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Mammals of Georgia

Mammals of Georgia. Michael T. Mengak, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Wildlife Specialist Warnell School of Forest Resources University of Georgia Athens. Characteristics of Mammals. Homoeothermic (warm-blooded) vertebrate Mammary Glands Hair Other Characters Lower Jaw – 1 pair of bones

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Mammals of Georgia

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  1. Winter School - 2002

  2. Mammals of Georgia Michael T. Mengak, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Wildlife Specialist Warnell School of Forest Resources University of Georgia Athens

  3. Characteristics of Mammals • Homoeothermic (warm-blooded) vertebrate • Mammary Glands • Hair • Other Characters • Lower Jaw – 1 pair of bones • Middle Ear – 3 bones • Teeth – in sockets; several types • Cervical Vertebrae – 7 (except sloth & manatee) Winter School - 2002

  4. Distribution of Mammals • Evolved as four-legged terrestrial animals • Considered by some to be highest life-form on Earth • Found on every continent • Evolved during MESOZOIC ERA ~ 135 mya • Greatest evolution in CENOZOIC ERA ~ 70 mya • All forms of locomotion-(swim, run, hop, walk, fly, dig, glide) Winter School - 2002

  5. Taxonomy • Kingdom – Animalia • Phylum – Chordata • Subphylum - Vertebrata • Class – Mammalia • Order-10 orders in GA • Family – 27 families in GA • Genus – last name; comes first • species – first name; come last Winter School - 2002

  6. Georgia Mammal Species • Species – 94 • Threatened ---------- 1 • Rare ------------------ 2 • Extirpated ----------- 3 • Endangered --------- 6 • Introduced ---------- 8 • Common ------------ 74 (game, Nongame, nuisance) Winter School - 2002

  7. Ga. Mammals – ThreatenedRound-tailed Muskrat • Shallow freshwater marshes • Resembles a small muskrat, tail is round instead of flattened • Diet mainly aquatic grasses but stems, roots, and seeds are also eaten • Predators - herons, owls, hawks, snakes, and bobcats • Range - extreme southeastern corner of Georgia –endemic or native Winter School - 2002

  8. Round-tailed Muskrat Winter School - 2002

  9. Ga. Mammals – Rare – Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat • Very long ears, over 1 inch • Roosts in buildings, old mine shafts, wells, caves, hollow trees, areas behind loose bark, and crevices in rock ledges. • Becomes active only in complete darkness. • Feeds on flying insects. • Statewide • One of the least known bats Winter School - 2002

  10. Ga. Mammals – RareAppalachian Cottontail • Occurs in high elevation S. App. Mountains • Found in dense conifers and deciduous cover • Also in 6-7 yr old clearcuts • Red spruce • Occurrence in GA is suspected • Back has black wash • Front edge of ears are black trimmed Winter School - 2002

  11. Ga. Mammals – ExtirpatedRed Wolf • 40-80 pounds • Family groups – not packs • Feed on rodents and small mammals • Reintroduced to Alligator R. NWR and GSMNP (failed) Winter School - 2002

  12. Ga. Mammals – ExtirpatedGray Wolf • Up to 150 pounds • Packs • Deer, Moose • Isolated in e.US • Reintroductions in west Winter School - 2002

  13. Red Wolf vs. Gray Wolf Winter School - 2002

  14. Ga. Mammals – ExtirpatedBison • Largest land mammal in N.Am. • 12 feet long • 2200 pounds • Great herds • Renewed interest for food Winter School - 2002

  15. Georgia Mammals Endangered – legal designation - ESA (1973) - numbers sufficiently reduced to place species in danger of extinction - no set number; can be a portion of the species (population)

  16. Endangered • Mountain Lion • Manatee • Humpback Whale • Black Right Whale • Gray Bat • Indiana Bat Winter School - 2002

  17. Endangered - Mountain Lion • Largest cat in N. Am. • Not known to occur in Ga. • Individuals may be seen in Okefenokee and Blue Ridge – probably released pets • Diet – deer, wild pigs, rabbits • Solitary w/ large HR Winter School - 2002

  18. Endangered - Manatee • Migrant to GA coastal waters in summer. • Lives 40-50 years • Vegetarian • Prey for sharks and alligators (young manatee) • Up to 2,500 lbs Winter School - 2002

  19. Endangered - Humpback Whale • Up to 53’ long • Migrate along coast • Sing • Family groups Winter School - 2002

  20. Endangered - Black Right Whale • Black, up to 57’ • Young born off GA-FL state line on N-S migration route • Baleen, feed on plankton • Inshore water, easily hunted • Migrate north Jan-Mar. Winter School - 2002

  21. Endangered Gray Bat (Gray Myotis) • Myotis mean “mouse ear” • Insect eater • Migrant – up to 300 mi to hibernacula • Hibernate in cave, mine • Roost in trees Winter School - 2002

  22. Endangered - Indiana Bat • Myotis • Insect eater, cave hibernator, tree roost • Slow reproduction • Can live up to 20 years • Large concentrations in hibernation • 6 caves hold 80% of pop’n in winter. Winter School - 2002

  23. Indiana Bat – Gray Bat Winter School - 2002

  24. Georgia Mammals INTRODUCED

  25. Introduced • Nine-banded Armadillo • Black Rat • Norway Rat • House Mouse • Nutria • Red Fox • Wild Boar • Fallow Deer Winter School - 2002

  26. Armadillo • Named by Aztec Indians in Mexico • Delayed fertilization • Breed in July/August; birth in April • Litter usually 4 & same sex • Eyes open; mobile in a few hours • Nocturnal • Few Predators • Dig burrows used by other animals Winter School - 2002

  27. Rats and Mice Winter School - 2002

  28. Nutria Winter School - 2002

  29. Nutria • Up to 3 feet long; 35 pounds • Breeds year round; 2 litters/yr; 4-8 per litter • Native of S. Am.; CA in 1899; LA in 1939 • Fur bearer – can tolerate salt water • Eats aquatic weeds; tunnels up to 4 ft. long • Undermine banks and dikes Winter School - 2002

  30. Red Fox • N. Am. red is Vulpes fulva; European red is Vulpes vulpes. • Introduced in early 20th century. • Probably caused extinction of native red fox • Monogamous; breed in Jan/Feb.; male feeds also • Mixed P/H; edges; bottomland; fields. • Diurnal in winter; eats mice, eggs, birds. • Hunt/Trap in Dec. to Feb. Winter School - 2002

  31. Wild Pig – Wild Boar – Feral Hog • 5 ft long; 3 ft tall; 400 lbs. • Wild Pig=Wild Hog=Feral Pig=European Boar • European Boar introduced to NC from Russia on hunting preserve in 1920’s? • Wild pigs in US since 1530’s; domestic but free range; • Destructive – ground nests, longleaf • Sport, turn soil, destroy ground vegetation Winter School - 2002

  32. Fallow Deer • Native of Mediterranean region • Guided hunts in Australia • Bounces; barks like dog • Groups up to 150 animals • Ht – 3 ft; Wt – 175 lbs • Raised on farms in NY,TX,FL,WI • ND ext. website on deer farming • Imported for restaurant venison • Eastern shore of VA Winter School - 2002

  33. Georgia Mammals – Common74 Species • Marsupial – 1 • Insectivores - 9 • Shrews (7) • Moles (2) • Bats – 13 • Rabbits – 3 Winter School - 2002

  34. Georgia Mammals – Commoncontinued • Rodents • Squirrel & Chipmunks – 6 • Pocket Gopher – 1 • Beaver – 1 • Mice, Rats, Voles, Muskrat - 15 • Carnivores – 10 • Aquatic – Seals, Whales – 14 • Hoofed - 1 Winter School - 2002

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