BIOMES OF THE EARTH - GRASSLANDS Part 6 doc

LIFE ON THE GRASSLANDS 127

times more, and hunts mainly at night. Antelope and zebras

are among its prey, but hyenas also feed on carrion. There are

three species of hyenas. The striped (Hyaena hyaena) and

brown (H. brunnea) hyenas are smaller than the spotted

hyena and less social.

Hunting dogs and hyenas are impressive hunters, but the

lion (Panthera leo) is by far the most famous meat eater of the

savanna. Nowadays lions are found only in Africa and in a

very small part of northwestern India, but at one time they

lived throughout most of Europe and the Middle East.

Lions live in family groups, called prides, which comprise

up to three adult males and up to 15 adult females together

with their young. Known since ancient times as the “king of

beasts,” a male lion is about four feet (1.2 m) tall at the shoul￾der and 10 feet (3 m) long, not counting the tail, and it

weighs 330–530 pounds (150–240 kg). It is a truly formidable

animal, but in fact the male seldom takes part in the hunt.

His job is to defend the family’s territory and keep rival males

away from the females. Hunting is left mainly to the lioness￾es. Lions will eat small birds, lizards, and animals as small as

mice, but their diet consists mainly of gazelle, antelope, and

The spotted hyena

(Crocuta crocuta)

inhabits grasslands over

most of Africa south of

the Sahara. A highly

social animal, it lives

mainly by scavenging,

but it is also a

formidable hunter.

(Courtesy of Fogstock)

zebra. A single lion can kill any of these, but when several

lions work together, they can kill bigger prey, such as buffalo

and giraffes. Lions stalk their prey, slowly advancing until

they are within about 100 feet (30 m) of the target before

charging. If a lion is lucky—and three of every four lion

attacks fail—it will be able to grab its victim or knock it to the

ground with a blow from its paw before the prey animal has

time to escape. When several lionesses hunt together, they

try to surround the prey, cutting off its escape routes.

Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) also stalk their prey, and this

part of the hunt can last several hours. Once it charges, how￾ever, a cheetah can outrun its prey. It can accelerate rapidly

to about 60 MPH (96 km/h), but it cannot maintain this

speed long. Most chases last no more than about 20 seconds

and cover about 560 feet (170 m). Cheetahs hunt hares, small

antelope, gazelles, wildebeest calves, and birds, including

ostriches. Centuries ago wealthy people in the Middle East

and India kept cheetahs for hunting antelope. They are ele￾gant animals and a cheetah is easily distinguished from other

128 GRASSLANDS

Lions (Panthera leo)

resting on the African

savanna. On the open

grasslands where there

is little cover, lions

must hunt by stealth.

(Courtesy of Fogstock)

(opposite page) The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a cat built

for speed. It stalks its prey until it is close enough to give chase,

when it can reach 60 MPH (96 km/h) over a short distance.

(Courtesy of Fogstock)