Picard

Lactation Produces milk in the mammary glands allowing the mother to provide sustenance to offspring as they develop outside of the womb. Endothermic An organism that generates heat to maintain its body temperature, typically above the temperature of its surroundings; warm-blooded. Hair Acts as an insulation and protection against temperature and weather.

Order: Didelphimorpha Family: Didelphidae- New World Opossums Order: Insectivora Family: Soricidae- Shrews Family: Tilpidae- Moles Order: Chiroptera Family: Vespertilionidae- Common bats Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae- Mountain lion, bobcat Family: Canidae- Wolves, coyotes, foxes Family: Ursidae- Bears Family: Procyonidae- Racoon Family: Mustelidae- Badger, Weasels, Skunks, Otters Family: Otariidae- Eared seals (fur seals, sea lions) Family: Phocidae- earless seals (Harbor Seals, Elephant Seals) Order: Cetacea- Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises Family: Delphinidae: dolphins and porpoises Family: Balaenopteridae Finback whales Order: Rodentia Family: Scuiridae- Squirrels, Chipmunks Family: Castoridae- Beavers Family: Muridae- Rats, Mice, Muskrat, Voles, Lemmings Family: Erethizontidae- Porcupine Order: Lagomorpha Family: Leporidae- Rabbits and hares Order: Artiodactyla Family: Cervidae- Deer Family: Antilocapridae- Pronghorn Family: Bovidae- Bison

Make up the most diverse group of mammals Often considered to be pests Large numbers Destructive gnawing habits of some species Important food source for other animals

4 Large incisor teeth in the front of the mouth Teeth do not stop growing and must gnaw on wood or other materials to keep teeth worn down

Primary Consumers: Herbivores Serve as a dietary staple for secondary consumers Hawks Owls Skunks Fox Coyotes Bobcats Lynx Mink Weasels Shrews Snakes Small Reptiles Bears Smallest of the rodents: Mice

Vole: small rodent with a stout body and short tail Most common voles in North America are meadow vole, field mouse, muskrat. Often confused with a mouse or rat Difference: Blunt face Small eyes Large ears Hairy tail

Divided into two groups: Tree Squirrels Spend their times in trees Live in forested areas Depend on trees for food and shelter Excellent climbers Make nests in trees Smaller litters of young than ground squirrels Occasionally multiple liters per year Store food during the summer and are active during the winter. Ground Squirrels Live in burrows in the ground Will eat carcasses of road kill Large litters in spring Pray to many different animals Hibernate during winter months Depend on fat reserves for nutrition Primary consumers Plant material Bird eggs Young birds

Live in flatlands, prairies, rolling hills and high alpine meadows. Burrowing animals- build underground dens lined with dry grass Herbivores Hibernate during winter

Communicate- warn of danger and challenge rivals with a shrill whistle Bits off green vegetation, lets it dry in the sun and then uses it as beding materials and emergency supply of food. Live in areas where water is limited and are able to obtain enough water from plants. Click

Similar behavior to marmots Five species of prairie dogs in North America Tail is covered with hair Active during the day Diet: grasses, vegetation insects (grasshoppers) Store food during summer for winter supplies

Sharp quills used to defend itself against its enemies. It cannot throw its quills Quills can be imbedded into the flesh of other animals Predators avoid quills by flipping the animal over and attack the unprotected throat and belly Cause damage to trees and shrubs due to gnawing the buds and bark for food Attracted to salt

Pocket Gophers spend their lives alone in underground tunnels Eat roots of plants During the night they gather grasses and other plants that are eaten or carried for storage Carry food in cheek pouches in mouth Come out of tunnels to find a mate Mounds near entrance of tunnels resulting on excavated dirt.

Largest rodent found in North America Lives in tunnels constructed in the banks of streams or inside lodges constructed in ponds Feeds on bark of willows and other trees Constructs dams from trees it cuts down Their construction can create water blockages that create ponds.

Not rodents, but still are gnawing mammals Once were classified as rodents because of their large incisors, but it was discovered that they had another set of incisors behind their first pair. Occupy most of the North American ecosystems Evergreen/hardwood forests Plains Deserts Tundra Marshes

Hares have longer hind legs and longer, wider ears than rabbits. Hares: Offspring born with a full coat of fur and eyes open at birth. Rabbits: born without hair and eyes are closed for several days Pikas: Short legs, ears and no visible tail.

Make grass nests for their young and line them with fur pulled from the females sides and belly Some build nests in underground holes or in depressions in the ground Young rabbits open their eyes by 2 weeks and are helpless for about a month

Fast, more mobile than rabbits Live in wide open spaces Acute hearing

1. What 3 characteristics make an animal a mammal? 2. What order are rabbits in? 3. List 5 animals that consume rodents. 4. Why are rodents considered to be pests? 5. Which group of squirrels hibernate? 6. Describe the damage porcupines do to trees. 7. What are 2 other names for woodchuck? 8. Which rodent construction creates small ponds? 9. Do rabbits have hair when born? 10. What is the one species of hare found in CT?

1. What 3 characteristics make an animal a mammal? Lactation, Hair, Endothermic 2. What order are rabbits in? Lagomorpha 3. List 5 animals that consume rodents. 4. Why are rodents considered to be pests? Chew wires, crops and spread diseases 5. Which group of squirrels hibernate? Ground 6. Describe the damage porcupines do to trees. Girdle the tree 7. What are 2 other names for woodchuck? Groundhog, Marmot, Whistling Pig 8. Which rodent construction creates small ponds? Beavers Dams 9. Do rabbits have hair when born? No, not until 1 month 10. What is the one species of hare found in CT? Snow Shoe Hare Hawks Owls Skunks Fox Coyotes Bobcats Lynx Mink Weasels Shrews Snakes Small Reptiles Bears

Family: Felidae- Mountain lion, bobcat Family: Canidae- Wolves, coyotes, foxes Family: Ursidae- Bears Family: Procyonidae- Racoon Family: Mustelidae- Badger, Weasels, Skunks, Otters Family: Otariidae- Eared seals (fur seals, sea lions) Family: Phocidae- earless seals (Harbor Seals, Elephant Seals)

Over 260 species in the world "Carnivora" comes from the Latin words carō, meaning "flesh," and vorāre, meaning "to devour," and thus means "to devour flesh." Carnivores in general get most of their food by killing and eating other animals. Many are omnivores and get a large part of their nutrition from plant foods.

Large canines and carnassials Molars are blade-like and more suited for cutting than grinding Can not move their lower jaws from side to side but can only open and close their mouths.

Aquatic pinnipeds have both front and hind limbs in the form of flippers Carnivores walk on all four legs Some walk on their toes Some walk on the flat of the feet

Covered with thick fur. Almost all carnivores have tails Used in various ways by different species. Some species have a prehensile tail Prehensile: adapted for seizing, grasping, or taking hold of something A bearcat is a mammal from Malaysia, also called a binturong. Bearcats have prehensile tails.

Most carnivores bear young once a year From 1-16 young Young are born small and helpless and are looked after for a fairly long time by their mothers. In most cases, this includes time for learning hunting and other life skills.

All carnivores have scent glands in their anal regions. The secretions from these are often used to mark territories. In skunks and some others, they are used as a defensive weapon

Feliformia (cat-like) About 41 species Hunted and trapped Sport Fur Many species endangered due to habitat loss and unregulated hunting Diet is mostly meat Walk on four feet, in a digitigrade manner Digitigrade: on their toes

Claws on their feet that are used for: Gripping prey Fighting Climbing Claws can be retracted into the toes, which helps keep them sharp, in all cats except: Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) Flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps)

Bodies are covered with fur Most cats have a long fur-covered tail Tail is used for: balance in running and leaping Sometimes for warmth Cats have very keen senses, especially their vision. Their eyes are large and are well suited for seeing in low levels of light. Most cats hunt at night or in the late evening and early morning. They can not see in total darkness.

Cats live most of their lives alone Exception: Lions Male and female cats come together to mate Most species -once a year. The young are born in litters of one to six. Young are cared for by their mother for several months Until they are mature and experienced enough to live on their own.

Mountain Lion Felis concolor Bobcat Lynx rufus

Canada Lynx Lynx canadensis Ocelot Felis pardalis

Jaguar Felis onca

Caniformia (dog-like) Often are viewed as a threat to domestic animals or people Hunted, trapped, and poisoned. Fur Sport

Excellent sense: Smell Hearing Diet Mainly meat Scavengers Some eat plant matter in addition to diet Digitigrade Claws are blunt and used for traction. Social –live in groups

Most give birth once a year 1-16 young Young are helpless and need parental care for about a year Kept in den’s for warmth and protection Parents bring solid foods back to the den after they are weaned before they are ready to hunt.

Coyote Canis latrans Gray wolf (aka Timber wolf) Canis lupus

Red wolf Canis niger Red fox Vulpes fulva

Swift fox Vulpes velox Kit fox Vulpes macrotis

Arctic fox Alopex lagopus Gray fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Largest living carnivores Arctic coasts to tropical jungles Decedents of dog family Plantigrade feet – walks on whole paw Non-retractile claws Feed on a mixture of flesh and vegetable matter

Black bear Ursus americanus Grizzly bear Ursus horribilis

Alaskan brown bear Kodiak bear Big brown bear Ursus middendorffi Polar bear Thalarctos maritimus

Giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuco

Family contains the ring-tailed cat, cacomistle, raccoon, coatimundi, mountain coati, kinkajou, andolingo ring-tailed cat cacomistle coatimundi mountain coati kinkajou olingo

6 genera and 18 species Small to medium-sized Long to moderately long tails with dark rings Obvious facial markings Non-retractable claws Omnivorous diet Most active during the evening and early night; crepuscular to nocturnal

Plantigrade or semi-plantigrade Extremely agile Tree climbing Dexterous hands Excellent swimmers

Coati Nasau narica Ranges from extreme southern Arizona, New Mexico and Texas

Raccoon Procyon lotor Ringtail Bassariscus astutus

1. What does the word carnivora translate to in Latin? 2. Describe how carnivores chew. 3. Define prehensile. 4. List 3 reasons carnivores have scent glands. 5. List one animal in the felidae family that does not have the ability to retract its claws. 6. Define extirpated. 7. What family is the swift fox in? 8. Which animal is in the ursidae family? 9. What family were pandas in before they were classified? 10. Are raccoons claws retractable?

1. What does the word carnivora translate to in Latin? Caro= flesh Vorare= to devour 2. Describe how carnivores chew. Up and down 3. Define prehensile. Adapted for seizing and grasping 4. List 3 reasons carnivores have scent glands. Territory Defense Attract mates 5. List one animal in the felidae family that does not have the ability to retract its claws. Cheetah Fishing cat Flat-headed cat 6. Define extirpated. Removed from the area 7. What family is the swift fox in? Canidae 8. Which animal is in the ursidae family? Bears 9. What family were pandas in before they were classified? Proyonidae 10. Are raccoons claws retractable? No

55 species Long thin bodies Spend most of their time hunting for food Agile climbers Otters: aquatic Diet: rodents, fish, birds, earthworms, roots, plants, invertebrates, carrion

16 species have delayed implantation: Following fertilization, the embryo does not implant in the uterus wall until certain external environmental conditions are met. This delay can last up to ten months and often only occurs through the winter period. It occurs in solitary Mustelids, which only tolerate the opposite gender for a relatively short mating period.

Marten Martes americana Fisher Martes pennanti

Shorttail weasel Ermine Mustela erminea Least weasel Mustela rixosa

Longtail weasel Mustela frenata Black-footed ferret Mustela nigripes

Mink Mustela vison River otter Lutra canadensis

Sea otter Enhydra lutris Wolverine Gulo luscus

Badger Taxidea taxus Spotted skunk Spilogale putorius

Striped skunk Mephitis mephitis Hognose skunk Conepatus leuconotus

14 species in 7 genera Polygamous Small external ear flaps Light skin Dense double layer of fur with short underfur and longer guard hairs Partially hairless fore- and hindflippers Swim with their large foreflippers and can rotate their hindflippers forward to walk and climb on all fours on land

Northern sea lion Steller sea lion Eumetopias jubatus California sea lion Zalophus californianus

Alaska fur seal Callorhinus ursinus

Cannot turn hind flippers forward Wiggles to move on land Openings in skin are ears Stiff hair like coat

Harbor seal Common seal Phoca vitulina Ringed seal Pusa hispida

Ribbon seal Histriophoca fasciata Harp seal Phagophilus groenlandicus

Gray seal Halichoerus grypus Bearded seal Erignathus barbatus

Hooded seal Cystophora cristata Elephant seal Mirounga angustirostris

Walrus Odobenus rosmarus Hind flippers can be turned forward No external ears Large tusks

Family: Cervidae- Deer Family: Antilocapridae- Pronghorn Family: Bovidae- Bison

Elk Cervus canadensis Mule deer Odocoileus hemionus

Barren ground caribou Rangifer arcticus Moose Alces alces

Whitetail deer Odocoileus virginianus

Pronghorn Antilocapra americana

Bison Bison bison Mountain goat Oreamnos americanus Water buffalo

Muskox Ovibos moschatus Bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis

Family: Didelphidae- New World Opossums Marsupium or pouch that develops on the abdomen of females Omnivorous or carnivorous Arboreal; one is aquatic and has fully webbed hind feet Nocturnal More than 60 species Long, naked tail A long Pointed snout Opposable thumbs in the hands and feet Ears that are naked

Virginia opossum Didelphis virginiana

Family: soricidae- shrews Family: tilpidae- moles Shrews, moles, hedgehogs 4 families,442 species Small to medium sized Plantigrade Long pointed snouts Sharp teeth Pinnae and eyes are usually small to absent

300 species in 23 genera Small Eyes are tiny Main senses: touch, hearing, and smell Some species are believed to use echolocation High metabolic rate Active throughout the day and night Feed primarily on invertebrates Some shrews are poisonous

Masked shrew Sorex cinereus Smokey shrew Sorex fumeus

Longtail shrew Sorex dispar Northern water shrew Sorex palustris

Least shrew Cryptotis parva Shorttail shrew Blarina brevicauda

42 species North America and Eurasia Active at day and night High metabolic rate Diet Invertebrates Some eat plants Around 2/3 of the members of this family are at least partially fossorial Digging underground tunnels in which they live Tiny eyes Short legs No external ears Short limbs, designed for digging with long claws Velvet soft fur

Hairytail Mole Parascalops breweri Starnose mole Condylura cristata

Eastern Mole Scalopus aquaticus

Family: Vespertilionidae- Common bats 318 species Evening bats Small eyes No noseleaf Ears Long tails

Some species roost in large colonies, others are solitary or live in small groups or pairs. Males and females tend to roost apart most of the year, and some species have maternity colonies. Live in caves, but these bats can also be found in mine shafts, tunnels, tree roosts, rock crevices, buildings, etc. Some species contaminate human habitations with feces and noise, but this annoyance is more than offset by the bats' consumption of huge quantities of insects.

Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus

Include the largest animal that has ever lived, the blue whale Cetaceans live, breed, rest, and carry out all of their life functions in the water. They evolved from terrestrial animals to an entirely aquatic life form that is completely separated from the land

Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus

Killer whale Orcinus orca

Blue whale Balaenoptera musculus Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae