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Mammals of Georgia: Species, Characteristics, and Conservation Status

Learn about the diverse mammal species in Georgia, their unique characteristics, distribution, taxonomy, and conservation status, including endangered and extirpated species. Explore fascinating facts and essential information about these warm-blooded vertebrates.

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Mammals of Georgia: Species, Characteristics, and Conservation Status

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  1. Winter School - 2002

  2. Mammals of Georgia Michael T. Mengak, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Wildlife Specialist Warnell School of Forest Resources University of Georgia Athens

  3. Characteristics of Mammals • Homoeothermic (warm-blooded) vertebrate • Mammary Glands • Hair • Other Characters • Lower Jaw – 1 pair of bones • Middle Ear – 3 bones • Teeth – in sockets; several types • Cervical Vertebrae – 7 (except sloth & manatee) Winter School - 2002

  4. Distribution of Mammals • Evolved as four-legged terrestrial animals • Considered by some to be highest life-form on Earth • Found on every continent • Evolved during MESOZOIC ERA ~ 135 mya • Greatest evolution in CENOZOIC ERA ~ 70 mya • All forms of locomotion-(swim, run, hop, walk, fly, dig, glide) Winter School - 2002

  5. Taxonomy • Kingdom – Animalia • Phylum – Chordata • Subphylum - Vertebrata • Class – Mammalia • Order-10 orders in GA • Family – 27 families in GA • Genus – last name; comes first • species – first name; come last Winter School - 2002

  6. Georgia Mammal Species • Species – 94 • Threatened ---------- 1 • Rare ------------------ 2 • Extirpated ----------- 3 • Endangered --------- 6 • Introduced ---------- 8 • Common ------------ 74 (game, Nongame, nuisance) Winter School - 2002

  7. Ga. Mammals – ThreatenedRound-tailed Muskrat • Shallow freshwater marshes • Resembles a small muskrat, tail is round instead of flattened • Diet mainly aquatic grasses but stems, roots, and seeds are also eaten • Predators - herons, owls, hawks, snakes, and bobcats • Range - extreme southeastern corner of Georgia –endemic or native Winter School - 2002

  8. Round-tailed Muskrat Winter School - 2002

  9. Ga. Mammals – Rare – Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat • Very long ears, over 1 inch • Roosts in buildings, old mine shafts, wells, caves, hollow trees, areas behind loose bark, and crevices in rock ledges. • Becomes active only in complete darkness. • Feeds on flying insects. • Statewide • One of the least known bats Winter School - 2002

  10. Ga. Mammals – RareAppalachian Cottontail • Occurs in high elevation S. App. Mountains • Found in dense conifers and deciduous cover • Also in 6-7 yr old clearcuts • Red spruce • Occurrence in GA is suspected • Back has black wash • Front edge of ears are black trimmed Winter School - 2002

  11. Ga. Mammals – ExtirpatedRed Wolf • 40-80 pounds • Family groups – not packs • Feed on rodents and small mammals • Reintroduced to Alligator R. NWR and GSMNP (failed) Winter School - 2002

  12. Ga. Mammals – ExtirpatedGray Wolf • Up to 150 pounds • Packs • Deer, Moose • Isolated in e.US • Reintroductions in west Winter School - 2002

  13. Red Wolf vs. Gray Wolf Winter School - 2002

  14. Ga. Mammals – ExtirpatedBison • Largest land mammal in N.Am. • 12 feet long • 2200 pounds • Great herds • Renewed interest for food Winter School - 2002

  15. Georgia Mammals Endangered – legal designation - ESA (1973) - numbers sufficiently reduced to place species in danger of extinction - no set number; can be a portion of the species (population)

  16. Endangered • Mountain Lion • Manatee • Humpback Whale • Black Right Whale • Gray Bat • Indiana Bat Winter School - 2002

  17. Endangered - Mountain Lion • Largest cat in N. Am. • Not known to occur in Ga. • Individuals may be seen in Okefenokee and Blue Ridge – probably released pets • Diet – deer, wild pigs, rabbits • Solitary w/ large HR Winter School - 2002

  18. Endangered - Manatee • Migrant to GA coastal waters in summer. • Lives 40-50 years • Vegetarian • Prey for sharks and alligators (young manatee) • Up to 2,500 lbs Winter School - 2002

  19. Endangered - Humpback Whale • Up to 53’ long • Migrate along coast • Sing • Family groups Winter School - 2002

  20. Endangered - Black Right Whale • Black, up to 57’ • Young born off GA-FL state line on N-S migration route • Baleen, feed on plankton • Inshore water, easily hunted • Migrate north Jan-Mar. Winter School - 2002

  21. Endangered Gray Bat (Gray Myotis) • Myotis mean “mouse ear” • Insect eater • Migrant – up to 300 mi to hibernacula • Hibernate in cave, mine • Roost in trees Winter School - 2002

  22. Endangered - Indiana Bat • Myotis • Insect eater, cave hibernator, tree roost • Slow reproduction • Can live up to 20 years • Large concentrations in hibernation • 6 caves hold 80% of pop’n in winter. Winter School - 2002

  23. Indiana Bat – Gray Bat Winter School - 2002

  24. Georgia Mammals INTRODUCED

  25. Introduced • Nine-banded Armadillo • Black Rat • Norway Rat • House Mouse • Nutria • Red Fox • Wild Boar • Fallow Deer Winter School - 2002

  26. Armadillo • Named by Aztec Indians in Mexico • Delayed fertilization • Breed in July/August; birth in April • Litter usually 4 & same sex • Eyes open; mobile in a few hours • Nocturnal • Few Predators • Dig burrows used by other animals Winter School - 2002

  27. Rats and Mice Winter School - 2002

  28. Nutria Winter School - 2002

  29. Nutria • Up to 3 feet long; 35 pounds • Breeds year round; 2 litters/yr; 4-8 per litter • Native of S. Am.; CA in 1899; LA in 1939 • Fur bearer – can tolerate salt water • Eats aquatic weeds; tunnels up to 4 ft. long • Undermine banks and dikes Winter School - 2002

  30. Red Fox • N. Am. red is Vulpes fulva; European red is Vulpes vulpes. • Introduced in early 20th century. • Probably caused extinction of native red fox • Monogamous; breed in Jan/Feb.; male feeds also • Mixed P/H; edges; bottomland; fields. • Diurnal in winter; eats mice, eggs, birds. • Hunt/Trap in Dec. to Feb. Winter School - 2002

  31. Wild Pig – Wild Boar – Feral Hog • 5 ft long; 3 ft tall; 400 lbs. • Wild Pig=Wild Hog=Feral Pig=European Boar • European Boar introduced to NC from Russia on hunting preserve in 1920’s? • Wild pigs in US since 1530’s; domestic but free range; • Destructive – ground nests, longleaf • Sport, turn soil, destroy ground vegetation Winter School - 2002

  32. Fallow Deer • Native of Mediterranean region • Guided hunts in Australia • Bounces; barks like dog • Groups up to 150 animals • Ht – 3 ft; Wt – 175 lbs • Raised on farms in NY,TX,FL,WI • ND ext. website on deer farming • Imported for restaurant venison • Eastern shore of VA Winter School - 2002

  33. Georgia Mammals – Common74 Species • Marsupial – 1 • Insectivores - 9 • Shrews (7) • Moles (2) • Bats – 13 • Rabbits – 3 Winter School - 2002

  34. Georgia Mammals – Commoncontinued • Rodents • Squirrel & Chipmunks – 6 • Pocket Gopher – 1 • Beaver – 1 • Mice, Rats, Voles, Muskrat - 15 • Carnivores – 10 • Aquatic – Seals, Whales – 14 • Hoofed - 1 Winter School - 2002

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