Animal Diet Glossary

• Polyphagy: “The habit of feeding on many different kinds of food.”

Most large animals will feed on multiple foods. For example, a cheetah is a carnivore but will eat different meats such as rabbits, antelopes, warthogs and ostrich.

• Monophagy: “Feeding on only one kinds of food.”

Some animals will only eat one specific kind of food, often known as ‘specialists’. An example of a specialist animal is the koala, which only eats eucalyptus leaves.

The suffixes of most of the following words are either ‘vore’ which is derived from the Latin word ‘vorare’ meaning ‘to devour’ or ‘phagy’, which is derived from the Greek word ‘φαγειν’ meaning ‘to eat’.

Carnivore	An animal that eats the meat from other animals.	Grey wolf (Canis lupus) Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Araneophagy	Feeding on or eating spiders.	Blackbird (Turdus merula) Cellar spider (Pholicidae) Common toad (Bufo bufo)
Avivore	Feeding on or eating birds.	Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) Goliath birdeater (Theraphosa blondi)
Durophagy	The consumption of hard-shelled organisms (coral, invertebrates and bamboo)	Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Bullhead shark (Heterodontus) Crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci)
Haematophagy	Feeding on blood	Vampire bat (Desmodontinae) Mosquito (female only) (Culicidae) Lamprey (Petromyzontiformes)
Insectivore	Feeding on insects	Giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) Praying mantis (Mantodea) Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
Myrmecophagy	Feeding on ants and/or termites	Pangolin (Pholidota) Echidna (Tachyglossidae) Ant mimic jumping spider (Myrmarachne)
Invertivore	Feeding on invertebrates	Common frog (Rana temporaria) European headgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) Armadillo (Dasypodidae)
Ceratophagy	Feeding on the hair of animals	Common clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) Dermestid beetle larvae (Dermestidae)
Lepiodophagy	Feeding on fish scales	Bucktooth tetra (Exodon paradoxus) Elongate glassy perchlet (Chanda nama) Target fish (Terapon jarbua)
Molluscivore	Feeding on molluscs	Oystercatcher (Haematopus) Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) Cone snail (Conidae)
Mucophagy	Feeding on mucus	Sea lice (Caligidae) Vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis)
Ophiophagy	Feeding on snakes	Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) Mongoose (Herpestidae) Common kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula)
Oophagy	Feeding on eggs	Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) Crow (Corvus) Hedgehog (Erinaceinae)
Piscivore	Feeding on fish	Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
Spongivore	Feeding on sponges	Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) Emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) Sea slugs (Nudibranch)
Teuthophagore	Feeding on cephalopods	Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) Blue shark (Prionace glauca) Pyjama shark (Poroderma africanum)
Vermivore	Feeding on worms	American robin (Turdus migratorius) Long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus) Kiwi (Apteryx)
Herbivore	Feeding on plants	Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Red deer (Cervus elaphus) White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)
Exudativore / Gumivore	Feeding on gum, tree sap, resin	Black-tufted marmoset (Callithrix penicilata) Forked-marked lemur (Phaner) Leadbeaters possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri)
Folivore	Feeding on leaves	Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin) Two-toed sloth (Choloepus) Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus)
Florivore	Feeding on flowers	European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Yellow-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulata) Fallow deer (Dama dama)
Frugivore	Feeding on fruits	Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) Orangutan (Pongo) Gray-bellied night monkey (Aotus lemurinus)
Graminovore	Feeding on grasses	Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
Garnivore	Feeding on seeds	Tree sparrow (Passer montanus) Western scrub jay (Aphelocoma californica) Grey squirrel (Sciurus caeolinensis)
Nectarivore	Feeding on nectar	Australian painted lady (Vanessa kershawi) Honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus) Grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)
Polynivore	Feeding on pollen	Bees (Anthophila) Ladybird (Coccinellidae) Hoverfly (Syrphidae)
Xylophagy	Feeding on wood	Termite (Isoptera) Bark beetle (Scolytinae) Naval shipworm (Teredo navalis)
Omnivore	Feeding on animals and plants	Coati (Nasua / Nasuella) Brown bear (Ursus arctos) Darwin’s rhea (Rhea pennata)
Fungivore	Feeding on fungus	Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) Gray jay (Perisoreus canadensis) Land slugs (Philomycidae)
Bacterivore	Feeding on bacteria	Vorticella campanula Paramecium
Planktivore	Feeding on plankton	Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) Bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus)
Coprophagy	Feeding on feaces	Oriental latrine fly (Chrysomya megacephala) European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber)
Detritivore	Feeding on decomposing material	Earthworm (Megadrilacea) Woodlouse (Oniscidea) Fiddler crab (Uca)
Geophagy	Feeding on inorganic earth, soil, clay	Red and green macaw (Ara chloropterus) Bats (Chiroptera) Chimpanzee (Pan)
Osteophagy	Feeding on bones	Desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) Brown bear (Ursus arctos) Giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardalis)
Scavenger	Feeding on carrion	Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) Yellowjacket (Vespula / Dolichovespula) Red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri)
Cannibalism	Feeding on members of the same species	Mormon cricket (Anabrus simplex) Praying mantis (Mantodea) Belding’s ground squirrel (Urocitellus beldingi)

Ethiopian Wolf (Canis simensis)

• Name: Ethiopian wolf
• Latin: Canis simensis
• Classification: Mammal
• Origin: Ethiopia, Africa
• Lifespan: 8-10 years
• AKA: Red fox, red jackal, simien fox

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)
Phylum: Chordata (Vertebrates)
Class: Mammalia (Mammals)
Order: Carnivora (Carnivores)
Family: Canidae (Dogs)
Genus: Canis (Wolves, Dogs and Jackals)
Species: Canis Simensis (Ethiopian Wolf)

Apperance

Length: Average of 3.3ft
Weight: 24-42lbs

The Ethiopian wolf is very fox-like in appearance with its long legs and muzzle more pointed that its European cousins. It has a reddish coat with white underside and a black tip to its tail. The colour of its fur often gets darker with age.

Relatives

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• Grey wolf (Canis lupus) -LEAST CONCERN-
• Red wolf (Canis rufus) -CRITICALLY ENDANGERED-
• Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) -NEAR THREATENED-
• Himalayan wolf (Canis himalayaensis) -CRTICALLY ENDANGERED-

Habitat & Distribution

Packs of Ethiopian wolves tend to live in isolated pockets of alpine grassland and Heathland where there are plenty of rodents to feast on. They live at high altitudes of 3,000 meters above ground level in Ethiopia, Africa.

The rainfall at these high altitudes varies between 1-2m/year and have one pronounced dry seasons from December to February/March.

Map of distribution of the Ethiopian wolf

Diet

Ethiopian wolves are carnivores and their diet mainly consists of the rodents that are abundant in their homes. They will hunt and eat hares, giant mole rats and common grass rats. They have also been known to feed on eggs, goslings and young ungulates and will occasionally scavenge on carcasses.

They have strong social bonds but spend most of their day hunting alone. They hunt by sneaking up of their prey silently and pouncing when close enough.

Behaviour

Ethiopian wolves form strong social bonds with others in their pack but spend the majority of each day hunting individually for rodents. They are territorial candids that form territorial packs. The packs contain roughly 12 adults with a skewed mating ratio with several males for each female.

They congregate for social greetings and border patrols at dawn, noon and evenings and rest together at night. They use scent to mark their territories via urine posts, scratching and faeces. Vocalizations are also common in advertising and maintaining territories.

Aggressive interactions with neighbouring packs are common. These are always highly vocal and always end with the smaller pack fleeing from the larger.

Reproduction

Mating between Ethiopian wolves occurs between August and November. This includes a short courtship which involves the male accompanying the female wherever she goes. Females are receptive to all males including those outside the pack. Up to 70% of matings involve male from outside the pack.

The females give birth once a year between October and December. The pups are born with their eyes close, no teeth and a dark coat, the latter of which becomes lighter once they leave the den. This occurs about 3 weeks after birth. The pups are kept in a den dug by the female and are regularly shifted between dens to ensure their safety.

It is the responsibility of all members of the pack to help guard the den, chase away potential predators and bring hunted food to the pups. Subordinate females may assist the dominant female in suckling her pups. At least half of the extra nursing females show signs of pregnancy and may have lost or deserted their own offspring before joining the dominant females den.

Ethiopian wolf cubs

Adaptations

1. The Ethiopian wolf has a narrow, pointed muzzle, ideal for fitting into rat holes to catch their prey.
2. The Ethiopian wolf has small, widely spaced teeth which helps it to hold on to small, wriggling animals.
3. The Ethiopian wolf tends to hunt alone which matches the habits of its prey. A large pack is not required for taking down rodents and the wolf does not have to share his kill with others.
4. The dark orange colouring of the Ethiopian wolf’s fur provides excellent camouflage for it, meaning it can sneak up on its prey undetected.

Threats

Ethiopian wolves are one of the most endangered species of canine with their worldwide population being less that 500 separated into only seven isolated populations. They live in packs in altitudes as high as 10,500 feet.

Their threats include destruction of habitat by human populations to make way for farmland, roads and areas for livestock grazing. This loss of habitat forces them closer to humans, which is the cause of another of their threats. Ethiopian wolves can catch disease from domestic dogs, such as rabies and sometimes canine distemper.

Another big killer of these wolves is the hunting and poisoning of them by human farmers. It is widely believed that they hunt and eat the farmer’s livestock. However, this belief is in fact false. Ethiopian wolves feed primarily on rodents, and hunt solitary. A singly wolf would not be able to take down an animal such as a cow or even a pig on its own.

Conservation

IUCN Status: Endangered

There is a huge organisation designed solely to protect the Ethiopian wolf called the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP). It was founded in 1995 by Dr. Claudio Sillero. The strategies designed for the conservation of this wolf also protects the fragile afroalpine ecosystem of Ethiopia, Africa.

The EWCP protected the Ethiopian wolf by monitoring their numbers and where they live. It also vaccinates domestic dogs to reduce the spread of disease, provides a comprehensive education programme for local school children and employs local residents which raises the standards of living of the people of Ethiopia and in turn raises motivation to protect the wolf.

Fun Facts

Male: Brute
Female: Bitch
Young: Pup
Group: Pack

-Is an animal of many names including Abyssinian Fox, Red Fox, Red Jackal, Simien Fox and Simien Jackal.
-They are more closely related to wolves and coyotes than to the foxes they so closely resemble.
-They live in packs which involve about 3-13 individuals.
-One of the most endangered animals on the planet with less than 500 individuals.

Common Warthog (Phacochoerus africana)

• Name: Common warthog
• Latin: Phacochoerus africana
• Classification: Mammal
• Origin: Africa
• Lifespan: Up to 15 years

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia (animals)
• Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates)
• Class: Mammalia (mammals)
• Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)
• Family: Suidae (pigs)
• Genus: Phacochoerus (warthogs)
• Species: Phacochoerus africana (common warthog)

Apperance

• Length: 9-1.5m (3.0-4.9ft)
• Weight: F: 45-75kg (99-165lbs) M: 60-150kg (130-330lbs)

The warthog is covered with sparse hair which is usually brown or black in colouration. They have a large flat head with two warts and two pairs of tusks (present in both sexes). The upper pair curve upwards and over the snout, while the lower pair are shorter and are sharpened by rubbing against the upper pair every time the mouth is opened and closed. The warthog has a black mane that runs down the spine to the middle of the back and their long tails end with a tuft of hair. The species is slightly sexually dimorphic with the males being heavier than the females.

Relatives

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• Pygmy hog (Porcula salvania) -CRTICIALLY ENDANGERED-
• Bush pig (Potamochoerus larvatus) -LEAST CONCERN-
• Red river hog (Potamocherus porcus) -LEAST CONCERN-
• Sulawesi babirusa (Babyrousa celebensis) -VULNERABLE-

Habitat & Distribution

The common warthog is usually found in open and wooded savannas, grass steppes and semi-deserts throughout Africa. They prefer open areas and avoid rainforest and severe desert. The warthog has been found living at elevations of up to 3,000ft on Mt. Kilimanjaro and along the coastal regions of Africa. The common warthog lives outside forested areas in Africa, from Mauritania to Ethiopia and south to Namibia and eastern and south Africa.

Map of distribution of the common warthog

Diet

The common warthog is the only pig species that has adapted to grazing in savanna habitats. They are omnivorous and eat grasses, roots, berries, bark, fungi, eggs and carrion. Their diet is seasonally variable depending on the availability of food items. During the wet season, they primarily graze on short grasses and during the dry, they eat mostly bulbs, rhizomes and nutritious roots.

When feeding, the warthog will often bend their front legs backwards and move around on their wrists, on which there are calloused pads formed during early development of the foetus. They will use their snout and tusks to dig up rhizomes and bulbs, these foods provide water during periods of drought. The common warthog will also eat their own dun and that of rhinos, African buffalo, waterbuck and francolin. This animal is very hardy and are able to survive long periods without water, as much as several months in one season.

Behaviour

Common warthogs are not territorial but do keep to their home ranges. Females will live in groups with their young and other females. The males will leave the natal group at around two years of age but will stay within the home range. Sub-adult males form bachelor groups, but become solitary when adults.

These animals have two facial glands, tusks and sebaceous. Both sexes will begin to mark at six to seven months of age. The male of the species tend to mark more often than females and will mark sleeping and feeding areas and around waterholes. The tusks are used for courtship, antagonistic behaviours and to establish status.

Primarily diurnal, the warthog will often take refuge at night in their own or abandoned aardvark burrows. They cope with the high afternoon temperatures by wallowing in mud or water and cope with the low temperatures of the night by sheltering in burrows and huddling together.

As a species, the common warthog has poor eyesight but keen hearing and smell. When alarmed, they run with their tails held upright as an alarm for others. During friendly encounters, they will rub their preorbital glands against each other.

Reproduction

Mating between common warthogs is seasonally dependant. Females will become fertile four to five months after the rainy season and will give birth in the dry season. They have a polygynandrous mating system, meaning that both sexes will have multiple mates. Males do not defend territories but ritualized fighting can occur between males over oestrous females, however, injuries and fatalities are rare. Males will employ one of two mating strategies during the breeding season. There is the ‘staying tactic’, where a male will stay and defend females or resources valuable to them, or there is the ‘roaming tactic’ where the male will seek out oestrous sows and compete for them. Adult males are normally solitary but will join female groups for mating.

Prior to giving birth, females will become solitary and will give birth in a burrow. This in important for regulating the body temperature of the piglets as they cannot do this themselves for the first few days of life. The common warthog has the longest gestation of all pigs and can range from 170-175 days. Litter sizes range from one to seven piglets but on average will have a litter of three. The young will spend six to seven weeks in the burrow before venturing out with their mother and are weaned at 21 weeks of age. When threatened, the piglets will run head first into their burrow with the mother following after them. She will then turn and block the entrance with her tusks pointing forward, protecting her offspring from predators.

The males will leave their mother at two years of age but will not usually mate until they are about four and the females will stay with their mother until they are sexually mature (around 18-20 months) but will often return to the natal group throughout their lives.

Common warthog female with young piglets

Adaptations

1. Both sexes are armed with hard tusks on their faces. The males will use these as weapons when competing for females but are more commonly used by both males and females as tools for digging up roots and tubers from the earth.
2. The ‘warts’ for which these animals are named are actually pockets of fat located on the face. These are used for protection from rival males and predators.
3. Warthogs have developed hard calluses on their knees as a response to their feeding behaviour. They will kneel down and walk on their knees which makes digging for roots easier and they can also stand and run from predators quickly from this position.
4. The characteristic behaviour of common warthogs is to run with their tail pointing straight up. This is thought to help other individuals see where it is running and to follow.

Threats

The common warthog are currently not undergoing any significant decline however they are very susceptible to periods of prolonged drought and are also hunted extensively by trophy hunters. They are also persecuted by farmers for crop damage which has resulted in them becoming extirpated from some regions. The common warthog is also unfortunate enough to have an extensive list of predators, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, eagles and crocodiles among others.

Conservation

IUCN Status: Least Concern

The common warthog is present in many protected areas across its range and is part of many respected zoological collections across the globe. To prevent its population falling into a significant decline, the trade in ivory and bushmeat needs to be monitors and additional data can be collected on their distribution and population trends.

The subspecies of the common warthog, Phacochoerus africanus aeliani is threatened however, and requires additional research and some suggest captive breeding programmes to increase the population of this rare pig.

Fun Facts

• Male: Boar, Hog
• Female: Gilt, Sow
• Young: Piglet
• Group: Sounder

-These are adaptable animals and are able to change their foraging times / patterns in accordance to predator attendance.

-The common warthog will often utilise abandoned aardvark burrows rather than dig their own.

-The common warthog is gregarious and will live in groups of up to 40 individuals.

References

Arkive (2014) Common warthog (Phacochoerus africana) [Online] Available at: http://www.arkive.org/common-warthog/phacochoerus-africanus/image-G65244.html [Accessed: 16 July 2014]

BBC Nature (2014) Warthog [Online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Warthog [Accessed: 16 July 2014]

Creel, E (2005) Phacochoerus africanus – common warthog [Online] Available at: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Phacochoerus_africanus/#habitat [Accessed: 28 July 2014]

Denver Zoo (2008) Common Warthog – Phacochoerus africanus [pdf] Available at: http://www.denverzoo.org/downloads/dzoo_warthog.pdf [Accessed: 18 June 2015]

IUCN (2015) Phacochoerus africanus [Online] Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41768/0 [Accessed: 18 June 2015]

National Geographic (2014) Warthog – Phacochoerus africanus [Online] Available at: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/warthog/ [Accessed: 28 July 2014]

San Diego Zoo (2015) Common Warthog (Phacochoerus africana) Fact Sheet 2015 [Online] Available at: http://ielc.libguides.com/content.php?pid=664508&sid=5503080 [Accessed: 18 June 2015]

WAZA (2014) Common warthog (Phacochoerus africana) [Online] Available at: http://www.waza.org/en/zoo/visit-the-zoo/pigs-and-peccaris/phacochoerus-africanus [Accessed: 16 July 2014]

Wild Pig Specialist Group (2014) Wild Pigs of the World [Online] Available at: https://sites.google.com/site/wildpigspecialistgroup/iucnssc-wild-pig-specialist-group/wild-pigs-of-the-world [Accessed: 16 July 2014]

Wikipedia (2014) Warthog [Online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warthog [Accessed: 16 July 2014]

Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)

• Name: Black rhinoceros
• Latin: Diceros bicornis
• Classification: Mammal
• Origin: Africa
• Lifespan: 35-50 years
• AKA: Hook-lipped rhinoceros

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)
• Phylum: Chordata (Vertebrates)
• Class: Mammalia (Mammals)
• Order: Perissodactyla (Odd-toed Ungulates)
• Family: Rhinocerotidae (Rhinos)
• Genus: Diceros (Double Horned Rhinoceros)
• Species: Diceros bicornis (Black Rhinoceros)

Apperance

• Height: 132-180cm (52-71in)
• Weight: 800-1,400kg (1,800-3,100lbs)

The black rhino is a large, grey coloured animal with thick overlapping skin. They are smaller in size than the other African rhino, the white rhino and have less of a pronounced hump on the back of their necks. They are hairless apart from the ears, tip of the tail and eyelashes. They are distinguished from white rhinos by their pointed upper lip which is used for browsing from trees and bushes.

The black rhinoceros has two horns on its face made of keratin. The front horn is larger than the other and grow as much as three inches (eight centimetres) in a year and can grow up to five feet (1 ½ meters) long. The black rhino is slightly sexually dimorphic with the males being fractionally larger than the females.

Relatives

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• White rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) -NEAR THREATENED-
• Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) -CRITICALLY ENDANGERED-
• Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) -CRITICALLY ENDANGERED-
• Greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) -VULNERABLE-

Habitat & Distribution

Black rhino can be mainly found living in grassland – forest transition zones but can range from the desert in south-western Africa to montane forests in Kenya. They often restrict their territories to areas within 25km of water sources and can also be found in mud or water wallows to cool themselves.

Historically, they could be found throughout sub-Saharan Africa with the exception of the Congo basin. However, in the 1970s-80s, a poaching epidemic caused numbers to decrease by 40-90%. Since 1981, the black rhino has disappeared from many areas of Africa including Ethiopia, Malawi, Sudan and Botswana.

Today, 98% of the total population of black rhino is found in just four African countries; South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya. 40% of the total wild population live in South Africa.

Map of distribution of the black rhinoceros

Diet

Unlike their cousins, the white rhino, black rhinos are browsers and eat leaves, twigs and branches. Consumption of long grass is usually very low, making up only 30-40% of their overall diet. If water is available, they will drink everyday however; they also handle drought conditions very well and can go up to five days without drinking so long as their food contains enough moisture. If only dry forage is available, they can be found within a day’s travel to a water source. They are also not effected by the poisonous tannins that can increase during a time of drought.

The black rhinoceros feeds mostly during the early morning and the evening and use their horns to dig up roots and break branches for easier access to their food. Like zebra and horses, the black rhinoceros is a hind gut fermenter and digests the high amount of cellulose it eats using bacterial fermentation.

Behaviour

The black rhinoceros is a usually solitary animal, only coming together to breed however, they have recently been observed coming together at night at water holes to form bonds. They are not very territorial and home ranges depend on the availability of food and water. These animals are also known to be aggressive and due to their poor eyesight, will charge at anything it deems a threat (they have been observed to charge at tree trunks and termite mounds). They will also fight each other and have the highest rate of mortal combat of any mammal.

Black rhino have a varied vocabulary of vocalisations including growling; trumpeting (when fighting), long snorts (anger) and sneeze like calls (indicate danger). When started by a newcomer, they wrinkle their nose, prick their ears and release short snorts. A high pitched honk indicates fearfulness and a puffing snort is a common greeting between males and females.

Reproduction

Males will begin courtship by following the female for 1-2 weeks and will accompany her even as she sleeps. Before mating occurs, the male will walk with a stiff legged manner and brush his horn along the ground in front of the female. Many mounting attempts are usually made by the male before he is successful however; if the female isn’t ready she will make a series of attacks and charges at the male. When copulation is eventually successful, it can last between 20-40 minutes.

Breeding can occur at any time of the year and gestation will last for around 15 months. The female will carry and give birth to one offspring at a time which will weigh around 20-25kg at birth. The young are weaned after 18 months but will remain dependant on their mother for up to four years. Females will reach sexual maturity at 5-7 years and males, 7-8 years.

Young black rhinoceros

Adaptations

1. Black rhino have a pointed, prehensile lip which is used to pull branches and stems into its mouth for consumption.
2. Black rhinos have a behavioural adaptation of wallowing in mud. This behaviour provides a natural sun block and bug repellent.
3. Black rhino have two horns positions on the front of their face. These are used for fighting with rivals and breaking branches for easier access to food.
4. Despite their large size, black rhino are very graceful on their feet and can run at speeds of up to 30mph.

Threats

Poaching is the biggest threat to black rhinos. Rhino horn is in high demand on the black market and is used in Traditional Asian Medicines as a cure for fever, also the poaching wave in the 1970’s and 80’s was to meet the demand in Yemen for ceremonial daggers made from rhino horn. Unfortunately, while the demand for rhino horn exists, there will be people willing to exploit it.

Black rhino are also affected by hunting. In the early 20^th century, European settlers killed huge numbers of black rhino as vermin. They were also killed for food or sheer amusement and were common for five or six to be killed in a single day. As ever, habitat loss is also a threat.

In 1970, there were around 65,000 individual black rhinoceroses and by 1992 there remained only 2, 300. 96% of the total population of black rhino had disappeared during this time.

Conservation

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Several groups around the world are currently working towards the conservation of the black rhinoceros including the Zululand Wildlife Project, the AWF (African Wildlife Foundation), Save the Rhino and the International Rhino Foundation.

The WWF (World Wildlife Fund) is currently working to improve security monitoring o protect these rhinos against the threat of poaching, expanding existing protected areas and establishing new ones. The ZSL (Zoological Society of London) has been working with the KWS (Kenya Wildlife Service) since 1993 and provides training and technical support for many conservation activities including wildlife monitoring, anti-poaching patrols, metapopulation management and habitat assessments.

The black rhinoceros was listed under Appendix I of CITES in 1977 which prohibits all international trade of black rhino and their products. In addition, many of the remaining black rhino population are concentrated in intensive protection zones, conservancies and fenced sanctuaries, also monitoring of wild populations can provide information to guide management of rhinos and increase their population growth.

Fun Facts

• Male: Bull
• Female: Cow
• Young: Calf
• Group: Crash, Herd, Stubbornness

• Black rhino can develop a symbiotic relationship with oxpeckers (also known as tick birds) which sit on the animal and eat ticks and blood sores. They can even warn the rhino of danger.
• Although a herbivorous animal, black rhino have no natural predators (except man).
• Black rhino have very thick skin (up to 1.5cm thick) which can deter potential predators.

References

Black Rhino [Online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Black_Rhinoceros#intro [Accessed: 2 November 2013]

Black Rhinoceros [Online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_rhinoceros [Accessed: 2 November 2013]

Black Rhinoceros [Online] Available at: http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/rhinoceros/african_rhinos/black_rhinoceros/ [Accessed: 5 November 2013]

Black Rhinoceros [Online] Available at: http://www.planetwildlife.com/information/species/black-rhinoceros?section=behaviour [Accessed: 5 November 2013]

Black Rhinoceros [Online] Available at: http://www.oregonzoo.org/discover/animals/black-rhinoceros [Accessed: 8 November 2013]

Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) [Online] Available at: http://animals.nationalgeographic.co.uk/animals/mammals/black-rhinoceros/ [Accessed: 2 November 2013]

Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) [Online] Available at: http://www.arkive.org/black-rhinoceros/diceros-bicornis/ [Accessed: 8 November 2013]

Black Rhino, Diceros bicornis [Online] Available at: http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/black_rhino/black_rhino.htm [Accessed: 5 November 2013]

Black Rhino Information [Online] Available at: http://www.savetherhino.org/rhino_info/species_of_rhino/black_rhinos/black_rhino_factfile [Accessed: 2 November 2013]

Diceros bicornis [Online] Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/full/6557/0 [Accessed: 8 November 2013]

Diceros bicornis – black rhinoceros [Online] Available at: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Diceros_bicornis/ [Accessed: 5 November 2013]

History and Threats of the Black Rhino [Online] Available at: http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/project/projects_in_depth/kwazulu/area/species/blackrhino_history.cfm [Accessed: 8 November 2013]

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Rhino Population Figures [Online] Available at: http://www.savetherhino.org/rhino_info/rhino_population_figures [Accessed: 8 November 2013]

Species of Rhino [Online] Available at: http://www.savetherhino.org/rhino_info/species_of_rhino [Accessed: 2 November 2013]

African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer)

(http://www.arkive.org/african-fish-eagle/haliaeetus-vocifer/)

• Name: African fish eagle
• Latin: Haliaeetus vocifer
• Classification: Bird
• Origin: Africa
• Lifespan: 25-30 years
• AKA: Fish eagle, river eagle

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)
• Phylum: Chordata (Vertebrates)
• Class: Aves (Birds)
• Order: Falconiformes (Diurnal birds of prey)
• Family: Accipitridae (Hooked Billed)
• Genus: Haliaeetus (Sea eagles)
• Species: Haliaeetus vocifer (African fish eagle)

Appearance

• Height: 73cm (28.7 inches)
• Wingspan: 2m (6ft)
• Weight: 2-2.7kg (4.4-5.9lbs)

The adults have a very distinctive appearance and have a mostly brown body. They have large, powerful black wings and their head, breast and tail are snow white. Their featherless face is bright yellow. Their eyes are dark in colour and their hooked bill is yellow with a black tip. The feet have rough soles and sharp talons, used for catching and holding onto wriggling fish.

The juveniles are brown in colour and tend to have paler eyes than the adults. The females are generally smaller than the males.

Relatives

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• Tawny eagle (Aquila rapax) -LEAST CONCERN-
• Black hawk eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus) -LEAST CONCERN-
• Harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) -NEAR THREATENED-

Habitat & Distribution

These eagles can be found in large numbers around the lakes of South Africa where there is an abundant food supply. A pair may require less than a square mile of water to have enough food, however, if living near a river, they may need up to 15 miles.

The African fish eagle is widespread throughout southern Africa and is particularly common in and around the Rift Valley Lakes.

Map of distribution of the African fish eagle

Diet

Live fish make up about 90% of this birds diet. The rest is made up of other animals including water birds and their young, amphibians and carrion. The birds taken include ibis, storks, herons, spoonbills and the lesser flamingo.

These birds hunt by scanning the water from up in the trees. Once they spot a fish, they swoop down from their perch and snatch it from the water with their talons. The fish is then taken back to the perch to be eaten, or dragged to shore if it is too heavy to carry.

Behaviour

The African fish eagles tend to live in pairs close to streams and lakes. They are active and agile and can perform bold ariel displays, sometimes diving entirely into the water to catch their prey. They can remain on their perch for up to 85-90% of the day.

They are opportunistic feeders and will steal prey from other birds. They are also highly territorial all year round and can be extremely aggressive. They will either chase intruders away or attack from behind.

Reproduction

The breeding season of the African fish eagle is in the dry season, when the water level is low. They are monogamous, meaning they mate for life, and make 2 or more nests which they frequently re-use. They can measure 2m (6 feet) across and 1.2m (4 feet) deep.

The female lays 1-3 eggs which are white with red speckles. The incubation is mainly done by the female but the male will take over while the female hunts. The eggs take around 42-45 days to incubate. The first chick to hatch will often kill its younger siblings. This is known as siblicide and is a behaviour seen in many birds of prey.

Fledging takes 70-75 days and the young can feed itself after 8 weeks. They young birds will leave the nest and establish their own territories after 10 weeks of birth.

African fish eagle parent feeding chick.

Adaptations

1. The African fish eagle has a hooked beak which helps it to tear flesh from its prey and pull the strong muscles from its bones.
2. This bird of prey also has powerful talons which it uses to grip onto the slippery and wriggling fish it eats.
3. The African fish eagles are aggressive birds and will attack each other if they stray into others territory. It has adapted to have feathered legs in order to protect them from the sharp beak of its opponents.
4. Like all birds of prey, the African fish eagle has excellent eyesight. It uses this sense of sight to spot fish and other prey from its treetop perch.

Threats

Over fishing is a big threat to this bird as well at the increasing size of the local human populations. Large numbers of people move into the African fish eagle’s territory and fish their food supply dry. The birds then have no option than to leave to other areas to feed.

The biggest threat to these birds however, is pesticides. They enter the water system as run off or ground water from the crops on land and contaminate the water system. This kills huge numbers of fish as well as infecting the birds themselves. These pesticides cause reproductive failure in these animals and thin their eggs shells, making them more receptive to breakages.

Conservation

IUCN Status: Least Concern

This animal is listed as ‘Least Concern’ by the ICUN and there are 300,000 individuals. There are no conservation efforts for the African fish eagle.

Fun Facts

Male: Gigallos
Female: Eagless
Young: Eaglet
Group: Flock

-The young chicks often partake in siblicide. This is where the first chick to hatch will destroy the other eggs, in order to have its parent’s undivided attention.
-African fish eagles are monogamous, meaning they mate for life.

Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)

(http://www.arkive.org/aardvark/orycteropus-afer/image-G34981.html)

• Name: Aardvark
• Latin: Orycteropus afer
• Classification: Mammal
• Origin: Africa
• Lifespan: 15-20 years
• AKA: Antbear, anteater, Cape anteater, earth hog, earth pig

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia (animals)
• Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates)
• Class: Mammalia (mammals)
• Order: Tubulidentata (afrotherian mammals)
• Family: Orycteropodidae (aardvark)
• Genus: Orycteropus (aardvark)
• Species: Orycteropus afer (aardvark)

Apperance

• Length: Body – 3-5ft (90-150cm) Tail – 1.2-2ft (45-60cm)
• Height: 2ft (60cm)
• Weight: 100-170lbs (45-77kg)

The aardvark has a bulky body and a humped back. The head is long and narrow and ends in a pig-like snout. The ears are very long and can move independently of each other. The mouth contains 20 teeth which are located at the back of the jaw, they are unusual in that they do not stop growing and they have no roots or enamel. Its mouth also has a 1.5ft (45cm) long tongue which is thin and sticky.

The legs of the aardvark are short and powerful and end with webbed feet. The front feet have four toes and the back have five. The body has thick, pink-grey skin that protects the animal from insect bites and is sparsely covered with bristly hairs which are yellowish or brownish grey in colour.

Relatives

The aardvark is the only member in its taxonomic family.

Habitat & Distribution

Aardvarks can be found in all regions of Africa including dry savannahs and rainforests. Their habitat requirements include sufficient termites for food, access to water and sandy or clay soil. If the soil is too hard, they will move to areas where digging is easier.

Aardvarks are widely distributed in Africa, south of the Saharah. They range from Senegal, east to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. They are absent from the Namib Desert in south-western Africa.

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Aardvark)

Diet

The aardvarks diet is primarily made up of ants, termites and other insects which it digs from the ground using its powerful forepaws and eat with its sticky, foot-long tongue. While foraging at night, the aardvark will press its nose to the ground and follow a zigzag motion to pick up scents of termite mounds and can cover an average of 6 miles in this manner. The same route will be repeated once a week. To obtain water, the aardvark will dig up and eat wild cucumber plants.

Behaviour

Aardvarks and solitary creatures and have never been found in large numbers. They are nocturnal and rely on their sense of smell to locate termites. In one night, they can cover 1.3-3 miles (2-5 kilometres) at a rate of 1,640 feet (500 meters) per hour.

Aardvarks are well known for their digging abilities and can burrow 3.3ft (1m) deep faster than a group of six adults with shovels. When digging, they will push dirt backwards with their claws and the tail will sweep it away. If threatened and cannot escape, the aardvark will lie on its back and fight with all four feet.

Reproduction

The mating season of the aardvark varies according to region. In some areas, these animals will mate in April to May and their offspring will be born in October to November, in other areas they females will give birth in May or June.

The gestation period of the aardvark is seven months and will give birth to one offspring at a time. The young are pink and hairless at birth and weigh approximately 4 pound (2 kilograms). The young will remain in the mother burrow for two weeks, after which it will follow her on the nightly search for food. The young aardvarks will live on their mother’s milk until around three months of age, at which they will be weaned onto solids.

The young leave the mothers burrow after six months but will build their own burrows nearby. The males will leave the mothers completely during the next mating season and the females will remain with their mother until her next young is born.

Adaptations

• The aardvark has a long, snake-like tongue covered in sticky mucus. This is used to scoop up ants and other insects from their underground nests. A single aardvark can eat up to 50,000 insects in a single night using its tongue.
• The aardvark has thick, powerful claws on its forelegs which are used for destroying ant and termite nests and for digging new burrows.
• The aardvark has more olfactory lobes than any other mammal giving it advanced hearing and smell. These senses are used to detect insects in their underground homes and potential predators.
• Aardvarks are nocturnal and solitary. This makes it difficult for predators to catch them as many only hunt during the day.

Threats

Aardvark numbers have been reduced in some areas throughout its range due to human activity and the destruction of its habitat. It is commonly hunted for its meant and other products. The skin, claws and teeth are used to make bracelets and charm, while the hairs are sometimes reduced to a powder and become a potent poison when added to beer.

The habitat of the aardvark is often lost to some forms of agriculture, for example, intensive crop farming. However, cattle farming is beneficial as it improves the habitat for termites. They are also persecuted as their burrows can cause damage to farming equipment, roads, dam walls and fences.

Their natural predators include lions, leopards, hyenas and pythons.

Conservation

• IUCN Status: Least Concern

The aardvark population is currently in large numbers throughout its range and can be found in a number of large and well-managed protected areas. Therefore, there are is no need for any major conservation methods for this species.

Fun Facts

• Male: Boar
• Female: Sow
• Young: Cub
• Group: Pack, Grouping

• Aardvark means ‘Earth Pig’ in Afrikanns.
• An aardvarks claws are as strong as a pick axe.
• When disturbed, an aardvark will squeal like a pig.
• Aardvarks are the only animal in their order.

References

• 13 Amazing Anomalies about the Aardvark [Online] Available at: http://13-fun-facts.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/13-amazing-anomalies-about-aardvark.html[Accessed: 2 September 2013]
• Aardvark [Online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Aardvark#intro [Accessed: 11 June 2013]
• Aardvark [Online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aardvark [Accessed: 11 June 2013]
• Aardvark [Online] Available at: http://www.bronxzoo.com/animals-and-exhibits/animals/mammals/aardvark.aspx [Accessed: 24 August 2013]
• Aardvark [Online] Available at: http://designeranimals.wikispaces.com/Aardvark [Accessed: 28 August 2013]
• Aardvark: Earth Pig, Ant Bear [Online] Available at: http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/animals1/aardvark/aardvark.html [Accessed: 12 August 2013]
• Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) [Online] Available at: http://www.arkive.org/aardvark/orycteropus-afer/ [Accessed: 2 September 2013]
• Aardvark: Tubulidentata – Behaviour and Reproduction [Online] Available at: http://animals.jrank.org/pages/3204/Aardvark-Tubulidentata-BEHAVIOR-REPRODUCTION.html [Accessed: 24 August 2013]
• Orycteropus afer [Online] Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41504/0 [Accessed: 2 September 2013]