THE ARCTIC TUNDRA

AND ITS WILDLIFE

GROUP 10: WORLD HABITATS
The Arctic tundra-the land of the midnight sun-is a vast,
frozen. wasteland at the top of the world. Surprisingly,
it supports an abundance of animal and plant life.
.... ....
KEY FACTS
LAND ANIMALS
Polar bear, wolf, musk ox, Arctic
fox, hare, ground squirrel,
wolverine, weasel, and lemming.
SEA ANIMALS
Walrus, fur and harp seals, and
beluga and other whales.
BIRDS
Raven, ptarmigan, diver, snowy
owl, whistling swan, snow goose,
red or gray phalarope, Sabine's
gull, shore or horned lark, snow
bunting, oldsquaw, sku a and king
eider ducks, and Arctic tern.
PLANTS
Arctic willow, juniper, Lapland
rhododendron, purple saxifrage,
mountain avens, Arctic white
heather, broad-leaved willow herb,
woolly lousewort, moss campion,
Arctic lupine, cotton grass,
mountain sorrel, scurvy grass,
bearberry, and lichen.
Area of the tundra.
AREA OF THE TUNDRA
From the northern edge of the circumpolar belt of taiga
(coniferous forests) to the ice and snow surrounding the
North Pole.
WILDLIFE NOTES
Most animals are year-round residents of the tundra or its icy
waters; caribou and many birds migrate south in the winter.
ARCTIC TUNDRA FOOD CHAINS
Polar bears are at the top of the food
chain; they feed on Arctic foxes, skuas,
and lemmings.
Arctic foxes
prey on lem- (I(
mings; they also -.
take the eggs
r---- and young of
Arctic sku as.
Arctic skuas are plunderers, stealing fish from
other seabirds; they also prey on lemmings.
Lemmings feed on the sparse
'vegetation; they can reproduce several
litters each year-of up to nine young
each-enabling them to survive heavy
losses from predators.
From the air, the Arctic tundra looks lifeless;
in fact, the region abounds with living things.
The tundra is also one of a few relatively
unspoiled wild areas left on earth.

The tundra stretches from the
northern edge of the taiga belt
(coniferous forests) to the ice
and snow surrounding the
North Pole. It is one of the
world's smallest climatic
zones.
For most of the year, the
mean monthly temperature is
below freezing. The winters
are long and severe, although
some areas have only light
snow cover. Summers are
short, with temperatures just
above freezing.
I DID YOU KNOW?
Mild weather can be more
dangerous to tundra animals
than cold. When snow thaws
and refreezes, it locks up veg-
etation and prevents animals
from feeding.
The ground squirrel is the
tundra's only true hibernator.
At Point Barrow in north-
ern Alaska the sun is not
visible for two months in
midwinter, but it shines non-
stop for about two months
in midsummer. Icy winds
blow constantly.
This harsh climate limits
tundra vegetation mainly to
lichens. They grow on rocks
and permafrost ground,
breaking down the surface
and creating soil.. This gives
other plants and shrubs a
meager place to grow.
A musk ox can live on
about one-sixth of the fodder
(feed) needed to feed a cow.
Each year the Arctic tern
migrates from the Arctic
Circle to the Antarctic and
back again: a 21 ,750-mile
round trip.
SPECIAL FEATURES
OF THE TUNDRA
Pingos are domes that develop
when shallow tundra ponds or
lakes dry up. Permafrost moves
in under the bed and forces
the soil up.
KEY
1. Pi ngo
2. Polygons
3. Permafrost
4. Esker
Above: The wolf's white fur
provides warmth and camou-
flage.
Above right: The Arctic hare's
white coat is a mixed blessing:
perfect camouflage in winter,
conspicuous in summer.
Right: Lemmings tunnel under
the snow to find food.
Polygons are geometric
ground designs that result
from repeated expansion and
contraction of tundra soil as it
freezes and thaws. A common
feature is the frost mound
covered by meadow grasses.
Permafrost occurs where
subsoil remains frozen all year.
If the insulating layer of vege-
tation is damaged, permafrost
ground is exposed and begins
to thaw, seriously upsetting
the ecology of the tundra's
Right: Snowy
owls nest on
the ground.
S) They feed
mainly on
lemmings.
o
(')
LL
surface.
Eskers are low ridges of
sand, silt, gravel, and other
glacial debris left behind by
extinct rivers. Eskers provide
some protective shelter for
foxes and wolves.
ANIMALS OF THE GALAPAGOS
GROUP 10: WORLD HABITATS
Among the most isolated places on earth, the
Galapagos Islands have unique wildlife. Many of the plants and
animals that flourish here are found nowhere else in the world.
KEY FACTS
HOW THE WILDLIFE ARRIVED
When the first volcanic islands
of the Galapagos erupted
from the sea 5 million years
ago, they were completely
devoid of life. Today they
sustain a rich variety of exotic
wildlife. So how did the first
animal species reach this
isolated group of islands?
It is from South America
that the ancestors of today's
species first came. Land birds
were most likely carried out to
the islands by storm winds.
Other wildlife came by way of
vegetation that drifted down
the rivers of western South
America into the sea. It is be-
lieved that insects, reptiles,
and plant seeds reached the
islands in this manner.
UPSETTING THE BALANCE
The isolation of the Galapa-
gos Islands is what makes
them unique, since it has lead
to the evolution of species
distinctly different from their
more common relatives.
However, animals brought
More recently, sailors have
introduced animals such as
cats, rats, pigs, and goats, as
well as new plants.
to the islands by man have
disrupted the fragile ecosys-
tem. Goats and rats compete
for food with the native
animal population. Some
domestic animals carry
diseases and prey on the
Like its relative the fur sea" the
California sea lion has settled in
the Galapagos, where it mates on
rocky shores. Outside the breed-
ing season, some migrate.
islands' wildlife. New plants
introduced by man compete
for space as well, often over-
growing the rarer native
species.
Increased tourism is a new
threat to island wildlife.
Many parts of
the islands
have been
designated
national parks,
and visitors
must observe
strict rules if
they wish to see
such exotic
species as these
blue-footed
boobies.
us P 6001 12010 PACKET 1
The Galapagos are a rugged group
of volcanic islands straddling the equator in the
Pacific Ocean. Belonging to Ecuador, they lie, isolated,
in vast open waters about 600 miles off the
west coast of South America.
~ ORIGINS & FEATURES
The sixteen Galapagos Is-
lands have a total land area
of about 3,000 square miles
and span an area of some
23,000 square miles of ocean.
All the islands were formed by
volcanic activity and some are
5 million years old.
One of the most unique
features of the Galapagos
Islands is their location within
the body of cold ocean water
carried by the Humboldt
current, which travels up to
the equatorial region from the
Antarctic.
The climate varies greatly
among the islands. The
southerly islands are arid, and
prickly pear cactus is the
predominant vegetation. The
more northerly islands have
fertile slopes and plant life
there is thick and green.
Left: Galapa-
gos is home to
the only flight-
less cormorant
in the world.
Flightless birds
have evolved in
many isolated
islands over
the centuries.
The absence of
predators
meant there
was no need to
make a quick
escape.
Left: The awe-
inspiring
Galapagos are
home to many
unique species
of wildlife.
Right: The
lunar-like
landscape of
one of the
islands.
Right: The
strange,
primeval sight
of marine
iguanas
soaking up the
sun on harsh
coastal lava
before entering
the cold water.
~ FIRST SETTLERS
Ocean-going birds, such as
the frigate bird, together with
greater flamingos and short-
eared owls, were the first
species to reach the islands.
They found a range of habitats
almost free of both competi-
tors and predators. New
species eventually developed
from the original animals that
settled there, adapting over
time to the various habitats.
~ DARWIN'S FINCHES
The thirteen species of finches
found on the Galapagos Is-
lands are all descended from a
common ancestor. They are
called Darwin's finches after the
great naturalist, who saw in
them evidence for his theory of
evolution.
The birds' beaks differ among
species according to diet. Heavy
bills allow some to eat large
seeds; thinner bills suit others
for catching insects.
Right: The
giant tortoise
weighs several
hundred
pounds and
makes a
convenient
landing pad
for the buz-
zard. These
tortoises were
once killed for
food, with the
result that they
have been
wiped out on
several of the
islands.
Above: The
distinctive red
throat pouch
of the male
frigate bird.
This ocean-
going species
can soar for
hours on its
long wings.
Left: Both the
medium and
large ground
finches have
strong, sharp
bills for crack-
ing seeds.
~ GIANT TORTOISES
The islands are named for their
well-known inhabitant-the
giant tortoise. Gal6pago is a
Spanish word for tortoise.
Today 11 subspecies of giant
tortoise remain.
The tortoises on the more
arid islands have arched shells,
giving their head a wider range
of motion. On the more fertile
islands they have retained their
more common flat arch.
DID YOU KNOW?
It is thought that the giant
tortoise arri ved on the Galapa-
gos Islands from South Amer-
ica by drifting on vegetation.
The Galapagos Islands are
the only place in the world
where fur seals and penguins
are found on the equator.
They survive due to the cold
Humboldt current.
Forty percent of all vegeta-
tion is endemic, found no-
where else in the world.
THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK
AND ITS WILDLIFE
A vast expanse of bush and arid desert, the Australian outback
may be inhospitable to people, but it is home to a huge variety
of extraordinary plant and animal life.
KEY FACTS
PLANTS: Eucalyptus, acacia,
desert oak, spinifex, dryandra
bottlebrush, ghost gum.
MAMMALS: Mostly marsupi-
als; include the western gray
kangaroo, red-necked
wallaby, black-tailed wallaby,
southern potoroo, honey
possum, wombat, koala,
echidna, duckbill platypus,
wallaroo, dingo, banded
anteater, mulgara, dunnart.
Above: The honey possum has a
long snout to help it gather
nectar from flower heads.
FEATURES & CLIMATE
The continent of Australia
covers an area of 3,000,000
square miles. Two thirds of
the land mass is known as the
outback. This huge expanse
of brush is composed of a
wide variety of Australian
desert grasses, such as spini-
fex, and plants belonging to
the Acacia genus. These plants
REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS:
Carpet python, death adder,
tiger snake, king brown
snake, knob-tailed gecko,
pygmy spiny-tailed skink,
goanna, moloch, frilled
lizard, water-holder frog,
golden tree frog, freshwater
crocodile, estuarine croco-
dile, tortoise.
Above: The thorny devil is a
harmless but ferocious-looking
Australian lizard.
Below: The frilled lizard expands
its frill to scare off predators.
require little water to survive
and are thus well adapted to
the arid outback conditions.
The outback is dotted with
occasional rivers and swamps
which widen the variety of
animal and plant species in
the region. It stretches across
most of the country, from
the Great Dividing Range in
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BIRDS: Emu, purple-crowned
lorikeet, rainbow lorikeet,
kookaburra, galah, lesser
sulphur-crested cockatoo,
New Zealand honeyeater,
black swan, tawny frog mouth,
Iyrebird, bower bird, rufous
bristlebird, chestnut-rumped
heathwren, orange-bellied
parrot.
Above: The Mangles kangaroo
paw has developed a long, thin
beak, ideal for collecting nectar.
the east to the coastal rim
along the far west.
The average daytime tem-
perature in the outback is
86F, and there is no specific
rainy season. The climate is
characterized by long periods
of drought that are occasion-
ally b r o k ~ n by violent rain-
storms and floods.
0160200021 PACKET 2a
Australia has been an island for the last
45 million years, and its wildlife has been able to
evolve independently of other life forms.
Consequently, many of the animals found
in the outback are unique and cannot be found
anywhere else in the world.
MAMMALS
Of the 223 mammal
species in Australia, over half
are marsupials. Marsupials are
animals that carry their young
in a pouch, usually in the front
of the body. With the excep-
tion of the opossum in North
and South America, they are
found only in Australia. The
best known marsupials include
kangaroos, wallabies, and
koalas.
Food is so scarce in the
outback that many mammals
have special adaptations that
make the most of the natural
resources. The honey possum
is one such marsupial. It is so
dependent on nectar for
survival that it has -developed
a long, slender, beaklike snout
that fits inside flowers. It also
has a brush-tipped tongue like
those of nectar-eating birds.
The mulgara is a carnivo-
rous (meat-eating) marsupial
which has adapted to the
climate in its environment to
the extent that it survives
without having to drink water.
It obtains necessary water
from the bodies of its prey.
REPTILES &: AMPHI BIANS
A variety of snakes inhabit the
outback. Some, like the carpet
python, are harmless to man,
and others, such as the death
adder, tiger snake, and king
brown snake are deadly.
There are also many lizards
in the outback. They include
Left: The gray
kangaroo is
one of the best
known
marsupials
from the
Australian
outback.
Front inset: A
knob-tailed
gecko is one of
many lizards
found in
central
Australia.
Below right:
Beautifully
colored, the
rainbow
lorikeet will
breed after the
rains.
Many herbivorous (plant-
eating) marsupials can get all
the water they need from the
leafy vegetation they eat. In
fact, the koala's name is the
aborigine word for "no
water."
The duckbill platypus and
the echidna are monotremes;
that is, they belong to the
lowest order of mammals and
lay eggs like reptiles. Yet, they
have fur, a stable body tem-
perature, and produce milk
with which they suckle their
young.
geckos, skinks, goannas, and
the frilled lizard. The frilled
lizard expands the frill around
its head in order to scare off
predators. The knob-tailed
gecko has huge eyes and uses
its tongue like a windshield
wiper to clean them.
Omi. 63Smi.
I I

Australia's largest and most
unusual bird is the emu. With
its long legs, short toes, and
light body, this flightless bird
can reach a speed of 45 miles
per hour when in pursuit of
prey.
The colorful budgerigar,
another native of the outback,
has become one of the most
popular pet and aviary birds
in the world.
Many of the birds in the
outback are honeyeaters. As
an adaptation, they have
devloped long, thin beaks to
make feeding easier. To ac-
commodate the birds and to
make pollination easier, many
flower species have adapted
by taking on a tubular shape.
One of the most interesting
lizards is the moloch, com-
monly called a thorny devil.
This curious creature is
studded with horns and spikes
to deter predators. It has
adapted to the scarcity of
water by surviving on as little
o Area of outback
of it as possible. At night it
absorbs dew through its skin,
where it passes to the mouth
to be drunk.
Frogs have adapted surpris-
ingly well to outback condi-
tions. They mate only in wet
conditions, so that the tad-
poles have time to develop
enough to survive the next
dry season. One species, the
water-holding frog, fills its
body with water, burrows
deep into the mud, and lives
underground inside a mucous
cocoon until the next rain.
The outback rivers and
swamps are home to two
different types of crocodile:
the small, freshwater variety
and the large and dangerous
estuarine crocodile of the
inland rivers and lagoons.
THE ANDES MOUNTAIN
RANGE AND ITS WILDLIFE
The mighty Andes form the longest mountain range in the world,
extending almost 4,500 miles along the western coast of South
America from northern Colombia to southern Chile.
KEY FACTS
LANDS OF ICE AND FIRE
The Andes mountains are
full of contrasts: the north-
ern climate is hot and hu-
mid, while winds in the
southern ice areas reach 100
miles per hour. The Andes
have some of the most
treacherous landscapes in
the world.
Right: The Andes start in the
Colombian cordilleras and end
Right: The
rainforests of
Ecuador.
Below: Tatio
geysers in the
desert, Chile.
Right: Frozen
beech trees,
Patagonia.
Below: The
Paine Towers in
Chile.
Ecuador, the land of vol-
canos, includes Mount San-
gay, with its almost constant
gush of lava, ash, and steam.
Mount Cotopaxi's highest
crater is encrusted with
glaciers. When Cotopaxi
erupted in 1877, molten lava
melted the ice and caused
Above: A lone
candelabra
cactus frames a
view of t he
western Andes
desert near
Nazca, Peru.
Below: The northern Andes are
on the same altitude as West
200 miles of flooding.
The fjords and geyser
fields of southern Chile
and the glaciers of the
Patagonian ice cap give
way to the freezing, wind-
lashed wastes of Cape Horn
and Tierra del Fuego (land
of fire).
Africa, but the southern parts of Pacific
Atlantic
Ocean
the range extend almost to Ant- Ocean
arctica.
Arid (low 0
rainfall)
Medium
rainfall 0
High rainfall
MCMXCI IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200251 PACKET 25
The Andes' forbidding peaks tower over
a wide range of habitats. Rain falls in some places
at a rate of 16 feet per year, giving rise to steaming
rainforests. Elsewhere in high, semidesert plains,
mammals rely on extra-large lungs to survive
the thin mountain air.
~ DESOLATE PLAINS
High, arid steppes range from
Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia
through Peru up to Ecuador.
On the southern plateau,
called the puna, sand-laden,
stinging winds bend the sparse
vegetation into strange forms,
and nights are bitterly cold.
Lizards, rodents, and birds
equipped to retain body heat
live among the thin vegetation
under harsh conditions.
The Andean condor, the
world's largest bird, feeds on
carrion. With its huge wing
span reaching up to 10 feet, it
soars on mountain thermals
and glides long distances
Front inset left: A relative of the
falcon, the Audubon's caracara
feeds on carrion.
Front insert right: The viscacha
lives on the dry Andes plains.
Top left: Puya
plants, Peru.
Left: The
tinamou of
Argentina can
barely fly.
Right: Vicunas
graze in front of
EI Misti Volcano,
Peru.
~ THE ANDEAN RAINFOREST
The temperate forests and
tropical rainforests near the
equator have the most exotic
plant and animal species in
South America. The dimly lit
steaming rainforest floor
smells of decomposing veg-
etation. Liana vines grow up
tree trunks that also support
parasitic fungi, orchids, and
air plants. Wildlife live in the
jungles' trees over 100 feet
above the forest floor.
Cries of animals and bird-
song fill the forest. T h ~ howl-
er monkey's call can be heard
as far as three miles away. In
southern Chilean forests, the
huet-huet bird has a song
that sounds like its name. Few
bees live in the forest, so the
red flowers attract mostly
searching for food.
Pumas, antlered deer, and
relatives of the camel-vicuna,
llama, alpaca, and guanaco-
live on the high steppes. Now
protected, the vicuna was
hummingbirds.
More than three million
species inhabit the rainforest,
including marsupials, frogs,
jaguars, parrots, and Chile's
rarest mammal, the opossum.
hunted almost to extinction
for the soft, fine wool on its
hide.
Other animals, like the
chinchilla rodent, have also
survived large-scale hunting.
Leeches can grow to two feet
here. Chile also has a forest of
araucarian pine-known as
monkey puzzle trees. More
than 70 insect species live in
the trees.
Left: Howler
monkeys swing
through the
forests at the
northern end of
the Andes.
Above right:
Scarlet cock-of-
the-rock in the
eastern Andes.
Right: An army
of leafcutter
ants at work in
the jungle.
~ A LIVING DESERT
Many cacti live in the Ata-
cama desert, including the
giant candelabra cactus of
Peru. Strangely, in summer,
far from any sign of water,
thousands of honey-scented
Calandrina, malvilla, and
yellow ananuca plants bloom
briefly.
The desert sand extends to
the Pacific shoreline. The
tropidurus lizard and oasis
hummingbird hunt crusta-
ceans and worms from weeds
exposed by the receding surf.
Mist created by winds
blowing over the cold sea
current shrouds the coastal
desert. Sparse vegetation
grows near heavy mist, but
winds suck much of the
moisture from the ground
and carry it over the peaks to
fall on the other side.
DID YOU KNOW?
South American tribes make
cigarette holders from the
Andean condor's bones; and
they eat its eyeballs, believing
it will improve their sight.
The solidified front of a lava
flow from an Andean volcano
can reach 1,600 feet.
Off Cape Horn, giant kelp
seaweed grows to 300 feet in
water 150 feet deep.
South America has twice as
many bat and rodent species
as Africa and more freshwater
fish species than any other
continent.
The alerce tree in Chile lives
for more than 2,000 years.
The Peru-Chile Trench,
under the Pacific Ocean off
the western South American
coast, is, in some areas, as
deep as the Andes are high.
THE KALAHARI DESERT
AND ITS WILDLIFE
CARDS
GROUP 10: WORLD HABITATS
A seemingly uninhabitable inland basin, parts of which are over
100 million years old, Africa s Kalahari desert supports one of the
richest collections of wildlife in the world.
KEY FACTS
THE KALAHARI'S WILDLIFE
MAMMALS: Elephant, zebra,
hippopotamus, wildebeest, lion,
springbok, gemsbok, buffalo,
baboon, cape fox, African
hunting dog, meerkat, spring
hare, pygmy mouse, fruit bat,
gerbil.
BIRDS: Avocet, barn owl,
Egyptian geese, reed cormorant, L - ~ ~ ~ ~ - - = : : T - - - - -
fish eagle, egret, flamingo,
heron, pygmy goose, kingfisher,
ostrich, oxpecker, green pigeon,
crowned cranes, stilt, white-
headed vulture, sandpiper.
REPTILES: Crocodile, Long's
reed frog, sand lizard, python,
egg-eating snake, striped snake.
INSECTS: Ant, ground beetle,
mayfly, scorpion, brine shrimp.
FISH: Catfish, mouth brooder,
African pike, tiger fish.
- Kalahari in Africa b:iJ
Desert area
Mountain ranges t
HOW SALT PANS ARE FORMED
Salt pans are dry lakes that
occur where water evaporation
exceeds the rainfall. They are
found in various parts of the
Kalahari and are the flattest of
all land forms.
Salt pans are ever-present
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- - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ - - ~ - - - -
features of arid and semiarid
environments. They are
formed over a period of many
years through a cycle of rain-
fall and subsequent evapora-
tion of the water. The miner-
als and salts contained in the
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
water become more concen-
trated the longer the water
remains stagnant. However,
once the water evaporates,
only the minerals and salts
remain, forming a hard,
cracked surface.
Left: The
Kwong salt
pan in
Gemsbok
National Park
covers a vast
area.
0160200051 PACKET 5
The Kalahari extends for some 160,000
square miles and is part of South Africa's
tableland. Its vegetation becomes sun-bleached
during the dry season but recovers with astonishing
speed in the rains to provide food for wildlife.
FEATURES OF THE DESERT
Although it is known as a
desert, the Kalahari is more
accurately described as
semidesert, or thirst/and, since
its average rainfall is higher
than in true deserts. The
Kalahari is a vast plateau,
1,650-5,000 feet above sea
1
level, with a relatively flat
surface that has an occasional
hill and some rocky outcrops.
In some areas, erosion-
resistant termite nests have
formed islands. Salt pans
occur particularly in the drier
southern Kalahari region.
C T Stuart/Natural SCience Photos
CLIMATE
Unlike the Sahara, Africa's vast
desert to the north of the
equator, the Kalahari has a wet
summer season which sustains
a rich variety of wildlife. Only
during the wet season is food
abundant.
The rainy season lasts from
October to March, the south-
ern hemisphere's summer.
Throughout the Kalahari,
rainfall is erratic. As much as
17 inches falls in the north
ana east, and less than half
this amount falls in the
southwestern region. The
month of April signals the
beginning of the dry season.
Even the areas that receive the
most rainfall are almost com-
pletely dry by September.
Temperatures in the Kalahari
can soar up to 116
0
F in the
southern region. As in all
deserts, temperatures can drop
dramatically at night, and it is
not unusual for ground frosts to
occur.

The Kalahari's vegetation varies the south, the trees become scrubby vegetation. In the I One definition of a desert is
from tall savannah woodland more widely spaced and hottest regions, only plants an area that receives less than
to scrub areas and grassland. In smaller than the trees found with deep or tuberous roots 10 inches of annual rainfall.
the northern region sycamore in the north. Grass grows in are able to survive.
, , I When the Boers crossed the
fig, African ebony, and baobab occasional patches. Wildflowers grow through- I Kalahari from the Transvaal
trees are numerous. Most of the Kalahari, out the desert in the rainy
As the land becomes drier to however, is covered with season.
MIGRATING WILDLIFE
The Kalahari's rainy season is a
time of marked change in the
desert, and signals the great
influx of migrating wildlife.
Water cascading down from
the highlands of Angola floods
the Okavango River in the
north which in turn overflows
Left: A
beautifully
marked
gemsbok, one
of the species
of gazelle
found in the
Kalahari
desert.
to form an expansive, marshy
delta. The watercourses are
rich in fish during the rainy
season, and attract birds
which feed on the fish.
Although many of the lakes
and lagoons dry up during
the winter drought, those that
Left: A herd of
springbok
shares the
desert with
wildebeest.
remain are home to crocodiles
and hippopotamuses.
The change in desert
conditions brings huge
seasonal migrations of buffalo,
elephant, springbok, wilde-
beest, and zebra in search of
fresh grazing pasture.
province in the northeast in
1878, 250 people and 9,000
cattle died due to the
extreme climatic conditions.
The Kalahari's mouth
brooder fish holds its eggs in
its mouth until they hatch.
Even after hatching, the
I
young still seek the safety of
their parent's mouth to .
L escape predators.
Left: The rains
produce a
variety of
vegetation-
flowers, fruit,
and plants-in
the otherwise
almost barren
ground.
KP-M/Premaphotos Wllalife KP-M/Premaphotos Wil dlife
KEY TO SPECIES
1 Elephants
2 Lion
3 Green
pigeons
4 Herd of
Wildebeest
8
5 Egg-eating herds of
snake animals.
6 Mayfly 9 Sand lizard
7 White-headed 10 Egyptian
vultures
8 Migrating
WILDLIFE OF THE
GREAT BARRIER REEF
Built by tiny marine animals, Australia IS Great Barrier Reef is so
large that it is visible from the moon. Within it lives a variety of
life as vast as that found in a tropical rainforest.
LIFE AMONG THE CORAL
COOPERATIVE FISH
Many species of reef fish
maintain symbiotic (mu-
tually dependent) relation-
ships. Groups of small reef
fish seek out the larger
wrasse and certain shrimps
and then feed on their
parasites and diseased
tissue. The benefit to the
small fish is a guaranteed
supply of food.
Pairs of alpheid shrimps dig
and maintain tunnels that are
shared with pairs of gobies.
The sharp-sighted gobies
flick their tails against the
shrimps' antennae to warn
them of danger. All four
animals then hide in the
burrow together.
Right: A blue dams elfish is
cleaned by shrimps.
FISH OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Right: The
Queensland
grouper can
grow to a half
a ton in weight.
Groupers have
been known to
stalk skin
divers. This
Queensland
grouper can be
seen skulking
around the
edge of a reef,
waiting for a
meal to swim
by.
A wide variety of animals lives
on the reef, from very small
drifting jellyfish to huge
sharks. Sea turtles breed here
in greater numbers than
anywhere else in the world.
Dugongs, marine relatives of
elephants-similar to the
manatee-are found here,
and birds such as the reef
heron spear fish here.
The reef contains 400
species of coral, 200 species
of cowrie shells, and probably
as many as 2,000 species of
fish (about a tenth of all
known species).
Many animals burrow and
bore into the solid reef itself,
including sponges, worms,
bivalve mollusks, and sea
urchins. Snails and sea slugs
actually eat the reef.
Other animals eat the living
MCMXCIIMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
coral. Parrot fish bite off small
chunks with their sharp,
beaklike front teeth and grind
the coral to extract polyps.
Starfish turn their stomachs
inside out and secrete diges-
tive juices onto the polyps.
They then eat the partially
digested meal. The crown-of-
thorns starfish is capable of
eating a square yard of coral
in a single day.
0160200091 PACKET 9
The Great Barrier Reef is actually a system
of reefs that are parallel to the northeast coast of
Australia. It extends for 1,250 miles,
from Lady Elliott Island, off southern
Queensland, to the Gulf of Papua,
New Guinea.
~ ORIGINS & FEATURES
The Great Barrier Reef began
growing some 18 million
years ago. The present
growth phase started 8,000
years ago and is building new
layers upon older ones.
The reef occupies an area of
about 90,000 square miles; its
distance from shore varies
from 10 to 125 miles. The
main barrier contains over
2,100 individual reefs, and
about 540 islands closer
inshore have fringing reefs.
The reefs lie close together
in the north and the south; in
the central section they are
generally widely scattered.
The northern section provides
shelter for mangrove trees to
grow in the many mangrove
swamps.
The Great Barrier Reef
Lagoon, generally about 325
feet deep, lies over a silt-
covered plain and is sheltered
between the shore and the
reefs. The seaward edge of
the reef, or reef slope, is
exposed to the full fury of
waves and storms and drops
sharply thousands of feet to
the seabed.
The seaward side has the
most active coral growth. It
also suffers the greatest losses
from the elements. Much
dislodged material is eventu-
ally cemented back into place
to form rock.
~ HOW CORAL REEFS FORM
Coral reefs are made up of
thousands of tiny anemonelike
creatures called polyps. They
embed themselves in cups of
limestone, which they secrete
from their outer skin cells.
Every year the reef expands
upward and outward as the
polyps reproduce. Each polyp
is connected to its neighbors
by strands of living tissue, so
the reef is "tied" together.
Pink seaweeds called calcare-
ous algae are also important
reef builders, adding limestone
rock to the structure. Other
red algae at the edge produce
a substance that cements
areas of sediment together.
In time a huge structure is
formed that contains only a
thin veneer of living coral on
the surface of many layers of
empty limestone skeletons.
Each species of coral has
its own growth pattern that
results in a variety of reef
shapes, from mounds to
structures resembling fans,
branches, and antlers.
Above: A coral
fish startled by
a diver swims
for cover.
Left: The deep
water gorgo-
nian coral has
intricate
patterns.
Right: Blue
damselfish
patrol the reef
in search of
food.
Left: Live
polyps of hard
coral combine
with seaweed
to produce
limestone,
which slowly
builds new and
variously
shaped layers
of coral on top
of old. This
may then be
covered with
colorful soft
corals-polyps
without
skeletons.
~ COLORS OF THE REEF
Much of the coral, which is
formed by the skeletons of
dead polyps, is white, but live
polyps are often brightly col-
ored. Such relatives as sea fans
and sponges also display hues
of red, orange, pink, yellow,
purple, and green.
Fish that add to the display
are blue and yellow damsel-
fish, pink, purple, and yellow
wrasses, red and white sea
slugs, green brittle-stars, and
blue starfishes. These brilliant
colors are confusing to
predators.
THE AFRICAN SAVANNAH
AND ITS WILDLIFE
The African savannah-with more than 40 kinds of browsing or
grazing animals-is popular with naturalists. But it is also where
predators and prey constantly battle for survival.
ACTION FILE
MAMMALS
Grant's and Thomson's ga-
zelles, wildebeest, impala,
anubis and western ba-
boons, vervet, chimpanzee,
common jackal, African wild
dog, striped polecat, ratel,
African civet, common ge-
net, white-tailed mongoose,
spotted hyena, African wild
cat, lion, leopard, cheetah,
aardvark, African elephant,
Grevy's zebra, white rhinoc-
eros, warthog, giraffe, giant
eland, and buffalo.
INSECTS
There are three groups of
insects on the savannah:
locusts and grasshoppers, ter-
mites, and ants.
Grasshoppers and locusts
are a valuable food source
for lizards, snakes, and many
mammals. Plagues, or sudden
increases in the numbers of
locusts, are a constant threat.
Large swarms can ruin vast
areas of vegetation in min-
utes.
Termites playa vital role in
the life of the savannah. They
help to aerate the soil and in-
crease water penetration.
Some species build hills that
may be over 20 feet high.
Other common insects are
VEGETATION
One-third of Africa's land
surface (4 million square
miles) is made up of savan-
nah.
The vegetation of savan-
nah lands is well adapted to
Above: Several gecko species live in
the savannah. A Bibron's gecko
feeds on a moth.
wasps, bees, and the many
ticks that live on the mam-
mals of the African savannah.
a climate that alternates be-
tween heavy rainfall and
months of drought: acacia
trees have needlelike leaves
to minimize water loss, and
baobab trees are able to
DMCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FI LETM PRINTED IN U.S.A
BIRDS
Ostrich, vulture, red-billed
horn bill, bustard, secretary
bird, hoopoe, golden spar-
row, African hawk and fish
eagles, and peregrine.
Reptiles and amphibians
African python, black mamba,
Egyptian cobra, puff adder,
and skink and gecko species.
Insects
Dung beetle, African migra-
tory locust, grasshopper, ter-
mite, moth, fly, bee, wasp,
scorpion, and tick species.
Above: Swarms, or plagues, of
locusts destroy vast areas of
vegetation in the savannah.
store water in their swollen
trunks. Grasses, too, have
adapted to make the most
of what little water is avail-
able through their exten-
sive root systems.
0160200191 PACKET 19
The African savannah covers about
one-third of Africa's land surface. It ranges
west and east from Senegal and Guinea to the
Indian Ocean, covering the plains of the Sudan
and the high plateaus of the Great Lakes region.
It also spreads across the high and low
veldts, or grasslands, of South Africa.
~ MAMMALS
Many of the world's largest
predators-and their prey-
can be found in the African
savannah.
More than 40 kinds of
browsing (eating parts of
shrubs or trees) or grazing
(eating grasses) animals live
here, including giraffes, ele-
phants, and many species
of antelope. These herbivores
(vegetation eaters) each pre-
fer specific foods, so there
is no competition among
them for the available plant
life. For example, the gazelle
eats low, lush grasses, while
the hartebeest prefers the
Dsovonnoh
dry plant stalks that are reject-
ed by other animals.
The dominant predator is
the lion, followed by the other
big cats. Sometimes herbi-
vores will browse or graze
within sight of a pride (group)
of lions, but they are constantly
on guard. The grazing animals
Left: Zebras are
sociable animals
and live in herds
of 5 to 20, but
they gather by
the hundreds
during the dry
season.
Below left: The
lion is the chief
predator on the
savannah.
Right: Giraffes
graze and browse
the savannah.
Here, Mount
Kilimanjaro
can be seen
in the distance.
~ REPTILES &:
~ AMPHIBIANS
Snakes and lizards are plentiful
on the savannah. Geckos,
skinks, African pythons, and
monitors are the most com-
mon lizards. Many snakes are
extremely poisonous.
Right: The poisonous black
mamba snake lives in southern
Africa.
know that the lions could
awaken hungry at any
moment and attack.
Zebras often graze with
the wildebeest, a fa,vorite
prey of the carnivorous (meat-
eating) lion. When the lion
attacks the wildebeest, the
zebras are able to run away.
~ BIRDS
Birds thrive on the savannah,
eating the plentiful insects,
reptiles, and small rodents.
The most common birds
are the ground-living species:
ostrich, bustard, and sand
grouse. Scavengers such as
the vulture hover nearby. The
easiest way to locate a car-
nivorous mammal's kill is to
look for the vultures circling
overhead, waiting for their
chance to finish the meal.
The small, black-faced
dioch lives in flocks number-
ing in the thousands. It feeds
on seed and may ruin local
cereal crops.
Left: Vultures
feed on the
remains ofa
wildebeest.
flightless ostrich
is only one of
the many bird
species on the
savannah.
THE BLACK FOREST AND
ITS WILDLIFE
"'" CARD 8
The Black Forest is famous for its scenic walks, forests, and
mountains. The forest contains several types of woodland that
are home to an abundance of wildlife.
TREES AND PLANTS OF THE BLACK FOREST
Thick woodlands of conifers
(cone-bearing trees) blanket
the Black Forest's mountain
slopes. Mature trees form
areas of deep shade that are
carpeted with mosses and
fungi. In summer, the air
carries the fragrance of fir,
larch, and pine. During
winter, the trees turn white
with snow, and the ground is
crisscrossed with bird and
animal tracks.
Alpine plants grow high
in the mountain gorges of
the Black Forest, protected
from high altitude wind and
weather conditions by their
rocky walls. Many of these
gorges have become havens
for wildlife. The Wutach
Gorge, for example, has
more than 1,000 different
plants, 100 species of bird,
and more than 500 varieties
of butterfly, some of which
are rare. Yellow gentian, rho-
Top left: In winter, the slopes,
trees, and valleys of the Black
Forest are blanketed in snow.
dodendron, arnica, and sorrel
flower on the upper slopes of
the Feldberg; and heather,
cranberries, and bilberries
grow on lower levels.
On slopes at lower altitudes
there are grassy upland mead-
ows edged with broom and
foxglove, small lakes sur-
rounded by mixed woodland
of conifer, oak, birch, and
beech. The woodlands have
Below: The Black Forest in
southwestern Germany covers
over 2,000 square miles.
The Black Forest
MCMXCI IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
PQll\]Tl=n II\] II c:: A
areas of bracken and low-
growing shrubs like juniper
and holly. Ferns, dwarf
pines, and mountain a'sh
grow on some hillsides.
Boggy areas are thick with
reeds, bulrushes, and water
lilies. Clear trout streams,
edged with willows and
silver birch, run to isolated
farms set in broad, grassy
valleys.
Above: In spring, valley land-
scapes are transformed into
lush pastures.
G ~ r m a n y
0160200191 PACKET 19
The Black Forest's name comes from
its many dark, tree-covered summits.
This mountainous area-covering more than 2,000
square miles-partially bordered by the
Rhine River, has a mixture of forests, meadows,
and valleys. Its rolling hills support
vineyards, farms, and dairies.
ORIGINS &: FEATURES
The contours of this part of
Europe developed 50 mil-
lion years ago. The Alps, and
mountains stretching from
France through the Vosges
and the Black Forest to the
Erzgebirges (in Czechoslova-
kia), were all folded upwards
by geologic pressure.
About 42 million years la-
ter, the central section of this
mountain range broke free and
dropped about 3,000 feet into
the earth's crust to form the
Rhine plain. Other changes
occurred from volcanic erup-
tions and the beginning of the
Front cover insets: The wild boar
(left) and the long-eared owl
(right) are native to the Black
Forest.
Ice Age that smoothed the
tops of the craggy mountains
on either side of the plain to
low, rounded summits. Black
granite, often covered with a
thick layer of red sandstone or
limestone, forms the under-
lying surface.
The west boundary of the
Black Forest is steep with nar-
row valleys, while the eastern
side has wider valleys and roI-
ling hills. The whole area is di-
vided by the Kinzig valley,
with northern peaks as high
as 3,000 feet; the highest
peak in the south, the Feld-
berg, rises almost 5,000 feet.
The mountain slopes are
covered with forests until
4,000 feet.
Top: The capercai/lie is a game
bird found in the Black Forest.
Above: The fieldfare migrates
from Scandinavia in winter.
left: Lower slopes provide lush
pasture.

BLACK FOREST
Red and roe deer (Copreo/us
copreo/us) are common.
Protected areas have been set
aside so the animals can be
observed without disturbing
their natural habitat. In
winter, deer come out of the
forest to feed on fodder,
regularly dumped in cold
weather at special sites.
Wild boar and badgers
also live in the forest. Foxes
are common in the lower
woodlands and feed on small
rodents like voles, shrews,
and mice, and on rabbits,
hares, and birds. Pine mar-
tens, beech martins, and red
squirrels climb up and down
the trees hunting for food.
..... BLACK FOREST
BIRD LIFE
Many species of bird live both
in the Black Forest and along
the Rhine River, which borders
the forest toward the south and
west. Here, the river is wide
and slow, and its banks are
lined with poplars and reeds,
making it an ideal site for bird-
watching.
Birds of prey live high in the
trees: goshawks and sparrow
hawks prey on other birds and
on rabbits, hares, squirrels, and
small rodents. At night, long-
eared owls search for insects,
voles, and mice.
Great spotted woodpeckers
and their noisy relatives, the
black woodpeckers, live among
spruce, fir, and pine trees, pick-
ing holes in the tree bark as
they search for wood ants and
beetle larvae. Crossbills eat the
seeds of pine cones. Black
grouse and capercaillies are
among the game birds of the
forest.-
Common in the lower
woodlands are the bullfinch,
crested and coal tits, and fire-
left: Red
squirrels find
plentiful food
in the dense
pine trees.
Above right:
A fox search-
es for small
rodents, such
as voles and
shrews, in the
lower wood-
lands.
Below: Red
deer live in
the protected
areas.
Above: Sparrowhawks prey on
other birds in the treetops.
crests and goldcrests. In
winter, fieldfares (thrushes)
are found in forest clearings
and along the tree line.
THE ALPS AND THEIR WILDLIFE
The mountains and meadowlands of the European Alps support a
wide variety of plant and animal life. Many of the higher-altitude
Alpine plants can also be found at sea level in the Arctic.
KEY FACTS
WILDLIFE OF THE ALPS
--------
LAND ANIMALS: Ibex, mar-
mot, chamois, mountain
hare, red deer, snow vole,
Alpine shrew.
BIRDS: Golden eagle, gos-
hawk, kestrel, ptarmigan,
black grouse, rock partridge,
eagle owl, black woodpecker,
wall creeper, snowfinch,
nutcracker, Alpine chough.
REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS:
Fire and Alpine salamanders,
Alpine newt, yellow-bellied
toad, common toad, com-
mon frog, grass snake, adder.
BUTTERFLIES: Swallowtail,
clouded yellow, mountain
BIRDS OF THE ALPS
ringlet, black-veined white.
PLANTS: Edelweiss, king of
the Alps, mountain pine, jun-
iper, moss campion, dark-
stemmed sneezewort, glacier
crowfoot, alpine clover,
alpenrose, gentian, bell-
~ - - - - - - - - ------------------
Some of the bird species in The Alpine chough nests in
the Alps have adapted to small colonies far above the
specific habitats. The snow- tree line in the narrow spaces
finch, for example, breeds between the rocks. In winter
among the boulders on the the colonies flock around
steep grassy slopes above Alpine villages and feed on
7,500 feet, searching the refuse.
rocky ridges for ripening The nutcracker bird collects
seeds. seeds and nuts from pine
HOW GLACIERS ARE FORMED
flower, orange lily, orchid.
WILDLIFE NOTES: All of the
animals are year-round resi-
dents. Several bird species are
resident year-round, but high-
altitude species move to lower
altitudes during the winter.
Left: The
markings of
the swallow-
tail butterfly
provide pro-
tection from
its Alpine
predators.
cones and stores them in holes
dug in the ground. Each year a
nutcracker collects more than
100,000 seeds and nuts and
buries them in as many as
25,000 different holes. The
store of food enables the nut-
cracker and its young to survive
the harsh winter.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
1. Layers of snow accumulate
on mountains higher than
10,000 feet, and the extreme
weight causes the bottom lay-
er to melt and refreeze, even-
tually becoming solid ice.
2. As more weight is added,
the layer of solid ice sepa-
rates from the top layer of
snow, forming a glacier.
3. Most glaciers move down
the valleys at an average of
an inch a day, collecting rocks
and soil, called moraines, as
they move (4).
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200141 PACKET 14
The Alps are 700 miles long and 160 miles wide.
They stretch across seven countries: Austria,
Yugoslavia, Germany, Liechtenstein, Italy,
Switzerland, and France.
~ CLIMATE
The Alpine climate varies
widely, according to altitude,
rock formation, and exposure.
Summer days are hot and the
evenings cool. Winters are
cold, with frequent snowfalls
FEATURES OF THE ALPS
1. Mountains: The Alps are
divided into three sections:
western, central, and east-
ern. Each section is made
up of several separate
3. Rivers: Many of Europe's
major rivers, including the
Rhone and the Rhine, origi-
nate in the Alps. They are fed
by water that has melted from
and long periods of below-
freezing temperatures. It is
generally cooler and wetter
on the north side of the Alps
and drier and warmer on the
southern side.
mountain ranges. Mont
Blanc is located in the
western Alps just south of
Chamonix, France. At
15,781 feet, it is the
the ice and snow.
4. Meadowland: Meadow-
lands are found at the
lowest altitudes and are
characterized by an abun-
W. Germany
highest peak in the Alps.
2. Glaciers: Glaciers play an
important role in the develop-
ment of the geological fea-
tures of the Alps. They erode
dance of grass and wil dflowers.
The plants in this area are a
mixture of lowland and
mountain species. Most types
of orchid are found here.
mountain peaks and carve
out valleys by shifting rock
debris. They also create lakes
and streams as they melt
into the valleys.
~ VEGETATION
The Alps have a wide variety
of plant life that ranges from
the lower meadow regions to
the higher altitudes.
Coniferous trees such as pine
and fir are found at altitudes
up to 9,200 feet, and a variety
of shrubs grow at altitudes up
to 11,500 feet.
The glacier crowfoot and the
Front cover: Two Alpine
inhabitants-the clouded yel/ow
butterfly and the ibex.
~ CONSERVATION
Huge areas of Alpine forest
are bulldozed each year to
make way for ski runs. De-
stroying the trees affects the
greater stability of the Alps
themselves. Trees playa vital
role in maintaining the
winter months by
feeding on stored
seeds and nuts
underground.
dark-stemmed sneezewort are
found at the highest altitudes.
Both plants are found above
the 14,OOO-foot level.
Many Alpine plants are found
at 9,200 feet. Many of them are
shaped like cushions, such as
the king of the Alps and the
moss campion. Their shape is a
special adaptation that protects
them from grazing animals,
moisture loss, and wind and
frost damage.
landscape. Their roots bind
the soil together and prevent
erosion. As the trees are felled,
avalanches and mudslides be-
come increasingly common.
Alpine forests are also being
destroyed by chemical emis-
sions from the industrialized
parts of Europe. The trees lose
their leaves and become weak
and are therefore unable to
withstand disease or gale-
force winds. It has been esti-
mated that 78 percent of the
Bavarian forests in the central
Alps have been damaged per-
manently.
The destruction of the trees
also has a damaging effect on
the animals and their habitats.
DID YOU KNOW?
The 14,700-foot Matter-
horn has been climbed by
more than 120,000 people.
Petrified remains of plants
and animals have been found
in the rocks of the Alps. They
have given scientists clues to
the geological history of the
area, which is at least 300
million years old.
MOUNT KILIMANJARO '" CARD 10
AND ITS WILDLIFE
.", GROUP 10: WORLD HABITATS "\
Mount Kilimanj aro, rising from the plains of northern Tanzania,
was formed by the violent eruption of ancient volcanoes and now
supports a wide variety of wildlife.
KEY FACTS
KILIMANJARO'S WILDLI FE
ZONE 1: Galagos, genet, tree
hyrax, common bulbul, white-
browed robin chat, tropical
boubou, speckled mousebird,
bronze sunbird.
ZONE 2: Blue monkey, black
and white colobus, olive
baboon, leopard, antelope,
lion, civet, mongoose, Kili-
manjaro bush pig, common
CLIMATE
The climate of Kilimanjaro is
determined by its geographic
location. It is 200 miles south
of the equator and there are
no mountain ranges between
it and the Indian Ocean. Con-
sequently, its lower slopes are
subject to hot, humid tropical
temperatures, but because of
CONSERVATION
Man is faced with several
problems in maintaining the
ecological balance and nat-
ural beauty of Mount Kili-
manjaro. The activities of
poachers, farmers, and
tourists threaten the native
plants and wildlife and can
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Above: The
augur buzzard
is one of the
larger hawks
(Zone 3).
Above right:
The African
civet (Zones
2&3).
Left: Olive
baboons live in
family groups
(Zone 2).
its great height, the upper
regions have a colder, drier
climate. The lower regions
have a greater abundance of
vegetation and wildlife,
whereas the higher altitudes
support little plant life.
The temperature varies,
depending on the zone, from
have a devastating effect on
the area's beautiful scenic and
geographic features.
In 1977, Kilimanjaro Na-
tional Park was established to
help preserve the area for the
enjoyment of present and
future generations. It encom-
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
and bush duiker, suni,
bush buck, silvery-cheeked
hornbill, hartlaub's turaco.
ZONE 3: Eland, common
duiker, buffalo, elephant,
klipspringer, mole rat, civet,
leopard, alpine or hill chat,
lammergeyer, crowned eagle,
augur buzzard, and a variety
of other bird species.
ZONE 4: Raven, spider,
ground-dwelling insects.
ZONE 5: No resident wildlife.
86F to well below freezing,
and the summit is covered
with a permanent layer of ice.
For every 650-foot rise in
elevation, the temperature
drops approximately 1 F.
March to June is the wettest
part of the year; the dry sea-
son runs June through July.
passes me 300-square-miles
above the 8,900-foot level. It
includes the moorland and
highland zones, Shira plateau,
and Kibo and Mawenzi peaks.
The Forest Reserve, estab-
lished in 1921, protects the
forest area below the park.
01 602001 11 PACKET 11
Mount Kilimanjaro has five widely
diverse climatic zones, all within
a relatively small area. It was formed
750,00 years ago by the activity of
three small volcanoes, which today give
the mountain its distinctive shape.
~ FEATURES OF KILIMANJARO
Mount Kilimanjaro was creat-
ed by the eruption of three
separate volcanoes over
750,000 years ago. Today
they form the three peaks.
Front inset: The striking black
and white colobus monkey.
~ Z O N E 1
This area is a continuation of
the open grassland that
surrounds Mount Kilimanjaro
and is fairly well cultivated
and grazed. Man has turned
what was once scrub, bush,
~ Z O N E 2
This is an area of beautiful
tropical forest that encircles
Mount Kilimanjaro and has
the richest concentration of
Kibo is the mountain's summit
at 1 9,340 feet.
The other two peaks are
called Mawenzi (16,880 feet)
and Shira (13,000 feet).
There are also five distinct
climatic zones.
and lowland forest into grass-
land and cultivated crop
fields. In the cultivated area,
large animals are rarely found,
but plenty of small animals
cohabit peacefully with man.
plant and animal life. An ideal
environment for a variety of
wildlife, 96 percent of Kiliman-
jaro's water originates here.
Left: A blue monkey feeds in the
forest canopy (Zone 2).
Above: Fruit trees provide food
for the silvery-cheeked hornbill
(Zone 2).
Lake
UGANDA Victoria
RWANDA
BURUNDI
Kilimanjaro
TANZANIA
KENYA
Indian
Ocean
AFRICA
o mi. 125 mi. .250 mi.
~ ZONE 3
This area is a low alpine zone
and is characterized by wet
scrubland. It is a cool region
and is easily recognized by the
giant daisylike plants, senecios,
and the lobelias that grow
here. Because of the sparse
vegetation and high altitude,
few large animals are found
here. There is, however, an
abundance of smaller animals,
especially birds.
Right top: A lammergeier surveys
the landscape (Zone 3).
Bottom: A klipspringer in its rocky
habitat (Zone 3).
~ ZONE 4
The climate of this high alpine
zone is extremely severe. It
receives strong sunlight and
little rain. The ground is dry and
barren, and the soil is so thin
that, if it does rain, it is washed
away. The variation in tempera-
ture is extreme as well, ranging
from 105F during the day to
32F at night.
Very little wildlife is able to
survive in this harsh climate.
Insects and spiders are the only
resident wildlife, and they use
the sparse vegetation as cover
from the strong winds. Large
birds of prey will feed in the
area but do not remain for any
length of time.
The highest area of Mount
Kilimanjaro is the summit
zone. Its climate is character-
ized by arctic conditions, being
freezing cold at night and sub-
ject to the sun's burning rays
during the day. The oxygen
level is half that found at sea
level, and any rain that falls
turns immediately to snow.
The extreme conditions make
the area inhospitable to an-
imals, although a few plant
species manage to survive.
20,000 ft
SUMMIT
ZONE 5
16,500 ft.
HIGH
ALPINE
ZONE 4
13,000 ft.
LOW ALPINE
ZONE 3
10,000 ft.
TROPICAL
FOREST
ZONE 2
1,250 ft.
OPEN
GRASSLAND
ZONE 1