Amazing Animals
handling collection
Amazing Animals handling collection
Teacher’s notes
Welcome to the National Museum of Scotland.
Our Amazing Animals handling collection contains 15 real
animal specimens from our zoology collections. By examining
them you will be able to use observation, investigation,
discussion, identification and comparison skills.
These notes include
•
Details about each specimen
•
Images for each specimen
•
A glossary of useful words
Good handling guide
The collection is used by lots of different groups so we’d like your
help to keep the collection in good condition. Please follow these
guidelines for working with the objects and talk them through
with your group.
1. No food or drink should be brought into the room or
consumed during your session
2. Always wear gloves (provided) when handling the
specimens
3. Hands should be washed after handling specimens
4. Always hold specimens over a table and hold them in two
hands
5. Don’t touch or point at specimens with pencils, pens or
other sharp objects
6. Check the condition of specimens at the start and the end
of your session
7. Please report any missing or broken items using the
enclosed form
National Museum of Scotland Teachers’ Resource Pack
Amazing Animals handling collection
Contents
Amazing Animals specimens
1. Antelope horn
2
Badger skull
3. Baby crocodile
4. Elephant tooth
5. Elephant skin
6. Red fox skull
7. Gorilla skull
8. Grey lag goose wing
9. Horse’s leg
10. Leopard skin
11.Mole
12. Ostrich egg
13. Rabbit skull
14. Red deer
15. Smalltooth sawfish snout
National Museum of Scotland Teachers’ Resource Pack
Amazing Animals handling collection
Did you
know?
Desert antelopes don’t
need water as they get
enough moisture from the
food they eat.
1. Antelope horn
What group does this animal belong to?
Mammals.
Where does it live?
Grasslands, brushlands, forests and deserts.
What eats it?
They are hunted by lions, leopards, wild dogs, and other
predators.
What is its food?
Antelopes’ favourite food is grass but they also eat desert shrubs,
young shoots, leaves and twigs.
Where in the world is it from?
There are about 90 species of antelope; they live in Africa and
parts of Asia.
What is its lifecycle?
The antelope’s lifespan varies from 3 to 20 years depending
on the species. Antelope give birth to 1 to 3 young after a
pregnancy of 4 to 9 ½ months, depending on the species.
How is it affected or used by humans?
Many species of antelope are hunted for their meat and skins
and as trophies by big game hunters.
Their horns are prized for supposed medicinal and magical
powers and can also be made into musical instruments.
National Museum of Scotland Amazing Adaptations
Eyes Antelope have eyes
that are positioned on the
sides of their heads; their
pupils are elongated lengthways (horizontally), giving
them a broad view to spot
danger from all around.
Legs Long, slender yet
powerful legs allow
antelopes to have a long
stride and to run fast from
predators.
Horns Antelope horns vary
from very short to very
long. Longer horns tend to
belong to species where
males compete to mate
with several females. Some
antelope horns can grow
to almost 5 ft (1.5 m) long.
Like all horns, they are not
shed, but continue to grow
throughout the antelope’s
life. In many species of
antelope the females also
have horns, but they are
smaller than the male’s
horns.
Teachers’ Resource Pack
This work by Pete McGregor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivs 3.0 Unported License
Amazing Animals handling collection
Did you
know?
Adult badgers growl or bark
as a warning and also purr.
Amazing Adaptations
Fore legs These are
particularly well developed
and strong with long
claws to help with digging,
hunting and defence.
2. Badger skull
What group does this animal belong to?
Mammals.
Where does it live?
Badgers live in burrows called setts that are dug into banks of
earth often in woodlands.
What eats it?
Badgers are not commonly hunted by any other animal, but the
cubs can be prey to larger mammals like foxes, or birds.
What is its food?
Mainly earthworms, but also insects, small mammals, birds and
amphibians as well as fruit, fungi and roots.
Where in the world is it from?
Across Europe and Asia from Britain to Afghanistan. Other
species are found in the rest of Asia and Japan.
What is its lifecycle?
Badgers live in structured groups that usually include about 6
adults together with younger animals. Usually only one female
badger (sow) in the group will breed and give birth to a litter of
1–5 cubs between January and March. Cubs will spend about
8–10 weeks underground before emerging in May. Badgers can
live for 7–8 years or sometimes longer.
Nose Badgers have poor
eyesight, but thanks to
their long nose, they have
an extremely sense of smell
that is 700 to 800 times
better than ours. Being able
to pick up different scents is
important when hunting for
food. It is also important
because badgers use scent
to communicate and to
recognise each another.
Fur The badger’s bristly,
thick coat protects it
when digging. The black
and white hair looks grey
from a distance and is
effective camouflage while
the badger’s prominent
striped head can be turned
towards potential predators
to act as a warning.
How is it affected or used by humans?
Road traffic in Britain kills around 50,000 badgers each year.
It is illegal to hunt badgers in the UK, but they are still killed for
their fur in other parts of the world.
Badgers have a conservation status of least concern.
National Museum of Scotland Teachers’ Resource Pack
© Chris Parfitt
Amazing Animals handling collection
Did you
know?
Mummified crocodiles
and crocodile eggs have
been discovered in Ancient
Egyptian tombs.
How is it suited to where
it lives?
3. Baby Crocodile
What group does this animal belong to?
Reptiles
Where does it live?
Rivers, lakes and wetlands.
What eats it?
Feral pigs, turtles, fish, sea eagles and other crocodiles may eat
young crocodiles.
What is its food?
Crocodiles eat fish, birds, mammals and occasionally smaller
crocodiles.
Where in the world is it from?
Throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas and
Australia.
What is its lifecycle?
Crocodiles lay around 30–100 eggs at a time, depending on the
size and age of the mother. The eggs are placed in a nest that
has been prepared by the mother and hatch after 2 or 3 months.
The average lifespan of a crocodile in the wild is 45 years.
How is it affected or used by humans?
Crocodiles have been hunted for their skin which can be made
into fashion items such as belts, bags and shoes. In the 1940’s
to 1960’s some types of crocodile almost became extinct owing
to over-hunting. Local and international actions to protect
crocodiles helped their populations to rebound in most areas. In
some regions, though, pollution, hunting, and habitat loss have
severely depleted their numbers.
National Museum of Scotland Jaws crocodiles feed by
grabbing and holding onto
their prey. Their powerful
jaw muscles allow them to
bite down with immense
force and hold their jaws
shut. They have by far
the strongest bite of any
animal and have sharp
teeth that enable them to
tear and hold onto flesh.
Crocodiles can open their
mouths underwater without
breathing in water because
of a flap of tissue at the back
of their mouths that blocks
the entry of water into their
throats.
Scales crocodiles have
skin that is armoured with
thick scales, these provide
protection from its harsh
environment and from
predators.
Streamlined body the
shape of a crocodile’s body
allows it to swim fast. Its
short legs can easily be
tucked into its sides to help it
remain streamlined.
Teachers’ Resource Pack
© Matt Edwards, National Education Network
Amazing Animals handling collection
Did you
know?
The African savana
elephant is the largest
living land animal.
Amazing Adaptations
4. Elephant tooth
What group does this animal belong to?
Mammals.
Where does it live?
Grasslands, brushlands, marshes and forests. Herds roam over
great distances in search of food and water.
What eats it?
An adult elephant is very large and strong and not easy prey. A
young, old or sick elephant may become the victim of predators
like lions. Elephants that have died make a good meal for jackals,
hyaenas or vultures.
What is its food?
Leaves, bark, fruit and herbs.
Where in the world is it from?
Africa or Asia. African elephants and can be identified by their
larger ears that look a bit like the continent of Africa.
What is its lifecycle?
Elephants can live up to 70 years. Female elephants (cows) live
in family herds with their young, but adult males (bulls) tend to
roam on their own.
Trunk Elephants use
their trunks for smelling,
breathing, trumpeting,
drinking water and
collecting food e.g. by
reaching into trees. Trunks
can also be used to blow
water onto the elephant’s
skin to keep it cool or to
spray soil or mud which
dries to form a protective
sunscreen.
Ears Elephants release
heat through their large ears
to help keep them cool.
Tusks Both male and
female African elephants
have tusks which they use to
dig for food and water and
strip bark from trees. Males
occasionally use their tusks
to battle with each another.
Elephants have a longer pregnancy than any other mammal—
almost 22 months.
How is it affected or used by humans?
Some African elephant populations remain endangered because
they are hunted and killed for their tusks. This trade is illegal
today, but has not yet been eliminated.
Asian elephants have been domesticated for hundreds of years.
They are used to move heavy objects, to carry humans on their
backs, and even to wage war.
National Museum of Scotland Teachers’ Resource Pack
© National Education Network
Amazing Animals handling collection
Did you
know?
The African savana
elephant is the largest
living land animal.
image required
Amazing Adaptations
5. Elephant skin
What group does this animal belong to?
Mammals.
Where does it live?
Grasslands, brushlands, marshes and forests. Herds roam over
great distances in search of food and water.
What eats it?
An adult elephant is very large and strong and not easy prey. A
young, old or sick elephant may become the victim of predators
like lions. Elephants that have died make a good meal for jackals,
hyaenas or vultures.
What is its food?
Leaves bark fruit and herbs.
Where in the world is it from?
Africa or Asia. African elephants and can be identified by their
larger ears that look a bit like the continent of Africa.
What is its lifecycle?
Elephants can live up to 70 years. Female elephants (cows) live
in family herds with their young, but adult males (bulls) tend to
roam on their own.
Trunk Elephants use
their trunks for smelling,
breathing, trumpeting,
drinking water and collecting
food e.g. by reaching into
trees. Trunks can also be
used to blow water onto the
elephant’s skin to keep it
cool.
Skin An elephant’s skin is
extremely thick and tough
and covered with wiry hair.
It protects the elephant from
its harsh environment as well
as from would-be predators.
To protect themselves from
the sun and insect bites,
elephants use their trunks to
spray their skin with a further
protective coating of mud.
Ears Elephants release heat
through their large ears to
help keep them cool.
Elephants have a longer pregnancy than any other mammal—
almost 22 months.
How is it affected or used by humans?
Some African elephant populations remain endangered because
they are hunted and killed for their tusks. This trade is illegal
today, but has not yet been eliminated.
Asian elephants have been domesticated for hundreds of years.
They are used to move heavy objects, to carry humans on their
backs, and even to wage war.
National Museum of Scotland Teachers’ Resource Pack
© Angela Collis, National Education Network
Amazing Animals handling collection
Did you
know?
Until recently foxes could
be hunted with dogs in
the UK, but this longestablished practice was
outlawed in 2002.
Amazing Adaptations
6. Red fox skull
What group does this animal belong to?
Mammals.
Where does it live?
Foxes are able to adapt quickly to new habitats and can be found
in a huge variety of places from urban areas to low-lying marshes
and mountains. Foxes live in dens or earths that are dug by
themselves or other animals.
What eats it?
In Britain foxes are not hunted by any predators other than
people.
What is its food?
Foxes eat a wide variety of food, including rabbits, rodents and
other small mammals, reptiles, amphibians. They also eat birds
fruits and berries.
Where in the world is it from?
Foxes are common throughout the northern hemisphere. They
have also been introduced by humans to Australasia.
What is its lifecycle?
Foxes are social animals that live in family groups. They reproduce
once a year in the spring and female foxes (vixens) are pregnant
for about 50 days. The average litter size is 4–6 cubs. The young
remain with their parents to assist in caring for new cubs until they
are able to win their own territory. Most foxes only live for 2 to 3
years due to hunting, road accidents and diseases.
How is it affected or used by humans?
Foxes have been hunted and trapped as pests, for sport and
for their fur. Despite this, the red fox is widespread. It has a
conservation status of least concern.
National Museum of Scotland Tail A long, fluffy tail has a
number of uses. By lashing
its tail a fox can display
aggression, by raising it into
a horizontal position, a male
fox can attract a mate. A
fox is also able to curl up
into a ball and stay warm
underneath its tail.
Eyes As foxes are mainly
nocturnal (active at night)
they have developed
excellent night vision. Foxes
have a light-reflecting
layer in their eyes called a
tapetum lucidum; it is this
layer that makes foxes’ eyes
glow in the dark.
Ears Foxes have pointed
ears positioned high on
their heads that they can
rotate to hear sounds
coming from different
directions when hunting.
Their hearing is so sensitive
that they are able to hear
the squeaking of mice 100
metres away. Foxes also use
the position of their ears to
communicate with other
foxes.
Teachers’ Resource Pack
© Nigel Clarke
Amazing Animals handling collection
Did you
know?
Gorillas have unique
nose prints like we have
unique fingerprints.
Amazing Adaptations
7. Western lowland gorilla skull
What group does this animal belong to?
Mammals.
Where does it live?
In tropical forests.
What eats it?
The gorilla is rarely eaten by other animals. Potential threats
come from crocodiles or leopards.
What is its food?
Fruits, roots, leaves, and shoots such as bamboo. Gorillas have
also been seen to eat insects such as ants and termites.
Where in the world is it from?
Africa. One species, the Western gorilla is found in lowland forests
of west central Africa, while the Eastern gorilla is found in the
lowland and mountain forests of Rwanda, Congo and Uganda.
Hair Thick hair protects the
skin from biting insects and
helps keep gorillas warm
especially in higher
mountain ranges where
night temperatures will
often drop below freezing.
Arms Gorillas have larger
muscles in their arms than
in their legs (the opposite is
true for humans). This gives
them the strength to bend
and gather foliage, climb
trees, and is also helpful for
defence.
Teeth Gorillas have 32
teeth (the same number as
humans) which are large
and strong, having adapted
to the coarse vegetation
they consume.
What is its lifecycle?
Gorillas live between 30 and 40 years in the wild and up to 50
years in captivity. In the wild, females mature at around 10 years
and males at 11 to 13 years.
Pregnancy lasts for 8½ months and infants stay with their
mothers for 3 to 4 years.
How is it affected or used by humans?
Gorillas have a conservation status of endangered. They are
threatened by humans clearing the forests in which they live for
farming and by the threat of diseases. Gorillas are also illegally
hunted for meat. Only a few hundred eastern gorillas survive
today.
National Museum of Scotland Teachers’ Resource Pack
© Paul Szustka
Amazing Animals handling collection
Did you
know?
Goslings are able to dive
and swim underwater
when they are just 1
day old.
Amazing Adaptations
8. Grey lag goose wing
What group does the animal belong to?
Birds.
Where does it live?
Semi-tame greylag geese are found in many Southern lowland
areas of the UK, for example in grassy river valleys or in suburban
parks with lakes. Wild geese that have migrated to Scotland
from Iceland for the winter can be seen north of the Solway at a
number of RSPB nature reserves between September and April.
What eats it?
Foxes, and peregrine falcons.
What is its food?
Grass, roots, cereal leaves and spilled grain.
Where in the world is it from?
Europe.
What is its lifecycle?
Grey lag geese will choose a mate when they are about 3 years
old. They will stay together and raise a family each year. Geese
return to their area of birth to mate and nest. Female geese build
nests in isolated spots on the ground near water. They usually lay
about 5 eggs and incubate them (keep them warm) for about 30
days before they hatch. Grey lag geese can live for18 years.
Wings Grey lag geese
have strong wings for flight.
Flying allows the goose
to avoid predators; it also
means that it can migrate
to better feeding grounds
in the winter when food
has become scarce. Goose
feathers keep the bird warm
in cold temperatures and
are waterproof thanks to oil
glands positioned near the
tail.
Skeleton As with other
birds, the skeleton of the
goose is hollow which makes
it lighter for flying.
Webbed feet These are
ideal for swimming, helping
to propel the bird’s body
through water. Webbed feet
can also be used to skid and
glide when landing on water.
How is it affected or used by humans?
The grey lag goose is not endangered; its conservation status is
least concern.
National Museum of Scotland Teachers’ Resource Pack
© Steve Gantlett
Amazing Animals handling collection
Did you
know?
Horses can sleep
standing up, this
means they are ready
to run away if danger
approaches.
Adapted for survival
9. Horse leg
What group does this animal belong to?
Mammals.
Where does it live?
Domesticated horses are kept in fields while feral horses roam
freely in a variety of landscapes.
What eats it?
Bears, wolves and pumas.
What is its food?
Horses are natural grazers that feed on grass, plant materials,
grain and fruit.
Where in the world is it from?
Horses have been domesticated by humans and are widespread
all over the world. Horses are found in North West America,
Australia and some parts of Europe. Wild horses are found only in
Mongolia or China where they were recently reintroduced.
What is its lifecycle?
Female horses (mares) carry their young for approximately 11
months. A horse is called a foal until it is 6 months old. Horses
reach adulthood when they are about 5 years old. The average
lifespan of a domesticated horse is 20–25 years. Horses are
social animals. In the wild they gather in groups led by a
dominant male horse (stallion).
Legs and hooves The horse
leg is adapted for carying its
heavy body at high speeds.
With its elastic ligaments
and tendons it works like a
podo-stick to store energy
when it’s galloping. Each
hoof has only one broad toe,
covered by a protective layer
of keratin, the same material
as a human fingernail. The
hoof grows continuously so
it is renewed when it is worn
down by hard ground.
Tail This can be used to
brush away biting insects
and flies. Along with a
horse’s ears, the tail can also
be used to communicate
feelings such as fear,
irritation or anger.
Neck The horse has a long,
strong neck that gives it
extra height when it is
looking out for danger. It
also enables it to reach
down to graze.
How is it affected or used by humans?
Humans began to domesticate horses around 6000 years ago.
Horses have been used in many parts of the world for transport,
recreation and even to fight wars. Their meat is also eaten.
National Museum of Scotland Teachers’ Resource Pack
© Lyn Burgess, National Education network
Amazing Animals handling collection
Did you
know?
Hunting leopards for
their fur was once
popular, but it is now
illegal.
Amazing Adaptations
10. Leopard skin
What group does this animal belong to?
Mammals
Where does it live?
Leopards are very adaptable; they can live in grasslands,
mountains, woodlands, savanna, rainforest and desert terrains.
What eats it?
Leopards do not have many predators, though they must
compete for food and shelter with lions, tigers and hyaenas.
What is its food?
A wide variety of prey including antelope and deer, monkeys,
rodents, retiles and birds. Leopards can swim and sometimes eat
fish or crabs.
Where in the world is it from?
Sub-Saharan Africa, northeast Africa, parts of Asia and as far
north as the Russian far east.
What is its lifecycle?
Female leopards can give birth at any time of the year.
Pregnancy lasts about 3 months. They usually have between
2 and 4 cubs which live with their mothers for about 2 years.
Leopards can reach 21 years of age in captivity.
How is it affected or used by humans?
Many leopard populations are threatened, especially outside
Africa.
The loss of habitats and the decline in prey populations mean
that leopards are not as widely distributed as they once were.
National Museum of Scotland Fur Leopards spend a
great deal of time in tree
branches where they rest,
hunt and hide their kill from
scavengers. Their spotted
coats act as camouflage,
allowing them to blend
in with the dappled light
of forests and grasslands.
The leopard’s coat tends
to be paler amongst desert
populations, greyer in
colder climates, and darker
in rainforest habitats
Paws and claws The
leopard’s paws are covered
with soft pads and fur.
These help the leopard to
keep its balance on slippery
rocks and tree branches and
sneak up silently on prey.
Leopard paws are strong
and make formidable
weapons with their razor
sharp claws.
Muscles and skeleton A
massive skull and powerful
jaw muscles enable
leopards to kill and carry
large prey. Its shoulder
muscles are very strong,
enabling it to climb trees
even when dragging a large
kill.
Teachers’ Resource Pack
© FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Amazing Animals handling collection
Did you
know?
The saliva of moles
contains a substance
that paralyzes
earthworms
11. Mole
What group does this animal belong to?
Mammals.
Where does it live?
Moles live in an underground tunnel system in field, woodland
and garden habitats.
What eats it?
Moles emerge from their tunnels mainly at night to collect
nesting material and look for food or new homes. At this time,
they are vulnerable to predators like owls.
What is its food?
Mainly earthworms, but it also eats insects and centipedes.
Where in the world is it from?
This species can be found in much of Europe.
What is its lifecycle?
Young moles are born in spring time in an extra-large molehill,
built by the mother and known as a fortress. Moles are pregnant
for about 30 days and give birth to a litter of about 4 baby moles
in a litter. At around 5 weeks old they leave the nest to find a
new place to live, this is the most dangerous time for a mole.
Moles live for up to 3 years.
Fur The fur of a mole is so
soft that it can bend forward
or backward without
resistance. This is useful
when the mole is moving
backwards and forwards
inside narrow tunnels. Moles
also rely on their thick fur
coats to stay warm and dry.
Nose Moles are practically
blind, they don’t need good
eyesight as they live mostly
underground. Instead they
have highly sensitive hairs
around their pointed noses
and the tips of their tails
that allow them to find their
way around and to sense
food and water.
Paws Moles have powerful
front paws with they use
for digging. They do this
by turning their front paws
outwards and pushing dirt
behind them. Moles pull
earthworms between their
paws before eating them to
force soil out of the worm’s
gut.
How is it affected or used by humans?
Moles have a conservation Status of least concern, meaning they
are not endangered. In some countries moles are a protected
species, but in other countries they are sometimes considered
pests by farmers and gardeners and they can be controlled with
traps or poison.
Amazing Adaptations
National Museum of Scotland Teachers’ Resource Pack
© Micheal David Hill
Amazing Animals handling collection
Did you
know?
Ostriches lay the largest
egg of any living bird.
Amazing Adaptations
12. Ostrich egg
What group does this animal belong to?
Birds.
Where does it live?
African savanna, shrublands and deserts.
What eats it?
Lions and humans.
What is its food?
Usually plants, roots, and seeds, but occasionally insects such as
locusts.
Where in the world is it from?
Africa.
What is its lifecycle?
Ostriches live in small herds of less than a dozen birds. Dominant
males maintain the herd. All of the group’s hens place their eggs
in the dominant hen’s nest which the dominant hen and male
take turns to incubate. Each egg weighs as much as two dozen
chicken eggs.
How is it affected or used by humans?
The ostrich is not an endangered species though the wild ostrich
population has declined over the last 200 years. Most surviving
birds live in game parks or on farms.
National Museum of Scotland Legs Ostriches have long,
powerful legs that enable
them to sprint up to 30–40
miles an hour and cover up
to 5 metres in one stride. The
legs make good weapons;
ostrich kicks are so powerful
that they can kill potential
predators like lions.
Eyes Ostriches have very
large eyes. They are around
5cm in diameter and help
ostriches to see predators at
a great distance. To protect
their eyes from the sun and
from sand storms, ostriches
have long eyelashes.
Wings Ostriches cannot fly,
but their large wings help
them maintain balance
and change direction when
running. The wings can also
be used to attract a mate
or to shade chicks from the
sun. Ostriches hide from
predators by lying down flat
on the ground, when they do
this the dull colour of their
feathers helps them to blend
in with the earth.
Teachers’ Resource Pack
© Diane Earl, National Education Network
Amazing Animals handling collection
Did you
know?
In order to get a as much
nutrition possible from the
plants they eat, rabbits
eat some of their own
droppings. These are then
re-digested in a special
part of the gut.
Amazing Adaptations
13. Rabbit skull
What group does this animal belong to?
Mammals.
Where does it live?
Rabbits dig burrows, or warrens often along the edges of open
spaces, such as fields, meadows, and farms.
What eats it?
Rabbits have many predators including foxes, stoats and birds of
prey.
What is its food?
Rabbits graze mainly at night on grass, shoots, roots and herbs;
they also feed on crops and garden vegetables. In winter, they
eat coarser food like bark, twigs, and buds.
Where in the world is it from?
Originally from Southern Europe, the rabbit has spread naturally
and been introduced by humans to many parts of the world.
What is its lifecycle?
Rabbits reproduce often; they can produce three or four litters
per year with up to 10 young (kits) in each litter. Young rabbits
are self-sufficient after about four or five weeks. Rabbits can live
for 9–12 years on average.
Ears Long ears allow rabbits
to pick up the sound of
nearby predators. They also
rotate, allowing rabbits to
hear in two directions at
once.
Eyes The rabbit’s eyes are
set high up and to the side
of its head. In addition to
a flexible neck which allows
the animal to rotate its head,
this adaptation gives rabbits
a good field of vision to spot
food and predators.
Legs Rabbits have strong
hind legs that allow them
to run up to 16 metres
per second and to change
direction frequently to
evade predators. They can
also warn other rabbits of
predators by thumping the
ground with their hind legs.
Rabbits have strong claws
which give a good grip and
help with burrowing.
How is it affected or used by humans?
Rabbits have learned to coexist with humans, making homes in
parks or gardens; they are also kept as pets and hunted and bred
for their meat and fur. They have a conservation status of least
concern.
National Museum of Scotland Teachers’ Resource Pack
© FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Amazing Animals handling collection
Did you
know?
The red deer is the
UK’s largest wild land
mammal.
image required
Amazing Adaptations
14. Red deer antler
What group does this animal belong to?
Mammals.
Where does it live?
Mainly woodlands and forests, but it can adapt to open moor
and hill.
What eats it?
Foxes and golden eagles have been known to take newborn
calves.
What is its food?
Red deer graze on a wide variety of plants from grasses and
heather to shrubs and trees. Where in the world is it from?
Red deer are found across Europe and Asia. They are very
common on moorlands in the highlands of Scotland.
What is its lifecycle?
Female deer (hinds) will normally breed from 3 years of age,
giving birth to a single calf after 8 months. Male deer (stags) will
normally mate from the age of 5. Red deer rarely live beyond 15
years.
Antlers A stag’s antlers are
grown and shed each year.
The number of branches in
a deers antlers can reach 16
points. The better the diet
of the stag, the larger its
antlers will grow. Antlers can
make for powerful weapons
during the breeding season
when stags will use them for
display and to fight with rival
males.
Fur This is reddish brown
in the summer, but in the
winter a thick grey coat is
grown for extra warmth and
better camouflage.
External Glands Red deer
have a number of external
glands, used to mark areas
with scent. The scent helps
the deer to indicate mating
availability and possibly to
allow them to recognise
other deer.
How is it affected or used by humans?
Farmers and foresters sometimes see red deer as pests as they
feed on tree shoots and sometimes crops. Red deer are shot for
sport, farmed for their meat (venison) and kept as ornamental
species in UK parks.
National Museum of Scotland Teachers’ Resource Pack
Amazing Animals handling collection
Did you
know?
Despite appearances
sawfish are gentle fish
and will not attack
humans unless provoked
or surprised.
Amazing Adaptations
15. Smalltooth sawfish snout
What group does this animal belong to?
Fish.
Where does it live?
Mainly in coastal areas in shallow, muddy water. All sawfish have
the ability to survive in both fresh and saltwater.
What eats it?
Sharks.
What is its food?
Small fish and shellfish.
Where in the world is it from?
Tropical and sub-tropical waters in the Atlantic, Indian and
Pacific Oceans.
What is its lifecycle?
Sawfish are thought to live around 25 to 30 years. Females
produce eggs that are kept inside the mother’s body until they
are ready to hatch. Sawfish are pregnant for about a year and
give birth to a litter of around 8 – 20 young (pups).
How is it affected or used by humans?
Habitat destruction and over-fishing means that all species of
sawfish are considered critically endangered. As well as being
accidentally caught in fishing nets sawfish are also hunted for
their saw which is prized as a curiosity item, their fins which can
be eaten and their liver oil which can be used for medicine.
National Museum of Scotland Snout/saw The denticles
(tooth-like structures) on the
snout can be used to slash
or stab small fish which can
then be eaten. The surface
of the snout is covered with
motion and electro- sensitive
pores that allow the fish to
detect movement and even
heartbeats of buried prey in
the sea floor. The snout can
then be used as a digging
tool to unearth the buried
prey. Sawfish have also been
known to use their snout to
defend themselves against
predators such as sharks
Scales Sawfish skin is
made up of tiny teeth-like
structures called placoid
scales. These scales point
towards the tail and help the
fish move smoothly through
the water.
Fins The sawfish has a pair
of fins on either side of its
body just behind the gills.
They are used to keep the
sawfish stable in the water
and help it slow down.
Teachers’ Resource Pack
© David Iliff
Amazing Animals handling collection
Glossary of useful words
Adaptation: the way living
things suit their environment
Environment: the natural
surroundings of living things
Canines: a pair of sharp teeth
used to tear food, especially
meat
Extinction: when a group
of living things die out and
cannot be replaced
Camouflage: the way
certain animals use colour
or pattern to blend into their
environment in order to hide
from or to hunt other animals
Food chain: the way living
things are linked by what
they eat. A food chain always
begins with the sun’s energy
which is then passed along
the food chain
Carnivore: an animal that
eats only meat
Classification: the way we
can sort living things into
different groups to help us
understand the natural world
better
Conservation: taking care of
living things and protecting
them
Conservation status: a way
to measure and report on
how well we are taking care of
a particular living thing
Diversity: the variety of living
things
Ecosystem: an environment
made up of all the living and
physical things that are in it
Endangered: a rare species
that is in danger of dying out
National Museum of Scotland Prey: an animal which is
hunted and eaten by other
animals
Species: a group of animals
which share a number of the
same characteristics and can
breed together
Skeleton: the framework of
bones supporting the body
Food web: many food chains
can be joined together in
one big web linking all of
the plants and animals in an
ecosystem
Habitat: the place where a
group of animals and plants
live
Herbivore: an animal which
eats only plants
Incisors: the front teeth used
for cutting
Molars: the back teeth used
for grinding food
Omnivore: an animal that
eats both plants and animals
Predator: an animal which
hunts and eats other animals
Teachers’ Resource Pack