plant Archives - Page 10 of 22

Camouflage

Giraffes are fairly social animals and get together in herds from time to time. However, there is no group bonding. Because of their very long necks, Giraffes are able to feed on the foliage of trees that is not accessible to other herbivores. The long prehensile tongue is used to pull pods and leaves into the mouth which are then stripped from the stems with the spatulate incisor teeth. Their skin colour is tan with light brown patches on females and dark brown patches on males. Both males and females have short horns covered in skin.

31 October 2018Picture of the day, Wildlife

Disturbed

Banded Mongoose males are only heavier than females during the immature stages. In adulthood both sexes are similar in size and mass, weighing about 1.5 kg. This Mongoose is characterised by triangular shaped, pointed faces and flat broad ears. They have long bushy tails and a long coarse coat. Colouration is greyish-brown with an unmistakable series of light and dark vertical bands across the back and flanks. Underparts are lighter with elegant dark legs.

24 October 2018Picture of the day, Wildlife

Creased

An elephant’s skin is generally very tough, at 2.5 cm (1 in) thick on the back and parts of the head. The skin around the mouth and inside the ear is considerably thinner. Elephants typically have grey skin, but African elephants look brown or reddish after wallowing in coloured mud. An elephant uses mud as a sunscreen, protecting its skin from ultraviolet light. Although tough, an elephant’s skin is very sensitive. Without regular mud baths to protect it from burning, insect bites and moisture loss, an elephant’s skin suffers serious damage. After bathing, the elephant will usually use its trunk to blow dust onto its body and this dries into a protective crust.

13 September 2018Picture of the day, Wildlife