The Hole Story - Part 1 Mammals

The Hole Story - Part 1 Mammals

In African deserts and arid-savannas, the air temperature frequently exceeds 40 degrees Celsius in summer, while the surface of the sand may rise to a blistering 70 degrees. In winter, the very same places are subjected to chilling temperatures after dark and heavy ground frosts may occur. But interestingly, just 30 centimetres below the ground, the temperature throughout the day and night remains at a comfortable average of about 20 degrees in winter and a bearable 30 degrees in summer. It is no wonder then that so many creatures spend so much time underground.

Among the larger mammals which find refuge in burrows are the nocturnal Aardwolf, Honey Badger, Porcupine and - of course - the Aardvark. This last mentioned - a bizarre blend of pig and bear, but mostly anteater - is responsible not only for its own often cavernous burrows, but also for providing suitable refuge for a host of other creatures. Both Spotted and Brown Hyena commonly commandeer and enlarge Aardvark as breeding dens, as do Warthogs. For these larger creatures, getting underground is not only a matter of insulation, it is also an anti-predator strategy. Entrances to burrows are only just big enough to allow the owner in, larger intruders will have to dig and this often allows for a 'back door' escape. Often, there is devilish U-bend corner, which serves as a further barrier to a would-be predator, although pythons and mambas have no problem with such a device.

Out in the desert or the savanna, you'll see evidence of the excavations and nocturnal wanderings of a host of wildlife. Footprints, scratchings and diggings - it takes a skilled tracker to determine who has been where, and done what, with whom! Indeed, this is so much a part of the excitement of an African adventure - ongoing detective work, anticipation and eventual excitement.

Most rodents are nocturnal and spend a good deal of time underground during the day, but there is one mammal which has decided not to bother coming above ground at all! The Naked Molerat is no pin-up - the wrinkled skin, bristles and buck-teeth make sure of that - but it sure is an interesting little critter. Colonies of up to 75 live in a hierarchical caste system - not unlike that of termites or bees - in which a single 'queen' is responsible for producing young (up to four litters of 12 'puppies' a year). 'Drones' and 'workers' have digging, foraging and carrying roles as the colony subsists largely on the succulent roots of trees, bulbs and tubers. The Naked Molerat is confined to the Horn of Africa (Somalia, Ethiopia and Northern Kenya).

CC Africa Burrow Hot Spots

Kwandwe for Aardwolf, Aardvark, Springhare and Elephant Shrew; Phinda for Aardvark and Side-striped Jackal; Sossusvlei for Cape Fox, Springhare and Brown Hyena; Londolozi for African Civet, Spotted Hyena and Pangolin; Ngala for Honey Badger, Dwarf Mongoose and African Civet; Nxabega and Sandibe for Springhare, Wild Dog and Bat-eared Fox; Kichwa Tembo for Banded Mongoose; Ngorongoro Crater for Golden Jackal and Bat-eared Fox; Grumeti for Spotted Hyena and Bat-eared Fox; Klein's Camp for Spotted Hyena and White-tailed Mongoose; Matetsi for Aardvark, Spotted Hyena and Wild Dog.

In our next edition, we'll look at African birds which breed in burrows.

-Duncan Butchart-

Posted: Other by CC Africa, Date: 21 November 2006