Tag Archives: Africa

Meerkat

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Meerkat

Stay alert like a meerkat.

  • ‘Meerkats’ are also known as ‘suricates’, while their scientific name is ‘Suricata suricatta’, and they are from the family Herpestidae, the family of mongooses.
  • Meerkats are mammals native to the grassy plains and desert areas of southern Africa, residing in burrows, sometimes sharing them with fellow mongoose or squirrels, and they live in clans, generally consisting of 10 to 30 individuals, but up to 50.
  • Meerkats have a typical lifespan of 4 to 14 years, often depending on their position in the mob that they live in, and are mainly preyed on by birds such as hawks, vultures and eagles, although jackals and snakes also take an interest in them, and the venom of some potentially dangerous animals, such as snakes or scorpions, do not affect them.
  • ‘Meerkat’ comes from the Dutch word for a long tailed monkey and ‘lake cat’ and they have a thin tail that is used for balance and signals, and they have small ears that can be closed to prevent dirt entering them.
  • Meerkats generally weigh between 720 to 900 grams (1.6 to 2 pounds), can grow to be a height of 25 to 35 centimetres (10 to 14 inches) from the head to the body, and have a tail length of 17 to 25 centimetres (6.7 to 9 inches).

Meerkat, Family, Guard, Clan, Burrow, Botswana, africa, Ten Random Facts, National Geographic Stock

Meerkats on Guard
Image courtesy of National Geographic
  • Meerkats are typically brown in colour, with their own, individual decorative patterns, such as stripes of black or with a red tinge, and they have a wide range of vision with dark coloured skin around their eyes, that work a bit like human sunglasses.
  • Meerkats’ diets typically consist of insects, small birds, reptiles and mammals, and vegetation, and they usually gain moisture from the foods they eat.
  • Individual meerkats in a clan will stand erectly on guard to lookout for danger, while the rest scavenge for food, using barks or whistling noises as warnings.
  • Meerkats can have up to four litters in a year, of one to five pups, and they are taught to defend and forage for food by older clan members.
  • Meerkats have a dominant pair in the group, that are the main breeders, and sometimes they will kill the offspring of other meerkats to give their’s the best chance of survival.
Bibliography:
Meerkat, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meerkat
Meerkat, n.d, Melbourne Zoo, http://www.zoo.org.au/melbourne/animals/meerkat

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Bamboo

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Bamboo, Tall, Green, Leaves, Grass, Hollow, Running, Ten Random Facts, Australia.

Plant the bamboo… and watch it grow before your eyes!

  • Bamboo are generally very tall, strong, woody, flowering grass plants that are hollow and cylindrical, and those that are particularly sturdy are used as materials in construction and weapons, as well as many other items.
  • There are 1450 species of bamboo, and they come from the family Poaceae, the family of grass, and they fall into two categories, ‘clumping bamboo’ and ‘running bamboo’, which describes the growth pattern of the roots and rhizomes.
  • One species of bamboo grows up to 91 cm (3 feet) in one day, which is the fastest of all plants in the world.
  • Most continents have native species of bamboo, however there are none native to Europe and Antarctica.
  • Bamboo can grow up to 30 metres (98 feet) in height, or more, although common species generally grow a lot less, and can have a diameter of up to 15 to 20 centimetres (6 to 8 inches).

Bamboo, Tall, Green, Leaves, Grass, Hollow, Running, Ten Random Facts, Australia.

  • Bamboo from tropical regions generally can not stand extreme cold, and some other species can survive up to -29°C (-20°F).
  • Bamboo plants are evergreen and may only flower every 30 to 130 years, sometimes with all the same stock plants of a species flowering at the same time throughout the world, and then dying after flowering.
  • Bamboo shoots, although they contain a poison, cyanide, that can negatively affect the digestive system, can be eaten if the shoots are prepared properly, usually by boiling them, and are generally eaten boiled, pickled or fermented .
  • In China bamboo is an important symbolic plant, symbolising moral principles, among others, and it represents friendship in India.
  • Bamboo is used in a similar way to wood, and different species are used for building materials, kitchen utensils, fabric and paper, and are also the food source of a number of animals, including the well known Chinese giant panda.
Bibliography:
Bamboo, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo
The History of Bamboo, 2011, BambooKi, http://www.bambooki.com/blog/the-history-of-bamboo/

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Ochna Serrulata (Mickey Mouse Bush)

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Ochna Serrulata (Mickey Mouse Bush)

Don’t be mistaken with this plant… it looks like Mickey Mouse!

  • Ochna serrulata is a hardy shrub that is evergreen and usually grows up to 1 to 2.5 metres (3 to 8 feet) in height, although taller plants have been seen.
  • The words ‘Ochna serrulata’ both refer to the leaves of the plant, and the word ‘Ochna’ is of Greek origin, coming from the word ‘Ochne’ meaning ‘wild pear’, and ‘serrulata’ is of Latin origin, from ‘serrula’ meaning ‘little saw’.
  • Ochna serrulata is native to South Africa, commonly found in forests, but the plant has become a highly invasive weed in some parts of Australia and New Zealand, tolerating sunny or shady areas, and it is difficult to remove and eradicate.
  • Ochna serrulata has a number of common names including ‘mall-leaved plane’; ‘bird’s eye bush’; ‘bird’s eye plant’; ‘carnival bush’; ‘carnival ochna’; ‘Mickey Mouse bush’ and ‘Mickey Mouse plant’.
  • Ochna serrulata is from the family Ochnaceae, the family of wild planes, and are one of the 86 species of Ochna shrubs and trees, and is very similar to the Ochna kirkii species that is also called a ‘Mickey Mouse plant, however kirkii has larger and rounder leaves and larger flowers.

Carnival Ochna, Mickey Mouse Plant, Ten Random Facts, Plant, Fruit, Seeds, red sepal, Australia, Vegetation, Small toothed leaves

  • Ochna serrulata shrubs have small, 2 cm  (0.8 in) yellow coloured flowers that bloom in Spring, that do not last long and attract butterflies and bees.
  • Ochna serrulata plants have sepals at the base of the flowers, that grow larger and turn a stunning red when the plant is developing fruit.
  • The fruit of Ochna serrulata plants is commonly consumed by birds, which spread the seeds of the plant in their droppings.
  • Ochna serrulata have spherical fruit that grow in clusters of five or more on the red sepals, starting green and turning black in colour, and with the red sepals, they bring to mind Walt Disney’s ‘Mickey Mouse’, hence the common name, ‘Mickey Mouse bush’.
  • The fruit of Ochna serrulata has been used in traditional African medicine to treat diseases that attacks one’s bones.
Bibliography:
Ochna Serrulate, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochna_serrulata
Mbambezeli G & Notten A, Ochna serrulate (Hochst.) Walp., 2002, Plantz Africa, http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/ochnaserrulat.htm

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Nelson Mandela

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Nelson Mandela

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela

  • Nelson Mandela was the first black president of South Africa and spent much of his life peacefully fighting against the racism of his people, that was rife in his country.
  • Nelson Mandela’s full name was ‘Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’; his English name (Nelson) was given to him by his school teacher on his first day of school, as customary at the time.
  • Nelson Mandela was born on 18 July, 1918, in Mvezo, Cape Province, South Africa, and died on 5 December, 2013, in his home in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the age of 95, due to a long-term lung infection.
  • Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his life imprisoned, in three prisons, being arrested in 1964, for ‘sabotaging’ government buildings, and was released in 1990.
  • Nelson Mandela was often called the ‘Father of a Nation’ and was also known by his clan name, ‘Madiba’.

Nelson Mandela, Death, Award, Johannesburg, South Africa, Former Black President, Ten Random Facts, Flickr

Mandela
Image courtesy of South Africa The Good News
  • Nelson Mandela was born into a state of royalty, but later ran away to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he spent much of his residential life, to avoid an arranged marriage.
  • While in prison, Nelson Mandela’s eyesight was damaged permanently due to the glare on the limestone in the quarry where he worked.
  • Nelson Mandela became president on 10 May, 1994, and retired in 1999, although he continued to express his opinions until he ‘retired from retirement’ in 2004.
  • Nelson Mandela had six children and married three times, and his most recent wife was Graça Machel, whom he married in 1998.
  • Nelson Mandela jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, and received over 250 awards and honours, including a number of statues erected.
Bibliography:
Nelson Mandela, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela
Nelson Mandela’s life and times, 2013, BBC News, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12305154

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Pelargonium

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Pelargonium

The sweet-smelling pelargoniums are confusing.

  • Pelargoniums are a group of 200-250 species of flowering perennial plants, from the Geraniaceae family, the family of geraniums.
  • ‘Pelargoniums’ are also known as ‘storksbills’ and ‘geraniums’, and although they are commonly confused with and called ‘geraniums’, they are different to the species of the same name.
  • Pelargoniums are native mostly to South Africa, although some species are native to Australia, the Middle East, New Zealand and other parts of Africa.
  • ‘Pelargoniums’ is derived from the word ‘stork’ in Greek, ‘pelargos’, while the common name for the plant, ‘storksbill’ refers to the seed head’s shape.
  • Pelargoniums have flowers that can be white, cream, pink, mauve, purple, orange and red in colour, and they bloom mainly in spring and summer.

Pelargonium, Flower, Red, Pink, Stalksbills, Cluster, Leaves, Fence, Plant, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Pelargoniums are evergreen and can also survive in drought and strong sunlight, and the shape and texture of the leaves vary significantly, depending on the species.
  • Pelargoniums have 5-petalled flowers, which are distinguished by colours and patterns; with two petals at the top and three below.
  • Some species of pelargoniums have useful perfume-smelling scents, including mint, rose, fruits and spices.
  • Most pelargonium flowers and leaves can be eaten, and they are used in the flavouring, of primarily, desserts.
  • Pelargonium oil, extracted from scented leaves, is sometimes used as a relaxing agent, while parts of the plant can be used to treat sicknesses and injury.
Bibliography:
Pelargonium, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelargonium
Plant Profile: Pelargoniums, 2011, Gardening Australia, http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1866723.htm

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Hippopotamus

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Hippopotamus

Yawn like a hippopotamus.

  • A hippopotamus is also known as a ‘hippo’, and is from the family Hippopotamidae, the family of hippotamuses.
  • The term ‘hippopotamus’ comes from the words for ‘river horse’ in Ancient Greek, and its scientific name is Hippopotamus amphibius.
  • Hippopotamuses are large cylindrical-shaped mammals, with a big round body, large teeth and short legs.
  • Hippopotamuses are native to the rivers and other aquatic areas of Africa, and live for 40 to 50 years in the wild, on average.
  • In the water hippopotamuses are territorial, and are said to be the most dangerous large animal in Africa, where hundreds of people are killed by them annually.
Nile Hippopotamus, wallows, mud, many, multiple, water, Mara River, Africa, Ten Random Facts, National Geographic
Hippos
Image courtesy of National Geographic
  • Hippopotamuses are generally found in groups of 10-30, mainly consisting of females and children with one dominant male, but they can live in herds of up to a hundred.
  • Hippopotamuses can grow to 3.3 to 5.5 metres (11 to 17 feet) in length and weigh, on average, 1,300 to 1,800 kilograms (2,900 to 4,000 pounds), although one was recorded weighing 4,500 kilograms (9,900 pounds).
  • Hippopotamuses can run at speeds of 30 km per hour (19 mph) on land, and swim at speeds of 8 km per hour (5 mph).
  • Hippopotamuses can stretch their mouth up to 180° and they sharpen their teeth by grinding them together.
  • Hippopotamuses are generally a mix of purple, brown and black in colour, and they excrete a thick, red-pink coloured liquid through their skin to protect them from the sun.
Bibliography:
Hippo, 2013, San Diego Zoo, http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/hippo
Hippopotamus, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippopotamus

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