Mammals Honor - Advanced

Nature Study

Requirements

1. Have the Mammals Honor.
2. Which mammals of your region are protected by law? Why?

   Answer: Several Brazilian mammals are protected by law because they are threatened with extinction, such as the jaguar, the golden lion tamarin, the three-banded armadillo, the maned wolf, the tapir, the giant anteater and the muriqui. They are protected because hunting, deforestation and habitat destruction have reduced their populations, and the law seeks to prevent them from disappearing. — Legal protection of threatened species is essential to prevent extinctions caused by human action.

3. How does the process of birth and care of the young set monotremes and marsupials apart from all the other orders of mammals?

   Answer: Monotremes (e.g. platypus, echidna) are the only mammals that lay EGGS, instead of bearing live young, and then feed the young with milk. Marsupials (e.g. opossum, kangaroo) give birth to very underdeveloped young, which finish their development inside a pouch (marsupium), suckling. The other orders (placental mammals) develop the young inside the uterus, nourished by the placenta, being born more developed. — Monotremes (lay eggs), marsupials (pouch), and placentals (placenta) show three distinct forms of reproduction among mammals.

4. Mention five different ways in which mammals protect themselves and their young and give an example of each one.

   Answer: (1) Camouflage — fur that blends in with the environment (e.g., deer); (2) fast flight — running to escape (e.g., gazelle); (3) group/herd defense — collective protection of the young (e.g., buffalo, elephants); (4) natural weapons — horns, fangs, claws, and kicks (e.g., deer, lion); (5) special defenses — the skunk's foul smell, the porcupine's quills, and the three-banded armadillo's rolling up. — Each defense strategy increases the chance of survival of the mammal and its offspring.

5. Learn about the following zoonoses: spotted fever, American tegumentary leishmaniasis, leptospirosis, hantavirus, rabies, toxoplasmosis and Chagas disease. About each of them state:
   • Signs and symptoms
   • Vector/reservoir/host
   • Transmission
   • Prevention

   Answer: 1) Signs and symptoms: Spotted fever: high fever, headache, and red spots on the skin. American tegumentary leishmaniasis: skin sores and ulcers that are slow to heal. Leptospirosis: fever, muscle pain (calves), jaundice (yellowish skin), and, in severe cases, kidney problems. Hantavirus disease: fever, body aches, and serious respiratory problems. Rabies: fever, agitation, neurological changes, and paralysis, almost always fatal. Toxoplasmosis: often without symptoms, but serious in pregnant women (risk to the baby) and the immunosuppressed. Chagas disease: in the acute phase, fever and swelling; in the long term, heart and digestive problems. 2) Vector/reservoir/host: Spotted fever: the vector is the star tick, with reservoirs such as the capybara and the horse. Tegumentary leishmaniasis: the vector is the sand fly (phlebotomine), with dogs and wild animals as reservoirs. Leptospirosis: the main reservoir is the rat. Hantavirus disease: the reservoir is wild rodents. Rabies: reservoirs are dogs, cats, and bats. Toxoplasmosis: the definitive host is the cat. Chagas disease: the vector is the kissing bug (triatomine). 3) Transmission: Spotted fever: bite of the infected tick. Tegumentary leishmaniasis: bite of the sand fly. Leptospirosis: contact of the skin/mucous membranes with water or mud contaminated by rat urine. Hantavirus disease: inhalation of dust with rodent feces and urine. Rabies: bite or contact of the infected animal's saliva with wounds. Toxoplasmosis: contact with cat feces, ingestion of raw/undercooked meat, or contaminated food. Chagas disease: kissing bug feces on the skin after the bite or ingestion of contaminated food. 4) Prevention: Spotted fever: avoid infested areas and protect yourself against ticks. Tegumentary leishmaniasis: use repellent, screens, dog collars, and control the insect. Leptospirosis: hygiene, rodent control, and avoiding contact with floodwaters. Hantavirus disease: ventilate and carefully clean enclosed spaces (without raising dust). Rabies: vaccination of dogs and cats and prompt medical care in case of a bite. Toxoplasmosis: cook meat well, wash food, wash your hands, and take care with cat feces. Chagas disease: combat the kissing bug and improve housing conditions. — Knowing the signs, vector, transmission, and prevention of each zoonosis is essential to protect yourself and protect the community.

6. List 15 species of wild mammals that you have personally observed and identified in nature. For each one listed, include:
   • Name
   • Date of observation
   • Location
   • Habitat
   • Time of day
   • Behavior

   Answer: Observing and recording mammals in nature develops patience, an attentive eye, and respect for wildlife.