due to a
sui 1 essful breeding
Migration Nonmigrant Migration Nonmigrant
program, numbers
South America
Status I^x-ally common Status I > mi .iilv common now sumd at over 500
JL m ik £L
Falco eleonorae
Also called the common caracara. this Compared to other falcons, forest
striking bird of prey is dark brown falcons have relatively short, rounded Eleonora's falcon
with a cream head, breast, and upper wings a shape that helps them
back, all finely barred, and a bare. maneuver as they hunt among
fai e. It spends much of its Weight
linn walking on the ground. The
Plumage -
crested < aracara is an opportunistic Falco tinnunculus medium-sized birds that can Inner
si avenger, and will often dig for food for extended periods. This
1 it chase other birds, including Common kestrel ability allows it to live and . N and Migration Migrant
jflflk raptors and vultures, to steal hunt in .1 varii rj 1 il

Status \ 1
^B it. It eats almost anything, habitats, especially

f^W^ i from < anion, eggs, chit ks. areas not often
I^fc and frogs to road kills. frequented by
vegetables, other birds 1 This fairly small falcon has the typical
and dying prey, such a- streamlined falcon shape, but its wings
lishe-. worms. the edges of are longer and more swiftlike. It has 2
and insects. major roads color forms normal and melanisric:
Its diet the normal plumage is dark above
4* JL . 1 insists and cream with Hecks below: the
mainly nelanistic form is dark all over.
The common kestrel is a small, of small id breeds in autumn.
chestnut-brown falcon with a black mammals iiu hiding usually on ililfs of remote
tip to its tail as well as black bars voles and mil e . inset Is, islands, feeding mainly
and spots. It is one of the few and amphibians. on small birds.
Falco peregrinus exi epl Am. ik tii a. and on many Pli WAGE
oceanic island-. Females can be up to
AERIAL PURSUIT Thisjakon has tones
Peregrine falcon 30 percent larger than males. The of white to cream to
bird's wings have sharply pointed tips. rufous underparts. and
making them both fast and highly

upperpar.
We.ght maneuverable; it Hies largely by
are brown with buff
flapping rather than soaring. This
edging on
Plumage S
falcon usually atta< ks its prey in a steep, feathers, a
powerful dive or "stoop.'' during which
itmay reach a speed of 43 mph I
Status Loral '230 kph ( ourtship invokes aerial

.
displays accompanied by noisy calling. The peregrine falcon may chase

j* JL Ira 1 he peregrine fall on has been used in itsprey - especially dines and
fall onry foi centuries. In the pigeons - in order to exhaust
I he peregrine falcon is one of the and 1960s, it was badly affected by them quickly. It usually strikes the
world's fastest birds, It also has the 1)1)1 pollution, particularly in Europe prey with its talons, and then
widest distribution of any diurnal land and the USA, but is now staging a follows it to the ground.
bird, being found on ever) continent, gradual recovery.
1
GAMEBIRDS
GAMEBIRDS
""* Chordae a This GROUP OF MAINLY ground-dwelling DISPLAY
species includes some of the birds most useful the disp
CLASS Aves
to humans. In their domestic forms (including
o«ocr Galli formes
ihe chicken), they provide an important food peacock-pheasant '
MMHJES
source, and many other species (such as Tk q
1
Macs 281 fan me ilni:
pheasants, partridges, and grouse are hunted in attract
group are the

for sport or food. Also in this female.
spectacular curassows and the less conspicuous guineafowl and

megapodes. Gamebirds are found almost worldwide (including
the Arctic cin le) in a wide range of habitats, including dense
forest and high mountains. ^**d
ANATOMY SSISF 5
Most gamebirds arc plump with /

a small head and slum, rounded
wings, rheir powerful llight
muscles are ideal for rapid escape REPRODUCTION
but are usually unable to support Musi gamebirds nest in a shallow
theii heaw bod) long distance:
for depression in the ground. The
The short bill is slightly curved, megapodes are unusual in th.it.
and the feet are stout and strong instead of incubating their eggs,
for scratching and digging for they store them in mounds or
food. Many species have bare OFF burrows, allowing the sun's heat,
areas ol colored skin or long l.iki mast CAMOUFLAGE microbial activity, or geothermal CLL'TCH SIZE
,
and spectacular tails gamebirds, Reevt i
>
Ground dwellers, lih thtsfemaL energ) to keep them warm. Young ( ompared u ilh ullier birds.
lieasant launch* i itselj black grouse, mxdcryptu plumage gamebirds 11\ very soon after many gamebirds lay largt
quickly into the an with a in avoid detection. Anothei hatching often within a week or. chili lies. Smut produi • uji
jlinn o) rapid u ingbeals to species, iln /ilium, in the case ol megapodes, within iii Jit eggs (a pheasant's
escapt danger. ilh tin seasons. a lew hours.
Leipoa ocellali
in a giant heap of leaves, stii k-. and Ortalis motmoi Crax daubentoni
bark, up to
">li 1.5m high and Ian
Malice fowl i 'in aero and the heat givi n "II Little chachalaca Yellow-knobbed
as this do pi ises mi ubates tl
During the length) incubation period, curassow

lasting up to 1 weeks, the parent 1 -
Wfeighi
linn-
sta) lose i" the mound and mi
i
Plumage s.
it- temperature with then bills. II it Weight v
. too hot, thi j taki - : of the Plumage s,
M.grauon \
vi gi i. an hi awa) li too i ool, they add
Status \ oh., rabli mon to it. When the young halt h,
was out Migration N nigrant
m ihe\ dig 1 1 n
Male ami female mallee >w form

-ii
and able to l"ok aftei themselves.

full)
t. 1
feathered
A
The mailer fowl and its ( I iatives pairs that last foi years; the) liv< fairl) This species is the smallest member of
known as megapodes are the only separatel) mut li • il the timi .
but comi the ( i.i. iilae. a lamiK i .1 garni birds
birds that do not directl) incubate closer to thi lummer from the Americas that also iht ludes
their eggs. Instead, eggs are laid liic i ding -i a The mallee fowl lives the curassows Compared to curassows,
small head
in i
i i insisting i h.i. Ii.il.u a- .in slim bi ..lied and plain
with slim! bill
cl Ii mi-, buds and se< . Is; hi iwevi i n mi the) do not havi i
will also eat invertebrates sui li I hen an about I 2 spe< ies and the)
as ants, beedes, spidi are all rjois) birds then
'
ickroai lies. n.iin. 1 - firom ili.ii .
all
I he) live mi isti) in trei
and feed on I id
other fruits. l.ik. othei curassows, this large forest

bird feeds mainl) on the ground, but
it (lies up i ma - il threat) n
most striking featun - an its
made ni feathers thai < url forward,

and the ile-li\ yellow knob at the basi
nl its bill. Ii i .a- h mi-, leaves, seeds,
'** and small animals,

gamebirds,
construi don.
eggs
ol
urassows nest "il the
i
ground, with both sexes helpiri

lie lemale la)
Inn h ompared to thos<

a tin)
man) ground-nesting gamebirds.

.
I
t'nlike
i
most oilier
.
GAMEBIRDS
\leleagns gallopcivo
male has a "beard" of hairlike Callipepla californica
feathers on the upper breast. For
Common turkev much of the year, this turkey is seen California quail
in groups of around 20, but in the
Length lOtn
breeding season the males set up
Weight .
individual territories. Each male We.ght
(10kg) mates with a number of
Plumage & Plumage Srxn differ
females, courting them with tail
•
fanned, wings spread low. and

Migration Nonmigrant head held high, giving the Location S W Canada, Migrabon Nonmierani
Status Common characteristic gobbling call. The Status Common

common omnivorous:
m chicks take
turke\
up to
is
4,000
day; adults eat seeds, herbs, roots,
insects per m ik jl ^
The common turkey is a large game- buds, and flowers, as well as insects. A long, black, teardrop-shaped crest,
bird with bronze, iridescent plumage To defend itself, it pecks with its bill black and white facial feathers, and
and a naked head with conspicuous scratches with its claws, and bullets scaly plumage on the belly are
blue and red fleshy ornaments. The with its wins'-. distinctive features of this elegant
gamebird. The female is smaller than
the male, has a smaller crest, and is
generally drabber in appearance. Shy

Telrao urogallus
COURTING GROUND Lagopus lagopus
and elusive, the California quail is more
Western capercaillie Willow ptarmigan often heard than seen. It lives in small
flocks of usually 25 -30, and eats a
Length 32 45 in Length 1 5 in
(80-1 15cm]
variety of seeds and bulbs,
Weight 8 V<-10Ib Weight 21 as well as leaves
550-700 tj and buds.
Plumage Sexes diflcr Plumage Sexes differ
Location V. W and S. Migration Nonmierani Migration Nonmigrant

Europe. U
Status Lower ret' Like many other grouse, male Status L.wer risk*
capercaillie congregate at
traditional displaygrounds fleks) .**. __
to compete for mates. Each male Tetraogallus caspius
A heavy-bodied grouse that li\ <- in strutsaround in a circle, pointing This exceptionally hardy gamebird
and on the edges of forests, the his head upward, and fanning his of which there are 20 subspecies - i Caspian snowcock
western capercaillie relies almost v wings and tail feathers. They well adapted to life in the harsh
entirely on pine needles for have an unusual vocal- conditions of the northern winter.
winter food. In summer, it feeds ization during displays, Like other ptarmigans, its legs and Weight Not recorded
on leaves, buds, and berries. To including a sound nostrilshave feathers for 3 Plumage Sexes differ
net us food, it flies up into trees as like a botde being insulation. It tunnels in snow
well as feeding on die ground. Male uncorked. to keep warm, and - except
Migration Nonmjgrani
have black plumage with blue-green in the British subspecies -
iridescence; females are much the normallv reddish Status Lower risk*
smaller, with motded plumage in brown plumage turns

black, gray, and bull'. Up to thin- white in winter.
quarters of the year's nestlings die giving the bird

during their first winter, probably excellent Typical of the 5 species of snowcocks.
because they lack experience in this bird has mottled brown, gray, and
coping with cold and finding food. white plumage that provides good
Colors and markings camouflage against bare rock. It feeds
The male has a glossy green breast, and dark in small flocks, and migrates vertically
brown wings with variable amounts of white w ith the seasons, often descending
blotching. There is bare red skin above the eye. below the treeline in winter.
Perdix perdix to break up as the males become more Coturnix coturnix safely hidden. The common quail
aggressive, even fighting with one roosts on the ground at night in right
Gray partridge another. Although changes of mate are Common quail groups. Its diet is remarkably varied,
common early on, stable pairs soon and includes seeds, flower buds, leaves,
j
Length 12 in
form, usually of males and females 18cm small fruits, and insects and other
Weight 1 l-l6oz from different coveys. Weight _ invertebrates. This is one of the few
300-450 s, i
gamebirds diat migrates long distances:
Plumage Sexrs
tawny head Plumage Sexes
s^-%e differ alike
those that breed in Europe arrive in
spring from Africa.
Migration Nonmigrant Location Europe. Asia.
grayish breast Africa. Madagascar black and buff
Status Local] Status Localh streaks on flanks
dull ?rfl)
'
belly"
The gray partridge is a farmland bird, A small and secretive gamebird. this
feeding and nesting among crops as quail is heard much more than it is
wt II as in pasture. It has a tawm head seen. The first sign of its presence is
and grayish breast, and the male has most often the male's repeated "whit
a conspicuous chestnut horseshoe wit-wit" During die breeding
call.
mark on the abdomen. Coveys of season, the male and female establish
hei in winter. contact by calling, which enables them
but late in the season the co\ i to locate a mate while remaining
GAMEBIRDS
Callus gallus fleshy red wattles and comb. The

Tragopan temminckii INFLATED DISPLAY female is smaller and drabber. Hens
Temminck's Red jungle-fowl and chicks use calls to keep in
contact and signal danger; the
tragopan Length 32 m
male's "cock-a-doodle-doo" is
used to attract females and a
H
We.ghi L-3'AIb
advertise his presence to

Weight Not recorded rival males.
Plumage Se» I .lili' i
Location S UldSJ V: Migration Nonmigrant

Migration Nonmigram
ft
Hi M> This bird is the original ancestor of
the domesticated chicken, first raised
Male gamebirds often have flamboyant in captivity at least 5,000 years ago.
plumage, and this species is no The male is brighdy colored, with
exception. However, with Temminck's During his courship display, the
tragopan, the male's most conspk uous male inflates his colorful throat
feature is a blue and red throat wattle, watde until it covers his breast, Argusianus argus Phasianus cokhicus
which looks like a multicolored bib. and then shakes it to attract the
Like the other 4 species of tragopan female's attention. If the female Great argus pheasant Ring-necked pheasant
(all from central and southern Asia . is sufficiently impressed, she
Length 6 \ fi Length
Temminck's is a forest bird, often allows the male
nesting in bushes or low down in trees, to mate. Weight Not recorded Weight I V»-4'/2lb
where it makes a simple platform out Plumage Sexes differ
(0.75-2kgj
of sticks. It lives at altitudes of up to
14,850ft (4,500m), and feeds mainly
- including young shoot Location S.E Asb Migration Nonmigranl Location North Amei Migraoon Nonmigram
on plants
Europe, Asia
and berries - but also eats \ colorful
Status Lower riik Status Common
throat wattle
insects scratched up from
an male
the forest floor. !ffL
\ speckled Male common pheasants have a dark

plumage head with a purple and green gloss
Forager and red facial watdes; many also have
Like many gamebirds. Temminck s strong, stout legs
a white neck ring and maroon breast.
tragopan uses its large feet to clear with large feet Compared to the drab brown female,
away leaves and u ratch at tin ioil, the male is very colorful and larger,
exposing small insects that it eats. with a long tail. With more
than 30 subspecies, this
pheasant has been widely
Pavo cristatus out like a fan when courting females. introduced, chiefly so that
The train is not the true tail, but One of the world's largest pheasants, it can be hunted
Common peafowl consists of elongated tail coverts, each the male of this species has very large for food.
ending in a colorful "eye." The female secondary flight feathers, decorated
- the peahen - is relatively drab, with with egg-shaped "eyes," and a tail
Weight B a shorter train lacking the "eves." The much longer than that of the female.
female chooses a mate on the basis To attract a mate, he calls loudly,
of his appearance, and he usually raises his tail, and fans out his wings.
turns to face her. shaking the train. The female great argus pheasants
Migration Nonmigram erect and fanned, to reinforce its raise the young on their own.
Status Locally common effect. He mates with many females,
m £. and
n nests
The male
or raising the
plays .Xumida meleagris
The male peafowl, or the peacock. young: Like almost all gamebirds, the Helmeted ffuineafowl
is one of the world's most spectacular peafowl feeds on the ground, but it
gamebirds, with an iridescent blue roosts in tall trees at night, safe from
body and a long train that is spread most predators. Weight J
(l-1.5kg)
Plumage Si
Migraoon .Nonmigranl
Status I catty common
Domestic ated long ago as a source of

food, the helmeted guineafowl i- .1
flock-forming gamebird whose natural

habitai is the open grassland of tropical
Aim a, lis most 1 onspic uous features
are u> spottedplumage and bony,
hornlike helmel in ip of its naked
1
t<
head Males have a 1 harai (eristic

lateral, hump-bat ked posture during
CRANES AND RELATIVES

PHYLUM Chordata The LOXG-LEGGED cranes and their MIGRATION
CLASS Aves relatives arean assortment of birds Many cranes are migratory, traveling vasl
distances between their breeding and wintering
OftDEP. Gruiformes that outwardly look different from one
areas. Along the way, large flocks stop at long-
FAMILIES 1 1
another but are united by aspects of established staging posts, where they may stay
SPECIES 203
their internal anatomy - such as for a few days before moving on. Cranes breed
in wetlands, typically seeking remote places
the lack of a crop in their digestive such as Arctic tundra, steppes, highland
system. In addition to cranes themselves, this plateaus, and forested swamps. Some
crane species and most other NESTING CORNCRAKE
group includes rails, bustards, trumpeters, birds in the group do The corncrake is one of the few
and sun-bitterns, among others. By far not migrate at all. long-distant migrants among the
rails, breeding in Europe in

the largest family formed by the rails
is
summer and wintering in sub-
(which include the familiar coots and Saharan Africa.
moorhens). Rails are found worldwide

but many of the other families MOVING NORTH
are less widelv distributed. V»;,v sandhill tram \
make long-distance annual

migrations between their
ANATOMY • 'l>
Texas and their breeding

ng grounds in
Most members of this group have long legs, a areas in Alaska, which
slender rounded wings, and modest, cryptic
bill, ate almost 4.000 miles
plumage. However, there is otherwise great apart.
variation in appearance between species, j
depending on their habitat and lifestyle, those

that wade in wetlands cranes or walk on
i
.
floating vegetation :the limpkin . have long.

slender toes to distribute their weight. The )
ground-dwelling bustards have shorter

strictly
toes and strong legs for running over arid land?
Aquatic members of the group (coots and finfoots)
have lobed feet for swimming. Cranes fly great
distances on long, broad wings, w hile others
mesites. buttonquails, and some rails) have small,
rounded wings that are poor or useless for (lying.
TRACHEA
COURTSHIP CONSERVATION
An unitstud'feature of cranes Several members of this group have Cranes and their relatives have a
and the limfi/an is their elaborate courtship rituals. Some higher proportion of endangered
greatly elongated windpipe, of the most elegant displays art species among their number than
or trachea, which is coiled performed by cranes, which mate any other group of birds, and
like a hose around Ike region for life. Males and females form several have recently become
of the sternum in tft pairs, and later maintain the bond, extinct, threats include habitat
This long tube helps amplify with carefully orchestrated dances destruction, introduced ground
the bud's calls, which are see below Birds that perform
. predators, and hunting. Among
very loud. The trumpeting of similar courtship displays include BREEDING PLUMAGE the true cranes. 7 of the 15
cranes can carry a couple rails, some bustards see right . and Breeding male bustards species are endangered, including
of miles, and the calls of the the sun-bittern, in which the birds inflate their throat pouch, die Siberian crane and w hooping
limpkin have been described hold out their wings, revealing large puff out some of their crane, with nunc species likely to
variously as "strangled" or eyespots. and fan their tail, often make thenisek es join them. Protection of cranes is
"shrieking. " Each while jumping and running in a look larger, and call loudly. made particularly difficult by their
maki \ its own distinct. circle. In addition to their courtship Mam species, such as the long migrations, requiring the
recognizable sounds. displays, rails also attract mates by great bustard (above), ha:e cooperation of many countries.
making loud and distinctive calls. a ruff around tin
COURTSHIP DANCE
JUMPING RITUAL FLIGHT WING-FLAPPING

One of the pair flaps its ;< nigs As the leaping bird approache. The leaping bird i
their wings and jump into the air. mid leaps toward the other. other rah) and begins to bow
'
nu variegala Turnix varia Pedionomu i torquatm pale eyes
White-breasted Painted button-quail Plains wanderer

mesite ~]
Weight
Plumage V.vcs alike

^
Location -
Australia, \
V, Migraoon
Weight
Plumage
i
Ni.iunieraiil
Weight
ligraoon Nonmigiant
Status Local Status t.ndangered

Location Madaga Migraoon Nonmigruil
Status Vulnerable fft SI Jl*_
4L With their compact bodies and Similar to a button-quail but lankier.

camoufl button-quails the plain- wanderer looks deceptively
lot >k mi \ nun h like true quails mebird, with a compact body,
but die\ arc not i li isely related. small head, and well-developed legs.
This species is relatively large. Ii will sometimes stand stretched up
reddish in color and heavily spotted. on tiptoe in order to see over the
U hen foraging for seeds and ii grasses in which it lives. The female chestnut breast patch. This bird is
scratches with one foot while pivoting of this species is larger than the male serii iusly threatened by the spread of
on the other, lea\ ing i irculai mark- in and more brightly colored, with a agriculture, which has destroyed much
the ground. white-speckled black collar and a of it- grassland habitat.
This small forest bird is one of 3

species in the mesite family, all unique Grus japonensis Balearica regulorum
to Madagascar and threatened In tin-
destruction of their natural habitat. Japanese crane Gray crowned crane

rounded wings and
m
Its short, -tout legs
Length I
are typical of a ground-living bird.
It feeds mainK on insects and spiders, Weight -8 'A lb
flicking through fallen leaves oi lifting 3-4kg
Plumage Sexes Plumage Vxc-
up larger ones in order to find prey. jlikt- alike
A tangled mass of vegetation piled

into a tree or bush, 9 ft l-3m) i Migration Nonmigrant
above the ground, serves as a nest. This crane probably bred on all 4 Status Locally common
ol Japan's main islands but, due
tia to hunting bird- are shot down as i^
Grits gnu they migrate and habitat loss, it
Willi it- intrii ate i ourtship dances has lived only on Hokkaido since Crowned cranes are easily identified by
Common crane and lifelong partnerships, this elegant the 1890s. A protection scheme their golden crests or "crowns" and
bird has long been a symbol has seen its population rise from by their ability to perch in trees -
m — Length 4!i
of happiness and good luck. 20 in the 1920s to about 600. something that other cranes cannot
We.ght do. Found in both marshland and
cultivated fields, this bird has a
Plumage Sexes alike
The heaviest member of the relatively short, versatile
crane family, it is mainly white, widi bill, unlike more aquatic
Location Eu ..,.. V, Migraoon M black flight feathers and a black face cranes. It stamp- its
Status i Common and neck. Large flocks congregate on feet while foraging to
feeding grounds in winter, but in the flush out potential prey.
Hi Is: breeding season, pairs of birds establish and travels with large
defending them \igorouslv
territories, mammals to feed
Like other members of its family, the against other cranes. on the insects
common crane is a large, elegant bird, Courting dances frightened bv
with a Ions; bill and long Icy-- ( .ia\ their movement.
"af™'
During courtship, the Japanese crane performs
overall, with a bla< k head and net k. n elaborate dances involving head bobbing, bolting, The black crow tied
In- a white stripe down pirouettes, jumping, and tossing material in the air. crane is a very
the nape, and a red similar species found
spot on the crown. It in tropical Africa
gives a loud, trumpet- bill enable- it to deal with a wide range
anadensii
ing < all. the sound "I i plants, insects, and small
I
being amplified 1>\ an Sandhill crane animal- such as mice. Northern

enlarged windpipe populations mow south in wintei and
whit h i- fused with as mans as 40.000 crane- can
the breastbone, ^mm at a single stopover site,
their loud calls carrying

.ii ross great distances.
fcs
i
ill< i ol the _' spei ies ol ( rane
rica this is alsi i
loped hin
b\ far the most common. A gra) bird toe for pt
with a red forehead, it- relatively short

Aramus guarauna Gallinula chloropu
Limpkin Common moorhen

Length 22-28in
Weight
Plumage Sexes
_> i/«- 3 'A lb
alike f#r Weight 6-I8oz
Plumage Sexa iHke
Location S E I ISA Migration Nonmigrant rpt Migration Partial migrant

'Florida., Centra] and
South America Status Locally common Status Vulnerable Status Common
tip - features that enable it to extract
JL snails from their shells with ease. i=5
Breeding pairs often stay together year
An ibislike bird with a striking brown after year, and the male defends the Heard far more easily than seen, this
and white spangled neck, the limpkin nest by charging intruders, fighting cryptically colored bird has a loud
has a long, slender bill that is with its feet, and uttering an unearthly, and rasping. 2-syllable call, which it
sharpened and slightly twisted at its mournful call. makes both to advertise its territory
and to attract females.
The call becomes a
Psophia crepitans Porzana porzana growling, piglike
squeal before mating,
Gray-winged trumpeter Spotted crake or in encounters
with other males.
Length 20 in Length 9 - 9 1/2 in
(50 cm) 22 24an In many parts of

Weight 2 'A -3 'A lb Weight 2 -Soz i their range.
Jkg v, 50g
I
* corncrakes are
Plumage Sexes alike Plumage Sexes alike
declining due
to changes The moorhen is one of the world's
Migration Migrant
in farming most widespread freshwater birds.
Status Locally common practices A member of the rail family, it has
and because distinctive white markings along the
the damp flanks and a conspicuous red "shield"
pastures they and yellow-tipped red bill. Although
The spotted crake is a small and inhabit are not as shy as other rails, and often
secretive wedand bird, with a narrow- increasingly seen moving in the open, if threatened,
body that helps it move around among drained and the common moorhen will flee into
dense reeds and other waterside plants. plowed. dense cover.

It walks with a distinctive jerking gait,
oftenbobbing its head and flicking its

Must active at dawn and dusk, it
tail.
Fulica atra which contrasts starkly u ith its heavy
feeds mainly on insects, foraging bodi black body. If threatened, it will either
on land and in water. This extremely Common coot gather in tight flocks and splash water,
wary bird will run for cover or fly off or turn on its back and kick out « ith
if disturbed. It is generally quiet, but its feet. It has lobed toes that aid
the male calls to attract a female. Weight 11 43oz swimming and diving, and it presses
This black, humpbacked bird is one of 200g airfrom its plumage before diving to
Plumage Sexes alike
3 species in the trumpeter family, all reduce buovancv.
found in South America. Small
Location Europe Asia,
groups of 6 - 8 live on the forest Migration Partial migTant
Australia, New Zealand.
floor, bathing and roosting together, \ and U \lii... Status Common
and foraging for the fallen fruits that
are their main food. They use a variety *SS
of calls, some loud and trumpeting, to
warn of danger, beg for food, mark Compared to some of its relatives, the
territory, and threaten intruders. This common coot is an assertive and even
species is polyandrous - several males aggressive bird. In conflicts with rivals,
mate with one female. it displays its white frontal "shield,"
Porphyrio porphyrio purple and black plumage, a reddish laid in one nest and all members of
orange bill, and long legs and toes. the group help incubate them and
Purple swamphen It feeds on all manner of vegetation, rear the young.
pulling up with its bill, as well as on
it
Length 1 5 - 20 in
(38-50 cm) aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. colorful
Weight 18-Woj It will also eat the eggs and young plumage
(500-1,300 g) of other waterbirds. climbing if
Plumage Sexes alike
necessary to reach the nest. The
purple swamphen has a very large
Location S Europe, \\ s Migration Nonmigrant
range, with several local races
mdS.1 A. i.i Yi ri.,lia,
Africa Status Common plumage and behavior:

differing in
some stay in one place, while others
«» move long distances in order to find
food. In many areas, males and
One of the largest members of females pair off for breeding, but in
the family - almost as big as a
i ,iil New Zealand complex breeding
chicken - the purple swamphen is groups form, consisting of one or 2
1 1 nl. robustly built bird with females and 2 -7 males. The eggs are
. 1
nostrils keep out debris while the

Htliornis fulica Rhynochetos jubatus
kagu forages in soil. When
CONSERVATION
Sungrebe Kaeru threatened, it raises its As a ground-dweller, the
shaggy crest and spreads kagu is particularly
its wings to expose the vulnerable to predators.
Weight 4-5oz shieldlike pattern on A 1991 1992 survey found fewer
its flight feat 1 than 500 adult birds, and in one
Plumage S<-xcs differ
month in 1993 dogs killed 14
from a single population. Other
Migrauon Nonmigrant Location \™ Caledonia Migration Nonmigrant animals also pose a threat to the
bluish gray
Status Vulncrablet Status Endangered plumage kagu: pigs eat the eggs and
compete with the birds for food.
«. ;= XL
This grebelike bird belongs to the With its stocky body, weak wings, and
finfoot family, 3 species named for the large, erectile crest, the kagu is a
lobes on their feet which enable them typical island species that has evolved
to swim \x ell and move easily on land. a distinctive appearance and «a\ of
The sungrebe is unique in that the life. It on the ground, and often
lives
/rin<
Binocular vision
male has skin pouches in the "armpit" stands motionless on one leg, watching
The kagu hasfomart
of each wing in which he carries the and listening for prey If it strikes and eyes that help it spot insects
young, even in flight. This bird has a misses, it will use its bill to dig out the and other small
slender bodv and a narrow tail. prev; unique flaps of skin over the amongfallen leaves.
large "eyes" and the spread of the attracting the females' attention: it "sT
Eurypyga helias Chlamydotis undulata
wings and tail make the sunbittern look trots about its display ground, w ith its
Sunbittern very big and imposing. Its motded. Houbara bustard ruff and crest feathers raised over
crvpiic plumage is soft, enabling it to its head. Although not globally
fly silendy. A solitary bird, even paired threatened, the houbara bustard is
Weight "
a adults are seldom seen together. Weight 3 V« -6 1/2 lb declining fast across its range, and in
many parts of West Asia, it is the
Plumage Sexes Plumage Sexes differ
focus of intensive conservation
^_ measures. This species

Migration Nonmigianl Migration Nonmigrant
f^\ ;- a highly valued game-
Status \ ulnerablet Status Lower risk bird in the region and is
hunted with falcons.

*L
tan plumage
An inhabitant of shady rain- This stout, long-legged bird is a spotted with brown
forest streamsides. the sunbittern typical member of the bustard family
is a wary bird that stalks its pre) slowK - a group of about 22 species that are
and deliberately, then quickly stabs it found only in the Eastern Hemisphere.
with its slender bill. If threatened Like other bustards, it has cryptically
when moves its neck
in the nest, it colored plumage, and although it can
backward and forward, and hisses like mottled plumage fly well, it spends most of its time on
a snake. At other times it will turn to the ground. The houbara bustard
face its predator, and fan its tail and searches for food as it walks through
spread its wings like the kagu. above its homeland, earing seeds and
desert
to expose large, eyelike patches. The shoots, insects, and small reptiles sue
as lizards. Of all bustards, it is the one
best adapted to the desert, and seldom
Cariama cristatus the most characteristic drinks, obtaining most of the water it
sounds of South American needs from food. The male uses a
Red-legged seriema grasslands. Although traditional courtship arena for mating,
generally, solitary this adopting a curious method of
Length 30-35in
".
90cm spec us may also be
>
Weight 3 l/< lb found in groups at times.
Ardeolis kori feeding I in insects frightened bv the
Plumage Sexes alike
gray-brown herd as it moves. The kori bustard
plumage Kori bustard also inhabits areas that have recentK
Location South Amrrii Migration Nonmigrant
1
been burnt, eating the new shoots of

Length i R
Status Locally common grass anil inset ts exposed by the lack
Weight . i.ition.
£L jut.
Plumage Sezca ilike
In both shape and behavior, this
n sembles the secretary bird

!9 I : both have long legs and Status b >«rr , vi*
crests,
at loss
and both hunt
the ground. The red-legged
BCriema often captures large pre} in
b\ striding
JL ^
ils bill, beating it mi the ground to I he ki •! i bustard is one of the
break it into pities h usualh runs world's heaviesi (lying birds Like
from predators, but mas lie down and its nl. Hues, however, it lives i
in
rck on iis cryptic coloring to es< ape the ground and is relui tanl to tl\
detei Hon. Out of the breeding season unless in serious danger, h often
ii is high!) vocal, and ils ( all is one ol with large, herding animals.
WADERS. GULLS, AND AUKS
WADERS, GULLS, AND AUKS

common sight
phylum Chordata IN MANY PARIS of the world, these birds are a
CLASS Aves sea,along shorelines, and in wetlands. Most are strong fliers
that feed on other animals in or near water. Waders
ORDER Charadri i formes
or
MMUB 18 shorebirds (which include sandpipers, plovers,
SPECIES 343 avocets, stilts, snipes, curlews, and jacanas) are
long-legged birds that feed by the water's
edge. Gulls (which embrace terns, skuas, jaegers, and
skimmers) use their flying skills to catch prey. A
and murres) dive
(including puffins, guillemots,
underwater Auks look strikingly
for food.
similar to penguins but are able to fly and
are confined to the Northern Hemisphere.
Waders and gulls occur worldwide, but
many species are threatened by habitat
destruction, oil pollution, or hunting.
ANATOMY
Most of the birds in this group have subdued
black, white, brown, or gray plumage, but some
have colorful bare parts such as the bill, eyes,
and mouth linings. Many go through radical
legs,
plumage changes, both between seasons and in
maturing to adulthood. The 3 groups exhibit
major differences, especially in the bill and legs,
which are long in the waders but short and web-
footed in the rotund, upright auks. Most birds
in the group have salt glands above the eyes that
enable them to extract the fluids they require
from seawater and expel the excess salts
through the nostrils.
long, touch-senstiivt bill
BILL SHAPES
These birds exhibit a wide variety
_ upper bill
swollen at tip of bill shapes, each adapted for a
different feeding method - the curlew
has a long, down-curved, touch-sensitive

strong bill bill that is idealfor probing deep into mud,
while plovers have a short, pigeonlike bill used

slight hook
for picking up food that is delected by sight,
not touch. Gulls have a robust, multipurpose

bill, slightly hookedfor tearing food.
—U- l
CATCHING FISHES
CATC
<2>— TAKING OFF

FINDING PREY CAPTURE
stout iccessfuUy captured its pn
A western gull delects a fish beneath the surface of With rapid wingbeats, the gull plunges its
takes off with the fish in its bill.
the water and swoops down toward it. hill into the water and plucks mil the fish.
n
WADERS. GULLS. AND AUKS
REPRODUCTION '..^ L..

(IN IS1DK COLONY
FLIGHT
on the "round, laying
tf^V**' iuks often
I he auks, with tl ointed
Most birds in this group nest
wings, an 11\ rapidly in air, bul only
•v^^^JMbBP! \1„,,, crowd <
between one and 6 camouflaged eggs. )ther spe< ies

T>^| (left)
i
(
togethei <»i /<// ledga at for limited disi.im es. I I
nest on cliffs, and a few, such as some terns

and auks.
up '" pais wings themselves underwatei
to propel
prefer trees. Many nest colonially, in gnat numbers
to i
yard, a boil as theyswim. he waders haw long, 1
(over a million pairs in some auks), and

some at ili:
irtuall) defining tht pointed wings to help them B

extraordinary densities: incubating murres virtually ienUy, bul althou
extent oj theii and effi(
nil) shoulders with their neighbors.
Numerous !
Thesi birds lm a singb adept hanges oi p.i< e and

at rapid (
waders have unusual mating systems, in which either

females or males have several mates. In jacanas, H@9Kt ,
pattern a
diici lion, they
,
anno! soar. his ^kill
an l»' seen in the gulls and their

i I
greater painted snipes, and phalaropes, the usual relatives. uhi< Ii spend hours on nd
detecting ii among tk I
roles of male and female are reversed, the

iniiin rimilai baking m flight, often traveling extremely long
more colorful female initiating display, distances ovei water. Every
m titi
the male alone incubating the eggs
ft
An in urn. which breeds north

and tending the young. ,,l ii,, Ahih ( incle and winters in
Antan tica, travels .i distan< e ol about
10,000 miles 16,000km each way
Hi, Aula inn spends much q) it
mid "'id flying

feeding by catching insects in
low over water to tahfi.sh. It ' teds ami
migrates in largi colonies. AM terns perform
spet lm ular amid courtship displays.
CARRYING PREY
The Atlanta puffin has an
txtremely large, colorful
bill. As mil, lm Ifi
all
the upper bill and

tongui in, ridged with
Spikes thai rtiahh tin
hud In hold a remarkable

llliiilhr, oj fish ill 'I III"'
n/i in 62 has In-ill recorded.
FEEDING WADERS
FEEDING Thesi As
Apart from scedsnipes, which eat plant matter, all
members in, catching their prey
of this group feed on other animals. The waders

probe In swishing theii bill
for invertebrates on beaches, estuarine

mudflats, and leaf from Mdi- to idt llirou«h
Gulls are opportunists, picking up fish, eggs, small " mud.

litter.
WALKING ON WATER
birds, and mammals where they can, even scavenging
at
n tnhnttjui kno
intimidating The jacanas (here, a comb crestedjacana)
garbage dumps. Gulls sometimes feed by piracy, scything As the bill
plunge-dive wall, onfloating vegetation, thru long toes
smaller birds into giving up their food. Terns in,,. , ,, ii , orm * into
the lower distributing theii weight and preventing
for fish, while skimmers fly low over the water, and
'It edible
/hem from The) eat insects
touching the surface and snapping shut when prey
sinking.
bill just l m .yii.\penswn.
seeds thai they fmdundei tk leaves.
is touched. Auks pursue their prey underwater.
yr
MIDAIR SNATCH ESCAPE
HOSTILE RIVALS CHANGING COURSE successfully grabbed thefish, the (mate
,h„ „i ih, chasing birds bos caught up with thi guU Having
Tumingon side, the gull heads off in
pursued by the mini 2
its
Stnlthiili, 2 more birds appear, harrassing the bilL g"U flees,
bird,.
and is pulling ih, fish out oj its
„ different direction to escape thi pursuers
mil by squawking andflapping theis wings
The female, much larger than the UTOmCtS CtTdCOlQ

male and weighing about 5oz (150g),
Wattled jacana mates with up to 3 males. Each male Crab plover
builds a nest, incubates a clutch of
eggs, and rears the young The female
Weight VA-4oz defends the territory ^^ red Weight I
Plumage Sexes alike
Migration Xonmigrant Colors Migration Partial migrant
This small,
black and dark
chestnut bird has big
fa red wattles around a yellow
As with the other species of .1L kss
bill. Wlirn the wings are open,
jacanas, the watded jacana has
The 8 species of jacanas are notable Us yellow flight feathers make a extraordinarily long toes diat This thickset, black and white wader
for their long legs and very large feet. striking contrail with spread its weight as it walks, has an exceptionally large, powerful
They also have a distinctive spur on the darker plumage. enabling it to move easily over black which it uses to crush the
bill,
the leading edge of each wing. The the leaves of floating waterplants. shellsof crabs before swallowing them
watded jacana feeds mostly on insects Because of this behavior, jacanas whole. The crab plover is also unusual
and other aquatic invertebrates, but are also called lilv-trotters. among u aders in that it digs a long
sometimes eats seeds from rice plants. extremely long toes burrow, in which it lays a single egg.
Rostratula benghalensis Haematopus oslralegus
Greater painted-snipe Eurasian

Length 9-11 in
'23 -28 cm;
ovstercatcher
Weight 3V4-7oz
Length 16 I ''in
(90-200 g)
4<i Ban
Plumage Scjies differ
Weight I4-2902
4<ki MOg
location Africa. S , E and
, Migration Xonmigranl Plumage Sexes alike
Vistralia
Status Vulnerable^
Location hurope. N.VV, Migration Migrant
V. and fl Africa. 5.W,
fss SS5 3L fcSS cautiously and mainly at night - to C E.. and S Asia Status ( .immon bright orange bill. It feeds mainly on
probe the mud for food. The greater mussels, limpets, and cockles - either
A medium-sized wader of freshwater painted snipe has a rather weak, *=: ts by cutting the muscle that holds the
marshes, the greater painted-snipe has fluttering flight, with legs dangling. 2 halves of the shell together and
a distinctive broad white patch around The male usually incubates the eggs A widespread, coastal and freshwater stabbing the prey inside, or by
each eve. It spends much of its time and rears the young, while the female wader, the Eurasian ovstercatcher is hammering the shell open on the
in deep cover, emerging - very goes off to find another mate. recognizable by its noisy calls and rocks or hard sand.
Himanlopus himanlopus
Ibidorhyncha strulhersii Recurviroslra avosetta
FEEDING IN WATER
Ibisbill Black-winged stilt Pied avocet
Length t5-l6in Length 1 4-16 in
:S8-4lcm, 15-40 cm
Weight I0-I2oz Weight 5-7oz Weight 8 -l4oz
'225-400 g)
V
-
(275- 325 g) (150-200 g)
Plumage Sexes alike Plumage Soxes differ Plumage Sexes alike
:_
Locaoon C and E. .Asia Migraoon Nonmigrant Migraoon Migrant Migration Migrant
Status Lower rsk Status < Common Status Common

When feeding, the avocet sweeps
«* .= fcs r« ts its upcurved bill from side to side
so that only the tip is immersed.
A unique wader with a long, thin, slender, upcurved bill However, if it sees something
downcurved red bill, the ibisbill is edible, it will lunge quickly
gray-brown above, and has a bluish forward, sometimes submerging
gray breast, neck, and head, with a Breeding in a band from its head as it pursues the prey.
black face, and red legs. In spite of western Europe across Asia
its striking coloration, the bird blends toChina, this bird is the most I
Mack uing markings
remarkably well widi ston) river widespread of the worid's
banks. It feeds in mountain rivers, 4 spot its of avocet. In winter.
raking through the surface and it can be found in large flocks.
probing under stones to find prey. mosdy on the coast, in estuaries,
and in nearby wedands. It frequently
In relation to its body size, this wader roosts floating or swimming on water, Upturned bill
and can form large

flocks of birds The pied avocet is
has the longest legs of any bird,
whiter than most
enabling it to feed in deeper water than "rafts," looking from a distance rather
other waden, with
most other waders. The black-winged like gulls. During the breeding season.
black markings on the
stilt hunts by sight or touch, scything it tends to move inland, to slightly
head and uings, but its
its fine, straight bill through the w ater brackish or saline marshes. The most distinctive feature is
to detect prey. This bird also chases avocet defends its territory very the long, slender, upcurved
insects on and above water, often aggressively, calling loudly if it senses bill, the male's being longer
twisting and leaping to catch them. danger and chasing olT intruders. and stratghter than the female s.
with a slight rusu tone Pluvialis domimca

jwrsorim rujus
as in the juvenile
BurchelTs courser pictured), which American golden
pn>\ ides exi client
Length 8
20
'
23 cm camouflage in the plover

Weight barren country in
Length 9 1/4 -11 in
80 g) which it lives.
Plumage S, v s alike
When threatened, Weight 4-7oz
(125-200 gl
the bird stands
Location Stiuili. rn Migration Noninig Plumage Sexes differ
\i
still and upright
Status l.iv-rl n.k to avoid detection,
Migrauon Migranl
and then runs away
T- _4A very quickly. If foil <<1 Status Common
to. it will 11\ far and
Unlike most waders, the 8 species of fast. It feeds in a jerky, ^ w~ kss A\
coursers live in dry habitats, and get Stop-Start manner,
their name from their rapid run. taking insects This medium-sized plover has a
Burchell's courser is sand\ brown, from the ground. remarkable migration pattern, flying
northward over land, but southward
largely over the sea. It travels very-
Stiltia Isabella
above and pale tan underneath except long distances, wintering on coastal
for a large, dark chestnut patch on the marshes and inland grassland in Si mth
Australian pratincole belly. Its downcurved bill has a red America and breeding in drier areas
base and black tip. The Australian of the Arctic tundra. Although mottled
Length B 9 in
21 .'I. in pratincole runs very last brown in winter, it has beautiful
Weight _>'/» -2 1/2 oz to catch insects on the Widespread in southern and East breeding plumage - a gold-
ground, but will also feed Africa, this plover is a medium to spangled black back, and a
Plumage s* \. alDu
in the air, sometimes wader with very striking
,
large black face bordered by
forming aerial flocks black, white, and gray plumage white above the eyes
Migration Rarcia] migrant
that hunt at and long black legs; its eyes are an id on the sides
considerable intense red. Its diet consists of a wide of the neck.
heights. range of invertebrates, frequently
Vss taken at night, especially when the
moon is bright. Both the male and
This Australian bird is an exception female are very protective of their
among the 8 species of pratincoles young, and will chase or challenge
since it has long legs and unusually intruders. The blacksmith plover gets
long w ings. It is pale cinnamon-brown its name from its sharp, metallic call.
Charadnus hiaticula Anarkynchus frontalis Numenius arquata different parts of the world. They
gather in very large flocks for roosting,
Ringed plover Wrybill Eurasian curlew but feed in smaller groups. Most are
strongly migratory - this particular
Length ' 8 in Length 20 23 '/2 in
S in
species breeds as far north as the
Weight
Plumage
i
SO
.Sexes alike
70g
Weight
Plumage
I
Si
in /Og
SK Weight lb-48oz
(450 -1, 350 g)
Plumage Sexes alike

Arctic Circle, but overwinters in sandy
and muddv estuaries from western
Europe to East Asia. It is a long-lived
Location \ Nard Migration Migrant Location New Zealand Migrauon Migrant

\J Migration Migrant
bird that can
survive for up
Greenland Europe, Asi
Alrn .1. Madagas 1
1
Status I •- .ilk common Status Vulnerable Status Locally common to 37 years.
fa ks tes ^ tss 3L is= brown- streaked

plumagt
A short bill, a white neck collar, and Famous for its beautiful rising call, the
lull curved
black bands on head and chest arc-
the- Eurasian curlew is a large, brown-
sideways
distinctive features of this compact streaked wader with an extremely
plover. It breeds over a wide range of long, downward-curving bill. Up to
habitats, but in winter is found mostly 7 in 19cm) long, the bill is ideal for
on sandy coasts and inland wetlands. extrai tiny animals buried deep in
It feeds on a variety of invertebrates, mud 01 sand. Inland, the bird cats
foraging for them at night, espet iallv mostK msec is and earthworms; on the
when the moon is full. Both male and coast it feeds on a wide- range of
female rear the young and will worm . shellfish, .uu\ crustaceans.
perform a Striking "broken espe< i.ilK shrimp and i rabs wine h
wing" display to lure 1 he wrybill is the onl) bird whose- lull the bird usually swallows whole-, after
predators from has a sideways curve, from the side, its removing the legs . It breeds in a
the nest. bill looks relatively normal perhaps variety ol habitats, from sand dunes,
long for a plover but when seen bogs, and lens to upland heaths and
humabove or head-on, n» unusual grassland, and becomes strong!)
shape
is ver) evident. [Tie sideways territorial at tins time-. Both male- and
curve is useful when feeding on gravel, female defend then territory with a
allowing the plover to llic k slums aside ilisiin, undulating Might, planing
ti-s.ee-
as it hums lor insects and worms. he I on wings held in a shallow A" while
plumage is soft graj above, and white gh ing a whistled, bubbling i all. Some
below, with a narrow blai k breastband, males \.ill even fighi using theii wings
more strong!) defined in males than The Eurasian curlew isoneol 8
in Females. related spec ies thai are found in
(
Tringa nebularia Aclilis macularia Phalaropus J'ulicaria

ROLE REVERSAL
Common greenshank Spotted sandpiper Red phalarope
"
Length
Waght
Plumage Sew* alike ndrflrr
Location Europe. Ana, Migration Miami Migration Migrant

.Africa mainly south of
Status Common S:a:-s I
Tlie red phalarope s breeding
s\ stem show s an almost complete

ik l» .Dr. te= reversal of the male and female's
norma] roles. The female shown
Like its 9 other relatives in the genus Unlike most waders, which live at above right Ls more assertive
Tringa. this long-billed wader is rarely or near the water's edge, the red than the more drably colored
found far from damp ground. It lias plialan >peis an excellent swimmer and male. She establishes a territory
dark plumage which Ls paler below, spends much of its time eithei and displays to attract a mate, and
and long, gray-green legs. When or on mudd\ pools. |i feeds on small he takes care of the young.
feeding, the common greenshank uses animals at the surface and frequently
the "walk-and-peck '
technique used spins around in tight circles to stir up
Stoit wader
In other members of its genus. It often its prev The red phalarope breeds in
The red phalarope is a small, rather pot-bellied
runs at its prey or scythes through the marshy ground in the high An tii under with very short legs and a fairly stout bill
water with its bill until it Ends (bod, tundra, and is remarkable for its Thejleshy lobes between
which includes fishes, crustaceans, breeding behavior. The female takes while farr ^ the toes help the bird
HS^ insects, and invertebrates. Its call. the lead in courtship, while the male patch ^Ûlii^
'» -~ i ringing "tu-tu-tu." is sharper I his small sandpiper has a horizontal incubates the eggs and rears the young
when the bird is posture, short legs, and a stout. 2-toned
liMurbed. bill. Greenish brown above, it has pale
short gray
underparts that are boldly spotted
tail \ black-tipped,
with brown in summer: the female has yellow bill
larger, blacker spots On the ground.
it bobs or sean h for food.
teeters in its
.\_s in the red phalarope see right the .
female courts the male, with Canned

and quivering wings. Some mate
tail
with up to 4 males in a season, and

show little maternal care.
Weight 5 8oz
Plumage Srxrsalilr
Status LoMrrnsk snipe has a pointed, 2-toned bill. There >t2I_S
extensive dark barring on the under-

ik .- .=
is
parts. and the

white than most other
tail corners have more
siiirx- In the
t= sss _
The 16 species of snipe are long billed breeding season, male birds gather at Skuas breed in high latitudes, at times
and camouflaged waders
beautifully a display ground lek am! compete with dose to polar ice. The brown skua is
that feed mostly under cover of each other, using a variety of sounds. one of 4—6 species in its genus and
darkness. Like most snipe, the great After mating, the female nests alone. the most widespread species in the far
south. I his gull-like scavenger preys
on penguins, shearwaters, and other
turn brick red. while the upperparts seabirds of the southern oceans
Calidris canutus
are darkand spotted widi pale chestnut particular!) on their eggs and voting
Red knot Red knots travel up to 7,500 miles and scavenges around fishing Ixuts
12,000km to breed, and form large and ships.
Length
r <C"7 docks when feeding and roosting. bmiM
The J species of shearhbills

Plumage Srxe» aUkr
constitute the onlv bird family
whose breeding range is entirely
Location \V>rkiwiuV. Mrgraoon Migrant
confined to the Antarctic and
except Antarctica
Status I
sub-Antarctic region. This species
scavenges lor lood at penguin and
seal colonies, feeding on eggs, thicks,
and seals' afterbirth, and harassing
One of the largest of all sandpipers of penguins into regurgitating the food
the genus (alidris. the red knot has thev bring lor their young. It makes
gray plumage in winter, but during the a cup-shaped nest from grass, bones,
breeding season its face and underparts pebbles, shells, and leathers.
.
Stercoranus longicaudus harm argentatus
black cap
Long-tailed jaeger Herring gull
Length 19 !1 in Length .'
',
.
67cm
Weight 8 1 3 oi Weight M ll
!25 I50| 0.73 l

i kg
Plumage Si K aUki Plumage Sexi
Locaoon ( m u Location \niili and Migration Pari

.irouni! An lil and Central taierica Europi
Ani.in In a Status ( iimim.n ma) lie hall as long as the rest \ f in. I
I \ i.i Status Common
ol the body The long-tailed jaegi i
undertakes one ol the longest ol all V= t= Jt visit. I
bird migral s from die- An ti< to Younghemnggulh halt hrouri \treaked jealhen
This gra) and black jaeger difTers the southern means. Lemmings The abundant
herring gull is the most andtah I vean to acquiri adult plumage.
from other jaegers in having very long constitute its diet on land, whereas n coastal bird in much of North America
central tail feathers, which .in- learl) feeds on fishes and robs other birds and Europe, and iis numbers have
i
»»
visible when ii Hies. These feathers while at sea. grown exponentially in the Northern
Hemisphere in the past century.
Adaptability is the ke\ to its success,
Pagophila eburnea
inland but the ivory gull is much less be. ause it will eat almost anything,
well known. It-- entire life is spent in the si avenging from garbage clumps and
Ivorv 2Llll high An tit . miistK on the edge of landfill sites to sewage outflows. It also
pack ice. It feeds chief!) on fishes and Steals the eggs and young of other gulls.
Length 17 I'm
invertebrates, but also tei ns. and birds that nest in open
II 18cm 11 -
We.ght 19 '
...
TOOg
follows polar bears to . niiiiuv Wry vocal, especially in V
125 leed on the sc rapS the) breeding colonies, adults tend
Plumage Sexes alike
leave behind. to return to the same
site io breed
even year. M *
Gray adult
One of the larger gully this pink
legged bird has a gray had and

The tjull family contains about 50 i
ings, .i ith black and whiit tips,
species,about 35 of which are found a u bxtt head and underside,

in the Northern Hemisphere. Many and a yelbu bill with a red
are familiar birds both on oasts and < spot on ih' lower half.
Larus dominicanus Chlidiimas niget Hydroprogw caspia estuaries, and in the breeding season
is likely to be found in freshwater
Kelp gull Black tern Caspian tern habitats. It catches fishes by plunge-
ll\ ing. swallow ing i
Weight J : ill.
^.; Length
Weight
'I
J
I I in Length 19
Weight:
li'.
I
!
!8o
!in
prey head
night.
first w hilt-
-.7-1
.1 775g
black
Plumage Sexi auki Plumage Sexes .iliki Plumage s. ,. alflti
red I
hill
Migration Partial migrant Migration Partial migrant
Aumi.iIi.i NV» /..iI.iikI Status!. ..i I |i. n. I \ i.i Uric Vli \n.ri ilii Mew Zealand Status Locally common
fcs sss ft t«s:kS «a hSS
lei ns an gra< eful birds, with slendei With a wingspan of up to 4' .ft I . bu .
bodies and forked tails. Most ol them this is the largest species of tern.
are while with a lil.u k i ap. bill the approaching the size of larger gulls.
black tern has dark plumage. Unlike It spends winter on lakes, oasts, and i
most tel Us. II dues not bleed mi the

i oast, but on inland lakes, marshes,
and bogs. Here it leeds inainK on simia paradisaea autumn it Hies from its nesting pl.n I
inset ts pint kit! from plants, oil the in the north to Antari in .1 fol die
water surfai e, or caught on the wing Arctic tern them summer, making the most
( hit ol the breeding season, when
Length II I In.
ol the daylight m
both hemispheres
back in coastal waters, small marine 13
It probably spends more time in
1 his large coastal bird is one ol IMies make up the bulk of its diet. Weight I
I, da) light ih. in anj other creature. It
the most widespread nulls leeds m. link on fishes, hovel tug

him I, , op Plumage s, x. Jiki
south of the Equator. Its then plunge-diving,
back and wings are blai 1-
dipping intc
Migration Migrant
while the head, tail, anil underside ~Âi lilt watt l
slati '<<i; bod)

in white, lis large yellow bill has
i nd spot on die lowci hall. This
opportunist fcedci i an hes inverte-
brates stirred up b) whales, steal food
from ictus, and kills birds as large as I In \u in tit n makes one ol the
geese. Ii also feeds on termite swai ms longest migration ol an) bird a
and si avenges at fish fai mi ics and forked |nui in \ ol at least 10,000 miles
slaughterhouses. lad 16,000km .
lun . a yeat Eai h a lull cheek >
bill with longer lower half

fuscala Larosterna inca Rynclwps jlai irostris
Sootv tern Inca tern African skimmer

Length 1!
r*** Weight
Plumage S >
Weight.
Plumage s
-* Weight
Plumage Ses
1
upper, and flattened sideways rather

Migration PjnLil migrant Migration N.>nmi?ninl Migration Nonrrugrant
like -t issor blade~. All i species teed b\
Status Lix .ilh tommon dying low uver water, plowing the
surface with the lower "blade" and
snapping the bill shut when it touches
a lish. The birds leed mostj) at dawn
1 1) i~- wide-ranging, tropical lorn has Skimmers are similar to terns in shape and dusk. This species, like the other
white undersides, but is almost B( ral i oloration, but their bill _' skimmers, is hlai k with a white
completer) brownish black above. structure is unique, with the lower underside, and its feet, lei's, and bill
A hud of the open ocean, n is i

iften mandible much longer than the are bright orange-red.
seen in large floiks. hundreds "I
miles from land. Unlike

man) i >l its relatives, ii does pursuit diver, using its stubb) wings
not plunge-dive for its C like flippers to speed after its prey
Instead, it swot ips down i lose to the Some terns It feeds mainl) on plankton, its bill
water, snapping up fishes and other can be dilfic being specially adapted
small animaK near the surface, rarely to tell apart. so that it tan catch small
getting wel Soot) terns nest in remote but ibis South prey. The dovekie breeds
islands throughout the Tropics, often American spe< n- is instand) in colonies on steep
in enormous, nois) i olonies. recognizable b) its slate-gra) i lilfs along the An tii
"
and remarkable white "musta< hi
its oast, but usual!)
Migration Migrant
plumes, which trail from its heck- Ibi , inters out at sea.
_'in "n m in more, rhis bird occurs in Status Common
the Humboldt Current region, let iding
mi the abundant small anchovies found fc=
in the nutrient-rich water. Large
numbers ol Inca terns congregate over The smallest auk in the Atlantic, this
feeding sea lions and humpback black and while bird has a short bill
whales, diving for fish scraps left by and an upright posture. Like other
these animals. members of the auk family, it is a
Aelhia pusilla Fratercula arclica Vrtaaalge

PUFFIN SOCIETY
Least anklet Common murre
Like most members of the auk

1 he smallest oi all auk spe< ies, thi The puffin is the most colorful auk family, the Atlantic puffin is a A relative!) large, blai kish brown
least auklel is the same length as a in theNorth Atlantic with a multi- highly social species, nesting in and white auk. the common murre is
house sparrow, although its bod) is bill and bright orange legs
. colonies on rock) coasts and gregarious, and often tortus dense
more thickset Breeding colonies ma\ and feet It sometimes dives I offshore islands. On land, puffins breeding colonies. Each pair produces
contain as main as one million birds. 60m to find the stand in groups, but when feeding. a solitary egg, laid directly on the
which set ofl in insectlike swarms s. hoi iling fishes that they gather in "rafts" out at sea. rock. The egg is sharpl) pointed
to feed. Plankton i- its only loud are its main food Feeding areas are usually within so that it rolls
mainl) copepods but also young nese include (i miles lllkni of a colony around in upright
-^Lmm.^3.^
mis .Hid lish larvae; the bird
relatively
dives In mi the surface and swims disturbed, rather
through the water to find the drifting sandeel, capelin, herring, and sprat. than falling off the
schools.It la\s |ust one egg a year, in whit h are supplemented by animal nesting ledge. The
a crack i ir i re\ it e on bare rot k. plankton in winter. When nesting, the chick leaves the
ufifierparts
puffin digs a burrow i ft lm or more ledge when about
deep in the ground; the burrow is often > weeks old and
lined with feathers and plant matter. completes its
Hinh parents incubate the solitary egg development at sea.
and rear the young, carrying main

small fishes, p.n ked i rosswise into their
bills, back to the burrow for it to eat
Breeding colors
During Iht
•
I tutffin's
triangular bill is red. retlou. and blur !
m late summer it hen its outer scales are shed.

,
PIGEONS
PIGEONS
PHYLUM Chordata THE FAMILIAR PIGEONS M.I \ l\ IES and < ! I
on arable farms throughout the world are

CLASS Aves
only a small pan of a diverse group. I topic
ORDER Col umbi formes
forests are home to an immense variety o;
(AMILIES (Columbidae)
1
spe< ies. many of them brilliantly eolojH
SPECIES 309
1
living on the ground or in trees. TJ
larger kinds are erenerallv known
pigeons and the smaller ones .is doves. Adult
pigeons and doves produce nutritious "crop-
milk," which they feed to their young.
ANATOMY
Kgeons and doves are plump, full-breasted birds
with a small head and bill; the head hubs as the
bird walks, keeping it in a constant position relative
to the body. These birds are strong fliers, their usually
broad wings driven powerful breast muscles that
b\
enable them to travel long distances at considerable
speed. The plumage is soft and thick, although most
species have a patch of ban- skin around eai h eve.
PLUMAGE FEEDIN
1
Many tropical pigeons ami Pigeons and doves eat m,iiurP||laiit material.'
do, ,
s, such as thi magnificent Ihev an be broadly divided into '2
i
/mil pigeon (left), ham bright seed eaters and fruit eaters. All have a spei ullv FEEDING YOUNG
and varied plumage. Although adapted uut. with a well-developed rop and a i 7 hi w rouux turtle '/"•'"'"^BS^B
othei species such as tin stock strong, nmsi ulai gizzard; the latter is used for ,n, being fed on "milk"
>
^
do; . ha left) me less grinding food, often aided In ingested grit or set nt,, I In tli, a nn, tin i !s i rop.
IRIDESCENT BRIGHT strikingt) ,

>
stones. Fruit eaters, taking more easily digestible ( rop milk is produced In both
FEATHERS COLORATION small mil: scent patches. lood. have shorter guts than seed eaters. sexes and is rich in proteins andfats.
i
olumba livia
birds. Whereas the wild morph is
Columba /miy, a Streptopelia decaocto
generally gray, with iridescent high-
Rock dove lights on the neck and upper breast, Pink pigeon Eurasian collared-
ii iwn pigei ins are highly vai iable.
Paradoxic ally, although sonic feral dove
so ainv have remarkable homing
Plumage Si
black
on .1 ing
Imx
.^flHL
^^ abilities, wild
Weight
Plumage
II
Si <
12 oz
I25g
aliki
Weight
Length 12
j
II 14cm
are largely i ,0
Migration V.i Location Mauritius Plumage

sedentary. The Migration Sexi
wild rock dove Status Bndangcn d

on sea
A
nests Migration Partial migrant
i
liffs and anions; Status t .iiiiui.in
mi Its; I'll Iiivmi
Originally from southern Europe . Asia. pigei ms, I" ii Igi
and North Africa, the roi k dove is the am w I nn Ii iw ledges

wild .nn estor ill die town pigei m me i prov ide perfei i I his slim, pinkish bull dove. Willi its
of the world's mosl widi spread feral nest sins distini live blac k i nll.u. underwent
a dramatic and -~t ill unexplained
expansion during the- 20th century,
Columba palumbus on the ground, and i^ also an agili and has I"-. ' inn a c c minion sight
feeder in trees, clambering to brain h through much of Europe. Ii feeds
Wood-pigeon tips in leasi mi hulls and mainly, on th< sei ds and fruits of
seeds. Sexually ( )m ni the world's grasses ini luding i ereals and hi rbs,
.a live males rarest birds, the pink pigi on in. I
... i
asionall) cm invei tebrates and
pel I'n in a is one man) island sp
"l i ii
-
the green parts "I plants, typii ally
display flight, ih. a have been harmi d by pecking food from the ground I lighl)
.ii i
panied introdui ed predati n s and v.ic al in the breeding sea ii -.
bv winn ' laps, habitat loss I hi w ill I

populatii >n i
iin ii.iin. "di . .in. to" indii ati s
Migration Pal
to attract a had i
liminishi d to fewi than i
hvllun nl the in. il. s
V u mdl V 1,1
in. iir. I In 20 birds In the 1980 howi w i

. i
lurtship c all.
m in ll III. ill
produi es <mlv
a singli
UMI.lllv
brood
-in
ic Ii
nn reasi
i essful
ase
.
programs have
aptiv
numb
' breei ling
led to an
and
in its i s I his large

I In largest pigeon found in I pi hi mi. ' .i
eg has a miIi |nnk body, a white
(his spei ies has prospered as a n suit pei season I hi lac and forehead, usually brow n
e
"I In ming and has bee ome an yOUng an i and foj bv w ings, and a moderately long, strong
.unit iiliin.il pest h ofti n ltvd> in lien I, In iih parents in the ncsl bill w nli kid tip.,i I
SANDGROUSE
ia macroura pointed tail. The female is slightly Ptilinopus magnificus Hemiphaga novaesetlandiae
paler than the male. The tatter's
Mourning dove courtship display consists of gliding, Magnificent fruit New Zealand pigeon
spiraling. and Dying above the female,
with his wing tips held below the body pigeon
A \er\ rapid breeder, this
dove may even reproduce
in the season of its birth,
broi, .
St2lLS I Scams Lt**rr risk
m ik
This widespread Xortli American The largest pigeon in New Zealand.
dove gets its name from its mournful. this is the only one that is native i<>
Small and slender, it

4-S) liable call. the islands, rather than introduced.
has long, narrow wings and a long. It is dark, with iridescent, bronze and
green highlights on the upperparts
and breast, and a w hue IkIIv and
Goura victoria blue-gray; it has a purple-red breast and lower breast. This bird feeds on a
pale gray wing pan edged with
lies, wide range of plants and fruits,
Victoria crowned- dark purple. It lives on the ground which it is able to eat whole owing
during the day. feeding on fallen fruits, ti ) its extendable gape. Several native
pigeon and roosts in forest trees at night. This New Zealand trees are almost totally
species is now vulnerable dependent on this pigeon for their
as a result of loss of its Also named the wompoo fruit dove seed dis]
lore>t habitat and liter it- "wompoo" call, this large.
humans hunting it lor heavy, long-tailed fruit pigeon is
food and its beautiful threatened by loss of habitat. Despite

plumes. Its rarity its richly coloredplumage mosdy
has also made it yellow and green, with a deep purple
a target for breast and upper belly, and a grav >r c
collectors. greenish gray head and neck - this

bird is inconspicuous and surprising!)
well camouflaged in die forest canopy
One of the world's largest pigeons, this in which it lives. It feeds on fruits
species h.is a distinctive lacy, fan-shaped usually tigs taken from trees, and
crest on top of its head. Generally very rarely comes to the ground.
Pterocles coronatus Pterocles namaqua
SANDGROUSE Crowned sandgrouse Xamaqua

sandgrouse
PNfUM Chordata
These intricately pah erned birds live
Wcght "lloz
CLASS A\es
in arid areas of .Africa
spend most of their
and .Asia. They
time on the ground,
&$ Plumage Scês differ
owoea Pteroclidifonnes
where they are well camouflaged by their
= a- .;S 1 Pteroelididae Migration Nnnnuerant
brown or gray, spotted or barred plumage.
-" Ei
• = 16
Sandgrouse resemble both grouse and Status Common
pigeons. Like sjrouse. they have a small

S*s:_!
head, a squat body, and feathers on their legs, yet when they
take to the air they fly strongly on long, pointed wings, with This well-camouflaged bird lives in
wingbeats like those of pigeons. Their thick neck some of most extreme desert
the
areas, helped In its low energy and
and s
water requirements, its ability to
tolerate air temperatures of over
122 F 50°C for several hours,
and its tolerance ol water with
a high salt content. The male has
a sandy-orange crown and a black
mask at the base of his bill, while the
female is graver and more barred.
The Namaqua sandgrouse shares
many desert-specifk adaptations with
the crowned sandgrouse see left : it
needs little food or water, and its thick

plumage insulates i| from high and
low temperatures. A pale brown head,
white breastband, and molded brown
wings provide excellent camouflage
against the stonv ground and sand.
This bird travels to areas that have
received good rainfall in search of
seeds, which are its sole source of food.
,
PARROTS
PARROTS
These 6nspi< uous, brightu colored birds have
<
populated most of the world's wanner area-,, and are

CLASS Aves
partic ularK
abundanl in tropical forests. In addition to
Psittaciformes
lis. group includes the familiar macaws,
true parrots. 1 1
parakeets, cockatoos, cockatiels, lorikeets, and

budgerigars, among others. Noisy and sociable in die
wild, parrots have long been popular as pets, prized for
their beauty, intelligence, and impressive learning skills, evident in their
remarkable ability to mimic human sounds. Although the) max range
some distance to forage, very lew parrots are truly migratory.
appt t hill in
ANATOMY
Parrots arc easily recognized by their
large head, short ncck. and strongh
hooked bill. They have hard, distinctively

glossy plumage, usualh predominantly
green for camouflage in the forest foliage.
with patches of other bright colors. Their
leei. consisting of 2 iocs pointing forward
and 2 backward, an- used for climbing
trees, and the hill is Inquenlh used as a parrot's bill
third limb forclimbing or holding. The . 1 /mi ml \ hooked lull u remarkably
wings are typicalh narrow and pointed, /huh/,: hnlh the uppet ana
enabling parrots to fly with great spied nniiii/ili/i i an hinged agiimt lilt \,
and maneuverability. Lull /in independent movement J?j
FEEDING
Virtually all parrots Iced
exclusively on plant material
nil lulling seeds, nuts, lniits.
nectar, and flowet I
is often an exercise in
coordination between
bill and foot, the latter
grasping a food item a
holding it up for the bill
NECTAR FEEDERS towork over. Although
Lories and lorikeet-, (here, a rainbou most parrots feed in the
il mi nei tar. They ham a trees, main species als
brushhkt lip lo their tongue In help the ii adih disi end In the
liquid mil' iln a nitiiiili. ground to forage.
/: ichoglo m haematodm underwings. However, in subdued

i
hattei when feeding and its cryptic
Rainbow lorikeet i
oloration makes u < 1 1 1 lie uli in detei i
.inn . 1
1
_ foliage. I Ins spe< ies i auses
damage in mi hards ami \ ineyards,
espei iall) in Australia.
streaked head
Location Vu l.u , si Migrations
I'. Vmlrali.,
Si <"
« •£ Jll
1 l.ii ks nl
congregate to Iced
i .iinln ivi lot
in
ikeets
flowering
Location [nd
D
Migration \
lues and an ih, n ,

| | in the
II lorful lorikeet has a sloi k\ i mnp.im ol other mi I. ii- m XL
bod and a pointed tail. It is highly fruit-eating birds. This bird usi s
variable in appcarani e, with 22 sub- its bill to rush the llesh fruits his lorikeet
i ol I is mainl) nil. with
spei ies that difTei in sizi oi oloration, lo extract the jui< e ,u\<\ the seeds.
.
violet-blue sin akingmi its hindnei k

or both. Juveniles have il.uk brown The rainbow lorikeet also feeds ami bai k. a narrow orange-red bill,
bills, uhii Ii in adults are man mi insei is ami theii larvae and graj legs A noisy, onspii uous i
red. [ike most othei lorikci n am bird, a is miisi , iininiiiiK s, ,

n in swifl
lories, this lorikeet has a brush-tipped
Brightly colored overhead flight, emitting shrill call-
idapted foi gathering pollen notes, bin alsu spends much lime
and in l. iii
limn flowers. In flight ill'
resting oi feeding in tn < I Lk
rainbow lorikeet si reei lies coni a fntrfil: lorikeets, it has a brush-tipped
while displaying in In ighth olored in gathei pollen
i
and nectar.
PARROTS
mmus ihus icus hollandu

yellow crest jSp gray crest
of malt of female
Palm cockatoo Galah Cockatiel
orange pate
#
on ear i o: t
We.ght Weight Weight i'Aoz
Ik,-
cockatiel
g£ Plumage Sexes
alike
Location
[including
\i,-
I.i
Plumage &
Plumage Sexes
Migration Nomad*
differ
emits a
distinctive
warbled
Status ( otnmon Status < .unmon chirrup, but
quieter whil
*L JL jl ^ hL is
feeding on the
ground or drinking
The largest of about 1 8 species of The cockatiel is the smallest species al water holes. I his
cockatoos, the palm cockatoo is also of i oi kaioos and the only one to have species is very popular
short pink
distinguished by its entircK black in si
a long, pointed tail. The tapering i rest as a pet and numerous
plumage, hui;c. hooked bill with which islowered when the bird is resting, oi color variants are found
it can crack open palm nuts and other sometimes while feeding. In lliuht. the in captive-bred birds.
elongated hard-shelled seeds, and a
. a 'I I,
nihil* pirn ing. whistlclikc
grin wing'.
call. When excited 01 nntabilis Eciectus roratus
alarmed, the palm
cockatoo raises its Kea Eclectus parrot
striking crest of
Length I 'Jin
ba< kward-cun ing, |:;.iti
narrow leathers, We.ght 29 oz Weight !8oz

and the prominent,
bare crimson cheek Plumage Sexes alike
*?** Plumage S
patches deepen in
y
Migration Nonmigranl Location S Vm.. Mlgraoon Nonmigranl
color, causing it
1
Guinea, N 1 \im
to "blush." Status Vulnerable sW P.iofi, i.L.nd- Status I.- ill;
!B -* £L
crimson
In k pat hi
i i I
The male and female eclectus parrots
look so different from each other that
early naturalists identified them as
The most widespread and numerous separate species. Both sexes are large
species of cockatoos, the galah is a and stocky, with squarish tails and
familiar sight throughout Australia. robust bilk, but while
b[ui hmdm(k
Flocks of these noisy and gregarious the male is brilliant
of female
birds are found in arid si rubland as green with red flanks
well-developed
well as in cits parks, farming has and underwings and a
fietforjbraging
increased this parrot's food supply, yellow bill, the female
On ground
leading to a steady rise in population. is red, occasionally
The galah has a relatively small < rest, with a blue underside
and its gray back and pink underparts and underwings. and
create an alternating effect as it veers This large, stocky mountain bird is has an entirel)
through the air. remarkable among parrots for its black bill.
insatiable curiosit) a\u\ wide-ranging

diet. A natural opportunist, it will
Cacatua galerita from a few dozen birds to several examine anything that appears to be brilliant
hundred. At night, flocks occupy edible, and often feeds on carrion. green body
Sulfur-crested regularly used roosts, often in trees tearing u up with its unusuallv, long of male
bordering watei ionises. This species bill, which resembles that "I a bird of
cockatoo is very popular as a pet, and both prey. Adults are largely olive-green,
adults and chicks are regularly with orange underwings.
captured for the live-bird trade, a f.n i
Weigh! 1402 that posrs a threat to the survival of

violet-blue
some populations. Plalycercus elegans
Plumage S cheek patches
Crimson rosella \s us name

Migration Nofunigrail i./An , i, \t
suggests, the
crimson roseHa's
Weight ioi plumage is nil
9S. £L ,*+. Jli Ii has violet-blue
Plumage Sexes alike
cheek patches and
I In- large white i oi katoo is yell outer wing COVCItS,
on the undersides of its wings and a dark blue tail;
and tail, and has a yellow
\ black bill Status Common the back and wings
i
and
irsi hi narrow, forward-
feathers
ai live in the
Noisy white upper body
m ik il «* jftt
are mottled red
and
tends to
black.
become
The bird
quite tame
mi ii ning and late This is one oi H spet i< s oi rosella, all around fai ms oi in gardens.
aftei noon, it of which have sun il.ir streamlined It has an undulating flight: it
forages in flocks bodies and long tails, and arc restricted drops down toward the ground,
thai van in size to Australia and its outlying islands. glides upward, and then lands.
.
PARROTS
Melopsittaeus undulatus
Budgerigar
Wteght Vjen
Plumage Sexes alike
Migration Nomadic
ontrasting with a red Scants Common counterpart-, whiih ma\ tie Ol
different colors, the wild budgerigar is

and underwings.
face
Found in a wide variety
d habitats, including
i 'I JL ^ always green, wiih a yellow face and
blue tail. The upperparts of its body
suburban park- or garden-. The budgerigar is one of the most are barred black and yellow, providing
Long, pointed wine* and a streamlined
where favored food tn numerous of all parrots and is the excellent camouflage while it feeds in
shape contribute to making this
hem present, breeds onlv in lasinania best known because of its popularity vegetation. Often nomadic, this bird is
small parrot a fast flier, e its it
and overwinters eastern Australia. as a pet. L'nlike domesticated usuallv seen in large, noisy flocks.
name. Its crown is dark blue. in its
Deroptyus accipitrinus blue-edged red Psittacus eritfiacus

nickfeathm jellou eyes
Red-fan parrot Gray parrot
characteristic
While pen lung. : „ It i- found mainl
in lowland
die red-fan
parrot resembles
*-^ Weigr>:
rainforest, and
Plumage Srxcs alike
montane
a bird of pies, also in
with it- hawklike rainforest, at

Migration Nonmigram LocaoonW Migration Nonmignuii finest edges.
eve- L sually
seen in pairs or Status Localh common on plantation-.
Status Vulnerable
and on farmland or
£
small groups
rarelv of
20 birds .
up
this
to m $1 *L in gardens.
coloration,
It
its
has unusual
gray plumage
This parrot is distinguished by dark forest-dwelling This stocky, -hort-tailed parrot is an contrasting strongly with the
red feathers that extend from the nape parrot is incon- extremely popular cage bird because bright red or deep maroon of the
to the hindneck. When excited or spicuous but is of its ability to imitate human speech tail. In flight, members of the flock
alarmed, it raise- its neck feathers to often heard well and perform tricks. Despite being continually call to each other and also
form a spectacular ruff or Ian. Its before it comes illegally trapped for the pet trade, communicate visually by displaying
long, rounded tail is also a distinctive into view. it is still common in pans of its range. their red tails.
Strigops habroptilus CONSERVATION Agapornis personatus Amazona aestioa
Kakapo Fewer than n kakapo survive1 1 > Masked lovebird Blue-fronted amazon
today and a program is underway
to save the species Irom extinction.
Waght • The birds have been moved to Woght Uo2

3 offshore island- where they are
Plumage Sexes alike ftumage Srxei alike
Plumage Sexes alike
free from predators, and where 1
a- with thL- female - their pi

Migration Nonmigrant Migration Nonnugram ** g~i: unN grain
can be carefully monitored
:
Sous I
— -* A^ m £t
One of the world's most endangered Lovebirds get their name from their A distinctive blue forehead on a
parrots, the flightless kakapo has strong pair-bond-, with the male and yellow face differentiates this large
highly unusual feedin female spending much of their time and stocky parrot from other
habit-. It i- active close together, frcqucntlv preening members of the genus Amazona. of
at dusk and each other's feathers. .Ml 9 species are which there are alxnit 31 -; )
often walks -mall, -hort-tailed. and solidly built. Although conspit uou- and noi-v
long distai Ihe masked lovebird has a dark head. in flight, the blue-fronted
feeding area- where it onspit uou- white eyering amazon is unobtrusive and
chews plant- lor their and bright red bill. It feeds on seeds, quiet while feci I
juices, leaving balls of fruits, and buds. and. resting in treetops,
fibrous material hanging unusually (i >i a where falling pieces
from the plant- It also dig- parrot, build- a of fruits mav lx- the
up or crushes rhizomes with nest instead onlv indication ol
it- bill 1 hi niali- gather at Flightless it- presi
mating ground- leks . where The hea: i^^ i in ! idler
they dig hollow- and make loud unlined in flock- at

kakapo has rounded
booming noises to attract regular night-
mnot
female- I he adult-, i hn k-. time n
\iL\tain it in the air.
and eggs of the kakajx . ridged
but mated
an- highly vulnerable bill 15 adapted to
pair- alwav-
to introdui ed
predators.
PARROTS
bird, it is also found in parts ;

Psittacula krameri
i
Aratinga jandaya Anodorhynchu s hyacinthinus

th America. The central tail
Rose-ringed parakeet and narrow, and the

feathers are long Yellow -headed Hyacinth macaw
backward— weeping wings produce
Length Ibin
a i haracteristicaUy parakeet
streamlined llight
silhouette.
Plumage v p mage -
Plumage -«--«> alikr

Migration Nonmigrant Mignroon Vmmiejanl
nmoo Status Endanermj

Migraoon Nonmisrram
JL ^ A. Status L . .UK ronunon lC_ +*.
rhis shm-bodied green bird has a yellow chin patch

rose-pink collar around its hindneck.
it has the widest natural distribution One of 30 species of conure. all I lie largest and
of am parrot, stretching from West found in Central or South America. probably the most
\ii ii .1 to Southeast Asia. As a feral .'i tin- i- a small parrot with a narrow, spectat ulal I >i all
pointed head and neck are

tail. It- parrot-, the hvac ml
yellow, gradually becoming orange- macaw is
green red on the breast and abdomen, and

Myiopsitla monachus distinguished by its
upperparts
itback and wing- are largely green. rich cobalt blue
Monk parakeet Usually encountered in noi-\ floe k- plumage, con-
of up to 15. this very active bird trasting bright
Length 1 1
i/: in
spends much of it- rime i Limbering yellow chin patch

Weigh: among branches of trees or shrubs to and ring around
find fruits. When disturbed, it swiftly the eye, and long,
Rumage Sexes alike
take- llight while pointed
.ocaoon C. and
r Migration Nonmigrant
lung loudlv. I In-
tail.
massive
S. South bill i- u-ed lor cru-hin
Status C-»mmon The colonv expands as hard palm nut-. It
green bark
nests are built alongside teed- mainK in the
m or on top of existing ones

I his parakeet has a long
and wings
tree-,
the
but
ground
c nine- to
to pick up
the nesting habits of this green green tail, an olive-green fallen fruit- and nut-.
parakeet are unique among parrots. abdomen, and a gray-white It- high value as a
Witli several othei pairs, i< roosts in face and throat. In some parts i age bird has caused
a communal ne-t. which forms the of South America, it i- a -eriou a major decline in
center for the birds' daily activities. agricultural pest. it- number-.
Cyanopsitla spi CONSERVATION Ara chloroptera
Spix's macaw While Spix'- macaw had seemingly Red-and-green

never been a common bird, settlers
moving into it- range and the macaw
Weight Not recorded destruction of the caraiba wood-
Length
Plumage Se\rs alike land in which it nest- restricted
its distribution to a small area of Weighi
dark red
I .
northeastern Brazil, pushing this plumage

Location South America Migration NonmigTant
F.
macaw to the brink of total
Status Iauih i in uiid* extinction. The illegal bird trade

dark green
is also responsible for this bird-
wing coverts
decline. Today, however, a- a common
The
all
smallest of
blue macaws.
result
begun
of conservation measures
in the late 1980s,
i| these parrot- have
more m fi
Spix's macaw is a been successfully bred in captivity. The red-and-green macaw attracts
creature of habit. With the last known wild Spix's attention by it- spo tacular. vivid other, more-
regularl) fitting on macaw now believed to have coloration and strident call. A large common macaws,
la\ i ii ed perches disappeared, the survival of the bird, like some other macaws hait a e-pec iallv at earth
atop tall trees and -pecies depends on the
entirely parti) red plumage and a light blue bank-, where I e
daily follow ing the success of the breeding and back and rump. The long tail is numbers gather to
same flight paths. release program. ripped with blue. It- wing- are blue c ortsume exposed
This parrot feeds with dark green upper wing covert-. mineral -and-. In
on seeds, nuts. The juvenile- resemble adults but llight. red-and-green
S and fruits while have shorter tail- 1 hi- macaw prefers macaws c all loudlv to
clambering humid, lowland forest, but in the each other. 1 In- bird
among branches. southern pan ol it- range-, where leecl- on -cecl-. fruit-,
the more common -cat lei macaw and nuts thai are- often
Bl.l E PARROT
[Ara macao i- absent, it frequents open larger or harder than
aw has a bng.
habitats, including deciduous forest. those eaten bv other
pointed tad. and a
and is often seen perching on the macaw-. Adult birds are
blue head, with dark gray
skin surrounding the eyes.

topmost projecting branches of tall killed for food or for
The back and wings are trees I -uallv encountered in pairs leather-, while the chick- are-
darker blue while the or -mall group-, po— iblv (amir) take-n from the ne-t for the
bill is black. groups, it sometimes assoi iates with live-bird trade.
«
CUCKOOS AND TURACOS
CUCKOOS AND TURACOS

phylum Chordata Although i iii.y have loud voices, cuckoos and
turacos are secretive birds. Cuckoos, which occur
CLASS Aves
throughout the world, are generally gray or brown,
OFIOEK Cuculiformes
although some have striking patches or streaks. Some BROOD PARASITES
,.„IUES 3
species of turacos, which are exclusive to Africa, are Smm in hum mi hrnuil /una
i
SPECIES 160
brilliantly colored, with unique red and green pigments. laying their eggs in other birds '
nests.
l In ;«<;\ often tlmeh resemble those af-

Both cuckoos and turacos have short wings, a long tail. i
file host. I In cuckoo chick /here, a

and 2 pairs of toes on each foot, one pointing forward and the other common cuckoo) mux eject the host's
back, enabling them to climb as well as perch on trees. Besides cuckoos eggs hi young, and takefood brought by
and turacos. this group includes the hoatzin, placed in a separate family. its new "parent" (line, a reel warblen
I 'lamator glandarius
common ( ui h is, the young do not Cuculus canoru.s Crotophaga ani
evict their nestmates. However, since
Great Spotted CUCkoO the) grow fastei than theothei chicks, Common cuckoo Smooth-billed ani
they get a larger share of the food
Length : Length 1 tin
broughl l>\ the fostei parents, with the 12 13cm
result that within the first 8 days of Weight lot Weight 1m/
theu life
their fledgling weight.

the) rea< li half
*U Plumage Scm-s
!5g
alike
vl Plumage Sexes
I25g
alike-
Migration Migrant u lull marking Location S II North Migration Nonmigram

on back America ( -cntra! America. —
Status Common South America, Caribbean Status Locally common
*L m ik & M*
The largest cuckoo found in Europe This odd-looking bird has a deep,
this handsome bird lays arched bill and feeds mainly by
its eggs in the nests of following cattle, catching the insects
crows, magpies, and starlings. Unlike they disturb as they move. It lives in
black- groups of up to several pairs, which

barred share the work of incubating the eggs
imiliisiili
Tauraco erythrolophus most <il its time hopping from branc h and raising the chicks. These often
to branch, and has a heavy, labored stay in the nest once they are fledged,
Red-crested turaco flight. It usually lives in family groups, helping raise the next brood.
foraging in the rainforest canopy and
vigorously defending both feeding
and nesting sites from other
turacos as well as olliii fruit- Usually gray with a black-barred,
eating birds. white underside, the common cuckoo
breeds mainly in forests throughout
Europe and Asia, but travels long
dist, mcrs tospend the- uintei in Africa
and southern Asia. This familiar
ciii km is a
i lassii example of a brood
i
parasite, la\ ing its eggs in the

Like other turacos. this spet us derives nests nl ,i number of other
its bright colors from a i opper-based ipecies (see above).
pigment, unique to the turaco family.
A tree-dwelling fruit eater, it spends
Geococcyx californianu s
to Hush out prey Lizards,
snakes, biicls. and small
Opistkocomus hoazin pun ess plant material in a similar way Greater roadrunner mammals and kills what-
In grazing mammals. The young leave ever it latches with a blow from
Length 22 in
Hoatzin the ncsi before they an IK and use c its strong, pointed bill. This road-
iln iin\ w ing
ii laws to limb il gh Weight '
runnei also inns to avoid predators,
>
' i 1
Length. 1
1 !8in
62 10cm vegetation; they dive into water if swinging its long tail from side to side
Plumage S«CJ
Weight threatened. As man) as 8 birds m.n aliki
like a rudder to make
g live logethei. defending llicii c ommon t us while speeding.
Plumage Sexes ilik- Location S North tmcrii Migration Noi gnni
tei i itoi ) and helping reai the young i
Status ( i.tnmon Il,, l, ih

Location N South Migrauon \ streakeil body
Status Lch all) i 01

A. .- At
A fa = s .HT- Although
membet of
it c an ll\.
the cuckoo lamiK spends

this long-legged
I Ins primitive-looking, tree-dwelling niiisi nl its time mi the ground. < )ver
bird leeds almosl cntirel) i iii leaves, a slim t can reach speeds of
distances il
It.ii w niliei spet ies an ai omplish

fi c i more than I8mph 30kph Ii walks .
because us large stomal Ii enables it ti and runs through the desert, trying
OWLS
PHYLUM Chordata Often heard vet seldom seen, owls are REPRODUCTION
«" Aves
1
hunters that operate mainly at night. They Owls do not build their own nest, Instead,
they rely on the previous years" efforts of
OKDEN Strigiformes resemble the day-fixing predators, the hawks
other birds or simply select a suitable cavity
FAMILIES 2
and falcons,
having sharp talons and in in the ground, .1 nee. a cocky crevice, or
STEOS 205 a building. The almost spherical egg
hooked bills
and subduing prey, for catching
laid in the nestor straight onto the surface.
but in addition owls have several adaptations \ [« «t ou Is
2-7 eggs, which usually
la\
that help them hunt in the dark. Their eyes are very large, hatch at 2-day intervals, leading to large
discrepancies in the age of the chicks in YOUNG
to gather all available light, them and face forward, to help a brood. If food is scarce, the older chicks The youngest owlet 1
judge distance. The)" have exceptionally acute hearing, and take the larger part of the food offered, brood (her-
while the younger chicks may starve. eon be 2

their soft plumage enables them to fly silently. The 2 families
:.
than tht
typical owls and barn owls are found worldwide

most habitats, from dense
forest to tundra.
ANATOMY
Owls are highly distinctive.
with an upright posture, a large,
rounded head, and a short tail.
The outer toe is reversible, allowing
it to point forward or backward,
impiwing the ability to perch or grab
Owls ha\ e excellent eyesight,
prey.
which works as well in daylight
as it does at night. They aI-<> have^^^^
exceptional hearing, easily picking up
the faint rusde made by a small mammal
even under snow. Some species can hunt hi
total darkness, their asymmetrical ear openings
giving them a three-dimensional perception
sound. All owls have soft, dense plumage
soft fringes on dieir flight feathers that muffle
the sound of air turbulence.
VISION
An owl's eyeballs are tubular
and cannot be sniveled.

FEEDING
As a result, if the bird Owls take a wide variety of Irving prey, the size PELLETS
needs to look to the side, of which depends on the owl species. Most feed ally swallow their
it must move its whole on insects, birds, or small mammals, and large owls food whole, taking injur,
head, lb compensate, an commonly catch and eat smaller owls. Owls that feathers, bones, and insect
large pupil
owl can rotate its head live in woods and forests tend to drop from a i/ntin. Later, they regurgitate
eye fixed tubular and neck through an arc of Stationary position onto their prey, but those that these aufy a below;
in socket eyeball more than 270 degrees. occur in open country must hunt in midair, using in the form of compact pellets. ;< hich
slow, low-level, quartering flight. collect beneath their nest or n
SWALLOWING PREY PREPARING TO CAST ROUNDED PELLETS CAUGHT IN THE THROAT RELEASING THE PELLET
' •
after eating, the S Despite bang maided, the pellet Filially, a shiny black pi
whole, including much ina tut to rtgurgitatt food is rolled into a pellet, with hard causes the owl to strain as from the mouth. The owl may cast
matter, such as fur and the indigestible parts of its meal. apped injur and up the esophagus. .; one within 2-1 hours.
OWLS
Tylu alba
On target
OtttS stops
i
Common barn owl

nabling it to pinpoint
Eurasian scops-owl
prey m total it Length 6'/2-8
Weight Weight
it the last
Plumage v Plumage -
Location North 
Vuslrulu Status Status Loi
mUkZL ju*. ff*Hi» rv
Found on all continents Small and superbl) ami luflaged, this i
except Antarctica, the owl is heard more often than it i- -ecu.

common barn owl is the its call being a low whistle, repeated
Heart-shaped face
most widespread of
jpecies of owls, and one
all
™
<» every few seconds.
llet k- in it- gra) or reddish
The fine black
brown
ijied bs its pah.
of the most widely heart-shaj plumage make it
distributed of all land anil i. almost invisible

burl-, h ha- a pale, heart- against the bark
shaped lace, long legs short of a tree. \\ hen
i ivered in white feathers, tail alai med. it will
and a very -hint tail. The stretch itself] and
female lay- eggs in a hollow tree Small rodents such as mice. rat-, even sway, to
or an abandoned building. She and voles make up the bulk of the imitate a branch
feeds the young with food brought common barn owl's diet. Once it and so remain
by the male; she also brood- them has killed it- prey the owl hidden. This owl
for up to 3 week- alter hate hing. swallows it whole, later feeds mainly on
until they have acquired the down regurgitating am parts that insects, swooping
they need to keep themselves are undigestible in the form down on them from
warm. Changing agricultural of pellet-. If it has young to a perch, but also eat
practice- have reduced the feed, the owl takes the prey back spiders, earthworms,
barn owl's food supply; in to the nest, carrying it in its bill. reptiles, bats, and
some area- it i- now rare. small birds.
Otm lempiji dons, and area- with scattered trees, .Si otopelia pelt help grasp its slippery prey. The
such as parks and villages, it spends plumage of Pel- fishing-owl i-
Sunda scops-owl much of the da) sitting camouflaged Pel's fishing-owl generally light < he-tnut. with dark
in hiding places, coming out at dusk spots and bars, which help camouflage
to hunt mainly for inset ts. Male- and ii while it roosts. This large owl lives
females often call together, gi\ ing out Weight 1 on the wooded edge- ol lakes, rivers,
a short, mellow hooting call. swamp-, and marshes. It hunts after
Plumage & Plumage Si
prominent ear tufts

dark, launching itsell horn a perch
and swooping low over the water.
ligration V Migration Nonmigrant
Having seized its prey, retut ns it tt i
a
Status ( lonuiKHi Status 1 ,- jjl\ common perch to feed. It makes its nest in a
tree hole, usually neatwater Females
JHftA Sss lay one oi 2 eggs, but normally only
one young owl is reared. Both parents

I he "sunda scops-owl is a small, eared I his owl i- one ol i Alt ii an species feed and rear the young, whit h ma)
owl. with brown eyes. It occurs in both that specialize in feeding on fishes. remain in the nest area for up to 8
a brownish gray and a reddish morph. frogs, and other freshwater animals. months aftei fledging. A separate
Inhabiting forests, forest edges, planta- Likt its relatives, Pel's fishing-owl has group ol fishing owls belonging to
long, bare legs and t urved talons that iln genus Keputa i- found in Asia.
Pulsatrix perspicillata
ol patrolling in flight like mam owls,
it hunt- from a pen h. snatt hing prey
Spectacled owl from tin gn iund oi foliage. It usually
preys on small loresl mammals and
inset i-. but also hunts near water,
taking t rawfish
and i I. lb-.
3L
ttnvftl talon
I his owl, t oinnion in the Amerit an
[ropii gets II- n. mi. In mi ill
white leather-. 01 "spct lac les," around

i
' i Most often found in dense

rainforest, it also lives in woodland
edges and . oil, i- plantations Instead
*
w
»
>t
i
Wm
v.
life
(Ik
IV
mvis
I he gri .11 hoi ned owl, with its large, hornlike
distini tive i .11 1 1 1 1 1 - oi "lini ns," is

tar tufts
Great horned owl the l.ii gesl "I the American owls
.mil li Miiid throughoui the i ontinent. ow eyes
Length 1(1
li (k i in s m a broad range "I hal itats,
thorp, hooked
Weight in mi li iresl t" desert, and is known to
bill
ties! ai high altitudes, usually in old
Plumage s. v - -imil.it
nests "1 othei large birds, bui ala i in
tree i avities and on i lill edges. Ii is
nil. Migration \ generally a sedcnt.u \ bird .mil.
StatUS ( MllUllnn especially during the bn ding

i
season, very territorial in its nesting

,uu\ hunting ranges. Usually active
between dusk and dawn, its night
nil hearing are extremely
acute, making ii an efTective hunter,
lis ill. liii pre) .in în. ill mammals.
bui liisn is. reptiles, amphibians, and
birds, including othei owl spec ies, are
also eaten. Greai horned owls are ven
vocal, especially during courtship;
their loud hoot represents the
classic owl call.
large, pou erful feet

with thorp talons
Powerful bi'ild
Thu wry ''
its Juup bill, large
mdpou erful talons,
hunting. Its piercing ytllnu
prominent ear tufts add to its
intimidating appearance.
PARENTS AND JUVENILES

Great horned owls arc very attentive
parents, with both males and females
tending and reeding their young for al
east t) weeks The) are
alter Hedging.
also \er\ defensive birds and have been
known to drive away intruding humans
from their nests.
)t M NILE OWL
At about 2 months
old the horned oul is
atnost fully feathered

and eopttbh
Os nil NEST it i an puff

honud "it I
up and turn it*
od is abundant. de/endin.
OWLS
mosl at tive ai dusk and

Nyclea tcandiaca Mottled female
dawn. Imi bet omes
The frvvV' with
Snowy owl diurnal in summer when h>-me thai hides her
titled
daylight is continuous. It
in rttfh "!tt<r»f>y :, fun du
spends much of the time after mosl
Weight 2
on the ground or melted. She is substantially
I 2.5 kg) pen hing on low rot ks. •j^^)^ larger than the malt.
Plumage Sc
and uses its extraordinary
eyesight and hearing to ^H mottled
plumage
Migration Pallia] migrant loi ,ur distant snow- ^^M|
Status Common i overed prey then
ambushes it silently The
.«,» less snowy owl feeds on lemmings, ^H
rabbits, hares, and waterfowl. ^ The snowy owl nests on the
With lis all-white plumage, the male In fat i. its breeding cycle is tundra, forming only a slight
snowy ow] is one "l the mosl distint tive direellv related to the abundant e hollow in the ground in which the
• I owls. Long, dense feathers extend of lemmings: the population of the eggs are laid. The female tends
right i" the toes, and even the bill is latter tends to rise and fall on the young. gi\ing them food
largely covered, grt ing the bird superb 3- to 4-year cycle, and the brought by the male.
insulation against the i old. This owl is snowy owl follows suit.
in Tasmania and New Zealand, and

Strix aluco Glaucidum perlatum Vwioa novaeseelandiae
sometimes considered a separate ^^
Tawny owl Pearl-spotted owlet Boobook owl spec ies, is lighter, with con-
trasting spots. All have a
Length G
'< m .
high-pit< lied. 2-svllable.
•-fey^r* Weight
(m m Weight Weight I.../ "boobook" call.
mZ+r' 1
>
-.
Till Tit:
I
Wherever it lives, the
Plumage Plumage Plumage Si
S Sc
boobook owl also
fi called the more-pork
Location 1 uropc, Asia, Migration Nonmigrani Location Australia Migraoon V owl roosts in trees
\ \\ Vfria inducting Tasmania
Status Common Status Commun s New Guinea, S.E. Asia Status Locally during the day,
emerging
m ik a. tTT Jl+_ feed at dusk.
It specializes
to
The tawny owl is [bund in a broad There are several races of this small, in catching
range ol habitats, wherever there is stocky owl found in Australia and insects and
suII'k tent tree cover to provide a .Asia. One form, found
Queensland, in birds in
daytime roost Its generally chestnut- is dark brown, while the form found midair.
brown plumage is heavily streaked
and mottled, providing excellent
i
amouflage among branches and Asia Jlammeus
leaves. It has a wide
\ ai icts ol calls, Short-eared owl
among which the
Length It tin
best known is the
"twit twoo" call Weight 1 1 8,./
ii i
hIiii ed during Africa's most diurnal owl. 200 S
I
Plumage Sea
the breeding hunting at almost any time
season. I Ins of day or night. Its powerful feet

owl hunts from Migration Partial migrant
enable it tot. itch prey even larger
a perch, and than itself On the back of its head I uropc V1.1 \hi- .
In many parts ol its vast range,
. .in I. ii air its prey are 2 black pan lies ringed with white. the short-eared owl - one of the
m. link small These "false eyes" sine cither to fss most diurnal of owls is often
mammals, birds, deter predators that might attack seen hunting by day. flying just a
reptiles, and inset ts from behind, or confuse prey so that With its long wings and low. flapping few yards above the ground. Its
b\ sound alone. they clo not know which way to flee. flight, this heavily mottled owl 1 an flight is butterfly like, its large
easily be mistaken for a hawk. wrings allowing it to fly
Usually a solitary bird, it normally !h slowlv without stalling.
Athene cunicularia treeless areas, from South American roosts on the ground, but in winter,
pampas to airports and golf courses. particularly when it snows, n will
Burrowing owl When on guard outside the burrow. perch groups in trees. Groups
in
Round-faced
J hi dtort-eand atoi
itadopts a very upright stance and can also be seen when food is
;~3 Length I'l 2icm ha\ a large, rounded
Oil
gives a harsh, rattling call, thought to sc an e. when large numbers move
head unth a marked
Weight imitate a rattlesnake. It spends mut li to richer areas, or when there is an hnghl
uial rftvl.
of its time- hunting on the ground. abundance of food in one particular feUoa ntK and
Plumage Sc
place. This owl usually finds its prey 2 short, feathery
mostly small mammals su< h as tufts thai look

Location North, mr.il Migration Partial migrant
( •
mice and voles, and at times birds
Caribbean Status I
by (King, and then pouncing from
midair. lays its eggs in heather,
JL ^ A.
It
grass, or crops, digging a hollow to

hold them safely; unusually lot an
Mosi owls roost and nesi m trees, owl. the female may build a nest from
but the burrowing owl makes its home sticks that .ire King nearby It is a
underground an adaptation that fairly quiet owl, with a low. gentle
allows it to live in all kinds i.i open hooting call.
NIGHTJARS AND FROGMOUTHS
NIGHTJARS
—=. :
1
THESE ()\(.-\U\(,in UlKMs
I'm si IjONG-WINGED BIROS,
I
AND FmGMOUTHS
totrfther with their
together M WWmt^l FEEDING
I I\! I I
"">
I I i
phylum Chordata
relati\'es the nighthawks. potoos. owlet-nightjars) Most of the birds in this group feed
CLASS Aves
and oilbirds, are adapted for a life spent mainl primarily on insects, which they catc h
CHIDE* Caprimulgiformes
indeed, most cannot walk or hop. in midair: alternatively, they may
in the air;
swoop down to take them from the
FAHIUES 5 They hunt at dusk, dawn, or at nigh) usualh
ground. Many spec ies fly continually,
SPECIES 118 capturing flying insects and roost motionless while others (such as the potoo make
in trees or on the ground during the day. Mam brief but regular sorties from a perch.
spe< ies are known for their loud, distinctive call. Nightjars occur Frogmouths feed on other birds
almost throughout the world, in forests and open habitats; their mammals, and amphibians, in
addition to insects.
relatives are restricted to the Americas, Asia, or Australasia.
Dflbirdseat
only fruits.
ANATOMY
Nightjars and their relatives arc round-bodied birds with
>i head and short neck. The) have a remarkably large
large
mouth, with an extremel) wide gape for trapping insects. BRISTLES
Most species have long tails and elongated wings that .Mght/tirs there, the European nightjar)
ideal for flying swiith with rapid hanges of directioi c and some of their relatives are equipped
pursuit of food. Except for owlet-nightjars, these b uith a set of bristles around the edge of
have short legs and weak. tm\ feet that are unsuitabli meir bdls. These bristles may be
for walking. Birds in this group usually have brown o: mnsitiie to touch, and in tome species
gray, cryptically patterned plumage. i
filter insects into the mouth.
WIDE GAPE
The bill of nightjars and their AVOIDING DETECTION
relatives (here, a red-necked Perched on an upright branch, the common potoo flattens
is almost as broad as their h& its u-ings against its body and points its head upward
and can be opened with the bill slightly open. Tim stance, combined with
nightjars, this maki the camouflage coloring, makes the bird resemble a
trap for flying insects, which broken branch, providing protection against predators.
caught m midair, one at a two
Podargus strigoides
Stealornis caripensis
ECHOLOCATION
Oilbird Tawny frogmouth
Length
Weight t. 24 oz
Plumage s Plumage Vxcs difTcr
Migration NonmigraDt Migration Nonmigrant
Status LocalS Status c i-nimon
A The oilbird nests

large colonies in caves.
and roosts in
It uses
m £ jl [f threatened, the tawn)
The oilbird is a unique spec ies - the echolocation to find us way in Frogmouths look similar to nightjars, frogmouth stands erect, looking
only nocturnal fruit-eating bird in the the dark; the signals it produces but instead of hunting nocturnal like a broken branch on a tree.
world. During the day, it remains deep are relative!) low pitched, and msec ts in the air. the) pounce on This posture ma) sometimes be
inside caves, sometimes mile 1 km sound like "c licks" to the- human small animals and larger insects accompanied by a gaping displa)
underground. It leaves the i avi ear. Birds also i all to one another i hi the ground, I he tawn) in which the bird opens its large,
and may travel ovei 15 miles 7">km to sta) in touc h, filling the cave in igmi mill's large eyes wide mouth.
in search ol food. < )illnic|s use siulit with their loud, harsh cries. help it sec well in the
and possibl) smell to locate the fruits claik. and it llu s
large head
of trees such as laurels and palms. through lis tei citor)
swooping down and plui king them I stopping at , stock) body

suitable foraging
inches.
iL^^Jmk pen hi ami wan hing Camoi rLAGE
Large-mouthed bird
-^. B^^^ 4^1
s
The laii-ny frogmouth S
^
my A*9
*
foi pre) i" move nearb)
Ifu reddish brown oilbird ha r ,*1 ; or bmun-mottlcd gray
When necessary it will
tpoti m the head, throat, and i
â ^^HRt^*. lie at larger annuals to
plumage blends in uith
I <nth rnabli i it to ^*- S ' the color of branches

sjfl death before swallowing s and bushe\.
carry plenty of food back S^fiSi ^_ —
lt> tin ytmno 4MWwLf. sjfti* them I In- sp,c ies
h\cs m p. uis oi l.iiiuK
feces, rotten truth.
&ak
.^HmmBr
• t^
oK f ^^
m^
~*^t _
groups,
i
all
-u\i{
frequend) to main tain

1 h<- liiuls r
i ontac i < >\ i] the large territor) in

*
whi( h the) feed and breed I he nest
^^»*~*~- is a simple pladbl ill nl sli, ks. plac ed
^4 in ill. I. uk oi a tree
NIGHTJARS AND FROGMOUTHS
upright where it
Phalaenoplilus nultallii
Myctibuk
looks like a broken
Common potoo branch. It keeps it- Common poorvt i
< onspicuous yellow

eyes shut to avoid
fli-iii dod by predate
~Y
Location & Ontra)
Plumage Soars
Migration Nr«micnuit
Status l>*nrooo
alikr
but creases
lids
to
allow
watch lor danger.
This bird comes to
life at night,
it
in the eye
to i ontini
darting
Location S ( !anxh
SA.N and
Migration Runal nu^rani
Status L K\ilK rrvrtrmwi during the day, the mtrn .ueh patterned
from perch to plumage providing camouflage
H ^ air.
it-
cateh insects in the

Birds form pair-
m ik jl ^ in
it
its often arid habitat.
swoops on
effective
flying inset
A
t-
night forager,
from a perch.
One of about 5 species of potoo for breeding, lay ing a The smallest North American nightjar. The common p<x>i-will conserves
found in Central and South America, single egg in a knot- the common |x>orwill gets its name energy in winter by going into torpor
the common potoo is a solitary bird hole or depression in from the male's repetitive 2-note a hibernation-like state that is rare!)
that spends the day in trees, perching a branch. courtship calL It rest" on the ground found in birds.
AegothfUs crislalus
plumage is gray in the male and Caprimulgus europaeus
brown in the female. The Australian
Australian owlet- owlet-nightjar is an acrobatic flier, European nightjar
with short, round wings permitting it
nightjar
— Length B
Ban)
to make
perch to capture
ground or
brief, foraging flights from
in the air. It
insects, cither
is
on the
preyed upon
its
Wfeigbt 1
Plumage Sraodiflrr
Vi-3lAoo
!
Waght 1 '/, 2Vsaz by mammals and monitor lizards.
4k
l~>
Location S_ No* Guinea.
Plumage Sr3trs (fiflVl
Mpgraoon Nonnueranl
dark markings
on fact
Location !.un>pr.
S.E. Africa
A W. and
W h»
;-j;t.= Like other nightjars, this species

spends the dav resting on the
Australia "mrludine
Tasmania 1
Status Loralh common m ik ^ ground or on low branches. Its
dull, mottled plumage renders it
m ft This bird
in
is the only nightjar found
northern Europe. It takes to the air

almost invisible on the ground
among vegetation.
This tree-dwelling bird is a small, after dark to catch flying msec Is. Males
nocturnal insect eater that look." very patrol their territories rcgulariv. driving
much a miniature owl. Compared
like off intruders. During the breeding The female rears the chicks initially,
to other nightjars, it has well-developed season, the male has a purring but after al>oiit 2 week" -he may leave
feet and legs and a long, slender tail. airborne song, winch sounds like a them with the male and then lay a
There are distinctive dark markings piece of machinery It also claps its second clutch.
on its face and head. The barred wings, to display the white patches on Brown and mottled
the outer flight leathers. This bird The European nightjar has broun plumage,
does not build a nest: the eggs are mottled inth black and gray, and
Chordeiles minor sound with its wings, and almost laid directly on the ground, usually long, pointed wings.
colliding with its prospective partner. (lose to a tree or shrubs.

Common nighthawk This bird nests and roosts in open
places of all kinds. In some parts of
Length 9- lOin
the USA, it has taken to nesting on
Wtaght ISA 3V*oi flat, gra\ el-i rvered roofs - a habitat
i
that helps it avoid some of its

nuin£E 5 ,( Sua predators. The nest is often simplv a
shallow depression made in lite gn lund.
and the female alone cares lor the eggs
St2T^S I
and chicks. When disturbed, the bird
often Hies up from the nest and settles
m ft Jl nearby; occasionally
intruder. After breeding, large flocks
it will lunge at an
Macrodipleryx Ion
Standard-winged
courtship display at canopy
often chased by females, but will also
perch and show ofT their
select a
level,
A familiar summer visitor through move south for the winter, traveling as pennants there. More active during
much of North America, this l.ti a- Argentina. nightjar the dav than some nightjars, the birds
nighthawk
most other spa
nightjar family
commonly seen
flying at dawn and
dusk, hawking lor
is more
It
active by day than
ies in th<
is
mottled, broum, black,

and white plumage
~ Waght.'i/i
ramsgB — v—
3'/iru
IljT.
•
may forage in loose flocks or in pairs,
when the female follows the male; they
flv very high off the ground,
insects midllight.
i. itching
Migration \. mmi£Tunt
inset ts, and is
recognized l>\ it- Status Commnn

distinctive nasal
call. The male has a
highly acrobatic aerial
when courting
display Male standard-winged nightjars are
swoops down low.
ii instantly rei ognizable in flight.
making a hollow booming because their breeding plumage
includes 2 elongated wing
(bathers thai can he up to 31in
78cm long. They perform their aerial
ilUMMINGBIRDS AND SWI1 Is
HUMMINGBIRDS AND SWIFTS

SWIFTS and HUMMINGBIRDS share unique wing structure .»
PHYLUM Chordata
that makes them acrobatic (licrs capable of highly intricate
CLASS Avcs
aerial maneuvers. However, their appearance and lifestyles FEEDING ON NECTAR
ORDER Apodiformes
When.fied.mg, a hummingbird
differ greatly. The soberly colored swifts rarely land
FAMILIES 3 (hen: agrten ,
ioh I
spending their lives in midair in search of Hying m

Costa linn) hovers limit <>/
SPECIES 424
invertebrates; they can sleep, and even mate a flower, maneuvering ih lull
in the air. The multicolored up the lube In draw up the
hummingbirds hover around (lowers to feed, and mi Un with ih Inn'' tongue.
perch
hummingbirds
readily. Swifts occur worldwide, but
an- restricted to the Ameri
s
ANATOMY
Both hummingbirds and swifts have impact, .1 i t
muscular body, and relatively small feet. Althoi

Swifts are dull in colour, hummingbirds are
remarkable for their dazzling colors and pattei tul
Hummingbirds have a specialized bill designed for
removing nectar from flowers, flic bill length and
shape are variable, and often match the shape of the
flowers at which the birds feed. Swifts have a small
with a wide gape for trapping liny insects in (light. The
hummingbird family contains many of the world's smallest
SWIFT IN FLIGHT
long "hand" "wrist" ditntldei WINGS Swifts resemble swaUou
FLIGHT
f,
In hummingbirds mid swifts, the but are not closely related

/"in/ between the upper andlowei Hummingbirds beat their wings in a figure-eight pattern, which to them. They spend more
arm, me "elbow," is very close lo allows them great maneuverability; they are the only birds that lime in the air. and are
the body: giving the wings great can fly backward, and even upside down. Smaller species may quit ker. more erratic fliers.
flexibility and leverage. This feature beat their wings 80 times a second. Swifts do not hover, but can Swallows perch more
shoulder girdle enables hummingbirds in hover. vary the speed of their wingbeats to turn sharply. readily than swifts.
Cjpseloides niger other swifts, it spends mosl oi its time Hirundapus caudacutus Chaetura pelagica
in the air, and flocks arc often seen
Black swift wheeling through the skies, foraging White-throated Chimney swift
for insects. Only when breeding does
it come down to the ground. Choosing needletail
Weight {
oi a site next to a waterfall or running
Length 1
p to 8 in
In; formed
water, it builds a half-cup nest
Plumage Sr xi alike
\
of living plants mosses and liverworts Weight \
- held together with mud. fit Plumage Si w s
-until
aliki
ii
Location \Y N Migration Migrant Location K North Migration Migrant

a ( mi -<..- America. N\\ S h
,
\n a Status Common
Location C, V. Migration Migi mi
m ik at m*
istralia
Status Lowei risk]
A
hint;,
typical, sooty black swift, with
pointed wings and .t slighdy
m &L M* .j. AL This small, smoky brown suilt is the
only one that breeds in eastern North
forked tail, this last flier often Needletails get their name from their America. It builds a small, half-cup
soars on outstretched wings. I .ike tail feathers, whit h have spiny tips nest of twigs glued together with
projecting beyond the end of the saliva, mostly in man-made structures
feathers. There are I spei ies, and .ill such as chimneys and old barns.
( nl /in alia esculenta thousands strong; Ii makes us nest of them are extremely fast llieis. When not breeding, chimney s«ihs
entirely from dried produced
saliva, ie.it bjng speeds of 80mph I25kph roost in large flocks; ]usi before and
Glossy swiftlet 1>\ its extra-large salivary glands. Like during theii spe< tacular ( ourtship during migration, several thousand
othei swifts, its diet consists ol airborne displays, I he white-throated needletail birds might most together. arge 1
Length Up lo 4 I ill
!
i
ion insects, and it is most often seen ovei lives iii small (locks oi largei groups, ihimneys are favorite roosting site.
,i
Weight Noi led

iniists .iikI gorges, swooping after its .mil feeds in all kinds n| h.ilnt.iis. and biiils poui into them at dusk.
Plumage S< Ki 'lik' prey In some pans nl Southeast Asia. im hiding farmland and towns Ins I
swiftlel lusts are harvested and an often let tls new tin ground, but
used to make birds' nesl soup
Inttl
n also so. us high up,

•
.nt hing inset is i
Migration Parti ili.u are sik kid high into the sk\ In
s 1 Ci., 1 \
Status Lo< .11

columns ol rising warm air. The
white-throated needletail breeds in
4B.jkA.JiL Asia and the Himalayas, and builds
a shallow, up-shaped nest m rot k\
(
Also known .is the white-bellii il i n \ K cs m hollow trees. In the

swiftlet, this highl) acrobatii flici is autumn, ilus bird migrates south
one of a small group ol spci ies thai .it toss the Equator, reat hing .is l.n
nest in i .ims. often in ' "Ii nut - mam .is l.isni.ini.i

'
Cypsiurtu parvus A fins apus IN THE AIR Hemiprocm longipennis
African palm-swift Common swift Gray-rumped

Lengch 5
n
1/2 6
16cm
in
) 4 treeswift
Weight Weight
"f
Location Uii
Plumage Si Plumage Si
»*» ->
%
Status t.'nmmon SutUS I ..rl
Location n I . \
aC jl*. Al Small, noisy groups of these '

"
gregarious birds are often seen

Fan palms are the preferred nesting One of the most aerial of birds, the feeding and mining over towns. aft
siteill this medium-sized, blackish common swift feeds, mates, and even Like other swifts, they are last
brown swift, although it will use other sleeps in the air. Its nest is a cup-shaped and agile, turning in flight li\ I here are i spe< ies ol treeswifts, all of
palms as well as artificial sites such as platform formed from plants and beating each wing al a them found in southern Asi.t. Like a
bridges . The nest (seen below) is a feathers that are caught in midair and different rate. true swift, the gray-rumped treeswifl
pad of feathers and plant fibers, glued glued with saliva. It originall) nested t anhes insei is midflight, but ii spends
with saliva to the vertii al side of a on rock crevices but now often uses ss of its time
Between in the air.
drooping palm frond, and the eggs man-made structures. In cold weather. bonis ol feeding, it perches on
long, narrou
themselves are glued in place with parents often fly hundreds of miles branches something that true swifts
u tags
saliva. Nestlings have unusually long away from the nest. The young sun ive are unable to. 1 his species has long,
claws, helping them cling on as the by becoming torpid: they revive when scythelike wings and a deepl) forked
nest blows around in the wind. itwarms up, and the parents return tail, but its most distinctive feature is
with food. Alter leaving the nest, young a short, upright crest, .mat lied not to
swifts remain airborne for up to 3 lis . i.iwn. bin to the base of the upper
years, before landing to breed pan of The gray-rumped
iis bill.
themselves. They spend a treeswift makes a minute nest glued

relatively short time to a branch, and la\s a single egg
at their summer The parents take turns to incubate
breeding grounds the egg. covering the nest completely
while resting their weight on the
Narrow wings branch beneath. This bird is often

TheEurasian nviflhas distinctiot narrou wings found in small flocks, and nesting
and a forked tail, lh bill i\ 'hurl, and it has small pairs are known to defend their
feci and blackish brown plumage. territories aggressively
Eutoxeres aquila unmistakable downcurved bill. The Ocreatus underwoodii

shape of the bill allows it to drink
White-tipped nectar from Qowers that have curved Booted racquet-tail
plumage
throats, especially heliconias. Unlike
sicklebill most hummingbirds, it perches
Length 1
11 15cm
on the flower while Weight
Length 1 , j i,
IS 14cm feeding from it.

11 Weight It also gleans
Plumage See - difli i
l~y spiders from )

Plumage s, ,, .
alikl Location N \V md Migration Noi
their webs
\\ South \m.
and catches Status Vulni
'-
1 .ocation S (
N
- uh.il
u South
Migration Nnnmieranl
insects in the
Status Low) r risk* air. The cup- 1 M.

shaped nest.
1 M* looser) woven Elongated tail feathers with bare
from palm libers, shaftsending in blue-black "racquets"
This large hummingbird is green is attached by distinguish the male from the female
above with streaked undcrparts, and cobwebs to the tip of this tin) species. When courting.
has white-lipped tail leathers and an of a hanging leaf the male puis on a spectacular flight
display, holding up the Hulls while in
brown "pulls" or leg leathers, and

Lophornis ornatus rump. The male has long red crest ,i IIhking his tail feathers up and down
and long, fanlike heck lulls. When i toproduce a whiplike sound. The
Tufted coquette courting, it hovers in a semicircle male and female ll\ a regulai route
around the female, with cheek tufts when foraging for lood. calling to one
Length
spread out and crest leathers erecl. another to sta\ in contact The bird
Weight The lulled coquette feeds primaril) hovers in front ol .1 Mower, its rapidl)
mi nei I. u and small insects. To find beating wings making a distinct ban bill
Plumage & lood. the bird follows a set route Mil humming noise, and pierces the long iml
1
1 < shafts
feathers
flower to flower, hovering in front ol flower lube with its bill to reach the
Location In' Migration Nonmigrani end in
i .ii h nne and collecting nectar 1>\ nectar. Like most hummingbirds, it
"racquets
Status Low piercing the flower lube with iis bill. often becomes torpid at night, its
in male
The female builds a cup-shaped nesl body temperature dropping almost to
£L of fine plant libels and cobwebs, that of the air in order to save energy
attaching it to a linked twig; ( )nly Hummingbirds are so tin\ that they
The tufted coquette is a tiny the female takes i are of the young, would death if the)
risk starving to
hummingbird with a short reddish bill and will do so lor up to 1 '
•
months maintained their normal bod\ heal
and whitish band on its bright green
.i alter they fledge. throughout the night.
sometimes Dying nisei ts, whit h ati lies by ii i
Ensifcra ensifera
defend a hawking with a wide open bill, it
whole tree- Sword-billed feeds almost exclusively from flowers

top when with very long tubes, sui h as p
in bloom. hummingbird flowers and daturas. These blossoms
The in usually hang down and the bird
plumage is ..„, hovei s immediately beneath, |
Weight the bill up into the flower ti i extrai i
glitti
crimson
i ing
1r Plumage Sates .tIiL<-
the in
feeding strategy
i tar. This species follows a
known as traplining
in |iui pli While some hummingbirds defend
d it has very long,
Location N W Migration Nonmigiani clumps of flowers from other birds
South Amcri
lil. u ki-li i. ul feathers Status Low and even butterflies, trapliners make
OIK- another regular visits to a number of scattered
A relatively short, slightly curved bill toward the tips. 1 In li ss 1 M, flowers, remembering when each one
allows (his large hummingbird lo feed amboyani female is generally is and following a set route between
from a variety ol rainforesl flowers green in appearani e, with Dark greenish in color, with a deeply them. The intervals between \isits
Rarely seen on the ground, it a shorter tail. linked, blackish tail, this bird has a mean that the plants have a chain e
lives in the middle and uppei slender, sword-shaped bill up ti i 1 in to produce more nectar.
long lot
levels nl ilir forest, and will 1 km long It is the only bird whose
bill is longei than the rest of its body.
When resting on a perch it holds the
Patagona giga i
overall bill almost vertically to reduce the
with pale train on its neck. Apart from
Giant hummingbird rump feathers.
It often Hies more
like a swift, some-
ii ling, over
dry Andean
valleys and
arid, steppelike
'
Location Migration Nonmieirant

mountain
slopes. '
Commonly
m. *+. found around
stands of prickly
is the largest of all
This species peai s and puyas, it
hummingbirds, but even ml it weighs hovers while feeding

only 11/ 1 9g). Its coloring is rather on the flowers, i k i asionally
dull lor a hummingbird: brownish clinging to large blossoms.
Archilochin colubi Mellisuga helenae Oreotrochilus estella
Ruby-throated Bee hummingbird Andean hillstar

hummingbird
Weight Up to Weight
Length
Plumage S tcs difli Ptumage S

Weight
Plumage s Migration Nunmieran! Migration Nonmjgrant
Status Lowd nsk* Status Locally common

-
Location
1
' I S\ \1- v
A
m All £t Ml I he smallest ol
hummingbird weighs
all birds, the
than
male bee Common in rot k\ slopes
less oz with grass .uu\ si rub al
This is one of the lew hummingbirds Like other hummingbirds, tins _'_: green with a grayish white
li i- altitudes of up to I6,f it
that migrate as fat m n th as ( i

bird feeds its young largely mi underside, and has an iridescent, Eery this mountain
on an annual joui ney I i ( lentral illsec ts bet atlse. although mi I.ll red head and bird does not hover in
Anirm a thai may ital ovci 1,9
ti ill is good source ol energy,
a it does bright nil. ii front nl the llnwei s
3,000km . lot some birds, migration not containenough protein for I he female is from whit h it feeds,
involves a nonstop flight ol about >30 growth and development slightly larger, but pen lies mi them
miles 850km a< m« the Gull w. ighii Xi ii tin iial torpor is
2g . and has very important for

Mi \u ii a huge distant i it. sini e nights in
lot sin ll a tiny animal. I Ills i
ni the head in the high Andes
hummingbird feeds on ni t tar, mi k I Ins bird i an be very
uses the holes dulled feeds mainly on i old, and the
in tie. n link- by sapsu in i
tar, hovei ing bird would not
lodpi i ki is tn leed on tree sap with its body held sin\ i\c il ii trie*
ects this . mi. ii is In n tzontally and to maintain its
pushing its short, body temperatu

Mai \mi i it male
A glittering straight lull inti it ten al day nine level.
rtd patch m
. i iridesctnt flower. I In eggs are as 1 In male's
little .is ii n long n nli s, , in i
merald-green collar with a
id coloring. smaller than a single pe lil. ii k limit, i marks it from thi
V
,
MOUSEBIRDS
Colius striatum tight cluster hanging from branches.

They may preen and even
MOUSEBIRDS Speckled mousebird to

offer food
each other. At times regarded as
agricultural pests, mousebirds are
often exterminated in farm areas
PHYLUM Chordata Named for ihkir
and gardens.
Weight
Aves
ability torun like
CLASS
crested head
rodents, mousebirds Plumage Sexes alike
ORDER Coliiformes
scramble about
MMUB1 1 (Coliidae) Migration Nonmigram
branches in search
SPECIES 6 Status Vulnerable
of buds, leaves, or
fruits. Their feet are
£L ft.
unique the 2 outermost toes are
reversible, and can point either forward This plump bird has a long tail of
(with the other 2 toes, for hanging), or narrow, stiffened feathers, a stout,
softly crested head, and a stubby,
backward (for grasping). Mousebirds live
downi urved bill. Primarily brown and
in (locks and are found only in Africa. has faint barring and speckling
gray, it
on Us wings, neck, and throat, and red

PERCHING legs and leet: the bill is dark gray to
Mousebirds, such as Oust white-headed mousebirds, ham blackish above and lighter gray below.
an unusual perching posture. Using then flexible toes, they Like all mousebirds. it often forms
hold on to branehes with their feet held leu I u illi tht u groups of 4 to 20 - usually consisting
shoulders. They can even perch upside down. of pairs and some immature
individuals that sleep together in a
Pharomachrus mocinno insects.Both parents brood the eggs
TROGONS Resplendent quetzal

- the feathers of the male sticking
tail
out of the nest hole as he sits on the

eggs - and share in feeding the young.
PHYLUM Chordata THESE BRILLIANTLY COLORED birds live in

Weight 7-8oz thott bill witb
tropical forests in the Americas, Southeast 200 225g
CLASS Aves slightly down-
Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. They have Plumage Vscs differ
curved tip
ORDER Trogoniformes
short, rounded wings, a long tail, soft, often
FAMILIES 1 (Trogonidae) Location I Migration Nonmigrant
iridescent plumage, and bright patches of
SPECIES 35
bare skin around the eyes. They grip Status Vulnrrable
branches with -.
their small feet, which have
2 toes pointing forward The male resplendent quetzal is
and 2 behind; uniquely, widely regarded as one of the world's

most beautifulbirds. It has brilliandy
it is the first and second J
colored plumage - mainly iridescent
toes that point back- emerald green - and a rich crimson-
ward. The short bill colored breast. Other characteristics.
has a wide gape for unique to the male, are the excep-
catching invertebrates! tionally long tail coverts, which extend
beyond the tail to form an elegant
in flight.
train, and the short, brisdelike crest.
Both sexes are plump-bodied and
have smut heads. This bird's habit of
perching motionless for long periods
makes it difficult to spot. It flies
among tuts looking for fruits or
Trogon violaceus black

iridescent head
Violaceous trogon
black and iridescent
violet-blue head, a
green back and upper
tail, and a yellow-
orange breast, while
females are
primarily gray.
The nest consists of
em excavated hole,
usually in a tree but
sometimes built in
Generally solitary, this bird is mainly old termite or wasp

und in tropical rainforest and nests. This bird
woodland (occasionally in diy "eeds on fruits,
brushland and farmland in Central . insects, and other

and South America. Males have a invertebrates.
1
KINGFISHERS AND RELATIVES
phylum
KINGFISHERS
Chordata Famous for iHEirsph lXCUlar
AND
dives into
RELATIVES
Rclass
order
Aves
Coracii formes
water, the kingfishers arc arguably the most
familiar birds in this group.
10 very different families in
However, there are
all including bee-
eaters, todies, motmots, rollers, and hornbills),
which are not waterside birds. They most ol
are found worldwide, mainh in woodland.

and all nest in holes. These birds range in size from tiny todies.
4in 10cm) long, to huge hornbills. up to 5ft 1.5m long 1
ANATOMY
Most members of tins group have
a relatively large head and bill, and
a compact body. Their legs are BEE-EATER
frequently short, and their feet tend Straight, BILL SHAPES
to be weak. of the front toes are Two Must members of P5%!
usually partially fused together near this group hare a
the base. The wings of most species strung bill, useful Jot ffl ^^9
are broad, but in the elegant and
highly aerial bee-eaters they are However, there is great
relative!) long and pointed. Many variation in bill shape and

relatives of the kingfisher, such as the siy: it is lung and curved
motmots. ground-rollers, bee-eaters, in bee-eaters and hoopoes;
and hornbills. have a long tail, and a daggerlike in kingfishers and todies;
large number of species have \ i\ idly and vastly expanded, often with a
colored plumage. HORXBILL horny casque, in hornbills.
CATCHING INSECTS
Rollers, such as this tilat
FEEDING
breasted roller (left), drop from Kingfishers adopt a hunting strategy-
ated perch to catch their is common to many birds in this grou]
^* pn i on tin ground.
catchflying insects in midair.
A jew also The
and then
bird sits still,
takes off in pursuit

watching for moveme:
either ini
water, or down to the ground, or in an aei

( has. before returning to its perch. Since fish
are slippery and dillicult to i ontrol. a kingfisher
EATING FRUITS often stuns its prey by beating it on a hard
Like other large hornbills. the surface before swallowing it. Most members
ubill (right) is mainly of this group are meat eaters, feeding on all
a fruit eater. It uses its long bill L ^r^l kinds of animals, including other birds, fish,
to reach fruits on tret I and then mammals, and insects. Hornbills supplement
i
m bark into its gullet. their diet with fruits.
Ceryle alcyon Ceryle rudis
Belted kingfisher Pied kingfisher

Length 10 in
Weight ioj Weight 3 oz
w/r\*
1/4
Plumage s Plumage Si
"'
Location S'cnth \m. Migration Partial migrant Location \t Migraoon V
N South \
I
Status I ommon
partial breast-
tss t= !»» = hss bund in female
amphibians, and reptiles. During

this is one of the few spec ies ol courtship, these birds > in li high I liis large and boldly marki d
kingfisher to Ik- found in North overhead and 1 hase ea< h other while kingfishei has .1 wide distribution,
Anient a. It has .1 short, squarish tail In ill 1 1 Irs I lie 111. lie (illcls stretching from western and southern
and ,i t raggy, erei tile cresi I he femali fishes to the pin hint; female as pari Ah ii .1 as fai e.ivi as I Ihina. It has a often hovei - over the water when
belted kingiishei has .1 prominent of the courtship ritual. 1 his kingfishei shaggy 1 rest, and .1 spii m ius lot aunt; prey before diving down to
reddi h brown hand at n>^ the lowei builds 11- nesl in .1 1 hamber .11 the end breastband, whii h is double in the in. ike a cab h. he pied Idngfi I
brea 1
Conspicuous when fishing 01 .I .1 burrow e* avated in earth, male, and nnl\ partly complete in the in sandy hanks, and often reproduces
sitting on an exposed pen h, the usually in a rivei bank devoid of li male I nlike mosi othei kingfishers, ooperatively, with up 1
belted kingfishei flies ofl ovei the vegetation, bul also in man-made this spei ies is equally homi.11 brei ding adults at ting .1- helpers foi a
watei when disturbed, with ,1 loud. earthworks Birds in the north ol ir fresh- .mil saltwater, and sometimes bn 1 ding pail V-eim, and \
rattling 1 all It feeds pred nandy range migrate south when I. ikes and m in 1. n 1 mi ovei stuai ies and
1 has a high-piu hed 1 all, whi< h it often
on fishes bul .ils" eats 1 rustai eans, 1 ivers freeze over shallow < oasts h 1 1 1
«
-
- rapidly, l>m maki s s.%. 1 1 1 U IK ing
LlGHTMNG STRIKE
from western Europe and northern prey by a dramatic
Ala do attlm Having captured its
through to East and Southeast
.Africa
plunge-duc. the Eurasian kingfisher
Eurasian kingfisher Asia, .iiid 7 subspecies arc recognized. then takes il back to its perch,
In the western sector of its range it

which it strikes the fish repeak
^^ inhabits most aquatic habitats, but swallowing

before il /
Weight 1 'A oz prefers lowland, freshwater streams undigested remains art I
oi rivers. In eastern areas it is more regurgitated as pellets.
^s .--.'• -
Plumage Sexes alike

prevalent in coastal or subcoastal
—V habitats, notably estuaries, mangroves.

Location i Migration Partial migrant and inuitiil.il pools. At high latitudes,
Status i amnion freezing conditions force winter

migration, although in warmer areas
fss s= 3L hss Al birds move locally or are partially

resident. Although ii supplements its
rhe Eurasian kingfisher is the only dietwith crustaceans, amphibians,

kingfisher encountered in most of and insects, the Eurasian kingfisher
known as the primarily eats small fishes, which it After a steep dive from a favorite
Europe, where it is also
takes by plunge-diving. Each breeding vantage perch or. less often, from
common kingfisher. It is a small, swift.
pair occupies a territory of up to hovering flight, the kingfisher
and active bird with vivid, distinctive
.mile Ikm along river banks. Pair can lies its fishes usually no deeper
plumage. Size and coloration van
-
bonds are maintained through the than 1 Oin 25cm below the water.
throughout its range, which stretches
breeding season, and both sexes Its natural buoyancy and a swift
incubate their eggs then care for the downstroke of its wings send it
chicks for up to 4 weeks, until they are clear of the water's surface
reads to leave the nest.
Dazzling plumage
The Eurasian kingfisher is Courting couple
Courtship behavior dabo*
darling bird with a deep cinnamtm is :
underside, greenish blue crown, baek. and tangs. erratic twisting and turning
and dazzling cobalt-blue rump and tail. Its sharp ...; ,. in uhtch
bill is well adaptedfor striking and graspingfishts.
I •* list -K+P-
• £'.. .
j» ••:i
5fc -v.
^w^ ^^^^
t
A •
s *
9;\. 'J jl
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Dacelo novaeguineae Momotus momola
Laughing Blue-crowned
kookaburra mot mot
Length
2cm
W^M
"5; Weight
Plumage S
Unlike river kingfishers, this species

;
Weight
Plumage
icr,
Locaaon Migraoon Nonmjgrani Location entraJ 1

Migration N
1 S 1
i aptures prey on the ground. It

<
ii 1 tiding 1
N i
w Zealand Status Common .its on an exposed perch wailing rrinidadand [bbago Stat-
for likely victims - such as insects,

99. ,4a. ft* snails, frogs, small birds, fishes, ft
and reptiles - and then swoops
I lie largest of all kingfishers, the down on them. It crushes small The blue-crowned motmot is a robust
laughing kookaburra is known pre) in its bill: larger prey, like the bird with elongated central tail leathers
throughout Australia for its raucou mi, ike the bird pictured above has thai are bare except for the tips. Its
call, which it delivers with caught, are beaten to death plumage is generally green and it
partly opened bill against a branch. has a black eyestripe. For most of
ol t
pointing skyward and its the day, this quiet, unobtrusive

tail cocked. In urban bird sits on a low branch.
areas, it becomes Eyestripe intermittend) swinging its
quite tame and The kookaburra i back racquet-tipped tail like a

Bid u ingi are dark
may even be fed pendulum. However, it is vcr\ at live main!) on insects, either capturing
while its
by hand. It is in the early morning and evening, prey on the ground or probing into
'parts are a
found in strong family emitting a far-carrying "hoot-hoot" leaf litter; it also snatches pre) from
i/.i white,
groups, which during the das- I
call. 1 he blue-crowned motmot feeds tree trunks.
keep within sight or sound of head has
each other, and at night, roost a t&stmctwt
together. This bird has been Merops apiasler
introduced in southwest Australia
Tasmania, and New Zealand. European bee-eater
Length | 2in
111 nil
Clytoceyx rex bodied kingfisher. Weight J
it has a dark brown -
Shovel-billed head, mantle, upper back, and wings,

Plumage Sexes .ilik,
while its lower back and rump are

kingfisher a brilliant pale blue. The tail is dull Migration Miijrdiit
blue male and reddish in the

in the
Length 13 'A 1
in
female. Juveniles have fine dusky
Weight 1 1 oz margins to the feathers of their 9S. SL JkM.
<300g) underparts and a collar encircling
Plumage Scxrs differ
the hindneck. The peculiarly stubby, One of die most aerial of all bee-eaters,
broad bill of this bird is adapted to this medium-sized bird has long wings
Locaaon \rw Guinea Migraoon Xortmigrant
digging for earthworms in the (i n i st and a sharply pointed bill. During the
Status Common floor. The bill is thrust into the soft day it perches on telephone wires.
soil at a slight angle and moved from fences, 01 branches. It preys on stinging
ft side to side until it grasps a worm. inse< ts. which it devenoms by rubbing
Little is known of this bird's habits; the insect's tail end rapidl) against the
1 lu shovel-billed kingfisher is shy and wary, single birds or pairs perch and squeezing in its bill to expel
an inhabitant of wet gullies, deep are usually encountered only when the venom and sting. It breeds in
ravines, and heavily shaded, (lushed from the ground to fly up i nil >nies ,uid nests in burrows.
streamside areas. A large, heavy- into the forest c anopy
defends its own foraging territory,

Merops bullockoides
Todus todus on the undersides of over-
for insects members of different clans
hanging leaves and twigs, h usually White-fronted greet each other and icgtilarK
Jamaican tody darts out rapidl) to snatch prey but will visit other burrows at
bee-eater
1 f.
sometimes hover. Extremel) active
from dawn to dusk, it has one of the
the nesting colony.
i* highest feeding rates known in birds. scarlet throat
| If
Its call consists of a loud, nasal "beep." Weight
Plumage Sr\r>
1 /. oz
.dike
.ocation Migration Nonmigranl
i
I,i:
Location Southern Africa Migrabon Partial mi^ranl

Status ( lommon
1 M*
The Jamaican tody is one of 5 species
of small, vivid green, kingfisher-like The white-fronted bee-eater li\es in a
buds with Luge head, a long, fiat,
a social unit, known as a clan, of up to
bicolored bill, and a prominent 1 6 individuals. These clans associate
crimson bib. It perches on small m nesting colonies >! 500 or more
brant lies with its bill upturned, looking birds. Although each clan vigorously
small prey .ire grasped w iih the tip of

Coracias garrulus I 'pupa epops Buceros bicornis
the and moved down the gullet by
bill
European roller Hoopoe Great Indian throwing the head up and back.
Larger prey is crushed in the bill and
Length 1
_'
hornbill battered against a branch beli in
f I Weigh, Weight 2Vaoz swallowed. Like other hornbills, this
species builds its nest in the natural

1
Plumage Sexes alike
Weight 6 '/;> lb hollow of a tree trunk, which it seals
with mud. leaving only a narrow

Location Plumage
Migration 1 i] Migration Partial migrant 5)
opening through which the male
Uâsear
Status I ..i, .in.. Status i ommon passes food to the nesting female. The
Migration \ female breaks out of the nest after
m &. ^ QW _a+_ !% Status Lower risk
almost 3 months, but the entrance
resealed by the chick, which is fed for
is
The European roller is a heavy-bodied With its bold colors, long, curved bill, XL a further month m the nest
bird with conspicuous, blue and and fan-shaped crest, the hoopoe is
tobacco-colored plumage and black unmistakable. It spends much of the

wing tips. It spends long pern ids sitting day on the ground, probing the soil blackface
on a prominent perch, such as a bare with its bill in search of insects. Its
branch or a povverline. looking foi

Smithsonian Animal

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Smithsonian Animal

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ITU SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION M

THE DEFINITIVE VISUAL GUIDE

DORLING KlNDERSLEY, LONDON StNEWYORK

DORLING KlNDERSLEY, DELHI

SCHERMULY DESIGN COMPANY

PROIECT EDITOR Lizzie Mallard-Shaw Senior Editor Cadrj Meeus

Published in the United States by DK Publishing, Inc

under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

see our complete catalog at

Contributors and Consultants

Ben Clemens Susan D Gardieff Leader-Williams Malcolm Pearch Dr Ronald L. Smith

Kingdom Mouselike rodents

BIRDS 258 REPTILES 362 BONY FISHES 478

HERONS AND RELATIVES 277 Geckos and snake-lizards 409

zoologists, biologists, and naturalists, it forms a complete

survey of the animal world, from familiar species that are

encountered almost every day. to extreme rarities that

Conservation of Nature IUCN . These include a host of well-

David Burnie & Don E. Wilson

ABOUT THIS BOOK The Animal

fiL Tropical forest and rainforest Seas and oceans

jkj*. Open habitats including

WSS Wetlands and all still bodies of

Data field SEX Fishes only

phylum; their distribution and the micro-

WEIGHT Mammals. Birds, and Fishes CRITICALLY ENDANGERED II I N Facing an

HABIT Reptiles and Amphibians i nh LOCALLY COMMON non-U ( \ found at

relatively high densities within a restricted

'ap showing global photographi [ho n prtsi niatwt feature on I

ABOUT THIS BOOK

< Phyla, classes, .1 whole, this

and orders book focuses on profiling thi

introductions. These identify supported by a description of one or

explain mam of the terms used illustrated bv species thai repi

that phylum (used for minor ph\ I

< Lower-ranked croi ps

An introditi turn to each of these smaller

taxonomii ranks above die group are

Scaurs Lower risk

or artwork of the boxes, a spectacular

world's five kingdoms. Although they

Even the simplest animals react quickly to changes

Archaebactcria. the Eubacteria. and

bacteria. The third contains the living: PARAMECIUM

BLOODED ANIMALS long. because up to 90 percent of an

animal's energy cannot be passed on: it is used

a jell) lish but consists < il

I huh hot lit soil.

place in the world around them. Evolution works by modifying existing

BLENDING IN therefore chances of producing young.

Most owls ham brou n plumage,

increast i its chances of ti .

SPECIES AND SPECIATION

an existing species becomes split up into two or

PRECAMBRIAN CAMBRIAN ORDOVICIAN SILURIAN DEVONIAN CARBONIFEROUS

1 EARS AGO (MILLIONS): 54 417 354

share a range of adaptations for life underground. MIXED BLESSING

similarities .ire the result ol convergent evolution, a

*»2 MARSl'PIAL MOLE

bring out. Animal breeders rigorously concentrate

size or color, and by selecting only those animals

SPLIT BY CONTINENTAL DRIFT

another three lue