Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 5.15 Rock hyraxes are found on rocky outcrops in the drier forest and savannas
of Africa. (Photo by author.)
mongooses are medium-size carnivores that are mainly terrestrial, eating insects
and small vertebrates. The fossa is a unique species in this family that occurs only
in Madagascar. It is cat like in appearance and is the largest carnivore on the island,
with its main habitat being the dry forests. It hunts on the ground and in the trees,
taking birds, eggs, lemurs, rodents, and invertebrates.
The African golden cat is rare in seasonal forests of Africa. Other small cats, such
as servals and caracals, are more abundant. Leopards are solitary, nocturnal large
cats in the forest; cheetahs and lions hunt prey in the open dry forests and woodlands.
Birds
A variety of bird species live within the African seasonal forests region. Some are
permanent residents, while others migrate from the rainforest or savanna to the dry
forest when food is plentiful. Still others migrate from northern and southern mid-
latitudes to spend the winter in these forests. The most common birds seen are cuck-
oos, tinkerbirds, greenbuls, woodpeckers, cuckoo shrikes, bush shrikes, flycatchers,
drongos, waxbills, hornbills, and the endemic turacos. Several species of brightly col-
ored sunbirds are present along with weaver birds with their long pendulous nests in
the forest trees. Guinea fowl, spurfowl, and francolins roam the forest floor. Preda-
tory and scavenging birds are also found in the seasonal forests. Many species of
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