Small animals of the savannah. The amazing world of savannah. Economic role of savannas

IN equatorial belt Savannas occupy a huge area of ​​Africa. These are flat or slightly rolling plains, where open grassy areas alternate with groups of trees or dense thickets thorny bushes. During the rainy season, the savanna is covered with tall grass, which turns yellow and burns out with the onset of the dry season. Agriculture in the savanna area is almost undeveloped, and the main occupation of the local population is cattle breeding.

African elephant.

Animal world Savannahs are a unique phenomenon. In no corner of the Earth in human memory has there been such an abundance of large animals as in the African savannas. Back at the beginning of the 20th century. countless herds of herbivores roamed the expanses of savannas, crossing With from one pasture to another or in search of watering places. They were accompanied by numerous predators - lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs. The predators were followed by carrion eaters - vultures, jackals.

Greater kudu.

The indigenous people of Africa have been hunting for a long time. However, as long as man was armed primitively, a kind of balance was maintained between the decline of animals and the increase in their numbers. With the arrival of white colonialists armed with firearms, the situation changed radically. Due to excessive hunting, the number of animals quickly decreased, and some species, such as the quagga, white-tailed wildebeest, and blue horse antelope, were completely exterminated. The fencing of private property, the construction of roads, steppe fires, the plowing of large areas and the expansion of cattle breeding aggravated plight wild animals. Finally, the Europeans, unsuccessfully trying to fight the tsetse fly, staged a grandiose massacre, and more than 300 thousand elephants, giraffes, buffalos, zebras, wildebeest and other antelopes were shot from rifles and machine guns from cars. Many animals also died from the plague brought from cattle. Now you can drive hundreds of kilometers through savannahs and not see a single large animal.

Grant's Gazelle.

Fortunately, there were far-sighted people who insisted on creating nature reserves where all hunting and economic activity were prohibited. Governments of new independent states Africa, which has thrown off the yoke of colonialism, has strengthened and expanded the network of such reserves - the last refuges of wild animals. Only there can a person still admire the view of the primeval savannah.

Congoni antelope

Among the many species of ungulates that inhabit the African savannas, the most numerous are the blue wildebeest, which belong to the subfamily of cow antelopes.

Oryx.

The appearance of the wildebeest is so unique that you recognize it at first sight: a short, dense body on thin legs, a heavy head, overgrown with a mane and decorated with sharp horns, and a fluffy, almost horse-like tail. Next to herds of wildebeest you can always find herds of African horses - zebras. Also characteristic of the savanna, but less numerous are gazelles - Thomson's gazelle, which can be recognized from a distance by its black, constantly twitching tail, and the larger and lighter Grant's gazelle. Gazelles are the most graceful and fast antelopes savannas.

Giraffes.

Blue wildebeest, zebras and gazelles form the main core of herbivores. They are joined, sometimes in large numbers, by red, gazelle-like impalas, huge heavy elands, outwardly awkward, but exceptionally fleet-footed congons, with a narrow long muzzle and steeply curved S-shaped horns. In some places there are many grayish-brown long-horned waterbucks, relatives of the Kongoni - topi, which can be recognized by purple-black spots on the shoulders and thighs, swampbucks - medium-sized slender antelopes with beautiful lyre-shaped horns. Rare antelopes, which can be found only by chance even in nature reserves, include oryxes, whose long straight horns resemble a sword, powerful horse antelopes and inhabitants of the bush savannah - kudu. The horns of the kudu, twisted into a gentle spiral, are rightfully considered the most beautiful.

Impala.

One of the most typical animals of the African savanna is the giraffe. Once numerous, giraffes became one of the first victims of white colonists: their huge skins were used to make roofs for carts. Now giraffes are protected everywhere, but their numbers are small.

Zebra.

The largest land animal is African elephant. Elephants that live in savannas are especially large - the so-called steppe elephants. They differ from forest animals by having wider ears and powerful tusks. By the beginning of this century, the number of elephants had decreased so much that there was a danger of their complete extinction. Thanks to widespread protection and the creation of reserves, there are now even more elephants in Africa than there were a hundred years ago. They mainly live in nature reserves and, forced to feed in a limited area, quickly destroy vegetation.

Blue wildebeest.

Even more fearful was the fate of the black and white rhinoceroses. Their horns, which are valued four times more than ivory, have long been a coveted prey for poachers. Nature reserves helped preserve these animals too.

Warthog

African buffalos.

Black rhinoceros and clawed lapwing.

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 between the members of the pride are distributed very clearly: the lighter and more agile lionesses provide the pride with food, and the larger and stronger males are responsible for protecting the territory. The prey of lions includes zebras, wildebeest, and kongoni, but on occasion, lions willingly eat smaller animals and even carrion.

Leopard.

Cheetah.

Secretary bird feeding chick

Lions.

Horned Raven.

Other predators of the savannah include the leopard and cheetah. These large cats, somewhat similar in appearance but completely different in lifestyle, have now become quite rare. The cheetah's main prey is gazelles, while the leopard is a more versatile hunter: in addition to small antelopes, it successfully hunts African wild pigs - warthogs and especially baboons. When almost all leopards were exterminated in Africa, baboons and warthogs multiplied and became a real disaster for crops. The leopards had to be taken under protection.

Hyena with cubs.

Guinea fowl.

The picture of the animal world of the African savannah will be incomplete without mentioning termites (see article “Social insects”). These insects are represented in Africa by dozens of species. They are one of the main consumers of plant residues. Termite buildings, which each species has its own special shape, is a characteristic detail of the savannah landscape.

Marabou.

The fauna of the savannah has been developing as a single independent whole for a long time. Therefore, the degree of adaptation of the entire complex of animals to each other and each a separate type to specific conditions is very high. Such adaptations include, first of all, a strict separation 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, different species of animals take the same shoots from different heights. Elephants and giraffes, for example, feed at the height of the tree crown, the giraffe gazelle and the great kudu reach shoots located one and a half to two meters from the ground, and the black rhinoceros, as a rule, plucks shoots close to 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, happily nibbles the grass, past which gazelles pass indifferently.

African ostriches.

The second thing that makes the savanna highly productive is the high mobility of animals. Wild ungulates are almost constantly on the move; they never graze pastures the way livestock does. Regular migrations, i.e. movements, of herbivores of the African savannah, covering hundreds of kilometers, allow vegetation to fully recover in a relatively short time. short term. It is not surprising that in last years the idea arose and strengthened that reasonable, scientifically based exploitation of wild ungulates promises greater prospects than traditional cattle breeding, which is primitive and unproductive. These issues are now being intensively developed in a number of African countries.

Australia is the only continent where marsupials have survived. In the photo: marsupial bear koala.

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. Every African reserve is a source of joy for many, many people.

In Australia there are also preserved oldest mammals order of monotremes - the platypus and the echidna. Pictured: platypus.

The iguana from the Galapagos Islands is a harmless herbivorous lizard that just looks so scary.

“The Komodo Dragon” is the name given to this giant predatory lizard, reminiscent of extinct dinosaurs.

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

Well, now let's talk about everything in order. The earth has 10 different biomes − biological systems with specific species of plants and animals that live in their climatic region. One of these biomes is the tropical savanna. This climate community extends throughout southern hemisphere, in particular in East Africa, in southern Brazil and northern Australia. Tropical savannas often transition into deserts or tropical dry forests, and can also be found in tropical grasslands.

Temperature and climate of savannas. Tropical savanna biomes have two clearly defined seasons. As a rule, they are called the “winter” season and the “summer” season. These seasons are not accompanied by extreme rises and falls in temperature and are associated with seasonal differences. In fact, all tropical savannas are located in warm or hot climatic zones, predominantly in latitudes from 5 to 10 and from 15 to 20. Annual temperatures range from 18 degrees to 32 degrees. The increase in temperature usually occurs very gradually.

Diorama “Africa” (photo by S. V. Leonov). Most people associate the word “Africa” primarily with the African savannah.

Winter is the dry season. Winter is the dry season in the tropical savanna biome. This season usually lasts from November to April. During this season, savannas typically receive an average of only four inches of rainfall. During most of this time, usually from December to February, there may be absolutely no rain in the savannahs. This is usually the coolest time of the year. average temperature- about 21 degrees. The dry season is usually predicted severe thunderstorms in October and subsequent 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 savannahs.

The dry season is the period of great migrations.

Summer is the rainy season. The hot humidity of the rainy seasons in the savannas influenced the fact that this natural area began to be classified as tropical. Heavy rains start in May or June. From May to October, the savannas receive the most rainfall (10 to 30 inches). Moist air, rising from the ground, encounters a cold atmosphere and rain occurs. In summer, in the afternoon, heavy and numerous precipitation falls in the savannas. Plants and animals of the savanna have adapted to living in semi-aquatic conditions during this time, and the porous soil of the savanna helps rain drain quickly.

It's the rainy season, no doubt. best time years in the savannah.

Everywhere you look, it’s pure idyll!

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

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

Giant baobabs on the island of Madagascar.

Savanna soils depend greatly on how long the rainy season is. Red-brown soils are typical for savannas. They form where the rainy season lasts less than 6 months. Closer to equatorial forests It rains for 7-9 months and is dominated by red ferrallitic soils. In 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: “The fauna of the African savannah.” A series of films about nature.

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

A few more photos: animals of the savannah.

African elephant.

This handsome guy's name is Marabou. They live only in Africa and thank God.

African savannas is a real paradise for animal lovers. More than 40 species live here large mammals. Hunters and victims are in a constant struggle for survival.

Animals living in Africa

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

Birds of Africa

African ostrich, vultures, red-billed lek, avdotka, secretary bird, African marabou, peregrine falcon, screamer, red-billed weaver.

Amphibians and reptiles of Africa

Varan, skink, gecko, turtle Testudo sulcata, Egyptian cobra, black mamba, hieroglyph python, noisy snake.

Insects and arachnids

Migratory locusts (Locusta migratoria) aphodia, ants, termites, flies, bees, wasps, scorpions and mites.

The influence of insects on savannas

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

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

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

Mammals of Africa

African savannas are inhabited by a wide variety of animals. All animals of Africa 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 large numbers of antelope. All these animals feed on grasses and leaves of trees and shrubs, but each of them has its own requirements for the quality and quantity of food, so they do not compete with each other. Gazelles are looking for low and juicy grass, and cow antelopes eat tough grass that other ruminant species do not accept.

Often several species graze in one area, and this is not accidental. Zebras “know” well that predators prefer African buffalos, which probably have tastier meat. Therefore, when lions attack African buffalos, 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, even in this case, the antelopes remain constantly on the alert. They know well that lions will instantly attack when they get hungry. At first glance, the savanna seems to be a “peaceful” and safe biotope, but in fact it is a world where danger lurks local residents literally at every turn. That is why ungulates are always found in herds - this guarantees them the greatest safety.

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

For many African bird species, the savanna is a region that offers ample food. More often, birds feed on insects or small snakes and rodents, which are easy prey for them. The most abundant birds in the savannas are ground-dwelling birds, such as African ostriches, bustards and sandgrouse, 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're in large quantities they fly to prey caught by a predator, and, lounging on the ground, wait until their time comes to make 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 savanna. The largest of them is the ostrich.

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Instructions

Nowhere in the world are there such numbers of large herbivores as in the African savannah. Huge herds of ungulates - zebras, gazelles, antelopes, buffaloes - constantly wander from place to place “following the rain,” eating and trampling grassy vegetation in huge quantities. A significant number of herbivores and their constant and seasonal migrations contribute to the preservation of the typical “park” appearance of the African savanna.

The most large inhabitant Savannah is an African elephant. Its height reaches 4 m, and its weight is measured in tens of tons. Being a herbivore, the elephant is perfectly adapted to life in the shroud. The trunk allows it to reach the upper branches of plants that are inaccessible to other herbivores, and acts as a pump during watering and bathing.

Another typical representative of the savannah is the giraffe, the tallest animal on the planet. The giraffe is a herbivorous ungulate found only in Africa. Its height reaches 6 m and weighs almost a ton. Despite its very significant height and weight, the giraffe is capable of speeds of up to 60 km/h. But usually he is leisurely, running only when danger arises.

Black and white rhinoceros- typical representatives of the African savanna. Currently they are quite rare. The number of rhinoceroses has been greatly reduced due to their shooting by poachers.

Herds of herbivores are always accompanied by predators. There are 2 types of lions living here - Barbary and Senegalese. The first is north of the equator, the second is south. Another representative of predators is the cheetah - the fastest animal on the planet. During pursuit, a cheetah can reach speeds of up to 110 km/h. In addition to lions and cheetahs, there are quite a few other predators here - bush cats or servals, hyenas, jackals, hyena dogs.

African savannas are home to many birds. A significant part of the birds are migratory, and periodically end up here as a result of their annual migrations. The original representative of the savannah, the African ostrich, is the most... major representative of all living birds. The ostrich is a non-flying bird. His height reaches 250 cm and weight 150 kg. When running, it reaches speeds of up to 70 km/h, and is capable of abruptly changing the direction of running without slowing down.

Small birds are numerous - bustards, plovers, larks, hazel grouse, starlings, weavers, turtle doves, pigeons, kingfishers, hornbills, etc. A rain stork nests in the crowns of trees. Quite a bit of birds of prey– buzzard, secretary bird, black-winged kite, buffoon eagle, African kestrel, short-eared owl, five species of vultures that fly from Europe for the winter. There are also scavengers typical representatives which are the marabou stork and African vultures. The latter perform the role of orderlies in the shroud, since they feed exclusively on carrion.

Savannah occurs in areas with a hot climate, where all seasons of the year are reduced to two periods: dry and wet. This formation resembles a steppe with tall grass and sparsely scattered trees, most often acacias, the crowns of which look like umbrellas. The dry period forced savannah plants to create biological adaptations in the process of evolution that determined their drought resistance. The rainy season is the equivalent of the steppe spring or short period rain in the desert. The main task of plants is to use the rainy season as fully as possible for intensive development and then survive the drought. Herbaceous plants have adapted well to this. Trees have a harder time. There are not enough water reserves in the savannah for forests to grow there. The lack of water available to plants determines that the trees here are sparse. The sun is burning with unheard of force. There is not enough soil water, and many trees lose their leaves during drought, like ours in winter. They go into “winter sleep” and spend the dry season this way.

But during the rainy season, the savannah simply explodes with life. There is plenty of water, the temperature is high and constant, without sudden changes during the day, the soil is quite fertile. Everything is turning green and growing at a frantic pace, trying to make up for the time lost due to drought. Plant productivity is high, and the mass of phytoproducts allows a huge number of its consumers - herbivores - to live in the savanna.

Almost all of sub-Saharan Africa is a huge savannah. The only exceptions are the mountains, the Congo River basin and the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, occupied tropical forests, and in southern Africa - the Kalahari Desert and part of the southernmost tip of the continent. Taken together, this entire territory does not even constitute half the area covered by savanna.

The savannah landscape is quite diverse depending on the microclimate of its individual areas. In drier areas, trees are sparse. Sometimes they completely disappear, and a strip of “tropical steppe” is formed. In other places the trees grow more densely. Near the sources they form entire groups. In the valleys of rivers and streams, in places where, due to the topography, the groundwater level is high, small groves and even forests grow.

The invertebrate fauna of the savannah is similar in composition to the steppe fauna. Among the insects, locusts and ants are numerous. They are hunted by spiders, salpugs and scorpions. There are also gastropods in the savannah that are adapted to withstand drought.

Unlike the steppes, termites are an important element in the fauna of the savannah. Everywhere you look there are their buildings. A termite mound is sometimes just a half-meter-high mound, sometimes it looks like a small castle with towers and walls, and sometimes termite structures resemble six-meter-high “clubs of Hercules.” Inside, behind the thick walls of such a fortress, live whitish defenseless insects that never see daylight. The walls protect them from pursuers and from the heat. Termites provide themselves with moisture by gnawing holes down to the groundwater. They feed on wood and must travel underground to reach a branch lying on the ground. Many animals are related to termites in one way or another. There are animals that feed primarily on them. These are lizards and anteaters. When the lizard digs up a termite mound and, having had enough, leaves, birds feed on these “ruins.” Some species of birds make nests in the crevices of the walls of termite mounds or unceremoniously hollow out their “hollow” in them. And even buffalos and rhinoceroses sometimes come to scratch themselves against the walls of the termite mound or rest in the shade of this large farm of small builders.

There are few amphibians in savannas; there are no newts or salamanders. But there are frogs and toads that during the rainy season have time to mate and lay eggs, and tadpoles have time to grow and go through the stages of metamorphosis. During the dry season, all amphibians seek shelter and go into hibernation, which lasts until the new rainy season. But many reptiles thrive in the savannah throughout the year. Covered with keratinized skin, they are not afraid of drought, and there is plenty of food here: plants for turtles, insects for lizards. Snakes are perhaps the most numerous among the reptiles here. Their prey is amphibians and lizards, and in addition, small mammals, mainly rodents. There are many poisonous snakes.

The life forms of savannah birds resemble steppe birds. The savanna bird fauna is much richer and more diverse, mainly due to those species that nest in trees. Thus, a variety of weavers are typical for savannas (Ploceidae), among which the most numerous are small red-billed weavers - quelia (Quelia quelia). They build their nests in the crowns of acacia trees, often forming entire colonies. Such an umbrella tree, hung with hundreds of nests and surrounded by a cloud of chattering inhabitants, is a typical picture for the savannah. In the savannah, there are quite a few species of chickens: quail, different kinds guinea fowl, francolins (Francolinus). Peculiar bushlarks are common (Mirafra).

In savannas, as in steppes, running birds are typical. Here is the homeland of the best runner among birds - the ostrich, which has completely lost the ability to fly.

Even among feathered predators there was one species that, although capable of flying, prefers to walk. This is a long-legged secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) with a tuft hanging from the back of the head. The first European travelers thought she looked like a secretary with a feather tucked behind her ear. Her favorite prey is snakes, even large and poisonous ones. Eats snakes and marabou (Leptoptilus) - huge bird, related to storks, with a large ugly bare head and bare neck, with a long thick beak. She walks with a sedate step across the savannah, grabbing any animal that she can swallow. Even a jackal puppy can find its end in the beak of this glutton. There are many diurnal birds of prey in the savanna: hawks, kites, vultures. They have as much food as they want here. If there is a lot herbivorous mammals, then, of course, often some antelope dies in the claws of a lion, or for some other reason.

There are a huge number of rodents in the savannas, which are rarely seen and therefore are almost not mentioned by travelers. However, they represent a very important element of the biocenosis. IN tall grass dozens of species of mouse-like rodents hide, and jerboas live in more open places, and large striders are found here and there (Pedetes caffer).

It should be noted that, along with herbivorous jerboas, insectivorous jumpers are numerous here (Macroscealididea), they can be distinguished only by their teeth. The family of spiny-tailed flying squirrels is widespread exclusively in African savannas. Anamaluridae. These animals are similar to flying squirrels and also lead an arboreal lifestyle. They are able to jump from tree to tree, which is facilitated by a leathery membrane connecting the front and hind limbs.

Tree mice (family Dendromurinae) and squirrels (family Gliridae).

In some places in the savannahs, calm and phlegmatic porcupines are found, relying on their reliable “armor” of long and sharp quills.

Lagomorphs are represented by several species of hares, while in the savannah hares are smaller than in Europe.

But the most characteristic of the savannah are large ungulate mammals. African savanna in the recent past it was a paradise for hunters. Among ungulates, in terms of number and diversity of species, antelopes hold the lead; most of them are graceful animals with big eyes carrying horns on their heads. The smallest of the antelopes are gazelles. The genus of gazelles has more than a dozen species. They're sort of the ecological equivalent of jerboas. (Antidorcas). Large impala antelopes are widespread (Aepyceros melampus).

Herds of waterbucks live near streams (Kobus) with saber-shaped horns. Antelopes from the genus Oryx (Oryx) reach a height of 1.3 meters at the withers. These are fast saber-horned antelopes (Oryx algazel), East African oryx-beisa (Orix beisa) and others.

A whole group of species belonging to the genus Bubals is widespread in the savannah. (Alcelaphus). Ugly, long-necked and long-headed creatures with ugly inverted horns, they resemble a caricature of an emaciated horse. Wildebeests look like real monsters (Connochaetes). Their height at the withers is about 1.5 meters, that is, they are as tall as average horse and they also look like a horse, but with the head of a bull. The most valuable hunting trophies- long helical horns of the kudu antelope (Strepsiceros), especially great kudu (Strepsiceros strepsiceros). Antelopes from the genus Cannas (Taurotragus)- real giants among antelopes; they reach a height of two meters and weigh up to one thousand kilograms.

Of other bovids, large Kaffir buffaloes are typical. (Syricerus caffer). There are bulls with a height of 1.8 meters at the withers. There are hundreds of chilling hunting stories about the dangers of hunting these fearsome animals, and in this case they are true.

Among other ungulates, giraffes stand out. They not only have a unique figure, but differ from other ungulates in that they feed exclusively on leaves, fruits and tree branches. This food is available to them due to their unprecedented growth. Although they have only small horns covered with hair on their heads, they are by no means defenseless. The blow of their long legs with sharp hooves can discourage even a lion from attacking.

In the giraffe enclosure at London Zoo, the posts are covered with five-millimeter steel sheeting. One of them shows a deep imprint of a giraffe's hoof. The blow was aimed at the caretaker's head, but he managed to dodge.

Everyone has heard about herds of zebras in the savannah. Wild donkeys are less well known and there are fewer of them. By the way, donkeys live only where there are no zebras. There are two types of them, one of them is the ancestor of the domestic donkey. There are three types of zebras.

Almost all herbivores live in herds. Herds migrate to watering places and roam in search of pasture. In the savannah, herds are usually mixed and consist of several species of animals. Zebras are almost never seen without their companions - wildebeest and other antelopes. Ostriches often join them. A herd consisting of several different types, guarantees greater security for every member of the community. Some animals have better vision, others have better hearing, and some have an excellent sense of smell. And it is enough for one to notice the enemy, and the whole herd flees.

The largest herbivores are rhinoceroses and elephants. Rhinoceroses live alone or in small herds of two to four animals. Elephants usually live in herds of several dozen individuals. Elephants and rhinoceroses consume huge amounts of food. They don't have any enemies. Even lions rarely risk attacking their cubs.

Where there are many ungulates, there are also many predators. Contrary to popular belief, lions do not live in deserts. There they would die of hunger and thirst. Only in the savannah is the number of ungulates so large that this powerful predator can feed itself. Lions live in harem families consisting of an old male, several females and sometimes a dozen kittens. Lions hunt collectively, and when the hunt is successful, the whole family begins to feast, observing a certain order.

Another large savannah cat is the leopard (Pantera pardus). It is smaller and lighter than a lion, lives alone, climbs trees, from where it quickly jumps on its prey. Its victims include small antelopes and calves of larger animals.

Smaller than a leopard, about the size of a lynx, the Serval cat (Felis serval). It attacks small antelopes, rodents and birds. Somewhat atypical for most feline image Cheetahs lead lives. They are somewhat similar to a large greyhound dog dressed in leopard skin. The cheetah is a good runner and usually does not sneak up on its prey, like other cats, but in broad daylight it catches up with it in the open.

A formidable enemy of antelopes is the hyena dog. (Lycaon pictus). She is small in stature, about the size of a medium-sized domestic dog, but she hunts in a pack like a wolf. A pack of these animals chases the chosen victim, surrounds it and simply tears it apart. If any warlike bull tries to fight back, it will not delay its death. While he is trying to hit one dog with his horns, four others will rip open his belly and release his entrails.

Peculiar predators in the savannah - hyenas (Hyaenidae). These are strong animals with powerful jaws. They are not very fast when running. More often they do not hunt healthy, strong animals, but slaughter those weakened by disease, the old and the wounded. Hyenas are not limited to just ungulates. A lion dying from wounds is as much prey for them as an antelope. A hungry hyena eats mice, lizards, snakes, bird eggs and even locusts and spiders. Hyenas most readily feed on the carrion of large animals and sometimes wander after lions, hunters, or simply following herds.

Jackals play a similar role in the savannah. (Thos). They are small and independently capable of hunting only rodents, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. But they destroy carrion, near which they feed for several days in a row.

Therefore, in the savannah, a certain complex of species is always found near the corpse of a large animal: hyenas, jackals and several species of feathered predators.

Small herbivores serve as prey for a range of small, numerous and diverse predators. It's wild African cat (Felis ocreata)- probable ancestor of domestic cats; The caracal, known to us from the desert, and long-eared desert foxes are also found here (Otocyon, Fennecus). An important element of the fauna in the savannah is the predatory civets (Viverriadae). The largest of them is the civet. (Civettictis civetta) the size of an average dog. Several species of mongoose (family Herpestes). They are known as snake hunters. IN Ancient Egypt they were highly revered. These small predators feed mainly on rodents and birds, but also devour frogs, lizards and snakes; They do not neglect either insects or gastropods. Mongooses, more than anyone else, regulate the numbers of all small animals on the savannah. However, hyenas, servals, and other predators also take part in this.

There is another small group of extremely specialized mammals in the savannah that have adapted to eating only termites. These are strange creatures. One of them is a lizard (Manis)- covered with large horny scales and belongs to the order of lizards (Pholidota). Another animal is a squat, long-faced anteater (Orycteropus afer), belonging to special squad aardvarks (Tubulidentata). These animals have powerful claws for digging up termite mounds, backward-facing teeth and a long, sticky, worm-like tongue for quickly picking up termites. It’s surprising that one species of hyena has also switched to feeding on termites. (Proteles cristatus). Her specialization has not yet gone that far, but her dental system has already undergone some changes.

In the savannah, especially among the hilly areas, live monkeys that lead a predominantly terrestrial lifestyle. These are different baboons (Papio). They live in groups consisting of an old male - the leader, several females and ten to twenty young ones. Such groups can unite into herds numbering tens or hundreds of monkeys. They eat everything that falls into their paws: leaves and locusts, fruits and caterpillars, everything down to lizards, birds and mice.

In savannah biocenoses, deep internal catastrophic changes usually do not occur. But the life of the savannah is regulated by climate. During the dry season, when the springs dry up one after another, herds of animals go in search of pastures and watering places. Sometimes they travel hundreds of kilometers. If the drought drags on and more springs dry up than usual, the animals will die from the heat. Of course, this does not happen so often and only in exceptionally dry years.