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Thanks Imberbe, I'll be back this evening

Apologies for forgetting this one before I went away;

Thanks to all for taking part; Bishop had full marks on this one, Tom second.....first to post is IT!

Hi guys I am new to this quiz, but I will be sure to catch the next one!

Shall I?.... OK

Serval!



1. The largest prey recorded taken by a serval was a(n):
a) Ostrich
b) Thompson's Gazelle
c) Springbok
d) Tsessebe

2. The average success rate for a hunting serval in the day is approx.:
a) 5%
b) 20%
c) 40%
d) 50%

3. The average success rate for a serval hunting at night is approx.:

a) 0%
b) 33%
c) 67%
d) 99%

4. The white marks on the back of the ears are primarily used for:
a) Camoflauge
b) Keeping within the sight of kittens
c) To reflect sun from their head
d) It is actually a genetic trait with no use whatsoever.

Enjoy!

1. B
2. A
3. C
4. B

I don't have my books here at work so doing some research on the internet.

1 - Largest prey on record: c) Springbok (Guessing here: "Young of several antelope such as duiker...")

2 - Daily success rate : d) 50% Others say 40% (also see below)

3 - Nocturnal success rate : No correct option Some say 59/60% (also see below)

(Geertsema’s (1985) four-year study in the Ngorongoro Crater is the most detailed investigation to date of serval ecology. She found serval-hunting success to average 49%, with no significant difference between day and moonlit night. After giving birth to kittens, one female increased her success to 62% from 48%. - http://www.junglecats.com/serval___lapt ... serval.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

4 - White patches on back of ears : b) Keeping within the sight of kittens

Also found various options

1. C. Springbok according to Wikipedia

Book sources:
- 7 kg Thomson's gazelle fawn (Wild cats of the world by Melvin E. and Fiona Sunquist)
- female impala (Carnivores by Jonathan Kingdon)
- female impala ( Wild cat species of the world by Richard Green)

2. C. 40 % (But like Bishop also found al lot of 50%)

3. C. 67 % according Wikipedia

4. B.

As I've said before I don't trust Wikipedia as a "scientific" source. I didn't even look at them for this. I would love to see their source for that 67% success rate at night. I've not seen anything close to that all round. The site that is referred to in relation to that note 6 is also one I look at today and nowhere on there does it show any success rate. And that is one of the main problems I have with Wikipedia as I've said before.

And of course other sites need to be trusted with just as much care. It is easy to say, in the study of Geertsema that I quoted for example, that you have referred to that study/book, and that is the result. How many of us will actually have access to that study, and then of those, how many will go look it up? (I would like to have the study, but won't necessarily confirm the site's answer even if I have it.)

And of course the problem with books is that, generally, their studies or information are limited to a specific region. That might be a large region such as Smithers' Southern Africa, or it might be Ngorongoro as for Geertsema.

But, whatever, let us see what Tom has to say.

Here I go!

1. B
2. B
3. C
4. B

Hope I did well!

Well, Bishop I haven't used Wikipedia for this, and I rarely do, except in times of dire need. With 2 and 3 I had to use the qualifier "approx". because I was aware that my limited supply of books may not be 100% up-to-date and accurate. Please keep in mind I'm doing the best I can!

Hippo-Fan, you're it! Well done

Thanks Tom I love doing research on the internet and books and often find conflicting answers. By putting that up here and discuss them, I believe we even learn more.

Horse Antelopes

Match Roan, Sable and Oryx

1. Distribution
a. Somali-Masai and South West Arid zones
b. Restricted to the Southern Savanna
c. Formerly one of the widest-rangest antelopes

2. Social Organization
a. Territorial, mostly sedentary/dispersed in small herds
b. Territorial, gregarious, sedentary, with a tendency to more extensive movements where wet and dry seasons ranges separated.
c. Nomadic, gregarious, mixed herds and some solitary

3. Activity
a. Visit waterholes frequently, if not daily, often at midday and sometimes at night
b. Tending to be late risers, especially on cool mornings
c. Information about activity is very limited

4. Dominance / Threat displays
a. Head turned toward opponent or in frontal approach, head turned away slightly and ear pointing at opponent.
b. Lateral display of erect posture, medial, high and low-horn presentation
c. Lateral display of erect posture, approach in lowstretch, rubbing head/horns on opponent

Sorry Tom, didn't mean to take you on.

Aren't we all just doing the best we can? I surely would love to know a lot more than the very little I do. And every time I have to start finding answers to a question I realise just once again how little I in fact do know!

Which brings me to that 67% again. If you didn't take it off Wikipedia, but from a book - care to share the title/author/ISBN please? I'd like to take a look at it. Wife says I've got enough books, but I don't agree...

Hippo-fan! Well done, and nice Q on the next one too.

Hey, no bother at all Bishop.

The book is "On the Trail of Big Cats" by Geraldine Veron. I don't know if you already have this book, so I won't pass judgement on it publicly....yet but it comes in handy for quizzes. At the end of the day, my information may be out of date or any other mountain of reasons