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Springbok - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio

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Basic facts about Springbok: lifespan, distribution and habitat map, lifestyle and social behavior, mating habits, diet and nutrition, population size and status.

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Three-banded armadillos can be found in eastern Bolivia, southwestern Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Armadillos are the only mammals covered by a shell. But it’s different from a seashell or a tortoise shell. An armadillo’s shell is made up of bony plates covered by thick, hard skin.

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Ostriches are birds. This means that they are covered in feathers, hatch from eggs, and have wings and beaks.

They are also warm-blooded.

Warm-blooded means that ostriches are able to regulate their internal body temperature.

No matter what the temperature of their environment, an ostrich will always be at the same temperature.

Ostriches are the biggest birds in the world. They can grow to be over nine feet tall and weigh about 350 pounds when they are full grown.

Where do ostriches live?

Ostriches live in the African savannah. This is the only place that they can be found in the world in the wild.

Ostriches, unlike other birds, cannot fly. Their wings are simply too small. They do use their wings to help with balance as they run.

They also use their wings for fancy dancing when they are trying to find a mate.

Ostriches can run up to 45 miles per hour, which is as fast as a car!

They cannot keep this pace up for long, however, and prefer to run at a much more manageable 30 mph.

Ostriches also take gigantic steps. When an ostrich is running at full tilt, their stride can be as big as 16 feet long.

What do ostriches eat?

Ostriches are omnivores. This means that they will eat both plants and meat. They usually eat seeds and grain, but will also eat insects and small animals if they can find them.

Though ostriches are the largest bird, they do not have large brains.

This is mostly because there is not enough room to accommodate both their eyes, which are the biggest eye of any land animal and their brain.

Though you wouldn't think it to look at them, ostriches can be very dangerous. Their legs are quite powerful, and they have been known to kill lions with a single kick.

Another reason that their kick is so dangerous is because of the large claws that they have on their feet.

They have two toes where other birds have three or four, but each toe has a razor-sharp claw on it.

Ostriches prefer to live in small flocks, though some can get quite large. While most flocks are only about ten birds, they can get as big as 100 under the right circumstances.

These small groups are usually led by an alpha male and female who keep the flock together and keep them safe.

Fun Ostrich Facts For Kids

Ostrich eggs are huge! They can weigh up to 5 pounds, which is about as much as a dozen chicken eggs.

Though all of the females in a flock will lay eggs, only the lead male and female will sit on them.

At birth, ostrich chicks are as large as a fully-grown chicken. Both males and females are responsible for caring for the chicks.

The chicks do not take a long time to grow to their full height. By the time that they are six months old, they are usually full-grown.

Ostriches can live for a long time. Even in the wild, the normal lifespan for an ostrich is 50 to 75 years old.

Though the idea has been popularized by cartoons, ostriches don't actually put their heads into the ground to hide from danger.

Instead, they lay as flat as possible, which, from a distance, makes it look like they are putting their head in the ground.

More Animals facts.

Gorillas are the Kings of the Jungle

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Ostrich Facts Ostriches are birds. This means that they are covered in feathers, hatch from eggs, and have wings and beaks. They are also warm-blooded. Warm-blooded means that ostriches are able to regulate their internal body temperature. No matter what the temperature of their environment, an ostrich will always be at the same temperature.

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They're seriously tall and super speedy - check out our fascinating ostrich facts!

Scientific name: Struthio camelus
Family name: Struthionidae
Classification: Bird
IUCN status: Least concern
Lifespan (in wild): 30-40 years
Weight: More than 150kg
Body length: 2.1-2.7m tall
Top speed: 70km/h
Diet: Omnivore
Habitat: Grassland, savannah and open woodland
Range:

Found across Africa's hot savannahs and open woodland, the ostrich is the world's largest bird. It stands up to a massive 2.7m tall and weighs as much as 159kg - that's around 1m taller than the average man, and the weight of two men combined!

This flightless bird has a long, bare neck, long, sturdy legs and a bulky body covered with feathers. Males and females have different coloured feathers - males sport black plumage with a white tail, and females are mostly brown. Both sexes have small heads, a short, wide beak and big brown eyes protected by long dark lashes.

The ostrich might not be able to fly, but boy can it run! Using its long legs, powerful thighs and strong feet, this big bird can cover five metres in a single stride and reach speeds of over 70km per hour! When zooming along at such mega speeds, it holds out its short wings to help it balance.

This brilliant bird's strong legs don't only carry the ostrich where it wants to go - they're super effective when it comes to self-defence. If an ostrich is cornered by a hungry predator, such as a , , or , it will kick with a force powerful enough to kill! And check this out, each two-toed foot is armed with a ten centimetre sharp claw, too, so predators had better beware!

With their tall height and excellent eyesight, these amazing creatures are great at spotting potential predators from far away. But if danger gets too close for comfort, the ostrich will often lie low to hide, stretching its neck along the ground. Its coloured feathers help it to blend in with the sandy soil where it lives. Have you ever heard that ostriches bury their head in the sand to hide? Well, as funny as that sounds, it's not true! But from far away, depending what position the ostrich takes, it can sure look that way, hence how the myth began.

Ostriches are mainly vegetarian, eating roots, leaves, flowers and seeds. But they will also eat insects, lizards and other small creatures, too. They generally live in the vicinity of grazing animals such as wildebeest, antelopes and zebras, and together they form a great partnership - the grazers stir up insects and rodents for the ostriches to eat, and the ostriches help alert the grazers to dangers such as approaching lions.

Ostriches live in groups, called herds, generally made up of around 12 individuals. Males compete with one another for control of several females (or hens), and the winner becomes the leader of the herd. Each group also has a dominant hen, she will only mate with the alpha male, but he may mate with other females in the herd as well.

During breeding season, the alpha male makes a nest in the ground and attempts to attract females by, believe it or not, dancing! His impressive moves include dropping to the ground, shaking his wings and tail, and swaying his head and neck from side to side. After mating, the hens lay their eggs in the nest. But these are no ordinary eggs, gang - they're the largest eggs in the world, averaging around 15cm long and weighing up to a mega 1.5kg!

The main female may lay up to 11 eggs, which are positioned in the centre of the communal nest where they're safest, and the other hens lay between two to six eggs. The alpha male and dominant female then look after the nest, taking it in turns to incubate the eggs.

After about 40 days, the new chicks hatch, all feathered and ready to walk! Within days, they leave the nest to follow their parents, who protect them from the hot sun or rain by keeping them huddled under their body or outstretched wings. By the time the young ostriches are 18 months old, they are fully grown and have become record-breaking birds, just like their parents. Impressive, eh?

What did you make of our ostrich facts? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Credits
Text adapted from feature by Catherine D. Hughes
Pictures - Baby ostriches hatching: Des and Jen Bartlett. Ostrich head: Stephen St. John. Ostrich family: Niserin, Dreamstime. Ostrich standing in tall grass: Tim Laman. Ostrich running: Matthewgsimpson, Dreamstime. Ostrich distribution map: National Geographic Maps.

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Ostrich facts! | National Geographic Kids

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They're seriously tall and super speedy - check out our fascinating ostrich facts! Scientific name: Struthio camelus Family name: Struthionidae Classification: Bird IUCN status: Least concern Lifespan (in wild): 30-40 years Weight: More than 150kg Body length: 2.1-2.7m tall Top speed: 70km/h Diet: Omnivore Habitat: Grassland, savannah and open woodland Range: Found across Africa's hot savannahs and open woodland, the ostrich is the world's largest bird.

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This is one of the kids' favorite moments in Cape, an episode of the BBC series Africa: springboks pronking, or leaping high into the air - up to 13 feet!

In Afrikaans and Dutch, to "pronk" is to show off, though the reason that springboks pronk is not known definitively. They could be excited, agitated, exercising, spreading their individual scents, or showing off their fitness either for predators or rivals within the herd. Any which way, it's fun to watch.

Here's another example, filmed by a Going Africa Safaris:

Watch more BBC videos in the archives.

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This is one of the kids' favorite moments in Cape, an episode of the BBC series Africa: springboks pronking, or leaping high into the air - up

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BioKIDS - Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species, Antidorcas marsupialis, springbok: CLASSIFICATION

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BioKIDS - Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species

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The springbok is a medium-sized species of antelope that is native to south and southwestern Africa. The national animal of South Africa has a distinct brown and white color, a slender frame, and long legs. Its scientific name is Antidorcas marsupialis.

See the fact file below for more information on the Springbok, or you can download our 26-page Springbok worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment. The springbok is a medium-sized species of antelope that is native to south and southwestern Africa. The national animal of South Africa, it has a distinct brown and white color, a slender frame, and long legs. Its scientific name is Antidorcas marsupialis.

Key Facts & Information

The name "springbok" is derived from the Afrikaans words spring (which means "jump") and bok (which means "antelope" or "goat").

It was around 1775 when the name was first used.

Antidorcas marsupialis is the scientific name of the springbok.

The word "anti" is rooted in the ancient Greek word for "opposite."

"Dorcas," on the other hand, means "gazelle" in Greek.

Therefore, antidorcas means "not a gazelle."

"Marsupialis" is derived from the Latin word "marsupium" (which means "pocket").

What differentiates the springbok from the gazelle is that the former has a pocket-like skin flap that runs along the midline of the back from the tail.

In terms of scientific classification, springbok belong to the Kingdom Animalia; the phylum Chordata; the class Mammalia; the order Artiodactyla; the family Bovidae, together with antelopes, cattle, buffalo, bison, and caprines. It belongs to the Antilopini tribe.

The first recorded description of the springbok was written by German zoologist Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann in 1780.

Eberhard also placed the springbok in the genus Antilope.

In 1845, Swedish zoologist Carl Jakob Sundevall classified the springbok as the only living creature of the genus Antidorcas.

There are three subspecies of springbok: Antidorcas marsupialis angolensis, A. m. hofmeyri, and A. m. marsupialis.

The springbok has a slender body, a V-shaped face, a long neck, and long legs.

Male and female species can grow up to 34 inches at the shoulder.

The weight range of a springbok is between 27 and 42 kilograms.

The A. m. hofmeyri species can grow the biggest while the A. m. marsupialis is as the smallest subspecies.

The springbok is commonly light brown with a white underbelly.

A dark reddish-brown band extends horizontally from the upper foreleg to the edge of the buttocks.

The springbok's face is predominantly white, with dark stripes running across from the corner of the eyes to the mouth.

Both male and female springboks have black horns with ends that are curved backward.

It has a large clump of hair that rises from a pouch on its back.

The three subspecies can be identified by their varying colors:

The A. m. angolensis is brown or orange-brown with dark stripes and a distinctly bright white face.

The A. m. hofmeyri has a light fawn coat. Unlike the A. m. angolensis, the forehead patch of this species has no clear boundaries and extends beyond the level of the eyes.

The A. m. marsupialis is a chestnut brown color with light face stripes. It has a brown, fawn, or white forehead with a patch that does not extend beyond the eyes.

Springboks inhabit dry areas such as a savanna, a mixed woodland-grassland ecosystem, or a desert, barren land with sparse vegetation.

They are commonly found in south and southwestern Africa.

They mostly populate the Kalahari desert in Botswana, the Namib Desert in Angola, and across Namibia and South Africa.

A group of springboks is called a herd.

In an earlier practice called trekbokking, herds used to migrate in large populations from the Kalahari desert and Karoo across the countryside.

Springboks assemble in the wet season and scatter during the dry season.

Springboks are primarily active at dawn and dusk.

The activity of springboks is highly dependent on the weather.

When the weather is cooler, they feed at midday, but when it's warmer, they feed at night.

In colder months, they can also rest out in the open, but during summer, they prefer to cool off in the shade of trees.

In terms of diet, springboks mainly get their food through browsing, a kind of consumption in which a herbivore feeds on leaves, soft shoots, or fruits of shrubs and young succulents.

Springboks are browsers and, at times, also practice grazing, a type of herbivory in which they eat grass growing in a field.

Springbok can meet their water needs from the food they eat and are able to survive through the dry season without drinking water.

Springboks are very fast creatures.

Springboks perform pronking, carrying out multiple high leaps that reach 2 meters into the air.

One theory as to why springbok practice pronking is that it is a way to alert or defend against a potential predator.

During stretches of drought in the past, springboks do mass treks, also known as trekbokking in Afrikaans.

Trekbokking involves millions of springboks migrating far distances.

Springboks are vigilant animals. Males tend to be territorial for the sake of the herd.

During mating season, males create herds and go in search of mates.

Territorial males shut out the eligible bachelors from the female herd that set foot in their area.

In separate herds, females live with their offspring and not with dominant males. A baby springbok is called a calf.

After weaning, female calves stay with their mothers until they give birth to their next young.

Meanwhile, males stay in their bachelor herds and mark their territories by urinating and excreting feces.

In order to win access to the females, male springboks engage in combat with each other using their horns.

Males fight by stabbing or twisting at each other.

Mixed-sex herds can comprise up to 180 springboks.

All-male herds are commonly made up of less than 50 springboks.

Generally, all-female and nursery herds have no more than 10 springboks.

Springboks have beautiful coats, which is why they are highly prized and hunted as game throughout Southern African countries like Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.

The skins of springboks are used for taxidermy purposes.

In the 20th century, during white minority rule, the springbok was declared a national symbol of South Africa.

The springbok is South Africa's national animal.

It also became a nickname and mascot of multiple sports teams of South Africa, including the national rugby union team.

The springbok can be seen on the reverse of the South African Krugerrand coin.

Springbok Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Springbok across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Springbok. The springbok is a medium-sized species of antelope that is native to south and southwestern Africa. It is the national animal of South Africa.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

Springbok Facts

Name Game

Fact or False

One Part, One Fact

Image Story

Fun Facts

The Bovidae Family

Mating Multiple Choice

Subspecies Sketching

Watch and Learn

The Story Behind The Symbol

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a springbok?

A springbok is a medium-sized antelope found in southern and southwestern Africa.

How fast can a springbok run?

Springboks are known for their incredible speed and agility. They can run at speeds of up to 80 km/h (50 mph).

How do springboks get their name?

Springboks are named for their ability to "pronk," or jump into the air with all four feet at once. This behavior is also known as "stotting" or "pronking."

Are springboks endangered?

Springboks are not currently considered endangered, although they have faced population declines in the past due to hunting and habitat loss.

What is a group of springboks called?

A group of springboks is called a "herd" or a "pronk" (which also refers to their jumping behavior).

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Springbok Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 30, 2023
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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Springbok Facts & Worksheets | Behavior, Habitat, Diet, Range

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The springbok is a medium-sized species of antelope that is native to south and southwestern Africa. Click for PDF and Google Slides worksheets.

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The Springbok Antelope ( Antidorcas marsupialis) is a medium sized brown and white gazelle that stands about 75 centimetres (30 in) high. It is in the same family as antelope and goats. They are the national animal of South Africa and live in the Savannah Biome.

Description

The springbok is a slender antelope with long legs and neck. Both sexes reach 71-86 cm (28-34 in) at the shoulder with a head-and-body length typically between 120 and 150 cm (47 and 59 in). The weights for both sexes range between 27 and 42 kilograms (60 and 93 lb). The tail, 14 to 28 cm (5.5 to 11.0 in) long, ends in a short, black tuft. Major differences in the size and weight of the subspecies are seen. A study tabulated average body measurements for the three subspecies. A. m. angolensis males stand 84 cm (33 in) tall at the shoulder, while females are 81 cm (32 in) tall. The males weigh around 31 kg (68 lb), while the females weigh 32 kg (71 lb). A. m. hofmeyri is the largest subspecies; males are nearly 86 cm (34 in) tall, and the notably shorter females are 71 cm (28 in) tall. The males, weighing 42 kg (93 lb), are heavier than females, that weigh 35 kg (77 lb). However, A. m. marsupialis is the smallest subspecies; males are 75 cm (30 in) tall and females 72 cm (28 in) tall. Average weight of males is 31 kg (68 lb), while for females it is 27 kg (60 lb). Another study showed a strong correlation between the availability of winter dietary protein and the body mass.

Dark stripes extend across the white face, from the corner of the eyes to the mouth. A dark patch marks the forehead. In juveniles, the stripes and the patch are light brown. The ears, narrow and pointed, measure 15-19 cm (5.9-7.5 in). Typically light brown, the springbok has a dark reddish-brown band running horizontally from the upper foreleg to the edge of the buttocks, separating the dark back from the white underbelly. The tail (except the terminal black tuft), buttocks, the insides of the legs and the rump are all white. Two other varieties - pure black and pure white forms - are artificially selected in some South African ranches. Though born with a deep black sheen, adult black springbok are two shades of chocolate-brown and develop a white marking on the face as they mature. White springbok, as the name suggests, are predominantly white with a light tan stripe on the flanks.

The three subspecies also differ in their colour. A. m. angolensis has a brown to tawny coat, with thick, dark brown stripes on the face extending two-thirds down to the snout. While the lateral stripe is nearly black, the stripe on the rump is dark brown. The medium brown forehead patch extends to eye level and is separated from the bright white face by a dark brown border. A brown spot is seen on the nose. A. m. hofmeyri is a light fawn, with thin, dark brown face stripes. The stripes on the flanks are dark brown to black, and the posterior stripes are moderately brown. The forehead patch, dark brown or fawn, extends beyond the level of the eyes and mixes with the white of the face without any clear barriers. The nose may have a pale smudge. A. m. marsupialis is a rich chestnut brown, with thin, light face stripes. The stripe near the rump is well-marked, and that on the flanks is deep brown. The forehead is brown, fawn, or white, the patch not extending beyond the eyes and having no sharp boundaries. The nose is white or marked with brown.

The skin along the middle of the dorsal side is folded in, and covered with 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 in) white hair erected by arrector pili muscles (located between hair follicles). This white hair is almost fully concealed by the surrounding brown hairs until the fold opens up, and this is a major feature distinguishing this antelope from gazelles. Springbok differ from gazelles in several other ways; for instance, springbok have two premolars on both sides of either jaw, rather than the three observed in gazelles. This gives a total of 28 teeth in the springbok, rather than 32 of gazelles. Other points of difference include a longer, broader, and rigid bridge to the nose and more muscular cheeks in springbok, and differences in the structure of the horns.

Both sexes have black horns, about 35-50 cm (14-20 in) long, that are straight at the base and then curve backward. In A. m. marsupialis, females have thinner horns than males; the horns of females are only 60 to 70% as long as those of males. Horns have a girth of 71-83 mm (2.8-3.3 in) at the base; this thins to 56-65 mm (2.2-2.6 in) towards the tip. In the other two subspecies, horns of both sexes are nearly similar. The spoor, narrow and sharp, is 5.5 cm (2.2 in) long.

Ecology and behaviour

Springbok are mainly active around dawn and dusk. Activity is influenced by weather; springbok can feed at night in hot weather, and at midday in colder months. They rest in the shade of trees or bushes, and often bed down in the open when weather is cooler. The social structure of the springbok is similar to that of Thomson's gazelle. Mixed-sex herds or harems have a roughly 3:1 sex ratio; bachelor individuals are also observed. In the mating season, males generally form herds and wander in search of mates. Females live with their offspring in herds, that very rarely include dominant males. Territorial males round up female herds that enter their territories and keep out the bachelors; mothers and juveniles may gather in nursery herds separate from harem and bachelor herds. After weaning, female juveniles stay with their mothers until the birth of their next calves, while males join bachelor groups.

A study of vigilance behaviour of herds revealed that individuals on the borders of herds tend to be more cautious; vigilance decreases with group size. Group size and distance from roads and bushes were found to have major influence on vigilance, more among the grazing springbok than among their browsing counterparts. Adults were found to be more vigilant than juveniles, and males more vigilant than females. Springbok passing through bushes tend to be more vulnerable to predator attacks as they can not be easily alerted, and predators usually conceal themselves in bushes. Another study calculated that the time spent in vigilance by springbok on the edges of herds is roughly double that spent by those in the centre and the open. Springbok were found to be more cautious in the late morning than at dawn or in the afternoon, and more at night than in the daytime. Rates and methods of vigilance were found to vary with the aim of lowering risk from predators.

During the rut, males establish territories, ranging from 10 to 70 hectares (25 to 173 acres), which they mark by urinating and depositing large piles of dung. Males in neighbouring territories frequently fight for access to females, which they do by twisting and levering at each other with their horns, interspersed with stabbing attacks. Females roam the territories of different males. Outside of the rut, mixed-sex herds can range from as few as three to as many as 180 individuals, while all-male bachelor herds are of typically no more than 50 individuals. Harem and nursery herds are much smaller, typically including no more than 10 individuals.

In earlier times, when large populations of springbok roamed the Kalahari desert and Karoo, millions of migrating springbok formed herds hundreds of kilometres long that could take several days to pass a town. These mass treks, known as trekbokking in Afrikaans, took place during long periods of drought. Herds could efficiently retrace their paths to their territories after long migrations. Trekbokking is still observed occasionally in Botswana, though on a much smaller scale than earlier.

Springbok often go into bouts of repeated high leaps of up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) into the air - a practice known as pronking (derived from the Afrikaans pronk, "to show off") or stotting. In pronking, the springbok performs multiple leaps into the air in a stiff-legged posture, with the back bowed and the white flap lifted. When the male shows off his strength to attract a mate, or to ward off predators, he starts off in a stiff-legged trot, leaping into the air with an arched back every few paces and lifting the flap along his back. Lifting the flap causes the long white hairs under the tail to stand up in a conspicuous fan shape, which in turn emits a strong scent of sweat. Although the exact cause of this behaviour is unknown, springbok exhibit this activity when they are nervous or otherwise excited. The most accepted theory for pronking is that it is a method to raise alarm against a potential predator or confuse it, or to get a better view of a concealed predator; it may also be used for display. Springbok are very fast antelopes, clocked at 88 km/h (55 mph). They generally tend to be ignored by carnivores unless they are breeding. Caracals, cheetahs, leopards, spotted hyenas, and wild dogs are major predators of the springbok. Southern African wildcats, black-backed jackals, black eagles, martial eagles, and tawny eagles target juveniles. Springbok are generally quiet animals, though they may make occasional low-pitched bellows as a greeting and high-pitched snorts when alarmed.

Images for kids

A mother suckling her offspring

Springboks on the Etosha pan

Silver coin: 5 shilling, 1949 - Springbok in the center, date above, value below

In Spanish: Antidorcas marsupialis para niños

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Use your Academic Research Journal to help keep track of all of the new information you are learning about the Springbok Gazelle!

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Springbok are a small antelope that have a body length between 1.2 and 1.4 m (4 - 4.5 ft), a shoulder height between 74 and 89 cms (29 - 35 inches), a tail length between 15 and 30 cms (6 - 12 inches) and they weigh between 30 and 48 kgs (66 - 105 lbs).

They are reddish brown in colour with a pale underside. On each of their flanks they have a dark brown stripe that separates their brown upperparts from their underside. Their head is white and they have a dark brown stripe that runs from each eye down to their upper lip.

They have a pocket-like skin flap that runs from the middle of their back to their tail. When they are excited or frightened they can lift this flap which makes the white hairs underneath stand up in a conspicuous crest that acts as a warning to other Springbok.

Springbok have ringed, curved, black horns that are present in both males and females. They can reach lengths of 48 cms (19 inches) in males, but females have shorter, thinner horns.

Springbok are known to leap up to 4 m (13 ft) in the air in an activity known as pronking. While in the air their body is curved, and their legs are stiff, close together and point downwards. Upon landing they immediately leap upwards again and during this period the crest on their back is raised. It is unknown why they pronk but it is possible they do it to indicate to predators that they have been spotted.

When required Springbok can reach speeds up to 90 km/hr (56 mph) and they are among the top ten fastest land animals in the world.

Habitat

Springboks are found in the grasslands and semi-arid regions of southern Africa. During the breeding season females, their offspring and a dominant male are found in herds together and bachelor herds are formed by non-breeding males.

Springbok used to migrate in huge herds consisting of over 1 million individuals known as a "trek" or "trekbokken". Today most Springbok are confined to game reserves and privately owned land but in remote areas of Angola and Botswana groups of 1,500 individuals can still be seen.

Diet

Springbok feed on grasses and other vegetation. Their diet changes depending on the season; eating grass when water is available but switching to other more water rich plants, such as flowers, when water is scarce.

Breeding

Springbok usually mate during the dry season and after a gestation period of 5 - 6 months, 1 young Springbok is born. For the first couple of days the youngster remains hidden in a bush or long grass before they join a nursery herd with their mother.

When they reach 6 months old they are weaned and females will remain with the herd where as young males will join a bachelor herd. Females reach sexually maturity at a year old and they will reproduce every second year. Males reach sexual maturity at 2 years of age.

Predators

The main predators of Springbok are humans cheetahs, leopards and lions.

Subspecies

There are three subspecies of Springbok:

Antidorcas marsupialis angolensis
Antidorcas marsupialis hofmeyri
Antidorcas marsupialis marsupialis

Interesting Facts

The South African national rugby union team are known as the "Springboks"

The name Springbok in Afrikaans and Dutch means:
spring - jump
bok - antelope, deer or goat

The Latin name "marsupialis" is derived from the pocket-like skin flap on their rump.

Similar Animals

Steenbok
Impala
Gerenuk
Thomson's Gazelle

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Springbok are a small antelope that have a body length between 1.2 and 1.4 m (4 - 4.5 ft), a shoulder height between 74 and 89 cms (29 - 35 inches), a tail length between 15 and 30 cms (6 - 12 inches) and they weigh between 30 and 48 kgs (66 - 105 lbs).

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Springboks Antelopes vs Cheetahs | Wild Africa | BBC Earth

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The Springbok Antelope ( Antidorcas marsupialis) is a medium sized brown and white gazelle that stands about 75 centimetres (30 in) high. It is in the same family as antelope and goats. They are the national animal of South Africa and live in the Savannah Biome.

Description

The springbok is a slender antelope with long legs and neck. Both sexes reach 71-86 cm (28-34 in) at the shoulder with a head-and-body length typically between 120 and 150 cm (47 and 59 in). The weights for both sexes range between 27 and 42 kilograms (60 and 93 lb). The tail, 14 to 28 cm (5.5 to 11.0 in) long, ends in a short, black tuft. Major differences in the size and weight of the subspecies are seen. A study tabulated average body measurements for the three subspecies. A. m. angolensis males stand 84 cm (33 in) tall at the shoulder, while females are 81 cm (32 in) tall. The males weigh around 31 kg (68 lb), while the females weigh 32 kg (71 lb). A. m. hofmeyri is the largest subspecies; males are nearly 86 cm (34 in) tall, and the notably shorter females are 71 cm (28 in) tall. The males, weighing 42 kg (93 lb), are heavier than females, that weigh 35 kg (77 lb). However, A. m. marsupialis is the smallest subspecies; males are 75 cm (30 in) tall and females 72 cm (28 in) tall. Average weight of males is 31 kg (68 lb), while for females it is 27 kg (60 lb). Another study showed a strong correlation between the availability of winter dietary protein and the body mass.

Dark stripes extend across the white face, from the corner of the eyes to the mouth. A dark patch marks the forehead. In juveniles, the stripes and the patch are light brown. The ears, narrow and pointed, measure 15-19 cm (5.9-7.5 in). Typically light brown, the springbok has a dark reddish-brown band running horizontally from the upper foreleg to the edge of the buttocks, separating the dark back from the white underbelly. The tail (except the terminal black tuft), buttocks, the insides of the legs and the rump are all white. Two other varieties - pure black and pure white forms - are artificially selected in some South African ranches. Though born with a deep black sheen, adult black springbok are two shades of chocolate-brown and develop a white marking on the face as they mature. White springbok, as the name suggests, are predominantly white with a light tan stripe on the flanks.

The three subspecies also differ in their colour. A. m. angolensis has a brown to tawny coat, with thick, dark brown stripes on the face extending two-thirds down to the snout. While the lateral stripe is nearly black, the stripe on the rump is dark brown. The medium brown forehead patch extends to eye level and is separated from the bright white face by a dark brown border. A brown spot is seen on the nose. A. m. hofmeyri is a light fawn, with thin, dark brown face stripes. The stripes on the flanks are dark brown to black, and the posterior stripes are moderately brown. The forehead patch, dark brown or fawn, extends beyond the level of the eyes and mixes with the white of the face without any clear barriers. The nose may have a pale smudge. A. m. marsupialis is a rich chestnut brown, with thin, light face stripes. The stripe near the rump is well-marked, and that on the flanks is deep brown. The forehead is brown, fawn, or white, the patch not extending beyond the eyes and having no sharp boundaries. The nose is white or marked with brown.

The skin along the middle of the dorsal side is folded in, and covered with 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 in) white hair erected by arrector pili muscles (located between hair follicles). This white hair is almost fully concealed by the surrounding brown hairs until the fold opens up, and this is a major feature distinguishing this antelope from gazelles. Springbok differ from gazelles in several other ways; for instance, springbok have two premolars on both sides of either jaw, rather than the three observed in gazelles. This gives a total of 28 teeth in the springbok, rather than 32 of gazelles. Other points of difference include a longer, broader, and rigid bridge to the nose and more muscular cheeks in springbok, and differences in the structure of the horns.

Both sexes have black horns, about 35-50 cm (14-20 in) long, that are straight at the base and then curve backward. In A. m. marsupialis, females have thinner horns than males; the horns of females are only 60 to 70% as long as those of males. Horns have a girth of 71-83 mm (2.8-3.3 in) at the base; this thins to 56-65 mm (2.2-2.6 in) towards the tip. In the other two subspecies, horns of both sexes are nearly similar. The spoor, narrow and sharp, is 5.5 cm (2.2 in) long.

Ecology and behaviour

Springbok are mainly active around dawn and dusk. Activity is influenced by weather; springbok can feed at night in hot weather, and at midday in colder months. They rest in the shade of trees or bushes, and often bed down in the open when weather is cooler. The social structure of the springbok is similar to that of Thomson's gazelle. Mixed-sex herds or harems have a roughly 3:1 sex ratio; bachelor individuals are also observed. In the mating season, males generally form herds and wander in search of mates. Females live with their offspring in herds, that very rarely include dominant males. Territorial males round up female herds that enter their territories and keep out the bachelors; mothers and juveniles may gather in nursery herds separate from harem and bachelor herds. After weaning, female juveniles stay with their mothers until the birth of their next calves, while males join bachelor groups.

A study of vigilance behaviour of herds revealed that individuals on the borders of herds tend to be more cautious; vigilance decreases with group size. Group size and distance from roads and bushes were found to have major influence on vigilance, more among the grazing springbok than among their browsing counterparts. Adults were found to be more vigilant than juveniles, and males more vigilant than females. Springbok passing through bushes tend to be more vulnerable to predator attacks as they can not be easily alerted, and predators usually conceal themselves in bushes. Another study calculated that the time spent in vigilance by springbok on the edges of herds is roughly double that spent by those in the centre and the open. Springbok were found to be more cautious in the late morning than at dawn or in the afternoon, and more at night than in the daytime. Rates and methods of vigilance were found to vary with the aim of lowering risk from predators.

During the rut, males establish territories, ranging from 10 to 70 hectares (25 to 173 acres), which they mark by urinating and depositing large piles of dung. Males in neighbouring territories frequently fight for access to females, which they do by twisting and levering at each other with their horns, interspersed with stabbing attacks. Females roam the territories of different males. Outside of the rut, mixed-sex herds can range from as few as three to as many as 180 individuals, while all-male bachelor herds are of typically no more than 50 individuals. Harem and nursery herds are much smaller, typically including no more than 10 individuals.

In earlier times, when large populations of springbok roamed the Kalahari desert and Karoo, millions of migrating springbok formed herds hundreds of kilometres long that could take several days to pass a town. These mass treks, known as trekbokking in Afrikaans, took place during long periods of drought. Herds could efficiently retrace their paths to their territories after long migrations. Trekbokking is still observed occasionally in Botswana, though on a much smaller scale than earlier.

Springbok often go into bouts of repeated high leaps of up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) into the air - a practice known as pronking (derived from the Afrikaans pronk, "to show off") or stotting. In pronking, the springbok performs multiple leaps into the air in a stiff-legged posture, with the back bowed and the white flap lifted. When the male shows off his strength to attract a mate, or to ward off predators, he starts off in a stiff-legged trot, leaping into the air with an arched back every few paces and lifting the flap along his back. Lifting the flap causes the long white hairs under the tail to stand up in a conspicuous fan shape, which in turn emits a strong scent of sweat. Although the exact cause of this behaviour is unknown, springbok exhibit this activity when they are nervous or otherwise excited. The most accepted theory for pronking is that it is a method to raise alarm against a potential predator or confuse it, or to get a better view of a concealed predator; it may also be used for display. Springbok are very fast antelopes, clocked at 88 km/h (55 mph). They generally tend to be ignored by carnivores unless they are breeding. Caracals, cheetahs, leopards, spotted hyenas, and wild dogs are major predators of the springbok. Southern African wildcats, black-backed jackals, black eagles, martial eagles, and tawny eagles target juveniles. Springbok are generally quiet animals, though they may make occasional low-pitched bellows as a greeting and high-pitched snorts when alarmed.

Images for kids

A mother suckling her offspring

Springboks on the Etosha pan

Silver coin: 5 shilling, 1949 - Springbok in the center, date above, value below

In Spanish: Antidorcas marsupialis para niños

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What is a Springbok?
Springbok [Antidorcas marsupialis]
The Springbok is an antelope found in South Africa. The name comes from the Afrikaans words for "jump" and "antelope" because the Springbok often go into bouts of repeated high leaps of up to 2 metres high in the air.

Springbok in their hundreds of thousands roamed the arid regions of southern Africa at the time the first settlers arrived, but the herds were quickly decimated and today they are only found in protected areas and farms.

The Springbok is the national animal of South Africa. The national rugby team of South Africa are also known as the Springboks.

Appearance

How much does a Springbok weigh?
Springbok rams may weigh up to 50 Kg, and ewes only up to 37 Kg. Their striking body colour renders them easily recognizable. Shoulders appear lower than the hindquarters. Cinnamon coloured upper body, white underparts and a broad dark brown stripe on either flank stretching from the front legs to the rear legs.

The short white tail is brown tufted. The rump is marked by a triangular-shaped white patch, framed by a dark brown stripe with the apex on the top of the hindquarters. Horns of ewes are more slender and shorter than those of rams.

Diet

What do Springboks eat?
Springboks are selective feeders, whose diet comprises the best fodder available at any given time. They browse in the dry season and predominantly graze after the rainy season when grasses spout green. They are fond of flowers such as of Acacia, and drink water readily, but when open water is scarce, water requirements are met by eating moisture-rich tubers and roots.

Breeding

Mating is normally restricted to a one or two week rut, although this specie is capable to breed at any time of the year.

What is a baby Springbok called?
After a gestation period of 25 weeks single lambs are born. Springbok lambs are hidden for the first two days after birth. Most ewes breed every year, some even twice. Young are weaned at about four months and ewes become sexually mature at the age of seven months.

Behaviour

Only rams establish territories for mating opportunities. The exception is territorial rams, which prefer to live in the solitude of their territories. Herd composition is flexible.

Habitat

The Springbok live in a harsh and unpredictable environment. Calcareous pans, dry river beds and short grass savannah are preferred. They avoid areas of tall grass.

Where Springbok are Found

The Springbok is the most abundant antelope in the central and western parts of South Africa. Some herds are still free roaming within some of its natural range, but most are now confined to farmlands and reserves. They are a common feature in most of South Africa's national, provincial and private reserves. Springbok are the most common antelope in neighbouring Namibia.

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Springbok [Antidorcas marsupialis]. Rams may weigh up to 50 Kg, and ewes only up to 37 Kg. Rams stand 750mm at the shoulders. Their striking body colour

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Geographic Range

Springbok range includes south and southwestern Africa, mainly in the countries of Namibia, Botswana, Angola and the Republic of South Africa.

Habitat

Springboks are mostly confined to game reserves and farms in treeless savanna associated with the edges of dry lake beds.

Physical Description

The springbok is a strikingly marked, gazellelike antelope. It has a white face with dark stripes from the mouth to the eyes, a reddish-brown coat that turns to a darker shade and then to white on the lower third of its body, and a white backside. It stands approximately 80cm high at the shoulders and is characterized by a fold of skin that runs from the midback to the rump. This fold can be opened in times of excitement to display a crest of white hair. Both sexes also have black, curved, lyre-shaped horns. Larger males can have horns 36-48cm in length.

Range mass

33 to 46 kg

72.69 to 101.32 lb

Reproduction

The springbok generally mates during the dry season and lactates during the hot, wet season when resources are most abundant. Birth takes place in Oct-Nov, the start of the wet season. Gestation is approximately 4-6 months and females generally reproduce every 2 years, starting between the ages of 1 and 2. Weaning usually occurs from 6 months to 1 year. The parental contribution is mainly by the mother, as springboks tend to live in herds of females and their offspring along with very few dominant males. Life expectancy of an average springbok is 7-9 years.

gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)

sexual

Range number of offspring

1 to 2

Average number of offspring

1.01

Average number of offspring

1

AnAge

Range gestation period

5.57 to 5.7 months

Range weaning age

4 to 4.07 months

Lifespan/Longevity

Behavior

During mating season, most males wander together in search of mates, while females live in herds with their offspring and very few dominant males. The wandering males are of lower status for a variety of reasons. Some are lower ranking due to being young or very old. Others have lost out in competition with dominant males for estrus females. When frightened or excited, a springbok makes a series of stiff-legged vertical leaps up to 3.5m high. This behavior is known as pronking and is performed with the head down, the hooves bunched, and the back arched. The leaps are said to distract predators, such as lions and cheetahs.

Springboks used to travel/live in mega-herds, known as "treks," but because springboks are now mostly confined to private farms and game reserves, treks are few and are limited to remote areas of Angola and Botswana.

Communication and Perception

Food Habits

The springbok is an intermediate browser, using both grass and browse. The shift from one food source to the other takes place seasonally. It is largely due to the need for water in the hot, dry season when the natural water supplies are not constant, during which time flowers are eaten. These flowers have double the mean water content of the grass that is consumed in times of water availability (during the hot, wet season). Utilizing food resources in this way allows springboks to remain independent of a constant water supply, whether it be from man-made watering holes, natural water holes, or other water supplies. This is a great advantage in a climate where droughts are common.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

The springbok is the Republic of South Africa's sporting emblem. It is respected and honored in that country, which has lead to a moderate increase in protection. Only with special permission or a special license can hunters pursue the springbok. Springbok are popular attractions for tourists at game reserves and private farms. Previously, when hunting without a license for springbok was legal, the meat of springboks provided an abundant supply of protein to a growing population in southern Africa.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

Previously, when the springbok traveled in large numbers, they caused extensive crop damage to the Dutch farms.

Conservation Status

Springbok once traveled by the hundreds and even millions. Springbok were hunted by the Dutch farmers whose crops were ruined by "treks" of springbok travelling in search of food and water. Springbok are now being introduced in game reserves and private farms in an effort to preserve the species.

Contributors

June Barnard (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

Glossary

Ethiopian

living in sub-Saharan Africa (south of 30 degrees north) and Madagascar.

tropical savanna and grassland

A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.

savanna

A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.

temperate grassland

A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.

References

Nagy, Kenneth and Knight, Michael. 1994. Energy, Water and Food Use by Springbok Antelope in the Kalahari Desert. Journal of Mammalogy. Vol. 75:860-72.

"Springbok." Encyclopedia Britanica, Vol.11, p.180, 1994.

Plug, Ina. 1994. Springbok From the Past. Zeitschaft fuer Saegetierkunde. Vol. 59(4): 246-251.

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Springbok range includes south and southwestern Africa, mainly in the countries of Namibia, Botswana, Angola and the Republic of South Africa. Springboks are mostly confined to game reserves and farms in treeless savanna associated with the edges of dry lake beds. The springbok is a strikingly marked, gazellelike antelope.

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The springbok, or springbuck, is a slender antelope of southern Africa. It is the national animal of South Africa, and the namesake of the country's rugby team. The scientific name for the springbok is Antidorcas marsupialis.

Springboks stand about 30 inches (75 centimeters) high and weigh about 90 pounds (40 kilograms). Their backs are a reddish brown. A dark line separates the brown color from the white underside. Springboks have a dark stripe across the face. Both sexes have horns, which are never shed. The horns of the rams (males) are thicker than those of the ewes (females).

Springboks are closely related to gazelles. However, springboks have fewer lower teeth than gazelles, and springboks also have a distinctive white-haired flap of skin on the back. Underneath the flap of skin is a clump of white hair. When the animal is excited, the clump of white hair is raised.

Sometimes a springbok jumps into the air with its back arched and its legs held together. It can jump more than 10 feet (3 meters) straight up. This kind of display is called pronking. Some experts believe that pronking is the springbok's demonstration of fitness, intended to discourage would-be predators. If necessary, springboks can run more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) per hour. Springboks are herd animals, and the herds in southern Africa once numbered many thousands of individuals. Springboks eat grass and leaves. They drink water when it is available, but they can usually get all the moisture they need from vegetation.

Springboks mate year-round; males spar with their horns for control of mating territory. Springbok lambs are born after a gestation period of about six months.

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The springbok, or springbuck, is a slender antelope of southern Africa. It is the national animal of South Africa, and the namesake of the country's rugby team. The...

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Get to know giraffes, springboks, and other amazing animals that call the African continent home.

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Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world's most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species.

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How Fast is an Ostrich? (And Other Facts)

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How Fast is an Ostrich? (And Other Facts)

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An ostrich's entire nest may be 9-10 feet wide, with the eggs gathered into a smaller area so the ostrich can cover them with its body. A single nest may have 30-40 eggs, but ostriches can only incubate about 20 eggs at one time. Extra eggs are often ejected from the nest.

Where are ostriches found in the wild?

There are two ostrich species, and they both live in Africa. Common ostriches are generally found south of the Sahara Desert, and in eastern and southern Africa. The Somali ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes) is found in Somalia, Ethiopia, Dijbouti and Kenya. Ostriches can survive in dry, sandy habitats and typically live in shrublands, grasslands and savannas.

Ostriches released from farms survived to form a free-ranging population in Australia, but these birds are not native to the Australian continent.

What do ostriches eat?

Ostriches mainly eat plants, including leafy greens, flowering plants, roots, grasses and succulents. They occasionally feed on fallen fruit or snack on mice, frogs and insects, such as grasshoppers and locusts.

The Smithsonian's National Zoo's ostrich eats produce, insects, and pellets fortified with vitamins and nutrients. Her favorite foods are leafy greens, such as romaine, kale and collards.

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How Fast is an Ostrich? And More Fun Facts

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An ostrich's entire nest may be 9-10 feet wide, with the eggs gathered into a smaller area so the ostrich can cover them with its body. A single nest may have 30-40 eggs, but ostriches can only incubate about 20 eggs at one time. Extra eggs are often ejected from the nest.

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Common ostrich

South African ostrich male (left) and females ( S. camelus australis)

Conservation status

Scientific classification

Genus:

Species:

Subspecies

S. c. camelus Linnaeus, 1758 North African ostrich

S. c. australis Gurney, 1868 Southern ostrich

S. c. massaicus Neumann, 1898 Masai ostrich

†S. c. syriacus Rothschild, 1919 Arabian ostrich

Struthio camelus distribution map

S. c. camelus

S. molybdophanes

S. c. massaicus

S. c. australis

The ostrich ( Struthio camelus) is a large flightless bird that lives in Africa. They are the largest living bird species, and have the biggest eggs of all living birds. Ostriches do not fly, but can run faster than any other bird.

They are ratites, a useful grouping of medium to large flightless birds. Ostriches have the biggest eyes of all land animals.

Appearance

Ostriches have long legs and a long neck, but they have a small head. Male ostriches have black feathers and female ostriches have gray and brown feathers. Both males and females have white feathers on their wings and tails. Male ostriches can be 1.8 - 2.7 meters / 6 - 9 feet tall, while female ostriches are 1.7 - 2 meters / 5.5 - 6.5 ft tall. They can run with a speed of about 65 kilometers per hour/40 miles per hour.

Ostriches now only live in Africa. They live in open grassland called savanna in the Sahel, and in parts of East Africa and south-west Africa. Some ostriches live in areas of the Sahara desert. There used to be ostriches in Middle East in the 20th century and, further back, also

Ostriches mainly eat plant matter, but they also eat insects. The plant matter consists of seeds, shrubs, grass, fruits and flowers while the insects they eat include locusts. Ostriches do not have teeth, and so cannot grind food as mammals do. Instead, they swallow pebbles. An adult ostrich carries about 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) of stones in its gizzard, a special sac just before the stomach. The pebbles grind the food, and help its digestion. When eating, their gullet is filled with food. After that, the food is passed down their esophagus in the form of a ball called a bolus. The bolus may be as much as 210 ml (7.1 US fl oz). Ostriches can live without drinking for several days.

Social behavior

Ostriches normally spend the winter months in pairs or alone. During breeding season and sometimes during extreme rainless periods Ostriches live in nomadic groups of five to 50 birds (led by a top hen) that often travel together with other grazing animals, such as zebras or antelopes.

With their acute eyesight and hearing, Ostriches can sense predators such as lions from far away. When being pursued by a predator, they have been known to reach speeds in excess of 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph), and can maintain a steady speed of 50 kilometres per hour (31 mph), which makes the Ostrich the world's fastest two-legged animal. When lying down and hiding from predators, the birds lay their heads and necks flat on the ground, making them appear as a mound of earth from a distance. This even works for the males, as they hold their wings and tail low so that the heat haze of the hot, dry air that often occurs in their habitat aids in making them appear as a nondescript dark lump.

Ostriches can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. In much of their habitat, temperatures vary as much as 40 °C (72 °F) between night and day. Their temperature control mechanism relies on action by the bird, which uses its wings to cover the naked skin of the upper legs and flanks to conserve heat, or leaves these areas bare to release heat.

Reproduction

Ostriches become sexually mature when they are 2 to 4 years old; females mature about six months earlier than males. The mating process differs in different regions. Territorial males hiss and use other sounds to claim mating rights over a harem of two to seven hens.

Fights usually last just minutes, but they can easily cause death through slamming their heads into opponents. The successful male will then be allowed to breed with all the females in an area, but will only form a pair bond with the dominant female.

The females lay their fertilized eggs in a single communal nest, a simple pit, 30 to 60 centimetres (12-24 in) deep and 3 metres (9.8 ft) wide, scraped in the ground by the male. The dominant female lays her eggs first, and when it is time to cover them for incubation she discards extra eggs from the weaker females, leaving about 20 in most cases.

Ostrich eggs are the largest of all eggs (and by extension, the yolk is the largest single cell), though they are actually the smallest eggs relative to the size of the adult bird. - on average they are 15 centimetres (5.9 in) long, 13 centimetres (5.1 in) wide, and weigh 1.4 kilograms (3.1 lb), over 20 times the weight of a chicken egg. The eggs are incubated by the females by day and by the males by night. This uses the colouration of the two sexes to escape detection of the nest, as the drab female blends in with the sand, while the black male is nearly undetectable in the night. The incubation period is 35 to 45 days.

Males and females cooperate in rearing chicks. The male defends the hatchlings and teaches them to feed. The survival rate is low for the hatchlings, with an average of one per nest surviving to adulthood.

When threatened, the ostrich will either hide itself by lying flat against the ground, or will run away. If cornered, it can attack with a kick from its powerful legs. Common predators of nests and young ostriches include jackals, various birds of prey, mongoose and vultures. Animals that prey on ostriches of all ages include cheetahs, lions, leopards, african dogs, and spotted hyena. Ostriches can often outrun their predators in a pursuit and can even outpace cheetahs over long distances. However, they may sometimes fight fiercely against predators, especially when chicks are being defended. They have sometimes killed lions in such fights.

There is no doubt that the ratites are not a monophyletic group, because they are not descended from a single ancestor. That means the taxonomy of the group is going to change, and they will not all be placed in the Order Struthioniformes as they have been. However, as ornothologists have not yet agreed on a new classification, for the time being the useful term 'ratites' is still used.

Unusual morphology

Ostriches are likely to be placed alone in the order Struthioniformes. They have a number of peculiarities which suggest a separate evolution from the rest of the ratites. They lack a gallbladder. They have three stomachs, and the caecum is 71 cm (28 in) long. Unlike all other living birds, the Ostrich secretes uric acid separately from faeces. Unlike all other birds, who store the uric acid and faeces together, and excrete them together, ostriches store the faeces at the end of their rectum. They also have unique pubic bones that are fused to hold their gut. Unlike most birds the males have a penis, which is retractable and 8 in (20 cm) long. Their palate (bone on the roof of the mouth) differs from other ratites.

Ostriches and humans

Ostriches are farmed in several countries. They used to be prized for their feathers, but are now farmed for their meat and eggs. Their skin can also be used to make leather.

In South Africa, hunters can get one group of feathers from one wild ostrich. When they are farmed, every seven or eight months farmers can take groups of feathers from the ostriches. They will grow back and can be collected again a in seven or eight more months.

When threatened, Ostriches run away, but they can cause serious injury and death with kicks from their powerful legs. Their legs can only kick forward.

Ostriches reared entirely by humans may not direct their courtship behaviour at other Ostriches, but toward their human keepers. Ostriches live 30 to 40 years on average.

It is sometimes said that ostriches will hide their heads in the ground when they are scared or threatened, but this is not true.

In some countries, people race each other on the back of Ostriches. The practice is common in Africa and is relatively unusual elsewhere. The Ostriches are ridden in the same way as horses with special saddles, reins, and bits. However, they are harder to manage than horses.

Images for kids

In Spanish: Struthio para niños

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Learn about the Ostrich. These strange birds, Ostriches, can't fly, but they are big and fast.

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When you think of birds, you probably think of the small, charming birds chirping in your backyard. The ostrich, though, is bigger than your dad! Ostriches are the largest birds. They can grow 9 feet tall and weigh over 350 pounds.

Ostriches live in the African savannah. They can't fly, but they're fast runners. They can run up to 43 miles per hour for short periods. Most of the time, they run at around 30 miles per hour. Ostriches eat seeds, plants and grain. They also munch on insects and small animals.

Fun Facts about Ostriches for Kids

An ostrich has the largest eye of any land mammal. Their eyes are 2 inches across.

Ostriches have very small brains.

Ostriches don't really bury their heads in the sand. They do lie on the ground and stretch their necks out to hide when trouble appears.

Ostriches have powerful legs and clawed toes. One strong kick can kill a lion.

Ostriches live in small flocks. One male and female ostrich leads the flock.

The other females lay their eggs in the lead female's nest. She and the lead male sit on the eggs.

Ostriches are sometimes raised for their meat.

Ostrich Vocabulary

Learn More All About Ostriches

Check out this fascinating video about these large flightless birds:

A video documentary explaining facts about the ostrich.

Ostrich Q&A

Question: How many eggs do ostriches lay?

Answer: Ostriches can lay one every other day until they have a clutch of 6 to 8 eggs. The eggs each weigh 3 to 5 pounds. That's about as much as 12 chicken eggs.

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Question: Are ostriches endangered?

Answer: In the 1800s, people used ostrich feathers in clothing design. Ostriches were hunted so much that they almost became extinct. Today, ostriches are raised on farms. Wild ostrich flocks are growing.

Enjoyed the Easy Science for Kids Website all about Ostriches info? Take the FREE & fun all about Ostriches quiz and download FREE Ostriches worksheet for kids. For lengthy info click here.

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When you think of birds, you probably think of the small, charming birds chirping in your backyard. The ostrich, though, is bigger than your dad! Ostriches are the largest birds. They can grow 9 feet tall and weigh over 350 pounds. Ostriches live in the African savannah.

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All About Ostriches for Children: Ostrich Video for Kids - FreeSchool

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Did you know? All about ostriches! | Highlights Kids | Full Episode | Kids Videos

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Ostriches are large, flightless birds that live in the dry, hot savannas and woodlands of Africa.

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Amazing Facts about Ostriches | OneKindPlanet Animal Education & Facts

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The flightless ostrich is the world's largest bird. Its eggs are the largest of any living bird at 15cm long and weighing as much as two dozen chicken eggs

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Geographic Range

Up until the mid 20th century, ostriches occurred naturally in southwestern Asia, the Arabian peninsula, and Africa. They have since been hunted to extinction except in sub-Saharan Africa.

Habitat

Ostriches are currently restricted to drier and sandy regions of central and southern Africa.

Physical Description

Unmistakeable. Huge (stands 2 m tall), terrestrial bird. Males are black and white, females gray brown.

Range mass

90 to 130 kg

198.24 to 286.34 lb

Average basal metabolic rate

69.6339 W

AnAge

Reproduction

Exact pattern varies geographically. Ostriches form bisexual groups with a complex structure. Territorial males compete for flocks of 3 to 5 hens. Elaborate displays, including hisses and other noises, are often used by males to intimidate each other. Once divided into mating groups, ostriches in some areas use communal nests to hold anywhere from 15 to 60 eggs. The nest is a hole scraped in bare ground. The average egg is 6 inches in length, 5 inches in width, weighs about 3 pounds, and is shiny and whitish in color. Eggs take approximately 40 days to hatch. Caring for their eggs is divided up between males and females. Males watch over them during the night, and the various females of the mating group take turns during the day.

Lifespan/Longevity

Behavior

Ostriches live in flocks of 5 to 50, and they are normally found in the company of grazing animals like antelope and zebras. Flocks occupy territories of 2-15 sq km during the breeding season, which lasts around 5 months. Smaller, looser groups of 2-5 members are formed outside of the breeding season.

Another characteristic of ostriches is that they are very fond of water. They frequently take baths when given the opportunity.

Sometimes, in order to escape detection, ostriches may lie on the ground with their necks outstretched. This peculiar behavior probably gave rise to the myth that ostriches bury their heads in the ground.

Range territory size

2 to 15 km^2

Communication and Perception

Food Habits

Ostriches are herbivorous living mostly on plant matter, but they occasionally eat animal remains left by carnivorous predators. They are very selective feeders, taking the seed heads of grasses and certain flowers and seeds. They sometimes eat locusts. An ostrich in captivity requires 3.5 kg of food per day. They can survive without water for long periods of time.

leaves

seeds, grains, and nuts

fruit

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Ostriches were often killed for the use of their hides, which makes a fine leather, and their feathers. Their eggs, which are equivalent to 24 fowl eggs, are eaten by animals as well as humans. African tribes use ostrich shells as a means of holding water for bathing and drinking.

Conservation Status

Ostriches were almost wiped out in the 18th century due to hunting for feathers. By the middle of the 19th century, the practice of farming ostriches began to spread. This enabled ostriches to be domesticated and plucked, instead of being hunted and killed. Currently, the demand for ostrich feathers has lessened greatly, and ostriches seem to have a secure population.

Ostriches are the largest living birds. Ostriches do well in captivity and may live up to 50 years both in and out of the wild. Their powerful legs are their main defense against natural enemies. They can achieve speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, and if cornered they can deliver a powerful blow with their legs.

Contributors

Keenan Donegan (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

Glossary

Ethiopian

living in sub-Saharan Africa (south of 30 degrees north) and Madagascar.

diurnal

active during the day, 2. lasting for one day.

tropical savanna and grassland

A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.

savanna

A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.

temperate grassland

A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.

References

Encyclopedia Americana. volume 21. Grolier Inc., 1994 (pages 117-118).

Britannica. volume 8. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 1994 (pages 1037-8).

Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, K. Newman. 1982. The Birds of Africa. Academic Press, London.

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Up until the mid 20th century, ostriches occurred naturally in southwestern Asia, the Arabian peninsula, and Africa. They have since been hunted to extinction except in sub-Saharan Africa. Ostriches are currently restricted to drier and sandy regions of central and southern Africa. Unmistakeable. Huge (stands 2 m tall), terrestrial bird.

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In one stride, an ostrich can cover up to 16 feet (4.9 meters)-about the length of a mid-size family car! The bird is speedy, too. It can run just over 40 miles (64 kilometers) an hour for a short distance, and can keep up a speed of more than 30 miles (48 kilometers) an hour over longer distances. The ostrich uses its short wings for balance, holding them outstretched when it runs.

Strong legs can also be used for self-defense. An ostrich will kick with a force mighty enough to kill a lion.

When danger approaches, an ostrich will often lie low to hide, stretching its neck along the ground. Its feather colors blend with the sandy soil where it lives. From far away, it looks like the ostrich has buried its head in the sand. Many people thought that was what ostriches did when they were trying to hide, but that is a myth. Ostriches live near grazing animals such as wildebeest, antelopes, and zebras. The grazers stir up insects and rodents for the ostriches to eat, and the ostriches warn the grazers to dangers such as approaching lions.

An ostrich group, called a herd, numbers about 12 individuals. Male ostriches compete for control of a group of several females. A herd has a dominant male and a dominant female. She mates only with him, though he may mate with other females as well. All the egg-laying females, called hens, lay their eggs in the nest of the dominant female. Then that female-whose eggs are positioned in the center of the nest, the most well-protected spot-and her mate take care of all the eggs in that one nest. Each egg can be up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) long and weigh 3 pounds (1.5 kilograms)!

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The ostrich is the tallest and the heaviest of all birds. While the huge ostrich is a bird, it does not fly. Instead it runs. One stride can cover up to 16 feet (4.9 meters)-about the length of a mid-size family car! The bird is speedy, too.

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Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world's most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species.

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Monarch butterflies are of the most recognizable and beloved butterfly in North and Central America. Millions of monarchs migrate across the United States; spending their summers in Michigan and winters in Mexico. Despite the small size of monarch butterflies and other insects, they play a very large role in human's lives. Insects travel to flowering plants, drinking nectar and transporting pollen. This results in a pollination service that is responsible for 1/3 of the world's food source.

Due to a loss of habitat, the eastern Monarch population has declined by 90%. Other pollinators are experiencing a decline as well. Bees, which pollinate one third of the world's food crops, have declined 50% in recent decades. However, these alarming declines have sparked conservation programs across the nation to take action. Efforts to protect pollinators and restore habitat have been rewarded with a steady increase in monarch populations over the last few years.

In 2014, President Obama announced the first comprehensive pollinator program ever created in the federal government. The Presidential Memorandum was a collaborative effort between organizations, agencies, and federal departments to raise awareness and provide assistance to pollinators.

Pollinator health begins with you. Join us in celebrating monarchs, bees, and all other pollinators by becoming aware and participating in the tremendous ongoing conservation efforts!

How you can help

There are many different ways for YOU to help monarchs and other important pollinators in Michigan!

Monarch butterfly info

Learn more about the monarch butterfly with the following resources:

Bee - informed

Did you know globally there are more than 20,000 species of bees and nearly 3,500 species within the United States? Check out the links below for more about bees!

Conservation projects

What's the buzz? Learn all about current projects helping pollinators.

For kids and teachers

Learn more about monarchs and other important pollinators with these activities and resources:

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Monarch butterflies are of the most recognizable and beloved butterfly in North and Central America. Millions of monarchs migrate across the United States; spending their summers in Michigan and winters in Mexico. Despite the small size of monarch butterflies and other insects, they play a very large role in human's lives.

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Danaus plexippus

What do they look like?

Both male and female monarchs are bright orange with black borders and black veins. The veins on the female are thicker than those of the male. Male monarchs also have a swollen pouch on both of their hind wings.

Monarchs are poisonous to vertebrates. Their poison comes from the milkweed they feed on.

Monarchs also use their appearance to ward off predators. Orange is considered a warning color, which will warn predators that monarchs are poisonous, and not to attack them. From a distance, monarchs can blend into their surroundings. Sometimes, their spots will appear to be the eyes of a larger animal, and will ward off predators.

Where do they live?

Monarch butterflies are found in North America, South America, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, islands in the Pacific Ocean, Mauritius, the Canary Islands of the Atlantic, and Western Europe.

What kind of habitat do they need?

Monarch butterflies prefer warmer climates; they cannot tolerate frost. They like open country. Females spend much of their time around searching for or staying near the main food plant for the caterpillars (see food habits section). Monarch butterflies require thick tree covering during the winter. In California, they live in eucalyptus trees. These eucalyptus trees are not normally found in California, but were put there to replace trees that had been cut down. Biomes: temperate forest and rainforest, temperate grassland, chaparral, tropical rainforest, tropical deciduous forest, tropical scrub forest, tropical savanna and grasslands, mountains

How do they grow?

Small caterpillars hatch from eggs laid by female Monarchs. They grow, shedding their skin to get bigger. Eventually each caterpillar stops growing and forms a case around itself called a chrysalis. Inside the chrysalis it changes its body its body in a process called metamorphosis. When it is done it emerges as an adult butterfly.

How do they reproduce?

The mating period occurs in the spring, just prior to migration from the overwintering sites. The courtship of D. plexippus is fairly simple and less dependent on chemical pheromones in comparison with other species in its genus. Courtship is composed of two distinct stages, the aerial phase and the ground phase. During the aerial phase, the male pursues, nudges, and eventually takes down the female. Copulation occurs during the ground phase and involves the transfer of a spermatophore from the male to female. Along with sperm, the spermatophore is thought to provide the female with energy resources that aid her in carrying out reproduction and remigration.

How often does reproduction occur?

Monarch butterflies mate in the spring before they migrate.

How do they behave?

Like birds, monarch butterflies migrate every season. In North America, some breed in the east and others breed in the west. Each autumn, monarch butterflies leave their breeding grounds for the winter months. Monarch butterflies that live in the east goes to volcanic mountains in Central Mexico. Monarch butterflies that live in the west go to parts of California during the winter.

What do they eat?

Monarch females lay their eggs on milkweed plants (Asclepias), these plants are then the main food for the caterpillars. Adult monarchs feed on nectar from many kinds of flowers.

How do they interact with us?

Some milkweed plants are poisonous to cattle. Monarch butterflies help reduce the amount of these plants.

Are they endangered?

The places where monarchs spend the winter are threatened. The United States and Mexico are trying to help the areas where monarch butterflies migrate.

Contributors

Ethan Kane (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

References

Boppre, Michael."The American Monarch: Courtship and Chemical Communication of a Peculiar Danaine Butterfly". pp. 29, 34 in Malcolm and Zalucki (eds.) Biology and Conservation of the Monarch Butterfly. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Cockrell, Barbara J., Stephen B. Malcolm, and Lincoln P. Brower. "Time, Temperature, and Latitudinal Constraints on the Annual Recolonization of Eastern North America By the Monarch Butterfly". pp. 234 in Malcolm and Zalucki (eds.) Biology and Conservation of the Monarch Butterfly. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Feltwell, John. 1993. The Encyclopedia of Insects. Prentice Hall, New York. Pgs. 111, 143.

Lane, John. "Overwintering Monarch Butterflies in California: Past and Present". pp. 337 in Malcolm and Zalucki (eds.) Biology and Conservation of the Monarch Butterfly. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Lynch, Steven P. and Ronald A. Martin. "Milkweed Host Plant Utilization and Cadenolide Sequestration by Monarch Butterflies in Louisiana and Texas". pp. 107-108 in Malcolm and Zalucki (eds.) Biology and Conservation of the Monarch Butterfly. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Malcolm, Stephen B. and Myron P. Zalucki. 1993. Biology and Conservation of the Monarch Butterfly. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Preface, pp. 397-398.

Malcolm, Stephen B. "Conservation of Monarch Butterfly Migration in North America: An Endangered Phenomenon". pp. 358 in Malcolm and Zalucki (eds.) Biology and Conservation of the Monarch Butterfly. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Schmidt-Koeing, Klaus. "Orientation of Autumn Migration in the Monarch Butterfly". pp. 282 in Malcolm and Zalucki (eds.) Biology and Conservation of the Monarch Butterfly. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Snook, Laura C. "Conservation of the Monarch Butterfly Reserves in Mexico: Focus on the Forest". pp. 364 in Malcolm and Zalucki (eds.) Biology and Conservation of the Monarch Butterfly. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Urquhart, Fred A. 1960. The Monarch Butterfly. University of Toronto Press, Toronto. Pg. 35.

Urquhart, Fred A. 1987. The Monarch Butterfly: International Traveler. Nelson-Hall, Chicago. Pgs. XIX, 173-177.

Vane-Wright, Richard I. "The Columbus Hypothesis: An Explanation for the Dramatic 19th Century Range Expansion of the Monarch Butterfly". pp. 183 in Malcolm and Zalucki (eds.) Biology and Conservation of the Monarch Butterfly. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Van Hook, T. "Non-Random Mating in Monarch Butterflies Overwintering in Mexico". pp. 49 in Malcolm and Zalucki (eds.) Biology and Conservation of the Monarch Butterfly. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Wells, Harrington, Patrick H. Wells, and Steffen H. Rogers. "Is Multiple Mating an Adaptive Feature of Monarch Butterfly Winter Aggregation". pp. 61 in Malcolm and Zalucki (eds.) Biology and Conservation of the Monarch Butterfly. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

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BioKIDS - Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species, Danaus plexippus, monarch butterfly: INFORMATION

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BioKIDS - Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species

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The monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus) is an insect in the Nymphalidae family. It is the best-known butterfly in North America.

Monarchs are known for their long annual migrations. In North America, they travel long distances south in the fall, and north in the spring. They start to migrate south in about August. They must get to frost-free areas. Freezing will kill them. A migration towards the north starts in the spring.

No single individual makes the whole round trip. The monarch is famous for its southward migration and northward return in summer. The migration north spans the life of three to four generations of the butterfly. A longer-lived "super generation" flies from the northern-most parts of the butterfly's range in Canada all the way to Mexico. It overwinters in the south, and breeds in the spring to start the next generation flying north. The following reference gives a map of the migration routes.

Description

Caterpillar

The monarch caterpillar is banded with yellow, black, and white stripes. The head is also striped with yellow and black. There are four black body extensions, two on each end of the body. They look similar to antennae. The caterpillar will be as long as 5 centimeters (2 inches).

The monarch butterfly has a wingspan that ranges from 8.9 to 10.2 centimeters (3½ to 4 inches).

The upper side of the wings are orange with black edges and veins. There are white spots in the black wing margins. The male has a spot on his bottom wing. The spot gives out scents which attract females. The viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus) is similar. It has an extra black band across the bottom wing. The underside of the wings is a tan-orange color with black veins. The wing margins are black with white spots in them.

A white form of the monarch has been seen in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and the United States. It has been seen as early as 1896. It was named nivosus by lepidopterists (a lepidopterist is a person who studies butterflies and moths). It is grayish white in all areas of the wings that are normally orange. The white form makes up about 1% or less of all monarchs except for on Oahu, Hawaii where it has kept populations as high as 10%. The existence of two or more forms of a species in the same area is quite common, and is called polymorphism.

Range and distribution

In North America, the monarch is found from southern Canada to northern South America. It sometimes wanders to western Europe, sometimes as far as Greece. It reaches Europe from being transported by USA ships. It can also wander to Europe by flying there if weather and wind conditions are right. It has also been found in Bermuda, Hawaii, the Solomons, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Australia, New Guinea, Ceylon, India, the Azores, and the Canary Islands.

Monarch butterflies are known for their long annual migration. In North America, they make large migrations towards the south starting in August until the first frost. A migration towards the north takes place in the spring. No single individual makes the whole round trip. Female monarchs lay eggs for the next generation during these migrations.

By the end of October, the monarchs that are east of the Rocky Mountains migrate to Mexico. Many thousands from the Great Lakes region pass through Point Pelee National Park. They migrate to the sanctuaries of the Mariposa Monarca Biosphere Reserve in the Mexican states of Michoacán and Mexico. Most of the monarchs that are west of the Rocky Mountains do not travel all the way down to Mexico. Instead, they overwinter (spend the winter) in many places in central and southern California.

While in Mexico, the monarchs gather in very large numbers to rest. They perch on suitable trees and bushes by clinging (hold on to tightly) with their feet. They cling to each other making layers and layers of resting Monarchs overwintering. This was discovered by Fred Urquhart of the University of Toronto, who studied monarch butterflies for nearly forty years. He knew the Monarchs migrated because he would stop seeing them after a certain time of the year. He put a label on each Monarch he found. On this label was his name, address, and a request to send him the butterfly if it was found.

A few months later, people from all over North America and Mexico began returning his labelled butterflies to him. Mexico was the southernmost area from which he had received a butterfly, so he started traveling there to look for the Monarchs. For many years, he traveled to Mexico. There he climbed through jungles, walked through forests, and talked to the people he found. He finally heard there was a place west of Mexico City where people had seen lots of monarchs all together. After a long search, he finally found millions of monarch butterflies covering every part of the area.

During the spring migration, the population that is east of the Rocky Mountains may reach as far north as Texas and Oklahoma. The second, third and fourth generations return to their northern places in the United States and Canada in the spring.

The Monarch can be found in many different kinds of habitats. When it is breeding, it is found in habitats with milkweed (a kind of plant). Some of these habitats include, fields, meadows, prairies, parks in or near cities, gardens, and roadsides. The monarch can be found in almost any kind of habitat during migration. It overwinters in pine, cypress, and eucalyptus groves in California. It overwinters in fir forests and pine groves in Mexico.

Much of the monarch's breeding habitat is not good anymore. In some states and provinces, milkweed is thought to be a weed. In these places, the milkweed is killed to keep livestock from eating it and becoming sick. With fewer milkweed plants, the monarch does not have as much habitat to breed in.

Habitat destruction has been a concern as the number of monarch butterflies that completed an annual migration to their winter home in a Mexican forest sank in 2013 to its lowest level in at least two decades, due mostly to extreme weather and changed farming practices in North America. The Mexican forest occupied by the butterflies, once as high at 50 acres, dwindled to 2.94 acres in the annual census conducted December 2012.

The monarch butterfly goes through complete metamorphosis.

The female lays her eggs one by one. They are laid on the underside of the leaves of caterpillar's food plant. The eggs are light yellow. Freshly laid eggs are creamy-white. After three to four days, they turn dark gray. The egg usually weighs about 0.54 milligrams. It is about 1.2 millimeters long. Its diameter is about 0.87 millimeters (average on 55 eggs).

Caterpillar

The caterpillar hatches out of the egg. The young caterpillar is a gray-black color with a black head. After the first molt ( shedding its skin) the caterpillar is banded with yellow, black, and white stripes. The head is also striped with yellow and black. There are four black body extensions, two on each end of the body. They look similar to antennae. The caterpillar will reach a length of 5 centimeters (2 inches). The caterpillar eats the leaves and flowers of the food plant. It make no nests or shelters. It grows very quickly, and because of this, it molts four to five times.

After the caterpillar molts one last time, it makes a chrysalis. A chrysalis is not the same as a cocoon. The monarch caterpillar attaches its back end (posterior) to a support, and hangs downward in the shape of the letter 'J'. The inside of the caterpillar's body begins to change and it splits its skin to form the blue-green chrysalis. The blue-green chrysalis has a band of black and bright gold near the top. There are other gold spots lower down. After spending many weeks in the chrysalis, the adult finally comes out as a butterfly.

Species similar in appearance

The viceroy ( Limenitis archippus) is similar to but is smaller than the monarch. It has an extra black band across the bottom wing that the monarch does not have.

The queen (Danaus gilippus) is dark reddish-brown instead of orange. It does not have black veins. There are white spots on the top wing submarginal (near the edge of the wing) area. These spots are on both the upper side and the underside.

The soldier (Danaus eresimus) is also dark reddish-brown instead of orange. It has thin, black veins. The underside of the bottom wing has a dark center. It has light brown, square-shaped spots around the dark center.

Monarchs are bad-tasting and poisonous because they contain a chemical known as cardenolide (cardiac glycoside). The chemical slows the heart-beat of vertebrates. Monarch caterpillars get this chemical when they feed on milkweed.

When the monarch becomes a butterfly, it no longer eats milkweed, but it still has the chemical in its body. The butterfly shows that they are not good to eat with their bright orange and black wings. This is warning coloration. A bird may try to eat a monarch, but it will become sick and vomit after eating it. After this experience, the bird learns not to eat another monarch, and also any other butterfly which is similar in appearance. The viceroy is similar looking to the monarch, but does not have the milkweed poison in its body. Birds that have had the bad experience of eating a monarch will usually not eat a viceroy. It is an example of Müllerian mimicry.

Overwintering Monarchs in Mexico are often eaten by black-headed grosbeaks. These birds are immune to the glycoside. Other birds, such as orioles and jays, have learned to eat only the thoracic muscles and the body parts inside the abdomen. These parts have less poison than the rest of the body. Some mice are also immune to large amounts of the poison. Over time, overwintering monarchs become less poisonous. This makes them more likely to be eaten by predators. In Mexico, about 14% of the overwintering Monarchs are eaten by birds and mice.

On Oahu, Hawaii, there is a white form of the Monarch. This is because two species of birds have been introduced. The two birds are known as the red-vented bulbul and the red-whiskered bulbul. They were introduced in 1965 and 1966. They are now the most common insectivorous birds. They are probably the only birds that eat insects as big as the monarch. Monarchs in Hawaii have low cardiac glycoside levels, but the birds may be immune to the chemical. The two bird species eat the caterpillars and sometimes the chrysalids. They look for them on branches and the underside of leaves in milkweed bushes. The birds also eat resting adults and egg-laying females. They eat flying monarchs less often. The white form has a higher chance of living than the orange one. The white form does not fit the birds' search image of a normal monarch, and so it is not eaten. This kind of defense is known as apostatic selection. The white form is also camouflaged in patches of light shining through groups of leaves.

Parasites include the tachinid flies Sturmia convergens and Lesperia archippivora. Caterpillars that have the Lesperia archippivora maggots inside them will finish their last molt. They will then hang upside down on a horizontal surface. They die before they turn into a chrysalis. At that time one white maggot comes out of the caterpillar. The maggot then forms a brown pupa on the ground.

The bacteria Micrococcus flacidifex danai also infects the caterpillar and causes "black death". Just before turning into a chrysalis, the caterpillar will find a horizontal surface. They die a few hours later. The body turns black shortly after. The bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes infections in weakened insects. It is a common cause of death in insects that are raised in laboratories.

Relationship with humans

The monarch is the state insect of Alabama, Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, and Texas. It is the state butterfly of Vermont and West Virginia. It was nominated in 1990 as the national insect of the United States of America. It was nominated along with the honeybee (Apis mellifera). However, the legislation did not pass.

Many people like to attract monarchs by growing a butterfly garden with the plant Asclepias physocarpa. Others like raising them for fun or for educational purposes. Sanctuaries have been made for migrating Monarchs. The sanctuaries are found at the monarch's favorite overwintering places. These migrations can create a lot of tourism revenue.

Many schools also enjoy caring for monarchs. They start with caterpillars. When the caterpillars mature into butterflies, they are then set free into the wild.

Some organizations, such as the Cape May Bird Observatory, have monarch labeling programs. Labels are placed on the wing of the butterfly. The labels have information on them. This helps scientists track the monarchs during their migration. It also helps the scientists study the paths that the monarchs take on their migration.

Adult food sources

Adult Monarchs have been seen on a number of different nectar plants. Here is a list of some of them:

Males will also take in water and minerals from damp soil and small, wet rocks. This is known as puddling. The Monarch has also been seen puddling at an oil stain on pavement.

Food plants

Here is a list of plants that the Monarch caterpillar eats:

Images for kids

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The monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus) is an insect in the Nymphalidae family. It is the best-known butterfly in North America. Monarchs are known for their long annual migrations. In North America, they travel long distances south in the fall, and north in the spring. They start to migrate south in about August.

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You will be using the research journal to the left to take notes on the Monarch Butterfly. You will also be using the book Animal Behavior: Animal Defenses to answer some questions in your research journal as well.

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Follow the link below to find more information about the Monarch Butterfly. ﻿ http://www.arkive.org/monarch-butterfly/danaus-plexippus/

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Monarch butterflies are large insects with orange and black wings. They live mostly in North, Central, and South America but are also found in Australia, Hawaii, India, and other locations. Monarchs undertake long annual migrations. The monarch butterfly's scientific name is Danaus plexippus.

The monarch's wingspan is about 4 inches (10 centimeters). However, the size and shape of the wing varies according to where the butterfly lives and its migration pattern. The orange wings have black veins and a black border with two rows of small white spots. This coloration warns predators of the insect's bad taste. The viceroy butterfly has evolved over time to look similar to the monarch. Scientists believe that the two organisms resemble one another as a form of defense against predators. The relationship between them serves as an example of a type of mimicry known as Müllerian mimicry.

In North America thousands of monarchs gather in autumn and migrate southward. They sometimes travel almost 1,800 miles (3,000 kilometers). They spend the winter on the California coast or in forests in the mountains of Mexico. The monarchs begin to return north in the spring. They feed on nectar along the way. They lay eggs only on milkweed plants. A new generation hatches, matures, and continues the northward trip.

Like other butterflies, a monarch butterfly undergoes a complete metamorphosis-a series of dramatic physical changes as it develops and matures. The butterfly begins life as an egg. Out of the egg hatches a larva called a caterpillar. The monarch caterpillar has vertical stripes of black, white, and yellow-green. It feeds only on milkweed plants. After several molts, the caterpillar attains a length of almost 2 inches (5 centimeters). It continues its metamorphosis as a pale green, golden-spotted pupa called a chrysalis. Finally, it emerges as an adult monarch butterfly. Adults live only a few weeks, except those that migrate south and spend the winter in Mexico. Those migrating monarchs live seven to nine months. Thus, about four generations of monarchs occur each year.

The Mexican forests where the monarchs live during the winter are protected within the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The reserve bans logging. However, illegal logging and degradation of the forest continue to threaten the survival of monarch populations. Likewise, land development in areas along the monarch's migratory routes has threatened the species. Some U.S. researchers also suspect that a loss of milkweed plants from pesticide use in the early 21st century has put the monarch's long-term survival in danger. However, the monarch populations are hard to monitor accurately. Therefore, scientists have little concrete evidence indicating that monarch populations are in decline.

Scientists recognize several subspecies of monarchs. The subspecies D. plexippus plexippus is a migratory monarch found primarily in North America. It is occasionally found on islands in the Caribbean region. The subspecies D. plexippus megalippe does not migrate. It occurs on the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean.

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Monarch butterflies are large insects with orange and black wings. They live mostly in North, Central, and South America but are also found in Australia, Hawaii, India, and other locations. Monarchs undertake long annual migrations. The monarch butterfly's scientific name is Danaus plexippus. The monarch's wingspan is about 4 inches (10 centimeters).

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Monarch butterflies live in North, Central, and South America as well as Australia, some Pacific Islands, India, and Western Europe. Their markings include bright orange wings covered with black veins and rimmed with a black border and white dots. Females have thicker veins in their wings. A monarch's brilliant coloring tells predators: "Don't eat me. I'm poisonous." The butterflies get their toxins from a plant called milkweed, which is their only food source in the caterpillar stage. An animal that eats a monarch butterfly usually doesn't die, but it feels sick enough to avoid monarchs in the future.

The most amazing thing about monarch butterflies is the enormous migration that North American monarchs undertake each year. Every fall, as cold weather approaches, millions of these delicate insects leave their home range in Canada and the United States and begin flying south. They continue until they reach Southern California or central Mexico, nearly 2,500 miles away!

These international travelers return to the same forests each year, and some even find the same tree that their ancestors landed on. Some estimates say up to a billion butterflies arrive in the mountains of Mexico each year.

Scientists aren't sure how migrating monarchs know which way to go, since they only live a few months and none makes the journey more than once. Toward the end of winter, the monarchs in Mexico and California mate. The males then die, while the females head north, depositing eggs on milkweed plants along the way and eventually dying themselves. From these tiny, round eggs come small green-and-white-striped caterpillars, which feed on the milkweed leaves. For about two weeks, they eat constantly and grow by shedding their skin. They are then ready to transform into pupae. To become a pupa, also called a chrysalis, a monarch larva attaches itself with silk to a leaf or branch, sheds its skin, and forms a hard shell. This vase-shaped case starts out green with shiny golden dots and slowly becomes white, then see-through. After 9 to 15 days, a fully formed butterfly emerges.

The entire egg-to-butterfly process, called metamorphosis, takes about a month. Once out of the pupa, the damp butterfly inflates its wings with blood stored in its abdomen. It must wait for its wings to dry before it flies away. Adult butterflies don't grow. They survive by drinking nectar from flowers, including milkweed, clover, and goldenrod.

Threats to survival

Scientists think North American monarchs have been making their amazing annual journey for thousands of years. But threats to their habitat and food source are making the migration more difficult, and monarchs are now on the endangered species list.

Habitat destruction over decades in areas where they spend the winter has taken a massive toll. The impact is felt by both the western population, which is found west of the Rocky Mountains and winters on the California coast, and the eastern population, which is found in the eastern United States and Canada and winters in Mexico 's fir tree forests.

In their summer habitats, pesticides used in farming have killed monarchs as well as milkweed, the plant they eat and lay their eggs in. Climate change, too, is an increasing threat as dramatic weather events such as hurricanes and drought become more common along the butterflies' southern migration routes.

Now that the monarch has been added to the endangered species list, conservationists hope that more people will understand how much danger these butterflies are in and that organizations will step up to show folks how to help protect this amazing insect.

For instance, conservationists encourage people to plant milkweed in their yards so monarch butterflies can lay their eggs and their caterpillars have food to eat. Volunteer opportunities include citizen science, in which regular people help scientists collect critical data that will be used to develop conservation policies to protect monarchs. ( Find out how you can help.)

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Monarch butterflies live in North, Central, and South America as well as Australia, some Pacific Islands, India, and Western Europe. They're on the endangered species list. Find out how you can help protect their habitat.

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Monarch Butterfly Hibernation Colonies 2013

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Monarch Butterfly Hibernation Colonies 2013

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Monarch Butterfly Hibernation Colonies 2014

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Monarch Butterfly Hibernation Colonies 2014

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Armadillos are in the Cingulata, an order of New World placental mammals. The living ones have a leathery armored shell. The word armadillo is Spanish for "little armored one".

There are about 10 living genera and about 20 species of armadillo. Their average length is about 75 centimeters (30 in), including the tail. The Giant Armadillo grows up to 100 cm (39 in) and weigh 30 kg (66lbs). All species live in the Americas. Most of the 20 species are found in open areas, such as grasslands, but some also live in forests.

Armadillos species are mostly found in South and Central America, especially around Paraguay. Many species are endangered.

Habitat and anatomy

Armadillos are small to medium-sized mammals. The smallest species, the pink fairy armadillo, is roughly chipmunk-sized at 85 g (3.0 oz) and 13-15 cm (5.1-5.9 in) in total length. The largest species, the giant armadillo, can be the size of a small pig and weigh up to 54 kg (119 lb), and can be 150 cm (59 in) long. They are prolific diggers. Many species use their sharp claws to dig for food, such as grubs, and to dig dens. The nine-banded armadillo prefers to build burrows in moist soil near the creeks, streams, and arroyos around which it lives and feeds. The diets of different armadillo species vary, but consist mainly of insects, grubs, and other invertebrates. Some species, however, feed almost entirely on ants and termites.

In common with other xenarthrans, armadillos, in general, have low body temperatures of 33-36 °C (91-97 °F) and low basal metabolic rates (40-60% of that expected in placental mammals of their mass). This is particularly true of types that specialize in using termites as their primary food source (for example, Priodontes and Tolypeutes).

The armour is formed by plates of dermal bone covered in relatively small, overlapping epidermal scales called " scutes", composed of bone with a covering of horn. Most species have rigid shields over the shoulders and hips, with a number of bands separated by flexible skin covering the back and flanks. Additional armour covers the top of the head, the upper parts of the limbs, and the tail. The underside of the animal is never armoured, and is simply covered with soft skin and fur.

This armour-like skin appears to be the main defense of many armadillos, although most escape predators by fleeing (often into thorny patches, from which their armour protects them) or digging to safety. Only the South American three-banded armadillos ( Tolypeutes) rely heavily on their armour for protection. When threatened by a predator, Tolypeutes species frequently roll up into a ball. Other armadillo species cannot roll up because they have too many plates. The North American nine-banded armadillo tends to jump straight in the air when surprised, so consequently often collides with the undercarriage or fenders of passing vehicles.

Armadillos have short legs, but can move quite quickly. The nine-banded armadillo is noted for its movement through water which is accomplished via two different methods: it can walk underwater for short distances, holding its breath for as long as six minutes; also, to cross larger bodies of water, it is capable of increasing its buoyancy by swallowing air, inflating its stomach and intestines.

Armadillos have very poor eyesight, and use their keen sense of smell to hunt for food. They use their claws for digging and finding food, as well as for making their homes in burrows. They dig their burrows with their claws, making only a single corridor the width of the animal's body. They have five clawed toes on their hind feet, and three to five toes with heavy digging claws on their fore feet. Armadillos have a large number of cheek teeth which are not divided into premolars and molars, but usually have no incisors or canines. The dentition of the nine-banded armadillo is P 7/7, M 1/1 = 32.

Gestation lasts from 60 to 120 days, depending on species, although the nine-banded armadillo also exhibits delayed implantation, so the young are not typically born for eight months after mating. Most members of the genus Dasypus give birth to four monozygotic young (that is, identical quadruplets), but other species may have typical litter sizes that range from one to eight. The young are born with soft, leathery skin which hardens within a few weeks. They reach sexual maturity in three to 12 months, depending on the species. Armadillos are solitary animals that do not share their burrows with other adults.

Images for kids

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Armadillos are in the Cingulata, an order of New World placental mammals. The living ones have a leathery armored shell. The word armadillo is Spanish for "little armored one". There are about 10 living genera and about 20 species of armadillo. Their average length is about 75 centimeters (30 in), including the tail.

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Part 2: Three-Banded Armadillo Keeper Chat at the Houston Zoo.

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Part 1: Three-Banded Armadillo Keeper Chat at the Houston Zoo

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Want to learn more? Follow the links below to websites with information about these amazing animals! http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/animals/mammals/3-banded-armadillo…

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(Image: © belizar | Shutterstock)

Armadillos are barrel-shaped animals covered with natural armor. In fact, its name in Spanish means "little armored one." The armadillo's armor works well against most predators, but not against cars. They are also known as the "Hillbilly Speed Bump" for their tendency to get run over by vehicles.

Size & Description

There are 21 species of armadillo, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Some armadillos are very small, while others are huge. The smallest is the pink fairy armadillo, which is about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long. Giant armadillos are the largest species, and are about 5 feet (1.5 meters) long, according to National Geographic.

An armadillo's armor is made up of overlapping plates covering the back, head, legs and tail. The number of armored bands identifies the different species, according to the San Diego Zoo. Only one species, the three-banded armadillo, can roll itself into a hard armored ball to defend itself against predators. Other armadillo species simply dig a hole quickly and hunker down so that their tender stomach is protected and their armor is the only thing visible.

Armadillos have pointy snouts and long, sticky tongues, similar to anteaters, which are close cousins. Their eyesight is poor, so they hunt with a highly developed sense of smell. They also have wiry hairs along their sides and belly, which they use to feel their way around, like curb feelers on some cars. They also have strong legs and sharp claws for digging.

Habitat

Most armadillos stick to areas closer to the equator because they like temperate to warm areas due to their lack of fat stores. According to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management, armadillos are very picky about where they live based on what type of soil is found in the area. Usually, armadillos prefer sandy or loam soils that are loose and porous. This makes digging for food and creating burrows easier.

All armadillos live in Central and South America, except for one species. The nine-banded armadillo ranges from Argentina to the southern United States, according to the Animal Diversity Web (ADW) at the University of Michigan. Since the mid-19th century, nine-banded armadillos have expanded northward. They have been seen in Florida and are now common in Missouri. In 2000, the body of a nine-banded armadillo was found in central Illinois, according to ADW.

Habits

Armadillos are not social creatures and spend most of their time sleeping. They usually sleep up to 16 hours each day in burrows, according to National Geographic. During the morning and evenings, they forage for food.

Usually, the only time armadillos get together is to mate or to keep warm. During cold times, a group of armadillos may hunker down in a burrow together to share body heat. Sometimes, a seven-banded armadillo will share its burrow with others of the same gender, though.

Diet

Armadillos are omnivores, which means they eat meat and plants, though 90 percent of an armadillo's diet is made up of insects and larvae, according to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management. With their long, sticky tongue, armadillos catch ants, beetles, termites and other insects after digging them out of the ground. They also eat plants, eggs, small vertebrates and some fruit. From time to time, they will scavenge for dead animals.

(Image credit: Robert Eastman Shutterstock )

Offspring

After a gestation period of two to five months, the female will give birth to one to 12 young in a birthing burrow. These burrows can be up to 15 feet (4.5 m) wide, according to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage.

Baby armadillos are called pups. According to the San Diego Zoo, twin births are common. Nine-banded armadillos have four identical pups of the same gender in every litter, and the seven-banded armadillo has eight to 15 identical pups at one time.

Pups mature quickly. They are weaned by two to four months. By nine to 12 months, the pups are mature and ready to have offspring of their own. Armadillos can live anywhere from four to 30 years. The median life expectancy for three-banded armadillos is around 16 years.

Classification/taxonomy

Here is the taxonomy of armadillos, according to ITIS:

Kingdom: Animalia Subkingdom: Bilateria Infrakingdom: Deuterostomia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Infraphylum: Gnathostomata Superclass: Tetrapoda Class: Mammalia Subclass: Theria Infraclass: Eutheria Order: Cingulata Family: Dasypodidae Subfamilies: Dasypodinae, Euphractinae and Tolypeutinae Genera and species: There are nine genera and 21 species, including:

Dasypus novemcinctus - Nine-banded armadillo

Dasypus septemcinctus - Seven-banded armadillo

Calyptophractus retusus - Greater fairy armadillo

Chaetophractus vellerosus - Screaming hairy armadillo

Chlamyphorus truncatus - Pink fairy armadillo

Euphractus sexcinctus - Six-banded armadillo

Cabassous centralis - Northern naked-tailed armadillo

Priodontes maximus - Giant armadillo

Tolypeutes tricinctus - Brazilian three-banded armadillo

Conservation status

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), armadillos are not endangered. Some species are vulnerable, though. For example, the Andean hairy armadillo is considered vulnerable because its population has declined by more than 30 percent in the past 10 years. The giant armadillo is considered vulnerable because its population has decreased by at least 30 percent in the past 21 years.

Other facts

Armadillos have a wide range of colors. They can be pink, red, black, gray or yellow.

Some people eat armadillos and claim it tastes like pork.

The nine-banded armadillo is the official state animal of Texas.

The giant armadillo can have up to 100 teeth, according to the San Diego Zoo.

The screaming hairy armadillo gets it name from the sound it makes when threatened. Don't get the idea that they are cowards, however. They have been known to throw their bodies on top of snakes, killing them by cutting them with the sharp edges of their shells, according to the San Diego Zoo.
Additional resources

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Alina Bradford - Live Science Contributor

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(Image: © belizar | Shutterstock) Armadillos are barrel-shaped animals covered with natural armor. In fact, its name in Spanish means "little armored one." The armadillo's armor works well against most predators, but not against cars. They are also known as the "Hillbilly Speed Bump" for their tendency to get run over by vehicles.

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Dahlia came to the Zoo in 2022. She has a lot of energy and loves moving around her habitat discovering the new goodies the care staff place for her.

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The "armor" isn't the only protection this armadillo has from predators. When a frightened three-banded armadillo curls up into a ball, it often leaves a space open. If a predator puts a paw or nose into that space to try to pry the armadillo open, the little animal slams its shell shut-ouch!

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Scientific Name:

Dasypodidae

Average Life Span In Captivity:

12 to 15 years

Weight:

3 ounces to 120 pounds

Size relative to a 6-ft man:

Of the 20 varieties of armadillo, all but one live in Latin America. The familiar nine-banded armadillo is the only species that includes the United States in its range.

Armadillo is a Spanish word meaning "little armored one" and refers to the bony plates that cover the back, head, legs, and tail of most of these odd looking creatures. Armadillos are the only living mammals that wear such shells.

Closely related to anteaters and sloths, armadillos generally have a pointy or shovel-shaped snout and small eyes. They vary widely in size and color, from the 6-inch-long, salmon-colored pink fairy armadillo to the 5-foot-long, dark-brown giant armadillo. Others have black, red, gray, or yellowish coloring.

Contrary to popular belief, not all armadillos are able to encase themselves in their shells. In fact, only the three-banded armadillo can, curling its head and back feet and contorting its shell into a hard ball that confounds would-be predators.

Habitat and Diet

Armadillos live in temperate and warm habitats, including rain forests, grasslands, and semi-deserts. Because of their low metabolic rate and lack of fat stores, cold is their enemy, and spates of intemperate weather can wipe out whole populations.

Most species dig burrows and sleep prolifically, up to 16 hours per day, foraging in the early morning and evening for beetles, ants, termites, and other insects. They have very poor eyesight, and utilize their keen sense of smell to hunt. Strong legs and huge front claws are used for digging, and long, sticky tongues for extracting ants and termites from their tunnels. In addition to bugs, armadillos eat small vertebrates, plants, and some fruit, as well as the occassional carrion meal.

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Scientific Name: Dasypodidae Average Life Span In Captivity: 12 to 15 years Weight: 3 ounces to 120 pounds Size relative to a 6-ft man: Of the 20 varieties of armadillo, all but one live in Latin America. The familiar nine-banded armadillo is the only species that includes the United States in its range.

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Physical Description

Three-banded armadillos are various shades of brown. The hard carapace covering their bodies develops from the skin and is composed of strong, bony plates, called scutes. The tail, top of head and the outer surfaces of the limbs are also usually armored.

When frightened, they will roll up almost all the way until their armor forms a trap that snaps closed on their predator's hand or paw. The shell also helps protect them from the thorny vegetation that armadillos frequently pass through. The under surface is soft, hairy skin. The carapace is not attached to the skin on the two sides, allowing the head, legs and tail to tuck inside when the animal rolls into a ball. This works well against most predators, but unfortunately has made La Plata three-banded armadillos easy prey to human hunters.

Three-banded armadillos usually weigh about 3 pounds (1.5 kilograms) and have 12-inch (30-centimeter) long bodies and 2.5-inch (6-centimeter) long tails.

Native Habitat

The range of La Plata three-banded armadillos includes parts of Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. They live in open, grassy areas, open forests and marshes. They do not dig burrows like most armadillos, but use the abandoned burrows of anteaters when they can get them.

Communication

Armadillos use their sense of smell to determine the identity and sexual condition of other armadillos.

Food/Eating Habits

They use their well-developed sense of hearing and smell to detect both predators and prey. In the wild they feed primarily on ants and termites, which they obtain using their powerful forelegs and claws.

At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, La Plata three-banded armadillos are fed soaked insectivore diet and mealworms.

Reproduction and Development

The male's penis is one of the longest among mammals, extending two-thirds of the body length in some species. This may be necessary to extend past the carapace to the female's vaginal opening. Other than that, little information is available regarding reproduction in this species. Breeding is believed to take place between October and January. After a 120-day gestation period, females give birth to only one young that is about the size of a golf ball. Newborns look like miniature adults and become independent after 72 days.

These armadillos usually live 15 to 20 years. While well-protected, armadillos are vulnerable to predation. Juvenile mortality can be twice that of adults; many juvenile deaths are due to predation from coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, some raptors and even the domestic dog.

Loss of habitat has been substantial throughout the range of La Plata three-banded armadillos; however, this species is capable of adapting to minor modifications to its habitat. While their defense mechanism of curling into a ball is suitable for protection from natural predators, this makes them particularly susceptible to hunters and poachers, who can simply reach down and pick up the animals. They experience high morbidity during transit, making collection for the pet trade an even greater threat to their survival. In South America, natives use armadillo carapaces to make musical instruments. These instruments, which are called charongos, are similar to mandolins.

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Physical Description Three-banded armadillos are various shades of brown. The hard carapace covering their bodies develops from the skin and is composed of strong, bony plates, called scutes. The tail, top of head and the outer surfaces of the limbs are also usually armored.

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Armadillos are nature's goofballs! Here are five reasons why these animals will make you ROTFL.

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Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world's most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species.