COLLARED PECCARY

... ORDER
'11IIIIIIII Artiodactyla
... FAMILY
'11IIIIIIII Tayassuidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS 8 SPECIES
Tayassu tajacu
The collared peccary resembles the wild pigs of the Old World but is
found only in the Americas. Its numbers are declining, mainly because
its habitat is being destroyed by humans.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: 12-16 in.
Weight: 35-55 lb .
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 7 ~
months. Male, 1 O ~ months.
Mating: Fall in the tropics.
Gestation: About 5 months.
No. of young: 2-3.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable. Lives in family
groups of up to 15 and herds of
up to 50.
Call: Distinctive calls, including
coughlike warning noise and
laughterlike sound of aggression.
Lifespan: 8-10 years in the wild.
Up to 21 years in captivity.
Range of the collared peccary.
RELATED SPECIES
DISTRIBUTION
Found in wet and dry tropical forests, chaparral, and
grasslands from the southwestern United States through
Central America and as far south as Argentina.
CONSERVATION
The other species of peccary are
the white-lipped peccary, Tayassu
pecari, and the Chacoan peccary,
Catagonus wagneri.
The collared peccary is threatened by habitat destruction as
land is cleared for farming. It is also killed to keep it from
eating crops.
FEATURES OF THE COLLARED PECCARY
Face glands:
Located below
.each eye. Used
for scent
identificati on.
Tusks: Sbort, notched
t usks protruding from upper jilw
are used to dig up vegetation
and small invertebrates.
Body: Deep and bufky but compact
with a disti nctive collar of grayish
white fur. Scent glands are located on
t he back about 8 inches from the tail.
- ~ t t n .... ,,. .. b . Betause ~ e p'eccary has a
ore compl stomach than the wil d
pig, it can digest large amounts of
cell ulose (plant fi ber) .
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
PECCARY AND WILD BOAR
Tusks: The wild boar (above) has
tusks that curve upward. The
peccary's shorter tusks grow
downward.
0160200381 PACKET 38
The collared peccary gets its name from the grayish
white band of fur that encircles its neck.
Although the peccary looks like a wild pig,
its tusks are shorter and less visible
than the pig's, and its digestive system
more closely resembles that of a cow.
~ HABITS
The collared peccary lives in a
herd of up to 50 individuals.
A herd contains family groups
-each with up to 15 mem-
bers. The herd stays together
all year, but each family uses
a different part of the herd's
territory. Territories range
from 0.2 to 3 square miles.
The collared peccary has a
scent gland below each eye
and one on its back. Within a
group, individual animals rub
their face glands together to
mark each other. This action
may help them recognize one
another and strengthen fam-
ily bonds. The back scent
gland is used to mark rocks
and tree trunks within the
herd's territory.
The collared peccary is most
active in the cooler parts of the
day. In early morning it often
plays with others in its family.
It uses a wide range of sounds
to communicate. These sounds
include a coughing noise that
is made by an adult male to
collect a scattered group, a
short alarm call, and a laugh
that is made during squabbles.
Left: The
collared pec-
cary's bulky
body is sup-
ported by
graceful legs
that make it
agile enough
to outrun
predators.
Right: Cacti
are a staple in
the collared
peccary's diet
in the dry parts
of its range. Its
complex stom-
ach allows the
peccary to eat
food that
many species
cannot digest.
DID YOU KNOW?
The collared peccary is
known by several names:
baquiro, chacaro, javelina, .
and javali.
A peccary can move with
equal ease on land and in
the water.
~ FOOD &; FEEDING
The collared peccary eats
roots, fruit, and seeds . In
some areas its ma in food is
cacti. It also eats insects and
other small invertebrates. It
locates food with its sensitive
snout, then digs it up with its
short, sharp tusks. This meth-
od can damage crops.
Like the domestic cow, the
peccary has a two-chambered
stomach that allows it to di-
gest the high cellulose con-
tent of its food. It uses its
powerful jaws to crush seeds,
and it chews with an up-and-
down movement instead of
the circular motion of other
hoofed mammals.
One peccary will divert a
predator while the rest of
the family group escapes.
There have been cam-
paigns to kill the collared
peccary because of the
damage it does to crops.
~ BREEDING
The collared peccary's breed-
ing season is determined by
the latitude of its habitat. In
the tropics mating takes place
most often in fall. The female
is sexually mature at 34 weeks
and the male at 47 weeks. The
peccary does not seem to have
courtship rituals, and a female
mates with several males from
her herd.
The young are born after a
gestation period of about five
Left: The young peccary is tended
by both parents and members of
its family group.
Left: The
peccary's
sensitive snout
is useful for
ground-level
foraging.
months. The female leaves the
herd to give birth to twC? or
three young in a sheltered
place. She rejoins the herd
with her offspring a few days
later. Young peccaries feed on
their mother's milk for six to
eight weeks, but they eat some
solid food after three weeks.
Both parents care for the
young, bringing them food
and protecting them from
predators such as jaguars or
mountain lions. Other mem-
bers of the family group also
help raise the young.
"' CARD 162 I
ALPACA
, , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
,. ORDER
"'IIIIIIII Artiodactyla
FAMILY
Camelidae
,. GENUS & SPECIES
"'IIIIIIII Lama pacos
The alpaca is a domesticated member of the camel family that
lives in South America. Its thick wool coat enables it to survive in
the below-freezing temperatures of the high plains of the Andes.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: 3-312 ft.
Weight: 120-145 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Usually 2 years.
Breeding season: August to
September.
Gestation: 11 months.
No. of young: 1 .
,; LIFESTYLE
Habit: Social; active by day.
Diet: Grass and similar herbage.
Chews cud (ruminates).
lifespan: Kept only to about 7
years on farms. Probably 25 years
if it lived in the wild.
RELATED SPECIES
Of the 6 kinds of camel, the
alpaca's closest relatives are the
llama, Lama glama; the guanaco,
L. guanicoe; and the vicuna,
Vicugna vicugna.
FEATURES OF THE ALPACA
Young: Weighs 20 pounds at birth
and grows to about 65 pounds at 9
months, when it is weaned. Its soft,
creamy white coat may darken
as it matures.
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Range of the alpaca.
DISTRIBUTION
Found from southern Peru to northern Chile and Argentina.
With the growing demand for alpaca wool, large herds are
being built up in South America and the United States.
CONSERVATION
There are currently more than three million alpacas, and
their numbers are rising as interest in farming them grows.
Mouth: Divided
top lip and
continually
growing lower
teeth allow
close grazing
of tough
grasses.
Coat: Fine, even wool that grows
continually. Little difference
in length between under-
coat and guard hairs. Color
varies from pure white to
rich brown. Also white
' ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ,and brown patches.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200391 PACKET 39
The alpaca is farmed for its wool, which helps
to insulate the animal and keep it warm
at high altitudes. It has long been believed that
the alpaca was bred from the wild guanaco, a related
South American species. But recent information
suggests that the alpaca was derived from a cross
between the domesticated llama and the vicuna.

The alpaca has been domesti-
cated and is no longer truly
wild. But alpacas graze freely
over the high mountains, for-
ests, and coastal plains of Peru,
Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile.
The alpaca is farmed in the
greatest numbers on the Peru-
vian altiplano, or high plain,
which is about 12,500 feet
above sea level. The natural
vegetation there is tussock
grass, but some farmers have
begun to improve the pasture
to increase the productivity of
their alpacas.
The alpaca is also numerous
high in the Andes mountains,
where the vegetation is sparse,
the terrain rough, and the air
very thin. The temperature
there can vary as much as 86
degrees between day and
night, and the yearly rainfall is
between one and three feet.
Right: The alpaca prefers ten-
der grass shoots but can digest
almost any vegetation.

The wild relatives of the alpaca
live in groups made up of an
adult male, several females,
and young. These families
sometimes form larger groups.
In each group only the domi-
nant male mates with the fe-
males. The males frequently
fight for control of the females.
Breeding of domesticated
alpacas is controlled. Males
and females are usually sep-
arated, and only selected
males are allowed to breed.
Nonbreeding males are cas-
trated, which eliminates their
Left: The alpaca has been a
valuable domesticated animal for
over 2,000 years.
DID YOU KNOW?
The camel family is the only
mammal family with oval
(not round) red blood cells.
The alpaca and its relatives
walk on pads at the end of
their toes instead of their
hooves so they can travel
easily over rocky ground.
The alpaca and its South
sex drive and prevents them
from fighting.
The alpaca mates in August
and September. One offspring
is born after about 11 months.
It may put on 45 pounds in the
first nine months and grows
quickly until it is three years old.
The females usually breed
only every other year. The
alpaca's reproductive rate is
not high because there are
many miscarriages and many
young die from food shortages
and the demands of life at a
high altitude.
Right: The young alpaca is on its
feet within an hour of birth. It
grows quickly.
American relatives have a
high number of red blood
cells, so they can extract
enough oxygen from the
thin mountain air.
The alpaca interbreeds suc-
cessfully with all other South
American camels but only
mates freely with the llama.
ALPACA & MAN
The alpaca was first bred by
the Incas about 500 B.C. and
has been bred ever since for its
wool, meat, skin, and milk. Its
manure is used for fuel.
Increasingly, however, the
alpaca is being farmed purely
as a wool producer. Peru sup-
plies almost all of the world's
alpaca fiber, exporting 90 per-
FOOD & FEEDING
The alpaca, like other mem-
bers of the camel family, has a
divided top lip. With this lip
and its continually growing
lower teeth, the alpaca can
graze on the tough grass it
must eat to survive.
It grazes in small groups,
moving slowly and searching
for the most tender shoots.
Food is often scarce, but the
alpaca can survive on very
little. In the winter, farmers
may provide additional fodder,
cent of it. The wool that is
not exported is woven into
ponchos, blankets, and rope.
As demand for its wool in-
creases, the alpaca is replacing
the llama as South America's
most important domestic ani-
mal. The llama's role as beast of
burden is declining with in-
creased use of cars and trucks.
such as grass or alfalfa hay.
The alpaca feeds by day and
sleeps at night. Twice a day it
sits down to chew the cud, re-
gurgitating partly digested
food and chewing it over
again. When the food is swal-
lowed again, it passes through
the animal's second and third
stomachs. This process of re-
chewing and reswallowing
food is called rumination and
extracts maximum nutrition
from poor grazing.
SPRINGBOK
ORDER
Artiodactyla
FAMILY
Sovidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Antidorcos marsupialis
The springbok is a gazelle that lives in the dry plains of southern
Africa. It gets its name from the stiff-legged, springing movement
that it makes when it is alarmed or playing.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Male, 4-5 ft. Female,
slightly shorter.
Height to shoulder: Male, 2 ~ - 3
ft. Female, slightly shorter.
Weight: Male, 50- 100 lb. Female,
40-70 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 6-7
months. Male, 1 year.
Mating: Varies across range.
Gestation: About 5 ~ months.
No. of young: 1, occasionally 2,
depending on conditions.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable. Forms harem
during mating season.
Diet: Grass, leaves, and shoots.
Lifespan: About 10 years in
captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
The only species in its genus but
closely related to other gazelles,
including Thomson's gazelle.
Range of the spr_in...: g:.... b_o_k.___ ===========
DISTRIBUTION
Found in dry, open plains and scrubby hills in southern Africa
and north to Angola.
CONSERVATION
The springbok is still common in remote parts of its range
but is no longer found in huge herds. In South Africa the
springbok was almost wiped out to prevent crop damage,
but it has since been successfully reintroduced.
THE SPRINGBOK'S HORNS THE SPRINGBOK'S PRONK
Male: Up to 19 inches and heavily
ridged. They spread widely, then
end in sharp tips pointing inward.
Female: Up to 14 inches. They
spread less than the male's and
are thinner and straighter.
The springbok pranks when alarmed
or when playing. It leaps up with its
legs almost rigid and head bowed,
taking off and landing on all four feet
at once, as if it were bouncing.
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Rump: A triangle of coarse white
fur on the rump normally lies flat.
It stands up and becomes visi ble
when the animal is excited.
Pronking: The action is
thought to.s-ignal danger to'
other herd members. Or it may
be meant to confuse and
intimidate predators.
0160200391 PACKET 39
The springbok, or springbuck, is a graceful animal
with a reddish tan coat, white underparts, and
a distinctive black stripe along its flank.
When it becomes alarmed, the springbok opens out
a large fold of skin along its back to display
a crest of stiff white hairs.
~ HABITS
The springbok could once be
found all across southern Afri-
ca. During droughts, huge
herds migrated hundreds of
miles to find food, trampling
anything in their way. In the
last mass migration in 1896,
crop destruction was severe,
and measures were taken to
control the population. Today
springboks still collect in large
herds, especially in the rainy
season. But fences block their
migration routes.
The springbok is active in
early morning and late after-
noon. During the heat of the
day, the herd rests in the
shade, cleaning, nibbling,
and licking each other.
The springbok is quick to
react to unfamiliar sights,
sounds, and smells. The first
animal to sense danger raises
the crest on its rump as a
signal and runs to warn the
others, who react in the same
way. When danger is near,
the springbok runs quickly
away, pronking several times
in rapid succession.
Right: A springbok watches for
predators as it drinks.
The breeding season depends
on location. In southwestern
Angola calving occurs from
December to January, while
in the Transvaal birth is from
September to October.
At the start of the breeding
season, the male claims a ter-
ritory and a group, or harem,
of 10 to 30 females. He de-
fends his territory and harem
from other males. Defense
begins with a threat display
of lowered head and horns.
Then the animals spar, each
left: A mother springbok licks her
newborn clean.
pushing and twisting for
supremacy. The fights may
sometimes lead to injuries.
After a gestation of about
five and a half months, the
female gives birth to a calf
weighing about nine pounds.
She may produce twins, but
this is unusual. Although able
to stand and walk after birth,
the calf stays hidden for the
first few weeks. It emerges
from cover only when the
mother returns to suckle it
and calls with a soft bleat.
Right: Rival males compete at
mating time, locking horns.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The springbok grazes on
grass and stands on its hind
legs to eat young shoots and
leaves. It also sometimes digs
and eats roots and bulbs. Its
diet varies with the seasons
and the availability of plants,
but grass is a staple.
The springbok can drink
both fresh and salty water. It
likes to drink regularly but
can go without water for a
long time. It also licks bits of
mineral-rich soil to absorb
essential nutrients.
DID YOU KNOW?
The springbok's greatest
natural enemies are big cats
like the cheetah and leop-
ard. Black-backed jackals
and eagles prey on young.
When springboks gather
in large herds in the rainy
season, they often mix with
other animals such as os-
triches and hartebeests.
Above: When grass is in short
supply, the springbok will eat
shoots from tough bushes.
\.
The springbok can run at
55 miles per hour and can
pronk as high as 1 3 feet.
Pronking is typical of
springboks, but all gazelles
leap when running. Many
species leap to release scent.
The springbok is covered
with fur except on a narrow
strip between its nostrils.
I ~ ' - - - . ~ ~ - ~ . ~ - - ~ ~ - - ~ ~
... ~ ""--
" CARD 164 I
RED-NECKED WALLABY

", ORDER
Marsupialia
FAMILY
Macropodidae
... GENUS & SPECIES
Wallabia rufogriseus
The red-necked wallaby is a close relative of the kangaroo and is
very similar to it in appearance. Like the kangaroo,
the wallaby carries its young in a pouch.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, up to
3 ft. Tail, ft .
Weight: Up to 50 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: years.
Breeding: Year-round.
Gestation: 30 days.
No. of young: 1.
Weaning period: Up to 1 year.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Tends to feed in groups, '
but otherwise is solitary.
Diet: Grasses, leaves, and herbs.
lifespan: Averages 7 years in
the wild.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 11 species of scrub, or
brush, wallaby.
Range of the red-necked wallaby.
DISTRIBUTION
Found throughout Tasmania and in brush and scrub areas
along the southeastern coast of Australia.
CONSERVATION
In spite of hunting and considerable habitat destruction, the
red-necked wallaby is in no danger of extinction.
FEATURES OF THE RED-NECKED WALLABY
Fur: Reddish on back of neck and
shoulders. Thicker than fur of other
wallaby species. Provides warmth.
Pouch: Encloses
nipples. Protects
young during 6-
month nursing
period. Then
used by young
as a refuge for
Hind legs: Very powerful, with strong
thighs, shins, and feet. Red-necked
species has larger feet than other
wallaby species.
At rest: Thick,
muscular tail
and legs form
a "tripod" to
carry walla-
by's weight.
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a few additional
months.
0160200381 PACKET 38
The red-necked wallaby is found in scrubland
throughout southeastern Australia, including
the island of Tasmania. It has thicker fur than most
other wallabies. Because of this warm fur coat,
the red-necked wallaby can adapt to much
cooler climates and is frequently seen in zoos
in otherparts of the world.

Because the red-necked wal-
laby is found in scrubland
and brush, it is included in a
group known as brush walla-
bies. It thrives in Tasmania,
which is cooler than mainland
Australia. Due to the colder
climate, the red-necked wal-
laby's fur is dense( than that
of other species of wallaby.
During the day it rests in
the scrub, emerging to feed
in the late afternoon. Its sharp
senses of hearing and smell
warn it of danger. It alerts
others by thumping its tail.
FOOD &: FEEDING
With its large number of teeth,
multichambered stomach, and
powerful digestive juices, the
red-necked wallaby is able to
survive on the fibrous plants
and grasses of its homeland.
As its front teeth wear down,
the back teeth move forward
to replace them.
The red-necked wallaby
Left: The adult remains alert to
danger even while feeding.

Like all marsupials (mammals
whose young develop inside
a pouch), the red-necked
wallaby is born blind and
poorly developed, weighing
just a fraction of an ounce.
The baby, called a joey, crawls
into its mother's pouch as
soon as it is born and at-
taches itself to a nipple. It
remains there for the next
six months.
The pouch is lined with fur
that keeps the joey warm.
Muscles near the top of the
pouch work like a drawstring
to keep it closed so the joey
stays secure while its mother
hops at fast speeds.
After a few months the joey
begins leaning out of the
pouch to nibble on grass and
leaves that are within reach.
Even after it leaves the pouch
to graze independently, the
joey still dives back in head-
first if it senses danger.
The female mates again
while the joey is still in the
pouch, but the development
of the new embryo is delayed
until the previous joey has left
the pouch.
feeds in a group called a
"mob." There is no leader in
the mob, and each animal
moves on at its own pace.
Like all brush wallabies and
the larger kangaroos, the red-
necked species begins to feed
in the late afternoon and may
continue until the following
morning.
Below: The joey develops quickly
in its mother's pouch.
DID YOU KNOW?
Nipples in the female's
pouch give two types of
milk: low-fat for the new-
born and high-fat for the
growi ng joey.
Duri ng its six-month devel-
opment inside its mother's
pouch, the joey grows 2,000
times its birth size.
Marsupials are named for
their pouch, which is called
a marsupium.
Macropodidae, the family
name of kangaroos and
wallabies, is Latin for "big-
footed ones."
It is estimated that 75 per-
cent of wallaby joeys die be-
fore they are one year old.
The smallest close relative
of the wallaby and the
kangaroo is the musky rat
kangaroo, which is only
about 16 inches long.
Above: Rivals fight over a mate.
Left: A red-necked wallaby
forages for grass.
RED-NECKED
WALLABY &: MAN
The red-necked wallaby has
long been hunted for its meat
and fur. Between 1923 and
1955, over two million hides
were exported from Tasma-
nia. Still, it has survived in the
wild in large numbers. It is
also often seen in zoos, since
its thick fur helps it adapt to
cooler climates.
Although it does not often
eat crops, the red-necked
wallaby competes with sheep
for food during droughts. As
a result, it is considered a pest
by many Australian ranchers.
JAVAN RHINOCEROS
'\
,. ORDER
~ Perissodactyla
FAMILY
Rhinocerotidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS & SPECIES
Rhinoceros sondaicus
The Javan rhinoceros is now found only in the dense forests
of a reserve in Java. This peaceful creature is
dangerously close to extinction.
SIZES
Height: 6 ft.
Length: 11 -12ft.
Weight: 3,500 lb.
Length of horn: 10-11 in.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male, 6 years.
Female, 3 years.
Mating: No set season. Female
comes into heat every 46-48 days.
Gestation: 16 months.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary.
Diet: Shoots, twigs, berries,
leaves, and fallen fruit.
Lifespan: 21 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
The Indian rhinoceros, Rhinoceros
unicornis, is the closest relative.
It was once thought to be the
same species.
Present range of the Javan rhinoceros.
DISTRIBUTION
Now restricted to the Udjung Kulon National Park in Java.
Formerly found in eastern India, Southeast Asia, Sumatra,
and Java.
CONSERVATION
About 50 Javan rhinos live on the reserve in Java, but the
species may not survive. A herd of 10 to 15 animals that may
be Javan rhinos was recently found in southern Vietnam.
FEATURES OF THE JAVAN RHI NOCEROS
~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ,
Body folds:
THE INDIAN RHINOCEROS
Horn: The male
Javan rhi no's
horn is much
smaller than the
Indian rhino's
horn. The female
has almost
Javan and Indian
rhinos both have
folds in thei r hide
across the back
and behind the
shoulder.
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Male
Tail : The Indian
rhino has a
groove in its
rump that hi des
most of its tail.
The Javan
rhino's tail is
more visible.
0160200371 PACKET 37
The Javan rhinoceros once roamed across
seven countries. Today there are only about
50 Javan rhinos in existence. Little is known
of its habits because the species was already rare
when Western scientists discovered it.
~ BEHAVIOR
The Javan rhinoceros lives in
dense rainforests. It prefers
low altitudes, but there is evi-
dence of rhinos living as high
as 3,000 feet above sea level.
A nineteenth-century natural-
ist found some on the rims of
active volcanoes.
The Javan rhino favors places
with a good water supply. It
likes to roll about in a wallow,
or muddy pit. Instead of dig-
ging its own, it usually enlarges
a pig wallow or a natural pit.
The Javan rhino is a solitary
animal with a loosely defined
territory. It can go several
days without drinking and
may travel great distances to
find water.
The male sometimes sprays
bushes with orange-red urine
to mark his territory and to
inform other males of his
presence. He may also mark
his territory by defecating in
creeks, on paths, or in fields
of manure up to 30 feet wide.
The Javan rhino has bad
eyesight. It is alerted to dan-
ger by its keen hearing and
sense of smell .
DID YOU KNOW?
Orange-red splashes of
rhino urine on bushes were
once thought to be secre-
tions from its nasal gland.
Javans used to believe
that the rhino ate fire.
~ BREEDING
The female Javan rhino reaches
sexual maturity at about three
years of age. She comes into
heat (is ready to mate) every
46 to 48 days. Mating occurs
seasonally and is probably a
noisy and aggressive spectacle.
A single calf is born after a
gestation period of about 1 6
months. The cow suckles her
calf for up to two years and
is very protective. After two
years the calf starts to venture
out without its mother.
Left: A Javan rhino cools off by
submerging itself in a river or
stream.
Right: The rhino is well camou-
flaged in the dense foliage of
Java's rainforest.
Nineteenth-century trav-
elers followed the Javan
rhino's tracks through the
forest because they knew
the tracks would lead them
to water.
~ JAVAN RHINO & MAN
Since the mid-1800s the Javan
rhino's range has been greatly
reduced. Human settlements
have forced it into remote
areas. The population's decline
is due to both poaching and
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The Javan rhino eats about 150
different plant species. It pre-
fers shoots, twigs, young fo-
liage, and fallen fruit.
The area where a Javan rhino
feeds is easy to spot because
it is usually scattered with up-
rooted saplings (young trees).
To fell a tree, the rhino leans
against it with its shoulder.
Then, as the tree starts to give
way, it forces the tree down
with its front legs. Many sap-
Left: A Javan rhino uses its upper
lip to grasp at leaves and twigs.
legislation. Javan rhinos were
plentiful in the mid-l 700s and
caused extensive damage to
crops. The government gave
rewards to hunters, and 526
rhinos were killed in two years.
lings survive this assault and
put out new shoots. Some
even grow from a horizontal
position on the ground. The
rhino's tree-clearing activities
provide it with suitable for-
aging ground for some time
and stimulate regeneration of
the forest.
The Javan rhino also feeds
from bushes and low-hanging
branches. The rhino's upper lip
is specially adapted for grasp-
ing, and it may use this lip to
tear leaves from the crown of a
sapling that it has bent.
TARSIER
'\
... ORDER
"1IIIIIIII Primates
FAMILY
Tarsiidae
CARD @
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Tarsius syrichta, T. bancanus, T. spectrum
Tarsiers live in the forests of Southeast Asia where they feed
on insects and small vertebrates. They hunt their prey at night,
using their well-developed senses of sight and hearing.
KEY FACTS
I SIZES
Length: Head and body, 3-6 in.
Tail 5-11 in.
Weight: 3-6 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: About 1 year.
Mating: Can be any time of the
year, but western tarsier births
are usually February to April.
Gestation: About 6 months.
Litter size: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Live mostly in pairs or
small family groups.
Diet: Wide range of insects, small
birds, bats, lizards, and snakes.
Call: Whistles and soft twittering.
Young make clicking sounds or
whistle to contact mother.
Lifespan: Up to 12 years.
RELATED SPECIES
Tarsiers are related to other
primates such as lemurs, lorises,
and bush babies.
FEATURES OF TARSIERS
Range of tarsiers.
DISTRIBUTION
Tarsiers inhabit the islands of Southeast Asia. The Philippine
tarsier can be found in the southeastern Philippines; the
western tarsier in Borneo, southern Sumatra, and Bangka;
and the spectral tarsier in Celebes and Peleng.
CONSERVATION
All tarsiers have suffered from loss of habitat. The Philippine
tarsier is an endangered species.
GRIPPING HANDS AND FEET
All 3 species of
tarsier are active
at twilight and
night. Their
hearing and
sight are
exceptional.
Eyes: Huge and
forward-facing.
Move very little
in their orbits
(sockets) . Very
large pupils let in
light for good
Ears: Large and funnellike. Tarsiers
hunt at night, locating prey
with their excellent hearing.
night ..
Tail: Long, with
feathery end.
Used as a rudder
while jumping
and to cling to
branches.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Legs: Powerful,
extremely long
hind legs-twice
as long as head
and body-
propel tarsiers
through the ai r.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Feet: Bony, elongated toes with
nails. The second and third toes
have claws used for grooming.
Hands have nails but no claws.
Fingers and toes: Underside of
each finger and toe has a ridged
swelling. Grooved texture grips
like a tire's tread, enabling tar-
siers to hold on to surfaces.
0160200401 PACKET 40
The three species of tarsier live in separate areas
of the islands of Southeast Asia.
Tarsiers sleep during the daYt clinging to trees
in their forest habitat. They get up at twilight
and spend the night searching for food,
leaping from tree to tree
with great speed and agility.
HABITS
There are three distinct species
of tarsier, all similar in size: the
western tarsier, the spectral
tarsier, and the Philippine
tarsier. The first two species
have been studied in the wild.
A tarsier leaps quickly from
tree to tree on its long hind
legs, which are about twice the
length of its head and body.
Each hand and foot has five
long, slender fingers or toes.
All the digits have nails except
the second and third toes,
which have claws that are used
for grooming. On the under-
side of each digit there is a
bulbous swelling with a ridged
gripping surface that enables
the tarsier to cling to supports.
A tarsier has huge eyes with
large pupils for better night
vision. Although each eye is
almost immobile in its socket,
a tarsier can look over each
shoulder by rotating its head
180 degrees to the right or
180 degrees to the left.
At night tarsiers move
about in the trees, staying
about three feet above
ground level. But they usu-
ally climb higher to sleep
during the day. They wake
just before sunset, rest for a
while, and then search for
food. They sleep again
around sunrise.

The adult western tarsier usu-
ally lives with its mate and an
infant, which leaves to find its
own territory before the next
young is born. A tarsier marks
the trees in its territory with
urine and by rubbing its scent
glands against the bark.
In courtship, the animals
chase each other and then
mate in trees. About six
months later one fur-covered
Left: The Philippine tarsier is the
most sociable tarsier. It can be-
come tame in captivity.
DID YOU KNOW?
A tarsier often makes con-
tact by seizing its mate's tail.
The Philippine and spectral
tarsiers may sit with their tails
intertwined.
Although they live in areas
where snakes are common,
tarsiers are rarely killed by
them. A snake detects 'prey
young is born with its eyes
open. It can climb but is totally
dependent on its mother's
milk. Although she leaves it
when hunting, the young
keeps in contact with soft
clicking sounds or whistles.
After a week the offspring
can eat solid food. By three
months it jumps well and can
catch food, but it still drinks its
mother's milk.
Right: The spectral tarsier seems
to forma long-lasting or perma-
nent pair bond.
by sensing body heat, and it
is thought that a tarsier
decreases its body tempera-
ture while sleeping when it -
would be most at risk.
Tarsiers sometimes catch
venomous snakes.
A tarsier may rub its face on
branches to clean itself.
FOOD & HUNTING
Philippine and spectral
tarsiers mainly eat insects,
including gnats, mosquitoes,
dragonflies, moths, termites,
locusts, and grasshoppers.
Tarsiers have not been seen
eating fruit in the wild, but a
Philippine tarsier ate bananas
when fed by a researcher.
The western tarsier eats
insects and also lizards, bats,
and snakes. It even kills and
eats birds larger than itself.
A tarsier can catch a bird in
flight by leaping on it and
Left: A tarsier often makes a
defensive gesture with bared teeth
when disturbed.
grabbing it with both hands.
It kills the bird by biting its
neck with its large sharp teeth
before eating it.
Tarsiers use their excellent
hearing to locate prey. If the
victim is small, a tarsier jumps
to the ground and grabs it
with a hand. If the prey is
large, a tarsier kills it before
carrying it back to a tree to
be eaten.
Tarsiers drink regularly.
They get water from pools
and streams, sometimes sit-
ting in shallow water while
drinking. They also lick
rainwater from leaves and
tree trunks.
WATERBUCK
'"
~ ORDER ~
~ Artiodactyla ~
FAMILY
Bovidae
CARD 167J
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
The waterbuck is a large antelope that is always found near
rivers or lakes. Although waterbucks used to be classified as
two separate species, they are now thought to be one.
__ '\I KEY FACTS
I ~ I SIZES
~ Length: 4-7 ft. Female usually
smaller than male.
Height: Male 3 ~ -4 ft. Female,
3-4 ft.
Weight: Male, 375-550 lb.
Female, 350-450 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: About 1 year.
Breeding season: Anytime.
Gestation: About 9 months.
No. of young: 1, rarely twins.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable. Territorial male.
Diet: Grasses and leaves.
Call: Adult snores; calf bleats.
lifespan: Up to 18 years in
captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 1 3 subspecies of
waterbuck. The lechwe, Kobus
leche, and the kob, Adenota kob,
are also closely related.
Range of the waterbuck.
- - - - ~ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
DISTRIBUTION
Found in Africa south of the Sahara from mid-Sudan, Ethiopia,
and southern Somalia southward to the Transvaal. Also found in
southern Botswana, northeastern and southwestern Africa, and
southern Angola.
CONSERVATION
Hunting has depleted the waterbuck's numbers in some areas,
but it is still widespread and, in some places, abundant.
FEATURES OF THE WATERBUCK SOME RElATED SPECIES
Horns: 1 ~ - 3 ft. long, sweep-
ing back and up in a smooth
curve. Each horn has up
to 40 spiraling turns on it.
Rump: Marked with a
ring or patch of
white fur,
depending
on where
the animal
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Coat: Short but
shaggy. Color
varies from
warm red-brown
to gray-brown to
almost black,
depending on
animal 's
location.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Pale belly, neck, and inner limbs.
Reddish coat. Black patches on
legs. Male has lyre-shaped horns.
Thomas's
kob
Smaller than the red lechwe with
less white on underside of neck
and shorter S-shaped horns. Coat
is reddish brown.
0160200421 PACKET 42
The waterbuck lives on the African savanna
in areas that have enough trees for nighttime cover
and plenty of water to drink. A peaceful grass eater,
its main defense against predators is
its foul-smelling flesh.
~ H A B I T S
The waterbuck lives in small
herds of between 5 and 25
animals. Each herd is made up
of females and young presided
over by one dominant male.
The adult male is territorial
and fiercely protects his land,
which varies in size depending
upon natural conditions. If an
intruder approaches, the two
stand face to face with heads
lowered. Then, with foreheads
pressed together and horns
locked, they scuffle until the
weaker animal retreats.
One or two subordinate
males may sometimes help a
dominant male protect his
territory, possibly in the hope
of eventually inheriting the
land. But these subordinates
are usually prevented from
mating with females who wan-
der into the territory.
Female waterbucks are not
territorial. Although they have
loosely defined grazing areas,
they share them with other
groups of females. They spend
the day grazing and being ha-
rassed by every male whose
territory they cross.
~ BREEDING
Because the waterbuck lives
near water it does not depend
on a rainy season for food. It
can breed at any time of the
year since food is always avail-
able for the young.
Female waterbucks constant-
ly pass through male territories
in search of food. A sexually
receptive female attracts the
attention of any nearby male.
When females enter a male's
domain, he blocks their path
and herds them together,
using his horns to butt them
into place. Neighboring males
approach the territory bound-
ary in hopes of herding the
left: The waterbuck needs
plenty of water to balance its
grass diet.
DID YOU KNOW?
At three months of age the
waterbuck's flesh becomes
tough and smelly. Predators
I
avoid the waterbuck if other
prey is available.
The waterbuck's coat is
L
females as they pass through.
About nine months after
mating a single young is born,
usually in a hidden spot near a
river. Unwilling to leave her calf
alone, the mother leaves it
only for brief periods to feed
late in the day. After about a
month the calf emerges from
its hiding place and joins the
herd with its mother.
At nine months the young
are expelled from the herd.
Adult females chase and butt
them until they disperse.
Young males form bachelor
herds, while females group
together until sexually mature.
Right: The female usually bears
one young each year and suckles
it for seven months.
impregnated with oils that
provide waterproofing.
In areas where it has been
constantly shot at and dis-
turbed, the waterbuck will
come out only at night.
~ ENEMIES
The waterbuck's many ene-
mies include the lion and the
leopard, which prey primarily
on females and the young.
When a waterbuck is dis-
turbed, it often lies flat in the
grass hoping to avoid detec-
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Up to 90 percent of the water-
buck's diet is grass. It also eats
leaves and shrubs.
The waterbuck must drink
plenty of water to help digest
all the vegetable protein in its
diet. If a dominant male's terri-
tory does not contain water,
he must cross another's terri-
tory to drink. Many water
holes or stretches of river are
neutral areas where any animal
can drink. But the "owner" of
left: Curved horns distinguish
the mature male waterbuck from
the female.
tion. It may also take to the
water to hide or swim away.
Sometimes a waterbuck de-
fends itself in shallow water by
lashing out with its horns and
sharp hooves, but it usually
prefers to swim away.
the territory will allow others
to drink his water only if they
adopt a submissive attitude.
The waterbuck often feeds
with the related kob and lech-
we. These species are similar to
the waterbuck but smaller,
with a different coat color and
horn shape. They do not com-
pete for food, since the lechwe
feeds on younger grass and
the kob prefers more mature
greenery. The waterbuck also
likes mature grasses and may
feed on exposed plants in the
shallows of lakes and rivers.
"' CARD 168 I
PORPOISE

... ORDER
Cetacea
FAMILY
Phocoenidae
GENERA
Phocoena, Neophoecaena, Phocoenoides
Porpoises are among the smallest of the aquatic mammals. They
resemble dolphins but are smaller and have rounded,
rather than beak-shaped, snouts.
KEY FACTS
------___ --_______________________________________________________________ J
SIZES
Length: ft., depending on
species.
Weight: 50-350 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3-4 years,
depending on species.
Mating season: Summer in
Northern Hemisphere.
Gestation: 1 0-11 months.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Form groups of 2-20, but
usually about 4.
Diet: Varied; mainly crustaceans,
squid, and many species of fish.
Calls: Believed to have a large
repertoire of sounds, including
"clicks" used for echolocation.
Lifespan: 12-23 years, depending
on species.
RELATED SPECIES
Dolphins and whales belong to
the same order, Cetacea.
THE PORPOISE FAMILY
Common, or harbor, porpoise,
Phocoena phocoena: Usually dark
on back and white on underside for
camouflage in coastal waters. The
Californian Gulf porpoise, P. sinus
(not shown) , is similar in ap-
pearance, but darker.
Range of porpoises.
DISTRIBUTION
Porpoises live in coastal waters almost throughout the north
Pacific and western Indo-Pacific. They also found in the
temperate and sub-Antarctic waters of South America and
around the Auckland Islands off New Zealand.
CONSERVATION
Porpoises are threatened by fishing nets and pollution. Some
species are believed to be declining.
Burmeister's porpoise,
Phocoena spinipinnis: All
dark. Dorsal back fin has
sharp pOint with "teeth" on
leading edge.
Dall 's porpoise, Phocoenoides dalli:
Muscular body. Jet-black back; white
patch on belly and flanks. Dorsal
fin and fl ukes (lobes of
Spectacled porpoise, Phocoena
dioptrica: Blue-black back; white
sides and underparts. Rim around
eyes like spectacles.
Finless porpoise, Neophoecaena
phocaenoides: All gray except for
paler "throat" and face. Rounded,
blunt head. No dorsal fin.
tail) tipped
white.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200411 PACKET 41
Porpoises are believed to have emerged as a group of
aquatic mammals about 75 million years ago. From these
beginnings evolved six separate species of porpoise.
Today, they are found mainly in coastal waters of
the Northern Hemisphere. In some parts of the
world dolphins are referred to as porpoises, which
sometimes causes confusion.
~ HABITAT
Porpoises are found mostly in
coastal waters, often entering
harbors and estuaries and
. swimming up rivers.
The common, or harbor,
porpoise, inhabits temperate
and cold inshore waters of the
Northern Hemisphere around
western Europe, northeastern
Asia, and northern North
America. The California Gulf
porpoise, or cochito, inhabits
not only the Gulf of California
but also the Gulf of Guinea
and the Black Sea.
Burmeister's porpoise is
found in the Southern Hemi-
sphere, living in the cool, shal-
low inshore waters off South
America. The spectacled por-
poise is found off the western
coast of South America and
around the Falkland and South
Georgia islands.
Dall's porpoise, the most
active and sociable species, is
found around northern Japan
and off the coast of North
America, from the Aleutian
Islands to California.
The finless porpoise, the only
true tropical species, frequents
the Indo-Pacific Ocean from
Iran to Borneo and Japan.
~ FOOD & HUNTING
Porpoises often feed in river
estuaries, over submerged
seabed ridges, or where sea
currents meet-all places
where fish congregate.
Each species has its prefer-
ences, but they are all flesh
eaters. For example, the finless
porpoise likes crustaceans,
while Dall's porpoise eats squid
whenever possible. The com-
mon porpoise feeds on her-
ring, sardines, and cod, which
it often herds toward a slop-
Left: The common, or harbor,
porpoise, eats 6 to 11 pounds of
fish a day.
DID YOU KNOW?
Dall's porpoise is the fastest
of all porpoises. It speeds
through the water at 12 to
15 knots. It is famous for its
"rooster" spray-a stream of
water that arcs up over the
head as it surfaces.
The finless porpoise, as its
name suggests, has no dorsal
ing, sandy shore. A common
porpoise needs 6 to 10 pounds
of food a day, while the larger
Dall's porpoise needs 20 to 25
pounds a day.
Porpoises often form small
groups of two to four mem-
bers, and they may dive indi-
vidually for prey. Usually they
feed on small schools of fish,
but if a large concentration of
fish occurs, many groups will
gather to feed.
Porpoises hunt mainly by
sight and by listening for fish.
They swallow prey whole or
bite it into large chunks.
(back) fin. The female may
carry her young on her back.
Porpoises have 60 to 120
teeth, which are flattened
into a spade shape at the tip.
The common porpoise
makes an explosive noise as
it surfaces to exhale. It has
been called a "puffing pig."
~ BREEDING
Porpoises do not thrive in cap-
tivity, and studies of porpoises
in their natural environment
have been very limited. As a
result, little is known about
their breeding habits.
In the Northern Hemisphere
mating appears to take place
in the summer, with a single
calf born almost a year later.
At birth the calf is about half
the length of the female. It is
brought to the surface imme-
diately for its first breath.
Left: Although independent after
weaning, the calf often remains
with its mother.
Above: Dall's
porpoise shows
its distinctive
"rooster"
spray.
Left: For the
common por-
poise, a dan-
ger of Jiving
in coastal wa-
ters is getting
stranded on
beaches.
For a few days after giving
birth, the female swims on her
side while nursing her calf, so
they can reach the surface at
the same time to breathe. Soon
the calf surfaces on its own and
dives to resume feeding.
Most species nurse for six to
eight months, but the Dall's
porpoise nurses up to two years.
A female with a young calf
tends to leave the group, but
they may join another mother
and her young. The calf swims
just in front of its mother's dor-
sal fin and often remains with
her after being weaned.
SIBERIAN TIGER
~
... ORDER
"1IIIIIIII Carnivora
FAMILY
Felidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Panthera tigris a/taica
The largest living cat in the world, the Siberian tiger
possesses both grace and beauty. Although it spends a lot of time
hunting, its reputation as a vicious killer is undeserved.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Male, 9-12 ft. head to
tip of tail. Female smaller .
Height: About 3 ~ ft. at shoulder.
Weight: 400-650 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3-5 years.
Mating: No particular season.
Gestation: 3 - 3 ~ months.
litter size: Up to 6 cubs, but
usually 3-4.
LIFESTYLE
Habits: Male is solitary. Female
lives in family units. Mostly
nocturnal.
Range of the Siberian tiger.
DISTRIBUTION
Diet: Deer, boar, elk, lynx, bear;
also smaller prey such as fish,
rabbits, and hares.
Found in the Amur-Ussuri region of Siberia; also in northern
China and Korea.
lifespan: Up to 25 years.
CONSERVATION
RELATED SPECIES
In all, there were 8 subspecies of
tiger. Of these 3 are extinct, and
the remaining 5 are endangered.
The Siberian tiger is an endangered subspecies. It is estimat-
ed that there are no more than 200 of these animals left in
the wild. There are probably nearly as many Siberian tigers in
captivity as there are roaming free.
FEATURES OF THE SIBERIAN TIGER
CLAWS RETRACTED
The claws are kept in
when resting or walking.
CLAWS UNSHEATHED
Long, sharp claws spring
out when hunting.
Coat: Along with its striped and
yellowish winter top coat, the
Siberian tiger has white under-
sides. The white extends to
the back legs and the tail.
Body: Large and
heavily muscled,
giving it great
strength.
The Siberian
tiger is much
larger than its
relative the
Bengal tiger,
which has a
darker coat.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Hearing: Pricked
ears funnel sounds
effiCiently to the
inner ear.
Sight: Excellent
binocular and color
vision. Night vision
is more than five
times better than a
human's.
WF DM NC 13
The rare Siberian tiger gets its name from its
cold homeland, which is covered in snow for
much of the year. Its range is larger than that
of any other tiger subspecies, and it frequently
embarks on long journeys in search of food.

The Siberian tiger occupies a
very large territory. Ranges of
more than 4,000 square miles
have been recorded. The tiger
may occupy the same territory
for many years if food sources
are stable within the area. If
prey is scarce, it often migrates
hundred of miles.
Both males and females mark
the boundaries of their ranges
with urine and by scratching
trees. But only the male de-
fends his territory against other
DID YOU KNOW?
Siberian tigers are capable
of dragging prey that would
take more than a dozen men
to move.
One Siberian tiger traveled
620 miles in 22 days in search
of food.
The Siberian tiger needs to
males, concentrating on the
most important parts, such as a
boundary close to a female's
territory or an area rich in food.
The male tiger is solitary,
shunning other males. He
allows tigers of either sex to
pass through his range but is
more tolerant of females. The
female is sometimes accom-
panied by her young.
Right: The fearsome jaws of the
Siberian tiger bring instant
death to its prey.
eat over 20 pounds of meat
a day to sustain itself in the
cold climate. It is capable of
eating over 1 00 pounds of
meat in one sitting.
The heaviest Siberian tiger
on record weighed almost
850 pounds.
Tigers mate at any time dur-
ing the year. A female shows
that she is ready to mate by
leaving urine deposits and
scratch marks on trees. In
Siberia, where a tiger's range
is vast, she may go in search
of a male.
The female is receptive for
only three to seven days.
During this time a pair will
mate many times, after which
the male leaves to mate with
another female.
After a gestation period of
three to three and a half
months, three or four blind
cubs are born in a sheltered
den. They are nursed by their
mother, who rarely leaves
Left: To escape the unwanted
attention of flies, breeding tigers
often mate in the water.
them. At about two weeks old
their eyes open and their first
teeth begin to grow.
At three months the cubs
start to leave the den, and the
mother brings them meat to
eat. They continue to take her
milk until they are five or six
months old. At this stage they
may begin to accompany her
on hunting trips.
The cubs are less than a year
old when they start to hunt
for themselves. At two years
old they can kill large prey,
but they will not leave their
mother until they are three to
five years old. They then start
to look for their own territories
and mates.
Right: At six months, cubs often
accompany their mother on
hunting trips.
&: HUNTING
The Siberian tiger spends a lot
of time hunting because only
about one in ten of its hunting
trips is successful. It preys main-
lyon deer and wild pig, but it
also eats fish.
Creeping to within 30 to
80 feet of its victim, the tiger
pounces and grabs the prey by
the nape of the neck with its
back feet still planted firmly on
the ground.
This nape bite kills small prey,
but larger prey is brought to
the ground before being killed
by a suffocating bite to the
throat. If the tiger misses its
prey on the pounce, it may
chase it for up to 650 feet but
rarely catches it.
When it does kill its prey, the
tiger drags it to cover, usually
near water. It then eats its fill,
covers up the remains, and
goes to sleep. Later it eats the
rest of the carcass.
Left: During
the harsh
Siberian
winter the
tiger's coat
loses some
color. This
helps it blend
in with its
snow-covered
habitat.
SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS
The Siberian tiger's winter
coat lacks the red stripes
of tigers from warmer cli-
mates, but its white coat
helps camouflage it in its
snowy habitat.
Because it has to with-
stand temperatures as low
as -50
0
F, the Siberian tiger
grows a longer and thicker
coat than other tigers. It
also develops a layer of fat
on its flanks and belly that
helps to insulate it.
BIGHORN SHEEP
... ORDER
Artiodactyla
FAMILY
Bovidae
... GENUS & SPECIES
Ovis canadensis
'(CARD 170 I
The bighorn sheep is aptly named for the ram magnificent curved
horns. During the breeding season rams use their horns in
fierce-and sometimes deadly-combat with rival males.

[j]
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height to shoulder: ft.
Length: 4-5 ft .
Weight: Male, 125-275 lb.
Female, 75-150 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3-4 years.
Mating season: Late fall to early
winter.
Gestation: 5-6 months.
No. of young: 1, occasionally
twins.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Day-active; associates in
herds. Moves to high ground in
winter.
Diet: Grasses and leaves.
Lifespan: About 15-20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 8 species in the genus.
Dall's sheep, Ovis dolfi, is the only
other species in North America.
Range of the bighorn sheep.
DISTRIBUTION
Once widespread from Canada to California and Mexico.
Now found only in remote, wild mountainous areas and in
national parks such as Yellowstone.
CONSERVATION
Habitat destruction, competition with domestic livestock,
disease, and excessive hunting have made the bighorn
sheep extinct over much of its former range.
FEATURES OF THE BIGHORN SHEEP GROWTH OF HORNS
Rump: White
patch character-
istic of species.
Weaker animal
turns rump to
stronger animal
to show sub-
mission.
Stomach: Four-chambered. Allows
bighorn to digest the high cellulose
content of its diet. After swallowing,
the sheep regurgitates food and
chews it as cud to break it
down further before swal-
-
give good,tgr1p'on rocky surfaces.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Two years: Horns have started
to curl away from head.
Six years: Horns have begun
to curl back on themselves.
Twelve years: Ram will be
socially dominant with horns at
full length. Growth rate slows.
0160200401 PACKET 40
The bighorn sheep once inhabited a range
from southwest Canada through California to
northern Mexico. But today the bighorn is found wild
in only a few areas as a result of habitat destruction,
excessive hunting, and competition from
domestic sheep for grazing land.
~ H A B I T A T
The bighorn sheep is found on
dry, remote mountain cliffs.
Much of its habitat is high,
rocky desert where it jumps
from rock to rock.
The bighorn associates in
herds, usually of about 10
males or ewes with young of
up to two years old. In the fall
the rams join the herds of ewes
to form groups of up to 100,
and they move together to the
lower valleys. In the spring
Right: The
female big-
horn lacks the
huge curved
horns that give
the species its
name. Only
the male has
those horns.
they all move to the high
slopes for summer grazing,
although the males break off
into all-male groups again.
An adult bighorn is alert to
danger even while grazing. At
the slightest alarm, it snorts a
warning to the others, and the
herd bounds away to safety.
Right: Unlike the domestic sheep's
woolly coat, the bighorn's coat is
short and coarse.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The bighorn feeds on various
grasses, young plants, and
leaves. During winter it eats
woody plants. In desert areas
it eats shrubs and cacti. Like
all sheep, the bighorn digests
its food in a four-chambered
stomach, which allows it to
eat even the toughest plants.
left: Size of horns indicates a
bighorn ram's age-the longer
the horns, the older the sheep.
DID YOU KNOW?
When a ram's long horns
block his vision, he rubs off
I
the tips on a rock.
The bighorn's steps mea-
sure approximately 18 inches
when walking, 10 feet when
bounding on level ground,
The bighorn wanders as it
feeds. Its route is determined
by its search for food and
water. It feeds mainly in early
morning and evening. After
grazing it chews the cud while
resting in a location that offers
a good view of the surround-
ing area.
Right: The bighorn feeds on
scrubby shrubs and cacti in the
desert areas of its range.
and 16 feet when bounding
down a steep hill.
During the rutting season
rams charge each other at
over 20 miles per hour. Their
crashing horns can be heard
over a mile away.
The mating season generally
occurs between August and
January, when the rams have
joined the herds of ewes.
Competition for the females
is fierce between the older
rams. They charge each other,
crashing and locking horns
during fights that may last for
several hours and sometimes
result in death. The ram with
the largest horns usually wins
the fight-and the female.
Five to six months after mat-
ing, the pregnant ewe gives
birth on a remote crag. Usually
a single lamb is born, but
sometimes there are twins. The
lamb has a soft, light-colored
coat and small horn buds.
After a week the lamb fol-
lows the herd, staying con-
stantly by its mother's side. By
the time it is weaned at five to
six months old, it is nibbling
grasses and leaves.
left: The
young bighorn
is well devel-
oped at birth.
But its small
horn buds give
no indication
. of the size they
will reach in
the adult male.