Predator and prey

 

 

 

 

 

 

The leopard is described in depth on the page Animals – Mammals: The spotted killer, including the story of a terrible man-eating leopard in northern India.

 

 

 

 

 

This species is described on the page Portraits, and pictures of it are found in the gallery at Animals: Cats.

 

 

 

 

 

The lion is unique among cats due to the male’s mane, a large growth of hair around the neck and down the chest, and often a little way down the back. The mane makes a male lion look larger than he actually is, without the disadvantage of a larger weight, which would require more food. A large mane is a signal to other males that here comes a powerful animal that shouldn’t be challenged, even if the challenging male is in fact larger than his opponent, but has a smaller mane. The mane also gives some protection during fights among males, for instance when stray males attempt to take over a pride.

The lion is described in depth on the page Animals – Mammals: Lion – king of the savanna, and an unusual nightly encounter with lions is related on the page Travel episodes – Tanzania 1990: Lions in the camp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rüppell’s vulture (Gyps rueppelli) occurs throughout the Sahel region, and also in East Africa southwards to Mozambique. Formerly abundant, this species may now count less than 20,000 individuals.

Both these vulture species have declined by over 90%, especially in West Africa, and they are now regarded as critically endangered. (Source: iucnredlist.org)

The pictures below were all taken in Serengeti National Park, northern Tanzania.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This species was described by French naturalist François Levaillant (1753-1824), who named it vocifer (’the one who has a penetrating voice’) – a most suitable name for this eagle, whose scream is often resounding over the African landscape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The specific name auritus means ‘eared’ in Latin, which, like the common name double-crested, refers to its twin crests, one on each side of the head, during the breeding season.

Numerous cormorant species are described on the page Fishing.

 

 

 

 

 

It is extremely common in Istanbul, Turkey, where it often breeds on house roofs. If a window is left open, it may enter to search for edibles.

This species and other gulls are described on the page Animals – Birds: Gulls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The white-chinned petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis), also called Cape hen, breeds in colonies on islands in the far Southern Seas, but are sometimes seen as far north as southern Australia, Peru, and Namibia. In 2004, the population was estimated at 7 million. However, it is declining drastically everywhere, mainly due to longline fishing, where the birds are caught on hooks, intended for catching large fish.

The name petrel alludes to Saint Peter, who, as the story goes, was walking on water. When these birds are about to take off, they paddle with their feet on the surface, which resembles walking.

 

 

 

 

 

Several pictures, depicting this species, are shown on the pages Animals – Birds: Birds in the Himalaya, and Birds in Taiwan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genetic research indicates that this species originates from Bufo gargarizans in China. It then dispersed to almost the entire island, resulting in highly diverse western and eastern populations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In his book Fabulae, Roman author Gaius Julius Hyginus (c. 64 B.C. – 17 A.D.) relates that Zeus made love to the goddess Leto. Zeus’s wife Hera got jealous, and when Leto was about to give birth to Apollo and Artemis, Hera made Python pursue Leto, so that she was unable to deliver. However, Leto managed to give birth to the twins, and when Apollo grew up, he wanted to avenge his mother. He travelled to Mount Parnassos, where the monster dwelled, and chased it to the Gaia Temple in Delphi, where he killed it with his arrows.

Zoologically speaking, Python is a genus of large constricting snakes, comprising eleven species, distributed in tropical regions of Asia and Africa. The Indian rock python (Python molurus) is found on the entire Indian Subcontinent, including Sri Lanka.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from the Greek nein (‘to spin’) and philos (‘love’), thus ‘fond of spinning’. The web of these spiders is enormous, up to 2 m across, with supporting strands much longer. The webs of different females are sometimes inter-connected, together covering many square metres. Small birds and bats are reported to have been caught in these strong webs.

 

 

 

 

 

Eresus sandaliatus is found in northern Europe, from Denmark and southern Sweden southwards to the Czech Republic, northern Italy, and northern France. A small population is also found in England. In 1993, it was estimated that only about 50 individuals were left, mainly due to destruction of its preferred habitat, moors. In 2000, however, over 600 were counted, probably owing to the efforts of various NGO’s. (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eresus_sandaliatus)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most feared are the so-called army ants, a name applied to more than 200 ant species. Many of these ants do not have permanent nests, but travel about in huge columns, known as raids, causing even large animals to leave the area.

During field work in Tanzanian forests, our camp was sometimes visited by such columns, in this region known as safari ants, or siafu, and when that happened we had to scramble into our tents or our car as quickly as possible.

In the forests, we were catching birds in mist nets, and when siafu were invading the area, we had to run out to the nets to liberate caught birds in a hurry. If we didn’t, the ants would kill the birds. A couple of times, when I was taking birds out of a net, the ants attacked me in the hundreds. They don’t sting, but their soldiers apply a painful bite, and when 50 or more ants bite at the same time, it is very painful, I can tell you!

 

 

 

 

 

The larval stage usually lasts several years, and the time of metamorphosis depends on the amount of food the larva gets. Adults somewhat resemble damselflies. They are nocturnal and only live about a month.