AFRICAN ELEPHANT (Species Fact Sheet)
The largest living land mammal, the African elephant can drink 50 gallons of water at a time and can consume hundreds of pounds of food per day. Their large ears flap continuously in the hot sun to cool their bodies and to chase away annoying flies. Their highly flexible trunks are made up of hundreds of muscles and do not contain any bones at all. Elephants use a number of audio signals to communicate with each other, some of which are such low frequency that they are completely inaudible to humans.

For additional information, check these Web Sites:
www.seaworld.org
www.awf.org/wildlives
www.oaklandzoo.org
www.hoglezoo.org

ELAND (Species Fact Sheet)
The eland is the largest of the African antelope species, males reaching 6 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing 1500 lbs. Both males and females have straight, screw-like horns that can grow to 3 feet long. A flap of skin called a dewlap hangs down at the front of the neck, and bears a tuft of hair on the end of it. They are found in small herds in open habitats of east Africa.

For additional information, check these Web Sites:
www.awf.org/wildlives
www.oaklandzoo.org

OSTRICH (Species Fact Sheet)
These easily recognizable creatures are the world's largest birds. Because their wing muscles are not strong enough to support their weight, ostriches cannot fly. Adult males, which can weigh as much as 350 lbs. and can grow to eight feet tall, are distinguished by their black feathers. Females and immature male ostriches have dull gray feathers.

For additional information, check these Web Sites:
www.seaworld.org
www.stlzoo.org

WILDEBEEST (Species Fact Sheet)
An unusual member of the antelope family is the wildebeest, also known as the gnu. Due to their muscular shoulders and thin legs, they have a top-heavy appearance. There is a fringe of hair on their chests, and their faces are strongly whiskered. Their horns curve out over their ears and turn sharply upward at the ends. Wildebeest dominate the plains and acacia savannas of southeastern Africa, where they feed on short grasses.

For additional information, check these Web Sites:
www.kidszoo.org
www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org

WATERBUCK (Species Fact Sheet)
These large, shaggy brown antelope are easily recognized from the rear by the target-like white circles on their rumps. Waterbuck rove in small herds in grassy or lightly wooded areas of central Africa. The most water dependent of all the antelope species, they are never found far from the edge of a marsh or river.

For additional information, check this Web Site:
www.awf.org/wildlives
www.honoluluzoo.org

MOUFLON (Species Fact Sheet)
The mouflon is thought to be one of two original ancestors of all modern day sheep. It originated on the islands of Corsica, Sardinia, and Cyprus, but has recently been introduced in much of Europe. Like most wild sheep, the mouflon lives in mountainous terrain, usually above the tree line or in mountain meadows. In Corsica it lives on steep-sided rocky peaks, where it is protected from predators. It has a red-brown color with a dark area along its back, and lighter colored side patches. Its underparts are white as well as the bottom half of their legs. It has a white muzzle and white circles around its eyes.

A mouflon is about the size of a medium sheep with a weight range of 55-120 pounds. They are 4-5 feet long, and stand about 2-4 feet tall at the shoulders. They have a rough coat, and during the winter grow a woolly under coat that keeps them warm.

For additional information, check these Web Sites:
www.rossparkzoo.com
www.torontozoo.com