youtubers love to say “i hope i’m pronouncing that correctly” while recording themselves in a video that they upload to the internet, which they have access to
the jackal buzzard is a large bird of prey native to africa. they are known for their striking black & chestnut brown plumage; juveniles are almost entirely brown. females and males share the same plumage, but like most birds of prey, the female is notably larger than the male. they primarily dwell in mountainous areas with nearby scrubland or grasslands they can use to hunt. they primarily feed on rodents, but also take other small prey like reptiles and birds; they additionally feed on carrion. unfortunately, they sometimes fall victim to poisoned carcasses intended to get rid of their namesake, the jackal.
Wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets– oh my! All three are important pollinators and pest controllers, and all three have a nasty sting, so what’s the difference?
All hornets and yellow jackets are wasps, but not all wasps are hornets or yellow jackets. Hornets make up 22 species in the genus Vespa; they are generally larger than other wasps and the top of the head is wider. Hornets are also more aggressive than other wasp species. Yellow jackets make up two genuses,
Vespula and Dolichovespula. Yellow jackets can be smaller than other wasp species, but an easier way to tell the difference is how they carry themselves when they fly: wasps dangle their legs, but yellow jackets tuck them under their bodies.
(Image: A european hornet (Vespa crabro) by Mira Talabac)
(Image: An eastern yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons) by Johnny Dell)
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The spotted hyena is also known, perhaps most famously, as the laughing hyena (Crocuta crocuta). This species once ranged throughout Eurasia, but following the end of the Ice Age was restricted to sub-Saharan Africa. Today they can be found in many types of dry, open habitat, including savannah, semi-desert, and mountain forests. At times, the spotted hyena may also enter urban areas in search of food.
Unlike other hyenas, Crocuta crotuta is a predator, not a scavenger. They most commonly prey on wildebeast, but they may also hunt zebra, gazelles, Cape buffalo, and warthog. In addition, desperate times may cause packs to hunt on more dangerous prey such as young hippopotamus, giraffe, and rhinoceros. Spotted hyenas have incredible endurance, reaching speeds of 60 km/hr (37 mph); a single chase can last over 24 km (14 miles). When live prey is scarce, the laughing hyena can also turn to carrion, as well as snakes and ostrich eggs. In turn, this species may be killed by lions, though this may be motivated more by competition than prey drive.
Spotted hyena females are typically larger than males, weighing 44.5–67.6 kg (98–149 lb) to the males’ 40.5–69.2 kg (89.3–153 lb). The height range for both sexes lies between 70–91.5 cm (27.6–36.0 in). In addition, female laughing hyena are somewhat famous for their masculinated genetalia; the clitoris is enlarged, resembling a penis, and is accompanied by sacs filled with fibrous tissue that resemble a scrotum. As the name implies, the coat is light brown with darker spots over most of the body. Because the species has such a wide diet, it has was is considered to be the strongest in relation to size of any mammal. The bite force is stronger than that of a brown bear, and can exert a force of 4,500 newtons– enough to crush bone.
The laughing hyena is a highly social animal, and individuals live in communities up to 80 strong; size largely depends on prey availability and whether or not the group migrates. A clan territory can be anywhere from 40 km (24 mi) to 1000 (621mi) squared. Females dominate the males, and a pack is usually led by a matriarch. Hierarchies are strictly enforced, and positions are primarily inherited through birth and transferred through death. In addition, one’s rank is maintained and recognized through social alliances and their contributions to the clan rather than size or dominance displays. The entirety of the clan comes together most often when defending a territory, gathering at the communal den, or at a kill; however, these kills are more commonly produced from smaller offshoots of the clan.
Crocuta crotuta can breed year-round, though mating is at its peak during the wet season from April to June. Members of both sexes pair indiscriminately with multiple mates, both within their clan and without. To offer himself, the male performs a mating ritual in which he lowers himself to the ground before the female, and retreats if any aggression is shown. Once impregnated, the female carries for about 110 days before giving birth to two cubs– three is fairly rare. Weaning takes another 14 to 18 months, during which time cubs learn to hunt and defend the clan, as well as establish their place in the social hierarchy. Sootted hyenas reach maturity at about 3 years old, and can live an average of 12 years in the wild, though individuals as old as 25 have been recorded.
Conservation status: The spotted hyena has been determined Least Concern by the IUCN. However, outside protected areas the population is declining due to deforestation and hunting as a nuisance species.
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Anish Kapoor’s got nothing on the Cyphochilus beetles– the scales on these species are bthan any artificially produced material, including paper! The thin scales (about ≈10 μm, thinner than a sheet of paper) scatter wavelengths of light like a prisim, producing a pure white color. This is a remarkable feat, as uniform deflection of light is rare enough in nature and extremely difficult to accomplish with such a thin structure– even more so because the exoskeleton underneath is black!
