gnawing mammals. mammal characteristics warm – blooded usually have a protective coat of hair...

Gnawing Mammals

Mammal Characteristics

Warm – Blooded

Usually have a protective coat of hair and a bony skeleton

Babies are fed milk with mammary glands

Gnawing Mammals Sometimes referred to as rodents Have 4 large incisor teeth in front of their

mouth Teeth never stop growing

Must gnaw on something or teeth become overgrown

Most diverse group of mammalsMany different species that live in different

environments

Most are herbivores

House Mouse

House Mouse

6 – 8” in length .5 to 1 oz in weight Gray or brown in color Long, hairless tails Live in buildings during cold seasons Live anywhere food and shelter can

be found in same place

House Mouse

Begins reproducing at 2 months of age, capable of having 8 litters a year

Litter sizes range from 3 to 11 young

Born naked, helpless, and blind Important food source for predatory

animals and birds

Muskrat

Muskrat

Grows to 24” from nose to tail at maturity

Nocturnal animal that inhabits the freshwater biomes of North America

Does not hibernate Flat hairless tail that it uses as a

rudder when it swims

Muskrat

7 or 8 offspring in each litter Young muskrats swim when they

are 3 weeks old Often trapped or are preyed upon

by eagles, otters, and minks Seldom grow to be older than 4 yrs

old

Eastern Fox Squirrel

Eastern Fox Squirrel

Largest squirrel in North America 19 – 28” long 1.5 – 3 lbs Eats nuts, fruits, corn, roots, and insects 2-4 are born in early spring and can live

to 6 years old Range in color from rusty yellow to black

Woodchuck

Woodchuck A.K.A. Groundhog 20-27” long from head to tail Weighs 5-10 lbs. Brown in color Eats green plants during spring and

summer Hibernates from Sept. until spring Prefers open woodlands and meadows Causes problems for farmers

Eats crops and mounds up dirt

Black-Tailed Prairie Dog

Black-Tailed Prairie Dog

Yellowish brown in color with a black-tipped tail

Plains dweller that builds dams around the entrance to its burrow to prevent flooding

Range goes on narrow band from Texas to Canada

Black-Tailed Prairie Dog

14-17” long from nose to tail Weigh 2-3 pounds Young are born in litters of 3-5 in

March and April Very social animals

Greet and graze peacefully together

Cottontail Rabbit

Cottontail Rabbit Live in different environments in

North America ranging from deserts to wooded areas

Diets revolve around grass and other vegetation

Short legs (cannot run well) Brown to gray in color 14-17” in length Prefer bushy habitats

Cottontail Rabbit

Hide from prey by sitting very still 4 to 7 young in litter 3 to 4 litters / yr

Porcupines

Porcupines

Known for its sharp quills Cause damage to trees and shrubs

as they gnaw the buds and bark for foodOften kills the trees if bark is gone

Chews on anything that is salty, including human property

Beaver

Beaver

Hard-working animal Dam-building skills prevent soil

erosion and stores water Webbed hind feet Long, flat tail which helps in swimming When dangers approach, beavers slap

their tails on the surface to signal to other members of the colony

Beaver

Long, flat tail which helps in swimming

When dangers approach, beavers slap their tails on the surface to signal to other members of the colony

3-4 feet in length and up to 70 pounds Young are not mature until 2 years old Fur is reddish brown in color