Animal The Definitive Visual Guide

MARSUPIALS 99

Petauroides volans This nocturnal forager feeds in eucalypt Cercartetus lepidus Acrobates pygmaeus
woodland (not rain forest), preferring
Greater glider the tender young leaves of just a few Little pygmy-possum Pygmy glider
eucalypt species. It forms female–male
Location E. Australia Length 14 – 19 in pairs, which share the same tree-hollow Location S.E. Australia, Length 2 – 23⁄4 in Location E. Australia Length 23⁄4 – 3 in
(35 – 48 cm) den for most of the year. The young Tasmania (5 – 6.5 cm) (6.5 – 8 cm)
Tail 18 – 231⁄2 in spend 3–4 months in the pouch and Tail 21⁄2 – 3 in Tail 23⁄4 – 3 in
(45 – 60 cm) then about 3 more being carried on (6 – 7.5 cm) (7 – 8 cm)
Weight 2 – 31⁄2 lb their mother’s back, before gradually Weight 3⁄16 – ⁄11 32 oz Weight ⁄11 32 – 9⁄16 oz
(0.9 – 1.5 kg) becoming independent at about 10 (5 – 9 g) (9 – 15 g)
Social unit Pair to 11 months. Social unit Individual Social unit Group
Status Vulnerable Status Least concern Status Least concern

Groups of scratch marks on tree furred gliding Also called the feather-tailed glider,
trunks betray regular landing membrane this tiny, agile marsupial has a long
sites of the greater glider, the between elbow tail with a row of stiff hairs on either
largest gliding marsupial. and rear foot side. The gliding membrane extends
Like other tree-dwelling between the front and rear limbs, and
marsupials, it has The smallest possum species, with the “dual-purpose” toes have sharp
sharp claws to a thumb-sized body, this is the only claws to dig into bark. Expanded,
grip bark, and pygmy-possum with gray fur on the padlike tips on the toes grip smooth,
2 toes on the underside; the upperparts are fawn shiny surfaces such as leaves—even
front foot oppose or brown. It has a short, blunt face glass windows. The tongue is long
the other 3, giving and large, erect ears. The prehensile and brush-tipped, to gather nectar,
a pincerlike grip. tail can support the animal’s entire pollen, and small insects from flowers.
weight, and expands at its base to
FACING THE FRONT underparts store excess food as fat. Nocturnal
off-white in and usually solitary, this marsupial
both color feeds in low bushes and shrubs, or MAMMALS
phases on the ground, on a variety of small
non-prehensile animals from insects to lizards.
tail used for
steering during
glides

The greater glider’s large eyes COLOR PHASES Hypsiprymnodon moschatus Potorous longipes
and huge ears face the front, so The greater glider occurs
it can judge distances accurately in 2 color forms or phases, Musky rat-kangaroo Long-footed potoroo
by stereoscopic vision and often in the same area. One
stereophonic sound. This enables is charcoal-gray to black, Length 61⁄2 – 11 in Length 15 – 161⁄2 in
the glider to parachute horizontal tinged with brown (as seen (16 – 28 cm) (38 – 42 cm)
distances of more than 330 ft here); the other is very pale Tail 43⁄4 – 7 in Tail 12 – 13 in
(100 m) at night and yet land gray or mottled cream. (12 – 17 cm) (30 – 33 cm)
precisely on a tree trunk. Weight 13 – 24 oz Weight 31⁄4 – 5 lb
Location N.E. Australia (375 – 675 g) Location S.E. Australia (1.6 – 2.2 kg)
Social unit Individual Social unit Individual
Status Least concern Status Vulnerable

Distoechurus pennatus gripping with the sharp claws on all This potoroo (“rat-kangaroo”) is an
toes, and consumes insects (especially active, solitary, nocturnal fungus-eater.
Feather-tailed cicadas), as well as flowers, nectar, and It bounds at high speed, kangaroolike,
possum fruit. These possums appear to live in on its large back feet, and scrabbles
groups of 2 – 3, and the female carries for food with the shorter but strong
Length 31⁄2 – 41⁄4 in 1 – 2 young in her pouch, then riding front limbs. Some 30 fungus species
(9 – 11 cm) on her back near the nest. Details make up four-fifths of its diet. It also
Tail 41⁄2 – 6 in of the social and breeding habits eats insects and green plant matter.
(11.5 – 15 cm) are, however, lacking. After an incubation period of 38 days,
Weight 11⁄16 – 15⁄8 oz the single young suckles in the pouch
Location New Guinea (30 – 45 g) for up to 5 months, and remains with
Social unit Group its mother for a further 2 – 3 months.
Status Least concern

The feather-tailed possum is black stripes Neither rat nor kangaroo, this is a
identified by its white face, over eye and potoroid marsupial (see right). Its
with 4 black stripes, and behind ear preferred habitat is thick rain forest.
its feather- or quill-like It forages alone by day, mainly on
tail with a prehensile sharp, curved the ground for fallen fruit such as figs,
tip. It moves claws as well as palm nuts, seeds, and fungi.
through the It also hoards food at scattered sites—
tree branches unusual behavior among marsupials—
by darting leaps, and bounds on all fours, gripping with
the opposable big toe on each rear
foot. Both sexes produce a musky
odor, particularly during breeding.

MAMMALS 100

MARSUPIALS 101

Osphranter rufus DEFENSIVE MEASURES

Red kangaroo The dominant male of a group of red
kangaroos will fight off any challenge
ALERT TO DANGER Location Australia Length 21⁄4– 41⁄2 ft for supremacy from other males. If
Red kangaroos usually browse and graze (0.7 – 1.4 m) one of a group spies a potential
head down, but remain alert, looking and Tail 25– 39 ft predator, it will warn the rest by
listening for predators. Their sharp eyes can (64 – 100 cm) stamping its foot or thumping its tail
spot a dingo 1,150 ft (350 m) away, and Weight 37 – 200 lb on the ground. The group will then
their large ears are very sensitive. (17 – 92 kg) flee, taking refuge in water
Social unit Group if possible.
Status Least concern

The largest living marsupial, the red PLAY FIGHTING MAMMALS
kangaroo is found over much of When playing or fighting among themselves,
Australia, with the highest numbers kangaroos may stand up and spar, but
living in open savanna woodland. Its their normal defense is to deliver a
population varies greatly from year to powerful kick.
year: when rainfall is high, numbers may
reach as many as 12 million, falling to IN FULL FLIGHT
5 million in times of drought. Females Fleeing from danger, the red kangaroo bounds
will conceive only if there has been on its hind legs. It can reach 30mph (50kph)
enough rain to produce plenty of green for short periods.
vegetation. In a prolonged drought, the
males no longer produce sperm. Red
kangaroos use a highly developed
sense of smell to detect water, and if
it is scarce will migrate up to 125 miles
(200 km) from their usual grazing
grounds to find it. They forage mainly
at night, eating succulent grass shoots,
herbs, and leaves. Groups frequently
change composition and size. They may
hold as many as 25 individuals but the
average group size is 2 to 3, although
1,500 or so may gather at a water hole
during a drought. The dominant male of
the group mates with several females.
The red kangaroo is regarded as a pest
in its native Australia, and is hunted for
its meat and skin. Apart from humans
and occasionally the wedge-tailed
eagle, its only predator is the dingo.

IN MOTHER’S POUCH
The young spends 7.5 to 8 months in the pouch,
before making its first foray outside. It becomes
independent when a year old.

RUFOUS MALE
Males, which may be more
than double the weight of
females, are usually
orange-red, while
females are blue-
gray—although
coloration varies.

very long, short
strong tail forelegs
large hind
limbs

102 MARSUPIALS

Bettongia penicillata Aepyprymnus rufescens Lagorchestes conspicillatus member of the kangaroo family the name
of spectacled hare wallaby. It grazes by
Brush-tailed bettong Rufous bettong Spectacled hare night, usually alone, on grasses and herbs,
wallaby and hides in a burrow or thicket by day.
Length 12 – 15 in Length 131⁄2 – 19 in After 29 –31 days’ gestation, the single
(30 – 38 cm) (34 – 48 cm) Length 16 – 19 in young stays in the pouch for 5 months,
Tail 111⁄2 – 14 in Tail 12 – 16 in (40 – 48 cm) and is weaned by 7 months.
(29 – 36 cm) (31 – 41 cm) Tail 141⁄2 – 20 in
Location S.W. Australia Weight 13⁄4 – 31⁄4 lb Location E. Australia Weight 31⁄4 – 61⁄2 lb (37 – 50 cm)
(0.8 – 1.8 kg) (1.3 – 3 kg) Weight 31⁄4 – 10 lb
Social unit Individual Social unit Variable Location N. Australia (1.5 – 4.5 kg)
Status Critically endangered Status Least concern Social unit Individual
Status Least concern

Like the potoroo family (see p.99), the pale A conspicuous orange eye patch in
brush-tailed bettong—also called underparts the generally shaggy, white-grizzled,
the woylie—is a fungivore. It forages in gray-brown coat gives this small
woodland soil by night, scraping earth Grizzled red-brown fur over the body
to find the fungi, which form 90 percent gives this rat-kangaroo its name of Setonix brachyurus dense vegetation, it feeds at night on
of its diet. The remainder of its diet rufous bettong, although some fur leaves, grasses, and fruit. Small family
comprises roots, bulbs, tubers, and is white. It uses its grasping tail to Quokka groups associate as larger gatherings,
worms. This bettong has a tail almost gather grasses and stems for its tall, which maintain a group territory.
as long as its head and body, with a cone-shaped nest, which it builds on Length 16 – 211⁄2 in Gestation is 27 days; the single young
crest of black fur along the upper side. the woodland floor, often against a log (40 – 54 cm) leaves the pouch after 6 months.
By day, it shelters in a large, domed or tree; one individual may have 5 such Tail 10 – 14 in
nest of bark, leaves, and grass. refuges. The diet is fungi, grass, roots, (25 – 35 cm) CONSERVATION
leaves, flowers, seeds, and small Weight 31⁄4 – 10 lb
invertebrates. The single young leaves Location S.W. Australia (1.5 – 4.5 kg) Between 5,000 and 15,000 quokkas
the pouch after 16 weeks. (Rottnest and Bald islands) Social unit Group live on Rottnest Island. As well as
Status Vulnerable being a popular tourist attraction,
they have enabled scientists to carry
MAMMALS Very rare on mainland Australia, the out detailed research into marsupial
quokka survives on 2 islands off biology—essential knowledge for
the southwest coast, mainly because their future conservation.
introduced predators such as foxes
Thylogale stigmatica Petrogale penicillata are absent. This small wallaby frequents
thick forest, open woodland, low scrub,
Red-legged Brush-tailed rock
pademelon wallaby and swamp edges or river banks
where available. After
resting by day in

Location N. and E. Length 15 – 23 in Location S.E. Australia Length 20 – 231⁄2 in COMPACT SHAPE
Australia, New Guinea (38 – 58 cm) (50 – 60 cm) The quokka has a rounded body, short ears and
Tail 12 – 181⁄2 in Tail 20 – 28 in snout, and a stout tail. Its dense, coarse fur is
(30 – 47 cm) (50 – 70 cm) brown, tinged red around the face and neck.
Weight 51⁄2 – 15 lb Weight 81⁄2 – 24 lb
(2.5 – 7 kg) (4 – 11 kg)
Social unit Individual Social unit Group
Status Least concern Status Near threatened

This slender-headed, stout-bodied, dark brown
thick-tailed pademelon (a type of tail
small wallaby) tends to be brown-gray
in rain forests but paler fawn in open
woodland. Active both day and night,
it is usually solitary but may gather in
groups at a fruiting tree to feed. Other
foods include leaves and seeds.

The rock wallaby is specialized for Petrogale concinna Similar to the brush-tailed rock
leaping and scrambling over boulders, wallaby (see left) in form and habits,
cliffs, ledges, and outcrops. It can make Little rock wallaby this species—also called the nabarlek—
single bounds of 13 ft (4 m), and the soles has short, silky, reddish brown fur with
of the rear feet are enlarged, padded, Location N. Australia Length 111⁄2 – 14 in a dark shoulder stripe and brush-tipped
and roughened, providing excellent (29 – 35 cm) tail. It grazes alone by night on grass
grip. By day, this wallaby rests in a Tail 9 – 12 in and sedge, but its main food in the dry
cool rock crevice or cave, occasionally (22 – 31 cm) season is nardoo (a tough fern). To cope
sunbathing. At night, it feeds on Weight 21⁄4 – 31⁄4 lb with this abrasive food, the wallaby’s
grasses, ferns, bush leaves, and fruit. (1 – 1.5 kg) molar teeth slowly move forward in
Colonies may exceed 70 in number. Social unit Individual the jaw as they wear, and are then
Status Data deficient replaced by another set—a process
of repeated tooth replacement unique
among marsupials.

WMARSUPIALS 103

Dendrolagus dorianus although it can walk and bound quickly Macropus fulginosus “BOXING” KANGAROOS
on the ground. Doria’s tree kangaroo is
Doria’s tree one of the largest and, like most other Western gray Male kangaroos battle for
kangaroo species in its genus, is mostly solitary kangaroo females during the mating
and nocturnal, with a diet of various season, and also for food
Location New Guinea Length 20 – 31 in leaves, buds, flowers, and fruit. It has Location S. Australia Length 26 – 87 ft or resting sites if these are
(51 – 78 cm) black ears, a whorled fur pattern in the (67 – 223 m) limited. The antagonists lock
Tail 171⁄2 – 26 in middle of the back, and a pale brown Tail 161⁄2 – 39 in arms and attempt to push
(44 – 66 cm) or cream tail. After a gestation period (42 – 100 cm)
Weight 14 – 32 lb of approximately 30 days, the single Weight 37 – 160 lb each other over. They may
(6.5 – 14.5 kg) young attaches to the mother’s teat (17 – 72 kg) also lean back on their tails
Social unit Individual in her pouch and suckles for up to Social unit Group and kick with the rear feet.
Status Vulnerable 10 months. Like other tree kangaroos, Status Least concern
As in most such contests,
rounded, Doria’s is dependent on a One of the largest, most abundant serious injury is rare. MAMMALS
well-furred forest habitat and is kangaroos, the western gray
muzzle therefore threatened kangaroo has thick, coarse fur JOEY ON BOARD
by logging and other that varies from pale gray-brown The young spends around
front limbs forms of forest to chocolate-brown, with a paler 11 months in the pouch.
almost as long clearance, as well chest and belly. It lopes like From about 250 days, it
as rear limbs as by hunting for a rabbit when moving slowly, begins to leave the pouch
its meat. using all 4 limbs, with the for short periods, but quickly
Ten species of tree long, tail as a brace, but bounds returns if danger threatens.
kangaroo occur chiefly across dense, on its back legs at high speed.
New Guinea and northeast brown fur Males are up to twice the powerful
Australia. They have short, broad, size of females and can cover tail
stout feet and long claws, for climbing padded, 33 ft (10 m) in one leap. This
through branches, using the long tail roughened species grazes primarily at
as a counterbalance. Unlike other soles on night, mainly on grasses,
kangaroos, the tree kangaroo can rear feet but it also browses on leafy
move each back leg independently. It shrubs and low trees. It lives
spends most of its time in trees, moving nonprehensile in stable groups of up to 15.
relatively slowly but with great precision, tail for balance The dominant male is usually
the only male to breed. The
gestation period is
30 – 31 days.

Notamacropus parma Osphranter robustus piles. It shelters there by day, thereby Tarsipes rostratus
surviving very hot, dry conditions, and
Parma wallaby Common wallaroo by late afternoon moves out to forage on Honey possum
grasses, sedges, and other leafy foods.
Location E. Australia Length 18 – 21 in Location Australia Length 221⁄2 – 43 ft This wallaroo resembles other brown Location S.W. Australia Length 21⁄2 – 31⁄2 in
(45 – 53 cm) (57 – 109 m) wallabies but may adopt (6.5 – 9 cm)
Tail 16 – 211⁄2 in Tail 21 – 35 in a distinctive pose Tail 23 ⁄4 – 41⁄4 in
(41 – 54 cm) (53 – 90 cm) with shoulders (7 – 10.5 cm)
Weight 73⁄4 – 13 lb Weight 62 – 130 lb back, elbows Weight 1⁄4 – 9⁄16 oz
(3.5 – 6 kg) (28 – 60 kg) together, and (7 – 16 g)
Social unit Individual Social unit Individual wrists raised. Social unit Group
Status Near threatened Status Least concern Status Least concern

The parma wallaby’s distinguishing Also called the euro or hill kangaroo,
marks are a black stripe in the center the common wallaroo is found in a range
of the red- or gray-brown fur on the back, of habitats, but usually in and around
from the neck to the middle of the back, rocky outcrops, cliffs, and boulder
and a white stripe on the side of the
muzzle and cheek. Solitary, shy, and Wallabia bicolor face, snout, front and back feet, and
well camouflaged in dense vegetation,
for a century it was believed to be Swamp wallaby tail. Also called the stinker or black
extinct on the Australian mainland, but
was rediscovered in 1967. This night- orange- wallaby, it feeds at
time grazer and browser feeds on a tinged
very wide range of plants. Length 26 – 34 in under- night on a wide diet
(66 – 85 cm) parts of plant material,
Tail 26 – 34 in
(66 – 85 cm) including toxic
Weight 23 – 45 lb
(10.5 – 20.5 kg) types such as One of the smallest possums, this tiny,
Social unit Individual agile, nocturnal species has a long,
Status Least concern hemlock. pointed, well-whiskered snout and a
long, prehensile tail. It lives in small
Location E. Australia groups, and its toes have soft, padlike
tips and small, sharp claws, to grip
Unlike other wallabies, this species both bark and glossy leaves. The 1-in
moves with its head low and its tail (2.5-cm) long bristle-tipped tongue
held out straight behind. It has coarse, gathers pollen and nectar (“honey”)
brown-black fur and a much darker from flowers, which are then scraped
onto the much-reduced teeth (upper
canines and lower incisors only).

104 SENGIS

Sengis

PHYLUM Chordata The long, pointed snout, which is flexible BURROWS AND TRAILS
CLASS Mammalia and highly sensitive, gives sengis their
ORDER Macroscelidea alternative name of elephant-shrew. They Sengis are strictly terrestrial and live
have keen senses of hearing and vision, and in a variety of habitats. The Karoo rock
FAMILIES 1 (Macroscelididae) long, powerful back legs for running swiftly sengi (right) favors rocky areas where it
will either dig its own burrow or occupy
SPECIES 15 around their territory. Sengis are found only one that has been abandoned. It
maintains a system of trails that lead
in Africa, where their habitat ranges from from the burrow to feeding areas. This
behavioral pattern is seen in several
stony ground and grassland to forest undergrowth. They sengi species.

forage mostly by day, feeding on invertebrates.

Elephantulus rufescens days. A male–female pair defend their Rhynchocyon chrysopygus
territory by drumming their back feet
Rufous sengi and chasing away the intruder. The Golden-rumped sengi
male chases out other males, and
Length 43⁄4 – 5 in the female other females. Length 101⁄2 – 111⁄2 in
(12 – 12.5 cm) (27 – 29 cm)
Location E. Africa Tail 5 – 51⁄2 in Location E. Africa Tail 9 – 10 in
(13 – 13.5 cm) (23 – 26 cm)
Weight 13⁄4 – 21⁄8 oz Weight 11⁄4 lb
(50 – 60 g) (525 – 550 g)
Social unit Individual/Pair Social unit Individual/Group
Status Least concern Status Endangered

MAMMALS Gray to brown with white underparts, This colorful species has hairless black as worms, insects, and centipedes.
this species has a white eye-ring with feet, legs, and ears, a mainly black, When threatened, this sengi slaps its
a dark patch on the outer edge. In white-tipped, sparsely furred tail, tail on the leaves to warn others, then
addition to small creatures, it eats soft russet-colored head and body, and a bounds away at great speed, often
fruit, seeds, and buds. The 1 – 2 young golden patch on the rump. Its diet with a stiff-legged leap to demonstrate
are born after a gestation period of 60 consists of small invertebrates, such its vigor.

Elephantulus pilicaudus Rhynchocyon udzungwensis Mountain in Tanzania. It is the largest Rhynchocyon petersi
member of a genus of “giant sengis”
Karoo rock sengi Gray-faced sengi and is distinguished by a gray face, Black and
yellow chest, orange sides, maroon rufous sengi
Length 4 – 51⁄2 in Length 113⁄4 – 121⁄2 in back, and black thighs. It is known
Location South Africa (10.5 – 14.5 cm) Location E. Africa (30 – 32 cm) from only 2 populations, covering Length 9 – 121⁄2 in
Tail 41⁄4 – 6 in Tail 91⁄2 – 10 in a combined forest area of scarcely (23 – 32 cm)
(11.2 – 15.1 cm) (24 – 26 cm) 115 square miles (300 square km)— Location E. Africa Tail 71⁄2 – 101⁄2 in
Weight 13⁄4 – 13⁄4oz Weight 11⁄2 lb with around 50 – 80 individuals per (19 – 27 cm)
(38 – 52 g) (710 g) square km. This makes this species Weight c.7⁄8 lb
Social unit Individual/Pair Social unit Individual/Pair vulnerable to natural disasters—such as (400 g)
Status Data deficient Status Vulnerable fires (whether natural or human-caused). Social unit Individual/Pair
Global warming could reduce its cool Status Vulnerable
montane habitat too. Like related
This species was distinguished from the Initially found in 2005 by camera- species, it builds a nest consisting One of four brightly colored “giant” or
closely allied Cape sengi in 2008. It is trapping, this animal is one of many new of a cup in soil lined with dry leaves, “checkered” sengis, this species has an
restricted to the Nama-Karoo region of species discovered in the exceptionally topped with a cryptic dome of orange head and upper body, graduating
South Africa, and is distinguished by a diverse communities of Udzungwa leaf litter. through red on the back to black on
tufted tail and subtle features of its body the rump—and with an orange-brown
pattern, such as mottled underparts and tail. It occurs in southeastern Kenya
buff-colored cheeks. It lives among and northeastern Tanzania, including
boulders in scattered rocky habitats Zanzibar Island. “Giant” sengis of
on mountain slopes above 4,265 ft the genus Rhynchocyon are nervous,
(1,300 m)—a landscape unsuitable for twitchy forest-dwelling animals and do
agriculture or development. However, it not bound as much as other members
is known from only 17 specimens, so of the family.
probably has low population density.

TENRECS AND GOLDEN MOLES 105

Tenrecs and golden moles

PHYLUM Chordata Genetic studies show that tenrecs and golden moles, NOCTURNAL HUNTER
CLASS Mammalia which were once classified with shrews, moles, and
ORDER Afrosoricida hedgehogs, are actually unrelated to them. The At night, Grant’s golden
Madagascan tenrecs (and semiaquatic African otter moles forage for food
FAMILIES 2 shrews) include species that are unusual among on the surface, feeding
mainly on termites. They
SPECIES 51 mammals in having a reptilian cloaca: a common will, however, eat a wide
variety of invertebrates,
opening to the anus and the urinogenital tract. They and small lizards too,
if they can catch them.
feed mainly on invertebrates. The African golden moles have strong limbs Here, Grant’s golden
mole feasts on a locust.
for burrowing, tiny skin-covered eyes, and lack external ears. They prey

on underground animals, such as earthworms and burrowing lizards.

Tenrec ecaudatus common tenrec is the largest land- Micropotamogale lamottei Hemicentetes semispinosus
dwelling species. It has coarse, gray
Common tenrec to reddish gray fur and sharp spines. Nimba otter-shrew Lowland
Using its long, mobile snout, it grubs streaked-tenrec
Length 10 – 151⁄2 in among leaves for worms and other small Length 43⁄4 – 8 in
Location Madagascar (26 – 39 cm) creatures. It also scavenges and hunts Location W. Africa (Mount (12 – 20 cm) Length 61⁄2 – 71⁄2 in
Tail 3⁄8 – 1⁄2 in frogs and mice. In defense, a tenrec Nimba area) Tail 4 – 6 in (16 – 19 m)
(1 – 1.5 cm) squeals, erects the spiny hairs on its (10 – 15 cm) Tail None
Weight 31⁄4 – 51⁄2 lb neck into a crest, jumps and bucks, and Weight 43⁄8 oz Location Madagascar Weight 27⁄8 – 103⁄16 oz
(1.5 – 2.5 kg) readily bites. It shelters by day in a nest (135 g) (80 – 280 g)
Social unit Individual of grass and leaves under a log, rock, or Social unit Individual Social unit Group
Status Least concern bush. After a gestation of 56 – 64 days, a Status Near threatened Status Least concern
litter of 1–32 is born, averaging at about
The 30 species of tenrecs are mainly 18. When young, common tenrecs are This species is distinguished from MAMMALS
from central Africa and Madagascar. striped black and white. other tenrecs by its two-tone color of
Most resemble background black with variable stripes
a combination rear feet with sharp claws, used to of white, yellow, or brown. The fur is
of shrew and grip slippery rocks and prey. Compared coarse with scattered spines and a
hedgehog. to other tenrecs, it has a broad, patch of spiky hairs on the crown,
The nocturnal, round-muzzled head. The short, dense, which is erect as a crest. The main
water-repellent fur is reddish brown. foods are worms and grubs. The
The web-footed tenrec noses among streaked tenrec lives in groups of 15
stones and weeds for water insects, or more, and all help to protect each
crabs, and crayfish, propelled mainly female’s litter of 2 – 11 young.
by means of its long, scantily haired tail.
Limnogale mergulus This otter-shrew is largely restricted
ears barely to upland forest streams in an area of
Web-footed tenrec visible in fur about 580 square miles (1,500 square km)
around Mount Nimba in West Africa.
It has a fleshy nose, rounded head,
compact body, and long tail. Long, gray
or dark brown fur usually hides the
eyes and most of the ears. It is mostly
nocturnal, catching small fish, crabs,
water insects, and similar prey on short
dives or along river banks, and eating
them on land. It digs a short nesting
burrow in soft soil.

Length 43⁄4 – 61⁄2 in Potamogale velox has a rounded muzzle, a long,
(12 – 17 cm) flexible body, and a long, muscular
Tail 43⁄4 – 61⁄2 in Giant otter-shrew tail flattened from side to side, which
(12 – 16 cm) it uses to propel itself through water.
Location E. Madagascar Weight 21⁄8 – 31⁄4 oz Length 111⁄2 – 14 in This species inhabits a variety of
(62 – 90 g) (29 – 35 cm) freshwater habitats, from still pools
Social unit Individual Tail 91⁄2 – 35 in to mountain torrents at altitudes of
Status Vulnerable (24 – 90 cm) 6,000 ft (1,800 m). The eyes and ears
Weight 129⁄16 – 14 oz are small and high-set, for swimming
Once believed extinct, the Location W. and C. Africa (340 – 397 g) low in the water; yet, unlike an otter, the
only aquatic species of Social unit Individual toes lack webs. Mainly nocturnal and
tenrec has been relocated Status Least concern solitary outside the breeding season,
in the wild but information the giant otter-shrew hunts primarily
is very scarce. It has an Easily mistaken at a glance for a small at night for fish, frogs, shellfish, and
otterlike form, with long otter (which is a mustelid rather than other freshwater animals. Its bankside
whiskers, small high-set an insectivore), the giant otter-shrew burrow, where it shelters by day, has
eyes and ears, and webbed an underwater entrance.

106 TENRECS AND GOLDEN MOLES

Setifer setosus Chrysochloris asiatica Eremitalpa granti invisible eyes and ears, a hard, hairless
nose pad, and 3 long, broad claws on
Greater hedgehog- Cape golden mole Grant’s golden mole each foot. It pushes through loose sand
tenrec as though “swimming,” making more
Length 31⁄2 – 51⁄2 in Length 3 – 31⁄2 in permanent tunnels deeper down in
Length 6 – 9 in Location Southern Africa (9 – 14 cm) Location Southern Africa (7.6 – 8.8 cm) sand or near the surface in harder,
(15 – 22 cm) Tail None Tail None more compacted soil. The main
Tail 1⁄2 in Weight Not recorded Weight 9⁄16 – 11⁄16 lb components of its diet are various
(1.5 cm) Social unit Individual (15 – 30 g) small desert animals, from ants,
Weight 63⁄16 – 10 oz Status Least concern Social unit Individual termites, and beetles to lizards and
(180 – 270 g) Status Least concern snakes. Grant’s golden mole is solitary,
Social unit Individual and probably active for short periods
Location Madagascar Status Least concern throughout the day and night. It hardly,
if ever, comes to the surface except
African golden moles (chrysochlorids) Long, soft, silky fur covers almost the to locate a mate. The specialized
entire body of Grant’s golden mole, desert habitat of this species is
belong to a different order from the true and varies from steel-gray to buff under increasing threat from mining
or white. This mole has tiny, almost and other human activities.
moles (Soricomorpha). The Cape
gray or buff upperparts
golden mole has the soft, dense fur

typical of moles, which may appear

olive, brown, or gray depending on

the direction of the light. Its snout has

a hairless nose pad, its eyes and ears

are tiny, and each front leg has two

large digging claws—all adaptations

for a tunneling lifestyle. It is solitary

and eats worms, grubs and other

soil creatures found when burrowing

This hedgehoglike tenrec has short, or that have fallen into its more
pointed, white-tipped spines on its long
body and coarse hair, varying from gray permanent tunnels. dense,
to black, on the head and legs. It is shiny fur
nocturnal and, like true hedgehogs,
MAMMALS it also rolls into a prickly ball when
threatened. It climbs well and
eats a wide variety of worms,
amphibians, reptiles, insects,
carrion, fruit, and berries. It
becomes torpid for several weeks
in adverse conditions.

Aardvark Orycteropus afer SEASONAL DIET

Aardvark The aardvark favors ants as its
food, which are more abundant in
PHYLUM Chordata The only surviving member of the order Length 37 – 55 ft summer, but it also eats termites at
CLASS Mammalia Tubulidentata, the aardvark is a solitary (94 – 142 m) times when ants are not available. It
ORDER Tubulidentata animal found in Africa. It is characterized Tail 171⁄2– 25 in breaks into a nest or mound using its
by nonfunctional, columnar cheek teeth, (44 – 63 cm) front feet, which are armed with long,
FAMILIES 1 (Orycteropodidae) a long snout, large ears, a piglike body, Location Africa (south of Weight 88 – 145 lb sharp claws. The dense mat of hairs
the Sahara) (40 – 65 kg) that surrounds the aardvark’s nostrils
SPECIES 1 and powerful limbs and shovel-shaped Social unit Individual effectively filters dust as it digs.
Status Least concern
HUNCHED BACK
claws for digging. Ears that can be folded The aardvark has a distinctive

back (and a profusion of nostril curved back, and its snout,
ears, and tail are long
hairs) help keep out dirt when Also known as an ant-bear, the and tapering. The
aardvark is one of the most powerful bristly, scant, brown
burrowing. The aardvark has mammal diggers, excavating burrows fur is tinged with
up to 33 ft (10 m) long around its home yellows and grays.
a primitive brain and poor range of 3⁄4 – 2 square miles (2 – 5 square
km). The single young is born after an
eyesight. It does, however, average gestation period of 225 days
and weighs 33⁄4 lb (1.7 kg). Aardvarks
have an excellent sense chew one species of ant with their molar
teeth, but other species of ant and
of smell. This is used to termites are swallowed whole and
probably ground up in
locate termites and ants, their muscular
stomach.
which are then captured,
large ears for
using the animal’s long, acute hearing

sticky tongue.

MASTER BURROWER

The aardvark is a fast and prolific
burrower, using its strong, clawed front
limbs to dig and its back feet to push
away excavated soil. Some aardvark
burrows consist of an extensive tunnel
network; others are shorter and provide
temporary refuge. The aardvark always
exits its burrow head first, as shown here.

DUGONGS AND MANATEES 107

Dugongs and manatees

PHYLUM Chordata Sirenians—the dugong and manatees—are Feeding
CLASS Mammalia large, slow-moving creatures with a streamlined
ORDER Sirenia body. They are the only marine mammals that Sirenians strip vegetation using their
feed primarily on plants. Sirenians must rise large, mobile upper lip. Food is then
FAMILIES 2 crushed between horny plates on the
to the surface to breathe, but they can remain front part of the palate and on the
lower jaw, and finally ground
SPECIES 4 submerged for up to 20 minutes. Even though between the teeth.

they have no enemies apart from

humans, sirenians may number fewer than

150,000—making them among the least FORAGING ON THE SEA BED
Sirenians, such as this dugong, frequently
abundant of any mammal order. search the sea bed for the rhizomes
(underground stems) of sea grasses, which
Anatomy
have high concentrations of carbohydrates.
Sirenians have paddlelike
front limbs and a flat tail CONSERVATION
to aid propulsion. Their
skin is thick and tough, In the past, sirenians were
and they have a hunted extensively for their
relatively small brain. meat, hide, and oil. Today, they
Due to the large volume are vulnerable to injury or death
of gas given off during caused by boat propellers
the digestion of plant (below), fishing nets, and the
matter, sirenians are highly pollution of coastal waters.
buoyant. To compensate, their
bones are heavy and dense. angled snout MOTHER AND CALF
Underwater, sirenians
can close their nostrils. They lack DUGONG SKULL incisor molars Sirenians are slow breeders: MAMMALS
well-defined eyelids and protect the (tusk) indentation usually only one calf is produced
eye surface with secretions and by The steeply angled snout every 2 years. The “mouthing”
drawing the nictitating membrane bearing a single pair of tusks contact between this manatee
across the eye. and a marked indentation in mother and calf helps preserve
the lower jaw are characteristic the family bond.
features of a dugong skull.

Dugong dugon marine plant growth and avoid Trichechus manatus FOOD INTAKE
cold-water currents. Dugongs form
Dugong transient herds averaging 10 – 20, West Indian manatee
exceptionally 100 or more, with little
Location E. Africa, Length 61⁄2 – 11 ft social structure. Members may gather Location S.E. USA to N.E. Length 81⁄4 – 93⁄4 ft
W. Asia, S. Asia, S.E. Asia, (2 – 3.3 m) to intimidate and butt predators such South America, Caribbean (2.5 – 3 m)
Australia, Pacific islands Weight 1,257 lb as sharks. Males compete for females Weight Up to 15⁄8 ton
(570 kg) by sounds and pushes. Courtship and (1.6 tonne)
Social unit Group mating (which is monogamous) are Social unit Variable
Status Vulnerable similarly auditory and tactile. One Status Vulnerable
offspring, up to 4 ft (1.2 m) long and
The dugong has a crescent-shaped 77 lb (35 kg) in weight, is born after a Best known of the 3 manatee species Feeding occurs from the surface
tail, and short foreflippers. Primarily gestation of 14 months. It is cared for (the other 2 being the Amazonian down about 13 ft (4 m). The
diurnal, it moves regularly each day by the mother, with help from older and West African), the West Indian manatee holds food with its
between on- and offshore areas siblings and female relatives, and is manatee lives along shallow shores flippers, and directs it into the
depending on the tides and food weaned by 18 months. A dugong may and estuaries, and in nearby rivers and mouth using its flexible lips. Daily
supply; in some areas, it undertakes live for about 60 years. freshwater lagoons. Groups of up to food intake is up to a quarter
longer seasonal migrations—perhaps 20 swell to 100 or more where food of its body weight, and may
hundreds of kilometres—to follow crescent-shaped is plentiful; however, there is little include a few fish (for protein).
tail cohesion, and individuals come and go,
ranging widely. Reproduction is similar BLUNT FRONT
to the dugong’s (see left), although the Like other sirenians, this species has tiny eyes
manatee is polygynous. and no external ear flaps. Its gray or gray-brown
skin, paler below, may harbor growths of algae.

gray or gray-brown,
generally hairless
skin

short, paddle-shaped
foreflipper

108 ELEPHANTS

Elephants

PHYLUM Chordata The largest living animals on land—the male African Feeding
CLASS Mammalia savanna elephant may be as tall as 13 ft (4 m) and
ORDER Proboscidea weigh nearly 11 tons (10 tonnes)—elephants are Elephants have large, ridged cheek
characterized by pillarlike legs, a thick-set body with teeth (molars and premolars) to
FAMILIES 1 (Elephantidae) deal with their coarse diet of bark,
leaves, branches, and grass (African
SPECIES 3 a convexly curved spine, large ears (relatively smaller forest elephants also eat fruit). In
eating these foods, elephants cause
in Asian elephants), and a heavy head with a long, enormous damage: grass is pulled
up in tufts, branches are broken off,
mobile trunk. African and Asian elephants live in savanna and lighwt bark is stripped, and small trees are
sometimes uprooted. Some areas
forest; African forest elephants (recently given species status) mainly have alternated between closed STRIPPING FOLIAGE
woodland and open savanna,
live deep in the African rain forest (they occasionally venture on to the depending on the number Elephants use their mobile
of elephants living there. trunk to pull down branches.
savanna). Elephants live for about 65–70 An adult needs to eat about
350 lb (160 kg) of food daily.
years—longer than any other

mammals except humans.

Previously, elephants were

thought to grow throughout

their lives, but this is not

considered true today.

MAMMALS Anatomy

Perhaps the most distinctive feature upper single
is the trunk, a flexible elongation of process process
the upper lip and nose that consists
of thousands of muscle fibers. It is used like a
“5th limb” to pluck grass, pull down branches,
lift logs, or squirt water or dust. Also immediately
noticeable are the tusks (upper incisors), which
are large, thick, and curved in most bull elephants;
cows have smaller tusks (in female Asian elephants
they do not protrude beyond the lip). Their tusks are
known to grow throughout life. The skeleton consists
of thick, heavy bones, which are able to support the
animal’s great weight. The large, fan-shaped ears,
which contain a network of blood vessels, are
constantly in motion to aid heat loss. In aggressive
displays, the ears are spread sideways. The skin is

thick, finely wrinkled, and sparsely haired.

air cells

LIGHTENED SKULL DIGGING FOR SALT

The skull is filled with air cells to lighten the weight Elephants often need to lower
supplement their diet with process
of the bone. The long incisors (tusks) have deep, extra salt. This juvenile
African elephant is loosening AFRICAN ASIAN
downward-pointing sockets. The lower jaw has fragments of salt-rich soil with
its tusks. Juveniles learn from
a spoutlike chin that, unlike in most older members of the herd TRUNK SHAPE
where to find salt.
mammals, moves horizontally African elephants have 2 opposing, fingerlike
outgrowths called processes at the tip of the
molar long chin during chewing. trunk; Asian elephants have one. In both, the
processes are used to pick up small objects.
AFRICAN ELEPHANT SKULL incisor (tusk)

TAKING A DUST-BATH

1 2 3 4

DAILY ROUTINE SUCKING UP THE DUST PROTECTION REPELLING INSECTS
To keep the skin healthy, African Dust is sucked up into the trunk, which The dust acts as a sunscreen, protecting the Dust is also a good insect repellent,
elephants take a daily dust-bath. is a tubular extension of the upper lip. elephant’s skin from the direct rays of the sun. deterring insects from biting the sensitive skin.

ELEPHANTS 109

Social group Loxodonta africana Although it is also called the African bush
or savanna elephant, this species—the
Elephants live in family groups that consist of the oldest, most experienced African savanna largest of the 3 elephant species—lives
female (the matriarch) and other females of various ages (and their young). elephant in varied habitats from desert to high
For protection, or when feeding in lush areas, small herds of African rain forest. It has larger ears than the
elephants may join together to form groups made up of several hundred Location Africa Length 13 – 16 ft Asian elephant, a concave curve to its
individuals. African forest elephants and Asian elephants live in small (4 – 5 m) back, and 2 processes on the tip of
family groups only. Males, however, only join the herd when a female is Tail 31⁄4 – 5 ft the trunk rather than one (see opposite).
sexually receptive and are otherwise either solitary (older bulls) or live (1 – 1.5 m) Both male and female African savanna
in bachelor groups (young bulls). Adult bull Asian elephants have annual Weight 23⁄4 – 57⁄8 tons elephants have forward-curving tusks
periods of sexual excitement, called “musth” (bull African elephants have (2.8 – 6 tonnes) (incisor teeth), which are sometimes
an equivalent condition, about which less is known). Social unit Group used as tools to loosen mineral-rich soil
Status Vulnerable that is then eaten. Requiring substantial
PROTECTING YOUNG amounts of food and a large area in
Elephant calves are protected from predators which to forage for it, a herd of African
and other dangers by all members of the
herd, which are usually blood relatives. savanna elephants may
This Asian elephant calf is only a few cause dramatic changes
weeks old and remains close to its mother. to the environment,
Two smaller females are close by, ready especially during
to assist the mother if necessary. prolonged periods
of drought.

CONSERVATION forward-
curving tusk
The Asian elephant is endangered
due to competition with a growing MAMMALS
human population, and its expanding
need for land. The same is true of Loxodonta cyclotis Elephas maximus
African elephants, where their original
habitat of forest and savanna is African forest Asiatic elephant
becoming increasingly fragmented elephant
and farmed. African elephants also Length Up to 11 ft
face the hazard of hunting—a Length 93⁄4 – 13 ft (3.5 m)
traditional practice that is a source (3 – 4 m) Tail 4 – 5 ft
of meat, and of highly valuable ivory. Tail 31⁄4 – 5 ft (1.2 – 1.5 m)
During the 20th century, ivory prices (1 – 1.5 m) Weight 25⁄8 – 41⁄8 tons
soared, and commercial hunting Weight 25⁄8 –57⁄8 tons (2.7 – 4.2 tonnes)
became widespread. Elephant (2.7 – 6 tonnes) Social unit Group
numbers crashed—an effect spurred Social unit Group Status Endangered
on by periodic droughts. In 1989, Status Endangered
the Kenyan authorities acted, burning
a stockpile of seized ivory that sent a
worldwide message. In 1990, the
international sale of ivory was banned,
although in the 21st century, strong
demand for it remains.

Location S. and S.E. Asia

LIVING TOGETHER Location C. Africa

This is a typical African elephant Formerly regarded as a subspecies
family group. Communication within of the African savanna elephant, this
a herd takes many forms, including species is smaller, has darker skin, more
vocalizations (some of which are rounded ears, and a hairier trunk. The
below the range of human hearing), yellow or brownish tusks are parallel and
touch, foot stamping, and body point downward, adaptations that allow
postures. Cooperative behavior— the African forest elephant to move freely
such as employing a system of through dense vegetation.
lookouts while bathing—is common.
Asiatic elephants have smaller ears than
5 6 the African species, and a unique tip
to their trunk (see opposite). The tusks
DEPOSITING THE DUST KEEPING THE SKIN HEALTHY are small and may be absent in females
The elephant blows out the dust through the To maintain good skin condition, regular (above). The molar teeth are very like
trunk, depositing it on the back and head. dust-baths are as important as water-baths. those of the extinct mammoth, which
suggests a close relationship between
them. The Asiatic elephant has a long
association with humans, and animals
from all 3 subspecies—Sumatran,
Sri Lankan, and those from India and
Malaysia—have been domesticated.

110 HYRAXES

Hyraxes Procavia capensis Dendrohyrax arboreus

Rock hyrax Southern tree hyrax

PHYLUM Chordata Although hyraxes resemble rabbits in size Length 151⁄2 – 23 in Length 121⁄2 – 231⁄2 in
CLASS Mammalia and shape, genetic evidence suggests that (39 – 58 cm) (32 – 60 cm)
ORDER Hyracoidea they are more closely related to primitive Tail 8 – 12 in Tail 3 ⁄8 – 11⁄4 in
hoofed mammals. The pads of their feet are (20 – 31 cm) (1 – 3 cm)
FAMILIES 1 (Procaviidae) Location W., S., and Weight 4 – 12 lb Location E. and southern Weight 33⁄4 – 10 lb
moistened by glandular secretions, which E. Africa, W. Asia (1.8 – 5.4 kg) Africa (1.7 – 4.5 kg)
Social unit Group Social unit Variable
SPECIES 5 make the soles more adhesive. This, along Status Least concern Status Least concern

with the opposable toe on each back foot,

enables hyraxes to climb steep rock faces. They are found

in Africa and parts of the Middle East. Some species inhabit The rock hyrax has a plump body and
short, dense, gray or gray-brown fur,
rocky outcrops; others are arboreal. They can survive food which is paler below. Also called the
rock dassie, it lives in colonies of up to
shortages because they eat almost every type of vegetation 80 individuals, usually of one dominant
male, other males, and females and
and require very little water (their kidneys are highly efficient). young. Although found in a wide variety
of habitats, it usually lives in rocky
KEEPING WARM outcrops and crags, among boulders, The southern tree hyrax or tree dassie
where it makes a grass-lined nest. has a yellowish patch on the back near
Hyraxes have poor temperature the rump, but is otherwise gray-brown
control. These rock hyraxes small, with buff underparts. The head, legs,
are huddling together rounded ears and tail seem almost too small for the
for warmth. stocky body. True to its name, the
southern tree hyrax lives among trees,
MAMMALS shrubs, and creepers, and nests in a
tree hole. It feeds on the ground only
occasionally. Like all hyraxes, this
species has poor control of body
temperature, so groups often sunbathe
to warm up, or rest in shade to cool
down. Litters of 1 – 2 are born after a
gestation period of 7 – 8 months.

Armadillos Priodontes maximus yellow-white head, tail, and band along
the lower edges of the plates. The
Giant armadillo especially large third front claw is used
to rip up soil for small food items—
PHYLUM Chordata Instantly recognized by their protective Location N. and C. South Length 30 – 39 in mainly termites, ants, worms, spiders,
CLASS Mammalia armorlike covering of hardened skin on their America (75 – 100 cm) small snakes, and lizards. The front
ORDER Cingulata head, back, sides, and limbs, and reduced Tail 20 in claws also dig a burrow in which the
fur, armadillos are ground-living animals (50 cm) giant armadillo shelters by day. It feeds
FAMILIES 1 allied to anteaters and sloths. They have Weight 411⁄2–7111⁄16 lb in an area for 2 – 3 weeks, then moves
SPECIES 21 simple peglike teeth and short, strong limbs (18.7 – 32.3 kg) on. Like most other armadillos, it shows
Social unit Individual little social or territorial behavior. The
Status Vulnerable gestation period is 4 months, and the
1 – 2 offspring are weaned by 6 weeks
for digging. They also have unusual special and are sexually mature by 12 months.

articulations of the lower vertebral column (a feature shared rounded
muzzle
with nonburrowing anteaters and sloths), which may be an By far the largest armadillo, this species
has 11 – 13 bands of slightly flexible,
adaptation for burrowing. Armadillos are mainly insect-eaters, hinged plates over its body, and 3 – 4
bands over its neck. The long,
but also eat a wide range of other items, including plant tapering tail is likewise
armored. The main
materials, eggs, and body color is brown,
with a pale
carrion. Most species

occur in open habitats

of South America,

but one can also

be found in the

United States.

ARMADILLOS

Contrary to popular
belief, not all
armadillos can roll
in a ball to defend
themselves. Only
species of the
genus Tolypeutes
can do this.

SLOTHS AND ANTEATERS 111

Chaetophractus villosus Dasypus novemcinctus Zaedyus pichiy domed body armor for protection, or
it wedges itself into a burrow with its
Big hairy armadillo Nine-banded armadillo Pichi armor facing outward. This small
armadillo digs a short tunnel for shelter
Length 9 – 16 in Length 14 – 221⁄2 in Length 10 – 131⁄2 in and eats various small insects, worms,
(22 – 40 cm) (35 – 57 cm) (26 – 34 cm) other invertebrates, and sometimes
Tail 31⁄2 – 61⁄2 in Tail 91⁄2 – 18 in Tail 4 – 43⁄4 in also carrion.
(9 – 17 cm) (24 – 45 cm) (10 – 12 cm)
Location S. South America Weight 21⁄4 –61⁄2 lb Location S. USA, Mexico, Weight 73⁄4 – 161⁄2 lb Location S. South America Weight 25 – 54 oz
(1 – 3 kg) Caribbean, Central (3.6 – 7.7 kg) (700 – 1,500 g)
Social unit Individual America, South America Social unit Individual Social unit Individual
Status Least concern Status Least concern Status Near threatened

The most commonly seen armadillo, When threatened, the pichi
this species has 8 – 10 bony bands squats down and draws its
around its middle, which allows some sharp-clawed feet under its
flexibility. The bony armor and leathery body, relying on its wide, low,
skin account for one-sixth of the total
This armadillo of arid habitats has weight. Like most armadillos, it digs Cabassous centralis shelter in by day. It also has a long, sticky
long, coarse hairs projecting between an extensive burrow system. It takes tongue to lick up termites and ants in the
the 18 or so distinct bands of bony, most foods, from ants and birds to Northern naked-tailed manner of an anteater. In common with
skin-covered armor on its body. Some fruit and roots, and is solitary yet may armadillo other armadillos, it is mainly silent,
of the 7 or 8 bands are hinged. When share a burrow with others of its kind. perhaps growling when threatened, as it
threatened and unable to burrow, it Offspring are nearly always identical Length 12 – 16 in tries to dig itself into the ground so only
tucks in its feet and presses its armored quadruplets as they develop from (30 – 40 cm) the armored upper body is exposed.
body into the ground. This protects its the splitting of a single egg into 4 Tail 5 – 7 in
softer, white- or brown-furred underside identical embryos. (13 – 18 cm)
and provides an effective defense Weight 2 – 3.5 kg
against both canids and birds of prey. In Location Central America (41⁄2 – 73⁄4 lb)
summer, it is mainly nocturnal and eats and N. South America Social unit Individual
varied small prey, from grubs to rodents. Status Data deficient
In winter, activity is mainly by day and MAMMALS
the diet includes more plant matter. Occupying a wide range of habitats,
this big-eared armadillo has large claws,
especially the middle forefoot claw, for
digging up prey and making a burrow to

Sloths and anteaters Bradypus torquatus metabolism is less rapid than most
other mammals, giving a low body
Maned sloth temperature of just above 86° F (30° C).
Its main defense is to stay still and
PHYLUM Chordata Sloths and anteaters are a tropical American Location E. South America Length 18 – 20 in unnoticed or to lash out with its
CLASS Mammalia group of mammals united by a coarse coat (45 – 50 cm) formidable claws. After 5 – 6 months’
ORDER Pilosa and a highly specialized diet: tubular-snouted Tail 11⁄2 – 2 in gestation, one offspring is born,
anteaters are insectivorous and slow-moving. (4 – 5 cm) weighing about 9 oz (250 g). It clings to
FAMILIES 4 Sloths are vegetarian, mainly eating leaves of Weight 73⁄4 – 83⁄4 lb its mother’s abdomen with its well-
(3.5 – 4 kg) formed, hook-shaped claws. The young
SPECIES 10 a limited number of tree species. They have Social unit Individual suckles for up to 4 weeks and after
Status Endangered weaning stays with her, being carried
and learning feeding patterns, for a
reduced dentition: sloths have only cheek further 6 months.

teeth, and anteaters lack teeth altogether. Anteaters rip apart dark mane

nests of ants and termites using enlarged front claws, and lap This species has the
typical sloth’s small head,
up prey with a long tongue and sticky saliva. Giant anteaters tiny eyes and ears, and
small tail hidden in the fur, which
are ground-dwellers, but other species climb. Sloths are entirely contrasts with the large body and
powerful limbs. Algae, mites, ticks,
arboreal: they have long, slender forelimbs for climbing through beetles, and even moths live in the
coarse outer coat, which is longer,
branches, long claws for grasping, and have complex digestive darker, and manelike around the head,
neck, and shoulders. The underfur is
systems for digesting foliage. fine, dense, and pale. The maned sloth
eats the leaves, buds, and soft twigs of
GIANT ANTEATER a few forest trees, notably Cecropia. It
comes to the ground only to defecate,
The termite mound being inspected by this or to move to another tree if it cannot
giant anteater is incredibly hard and strong, travel through the branches. On the
but the giant anteater inspecting it will have ground, the sloth drags itself along
no problem breaking into it if it is hungry. by its longer, stronger front legs and
claws. Surprisingly, it can swim well. In
addition to its physical slowness, the
sloth’s muscles are small and weak for
its overall body size, and even its

112 SLOTHS AND ANTEATERS

Bradypus pygmaeus Choloepus didactylus Tamandua tetradactyla SELF-DEFENSE

Pygmy three-toed Linnaeus’ two-toed Southern tamandua When threatened, a southern
sloth sloth tamandua backs against a trunk or
Length 21 – 35 in rock, rears up onto its hind legs,
Length 183⁄4 – 201⁄2 in Length 18 – 34 in Location N. and E. South (53 – 88 cm) props itself up by its tail, and holds
(48 – 53 cm) (46 – 86 cm) America Tail 16 in its powerful front legs outstretched.
Tail 13⁄4 – 21⁄4 in Tail 1⁄2 – 11⁄2 in (40 cm) In this position it can slash out at
Location Central (4.5 – 6 cm) Location N. South (1.5 – 3.5 cm) Weight 73⁄4 – 19 lb its attacker with the long, sharp
America Weight 51⁄2 – 73⁄4 lb America Weight 83⁄4 – 19 lb (3.5 – 8.5 kg) claws on its front feet.
(2.5 – 3.5 kg) (4 – 8.5 kg) Social unit Individual
Social unit Individual Social unit Individual Status Least concern
Status Critically Status Least concern
endangered

Confined to Isla Escudo de Veraguas foreleg Also called the collared anteater, the
off the Caribbean coast of Panama, this longer than southern tamandua, has a long, narrow
diminutive sloth evolved in isolation from hind leg head and sparsely haired, prehensile
its larger mainland ancestors. It is the tail. It climbs well and feeds both in the
only sloth that subsists entirely on red Linnaeus’ two-toed sloth has 2 branches and on the ground, breaking
mangrove leaves—an adaptation that hook-clawed toes on each front foot into the nests of ants, termites, and
restricts it to mangrove forest beside but 3 on each rear one. Its coarse fur bees. It is active for 8-hour periods,
the sea. This critically endangered is gray-brown, paler on the face, but, day or night. A single offspring is
species is threatened by poaching like other sloths, it may be tinged green born after 4 – 5 months’ gestation
from visiting fishermen and potential by algae growing on the hairs. It eats and rides on the mother.
tourism development. a typical sloth’s diet of leaves and
fruit and, in common with all sloths, BLACK VEST
is solitary, moves extremely slowly, The southern tamandua is pale yellow
and descends to the ground only with a black “vest” over
to defecate (about once a week). the shoulders, chest,
sides, and
lower back.

MAMMALS

Cyclopes didactylus Myrmecophaga tridactyla ANTS’-EYE VIEW

Silky anteater Giant anteater This anteater rips open ant nests
and termite mounds with its
Location Central America Length 61⁄2 – 81⁄2 in Location Central to South Length 31⁄4 – 61⁄2 ft big-clawed front feet, and then
to N. South America (16 – 21 cm) America (1 – 2 m) uses its tongue, which can protrude
Tail 61⁄2 – 9 in Tail 25 – 35 in more than 2 ft (60 cm), to take its
(16 – 23 cm) (64 – 90 cm) prey. The tongue is covered with
Weight 5 – 10 oz Weight 49 – 86 lb minute, backward-pointing spines
(150 – 275 g) (22 – 39 kg) and sticky saliva, to which tiny prey
Social unit Individual Social unit Individual adhere. The remaining termites
Status Least concern Status Vulnerable then repair the nest.

underside of tail The giant anteater has a long and and night, this species wanders its It sleeps in a hollow or in the shelter of
bare at tip tubular snout that widens to a small home range, which may cover up bush, its tail draped over its head and
face with tiny ears and eyes. With to 10 square miles (25 square km), body. This species is threatened by
its massive front legs and smaller rear depending on the availability of food. hunting and habitat destruction.
legs, it walks with an ambling gait,
protecting its large front claws black, white-centered NARROW BODY AND BUSHY TAIL
from wear by walking stripe along each side The giant anteater has long, coarse fur on its
on its knuckles.
Active day narrow body. Its coloration is mainly
gray with black and white
markings. Its brown tail
is very bushy.

brown body stripe

Solitary and nocturnal, this anteater
has long, dense, fine fur, usually
smoky gray with a silver sheen and
a variable brown stripe on the side
of the body. Specialized for arboreal
life, it grips strongly with its feet and
hooklike claws, supported by its
prehensile tail, which is bare on the
underside near the tip. It breaks open
tree-ant nests and licks out the ants
with its long, saliva-coated tongue.

RABBITS, HARES, AND PIKAS 113

Rabbits, hares, and pikas

PHYLUM Chordata Although these small to medium-sized gnawing Feeding
CLASS Mammalia animals are similar to rodents in many ways
ORDER Lagomorpha (for example, both groups have large incisors), Lagomorphs are herbivorous
and generally eat grass and other
FAMILIES 2 they differ in several respects, including the succulent plants. Matter that cannot
be digested initially is expelled in
SPECIES 92 presence of a second set of upper incisors and the form of a moist pellet and eaten,
usually straight from the anus. It
a lighter skull structure. Rabbits, hares, and pikas is then held in the stomach to be
mixed with other food for second
(also termed “calling hares” on account of their varied vocalizations)— digestion before being excreted as
a dry pellet. In this way, most food
the lagomorphs—are among the most hunted of all animals. travels through the digestive system PLANT-EATERS
twice, enabling the animal to derive
Their natural predators are carnivores and birds, and they All lagomorphs, such as this
maximum nutrition from its North American pika, spend
are also hunted by humans for sport, for food, and for their diet. This process is much of their time feeding.
called refection. During the summer, the
fur. All species are terrestrial and are found worldwide pika also gathers and stores
food for winter, creating a
(except the West Indies, the southern parts of South “haystack” of dried foliage
outside its rocky shelter.
America, Madagascar, and several islands of

Southeast Asia) in habitats ranging from arctic

tundra to semidesert.

Anatomy AERIAL BOXING MAMMALS

The physical features of rabbits and hares reflect their During the mating season, fights between
need to perceive danger and elude predators. Large hares occur frequently. The front feet are used
ears provide excellent hearing, eyes positioned high for boxing, and the powerful back feet are
on each side of the head give almost 360-degree vision, used for kicking. Males battle for access to
and elongated back legs enable impressive running females, and a female will drive off a male
speeds—hares can reach up to 35 mph (56 kph). Unlike if she is not ready to mate (as shown here).
rodents, rabbits and hares have tails that are small and
spherical, and they have well-furred feet with hair on
the soles, which provides grip when running. Pikas
tend to hide in crevices or burrows when threatened,
and are more mouselike in appearance, having
legs of approximately the same length (they
cannot run as swiftly). They also have shorter,
rounded ears and no visible tail. All species
have slitlike nostrils that can be closed
completely. Unusual for mammals,
the females of some species are
larger than the males.

eye socket molars
premolars

upper
incisor

diastema peg
tooth
lower incisor

RABBIT SKULL Reproduction

Lagomorphs have well-developed, continually Although lagomorphs are hunted intensely
growing incisor teeth. Behind the upper incisors by many predators, they are able to maintain
is a second pair of smaller incisors (“peg teeth”). healthy population levels through a high
There is a large gap between the incisors and reproductive rate. Because ovulation is not
premolars in both jaws, called the diastema. cyclical but is instead triggered in response
to copulation, females can become pregnant
FLEXIBLE NECK directly after giving birth. Rabbits, the most FEEDING TIME
prolific breeders of all the lagomorphs, can
In the lagomorphs, self- produce litters of up to 12 young as many Although some rabbits
grooming is important: as 6 times a year. Furthermore, rabbits are give birth in their burrows,
mutual grooming between sexually mature at a young age (the European all hares are born above
individuals is rare. Great rabbit is able to conceive when only 3 months ground. These young
flexibility in the neck— old), and the gestation period may be very brown hares remain hidden
this European rabbit is short (the Florida cottontail rabbit, for example, during the day but are
able to rotate its head gestates for as little as 26 days). collected together at
through 180 degrees— sunset when the mother
allows them to reach the visits to nurse them.
fur on the back.

114 RABBITS, HARES, AND PIKAS

Ochotona princeps READY FOR WINTER Ochotona curzoniae occupies each burrow system and
members are sociable. In some areas
American pika Black-lipped pika this pika is so numerous as to be
considered a pest. Females can have
Length 61⁄2 – 8 in Length 51⁄2 – 81⁄2in up to 5 litters of 8 young per year,
(16 – 20 cm) (14 – 21 cm) which are cared for by both parents.
Tail None Tail None
Location S.W. Canada, Weight 4 – 6 oz Location E. Asia Weight 31⁄4 – 73⁄8 oz
W. USA (125 – 175 g) (90 – 210 g)
Social unit Individual Social unit Group
Status Least concern Status Least concern

Found at high altitudes, this pika lives on During late summer, each pika This pika is sandy brown above and
a talus—an area of piled, broken rocks gathers a “hay pile” near its burrow dull yellow-white on the underside, with
fringed by alpine meadows and low, that serves as food when there is a rust-hued patch behind the ear and a
grassy vegetation. At each talus, solitary snow. These hay piles contain plants dark nose and lips. An extended family
pikas use whistling calls to defend with high levels of toxins that act as
territories that alternate across the natural preservatives, making them Romerolagus diazi Pentalagus furnessi
area by gender, giving a female–male last longer. Pikas eventually eat these
patchwork. A typical territory is Volcano rabbit Amami rabbit
6,500 square ft (600 square m), in late winter, after the toxins
and it has a foraging area and a have broken down. Length 9 – 14 in Length 161⁄2 – 20 in
den in a burrow or (23 – 35 cm) (42 – 50cm)
rock crevice. dark ears, Tail 3⁄8 – 11⁄4 in Tail 3⁄8 – 11⁄2 in
furred on (1 – 3 cm) (1 – 3.5 cm)
EGG-SHAPED MAMMAL both Weight 13 – 21 oz Weight 41⁄2 – 61⁄2 lb
A crouched pika has surfaces (375 – 600 g) (2 – 3 kg)
a rounded outline Social unit Group Social unit Individual/Group
resembling an Location C. Mexico Status Endangered Location Amami and Status Endangered
egg. The fur is Tokuno islands (Japan)
varying shades
MAMMALS of brown.

Restricted to open pine forests on Found only on 2 small Japanese
islands, this rabbit’s many distinctive
volcanic peaks near Mexico City, the features include an all-black coat,
pointed snout, small eyes and ears,
Brachylagus idahoensis Sylvilagus aquaticus volcano rabbit lives in groups of 2 – 5. It and short, long-nailed limbs for
digging nest-holes. Nocturnal in habit,
Pygmy rabbit Swamp rabbit has very short, rounded ears for a rabbit, it eats forest plants, such as pampas
grass leaves, sweet potato runners,
relatively small back legs and feet, and bamboo sprouts, nuts, and bark.
Social and breeding habits are little
communicates by means of penetrating known, although it communicates by
means of clicking sounds. The female
Length 9 – 12 in Length 18 – 22 in whistles. Its diet is mainly the tall, dense has 2 litters of 2 – 3 young each year.
(23 – 31 cm) (45 – 55 cm)
Tail 1⁄2 – 1 in Tail 2 – 3 in grass in which
(1.5 – 2.5 cm) (5 – 7.5 cm)
Weight 9 – 161⁄8 oz Weight 31⁄2 – 6 lb it also makes
(246 – 458 g) (1.6 – 2.7 kg)
Social unit Individual Social unit Group coat of its burrow.
Status Least concern Status Least concern yellow
Location W. USA Location S.E. USA and black
guard
hairs

The world’s smallest rabbit, this arid-

adapted species digs a large burrow cinnamon eye rings

system and feeds on big sagebrush Always associated with water, in
marshes, creeks, and pools, the
and closely related species. The long, swamp rabbit has black to rusty
brown fur. It swims well and readily,
silky fur on its back is gray in winter especially if threatened, and feeds by
day or night on sedges, rushes, and
and brown in summer; the abdomen other aquatic plants, including swamp
bamboos (Arundinaria). The swamp
is whitish. Unlike most rabbits, it climbs rabbit lives in small groups, usually
controlled by a dominant territorial
well into bushes to feed, and, although male, and builds an above-ground nest
of plant stalks and stems. The female
solitary, it also makes pikalike whistling lines the breeding nest with her fur, in
the typical rabbit manner. The average
calls to warn neighbors of approaching litter size is 3.

predators. Breeding details are poorly Sylvilagus floridanus rabbit body form with a reddish-topped
white tail. In summer, it feeds on lush
known: the gestation period may be Eastern cottontail green vegetation; bark and twigs
predominate in winter. Groups have
26 – 28 days, and litter size 4 – 8, with established dominance hierarchies.
Average litter size ranges
up to 3 litters from 5 in North
America to 2 in
per year. short ears, Length 113⁄4 – 183⁄4 in South America.
furred on inside (30 – 48 cm)
edge only Tail 1 – 21⁄2 in
(2.5 – 6.6 cm)
Location Central America Weight 13⁄4 – 31⁄4 lb
to N. South America (0.8 – 1.5 kg)
Social unit Group
Status Least concern

Widely distributed in many habitats
over its natural range, and introduced
to new areas of North America and
Europe, the cottontail has the typical

RABBITS, HARES, AND PIKAS 115

Oryctolagus cuniculus FAST BREEDER Caprolagus hispidus Also called the bristly rabbit after
its coarse, dark brown fur, the hispid
European rabbit Hispid hare hare lives in tall “elephant grass”
country, feeding by night on the
Location Europe, Length 131⁄2 – 20 in Location S. Asia Length 19 in soft shoots and roots of the grass.
N.W. Africa, S. South (34 – 50 cm) (48 cm) It has short ears, and its back legs
America Tail 11⁄2 – 31⁄4 in Tail 21⁄8 in are not much larger than its front
(4 – 8 cm) (5.3 cm) legs. It does not burrow but shelters
Weight 21⁄4 – 51⁄2 lb Weight 4 – 61⁄2 lbs in surface vegetation, living alone or
(1 – 2.5 kg) (1.8 – 3.2 kg) as a female–male pair. Reproductive
Social unit Group Social unit Individual/Pair information is scant but the suspected
Status Near threatened Status Endangered litter size is small for a lagomorph,
perhaps 2 – 5, with 2 or possibly
Originally from southwest Europe and The rabbit’s legendary powers of Lepus europaeus 3 litters produced each year.
perhaps northwest Africa, where it is now reproduction include a gestation
rare, this species has been introduced period of 28 – 33 days and, in good Brown hare courting pairs or groups in late winter and
to many other regions and has reached conditions, a litter size of up to 8 spring. At this time, “boxing” may occur
severe pest status in some, devastating (average 5), with as many as 6 litters Location Europe Length 22 – 27 in between rival males or unreceptive
farmland and wildlife. It is the ancestor of a year. The newborn are helpless (55 – 68 cm) females and rejected males. The young
all breeds of domestic rabbits. Nocturnal with eyes closed, and for warmth Tail 23⁄4 – 5 in (litter size 1 – 10) are
and very sociable, this European rabbit the mother lines the nursery (7 – 13 cm) reared in a shallow
lives in colonies and digs complex chamber with dry grass, moss, and Weight 73⁄4 – 11 lb depression (form)
tunnel systems (warrens) with many fur plucked from her own belly. She (3.5 – 5 kg) in grass or bushes.
entrances and exits. It eats grass, Social unit Individual
herbs, twigs, and some bark. Senior visits to suckle them Status Least concern long, curly, tawny
females nest in the main warren but for only a few or rusty fur
lower-ranking mothers may dig minutes daily.
separate short
burrows (stops) long, black- This hare has a conspicuous tail, black
for their tipped ears on top and white below. The gray ears
young. have a black patch near the outer tip.
mixed black and brown This species has been introduced
hairs in upper fur from Europe and West Asia to many MAMMALS
BUFF PATCHES other regions, and adapts to open
The European rabbit is buff- colored woods, bush, mixed farmland, and
between the shoulders, and has even scrubby semi-desert. Its diet is
a pale buff eye-ring, inner limb grass, herbs, bark, and, rarely, carrion.
surfaces, and underside. Nocturnal and solitary, hares gather in

Lepus californicus Lepus arcticus WINTER COAT

Black-tailed Arctic hare The Arctic hare’s thick winter coat
jackrabbit is almost pure white with black ear
Length 22 – 26 in tips. It provides both warmth and
Length 201⁄2 – 24 in Location N. Canada, (56 – 66 cm) camouflage in snow and ice. In most
(52 – 61 cm) Greenland Tail 13⁄4– 4 in regions the spring molt produces
Tail 3 – 41⁄16 in (4.5 – 10 cm) the gray-brown summer coat,
Location W., C., and S. (7.5 – 10.1 cm) Weight 51⁄2 – 143⁄4 lb although in some areas this is also
USA to N. Mexico Weight 31⁄4 – 73 ⁄4 lb (2.5 – 6.8 kg) white. The timing of the molt depends
(1.5 – 3.6 kg) Social unit Variable on the number of daylight hours,
Social unit Individual Status Least concern detected by the eyes and
Status Least concern then controlled via the body’s
hormonal (endocrine) system.

This lean, long-legged hare’s The Arctic hare (sometimes confused that bleeding occurs. Litter COMPACT BODY
huge ears (up to 6 in/15 cm) with a similar white-in-winter species, size is 1 – 8 with 1 – 3 litters The relatively large, compact
detect the faint sounds of the snowshoe hare, Lepus americanus) per year. The young hares body, with short ears and other
predators, and also rid the is a true tundra species. It can survive (leverets) stay in their nest extremities, helps to reduce heat
body of excess warmth in the in an open, treeless habitat through (form), a hollow near rocks, loss in cold conditions. The ears are
hot summers of its generally arid the long and bitter cold season. lined with grass, moss,
habitat. It prefers succulent grass Preferred sites are rocky outcrops and fur. The mother darker in front than
and herbs, but can survive on or hillsides with crevices and crannies visits to suckle them at the rear.
for shelter. This hare may be solitary for only 2 minutes
woody twigs during winter but, especially in winter, and uniquely every 18 hours.
or drought. One of among lagomorphs, it shows “flocking”
the speediest behaviour in which large groups of up large feet spread body
lagomorphs, to 300 gather, move, run, and change weight on soft snow
it can run at direction almost as one. The diet is a
35 mph (56 kph). variety of low-growing grasses, herbs,
The complex and shrubs, including lichens, mosses,
courtship and most parts of the arctic dwarf
involves the willow. However, these opportunistic
pair jumping, hares may also eat small animals or
chasing, larger carrion. During the aggressive
and fighting. spring courtship, the male follows the
female and may bite her neck so hard

116 RODENTS

Rodents large eyes large,
tubular
ears

PHYLUM Chordata Representing over 40 percent of all mammal Senses elongated
species, rodents form a successful and highly snout
CLASS Mammalia adaptable order. They are found worldwide (except
Antarctica) in almost every habitat: lemmings, Most rodents enjoy acute long whiskers
ORDER Rodentia for example, favor the cold climate of the arctic senses of smell and hearing,
tundra, while gundis prefer the heat of African which, in combination with HIGHLY TUNED
FAMILIES 34 desert regions. Despite the variety of lifestyles and their long and numerous Well-developed sense organs are
habitats exhibited by members of this order, there touch-sensitive whiskers, present in most rodents and may
SPECIES 2,478 are many common characteristics: most rodents are provide them with a contribute to the adaptability of species,
small quadrupeds with a long tail, clawed feet, long heightened awareness of such as this brown rat. The large eyes
CLASSIFICATION NOTE whiskers, and teeth (especially the long incisors) their surroundings. Nocturnal and ears, elongated snout, and long
and jaws specialized for gnawing. Although species have larger eyes than whiskers are typical of many rodents.
Some mammalogists prefer to generally terrestrial, some species are arboreal diurnal species, to maximize the
divide the order Rodentia into (such as tree squirrels), burrowing (mole- amount of light received by the
2 suborders: (Sciurognathi and rats, for instance, live almost wholly retina (the greater the amount of
Hystricognathi). Others advocate underground), or semiaquatic light, the brighter and clearer the
a division into 5 suborders, (such as beavers). Some image). Rodents communicate by
which are defined by jaw species, such as the smell (odors are secreted from
musculature: Sciuromorpha woodchuck, are solitary, but scent glands on the body) and by
(squirrel-like rodents), most are highly social and an extensive range of vocalizations.
Castorimorpha (beaverlike form large communities.
MAMMALS rodents), Myomorpha (mouselike
rodents), Histricomorpha
(cavylike rodents), and
Anomaluromorpha (springhare).
For greater ease of reference,
the latter division is used here.
Squirrel-like rodents

see pp.118 – 21
Beaverlike rodents

see pp.121 – 2
Mouselike rodents

see pp.123 – 8
Cavylike rodents

see pp.129 – 31
Springhares

see p.132

Anatomy

While the anatomy of rodents is more uniform
than that of most other orders of mammals, some
characteristics, such as a compact body and a long
tail and whiskers, are shared by many species. The
front foot usually has 5 digits (although the thumb
may be vestigial or absent), the back foot has 3 – 5
digits, and the method of locomotion is generally
plantigrade. Different species use their tail to
perform distinct functions: beavers have a flat, wide
tail that is used for steering when swimming, while
the Eurasian harvest mouse uses its prehensile tail
when climbing in long grass. In some species,
part of the tail skin, or the tail itself, will break off
if caught, enabling the animal to escape. Because
rodent anatomy is more generalized than that of
other mammals, they can adapt easily and are
able to thrive in many different habitats.

temporal zygomatic temporal eye socket
arch

JAW MUSCLES

masseter masseter masseter masseter Rodents have an enlarged
(upper part) (deep part) (upper part) (deep part) chewing muscle (the masseter),

SQUIRREL- LIKE CAVYLIKE which permits both a vertical

temporal and a back and forth motion of

the lower jaw. In squirrel- and beaverlike rodents, the upper part

of the masseter reaches the back of the skull, the deep part extends

to the zygomatic arch, and the temporal muscle is small. This LARGE INCISORS

system allows a strong forward motion when biting. In mouselike The 4 huge incisors (seen here in a marmot) distinguish
rodents from most other mammal orders. These teeth are
rodents, the deep part of the masseter extends onto the upper long, curved, and grow continually. Only the front surface of
these teeth has enamel, however—the back surface consists
jaw, the upper part is located forward, and the temporal is large. of softer dentine, which is eroded by constant gnawing to
ensure that the teeth remain sharp.
masseter masseter This permits a versatile chewing action. In cavylike rodents and
(upper part) (deep part) the springhare, the deep part of the masseter extends in front of

MOUSELIKE the eye, and the temporal is small. This gives a strong forward bite.

RODENTS 117

Feeding OMNIVOROUS DIET Reproduction

Most rodents have a plant-based diet that may Some rodents are The high birth rate among rodents enables them
include leaves, fruit, seeds, and roots. However, omnivorous: they feed on to maintain stable population levels in adverse
many species have alternative diets: water rats both plants and animals, conditions. This means that predation and human
and the wood mouse eat snails; rice rats take depending on availability. controls (such as poisoning) have little effect on the
young turtles; muskrats eat clams and crayfish; This spiny mouse eats survival of a species, and in favorable conditions
the southern grasshopper mouse eats ants and mainly vegetation but will numbers may increase rapidly. A brown rat, for
scorpions; and the black rat scavenges in human also feed on insects. example, is able to breed at only 2 months of age
food supplies. To assist digestion, rodents have and may yield litters of more than 10 young every
a large cecum, a blind-ending sac in the large HERBIVOROUS DIET month or so. Voles are also prolific breeders: some
intestine. This contains bacteria that break down species may produce more than 13 litters annually.
cellulose, the main component of plant cell Most rodents are Smaller rodents tend to produce more young than
walls, into digestible carbohydrates. In some herbivorous, eating larger species (such as the capybara)—as a result,
rodents, after food is processed in the cecum, only plants. The European small rodents form the staple diet of a wider range
it is ejected from the anus and is eaten again. water vole shown here of animals. In rodents, the complete cycle of
Once in the stomach, the carbohydrates feeds on aquatic and land reproduction, from sexual attraction right through
(amounting to 80 percent of the energy contained plants. Food may be stored to raising young, is influenced by the emission of
in the food) are absorbed. This highly efficient for consumption during pungent glandular secretions. Female rats, for
process, known as refection, leaves only a dry winter shortages. example, produce a pheromone about 8 days
fecal pellet to be excreted. after giving birth. This scented chemical is secreted
into the mother’s feces and helps prevent the

offspring from becoming separated
from her.

CAPYBARA FAMILY MAMMALS
Not all rodent species breed as prolifically as mice and rats do.
The capybara, for example, usually produces only one litter a
year unless conditions are particularly favorable. Litter size varies
between one and 8 but is usually 5. Capybara offspring are well
developed at birth and are soon able to follow their mother and
eat solid food.

SOCIAL ANIMALS
Among rodents, many species live in organized communities,
although some are solitary. These black-tailed prairie dogs, like
most ground squirrels, are highly sociable. They live in a system
of burrows called “towns,” each of which may cover an area up
to 2⁄5 square mile ( 1 square km). The interconnected burrows
in a town provide a refuge from predators and a safe place
to rear young. Within the town, prairie dogs form subgroups
known as coteries. Members of a coterie act cooperatively;
for example, to defend their territory.

Rodents and people GREAT OPPORTUNISTS

Some rodents, mainly rats and mice, are considered pests by people because Rodents are highly gregarious animals
they are often in direct competition with humankind (they occupy the same and have successfully colonized many
habitats and eat the same food) and are highly adaptable. Rodents consume habitats, especially those created by human
over 39 million tons (40 million tonnes) of human food every year, contaminate settlement, such as garbage dumps and
stored food with their urine and fecal pellets, and are known to transmit more sewers. These brown rats are scavenging for
than 20 disease-causing organisms. Although some control of rodent populations food among the garbage.
is brought about by the use of traps and poisons, many species are sufficiently
intelligent to learn to avoid such measures. Only a few of the 2,478 species GNAWING DAMAGE
of rodents, however, are genuine pests: many benefit people, for example,
by destroying insects and weeds or by maintaining the health of forests by All rodents use their well-developed incisor
spreading fungi. Beavers and chinchillas are farmed for their fur, while rats, mice, teeth to gnaw. A beaver can fell trees, such
and guinea pigs are kept as pets and are used extensively in medical research. as this birch, by gnawing through the trunk.
Branches and smaller trunks from the tree
are used to build a lodge or to dam a river.

118 RODENTS

Squirrel-like rodents

PHYLUM Chordata This group, which is defined by BALANCING ACT
CLASS Mammalia the arrangement of the jaw muscles
ORDER Rodentia (see p.116), embraces a variety The Eurasian red squirrel uses its tail
of rodents, such as marmots and for balance when running
along branches.

SUBORDER Sciuromorpha squirrels. Members of the squirrel

FAMILIES 3 family all have long whiskers, a

SPECIES 332 cylindrical body, and a well-haired

tail. Species from other families

vary anatomically from the ground-dwelling

mountain beaver to the mouselike dormouse.

Squirrel-like rodents are distributed worldwide,

in a variety of habitats.

Aplodontia rufa openings lead directly to food such Marmota flaviventer short-muzzled,
as bark, twigs, shoots, and soft plants, broad head
Mountain beaver which it brings back to eat or store. Yellow-bellied
Also known as the sewellel, it climbs marmot small,
Length 9 – 17 in well and destroys many small trees. furred ears
(23 – 43 cm) The long fur is black to red-brown Length 181⁄2 – 28 in
Tail 3⁄4 – 21⁄4 in above, yellow-brown beneath, with (47 – 70 cm) yellow-brown
(2 – 5.5 cm) a white spot below each ear. Tail 5 – 9 in to tawny fur
Weight 13⁄4 – 31⁄4 lb (13 – 22 cm)
Location S.W. Canada to (0.8 – 1.5 kg) Weight 31⁄4 – 11 lb pale-tipped
S.W. USA Social unit Individual (1.5 – 5 kg) hairs
Status Least concern Social unit Group
Location S.W. Canada to Status Least concern frequents mainly deciduous woods,
W. USA especially birch, as well as woody
areas containing abundant rock
MAMMALS This rodent digs its tunnels and home Adaptable in habitat, the yellow-bellied crevices. It can climb but forages
(lodge) under felled trees, and so is marmot takes a wide diet of grasses, mainly on the ground for seeds and
increasing where commercial logging flowers, herbs, and seeds. It feeds nuts, especially during mid-morning
occurs. It lives alone and its tunnel mainly in the morning and late and midafternoon, carrying food
afternoon, then grooms with others items in its cheek pouches. The basic
Marmota monax makes up about 20 percent of its body in its colony—usually one male and coloring of the eastern chipmunk is
weight. In North America, February 2 is several females. Its long hibernation grayish or reddish brown, becoming
Woodchuck Groundhog Day, when the woodchuck lasts up to 8 months. The 4 – 5 young paler red on the rump. It lives alone
supposedly peers from its winter burrow are weaned after 20 – 30 days. in its burrow system and hibernates
Length 163⁄16 – 263⁄16 in to assess the weather. The woodchuck during winter, although it may emerge
Location Alaska and (41.5 – 66.5 cm) regularly shows aggressive behavior to Tamias striatus on mild days to feed. The noisy “chip”
W. Canada to E. Canada Tail 4 – 6 in its own kind, especially as males fight for and “cuk” calls act as alarm signals
and E. USA (10 – 15.5 cm) dominance in the spring mating season. Eastern chipmunk for fellow chipmunks and other small
Weight 73⁄4 – 83⁄4 lb It also vigorously defends its burrow by animals living nearby.
(3.4 – 4.1 kg)
Social unit Variable arching its back, jumping,
Status Least concern flicking its stiffened tail,
and chattering its bared
Also called the groundhog, this teeth. When frightened, Location S.E Canada to Length 53⁄4 – 6 in
is one of the largest, strongest it makes a sharp C. and E. USA (14.5 – 15 cm)
ground squirrels. It feeds mainly whistling alarm call. Tail 31⁄4 – 33⁄4 in
in the afternoon, often in a (8.7 – 9.3 cm)
loose group with others of its white area Weight 33⁄8 – 35⁄8 oz
kind, on a variety of seeds, around nose (93 – 101 g)
grasses, clovers, fruit, Social unit Individual
and small animals such Status Least concern
as grasshoppers and snails.
Despite its size, it is an able white-tipped, The eastern chipmunk, occasionally
climber and swims well. “grizzled” hairs kept as a pet, is also familiar in the wild,
In autumn, it excavates a on upperparts as a bold visitor to picnic sites. It
deeper burrow for its long
winter hibernation. During POWERFUL BUILD pale eye and
this period it survives on The woodchuck has ear borders
stored body fat, which a stout body, small
ears, short legs, and pale-bordered
a bushy tail. body stripes

SQUIRREL-LIKE RODENTS 119

Urocitellus columbianus Cynomys ludovicianus crops, and their burrows tripped COTERIES AND WARD
horses and farm stock. As a result,
Columbian ground Black-tailed prairie dogs were subject to The basic prairie dog social unit is the
squirrel prairie dog extermination campaigns, which coterie of one male, several females,
were very successful. In recent times, and their young. Several coteries
Length 923⁄32 – 10 in Length 141⁄2 in the rodents have been restricted mainly form a ward, members guarding
(24.7 – 25.8 cm) (37.3 cm) to parks and reserves. Their drastic their territories and burrows with an
Tail 31⁄4 – 4 in Tail 31⁄4 – 31⁄2 in reduction in numbers has seriously energetic “jump-yip” display, bared
(8.4 – 10 cm) (8.4 – 8.7 cm) threatened the black-footed ferret chattering teeth, and fluffed-up tails.
Weight 157⁄8 – 177⁄16 oz Weight 2911⁄16 – 32 oz (see p.190), for which they were Many ward form a township of up
(441 – 490 g) (819 – 905 g) virtually sole prey. to 160 acres (65 hectares).
Social unit Group Social unit Group
Location W. Canada to Status Least concern Location S.W. Canada to Status Least concern COLORATION
N.W. USA N. Mexico The black-tailed prairie dog is
generally brown or reddish
The Columbian ground squirrel Preference for a grassy habitat and brown on the upperparts,
(“Columbia” being British Columbia, a barklike, doggy “yip” give 5 species of shading to white on the
Canada) comes from mountain ground squirrels their common name of underparts. The whiskers
meadows and hilly grassland. Its diet prairie dogs. The black-tailed or plains and tail tip are black.
prairie dog dwells at altitudes of
consists of fruit, 4,300 – 6,600 ft (1,300 – 2,000 m) across small eyes
seeds, flowers, the Great Plains of North America and
bulbs, and on south into the more arid, extreme north MAMMALS
occasions insects of Mexico. The body hairs of the
black-tailed prairie dog are tipped black
caught in midair. in winter but white in summer, and the
Living in a small whiskers and end third of the tail are
colony, it “kisses” black. This rodent eats a range of
when it meets seasonal plants, such as wheat grass,
other Columbian buffalo grass, globe mallow, and rabbit
ground squirrels, brush in summer, and thistles, cacti such
tilting its head to as prickly pear, and underground roots
sniff the oral scent and bulbs in winter. Prairie dogs breed
glands near the rapidly, with up to 8 young born after a
mouth. gestation period of 34 – 35 days. In the
past, their feeding habits led to massive
destruction of wheat and other cereal

Geosciurus inauris Heliosciurus gambianus Ratufa indica FEEDING POSITION
This squirrel shows the typical feeding
South African ground Gambian sun Indian giant posture of this species. Its long tail
squirrel squirrel squirrel provides stability while it eats its food,
which is skillfully manipulated by
Length 8 – 12 in Length 6 – 81⁄2 in Length 131⁄2 – 18 in dexterous front paws.
(20 – 30 cm) (15.5 – 21 cm) (35 – 45 cm)
Tail 71⁄2 – 81⁄2 in Tail 6 – 12 in Tail 15 – 191⁄2 in brown, black,
(19.4 – 21 cm) (15.5 – 30 cm) (38 – 49 cm) or dark red
Weight 15 – 23 oz Weight 9 – 13 oz Weight 2 – 51⁄2 lb upperparts
(423 – 649 g) (250 – 350 g) (0.9 – 2.3 kg)
Location Southern Africa Social unit Group Location Africa Social unit Individual/Pair Location C. and S. India Social unit Individual/Pair
Status Least concern Status Least concern Status Least concern

The large claws of the South African The huge, bushy tail of the Indian broad
ground squirrel can burrow in hard, dry, giant squirrel is usually longer than front
stony soil. The upper fur is brownish the head and body combined. The paws
pink with a white flank stripe and belly. upperparts are dark, the head and
The prominent eyes are circled with Banded hairs in yellows, browns, and limbs red-brown, and the underside
white and the muzzle and feet are also grays give the sun squirrel a speckled whitish. This squirrel, alert and wary,
white. There are black bands near olive-brown appearance. The tail has makes massive leaps of 20 ft (6 m)
the base and tip of the tail. Its diet 14 rings along its length and the eyes among branches as it forages for
is opportunistic, ranging from seeds, are white ringed. In habit, this squirrel fruit, nuts, bark, insects, and eggs.
bulbs, and roots to insects and birds’ is a typical ground-and-tree species, Its characteristic feeding posture is
eggs. This ground with a diet ranging from seeds to birds’ not upright but leaning forward or
squirrel lives in eggs. Its distinctive behaviors include down, perched on its back legs with
colonies of 6 – 10, “basking” on sunny branches, as its the tail as a counterbalance. Its short,
and in some name suggests, and relining its nest broad thumbs help it to manipulate
cases up to 30. each night with freshly plucked leaves. food. It builds the typical squirrel-type
nest (drey) for resting and rearing
young. Reproduction in this species
is not well known but they are thought
to breed throughout the year. Females
usually produce 1 – 2 offspring in
each litter after a gestation period
of 28 – 35 days.

120 RODENTS

Callosciurus prevostii thigh. It lives alone or in small family Sciurus carolinensis COLOR VARIATION
groups, communicating by birdlike calls
Prevost’s squirrel and visual displays of the bushy tail. The Eastern gray squirrel Despite their name, gray squirrels
diet includes fruit, soft seeds, oily nuts, exhibit variation in fur color: some
Location S.E. Asia Length 97⁄32 – 91⁄2 in and buds, as well as termites, ants, Location S. and S.E. Length 8 – 123⁄16 in are black; others are reddish. These
(23.7 – 24 cm) grubs, and birds’ eggs. After 46 – 48 Canada to S. USA (20 – 31.5 cm) color forms belong to the same
Tail 9 in days’ gestation, the 2 – 3 young are Tail 6 – 10 in species and all can freely interbreed;
(23 cm) born in a large nest of twigs and leaves, (15 – 26 cm) coat color is passed on to offspring
Weight 13 – 14 oz Weight 11 – 25 oz following a simple pattern of heredity.
(353 – 403 g) in a tree hole or (300 – 700 g) Fur color is determined by the
Social unit Variable among branches. Social unit Variable distribution and types of chemical
Status Least concern Status Least concern pigment in hair—including eumelanin
(black pigment) and pheomelanin
One of the most brightly colored Introduced from North America into (reddish pigment). Reddish and black
mammals, this tree-dwelling, parts of Europe, the eastern gray squirrel squirrels can arise anywhere in a
twilight-active squirrel is black on its has a gray back and white or pale “wild-type” gray population by
upperparts and vivid chestnut-red on underparts. The face, back, and forelegs random genetic mutation, and the
the underparts, with a broad, gleaming are brown-tinged. This opportunistic color can spread as they pass their
white band along each side from nose to feeder takes nuts, seeds, flowers, fruit, genes on when they breed. In North
buds, and fungi. It may emerge from its America, black squirrels are more
Sciurus vulgaris BREEDING NEST grass- and bark-lined twig nest (drey) in common farther north because they
winter to forage. It also eats food that retain heat better in cold climates.
Eurasian red squirrel The female red squirrel gives birth to it stored during the autumn, locating it
1 – 6 blind, naked babies. She nurses from memory and smell. Breeding SITTING PRETTY
Length 8 – 10 in them for 12 weeks in the breeding occurs twice a year. The 2 – 4 young When feeding on the ground, gray
(20 – 25 cm) nest, before they are weaned at 8 – 12 are helpless at birth, but grow quickly squirrels typically sit up in this way
Tail 6 – 8 in weeks. The nest may be a larger and are fully weaned at 10 weeks. so that their forepaws are free
(15 – 20 cm) version of the ball-shaped, twig drey to handle food items.
Location W. Europe to Weight 7 – 17 oz in a branch fork, or in a tree hole. It is
E. Asia (200 – 475 g) lined with soft, fine material, to keep
Social unit Individual the young warm in her absence.
Status Least concern
a female is nursing young, which she
MAMMALS The “red” squirrel varies from red to usually does once a year, although
brown, gray, or black on its back, and some females may produce two litters.
may turn gray-brown in winter. The
underparts are always pale or white. An
excellent climber and leaper, it feeds on
the ground and in branches on seeds
(especially those of conifers), nuts,
mushrooms and other fungi, shoots,

fruit, soft bark, and
sap. It lives alone
except when

tail is about feet are less thick, bushy tail paler fur
the same length hairy during aids balance on underside
as the head the summer pale brown
and body months or buff underparts
BUSHY TAIL, TUFTED EARS black-tipped
Although the red squirrel moults tail
twice a year, the tail hair is only
replaced once. Its ears are always
tufted, particularly in winter.

Petaurista elegans This squirrel stretches out its limbs
to extend large patches
Spotted giant flying of thin, loose, furred
squirrel skin between front
and rear legs, in a
Location S.E. Asia Length 113⁄4 – 143⁄4 in parachute-like shape. tree hole at
(29.6 – 37.6 cm) A glider rather than a true flier, it can night to find
Tail 131⁄2 – 16 in travel more than 1,300 ft (400 m) at conifer seeds, nuts,
(34 – 40.5 cm) a 3-in-1 glide ratio (covering 3 times fruit, leaves, shoots,
Weight 13⁄4 – 31⁄4 lb the distance that it loses in height). It and buds. Fur color
(0.8 – 1.6 kg) changes the glide angle using its front varies but is usually
Social unit Pair legs. Glides are generally from high tawny to reddish brown
Status Least concern in one tree to lower in another, rather above, with black rings around the large,
than to the ground, and are often to “night-vision” eyes and hairless ears.
escape danger. Unlike most squirrels, large gliding
this species is nocturnal, leaving its membrane

BEAVERLIKE RODENTS 121

Muscardinus avellanarius DEEP WINTER SLEEP Glis glis SQUIRREL-LIKE LEAPER

Hazel dormouse Edible dormouse The edible dormouse resembles

a squirrel with its long, bushy tail,

Length 21⁄2 – 31⁄2 in Length 5 – 71⁄2 in large back legs for leaping in
(6.5 – 9 cm) (13 – 18.5 cm)
Tail 21⁄4 – 31⁄4 in Tail 4 – 61⁄2 in branches, and semiupright posture.
(5.5 – 8.5 cm) (10 – 17 cm)
Weight 9⁄16 – 11⁄4 oz Weight 27⁄8 – 8 oz Rough pads on its hands and feet
(15 – 35 g) (79 – 228 g)
Social unit Individual Social unit Group also aid climbing. It is highly
Status Least concern Status Least concern
arboreal and can

Location Europe Location C. and S. Europe leap over 23 ft (7 m) bushy
to W. Asia between branches. tail
Its fine dense fur is

brown or silver-

gray with dark eye

About the size of a house mouse (see Most dormice hibernate deeply in This species inhabits woods and patches and
p.128), the common dormouse is an winter (“dor” meaning “sleeping”). out-buildings, nesting in tree holes
excellent climber and jumper. Feeding The hazel dormouse rests for about or crevices in roofs and under floors. white underparts.
mainly in trees, it changes its diet with 7 months in a nest about 43⁄4 in Native to mainland Europe, it was
the season from flowers, grubs, and (12 cm) in diameter—larger than its introduced to Britain in 1902. It is
birds’ eggs in spring and summer to summer quarters. This nest may usually nocturnal but may also be
seeds, berries, fruit, and nuts in be in a burrow or under moss or active at dawn and dusk (crepuscular).
autumn. Dormice are the only rodents leaves. It stores food both in its As the days become shorter in autumn,
that do not have a cecum (a part of the nest and in its body as fat, to it lays down fat to provide reserves.
large intestine), which may indicate that enable it to survive throughout the The edible dormouse eats leaves,
their diet is low in cellulose. The nest is cold season. seeds, fruit, nuts, bark, mushrooms,
made of grass in a thick bush or tree creatures such as insects, and birds’
hole. Several individuals may live nearby VARIABLE COLORATION eggs and chicks. Like other dormice,
and share the feeding area. They The hazel or common dormouse has yellow, it forms loose social groups and
communicate using a wide range red, orange, or brown upperparts and a communicates by squeaks and twitters.
of whistles and growling noises. The white underside. While pregnant, the female is solitary,
female is pregnant for 22 – 24 days giving birth to 1 – 13 young after a
and has a litter of 3 – 6 young, pregnancy of about 25 days. They grow MAMMALS
although the numbers can quickly and hibernate for the first time
range between 1 – 9, with up aged 8 – 9 weeks.
to 2 litters per year. The
tail is bushy and its skin ONCE “EDIBLE”
can detach if seized This dormouse
by a predator. was kept in
ancient Rome
and fattened
with extra food
in autumn, to
be served at the
dinner table—
hence its name.

Beaverlike rodents Orthogeomys grandis Cratogeomys merriami

Giant pocket gopher Merriam’s pocket
gopher
PHYLUM Chordata Despite their superficial differences, Length 9 – 12 in
CLASS Mammalia beavers, pocket gophers, and kangaroo (22 – 30 cm) Length 8 – 113⁄16 in
ORDER Rodentia rats are classified together on the basis of Tail 33⁄4 – 51⁄2 in (20 – 28.5 cm)
anatomical details, such as skull structure (9.5 – 14 cm) Tail 31⁄4 – 5 in
SUBORDER Castorimorpha Weight 17 – 35 oz (8 – 12.5 cm)
and evidence from DNA. Beavers are large, Location Mexico to (480 – 985 g) Weight 16 – 25 oz
Central America Social unit Individual (450 – 700 g)
FAMILIES 3 semiaquatic rodents with webbed back feet Status Least concern Social unit Individual
Status Least concern
SPECIES 109 and a flattened scaly tail and occur across Location E. Mexico

the Northern Hemisphere. Pocket gophers,

kangaroo rats, and allies have fur-lined cheek pouches (“pockets”) Like other pocket gophers, the giant
pocket gopher digs a burrow system
and are confined to the Americas. Pocket gophers (lodge) using its strong, large-clawed
forefeet. It feeds on roots, bulbs,
are short-legged for burrowing, and other underground plant parts and The pocket gophers have a pocketlike
also comes above ground at night to pouch of furred skin on each cheek,
but kangaroo rats are bipedal forage for stems and shoots, which for carrying food back to the nest.
it carries to its lodge in its fur-lined This species occupies a variety of
with a bounding gait. cheek pouches. Normally solitary, habitats from sea level up to almost
during the breeding season the large 13,200 ft (4,000 m). Its front incisor
DANGER SIGNAL pocket gopher forms groups of one teeth are very long and can cope
male and 4 females. Two or more with many kinds of plant foods, from
By slapping their young are born to each female in a spiky cacti and farm crops (gophers
broad, flat tails on the grass-lined nesting chamber at the sometimes become a pest) to fir tree
surface of the water, lowest level of the lodge. needles and seeds. The upperparts
beavers warn others of are yellow, brown, or almost black;
potential danger. the underside is paler.

122 RODENTS

Thomomys bottae Heteromys catopterius Microdipodops megacephalus The upperparts are gray-brown, the
underparts pure white. The prominent
Botta’s pocket Overlook spiny Dark kangaroo eyes, large ears, long snout, and
gopher pocket mouse mouse bushy whiskers indicate adaptation
for a nocturnal lifestyle. Like many
Location W. USA to Length 31⁄4 –8 in Location N. South America Length 5 – 51⁄4 in Location S.W. USA Length 21⁄2 – 3 in small desert rodents, this species is
N. Mexico (8 – 20 cm) (13 – 13.5 cm) (6.5 – 7.5 cm) a seasonal opportunist. In summer, it
Tail 21⁄4 – 33⁄4 in Tail 61⁄2 in Tail 21⁄2 – 41⁄4 in consumes mainly insects; in winter,
(5.5 – 9.5 cm) (16.5 cm) (6.5 – 10.5 cm) it switches to being a seed-hoarder in
Weight 27⁄8 – 9 oz Weight 23⁄4 –3 oz Weight 3⁄8 – 5⁄8 oz its burrow nest, carrying food items
(80 – 250 g) (78 – 86 g) (10 – 17 g) in its external cheek pouches. It also
Social unit Individual Social unit Group Social unit Individual stores food as body fat in its dumpy
Status Least concern Status Not evaluated Status Least concern tail. Each male dark kangaroo mouse
aggressively defends a territory of
Botta’s pocket gopher lives mainly Discovered in 2010 in the high, wet The dark kangaroo mouse is named up to 7,900 square yd (6,600 square m)
alone. It digs an extensive burrow mountain forests of coastal Venezuela, after its dark-furred, large back legs, against others of its species. Female
system (lodge) in loose soil, using its the overlook spiny pocket mouse occurs which it uses for hopping and leaping territories tend to be much smaller,
strong forelegs equipped with large from 1,148 to 8,063 ft (350 – 2,450 m). over sand dunes and soft, dry soil. only about 480 square yd (400 square
claws. This gopher stays underground It belongs to a group of spiny mice m). Each female produces a litter of
most of its life, consuming roots, so-called because of their coarse, Castor canadensis 2 – 7 offspring.
tubers, bulbs, and other subsurface spiny fur. This species has darker fur
plant parts. It is grayish brown above than more widespread relatives of the American beaver LAKESIDE LODGE
and browny orange below, and has lowlands, and is adapted to cool, high
adaptations typical of burrowers, such altitudes. Scientists speculate that Length 32 – 35 in Beavers rest by day in their
as a flat head, long whiskers, small it may have had a more extensive (80 – 90 cm) lodge—a pile of mud and sticks
eyes, and small ears closed by flaps. distribution during the last Ice Age. Tail 8 – 12 in built in a pool or lake. The lodge’s
Although it lives in a remote location, (20 – 30 cm) underwater entrances keep out
it is possible that its survival will be Location North America Weight 33 – 44 lb land-based predators. The beaver
threatened by global warming. Its (15 – 20 kg) digs channels and builds dams of
habits are probably similar to other Social unit Group mud, stones, and branches to
Heteromys spiny mice, emerging Status Least concern maintain a system of waterways.
from burrows at night to take seeds These activities are believed by
MAMMALS The American beaver is well adapted some to harm crops and trees, and
and other plant material—gathered to aquatic life. Its feet are webbed for affect local wildlife. An alternate
in cheek pouches for storage in swimming and the flat, scaly tail slaps view is that beavers reduce local
underground caches. the surface as a loud alarm signal. floods, and help return the habitat
Underwater, the ears and nose shut to its natural state.
Dipodomys merriami Castor fiber with valvelike flaps and the lips close
behind the incisor teeth, which can then TWO COATS
Merriam’s Eurasian beaver be used for nibbling and gnawing. The The American beaver’s long guard coat (outer fur)
kangaroo rat eyes have a third, transparent eyelid varies from yellowish brown to black, although
Length 32 – 35 in (known as the nictitating membrane) to it is usually reddish brown. The dense underfur
Length 3 – 4 in Location Europe to C. Asia (80 – 90 cm) see below the surface. Long whiskers
(7.5 – 10 cm) Tail 8 – 12 in feel the way in the dark. The American is dark gray and retains
Location S.W. USA to Tail 43⁄4 – 7 in (20 – 30 cm) beaver feeds on the leaves, twigs, and body heat even in
N. Mexico (12 – 18.2 cm) Weight 33 – 44 lb bark of bankside trees and water freezing water.
Weight 11⁄16 – 2 oz (15 – 20 kg) plants. It also gnaws and fells small
(32 – 53 g) Social unit Group trees to eat the tender shoots and
Social unit Group Status Least concern leaves. It uses the fallen branches and
Status Least concern small trunks for building its lodge (see
panel) and for dam construction,
Relatively large back legs and feet, Similar to the American beaver (see dragging them to the dam site in their
for kangaroo-like hopping, and a very right) in appearance, habits, and strong jaws. Following a gestation
long, slender, tufted tail, for balance, lifestyle, the Eurasian beaver is usually period of 107 days, the 1 – 6 kits
allow Merriam’s kangaroo rat to move heavier. As in its close cousin, glands (young beavers) are born fully furred
at high speed over sandy soil in its at the base of the tail produce an oily, and are weaned within 2 months.
desert habitat. The silky fur is gray waterproofing secretion that is spread On an average, 2 – 4 kits are born.
above and white on the underparts, through the fur when grooming.
with narrow dark gray and white stripes flat, scaly
along the flanks. This kangaroo rat In areas with many natural tail
regularly has energetic dust-baths waterways, the Eurasian beaver
to keep its fur and skin clean. It does not build a sticks-and-
digs, burrows, or searches for food,
especially cockle- and sand-burr seeds mud lodge but digs tunnels in the bank,
in winter, and cactus seeds in summer. with underwater entrances. It eats bark,
leaves, and plants, and can stay
submerged for 20 minutes.

MOUSELIKE RODENTS 123

Mouselike rodents PROLIFIC BREEDERS
Mouselike rodents, such
PHYLUM Chordata This suborder—which is distinguished from as this harvest mouse,
CLASS Mammalia the other 4 rodent suborders by the way the usually have large litters.
ORDER Rodentia jaw muscles are arranged (see p.116)—
constitutes over a quarter of all mammal
SUBORDER Myomorpha
species. Within the group are rats and mice

FAMILIES 7 (including voles, lemmings, hamsters, and

SPECIES 1,737 gerbils), and jerboas. Mouselike rodents

often have a pointed face and long whiskers,

and are usually small, nocturnal seed-eaters. They are found

worldwide (except Antarctica), in almost all terrestrial habitats.

Some species, such as the naked mole-rat, live underground;

others, such as the water vole, occupy aquatic habitats. Species

that live in open areas may have longer legs and feet (for quick

escapes), and larger ears to detect danger from a distance.

Oxymycterus nasutus Rhizomys sinensis Tachyoryctes macrocephalus

Long-nosed hocicudo Chinese bamboo rat Ethiopian African
mole rat
Length 33⁄4 – 61⁄2 in Length 9 – 16 in
Location E. South America (9.5 – 17 cm) Location E. Asia (22 – 40 cm) Length 12 in
Tail 23⁄4 – 53⁄4 in Tail 2 – 33⁄4 in (31 cm)
(7 – 14.5 cm) (5 – 9.5 cm) Location E. Africa Tail 31⁄2 – 4 in
Weight 31⁄4 oz Weight 21⁄4 – 61⁄2 lb (9 – 10 cm)
(90 g) (1 – 3 kg) Weight 13 – 36 oz
Social unit Individual Social unit Individual (350 – 1,000 g)
Status Least concern Status Least concern Social unit Variable
Status Endangered
MAMMALS
This large mouse rarely comes out This beaverlike rat has thick This giant African mole rat lives like blunt and rounded head, robust body,
into the open. It forages by day under gray-brown fur, a squat snout, and a mole, spending a great deal of short limbs, small eyes and ears, and
leaves, logs, and stones for creatures short, scaly tail. It lives in bamboo time in its burrow. This may exceed thick fur. This mole rat gnaws roots
such as grubs and worms, sniffing thickets, digging tunnels and nest 165 ft (50 m) in length and houses one and other plant parts with its large,
with its long, flexible, shrewlike chambers between the roots. An rat. Burrowing adaptations include a projecting, orange-yellow incisors,
snout and scrabbling up prey with excellent climber, it feeds on bamboo and digs its extensive tunnel system
its large-clawed forefeet. Its back is as well as seeds and fruit. Peromyscus leucopus in the same way.
black, tinged with red or yellow, and
is darker along the midline; its flanks Reithrodontomys raviventris White-footed mouse den in a sheltered place under tree
are yellow-brown; the underside is roots, below a log or stone, or in a
yellow-orange mixed with gray; and Saltmarsh harvest Length 31⁄2 – 41⁄4 in thicket; or they may dig a den in soil,
the short, scaly tail is sparsely haired. mouse (9 – 10.5 cm) or take over an abandoned burrow.
It rarely excavates its own tunnels or Tail 21⁄2 – 4 in The nest is made from soft, dry plant
pathways, using those of other rodents. (6 – 10 cm) matter, including shredded stems. The
Weight 1⁄2 – 11⁄16 oz pair forage principally at night for fruit,
Baiomys taylori Length 23⁄4 –3 in Location S.E. Canada to (14 – 30 g) berries, seeds, and insects, staying
(7 – 7.5 cm) Mexico Social unit Paired mainly on the ground even though
Northern pygmy Tail 13⁄4 – 41⁄2 in Status Least concern they climb well. Food is stored in the
mouse Location W. USA (4.5 – 11.5 cm) den near the nest, covered with soil.
(San Francisco Bay area) Weight 1⁄4 –2⁄3oz In cold weather, the white-footed
(6 – 20 g) mouse may hibernate for a few hours
Social unit Individual each day. The female is pregnant
Status Endangered for 22 – 23 days, and the
average litter size is 4 – 5.
Location S. USA to Length 2 – 21⁄2 in Similar to the house mouse (see p.128), A widespread and common species,
C. Mexico (5 – 6.5 cm) the saltmarsh harvest mouse has large this mouse resembles others in the white underfur
Tail 11⁄2 – 13⁄4 in ears and a long tail. It builds a summer deer mouse group, with its white and feet
(3.5 – 4.5 cm) nest of grass above ground in a bush feet and underparts, and
Weight 1⁄4 – ⁄11 32 oz or undergrowth, and feeds on seeds, brown fur on the
(7 – 9 g) shoots, and insects. In winter, it moves back. White-footed
Social unit Individual into a burrow that has been dug, but mice usually live
Status Least concern then deserted, by another rodent. in pairs, which
occupy a small

The female of this species, North
America’s smallest rodent, can
become pregnant at the youngest
age of any New World mouse—just
4 weeks. The fur is mid-brown on the
back and gray underneath. This mouse
occupies a territory up to 100 ft (30 m)
across and feeds at twilight on plants
and seeds. Its nest is in a burrow
under logs or plants.

124 RODENTS

Calomys laucha Sigmodon hispidus on many foods, including plants Kunsia tomentosus
(sometimes ruining crops such as
Little lauca Hispid cotton rat sweet potato and sugar cane), insects, Giant South American
and grubs. Being a good swimmer, it water rat
Length 23⁄4 in Length 5 – 8 in also takes freshwater crabs, crayfish,
Location C. and E. South (7 cm) Location S. USA (13 – 20 cm) and frogs, and climbs reeds to eat Length 111⁄2 in
America Tail 21⁄4 in Tail 31⁄4 – 61⁄2 in birds’ eggs and chicks. It is active (29 cm)
(5.5 cm) (8 – 16.5 cm) day and night, usually living alone in Tail 6 in (15 cm)
Weight 7⁄16 oz Weight 35⁄8 – 8 oz a grassy nest in a sheltered depression Location C. South Weight Not recorded
(13 g) (100 – 225 g) in the ground or in a burrow up to 30 in America Social unit Individual
Social unit Variable Social unit Individual (75 cm) deep. The hispid cotton rat Status Least concern
Status Least concern Status Least concern digs a shallow burrow as it feeds,
and establishes well-worn foraging
The little lauca resembles the house This is one of 14 cotton rat species runways. Its stiff fur is brown to A little-known species, this large,
mouse (see p.128) not only in in the Americas. Some are extremely brownish gray on the back, gray-white small-eared, short-tailed rat spends
appearance but also in living near rare, others locally numerous, even underneath. The female becomes much time burrowing, using its strong
human dwellings and in its occasional increasing to pest status when food sexually mature at 6 – 8 weeks, and, feet equipped with long, curved claws.
population surges, when it may is plentiful. The hispid cotton rat feeds after 27 days’ gestation, she gives Its upper fur is dark brown with stiff
become a pest. It is gray-white birth to up to 10 young. hairs, and the underneath hairs are
above and pale to dark brown on the gray with white tips. As the giant South
underside, with a white patch behind American water rat tunnels, it consumes
each medium-sized ear, and a long, roots, tubers, and other underground
sparsely furred tail. It builds a grassy plant parts. During the flood season,
nest in any crevice, such as under however, water fills its tunnels, so this
a log, rock, floorboards, or even— rat stays mainly above ground, where
being a skillful climber—in a tree fork. its diet changes to mostly grasses
The main diet is plants of all kinds, and shoots.
supplemented by a few insects
such as beetles and caterpillars.

MAMMALS Phodopus roborovskii Cricetus cricetus

Roborovski’s desert Common hamster
hamster
Length 8 – 131⁄2 in
Length 21⁄4 – 4 in Mesocricetus auratus each cheek to the upper neck. Location Europe to C. Asia (20 – 34 cm)
(5.5 – 10 cm) The fur pales to gray-white on the Tail 11⁄2 – 21⁄4 in
Tail 23⁄4 – 41⁄4 in Golden hamster underside. Grooming is important to (4 – 6 cm)
(7 – 11 cm) keep the coat in good condition, and Weight 35⁄8 – 32 oz
Location E. Asia Weight 7⁄8 – 13⁄4 oz both front teeth and claws are used for (100 – 900 g)
(25 – 50 g) this purpose. This hamster excavates Social unit Individual
Social unit Individual a burrow down to 61⁄2 ft (2 m), which it Status Least concern
Status Least concern rarely leaves except to feed on a diet
Length 5 – 51⁄4 in of seeds, nuts, and small creatures
Also called the dwarf hamster, this Location W. Asia (13 – 13.5 cm) such as ants, flies, cockroaches, bugs, The largest hamster, this species
small, short-tailed, prominent-eared Tail 1⁄2 in and even wasps. It is aggressive toward has distinctively thick fur, which is
rodent is pale brown on its upperparts (1.5 cm) other hamsters. red-brown on the back and mainly black
with pure white underparts. Its rear feet Weight 35⁄8 – 4 oz on the underside, with white patches on
are short and broad, with dense fur on (100 – 125 g) the nose, cheeks, throat, flanks, and
the underside for jumping across hot, Social unit Individual paws—darker underside coloration
loose desert sand. Like other hamsters, Status Vulnerable compared to the upperparts is very
the Roborovski’s desert hamster crams unusual among mammals. In autumn,
seeds into its internal cheek pouches The golden hamster, familiar around the SOLITARY GROOMING the common hamster hoards seeds,
and takes them back to its burrow world as a pet, is restricted in the wild roots, and other plant matter, carrying
for storage. It also eats insects such to a small area of western Asia. Its items in its large, external cheek
as beetles, locusts, and earwigs. The golden coat may show a darker patch pouches back to its burrow. It then
nesting burrow is dug in firm sand and on the forehead and a black stripe from hibernates until spring, waking every
is lined with hair shed by camels 5 – 7 days to feed. In summer, it also
and sheep. rich golden eats grubs, worms, and other creatures.
orange fur After 18 – 20 days’ gestation, the female
produces a litter of up to 12, which
are weaned by 3 weeks and fully
grown by 8 weeks.

Like many other hamsters, the
golden hamster lives alone,
so it has to rid its own coat
of dirt, old fur, tangles, and
pests such as fleas, rather
than relying on mutual
grooming like many
social rodents.

cheek pouches ROBUST RODENT
filled with food The golden hamster has a blunt
muzzle, broad face, small eyes,
prominent ears, and tiny tail.

MOUSELIKE RODENTS 125

Microtus arvalis Ondatra zibethicus EXPERT SWIMMER

Common vole Muskrat The largest species of burrowing
vole, the muskrat is well adapted to
Location W. Europe to Length 31⁄2 – 43⁄4 in Location North America Length 10 – 14 in swimming with large back feet that
W. and C. Asia (9 – 12 cm) (25 – 35 cm) have small webs between the toes
Tail 11⁄4 – 13⁄4 in Tail 8 – 10 in and a row of stiff hairs along one
(3 – 4.5 cm) (20 – 25 cm) edge, forming a “swimming fringe.”
Weight 11⁄16 – 15⁄8 oz Weight 11⁄4 – 41⁄2 lb Its long, furless tail is flattened from
(20 – 45 g) (0.6 – 2 kg) side to side, which enables it to be
Social unit Group Social unit Group used as a rudder. The nostrils and
Status Least concern Status Least concern small ears are closed by flaps during
dives, which may last 20 minutes.
This medium-sized vole is one of The muskrat usually lives in a group It can swim up to 330 ft (100 m)
the most numerous rodents in grassy of up to 10, digging tunnels in the bank underwater without surfacing.
and farmland habitats. It has short or building a beaverlike home (lodge)
fur, gray-brown or sandy on the back from mud, plant stems, and twigs. It fine underfur
changing to gray underneath, a blunt eats reeds and other water plants, and with long, coarse
snout, small eyes and ears, stocky occasionally hunts for crayfish, frogs, guard hairs
body, and short, furred tail. It digs fish, and mollusks. The female builds
burrows to make nest chambers and a nest in a dry tunnel chamber MUSKY SMELL
food stores, and eats chiefly green or lodge platform, where The muskrat is named after the
plant parts such as grass blades. In the litter of 1 – 3 young are musky-smelling secretions from
winter, it may take refuge in a barn born. Musk secretions glands around its genital and anal
or haystack, and gnaw soft bark. are used, with droppings region. The glands are especially
and urine, to mark prominent in males and enlarge
out territories. at breeding time.

MAMMALS

Myodes glareolus Arvicola amphibius Lemmus sibiricus Lagurus lagurus

Bank vole Eurasian water vole Brown lemming Steppe vole

Location W. Europe to Length 23⁄4 – 51⁄4 in Location W. Europe to Length 43⁄4 – 9 in Location N. Asia Length 43⁄4 – 6 in Location E. Europe to Length 31⁄4 – 43⁄4 in
N. Asia (7 – 13.5 cm) W. and N. Asia (12 – 23 cm) (12 –15 cm) E. Asia (8 – 12 cm)
Tail 11⁄2 – 21⁄2 in Tail 23⁄4 – 41⁄4 in Tail 3⁄8 – 1⁄2 in (1 – 1.5 cm) Tail 7⁄3 – 3⁄4 in
(3.5 – 6.5 cm) (7–11 cm) Weight 15⁄8 – 51⁄2 oz (0.7 – 2 cm)
Weight 7⁄16 – 11⁄4 oz Weight 21⁄8 –11 oz (45 – 150 g) Weight 7⁄8 – 11⁄4 oz
(12 – 35 g) (60 – 300 g) Social unit Group (25 – 35 g)
Social unit Group Social unit Individual/Pair Status Least concern Social unit Variable
Status Least concern Status Least concern Status Least concern

Typically blunt-headed, the bank The brown lemming lives in large Long, waterproof fur, even covering
vole’s upperparts vary from yellowish colonies, breeds prolifically, and feet and ears, keeps the steppe vole
to reddish or brown, with gray flanks, makes small-scale seasonal migrations warm in the cold north Asian steppes.
gray-white rump, white feet, and a between high, shrubby grassland and It has a black stripe along the middle
slightly bushy-tipped tail. The species moors, and sheltered lowlands for of its pale gray or cinnamon back, and
also varies greatly in size, being twice winter. Its migrations are much less pale underparts. Burrows up to 12 in
as long and 3 times as heavy in some spectacular than those of the Norway (30 cm) deep give temporary shelter,
regions compared to others. The lemming (Lemmus lemmus), which is while more permanent ones—3 times
bank vole is very adaptable, nesting sometimes driven by instinct to try to as deep—house grass-lined nests.
in burrows, thickets, and tree stumps, swim rivers or scramble down cliffs. The There are 5 litters per year of up
and eating a huge range of foods, brown lemming eats mosses, sedges, to 12 young.
from fungi and mosses to seeds, herbs, and soft twigs, and sometimes
buds, insects, and birds’ eggs. Water voles that mainly burrow birds’ eggs. The female builds a nest
in meadows and woods are almost from grass and her own fur and, after a
half the size of those that live near gestation period of 18 days, produces
rivers, lakes, and marshes. Both types
eat plant foods and have thick fur, up to 12 young.
which is gray, brown, or black on
the upperparts and dark gray to white blunt snout
below. The rounded tail is half the
body length. This vole is threatened small, well-
by pollution, loss of habitat, and furred ears

an introduced
predator, mink.

126 RODENTS

Nyctomys sumichrasti Parotomys brantsii Pachyuromys duprasi Meriones unguiculatus

Sumichrast’s Brants’s whistling rat Fat-tailed jird Mongolian jird
vesper rat
Length 5 – 61⁄2 in Length 33⁄4 – 5 in Length 4 – 5 in
Length 41⁄4 – 5 in Location Southern Africa (2.5 – 16.5 cm) Location N. Africa (9.5 – 13 cm) Location C. Asia (10 – 13 cm)
(11 – 13 cm) Tail 3 – 41⁄4 in Tail 21⁄4 – 61⁄2 in Tail 33⁄4 – 41⁄4 in
Tail 31⁄4 – 6 in (7.5 – 10.5 cm) (5.5 – 16.5 cm) (9.5 – 11 cm)
(8.5 – 15.5 cm) Weight 3 – 4 oz Weight ⁄11 16 – 13⁄ 4 oz Weight 2 – 21⁄8 oz
Weight Not recorded (85 – 125 g) (20 – 50 g) (50 – 60 g)
Social unit Group Social unit Group Social unit Variable Social unit Group
Status Least concern Status Least concern Status Least concern Status Least concern

Location S. Mexico to
S. Central America

One of the more arboreal and brightly Also known as the karoo rat from its A Sahara dweller, the fat-tailed jird long hind
colored rats, this species has tawny arid, rocky, saltbrush habitat, this wary, has long, soft fur, a pointed snout, and legs for
or pinkish brown upperparts with darker diurnal species feeds on grass and long rear feet. Coloration is chestnut- leaping
hairs along the centre of the back. It other low-growing vegetation. It never cinnamon on the back and sides,
has pale flanks, white underparts, a wanders far from its extensive tunnel with black tips to the hairs,
dark ring around the eye, and a brown, system, which can be accessed via shading to white underneath.
scaly, hairy tail. The ears are short and numerous entrances. If danger threatens, The club-shaped tail contains a
finely furred. On each foot the first toe it whistles loudly to warn other members store of body fat for nourishment and
is almost thumblike, developed for of the colony. In favorable conditions, it water. This jird emerges from its burrow
gripping twigs. Sumichrast’s vesper can breed up to 4 times a year, females at dusk to search for insects such as
rat lives in a colony, builds squirrel-like producing up to 4 young in each litter. crickets. It also eats leaves, seeds,
nests of twigs, leaves, and creepers, Offspring mature quickly and are capable and other plant matter.
and rarely descends to the ground. It of breeding themselves when about
is active mainly at night, eating a variety 3 months old. Brants’s whistling rat Familiar as a pet, this is one of some
of plants, including figs and avocados. has a reddish orange nose and small 17 jird species of the Meriones genus
yellow ears. The fur is patchy yellow and that is native to Central Asia. It burrows
brown-black, with gray-white underparts. in dry steppes and is active by day
and night, summer and winter. It eats
MAMMALS Hypogeomys antimena Cricetomys gambianus mainly seeds, storing excess in its
elaborate burrow, which it may share
Votsovotsa Northern giant with its mate and up to 12 young.
pouched rat Family members groom each other
Length 12 – 14 in but are quick to attack a stranger.
(30 – 35 cm) Mainly brown haired with black tips,
Tail 81⁄2 – 10 in the underparts are gray or white.
(21 – 25 cm)
Location W. Madagascar Weight 21⁄4 – 31⁄4 lb Length 14 – 16 in Jaculus jaculus Allactaga tetradactyla
(1 – 1.5 kg) (35 – 40 cm)
Social unit Group Tail 141⁄2 – 18 in Lesser Egyptian Four-toed jerboa
Status Endangered (37 – 45 cm) jerboa
Location W., C., E., and Weight 21⁄4 – 31⁄4 lb
southern Africa (1 – 1.5 kg) Length 4 – 43⁄4 in
Social unit Variable (10 – 12 cm)
Status Least concern Tail 6 – 7 in (15.5 – 18 cm)
Weight 13⁄4 – 2 oz
Known locally as the votsotsa, this rat Length 4 – 43⁄4 in Location N. Africa (50 – 55 g)
has tall, rabbitlike ears and large rear (10 – 12 cm) Social unit Individual
feet. Similar to a rabbit in behavior, Tail 61⁄2 – 8 in Status Vulnerable
too, it hops rather than runs and lives (16 – 20 cm)
in a family group of male, female, and Location N. Africa to Weight 15⁄8 – 25⁄8 oz
offspring of the past 2 – 3 years. The W. Asia (45 – 75 g)
votsovotsa digs a burrow system with Social unit Individual
up to 6 entrances in the sandy soil of Status Least concern
coastal forests. It eats fruit, shoots, and
soft bark, holding them in the forefeet. This rat is solitary, active mainly at night, Well adapted for desert sand, this
This species is threatened by habitat and climbs and swims well. It eats a jerboa has very long hind legs, each
loss and competition from introduced with 3 toes on a pad of hairs. It hops
roof rats. great variety of moist or fleshy at high speed, balancing with its very
foods, from termites to long tail, which has a black band
rabbitlike avocados, and also peanuts and near the fluffy white tip. The fur is
ears corn. Its huge cheek pouches brown-orange on the back, gray-orange
carry items back to its burrow, along the sides, and white below with
a whitish hip band. The lesser Egyptian Each back foot of this jerboa has
which has extensive jerboa feeds at night on seeds, roots, an extra, fourth toe, which is small
chambers for food, and leaves. By day, it plugs the compared to the 3 functional toes.
resting, breeding, and entrances to its burrow to keep out In other respects it is a typical jerboa,
defecation. Its bristly the heat, predators, and other animals. with its huge, hopping back feet and
hair is buff-brown on the tall, rabbitlike ears. The upperparts
well-developed back, fading to white on are speckled black and orange,
digging claws the throat and underside, with the rump orange, the sides gray, and the
a dark brown eye-ring. This underparts white. The long, balancing
large, big-eared, docile rat is kept both tail has a black band near the white,
as a pet and for meat. feathery tip. Emerging at night, the jerboa
eats grass, leaves, and soft seeds.

MOUSELIKE RODENTS 127

Apodemus flavicollis Apodemus sylvaticus Micromys minutus COLORATION
The harvest mouse has
Field mouse Long-tailed field mouse Harvest mouse yellowish or reddish brown
upperparts and a mainly white
Length 31⁄4 – 5 in Length 3 – 41⁄4 in Length 2 – 3 in underside. The face is rounded
(8.5 – 13 cm) (8 – 11 cm) (5 – 8 cm) but the snout is pointed.
Tail 31⁄2 – 51⁄4 in Tail 23⁄4 – 41⁄4 in Tail 13⁄4 – 3 in
(9 – 13.5 cm) (7 – 11 cm) (4.5 – 7.5 cm) small ears
Weight 5⁄8 – 13⁄4 oz Weight 9⁄16 – 11⁄16 oz Weight 3⁄16 – 1⁄4 oz
Location W. Europe to (18 – 50 g) Location Europe, N. Africa (15 – 30 g) Location W. Europe to (5 – 7 g)
W. and C. Asia Social unit Individual Social unit Individual E. Asia Social unit Individual
Status Least concern Status Least concern Status Least concern

The yellow throat of this large, Sometimes mistaken for a small field This tiny mouse is the only Old World long,
long-tailed mouse contrasts with mouse (see left), the long-tailed field rodent with a prehensile tail. It feeds grasping
the brown back and yellowish white mouse may have not only a yellow throat on seeds, including the heads of tail
underparts. The large, prominent but also an orange-brown chest patch. wheat and other farmed cereals,
eyes and big ears indicate twilight Its upperparts are gray-brown; the berries, and small animals such as broad,
and nocturnal habits, and the long underparts, gray-white. Fast and agile, insects and spiders. In the breeding gripping
rear feet allow prodigious jumps. The the long-tailed field mouse consumes season, the female gives birth to about feet
field mouse climbs trees to 66 ft (20 m), many foods, including mushrooms, 1 – 8 young, occasionally 12 or more,
searching for seeds, berries, and small berries, fruit, worms, and insects. after a pregnancy lasting 21 days. This rat, also known as Rothschild’s
creatures such as caterpillars, spiders, It nests in a burrow or tree-hole, marks However, if food becomes scarce, she woolly rat because of its long, thick
and millipedes. It nests in any suitable its territory with urine, and fights may eat them—a self-survival strategy fur, has an almost black back, reddish
hole, among roots, or high in a tree intruders violently. that occurs in various rodents. brown upper parts, and pale underside,
trunk, and aggressively chases away perhaps with a white band running
other mice, including similar long-tailed BALL-LIKE NEST from the belly up each side. Its scaly MAMMALS
field mice (see right). tail is brown at the base but turns
The harvest mouse constructs a white about halfway along its length.
spherical nest of finely shredded The smooth-tailed giant rat scampers
grass blades and stems, perhaps through the trees in search of shoots,
using an old bird’s nest as a base, in leaves, and other plants, gripping
a thicket or grassy clump. It is about with its sharp-clawed feet. It usually
3 – 43⁄4 in (8 – 12 cm) across, and is lives in a hollow tree but sometimes
located some 20 – 51 in (50 – 130 cm) inhabits holes in the ground. Females
above ground level. The female’s are thought to produce only one
breeding nest is more substantial offspring per litter.
than the regular nest.

Lemniscomys striatus stripes along the buff or reddish Mallomys rothschildi
orange back; underparts are brown-
Striped grass tinged white. It lives mainly on the Smooth-tailed
mouse ground with runways leading to giant rat
feeding areas of grass stems, leaves,
Location W. and E. Africa Length 4 – 51⁄2 in farm crops, and the occasional insect. Length 131⁄2 – 15 in
(10 – 14 cm) This nervous, jumpy mouse lives (34 – 38 cm)
Tail 4 – 6 in alone and may feign death—“play Tail 14 – 161⁄2 in
(10 – 15.5 cm) dead”—or shed the skin from its (36 – 42 cm)
Weight ⁄11 16 – 21⁄2 oz tail when caught by a predator. Weight 2 – 31⁄4 lb
(20 – 70 g) (0.95 – 1.5 kg)
Social unit Individual dark central Social unit Individual
Status Least concern stripe down Status Least concern
the back
Location New Guinea

The striped grass mouse is
paler in the west of its range
compared to the east, with light

Rattus rattus Length 61⁄2 – 91⁄2 in It prefers plant brown also occur, with gray to white any material. The fleas carried by roof
(16 – 24 cm) matter, such as on the belly, and whitish or pink feet. rats spread diseases among humans,
Roof rat Tail 7 – 10 in seeds and fruit, but it can survive on The female produces 4 – 10 young after including bubonic plague, which has
(18 – 26 cm) insects, dead animals, feces, and a gestation period of 20 – 24 days. This killed hundreds of millions of people
Location Worldwide Weight 5 – 9 oz refuse. Roof rats gather in “packs” rat can run, climb, and swim very well, through the centuries.
(except polar regions) (150 – 250 g) of 20 – 60 and may intimidate larger and makes a nest of twigs and grass,
Social unit Variable animals such as dogs. The basic but often nests in a roof
Status Least concern coloration is black, but shades of cavity and uses almost

long, hairless tail
for balance

Also called the ship rat, black rat, or
house rat, in early Roman times the
roof rat spread around the world
from Asia in ships or crates of cargo.

128 RODENTS

Rattus norvegicus tail held out SWIMMING RAT Leporillus conditor
for balance The brown rat is an exceptional swimmer. It
Brown rat catches small fish and crayfish, and crunches Greater stick-
up water snails and aquatic insects. nest rat

Location Worldwide Length 8 – 11 in Length 7 – 10 in
(except polar regions) (20 – 28 cm) (17 – 26 cm)
Tail 7 – 9 in Tail 53⁄4 – 91⁄2 in
(17 – 23 cm) Location W. and S. (14.5 – 24 cm)
Weight 10 – 21 oz Australia Weight 51⁄2 – 16 oz
(275 – 575 g) (150 – 450 g)
Social unit Group Social unit Group
Status Least concern Status Vulnerable

A hugely varied, opportunistic diet, Occurring naturally on Franklin
sharp senses, and great agility have Island, W. Australia, and introduced
enabled the brown rat, also called elsewhere, the greater stick-nest
the Norway or common rat, to spread rat is almost rabbit sized, with long
all around the world. “Packs” of ears, a rounded nose, and slim, hairy
up to 200, dominated by large tail. It is gray-brown above and white
males, will attack rabbits, below, and builds a strong surface nest
large birds, and even fish. After of sticks and twigs up to 5 ft (1.5 m)
a gestation of 22 – 24 days, the high. Large nests may contain many
female gives birth to 6 – 9 young individuals. Active at night, this species
in a nest of grass, leaves, paper, feeds on succulent plants and drinks
rags, or almost any other material. little if any water.
This species is the ancestor of rats
MAMMALS bred as pets and for scientific research.

COLORATION
The brown rat varies from brown to gray-brown
or black on its back. It is paler on the underside,
and has a long, sparsely haired tail.

Mus musculus The second most widely distributed Notomys alexis Acomys minous
mammal, after humans, this mouse
House mouse survives on a huge range of foods and Spinifex hopping Crete spiny mouse
lives in a family group of dominant male mouse
Length 23⁄4 – 41⁄4 in and several females. They communicate Length 31⁄2 – 43⁄4 in
Location Worldwide (7 – 10.5 cm) by high-pitched squeaks and mark their Length 31⁄2 – 7 in Location Europe (Crete) (9 – 12 cm)
(except polar regions) Tail 2 – 4 in territory with scent and urine. Maturity (9 – 17 cm) Tail 31⁄2 – 43⁄4 in
(5 – 10 cm) is at 8 – 10 weeks, gestation 18 – 24 Tail 5 – 9 in (9 – 12 cm)
Weight 3⁄8 – 1 oz days, and litter size 3 – 8, with 10 litters (12.5 – 23 cm) Weight 3⁄8 – 31⁄4 oz
(10 – 35 g) in favorable years. The species has Weight ⁄11 16 – 13⁄4 oz (11 – 90 g)
Social unit Group been widely bred for pets and (20 – 50 g) Social unit Variable
Status Least concern scientific research. Social unit Group Status Data deficient
Status Least concern
Location W. and C.
Australia

upperparts vary Also called the dargawarra, this large
from gray-black mouse is named after the bushy, spiky
to red-brown desert grass called spinifex, where it
often lives. It obtains all its moisture
mostly hairless tail from leaves, seeds, berries, and other
plant foods, never needs to drink,
Hydromys chrysogaster to golden-yellow, cream, or even white, and produces some of the most
and the tail is thick and white-tipped. concentrated urine of any rodent.
Common water rat This water rat is active at dusk and Very sociable, this mouse lives
dawn as a powerful predator of in mixed-sex groups of up to
shellfish, water snails, fish, frogs, 10, shares nests, and breeds
turtles, birds, mice, and even bats. soon after any rainfall.

Location New Guinea, Length 111⁄2 – 151⁄2 in Coarse, stiff hairs on the back and tail
Australia (including (29 – 39 cm) give this mouse its common name. Its fur
Tasmania) Tail 9 – 13 in varies from yellow to red, gray, or brown
(23 – 33 cm) above, and white below. A nocturnal
Weight 11⁄2 – 3 lb forager, it takes anything edible—mainly
(0.65 – 1.25 kg) grass blades and seeds—and builds
Social unit Individual only a rudimentary nest. A gregarious
Status Least concern species, gestation is 5 – 6 weeks (long
for a mouse). Other females clean and
Australia’s heaviest native rodent has assist the mother at the birth, when the
broad back feet and webbed toes, for young are already well developed, with
swimming. The upperparts vary from open eyes.
brown to gray, the underparts brown

CAVYLIKE RODENTS 129

Cavylike rodents Erethizon dorsatum crest of
long quills
PHYLUM Chordata Included in this “umbrella” group are North American
CLASS Mammalia species as diverse as the semiaquatic porcupine QUILLS AND FUR
ORDER Rodentia capybara, the largest living rodent; the The main quills are yellow-white, with black or
New World porcupines, which are arboreal Length 231⁄2 – 51 in brown tips. The rest of the body is furred and
SUBORDER Histricomorpha and possess distinctive spines and a (60 – 130 cm) spined in shades of brown.
FAMILIES 18 prehensile tail; and African mole-rats, Tail 61⁄2 – 10 in
(16 – 25 cm) CLUMSY CLIMBER
SPECIES 301 which live underground. The defining Location Canada, USA Weight 11 – 26 lb
(5 – 12 kg) The North American porcupine
feature of the suborder is the organization Social unit Individual seems clumsy in trees, yet it climbs
Status Least concern extensively for buds, blossom, shoots,
leaves, berries, and nuts. It also eats
of the jaw muscles (see p.116), and most species are characterized grass and farm crops in summer,
and soft bark and conifer needles
by a relatively large head, a sturdy body, a short tail, and slender in winter. Solitary most of the year,
it does not hibernate and may share
legs. Cavylike rodents are found throughout Africa, the The large crest of long quills, up to 3 in a den in cold spells.
(8 cm) long on the head, identifies this
Americas, and Asia. stocky, short-limbed porcupine. The
strong, broad feet have sharp claws
SAFETY IN NUMBERS and naked soles, to aid grip. The North
American porcupine is very vocal,
By living in a family group, these especially during courtship in early
capybaras greatly increase winter, when it whines, screeches,
the chances of spotting grunts, mews, and hoots.
a predator before
it can attack.

MAMMALS

Hystrix africaeaustralis These rodents sniff and forage for BARBED DEFENSE Coendou prehensilis
distances of up to 9 miles (15 km) at
Cape porcupine night, alone, in pairs, or in small groups, Stump-tailed
seeking roots, bulbs, berries, and fruit. porcupine
Length 25 – 32 in By day, they rest in caves or rocky
Location C. to southern (63 – 80 cm) crevices. After a gestation period of Length 12 – 141⁄2 in
Africa Tail 41⁄4 – 5 in 93 – 105 days, the female produces (30 – 37 cm)
(10.5 – 13 cm) 1 – 3 young, and the male helps care Tail 41⁄4 – 6 in
Weight 22 – 53 lb for them. The Cape (or crested) (10.5 – 15 cm)
(10 – 24 kg) porcupine communicates by means of Weight 11 lb
Social unit Variable quill-rattles, piping squeaks, and grunts. (5 kg)
Status Least concern Social unit Individual
Location N. and E. South Status Least concern
America, Trinidad

spines The Cape porcupine cannot shoot This large, muscular porcupine climbs
intermingled out its quills; but, if alarmed, it raises slowly but surely with curved claws,
with ordinary them and charges backward at naked-soled feet, and prehensile tail,
hairs the enemy. The quills detach easily which is almost as long as the head
and their barbed tips work into the and body and lacks fur toward the
aggressor’s flesh. These defenses tip. By day, it sleeps in a hole, in a
effectively deter attacks by other tree trunk, or in the ground. At dusk,
animals, but these porcupines are the stump-tailed porcupine forages
killed in large numbers by humans for leaves, bark, fruit, and shoots,
because they damage crops, and and occasionally small animals.
for their prized meat.

eyes set SPINES AND WHISKERS
far back in The back is covered by banded
rounded head brown-black and white spines with
white tips, intermingled with hairs.
short, bristle- The nose has long, stout whiskers.
covered legs

130 RODENTS

Cavia aperea Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris swimming. It is an excellent swimmer DAILY ROUTINE
and diver in rivers, lakes, and swamps.
Brazilian guinea pig Capybara It forms various groupings, including Capybaras rest in the morning,
male–female pairs, families with young, wallow during the midday heat,
Location N.W. to E. South Length 83⁄4 – 151⁄2 in Location N. and E. South Length 31⁄2 – 41⁄2 ft and larger, mixed herds dominated by feed on water plants, buds, and
America (21.5 – 39 cm) America (1.1 – 1.3 m) one male who mates with all females soft tree bark in the evening, rest
Tail None Tail Vestigial in his group. They roam a home range, again around midnight, and resume
Weight 18 – 29 oz Weight 77 – 145 lb marked with scent, and chase away feeding toward dawn. They move on
(500 – 790 g) (35 – 65 kg) intruders. After a gestation period of to find fresh grazing as necessary
Social unit Group Social unit Variable 120 – 150 days, 1 – 7 offspring (usually 5) and may raid farm crops, which
Status Least concern Status Least concern are born fully furred and can run, swim, makes them pests in some areas.
and dive within hours of birth. The
A close relative and perhaps ancestor The world’s heaviest rodent, capybara’s numerous predators include
of the domestic (pet) guinea pig (Cavia the capybara has partially humans, who value the meat and hide.
porcellus), this is one of the smallest webbed toes, and its
cavylike rodents. It has a large head, nostrils, eyes, and coarse fur
blunt snout, tail-less body, and short ears are set
legs, with 4-toed front feet and 3-toed on top of pale to dark
rear feet. The long, coarse fur is dark its head, brown fur,
gray-brown to black. It eats leaves, so that it tinged with
grasses, seeds, flowers, and bark. can smell, yellow
Guinea pigs live as close neighbors see, and or gray
in shrubby grassland, with communal hear when
feeding runways but separate nests.
STOUT SWIMMER
The capybara is heavy bodied,
with short but sturdy limbs,
hooflike claws, and almost no tail.

MAMMALS

Dolichotis patagonum Cuniculus paca Lagostomus maximus

Patagonian mara Lowland paca Argentina plains
viscacha
Length 231⁄2 – 32 in Length 20 – 29 in
Location S. South America (60 – 80 cm) Location S. Mexico to (50 – 74 cm) Length 151⁄2 – 241⁄4 in
Tail 1– 11⁄2 in E. South America Tail 1⁄2 – 11⁄2 in (39.5 – 62 cm)
(2.5 – 4 cm) (1.5 – 3.5 cm) Tail 51⁄4 –8 in
Weight 15 – 20 lb Weight 11 – 31 lb Location C. and S. South (13.5 – 20.5 cm)
(7 – 9 kg) (5 – 14 kg) America Weight 16 – 19 lb
Social unit Pair Social unit Individual (7.5 – 8.8 kg)
Status Near threatened Status Least concern Social unit Group
Status Least concern
whitish fringe to the short tail. The
The Patagonian mara is a large, muzzle is long; the eyes and ears Lowland pacas live alone, apart from
long-legged rodent that resembles a large. The Patagonian mara runs and the mother and single young, which
small deer in looks and behavior. It jumps well, and is mainly a grazer on she suckles for 6 weeks. This expert
has a white, collarlike neck patch and grass and low shrubs. Male–female swimmer has a big head, squared-off
pairs stay together for life, digging a muzzle, robust body, short, sturdy legs,
Dasyprocta azarae large burrow for their 1 – 3 offspring. and tiny tail. The upper body is brown,
red, or gray with 4 pale “dotted-line”
Azara’s agouti around the underside. The distinctive stripes along each side; the
feet have 5 toes on the front feet, but underparts are white or buff. The
Length 17 – 223⁄4 in 3 on the hind feet. Azara’s agouti eats lowland paca rests in a burrow or
(43 – 57.5 cm) a variety of seeds, fruit, and other hollow tree by day and emerges to eat
Tail 3⁄8 – 11⁄2 in plant material, and barks when fruit, leaves, buds, and flowers at night.
(1 – 3.5 cm) alarmed. People hunt it for meat
Location E. South America Weight 51⁄2 – 61⁄2 lb across much of its range. The largest member of the chinchilla
(2.4 – 3.2 kg) family, the plains viscacha lives in noisy
Social unit Variable colonies of 20 – 50. It digs tunnel systems
Status Data deficient extending more than 980 ft (300 m). At
night, it eats grasses, seeds, and roots,
This large, social, diurnal species and collects sticks, stones, and bones
has prominent ears, short legs, and to pile at tunnel entrances. The face
a tiny tail. Its fur is speckled pale to is black and white striped, the back is
mid-brown, perhaps tinged yellowish gray-brown fading to white underneath,
and the tail is brown-tipped with
black. The male is twice as heavy
as the female.

CAVYLIKE RODENTS 131

Chinchilla lanigera in the wild, the Chilean chinchilla is Capromys pilorides The strong, tapering, hairy tail and
common as a pet, with its appealing sharp, curved claws are adapted for
Chilean chinchilla appearance and usually friendly nature. Desmarest’s hutia support and gripping when tree
The fur is silvery gray-blue above and climbing and when foraging for its
Length 8 – 91⁄2 in cream or yellowish on the underside, Length 12 – 241⁄2 in varied diet of fruit, leaves, soft bark,
(22 – 24 cm) with long gray and black hairs on the (30.5 – 62.5 cm) and, occasionally, lizards. Litter size is
Tail 5 – 121⁄2 in tail’s upper surface. In the wild, the Tail 5 – 121⁄2 in 1 – 4. Hutias live only in the Caribbean,
(13 – 32 cm) long-tailed chinchilla forms colonies of (13 – 32 cm) and most species are either severely
Weight 14 – 18 oz 100 or more in rocky areas, sheltering Weight 10 – 15 lb threatened or already extinct.
(400 – 500 g) in caves and crevices. It eats most (4.5 – 7 kg)
Location S.W. South Social unit Group plant foods, especially grass and Location Caribbean Social unit Individual/Pair
America Status Endangered leaves, sitting up to hold items in the Status Least concern
front feet while watching for danger.
This rodent’s thick, soft, silky fur, If threatened, it rears up and spits Desmarest’s hutia resembles a huge
which keeps out the bitter cold of hard at the aggressor. During the winter vole with its typically blunt nose, large
its mountain habitat, has long been breeding season, the female, which is head, short neck, small ears, stocky
prized by humans and, although now larger than the male, becomes more body, and short limbs. It has a white
protected, has been hunted and nose, red-brown to black upperparts,
farmed in many regions. Endangered aggressive toward other and gray or yellow-brown underparts.
females. Up to 4 young,
thickly furred, but usually 2 – 3, are Heterocephalus glaber The colony’s workers form head-to-tail
bushy tail born after a gestation “digging chains” to tunnel and gather
period of 111 days Naked mole-rat food. The naked mole-rat is not truly
and are suckled naked but has pale, sparse hairs
for 6 – 8 weeks. Length 23⁄4 – 41⁄4 in over its pinkish gray skin. As in other
(7 – 11 cm) mole-rats, the massive incisor teeth
long Tail 11⁄4 – 2 in are for digging and eating, and the
whiskers (3 – 5 cm) eyes and ears are minute. The tail is
Weight 13⁄4 – 21⁄4 oz rounded and the limbs strong, with
Location E. Africa (15 – 70 g) 5 thick-clawed toes, for digging.
Social unit Group Colonies comprise 40 – 80 individuals
Status Least concern that inhabit elaborate tunnel systems.
Food-gathering galleries 6 – 20 in
large rear legs This mole-rat’s social system is unique (15 – 50 cm) deep radiate up to 130 ft MAMMALS
for jumping among mammals. Only one dominant (40 m) from the central chamber. New
female, the “queen,” breeds. She may galleries are dug regularly for roots,
Octodon degus Myocastor coypus have more than 1 – 28 pups per litter bulbs, tubers, and other underground
and is tended by several nonworkers. plant parts. This rodent surfaces only
Common degu Coypu to travel to another colony.
pale, sparse
Length 61⁄2 – 81⁄2 in Length 181⁄2 – 23 in hairs over
(17 – 21 cm) (47 – 58 cm) body
Tail 31⁄4 – 51⁄2 in Tail (131⁄2 – 16 in
Location S.W. South (8 – 14 cm) Location S. South America 34 – 41 cm)
America Weight 7⁄16 – 11 oz Weight Up to 14 lb
(200 – 300 g) (6.7 kg)
Social unit Variable Social unit Group
Status Least concern Status Least concern

yellow- large, mostly The coypu or nutria was farmed for Cryptomys hottentotus Bathyergus janetta
brown fur hairless ears its dense brown fur, but escapees
established colonies in many areas Hottentot mole-rat Namaqua dune
outside its native region. It has a large mole-rat
Length 4 – 71⁄4 in
head, small, high-set eyes and ears, Location Southern Africa (10 – 18.5 cm) Length 7 – 91⁄2 in
a robust body, arched hindquarters, Tail 5⁄16 – 11⁄4 in (17 – 24 cm)
long, rounded tail, and webbed (0.8 – 2.7 cm) Location S. W. Africa Tail 11⁄2 – 21⁄2 in (4 – 6.6 cm)
rear feet for rapid swimming. Weight 35⁄8 – 51⁄2 oz Weight 7 – 25 oz
The coypu eats most vegetation, (100 – 150 g) (195 – 710 g)
Social unit Group Social unit Variable
especially water plants, and lives in Status Least concern Status Least concern
bankside tunnels in family groups.
Resembling a very large mouse,
this mountain-dwelling rodent has a This mole-rat has a wide head, small This species tunnels in shifting sands,
stout body. Mainly brown, it has pale eyes and ears, short, sturdy limbs, either on the coast or inland. It lives
underparts, and there may also be stocky body, and thick, dense fur. in small colonies in a tunnel system
yellow furry “lids” above and below Coloration is pink-brown or gray above, up to 655 ft (200 m) long. The large
each eye, and a yellow neck ring. with paler underparts. Extra-large head has massive protruding incisor
The long tail, which has a tufted black incisor teeth bite through soil as well teeth, the body is cylindrical, the
tip, breaks off easily if grabbed by as bulbs, tubers, roots, and other legs are short but strong, and
a predator. The common degu lives subterranean plant parts. Colonies of the tail is tiny. The back is dark
in colonies and excavates extensive 5 – 15 individuals dig large, complex brown, the sides gray, and the
burrow systems. It feeds by day on a tunnel systems and store excess food. head and belly dark gray.
varied diet of plant matter and, in the Usually only the senior pair breeds.
dry season, cattle droppings. It stores
excess food in the burrow for winter.

132 SPRINGHARE

Springhares Pedetes capensis feeding, it tends to bend forward and
lope rabbitlike on all fours. The 5 large
PHYLUM Chordata This group comprises the springhare and Southern African front claws are specialized for digging.
CLASS Mammalia scaly tailed flying squirrels (anomalurids)— springhare When bounding at full speed, its tail
ORDER Rodentia 2 unusual families of rodents confined to curves up; when sitting up, its tail is
Africa. They have anatomical features that Length 131⁄4 – 18 in used as a support. The Southern
SUBORDER Anomaluromorpha (33.5 – 45.5 cm) African springhare sleeps resting on
link them with cavylike rodents, but genetic Tail 12 – 191⁄4 in its haunches, head tucked between its
(31 – 48.5 cm) hind legs, and the tail wrapped around
FAMILIES 2 analysis supports their classification in Location C. and E. Africa Weight 51⁄2 –73⁄4 lb the whole body. Nocturnal, it lives
to southern Africa (2.5 – 3.5 kg)
SPECIES 9 a different suborder. The springhare is a Social unit Individual alone or as a male–female pair,
Status Least concern and digs several
large jumping kangaroo-like rodent of arid extensive burrows.
There appears to be
habitats, with long hind limbs, wide hooflike rear claws, very
no peak breeding
long brush-tipped tail, and prominent ears—like those of a One of only 2 species season; the single young
of springhares, this is born at any time of year
hare. Anomalurids have a gliding membrane, although they species resembles a and is suckled in the main
rabbit kangaroo with a long, breeding burrow for
are not related to flying squirrels of Asia and North America bushy tail and large, narrow, approximately 7 weeks.
upright ears. It makes huge
or the colugos. The rough scales on the underside of their tail leaps, easily covering 61⁄2 ft gray to brownish
(2 m) per bound. The diet pink upperparts
prevent slippage when they land on tree trunks after gliding. consists mainly of seeds, stems,
bulbs, and other plant parts, but black-tipped
BOUNDING TO SAFETY also includes locusts, beetles, tail
and other invertebrates. When
Springhares escape their nocturnal predators
with kangaroo-like leaps. This East African very large
springhare ( Pedetes surdaster) is hind feet
less common than the South
African species.

MAMMALS

Colugos Cynocephalus variegatus colugo is active in twilight and at night,
eating soft plant parts such as flowers,
Malayan colugo fruit, buds, and young leaves, and
scraping up nectar and sap with
PHYLUM Chordata By extending a strong membrane that Length 13 – 161⁄2 in its comblike lower incisor teeth. It
CLASS Mammalia surrounds their body (the patagium), (33 – 42 cm) lives alone or in small, loose groups,
ORDER Dermoptera colugos (also known as flying lemurs) Tail 7 – 101⁄2 in inhabiting tree-holes or resting among
are able to glide more than 330 ft (100 m) (17.5 – 27 cm) dense foliage high in the treetops. After
FAMILIES 1 (Cynocephalidae) between trees, with very little loss in height. Location S.E. Asia Weight 2 – 41⁄2 lb a gestation period of about 2 months,
(0.9 – 2 kg) the single offspring clings to its mother
SPECIES 2 The term “flying lemur” is misleading, Social unit Variable as she leaps and glides among the
Status Least concern trees and is weaned by 6 months.

however, as these mammals are not lemurs offspring enclosed
within mother’s
and are not capable of true flight. About the size of a domestic gliding membrane

cat, they have large eyes, a blunt muzzle, strong claws for Although still
common in some
climbing, and mottled fur (for camouflage). areas, numbers of this
species have declined
Colugos, which live in the rain rapidly in logged and farmed
regions. It has a small head
forests of Southeast Asia, relative to its body with large eyes,
little, rounded ears, and a blunt
strain food (fruit and muzzle. The fine, short
fur is brownish gray
flowers) through with red or gray on
the back, often
peculiar comb-shaped with lighter flecks
to mimic lichen-
lower teeth, which covered branches,
and paler on the
are also used to underside. The Malayan

groom the fur. large,
forward-
GLIDER facing eyes

A kite-shaped
membrane
called the patagium
allows colugos to glide from
tree to tree. It is attached to the neck and
to the tips of the fingers, toes, and tail.

TREE SHREWS 133

Tree shrews

PHYLUM Chordata These small, squirrel-like mammals are not SEEKING FOOD
CLASS Mammalia wholly arboreal (they spend much of their time
ORDER Scandentia on the ground) and are not true shrews. In fact, Tree shrews are skilful
they have some features that are associated climbers and agile
FAMILIES 2 runners. They forage
with primates, such as a large braincase with their hands and
pointed snout.

SPECIES 20 and, in males, testes that descend into a

scrotum. Tree shrews lack whiskers and seek

prey, such as insects, using well-developed senses of hearing,

smell, and vision. Most species have a long, thickly furred tail.

Tree shrews inhabit the tropical forests of Southeast Asia.

Ptilocercus lowi Anathana ellioti stripe. The Indian tree shrew has a At night, it sleeps in a rock crevice
prominent head with a pointed muzzle, or tree-hole. The species is probably
Pen-tailed tree shrew Indian tree shrew large eyes, and furred ears. It forages solitary outside the breeding season
actively by day on the ground and and does not, as far as is known,
Length 4 – 51⁄2 in Length 61⁄ 2 – 8 in among low bushes, as well as in trees, defend a specific territory, but
(10 – 14 cm) (17 – 20 cm) for small edible items, mainly worms information is lacking. The female
Tail 5 – 71⁄2in Tail 61⁄2 – 71⁄2 in and insects but also some fruit. cares for the young.
(13 – 19 cm) (16 – 19 cm)
Location S.E. Asia Weight 7⁄8 – 21⁄8 oz Location S. Asia Weight 5 oz long, bushy tail
(25 – 60 g) (150 g) helps balance
Social unit Variable Social unit Individual when climbing
Status Least concern Status Least concern

Named for its mainly naked tail with Also known as the Madras tree shrew, MAMMALS
bushy white hairs at the tip, like a this mammal resembles a small, slender
bottle-brush or old-fashioned quill pen, gray squirrel. It is speckled with yellow
this species is grayish brown above and brown on the upperparts and has
and grayish yellow on the underside. a distinctive cream-colored shoulder
It climbs skilfully with its strong, sharp-
clawed limbs, using its tail for balance, Tupaia minor GRIPPING FEET
and rarely descends to the ground.
It makes simple nests in hollow trees Lesser tree shrew The splayed toes, sharp claws,
or on branches and lives in pairs or and pimplelike protrusions on the
small groups. Its varied diet includes Length 43⁄4 – 51⁄4 in foot pads of the lesser tree shrew
worms, insects, mice, small birds, (11.5 – 13.5 cm) all give an excellent grip on bark
lizards, and fruit. Tail 5 – 61⁄2 in and rock. It uses its front legs
(13 – 17 cm) to pull itself along branches
Dendrogale melanura Location S.E. Asia Weight 11⁄16 – 21⁄2 oz on its belly. This spreads
(30 – 70 g) scent produced by abdominal
Bornean smooth-tailed Social unit Individual glands. This scent is likely to
tree shrew Status Least concern be recognizable to others of
its species, and is probably
Length 4 – 6 in This species is more tolerant than most a means of marking its home
(10 – 15 cm) other tree shrews of the loss of natural range, which it defends against
Tail 31⁄2 – 51⁄2in forest habitat to plantations, parks, and others of the same sex.
(9 – 14 cm) gardens. It is a skilled climber and has
Location S.E. Asia Weight 11⁄4 – 21⁄8 oz a wide diet. It forages by day along SENSES AND BALANCE speckled olive-brown or
(35 – 60 g) branches, in bushes, among fallen logs, The lesser tree shrew’s prominent nose, eyes, red fur on upperparts
Social unit Individual and under rocks for small animals, fruit, and ears ensure keen senses; the long tail helps
Status Data deficient leaves, seeds, and carrion. Usually 1 – 3 with balance while climbing at speed through
young are born after a gestation period the branches.
of 45 – 55 days. The female leaves the
This species lives in mountain offspring in a leafy nest among the
forests at altitudes of 3,000 – 5,000 ft foliage while she feeds,
(900 – 1,500 m). Its long limbs and long returning sporadically
claws equip it to grasp branches to suckle. Tree
and it spends more time in trees than shrews fall victim
other tree shrews. The coloration of to snakes,
its upperparts is a mixture of black mongooses,
and buff or cinnamon; the underparts tree-dwelling
and legs are more red or ocher. It lives cats, and
alone, feeding by day and sleeping in diurnal birds of prey. They often hold
a leaf-lined tree nest at night. After a food by their front paws while sitting
gestation period of about 50 days, up on their haunches, in the manner
the female produces 3 – 4 young. of a squirrel, to watch for danger.

134 PRIMATES

Primates

PHYLUM Chordata Members of the order Primates—prosimians, Social organization
CLASS Mammalia monkeys, and apes (but see the Classification note,
ORDER Primates left)—are a diverse group that form highly complex Only orangutans and a few of the lemurs and galagos lead
social units. They are found in South and Central solitary lives; all other primates exist in social groups. Many
FAMILIES 12 America, Africa and Madagascar, and Southeast species—including most monkeys—live in troops that consist
SPECIES 480 of several females and either one or several adult males. In some
species, such as the mandrill, drill, and gelada, huge troops of
and eastern Asia. Primates mostly inhabit tropical several hundred individuals periodically split into subgroups
of bachelor bands and one male and his harem, both of fixed
CLASSIFICATION NOTE rain forests, and their dextrous prehensile (grasping) composition. Chimpanzees and spider monkeys live in large
communities of 20 – 100 individuals that divide into groups of
Recent research suggests that hands and feet are an adaptation to a largely varying composition. Some species, mostly New World
primates may comprise 2 arboreal lifestyle (some also have a prehensile tail). monkeys, live in monogamous pairs.
suborders: Strepsirrhini (lemurs, Over the last 25 years, 96 new species of primate
galagos, lorises, and pottos) have been described, nearly half of them being MUTUAL GROOMING
and Haplorrhini (tarsiers, apes, found in Madagascar—an area where many species The bonds between members
and monkeys). Tarsiers have are in danger of extinction due to increasing human of primate groups are partly
features linking them with both activity. Deforestation here and elsewhere in the maintained by mutual
suborders; in this book, they tropics is severe, reducing and degrading primate grooming, as shown by these
are grouped with Strepsirrhini habitat to the extent that it is predicted that 60 olive baboons. Low-ranking
(traditionally known as the members groom those of
prosimians). To allow adequate higher rank to gain favor
coverage, monkeys and apes and support (in disputes).
are presented here as separate
groups. Humans do not appear
in this book but are classified,
with the apes, as hominoids.

Prosimians see pp.136 – 9 percent of all primate species could disappear
Monkeys see pp.140 – 9 over the next 25 – 50 years.
Apes see pp.150 – 5

elongated clawed
finger toes

MAMMALS Anatomy

Primates form a highly varied group, with members opposable
as diverse as mouse lemurs, which may weigh only big toe

11⁄4 oz (35 g), and gorillas, which can reach over AYE-AYE HAND AYE- AYE FOOT
440 lb (200 kg). Most species have flat nails on the

fingers and toes—only a few have claws—and the grooming
big toe always has a nail. Most have a tail, except claw

the apes. Apart from some toothed whale species, fingers
the higher primates have the largest brain relative to with
body size of all the mammals, which helps explain their rounded
high intelligence. The cerebral hemispheres (which pads

process sensory information and coordinate TARSIER HAND TARSIER FOOT

responses) are highly developed,

allowing sight keen enough for mobile larger gap
accurate tree-to-tree leaps. fingers between
big toe and
large braincase other toes

large, forward-facing
eye sockets

SKULL STRUCTURE CHIMPANZEE CHIMPANZEE
HAND FOOT
Primates have a large, domed
braincase and forward-facing HANDS AND FEET
eye sockets. This monkey skull
also shows the flattened facial Hand and foot structure varies according to
profile that is characteristic of
most monkeys and apes. lifestyle. Claws (aye-aye) and rounded pads

flattened (tarsier) improve grip in arboreal species; highly
facial
profile mobile hands and feet (chimpanzee) are vital

for species that live on the ground and in trees.

USING A SIMPLE TOOL

1 2 3 4

SEEKING TERMITES DEXTROUS HANDS REMOVING THE TOOL SUCCESSFUL ENDEAVOR
This common chimpanzee has made a stick tool to The chimpanzee uses its grasping hands to hold and The termites on guard, provoked by the intrusion, As the chimpanzee removes the stick,
obtain food that would otherwise be inaccessible. insert the stick into the termite mound. bite the stick with their pincerlike jaws. the termites remain firmly attached.

PRIMATES 135

Feeding EATING VEGETATION CONSERVATION

As a general rule, small primates tend to eat Of all primates, gorillas Primate numbers are declining
insects, whereas larger species mostly eat leaves probably eat the most severely in the wild due to habitat
and fruit (a large primate cannot sustain itself plant material. In order loss and, more recently, due to
on insects alone). Small primates have a high to break down cellulose the bushmeat trade that includes
metabolic rate and cannot afford the long digestion (thereby releasing the the illegal hunting of protected
times needed to process vegetable matter. Some cell nutrients), gorillas species (such as the gorilla) for meat.
leaf-eating species, such as colobus monkeys and have large molar teeth As a result, many species are now
langurs, have a complex stomach containing and strong jaw muscles endangered. Primates were are also
bacteria to ferment cellulose; other primate species for chewing. Their pot widely used in medical and space
have bacteria in the cecum or in the colon. A few belly houses a long research. Although a few species
species, including chimpanzees and baboons, digestive tract. are being reintroduced to the wild
hunt vertebrate prey as well as eating vegetable from zoos with captive breeding
matter. Only tarsiers are entirely carnivorous. programs, such as this chimpanzee
orphanage in Zambia (below), the
EATING MEAT situation remains bleak.

Given the opportunity, some primates
will hunt (sometimes cooperatively)
and kill other animals. This common
chimpanzee is eating part of a duiker.

Movement MAMMALS

Most primates spend at least part of their life in trees and have adapted
accordingly. To provide a strong hold on branches, the big toe is
separated from the other toes in all species except humans, and the
thumb is always separated from the fingers, although it is fully opposable
(that is, it can turn, face, and touch the other digits in the same hand)
only in apes and in some Old World monkeys. The arm and wrist bones
are not fused, which increases dexterity. Primates also have “free”
limbs—the upper part of each limb is outside the body wall, which allows
great freedom of movement. (In other mammals, such as horses, the
upper part is inside the body wall—the “armpit” is in fact the elbow joint,
which makes movement more restricted.) Some species have a long,
prehensile tail, used as a “fifth limb.”

SWINGING STANDING CLIMBING CLINGING

LIFE IN THE TREES Spider monkeys and Primates, such as The most common Vertical clingers and
gibbons, such as chimpanzees, that
These douc langurs are typical primates in that they are this lar gibbon, use are capable of way of moving is on leapers, such as these
arboreal, have prehensile hands and feet, live in groups, and their long arms to standing and walking
eat leaves and fruit. Their colorful markings help provide swing from branch on 2 legs (known as all fours. Quadrupeds, indri, move with the
camouflage. Like almost all primates, loss of habitat is a to branch. This is bipedalism), tend
major threat to their survival. called brachiation. to have long legs. such as this woolly back held vertically. They

spider monkey, usually have well-developed

have limbs of about back limbs for long

the same length. leaps between trees.

5 6 7 8

BALANCING ACT EATING QUICKLY MORE OF THE SAME LEARNED BEHAVIOR
The chimpanzee stabilizes the termite-covered Most of the termites, including any on the forearm, are Once all the termites have either been eaten or Making and using tools is rare in mammals. Juvenile
stick by resting it on the opposite forearm. swiftly gobbled before they can escape. escaped, the chimpanzee will repeat the process. chimpanzees acquire these skills by copying adults.

136 PRIMATES

Prosimians

PHYLUM Chordata More primitive than monkeys and apes, that are pressed together and grow TARSIERS
CLASS Mammalia prosimians comprise the lemurs of slightly forward. This is used for
ORDER Primates Madagascar, the galagos and pottos of mutual grooming. Not strictly prosimians (see the
Africa, and the lorises of Asia. Lemurs Classification note on p.134),
SUBORDER Strepsirrhini (which include sifakas, the indri, and the Movement tarsiers are unusual in that they
FAMILIES 4 aye-aye) have large ears, an elongated have many primitive features
SPECIES 139 body, long limbs, and most have a long, Most lemurs are quadrupedal and similar to prosimians, yet they
usually run or leap from branch to also exhibit characteristics linking
bushy tail. Lorises, pottos, and galagos branch. Weasel lemurs, the avahi, them to monkeys and apes, such
sifakas, the indri, and galagos are as a dry, hairy nose. The most
are generally smaller than lemurs and tend to have larger eyes. vertical clingers and leapers (see striking feature of tarsiers is their
below). On the ground, sifakas enormous eyes: each is slightly
Prosimians mostly inhabit forests and are usually nocturnal and indri move on 2 feet, employing heavier than the brain. Other
sideways hops with their arms in characteristics include a large
(some lemurs are diurnal). Deforestation has endangered the air for balance. Lorises and head and ears, long digits with
pottos usually clamber slowly along disklike pads at the tips, very
many prosimians, especially the lemurs. branches, clinging tightly at every long legs with elongated ankles,
step (although when startled they and a long tail. The 11 species of
Anatomy are arboreal, their hands and feet are can move swiftly). tarsiers are found in the forests
adapted for grasping (although they of Southeast Asia, where they
Prosimians have a sense of smell that are still less dextrous than monkeys Communication spend much of their time clinging
is more highly developed than in other and apes). They have flat nails on all to upright tree stems, scanning
primates. They have large eye sockets digits except the second toe, which Lemurs produce various calls, both to the forest floor for prey.
and a crystalline layer behind the instead has a long claw (the “toilet signal alarm (there are often different
retina of the eye that reflects light. claw”) used for grooming. All species calls to distinguish aerial and ground lemurs and bamboo lemurs have a
This increases the amount of light except the aye-aye have a “dental predators) and to communicate wrist gland with a spur, which they
falling on the visual cells and improves comb”—4 to 6 of the lower front teeth within or between troops. Pairs of use to mark territory by drawing the
night vision. Because most prosimians indri occupy treetop territories, and wrist sharply across a sapling. This
these are marked with loud wailing produces a click, creates a scar, and
MAMMALS calls; small sifaka troops define their leaves a scent—a gesture that is
auditory, visual, and olfactory. Galagos
areas with “shi-fak” calls that sound leave scent trails around their territory
like hiccups. Male
ring-tailed by placing urine on their feet.

VERTICAL LEAP

When leaping from tree to tree, this Verreaux’s sifaka
uses its long tail for balance, its muscular legs for
propulsion, and its large, grasping hands and feet for
a secure landing. These features typify prosimians
that keep their bodies vertical when climbing.
In midair, a semiupright posture is maintained.

PROSIMIANS 137

Arctocebus calabarensis Loris lydekkerianus This small, slim primate moves with Nycticebus coucang
great deliberation, gripping twigs
Angwantibo Gray slender loris with all 4 feet—until it suddenly smells, Sunda slow loris
sees, and, with its front legs, snatches
Location W. Africa Length 9 – 10 in Location S., E., S.W. India, Length 8 – 101⁄4 in a small creature such as an insect or Location S.E. Asia Length 12 – 131⁄2 in
(25 – 35 cm) Sri Lanka (21 – 26 cm) lizard. It also eats soft leaves and buds, (30 – 34 cm)
Tail 3⁄8 in Tail None fruit, and birds' eggs. By day, the gray Tail 3⁄8 – 3⁄4 in
(1 cm) Weight 3 – 13 oz slender loris curls up in a tree-hole, (1 – 2 cm)
Weight 8 – 17 oz (180 – 294 g) dense leaf nest, or a similarly secure Weight 22 – 30 oz
(225 – 475 g) Social unit Individual/Pair place. Its fur color ranges from (635 – 850 g)
Social unit Group Status Least concern yellow-gray to dark brown on the Social unit Variable
Status Least concern back, with silver-gray underparts. Status Vulnerable

One of only 2 Arctocebus species, large, forward-facing REARING A FAMILY
this one is orange to yellow on its eyes for precise depth
upperparts and buff beneath. It climbs judgment The female slender loris reaches
carefully and deliberately using all 4 sexual maturity at 10 months and
equal-length limbs. The second toe is is receptive to the male twice a year
tiny and the first widely separated from
the other 3, giving a clamplike grip. thereafter. After a gestation
Solitary and nocturnal, the angwantibo period of 157 – 162 days,
eats small creatures such as caterpillars, she bears 1 – 2 young,
plus a few types of fruit. The other who are weaned
species, the golden angwantibo, after 148 days.
lives farther south.
Aptly named because of its lack
dark face mask of speed, the Sunda slow loris has MAMMALS
with central gripping hands like the grey slender
pale stripe loris (see left) and is also a nocturnal
FOUR-WAY GRIP tree-dweller. It creeps carefully toward
On each foot the big toe opposes the other its prey, then lunges with its front limbs.
4 toes for a pincerlike grip. The gray slender The loris lives alone or in pairs or groups,
loris can even sleep holding onto branches. and the adult male chases other males
from its territory, which is marked by
urine. The dense, soft fur is brown with
a white face and underparts, and dark
eye rings and ears.

Perodicticus potto of fruit, sap, gum, and small animals. Otolemur crassicaudatus The largest galago, this species
A potto can remain immobile for locates insects at night using its
West African potto hours to escape attention. If attacked, Brown greater galago huge eyes and ears, and snatches
it will tuck down its head and batter them by hand in a split second. It
Length 12 in the enemy with the “shield” of horny Length 10 – 16 in also scrapes gum and sap with its
(30 cm) skin covering spiny bones on the (25 – 40 cm) comblike, protruding lower incisor
Tail 11⁄2 – 21⁄4 in upper back. The gestation period is Tail 131⁄2 – 191⁄2 in and canine teeth. Deriving its
(4 – 6 cm) about 200 days, and the potential life (34 – 49 cm) alternative name of bushbaby from
Weight 13⁄4 – 21⁄4 lb span is over 25 years. Weight 21⁄4 – 41⁄2 lb its childlike wails, it lives in small family
(0.85 – 1 kg) (1 – 2 kg) groups of a male–female pair
Location W. and C. Africa Social unit Variable Location C., E., and Social unit Variable or 2 females, with young. Compared
Status Least concern southern Africa Status Least concern to closely related species, it tends to
run on all fours more frequently and
to leap in an upright position less often.

A careful, nocturnal climber, the West main color varies
African potto has very mobile limb joints from silver to
and reaches out at any angle to bridge gray, brown,
gaps between branches. Its fur may be or black
gray, brown, or red; the eyes and ears strong feet with
are small; and the diet consists mainly roughened friction
pads on soles
Euoticus elegantulus Resembling other galagos in form,
this species has an orange back, gray
Western needle- underside, pink hands and feet, and a
clawed galago long, gray, white-tipped tail. The oval
eyes are rimmed by pale fur, and thin,
Location W. Africa Length 71⁄2 – 9 in sharp claws grip well for climbing.
(19 – 23 cm) Like all galagos and lorises, the
Tail 10 – 121⁄2 in second toe on the rear foot has an
(26 – 32 cm) upward-facing “toilet” claw, for
Weight 10 – 13 oz scratching and combing fur. The
(270 – 360 g) specially enlarged front teeth scrape
Social unit Individual/Pair wood and bark to obtain gum and
Status Least concern sap, which make up three-quarters of
the diet, along with a variety of fruit
and insects. It may make 1,000 “gum
scrapes” per night.

138 PRIMATES

Galago moholi Cheirogaleus medius Varecia variegata The black and
white ruffed
Moholi bushbaby Fat-tailed Black and white lemur eats
dwarf lemur ruffed lemur a higher
Length 43⁄4 – 61⁄2 in proportion of
Location E., C., and (12 – 17 cm) Length 7 – 10 in Length 18 in fruit than any
southern Africa Tail 61⁄2 – 11 in (17 – 26 cm) (45 cm) other lemur.
(16 – 28 cm) Tail 71⁄2 – 12 in Tail 231⁄2 – 24 in It builds a leafy
Weight 51⁄2 – 8 oz Location W. and S. (19 – 30 cm) Location E. Madagascar (60 – 61 cm) nest in a tree-hole or
(160 – 225 g) Madagascar Weight 4 oz Weight 61⁄2 – 15 lb fork for its 2 – 3 young.
Social unit Variable (135 g) (3 – 7 kg) The female gives birth
Status Least concern Social unit Individual/Group Social unit Group after a gestation period of
Status Least concern Status Critically endangered 96 – 106 days. The offspring
remain in the nest for
The moholi bushbaby is also called the gray, red, This large species is white or reddish several weeks after which
lesser bushbaby. It leaps vertically, in or buff fur white except for black on the face, they cling to her. Group
enormous jumps of 16 ft (5 m), and its on upper shoulders, chest, flanks, feet, and tail. size is up to 16, with
grasping hands and feet are moistened parts several dominant females
regularly with urine, to maintain grip. Eulemur macaco defending the territory.
It snatches insects from midair by The fat-tailed
hand or scrapes gum from trees with dwarf lemur Black lemur ruff of
its comblike lower front teeth. This stores food as long fur
galago lives in small family groups, fat in its body Length 151⁄2 in around
which sleep huddled and tail, to (39 cm) neck
together by day. survive the Tail 20 – 26 in and ears
8-month dry (51 – 65 cm)
diamond- season, during Weight 21⁄4 – 41⁄2 lb black lemur is also active for part of
shaped black which it remains (1 – 2 kg) the night. This behavior may result
eye rings torpid, huddled Social unit Group from hunting and other human
with others of its Status Vulnerable disturbance. Led by one female,
kind. When active Location N. Madagascar groups of 5 – 15 black lemurs forage
again, it becomes mainly in trees for fruit, flowers,
MAMMALS large solitary and clambers in trees A medium-sized species, only the leaves, and soft bark.
rear legs and bushes at night, seeking flowers, male has the long, soft black fur for
fruit, and insects. It rests by day in a which it is named. Females are red,
leaf-and-twig nest in a tree-hole or fork. brown, or gray. Unlike most lemurs, the

Hapalemur griseus Lemur catta move to other groups. Using their SUNBATHING
hands, they gather flowers, fruit,
Gray gentle lemur Ring-tailed lemur leaves, bark, and sap. After 138 – 141 Unlike most other lemurs, the
days’ gestation, the female bears one ring-tailed lemur enjoys basking
Location Madagascar Length 11 – 12 in Location S. and S.W. Length 151⁄2 – 18 in (sometimes 2) offspring. It first clings to in sunshine, whether on the ground
(28 – 30 cm) Madagascar (39 – 46 cm) the mother’s underside and then rides or in trees. It sits upright, with
Tail 14 – 141⁄2 in Tail 22 – 24 in on her back. Like most lemurs, this
(35 – 37 cm) (56 – 62 cm) lemur faces many threats, especially hands on knees in a “sun-worship”
Weight 282⁄3 – 34 lb Weight 41⁄2 lb posture. Loud alarm calls from
(813 – 967 kg) (2.2 kg) habitat loss. others in the group alert it,
Social unit Group Social unit Group when necessary, to possible
Status Vulnerable Status Endangered CATLIKE APPEARANCE danger—one of the benefits
This lemur is catlike both in of a highly social lifestyle.
This lemur spends more time than its
relatives on the ground, even though body proportions and graceful
it is a skilled climber. Very sociable, it movements. The white face
forms groups of 5 – 25, with a core of has a dark nose and eye
adult females showing a well-defined
hierarchy among themselves and over patches; the underparts
any males. Young females remain with are whitish gray. The
their mothers and sisters; juvenile males distinctive tail is
used for visual and
scent signaling.

black and white
tail rings

This species is restricted to dark, triangular upper fur brown-gray
humid forests and marshy eye patch to rosy brown
areas where reeds and the
bamboo, on which it feeds,
are abundant. It usually lives
in groups of 2 – 7 and is
active mainly at dawn and
dusk. Females have a single
offspring, which is carried
underneath the body at first
and later on the back. Disturbance
of its restricted habitat threatens
this specialized lemur.

PROSIMIANS 139

Microcebus berthae Daubentonia madagascariensis CONSERVATION

Madame Berthe’s Aye-aye Believed to be extinct until its
mouse lemur rediscovery in 1957, the aye-aye is
The species lives in dry deciduous Location N.W. and Length 12 – 141⁄2 in present in two dozen of Madagascar’s
Length 31⁄2 – 33⁄4 in forest, where solitary individuals have E. Madagascar (30 – 37 cm) national parks and nature reserves,
(9 – 9.5 cm) bigger home ranges than those of Tail 141⁄2 – 16 in and several small captive breeding
Tail 5 – 51⁄2 in related species in the same area. Males (44 – 53 cm) colonies have been set up. However,
(13 – 14 cm) roam much more widely than females Weight 51⁄2 lb with constant pressure on the island’s
Weight 11⁄16 oz and are very promiscuous. Although (2.4 – 2.6 kg) natural resources, its future is likely
(31 g) said to be abundant and adaptable, the Social unit Variable to remain entirely conservation-
Location W.C. Madagascar Social unit Individual total population—perhaps only 8,000 Status Endangered dependent. Here, a one-day-old
Status Endangered breeding animals—is confined to an area aye-aye is being weighed.
of just 347 square miles (900 square km).
The world’s smallest primate, this The aye-aye has coarse, shaggy black LONG FINGERS
tiny reddish lemur is found only in the fur with a mantle of white guard hairs. The aye-aye uses its elongated
Menabe region of western Madagascar. It is specialized as a nighttime primate
“woodpecker.” It taps trees with its long middle finger, which has a
Propithecus verreauxi Lepilemur betsileo middle finger, listens intently with its double-jointed tip, to extract
huge ears for wood-boring grubs under grubs from under tree bark.
Verreaux’s sifaka Betsileo sportive the bark, exposes them by gnawing
lemur with its rodentlike, ever-growing front
Length 16 – 19 in teeth, and extracts them with the
(40 – 48 cm) Length 11 in (28 cm) middle finger. It also eats fruit,
Tail 20 – 231⁄2 in Tail 123⁄4 in including coconut flesh, seeds,
(50 – 60 cm) (33 cm) and fungi. Aye-ayes share large,
Weight 61⁄2 lb Weight 21⁄4 – 23⁄4 lb stick-made nests but use them
(3 kg) (1 – 1.25 kg ) in succession, not together.
Social unit Group Social unit Individual The offspring stays with
Status Endangered Status Endangered its mother for 2 years.

Location S.W.,
S. Madagascar

Location C. Madagascar

This large, mostly white lemur has The nocturnal tree-dwelling sportive MAMMALS
brown-black areas on the face, crown, lemurs are so-called because of their
and undersides of the limbs. It uses its habit of leaping between vertical tree
powerful legs to move among cactuslike trunks using powerful hind limbs. On
trees with massive, spring-loaded leaps. the ground they hop like kangaroos.
It eats a wide range of leaves, fruit, Named after a Malagasy tribe, the
flowers, and bark. Living in variable social Betsileo sportive lemur is one of more
groupings, it makes its “sifaka” call when than a dozen species that have been
two groups dispute territorial boundaries. recognized in recent years on the basis
of genetic studies. It is grayish brown
with a black tail and lives in rainforests Tarsius bancanus gives birth to one offspring after a
of the Fandriana region of eastern gestation period of about 180 days. At
Madagascar. Most sportive lemurs Western tarsier first the young is carried by the mother,
eat leaves, supplemented with flowers. but it soon learns to cling to her fur.
They forage alone and defend
territories with vocalizations and
sometimes physical aggression, but
at night small groups may sleep in the
same tree hollow.

Indri indri flowers, and seeds. Indris live in pairs Location S.E. Asia Length 41⁄2 – 51⁄4 in
with their offspring. The male defends (11.4 – 13.2 cm)
Indri Length 25 – 28 in their territory, and the female has first Tail 8 – 121⁄2 in
(64 – 72 cm) access to food. Indris are mainly black, (20 – 23 cm)
Location E. Madagascar Tail 2 in with white patches. Weight 35⁄8 – 5 oz
(5 cm) (110 – 140 g)
Weight 13 – 20 lb Social unit Individual
(6 – 9 kg) Status Critically endangered
Social unit Pair
Status Critically endangered This long-tailed, nocturnal Asian
prosimian is small and compact-bodied.
Largest of the lemur group, the indri or Mainly tree-dwelling, the western tarsier
babakoto (“little father”) has very long has slender fingers and its toes have
rear legs, for enormous leaps, but a very pads and sharp claws, for gripping
short tail. Although diurnal, it is inactive branches. It can turn its head to
for long periods in the day. The diet is look backward and detect possible
chiefly young leaves, but also fruit, predators or prey with its huge eyes
and keen ears. Its diet consists mainly
of insects. Having spotted its victim, it
creeps nearer and then leaps on it and
seizes it with its front paws. The female

140 PRIMATES

Monkeys

PHYLUM Chordata This large, diverse group is split into 2 monkeys live in large communities species, such as baboons, will fight
CLASS Mammalia broad, geographically separate subgroups: that split into small groups of varying furiously with their long, sharp
ORDER Primates the Old World monkeys (larger species such composition when foraging. canines for dominance.
as baboons, as well as colobus monkeys
SUBORDER Haplorrhini (part) and langurs) and the New World monkeys In contrast, Old World monkeys Intelligence
FAMILIES 6 (such as marmosets and spider monkeys), usually exhibit just 2 types of social
SPECIES 315 which are distinguished mainly by nose organization: savanna baboons and Monkeys are intelligent mammals.
macaques live in large, multi-male They are quick to learn, inquisitive,
shape. Monkeys are normally found in troops; Hamadryas baboons, geladas, and have an excellent memory.
and langurs live in “harems,” with These abilities have helped monkeys
forests throughout the tropics. Most have short, flat, humanlike one adult male and several females. succeed in a range of habitats, where
Within all monkey social groups, they must learn (for example) what
faces, although baboons and mandrills have a doglike snout. relationships are commonly very they can eat and then remember
close, and grooming is a significant when and where to find the
Many species are endangered by loss of habitat, and social glue. However, males in some food again.

the rhesus macaque is one example of a monkey

used widely in laboratory research.

MAMMALS Anatomy

Monkeys are characterized by a AGILE CLIMBER
flattened chest, a hairy nose,
a relatively large brain, a deep All monkeys are excellent climbers. This woolly spider
lower jaw, and sharp canine monkey has a long prehensile tail, which acts as
teeth. Although monkeys are a “fifth limb” when moving along or resting on branches.
quadrupedal, they are able to The tail has an end section with a naked underside (used
sit upright (and will occasionally to aid grasping) and is strong enough to support both the
stand erect), so that the monkey and its offspring.
dextrous hands are freed for
manipulative tasks (such as
picking apart fruit). They have
grasping hands and feet, each
with 5 digits. Their legs are
slightly longer than the arms—
much longer in leaping species
(such as the red colobus), which
also have a long, flexible spine.
Monkeys also have a tail that is
usually longer than the body,
although in some species it is
tiny and underdeveloped. A few
New World species, such as
spider monkeys, have a prehensile
tail, sometimes with a bare area
at the end with creases and ridges
that increase friction for grasping.
The tail may be used as a balancing
organ and to indicate social gestures.

There are several anatomical
differences between Old and New
World monkeys. Old World monkeys,
which are more closely related to
apes than the New World monkeys,
have a narrow nasal septum and
the nostrils face forward or
downward. New World monkeys
have a broad nasal septum and
nostrils that face sideways. Another
major difference is that Old World
monkeys have hard sitting pads on
the rump, which are absent in New
World monkeys.

Social groups

New World monkeys have a
great variety of social organizations.
Marmosets, for example, usually
live in groups consisting of a
monogamous pair and subadult
offspring that help rear the recent
young. Squirrel monkeys, on the
other hand, live in very large groups,
sometimes over 100, with many
females and few males. Spider

MONKEYS 141

Lagothrix cana fruit but also for leaves, flowers, sap, Brachyteles arachnoides Ateles geoffroyi
seeds, and small creatures. This
Gray woolly monkey peaceful, gentle monkey often allows Southern muriqui Geoffroy’s spider
members of another troop into its own monkey
Length 18 – 26 in troop’s territory. After a gestation period Length 183⁄4 – 25 in
Location C. South (45 – 65 cm) of 223 – 225 days, the single offspring Location C. South (47.5 – 63 cm) Length 12 – 25 in
America Tail 21 – 32 in is born and clings to its mother’s America (S.E. Brazil) Tail 26 – 30 in (31 – 63 cm)
(53 – 80 cm) underside, moving on to her back at 7 (65 – 76 cm) Tail 25 – 34 in
Weight 11 – 22 lb days. It is weaned after 6 months. Males Weight 19 – 221⁄2 lb Location S. Mexico, (64 – 86 cm)
(5 – 10 kg) grow larger than females when mature. (8.5 – 10.2 kg) Central America Weight 13 – 21 lb
Social unit Group Social unit Variable (6 – 9.5 kg)
Status Endangered MUSCULAR MOVER Status Endangered Social unit Group
Woolly monkeys are stout-bodied Status Endangered
and almost pot-bellied, with
Woolly monkeys have thick, soft, powerful shoulders, hips, and tail, Also known as the black-handed
close-curled fur, which in this species for hanging from and swinging spider monkey, this species has black
is gray with black flecks, darker gray through trees. hands, head, and feet, and a cowl-like
on the head, hands, feet, and tail tip. face surround. Like other spider
In some individuals, there is a reddish naked gripping monkeys, the thumbless hand acts
tinge on the underparts. It lives in pad on as a simple hook, to swing agilely
a mixed troop, which breaks into underside through trees or to pull fruit-laden
subgroups to forage primarily for near tail tip branches to the mouth.

CONSERVATION large forehead and Also known as the the woolly spider
braincase monkey, the southern muriqui has a
As well as being threatened by heavy body, long limbs, and thumbless
deforestation, adult grey woolly hands with hooklike fingers. It is the
monkeys are frequently hunted, largest New World monkey, and, being
and their young are kept as pets.
Conservation depends mainly on a leaf-eater, is endangered due to
hunting restrictions, which in remote destruction of Atlantic coastal
parts of the Amazon basin can be forests. There are fewer than 1,500
difficult to enforce. individuals left in the wild, most of
which are found in the Carlos
Botelho State Park. MAMMALS

Ateles chamek On reaching maturity, females leave
to join another troop. After a gestation
Black spider monkey of 225 days, the single young is born.
After 16 weeks, it rides on its mother’s
Location W. South Length 16 – 231⁄2 in back and is weaned by 18 months.
America (40 – 60 cm) Offspring of females high in the
Tail 28 – 35 in dominance hierarchy are more likely
(70 – 88 cm) to survive to adulthood, when they
Weight 11 – 15 lb move to other troops.
(5 – 7 kg)
Social unit Group long,
Status Endangered prehensile
tail

Ateles hybridus soft, decaying wood. They whoop and Long, black fur and black facial skin
whinny as they meet up again. Like all identify this otherwise typical spider
Variegated spider spider monkeys, it has long limbs, a monkey, which feeds mainly on fruit,
monkey slim body, thumbless hands, and berries, flowers, soft leaves, grubs,
a prehensile tail. termites, and honey. They
Length 18 – 20 in live in large territorial troops,
(45 – 50 cm) pale inner each occupying 370 – 570 acres
Tail 29 – 32 in surfaces of (150 – 230 hectares). The troop
(74 – 81 cm) limbs splits into variable subgroups
Weight 17 – 23 lb to feed, and meets in the
Location N.W. South (7.5 – 10.5 kg) evening with greeting calls.
America Social unit Group
Status Critically endangered long, slender,
thumbless hands

The variegated spider monkey has a long,
conspicuous triangular white patch on prehensile
the forehead. It is brown above with tail
pale underparts—giving rise to its other
common name of white-bellied spider
monkey. Mixed troops of about 20 split
into single-sex subgroups of 3 – 4 to
feed on fruit, juicy leaves, and, oddly,

142 PRIMATES

Alouatta pigra Alouatta seniculus TREETOP LIFE

Guatemalan black Colombian red howler Like all howlers, the Colombian red
howler howler is wonderfully adapted to life
Length 19 – 25 in among trees. Its prehensile tail lacks
Length 201⁄2 – 28 in Location N.W. South (48 – 63 cm) fur on the underside near the tip, to
(52 – 71 cm) America Tail 201⁄2 – 32 in help it grip and work as a fifth grasping
Tail 20 – 27 in (52 – 80 cm) limb. Its climbing ability provides
Location Mexico, Central (50 – 69 cm) Weight 83⁄4– 20 lb access to a wide variety of leaves and
America Weight 10 – 20 lb (4 – 9 kg) fruit. Howlers need to consume up
(4.5 – 9 kg) Social unit Group to 21⁄4 lb (1 kg) daily of this plentiful, but
Social unit Group Status Least concern low-energy, diet. They spend
Status Endangered up to three-quarters of
the day resting to
Colombian red howlers are the largest conserve energy.
of the 12 howler monkey species,
Once considered a subspecies of whose loud howls, whoops, and other long face
the mantled howler (Alouatta palliata), calls carry more than 11⁄4 miles (2 km)
this monkey is completely black, apart through the forest, informing others of
from the male’s white scrotal sac. a troop’s presence or conveying alarm
Loud whoops and howls at dawn signals. They live mainly in groups of
and dusk proclaim a troop’s one male and 3 – 4 females. The male
territory, which may be up to 62 is much heavier than the female. When
acres (25 hectares). Most troops a new male ousts an existing male
comprise about 7 members with from a troop, he may kill the
just one male, who is up to twice as latter’s offspring, so that the
heavy as a female. This monkey eats females become ready to
a plentiful, low-nutrient, leafy diet. breed with him sooner.

MAMMALS strong, prehensile
tail that can
support body
weight
GOLDEN SADDLE
The northern red howler (shown here) has
a reddish gold “saddle” on the body, which
contrasts with the maroon head, shoulders, and
limbs. Other populations are a uniform red color.

Pithecia monachus the monk, or red-bearded, saki forms a Pithecia pithecia female is gray-brown with pale tipped
hood or cowl. Compared to many other hairs and a dark face. Although it is
Monk saki New World monkeys, this saki is shy and White-faced saki vegetarian, its teeth have a predatory
quiet, preferring to stay high in the trees, appearance, with sharp incisors for
Length 16 – 20 in keep still, and remain unnoticed. It can Length 11 – 18 in impaling fruit and long canines to crack
(41 – 50 cm) make a loud alarm call, but under threat (28 – 46 cm) seeds and nuts. A typical group is a
Tail 16 – 20 in its main defense is to bare its teeth. Its Tail 123⁄4 – 18 in female, male, and 1 – 3 young.
(40 – 50 cm) diet is fruit and seeds, and it lives in (32.5 – 46 cm)
Location N. and W. South Weight 31⁄4 – 61⁄2 lb close-knit troops of 4 – 5, who spend Location N. South Weight 31⁄4 – 41⁄2 lb pale face white nose stripe
America (1.5 – 3 kg) much time grooming each other. America (1.4 – 1.9 kg) (male (female only)
Social unit Group Social unit Group/Pair only)
Status Least concern white stripe Status Least concern
down side
All 9 saki species have broad of nose No other New World monkey has
noses (especially the septum, such differences between the sexes:
the central portion between the male is black with a white or pale
the nostrils), lank fur that gold face and a black nose, while the
falls to the sides from
the back and neck, Chiropotes satanas grip powerfully and this saki can hang
a bushy tail, and by one limb as it feeds on seeds, hard
extra-long fur around Black-bearded saki fruits, and small animals, crushing them
the face, which in with well-developed molar teeth. When
Length 13 – 18 in excited, it “switches” its tail like a cat
grey-black (33 – 46 cm) and emits a piercing whistle.
body coloration Tail 12 – 18 in
(30 – 46 cm)
Location N. South Weight 41⁄2 – 83⁄4 lb
America (2 – 4 kg)
Social unit Group
Status Critically endangered

In this species, the typical saki’s long
chin fur forms a bushy beard, and the
long, dense head fur makes a thick
forehead fringe. Both feet and hands

MONKEYS 143

Cacajao calvus COLOR FORMS Aotus lemurinus Formerly regarded as one species,
genetic studies show there may be 11
Bald uakari Bald uakari subspecies have a Lemurine night monkey species of Lemurine night monkeys, also
variety of fur colors, leading to called douroucoulis, or owl monkeys
Location N.W. South Length 15 – 221⁄2 in different names: white uakari (above) Location N.W. South Length 12 – 121⁄2 in from their hooting calls in the darkness.
America (38 – 57 cm) in northwestern Brazil; golden uakari America (30 – 32 cm) They are the only nocturnal monkeys,
Tail 51⁄2 – 71⁄2 in on the Brazil–Peru border; red Tail 131⁄2 – 133⁄4 in eating a mixed diet of fruit, leaves, and
(14 – 18.5 cm) uakari on the Colombia–Brazil (34 – 34.5 cm) insects as they clamber cautiously
Weight 5 – 73⁄4 lb Weight 29 – 361⁄2 oz through the branches. They live in
(2.3 – 3.5 kg) border; and pale-backed red (800 – 1,050 g) male–female pairs and communicate
Social unit Group uakari further east. Social unit Pair by scents in urine and chest gland
Status Vulnerable Status Vulnerable secretions. The single young is born
after a gestation of 120 days. Weaning
Bald uakaris prefer “blackwater,” takes 8 months and, since juveniles may
part-flooded forests along small rivers,
lakes, and swamps, rather than forests also stay with parents, close-knit
fringing large rivers. They forage by day family groups of 4 – 5 develop.
in trees for seeds, fruit, flowers, and
small animals, in a large speckled gray
troop of males and fur on back
females, usually 10 – 20
but sometimes up to HAIRLESS FACE dark, bushy
200. The troop may mix The bald uakari has tail tip
with similar primates, a hairless face and
such as squirrel
monkeys, to feed. forehead, the skin
color varying from
pink to deep red. yellow
or gray
underparts

short tail in Callicebus aureipalatii Sapajus paella MAMMALS
relation to body
Golden palace monkey Guianan brown capuchin

Location C. South Length 111⁄2 – 121⁄2 in Location N. South Length 15 – 18 in
America (29 – 32 cm) America (38 – 46 cm)
Tail 19 – 203⁄4 in Tail 15 – 151⁄2 in
(48 – 52.5 cm) (38 – 39 cm)
Weight 32 – 36 oz Weight 23⁄4 – 11 lb
(900 – 1,000 g) (1.3 – 4.8 kg)
Social unit Group Social unit Group
Status Least concern Status Least concern

Callicebus moloch Capuchins are often regarded as the
most adept New World monkeys, and the
Red-bellied titi Guianan brown capuchin uses a variety of
tools, such as stones to crack hard nuts.
Location N. South Length 101⁄2 – 17 in It also eats fruit, insects, and some
America (27 – 43 cm) vertebrates, such as frogs, lizards, and
Tail 14 – 22 in even small bats. This species, also
(35 – 55 cm) known as the tufted capuchin
Weight 25 – 43 oz from the furry “horns”
(700 – 1,200 g) above each ear, has
Social unit Pair the widest range
Status Least concern of any New
World monkey.
The 30 or more titi species all A colorful monkey, with orange-gold Mixed groups
have thick, soft fur, chunky bodies, coat, white-tipped tail, and reddish of 10 – 20 are
short limbs, and—unlike other New hands and feet, this species was usual as
World monkeys of their size—ears named after the organization that members are
almost hidden in fur. They eat mainly maintains the Madidi National Park not sexually
fruit, leaves, seeds, and grubs. The in Bolivia. It is also known as the Madidi mature until 7
red-bellied titi monkey’s back is titi. Here, the species was discovered in years old—
speckled brown, the underparts mainly 2004—in the forest of the Andean later than most
orange. It relies on its drab coloration foothills and floodplain. It is likely that it monkeys of
and slow movements for camouflage in ranges into southern Peru, too. Groups similar size.
trees near swamps and pools. Female have a home range of between 42 and
and male form a close pair-bond and 62 acres (17 and 25 hectares) and prehensile tail
defend a territory of 15 – 30 acres consume a wide range of rain forest often curled at tip
(6 – 12 hectares). They intertwine tails plants. Although much of its population
and sing a “duet” just after dawn to is within a protected area and is not
maintain their family and pair-bonds, under significant pressure from
and to proclaim their territory. hunting, the species may be affected
by petroleum exploitation, road-building,
and hydroelectric projects.

144 PRIMATES

Cebus olivaceus other South American monkeys. The Saguinus imperator MUSTACHE
main color is brown, becoming paler The white, curly-ended mustache of both
Weeper capuchin on the arms, and even gray or yellow Emperor tamarin males and females contrasts with
on the face. Seeds, fruit, and small the black face, speckled red-
Location N.E. South Length 141⁄2 – 18 in creatures, especially snails and insects, Location W. South Length 9 – 10 in or gray-brown body, and
America (37 – 46 cm) comprise the main diet. The weeper America (23 – 26 cm) red-orange tail fur.
Tail 16 – 22 in capuchin forms bands of 30 or more, Tail 14 – 161⁄2 in
(40 – 55 cm) containing mostly females and young, (35 – 42 cm) TAMARIN BABYCARE
Weight 51⁄2 – 83⁄4 lb with several males, but only one Weight 14 – 20 oz
(2.3 – 4.2 kg) dominant male breeds. Mothers (400 – 550 g) Tamarins and marmosets have
Social unit Group may look after each other’s offspring Social unit Group relatively long gestation periods for
Status Least concern (known as “allomothering”). Troop Status Least concern such small mammals, the emperor
members keep in contact with a tamarin’s being 140 – 145 days.
Like the other 21 or so capuchin plaintive, “weeping” cry. Marmosets and tamarins form a There are almost always 2 offspring,
species, the weeper has a robust build distinct group of about 47 American and the father carries these, as here,
with relatively short limbs, and tail habitually primate species. They are similar except when they are being suckled
a prehensile tail. There is held in curled to other New World monkeys by their mother.
no bare skin on the position but differ in body chemistry,
tail’s underside, have claws rather than
as in many paler fur nails, and bear 2 rather
on limbs than 1 offspring.
Identified by its
MAMMALS small face flowing white
mustache, this
species feeds on
fruit in the wet
season, flower
nectar and tree sap in
the dry season, and
insects, especially crickets,
all year round. It often
forms a mixed troop with
related species such as the
saddleback tamarin. Each
species responds to the other’s
alarm calls if a predator is
detected nearby.

Saimiri boliviensis and clucks to disturb their food of Callimico goeldii
various small creatures. They may
Black-capped follow in the path of other monkeys Goeldi’s marmoset
squirrel monkey to obtain insects in their wake. They
also consume fruit and seeds. The Length 9 in
Length 101⁄2 – 121⁄2 in mature male becomes “fatted” around Location N.W. South (19 – 25 cm)
(27 – 32 cm) the shoulders in the breeding season America Tail 10 – 121⁄2 in
Tail 15 – 16 1⁄2 in and competes aggressively—the (26 – 35 cm)
Location W. to C. South (38 – 42 cm) winner mating with the most females. Weight 21 oz
America Weight 25 – 36 oz (355 – 366 g)
(700 – 1,000 g) FAMILY MEAL Social unit Group
Social unit Group Status Vulnerable
Status Least concern

No other New World monkeys form Goeldi’s marmoset
such large, active troops as the 7 is larger than most
species of squirrel monkey. They marmosets and
regularly number 35–65—but can reach tamarins. Its long fur
is black, and it has a
200 or more—moving noisily by “cape” of longer hair on
day with twitters its head and neck.
Unlike similar
Within a squirrel monkey troop, species, it has
members coalesce into peer wisdom teeth.
subgroups: adult males, pregnant It eats sap and
females, females with young, and gum (digging
juveniles. If an individual locates its incisor
food, subgroup members quickly teeth into bark
gather around to exploit the find. to make these
flow), and fruit,
tail longer than slim tail insects, and small
head and body expands vertebrates such as lizards.
SQUIRREL FEATURES to black, The species forms stable,
The black-capped squirrel bushy tip close-knit groups of up to
monkey has a small, white face, 2 – 12, mainly male–female pairs
a large forehead, dark head crown and their young, and keeps to
above, black nose tip and muzzle, dense vegetation such as
and well-furred ears. creeper-tangled bamboo.

MONKEYS 145

Saguinus oedipus Mico argentatus Cebuella pygmaea long cape or hood of
hair on head
Cotton-top tamarin Silvery marmoset Pygmy marmoset
speckled
Length 8 – 10 in Length 8 – 9 in Length 43⁄4 – 6 in tawny fur
(20 – 25 cm) (20 – 23 cm) (12 – 15 cm)
Location N.W. South Tail 13 – 16 in Location C. South Tail 10 – 13 in Location W. South Tail 7 – 9 in
America (33 – 40 cm) America (26 – 33 cm) America (17 – 23 cm)
Weight 14 – 16 oz Weight Up to 14 oz Weight 3 – 5 oz
(400 – 450 g) (400 g) (85 – 140 g)
Social unit Group/Pair Social unit Group Social unit Group/Pair
Status Critically endangered Status Least concern Status Least concern

The long, white, Color is the main distinguishing The smallest monkey in the clawed fingers
flowing fur on feature among 23 very similar, world, a curled-up pygmy and toes
the head crown closely related marmosets from south marmoset fits into a human
distinguishes this of the Amazon. This species has pale palm. However, it is long-lived indistinct black
tamarin, found in silver-gray fur on the back, creamy for such a diminutive mammal and tawny
an extremely yellow on the underside, and black and may reach 12 years of age. tail rings
restricted range in on the tail; the face has pink skin and The pygmy marmoset differs from
Colombia. Like ears. In each small troop of silvery other marmosets in the way it eats
many marmosets marmosets, only one male and female gum: it gouges out 10 or more new
and tamarins, this breed. The rest are siblings, cousins, holes in bark each day, scent-marks
species has a and other “helpers,” who assist in them, and returns to these and older
varied diet and a “helper” carrying and protecting the infants. holes at intervals to scrape up the
system of rearing offspring, in sticky, oozing liquid with its long, lower
which males and older incisor teeth. It also takes flower nectar, MAMMALS
siblings carry the very young. fruit, and small creatures such as
However, in each troop of grubs and spiders. The pygmy
2 – 15, only one male–female marmoset follows the reproductive
pair breeds; 4 out of 5 births pattern of other marmosets, with one
are twins. The cotton-top breeding pair per troop of 2 – 9. Other
tamarin has been used troop members, usually older offspring,
in medical research, and are childcare “helpers,” who carry the
currently there are more of 2 newest youngsters after the breeding
these monkeys in captivity male has cared for them during the
than in the wild. first few weeks.

Callithrix geoffroyi Leontopithecus rosalia CONSERVATION

Geoffroy’s tufted-ear Golden lion tamarin An emblem of conservation, the golden
marmoset lion tamarin comes from Brazil’s Atlantic
Length 10 – 13 in coast forest—a habitat that has shrunk
Length 7 – 9 in Location E. South America (26 – 33 cm) dramatically. Declared endangered over
(18 – 23 cm) (Rio São João basin) Tail 121⁄2 – 16 in 30 years ago, its status rose to critically
Tail 111⁄2 in (29 cm) (32 – 40 cm) endangered in 1996, when less than
Location E. South America Weight 63⁄4 – 13 oz Weight Up to 29 oz 300 wild animals remained. Captive
(190 – 350 g) (800 g) breeding programs have proved very
Social unit Group/Pair Social unit Group/Pair successful. In 2008, there were about
Status Endangered 1,600 living in the wild, many of which
Status Least concern descended from animals raised in
captivity. However, with little original
This tamarin weighs twice the average habitat left, its future remains precarious.
for the marmoset and tamarin group.
ringed The face is dark gray and the hands, LION’S MANE
tail fingers, and claws are long and thin, The long, silky, red-
to probe into bark and crevices for gold head hair
This marmoset prefers grubs. However some four-fifths of the
secondary forest—regrown diet is fruit, supplemented by gum and of this species
after logging—rather than nectar. It forages by day and sleeps at cascades over the
primary areas. It digs holes in night in tangled vegetation or, more shoulders in the
tree bark with its long incisors, often, a hole in a tree. There is manner of a lion’s
marks “ownership” with scent mane. Its attractive
from its perineal gland, and then only one male–female breeding appearance is a
returns to scrape up the oozed gum. pair in the troop of 2 – 11. In its further threat, making
Like other marmosets, it also eats fruit “helper” system of rearing it a particular target
and insects. There is only one breeding young—2 offspring being of the illegal pet trade.
pair in each troop, but other members typical for the group—sexual
also carry and protect the young. activity of the helpers is
not suppressed,
although they
do not produce
young until
they form
the dominant
partnership.

MAMMALS 146

MONKEYS 147

Mandrillus sphinx

Mandrill

Location W. Central Africa Length 18 – 33 in
(45 – 83 cm)
Tail 2 – 5 in
(5 – 12.5 cm)
Weight 14 – 60 lb
(6.5 – 27 kg)
Social unit Group
Status Vulnerable

A scarlet nose with prominent, bony

blue flanges on either side are the

unmistakable characteristics of the

male mandrill. The female’s facial

color is much more subdued. She

is about a third of the size of the male,

which, at 231⁄2 in (60 cm) high to the A WARNING YAWN
When threatened by a predator or approached
shoulder, is the largest of all monkeys. by rivals, the male will yawn widely to reveal his
Mandrills live in groups in dense African fearsome teeth, which can be 21⁄2 in (6.5 cm) long.
rain forest, spending most of their day on

the ground looking for fruit and seeds, speckled,
as well as eggs and small animals. olive-gray fur
When night falls, they take to the
trees for safety. Troops move stumpy tail

over a range of up to 20 square

miles (50 square km); they

mark their territory with scent

and defend it against rivals.

Much of what is known

about this species comes MAMMALS

from studies of captive

animals; in the wild, facial
hunted for meat, and with ridges

its habitat being destroyed

by logging, the mandrill is 4 limbs
becoming increasingly scarce. of similar
length

BOLD ADVERTISEMENT LIFE ON THE GROUND
With his spectacularly colored The mandrill walks and runs on all fours—a
face—scarlet nose with blue form of locomotion made all the more efficient by
flanges, and yellow beard—the mandrill having fore- and hindlimbs of nearly equal length.
boldly declares his identity to other animals
in the forest. Together with his mauve-blue
rump, these colors also announce the
male’s sex and display his virility to females.

MANDRILL SOCIETY

In the past, wild mandrills were thought to have a multi-level social structure like
Hamadryas baboons and geladas, with units of one male and several females.
But recent findings tell a different story.
They are mostly seen in hordes of a few
hundred individuals, but the adult males
remain solitary and reside in these
groups only during the mating season.

MOTHER AND CHILD MALE AND FEMALE
The mandrill gives birth to one offspring every The male is much larger than the female,
18 months or so. At first, the mother will carry with a far more colorful face. They generally
the infant on her belly, but as it grows heavier, live in very large, stable groups, although they
it will ride through the forest on her back. may split up into smaller groups temporarily.

FORAGING PARTY
Mandrills often forage in small parties,
grunting constantly to stay in touch. When it is
time to move on, the dominant male will round
up his group with a 2-phase grunt or roar.

148 PRIMATES

Erythrocebus patas Cercopithecus neglectus Rungwecebus kipunji have originated by crossbreeding
between the two groups. It has a barking
Patas monkey De Brazza’s monkey Kipunji call, reminiscent of the grunts of
baboons. Two isolated populations
Length 19 – 35 in Length 171⁄2 – 22 in Length 331⁄2 – 351⁄2 in together inhabit scarcely 38 square miles
(48 – 88 cm) (44 – 56 cm) (85 – 90 cm) (100 square km), and the species is
Tail 25 – 28 in Tail 23 – 28 in Tail 391⁄2 – 431⁄2 in threatened by deforestation and hunting.
(63 – 72 cm) (59 – 70 cm) (100 – 110 cm)
Location W. to E. Africa Weight 83⁄4 – 29 lb Location C. to E. Africa Weight 7 – 12 lb Location E. Africa Weight 22 – 35 lb
(4 – 13 kg) (3.2 – 5.5 kg) (10 – 16 kg)
Social unit Group Social unit Pair Social unit Group
Status Least concern Status Least concern Status Critically endangered

One of the most terrestrial of the 23 Discovered in 2003, this omnivorous
Cercopithecus species, De Brazza’s tree-dwelling primate from the Udzungwa
monkey is also the only one of the Mountains and Southern Highlands of
genus that forms male–female pair Tanzania was originally thought to be
bonds. Widespread yet inconspicuous a mangabey (a type of forest monkey)—
over its large range, it marks its territory but later shown to be more related to
with saliva and scent, yet avoids rather ground-dwelling baboons. It may even
than challenges any intruders. It has
blue-white upper lip and chin fur, and Papio anubis GROUP ORDER
a thin, white thigh stripe. It uses deep,
booming calls to communicate, and Olive baboon Female offspring tend to have a
eats mainly seeds and fruit. position directly below their mother,
which depends on her position in
This is one of the fastest monkeys Location W. to E. Africa Length 20– 35 in the hierarchy. They don’t take their
when it is running. It has a long, slim (50 – 90 cm) place at the base unless the female
MAMMALS body, lengthy limbs, hands, and Tail 15 – 231⁄2 in has the lowest rank.
feet, and short digits. The white (38 – 60 cm)
moustache and beard contrast Weight 31 – 66 lb PRIMATE “DOG”
with the darker face; the red back (14 – 30 kg) Typically powerful
contrasts with the white limbs and Social unit Group and doglike, the
underside. It lives in troops with an Status Least concern olive baboon is
average of 15 members, and the speckled olive-
single male stays on the periphery, One of the largest baboons, and common green, with a black
to act as decoy, drawing predators across west and northeast Africa, the male face and rump.
while the females and young hide. may be twice the female’s weight. Both
sexes have a thick, gray varied: from tough roots to juicy grubs
Macaca munzala Macaca nigra ruff around the cheeks. and eggs, and sometimes farm crops.
They live in mixed Troops number up to 200, although
Arunachal macaque Celebes crested groups of 1–120, that about 40 is more usual, with several
macaque tend to be smaller in males gathering their own
Length 23 in (58 cm) West Africa (7–40) harem of females.
Tail 21⁄4 in (26.4 cm) Length 171⁄2 – 221⁄2 in than those in East
Weight 31 lb (14 kg) (44 – 57 cm) Africa (30–120). They
Social unit Group Tail 1⁄2 – 1in (1.5 – 2.5 cm) eat fruit, leaves,
Status Endangered Weight 12 – 29 lb insects, lizards, and
(5.5 – 13 kg) sometimes larger prey
Location S. Asia Social unit Group such as gazelle fawns.
Status Critically endangered
Location S.E. Asia
(northern Sulawesi)

Restricted to the Indian Arunachal The all-black fur, very short tail, and Papio papio
Pradesh state of eastern Himalaya, homeland of Celebes (now Sulawesi)
this macaque was scientifically give this species the alternative name Guinea baboon
described in 2005 on the basis of of Celebes black ape. A crest runs from
photographs, and differs from related the forehead back over the crown. Location W. Africa Length 14 – 34 in
species in having a dark crown patch Usually flat, it rises when the animal (35 – 86 cm)
and pale neck collar. It occurs between is aroused. This species forms huge, Tail 17 – 28 in
6,650 and 11,483 ft (2,000 – 3,500 m) in mixed-sex troops of more than 100, (43 – 70 cm)
coniferous and broadleaf forests, as yet is generally an inconspicuous, Weight 22 – 57 lb
well as agricultural land. Like other quiet, fruit-eating forest dweller. (10 – 26 kg)
high altitude monkeys it is robustly Social unit Group
built to withstand the cold. Although midline Status Near threatened
densely populated in places and head crest
relatively tolerant of humans, the
Arunachal macaque may be exposed The male of the smallest baboon
to retaliatory hunting when it raids species has proportionally the
crops: this could threaten its long-term longest mane, reaching almost to his
survival. So far the species is known rump. Even for a baboon, the diet is
with certainty from no more than
5 locations within an area of about
1,042 square miles (2,700 square km)
—but it may also occur in adjacent
areas of Bhutan and Tibet. Field data
suggest that there are less than 600
known individuals.