Hoofed Mammals of British Columbia

by Shackleton, David; Hames, Michael; Koshowski, Denise

• ISBN13: 9780774807289
• ISBN10: 0774807288
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-10-01
• Publisher: Univ of British Columbia Pr

Summary

Hoofed mammals (ungulates) are the most abundant large mammals in the world. They are plentiful in British Columbia, which is home to nine wild native species: moose, elk, caribou, bison, mountain goat, two species of deer, and two of sheep. There are also several introduced species.

Hoofed Mammals of British Columbia presents current information on these ungulates. Shackleton discusses their evolution and biology, survival adaptations, and social organization. He also covers conservation issues, tracking, and taxonomy. He describes each species and subspecies and discusses their natural history: habitat, diet, behavior, reproduction, life expectancy, mortality factors, and predators. Each species account includes a distribution map and data on taxonomy, recent population, conservation, and traditional aboriginal use.

Author Biography

David Shackleton has been a professor in the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the University of British Columbia for more than 20 years.

Table of Contents

Preface	1	(2)
General Biology of Hoofed Mammals	3	(70)
What is a Hoofed Mammal?	3	(1)
The Evolution of Ungulates	4	(4)
Form and Structure	8	(1)
Adaptations for Survival	9	(20)
Avoiding Predators-Eyes and Limbs	9	(5)
A Coat of Many Colours-Protection and Communication	14	(1)
Group Living-Safety in Numbers	15	(2)
Dietary Habits-What to Eat	17	(1)
The Challenges of Herbivory-Teeth and Jaws	18	(6)
Extracting Nutrients-Digesting Food	24	(3)
Mineral Licks-Vital Elements	27	(2)
The Social Ungulate-Communication, Morphology and Behaviour	29	(18)
Smells and Signals-Secretory Glands	29	(3)
The Battle for Mates-Weapons, Fighting and Displays	32	(10)
Reproduction and Mating Systems	42	(1)
Courtship-Manipulating Partners	43	(3)
Rearing Offspring-Maternal Care	46	(1)
Ungulates in British Columbia	47	(7)
Exotic Ungulates in British Columbia	54	(2)
Conservation and Wildlife Management	56	(6)
Studying Ungulates	62	(5)
Tracks and Signs	67	(3)
Taxonomy and Nomenclature	70	(3)
Checklist	73	(3)
Identification Keys	76	(17)
Key to the Live Animals	78	(5)
Key to the Skulls	83	(10)
Species Accounts	93	(149)
Elk (Cervus elaphus)	96	(17)
Rocky Mountain Elk (C. e. nelsoni)	105	(3)
Roosevelt Elk (C. e. roosevelti)	108	(5)
European Fallow Deer (Dama dama dama)	113	(7)
Moose (Alces alces)	120	(16)
Northwestern Moose (A. a. andersoni)	127	(2)
Alaskan Moose (A. a. gigas)	129	(3)
Shiras' Moose (A. a. shirasi)	132	(4)
Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)	136	(19)
Columbian Black-tailed Deer (O. h. columbianus)	144	(4)
Rocky Mountain Mule Deer (O. h. hemionus)	148	(3)
Sitka Black-tailed Deer (O. h. sitkensis)	151	(4)
White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)	155	(12)
Dakota White-tailed Deer (O. v. dacotensis)	161	(1)
Northwestern White-tailed Deer (O. v. ochrourus)	162	(5)
Caribou (Rangifer tarandus)	167	(16)
Woodland Caribou (R. t. caribou)	178
Dawson's Caribou (R. t. dawsoni)	174	(9)
Bison (Bison bison)	183	(14)
Wood Bison (B. b. athabascae)	190	(3)
Plains Bison (B. b. bison)	193	(4)
Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)	197	(13)
Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis)	210	(23)
California Bighorn Sheep (O. c. californiana)	221	(4)
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep (O. c. canadensis)	225	(8)
Thinhorn Sheep (Ovis dalli)	233	(9)
Dall's Sheep (O. d. dalli)	235	(2)
Stone's Sheep (O. d. stonei)	237	(5)
Appendix 1: Scientific Names of Plants and Animals	242	(4)
Appendix 2: Estimates of Ungulate Numbers in B. C.	246	(1)
Appendix 3: Birth Data for Hoofed Mammals of B. C.	247	(1)
Glossary	248	(6)
References	254	(10)
Acknowledgements	264	(2)
Index	266