Physical World/Mammals - 2

From Quiz Revision Notes
Bonobo.jpg
Bonobo


Pan paniscus


Also known as pygmy chimpanzee. Bonobos are the only non-human animal to have been observed engaging in face-to-face sex and oral sex

Found in the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Emperor tamarin.jpg
Emperor tamarin


Saguinus imperator

A species of tamarin allegedly named for its resemblance to the German emperor Wilhelm II

Emperor tamarins typically have twins

Howler monkey.jpg
Howler monkey


genus Alouatta


Among the largest of the New World monkeys and one of only a few nest-building monkeys

Famous for their loud howls, which can travel three miles through dense forest, and are caused by an enlarged hyoid bone

Spider monkey.jpg
Spider monkey


genus Ateles


Disproportionately long limbs and long prehensile tails make them one of the largest New World monkeys and gives rise to their common name. The hands are long, narrow and hook-like, and have an absence of thumbs

Capuchin monkey.jpg
Capuchin monkey


genus Cebus

Capuchin derives from a group of friars named the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, an offshoot from the Franciscans, who wear brown robes with large hoods covering their heads. When explorers reached the Americas in the 15th century they found monkeys who resembled these friars and named them capuchins

Proboscis monkey.jpg
Proboscis monkey


Nasalis larvatus


A reddish-brown arboreal Old World monkey that is endemic to Borneo

The large nose or proboscis of the male can exceed 10 cm in length, and hangs lower than the mouth

Japanese macaque.jpg
Japanese macaque


Macaca fuscata

Sometimes known as the snow monkey because they live in areas where snow covers the ground for months each year – no other monkey is more northern-living, nor lives in a colder climate

Mandrill.jpg
Mandrill


Mandrillus sphinx

Its hairless face has an elongated muzzle with distinctive characteristics such as a red stripe down the middle and protruding blue ridges on the sides. The areas around the genitals and the anus are multi-coloured

Mandrills are the world's largest monkeys

Gibbon.jpg
Gibbon


family Hylobatidae

Also called the lesser apes

Gibbons are highly arboreal and bipedal on the ground. They are masters of their primary mode of locomotion, brachiation, swinging from branch to branch

Orangutan.jpg
Orangutan


genus Pongo


The Bornean orangutan (P. pygmaeus) and the Sumatran orangutan (P. abelii) are the two exclusively Asian species of extant great apes

The word orangutan comes from the Malay language and means 'person of the forest'

Common pipistrelle.jpg
Common pipistrelle


Pipistrellus pipistrellus


The name of the genus is derived from the Italian word pipistrello, meaning "bat"

In 1999, the common pipistrelle was split into two species on the basis of different-frequency echolocation calls. The common pipistrelle uses a call of 45 kHz, while the soprano pipistrelle echolocates at 55 kHz

Horseshoe bat.jpg
Horseshoe bat


genus Rhinolophus


All horseshoe bats have leaf-like, horseshoe-shaped protuberances on their noses

They have the most sophisticated echolocation of all bats

Common vampire bat.jpg
Common vampire bat


Desmodus rotundus

Vampire bats are the only known parasitic mammals. The common vampire bat mainly feeds on the blood of livestock. It uses its razor-sharp teeth to cut open the skin of its hosts and laps up their blood with its long tongue

Desman.jpg
Desman


tribe Desmanini


A snouted and naked-tailed diving insectivore. It belongs to one of two Eurasian species – Russian, and Pyrenean (pictured) of the mole family, Talpidae

Pangolin.jpg
Pangolin


family Manidae


Also known as the scaly anteater

It has large keratin scales covering its skin. It can curl up into a ball when threatened, with its overlapping scales acting as armour. Pangolins can also emit a noxious-smelling acid

Coyote.jpg
Coyote


Canis latrans


Also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf. Closest relative is the grey wolf

Coyote is a mythological character common to many Native American cultures

Dingo.jpg
Dingo


Canis lupus dingo


Also known as the warrigal

Subspecies of the grey wolf introduced to Australia 4,000 years ago. largest terrestrial predator in Australia

Dhole.jpg
Dhole


Cuon alpinus


Also known as the Asiatic wild dog,  Indian wild dog, or red wolf

In appearance, the dhole has been variously described as combining the physical characteristics of the grey wolf and red fox

Samoyed.jpg
Samoyed


Canis lupis familiaris

Takes its name from the Samoyedic peoples of Siberia. These nomadic reindeer herders bred the fluffy white dogs to help with the herding, and to pull sleds when they moved

Basenji.jpg
Basenji


Canis lupis familiaris


A breed of hunting dog

The Basenji produces an unusual yodel-like sound commonly called a barroo, due to its unusually shaped larynx. This trait also gives the Basenji the nickname "barkless dog"

Saluki.jpg
Saluki


Canis lupis familiaris


Also known as the Gazelle Hound, Arabian Hound, and Persian Greyhound. An ancient breed of tall slender dog developed in Arabia and Egypt and having a smooth, silky, variously coloured coat

Akita.jpg
Akita


Canis lupis familiaris


A large breed of dog originating from the mountainous northern regions of Japan. There are two separate varieties of Akita: a Japanese strain, and an American strain

Named for Akita Prefecture, where it is thought to have originated

Tosa.jpg
Tosa


Canis lupis familiaris


Also known as the Japanese mastiff

It was originally bred in Tosa (present day Kōchi) as a fighting dog and still is today

Shar pei.jpg
Shar Pei


Canis lupis familiaris


A Chinese breed of dog known for its distinctive features of deep wrinkles and a blue-black tongue

Chow.jpg
Chow Chow


Canis lupis familiaris


Known as the "Fluffy Lion-dog" in China

Like the Shar Pei, the Chow has a blue-black/purple tongue

Spectacled bear.jpg
Spectacled bear


Tremarctos ornatus


Also known as the Andean bear

The only species of bear native to South America. The name is a reference to the light colouring on its chest, neck and face, which may resemble eyeglasses in some individuals

Sun bear.jpg
Sun bear


Helarctos malayanus


Malayan sun bear is also known as the "honey bear", which refers to its voracious appetite for honeycombs and honey. However, "honey bear" can also refer to a kinkajou

The sun bear is the smallest of the bears

Giant panda.jpg
Giant panda


Ailuropoda melanoleuca


Name means "black and white cat-foot"

Giant panda's paw has a ‘thumb’ and five fingers; the ‘thumb’ is actually a modified sesamoid bone, which helps the Giant panda to hold bamboo while eating

Red panda.jpg
Red panda


Ailurus fulgens


Also known as lesser panda or red bear-cat

Slightly larger than a domestic cat. It is not closely related to the giant panda

Kinkajou.jpg
Kinkajou


Potos flavus


Also known as the sugar bear, honey bear, or cat-monkey

Arboreal and nocturnal mammal native to rainforests in Central America and South America

Olinguito.jpg
Olinguito


Bassaricyon neblina


Name is Spanish for "little olingo"

Member of the raccoon family, which lives in the Andes

The species was described as new in 2013

Ratel.jpg
Ratel


Mellivora capensis


Also known as the honey badger

It is the most fearless animal in the world. It does not closely resemble other badger species; instead, it bears more anatomical similarities to weasels

Wolverine.jpg
Wolverine


Gulo gulo


Also known as the glutton

The largest land-dwelling species of the Mustelidae (the Giant Otter is largest overall)

It has a reputation for ferocity and strength out of proportion to its size, with the ability to kill prey many times larger than itself

Clouded leopard.jpg
Clouded leopard


Neofelis nebulosa


Found in the Himalayan foothills

Distinctly marked with large, irregularly-shaped, dark-edged ellipses which are said to be shaped like clouds, hence both its common and original scientific name

Snow leopard.jpg
Snow leopard


Panthera uncia


Also known as the ounce

Snow leopards were only reclassified as a member of the Panthera genus (big cats) in 2009

Jaguarundi.jpg
Jaguarundi


Puma yagouaroundi


A small wild cat native to Central and South America

Closely related to the much larger and heavier cougar

Asian palm civet.jpg
Asian palm civet


Paradoxurus hermaphroditus


Also called toddy cat

Kopi Luwak is coffee prepared using coffee beans that have been subjected to ingestion and fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract of the Asian palm civet

Common genet.jpg
Common genet


Genetta genetta


Genets are slender cat-like animals with a long body, a long ringed tail, large ears, a pointed muzzle and partly retractile claws

Indigenous to Africa