Category Zoology

          Do you know to which family a cow belongs? Bison, African buffalo, water buffalo, antelope, wildebeest, impala, gazelles, sheep, goats, muskoxen and domestic cattle belong to the family named Bovidae. All of them are hoofed mammals. A member belonging to the Bovidae family is known as bovid.

          The Bovidae family is believed to have evolved 20 million years ago. Generally, the male members of the Bovidae family have horns, and the females lack them. However, among some domestic cattle, both males and females have horns. Horns are one of the most striking characteristics of the bovids. They vary greatly in shape and size across species. The greatest diversities of bovids occur in Africa. The maximum concentration of species is in the Savannahs of Eastern Africa. Other bovid species are also found in Europe, Asia, and North America.

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          A hyenas looks like a dog. Due to their similarity to dogs, they were, for a long time, considered to be belonging to the Canidae family. In fact, hyenas belong to the Hyaenidae family.

          Canids and hyenas have many similar features in their appearance and behaviour patterns. Both have the habit of eating quickly and strong their food. They catch their prey with their jaws and teeth and not with their claws.

          Hyenas however, are much stronger than dogs. They have the strongest set of jaws and teeth in the animal kingdom. Expert scavengers, hyenas help clear the remains of carcasses in the African plains.

          Hyenas are powerful as a pack. They can kill any prey when they are together. The kings of the jungle are afraid of hyenas when they approach in a pack because they might take away the kill from even a lion.

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            Have you seen a dog wag its tail? We know that dogs wag their tails to show their affection and gratitude. They use many signs to communicate among themselves too. In fact, wolves and dogs use sounds and body language to tell others about their moods, intentions or rank. Perhaps their tails are the most expressive of all their physical features. A high fluffed tail is a sign of authority and dominance. By puffing up their tail, they look bigger and are able to show how powerful they are. A wolf carrying its tail straight out behind it is aggressive and planning to attack. A terrified wolf adopts a humble pose. It makes itself as small as possible by crouching with its tail touching its belly.

            Lower ranking dogs or wolves in a pack approach a dominant member of the pack in order to greet or beg for food by crouching with their tails touching the belly. The tip of the tail will remain curved back to show its servility and docility towards its superior.

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          Have you seen a picture of a raccoon? It has a distinctive face with two black stripes running below its eyes. A raccoon dog looks very similar to a raccoon, but does not have anything to do with it! While a raccoon dog belongs to the Canidae family, the raccoon is a member of the Procyonidae family. Raccoons are the largest members of this family. They have the unique habit of washing food if they are near a source of water!

          The raccoon dog is also known as tanuki. The breed originates from East Asia. Their resemblance to raccoons has led people to mistake one for the other. However, we can see that both have very different features in terms of weight and diet etc. Raccoon dogs also have the habit of hibernating during the winter.

          Have you heard tales of cunning foxes and cruel wolves? Wolves and foxes are part of many stories, legends and myths.

          Somehow, across the world, most cultures have fascinating folk tales of these animals.

          They are popular among us, maybe, because of their smartness and unpredictable nature. In western and Persian folklore, they are depicted as symbols of cunning and trickery. This is, in part, due to their ability to evade hunters.

          In fairy tales such as Little Red Riding Hood, wolves are presented as crafty animals that are looking for opportunities to trick others. They try to lure unsuspecting children and adults to their death. There are also legends involving wolves adopting human babies and bringing them up as wolves. Do you remember The Jungle Book, in which Mowgli is cared for by wolves?

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          Have you ever wondered when Man started befriending the dog, and keeping it a pet at home? Maybe dogs were not pets at all in the beginning. They had other utilities. The first species to be domesticated was the dog, and it has been selectively bred over millennia for its varied behaviours, sensory capabilities, and physical attributes. From huge Great Danes to tiny Chihuahuas, there are thousands of dog breeds today.

          The first dog befriended by Man was, probably, a grey wolf. The dingoes of Australia are domesticated wolves. Today, there are dingoes roaming about in large areas of the wild in Australia. They are the largest land predator in Australis, and are considered apex predators an apex predator is an animal that is at the top of the food chain.

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