Zvíře
Somali wild ass
Large ears and modest food requirements help it survive in dry habitats.
Jazyk obsahu
The Somali wild ass’s large ears do more than hear. They help release excess heat, reducing the risk of overheating. This is an important adaptation for an animal of deserts and semi-deserts. It tolerates water shortages well and can cope with mountainous terrain. In dry surroundings, physical endurance matters, along with the ability to make use of sparse food.
The Somali wild ass eats grasses, herbs and tree bark. Its modest dietary requirements help it survive where vegetation can be scarce. It belongs to the horse family and the order of odd-toed ungulates. Its body can reach two metres in length, with a shoulder height of about 1.4 metres. An adult can weigh up to 275 kilograms, making it a substantial herbivore despite its undemanding diet.
In the wild, its daily life is shaped by dry conditions rather than work for people. When watching the animal, the size of its ears in relation to its head is particularly clear: their large surface helps release heat from its body.
Pro děti
The Somali wild ass’s large ears help it hear, but they have another job: releasing excess heat. That is useful for an animal living in deserts and semi-deserts. It tolerates a lack of water and can cope with mountainous ground.
It eats grasses, herbs and tree bark, without needing a rich menu. It belongs to the horse family, and its body can be two metres long. An adult weighs up to 275 kilograms and stands about 1.4 metres at the withers, the part of the back above the front legs.
A baby develops inside its mother for about a year. The Somali wild ass is a wild animal whose body helps it survive in dry surroundings. Compare its ears with the rest of its head: they are a very visible feature of this desert resident.
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Apart from hearing, what do the large ears help the wild ass do?
- Umístění
- Somali wild ass