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'" CARD 331 I

TREE KANGAROO
,, ________________________________ G_R_O_U_P_l_: _M_A_M_M __ A_lS __ ~
... ORDER ... FAMILY ... GENUS
~ Marsupia/ia ~ Macropodidae ~ Oendro/agus
Tree kangaroos live high in the tree canopy, where they feed on
the abundant supplies of fruit and foliage. These animals have
remarkably long tails, which help them balance in the trees.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Body, 1 ~ - 2 ~ ft. Tail,
1 ~ - 3 ft .
Weight: 9-31 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Probably 18
months.
Mating: Year-round.
Gestation: Probably 1 month.
No. of young: 1.
Time in pouch: 13 months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Night-active. Lives alone or
in groups of up to 4.
Diet: Leaves and fruit.
Call : Loud alarm growl.
RELATED SPECIES
The 6 species of tree kangaroo in
the genus Oendro/agus include the
black tree kangaroo, Lumholtz's
tree kangaroo, and the rare Mat-
schie's tree kangaroo.
Range of tree kangaroos.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in highland and adjacent lowland forest in New Guinea
and in rainforest in Cape York Peninsula, northeast Australia.
CONSERVATION
Several species have declined in number recently because of
forest clearance. In New Guinea, Goodfellow's tree kangaroo
and Doria's tree kangaroo are threatened by hunting.
FEATURES OF TREE KANGAROOS
Fur: Mottled blackish brown; cream-
colored underparts. Fur parts on the
back or on the neck, and hairs above
the part grow forward.
TWO OF THE SIX SPECIES
Bennett's tree kangaroo:
Predominantly light brown
with dark brown feet and
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There are six species of tree kangaroo. Fossil evidence
suggests that the ancestors of these animals developed in
Australia. Toda}/t howeve" four of the species live in New
Guinea. All tree kangaroos are specially adapted for life in
the trees. They are strikingly different in build from their
cousins, the ground-dwelling kangaroos and wallabies.
~ HABITS
The six species of tree kangaroo
inhabit tropical forests in New
Guinea and northeastern Aus-
tralia. They are difficult to study
since they often live in moun-
tainous terrain-in New Guinea,
at heights of up to 10,000 feet.
A tree kangaroo rests or sleeps
in the day, crouched high on a
branch. At night it feeds alone
or in a group of up to four ani-
mals. To suit this tree-dwelling
lifestyle, its body is very different
from the bodies of other kanga-
roos. The structure of a tree kan-
garoo's hip allows the animal to
move its hind legs independent-
ly of each other-something
no other kangaroo can do. As a
result, a tree kangaroo prefers to
walk instead of hopping like its
ground-dwelling relatives.
When this kangaroo climbs a
tree, it grips the trunk with its
forefeet and pushes itself up us-
ing alternate strides of its hind
legs. When descending, it backs
down, moving its forelegs alter-
nately while its hind feet slide
against the bark. This agile ani-
mal moves rapidly among the
trees, leaping up to 30 feet be-
tween branches.
Right: A tree kangaroo spends a
great deal more time in the pouch
than its ground-dwelling relatives.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Tree kangaroos feed both in the
trees and on the ground. They
eat some fruit but feed primari-
lyon leaves. Since leaves are not
highly nutritious, a tree kanga-
roo must consume a great num-
ber. Its stomach can hold and
Left: Goodfellow's tree kangaroo is
one of the most brightly colored of
all marsupials.
DID YOU KNOW?
In Australia tree kangaroos
are also known by the Aborig-
inal name boongarry.
A tree kangaroo can jump
to the ground from a height
of more than 60 feet.
digest large quantities at a time.
A tree kangaroo bites off fo-
liage by pulling a small branch
toward its mouth. This very dex-
terous animal can also bend its
forepaw at the wrist and grasp
stems between its fingers.
Right: A tree kangaroo employs its
long tail as a balancing pole while
climbing in the trees.
Tree kangaroos are hunted
for their flesh in New Guinea.
Hunters climb trees and catch
the kangaroos by their tails or
scare them to the ground-
where dogs are waiting.
Left: Lumholtz's
tree kangaroo
is a common
animal in Aus-
tralia's coastal
rainforests. It
feeds at night
on leaves and
fruit.
Food is plentiful all year in the
tropical forests, so tree kanga-
roos do not have a set breeding
season. Courtship and mating
may occur at any time.
In Lumholtz's tree kangaroo, a
male courts a female by making
a quiet clucking sound and gen-
tly pawing at her head. When
she turns away, he follows and
paws her tail. The animals mate
soon afterward.
Rival males may fight savagely
-wrestling, biting, and striking
out with their forepaws. Often
one male attacks another from
behind without warning.
The female gives birth to a sin-
gle joey (young), which crawls
into her pouch and attaches it-
self to one of her teats. Once
weaned, the joey continues to
develop in the pouch for up to
13 months.
Left: The rare Matschie's tree kan-
garoo of New Guinea is a particu-
larly good climber.
CRABEATER SEAL
ORDER
Carnivora
FAMILY
Phocidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS & SPECIES
Lobodon carcinophagus
The crabeater seal is perfectly at home in the gloomy waters
beneath the Antarctic pack ice-a world so forbidding and remote
that scientists knew little about the seal ~ habits until recently.
~ KEY FACTS
I i " ~ 1 SIZES
~ Length: 6 ~ - 8 ft. Female slightly
larger than male.
Weight: 440-660 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-6 years.
Breeding season: From Septem-
ber to November (early summer
in the Antarctic).
Gestation: 11 months, including
delayed implantation of 6 months.
No. of young: 1.
Weaning: 4 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Lives alone or in groups of
3. Rarely comes ashore.
Diet: Mainly krill. Also other crus-
taceans, squid, and fish.
Lifespan: Oldest known, at least
33 years.
RELATED SPECIES
One of the crabeater seal's closest
relatives is the Weddell seal, Lep-
tonychotes weddelli.
Range of the crabeater seal.
DISTRIBUTION
The crabeater seal lives in Antarctic waters, generally south of
the Antarctic Convergence. It occasionally appears as far north
as South Africa.
CONSERVATION
The crabeater seal is easily the most abundant of all the seal
species. Although some controlled hunting takes place, t he
species is probably increasing in number.
FEATURES OF THE CRABEATER SEAL
Body: Slender, reaching up to 8 feet in
length .. Weight of up to 660 pounds.
Head: Relatively
long compared
with other seal
species. As a
"true" seal , this
species lacks ex-
ternal earflaps.
Foreflippers: Have 5 digits. Cannot
support the body weight , making the
seal clumsy on land.
Coat: Silvery gray-brown with
blotches. Changes to creamy white
as the seal ages.
<f" MCMXCII IMP BVI IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
THE SEAL'S TEETH
Each tooth in the lower jaw has
5 points, which interlock with
the corresponding upper tooth.
Water is strained out through
narrow gaps between the teeth,
while kril l is trapped behind.
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The crabeater seal inhabits its icy environment in huge
numbers. With an estimated population of 75 to 40 million,
the crabeater seal is probably more numerous than all the
other seal species put together. One reason for its thriving
population may be its diet. Rather than feeding on crabs,
as its name suggests, this mammal eats mainly krill-tiny,
shrimplike animals that are abundant in Antarctic waters.
~ HABITAT
The crabeater seal may appear
near the southern tip of South
America, southern Australia,
and New Zealand. But it lives
primarily in Antarctic waters,
around the floating pack ice
that rings the continent. It may
climb onto the ice to rest and
breed but rarely goes ashore.
The seal is most common in
the waters west of the Antarctic
Peninsula. Large numbers mi-
grate to the Ross Sea in sum-
mer as the ice retreats. It swims
alone or in a trio made up of an
adult male, female, and pup.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The name crabeater seal is mis-
leading, since this animal feeds
mainly on krill, which provide
94 percent of its diet. It also eats
other crustaceans, squid, and
small fish.
Although other animals, such
as baleen whales, feed on large
quantities of krill, the crabeater
seal population consumes the
greatest amount-at least 66
million tons a year.
Like baleen whales, the crab-
eater seal employs a straining
method to eat its prey. Feeding
Left: The crabeater seal's unique
interlocking teeth let it filter food
from icy waters.
DID YOU KNOW?
The crabeater seal is called
the white seal because its fur
becomes very pale as it ages.
One crabeater seal was re-
corded "sprinting" across ice
at 15 miles per hour.
On a few occasions crabeat-
er seals have appeared as far
north as South Africa. These
seals are usually young pups
mainly at night, it swims into
a school of krill with its mouth
open and sucks in its victims.
After it engulfs the krill, it closes
its teeth and forces the water
out through its jaws using its
tongue. Its five-pointed lower
teeth interlock with the upper
teeth, allowing the water to be
strained out through narrow
gaps between the teeth while
the krill are trapped behind.
The seal probably repeats this
filtering action until it has a
mouthful of krill to swallow.
Right: For the most part, the crab-
eater seal has escaped commercial
exploitation by humans.
that are caught up in ocean
currents around the limits of
their range.
The crabeater seal at times
makes unexplained trips far
inland. In 1966, a helicopter
crew found a live pup on an
Antarctic glacier 70 miles from
open water and 3,000 feet
above sea level.
~ BREEDING
The crabeater seal mates on the
pack ice between September
and November. The fertilized
egg stays alive but inactive in-
side the female for about six
months, then implants itself in
the wall of her womb and be-
gins to develop. This delays the
pup's birth until at least the fol-
lowing September, early in the
Antarctic summer.
The pup weighs only about
45 pounds at birth but grows
Left: When providing milk for her
pup, the mother may lose up to
half her body weight.
Left: The crab-
eater seal usu-
ally lives at the
edges of Ant-
arctica's pack
ice. It may also
be found un-
derneath the
pack ice, as
long as it can
find breathing
holes.
to over 240 pounds after suck-
ling for a month. A male often
accompanies the female while
she suckles her pup. Instead of
being the pup's father, he is l:Jsu-
ally another male that is waiting
to breed with the female. He
lingers nearby, protecting the
pup from any leopard seals and
fighting off rival males. If he gets
too near the female, however,
she is likely to snap at him, leav-
ing bite scars on his head and
neck. He must generally wait for
the pup to be weaned before he
can mate with its mother.
DESERT HEDGEHOG
.. ORDER
Insectivora
FAMILY
Erinaceidae

GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS & SPECIES
Paraechinus aethiopicus
The desert hedgehog survives even in the harsh terrain of the
Sahara, eating whatever it can catch. An expert hunter of insects,
it can also kill and eat venomous snakes and scorpions.
____ __
[I]
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 6-9 in.
Tail, in .
Weight: 1-1 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 9-11 months.
Mating season: July to September.
Gestation: 5-6 weeks.
No. of young: 2-10.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary; night-active.
Diet: Very varied, but prefers ani-
mal matter.
Lifespan: Up to 10 years on record
in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
The genus Paraechinus includes the
Indian hedgehog, P. micropus, and
Brandt's hedgehog, P. hypomelas,
which lives in the Arabian Peninsu-
la and Asia Minor.
Range of the desert hedgehog.
DISTRIBUTION
Occurs across Africa in two distinct bands on the northern and
southern fringes of the Sahara Desert. Also found in scattered
locations throughout the Arabian Peninsula and in Iraq.
l
CONSERVATION
The desert hedgehog is widespread and does not face any seri-
ous threats. It is well protected against natural predators and is
not heavily hunted by humans.
FEATURES OF THE DESERT HEDGEHOG
Defensive posture: like the European
hedgehog, the desert species curls up
into a ball and raises its spines to de-
ter potential predators.
Fur coloration:
Brown and white
stomach; dark
brown sn0ut and
tatl. The white fur
framing the face
has a distinct
parting on the
forehead.
MCMXCII IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Spines: Up to 1 inch long. Mousy gray-
brown with white tips. Several
thousand extend from the
crown to the rump and
down to the flanks.
Claws: Long and sharp. Useful for
burrowing in loose sand or soil.
The hedgehog cannot use its claws
to groom its spiny back, however,
and is often riddled with hundreds
of tiny pests and parasites.
0160200921 PACKET 92
With the exception of its large ears and pale, furry face,
the desert hedgehog closely resembles the European species
of hedgehog. Like the familiar visitor to European gardens,
the desert hedgehog sniffs out prey at night, under the cover
of darkness. At the first hint of trouble, this animal assumes
a defensive posture, quickly curling up into a prickly ball.

The desert hedgehog is found
on the northern and southern
fringes of Africa's Sahara Desert
and in the arid lowlands of the
Middle East. Because its kidneys
are adapted to cope with a low
water intake, this animal can live
in regions with annual rainfalls
of less than an inch. It does not
like to get wet and avoids the
cold, rainy climate of highlands
like the Ethiopian mountains.
The desert hedgehog roams
over a very limited home range.
Where possible, it burrows 16 to
20 inches into the sand or soil to
escape the sun's heat. On hard
ground, it holes up in cracks be-
tween boulders and makes do
without a nest lining.
CHARACTERISTICS
The desert hedgehog hunts at
night, walking squarely on the
soles of its feet. It uses its keen
sense of smell to test its environ-
ment and to identify its mate
and enemies. Like many night-
active animals, it has good eye-
sight. It also has good hearing.
Its earlobes are broad, perhaps
to help it lose heat.
On its back the animal has an
even coat of spines with alter-
Left: The desert hedgehog uses all
of its senses to hunt for insects and
snakes at night.
DID YOU KNOW?
The desert hedgehog may
descend from Zalambdales-
test a small insectivore whose
fossil remains were found in
80-million-year-old rocks.
A hedgehog's spines bend
l
without cracking because they
are made of flexible tubes.
nate dark and light bands. Like
all hedgehogs, it has a set of dor-
sal (back) skin muscles under its
spines that let it roll into a tight
ball. When contracted, these
muscles fit like a snug cap over
the animal's body and head.
The desert hedgehog favors
temperatures from 104F to
108 F. It hibernates if its burrow
cools to below 68 F and is le-
thargic in excessive heat.
Right: The desert hedgehog is inde-
pendent after six weeks, and it can
breed within a year.
The desert hedgehog was
featured on a Tunisian post-
age stamp in a series on na-
tive fauna printed in 1968.
The Cape hedgehog, an en-
dangered relative of the des-
ert hedgehog, is sometimes
kept as a pet.
FOOD & HUNTING
The desert hedgehog eats most-
ly insects but will feed on almost
anything else, even dead flesh.
The hedgehog likes scorpions,
but it must first bite the stinger
from the tail. It also eats snakes.
To catch one, the hedgehog ap-
proaches it slowly, then makes a

The desert hedgehog produces
a litter of 2 to 10 young every
year. Courtship can last several
days, after which the pair stays
in the female's shelter until she
gives birth. She then chases the
male away.
The newborn weighs no more
than an ounce but looks chub-
by because its skin has a high
water content. The skin shrinks
within 24 hours, leaving the off-
spring wrinkled and much thin-
ner. After licking her young, the
mother places them on her belly
to suckle. She is protective of her
offspring and rushes at aggres-
Left: The fur on its belly keeps the
hedgehog warm at night and also
protects it from the hot sand.
dash, with its head spines erect.
It bites the victim's body to sev-
er the spinal cord. Because its
spines are usually longer than
the snake's fangs, the hedgehog
is rarely hurt. It eats the snake
without being poisoned, so it
may be immune to the venom.
sors with her head spines erect.
A newborn has closed eyes
and ears for two or three weeks.
It has a gray, hairless back and a
pink belly. Its spines are covered
by a layer of skin to protect the
mother during birth. But rows
of white spines about a quarter-
inch long poke through this lay-
er right after birth. The spines
and hair are fully grown by the
youngster's third week. It can-
not roll up until it is two weeks
old, but its back muscles are vis-
ible a few days after birth.
At a week old, the young start
to butt one another with erect
head spines to compete for milk.
After six weeks they are weaned
and go out on their own.
VERREAUX'S SIFAKA


ORDER
Primates
FAMILY
Indriidae

GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Propithecus verreauxi
Verreaux's sifaka is also known as the leaping lemur for good
reason. In its forest home on the tropical island of Madagascar,
this agile mammal can jump up to 30 feet between trees.
____________________________
SIZES
Length: 15-22 in.
Tail length: 18-24 in.
Weight: 8-13 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years.
Breeding season: From late Janu-
ary to March.
Gestation: About 5 months.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Day-active tree dweller.
Sociable, living in groups of 4 or
more members.
Diet: Leaves, fruit, flowers, bark.
Call: Soft "coo" as a contact call .
Rattling and grunting alarm calls.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 3 other species in the
family Indriidae: the woolly lemur,
the diademed sifaka, and the indri.
There are 4 subspecies.
Range of Verreaux's sifaka.
DI STRI BUTION
Verreaux's sifaka is confined to forest reserves in the western re-
gions of Madagascar.
CONSERVATION
Classed as vulnerable, Verreaux's sifaka has been reduced to iso-
lated populations as human settlements have encroached upon
Madagascar's forests. The species occasionally breeds success-
fully in captivity.
FEATURES OF VERREAUX'S SIFAKA
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Coat: Thick and silky.
Naked black face,
palms, and soles.
Mostly white or yel-
lowish white, often
with black or maroon
patches on arms,
legs. and head.
Hands and feet: Narrow and long.
Pads on palms and soles. Second
toe has a grooming claw.
0160200941 PACKET 94
Verreaux's sifaka is extremely well adapted to life above
the ground, where it moves with ease among the trees.
This monkey spends very little time on the forest floor,
where it feels awkward and uncomfortable. When it does
find itself at ground level, Verreaux's sifaka bounces along
with clumsy, almost clownish-looking movements, holding
its arms up as if to grab hold of an invisible branch.
~ H A B I T S
Verreaux's sifaka inhabits Mada-
gascar's rainforests as well as its
dry woodlands. The animals live
in groups of up to 13 members
led by a dominant male. Each
group's territory is usually from
50,000 to 250,000 square feet
but can be up to four times that
size. To mark their territory, all
the group members urinate on
tree branches and trunks. The
males also use throat glands to
rub their scent on branches.
The group moves to a differ-
ent patch of its territory every
few days. If two troops' home
ranges overlap, a group may
not defend its entire territory.
When two groups meet, vocal
threats and chases may occur,
but serious clashes are rare.
Verreaux's sifaka is active by
day. At sunrise it separates itself
from the troop to sun for a few
hours on a branch. It may take
time out from sunbathing to
groom its fur or that of anoth-
er group member. It licks and
combs the fur with its lower in-
cisors. To comb its tail, it holds
the tail in its hands. At midday
it retreats to the shade.
Extremely agile, Verreaux's
sifaka launches itself from one
tree and falls through the air to
land with precision in the next.
In this way it can cross clearings
without touching the ground.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
Verreaux's sifaka feeds primarily
on leaves, buds, and fruit, but it
also eats some flowers and bark.
It spends about a third of its day
foraging in the trees.
Group members feed togeth-
er, but they spread out to find
the best spots. The oldest mem-
ber has priority over the others
and may force its way to a fruit-
laden tree.
Although it usually feeds in
the forest canopy, Verreaux's
Left: Verreaux's sifaka sunbathes
with its limbs outstretched in a tree.
DID YOU KNOW?
Verreaux's sifakas rub noses
as a greeting.
Madagascar's unique wild-
life is threatened by human
encroachment on the area's
rainforests. Its 15 protected
reserves cover only one per-
cent of the island. Verreaux's
sifaka is still trapped and shot
for food by local people.
sifaka may visit the ground to
eat fallen fruit. It does not need
water sources because its diet
of fruit and foliage has a high
moisture content.
Verreaux's sifaka stays alert for
predators while feeding. It gives
a loud alarm call that warns its
companions of danger.
Right: To move swiftly through the
trees, the sifaka grips the branches
with its hands.
Below: Verreaux's sifaka uses the
grooming claw on its second toe
to scratch itself.
BREEDING
Verreaux's sifaka mates at any
time from late January to early
March. Each female is receptive
for only two days. As a result, ri-
valry between males can be ex-
tremely intense, especially since
the female only mates with the
most dominant fighter. Some
males may change groups be-
fore the breeding season to gain
a better chance of mating. But
they may be greeted by aggres-
sive warning grunts from the
resident dominant male.
The female gives birth to one
offspring in summer. The young
Left: Verreaux's sifaka has trouble
walking on all fours and bounds
along awkwardly.
has hairless black skin and clings
tightly to its mother's belly. Af-
ter about two weeks, the moth-
er may let other members of the
group touch her offspring, per-
haps permitting them to groom
or clean it. At about one month
old, the youngster climbs onto
its mother's back to ride around
in the branches. The female con-
tinues'to carry her offspring with
her for about six more months.
The young suckles for its first
five months but begins to take
solid food at three months old.
By seven months old, it is inde-
pendent and can leap around
the forest canopy with other
group members.
BLUE MONKEY
, , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Primates
FAMILY
Cercopithecidae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Cercopithecus mitis
The blue monkey gets its name from the bluish tinge of its
primarily gray fur. This inquisitive monkey grimaces and
shakes its whiskered head when its interest is aroused.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Head and body length: Male, 2
ft. Female, 1 ~ ft.
Tail length: 2 ~ ft.
Weight: Male, 18-22 lb. Female,
9-11 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 5-6 years.
Mating season: Varies, depending
on location.
Gestation: 5-6 months.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Females live in troops with
1 male. Other males are solitary.
Diet: Mainly fruit, but also plant
matter, insects, birds, lizards, and
small mammals.
Lifespan: 20-30 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
There are about 15 species in the
genus Cercopithecus, with a num-
ber of subspecies.
Range of the blue monkey.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in forested areas from Zaire, the Central African Repub-
lic, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, and the southern Sudan
south to eastern Cape Province in South Africa, with isolated
populations in western Angola.
CONSERVATION
The blue monkey is at risk because all of its forest habitats are
threatened with destruction to some extent.
FEATURES OF THE BLUE MONKEY
Tail : Long. Helps the
blue monkey balance in
the trees. Usually held
in an arched position.
Coat: Soft and thick. Dark brown to
bluish black on legs and shoulders;
grizzled gray-brown on the back
and sides.
Head: Rounded, with short snout.
Forward-pointing hair on eyebrows.
White ear tufts.
Legs: Hind legs are longer than
forelegs. The blue monkey can
run nimbly along branches.
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200921 PACKET 92
The blue monkey is a shy tree dweller that usually lives
in a troop. It is one of the largest guenons-a group of
primates that are the most common monkeys in Africa.
All guenon species are known for the beauty of their
soft, dense fur, and the blue monkey is no exception.
~ H A B I T S
The blue monkey inhabits for-
ests in mountains and on river-
banks. It spends most of its time
in the highest branches and is
most active in the morning and
evening. In the hot afternoon it
rests in the trees' shade.
Female blue monkeys live to-
gether in a group that consists
of 10 to 30 females and a single
mature male. The females are
often related, since they usually
stay with their mothers for life.
The male may remain with the
troop for a few weeks or stay
unchallenged for several years.
Troop members often engage
in social grooming at midday.
This is the main form of contact
between individuals. At night
the troop retires to a favorite
sleeping area high in the trees,
where the animals sleep sup-
ported against branches.
A blue monkey group occu-
pies a territory, which it defends
against neighboring troops. But
small groups sometimes mingle
during the day.
Right: The blue monkey finds wel-
come shade from the sun in the for-
est's thick foliage.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The blue monkey feeds mostly
on fruit. But it also eats seeds,
flowers, buds, leaves, and bark,
as well as insects, lizards, birds,
and small mammals. In fact, it
has been said that guenons will
eat anything that is digestible
and not poisonous.
The blue monkey swings easi-
ly through the branches while
Left: In some areas the blue mon-
key has a white collar that stands
out against its dark fur.
DID YOU KNOW?
The blue monkey can swing
through the trees of the forest
canopy faster than a human
can move on the ground.
When it is excited or angry,
foraging. It may use one or both
hands to gather food. Its tail en-
ables it to balance on a branch
as it plucks and eats fruit.
Blue monkeys sometimes raid
crops and strip the bark from
young trees in plantations. For
this reason, the animals are fre-
quently regarded as pests by
farmers and foresters.
Right: The agile blue monkey can
easily feed on leaves and fruit high
in the trees.
a guenon rolls back its lips in
order to reveal its teeth. This
grimace is the origin of the
name guenon, a French word
meaning "fright."
~ BREEDING
In wet tropical forests, the blue
monkey mates in the dry sea-
son, whereas at high altitudes it
usually does so in fall. In other
areas the monkey may breed at
any time of year. Courtship is a
simple affair, since mating males
and females are already familiar.
If a troop has more than one re-
ceptive female, a visiting male
may join the group temporarily
to mate with her. Each female
breeds only every other year.
The female usually gives birth
to one young at night, in the
tree where she sleeps. The new-
Left: When it
leaves the for-
est canopy for
open ground,
the blue mon-
key must be on
guard for leop-
ards as well as
eagles.
born clings to its mother's belly,
keeping hold of her nipple while
she supports it with one arm. At
this stage its long tail is prehen-
sile (able to grip) and helps to
secure it in the trees.
The young blue monkey soon
moves onto its mother's back,
and she carries it through the
trees. As it gets older, it leaves
her for short periods, learning
how to feed and interact in the
troop. Young males leave the
group when sexually mature.
They either live alone or join a
group of females.
NUTRIA
ORDER
Rodentia
FAMILY
Myocostoridae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS & SPECIES
Myocostor coypus
The nutria is a large, muskratlike rodent ideally suited to life in
the water. It has webbed feet for swimming and dense
water-repellent fur that keeps it warm and dry.
________________________ _
I SIZES
<S7 Head and body length: 1 ft .
Male larger than female.
Tail length: 9-17 in.
Weight: 11-22 lb.
BREEDING
Mating season: Usually Septem-
ber to October.
Gestation: months.
No. of young: 7-10.
Weaning period: 7-8 weeks.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Social, living in pairs or in
colonies. Active at dawn and dusk.
Diet: Mainly aquatic vegetation;
also some mollusks.
Call: Low moan.
Lifespan: Probably 5 years or less
in the wild.
RELATED SPECIES
The closest relatives of the nutria
are the many species of hutia, some
now extinct, of the Caribbean.
FEATURES OF THE NUTRIA
Nose and eyes: Set high on the
head, enabling the nutria to see
and breathe while almost fully
submerged.
Range of the nutria.
DISTRIBUTION
Native to southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Argenti-
na, and Chile. Feral populations exist in North America, north-
ern Asia, East Africa, and parts of Europe.
CONSERVATION
The government of Argentina outlawed the hunting of nutrias
in 1931. The farmed population of nutrias is large, but the wild
animal is scarce in its natural habitat.
Coat: Long, coarse guard hairs conceal the soft,
velvety fur beneath, preventing the nutria from
becoming waterlogged. The dark gray-brown
underfur and fawn-colored guard hairs give
the coat a grizzl ed appearance. The chin and
A> tip of the muzzle are white.
Incisors:
Orange color.
Large and constantly
growing. Used to
gnaw tough plants.
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Hind feet:
Webbed for
swimming.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Tail : Long and
tapering. Scaly
and almost
hai rl ess.
0160200961 PACKET 96
Hunted for centuries, nutrias are now raised on farms
in many parts of the world for their soft/ velvety fur.
These captives, and the feral populations that they
have given rise tOt far outnumber the wild nutrias,
which once thronged the swamps of South America.
~ HABITS
The nutria lives in swamps and
irrigation ditches, on riverbanks
and lake shores, and near tidal
waters. It can tolerate cold and
thrives wherever natural preda-
tors are scarce. In agricultural
areas, it is often a pest.
Nutrias generally live in pairs
but sometimes form colonies.
Although the animal may build
a large, floating nest from water
plants, it usually takes shelter in
an abandoned burrow or one it
has dug itself. The burrow nor-
mally has one tunnel leading to
a chamber but is extended in
crowded conditions, especially
in the breeding season.
To remove dirt and parasites
from its dense fur, the nutria sits
up on its haunches. It transfers
oil from two fat glands near its
mouth to its forepaws and then
grooms its coat, keeping its fur
lubricated and water-repellent.
Clumsy and slow on land, the
nutria heads for water if it senses
danger. It swims well and can
dive for five minutes at a time.
Right: After young nutrias leave the
nest, they follow their mother for
several weeks.
DID YOU KNOW?
The nutria's generic name,
Myocastor, is a combination
of two Latin words meaning
"mouse" and "beaver."
Feral nutrias often live in ex-
tremely cold conditions, kept
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The nutria spends most of its
time in the water, gathering
food. Its diet consists most ly
of aquatic plants such as reeds.
However, it also eats mollusks
such as snails and mussels.
The nutria has an efficient di-
gestive system to cope with its
tough diet. Special bacteria in
its stomach break down the
fibrous tissues in plants. As a
result, the nutria can extract
nutrients from plant matter
that other animals may be
unable to exploit.
Left: When cornered, the shy nutria
arches its back and bares its large
orange incisors.
Right: Sitting upright, the nutria
gnaws plants while holding them
in its forepaws.
warm by their fur. But it is not
uncommon for their bare tails
to freeze off. This does not af-
fect their health, however.
The nutria is also known as
the swamp beaver.
Nutrias have long been hunted
for their soft fur. In the 17th cen-
tury the Spanish began sending
skins to European furriers. Early
in the 20th century nutrias had
almost died out. But laws ban-
ning the killing of wild nutrias
forfurwereenacted in 1931.
Today, nutrias are farmed in
many parts of the world. Many
of these farm-bred animals have
escaped and created large feral
populations in North America,
Asia, Africa, and Europe.
~ BREEDING
The nutria usually breeds in fall,
but the female may have more
than a single litter in a year. The
gestation period lasts up to four
and a half months. During that
time the female feeds heavily in
preparation for suckling her 7 to
10 offspring.
The young are born with fur
and open eyes. They suckle for
seven to eight weeks. The fe-
male carries them on her back
and later gives them swimming
lessons. They can feed from her
while in the water since her nip-
ples are high on her flanks.
COATI
ORDER
Carnivora
FAMILY
Pro cyon idae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS & SPECIES
Nasua nasua
The coati is a raccoonlike mammal found in Central and
South America. It has an unusually large, trunklike nose,
which it uses to sniff for food in the undergrowth.
~ KEY FACT_S_. _ ~ _
I ~ I SIZES
~ Length: Body, 1 ~ - 2 ft. Tail, 1 - 2 ~ ft.
Height: 12 in. at the shoulder.
Weight: 7-13 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2 years.
Mating season: Varies.
Gestation: About 2 ~ months.
No. of young: 2-7.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Day-active. Male is solitary;
females and young form highly
organized groups.
Diet: Invertebrates, reptiles, small
mammals, eggs, and fruit.
Lifespan: About 14 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The other 3 species of coati are the
white-nosed coati, Nasua narico;
Cozumellsland coati, N. nelsoni;
and mountain coati, N. olivacea.
FEATURES OF THE COATI
Coat: Mainl y red-brown fur with
darker lower limbs and snout.
Paler buff-colored chest
and undersides.
Tail: Very long
and bushy,
with defined
rings.
':' MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the coati.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in South America, from northern Argentina, Paraguay,
and Brazil up through Colombia and Venezuela. Also occurs in
Central America, Mexico, and a small part of the United States.
CONSERVATION
Although the coati is hunted for meat in some parts of its range,
numbers appear to be stable. The animal is not thought to be
in any danger.
Head: Long and
slender, wi th
flexible snout.
Unlike other
species of coati ,
there Is no face
Claws: Sharp
and curved for
gripping
branches.
PRINTED IN U.S.A
White-nosed coati: Black
face mask with white tip
of snout. Long tail.
Cozumellsland coati: Black-
and-white face mask. Soft
and silky brown fur.
Mountain coati: Smaller than
the other coati species; longer
snout and shorter tail .
0160200971 PACKET 97
The coati can cope with extremes of climate, from the
humid forests of Central America to the arid scrublands
of Mexico. Its hardy nature allows this animal to survive
even on the high, forested slopes of the Andes in South
America. The coati is able to adapt to such very different
habitats for two basic reasons-it has a varied diet, and
it lives in highly organized, close-knit family groups.
~ H A B I T S
The coati lives in areas as diverse
as oak forests, tropical lowlands,
dry mountain forests, and grass-
lands. It climbs trees easily, grip-
ping with its paws and balancing
with its long tail. Its strong legs
also make it agile on the ground.
Adult males are mostly solitary.
But the females and young live
in family groups of 4 to 40. The
animals feed in the early morn-
ing and late afternoon and rest
in the heat of the day. While the
adults indulge in long periods of
grooming, the young chase one
another and hold mock fights.
At night the coati climbs into a
tree and curls up to sleep in the
fork of a branch or in a hollow.
The coati has a territory of less
than half a square mile. A male's
territory may overlap with the
home range held by a family of
females and young. When this
occurs, the animals usually tol-
erate one another. Sometimes
individual males cross over to
join their neighbors.
~ BREEDING
In the breeding season, the male
coatis compete to join a group
of females. The dominant male
wins by being submissive to the
females, often grooming them.
He scent-marks and defends a
territory around the group. He
may inflict deep wounds on an
intruder with his sharp claws.
A pair often mates in a tree.
The females then drive the male
from their group, probably to
keep him from killing and eat-
ing the young.
The gestation period is about
two and a half months. Three or
Left: At night the coati climbs up
into a tree. It sleeps curled up in a
forked branch.
four weeks before it is over, the
female leaves the group to find
a quiet place to give birth. The
two to seven newborns weigh
only four to six ounces. Feeding
on the mother's milk, the young
grow quickly and soon attempt
to leave the nest.
When the mother rejoins the
group, immature or unmated
females help rear her offspring.
The father may be allowed back
into the group briefly to groom
his young. This enables him to
identify his offspring, reducing
the risk of his killing them later.
Right: The coati's thickly padded
paws and strong claws make it an
agile climber.
DID YOU KNOW?
The coati adapts well to dif-
ferent habitats and climates,
but it is still vulnerable to the
cold. At high elevations where
the temperature drops below
32F, the tip of the coati's tail
may freeze off.
When a coati is three or four
weeks old, it constantly tries to
leave the nest. But the mother
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The coati feeds mainly on such
insects as beetles, ants, and ter-
mites. It also devours scorpions,
spiders, centipedes, and land
crabs. Occasionally it catches
frogs, lizards, and small mam-
mals, and it is quite fond of liz-
ard and turtle eggs. The coati
also eats fruit, scooping out the
flesh with its long claws.
Family groups feed together.
Each coati holds its tail erect
Left: The coati uses its long nose to
sniff for food in the undergrowth.
keeps a watchful eye and re-
turns it by the scruff of its neck.
The coati is often hunted for
its meat in South America. But
the quality of its fur is not con-
sidered good enough for use
in the fur trade.
Local people believe that the
solitary male coatis are a sepa-
rate species.
and sniffs the leaf debris with
its long snout. It may also dig
at a rotten tree stump, looking
for signs of edible life. When it
flushes a mammal from hiding,
the coati chases it. It pins down
reptiles and mammals and kills
them with a bite on the back
of the neck. The coati grasps in-
sects in its thickly padded paws
and rolls them around until they
are dead. This activity removes
any sharp or poisonous spines
before the creature is eaten.
QUOLL
ORDER
Morsupio/io
FAMILY
Oosyuridoe
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS & SPECIES
Oosyurus viverrinus
The quoll is a weasel-like marsupial that belongs to a group
of animals called the native cats. Small populations are found
in parts of southeastern Australia and Tasmania.
'\:II KEY FACTS
I ~ I SIZES
-Si' Length: 14-18 in.
Tail length: 8-12 in.
Weight: Mal e, 2 ~ lb. Female,
1 ~ lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Mating season: May to July.
Gestation: 3 weeks.
No. of young: Up to 20. Only
about 6 survive.
Weaning period: 3-4 months.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Night-act ive.
Diet: Insects, small mammals, nest-
ing birds, reptil es, and carrion.
Lifespan: 3-6 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The closest relatives of the quoll
include the New Guinea marsupial
cat, Oosyurus olbopunctotus, and
t he West ern Australian native cat,
O. geoffroii.
FEATURES OF THE QUOLL
Coloration: In the same
litter, 2 di stinct color phases
may occur. The most com-
mon coloration is brown-
ish gray with creamy white
spots. The less common
coloration is black with
wh ite spots.
Feet: 4 digits on hind feet , but third
and fourth are almost fused togeth-
er and look like 1 claw. 5 digits on
forefeet.
,,;, MCMXCII IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILE'M
Range of the quoll .
DISTRIBUTION
The quoll is most abundant in the forests and open scrublands
of Tasmania. But it is also found in small pockets throughout
southeastern Australia.
CONSERVATION
Although abundant in Tasmania, the quoll has suffered badly
on the Australian mainland. It is still persecuted by farmers,
who consider it a threat to pOUltry.
PRINTED IN USA.
Fur: Soft, thick,
and fairly short.
-
,oW' -.r
Tail: Lacks spots but
is often tipped
with white.
0160200971 PACKET 97
Unlike its cousins, which feed mainly on plant matter,
the quoll is a ferocious meat-eating predator. This small
marsupial employs a combination of speed and agility
to catch its prey. Then the quo" kills the victim by giving
it just a single deadly bite on the back of its neck.

The quolilives in southeastern
Australia and on the island of
Tasmania. It is found in dry for-
ested areas, on open moors and
plains, and on farmland. This
inquisitive animal once thrived
in great numbers in the suburbs
of such cities as Melbourne and
Sydney. However, a mysterious
epidemic almost wiped it out at
the beginning of the 19th cen-
tury. Today the largest popula-
tions are found on the island of
Tasmania. The mainland popu-
lation is nearing extinction.
The nocturnal quoll is a good
Right: The nocturnal quoll emerges
from its tree crevice to feed at dusk.
climber, but it prefers to spend
most of its time hunting on the
forest floor. Throughout the day
it sleeps either under a rock or
in a tree crevice lined with dry
leaves. It sleeps curled up in a
ball, with its ears folded down
to block out noise.
Right: The quoll frequently stops
feeding and sits up on its hind feet
to groom itself.

The quoll breeds between May
and July. The female gives birth
to her underdeveloped embry-
onic offspring after only a three-
week gestation period. She may
produce as many as 20 young,
but only 6 can survive, because
that is the number of teats she
has inside her pouch.
The female has a shallow, rear-
facing pouch that has a flap of
skin as an entrance but can be
kept shut by a sphincter muscle.
It is visible only when young are
inside it. The newborns make
their way to this second womb,
Left: Although the quoll is an agile
climber, its feet are not specially
adapted for the task.
DID YOU KNOW?
The first settlers in Australia
used the collective term native
cat for the quoll as well as its
relatives because they thought
these animals resembled their
domestic cats.
where each one attaches itself to
a teat. This helps the offspring
stay in pl ace as the mother goes
about her business.
At birth the young weigh only
one-half ounce, but they grow
quickly. Their eyes open when
they are seven to eight weeks old.
As soon as they leave the pouch,
the young are fairly active, but
they still return to feed from the
mother's teat. At this stage they
may be fed some meat as well .
They are fully independent at
four to five months old and sex-
ually mature at a year old.
The family Oasyuridae con-
tains the smallest marsupials,
the insect-eating marsupial
mice, as well as the largest
carnivorous marsupial, the
now-extinct Tasmanian wolf.
FOOD &: HUNTING
The quoll belongs to a group
of mammals known as the Aus-
tralian carnivorous marsupials.
Well known for its ferociousness,
the quoll eats anything that it
can overpower. It feeds primar-
ily on insects plus smal l mam-
mals and birds, but it also eats
reptiles and fish.
The quoll hunts during the
Left: The new-
borns are tinYt
but they grow
rapidlYt tripling
in size within
the first week.
Only the mouth
and paws are
developed at
birth.
night, employing many of-the
tactics cats use to track and kill
prey. It either lies in wait to am-
bush a victim or tracks it down.
It may at times leap from a low
branch onto an animal passing
below. After catching its prey,
the quoll kills it with a bite on
the back of the neck.
The quoll is often blamed for
attacks on poultry and is per-
secuted by farmers as a result.
Near human settlements, the
animal lives off the abundant
supply of scraps left by people.
Left: The quoll searches the under-
growth for insects, which form part
of its staple diet.

BUSHBUCK ..
MAMMALS '\..
"IIIIIIII Artiodactyla '11IIIIIIII Bovidae "IIIIIIII Tragelaphus scriptus
The bushbuck is an elegant-looking African antelope with spiral
horns. Because it is not a skilled runner, it relies on defensive
tactics and camouflage to cope with its numerous predators.

[jJ
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Head and body length: Male, 4-5
ft. Female, ft.
Tail length: 8-10 in.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Breeding season: Dry season.
Gestation period: 6 months.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Range of the bush buck.
DISTRIBUTION
Habit: Mainly solitary, in a small
territory. Female often lives with
one or more young. Active in the
early morning and late afternoon.
Diet: Grass, herbs, leaves, fruit,
and bark.
Lifespan: 12 years.
Found in Africa south of the Sahara from Ethiopia to Cape
Province, southwest Africa, southwest Angola, and Zambia.
RELATED SPECIES
CONSERVATION The genus Tragelaphus includes 6
other African antelope: the nyala,
mountain nyala, sitatunga, greater
kudu, lesser kudu, and bongo.
The bush buck is common and widespread in Africa. It is not
considered a good game animal because of its lack of speed.
FEATURES OF THE BUSH BUCK
Coat: Short, with longer patches on
the breast and neck. The adult male
has a crest of hair running the length
of his spine, which he can erect dur-
ing displays. Color and markings vary
greatly between individuals and ac-
cording to location.
Horns: About
12 inches maxi-
mum length,
with a ridge, or
keel. Twisted
to complete
half a spiral.
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
TWO BUSH BUCK
SUBSPECIES
Southern bushbuck: Chestnut
or blackish brown coat with
white spots. Paler head.
Western bushbuck: Bright
chestnut coat with stripes
and spots. Pale buff head.
0160200951 PACKET 95
The bush buck probably has a greater variety of markings
and coat colors than any other large African mammal. This
antelope is well camouflaged in its many different habitats,
having evolved whatever markings blend in best with its
background. For example, forest-dwelling bushbucks are
dark and heavily marked, while bush bucks that live in
dry, open country are pale, with faint stripes and bands.
~ HABITS
The bush buck is able to survive
in hilly country, swampy low-
lands, scrubland, or any other
habitat providing good cover
and some water. It is not as fast
as other antelope, but it protects
itself by stealth. When it senses a
predator such as a leopard, lion,
or cheetah, the bush buck may
fall to the ground to hide from
its enemy. Or it may make short,
bounding runs and then freeze.
Its markings blend with its sur-
roundings the instant it stops.
The bush buck feeds during
the early morning and late after-
noon. It may continue into the
evening, especially if there is a
clear sky and the moon is out.
Although the female may have
several generations of young
with her, the bush buck is main-
ly solitary. Both the male and fe-
male have small territories, and
these may overlap with other
bush bucks' home ranges.
The animals cross territories
without fighting, and mature
males avoid each other, espe-
cially in the breeding season. A
strict hierarchy based on age is
observed by bushbucks living in
one area, so conflicts are usually
avoided. If the hierarchy is upset,
competing males stage ritual-
ized displays. They lock horns
and leap into the air but gener-
ally avoid real fighting. However,
clashes sometimes occur, and a
bush buck can seriously injure an
opponent by stabbing him in
the neck with a horn.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The bush buck is a selective eat-
er, feeding primarily on grasses,
herbs, and shrubs, especially the
nutritious new growth. It also
nibbles on low branches and is
fond of the seed pods of acacia
trees, as well as fallen fruit. The
animal needs only a little water
because it gets moisture from
plants and the morning dew. It
Left: The southern bushbuck's col-
oring blends with the arid terrain
of its habitat.
DID YOU KNOW?
Not only is the bush buck a
good swimmer, but it can al-
so leap over obstacles that are
more than six feet high.
Although the bush buck has
a poor sense of smell, it has ex-
cellent sight. When it spots a
predator, it gives a hoarse bark
to warn other bush bucks.
The bush buck is extremely
obtains additional minerals by
licking rocks and eating soil.
When foraging, the bush buck
moves stealthily, staying alert for
predators while frequently stop-
ping to browse. It often stands
under a tree in which a baboon
or a green monkey is feeding
and waits for the other animal
to dislodge fruit.
Right: The bushbuck is a fussy eat-
er, nibbling grasses and picking at
low-growing shrubs.
susceptible to rinderpest-a
disease that is carried by ticks
and other parasites. Although
it is unable to keep itself free
of these tiny parasites, it tries
to remove them by rubbing
its rump and its back with its
horns. It also tries to get rid of
them by scraping its cheeks
and its neck on branches.
The bush buck's breeding sea-
son varies, depending on its lo-
cation. But mating is generally
timed so that births occur in the
dry season. The male may pass
through several territories to find
a receptive female. If he meets a
rival, he may perform a display
to establish dominance.
Six months after mating, the
female gives birth in a hidden
thicket. She leaves the calf each
day to feed and returns at night
to suckle it. To prevent predators
from discovering the defenseless
youngster, she eats its dung. At
about four months old, the calf
begins to follow its mother. It
Left: Young male and female bush-
bucks look alike, and their horns are
scarcely visible.
Left: The bush-
buck calf does
not have any
way to defend
itself against its
many predators.
It must rely on
its camouflage
to hide it in the
undergrowth
when the fe-
male leaves
each day to
feed.
usually stays with her for over a
year but stops suckling at about
six months.
The bush buck starts to devel-
op horns at about 10 months.
By the time it is 15 months old,
its cone-shaped horns are about
three inches high. The first twist
begins to appear three months
later. When the animal is two
years old, its half-twisted horns
are 10 inches long, and at three
years they are 12 inches, with a
well-defined twist.
The bush buck is sexually ma-
ture after about a year, but it
does not mate for at least one
more year. In fact, the male be-
gins to look different from the
female only when he is more
than two years old.
SQUIRREL MONKEY
""
... ORDER
~ Primates
FAMILY
Cebidae
CARD 340
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Saimiri sciureus
The squirrel monkey moves through the forest with the
remarkable agility of its namesake. It runs with ease along
slender branches as it searches for fruit and insects to eat.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Head and body length: Male,
11-12 in. Female, 10-11 in.
Tail length: Male, 13-18 in. Fe-
male, 13-16 in.
Weight: Male, 1 ~ - 2 ~ lb. Female,
1 - 1 ~ lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male, 5 years.
Female, 3 years.
Mating season: Often November
to December, but may vary de-
pending on the climate.
Gestation: 5 months.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Day-active. Lives in groups.
Diet: Mainly insects and fruit.
Lifespan: Up to 25 years.
RELATED SPECIES
One of the closest relatives is the
Central American squirrel monkey,
Saimiri oerstedii.
Range of the squirrel monkey.
DISTRIBUTION
Found from Colombia through French Guiana south through
Ecuador and Peru to western Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
CONSERVATION
The squirrel monkey's habitat is disappearing quickly because
of slash-and-burn agriculture and cattle ranching.
FEATURES OF THE SQUIRREL MONKEY
Paws: 4 fi ngers and an opposable
thumb on each. The fi ngers are very
dexterous and help the animal move
wi th great agi lity along branches and
through undergrowth.
Tail : Longer than the
body. Not capabl e of grip-
ping, but helps the mon-
key balance while moving.
,9 MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FI LET" PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Fur: Dense and soft. Warm yellow on
limbs and underside, turning reddish
toward the hands and feet. Black tip
of tail and head markings, with
characteristi c facial mask.
0160200971 PACKET 97
The squirrel monkey has strong, delicate, and extremely
dexterous hands. It uses them to uncurl leaves and to catch
flying insects, as well as to grip branches while it moves
through the forest. This sociable monkey lives in a large
group that may number as many as 50 individuals. Easily
excitable, it is quick to utter a high-pitched alarm call to
alert other troop members to the possibility of danger.
~ H A B I T S
The extremely adaptable squir-
rel monkey is sometimes found
in towns, farm fields, and citrus
groves. But it prefers more se-
cluded places offering plenty of
cover such as rainforests, savan-
na forests, mangrove swamps,
and marshland. The monkey es-
pecially favors humid lowlands
such as the Amazon basin.
A sociable animal, the squirrel
monkey usually lives in a troop
of 30 to 50 members in an area
of about a square mile. A troop
often forages and sleeps close to
a group of capuchin monkeys.
The capuchins react quickly to
danger, giving a bark that alerts
not only othermonkeys but also
some birds. The squirrel mon-
key has a high-pitched, peep-
ing alarm call, which it uses at
the slightest disturbance. At the
sound of the alarm call, the en-
tire troop frequently leaps away
to a place of safety.
The squirrel monkey sleeps
huddled on a branch. It stirs at
dawn and leaves its roost within
15 minutes. But the troop usual-
ly waits for an hour before mov-
ing to its morning feeding area.
The adults may rest together for
several hours and then begin to
eat while the youngsters play to-
gether. The animals rest again
in the hottest hours, then feed
closer to the ground until dusk.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The squirrel monkey eats soft
fruits, nuts, and berries, as well
as small birds, insects, and rep-
tiles. It favors figs, and they ac-
count for 90 percent of its fruit
diet when they are in season.
This monkey prefers to forage
in troops high in the forest can-
opy, among wide-crowned trees
where it can hide from predato-
ry birds. However, it will come
to the ground to look for insects
Left: The squirrel monkey prefers to
live in a habitat that provides plen-
ty of cover.
DID YOU KNOW?
As part of his sexual display,
the male squirrel monkey per-
forms a foot-washing ritual. He
urinates on his hands and then
rubs them on the soles of his
feet. Some other South Amer-
ican monkeys also do this.
When a squirrel monkey gets
wet, it squeezes water from its
and pick fruit from low trees.
It rarely climbs higher than 90
feet, but it can if necessary.
The monkey uses its dexter-
ous hands to feel for insects in-
side curled leaves, to turn over
twigs, and to pull branches to
its mouth. It also hangs from
branches by its feet to reach for
fruit. After depleting the fruit in
one area, the troop may travel
for several days to find more.
Right: A varied diet enables the
squirrel monkey to thrive in many
different environments.
coat by rubbing against trees.
The squirrel monkey's facial
markings resemble a human
skull, so Germans also call it
the death's head monkey.
Trappers used to capture the
squirrel monkey for medical
and space research, as well as
for the pet trade.
In the breeding season the male
squirrel monkey aggressively es-
tablishes his status within the
troop. But this does not guaran-
tee him a mate, because the fe-
male does not always mate with
the dominant male.
During her five-month gesta-
tion period, the female is less ac-
tive than other members of the
troop. She gives birth to one in-
fant, which weighs about four
ounces. The newborn crawls on-
to its mother's back and wraps
its tail and hind legs around her.
It rides in this way for its first few
Left: The squirrel monkey spends
its first two months holding onto
its mother's back.
Left: The squir-
rel monkey's
nimble hands
help it catch
small insects.
With its excel-
lent eyesight it
can detect prey
moving in the
trees or on the
ground.
weeks. To suckle, the youngster
either swings around under its
mother's arm or feeds upside
down from between her legs
while clinging to her back. At
four weeks old, the young mon-
key leaves its mother in order to
play with other youngsters on
the ground or in low branches.
An "aunt" (a nonpregnant fe-
male) may help a mother rear
her offspring. The aunt may lift
the baby off its mother's back
and let it crawl over her. Preg-
nant females and nursing moth-
ers make up a separate traveling
group, generally in sight of the
males. But males that try to en-
ter the troop are often repelled.

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