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Mammals Animal Notebook

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Aardvark -
Orycteropus afer

This unique face is perfect for sniffing out and sucking up termites and ants to eat.

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Arctic fox - Alopex lagopus
The gray summer coat turns white in winter to enable it to blend in with its environment.
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Asian wild horse
-Equus przewalskii

The asian wild horse is also called Przewlaski's Horse. Early art object.
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White Rhinoceros - Ceratotherium simum

Rhinos' horns are actually made of a material similar to hair and fingernails.
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Black-tailed prairie dog - Cynomys ludovicianus

Prairie dog sentries stand upright and bark a warning to others if danger approaches.
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Blesbok -Damaliscus dorcas phillipsi

"Bles bok" is Dutch for "blaze antelope."
Lyre-shaped.
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Capybara - Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris

Oversized guinea pig. Capybaras may weigh up to 150 pounds.
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Chimpanzee
-Pan troglodytes

Chimpanzees are genetically the closest relatives to humans. Individual faces.
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Coati
- Nasua narica

The sensitive, probing nose is used to locate and extract insects, spiders, and other food from cracks and holes.
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Collared peccary
- Tayassu tajacu

The nose is used to sniff out edible morsels. Sniff for:
Peccary talk.
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Domestic bactrian camel - Camelus bactrianus

To help prevent the camel from sinking into soft snow or sand, its feet are the size of dinner plates.
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Giant anteater - Myrmecophaga tridactyla

The 24-inch tongue is sticky to collect many small ants. Imagine how many ants it takes to feed the giant anteater!
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Gorilla
- Gorilla gorilla gorilla

Big primate! Gorillas have a large head, but no tail. Male gorillas are twice as large as female gorillas.

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Grevy's zebra
- Equus grevyi

Stripes create a disappearing act and help a zebra blend into its grassland habitat -- especially at dusk and at night when predators are most active.

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Grizzly bear
- Ursus arctos horribilis

The outer hairs give this bear both a "grizzled" appearance and its name.

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Harbor seal
- Phoca vitulina

Surfacing for a breath. Like us, seals are mammals and must breathe air.
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Japanese macaque
- Macaca fuscata

Also called Snow Monkeys, these primates are adapted for cool climates.
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Lama
- Guanaco glama guanicoe

Their thick coat provides protection against the cold.
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Lion
- Panthera leo

Lions are the only cats that live in groups (prides). Daughters stay with their mothers for life while males go off to form their own prides.
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Mandrill
- Mandrillus sphinx

It isn't really known why male mandrills have such bright red, white, and blue stripes on their face, though females may find them attractive.
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Matschie's tree kangaroo
- Dendrolagus matschiei

Unlike land-dwelling kangaroos, all four limbs of the tree kangaroo are nearly equal in length, making climbing easier.
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North American River Otter
- Lutra canadensis

Otters are adapted to a watery world. Valves in the nostrils and ears close to keep water out, and dense fur creates a warm wetsuit.
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Polar bear
- Ursus maritimus

Polar bears often swim long distances in open oceans and between ice floes.

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Red kangaroo
- Macropus rufus
A group of kangaroos is called a mob. The reddish males are called boomers and the babies are joeys.

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Red Panda - Ailurus fulgens fulgens
The word panda means "bamboo eater" in Nepal. Like the Giant Panda, Red Pandas rely on a diet of bamboo to survive.
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Reticulated giraffe
- Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata

Giraffes' necks are not long enough to reach the ground. Giraffes must bend their knees or spread their legs to drink.
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River Hippopotamus
- Hippopotamus amphibius

Huge mouth. Measuring nearly two feet across, a big mouth is needed to help satisfy this two-ton animal's appetite.
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Ruffed lemur - Varecia variegata

The long, bushy tail aids in balance while these primates move about in the trees
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Siberian tiger
- P. t. altaica

Like human fingerprints, no two tigers have identical patterns.
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South American tapir - Tapirus terrestris

Long, flexible nose. The trunklike snout is used for delicately plucking leaves and sprouts from foliage.
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White-handed gibbon
- Hylobates lar
Gibbons' arms and short legs allow them to move through the trees swinging by their arms.
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Wolverine - Gulo gulo

Though their locomotion may make them appear clumsy, these animals are agile and fierce predators.

Adopt an Animal
"Adopt" an animal is a program that helps the Zoo take care of the animal you select. Your symbollic animal adoption helps provide veterinary treatment, improve exhibits, sponsor educational classes, seminars and research expeditions. More importantly, your assistance makes the Zoo’s participation in the Species Survival Plans possible.

 


Friday, 05 September 2008

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