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Wildlife Biology > Lab Exam 3 > Flashcards

Lab Exam 3 Flashcards

(48 cards)

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1
Q

Lepus spp. (Skull)

A

Hares
- post orbital process does not extend compared to similar species

Naming: Order Lagomorpha, Family Leporidae

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2
Q

Lepus americanus (skin)

A

Snowshoe hare
- white fur

Naming: Order Lagomorpha, Family Leporidae

Natural History:
- nocturnal
- white fur in winter
- high elevation habitat
- NO hibernation

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3
Q

Sylvilagus spp. (skull)

A

Cottontail rabbits
- postorbital process extends to parietal, unlike similar species

Naming: Order Lagomorpha, Family Leporidae

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4
Q

Sylvilagus floridanus (Skin)

A

Eastern cottontail
- variable coat color, generally medium gray with white edges and orange around hind

Naming: Order Lagomorpha, Family Leporidae

Natural History:
- do not change color
- NO hibernation
- nocturnal
- solitary
- brushy area habitat
- decline due to loss of habitat
- game species

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5
Q

Didelphis virginiana (skull & skin)

A

Virginia Opossum
- skin: mostly gray with some white and black coloring, medium length
- skull: top of skull fairly straight besides prominent sagittal crest; roof of mouth has openings (fenestrae)

Naming: Order Didelphimorphia, Family Didelphidae

Natural History:
- only marsupial in US
- prehensile tail, semi arboreal
- generalist habitat
- omnivore
- nocturnal
- furbearer, hunted in most states
- NO hibernation

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6
Q

Soricidae (skull)

A

Shrews
- NO zygomatic arch or associated structures
- red or black tipped teeth
- cheek teeth form a “W” pattern

Naming: Order Eulipotyphla

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7
Q

Sorex palustris (skin)

A

Water shrew
- pointy noise, tail length of body, gray brown color
- webbed feet (hard to see) with stiff hairs along sides of feet and toes

Naming: Order Eulipotyphla, Family Soricidae

Natural History:
- largest shrew in US
- webbed hind feet (semi aq.)
- small streams and wetlands
- invertebrates and small fish/amphibians
- endangered in VA

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8
Q

Sorex cinereus (skin)

A

Masked shrew
- light chestnut color, similar in shape to palustris, shorter tail than palustris but not stubby, no feet webbing

Naming: Order Eulipotyphla, Family Soricidae

Natural History:
- generalist habitat, high-elevation
- subterranean runways, constructs tunnels
- insectivorous mostly

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9
Q

Sorex fumeus (skin)

A

Smoky shrew
- smoky color, large thick tail, hairy tail

Naming: Order Eulipotyphla, Family Soricidae

Natural History:
- cool damp woodlands, high elevation
- mostly insectivorous

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10
Q

Sorex longirostris (skin)

A

Southeastern shrew
- short tail, small body, more reddish-brown than similar species

Naming: Order Eulipotyphla, Family Soricidae

Natural History:
- habitat generalist
- allopatric with S. cinereus (geographic separation caused speciation)

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11
Q

Cryptotis parva (skin)

A

Least shrew
- smallest size (1 inch width), noticeably shorter tail

Naming: Order Eulipotyphla, Family Soricidae

Natural History:
- group dwelling unlike other shrews
- food hoarders
- insectivorous
- not well known

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12
Q

Blarina spp. (skin)

A

Short-tailed shrews
- large size (two inch width) compared to similar species and very small tail

Naming: Order Eulipotyphla, Family Soricidae

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13
Q

Blarina brevicauda (natural history)

A

Northern short-tailed shrew

Naming: Order Eulipotyphla, Family Soricidae

Natural History:
- only venomous mammal in N.A (venomous saliva)
- echolocation
- heaviest shrew in VA
- generalist
- semi-fossorial

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14
Q

Blarina carolinensis (natural history)

A

Southern short-tailed shrew

Naming: Order Eulipotyphla, Family Soricidae

Natural History:
- only venomous mammal in N.A (venomous saliva)
- generalist
- not well known

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15
Q

Talpidae (skull)

A

Moles
- complete zygomatic arches
- no dark tips on teeth

Naming: Order Eulipotyphla

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16
Q

Scalopus aquaticus (skin)

A

Eastern mole
- large digging feet, pointed snout, short mostly bald tail

Naming: Order Eulipotyphla, Family Talpidae

Natural History:
- oil glands on head, chin, wrist, belly stain fur
- most widespread of any mole in N.A
- lower elevations

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17
Q

Condylura cristata (skin)

A

Star-nosed mole
- star nose

Naming: Order Eulipotyphla, Family Talpidae

Natural History:
- swampy habitat
- not well known
- nasal star is sensory device for detecting prey, Eimer’s organ

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18
Q

Parascalops breweri (skin)

A

Hairy-tailed mole
- hairy or bushy appearing tail

Naming: Order Eulipotyphla, Family Talpidae

Natural History:
- high elevation
- ???

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19
Q

Mustela frenata (skin, skull)

A

Long-tailed weasel
- skin: brown dorsal, yellow ventral, tail 50% total length with black tip
- skull: 34 - 53 mm, rounded palatine, 3 upper premolars, auditory bullae longer than wide

Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Mustelidae

Natural History:
- can kill animals up to 4x mass
- sexual size dimorphism
- seasonal molts depending on latitude
- most widespread N.A

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20
Q

Mustela erminea (skull)

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A

Short-tailed weasel
- smallest weasel skull, less than 33 mm, rounded palatine, 3 upper premolars, auditory bullae longer than wide

Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Mustelidae

Natural History:
- season molts, cryptic coloration
- circumpolar distribution patterns (high elevation)

21
Q

Mustela nivalis (skin)

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A

Least weasel
- brown dorsal, white ventral
- tail 25% of length, black tip

Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Mustelidae

Natural History:
- one of largest distribution of any mammal
- smallest extant carnivore
- seasonal molts at high alt.

22
Q

Mustela vison (skin, skull)

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A

American mink
- skin: brown pelage, white around throat, partially webbed feet
- skull: largest mustela skull, larger than 54 mm, rounded palatine, 3 upper premolars, auditory bullae longer than wide

Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Mustelidae

Natural History:
- semi-aquatic
- furbearer
- abandoned lodges

23
Q

Martes americana (skin, skull)

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A

American marten
- skin: brown belage, orange/yellow markings on throat, bushy tail
- skull: 4 upper premolars, thinner auditory bullae

Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Mustelidae

Natural History:
- restricted by deforestation
- vocal variety
- economically important furbearer
- den on ground, often found in trees

24
Q

Lontra canadensis (skin, skull)

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A

River otter
- skin: thick brown fur, rudder-like tail, webbed feed & claws
- skull: 4 upper premolars, flat skull, reduced rostrum (base of snout), about 114 mm, bullae reduced

Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Mustelidae

Natural History:
- thick oily coat, trapped for fur
- vibrassae/whiskers sense prey underwater
- close nostrils underwater
- very social mustelid species

25
Mephitidae (skull)
Skunks - first molar is squarish compared to mustela, flat edge of palatine, 2 upper molars Naming: Order Carnivora
26
Mephitis mephitis (skin)
Striped skunk - black with white stripes Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Mephitidae Natural History: - aposematic coloration (warning) - bred as pets
27
Spilogale putorius (skin)
Spotted skunk - spotted rather than striped Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Mephitidae Natural History: - aposematic coloration - climbs trees - sprays from handstand position
28
Procyon lotor (skin, skull)
North American raccoon - skin: ringed tail, mask on face - skull: molars similar to humans, extremely small or terminated palate, noticeably round cranium Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Procyonidae Natural History: - omnivorous - commensal with humans - dexterous hands (skilled) - NO hibernation
29
Ursus americanus (skull)
American black bear - ~ 300 mm, massive rostrum, poorly developed carnassials, crushing cheek teeth, small bullae Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Ursidae Natural History: - omnivorous - excellent sense of smell (Jacobson's organ) - winter lethargy
30
Canis lupus (pelt, skull)
Grey wolf - pelt: broad snout, short ears, head large compared to dogs - skull: broad long rostrum, 2 upper molars, 3 lower molars, upper canines greater than 12 mm Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Canidae Natural History: - complex social system - habitat generalist, prefer remote
31
Canis rufus (natural history)
Red wolf - occupation in U.S before mid 1900s - preferred swamps, river forests - rodents, rabbits, nutria - only ~25 in the wild Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Canidae
32
Canis latrans (pelt, skull)
Coyote - pelt: grizzled, black tipped tail, thin snout and long ears - skull: 2 upper molars, 3 lower molars, long/narrow rostrum, upper canines less than 12 mm, zygomatic arches rounded rather than straight with rostrum like in lupus Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Canidae Natural History: - pairs or packs - broad diet (fruit -> vertebrates) - generalist - recolonizing urban landscapes
33
Urocyon cinereoargenteus (skin, skull)
Gray fox - skin: gray dorsal, red and white cheeks and belly, black stripe on tail - skull: temporal ridges form a U (urocyon), sagittal crest not well developed Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Canidae Natural History: - only canid in NA that climbs trees with special morphological adaptations: flexible forelimbs, semi-retractable claws - solitary other than breeding
34
Vulpes vulpes (skin, skull)
Red fox - skin: variable pelage with white or black tipped tail, black feet - skull: temporal ridges form a V (vulpes), sagittal crest not well developed Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Canidae Natural History: - most widespread canid in the world
35
Puma concolor (pelt, skull)
Mountain lion/Puma/Cougar - pelt: tail greater than 50% of body length, beige pelage uniform - skull: 3 upper molars, short felid skull Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Felidae Natural History: - widespread carnivore, extirpated from eastern U.S - historically widest distribution of all American mammals - specialize in preying on deer
36
Lynx rufus (skin, skull)
Bobcat - skin: black tipped bob tail and ears, spotted, tufted ears - skull: 2 upper premolars, MUCH smaller than Puma skull Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Felidae Natural History: - solitary, territorial - prey on small vertebrates, mostly cottontails - used to be fur-bearers - currently recolonizing urban landscapes
37
Zalophus californianus (natural history)
California sea lion - 'eared' seal - ears have flaps, skin covered, short claws, "walking" on land - temperate and polar regions - highly specialized from aquatic existence, never in fresh water - primarily consume fish and mollusks - primary range in western NA Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Otariidae
38
Cystophora cristata (natural history)
Hooded seal - sexual dimorphism, male has large nose thing and female much smaller - primary range polar arctic waters Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Phocidae
39
Halichoerus grypus (natural history)
Gray seal - primary range Atlantic ocean Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Phocidae
40
Pagophilus groenlandicus (natural history)
Harp seal - primary range Atlantic ocean Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Phocidae
41
Phoca vitulina (natural history)
Harbor seal - primary range Pacific and Atlantic ocean Naming: Order Carnivora, Family Phocidae
42
Equus caballus (natural history)
Feral horse - damage wildlife habitat - stallions battle for dominants, establish a harem - most likely brought to barrier islands to avoid fencing laws and taxation of livestock Naming: Order Perissodactyla, Family Equidae
43
Sus scrofa (skull)
Feral pig - skull: steeply sloped occipital crest, constantly growing upper canines form tusks that curve outward Naming: Order Cetartiodactyla, Family Suidae Natural History: - destructive invasive species - brought into U.S as food source in 1500s - multiply faster than any other large mammal - Brucella
44
Bison bison (skull)
American bison - skull: boney horn with keratin horn sheath, resembles cow Naming: Order Cetartiodactyla, Family Bovidae Natural History: - overhunted, extirpated from most of historic range - functionally extinct in the wild besides national parks
45
Cervus elaphus (skull/antlers)
- skull: extremely large compared to similar species, long rostrum - antlers: extremely large, twice as long as deer, NOT bifurcated - primary beam obvious Naming: Order Cetartiodactyla, Family Cervidae Natural History: - extirpated from overhunting - reintroduced to VA in 2000s through dispersal and translocation from Kentucky - small VA population currently
46
Odocoileus hemionus (antlers)
Black-tailed deer - antlers: bifurcated - primary beam is NOT obvious but rather in equal tines Naming: Order Cetartiodactyla, Family Cervidae Natural History: - major range in middle to western U.S
47
Odocoileus virginianus (skull/antlers)
White-tailed deer - skull: much smaller than elk - antlers: NOT bifurcated - primary beam obvious (unlike hemionus) Naming: Order Cetartiodactyla, Family Cervidae Natural History: - primary range all throughout U.S and northern S.A
48
Delphinidae (skull)
- skull: small eye orbits, LONG snout, crazy amount of teeth homodont (same shape) Naming: Order Cetartiodactyla, Infraorder Cetacea, Family Delphinidae Natural History: - bottlenose dolphin - Tursiops sp. - intelligent mammal - circumglobal distribution - seafood

Wildlife Biology (2 decks)

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