They resemble dogs, not dogs
Because dogs have 5 toes
And there are only 4 of them
They have large, round ears
Kind of like a fox
The strangest thing is
They make all kinds of sounds
Sometimes like a cat, sometimes like a bird
Coordinated, long-distance running is their specialty
The success rate of lion hunting is only 20%
And they're as high as 65 percent.
They are on the African savannah
A well-deserved and outstanding hunter
But the whole population has been hovering
Disappearing on the brink of extinction
Because their coat color is more mottled
Most of them are black, yellow, white and other colors
It also looks uniquely beautiful
Hence the name
It's called "Children of the Stars."
"Children of the Stars" - African wild dogs
Photo by Leon Pauleikhoff
Basic introduction
African wild dog
It is the only canine with no upper claws on its forelimbs
Please don't bark African wild dogs
Call the African Wild Dog
(Because it sounds more domineering)
One of the rare canids in Africa
It is also a species unique to Africa
On the African savannah
The status of african wild dogs is second only to lions and hyenas
Known as the "Three Brothers of Africa"
African wild dogs are also known as hyenas, pansies and colored wolves
It is a very rare wild animal
They like to live in groups
It mainly lives in the plains and grasslands of Africa
and lowland forests
The fur of the African wild dog is short and sparse
Different patches are a sign of their identity
They have a keen sense of sight and smell
The lifespan is usually about 10 years
In addition, they are also very good at running
The top speed can reach 55 km/h
And excellent endurance
As long as you can catch prey
They don't care about running even hundreds of kilometers
Photo by Joel Sileno
Terrible hunting machines
Among dogs
The hunting ability of African wild dogs ranks only behind wolves and jackals
Ranked third
In addition to the lean limbs and the speed of a ride in the dust
Their teeth are also called "death warnings"
The upper and lower gums have a total of 42 teeth
The premolars are larger than other canines
This gives them a very strong bite force
Photo by Elli
Although the African wild dog is weak in stature
Lion pups are also several times heavier than adult wild dogs
But they are in the process of hunting and killing their prey
But it can use its strengths and avoid its weaknesses
Leverage your team's strengths
The African Wild Dog takes
"Tactics" of alternate positions
Take turns chasing until the prey is exhausted
They may not be able to give their prey a fatal blow
But they bite the thin, soft parts of their prey's crotch
The method of opening the stomach and breaking the stomach causes the prey to die quickly
Photo by Ivko
African wild dogs prey on a wide range of objects
Rodents from rodents
to large herbivores
They can all be dazzled
Of course
They prefer to catch medium-sized herbivores
Such as antelope or wildebeest
Antelopes are good at running and jumping
And take the "zigzag" route when escaping
The African wild dog, on the other hand, has figured out how the antelope escapes
And there is a set of "unique skills" specifically for antelope
They are chasing antelopes
All members are lined up in a fan-shaped formation
This way the antelope does not matter which direction it turns
None of them escaped their hunting range
The endurance of antelopes is far inferior to that of African wild dogs
Alternating charge of wild dogs will give to antelopes
Brings great psychological stress
Just wait until the antelope is exhausted
The wild dogs can enjoy a big meal
In botha 摄
The ears stand up like antennas
The African wild dog also has unique butterfly ears and bat ears
Such a special ear structure
Make their hearing sharper
Can help them better spot prey and danger
Ears of African wild dogs
Much larger than the average dog
When bored
The ears stand obliquely on either side of the head
It's like the wings of a butterfly spreading out
Once the surrounding environment appears abnormal
Or the hunting object is close at hand
Their ears immediately adjust their position
Erect above the head
The sharp straight lines of the ears transform into a shape
When erected, it looks like a radar
African wild dogs have developed hearing
On the vast and empty prairie
They rely on this pair of big ears
Conduct the task of searching for enemies, identifying directions, and finding companions
Eugenics and eugenics Cooperative parenting
Inside the wild dog herd
The leading male and female are called
Alpha males and alpha females
In most cases
Only alpha males and alpha females
in order to reproduce offspring
Other group members do not have reproductive rights
So the benefit of this fertility mechanism is
When alpha females are pregnant
It will be able to use the strength of the whole clan to ensure its food supply
After the cub is born
And can lift the strength of the whole clan as a cub
Serving food and providing protection
This is "eugenic breeding"
But alpha males and alpha females
The location is not fixed
When the chief is getting old
Will be younger inside the group
Stronger individuals are replaced
Their genes are of the highest quality in the entire population
Offspring born in this way
On a certain level
Also more offspring than ordinary individuals
There are more innate advantages
This is "eugenics"
Photo by Alexstrachan
After the cub is born
Other adult individuals in the group
and minor individuals of the previous child
They will spontaneously take on the responsibility of caring for their cubs
This spirit of solidarity
For the survival and development of African wild dogs
Very important
With the care of the whole family
The survival rate of pups will also be greatly improved
Rare endangered Falling stars
Due to the large area of activity
Plus other large carnivores
Scramble for prey
and the impact of human activities
On the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
African Wild Dog Rated EN (Endangered)
Photo by Marcus Löfvenberg
People became aware of the crisis facing this species
Establish a reserve for African wild dogs in Africa
Hopefully, the "stars" will not fall
Shine your own light on the vast plains
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