The Lions Of Aruba Dam In Tsavo East National Park

Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo East Kenya, Tsavo Lion, Ashnil Aruba Lodge, Tsavo Wildlife, Wild Kenya Safaris, Safaris From Diani, Wildlife Kenya, Shazaad Kasmani, Wildlife Diaries, Tsavo Safari, Kenya Safari

Fully grown dominant male lion of the Aruba Pride in Tsavo East Kenya

Among the many different lion prides that i have been meticulously following the lives of for the last few years in Tsavo East National Park, one of the most regularly spotted by visitors is a pride that i have called "The Aruba Pride".

With over fifteen members in the family, this pride's most preferred area of their territory is the vicinity of Aruba Dam which is located right opposite Ashnil Aruba Lodge. The dam holds plenty of water during the wet season while a windmill runs a borehole that supplies a small waterhole for the really dry periods. So with adequate water all year round, relatively few bushes and lots of grass about, Aruba Dam is a real favorite hangout for the lions favorite prey which includes zebra, buffalo and hartebeest. So its no coincidence that the pride can be spotted regularly or at least heard calling during the night for most days of the month.

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The Unique Looking Guitar Fish

Guitar Fish resting on the sea bed One of the most interesting characteristics about the guitar fish is its unique body shape. It seemingly looks like a cross between a shark and a ray - with its flattened ray like head yet it has a long shark like body with dorsal fins - but this fish is actually a classification of its own and has about 50 subspecies. The guitar fish prefers to remain tranquil on the sea bed, partly covering itself with sand to camouflage itself for any unsuspecting prey such as crabs or small fish that may come past it. Reaching sizes of approximately two meters in length, they are quite docile so can easily be approached by underwater photographers.

The Roughness Of A Lions Tongue

A lions tongue has numerous tiny spines called papillae Pet lovers with a domestic cat at home will relate to this story quite well, as they would have had their hands or fingers licked by their cat's tongue at some point or another. A lion’s tongue is no less different in design to that of a house cats, with the exception that its sheer size and heaviness would make a lions tongue as rough and harsh as sandpaper! But why is the lions tongue so rough and how is this beneficial? The reason for its roughness is that the surface of the lions tongue is covered in many tiny spines called papillae, which are further divided into 3 types namely; Filiform, Fungiform and Vallate papillae. The cats filiform papillae which is located on the tongues dorsal surface, is the main reason for the roughness, and these can also be compared to barbs since they face backwards in the direction of the throat. Having a barbed tongue is beneficial to the lion for a number of reasons. I...

Lions Mating Up Close In Kenya

This lion and lioness are mating really close to the road.

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