From the Field

01 Jun 2002

Mammals

photos by: Lance R. Peck

"The Anteater and the Fifth Limb". Mammals and reptiles of many kinds have evolved prehensile tails to help them travel the jungle canopies. A prehensile tail is capable of supporting the full weight of the body its attached to. It functions as a fifth limb, or hand you might say! Having this extra "hand" allows the animal to move with safety high up in the forest canopy while freeing its hands for finding food and feeding.

Photo Note: This anteater photo was taken just after we saw it walking across a large grassy area at our home. It was a quiet Sunday afternoon. Often on weekends, when the employees have gone away, animals stroll through the property where we live above the mighty Madre de Dios river.

Whachoo lookin at? Like the anteater, this mouse opossum has a prehensile tail. BIG EYES are perfect for its night lifestyle and insects are its favored main course for dinner tonight, baby.

Photo Note: One night at our "bungalow in the forest" on the Tambopata river this mouse opossum came inside through our screen. We chased him around for a while trying to get this photo before crawling back into bed while he watched us sleep from the rafters above our heads.

Looks like a pig, don't you think? That's because this collared peccaries nearest relatives are pigs. But they live in totally different families. Why? They just can't get along. (sound like a family you know?) Peccaries differ from "true" pigs in several ways. Such as weighing in at only 17-35 kg. and having only one or two piglets instead of the normal large pig size litter.

Photo Note: On a trip back from the La Torre we stopped for a short visit at the control station at the boca of the river. This peccary, having grown up at the station, was accustomed to handouts from tourists. He wasn't at all pleased when we left without giving him so much as a cracker!