EYES - The structure of an African Wild Dog's eye is the same as any other vertebrate.
The sclera is the white over coat of the eye and acts as protection from injury, as well as providing attachment for the extraocular muscles that move the eye.
The fovea is a tiny area of the eye that is responsible for central, sharp vision.
The retina receives the light the lens has focused and converts it into neural signals.
The optic nerves transfers visual information from the retina to the brain.
The lens, by changing shape, functions to change the focal distance of the eye so that it can focus on objects at various distances. This is beneficial for a wild dog as it may want to focus on an individual prey animal that is far away instead of some bushes that are near by.
Light enters the eye via the pupil and the iris regulates the amount of light by controlling the size of the pupil.
The cornea functions as the eye's outermost lens and controls and focuses the entry of light into the eye.
The aqueous humour is the watery fluid between the cornea and the crystalline lens. It maintains the pressure needed to inflate the eye and provides nutrition for the central cornea and lens as they do not have their own blood supply.
The conjunctivia is a thin, semi-transparent membrane that covers the exposed white of the eyeball. It also lines the inner eyelids of an African Wild Dog.
The virteous humour is a clear jelly that fills the middle of the eye and lies between the crystalline lens and the retina. It minimally contributes to the optical power of the eye and has a small role in maintaining the structural stability of the eye and retinal health.
The sclera is the white over coat of the eye and acts as protection from injury, as well as providing attachment for the extraocular muscles that move the eye.
The fovea is a tiny area of the eye that is responsible for central, sharp vision.
The retina receives the light the lens has focused and converts it into neural signals.
The optic nerves transfers visual information from the retina to the brain.
The lens, by changing shape, functions to change the focal distance of the eye so that it can focus on objects at various distances. This is beneficial for a wild dog as it may want to focus on an individual prey animal that is far away instead of some bushes that are near by.
Light enters the eye via the pupil and the iris regulates the amount of light by controlling the size of the pupil.
The cornea functions as the eye's outermost lens and controls and focuses the entry of light into the eye.
The aqueous humour is the watery fluid between the cornea and the crystalline lens. It maintains the pressure needed to inflate the eye and provides nutrition for the central cornea and lens as they do not have their own blood supply.
The conjunctivia is a thin, semi-transparent membrane that covers the exposed white of the eyeball. It also lines the inner eyelids of an African Wild Dog.
The virteous humour is a clear jelly that fills the middle of the eye and lies between the crystalline lens and the retina. It minimally contributes to the optical power of the eye and has a small role in maintaining the structural stability of the eye and retinal health.
EARS - The ear of an African Wild Dog can be divided into four parts; the ear flap (auricle or pinna), external ear canal, middle ear and internal (inner ear).
The pinnae are highly mobile and can be controlled independently. More than a dozen separate muscles control the movement of the ear and the entire area is richly supplied with blood vessels and nerves.
The pinna of the external ear is a funnel-like plate of cartilage that receives air vibrations and transmits them via the ear canal to the eardrum.
The ear canal is lined with both apocrine and sebaceous glands which produce a protective coating of earwax.
The eardrum separates the external ear from the middle ear and is the area where vibrations sent from the external ear are focused and amplified. There are three small bones within the middle ear (the malleus, incus and stapes) that transmit the vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.
The inner ear consists of two main parts; the cochlea (the end organ for hearing) and the vestibule and semicircular canals (the end organ for balance). Inside the cochlea are specialized hair cells that pick up auditory vibrations and synapse directly within the auditory nerve.
The ears of an African Wild Dog are very large and wide. This helps them to pick up more air vibrations so they can hear prey, other wild dogs or animals over a long distance.
NOSE - The African Wild Dog has two nostrils (nares) divided by a cartilaginous and bony septum. When the wild dog flares its nostrils to sniff, the shape of the nostril openings change thus allowing redirection of air into the upper part of the snout and more direct airflow to the olfactory area, The slit at the side of the nares is used in the expiration of breath during sniffing.
Wild dogs require such adaptations to their nares to be able to pick up scents that are vital to their survival. This could be the smell of prey animals, available mates, their offspring etc.
Wild dogs require such adaptations to their nares to be able to pick up scents that are vital to their survival. This could be the smell of prey animals, available mates, their offspring etc.
MOUTH - The mouth is the entrance to the gastrointestinal tract. The roof is called the palate. The front portion consists of a bone covered by a membrane and is called the hard palate. The hard palate separates the mouth from the nasal passages.
The soft rear part of the roof of the mouth is called the soft palate. It forms a flexible curtain between the back of the mouth, known as the oropharynx, and the back of the nasal cavity.
The teeth and tongue are also located in the mouth. The tongue is the main organ for taste in the mouth.
The tongue is an elongated muscular organ with the top surface covered covered with specialised structures called papillae. They contain tiny pores that lead to taste buds.
African Wild Dogs need their sharp teeth to catch and dispatch prey and fight off rivals and other predators. The taste buds can also help males detect bitches in heat.
The soft rear part of the roof of the mouth is called the soft palate. It forms a flexible curtain between the back of the mouth, known as the oropharynx, and the back of the nasal cavity.
The teeth and tongue are also located in the mouth. The tongue is the main organ for taste in the mouth.
The tongue is an elongated muscular organ with the top surface covered covered with specialised structures called papillae. They contain tiny pores that lead to taste buds.
African Wild Dogs need their sharp teeth to catch and dispatch prey and fight off rivals and other predators. The taste buds can also help males detect bitches in heat.
SKIN - The skin of a wild dog is composed of three layers.
The first is the epidermis which is the outer layer and provides protection from foreign substances. It is composed of multiple types of cells but the ones that are associated with touch are the Merkel cells.
Merkel cells are specialised cells that are associated with the sensory organs in the skin. In particular, these cells help provide the African Wild Dog with sensory information from its whiskers.
The next layer of skin is the Basement Membrane Zone. It connects the epidermis to the final layer of skin below and serves as a protective barrier between the skin layers.
The last layer of skin is the dermis. Sensory nerves are located in the dermis and hair follicles which allows the skin to react to humidity, pain, temperature etc.
Wild dogs skin is adapted in such a way to protect them against injury from fighting, catching prey etc, and to help them react to other potential dangers. For example, with the hot climate the African Wild Dogs live in they need to be able to detect then they are too warm so they can move somewhere cooler and avoid overheating.
The first is the epidermis which is the outer layer and provides protection from foreign substances. It is composed of multiple types of cells but the ones that are associated with touch are the Merkel cells.
Merkel cells are specialised cells that are associated with the sensory organs in the skin. In particular, these cells help provide the African Wild Dog with sensory information from its whiskers.
The next layer of skin is the Basement Membrane Zone. It connects the epidermis to the final layer of skin below and serves as a protective barrier between the skin layers.
The last layer of skin is the dermis. Sensory nerves are located in the dermis and hair follicles which allows the skin to react to humidity, pain, temperature etc.
Wild dogs skin is adapted in such a way to protect them against injury from fighting, catching prey etc, and to help them react to other potential dangers. For example, with the hot climate the African Wild Dogs live in they need to be able to detect then they are too warm so they can move somewhere cooler and avoid overheating.
VIBRISSAE - Vibrissae is a much thicker and stiffer form of hair that consists of an inert material and contains no nerves. Unlike other hair structures vibrissae grow from a special hair follicle incorporating a capsule of blood called a blood sinus which is heavily innervated by sensory nerves. When the vibrissae touch something, this information is sent to the nerves.
The African Wild Dog requires vibrissae to determine whether they can move through tight spaces without becoming stuck and, while they have decent night vision, help the dogs to move around in the dark by feeling obstacles before the dog hits them.
The African Wild Dog requires vibrissae to determine whether they can move through tight spaces without becoming stuck and, while they have decent night vision, help the dogs to move around in the dark by feeling obstacles before the dog hits them.
