Cape Gray Mongoose Skull
Description:
The Cape grey mongoose ranges across southern and southwestern
Africa in the countries of Namibia, South Africa, and Lesotho.
The cape grey mongoose, or small grey mongoose, is a grizzled
dark grey color. The tip of the tail may be darker. Their top
lip has a naked groove. The ears are small and set low on the
sides of the head. Each foot has five toes with short, curved
claws. Males are slightly bigger than the females. The Cape grey
mongoose feeds mostly on insects and small rodents, but will
also eat birds, reptiles, amphibians, other invertebrates, and
fruit. They have been known to eat carrion and garbage as well.
The Cape grey mongoose is solitary and diurnal. They live in
overlapping home ranges of 5-68 ha, with the males having larger
ranges than the females. Litters of up to three cubs are born
from August to December. They are independent at four months.
Age: Modern
Item#: cape-gray-mongoose-skull-ca-djl0006-va
Cost: $120
(+
shipping)
Fossa Skull(Malagasy Civet Fossa)
Description:
The coat is smooth, thick, and reddish brown. This unusual
species has survived on the island of Madagascar, where it is
the largest native carnivore. It has some features found in the
cat family, such as a relatively short face, reduction in
posterior teeth, and retractile claws. Unlike other viverrids,
which typically have 36 teeth, the fossa only has 32. The female
has a double uterus. It is plantigrade, and has five powerful
and completely retractile claws on each foot. There are small
anal glands in an anal pouch. The head and body are 24 to 30
inches long, with the tail almost as long. They weigh 11 to 13
pounds. The fossa is nocturnal and solitary. It lives in the
thickest parts of the forest, where it moves nimbly among the
branches and easily scales tall tree trunks. It feeds mostly on
animals, and because it often attacks and kills domestic animals
it is hunted by local people, who also eat it.
Age: Modern
Size: 4.9 in / 12.5 cm
Item#: fossa-skull-va
Cost: $120
(+
shipping)
Meerkat Skull(Suricata Suricatta)
Description:
It is a small mongoose with a narrow, pointed muzzle, and a
striking pattern. On the back, the shoulder and the tail, there
is a series of dark stripes running crosswise. On the face,
black rings surround the eyes. The ears are black and barely
visible. The lower parts of the head and body are usually white.
The tail is brown, but darker toward the tip and has a
conspicuous black tuft of hair. The length of the head and body
is 10 to 14 inches, with a tail of about 10 inches. The weigh is
about five pounds. The meerkat is highly sociable and lives in
large colonies, often in association with other mongoose
species, ground squirrels, or small rodents. It chatters
continually. It is active during the day and it is commonly seen
basking in the sun near the entrance of the burrow. Although it
is quite capable of digging its own burrow, the meerkat prefers
to use burrows dug by other animals. It feeds mainly on insects,
millipedes, and spiders, which it digs out of the ground. It
habitually deposits its droppings in shared places.
Age: Modern
Item#: meerkat-skull-ca-djl0005-va
Cost: $120
(+
shipping)
Binturong(Arctictis binturong)
Description:
The long, shaggy black coat has no markings and appears somewhat
tousled. The long shaggy tail has a prehensile tip. The
binturong resembles a small bear, and has the typical swaying
gait of a plantigrade animal. Its general appearance is thickset
and heavy. The five claws on each foot are not retractile. The
length of the head and body is about three and a half feet, with
a tail of about 30 inches. The weight is about 30 pounds. The
binturong is well adapted for life in the trees, but on the
ground it seems awkward. It moves slowly through the trees, and
it will not let go with its tail until it is quite sure it has a
firm grip with its feet. In captivity, however, it has also been
observed swinging and skipping about quite acrobatically. When
moving it emits grunts or hissing noises. Its diet consists of
fruit and some animal matter. It has small teeth and flat molars
for crushing food. It is solitary and nocturnal.
Age: Modern
Size: 5.7in/14.5cm
Item#: modern-binturong-skull-r-s02-va
Cost: $180
(+
shipping)
Tayra Skull(Eira Barbara)
Description:
The body is slender with legs of medium length, much like the
marten. The long neck supports a head that is quite large in
relation to the body; the ears are round and short. The dense,
short, very soft coat is brown with yellowish areas in some
individuals; the head is usually paler than the body. The length
of the head and body is about two feet, with a tail about 18
inches. They weigh about ten pounds. This animal lives alone or
in a pair around the mating season. It eats guinea pigs, mice,
squirrels, and agoutis, and often preys on poultry. It will also
eat fruits and insects. It is active both day and night, and
rarely rests. It climbs nimbly up and down trees, and hides in
hollows in branches or in the underground burrows of other
animals which it has killed.
Age: Modern
Size: 4.7 in / 12.0 cm
Item#: tayra-skull-ca-23717-va
Cost: $120
(+
shipping)
Fisher Skull(Martes Pennanti)
Description:
Adult male. The dense, soft coat is glossy dark brown, with the
front parts grayish and the legs and tail darker in color. The
body is slender, but more bulky than that of the pine marten.
There are 38 teeth, including four premolars on each side. The
length of the head and body is 24 to 32 inches, with the tail
adding 14 to 16 inches. The weight is seven to twelve pounds,
although the female is somewhat smaller and considerably
lighter. Like the other martens the fisher is aggressive. It is
solitary, principally nocturnal, and shelters in tree hollows.
Its diet is totally carnivorous and consists mainly of rodents.
Its preferred prey is the Canadian porcupine, which it kills by
flipping it over on its back and attacking the belly where there
are no protective quills. The fisher has also been known to kill
small deer, especially in deep snow. It is arboreal, but is
equally agile on the ground.
Age: Modern
Size: 5.3 in / 13.5 cm
Item#: fisher-skull-ca-djl0007-va
Cost: $120
(+
shipping)
