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' " CARD 281

WILD BOAR

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GROUP 1: MAMMALS ORDER Artiodactyla

FAMILY Suidae

. . GENUS &: SPECIES ~ Sus scrofa

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KEY FACTS SIZES Body length: 3-6 ft. Tail length: 12-16 in . Weight: 110-440 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 18 months. Mating season: Fall. Gestation: 3-4~ months. Litter size: Up to 12. LIFESTYLE Habit: Most active at dawn and dusk. Male is solitary. Female lives in family groups. Call: Grunts or squeaks used for communication and in mating. Diet: Fungi, leaves, ferns, roots, grasses, bulbs, fruits, insect larvae, worms, frogs, and mice. Lifespan: 15-20 years. RELATED SPECIES Related to the Pygmy hog, Sus salvanius; bearded pig, S. barbatus; Javan pig, S. verrucosus; and Celebes wild pig, S. celebensis.

FEATUR~S

Range of the wild boar. DISTRIBUTION Found in Europe, North Africa, Asia, Sumatra, Japan, and Taiwan. Introduced into North America. Semiwild pigs live in Australia, New Zealand, and North and South America. CONSERVATION The wild boar is widespread, but in Europe it is found only in large forests. It became extinct in Great Britain during the 17th century.

OF THE WILD BOAR ~~--------------~-------

Hide: Bristly and very thick. Helps protect the animal in thickets and during fights. Tusks: Enlarged canine teeth.

Piglets: Patterned with

The wild boar has passed on many traits to its descendant, the domestic pig. But the wild boar is slimmer, tougher, and more nimble than its farmyard relative.

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pale yellow stripes until about 6 months old. The stripes help to camouflage the piglets from predators.

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Nest: A hollow in the ground, usually well hidden by undergrowth. Female lines it with grass. 0160200631 PACKET 63

The wild boar lives in broad-leaved woodland and on areas of uncultivated grassland. Its thick skin allows it to penetrate

thickets that no other animal would enter, and its winter coat is especially coarse and bristly. The wild boar is a powerful animal that can inflict serious injuries with its tusks.

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FOOD & FEEDING

The wild boar feeds primarilyon plant matter, including fungi, grasses, fruits, leaves, ferns, roots, and bulbs. It also favors earthworms, insect larvae, frogs, and mice. The wild boar usually forages

HABITS

The wild boar wallows regularly in muddy lakes or swamps. This routine helps to remove parasites from the animal's skin. In hot climates, the mud coating on the boar's skin also protects it from the sun. The female wild boar is usually smaller than the male and has smaller tusks. She lives with her young in a herd of relatives led by an older sow (female). This group is known as a sounder. Its members feed, rest, and sleep together in a home range of four to eight square miles. Large mother-daughter groups sometimes split up into smaller sounders. The smaller groups often remain near one another, sharing feeding grounds, resting sites, and wallowing pools. Young male wild boars live together in bachelor groups. Older males live alone except during the mating season in fall, when they join up with females and other males. After mating, an older male returns to his solitary life. The wild boar uses a wide range of grunts and squeaks to communicate with other wild boars. It grunts regularly when feeding and uses a loud grunt as a warning call. When mating, the boar makes a constant grunting sound known as the mating chant.

DID YOU KNOW? for food at dawn and dusk. It spends much of its time rooting around in the debris on the woodland floor and in damp earth, using its snout and keen sense of smell to locate food.

• The wild boar piglet has stripes along its flanks that offer camouflage in the undergrowth. It loses the stripes at six months old, but it does not acquire the adult's blackish brown coat until one year.

Left: The wild boar needs a local source of water. It drinks the water and wallows in the mud.

• Each piglet claims a specific teat for suckling. The first few in the litter choose a teat near

Above: The thick skin and tough body of the male wild boar help him survive injuries inflicted by rivals during the mating season.

The wild boar is sexually mature at about 18 months old, but the male rarely mates before he is four years old. During the mating season, the usually solitary male joins a herd of females and fights other males for a mate. Using his tusks, the male slashes at the shoulders of rivals, often inflicting deep wounds. When courting a female, he tries to rest his chin on her rump as he makes his courtship chant. In preparation for the birth, the sow builds a nest of grass and retires to it alone. After a gestation of three to four and

a half months, she gives birth to a litter of up to 12 piglets. The piglets stay in the nest for about 10 days, until they can regulate their body temperature. Then mother and young are joined by the young from previous litters. The piglets are weaned at the age of three months, when they can forage for themselves. They remain with their mother and the herd at least until the next litter is born. Right: The wild boar is powerful and runs very fast. Captive boars have been known to charge at farmers, inflicting serious injuries.

Right: Pale stripes on the piglets' flanks provide good camouflage.

the sow's head, where they are more likely to attract her attention and less likely to be stepped on. • Unlike the curly tail of the domestic pig, the wild boar's tail is straight and is used for swatting flies. The angle at which the tail is held reveals the boar's mood.

CARD 282 ]

INDIAN MUNTJAC GROUP 1: MAMMALS . . ORDER ~ Artiodactyla

. . FAM ILY ~ Cervidae

.... G ENUS &: SPEC IES ~ Muntiacus muntjak

KEY FACTS SIZES Body length: 3 -4 ~ ft. Tail length: 5-9 in . Tusk length: Up to 1 in. Shoulder height : 16-26 in. Weight: 35-75 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 6 months. Mating: Yea r-round, but mainly in January and February. Gestation: About 7 months. No. of young: 1, rarely 2. LI FESTYLE Habit: Lives singly or in pairs. Territorial; mainly night-active. Diet: Leaves, fruit, bark, fungi.

Range of the Indian muntjac.

Lifespan: Up to 10 years in the wild. Oldest in captivity, 16 years. RELATED SPECI ES There are 5 other species of muntjac, including Reeves' muntjac,

Muntiacus reevesi.

DISTRIBUTION Occurs naturally in India, Nepal, Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Taiwan, and southern China. Introduced to England. CONSERVATION The Indian muntjac is one of the most abundant species in the genus, and populations appear to be stable. However, the species is threatened by overhunting and loss of habitat, which already endanger the black muntjac and Fea's muntjac.

FEATURES OF THE INDIAN MUNTJAC Antlers: Found only on males. Shed annually. Short and curved , with only one short side branch . Each antler is set on a long, bony, hair-covered projection that extends from the skull.

The Indian muntjac is a primitive species of deer native to Southeast Asia. A shy, nervous animal, it lives among dense vegetation that enables it to hide from predators.

Tail: Short and broad. Reveals white underpart when raised.

Scent glands: Two right below the eyes and two in a distinctive V shape on the forehead.

Coat: Short, soft hairs all over except ears. Color varies from dark brown to yellow- or graybrown with creamy white markings. Coat turns a richer chestnut color in summer.

Young: Has spotted coat and slightly darker coloring than adult.

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US P 6001 12074 PACKET 74

~ BREEDING Indian muntjacs may breed at any time, but they most often mate in January and February. At this time the bucks engage in a ritualized fight with rivals that determines which of them will mate. The males fight with their

Indian muntjac seems to be well equipped to deal with predators. Nevertheless, this small, elusive deer is always on the lookout for danger. When threatened, the Indian muntjac makes a loud barking sound, either to deter the intruder or to warn other animals. Then it runs away through the undergrowth to find a suitable place to hide.

~ HABITS

a hiding place while she feeds. The spotted fawn stays in the

sharp tusks rather than their antlers. Injuries rarely occur during the fight. But once it is over the

safety of the undergrowth until it is old enough to move around with its mother. The doe forces

victorious male may strike out with his tusks, injuring the los-

t he fawn to leave her and become independent before she

er's neck or throat.

is ready to mate again.

Left: The Indian muntjac uses the

Right: The introduced Reeves ' muntj ac inhabits deciduous woodland in southeastern England.

four scent glands on its face to mark its territory.

With its pointed antlers and its short, sharp tusks, the

Approximately seven months after mating, the female gives birth in a secluded spot, usually t o a single fawn . She licks the newborn clean and leaves it in

Left: During

DID YOU KNOW? • The Indian muntjac is also known as the barking deer because of the sound of its

The species known as Reeves'

warning cry.

in London's parks and gardens. .. John Reeves also gave his

• Fossils that are 15 to 30 million years old prove that Indian muntjacs once lived in parts of central Europe. • John Reeves sent the first Chinese muntjac to England.

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the breeding season bucks of other deer species wrestle rivals with their antlers. But the Indian muntjac fights with his sharp tusk~ enlarged canines that can be one inch long.

muntjac adapted well to life in England. Today it is even seen

name to a bird-the spectacular Reeves' pheasant. .. The 11 th Duke of Bedford imported a number of Indian muntjacs to England in 1900.

~ FOOD &: FEEDING

The Indian muntjac is generally

sense of smell and uses secre-

The Indian muntjac grazes in

to break it down to extract as

found in hilly areas, ranging in altitude from sea level to 3,200

tions from its facial glands to

clearings at dawn and dusk. It

many nutrients as possible. The

communicate with other deer. Scent is especially important to

feeds solely on plant mattermainly shrubs, roots, fungi, and bark. Farmers in some locations

half-digested food then travels back into the mouth. There it is

feet. It prefers to live in dense vegetation, where it can hide from predators. Unlike many other deer species, Indian muntjacs do not form herds. Individuals may live alone or in pairs, rarely leaving their own territories. During the breeding season does (females) often form small territories within the larger territory of a buck (male). Each doe defends her space from rival females. The Indian muntjac is active mainly at night. It has a good

animals like the Indian muntjac that are night-active and live in dense vegetation, where visibility is limited.

consider the Indian muntjac a pest because it wanders into

chewed a second time in a process known as chewing the cud.

cultivated fields to eat crops

Digestion is completed in the animal's second stomach.

A cautious animal, the Indian muntjac listens carefully for any

occasionally. After feeding, the Indian muntjac drinks from a

This very complicated process takes about 48 hours, but the

sound of danger while it eats. When it senses the presence of

nearby stream or river. Like all ruminants, the Indian

time is well spent. By chewing the plants two times, the Indiar'

a predator, it barks loudly. Then it runs off with bounding leaps

muntjac digests food in stages. While grazing, the deer chews

muntjac extracts more nutrients from them. By storing food in its

to take cover in the bushes.

its food briefly before swallowing it. The tough plant matter moves into the animal's first

stomach for later digestion, the animal cuts down on time spent

Right: The Indian muntjac finds protection from predators in the dense undergrowth.

stomach, where bacteria begin

grazing in the open, where it is vulnerable to predators.

~CARD2ill

SIDE-STRIPED JACKAL '\:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ G_R_O_U_P 1: MAMMALS ~

ORDER

~ Carnivora

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FAMILY

~ Canidae

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GENUS &: SPECIES

~ Canis adustus

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: Body, 2-2 ~ ft. Tail, 1-1 ~ ft. Height: About 1~ ft. Weight: 14-31 lb.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: 8-11 months. Breeding season: Varies, depending on location. Gestation period: 8-10 weeks. Litter size: Usually 3-6.

LIFESTYLE

Range of the side-striped jackal.

Habit: Social, living in close-knit packs. Pairs for life. Night-active. Diet: Small mammals, birds, liz-

DISTRIBUTION

ards, carrion, and fruit.

Found throughout central and western Africa and in Ethiopia

Call: Series of howls, yelps, growls,

and Somalia south to the Transvaal and Swaziland. It is absent

and barks. Lifespan: Usually 10-12 years.

from a large area of rainforest in central Africa.

RELATED SPECIES

The side-striped jackal does not appear to be under great pres-

There are 4 species of jackal, in-

sure at th is time. It is one of the more successful members of

cluding the rare Simien jackal,

the jackal family.

CONSERVATION

Canis simensis, of Ethiopia.

FEATURES OF TH E SIDE-STRIPED JACKAL Coat: Gray-brown with black flecks. Darker on upperparts. Dark stripe with white upper edge runs along flanks from elbow to hip.

Ears: Large and

pointed. Animal has excellent hearing. Muzzle: Narrow with typical wet, black nose of a dog species. Keen sense of smell.

Tail: Bushy. Mainly black with white tip.

The side-striped jackal is distinguished by the dark stripe on its flanks. Despite its reputation for scavenging, this timid jackal feeds on other predators kills only occasionally.

Pup: Bushy coat with less welldefined stripe.

Legs: Long , enabling the animal to run fast.

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~ FOOD & FEEDING The side-striped jackal preys on almost anything it can find and easily overpower. It eats various animals, including small mammals, ground-nesting birds, insects, and small reptiles. Although this fast, agile jackal is capable of running down its prey, the animal prefers to hunt by stealth. Loping through the undergrowth, it tracks prey with its keen senses of smell and hearleft: The side-striped jackal is an alert animal, with keen senses of

sight, hearing, and smell.

The side-striped jackal lives in a pack that often consists

DID YOU KNOW?

of two breeding adults and several young. In addition, a

• Jackals employ howls, yelps, growls, and barks to communicate. The side-striped jackal also has an owl-like hoot, from which it gets such local names as 0-/00 and bwoo.

pack may include a young female helper who assists the adults in raising their pups instead of producing her own young. In groups where there is a helper, the young side-striped jackals have a far greater chance of survival.

~ HABITS The side-striped jackal inhabits moist, lush regions of tropical Africa such as the edges of forests, savannas, and cultivated areas. It lives in close-knit family units, or packs, usually containing about six members. Active at night, the pack rests by day in a den, frequently another animal's burrow or an abandoned termite mound. Older pups and adults also rest under thickets. At dusk, the side-striped jackal emerges from cover to search for food. An adult pair forages within a small territory of up to one square mile. The animals scent-mark their territory with urine and feces, and the pack roams the area at night along well-defined tracks.

• This jackal can run at up to 37 miles per hour.

ing. The jackal then surprises its victim with a bounding leap, seizes it in its forepaws, and kills it with a bite from its sharp canine teeth. The side-striped jackal also eats fruit and carrion (dead animal flesh). It will watch a large predator, such as a lion, feeding on a kill and then step in to pick at the remains of the carcass after the predator leaves. Right: If attacked, the timid sidestriped jackal is more likely to flee than defend itself.

• There are many local superstitions about the side-striped jackal. An adult's boiled heart is believed to cure epilepsy, its howl is thought to warn of imminent death, and its skin and nails are believed to ward off evil spirits.

~ BREEDING

The side-striped jackal breeds at various times of the year, depending on its location. When a female jackal is in heat, her mate fiercely defends his mating rights, attacking any rivals that enter his territory. The female also chases away any rival females that wander into the area looking for a mate. After a gestation period of 8 to 10 weeks, the female gives birth to up to six pups in a den. Born blind and toothless, the pups feed on their mother's nutritious milk for their first five weeks. At two months old they are well developed enough to left: Although mainly nocturnal, the side-striped jackal may emerge in daytime.

join their parents on hunting trips. The adults may feed the pups regurgitated food until they are six to eight months old. At that age, the young leave the pack. The side-striped jackal is sexually mature at 8 to 11 months old, but not all females mate in their first year of maturity. Instead of breeding, a young female may act as a helper to the pack, aiding the adults in rearing the young. The parents are able to leave the den to hunt while the helper watches over the pups. Such assistance demonstrates the strong family ties in the pack and increases the chances of survival for the entire litter.

' " CARD 284

AFRICAN WILD ASS

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'"~~)

GROUP 1: MAMMALS '\.. . . . ORDER "1IIIIIIII

Perissodactyla

. . . FAMILY "1IIIIIIII

Equidae

. . . GENUS &: SPECIES "1IIIIIIII

~S

Equus asinus

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KEY FACTS SIZE Height: Male, 4 ft . to shoulder.

Female, slightly smaller.

BREEDING Sexual maturity: Female, 2 years.

Male first holds a territory at 5-7 years but may breed before then. Mating: Year-round but peaks in the wet season. Gestation: 11-12 months. No. of young: 1, occasionally 2.

LIFESTYLE Habit: Lives singly or in small herds. Diet: Grass, herbs, and foliage. lifespan: Rarely more than 15 years in the wild.

The African wild ass is found in Ethiopia and northern Somalia.

RELATED SPECIES

CONSERVATION

The 2 races of African wild ass have slightly different markings. The closest related species is the Asian wild ass. The zebras and horses are both closely related.

Populations have declined severely in the last 50 years as a result of hunting and competition with livestock for food and water. Many wild asses have been captured for breeding, and the wild herds are threatened with genetic extinction by interbreeding with escaped domesticated donkeys.

Range of the African wild ass.

DISTRIBUTION

FEATURES OF THE AFRICAN WILD ASS

,

SOMALI WILD ASS

Coloring : Gray or yellowish gray with white underparts.

Often has a dark stripe on its spine and a dark band across its shoulders. Lacks leg bands.

Grayish red or tan coat with lighter underparts. Up to 12 dark bands on each leg. Rarely has band across shoulders.

The African wild ass is better known in its domesticated form as the donkey. Long prized by humans, this member of the horse family can survive in conditions that are too harsh for other large mammals.

Hoot: Steeply sloping. Aids movement and balance on uneven terrain.

NUBIAN WILD ASS

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~ BREEDING

In the spring the strongest stallions mark out territories of up to six square miles. The mares in a territory mate only with the stallion that controls it. He tolerates other males in his territory only if they avoid females in breeding condition . By licking her newborn foal, the mare learns to distinguish its smell from others'. The newborn considers the first moving object it sees to be its mother, so the mare drives all other animals away from it. A mare may travel up to six

miles to find water, leaving her foal behind. Without fully developed reactions to danger, the foal is easy prey for lions, leopards, hyenas, and dogs. Only one in three foals survives. The foal is active within an hour of birth but stays with its mother for at least a year. The strong bond between mother and young may last until the foal is two years old . The female can breed annually, but she usually breeds every other year since raising a foal drains her strength.

Left: The surefooted African wild

Right: The wild ass rests by day and feeds in the cooler hours of

ass can roam over rugged landscapes with ease.

The deserts of northeast Africa are among the harshest environments on earth. Yet the African wild ass thrives in these inhospitable conditions. This hardy animal is able to travel great distances in search of food. Its special adaptations allow it to eat food that other animals cannot digest and to obtain moisture from even the most arid terrain.

~ HABITS

Despite its solitary nature, the African wild ass lives in herds of up to 30 animals for protection. The strongest stallion controls the herd . But within the herd, there seems to be no order of importance among individuals. The asses apparently follow each other at random while traveling in search of food . Like other members of the horse family, the wild ass communicates with facial expressions, calls, and whisks of its

fDj DYOUKNO~

• The wild ass can probably distinguish color. It sees in the dark almost as well as an owl. I • The wild ass is a fast runner. A related Asian ass was timed at 40 miles per hour. • The male wild ass stands his ground when attacked, while the rest of his herd flees. This has given him a reputation

late afternoon or night.

for stupidity among hunters, who find him an easy shot. In fact, the stallion is simply trying to defend his territory and mares. • The cross on the back of a donkey is rare in most wild ass populations. However, the cross is found on the Nubian wild ass.

~ AFRICAN WILD ASS &: MAN

The words ass and donkey may be used interchangeably, but ass usually refers to the wild animal and donkey to the domesticated beast. It is not known when the ass was first domesticated, but the donkey has been used since at least 3000 B.C. The donkey is prized as a pack animal in loca-

~ FOOD &: FEEDING

tail. The wild ass also has certain characteristic expressions : greeting (mouth open, ears up); threat (mouth open, ears back); and submission (mouth open, nibbling movements, ears down). The wild ass has a variety of calls, varying from whinnies, grunts, and barks to the familiar "hee-haw" bray of the male. Like horses, African wild asses groom each other for fleas and lice. They also wallow in mudbaths to keep cool.

The African wild ass is very well adapted to its harsh, arid environment. Its nose tissues absorb water vapor as the ass breathes out, helping the ass conserve water. Its high-crowned molars can grind tough food, and they regrow as they are worn away. The ass can also digest grasses that other animals cannot process. Because it is surefooted, the African wild ass can reach Left: The African wild ass feeds on tough, sparse vegetation and can survive on little moisture.

tions where horses do not thrive. The wild ass is larger than the donkey. Because of its strength, it is often captured for breeding with domestic stock. The mule is a cross between a horse and an ass and is used as a pack animal. It was once used in mines because it stayed calm in dark, cramped conditions.

food on ridges and mountaintops that are inaccessible to most other animals, with the exception of goats. The wild ass eats grass, herbs, and sometimes foliage from bushes. Since food and water are scarce in its habitat, the ass keeps moving in search of areas that have had recent rainfalls. With its keen night vision, the ass is able to feed in the cool of the night or late afternoon . During the day it stays out of the sun, resting in shady areas.

'\l

SAND CAT GROUP 1: MAMMALS ORDER Carnivora

FAMilY Felidae

GENUS &: SPECIES Felis margarita

l.el

KEY FACTS

SIZES length: Head and body, 16-22 in . Tail,10-14in. Weight: Male, 4~-7~ lb. Female, 3-7 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 10-12 months. Mating season: March to April. Gestation: About 2 months. No. of young: 2-4. LIFESTYLE Habit: Solitary. Night-active in summer; day-active in winter. Diet: Mainly small rodents. Call: Low-pitched meows and yaps; loud mating call. lifespan: 8 years in captivity.

•

Range of the sand cat.

DISTRIBUTION Small, patchy populations occur in North Africa, Israel, the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, and Turkmenia. Possibly also found in northern Iran.

RELATED SPECIES There is 1 other species of small cat in the Sahara region, the socalled wild cat, F. silvestris. It is larger than the sand cat.

CONSERVATION The sand cat is an endangered species. Exact numbers in the wild are unknown, but it is thought that the Pakistani subspecies may already be extinct.

FEATURES OF THE SAND CAT Ears: Large. Can pick up the slightest rustlings of prey.

Coat: Sandy with a dark tinge on the back. Underparts, bottoms of legs, and most of face are pale beige or white . Black bars on tail.

Set Iowan the sides of the head, so the sand cat remains unnoticed when crouching behind a rock.

legs: Very short, enabling the sand cat to move close to the ground and to crouch low while waiting to pounce on prey.

The sand cat is a solitary inhabitant of harsh, rocky ten'ain and desert regions. With its wide, flat face and large ears, it looks as harmless as a cartoon cat, but it is actually a skillful, ferocious hunter.

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0160200831 PACKET 83

~ BREEDING

Although it looks very much like a domestic cat at first glance, the sand cat actually has a stockier body and shorter legs than the average tabby. On the pads of its feet, it has dense mats of long, wavy hairs that provide protection from burning sand and rock and also give a good grip on loose ground. The sand cat also has large, low-set ears that help it detect the sounds of prey while remaining hidden from view.

~ HABITAT

The sand cat sometimes lives in rocky country. However, it prefers sandy deserts, where it can dig a burrow easily. It attempts to find a slope in which to dig its burrow, which may be up to five feet deep with an entrance lined with twigs and leaves. Alternatively, the animal takes over the abandoned home of a rodent or hedgehog, scooping out the tunnel until it is at least six inches wide. In harsher terrain, it often goes without shelter, simply curling up on rocks and stones.

The sand cat probably wanders over an area of about three square miles every night. At one time it inhabited much of the Sahara region and the Middle East as well as Turkmenia and southwestern Pakistan, but today only small, scattered populations remain. Urbanization, particularly in Israel, has caused numbers to drop to dangerous levels, and the species may already be extinct in Pakistan. Right: The sand cat hunts at night,

pouncing with lethal precision on its prey.

The sand cat's mating call is very loud for such a small animal-probably because there are so few left in the wild that finding a mate is not easy. The animals mate between March and April, and the female bears two to four kittens about two months later. She gives birth in a burrow, if she has one, or in a rock crevice. The newborns are blind but furred, and weigh approximately two ounces. The dark markings on their coats gradually fade as they mature.

Their eyes open after approximately two weeks. The young venture from their burrow or crevice when about three weeks old. At five weeks, they can eat solid food, which is caught by their mother, and they are fully independent after three or four months. The mother generally raises her offspring alone. If a predator approaches, she arches her back and raises her hackles, hissing, spitting, and slashing at the intruder with her claws.

Left: The sand cat may be small and cute-looking, but it is a wild cat with a ferocious nature.

Right: The young sand cat has dark markings on its coat, but they fade as the cat matures. Left: The sand

DID YOU KNOW? • The sand cat is not the smallest wild cat that lives in Africa. The black-footed cat, its relative, measures only 13 inches from head to rump. That cat is named for the black pads on the undersides of its feet. • There are about nine sand cats in zoos worldwide. These animals are all descended from

cat's coloring blends in perfectly against sandy ground. When crouching absolutely still, the cat remains undetected by its main enemies, which are wolves and birds of prey.

just one pair, so they are becoming inbred. • The sand cat got its species name in honor of the French explorer General Margueritte. He led an expedition to the Sahara in 1855 and was the first European to discover the sand cat, capturing one on the border between Libya and Algeria.

~ FOOD &: HUNTING

Small rodents make up over 80 percent of the sand cat's diet. About half of these are gerbils, and the rest are mainly jerboas and ground squirrels. This cat also eats small birds, lizards, and large insects such as locusts. The sand cat begins hunting at dusk, coming out of its burrow or down from a rock where it has been resting. Like most cats, it hunts by stealth, using its acute eyesight and hearing. It hides behind any available cover, motionless, with its ears lying flat against its head, and then

makes a sudden dash to pounce on its victim. It kills by biting its prey through the neck and shaking it vigorously. Then it tears at the flesh with its sharp teeth. The sand cat may spend most of the night prowling its territory until it catches enough prey to fill its stomach. If it makes several kills in one night, it may eat so much that it has no need to hunt again for several nights. It seems able to live without a constant supply of water, probably because it obtains the moisture it needs from its prey.

KEY FACTS

----------------------------------------------~

BUSH DOG GROUP 1: MAMMALS ORDER Carnivora

FAMILY Canidae

GENUS & SPECIES Speothos venaticus

SIZES Length: 2 -2 ~ ft. Tail: 5-6 in. Weight: 11-15 lb . BREEDING Breeding season: Variable. Births usually occur in the rainy season. Sexual maturity: 14-18 months. Gestation: About 2 months. Litter size: 4-6. Weaning period: 3-6 months.

I

LIFESTYLE Habit: Mostly day-active. Often

Range of the bush dog.

hunts in small packs. Diet: Mammals up to the size of a

DISTRIBUTION

capybara. Occasionally eats fruit. Lifespan: 10 years in captivity.

Found in forest, swamp, savanna, and bush terrain in Panama, northern South America, and parts of Brazil. CONSERVATION

RELATED SPECIES

The bush dog is capable of adapting to a variety of habitats. But suitable habitat is disappearing so fast that the animal is becoming rare throughout its range.

The bush dog is the only species in its genus. It is a member of the dog family, which has 35 species.

FEATURES OF THE BUSH DOG Head: Small and solid , with a . short, thick snout and very small ears. The fur on the head is lighter brown than on the rest of the body.

Body: Compact and muscular. Fairly long with short, dark reddish brown fur.

stumpy with dark brown to black fur.

The bush dog lives in a variety of habitats, from tropical swamps and mountain forests to savanna and bush terrain. Seldom seen in the wild, it is becoming rare throughout its range.

Legs: Short and strong , so the bush dog is close to the ground and can push through vegetation .

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~ FOOD & HUNTING

Although it is a wild dog, the bush dog looks more

The bush dog occasionally eats fruit that it finds on the ground. But it is primarily a flesh eater, hunting for prey alone or in a pack of four to seven. By hunting in a pack, the bush dog can tackle prey larger than itself. It often hunts rodents such as pacas, agoutis, and capybaras, and it even attacks small deer. The bush dog is a fairly good swimmer, and it may be found close to rivers and swamps. In these areas it often ambushes

prey. First a few members of the pack drive the victim toward the water. There it is attacked by the other members of the group, which have been lying in wait in the shallows. Bush dogs are very cooperative hunters, sharing the chase and dividing the kill. Litters of young bush dogs do not squabble much over food, which is unusual for canine pups. This unselfish tendency seems to continue into adult life.

Left: A rare member of the dog fam ily, the bush dog is seldom seen in open terrain.

Right: The bush dog 's stocky build helps it to move with ease through dense undergrowth.

vegetation in the forest. It is strong for its size and often

• The bush dog is also known as the vinegar fox and the forest wild dog. • A bush dog living in Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo attacked and then ate small chickens and pigeons. It also ate rats and mice.

hunts in packs, enabling it to take relatively large prey.

• The bush dog communicates with a range of clicks,

like a cross between a bear and a weasel. This animal has a long and muscular body, stocky legs, and a short, stumpy tail. Because it is so close to the ground, the bush dog can move rapidly, pushing its way through dense

~ HABITS The bush dog is active mostly during daylight hours, especially at dawn and dusk. It sleeps periodically during the day, taking refuge in a hole or burrow that is frequently an abandoned den of another animal. When necessary, the bush dog digs its own shelter. A sociable animal, the bush dog usually lives and hunts in fairly small groups. The members of a group keep in close contact by regularly sniffing one another. When foraging in dense forest, where visibility is poor, they keep together by

Left: The bush dog has the fewest teeth of all the dogs. It uses the large cheek teeth in the side of its mouth to bite through meat and bone. The bush dog has very few molars for grinding.

DID YOU KNOW? whistles, and chirps, as well as growls and whines. • The name of the bush dog's genus, Speothos, comes from the Greek words for "jackal" and "cave." Its species name, venaticus, is Latin for "hunting." So the bush dog was initially considered a "hunting cave jackal."

~ BREEDING making frequent whining calls . Male and female bush dogs use scent to mark their territories. The male scent-marks by raising his leg to urinate. The female backs up to a tree and stands on her forepaws before marking it with her scent. Despite its fairly small size, the bush dog is very ferocious. When threatened, it bares its teeth and growls. At times it will even grab and bite an enemy's throat. The bush dog is easy to tame, however. Local people often capture and raise it as a pet or hunting dog.

Scientists do not know much about the bush dog's breeding habits. The animal's breeding season varies in different parts of its range, but births often occur in the rainy season. It is thought that the female comes into heat twice a year. She is in heat for approximately two weeks. During the first week, she is very active, digging a burrow for her young and marking her territory with urine. By sniffing the scent, the Left: The young remain with their mother even when they are almost fully grown.

male bush dog discovers that the female is ready to mate. About two months after mating, the female gives birth to a litter of four to six pups. She suckles them for as long as six months, but after about four weeks the pups also eat regurgitated food that the male bush dog brings to the burrow. The family group stays together for as long as 18 months-until the young reach full sexual maturity. The young do not leave the family before that time, even though they are no longer dependent on their parents.

GREATER FALSE VAMPIRE BAT

" CARD 287 1 GROUP 1: MAMMALS

ORDER Chiroptera

FAMilY Megadermatidae

GENUS & SPECIES Megaderma lyra

KEY FACTS SIZES l ength: 2-4 in. Weight: 1~-2 oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 2 years. Mating: November to January. Gestation: About 5 months. No. of young: Usually 1. LIFESTYLE Habit: lives alone or in groups of up to 30 individuals. Diet: Mainly insects; also small reptiles, birds, rodents, and fish. Call: Emits short, quiet echolocation signals through nose. lifespan: Many die in the first year. Can live at least 1 8 years in captivity. RELATED SPECIES The family Megadermatidae contains 5 species. The largest is the Australian ghost bat, Macroderma gigas, which can grow 5 ~ inches long.

Range of the greater false vampire bat. DISTRIBUTION The greater false vampire bat is found from Pakistan, India, and Sri lanka east to China and the Malay Peninsula. CONSERVATION like other species in its family, the greater false vampire bat is considered endangered. This status is a result of extensive habitat destruction to make way for land development.

FEATURES OF THE GREATER FALSE VAMPIRE BAT Wings: Upper arm is shorter than forearm. Short, clawed thumb is for manipulating food. Double membrane of skin stretches between the other 4 digits and down to the legs.

Snout: Covered in a layer of elaborate folds of skin , known as nose leaves, which help modify echolocation pulses.

Legs: Thin; project sideways. Knee joints bend backward. The 5 clawed toes are the same length. Coat: Short, light brownish gray. limbs have a pinkish tinge.

The greater false vampire bat does not drink the blood of other animals. Instead, it is a true flesh eater, consuming mainly insects, but also some rodents, reptiles, small birds, and fish. © MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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Ears: Complex and highly sensitive. Help the bat get a rough fix on prey before it forms a more precise "sound picture" with the use of echolocation. 0160200601 PACKET 60

~ BREEDING

The greater false vampire bat mates once a year, in late fall or winter. After mating, the male takes no responsibility for rearing his offspring. The female conceives immediately and gives birth after five months. Toward the end of her pregnancy, she starts to distance herself from the male and prepares to give birth in a colony

that is made up of females only. All births in the colony occur over a period of 8 to 10 days. Usually only one young is born to each mother, but twins may occur. The mother carries her offspring continuously for the first 20 to 25 days. Even when it is able to move about on its own, the young bat continues to suckle for another 15 to 20 days.

Left: Bats are the only mammals

Right: The greater false vampire bat often takes freshly killed food back to its roost to eat.

that really fly. Their wings are taut double membranes of skin.

An inhabitant of tropical areas in Asia, the greater false vampire bat makes its home mainly in caves and rock crevices. But land development has caused a steady loss of its natural habitats, so it has learned

to adapt to man-made quarters. This bat now uses underground tunnels, the cellars of old buildings, and farmyard sheds as alternative roosting places.

~ HABITS

The greater false vampire bat looks grotesque with its pale coloring, fairly large size, and conspicuous extra fold of skin around its nostrils. There are different stories about how it got its name. One account suggests that it looks more like a vampire than true, bloodsucking vampire bats do. Another points out its similarity to Vampyrum spectrum, a South American bat once thought to be the true vampire. The greater false vampire bat has large eyes, suggesting that it uses its sight to some extent when hunting. It also has fairly large ears, which twitch constantly and pick up the slightest sound of nearby prey. But, like

most other predatory bats, it navigates and finds food mainly by echolocation. It emits short bursts of high-frequency sound waves that travel through the air until they hit nearby objects. They bounce back as an echo, and the bat interprets the returning sound waves to locate each object precisely--even in total darkness. The greater false vampire bat produces a relatively low volume of sound and does not emit waves very frequently. It produces a short burst of 30 to 50 pulses per second between long periods of silence. This gives potential prey almost no warning of the bat's attack.

Left: Many bats are plant eaters, but the greater false vampire bat is a flesh eater. It eats small rodents like this as well as insects.

DID YOU KNOW? • Roughly equal numbers of male and female greater false vampire bats are born. However, the proportion of males soon drops to 40 percent and continues to decline. It is not known why males die earlier. • Fossils of false vampire bats have been found in Europe, proving that these tropical

~ FOOD & FEEDING Like many bats, the greater false vampire bat feeds mostly on insects. But it is one of the few bats that also eats lizards, frogs, fish, birds, rodents, and other, smaller bats. Its large canine teeth are well suited to eating flesh. Unlike most bat species, the false vampire does not hunt continuously while in the air. Instead, it waits until it hears the rustling of potential prey. The bat then turns its large ears toward the sound and listens intently. It emits high-frequency pulses to track the victim's 10Left: The complicated folds of skin on the bat's nose help it modify its echolocation pulses.

bats were once more widespread than they are today. • The greater false vampire bat's scientific species name, lyra, derives from the roughly lyre-shaped excess skin around the nose. • This species is also called the whispering bat, because of its quiet and infrequent pulses.

cation even more precisely. If the prey moves closer, the bat hovers directly above the victim for a few seconds, checks its position, and then swoops down to enfold the prey in its wings. After locating the victim's head, the bat quickly bites the neck or throat to kill the animal. The bat may rest on the ground for a few moments, but takes off again with ease, even if it is carrying a victim as heavy as itself. An examination of the greater false vampire's droppings shows that it consumes the entire body of its prey and excretes the bones, claws, fur, and teeth .

' " CARD 288 I

GREATER HORSESHOE BAT

,,~----------------------------~~~~~~~~ GENUS &: SPECIES FAMILY ORDER ~

Chiroptera

Rhinolophidae

Rhinolophus ferrumequinum

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: Head and body, 2-3 in . Tail, 1-1 ~ in. Wingspan: 13-15 in. Weight: ~-1 oz. BREEDING Sexual maturity: Female, 4 years. Male, 2 years. Mating season: Late September through winter. Gestation: About 3 months after delayed fertilization. No. of young: 1 . LIFESTYLE Habit: Usually roosts and hibernates in colonies. Diet: Moths and large beetles. lifespan: Up to 22 years in the wild. RELATED SPECIES There are about 70 species of horseshoe bat.

The greater horseshoe bat gets its name from the distinctive arrangement of lobes around its nostrils. These lobes are used to focus sound. They have nothing to do with the bat ~ sense of smell.

Lancet

Fleshy middle section

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Range of the greater horseshoe bat. DISTRIBUTION The greater horseshoe bat is found from southern England and Morocco eastward across temperate Eurasia to China, Korea, and Japan. CONSERVATION The greater horseshoe bat has declined greatly in the last century, mostly because of habitat loss. In England it is fully protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Feeding: The bat patrols a small area and uses echolocation to locate an insect. It then swoops down on the prey, envelops it in its wings, and maneuvers it into its mouth. PRINTED IN U.S.A.

0160200611 PACKET 61

~ BREEDING

~

FOOD &: FEEDING The greater horseshoe bat feeds on insects, especially slow-flying moths and large beetles. It feeds at night and emerges from its roost only after sunset-later than most other bat species. It has regular feeding areas and flies along recognized flight paths, often beside a stream or river. The bat catches most of its prey within 20 feet of the ground. Like most insect-eating bats, the horseshoe bat scoops up an insect with its wing membranes instead of catching it with its mouth. It uses its membranes like hands to maneuver the insect into its mouth. It may then alight or return to its roost to eat more easily.

Top right: The greater horseshoe bat moves its nose while flying to change the sound signals' direction. left: The greater horseshoe bat uses echolocation to locate prey before

catching the victim in its wings.

There are nearly 70 species of horseshoe bat. Although most of these bats are found in Africa or Asia, there are three species--the greater, lesser, and Mediterranea~ that are found in Europe. Horseshoe bats are the only European bats that do not close their wings against the sides of their bodies when they roost. Instead, horseshoe bats wrap their wings around themselves when roosting.

~

HABITS The greater horseshoe bat is found around the edges of well-wooded countryside. In summer it roosts in attics and farm buildings. In winter it hibernates in tunnels, cellars, and draft-free, humid caves.

The bats usually roost and hibernate in colonies. During hibernation the bat's body temperature and breathing rate drop dramatically, but it is easily disturbed by noise and light.

DID YOU KNOW? • In hibernation the horseshoe bat's breathing rate can slow to 10 breaths an hour. When it is ready to fly from the roost, the rate rises to 200 breaths per minute. • The horseshoe bat may take 50 minutes to wake up during hibernation. • As it flies, the horseshoe bat moves its ears backward

and forward up to 60 times a second. This lets it receive the echoes that come back from its ultrasonic sounds. • The lesser horseshoe bat weighs up to one-third of an ounce and is the smallest species of horseshoe bat. • The greater horseshoe bat is one of the rarest mammals in Europe.

[ ,~; ;~

NATUREWATCH

The greater horseshoe bat is hard to spot because it flies at night. In some areas it is illegal to seek out its roosts, since the bats are easily disturbed. The bat has broad, stubby wings and a fluttering flight. It alights by somersaulting and rests hanging by its feet.

. left: Large groups of bats cluster together on the roofs of caves and

old mines when they are hibernating. This helps keep their body temperature constant.

The greater horseshoe bat mates during its winter hibernation, but the female stores the sperm until she ovulates (produces eggs) in the spring. Pregnant females form large colonies, which contain nonbreeding and juvenile females as well as immature males. The males visit these roosts to attract females for future mating. Births occur around mid-July, and usually one young is born. The blind newborn may suckle within minutes of birth. It may travel with its mother, grasping one of her dummy teats. But usually young bats stay in the roost while the females forage. Ayoung bat can fly after three weeks and is independent at six weeks. Adults do not breed every year, and a female is not sexually mature until age four. This slow breeding rate makes bats vulnerable to population losses.

~ &:MAN HORSESHOE BAT During the 20th century there has been a 90 percent decline in the population of the greater horseshoe bat. This drastic drop in population can be indirectly linked to humans. The main reason for the decline of the greater horseshoe bat is destruction of its roosts in buildings. Changes in farming methods have also reduced pastures where the dung beetle--a major food source for the bat-once thrived. Other reasons for the decline of the species include the loss of its woodland-fringed habitats and hibernation sites like caves.

KEY FACTS

' " CARD 289

GELADA BABOON

,,~--------------------------------------------~ FAMILY GENUS fit SPECIES ORDER ~

Primates

Cercopithecidae

Theropithecus ge/ada

SIZES Length: Head and body, 1 ~-2 ~ ft. Tail, about 2 ~ ft . Weight: Male, 45 lb. Female, about 30 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: Male, 8 years. Female, 3-4 years. Mating season: Fall. No. of young: Almost always 1. Gestation: 5-6 ~ months. Weaning period: 2 years. LIFESTYLE Habit: Day-active ground dweller. Lives in large troops. Diet: Mainly grasses; some fruit; insects and other small animals. lifespan: About 20 years.

Range of the gelada baboon. DISTRIBUTION The gelada baboon lives only on cliff edges and steep gorges in the northern and central Ethiopian highlands. CONSERVATION

RELATED SPECIES The gelada is closely related to the 8 other species of baboon, which are all in the genus Papio.

The gelada is officially considered to be rare, with only about 500,000 surviving. It suffers from the destruction of its habitat and persecution by humans, who hunt it for its fur and for the male's magnificent mane.

FEATURES OF THE GELADA BABOON Female: Smaller than the male and lacking his long mane. A patch of red skin on the chest is surrounded by white blisters that swell

Lip flip: The upper lip is drawn back over the nose to reveal the gums and teeth. This is performed as a gesture of greeting by both sexes.

Head: More rounded than most baboons, with distinctive upturned nostrils.

Male: Thickset body with powerful limbs and a long mane on the shoulders . An hourglass-shaped patch of red skin on the chest is fringed by white hair.

Coat: Thick and silky. Mainly brown. fading to cream at the tips of the long hairs. Hairless face and rump.

The gelada baboon is a large, impressive-looking monkey that lives high in the mountains of Ethiopia. Extremely sociable, it is found in troops of varying sizes, from 30 to more than 350 individuals. (f.)~M:M)(r.V I

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~ FOOD & FEEDING

The gelada baboon belongs to the family of "typical monkeys. II But unlike most other monkeys, it lives at ground level and rarely, if eve" climbs trees. Its diet is also unusual for a primate because it consists almost entirely of a variety

of grasses. Although it has a rather ferocious appearance, the gelada is actually a fairly timid creature that rarely ventures far from the safety of its sleeping place.

~ HABITS

The gel ada baboon lives in an inhospitable, treeless habitat in the remote mountain regions of northern and central Ethiopia. At night it sleeps in large troops on the face of a cliff or in a rocky ravine, where it is safe from danger. By day it forages across the mountain meadows. A highly sociable animal, the gelada lives in a troop of 30 to 350 individuals. It was thought in the past that baboons formed troops simply to make breeding easier. But it is now clear that social groupings provide such benefits as protection, assistance, and companionship . The gelada is quite timid and rarely ventures far from its cliff

wall, to which it returns whenever danger threatens. Its aggressive reputation comes partly from its distinctive "lip flip" gesture. It draws back the corners of its mouth and flips its upper lip over its nose to reveal the bright pink underside of its lip and its large teeth. This gesture was once thought to be threatening but is now considered a gesture of greeting. The male gelada is only aggressive when defending his harem. He will fearlessly try to drive a rival male away by throwing stones and other heavy objects. Right: A young member of the gelada troop may affectionately groom the fur of a related adult.

The gelada baboon has an unusual diet that is made up almost entirely of the seeds, roots, blades, and sprouts of a variety of grasses. It also sometimes feeds on fruit, plus a few insects and other small animals. The gelada baboon forages in a sitting position, using both hands to grasp clumps of grass. It strips off the seeds with either

its teeth or with its thumb and forefinger, which are relatively short and can grip the seeds easily. After exhausting one area, it shuffles forward on its rump to find fresh patches. The troop may roam widely during the day to find grass. In fact, the size of a troop is determined largely by the availability of this food.

Left: A young male gelada remains with its mother for a shorter period of time than a young female.

Right: The adult male gelada keeps his impressive mane in good condition with frequent grooming.

DID YOU KNOW? • By the time he reaches old age, the heavy mane of the male gelada may extend all the way down to the ground.

• Where food is plentiful, several troops may join in temporary gatherings with more than 600 individuals.

• The red patch of skin on the gelada's chest earned it the name red-breasted baboon.

• The gelada's voice is higher than other baboons' voices.

• According to Abyssinian legend, the gelada forms bands to catch unwary travelers.

• Geladas groom frequently to remove parasites, clean and condition their fur, relax, and reinforce social bonds.

The gelada troop is based on extended family groups. Mothers and offspring form strong bonds. Males usually stay with their mothers until they are old enough to form groups of their own. Mothers and daughters may remain in the same group as their grandmothers. The female gel ada reaches sexual maturity at three or four years old, but the male is not sexually mature until he is eight years old. He then joins one of the female groups within the troop and exerts authority over it, keeping the females together with calls and gestures and repelling the approaches of other males. Males that fail to at-

tach themselves to a group of females form bachelor groups. A sexually mature female is fertile for about one week in every month . During this time, the patch of naked skin on her chest becomes brighter red and the blisters surrounding the patch swell up. The swelling goes down at the end of the week, giving the males a clear sign of her sexual state. Mating usually takes place in the fall. After a gestation of five to six and a half months, the female usually gives birth to one offspring, occasionally to twins. She suckles her young for up to two years. By then she may be pregnant again.

' " CARD 290

CAPYBARA

"~_______________________________G~R~O~U~P~ l :~M ~A ~M ~M~A~l=S .... ORDER ~ Rodentia

.... FAMILY '11IIIIIIII Hydrochaeridae

.... GENUS & SPECIES ~ Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris

I

KEY FACTS SIZES Length: 3 ~-4~ ft. Height: 1 ~-2 ft. to shoulder. Weight: Male, 75-140 lb. Female, 80-145 lb. BREEDING Sexual maturity: 1 8 months. Mating: Year-round . Gestation: 5 months. Litter size: 2-7. LIFESTYLE Habit: Sociable. Diet: Plant matter. Mainly grasses growing in or near water. Call: Whistles and grunts; coughing bark for alarm . Young make a purring noise.

Range of the capybara. DISTRIBUTION

Lifespan: 5-10 years.

Found from Panama southward, through South America east of the Andes to northeastern Argentina.

RELATED SPECIES

CONSERVATION

There are 3 capybara subspecies. The Patagonian cavy, Dolichotis patagonum, and wild guinea pigs are also closely related.

It is now illegal to hunt the capybara in Colombia, and there are some restrictions on hunting in Venezuela. If these controls are maintained, the population should remain stable.

FEATURES OF THE CAPYBARA Head: Heavy with a blunt, square muzzle and a deeply cleft upper lip.

Eyes: Set high up on head to enable the

Body: Thickset and barrel-shaped like that of a pig. Makes the animal awkward on land.

Coat: Short and coarse with sparse grayish brown hairs tinged with red .

Scent gland: Large and pronounced on the male. Secretes a white substance that the animal rubs on plant stems to mark its territory.

Feet: 4 hooflike toes on forefeet; 3 on !lind feet. Short webs be-

swimming.

The capybara is the largest rodent in the world. Although it moves awkwardly on land, this animal is a good swimmer. It can cover long distances underwater, staying submerged up to five minutes. ©MCMXCIV IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM

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~ FOOD Est FEEDING

With its barrel-shaped body and square head, the capybara looks like a robust, oversize guinea pig. A peaceful animal that feeds exclusively on plants, the capybara has been hunted because it competes for food with domestic livestock. It has also been hunted for its flesh and skin. As a result,

this rodent has become rare in some parts of its range.

~ HABITS The capybara usually lives in a group with one dominant adult male, some subordinate males, one or two females, and varying numbers of young. The dominant male marks his territory with a secretion from a scent gland on the top of his nose. A solitary male may try to infiltrate a group, but his attempt is rarely successful. The dominant male establishes his authority by chasing weaker rivals, making sure they remain on the outer edges of the group. Fights are rare, however.

The capybara feeds entirely on plant matter, both on land and in the water. It often grazes on aquatic plants in the shallow parts of rivers and lakes, with only the top of its head visible above the water. The capybara's large, wide front teeth enable it to graze on very short grass, which it then grinds with its molars. Although grass is the mainstay of its diet, the animal may also eat various vegetables and fruit, including melons. The capybara usually feeds during the late afternoon. Oc-

casionally the animal may travellong distances across its grazing grounds before returning to the same resting place. In areas where it competes with livestock for grass, the capybara is widely hunted by farmers. In these regions the animal forages mostly at night to avoid the hunters. In the wet season, capybaras feed together in groups of 10 to 40. But in the dry season, the animals gather at the few remaining water holes, forming herds of up to a hundred individuals.

Left: The capybara spends the hot-

Right: The capybara's long, wide

test part of the day wallowing in muddy water.

teeth enable it to graze on very short, dry grass. Left: The capybara rubs the plants in its territory with the scent gland on its snout. The gland is especially prominent in dominant males.

DID YOU KNOW? • The scent gland on the top of the adult male capybara's nose is called a morillo, which means "small hill" in Spanish. • European naturalists once called the capybara the "water pig" and the "Orinoco hog." • The capybara is descended

from an animal that lived in North and South America. This animal was about twice as long and eight times as heavy as the capybara. • The word capybara is from the native Tupi language and means "master of the grasses."

~ BREEDING At the approach of a predator, the capybara utters a repeated coughing bark as an alarm call. The other members of the group stand still and listen until the coast is clear. Or they run into the water and stay there until the danger has passed. Water plays a vital role in the capybara's life. After resting out in the open during the morning, the animal often spends the hot afternoon in water. It is almost hidden in floating vegetation, with only its eyes, ears, and nostrils above the water.

The capybara breeds all year, but mating peaks at the start of the rainy season . A male may follow a receptive female for over an hour, while she walks in and out of the water, stopping periodically to let him catch up. When mating takes place, it is always in the water. The female leaves the group to give birth in a sheltered spot nearby. She rejoins the group the same day, leaving her two Left: The capybara not only suckles her own young, but also those of other females in the group.

to seven newborns in the nest. The young have thick, soft, light brown coats. They join the herd in three or four days and eat grass within their first week. Until they are weaned, they stay in close-knit groups that are kept together by nursing mothers, who suckle the young of other females as well as their own. The young have a continuous purring cry, which probably keeps them in touch with their mother. They are vulnerable to predators such as vultures, wild dogs, caimans, and foxes.