Lab Quiz 4 Flashcards

Question

Identification of Sciuridae (Skin)

Answer 1

- Tail well furred & often bushy - Longest tail hairs much longer than width of tail vertebrae, always >10mm - Hind feet less than 2.5x forefeet

Answer 2

Northern flying squirrel Widespread, common - Nocturnal/crepuscular - Mainly arboreal - Active year-round - Mainly eats nuts, seeds, tree sap, fungi, lichens - Will also eat birds' eggs, nestlings, mice, insects, carrion (more carnivorous than other squirrels) - Usually nests in tree cavities, also makes nests of leaves & twigs that are lined - Usually solitary (may share in winter) - Lives mainly in coniferous forests/mixed woods up to tree line

Answer 3

- GL 36mm - 40mm; GW >21.5mm; L upper row of cheek teeth >7mm - Two internal divisions of auditory bullae visible externally - Infraorbital foramen not visible in ventral view & anterior to first well-formed cheek tooth

Answer 4

- Furred flap of skin stretches between wrist and ankle along body - Hairs of underside slate at base - Grey cheeks - Long, dense fur

Answer 5

Southern flying squirrel Common - Greater reliance on nuts and less on fungi than G. sabrinus - Stores nuts for consumption during winter - Lives mainly in deciduous forests of oak-hickory or beech-maple

Answer 6

- GL 7mm - Two internal divisions of auditory bullae visible externally - Infraorbital foramen not visible in ventral view & anterior to first well-formed cheek tooth

Answer 7

- Furred flap of skin stretches between wrist and ankle along body - Hairs of underside white throughout - White cheeks - Fur short and smooth

Answer 8

Woodchuck (groundhog) Widespread & common - Active in early morning & late afternoon - Makes extensive burrows with several entrances & exits (summer) - Winter den has single entrance - Can climb to forage or view surroundings - Eats mostly green vegetation, some crops - Occasionally makes sharp whistling noise - Hibernates for 3-6 months in winter - Lives in fields and brush @ forest edge; along highways/roadsides

Answer 9

- Top of skull almost flat in outline - Incisor usually white or pale yellow - Postorbital process @ 90 degree angle to long axis of skull

Answer 10

- Claws on middle digits of forefoot long (max. length obviously >50% fleshy portion of digits) - Large - Solid colour

Answer 11

Eastern grey squirrel Common as dirt (most familiar mammal in E. N. America) - Mainly arboreal but will spend quite a bit of time on ground esp. in fall/winter - Eats nuts, acorns, buds, flowers, fungi, fruit, seeds; occasionally insects/small birds - Caches nuts & acorns for winter; buried individually and later located by scent - Nests of leaves, twigs, etc. on branches or inside hollow trees - Solitary in summer, may group in winter - Active year-round

Answer 12

- GL >50mm - Auditory bullae have two septa that may or may not be externally visible - Infraorbital foramen not visible in ventral view & anterior to first well-formed cheek tooth

Answer 13

- Total length >375mm - No ear tufts, black side stripe - Claws on middle digits of forefoot not elongated

Answer 14

Eastern chipmunk Common, abundant - Usually calls from raised vantage point - Climbs well - Will forage in trees or on the ground - Eats a variety of seeds, fruit, fungi, animals - Elaborate burrow systems; up to 30m of tunnels, multiple entrances - Gathers and stores large quantities of food in burrow in fall - May hibernate in winter depending on latitude - Lives in deciduous forest, forest edge, gardens, suburban areas

Answer 15

- Infraorbital foramen visible in ventral view | - Infraorbital foramen positioned anterior and lateral of first well-formed cheek tooth

Answer 16

- Alternating light and dark stripes on back (5)

Answer 17

Red squirrel Widespread, common - Very vocal; may repeat sharp alarm bark for upwards of an hour - Active year-round - Feeds mainly on pine seeds; also nuts, fungi, fruit, tree sap, young birds, eggs - Hordes pine cones in large piles - Prefers to nest in tree cavities; also branches, underground - Solitary - Lives in coniferous forests, mixed forests, orchards, parks

Answer 18

- Auditory bullae have 3 septa visible externally - Greatest length of skull 40mm - 50mm - Infraorbital foramen not visible in ventral view & positioned anterior to first well-formed cheek tooth

Answer 19

- Red in colour - Black ear tufts in winter only - Black stripe separating back from light underside in summer only - Total length <375mm - Claws on middle digits of forefoot not elongated

Answer 20

American beaver Widespread, common/abundant Populations once exploited for fur recovered - Semiaquatic - Swims with eyes & nose exposed; body and tail usually below water - Warning slaps on water with tail - Fells trees & builds dams to store wood and keep water levels high enough in winter to maintain open water below ice - Mainly crepuscular & nocturnal - Active year-round - Can remain under water for 15 min - Eats roots and green vegetation in summer; bark in winter - Will burrow along banks in rivers - Family groups: monogamous pair, yearlings, young from previous year - Marks territory with anal & castor glands - Lives in swamps, lakes, rivers, streams in wooded areas; ponds in tundra

Answer 21

- Ear opening at the end of an upward curving tube | - Greatest length >115mm

Answer 22

- Tail naked, scaly & paddle-shaped - Width of tail >25% length - Total length >650mm

Answer 23

- Occlusal surface of cheek teeth have whitish enamel loops surrounding patches of dentine; outer margins have zig-zag appearance (1 exception) - Infraorbital foramen narrower at bottom; often V-shaped; faces forward or laterally - Upper incisors can be plain or grooved - Postorbital process absent

Answer 24

- Tail never bushy | - Length of longest tail hairs less than width of tail vertebrae; less than 10mm

Answer 25

Meadow vole Abundant, widespread - Active night & day - Swims well but cannot climb - Frequently seen dashing across roads; forms networks of runways through grass - Eats green plant material, bark, roots, tubers - Females solitary & territorial in summer; shared nests in winter - Males move freely year-round - Nest aboveground under clumps of grass - Live in damp meadows, roadsides, orchards, anywhere with thick cover of grass

Answer 26

- Three re-entrant angles on either side of posterior upper cheek tooth - Posterior border of palate supported at midline (perforated) - No longitudinal groove on front lateral surface of upper incisor - GL <35mm

Answer 27

Woodland vole Locally common/abundant - Mostly lives subterranean - Makes burrows under leaf litter and in shallow soil - Eats roots year-round; summer grass stems; fall fruits; winter bark - Lives in small family groups - Monogamous - Lives in deciduous forests with thick leaf litter or grassy patches in woodlands/orchards; dense brush - Favours sandy soils

Answer 28

- Two re-entrant angles on either side of posterior upper cheek tooth - Posterior border of palate supported at midline (perforated) - No longitudinal groove on front lateral surface of upper incisor - GL <35mm

Answer 29

- Tail length <50% head+body length - Pinnae mostly hidden by fur - Back dark brown, sides brown/grey-brown, underside grey-white - Thick, coarse fur - Tail relatively long and lightly haired

Answer 30

- Fur has reddish tint on back and sides - Short, dense, mole-like fur - Tail very short and nearly naked

Answer 31

Southern red-backed vole Widespread & common - Mainly diurnal in winter, mainly nocturnal in summer - Does not construct underground burrow system but travels under leaf litter & fallen logs - Eats fungi, seeds, nuts, berries, lichen; some arthropods - Globular nests in burrows or under logs - Lives in damp forests, mountain meadows, clear-cuts and bogs

Answer 32

- Posterior border of palate shelf-like & not supported at the midline (no perforations) - No longitudinal groove on front lateral surface of upper incisor - GL <35mm

Answer 33

- Reddish-brown head & back; greyish-brown sides; distinctive stripe - Tail bicoloured, nearly naked - Tail has small tuft at tip - Ears conspicuous

Answer 34

American deer mouse Adundant & widespread - Mainly terrestrial, but some climb well - Eats seeds, fruit, insects, subterranean fungi, etc. - Stores excess food in caches - Solitary in summer, may huddle in winter in the north - Occupies all habitat types

Answer 35

Indistinguishable from P. leucopus - Cheek teeth have two longitudinal rows of cusps at midtooth - Cheek teeth have low rounded cusps; outer margins have no zigzag appearance

Answer 36

- Pure white chin patch 50% head+body length

Answer 37

White-footed mouse Abundant & widespread - Mainly terrestrial but climbs and swims well - Eats insects, seeds, nuts, fruit & green veg - Stores food under logs or near nest sites - Will often live in homes in wooded areas - Lives in deciduous and mixed forest, hedgerows, bushy areas, croplands, semidesert

Answer 38

Indistinguishable from P. maniculatus - Cheek teeth have two longitudinal rows of cusps at midtooth - Cheek teeth have low rounded cusps; outer margins have no zigzag appearance

Answer 39

- Pure white chin patch extends >1cm from mouth - Tail lightly haired, no tuft @ tip - Back clearly two-toned - Fur smooth and slightly shiny - Underside fur grey @ base (1/4) & white @ tip (3/4); appears pure white in living

Answer 40

Common muskrat Common & widespread - Semiaquatic; swims well - Top of head, upper back & sometimes tail visible when swimming - Slaps water when alarmed - Mainly nocturnal; also active on overcast or rainy days - Eats cattail and other aquatic plants - Can close lips behind incisors to harvest food underwater without taking in water - Makes a lodge or house out of cattail/sedges in shallow water - Accesses lodge via underwater tunnels - May make nest in bank burrow - Males have scent glands on either side of penis; mark glands

Answer 41

- Greatest length of skull >35mm | - Cheek teeth have series of white enamel loops surrounding patches of dentine; outer margins have zigzag appearance

Answer 42

- Hind feet webbed - Tail laterally compressed & naked - Total length greater than 450mm

Answer 43

Southern bog lemming Common but patchily distributed - Mainly nocturnal but sometimes active by day - Makes runways through grass or may travel through mole tunnels - Eats mostly grasses and sedges; also fungi, berries, moss - Live in colonies of 3-30 individuals - Usually make nests in underground burrows - Lives in various places but usually near green grass or sedge

Answer 44

- Shallow longitudinal groove on front lateral surface of upper incisor - Greatest length of skull <35mm

Answer 45

- Fur grizzled brown to black along sides - Fur somewhat shaggy - Many dorsal hairs >10mm - Incisors have longitudinal groove - Tail similar in length to hind foot

Answer 46

- Infraorbital foramen large & faces forward; oval-shaped - Pin-sized opening located directly below infraorbital foramen - Upper incisors have single longitudinal groove on anterior surface

Answer 47

- Hind feet large; about 2.5x forefeet - Tail round, scaly - Tail longer than head+body - Total length <260mm

Answer 48

Woodland jumping mouse Uncommon to locally common - Mainly nocturnal, sometimes come out in overcast weather - May stay motionless when encountered - Can leap up to 3m if startled - Eats seeds, berries, subterranean fungi, insects, insect larvae - Hibernates for 6-8 months (Oct-May) - Weight just before hibernation 150% spring weight

Answer 49

- Three well-formed upper cheek teeth

Answer 50

- Last 5mm or so of tail white - Sides & cheeks yellow-orange or reddish-brown - Back and head dark brown - Underside pure white - Hind feet very long and narrow

Answer 51

Meadow jumping mouse Common - Mainly nocturnal - Swims well both above and below water - May cross bodies of open water - Can leap up to 1m, but usually moves in short hops or crawls - Eats grass, seeds, fruit, fungi and insects (esp. moth larvae) - Hibernates for 6-8 months (Oct-May) in southern part of range, up to 10 months in northern part of range - Weight before hibernation ~150% spring - Hibernates in nests of grass & leaves, usually 0.5m below ground - Lives in grassy or weedy fields (both dry and wet), forest clearings, along streams/bogs/forest edge - Favours areas with dense herbaceous vegetation

Answer 52

- Four upper cheek teeth | - First upper cheek tooth small and peg-like

Answer 53

- Tail tip dark and similar in colour to proximal portion - Sides olive brown to yellowish brown - Underside white or cream - Back and top of head dark brown - Tail very long and narrow

Answer 54

North American porcupine Common & widespread - Mainly nocturnal, sometimes seen along roadsides during the day - Active year-round - Eats tree buds in spring, tree leaves & herbaceous plants in summer; acorns, beechnuts, apples, leaves in fall; inner bark of trees & conifer needles in winter - Craves salt and will chew plywood, stalk roadsides - Females and young den in winter - Males may den or spend time in trees year-round - When attacked, flicks tail to drive short, thin quills into attacker - Quills are not thrown - Lives in deciduous and coniferous forests

Answer 55

- Infraorbital foramen as large or larger than foramen magnum - Skull large; total length 95mm - 115mm

Answer 56

- Some hairs modified into sharp-pointed yellowish quills - Quills on back and shoulders concealed by long guard hairs (can be blackish or yellowish) - Tail short and thick

Answer 57

House mouse Introduced Common and widespread Origin of the white lab mouse - Nocturnal - Mainly terrestrial, but climbs well - Eats grains, seeds, insects as well as things left by humans - Nests in underground burrows in fields; also in buildings - Lives in agricultural areas, roadsides, buildings in rural/urban areas

Answer 58

- Greatest length of skull <25mm | - Tip of upper incisor distinctly notched in lateral view

Answer 59

- Total length <200mm | - Tips of most hairs of underside grey, tan, brown

Answer 60

- Cheek teeth have three longitudinal rows of cusps at midtooth - Cheek teeth have low, rounded cusps, outer margins w/ zigzag appearance - Infraorbital foramen always narrower at bottom. often V-shaped - No pin-sized opening below infraorbital foramen

Answer 61

- Tail naked or furred; longer than hind foot - Length of longest hairs generally less than width of tail vertebrae; always less than 10mm - Tips of most hairs of underside grey, tan, brown

Answer 62

Norway rat Introduced Abundant Used in labs - North America's most serious pest - Mainly nocturnal - Terrestrial but can climb and swim well - Eats grain, fruit, garbage - anything available - Has been known to kill chickens - Lives in colonies with one male and several females + young - Lives in complex burrow system - Lives in urban areas, grain fields, salt marshes - Favours sewer and wet areas in cities

Answer 63

Family within Caniformia | Dogs, wolves, coyotes (4 sp.)

Answer 64

Family within Feliformia | Cats (2 sp.)

Answer 65

Family within Caniformia | Skunks (1 sp.)

Answer 66

Family within Caniformia | Otters, weasels, badgers (8 sp.)

Answer 67

Family within Caniformia | Raccoons (1 sp.)

Answer 68

Family within Caniformia | Bears (1 sp.)

Answer 69

- Posterior border of palate even with last tooth or slightly behind - Seven lower cheek teeth - Six upper cheek teeth - Not all cheek teeth blade-like

Answer 70

- Body dog-like - Claws straight & somewhat blunt - Claws not retractile - Scent gland present on back at dorsal base of tail - Tail long and bushy; greater than 200mm

Answer 71

Coyote Common & widespread - Highly adaptable - Most active at dusk/dawn in east; nocturnal or diurnal in west - Usually runs with tail downward - Eats a variety of foods including small mammals, birds, snakes, insects, fruit, berries, veggies - Usually feeds on larger prey (i.e. deer) as carrion, but may hunt cooperatively in groups - May travel alone or in pairs - Packs of 3-7 consists of a mated pair and offspring of various ages - Larger packs are unstable associations of nonbreeding animals - Packs will defend territories of 10-24 km^2 - Mark boundaries of territory with urine - Most commonly found in mixed habitats, less common in large areas of unbroken forest

Answer 72

- Greatest length of skull <225mm | - Base of postorbital processes smooth or convex with no paired depressions

Answer 73

- Total length 1,075 - 1,350 mm - Hind foot <33% total length - Long legs - Large ears - Long, narrow muzzle - Legs and muzzle rusty in colour - Body colour varies from greyish to tawny - Tail bushy and usually tipped black

Answer 74

Eastern timber wolf Exact numbers unknown - Mainly active at dawn/dusk, but sometimes day - Eats mostly large mammals: moose, white-tailed deer, elk, caribou, sheep; sometimes beaver and showshoe hare - Most social of the canids: lives in packs of 2-15 (avg. 6) - Packs composed of family members - Packs have well-defined social hierarchy, with male/female dominating all other males/females in group - Home range of 146-2600 km^2 - Favours heavily forested areas

Answer 75

- Greatest length of skull >225mm | - Base of postorbital processes smooth or convex with no paired depressions

Answer 76

- Total length >1,350 mm - Hind foor >225 mm - Width of nosepad >25 mm - Tail length <33% total length - Muzzle tapered but not as long as coyote - Back grey-brown to reddish-brown - Lower sides and legs tawny - Chest and underside greyish white - Tail with black tip

Answer 77

Grey Fox Common in US Hunted and trapped for fur in range - Mainly nocturnal/crepuscular - Usually seen on the ground but is capable of climbing trees to feed or escape predators - More omnivorous than other foxes - Feeds mostly on small mammals in winter and may eat lots of insects in summer - Range 2-5 km^2 - Seen alone or pairs - Lives in deciduous forest and oldfields (east) - Brush areas and riparian forest (west)

Answer 78

- Temporal ridges form U shape when viewed from above | - Lower portion of mandible notched at posterior end

Answer 79

- Body a mixture of grey & black - Sides rust-orange - Underside & throat white - Feet not black - Tail has black tip and top - Tail length >33% total length - Total length <1,075 mm - Relatively short legs

Answer 80

Red fox Common - has expanded in range due to extirpation of wolves, agriculture Used to be hunted extensively for fur/sport One of main vectors for rabies - Mainly nocturnal/crepuscular - Feeds on small rodents, rabbits, birds, insects, fruit, berries - Will raid garbages and feed on carrion - Hearing sensitive to low-frequency rustling/gnawing sounds from prey - Hunts by stalking close, leaping up and landing on and pinning prey w/ forefeet - Adults form long-term pair bonds - Usually seen alone since they forage alone - Territory 0.6-6 km^2 - Young born in underground dens w/ multiple entrances - Young males disperse widely but females may stay for some time with parents - Favours mixed habitat w/ brushland & fields

Answer 81

- Temporal ridges form narrow V shape when viewed from above | - Lower part of mandible not notched at posterior end

Answer 82

- Back usually reddish, but occasionally brownish or black - Feet black - Bushy tail tipped with white (all colour phases) - Long legs - "Silver phase" blackish with various amounts of silvery frosting - "Cross phase" grey or orange-brown with dark cross on shoulders - Alternate phases mainly in Canada/Alaska

Answer 83

- Three or four upper cheek teeth - Posterior upper cheek tooth small and oriented with long axis perpendicular to long axis of adjacent tooth - Three lower cheek teeth present - All cheek teeth blade-like - Rostrum short

Answer 84

- Body cat-like - Claws curved & sharp - Claws retractile - Lack scent gland at dorsal base of tail - Tail short and not bushy

Answer 85

Canada lynx Fairly common in northern regions, southern range reduced due to overexploitation - Most active at dawn/dusk - Hunts by stalking close and bouncing onto prey in 1-2 bounds - Feeds mainly on snowshoe hares - Populations follow a cyclical pattern with highs every 10 years - Mainly solitary - Lives mainly in coniferous forests - Favours areas of dense vegetation, swamps, and rocks

Answer 86

- Max. width of presphenoid 6mm or more | - Crest on occipital bone extends more than 3mm posterior to foramen magnum

Answer 87

- Ears have tuft of black hairs - Black marking at tip of tail continuous around tail - Hind foot length greater than 200mm - Fur on back is greyish and not spotted

Answer 88

Bobcat Common in south & west range; largely extirpated in midwest - Mainly nocturnal, but can be active at any time of day - Swims well - Will climb trees to avoid predators - Travels and hunts on the ground - Eats mainly rabbits and rodents, but will prey on other things - Sneaks up on prey then pounces and strikes - Mainly solitary - Highly variable habitats

Answer 89

- Max. width of presphenoid <6mm | - Crest on occipital bone less than 3mm posterior to foramen magnum in ventral view

Answer 90

- Ear tufts absent or small - Only dorsal surface of tail with black mark - Hind foot <200mm

Answer 91

Striped skunk Common to abundant - Mainly nocturnal - Rummages through leaf litter for food - Growls, purrs, hissed in warning - Stamps feet before spraying - Eats mainly insects; also small mammals, birds, bird eggs, fruit, carrion, plant material - Usually solitary; but may share winter dens or congregate at feeding areas - Fattens up in the fall and spends a lot of winter in den - Does not hibernate - Usually not far from water

Answer 92

- Posterior border of palate approx. even with posterior border of last upper tooth - Anterior border of last upper tooth straight - Four upper cheek teeth on each side

Answer 93

- Front claws not greatly enlarged compared to rear claws - Max. 2 broad white stripes on back - Top of head & neck white

Answer 94

- Four or five upper cheek teeth - Posterior upper cheek teeth not tiny relative to adjacent teeth - Five or more lower cheek teeth on each side - Not all cheek teeth blade-like

Answer 95

- Tail lacks multiple black rings - No black facial mask - Colour never uniform black above & below - Tail obvious

Answer 96

Northern river otter Extirpated from much of former US range Suffers from water pollution & habitat loss Has been protected and reintroduced successfully in 7 US states & Alberta - Semiaquatic; strong swimmer - Swims with head exposed and body underwater - Mainly crepuscular, but can be active at all times of day - May travel long distances on land when dispersing or in search of open water - Mainly eats fish, frogs, crayfish, molluscs - Dens in bank burrows, under roots/brush; entrances either above or below water - Males usually solitary; may form bachelor groups - Groups usually consist of female and young - Mating takes place soon after young are born; implantation delayed 8-9 months - Lives in all water areas

Answer 97

- Five lower cheek teeth - Five upper cheek teeth - Large infraorbital foramen; ~8mm L ~5mm W - Base of postorbital processes smooth or convex with no paired depressions

Answer 98

- Feet fully webbed - Tail unusually thick and muscular at base; strongly tapered towards tip - Total length >700mm - Short legged - Upper parts dark brown, underside silvery

Answer 99

American marten - Active all day - Seldom seen - Agile & semiarboreal - Swims well - Usually hunts on the ground - May travel under snow in winter - Diet varies depending on food availability and season - Sleeps on branches or in hollow logs - May den under snow in winter - Does not hibernate - Lives in mature coniferous or mixed forests

Answer 100

- Five upper cheek teeth - Six lower cheek teeth - No exposed rootlet on outer side of fourth upper cheek tooth - Greatest length of skull 95 mm or less - Infraorbital foramen small to medium (less than 6mm L x 4mm W)

Answer 101

- Body yellowish brown to dark brown - Head paler than back - Chin brown - Legs/feet/tail darker than back - Large orange/buff/cream patch covering throat and extending onto chest - Feet relatively large - Total length 660mm or less - Ears more than 25mm in height - Ears have light-coloured border

Answer 102

American marten - Active all day - Seldom seen - Agile & semiarboreal - Swims well - Usually hunts on the ground - May travel under snow in winter - Diet varies depending on food availability and season - Sleeps on branches or in hollow logs - May den under snow in winter - Does not hibernate - Lives in mature coniferous or mixed forests

Answer 103

- Five upper cheek teeth - Six lower cheek teeth - No exposed rootlet on outer side of fourth upper cheek tooth - Greatest length of skull 95 mm or less - Infraorbital foramen small to medium (less than 6mm L x 4mm W)

Answer 104

- Large, bushy-tailed - Body dark brown to black - Long guard hairs - Head/neck/shoulders grizzled yellow-brown or greyish-yellow - Legs/feet/tail blackish - No large buff/cream patch but small patches may occur on throat/chest - Total length usually much greater than 660mm - Ears more than 25mm high w/ light-coloured border

Answer 105

American marten - Active all day - Seldom seen - Agile & semiarboreal - Swims well - Usually hunts on the ground - May travel under snow in winter - Diet varies depending on food availability and season - Sleeps on branches or in hollow logs - May den under snow in winter - Does not hibernate - Lives in mature coniferous or mixed forests

Answer 106

- Postorbital process blunt and weakly developed - Greatest width of skull <24mm M - Greatest length of skull 35mm - 55mm - Posterior border of palate well behind last upper tooth - Hourglass-shaped chewing surface on last upper cheek tooth

Answer 107

- Tail length <450mm

Answer 108

Long-tailed weasel Widespread but uncommon/rare - Active day or night - Gallops with back arched and tail held up - Hunts for prey on ground, in trees, and in underground burrows - Swims well - Feeds on small to medium mammals, birds (eggs), snakes, insects, carrion - Breeding in summer with young born following spring - Lives in forests, meadows, fields - Favours open areas w/ dense vegetation, near water

Answer 109

- Postorbital process pointed - Greatest width of skull >20mm F; >24mm M - Greatest length of skull 35 - 55 mm - Posterior border of palate well behind last upper tooth - Hourglass-shaped chewing surface on last upper cheek tooth

Answer 110

- Largest weasel in North America - Tail length >44% heady+body length - Colour highly variable overall - Summer: brown above - Winter: white to yellowish (north only) - Terminal portion of tail black - Ventral fur mostly white to yellowish-white

Answer 111

Least weasel Uncommon-rare, can be locally abundant - Alternates periods of activity and rest throughout the day and night - When awake, frantically darts in and out of runways & burrows, pausing momentarily to stand up and look around - Feeds on voles and mice; also birds & eggs, insects, shrews, moles - Narrow body allows it to pursue prey in small burrows - Eats almost half its weight daily - Caches extra prey in chambers and burrows - Male home ranges include the ranges of several females - Strong-smelling musk used to mark territory - Lives in open areas

Answer 112

- Postorbital process blunt and weakly developed - Greatest width of skull <24mm M - Greatest length of skull 35mm - 55mm - Posterior border of palate well behind last upper tooth - Hourglass-shaped chewing surface on last upper cheek tooth

Answer 113

- Tail length <450mm

Answer 114

Long-tailed weasel Widespread but uncommon/rare - Active day or night - Gallops with back arched and tail held up - Hunts for prey on ground, in trees, and in underground burrows - Swims well - Feeds on small to medium mammals, birds (eggs), snakes, insects, carrion - Breeding in summer with young born following spring - Lives in forests, meadows, fields - Favours open areas w/ dense vegetation, near water

Answer 115

- Postorbital process pointed - Greatest width of skull >20mm F; >24mm M - Greatest length of skull 35 - 55 mm - Posterior border of palate well behind last upper tooth - Hourglass-shaped chewing surface on last upper cheek tooth

Answer 116

- Largest weasel in North America - Tail length >44% heady+body length - Colour highly variable overall - Summer: brown above - Winter: white to yellowish (north only) - Terminal portion of tail black - Ventral fur mostly white to yellowish-white

Answer 117

Least weasel Uncommon-rare, can be locally abundant - Alternates periods of activity and rest throughout the day and night - When awake, frantically darts in and out of runways & burrows, pausing momentarily to stand up and look around - Feeds on voles and mice; also birds & eggs, insects, shrews, moles - Narrow body allows it to pursue prey in small burrows - Eats almost half its weight daily - Caches extra prey in chambers and burrows - Male home ranges include the ranges of several females - Strong-smelling musk used to mark territory - Lives in open areas

Answer 118

- Greatest length of skull 35mm or less - Basically, really small - Posterior border of palate well behind last upper tooth - Hourglass-shaped chewing surface on last upper cheek tooth

Answer 119

- Small - Terminal portion of tail not obviously black - Summer: back brown; forefeet often white (sometimes brown); hind feet often brown (sometimes white) - Winter: entirely white or off-white - Ventral fur mostly white or yellowish white

Answer 120

American mink Widespread, common in suitable areas - Mainly nocturnal/crepuscular - Excellent swimmers - Mainly aquatic prey summer, terrestrial winter - Eats small to medium mammals, crayfish, frogs, snakes, birds - Dens near water in tree roots, muskrat houses, burrows in banks - May use several different dens - Males occupy larger range than females - Lives in wooded areas along bodies of water

Answer 121

- Greatest length of skull >55mm - Posterior border of palate well behind last upper tooth - Hourglass-shaped chewing surface on last upper cheek tooth

Answer 122

- Feet partly webbed - Long low body - Male larger than female - Back & underside dark brown - Small white patches on chin, sometimes thriat & chest - Tail blackish at tip

Answer 123

American badger Locally common to rare Endangered in Ontario - Mainly nocturnal - Good digger - Uses burrows for resting, raising young, food storage - Digs up & feeds on rodents; also invertebrates, snakes, carrion - May stay in burrow during bad weather - Will become torpid but never hibernates - Solitary except when breeding - Males hold large territories, may mate with multiple females - Mate in summer-fall; implantation delayed until spring

Answer 124

- Last upper cheek tooth triangular in outline - Skull triangular in dorsal view - Four upper cheek teeth

Answer 125

- Front claws massive - Single white stripe down midline from snout to shoulders - Back grizzled yellow-grey, underside yellow buff - White face with black markings - Stocky and short-legged

Answer 126

Northern raccoon Abundant Hunted in some areas for sport Can carry rabies and other parasites - Mainly nocturnal - Moves with bouncing gait; back arched and head low - Sleeps by day on branch or in tree hollow; sometimes burrow/building - Eats a wide variety of food - May dabble in water for prey - Manipulates items with front paws - May stay in den for several days during bad weather; never hibernates - Usually solitary but groups may share den - Young stay with mom for 6-9 months - Adult females remain in same area, males travel in search of mates

Answer 127

- Posterior border of palate well behind last upper tooth - Six lower cheek teeth - Six upper cheek teeth

Answer 128

- Tail has multiple dark rings - Black facial mask - White sides of muzzle and above eyes - Fur long and grizzled

Answer 129

Black bear Range very reduced in east Often hunted, but are shy and are seldom dangerous - Usually active by day in wild areas; may be nocturnal near human populations - Walk with shuffling gait; can gallop quickly - Climb well - Eat mainly nuts, berries, and vegetation; also insects, birds eggs, young mammals, carrion - Mostly solitary; may form social hierarchy at rich feeding area - Male occupies large range that encompasses ranges of many females - Dormant for up to 7 months in northern part of range - Lives in forests and swamps in east - Lives in mountains, tundra, rainforest west

Answer 130

- Last upper cheek tooth 1.5x long as wide - Long axis of last upper cheek tooth parallels long axis of skull - Skull massive

Answer 131

- Body massive and not elongate - Uniform black colour both above and below; various colour forms may arise - Always buff brown muzzle - Possible white throat patch - Total length much greater than 800mm - Tail inconspicuous