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Fox Scientific name: Vulpes vulpes

Fox: Red Fox
Scientific name: Vulpes vulpes
A fox can be any of 23 medium-sized carnivore species in the family Canidae,and in particular the well-known Red Fox.The red fox's resourcefulness has earned it a legendary reputation for intelligence and cunning.
Range and habitat
Red foxes live around the world in many diverse habitats including forests, grasslands, mountains, and deserts. They also adapt well to human environments such as farms, suburban areas, and even large communities. They are distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the Asiatic steppes. They are absent in Iceland, the Arctic islands, some parts of Siberia, and in extreme deserts.
Red foxes migrated relatively late into the North American continent. Fossils dating from the Wisconsian are present in 25 sites in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming.
Physical characteristics
Red foxes are the largest species of the genus Vulpes. Red foxes are much lighter than similarly sized dogs.
On average, adults measure 35–50 cm (14–20 in) high at the shoulder and 49–90 cm (19–35 in) in body length with tails measuring 53–60 cm (21–24 in). The ears measure 7.7-12.5 cm (3–5 in) and the hind feet 12-18.5 cm (5–7 in). They weigh 2.2–10 kg.
The winter fur is dense, soft, silky and relatively long. In northern foxes, the fur is very long, dense and fluffy, but is shorter, sparser and coarser in southern forms.
The average sleep time in a 24-hour period of a red fox in captivity is said to be 9.8 hours.Red foxes have a wide vocal range, and produce different sounds spanning five octaves, which grade into each other. Recent analyses identify 12 different sounds produced by adults and 8 by kits.
Subspecies
Red fox subspecies are divided into two categories:
Northern foxes: Large, brightly colored foxes- the northern red foxes and smaller fox species  their skulls possess more primitive, neotenous traits than the northern forms  and are also much smaller.
Southern grey desert foxes- the maximum sizes attained by southern foxes are invariably less than the average sizes of northern foxes. Their limbs are also longer, and their ears larger.
Includes the Asian subspecies griffithi, pusilla and flavescens.
Hunting and diet
Red foxes are omnivores with a highly varied diet.Red foxes are solitary hunters who feed on rodents, rabbits, birds, and other small game but their diet can be as flexible as their home habitat. Foxes will eat fruit and vegetables, fish, frogs, and even worms. If living among humans, foxes will opportunistically dine on garbage and pet food.
Reproduction
Red foxes reproduce once a year in spring. The gestation period lasts 49–58 days.The average litter size consists of four to six kits, though litters of up to 13 kits have occurred.
Kits are born blind, deaf and toothless, with dark brown fluffy fur. At birth, they weigh 56-110 g and measure 14.5 cm in body length and 7.5 cm in tail length. At birth, they are short-legged, large-headed and have broad chests. Mothers remain with the kits for 2–3 weeks. If the mother dies before the kits are independent, the father takes over as their provider. The kit's eyes open after 13–15 days.
Predatory
Wolves may kill and eat red foxes in disputes over carcasses.They may be preyed upon by leopards, caracals and Eurasian lynxes.
Life expectancy
In captivity, their longevity can be as long as 14 years.

Wolf Scientific name:Canis lupus

Wolf
Scientific name:Canis lupus
Wolf is the largest extant wild member of the Canidae family. It is not known for sure just when the divergence occurred that split the ancestors of our domestic dog.
Gray wolves are social predators that live in nuclear families. Wolves live in family groups called packs. A pack is usually made up of a male parent, a female parent, their pups and a few other adult wolves who are the older brothers and sisters. The pack works together to hunt for food and to take care of the pups.
Wolves are very shy around people and try to avoid them in the wild.
Range and habitat
Their preference on habitat ranges among Forests, Tundra, Taigas, Plains and Mountains. In the northern hemisphere, human encroachment on their habitat and persecution of the animals themselves have drastically reduced their range.
Wolves once had an almost worldwide distribution, but are now limited primarily to North America, Eurasia, and the Middle East and the red wolf, which now occurs only in Texas and the southeastern United States.
Physical characteristics
The body of a wolf allows it to be able to survive in a variety of different locations.
Adult wolves are 105–160 cm (41–63 in) in length and 80–85 cm (32–34 in) in shoulder height.[46] The tail is ⅔ the length of the head and body,[47] measuring 29–50 cm (11–20 in) in length. The ears are 90–110 millimeters (3.5–4.3 in) in height, and the hind feet are 220–250 mm. Wolf weight varies geographically; on average, European wolves may weigh 38.5 kg, North American wolves 36 kg, Indian and Arabian wolves 25kg and North African wolves 13 kg.
The intestines of adult wolves measure 460–575 cm, the ratio to body length being 4.13–4.62. The stomach can hold 7–9 kg  of food and up to 7.5 litres (8 U.S. qt) of water. The liver is relatively large, weighing 0.7–1.9 kg  in males and 0.68–0.82 kg in females.
All wolves are characterized by powerful teeth, bushy tails, and round pupils. Certain characteristics of the skull distinguish them from domestic dogs, some breeds of which they otherwise resemble.
They are also capable of running at speeds of 56–64 km (34–38 miles) per hour, and can continue running for more than 20 minutes, though not necessarily at that speed.
Wolves howl to assemble the pack usually before and after hunts) to pass on an alarm , to locate each other during a storm or unfamiliar territory and to communicate across great distances.
Subspecies
Wolf subspecies are divided into two categories:
"Northern wolves": large-sized, large-brained wolves with strong carnassials which inhabit North America, Europe and northern Asia.
"Southern wolves": native to North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and South Asia. They are characterised by their short fur, small brains and weak carnassials.
Hunting and diet
They can consume up to 20 pounds of meat in a single feeding.The wolf is somewhat opportunistic and will eat what it comes across as long as it is reasonably fresh.Wolves kill only to eat - to survive. Because wolves usually hunt for large animals,(live in nuclear families)  they work together to catch their prey. Wolves will eat a healthy, strong animal if they can catch it.Wolves need an average of three to ten pounds of meat each day.
Single wolves have occasionally been observed to kill large prey such as moose, bison and muskoxen unaided.wolves live mainly on the meat from such animals as deer, moose, elk or bison. They also eat beavers,rabbits and even mice. They do not eat humans. Wolves are not a threat to humans.
Reproduction
The wolf is sexually mature at two years old. The gestation period is 61–63 days and the pups are born completely dependent on their mother, with pups usually being born in the summer period. The average litter consists of 5–6 pups. Litters of 14–17 occur 1% of the time. Litter sizes tend to increase in areas where prey is abundant. Wolves bear relatively large pups in small litters compared to other canid species.
Pups are born blind and deaf, and are covered in short soft grayish-brown fur. They weigh 300–500 grams at birth, and begin to see after 9–12 days. The milk canines erupt after one month. Pups first leave the den after 3 weeks.
Predatory
Gray wolves are typically apex predators throughout their range, with only humans and tigers posing significant threats to them.Grizzly bears - Are known to eat wolf pups, wolves will chase away bears from the den area.
Life expectancy
Its life span is25 years.

Panda Scientific name:Ailuropoda melanoleuca

Panda
Scientific name:Ailuropoda melanoleuca
The giant panda, or panda, is a bear native to central-western and south western China. It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body.Panda Bears, cute and adorable, are on the endangered species list. Their numbers are deceasing due to dwindling habitat and their poor reproductive capabilities, both in the wild and in captivity.
Range and habitat
The giant panda lives in a few mountain ranges in central China, mainly in Sichuan province, but also in the Shaanxi and Gansu provinces.Pandas live in and around mountainous slopes .
Physical characteristics
The basic fur colour of the giant panda is white with black eye patches, ears, legs, feet, chest, and shoulders. Within its natural environment ( the deep forest and, at upper elevations, snow and rock) , its mottled colouring provides camouflage. There is also speculation that its striking colour pattern may be a clear message to other pandas to stay away.
Adults measure around 1.2 to 1.8 meters (4 to 6 ft) long and around 75 centimetres (2 ft 6 in) tall at the shoulder. Males can weigh up to 150 kg .Females (generally 10–20% smaller than males)can weigh up to 125 kg.
Subspecies
There are Two subspecies of giant panda:
The nominate subspecies- Ailuropoda melanoleuca melanoleuca- consists of most extant populations of panda. These animals are principally found in Sichuan and display the typical stark black and white contrasting colours.
The Qinling Panda- Ailuropoda melanoleuca qinlingensis- is restricted to the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi at elevations of 1300–3000 m. The typical black and white pattern of Sichuan giant pandas is replaced with a dark brown versus light brown pattern.
There are two kinds of Pandas.
The giant white and black Panda
The Red Panda (the lesser Panda)- the Red Panda is more like the Raccoon family. In physical appearance, it bears an unquestionable resemblance to the raccoon. The Red Panda is reddish brown in colour. It grows to about two feet and weighs six to twelve pounds.The Red Panda also lives in China and Tibet. In addition, it can be found in Burma, India and Nepal.
Feeding and diet
The giant panda's diet is primarily herbivorous, consisting almost exclusively of bamboo.The giant panda still has the digestive system of a carnivore, as well as carnivore-specific genes, and thus derives little energy and little protein from consumption of bamboo.  The average giant panda eats as much as 9 to 14 kg (20 to 30 pounds) of bamboo shoots a day.The giant panda has an insatiable appetite for bamboo. A typical animal eats half the day—a full 12 out of every 24 hours—and relieves itself dozens of times a day. Pandas will sometimes eat birds or rodents as well. These black-and-white bears eat primarily bamboo although they also have been known to eat other plants, fish, pika and other small rodents.
Reproduction
Giant pandas reach sexual maturity between the ages of four and eight, and may be reproductive until age 20. The mating season is between March and May.The gestation period ranges from 95 to 160 days. Cubs weigh only 90 to 130 grams, which is about 1/800 of the mother's weight.
If twins are born, usually only one survives in the wild. The mother will select the stronger of the cubs, and the weaker will die. It is thought that the mother cannot produce enough milk for two cubs since she does not store fat. The father has no part in helping raise the cub.
When the cub is first born, it is pink, blind, and toothless and cannot crawl until they reach three months of age. A giant panda cub is also extremely small[quantify], and it is difficult for the mother to protect it because of the baby's size. It nurses from its mother's breast 6 to 14 times a day for up to 30 minutes at a time.
Predatory
Human are the only predators.
Life expectancy
Its live in the wild for about 25 years.

Polar Bear Scientific name:Ursus maritimus

Polar Bear
Scientific name:Ursus maritimus
Polar bears roam the Arctic ice sheets and swim in that region's coastal waters. They are very strong swimmers, and their large front paws, which they use to paddle, are slightly webbed. The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses.
Range and habitat
The natural habitat for the Polar Bear is in the very cold areas of the world. They can be found in the Artic, the U.S. (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Denmark (Greenland), and Norway.
Physical characteristics
It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bearAdult males weigh 350–680 kg  and measure 2.4–3 m (7.9–9.8 ft) in length.[36] Adult females are roughly half the size of males and normally weigh 150–249 kg measuring 1.8–2.4 metres (5.9–7.9 ft) in length.
The polar bear has a more elongated body build and a longer skull and nose. the legs are stocky and the ears and tail are small. However, the feet are very large to distribute load when walking on snow or thin ice and to provide propulsion when swimming. The pads of the paws are covered with small, soft papillae (dermal bumps) which provide traction on the ice.
The polar bear is an excellent swimmer and individuals have been seen in open Arctic waters as far as 200 mi (320 km) from land. With its body fat providing buoyancy, it swims in a dog paddle fashion using its large forepaws for propulsion. Polar bears can swim 6 mph (9.7 km/h). When walking, the polar bear tends to have a lumbering gait and maintains an average speed of around 3.5 mph (5.6 km/h). When sprinting, they can reach up to 25 mph (40 km/h).
Hunting and diet
The polar bear is the most carnivorous member of the bear family, and most of its diet consists of ringed and bearded seals.Their main source of food for polar bears is the various species of seals.
The polar bear's most common hunting method is called still-hunting:[56] The bear uses its excellent sense of smell to locate a seal breathing hole, and crouches nearby in silence for a seal to appear.
These powerful predators typically prey on seals. In search of this quarry they frequent areas of shifting, cracking ice where seals may surface to breathe air. They also stalk ice edges and breathing holes. If the opportunity presents itself, polar bears will also consume carcasses, such as those of dead whales. These Arctic giants are the masters of their environment and have no natural enemies.
Reproduction
Mating take place on the sea ice in April and May, when polar bears congregate in the best seal hunting areas. Partners stay together and mate repeatedly for an entire week; the mating ritual induces ovulation in the female.
After mating, the fertilized egg remains in a suspended state until August or September. During these four months, the pregnant female eats prodigious amounts of food, gaining at least 200 kg and often more than doubling her body weight.
When the ice floes break up in the fall, ending the possibility of hunting, each pregnant female digs a maternity den consisting of a narrow entrance tunnel leading to one to three chambers.
Between November and February, cubs are born blind, covered with a light down fur, and weighing less than 0.9 kg.  On average, each litter has two cubs. The family remains in the den until mid-February to mid-April, with the mother maintaining her fast while nursing her cubs on a fat-rich milk. By the time the mother breaks open the entrance to the den, her cubs weigh about 10 to 15 kg. For about 12 to 15 days, the family spends time outside the den while remaining in its vicinity.
Young cubs live with their mothers for some 28 months to learn the survival skills of the far north. Females aggressively protect their young, but receive no help from their solitary male mates. In fact, male polar bears may even kill young of their species.
Predatory
Humans are the polar bears only predator.Polar bear are apex predators at the top of the food chain. However, babies are severly threatened by a number of predators.
Life expectancy
  The wild polar bears live up to age 25.

Grizzly Bear Scientific name:Ursus arctos horribilis

Grizzly Bear
Scientific name:Ursus arctos horribilis
The grizzly bear is a North American subspecies of the brown bear.Dramatic gatherings of grizzly bears can be seen at prime Alaskan fishing spots when the salmon run upstream for summer spawning.
Range and habitat
The North American continent for the past million years, the grizzly bear has managed to outlive both the saber-toothed tiger and the mastodon. The Great Plains and the Rockies and Sierras of the American West have been reduced to a fraction of their former numbers.Grizzlies once lived in much of western North America and even roamed the Great Plains. Today, most grizzlies live in Alaska and Canada and those bears are found almost exclusively in some 10 million acres of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
Physical characteristics
The term "grizzly" refers to the white-tipped hairs that give it a frosty grizzled appearance, particularly those of the Rocky Mountains, and colors can range from a grayish color through yellow-brown to a dark-brown or nearly black coloration. The color depends largely on the grizzly bear habitat and also on the indigenous climate.
Most female grizzlies weigh 150–350 kg, while males weigh on average 230–450 kg. Newborn bears may weigh less than 500 grams.
Despite their enormous size, brown bears are extremely fast, having been clocked at speeds of 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour).
Species
Subspecies
As of 2005, 16 subspecies have been recognized.
The subspecies have been listed as follows:
Ursus arctos arctos – Eurasian brown bear    Europe, Caucasus, Siberia (except the east) and Mongolia.    A predominantly dark colored (rarely light colored), moderately-sized subspecies with dark claws, the Eurasian browns occurring in Siberia are larger than their European counterparts, as they are hunted less. Where found in Europe, primarily a forest creature
Ursus arctos alascensis– Alaska   
Ursus arctos beringianus – Kamchatka brown bear (or Far Eastern brown bear)        Kamchatka Peninsula and Paramushir Island. This is a very large, dark colored form. Light colored forms are encountered less than in European-Siberian subspecies. The claws are dark.
Ursus arctos californicus – California golden bear (extinct)           
Ursus arctos collaris – East Siberian brown bear East Siberia from the Yenisei River to the Altai Mountains, also occurs in northern Mongolia.
Ursus arctos crowtheri – Atlas bear (extinct)           
Ursus arctos dalli       
Ursus arctos horribilis – Grizzly bear    Western Canada, Alaska, and the northwestern United States, historically existed in Great Plains   
Ursus arctos isabellinus – Himalayan brown bear Nepal, Pakistan, and Northern India    Having a reddish-brown or sandy coat color, this bear is smaller than most other brown bears found on the Asian continent.
Ursus arctos lasiotus – Ussuri brown bear (or Amur brown bear, black grizzly or horse bear) Russia: Southern Kuril Islands, Sakhalin, Maritime territory, and the Ussuri/Amur river region south of the Stanovoy Range, China: northeastern Heilongjiang, Japan: Hokkaidō.This bear is thought to be the ancestor of U. a. horribilis.
Ursus arctos middendorffi – Kodiak bear Kodiak, Afognak, Shuyak Islands (Alaska)    This is the largest subspecies of brown bear, with other coastal brown bears reaching as big.
Ursus arctos nelsoni – Mexican grizzly bear (extinct)    Northern Mexico, including Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Sonora, southwestern United States including southern ranges of Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico.   
Ursus arctos pruinosus – Tibetan blue bear Western China and Tibet.
Ursus arctos sitkensis – Baranof Island Appearing to be more closely related to the polar bear than to other brown bears.
Ursus arctos stikeenensis           
Ursus arctos syriacus – Syrian brown bear Occurs in the trans-Caucasus, Syria, Iraq,Turkey (Asia Minor), Iran, Afghanistan, western Himalayas and the Pamir-Alai and Tien Shan mountains, probable historical presence in Israel.
Hunting and diet
Although grizzlies are of the order Carnivora and have the digestive system of carnivores, they are normally omnivores, since their diet consists of both plants and animals. They have been known to prey on large mammals, when available, such as moose, deer, sheep, elk, bison, caribou,and even black bears.
Grizzly bears feed on fish such as salmon, trout, and bass, and those with access to a more protein-enriched diet in coastal areas potentially grow larger than interior individuals. Grizzly bears also readily scavenge food on carrion left behind by other animals.
The grizzly bear is omnivorous, eating anything from fish, honey and ants to beached whales. They also feed on dead game and other carrion. On rare occasions they kill elk and dig out ground squirrels and foxes.
Reproduction
Grizzly bears have one of the lowest reproductive rates of all terrestrial mammals in North America.This is due to numerous ecological factors. Grizzly bears do not reach sexual maturity until they are at least five years old.The grizzly bear females do not become pregnant immediately because bears have developed a procedure called delayed implantation. during which miscarriage can occur if the female does not receive the proper nutrients and caloric intake.
On average, females produce two cubs in a litter and the mother cares for the cubs for up to two years, during which the mother will not mate. Once the young leave or are killed, females may not produce another litter for three or more years, depending on environmental conditions.
At birth, the grizzly is blind and toothless and weights about 500 grams.
Predatory
Adult brown bears are powerful, top-of-the-food chain predators, . They can be dangerous to humans, particularly if surprised or if a person gets between a mother bear and her cubs.
Human are the only predators.
Life expectancy
Its Life span About 20 to 30 years.

Swamp deer Scientific name:Cervus duvauceli

Swamp deer
Scientific name:Cervus duvauceli
Swamp Deer, also known as Barasingha, is one of the most vulnerable species of deer of the Indian subcontinent as well as the world. The is a species of deer, native to India, Pakistan and Nepal. In Assam in the North-East India, barasingha is traditionally known as dolhorina.
Range and habitat
swamp deer lives in areas with tall grasses or in the reed beds near rivers.They prefer to stay in marshes or swamplands. In the India subcontinent, Barasinghas can be found occupying the forested areas in the Gangetic and Brahmaputra basins.
Bara Singha used to inhabit most of the areas of northern as well as central India. However, today their habitat has been restricted to the protected forests of Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Madhya Pradesh only.
Physical characteristics
Swamp deer is a medium sized deer, which grows to a maximum height of 130 cm and weighs around 180 kg. A male deer has huge antlers,  Average antlers may measure 75 cm (30 in) round the curve with a girth of 13cm (5 in) at mid beam. A record antler measured 104.1 cm (41 in) round the curve.The coat is generally orange to brown colour, with males being slightly darker than females.The underparts, including the underside of the tail, are whitish.
Subspecies
Swamp deer of India can be further subdivided into two subspecies.
Cervus duvaucelii branderi : South Indian Swamp Deer, North-central India.
Cervus duvaucelii duvauceli : North Indian Swamp Deer, North of Ganges, Assam, India.
Feeding and diet
Barasinghas are basically herbivores. Their staple diet mainly consists of grass and leaves. Their main diet consists of grass which they feed on in the vast grasslands of central and northern India. Some of them have also been seen eating grass from the bed of wet swamps.
Reproduction
The breeding season of the Swamp deer is during the winter months of November and December.  During the breeding season, the males colouration takes on a darker hue and appear a much darker brown when compared to that of the rest of the year.They have a gestation period of 6 months and have a litter of mostly just one young. This birth takes place mostly in tall grass where the vulnerable baby is concealed from predators.  They have an acute sense of smell and it serves as their best defense against their hunters.
Predatory
Hunting, poaching and, more important, diversion of the bulk of grassland to agriculture, are considered the main causes of their reduced numbers. At the same time, Barasinghas are hunted for their horns.
Life expectancy
Their life expectancy ranges between 20 - 30 years.

Wild bison

Wild bison
The American bison (Bison bison), also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds. American Buffalo, It is believed that buffalo, or bison, crossed over a land bridge that once connected the Asian and North American continents.
Bison are now raised for meat and hides. The majority of bison in the world are being raised for human consumption. Bison meat is lower in fat and cholesterol than beef.
Bison are among the most dangerous animals encountered by visitors to the various U.S. and Canadian national parks, and will attack humans if provoked.
Range and habitat
Bison once roamed across much of North America. Today bison are ecologically extinct throughout most of their historic range, except for a few national parks and other small wildlife areas.
Yellowstone National Park has the largest population of free-roaming plains bison (about 4,000), and Wood Buffalo National Park has the largest population of free-roaming wood bison (about 10,000).
The centuries buffalo slowly moved southward, eventually reaching as far south as Mexico and as far east as the Atlantic Coast, extending south to Florida. But the largest herds were found on the plains and prairies from the Rocky Mountains east to the Mississippi River, and from Great Slave Lake in Canada to Texas.
Physical characteristics
A bison has a shaggy, long, dark brown winter coat, and a lighter weight, lighter brown summer coat. As is typical in ungulates, the male bison are slightly larger than the female. Plains Bison are often in the smaller range of sizes, and Wood Bison in the larger range.
Head-and-body length ranges from 210-350 cm (83-138 in) long, the tail adding 50-60 cm (20-24 in). Shoulder height in the species can range from 152 to 186 cm (60-74 in). Typical weigh can range from 318 to 1000 kg.
Subspecies
There are two living subspecies of wild bison in North America
The plains bison Bison bison bison
Two hundred years ago, the plains bison was by far the more common of the two subspecies. It was the dominant grazing animal of the interior plains of the continent, and it often occurred in large herds. A smaller population occurred east of the Mississippi.
There are  few plains bison. A herd of about 600 is fenced in at Elk Island National Park.There are small numbers at Prince Albert National Park in Saskatchewan, Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba, and Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta. There are at least 25 herds of plains bison in national and state parks and wildlife refuges in the United States. There are more private collections and on a large number of commercial ranches in both Canada and the United States.
The wood bison Bison bison athabascae.
The wood bison has always lived to the north of its prairie cousin. In historic times its range was centered in northern Alberta and the adjacent parts of British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and Saskatchewan. Herds made use of aspen parkland, the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, the lowlands of the Peace and Slave rivers, and the coniferous forests and wetland meadows of the upper Mackenzie Valley.
Feeding and diet
Bison are herbivores, grazing on the grasses and sedges of the North American prairies. Their daily schedule involves two-hour periods of grazing, resting and cud chewing, then moving to a new location to graze again.
Reproduction
Bison mate in August and September; gestation is 285 days. A single reddish-brown calf nurses until the next calf is born. If the cow is not pregnant, a calf will nurse for 18 months. Bison cows are mature enough to produce a calf at 3 years of age. Bison bulls may try to mate with cows at 3 years of age, but if more mature bulls are present, they may not be able to compete until they reach 5 years of age.
Predatory
wolves are a major predator of bison. Wolf predation typically peaks in late spring and early summer, with attacks usually being concentrated on cows and calves.
Life expectancy
Bison have a life expectancy of approximately 15 years in the wild and up to 25 years in captivity.

Yak Scientific name:Bos grunniens

Yak
Scientific name:Bos grunniens
The word yak refers to the male of the species; a female is a dri or nak.Yak is a long-haired bovine found throughout the Himalaya in Nepal which is in region of south Central Asia.Wild yaks stand about two meters tall at the shoulder. Domestic yaks are about half that height. Both types have long shaggy hair to insulate them from the cold.The domesticated yak is smaller, with short horns; its coat, which may be long enough to reach the ground, may be black, brown, reddish, piebald, or albino.
Range and habitat
Wild yaks are found primarily in northern Tibet and western Qinghai, with some populations extending into the southernmost parts of Xinjiang, and into Ladakh in India. Small, isolated populations of wild yak are also found farther afield, primarily in western Tibet and eastern Qinghai. In historic times, wild yaks were also found in Nepal and Bhutan, but they are now considered extinct in both countries, except as domesticated animals.
Domesticated yaks are kept primarily for their milk and meat. They are also used as beasts of burden, transporting goods across mountain passes for local farmers and traders as well as in support of climbing and trekking expeditions.
Physical characteristics
Wild yaks are among the largest bovids, with males standing about 2 to 2.2 metres (6.6 to 7.2 ft) tall at the shoulder and weighing up to 1,000 kg and having a head and body length of 3 to 3.4 m (9.8 to 11 ft).The females weigh about one third of this and are about 30% smaller in their linear dimensions.
Domesticated yaks are much smaller. males weighing 350 to 580 kg and females 225 to 255 kg.
Yaks are heavily built animals with a sturdy frame, short legs, and rounded hooves. They have small ears and a wide forehead, with smooth hollow horns that are generally dark in colour. In males, the horns sweep out from the sides of the head, and then curve forward; they typically range from 48 to 99 centimetres (19 to 39 in) in length. The horns of females are smaller, only 27 to 64 centimetres (11 to 25 in) in length, and have a more upright shape. Both sexes have a short neck with a pronounced hump over the shoulders, although this larger and more visible in males.
Hunting and diet
The diet of wild yaks consists largely of grasses and sedges, such as Carex, Stipa, and Kobresia. They also eat a smaller amount of herbs, winterfat shrubs, and mosses, and have even been reported to eat lichen.
 
Reproduction
Yaks mate in the summer, typically between July and September, depending on the local environment.Yak heifers can be bred as early as 18 months, and gestation is 258 days (8.5 months). Yak bulls are dependable for breeding at age three. Calving is usually real fast! Hardy yak calves grow quickly on the cow’s rich milk. Wild yaks usually calve every other year but domestic yaks, with access to plentiful pasture, reproduce every year, and occasionally have twins. Calves are weaned at one year and become independent shortly thereafter. Wild calves are initially brown in colour, and only later develop the darker adult hair.Females of both the wild and domestic forms typically give birth only once every other year, although more frequent births are possible if the food supply is good.

Predatory
The main natural predator of the wild yak has been the Tibetan wolf, but brown bears and snow leopards.
Life expectancy
Yaks may live for more than twenty years in domestication or captivity, although it is likely that this may be somewhat shorter in the wild.

Zebra Scientific name: Equus quagga

Zebra
Scientific name: Equus quagga
Zebras are members of the horse family native to central and southern Africa.Zebras are best known for their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual.
Range and habitat
Zebra  habitat is from southeastern Sudan to South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania, Etosha NP, and west to Angola, in Somali-Masai Arid Zone, Southern Savanna, and South West Arid Zone.
Zebra occur in a variety of habitats, such as grasslands, savannas, woodlands, thorny scrublands, mountains, and coastal hills.
Physical characteristics
The common plains zebra is about 50–52 inches  at the shoulder with a body ranging from 6–8.5 feet  long with an 18-inch  tail. It can weigh up to 770 pounds (350 kg), males being slightly bigger than females. Grévy's Zebra is considerably larger, while the mountain zebra is somewhat smaller.
It was previously believed that zebras were white animals with black stripes,The stripes are typically vertical on the head, neck, forequarters, and main body, with horizontal stripes at the rear and on the legs of the animal.
Like horses, zebras walk, trot, canter and gallop. They are generally slower than horses, but their great stamina helps them outpace predators. When chased, a zebra will zig-zag from side to side, making it more difficult for the predator. When cornered, the zebra will rear up and kick or bite its attacker.
Zebras have excellent eyesight and have excellent hearing.
Subspecies
There are three species and many subspecies.

The Plains Zebra (Equus quagga, formerly Equus burchelli) is the most common, and has or had about 5 subspecies distributed across much of southern and eastern Africa. It, or particular subspecies of it, have also been known as the Common Zebra, the Dauw, Burchell's Zebra (actually the extinct subspecies, Equus quagga burchelli), and the Quagga (another extinct subspecies, Equus quagga quagga).
The Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra) of southwest Africa tends to have a sleek coat with a white belly and narrower stripes than the Plains Zebra. It has two subspecies and is classified as endangered.
Grevy's Zebra (Equus grevyi) is the largest type, similar in appearance to Grevy's Zebra but with an erect mane, and a long, narrow head making it appear rather mule-like. It is a creature of the semi-arid grasslands of Ethiopia, Somalia, and northern Kenya. It is endangered too.
Feeding and diet
Zebras feed almost entirely on grasses, but may occasionally eat shrubs, herbs, twigs, leaves and bark. Their digestive systems allow them to subsist on diets of lower nutritional quality than that necessary for other herbivores.
 
Reproduction
Female zebras mature earlier than the males, and a mare may have her first foal by the age of three. Males are not able to breed until the age of five or six. Mares may give birth to one foal every twelve months.
Single foals weighing 30-35kg (66-77lbs) are born at any time of year after a gestation of 360-390 days. Foals can stand after about 10 minutes, start eating grass within a few days and wean at 11 months.

Predatory
The lion and spotted hyena are about the only predators that can take on an adult Zebra, with the foals being preyed upon more when given the choice. However, many mares are taken when there is not a stallion around to help protect them and their young.
Life expectancy
Its life span is between 30 to 25 years.

Giraffe Scientific name: Giraffa camelopardalis

Giraffe
Scientific name: Giraffa camelopardalis
 
Range and habitat
Giraffes are found throughout the central and South African savannah (African plains), from south of the Sahara desert to as far south as South Africa. giraffe is the most readily recognized giraffe sub-species. It is found mainly in southern Ethopia and northern Kenya.

Physical characteristics
The giraffe is Africa's tallest mammal, reaching full heights of more than 5m. The attractive marking is made up of irregular patches, in varying shades of brown, on a cream or buff background.It has a very long neck and a small head with three horns.
Males are known to grow up to 11 ft, 6 inches (3.5m) at shoulder-height and 18 ft (5.5m) tall to the top of it's head. They can also weigh as much as 1,365 kg.
Males are larger and darker than females, have thicker horns and have a lump on the forehead. The horn tips are bald in males and old females while hairy in younger females.The giraffe's tongue is blue-black or black, (possibly to prevent sunburn).
The giraffe has one of the shortest sleep requirements of any mammal, which averages 4.5 or 4.6 hours per 24 hours
 
Subspecies
There's only one species of giraffe: Giraffa camelopardalis, with nine generally accepted subspecies.
The subspecies are distinguished by the coat markings (colour, size, and shape) and their geographic range and location.
The Nubian Giraffe. Its coat pattern has large, four-sided spots of chestnut brown on an off-white background and no spots on inner sides of the legs or below the hocks. It is found in eastern Sudan and northeastern DR Congo.
The Reticulated or Somali Giraffe, has a coat pattern of well defined patches that are normally a bright orange-brown colour. These patches have sharp edges and are separated by bold, bright white lines. It ranges from northeastern Kenya, into southern Ethiopia and Somalia.
The Angolan or Smoky Giraffe, has large spots with some notches around the edges, extending down the entire lower leg. It is found in southern Angola, northern Namibia, southwestern Zambia, Botswana and western Zimbabwe.
The Kordofan Giraffe, has smaller, more irregular spots that cover the inner legs. Its distribution includes southern Chad, Central African Republic and northern Cameroon.
The Maasai Giraffe or Kilimanjaro Giraffe, has jagged-edged, vine-leaf shaped spots of dark brown on a brownish-cream background. It is the darkest coloured subspecies.[14] It occurs in central and southern Kenya and Tanzania.
The Rothschild Giraffe or Baringo Giraffe or Ugandan Giraffe. Its coats bears deep brown, blotched or rectangular spots with poorly defined cream lines. Its legs are mostly white with no pattern. Its range includes Uganda and west-central Kenya, especially near Lake Baringo. It may also occur in southern Sudan.
The South African Giraffe, has rounded or blotched spots, some with star-like extensions on a light tan background, running down to the hooves. It is found in northern South Africa, southern Botswana, southern Zimbabwe and southwestern Mozambique.
The Thornicroft Giraffe or Rhodesian Giraffe, has star-shaped or leafy spots extend to the lower leg. It is restricted to the Luangwa Valley in eastern Zambia.
The West African Giraffe or Nigerian Giraffe, has numerous pale, yellowish red spots. It is endemic to southern Niger.
Feeding and diet
The giraffe requires less food than typical grazing animals because the foliage it eats has more concentrated nutrition and it has a more efficient digestive system.During the wet season, food is abundant and giraffes disperse widely, but during the dry season they need to congregate around evergreen trees and bushes. A giraffe can eat 65 pounds (29 kg) of leaves and twigs daily, but can survive on just 15 pounds (6.8 kg).Giraffes browse on the twigs of trees, preferring trees of the genera Acacia, Commiphora and Terminalia, and also eat grass and fruit.The tongue, lips and palate are tough, which allows them to feed on trees with sharp thorns.
 
Reproduction
Giraffe reach sexual maturity in four to six years.The giraffe is the only  with gestation longer than a year and a single calf weighing 100kg is born after a gestation of 457days.bonds between mother and calf persist beyond weaning, until the birth of her next offspring.
Within a few hours of being born, calves can run around and are indistinguishable from a week-old calf; however, for the first two weeks, they spend most of their time lying down, guarded by the mother.

Predatory
The young can fall prey to lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, and wild dogs. Mother giraffes will defend their young by placing themselves between the young and the predator and kicking the predator. Giraffes only defend their own young and form calving herds for selfish reasons
Giraffes are hunted for their tails, hides and meat.The tails are used as good luck charms, thread.The total African giraffe population has been estimated to range from 110,000 to 150,000.
Life expectancy
Maximum lifespan is ~25 years in the wild and 28 years in captivity.

Rhinoceros

Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros also known as rhino, is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia.The rhinoceros can run at a speed of 30 to 40 miles per hour.The rhino can live four to five days in the absence of water.
Range and habitat
Rhinoceros lives in Africa and southern Asia. Habitat - Savannahs, grasslands as well as tropical and subtropical forests.Black rhinos have various habitats, but mainly areas with dense, woody vegetation. White rhinos live in savannahs with water holes, mud wallows and shade trees.
Physical characteristics
Rhinoceroses are universally recognized because of their massive bodies, stumpy legs and either one or two dermal horns. But this animal is most famous for the fact that it has got a very thick hide.The most obvious distinguishing characteric of the rhinos is a large horn on the nose.
Size: The rhinoceros stands about 60 inches at the shoulder.
Weight: Black Rhino: 1 to 1½ tons. White Rhino: over 2 tons.
Size (Smallest) - The Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest in height. It reaches a shoulder height of about 1.4 m. The weigh is about 1,000 kg.
Size (Largest) - The White rhinoceros can reach a shoulder height of up to 4 m. It weighs more than 2,500 kg.
Subspecies
Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis)
There are four subspecies of black rhino:
South-central (Diceros bicornis minor), the most numerous, which once ranged from central Tanzania south through Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to northern and eastern South Africa.
South-western (Diceros bicornis bicornis) which are better adapted to the arid and semi-arid savannas of Namibia, southern Angola, western Botswana and western South Africa.
East African (Diceros bicornis michaeli), primarily in Tanzania.
West African (Diceros bicornis longipes) which was tentatively declared extinct in 2006.
White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum)
There are two subspecies of White Rhinos
Southern White Rhinoceros :South Africa has the most of the first subspecies, the Southern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum). The population of Southern White Rhinos is about 14,500, making them the most abundant subspecies of rhino in the world.
Northern White Rhinoceros :The population of the second subspecies, the critically endangered Northern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni), is down to as few as four individuals in the wild, and as of June 2008 this sub-species are thought to have become extinct in the wild.
Sumatran Rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)
The Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is the smallest extant rhinoceros species, as well as the one with the most fur, which allows it to survive at very high altitudes in Borneo and Sumatra. Due to habitat loss and poaching, its numbers have declined and it is one of the world's rarest mammals. About 275 Sumatran Rhinos are believed to remain.
Javan Rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus)
The Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is one of the rarest and most endangered large mammals anywhere in the world. According to 2002 estimates, only about 60 remain, in Java (Indonesia) and Vietnam. Of all the rhino species, the least is known of the Javan Rhino. These animals prefer dense lowland rain forest, tall grass and reed beds that are plentiful with large floodplains and mud wallows.
Indian Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis)
The Indian Rhinoceros or the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is now found almost exclusively in Nepal and North-Eastern India. The rhino once inhabited many areas of Pakistan to Burma and may have even roamed in China.
Diet
The rhino is herbivores. It eats grass, tender plants and other type of vegetation.  It eats a large variety of vegetation, including leaves, buds and shoots of plants, bushes and trees. The white rhino is a grazer feeding on grasses. The black rhino is a browser, with a triangular-shaped upper lip ending in a mobile grasping point. It eats a large variety of vegetation, including leaves, buds and shoots of plants, bushes and trees.
Reproduction
Its gestation period of 16 months.
Predatory
In the wild, adult rhinoceros have few natural predators other than humans. Young rhinos can fall prey to predators such as big cats, crocodiles, wild dogs, and hyena.
Life expectancy
Its life span is 35 to 40 years.

Hippopotamus Scientific name :Hippopotamus amphibius

Hippopotamus
Scientific name :Hippopotamus amphibius
Hippopotamus is a large, plant-eating African mammal, one of only two in the family Hippopotamidae.Hippopotamuses are among the largest living mammals, only elephants and some whales are heavier. They can live in the water or on land. Their specific gravity allows them to sink and walk or run along the bottom of a river. Hippos are considered megafauna, but unlike all other African megafauna, hippos have adapted for a semi-aquatic life in freshwater lakes and rivers.

Range and habitat
The majority of Hippo’s that live in the wild are found in Africa. Approximately 125,000 to 150,000 of them are found in that area. Smaller amounts of these animals are found in some other areas.Hippos lives in the lakes and rivers. Sometimes the groups are very small with only about five members. They can be as large at to have thirty members though. It depends on if there is enough room for their basic needs to be met.
Physical characteristics
The average weights for adult males ranged between 1,500–1,800 kg . Females are smaller than their male counterparts, with average weights measuring between 1,300–1,500 kg. Older males can get much larger, reaching at least 3,200 kg and occasionally weighing 4,500 kg.Hippos measure 3.3 to 5.2 meters (11 to 17 ft) long, including a tail of about 56 centimetres (22 in) in length and average about 1.5 meters (5 ft) tall at the shoulder. their running speed vary from 30 km/h (18 mph) to 40 km/h (25 mph), or even 50 km/h (30 mph). The hippo can maintain these higher speeds for only a few hundred meters.The eyes, ears, and nostrils of hippos are placed high on the roof of the skull. This allows them to be in the water with most of their body submerged in the waters and mud of tropical rivers to stay cool and prevent sunburn.
Subspecies
Five subspecies of hippos have been described based on morphological differences in their skulls and geographical differences:
H. a. amphibius – (the nominate subspecies) which stretched from Egypt, where they are now extinct, south up the Nile River to Tanzania and Mozambique.
H. a. kiboko – in the Horn of Africa, in Kenya and Somalia. Kiboko is the Swahili word for hippo. Broader nasals and more hollowed interorbital region.
H. a. capensis – from Zambia to South Africa. Most flattened skull of the subspecies.
H. a. tschadensis – throughout Western Africa to, as the name suggests, Chad. Slightly shorter and wider face, with prominent orbits.
H. a. constrictus – in Angola, the southern Democratic Republic of Congo and Namibia
Feeding and diet
The main source of food for the Hippo is the short grass. They spend five or more hours grazing every single evening. They may walk up to five miles during that period of time. They can also consume up to 150 pounds of food per day.
Reproduction
Female hippos reach sexual maturity at five to six years of age and have a gestation period of 8 months.Males reach maturity at around 7.5 years.t female hippopotamuses may begin puberty as early as 3 or 4 years of age.Baby hippos are born underwater at a weight between 25 and 45 kg and an average length of around 127 cm (50 in) and must swim to the surface to take their first breath. A mother typically gives birth to only one hippo, although twins also occur.
Predatory
The Hippo has no natural predators on the wild. They don’t have very many but those that they have are tough ones. The life of a Hippo is mainly spent in the water during the day.
Life expectancy
A hippo's lifespan is typically 40 to 50 years. Donna the Hippo, 60, is the oldest living hippo in captivity. She lives at the Mesker Park Zoo in Evansville, Indiana, USA.

Elephant Scientific name: Loxodonta africana

ELEPHANT
Scientific name: Loxodonta africana
Elephants are the largest land animals now living.Elephants are a symbol of wisdom in Asian cultures and are famed for their memory and intelligence.
African elephants
Scientific name: Loxodonta
African elephants, are currently found in 37 countries in Africa.
African elephants are distinguished from Asian elephants in several ways, the most noticeable being their much larger ears. Also, the African elephant is typically larger than the Asian elephant and has a concave back. In Asian elephants, only males have tusks, but both males and females of African elephants have tusks and are usually less hairy than their Asian cousins.
Asian elephant
Scientific name:Elephas maximus
The Asian elephant, is smaller than the African. It has smaller ears, and typically, only the males have large external tusks.
The world population of Asian elephants—also called Indian elephants—is estimated to be around 60,000, about a tenth of the number of African elephants.
Range and habitat
Elephant were found throughout Asia and Africa.Because of their high intelligence level, elephants can adapt to and modify habitat, while their wide range of food choices permits habitation of a diverse range of ecosystems, including forest, woodland, savanna, grassy plains, swampy areas, and sparsely vegetated desert. Elephant were found throughout Asia and Africa.

Physical characteristics
Average shoulder height: Males - 3.5m; Females - 2.7m.
Weight: Males - up to 6 tons; Females - 2.7 tons.
Trunk
The elephant's nose and upper lip are elongated into a muscular, powerful trunk. This truly multi-purpose tool is powerful enough to uproot trees but dextrous enough that the two 'fingers' at its tip can pick up single seeds. Elephants can swim considerable distances and, in deeper water, will use their trunks like snorkels.

Tusks
The tusks are elongated upper incisor teeth and are not necessarily the same size. Some adults lack tusks and some have only one. Bulls typically have thicker, heavier tusks than females. Elephants will often uproot trees and then use their tusks to chisel the bark off.
Teeth
Elephants' teeth are very different from those of most other mammals. Over their lives they usually have 28 teeth. These are:
The two upper second incisors: these are the tusks.
The milk precursors of the tusks.
12 premolars, 3 in each side of each jaw.
12 molars, 3 in each side of each jaw.
Skin
Elephants are colloquially called pachyderms, which means thick-skinned animals. An elephant's skin is extremely tough around most parts of its body and measures about 2.5 centimetres (1.0 in) thick. However, the skin around the mouth and inside of the ear is considerably thinner. Normally, the skin of an Asian is covered with more hair than its African counterpart. This is most noticeable in the young. Asian calves are usually covered with a thick coat of brownish red fuzz. As they get older, this hair darkens and becomes more sparse, but it will always remain on their heads and tails.
The species of elephants are typically greyish in colour, but the Africans very often appear brown or reddish from wallowing in mud holes of colored soil.

Eyes and Ears
An elephant's eyes are small relative to the huge size of the animal. The ears are very large, flat and roughly the shape of the African continent, often with tears and holes in them. The ears are laden with blood vessels and when flapped, help bring down the huge beast's body temperature.

Feet and Tail
The front feet are roughly circular, with five blunt toenails; the hind feet are oval, with four blunt toenails. The soles are padded, allowing amazingly silent movement for such a large amimal. The tail is thin, up to 1.5 m long, and has a whisk of long, thick hairs at the end.
Intelligence
Elephant brains are larger than those of any other land animal. A wide variety of behaviours associated with intelligence have been attributed to elephants.The elephant's brain is similar to that of humans in terms of structure and complexity.
Senses
Elephants have well innervated trunks, and an exceptional sense of hearing and smell. The hearing receptors reside not only in ears, but also in trunks that are sensitive to vibrations, and most significantly feet, which have special receptors for low frequency sound and are exceptionally well innervated. Elephants communicate by sound over large distances of several kilometres partly through the ground, which is important for their social lives. Elephants are observed listening by putting trunks on the ground and carefully positioning their feet.
The eyesight of elephants is relatively poor.
Subspecies
Three species of elephant are living today:
The African bush elephant
The African forest elephant
The Asian elephant (also known as the Indian elephant).
All other species and genera of Elephantidae are extinct

Hunting and diet
Elephants are herbivores, and spend up to 16 hours a day eating plants. Their diets are highly variable, both seasonally and across habitats and regions. Elephants are primarily browsers, feeding on the leaves, bark, and fruits of trees and shrubs, but they may also eat considerable grasses and herbs.

Reproduction
A female will usually be ready to breed around the age of thirteen.Females prefer bigger, stronger, and, most importantly, older males. Such a reproductive strategy tends to increase their offspring's chances of survival.The mating season is short and females are only able to conceive for a few days each year. She will detach herself from the herd.Gestation period: 22 months. Elephants have a very long development. As is common with more intelligent species, they are born with fewer survival instincts than many other animals. Instead, they rely on their elders to teach them what they need to know.Single calves weighing 120kg are born throughout the year after a gestation of 22 months. Calves are weaned at 3-8 years, just before the birth of the next calf.
predatory
According to observations, healthy adult elephants have no natural predators, although lions may take calves or weak individuals. They are, however, threatened by human intrusion and poaching.

Life expectancy
They typically live for 50 to 70 years, but the oldest recorded elephant lived for 82 years.

JAGUAR Scientific name :Penthera onca

JAGUAR
Scientific name :Penthera onca
Jaguars are the largest of beings from the South American's big cats. They are the third biggest cats in the world, after African Lion and Asian Tiger.
Range and habitat
Jaguars is found in the United States (central and western part) and in South America.It has been an American cat .They inhabit grasslands, woodlands and swamps. Its present range extends from Mexico, through Central America and into South America, including much of Amazonian Brazil.The countries included in this range are Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica , Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, United States and Venezuela.
Physical characteristics
They are dark in colour while females are generally lighter. The jaguars have got large rounded head with powerful jaw and knife-sharp teeth which are able to break a neck. Extremely agile and muscular body and strong legs with claws enable them to climb trees without any obstacles.They are approximately 5 feet long with a tail measuring 30 inches and weighing up to 250 pounds. The females are smaller.
Subspecies
There are three subspecies.
1.Jaguar: Venezuela through the Amazon, including
Jaguar peruviana (Peruvian Jaguar): Coastal Peru
2.Jaguar hernandesii (Mexican Jaguar): Western Mexico – including
Jaguar centralis (Central American Jaguar): El Salvador to Colombia
Jaguar arizonensis (Arizonan Jaguar): Southern Arizona to Sonora, Mexico
Jaguar veraecrucis: Central Texas to Southeastern Mexico
Jaguar goldmani (Goldman's Jaguar): Yucatán Peninsula to Belize and Guatemala
3.Jaguar palustris (the largest subspecies, weighing more than 135 kg ) The Pantanal regions of Mato Grosso & Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, along the Paraguay River into Paraguay and northeastern Argentina.
Hunting and diet
Jaguar prefers large prey and will take adult caiman (a form of small alligator), deer, capybara, tapirs, peccaries, dogs, foxes, and sometimes even anacondas.Its diet consists mainly of other animals for instance deer, rodents, hares, reptiles, birds, fish, monkeys etc. They can kill they prey by using their sharp teeth and extraordinary strong jaw. They can reach and jump at a very high speed so they can catch up almost any animal. Apart from that they are also perfect swimmers. They are solitary animals and hunt for food usually alone especially before dawn and at dusk.
Reproduction
Jaguar females reach sexual maturity at about two years of age, and males at three or four.Females give birth to typically two or three cubs. They are generally born between the month of December and March. It is not common for Jaguar cubs to be born throughout the year. Jaguars are blind and helpless at birth. They gain sight after about two weeks. The mother stays with them and protects them from other animals, including their father. The female Jaguar becomes very protective at this stage. The cubs learn to hunt by staying with their mother for two or more years.
Predatory
Apex predators are predators that have no predators of their own, residing at the top of their food chain. Apex predator species are often at the top of long food chains, where they have a crucial role in maintaining the health of their ecosystems.

Life expectancy
Life span is approximately 15 years.

LEOPARD Scientific name:Panthera pardus

LEOPARD

Scientific name:Panthera pardus

The leopard is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar.

Range and habitat

The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its range of distribution has decreased radically because of hunting and loss of habitat. It is now chiefly found in sub-Saharan Africa; there are also fragmented populations in Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Indochina, Malaysia, and China. Because of its declining range and population, it is listed as a "Near Threatened" species.Leopards live mainly in grasslands, woodlands, and riverine forests.

Physical characteristics

Most Leopards are orange or fawn with black spots, but their coats are very variable. The spots tend to be smaller on the head, larger and have pale centres on the body.They range in size from 1 to almost 2 metres long, and weigh between 30 and 70 kg. Females are typically around two-thirds the size of males.

Subspecies

The nine subspecies recognised by IUCN:

· African leopard:inhabits sub-Saharan Africa.

· Indian leopard:inhabits the Indian Subcontinent.

· Javan leopard:inhabits Java, Indonesia.

· Arabian leopard:inhabits the Arabian Peninsula.

· Amur leopard:inhabits the Russian Far East, Korean Peninsula and Northeast China.

· North Chinese leopard:inhabits northern China.

· Caucasian leopard:later described as Persian leopard :inhabits central Asia: the Caucasus, Turkmenistan and northern Iran.

· Indo-Chinese leopard:inhabits mainland Southeast Asia.

· Sri Lankan leopard:inhabits Sri Lanka.

A morphological analysis of characters of leopard skulls implies the validity of two more subspecies:

· Anatolian leopard:inhabits Western Turkey.

· Balochistan leopard:inhabits Pakistan, and possibly also parts of Afghanistan and Iran.

Hunting and diet

Leopards are versatile, opportunistic hunters, and have a very broad diet. They feed on a greater diversity of prey than other members of the Panthera species, and will eat anything from dung beetles to 900 kg (2,000 lb) male giant elands. Their diet consists mostly of ungulates and monkeys, but they also eat rodents, reptiles, amphibians, insects, birds (like the Vulturine Guineafowl), fish and sometimes smaller predators (bat-eared foxes, martens, jackals...). They stalk their prey silently, pounce on it at the last minute, and strangle its throat with a quick bite.In Asia, the leopard preys on deer such as chitals and muntjacs, as well as various Asian antelopes and ibex. Prey preference estimates in southern India showed that the most favored prey of the leopard were chitals.

Reproduction

Depending on the region, leopards may mate all year round. In Manchuria and Siberia, they mate during January and February. Gestation lasts for 90 to 105 days.Cubs are usually born in a litter of 2–4 cubs.But mortality of cubs is estimated at 41–50% during the first year.
Females give birth in a cave, crevice among boulders, hollow tree, or thicket to make a den. Cubs are born with closed eyes, which open four to nine days after birth.

Predatory

Leopards must compete for food and shelter with other large predators such as lions, tigers, spotted hyenas, and both African and Asiatic wild dogs. These animals may steal the leopard's kill or devour its young. Leopards live alongside these other predators by hunting for different types of prey and by avoiding areas frequented by them.Lions are occasionally successful in climbing trees and fetching leopard kills.In the Kalahari desert, leopards frequently lose kills to the brown hyena, if the leopard is unable to move the kill into a tree. Single brown hyenas have been observed charging at and displacing male leopards from kills.

Life expectancy

Leopards in the wild live for 15 to 20 yrs.

CHEETAH Scientific name:Acrimony jabots

CHEETAH

Scientific name:Acrimony jabots

The cheetah is a large-sized feline ,a member of family Elide.The cheetah is the only extant member of the genus Acrimony.

Range and habitat

The cheetah inhabiting most of Africa and parts of the Middle East.Cheetahs thrive in areas with vast expanses of land where prey is abundant. In Namibia cheetahs have been found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, savannahs, dense vegetation, and mountainous terrain. Ninety-five percept of the Namibian population lives on commercial farms.There are several geographically isolated populations of cheetah, all of which are found in Africa or south-western Asia. A small population (estimated at about fifty) survive in the Khorana Province of Iran.

Physical characteristics

Most notable for modifications in the species' paws. As such, it is the only felid with non-retractable claws and pads that, by their scope, disallow gripping (therefore cheetah cannot climb vertical trees, although they are generally capable of reaching easily accessible branches).

Average Weight:
Female: 41kg - 50kg ( 90 - 110 lbs.)

Male: 50kg - 64kg (110- 140 lbs.)

Size (Length):

Female: 1.5m-1.8m (5 ft. - 6 ft.)

Male: 1.8m-2.1m (6 ft.. - 7 ft.).

Reproduction

Sexual maturity occurs at 20-23 months. The gestation period is about 95 days, and the average litter size is 4-5 cubs. Cubs are smoky-grey in colour with long hair, called a mantle, running along their backs; they are up to 30 cm long and weigh 250-300 grams at birth.

Hunting and diet

The cheetah is a carnivore, eating mostly mammals under 40 kg , All felines are carnivorous. Cheetahs main diet is small hooved mammals , the smaller of the many antelope species such as the Thompson's gazelle and impalas. When Cheetahs hunt in groups, they are capable of taking down the larger wildebeest and zebra species. Cheetahs also hunt hares, small mammals and birds.
The cheetah has an average hunting success rate of around 50%.Running at speeds between 112 and 120 km/h (70 and 75 mph) puts a great deal of strain on the cheetah's body.

Predatory

Despite their speed and hunting prowess, cheetahs are largely outranked by other large predators in most of their range.A cheetah has a 50% chance of losing its kill to other predators. They usually avoid fighting and will surrender a kill immediately to even a single hyena, rather than risk injury.The cheetah's mortality is very high during the early weeks of its life; up to 90% of cheetah cubs are killed during this time by lions, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs, or even by eagles.

Life expectancy

Its Lifespan: 10-12 Years.