Massachusetts State Mammal
Right Whale (common name) Eubalaena glacialis (scientific name) Overview Three right whale species are recognized in the genus Eubalaena: the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), the Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), and the North Pacific right whale(Eubalaena japonica). They are called "right whales" because whalers thought these whales were the "right" ones to hunt since they live near shore. They swim slowly and when they die, they float. Populations were vastly reduced by intensive hunting during the active years of the whaling industry. The North Atlantic right whale is the world's most endangered large whale, with fewer than 350 animals remaining. Georgia selected it as its official state marine mammal in 1985 because the only known calving grounds of this whale lie within 15 miles of the Georgia and north Florida coastline. Massachusetts designated the right whale as the official state marine mammal in 1980. Close-up STATUS Official State Marine Mammal ALSO KNOWN AS Biscayensis, nordcaper PHYSICAL DETAILS The head of the right whale is large, about 1/4 of the body length, and its body is stocky and very dark gray or black. The animal has a broad back without a dorsal fin and a long arching mouth that begins above the eye. Right whales have callosities on their heads. These callosities appear white, not because of skin pigmentation but because of large colonies of cyamids or whale lice. The tail is broad, deeply notched, and all black with a smooth trailing edge. Two rows of long baleen plates hang from the upper jaw, with about 225 plates on each side. Right whales have a distinctive, wide V-shaped blow, caused by the widely spaced blowholes on the top of the head. The blow rises to 16 ft (5 m) above the ocean's surface.    Males Females Size Adults are generally between 45 and 55 feet (13.7-16.7 m) in length Females are larger than males. Weight Adults typically weigh 60–80 tons. Adults typically weigh 60–80 tons. LIFESPAN Very little is known about the life span of right whales because they are so scarce; 70 years or more may not be uncommon. HABITAT Range: Shallow, coastal waters of the North Atlantic Conservation Status: Endangered. A worldwide total ban on right whaling was agreed upon in 1937. The ban was largely successful, although some whaling continued in violation of the ban for several decades. Leading causes of death among the North Atlantic right whale are collisions with ships and entanglement in fishing gear. BEHAVIOR Although they are slow swimmers, right whales are highly acrobatic and frequently breach, tail-slap, and lobtail. Right whales are not gregarious and typically live in pairs. Their only non-human predator is the orca. When threatened, a group of right whales encircle their young, with their tails pointing outward, to deter a predator. Calves are, however, occasionally separated from their mother and killed. Right whales feed by "skimming" along with their mouth open. Water and food enter the mouth but only the water can pass through the baleen and out again into the open sea. DIET Zooplankton, primarily the tiny crustaceans called copepods, as well as krill and pteropods. OFFFSPRING Breeding interval: 3–5 years Birthing period: December through March Average litter size: 1 calf Size at birth: 1 ton in weight and 4–6 m (13–20 ft) in length TRIVIA The Basques began hunting right whales in the Bay of Biscay as early as the 11th century. They hunted whales initially for oil, but as meat preservation technology improved they also ate the whales. One way individuals can help in the fight to save the North Atlantic right whale is by sponsoring a whale. There are three right whale sponsorship programs in North America: the New England Aquarium; the Ocean Society in Atlanta, Georgia; and East Coast Ecosystems in Freeport, Nova Scotia.
	Click to enlarge an image Right Whale and Young Calf Right Whale Breaching Full View of Right Whale Close-up of Right Whale CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea Suborder: Mysticeti Family: Balaenidae Genus: Eubalaena Species: glacialis
	Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press

Massachusetts State Mammal
Tabby Cat (common name) Felis catus(scientific name) Overview The tabby cat is not a breed, but a domestic cat whose distinctive coloration is believed to have come from its ancestor, the African wildcat, a relatively small, sandy-colored feline native to Africa and the Middle East, the area where cats were first domesticated. Tabbies can be almost any color common in cats. It’s the pattern on a tabby’s coat that makes it look distinctive. Close-up STATUS Official State Cat ALSO KNOWN AS Tiger Cat PHYSICAL DETAILS A tabby cat usually has a highly distinguishable "M" mark on its forehead, often considered the hallmark of a tabby. The rest of its coat is patterned, and may be more striped, dotted, or swirled. Tabby patterns are found in many breeds of cat, including mongrels. The tabby coat can be of four genetically distinct patterns: mackerel, spotted, ticked, and classic. Mackerel, the most common type, has a gently curving vertical striping along the sides of the body, like a fishbone. Spotted is a mackerel variation, with the stripes broken into large and small spots. Ticked tabbies have clear color bands. A classic tabby, on the other hand, has a swirling pattern on its body, and well-defined bars of color on the legs and tail. Tabbies may be brown, silver, ginger, orange, gray, blue, or red.    Males Females Size height at shoulder 14 in (35 cm) height at shoulder 14 in (35 cm) Weight 5.5–16 lbs (2.5–7.5 kg); largest 25 lbs (11.3 kg) 5.5–16 lbs (2.5–7.5 kg); largest 25 lbs (11.3 kg) LIFESPAN 12-14 years HABITAT Apartments, houses, yards, and farms. Range: Worldwide. Conservation: Least Concern. Cats are domesticated animals, and as human companions face few potential threats. On the other hand, they are well adapted to survival in the wild and can easily turn feral if left to their own devices, potentially preying on protected or endangered animals. BEHAVIOR A small, carnivorous mammal, the domestic cat is valued as a human companion and as a rodent predator. Tabbies have a reputation for pleasant dispositions, though behavior is largely dependent on how the cat is raised and how much human contact it has. Unlike dogs, domestic cats are not much different from their wild ancestors. A healthy tabby keeps itself clean, has excellent vision and hearing, and communicates through vocalizations and body language, sometimes including purring, hissing, meowing, grunting, and clicking. Cats are naturally more active at night, though a house cat’s schedule usually revolves around human activity. Many cat owners choose to sterilize their pets, but some breeders choose to breed cats of specific colors and patterns. Many tabbies, however, are mixed breeds that occur naturally. Like all cats, tabbies are protective of their kittens, which are born blind and deaf. A kitten nurses for up to seven weeks, and should stay with its mother for at least 12 weeks. Top land speed recorded: 31 mph (50 kph) DIET Commercially produced cat food. Left to its own devices, a cat will catch and eat insects, small birds, and rodents. OFFFSPRING Breeding interval: 2-3 times per year Birthing period: 66 days Average litter size: 3-5 Size at birth: 3.8 oz (110 g) TRIVIA It’s possible that the tabby cat takes its name from a type of multicolored thread called atabi, popular long ago in Europe. This thread was manufactured in Attabiah, a district in Baghdad. The whorls, swirls, and spots of the tabby cats apparently brought to mind the pattern on the silk. Tabby patterns can occur in many domestic cat breeds, from pedigreed animals to ordinary strays. Abraham Lincoln had, among other pets, a cat named Tabby, whom he used to sometimes feed with a fork at the White House table.
	Click to enlarge an image Gray Tabby Cat Brown Tabby Cat Snoozing Tabby Cat Tabby Cat Patterns CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Subfamily: Felinae Genus: Felis Species: F. silvestris catus
	Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press

Massachusetts State Mammal
Morgan Horse (common name) Equus ferus caballus (scientific name) Overview The Morgan horse is a breed developed in the U.S. in the early 19th century. It traces back to the stallion Figure, who died in 1821 at the age of 32 and is now buried in Vermont. The stallion was later named Justin Morgan after its best-known owner. Beginning in the 1930s, crossing Morgans with saddlebreds was quite fashionable due to the popularity of the saddlebred and the prestige they brought in the show ring. This practice resulted in Morgans that were less and less of classic Morgan type. More than 80 percent of living Morgans today are modern saddlebred crosses. The Morgan is also the ancestor of breeds such as the standardbred and the Tennessee walker. In 1961, the Morgan horse was named the official state animal of Vermont. It was adopted as the state horse of Massachusetts in 1970. Close-up STATUS Official State Horse ALSO KNOWN AS The Justin Morgan horse PHYSICAL DETAILS The Morgan is easily recognized by its proud carriage, upright and graceful neck, and distinctive head with expressive eyes. The horse has strongly muscled quarters and is refined in build, with strong limbs, an expressive face, well-defined withers, laid back shoulders, a well-arched neck, and a clean-cut head. Registered Morgans come in a variety of colors although they are most commonly bay, black, and chestnut. The breed standard ranges from 14.1–15.2 hands (4.7-5.1 ft, 1.45–1.57 m), with some individuals slightly larger or smaller.    Males Females Size 14.1–15.2 hands (4.7-5.1 ft, 1.45–1.57 m) 14.1–15.2 hands (4.7-5.1 ft, 1.45–1.57 m) Weight 800-1,000 lbs (365-450 kg) 800-1,000 lbs (365-450 kg) LIFESPAN 25-30 years HABITAT Range: Worldwide, but mostly found in North America. Conservation Status: More than 132,000 Morgans have been registered. BEHAVIOR Morgan horses are domestic animals, so their behavior is dictated by human treatment. The breed is known for its versatility and excels in many disciplines. The Morgan is free-moving and calm under western tack, or elegant and aristocratic ridden in English style. The horse agreeably adapts to its owner's lifestyle. The breed's trotting ability made it a favorite for harness racing in the 1840s. Morgans were used in the Civil War as cavalry mounts. In the post–Civil War era, Morgans were used by the Pony Express and as mounts for the cavalry in the western United States. Morgans compete in many horse-riding disciplines, including in hand, English pleasure, park, western pleasure, carriage driving, pleasure driving, hunt seat, trail, roadster, parade, reining, and dressage. The Morgan is also able to perform in the Olympic and internationally recognized disciplines, which include show jumping, dressage, eventing, and combined driving. DIET Most horses only need quality forage, water, and a salt or mineral block. Grain or other concentrates are often not necessary. Horses prefer to eat small amounts of food steadily throughout the day, as they do in nature when grazing in a meadow or pasture. OFFSPRING Breeding interval: Annual Average litter size: 1 foal Height: At the withers, a foal has 60 percent of its mature height at birth. Weight: A foal weighs approximately 10 percent of the dam's weight. TRIVIA The compact, muscular body and movement of Figure, whom all Morgan horses trace their lineage to, impressed many pioneer farmers and settlers. Soon, tales of his beauty, strength, speed, hardiness, endurance, and gentle disposition spread throughout small New England towns. His ability to outdo other horses became legendary. His most valuable asset, however, was his ability to pass on his distinguishing characteristics to his offspring and through several generations. Many myths surround Figure and Justin Morgan, which are the subject of both a children's book and a movie. Both are fiction, but the content is often taken as fact by readers and viewers. The only survivor of the Custer regiment from The Battle of Little Bighorn was a Morgan-Mustang mixed-breed horse.
	Click to enlarge an image Morgan Horse Morgan Mare with Colt CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Perissodactyla Family: Equidae Genus: Equus Species: E. ferus Subspecies: E. f. caballus
	Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press

Massachusetts State Mammal
Boston Terrier (common name) Canis lupus familiaris (scientific name) Overview The Boston terrier is a breed that was developed in the United States in the late 19th century. It was bred down in size from white English terriers and English bulldogs. In its early years, this breed was known by a variety of names, including roundheads and bull terriers. The American Bull Terrier Club was established in Boston in 1889 by fans of this breed, and by 1891, the breed was renamed for the city of its birth. The dog now known as the Boston terrier was accepted as a new breed by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1893. In that same year, the AKC recognized the Boston Terrier Club of America as one of the country’s first breed clubs. This was the first U.S. breed recognized by the AKC. Despite the breed’s name, it is not recognized as a terrier, but is classed in the non-sporting group. Close-up STATUS Official State Dog ALSO KNOWN AS Boston bull, Boston bull terrier, boxwood PHYSICAL DETAILS The Boston terrier is a small dog with a short tail and erect ears. Its coat is smooth, short, and fine, occurring as black, brindle, or seal (black with red highlights that appear in direct sunlight) with white markings. Although it is related to bulldogs, the Boston terrier’s face does not have wrinkles. Its head is small and somewhat square. Size: Adults are generally between 15–17 inches (38–43 cm) high at the shoulders. Weight: Breed standards state that adults should weigh 10–25 pounds (4.5–11.3 kg). LIFESPAN Approximately 13–16 years HABITAT Purpose-bred dog with no natural habitat. The breed originated in the U.S. and is found mainly in North America, but is also kept as a pet in other countries. BEHAVIOR Known for being intelligent, friendly, and well mannered, this breed has been called "the American gentleman." Playful, affectionate, and easy to train, the Boston terrier makes a good pet. It does, however, require lots of attention and the proper training to prevent it from developing bad behaviors. Its smooth, short coat makes the dog easy to groom and suitable for people with allergies. DIET Dogs are omnivores, requiring protein in their diet for optimal health. Grains and vegetables can also make up large portions of a dog’s diet. Dogs are natural scavengers, but a pet’s diet normally consists of food supplied by its owner. OFFSPRING Breeding interval: Biannually Birthing period: Approximately 63 days Average litter size: 3–4 puppies Size at birth: 3–6 pounds (1.4–2.7 kg) TRIVIA Two former presidents owned Boston terriers. Hub was a Boston terrier that belonged to Warren G. Harding (1865–1923), 29th president of the United States. Thirty-eighth president Gerald R. Ford (1913–2006) grew up with two Boston terriers, Fleck and Spot. The Boston terrier has been the Boston University mascot since November 1922. Following the popularity of the 1936 novel and 1939 film Gone With the Wind, the mascot was named "Rhett." Boston terrier mascots need not be confined to the state of Massachusetts. Boston terriers Boss, Lil’ Ruff, and Blitz are mascots at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Due to its origins in the Massachusetts state capital, the state legislature designated the Boston terrier the official state dog in 1979.
	Click to enlarge an image Boston Terrier CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae Genus: Canus Species: C. lupus Subspecies: C. l. familiaris
	Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press