Animal world of the African savannas. Savanna natural area. Savannas of Africa and the whole world: photo, video. Climate, soil, plants, trees and animals inhabitants of the African savannah Unusual animals of the African savannah

There are ten different natural zones on earth and one of them is the savannah zone. The most famous African savannah. Here you will find photos and an interesting video about those who live in the savannah. See: "famous animals and plants of the African savannas", as well as about such features of the climate of this natural area as the rainy season and the dry season.

Well, now about everything in order. The Earth has 10 different biomes - biological systems with specific types of plants and animals that live in their own climatic region. One of these biomes is the tropical savannah. This climatic community extends throughout the southern hemisphere, in particular in East Africa, southern Brazil and northern Australia. Tropical savannahs often transition into deserts or tropical dry forests, and can also be found in tropical grasslands.

Temperature and climate of the savannas. Tropical savannah biomes have two distinct seasons. As a rule, they are called the "winter" season and the "summer" season. These seasons are not accompanied by extreme rise and fall in temperature and are associated with seasonal differences. In fact, all tropical savannahs are located in warm or hot climatic zones, mainly in latitudes from 5 to 10 and from 15 to 20. The annual temperature ranges from 18 degrees to 32 degrees. The rise in temperature is usually very gradual.

Diorama "Africa" ​​(photo by S. V. Leonov). For most people, the word "Africa" ​​is associated primarily with the African savannah.

Winter is the dry season. Winter is the dry season in the tropical savannah biome. This season usually runs from November to April. Savannahs typically receive an average of just four inches of rainfall this season. During most of this time, usually from December to February, rain can be completely absent in the savannahs. This is usually the coolest time of the year. average temperature- about 21 degrees. The dry season is usually heralded by severe thunderstorms in October and beyond. strong winds, which dry the air and bring dry air masses. During January, at the height of the dry season, fires often occur in the savannas.

The dry season is a period of great migrations.

Summer is the rainy season. The hot humidity of the rainy seasons in the savannas has influenced the fact that this natural area has come to be classified as tropical. Heavy rains begin in May or June. From May to October, the savannas receive the most rainfall (10 to 30 inches). Moist air rising from the ground collides with the cold atmosphere and rain occurs. In the summer, after lunch, abundant and numerous precipitation falls in the savannahs. The plants and animals of the savannah have adapted to living in semi-aquatic conditions during this time, and the porous soil of the savannah helps rain run off quickly.

The rainy season is definitely best time years in the savannah.

Wherever you look - everywhere is a solid idyll!

Here, I think, comments are superfluous! The baby elephant definitely had a happy childhood.

Seasonal effects. During the summer rainy seasons, dense and lush grasslands grow in the savannah. Many of the inhabitants of the biome breed at this time, as the mother's milk depends on a variety of herbs. During the dry season, many animals migrate, while others continue to feed on grasses in the savannah, and in turn are eaten by carnivores. Savannah plants, with deep roots, fire-resistant bark, and systems to carry water through long dry periods, are specially adapted to survive the dry season.

Giant baobabs on the island of Madagascar.

Savannah soils strongly depend on how long the rainy season is. Red-brown soils are typical for savannahs. They form where the rainy season lasts less than 6 months. Closer to the equatorial forests, it rains for 7-9 months, and red ferralite soils prevail here. On lands close to deserts and semi-deserts, the rainy season can last only 2-3 months, and unproductive soils with a thin layer of humus are formed here.

Video film: " Animal world African savanna." A series of films about nature.

Those who live in the savannah are brave people. Just look how hard it was for Bear Grylls.

A few more photos: savannah animals.

African elephant.

This handsome man's name is Marabu. They live only in Africa and thank God.

Introduction

Today, grassy plains occupy a quarter of all land. They have many different names: steppes - in Asia, llanos - in the Orinoco basin, veld - in Central Africa, savanna - in the eastern part of the African continent. All these areas are very fertile. Individual plants live up to several years, and when they die, they turn into humus. Leguminous plants, vetch, daisies and small flowers hide among the tall grasses.

The name "grass" combines a wide variety of plants. This family is perhaps the largest in the entire plant kingdom, it includes more than ten thousand species. Herbs are the product of a long evolution; they are able to survive fires, droughts, floods, so they only need abundance sunlight. Their flowers, small and inconspicuous, are collected in small inflorescences at the top of the stem and are pollinated by the wind, requiring no services from birds, bats or insects.

Savannah is a community of tall grasses and woodlands with low to medium sized, fire resistant trees. It is the result of the interaction of two factors, namely soil and rainfall.

The value of the savanna lies in the preservation rare species animals and plants. Therefore, the study of the African savannas is relevant.

The object of study is the African savannas

The subject of the study is the study natural features African savannas.

This term paper is a comprehensive study of the types of African savannas.

The main tasks of the work are the following:

1.Consider the geographical location of the African savannas.

2.Explore the flora and fauna of the savannas.

.Consider Features different types African savannas.

.Consider modern environmental problems and ways to solve them in the savannas.

Chapter I. general characteristics African savannah

.1 Geographical location and climatic features of the African savannas

Savannah is a zonal type of landscape in tropical and subequatorial belts, where the change of the wet and dry seasons of the year is clearly expressed, while high temperatures oh air (15-32°C). As you move away from the equator, the period of the wet season decreases from 8-9 months to 2-3, and precipitation - from 2000 to 250 mm per year. The violent development of plants in the rainy season is replaced by droughts of the dry period with a slowdown in the growth of trees, grass burning out. As a result, a combination of tropical and subtropical drought-resistant xerophytic vegetation is characteristic. Some plants are able to store moisture in the trunks (baobab, bottle tree). The grasses are dominated by tall grasses up to 3-5 m, among them are sparsely growing shrubs and single trees, the occurrence of which increases towards the equator as the wet season lengthens to light forests.

Vast expanses of these amazing natural communities are found in Africa, although there are savannahs in South America, Australia, and India. The savannah is the most widespread and most characteristic landscape in Africa. The savannah zone surrounds the Central African rainforest with a wide belt. In the north, the tropical forest is bordered by the Guinean-Sudanese savannas, stretching in a strip 400-500 km wide for almost 5000 km from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, interrupted only by the White Nile Valley. From the Tana River, savannas in a belt up to 200 km wide descend south to the valley of the Zambezi River. Then the savannah belt turns to the west and, now narrowing, now expanding, extends for 2500 km from the shores of the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic coast.

The forests in the frontier strip are gradually thinned out, their composition becomes poorer, patches of savannas appear among the massifs of continuous forest. Gradually, the tropical rainforest is limited only to river valleys, and on the watersheds they are replaced by forests shedding leaves for the dry season, or savannahs. Vegetation change occurs as a result of a shortening of the wet period and the appearance of a dry season, which becomes longer and longer as one moves away from the equator.

The savannah zone from northern Kenya to the sea coast of Angola is the largest plant community on our planet in terms of area, occupying at least 800 thousand km 2. If we add another 250,000 km2 of the Guinean-Sudanese savannah, it turns out that more than a million square kilometers of the Earth's surface is occupied by a special natural complex - the African savannah.

A distinctive feature of the savannas is the alternation of dry and wet seasons, which take about half a year, replacing each other. The fact is that for the subtropical and tropical latitudes, where the savannahs are located, the change of two different air masses is characteristic - humid equatorial and dry tropical. Monsoon winds, bringing seasonal rains, significantly affect the climate of the savannahs. Since these landscapes are located between the very humid natural zones of the equatorial forests and the very dry zones of the deserts, they are constantly influenced by both. But moisture is not long enough present in the savannahs for multi-tiered forests to grow there, and dry "winter periods" of 2-3 months do not allow the savannah to turn into a harsh desert.

The annual rhythm of life in the savannas is associated with climatic conditions. During the wet period, the riot of grassy vegetation reaches its maximum - the entire space occupied by savannahs turns into a living carpet of herbs. The picture is violated only by thickly low trees - acacias and baobabs in Africa, fan palms of Ravenal in Madagascar, cacti in South America, and in Australia - bottle trees and eucalyptus trees. The soils of the savannas are fertile. During the rainy period, when the equatorial air mass, and the earth and plants receive enough moisture to feed the numerous animals that live here.

But now the monsoon leaves, and dry tropical air takes its place. Now the time for testing begins. Grasses grown to human height are dried up, trampled down by numerous animals moving from place to place in search of water. Grasses and shrubs are very susceptible to fire, which often burns large areas. This is also “helped” by the indigenous people who make a living by hunting: by specially setting fire to the grass, they drive their prey in the direction they need. People did this for many centuries and greatly contributed to the fact that the vegetation of the savannas acquired modern features: an abundance of fire-resistant trees with thick bark, like baobabs, a wide distribution of plants with a powerful root system.

The dense and tall grass cover provides abundant food for the largest animals, such as elephants, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, zebras, antelopes, which in turn attract such large predators as lions, hyenas and others. The largest birds live in the savannas - the ostrich in Africa and the South American condor.

Thus, the Savannahs in Africa occupy 40% of the continent. The savannas frame the forested areas of Equatorial Africa and extend through the Sudan, East and South Africa beyond the southern tropic. Depending on the duration of the rainy season and the annual amount of precipitation, tall grass, typical (dry) and desert savannas are distinguished in them.

In savannah areas:

the duration of the rainy period ranges from 8-9 months at the equatorial borders of the zones to 2-3 months at the outer borders;

the water content of rivers fluctuates sharply; in the rainy season, there is a significant solid runoff, slope and planar runoff.

parallel to the decrease in annual precipitation, the vegetation cover changes from tall grass savannas and savanna forests on red soils to desert savannas, xerophilic light forests and shrubs on brown-red and red-brown soils.

savannah africa climatic geographic

1.2 Flora of the savannas

An abundance of tall grasses gilded by the sun, rare trees and shrubs, found more or less depending on the area - such is the savanna that occupies most of sub-Saharan Africa.

The savannah zones are quite extensive, therefore, on their southern and northern borders, the vegetation is somewhat different. The savannas bordering the desert zone in the north of the zone in Africa are rich in drought-resistant low grasses, spurges, aloes and acacias with highly branched roots. To the south, they are replaced by moisture-loving plants, and along the banks of the rivers, gallery forests with evergreen shrubs and lianas, similar to humid equatorial forests, enter the savanna zone. In the rift valley of East Africa, the largest lakes of the mainland are located - Victoria, Nyasa, Rudolf and Albert lakes, Tanganyika. Savannahs on their banks alternate with wetlands where papyrus and reeds grow.

The African savannas are home to many famous nature reserves and National parks. One of the most famous is the Serengeti, located in Tanzania. Part of its territory is occupied by the crater highlands - a well-known plateau with ancient craters of extinct volcanoes, one of which, Ngorongoro, has an area of ​​​​about 800 thousand hectares.

The vegetation of the savannah corresponds to the hot, with long dry periods, the climate that prevails in tropical places. Because the savannah is common in different parts of the world, including South America and Australia. But it occupies the most extensive territories, of course, in Africa, where it is represented in all its diversity.

The general appearance of the savannas is different, which depends, on the one hand, on the height of the vegetation cover, and on the other hand, on the relative amount of grasses, other perennial grasses, semi-shrubs, shrubs and trees. The herbaceous cover is sometimes very low, even pressed to the ground.

A special form of savannas is the so-called llanos, where trees are either completely absent or are found in a limited number, with the exception of damp places where palm trees (Mauritia flexuosa, Corypha inermis) and other plants form entire forests (however, these forests do not belong to savannahs). ); in llanos there are sometimes single specimens of Rhopala (trees from the Proteaceae family) and other trees; sometimes the cereals in them form a cover as tall as a man; Compositae, leguminous, labiate, etc. grow between cereals. Many llanos in the rainy season are flooded by the floods of the Orinoco River.

The vegetation of the savannas is generally adapted to a dry continental climate and to periodic droughts, which occur in many savannas for whole months. Cereals and other grasses rarely form creeping shoots, but usually grow in tufts. The leaves of cereals are narrow, dry, hard, hairy or covered with a waxy coating. In grasses and sedges, young leaves remain rolled up into a tube. In trees, the leaves are small, hairy, shiny (“lacquered”) or covered with a waxy coating. The vegetation of the savannas generally has a pronounced xerophytic character. Many species contain large quantities of essential oils, especially those of the Verbena, Labiaceae, and Myrtle families of the Flaming Continent. The growth of some perennial grasses, shrubs (and shrubs) is especially peculiar, namely, that the main part of them, located in the ground (probably the stem and roots), grows strongly into an irregular tuberous woody body, from which then numerous, mostly unbranched or weakly branched, offspring. In the dry season, the vegetation of the savannas freezes; savannahs turn yellow, and dried plants are often subjected to fires, due to which the bark of trees is usually scorched. With the onset of rains, the savannahs come to life, covered with fresh greenery and dotted with numerous different flowers.

In the south, on the border with the equatorial tropical forests, a transitional zone begins - the forest savannah. There are not very many herbs, the trees grow densely, but they are small. Then comes the sparsely forested savanna - vast expanses overgrown with tall grasses, with groves or isolated trees. Baobab dominates here, as well as palm, spurge and various types of acacia. Gradually, trees and shrubs become more and more rare, and grasses, especially giant cereals, thicken.

And finally, near the deserts (Sahara, Kalahari), the savannah gives way to the withered steppe, where only tufts of dry grass and stunted thorny bushes grow.

.3 Savannah wildlife

The fauna of the savannah is a unique phenomenon. In no corner of the Earth in the memory of mankind has there been such an abundance of large animals as in the African savannas. As early as the beginning of the XX century. countless herds of herbivores roamed the expanses of the savannas, moving from one pasture to another or in search of watering places. They were accompanied by numerous predators - lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs. Carrion eaters followed the predators - vultures, jackals.

The seasonally dry tropical regions of Africa, from light deciduous forests and light forests to low-growing spiny forests and the sparse Sahelian savannah, differ from evergreen forests, first of all, by the presence of a well-defined dry period unfavorable for animals. This determines the clear seasonal rhythm of most forms, synchronous with the rhythm of moisture and vegetation vegetation.

During the dry season, most animals stop breeding. Some groups, mainly invertebrates and amphibians, take shelter during drought and hibernate. Others store food (ants, rodents), migrate (locusts, butterflies, birds, elephants and ungulates, predatory animals) or concentrate on small areas - survival stations (surroundings of water bodies, drying up channels with closely spaced groundwater, etc.). P.).

Animals appear in large numbers, constructing solid shelters. Strong cone-shaped termite mounds are striking, which are more than 2 m high. The walls of these structures seem to be made of cement or baked clay, and they can hardly be broken through with a crowbar or a pickaxe. The above-ground dome protects the numerous chambers and passages below from both dryness in the hot season and showers during the wet season. Termite passages in depth reach aquifers of the soil; during a drought, a favorable moisture regime is maintained in the termite mound. Here the soil is enriched with nitrogen and ash elements of plant nutrition. Therefore, trees often regenerate on destroyed and near residential termite mounds. Of vertebrates, a number of rodents and even predators build burrows, ground and tree nests. The abundance of bulbs, rhizomes and seeds of grasses and trees allows them to harvest these feeds for future use.

The tiered structure of the animal population, characteristic of evergreen forests, in seasonally dry forests, light forests, and especially in savannahs, is somewhat simplified due to a decrease in the proportion of tree forms and an increase in those living on the surface and in the grass layer. However, the significant heterogeneity of vegetation, caused by a mosaic of tree, shrub and herbaceous phytocenoses, causes a corresponding heterogeneity of the animal population. But the latter is dynamic. Most animals are alternately associated with one or another plant group. Moreover, movements are not only on the scale of seasons, but even within a day. They cover not only herds of large animals and flocks of birds, but also small animals: mollusks, insects, amphibians and reptiles.

In the savannas, with their huge food resources, there are many herbivores, especially antelopes, of which there are more than 40 species. Until now, in some places there are herds of the largest wildebeests with a large mane, a powerful tail and horns bent down; Kudu antelopes with beautiful helical horns, elands, etc. are also common. There are also dwarf antelopes, reaching a little more than half a meter in length.

Remarkable are the animals of the African savannas and semi-deserts saved from extinction - giraffes, they are preserved mainly in national parks. The long neck helps them to get and gnaw young shoots and leaves from trees, and the ability to run fast is the only means of protection from pursuers.

In many areas, especially in the east of the continent and south of the equator, African wild zebra horses are common in the savannas and steppes. They are hunted mainly for their strong and beautiful hides. In some places, domesticated zebras are replacing horses, as they are not susceptible to tsetse bites.

Until now, African elephants have been preserved - the most remarkable representatives of the fauna of the Ethiopian region. They have long been exterminated for their valuable tusks, and in many areas they have completely disappeared. Elephant hunting is currently banned throughout Africa, but this ban is often violated by ivory poachers. Now elephants are found in the least populated mountainous areas, in particular in the Ethiopian highlands.

In addition, they live in the national parks of East and South Africa, where their population is even increasing. But still, the existence of the African elephant as a biological species in recent decades has been under a real threat, which can only be prevented by active Team work national and international organizations. Among the endangered animals are rhinos that lived in the eastern and southern parts of the mainland. African rhinos have two horns and are represented by two species - black and white rhinoceros. The latter is the largest of modern species and reaches a length of 4 m. Now it is preserved only in protected areas.

Hippos are much more widespread, living along the banks of rivers and lakes in different parts of Africa. These animals, as well as wild pigs, are exterminated for their edible meat and also for their skin.

Herbivores serve as food for numerous predators. In the savannahs and semi-deserts of Africa, lions are found, represented by two varieties: the Barbary, living north of the equator, and the Senegal, common in the southern part of the mainland. Lions prefer open spaces and almost never enter forests. Hyenas, jackals, leopards, cheetahs, caracals, servals are common. There are several members of the civet family. In the plain and mountain steppes and savannahs there are many monkeys belonging to the group of baboons: real Raigo baboons, geladas, mandrills. Of the thin-bodied monkeys, Gverets are characteristic. Many of their species live only in a cool mountain climate, as they do not tolerate the high temperatures of the lowlands.

Among rodents, mice and several types of squirrels should be noted.

Birds are numerous in the savannas: African ostriches, guinea fowls, marabou, weavers, a very interesting secretary bird that feeds on snakes. Lapwings, herons, pelicans nest near water bodies.

There are no less reptiles than in the northern deserts, often they are represented by the same genera and even species. Many different lizards and snakes, land turtles. Some types of chameleons are also characteristic. There are crocodiles in the rivers.

The great mobility of animals makes the savannah highly productive. Wild ungulates are almost constantly on the move, they never overgraze the way livestock do. Regular migrations, i.e., movements, of herbivorous animals of the African savanna, covering hundreds of kilometers, allow the vegetation to fully recover in a relatively short time. Not surprisingly, in recent years, the idea has arisen and strengthened that the rational, scientifically based exploitation of wild ungulates promises greater prospects than traditional pastoralism, primitive and unproductive. Now these questions are being intensively developed in a number of African countries.

Thus, the fauna of the savannah for a long time developed as a single independent whole. Therefore, the degree of adaptation of the entire complex of animals to each other and each individual species to specific conditions is very high. Such adaptations include, first of all, a strict division according to the method of feeding and the composition of the main feed. The vegetation cover of the savannah can only feed a huge number of animals because some species use grass, others use young shoots of shrubs, others use bark, and others use buds and buds. Moreover, the same escapes different types animals are taken from different heights. Elephants and giraffes, for example, feed at the height of the tree crown, the giraffe gazelle and the large kudu reach the shoots located one and a half to two meters from the ground, and the black rhinoceros, as a rule, breaks the shoots near the ground. The same division is observed in purely herbivorous animals: what the wildebeest likes does not attract the zebra at all, and the zebra, in turn, nibbles grass with pleasure, past which the gazelles pass indifferently.

Chapter II. Features of the types of African savannas

.1 Tall grass wet savannas

Tall grass savannas are various combinations of grassy vegetation with forest islands or individual tree specimens. The soils that form beneath these landscapes are referred to as red or ferralitic soils of seasonal rainforests and tall grass savannahs.

Tall grass savannas are wet. They grow very tall cereals, including elephant grass, which reaches 3 m in height. Among these savannahs are scattered arrays of park forests, gallery forests stretch along the riverbeds.

Tall grass savannas occupy an area where the annual precipitation is 800-1200 mm, and the dry season lasts 3-4 months, they have a dense cover of tall grasses (elephant grass up to 5 m), groves and massifs of mixed or deciduous forests on watersheds, gallery evergreen ground moisture forests in the valleys. They can be called a transition zone from forest vegetation to a typical savannah. Among the continuous cover of high (up to 2-3 m) grasses, trees (as a rule, deciduous species) rise. The tall grass savannah is characterized by baobabs, acacias, and terminalia. Red lateritic soils are most common here.

There is an opinion that the wide distribution of moist tall-grass savannahs, replacing deciduous-evergreen forests, is associated with human activity, which burned vegetation during the dry season. The disappearance of the dense tree layer contributed to the appearance of countless herds of ungulates, as a result of which the renewal of tree vegetation became impossible.

Sahelian savannas and to a lesser extent thorny forests Somalia and Kalahari are faunistically depleted. Many of the animals that are close or common with the forest disappear here.

2.2 Typical grass savannas

From the border of the hylae, the zone of cereal savannah begins. Typical (or dry) savannas are replaced by tall grasses in areas where the rainy season lasts no more than 6 months. The grasses in such savannahs are still very dense, but not very tall (up to 1 m). Grassy spaces alternate with light forests or individual groups of trees, among which numerous acacias and giant baobabs, or monkey bread trees, are especially typical.

Typical grass savannahs are developed in areas with an annual rainfall of 750-1000 mm and a dry period of 3 to 5 months. In typical savannahs, a continuous grass cover is not higher than 1 m (species of bearded man, temedy, etc.), palm trees (fan, hyphena), baobabs, acacias are characteristic of tree species, and in East and South Africa - euphorbia. Most of the wet and typical savannas are of secondary origin. In Africa, north of the equator, the savannahs extend in a wide strip from the Atlantic coast to the Ethiopian highlands, while south of the equator they occupy the north of Angola. The height of wild-growing cereals reaches 1-1.5 m, and they are mainly represented by hyperrhenium and bearded vultures.

A typical grass savanna is an area entirely covered with tall grasses, with a predominance of grasses, with sparsely standing individual trees, shrubs or groups of trees. Most of the plants have a hydrophytic character due to the fact that during the rainy season the air humidity in the savannas resembles a tropical forest. However, plants of a xerophytic character also appear, adapting to the transfer of a dry triode. Unlike hydrophytes, they have smaller leaves and other adaptations to reduce evaporation.

During the dry period, the grasses burn out, some types of trees drop their leaves, although others lose it only shortly before the new one appears; savanna becomes yellow; dried grass is annually burned to fertilize the soil. The damage that these fires bring to vegetation is very great, since it disrupts the normal winter dormancy cycle of plants, but at the same time it also causes their vital activity: after a fire, young grass quickly appears. When the rainy season comes, cereals and other herbs grow amazingly quickly, and the trees are covered with leaves. In the grass savanna, the grass cover reaches heights of 2-3 m. , and in low places 5 m .

Of the cereals here are typical: elephant grass, species of Andropogon, etc., with long, wide, hairy leaves of a xerophytic appearance. Of the trees, the oil palm 8-12 m should be noted. heights, pandanus, butter tree, Bauhinia reticulata is an evergreen tree with broad leaves. Baobab and various types of doum palm are often found. Along the river valleys stretch several kilometers wide gallery forests resembling giley, with many palm trees.

Cereal savannas are gradually replaced by acacia. They are characterized by a continuous cover of grasses of lower height - from 1 to 1.5 m. ; of the trees they are dominated by various types of acacias with a dense umbrella-shaped crown, for example, species: Acacia albida, A. arabica, A. giraffae, etc. In addition to acacias, one of the characteristic trees in such savannahs is the baobab, or monkey breadfruit, reaching 4 min diameter and 25 m height, containing a significant amount of water loose fleshy trunk.

In the cereal savanna, where the rainy season lasts 8-9 months, cereals grow 2-3 m high, and sometimes up to 5 m: elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), bearded vulture with long hairy leaves, etc. Individual trees rise among the continuous sea of ​​​​grasses : baobabs (Adansonia digitata), doom palms (Hyphaene thebaica), oil palms.

To the north of the equator, the cereal savannahs reach approximately 12°N. In the southern hemisphere, the zone of savannas and light forests is much wider, especially off the coast of the Indian Ocean, where it extends in places to the tropic. The difference in moisture conditions in the northern and southern parts of the zone suggests that mesophilic deciduous forests grew in the more humid northern regions, while xerophytic light forests with a predominance of representatives of the legume family (Brachystegia, Isoberlinia) occupied only the southern regions of their modern distribution. To the south of the equator, this plant formation was called the "miombo" woodlands. The expansion of its range can be explained by resistance to fires, high rate of renewal. In eastern South Africa, woodlands occur in combination with other types of vegetation well south of the tropic.

Under grass savannahs and light forests, special types of soils are formed - red soils under savannahs and red-brown soils under forests.

In drier areas, where the rainless period lasts from five to three months, dry spiny semi-savannahs predominate. Most of the year the trees and shrubs in these areas stand without leaves; low grasses (Aristida, Panicum) often do not form a continuous cover; among cereals grow low up to 4 m heights, thorny trees (Acacia, Terminalia, etc.)

This community is also called the steppe by many researchers. This term is widely used in the literature on the vegetation of Africa, but does not fully correspond to the understanding of our term "steppe".

Dry prickly semi-savannahs are replaced with the distance from the acacia savannahs to the so-called thorny-shrub savannah. It reaches 18-19 ° S. sh., occupying most of the Kalahari.

2.3 Desert savannas

In areas with a wet period of 2-3 months. typical savannahs turn into thickets of thorny bushes and hard grasses with sparse turf. As the wet period is reduced to 3-5 months. and a general decrease in precipitation, the grass cover becomes more sparse and stunted, various acacias predominate in the composition of tree species, low, with a peculiar flat crown. Such plant communities, called desert savannas, form a relatively narrow band in the northern hemisphere north of the typical savannas. This strip expands from west to east in the direction of decreasing annual precipitation.

In the deserted savannahs, scanty rains are rare and occur only for 2-3 months. The strip of these savannas, stretching from the coast of Mauritania to Somalia, expands to the east of the African continent, and this natural zone also covers the Kalahari basin. The vegetation here is represented by turf grasses, as well as thorny shrubs and low leafless trees. In typical and deserted savannas, tropical red-brown soils are developed, not rich in humus, but with powerful alluvial horizons. In places of development of basic rocks and lava covers - in the southeast of Sudan, in Mozambique, Tanzania and the Shari River basin - significant areas are occupied by black tropical soils related to chernozems.

Under such conditions, instead of a continuous herbaceous cover, only turf grasses and leafless and thorny shrubs remain. The belt of semi-deserts or deserted savannahs on the Sudanese plains is called "sahel", which in Arabic means "shore" or "edge". This is really the outskirts of green Africa, beyond which the Sahara begins.

In the east of the mainland, desert savannahs occupy especially large areas, covering the Somali peninsula and extending to the equator and south of it.

Deserted savannahs are typical for areas with an annual rainfall of no more than 500 mm and a dry period of 5 to 8 months. Deserted savannahs have a sparse grass cover, thickets of thorny bushes (mainly acacias) are widespread in them.

Despite a number of common features, savannahs are distinguished by considerable diversity, which makes it very difficult to separate them. There is a point of view that most of the savannahs of Africa arose on the site of exterminated forests and only deserted savannahs can be considered natural.

Chapter III. Ecological problems of African savannas

.1 Human role in the savannah ecosystem

Among biocenoses of dry land, the steppes produce the largest biomass of animals per unit of surface, therefore, from time immemorial, they have attracted a person who lived mainly by hunting. This upright primate was created by nature itself to live in the steppes, and it was here that in the struggle for food and shelter, escaping from enemies, he turned into a rational being. However, improving, man increasingly complicated his weapons and invented new methods of hunting herbivores and predatory animals, which played a fatal role for many of them.

Whether ancient man was already involved in the extermination of a number of animal species is a moot point. There are various, very conflicting opinions on this matter. Some scientists believe that many inhabitants of the African savannahs and steppes were already destroyed in the early Paleolithic, characterized by the use of a hand ax (the so-called Acheulean culture). According to supporters of this opinion, the same thing happened in North America, when about 40 thousand years ago man first entered this continent through the Bering Bridge. At the end of the Ice Age, 26 African genera and 35 North American genera disappeared from the face of the Earth. large mammals.

Proponents of the opposite point of view insist that ancient man, with his still extremely imperfect weapons, cannot be considered guilty of their destruction. Mammals that went extinct at the end of the Ice Age were most likely victims of global climate change that affected the vegetation that served them as food or their prey.

It has been established that when, much later, well-armed people appeared in Madagascar, whose animal world did not know natural enemies, this led to very sad consequences. In Madagascar, in a relatively short period of time, at least 14 species of large lemurs, 4 species of giant ostriches were exterminated, and, in all likelihood, the same fate befell the aardvark and pygmy hippopotamus.

However, it was only when the white man used firearms that this led to a catastrophic imbalance between him and the world of large animals. By now, in all corners of the Earth, man has almost completely destroyed the large animals of the savannas, turning the once endless grassy plains into arable land or pastures for livestock.

The destruction of the original vegetation led to the disappearance of many small and medium-sized animals. Only in national parks and other protected areas are the remains of a unique community of living creatures that have been formed over millions of years. The man-hunter destroyed his steppe ancestral home and many animals generated by the amazing savannah ecosystem.

A hundred years ago, Africa was represented as a continent of untouched nature. However, even then, nature was significantly changed by human economic activity. At the beginning of the 21st century, the environmental problems that arose during the predatory campaigns of European colonialists escalated.

Evergreen forests have been cut down for centuries for redwoods. They were also uprooted and burned for fields and pastures. Burning of plants in slash-and-burn agriculture leads to a violation of the natural vegetation cover and deterioration of the soil. Its rapid depletion forced to leave cultivated land after 2-3 years. Now almost 70% of Africa's forests have been destroyed, and their remains continue to disappear rapidly. In place of forests, plantations of cocoa, oil palm, bananas, and peanuts arose. Deforestation leads to many negative consequences: an increase in the number of floods, increased droughts, the occurrence of landslides, and a decrease in soil fertility. Reproduction of forests is very slow.

The nature of the savannas has also been significantly changed. Huge areas are plowed up there, pastures. Due to overgrazing of cattle, sheep and camels, cutting down trees and shrubs, the savannas are increasingly turning into deserts. Especially negative consequences of such use of land in the north, where the savannah turns into desert. The expansion of desert areas is called desertification.

Aerospace images taken from artificial Earth satellites have convincingly shown that in the last half century alone, the Sahara has moved south by 200 km. and increased its area by thousands of square kilometers.

Protective forest belts are planted on the border with deserts, cattle grazing is limited in areas with a sparse vegetation cover, and arid regions are irrigated. Big changes natural complexes occurred as a result of mining.

Long colonial past and irrational use natural resources led to a serious imbalance between the components of natural complexes. Therefore, in many countries of Africa, the problems of nature protection have become acute.

3.2 Economic role of savannas

Savannas play a very important role in human economic life. According to climatic and soil conditions, the savannas are favorable for tropical agriculture. At present, significant areas of savannas have been cleared and plowed up. Significant areas are plowed up here, cereals, cotton, peanuts, jute, sugar cane and others are grown. Animal husbandry is developed in drier places. Some species of trees growing in savannahs are used by humans for their own purposes. So, teak wood gives a solid valuable wood which does not rot in water.

At present, it can be said with full confidence that a significant part of the wet and dry savannahs of Africa arose as a result of human activity on the site of mixed forests, almost extinct deciduous forests and light forests. Since man learned how to make fire, he began to use it for hunting, and later for clearing thickets for arable land and pastures. For millennia, farmers and pastoralists set fire to the savannah before the start of the rainy season to fertilize the soil with ash. Arable land, which quickly lost fertility, was abandoned after several years of use, and new areas were prepared for crops. In pasture areas, vegetation suffered not only from burning, but also from trampling, especially if the number of livestock exceeded the fodder "capacity" of pasture lands. The fire destroyed most of the trees. For the most part, only a few tree species that have adapted to fires, the so-called "fire-loving" ones, have survived, the trunk of which is protected by thick bark, which is charred only from the surface.

Plants that reproduce by root shoots or have seeds with a thick shell have also survived. Among the fire-lovers are thick-bodied giant baobabs, the shea tree, or karite, called the oil tree, since its fruits give edible oil, etc.

The fencing of private properties, the construction of roads, steppe fires, the opening of large areas and the expansion of cattle breeding aggravated the plight of wild animals. Finally, the Europeans, unsuccessfully trying to fight the tsetse fly, staged a grandiose massacre, and more than 300 thousand elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest and other antelopes were shot from rifles and machine guns from vehicles. Many animals also died from the plague brought with cattle.

3.3 Conservation action to protect the African Savannahs

The fauna of the African savannah is of great cultural and aesthetic importance. Untouched corners with pristine rich fauna literally attract hundreds of thousands of tourists. Each African reserve is a source of joy for many, many people. Now you can drive hundreds of kilometers across the savannas and not meet a single large animal.

Once virgin forests are being developed by man and gradually uprooted to clear land, or cut down for the purpose of harvesting building materials. Further, the ground, which is no longer strengthened by plant roots and protected by tree crowns, is washed away during tropical rains, and the natural landscape, rich in the recent past, becomes impoverished, transforming into a barren desert.

Often the interests of the wild inhabitants of Africa run counter to the needs of the local population, which makes the protection of wildlife in Africa complicated. In addition, environmental protection measures are also more expensive, and not every country's government can afford to finance them.

However, some African states are concerned about the state of wild flora and fauna on their territory, so nature protection is given increased attention. Wild animals are protected in the national parks of such countries, water bodies are to be cleaned for fish breeding, and comprehensive measures are being taken to restore forests.

The governments of the newly independent states of Africa, which have thrown off the yoke of colonialism, have strengthened and expanded the network of such reserves - the last refuges for wild animals. Only there can one still admire the view of the primeval savannah. For this purpose, protected areas are being established - nature reserves and national parks. They protect the components of natural complexes (plants, animals, rocks, etc.) and carry out research work. Reserves have a strict environmental regime, and tourists who are required to comply with established rules can visit national parks.

In Africa, protected areas cover large areas. They are arranged in various natural complexes - in the mountains, on the plains, in humid evergreen forests, savannahs, deserts, on volcanoes. Serengeti, Kruger, Rwenzori national parks are world-wide.

Serengeti National Natural Park- One of the largest and most famous in the world. Translated from the Maasai language, its name means boundless plain. The park is located in East Africa. It is called the African paradise for animals. Herds of thousands of large ungulates (various species of antelopes, zebras) and predators (lions, cheetahs, hyenas) live in its open spaces, which have been preserved in an untouched state as they have been since time immemorial.

Kruger National Park- One of the oldest on the mainland. It originated in southern Africa as early as 1898. Buffaloes, elephants, rhinoceros, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, various antelopes, marabou, secretary birds reign supreme in this region of the savannah. Each type of animal has thousands of individuals. By their diversity, the park is often compared to Noah's Ark.

Ngorongoro National Parklocated in the crater of an extinct volcano. Buffaloes, rhinos, antelopes, giraffes, hippos, and various birds are protected there.

At Rwenzori parkapes chimpanzees and gorillas are protected.

The creation of reserves and national parks contributes to the conservation of rare plants, unique wildlife and individual natural complexes of Africa. Thanks to protective measures, the number of many species of animals that were on the verge of extinction has been restored. The world's largest diversity of species makes Africa a real paradise for ecotourists.

Conclusion

The African savannas are the Africa of our imagination. Huge expanses of the earth, unusually amazing fauna, the greatest herds on the planet. And everything seems to exist here outside of time.

Savannah is incredibly changeable, fickle. A dense forest may appear in this place in a few years. But there may be another development of events: all the trees will disappear, only grass will remain.

Savannah life is subject to the weather, which is very capricious here. Every year there is a dry, hot season. But no year is like the previous one.

The significance of the savannas is enormous. This is, first of all, the biological value of the community as a habitat for many species of animals and plants, including those that are endangered. Also, savannahs, after the forest zone, give the highest yield of plant products.

Sadly, African wildlife was once even more diverse. Currently, unfortunately, part of the species of wild flora and fauna is completely destroyed, and some more are under the threat of extermination.

A great misfortune for the inhabitants of the African savannas are hunters who harass commercial species animals under the root. But no less problem was the advance of civilization on the original places natural habitat representatives of the wild fauna of Africa. The traditional routes of migration of wild animals are blocked by roads, and new human settlements appear in places of wild thickets.

Now mankind understands the need to protect nature on Earth - it can be hoped that in the near future the wildlife of Africa will not only not suffer even more from human activities, but will also restore to some extent its impoverished flora and fauna, returning to it its former splendor and diversity .

List of sources

1. Boris Znachnov Radio Africa / Around the World No. 4, 2008 S. 84-92

Boris Zhukov Eden at the bottom of the boiler / Vokrug Sveta No. 11, 2010 P. 96-101

Vlasova T.V. Physical geography of continents and oceans: a textbook for students. higher ped. textbook institutions / T.V. Vlasova, M.A. Arshinova, T.A. Kovalev. - M.: Publishing Center "Academy", 2007. - 487p.

Vladimir Korachantsev. Moscow. Armada-press, Africa-land of paradoxes (Green series 2001. Around the world), 2001- 413s.

Gusarov V.I. Exacerbation of environmental problems in Africa /Kraeznavstvo. Geography. Tourism №29-32, 2007 pp. 7-11

Kryazhimskaya N.B. Planet Earth. Equatorial and subequatorial belts M., 2001 - 368 p.

Mikhailov N.I. Physical-geographical zoning. M.: Publishing House of Moscow State University, 1985.

Nikolai Balandinsky The Pearl of Tanzania / Around the World No. 12, 2008 p118-129

Yurkivsky V. M. The land of the world: Dovid. - K .: Libid, 1999.

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African savannas This is a true paradise for animal lovers. More than 40 species of large mammals live here. Hunters and prey are constantly fighting for survival.

Animals living in Africa

Wildebeest, impala, dikdik, anubis baboon, green monkey, chimpanzee, black-backed jackal, great-eared fox, hyena, honey badger, common geneti, white-tailed mongoose, serval, meerkats, African polecat, spotted hyena, lion, leopard, cheetah, Ethiopian jackal, African elephant, Grevy's zebra, African warthog, giraffe, eland, African buffalo, great kudu, Thompson's gazelle and others.

birds of africa

African ostrich, vultures, red-billed tok, crowberry, secretary bird, African marabou, peregrine falcon, screaming eagle, red-billed weaver.

Amphibians and reptiles of Africa

monitor lizard, skink, gecko, turtle Testudo sulcata, Egyptian cobra, black mamba, hieroglyphic python, noisy snake.

Insects and arachnids

Migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) aphodiae, ants, termites, flies, bees, wasps, scorpions and ticks.

Insect influence on savannas

Most of the savannah insects can be divided into the following three groups: locusts, ants, and termites. Locust populations are constantly increasing, and the huge masses of these insects are a constant and rather large threat to the grasses and trees growing in the savannah.

Huge swarms of locusts weighing more than 50,000 tons can completely eat all green plants in large areas of the savannah. Therefore, it is not surprising that locusts have such a bad reputation. On the other hand, these insects are a valuable food source for many animals, such as lizards, some snakes, and many species of mammals and birds.

There are different types of landscapes in Africa. But for most people, it is associated with the savannas. This is not surprising, since the savannahs cover almost a third of the surface of the continent. In this sea of ​​grass, islands of trees or shrubs appear here and there. The vegetation of these areas has adapted to the very low rainfall. The leaves of local acacias have almost turned into needles, so they evaporate some water. The thick trunks of the breadfruit tree serve to “storage” water. Herbs grow well in these areas. Their dense and sinuous roots can absorb and make the best use of any rainfall.

Mammals of Africa

The African savannas are inhabited by a wide variety of animals. All African animals can be divided into two groups: predators and their prey. More than 40 species of large mammals are found in the savanna, such as giraffes, African elephants and a large number of antelopes. All these animals feed on grasses and leaves of trees and shrubs, however, each of them has its own requirements for the quality and quantity of food, so they do not compete with each other. Gazelles seek low and succulent grass, while cow antelopes eat tough grass that other ruminant species do not accept.

Often several species graze on the same site, and this is not accidental. Zebras "know" well that predators prefer African buffaloes, which probably have tastier meat. Therefore, when lions attack African buffaloes, zebras still have time to flee. The best hunters are other big cats. Often in the savannah you can see a herd of ungulates grazing next to lions on vacation.

However, in this case, the antelopes are constantly on the alert. They are well aware that lions will immediately go on the attack when they get hungry. At first glance, the savannah seems to be a “peaceful” and safe biotope, and in fact it is a world where danger lies in wait for the locals literally at every turn. That is why ungulates are always in herds - this guarantees them the greatest safety.

Zebras unite in herds of 5-20 individuals. During the dry period there are groups of hundreds of animals.
The main enemy of all animals is the lion.

For many of Africa's bird species, the savannah is a region that offers ample food. More often, birds feed on insects or small snakes and rodents, which are easy prey for them. Land-dwelling birds such as African ostriches, common bustards and sandgrouse are the most numerous in the savannas, but carrion-eating vultures are also found here.

A dead zebra or antelope is easier to find in the savannah by following flocks of vultures. They flock in large numbers to the prey caught by the predator, and, lounging on the ground, wait until their time comes to arrange a feast on the remains of the victim. Other birds, such as the red-billed weaver, live in large flocks.
Many species of birds can be found in the savannah. The largest of these is the ostrich.

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Savannas occupy almost 40% of the area of ​​the African continent. They are located around the evergreen equatorial forests.

In the north, the equatorial forests are bordered by the Guinean-Sudanese savannah, which stretches for 5,000 thousand kilometers from the Western shores of the Atlantic Ocean to the Eastern shores of the Indian Ocean. From Kenya's Tana River, the savannah extends into the southern parts of Africa to the Zambezi Valley, then, turning west for 2,500 kilometers, runs all the way to the Atlantic coast.

Animal world

The African savanna is a completely unique phenomenon in terms of the diversity of large animals. Nowhere else in the world can you find such an abundance of wild animals.

Back in the late 19th century, nothing threatened the wild inhabitants of the savannas. But at the beginning of the 20th century, with the arrival of European colonialists, who were armed with firearms, mass shooting of herbivores began. The countless herds that roamed the vast expanses of the animal savannah began to decline sharply. Their numbers have dropped to a minimum.

A compromise between human economic activity and the unique diversity of the animal world was found. And it was embodied in the creation of national parks on the territory of the savannas. Numerous predators are found here: lions, cheetahs, hyenas, leopards. From herbivores live zebras, blue wildebeest, gazelles, impalas, huge eland heavyweights. Of the rare antelopes, you can meet oryx and inhabitants of the kudu bush savannah. The real decoration of the African savannas are elephants and giraffes.

Vegetable world

The vegetation cover of these places is rich and varied. The savannah is located in the subequatorial belt, for nine months there is a rainy season, which contributes to the intensive growth of a wide variety of plants.

Baobab is a typical representative of the tree world. The trunk wood of this tree is saturated with moisture, which allows the Baobab to survive even during heavy fires during the dry season. A variety of palm trees, mimosa, acacia, and thorny bushes also grow here.

There is no winter or summer in the savannah. There are rainy seasons followed by dry seasons. In drought, trees and shrubs shed their leaves to evaporate less moisture. And many trees store water for future use, such as the baobab.

Its thick trunk (it would take several people to wrap around it) inside is rotten and empty. And in it, as if in a huge flask, water accumulates.

And in the heat, elephants sometimes break the trunks of baobabs with their tusks in search of life-giving moisture. From loss of moisture and from frequent fires, the trunks of some trees are protected by thick bark, like armor.

It is difficult now for the inhabitants of the savannas. Many lakes and rivers dry up, and all living things reach out to the few who have taken it into account. Countless herds of antelope roam, making long journeys to those places where you can find water. And they are followed by predators - cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, jackals ... With the onset of the rainy season, the savannah comes to life. Everything around is blooming. Antelopes return to their former pastures. You can also see towering cone-shaped termite mounds.

The fauna of the savannas is striking in its richness and diversity. You can see giraffes, zebras and ostriches grazing nearby. IN warm water lakes, in their mud "baths", hippos and rhinos bask.

Lions rest in the shade of sprawling acacias. The largest animals on land, elephants, pluck branches with their trunks. And in the crowns of the trees monkeys scream. And a huge number of species of insects, snakes, birds ...

African savannah animals

Cheetah

No one can get away from a cheetah. Even fast gazelles are doomed if he rushes after him. The cheetah is the fastest animal on earth. At a short distance, he can run at speeds up to 120 km per hour. Has sharp eyesight. He keeps alone or in pairs. In a deserted secluded place, the female gives birth to 1-5 cubs. However, they are often killed by leopards, lions and hyenas. And adult cheetahs are from poachers. Once upon a time, cheetahs were found almost throughout Africa, Asia Minor, Turkmenistan and India. Now they survived only in reserves. Beasts are well tamed, but do not breed in captivity. In ancient times, cheetahs were kept in special nurseries and used instead of greyhounds during hunting by noble Arabs and Indian rajas. Now it is prohibited.

African buffalo

A ruminant animal from bovids. Lives south of the Sahara. The big African bull is kaffir or black. The buffalo easily adapts to the environment. With its huge horns, it can repel the attack of a lioness. The buffalo herd is gradually decreasing. The buffalo became an object of hunting only because of its meat and skin. However, many hunters died from the horns and hooves of the buffalo. A wounded or enraged Kaffir bull becomes especially dangerous.

big kudu

Among all the antelopes living on the African continent, large kudu have the most striking and memorable appearance. These tall and majestic animals grow up to one and a half meters at the shoulders and can weigh more than three hundred kilograms, thus being one of the largest antelopes in the world.

Their native home is eastern and central regions Africa. Here, depending on the season, they inhabit shrub-covered plains, savannahs, forests, and occasionally desert hillsides, and in the dry season they gather along river banks. When choosing places to live and search for food, large kudu prefer bush thickets.

The grey-brown coat of the great kudu is adorned with bright white stripes on the sides, white cheek markings, and diagonal stripes between the eyes, called chevrons. The coat of males is dark, with gray tint, and females and cubs are painted in beige tones - this makes them more inconspicuous among the savannah vegetation.

The main advantage of large kudu males is large helical horns. Unlike deer, kudu do not shed their antlers and live with them all their lives. The horns of an adult male are twisted in two and a half turns and grow strictly according to a certain schedule: appearing in the first year of a male's life, by the age of two they make one full turn, and take their final shape no earlier than the age of six. If the horn of a large kudu is stretched out in one straight line, then its length will be a little less than two meters.

African bush elephant

The African bush elephant is the largest land mammal in the world. These animals grow up to 3.96 m at the withers and can weigh up to 10 tons, but most often they measure up to 3.2 m at the withers and weigh up to 6 tons. They have a long and very flexible trunk that ends in nostrils. The trunk is used to capture food and water and carry them to the mouth. On the sides of the mouth are two long teeth called tusks. Elephants have thick, gray skin that protects them from the deadly bites of predators. This type of elephant is common in the African savannas and grasslands. Elephants are herbivores and feed on herbs, fruits, tree leaves, bark, shrubs, and the like. These animals have an important job in the savannas. They eat bushes and trees, and thereby help the grass to grow. This allows many herbivorous animals to survive. There are about 150,000 elephants in the world today and they are endangered because poachers kill them for their ivory.

Giraffe

The giraffe is the tallest animal on our planet. The height of this majestic mammal can reach 6 meters. 1/3 of its height falls on a long neck. And the weight of an adult animal can exceed a ton.

The long neck of a giraffe is simply necessary in order to survive in the savannahs of Africa. It would be logical to say that with the onset of drought, food became scarcer, and only those giraffes who had a long neck could reach the tops of the trees. And accordingly, the chances for survival and reproduction in giraffes with a short neck were hundreds of times less. But Namibian zoologist Rob Siemens suggests that the long necks of giraffes are the result of neck battles between males. After all, the winner always has more attention from females, and, accordingly, he will have more offspring. Who is right and who is wrong is difficult to say.

Despite the fact that the neck of a giraffe reaches two meters in length, it has only 7 cervical vertebrae, like a person. And when, during the rare hours of sleep, the giraffe decides to lie down, he attaches his head to his back or hind leg for a long time. A giraffe sleeps only two hours a day. And he spends almost all his time on food (16-20 hours a day).

The female giraffe can be recognized not only by her height (she is shorter and lighter than the male), but also by the way she eats. Males, as leaders, always reach for leaves that are taller than their height, and females are content with what grows at the level of their heads.

Get leaves from hard-to-reach branches tall tree The giraffe is helped not only by the neck, but also by its muscular tongue. After all, his giraffe can stretch 45 cm.

Monkeys

These small fragile long-tailed monkeys live in all tropical forests. Their bright coloring helps the monkeys to keep an eye on their relatives while traveling in the crowns of trees. They feed on a variety of fruits, leaves, do not neglect insects and lizards, eat with pleasure bird eggs and chicks. The female gives birth to only one cub, which she constantly carries with her, pressing him to her chest. Over time, the cub itself clings tightly to the mother's fur during her desperate jumps. Milk feeds up to six months. Because of their bright and varied appearance, different types of monkeys received the corresponding names: green, mustachioed, white-nosed, etc.

Gazelle Grant

This is a large group of animals that inhabit savannas, deserts, coastal plains, sand dunes, and highlands. They feed on grass, acacia leaves. The back of the gazelles is sandy in color, so the animal seems to merge with the surrounding space and becomes invisible to predators. The horns of males are much larger than those of females. In the dry season, they gather in herds and roam in search of a watering place. They may not drink for a long time. In the choice of food, gazelles are unpretentious, they equally feed on grass, leaves and shoots of shrubs, often go to graze crops of millet and other crops. The number of some species is very small, as people hunt animals and simply destroy them.

hyena dog

The African wild dog lives in the grasslands, savannas, and open woodlands of eastern and southern Africa. The fur of this animal is short and colored in red, brown, black, yellow and white. Each individual has a unique coloring. Their ears are very large and rounded. The muzzle of the dogs is short and they have powerful jaws. This species is well suited for chasing. Like greyhounds, they have a slender body and long legs. The bones of the lower front legs are fused together, preventing them from twisting when running. African wild dogs have large ears that help to remove heat from the animal's body. The short and wide muzzle has powerful muscles that allow it to grab and hold prey. The multicolored coat provides camouflage to the environment. The African wild dog is a carnivore and feeds on medium-sized antelopes, gazelles, and other herbivores. They do not compete with hyenas and jackals for food, as they do not eat carrion. Humans are considered their only enemies.

Rhinoceros

This huge thick-skinned animal lives both in Africa and in South and South-East Asia. In Africa, there are two species of rhinoceros, different from those of Asia. African rhinos have two horns and are adapted to a habitat characterized by large expanses with very few trees. The Asian rhinoceros has only one horn and prefers to live in forest thickets. These animals are on the verge of extinction because they are ruthlessly hunted by poachers for their horns, which are in high demand in some countries.

The female rhinoceros brings, as a rule, one cub every two to four years. The kid stays with his mother for a long time, even when he grows up and becomes independent. In an hour, a newborn cub can follow its mother on its own legs, moreover, it usually walks either in front of it or on its side. He feeds on mother's milk for a year, and during this time his weight increases from 50 to 300 kilograms. The rhinoceros has poor eyesight, he sees only up close, like a nearsighted person. But on the other hand, he has the finest sense of smell and hearing, he can smell food or an enemy from afar. Rhinoceros horn can reach a length of 1.5 meters.

Flamingo

Large flocks of these beautiful birds live near water bodies. They feed on small invertebrates. To do this, the bird lowers its head under the water and searches for prey on the swampy bottom with its beak. The bird's tongue is like a piston that filters water through the rows of horny plates located along the edges of the beak. Small crustaceans, worms that remain in the mouth, the bird swallows. Nests are built from silt and shells in the form of small turrets about half a meter high. Lays 1-3 eggs. Parents feed the chicks with burps of semi-digested food. A flock of flying flamingos presents a striking, unforgettable sight - against the backdrop of the reddish-yellow seashore, its blue surface and pale blue sky, a chain of large pink birds stretches. Flamingo chicks are born sighted, with a straight beak, covered with down. Their beak is bent only after 2 weeks.

Ostrich

The natural environment in which the ostrich lives determined the final adaptability of this bird, the largest of all: the mass of an ostrich exceeds 130 kilograms. The long neck increases the growth of the ostrich up to two meters. A flexible neck and excellent eyesight allow him to notice danger from afar from this height. Long legs give the ostrich the ability to run at speeds up to 70 kilometers per hour, usually enough to escape predators.

Ostriches do not live alone, but in groups of various sizes. While the birds are looking for food, at least one stands guard and looks around the area to spot enemies in time, primarily cheetahs and lions. The eyes of an ostrich are surrounded by long eyelashes, which protect them both from the African sun and from the dust raised by the wind.

Ostriches build their nest in a small hollow, digging it into the sandy soil and covering it with something soft. The female incubates the eggs during the day because her gray color blends well with the environment; the male with predominantly black feathers is engaged in incubation at night.

Females lay from three to eight eggs in a common nest, and each of them incubates the eggs in turn. One egg weighs more than one and a half kilograms and has a very strong shell. It sometimes takes a whole day for an ostrich to break the shell and hatch from the egg.

The beak of an ostrich is short, flat and very strong. It is not specialized for any particular food, but serves to pluck grass and other vegetation and grab insects, small mammals, and snakes.

Black Mamba

The black mamba is a highly venomous snake found in the savannas, rocky and open woodlands of Africa. The snakes of this species grow about 4 m in length and can reach speeds of up to 20 km/h. The black mamba is not actually black in color, but brownish gray, with a light belly and brownish scales on the back. It got its name because of the purple-black color of the inner surface of the mouth. Black mambas feed on small mammals and birds such as voles, rats, squirrels, mice, etc.

A snake can bite a large animal and release it. She will then chase her prey until she is paralyzed. Mamba bites and holds smaller animals, waiting for the action of toxic poison. Black mambas are very nervous when a person approaches them and try to avoid it in any way. If this is not possible, the snake shows aggression by raising the front of the body and opening its mouth wide. They quickly attack and inject their poison into the victim, and then crawl away. Before antidotes were developed, mamba bites were 100% fatal. However, to prevent death, the drug should be administered immediately. They have no natural enemies and the main threat comes from habitat destruction.

Zebra

The zebra belongs to the equine family of the order of equids of the class of mammals. These animals live in groups - herds. There is only one adult male in one herd. All other "participants" are females with cubs. The male leader is the father of all foals. But the herd is not led by a male, but by the most adult female. Her cubs follow her, and then the rest of the females with their foals.

Newborn "minke whales" begin to walk within 20 minutes after birth. And after 45 minutes they are already briskly jumping and running after their mother. They reach maturity in 1-1.5 years. Young males at this age or a little later (up to 3 years) leave their herd, first falling into bachelor groups or staying alone. They acquire their herd at the age of 5-6 years. Young females begin to bear offspring at the age of 2.5 years.

Like all herbivores, zebras flee from danger by running. The main thing is to see the enemy, the lion. Therefore, they willingly accept other animals into their society: antelopes, giraffes, gazelles and even ostriches. The more eyes, the more chances to notice the danger and retreat in time.

Stripes that appeared in the process of evolution. probably also served as a disguise from predators: because of them, it is more difficult to assess the outlines of the body. According to another hypothesis, the stripes appeared as a means of disguise from horseflies and tsetse flies, which, as a result of such coloring, perceive the zebra as a flicker of white and black stripes. Each zebra has a unique set of stripes, like fingerprints, unique to each individual. Thanks to him, the foal remembers his mother. Therefore, after the baby is born, the zebra mother covers it with her body from other zebras for some time.

oryx

Oryx (gemsbok) the size of a deer. It has straight or slightly curved long horns. It can go for weeks without water, making long journeys in search of favorable habitats. In the open area where these antelopes live, it is difficult to hide, so predators can easily spot them.

Oryxes lead a herd life. They graze early in the morning, in the evening and at night.
The long, beautiful, pointed horns of the white oryx are a coveted hunting trophy. At one time, these animals inhabited the entire Arabian Peninsula and Palestine, now there are only a few hundred of them.

Caracal

Caracal is a species of mammals from the cat family, widely distributed in the savannahs of Africa. The physique is similar to that of a normal cat, but the caracal is larger and has large ears. Its coat is short, and the color varies from brown to reddish-gray, sometimes even becoming dark. Its head is shaped like an inverted triangle. The ears are black on the outside and light inside, with tufts of black hair at the tips. They are active at night, mainly preying on small mammals such as rabbits and porcupines, but sometimes large animals such as sheep, young antelopes or deer become their prey. They have special skills for catching birds. Strong legs allow them to jump high enough to actually knock down flying birds with their large paws. The main threat to caracals is people.

blue wildebeest

The blue wildebeest is one of the few antelopes that have survived in large numbers in Africa to this day, and not only in the protected areas of national parks and reserves. In the Serengeti, for example, there are now more than 300,000 wildebeest, and 14,000 wildebeest graze in the Ngoro-Ngoro Crater (250 km2). On both sides of the highway running south from Nairobi to Na-manga and passing through unprotected areas, dozens and even hundreds of wildebeest constantly come into view.

The blue wildebeest is a rather large animal, the height of adult males reaches 130-145 cm at the withers and weighs 250-270 kg. The general tone of the color of the short smooth coat is bluish-gray, dark transverse stripes run along the sides of the animal, the mane and tail are blackish. The blue wildebeest inhabits East and South Africa, almost never going north beyond the latitude of Lake Victoria. Wildebeest's favorite habitats are typical savannahs and vast low-grass plains, sometimes flat, sometimes slightly hilly. However, it is by no means uncommon to meet wildebeest among thickets of thorny bushes and in dry sparse forests. It feeds on wildebeest herbs of certain species. Therefore, in most places, wildebeest herds are nomadic, migrating twice a year to where it rains and there are suitable fodder plants. Migrating wildebeests, stretching in regular endless chains from horizon to horizon, or scattered across the steppe in countless masses, are an exciting and unique sight.

Leopard

The leopard is a species of carnivorous mammals of the cat family, one of the four representatives of the panther genus, belonging to the subfamily of big cats.

The big cat, however, is much smaller than the tiger and lion. The body is elongated, muscular, somewhat laterally compressed, light and slender, very flexible, with a long tail (its length is more than half of the entire length of the body). The legs are relatively short but strong. The front paws are powerful and wide. The head is relatively small and rounded. The forehead is convex, the facial parts of the head are moderately elongated. The ears are small, rounded and set wide apart.

The eyes are small, the pupil is round. The mane or elongated hair in the upper part of the neck and on the cheeks (sideburns) is absent. Vibrissae are represented by black, white and half black half white elastic hairs up to 110 mm long.

The size and weight of leopards depend on the geographic area of ​​​​habitat and vary greatly. Individuals inhabiting forests are usually smaller and lighter, while those living in open areas are, on the contrary, larger than their forest counterparts. But on average, males are a third larger than females.

The leopard feeds mainly on ungulates: antelopes, deer, roe deer and others, and in the period of starvation - rodents, monkeys, birds, reptiles. Sometimes attacks domestic animals (sheep, horses). Like a tiger often kidnaps dogs; foxes and wolves suffer from it. It does not disdain carrion and steals prey from other predators, including other leopards.

Egyptian mongoose

The Egyptian mongoose is the largest of all mongooses in Africa. Animals are common in scrublands, rocky regions and small areas of the savannah. Adults grow up to 60 cm in length (plus a 33-54 cm tail) and weigh 1.7-4 kg.

Egyptian mongooses have long hair, usually gray with brown dots. They are primarily carnivorous, but will also eat fruit if available in their habitat. Their typical diet consists of rodents, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and larvae. Egyptian mongooses also feed on the eggs of various animals. These fauna can eat poisonous snakes. They prey on birds of prey and large savannah carnivores. Egyptian mongooses benefit the environment by killing animals (such as rats and snakes) that are considered pests to humans.

Warthog

In the appearance of a warthog, nature surprisingly mixed ugliness and charm. To say that he is unique is to say nothing. The legs are high, the tail is a tassel on a long thin cord, a disproportionately small, almost naked body of the color of slate or clay, and a huge head with a snout stretched in length and width, on the sides of which growths-"warts" and sickle-shaped fangs stick out. A tousled black mane with bangs falling over the eyes and sparse white sideburns complete the portrait of the "monster". It is not for nothing that such a miracle Yudo was filmed in the prologue of the good old (not to be confused with fresh French scoffing!) Film "A Million Years BC". At the same time, there is some strange attraction in his appearance. Perhaps thanks to the amazing neck. When the animal is alarmed or frightened, the heavy head rises high, and the neck allows you to turn it around 40-50 degrees even on the run, which other pigs are not able to do.

In comparison with most hoofed neighbors, the warthog is small - an average of 75 cm at the withers, however, you can’t call it small with a weight of 50-150 kg. Body length - up to one and a half meters, tail - up to 50 cm. Boars are noticeably larger than pigs, but their tails are shorter. But fangs are longer. In old males, they grow up to 60 cm and bend three-quarters of a circle. Another gender difference is the same “warts”, skin outgrowths that gave the animal its name in all languages. Males have four of them - two on each side of the muzzle, with the upper ones stretching up to 15 cm in height; in females - only two and medium-sized. The “warts” have neither a nucleus nor a bone base, and one can only guess what their purpose is. Perhaps they serve as shock absorbers in ritual fights, but this is just one of the hypotheses.

a lion

There are many predators in the African savannas. Among them, the first place undoubtedly belongs to the lion. Lions usually live in groups - prides, which include both adult males and females, and growing youth. Responsibilities among the members of the pride are distributed very clearly: lighter and more mobile lionesses provide the pride with food, and large and strong males have to protect the territory. The prey of lions is zebras, wildebeest, kongoni, but on occasion lions willingly eat smaller animals and even carrion.

The Kaffir horned raven is the largest species of the hornbill family, one of two species included in the horned raven genus. It lives in the African savanna, south of the equator.

Large bird, 90 to 129 cm long and weighing 3.2 to 6.2 kg. It is distinguished by black plumage and bright red patches of skin on the front of the head and neck. In young birds, these areas are yellow. The beak is black, straight, has a helmet, which is more developed in males.

Inhabits open spaces with sparse shrubs. The main range is southern Kenya, Burundi, southern Angola, northern Namibia, northern and eastern Botswana, and northeastern and eastern South Africa. It nests in hollow stumps or in hollows of baobabs - the nest is not walled up, and the female leaves the nest daily for defecation and grooming.

Horned crows spend most of their time on the ground, collecting food, slowly walking around the savannah. These birds are able to eat almost any medium-sized animal that they can catch. Quickly grabbing prey from the ground, they toss it into the air to make it easier to swallow, and kill it. strong blows beak.

Horned crows hunt in a group of 2-8 birds (up to 11), large prey is often pursued together. They are the only ones of all hornbills that can pick up several food objects in their beak, without swallowing them, carry them to the nest. Sometimes they eat carrion, feasting on carrion-eating insects at the same time. They also eat fruits and seeds.

Nile crocodile

The Nile crocodile can grow up to five meters in length and is common in freshwater swamps, rivers, lakes and other watery places. These animals have long snouts that can capture fish and turtles. The body color is dark olive. They are considered the smartest reptiles on earth. Crocodiles eat almost anything in the water, including fish, turtles, or birds. They even eat buffalo, antelopes, big cats, and sometimes humans when they get the chance. Nile crocodiles They skillfully disguise themselves, leaving only their eyes and nostrils above the water. They also blend well with the color of the water, so for many animals that come to the pond to quench their thirst, these reptiles are a mortal danger. This species is not endangered. They are not threatened by other animals except humans.

Guinea fowl

The guinea fowl (kanga, genefal) is a domesticated bird with an almost horizontal body covered with cream, gray-speckled, white or spotted blue plumage, a bare bluish head with a triangular horn "helmet" on the crown, which has a yellowish tint, and a red beak with two leathery "Earrings" on the sides from the Guesarkov family. The males of this species do not differ much from the females: they only have a slightly higher growth on the head, the body is more vertical, and the call is monosyllabic (in females it sounds like “chikele-chikele-chikele”).

The wild progenitor of agricultural birds, the helmet-bearing guinea fowl and 6 other species of this family, are still found on the island of Madagascar and in Africa, south of the Sahara. The first attempts to keep this bird by man were made long before our era, and this happened, as follows from the African epic, in its homeland in Guinea. There are also Egyptian references to domestic guinea fowl dating back to the 15th century BC. In antiquity, guinea fowl were bred in the Mediterranean for a cult purpose - they were considered sacred messengers of the goddess Artemis.

In Europe, guinea fowl also appeared over 2 thousand years ago, where they came from the African state of Numidia, but no information about this event has been preserved in history. Presumably, for a number of reasons, all individuals and their offspring died and people forgot about the existence of exotic birds. Guinea fowls were rediscovered and brought to the European continent by the Portuguese at the end of the 14th century. In Russia, they began to be bred at poultry farms in the 18th century, and, for the excellent taste of meat, the birds were called guinea fowls, because this word comes from the old Russian “tsar”.

Hyena

The fauna of Africa is rich and varied. Among the African fauna, one can distinguish spotted hyena. Of course, not everyone loves this type of animal. People personify hyenas with such qualities as bloodthirstiness, perfidy, insidiousness. In the famous Disney cartoon The Lion King, hyenas are presented as negative characters that cause only hostility. Indeed, a hyena can hardly be called attractive and graceful. However, this does not prevent her from developing a rapid speed while running - sixty-five kilometers per hour. And these animals feel very comfortable in their environment, thanks to their excellent hunting skills and ability to survive even in the most severe conditions.

Spotted hyenas are a collective animal. They live in clans. The highest rung of the hierarchy is occupied by females. Males occupy the lowest positions. Such a clan includes from ten to one hundred hyenas. Like many other animals, each clan has a specific territory attached to it, which they defend from opponents and mark with feces. Communication between individuals is carried out using sounds. Many, probably, have heard this unpleasant rumble, reminiscent of laughter.

The diet of hyenas includes not only carrion, spotted predators are excellent hunters. They easily catch antelopes, hares, porcupines, as well as young giraffes, hippos and rhinos.

Striped hyena. It can be found throughout North Africa, as well as much of Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Bay of Bengal. In wild nature striped hyena practically does not intersect with spotted.

Animals of the American Savannah

Jaguar

The jaguar is the third largest cat in the world and the largest in the New World. The body length of a male jaguar is 120-185 cm, tail length is 45-75 cm, weight is 90-110 kg (females are smaller and weigh 60-80 kg). The body of the jaguar is heavy and strong, and the limbs are short and powerful, which makes it look squat and even awkward. The disproportionately massive head of this predator is striking; its size is associated with the extraordinary power of its jaws, which allow it to easily crack open even the strong shells of turtles. The coat color of the jaguar, although spotted, like that of many other cats, is still unique: the spots are collected in so-called rosettes.

Jaguars prefer to live in places located near water - they are excellent swimmers and love water very much. Like other cats, they mark their territory with urine. Unlike many other members of the family, the jaguar is a true universal predator. A variety of animals can become its prey: capybaras, deer, peccaries, tapirs, fish, turtles and their eggs; it also attacks birds, monkeys, foxes, snakes, rodents and even alligators. This most dangerous predator in South America is able to cope with prey weighing up to 300 kg.

For the den, the female jaguar chooses a place among the stones, in the bushes or in the hollows of the trees. After 90-110 days of pregnancy, she gives birth to two to four cubs. Their pattern has more black than their parents, and it does not consist of rosettes, but of solid spots. In the den, young jaguars spend six weeks, and three months after their birth, they already accompany their mother during the hunt. However, they separate from it only at the age of two.

Ocelot

The ocelot is the third largest American cat after the jaguar and cougar. This graceful predator lives in most of South America (Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, etc.) and Central America, up to the US states of Arizona and Arkansas. Throughout the range, intraspecific variability is present, as a result of which 10 subspecies of the ocelot are distinguished.

From Latin, the name of the cat is translated as "like a leopard." Indeed, there are some similarities between them, but to a greater extent, the ocelot is similar to its closest relative, the Marga cat. Its body is long (up to 1.3 meters), its legs are rather short and powerful. A somewhat flattened head with rounded ears and large eyes rests on an elongated neck.

Ocelot has one of the most beautiful colors among all cats. Above and on the sides, the background color of the fur is yellow-golden, white below. Countless spots, stripes, streaks and black dots are scattered over the entire surface of the body, which together form an intricate pattern.

Despite the fact that the ocelot itself is a predator, it leads a very secretive lifestyle. You can meet this cat only in dense tropical jungle and shrub thickets, and never in open areas. Basically, the animal leads a terrestrial lifestyle, but if necessary, it climbs trees and rocks perfectly, and also swims well.

Agouti

Agouti is a rodent from the tropical forests of Central and South America, similar to a large guinea pig. Its rough coat is coated with an oily substance that acts as a protective cloak. On the back of the body, the coat is longer. Agouti has five toes on its front paws and three on its back. Like many rodents, they walk gracefully on their toes rather than the entire foot. Although difficult to see, the agouti does have a tail: it is very small, like dark beans glued to the back of the animal's body.

Maned wolf

The maned or maned wolf or guar, aguarachai, belongs to the predatory mammals of the canine family. In South America, the maned wolf is a large member of the family, having unusual appearance making it look like a fox. The height of the wolf at the withers is 74-87 cm, body length is 125-130 cm, weight is 20-23 kg. The elongated muzzle, short tail and high ears emphasize the external disproportion of the animal.

The long legs of the wolf are the result of evolution in matters of adaptation to the habitat, they help the animal overcome obstacles in the form of tall grass growing on the plains.

The high and soft hairline of the wolf has a yellowish-red color, the tip of the tail and chin are light. There is a dark stripe from the head to about the middle of the back. The limbs of the wolf are dark in color, dark spots can also be found on the muzzle. On the upper part of the neck and on the nape there is long hair that forms a mane. In an excited or aggressive state, the hairs on the mane stand on end, which gives the animal an intimidating appearance.

giant anteater

The name is associated with the favorite food of this animal - ants. It has an elongated muzzle that resembles a pipe. This unique animal of South America is the largest of the edentulous order. The Giant Anteater is similar in size to the Golden Retriever, but thick and bushy hair makes it look more massive. The gray hairs of the anteater feel like straw to the touch and are especially long on the tail (up to 40 centimeters). It has a stripe of white, tan, or gray that starts on the chest and extends to the middle of the back. Below this stripe is a dark collar. The hairy and fluffy tail is often used as a blanket or umbrella. The elongated head and nose of the giant anteater are excellent for catching ants and termites.

puma

The cougar is the largest feline in the New World. Previously, it was attributed to the same genus to which ordinary cats and lynxes belong. But, since outwardly the cougar is not similar to either one or the other, it was separated into a separate genus, which includes a single species.

The body of the cougar is longer than that of other cats, the paws are strong, and the head is relatively small. It is characteristic that the cougar has a very long and powerful tail, which acts as a balancer when jumping.

Her coat is thick, but very short. Puma is one of the few cats that does not have a pronounced pattern. The general tone of her coat is sandy, for which this beast is sometimes called a mountain lion, but unlike a lion, the cougar's nose is pink. Animals of this species are characterized by a variety of shades of the skin: the northern populations are light yellow and even gray in color, the southern populations are brown or bright red. On the belly, the hair has a whitish tint, and on the ears, on the contrary, it is black.

The range of the cougar extends from the Rocky Mountains of North America to Patagonia in the South. Throughout its range, this predator inhabits a variety of landscapes: it can be found in the mountains, lowland forests, tropical jungles and even swamps. This beast avoids only strongly open places. Like all cats, the cougar leads a solitary lifestyle. She is secretive and rarely betrays her presence with her voice. Cougars are very flexible and agile cats: they climb trees perfectly, are able to make huge jumps in length and height.

Battleship

Armadillos have a really strange appearance. Although most species of armadillos appear bald, they do have hair on their sides and belly (for example, the nine-banded armadillo). These animals have a shell, which consists of stripes. The number of stripes depends on the type of animal. Although the stripes are as hard as fingernails, the carapace is flexible, with softer skin that expands and contracts between the stripes. Armadillos also have long claws for digging and searching for food. Their favorite food is termites and ants.

viscacha

One of the cutest representatives of the chinchilla family, viscacha, has an extremely interesting appearance. The appearance of a rodent at the same time resembles the appearance of a kangaroo and a rabbit with a long squirrel tail.

Vizcacha belongs to the order of rodents and is characterized by a rather large size. At the same time, height and weight depend on the habitat of the animal. Thus, the body length of a male plain viscacha reaches 65-80 cm, and the weight varies from 5 to 8 kg.

In addition, the tail length should be taken into account - at least 15 cm. Females reach 3.5-5 kg ​​in weight, and the body length is 50-70 cm. The tail of females is also 2-3 cm shorter than that of men.

But mountain viscacha, or as it is also called, Peruvian viscacha, has a slightly smaller size. The body length of the rodent is 30-40 cm. The weight does not exceed 1.5 kg.

The head of a viscacha is distinguished by its massiveness, fairly large ears and a wide slit of the eyes. The forelimbs are short and weak, but the hind limbs are characterized by length and power.

The animal has rather short and soft to the touch fur of a gray-brown tone on the back. On the sides, the color is paler, and on the abdomen, the color becomes white. A feature can be called the dependence of color on the color of the soil where the rodent lives. The darker the tone of the ground, the richer the color of the animal's fur.

Regardless of gender, the animal has white and black markings on its head. But the differences between the sexes are still revealed - males are distinguished by a more massive structure and a clearly defined mask on the muzzle.

Nandu

The Nandu ostrich lives in the expanses of South America, in the steppes of Brazil and Argentina. This bird has long powerful legs and develops great speed. Its weight is about 30 kilograms, and its height can reach 130 centimeters. The plumage of the bird is inconspicuous, gray, and it is the same for both females and males. The head and neck appear bald. Small feathers on these areas of the body barely cover the skin of the bird.

On the wings, the plumage does not look magnificent, but on the tail it does not appear at all. There are three toes on the feet. The bird feeds on plant foods (fruits, plant seeds and grass), and only occasionally consumes animal feed (invertebrates, worms, rodents). They live in small groups. The male has a harem of several females. During the breeding season, he digs a hole in the ground. This is the nest where the females lay their eggs.

One such nest can contain up to 50 eggs. The male is an excellent dad and a family man - he incubates the clutch, protects the hatched chicks. Chicks are born sighted, feathered, able to move and get their own food from the first days of life. At the beginning of the 20th century, Nandu had a large population. Because of the delicious meat and hearty eggs, a real massive hunt began for birds. And now they are on the verge of extinction. Today they can be seen on private farms and zoos. People start correcting their mistakes...

tuco tuco

These animals got their name because they communicate with each other with precisely such sounds as “tuko-tuko-tuko”.

Outwardly, these animals are very remotely reminiscent of bush rats. However, some features, such as small eyes set high on the head and ears almost hidden in the fur, indicate the leading way of life of this rodent underground.

In addition, morphological features include a massive physique and big head connecting with a thick and short neck. The tuco-tuco muzzle has a somewhat flattened shape. These rodents have muscular and short limbs, and the front ones are slightly shorter than the hind ones, but the powerful claws on the front paws are much more developed. The foot is covered with stiff bristle-like hairs. Due to the bristles, the foot increases, and besides, when cleaning the fur, the bristles act as a comb.

The mass of an adult can vary from 200 to 700 grams. In length, these animals can grow up to 25 cm, and their tail up to 11 cm.

Rodents of this species very rarely come to the surface of the earth. Underground, usually these are areas with loose or sandy soil, they are a complex system of underground burrows that communicate with the central chamber of the nest. The earth that appears during the digging of holes, these rodents push to the surface with their hind limbs. There are separate burrows for food supplies. The active activity of tuko - tuko falls on the evening hours and early morning.

Animals of the Australian savannas

Dragon of Komodo Island

The Komodo monitor lizard is an amazing and truly unique animal, which is not without reason called a dragon. The largest living lizard spends most of its time hunting. It is the object of pride of the islanders and the ongoing interest of tourists. Our article will tell about the life of this dangerous predator, features of its behavior and characteristics characteristic of the species.

These animals are really comparable in size. Most adult Komodo monitor lizards reach 2.5 meters in length, while their weight barely exceeds half a centner. But even among the giants there are champions. There is reliable information about the Komodo dragon, the length of which exceeded 3 meters, and the weight reached 150 kg. Only a specialist can visually distinguish a male from a female. Sexual dimorphism is practically not expressed, but male monitor lizards are usually slightly more massive. But to determine which of the two monitor lizards is older, any tourist who arrived on the island for the first time will be able to: the young are always colored brighter.

Monitor lizards are diurnal and prefer to sleep at night. Like the rest of the cold-blooded, they are sensitive to temperature extremes. The hunting time comes at dawn. Leading solitary monitor lizards are not averse to join forces while chasing game. It may seem that Komodo dragons are clumsy fat people, but this is far from the case. These animals are unusually hardy, mobile and strong. They are able to reach speeds of up to 20 km / h, and during their run, as they say, the earth trembles. Dragons feel no less confident in the water: it is not a problem for them to swim to the neighboring island. Sharp nails, strong musculature and a balancer tail help these animals to climb trees and steep rocks perfectly.

Ostrich Emu

The emu is the fastest, largest, non-flying bird. Australia is located at a distance from other continents. This has had a positive effect on the conservation of some animal species. These include the Australian ostrich. An amazing creature, the coat of arms of this country.

The emu was first mentioned at the end of the 16th century in the reports of European researchers. In the middle of the 17th century, he was seen on the east coast of the continent. The origin of the name is not exactly known. There are consonant words in Portuguese and Arabic, the translation sounds like "big bird". There is an assumption that the birds are named after the shrill cry "E-m-uu". Ornithologist John Latham first described them in A Journey to Botany Bay by Arthur Philip in 1789. In those days, there were six species of ostrich, but the first settlers from Europe mercilessly destroyed them for competition in feed with sheep and cows.

The appearance of Emu is related to ostriches and cassowaries. They reach a height of average human height and a body height of up to a meter. They have a dense body and a small head on long neck. Round eyes framed by fluffy eyelashes and a beak Pink colour with a slightly curved tip, no teeth. The wings are underdeveloped, as in all non-flying ratites, up to 25 cm long. On the tips of the growth like a claw. Strong legs that can easily break the bones of an adult. Soft brown feathers that aid in camouflage and regulate body temperature. Representatives of both sexes are equally colored.
Wombat

The wombat is a marsupial herbivore. This large animal, outwardly resembling a bear cub, digs long tunnels, quickly running short dads with strong claws. By digging up the earth like little bulldozers, wombats harm crops. Therefore farmers for a long time they were destroyed. Now wombats have become rare animals and are listed in the Red Book. Wombats live alone, they are secretive and cautious.

They go out in search of food, feeding on grass, bark and roots of plants. Like beavers, they are capable of felling trees by gnawing through trunks with strong front teeth like their namesakes in South America, feeding on ants and termites using a long tongue. These animals do not have a pouch. The tiny, underdeveloped cubs that are born hide in the wool on the mother's belly, holding on to her nipples. When the cubs grow up a little, the mother takes them to the hole.

Ant-eater

Anteaters are close relatives of sloths and armadillos. In nature, there are giant, dwarf, tamandua and marsupial anteaters.

All these anteaters live in Central and South America, and the marsupial, nambat - in Australia.

The size of the anteater depends on the species to which the animal belongs. The largest is the two-meter, weighing 35 kg giant anteater, and the tiniest is the pygmy anteater, less than 20 cm long and weighing only 400 grams. The marsupial anteater, nambat, has approximately the same parameters. Tamandua - larger than dwarf. Its body length reaches less than 60 cm, and its weight is about 5 kg.

All American anteaters are devoid of teeth, the front of the head is elongated, and the fused jaws resemble a pipe. A distinctive feature of all anteaters is their longest tongue among all terrestrial animals, reaching 60 cm, with which the anteater extracts small insects, mainly termites. At marsupial anteater There are teeth, but they are very small. This animal also uses its ten-centimeter tongue to extract termites, on which it feeds exclusively.

Echidna

Echidna remotely resembles a hedgehog with a very large beak. It is distinguished by a clumsy flattened body, which is covered with fur mixed with sharp needles. The echidna has a cylindrical beak, no teeth at all, instead of them it has sharp horn needles. The tongue of this animal is long and worm-like, it extends far from a small oral fissure, like that of an anteater. The echidna has strong short legs with large claws adapted for digging. The tail is very small and blunt.

When an echidna lays an egg, she carries it in a leather fold (bag) on ​​her stomach. Interestingly, after the cub grows up, the bag itself disappears. There are two genera of echidnas. The first one belongs spiny echidna with five-toed feet and clawed toes. Typical representatives of this genus are the Australian, Papuan and Tasmanian echidnas. All these animals are no more than 50 centimeters long and their fur is densely mixed with long thick needles.

Spiny echidnas live in mountainous dry forests. They hide in burrows during the day and search for food at night. These animals dig the ground in search of worms, insects and ants. In case of danger, the echidna instantly curls up into a prickly ball. If you grab it, you can seriously injure yourself on sharp needles. The Indians often hunt echidnas and claim that fried echidna is very tasty dish. In captivity, echidnas are very affectionate and not aggressive. They love to sleep very much and can sleep for 50-70 hours in a row.

These are very strange animals. They live only in Australia and on the islands adjacent to this continent. They are also called bird animals for the fact that, on the one hand, they resemble animals, are covered with fur, feed their young with milk, have four legs, and, on the other hand, carry eggs, just like birds. By the way, they do not have a nose, but a beak, like those of waterfowl.

Lizard Moloch

The Moloch habitat is the semi-deserts and deserts of the central and western regions of Australia. The body of the Moloch is wide and flattened, reaching 22 centimeters in length.

It is profusely covered with many short and curved horny spines that take the form of horns over the eyes and over the pillow-like projection of the neck. The head of a Moloch, on the contrary, is small and rather narrow.

Brownish-yellow coloration covers the upper body of the Moloch, it can also be reddish-brown with dark spots and a narrow yellowish stripe. An amazing feature of this animal lies in its ability to change its color. This can be due to many factors, whether it be temperature, lighting or the physiological state of the body.

The peak of Moloch activity is during the daytime. The way of its movement is quite unusual: slowly step over with outstretched legs and practically without touching the ground with the tail. Relating to lizards, molochs, having found soft ground, dig holes. However, they can also completely sink into the sand to a relatively shallow depth, thereby imitating the behavior of some Asian and American lizards.

If Moloch is frightened, then his makeshift horns become his means of protection. Bending his head down and exposing his horny outgrowths located on the back of his head, Moloch confronts his offenders. A rather large outgrowth on the back of the head imitates the so-called false head, thereby confusing the predator.

dingo dog

Looking at a photo of a dingo dog, you can’t say that this is a wild dog. In addition, purebred dingoes cannot even bark, they just growl and howl.

There are many legends and versions about the origin of this species. Some believe that this dog was brought to Australia by settlers from Asia. Others say that dingoes are descended from Chinese crested dogs. And there is also a version that dingo dogs are descendants descended from mixing the blood of Indian wolves and pario dogs.

It looks like an ordinary dog ​​with some signs of wild dogs. She has a broad head, erect ears and long fangs. These predators try to be nocturnal. They can be found in dry thickets of eucalyptus or on the edges of forests. But dingoes can also establish their dwelling in a mountain cave, the main thing is that there is water somewhere nearby.

These dogs can settle in packs of more than 12 individuals. In such family communities, a very strict hierarchy is observed: the dominant place is occupied by a couple that dominates all other members of the pack.

The dingo's diet includes food of both plant and animal origin. They prey on rabbits, small kangaroos, a variety of reptiles, fish, crabs, rats and birds. Sometimes they also eat carrion. It happens that dingoes encroach on the household: they steal chickens.

Opossum

Once upon a time, marsupials lived all over the planet. These animals from Olympus replaced the more primitive egg-laying ones. After all, there used to be a land bridge between Australia and Asia, thanks to which animals and plants spread. As the ocean level changed and the continents moved, this bridge disappeared. Several million years have passed, the once prosperous detachment has almost completely disappeared, and only on the lost continent, in Australia, marsupial life continues to flourish.

These isolated animals developed, and carnivorous, herbivorous and insectivorous animals gradually emerged among them, jumping, climbing and running forms. They are found on the plains and in forests, underground and in the mountains, there are semi-aquatic and planning forms. Inhabiting the continent and the islands closest to it, they occupied almost all the ecological niches of their habitat, and basically they do not resemble each other either in appearance or in size. The marsupial relative of the rat is the kangaroo rat native to Australia and New Guinea. It belongs to the marsupial family of mammals. In total, four genera of these marsupial rodents have been identified.

So, the first genus of these marsupials is large rats with bluish-gray hair and a tassel at the very tip of the tail. This marsupial rat got its name just because of this brush (brush-tailed rats). This genus includes tafa (tree rat) - a predator that cannot be tamed, as well as a small marsupial rat, which is a very rare animal that is under protection.

The tafa, or large marsupial rat, is a rodent about the size of the carnivorous arboreal marsupial Dasyuridae. She is distinguished by a tuft of silky black hair on her tail. Males of this species do not live long, their age reaches only one year, because after breeding they die.

The comb-tailed marsupial rat is an animal with paws that do not have a thumb. This is a genus of marsupial mammals, in which the bag is practically absent. There is 1 species in the genus, whose name is similar to the name of the entire genus. These animals are considered relatives of comb-tailed mice and have a great resemblance to them.

marsupial mole

The Australian continent is inhabited by many animal species found nowhere else in the world. One of the representatives of this kind of fauna are marsupial moles.

These animals, well known to Australian natives, became known to science only in 1888, when one of their representatives was found sleeping under a bush by one of the settler farmers from Europe. Despite the fact that the marsupial moles are very similar to the golden moles that live in Africa, these two animal species belong to completely different systematic groups.

Marsupial moles are mammals. There are two types of them: Notoryctes typhops and Notoryctes caurinus. The difference between them is only in size and some details of the structure of the body. Marsupial moles are very different from other types of marsupials, and for this reason they are singled out by zoologists in a special family.

The body of marsupial moles is oblong, resembling a roller, has a length of 15 to 18 centimeters. The weight of these animals is from 40 to 70 grams. Marsupial moles dig the soil with their front paws, which have powerful triangular claws. Their hind limbs are adapted for throwing sand to the side. The body of these representatives of the Australian fauna is covered with thick and beautiful hair, the color of which can vary from snow-white to brown.

The head of the marsupial mole looks like an elongated cone, at the end of which there is a nose covered with a kind of shield, with the help of which the animal quickly pushes the sand apart.

Kangaroo

The red kangaroo lives almost all over Australia. It has a 3-meter body length (of which, about 90 cm is the length of the tail), and weighs up to 90 kg. Females are smaller than males, and their weight is 30 kg. The animal has a powerful body, strong muscular hind legs, a strong and thickened tail. Thin, but very grasping forelegs, which are much shorter than the hind limbs.

There are five fingers on the front paws, four on the hind legs with very sharp long claws. The head is small and elongated towards the nose, with attentive eyes, with large and all-clear ears. The color is brown-red or smoky blue, the paws and tail are almost white, and the belly is lighter than the main tone.

They eat plant foods: grass, leaves, fruits and grains. They have adapted well to drought conditions and can go many days without water. To escape from the wild heat, kangaroos often breathe with their mouths open and try to move less.

They lick their paws, which also cool the body. It was noticed by observers that during a long drought, they dig small holes in the sand, where they hide from the scorching sun. During the day they hide in the shade and doze, and at dusk they go out to pastures.

The red kangaroo is a cautious and shy animal. In case of danger, it runs away, developing a speed of up to 50 km / h. But he cannot withstand a high pace for a long time, he quickly gets tired. He jumps 10 meters in length, and maybe go for a record - 12 meters.