'" CARD 281 I

WILD BOAR
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
"

ORDER
Artiodactyla
FAMILY
Suidae
.. GENUS &: SPECIES
Sus scrofa
The wild boar has passed on many traits to its descendant,
the domestic pig. But the wild boar is slimmer, tougher, and
more nimble than its farmyard relative.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Body length: 3-6 ft.
Tail length: 12-16 in .
Weight: 110-440 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 18 months.
Mating season: Fall.
Gestation: months.
Litter size: Up to 12.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Most active at dawn and
dusk. Male is solitary. Female lives
in family groups.
Call: Grunts or squeaks used for
communication and in mating.
Diet: Fungi, leaves, ferns, roots,
grasses, bulbs, fruits, insect larvae,
worms, frogs, and mice.
Lifespan: 15-20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
Related to the Pygmy hog, Sus
salvanius; bearded pig, S. barba-
tus; Javan pig, S. verrucosus; and
Celebes wild pig, S. celebensis.
Range of the wild boar.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in Europe, North Africa, Asia, Sumatra, Japan, and
Taiwan. Introduced into North America. Semiwild pigs live
in Australia, New Zealand, and North and South America.
CONSERVATION
The wild boar is widespread, but in Europe it is found only
in large forests. It became extinct in Great Britain during the
17th century.
OF THE WILD BOAR
Hide: Bristly and very
thick. Helps protect the
animal in thickets and dur-
ing fights.

Piglets: Patterned with
pale yellow stripes until about 6
months old. The stripes help to
camouflage the piglets from
predators.
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Tusks: Enlarged canine
teeth.
Nest: A hollow in the
ground, usually well hidden
by undergrowth. Female
lines it with grass.
0160200631 PACKET 63
The wild boar lives in broad-leaved woodland and on areas ~ FOOD & FEEDING
of uncultivated grassland. Its thick skin allows it to penetrate
thickets that no other animal would enter, and its winter
coat is especially coarse and bristly. The wild boar is a
powerful animal that can inflict serious injuries with its tusks.
~ HABITS
The wild boar wallows regularly
in muddy lakes or swamps. This
routine helps to remove para-
sites from the animal's skin. In
hot climates, the mud coating
on the boar's skin also protects
it from the sun.
The female wild boar is usu-
ally smaller than the male and
has smaller tusks. She lives with
her young in a herd of relatives
led by an older sow (female).
This group is known as a sound-
er. Its members feed, rest, and
sleep together in a home range
of four to eight square miles.
Large mother-daughter groups
sometimes split up into smaller
sounders. The smaller groups
often remain near one another,
sharing feeding grounds, rest-
ing sites, and wallowing pools.
Young male wild boars live
together in bachelor groups.
Older males live alone except
during the mating season in
fall, when they join up with
females and other males. After
mating, an older male returns
to his solitary life.
The wild boar uses a wide
range of grunts and squeaks to
communicate with other wild
boars. It grunts regularly when
feeding and uses a loud grunt
as a warning call. When mat-
ing, the boar makes a constant
grunting sound known as the
mating chant.
The wild boar is sexually mature
at about 1 8 months old, but the
male rarely mates before he is
four years old. During the mat-
ing season, the usually solitary
male joins a herd of females
and fights other males for a
mate. Using his tusks, the male
slashes at the shoulders of rivals,
often inflicting deep wounds.
When courting a female, he tries
to rest his chin on her rump as
he makes his courtship chant.
In preparation for the birth,
the sow builds a nest of grass
and retires to it alone. After a
gestation of three to four and
The wild boar feeds primari-
lyon plant matter, including
fungi, grasses, fruits, leaves,
ferns, roots, and bulbs. It also
favors earthworms, insect lar-
vae, frogs, and mice.
The wild boar usually forages
a half months, she gives birth to
a litter of up to 12 piglets. The
piglets stay in the nest for about
10 days, until they can regulate
their body temperature. Then
mother and young are joined
by the young from previous lit-
ters. The piglets are weaned at
the age of three months, when
they can forage for themselves.
They remain with their mother
and the herd at least until the
next litter is born.
Right: The wild boar is powerful
and runs very fast. Captive boars
have been known to charge at
farmers, inflicting serious injuries.
for food at dawn and dusk. It
spends much of its time root-
ing around in the debris on
the woodland floor and in
damp earth, using its snout
and keen sense of smell to
locate food.
Left: The wild boar needs a local
source of water. It drinks the water
and wallows in the mud.
Above: The thick skin and
tough body of the male wild
boar help him survive injuries
inflicted by rivals during the
mating season.
DID YOU KNOW?
The wild boar piglet has
stripes along its flanks that of-
fer camouflage in the under-
growth. It loses the stripes at
six months old, but it does
not acquire the adult's black-
ish brown coat until one year.
Each piglet claims a specific
teat for suckling. The first few
in the litter choose a teat near
Right: Pale
stripes on the
piglets' flanks
provide good
camouflage.
the sow's head, where they
are more likely to attract her
attention and less likely to be
stepped on.
Unlike the curly tail of the
domestic pig, the wild boar's
tail is straight and is used for
swatting flies. The angle at
which the tail is held reveals
the boar's mood.
INDIAN MUNTJAC
.. ORDER
~ Artiodactyla
.. FAMILY
~ Cervidae
CARD 282 ]
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
.... GENUS &: SPECIES
~ Muntiacus muntjak
The Indian muntjac is a primitive species of deer native to
Southeast Asia. A shy, nervous animal, it lives among dense
vegetation that enables it to hide from predators.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Body length: 3 - 4 ~ ft.
Tail length: 5-9 in .
Tusk length: Up to 1 in.
Shoulder height : 16-26 in.
Weight: 35-75 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 6 months.
Mating: Year-round, but mainly in
January and February.
Gestation: About 7 months.
No. of young: 1, rarely 2.
LI FESTYLE
Habit: Lives singly or in pairs.
Territorial; mainly night-active.
Diet: Leaves, fruit, bark, fungi.
Lifespan: Up to 10 years in the
wild. Oldest in captivity, 16 years.
RELATED SPECI ES
There are 5 other species of munt-
jac, including Reeves' muntjac,
Muntiacus reevesi.
Range of the Indian muntjac.
DISTRIBUTION
Occurs naturally in India, Nepal, Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo,
Java, Taiwan, and southern China. Introduced to England.
CONSERVATION
The Indian muntjac is one of the most abundant species in the
genus, and populations appear to be stable. However, the spe-
cies is threatened by overhunting and loss of habitat, which al-
ready endanger the black muntjac and Fea's muntjac.
FEATURES OF THE INDIAN MUNTJAC
Antlers: Found only on males.
Shed annually. Short and curved,
wi th only one short side branch.
Each antler is set on a long, bony,
hair-covered projection that
extends from the skull .
Tail: Short and broad. Reveals white
underpart when raised.
Young: Has spotted
coat and slightly
darker coloring
than adult.
MCMXCVI IMP BVIIMP INC. WILDLI FE FACT FILETM
Scent glands:
Two right below
the eyes and two
in a distinctive V
shape on the
forehead.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Coat: Short, soft hairs all over
except ears. Color varies from
dark brown to yellow- or gray-
brown with creamy white mark-
ings. Coat turns a richer chestnut
color in summer.
US P 6001 12074 PACKET 74
With its pointed antlers and its short, sharp tusks, the
Indian muntjac seems to be well equipped to deal with
predators. Nevertheless, this small, elusive deer is always
on the lookout for danger. When threatened, the Indian
muntjac makes a loud barking sound, either to deter the
intruder or to warn other animals. Then it runs away
through the undergrowth to find a suitable place to hide.
~ HABITS
The Indian muntjac is generally
found in hilly areas, ranging in
altitude from sea level to 3,200
feet. It prefers to live in dense
vegetation, where it can hide
from predators.
Unlike many other deer spe-
cies, Indian muntjacs do not
form herds. Individuals may live
alone or in pairs, rarely leaving
their own territories. During the
breeding season does (females)
often form small territories with-
in the larger territory of a buck
(male). Each doe defends her
space from rival females.
The Indian muntjac is active
mainly at night. It has a good
sense of smell and uses secre-
tions from its facial glands to
communicate with other deer.
Scent is especially important to
animals like the Indian muntjac
that are night-active and live in
dense vegetation, where visibili-
ty is limited.
A cautious animal, the Indian
muntjac listens carefully for any
sound of danger while it eats.
When it senses the presence of
a predator, it barks loudly. Then
it runs off with bounding leaps
to take cover in the bushes.
Right: The Indian muntjac finds
protection from predators in the
dense undergrowth.
~ BREEDING
Indian muntjacs may breed at
any time, but they most often
mate in January and February.
At this time the bucks engage in
a ritualized fight with rivals that
determines which of them will
mate. The males fight with their
sharp tusks rather than their ant-
lers. Injuries rarely occur during
the fight. But once it is over the
victorious male may strike out
with his tusks, injuring the los-
er's neck or throat.
Left: The Indian muntjac uses the
four scent glands on its face to
mark its territory.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Indian muntjac is also
known as the barking deer
because of the sound of its
warning cry.
Fossils that are 15 to 30 mil-
lion years old prove that Indian
muntjacs once lived in parts of
central Europe.
John Reeves sent the first
Chinese muntjac to England.
Approximately seven months
after mating, the female gives
bi rth in a secluded spot, usually
t o a single fawn. She licks the
newborn clean and leaves it in
a hiding place while she feeds.
The spotted fawn stays in the
safety of the undergrowth until
it is old enough to move around
with its mother. The doe forces
t he fawn to leave her and be-
come independent before she
is ready to mate again.
Right: The introduced Reeves' munt-
j ac inhabits deciduous woodland
in southeastern England.
The species known as Reeves' I
muntjac adapted well to life in
England. Today it is even seen
in London's parks and gardens.
.. John Reeves also gave his
name to a bird-the spectac-
ular Reeves' pheasant.
.. The 11 th Duke of Bedford
imported a number of Indian
muntjacs to England in 1900.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The Indian muntjac grazes in
clearings at dawn and dusk. It
feeds solely on plant matter-
mainly shrubs, roots, fungi, and
bark. Farmers in some locations
consider the Indian muntjac a
pest because it wanders into
cultivated fields to eat crops
occasionally. After feeding, the
Indian muntjac drinks from a
nearby stream or river.
Like all ruminants, the Indian
muntjac digests food in stages.
While grazing, the deer chews
its food briefly before swallow-
ing it. The tough plant matter
moves into the animal's first
stomach, where bacteria begin
Left: During
the breeding
season bucks
of other deer
species wrestle
rivals with their
antlers. But the
Indian muntjac
fights with his
sharp t u s k ~
enlarged ca-
nines that
can be one
inch long.
to break it down to extract as
many nutrients as possible. The
half-digested food then travels
back into the mouth. There it is
chewed a second time in a pro-
cess known as chewing the cud.
Digestion is completed in the
animal's second stomach.
This very complicated process
takes about 48 hours, but the
time is well spent. By chewing
the plants two times, the Indiar'
muntjac extracts more nutrients
from them. By storing food in its
stomach for later digestion, the
animal cuts down on time spent
grazing in the open, where it is
vulnerable to predators.

SIDE-STRIPED JACKAL
'\: _________________ G_R_O_U_P 1: MAMMALS
ORDER FAMILY GENUS &: SPECI ES
Carnivora Canidae Canis adustus
The side-striped jackal is distinguished by the dark stripe on
its flanks. Despite its reputation for scavenging, this timid
jackal feeds on other predators I kills only occasionally.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Body, ft. Tail, 1-1 ft.
Height: About 1 ft.
Weight: 14-31 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 8-11 months.
Breeding season: Varies, depend-
ing on location.
Gestation period: 8-10 weeks.
Litter size: Usually 3-6.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Social, living in close-knit
packs. Pairs for life. Night-active.
Diet: Small mammals, birds, liz-
ards, carrion, and fruit.
Call: Series of howls, yelps, growls,
and barks.
Lifespan: Usually 10-12 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 4 species of jackal, in-
cluding the rare Simien jackal,
Canis simensis, of Ethiopia.
Range of the side-striped jackal.
DISTRIBUTION
Found throughout central and western Africa and in Ethiopia
and Somalia south to the Transvaal and Swaziland. It is absent
from a large area of rainforest in central Africa.
CONSERVATION
The side-striped jackal does not appear to be under great pres-
sure at this time. It is one of the more successful members of
the jackal family.
FEATURES OF THE SIDE-STRIPED JACKAL
Coat: Gray-brown with black flecks.
Darker on upperparts. Dark stripe
with white upper edge runs along
flanks from elbow to hip.
Legs: Long, en-
abling the ani-
mal to run fast.
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Ears: Large and
pointed. Animal
has excellent
hearing.
Pup: Bushy coat
with less well-
defined stripe.
Muzzle: Narrow
with typical wet,
black nose of a
dog species.
Keen sense of
smell.
Tail : Bushy.
Mainly black
with white tip.
0160200831 PACKET 83
The side-striped jackal lives in a pack that often consists
of two breeding adults and several young. In addition, a
pack may include a young female helper who assists the
adults in raising their pups instead of producing her
own young. In groups where there is a helper, the young
side-striped jackals have a far greater chance of survival.
HABITS
The side-striped jackal inhabits
moist, lush regions of tropical
Africa such as the edges of for-
ests, savannas, and cultivated ar-
eas. It lives in close-knit family
units, or packs, usually contain-
ing about six members. Active
at night, the pack rests by day in
a den, frequently another ani-
mal's burrow or an abandoned
termite mound. Older pups and
adults also rest under thickets.
At dusk, the side-striped jackal
emerges from cover to search
for food. An adult pair forages
within a small territory of up to
one square mile. The animals
scent-mark their territory with
urine and feces, and the pack
roams the area at night along
well-defined tracks.
FOOD & FEEDING
The side-striped jackal preys on
almost anything it can find and
easily overpower. It eats various
animals, including small mam-
mals, ground-nesting birds, in-
sects, and small reptiles.
Although this fast, agile jackal
is capable of running down its
prey, the animal prefers to hunt
by stealth. Loping through the
undergrowth, it tracks prey with
its keen senses of smell and hear-
left: The side-striped jackal is an
alert animal, with keen senses of
sight, hearing, and smell.
DID YOU KNOW?
Jackals employ howls, yelps,
growls, and barks to commu-
nicate. The side-striped jackal
also has an owl-like hoot, from
which it gets such local names
as 0-/00 and bwoo.
This jackal can run at up to
37 miles per hour.
ing. The jackal then surprises
its victim with a bounding leap,
seizes it in its forepaws, and kills
it with a bite from its sharp ca-
nine teeth.
The side-striped jackal also
eats fruit and carrion (dead ani-
mal flesh). It will watch a large
predator, such as a lion, feed-
ing on a kill and then step in to
pick at the remains of the car-
cass after the predator leaves.
Right: If attacked, the timid side-
striped jackal is more likely to flee
than defend itself.
There are many local super-
stitions about the side-striped
jackal. An adult's boiled heart
is believed to cure epilepsy, its
howl is thought to warn of im-
minent death, and its skin and
nails are believed to ward off
evil spirits.

The side-striped jackal breeds
at various times of the year, de-
pending on its location. When
a female jackal is in heat, her
mate fiercely defends his mat-
ing rights, attacking any rivals
that enter his territory. The fe-
male also chases away any rival
females that wander into the
area looking for a mate.
After a gestation period of 8
to 10 weeks, the female gives
birth to up to six pups in a den.
Born blind and toothless, the
pups feed on their mother's nu-
tritious milk for their first five
weeks. At two months old they
are well developed enough to
left: Although mainly nocturnal,
the side-striped jackal may emerge
in daytime.
join their parents on hunting
trips. The adults may feed the
pups regurgitated food until
they are six to eight months
old. At that age, the young
leave the pack.
The side-striped jackal is sex-
ually mature at 8 to 11 months
old, but not all females mate in
their first year of maturity. In-
stead of breeding, a young fe-
male may act as a helper to the
pack, aiding the adults in rear-
ing the young. The parents are
able to leave the den to hunt
while the helper watches over
the pups. Such assistance dem-
onstrates the strong family ties
in the pack and increases the
chances of survival for the en-
tire litter.
AFRICAN WILD ASS
... ORDER
"1IIIIIIII Perissodactyla
... FAMILY
"1IIIIIIII Equidae
'" CARD 284 I
~
GROUP 1: MAMMALS '\.. ' " ~ ~ )
... GENUS &: SPECIES ~ S
"1IIIIIIII Equus asinus
The African wild ass is better known in its domesticated form as the
donkey. Long prized by humans, this member of the horse family can
survive in conditions that are too harsh for other large mammals.
KEY FACTS
SIZE
Height: Male, 4 ft . to shoulder.
Female, slightly smaller .
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 2 years.
Male first holds a territory at 5-7
years but may breed before then.
Mating: Year-round but peaks in
the wet season.
Gestation: 11-12 months.
No. of young: 1, occasionally 2.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Lives singly or in small herds.
Diet: Grass, herbs, and foliage.
lifespan: Rarely more than 15 years
in the wild.
RELATED SPECIES
The 2 races of African wild ass have
slightly different markings. The clos-
est related species is the Asian wild
ass. The zebras and horses are both
closely related.
Range of the African wild ass.
DISTRIBUTION
The African wild ass is found in Ethiopia and northern Somalia.
CONSERVATION
Populations have declined severely in the last 50 years as a re-
sult of hunting and competition with livestock for food and wa-
ter. Many wild asses have been captured for breeding, and the
wild herds are threatened with genetic extinction by inter-
breeding with escaped domesticated donkeys.
FEATURES OF THE AFRICAN WILD ASS
Coloring: Gray or yellowish gray with white underparts.
Often has a dark stripe on its spine and a dark band
across its shoulders. Lacks leg bands.
NUBIAN WILD ASS
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SOMALI WILD ASS
,
Grayish red or tan coat with
lighter underparts. Up to 12
dark bands on each leg. Rare-
ly has band across shoulders.
Hoot: Steeply
sloping. Aids
movement and
balance on un-
even terrain.
0160200651 PACKET 65
The deserts of northeast Africa are among
the harshest environments on earth. Yet the African
wild ass thrives in these inhospitable conditions.
This hardy animal is able to travel great distances
in search of food. Its special adaptations allow it to
eat food that other animals cannot digest and to
obtain moisture from even the most arid terrain.

Despite its solitary nature, the
African wild ass lives in herds
of up to 30 animals for pro-
tection. The strongest stallion
controls the herd. But within
the herd, there seems to be
no order of importance among
individuals. The asses appar-
ently follow each other at ran-
dom while traveling in search
of food .
Like other members of the
horse family, the wild ass com-
municates with facial expres-
sions, calls, and whisks of its
tail. The wild ass also has cer-
tain characteristic expressions:
greeting (mouth open, ears
up); threat (mouth open, ears
back); and submission (mouth
open, nibbling movements,
ears down). The wild ass has
a variety of calls, varying from
whinnies, grunts, and barks to
the familiar "hee-haw" bray of
the male.
Like horses, African wild asses
groom each other for fleas and
lice. They also wallow in mud-
baths to keep cool.

In the spring the strongest stal-
lions mark out territories of up
to six square miles. The mares
in a territory mate only with
the stallion that controls it. He
tolerates other males in his ter-
ritory only if they avoid females
in breeding condition.
By licking her newborn foal,
the mare learns to distinguish
its smell from others' . The new-
born considers the first moving
object it sees to be its mother,
so the mare drives all other ani-
mals away from it.
A mare may travel up to six
Left: The surefooted African wild
ass can roam over rugged land-
scapes with ease.

The wild ass can probably
distinguish color. It sees in the
I
dark almost as well as an owl.
The wild ass is a fast runner.
A related Asian ass was timed
at 40 miles per hour.
The male wild ass stands his
ground when attacked, while
the rest of his herd flees. This
has given him a reputation
miles to find water, leaving her
foal behind. Without fully de-
veloped reactions to danger,
the foal is easy prey for lions,
leopards, hyenas, and dogs.
Only one in three foals survives.
The foal is active within an
hour of birth but stays with its
mother for at least a year. The
strong bond between mother
and young may last until the
foal is two years old. The fe-
male can breed annually, but
she usually breeds every other
year since raising a foal drains
her strength.
Right: The wild ass rests by day
and feeds in the cooler hours of
late afternoon or night.
for stupidity among hunters,
who find him an easy shot.
In fact, the stallion is simply
trying to defend his territory
and mares.
The cross on the back of a
donkey is rare in most wild
ass populations. However, the
cross is found on the Nubian
wild ass.
AFRICAN WILD ASS &: MAN
The words ass and donkey may
be used interchangeably, but
ass usually refers to the wild ani-
mal and donkey to the domesti-
cated beast.
It is not known when the ass
was first domesticated, but the
donkey has been used since at
least 3000 B.C. The donkey is
prized as a pack animal in loca-
FOOD &: FEEDING
The African wild ass is very well
adapted to its harsh, arid envi-
ronment. Its nose tissues absorb
water vapor as the ass breathes
out, helping the ass conserve
water. Its high-crowned molars
can grind tough food, and they
regrow as they are worn away.
The ass can also digest grasses
that other animals cannot pro-
cess. Because it is surefooted,
the African wild ass can reach
Left: The African wild ass feeds on
tough, sparse vegetation and can
survive on little moisture.
tions where horses do not thrive.
The wild ass is larger than the
donkey. Because of its strength,
it is often captured for breeding
with domestic stock.
The mule is a cross between a
horse and an ass and is used as
a pack animal. It was once used
in mines because it stayed calm
in dark, cramped conditions.
food on ridges and mountain-
tops that are inaccessible to
most other animals, with the
exception of goats.
The wild ass eats grass, herbs,
and sometimes foliage from
bushes. Since food and water
are scarce in its habitat, the ass
keeps moving in search of areas
that have had recent rainfalls.
With its keen night vision, the
ass is able to feed in the cool
of the night or late afternoon.
During the day it stays out of
the sun, resting in shady areas.
SAND CAT
ORDER
Carnivora
FAMilY
Felidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Felis margarita
The sand cat is a solitary inhabitant of harsh, rocky ten'ain and desert
regions. With its wide, flat face and large ears, it looks as harmless
as a cartoon cat, but it is actually a skillful, ferocious hunter.
'\l KEY FACTS
l.el SIZES
length: Head and body, 16-22 in.
Tail,10-14in.
Weight: Male, 4 ~ - 7 ~ lb. Female,
3-7 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 10-12 months.
Mating season: March to April.
Gestation: About 2 months.
No. of young: 2-4.
LIFESTYLE
Range of the sand cat.
DISTRIBUTION
Habit: Solitary. Night-active in
summer; day-active in winter.
Diet: Mainly small rodents.
Call: Low-pitched meows and
yaps; loud mating call.
lifespan: 8 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
Small, patchy populations occur in North Africa, Israel, the Ara-
bian Peninsula, Pakistan, and Turkmenia. Possibly also found in
northern Iran.
CONSERVATION
There is 1 other species of small
cat in the Sahara region, the so-
called wild cat, F. silvestris. It is
larger than the sand cat.
The sand cat is an endangered species. Exact numbers in the
wild are unknown, but it is thought that the Pakistani sub-
species may already be extinct.
FEATURES OF THE SAND CAT
Coat: Sandy with a
dark tinge on the
back. Underparts,
bottoms of legs,
and most of face
are pale beige or
white. Black
bars on tail.
Ears: Large. Can pick up the slightest rustlings of prey.
Set Iowan the sides of the head, so the sand cat re-
mains unnoticed when crouching behind a rock.
Feet: Sales are covered with mats of 1-inch-long hairs.
These mats help the sand cat grip dry, loose sand and
protect its feet from burning sand and rock.
MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
legs: Very
short, enabling
the sand cat to
move close to
the ground and
to crouch low
while waiting to
pounce on prey.
0160200831 PACKET 83
Although it looks very much like a domestic cat at first
glance, the sand cat actually has a stockier body and shorter
legs than the average tabby. On the pads of its feet, it has
dense mats of long, wavy hairs that provide protection from
burning sand and rock and also give a good grip on loose
ground. The sand cat also has large, low-set ears that help it
detect the sounds of prey while remaining hidden from view.
~ HABITAT
The sand cat sometimes lives in
rocky country. However, it pre-
fers sandy deserts, where it can
dig a burrow easily. It attempts
to find a slope in which to dig
its burrow, which may be up to
five feet deep with an entrance
lined with twigs and leaves.
Alternatively, the animal takes
over the abandoned home of a
rodent or hedgehog, scooping
out the tunnel until it is at least
six inches wide. In harsher ter-
rain, it often goes without shel-
ter, simply curling up on rocks
and stones.
The sand cat probably wan-
ders over an area of about three
square miles every night. At one
time it inhabited much of the
Sahara region and the Middle
East as well as Turkmenia and
southwestern Pakistan, but to-
day only small, scattered pop-
ulations remain. Urbanization,
particularly in Israel, has caused
numbers to drop to dangerous
levels, and the species may al-
ready be extinct in Pakistan.
Right: The sand cat hunts at night,
pouncing with lethal precision on
its prey.
~ BREEDING
The sand cat's mating call is
very loud for such a small ani-
mal-probably because there
are so few left in the wild that
finding a mate is not easy. The
animals mate between March
and April, and the female bears
two to four kittens about two
months later. She gives birth in
a burrow, if she has one, or in a
rock crevice. The newborns are
blind but furred, and weigh ap-
proximately two ounces. The
dark markings on their coats
gradually fade as they mature.
Left: The sand cat may be small
and cute-looking, but it is a wild
cat with a ferocious nature.
DID YOU KNOW?
The sand cat is not the small-
est wild cat that lives in Africa.
The black-footed cat, its rela-
tive, measures only 13 inches
from head to rump. That cat
is named for the black pads on
the undersides of its feet.
There are about nine sand
cats in zoos worldwide. These
animals are all descended from
Their eyes open after approxi-
mately two weeks.
The young venture from their
burrow or crevice when about
three weeks old. At five weeks,
they can eat solid food, which
is caught by their mother, and
they are fully independent af-
ter three or four months. The
mother generally raises her off-
spring alone. If a predator ap-
proaches, she arches her back
and raises her hackles, hissing,
spitting, and slashing at the in-
truder with her claws.
Right: The young sand cat has dark
markings on its coat, but they fade
as the cat matures.
just one pair, so they are be-
coming inbred.
The sand cat got its species
name in honor of the French
explorer General Margueritte.
He led an expedition to the Sa-
hara in 1855 and was the first
European to discover the sand
cat, capturing one on the bor-
der between Libya and Algeria.
~ FOOD &: HUNTING
Small rodents make up over 80
percent of the sand cat's diet.
About half of these are gerbils,
and the rest are mainly jerboas
and ground squirrels. This cat
also eats small birds, lizards, and
large insects such as locusts.
The sand cat begins hunting
at dusk, coming out of its bur-
row or down from a rock where
it has been resting. Like most
cats, it hunts by stealth, using its
acute eyesight and hearing. It
hides behind any available cov-
er, motionless, with its ears lying
flat against its head, and then
Left: The sand
cat's coloring
blends in per-
fectly against
sandy ground.
When crouch-
ing absolutely
still, the cat
remains unde-
tected by its
main enemies,
which are
wolves and
birds of prey.
makes a sudden dash to pounce
on its victim. It kills by biting its
prey through the neck and shak-
ing it vigorously. Then it tears at
the flesh with its sharp teeth.
The sand cat may spend most
of the night prowling its territo-
ry until it catches enough prey
to fill its stomach. If it makes sev-
eral kills in one night, it may eat
so much that it has no need to
hunt again for several nights. It
seems able to live without a con-
stant supply of water, probably
because it obtains the moisture
it needs from its prey.
BUSH DOG
ORDER
Carnivora
FAMILY
Canidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS & SPECIES
Speothos venaticus
The bush dog lives in a variety of habitats, from tropical swamps
and mountain forests to savanna and bush terrain. Seldom seen
in the wild, it is becoming rare throughout its range.
KEY FACTS
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
SIZES
Length: 2 - 2 ~ ft.
Tail: 5-6 in.
Weight: 11-15 lb.
BREEDING
Breeding season: Variable. Births
usually occur in the rainy season.
Sexual maturity: 14-18 months.
Gestation: About 2 months.
Litter size: 4-6.
Weaning period: 3-6 months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Mostly day-active. Often
hunts in small packs.
Diet: Mammals up to the size of a
capybara. Occasionally eats fruit.
Lifespan: 10 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
The bush dog is the only species
in its genus. It is a member of the
dog family, which has 35 species.
I
Range of the bush dog.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in forest, swamp, savanna, and bush terrain in Panama,
northern South America, and parts of Brazil.
CONSERVATION
The bush dog is capable of adapting to a variety of habitats.
But suitable habitat is disappearing so fast that the animal is
becoming rare throughout its range.
FEATURES OF THE BUSH DOG
Head: Small and solid, with a
. short, thick snout and very small
ears. The fur on the head is
lighter brown than
on the rest
of the body.
Legs: Short and strong, so the
bush dog is close to the ground
and can push through vegetation.
if MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Body: Compact and muscular.
Fairly long with short, dark
reddish brown fur.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
stumpy with
dark brown to
black fur.
0160200791 PACKET 79
Although it is a wild dog, the bush dog looks more
like a cross between a bear and a weasel. This animal
has a long and muscular body, stocky legs, and a short,
stumpy tail. Because it is so close to the ground, the bush
dog can move rapidly, pushing its way through dense
vegetation in the forest. It is strong for its size and often
hunts in packs, enabling it to take relatively large prey.
~ HABITS
The bush dog is active mostly
during daylight hours, especial-
ly at dawn and dusk. It sleeps
periodically during the day, tak-
ing refuge in a hole or burrow
that is frequently an abandoned
den of another animal. When
necessary, the bush dog digs
its own shelter.
A sociable animal, the bush
dog usually lives and hunts in
fairly small groups. The mem-
bers of a group keep in close
contact by regularly sniffing
one another. When foraging
in dense forest, where visibility
is poor, they keep together by
making frequent whining calls.
Male and female bush dogs
use scent to mark their territo-
ries. The male scent-marks by
raising his leg to urinate. The
female backs up to a tree and
stands on her forepaws before
marking it with her scent.
Despite its fairly small size,
the bush dog is very ferocious.
When threatened, it bares its
teeth and growls. At times it
will even grab and bite an en-
emy's throat. The bush dog is
easy to tame, however. Local
people often capture and raise
it as a pet or hunting dog.
~ FOOD & HUNTING
The bush dog occasionally eats
fruit that it finds on the ground.
But it is primarily a flesh eater,
hunting for prey alone or in a
pack of four to seven. By hunt-
ing in a pack, the bush dog can
tackle prey larger than itself. It
often hunts rodents such as
pacas, agoutis, and capybaras,
and it even attacks small deer.
The bush dog is a fairly good
swimmer, and it may be found
close to rivers and swamps. In
these areas it often ambushes
Left: A rare member of the dog fam-
ily, the bush dog is seldom seen in
open terrain.
DID YOU KNOW?
The bush dog is also known
as the vinegar fox and the for-
est wild dog.
A bush dog living in Chica-
go's Lincoln Park Zoo attacked
and then ate small chickens
and pigeons. It also ate rats
and mice.
The bush dog communi-
cates with a range of clicks,
prey. First a few members of the
pack drive the victim toward
the water. There it is attacked
by the other members of the
group, which have been lying
in wait in the shallows.
Bush dogs are very coopera-
tive hunters, sharing the chase
and dividing the kill. Litters of
young bush dogs do not squab-
ble much over food, which is
unusual for canine pups. This
unselfish tendency seems to
continue into adult life.
Right: The bush dog's stocky build
helps it to move with ease through
dense undergrowth.
whistles, and chirps, as well as
growls and whines.
The name of the bush dog's
genus, Speothos, comes from
the Greek words for "jackal"
and "cave." Its species name,
venaticus, is Latin for "hunt-
ing." So the bush dog was in-
itially considered a "hunting
cave jackal."
~ BREEDING
Scientists do not know much
about the bush dog's breeding
habits. The animal's breeding
season varies in different parts
of its range, but births often oc-
cur in the rainy season.
It is thought that the female
comes into heat twice a year.
She is in heat for approximate-
ly two weeks. During the first
week, she is very active, dig-
ging a burrow for her young
and marking her territory with
urine. By sniffing the scent, the
Left: The young remain with their
mother even when they are almost
fully grown.
Left: The bush
dog has the
fewest teeth of
all the dogs. It
uses the large
cheek teeth in
the side of its
mouth to bite
through meat
and bone. The
bush dog has
very few molars
for grinding.
male bush dog discovers that
the female is ready to mate.
About two months after mat-
ing, the female gives birth to
a litter of four to six pups. She
suckles them for as long as six
months, but after about four
weeks the pups also eat regur-
gitated food that the male bush
dog brings to the burrow. The
family group stays together for
as long as 18 months-until the
young reach full sexual maturi-
ty. The young do not leave the
family before that time, even
though they are no longer de-
pendent on their parents.
GREATER FALSE
VAMPIRE BAT
ORDER
Chiroptera
FAMilY
Megadermatidae
" CARD 287 1
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS & SPECIES
Megaderma lyra
The greater false vampire bat does not drink the blood of other
animals. Instead, it is a true flesh eater, consuming mainly insects,
but also some rodents, reptiles, small birds, and fish.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
l ength: 2-4 in.
Weight: 1 ~ - 2 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2 years.
Mating: November to January.
Gestation: About 5 months.
No. of young: Usually 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: lives alone or in groups of
up to 30 individuals.
Diet: Mainly insects; also small rep-
tiles, birds, rodents, and fish.
Call: Emits short, quiet echolocation
signals through nose.
lifespan: Many die in the first year.
Can live at least 1 8 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
The family Megadermatidae contains
5 species. The largest is the Austra-
lian ghost bat, Macroderma gigas,
which can grow 5 ~ inches long.
FEATURES OF THE GREATER
FALSE VAMPIRE BAT
Wings: Upper arm
is shorter than
forearm.
Short,
clawed
thumb is for
mani pulating
food. Double
membrane of
skin stretches
between the
other 4 digits and
down to the legs.
Legs: Thi n; project sideways. Knee joints
bend backward. The 5 clawed toes are the
same length.
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the greater false vampire bat.
DISTRIBUTION
The greater false vampire bat is found from Pakistan, India, and
Sri lanka east to China and the Malay Peninsula.
CONSERVATION
like other species in its family, the greater false vampire bat is
considered endangered. This status is a result of extensive hab-
itat destruction to make way for land development.
Coat: Short,
light brownish
gray. limbs have
a pinkish tinge.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Snout: Covered in a layer of
elaborate folds of skin, known
as nose leaves, which help
modify echolocation pulses.
Ears: Complex
and highly sensi-
tive. Help the bat
get a rough fix
on prey before it
forms a more
precise "sound
picture" with
the use of
echolocation.
0160200601 PACKET 60
An inhabitant of tropical areas in Asia, the greater
false vampire bat makes its home mainly in caves
and rock crevices. But land development has caused a
steady loss of its natural habitats, so it has learned
to adapt to man-made quarters. This bat now uses
underground tunnels, the cellars of old buildings,
and farmyard sheds as alternative roosting places.
~ HABITS
The greater false vampire bat
looks grotesque with its pale
coloring, fairly large size, and
conspicuous extra fold of skin
around its nostrils. There are dif-
ferent stories about how it got
its name. One account suggests
that it looks more like a vampire
than true, bloodsucking vam-
pire bats do. Another points out
its similarity to Vampyrum spec-
trum, a South American bat once
thought to be the true vampire.
The greater false vampire bat
has large eyes, suggesting that
it uses its sight to some extent
when hunting. It also has fairly
large ears, which twitch con-
stantly and pick up the slightest
sound of nearby prey. But, like
most other predatory bats, it
navigates and finds food mainly
by echolocation. It emits short
bursts of high-frequency sound
waves that travel through the
air until they hit nearby objects.
They bounce back as an echo,
and the bat interprets the re-
turning sound waves to locate
each object precisely--even in
total darkness.
The greater false vampire bat
produces a relatively low vol-
ume of sound and does not
emit waves very frequently. It
produces a short burst of 30 to
50 pulses per second between
long periods of silence. This
gives potential prey almost
no warning of the bat's attack.
~ BREEDING
The greater false vampire bat
mates once a year, in late fall or
winter. After mating, the male
takes no responsibility for rear-
ing his offspring.
The female conceives immedi-
ately and gives birth after five
months. Toward the end of her
pregnancy, she starts to distance
herself from the male and pre-
pares to give birth in a colony
Left: Bats are the only mammals
that really fly. Their wings are taut
double membranes of skin.
that is made up of females only.
All births in the colony occur
over a period of 8 to 1 0 days.
Usually only one young is born
to each mother, but twins may
occur. The mother carries her
offspring continuously for the
first 20 to 25 days. Even when it
is able to move about on its own,
the young bat continues to suck-
le for another 15 to 20 days.
Right: The greater false vampire
bat often takes freshly killed food
back to its roost to eat.
Left: Many
bats are plant
eaters, but the
greater false
vampire bat is
a flesh eater.
It eats small
rodents like
this as well
as insects.
DID YOU KNOW?
Roughly equal numbers of
male and female greater false
vampire bats are born. How-
ever, the proportion of males
soon drops to 40 percent and
continues to decline. It is not
known why males die earlier.
Fossils of false vampire bats
have been found in Europe,
proving that these tropical
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Like many bats, the greater
false vampire bat feeds mostly
on insects. But it is one of the
few bats that also eats lizards,
frogs, fish, birds, rodents, and
other, smaller bats. Its large
canine teeth are well suited to
eating flesh.
Unlike most bat species, the
false vampire does not hunt
continuously while in the air.
Instead, it waits until it hears
the rustling of potential prey.
The bat then turns its large ears
toward the sound and listens
intently. It emits high-frequency
pulses to track the victim's 10-
Left: The complicated folds of skin
on the bat's nose help it modify its
echolocation pulses.
bats were once more wide-
spread than they are today.
The greater false vampire
bat's scientific species name,
lyra, derives from the rough-
ly lyre-shaped excess skin
around the nose.
This species is also called the
whispering bat, because of its
quiet and infrequent pulses.
cation even more precisely.
If the prey moves closer, the
bat hovers directly above the
victim for a few seconds, checks
its position, and then swoops
down to enfold the prey in its
wings. After locating the vic-
tim's head, the bat quickly
bites the neck or throat to kill
the animal. The bat may rest
on the ground for a few mo-
ments, but takes off again with
ease, even if it is carrying a vic-
tim as heavy as itself.
An examination of the great-
er false vampire's droppings
shows that it consumes the
entire body of its prey and ex-
cretes the bones, claws, fur,
and teeth.
'" CARD 288 I
GREATER HORSESHOE BAT
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~
ORDER FAMILY GENUS &: SPECIES
Chiroptera Rhinolophidae Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
The greater horseshoe bat gets its name from the distinctive
arrangement of lobes around its nostrils. These lobes are used to
focus sound. They have nothing to do with the bat ~ sense of smell.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 2-3 in.
Tail, 1-1 ~ in.
Wingspan: 13-15 in.
Weight: ~ - 1 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 4 years.
Male, 2 years.
Mating season: Late September
through winter.
Gestation: About 3 months after
delayed fertilization.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Usually roosts and hiber-
nates in colonies.
Diet: Moths and large beetles.
lifespan: Up to 22 years in
the wild.
RELATED SPECIES
There are about 70 species of
horseshoe bat.
Lancet Fleshy
middle section
MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT
Range of the greater horseshoe bat.
DISTRIBUTION
The greater horseshoe bat is found from southern England and
Morocco eastward across temperate Eurasia to China, Korea,
and Japan.
CONSERVATION
The greater horseshoe bat has declined greatly in the last cen-
tury, mostly because of habitat loss. In England it is fully pro-
tected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Feeding: The bat patrols a small
area and uses echolocation to locate
an insect. It then swoops down on
the prey, envelops it in its wings,
and maneuvers it into its mouth.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200611 PACKET 61
There are nearly 70 species of horseshoe bat. Although
most of these bats are found in Africa or Asia, there are
three species--the greater, lesser, and
that are found in Europe. Horseshoe bats are the only
European bats that do not close their wings against the
sides of their bodies when they roost. Instead, horseshoe
bats wrap their wings around themselves when roosting.
HABITS
The greater horseshoe bat is
found around the edges of
well-wooded countryside. In
summer it roosts in attics and
farm buildings. In winter it
hibernates in tunnels, cellars,
and draft-free, humid caves.
The bats usually roost and hi-
bernate in colonies.
During hibernation the bat's
body temperature and breath-
ing rate drop dramatically, but
it is easily disturbed by noise
and light.
FOOD &: FEEDING
The greater horseshoe bat
feeds on insects, especially
slow-flying moths and large
beetles. It feeds at night and
emerges from its roost only
after sunset-later than most
other bat species. It has regu-
lar feeding areas and flies along
recognized flight paths, often
beside a stream or river. The
bat catches most of its prey
within 20 feet of the ground.
Like most insect-eating bats,
the horseshoe bat scoops up
an insect with its wing mem-
branes instead of catching it
with its mouth. It uses its mem-
branes like hands to maneuv-
er the insect into its mouth. It
may then alight or return to
its roost to eat more easily.
Top right: The greater horseshoe
bat moves its nose while flying to
change the sound signals' direction.
left: The greater horseshoe bat uses
echolocation to locate prey before
catching the victim in its wings.
DID YOU KNOW?
In hibernation the horse-
shoe bat's breathing rate
can slow to 10 breaths an
hour. When it is ready to fly
from the roost, the rate rises
to 200 breaths per minute.
The horseshoe bat may
take 50 minutes to wake up
during hibernation.
As it flies, the horseshoe
bat moves its ears backward
and forward up to 60 times
a second. This lets it receive
the echoes that come back
from its ultrasonic sounds.
The lesser horseshoe bat
weighs up to one-third of
an ounce and is the smallest
species of horseshoe bat.
The greater horseshoe bat
is one of the rarest mammals
in Europe.
NATUREWATCH
The greater horseshoe bat
is hard to spot because it
flies at night. In some areas
it is illegal to seek out its
roosts, since the bats are
easily disturbed.
The bat has broad, stub-
by wings and a fluttering
flight. It alights by somer-
saulting and rests hanging
by its feet.
. left: Large groups of bats cluster
together on the roofs of caves and
old mines when they are hibernat-
ing. This helps keep their body tem-
perature constant.
BREEDING
The greater horseshoe bat
mates during its winter hiber-
nation, but the female stores
the sperm until she ovulates
(produces eggs) in the spring.
Pregnant females form large
colonies, which contain non-
breeding and juvenile females
as well as immature males. The
males visit these roosts to at-
tract females for future mating.
Births occur around mid-July,
and usually one young is born.
The blind newborn may suckle
within minutes of birth. It may
travel with its mother, grasp-
ing one of her dummy teats.
But usually young bats stay in
the roost while the females for-
age. Ayoung bat can fly after
three weeks and is indepen-
dent at six weeks.
Adults do not breed every
year, and a female is not sexu-
ally mature until age four. This
slow breeding rate makes bats
vulnerable to population losses.
HORSESHOE BAT
&:MAN
During the 20th century there
has been a 90 percent decline
in the population of the great-
er horseshoe bat. This drastic
drop in population can be indi-
rectly linked to humans.
The main reason for the de-
cline of the greater horseshoe
bat is destruction of its roosts
in buildings. Changes in farm-
ing methods have also reduced
pastures where the dung bee-
tle--a major food source for
the bat-once thrived. Other
reasons for the decline of the
species include the loss of its
woodland-fringed habitats and
hibernation sites like caves.
'" CARD 289
GELADA BABOON


ORDER
Primates
FAMILY
Cercopithecidae
GENUS fit SPECIES
Theropithecus ge/ada
The gelada baboon is a large, impressive-looking monkey that lives
high in the mountains of Ethiopia. Extremely sociable, it is found in
troops of varying sizes, from 30 to more than 350 individuals.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 1 ft.
Tail, about ft .
Weight: Male, 45 lb. Female,
about 30 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male, 8 years.
Female, 3-4 years.
Mating season: Fall.
No. of young: Almost always 1.
Gestation: months.
Weaning period: 2 years.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Day-active ground dweller.
Lives in large troops.
Diet: Mainly grasses; some fruit;
insects and other small animals.
lifespan: About 20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The gelada is closely related to the
8 other species of baboon, which
are all in the genus Papio.
Range of the gelada baboon.
DISTRIBUTION
The gelada baboon lives only on cliff edges and steep gorges in
the northern and central Ethiopian highlands.
CONSERVATION
The gelada is officially considered to be rare, with only about
500,000 surviving. It suffers from the destruction of its habitat
and persecution by humans, who hunt it for its fur and for the
male's magnificent mane.
FEATURES OF THE GELADA BABOON
Female: Smaller than
the male and lacking
his long mane. A
patch of red skin
on the chest is
surrounded by
white blisters
that swell
Lip flip: The upper
lip is drawn back
over the nose to
reveal the gums
and teeth. This
is performed
as a gesture
of greeting by
both sexes.
IMP RV/ IMP INr. WII nl pM
Head: More rounded than most
baboons, with distinctive upturned Male: Thickset body with
powerful limbs and a long
mane on the shoulders.
nostrils.
P I I
An hourglass-shaped
patch of red skin on the
chest is fringed by
white hair.
Coat: Thick and silky. Mainly brown.
fading to cream at the tips of the long
hairs. Hairless face and rump.
7
The gelada baboon belongs to the family of "typical
monkeys. II But unlike most other monkeys, it lives at ground
level and rarely, if eve" climbs trees. Its diet is also unusual
for a primate because it consists almost entirely of a variety
of grasses. Although it has a rather ferocious appearance,
the gelada is actually a fairly timid creature that rarely
ventures far from the safety of its sleeping place.
~ HABITS
The gel ada baboon lives in an
inhospitable, treeless habitat in
the remote mountain regions of
northern and central Ethiopia.
At night it sleeps in large troops
on the face of a cliff or in a rocky
ravine, where it is safe from dan-
ger. By day it forages across the
mountain meadows.
A highly sociable animal, the
gelada lives in a troop of 30 to
350 individuals. It was thought
in the past that baboons formed
troops simply to make breeding
easier. But it is now clear that so-
cial groupings provide such ben-
efits as protection, assistance,
and companionship.
The gelada is quite timid and
rarely ventures far from its cliff
wall, to which it returns when-
ever danger threatens. Its ag-
gressive reputation comes partly
from its distinctive "lip flip" ges-
ture. It draws back the corners
of its mouth and flips its upper
lip over its nose to reveal the
bright pink underside of its lip
and its large teeth. This gesture
was once thought to be threat-
ening but is now considered a
gesture of greeting.
The male gelada is only ag-
gressive when defending his har-
em. He will fearlessly try to drive
a rival male away by throwing
stones and other heavy objects.
Right: A young member of the
gelada troop may affectionately
groom the fur of a related adult.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The gelada baboon has an un-
usual diet that is made up al-
most entirely of the seeds, roots,
blades, and sprouts of a variety
of grasses. It also sometimes
feeds on fruit, plus a few insects
and other small animals.
The gelada baboon forages
in a sitting position, using both
hands to grasp clumps of grass.
It strips off the seeds with either
Left: A young male gelada remains
with its mother for a shorter period
of time than a young female.
DID YOU KNOW?
By the time he reaches old
age, the heavy mane of the
male gelada may extend all
the way down to the ground.
The red patch of skin on the
gelada's chest earned it the
name red-breasted baboon.
According to Abyssinian leg-
end, the gelada forms bands
to catch unwary travelers.
its teeth or with its thumb and
forefinger, which are relatively
short and can grip the seeds
easily. After exhausting one ar-
ea, it shuffles forward on its
rump to find fresh patches.
The troop may roam widely
during the day to find grass. In
fact, the size of a troop is deter-
mined largely by the availabili-
ty of this food.
Right: The adult male gelada keeps
his impressive mane in good condi-
tion with frequent grooming.
Where food is plentiful, sev-
eral troops may join in tem-
porary gatherings with more
than 600 individuals.
The gelada's voice is higher
than other baboons' voices.
Geladas groom frequently
to remove parasites, clean
and condition their fur, relax,
and reinforce social bonds.
The gelada troop is based on
extended family groups. Moth-
ers and offspring form strong
bonds. Males usually stay with
their mothers until they are old
enough to form groups of their
own. Mothers and daughters
may remain in the same group
as their grandmothers.
The female gel ada reaches
sexual maturity at three or four
years old, but the male is not
sexually mature until he is eight
years old. He then joins one of
the female groups within the
troop and exerts authority over
it, keeping the females togeth-
er with calls and gestures and
repelling the approaches of oth-
er males. Males that fail to at-
tach themselves to a group of
females form bachelor groups.
A sexually mature female is
fertile for about one week in
every month. During this time,
the patch of naked skin on her
chest becomes brighter red
and the blisters surrounding
the patch swell up. The swell-
ing goes down at the end of
the week, giving the males a
clear sign of her sexual state.
Mating usually takes place in
the fall. After a gestation of five
to six and a half months, the
female usually gives birth to
one offspring, occasionally to
twins. She suckles her young
for up to two years. By then
she may be pregnant again.
'" CARD 290 I
CAPYBARA
_______________________________
.... ORDER .... FAMILY .... GENUS & SPECIES
Rodentia '11IIIIIIII Hydrochaeridae Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris
The capybara is the largest rodent in the world. Although it moves
awkwardly on land, this animal is a good swimmer. It can cover
long distances underwater, staying submerged up to five minutes.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: ft.
Height: 1 ft. to shoulder .
Weight: Male, 75-140 lb. Female,
80-145 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 8 months.
Mating: Year-round.
Gestation: 5 months.
Litter size: 2-7.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable.
Diet: Plant matter. Mainly grasses
growing in or near water.
Call: Whistles and grunts; cough-
ing bark for alarm. Young make a
purring noise.
Lifespan: 5-10 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 3 capybara subspecies.
The Patagonian cavy, Dolichotis
patagonum, and wild guinea pigs
are also closely related.
FEATURES OF THE CAPYBARA
Range of the capybara.
DISTRIBUTION
Found from Panama southward, through South America east
of the Andes to northeastern Argentina.
CONSERVATION
It is now illegal to hunt the capybara in Colombia, and there
are some restrictions on hunting in Venezuela. If these controls
are maintained, the population should remain stable.
Head: Heavy with a
blunt, square muzzle
and a deeply cleft
upper lip.
Eyes: Set high up on
head to enable the
Body: Thickset and barrel-shaped like
that of a pig. Makes the ani-
mal awkward on land.
Scent gland:
Large and
pronounced
on the male.
Secretes a white
substance that
the animal rubs
on plant stems
to mark its
territory.
Feet: 4 hooflike
toes on forefeet;
3 on !lind feet.
Short webs be-
MCMXCIV IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Coat: Short and
coarse with sparse
grayish brown hairs
tinged with red .
swi mming.
US P 6001 12 068 PACKET 68
With its barrel-shaped body and square head, the capybara
looks like a robust, oversize guinea pig. A peaceful animal
that feeds exclusively on plants, the capybara has been
hunted because it competes for food with domestic livestock.
It has also been hunted for its flesh and skin. As a result,
this rodent has become rare in some parts of its range.
~ HABITS
The capybara usually lives in a
group with one dominant adult
male, some subordinate males,
one or two females, and varying
numbers of young. The domi-
nant male marks his territory
with a secretion from a scent
gland on the top of his nose.
A solitary male may try to infil-
trate a group, but his attempt is
rarely successful. The dominant
male establishes his authority by
chasing weaker rivals, making
sure they remain on the outer
edges of the group. Fights are
rare, however.
At the approach of a predator,
the capybara utters a repeated
coughing bark as an alarm call.
The other members of the group
stand still and listen until the
coast is clear. Or they run into
the water and stay there until
the danger has passed.
Water plays a vital role in the
capybara's life. After resting out
in the open during the morn-
ing, the animal often spends the
hot afternoon in water. It is al-
most hidden in floating vegeta-
tion, with only its eyes, ears, and
nostrils above the water.
~ FOOD Est FEEDING
The capybara feeds entirely on
plant matter, both on land and
in the water. It often grazes on
aquatic plants in the shallow
parts of rivers and lakes, with
only the top of its head visible
above the water.
The capybara's large, wide
front teeth enable it to graze
on very short grass, which it
then grinds with its molars. Al-
though grass is the mainstay of
its diet, the animal may also eat
various vegetables and fruit, in-
cluding melons.
The capybara usually feeds
during the late afternoon. Oc-
Left: The capybara spends the hot-
test part of the day wallowing in
muddy water.
DID YOU KNOW?
The scent gland on the top
of the adult male capybara's
nose is called a morillo, which
means "small hill" in Spanish.
European naturalists once
called the capybara the "water
pig" and the "Orinoco hog."
The capybara is descended
casionally the animal may trav-
ellong distances across its graz-
ing grounds before returning
to the same resting place.
In areas where it competes
with livestock for grass, the
capybara is widely hunted by
farmers. In these regions the
animal forages mostly at night
to avoid the hunters.
In the wet season, capybaras
feed together in groups of 10
to 40. But in the dry season,
the animals gather at the few
remaining water holes, form-
ing herds of up to a hundred
individuals.
Right: The capybara's long, wide
teeth enable it to graze on very
short, dry grass.
from an animal that lived in
North and South America.
This animal was about twice
as long and eight times as
heavy as the capybara.
The word capybara is from
the native Tupi language and
means "master of the grasses."
~ BREEDING
The capybara breeds all year,
but mating peaks at the start of
the rainy season. A male may
follow a receptive female for
over an hour, while she walks in
and out of the water, stopping
periodically to let him catch up.
When mating takes place, it is
always in the water.
The female leaves the group
to give birth in a sheltered spot
nearby. She rejoins the group
the same day, leaving her two
Left: The capybara not only suckles
her own young, but also those of
other females in the group.
Left: The capy-
bara rubs the
plants in its ter-
ritory with the
scent gland
on its snout.
The gland is
especially
prominent in
dominant
males.
to seven newborns in the nest.
The young have thick, soft,
light brown coats. They join the
herd in three or four days and
eat grass within their first week.
Until they are weaned, they stay
in close-knit groups that are kept
together by nursing mothers,
who suckle the young of other
females as well as their own.
The young have a continuous
purring cry, which probably
keeps them in touch with their
mother. They are vulnerable to
predators such as vultures, wild
dogs, caimans, and foxes.