Cownose Stingrays

Background Information for Interactive Exhibits
Cownose Stingrays
General Stingray Information
There are 178 species of stingrays. Stingrays get their shapes from their pectoral disc, which is
typically rhomboid, oval, or triangular in shape and has developed into shaped wings in some species.
Most species have one or more saw-edged barbs on the dorsal surface of the tail (the barb is a modified
dermal denticle, sheathed with poisonous tissue and used as a defensive weapon). Most stingrays are
bottom dwellers, and cover themselves with sand so as to hide from their approaching prey. However,
this also makes them particularly harmful to human divers, as they are often stepped on, leading to
painful stings.
Range/Habitat: It is assumed that cownose rays migrate due to water temperature. They have been
reported as far north as the Chesapeake Bay, and as far south as the coast of Brazil. Native habitat is in
the Atlantic Ocean, along the eastern coasts of the American continents (including the Gulf of
Mexico.) Because they live in shallow waters (less than 25 meters deep,) they are typically found close
to the shore. Cownose prefer warm waters with temperatures ranging between 70º-75º. As they are
free-swimming rays, they do not typically bury themselves under the sand, but rather rest on top of the
ocean floor if need be.
Diet: Because stingrays eat off the bottom of the ocean floor, their diet consists mainly of organisms
that do not swim freely. While cownose rays can (and do) eat fish and squid, they eat mostly nonswimming organisms such as crabs, clams, oysters, and mussels.
Lifespan: Typically around 13 years. Some females live up to around 18 years. Some males live up to
around 16 years.
Size:
Typical size at birth: 10-16 inches in width.
Typical adult size: 26-36 inches (can get as big as 42 inches, but not common.)
Appearance: Adults can have a wingspan of up to 3 ft and weigh 50 lbs. Cownose rays get their name
from their unique forehead which resembles the nose of a cow. They are brown to olive-colored on
top with no spots, and have a pale underside (when animals have contrasting colors, this is called
counter shading which helps them blend in with their environment to avoid predators). Cownose rays
have long, pointed pectoral fins, and a long whip-like tail (twice as long as the body) with one or two
venomous barbs which they use in defense. The barbs have toxins and mucus in their grooves,
produced by glands located on the underside of the spine.
The mouth of a cownose ray is located on the underneath side of its body. This allows the ray easy
access to bottom-dwelling prey. They use fins surrounding the mouth to sweep through the sand in
order to look for food. They do have teeth, however, they are fused together to form crushing plates in
order to crack open clam, oyster, mussel, and snail shells. Cownose rays also have openings located
on their topside-just behind the eyes. These are called spiracles. These help the rays breathe more
easily while resting on the bottom. Instead of sucking sandy water in through their gills, they can pull
clear water in through spiracles and then force it out through the gills.
Swimming pattern: Cownose rays swim by undulating (“flapping”) their pectoral fins. This
swimming pattern gives the rays the appearance of flying. Because of this, cownose rays belong to the
Eagle family of stingrays (Myliobatidae.)
Gender: To tell the difference between males and females, look to the backside of the ray.
Underneath the tail, there are 2 finger-like fins (on both male and female). However if there are 2
additional finger-like fins, for a total of 4, the ray is male. These additional fins are called claspers,
and they are used to grasp a hold of a female for reproduction purposes.
Reproduction/Population: It is difficult to track cownose rays in the wild. Because of this, the exact
population size of cownose stingrays is unknown. It is clear, however, that cownose rays are not
threatened or in danger of becoming extinct. It is not known if cownose stingrays reproduce once or
twice a year. This would make gestation time either 5-6 months (if two reproductive events per year)
or 10-11 months (if 1 reproductive event per year.) Mature females typically give birth to one pup,
although females have been found with up to six embryos. Birth type is ovoviviparity, which means the
stingrays are ovoviviparous. This means that the stingrays develop in eggs that remain inside of the
female until they hatch.
Cownose Stingray Q&As
1. “Can these stingrays sting?”
A. NO! These stingrays have had their barbs trimmed. Cownose rays in the wild could, but the ones in
our exhibit can not.
2. “Does trimming the barb hurt the stingray?”
A. The barb itself does not contain nerves and is similar to a dog toenail. When done properly, the
stingray is not injured or harmed.
3. “Where is/was the barb?”
A. On this particular type of stingray, the barb is located where the body meets the tail resting on top
of the tail. Barb locations differ on different types of stingrays.
4. “How can you tell males from females?”
A. It is easier to tell on bigger stingrays, but you can tell by looking underneath the tail. All cownose
rays have two (anal) square-like fins underneath. Males have two additional “finger-like”
appendages called “claspers.”
5. “Why are they different colors of brown/tan?”
A. It’s a lot like skin or eye color in people, individual characteristics & differences. They all have
some type of sandy/brown color on top so that they blend in with the ocean floor. They are all
whitish on the bottom to blend in with the surface of the water. This is called “counter shading.”
6. “Can I grab/hold/lift the stingray for (ANY REASON)?”
A. NO. All of our stingrays (and sharks) are fish, and MUST stay underwater in order to breathe. By
grabbing/holding/or lifting the stingrays, you are also putting them under considerable stress. They
cannot be grabbed, held, or moved for any reason. Negative interactions like this can actually teach
the stingrays to avoid people, which could possibly ruin the experience for all of our guests!
7. “Do the stingrays like being petted?”
A. The stingrays are handfed. This teaches through positive reinforcement to the rays that if there is a
calm hand in the water, they should swim up to it in order to look for food. In addition stingrays
can be very curious animals and approach visitors commonly when they do not feel threatened.
(Remind visitors to keep their hand still)
8. “Should I wiggle my fingers/splash?”
A. No. This works for animals that either eat from the surface or have been trained to respond to that
noise/motion. Cownose rays are bottom feeders and will avoid the movement/sound of splashing.
This kind of motion simulates the movements predators make in the wild.
9. “Are those their eyes?”
A. Probably not. More than likely, the visitor is referring to the holes opening/closing on the
stingray’s head. These are called spiracles. Because the stingrays spend most of their time on the
bottom of the ocean/tank, they use these spiracles to pull in cleaner water from the top, over their
gills, and then out through the bottom. The eyes are located directly behind the spiracles and look
almost catlike.
10. “Can the stingrays bite?”
A. Technically, anything with a mouth can bite. These stingrays, however, use suction to get their
food. This means that they don’t reach out and “bite” things. They instead use suction to pull food
up into their mouths and then eat it. Also, they do not have “teeth” in the sense that we think of
them. Each jaw has (typically seven) hard dental plates that are used for crushing/breaking up
shellfish shells in order to eat the meat inside. If a visitor says they have been bitten – it could be
that the stingray sucked on their hand hard (especially true for the larger stingrays). However there
are cases where 1-2 fingers are sucked into the stingrays mouth (usually from not holding their
hands correctly), and the dental plates press down on the fingers forcefully and pinch them hard –
causing the sensation of being “bitten”.
11. “Is that their mouth?”
A. Probably not. Their mouths are under their bodies. The visitor is probably referring to the fins
under their eyes. These are called subrostral fins. They are used to find food, sift through the sand,
and to push food to their mouths.
White-spotted Bamboo Shark
Relatives: White-spotted bamboo sharks belong to the family Hemiscyllidae. Other bamboo shark
species include the brown-banded bamboo shark and the epaulette shark.
Appearance: White-spotted bamboo sharks have dark brown stripes on a lighter brown/gray
background, and white spots. They have two spineless dorsal fins that are about the same size. Their
body and tail are stout, and they have a rounded snout with two fleshy appendages (barbels) extending
from their upper lip. These barbels are sensory organs that help the shark locate food on the ocean
floor. They also have openings, called spiracles, just behind their eyes. These help them to breathe
more easily while resting on the bottom. Instead of sucking sandy water in through their gills, they can
pull clear water in through the spiracles and then force it out through the gills.
Size:
Males: 1½ -2½ feet long
Females: 2-3 feet long
Range: These sharks are found in the Indo-West Pacific regions of Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka,
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Japan and the Philippines.
Habitat: White-spotted bamboo sharks prefer inshore, shallow, tropical reefs. They have such slender
bodies that they are able to glide between coral branches and hide in the crevices of the reef.
Feeding: These sharks are nocturnal predators, feeding on bottom-dwelling fish and crustaceans.
They have thin, fleshy, whisker-like appendages (barbels) on the upper jaw in front of the nostrils that
help them locate food along the bottom. Like other sharks, they also have electroreceptors along their
snout to help them locate prey that is buried in the sand and mud. They have a small mouth, but
powerful jaws.
The small, sharp teeth are arranged in rows, and are replaced when broken or lost by teeth that are
waiting just behind to rotate into position. These teeth can be used for eating soft or hard prey. When
a bamboo shark bites into a soft prey item, like a fish, the sharp edges bite in and grasp the prey. The
shark will then shake its head vigorously to rip the prey in half. On the other hand, if the shark bites a
hard-bodied prey item, such as a crab, the teeth will fold toward the back of the shark’s mouth. As the
front row folds down onto the rows behind it, the entire set of teeth is transformed into a crushing plate
to smash the crab’s shell. Imagine your own front teeth staying upright if you bit into a piece of fruit,
or tilting backward if you bit into the shell of a nut.
Breeding: White-spotted bamboo sharks are oviparous, meaning that they lay eggs. The eggs hatch
after about three months. The young sharks are about five inches long when they hatch. Mother
bamboo sharks do not provide any parental care once they have laid their eggs.
Behavior: These sharks rest in crevices in the reef during the day and come out at night to feed. They
have muscular paired fins that they can use like legs to crawl along the ocean floor or reef.
Predators: Larger fish.
Lifespan: Unknown.
Conservation: White-spotted bamboo sharks are currently listed globally as Near Threatened by the
IUCN, meaning that they do “not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable now,
but are close to qualifying for, or are likely to qualify for, a threatened category in the near future
without ongoing conservation measures”.
White-spotted bamboo sharks are regularly caught in inshore fisheries in Madagascar, India, Thailand
and China and are utilized for human consumption.
Hobby Farm
What is a hobby farm?
A hobby farm is a farm that is operated not as the sole income for the operator/owner. In Michigan,
many farms are hobby farms. In fact, over half of the farms in MI operate at a loss, rather than a profit.
Most hobby farms are family farms, 85% of farms in MI are operated by a family or an individual.
Many hobby farms have come about because they have been passed down from one generation to the
next. Many smaller hobby farms have also come about because when a larger farm company comes in
and buys up what used to be a large farm, they do not want the farmhouse and the barns. They often
just want the fields for crops and grazing. In these cases, they sell the structures enough acres to make
a small farm. In MI, just about half of all farms are 5-50 acres.
What kinds of animals are found on hobby farms?
Hobby farms include many different types of animals. You name the livestock or the small animal
breeds and they can often be found on a hobby farm – goats, sheep, cows, alpacas, cattle, equine, pigs,
turkeys, chickens, ducks, geese, buffalo, rabbits, donkeys, mules. Hobby farms often specialize in
smaller animals and rare breeds. These farms are where you can find the less common breeds of
livestock, this can include bee farms.
Why do people have a hobby farm?
Hobby farmers have their farms for many reasons and income is usually not the primary one. Hobby
farmers love being closer to nature, they like the hard work, they like seeing the product of their hard
work and they love their animals. They sometimes just have the animals for companionship and the
fact that they enjoy raising them. Raising animals on a farm bring us closer to the food we eat as well.
When you raise an animal, you understand everything that goes into that process. The meat or plants
you eat are not just found at the grocery store. They started with the birth of an animal or with the
planting of a seed in the ground. Getting them from that point to your plate takes a lot of hard work and
hobby farmers understand this. Many hobby farmers get food from the animals they raise on their
hobby farm. Goats and cows provide milk, chickens provide eggs, etc. As the name suggests, hobby
farms can also be used as a hobby, for instance bee keepers making honey to sell, or sales of alpaca fur
for knitting.
Exhibit Animal Information: Picture Guide to the animals of the Farm (as of April, 2014)
(Note: Both male and female hoofed animals can have horns)
Alpine/Nubian Goat: Russell: Born - 7 Apr 2005
Nubian Goat: Spot, Black with white spots
Nubian Goat: Dobie, Black and tan
Nubian Goat: No name, Blackish stripe
down back
Nubian Goat: Snap (sister to snip)
Nubian Goat: Snip (sister to snap)
1 horned surgically removed other is also snapped
1 horn is snipped at end
Goat: Johnny, White w/ long fur
Pygmy Goats: Born - 19 Apr 2007
Melvin, dark brown
Theodore, light brown
Simon, white
Anthony, black and white
Katahdin Sheep: Born - 22 Mar 2003, Bob
Polypay Sheep: Brownie (brown), Benny
(white with black freckles), May 2012
Dwarf Pygmy Goats (Will be transported to pygmy goat corral)
Sugar (white), Saffron (reddish brown), Cagney & Lacy
Fainting Goat: Arthur, 2011
Fainting Goat: Ringo, 2011
Chickens: Turkin, Polish, Silver Spangled Hamburg, Araucana/Americana, Cochin, Buff
Orpington, Rhode Island Red
Male Cochin: Fire Pants
Female Hamburg: Oreo
Turkin (NOT a mix between a turkey &
chicken, but rather a breed of chicken with
a long “naked” neck.)
Female Araucana/Americana: Tony
Female Polish/Cochin mix: Nugget
Buff Orpington
Exhibit Animal Information:
Katahdin sheep are a breed of hair sheep developed in the United States. The breed is ideal for
pasture lambing and grass/forage based management systems. They have demonstrated wide
adaptability. They were derived from breeds that originated in the Caribbean and British Islands
and the state of Maine was their original home. Katahdins are docile so are easily
handled. Weight of a mature ewe ranges from 120 to 160 pounds; a mature ram will weigh 180
to 250 pounds. Mature ewes usually have twins, occasionally producing triplets or
quadruplets. The hair coat of the Katahdin varies in length and texture among individuals and
can be any color or color combination. It generally consists of coarse outer hair fibers and an
undercoat of fine wooly fibers that becomes very thick and longer if cold weather sets in and day
length decreases. This undercoat and some hair naturally shed as temperature and day length
increase seasonally, leaving a shorter, smooth summer coat.
The Nubian goat is a goat breed, which is actually native to Middle East and North Africa.
The Nubian breed is highly resilient, withstanding very hot climates and also temperatures down
to -15 degree Celsius. The coat is short, fine and glossy, which gives a sleek look to the body.
The coat can be of any color, spotted or parti-colored. They are much larger than the common
dairy goats, and can be raised for both meat and milk. They are often considered as one the best
goats for milking purposes. Nubian goats have many distinctive characteristics, which help them
to get easily recognized. Some distinguishing characteristics include large floppy ears and a
“Roman nose” for the prominent and slightly curved bridge. The male Nubian goats are pretty
large and can weigh up to about 175 lbs, while the females usually weigh around 135 lbs. The
female Nubian goat or 'does' usually attains a height of 30 inches, while the male or the 'buck'
can grow up to a height of almost 35 inches. Apart from meat and milk, Nubian goats can also be
raised as pets. In fact, they can be considered as excellent pets, due to their good temperament.
These goats are sociable, intelligent and won't bother you much, unless they need something.
They can eat grains, grasses, alfalfa and clover hay along with lots of water, about 3 to 5 gallons
of water daily.
The Pygmy Goat is hardy, alert and animated, good-natured and gregarious; a docile, responsive
pet, a cooperative provider of milk, and an ecologically effective browser. The Pygmy goat is an
asset in a wide variety of settings, and can adapt to virtually all climates. Pygmy goats are
precocious breeders, bearing one to four young every nine to twelve months after a five month
gestation period. They are very sociable and are happier in a herd atmosphere or with another
goat as a friend. A pygmy goat is a small breed of domestic goat. Although they produce a very
large amount of milk for their size, and can be eaten, pygmy goats are not typically used for milk
or meat, unlike larger dairy and meat goat breeds. The pygmy goat is quite hardy, an asset in a
wide variety of settings, and can adapt to virtually all climates.
A myotonic goat, otherwise known as the fainting goat, is a domestic goat whose muscles
freeze for roughly 10 seconds when the goat feels panic. Though painless, this generally results
in the animal collapsing on its side. The characteristic is caused by a hereditary genetic
disorder called myotonia congenita. When startled, younger goats will stiffen and fall over. Older
goats learn to spread their legs or lean against something when startled, and often they continue
to run about in an awkward, stiff-legged shuffle. Slightly smaller than standard breeds of the
goat, fainting goats can weigh anywhere from 60 to 170 lb. Males, or bucks, as they are often
referred to can be as heavy as 200 pounds. They have large, prominent eyes in high sockets. The
eyes protrude from the eye sockets, as opposed to recessed eyes seen in other breeds. Their hair
can be short or long, with certain individuals producing a great deal of cashmere during colder
months. There appears to be no angora strain of the fainting goat. Common coat colors are black
and white; however, most possible coat colors are found in this breed.
Fainting goats have many other names, including Myotonic Goats, Tennessee (Meat) Goats,
Nervous Goats, Stiff-leg Goats, Wooden-leg Goats, and Tennessee Fainting Goats. They are
smaller and somewhat easier to care for and maintain than larger meat goat breeds, which makes
the fainting goat desirable for smaller farms. They are also raised as pet or show animals as they
can be friendly, intelligent, easy to keep, and amusing.
Pygmy Goats
Origin: Originally found in Africa, they were domesticated and were quickly spread to Canada
and Europe. Eventually, they were brought to the U.S. The first documented case of Pygmy
Goats was found in 1959 by the Rhue family in California and the Catskill Game Farm in New
York as they were shipped from Sweden. They were originally found in zoos and used for
research, but later on were used by private breeders as pets.
Relatives: The pygmy goat is part of the Bovidae family and is closely related to sheep.
Diet: Their diet is one of a foraging animal. They thrive on hay and usually some sort of grain or
oats. Salt and minerals are an important part of their diet. Most owners will have a salt block or
mineral block on sight for the animals to use at their discretion. On the contrary, copper in large
quantities is toxic to the goats because they cannot digest it. Goats are actually very picky about
what they eat. They do not eat spoiled or contaminated food/water unless facing starvation. They
also can eat some weeds that are toxic to cattle and sheep.
Their stomach is made up of 4 compartments: the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum, and the
abomasum.
Males vs. Females: Female goats are referred to as does or nannies (or, less frequently, as
mishas), intact males as bucks or billies; their offspring are kids. Castrated males are wethers.
Size: Females weigh about 35 to 50 lbs. Males weigh about 40 to 60 lbs.
Lifespan: They live to be 12-14 years old
Breeding: They breed continually throughout the year. Gestation is about 5 ½ months.
Characteristics: Both male and females have a beard and horns, but males tend to be more
prominent. The thickness of their coat changes depending on season. Coat colorations vary
greatly, with brown, black, and white being the dominant colors. Some can have solid colors,
whereas others can have spots.
Eyes: Goats have horizontal slit-shaped pupils, an adaptation which increases peripheral
depth perception. Because goats' irises are usually pale, the pupils are much more visible
than in other animals such as sheep, cattle and most horses.
Mouth: Why do they nibble on everything?? They have both prehensile upper and lower
lips. So when exploring it is only natural for them to grab objects with their nimble
mouth to investigate. The goats DO HAVE teeth for grinding (upper and lower molars),
so there is a potential to get bitten when they are nibbling!
Uses: Here in America, the pygmy goats are primarily used as pets and show animals, not for
meat or milking. However, because the females produce a vast amount of milk for their size, in
Africa they are the ideal goat to have because they eat less than the standard goat and produce
much more milk for their size. They can also be used for meat in the African regions.
Where does the Zoo get the goats? They are on loan from a private pygmy goat breeder.
Budgerigar (Budgie)
Relatives: The budgerigar is a small parrot, and the only member of its genus. There are
approximately 330 species of parrot found throughout the world, with 55 species found only in
Australia. Other Australian parrots include the Australian king parrot, cockatoos and lorikeets.
Appearance: Also known as the “grass parakeet”, budgies are a bright green and yellow color.
This helps them blend into the plants in the habitats where they are found. These parrots have
been bred by people to show other colors, such as white, blue and purple, but are most
commonly seen in blue and green colorations. Males and females look alike, except for the color
of the cere, or nostril area at the base of the beak:
Males: dark blue cere
Size:
Females: brown/tan/cream colored cere
One of the smaller parrot species (8 inch wingspan, 7-8 inches long, weight= 1 ounce)
Range: Budgies are nomadic and often migrate long distances in search of food and water.
Found throughout inland Australia (not found in the extreme southwest, far north or eastern
coast).
Habitat: Inhabit mainly dry, open grassland and farmland of Australia’s interior. These birds
normally stay close to water and are not often seen in areas highly susceptible to drought.
Budgies are adaptable to areas of human habitation and sometimes use water reservoirs near
farms.
Feeding: Budgies feed mainly on the seeds of native herbs and grasses, such as porcupine grass
and saltbush. They often take the seeds from the ground. They have strong, compact beaks for
crushing seeds. They also have two forward facing and two backward facing toes (a
characteristic of parrot-species) that are covered in tiny scales that help them grasp grass stalks
while feeding. Budgies usually feed in the cooler hours of early morning and late evening. They
are fast fliers and can travel long distances in search of food and water.
Breeding: Breeding takes place year-round, depending on location and availability of food and
water. Several clutches may be hatched per year. Budgies breed in large colonies, forming
strong pair bonds. Nests are made in tree holes, stumps and logs, lined with wood chips. Pair
bonds between breeding couples are strengthened through preening. Usually lay 4-6 white
rounded eggs. The incubation period is about 18 days. As with other parrots, young budgies are
born naked and helpless. Both males and females help to take care of hatchlings, feeding the
young a regurgitated food high in protein. The youngest and smallest chicks are fed first, to give
all offspring a better chance of survival. Young fledge at about 35 days and are full-grown and
sexually mature at only 3-4 months of age.
Behavior: Budgies sometimes gather in huge flocks of thousands, or even tens of thousands, of
birds, especially after a heavy rainfall. However, normal flock size ranges from a pair to over a
hundred. By flocking together, budgies are protected against predators and can more easily
locate food and water sources.
Predators: Snakes and Falcons commonly prey on budgies.
Lifespan: These birds can live 7-8 years in the wild, over 10 years in captivity.
Conservation: Budgies are currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, meaning that “they
have been evaluated against the criteria and do not qualify for Critically Endangered,
Endangered, Vulnerable or Near Threatened”. They are one of the most abundant species of
parrot in Australia.
Bennett’s Wallabies
Relatives: There are 30 different types of wallabies. The Bennett's Wallaby is the Tasmanian
subspecies. Wallabies are considered small to medium-sized kangaroos.
Appearance: Bennett's Wallabies are distinguished by their black nose and paws, white stripe
on the upper lip, and grizzled medium grey coat with a reddish wash across the shoulders. They
are smaller than the mainland species of wallabies (as island species nearly always are).
General Wallaby Info: The soft, woolly fur can be gray, brown, red or almost black. The belly
is lighter. They have short arms with clawed fingers, strong, legs, and long four-toed feet with
claws. They can hop and jump with their powerful legs. Wallabies range in size from the size of
a rabbit to almost 6 ft (1.8 m) long.
Males: Males (called Boomers) are larger, reach maturity at 2 years
Females: Females (called Fliers) have a pouch in which the young live and drink milk. Females
mature at 9 months of age.
Size: Body 36-40" long, tail 27-29"; 28-40 lb.
Range: Bennett’s wallabies can be found only on the small island of Tasmania, south of
mainland Australia
Habitat: Flat grasslands, mobs typically have large habitat ranges.
Feeding: Like most macropods, the Bennett’s Wallaby live in groups called mobs. They feed at
night and, particularly on dull days, in the late afternoon, generally grazing on grass and herbs
close to forest shelter.
These herbivores (plant-eaters) eat grass, leaves, and roots (here we also feed them carrots and
sweet potatoes). They swallow their food without chewing it and later regurgitate a cud and chew
it. They need very little water; they can go for months without drinking, and they dig their own
water wells.
Breeding: Interestingly, captive animals maintain their breeding schedules; Tasmanian females
that become pregnant out of their normal season delaying birth until summer, which can be
anything up to eight months later. Wallabies breed in the Australian late summer, mostly
between February and April. For the Bennett's Wallaby births occur during late summer to early
autumn. The gestation period is about 30 days. Pouch life is about 280 days and weaning occurs
at 12-17 months. Babies are called Joeys.
The tiny newborn Joey climbs out of the birth canal up into the pouch unassisted, using little
underdeveloped arms and begins to suckle. At this time the Joey looks like a tiny pink jelly bean,
with nothing really developed. While in the pouch and suckling, the Joey’s outer appearance and
features grow and develop (fur, arms, legs, tail, ears, etc.) The little pink head peeks out of the
pouch at about 150 days.
Predators: Dingos (wild Australian dogs), domestic dogs, humans (for consumption or by
accident by automobile).