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Super Predators Continue
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Leopard
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Description:
An elegant and powerfully built animal, the leopard is the largest of Africa's spotted cats. No two leopards are alike, but in general, they tend to have a golden ground colour and black spots on the limbs, flanks, hindquarters and head, with rossettes on the remainder of the body. Melanistic leopards, or 'black panthers', are common in the highlands of Ethiopia and have been recorded in India, Zaire, Somalia and South Africa. Like all cats, the leopard has five digits on the front feet, four on the hind and has retractable claws. The claw of the first digit on the front feet is called a dew claw and is put to good use in holding large prey and does not mark in the spoor. They are substantially smaller than lions, with males averaging around 70kg and females 40kg.
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Description:
It is an unmistakable animal and bears very little resemblance to the domestic dog. They have large rounded ears and bushy white tails and each animal has a unique blotched, black, yellow and white coat. They have distinctive jagged edges to the cheek teeth which help in tearing meat off their prey. Adults weigh between 20-30kg, with dogs being slightly larger than bitches. There are four digits on each foot and the paws of the front feet are larger and broader than those of the hind and this marks clearly in the spoor. They have a strong, musky odour.
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Wild Dog
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Nile Crocodile
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Decription:
Crocodiles can be 30 feet long. They have bony plates and lizard-like front teeth. Crocodiles live in China, Asia, Australia, Africa, and Madagascar. They also live in swamps, lakes, and rivers.
Crocodiles are hunted for skin, shoes, belts, purses, and perfume. People also hunt them for sport.
A way to help crocodiles is to raise and breed them om farms. They are also a part of the animal endangered species list.
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