SPECIES OF MAMMALS OF THE PACIFIC AREA 105 on the back. The underparts are creamy white with black spots, especially about the tail and head. The male is ten feet or more in length, the female about seven feet. This animal resembles its namesake, the leopard, not only in its spotting but in its disposition. It is the fiercest of the seals and, preferring warmblooded prey, feeds chiefly on penguins and other seals. The leopard seal is found throughout much of the Antarctic and during the winter as far north as the waters of southern Australia and New Zealand.
The Crab-eating Seal (Lohodon carcinophagus) is a slender animal reaching a length of nine feet. During the southern summer it is brownish gray, with some spotting along the sides but in winter the coat becomes creamy white. The teeth chiefly distinguish it; unlike those of other seals, they have several lobes which, when the jaws are closed, form a sieve. Water passes through but small crustaceans and other small sea animals, the chief food of this seal, are retained and swallowed. During the winter the crab-eaters come as far north as southern Australia.
WeddelFs Seal {Leptonychotes weddelli) is common in Antarctica, and on rare occasions strays as far north as New Zealand. A specimen was once taken along the coast of southern Australia. It is a large seal reaching a length of nine feet, and is dark gray marked with blotches and spots of yellowish white. Its teeth are simple and peg-like.
The Southern Elephant Seal (Macrorhinus leonina) was formerly found on many of the islands of the south Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Antarctic Oceans and at one time as far north as Juan Fernandez. It has been slaughtered so persistently for its oil that only a pitiful remnant of the great herds of other years remains. Males may reach a length of twenty feet. Elephant seals get their name not only from their great size but also from the long inflatable probosces of the males. The Hawaiian Seal (Monachus schaunslandi) is one of the monk seals; its relatives are found only in the Mediterranean
106 MAMMALS OF THE PACIFIC WORLD and Caribbean Seas. The Hawaiian seal appears to be confined to the leeward chain of islands of the Hawaiian Archipelago and may occasionally be seen on Layson Island, Pearl and Hermes reef, and Midway Islands. It is an exceedingly rare animal, having been massacred in times past for its hide and oil. Rigid protection is required if the species is to survive. Fortunately, it is found on some of the islands which are bird Fig. 47 — Hawaiian Seal sanctuaries. The Hawaiian seal is dark brown, tinged with gray above. The sides are lighter and the underparts are yellowish white. The newly born young are black, with long soft hairs. The Walruses. Family Odobenidje The Pacific Walrus {Odohenus diver gens) is found sparingly as far south as the drift ice of the Bering Sea and in small numbers in Bristol Bay. It becomes common north of the Bering Strait, and there are records of its occasional occurrence on the Aleutians.
The large size, the yellowish brown upperparts and reddish brown underparts, and the large ivory tusks found in both sexes will serve to identify this animal.
species of mammals of the pacific area 107 Scaly Anteaters. Order Pholidota Family Manid^ The family Manidae contains the scaly anteaters or pangolins of Asia and Africa. One genus (^Manis) alone occurs in the East Indies.
The Pangolin or Scaly Anteater (Manis javanica) is found throughout much of southern Asia and on many of the coastal Fig. 48 — Pangolin islands from Sumatra to Palawan and Bali. It is light brown in color, with a narrow head, long nose and tongue. The upperpart of the body is protected by hard, overlapping scales, which give the animal the appearance of a large animated spruce cone ; the underparts are without scales. When danger threatens, the pangolin rolls itself up to protect its belly. The scales at the side of the tail have sharp edges with which the animal, striking with the tail, can inflict deep cuts. The forefeet are armed with strong claws with which it digs holes in the ground for its home. The pangolin uses them to dig into the nests of ants and termites upon which it relies for food.
108 MAMMALS OF THE PACIFIC WORLD Gnawing Mammals or Rodents Order Rodentia The rodents or gnawing mammals of the Pacific and Malayan Islands comprise squirrels, rats and mice, and porcupines. (For rabbits, often included in the rodents, see Order Lagomorpha ; for squirrel-like and rat-like mammals with more than two upper front teeth, see Order Insectivora, p. 37, or Order Marsupi- Fig. 49 — Upper Right Cheek-teeth of Rice Rat, Black Rat, and Vole alia, p. 15.) All rodents have a single upper and a single lower incisor on each side, and not more than five upper and four lower cheek-teeth, often fewer. The squirrels look much like those of other lands and have similar habits, but some may be large and strikingly colored or have very long muzzles. By far the greater number of rats look much like the pests known to all, and especially in the villages, many are the identical kinds of black or brown rats common in the southern United States. In some seaports the Norway rat may occur. There are native rats on most of the islands east of the Solomons, which probably came as "hitch-hikers" on the boats of natives. West of the Solomons they were perhaps carried on natural rafts and drift-
SPECIES OF MAMMALS OF THE PACIFIC AREA 109 wood as well. The Old World porcupines are either spiny or covered with very long quills ; they are not found east of the Lesser Sundas or beyond Palawan Island, north of Borneo. Squirrels and Flying Squirrels. Family Sciurid^ The members of this family have bushy tails and their cheekteeth number either five or four above and four below. The eyes are large ; the muzzle in most species is broad and short. The size varies from that of a large mouse to giant squirrels and flying squirrels, which may reach the size of a house cat. Flying Squirrels Flying squirrels are found almost throughout the forested parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. The majority of the species occur in the Indian and Malaysian regions. Flying squirrels live on the Japanese Islands, Formosa, the Philippines (Palawan and Basilan Islands only), Sumatra, Borneo, and Java ; they are also found on many of the small islands of this area, but are not known to reach Bali.
In contrast to most other squirrels, the flying squirrels are nocturnal in habit, sleeping through the day in holes or nests in trees or curled up in a fork. A thin, furry membrane stretches between the fore and hind limbs and in some species extends onto the neck and tail.
Giant Flying Squirrels (Petaurista) are variously colored ; they may be foxy red, or red spotted with white or black. They occur from India to Japan, Palawan, and Java. The larger species are more than a yard in total length, the tail being about half of this. Their gliding membranes are the most extensive of the group and partly include the rounded tail. The large size of the "parachute" hinders movement in the trees so that these animals are less agile than other squirrels. Individuals have been known to glide distances of sixty to eighty yards. They control their direction and landing very well. The Smaller Flying Squirrels (lomys, PteromyscuSy Petau-
110 MAMMALS OF THE PACIFIC WORLD rillus, Petinomys, Hylopetes, Belomys, Pteromys) are diversely colored. Their sizes vary from that of a mouse (five and onehalf inches in total length, of which the tail is half) to that of a rat (about twenty inches, total length). The several genera, many of which are poorly known, are distinguished by dental and skull characters.
Tree Squirrels The tree squirrels are distinguished from the closely related burrowing ground squirrels (see beyond) chiefly for the reader's convenience. They extend east only as far as Celebes. Tree squirrels are typically diurnal forest dwellers. Squirrels are sometimes confused with phalangers and tree shrews. Phalangers have very different skulls and teeth and a thumb-like first toe on the hind foot (see phalangers of the Order Marsupialia, p. 23). Tree shrews of China, India, the Philippines, Borneo, and Bali may be distinguished by the number of their incisor teeth — three on each side above and below (see Order Insectivora, Tupaiidas, p. 43).
The Giant Squirrels (Ratufa) are black, reddish, dirty yellowish, with white or yellowish undersides. They reach a size almost as great as the giant flying squirrels, namely, from two to three feet in total length. They are found from the Asiatic mainland to Bali and Borneo.
Common Oriental Squirrels (Callosciurus) are both abundant and very varied. Some are striped above, some striped below, some are variegated black, red and cream, while others are olive-gray above and grayish below. The size of most equals or slightly exceeds that of the North American red squirrel — twelve to fourteen inches in total length, the tail a little less than half. They occur throughout the Malay region as far north as Formosa and east to Celebes.
Pygmy Squirrels (N annosciurus) are little larger than mice. An exception (N. murinus), found in Celebes, thought to be related to pygmy squirrels, is as large as the common Oriental
SPECIES OF MAMMALS OF THE PACIFIC AREA 111 squirrels. The pygmy squirrels proper are found from the Philippines and Borneo to Java and Sumatra. They are rarely collected and may occur unrecorded on other islands. Ground Squirrels The ground squirrels commonly live in burrows or among rocks. Some may be found in open country while others occur in the forest.
The Arctic Ground Squirrel (Citellus parryi), found on the more landward of the Aleutians as far west as Unalaska Island, is relatively large, its total length being about seventeen inches, of which the tail is about four and one-half inches. The upperparts are brownish, with irregular grayish spots, indistinct in worn pelage. The head is richer brown, the underparts rusty overlying grayish.
The Asiatic Chipmunk (Eutamias sibericus) resembles the common western chipmunks of the United States. Its dark back bears four whitish stripes and the sides are rust-colored. In length it is about nine inches, of which the tail is some four inches. Besides ranging widely in Siberia and northern China, the Asiatic chipmunk is present on the Kurile and the northern Japanese Islands.
The Red-cheeked Ground Squirrel {Dremomys everetti) has reddish cheeks and a relatively long muzzle. It is known only from a very limited area in Sarawak, Borneo. A closely related species occurs in Formosa and others in the mountains of China, India, and Malaya.
The Striped Ground Squirrel (Lariscus) is characterized by three or four black stripes on the back. It is found from the Malay Peninsula through Sumatra to Java and Borneo, as well as on some of the adjacent islands.
The Pygmy Ground Squirrel {Glyphotes) is a small squirrel with flank stripes of white and black and broad front teeth. It is known only from a very few specimens collected on Mount Kina Balu, British North Borneo.
112 MAMMALS OF THE PACIFIC WORLD The Tufted-eared Ground Squirrel (Rheithrosciurus) of Borneo has many grooves on the front of the upper incisors. The incisors are thick from front to rear, narrow from side to side. The body is reddish brown, with a white flank stripe running lengthwise. It is the largest of the ground squirrels ; the total length is more than two feet, including the twelve-inch tail.
The Long-nosed Ground Squirrels (Rhinosciurus) of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, and several nearby islands, are chiefly insectivorous. The small, weak, upper incisors act with the lower ones like tweezers, while the tongue is said to be long and protrusible. The tail is short and bushy. Another Long-nosed Squirrel {Hyosciurus) is found in Celebes. In contrast with Rhinosciurus it has very long claws, especially on the fore feet. Its incisors are normal. The dorsal color is dark brown, flecked with tawny ; that of the underparts white. Bamboo Rats. Family Rhizomyid^ The Bamboo Rats {Rhizomys) of Sumatra and southern Asia are large and heavy-bodied, with small eyes and ears, short tail, and thick, silky, dark gray fur. Superficially they resemble American pocket gophers. Their lives are spent mostly underground amid the roots of dense stands of bamboo. They come out to cut bamboo and other plants, somewhat as woodchucks do.
Dormice. Family Glirid^ Dormice resemble small squirrels in appearance and habits, but internally are more like rats. The fur is soft and velvety ; the tail is well furred and the eyes large. Dormice hibernate during cold weather.
The Japanese Dormouse (Glirulus) is yellowish brown, with a slight ashy color showing through from the bases of the hairs. A broad, dark brown stripe runs from the back of the head to the base of the tail. Although this dormouse is little larger than