Lama's habitat. Does the llama live in the savannah?

Domain: Eukaryotes

Kingdom: Animals

Type: Chordates

Class: Mammals

Squad: Artiodactyls

Family: Camelids

Genus: Llamas

Story

The ancestors of animals lived in North and South America millions of years ago. It is known that llamas were domesticated about four thousand years ago by South American Indians - residents of Peru. The ancestors were guanacos who lived (and still live) in the mountains of Peru called the Andes.

The Indians immediately noticed that these animals could make their life much easier: provide good wool, meat, and transport heavy loads. And in this way, llamas, already tamed to people, for a long time before the appearance of horses in South America in the last millennium, were the only assistants in the transportation of goods.

Nowadays, llamas include the llamas themselves and their ancestors - guanacos, who live in the wild to this day in South America.

Where does the llama live?

Llamas are found over a wide area along the Andes. Small herds are found in Ecuador, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Chile. The homeland of these animals is the Altiplano, a place in the southeast of Peru, as well as the west of Bolivia in the high Andes.

Llamas are animals that live on low plateaus that are covered with thickets of bushes, low-growing trees and grasses. They live quite comfortably in the Altiplano region, in temperate climatic conditions, and these animals avoid the southern dry and desert areas. The llama does not live in the savannah. These areas do not provide them with enough food.

Description

The llama is a herbivore, adapted to life high in the mountains. It reaches a height at the withers of 120–130 centimeters, and a weight of 70–80 kilograms. Thanks to the long neck, the height to the top of the head reaches up to two meters! The color can be very diverse: white, gray, dark, brown, golden, with or without spots. They live for about 20 years. In llamas you can also notice an elongated thin neck, large eyes and pointed ears.

Unlike camels, our Andean inhabitants are distinguished by the fact that they lack a hump. Also, unlike their relatives, they are usually found in cool places or mountains because they have double hooves with padded toes adapted for moving in the mountains. But they, just like camels, can start spitting if they don’t like something.

These are herd animals, so they need to be kept with at least two or three more individuals.

Females reach sexual maturity in the first year of life, and males in the third. The male has two, three or more females in his harem, which usually give birth to one cub after 11–12 months of pregnancy.

Descendants of the inhabitants of the Andes are also found in captivity in North and South America, Europe, and Australia. Thanks to their adaptability to life in the mountains, they became widespread in the Alps (Europe). They are also often found in lowlands in temperate latitudes.

Kinds

The llama genus includes 3 species, two of which were domesticated several thousand years ago - llamas (Lat. Lama glama) and alpacas (Lat. Lama pacos), and the guanaco (Lat. Lama guanicoe) is still a wild species. All types of llamas are found only in South America.

1st type – Lama (lat. Lama glama)

These animals were first domesticated by the Andean Indians and began to play an important role in the development of cattle breeding.

Before horses and sheep were imported into South America, the llama was the only large domestic animal used for carrying heavy loads. A three-year-old male llama is capable of carrying a pack weighing up to 50 kilograms (this is with his own weight of no more than 75 kilograms) and walking a distance of 25 kilometers with it in a day. In mountainous regions at an altitude of over 2700 meters, llamas are still widely used as pack transport. This is not the largest representative of the Lama genus from the camelid family. The animal’s body length varies from 120 to 200 centimeters, weight – 75-80 kilograms, and height at the withers – about 120 centimeters. On a thin neck there is a small head with high pointed ears.

Llamas and camels have many common features, except for one thing - they do not have a hump. Just like camels, llamas, when irritated, spit chewed cud at the offender. Llamas have become famous throughout the world for their soft wool, although it is still inferior in quality to alpaca wool. The animal can be of a wide variety of colors - from almost white to black-brown.

Only males are used for cargo transportation, females are intended exclusively for reproduction, and they are never milked.

2nd species – Alpaca (lat. Vicugna pacos)

Alpacas are another type of llama. They were the first of the two species to be domesticated, about 6,000 years ago by the Indians of Peru.

They are bred in the mountainous regions of South America (Andes) solely for their wool. Most alpacas live in Peru, although their habitat extends through Ecuador, southern Peru, northern Chile and western Bolivia.

The current population of alpacas is about 3 million individuals. They are shorn once every 2 years, removing from each animal a little more than 1 kilogram of the beautiful fine wool for which they are so famous. Warm and soft blankets, clothes and rugs are made from it. Alpacas are slightly smaller than llamas. Their height does not exceed 1 meter, their weight is no more than 70 kilograms, and their fur is longer (15-20 centimeters) and softer than that of llamas.

There are 2 types of alpacas that differ from each other only in the appearance of their wool - these are Suri and Huacaya. In the former it is long and looks like pigtails, while in the latter it is softer. Their wool has similar properties to sheep's, but is much lighter. In addition, it is not covered with sebum and things made from it remain clean for a long time.

Like all representatives of the Llama genus, alpacas are herbivores, but, unlike llamas, they lack front teeth, so they are forced to pinch grass with their lips and use their side teeth when chewing.

And the last, third species - Guanaco (lat. Lama guanicoe)

Its name comes from the Quechua language - wanaku. The guanaco is a wild relative of camels that still survives in the Andes (from southern Peru through Chile and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego) at an altitude of about 4,000 meters above sea level. A small population of these animals also lives in Paraguay.

They run very well and can reach speeds of up to 56 km/h. Such speeds are necessary in order to save your life from various predators, for example, maned wolves, pumas or wild dogs.

Guanacos live in small herds of up to 20 animals. An adult male rules the herd, expelling all growing males older than 6-12 months from his harem. They start living alone or join men's groups.

The breeding season begins in August and lasts until February. For possession of a female, males have to fight with another contender. It is somewhat reminiscent of the fight between camels during the rutting period, when they rise on their hind legs and begin to bite each other, as well as kick with their front legs. The entire “hand-to-hand combat” is accompanied by spitting of stomach contents. Gestation lasts 11 months, after which only one cub is born, very rarely two. The lactation period lasts 4 months. Guanacos live a long time - about 20 years, and in captivity even longer - about 30.

Local residents hunt these animals for their valuable wool, skin and tasty meat, therefore, unlike llamas and alpacas, the number of guanacos is rapidly declining. But in some countries, such as Peru and Chile, these animals are under state protection.

Lifestyle and behavior

Like camels, llamas are intelligent and sociable animals that lead a herd lifestyle. They are quite harmless, but if you anger them, for example, by shouldering an unbearable burden, they will immediately show their independent character. A dissatisfied llama will hiss, spit, and push, but the most effective behavior in such cases is a lying strike.

Neither carrot nor stick can move a tired and irritated llama, and the only way out of this situation is to transfer part of the luggage to another animal.
Since ancient times, more than five thousand years ago, llamas have become indispensable assistants to the Indians of Central America in transporting heavy loads. Endurance and strong legs still help these strong pack animals navigate the narrow paths of mountain passes, carrying luggage weighing about fifty kilograms.

To acquire such valuable assistants, the Indians of Peru domesticated the guanacos who lived on the high plateaus of the Andes. Two thousand years earlier, the third representatives of the llama family, alpacas, also became domesticated. However, they were (and still are) raised not for hard work, but for their beautiful, warm and durable wool. Llamas and alpacas are among the very first domesticated animals in human history.

Resistance to thirst and unpretentiousness in food have made llamas an important part of the life of South American peoples. However, despite the fact that the llama is capable of walking a distance of about thirty kilometers in a day, it does not have the strength of oxen, camels or horses, and therefore cannot be used to transport adults or heavy carts. And although its Inca owners invented the wheel, it is unlikely that at least one llama in its entire history has transported in a harness something heavier than an ordinary wheelbarrow.

Like sheep and cattle, llamas chew cud and can spit it in the face of the offender, as if to say: “Leave me alone!” However, this is quite rare, and in general llamas are wonderful companions for their owners. They are calm, friendly, easy to train, and even a child can handle them.

Nutrition

As food, llamas use herbaceous vegetation, leaves and branches of bushes, young growth of trees, and are especially fond of ferns. The food requirement of these animals is minimal compared to other closely related representatives of the fauna: an adult llama consumes no more than 3 kg of hay per day. In addition, they are very picky eaters. In the absence of their usual food, llamas can eat vegetables, root vegetables, fruits, as well as moss and lichen. At home, animals' favorite treats are carrots, cabbage, apples, and bread. Domestic llamas also need constant access to fresh water.

Llama breeding

Llamas are polygamous animals. The male collects a harem of 5-6 females in a certain territory, then aggressively drives away all other males who accidentally enter the selected area. Young males expelled from the harem form herds while they are still young to breed, but they soon form harems of their own as they reach maturity.

Llamas are capable of producing fertile offspring when crossed with other members of the genus. They mate in late summer or early autumn. After mating, the female llama bears the offspring for about 360 days and gives birth to one cub almost every year. The newborn is able to follow its mother about an hour after birth. He weighs about 10 kg and gradually gains weight over four months as the female feeds him milk. At the age of two years, young llamas give birth.

Basically, the female llama takes care of the offspring, providing protection and care for the cub up to one year. The male llama is only indirectly involved; he defends the territory to provide food for his herd of females and young individuals. Males constantly compete with other males for the same food resources and protect the harem from attack by predators and other males. When the young llamas are about one year old, the male chases them away. Domesticated llamas can live more than 20 years, but most live about 15 years.

Meaning for humans

The llama is a pack animal that is capable of carrying loads that exceed its own weight. These animals are indispensable in mountainous areas, where they are used for transportation, which greatly helps local residents. With heavy bales they travel tens of kilometers a day.

In addition to transporting goods, for people who keep llamas, this animal is valuable in many aspects: they are sheared and their wool is used to make clothing. Coarse, thick and unusually warm llama wool is a very valuable material. Llamas are sheared every two years, getting about three kilograms of wool from one animal. For the local population, felting wool products is a significant source of income.

On farms, llamas are used to protect flocks of sheep from attacks by predators. Several llamas are introduced into a herd of sheep or goats and the llamas guard them, preventing attacks by cougars and coyotes. Llama meat (only males) is used for food: it is a dietary product. The most delicious meat is considered to be the meat of animals not older than one year - it is very tender and juicy.

The homeland of llamas is Peru (South America).
Llamas were domesticated by Andean Indians around 1000 BC.
Llamas spit when angered.
Llamas belong to the camelid family, but unlike camels they do not have a hump, but otherwise they are similar.
Male llamas are used as transport animals for transporting heavy loads across mountain ranges along paths that are inaccessible to transport (they transport 27-45 kg of cargo over a distance of about 24 km per day). If the weight exceeds more than 50 kg, the llama simply stops and sits down, and if the mahout forces it to rise, the llama will simply spit in his face.
Female llamas are never milked or used for transportation; they are used only for breeding.
Another amazing property lam – their cleanliness. The excrement of these animals is always collected in one place, away from fields, paths, and grazing areas (feeders). This is explained by the fact that in the wild, llamas thus masked their location from dangerous predators. Among the local population, mainly Bolivians and Peruvians, dried llama droppings serve as excellent fuel.

The llama is a mammal related to camels and alpacas, as they all belong to the same camelid family. Nowadays, these animals are indispensable in cattle breeding. Their wool is of incredible quality, so it is valued all over the world, and the llamas themselves are an excellent assistant in transporting cargo. But this is not the only thing valued by lamas.

Story

Nowadays, llamas include the llamas themselves and their ancestors - guanacos, who live in the wild to this day in South America.

Description

The llama is a herbivore, adapted to life high in the mountains. Reaches by height at withers 120–130 centimeters, and by weighing 70–80 kilograms. Thanks to the long neck, the height to the top of the head reaches up to two meters! The color can be very diverse: white, gray, dark, brown, golden, with or without spots. They live for about 20 years. In llamas you can also notice an elongated thin neck, large eyes and pointed ears.

Unlike camels, our Andean inhabitants are distinguished by the fact that they have missing hump. Also, unlike relatives, they usually found in cool places or mountains, because they have double hooves with toe pads adapted for moving in the mountains. But they, just like camels, can start spitting if they don’t like something.

This herd animals, so they need to be kept with at least two or three more individuals.

Benefit

A little about alpaca

Why in this article have we never mentioned alpacas as representatives of the llama family? The fact is that alpacas have long been classified in this genus, as they were believed to be descendants of guanacos. However, in 2001 it was discovered that their ancestor was actually the vicuña genus. The reason for the long-term misconception was external resemblance, almost identical habitats and the fact that alpacas and llamas can be crossed, and then cubs called huarizo are born.

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Views: Just as in Eurasia and Africa people tamed and began to use them as pack animals, the ancient Indian tribes living in South America domesticated the mammals and herbivores that lived on this continent guanaco (lat. Lama guanicoe

, camelid family). Tamed guanacos, known to us as guanaco llamas), began to serve man more than 4 thousand years ago. The excellent adaptability of these animals to the conditions of a semi-desert high-mountain climate, their ability long time doing without water, traveling long distances along steep and rocky mountain paths with additional cargo, and the ability to run quickly (they can reach speeds of more than 55 km/h) were used by the Indians to transform llamas into animals intended for transporting luggage. The Incas were no less attracted by the opportunity to obtain valuable fur, wool, skins and meat from these animals. As a result, one of the most interesting branches of cattle breeding has appeared in South America, based on the breeding of llamas.

Llamas are very similar to camels, but differ from them in their smaller size (their height reaches 1.8 m, and the average weight rarely exceeds 200 kg) and the absence of humps. With their grace, they are more reminiscent of deer. The average life expectancy of llamas is 20 – 30 years. They are very smart, but also stubborn. An excellently developed sense of smell, acute hearing and excellent vision help llamas to escape from danger in time. Shepherds use this ability, attracting llamas to protect herds of smaller animals (sheep, goats). If a stranger invades the territory where the herd is grazing, llamas emit a loud, frightening roar, reminiscent of a donkey. In other cases, these animals do not make noise, only sometimes they can quietly purr, experiencing positive emotions.

Even today, llamas are the only way to transport goods to the inaccessible mountainous regions of the Andes. Male llamas cope with this task perfectly, capable of transporting up to 50 kg over distances of 25 km or more. Their endurance is explained by evolutionary adaptation to sudden temperature changes in their natural habitat (foothills of the Andes; high mountains, up to 5000 m, plateaus, tropical steppes; semi-deserts), where the pre-dawn air cools to 0 ° C, and at noon it heats up to +38 ° C For food, llamas use grassy vegetation, leaves and branches of bushes, young trees, and are especially fond of ferns. The food requirement of these animals is minimal compared to other closely related representatives of the fauna: an adult llama consumes no more than 3 kg of hay per day. In addition, they are very picky eaters. In the absence of their usual food, llamas can eat vegetables, root vegetables, fruits, as well as moss and lichen. At home, animals' favorite treats are carrots, cabbage, apples, and bread. Domestic llamas also need constant access to fresh water.

Another amazing property of llamas is their cleanliness. The excrement of these animals is always collected in one place, away from fields, paths, and grazing areas (feeders). This is explained by the fact that in the wild, llamas thus masked their location from dangerous predators. Among the local population, mainly Bolivians and Peruvians, dried llama droppings serve as excellent fuel.

Female llamas are not used in the work. And although their milk is very thick and fatty, it is barely enough to feed the baby (kria). Llamas carry their offspring for just under a year (11.5 months). Usually they give birth to one baby at a time, and only in exceptional cases– two. Already an hour and a half after birth, the cub stands confidently on its legs.

In addition to unpretentiousness, economy, strength, and endurance, llamas also have certain character traits. They are characterized by loyalty, curiosity, obedience and peacefulness towards those who are friendly to them. In case of conflict situations, llamas are capable of showing irritability and even aggression, expressing their dissatisfaction, like camels, by spitting out the contents of their stomach at the enemy (most often a fellow herd).

When they first came to Europe (the beginning of the 16th century), llamas charmed the inhabitants with their appearance: a funny face with large eyes, long pubescent eyelashes, graceful movements, and soft fur. Temperate climate conditions and sufficient food contributed to the breeding of these animals on the European continent. At first, llamas were kept as companion animals, then they began to be used for valuable fur and wool. The delicious dietary meat of llamas did not go unnoticed. This product, obtained from young llamas (under 1.5 years of age), is in particular demand.

In some European countries, llamas are also involved in the tourism business. Thus, routes have been developed (mainly in the Italian Alps), where travelers are accompanied by specially trained llamas. In addition, children and adults enjoy riding llamas (it is only important that the weight of the rider does not exceed 50 kg). Llamas are very easy to train, so circus performers willingly include them in their programs and use them in original tricks.

Today, llamas can be seen on special cattle farms not only in America and Europe, but even in Australia. Llama breeding has become so popular that animal owners have created their own association. They hold meetings and conferences where they communicate and exchange experiences. In addition, even the magazine “Life of Lamas” is published.

It is best to breed animals in climatic conditions familiar to them. It is known that llamas can easily withstand severe cold, rainy weather, but the intense heat and desert climate are unfavorable for them. Llamas are absolutely undemanding in terms of living conditions; they can spend a long time in the fresh air at any time of the year, including spending the night in the open air. But it is still better to have a special unheated room or reliable shelter for them. Thick and long hair protects animals from winter frosts. In addition, they are highly resistant to traditional pet diseases.

Since llamas are adapted to life in a herd, it is recommended to keep several of these individuals, or at least a couple. It is also practiced to “share” single llamas with other farm animals. Since llamas feed on pasture, keeping them in a warm climate requires virtually no costs. In temperate latitudes, llamas are fed hay, plant debris and vegetables in winter.

The main business item when breeding llamas is obtaining valuable skins, warm thick fur, and wool. Llamas are cut in the spring, immediately after molting, so that their fur has time to grow sufficiently before the cold weather. A rich palette of animal colors (about 35 shades) allows you to obtain very diverse wool. color ranges, avoiding the use of any dyes. And thanks to the natural purity of the coat (unlike sheep, llama wool does not contain lanolin), you just need to cut and comb the strands well. And although alpaca wool is softer than llama wool, this does not in any way reduce the cost of the latter.

LAMA(L. glama) is the only native species in America used as a beast of burden. It is domesticated ca. 1000 BC Incas in what is now Peru.

The height of an adult male at the withers is 120 cm. The neck is long and thin, the head is relatively small, usually raised high, the ears are high and pointed. Domestic llamas have soft, shaggy fur, middle length; color varies from pure white to black-brown and piebald.

The ancestors of the lamas lived on the high plateaus in the Andes. This species is still used to transport heavy loads over ridges along paths inaccessible to modern transport. Only males are loaded: one animal carries 27–45 kg per day over a distance of approx. 24 km. If the pack is too heavy, the llama stops and sits down: no punishment will make her strain: she will simply spit stinking gum in the face of the annoying driver.

Female llamas are used only for breeding: they are never milked or loaded. Mating season is in September. After a pregnancy lasting 10–11 months, one calf is usually born. Its mother feeds it with milk for six weeks, and llamas reach sexual maturity at three years.

The Incas ate the meat of males, but only special occasions, and the females were never killed. During religious festivals, male cubs were sacrificed to the gods. The supreme god Viracocha was supposed to be brown, the lightning god Ilyapa was supposed to be piebald (to match the color of the stormy sky), and the sun god Inti was supposed to be white.

The oldest known ancestors of llamas and camels appeared approximately 40 million years ago in North America, from where they spread across the isthmuses to South America and Asia. By the end of the Pleistocene (about 1 million years ago), all North American camelids became extinct.

ALPACA(L. pacos) is a domestic animal developed by the Incas approximately 3,000 years ago as a source of wool. Nowadays, herds of alpacas of 100–200 heads are kept mainly by Peruvian Indians on the high Andean plateaus. Externally, the animals resemble sheep. The fleece reaches a length of 60 cm; It produces a fabric highly valued throughout the world for its softness, thermal insulation properties and durability.

Alpacas are slender, lightly built, with narrow pointed ears, a short shaggy tail, long legs and a long neck. Height at withers approx. 90 cm, color varies from piebald to yellowish-brown. Offspring are born in February–March; newborns are covered with fur, sighted, and within a few minutes they stand on their feet and begin to suckle their mother.

Attempts to breed alpacas in other regions have not brought significant success. Although the meat of the animals is very tasty, they are not slaughtered because alpacas are too valuable a source of wool.

GUANACO(L. gaunico) is very close to the llama and alpaca and may be their ancestor. Domesticated guanacos are used as pack animals on the plains of Pampa and Patagonia (Argentina), in the mountains of Peru, Bolivia and Chile, as well as on the islands near Cape Horn. Wild herds can still be found in the inaccessible highlands, but their numbers have declined greatly in historical times.

The height of the guanaco at the withers is approx. 120 cm. He has a long head with large protruding and pointed ears. The skin is shaggy, yellowish-brown, gradually becoming ash-gray on the neck and head. The animal is graceful, resembling a deer or antelope in proportions, but with a more elongated neck. Guanacos are excellent swimmers: they have been seen swimming from island to island in the Cape Horn area.

Mating season in August–September; after a pregnancy lasting 11 months, a single cub is born. The mother feeds him with milk for 6 weeks, but allows him near the udder for the same amount of time, despite the fact that he begins to consume plant food.

Guanaco meat is highly prized by the Indians. Whole piles of bones of these animals have been discovered in Patagonia - possibly the remains of their mass slaughter by the aborigines or early Spanish settlers.

On ranches in the Andes, guanacos are bred for their fur, which is used to make clothing and jewelry. It resembles fox and is used both natural and dyed. Newborn animals are slaughtered for smushki (skins), from which beautiful capes are sewn.

VICUNA, or vigon (Lama vicugna), is the smallest species of the genus. It lives in the Andes up to 5200 m above sea level; the original range extended from Ecuador to Bolivia and Chile. Nowadays these are mainly domestic animals, but in some places wild herds remain.

Vicuñas have the same body proportions as other llamas, and the height at the withers is less than 90 cm. The animals roam in herds of 10–12 females with young animals, headed by a male leader. He is constantly on guard and often watches his surroundings from a high peak, emitting a shrill whistle at the first sign of danger.

The beautiful reddish fur of vicunas is formed by very thin and soft hair and is better in quality than chinchilla fur. Fleece makes excellent wool fabrics. Uncontrolled fishing has led to the almost complete extermination of the species in large parts of its range, and these animals are now strictly protected by the Peruvian government.

The Andes, the South American part of the Cordillera mountain system, stretch along the entire western coast of South America. The Andes stretch for 7,500 km from Colombia to Patagonia. The landscapes of these mountains are surprisingly diverse: rain forests on the eastern slope and desert on the western, wet meadows - paramo - above 2500 m and puna - semi-desert plateaus, located from 3800 to 4800 m above sea level. The Andes are a natural barrier between the coast and the interior, separating plant and animal species. At the foot of the mountains in the equatorial belt lie hot and humid tropical forests. As the height increases, deciduous trees are replaced by conifers, which, in turn, give way to low-growing shrubs and herbs.
It is in these places, at an altitude of 3500 to 5500 m above sea level, that llamas, South American relatives of camels, graze. This is a ruminant artiodactyl animal from the callosopod family. Llamas are also called humpless camels of America. They have no hooves, and their two-toed limbs have blunt, curved claws. When walking, they rely not on the ends of the fingers, but on their phalanges. The lower surface of the foot is formed by an elastic callous pad, from which these mammals get their name.

Llamas are much smaller in size than their Asian relatives. Large eyes with touching eyelashes, sensitive ears and unusually warm fur, long and protecting from piercing mountain winds.
Callouseds feed exclusively on plant foods and, for better assimilation, have acquired a complex three-chamber stomach. After all, grass is not very high in calories, and camels in the desert have to eat only thorns. You can't lose a single gram of nutrients! A more complex structure of the stomach can be found only in artiodactyls.
In calluses, red blood cells are not oval, but disc-shaped. No one has anything like this! Why this device was needed is unknown.
Llama (Lama guanicoe) is a large herbivore. It feeds on grass and young leaves. Llamas can also live for long periods without water. They have thick, warm fur that protects them from the cold at high altitudes. Unlike camels, llamas have toes that move independently of each other, giving them greater stability on rocky slopes. Thanks to this, llamas are able to move even in the mountains with high speed.
There are 4 varieties of llamas: 2 domestic (llama and alpaca) and 2 wild (guanaco and vicuna). These animals can interbreed with each other. The llama, like the alpaca, appeared as a result of the domestication of guanaco by the Incas already 6-7 thousand years ago.
Llamas have long been successfully bred in captivity for meat, wool, excellent milk and as a beast of burden. With a load of 25-35 kg they can travel 20 km per day. They patiently endure any load, but, tired of walking with too heavy a load, they lie down on the ground and resolutely refuse to move, and sometimes literally spit on their driver.
Alpaca is bred mainly for its silky and thin fleece, up to 12 cm long, which is highly prized.
This beauty has one drawback: sometimes the llama spits. But this is not due to lack of respect; in this way the animal drives away its enemies. Therefore, coming too close to even a domesticated llama, much less teasing it, is not recommended.
Llama and alpaca live 15-20 years. Body length 1.5-2 m, tail - 20-25 cm, height at withers - from 1.20 to 2.25 m, weight 130-155 kg. Color: brown or whitish, plain, piebald or spotted, but one of the most common colors is reddish brown with large white spots on the neck. The wool is rough.
Usually llamas live in a harem. Males live with 4-10 females and their babies. However, sometimes there are herds of lonely males or females who have left their harem. The age of puberty occurs between 9 and 18 months. Mating can occur throughout the year. Pregnancy lasts 1 year, every 2 years the female gives birth to only one baby (rarely 2), which is called “cria”. The weight of the baby at birth is 8-16 kg.
A llama, like a camel, makes specific cries. They spit to establish hierarchical relationships in the group and to call the most restless and irritable relatives to order.
The number of llamas is dwindling compared to the number of alpacas, which are farmed for their fur. There are now 3.7 million llamas, of which 70% live in Bolivia.
Recently, llamas have also been bred in North America: it has turned out that they are excellent shepherds, capable of protecting flocks of sheep from attacks by coyotes.
The Vigon Llama is a type of wild llama. It is found only in one place - in the Andes. Vigoni love to live at high altitudes. Their body length reaches 190 cm, height - 110 cm, and weight - 50 kg. The fur is thick and red in color. On the chest it is longer and forms a shirtfront. The male gathers around himself a harem of 10 - 15 females. Those males who do not yet have females live together, the composition of their herd is constantly changing.
At the end of spring - beginning of summer, the Vigones go into rut. Then, for 11 months, females bear 1-2 cubs. There were times when the Vigones grazed in large herds in the Andes. The Inca Indians periodically set special traps for them.
Those caught in them were shorn and released back to their herd. Clothes made from Vigon wool could not be worn by ordinary Incas. This honor belonged only to the leaders and priests. Currently, such catching is not carried out due to the extremely small number of vigones in the wild. They are trying to breed them in captivity, but they are very demanding of living conditions, unlike other llamas that take root well in captivity. In total, about 6 thousand individuals of Vigoni are preserved in the world.
Vigone wool is highly prized. It produces magnificent soft woolen fabrics that are more valuable than cashmere. The Vigonian population is currently quite small. This species needs protection, and therefore is listed in the International Red Book.
A close relative of the llama, also living in South America, is the vicuña, but it has not yet been tamed. Vicuna, the smallest and most graceful llama, lives only in the Andes at high altitudes. Vicunas are valued for their thick and soft fur, so these animals are in danger of destruction due to excessive hunting.
Guanaco - a wild llama - lives not only in the mountains, but also in steppes and semi-deserts. The ancient Incas domesticated wild llamas. Until now, residents of South America use domestic llamas, and they use camels in the deserts of Asia and Africa.
Guanaco is the largest herbivore in Patagonia. It is not as picky in choosing plant food as the vicuña, and eats almost any vegetation. It obtains the moisture necessary for life from food. IN mating season Fierce fights occur between male guanacos. They bite each other's necks and fight with their front legs. The winner of the fight collects a harem, sometimes consisting of hundreds of females. Young guanacos are easily tamed and, when crossed with other types of llamas, produce healthy offspring.
Lama guanaco is the prey of the largest predator of these places - the Patagonian puma. Other predators also come to Patagonia in search of food - the jaguarundi wild cat, which is smaller in size than the puma, as well as representatives of the canine family - the coyote and the Patagonian gray fox.

A short message about the llama will tell you about this mammal of the camelid family. Also, a report on the llama will help you prepare for class and improve your knowledge of biology.

WITH message about lama

Llamas belong to the camelid family of mammals. They were domesticated by humans a long time ago - about 6,000 years ago. The Andean Indians did this. In South America, llamas were the only animals that transported goods. Before horses were brought to the continent, of course. They are best adapted to life in the highlands.

Description of the llama

Turning to history, you will be surprised - but the llama is an ancient animal. More than 40 million years ago they lived on the plains of North America, and 3 million mammals migrated to South America and now live in the Andes. This slender animal is somewhat reminiscent of a deer: only the neck is longer and there are no horns on the head. The llama reaches a height of 1-2 meters and weighs up to 200 kg. The head is small, on which there are pointed, erect ears. The color of the animal is varied: from white to black and brown. A male llama can carry a pack of up to 50 kg and walk more than 25 km along mountain paths.

Today the genus of llamas has 2 varieties. The first is alpaca. They are smaller in size and slightly different in appearance. On average, an alpaca is 1 meter tall and weighs 70 kg. The fur is long and soft. They live in Ecuador, Northern Chile, Peru and Western Bolivia. They are bred for their wool. The second type of llama is the guanaco. They are wilder and live in the Andes at an altitude of more than 4,000 meters. Animals are unpretentious in food. The wool is thick and protects the guanaco from wind and cold. Strong muscles in the legs allow llamas to run about 50 km/h. Guanacos live in herds, in which there is only one male, young animals and up to two dozen females.

South American countries have adopted a number of laws that protect llamas. Most of them live in special nurseries, where they are fed and protected from predators (puma). These animals are not an endangered species. They are actively bred and used in agriculture. Blankets are made from their wool, and their meat is used for food. The tanned llama skin is used to make clothing, and the animal's fat is used to make candles.

What do llamas eat?

Animals eat everything - hay, grass, branches and leaves. If they are kept in captivity, the llamas are fed oats, carrots, grain, and apples.

Reproduction of llamas

Puberty of animals occurs at the age of 9-18 months. Mating occurs throughout the year. The female's pregnancy lasts a year. Every 2 years one baby is born weighing 8-16 kg. Between August and September, battles between males for their ladies begin. They bite, spit, and engage in hand-to-hand combat.

Lama: interesting facts

At the lama's special structure stomach - it consists of 3 compartments. Therefore, their body digests anything.
Llamas defecate in one place, thus creating their own toilets.
Female llamas are used only for breeding. They are not milked and are used as a beast of burden.
The ancient Incas depicted the lama as a deity who guarded shepherds.
Llamas spit when they want to drive away enemies.

We hope that the message about the llama helped you learn more about this amazing animal, which has long been domesticated by humans. And you can leave your story about the lama using the comment form below.

Domain: Eukaryotes

Kingdom: Animals

Type: Chordates

Class: Mammals

Squad: Artiodactyls

Family: Camelids

Genus: Llamas

Story

Nowadays, llamas include the llamas themselves and their ancestors - guanacos, who live in the wild to this day in South America.

Where does the llama live?

Description

These are herd animals, so they need to be kept with at least two or three more individuals.

Kinds

1st type – Lama (lat. Lama glama)

These animals were first domesticated by the Andean Indians and began to play an important role in the development of cattle breeding.

Only males are used for cargo transportation, females are intended exclusively for reproduction, and they are never milked.

2nd species – Alpaca (lat. Vicugna pacos)

Alpacas are another type of llama. They were the first of the two species to be domesticated, about 6,000 years ago by the Indians of Peru.

And the last, third species - Guanaco (lat. Lama guanicoe)

They run very well and can reach speeds of up to 56 km/h. Such speeds are necessary in order to save your life from various predators, for example, maned wolves, pumas or wild dogs.

Guanacos live in small herds of up to 20 animals. An adult male rules the herd, expelling all growing males older than 6-12 months from his harem. They start living alone or join men's groups.

Lifestyle and behavior

Nutrition

Llama breeding

Meaning for humans

The homeland of llamas is Peru (South America).
Llamas were domesticated by Andean Indians around 1000 BC.
Llamas spit when angered.
Llamas belong to the camelid family, but unlike camels they do not have a hump, but otherwise they are similar.
Male llamas are used as transport animals for transporting heavy loads across mountain ranges along paths that are inaccessible to transport (they transport 27-45 kg of cargo over a distance of about 24 km per day). If the weight exceeds more than 50 kg, the llama simply stops and sits down, and if the mahout forces it to rise, the llama will simply spit in his face.
Female llamas are never milked or used for transportation; they are used only for breeding.
Another amazing property of llamas is their cleanliness. The excrement of these animals is always collected in one place, away from fields, paths, and grazing areas (feeders). This is explained by the fact that in the wild, llamas thus masked their location from dangerous predators. Among the local population, mainly Bolivians and Peruvians, dried llama droppings serve as excellent fuel.

The domesticated descendant of the wild humpless camel of South America is the guanaco.

Taxonomy

Russian name - lama
English name - Lama
Latin name - Lama glama
Order - artiodactyla (Artiodactyla)
Suborder - callosopods (Tylopoda)
Family - camelids (Camelidae)
Conservation status of the species: Domestic animal.

Appearance

Since the llama traces its ancestry to the guanaco, it is most similar to this animal. Just as graceful, with proportions more reminiscent of a deer than a camel. Slightly more massive and larger than wild ancestor: height at the withers is on average 120 cm, height to the crown - 180 cm. But the color of the coat can be very diverse - from pure white to dark brown, both plain and piebald. The coat is very thick and long, as befits a resident of the harsh highlands. The high head on a long neck gives this animal a slightly “arrogant” expression, which is emphasized by large eyes framed by thick eyelashes. Males are slightly larger than females.

Species and man

The domestication of the guanaco occurred about 5,000 years ago, and the llama is one of the earliest domesticated animals in human history. In the harsh climate of the mountains, the lama became an indispensable assistant primarily as a beast of burden. They made wonderful warm clothing from wool and skins, the Incas ate the meat of males, but only on special occasions, and they never slaughtered females. The Incas even had a certain deity “Urcuchillay” (guardian of the shepherds), who was depicted as a multi-colored llama. Also, the image of a llama is found on ceramics of the Moche culture (existed in the northern part of Peru from about the hundredth year BC). During religious holidays, male cubs were sacrificed to the gods. The supreme god Viracocha was supposed to be brown, the lightning god Ilyapa was supposed to be piebald (to match the color of the stormy sky), and the sun god Inti was supposed to be white.

During the time of the Spaniards, llamas were used to transport ore from the mines, but then horses and mules supplanted them in this field. However, high in the mountains they have no equal. Perfectly adapted to life in the highlands, llamas cope much better with the lack of oxygen in thin air. They easily go with a load and where modern cars cannot go.

Only males, which are larger and stronger than females, are loaded. However, they can also carry a small load - about 50 kg. If the weight of the luggage exceeds the animal’s capabilities, it begins to get angry - it presses its ears, kicks, and spits saliva mixed with the contents of its stomach. But the most effective thing in such cases is a lying strike. The irritated llama lies down, and no force can move her - she will only get up when the luggage is reduced. They even joke that every llama has built-in scales. A loaded llama can travel up to 30 km in a day, but they are not harnessed to carts; this is the fate of horses, donkeys and mules. In ancient times, only occasionally the land was plowed using llamas.

Females are in a privileged position - they are not forced to carry heavy weights, they are not milked, and they do not participate in other household work. Even in times when the Incan gods demanded sacrifices, females remained safe, and their main task was procreation. A llama can give birth to its first cub when it is barely two years old, and can then give birth every year. Keeping llamas costs practically nothing: the animals live on high mountain pastures all year round and are sheared every two years. Grooming is done from November to April, so that by the low temperature season, which occurs in June-August, the coat has time to recover. Felted products are mainly made from llama wool, and thanks to the many color variations of the wool, the products do not even have to be dyed.

In the 19th century, llamas were brought to Europe, and in the Alps they successfully perform the same functions as in their native Andes.

Currently, the need for llamas as pack animals has decreased significantly, primarily due to the development of automobiles and air transport. The demand for wool, which is significantly inferior in quality to alpaca wool, has also decreased. All this has led to the fact that the number of llamas has noticeably decreased; their main population is concentrated around Lake Titicaca, where they mainly serve tourists.

Keeping animals at the Moscow Zoo

The llama can be seen in the Old Zoo area in the first enclosure to the right of the Main Entrance. Our llama is a white adult female and is the largest animal in the enclosure. She appeared at the zoo in 2009 at the age of one year, coming to us from Germany. Now the company of humpless camels in South America consists of the llama, guanaco and vicuna. Animals get along well in the same enclosure, since their expressive poses, facial expressions and body movements are similar, they understand each other perfectly. These animals in captivity can mate and produce offspring, so in the zoo their company is purely female.

These animals are fed twice a day. There is always hay and salt lick in the feeders, in the morning branches are hung in the enclosure, and in the afternoon they are given oats and “vinaigrette” - a mixture of chopped vegetables: beets, carrots, potatoes.

They tamed a strong and hardy animal - a llama. It was somewhat reminiscent of a camel, and the Incas, who did not know the wheel, needed a pack animal to transport goods across the Andean mountain paths. For this, only male animals were used; females were needed to produce offspring.

Lama belongs to the camelid family, suborder Callus. We will tell you about these interesting animals, the peculiarities of their behavior, and distribution. You will find out why the llama does not live in the savannah. This is a well-studied animal that still plays an important role in human life today.

Where does the llama live?

Lama: description

Like other representatives of the camelid family, the llama also has limbs, a rounded muzzle, on which protruding lower incisors and a forked upper lip are clearly visible. Unlike camels, native to Asia, llamas do not have humps.

The height at the withers of an adult animal is about one hundred and thirty centimeters; the weight of an adult male reaches one hundred and fifty kilograms.

Limbs

Despite the fact that the animals belong to the artiodactyls, their limbs have a special structure. The soles of cloven hooves are covered with calloused pads that move in different sides. Thanks to them, the animal feels very confident on the mountain slopes where the llama lives. On their feet, llamas' toes can move independently. This feature helps animals climb mountains at high speed.

Wool

The coat is long and shaggy, varying in color from white to black: beige, brown, golden, gray shades. The fur can be plain or with spots of different colors. The white llama is extremely rare. The predominant color is reddish-brown, diluted with white and yellowish splashes.

Structural features

The blood of these animals contains a large number of erythrocytes (red blood cells), and accordingly, the level of hemoglobin is increased. This ensures survival at high altitudes mountain conditions, poor in oxygen, where the llama lives.

Like other members of the family, llamas have rather interesting teeth: in adult animals, the upper incisors are developed, and the lower incisors are of normal length. The stomach consists of three chambers; when chewing food, chewing gum is formed.

Behavior

Llamas are social and herd animals that live in groups of up to twenty individuals. They usually include six females and the current year's offspring. The herd is led by a male who quite aggressively defends the interests of his family. He can pounce on a competitor and try to knock him to the ground by wrapping his long neck around the opponent's neck and biting his limbs.

The defeated male lies down on the ground, thereby demonstrating his complete defeat. Like other members of the family, llamas make roaring, rather low-pitched sounds when predators appear, warning other members of the family group of danger. Animals skillfully defend themselves from enemies: they bite, kick and even spit on animals that pose a threat to them. In captivity, the behavior of llamas resembles the habits of their wild relatives: males defend the territory to the last, even if it is fenced with a high fence.

Lamas accept sheep into their group and protect them as if they were little llamas. Aggression and protectiveness towards other animals allow llamas to be used as guards for goats, horses and sheep.

Nutrition

This very beautiful animal with soft fur and large eyes eats very little; for example, a horse eats almost eight times more feed. What does a llama eat? Plant food: low-growing shrubs, lichens. They happily eat evergreen parastephya, baccharis, and cereal plants: bromegrass, bentgrass, and munroa.

Lama is extremely fond of carrots, leaves white cabbage, broccoli, bread and orange peel. It is important that the food is juicy and fresh. This will allow the animal’s body to be saturated with minerals and trace elements that are necessary for the normal functioning of the body.

You should know that the diet largely depends on the gender and age of the llama. In addition, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the female may change her taste preferences.

Llamas live in dry climates, and therefore get most of their moisture from food. They require two to three liters of water per day. The hay and grass consumed account for 1.8% of their body weight. Llamas kept at home are adapted to the food familiar to sheep and goats.

Reproduction

Llamas are polygamous animals. The male collects 5-6 females in a certain territory. He quite aggressively drives away other males from his harem who accidentally enter the area where the llama lives. Young males who are expelled from the harem form new herds, collecting their own harems, reaching maturity.

The mating season for llamas occurs at the end of summer or beginning of autumn. The female bears the offspring for almost a year and gives birth to one calf every year. Within an hour, the newborn can follow its mother. It weighs about ten kilograms and over the course of four months, while the female feeds it with milk, it quickly gains weight.

Most often, the female herself takes care of the offspring, providing their protection and proper care for the cub for up to a year. The male only indirectly participates in “family life”: he defends the territory and provides food for the herd. on average they live up to fifteen years, but there are also “long-livers” who live up to twenty.

Meaning for humans

The llama is a pack animal that is capable of carrying loads exceeding its own weight. These animals are indispensable in mountainous areas, where they are used for transportation, which greatly helps local residents. With heavy bales they travel tens of kilometers a day.

Llama meat (only males) is used for food: it is a dietary product. The most delicious meat is considered to be from animals not older than one year - it is very tender and juicy.

Status

Llamas are not an endangered species and these animals are quite widespread these days. There are about three million individuals in the world, more than 70% of them live in Bolivia.

LLAMA(Lama), a genus of humpless South American animals of the camelid family (Camelidae) of the order Artiodactila. Despite the lack of a hump, llamas have many common features with camels: canine-shaped incisors in the upper jaw, calloused pads on the soles of cloven hooves (adaptation to rocky soil), ambling and peculiarities of chewing cud, which the animal spits when angered.

Lama

(L.glama) America's only native species used as beasts of burden. It is domesticated ca. 1000 BC Incas in what is now Peru.

The height of an adult male at the withers is 120 cm. The neck is long and thin, the head is relatively small, usually raised high, the ears are high and pointed. Domestic llamas have soft, shaggy, medium-length fur; color varies from pure white to black-brown and piebald.

The ancestors of the lamas lived on the high plateaus in the Andes. This species is still used to transport heavy loads over ridges along paths inaccessible to modern transport. Only males are loaded: one animal carries 2745 kg per day over a distance of approx. 24 km. If the pack is too heavy, the llama stops and sits down: no punishment will make her strain: she will simply spit stinking gum in the face of the annoying driver.

Female llamas are used only for breeding: they are never milked or loaded. Mating season is in September. After a pregnancy lasting 10-11 months, one cub is usually born. Its mother feeds it with milk for six weeks, and llamas reach sexual maturity at three years.

The Incas ate the meat of males, but only on special occasions, and females were never slaughtered. During religious festivals, male cubs were sacrificed to the gods. The supreme god Viracocha was supposed to be brown, the god of lightning Ilyapa was piebald (to match the color of the stormy sky), and the sun god Inti was supposed to be white.

Alpaca

(L. pacos) a domestic animal bred by the Incas approximately 3,000 years ago as a source of wool. Nowadays, herds of alpacas of 100200 heads are kept mainly by Peruvian Indians on the high plateaus of the Andes. Externally, the animals resemble sheep. The fleece reaches a length of 60 cm; It produces a fabric highly prized throughout the world for its softness, insulating properties and durability.

Alpacas are slender, lightly built, with narrow pointed ears, a short shaggy tail, long legs and a long neck. Height at withers approx. 90 cm, color varies from piebald to yellowish-brown. Offspring are born in February March; newborns are covered with fur, sighted, and within a few minutes they stand on their feet and begin to suckle their mother.

Guanaco

(L. gaunico) is very close to the llama and alpaca and may be their ancestor. Domesticated guanacos are used as pack animals on the plains of Pampa and Patagonia (Argentina), in the mountains of Peru, Bolivia and Chile, as well as on the islands near Cape Horn. Wild herds can still be found in the inaccessible highlands, but their numbers have declined greatly in historical times.

Mating season in August September; after a pregnancy lasting 11 months, a single cub is born. The mother feeds him with milk for 6 weeks, but allows him near the udder for the same amount of time, despite the fact that he begins to consume plant food.

Guanaco meat is highly prized by the Indians. Whole piles of bones of these animals have been discovered in Patagonia possibly the remains of their mass slaughter by the aborigines or early Spanish settlers.

Vicuna,

or vigon ( Lama vicugna), the smallest species of the genus. It lives in the Andes up to 5200 m above sea level; the original range extended from Ecuador to Bolivia and Chile. Nowadays these are mainly domestic animals, but in some places wild herds remain.

Vicuñas have the same body proportions as other llamas, and the height at the withers is less than 90 cm. The animals roam in herds of 1012 females with young animals, headed by a leader male. He is constantly on guard and often watches his surroundings from a high peak, emitting a shrill whistle at the first sign of danger.

The beautiful reddish fur of vicunas is formed by very thin and soft hair and is better in quality than chinchilla fur. Fleece produces excellent wool fabrics. Uncontrolled fishing has led to the almost complete extermination of the species in large parts of its range, and these animals are now strictly protected by the Peruvian government.

About 5 thousand years ago, in Peru, the Inca Indians tamed and domesticated the llama, a hardy and strong animal resembling a camel. The Incas were not familiar with the wheel, so they needed a beast of burden that could be used to transport heavy loads through the rugged mountain trails of the Andes. For transportation of goods, the Incas used only male llamas; females were exclusively engaged in procreation; they were not milked, did not eat their meat, and were not sacrificed.

The llama is a cloven-hoofed mammal, from the suborder Callosidae, belongs to the camelid family. In their appearance, llamas really resemble camels, in the upper part of the jaw they have the same canine-like incisors, on the sole of their cloven hooves there are calloused pads, only llamas are smaller and they do not have a hump. Body length – 120-200 cm, tail – 20-25 cm, height at the withers – 120 cm, the animal weighs 75-80 kg. The neck is thin, the head is small, and the ears are high and pointed. Thanks to their fluttering eyelashes, the animals have a rather cute appearance. The wool is designed to protect them from the piercing mountain winds, so it is long, soft and very warm. The color of the coat is varied - from white to black-brown.

In South America there are 4 species of callus, of which the domestic ones are llama and alpaca, and the wild ones are guanaco and vicuna. The llama is used by humans primarily as a pack animal, while the alpaca is valued for its long wool, which is used to make soft, warm clothing, blankets and rugs. All of them live in the highlands of the Andes in South America, at an altitude of about 3500 m, that is, in the wild they are found in Bolivia, Chile and Peru, but you can often see animals in zoos.

Llamas are herbivores; in summer they eat grass, young leaves, bushes and lichens, preferring lush vegetation, which contains large amounts of moisture, vitamins and minerals, and in winter llamas feed on hay and grain. Animals happily take carrots, apples, bread, broccoli and orange peels from people's hands.

Lamas have an interesting character; they are quite friendly, intelligent and curious. But at the same time, they are distinguished by their stubbornness; if the load with which they are loaded is too heavy for the animal (that is, more than 50 kg), then it will sit on the ground and will not go anywhere; neither the carrot nor the stick methods will help until the load is removed – the animal will not budge. And if a llama is teased, she can spit chewing gum in the offender’s face (chewing gum is undigested food that the animal chews, swallows, and then returns to its mouth). But if you treat a llama politely, then she can touch a person’s face with her nose, and it’s pleasant to stroke the animal, which is why there is even such a therapeutic psychological direction - “llamatherapy.”

At the same time, within the family, llamas have quite fierce competition among males. Mature llamas have quite strong teeth, 2 fangs on top and 4 below, with which they bite and tear the skins of their competitors during a fight. Because of their strong teeth, in South America they are used as guards against coyotes and other predators for flocks of sheep, which llamas, as social animals, consider their offspring.

Puberty of llamas occurs at 3 years. The breeding season lasts from August to February. The female's pregnancy lasts 11 months and, as a rule, one baby is born. A couple of hours after birth, he is ready to stand on his feet. Milk feeding lasts about 4 months. The lifespan of llamas is 20 years, and good conditions they can live up to 30.

The main enemy of llamas is the puma (mountain lion, cougar) - one of the largest predators in South America, which sneaks up on prey from behind and suddenly jumps on its back, breaking its neck. Llamas are also hunted by wild cats, jaguarundis and Patagonian gray foxes.

Llamas are not an endangered species; they are actively bred in agriculture and zoos, but in the wild of Chile and Peru they are protected by the state and protected by law.

Area Security status

Llama fur, unlike alpaca, has no value; The llama is mainly used as a beast of burden.

Story

Llamas were domesticated more than four thousand years ago in what is now Peru. In 1553, their first description and image was given in the book “ Chronicle of Peru» Cieza de Leona.

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Notes

Literature

// Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron
// Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.



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Excerpt characterizing Lama (animal)

- Oh yes, it's your business. To the hussars? I'll tell you, I'll tell you. I'll tell you everything today.
- Well, mon cher, did you get the manifesto? - asked the old count. - And the countess was at mass at the Razumovskys, she heard a new prayer. Very good, he says.
“Got it,” answered Pierre. - Tomorrow the sovereign will be... An extraordinary meeting of the nobility and, they say, a set of ten out of a thousand. Yes, congratulations.
- Yes, yes, thank God. Well, what about the army?
“Our people retreated again.” They say it’s already near Smolensk,” Pierre answered.
- My God, my God! - said the count. -Where is the manifesto?
- Appeal! Oh yes! - Pierre began to look in his pockets for papers and could not find them. Continuing to pat his pockets, he kissed the hand of the countess as she entered and looked around restlessly, apparently waiting for Natasha, who was no longer singing, but also did not come into the living room.
“By God, I don’t know where I put him,” he said.
“Well, he’ll always lose everything,” said the countess. Natasha came in with a softened, excited face and sat down, silently looking at Pierre. As soon as she entered the room, Pierre's face, previously gloomy, lit up, and he, continuing to look for papers, glanced at her several times.
- By God, I’ll move out, I forgot at home. Definitely...
- Well, you'll be late for lunch.
- Oh, and the coachman left.
But Sonya, who went into the hallway to look for the papers, found them in Pierre’s hat, where he carefully placed them in the lining. Pierre wanted to read.
“No, after dinner,” said the old count, apparently anticipating great pleasure in this reading.
At dinner, during which they drank champagne for the health of the new Knight of St. George, Shinshin told city news about the illness of the old Georgian princess, that Metivier had disappeared from Moscow, and that some German was brought to Rostopchin and told him that it was a champignon (as Count Rastopchin himself told), and how Count Rostopchin ordered the champignon to be released, telling the people that it was not a champignon, but just an old German mushroom.
“They grab, they grab,” said the count, “I tell the countess to speak less French.” Now is not the time.
-Have you heard? - said Shinshin. - Prince Golitsyn took a Russian teacher, he studies in Russian - il commence a devenir dangereux de parler francais dans les rues. [It becomes dangerous to speak French on the streets.]
- Well, Count Pyotr Kirilych, how will they gather the militia, and you will have to mount a horse? - said the old count, turning to Pierre.
Pierre was silent and thoughtful throughout this dinner. He looked at the count as if not understanding at this address.
“Yes, yes, to war,” he said, “no!” What a warrior I am! But everything is so strange, so strange! Yes, I don’t understand it myself. I don’t know, I’m so far from military tastes, but in modern times no one can answer for themselves.
After dinner, the count sat quietly in a chair and with a serious face asked Sonya, famous for her reading skills, to read.
– “To our mother-throne capital, Moscow.
The enemy entered Russia with great forces. He is coming to ruin our dear fatherland,” Sonya diligently read in her thin voice. The Count, closing his eyes, listened, sighing impulsively in some places.
Natasha sat stretched out, searchingly and directly looking first at her father, then at Pierre.
Pierre felt her gaze on him and tried not to look back. The Countess shook her head disapprovingly and angrily against every solemn expression of the manifesto. She saw in all these words only that the dangers threatening her son would not end soon. Shinshin, folding his mouth into a mocking smile, was obviously preparing to mock the first thing presented for ridicule: Sonya’s reading, what the count would say, even the appeal itself, if no better excuse presented itself.
Having read about the dangers threatening Russia, about the hopes placed by the sovereign on Moscow, and especially on the famous nobility, Sonya, with a trembling voice, which came mainly from the attention with which they listened to her, read last words: “We ourselves will not hesitate to stand among our people in this capital and in other places of our state for consultation and leadership of all our militias, both now blocking the paths of the enemy, and again organized to defeat him, wherever he appears. May the destruction into which he imagines throwing us fall upon his head, and may Europe, liberated from slavery, exalt the name of Russia!”

No one can escape the cheetah. Even fast gazelles are doomed if he gives chase. Cheetah is the most fast beast on the ground. Over a short distance, it can run at speeds of up to 120 km per hour. Has sharp vision. It lives alone or in pairs. In a deserted, secluded place, the female gives birth to 1–5 cubs. However, they are often killed by leopards, lions and hyenas. And adult cheetahs are from poachers. Cheetahs were once found throughout almost all of Africa, Western Asia, Turkmenistan and India. Now they have survived only in nature reserves. The animals are well tamed, but do not breed in captivity. In ancient times, cheetahs were kept in special nurseries and used instead of greyhounds during hunting by noble Arabs and Indian rajahs. Now this is prohibited.

African buffalo

Ruminant bovid animal. Lives south of the Sahara. The large African bull is Kaffir, or black. The buffalo easily adapts to environmental conditions. With its huge horns it can repel the attack of a lioness. The buffalo herd is gradually decreasing. The buffalo became an object of hunting only for its meat and skin. However, many hunters died from the horns and hooves of buffalo. A wounded or enraged Kaffir bull becomes especially dangerous.

Greater Kudu

Among all the antelopes living on the African continent, large kudu have the most striking and memorable appearance. These tall and majestic animals grow up to one and a half meters at the shoulders and can weigh more than three hundred kilograms, thus being one of the largest antelopes in the world.

Their native home is eastern and central areas Africa. Here, depending on the season, they inhabit bush-covered plains, savannas, forests, and occasionally desert hillsides, and in the dry season they gather along river banks. When choosing places to live and search for food, large kudu prefer bushy thickets.

Greater kudu's gray-brown coat is adorned with bright white stripes on their sides, white cheek markings, and diagonal stripes between the eyes called chevrons. The fur of males is dark, with a gray tint, while females and cubs are painted in beige tones - this makes them more invisible among the savannah vegetation.

The main advantage of male great kudu is their large helical horns. Unlike deer, kudu do not shed their antlers and live with them all their lives. The horns of an adult male are twisted in two and a half turns and grow strictly according to a certain schedule: appearing in the first year of a male’s life, by the age of two they make one full turn, and take their final shape no earlier than the age of six. If the horn of a large kudu is pulled out into one straight line, its length will be slightly less than two meters.

African savannah elephant- the largest land mammal in the world. These animals grow up to 3.96 m at the withers and can weigh up to 10 tons, but most often have a size at the withers of up to 3.2 m and a weight of up to 6 tons. They have a long and very flexible trunk that ends in nostrils. The trunk is used to capture food and water and transfer it to the mouth. On the sides of the mouth there are two long teeth called tusks. Elephants have thick, gray skin that protects them from the deadly bites of predators. This species of elephant is common in African savannas and grasslands. Elephants are herbivores and eat grasses, fruits, tree leaves, bark, shrubs, etc. These animals have important work in savannas. They eat bushes and trees, and thereby help the grass grow. This allows many herbivorous animals to survive. Today there are about 150,000 elephants in the world and they are endangered because poachers kill them for their ivory.

The giraffe is the tallest animal on our planet. The height of this majestic mammal can reach 6 meters. 1/3 of its height comes from its long neck. And the weight of an adult animal can exceed a ton.

A giraffe simply needs a long neck in order to survive in the savannahs of Africa. It would be logical to say that with the onset of drought, food became less available, and only those giraffes with a long neck could reach the tops of the trees. And accordingly, giraffes with short necks had hundreds of times less chances for survival and reproduction. But Namibian zoologist Rob Siemens suggests that giraffes' long necks are a consequence of neck battles between males. After all, the winner always has more attention from females, and accordingly he will have more offspring. It’s difficult to say who is right and who is wrong.

Despite the fact that the neck of giraffes reaches two meters in length, it has only 7 cervical vertebrae, just like a human. And when, during the rare hours of sleep, the giraffe decides to lie down, it rests its head on its back or hind leg for a long time. A giraffe sleeps only two hours a day. And he spends almost all his time on food (16-20 hours a day).

A female giraffe can be recognized not only by her height (she is shorter and lighter than the male), but also by her feeding style. Males, as leaders, always reach for leaves that are taller than they are, while females are content with what grows at the level of their heads.

Not only does the giraffe’s neck, but also its muscular tongue help it get leaves from hard-to-reach branches of a tall tree. After all, a giraffe can stretch it to 45 cm.

Monkeys

These small, fragile, long-tailed monkeys live in all tropical forests. Their bright colors help the monkeys not to lose sight of their relatives while traveling in the treetops. They feed on a variety of fruits and leaves, do not neglect insects and lizards, and happily eat bird eggs and chicks. The female gives birth to only one cub, which she constantly carries with her, clutching it to her chest. Over time, the cub itself holds tightly to the mother's fur during her desperate jumps. It feeds on milk for up to six months. Because of their bright and varied appearance, different types of monkeys received corresponding names: green, mustachioed, white-nosed, etc.

Grant's Gazelle

This is a large group of animals that inhabit savannas, deserts, coastal plains, sand dunes and mountainous areas. They feed on grass and acacia leaves. The back of gazelles is sand-colored, so the animal seems to merge with the surrounding space and becomes invisible to predators. Males have significantly larger horns than females. During the dry season, they gather in herds and roam in search of a watering hole. They may not drink for a long time. Gazelle are unpretentious in their choice of food; they feed equally on grass, leaves and shoots of bushes, and often go to graze on millet and other crops. The number of some species is very small, as people hunt animals and simply destroy them.

The African wild dog lives in the grasslands, savannas and open woodlands of eastern and southern Africa. The fur of this animal is short and colored in red, brown, black, yellow and white. Each individual has a unique coloring. Their ears are very large and rounded. Dogs have a short muzzle and have powerful jaws. This species is perfectly suited for chasing. Like greyhounds, they have a slender body and long legs. The bones of the lower front legs are fused together, which prevents them from twisting when running. African wild dogs have large ears that help conduct heat away from the animal's body. The short and wide muzzle has powerful muscles that allow it to grasp and hold prey. The multi-colored coat provides camouflage to the environment. The African wild dog is a predator and feeds on medium-sized antelopes, gazelles, and other herbivores. They do not compete with hyenas and jackals for food, as they do not eat carrion. Humans are considered their only enemies.

This huge pachyderm lives in both Africa and South and Southeast Asia. There are two species of rhinoceroses in Africa, distinct from the Asian ones. African rhinoceroses have two horns, and these animals are adapted to habitats characterized by large spaces with very few trees. The Asian rhinoceros has only one horn and prefers to live in forest thickets. These animals are on the verge of extinction because they are ruthlessly hunted by poachers for their horns, which are in high demand in some countries.

A female rhinoceros usually gives birth to one calf every two to four years. The baby stays with his mother for a long time, even when he grows up and becomes independent. Within an hour, a newborn calf can follow its mother on its own legs; moreover, it usually walks either in front of her or on the side. It feeds on mother's milk for a year, and during this time its weight increases from 50 to 300 kilograms. A rhinoceros's eyesight is poor; it sees only close up, like a nearsighted person. But he has the finest sense of smell and hearing; he can smell food or an enemy from afar. A rhinoceros horn can reach a length of 1.5 meters.

Large flocks of these beautiful birds live near bodies of water. They feed on small invertebrates. To do this, the bird lowers its head under the water and uses its beak to look for prey on the marshy bottom. The bird's tongue is like a piston that filters water through rows of horny plates located along the edges of the beak. The bird swallows small crustaceans and worms that remain in the mouth. It builds nests from silt and shells in the form of small towers about half a meter high. Lays 1–3 eggs. Parents feed the chicks by regurgitating semi-digested food. A flock of flying flamingos presents a striking, unforgettable sight - against the backdrop of the reddish-yellow seashore, its blue surface and pale blue sky, a chain of large pink birds stretches. Flamingo chicks are born sighted, with a straight beak, and covered with down. Their beak becomes bent only after 2 weeks.

The natural environment in which the ostrich lives determined the final adaptability of this bird, the largest of all: the ostrich's mass exceeds 130 kilograms. The long neck increases the ostrich's height to two meters. A flexible neck and excellent vision allow him to notice danger from afar from this height. The long legs give the ostrich the ability to run at speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour, usually fast enough to escape predators.

Ostriches do not live alone, but in groups of varying numbers. While the birds are looking for food, at least one stands guard and looks around the area to spot enemies, primarily cheetahs and lions. The ostrich's eyes are surrounded by long eyelashes, which protect them from both the African sun and dust raised by the wind.

Ostriches build a nest in a small depression, digging it in sandy soil and covering it with something soft. The female incubates the eggs during the day because her gray coloration blends well with her surroundings; the male, with predominantly black feathers, incubates at night.

Females lay from three to eight eggs in a common nest, and each of them takes turns incubating the eggs in turn. One egg weighs more than one and a half kilograms and has a very strong shell. Sometimes it takes a baby ostrich a whole day to break the shell and hatch from the egg.

The ostrich's beak is short, flat and very strong. It is not specialized for any particular food, but serves to pluck grass and other vegetation and grab insects, small mammals and snakes.

Black Mamba

The black mamba is a highly venomous snake found in savannas, rocky and open forest areas of Africa. Snakes of this species grow about 4 m in length and can reach speeds of up to 20 km/h. The black mamba is not actually black, but rather brownish-gray, with a light belly and brownish scales on its back. It got its name because of the purple-black color of the inside of its mouth. Black mambas feed on small mammals and birds such as voles, rats, squirrels, mice, etc.

A snake can bite a large animal and release it. She will then chase her prey until she is paralyzed. The mamba bites smaller animals and holds them, waiting for the toxic venom to take effect. Black mambas are very nervous when a person approaches them and try to avoid it in any way. If this is not possible, the snake shows aggression by raising the front part of its body and opening its mouth wide. They quickly attack and inject their prey with their poison, and then crawl away. Before antivenoms were developed, a mamba bite was 100% fatal. However, to prevent death, the medicine should be administered immediately. They have no natural enemies and the main threat comes from habitat destruction.

Zebra belongs to the equine family of the equid order of the equid class of mammals. These animals live in groups - herds. There is only one adult male in one herd. All other “participants” are females with cubs. The male is the leader and is the father of all foals. But it is not the male who leads the herd, but the oldest female. Her cubs follow her, and then the rest of the females with their foals.

Newborn “minke whales” begin to walk within 20 minutes after birth. And after 45 minutes they are jumping briskly and running after their mother. They reach maturity at 1-1.5 years. Young males at this age or a little later (up to 3 years) leave their herd, first ending up in bachelor groups or staying alone. They acquire their herd at the age of 5-6 years. Young females begin to bear offspring at the age of 2.5 years.

Like all herbivores, zebras flee from danger by running. The main thing is to see the enemy, the lion. Therefore, they willingly accept other animals into their society: antelopes, giraffes, gazelles and even ostriches. How more eyes, the greater the chance of noticing the danger and retreating in time.

Stripes that appeared in the process of evolution. probably also served as camouflage from predators: they make it more difficult to assess the outline of the body. According to another hypothesis, stripes appeared as a means of camouflage from horseflies and tsetse flies, which, as a result of such coloring, perceive the zebra as flashing white and black stripes. Each zebra has a unique set of stripes, like fingerprints, unique to each individual. Thanks to him, the foal remembers its mother. Therefore, after the baby is born, the zebra mother shields it with her body from other zebras for some time.

Oryx

Oryx (oryx) the size of a deer. Is it straight or slightly curved long horns. It can go without water for weeks, making long journeys in search of favorable habitats. In the open areas where these antelopes live, it is difficult to hide, so predators can easily spot them.

Oryx lead a herd lifestyle. They graze early in the morning, in the evening and at night.
The long, beautiful, pointed horns of the white oryx are a coveted hunting trophy. At one time, these animals inhabited the entire Arabian Peninsula and Palestine, now there are only a few hundred of them.

The caracal is a species of mammal from the cat family, widely distributed in the savannas of Africa. The body type is similar to a regular cat, but the caracal is larger and has larger ears. Its coat is short and the color varies from brown to reddish-gray, sometimes even becoming dark. His head is shaped like an inverted triangle. The ears are black on the outside and light on the inside, with tufts of black hair at the tips. They are active at night, mainly hunting small mammals such as rabbits and porcupines, but sometimes large animals such as sheep, young antelope or deer become their victims. They have special skills for catching birds. Their strong legs allow them to jump high enough to actually knock down flying birds with their large paws. The main threat to caracals is people.

Blue wildebeest

The blue wildebeest is one of the few antelopes that have survived in huge numbers in Africa to this day, and not only in protected areas national parks and reserves. In the Serengeti Park, for example, there are now more than 300,000 wildebeest, and 14,000 animals graze in the Ngoro Ngoro Crater (an area of 250 km2). On both sides of the highway that runs south from Nairobi to Na-manga and passes through unguarded areas, dozens or even hundreds of wildebeest are constantly visible.

The blue wildebeest is a fairly large animal; the height of adult males reaches 130-145 cm at the withers and weighs 250-270 kg. The general color tone of the short, smooth coat is bluish-gray; dark transverse stripes run along the sides of the animal; the mane and tail are blackish. The blue wildebeest inhabits East and Southern Africa, almost never going north beyond the latitude of Lake Victoria. The wildebeest's favorite habitats are typical savannas and vast low-grass plains, sometimes flat, sometimes slightly hilly. However, it is by no means uncommon to find wildebeest among thickets of thorny bushes and in dry, sparse forests. Wildebeest feed on certain types of grasses. Therefore, in most places, wildebeest herds lead a nomadic lifestyle, migrating twice a year to where there has been rain and there are suitable food plants. Migrating wildebeest, stretching in regular endless chains from horizon to horizon or scattered in countless masses across the steppe, are an exciting and unique sight.

A leopard is a species of predatory mammal of the cat family, one of four representatives of the panther genus, which belongs to the subfamily of big cats.

A large cat, however, is significantly smaller in size than a tiger and a lion. The body is elongated, muscular, somewhat laterally compressed, light and slender, very flexible, with a long tail (its length is more than half the total length of the body). The legs are relatively short but strong. The front legs are powerful and wide. The head is relatively small and rounded. The forehead is convex, the facial parts of the head are moderately elongated. The ears are small, rounded, and set wide apart.

The eyes are small, the pupil is round. There is no mane or elongated hair on the upper part of the neck and on the cheeks (sideburns). Vibrissae are represented by black, white and half-black and half-white elastic hair up to 110 mm long.

The size and weight of leopards depend on the geographic area of their habitat and vary greatly. Individuals inhabiting forests are usually smaller and lighter, while those living in open areas, on the contrary, are larger than their forest counterparts. But on average, males are a third larger than females.

The leopard feeds mainly on ungulates: antelopes, deer, roe deer and others, and during periods of starvation - rodents, monkeys, birds, and reptiles. Sometimes attacks domestic animals (sheep, horses). Like a tiger, he often kidnaps dogs; Foxes and wolves suffer from it. It does not disdain carrion and steals prey from other predators, including other leopards.

Egyptian mongoose

The Egyptian mongoose is the largest of all mongooses in Africa. The animals are common in bushland, rocky regions and small areas of savannah. Adults grow up to 60 cm in length (plus a 33-54 cm tail) and weigh 1.7-4 kg.

Egyptian mongooses have long fur that is typically gray with brown dots. They are primarily carnivores, but will also eat fruit if it is available in their habitat. Their typical diet consists of rodents, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and larvae. Egyptian mongooses also feed on the eggs of various animals. These fauna representatives can eat poisonous snakes. They hunt birds of prey and large carnivores of the savannah. Egyptian mongooses benefit the environment by killing animals (such as rats and snakes) that are considered pests to humans.

In the appearance of the warthog, nature surprisingly mixed ugliness and charm. To say that he is unique is to say nothing. The legs are high, the tail is a tassel on a long thin cord, a disproportionately small, almost naked body the color of slate or clay and a huge head with a snout stretched in length and width, on the sides of which growths called “warts” and sickle-shaped fangs protrude. A disheveled black mane with bangs falling over his eyes and sparse white sideburns complete the portrait of the “monster.” It’s not for nothing that such a miracle was filmed in the prologue of the good old (not to be confused with fresh French ridicule!) film “One Million Years BC”. At the same time, there is some strange attractiveness in his appearance. Perhaps thanks to the amazing neck. When the animal is alarmed or frightened, the heavy head rises high up, and the neck allows it to be rotated to the sides by 40-50 degrees even while running, which other pigs are not able to do.

Compared to most of its ungulate neighbors, the warthog is small - on average 75 cm at the withers, however, with a weight of 50-150 kg, it cannot be called small. The body length is up to one and a half meters, the tail is up to 50 cm. Boars are noticeably larger than pigs, but their tails are shorter. But the fangs are longer. In old males they grow up to 60 cm and bend three-quarters of a circle. Another sexual difference is those same “warts,” skin growths that give the animal its name in all languages. Males have four of them - two on each side of the muzzle, with the upper ones extending up to 15 cm in height; in females there are only two and small ones. “Warts” have neither a nucleus nor a bone base, and one can only guess what their purpose is. Perhaps they serve as shock absorbers in ritual fights, but this is just one hypothesis.

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.

The Kaffir horned raven is the largest species of the hornbill family, one of two species included in the genus Hornbill. Lives in African savannah, south of the equator.

A large bird, from 90 to 129 cm in length and weighing from 3.2 to 6.2 kg. It is distinguished by black plumage and bright red patches of skin on the front of the head and neck. In young birds these areas yellow color. The beak is black, straight, and has a helmet, which is more developed in males.

Inhabits open spaces with sparse bushes. Main range: Southern Kenya, Burundi, southern Angola, northern Namibia, northern and eastern Botswana and northeastern and eastern South Africa. It nests in hollow stumps or hollows of baobab trees - the nest is not walled up, and the female leaves the nest daily to defecate and groom herself.

Horned crows spend most of their time on the ground, collecting food while walking slowly across the savannah. These birds are capable of eating almost any small animal that they can catch. Quickly grabbing prey from the ground, they throw it into the air to make it easier to swallow, and kill it. with strong blows beak.

Horned crows hunt in groups of 2-8 birds (up to 11); they often pursue large prey together. They are the only hornbills that can pick up several food objects into their beaks without swallowing them and carry them to the nest. Sometimes they eat carrion, feasting on carrion-eating insects at the same time. They also eat fruits and seeds.

The Nile crocodile can grow up to five meters in length and is common in freshwater swamps, rivers, lakes and other watery places. These animals have long snouts that can capture fish and turtles. Body color is dark olive. They are considered the most intelligent reptiles on earth. Crocodiles eat almost anything in the water, including fish, turtles or birds. They even eat buffalo, antelope, big cats, and sometimes people when given the chance. Nile crocodiles skillfully camouflage themselves, leaving only their eyes and nostrils above the water. They also blend well with the color of the water, so for many animals that come to a body of water to quench their thirst, these reptiles represent mortal danger. This species is not endangered. They are not threatened by other animals except humans.

Guinea fowl

Guinea fowl (kanga, genefal) is a domesticated bird with an almost horizontal body covered with cream, grey-speckled, white or spotted blue plumage, a naked bluish head with a triangular horny “helmet” on the crown having a yellowish tint, and a red beak with two leathery “earrings” on the sides from the Guinea fowl family. The males of this species differ little from the females: they only have a slightly higher growth on the head, the body is more vertical, and the cry is monosyllabic (in females it sounds like “chikele-chikele-chikele”).

The wild ancestor of agricultural birds, the helmeted guinea fowl and 6 other species of this family, are still found on the island of Madagascar and in Africa, south of the Sahara. The first attempts to keep this bird by humans were made long before our era, and this happened, as follows from the African epic, in its homeland in Guinea. There are also Egyptian references to domestic guinea fowl dating back to the 15th century BC. In antiquity, guinea fowl were bred in the Mediterranean for cult purposes - they were considered the sacred messengers of the goddess Artemis.

Guinea fowl also appeared in Europe over 2 thousand years ago, where they came from the African state of Numidia, but no information about this event has been preserved in history. Presumably, for a number of reasons, all the individuals and their offspring died and people forgot about the existence of exotic birds. The Portuguese discovered and brought guinea fowl to the European continent for the second time at the end of the 14th century. In Russia, they began to be bred in poultry farms in the 18th century and, for excellent taste qualities meat, birds were nicknamed guinea fowl, because this word comes from the Old Russian “tsar”.

The fauna of Africa is rich and diverse. Among the African fauna, one can distinguish the spotted hyena. Of course, not everyone loves this type of animal. People personify hyenas with such qualities as bloodthirstiness, treachery, and insidiousness. In the famous Disney cartoon “The Lion King,” hyenas are presented as negative characters who only cause hostility. Indeed, a hyena can hardly be called attractive and graceful. However, this does not prevent her from developing a rapid speed while running - sixty-five kilometers per hour. And these animals feel very comfortable in their environment, thanks to their excellent hunting skills and ability to survive even in the harshest conditions.

Spotted hyenas are a collective animal. They live in clans. The highest steps of the hierarchy are occupied by females. Males occupy lower positions. Such a clan includes from ten to one hundred hyenas. Like many other animals, each clan is assigned a certain territory, which they defend from opponents and mark with feces. Communication between individuals is carried out using sounds. Many have probably heard this unpleasant hum, reminiscent of laughter.

The diet of hyenas includes not only carrion; spotted predators are excellent hunters. They easily catch antelopes, hares, porcupines, as well as young giraffes, hippos and rhinoceroses.

Striped hyena. It can be found throughout North Africa, as well as in large parts of Asia: from Mediterranean Sea to the Bay of Bengal. In wild nature striped hyena practically does not overlap with the spotted one.

Animals of the American Savannas

The jaguar is the third largest in the world and the largest representative of the cat family in the New World. The body length of a male jaguar is 120-185 cm, tail length is 45-75 cm, weight is 90-110 kg (females are smaller and weigh 60-80 kg). The jaguar's body is heavy and strong, and its limbs are short and powerful, which is why it looks squat and even clumsy. The disproportionately massive head of this predator is striking; its size is associated with the extraordinary power of its jaws, allowing it to easily gnaw even the hard shells of turtles. The color of the jaguar's coat, although spotted, like many other cats, is still unique: the spots are collected in so-called rosettes.

Jaguars prefer to live in places close to water - they are excellent swimmers and love water very much. Like other cats, they mark their territory with urine. Unlike many other members of the family, the jaguar is a true universal predator. A variety of animals can become its prey: capybaras, deer, peccaries, tapirs, fish, turtles and their eggs; it also attacks birds, monkeys, foxes, snakes, rodents and even alligators. This most dangerous predator in South America is able to cope with prey weighing up to 300 kg.

For a den, the female jaguar chooses a place among stones, in thickets of bushes or in tree hollows. After a 90-110 day pregnancy, she gives birth to two to four cubs. Their pattern contains more black than that of their parents, and it does not consist of rosettes, but of solid spots. Young jaguars spend six weeks in the den, and three months after their birth they already accompany their mother during the hunt. However, they separate from it only at the age of two.

The ocelot is the third largest American cat after the jaguar and puma. This graceful predator lives in most of South America (Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, etc.) and Central America, up to the American states of Arizona and Arkansas. Throughout the entire range there is intraspecific variability, which is why 10 subspecies of ocelot are distinguished.

The name of the cat is translated from Latin as “like a leopard.” Indeed, there are some similarities between them, but to a greater extent the ocelot is similar to its closest relative - the margi cat. Its body is long (up to 1.3 meters), its legs are quite short and powerful. On an elongated neck rests a somewhat flattened head with rounded ears and large eyes.

The ocelot has one of the most beautiful colors of all cats. The background color of the fur is yellow-golden above and on the sides, white below. Scattered across the entire surface of the body are countless spots, stripes, stains and black dots, which together form an intricate pattern.

Despite the fact that the ocelot itself is a predator, it leads a very secretive lifestyle. This cat can only be found in dense tropical jungles and bushes, and never in open areas. Basically, the animal leads a terrestrial lifestyle, but if necessary, it climbs trees and rocks well, and also swims well.

Agouti

Agouti is a rodent from the tropical forests of Central and South America, similar to a large guinea pig. Its coarse fur is coated with an oily substance that acts as a protective cloak. On the back of the body, the coat is longer. Agouti has five toes on its front feet and three on its hind feet. Like many rodents, they walk gracefully on their toes rather than on their entire foot. Although it is difficult to see, the agouti does have a tail: it is very small, similar to a dark bean, glued to the back of the animal's body.

The maned or maned wolf or guara, aguarachai, belongs to the carnivorous mammals of the canidae family. In South America, the maned wolf is a large representative of the family with an unusual appearance that makes it look like a fox. The height of the wolf at the withers is 74-87 cm, body length is 125-130 cm, weight is 20-23 kg. The elongated muzzle, short tail and high ears emphasize the external disproportion of the animal.

The long legs of the wolf are the result of evolution in matters of adaptation to the habitat; they help the animal to overcome obstacles in the form of tall grass growing on the plains.

The tall and soft hair of the wolf is yellowish-red in color, the tip of the tail and chin are light. There is a dark stripe from the head to approximately the middle of the back. The wolf's limbs are dark in color, and dark spots can also be found on the face. On the top of the neck and on the scruff of the neck there is long hair that forms a mane. In an excited or aggressive state, the hair on the mane stands on end, which gives the animal a terrifying appearance.

Giant anteater

The name is associated with the favorite food of this animal - ants. It has an elongated snout that resembles a tube. This unique animal of South America is the largest of the order of edentates. The Giant Anteater is similar in size to the Golden Retriever, but its thick, bushy hair makes it appear more massive. The gray hairs of the anteater feel like straw and are especially long on the tail (up to 40 centimeters). It has a stripe of white, tan or gray that starts on the chest and extends to the middle of the back. Below this stripe is a dark collar. The hairy and bushy tail is often used as a blanket or umbrella. The giant anteater's elongated head and nose are excellent for catching ants and termites.

The puma is the largest representative of the cat family in the New World. Previously, it was classified in the same genus to which ordinary cats and lynxes belong. But, since the puma is not similar in appearance to either one or the other, it was separated into a separate genus, which includes a single species.

The puma's body is longer than that of other cats, its paws are strong, and its head is relatively small. It is characteristic that the puma has a very long and powerful tail, which acts as a balancer when jumping.

Her fur is thick, but very short. The puma is one of the few cats that does not have a distinct pattern. The overall tone of its coat is sandy, for which this animal is sometimes called a mountain lion, but unlike a lion, the puma’s nose is pink. Animals of this species are characterized by a variety of shades of skin: northern populations are light yellow and even gray in color, while southern populations are brown or bright red. The fur on the belly is whitish, while on the ears, on the contrary, it is black.

The puma's range extends from the Rocky Mountains of North America to Patagonia in South America. Throughout its range, this predator inhabits a variety of landscapes: it can be found in mountains, lowland forests, tropical jungles and even swamps. This animal only avoids very open places. Like all cats, the puma leads a solitary lifestyle. She is secretive and rarely reveals her presence with her voice. Pumas are very flexible and dexterous cats: they climb trees perfectly and are capable of making huge leaps in length and height.

Armadillos have a really strange appearance. Although most armadillo species appear bald, they have hair on their sides and bellies (for example, the nine-banded armadillo). These animals have a shell that consists of stripes. The number of stripes depends on the type of animal. Although the stripes are as tough as fingernails, the shell is flexible, with softer skin that expands and contracts between the stripes. Armadillos also have long claws for digging and searching for food. Their favorite foods are termites and ants.

Vizcacha

One of the cutest representatives of the chinchilla family, viscacha, has an extremely interesting appearance. The appearance of the rodent simultaneously resembles the appearance of a kangaroo and a rabbit, which has a long squirrel tail.

Whiscacha belongs to the order of rodents and is characterized by a rather large size. Moreover, height and weight depend on the habitat of the animal. Thus, the body length of a male plain viscacha reaches 65-80 cm, and weight varies from 5 to 8 kg.

In this case, you should additionally take into account the length of the tail - at least 15 cm. Females weigh 3.5-5 kg, and the length of the body is 50-70 cm. The tail of females is also 2-3 cm shorter than that of males.

But mountain whiskey, or as it is also called, Peruvian whiskey, has slightly smaller dimensions. The rodent's body length is 30-40 cm. Weight does not exceed 1.5 kg.

The head of the viscacha is distinguished by its massiveness, fairly large ears and wide eyes. The forelimbs are short and weak, but the hind limbs are long and powerful.

The animal has rather short and soft to the touch gray-brown fur on its back. On the sides the color is paler, and on the belly the color becomes white. A peculiarity is the dependence of the color on the color of the soil where the rodent lives. The darker the tone of the soil, the richer the color of the animal’s fur.

Regardless of gender, the animal has white and black markings on its head. But differences between the sexes have still been identified - males are distinguished by a more massive structure and a clearly defined mask on the muzzle.

Nandu

The rhea ostrich lives in the vast expanses of South America, in the steppes of Brazil and Argentina. This bird has long powerful legs and develops great speed. Its weight is about 30 kilograms, and its height can reach 130 centimeters. The plumage of the bird is inconspicuous, gray, and it is the same in both females and males. The head and neck appear bald. The small feathers on these areas of the body barely cover the bird's skin.

The plumage on the wings does not look lush, and on the tail there is none at all. The feet have three toes. The bird feeds on plant foods (fruits, plant seeds and grass), and only occasionally consumes animal food (invertebrates, worms, rodents). They live in small groups. The male has a harem of several females. During the breeding season, it digs a hole in the ground. This is the nest where the females will lay their eggs.

One such nest can contain up to 50 eggs. The male is an excellent father and family man - he incubates the eggs and protects the hatched chicks. Chicks are born sighted, feathered, able to move and get food from the first days of life. At the beginning of the 20th century, Rheas had a large population. Because of the tasty meat and hearty eggs, a real massive hunt began for the birds. And now they are on the verge of extinction. Today they can be seen on private farms and zoos. People are starting to correct their mistakes...

Tuco-tuco

These animals got their name because they communicate with each other using sounds such as “tuco-tuco-tuco.”

Outwardly, these animals very vaguely resemble bush rats. However, some distinctive features, such as small eyes located high on the head and ears almost hidden in the fur, indicate the leading lifestyle of this rodent underground.

In addition, morphological characteristics include a massive physique and a large head connected to a thick and short neck. The muzzle of the tuco-tuco has a somewhat flattened shape. These rodents have muscular and short limbs, with the forelimbs being slightly shorter than the hind limbs, but the powerful claws on the front paws are much more developed. The foot is covered with hard hairs similar to bristles. Due to the bristles, the foot grows larger, and in addition, when cleaning fur, the bristles act as a comb.

The weight of an adult can vary from 200 to 700 grams. These animals can grow up to 25 cm in length, and their tail up to 11 cm.

Rodents of this species very rarely come to the surface of the earth. Underground, usually in areas with loose or sandy soil, they complex system underground burrows that communicate with the central chamber of the nest. These rodents push the earth that appears while digging holes to the surface with their hind limbs. There are separate burrows for food supplies. Active life activity of tuco - tuco occurs in the evening hours and early morning.

Animals of the Australian savannah

The Komodo dragon is an amazing and truly unique animal, which is not without reason called a dragon. The largest living lizard spends most of its time hunting. It is an object of pride for the islanders and a constant source of interest for tourists. Our article will tell you about the life of this dangerous predator, the characteristics of its behavior and characteristics characteristic of the species.

These animals are indeed comparable in size. Most adult Komodo dragons reach 2.5 meters in length, while their weight barely exceeds half a centner. But among the giants there are record holders. There is reliable information about the Komodo dragon, whose length exceeded 3 meters and weight reached 150 kg. Only a specialist can visually distinguish a male from a female. Sexual dimorphism is practically not expressed, but male monitor lizards are usually slightly more massive. But any tourist arriving on the island for the first time can determine which of the two monitor lizards is older: young animals are always brighter in color.

Monitor lizards are diurnal and prefer to sleep at night. Like other cold-blooded animals, they are sensitive to temperature changes. Hunting time comes at dawn. Leading a solitary lifestyle, monitor lizards are not averse to joining forces while chasing game. It may seem that Komodo dragons are clumsy, fat creatures, but this is far from the case. These animals are unusually hardy, agile and strong. They are capable of reaching speeds of up to 20 km/h, and while they run, the earth, as they say, trembles. Dragons feel no less confident in the water: swimming to the neighboring island is not a problem for them. Sharp nails, strong muscles and a tail-balancer help these animals to climb trees and steep rocks perfectly.

Ostrich Emu

Emu is the fastest, largest, non-flying bird. Australia is located far from other continents. This has had a beneficial effect on the conservation of some animal species. These include Australian ostrich. An amazing creature, the emblem of this country.

The emu was first mentioned at the end of the 16th century in the reports of European explorers. In the middle of the 17th century, he was seen on the east coast of the continent. The origin of the name is not exactly known. There are consonant words in Portuguese and Arabic, translation sounds like “ big bird" There is an assumption that the birds are named after the shrill cry of “E-m-uu”. Ornithologist John Latham first described them in Arthur Philip's Voyage to Botany Bay in 1789. At that time, there were six species of ostrich, but the first settlers from Europe mercilessly destroyed them for competing with sheep and cows for food.

Appearance Emu are relatives of ostriches and cassowaries. They reach a height of average human height and a body height of up to a meter. They have a dense body and a small head on a long neck. Round eyes framed by fluffy eyelashes and a pink beak with a slightly curved tip, no teeth. The wings are underdeveloped, like those of all non-flying ratite birds, up to 25 cm long. At the tips there is a growth like a claw. Strong legs that can easily break the bone of an adult. Soft brown feathers that aid in camouflage and regulate body temperature. Representatives of both sexes are equally colored.
Wombat

The wombat is a marsupial herbivore. This large animal, which looks like a bear cub, digs long tunnels, working quickly with short paws with strong claws. By digging up the ground like small bulldozers, wombats damage crops. Therefore, farmers destroyed them for a long time. Now wombats have become rare animals and are listed in the Red Book. Wombats live alone, they are secretive and cautious.

They go out in search of food, feeding on grass, bark and roots of plants. Like beavers, they are capable of felling trees, gnawing trunks with strong front teeth like their namesakes in South America, and feed on ants and termites using a long tongue. These animals do not have a brood pouch. The tiny, underdeveloped cubs that are born hide in the fur on the mother’s belly, holding onto her nipples. When the cubs are a little older, the mother takes them to the hole.

Anteaters are close relatives of sloths and armadillos. In nature, there are giant, dwarf, tamandua and marsupial anteaters.

All these anteaters live in Central and South America, and the marsupial, numbat, lives in Australia.

The size of the anteater depends on the species to which the animal belongs. The largest is the two-meter-long giant anteater, weighing 35 kg, and the tiniest is the dwarf anteater, less than 20 cm long and weighing only 400 grams. The marsupial anteater, the nambat, has approximately the same parameters. Tamandua is larger than the dwarf one. Its body length reaches less than 60 cm, and its weight is about 5 kg.

All American anteaters are toothless, the front part of the head is elongated, and the fused jaws resemble a pipe. A distinctive feature of all anteaters is their longest tongue among all land animals, reaching 60 cm, with the help of which the anteater obtains small insects, mainly termites. U marsupial anteater There are teeth, but they are very small. This animal also uses its ten-centimeter tongue to extract termites, which it feeds exclusively on.

Echidna vaguely resembles a hedgehog with a very large beak. It is distinguished by an awkward, flattened body, which is covered with fur mixed with sharp spines. The echidna has a cylindrical beak, no teeth at all, instead of them it has sharp horny needles. The tongue of this animal is long and worm-shaped; it extends far out of the small mouth slit, like that of an anteater. The echidna has strong, short legs with large claws adapted for digging. The tail is very small and blunt.

When an echidna lays an egg, it carries it in a fold of leather (pouch) on its belly. The interesting thing is that after the cub grows up, the bag itself disappears. There are two types of echidnas. The first one is spiny echidna with five-toed feet and clawed toes. Typical representatives This genus includes the Australian, Papuan and Tasmanian echidnas. All these animals are no more than 50 centimeters in length and their fur is densely mixed with long thick needles.

Spiny echidnas live in mountainous dry forests. During the day they hide in burrows and at night they look for food. These animals dig the ground in search of worms, insects and ants. In case of danger, the echidna instantly curls up into a spiny ball. If you grab it, you can be seriously injured by the sharp needles. Indians often hunt echidnas and claim that fried echidna is a very tasty dish. In captivity, echidnas are very affectionate and not aggressive. They love to sleep and can sleep for 50-70 hours straight.

These are very strange animals. They live only in Australia and the islands adjacent to this continent. They are also called bird-animals because, on the one hand, they resemble animals, are covered with fur, feed their young with milk, have four legs, and on the other hand, lay eggs, just like birds. By the way, they do not have a nose, but a beak, like waterfowl.

Lizard Moloch

Moloch's habitat is the semi-deserts and deserts of the central and western regions of Australia. The body of the moloch is wide and flattened, reaching 22 centimeters in length.

It is abundantly covered with many short and curved horny spines, which take the form of horns above the eyes and above the pillow-like neck outgrowth. The head of the moloch, on the contrary, is small and quite narrow.

Brownish-yellow coloration covers the upper body of the moloch, it can also have reddish-brown shades with dark spots and a narrow yellowish stripe. Amazing feature The beauty of this animal lies in its ability to change its color. This can occur due to many factors, be it temperature, lighting or the physiological state of the body.

The peak of Moloch activity is during the daytime. Its method of movement is quite unusual: it slowly walks with outstretched legs and practically does not touch the ground with its tail. Being related to lizards, molochs, having found soft soil, dig holes. However, they can completely submerge themselves in the sand to a relatively shallow depth, thereby imitating the behavior of some Asian and American lizards.

If the moloch is frightened, then its improvised horns become a means of defense. By bending his head down and exposing his horny outgrowths located on the back of his head, the moloch confronts his offenders. A fairly large growth on the back of the head imitates the so-called false head, thereby confusing the predator.

Dingo dog

Looking at a photo of a dingo dog, you can’t tell that it’s a wild dog. In addition, purebred dingoes cannot even bark, they just growl and howl.

There are many legends and versions about the origin of this species. Some believe that this dog was brought to Australia by immigrants from Asia. Others say that dingoes are descended from Chinese crested dogs. There is also a version that dingo dogs are descendants of the blood of Indian wolves and Pario dogs.

In appearance, this is an ordinary dog with some characteristics of wild dogs. She has a wide head, erect ears and long fangs. These predators try to be nocturnal. They can be found in dry eucalyptus thickets or on the edges of forests. But dingoes can establish their home in a mountain cave, as long as there is water somewhere nearby.

These dogs can live in packs of more than 12 individuals. In such family communities there is a very strict hierarchy: the dominant place is occupied by the couple, which dominates all other members of the pack.

The dingo's diet includes food of both plant and animal origin. They hunt rabbits, small kangaroos, a variety of reptiles, fish, crabs, rats and birds. Sometimes they also eat carrion. It happens that dingoes encroach on the household: they steal chickens.

Opossum

Marsupials once lived all over the planet. These animals replaced more primitive oviparous animals from Olympus. After all, there used to be a land bridge between Australia and Asia, thanks to which animals and plants spread. As ocean levels changed and continents moved, this bridge disappeared. Several million years have passed, the once thriving squad has almost completely disappeared, and only on the lost continent, in Australia, marsupial life continues to flourish.

These isolated animals evolved, and among them predatory, herbivorous and insectivorous animals, jumping, climbing and running forms gradually emerged. They are found on plains and in forests, underground and in the mountains; there are semi-aquatic and gliding forms. Inhabiting the continent and the islands closest to it, they occupied almost all the ecological niches of their habitat, and basically they are not similar to each other either in appearance or size. The rat's marsupial relative is the kangaroo rat, native to Australia and New Guinea. It belongs to the marsupial family of mammals. In total, four genera of these marsupial rodents have been identified.

So, the first genus of these marsupials is large rats with bluish-gray fur and a tassel at the very tip of the tail. This marsupial rat got its name precisely thanks to this brush (brush-tailed rats). This genus includes the tafa (tree rat), a predator that cannot be tamed, as well as the small marsupial rat, which is a very rare animal that is protected.

The tafa or greater marsupial rat is a rodent about the size of the carnivorous arboreal marsupial Dasyuridae. It is distinguished by a tuft of silky black hair on its tail. Males of this species do not live long, their age reaches only one year, since they die after breeding.

The comb-tailed marsupial rat is an animal with paws that do not have a thumb. This is a genus of marsupial mammals in which the pouch is practically absent. There is 1 species in the genus, whose name is similar to the name of the entire genus. These animals are considered relatives of comb-tailed mice and have great similarities with them.

Marsupial mole

The Australian continent is inhabited by many species of animals that are found nowhere else in the world. One of the representatives of this kind of fauna is marsupial moles.

These animals, well known to the Australian aborigines, became known to science only in 1888, when one of their representatives was found sleeping under a bush by one of the migrant farmers from Europe. Despite the fact that marsupial moles are very similar to golden moles living in Africa, these two species of animals belong to completely different systematic groups.

Marsupial moles are mammals. There are two types: Notoryctes typhops and Notoryctes caurinus. The difference between them is only in size and some details of the body structure. Marsupial moles are very different from other types of marsupial animals, and for this reason, zoologists have identified them as a special family.

The body of marsupial moles is oblong, resembling a cushion, and has a length of 15 to 18 centimeters. The weight of these animals ranges from 40 to 70 grams. Marsupial moles dig the soil with their front paws, which have powerful triangular claws. Their hind limbs are adapted for throwing sand to the side. The body of these representatives of the Australian fauna is covered with thick and beautiful hair, the color of which can vary from snow-white to brown.

The head of a marsupial mole has the shape of an elongated cone, at the end of which there is a nose, covered with a kind of shield, with the help of which the animal quickly pushes the sand apart.

The red kangaroo lives throughout almost all of Australia. It has a 3-meter body length (of which the tail is about 90 cm long), and weighs up to 90 kg. Females are smaller than males, and their weight is 30 kg. The animal has a powerful body, strong muscular hind legs, and a strong and thick tail. Thin but very grasping front legs, which are much shorter than the hind legs.

The front paws have five toes, the hind paws have four, with very sharp long claws. The head is small and elongated towards the nose, with attentive eyes, with large ears that hear everything well. The color is brownish-red or smoky blue, the paws and tail are almost white, and the belly is lighter than the main tone.

They feed on plant foods: grass, leaves, fruits and grains. They are well adapted to drought conditions and can go many days without water. To escape the wild heat, kangaroos often breathe with their mouths open and try to move less.

They lick their paws, which also cools the body. It was noticed by observers that during a long drought, they dig small holes in the sand where they hide from the scorching sun. During the day they hide in the shade and doze, and at dusk they go out to pastures.

The red kangaroo is a cautious and timid animal. In case of danger, it runs away at speeds of up to 50 km/h. But he can't stand it for long high tempo, gets tired quickly. He jumps 10 meters in length, and can even set a record - 12 meters.

Story

Where does the llama live?

Description

Kinds

1st type – Lama (lat. Lama glama)

2nd species – Alpaca (lat. Vicugna pacos)

And the last, third species - Guanaco (lat. Lama guanicoe)

Lifestyle and behavior

Nutrition

Llama breeding

Meaning for humans

Story

Description

Benefit

A little about alpaca

WITH message about lama

Description of the llama

What do llamas eat?

Reproduction of llamas

Lama: interesting facts

Story

Where does the llama live?

Description

Kinds

1st type – Lama (lat. Lama glama)

2nd species – Alpaca (lat. Vicugna pacos)

And the last, third species - Guanaco (lat. Lama guanicoe)

Lifestyle and behavior

Nutrition

Llama breeding

Meaning for humans

Taxonomy

Appearance

Species and man

Keeping animals at the Moscow Zoo

Where does the llama live?

Lama: description

Limbs

Wool

Structural features

Behavior

Nutrition

Reproduction

Meaning for humans

Status

Lama

Alpaca

Guanaco

Vicuna,

Story

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Literature

Excerpt characterizing Lama (animal)

African buffalo

Greater Kudu

Monkeys

Grant's Gazelle

Black Mamba

Oryx

Blue wildebeest

Egyptian mongoose

Guinea fowl

Animals of the American Savannas

Agouti

Giant anteater

Vizcacha

Nandu

Tuco-tuco

Animals of the Australian savannah

Ostrich Emu

Lizard Moloch

Dingo dog

Opossum

Marsupial mole

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