Page 64 - One Million Things: Animal Life - The Incredible Visual Guide

SOCIAL GROOMING
SELF-GROOMING
MAINTENANCE Many primates, such as these Japanese Cats and some other mammals groom
1
3
macaques, live in tight-knit groups. themselves. A tiger, for example, uses
Group members groom each other, its rough, moist tongue to clean its fur
The animal world is a tough, competitive place, and using their nails and teeth to comb and and remove pests. Kangaroos spread
animals have to look after themselves and keep in clean each other’s fur, and to remove saliva on themselves, which then
peak condition in order to increase their chances of any irritating parasites, such as lice. evaporates to give a cooling effect.
survival. Animals maintain themselves for many
reasons: to enable them to move more efficiently, 2 INSECT CLEAN-UP 4 CLAY LICK
to help them attract a mate so they can breed, to Dust and food particles can cling to A number of animals living in tropical
remove pesky parasites, and to stay healthy. an insect’s body parts and stop them forests, both birds and mammals, eat
Maintenance methods include grooming, preening, from working well. Insects use their legs small amounts of clay each day. Flocks
eating special foods, and taking mud baths. and mouthparts to clean themselves. of colorful, squawking parrots descend
This praying mantis is grooming the on favoured spots, called clay licks. It
spines on its front legs. appears that the clay makes harmless
any poisons in the fruits, nuts, and
seeds that the parrots eat.

1 Macaque
grooms another
group member 3
Parrot eats
mineral-rich clay
obtained from
a clay lick

4

A moistened
2 paw can reach
other parts of
the tiger’s body

5 Coating of mud keeps the
Prey-gripping hippo’s skin cool and moist
spines on front
legs must be
kept clean

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