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MEET THE SMALL FIVE OF AFRICA
Predators Safari Club • Mar 02, 2020
Let us introduce you to the lesser-known "Small 5", whose names relate to their bigger counterparts ("Big 5": the elephant, lion, buffo, leopard, and rhino).
ELEPHANT SHREW
The golden-rumped elephant shrew
is endemic to Kenya; you find the grey-faced shrew
in the Udzungwa Mountains of south-central Tanzania, and the black and rufous elephant shrew
lives in both Kenya and Tanzania.
- Definite resemblance to the Elephant nose and trunk
- Feeds on small insects such as ants and termites
- Up to 20 species of Elephant Shrew can be found varying in colour and size.
- The newborn shrews will remain in their nests for a few days before venturing out.
*Elephant shrews are maybe the cutest of Africa's 'Small 5'. It measures 260 mm, and the tail is longer than the head and body length, and it weighs about 60 grams.
RED-BILLED BUFFALO WEAVER
The Red-billed Buffalo-weaver
and the White-headed buffalo-weaver
are found in Kenya and Tanzania. They are typically associated with dry savanna areas.
- Natural Habitat: Dry Savannah
- Feeds on insects, seeds and fruit
- Leaving the nests between 20 to 23 days
*Female will take on more than a single mate (bigamous).
LEOPARD TORTOISE
The Leopard tortoise lives in the savannas of Kenya and Tanzania. The leopard tortoise favours semi-arid thorny to grassland habitats but seems to thrive anywhere from coastal to mountainous landscapes. It can cope with the heat as well as extreme cold, aridity as well as humidity.
- Fourth largest reptile specie of tortoise in the World
- Native to Southern and Eastern parts of Africa
- Natural Habitat: Coastal plains and semi-arid grasslands and scrub-lands
- Feeds on herbivore fruit, grass, succulent plants
- Can survive between 80 to 100 years in the wild
- The base of the shell is called the "plastron", and its shape differs between the sexes. A female has a flat plastron, while a male has a concave one.
- The Leopard Tortoise is the only tortoise that can raise its head as it has no nuchal shield.
*Never pick one up during winter as it will eject it's stored urine and water as a deterrent. The Tortoise store water during the dry winter months and use it for hydration.
ANT LION
An ant lion is widespread in Africa and found in Tanzania and Kenya.
- They are known for the fiercely predatory habits of their larvae which dig pits to trap ants or other prey.
- The adult insect is less known and commonly referred to as dragonflies but are ant lion lacewings
- Feed on predominantly Ants
*An average-sized Antlion larva digs a pit about 5 cm deep and 7.5 cm wide at the edge. Antlion larvae are capable of capturing and killing a variety of insects and can even subdue small spiders.
RHINOCEROS BEETLE
The Rhinoceros beetle is found, among other places, also in Kenya & Tanzania.
- Harmless to humans as they do not bite or sting.
- The horns are used for fighting (males during mating) and for digging. The horn size will determine the physical health of the beetle.
- They are nocturnal, and an adult male can live up to 2 - 3 years while the female rarely lives long after mating.
- Feed on nectar, fruit and plant sap
- Predators: Snakes and Birds
*Strongest animal
on the Planet proportionally and can carry 850 times its weight (An Elephant can only carry 25% of its weight.
So if you on safari, be sure to not only look out for terrestrial animals but also the Small Five that is fascinating as well.
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