Sunday, July 17, 2011

african wild dogs hunting

In africa especially in savana and other lightly wooded areas. Adults typically weigh 18–34 kilograms (40–75 lb). A tall, lean animal, it stands about 75 centimetres (30 in) at the shoulder, with a head and body length averaging about 100 centimetres (39 in) long with a tail of 30 to 45 centimetres (12 to 18 in).

The African Wild Dog has a bite force quotient measured at 142, the highest of any extant mammal of the order Carnivora, although exceeded by the Tasmanian devil a marsupial carnivore. The BFQ is essentially the strength of bite relative to the animal's mass.

The African Wild Dog may reproduce at any time of year, although mating peaks between March and June during the second half of the rainy season. The copulatory tie characteristic of mating in most canids has been reported to be absent or very brief (less than one minute) in the African Wild Dog, possibly an adaptation to the prevalence of larger predators in its environment.[7] Litters can contain 2-19 pups, though ~10 is the most common.

african wild dogs
african wild dogs
african wild dogs
Like most members of the dog family, it is a cursorial hunter, meaning that it pursues its prey in a long, open chase. Nearly 80% of all wild dog hunts end in a kill; for comparison, the success rate of lions, often viewed as ultimate predators, is only 30%. Schaller found that 9 of 10 wild dog hunts in the Serengeti ended in kills. Members of a pack vocalize to help coordinate their movements. Its voice is characterized by an unusual chirping or squeaking sound, similar to a bird. Wild dogs frequently kill larger prey via disemboweling, a technique that is rapid but has caused this species to have a negative, ferocious reputation.
african wild dogs
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...