Lecture Notes on Hippos, Reptiles, Hyenas, and Giraffes

Flashcards created from lecture notes covering hippos, reptiles, hyenas, and giraffes, highlighting key features, adaptations, and social behaviors.

What features of rivers do hippos prefer?

Hippos prefer slow-moving, shallow rivers with soft, sandy bottoms, deep pools for submersion, and nearby grassy banks for grazing.

What is bradycardia in hippos?

Bradycardia is the slowing down of the heart rate when diving, which helps conserve oxygen.

How do hippos sleep underwater?

Hippos can sleep underwater as their bodies instinctively rise to the surface to breathe without waking up.

What types of sounds do hippos make, and their purposes?

Hippos use grunts, bellows, and wheezes for communication, territorial defense, and social bonding.

What is the function of the hippo's red/pink secretion?

The secretion acts as a natural sunscreen and has antimicrobial properties to prevent infections.

Why do dominant male hippos commit infanticide?

Dominant males may kill unweaned calves to bring the mothers back into estrus, which is a reproductive strategy.

How does hippo grazing affect plant community structure?

Hippo grazing tramples and overgrazes riverbanks, causing erosion and reducing plant diversity but favoring grass regrowth.

What is the Marginal Value Theorem (MVT) in relation to hippos?

MVT describes how animals balance time in a food patch with transit time; hippos stay longer in high-yield areas close to water.

What are the components and effects of snake venom?

Snake venom contains neurotoxic 3FTx and KUN proteins that disrupt neurotransmitters and inhibits blood clotting.

What is a notable characteristic of the black mamba?

The black mamba is a highly venomous, fast, and aggressive African snake known for its potent neurotoxic venom.

What social structure do hyenas have?

Hyenas have a matriarchal society where females dominate males, leading to better access to food and mating for high-ranking females.

What is the Trivers-Willard Hypothesis?

The hypothesis states that parents adjust offspring sex ratio based on their condition: better condition leads to more sons, while poorer condition results in more daughters.

How do giraffes minimize predator threats?

Giraffes use their height for early predator detection and employ powerful kicks for defense.

What is significant about giraffe reproduction?

Giraffe females have a long gestation period of about 15 months and may form nursery groups, known as creches, for their calves.

Describe how giraffes have adapted to their environment.

Giraffes have long legs and necks for reaching foliage, specialized blood circulation to maintain brain blood flow, and physical adaptations to minimize heat absorption.