Professional Documents
Culture Documents
g In Australia, the rabbit pop-
ulation has increased drasti-
BREEDING
Rabbits breed continually.
Litters of five or more rabbits
are produced after a short ges-
tation. Within hours of giving
birth, the female (or doe) will
mate again. She can produce
up to seven litters a year.
Spring and summer are the
peak reproductive periods, but
breeding can start as early as
January. Beginning in August,
breeding is less intensive, and
..----------- ---------------'1 the doe often does not give
NATUREWATCH
Unlike wild rabbits found in
North America, European
rabbits live in under-
ground burrows called
warrens. Tracks in the snow
are signs that a colony lives
nearby. Also, clusters of
small, round droppings on
the ground are an indication
that a warren is close by.
<IJ
B
o
.c
CL
birth once she has conceived,
but rather reabsorbs the
FOOD &: FEEDING
Rabbits are herbivorous (plant
eating) and feed mainly on
grass, clover, and selected
herbs. In winter, when vegeta-
tion is scarce, they eat the bark
of trees.
Their preferred feeding times
are dawn and dusk. Because
rabbits have enormous
Above: A
rabbit sniffs
the air before
emerging from
its burrow.
Right: Baby
rabbits huddle
together in
the nesting
chamber.
embryos into her body.
The newborn young are
blind, deaf, and hairless.
They are born in a nest made
by the doe. After the birth,
she returns to the nest for
appetites and often feed
together in large groups,
they can cause widespread
damage to crops.
The rabbit's digestive sys-
tem is unique. Unlike cattle
and sheep, which chew to
aid digestion, the rabbit rests
in its burrow after feeding
cally. From a dozen rabbits
that were introduced there in
the 1850s, the population in
1988 numbered over 200
G million. A severe drought
occurred soon after, causing
the starving rabbits to raid
and destroy crops.
In some countries, man
"8 regards the rabbit as a game
_ ____ "'---"-....JI animal. It is also bred forfood
only a few minutes every 24
hours to suckle them. She
then leaves, covering the
nesting chamber with dirt
to protect the young from
predators.
and passes soft droppings
formed of partly digested
food. The rabbit then eats
these droppings to extract
the maximum nourishment
from the food. Afterward, the
rabbit produces hard, pellet-
like droppings which it de-
posits outside the burrow.
and sport, and it is widely
used for biomedical research.
DID YOU KNOW?
Glands under the rabbit's
chin generate a secretion
used to mark territory.
Badgers and foxes dig
young rabbits from their
burrow to kill and eat them .
In the Kerguelen Islands of
Antarctica, rabbits survive the
harsh winters by feeding on
seaweed washed ashore by
the storms.
"\ CARD 78
MOUNTAIN LION
______________________________ G_R_O_U_P_l_: _M_A_M_M_A __ LS __
",ORDER
Carnivora
",FAMILY
... GENUS &: SPECIES
Felis conc%r
Known also as the puma, cougar, and panther, the mountain lion is
a highly adaptab!e wildcat. It lives in habitats ranging from
snow-covered mountains to tropical rainforests.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: ,To shoulder, 24-28 in.
Length: Head and body, 5-6 ft .
Tail length: 26-30 in.
Weight: 80-230 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Males, at least 3
years. Females, 2 years.
Mating: Year-round. Females
usually breed once every 2 years.
Gestation: 90-96 days.
litter size: 2-6, usually 3-4.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary, generally hunt at
dawn and dusk, but active by day
in areas undisturbed by man.
Diet: Mainly deer, most wild
animals.
lifespan: Up to 1 8 years.
RELATED SPECIES
Several subspecies, two endan-
gered: Fe/is conca/or caryi (Florida)
and F.e. cougar (northeastern
North America).
Range of the mountain lion.
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout North and South America from southern Canada
to Patagonia.
CONSERVATION
The mountain lion is a protected species, but most farmers
and cattle ranchers object to its presence. Many animals are
shot to safeguard herds, in spite of evidence that mountain
lions rarely attack domestic stock.
THE MOUNTAIN LION'S AGILITY
The mountain lion is renowned for its
remarkable power, stamina, and agility. It
can easily cover 23 ft. in a single bound, 0 It
and a leap of twice this distance has been
recorded.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
. "
in. the
. ' of a tree,:a mouritain 'Hop cailleap.up
. toaheight of 18 .ft. t6: land in th.e
brariches. It may then climb.upward,
. looking for a SUitable vantage:p'oirit: It .' .
: can. drop 65 ft. to 'the ground without .
' :injuring itseH,
PRINTED IN U,S.A, 0160200131 PACKET 13
Long and lean, the mountain lion is immensely
powerful and capable of killing prey such as a bear
or bison with a single bite. Although it is usually red or
brown, its coloration varies. In Patagonia, where
mountain lions are particularly large, their coats
are often red-gray or silver-gray.
~ HABITAT
Mountain lions are found in
habitats as diverse as the cold,
northern woods of Canada,
the rocky, western country of
the United States, and the
tropical rainforests of Brazil.
In Argentina, they live in the
pampas, and their range ex-
tends to the southernmost
tip of South America.
Instead of occupying a per-
manent den, mountain lions
rest and find shelter in caves,
among rocky outcrops, and
in dense vegetation. They
generally migrate from the
mountains in winter to follow
deer and other prey.
~ FOOD &: HUNTING
Mountain lions are carnivores
(meat eaters) and generally
hunt at dawn and dusk. Still,
they are active by day in areas
undisturbed by man.
Like other cats, the mountain
lion stalks its prey, sprinting
after it if it attempts to flee.
Then, pouncing on the ani-
mal's back with a powerful leap
that knocks it to the ground,
the mountain lion kills its prey
with a single bite to the nape
of the neck.
Mountain lions have large
hunting territories, and they eat
most kinds of animals. Through-
~ BREEDING
The territories of male moun-
tain lions may overlap those of
females, enabling the males to
detect when the females are
ready to mate.
During a 14-day period of
mating, a male and female will
break their normally solitary
habits to hunt together and
sleep next to each other. The
female later gives birth to two
to six kittens in a carefully
hidden den, located between
rocks or in a cave.
Blind at birth, the kittens
have spotted coats until they
are six months old. They be-
gin to take meat provided by
their mother at six weeks,
while they are still suckling.
Although they can hunt for
themselves after nine months,
they usually remain with their
mother for two years. The cubs
then leave her and may stay
together for several months
before wandering off to estab-
lish territories of their own.
out their range, however,
deer is their principal food. In
the absence of deer, they eat
anything available, including
cattle and other domestic
livestock.
Mountain lions can run very
fast over short distances, but
they tire quickly. If an animal
survives a mountain lion's first
attack, it generally escapes.
Mountain lions rarely share
hunting territories and usually
avoid each other, but they
make no attempt to defend
their own territories or take
over those of others.
Right:
Mountain lions
mate during a
14-day period.
Below: At
two weeks,
this baby
mountain lion
is covered
with soft,
dark spots
that will
later fade.
Right: In wood-
ed country,
mountain lions
do much of their
hunting in the
trees, moving
with great
agility and
speed through
the branches.
This one has
trapped a
raccoon up a
tree. Mountain
lions stalk and
eat large and
small animals.
Once common across the
western hemisphere, the
mountain lion has been erad-
icated in many areas, and its
survival is threatened.
In some areas, mountain
lions were wiped out in an
attempt to protect deer pop-
ulations. But eliminating a
natural predator disrupted
the balance of the environ-
ment. Consequently, the deer
multiplied rapidly, and their
habitat was unable to support
the large population.
DID YOU KNOW?
The mountain lion is found
over a wider range than any
other mammal in the western
hemisphere, except for man.
Mountain lions vary greatly
in size.
A mountain lion pounces so
violently that it can drag its
prey 20 feet along the ground.
ROCK WALLABY
ORDER FAMILY
Marsupia/ia Macropodidae
... GENUS
Petrogale
The rock wallaby is one of the most distinctive animals
in the Australian outback. It has many similarities
to the kangaroo but lives on rocky terrain.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 20-30 in.
Tail, 15-28 in.
Weight: 6-20 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 8 months.
Mating: Year-round when
conditions are favorable.
Gestation: 1 month, then 8
months in the pouch.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable.
Call: Communicates by thumping
the ground with its feet.
Diet: Grasses, as well as leaves,
bark, and roots in dry weather.
Lifespan: 14 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
The ringtailed rock wallaby,
Petrogale xanthopus, and the little
rock wallaby, Peradorcas concinna.
Range of the rock wallaby.
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout the Australian mainland on rocky terrain
from coastal ranges to inland hills.
CONSERVATION
Nearly extinct over much of its range due to hunting
for its pelt during the late nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries. Conservation measures include the establish-
ment of protected areas and a breeding center.
FEATURES OF THE ROCK WALLABY
The rock wallaby belongs to the same
marsupial family as the kangaroo:
Macropodidae.
The rock wallaby
has a fluffy tail that
provides balance
when it leaps from
rock to rock. To help
it climb, its large
hind feet have sharp
claws, flexible
middle toes, and
broad, thick pads
with knobby soles.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Development of
the embryo in the
mother's womb
and of the joey
(nursing baby) in
the pouch con-
tinue only if the
female has
enough food.
Many species of rock wallaby have thick,
attractive fur that was sought by fur traders
during the late nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries. As a result, the remaining
species are now rare or almost extinct
over most of their range.
The rock wallaby lives in the
rocky deserts and the high
mountain ranges of the Aus-
tralian outback.
The wallaby shelters in deep,
hidden crevices in the rocks.
The rocks leading to the hid-
ing places are often worn
smooth by generations of
wallabies using the same trail.
The brushtailed rock wal-
laby lives in the mountainous
region of eastern New South
Wales. One species living on
an island, at the eastern end
of the Great Australian Bight,
is at home either in the is-
land's rocky interior or on
the seashore among boulders
washed by the surf.
The rock wallaby breeds all
year when there is adequate
food. During intense drought,
when food supplies are scarce
and the female cannot pro-
duce milk for her young, she
abandons the joey (nursing
baby).
If the female with a joey in
her pouch becomes pregnant,
the new embryo in her womb
does not develop until her
pouch is empty. The develop-
ment of the embryo is also
delayed in periods of drought.
When the rains return, the
embryo immediately develops,
the joey is born, and it makes
its way into its mother's pouch.
She then mates again, and
another fertilized egg begins to
develop.
Right: As soon as this joey leaves
the pouch, another is born to
take its place.
Left: There are
few places as
inhospitable as
the rocky
regions of the
Australian
outback. But
the rock
wallaby has
adapted to the
harsh environ-
ment.
Right: No rock
is too steep for
the agile rock
wallaby. But,
away from the
rocks, it moves
slowly and
awkwardly.
During hot weather the rock
wallaby spends much of the
day resting in the shade. In
the cooler early morning and
evening hours it may travel
long distances from the rocks
in search of grass, which
forms the major part of its
diet. On cool days the rock
wallaby spends much of its
time eating.
When disturbed, the rock
wallaby stands rigidly, then
shows its unease by beat-
ing its feet once or twice on
the ground to warn other
DID YOU KNOW?
The rock wallaby had no
natural enemies in Australia
until European foxes were
introduced in the nineteenth
century. Faster and more
cunning than the native
dingoes (wild dogs), foxes
killed many wallabies.
The first settlers in Australia
thought the rock wallaby was
a cat because it climbed so
quickly and agilely.
The rock wallabies that live
in the northern parts of West-
ern Australia have thin, short
hair to avoid overheating in
the hot, tropical climate.
Because the brushtailed
rock wallaby has dull brown
fur, it is not hunted for its
pelt like other species with
more delicate coloration.
The rock wallaby is not
found in either Tasmania or
New Guinea.
wallabies. When it is very
alarmed, the wallaby disap-
pears among the rocks, leap-
ing from one to another in
a single bound.
Unlike its close relative,
the tree kangaroo, the rock
wallaby cannot climb trees.
OCELOT
ORDER
Carnivora
FAMILY
Felidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Felis pardalis
The ocelot is a small nocturnal cat found in North and South
America. The pattern and color of its coat allow it to blend in with
its scrubland and forest habitats.
"'l KEY FACTS
~ SIZES
~ Body length: 25-40 in.
Tail length: 10-16 in.
Weight: 25-35 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 6-8 months.
Mating: Once or twice a year,
depending on location.
Gestation: 70 days.
Litter size: 2-4 kittens.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary or may live in pairs.
Coat color: Varies from rich yellow
to gray, depending on habitat.
Underside speckled white. Ringed
tail.
Lifespan: 17 years in captivity.
Unknown in wild.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 28 species of small
wildcat found worldwide, with the
exception of Australasia and the
polar regions.
Range of the ocelot.
DISTRIBUTION
Ocelots range from Arizona in North America to Argentina in
South America.
CONSERVATION
Ocelots have long suffered from extensive hunting for their
valuable pelts. More recently, the ocelot received full protec-
tion from hunters under international law, and commercial
trade is now banned.
THE OCELOT'S COAT COMPARED WITH OTHER CATS'
Camouflage: Dark blotches on a rich
golden brown or silver-gray base color.
Perfect for the equatorial forests that
form its habitat. Shown below right are
pelt comparisons with the leopard and
cheetah. Each cat is suited to its own
lmvironment; the leopard to the dry
forest, and the cheetah to the
id savanna.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A us P 6001 12010 PACKET 10
The ocelot is classified as a small cat belonging
to the genus Felis, but it is one of the largest cats
in this genus. Like other small cats, it has a bare nose
and long, sensitive whiskers; but unlike a
domestic cat, it will run swiftly from danger
rather than bolt up a tree.
HABITAT
The ocelot inhabits both
scrubland and forest. Forest-
dwelling ocelots have rich,
golden-colored coats that
blend in with the golden-
brown hue of the trees.
Ocelots that live in scrubland
have duller, grayish-colored
coats that provide camou-
flage from predators.
An agile climber, the ocelot
spends much of its time rest-
ing in trees. Unlike domestic
cats that can run down trees
headfirst, the ocelot climbs
down backward.
The ocelot is territorial and
marks the boundaries of its
territory by spraying trees
with urine. Most ocelots are
solitary, but some form pairs.
Above: In unfamiliar territory,
the ocelot will rest during the
day and hunt only at night.
FOOD & HUNTING
Although its sense of smell is
highly developed, the ocelot
relies more on its hearing and
eyesight to detect prey,
which it hunts at night. The
hearing of small cats like the
ocelot is more acute than
that of larger cats, and they
are better able to pinpoint
the location of their prey. Its
whiskers are also important to
the ocelot when hunting.
They are so sensitive to touch
that they help the cat maneu-
ver in tight spaces.
The ocelot's prey includes
agoutis, hares, mice, mon-
keys, and birds. Although it
spends a lot of time in the
trees, all hunting is done on
the ground. It will lie flat on
its stomach once prey is spot-
ted. It will slowly creep for-
ward in this position and
It is not known for certain
when and how often the oce-
lot breeds. It is thought that it
breeds twice a year, in summer
and in winter.
When the breeding season
arrives, the ocelot will venture
out of its territory to find a
mate. The female starts the
courtship by calling loudly to
attract a male. During mating,
the male holds the female by
the back of the neck.
Before the kittens are born
two months later, the female
makes a well-hidden nest. This
is sometimes lined with soft
down plucked from her under-
side.
Two to four kittens are born.
As each one arrives, the moth-
er breaks the birth sac to free
then rush at the prey over a
short distance before pouncing
and catching it with its razor-
like claws. The ocelot sharpens
its claws by scratching them
the kitten. She bites off the
umbilical cord and licks the
newborn clean and dry, then
eats the afterbirth.
The kittens are born with
fur, but they are blind and
helpless for several days.
Therefore, the mother will
leave them only when abso-
lutely necessary. For the first
few weeks, the kittens feed
only on their mother's milk.
During this time, she will eat
their droppings so as to keep
the nest clean.
When the kittens are older,
the mother brings them live
prey and teaches them how
Right: The disarming beauty of
an ocelot kitten makes it, sadly,
much sought after as a pet.
against tree trunks.
The prey is killed quickly
with a bite to the neck. Small
prey is devoured headfirst, but
with large prey, the ocelot
to kill it. Later they follow her
on hunting trips to develop
their skills. Once the kittens
begins eating at a soft part of
the animal's body.
Below: With its keen senses and
powerful incisor teeth, the ocelot
is well equipped to hunt and kill.
become competent hunters,
they leave the nest to find their
own territories.
DID YOU KNOW?
In the dark, a cat's sight is
six times better than a man's.
Cats are the most carnivo-
rous of all the meat-eating
animals. They are therefore at
the top of the food chain and
have few enemies except
man.
Small cats eat by crouching
over their prey, rather than
lying down next to it as most
big cats do.
The ocelot sleeps lying
down with its forepaws
stretched out in front and its
head resting on them, much
in the same way t hat a dog
does. It is the only small cat
that sleeps in this manner.
In 1968, North American
fur traders imported a total
of 129,000 ocelot pelts.
The mountain lion is the
largest of the small cats.