Tag Archives: Mammal

Cotton-top Tamarin

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Cotton-top Tamarin

Top it all off with the cotton-top tamarin.

  • Cotton-top tamarins are small primates, native to the forests of north-west Columbia, in South America.
  • Cotton-top tamarins are among the smallest monkeys, with a size of 18 to 30 centimetres (7 to 12 inches) in length and 220 to 900 grams (7.7 to 32 ounces) in weight.
  • The hair on the head of a cotton-top tamarin is coloured white, hence its common name, while the monkey has fur on its body that ranges from white, brown, black and tan in colour.
  • The scientific name of a cotton-top tamarin is Saguinus oedipus, and it is from the family Callitrichidae, a family of New-world monkeys.
  • The diet of cotton-top tamarins consists primarily of fruit, insects, nectar, rodents and sap, and they spend much of their time, including sleeping, in trees.
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Cotton-top Tamarin
Image courtesy of Mark Kent/Flickr
  • Cotton-top tamarins have been protected since 1969, however, they are listed as critically endangered, with total population numbers decreasing due to major habitat loss, and they have been sought after for the pet industry, even though it is illegal.
  • Cotton-top tamarins live in troops with two to fourteen individuals, with the head consisting of a female and her choice of male partner, and they are generally the only pair that breeds, due to the breeding suppressing pheromones that the dominant female releases.
  • Generally, female cotton-top tamarins produce two babies at single time, although one is not uncommon, and the young are transported on the back of the parents, and are also cared for by others in the group.
  • Cotton-top tamarins are preyed on by snakes, birds of prey, and wild cats, and they have an average lifespan of 8 to 15 years in the wild.
  • Sounds made by cotton-top tamarins are similar to those of birds, and include whistles, chirps and trills, and they are able to make 38 different sounds.
Bibliography:
Cotton-Top Tamarin, 2011, Perth Zoo, http://perthzoo.wa.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Cotton-top-Tamarin-Fact-Sheet-2012.pdf
Cotton-top Tamarin, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton-top_tamarin
Cottontop Tamarin, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/cottontop-tamarin/

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Vampire Bat

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Vampire Bat

Vampire bats are the closest real thing to vampires.

  • Vampire bats are a subfamily of three species of bats native to Central and South America, and Mexico in North America.
  • The scientific name of a vampire bat is Desmodontinae, from the family Phyllostomidae, the family of New World leaf-nosed bats, and the fur of the bat generally ranges from brown, black to grey in colour.
  • The diet of vampire bats consists only of blood, from either mammals or birds, depending on the species, and the bat needs to consume it at least every two days so that it does not starve to death.
  • Vampire bats grow to be 7 to 9.5 centimetres (2.7 to 3.7 inches) in height; have wings that spread 15 to 18 centimetres (5.9 to 7 inches); and the weight ranges from 19 to 57 grams (0.7 to 2 ounces).
  • On the end of their nose, vampire bats have receptors that can interpret infrared, that are used to find heated areas on a mammal’s body, which are normally areas that contain blood close to the surface.
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Vampire Bat
Image courtesy of stanzer/Flickc
  • Colonies of vampire bats, numbering around 100 or as many as a thousand, live together, and they care for each other, even to the point of vomiting up blood to keep a fellow bat alive, or looking after orphaned young.
  • A female vampire bat has a single baby at a time, that drinks its mother’s milk until it is approximately three months of age; and the bats typically live to be 8 to 12 years of age.
  • A vampire bat typically feeds by itself, generally landing nearby its usually sleeping prey, scrambling onto it with its arms and legs, and biting the animal to make a wound, which is usually not felt by the host and does not clot due to chemicals in the bat’s saliva.
  • Vampire bats spend roughly 20 to 30 minutes feeding off a single wound at a time, and they do not directly cause fatalities to their prey, although diseases and bacteria may be transferred.
  • Despite being classified as least concern, vampire bats are reducing in numbers due to loss of habitat and poisoning by humans, especially farmers, to protect their livestock.
Bibliography:
Common Vampire Bat, 2015, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/common-vampire-bat/
Vampire Bat, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/vampire-bat/
Vampire Bat, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire_bat

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Mole

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Mole

Moles are not deaf or blind.

  • Moles are mammals of small size, that have extremely good smelling capabilities, which make up for their poor eyesight; and they are native to Asia, North America, and Europe, excluding Ireland.
  • Moles have the scientific family name Talpidae, a family of digging mammals, that also includes desmans and shrew moles.
  • Moles generally have long claws and feature a second thumb adjacent to its first, that they use to dig numerous tunnels underground.
  • The diet of moles consists mainly of worms, although they also consume mice and insects; and they are preyed on by cats, foxes and owls.
  • Moles have a tail, and typically grow to be 12 to 15 centimetres (4.5 to 6 inches) in length and weigh between 250 to 550 grams (9 to 19 ounces).
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Mole
Image courtesy of free photos/Flickr
  • The fur of moles is thick and short, and is usually coloured a combination of brown, white, black and grey.
  • Moles generally live alone underground in wooded, farmed or grassed areas, and the males are inclined to protect their territory from other males.
  • Due to the haemoglobin proteins that exist in their blood, moles have the unique ability to reuse oxygen and endure significant quantities of carbon dioxide, which allows the mammals to live efficiently underground.
  • The saliva of a mole can paralyse prey, owing to the natural poison it contains, allowing the mammal to collect food to eat at a later time.
  • Moles are considered a pest in many urban communities and farming areas, as they burrow beneath the soil, which can cause damage to the roots of vegetation and crops; while on the surface, the piles of dirt (molehills) that are created from excess soil can destroy grass and plants, and have an unsightly appearance.
Bibliography:
Mole, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/mole/
Mole, n.d, Young People’s Trust for the Environment, https://ypte.org.uk/factsheets/mole/overview
Mole (Animal), 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_(animal)

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Bactrian Camel

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Bactrian Camel

Bactrian camels are fully equipped for their harsh habitat.

  • Bactrian camels are two-humped camels that are native to central parts of Asia and they have thick fur that is coloured brown and tan.
  • The scientific name of a domesticated Bactrian camel is Camelus bactrianus, from the family Camelidae, and the animal is said to differ from the wild Bactrian camel, and as such, the wild camels are generally considered a different species that have the scientific name Camelus ferus.
  • Bactrian camels generally grow to heights of 1.7 to 2.3 metres (5.5 to 7.5 feet) and weigh between 300 to 1000 kilograms.
  • Bactrian camels primarily live in desert habitats, that feature a wide variety of conditions and temperatures, as well as limited water and food; while the wild camel species have the ability to drink salty water.
  • The large feet of Bactrian camels assist with mobility on sand, while their lengthy eyelashes and closable noses filter out sand from sandstorms.
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Bactrian Camels
Image courtesy of Jeff Kubina/Flickr
  • Bactrian camels have two humps that contain fat, and when food and water resources are low, the fat is used to nourish the camel, and as a result the humps become slumped and smaller.
  • Throughout ancient times, and still today, Bactrian camels have been used as pack animals, capable of carrying loads up to 250 kilograms (550 pounds) in weight, and they have also been used for transporting humans.
  • The diet of Bactrian camels consists primarily of a wide variety of vegetation, including grass, shrubs and seeds, and they regurgitate their food so that it can be rechewed (known as ‘chew their cud’).
  • Despite having very few predators, that include humans and wolves, wild Bactrian camels have been listed as critically endangered; and it is thought that this wild species only number up to 800 or 900 individuals, with the figure reducing.
  • Generally, one calf is born to female Bactrian camels every two years, and they have an average lifespan of 35 to 50 years.
Bibliography:
Bactrian Camel, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/bactrian-camel/
Bactrian Camel, 2015, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/bactrian-camel/
Bactrian Camel, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bactrian_camel

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Jackal

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Jackal

Go Egyptian with jackals.

  • Jackals are mammals that are native to southwestern Asia, southeastern Europe and Africa.
  • The jackal term covers three species: the ‘black-backed’ – Canis mesomelas; the ‘golden’ – Canis aureus; and the ‘side-striped’ – Canis adustus, all belonging to the Canis genus, and they are from the family Canidae, the family of dogs.
  • Jackals grow to be 38 to 51 centimetres (15 to 20 inches) in height, up to 81 cm (32 inches) in length, and generally weigh between 6 to 14 kilograms (13 to 31 pounds).
  • The fur of a jackal’s body is generally coloured a combination of brown, tan, grey and white, while the golden species is usually mostly a golden brown colour; and the black-backed and the side-striped have black or dark coloured markings on either their back or sides respectively.
  • Jackals may gather in groups of up to 30, hunting as packs, although they often live by themselves or as a pair, in a lifelong partnership with the opposite sex.
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Black-backed Jackal
Image courtesy of Åsa Berndtsson/Flickr
  • The habitat of jackals is primarily wooded areas or grassy plains, depending on the species, and they preyed upon by eagles, leopards and hyenas.
  • The diet of jackals is primarily carnivorous, often consisting of reptiles, antelopes, birds and insects, as well as the occasional plant.
  • Jackals mark their territory with their own body waste, to indicate to fellow animals that they are not permitted to enter their zone, and violations typically result in attacks.
  • Female jackals have litters of between two to six pups, that are born and raised in dens, with the young being relocated every fortnight or so, and they generally have a lifespan of between 8 to 15 years.
  • Jackals have good stamina and can run at speeds of 16 km/hour (10 miles/hour) for extended times, and they have the ability to run at speeds of up to 32 km/hour (20 miles/hour).
Bibliography:
Jackal, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/jackal/
Jackal, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackal
Jackal, n.d, Out of Africa, http://www.outtoafrica.nl/animals/engjackal.html

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Impala

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Impala

I’m impala’d by the many different types of antelopes in the world.

  • Impalas are a species of antelope native to southern areas of Africa, while in some areas they have been introduced.
  • An impala has the scientific name Aepyceros melampus, and it is from the family Bovidae, the family of ruminant cloven-hoofed mammals, and a number of subspecies exist.
  • Typically, the body of impalas grow to be 68 to 99 centimetres (27 to 39 inches) in height and the animal usually weighs between 37 to 76 kilograms (82 to 168 pounds).
  • Impalas live in herds, in habitats of warmer temperatures and a sustainable amount of vegetation, such as savannahs, woodlands and grasslands.
  • Impalas are generally brown and tan in colour, with undersides that are white; and their diet consists primarily of vegetation, including grass, plants, seeds, fruits and flowers.
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Imapala
Image courtesy of Tambako the Jaguar/Flickr
  • Impala spiral shaped horns, that are unique to the males, can grow to be larger than the animal itself, as lengths can be 45 to 97 centimetres (18 to 38 inches).s
  • Impalas are preyed on by hyenas, lions, leopards, cheetahs and crocodiles, and have an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
  • An impala has the ability to leap up to 3 metres (10 feet) in the air and as far as 10 metres (33 feet), and can run at a speed of up to 48 km per hour (30 miles per hour).
  • Impala females generally give birth to one young at a time, and the mother will attempt to protect the fawn by hiding it for a number of days or weeks.
  • Although these antelopes are classified as Least Concerned, the black-faced impala subspecies are threatened by human hunting and hybridisation with the common species.
Bibliography:
Impala, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/impala/
Impala, 2015, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/impala/
Impala, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impala

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