Exp. No.

Name of the experiment: Taxonomic classification of Zoo, Wild

and Lab Animals
Date

There are 5 kingdoms of life. Among them one is the Animalia (Animal Kingdom)

Animal Kingdom

Have 32 Phyla

One is chordata (We will deal with only Chordata)

Phylum: Chordata
Sub-Phylum

Urochordata Cephalochordata Vertebrata

( Marine invertebrate Animals) (Having Backbone)
(Marine Segmented body
Animals) 8 Amphibia
)
ot
(T
al

Reptilia
Clas
ses

Aves

Mammalia

Characteristics of Chordate:

1. Notochord: Have notochord in embryos (Stiff but flexible

rod) Adult  persist in invertebrates
Vertebrates  converted to vertebral Column
2. Dorsal hollow nerve cord (Spinal cord)
3. Pharyngeal slits: filter out food particle from water
In adult it converted to: In fish = gills

In Human = Eustachian tube

4. Post-anal tail: In human it present in embryonic life and subsequently re-absorbed.

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 AMPHIBIA

Characters:

1. Cold blooded
2. Spend at least part of their lives in water or land.
3. Amphibians do not have scales on body.
4. Amphibians have gills for at least a part of their lives.
5. Amphibians have three heart chambers. It has two atria and only has one ventricle.

Orders:
  
Caudata (Have tail) /Urodela: E.g. Salamanders
 
Anura: (Absence of tail): Frogs and toads

Task 1: How can you differ frogs from toads?

REPTILIA (Means Creeping)

Characters:

1. Body is covered with scale

2. Breath with lung
3. Most reptile lay eggs
4. Almost all reptiles are cold blooded
5. The ventricles of heart are divided incompletely

Orders:
  
Squamata: (Shed skin periodically). E.g. Lizards and snakes
  
Crocodylia: (Have massive elongated skull). E.g. crocodiles
 
Chelonia /Testudine: E.g. Turtle (water dwelling) &Tortoises (land dwelling)

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 MAMMALIA

Characters:

1. Endothermic/Homoeothermic/ Warm blooded

2. Have milk secreting mammary gland which is sucked by their young
3. Anus separated from urogenital opening
4. Heart has four chambers
5. Brain is highly developed

Have 3 subclasses

Metatheria (Pouched Eutheria (Plaeental

Prototheria (Egg laying mammals). e.g. mammals)e.g Kangaroos, mammals) e.g Lion,
Spiny ant eater & duck billed platypus)
wallabies tiger etc.

Some selected orders:

  
Insectivora (have long pointed snout): Hedgehogs
  
Carnivora: Tiger, Lion, Dog etc.
  
Chiroptera (Hand wing) : Bat
  
Primates : Lemurs, Monkey, Apes, Man, Chimpanzee
  
Lagomorpha: Rabbit, Hares
  
Rodentia (small gnawing animals): Rat, Mice, Squirrel, Porcupine
  
Proboscidae (Trunked mammals): Elephant
  
Perissodactyla (Non ruminant, odd toed hoofed animals): Horse, Ass, Rhinoceros
 
Artiodactyla (Even toed hoofed animals)

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 Artiodactyla (Even toed hoofed animal)

Family

Suidae (Stomach
Bovidae (4 Chambered ruminant) Cervidae (Deer familly; may have 1/2
 Indian bison (Gaur) male having antler) diverticula)
 yak  All deers (Swamp,  Wild boar
 Wild buffalo Sambar, Spotted)
 wild sheep/goat
 Nilgai

Task 2: Write down the characteristics of order Artiodactyla.

Order: Carnivora

Super- family

Caniformia (Dog like) Feliformia (Cat like)

Families: Families:
 
 Wolves, Foxes,
Canidae: Dogs,  Cat, Lion,
Felidae:
Wild dogs Tiger
 
Mustelidae: Otter, ferrets, minks,

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 AVES

General Characteristics:

1. Have exoskeleton of feathers

2. Forelimb modefied for flying, hind limb adapted to scratching, walking and swimming
3. Have no Sweat gland
4. Oil or preen gland present at the base of tail
5. Light weight bone (Hollow/spongy/pneumatic)
6. Warm blodded Oviparous

Some selected orders:

Stuthioformes (Flight less terrestial bird): Ostrich (2 toes in hind leg)

Casuariiformes (Flight less terrestial bird): Emu (3 toes in hind leg)

Sphenisciformes (Flightless aquatic bird-forelimb modified to paddle): Penguin

Galliformes: Short beaked terrestial bird. e.g: Jungle fowl, Peacocks, Quail, Pheasant

Columbiformes: Thick skin. Crop milk producer. e.g: Pigeon, Dove

Psittaciformes (Psittacine bird): Strong hooked beak. Colorful binds. Only birds that hold thyeir
food in one foot to eat. Examples: parrot, Parakeets.

Stringiformes:Nocturnal predator. Retina contain more rods - henee can see at night. e.g.: Owls

Passariformes: Largest and fimiliar [Link] are percing birds. Unique foot structure enabels
them to grip onto the branches and twigs. 3 toes are forward and one backward

e.g: Crow, Sparrow, Myna, Indian robins, Bulbul.

Characteristics of primates


Have prehensile hands and feet, and most have five digits with opposable thumbs. With
 their hands and feet, many primates are able to perform differenttypes of grips,
whether holding food, or grabbing onto branches or trunks to hold on.
  
Primates have particularly flexible and limber shoulders and hip joints.

Adapted to less olfaction and high vision power (Stereoscopic vision).The olfactory region
in primates has been reduced greatly in most species, and the cerebrum expanded to
  reliance on sight and social behaviors. Shortened snout also
accept the order's increasing
reduced number of teeth.
  
Flat nail replace claw.
  
Primates also possess a clavicle, or collarbone.
 
Have erect posture.

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 Characteristice of vertebrates
  
Have a well-developed brain. The brain set into a bony cavity called cranium.
  
Have vertebral column compost of segmented vertebra.
  
Skeleton compost of cartilage and bone.
  
Most possesses a gut with a non-terminal anus.
  
Reproduction is sexual; gonads are one pair. The individuals are unisexual.
 
All vertebrates have a heart and closed circulatory system.

Cold- blooded and warm blooded animals

Cold- Blooded (Ectothermic) Warm blooded (Endothenmic)

Can not maintain body temperature Can maintain body temperature
Gain heat from direct sunlight or release heat
Temp. gain through museles shivering and
in cool air release through specilized system (Sweating,
Panting, Urination etc.
Don't require food energy to maintain body Spend about 75% of food energy to maintain a
temperature. constant body temperature.
Burn more energy in warm weather than cold Burn more energy in cold temperatures as they
(Biological processes go faster in heat. generate heat.
Do not have fur / feather on body Have body covering like feather, hair, wool
etc.
Body slows down in cold temperatures; more Can remain active in cold and warm
active in warmer weather. temperatures.
Don't have to eat as often as warm-blooded Must eat a lot to stay warm
animals do.
Usually hibernate Some mammals hibernate
E.g: Rephiles, Amphibian, fishes E.g: Mammals and Birds

Differences between canine and feline

Canine Feline
Animals belongs to the family of canidae Animals belongs to the family felidae
Group living animals Solitary animals
Canine bark, growl and woof Vocally communicate through roars,
meows or purrs
Either omnivores or carnivores Strictly carnivores except cat
Permanently extended claw hence become blunt Have retractable claw render less rubbing
due to continuous rubbing with ground and keep sharp
Comparatively longer face Shortened face
Comparatively higher number of teeth, usually Reduced number of teeth, usually 30
42
Digestive tract is comparatively longer which Shorter digestive tract hence require
enables them to cope with a degree of vegetable comparatively pure meat

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 matter in food
Long distance runner predators (Running it Ambush and sprinters (short rate at top
down with superior stamina) speed) predators
Among canine, the base of the penis swell Have backward facing spines on the penis
during mating that makes coital tie- allowing which gives pain to vagina in withdrawal
sperm more time to reach the female eggs of penis during mating that stimulate
ovulation
Examples: Dogs, Wolves, Foxes, Wild dogs etc Examples: Cat, Tiger, Lion etc.

Task 3: How can you differ between I) Hare and rabbit II) Turtle and tortoise

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Apes:
Apes are tailless primates native to Africa and Southeast Asia. There are two extant
branches lesser apes; and the great apes.

The lesser apes, include a total of sixteen species of gibbon all native to Asia.
 The great apes, include orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans. 

Differences between Apes and Monkey

There are many differences between monkeys and apes.

1. Apes are usually larger and heavier than monkeys.

2. Apes have no tail.
3. Apes have a more upright body posture than monkeys, and are often able to walk on 2 legs.
4. Apes have a broad chest.
5. Apes rely on vision rather than smell, and thus have shorter noses than some monkeys.
6. Apes have a large brain to body size ratio compared with other animals.
7. Apes only live in Africa and Asia (monkeys also live in South America).

Task 4: What is the main difference between Ape and Monkey?

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 Exp. No. Name of the experiment: Study on restraining and handling of
Date zoo and wild animals

Restraining means control of movements of animals.

Objectives of restraining
  For transportation
  For medical purpose
  For rescue
  For research
  For various management purposes, like- housing, feeding, breeding etc.
 For the collection of specimens or samples.
Different methods of restraining of zoo animals
There are usually three methods for restraining in zoo animals and birds. These are:
1. Psychological method
2. Physical method
3. Chemical method

Psychological method
It has very limited application in the zoo animals and birds. It is applicable for docile animals.
Voice is an important tool in this method. It is done by an animal caretaker or attendant by
friendly talking, offering food, gentle approaching etc. This method is commonly applied in
monkey, deer, elephant etc.

Physical method
In this method, the following techniques are used.
i) Diminishing senses: Reduction or elimination of an animal‟s visual communication with
its environment. For example, ostrich may require blindfolding before handling. Blindfolding
is contraindicated to nocturnal species.
ii) Confinement: Confinement can be done into a transfer cage, special night box or
bedroom, shipping crate, transfer cage, squeeze cage, plastic tube for reptiles etc.
iii) Extension of the handler's arms- Ropes are excellent means of extension of handler‟s
arm. The other tools for extension of arm are snare, hooks, nets etc.
iv) Physical barriers- Physical barriers may be used to protect both handlers and animal or to
allow handlers closer proximity. The physical barrier may be plastic shield, wooden shield,
metallic shield, blanket etc.
v) Physical force: It is a manipulative procedure. The wise restrainer takes every precaution
to protect animals. The hand may be used to grasp the animals. Using thick gloves prevent
biting and scraping by the animals.

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 Transfer Cage Squeeze cage

Plastic tube for snakes Net for Birds

Chemical method

It is the most common and the safes method to restrain the animals. It may be sedation or
immobilization. The ferocious animals are usually immobilized before handling. Chemicals used
in restraining of wild animals are: Ketamine, Xylazine, Diazepum, Etorphin, Tilatemine etc.

Chemical drugs delivery systems

1. Oral
It is possible for only for few species. Application of drugs may be either by direct
squirting into the mouth or by impregnating into a suitable food like- banana, meat, bread
and fruit juice for non- human primates.
Disadvantage: lack of acceptance by many species and having a minimal efficacy.
Usual use: mostly use for premedication of animals or sedate animals before
immobilization.

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 2. Hand-held syringe: This method is use to rapid intramuscular injection before animal
attempts to react. Large bore needle (for quick release of drugs) and large syringe for
quick delivery with the mechanical advantages are advisable.

3. Stick syringe/pole syringe: It is possible to inject maintaining from a distance of

ferocious animals that are usually cnclosed into a cage. Various commercial stcik syringe
or pole syringe are available.

4. Projected dart:
Dart/ dart syringe:
Dart is a special syringe for delivering drugs into animals muscle from wide distance by
projecting toward animals target site. Dart does not require manual force to inject drugs,
but it use pre-stored air force for drug delivery. It has a special type of needle with lateral
eye which is closed by a sealing sleeve before Applying air force, after projecting the
sealing sleeve is displaced and drugs are injected.

Different parts of a dart Tranquilizing gun/ palmer projector

blowgun Stick syringe

a. Blowgun or blowpipe: Blowpipe is a plastic cylindrical tube (1-2 m long) used to

projecting a dart to a certain distance animal. The only limitation of blowpipe is it‟s short
range (max. 12.7 meters).

b. Plamer projector/ Tranquilizing gun

The palmer projectors are 3 types:
Short range (powered by compressed air): max. range: 13.7 meters
Long range (powered by compressed CO2): max. range: 32 meters
Extra long range (powered by gun powder): max. range: 73 meters

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 Suitable darting sites:
Any large muscle mass is suitable. The muscle mass of shoulder, neck, rump and upper hind leg
must be used as injection sites. Shooting should be at 90-degree angle to the surface of the
muscle.

Suitable darting site of a deer Suitable darting site of carnivore Suitable darting site of primate
and small carnivores

Characteristics of an ideal restraint drug:

  
Should have high therapeutic index
  
Should not irritate muscle tissue
  
Should have short induction period
  
Should have available antagonist/ reversal drugs
 
Concentration should be high enough to use low volume in darting

Task 1: Define the following terms: Anesthesia, Sedation, Tranquilization

Task 2: Give a clear concept on Dart and Darting.

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 Task 3: Mention name of some instruments used in restraining wild animals through delivery
systems.

Task 4: Write Down the name of tranquilizing agents with their dose in Tiger, Lion, Elephant,
Deer, Zebra, Monkey.

Task 5: Mention some techniques of restraining for following animals:

a. Crocodiles

b. Snake

c. Birds( Ostrich,Emu, budgerigar)

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d. Carnivore

e. Monkey

f. Deer

g. Elephant
 Exp. No. Name of the experiment: Study on restraining and sexing of
Date common laboratory animals

Restraining of rabbit:
Danger potential and behavior:
 Laboratory rabbits are generally docile
 Have large incisor teeth adapted for gnawing
 All are capable of inflicting significant bite wound
 Rabbit may scratch a handler with hind feet
Sexing of rabbit
Buck Doe
Young rabbit

The buck shows protrusion of genitalia The doe shows slightly bulging of genitalia with
with round opening after application of slit like opening after application of pressure
Pressure
Adult rabbit

Presence of pair scrotum with testis Absence of scrotum and testis

Absence of mammary gland and teats Have 3-4 pairs of mammary glands and teats

Guinea pig
Should approach slowly to prevent frantic movement and possible leg injury

 Laboratory guinea pig are generally docile 

 Have large incisor teeth adapted for gnawing 

 They will vocalize during restraining

Usually not bite so gloves are not usually required 

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Retraining techniques

Restraint using both hands; one In pregnant: Grasping the scruff Wrapped in a towel
hand support the upper body and of neck by one hand holding the
other lower body weight by other hand

Sexing of guinea pig

Male Female
Young
guinea
pig

Distance between genitalia and anus is more Distance between genitalia and anus is less
Cylindrical shaped penis protruded after A slit like opening and vulva lips can be seen
application of pressure on external genitalia after application ofpressure on external
genitalia

Absence of such mark A characteristics Y-shaped marked seen around

the vulva and anus
Adult Scrotum and testis are visible in inguinal region Absence
guinea pig Absence of teat Presence of one pair of teat

Rat and mouse

Rats and mice seldom bite, so it is recommended to handle with gloves. Immature rat can be
handled similar to mice, but remember that rat can easily climb up their own tail when
suspended, so it is preferred to catch unfamiliar rats with gloved hand. Mice cannot climb up
their own tail.

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  
Laboratory rats and mice are generally docile

Have large incisor teeth adapted for gnawing 
Sexing of rat and mouse
Young: The ano-genital distance of male is twice than the female
Adult: In male, one pair of scrotum is present in either side at the base of the tail. The adult
female have 5-6 pairs of teats.

Task 1: How can you identify a female rabbit?

Task 2: Mention restraining techniques used for Rat and Rabbit.

ZAM-201; Practical Note Book Page

 Exp. No. Name of the experiment: Study on housing of zoo animals
Date

Enclosure: Any accommodation provided for animals in zoo and aquaria. There are two types of
enclosures - outdoor enclosure and a night shelter/ indoor enclosure.

There are two types of barrier in enclosure.

Enclosure barrier: A barrier to contain the animal within the enclosure. Stand-off barrier: A
physical barrier set back from the outer edge of an enclosure barrier designed to prevent public
contact with the animals.
Importance of Stand-off barrier:
1. Place used for handling the animals
2. Prevent access of unscreened people
3. Prevent public contact with the animal

Types of enclosure barrier

1. Wet and dry moat
2. Wire mesh fencing
3. Vertical walls
4. Glass and plastic panels
5. Vertical metallic rods
6. Electrically charged wires

Any one or combination of enclosure barriers can be constructed depending on biological

capabilities (like jumping, climbing, swimming) of the animals.

Note: Moat is a deep, broad ditch either dry or filled with water that surrounds a castle,
fortification, building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defense.

Dry moat Wet moat

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Designing a zoo animal’s enclosure:
A number of factors have to be taken into consideration, including all the needs of the species.
Ideally the enclosure should reflect the environment that the animal comes from which can be
achieved by using furnishings, such as plants and rocks in the enclosure.

Principles of enclosure design:

1. The floor space and height of the roof must be adequate and per the norms.
2. There should have adequate provision of ventilation and exposure to maximum sunlight.
3. For the animals, which are having the burrowing habits i.e. Rabbits, mongoose etc. the floor
must be made of cement and concrete.
4. Separate enclosure for advance pregnant and young‟s with their lactating mother.
5. There should have separate wards for the sick animals (isolation shed) and newly introduced
animals (quarantine shed) in proximity with veterinary hospital of the zoo.
6. All the animal houses and enclosures should be equipped with bedding materials; feeder and
drinkers, nesting boxes etc. as per the need of the individual species.
7. Should have facilities for place to give birth, sleeping, grooming, climbing, burrowing,
jumping, wallowing, camouflage or others biological requirements.
8. Provision to have a safe buffer zone between the visitor and the animal.
9. Enclosure should have provision for easy viewing by the visitor.
10. Enclosure should have free from hazards like broken glasses, nails, toxic fruits, sharp corners
or any similar objects or poison.
11. At least one enclosure should not have access to visitors, so that animals have the
opportunity to withdraw from visual contact.
Special guideline for enclosure design for carnivores:
1. The boundary of a carnivore enclosure must be made secure against escape.
2. A carnivore enclosure must contain a bathing pond/container.
3. For ursids, felids and viverrids must include scratching posts or logs and climbing structures.
Provision for pawing in will prevent in growing nails.
4. Carnivores must have access to an area where they can bask in the sun.
5. For otters – a water body suitable for swimming must be provided.
6. Provide straw for bears for nesting. Bears also need tree branches, vegetables and ice blocks
for chewing.
7. Felids are to be housed in any one of the following ways:
a) Alone (except lions) or as a female with her sub-adult offspring.
b) As a compatible pair, with or without sub-adult offspring.
c) As a single sex group (only in the case of lions and cheetahs).
d) As a juvenile group while all animals remain under breeding age.

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8. Canids are to be housed in one of the following ways:
a) As a pack (Group).
b) As alone female with her sub-adult offspring.
c) As a compatible pair, with or without sub-adult offspring; or
d) As a single sex group.

Special guideline for enclosure design for nocturnal animals:

1. Nocturnal animals require poorly light areas and hence in zoo special nocturnal houses
should be designed.

Special guideline for enclosure design herbivores:

1. The fences of ungulates enclosure should not make with narrow wire mesh, which may not
visual to them due to lack of binocular vision and thus they may injure themselves.
2. Elephant and rhino rub their body on tree trunk and have beneficial effect for skin.
3. Provision for tree leaves for deer is preferable.

Guideline for enclosure design for primates:

1. Mixed sex grouping is preferable as they are animals that are comparatively more social. In
mixed sex grouping, the bigger the cage the better.
2. When building your primate enclosure, keep safety in mind. Monkeys are very curious
animals.
3. Many monkeys show signs of boredom in captivity. Monkeys can spend many hours
exploring their home. So try to use many different items in their home.

Special guideline for enclosure design for reptiles:

1. All crocodiles must be provided with enough space for comfortable movement on both land
and in water.
2. Exothermic animals like reptiles are heat sensitive and hence surroundings should have
provision to keep the temperature in moderation.
3. Wild crocodiles warm up by basking in direct sunlight on land, and then cool down by
moving into a shaded area, or back into the water. Conversely, at night crocodiles stay warm
in the water as temperatures on the land drop. So they should provision for both water and
basking area.
4. Estuarine crocodiles may fights, particularly between adult males so larger area should be
provided to avoid fighting.

Special guideline for enclosure design for birds:

1. The enclosure should be covered from the top to avoid escape.
2. The waterfowl should be able to enter or leave the water without difficulty; therefore, edges
should be sloping.
3. Should provide suitable resting point (pole or bar) and nest.

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Dimensions of enclosure for different animals:
Family Name of species Enclosure size (length × breath × Height) in meters
Felidae Tiger and lion 2.75 × 1.8 × 3
Leopard and cheetah 2 × 1.5 × 2
Elephantidae Elephant 8 × 6× 5.5
Rhinocerotidae Rhinoceros 5 × 3× 2.5
Cervidae Deer 3 × 2 × 2.5
Bovidae Gaur, Nilgai, Antelope 3 × 2× 2.5
Ursidae All Indian bears 2.5 × 1.8 × 2
Canidae Jackal, Wolf and wild dog 2 × 1.5 × 1.5
Primates Monkey and langur 2 × 1 × 1.5

Task 1: What is the primary function of a moat?

Task 2: What do you mean by enclosure barrier? Write down the types of enclosure barrier with
its importane.

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 Exp. No. Name of the experiment: Study on Housing of laboratory
Date animals

Laboratory animals can be housed on floor or in cage in groups in the house.

Floor space requirement:

Table: Floor space requirement for various laboratory animals

Animal Area (cm2) Height of cage (cm)
Mice 38 to 99 17.5
Rat 110 to 260 22.5
Hamster 64 to 125 22.5
Guinea pig 270 to 650 35
Rabbit 0.14 to 0.37m2 35

The floor space requirement for different laboratory animals in different sizes can be calculated
by following formula.
A = N (0.7 × w + w) cm2

Site of Housing
1. Should be located at minimum noise site.
2. Should have minimum access to visitor.
3. Away from main biological/immunological production unit.
4. Should away from chemical storage area.

Guideline for housing

1. The airflow should not directly enter into the house. There should be 2-3 pre-entry points
before actual entry.
2. The house should be prevented from direct cold drafts or sunlight entry.
3. The house must be vermin, insects and rodent proof.
4. The house should have 2 corridors:
a. Clean corridor: Place in the front of animal room. Used to bring- sterile food, cages,
bedding materials etc. A foot-dip disinfectant solution should be provided at the entry of
clean corridor.
b. Dirty corridor: This is placed backside of the animal house. Used to remove the
wastage- excreta, used bedding materials etc.
5. 12 hours light and 12 hours darkness for optimum breeding
6. Rat, mice and hamster can be housed both sex group (male+female or male+ male or
female+female).
7. Adult rabbit should be housed separately or female sex group.

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Housing Requirements
Floor: Animal should provide adequate floor space as per requirement. In case of floor rearing
the floor must not be slippery, should be impervious and resistant to dilute alkali and acids.
Ventilation and temperature: Enough windows be installed to ensure adequate ventilation and
exhaust fans should be used to regulate 6 to 8 air changes per hour. For better health and good
growth of animal the optimum temp, in house is 20 to 30° C with 45 to 65 percent humidity.
Cages: The cages are made of stainless steel, polypropylene or polycarbonate materials. Solids
sides and bottoms with wire grid tops are preferable. Provision of water bottles and depression
for feeder are present in the top lid. The large laboratory animals (rabbit and guinea pig) may
also be housed in special multi-tire cage made of stainless steel wire netting and slatted floor. In
this case excreta collection trays are required in each floor.
Racks: Laboratory animals kept in a cages on the racks with tiers. The lowest tier should be
around 35cm above ground level and the upper tier be at 150cm height, which facilitates easy
handling of cages and observation of animals. Metal racks are preferred.
Bedding material: Animals reared on floors, in boxes or in cages require bedding material like
paddy husk, wood savings, saw dust or sugar cane bagasse. Bedding materials absorb moisture
from urine as well as provide warmth to animals. The depth of materials required is 2 to 3 cm.
The bedding materials should be changed in every alternative day.
Feeders and drinkers: There must be arrangements of water bottles and feeder on the floor, with
the wall or on the lid of cage. The feeder and drinkers should be detachable for easy cleaning and
washing.
Maternity box: The animals that are reared in cage with slatted floor should provide maternity
box with suitable soft bedding materials like cotton in advanced stage of pregnancy. In case of
rabbit the size of maternity box is 18×18×12 inches.

Layout of a lab animal house Screen bottom cage

Racks for keeping cage A rat box Water bottle and rat box

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 Rabbit in floor Rabbit in cage

Housing of Guineapig

Rat in Laboratory Mouse in Laboratory

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Task 1: Which bedding materials are suitable for laboratory animals?

Task 2: What should be the considerations for site selection of housing laboratory animals?

Task 3: Mention the ways of housing rabbits.

Task 4: What is the approximate size of maternity box of rabbit?

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 Exp. No. Name of the experiment: Study on disease prevention and
Date control in zoo

The infectious disease can be controlled by following ways:

A. Quarantine: The newly introduced animals are kept separated for a certain period before
introduce into the zoo. The quarantine period is usually 30-40 days. The quarantine room
should be away from the animal display unit. In this period, initial screening for routine
blood test, urine test, skin scraping test and tuberculin test should be done to detect any
abnormalities. If no abnormalities are found during quarantine period, the animal may be
introduced into the display area.

B. Isolation: The diseased animals should be isolated and treated as required. These animals
may introduce again after cure.
C. Regular deworming
D. Regular vaccination
E. Cleaning and sanitation

Guideline for cleaning and sanitation:

1. The extra and the leftover food must be properly discarded.
2. Dirt and organic matter should be removed with pressure water.
3. Drainage should be sufficient.
4. Sanitation has to be carefully looked into picnic spots, toilets, food canteen and cafeteria.
5. Feeder and waterer should be cleaned regularly with disinfectant solution.
6. Mosquitoes breeding should be controlled.
7. Stray dogs and cats, crows, rodents and insect entry should be protected.
8. Death carcass should be incinerated or deep burial with lime treatment.
9. Immediate cleaning is necessary in case of calving or parturition.
10. There should arrangement of foot bath in the entrance of zoo with suitable disinfectant.
11. Should maintain personnel hygiene.

Task 1: Differentiate Quarantine from Isolation.

Task 2: Where will be the location of Isolation shed of animals in a zoo?

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 Task 3: Illustrate a vaccination and deworming card of Zoo animal.

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 Exp. No. Name of the experiment: Study on transportation of zoo and
Date wild animals

Task 1: Define transportation.

Translocation: Translocation is a technical term meaning to move an animal to an entirely new

area, usually a considerable distance away from where the animal was found. Translocation
includes the capture, transport and release or introduction of species into a new habitat.

Mode of transport: by air/road/sea/ foot for short distance.

General considerations
  Animals should have priority over merchandise
  Only animals that are in good health should be transported, but there are exceptions to this.
 Pregnant animals, or animals that are still dependent on their mother, should not be
 transported, but there are exceptions to this.
 Sedation is inadvisable, as the animals that are in a lethargic state are very vulnerable to
 injury.
  Animals of different species should not be housed in the same container during transport.
  Arrangements for adequate feeding and watering during long distance transport.
 Some reptiles and amphibians are able to survive without distress for long periods without
food and water in that case, it may be advisable to withhold food for 24 hours before
 shipment, as this minimizes pollution during transport.
  To avoid cross-infection, human contact with animals should be avoided.
 Containers should be secured to the aircraft, rail wagon, lorry or ship to avoid any possible
movement and every care should be taken to ensure that the containers are kept in a
 horizontal position.
 Extreme climatic conditions viz. peak summer and monsoon should be avoided while
 transporting animals. Cool season is the most preferred weather for such transportation.
 In case transportation is planned during summers, it should be carried out strictly during the
cooler hours of the day preferably early mornings or late evenings unless the vehicle
transporting the animals / birds / reptiles is air-conditioned.

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 Transport container or crate design
 For many animals, the preferred material will be timber, but such materials as bamboo,
cardboard, hardboard, plastics and metal, may often be suitable for the construction of
containers. The use of polystyrene is recommended for reptiles, amphibians and fishes, as
this material has excellent heat insulation properties.

 The inner surfaces of the containers should be completely free of any projecting nails,
 screws etc.
 The sidewalls and roof of the container should be solid but with adequate ventilation holes.
The floor should be slatted with a leak proof tray beneath it or solid with bedding materials
 as per requirement. The front should be of mesh, or of metal bars.
 A burlap or similar cover should be fitted to the front in such a manner that it may be
 removed when necessary for provide darkness and insulation.
 Animals that have strong gnawing or clawing habits should be transported in containers, the
 walls of which have been lined with metal sheet or mesh.
  On long journeys, many animals should be provided with suitable bedding material.
 The crate should match with the size of the animal to be transported in such a way that the
animal kept inside should only be able to stand or sit in sternal recumbency and not turn or
somersault.

Special considerations for different groups of animals

Wild herbivores
 Females may be transported in a group but males need to be transported either in a separate
containers or tranquilized state. However it is preferable to transport only one animal per
 crate.
 Training before actual transport of the wild herbivore in captivity until they have turned
down and become accustomed to the sight, sounds and smell association with human
 activity.
 Wildlife veterinarian should take the decision on whether chemical immobilization is
 required for the animals to be shifted.
 For most of the herbivores, a slatted floor is desirable with a solid liquid collecting tank
 beneath the floor.
  For porcupine and rodents, the suitable floor type is mesh.
 In case of kangaroos and wallabies, the underside of roof should be padded with adequate
thickness of soft materials.
Carnivores
 Preferably only one animal per crate / container. It is preferable to have animals from the
 same enclosure/ those who have lived together.
  Males need to be transported separately in individual crates.
 Animals should not be exposed to direct heat like direct sunlight (especially nocturnal
animals)

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  Both solid and slatted floor can be used.

Primates
  Maximum 1-4 animals may be transported in a single crate.
 For larger primates one animal may be transported per crate.

Birds
  Storks (egret), cranes, ratites and raptors should be transported individually.
  Parakeet may be transported in pairs in individual boxes.
 Ducks, teals, geese, pigeons, bulbuls, galliformes (females), sparrows and other finches
 could be transported in flocks.
  Suitable floor is mesh
 Bird with perching habit: suitable perches should be fitted in such a way as to ensure that all
 the birds may perch in a natural position without touching the container wall.
 Birds travel more satisfactorily in semi-darkness so burlap would be beneficial.

Reptiles
  Crocodiles should be transported singly always.
  Reptiles should be packed into a suitable bag with sufficient quantities of foam chippings.
 The containers should have lid that completely covers the crate but there should adequate
 ventilation holes all around.
  Turtles & Tortoise: Large size may be transported single, small size may be in groups.
  The size of the box should be shallow to prevent shell injury.
 Snakes: King Cobra, cobra, python and other cannibal snakes always individually in
 separate crates.
  The snake boxes should have locks and signage marked DANGER/HANDLE WITH CARE
 – VENOMOUS SNAKE.
 Reptiles are very susceptible to dehydration and may require watering during transportation.

Amphibians- aquatic form:

 Aquatic form: The container should filled with one forth of water and the animals should be
 off fed before 24 hour to avoid water pollution.
 Can also be transported without water by packed with water soaked sponge.

Amphibian- terrestrial form:

  Should be off fed before 24 hour to avoid pollution of packing materials.
 Transportation guideline similar to reptiles.

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 Burlap

Mesh

Transport crate for tiger: Solid walls with Transport crate for zebra: Upper half of
ventilation holes, slatted floor, wire mesh front front side is open
side with burlap

Transport crate for seal (marine mammal) Transport crate for rodents

Perch

Transport crate for water birds and large bird of Transport crate for birds of perching habit:
non-perching habit With suitable perch

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Task 2: Why wild animals are transported from one place to another?

Task 3: Write down special guideline for transportation of wild herbivores.

Task 4: Write down special guideline for transportation of birds.

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 Exp. No. Name of the experiment: Study on feeding of zoo animals
Date

The wild animals can be classified into the following ways:

A. Based on physiology of digestion and food habits:

Herbivores: Herbivores are animals that eat only plants and plant material. Herbivores may eat
leaves, berries, roots, or even tree bark. They usually need to eat often during the day in order to
have enough energy. It may be sub divided in to 2 types:
i. Simple stomached or non-ruminant: Elephant, zebra, wild horse, rhinoceros,
hippopotamus etc.

ii. Compound stomached or ruminants: Nilgai, bison, deer, giraffe etc. (Pseudo-ruminants.
E.g. Camel has 3 compartments, Omasum absent).
Carnivores: Carnivores are animals that eat only meat or other animals in order to obtain enough
energy. Some carnivores eat insects and bugs; some eat small animals, such as rats or fish; while
other carnivores eat bigger animals, such as deer, buffalo etc. Example of carnivores: Tiger, lion,
cheetah, leopard, fox, jackal, hyena, mongoose, wolf, bear, wild cats, wild dog etc.
Omnivores: Omnivores are animals that eat both plant materials and meat. They can get their
food more easily than other animals because they can eat more types of food than either
herbivores or carnivores. Examples: Wild pigs, rodents, bear, monkeys etc.

B. According to activity it may be:

a. Nocturnal: Nocturnal animals are active in night and sleep at daytime. Hunt their prey
during night. The adjective nocturnal comes from the Latin nocturnalis, which means
“belonging to the night‟. Nocturnal animals are sleep during the day and come out to play
when the sun goes down. Examples: Bat, Cat, squirrel, wolf, hedgehog, hyena, kangaroo
(fewer crepuscular), owl, lion, tiger etc.
b. Diurnal: They are active in daytime. Hunt their prey during day. Examples: Elephant,
giraffe, zebra, most of the monkeys and apes, lizard etc.
c. Crepuscular: Crepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during „twilight‟
that is during dawn and dusk. The word „Crepuscular‟ derived from the Latin word
crepusculum, meaning "twilight." Crepuscular animals may also be active on a bright
moonlit night. Examples: Hamster, house cat, guineapig, bear, wallabies, some
kangaroos, deer etc.

C. Based on behavior
a. Solitary - Feed alone: Tiger.
b. Gregarious - Feed in groups. E.g. Deer, Lion etc.
Based on behavior the animals may be also classified as: Continuous feeders - feeding
continuously. E.g. Peafowl and occasional feeders - E.g. Snakes

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D. Depending upon the nature of feeding
a. Euryphagous - Prefer a variety of food.
b. Stenophagous - Feeds on specialized food.
c. Monophagous - eating one kind. E.g. Gharials - live fish; koala- eucalyptus leaves, Giant
panda- leaves, shoots and steams of bamboo; Indian pangolin-ants.

Principles of feeding wild animals in captivity

1. Feed should be qualitatively and quantitatively sufficient considering the factors like age,
sex, size, physical status like pregnancy and lactation.
2. The supplied feed should be palatable and free from toxic elements.
3. Feed selected should be as far as possible similar to the natural feeds of animals.
4. Predators (tigers, panther, lion and cheetah) should supply live animals (like-rabbits,
birds etc.) to satisfy the hunting instincts. Wild cats and bears should supply food in
hidden (on treetop) as they like hidden food.
5. Carnivores should be fed alone since they can‟t tolerate the presence of other animal in
proximity. They are generally fed for 6 days, a week and fasted for one day.
6. For herbivores, plenty of green grasses, hay, silage, along with concentrate mixture,
mineral and vitamin supplements are very essential. Herbivores are fed daily.
7. Snakes must be fed individually.
8. The group feeder like deer should have enough feeding space and points to avoid
competition.
9. Nocturnal animals should be fed during late evening to avoid wastage of feed.
10. Nature of feed should be as per requirement. Rodents need hard feed as they have
continuously growing incisors.
11. Mineral supplements like salt lick and vitamins should be provided to avoid mineral and
vitamin deficiency.
12. Young should supply milk or colostrums at 10% of live weight.
13. Food items should be inspected daily at supply point, store and in the enclosure.

Task 1: Mention some characters of nocturnal animals.

Task 2: Give some examples of diurnal and crepuscular animals.

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 Exp. No. Name of the experiment: Study on common zoo animals and
Date birds

TIGER
  Total 9 Subspecies of Tiger
 There are six subspecies of tiger living today; Amur or Siberian, Bengal or Indian,
 Indochinese, Malayan, Sumatran, and South China.
 3 tiger subspecies (Bali, Javan, and Caspian) are extinct, and the remaining six are
all highly endangered.

ROYAL BENGAL TIGER/ BENGAL TIGER/ INDIAN TIGER

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Panthera
Species: Panthera tigris

Introduction
It is the national animal of both India and Bangladesh. It is the largest cat. Hindi name: Sher.

Distribution
Asian countries. In Bangladesh it is found in Sundarbans only. According to tiger census 2015,
there are only 106 tigers remained in Bangladesh.

Description
The Bengal tiger has reddish-orange colored fur with dark brown-black vertical stripes. The adult
weight:180-280kg. Body length: 9 fts. The tail is about 3 fts. Male is comparatively larger than
female. The hind legs of the tiger are longer than their front legs. This characteristic enables
them to leap forward distances up to 10 meters (32.5 ft). Tigers use their tail for balance when
making sharp turns in pursuit of prey. Tigers have distinctive white circular spots on the backside
of their ears. They function as "false eyes"; making the tiger seem bigger and watchful to a
potential predator attacking from the rear.

Facts about Tigers:

• The earliest tiger fossils date back about two million years.
• In the last 100 years, we have lost 97 percent of wild tigers.
• At the current rate, all wild tigers could be extinct in five years.

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 • Tigers have the largest canines of any big cat species, reaching 2.5 to 3 inches long.
• A tiger‟s tongue is covered with small, hard, hooked papillae-making it a perfect scraper
to rasp off fur, feathers, and meat from bones.
• They can take down prey five times their own weight.
• A tiger can cover a distance of up to 33 feet in one leap.
• A tiger‟s night vision is six times better than that of a human.
• Female tigers are about 20-percent smaller and lighter than males.
• Each tiger has a unique stripe pattern; most include more than 100 stripes.
• Researchers observing wild tigers can identify individuals by their particular stripes.
• Tigers can sniff out hidden messages left by other tigers through scent marks.
• Tigers have partially webbed toes and their claws can reach 4 inches long.
• A tiger‟s front feet have an extra claw called a dewclaw, which is used specifically for
climbing and gripping.
• While most cats avoid it, tigers seek out water to swim and hunt.

Behavior
Tigers are territorial and usually solitary in nature. They interact briefly only for mating purposes
and occasionally to share their kill. The home range is: 150-1200 km2. An adult male's territory
will usually overlap several females' territories. Tigers, unlike many other cat species, readily
enter water to cool themselves and in the pursuit of prey. They are powerful swimmers and
capable of traversing lakes and rivers.

Hunting and diets

They are ambush hunter. They kill the prey with a bite to the neck. Prey weighing about 20 kg or
larger such as deer species, pigs, cows, horses, buffalos and goats, tapirs, elephant, rhinoceros
calves, bear species, leopards and wild dogs. Tigers may consume up to 40 kg of meat at one
time.

In Zoo: Beef- 10kg/day, chicken 1kg/week and liver 500gm/week. Follow the skip a day feeding
in a week

Breeding and reproduction: Age of sexual maturity; males: 4 to 5 years and females: 3 to 4
years. Duration of estrous up to 6 days. Females advertise their readiness to mate. During estrus,
the female may frequently vocalize throughout the day to attract a male. Copulation is brief and
repeated frequently for five or six days. Female tigers are induced ovulators, which means the act
of mating causes the female to release an egg for fertilization. Several days of mating
interactions may be required to stimulate ovulation and guarantee fertilization of the egg. The
tiger's gestation period is about 105 days. The tigress spends the last few days of her pregnancy
in a safe birthing place. Litter size: 3. Tiger cubs are born blind. Eyes open within 15 days. The
tigress is solely responsible for the protection and care of her young. Weaning age: 6 months.
Young tiger become independent at the age of 2 years.

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Life span: 15-20 years.
Conservation status: Endangered

Task 1: Give a clear concept on „false eye‟ of tigers.

Task 2: Is there any special technique of identifying different tigers?

LION
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Panthera
Species: Panthera leo

Distribution: India, Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Africa.

Description
Mature weight 180-220 kg. Male is larger than female. Male have mane but female do not have.
Length is 9 feet from the head to tip of the tail. Male and female both have hairy tuft at end of
the tail.

Behavior
Lions spend much of their time resting for about 20 hours per day. They spend an average of two
hours a day walking and 50 minutes eating. Lions are the most social animals of all wild felids.
Have two types of social organization. Residents living: Groups of related lionesses, their mates,
and offspring. Such a group is called a pride. The average pride consists of five or six females,
their cubs of both sexes, and one or two males. Male cubs are excluded from their maternal pride
when they reach sexual maturity. The males associated with a pride tend to stay on the fringes,
patrolling their territory and watches over young cubs until the lionesses return

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from the hunt. Lionesses do most of the hunting for their pride. Smaller prey is eaten at the
location of the hunt, thereby being shared among the hunters; when the kill is larger it often is
dragged to the pride area. Males have a tendency to dominate the kill once the lionesses have
succeeded. They are more likely to share this with the cubs than with the lionesses, but males
rarely share food they have killed by themselves. Nomadic living: Live either singularly or in
pairs. Pairs are more frequent among related males who have been excluded from their birth
pride. They most often roar at night; the sound, which can be heard from a distance of 8
kilometres. Lions have the loudest roar of any big cat.

Hunting and diets

Lion collect 50% of food from scavenging. In fact most dead prey on which lions feed upon are
killed by the hyenas. Lions have learned to recognize the feeding calls of hyenas after a recent
kill. Lions usually hunt in coordinated groups. The lionesses do most of the hunting for the pride.
They kill the prey by constriction of a body part to cut off the flow of blood. They run fast in
short bursts, and need to be close to their prey before starting the attack.

The prey includes wildebeest, zebras, buffalo, nilgai, wild boar, deer etc. An adult lioness
requires an average of about 5 kg of meat per day, a male about 7 kg.

In captive condition they take: Beef, Mutton, Chicken etc. Usually they are given beef 8-12kg
daily in zoo.

Breeding and reproduction

Age of sexual maturity 4 years. Non-seasonal polyestrous. Induced ovulator. The gestation
period is around 110 days. Litter size: 1-4. Female give birth in den (a secured place usually
away from the rest of the pride).The cubs themselves are born blind – their eyes do not open
until roughly a week after birth. Birth weight: 1.2–2.0 kg. The lioness moves her cubs to a new
den site several times a month, to avoiding the attention of predators. Weaning age: 6 months.
The lion usually kills all of the existing cubs who are less than two years old. As a result as many
as 80% of the cubs will die before the age of two.
Life span: 15-20 Years
Conservation status: Vulnerable

Task: How many types of social organizations are found in Lions and what they are?

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 LEOPARD

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Panthera
Species: Panthera pardus
Bengali name: Chita Bagh
Distribution
Africa and Asia. In Bangladesh, it may be found in Chittagong hill tracts, Sherpur and Rangpur.

Description
The smallest of the four „big cats‟ in the genus „Panthera‟. The other three are the Tiger, Lion
and Jaguar. Their coat color is yellow with black rosette spots in entire body. Males weigh 40–
90 kg, females weigh 30–60 kg.

Behavior
Leopards are solitary and largely nocturnal but rainforest leopards are more likely to be diurnal
and crepuscular. Leopards are known for their ability in climbing, and have been observed
resting on tree branches during the day, dragging their kills up trees. They are powerful
swimmers. They can run at over 58 kilometres per hour over 6-20 ft horizontally, and jump up to
9.8 ft. vertically. Home ranges of male leopards are 30 km2-78 km2, which is overlapping
several females home range.

Hunting and diets

Leopards are opportunistic hunters. Their diet consists of ungulates, primates (monkeys,
chimpanzees and gorillas), rodents, reptiles, amphibians, insects, birds, fish and sometimes
smaller predators (such as foxes, jackals). Average daily consumption rates were estimated as 3.5
kg. In search of safety, leopards often stash their recent kills high up in a tree.
Captive condition: They take beef, mutton and chicken. Usual supply in zoo: 3-4kg beef per
day. Breeding and Reproduction
Usually non-seasonal polyestrous. Length of estrous cycle = 46 days and the duration of estrous
is 6–7 days. Gestation period: 105 days. Litter size: 2-4 cubs. Females give birth in a cave,
hollow tree, or a den. In search of safety, leopards often stash their young high up in a tree. Cubs
are born with closed eyes, which open approximately one week. Their weaning age is 4 months.
At one year of age, leopard young can become an independent hunter.

Life span: 12-17 years.

Conservation status: Vulnerable

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 Differences among the leopard, cheetah and jaguar

Points Leopard Cheetah Jaguar

Distribution Africa and Asia Africa and Asia Americas

Body coat Yellow black with Spotted coat, golden Normally Yellow and tan
rosette shape black spot yellow to pale orange colour
color Reddish brown to black

Body and Solid and stocky body, Very slender body with Solid and stocky body,
legs with shorter legs. long legs with shorter legs.
Head Comparatively larger Comparatively smaller Comparatively larger
Face Have no tear mark Have tear mark Have no tear mark
Activity Nocturnal Diurnal Crepuscular

Others similar animals

Leopard cat (Chita Biral): The leopard cat is a small Clouded leopard (Megh Bagh)
wild cat native to South and East Asia. It resembles miniature leopard.

Task: What are the four „big cats‟ in the genus „Panthera‟?

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 FISHING CAT
Introduction
The fishing cat is a medium-sized wild cat of Asia.

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Prionailurus
Species: P. viverrinus
Distribution and habitat
Fishing cats are distributed in Asian countries like-India and Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Fishing cats live in the vicinity of wetlands, along rivers, streams, lakes, in swamps and
mangroves.

Description
They are about twice the size of a domestic cat and have a stocky, muscular build with medium
to short legs. The coarse fur is grey with dark spots arranged in horizontal streaks running along
the length of the body. They weigh from 5-16 kg. Six to eight dark stripes run from behind the
eyes to the nape.

Behavior
Fishing cats are nocturnal. Adult males and females without dependent young are solitary
animals. They can swim long distances, even under water. Home range of males over 16 to 22
km2. They mark their territory using cheek-rubbing, head rubbing, chin rubbing, neck rubbing
and urine-spraying to leave scent marks.

Hunting and diets

As the name implies, fish are their main prey. The fishing cat‟s diet includes fish, birds, small
mammals, snakes and snails. The cat attracts fish by lightly tapping the water's surface with its
paw, mimicking insect movements. Then, it dives into the water to catch the fish. It can also use
its partially webbed paws to scoop fish, frogs, and other prey out of the water or swim
underwater to prey on ducks and other aquatic birds. It is powerful enough to take large prey,
such as calves and dogs.
Food in zoo: Fish = 1kg/day and Meat = 700 gm/day.

Breeding and reproduction

Although little is really known about their breeding or social behavior in the wild, mating is
thought to take place in January and February (Seasonal breeder). Age of sexual maturity: 9
months. After a gestation period: 60-70 days. Litter size: 1-4 kittens. Birth, weigh about 150

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grams. They are born blind and don't open their eyes until they are just over two weeks old.
Weaning age 2.5 months.

Life span: 10-12 years

Conservation status: Endangered

Task: What is the unique technique of fishing cat for catching fish?

HYENA

Hyenas or hyaenas are the animals of the

family Hyaenidae. There four species of hyena,
These are spotted, striped, brown hyena and
Aardwolf. Scientific name of striped hyena is
Hyaena hyaena. Spotted hyenas may kill as many
as 95% of the animals they eat while others are
largely scavengers. With the exception of the
highly social spotted hyena, hyenas are generally
not gregarious animals, though they may live in Fig: stripped hyena
family groups and congregate at kills.

SPOTTED HYENA

The spotted hyena has rounded ears, less prominent mane in comparison with stripped hyena,
which have erect ear, and prominent mane.

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Hyaenidae
Genus: Crocuta
Species: C. crocuta
Bangle Name: Chitra hyena
Distribution: Native to Africa, Asia and the Indian Subcontinent.

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Description
The fur color is grayish-brown or yellowish-grey with rounded black or deep brown spots. Adult
male weight is 40-55 kg while females weigh 44-63 kg. The spotted hyena has a strong and well
developed neck and forequarters, but relatively underdeveloped hindquarters. The forelimbs are
longer than the hind legs.

Special features of female genitalia

• Presence of large clitoris which act as a urogenital opening.
• Clitoris is hanging up and open in outside.
• Presence of pseudoscrotum

Behavior
Spotted hyenas are social animals which live in large communities (referred to as "clans") which
can consist of at most 80 individuals. Females dominate males, with even the lowest ranking
females being dominant over the highest ranking males. It is typical for females to remain with
their natal clan, whereas males typically disperse from their natal clan at the age of 2½ years.
The clan is a fission-fusion society, in which clan-members do not often remain together, but
may forage alone or in small groups. Territory size, ranging from less than 40 km2 to over 1,000
km2.

Hunting and diet

The more frequent kills are zebra and wildebeest. Spotted hyenas usually hunt wildebeest either
singly, or in groups of two or three. Typical zebra hunting groups consist of 10-25 hyenas. Feed
in zoo: Beef 3-4kg daily.

Breeding and reproduction

Age of sexual maturity: 3 years. The spotted hyena is non-seasonal polyestrus. Copulation in
spotted hyenas is a relatively short affair, lasting 4-12 minutes, and typically only occurs at night
with no other hyenas present. The mating process is complicated, as the male's penis enters and
exits the female's reproductive tract through her pseudo-penis rather than directly through the
vagina. These unusual traits make mating more laborious for the male than in other mammals,
while also ensuring that rape is physically impossible. Gestation period: 110 days. Litter size: 02.
Giving birth is difficult for female hyenas, as the females give birth through their narrow clitoris.
During parturition, the clitoris ruptures. Birth weight: 1.5 kg. Spotted hyenas born with their eyes
open. Cubs will attack each other shortly after birth. This is particularly apparent in same sexed
litters, and can result in the death of the weaker cub. Weaning age: 1 year. Dens are used mostly
by several females at once, and it is not uncommon to see up to 20 cubs at a single site.
Life span: 12-25 years.
Conservation status: Least concern. The striped hyena is extinct from Bangladesh.

Task: what is the special feature of reproductive organ of female hyena?

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 BEAR

Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniformia, or doglike
carnivorans. There are only eight species of extant bears. Common characteristics of modern
bears include large bodies with short legs, long snouts and shaggy hair. Bears are omnivores
except polar bear, which is carnivorous, and the giant panda (Panda bear) herbivores (Feeds
almost entirely on bamboo). Bears use shelters, such as caves and burrows, as their dens; most
species occupy their dens during the winter for a long period (up to 100 days) of sleep similar to
hibernation. Grizzly bears (Brown bear) hibernate during the winter for 5 – 8 months and usually
dig their dens. A polar bear's sense of smell is acute, polar bear can most likely smell a seal from
more than 1 km away and 1 m under the snow.

ASIATIC BLACK BEAR

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Ursus
Species: U. thibetanus

Distribution: South Asia, Korea, China, Japan.

Description
Coat color black and have a light brown muzzle. They have a V- shaped white patch on the
chest. Adult males weigh 60-200 kg and females weigh 40-125 kg. Asian black bears have
powerful upper bodies for climbing trees, and relatively weak hind legs. They are the most
bipedal of all bears, and have been known to walk upright for over a quarter mile. Although their
power of senses are acute, but their eyesight is poor.

Behavior
Asian black bears are diurnal. Usually solitary animal. They may live in family groups consisting
of two adults and two successive litters of young. They are good climbers of rocks and trees, and
will climb to feed, rest, sun, elude enemies and hibernate. Half of their life is spent in trees.
Asian black bears break branches and twigs to place under themselves when feeding on trees,
thus causing many trees in their home ranges to have nest-like structures on their tops. Asian
black bears do not hibernate over most of their range. They may hibernate in their colder,
northern ranges. Nearly all pregnant sows hibernate. Black bears prepare their dens for
hibernation from November to March. Their dens can either be dug out hollow trees (sixty feet
above ground), caves or holes in the ground. Home range 1-2 sq km.

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Hunting and diet
Omnivorous, and will feed on insects, beetle larvae, invertebrates, termites, bees, eggs, garbage,
mushrooms, grasses, fruits, nuts, seeds, honey, herbs, cherries and grain. On rare occasions they
will eat dead fish. They kill ungulates with some regularity, including domestic livestock, deer,
wild boar ctc. which they kill by breaking their necks.

Food in Zoo: Cucumber 1.83 kg, banana 1.33kg, cow milk 600 ml, orange 220 gm, bread 600
gm, apple 220gm, carrot 500 gm, rice 300 gm, egg 1pc, seasonal fruit 800gm.

Breeding and reproduction

Age of maturity 3 years. Seasonal breeder. The breeding season June to August. Sows usually
give birth in caves or hollow trees after a gestation period of 200–240 days. Cubs weigh 370 gm
at birth, and open their eyes three days later. Litters size: 1–4 cubs. Black bear cubs become
independent at 2 years.
Life span: 25 years.
Conservation status: Critically endangered.

SLOTH BEAR
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Melursus
Species: Melursus ursinus
Local name
Bengali name: Monthor bhalluk

Origin and distribution

It is native to the lowland forest of India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Srilanka. In
Bangladesh they are found in Nagpur and Dinajpur. Now found in Chittagong, Sylhet and in
hilly tract in a small number.

Description

The sloth bear is also known as the „lip bear‟. Their body color is mixed with black and brown
long hair, short hind legs with a distinctive „V‟ shaped white mark on the chest, a whitish snout
and black nose. They have short hearing, seeing and smelling power. The males weighing 80-
140kg are larger than females which weight only 55-95kg.

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Habit

They stay in deep forest area. They come out before sunset and return in the morning. After
seeking food they stay in cave, hollow space in a large stone.

Feed

They prefer ants, bee and other insects. They eat honey comb with bee. Hungry bear may be
driven to eat any kind of carrion. In zoo special kind of feed mixed with fruit, rice and milk is
supplied to them.

Reproduction:

Mating time is usually in fall weather. Young are born in late winter. They usually give birth 2
cubs. They reach sexual maturity at 3 years. Their gestation period is about 210 days.

Life span: In captive condition it was recorded to have lived 40 years.

MALAYAN SUN BEAR

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Helarctos
Species: Helarctos malayanus

Local name
Bengali name: Malayan Bhalluk

Origin and distribution

They are found in small number in the hilly tract and valley of the hills in Bangladesh and
tropical rain forests of South-east Asia.

Description

Dark black or brown black fur covers its body. There is a pale orange yellow marking in the
shape of a horse shoe on the chest. Similar colored fur can be found around the muzzle and the
eyes. These distinctive marking give the sun bear its name. Males weight between 30-40 kg and
the female between 20-40kg. Muzzle is short, tongue is long and the ears are short and rounded.

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Habit and feed

The diet of sun bear varies widely and includes small vertebrates such as lizards, birds and other
mammals in addition to fruits, eggs, and young tips of palm trees, nest of bees, insects, roots,
cocoa, and coconuts. Its powerful jaws can crack open nuts. Much of the sun bears feed must be
detected using its keen sense of smell, as its sight is poor.

Reproduction
They mate early in the morning usually in the month of Summer, May or June. The offspring is
born in the winter. The cubs are sufficiently grown to follow their mother for food.

Life span
They live to about 28 years in captivity.

PANDA

The giant panda also known as panda bear or simply panda, is

a bear native to China. It is easily recognized by the large,
distinctive black patches around its eyes, over the ears, and
across its round body. The name "giant panda" is sometimes
used to distinguish it from the unrelated red panda. Though it
belongs to the order Carnivora, the giant panda's diet is over
99% bamboo. A panda's daily diet consists almost entirely of
the leaves, stems and shoots of various bamboo species.
Giant pandas in the wild will occasionally eat other grasses or even meat in the form of birds
or rodents. Bamboo contains very little nutritional value so pandas must eat 12-38kg every day
to meet their energy needs.

Task: How can you recognize different kinds of bears?

CIVET

A civet is a small nocturnal mammal native to Asia and Africa

belongs to the order carnivora and family Viverridae. In
Bengali it is called „gondhogukul‟. Civets are also called
"toddycats". In Bangladesh and in Bangla speaking areas of
India this animal is known as "khatash". Civets are omnivorous,
feeding on small plants, fruits, coffee cherries, mammals, birds,
fish, earthworms and insects. They also feed on palm
flower sap, which when fermented becomes toddy, sweet
liquor. Because of this habit, they are called the toddy cat.

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Perfumery civet
The civet produces a musk (also called civet) highly valued as a fragrance and stabilizing agent
for perfume. Chemically it contain different types of natural ketones. Both male and female
civets produce the strong-smelling secretion, which is produced by the civet's perineal glands
(mask gland). The mask gland. emit an odor reminiscent of popcorn or corn chips. It is harvested
by either killing the animal and removing the glands, or by scraping the secretions from the
glands of a live animal. From the views of animal welfare concern and availability of synthetic
substitutes, the practice of raising civets for musk is dying out.

Kopi Luwak
Kopi Luwak is coffee that is prepared using coffee cherries that have been eaten and partially
digested and fermented by the Asian palm civet, then harvested from its fecal matter. The civets
digest the flesh of the coffee cherries but pass the beans inside, leaving their stomach enzymes to
go to work on the beans, which adds to the coffee's prized aroma and flavor. Evidence suggests
that the SARS virus crossed over to humans from Asian palm civets which raised concerns over
the safety of civet coffee.

Task: Write down the utilities of civets mask gland secretion.

BINTURONG

The binturong, also known as bearcat, is a civet of

family viverridae native to Asia. It is called
“bashballok” or “gaso ballok” in Bangladesh. They
also have musk glands in either side of anus.

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 ELEPHANT

Two species are traditionally recognized, the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the
Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), Male African elephants are the largest extant terrestrial
animals and can reach a height of 13 ft and average weigh of male is 6000kg. In Bangladesh,
only isolated populations survive in the Chittagong Hills.

Taxonomy (Asian elephant)

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Family: Elephantidae
Genus: Elephas
Species: Elephas maximus
Description
Mature male weight of African elephant is around 6000 kg and female is 5000 kg. The mature
weight of Asian male elephant is about 4500 kg and female is 3600 kg. Elephants can move both
forwards and backwards, but cannot trot, jump, or gallop.

Unique anatomy and physiology

Trunk
The elephant trunk is a vital organ. The tip of the trunk is an extremely delicate prehensile organ.
A tiny peanut may be grasped with ease. The trunk also places food into the mouth. Water is
drawn up into the tip of the trunk and blown into the mouth. Seventy percent of the airflow into
the lungs is via the nares in the trunk. At the approximate location where the nares enter the bony
skull, there is a sigmoid flexure and a sphincter arrangement that allows the elephant to pull
water and dirt up into the nares but prevents inhalation into the lungs.

Figure: The morphological difference between Asian and African Elephant

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Teeth and Tusk
The dental formula of elephant is: 10 + 0 0 + 33 + 33 X 2 = 26. The chewing teeth are replaced six

times in a typical elephant's lifetime. The tusks of the elephant are modified incisor teeth. Tusk
starting to develop at the age of 6-12 months. The tusks continue to grow throughout life. Tusks
are present in both male and female African elephants, but they grow larger and longer in the
male. In the Asian elephant the female may either lack tusks or have small, underdeveloped
tusks. The pulp cavity ends approximately at the point where the tusk passes the trunk. A fully-
grown tusk may reach up to 3 feet length and 45 kg in weight in case of Asian elephant. Elephant
use tusk to peel of tree bark for food, and for fighting with other.

Ear
Elephants have highly vascularized ears, which are an organ of heat regulation. An elephant
customarily stands flapping its ears on a warm day.

Musth Gland/Temporal Gland

Asian and African elephants have a musth gland located just beneath the skin's surface, halfway
between the eye and ear on each side of their head. The musth gland may be associated with
sexual activity and/or communication. Annually, musth glands secrete a dark, oily, musky
substance and become inflamed. This physiological change is associated with a behavior
observed in male elephants called musth.

Skin
Elephants have thick skin (2.5 cm) thus similar with rhinoceros (5 cm) and hippopotamus (6 cm).
The thickness of the skin is primarily a result of thickened dermis. The epidermal layer is
approximately the same thickness as that of horses or cattle and is extremely sensitive. Insects
such as flies or mosquitoes can suck blood by piercing the epidermis. The epidermal surface of
the elephant is also susceptible to abrasion, so ropes pulled beneath or around the animal in
restraint must be moved slowly to prevent burns. Elephants typically have grey skin. An elephant
uses mud as a sunscreen to protecting its skin from ultraviolet light or protect it from burning,
insect bites, and moisture loss. After bathing, the elephant will usually use its trunk to blow dust
onto its body (mud bath) and this dries into a protective crust.

Behavior
Female elephants spend their entire lives in matriarchal family groups made up of more than ten
members, led by the eldest female. In the dry season, elephant families may cluster together and
form another level of social organization known as the clan. There are typically nine groups in a
clan. The adult females of the group start to show aggression towards the male, which
encourages him to permanently leave the group when they are 14-15 years of age. Adult male
elephants spend much of their time alone or in single-sex groups. The bull groups consist of over
10-144 individuals led by the eldest bulls. Adult males and females come together for breeding.

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Assessment of the mood of elephant
Mock charge: The elephant runs toward another elephant or a person with ears extended, head
and tusks held high. The charging elephant stops before reaching the target.
Real charge: The trunk is tucked under the head; the head is up and attempts to contact the
target. The ears are usually close to the head.

Diet and eating habits

Elephants are non-ruminants (hindgut fermenter). Elephants are capable of consuming vegetation
that is too fibrous and protein-deficient for ruminants to consume. Elephants eat 150 -170 kg of
vegetation daily. Nearly 80% of an elephant‟s day is spent feeding. Elephants consume grasses,
small plants, bushes, fruit, twigs, tree bark, and roots. Tree bark is a favorite food source for
elephants. Elephants require about 70 to 100 L of water daily. Elephant also consume soil to
fulfill the mineral requirement.
In zoo: Green grass 80kg, banana tree 150kg, vegetables 2 kg, chick-pea 5kg and banana
5kg. Breeding and reproduction
Age of sexual maturity: male- 14-15 years and female- 9 years. Adult males enter a state of
increased testosterone known as musth. Males first enter musth at the age of sexual maturity. The
main characteristic of a bull's musth is a fluid secreted from the temporal gland that runs down
the side of his face. He may urinate with his penis still in his sheath, which causes the urine to
spray on his hind legs. Behaviors associated with musth include walking with the head held high
and swinging, picking at the ground with the tusks and waving only one ear at a time. This can
last from a day to four months. Males become extremely aggressive during musth. Musth is not
always related to breeding, successful breeding may take place outside the musth period.
Elephants are polygynous (having more than one wife at a time) breeders. and copulations are
most frequent during the wet season. A cow in oestrus releases chemical signals (pheromones) in
her urine and vaginal secretions to signal her readiness to mate. The estrous cycle of a cow lasts
14–16 weeks. Copulation lasts about 45 seconds. Homosexual behaviour is frequent in both
sexes. In case of male these involves mounting and stimulate each other by play fighting. Female
are known to masturbate one another with their trunks. Castration period: 610 days. Birth weight
90 kg in Asian and 100 kg in African elephant. Litter size one, but twins sometimes occur. A
new calf is usually the centre of attention for herd members. Adults and most of the other young
will gather around the newborn, touching and caressing it with their trunks. Weaning age: 1 year.
Life span: 60-70 years.

Conservation status: African elephants were listed as vulnerable. Asian elephant is globally
endangered and critically endangered in Bangladesh.

Task 1: Define Musth.

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Task 2: Differentiate the mentioned body parts of Asian Elephant from African Elephant: ear,
toe, forehead.

Task 3: How Elephant tusk can be differentiated from Rhinoceros tusk?

DEER

Deer (singular and plural) are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. With the
exception of the Chinese water deer, which have tusks, all male deer have antlers. Sometimes a
female has a small stub. The only female deer with antlers are reindeer. Antlers grow as highly
vascular spongy tissue covered in a skin called velvet. Antlers are shed during breeding season
and regrow each year.

Description
They lack upper incisors, instead having a tough pad at the front of their upper jaw. The Chinese
water deer, tufted deer, and muntjac have enlarged upper canine teeth forming sharp tusks, while 0 0−1 3 3

other species often lack upper canines altogether. The dental formula for deer is: 3 + 1 + 3 + 3.

Behavior
Group living animals. Deer form matriarchal herd compost of females and two successive
offspring. Male usually live alone. Female leaves the herd during parturition. Male female come
together during breeding season. Deer are also excellent jumpers and swimmers. The facial gland
secrete a strongly scented pheromone, used to mark its home range by marking on trees, grasses
and bushes. Urine-marking is also observed. All deer have a sufficiently good night vision. Their
presence of interesting relationship between spotted deer and monkey. Spotted deer have

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 power of smell that can detect predators animals from far away and provide alarming to the
monkey and deer benefited from monkey by dropped food.

Diet and eating habit

Ruminants, or cud-chewers, and have a four-chambered stomach. Deer graze and browse, that is,
taking ground-level plants, as well as food from higher shrubby plants and trees. Their fiber
digestion capacity is lower than cattle and sheep thus they consume easily digestible shoots,
young leaves, fresh grasses, soft twigs, fruit, fungi, and lichens.

Breeding and reproduction

Seasonal breeder. Litter size: 1-2. Most fawns born with white spot on the coat and disappear
gradually in most species. Weaning age: 1 year. Only mother rear the fawn.

Comparative description of three common deer of Bangladesh

Spotted deer/ chital Barking deer/ Indian Sambar deer/ Philippine
me
Na

muntjak/ common muntjak/ deer

red muntjac
Image and
Bangla

Chitra horin Chagol horin Sambar horin

Taxon

Kingdom: Animalia Kingdom: Animalia Kingdom: Animalia

omy

Phylum: Chordata Phylum: Chordata Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia Class: Mammalia Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla Order: Artiodactyla Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae Family: Cervidae Family: Cervidae
Genus: Axis Genus: Muntiacus Genus: Rusa
Species: Axis axis Sp: Muntiacus muntjak Species: Rusa unicolor
Distrib

India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, India, Sri Bangladesh, India,Myanmar

ution

Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan etc. and Philippine. In
In Bangladesh, it currently In Bangladesh it found in Bangladesh it is found in
only exists in the different forest and hill forests of Sylhet and
Sundarbans and some Eco- sundarban. Chittagong.
parks situated around the
Bay of Bengal.

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 Description
Has reddish brown coat Coat color is dark brown to The coat color is brown to
with numerous white spots. golden. Average weight 15- grey. Have short mane with
Males: 30–75 kg; Females: 16 kg. Males also have is prominent in [Link]
25–45kg. The antlers, slightly elongated upper varies from 100 to 350 kg.
three-pronged, are nearly 3 canines about an inch long Length of antler 43 inches.
ft. long. that curve slightly outward Adult males and pregnant or
from the lips. lactating females possess an
unusual hairless, blood-red
spot located on throats. This
sometimes oozes a white
liquid, and is apparently
glandular in nature.
Die

As common description As common description As common description

t

In zoo: In zoo: In zoo:

Grass leaves and Grass leaves and vegetables: Grass leaves and vegetables:
vegetables: 5-8 kg 3-5 kg 8-10 kg
Fruits: 2 kg Fruits: 1 kg Fruits: 2-3 kg
(As common description). Diurnal and nocturnal (both). Nocturnal or crepuscular. A
Behavio

Diurnal animal. The Indian muntjac is stag (male deer) will mark
called "barking deer" due to himself by spraying urine
r

the bark-like sound that it on his own face during

makes as an alarm when breeding season.
danger is present.
Age of maturity 2 years. Seasonal breeder (March to Seasonal breeder (March to
Breedin an
d

Seasonal breeder (January May). Age of maturity: 1-2 May). Age of maturity 2
to July). Length of oestrus years. Length of oestrus cycles: years. Oestrus cycle around
cycles: 21 days. Gastation 14-21 days. The gestation 18 days. Gestation period is
g

period 7-8 months. Birth period is 6-7 months. Litter 7-8 months. Litter size: 1-2.
weight about 3 kg. Litter size: [Link] weight 500- Birth weight 5-8 kg. The
size:1-2. 700 gms. calves are usually not
spotted.
Life span: 15-20 years Life span: 15-20 years Life span: 25-28 years
Conservation status: Conservation status: Conservation status:
Common Endangered Critically endangered

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 HIPPOPOTAMUS

The common hippopotamus or hippo, is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal. The name comes
from the ancient Greek for "river horse". After the elephant and rhinoceros, the common
hippopotamus is the third-largest type of land mammal.

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Hippopotamidae
Genus: Hippopotamus
Species: H. amphibius

Distribution
Hippos are semi-aquatic and are found in the rivers, lakes and mangrove swamps of the sub-
Saharan Africa including Congo, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan,
Gambia and South Africa.

Description
The skin is 6 cm thick. The animal body color is gray to blue-black. They have barrel-shaped
nearly hairless body, wide-opening mouths, large canine tusks and short legs. Average adult
male weight 1,500 kg and female weight 1,300 kg. The eyes, ears, and nostrils of hippos are
placed high on the roof of their skulls, this allows these organs to remain above the surface while
the rest of the body submerges. The testes of the males descend only partially and a scrotum is
not present. In addition, the penis retracts into the body when not erect. The jaw hinge is located
far back enough to allow the animal to open its mouth at almost 180°. The lower canines and
lower incisors are enlarged, especially in males, and grow continuously. Canines (tusk) reach up
to 50 cm. The canines and incisors are used for combat and play no role in feeding.

Hippos lack scent and sweat glands. Instead, mucous glands secrete a thick oily layer of red-
pigmented fluid. For years this fluid was thought to be a mixture of blood and sweat, giving it the
nickname “blood sweat.” It is now known that this fluid is a combination of hipposudoric acid
and norhipposudoric acid. These compounds create a sunscreen effect by absorbing ultra violet
rays from the sun and prevent the growth of disease causing bacteria. This secretion is initially
colorless and turns red-orange within minutes, eventually becoming brown (due to
polymerization). Their skin is very sensitive to both drying and sunburn, so the secretion acts
like an automatic skin ointment.

Behavior
Hippos are not social animals; they do not form social bonds except between mothers and young.
While hippopotamuses rest near each other in the water, grazing is a solitary activity and hippos
are not territorial on land. It is capable of running 30 km/h over short distances. The

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hippopotamus is a highly aggressive. Adult hippo is not a good swimmer. It is rarely found in
deep water; when it is, the animal moves by porpoise-like leaps from the bottom. During the day,
they remain cool by staying in the water or mud. They emerge at dusk to graze on grasses.
They typically resurface to breathe every three to five minutes. The process of surfacing and
breathing is automatic. A hippo sleeping underwater rises and breathes without awaking.

Diet and eating habits

The hippo is considered to be a pseudo-ruminant. Hippos leave the water at dusk and travel
inland, to graze on short grasses, their main source of food. They spend four to five hours
grazing and can consume 68 kg of grass each night. Their diet in nature consists almost entirely
of grass, with only minimal consumption of aquatic plants.
In zoo: Green grass: 40kg, vegetables: 30kg, concentrate mixture: 7kg.

Breeding and reproduction

Age of maturity of male and female are 6-7 years and 4-5 years, respectively. Gestation period is
around 8 months. Reproduction and childbirth both occur in water. Litter size: 01. Mating occurs
in the water. Baby hippos are born underwater at a weight between 25 and 50 kg and must swim
to the surface to take their first breaths. The young often rest on their mothers' backs when the
water is too deep for them, and they swim under water to suckle. They also suckle on land when
the mother leaves the water. Weaning age: 8 months.
Life span: 40-50 years.
Conservation status: Vulnerable.

Task: What are the chemical compositions of „blood sweat‟? Write down its functions.

RHINOCEROS

A rhinoceros (meaning "nose horn"), often abbreviated to rhino is an herbivorous characterized

by heavy size (second largest terrestrial animal), a thick protective skin, 1.5–5 cm thick,
relatively small brains (400–600 g); and a large horn. There are five species of rhinos, two
African and three Asian. The African species are the white and black rhinoceroses, and both
species have two horns. Asian rhinos include the Indian (or great one-horned rhinoceros) and the
Javan, each with one horn, and the Sumatran, which has two.

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 INDIAN RHINOCEROS
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Rhinocerotidae
Genus: Rhinoceros
Species: R. unicornis
Distribution
Indian rhinos once inhabited many areas of Asia. However, because of human influence, they
now only exist in several protected areas of India and Nepal, plus a few pairs in in Pakistan.

Description
The Indian rhinoceros has a thick grey-brown skin. Its upper legs and shoulders are covered in
wart-like bumps. It has very little body hair. Males have huge neck folds. The rhino's single horn
is present in both males and females, but not on newborn young. The horn starts to show after
about six years. In most adults, the horn reaches a length of about 25 cm in length. The male,
averaging about 2,200 kg is heavier than the female, at an average of about 1,600 kg.

Behavior
Rhinos are mostly solitary creatures, with the exception of mothers and calves and breeding
pairs. They are active at night and early morning. They have home ranges, of being usually 2 to 8
km2. Dominant males tolerate males passing through their territories except when they are in
mating season, when dangerous fights break out. They spend the middle of the day wallowing in
lakes, rivers and ponds to cool down. They can run at speeds of up to 55 km/h for short periods
and are excellent swimmers. They have excellent senses of hearing and smell, but relatively poor
eyesight.

Diet and eating habits

They are herbivores and hindgut fermenter. Indian rhinoceros are grazers. Their diets consist
almost entirely of grasses, but they also eat leaves, branches of shrubs and trees, fruits, and
submerged and floating aquatic plants. They feed in the mornings and evenings.
In zoo: Concentrated Feed 4kg, green grass 58kg, vegetables 24kg, chick-pea 4kg, banana 10kg,
apple-2 kg.

Reproduction
Age of sexual maturity in captive condition is 5 years and 4 years respectively for male and
female and in wild these are 15 years and 6 years. Males and females frequently fight during
courtship. After mating, the pair go their separate ways. Gestation period: 14 to 18 months.
Weaning age: 1 year.

Life span: Over 40 years

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 Conservation status: Indian rhinoceros extinct from Bangladesh. Globally endangered.

Potential threats for rhinos

Rhinos rank among the most endangered species on Earth. Valued for their horns, they face a
threat from poaching, which is rapidly pushing them towards extinction. Rhinoceros horns,
unlike those of other horned mammals (which have a bony core), only consist of keratin, similar
to human hair and nails. Their horns are used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is
considered to have aphrodisiac properties, ability to cure for cancer or prescribed for fevers and
convulsions, a treatment not supported by evidence-based medicine. It also uses to make jewelry,
dagger handles and other trinkets. Some wealthy Vietnamese inhale the powdered horn as a
status symbol. An average sized horn can bring in as much as a quarter of a million dollars in
Vietnam. To kill rhinos is not legal, but rhino‟s horns have become so valuable on the black
market.

Task 1: Fill the following gaps:

  Rhinoceros means ................................
  Number of horn in Indian rhinoceros .................
 Rhinoceros horns consist of ...........................

Task 2: Write down the valuable uses of Rhinoceros horns.

GIRAFFE

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Giraffidae
Genus: Giraffa
Species: G. camelopardalis
The giraffe is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest living terrestrial animal and the
largest ruminant. At an average height of around 16-18 ft. Characterized by its long legs, long
neck, horn-like ossicones, and distinctive spotted pattern, many people first believed the giraffe

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 was a cross between a leopard and a camel. Along the animal's neck is a mane made of short,
erect hairs. The average weight is 1200 kg for an adult male and 800 kg for an adult female.

Their primary food source is acacia leaves, which they browse at heights most other herbivores
cannot reach. Their long tongues are helpful in eating because they help pull leaves from the
trees. Giraffe consumes over 45 kg of leaves and twigs a day. Giraffe are gregarious and may
gather in large aggregations. Males establish social hierarchies. Dominant males gain mating
access to females. Giraffe gestation lasts 400-460 days. Litter size: 1-2. A newborn giraffe is
about 6 feet tall at birth and weighs about 70kg. Globally it is least concern.

Task: Fill the following gaps:

  Scientific name of giraffe is ..........................................
  ........................ is primary food source of giraffe.
 The heights of newborn and adult giraffes are about .................and
...............feets, respectively.

KANGAROO

The kangaroo is a marsupial. Kangaroos are endemic to

Australia. Kangaroos have large, powerful hind legs, large
feet adapted for leaping, a long muscular tail for balance, and
a small head. The female kangaroos have a pouch called a
marsupium in which joeys (young of kangaroo) complete
postnatal development. Kangaroos are the only
large animals to use hopping as a means of locomotion. The
comfortable hopping speed for a red kangaroo is about 20– 25
km/h. Kangaroos are adept swimmers. Kangaroos have
chambered stomachs similar to those of cattle and sheep. They regurgitate the vegetation they
have eaten, chew it as cud, and then swallow it again for final digestion. All are strict
herbivores. Many species are nocturnal, and crepuscular. Gestation period is 33 days. Usually,
only one young is born at a time. It is blind, hairless, and only a few centimeters long. It
climbs its way through the thick fur on its mother's abdomen into the pouch within 3-5
minutes. Once in the pouch, it fastens onto one of the four teats and starts to feed. After about
235 days, it leaves the pouch for the last time. The lifespan of kangaroos averages at 6 years in
the wild and 20 years in captivity.

Task: What do you mean by marsupial animals?

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 ZEBRA

Zebras are belongs to horse family equidae and order

Perissodactyla. The plains zebra (Equus quagga) is the most
common. Closely related to horses and donkeys, the zebra is
best known for its black and white striped body. These stripes
are believed to be camouflage devices that help zebras hide well
in the grass. Mature body weight is up to 350kg. Zebras as very
social animals and live in large groups. They sleep standing up.
Non seasonal breeder. Age of sexual maturity: Male 2 years,
female 1.6 years. Gestation period: 1 year. Litter size: 1 foal. Zebra foals are born with
brown and white stripes as opposed to black and white stripes. Zebras are herbivorous and
primarily eat a variety of grasses. They are also known to eat shrubs, herbs, twigs, leaves and
bark. In zoo: Concentrated Feed 2kg, green grass 10 kg, vegetables 6kg, chick-pea 1kg. Life
span 30 Years.

GAYAL

It is a subspecies of Gaur (Indian bison). The domesticated form of Guar is gayal. The gayal (Bos
frontalis), also known as mithun, is a large semi-domesticated bovine distributed in
India, Bangladesh, northern Myanmar China. There are three hypotheses for what the
gayal/mithun actually is:
a) It‟s a hybrid between the gaur (Bos gaurus) and the domestic cow.
b) It‟s a domesticated gaur.
c) It‟s a domesticated animal that is closely related to the gaur whose ancestor gone extinct.

Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Bos
Species: B. frontalis

The gayal differs from the gaur. It is somewhat smaller and having shorter legs than gaur. The
female gayal is much smaller than the bull, and has scarcely any dewlap on the throat. The skin
colour is blackish-brown in both sexes. Weight: 700-1000 kg; male 20-25% larger than female.
They are ruminant. In zoo they eat concentrated feed 2.5 kg, green grass 20 kg and vegetables
1.5 kg. Age of sexual maturity is 24 months. Their gestration period is 270-280 days. In
Bangladesh, the tribal rear gayal in Thanchi and Ruma upazila of Bandarban district. Average
milk production 3-4 liter and growth rate 444 gram per day.

Life span: 15-16 years.

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 NILGAI
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Boselaphus
Species: B. tragocamelus
The nilgai or blue bull is the largest Asian antelope.

Distribution
This antelope is endemic to the Indian subcontinent: major populations occur in India, Nepal and
Pakistan, whereas it is extinct in Bangladesh.

Description
The coat color of male Nilgai is grayish-blue and female Nilgai is brown. Nilgai has erectable
mane, and „hair pennant‟ in troat. Males weigh 110–280 kg, females are 100–210 kg. Only
males possess horns, though a few females may be horned as well. The horns of the nilgai lack
the ringed appearance typical of other bovids.

Behavior
The nilgai is diurnal. Group living but male and female group are separated. Female group may
accompany the young. Females do not interact with males, except during the mating season.

Diet and eating habits

Herbivores, the nilgai prefer grasses and herbs.
In zoo: Concentrated Feed 2kg, green grass 10kg, vegetables 1kg, chick-pea 1kg, banana 2kg.
Breeding and Reproduction
Age of maturity of female 2 years and male 4 years. The breeding season is from October to
February. Birth weight 7 kg. The simple courtship lasts typically for 45 minutes. Gestation lasts
8-9 months. Litter size: 1-2.
Life span: 10-12 years.
Conservation status: Globally least concern. Extinct in Bangladesh.

Task: Give a clear concept about antelope with examples.

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 WILDEBEESTS

The wildebeests are antelopes. They belong to the family Bovidae. Wild beast includes two
species, both native to Africa: the black wildebeest, and the blue wildebeest. Both species of
wildebeest are even-toed, horned, grayish-brown ungulates resembling cattle. Males are larger
than females and both have heavy forequarters compared to their hindquarters. They have shaggy
manes. In males, blue wildebeest weigh around 250 kg, while the black wildebeest is about 180
kg. In females, blue wildebeest weigh 180 kg while black wildebeest females weigh 155 kg. Age
of sexual maturity is 16 months. The breeding season: usually between May and July. The
estrous cycle is about 23 days and the gestation period lasts 250 to 260 days. The calves weigh
about 21 kg at birth. Average lifespan is around 20 years. Conservation status: least concern.

MONKEY

Monkeys are group of primates, generally possessing tails and consisting of approximately 260
known living species. Many monkey species are tree-dwelling (arboreal), although there are
species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Most species are active during the day
(diurnal). There are two major types of monkey: New World monkeys from South and Central
America and Old World monkeys from Africa and Asia. Hominoid apes (gibbons, orangutans,
gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans- lack tails), lemurs, lorises, and galagos are not monkeys. The
Old World monkeys are belongs to the family Cercopithecidae of primates. These includes
baboons and macaques. New world monkeys include squirrel monkeys, spider monkeys, night or
owl monkeys, woolly monkeys etc. Spider monkey, are the only primates to have prehensile tails

RHESUS MACAQUE/ INDIAN RHESUS MACAQUE/ RHESUS MONKEY

The rhesus macaque is one of the best-known species of Old World monkeys. The name "rhesus"
is reminiscent of the Greek mythological king, Rhesus. The Rhesus Macaque is well known to
science owing to its relatively easy upkeep in captivity, and has been used extensively in medical
and biological research. Rh factor (Rhesus factor) is a protein called an antigen that is found on
the red blood cells of most people, first discovered in the blood of rhesus monkey (Rh from
rhesus) in 1937 by Karl Landsteiner.

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 Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genus: Macaca
Species: M. mulatta
Distribution
Asian countries. In Bangladesh, they are found in forest of Dhaka, Mymensingh, Sylhet and
Chittagong hill tract.

Description
Coat color grey. Face color pink face, which is free from fur. Adult males weigh about 7-8 kg.
Females are smaller, averaging 5-6 kg in weigh.

Behavior
Diurnal, terrestrial and arboreal animals. Like other macaques, rhesus troops comprise a mixture
of 20–200 males and females by a ratio of 1:4. Females tend not to leave the social group. When
the male macaques reach sexual maturity, the dominant male drives them out of their natal
groups. In the group, macaques position themselves based on rank of different subgroup. The
central subgroup compost of most dominate 2-3 males with some dominate females and their
offspring. The further subgroups consist of comparatively less dominant females. The central
subgroups lead the whole group for rest, foraging and other routines. The high-ranking
individuals show often-severe aggression towards lower rank. When in threatening situations,
macaques emit a single loud sound called a shrill bark. Swimming is a common event for the
Rhesus Macaque. All members of the group practice social grooming for pleasure and health.

Diet and eating habits

Omnivores. Fruits, leaves, buds, flower, roots, grain, invertebrates, small vertebrates etc. They
are able to store food in the pouches of their cheeks. In many areas, they have been known to go
to humans for food.
In zoo: Fruits = 500 gm/day, vegetables = 100 gm / day, egg or meat = 100 gm/ day.

Reproduction
Age of sexual maturity 4 years. Non-seasonal polyestrous. The length of estrous cycle is 26-28
days and female remain receptive for 9-11 days. A female usually mates with four males during
that time. Breeding takes place by several mounting of male on female before ejaculation. Male
generally ejaculate 15 seconds after penetration. Gestation period 150-175 days. Litter size one.

Life span: 20 years.

Conservation status: Endangered in Bangladesh. Globally it is least concern.

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Task: Shortly describe about the origin of “Rh” factor.

COMMON LANGUR/ GRAY LANGUR/HANUMAN LANGUR

Gray langurs or Hanuman langurs, the most widespread langurs of South Asia, are a group of old
world monkeys.

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genus: Semnopithecus
Species: Semnopithecus entellus

Distribution
Asian countries. In Bangladesh they are found in villages of Jessore and Khustia.

Description
Coat color gray, with a black face and ears. Typically have their tail tips looping. Their tails is
always longer than their bodies. The average weight of gray langurs is 18 kg in the males and 11
kg in the females.

Behavior
Diurnal. Langurs spend half their time on the ground and the other half in the trees. Gray langurs
exist in three types of groups:
a) one-male groups, comprising one adult male, several females and offspring
b) multiple-male groups, comprising males and females of all ages. The group size is
usually 15-25
c) all-male groups- consist of adults, subadults, and juveniles.

Diet and eating habits

Gray langurs are primarily herbivores. Diet includes leaf buds of herbs, fruits and fruit buds,
shoots and roots, seeds, grass, bamboo etc. They also forage on agricultural crops and other
human foods.

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Breeding and reproduction
Usually non seasonal breeder. The gestation period of gray langur lasts around 200 days.
Infanticide is common among gray langurs. Most infanticidal langurs are males that have
recently immigrated. Litter size one. Infants spend their first week attach themselves to their
mothers' chests and mostly just suckle or sleep. Weaning age: 13 months.

Life span: 20-30 years

Conservation status: Critically endangered.

Task: In which animal infanticidal behavior is observed?

CAPPED LANGUR

It is a member of world monkey. Bengali

Name: Mukhpura Badami Honoman. They
are found in Asian countries. In Bangladesh
they are found in Madhupur forest tract,
Jamalpur and Mymensingh districts, and in
the forest of Sylhet, Chittagong, Chittagong
Hill Tracts and Cox's Bazar Divisions.

Description
Coat color is blackish gray to golden-yellow. The face is deep black. Their presence of long erect
black hair on the head directed backward arranged like a cap. The ears, palms, and soles, are
black in coloration. Males can have a body mass around 14 kg, and the female about 12 kg
Behavior
Group sizes range from 2 to 15 individuals. This is a diurnal and an arboreal species. Females
and Juveniles will groom males but males will not reciprocate. When two individuals sit facing
each other they wrap their arms around each other (embrace).

Diet and eating habits

Feed includes leaves, fruit, various trees, shrubs, seeds and flowers.

Breeding and reproduction

The capped langur gives birth to a single offspring. The mating season is from October-April.
Life span: 20 years.
Conservation status: Vulnerable.

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 HOOLOCK GIBBON
Taxonomy (Western hoolock gibbon)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Hylobatidae
Genus: Hoolock
Species: H. hoolock

They are found in Asian countries. In Bangladesh, they are found in Sylhet and Chittagong
division. The average weight of hoolock gibbons are 6 to 9 kg. They are diurnal and arboreal.
They live together in monogamous pairs. Their diet consists mainly of fruits, insects and leaves.
Age of sexual maturity: 8-9 months. Hoolock gibbons feed mostly on various fruits, with some
leaves, flowers and insects. Life span: 25 years. They are considered as endangered.

BENGAL SLOW LORIS

Slow lorises are a group of several species
of nocturnal primates , which make up the
genus Nycticebus. They are found in
Bangladesh, India, Philippines and China.
The Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus
bengalensis) is a member of „lorisidae‟
family. In Bangladesh Bengal slow loris are
found in Dhaka, Sylhet and Chittagong hill
tracts. In Bengali it is called „Lojjabati
Banor‟. Slow lorises have a round head,
narrow snout and large eyes. Slow lorises
have a toxic bite, a trait rare among
mammals and unique to lorisid primates.
The toxin is obtained by licking a gland on
their arm, and the secretion is activated by
mixing with saliva. Their toxic bite is a
deterrent to predators, and the toxin is also
applied to the fur during grooming as a form
of protection for their infants. Slow lorises
move slowly and deliberately, making little
or no noise, and when threatened, they stop
moving and remain motionless. Males are
highly territorial. They are omnivores,
eating small animals, fruit, tree gum, and
other vegetation.

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Task: Short note: Toxic bite of Bengal slow loris.

CHIMPANZEE

The chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) is a species of ape in

hominidae family that is natively found in a variety of different
habitats in Africa. Closely related to other great apes including
Orang-Utans and Gorillas, the Chimpanzee is also very closely
related to Humans as we share 98% of the same DNA. They are
thought to be the most intelligent animals on the planet after
human. Chimpanzees and Humans are thought to share a
common ancestor that lived around 8 million years ago.

Description
Chimpanzees are large primates that have long and black hairs covering their bodies with the
exception of their face, palms and the soles of their feet. They have large ears that give them
excellent hearing and a heavy brow-ridge over their eyes. Adult male weight 35-70kg and female
weight [Link] arms are longer than their legs, which enables them to move around on all
fours which is known as knuckle-walking. Chimpanzees have 32 teeth. They have very flexible
lips which are curled apart to produce a "smile" that actually signifies fear when they are either
angry or feel threatened.

Chimpanzee Behaviour and Lifestyle

Diurnal animal. Chimpanzees are highly social animals. Group living animals range in size from
15 to 120. They are highly territorial and do not tolerate outsiders in their group, often killing an
individual that is from another group. Males are dominant not necessarily being the strongest
individuals. Chimpanzees make nests in the trees by folding over branches to provide them with
a safe platform on which to sleep. Chimpanzees are highly sociable and spend much time every
day grooming one-another. Chimpanzees are known to be one of the world's most intelligent
animal species and can not only remember things but are also able to recognize themselves in a
mirror.

Chimpanzee Reproduction and Life Cycles

Non –seasonal polyestrous breeder. Age of sexual maturity of females 13 years and male 16
years. Menstrual cycle of chimpanzees is about 37 days. Duration of estrous is 10-14 days.
Gestation period: 8 months. Litter size 01. Birth weight 1-2 kg. After birth the infant clings onto
it's mother's fur and will remain with her solidly for the first few years.

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Chimpanzee Diet and Prey
The Chimpanzee is an omnivorous animal that eats hundreds of different types of food. The bulk
of their diet is comprised of seasonal fruits, seeds and flowers. They also eat insects, monkeys,
small antelope and birds.
In zoo: Graps= 500 gm, egg= 1 ps., banana= 3 kg, sugar=30 gm, bread=900 gm.
Life span: 55 years.
Conservation Status: Endangered.

Task 1: Make a list of some apes.

Task 2: Which ape is considered as the most intelligent animal after human?

CROCODILE

The word "crocodile" comes from the Greek crocodilos, "lizard", used in the phrase "the lizard of
the river". There are 13 living species of crocodile. Among the living species, one is marsh
crocodile, or Indian crocodile and another is Saltwater crocodile or estuarine crocodile
(Crocodylus porosus).

The gharial/ gavial have a long

thin snout. The crocodile‟s
snout is V shaped and
alligator‟s snout is U shaped. In
addition crocodile have toothy
grin where as alligator do not
have due to wider upper jaw.

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 MUGGER CROCODILE/ INDIAN MARSH CROCODILE

The mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), also called the Indian, marsh crocodile or simply
mugger. The name "mugger" means mythical water monster.

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Crocodilia
Family: Crocodylidae
Genus: Crocodylus
Species: C. palustris

Distribution
It is found throughout the Indian subcontinent and the surrounding countries. The mugger
crocodile is a freshwater species found in lakes, rivers and marshes.

Description
Males of the species to grow up to 4-5 m in length. Weight is up to 900 kg. Mugger crocodiles
have 72-80 teeth and able to replace each of their 80 teeth up to 50 times in their lifespan. The
armoured skin has scales. They are still able to absorb heat through these scales, as a network of
small capillaries allows blood through the scales to absorb heat. Unlike other reptiles, a crocodile
has a four-chambered heart.

Crocodiles have lacrimal glands and produce tear to lubricate the eyes which is called crocodile
tears. Crocodiles shed tears while consuming their prey. These are false, insincere display of
locomotion.

Behavior
Mostly nocturnal. Muggers are fairly social species and tolerate their other crocodiles during
basking and feeding but aggressive during breeding season. They often sleep with their mouths
open and may pant like a dog. Crocodiles have acute senses. The eyes, ears and nostrils are
located on top of the head, allowing the crocodile to lie low in the water, almost totally
submerged and hidden from prey. Crocodiles are also the most vocal of all reptiles, producing a
wide variety of sounds. They are also known to dig burrows as shelters during the dry seasons.

Diet and hunting

They are ambush hunters and wait for their prey to come close. They mostly prey on fish,
reptiles, birds, mammals (monkey, squirrels, chital and otters), occasionally cannibalize smaller
crocodiles. It can chase prey on land in night for short distances. As cold-blooded predators, they
have a very slow metabolism, so they can survive long periods without food.

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Breeding and reproduction
Seasonal breeder. Age of sexual maturity 6-7 years. Reproduction takes place in winter months.
Females lay eggs (total 25-35) in nests that are holes dug in the sand. Egg weight 90 gm. The
average incubation period is around 80 days. Temperature during incubation is the determinant
of sex in the young. At 32.5 °C incubation temperature produce all males. At 28-31°C
temperature produce all female. Any variations from these temperatures produce more female
and less male.
Digestion
Crocodilians have a very low metabolic rate and consequently, low energy requirements. This
allows them to survive for many months on a single large meal, digesting the food slowly. They
can withstand extended fasting, living on stored fat between meals. Even recently hatched
crocodiles are able to survive 58 days without food. An adult crocodile needs between a tenth
and a fifth of the amount of food necessary for a lion.

Thermoregulation
Crocodilians are ectotherms, producing relatively little heat internally and relying on external
sources to raise their body temperatures. The sun's heat is the main means of warming for any
crocodilian. They regulate temperature by basking in the sun on land. At night it remains
submerged, and its temperature slowly falls. The basking period is extended in winter and
reduced in summer. The temperature range of crocodilians is usually maintained between 25 and
35 °C.
Life span: 20-40 years.
Conservation status: Globally vulnerable. In Bangladesh extinct in the wild.

Task 1: Explain relation of temperature with crocodile‟s sex.

Task 2: Differentiate among Alligator, Crocodile and Gharial.

ZAM-201; Practical Note Book Page

 TURTLE AND TORTOISE

Turtle and Tortoise reptiles of order chelonia with characteristic bony shell; carapace above and
the plastron below. Twenty seven species of turtles and tortoises are found in Bangladesh.

Tortoise
Female tortoises dig nesting burrows in which they lay from one to 30 eggs and covers
her clutch with sand, soil, and organic material. Incubation period is 70-120 days. Upon
completion of the incubation period, a fully formed hatchling uses an egg tooth to break out of its
shell. It digs to the surface of the nest and begins a life of survival on its own. Most land-based
tortoises are herbivores, feeding on grasses, weeds, leafy greens, flowers, and some fruits,
although some omnivorous species are in this family. Too much protein is detrimental in
herbivorous species, and has been associated with shell deformities and other medical problems.
Tortoises generally have one of the longest lifespans of any animal, and some individuals are
known to have lived longer than 150 years.
List of some tortoise of Bangladesh
Elongated tortoise (Bangla: Pahari Halud kocchob)
Asian giant tortoise (Bangla: Shila kocchob)

Turtle
Turtle are usually omnivores. Adult turtles typically eat aquatic plants, invertebrates such as
insects, snails and worms; and have been reported to occasionally eat dead marine animals.
Juvenile turtles are purely carnivorous. Although many turtles spend large amounts of their lives
underwater, all turtles and tortoises breathe air, and must surface at regular intervals to refill their
lungs. They can also spend much or all of their lives on dry land. Like other reptiles, turtles lay
eggs that are slightly soft and leathery. Their albumen is white and contains a different protein
from bird eggs, such that it will not coagulate when cooked. In some species, temperature
determines whether an egg develops into a male or a female: a higher temperature causes a
female, a lower temperature causes a male. Large numbers of eggs are deposited in holes dug
into mud or sand. They are then covered and left to incubate by themselves. Depending on the
species, the eggs will typically take 70–120 days to hatch. Sea turtles lay their eggs on dry, sandy
beaches. Immature sea turtles are not cared for by the adults. Turtles can take many years to
reach breeding age.

List of some turtles of Bangladesh:

Spotted pond turtle (bangle: kalo kachim)
Domed Malayan box turtle (Bangla: Diba kachim)
Crowned river turtle

Task: Write about special character of turtle‟s egg.

ZAM-201; Practical Note Book Page

 INDIAN PYTHON

It is known by the common names Indian python, black-tailed python and Indian rock python. In
Bengali it is called “Ajagar”.

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Pythonidae
Genus: Python
Species: P. molurus

Distribution
The species is limited to Southern Asia. Occurs in a wide range of habitats, including grasslands,
swamps, marshes, rocky foothills, woodlands, "open" jungle and river valleys. Sometimes they
can be found in abandoned mammal burrows and hollow trees.

Description
The color pattern is whitish or yellowish with shades of dark brown. Average length 12 ft.
Record size is 21 ft. Record weight is 91 kg.

Behavior
Nonvenomous python species. Lethargic and slow moving even in its native habitat, they exhibit
timidity and rarely try to attack even when attacked. They are excellent swimmers and can climb
trees when needed. . They can be wholly submerged in water for many minutes if necessary, but
usually prefer to remain near the bank.

Diet and hunting

Like all snakes, Indian pythons are strict carnivores and feed on mammals, birds and reptiles, but
seem to prefer mammals. During hunting, advance lunge with open mouth. Live prey is
constricted and killed. The prey, unable to breathe, succumbs and is subsequently swallowed
head first. After a heavy meal, an individual may fast for weeks, the longest recorded duration
being 2 years. The python can swallow prey bigger than its diameter because the jaw bones are
not connected. Moreover, prey cannot escape from its mouth because of the arrangement of the
teeth (which are reverse saw-like).

Reproduction
Oviparous, up to 100 eggs are laid by the animal each of about 200gm, which are protected and
incubated by the female. Incubation period is 2-3 months. Towards this end, it has been shown
that they are capable of raising their body temperature above the ambient level through muscular
contractions. The hatchlings are 18-24 inches in length and grow quickly.

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Lifespan: 20-30 years.
Conservation status: Lower risk.

Task 1: Give some examples of venomous and non venomous snakes.

Task 2: How can you recognize a male or female snake?

Task 3: Write down the name of largest and longest snakes.

Task 4: What is the length of longest snake?

ZAM-201; Practical Note Book Page

 INDIAN PEAFOWL

The Indian peafowl or blue peafowl is a large and brightly colored bird.
Taxonomy
kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Genus: Pavo
Species: P.
cristatus Distribution
The Indian peafowl is a resident breeder across the Indian subcontinent, it also found in Sri-
Lanka.

Description
Blue is the dominant coat color. Mature male weight: 4–6 kg and mature female weight: 3–4 kg.
Both male and female peafowl grow crests on top of their head – blue in males, green and brown
in females. The males have “train” which is made up of elongated upper tail coverts (more than
200 feathers) and nearly all these feathers end with an elaborate eye-spot. Train may be up to 6
ft. long. These „train‟ is raised into a fan and quivered in a display during courtship. Males may
display even in the absence of females. The long train feathers (and tarsal spurs) of the male
develop only after the second year of life. Fully developed trains are found in birds older than
four years. Females lack the train. The male has a spur on the leg above the hind toe. Young
males look like the females but the wings are chestnut colored.

Behavior
The Indian peafowl lives mainly on the ground in open forest or on land under cultivation.
Peafowl forage on the ground in small groups, that usually have a cock and 3 to 5 hens (in
breeding season). After the breeding season, the flocks tend to be made up only of females and
young. They are found in the open early in the mornings and tend to stay in cover during the heat
of the day. They are fond of dust-bathing and at dusk. When disturbed, they usually escape by
running and rarely take to flight. Peafowl roost in groups during the night on tall trees. Peafowl
produce loud calls especially in the breeding season.

Breeding
Peacocks are polygamous, the peak breeding season in April to September. Peafowl usually
reach sexual maturity at the age of 2 to 3 years old. Females do not appear to favor specific
males. These „train‟ is raised into a fan and quivered in a display during courtship. When a male
is displaying, females do not appear to show any interest and usually continue their foraging. The
clutch consists of 4-8 eggs which are incubated only by the female. Egg size is about 170 gm.

ZAM-201; Practical Note Book Page

The eggs take about 28 days to hatch. Downy young may sometimes climb on their mothers'
back and the female may carry them in flight to a safe tree branch.
Diet and eating habits
Peafowl are omnivorous and eat seeds, insects, fruits, small mammals and reptiles. They feed on
small snakes but keep their distance from larger ones.

Life span: 20-25 years.

Conservation status: Least Concern.

Task 1: Which bird is the smallest of all birds?

Task 2: How can you differentiate between peacock and peahen?

Task 3: Is there any way of recognizing young peacock from peahen?

OSTRICH

Ostriches are large, flightless birds. Ostriches are in the same order as cassowaries, emus, kiwis
and rheas.
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Struthioniformes
Family: Struthionidae
Genus: Struthio
Species: Struthio camelus

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Distribution
Ostriches are native to Africa. It is also found in some part of Asia, Australia, Israel and Mexico.

Description
Ostriches usually weigh from 63 to 145 kilograms. The feathers of adult males are mostly black,
with white primaries and a white tail. Females and young males are greyish-brown and white.
The head and neck of both male and female ostriches is nearly bare, with a thin layer of down.
However, the head and bill are relatively small. The bird has just two toes on each foot. Ostrich
has no crop and it lacks a gallbladder. Unlike all other living birds, the ostrich secretes urine
separately from feces.

Behavior
Ostriches are diurnal. Ostriches normally spend the winter months in pairs or alone. During
breeding season and sometimes during extreme rainless period‟s ostriches live in nomadic
groups of 5 to 100 birds (led by a top hen) and often travel together with
other grazing animals, such as zebras. Ostriches can run at a speed over 70 km/h. With their
acute eyesight and hearing, ostriches can sense predators such as lions from far away. They can
cause serious injury and death of human with kicks from their powerful legs. Their legs can only
kick forward.

Feeding
They mainly feed on seeds, shrubs, grass, fruit and flowers, occasionally they also eat insects.
Ostriches can go without drinking for several days, using metabolic water and moisture in
ingested plants, but they enjoy water and frequently take baths where it is available.

Breeding and reproduction

Ostriches become sexually mature when they are 2 to 4 years old. The mating season begins in
March to September. The successful male may mate with several females. The hen drops to the
ground and cock mount for copulation. The female ostrich lays her eggs in a single nest, a simple
pit, scraped in the ground by the male. Ostrich eggs are the largest of all eggs weight about 1.4
kg. They are glossy cream-coloured, with thick shells marked by small pits. The eggs are
incubated by the females by day and by the males by night. The incubation period is 35 to 45
days.
Life span: 40–45 years.
Conservation status: Least concern.

Task 1: What are the main differences between Ostrich and Emu?

Task 2: Write down the name of the largest bird and its egg weight.

ZAM-201; Practical Note Book Page

 Table 1: Common name of male, female & offspring of different animals

Species Male Female Baby Group of Animals

Crocodile bull cow Hatchling/ Juvenile congregation
Antelope buck doe calf herd
Ape male female baby shrewdness
Bat male female pup colony
Bear boar sow cub sloth
Bird cock hen hatchling, chick n/a
Bovidae bull cow calf herd
Elephant bull cow calf herd
Cat tom queen kitten clutter
Cheetah male female cub coalition
Chicken rooster hen chick flock
Deer buck doe fawn herd
Dinosaur bull cow juvenile herd
Donkey jack jennet, jenny foal herd
Duck drake duck duckling n/a
Giraffe bull doe calf herd
Goose gander goose gosling flock
Hare buck doe leveret down, husk
Hyena male female cub clan
Kangaroo buck doe joey troop
Leopard leopard leopardess cub leap
Lion lion lioness cub pride
Monkey male female infant trop
Ostrich cock hen chick flock
Peafowl peacock peahen peachick n/a
Rabbit buck doe kitten colony
Rat buck doe kitten horde, mischief
Rhinoceros bull cow calf crash
Snake male female snakelet bed
Tiger tiger tigress cub ambush
Turtle male female hatchling n/a
Zebra stallions mare foal herd

ZAM-201; Practical Note Book Page

 Table 2: Zoo Animals and Birds (At a glance) Task: Fill the gaps
Species Order Family Scientific Male Female Age of Seasonal/non- Breeding Estrous Gestation Birth Lifespan
name weight weight sexual seasonal season cycle period/ weight/
maturity breeder length incubation egg
period weight
Tiger

Lion

Leopard

Bear

Fishing
cat
Hyena

Elephant

Deer

Hippo

Rhino

Giraffe

kangaroo

Zebra

ZAM-201; Practical Note Book Page

Species Order Family Scientific Male Female Age of Seasonal/non- Breeding Estrous Gestation Birth Life
name weight weight sexual seasonal season cycle period/ weight/ span
maturity breeder length incubation egg
period weight
Gayal

Nilgai

Rhesus
monkey
Common
langur
Capped
langur
Hoolock
gibbon
Bengal slow
loris
Chimpanzee

Crocodile

Indian
python
Indian
peafowl
Ostrich

Use: M= months, D= days, Y= years, kg= kilogram, g= gram, Seasonal breeder= S, Non seasonal = N, - = no information found

ZAM-201; Practical Note Book Page

 Exp. No. Name of the experiment: Study on taxonomy and biological data
Date of common laboratory animals

Taxonomy
Mouse Rat Guinea pig Rabbit
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Rodentia Rodentia Rodentia Lagomorpha
Family Muridae Muridae Caviidae Leporidae
Genus Mus Rattus Cavia Oryctolagus
Species M. musculus R. norvegicus C. porecellus O. Cuniculus

Biological data
Sl. Parameters Mouse Rat Guinea pig Rabbit
No.
1 Rectal temperature (˚F) 98-100 97-99.5 101-104 100-104
2 Hear rate (beat/min) 330-750 310-500 250-400 150-300
3 Respiratory rate/min 85-230 70-180 70-110 40-60
4 Birth weight (gm) 1-1.5 5-6 70-100 50-70
5 Adult body weight (gm) 30-40 250 800 1500-5500
6 Daily feed consumption (gm) 5-6 15-20 45-50 150-250
7 Age of sexual maturity (months) 1.5-2 2.5-3 3 6-7
8 Sex ratio (male: female) 1:3 1:5 1:6 1:1
9 Life span (years) 1.5-2.5 2-3 3-5 5-6
10 Gestation period (days) 20-21 21-22 65-67 31-32
11 Litter size 7-12 8-10 1-4 6-8
12 Weaning age (weeks) 3 3 3 7
13 Reproductive life (years) after 1 1 2 3
first mating
14 Recoupe (rest) period for female 15 15 15 20
between two mating (days)
15 No of pairs of mammary glands 5 5 1 3-4

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 Exp. No. Name of the experiment: Study on ration formulation for
Date laboratory animals

Task: A group

Formulate a balance ration for a growing rabbit having the requirements of: ME=2750
kcal/kg, CP= 16.5%, Ca= 0.90% and P=0.45%. Use the following ingredients:

Ingredients ME/Kg (kcal) CP% Ca% P%

Maize 3309 9.2 0.07 0.40
Wheat bran 1085 13.8 0.11 1.21
Rice polish 2937 11.9 0.35 1.20
Mustard oil cake 2200 35 0.9 1.20
Soybean meal 2240 45 0.32 0.67
Fish meal 2770 58 7.7 3.90
Limestone - - 35.8 0.02
Salt - - - -
Compare the calculated value with the requirements and comments on it.

Task: B group

Formulate a balance ration for a growing guinea-pig having the requirements of: ME=3500
kcal/kg, CP= 16.5%, Ca= 0.95% and P=0.40%. Use the following ingredients:

Ingredients ME/Kg (kcal) CP% Ca% P%

Maize 3309 9.2 0.07 0.40
Rice polish 2937 11.9 0.35 1.20
Vegetable oil 8950 - - -
F.F. Soybean 3510 38 0.25 0.60
Soybean meal 2240 45 0.32 0.67
Mustard oil cake 2200 35 0.90 1.20
Fish meal 2770 58 7.7 3.90
Limestone - - 35.8 0.02
Salt - - - -
Compare the calculated value with the requirements and comments on it.

ZAM-201; Practical Note Book Page

 Task: C group

Formulate a balance ration for a breeding rabbit having the requirements of: ME=2500
kcal/kg, CP= 18%, Ca= 1% and P=0.45%. Use the following ingredients:

Ingredients ME/Kg (kcal) CP% Ca% P%

Maize 3309 9.2 0.07 0.40
Wheat bran 1085 13.8 0.11 1.21
Rice polish 2937 11.9 0.35 1.20
F.F. Soybean 3510 38 0.25 0.60
Soybean meal 2240 45 0.32 0.67
Mustard oil cake 2200 35 0.90 1.20
Limestone - - 35.8 0.02
Salt - - - -
Compare the calculated value with the requirements and comments on it.

ZAM-201; Practical Note Book Page