Mammals UK Flashcards
what is this?
Eurasian/European Otter
only otter native to uk & Europe
milk chocolate brown fur NOT DARK BROWN
puglike short wide face, NOT POINTED AND LONG
size of a small spaniel dog
small eyes relative to face
splayed toes
what is this?
American Mink
Males are larger than females measuring 34 – 54 cm and weighing 1 – 1.6 kg.
Females measure 30 – 45 cm and weigh 0.5 – 1 kg.
Their coat is most often a deep, rich dark chocolate brown and they sometimes have white markings on their throat
size of a cat and ferret like
pointed face, big eyes relative to head compared to otters
what is this?
European Mink
similar markings to American mink (dark chocolate brown with white marking under chin)
smaller than american mink, size of a rabbit/small ferret
snubby thin snouts (american minks have longer pointed snouts)
can hybridize with polecats
what is this?
Polecat
Blackish guard hairs and yellow under fur on the body, giving ‘black and tan’ appearance; banded “bandit” face: pale muzzle, ear tips and ‘eyebrows’, with a broad dark band around the eyes; darker legs and belly, short fluffy tail; is the size of a ferret.
Size:
Males 33-45cm, females 32-39cm; tail length: 12-19cm.
food: rabbits (summer), brown rats (winter)
what is this?
pine marten
eats grey squirrels & helps red squirrels
distinctive orange/yellow or white blotchy patch on throat-chest, long fluffy tail; about the size of a small cat.
pointed “upside down triangle” shaped face
Pine martens are generalist predators, feeding on small rodents, birds, beetles, carrion, eggs and fungi. In autumn, berries are a staple.
virtually extinct in England with a few populations in Wales, the Lake District, and Yorkshire, common in Ireland, seen in Scotland
what is this?
weasel
uks smallest carnivore, smaller than a stoat
white patches under throat, NO BLACK TIP ON TAIL, slightly reddish rich tawny brown fur, small pointy face
widespread and common on mainland Britain but absent from Ireland
Males 20 - 22 cm, plus short tail 6.5 cm. Females 15 - 18 cm, plus short tail 4.5 cm.
diet: mice + voles = 60-80% of diet, also eats rats, frogs, birds and small rabbits.
what is this?
stoat
long slender body with short legs. Medium to short tail always with a black tip and SOMETIMES BUT NOT ALWAYS a darker face (sometimes black, sometimes dark brown sometimes the same as the rest as their fur). Fur ginger to reddish brown above, white to cream below, straight line seperating the two colours. Some animals turn white or partially white in winter (known as ‘ermine’).
males 37-45cm, females 34-40cm
Stoats are legally protected in Ireland but not in the United Kingdom.
what is this?
field vole also known as short tailed vole
The Short-tailed Vole has a tail length approximately 30% of its body length, giving it its’ name
grey-brown fur above, creamy-grey fur below, has tail much shorter than the bank vole, and fur is shaggier, covering the ears. Rounded snout, less prominent eyes than mice + bank voles and ears are furry.
Size:
90-115mm; tail is
Diet:
Grass is the field voles’ major food source, with bents, fescues and hair grasses being preferred.
Lifespan:
The average life span of a field vole is up to 1 year
most common british mammal
what is this?
water vole
Habitat: Rivers and wetland, Mixed woodland
Rat-sized with blunt nose; dark chestnut-brown to black fur; short rounded ears; hair-covered tail, which is about half length of head and body.
biggest of the voles, sometimes mistaken for a shaggy rat
Size:
14-22cm; tail 9.5-14cm, taile 60% of body
Diet:
They eat grasses and waterside vegetation: 227 plant species have been identified in their diet, and additional broadleaved plants may also be eaten at certain times.
what is this?
bank vole
smiliar in looks to field voles, The Bank Vole is more of a chestnut brown colour, and their ears are larger than that of the Short-tailed Vole, they are also distinguishable from the Short-tailed Vole by their white underside. Bank Voles live in areas where there is good ground cover, however are less abundant in open grassland
Red/brown fur above with cream/grey fur below. Rounded snout and small eyes and ears (ears usually not visible, hidden under fur). Tail black above and white below, and tail length 50% of head and body length. Head and body length 9-11cm, tail length 3-7cm.
what is this?
water shrew
Largest of Britain’s shrews. Very long pointed snout, small ears, tiny eyes. Fur is short, dense, velvety and jet black, usually greyish white/ yellowish underneath. Most have a tuft of white hairs on ears and white hairs around eyes. Distinctive stiff white hairs on the margins of the feet, and underside of the tail forming a keel.
Size:
67-96mm, tail 45-77mm.
feeds on freshwater shrimp, water skaters and caddis larvae which they obtain by diving and hunting underwater. Occasionally frogs, newts and small fish are eaten. They also feed on many terrestrial invertebrates such as earthworms, snails and beetles.
what is this?
common shrew
Habitat: Urban & gardens, Deciduous woodland,Grassland, Mixed woodland, Arable land
Common shrews are tricoloured: dark brown on the back, pale brown at the sides and whitish underneath, dense velvety fur, with a long pointed nose, tiny eyes, small ears and red teeth.
Size:
48-80mm, tail 24-44mm; tail less than 3/4 length of head and body.
Diet: insects, worms, slugs + snails
commonly found in hedgerows, scrubland, grassland and deciduous woodland.
what is this?
roe deer
native species
Adult Size. 10 to 25kg, 60 to 75cm at shoulder (bucks - males slightly larger than does - females).
Colouration. Summer: reddish brown. Winter: grey, pale brown or (occasionally) black.
Antlers. Rugose, short (<30cm), 3 tines (points) on each.
Lifespan. Heavy mortality may occur shortly after birth and during first winter.
what is this?
Red Deer
Native species
Our largest land-mammal. Summer coat is reddish brown to brown, winter coat is brown to grey. No spots present in adult coat. Large, highly branched antlers in the stag (male).
Adult size. Stags 90-190kg, 107-137cm at shoulder. Females (hinds) 63-120kg, up to 107-122cm at shoulder. Deer on the open hill in Scotland are smaller than those in lowland English woodland.
Antlers. Highly branched. The number of branches increases with age. Up to 16 points in native animals. The angle between the brow tine and the main beam is always more than 90?. This is important in distinguishing red deer from the related sika.
Life span. Exceptionally up to 18 years. Heavy infant mortality at and shortly after birth and during first winter in some Scottish hill populations.
what is this?
Fallow Deer
introduced species
Intermediate in size between roe and red deer. There are four main variations in coat but many minor variations also exist including a long-haired version found in Mortimer forest, Shropshire. The common variety is the familiar tan/fawn colour with white spotting (becoming long and grey with indistinct spots in winter) on the flanks and white rump patch outlined with characteristic black horse-shoe. The Menil variety is paler, lacks the black bordered rump and keeps its white spots all year. The black variety is almost entirely black with no white coloration anywhere. Finally, the white variety can be white to sandy coloured and becomes more white at adulthood. This is a true colour variety and not albinism, which is rare. The fallow is the only British deer with palmate antlers.
Adult size. Bucks (males): 84 to 94cm at shoulder, 46 to 94kg. Does (females): 73 to 91cm at shoulder, 35 to 56kg.
Antlers. Palmate in adult (>3 years), increase in size with age, up to 70cm long.
Life span. Exceptionally, 16 years, bucks (males) rarely exceed 8 to 10 years. Status. Non-native but considered naturalised. Locally abundant and increasing.
what is this?
chinese water deer
Recognition. A small species intermediate between muntjac and roe deer. No antlers but large protruding tusks in bucks, which are generally only visible in adults. The tusks are used as weapons during the rut and in defence against predators. Ears large and rounded giving a “teddy bear” like appearance. Coat a russet-brown in summer pale to grey-brown in the winter. Water deer lack the white caudal patch of roe deer.
Adult size. 11 to 18 kg, 50 to 55cm at shoulder. Little variation between sexes.
Antlers. None.
Life span. Limited data, up to 6 years. Up to 40% of fawns die within the first four weeks of life.
what is this?
muntjac deer
introduced species (last 150 years)
Recognition. Small, stocky, russet brown in summer, grey brown in winter. Long pedicles, short antlers and visible upper canines in bucks. Very large facial (sub orbital)glands below the eyes. Ginger forehead with pronounced black lines running to the pedicles in bucks, dark diamond shape on does. Haunches higher than withers, giving a hunched appearance. Fairly wide tail, which is held erect when disturbed.
Adult size. Bucks (males): 10 to 18kg, 44 to 52cm at shoulder. Does (females): 9 to 16kg, 43 to 52cm at shoulder.
Antlers. Short (up to 10cm) but on long pedicles. Usually unbranched but very short brow tine occasionally found in old bucks.
Life span. Bucks: up to 16 years. Does: up to 19 years, but these are exceptional.
what is this?
sika deer
introduced species (last 150 years)
Recognition. Similar in size and pelage to fallow deer, but darker. Reddish brown to yellow-brown, dark dorsal stripe surrounded by white spots in the summer. Dark grey to black, spots faint or absent during the winter. Tail shorter and with less distinct stripe than fallow. Very distinct white gland on hind leg.
Adult size. Stags (males): 40 to 70 kg, 70 to 95cm at shoulder. Hinds (females): 30 to 45kg, 50 to 90cm at shoulder, dependent on subspecies.
Antlers. Branched, similar to red deer but usually with a maximum of eight points. Bey tine absent. Angle between brow tine and the main beam is always less than 90?.
Life span. Exceptionally up to 18 years.
