Fauna of Africa. Photo Album 2020. Romans Arzjancevs
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jaws (an ancestral character in rodents) and a diastema is present. Murids lack canines and premolars. Generally, three molars (though sometimes only one or two) are found, and the nature of the molars varies by genus and feeding habit.
– Murids generally have excellent senses of hearing and smell.
– A number of species, especially the gerbils, are adapted to desert conditions and can survive for a long time with minimal water.
LIBERIA
DRILL MONKEY
– Average longevity in captivity is 28 years.
– Drills are diurnal and social animals. They typically form small groups of an average of 20 individuals.
– Unfortunately, drills are now a threatened species, with only an estimated 3,000 drills or less remaining in the wild.
GIANT FOREST HOG
– In safe areas, where Giant forest hogs are not hunted, they stay active for many hours and may travel up to 8—12 km per day.
– They are found at elevations from sea level to 3,800 m, and need a permanent source of water.
– Main Predators: Spotted hyena, lion, leopard.
RED RIVER HOG
– Red river hogs are often active during the day, but are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular.
– The boar defends its harem aggressively against predators, with leopards being a particularly common threat.
– In the wild, red river hogs can live an estimated 15 to 20 years. In human care, they normally.
WHITE BACKED VULTURE
– Often, as many as 100 White-backed vultures may gather near a dead animal.
– The primary food source of white-backed vultures are the carcasses of large, grazing animals found the wooded savannahs where it lives. This includes warthogs, zebras, gazelles, ostriches and even livestock. However, they can only eat animals with soft tissue, as their beak is not adapted for tearing through tough skin.
– A V E R A G E L I F E S P A N I N T H E W I L D: Up to 20 years.
MAURITANIA
AFRICAN WILD CAT
– African wildcats are active mainly by night and search for prey. Their hearing is so fine that they can locate prey precisely.
– They rarely drink water. They hunt primarily mice, rats, birds, reptiles, and insects.
– When confronted, the African wildcat raises its hair to make itself seem larger in order to intimidate its opponent. In the daytime it usually hides in the bushes, although it is sometimes active on dark cloudy days.
CERASTES CERASTES
– The average total length (body and tail) is 30—60 cm, with a maximum total length of 85 cm.
– One of the most distinctive characteristics of this species is the presence of supraorbital «horns», one over each eye.
– with sparse rock outcroppings, and tend not to prefer coarse sand. Occasionally, they are found around oases, and up to an altitude of 1,500 metres. Cooler temperatures, with annual averages of 20° C or less, are preferred.
MALI COBRA
– The king cobra – one of the most venomous snakes on the planet – can literally «stand up» and look a full-grown person in the eye. When confronted, they can lift up to a third of its body off the ground and still move forward to attack.
– Their venom is not the most potent among venomous snakes, but the amount of neurotoxin they can deliver in a single bite – up to two- tenths of a fuid ounce – is enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant.
– A V E R A G E L I F E S P A N I N T H E WI L D: 20 years.
BLACK – NECKED SPITTING COBRA
– Unlike other snakes, Naja nigricollis can be either nocturnal or diurnal depending on the time of year, geographic location, and average daytime temperature. This adaptability allows the snake to better regulate its body temperature and to gain access to the most abundant food sources of a particular area.
– Like other spitting cobras, this species is known for its ability to project venom at a potential threat. The venom is an irritant to the skin and eyes. If it enters the eyes, symptoms include extreme burning pain, loss of coordination, partial loss of vision, and permanent blindness.
– Their coloration and markings can vary considerably. They prey primarily on small rodents.
MALI
DAMA GAZELLE
– Additionally, Dama gazelles are hunted by numerous predators of their range (jackals, cheetahs, hyenas, lions), who typically hunt prey on plain terrains.
– Dama Gazelle lives for 10 to 12 years in the wild and for several years longer in captivity.
– Breathing can cause an animal to lose a lot of water. A smaller heart and liver need less oxygen, so the animal can breathe less and lose less water.
RHIM GAZELLE
– Life span: 14.6 years (captivity).
– Other key physical characteristics of the Rhim gazelle include its pale color. It is the palest of all of the gazelle species, and it usually has a cream colored or yellow-white coat.
– Their diet consists mainly of leaves, grass, and other vegetation that can be found in the desert. They are highly adapted to desert life, and hardly ever need to drink water.
BARBARY SHEEP
– They are able to go without