SPECTACLED BEAR

... ORDER
Carnivora
FAMILY
Ursidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Tremarctos ornatus
The spectacled bear arrived in the Western Hemisphere during the Ice
Age about two million years ago, before any other member of its
family. It is now the only bear found in South America.
__________________________ __
f@ SIZES
Length: 4-7 ft. Male usually much
larger than female .
Height: 2-3 ft.
Weight: Male, 285-440 lb.
Female, 130-135 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2 years.
Gestation: 8-8y'; months.
Litter size: 1-3, usually 2.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Active year-round. Lives
alone or in family groups.
Diet: Mainly plants such as palms,
cacti, and fruit. Also some flesh,
including insects, mammals, and
dead animals.
Lifespan: Up to 36 years in
captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
One of 7 species in the family Ursi-
doe. Other species include the po-
lar bear, Ursus maritimus, and the
sloth bear, U. ursinus.
Range of the spectacled bear.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in a variety of habitats and altitudes in the Andes region
of South America, from Venezuela to Bolivia and Chile.
CONSERVATION
The spectacled bear is considered threatened. All of its habitats
are at risk from human interference and attempts to prohibit
hunting have not been very successful.
FEATURES OF THE SPECTACLED BEAR
Body: Although it is among the smaller
members of its family, the spectacled
bear has a typically heavy body. It has
short , powerful limbs, a short tail,
and a large head. Eyes and ears
are relatively small , and hear-
ing and sight are not as
acute as the keen
sense of smell. The
two sexes differ
widely in weight
and size.
MCMXCIV IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Coat: Thick. Uniformly black or dark brown,
except for varying amounts of white markings
on the face and chest. The white markings
around the eyes give the bear its name.
for climbing
and foraging.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. US P 6001 12 069 PACKET 69
The spectacled bear gets its name from the distinctive white
markings around its eyes. These markings extend to the
bear's muzzle and chest, providing a sharp contrast to its
dark brown or black coat. The markings vary considerably
between individuals in different parts of the animal's range
and barely appear at all on some spectacled bears.
~ HABITAT
The spectacled bear lives main-
ly in the Andes, at elevations of
5,000 to 6,500 feet. Its range
stretches from Venezuela and
Colombia south to Bolivia and
Chile. Although it prefers the
humidity of rainforests, the bear
also settles in grasslands and
semiarid scrubland.
The relative lack of oxygen at
such high altitudes slows most
animals down. But the specta-
cled bear seems remarkably un-
affected. A hardy, agile climber,
it forages constantly among
the trees.
Right: Small and helpless at birth,
the bear cubs mature slowly.
~ BREEDING
Because the spectacled bear 1947 in a zoo in Argentina.
lives in such remote areas, little After a gestation of eight to
is known about its breeding eight and a half months, the
habits in the wild. Some data female spectacled bear gives
has been gathered, however, birth to one to three young.
and supported by studies of The young stay near the moth-
the bear in captivity. The first er for at least one year before
captive bear to breed did so in leaving to live on their own.
~ SPECTACLED BEAR &: MAN
The spectacled bear has long
been threatened. Forest clear-
ance for lumber has destroyed
sections of its lower mountain
habitat, and the land is now
used for grazing cattle.
Attempts to protect the spec-
tacled bear have not been very
successful. Because of its fre-
quent descents into farmland
and its occasional attacks on
cattle, the bear is hunted by
local people who consider it a
Left: The spectacled bear is an agile
climber, like most of the smaller
members of the family Ursidae.
DID YOU KNOW?
Local people hunt the spec-
tacled bear for food. Some
parts of the bear's body also
have medicinal and ceremo-
nial uses.
The French naturalist Baron
Georges Cuvier was the first
to describe the spectacled
threat to livestock. In addition,
the bear is hunted as a source
of food. Its fat is used as cook-
ing oil and as a remedy for rheu-
matism. Its bones are cooked
with milk to produce a highly
nutritious liquid. Even its blood
is thought to possess nutrition-
al properties.
The spectacled bear is also
hunted for its hide. Sales flour-
ish, despite international legis-
lation prohibiting this trade.
Right: The sharp claws on its fore-
paws let the spectacled bear scale a
tree trunk with ease.
bear, after he saw a specimen
from South America in 1825.
The spectacled bear makes
a nest from the branches of
the trees in which it forages.
Using these branches, it con-
structs a platform on which it
rests during the day.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The spectacled bear eats main-
ly the leaves, stems, and roots
of plants. It is also fond of fruit.
In the semidesert regions of
Peru, this bear often feeds on
cacti. In the northwestern parts
of its range, it prefers young
palms, crushing their nuts and
leaves in its large, strong jaws.
Left: The spec-
tacled bear is
a good swim-
mer. But unlike
some of its rel-
atives to the
north, this bear
does not feed
on fish.
While it often tears down small
palm trees, it can easily climb
up larger ones when foraging
for food.
The spectacled bear also eats
some flesh, such as insects and
carrion (dead animals). Occa-
sionally it takes live mammals
such as llamas, cattle, and deer.
'" CARD 232 I
HANUMAN LANGUR
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~
ORDER
Primates
FAMILY
Cercopithecidae
GENUS &; SPECIES
Presby tis en tel/us
The hanuman langur is an agile tree monkey, but it can also
run very quickly on the ground. It moves across the forest floor,
on all fours, using its long tail for balance.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 1 ~ - 3 ~ ft.
Tail, 2 ~ - 3 ~ ft. Male is larger than
female.
Weight: Male, 20-45 lb. Female,
15-40 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 3 ~ years.
Male, 4-5 years but does not mate
until 6-7 years.
Breeding season: Varies, depending
on location.
Gestation: About 6 ~ months.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Day-active, sociable.
Diet: Mainly leaves, flowers, and
fruit. Occasionally insects.
Range of the hanuman langur.
DISTRIBUTION
Found throughout Pakistan, southern Tibet, Nepal, Bangla-
desh, most of India, and Sri Lanka.
Call: Male makes a whooping call to
signal a move to a new feeding area.
Lifespan: 22 years in captivity.
CONSERVATION
In much of its range, the hanuman langur faces few threats.
But in areas where it is not considered sacred, it is frequently
persecuted because it inflicts damage on gardens, orchards,
and fields.
RELATED SPECIES
The genus Presby tis contains 15
species of langur.
FEATURES OF THE HANUMAN LANGUR
Hands: Black
and bare. similar
to the feet. Long
fingers and
short thumbs
are adapted to
grasping
branches.
Face: Bare and
black. Ruff of
bristly white hair
frames face.
Body: Long and slen-
der. Adults have silvery
gray and buff fur with
darker coloring on the
chest. In colder parts of
the range, the fur thickens
during the winter months.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Tail: Long and
brownish gray,
with creamy
white tuft. Used
for balance
when jumping
between trees.
US P 6001 12068 PACKET 68
The hanuman langur is an adaptable monkey that lives in
a variety of habitats throughout the Indian subcontinent.
It is considered sacred according to Hindu tradition. For
this reason, the hanuman langur is treated with reverence
in much of its range. This animal is sometimes worshipped
and may even be found entering holy temples.
~ H A B I T S
The hanuman langur is very well
suited to living in trees. It can be
found in deciduous forests from
sea level to about 13,000 feet. It
lives in a variety of habitats, from
dry savannas to the snowy Hima-
layas of Nepal.
In parts of its range where it is
considered sacred, this langur
has become bold toward peo-
ple. But in other areas it stays
away from human habitations.
The hanuman langur is active
during the day. It sleeps at night
in hollow tree trunks or beneath
boulders in mountainous areas.
It moves with great agility from
one tree to the next, using its
very long, tufted tail for balance.
This animal may also spend
much of its time on the ground,
where it lopes around easily on
all fours. But the langur is more
nervous on the ground than in
the trees. At any sign of danger
it utters a barking call and then
climbs to safety in the trees.
The hanuman langur lives in a
family troop that usually con-
sists of 20 to 40 langurs led by
an older male. This stable family
unit ranges over a territory of up
to four square miles. To avoid
conflict with other langur troops,
a foraging group advertises its
presence with a whooping call.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
At dawn the hanuman langur
troop moves swiftly through
the trees, foraging for food.
The langur feeds primarily in
the trees, taking leaves, buds,
shoots, and flowers. But it also
descends to the ground and
gathers fallen fruit or nuts.
The troop stops at a suitable
spot to feed for approximately
half an hour. When the domi-
nant male utters a barking call,
the langurs move off to find a
fresh food source. The troop
rests at midday.
Left: The hanuman langur is not
only nimble in trees and on the
ground, but it can also swim.
DID YOU KNOW?
In parts of India where the
hanuman langur is considered
sacred, Hindus put out food
for the langurs every Tuesday,
I
which is the day of the mon-
key god, Hanuman.
Large troops of hanuman
langurs sometimes raid crops.
L-
The hanuman langur copes
with a large diet of tough, of-
ten indigestible food. It can eat
the fruit and seeds of the plant
Strychnos nox-vomica, without
ill effect, even though the plant
produces the poison strychnine.
The hanuman langur also seems
to like ak, a foul-smelling, latex-
bearing plant that most other
animals avoid.
The langur obtains important
minerals by eating soil or lick-
ing stones. It also occasionally
f eeds on insects.
Right: The hanuman langur is at
home in the trees, where it finds
most of its food.
Some farmers, not wanting to
harm the monkeys, are said to
have put them on trains to far-
off locations.
When an adult male takes
over a hanuman langur troop,
he sometimes attacks and kills
the young.
The breeding season of the han-
uman langur varies, depending
on the animal's location. Where
conditions are suitable, it breeds
year-round. Although males are
sexually mature at four or five
years old, they seldom mate for
another two or three years. This
is because the dominant male
prevents them from finding any
mates. He chases the younger
males away from sexually recep-
tive females.
The female is sexually mature
when she is three or four years
Left: The mother or another female
carries the single offspring soon
after birth.
Left: Although
the hanuman
langur obtains
moisture most-
ly from plants,
it often lives
near a water
supply, from
which it drinks
regular/y.
old. She attracts the male by
dropping her tail, shaking her
head repeatedly, and beating
the ground with her hand.
After a gestation of about six
and a half months, the female
gives birth to a single offspring,
usually when food is abundant.
The young suckles for up to 10
months. The mother often lets
the troop's other females groom
her and her offspring and even
suckle the infant.
Sometimes the young langur
is reluctant to leave its mother,
even when ready to be weaned.
But it is usually independent at
15 months.
SABLE ANTELOPE
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
~ ORDER
~ Artiodactyla
FAMILY
Bovidae
~ GENUS & SPECIES
~ Hippotragu5 niger
" CARD 233 I
The sable antelope grazes in open woodlands in eastern and
southern Africa. The glossy black coat of the male is in striking
contrast to the rich reddish brown coat of the female.
"l KEY FACTS
I ~ ~ I SIZES
<Si' Length: Head and body, 6-8 ft.
Tail, 15-18 in.
Horns: Up to 3 ft.
Height to shoulder: 3 ~ - 4 ~ ft.
Weight: 440-575 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years.
Breeding season: Varies, depend-
ing on location.
Gestation: 8-9 months.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable. Active in early
morning and midafternoon.
Diet: Mainly grass.
Call: Snort or shrill cry when
alarmed.
Lifespan: 19 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
The other species in the genus
Hippotragu5 is the roan antelope,
H. equinu5. The giant sable, H.
niger variani, is a subspecies.
Range of the sable antelope.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in woodland areas of eastern and southern Africa, from
Kenya to South Africa and from Angola to Mozambique.
CONSERVATION
The sable antelope is fairly rare, but numbers are increasing in
areas where hunting is prohibited. A related species, the blue-
buck, became extinct around 1800. The giant sable was re-
duced to 2,000 to 3,000 individuals in the early 1970s.
FEATURES OF THE SABLE ANTELOPE
Horns: Long, pointed, and curved.
Ringed with up to 60 deep grooves.
They grow from the forehead and
curve backward. The antelope
does not shed its horns.
Mane: Stiff long black hairs
run down the neck and onto
the back.
Tail: About 16 inches long, ending in
a tuft of thick black hairs. The area
under the tail
is white.
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Bull: The smooth coat is
glossy black with white on
the underparts and inner 6"/
thighs. The bold facial mark- . ' .
ings are also white. . ,
'N. - , r'I,
Calf: Both male and female young are
grayish brown at birth, then become
reddish brown. The young bull de-
velops a black coat as he matures.
PRINTED IN U.S,A.
Cow: Smaller
than the bull with
shorter horns.
The coat is a rich
reddish brown
color, with the
same white
markings as
the bull.
J
0160200611 PACKET 61
The bull sable antelope is a large animal that has
an especially impressive appearance because of its long,
curved horns, which may be up to three feet long. The
sable is one of the few species of antelope that uses its
horns as weapons. The animal uses its horns to fight
other bulls when defending its territory. It also uses
its horns to fight off predators, including lions.
~ HABITS
The sable antelope is found in
open woodland or nearby grass-
land where the vegetation is
fairly tall. It usually avoids dense
woods and dry savannas. It is
less able to tolerate dry condi-
tions than most antelope and is
never far from water.
Sable antelope form herds of
10 to 20 cows and their calves.
Several herds may graze togeth-
er in groups of 100 or more in-
dividuals. The young bulls form
bachelor herds.
During the mating season a
bull establishes a small breed-
ing territory that he may hold
for two years or more. At other
times he keeps to his own terri-
tory, which he marks by break-
ing branches off bushes and
trees with his horns.
Sable antelope graze peace-
ably with other large mammals.
But because the bulls are terri-
torial, they often fight among
themselves and may be aggres-
sive toward other antelope.
Although it generally flees
from danger, the sable ante-
lope confronts predators if nec-
essary. It has even been known
to fight off lions. If hurt or cor-
nered, the antelope defends
itself fiercely. It lets out a shrill
cry as it charges with its head
lowered and horns pointed at
the enemy.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Like other members of its fami-
ly, the sable antelope is a rumi-
nant-an animal that chews its
cud. This means that it returns
partially digested food to its
mouth to chew it again.
The sable antelope grazes on
grass in the early morning and
midafternoon. After eating, it
moves to a secluded spot where
it is protected from its enemies
while it chews its cud. A herd of
Left: The ringed horns of the sable
antelope are hollow and formed
around a bony base.
DID YOU KNOW?
When fleeing from a pre-
dator, the sable antelope can
run at speeds of up to 35
miles per hour.
The longest sable antelope
horn on record measured
just over four feet.
The giant sable, which lives
only in Angola, is a rare sub-
species of sable antelope. Its
sable antelope grazes over an
area of 4 to 125 square miles,
depending on the quality of the
grass. Even within this range the
animals are constantly on the
move. In the dry season, when
the grass is poor, the sable ante-
lope may also pick at leaves on
shrubs and bushes. Although
this diet provides some mois-
ture, the sable also needs to
drink water every day.
Right: The antelope grazes in the
open, then retreats to thicker cover
to chew its cud in safety.
body is only slightly l a r ~
than the sable's, but its horns
measure five and a half feet .
The sable antelope belongs
to a subfamily called Hippo-
traginae, meaning "horse-
like antelope."
Although they resemble
deer, antelope are more
closely related to cattle.
~ BREEDING
The mating season, or rut, of
the sable antelope lasts about
two months. The rut occurs at
different times, depending on
the animal's location. In Kenya,
for example, mating takes place
in June and July. Farther south,
in Zimbabwe, the sable breeds
between May and November.
During the rut a bull controls
a herd of cows. He snorts and
uses violent sweeps of his horns
to drive off other bulls and keep
the cows together.
After a gestation of eig ht or
nine months, the female gives
Left: In the breeding season, cows
and their young are herded togeth-
er by a dominant bull.
left: Unlike
many other
antelope spe-
cies, the sable is
always found
near a water
supply. It drinks
every morning
and evening. In
the heat of the
dry season, it
also drinks in
the middle of
the day.
birth to a single calf. Highly de-
veloped at birth, the calf weighs
25 to 30 pounds. The calfs gray-
ish brown coat already has the
white markings that distinguish
the adult's coat.
The calf is hidden while the
cow grazes with other females
that have given birth. She re-
turns to suckle it once or twice
a day, each time moving it to a
new place to hide it from preda-
tors. The calf stays in hiding for
1 0 to 20 days and then enters a
nursery herd led by one of the
older cows. The calves begin to
graze when they are just one
month old and are fully weaned
at eight months.
'" CARD 234 I
AVE-AVE
, , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Primates
FAMILY
Daubentoniidae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Daubentonia madagascoriensis
The aye-aye is one of the rarest species of primate in the world.
Only about SO individuals survive in the wild today. They live in
a small area of Madagascar, which is off Africa $ eastern coast.
"'I KEY FACTS
I ~ I SIZES
~ Length: Body, 1-1 ~ ft. Tail, 1 ~ - 2 ft.
Weight: 4 ~ lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3 years.
Mating season: Variable, but
births often occur in the spring.
Gestation: Unknown.
No. of young: 1 every 2 or 3
years.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary, night-active tree
dweller.
Diet: Insect larvae (especially bee-
tles), seeds, nuts, fruit, vegetable
matter.
Lifespan: Unknown.
RELATED SPECIES
The aye-aye is the only surviving
member of the family Dauben-
toniidae. It is closely related to the
other lemurs, many of which are
also close to extinction.
FEATURES OF THE AYE-AYE
Coat: Coarse and
long. Dark brown to
black with lighter
tinges.
Tail: Longer than
body. Bushy with
gray and black
hairs.
MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the aye-aye.
DISTRIBUTION
Restricted to two small, unconnected areas of rainforest on the
coast of Madagascar. Also found in a protected reserve on the
island of Nosy Mangabe, off Madagascar's eastern coast.
CONSERVATION
As few as 50 individuals survive in the wild. The protected
reserve provides the best chance of survival for the species,
which is threatened by hunting and habitat destruction.
Senses: Large
ears provide
good hearing.
Sight and smell
are also keen.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Fingers: Long and clawed.
The thin, bony middle finger
is used in grooming, feeding,
and drinking. This finger can
be manipulated in any direction
because its second joint
is modified to form a ball-
and-socket joint.
0160200581 PACKET 58
When naturalists discovered the aye-aye in
the 18th century, they had trouble deciding exactly
what kind of creature it was. At first, the aye-aye was
considered a member of the squirrel family. Later it was
believed to be a climbing marsupial. In fact, this primitive
primate is actually a highly specialized lemur that is
found only on the island of Madagascar.
~ HABITS
The aye-aye leads a mostly soli-
tary life in the rapidly disappear-
ing rainforest of Madagascar.
Naturalists have a difficult time
studying it in the wild because
it stays well hidden high in the
trees or deep in the dense bam-
boo jungle.
This night-active tree dweller
depends mainly on trees for its
food. Unlike most mammals, it
builds a nest-sometimes two or
more. It spends most of the day
sleeping in the nest, with its long
tail wrapped around its body.
Waking at dusk, the aye-aye
leaps about the branches of its
territory. An excellent climber, it
can hang from branches by its
hind legs, leaving its hands free
for holding food or grooming.
At night the aye-aye comes
down from the safety of the
trees. It scampers across the for-
est floor on all fours, with its tail
raised. It walks on the balls of its
hands because its fingers are so
long that it is unable to walk on
its palms.
The aye-aye uses very little vo-
cal communication. It may grunt
when searching for food or make
a violent sneezing sound when
it is alarmed.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
When searching for beetle lar-
vae, the aye-aye taps its thin,
bony middle finger against tree
bark and listens for sounds with
its large, sensitive ears. A hol-
low echo may indicate that
there is a beetle larva's tunnel
under the bark. After it has lo-
cated its prey, the aye-aye uses
its prominent incisor teeth to
chisel a hole in the bark. Then
it twists its finger inside in order
to scoop out the larva.
The aye-aye uses its powerful
left: The aye-aye feeds in the dark,
so its senses of hearing and sight
are especially keen.
DID YOU KNOW?
The aye-aye is named for the
sound of its alarm call.
According to one myth, the
aye-aye makes a grass cushion
for a villager who falls asleep
in the forests of Madagascar.
If the villager wakes to find
the cushion under his head,
he will become wealthy. If the
cushion is under his feet, he
teeth to crack open coconut
shells, giant bamboo, sugar-
cane stalks, nuts, and seeds.
With its middle finger it digs
out pith and pulp from fruit . It
"drinks" coconut milk by dip-
ping its middle finger into the
coconut, then quickly licking
off the milk.
The aye-aye also digs out
larvae buried in fruit pits. It
has even been known to at-
tack the nests of wild bees to
get the honey.
Right: The aye-aye cracks coconuts
with its teeth and digs out the food
with its middle finger.
will fall under an evil s::-l
In 1966 an attempt was
made to save the endangered
aye-aye by taking 11 individ-
uals to a protected reserve on
the island of Nosy Mangabe,
off the coast of Madagascar.
This reserve represents the
best chance of survival for
the species.
Unlike some lemurs, the aye-
aye is rarely seen in groups or
pairs. This solitary existence
makes mating difficult-one
reason for the rarity of the spe-
cies. A mother is seen with her
young very infrequently.
The aye-aye is one of the few
mammals that builds a nest.
Set high in the fork of a tree,
the nest is about 20 inches in
diameter. It is made from twigs
and rolled-up leaves. The nest
serves as a birthplace and nurs-
left: The female aye-aye probably
weans her single offspring after
one year.
left: The soli-
tary aye-aye
defends its
own territory.
It marks the
boundaries
with urine and
a scent that is
secreted from
special glands.
ery for the young aye-aye.
Apparently, there is no set
breeding season, but births
seem to be timed to take place
at the end of the rainy season,
when food is most plentiful.
A single young is born once
every two or three years.
The aye-aye is the only pri-
mate that has a pair of nipples
on its lower abdomen. The
young suckles for about a year
and then finds other food.
The year-old aye-aye is about
two-thirds the size of its par-
ents. It reaches full maturity
after about three years.
'" CARD 235 I
HOODED SEAL
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Pinnipedio
FAMILY
Phocidoe
.. GENUS lit SPECIES
~ Cystophoro cristoto
The hooded seal is one of the largest members of the seal family.
The pups have a beautiful bluish gray coat, for which
they are often killed by fur traders.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Male, 7-1 2 ft. Female, about
7 ft .
Weight: Male, 900 lb. Female, 600 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 3 years.
Breeding season: Late March.
Gestation: 1 year.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary, except during breed-
ing season.
Diet: Fish, squid, and crustaceans.
RELATED SPECIES
The hooded seal is related to other
members of the subfamily Phocinoe,
including the harp seal, Pogophilus
groenlondicus.
Range of the hooded seal.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean from Newfound-
land and Baffin Island in the west to Novaya Zemlya in the east.
CONSERVATION
Public pressure and governmental action have reduced the
number of seals killed for their fur. With a population of 250,000
to 400,000, the hooded seal is not in danger of extinction.
FEATURES OF THE HOODED SEAL
THE BULL'S HOOD
Habitat: Rests
and breeds on
sturdy, drifting
ice floes. Molts
on pack ice
between
Greenland and
Iceland.
- ~
Bull: Dark
back and light
gray underside,
covered with
light spots or
dark blotches.
Dark face and
flippers.
Newborn pup:
About 3 feet
Cow: Smaller
and paler than
bull with less
distinct body
markings.
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Deflated: The hood is an enlarged
nasal cavity that normally hangs
down in front of the bull 's mouth,
covering the front of his face.
Inflated: When the bull gets
aroused or angry, he closes his
nostrils and blows air into the
hood to expand it.
0160200501 PACKET 50
The hooded seal lives a solitary life in the deep, icy
waters of the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean.
It gets its name from a covering of loose skin over
the male's nose that he can inflate at will. The male
also has a bright red membrane that he can fill
with air so that it protrudes from one nostril,
looking like a huge bubble gum balloon.
1
Hooded seals have wan-
dered as far south of their
Arctic home as Florida.
The hooded seal is also
called the bladdernose seal.
The two sexes seem to
live in different areas out-
side the breeding season.
Eskimos regard hooded
seal meat as a delicacy.
HABITS
The hooded seal rarely appears
on dry land. It swims in deep
water with only the top of its
head breaking the surface. At
times it hauls out to rest on a
thick, drifting ice floe.
The hooded seal is solitary
for much of the year. After the
breeding season in late March,
family group members go their
FOOD &: FEEDING
The hooded seal's staple diet is
fish such as cod and herring,
but it also eats squid, octopus,
and plankton. It may be able to
dive down 600 feet for food,
and remains of mussels and
starfish from the seabed have
been found in its stomach. Dur-
ing the molting and breeding
seasons, it does not feed.
separate ways. A large group
may gather again in June and
July, when the seals molt (shed)
their fur on the pack ice be-
tween Greenland and Iceland.
After molting, the seals disperse.
As with other seal species, the
male is larger and heavier than
the female-he can weigh as
much as 900 pounds.
BREEDING
Hooded seal pups are born in
late March, when the cows
(females) come out of the
water to give birth on an ice
floe. The birth is strained since
the pup is large, weighing ap-
proximately 45 pounds.
The pup is born with a silvery
blue-gray coat that has earned
it the name of "blue-back." The
mother suckles it for 1 0 to 12
days. Several bulls (males) join
her, but she is aggressive to-
ward them until the suckling
period ends and she comes into
heat (is ready to mate).
As they wait for the cow to
become available, the bulls car-
ry out an aggressive display,
inflating their hoods and bal-
Left: A female hooded seal guards
her pup on the ice in the Gulf of st.
Lawrence, Canada.
loons and shaking them from
side to side while emitting a
loud roar. If this behavior does
not establish dominance, the
bulls fight, biting and clawing
at each other until one wins.
After mating takes place, the
female returns to the feeding

SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS
The hooded seal is named for threat display, but he may also
the adult male's inflatable inflate both while at rest.
hood. This enlargement of the
nasal cavity starts just at eye
level and hangs down in front
of the mouth when it is not
inflated. If the seal is excited,
he closes his nostrils and the
hood inflates to the size of a
I
soccer ball.
The adult male can also
blow a red balloon from one
nostril. He closes one nostril
and blows air into the hood.
The side with the closed nos-
tril inflates, causing the elastic
nasal membrane to bulge and
then balloon out through the
open nostril on the other side.
The male usually inflates his
hood or balloon as a mating or
Above: The pup has a short but
sleek coat that is silvery blue on its
back and creamy below.
grounds, and the bull moves on
to fight for another mate. The
pup remains on the ice for an-
other two weeks before taking
to the sea.
Below: The male can inflate his
hood only after his fourth year.
" CARD 236 I
MINKE WHALE
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Cetacea
FAMILY
Balaenopteridae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
The minke whale is the smallest of the great whales and possibly
the most abundant. It is found almost worldwide, from
icy arctic waters to warm tropical seas.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Male, 26 ft. Female, 27 ft.
Up to 35 ft. on record.
Weight: Average, 9 tons.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 5-7 years. Before
the 1940s, about 14 years.
Mating season: Late winter.
Gestation: 10 months.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Lives alone or in small
groups. Gathers in large num-
bers near rich food sources.
Range of the minke whale.
DISTRIBUTION
Diet: Mainly krill and microscopic
marine animals. Also small fish.
Call: Grunts and clicks in the 80Hz-
20kHz range.
Found almost worldwide, including polar and tropical seas.
CONSERVATION
Lifespan: Up to 60 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The 5 other species of rorqual,
contained in 2 genera, are the
blue, fin, sei, Bryde's and hump-
back whales.
The minke whale has been hunted since the 1930s, but hunt-
ing is now strictly controlled by international regulations. To-
day there are about 750,000 minke whales in the Southern
Hemisphere, while northern populations number 150,000.
FEATURES OF THE MINKE WHALE
Body shape: Sturdy. Smaller but
plumper than other rorquals. Jaws
are long and tapering. Skin is dark
gray on top, paler below. Some-
times there are pale, V-shaped
streaks behind the head.
Dorsal fin: Somewhat sickle-shaped.
Tail flukes:
Broad,
separated by
a distinct notch.
Flipper: Pointed.
Slightly more than 3 feet
long. Often has broad white patches,
but this feature is absent in many
individuals, especially those in the Atlantic.
Positioned two-thirds of the
way along the back.
Underside: White, witt. about 60 grooves running from the chin to the belly. These
are thought to be an aid to feeding. They expand as the whale opens its mouth,
allowing a huge intake of water and food. They may also contribute to the
whale's speed when swimming by making the body more streamlined.
MCMXCIV IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. us P 6001 12068 PACKET 68
The minke whale is a lively, inquisitive mammal that
has a variety of names, such as little piked whale and
lesser rorqual. It belongs to a group of whales known
collectively as rorquals. This word comes from the Norse
language and refers to the grooves or folds that stretch
from the whale's chin to its belly. It is thought that these
grooves are an aid to feeding as well as swimming.
~ HABITAT
The minke whale is found in
seas from the Arctic to the Ant-
arctic. Like all baleen whales,
it is mainly oceanic, but it ven-
tures into coastal areas where
the water is deep enough.
There are three distinct popu-
lations of minke whale: one
group in the northern Pacific,
one in the northern Atlantic,
and one in the oceans of the
Southern Hemisphere. These
whales migrate to warm waters
in the fall and return to colder
waters in the spring. But each
group migrates within its own
area, and the populations do
not seem to mix. Many minke
whales in temperate and sub-
tropical regions barely migrate.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The minke whale lives alone, in
pairs, or in small groups. But
large gatherings form where
food is abundant. Unlike many
whales, the minke whale does
not dive deep to find food, and
it stays underwater only a few
minutes at a time.
Like all baleen whales, the
minke whale feeds by opening
its mouth wide. It takes in huge
Left: The pointed jaw is one of the
identifying characteristics of the
minke whale.
DID YOU KNOW?
The minke whale's only nat-
ural enemy is the killer whale,
I
which probably kills the minke
by drowning it. One minke at-
tacked by killer whales was lat-
er found totally skinned.
The minke whale is a very
fast swimmer and has been
timed at speeds of 18 miles
per hour.
mouthfuls of water containing
small fish as well as planktonic
krill and mollusks. When the
whale closes its mouth, the
water is forced out. The food
is trapped inside by the baleen
plates--curtains of stiff, hornlike
material fringed with bristles.
The minke whale has 230 to
360 foot-long baleen plates on
both sides of its upper jaw.
Right: The minke whale surfaces
every few minutes-more often
than most whales.
A minke whale was the first
member of the rorqual family
kept in captivity. After a few
weeks, it broke through the
restraining nets and escaped.
In Antarctic waters, the
minke whale has been seen
breaking through pack ice
with its nose to make breath-
ing holes.
~ MINKE WHALE &: MAN
Given its small size, the minke
whale was not widely hunted in
the past. But with the decline of
larger species, it became a ma-
jor target, and its manageable
size and inquisitive nature made
~ BREEDING
The minke whale becomes sex-
ually mature when it reaches a
length of at least 24 feet in fe-
males and 23 feet in males. Ex-
perts believe that minke whales
are now reaching this length at
younger ages than in the past.
This is because the decline of
the whale population has made
Left: UnfortunatelYt a minke whale
can be seen clearly only when it is
stranded on land.
it an easy catch. Hunting peaked
during the 1970s, particularly in
the Atlantic and off Antarctica.
But today all whales, including
the minke, are protected by in-
ternational regulations.
more food available for whales
that remain, so the young grow
more quickly.
The minke whale mates in late
winter, a little later than other
rorquals. After a 1 O-month ges-
tation, the female gives birth to
one calf, usually in warm water.
The newborn is about nine feet
long. It stays near its mother and
suckles for four months. In that
time it almost doubles in length.
NARWHAL
ORDER
Cetacea
FAMILY
Monodontidae
~ R D 2 3 7
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS fit SPECIES
Monodon monoceros
The outstanding feature of the male narwhal is a long spiraling
tusk, which is actually a tooth. Although there are many theories
about this tusk, its function remains a mystery to scientists.
'S:l KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Male, 16 ft. Female,
l3-15 ft.
Tusk length: 5-10 ft.
Weight: Male, 1,750-3,500 lb.
Female, up to 2,000 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male, 8 years.
Female, 5 years.
Mating season: March to May.
Gestation: 15 months.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable; migratory.
Diet: Fish, crustaceans, squid.
Call: Clicks, moans, yelps, squeals,
and whistles.
Lifespan: 30-40 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The beluga, or white whale-
Delphinapterus leucas-1s close-
ly related.
FEATURES OF THE NARWHAL
THE MALE NARWHAL'S
TUSK
Two teeth grow horizontally from
the male's upper jaw. The left
tooth, which may grow to 10 feet
long, is the distinctive tusk.
Male's tusk: Pur-
pose unknown.
May be used to
dislodge food
from the
seabed.
Calf:
Range of the narwhal.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in Arctic and northern temperate waters near northern
Eurasia, northern North America, and Greenland.
CONSERVATION
The narwhal is threatened by pollution and illegal hunting. The
population is estimated at 25,000 to 30,000. About half of the
population occurs along the northwestern coast of Greenland.
---_._------------
Body: Torpedo-shaped for streamlined motion in water. Skin
on back is mottled black and white. Belly is white. Does not
have dorsal fin. Tips of rounded flippers (modified forelimbs)
curve slightly upward as the animal gets older.
Single young
is dark gray-blue
at birth.
o
I'-
I-
W
~
o
it
o
I'-
o
N
;;
o
<0
a..
(j)
::::>
The narwhal is related to the dolphin family. But
unlike dolphins, the narwhal does not have a dorsal fin.
This mammal can also be distinguished from its dolphin
relatives by the small ridges running along its back. Like
dolphins, the narwhal is a sociable creature. It lives in
herds, and it even shares its northernmost habitat, in
Arctic waters, with the beluga, or white whale.
~ H A B I T S
The narwhal is a sociable crea-
ture that lives in herds, or pods,
of up to 2,000 individuals. With
the exception of family pods, the
sexes and different age groups
tend to stay apart from one an-
other. Males of a similar age
swim in groups of eight to ten,
while females hunt in groups for
themselves and their calves. In
summer, herds of narwhals may
live peacefully alongside belu-
gas, or white whales.
The narwhal at times dozes
on the surface of icy waters. It
smashes thin ice with its head
to create breathing holes. The
whale guards these holes so it
can breathe, even when under
a large ice floe.
The narwhal leaves the Arctic
waters in fall, when the pack ice
begins to freeze over. It swims
south and winters in northern
temperate waters.
Right: Dark gray-blue at birth, the
narwhal calf gradually develops
the adult's speckled coloring.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The narwhal feeds on fish such
as Greenland halibut, polar cod,
and flounder. It also eats cuttle-
fish, crabs, shrimps, and squid.
The narwhal has acute hear-
ing and uses echolocation to
detect prey, much the way a bat
does. The narwhal sends out so-
nor (sound) waves that reflect
off any object within range. The
whale determines the position
of the object by measuring the
time that it takes for the echo to
bounce back.
The narwhal feeds in deep wa-
ters, diving to depths of 1,200
feet and remaining submerged
Left: Males of similar ages frequent-
ly stay together. But family pods
may contain males and females.
DID YOU KNOW?
In the Middle Ages it was
thought that the narwhal's
tusk came from the unicorn
and had miraculous curative
properties. The specimen
given to Queen Elizabeth I
is said to have been one of
her most prized possessions.
The narwhal's deathly col-
oring may relate to the origin
for 15 minutes at a time. Some-
times it descends to the seafloor
when searching for food. The
flexible vertebrae in its neck help
make this whale an agile hunter.
Narwhals have only two teeth.
In the male one tooth is inside
the upper part of his mouth.
Unlike the female, he also has
a tusk, which is an elongated
tooth that projects through his
upper lip. The tusk may be a
feeding tool, used for dislodg-
ing prey from the seabed. With
so few teeth, the narwhal can-
not chew. It seizes food in its
jaws and swallows it whole.
Right: The small ridges on its back
distinguish the narwhal from its
dolphin relatives.
of its name. It is said that the
name cames from nor; which
is an old Scandinavian word
for" corpse."
Narwhals have been found
swimming as far south as the
Netherlands.
A male narwhal may grow
two tusks, both with spirals
that run counterclockwise.
The narwhal mates from March
to May. Dominant males proba-
bly mate with large numbers of
females. After a 15-month ges-
tation, the female gives birth to
a single young. There is usually
a three-year interval before she
can give birth again.
The young, or calt emerges
tail-first from the female's body.
Using her nose, the mother im-
mediately pushes her calf to the
water's surface, so it can take its
first breath.
Left: The nar-
whal has tiny
eyes and uses
hearing rather
than sight to
locate objects
in the water. It
first emits high-
pitched sound
waves that reflect
off an object,
then interprets
these echoes to
locate the object.
The newborn is up to five feet
long, and it weighs about 175
pounds. With its dark gray-blue
coloring, it resembles a young
beluga. The calf gradually devel-
ops the white belly and speck-
led black-and-white back of the
adult. The male's tusk begins to
appear after a year and grows
to full length by the time he is
sexually mature at eight years
old. The young stays with its
mother until it is weaned, but
she often leaves it to find food.
SPOTTED CUSCUS
"=-
". ORDER
Marsupialia
FAMILY
Phalangeridae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Phalanger maculatus

The spotted cuscus is a slow-moving marsupial that lives
in the trees of tropical forests. Its huge eyes, which give it
an astonished look, allow it to see well in the dark.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 24-28 in
Tail, 16-20 in.
Weight: 11 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Mating: Any time of year.
Gestation: 1 6-1 7 days.
No. of young: 1-2.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary; lives in the trees.
Active at night.
Diet: Mainly leaves and fruit; also
insects, small mammals, reptiles,
birds, and bird eggs.
Lif espan: Up to 17 years i n captivi -
ty. Less in the wild.
RELATED SPECIES
In the family Phalangeridae, there
are 1 0 speci es of cuscus, 3 species
of brush-tailed possum, and the
rare scaly-tailed possum, which is
classified in a genus of its own.
Range of the spotted cuscus
DISTRIBUTION
Found in the forests of New Guinea and nearby islands, as well
as on t he Cape York Peninsula in northern Australia.
CONSERVATION
The spotted cuscus and several other species of cuscus are en-
dangered by overhunting and habitat destruction. Protected
areas are needed to ensure their survival.
FEATURES OF THE SPOTTED CUSCUS
Head: Rounded face, with
I ears almost hidden by fur.
are large, round, and pro-
with yellow rims and
...... _ I __ _ __ r upils.
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
claws and bare,
sli ghtly fu r-
rowed soles
help the ani-
mal grip
branches.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
The color of a cuscus may vary
with its age, health, or location.
Cuscuses in the same litter often
differ in color.
Tail: Very thick fur on top, but most
of the underside is hairless, with its
end part covered with scales. The
tail is prehensile (grasping) , so it
may be wrapped around a branch
for extra grip.
0160200631 PACKET 63
The spotted cuscus, which is sometimes called the
spotted phalange" is found mainly in New Guinea and
at the tip of northern Queensland in Australia. It spends
the day asleep in the trees and emerges at night to look
for food. Its fur color varies from one animal to anothe"
and only the male has the distinctive spotted coat.
~ HABITS
The spotted cuscus spends the
daytime curled up in a fork of
a tree, hidden by the thick fo-
liage of the tropical forest. At
dusk it wakes and begins its
nighttime search for food. It
moves through the branches
at a slow and sluggish pace,
using its long, gripping tail to
get a firm hold on the tree.
The spotted cuscus has been
described as looking like a mon-
key, and this resemblance has
led to reports of monkeys in
Australia, where there are no
monkeys. But the cuscus does
not move at all like a monkey.
Instead, it has been compared
to the slow-moving loris-an-
other night-active mammal,
which inhabits parts of Asia.
Like all cuscuses, the spotted
cuscus is solitary, eating and
sleeping alone. Any chance
meetings between individuals,
except for mating purposes,
tend to be aggressive, charac-
terized by vicious snarls and
barking noises.
Right: At night a young spotted
cuscus threads its way slowly
through the dense forest.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Like most members of the cus-
cus family, the spotted cuscus
eats mainly fruit and leaves, and
sometimes bark. It gathers this
food while moving through
the trees.
The spotted cuscus's teeth
Left: The spotted cuscus's large
eyes pick up any available light,
so it can see well at night.
~ ENEMIES
The slow-moving spotted cus-
cus cannot defend itself very
well, but it has few natural ene-
mies, aside from birds of prey
that take it from the trees. The
animal's thick fur offers some
protection, and its spotted coat
helps it blend into the forest.
DID YOU KNOW?
Different marsupial species
have different numbers of
teats. The koala has just 2, the
spotted cuscus has 4, and the
short-tailed opossum has 14.
If handled, even gently, a
cuscus emits a bad-smelling,
musky odor as a defense.
and its strong digestive system
also enable it to eat small mam-
mals, insects, reptiles, and bi rds,
as well as bird eggs. It catches
birds and lizards by surprise, si -
lently creeping up on them on
the branch of a tree.
Right: The spotted cuscus's sharp
claws and long, gripping tail are
useful for its life in the trees.
Humans are the main threat
to the spotted cuscus. Natives
value its flesh and fur, and they
often climb trees during the day
to capture the cuscus while it
sleeps. The spotted cuscus is
also threatened by destruction
of its habitat.
The spotted cuscus popula-
tion on the Cape York Penin-
sula in northern Queensland
in Australia is thought to have
been established thousands
of years ago by cuscuses that
crossed to the mainland on I
masses of vegetation. ~
Little is known about the breed-
ing habits of the spotted cuscus.
Mating seems to take place at
any time of year and is proba-
bly a slow, deliberate affai r. The
couple then separate and go
their own ways.
After a short gestation, the fe-
male gives birth to one or two
young. One indication that the
species can breed at any ti me
of year is that, if caught, the fe-
male always seems to have one
or two young in her forward-
opening pouch.
As with all marsupials, t he cus-
Left: Of the 10
cuscus species,
the spotted
cuscus is the
largest. The
variation in
coat pattern
from one indi-
vidual to an-
other is most
obvious in this
species.
cus newborns are tiny, hairless,
and underdeveloped. They
crawl into the mother's pouch
and attach themselves to one of
her teats. The teat swells in the
baby's mouth, which helps an-
chor the tiny animal in place.
The young remain in their
mother's pouch for four or five
months. They then crawl onto
her back and stay there, cling-
ing onto her fur until they are
weaned at about seven months.
The young male's fur changes
color several times before he
gains the familiar spotted coat.
" CARD 239 I
GIANT OTTER


ORDER
Carnivora
FAMILY
Mus teiidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Pteronura brasiliensis
The giant otter is the rarest of all the freshwater otters. It is also
one of the largest, reaching a maximum length of eight feet. Active
by day, this creature has long been an easy target for hunters.
--SII:J KEY FACTS
I SIZES
-s;' Length: Body, ft. Tail, ft.
Weight: 50-75 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Unknown, pos-
sibly 3-4 years.
Breeding season: Year-round, peak-
ing in early summer.
Gestation: months.
No. of young: Usually 2 or 3, occa-
sionally 4 or 5.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Territorial; lives in small
family groups.
Range of the giant otter.
DISTRIBUTION Diet: Fish, crustaceans, frogs.
Lifespan: 12 years in the wild;
13 years or more in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
The giant otter is found mainly in Brazil, Guyana, and Suriname.
Small, dwindling populations exist in most of the other South
American countries except Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay.
CONSERVATION
There are at least 1 2 species of otter
in 4 genera. The most widespread
are the river otters of the genus
Lutra. The giant otter is the only
species in its genus.
The giant otter is threatened by hunting for its fur and by loss of
habitat. It is now officially listed as vulnerable.
FEATURES OF THE GIANT OITER
Vibrissae: Whiskers
A GIANT AMONG
OTTERS
At 8 feet long, the giant
otter is almost twice as
long as the European otter,
which measures 5 feet.
Paws: Clawed, fully webbed digits enable the
ottf:rto paddle in water and to grip its fish prey.
MCMXCIV IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Body: Powerful and sinu-
ous, capable of "boneless"
contortions.
Tail: Flattened toward the tip.
A powerful swimming aid.
us P 6001 12 067 PACKET 67
The lithe, powerful giant otter is an amphibious hunter
that preys on spawning fish in the rivers running through
the tropical rainforests of South America. Also known
as the Brazilian otter, this animal is distinguished
from other freshwater otters by its impressive size,
boldly blotched throat, and flattened tail.
~ HABITAT
The lifestyle of the giant otter is
tied to the rise and fall of the
water level in the rainforests. In
the dry season, the otter is con-
fined to the sluggish waters of
creeks. But in the rainy season,
from April to September, it ven-
tures into the flooded jungle,
where many fish species spawn.
The giant otter prefers slow-
moving rivers with lush vegeta-
tion on the banks, where it can
find fish to hunt and dense cov-
er in which to escape from ene-
mies like the jaguar and puma.
Adaptations to its watery habi-
tat include its water-repellent
underfur and its paws, which
are webbed between the toes.
On land the otter is camou-
flaged by its pelt, which is sleek
and smooth when dry but dull
and spiky when wet.
Right: The giant otter lives in close-
knit family groups that feed and
rest together.
DID YOU KNOW?
Otters are the only truly am-
phibious members of the wea-
sel family.
Native people call the giant
otter the "water dog." They
raise the young as pets.
The generic name of the gi-
ant otter comes from Greek
~ FOOD & HUNTING
The giant otter hunts and rests
several times a day. It eats up
to nine pounds of fish, crusta-
ceans, and frogs daily. It prefers
slower fish such as characins
and catfish, which hide on the
bottoms of streams and lakes.
During the rainy season these
fish swim into the flooded for-
ests to spawn, and they remain
until the waters recede a few
months later. Their movements
are closely matched by the gi-
ant otter's.
Vibrissae (whiskers) on the ot-
ter's snout are sensitive to water
turbulence and help the animal
detect the movement of prey.
Left: The giant otter's strong teeth
can easily crush fish bones.
Right: The otter rests its elbows on
the bank and eats prey headfirst.
words meaning "winged tail."
The giant otter can swim in
tight circles to create a whirl-
pool that sucks up small fish
from the riverbed.
Despite its webbed toes, the
giant otter can handle food in
its paws with dexterity.
The giant otter mates in the wa-
ter at any time of year but most
often in early summer. There is
a strong bond between mating
pairs, and the female is domi-
nant. After a gestation of eight
to ten weeks, she gives birth to
two or three young. The new-
~ BEHAVIOR
The giant otter lives in a small
family group with four to eight
members. They hunt and rest
together and groom each other.
The group communicates with
a wide range of vocal sounds.
The presence of giant otters
is revealed by areas of flattened
vegetation along the bank of a
river. The otters use these clear-
ings as resting places and for
their burrows, which consist of
simple tunnels and chambers.
borns weigh about eight ounces.
The mother encourages her
cubs to take to the water, and
they remain with her for some
time, leaving just before she
mates again. After three to four
months, the cubs are complete-
ly weaned and begin hunting.
Family members scent-mark the
clearings to keep passing otters
away from the group's burrows.
The giant otter does not move
well on land, but it is exception-
ally fast and agile in the water.
Underwater the otter wriggles
its body sinuously like an eel. To
gain speed on the water's sur-
face, it beats its tail up and down
like a dolphin. The giant otter
can dive to depths of 10 feet for
over a minute at a time.
'" CARD 240 I
AFRICAN BUSH PIG
,, ________________________________
... ORDER ... FAMILY ... GENUS &: SPECIES
'11IIIIIIII Artiodactyla '11IIIIIIII Suidae '11IIIIIIII Potamochoerus porcus
The African bush pig is sometimes known as the red river hog
because of its reddish brown coat. This secretive animal lives in
humid forests and thickets, often near rivers or marshes.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Body, 3-5 ft. Tail, 1-1 ft.
Height: 2-3 ft .
Weight: 110-285 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3 years.
Breeding season: Fall.
Gestation: 4 months.
Litter size: Usually 3-4.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary or in small groups.
Diet: Vegetable matter, small ani-
mals, and carrion.
Call: A variety of threat, alarm,
and rallying grunts.
Lifespan: 10-15 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 8 species of wild pig in
the family Suidae, including the
wild boar, Sus scrofa. There are
13 subspecies of bush pig, includ-
ing the western and southern
bush pig.
Range of the African bush pig.
DISTRIBUTION
The African bush pig is found in damp forests, swamps, savan-
na, lower mountain thickets, and grassland throughout much
of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar.
CONSERVATION
The African bush pig is not under any threat. Its numbers have
increased in some parts of its range, especially where its enemy
the leopard has become scarce.
FEATURES OF THE AFRICAN BUSH PIG
Body: Strong,
stocky, and
compact for
moving through
dense under-
growth.
Western subspecies: Has a reddish
brown coat and a white mane running
along the back. The face and tips of
the ears have white hairs.
Southern subspecies: Has a more
uniform coloring of medium to dark
gray. Hairs around face and on top
of head are paler. Snout: Long,
with toughened,
mobile tip for
turning soil.
Feet: Hoofed, with 4 toes. However,
the animal walks only on the third and
fourth toes; the other 2 toes do not
touch the ground.
MCMXCVI IMP BV/ IMP INC. WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. us P 6001 12 076 PACKET 76
The African bush pig is found throughout most of
sub-Saharan Africa. This animal thrives wherever the
climate is damp enough to support dense vegetation and
keep the ground soft throughout the year. Soft ground is
essential for the bush pig because its diet consists mainly
of roots, which it digs up from the ground with the
specialized, toughened tip of its long snout.
HABITS
The African bush pig inhabits
densely vegetated forests and
thickets. Active mainly at night,
it usually spends the day in a
sleeping site made from plant
material. In very remote areas or
in cool weather, it may emerge
in daytime.
The bush pig is well adapted
to its habitat, with a compact
and powerful body, heavy shoul-
ders, and virtually no neck. This
physique enables it to force its
way through the undergrowth
and push away logs and rocks
when searching for food.
In the bush pig's low-visibility
environment, scent plays a vital
role. The animal secretes a sub-
stance from glands on its feet to
mark its territory and communi-
cate with other individuals. It
also relies on its acute sense of
smell to find food. When it finds
a supply of roots, it uses its long
snout and upturned tusks to dig
them up from the ground.
The bush pig can be solitary,
but it usually forms pairs or lives
in groups of bachelor boars or
sows and their young. Groups
known as sounders contain a
dominant boar and about 10
(but up to 40) members.

The African bush pig is sexually
mature at about three years old,
but a boar may not mate until
he is four years old. Mating usu-
ally occurs in fall, and the young
are born four months later.
The sow builds her nest in a
thicket, rock crevice, or hollow
tree and lines it with grass, reeds,
or shrubbery that she collects in
her mouth. She lays down the
lining with her muzzle and then
stamps on it to prepare a shal-
low indentation for her litter.
left: The African bush pig often
Jives near marshes and may spend
the day wallowing in mud.
DID YOU KNOW?
The African bush pig is found
in Madagascar but was proba-
bly brought there centuries
ago by humans.
The bush pig swims well,
holding its tail above the sur-
face. It can also swim under-
water, bringing its head up
every 15 seconds to breathe.
I Instead of consuming all the
The sow usually gives birth
to three or four piglets that are
black or brown with white or
yellow markings. They stay in
the nest for a few weeks and
suckle from their mother, each
"adopting" its own individual
teat. The piglets are weaned af-
ter about three months but stay
with their mother until she re-
produces again. If threatened,
the sow gives a warning grunt,
and the piglets crouch immo-
bile until the danger has passed.
Right: The African bush pig feeds
mainly on plant matter such as
roots, leaves, and bark.
roots of a plant, the bush pig
probably leaves some intact
so that the plant can contin-
ue to grow.
A bush pig uses its tusks to
scratch marks on trees within
its territory. The animal also
uses glandular secretions to
scent-mark trees and mem-
bers of its group.
The adult African bush pig is
preyed on most often by leop-
ards and pythons. The young
are easy prey for smaller cats,
eagles, lions, and hyenas.
Female bush pigs usually live
together peacefully, but males
often fight, crossing their tusks
in head-on confrontations.
Like other African wild pigs,
FOOD & FEEDI NG
The African bush pig's diet is
highly varied. Roots are its pri-
mary food, but it also eats fallen
fruit, fungi, and the rhizomes
(underground stems) of ferns
and grasses.
To get at the edible roots and
rhizomes, the African bush pig
uses its long, specially adapted
snout. At the end of the snout is
a toughened, mobile disk with
which the pig ploughs up soil. It
then pulls out roots with its two
short tusks, which are extended
left: By the age of six months the
bush pig loses the pattern of spots
and stripes on its coat.
the bush pig may carry African
swine fever. Transmitted by a
tick, this disease is fatal to do-
mestic pigs. Bush pigs also carry
tsetse flies, which cause sleeping
sickness in humans and fever in
animals. Humans have elimi-
nated the bush pig in some ar-
eas in an attempt to control all
of these diseases.
lower canine teeth. Because the
bush pig likes ground nuts and
the roots of maize, peas, and
beans, it frequently digs in culti-
vated fields, causing consider-
able damage to crops.
The bush pig also eats insects,
amphibians, reptiles, and the
eggs and young of birds. It is
especially fond of dung beetles
and will look through elephant
dung to pick them out.
The bush pig also eats larger
animals-usually in the form of
carrion (dead flesh}--but it has
been known to kill small ante-
lope and domestic livestock.