Giraffe, Hippopotamuses and Wild Oxen
Giraffe
Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) belongs to the family entitled “Giraffidae” which also comprises the okapi (Okapia johnstoni).
These animals are the ruminants.
Both species have the elongated neck but the neck of the Giraffe is longer than that of Okapi. Like other mammals, they have seven cervical vertebrae.
Hippopotamuses
Two types of hippos as quoted below and these are confined to Africa:
Nile hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)
The Nile hippos live in matriarchial units living on a central mud bank or sandbar called a “crèche” in the middle of the established herd territory.
The territory marking is carried out by swishing of the soft fecal materials by tail movements.
Pigmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis)
Pigmy hippos live in solitaries and these mini-hippos have large circular nostrils and eyes set to the side of the head instead of raised up.
These animals mark their territory by feces.
They are unique in artiodactylids, in the way that they all walk on all four toes that are attached to one another by a membrane. Among the artiodactls, uniquely, these animals walk on all four toes that are attached to each by a membrane “web”.
Wild Oxen
The followings are the significant species in this group:
- Gaur or Indian bison (Bos gaurus): In these wild animals, gaur are seen in Central India- MP and Chhatisgar, Western Ghats southwards from south Maharashtra, Mudumalai Anaimalai, Dindigul region and Palani regions.
- Wild buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): Wild buffaloes are seen in the plains of Brahmaputra in Assam, and Orissa. Yak are seen in Ladak. Banteng are seen in Manipur and areas near Burma.
- Yak (Bos grunniens): Yaks are seen in the cold mountainous regions. A fully mature gaur may be having a body weight of about one tone.
- Banteng or Tsaine
