Evolutionary Designs of African Animals

1. Evolutionary Designs of African Animals • Danielle Lesso • College of Engineering • Pennsylvania State University • [mwanasimba]

2. During the dry season in the African grasslands, fiercecompetition exists among the animals for water • [cnx.org]

3. On the African savannah, predators of different sizes and strategies compete for large herd animals

4. This talk presents evolutionary designs of the largest, tallest, and fastest land animals on the planet • African Elephant • Cheetah • Giraffe

5. Modern elephants are the only remaining species of a vast order of animals [www.nationalelephantcenter.org] • [www.defenders.org] • 5

6. Elephants have changed size and shape over time [www.smallkidshomework.com] • 6

7. Using infrasonic sounds, elephants can communicate up to several kilometers apart infrasonic • Human • hearing • range • [www.birds.cornell.edu] • 7

8. Infrasonic communication is made possible by the elephant’s unique hyoid and trunk time [www.sciencdirect.com] • 8 • [www.birds.cornell.edu]

9. Elephants can communicate long distances by using seismic vibrations • 9

10. Elephants can also physically generate seismic vibrations [physiologyonline.physiology.org] • 10

11. Seismic signals are picked up in the elephants’ wide feet • Fatty Cushion • 11 • [physiologyonline.physiology.org]

12. Elephants are masters of communication, thanks to key evolutionary designs [www.pixabay.com] • 12

13. Reflection on the delivery of this section’s speakers

14. Giraffes are truly unique African mammals [zoo.org] [flickr.com] [commons.wikimedia.org]

15. Evolutionary designs help giraffes survive in the dangerous African savannah • [Fore, Himes, Thomas; Dr. Eric Chudler]

16. The coat of the giraffe aids in camouflage and parasite protection • [commons.wikimedia.org] • benzene • p-cresol [Fore, Himes, Thomas]

17. Giraffes’ coats also play a role in thermoregulation • [commons.wikimedia.org] [universalhealthcarela.com] • Sites of thermoregulation

18. The circulatory system of giraffes overcomes the challenges posed by the animal’s height • [panzajpanal.pl]

19. Valves in the neck arteries keep giraffes from passing out when they have to live their lift heads quickly [wiki.hicksvilleschools.org] [panzajpanal.pl]

20. Characteristic height and good eyesight are also key to survival • Left • Right • Both [Fore, Himes, Thomas]

21. The giraffe is very capable of survival, thanks to evolutionary designs [commons.wikimedia.org]

22. Reflection on the delivery of this section’s speakers

23. Cheetahs have evolved into excellent hunters • [commons.wikimedia.org] • [en.wikipedia.org]

24. A cheetah is a great hunter because of its speed, keen senses, and clever strategies • Speed Senses [wildencounters.net] [wildencounters.net] Strategies • [flickr.com] • [flickr.com] • [kreatifdinz.blogspot.com] [pixabay.com] [pixabay.com] • [luxurytravelblog.net]

25. A cheetah has an extremely flexible spine, powering its long stride • [flickr.com] • [youtube.com]

26. The long tails of cheetahs allow them to make quick turns, while their claws provide traction • [art.com]

27. A cheetah relies on both its eyesight and its hearing to locate and stalk prey • [flickr.com] • [philtulga.com]

28. The cheetah uses strategy to complement its physical advantages during hunting • [worldnomads.com]

29. There are drawbacks to being the fastest • land animal • [www.wildencounters.net]

30. Even with the drawbacks, the cheetah is a unique predator because of its evolutionary design [flickr.com]

31. In summary, evolutionary designs have allowed elephants, giraffes, and cheetahs to survive in extreme conditions African Elephant • Cheetah • Giraffe

32. However, man poses challenges to these species that evolutionary change might not be able to overcome • [Pringle] • [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service]

33. Reflection on the delivery of this section’s speakers