Some Mammals Found on the SMESL Shawnee Mission South HS Overland Park, KS Environmental Science I

What is a Mammal?:

They are vertebrates, have a backbone. They are vertebrates, have a backbone. They have very specialized and diversified teeth.

Have a four-chambered heart. Have a diaphragm. What is a Mammal?:

How Many Kinds Are There? Currently, there are about 4,630 species of mammals in the world, divided into 26 living orders. Currently, there are about 4,630 species of mammals in the world, divided into 26 living orders. Within Kansas 89 species are known to have occurred from 24 families in 8 orders. Within Kansas 89 species are known to have occurred from 24 families in 8 orders. Over 20 are commonly found on the SMESL. This is about a 1/3 rd of what has been observed out there.

Now Some Mammals

Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) Measurements: -Total Length: 26”-35” -Tail Length: 10”-15” -Weight: 6-13 pounds Opossums are marsupials. They have a pouch to carry their young.

Ground Hog (Woodchuck) (Marmota monax) Measurements: Total Length: 22”-26” Tail Length: 4”-8” Weight: 5-12 pounds

Why Kids Know Ground Hogs “How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” Ground Hog Day

Woodchuck (Ground Hog) Marmota monax Black Tailed Prairie Dog Cynomys ludovicianus What’s the difference? Dark brown to graytan with black tipped tail Larger (2-3 x bigger)smaller behind school or edges of fieldsin prairie dog cage

Eastern Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Eastern Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger What’s the difference? Grayreddish brown Smallerlarger Woodsmore open, edges Each type of squirrel makes different sounds

Squirrel Nests

What’s the difference? Stripes on side to neckMany stripes some up to eyes on head Reddish brown, bushy tailYellowish brown, skinny tail Chipping vocalizations. Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel Spermophilus tridecemlineatus

Common Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus

Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus Measurements: Total Length: inches Tail Length: inches Weight: pounds

Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Measurements: Total Length: m Tail Length: tail m Weight: kg

Coyote Canis latrans Measurements: Total Length: m Tail Length: m Weight: kg

Bob Cat Lynx rufus Measurements: Total Length: m Tail Length: m Weight: 7-14 kg

Raccoon Procyon lotor Measurements: Total Length: mm Tail Length: mm Weight: kilograms If you see one out during the day DO NOT approach. May be rabid. Find tracks in creek beds a lot.

Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis Measurements: Total Length: Tail Length: Weight: If you see one out during the day DO NOT approach. May be rabid.

The Weapon! A skunk's weapon is a strong oily musk which it releases from two gland in the anus. It is has been thought that skunks are not capable of spraying if held by the tail, but as many people may attest, this is not true. Skunks can spray distances up to six meters and are quite accurate. Why is the tail raised?

White Tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus Measurements: Total Length: m Tail Length: cm Weight: kg

Which is the male and which is the female?

A Fawn

Some LBM’s “Little Brown Mammals”

Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus Measurements: Total Length: inches Tail Length: inches Weight: ounces

Prairie Vole Microtus ochrogaster Measurements: Total Length: inches Tail Length: inches Weight: grams Meadow Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus Measurements: Total Length: inches Tail Length: inches Weight: ounces

Vole and Mice Runs Vole Holes

Least Shrew (Cryptotis parva) Measurements: Total Length: inches Tail Length: inches Weight: ounce The smallest mammals in Kansas. Have a short tail They are carnivores. Voracious eaters, consume 60 to 100 percent of their body weight each day.

Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus) Measurements: Total Length: inches Tail Length: inches Weight: ounces. They spend nearly 100 percent of their time living underground Their poorly developed eyes can only distinguish between light and dark. They are carnivores. Feed mainly on earthworms and insect larvae

Hispid Cotton Rat Sigmodon hispidus Measurements: Total Length: inches Tail Length: inches Weight: ounces Note: is large often over a foot long.

Historically in Kansas and J.C. Who is still here? Buffalo Beaver Elk CougarWolf