Saturday, October 24, 2009

Cheetah


Cheetahs are fast moving predators that live for 30-40 years. That are about 30 inches at the shoulder, and weigh around 120 pounds. They live in the open plains of Africa. Cheetahs eat small antelopes, rabbits, impalas, gazelles, and low flying birds. Once they make their kill they have to eat fast or scavengers may come to take their meal. Their predators consist of humans, hyenas, and lions. The cheetah is made for speed that can get up to 70 mph because of its long narrow body, small head, strong muscular legs, tail for balance, and non-retractable claws. Unlike most big cats the cheetah can not roar but can purr and hiss. So the cheetah out of all big cats is known for its speed and grace.

Giraffe


A new born giraffe measures about 6 feet. The scientific name of the giraffe is "Camelopardalis." A giraffe's coat is tan with brown patches.The tongue of an adult giraffe measures 27". Giraffes are vegetarians and live on the leaves of the baobab tree.Every step a giraffe takes is 15 feet in length.The giraffe is able to grasp objects such as leaves with the help of its tongue.Giraffes sleep for no more than 5 to 30 minutes in 24 hours. A giraffe is the one of the largest, strongest and peaceful animals on Earth.An adult male giraffe is called a bull, a female is called a cow and a young giraffe a calf.The average life span of a giraffe is 20 to 25 years.A large male giraffe can eat up to 100 pounds of food in a single day.A giraffes age can be calculated from its spots, as the darker the spots, the older the giraffe.Lions and large packs of hyenas, are the giraffe's predators.A lion can die if kicked by a giraffe.A giraffe's heart is 24 pounds in weight and 2 feet in length.Giraffes are social animals, that live in open herds.A giraffe seldom lies down, it can sleep as well as give birth standing up!Giraffes are silent animals. Giraffes can survive for long periods without consuming water.Giraffes are blessed with excellent eyesight. This helps them keep an eye on each other from a distance. This picture was published by Ross Warner it is called"safri girraffe"!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Elephants



Elephants are large gray mammals. A full grown elephant can get to 10 to 13 feet tall and weigh 15,400 pounds,and live up to 70 years!!! They have very little hair besides on the tips of their tails and on the tops or their heads. They have long flexable trunks that are used for breathing and grabbing their food. The males have long ivory tusks,and have very long fan like ears. Though despite the size of there ears their hearing is not very good. African elephants are herbivores and enjoy eating fruit, long grasses, leaves, and bark. They eat normally 16 hours a day. A grown elephant can eat up to 456 pounds of food each day!!! The babies stay with their mother until they are mature,witch is normally when they are 12 to 14 years old. Then after they leave their mother they go to find a new herd.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Introduction/ Zebras


My blog is going to be about Africa, and the animals that live there. The reason I am doing this blog because I have been to Africa in books, stories, and love all the animals that live there. So I thought I would share my opinion and some facts about Africa and its animals with you. This is a zebra that people actually painted! The zebra is part of the horse species. They are normally black and white, and the stripes are normally an inch long in width. The zebras hair normally corresponds with their strips, also their hair stands straight up on their neck. Their tails are almost always black. They are normally 45 or 55 at the shoulder, they weigh around 450 pounds, and can live to about 40 years old. Zebras are herbivores and have many natural predators like Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and leopards.