1. “What is in an Arm?”
Powerpoint supplement to iDigFossils lesson plan developed by Sharon E. Holte and Maggie Paxson in collaboration with Victor Perez and Alex Lounders

2. Lion Panthera leo Habitat: Savannah Conservation Status: Endangered
Predators: No natural predators
Prey: Most commonly eat gazelles, zebras, and impalas
Unique Hunting Adaptations: Most frequent form of hunting method includes grappling the prey and using their jaws to strangle the prey’s throat
Interesting Facts: Male coalitions are sometimes formed between brothers in order to take over another lion’s pride and hunting area

3. Mountain Lion Puma concolor
Habitat: Mountainous, or montane coniferous forests, lowland tropical forests, grassland, and dry brush country
Conservation Status: Endangered
Predators: No natural predators
Prey: Moose, elk, deer, or sometimes smaller prey-like squirrels or rabbits
Unique Hunting Adaptations: Breaks the neck of larger prey by pouncing on their back and biting into the area just below the skull
Interesting Facts: Compared to the African lion, the mountain lions are solitary animals

4. Ocelot Leopardus pardalis
Habitat: Tropical forests, savannah grasslands, mangrove forests and marshes
Conservation Status: Least concern
Predators: Harpy eagles, pumas, jaguars, and anacondas
Prey: Primarily eat small rodents such as rats and mice
Unique Hunting Adaptations: Hunts by tracking odor trails left by prey
Interesting Facts: Opportunistic hunter that preys upon many different types of animals

5. Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa
Habitat: Tropical rainforests at elevations up to 3000 meters
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Predators: Tigers and leopards
Prey: Various birds, fish, and domestic animals such as pigs and goats
Unique Hunting Adaptations: Breaks prey’s spine by biting the back of their neck
Interesting Facts: Acrobatic and have been known to perform feats including slowly walking down a tree head first, or hanging from a branch using only their hind feet

6. Bobcat
Lynx rufus
Habitat: Forests, semi-deserts, mountains, and brushlands
Conservation Status: Endangered
Predators: Foxes, coyotes, and owls
Prey: Small mammals, birds, and reptiles
Unique Hunting Adaptations: Kills with a bite to the neck
Interesting Facts: Becoming increasingly situated to urban and suburban settings, though will rarely be seen due to their reclusive nature

7. Domestic Cat Felis catus
Habitat: Human habitation or developed areas
Conservation Status: Abundant
Predators: Most wild predators such as foxes or other larger felines or canids
Prey: Small mammals such as rats, mice, and birds
Unique Hunting Adaptations: Sever the spinal cord of prey by biting the back of the neck
Interesting Facts: Cats cannot see most colors

8. Grey Wolf Canis lupus
Habitat: Wide variety of habitats from arctic tundra to forest, prairie, and arid landscapes
Conservation Status: Stable
Predators: Coyotes
Prey: Varies geographically, ranges from moose to elk and smaller prey such as rabbits
Unique Hunting Adaptations: Hunting in packs, the grey wolf attacks shoulders and hind areas
Interesting Facts: Largest member of the canid family still alive

9. Bush Dog Speothos venaticus
Habitat: Forests and wet savannahs
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Predators: Inconclusive
Prey: Large rodents such as capybaras
Unique Hunting Adaptations: Webbed toes allow them to chase prey through bodies of water
Interesting Facts: While most canids have 42 teeth, the bush dog only has 38

10. Habitat: Forest, tundra, prairie, desert, mountains, farmlands, and urban areas
Red Fox Vulpes vulpes
Conservation Status: Stable
Predators: Eagles, coyotes, gray wolves, bears, and mountain lions
Prey: Mostly eat rodents, rabbits, and insects, but can also eat fruit
Unique Hunting Adaptations: Standing motionless, the fox listens for any small prey in the vicinity, then jumps high to pounce on them if detected
Interesting Facts: Fox dens may be used to house multiple generations

11. Coyote Canis latrans Habitat: Forests, grasslands, deserts, and swamps
Conservation Status: Widespread
Predators: Gray wolves, mountain lions
Prey: Versatile eating habits, though most commonly eat small rodents
Unique Hunting Adaptations: Use advanced pack hunting tactics such as taking turns pursuing a single prey, or chasing it towards hidden members of their pack
Interesting Facts: Will eat almost anything, ranging from human trash to fruits and vegetables

12. Arctic Fox Vulpes lagopus
Habitat: Arctic and alpine tundra
Conservation Status: Stable
Predators: Polar bears, wolves
Prey: Prefers small mammals, but will eat insects and berries, and leftovers from larger predators
Unique Hunting Adaptations: Apart from pouncing on small rodents similar to the red fox, the arctic fox also sometimes follows around larger predators like the polar bear in hopes of scavenging off it
Interesting Facts: Arctic foxes collect a surplus amount of food and bring it back to their dens, where it is stored under stones for later use

13. Domestic Dog Canis lupus familiaris
Habitat: Human habitats or other developed areas
Conservation Status: Not threatened
Predators: Wolves, coyotes, and jackals
Prey: Ranges from small mammals to birds and fruit
Unique Hunting Adaptations: Breeds range from enhanced smelling to smaller bodies that allow them to chase smaller prey into tunnels
Interesting Facts: A dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times more acute as that of humans

14. Day 3 Specimens--Additional forelimbs and classification

15. Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus
Habitat: Favored habitat include grasslands and deserts
Conservation Status: Vulnerable species
Predators: Lions, spotted hyenas, and leopards
Prey: Gazelles, hares, and birds
Unique Hunting Adaptations: Cheetahs use their incredible speed to chase down prey, knocking them down and strangling them with their powerful jaws
Interesting Facts: Cheetahs are the fastest land mammal on earth. Their claws are also unable to retract fully, allowing the cheetah to grip the ground while running.

16. Spotted Hyena Crocuta crocuta
Habitat: Favored habitats include semi-deserts, savannahs, and mountainous forests
Conservation Status: Lower risk species
Predators: Lions
Prey: Wildebeest, gazelle, zebra, as well as numerous other smaller mammals
Unique Hunting Adaptations: Hyenas hunt in packs, using their keen senses of sight, hearing, and smell. This also helps them scavenge the kills of other predators.
Interesting Facts: While having a reputation as scavengers, 70% of a hyena’s diet comes from prey they caught themselves.
Crocuta crocuta

17. Metatomarctos Habitat: Favored habitat thought to be woodland savanna
Conservation Status: Extinct
Predators: Possibly beardogs and Phoberocyon (extinct bear)
Prey: small extinct horses (22-66 lbs)
Unique Hunting Adaptations: Thought to be more felid-like (grappling) in the way they capture prey.
Interesting Facts: Belongs to a group of canids called Borophagines. Borophagines are thought to be bone-crushing (chew on bones for their marrow) similar to modern hyenas.
Metatomarctos