Malleefowl

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Malleefowl

ZooTek Phoenix

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Author: And1

Keywords: birds, Australia

Date released: Jan 18 2009

File Size: N/A

Compatibility: All Game Versions

Description: Description : Part of the Island Invasion: Oceanic pack
Adopt a Malleefowl. The Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) is a stocky ground-dwelling Australian bird about the size of a domestic chicken (to which it is distantly related).

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Additional info:

Malleefowl (german: Thermometerhuhn)                             uca: 291FF057 dated 18 January 09

Results From Configuration Checking:

291ff057.uca date: Sun Jan 18 13:57:08 2009
*** Warning: uca/ai file contains the word 'Undefined'.
Animal Type: 291FF057

Malleefowl

The Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) is a stocky ground-dwelling Australian bird
about the size of a domestic chicken (to which it is distantly related). It
occupies semi-arid mallee scrub on the fringes of the relatively fertile areas
of southern Australia, where it is now reduced to three separate populations:
the Murray-Murrumbidgee basin, west of Spencer Gulf along the fringes of the
Simpson Desert, and the semi-arid fringe of Western Australia's fertile
south-west corner. Malleefowl are shy, wary, solitary birds that usually fly
only to escape danger or reach a tree to roost in. Although very active, they
are seldom seen as they freeze if disturbed, relying on their intricately
patterned plumage to render them invisible, or else fade silently and rapidly
into the undergrowth (flying away only if surprised or chased).  Pairs occupy
a territory but usually roost and feed apart: their social behavior is
sufficient to allow regular mating during the season and little else. In
winter, the male selects an area of ground, usually a small open space between
the stunted trees of the mallee, and scrapes a depression about three metres
across and just under a metre deep in the sandy soil by raking backwards with
his feet. In late winter and early spring, he begins to collect organic
material to fill it with, scraping sticks, leaves and bark into wind-rows for
up to 50 metres around the hole, and building it into a nest-mound, which
usually rises to about 0.6m above ground level. The amount of litter in the
mound varies, it may be almost entirely organic material, mostly sand, or
anywhere in between. After rain, he turns and mixes the material to encourage
decay and, if conditions allow, digs an egg chamber in August (the last month
of the southern winter). The female sometimes assists with the excavation of
the egg chamber, and the timing varies with temperature and rainfall. The
female usually lays between September and February, provided there has been
enough rain to start organic decay of the litter. The male continues to
maintain the nest-mound, gradually adding more soil to the mix as the summer
approaches (presumably to regulate the temperature). Males usually build their
first mound (or take over an existing one) in their fourth year, but tend not
to achieve as impressive a structure as older birds. They are thought to mate
for life, and although the male stays nearby to defend the nest for nine
months of the year, they can wander at other times, not always returning to
the same territory afterwards.
    (plus 1 other paragraph)

Animal Characteristics:

Habitat: Savannah; Location: Australia
Minimum happiness needed for chance of breeding: 90.
Preferred shelter: Large Burrow.

Exhibit Preferences:

Foliage:
Acacia Caffra Tree, Thorn Acacia Tree, Palm Tree, Eucalyptus Tree
Hard Quandong Tree, Joshua Tree, Red Gum Tree, Quiver Tree
Prickly Pear Cactus, Saguaro Cactus, Thorn Bush, Yellow Fever Tree
Baobab Tree, Umbrella Thorn Tree, Tall Grass, Grass Tree, Khejri Tree
Sigillaria Tree (DD), Sand Bush (NA), Doum Palm Tree (NA)
Senegal Date Palm (ES), Yucca Tree (ES), Agave Cactus (ES)

Rocks:
Large Rock, Small Rock - Medium, Small Rock - Small, Desert Rock - Formation
Medium Desert Rock (DD), Medium Savannah Rock (DD), Termite Mound (ES)
Small Desert Rock (ES), Large Desert Rock (NA)

Exhibit Construction:

Number of animals allowed per exhibit: 1-4 with 12 squares for each adult.

Exhibit size (for 2 adults): 24 grid squares

Terrain (for exhibit with 24 grid squares):
13 Savannah Grass, 5 Sand, 5 Dirt, 1 Fresh Water

Foliage (for exhibit with 24 grid squares):
3 grid squares should contain foliage.
Foliage that would give the most happiness: Eucalyptus Tree
Since this is a small plant, greatest happiness will occur
if each of the 3 grid squares contains 4 of this plant.

Rocks (for exhibit with 24 grid squares):
4 Small Rock - Small, which is its most liked rock.