It eats fig leaves and other plant material (seeds, fruit and berries) that can be found near the riverbanks. Saola is diurnal (active during the day) animal. It is the most active during morning and later in the afternoon.
Then, what kind of plants do saola eat?
Robichaud offered spleenwort (Asplenium) fern species, broad dark-green plants of the genus Homalomena, and various species of broad-leaved shrubs or trees of the subfamily Sterculiaceae to the captive animal. The saola fed on all plants, and showed a preference for the Sterculiaceae species.
Saola is herbivore (plant-eating animal ). It eats fig leaves and other plant material (seeds, fruit and berries) that can be found near the riverbanks. Saola is diurnal (active during the day) animal. It is the most active during morning and later in the afternoon.
Aside from humans, larger animals that live in the forests, such as tigers, are also likely to hunt the saola. The saola is often referred to as a unicorn because it is such a rare animal, and almost seems to be imaginary.
Saola are presumed to reside in mountain forests during the wet seasons and move down to the lowlands in winter. The species is presumed to have been formerly distributed in wet forests at low elevations, but these areas are now densely populated, degraded, and fragmented.
What is the scientific name for a saola?
For typhoons named Saola, see Typhoon Saola. The saola ( Pseudoryx nghetinhensis ), also called spindlehorn, Asian unicorn, or infrequently, Vu Quang bovid, is one of the world’s rarest large mammals, a forest-dwelling bovine native to the Annamite Range in Vietnam and Laos.
The Saola in captivity mainly eats asplenium ferns, which is a species of about 700 different types of ferns.
Where does saola live?
Saola inhabit wet evergreen or deciduous forests in eastern Southeast Asia, preferring river valleys. Sightings have been reported from steep river valleys at 300–1800 m above sea level. In Vietnam and Laos, their range appears to cover approximately 5000 km 2, including four nature reserves.
Map data provided by IUCN. The saola was discovered in May 1992 during a joint survey carried out by the Ministry of Forestry of Vietnam and WWF in north-central Vietnam.
Saola’s skin is thick and it prevents serious injuries when two saolas collide during fight for females or territory. Saola is herbivore (plant-eating animal). It eats fig leaves and other plant material (seeds, fruit and berries) that can be found near the riverbanks. Saola is diurnal (active during the day) animal.
What does the saola browse?
Local villagers have reported that the saola browses on leafy plants, fig leaves, and stems along rivers and animal trails ; the calf captured in 1994 ate Homalomena aromatica, an herb with heart-shaped leaves. The bovine appears to be mainly solitary, although it has been seen in groups of two to three and rarely in groups of six or seven.
What is the saola’s role in the wood web?
Role in the wood web. The Saola is a herbivore. The Saola’s diet is mainly on small leafy plants and fig leafs. Since the Saola is a very new species the full range diet is still unknown.
How long do saolas live?
The saola habitat is limited to the Annamite mountains, a range of mountains in Vietnam and Laos. With distinctive white markings all over its face, a saola in the wild can live between eight to 11 years. However, they do not do well in captivity or in protected areas.
Do saolas pull at leaves?
She did not pull at leaves, she would rather chew or pull them into her mouth using her long tongue. She fed mainly during the day, and rarely in the dark. The saola is also reputed to feed on Schismatoglottis, unlike other herbivores in its range.