Wildlife Biology Test 4

Mustelidae

family in suborder Caniformia. weasels. around 57 species including weasels, otters, badgers, martens, fishers, mink, wolverines, and ferrets. long bodied with short limbs, short-faced, rounded ears, the smallest Carnivorans. all are accomplished killers - bite prey back of neck and sever spinal cord. terrestrial - paired anal scent glands (well developed). typically solitary (nocturnal or diurnal). the most endangered mammal in NA is the black-footed ferret

Felidae

family in suborder Feliformia. cats. 37 species including tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards, cougar, cheetah, lynx, bobcats, ocelot, etc. most proficient predators in Order. short rostrum, superb night vision. good climbers and swimmers

Sciuridae

family in the order Rodentia. includes squirrels, chipmunks, marmots/woodchucks, and prairie dogs. tail long except for fossorial species. diurnal herbivores - some will eat insects, bird eggs, etc. dental formula: 1023/1013 = 22 teeth.

Castoridae

family in the order Rodentia. the beavers - only 2 species. aquatic. ecosystem engineers. tail is a fat storage area - grows and shrinks with condition; is also a tool

Caniformia

suborder in order Carnivorans. canids or dog-like. longer rostrum. more omnivorous - many are opportunistic feeders (e.g., raccoons). usually non-retractile claws. some digitigrade (e.g., wolf) and some plantigrade (e.g., bear, raccoon, etc.). families: Canidae - dogs, Mustelidae - weasels, Procyonidae - raccoons, Mephitidae -skunks and Ursidae - bears

Feliformia

suborder in order Carnivorans. felids or cat-like. shorter rostrum/snout. usually strict carnivores - most are ambush hunters. retractile claws. digitigrade - walk on toes. family: Felidae - cats

Mysticeti

suborder in order Cetacea. baleen whales. fewer species (baleen, gray, right, humpback, and pygmy whales). larger in body size than toothed whales - long flexible bristles instead teeth, filter food from water. flexible baleen make of keratin. filters food from water - krill, fish, plankton

Odontoceti

suborder in order Cetacea. toothed whales. most cetaceans are toothed whales (over 70 species). predatorial hunters (killer whales, dolphins). ultrasonic echolocation to navigate and hunt. homodont teeth to capture prey - e.g., fish, squid, other cetaceans. generally smaller than baleen whales - include dolphins and porpoises. fatty organ on head (melon) used for echolocation

Haplorrhini

suborder in order Primates. anthropoids (monkeys, chimps, gorillas, etc.) and tarsiers. more recently evolved primates. ovate nostrils. nose dry.

Strepsirrhini

suborder in order Primates. prosimian/primitive primates (lemurs, bush babies, loris, etc.). crescent/comma shaped nostrils. nose moist and glandular. usually nocturnal

embryonic diapause

temporary halt in embryonic development - females will mate shortly after birth - as long as youngster is nursing, a hormonal signal pauses the development of the newly fertilized embryo. exhibited by >100 mammals, not just marsupials. two types: facultative embryonic diapause: embryonic development pauses due to metabolic stress or lactation, development restarts when lactation/stress cease, e.g., marsupials and rodents. obligate embryonic diapause: embryonic development pauses as a regular part of the reproductive cycle; ensures young are born during the 'right season', day-length triggers restart of development, e.g., amardillos, bats, bears, weasel, some ungulates

pangolin conservation issues

they are one of the most heavily trafficked animals. In the past few weeks they have also been linked to the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in China. There are 8 species, 24in Africa and 4 in Asia - 2 in Africa are considered vulnerable and 2 are endangered; in Asia one is endangered and 3 are critically endangered. They are illegally hunted because their meat is considered a delicacy and their scales are used in traditional Chinese medicine. The viruses genetic sequences of a coronavirus found in pangolins and the one that infected humans are 99% similar - then another study found that they were related, but unlikely to be the direct link because across the entire genome they are only 90.3% similar. In February the Chinese government banned trading and eating wild animals, including pangolins and shut down wild animal markets across the country

Nine-banded Armadillo

animal in class Cingulata. Dasypus novemcinctus. can have 7-11 bands. solitary and long-lived (7-20 y). members of Dasypus always exhibits polyembryony - 1 ovum = multiple genetically identical offspring, this specific species has 4 identical offspring. scarce in US prior to 1900s. now most widely distributed armadillo species - expanding north, expected to reach MA

Procyonidae

family in suborder Caniforma. raccoons. ~18 species including raccoons, coatis, rintails, kinkajous, olingos, olinguitos, etc. restricted to the Americas. variable face/body type. medium long tails - rings are common, some prehensile. contrasting facial markings common. most plantigrade (raccoons and coati), a few digitigrade (ringtails). toes - 5 front and 5 hind, middle toe is longest

Ursidae

family in suborder Caniformia. bears. ~9 species including black bears, grizzly bears, polar bears, sloth bears, panda, spectacled bears, and sun bears. largest terrestrial member of Carnivora - 200-2,100 lbs. sense of smell is better than vision. omnivorous except polar bear. some hibernate in winter. plantigrade posture. 5 front/5 hind toes

Talpidae

family in the order Soricomorpha. the moles and desmans. most are fossorial - desman are more aquatic. fur velvety, eyes barely visible, no pinnae. naked snout covered with sensory receptors that make up an Eimer's organ. excavate extensive tunnel networks. leave characteristic ridges in lawns - benefit - aerates the soil eats pests; problem - don't eat plans but can dig them up. Star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) has 22 fleshy appendages

Soricidae

family in the order Soricomorpha. the true shrews. longer, slimmer snout and smaller eyes than mice. pinnae small or absent. toes - 5 front, 5 hind. females lead young to forage in a caravan. some species are venomous. only on set of teeth - present at birth. dentition varies but teeth are continuous. dentition is imp for taxonomy - species are either red-toothed or white-toothed; reddish in NA. only venomous mammal in NA delivered via saliva - American short-tailed shrews; can kill mice, only painful to humans

Mammalian stances

plantigrade feet: animals walk on the sole of the foot; e.g., humans, apes, bears, opossums, better balance on 2 feet. digitigrade feet: animals walk on digits (toes); e.g., dogs, cats, predators, increased speed and power. unguligrade feet: animals walk on the toe tips; e.g., hooved animals (deer, horses, etc); increased speed and endurance

ungulate digestive systems

plants are composed of cellulose - only a few ungulates can digest cellulose (e.g., pigs) and pigs have a digestive system similar to other mammals. most ungulates need help to break down cellulose - helped by microorganisms (bacteria and protozoa) via fermentation in the gut. where and when fermentation happens separates Artiodactyla from Perissodactyla. ruminants do better than foregut fermenters where food is high quality but in short supply (e.g., tundra, deserts). hindgut fermenters do better than ruminants where food is less nutritious but extremely abundant (e.g., dry/arid grasslands). when both types of ungulates co-exist, they often partition food sources - zebras eat the poor quality foliage and gazelles and wildebeest eat the high quality foliage that is uncovered by the zebra browsing

coprophagy

re-ingestion of bacterially treated food in the form of soft feces

Mammalia diversity

2 sub-classes, 2 infra-classes, 29 orders, ~153 families, ~1230 genera, and ~5,500 species total. what they lack in numbers, they make up for in diversity of form and function. smallest mammal: Kitti's hog nosed bat weighs just 2 g (<1 nickel). largest mammal: blue whale, 30 m long (length of basketball court), weighs ~200 tons (equivalent to 15 buses). naked mole rats live in colonies - 75-80 (up to ~300) individuals, subterranean, litters up to 28, live > 20 years

Chiroptera diet

>70% are insectivorous - provide valuable ecosystem service; 1 bat can eat up to 1,000 mosquito sized insects per hour. nectar and fruit eating bats; many species are imp seed dispersers; many are imp pollinators. others are carnivorous - eat amphibians, reptiles, birds, small mammals, and fish. vampire bats eat blood (S. America), target livestock (crawl up to prey) - anticoagulant and anesthetic in saliva

Stellar's Sea Cow

Hydrodamalis gigas - animal in order Sirenia. 9-10 meters long. 22000 lbs. native to the Arctic-Bering Sea. hunted to extinction in 1700s

velvet

covers antlers as they grow. provides a rich blood supply. up to 1 inch of growth per day in the spring. antlers harden late summer used during "RUT" (breeding) - shed in fall/winter

Mammalia unique characteristics

all have fur or hair as part of the integument. all have mammary glands - used to provide nourishment for young. nearly all give live birth - exception: small group known as Monotremes

Mammalia reproduction

all male mammals have a copulatory organ. fertilization is internal in all mammals. mammalian embryos develop in the uterus of the female - exception Monotremes lay eggs. all mammals are considered amniotes, but mode of birth varies. taxonomic divisions reflect differences in reproduction

Chiroptera roosting behavior

bats require habitats to roost (during inactive periods). summer roosts - used during daytime hours. winter roosts - roosting while in torpor. maternity roosts - pregnant/nursing females. some solitary roosters/some colonial - up to 1 million bats at roost site. many bats will use buildings when natural roost sites are not available. can be a problem - droppings accumulate; bat boxes can be deployed as a management tool

Mammalia taxonomic organization

class: Mammalia. sub-class: Prototheria (egg layers - 1 order - Monotremata) and Theria (live bearers). Theria is broken into two infra-classes: Metatheria (marsupials - 7 orders) and Eutheria (placentals - 21 orders)

differences between manatees and dugongs

dugongs muzzle is adapted for bottom feeding - manatees it is adapted for grasping. manatees posses nails on flippers - dugongs do not

black bear

edge of front pad curved. claws straight/short. can be blonde. straight facial profile. large pointed ears. shoulder muscles not as well developed (no hump)

grizzly bear

edge of front pad straight. claws curved/long. can be blonde. dish-shaped facial profile. shorter/rounder ears. well developed should muscles for digging (hump)

black-footed ferret conservation issues

endangered animal in Arizona - have had a reintroduction program that spans 30 sites across north America and was successful until the sites suddenly began losing the ferrets, specifically in Aubrey Valley. The populations of the ferrets in prairies dropped as grasslands were converted to farms and plague was introduced - both killed off prairie dogs which make up 90% of a ferret's diet and whose burrows provide its only shelter. Ferrets are solitary and nocturnal. Biologists changed their release sites from Aubrey Valley to Double O Ranch which has started to show more promising results. They put collars on the ferrets to track them and are now taking them off. The speed at which the ferrets disappear suggest that there are more problems than plague, but they have yet to figure out what

Muridae and Cricetidae

families in order Rodentia. old world mice, rates, gerbils, etc. (700 species) and new world rats, mice, voles, hamsters, etc. (680 sp), respectively. over 1400 species combined. typical dental formula: 1013/1003 = 18 teeth. historically mice and rats were important for disease transmission - Black death/Plague with fleas as intermediate host

Ochotonidae

family in order Lagomorpha. pikas. small, short limbed - scurriers. rocky alpine habitat. tail virtually absent. ears smaller. more vocal than rabbits/hares. only ~6-8 in long. diurnal. vocal. restricted to high altitudes - threatened by climate change

Leporidae

family in order Lagomorpha. rabbits and hares. long hind limbs - good runners. predator evasion technique differs - hares try to outrun; longer legs, some reach 45 mph. rabbits seek refuge. development at birth differs - hares are more precocial and rabbits are altricial (often hairless)

Hominidae

family in order Primates and suborder Haplorhinni. includes gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and humans. males larger than females. nails (rather than claws) on digits. known for complex social structure. single young with extended parental care

Mephitidae

family in suborder Caniforma. 13 species including skunks, spotted skunks, hog-nosed skunks, and the stink badgers (Philippines and Indonesia). typically solitary. aposematic coloration is common. anal scent glands - can spray up to 12 ft. plantigrade posture. toes - 5 front/5 hind

Canidae

family in suborder Caniforma. dogs. 35 species including: wolves, jackals, coyotes, foxes and dogs. long rostrum. complex nasal chamber

Australian mammals conservation issues

fires that covered Australia killed about 1.25 billion animals. Australian Aboriginal officials approved killing up to 10,000 feral camels. Lost thousands of koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, gliders, potoroos, cockatoos, and honey eaters. Koalas were already becoming endangered because of excessive tree clearing for agricultural and urban development. the severe loss of understory made the fires on Kangaroo Island particularly detrimental - the bird, the Kangaroo Island glossy black cockatoo was particularly affected because it was already close to extinction. The fires have burned through critical habitat of native mammals such as the long-footed potoroo, the mountain pygmy possum, the yellow-bellied glider and the brush-tailed rock wallaby and the bird species such as endangered regent honeyeater.

Chiroptera reproduction

for their size, bats are the slowest reproducing mammals on Earth. most small mammals have short lifespans and produce many young. bats can live 8-15 years (some >30), gestation is 3-10 months, most hav e a litter size of 1 offspring, mothers nurse while roosting

diastema

gap between incisors and premolars resulting from lack of canines - can pull cheek in to protect mouth. seen in rodents

ungulate

general term that refers to a mammal that has enlarged toenails that form hooves, has ugulidrade posture (walk on toe tips), and is an obligate herbivore - exceptions, some pigs and peccaries are more omnivorous (feed standing). grinding dentition - jaw musculature that allows for chewing/grinding, typical dental formula (no incisors or canines on top) - 0033/3133. huge economic importance - hunting, ecotourism, domestication. they do not hibernate - many must migrate to meet food demands during the cold/dry season and migrations can be over elevational or latitudinal gradients. 2 orders: Artiodactyla - even-toed ungulates and Perissyodactyla - odd-toed ungulates

Eutheria

infra class in sub class Theria. the placental mammals. most diverse group of mammals - >4,000 species. young are carried in uterus until birth - placenta is unique to this infra class - organ attached embryo to uterine wall, nutrient/gas/hormone transfer across the placenta. similar to birds, development at birth varies - altricial and precocial. 11 orders: Cingulata, Soricomorpha, Chiroptera, Carnivora, Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Cetacea, Primates, Rodentia, Lagomorpha, and Sirenia

Metatheria

infra-class in sub-class Theria. the marsupials - ~7% of all mammals are marsupials. only occur in only Australia and the Americas. females: bifid reproductive tract (uterus and vagina are doubled). male - many have bifid (forked) penis. live birth but much shorter gestation than placental mammals. young are born underdeveloped - blind, hairless, <1 inch long, carried in marsupium (pouch), suckle and grow until fully developed. marsupials are diverse in shape, behavior, and ecology; carnivorous, herbivorous, omnivorous; mouse like and wolf like. some marsupials (e.g., kangaroos) can put gestation on hold - embryonic diapause. 7 orders in the world - only one in NA - Didelphimorphia

beavers conservation issues

many people view them as "tree-felling, water stealing, property-flooding pests." In 2017 trappers in Washington killed 1700 beavers they viewed as nuisances. Oregon considers them predators and California considers them a detrimental species. The USDA in the last year eliminated more than 23,000 conflict-causing beavers nationwide. People nationwide, scientists and land managers, are beginning to see the importance of beavers for ecology because they are agents against water conservation, habitat creation and stream restoration. In the 1970s, Washington, California, and Oregon passed laws to remove in-stream wood including beaver dams because they thought it effected the ability of salmon to move through rivers - in 2016 a study found that they actually didn't have an issue getting around the dams; instead the dams actually provided indispensable nurseries. Today, biologists have been relocating beavers to help watershed - the Tulalip beaver relocation effort strives to capture and release cohesive families

Cingulata

order in infra class Eutheria. the armadillos. only 1 extant family - Dasypodidae. only found in the Americas. unique traits: dorsal armor (osteoderms and scutes) - some can roll up, 3-9 bands (separate by flexible skin), underside is not armored, soft and hairy. burrowers - claws. nocturnal - poor eyesight and keen hearing and smell. adaptations for insectivorous diet - long tongues, 0007/0007 dentition. smallest ~ 6 in and 3.5 Pink Fairy Armadillo. largest ~ 39 in and 132 lb Giant Armadillo

Carnivora reproduction

most terrestrial species - 1 litter/yr. mating systems are varied - e.g., can be monogamous, polygynous, polyandrous, promiscuous. relatively long period of parental care - sometimes both parents, sometimes just mom

Chiroptera echolocation

not all species (e.g., fruit bats lack this ability). used for steering and to locate prey. 30-60 squeaks/second. often ultrasonic (beyond human range of hearing). may perceive 3D acoustic images

Chiroptera threatened

one of the most threatened groups of mammals - slow paced life history limits their ability to rebound quickly from a disturbance. threats: habitat loss, fear and persecution, insecticides/pesticides - kills their prey, disease - white nose syndrome. white-nose syndrome is an emerging fungal disease - first detected in NY in 2007. can kill nearly 100% of bats roosting in a cave. has caused the death of over 6 million bats within the last 10 years - wakes up bats from torpor and destroys wing membranes

Didelphimorphia

order in Infraclass Metatheria. the American Marsupials. largest order of marsupials - ~95 species. medium sized - mouse-to-cat sized. terrestrial to semi-aquatic - some have partially webbed feet. prominent sagittal crest on skull. 5134/4134 dentition. Virginia opossum is the only marsupial in the SE US. prehensile tail - used to climb/hang, 5 digits per food, hind foot has partially opposable thumb. plantigrade stance

Artiodactyla

order in infra class Eutheria. even-toed ungulates. 10 families and ~240 species. paraxonic feet - main weight bearing axis passes between the 3rd and 4th digit. members are foregut fermenters aka ruminants. have a 4 chambered stomach, fermentation happens in the first chamber (rumen) before digestion. food is chewed twice, long passage (~80 hours) and relatively efficient (60% of cellulose digested). head ornaments - typically in males (females in some species). horns - permanent 2 part structure interior, bone covered in keratin (goats, sheep, bison, pronghorn). antlers - true bone (extension of skull) that is shed and regrown each year (deer, elk, moose, caribou). e.g., swine, deer, elk, moose, pronghorn, bison, antelope, sheep, goats, etc. families: Cervidae (elk and moose), Antilocapridae (pronghorn, can travel at 65 mph for >10 km), Bovidae (mountain goat, bighorn sheep, american bison)

Perssodactyla

order in infra class Eutheria. odd-toed ungulates. 3 families and ~16 species. mesaxonic feet - main weight bearing axis passes through the 3rd digit. members are hindgut fermenters. single chambered stomach. fermentation happens after digestion, in enlarged cecum and large intestine. food is chewed once. shorter passage (~48 h). less efficient than ruminant digestion (45% of cellulose is digested). e.g., horses, zebras, asses, rhinoceros, tapirs

Chiroptera

order in infra class Eutheria. the bats. on every continent except Antartica. 2nd largest mammalian order - 18 families, 202 genera and 1116 species. only mammals capable of powered flight. skeletal structure differs form birds. skin between digits forms a flight membrane - only 2-3 cell layers thick. smallest weighs 1.5 g, wingspan of 6 in; largest weighs 3 lbs, wingspan of 5.6 ft. flight is metabolically costly - bats have to eat often and alot. many migrate to follow the food - move to warmer climates where food is available e.g., TX to Mexico. many enter torpor during cold periods in temperate climates - many bats are heterothermic - heart rate, respiration, body temp are temporarily reduced, not true hibernators. often use caves while in torpor

Carnivora

order in infra class Eutheria. the carnivorans. native to ever continent except Australia. present today on every continent - ~286 species. not all have a carnivorous diet. obligate carnivores e.g., cats and mustelids. omnivores e.g., dogs, raccoons, bears. herbivores e.g., giant panda. but dentition reflects a meat eating ancestor - carnassials/carnassial pair (pair of shearing teeth - 4th upper PM and 1st lower M). prominent canines - large and cone shaped. all have claws. members are cursorial - adapted specifically to run with speed and endurance. have other adaptions to catch prey - many have forward facing eyes - larger field of vision, good depth/distance perception. prey (ungulates) have better lateral senses - better detect motion/sounds of predators. two suborders - Feliformia and Caniformia

Cetacea

order in infra class Eutheria. whales and dolphins. mostly hairless (except snout). forelimbs are flippers - no digits or claws. vestigial hindlimbs. most closely related to Artiodactyla. most are marine. slow paced life history strategy - long live: 20-100 years, mature late (age 2-10), reproduce infrequently, 10-17 mo gestation, 1 calf every 1-6 years. females nurse from mammary glands 2 suborders: Odontoceti - toothed whales and Mysticeti - baleen whales

Soricomorpha

order in infra order Eutheria. the shrews and moles. used to be called order Insectivora. present on every continent except Australia and Antartica. only 2 families that are needed to know: Sorcidae (true shrews) and Talpidae (moles and desmans). common traits: small body size and high surface-area to mass ratio drives their lifestyle -lose heat quickly so must eat often (some every hour), Etruscan shrew: heartbeat of 1500 bpm, do not hibernate. fast paced life history - short lived (1-3 y), mature early, many offspring. most are fossorial and solitary. mostly insectivores

Sirenia

order in infraclass Eutheria. manatees and sea cows. named for the sirens of Greek mythology. slow moving, fully aquatic mammals. herbivores. restricted to shallow coastal waters. common characteristics: no hind limbs, no pinnae, nearly hairless - vibrissae on muzzle, only teeth are molars - replace throughout life (conveyor belt), generally solitary or in small groups. long lived - 50-70 years. mature at age 5-9 years and have 1 offspring at a time. 12 mo gestation. mammary glands behind flippers - nurse up to 4 years. 2 extant families: Dugongidae - Dugongs and Sea cows (1 extant species) and Trichechidae - manatees (3 extant species). only on species native to NA - found in marine and freshwaters; needs regular access to freshwater - can be through food (e.g, lettuce) or drinking from rivers/springs - West Indian Manatee. hundred are known to crowd freshwater springs to avoid cold winter temps

Primates

order in infraclass Eutheria. one of the most well-studied group of mammals. make up just 5%. Homo sapiens - worldwide distribution. others are restricted to Central/South America, Asia, and Africa. two suborders: Strepsirrhini - prosimian/primitive primates and Haplorrhini - anthropoids and tarsiers. common characteristics: opposable first digit on hands and feet (except humans, only on hand), flat face and short noses, large globular braincase and well developed brain, most are arboreal (not gorillas or humans), and diet is variable. 12 families but only need to know one - Hominidae

Lagomorpha

order in infraclass Eutheria. the rabbits, hares, and pikas. used to be considered in order Rodentia, but they now have their own. only 2 families and 84 species. families: Leporidae -rabbits and hares and Ochotonidae - pikas. diverse habitats - semi-aquatic, arctic, deserts, tropics. obligate herbivores. continuously growing incisors and no canines. unlike rodents, they have peg teeth - second pair of incisors behind their primaries

Rodentia

order in infraclass Eutheria. the rodents. largest order of mammals (42%). 32 families and 2275 species - on all continents except Antarctica. 3 general types: squirrel-like rodents, mouse-like rodents, and porcupine and guinea pig-like rodents. most are small and rat-like. 4 toes front/5 toes hind. many have a bad rep - can be major pests and disease carriers. ecosystem services - consume insects and weed seeds, important food for larger predators, and tools for scientific research. incisors are ever-growing. on canines - always a gap. misalignment of teeth can lead to death. they are obligate herbivores - rely on fermentation to break down cellulose. fermentation takes place in the caecum, similar to hind gut fermenting ungulates. practice coprophagy. some rodents are highly social - prairie dogs live in towns. the Naked Mole Rat may be one of the most unique mammals on earth - longest lived rodent, 30+ years. families: Sciuridae - squirrels, chipmunks, etc., Castoridae - beavers, Muridae - old world mice, rats, gerbils, etc. and Cricetidae - new world rats, mice, voles, hamsters, etc.

Monotremata

order in the subclass Prototheria (egg layers). only 5 extant species. all in Australia/New Guinea. the Echidnas/spiny anteaters (4 species) and the duck-billed platypus (1 species). unique traits: all have a cloaca (fertilization is still internal) - monotreme = single opening. no teeth as adults - have a leathery rostrum (platypus "bill"/ echidna "beak"). females lay eggs (1-2 eggs; ~11 day incubation). offspring underdeveloped at birth like altricial birds - 4-5 month period of lactation. males have spur - venomous in platypus (one of only a few venomous mammals), not venomous in echidna. females - lose their spurs early in life, don't have nipples, lactate from a milk patch