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Home , Hedgehog

Also known as “Four-toed Hedgehog African Pygmy Hedgehog

LONGEVITY – 2-3 years; 8-10 in captivity RANGE – southern Africa; from Senegal to Sudan and Zambia HABITAT – desert; many live in holes in ground, termite holes, among rocks or heaps of stones, thick bush, and around buildings. DIET – omnivorous, but primarily insectivorous; , spiders, , , some plant matter, small vertebrates; opportunistic; extremely high tolerance to toxins—40x as resistant to venom as a same-sized guinea pig (can eat scorpions, wasps, and venomous ); consume about 1/3 of their body weight per night. REPRODUCTION – breed once or twice/year; 1-7 babies; born with skin swollen tight with water, spines present but covered with a membrane—protects female during birthing; membrane dries in a few hours and spines protrude to 3 mm shortly thereafter; excess water is lost and spines protrude to 6mm within 24 hours; weaned from 3rd-6th week, then leave their mother shortly after. -OVER-

ADAPTATION – solitary; nocturnal; constantly moves, can cover several miles in one night. Self-anoints: when it discovers a unique taste or odor it creates a frothy saliva and spreads it over all its spines (reason is unknown; may be related to reproduction or self-defense). Undergoes summer estivation and winter to survive temperature extremes. A circular “drawstring” muscle constricts to cause the ~16,000 spines to stick up; may curl up, pulling spines around face, feet & belly; chuffs & jerks to drive spines into predator; raised spines are longer than viper’s fangs-can’t bite into the skin. Excellent sense of hearing & smell – can locate prey 2 inches or more underground. Predators: large , raptors with protected feet and long talons to get beyond the spines, jackals, hyenas, , , etc. Can be plagued by parasites (fleas, ticks and mites) that burrow into the skin causing lethal infections and ulcers. CONSERVATION – It’s important to native ecosystem for its role in pest & vermin control. No longer legal to collect in wild or to transport them out of Africa; protects from pet trade. U.S. has a legal “closed’ breeding stock for its pet trade. HUMAN USE – Gypsies are reported to have eaten European hedgehogs; wrapped them in wet clay and roasting over a fire—the spines pull off with the dried clay. Romans used the spiny skin to buff woolen materials, scrub floors and comb flax.

Domestic Rabbit AH Rabbit is domestic--info is on wild European rabbit, ancestor to all domestic breeds LONGEVITY- Wild – average 15 months, but up to 9 yrs. RANGE – Native to Iberian Peninsula (Spain/Portugal), NW Africa. Introduced to W. Europe (2000 yrs ago), Australia, New Zealand, S. America and many islands HABITAT – Opportunistic. Mostly grassland or woodland (avoid coniferous forest); from stony deserts to sub-alpine valleys; fields, parks and gardens; very common. DIET – Herbivore; mostly leaves; grass & herbs, & tree bark, shrubs, crops; will re- ingest feces for nutritional benefit. REPRODUTION – mating is promiscuous, although 1 male tends to monopolize; nest lined with grass, moss and belly fur; 3-5 litters with 3-12 young, occasionally up to 12; gestation 28-33 days; young have little at birth, eyes open in 4-10 days. ADAPTATION – crepuscular to nocturnal feeders; rapid reproduction rate. In Iberia, has ~40 predators; complex burrow system (warren); Males have large territories that overlap many females; scent mark trails with feces. Differs from hares, which are born furred, eyes open. CONSERVATION – populations are typically increasing, often putting pressure on native species of plants & in areas where it was introduced

Lesser Madagascar Hedgehog

RANGE – western & southwestern Madagascar HABITAT – mostly arid regions; dry forests, scrub, semi-desert, grasslands DIET – insectivore; mostly invertebrates, occasionally baby mice; eats some fruit; forages both in trees and on the ground REPRODUCTION – den in tree cavities or dig burrows; mate after emerging from torpor; males may stay with females until “banished” shortly before the birth, and during time young are with mother; usually 5-7/litter; spines appears in about 5 days; eyes open by 10 days; young independent after ~1-3 months ADAPTATION – Not a hedgehog--in fact new research suggests they may be more related to elephants! Spines; curls in a tight ball, spines erect, to protect head & belly; grinds teeth & hisses. Semi-arboreal; Undergo winter torpor for 3- 5 months, sometimes in pairs; estivate in dry season; nocturnal; communication is mostly tactile, also smell & vocalizations; males secrete a milky white substance from glands near the eyes, usually in response to an odor emitted from a female in estrus. CONSERVATION – quite common, although logging in Madagascar impairs their favored habitat.

Silkie Chicken

LONGEVITY – apx. 9 years RANGE – wild ancestor—Red Jungle Fowl, indigenous throughout India and Indochina. Marco Polo observed this breed of chicken in 13th century China. HABITAT – domestic; mainly farm, small shrubs/trees where there is protection; unlike other chickens unable to fly, due to unique feathers, so cannot roost in trees DIET – chickens are in nearly every sense of the word! They consume sand/gravel to keep in their gizzard to grind their ingested food (kind of like a garbage disposal!) REPRODUCTION – Excellent brooders (will sit on eggs and not leave) ADAPTATION – Lacking small hooks or barbicels on the ends of feather strands that hold feathers together giving them their fluffy appearance. This also prevents them from flying. The only chicken that has dark slate-blue skin and bones. They also have 5 toes rather than the normal 4 for chickens. CONSERVATION – none

Chicken

RANGE – wild ancestor—Red Jungle Fowl indigenous throughout India and IndoChina. Archeological evidence suggests fully domesticated by about 2000BC in India. Domestic poultry commonly kept throughout ancient world, including NW Europe, outside the bounds of the Roman Empire. Valued for the flesh, eggs, feathers, prowess as fighters, religious significance including role as symbol of fertility and virility, also divination and time keeping. HABITAT – domestic; mainly farm, small shrubs/trees where there is protection; will roost in trees DIET – chickens are omnivores in nearly every sense of the word! They consume sand/gravel to keep in their gizzard to grind their ingested food (kind of like a garbage disposal!) ADAPTATION – active during the day, return to the same place to roost at night. No teeth or a true stomach; use the gizzard to grind food. Cocks (males) have a spur on their shank (bottom half of leg) which they use to attack intruders. Comb structure on top of head used for cooling & display, most prominent on males (the latin name for chicken “gallus” means comb)

California Kingsnake LONGEVITY – 20-30 years. Typical length is up to 4 feet. RANGE – Western U.S. - Baja CA north to OR, to S. Utah & east to W. Arizona HABITAT – Ground-dwelling snakes that live in rock outcrops, semi-desert, brushy hillsides or pine forests. DIET – Mice, lizards, birds, other snakes. REPRODUCTION – Oviparous. Lays around two dozen eggs in rotted logs or underground chamber. Young hatch in two months and are around 1 foot long. ADAPTATION – They are wholly/partially immune to venom of other snakes & will kill & eat them. This gives them a good reputation with humans in rural areas. When disturbed, they often coil their bodies to hide their heads, hiss & rattle their tails. If in dry vegetation, this can produce a sound like a rattlesnake's rattle. They will also emit a musk odor when disturbed. They are diurnal but will be more nocturnal when it is hot. CONSERVATION – Common in their range. Beneficial because they eat venomous snakes & help control populations. King snakes earned their name by preying on other snakes. Thus, they are considered the “king” of the snakes.

Eastern Milksnake LONGEVITY – approximately 7 years in wild; up to 20 years in captivity. RANGE – throughout the eastern United States, into southern Canada. HABITAT – woods, fields, marshes, farmlands and suburbs. DIET – , reptiles and amphibians. However may include invertebrates and eggs depending on the environment and size of . REPRODUCTION – average of 10 eggs laid but can be between 6-24 eggs in June or July hatching in late summer. ADAPTATION – Nocturnal usually stay out of sight hiding under rocks, logs or whatever is convenient even trash cans. Range from 2 to 4 feet in length. Coloring is similar to that of the venomous Northern Copperhead Snake. CONSERVATION – Common in most of their range including Michigan but a species of concern in some parts including Canada.

Ball Python

LONGEVITY – about 15 years; some pythons may live 40-50 years RANGE – central & west Africa, Sierra and Togo Senegal HABITAT – grasslands, savannas and sparsely wooded plains; terrestrial DIET – small (mice & ); REPRODUCTION –clutch of 6-7 eggs; female incubates by coiling around eggs for ~3 months (uses rhythmic movement to raise temperature). Grow rapidly until reach 3-4 feet, then growth slows; males grow more slowly than females. (smallest African python); may reach 6 feet. ADAPTATION – Constrictor; gentle disposition; coils into a tight ball when threatened, tucks head and neck into the center (thus the name); may aestivate underground in dry months. Primitive snake; still possess a pelvic girdle and “vestigial” limbs; both lungs function. Upwards of 100 inward curving teeth to hold prey until they die during constriction. Nocturnal; use heat-sensing pits to hunt. CONSERVATION – listed in CITES Appendix II due to habitat loss, pet and skin trade. Pet trade has high mortality (sudden change in environment & diet). Several African cultures revere these snakes as sacred animals.

Sinaloan Milksnake LONGEVITY – Captivity – 10-20 years, Wild - Unknown RANGE – Mexico; sw Sonora south through Sinaloa (Pacific coastal lowlands) HABITAT –found abundantly around edges of cornfields; terrestrial DIET – Rodents, lizards, birds and snakes (including venomous) REPRODUCTION – Lays 2 – 17 eggs; female will coil around eggs; young are about 8” long when first hatched ADAPTATION – Immune to rattlesnake venom. Color banding quite variable, banding causes “after images” when snake is moving, which makes predator strike behind the snake and miss; also an example of mimicry, imitating the banding of the venomous coral snake (esp. west Mexican coral snake). Mistakenly called— often found in barns and when a cow didn’t produce milk, farmers said the snakes sucked the cow’s milk dry in the night. The snake is found around barns and cows because it is hunting for rodents not milk. All milksnakes are the same species, but there are many (~25) sub- species!

Eastern Box Turtle LONGEVITY – 80-123 years and easily 40-50 years if unmolested RANGE – most of eastern half of US HABITAT – terrestrial; moist forested areas, wet meadows, pastures and floodplains; Michigan’s only truly terrestrial turtle DIET – primarily herbivore; , fruit, ; will also eat inverts REPRODUCTION – 3-8 eggs laid in a hole in sunny area, incubated by the sun; no adult care of young; temporary tooth on beak aids in hatching. ADAPTATION –eat poisonous mushrooms (which makes their meat poisonous). High rounded shell with hinged plastron for tightly closing (like a box!); hinge does not develop until 4-5 years old. Males have bright red or orange eyes. Very small territories (1-5 acres); very dependent on territory for survival and can die if moved to another area. Burrow under soil and leaves; emerge to feed especially after or during rainstorms; hibernate in winter CONSERVATION – Endangered in much of its range; habitat destruction & overcollecting, also road mortality; Species of Special Concern in Michigan

Wood Turtle LONGEVITY – 58 years (born/raised in captivity); 38 years (wild caught) RANGE – northeastern US (ME to east MN and down to north VA), and into eastern Canada (Nova Scotia to Ontario) HABITAT – aquatic & terrestrial; near streams (typically no more than 500-1000 ft away from one); forested; burrow in soil, fallen logs/debris DIET – opportunistic ; vegetation, fruits, berries, mushrooms, insects, earthworms, tadpoles, leeches, leaves; some reported to stamp the front feet or hit the plastron on the ground bringing earthworms to the surface to be eaten REPRODUCTION – reproductive activity is aquatic; eggs laid in open, sunny areas mid- May to early June; 5-14 eggs; hatch Aug. to Oct.; slow growth rate ADAPTATION – diurnal; hibernate in stream bottoms or banks, ponds CONSERVATION – declining throughout range; Iowa lists as endangered, 4 states list as threatened, Michigan & 2 other states list as “Special Concern”; threat is due to over- collection (usually illegal) and habitat loss

Chaco Tortoise RANGE – center of distribution is Argentina, Paraguay; South American mainland to northern Patagonia; but not Chile (its scientific name chilensis - derives from a geographical mistake) HABITAT – savanna, thorn & scrub bush, desert; dry lowlands and some woodlands DIET – grasses, succulents & cacti REPRODUCTION – males are smaller, but difficult to tell sexes apart, males may have longer tails and more concave plastron; courting male gently pushes female; clutch has 1-6 eggs with a hardened shell; incubation time is from 4½ months to a year or longer. ADAPTATION – Excavates a shallow hole for retreating into during hottest time of day and at night to avoid cold; also winter in deeper burrows or pallets CONSERVATION – listed as “vulnerable” in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals; biggest threat is from pet trade, but also habitat destruction for agricultural expansion; highly prized for eating. Thought to have important role in seed dispersal. Closest living relative to the Galapagos tortoise (via DNA analysis)

Bearded Dragon LONGEVITY- average 10 years in managed care RANGE – eastern to southern Australia interior HABITAT – temperate grasslands/arid woodlands/desert; spend much of their time perched on logs, tree trunks or rocks- may perch on bush branches DIET – opportunistic omnivore; vegetation, fruit, insects and small vertebrates REPRODUCTION – mate during spring/summer months; females lay 11-16 eggs per clutch; females known to store sperm. Digs a burrow in sandy soil to lay eggs ADAPTATION – named for its spiny jaw pouch, which can be swollen to make them look larger than normal- a defense against predators. Also will flatten body, stand erect and gape mouth. Around the head and along the body are rows of spines. Terretorial. Agression is shown by rapid head bobbing and curling the tip of the tail to show submission. They will stand on 3 legs and wave a front leg. Can store heat longer than most reptiles; can change shades of color from light to dark to regulate temperature- also for and perhaps to show emotion