6 October 2021
The reason why the cheetah and mountain lion cannot create hybrids with other big cats.
Cats from the 'panthera' genus can interbreed (the panthera group, which includes the big cats like lions, all leopards, jaguar and tiger) and the reason why the cheetah cannot breed with any other species of cat is because they split from that group millions of years ago and evolved so differently, they are unique and are the only members of their own genus – 'Acinonyx'.
There is another large cat that is also unique in the genetics department, did the cheetah-thing as well, and have their own genus – 'Puma', and that is the mountain lion also commonly called the cougar or puma.
- The mountain lion and the cheetah purr and cannot roar, the other big cats are able to roar, but unable to purr. Some big cats, like the lion, emit sounds which sound like a purr, however, this is a called a rumble and is not a purr sound.
Some great news!
This enormous continent is home to many fantastic wild animals and the two we identify with the most, or most iconic, most popular. Well... 'most' of everything, is the lion and then the elephant. I have much to say about the prey animal – the elephant, but this post is about Africa's two top predators – The African lion and the largely ignored, Spotted hyena – Africa's two top predators. I am, however, focussing and highlighting that phenomenal intelligent fighter that is unfortunately greatly underestimated – the spotted hyena. They are and will always be Africa's greatest warrior. The first clear sign is that they are born into brutality and only the strongest will survive. Spotted hyena cubs are born with eyes open and already armed with teeth. The reason for that is that they have to fight for their survival from the moment they are born. The mother only has two teats and sometimes three cubs are born – not the usual amount, one or two. Competition for food is fierce and to survive the cubs have to fight from the moment they are born. Even if there are only two cubs born – the competition for food never fades and this they carry forth to adulthood – and in the end only one or more rarely, only two cubs will remain if there were three (an example).
It is considered that the female trapdoor spider builds the most protected hole/tunnel out there.
An owl is not the only animal with enormous eyes and can turn its neck, effortlessly, 180 degrees.
A baby Aardvark is called a cub or a calf. Although the name means 'earth pig' in Afrikaans – the baby is not called a piglet.
I honestly find them the most interesting, loveable and admired insect on the planet. There is always something about bees, besides intelligent, social behaviour, that moves them forward – not one, but more than one wrung up the ladder of fascination.
The harmless pangolin (native to Africa and Asia) is an extremely peaceful animal and incredibly unique as it is the only living mammal to be covered with scales.
Some of us tend to believe that a platypus (a monotreme – mammals that lay eggs) its eyes remain open as it swims through water. Nope.
Due to mankind's involvement, they are no longer kings, except in the minds of a few. The mighty is now reduced to 'vulnerable to extinction' and found in threatened and small, scattered populations over the continent as most of their original hunting grounds have been turned into agricultural lands (one reason, but a big one). The highest, but greatly threatened, wild lion populations are found in southern Africa.
Awful and shocking photo, I know, but please read further:
