RACCOON

"""
,. ORDER
~ Carnivora
" FAMILY
~ Procyonidae
Recognized by its striped face and ringed tail, the raccoon has
invaded almost every habitat and is commonly found even in
towns and cities.
"l KEY FACTS
[i]
4 SIZES
':- ~ Head and body: 18-30 in.
Tail: 8-13 in.
Weight: Up to 46 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Males, 2 years.
Females, 1 year.
Breeding season: Mainly winter.
Gestation: 60-73 days.
No. of young: 1-7, usually 3-4.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Mainly solitary.
Diet: Fruits, nuts, insects, reptiles,
garbage, crops.
Lifespan: 10 or more years in the
wild. Longer in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
Related to pandas and coatimun-
dis. Two subgenera and seven
species of raccoon are currently
recognized.
Range of the raccoon.
DISTRIBUTION
The United States, except for areas of the Rocky Mountains,
Utah, and Nevada. Also the southern edge of Canada.
CONSERVATION
Protected in national parks and nature reserves; numbers
show no signs of decline. Considered a pest in parts of its
range, particularly in farming areas.
THE RACCOON MOTHER AND HER YOUNG
Raccoon young, or kits, develop
very quickly, but they rely on their
mother a great deal in their early
phases of growth. They soon
develop their characteristic black
face stripes. They also learn
tree-climbing at an early age in
order to escape predators. A
raccoon's front toes are long and
widely spaced, which helps
it to climb easily.
The raccoon is curious, clever, and
solitary-and deceptively cuddly-looking.
It owes the success of its population to its ability
to live in a wide variety of
habitats and to
survive on an extremely flexible diet.
~ FOOD &: HUNTING
The raccoon normally feeds
along waterways and lakes. It
hunts as it swims, looking for
fish, crayfish, frogs, turtles, and
turtle eggs. The raccoon will
catch mice and muskrats along
the banks of streams and rivers
and will also search the wood-
lands for insects, nuts, fruits,
young birds, and bird eggs.
In some areas, the raccoon is
considered a pest. It raids
poultry and wildfowl breeding
sites and it eats corn and other
DID YOU KNOW?
The raccoon's Latin name,
lotor, means" one who
washes."
The raccoon has very
nimble fingers that can twist
handles and open doors.
crops. In more populated
areas, a raccoon will fre-
quently knock over trash cans
while scavenging for food.
Raccoons use their hands as
well as monkeys do. They
pick up their food with them
and then place it into their
mouths.
Right: Some raccoons, usually
captive ones, will dip food in clear
or muddy water before eating it
to moisten the food or to remove
any sand or grit that might be
clinging to it.
and tastes like lamb.
When the film about Davy
Crockett was released in
1955, the title character wore
a hat made from a raccoon
skin and tail, which started a
fashion trend . Raccoon meat is good to eat
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~ HABITS
The raccoon leads a largely
solitary life. It is temperamen-
tal and will often fight with its
own family members as well
as with other raccoons.
Although most raccoons live
in the wild, close contact with
humans does not bother
them. They often nest in
empty buildings, garages,
sheds, and even the attics of
houses.
Since raccoons are noctur-
nal animals, they are most
active at night. Raccoons do
not hibernate in the winter; in
the South they are active
year-round. But those that live
further north, where it is
colder, grow thick coats to
keep them warm and spend
long periods sleeping.
~ BREEDING
While the male raccoon mates
with different females, the
female will mate with only
one male, avoiding all others
that season. Mating usually
takes place in the winter
months, but may continue
until June.
About nine weeks after
mating, the young are born
in a nest of leaves made by
the female in a hollow tree or
log. They are blind for their
first three weeks, but they
grow quickly.
The female cares for the
young exclusively, teaching
them to hunt and to climb
trees. With such predators as
bobcats and cougars, the first
weeks are a dangerous time
for the young kits.
Although some families
break up in the fall, the young
raccoons normally stay with
their mother through the first
winter, after which they
gradually leave. The young
females begin to breed when
they are a year old; males
generally begin at the age of
two years.
~ RACCOON &: MAN
Raccoons have long been
hunted and trapped for their
fur. In the United States,
"coonskins" were once so
prized that they were used as
currency. They have also been
killed because of the damage
they do to crops and poultry.
Still, their overall number has
not declined.
Because of its fur, the
raccoon has been introduced
into other countries, notably
Europe and Russia.
Left: Nine-day-
old raccoon kits
are still helpless
and huddle
together in their
nest in a hollow
tree. The young
raccoons do not
yet have defined
stripes on their
faces.
Far left: A
raccoon mother
carries a kit in
her mouth. She
will defend them
feraciously. Still,
this is a dan-
gerous time for
her young kits.
BUSH BABY
ORDER
Primates
FAMILY
Lorisidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Ga/ago senega/ensis
With its large round eyes and big ears, the bush baby is one of the
most peculiar looking animals of the African bush. Capable of leap-
ing great distances, it often appears to fly among the treetops.
]
--'1 KE_Y_F_A_C_T_S _______________ ---I
I ~ I SIZES
~ Length: Body 6-9 in., tail 9-10 in.
J
...
~
4
[iJ
4
J.
...
~
Newborn babies, 2 in.
Weight: 3-1 0 oz. Newborn babies
weigh 1/ 2 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 8 months.
Breeding season: End of rains, so
depends on location.
Gestation: 4 months.
litter size: 1 or 2.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Family groups when forag-
ing; larger groups when sleeping.
Call: Rasping greeting sounds,
"shout" in territorial defense.
Diet: Mainly insects; also flowers,
pollen, honey, seeds, fruit, lizards,
mice, nestlings.
RELATED SPECIES
As primates, bush babies share
ancestors with apes and humans.
!FEATURES OF THE BUSH BABY
The hind legs are longer than the forelegs
to aid jumping. The elongated lower leg
bones give greater leverage for moving
quickly from a standing start.
Fingers and toes are flattened at the ends,
with pads of thick skin to give them a
better grip on trunks and branches.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the bush baby.
DISTRIBUTION
All four species are found in Africa south of the Sahara, but
not in rainforest areas.
CONSERVATION
Populations are stable and all species are currently secure;
there is no threat to their survival as long as habitats remain
stable.
, l arge ears can be folded down
for safety while leaping.
The eyes are very sensitive.
During the day, the pupil is
reduced to a tiny vertical slit; at
night, it opens into a complete
circle to allow for better vision
in the dark.
The bushy tail acts as a rudder
and stabilizer as the bush baby
flies through the air.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 01 60200051 PACKET 5
There are four species of African bush baby,
of which the Senegal galago, or lesser bush baby,
is the most widespread. Usually less than
8 inches long, with a tai/larger than its body,
the bush baby is capable of leaping great distances
from tree to tree.
BREEDING
HABITS
The bush baby is a nocturnal
animal. During the day, as
many as twenty may crowd
together to sleep in an en-
closed space, such as a hollow
tree t runk. At dusk, they wake
and split into family groups
and go searching for food.
The groups forage separately
all night, each group defend-
ing its own territory of 15-20
acres. They warn off other
groups with loud, ringing calls.
At dawn, the rivalry ends and
g they return to their den to
sleep together again.
A typical foraging group
consists of a single adult male,
3 a pregnant female, and her
DID YOU KNOW?
Because the bush baby's call
sounds like the shouts of an
excited child, British explorers
gave it its English name.
Some African tribes catch
bush babies by leaving out
saucers of palm wine for them
Bush babies mate at the end of youngsters cling tightly to her
the rainy season. In areas with body, with their tails wrapped
one breeding season, twins are around her neck. The young
common, but where there are bush babies are weaned after 6
two breeding seasons, one
baby is born at a time. When
the female is ready to give
birth, she goes into hiding so
that the male will not kill the
young. For 3 days, she remains
<i hidden, suckling and protect-
ing her tiny offspring.
% Thereafter, she either leaves
her young concealed in the
nest while she goes to feed or
J! carries them with her. The
weeks and can feed themselves
by 8 weeks. At 4 months, they
are fully grown.
In captivity, when they are
fed regularly all year round,
bush babies breed constantly
throughout the year. This
suggests that their breeding
season in the wild is deter-
mined by the availability of
food as well as the seasonal
changes.
young from a previous litter.
Adult males do not usually
tolerate another male in the
group and will fight fiercely if
one intrudes.
A family group defends its
territory by marking it with
the scent in their urine. They
mark twigs and branches and
any new or unfamiliar object
in the area. Other groups
recognize the lingering smell
and keep away from the
family's territory.
Right: Young bush babies
huddle together on a branch for
their daytime sleep.
to drink.
The longest recorded leap
by a bush baby from one
tree to another was 23 feet.
Bush babies fertilize flowers
by transferring pollen as they
feed.
Left: Leaping
through the
air, a bush
baby gets
ready to grab
hold of a
branch.
Right: A tiny
bush baby, just
10 hours old,
supports its
minute body
by clinging to
a slender plant
stem.
FOOD &: FEEDING
During the rainy season, bush
babies eat mainly insects such
as caterpillars and dung
beetles, which they catch by
pouncing on them. They are
quick enough to catch mice
and lizards. In addition, they
raid birds' nests for the eggs.
Bush babies eat flowers,
fruits, pollen, nectar, and
honey from wild bees as
well. In the dry season, their
diet changes as food
becomes scarce. They rely
on the resin of acacia and
albizzia trees, and they only
survive in areas where these
trees grow.

Bush babies are easy to catch,
and several African tribes keep
them as pets. But in 1940,
bush babies were persecuted
as a severe outbreak of yellow
fever swept through Africa.
Bush babies can harbor the
virus without becoming ill
themselves. Mosquitoes pick
up the virus from the bush
babies and pass it on to
humans. With the advent of
inoculations, the danger of
contracting yellow fever is
now greatly reduced.
a:
'" CARD 33
BADGER
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~
ORDER
Carnivora
FAMILY
Mustelidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Meles Meles
These reclusive animals spend most of their
daylight hours underground, so their lifestyle is
something of a mystery.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 2-3 ft., nose to tail.
Height: About 12 in . to shoulder.
Weight: Males, 20-37 lb.; females,
14-28 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Males, 2 years
old. Females, from 1 year.
Mating: Usually February-May.
Birth: Usually the spring following
mating.
No. of young: 1-4 cubs.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Nocturnal and solitary.
Diet: Earthworms, roots, grasses,
fruits, insects, mice, rats, shrews,
gophers, and young rabbits.
Lifespan: 15 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 6 genera of badgers
distributed worldwide.
THE BADGER'S DEN
The underground den, or seU,
contains a network of tunnels and
chambers and often has many
entrances. The badger lines the
chambers with bedding of grass or
leaves, which it replaces frequently ,
with fresh materials.
:OMCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the badger.
DISTRIBUTION
The badger inhabits open prairies and plains of the western
United States and Canada. It is found widely throughout
Europe and Asia.
CONSERVATION
It is illegal to mistreat badgers. It is necessary to get a license
to kill badgers.
Badger cubs are
born underground
and spend the first 8
weeks in a special
nursery area in the
den.
Badgers live mainly in sparsely
inhabited open land and in the
United States are usually found west
of the Mississippi. They are distinguished by
black and white striped faces. Their broad,
thick-set bodies on short legs make badgers
look awkward when they run.
~ HABITS
Badgers live in family
groups during spring and
summer, when young are
being reared. The size of a
group depends on food
supplies. Sometimes several
groups live in the same
location.
Each group lives in an
underground den. Group
members scent-mark each
other for recognition.
Badgers often travel long
distances over frequently used
paths in search of food. Males,
called boars, also roam during
the breeding season, search-
ing for mates.
Badgers do not hibernate,
but in cold weather they may
sleep in the den for two or
three nights in a row.
~ BREEDING
Badgers mate year-round but
are most active from February
to May. Implantation of the
egg in the womb is usually de-
layed until December, and the
young are born the following
February.
Usually one to four cubs are
born underground in a special
nursery area. They are suckled
~ FOOD &: HUNTING
The badger is a true omnivore;
it eats both plant and animal
life. Among its usual foods are
earthworms, insects, slugs, and
frogs, a wide variety of roots,
plants, and fruits, and small
mammals such as rabbits,
moles, and rats-especially
their young.
Badgers usually leave their
dens at dusk to search for
by their mother in this nurs-
ery area for 8 weeks. Then
they begin searching for
food with her outside of the
den, although they may not
be completely weaned until
they are 32 weeks old.
Right: Four-week-old badger
cubs. They are blind for about
five weeks after birth.
food. Because their eyesight is
poor, they rely on their sharp
senses of smell and hearing to
detect food sources.
Groups of badgers often
forage together, although the
dominant boar takes the best
for himself.
Below: A European badger
forages through soft earth
looking for earthworms.
BADGER &: MAN
The badger's only natural
enemy is humans. Probably
the greatest danger comes
from motorists.
Hunters trap badgers for
their fine hair, which is made
into shaving and artists'
brushes. The so-called sport of
badger baiting, which results
in slow and painful death, is
now illegal but still continues
in some places.
Fox hunters sometimes
block the entrances to badger
dens to keep foxes from
escaping into them. Although
the badgers dig out their
entrances again, naturalists
say that the reduced air flow
to the dens interferes with the
badgers' feeding and causes
undue stress to the animals.
DID YOU KNOW?
A quarter of all badgers die
before they are two months
old. Only a third survive their
first three years.
A badger holds fresh
bedding between chin and
forepaws and enters the den
backwards.
Rabbits, mice, and foxes
may share badgers' dens.
NATUREWATCH
Badgers are easiest to see in
summer. The best location for
viewing them is from the low
branches of a tree above, and
downwind from, a den's
entrances. Arrive an hour
before sunset, and stay still.
With luck, you will see a snout
appear from the entrance to
sniff the air for danger; then
the badger emerges, followed
by others in the group.
The badger's strong jaw is
designed in such a way that it
cannot be dislocated without
the skull's being fractured.
Scars above the tail indicate a
recent skirmish with another
badger to establish dominance.
The badger has a strong,
flexible snout that helps it poke
around through the soil.
GREAT AFRICAN
HIPPOPOTAMUS
"'" CAR D 34
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.. ORDER
~ Artiodactyla
FAMILY
Hippopotamidae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Hippopotamus amphibius
The great African hippopotamus is second in weight only to the
elephant. It spends up to 18 hours a day in water to keep cool and
minimize heat loss, and to support its huge body.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 10-11 ft.
Height: S ft.
Weight: Males 3,300-7,000 lb.
Females up to 3,300 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Males, 7 years
(though do not usually breed until
age 20) . Females, 9 years.
Gestation: 240 days.
Birth season: Coincides with rainy
season.
No. of young: Single young.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable, living in groups of
10-20, but can be up to 1 SO.
Diet: Grasses.
Call: Roars and bellows.
lifespan: 4S-S0 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The hippo family includes the rarer
pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis
liberiensis).
Range of the great African hippopotamus.
DISTRIBUTION
Hippos are found in western, central, eastern, and southern
Africa, with the highest concentration in the Rift Valley of
eastern and cent ral Africa.
CONSERVATION
Hippos are not in danger of exti nction, and in many areas,
overgrazing by large hippo populations has caused serious
soil erosion, resulting in their removal by organized hunting.
SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE HIPPOPOTAMUS
Threat display:
Hippo may open
jaws wi de to
display teeth to
deter a ri val or
pr.etJator.
The great African hippopotamus is ideally
adapted to the deep rivers and grassy feeding
grounds that form its habitat. Its skin secretes a
sticky pink mucus, that protects the animal and
helps it to retain water on dry land.
~ HABITS
The hippopotamus usually
lives in groups of 15-20
animals, although the
groups can be much larger.
The hub of the group is the
band of females and their
young. This group lives on
territory patrolled by a domi -
nant, solitary male who is at
least 20 years old.
A dominant male is able to
defend his territory for as
long as 10 years, until a
fierce fight with a younger
rival male may end his domi-
nance-and even result in his
death. Young males who do
not have their own groups
form small bachelor groups. If
a male successfully challenges
a rival, he leaves the bachelor
group and becomes the
dominant male in his new
territory.
When a female is ready to mate,
she will seek out an adult male.
After approximately 34 weeks,
the female leaves the group and
gives birth to a single young.
Sometimes the young is born
underwater, and it must surface
quickly to take its first breath.
Within 5 minutes of birth, the
young hippo can swim and
walk. The mother suckles the
young hippo for only 8 months,
although it remains with her for
several years.
A female is often seen with
several young following her; the
youngest walking closest and
the oldest following at the end.
Right & inset: A mother guards
her calf while young males indulge
in a bout of wrestling.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The hippopotamus spends up
to 18 hours a day in the water
keeping cool. It feeds during
the hours following sunset.
With the exception of mothers
and their offspring, the animals
leave the water singly to make
their way along well-worn
paths to their feeding grounds.
If the hippo finds a wallow of
muddy water, it may remain
immersed in it for much of the
day. It may feed in the new
area rather than returning to
its usual feeding ground.
For such a large animal, the
hippo eats surprisingly little-
about 90 pounds a night. This
is partly because it stays sub-
merged in water most of the
time, which uses up little energy.
Left: As the only refuge from the
scorching sun, a river offers the
hippo a cooling, tranquil rest.
DID YOU KNOW?
Because it loses water
through its skin much faster
than other mammals, a hippo
can not survive for long on
dry land in hot weather.
A hippo can stay underwa-
ter for up to 5 minutes and
often walks along t he bottom
of lakes.
Turt les, birds, and even
young crocodiles often bask in
the sun on the backs of
hippos.
The term "sweating blood"
comes from the hippo's func-
tion of secreting a pink fluid
from glands beneath its skin.
CARD 35 I

Insedivora Erinaceidae Erinaceus europaeus
The hedgehog, as its name suggests, spends its day sleeping
in hedges or under shrubs. Its prickly spines provide it with a
formidable defense against predators.
'" KEY FACTS
I SIZES
Length: 8-12 in.
Weight: Average 25 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 11 months.
Mating: April or August.
Gestation: 32 days.
No. of young: Up to 7, but usually
4 to 5.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Nocturnal and solitary.
Diet: Caterpillars, beetles,
earthworms, slugs, and snails.
Territory: Hedgehogs roam 1-2
miles in search of food.
Lifespan: Can live 5-6 years.
Call: Snuffling while foraging.
Louder when mating or disturbed.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 1 5 species of hedgehog
found in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
They differ very slightly in appear-
ance and habits.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the European hedgehog.
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread, from sout hern Scandinavia to the Mediterra-
nean, and from Great Britain to the Soviet Union. Hedgehogs
have been introduced to New Zealand by settlers.
CONSERVATION
The hedgehog is protected in many countries where it is
found, but it is not an endangered species.
THE HEDGEHOG'S SPINES
There are about
3,000 spines on
a hedgehog's
back. Each one
lasts about a
year before it
drops out and a
replacement is
grown.
Defense position
of spine.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Hollow and
springy, each
spine narrows at
the base into a
flexible, angled
neck as it passes
into the skin.
spine size
The end of the
spine forms a
smooth ball so
that any sudden
impact to the
hedgehog's
body, such as a
blow or a fall ,
bends the neck
of the spine
rather than
driving it into the
animal 's body.
us P 6001 12012 PACKET 12
Hedgehogs are found on the
outskirts of woods and in vacant lots, parks,
and playgrounds. They eat many garden pests,
and for that reason many people encourage
them to live in their yards.

Hedgehogs mate during
April and August. The male
may circle the female for
hours before she will mate.
After mating, the two sepa-
rate; the male takes no part
in rearing the young, which
are born 32 days later. Litters
born in late September rarely
Right: A
mother and
month-old
young on a
foraging trip.
After 10 more
days, the
young will
become
entirely
independent.
Below: Young rr.
in nest with
mother. At this
stage, their
survive their first winter.
Blind until they are 14 days
old, the young are suckled by
the mother until they are
able to hunt for themselves.
After four weeks, she takes
them on their first foraging
trip. The young are inde-
pendent 10 days later.
spines are very c3 1.iJ:!I ......
soft. ::;;;
FOOD &: HUNTING
Hedgehogs hunt at night,
searching for earthworms and
insects such as millipedes and
earwigs. They also eat beetles,
caterpillars, slugs, and mice.
A hedgehog will also eat
dead animals and soft fruit.

A hedgehog is a solitary and
nocturnal animal. During the
day it sleeps in a temporary
nest from which it emerges as
it grows dark.
The hedgehog hibernates in
winter. It feeds as much as
possible during the fall, and in
October it builds an extra-thick
DID YOU KNOW?l
The hedgehog is host to I
the flea Archaeopsylla erinacei.
Up to 500 fleas may be
found on a single hedgehog,
but they do not bother man.
When stimulated by certain
strong smells or tastes, the
hedgehog may cover its
spines with its foamy saliva;
no one knows why.
Much of the food left out-
doors for dogs and cats is
eaten by hedgehogs.
The hedgehog is appreci-
ated by many gardeners who
depend on it to keep their
gardens free of pests.
nest in which to spend the
winter. It prefers to build its
nest in woodpiles, compost
piles, and haystacks.
By being inactive during
hibernation, the hedgehog is
able to survive on its body fat.
On warm days, it may wake
up briefly to forage.
HEDGEHOG &: MAN
Gamekeepers used to kill
hedgehogs because the ani-
mals ate birds' eggs. Today,
most hedgehogs that are
killed are run over by cars.
Also, hedgehogs often hi-
bernate in piles of leaves in
autumn. If the leaves are
burned, the hedgehogs die
in their hidden nests.
Ri ght:
Hedgehogs are
particularly
fond of hens'
eggs. They can
open their jaws
especially wide
to eat them.
o
o
'0
Ii
Above: Hedgehogs are in most
danger when crossing roads.
left: When
hedgehogs are
in danger, their
defense is to
roll up into a
tight ball.
. NATUREWATCH
The best ti me to see hedge-
hogs is at dusk in t he sum-
mer and early fall when t hey
emerge from t heir nests to
look for food.
Animal lovers and garden-
ers sometimes make nests in
whi ch hedgehogs can hiber-
nate. They put down bundles
of loose straw or hay in a dry
place such as a shed or under
a thick hedge. Some construct
nests out of boxes like the one
shown below. After making
an entrance tunnel, they cov-
er the box with a sheet of
pl ast ic and a mound of earth.
Hibernati ng hedgehogs
should never be disturbed.
'" CARD 36
___ FA_M_IL_Y ___ GENUS 1:
Felidae Panthera pardus
The solitary leopard is extremely difficult to spot in the wild. It is
renowned for its sharp vision and keen sense of hearing, and for
its unique ability to avoid detection.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height to shoulder: 20-24 in.
Length: 40-50 in. from head to
end of back.
Weight: 80-175 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years.
Mating: Year-round in tropics,
seasonal in other areas.
Gestation: 90-11 2 days.
No. of young: 2-3 cubs, occasion-
ally up to 6.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary.
Diet: Mammals and birds.
Call: Roar or growl.
lifespan: 12 years in the wild.
RELATED SPECIES
The closely related South American
jaguar, Panthera onea, has similar
markings but is larger than the
leopard and more powerfully built.
Range of the leopard.
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout most of Africa and much of Asia from the Middle
East to the Soviet Union, Korea, China, India, and Malaysia.
CONSERVATION
Numbers greatly diminished. Largely disappeared from Asia
Minor, Manchuria, and settled areas. The international fur
trade is collaborating in regulating trade in leopard skins.
THE LEOPARD'S CAMOUFLAGE
The leopard's strongly contrasting markings visually
break up the outline of its body and allow it to blend
in with its surroundings whether it is resting in a
tree (right) or moving through the tall grass (below).
With its silent movements and the excellent camou-
flage its coat provides, the leopard can get as cl ose
as possible to its prey without being noticed, before
attacking the surprised animal.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
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0160200061 PACKET 6
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Although most frequently found in forest
regions, the leopard can live successfully in a
variety of habitats, from semidesert to the lower
. altitudes of mountains just below the snowline.
Its coat color varies from a very pale yellow
to black, but it is always spotted.
HABITS
Except for a brief time
during mating and when the
female is rearing her young,
the leopard leads a solitary
life within a defined territory.
Like other members of the
cat family, the leopard marks
its territory with urine. It will
also shred the bark of
particular trees within its
territory. In areas rich in
game, territories are smaller
than in those areas that have
less prey. The territories of
males are usually larger than
those of females and will
often overlap several females'
territories. However, males
never share portions of their
territories.
________________ __ ____________________
LEOPARD &: MAN
The leopard has been
hunted for its pelt for many
years. In the early 1960s,
leopard poaching reached
an all-time high when an
estimated 50,000 leopards
were killed in East Africa.
Today the leopard is a
protected species, but it is still
hunted by herdsmen, shep-
herds, and poachers. But it is
recognized by farmers as
having a useful function: it
controls such animals as
baboons and bush pigs that
damage crops.
Male and female leopards
come together to breed for
only 6-7 days when the female
is in heat. The male is drawn to
her by the strong smell of urine
she sprays on trees during this
time. After mating, the male
returns to his territory, leaving
the female to give birth and
care for the young alone.
The birth takes place in a
hidden lair after a gestation
period of 3 months. If the
female carried her young for a
longer period of time, it would
restrict her ability to hunt,
preventing her from killing

her cubs. But the short gesta-
left: A leopard rests in a tree after
a successful kill.
tion period means that the
cubs are born underdevel-
oped; they are helpless and
weigh only 15-20 ounces.
While the cubs are still
small, their mother carries
them to a new hiding place
every few days to lessen their
chance of falling prey to lions,
hyenas, or even male leop-
ards. At this stage in their
growth, the spots on their
coats are so dense that they
appear to be solid gray. Their
milky blue eyes, characteristic
of the young of all species of
cat, open after 9 days.
The cubs generally stay with
their mother for 2 years.
Below: A female and her cubs
emerge from their lair.
DID YOU KNOW?
The range of a leopard's
hearing is twice that of a
human's, and, in dim light,
its sight is six times better.
The leopard likes to drink
daily but can go for as long
as a month without water.
Leopards have a highly
developed homing instinct.
A group found wandering in
a suburb of Nairobi was
captured and released in the
Tsavo National Park, 200
FOOD &: HUNTI NG
The leopard usually hunts at
dawn or dusk. After waiting
silently among the brush or in
a tree, the leopard ambushes
its prey. The leopard kills by
biting its prey on the throat or
the back of the neck.
It will then take its kill,
which may be as heavy as
itself, up into a tall tree,
lodging it in the branches.
Here it is safely stored beyond
the reach of scavengers such
as hyenas and jackals. After
eating, the leopard usually
visits a water hole to drink.
The leopard eats a wide
range of animals, from
baboons, warthogs, and
medium-sized antelopes to
small mammals and birds.
Individual leopards will
sometimes develop a prefer-
ence for particular types of
food. It is thought that man-
leopards, which are
rare, develop a liking for
human flesh after they have
tasted it once.
OJ
C1l
a:
left: Prey, even a large impala,
, is stored safely above ground . .
miles away. Within a few
weeks, the leopards found
their way back to Nairobi.
Black leopards, called black
panthers, were once regarded
as a separate species, but they
are now considered t rue
leopards. Although they are
black, their rosettes of spots
are still faintly visible, and
sometimes they are even born
int o the same litters as com-
mon leopards.
WALRUS

,. ORDER
Pinnipedia
FAMILY
Odobenidae

GROUP 1:
GENUS & SPECIES
Odobenus rosmarus
The walrus lives in the Arctic. Despite this distant range, its long
tusks, deeply wrinkled skin, and bristly mustache make the walrus
familiar to all.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Bulls, 10-12 ft.
Height: To 5 ft.
Weight: 2,000-3,5000 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Females, usually
6-7 years; males, 15 years.
Mating season: January-March.
Gestation: 15 months, including 3
months delayed implantation.
No. of young: 1.
Weaning time: 18-24 months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Gregarious, living mainly in
herds.
Diet: Mainly bivalve mollusks, but
also other invertebrate marine
animals, fish, and sometimes seals.
Lifespan: Up to 40 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The only species in the genus.
Related to fur seals and sea lions.
THE WALRUS'S TUSKS
Tusks are modified canine teeth
that continue to grow down from
the upper jaw throughout the
walrus's life. One fifth of the
tusk's length is hidden in the jaw.
The maximum tusk length for
bulls is 3 feet , for cows, 2 feet.
A walrus may use its tusks to get a firm grip when
hauling out on the ice or to support its head as it
rests. Tusks are used as weapons against rivals
during the breeding season, and they are used as a
status symbol in the herd.
DMCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the walrus.
DISTRIBUTION
The walrus is found in the Arctic seas from Alaska to the
Soviet Union.
CONSERVATION
Over-exploitation by commercial hunters has endangered
the species throughout its range. The population has
improved in the north Pacific, but those in the north Atlantic
remain threatened.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
The walrus is equipped with
immensely thick skin and blubber to
protect it from the cold temperatures of
Arctic waters. Its long tusks are
not only weapons in defense or attack,
but they also serve as ice picks.
~ H A B I T S
The walrus spends its days
in open water near the shore
or resting on ice floes. When
there are no floes, it hauls
out (pulls itself out of the
sea) onto rocky shores, often
alongside many other wal-
ruses. In limited space, wal-
ruses even lie on top of each
other.
Flat flippers, instead of feet,
enable the walrus to swim.
The forelimbs serve as rud-
ders. Out of the water the
walrus can walk almost
upright on all fours by turn-
ing its back flippers forward.
The bumpy bottoms of the
flippers help the walrus grip
the ice.
When the ice spreads and
thickens into pack ice in the
winter, walruses usually head
south. They cannot break
through the thick ice to make
air holes to breathe through
from underneath.
Walruses' blubber (fat) and
thick skin keep them warm in
the freezing temperatures of
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The walrus gathers its main
food from the seabed, includ-
ing clams, cockles, mussels,
shrimp, worms, sea cucum-
bers, and even octopuses, as
well as some fish. Sometimes a
large bull will eat a seal that it
has attacked with its tusks.
the Arctic. Blubber may be as
much as 6 inches thick.
Right: An unexpected meeting:
naturalists and a young walrus
exchange cautious greetings.
DID YOU KNOW?
Odobenidae, the walrus's
family name, comes f rom an
ancient Greek word t hat
means "one who walks with
his teeth."
The walrus turns red when
it sunbathes. The heat causes
~ BREEDING
Large herds of walruses
gather during the breeding
season. The bulls fight for
cows, and the largest bulls
with the longest tusks usually
win. Each winner will mate
with several females.
Birth occurs about 15
months after mating, often
from April to June, as the
herds are heading back north
after the winter. The female
hauls out onto an ice floe to
give birth to a single calf
measuring about 50 inches.
Left & inset: In the spring
breeding season, walruses
assemble with their calves in
male-dominated groups.
Although it can dive as deep
as 250 feet for up to 10
minutes, the walrus usually
searches for food in much
shallower water. The waters
that the walrus feeds in are
its arteries t o enlarge, and
the blood rushes to the skin.
When t he walrus bellows,
the noise sometimes re-
sembles the ringing of dis-
t ant church bells.
The skin from a bull's neck
At first the calf travels by
hanging onto the mother's
neck. After 2 weeks, it is able
to swim.
The young walrus nurses on
its mother's rich milk for at
least 18 months. At 6 months
it begins to eat solid food, and
after 12 months it has usually
tripled in weight. Its tusks
show at this age, but they are
only about 1 inch long. At 24
months the calf leaves its
mother and joins a herd of
other young walruses.
Because of the length of
time that she cares for her
calf, a female cannot breed
more than once every 2 years.
often murky, so it probably
uses the sensitive bristles of its
mustache to locate food. It
may also uncover mollusks
from soft mud by squirting
water from its mouth.
can be 3 inches thick. It is
valued for polishing and buf-
fing metal objects.
The longest walrus tusk
ever recorded was 37 i nches
long and 11 inches in diam-
eter.
Above: Walruses haul out in vast
numbers on the shore of Round
Island, Alaska.
~ WALRUS &: MAN
Eskimos have hunted the
walrus for hundreds of years.
They use almost every part of
the animal. Because they
traditionally hunted using
strong fishing lines, they did
not catch enough walrus to
reduce its population. Eskimos
are still allowed to hunt the
walrus, but now they use high-
powered rifles. They can kill
many more walruses than they
did with fishing lines.
In the last 300 years com-
mercial hunters caught so
many walruses that the species
has become almost extinct.
There are now about 250,000
walruses in the Bering Sea, but
extinction is still a possibility
because of their slow breeding
rate and the fragile environ-
ment that they live in. Even
though commercial hunting is
no longer allowed, the walrus
is still endangered.
"'" CARD 38
BLACK SPIDER MONKEY
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~ ORDER
~ Primates
... FAMILY
~ Cebidae
... GENUS &: SPECIES
~ Ateles paniscus
The black spider monkey lives amidst the topmost branches of the
Amazon rainforest. Using its long tail as a fifth limb, it is among
the most acrobatic and agile of all monkeys.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Head &: body length: Males, 15-
20 in. Females, 16-22 in .
Tail length: Males, 25-32 in.
Females, 30-36 in.
Weight: Males, 21 lb. Females,
191b.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Males, 5 years.
Females, 4 years.
Breeding season: Year-round.
Gestation: 225-232 days.
No. of young: 1 every 2-3 years.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Social, day-active.
Diet: Mainly nuts, fruit, leaves.
lifespan: Typically, up to 20 years.
Longest recorded, 33 years in
captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
Other spider monkey species are
the long-haired Ateles belzebuth
the brown-headed A. fusciceps, and
the black-handed A. geoffroyi.
CLI MBING SKILLS OF
THE BLACK SPIDER
MONKEY
Hands: Four long, hairless fingers, and a
stumpy thumb. The hands are not very
useful for manipulating objects, but they
can be hooked over branches when
swinging through the trees.
Tail: Used as a
fifth limb to
grasp a branch.
The underside of
the tip is bald
and is used to
pick up and
carry small
objects or food.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WI LDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the black spider monkey.
DISTRIBUTION
Once found as far north as Mexico, black spider monkeys
now occur mainly in the heart of the Amazon-in Guyana,
northwestern Brazil, eastern Peru, and northern Bol ivia.
CONSERVATION
The bl ack spider monkey is currently classified as endan-
gered, and its future will remain bleak until the destructi on
of its rainforest habit at is hal ted.
Feet: Equipped, like the hands, with very
long fingers for grasping branches. Their
comparatively great length provides excel-
__ lent balance for running along branches.
PRINTED IN U.SA us P 6001 12 012 PACKET 12
The black spider monkey is one of four species
of spider monkey, all of which live in different
areas of South America. Its varied diet consists
almost entirely of exotic plants, birds, and insects
found in the forest canopy. It prefers habitats where
food is plentiful and cover is dense.

The black spider monkey has
exceptionally long, slender
limbs and an even longer tail.
Where possible, the spider
monkey will run on all fours
along the tops of branches.
But where there is a break in
the intertwined canopy of the
trees, it will swing or leap
from one tree to another.
On the rare occasion when
the spider monkey sets foot
on the ground, it may walk
upright on two legs with its
long tail held stiffly up against
its back.
The spider monkey lives in
loose-knit, nomadic troops
which vary in size according
to the availability of food.
There are usually no more
than 18 monkeys per square
mile of forest, but where food
is plentiful, as many as 100
may live together.
Within each troop, adult
male spider monkeys gener-
ally coexist peacefully with
each other, although there is
usually a recognized pecking
order. Higher-ranked spider
monkeys enforce their
position by grooming other
troop members.
Above: These casual poses dis-
play the versatility of the spider
monkey's grasping tail and long,
hooklike hands.

The black spider monkey has
no defined breeding season
and gives birth at all times of
year. Still, it is slow to mature
and is unable to breed until it
is five years old.
Once the female is sexually
mature, she comes into estrus
every 24-27 days. She may
then mate with any of the
adult males in her troop.
The baby monkey, born 20
weeks after mating, clings
tightly to its mother's abdo-
men for its first four months.
&: FEEDING
Each morning, the spider
monkey troop breaks up into
two or three smaller groups,
which disperse to forage for
food.
The black spider monkey's
large size means that it is not
threatened by the eagles and
hawks that prey on smaller
primates. Consequently, it
does not require the safety of
a large group to be protected
from predators.
While feeding, the monkeys
keep in contact with each
other by their loud calls,
When the young monkey is
older, it rides on the mother's
back, wrapping its tail around
hers for security. Even when it
becomes too big to be car-
ried, the young rarely strays
from its mother's side.
Such prolonged maternal
care means that many young
spider monkeys successfully
reach maturity. But because a
female will not breed while
her young is in her care, the
reproductive rate of the
species is fairly low.
BLACK SPIDER MONKEY &: MAN
Throughout much of its range,
the black spider monkey is
hunted by man for food. Being
both noisy and quite large, the
spider monkey is an easy target
for darts or arrows.
But because the young ma-
ture slowly and the rate of re-
production is low, it is easily
overhunted and, in some
areas, its populations have
been wiped out completely.
The spider monkey is also
threatened by the destruction
of rainforests. It is particularly
vulnerable to habitat loss
because it is unable to adapt
to other habitats.
Top right &: inset: The spider
monkey's expressive face
displays a full range of emo-
tions, from surprise to rage.
Right: The spider monkey has
well-developed balance.
which sound similar to the
whinnying of a horse.
The spider monkey feeds
chiefly on fruit and nuts but
also eats leaves, seeds, flower
buds, birds' eggs, insects, and
spiders. Fruit is an essential
source of water.
The spider monkey often
suspends itself from a branch
by a leg or its tail. This allows
it to reach down to pluck fruit
or flowers from the tip of a
branch. Its long tail is so well
adapted that it can pick up
small objects such as nuts.
DID YOU KNOW?
Relative to its size, the
spider monkey has a larger
brain than other western
hemisphere monkeys.
Spider monkeys pollinate
certain plant species. When
drinking a plant's nectar,
they pick up pollen on their
face and carry it to another
plant, which is then ferti-
lized.
The spider monkey will
break off heavy branches
and drop them from trees
to scare off intruders.
RED KANGAROO
... ORDER
"IIIIIIIIIII Marsupia/ia
... FAMILY
"IIIIIIIIIII Macropodidae
The red kangaroo is the largest of the many species of marsupial,
or pouched animal, and is found only in Australia. It sustains itself
on a diet of nothing but grass and shrubs.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: Head and body length, up
to 5 ft. Tail, up to 3 ft .
Weight: Males, up to 200 lb., but
usually 120 lb. Females, 65 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 8 months-
2 years.
Mating: Year-round, but depend-
ent on availability of food.
Gestation: 33 days. 6-11 months
spent in the pouch.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Nocturnal. Lives in herds.
Diet: Grasses, shrubs, and leaves.
lifespan: 12-18 years. Up to 25
years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
Wallabies belong to the same
family as the kangaroo, and
together there are over 50
different species.
Range of the red kangaroo.
DISTRIBUTION
Found only in the interior of Australia, where it is widespread
in desert and semidesert regions.
CONSERVATION
In spite of over 3 million kangaroos being killed each year
because of competition with domestic livestock, the red
kangaroo is still one of the most numerous of kangaroo
species and in no danger of extinction.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUNG
After birth, the young kangaroo uses its strong forearms to
crawl into its mother's pouch by way of a trail of saliva she
places on her abdomen . Kangaroos can breed continuously
-a female often nurses two offspring at a time.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
In its mother's pouch, the naked
joey instantly takes hold of a
nipple and remains attached to it
for 70 days. By the time it leaves
the pouch, it weighs about 7
pounds. A young kangaroo
continues to feed from its mother
until it is a year old.
0160200041 PACKET 4
Standing as tall as, or taller than, a man,
the adult male red kangaroo is recognized by its
reddish-colored fur. The females and young are a
bluish-gray color. The red kangaroo is widespread
throughout the arid central region of Australia
and has few predators.

The red kangaroo is a
grazing animal which in-
habits Australia's arid interior
region. The kangaroos are
widespread and live together
in groups, called mobs, of
more than one hundred
animals.
The home range of the
kangaroo is approximately
115 square miles. Each
group of kangaroos contains
at least one adult male. If
there are several males in the
group, the dominant male will
lead the mob.
The red kangaroo is a
nocturnal animal. Remaining
inactive during the day helps
it to stay cool. It rests under
the shade of trees or shrubs,
and sometimes digs a shallow
depression in the ground in
which it lies to escape the
heat.
The kangaroo's forearms,
which have no fur, carry blood
vessels close to the surface of
the skin. In high temperatures,
the kangaroo will lick its
forearms to help cool itself. It
will also pant to get rid of
excess body heat.
Left: Dominance
between rival
males is
established by
fighting. The
winner will head
a mob of about
100 animals.
Right: Its tail
and a leg still
dangling, a joey
joins its parents
in looking for
the threat that
has sent it
scrambling into

pouch.
DID YOU KNOW?
A red kangaroo can travel
up to 40 miles per hour. It
can also jump more than 40
,feet in a single leap.
Adult male red kangaroos
are called "boomers;" females
are called "blue fliers."
At birth, a red kangaroo is no
bigger than a human thumb,
but a mature kangaroo can be
taller than a man.
Strong tendons in the
kangaroo's hind legs provide
effortless propulsion for its
bounding leaps.

The dominant male in a mob
of red kangaroos has access to
all females for mating. A
female is fertile throughout
the year, but she can time her
breeding to coincide with the
availability of food and water.
Gestation is little more than a
month. The young kangaroo
is still quite undeveloped
when born, but its forearms
are strong enough for it to
crawl into its mother's pouch.
Because she can breed
continuously, a female
kangaroo produces different
kinds of milk to meet the
nutritional needs of more
than one offspring at a time.
A joey that has left the pouch
requires fat-rich milk for
energy; its pouch-bound
younger sibling gets more
carbohydrates.
RED KANGAROO & MAN
The red kangaroo has long
been hunted by man for its
meat and skin, first by the
aborigines and then by
settlers. Today, the red
kangaroo is considered a
pest by farmers, whose sheep
and cattle must compete with
it for the available grass.
Where man has created
water holes for grazing
livestock, the kangaroos also
FOOD & FEEDING
The red kangaroo feeds on
grass and the foliage of low-
growing shrubs. Kangaroos
are usually found near water-
courses-both natural and
man-made-where plant
growth is more plentiful.
Red kangaroos wander ex-
tensively over their home
range. When rain falls on the
desert areas, they gather to
feed on plant seedlings that
suddenly germinate. The red
kangaroo can go for long
periods without water if
necessary.
Below: A mother feeds while her
six-month-old joey ventures out.
take advantage of the supply.
Because they can leap such
great distances, farmers find it
almost impossible to fence
kangaroos out of their live-
stock grazing areas.
'" CARD 40
DINGO
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Carnivora
FAMILY
Canidae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Canis familiaris dingo
A tireless hunter that can cross large expanses of desert and open
bush in search of prey, the dingo is thought to have originally been
a domestic dog brought to Australia by the aborigines.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Body, 5ft. Tail, 14 in.
Weight: 45 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2 years.
Mating: June to August.
Gestation: 63 days.
No. of young: Up to 8 pups.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Males territorial. Family
groups may include young of
previous litter.
Diet: Rabbits, small marsupials,
kangaroos, and farm animals.
Lifespan: Up to 14 years.
RELATED SPECIES
Range of the dingo.
DI STRI BUTION
Throughout Australia, except Tasmania.
CONSERVATION
Canis familiaris, the domestic dog,
is the same species. The New
Guinea Dog, Canis familiaris
hal/stromi, is a closely related
subspecies.
In spite of constant persecution by man, dingoes are still
found in many parts of Austral ia. Only a few are purebred, as
most interbreed with domestic dogs, especi ally in Queens-
land. In agricultural areas, di ngoes are considered pests.
FEATURES OF THE DI NGO
The dingo is a member of the domestic dog family, Canis
familiaris . However, it has lived in the wild for thousands of
years. The dingo is occasionally kept as a pet by aborigines,
but it is generally regarded as a pest because it preys on
livestock.
Measuring 20 in. high at the shoulder, the
dingo (above left) is considerably smaller
than a dog such as a German shepherd
(above right), which has a shoulder height of
up to 25 in. Other distinguishing features of
the dingo, in comparison to those of domestic
dogs, are its longer muzzle, larger molars,
and longer canine teeth.
MCMXCI IMP BVII MP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Because of the dingo's
readiness to mate with
wild domestic dogs,
an estimated 75
percent of dingoes
today are hybrids, that
is, they are offspring
of dogs of different
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200061 PACKET 6
The muscular dingo varies in
color from light gold to dark brown or black,
but is most often a rich, reddish gold.
Similar in appearance to the domestic dog, it has
permanently pricked-up ears and a distinctive
white tip at the end of its tail.
~ HABITS
Dingoes live in family groups
within a primary territory.
Their home range, however,
is much larger, often over-
lapping other groups.
Young male dingoes
DID YOU KNOW?
Dingoes are descended
from a family of Asian wild
dogs which cannot bark.
When the first European
settlers arrived in Australia,
they found aborigine women
suckling dingo pups.
The earliest known dingo
skeleton is 3,000 years old,
forage alone over a wide area,
often covering as much as 40
miles in a night. They may join
local family groups when food
is abundant; when it is scarce,
they will be driven away.
but the first dingoes are
thought to have reached
Australia 4,000 years earlier.
One mother moved a litter
of six pups individually over 5
miles in one night, a total
journey of 60 miles.
Some varieties of dingo are
born without tails.
~ BREEDING
In fall or early winter, the
female dingo comes into
heat. She selects a mate,
often the father of her
previous litter of pups, from
the pack of males that follow
her. The pack then breaks up,
leaving the pair alone to
breed. Pups are born 9 weeks
later. The female gives birth in
the same hidden, sheltered
location each year unless it is
disturbed by humans or
predators. Although the pups
are weaned after 8 weeks,
they remain with their parents
for up to a year.
The female suckles her pups
and also feeds them with
small pieces of regurgitated
meat. The pups grow quickly,
and both parents must hunt
food for them. They travel
long distances in search of
prey, but prey close to their
own territory is left un-
touched, so that the pups
may learn to hunt it them-
selves.
~ FOOD & HUNTING
Since most of their prey is
nocturnal, dingoes hunt at
night. They hunt alone or in
packs. When a pack kills more
than it can eat, the remains are
buried and dug up later.
When dingoes hunt a large
animal, such as the gray
kangaroo, they give chase and
charge their prey. After biting
it, they back off to avoid being
kicked, as this can be fatal.
As sheep farming has
become widespread across
Australia, dingoes have found
the flocks to be easy prey. The
dingoes usually kill only as
much as they can eat,
although pups can become
overly excited, killing and
injuring many sheep. When
Above: A dingo pack moves in
to eat a fresh kill. Any remains
will be buried and eaten later.
food is scarce, dingoes will eat
birds' eggs, grubs, and wildfowl.
Left: Safe in
their hide-
away, these
three-week-old
Old habits die
weaned pup is
pursuading its
mother to
provide an
instant meal of
regurgitated
meat.
Below: Two
dingo pups
enjoy a playful
fight.