Food Chain in the African Savannas
This picture shows the food chain found, typically, in the African savannas. Animals such as Wildebeest or Zebra are primary consumers as they are herbivores and eat the savanna's grass, while all carnivores, including lions and cheetahs, are secondary consumers. Other animals such as vultures or hyenas are scavengers. This means that they eat the remains of food left by top predators.
Lions
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The lion is part of the Felidae family and is the second largest cat in the world after the tiger. Lions inhabit the vast savannas in Africa, but the population of these wild cats in West Africa is very low and they may even be considered as endangered.
The lion is the most widely recognised animal in human culture because of it wild, tangled mane. This is the one characteristic of a lion that is extremely distinctive and unmistakable. During confrontation with other animals, a lion's mane will make it appear larger and intimidate the opposing threat (this mainly includes spotted hyenas looking for scraps or chief lions searching for more territory). The colour of a lion's mane depends on it age and how healthy it is. For example; the darker the mane the more healthy and mature the lion is. It has been proven that lionesses tend to choose males that have darker and thicker (denser) manes. Scientists once believed that you could tell the species of a lion by the size, colour and thickness of the mane. This was proven incorrect as in zoos located in the Northern Hemisphere, lions had denser manes because of the cool temperatures.
The lion spends 20 hours of it's day resting under trees (Umbrella Thorn Acacia) and only hunting at night, this type of lifestyle means that this carnivore is primarily nocturnal. In the hours of twilight a lot of activity takes place such as, grooming, socializing and defecating. These wild cats can spend up to 2 hours of walking and 50 minutes of eating everyday.
In a pack of lions the lionesses usually do the hunting for scavenging for food. Lions are not known for running long distances fast but being able to have short, quick outbursts. This means that they have to firstly select their prey and then sneak up on it. Basically, this means that before it can kill it's prey it has to stalk it. The animal that a lion has selected for it's prey is usually killed by being strangled, having is mouth and nostrils enclosed in the lion's mouth or simply being hit or swiped by it's paw.
Lions mostly eat a wide selection of relatively large mammals which include:
The lion is the most widely recognised animal in human culture because of it wild, tangled mane. This is the one characteristic of a lion that is extremely distinctive and unmistakable. During confrontation with other animals, a lion's mane will make it appear larger and intimidate the opposing threat (this mainly includes spotted hyenas looking for scraps or chief lions searching for more territory). The colour of a lion's mane depends on it age and how healthy it is. For example; the darker the mane the more healthy and mature the lion is. It has been proven that lionesses tend to choose males that have darker and thicker (denser) manes. Scientists once believed that you could tell the species of a lion by the size, colour and thickness of the mane. This was proven incorrect as in zoos located in the Northern Hemisphere, lions had denser manes because of the cool temperatures.
The lion spends 20 hours of it's day resting under trees (Umbrella Thorn Acacia) and only hunting at night, this type of lifestyle means that this carnivore is primarily nocturnal. In the hours of twilight a lot of activity takes place such as, grooming, socializing and defecating. These wild cats can spend up to 2 hours of walking and 50 minutes of eating everyday.
In a pack of lions the lionesses usually do the hunting for scavenging for food. Lions are not known for running long distances fast but being able to have short, quick outbursts. This means that they have to firstly select their prey and then sneak up on it. Basically, this means that before it can kill it's prey it has to stalk it. The animal that a lion has selected for it's prey is usually killed by being strangled, having is mouth and nostrils enclosed in the lion's mouth or simply being hit or swiped by it's paw.
Lions mostly eat a wide selection of relatively large mammals which include:
- Wildebeest
- Impalas
- Zebras
- Buffalo
- Warthogs
Zebras
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The Zebra is part of the African horse family (equids). Close relatives to this animal are donkeys and horses, unlike these animals the zebra has not been able to become domesticated.
There are three main types of zebra:
For a zebra to be classified as one of these has to be judged on where it lives and how similar it looks towards a donkey or horse. The Plains zebra and Grévy's zebra are more horse like than the Mountain zebra.
Similar to the lion, the zebra is also one of the most easily recognised animals located on Earth because of it's unique black and white stripes. It was once believed by humans that zebras were white animals with black stripes as the underbelly of the animal is a pale cream colour. This belief has been proven wrong as the bellies are actually additions to the coat. The stripes on a zebra are typically vertical around the neck, back, main body and head, while they are horizontal on the zebra's rear and legs. The stripes on zebras help to camouflage in the tall grasses against their main predator, the lion. This is so effective as the lion is colour-blind and connot see the drastic difference in colour between the grass and the animal. Another way that it helps to confuse predators is; when a herd of zebras are together the amount of lines on all their bodies can easily confuse any attackers. Overall a zebra's skin is quite sought after which sadly means that some types of zebra (Grévy's zebra) are becoming endangered.
There are three main types of zebra:
- Plains Zebra
- Grévy's Zebra
- Mountain Zebra
For a zebra to be classified as one of these has to be judged on where it lives and how similar it looks towards a donkey or horse. The Plains zebra and Grévy's zebra are more horse like than the Mountain zebra.
Similar to the lion, the zebra is also one of the most easily recognised animals located on Earth because of it's unique black and white stripes. It was once believed by humans that zebras were white animals with black stripes as the underbelly of the animal is a pale cream colour. This belief has been proven wrong as the bellies are actually additions to the coat. The stripes on a zebra are typically vertical around the neck, back, main body and head, while they are horizontal on the zebra's rear and legs. The stripes on zebras help to camouflage in the tall grasses against their main predator, the lion. This is so effective as the lion is colour-blind and connot see the drastic difference in colour between the grass and the animal. Another way that it helps to confuse predators is; when a herd of zebras are together the amount of lines on all their bodies can easily confuse any attackers. Overall a zebra's skin is quite sought after which sadly means that some types of zebra (Grévy's zebra) are becoming endangered.
Meerkats
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Meerkats live in numerous places in Africa, including deserts, but they mostly live in the great, spacious savannas. Meerkats are a part of the mongoose family and also go by the names; Suricata or Suricatta. The actual word 'meerkat' comes from the language Afrikaans and means 'lake cat' in direct translation.
Male meerkats usually weigh 731 grams, while females weigh 720 grams. They have long, thin bodies that measure between 25 to 35 centimetres and tail lengths are between 17 to 25 centimetres long. Unlike most members of the mongoose family. meerkats have slender tails (that are not bushy) that are used as a third leg to help keep them up right when standing. Sometimes the tail is also used for signalling.
Meerkats have round, black ears that can close when foraging for food to ensure that no dirt or sand enters. Meerkats also have binocular vision, which means that they have a larger peripheral view.
The claws on meerkats are 2 centimetres long and curved. This makes it easier to dig through dirt when finding prey or creating a new burrow for the clan to live in. Meerkats also have four toes on each foot and the claws that are located on their hind legs are used to help climb trees.
The fur on a meerkat is smooth and usually a tan colour with either a black or grey tint. The markings (or stripes) on the body are unique to every meerkat, similiar to humans and fingerprints. The stomach of a meerkat has little fur which they use to absorb heat after cold nights in the open savannas.
Since this member of the mongoose family barely has excess body fat, every day it has the task of searching for food. The diet of a meerkat includes:
Meerkats have adapted to this diet by being immune to harsh venoms such as the stings of scorpions in, and around the Kalahari desert.
Male meerkats usually weigh 731 grams, while females weigh 720 grams. They have long, thin bodies that measure between 25 to 35 centimetres and tail lengths are between 17 to 25 centimetres long. Unlike most members of the mongoose family. meerkats have slender tails (that are not bushy) that are used as a third leg to help keep them up right when standing. Sometimes the tail is also used for signalling.
Meerkats have round, black ears that can close when foraging for food to ensure that no dirt or sand enters. Meerkats also have binocular vision, which means that they have a larger peripheral view.
The claws on meerkats are 2 centimetres long and curved. This makes it easier to dig through dirt when finding prey or creating a new burrow for the clan to live in. Meerkats also have four toes on each foot and the claws that are located on their hind legs are used to help climb trees.
The fur on a meerkat is smooth and usually a tan colour with either a black or grey tint. The markings (or stripes) on the body are unique to every meerkat, similiar to humans and fingerprints. The stomach of a meerkat has little fur which they use to absorb heat after cold nights in the open savannas.
Since this member of the mongoose family barely has excess body fat, every day it has the task of searching for food. The diet of a meerkat includes:
- Insects (they are mainly insectivores)
- Lizards
- Snakes
- Scorpions
- Spiders
- Plants
- Eggs
- Millipedes and Centipedes
- Small birds (extremely rare)
Meerkats have adapted to this diet by being immune to harsh venoms such as the stings of scorpions in, and around the Kalahari desert.
Kangaroo (Australian Savannas)
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The kangaroo is part of the Macropodidae (large foot) family and is a marsupial, this means that it is a pouched animal. There are 47 species of kangaroo and can live up to six years in the wild (20 years in captivity). Kangaroos are commonly from Australia and New Guinea.
The kangaroo has gigantic, powerful legs that enable it to jump long distances that can be as large as 9 metres. Only female kangaroos have pouches and they are called a marsupium. The joey lives in here until it has fully developed.
Similiar to sheep and cattle kangaroo have chambered stomachs. When a kangaroo eats, it regurgitates the food, then will swallow it again as a cud. The predigested food then goes back into the stomach for final digestion. Different foods are eaten by different species of kangaroo but all of them are herbivores. For example small kangaroos eat lots of different fungi while red kangaroos eat a wide selection of small isolated trees (shrubs). Kangaroos have incisors that are specially designed for cutting grass that is close to the ground and molars used for grinding and chomping. A kangaroo's jaw is not connected so this means that they have an extremely large bite. Most species of kangaroo are nocturnal, and feed during the hours of dusk and twilight.
Kangaroos have the ability to survive without water for long periods of time. When in need of water, using their long curved claws, they will dig down extremely deep to find some. Basically, they dig their own water-well.
Eye disease in kangaroos is quite rare, but possible. The first report on it was in the year 1994, and within 2 years the condition had spread across the North-Western Australian wilderness. The main cause for this problem was a small genetic virus in two different species of kangaroo that contaminated others. It has been discovered that only 3% of kangaroos that come into contact with the virus will develop it.
The kangaroo has gigantic, powerful legs that enable it to jump long distances that can be as large as 9 metres. Only female kangaroos have pouches and they are called a marsupium. The joey lives in here until it has fully developed.
Similiar to sheep and cattle kangaroo have chambered stomachs. When a kangaroo eats, it regurgitates the food, then will swallow it again as a cud. The predigested food then goes back into the stomach for final digestion. Different foods are eaten by different species of kangaroo but all of them are herbivores. For example small kangaroos eat lots of different fungi while red kangaroos eat a wide selection of small isolated trees (shrubs). Kangaroos have incisors that are specially designed for cutting grass that is close to the ground and molars used for grinding and chomping. A kangaroo's jaw is not connected so this means that they have an extremely large bite. Most species of kangaroo are nocturnal, and feed during the hours of dusk and twilight.
Kangaroos have the ability to survive without water for long periods of time. When in need of water, using their long curved claws, they will dig down extremely deep to find some. Basically, they dig their own water-well.
Eye disease in kangaroos is quite rare, but possible. The first report on it was in the year 1994, and within 2 years the condition had spread across the North-Western Australian wilderness. The main cause for this problem was a small genetic virus in two different species of kangaroo that contaminated others. It has been discovered that only 3% of kangaroos that come into contact with the virus will develop it.