Raptor eating its prey: a Southern Giant Pouched Rat

Raptors are birds of prey, such as eagles, hawks, vultures, kites, and buzzards.

They have strong, sharp beaks and even stronger claws, called talons.

This photograph is a Yellow-Billed Black Kite (Milvus aegyptius) from Kenya.

Its prey is a Southern Giant Pouched Rat (Cricetomys ansorgei), which is a rodent in the Nesomyidae family, found in southern and eastern Africa.

The Southern Giant Pouched Rat has a long grey-furred body, dark tail, and long incisor teeth. It can grow up to 75 centimetres (29 inches) from nose to the end of its tail.

 

Yellow-Billed Kite

Yellow-Billed Black Kite with a Southern Giant Pouched Rat

Yellow-Billed Kite

Yellow-Billed Black Kite with a Southern Giant Pouched Rat

Yellow-Billed Kite

Yellow-Billed Black Kite with a Southern Giant Pouched Rat

Yellow-Billed Kite

Yellow-Billed Black Kite with a Southern Giant Pouched Rat

Southern Giant Pouched Rat

Southern Giant Pouched Rat

 

 

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

 

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