RED-SHANKED DOUC MONKEY

'" CARD iITJ "' GROUP 1: MAMMALS "'~-------------------------------

.... ORDER .... FAMILY .... GENUS &: SPECIES ~ Primates ~ Cercopithecidae ~ Pygathrix nemaeus

The red-shanked douc is one of the most colorful of all monkeys. Once common in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, its population was devastated by the bombs of the Vietnam War.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Height: 1 ~-2 ft. Male slightly

larger than female .

Length of tail: About 2 ft. Weight: Female, up to 10 lb.

Male, up to 15 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 5 years.

Mating season: Adults may time

mating to produce young in a

season when food is available.

Gestation: 5-6 months.

No. of young: 1.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Social and peaceful. Forms

small groups.

Diet: Mainly leaves; some fruit.

Lifespan: 25 years or more.

RELATED SPECIES

The black-shan ked douc, Pygathrix nigripes, is of the same genus. The

Chinese snub-nosed monkeys,

Rhinopithecus, are closely related.

FEATURES OF THE RED­SHANKED DOUC MONKEY Male and female doucs are very similar. The male is slightly larger. Hands: Black,

with short thumbs. Broad

white cuffs.

Coat: Very colorful-the douc is known as the "costumed ape." Mainly grayish mixture of black and white fur on body.

Legs: Chestnut brown below knees. Thighs are black.

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Range of the red-shanked douc monkey.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in virgin and partially cleared forests in central Vietnam

and eastern Laos. Thought to have once extended over a

much wider range.

CONSERVATION

The red-shan ked douc monkey was hunted extensively in the

past. Threatened with extinction in its natural environment since

the Vietnam War, it is now a protected species in Vietnam.

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Face: Bare. Orange-yellow, but darkens if

the douc spends time in the sun. "Beard" of long

white hairs.

0160200491 PACKET 49

The red-shanked douc and its close relative the

black-shanked douc belong to a tree-dwelling group

made up of colobus and leaf monkeys, known

collectively as langurs. Members of this large and varied

group are characterized by the absence of cheek

pouches and by their short thumbs. They are also noted

for the fact that leaves are the mainstay of their diet.

~ HABITS Across its range in Vietnam and Laos, the red-shanked douc's preferred habitat is mature rain­forests at altitudes of about 6,500 feet. But so much of this land has been destroyed that the douc is now also found in younger forests.

The red-shan ked douc once lived in groups of 60 or more. But its groups now number only about 12 members, generally with more females than males.

Living in treetops, the red­shan ked douc is very agile. It can easily jump across a gap of 20 feet, landing feetfirst on a

chosen branch. Although it for­ages in the trees for hours each day, the red-shan ked douc is not the most active of monkeys. It prefers to doze among the branches or to groom other members in the group.

When startled, a group of red­shanked doucs may make loud barking noises and become very active in the trees, slapping at branches with their hands and feet. But when they leave the trees, the members of a group move through the forest very quietly in order to avoid attract­ing attention .

~ FOOD &: FEEDING Like most colobus and leaf monkeys, the red-shanked douc feeds mainly on leaves and supplements this diet with fruit. During the day, the douc monkey spends a good deal of its time foraging for the large quantity of leaves that it needs for adequate nourishment. The red-shan ked douc has a large stomach, which is divided into sacs that contain bacteria to help digest plant cellulose.

The douc seems to be quite a

Left: The red-shanked douc faces extinction in the wild but is being bred successfully in zoos worldwide.

DID YOU KNOW? • The red-shanked douc mon­key is called the "costumed ape" because of its bright col­oration. The word douc is of ancient Vietnamese origin. • Even though it is thought to be closely related to the douc monkey, Brelich's snub-nosed monkey does not eat leaves. It

fussy eater. It randomly plucks leaves and fruit from trees but then examines the pickings carefully. It throws down old leaves and under- or overripe fruit, littering the forest with unwanted food.

Feeding is a quiet activity, and members of the group do not squabble or fight among them­selves while they collect food. They have even been seen of­fering their leaves and fruit to one another.

Right: The red-shanked douc feeds mainly on leaves, which it inspects carefully before eating.

seems to feed on wild cherries, pears, and cucumbers. • When playing, douc mon­keys partially bare their teeth and thrust their chins forward. They may also close their eyes and paw at each other. • Both colobus and leaf mon­keys have short thumbs.

The red-shan ked douc has rare­ly been observed in the wild, so little is known about its breed­ing habits. Most monkeys of this group time their mating so they produce young in a season when food is plentiful.

The female douc makes the first sexual advances. She lies face down on a branch in the mating position and eyes her chosen mate over her shoulder. The male responds by staring at her and then shifting his gaze

Left: The douc's orange face and colorful fur make it a very distinc­tive monkey.

Left: Not only were the red­shanked doucs almost wiped out by the bombs of the Vietnam War, but they were also used by soldiers for tar­get practice.

to a place suitable for mating. The single young is born with

its eyes open and is able to cling to its mother. It is covered with short, downy hair and has a dark stripe down its back. The coat reaches the adult color by the time the douc is 10 months old. The skin on its face gradual­ly lightens as the douc gets older.

Observation of other leaf mon­keys shows that an infant is of­ten cared for by others in the group as well as by the mother, and it is even suckled by other females . The douc is fully grown when it is five years old.

'" CARD 212 I PIKA

,,~--------------------------------------~~ ~

ORDER Lagomorpha

FAMILY Ochotonidae

GENUS Ochotona

Pikas have a unique way of coping with winter, when there is little vegetation in their range. They build "haystacks" of food in fall, which they dry and store to eat during the bleak winter months.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: 5-12 in., depending on

the species.

Weight: 4-14 oz., depending on

the species.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: Ranges from 1

month to 1 year.

Breeding season: Spring to sum­

mer, depending on the species.

Gestation: 20-30 days.

Litter size: 3-13, depending on the

species. Usually more than 1 litter.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Live singly or in pairs, family

groups, or colonies.

Call: Most species highly vocal.

Diet: Mainly vegetation.

Lifespan: North American species,

up to 6 years. Asian species, up to

4 years.

RELATED SPECIES

There are 1 7 species in Asia and 2

in North America.

Range of pikas.

DISTRIBUTION

The North American species are found in the Rockies, extend­

ing northward to Alaska and the Yukon. The Asian species live

in Asia and the U.S.S.R.

CONSERVATION

Because of their remote habitats, pikas were unknown to scien­

tists until the 18th century. Today they are used as laboratory

animals in some countries.

FEATURES OF A ROCK-DWELLING PIKA The stack of veg­etation is dried between piles of rocks near the burrow.

Body: Small and shaped like a rat, a rock­dwelling pika has short, broad, rounded ears and no visible tail. Its coat varies from grayish to yellowish brown.

~

~1I storage: A roc~d~ ling pika prepares for winter by gathering huge

ttnts')f vegetation , which it dries In the sun and stores in "haystacks."

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Pikas are found in the Rocky Mountains

of North America and in the colder regions of Asia.

Although they belong to the same order as rabbits and

hares, these small furry animals look more like guinea pigs.

Most pikas are highly vocal, and they are able to

"throw" their voices just as ventriloquists do.

~ BEHAVIOR

Most pikas live in rocky crev­

ices. But some pikas, such as

the steppe pika, live in burrows

like rabbits. Steppe pikas and

rabbits have a similar social

hierarchy, with entire families

living in large systems of under­

ground warrens.

The North American pika lives

singly in its own territory, which

it defends vigorously. Males

and females have adjacent ter­

ritories that often overlap.

Another species, the north­

ern pika, lives in pairs for most

of its life.

All pikas are active by night

and day, and they usually

move about alone.

Top left: A pika will spend hours sitting on a rock, basking in the sunshine.

DID YOU KNOW? • The steppe pika's call can be heard 330 feet away.

• Pikas are also called piping hares, whistling hares, or call­

ing hares because of their

vocal habits.

• Pallas's pikas build three­

foot-long rock piles around

their dens and runs.

~ FOOD & FEEDING

Pikas usually forage for food at

sunrise and in late afternoon.

They often travel outside their

territories to find food. Pikas eat

most vegetation, which they

cut with their chisel-like teeth.

During the fall pikas gather as

much food as possible and store

it for the winter. Many species

dry the food in the sun before

storing it under a rock. One

species piles stones around its

food store to protect it.

Like rabbits and hares, pikas

eat some of their own drop­

pings, from which they get

essential vitamins and carbohy­

drates. This practice enables

them to get the most out of

the vegetation they eat, which

is not highly nutritious.

Below: This North American pika is also known locally as the rock rabbit.

• The "haystacks" of North American pikas are about two

feet high. A Pallas's pika's stack

weighs 35 to 45 pounds.

• Pikas' feet have hairy soles

that are good for gripping

sheer rock.

• Some pikas dig tunnel sys­tems in the snow.

Above: In the fall, a pika be­gins to gather food for the winter.

Right: The elu­sive alpine pika periodically leaps out onto rocks to call to other pikas.

Pikas that live in burrows pro­

duce the largest litters. The

steppe pika produces the most

offspring, probably because its

habitat offers little protection

from predators, and the spe­

cies incurs high losses.

In a breeding season that

lasts only a few weeks, the

steppe pika produces three or

four litters with three to thir­

teen young in each. The ges­

tation period is 20 to 24 days,

and the young can breed at

three or four weeks of age.

Young steppe pikas grow

quickly. Within five days of

birth, they weigh about half

an ounce-double their birth

weight. Although they are

quite active by this time, they

do not open their eyes until

they are eight or nine days old.

The mother suckles the young

for three weeks. They leave the

nest three or four days later.

Top right: The open plains that the steppe pika inhabits offer little pro­tection from predators.

CARD 213 1

ALPINE MARMOT "' ___________________ GROUP 1: MAMMAl~ .,. ORDER ... FAMILY ... GENUS & SPECIES ~ Rodentia ~ Sciuridae ~ Marmota marmota

The alpine marmot spends most of its life underground, where it rears its young and hibernates. This stocky, short-tailed rodent

has thick claws that are blunt from digging.

--"I KEY FACTS

I ~ I SIZES ~ Length: 16-21 in .

Weight: In spring, 5-8 lb. In fall,

8-12Ib.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 2 years.

Breeding season: Spring.

Gestation: About 5 weeks.

Litter size: 1-7.

Weaning: About 6 weeks.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Burrowing. Lives in territorial

family groups. Hibernates through­

out the winter.

Diet: Leaves and flowers of herbs

and grasses.

Calls: Piercing whistles.

Lifespan: 15-18 years in captivity.

RELATED SPECIES

The genus Marmota contains 10

species of marmot: 4 in Eurasia and

the other 6 in North America.

Range of the alpine marmot.

DISTRIBUTION

Native mainly to the western and central Alps and the Carpa­

thian Mountains. Introduced into parts of the eastern Alps,

the Pyrenees, and the Black Forest in western Germany.

CONSERVATION

The alpine marmot is hunted for sport. It is not currently at risk,

but it could become endangered in the future because it has a

slow breeding rate and a limited mountaintop habitat. ~

HE ALPINE MARMOT'S HOME f. ,,""

',~. "'. '- -,(:- .... ,,"'\ ..... ' ''. Site: The marmot digs Its summer

" burrow near the snow tine on a sunny , slope that faces south. There may also

be a far more complex wi nter burrow lower in the valle .

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The alpine marmot was widespread over lowland

Europe during the last Ice Age. Having adapted to the

cold, the animal retreated into the cooler mountains

when the climate began to get warmer. Today the

alpine marmot is frequently seen on the grassy slopes

below the mountain peaks of central Europe.

~ BEHAVIOR The alpine marmot is a small,

burrowing mammal. It lives in

central Europe on open, sunny slopes above the tree line at altitudes of up to two miles.

The alpine marmot uses its forepaws to dig its burrow.

It pushes back debris with its hind feet and loosens large stones with its teeth. A burrow

has several entrances, roomy

living chambers lined with dry grass, and dead-end tunnels

that are used as latrines. Large

burrows may be the work of many generations.

Alpine marmots live in family

groups made up of a dominant breeding pair and its offspring.

The family marks its territory with scent, and the members

beat their tails and rattle their teeth to drive off intruders.

Right: The alpine marmot often stands on its hind legs. Here it is bending over to nibble at an itch.

~ BREEDING In early spring the alpine mar­mot emerges from hibernation

to begin breeding. Early mat­ing ensures that the young will be sufficiently developed by winter to survive.

After mating, the female car­ries bedding material into the

burrow and remains there to

give birth. The average litter contains three young, born blind and helpless. After six

weeks, the young venture out of the nest and forage for food.

By the end of summer, their fur turns to the color of the adults' fur. They reach full size

after their second year.

Far left: Even though the alpine marmot is plump, it is agile and can easily scale steep slopes.

Left: Alpine marmots have close family bonds. Young marmots stay close to their mother and within reach of the burrow even when they are playing.

Below right: A pair of mar­mots cautious­ly sniff a plant before starting to eat it.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The alpine marmot leaves its burrow to feed in the cool

morning and afternoon. It can­not tolerate heat and may not

feed at all on very hot days. The marmot eats the leaves

and flowers of young plants, holding them in its forepaws as it nibbles. It also eats spiders

and worms. It feeds voraciously in order to build up a thick layer

of fat to sustain it during its winter hibernation.

~ HIBERNATION Near the end of summer, family members bring old stems into the burrow to serve as bedding. In October they plug up the burrow entrances in prepara­tion for their winter sleep.

As winter falls, the marmots

huddle in the bedding cham­ber and fall into a deep torpor.

Their heart rate drops to five

beats per minute, and they breathe only one to three

times a minute, so that they use up their stored energy as slowly as possible. Their body temperature falls, almost match­ing that of the burrow. But if

the temperature approaches

the freezing point, they quick­en their heart rate and breath­

ing and burn more energy to avoid freezing.

DID YOU KNOW? • The alpine marmot can bur­row in ground so hard that a pick can barely penetrate it.

• The marmot often rests on the mound of displaced soil

that accumulates at its bur­

row entrance.

• A North American marmot

Winter is the time when the

most marmots starve, because their summer fat reserves run out. This may result from excep­tionally cold weather or from warm weather that causes the animals to burn up fat too fast.

Below: A marmot lets hay dry in the sun before taking it into the burrow.

colony built a burrow system with 76 entrances in an area of only 0.03 square miles.

• The alpine marmot was once widely hunted for its

fat, which was believed to

relieve rheumatism when it was rubbed into the skin.

'" CARD 214 I THREE-TOED SLOTH

,,~----------------------------------------~ ,. ORDER

"IIIIIIII Edentata FAMILY 8radypodidae

GENUS &: SPECIES 8radypu5 tridactylu5, torquatu5, & variegatu5

Among the world~ strangest mammals, three-toed sloths spend most of their time hanging upside down. These solitary, slow-moving creatures live in the trees of South America ~ tropical rainforests.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: Head and body, 1 6-28 in.

Tail, %-3~ in.

Weight: 9-10 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: Male, 5 years.

Female, 3-4 years.

Breeding season: Probably March

and April.

Gestation: 5-6 months.

No. of young: 1 .

LIFESTYLE

Call: Characteristic "ai-ai" noise.

Habit: Solitary; very slow moving.

Active by day and night.

Diet: A wide variety of leaves.

Lifespan: Less than 12 years.

RELATED SPECIES

The 2 species of two-toed sloth,

Choloepus didactylus and C. hoff­

manni, are related but belong to

a different family.

Range of three-toed sloths.

DISTRIBUTION

The brown-throated sloth lives in forests from southern Vene­

zuela and the Guianas to northern Brazil. The pale-throated

sloth ranges from Honduras to Argentina. The maned sloth is

found only in northeastern Brazil.

CONSERVATION

Three-toed sloths are widespread and common. Like all forest

mammals, they are threatened by habitat destruction.

FEATURES OF THREE-TOED SLOTHS RAINFOREST ADAPTATIONS

Feet: 3 toes on each fore- and hind foot, closely bound together with tis­sue and covered in skin and hair. Leathery palms give a sloth a good grip on branches.

Limbs: Arms are con­siderably longer than hind limbs. A sloth uses them to pull itself along branches.

Claws: Strong and curved, 3 on each foot. Give a sloth a vicelike grip around branches.

Senses: Sight and hearing are poor, but smell and touch are

well developed.

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A three-toed sloth is agile and well adapted to life in the trees. When hanging upside down, rain drains off its underside via a part­ing of the fur along its belly.

1 PA

Three-toed sloths probably spend more time in the trees

than any other South American forest mammal.

In fact, a three-toed sloth may spend its entire life

living in the same tree. There are three species of

three-toed sloth-the maned, the brown-throated,

and the pale-throated--and they all share the

same distinctively sluggish way of life.

~ HABITAT It was once thought that three­toed sloths lived only in Cecropia trees (a species of trumpetwood tree), feeding on their leaves. It is now known that they live in at least 96 other tree species whose leaves they eat. The myth about their exclusive habitat arose be­cause it is only in the open can­opies of Cecropia trees that sloths are easily seen.

A male sloth may live in one tree throughout his life, but the female moves into other areas. She leaves her original range for the young to inhabit.

Unlike most mammals, a three-toed sloth cannot keep its body temperature constant.

Because it loses heat rapidly if the air temperature drops, it can survive only in a warm, hu­mid environment.

One of the slowest moving of all mammals, a three-toed sloth moves upside down along tree branches. It uses its long limbs and powerful claws to pull itself forward in a hand-over-hand motion. It moves at a speed of about one-third of a mile per hour and travels less than 45 yards in a day. A three-toed sloth spends many hours hang­ing motionless from a branch. Its grip is so strong that it can­not be broken even when the sloth is asleep.

~ BREEDING Like all sloths, a three-toed sloth is solitary. It is not known how male and female come together for mating. But the "ai-ai" cry of both sexes may help to bring them together since the cry seems to increase during March and April, when mating occurs.

The male sloth scent-marks branches with secretions from an anal gland. Sloths also defe­cate and urinate at the base of

Left: Unable to support its body weight on its limbs, a sloth must drag itself along the ground.

DID YOU KNOW? • A three-toed sloth may spend 18 hours a day sleep­ing and dozing. • After a meal, a sloth's stom­ach contents can make up a third of its body weight. • A species of gigantic South American ground sloth called Megatherium became extinct

certain trees, possibly to leave signals for other sloths.

The female gives birth in a tree and tends the single, very small offspring by herself. The young sloth clings to the fur on its moth­er's chest and suckles for one month. It then eats leaves, but it continues to cling to its mother for up to eight months more. If it is separated from her, it makes bleating noises until she returns.

Right: A young three-toed sloth clings constantly to its mother for its first nine months.

only in the last several hun­dred years. • A sloth's grip on a branch is so strong that if killed it will hang until it decomposes. • Mites, beetles, and tiny moths live in a sloth's coat and feed off algae that grow in the hairs.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING A three-toed sloth's diet consists of leaves. Because it processes food slowly and is so inactive, it has little need of food for ener­gy-a young deer of the same weight eats seven times as much food .

A three-toed sloth is most active when it is searching for and eating food. Unlike two­toed sloths, which feed at night, three-toed sloths feed during daylight. Since it has poor hear­ing, a sloth uses smell and touch to locate food and find its way through the trees.

Left: Three-toed sloths must eat many leaves to satisfy their nutri­tional requirements.

Left: Three­toed sloths usually hang motionless in the treetops, but they are surprisingly good swim­mers. They may even cross rivers in search of new food sources.

A sloth plucks leaves slowly with its thick, horny lips and, with its rough tongue, pushes food toward the teeth at the back of its mouth. Chewing is slow, and digestion can take up to a month. To cope with its diet of leaves a sloth's stomach has several compartments con­taining bacteria that enable it to digest cellulose (the main com­ponent of plants).

Although sloths belong to the order Edentata, meaning tooth­less, they have cheek teeth for chewing fibrous leaves. These teeth have no enamel and grow continually, since they are worn down by chewing.

" CARD 2 15 I FOUR-HORNED ANTELOPE

,,~------------------------------------------~ ... ORDER '11IIIIIIII Artiodactyla

FAMILY Bovidae

... GENUS &: SPECIES '11IIIIIIII Tetracerus quadricornis

The four-horned antelope does not always live up to its name. In some males the two front horns never appear, and the

female of the species has no horns at all.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Length: 3-4 ft. Height: About 2 ft . to shoulder.

Weight: 33-55 lb.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: Unknown.

Mating: July to September.

Gestation: 7- 8 months.

No. of young: 1-3.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Solitary or lives in pairs.

Diet: Leaves, bulbs, shoots, grass,

herbs, and fruits. Daily water

essential.

lifespan: Up to 10 years.

RELATED SPECIES

The closest relative is the nilgai,

Boselaphus tragocamelus, which

lives in India on grassland and in

sparse forests. Nil, a Hindi word for

blue, refers to the nilgai's coat,

which turns from brown to blue­

gray as it matures.

Range of the four-horned antelope.

DISTRIBUTION

The four-horned antelope is found in India and Nepal, in hill­

side forest edges close to open ground and water.

CONSERVATION

The number of four-horned antelopes in the wild is hard to es­

timate because this species keeps itself concealed most of the

time. It has been the victim of hunters and habitat destruction

and is not common in any part of its range.

FEATURES OF THE FOUR-HORNED ANTELOPE

Coat: Short and tawny. White underside, inner legs, and face patches.

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Horns: Present only on male. Rear horns grow to approximately 4 inches in length. Supplementary horns at front of head reach a maximum length of 2 inches.

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There is still a great deal to be learned about the habits

of the four-horned antelope. This shy, cautious animal

frequently lives in an inaccessible habitat. It needs a good

supply of water and never strays far from a permanent

source. Hidden for most of the day, the four-horned

antelope emerges at sunrise and sunset to feed.

~ HABITS The four-horned antelope's pri-mary need is a water source to drink from at least once a day. The water supply may be a lake, pond, or even a village water tank. The antelope also requires shelter with good graz­ing close by, which it finds in

meadows, parks, or at forest edges. The four-horned ante­lope is rarely seen feeding be­cause it runs to the shelter of

trees at the slightest sign of dan­ger. When it is not feeding, it

stays concealed in undergrowth. There it chews its cud, out of sight of predators and away from the heat of the sun.

Once a four-horned antelope has chosen a territory, it seems

to remain in that area for many years. As is the case with other antelopes, much of its habitat has been lost to agriculture.

~ FOOD & FEEDING The four-horned antelope feeds mainly at dawn and dusk, emerging from cov-er to graze on grasses and herbs. It also eats the young

left: The extra frontal horns of the four-horned antelope are small compared to the main pair.

Right: The four-horned antelope does not seem to use calls or visual displays to make its pres­ence known. Instead, it stakes outa territory by def­ecating in spe­cific places or by using glands on its face, groin, and legs to scent-mark vegetation.

leaves, buds, and shoots of bushes and trees. But before eating a plant or a leaf, most antelopes will sniff it to see if it is nutritious.

Right: Although it is primarily a grazer, the antelope also browses on trees and shrubs.

I DID YOU KNOW? • The ancestors of modern cattle closely resem bled the

four-horned antelope.

• In India the four-horned antelope is known as the chousingha, or "fou r horns."

• The four-horned antelope is the only mammal that has

~ BREEDING The four-horned antelope mates between July and Sep­

tember. During this period, the male antelope can be­come very aggressive.

It is thought that the four­horned antelope pairs for life, since most are seen alone or in pairs. During the mating sea-

left: The female leaves her fawn in dense vegetation, where it is hid­den from predators.

four horns. Its head was

prized by trophy hunters.

• Leopards, tigers, jackals, and dholes all prey on the

four-horned antelope.

• Only the outside of an antelope's horn is true horn. The core is made of bone.

son, however, a buck may gath­er four or five does around him.

Approximately eight months after mating, between one and three young are born. Like most antelope species, the female four-horned antelope proba­bly leaves her young hidden in the relative safety of the under­growth while she grazes on more open land, returning at intervals to nurse them.

ANGORA GOAT "'______________ GROUP 1: MAMMALS

.. ORDER .. FAMILY .. GENUS & SPECIES ~ Artiodactyla ~ Bovidae ~ Capra hircus

The Angora goat is famous for its luxurious curly coat, which is the source of the fiber mohair. Originally bred in Turlcey, the goat

was named for the province of Ankara, or Angora.

KEY FACTS

SIZES Height: 2-2 ~ ft. at the shoulder. Weight: Female, 75 lb. Male, 110 lb .

BREEDING Sexual maturity: Female, about 6 months but often mated at 1 8 months. Male, 18 months. Breeding season: September to February. Gestation : 5 months. No. of young: Usually 1, but twins are common.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable, inquisitive, and playful. Diet: Fibrous, woody vegetation; herbs; and grass. lifespan: 14-15 years but often culled earlier.

RELATED SPECIES Related to all other breeds of goats, including the Saanen, Toggenburg, and Anglo-Nubian .

Range of the Ahgora goat.

DISTRIBUTION First bred in Turkey and now raised in South Africa, Lesotho, the United States, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand.

CONSERVATION Mohair represents about one percent of the world's output of natural fibers, but demand is growing steadily. The number of Angora goats worldwide is certain to increase.

Ooat: The Angora g{)at's thick coat is the source of the fiber mohair. Mohair is more luslfOtlS thal'l wool beoause eacl:! fiber is smooth and not covered with the overlapping seales tMat w(;lol has. The Ang:oral s d€lwny undemoaf prodwC8S cashmere but many other types of goats conlr~b \;lte to cashmere prGdl:fction as wel l. Ango ra wool comes from Angora rabbits , l'lot the Angora §oat.

Head: The Angora's head, especially the muzzle, has a thinner, shorter covering of wool than its

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Body fat: Despite its very thick coat, the Angora goat needs shelter in cold , wet weather. It feels the cold because it has a relatively thin layer of body fat.

0160200561 PACKET 56

There are approximately seven million Angora goats

in the world. They are raised almost solely for fiber

production. Each year Angora goats supply the textile

industry with nearly 28,000 tons of mohair. Today

the leading producer of mohair is South Africa.

~ ORIGIN Like all domestic goats, the An­

gora is descended from the wild

goat of Persia. Wild goats typi­

cally have long hair on parts

of their bodies, and they grow

thick coats in winter. Both natu­

ral and artificial selection caused

these traits to become fixed.

Goats that were kept in the

Angora province of Turkey be­

came renowned for the quali­

ty of their coats. Turkey then

became the leading producer

of mohair and closely guarded

this trade. In 1838 Angoras

left the country for the first

time, when 12 males and a

female were shipped to South

Africa. Today South Africa is

the world's leading producer

of mohair, followed by the

United States and Turkey.

~ HABITAT Goats in the wild live in small

groups on the slopes of rocky hills and mountains. These sure­

footed climbers roam craggy

uplands that only a few other

animals can reach. Flocks of

domestic Angoras live remark­

ably similar lives in the moun­

tains of Turkey. In contrast,

Angoras in South Africa live

on veldt (shrubby grassland) .

Today the Angora goat is

being raised more intensively

for the production of mohair,

and it is confined to fenced

pastures. Because it is adept

at escaping, the Angora is usu­

ally kept behind an electric

fence. Strong wire netting is

also widely used.

Right: Angora goats provide mohair and cashmere fibers.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING Like its wild relative, the An­

gora goat feeds on shrubs

more than grass. Its favorite

foods are fibrous brambles,

twigs, and woody shrubs, but

it also feeds on more tender

plants. Free-ranging herds are often left to eat whatever veg­

etation their habitat offers. In

South Africa, they eat karoo

scrub and spekeboom, a com­

mon shrub. In New Zealand,

goats are used to clear farm-

Left: Angora goats are friendly animals.

DID YOU KNOW? • To protect their exclusive supply of mohair, the Turkish

sultans prohibited the export

of Angora goats for centuries.

In 1838, when a doe and 12

bucks were exported to South

land of sweet briar and gorse.

Such unrestricted diets often

result in poor-quality mohair and a low rate of reproduction.

For this reason, many Angora

goat farmers fence in their

flocks on top-quality pasture­

land. In winter the goats are

provided with hay or silage.

Dietary supplements may be

supplied to pregnant Angora

does (females) and to does

with kids (offspring).

Right: Angoras often stand on their hind legs to reach food.

Africa, the bucks were found

to have been castrated. But

the doe was pregnant and

gave birth to a male kid. In

this way the South African

mohair industry began.

~ ANGORA GOAT &: MAN The Angora is bred for its coat,

which is the source of mohair.

This fiber is silky, warm, light, fire

resistant, mothproof, and easy

to dye. It is in great demand for

high-quality fabrics. The goats

are sheared twice a year-usual­

ly six weeks before the young

are born and six weeks before

mating. Angora goats also pro­

vide skins for leather, and their

meat is eaten in many countries.

~ BREEDING The breeding season begins in

fall. The doe comes into season (is ready to mate) every 18

to 23 days. She indicates her

readiness by bleating and wag­

ging her tail. The buck (mature

male) begins to call insistently

and develops a musky odor.

Although Angora goat farm­

ers often let their goats mate

naturally, they sometimes con­

trol breeding by confining a

buck and bringing females to

him. Artificial insemination is

sometimes used to introduce

fresh bloodlines into a flock.

Angora bucks are frequent­

ly mated with does of other

breeds. After five generations

are mated with Angoras, the

offspring are upgraded to full

Angora status.

"'CARD 217 I SUGAR GLIDER "~ ____________________________ ~G~R~O~U~P_l~: ~M~A~M~M~A=LS~~ ... ORDER ... FAMILY ... GENUS & SPECIES ~ Marsupialia ~ Petauridae ~ Petaurus breviceps

The sugar glider is one of the most striking Australian mammals. Launching itself from the top of a tree, this marsupial acrobat

can glide for a distance of almost 200 feet.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Head and body length: 6-8 in.

Tail length: 6-8 in .

Weight: 3-5 oz.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 7-1 0 months.

Mating season: Usually August.

Gestation: 3 weeks.

No. of young: 1-3, usually 2.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Active at night; nests in

groups of up to 12. Diet: Gum, sap, nectar, pollen,

insects and their larvae.

Call: Shrill yapping to warn of

predators.

Lifespan: 10 years.

RELATED SPECIES

There are 2 other species in the

genus Petaurus: the fluffy glider,

P. australis, and the squirrel glider,

P. norfolcensis.

Range of the sugar glider.

DISTRIBUTION

The sugar glider is found in Tasmania and neighboring islands,

in the forests of eastern and northern Australia, and as far north

as New Guinea.

CONSERVATION

The sugar glider is one of the most abundant native Australian

mammals, but its preferred habitat of patchy, open forest is

threatened.

FEATURES OF THE SUGAR GLIDER

Patagium: This layer of thin, furred skin stretches from the wrist to the ankle of the hind limb. It helps the animal glide . . Eyes: Large and

bulging, typical of a . nocturnal animal.

Coat: The upper parts are gray with a dark stripe from nose to rump. The underparts are

pale yellow or gray. The face has several stripes.

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Flight (viewed from below) :

The curvature of the patagium

can be altered to . adjust the flow

of air over it, causing a change in direction.

Tail: Long, fluffy, and nonprehen­site (cannot grip

a support firmly) . Used somewhat like a rudder to

change direc­tion when

gliding.

0160200591 PACKET 59

Competition for food is keen in the dense Australian forests

where most sugar gliders live. This tiny animal's ability

to "fly" between the trees gives it a strong advantage.

Not only can it move quickly from one food source

to another, but it also avoids potential predators.

~ HABITS The sugar glider lives in the for­ests of Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. It prefers open for­est where it has enough space to glide from tree to tree.

Active at night, the sugar glid­er spends the day in a nest in a hollow of a tree. This social crea­ture nests in groups of up to 12 individuals. In summer these groups may become smaller.

When constructing its nest, the sugar glider often hangs by its feet from a branch and grabs leaves with its hands. It may also

use its feet and tail to collect leaves. It then scuttles along a branch to a suitable hollow­unable to glide because of the leaves' bulk.

As it moves about the forest at night, the sugar glider calls to other group members. It has good hearing and a highly de­veloped sense of smell. It can identify other members of its group by their odor.

Right: In order to obtain protein, the sugar glider eats insects as well as gum and sap.

~ BREEDING The male sugar glider has scent­marking glands on his forehead, chest, and near his anus. Scent is part of its mating ritual. Dom­inant males also spread their scent among group members.

Mating usually occurs in Au­gust, depending on the avail­ability of food. In the nest, a male first rubs scent from his forehead on a female's chest. To accept a partner, the female rubs her head on the male's chest. Sugar gliders do not form pair bonds, and a female may mate with several males.

The gestation period is three weeks, and usually two young are born. Dependent on their

Left: Just before landing on a tree trunk, the sugar glider pulls itself upright to slow down.

DID YOU KNOW? • The sugar glider is one of the most common native Australian mammals. • The sugar glider's nest is notorious for its foul smell, which comes from the ani­mals' urinating on the leaves

mother, the blind newborns weigh a fraction of an ounce.

The mother helps her new­born into her pouch, where each immediately latches onto one of her four nipples. The babies develop quickly on her protein-rich milk and leave the pouch after about 1 0 weeks, when they are too big for the mother to carry about.

The young stay in the group nest for the next month. When they are about 15 weeks old, they first accompany their moth­er on feeding forays. The young are almost independent at this stage, but they may stay at the nest for several years.

Right: With her powerful claws, a mother sugar glider can cling to stems when carrying her young.

to dampen them down. • The sugar glider's generic name is Petaurus, which is derived from the Latin word petaurum-referring to a springboard that was used by Roman athletes.

r

1.8- SPECIAL ADAPTATION The sugar glider can "fly" up to 200 feet between trees be­cause of its patagiu~a thin, furred membrane that forms a rectangular area stretching

~ FOOD & FEEDING The sugar glider gets its name from its fondness for sweet sap and gum. It prefers the gums of eucalyptus and acacia trees. It also eats pollen, nectar, insects, and insect larvae.

The trees that give the sugar glider so much of its food are not common and are often spread out in the forest. The sugar glider is able to use this food source because it can trav­el quickly over long distances.

When it finds a suitable tree, the sugar glider grips the trunk

from the wrist to the ankle of the hind limb. When the ani­mal is not gliding, the mem­brane is visible only as a dark, wavy line along its flanks .

---1

with its powerful claws. Clamp­ing its sharp teeth into the bark, it laps up the sweet sap with its tongue. It vigorously defends a good feeding site.

Tree sap and gum help sustain the sugar glider's active lifestyle, but these carbohydrate-rich foods do not provide enough energy for reproduction. In order to reproduce, the sugar glider needs to eat protein-rich insects and pollen, so it usually breeds only in times when in­sects abound.

"'" CARD 218 1 JERBOA ,,~----------------------------------------~ ... ORDER

"1IIIIIIII Rodentia FAMILY Dipodidae

GENERA Various

Although they are closely related to rats and mice, jerboas look more like miniature kangaroos as they hop

across the desert sands in search of food.

KEY FACTS

SIZES

Body length: 1 ~-6 in.

Tail length: 3-10 in .

Hind foot length: 1-3 in.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 11 weeks.

Mating season: Varies, depending

on where the species lives. Most

species breed twice a year.

Gestation: 3-6 weeks.

No. of young: 2-6 in each litter.

Average, 3.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Usually solitary. Some desert

jerboas live in small groups.

Diet: Various fruits, plants, seeds,

and some insects.

Lifespan: Thought to be 2-3 years.

RELATED SPECIES

There are 31 species of jerboa in 11

genera. They are all closely related

to rats and mice.

TWO JERBOA SPECIES

Mongolian five-toed jerboa, Allactaga bullata. Found in western China and Mongolia.

© MCMXCII IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

Range of jerboas.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in desert, semidesert, and steppe regions of North Africa and Eurasia east to Manchuria.

CONSERVATION

Jerboas are in no danger. They are preyed upon by animals in

arid regions and sometimes hunted by desert tribes. In some

years great numbers of young jerboas die as a result of floods or extreme droughts.

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Desert jerboa, Jaculus jaculus. Found in North Africa, the U.S.S.R., Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan .

0160200611 PACKET61

/erboas live in areas that offer very little cover-

deserts, semideserts, and the vast, treeless grasslands

of Russia and China. In order to survive, these tough

rodents live in underground burrows, where they

are protected from heat as well as cold.

~ HABITS Jerboas are usually solitary, but

they may form loose colonies.

Jerboas live in underground

burrows, which they dig with

their small front paws. They use

their huge back feet to kick soil

or sand out of the way.

Desert jerboas often build

complex burrows with food

chambers, living quarters, and

escape hatches. At depths that

reach six feet, these burrows

protect jerboas from the sun's

intense heat. Some Asiatic jer­

boas also build winter burrows

in which they hibernate.

~ SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS Jerboas are well adapted to

their environment. A jerboa's

back feet are four times as long

as its front paws and covered

in fine fur. They act like snow­

shoes on the soft sand, spread­

ing a jerboa's weight to keep

it from sinking. The long tail­

with its flattened, hairy tip­

also helps a jerboa stay on the

sand or soil without sinking.

Most rodents run from pred-

~ FOOD & FEEDING Jerboas forage for food during

the night. They feed mainly

on seeds and plants, and they

sometimes dig up roots. A few

species eat beetles and other

insects. Other species eat fruit,

especially melons. They feed

on the soft flesh and juice but

ignore the hard seeds, which

their weak jaws are unable to

process. These species have

left: A jerboa's extended back legs enable it to hop great distances.

ators, but jerboas hop away,

covering 1 0 feet in one leap.

They can veer sharply to the

right or left and reach speeds

of 15 miles per hour.

Some jerboas, such as the

great jerboa, have large ears

that lose heat and help the an­

imals stay cool. Others, such

as desert jerboas, have folds of

skin that close over their nos­

trils when they are digging.

become pests to fruit farmers.

Jerboas hop quickly and

cover a great deal of ground

in a single leap. As a result,

they are able to travel long

distances on their hunting

trips with a minimum amount

of effort. They sometimes dig

temporary burrows in which

to rest during their long forag­

ing trips.

Right: Most desert jerboas have sand-colored coats.

~ BREEDING Most jerboas breed twice a

year. Northern species proba­

bly mate after their winter hi­

bernation so the young will be

born when food is plentiful.

Three to six weeks after mat­

ing, the female gives birth to

two to six young. The hairless

babies use their forepaws to

drag themselves along the

ground. The long back legs do

not develop for several weeks,

and the young cannot hop

until they are 11 weeks old.

Young jerboas are weaned

at 8 weeks of age and are sex­

ually mature at 14 weeks.

left: A keen-sighted jerboa hops out at night to find food.

DID YOU KNOW? I • In very hot areas, some jerboas go into a state of

torpor, or semihibernation,

until the temperature cools.

Others hibernate in winter,

living off their body fat.

• Some desert jerboas can leap three feet into the air.

• Some jerboas plug up their burrow entrances to

to keep out hot or cold air.

• In World War II, General Montgomery's troops in

North Africa were called

/I desert rats" after the jer­

boas in that region.

• Jerboas are preyed upon by almost all mammals as

well as birds and snakes.

ORYX

"'= ... ORDER ~ Artiodactyla

FAMILY Bovidae

CARD 219

GROUP 1: MAMMALS GENUS & SPECIES Oryx leucoryx, O. dammah, O. gazella

Oryx have a remarkable ability to survive in harsh desert conditions. They constantly roam the savannas of Africa in search

of water, and they are able to sense rainfall far away.

.-----\1 KEY FACTS ------------------------------------------------------~

li1 SIZES

Length: Body, 5-8 ft . Tail, 1 ~-3 ft. Height: 3-4~ ft . to shoulder .

Weight: 220-460 lb .

Horns: 2-5 ft. long.

BREEDING

Sexual maturity: 1 ~-2 years.

Mating: Year-round .

No. of young: 1 . Gestation: 8-1 0 months.

Weaning: About 4 months.

LIFESTYLE

Habit: Sociable; travel in herds.

Diet: Grasses, herbs, berries,

leaves, bulbs, fruits.

Lifespan: 20 years.

RELATED SPECIES

There are 3 oryx species-the

Arabian oryx, Oryx leucoryx; the

scimitar oryx, O. dammah; and

the South African oryx, O. gazella.

The East African oryx, O. gazella

beisa is a subspecies.

Original range of oryx.

DISTRIBUTION

The Arabian oryx is now found only in Oman. The scimitar oryx

now occurs only in Chad, but was once found in northern Africa

from Senegal to the Sudan. The East African oryx is found from

Eritrea to Tanzania. The South African oryx occurs in southern

Africa, especially Namibia and South Africa.

CONSERVATION

Hunting and habitat loss have greatly reduced the number of oryx.

FEATURES OF THE EAST AFRICAN ORYX OTHER ORYX SPECIES

Coat: Light grayish brown with white underparts, black and white mark­ings on the head, and a black line down the throat and across the flanks . Like the South African oryx, it has a short mane.

Horns: Long and almost straight. The horns slope

backward and

oryx species, it has facial markings.

Legs: Long and slender. Broad hooves support the

an imal 's weight on soft sand.

/~. "

Scimitar oryx: The smallest oryx. Long , curved horns. Pale coat with rusty brown neck, chest, face , and flanks.

.. South African oryx: The largest

A::;:s;:;:S=::::::=;;:=~5a; • • ;:::;::=~==~~ ... _ 1 oryx, also known as the gemsbok. Gray coat with dark brown on flank and tops of legs.

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Also known as desert antelope, oryx once roamed

in great numbers throughout the desert regions of Arabia

and Africa. But because of their beautiful horns and hides,

these creatures were killed for many decades by hunters

seeking trophies. Oryx have also suffered from the loss of

their habitat. They are now endangered animals in many

areas, and some species survive primarily in captivity.

~ HABITS Oryx herds may have only six or

over a hundred members. They

roam the African savannas look­

ing for food and water. To rest,

they usually dig shallow beds

under trees or large shrubs.

A cow leads the oryx herd in

its search for water or a sleeping

place, while the dominant male,

or alpha bull, brings up the rear.

If the cow loses the way, the al­

pha bull moves to the front and

stands sideways to put the herd

back on course. He then leads

the group for a while.

Some herds have only males;

others are made up of families;

and still others are all-female

harems led by one alpha bull.

Bachelor males frequently roam

alone. They test each other in

horn fights, but these are usual­

ly harmless rituals.

Oryx are prey for cheetahs and

lions. Their young are attacked

by smaller predators such as hy­

enas and jackals. If threatened,

an oryx kneels and lowers its

head, ready to bring its pierc­

ing horns up into its attacker.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING Oryx need water and succulent

vegetation to survive in their dry

habitat. Because the rainfall is so

unpredictable, oryx drink when­

ever they can, usually from wa­

ter holes or streams. They graze

on grasses, shrubs, and herbs

and also eat juicy roots, bulbs,

and even melons.

Oryx can sense distant rainfall.

A herd may travel hundreds of

miles to feed on new vegetation.

Oryx can find even tiny trickles

of water and will unearth succu­

lent roots or dig holes in dried­

up riverbeds to reach ground

water. To conserve their body

Left: The East African oryx lives in semidesert areas in Ethiopia.

-- --I DID YOU KNOW?

• Oryx can sense rainfall so

well that one animal traveled

over 50 miles in response.

• Oryx are highly valued for

their hides, which make good

leather. Their heads and horns

are prized by hunters as tro­

phies. African tribesmen once

used the horns as tips for their

spears. Oryx meat is consid-

fluids and avoid water loss from

panting, oryx stay in shade dur­

ing the hottest part of the day.

At a water hole, a noisy con­

flict may break out between two

different herds, even if there is

enough water for all. But this

contest is usually only a suprem­

acy display or a bloodless lock­

ing of horns.

Because they eat food low in

nutrition, oryx must spend long

hours feeding. Some herds in

southern Africa may graze from

sunrise to mid-morning and

then graze again in the after­

noon until sunset.

Right: Oryx usually drink from wa­ter holes but may dig for water.

ered a delicacy and is believed

to have medicinal properties.

• Leucoryx, the scientific name

for the pale Arabian oryx spe­

cies, comes from leucos, the

Greek word for "white."

• The Arabian oryx became

extinct in the wild in the 1970s,

but it has now been reintro­

duced in Oman.

l

Oryx mate at any time of year.

When courting, the bull and

cow run in what is known as a

mating circle. They also pace up

and down and lock horns. A fe­

male that is not ready to mate

deters the male by standing be­

hind him. When ready, she low­

ers her head and lets the male

approach . He gives her a ritual

kick between the rear legs be­

fore they mate.

Left: Once common in northern Africa, the scimitar oryx is now found only in Chad.

Arabian oryx is specially adapted to the desert. Its white coat re­flects the sun, while its dark legs absorb heat from the ground dur­ing cold early mornings.

A single calf is born after eight

to ten months. Birth can occur

at any time of year but is usually

between September and Janu­

ary. The calf weighs 20 to 30

pounds. It has a tufted tail and

a brown hide with markings on

the tail and knees. Males have

tufts of hair on their throats.

After four months, the calf can

feed on its own. It stays with the

parent herd for a while but rests

or grazes away from its mother.

The calf reaches sexual maturity

at one and a half to two years.

PADEMELON

""'"-------~ ORDER Marsupia/ia

FAMILY Macropodidae

'\\: CARD 220 I

GRO UP 1: MAMMALS GENUS Thy/oga/e

Pademelons are small wallabies that become active at twilight. During the night they usually roam alone, foraging for plants

and leaves in their rainforest habitat.

KEY FACTS

SIZES Body: 1 ~-2~ ft. Male usually larger

than female.

Tail: 11-20 in.

Height: 16-20 in.

Weight: 4-27 lb.

BREEDING. Sexual maturity: 1-2 years.

Breeding season: All year, de­

pending on climate.

Gestation: 1 month .

Litter site: 1, very rarely 2.

Weaning: Young live in pouch for

6-7 months.

LIFESTYLE

Range of pademelons.

DISTRIBUTION Habit: Solitary; active at night.

Diet: Leaves, grasses, berries, and

succulent plants.

Lifespan: About 4-5 years.

RELATED SPECIES

The red-legged pademelon lives along Australia's eastern coast

and in New Guinea. The red-necked pademelon is found in

New South Wales. Tasmanian and New Guinea species are lim­

ited to their respective and nearby islands.

CONSERVATION The red-legged, red-necked, Tas­

manian red-bellied, and New

Guinea pademelon all belong to

the genus Thy/ogo/e.

The red-bellied pademelon has disappeared from the Aus­

tralian mainland. Other species are threatened by habitat loss.

I FEATURES OF THE RED-LEGGED PADEMElON

The four species of pademelon are very similar. The red­legged pademelon (shown here) has reddish brown legs.

Tail : Held out stiffly while hopping.

Arms: Short but strong. Used for clearing passages in forest habitat and for digging snow to find food in mountainous territories. Strength of arms is an important factor in determining the rank of the male.

© MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Ears: Quite large. Hearing is well developed.

Legs: Large. But pademelons are

not as good at jumping as most

wallabies and kangaroos.

0160200511 PACKET 51

Also known as shrub wallabies, the four species of

pademelon are similar in behavior and appearance.

Well adapted to their forest home, they use their

strong arms to clear tunnellike passages in the

dense undergrowth. They hop along these paths,

looking for food. Unlike most wallabies, however,

pademelons are not very good at jumping.

~ HABITS During the day pademelons sleep in thickets and under bushes. During twilight and at night they become active. With their large eyes they see well in the dark, dense forest.

Pademelons are adept at clear­ing long passageways through the undergrowth with their strong arms. They use the same paths again and again in their search for food . This ritualized behavior enables them to learn escape routes from predators like foxes and dingoes.

Although pademelons are solitary animals, they have a

social hierarchy within a cer­tain area. Rank is determined by size and weight, but the strength of an animal's arms is also a factor in establishing its status.

If a pademelon is disturbed within its territory, it becomes curious and may let an intrud­er get very close before run­ning away. A pademelon often stamps its hind feet twice when approached. If there is no an­swering signal, it hops away. But if the visitor also stamps twice, the pademelon may wait to see who it is.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING Although they forage alone, pademelons may feed near others if a rich supply of food is discovered . Grass is their staple food, but pademelons that live near the coast of Queensland or in New South Wales also eat berries, leaves, and fruit. When feeding, pademelons grind their flat­tened cheek teeth together with a steady motion.

A pademelon tends to leave the forest at the same time

Left: The red-legged pademelon is the only Australian species also found in New Guinea.

DID YOU KNOW? • The New Guinea pademel­on, Thylogale brunii, is named after Cornelis de Bruyn, a Dutch painter who saw one kept as a pet in Indonesia in 1 714. He was the first Euro­pean to publish a description of a kangaroo or wallaby.

• The pademelon used to be

each night, taking the same route to search for food. For safety, it comes out only after dark to feed in nearby mead­ows. But it never strays far from the shelter of the forest.

During severe winters, espe­cially in Tasmania, pademerons use their strong arms to clear the snow away from plants.

Finding food is seldom a problem for any of the pade­melon species, and fights over

food are rare.

Right: The strongest male pade­melon occupies a territory at the edge of the forest.

hunted for its fur and meat.

• The name pademelon is believed to come from an Aboriginal word, paddymal/a. • Most pademelons have a territory of about one-tenth of a square mile, but the red­

bellied pademelon's may be I seven times as large. ~

Pademelons tend to breed whenever weather conditions allow. The red-bellied pademel­on species breeds seasonally, depending on the severity of winters in the mountains. The red-necked pademelon living in Queensland's rainforests may breed year-round .

When she is sexually recep­tive, the female is pursued by several males. The chase usually follows a set course along paths that form either a figure eight or

left: The female carries the grow­ing young in her pouch for about six months.

left: Pademel­ons have pow­erful arms for digging. The red-bellied species of Tasmania and nearby islands some­times damages crops when looking for food.

a semicircle. Mating takes place soon after the chase has ended. The male pademelon does not stay with the female to help rear the offspring.

A month after mating, a tiny young is born, weighing a frac­tion of an ounce. On rare occa­sions, twins are born. Although the mother gives birth to only one offspring, she has four teats. The immature pademelon lives in its mother's pouch, feeding on her milk, for six or seven months unti l it can fend for itself. It reaches sexual maturity at one to two years of age.