Genet 001 - Wildlife Reflections - Tim Allen-Rowlandson

Wildlife Reflections

Bat-eared Fox, Civet, Genet, Honey Badger, Jackal, Mongoose, Serval

gallery pages: 1 2 >

< Prev 5 of 20 Next >

WildlifeReflections > Bat-eared Fox 001 - Nature’s own food processor!
Largely nocturnal, the bat-eared fox is monogamous (possibly even the same mate throughout life) and often seen in family groups. Predominantly insectivorous, it uses its huge ears to locate food and is adept at digging out underground prey. Adults rarely regurgitate food for their young, which are weaned later and mature earlier than other canids, reaching adult size at 4-6 months. Bat-eared foxes have 46-50 sharp, cusped teeth – the largest number for any true land mammal – insects are macerated almost instantaneously because the lower jaw can chop up and down at least 5 times a second!

WildlifeReflections > Bat-eared Fox 002

WildlifeReflections > Civet 001 - African civet at night
Looking rather like a raccoon, the African civet is predominantly solitary and nocturnal, so sightings are quite rare. Commonly but erroneously referred to as a civet ‘cat’, civets are viverrids, a family which includes mongooses and genets. Scent glands beneath the tail produce a very pungent secretion called civetone which was used as a fixative for expensive floral-based perfumes until chemical substitutes were found. Captive civets are still farmed in some countries such as Ethiopia and ‘milked’ for this musk.

WildlifeReflections > Civet 002 - Close encounters of the olfactory kind - once a girl’s unknown friend
Looking rather like a raccoon, the African civet is predominantly solitary and nocturnal, so sightings are quite rare. Commonly but erroneously referred to as a civet ‘cat’, civets are viverrids, a family which includes mongooses & genets. Scent glands beneath the tail produce a very pungent secretion called civetone which was used as a fixative for expensive floral-based perfumes until chemical substitutes were found. Captive civets are still farmed in some countries (e.g. Ethiopia) and “milked” for this musk. The things you girls do to compete!!! African civet at night, Tsavo, Kenya

WildlifeReflections > Genet 001

WildlifeReflections > Genet 002

WildlifeReflections > Genet 003

WildlifeReflections > Genet 004

WildlifeReflections > Genet 005

WildlifeReflections > Honey Badger 001 - Heart of a lion, courage of a giant
In terms of reputation and disposition, the honey badger or ratel is Africa’s equivalent of the wolverine. Adapted for digging, it has sharp teeth, very powerful front claws and lacks external ears, while a very loose skin makes it difficult for an attacker to grab it without sustaining serious injury. I have seen a honey badger chase a mature lion that wandered too close. The honey badger is fond of honey and has developed a cooperative relationship with a bird called the honeyguide which leads it (and humans) to the hive - folklore claims the bees are fumigated by powerful skunk-like secretions

WildlifeReflections > Honey Badger 002 - Hi Honey (badger)
Don’t be fooled by the cute appearance - the honey badger is a ferocious, powerful and fearless predator, and is Africa’s equivalent of the wolverine. Adapted for digging, it has sharp teeth, strong jaws, very powerful front claws and lacks external ears, while a very loose skin makes it difficult for an attacker to grab it without sustaining serious injury. The honey badger is fond of honey and has developed a cooperative relationship with a bird called the honeyguide which leads it (and humans) to the hive - folklore claims the bees are fumigated by its powerful skunk-like secretions.

WildlifeReflections > Black-backed Jackal 001 - Wet pup
Young black-backed jackal in the rain, Masai Mara, Kenya

WildlifeReflections > Black-backed Jackal 002 - Startled
A pair of black-backed jackals at night. Judging by its gaze, the jackal in front was startled by something above and behind me. It’s always good to have someone watching your back when you are lying down in the bush at night for a low-angle shot, but volunteers are often hard to find! Adult jackals pair for life and both help to raise the young and defend their territory. Even offspring occasionally help with the next generation of puppies. Highly opportunistic, jackals not only scavenge from kills made by larger predators, but also hunt insects, birds, rodents and young antelope. Tsavo, Kenya

WildlifeReflections > Black-backed Jackal 003

WildlifeReflections > Serval 001 - Camouflaged cat
Bathed in the warm light of an African sunset, this serval was hunting rodents in the long grass in the Masai Mara, Kenya. The consummate rat-catcher, servals use their large ears to locate prey hidden in the grass and their long legs to leap into the air to pounce on the target. They are exceedingly agile, and can even take birds on the wing. From a distance, the serval looks a little like a small cheetah, but is distinguished by the large ears, stripes and short tail, as is largely nocturnal.

Genet 001

WildlifeReflections > Genet 001

Genet 001

Other sizes: S • Medium • L |

Keywords: wildlife genet

gallery pages: 1 2 >

< Prev 5 of 20 Next >

Comments

|

All images © Tim Allen-Rowlandson - Wildlife Reflecftions

Available Feeds

Gallery Photos:

Atom |

RSS