African Civet(Civettictis
civetta)
Classification: Family
Viveridae
Description:
(Male). This is the largest of the civets and one of the largest
members of the family Viverridae. The coat is a contrasting
mixture of black stripes and markings on a pale background. The
snout is white and separated from the gray forehead by a broad
black band which extends across the eyes. Along the back a strip
of long, black, erectile hairs forms a crest. The tail is broad
at the base and tapers towards the tip. The claws are partly
retractile. The length of the head and body is about 30 inches,
with the tail adding about 20 inches. They weigh about 40
pounds. This civet is solitary and completely nocturnal. It is
retiring and difficult to observe. It feeds on anything edible,
including insects, plants, and carrion. It uses the burrows of
aardvarks, caves, or tree hollows, to hide in during the day. It
is territorial and has a habit of depositing its droppings in
the same spot as a marking signal. The anal glands emit a
substance with a very penetrating smell. This musk is used in
the manufacture of perfumes.
Age: Modern
Size:
15.9in/6.3cm
Item#:
modern-african-civet-skull-ca-12016-va
Cost: $160
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shipping)
Mongoose(Herpestes
urva)
Classification: Family
Herpestidae
Description:
The head and body of a typical mongoose are a total of 23 to 65
cm (9 to 26 in) long and grayish or brownish in color. The
animal has a tapered head, long tail, and short feet. Mongooses
live about 7 to 12 years in the wild, but in captivity they may
live to more than 20 years. They have one to four young in each
litter. They subsist on rodents and snakes and are renowned for
attacking even the largest and most poisonous snakes—to whose
poison they are not immune—by an agile avoidance of their
strikes. Mongooses have been introduced to many areas of the
world in order to control rodents and snakes, but importation of
mongooses into the United States is prohibited because they also
destroy many useful animals. A common species of mongoose
inhabits India. The common Egyptian species, the ichneumon, was
worshiped by the ancient Egyptians. A related animal, the
suricate, or slender-tailed meerkat, of southern Africa, is easy
to tame.The head and body of a typical mongoose are a total of
23 to 65 cm (9 to 26 in) long and grayish or brownish in color.
The animal has a tapered head, long tail, and short feet.
Mongooses live about 7 to 12 years in the wild, but in captivity
they may live to more than 20 years. They have one to four young
in each litter. They subsist on rodents and snakes and are
renowned for attacking even the largest and most poisonous
snakes—to whose poison they are not immune—by an agile avoidance
of their strikes. Mongooses have been introduced to many areas
of the world in order to control rodents and snakes, but
importation of mongooses into the United States is prohibited
because they also destroy many useful animals. A common species
of mongoose inhabits India. The common Egyptian species, the
ichneumon, was worshiped by the ancient Egyptians. A related
animal, the suricate, or slender-tailed meerkat, of southern
Africa, is easy to tame.
Age: Modern
Size:
2.6in/6.6cm
Item#:
modern-mongoose-skull-r-s308-va
Cost: $120
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shipping)
Aardwolf(Proteles
cristatus)
Classification: Family
Hyaenidae
Description:
The aardwolf resembles the striped hyena and is often mistaken
for one, but it is smaller. The coat is yellow to dark brown
with several dark vertical stripes. On the back, from the neck
to the tail, a strip of long dark hairs form an erect mane,
which makes the aardwolf look larger than it actually is. The
ears are narrow, pointed, and long. The legs also have dark
stripes running across them. There are five clawed toes on each
front foot and four on each hind foot. This animal grows
slightly smaller than a yard long with another 12 inches for the
tail. It can weigh up to 9 pounds. This animal is nocturnal, so
not much is known about it. It is generally solitary, shy, and
elusive. It is often seen in pairs or small groups. The aardwolf
feeds on insects, mainly termites and larvae, but will eat
rodents occasionally. When attacked, it instantly raises the
crest on its back, takes up a sideways stance to the attacker
and emits a strong unpleasant odor from its anal glands.
Age: Modern
Size:
5.4in/13.7cm
Item#:
modern-aardwolf-skull-r-s342-va
Cost: $120
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shipping)
Brown Hyena(Parahyena
Brunnea)
Classification: Family
Hyaenidae
Description:
Brown hyenas, like spotted hyenas, mark with their anal glands
-- but they have two types of secretions, not one. This one was
collared as part of a research project. The brown hyena is
perhaps the biggest mammal that makes most of its living off
scavenging -- a rarity among land-bound life forms larger than
insects. Even more surprisingly, it manages to make a living
this way in an arid habitat without great herds of herbivores,
where carcasses must be few and far between. It's easy to see
why its range is now so limited; harder to see how it evolved in
the first place. Perhaps it was not always as dependent upon
carrion as it is now. Brown hyenas will also vary their diet
with fruit, however -- the local species of melon is a favorite
treat. Each animal forages alone most of the time, because their
food -- carrion, seashore pickings and fruit -- is usually found
in small quantities and doesn't have to be killed by a pack.
When brown hyenas collect in groups, it's mostly at the den
site, though several may come together at a big carcass to feed.
Age: Modern
Size: 9.2 in /
23.4 cm
Item#:
brown-hyena-skull-ca-26418-va
Cost: $240
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shipping)
Striped Hyena(Hyaena
hyaena)
Classification: Family
Hyaenidae
Description:
The hind legs of the striped hyena are heavier and shorter than
the forelegs. The head is broad with pointed ears. The color of
the coat varies from gray to light brown with vertical black
stripes along the length of the body. On the back there is a
conspicuous, darker erect crest. The legs also have dark stripes
on them. The coat is very long and tends to billow. This animal
grows to about four feet long, with another twelve inches for
its tail. It can weigh about 125 pounds. This hyena generally
forages alone, or in pairs, and is almost completely nocturnal.
It moves noiselessly, and may be unnoticed even at close
quarters. By day it stays hidden in vegetation or in dens in the
cracks among rocks. It feeds on refuse, carrion, and small
animals (rodents, birds, reptiles). Some will also prey on
domestic animals (sheep, goats, dogs). It has a small territory
around the den, but has a large home range - up to 28 square
miles.
Age: Modern
Size:
9.2in/23.3cm
Item#:
striped-hyena-skull-ca-09530-va
Cost: $240
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shipping)
Spotted Hyena(Crocuta
crocuta)
Classification: Family
Hyaenidae
Description:
Female skull. This is the largest of all the hyenas, with a
robust powerful body, a large head, large eyes, and rounded
ears. The color of the coat is variable but tends to brown,
yellow, or gray, with numerous dark spots. The short tail has a
black tuft at the tip. The hind legs and the muzzle are
sometimes black. It can grow to over six feet long, twelve
inches of which is tail. It can weigh up to 180 pounds. This
hyena is generally nocturnal, but does move around during the
day. It lives alone or in pairs, and it patrols a large
territory often following other large herbivores on their
migratory routes. It feeds on carcasses, but can attack and tear
apart animals the size of a gnu. It has learned to follow
herbivores during the calving season, and will kill the young
almost as soon as they are born. It enlarges burrows abandoned
by aardvarks, or if may dig its own.
Age: Modern
Size:
11in/28cm
Item#:
spotted-hyena-skull-ca-16709-va
Cost: $270
(+
shipping)
