What animal am I? -> Vervet Monkey

Week 8 of our “What animal am I?” series .…

Clue 1: I am primarily herbivore, but sometimes turn into an omnivore -> Living mostly on wild fruits, flowers, leaves & seeds they sometimes also enjoy insects, eggs and small birds!

Clue 2: Tyndall effect -> The vervet monkey has vivid blue “family jewels” (scrotum) which pales when the animal falls in social rank. The colour is not caused by hormonal shifts (mating interests), it has to do with the scattering of light by the skin itself -> like the Tyndall effect. It is concluded that the blue-to-white colour variation is modulated by the degree of dermal hydration. They do chemistry without knowing it!

Clue 3: I am a trichromat -> Old world monkeys and apes mainly see as humans do – they are trichromats, so they pick up red, green & blue. In some cases it's not as good as what we humans see - but it's much better than cats and dogs. Scientists say that good colour vision helps animals find ripe fruit.

Did you know…

The vervet monkey, is an Old World monkey of the family Cercopithecidae (Cercopithecus means ‘long-tailed monkey’) native to Africa. It sports a black face surrounded by a white fringe with various shades of grey to the reddish-green fur on the body, with long arms, long legs and a long tail. A vervet monkey is about the size of a large pet cat. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent, especially the old world monkeys.  

VERVET MONKEY:

Lifespan: up to 12 years (up to 30years in captivity)

Speed: 45 km/h

Scientific name: Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Mass: 3.9 – 8kg (females are slightly smaller than males)

Body length: 420 – 600mm (females are slightly smaller than males; measured from the top of the head to the base of the tail)

Diet: The vervet monkey eats a primarily herbivorous diet, but sometimes turn into an omnivore. Living mostly on wild fruits, flowers, leaves & seeds they sometimes also enjoy insects, eggs and small birds!

Vervets have pouches in their mouths where they can store food to be eaten later. 

They are arboreal (living in trees) monkeys and use their long arms & tail to move quickly and safely through the trees in forests and wooded areas near rivers and streams.

Although they do venture down to the ground in search of both food and water, Vervet Monkeys rarely go further than 450 meters from the trees, which helps to protect them from predators. They are diurnal (day-active) animals spending the days foraging for food and then rest at night. They need to drink daily.

Seeing in colour: Old world monkeys and apes mainly see as humans do – they are trichromats, so they pick up red, green & blue. In some cases it's not as good as what we humans see - but it's much better than cats and dogs. Scientists say that good colour vision helps animals find ripe fruit.

Blue Family Jewells: The vervet monkey has vivid blue “family jewells” (scrotum) which pales when the animal falls in social rank. The colour is not caused by hormonal shifts (unlike the red bottoms of baboons and other primates in heat), it has to do with the scattering of light by the skin itself -> like the Tyndall effect. It is concluded that the blue-to-white colour variation is modulated by the degree of dermal hydration. They do chemistry without knowing it!

The Tyndall Effect is the effect of light scattering in colloidal dispersion, while showing no light in a true solution. ... Because a colloidal solution or substance (like fog) is made up of scattered particles (like dust and water in air), light cannot travel straight through.

A colloidal solution or substance (like fog) is made up of scattered particles (like dust and water in air), light cannot travel straight through. Rather, it collides with these micro-particles and scatters causing the effect of a visible light beam… or in the Vervet monkey -> Blue Family Jewells 😉

For a better explanation please follow this link: Theoretical Chemistry

Social behaviour: They have been noted for having human-like characteristics, such as hypertension & anxiety. Vervets live in close-knit social groups ranging from 10 to 70 individuals which are called troops, with males moving to neighbouring groups at the time of sexual maturity. Troop members spend social-bonding time grooming each other, taking dirt and bugs out of their fur.

Hierarchy: Within a troop, adult males form a dominance hierarchy that is established and maintained by threat, aggression, fighting abilities, allies and age. Facial expressions and body postures are used to communicate threats or aggressive behaviour. Access to prime food recourses is determined by the dominance hierarchy.

Female hierarchy is dependent on mothering and producing offspring. Newborns are highly regarded in the troop, with all members acknowledging them in a supportive manner. Females that rear a greater number of infants gain respect and sit at the top of the female hierarchy.

Babies: Females have one baby at a time, typically every year. Babies are born throughout the year but mostly between October and March. Allomothering is the process when another individual besides the mother cares for an infant, generally they are choose siblings or infants of high-ranking individuals.

Grandmothers and grandchildren share one-quarter of their genes, infants approach their grandmothers more often than unrelated members and prefer their grandmothers compared to other adult female kin, not including their own mothers.

Communication: Vervet monkeys have four confirmed predators: leopards, eagles, pythons, and baboons and warn each other about potential threats using loud distinct alarm screams. Monkey are very vocal in their hierarchy displays and mothers can recognize their offspring by a scream alone.

Relationship with humans: In spite of low predator populations in many areas, human development has encroached on wild territories, and this species is killed by electricity pylons, vehicles, dogs, pellet guns, poison, bullets and is trapped for traditional medicine, bush meat and for biomedical research.

The vervet monkey has a complex and fragile social system, and persecution of the monkeys is thought to have affected troop structures and diminishing numbers. Many people living in close proximity to vervet monkey colonies see them as pests as they steal their food, fortunately however there are heavy fines in some cities to discourage the killing of vervet monkeys.

What animal am I? -> GIRAFFE

Week 6 of our “What animal am I?” series .…Clues during the week -> featured animal revealed on Thursdays.

Clue 1: Insomnia? -> They usually sleep standing, sometimes sitting, curl their necks and sleep for about five minutes at a time, sleeping no more than 30 minutes a day.

Clue 2: built like a battering ram -> Male giraffes fight for females by “necking”. They stand side by side and swing the backs of their heads into each other’s ribs and legs. Their skulls are thick and they have horn-like growths called ossicones on the tops of their heads. Their heads are like battering rams and are capable of breaking their opponents’ bones.

Clue 3: Ruminant -> any of various cud-chewing hoofed mammals having a stomach divided into 4 (occasionally 3) compartments. Ruminants are mammals that are able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialized stomach prior to digestion, principally through microbial actions.

GIRAFFE

Did you know: Evolution - around 15 million years ago, antelope-like animals were roaming the dry grasslands of Africa. There was nothing very special about them, but some of their necks were a bit long.

Within a mere 6 million years, they had evolved into animals that looked like modern giraffes, though the modern species only turned up around 1 million years ago. Giraffes are the tallest mammals on Earth with the okapi being its closest relative.

The Giraffe’s legs alone are taller than many humans—about 1.8m, but their neck is too short to reach the ground.

Giraffe:

Lifespan: 20 – 25 years (in the wild)

Speed: 60 km/h for short sprints & 50 km/h for several km

Scientific name: Giraffa

Mass: 800kg – 1200kg (female – male adult)

Height: 4.3 – 5.7 m (female -male)

Name: “Camelopard" is an old English name for the giraffe deriving from the Ancient Greek for camel and leopard, referring to its camel-like shape & movements and its leopard-like colouring.

Herd: Giraffes live in herds of related females and their offspring, or bachelor herds of unrelated adult males, but are sociable and may gather in large aggregations. Males establish social hierarchies through "necking", which are combat bouts where the neck is used as a weapon.

Neck & necking

A giraffe's neck alone is 1.8 – 2.4 m long and weighs about 272 kg. The animal's legs are also around the same length. Their necks are however too short to reach the ground. As a result, it has to awkwardly spread its front legs or kneel to reach the ground for a drink of water.

Until recently it was assumed that giraffes’ long necks evolved to help them feed, reaching leaves on tall trees that nobody else can reach.  This advantage is real, as giraffes can and do feed up to 4.5 m high, while even quite large competitors, such as kudu, can feed up to only about 2 m high.

Picture: The giraffe (right) and its close relative the okapi (left) both have 7 cervical vertebrae (like us humans!). However the giraffe’s vertebrae’s can EACH be over 28 cm long

New research however has another theory: Male giraffes use their necks as weapons in combat to fight for females by “necking”. They stand side by side and swing the backs of their heads into each other’s ribs and legs. To help with this, their skulls are unusually thick, and they have horn-like growths called ossicones on the tops of their heads. Their heads are like battering rams and are capable of breaking their opponents’ bones. What do you think, plausible?

Horns: Both male and female giraffes have two distinct, hair-covered horns called ossicones. The ossicones of females and young are thin and display tufts of hair on top, whereas those of adult male’s end in knobs and tend to be bald on top.

Thick-skinned: The skin of a giraffe is mostly gray. Its thickness allows the animal to run through thorn bushes without being punctured. The fur may serve as a chemical defence, as its parasite repellents give the animal a characteristic scent. However some parasites feed on giraffes and they may rely on oxpeckers to clean them of ticks and alert them to danger.

High Blood pressure: The tallest ever giraffe was 5.8 m tall and to pump blood all the way up its long neck, the giraffe has several adaptations in its cardiovascular system. Its heart, which can weigh about 12 kg and measures 60 cm long, must generate approximately double the blood pressure required for a human to maintain blood flow to the brain. Giraffes have unusually high heart rates for their size, at 150 beats per minute.

Making it the biggest heart in the animal kingdom!

When the animal lowers its head the blood rushes down a complex web of arteries and veins lying very close to each other in the upper neck, prevents excess blood flow to the brain. When it raises again, the blood vessels constrict and direct blood into the brain, so the animal does not faint. The jugular veins contain several (most commonly seven) valves to prevent blood flowing back into the head while the head is lowered.

Legs & movement: The skin of the lower legs is thick and tight preventing too much blood from pouring into them. Their legs are incredibly powerful and each of them ends in a hard, sharp, 30-centimetre hoof. A giraffe can kick in any direction and in a manner of ways and its kick can not only kill a lion.

Unsurprisingly, very few predators bother an adult giraffe. However, in the Kruger National Park, lions have adapted to chase Giraffes across tar roads in the hope they slip so they can get to the Giraffes necks to kill them without exposing themselves to the dangerous kicks.

A giraffe walks like a camel, moving the legs on one side of the body at the same time, then doing the same on the other side. When galloping, the hind legs move around the front legs before the latter move forward. The giraffe relies on the forward and backward motions of its head and neck to maintain balance while galloping. If you have ever watched a giraffe gallop, you will agree – it looks like slow-motion.

Calf:  The mother gives birth standing up. The calf emerges head and front legs first and falls to the ground, severing the umbilical cord. A new-born giraffe is 1.7–2 m tall. After their +/- 2m drop at birth, the giraffe calf can stand up and walk about an hour later and within a week, it starts to sample vegetation.

Mothers with calves will gather in nursery herds, moving or browsing together. This is known as a "calving pool”.

Habitat: Grasslands and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. Its scattered range extends from Chad in the north to South Africa in the south, and from Niger in the west to Somalia in the east. Giraffes usually inhabit savannahs and woodlands.

Food: A giraffe eats around 34 kg of foliage daily, primarily acacia species. As a *Ruminants*, the giraffe first chews its food, then swallows it for processing and then visibly passes the half-digested cud up the neck and back into the mouth to chew again. Giraffes only need to drink once every few days as most of their water comes from all the plants they eat.

*Ruminant*: any of various cud-chewing hoofed mammals having a stomach divided into four (occasionally three) compartments. Ruminants are mammals that are able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialized stomach prior to digestion, principally through microbial actions.

Tongue: The giraffe's tongue is about 45 cm long. It is purplish-black in colour, perhaps to protect against sunburn, and is useful for grasping foliage, as well as for grooming and cleaning the animal's nose.

Insomnia: In the wild, giraffes almost never lie down because of vulnerability to predators. They usually sleep standing, sometimes sitting, and they give birth standing up. When giraffes sleep, they curl their necks and sleep for about five minutes at a time, sleeping no more than 30 minutes a day.

Sounds: Whilst it was thought that giraffes did not make any sounds, this is now known to be untrue, as giraffes bellow, snort, hiss and make flute-like sounds, as well as low pitch noises beyond the range of human hearing. 

What animal am I? -> AFRICAN FISH EAGLE

Week 4 of our “What animal am I?” series .…Clues during the week -> featured animal revealed on Thursdays.

Clue 1: I am not lazy, just very efficient! ->  They spend most of the time perched in a tree beside the water watching for prey and territorial intruders, it only forages for 5 to 10% of the day. African fish eagles are very efficient hunters and only hunt for about 10 minutes each day.

Clue 2: Thief & kleptoparasite -> They habitually steal prey from other species.

Humans - You think we're above it? The truth is, we're master kleptoparasites! There are many instances in history of people stealing food from other people and we also “steal” edibles from other species. You might very likely be a kleptoparasite as well ... have you eaten any honey lately?

Clue 3: I am often described as the sound of Africa -> Its “characteristic call of Africa” is, for many, evocative of the spirit or essence of Africa and often described as the “Sound of Africa”. 

Which clue gave it away?

AFRICAN FISH EAGLE

This striking raptor is one of the most iconic birds of Africa, often also described as the sound of Africa.

The adult is very distinctive in appearance with a mostly brown body; large, powerful, black wings & the head, breast and tail are snow white. The exception is the featherless face, which is yellow. The eyes are dark brown in colour. The hook-shaped beak, ideal for a carnivorous lifestyle, is yellow with a black tip.

This species may resemble the bald eagle in appearance; though related, each species occurs on different continents, with the bald eagle being resident in North America.

African Fish Eagle:

Lifespan: 12 – 24 years

Speed: 80 km/h

Scientific name: Haliaeetus vocifer

Mass: 2kg – 205kg (male; 3.2kg – 3.6kg (female)

Wingspan: 2m (males); 2.4m (females)

Length: 63 – 77cm

Did you know: African Fish Eagle in isiZulu is inkwazi

Kleptoparasite: African fish eagles are kleptoparasites, which is to say they habitually steal prey from other species. Common victims of their piratical behaviour include goliath herons and saddle-billed stork.

Besides fish, they also eat young birds (especially water-birds such as ducks & flamingos), turtles and terrapins, baby crocodiles, lizards, frogs as well as carrion (decaying flesh of dead animals). Occasionally, it may even carry off mammalian prey, such as hyraxes, monkeys and even domestic chickens.

Should they catch very large prey and it is too heavy to allow the eagle to get lift, they will drag it across the surface of the water until it reaches the shore and will eat it on the ground next to the water.

Humans - You think we're above it? The truth is, we're master kleptoparasites! There are many instances in history of people stealing food from other people and we also “steal” edibles from other species. You might very likely be a kleptoparasite as well ... have you eaten any honey lately?

African Sound: The African Fish Eagle has two distinct calls which have become known as the 'sound of Africa'. The first of the calls are used in flights or when perched and is produces by flinging its head back as it vocalises, to make it louder.

When near the nest it has more of a 'quock' sound - the female is a little shriller and less mellow than the male.

Its “characteristic call of Africa” is, for many, evocative of the spirit or essence of Africa.

Fish eagle sound clip: CLICK HERE (source:klipvid1)

Habitat: This is a generalist species, requiring only large open bodies of water with sufficient prey and a good perch, as evident by the number of habitat types in which this species may be found, including grassland, swamps, marshes, tropical rain-forest, fynbos, and even desert-bordering coastlines. The African fish eagle is absent from arid areas with little surface water.

Acrobatic aerial skills: Courtship includes the birds calling in duet as they fly over their territory. The actual courtship display involves the male diving down at the female who roles over in flight to present her talons.

The female is usually the most aggressive of the pair in defense of the territory. If another female violates her airspace, she will either call to see it off or more likely attack it from below. They interlock talons and actually tumble sometimes 100m to the ground.

African Fish Eagles are believed to be monogamous and mate for life. Even so, the male must win the heart of the female each year. The pair meets in mid-air, locks talons and free-falls until they separate just above the ground.

For life: African fish eagles breed during the dry season, when water levels are low. They are believed to mate for life. Pairs often maintain two or more nests, which they frequently reuse. Because nests are reused and built upon over the years, they can grow very large, some reaching 2 m across and 1.2 m deep.

The females lay 1-3 eggs which are primarily white with a few reddish speckles. The chicks leave the nest at the age of about 3 months. The plumage of the juvenile is brown in colour, and the eyes are paler compared to the adult. They will take 4 – 5 years to develop their magnificent adult plumage.

Siblicide (the killing of an infant siblings, could also be mediated by the parents) does not normally occur with African Fish Eagle and the parents often successfully rear two or three chicks.

Talons: To help grip fish and other slippery prey, the African Fish Eagle has long sharp talons which are coated in barbs called spiricules.

Lazy or efficient? The African fish eagle spends most of the time perched in a tree beside the water watching for prey and territorial intruders, it only forages for 5 to 10% of the day. African fish eagles are very efficient hunters and only hunt for about 10 minutes each day.

Sight & flight: An eagle in flight can reputedly sight a rabbit 3.2km away. Talon–eye coordination is a hunting imperative. From its perch at the top of trees, the eagle can dive at speeds of 200 – 322 km/h to catch its prey by its talons.

Eagles (and most large birds) fly by soaring; it's much more energy efficient than flapping their wings. We do use the technique for our own flights.

Claim to Fame: This bird’s conspicuous nature and charismatic presence ensure it figures prominently in the folklore and heraldry of several nations. You will find it on the Zimbabwean & Zambian Flags as well as on the coat of arms of Namibia, Zambia & South Sudan.

What animal am I? -> BUFFALO

Week 3 of our “What animal am I?” series .…Clues during the week -> featured animal revealed on Thursdays.

Clue 1: Bosses all around -> The adult male buffalo's horns have a fused bases, forming a continuous bone shield across the top of the head referred to as a "boss".

Clue 2: I am Herbivore but will hunter when I feel like it -> They have a great dislike for predators and given the chance, they will attack and trample young/vulnerable lion/hyena/cheetah without being attacked first. Their best defense is to attack and that is what makes them so dangerous.

Clue 3: Mafia of the animal kingdom -> They are referred to as the “mafia” of the animal kingdom because of its steely gaze, never flinching and unnerving demeanor that demands respect. The strong silent types who aren’t fond of those interrupting them. These strong characters never forgive and simply ambush their “prey” without giving any type of warning signal.

CAPE BUFFALO (African Buffalo)

The collective noun for buffalo is “herd”, but other terms include “gang” and “obstinacy”.

The Cape buffalo is the silent strong type you don’t want to upset! Their unflinching steel gaze will make you squirm out of their way. They go about their daily routine and don’t like interruption. They carry on their path, no matter what or who is in their way. The Cape buffalo are 4x stronger than an ox.

Lifespan: 20 years

Speed: 56 km/h

Scientific name: Syncerus caffer

Mass: 350 kg – 870 km (adult)

Height:  100 cm – 170cm (adult, at shoulder)

Length: 200cm – 335cm

Boss: The Cape buffalo is a very robust species; it has a long but stocky body and short but thickset legs. The adult male buffalo's horns have a fused bases, forming a continuous bone shield across the top of the head referred to as a "boss". The horns form fully when the animal reaches the age of five or six years, but the bosses do not become "hard" till 8 to 9 years old. In cows, the horns are, on average, 10–20% smaller, and they do not have a boss.

The body of Cape buffalo is covered with hair that can be brownish to black in color. Calves of have reddish coats.

Friends with benefits: The Oxpecker is just that, they have a symbiotic relationship! They sit on the Cape Buffalo’s hide and remove the ticks/insects embedded in their skins.

Food: While not particularly demanding to their habitat, they require water daily, and therefore depend on constant sources of water. The Cape buffalo is a grazer and prefers tall grasses to short shrubs. Herds of buffalo mow down grasses and make way for more selective grazers.

Dominance: Adult bulls spar in play, dominance interactions, or actual fights. A bull approaches another, lowing, with his horns down, and waits for the other bull to do the same thing. When sparring, the bulls twist their horns from side to side. Actual fights are violent but rare and brief.

Dagga boy: A lone buffalo is most likely an old male buffalo also called “dagga boy” (“Dagga” referring to the thick black clay that coats their skin; ‘dagga’ being another word for mud). Dagga boys are older bulls past their prime which have separated from their heard as they no longer can compete with the younger dominant males. They are solitary or form small group of other dagga boys.

Pathfinder: The most experienced cows are known as pathfinders. They are responsible for taking the herd to the most beneficial area for grazing and water.

Calves: Buffaloes mate and give birth only during the rainy seasons. Buffalo cows have their first calves at age 4 or 5 and they become completely reliant on their mothers, right up until a year old.

Voting? Females appear to exhibit some sort of "voting behavior". During resting time, the females stand up, shuffle around, and sit back down again. They sit in the direction they think they should move. After an hour of more shuffling, the females travel in the direction they decide. This decision is communal and not based on hierarchy or dominance however the pathfinders will lead them.

Strong bond: When chased by predators, a herd sticks close together and makes it hard for the predators to pick off one member. Calves are gathered in the middle. A buffalo herd responds to the distress call of a captured member and tries to rescue it. A calf's distress call gets the attention of not only the mother, but also the herd. Buffaloes engage in mobbing behavior when fighting off predators. They have been recorded killing a lion and chasing lions up trees and keeping them there for two hours, after the lions have killed a member of their group. Lion cubs can get trampled and killed.

Diseases: The Cape buffalo is susceptible to many diseases, including bovine tuberculosis, corridor disease and foot and mouth disease. This can be devastating if they encounter infected domestic cattle. As with many diseases, these problems remain dormant within a population as long as the health of the animals is good. These diseases do, however, restrict the legal movements of the animals and fencing infected areas from unaffected areas is enforced.

Herbivore - Hunter: Other than humans, Cape Buffaloes have few predators and are capable of defending themselves against (and killing) lions. Lions do kill and eat buffalo regularly, but it typically takes quite a few lions to bring down a single adult buffalo.

An average-sized crocodile will attack only old solitary animals and young calves, though they can kill healthy adults too.

If a buffalo herd comes under attack, they form a circle around their young. All the adults’ face outwards in an effort to hide the vulnerable. The adults lower their heads and form a protective barrier with their horns.

They have a great dislike for predators and given the chance, they will attack and trample young/vulnerable lion/hyena/cheetah without being attached first.

Their best defense is to attack and that is what makes them so dangerous.

Big 5: In Africa, the Big Five game animals are the Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant & Cape Buffalo. The term stems from the five most difficult & dangerous animals in Africa to hunt on foot. The Cape Buffalow is known as "the Black Death" or "widowmaker" and is widely regarded as a very dangerous animal.

According to some estimates, it gores and kills over 200 people every year. Buffaloes are sometimes reported to kill more people in Africa than any other animal, although the same claim is also made of hippos and crocodiles.

Mafia: They are referred to as the “mafia” of the animal kingdom because of its steely gaze, never flinching and unnerving demeanor that demands respect. The strong silent types who aren’t fond of those interrupting them. These strong characters never forgive and simply ambush their “prey” without giving any type of warning signal.

Domestic: Its unpredictable temperament means that the Cape Buffalo has never been domesticated.

What animal am I? -> HYENA

Week 2 of our “What animal am I?” series …Clues during the week -> featured animal revealed on Thursdays.

Clue 1: Girl Power 👧 -> females rank higher than males, are larger in size and the group is led by one powerful alpha female.

Clue 2: I have a big heart 💗 -> spotted hyena has a proportionately large heart, constituting close to 1% of its body weight, thus giving it great endurance in long chases. In contrast, a lion's heart makes up only 0.45–0.57 percent of its body weight.

Clue 3: I can be plain, striped or spotted -> The brown hyena is plain, the striped hyena & Aardwolf are striped, and the spotted hyena has spots.

HYENA

Hyenas are not members of the dog or cat families, instead they have their own unique feliform (“cat-like”) carnivoran mammals family -> Hyaenidae.

With only four extant species, it is the fifth-smallest biological family in the Carnivora, and one of the smallest in the class Mammalia.

1. SPOTTED HYENA, largest and also known as the LAUGHING HYENA
2. BROWN HYENA (rarest of hyenas at present)
3. SPRIPED HYENA
4. AARDWOLF (it's a hyena, not a wolf)

Despite their low diversity, hyenas are unique and VITAL components of most African ecosystems. 

They're more closely related to cats than dogs, but their closest relatives are the Herpestidae -> mongooses, meerkats etc

Hyenas live in groups called clans or packs and are creatures of the night.

SPOTTED HYENA:

Lifespan: 12 – 25 years

Speed: 60 km/h

Scientific name: Crocuta Crocuta

Mass: Female: 44 – 64 kg (up to 82kg!), Male: 40 – 55 kg

(Striped hyena: 22 – 55 kg, Brown hyena: 40 – 44 kg)

Height:  70 – 92 cm (adult, at shoulder)

(Striped hyena: 60 – 80 cm, Brown hyena: 70cm)

Girl Power: Spotted hyenas are social mammals and live in structured groups, called clans. There is a strict hierarchy, where females rank higher than males, and the group is led by one powerful alpha female. Males have the lowest status in the pack and are forced to leave their family when they reach sexual maturity. Their fight to enter a new pack is often deadly and the dominant female will determine their fate.

Cubs: A Female hyena gives birth to 2 – 4 cubs a year, which she nurses in a den. Cubs are born with soft, brownish black hair, and weigh 1.5 kg on average. Unique among carnivorous mammals, spotted hyenas are also born with their eyes open and with 6–7 mm long canine teeth and 4 mm long incisors. Female hyenas only have two nipples, therefore cubs often fight for food from the mother which is highly nutritious, sometimes to the death.

As the youngsters grow up, males will often leave to join a different clan, whereas females will remain in the same clan for life.

Looks: The spotted hyena is the largest of them has a strong and well-developed neck and forequarters, but relatively underdeveloped hindquarters. The rump is rounded rather than angular, which prevents attackers coming from behind.

For its size, the spotted hyena has one of the most powerfully built skulls among the Carnivora. The dentition is more dual purposed (hunter & scavenger) than that of other modern hyena species. Combined with large jaw muscles and a special vaulting to protect the skull against large forces, these characteristics give the spotted hyena a powerful bite which can exert a pressure of 40% more force than a leopard can generate. The jaws of the spotted hyena outmatch those of the brown bear in bone-crushing ability!

The female hyena is dominant, larger in size and more aggressive than the male. Females have a ‘pseudo-penis’, which is an elongated clitoris (only mammalian species to lack an external vaginal opening), though they are not hermaphrodite.

Big heart: The spotted hyena has a proportionately large heart, constituting close to 1% of its body weight, thus giving it great endurance in long chases. In contrast, a lion's heart makes up only 0.45–0.57 percent of its body weight.

Predator: The reputation of the hyena as a coward is unfounded and hyena are aggressive competitors in the bush with great endurance and persistence. Unlike its BROWN & STRIPED cousins, the SPOTTED HYENA is a predator, not a scavenger.

They kill and eat baby lion, leopard and other predators. Spotted hyenas often hunt in groups and can take down big animals such as wildebeest, antelope, zebras and young hippos. Smaller snacks on their menu include birds, fish, snakes, lizards and insects.

Hyena are cannibals and will attack and eat other hyenas, including their young.

Adaptability: Its success is due in part to its adaptability and opportunism; it is primarily a hunter but may also scavenge, with the capacity to eat and digest skin, bone and other animal waste. Equipped with a super-strong jaw and teeth, the spotted hyena makes the most efficient use of animal matter of all African carnivores and nothing goes to waste.

The spotted hyena displays greater flexibility in its hunting and foraging behaviour than other African carnivores; it hunts alone, in small parties of 2–5 individuals or in large groups. During a hunt, spotted hyenas often run through ungulate herds in order to select an individual to attack. Once selected, their prey is chased over a long distance, often several kilometres, at speeds of up to 60 km/h.

Reputation: Hyenas feature prominently in the folklore and mythology of human cultures that live alongside them. Hyenas are commonly viewed as frightening and worthy of contempt. In some cultures, hyenas are thought to influence people’s spirits, rob graves, and steal livestock and children. Other cultures associate them with witchcraft, using their body parts in traditional African medicine.

Cackle: Spotted hyenas make a sound resembling laughter when they are excited which gives them their nickname ‘laughing hyena’.  Their cackling sounds can be heard from a distance of 4,8km…. so listen out for me 😄 

Lion

King of the .... Bush (LIONS don't actually live in the Jungle 😉)

The LION is probably the most recognizable and best known species in the family Felidae; it is a muscular, deep-chested cat with a short, rounded head, a reduced neck and round ears, and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. Largest Cat in Africa.

Lifespan: 10 – 14 years (adult, in the wild)

Speed: 80 km/h (max, in short bursts)

Scientific name: Panthera leo

Mass: Male adult; 150kg – 250kg, Female adult; 120kg – 185kg

Height: Male: 121cm at shoulder, Female at shoulder: 110cm at shoulder

Did you know: 

A Complex Social Structure: Unlike other cats, lions are very social animals. They live in groups, called prides. A pride consists of multiple related females and their dependent offspring along with 1 - 3 unrelated males. A typical pride has about 15 members, although some prides as large as 40 members have been observed. The size of the pride is determined by the availability of food and water.

Male lions are the only big cat species with manes.

Biggest Cat in Africa, but only second largest cat in the world: A male lion weighs about 225kg and grows to 244cm in length. It sounds impressive, but tigers are actually larger, reaching 385kg and 335cm long

Territory: They inhabit grasslands and plains where female lions typically hunt together in groups, preying mostly on large mammals although they scavenge when opportunities occur.

Contrary to popular believes, male lions also can and will hunt very successfully when necessary, however if the males are part of a pride (not solitude nomads) they normally stay home and watch over the pride, defending their territory from other rival prides or predators. The males, however, are first to eat when the female lions come back with their kill.

Female bond: Female lions, sisters, live together for life. Their female cubs also stay with the pride, even after they’re grown, but male cubs must venture out on their own once they reach maturity

Majestic Manes: Male lions have majestic manes that make them appear larger and more intimidating. This is primarily a great layer of protection around their necks in fierce territorial fights. Female lions are also attracted to fuller, thicker manes.

Lion Roar: A male lion’s roar can be heard from up to 8km) away – the loudest roar of any big cat species. Their roar helps them find other lions as well as to proclaim their territory. A pride’s territory may include up to 260km².

Lions are more active during day time compared to other big cats, but when persecuted it adapts to being active at night & twilight