MAMMALS

Twenty years ago I often used to catch sight of wildlife on my regular walks around the Lobau, including some mammals, fox, deer, wild boar, water rats. Since then, beaver have been re-introduced and the area has been designated part of the National Park Donauauen. There has also been a surge of building projects in the surrounding area, many more visitors have discovered the Nature Park and the larger mammals in particular have retreated somewhat, remaining well hidden, usually invisible to the casual daytime walker.

But they are still there, if you are quiet and patient you may be rewarded by a glimpse and you often come across their tracks and traces.

Some basic biology – short and simple!

Mammals are warm-blooded vertebrates (with a skeleton similar to our own based on a vertebral column/spine, skull at one end, tail at the other, ribs and 4 limbs adapted for walking, running, climbing and in some cases swimming (seals), gliding (flying foxes) , flying (bats) or digging (moles).

The young are usually born almost fully formed (except kangaroos and other marsupials) and they are fed during early infancy by the mother on milk.

The eggs of the female are fertilized inside her body and often (though not always) both parents contribute to the care and protection of the young.

The skin of mammals is covered in hair, either fur or wool, to conserve warmth and aid the regulation of body temperature. (In whales hair is almost absent in the adult though present in the foetal stages.)