Flowers Pollination by Large Carnivore | 23 Dec 2024

Source: DTE 

The Ethiopian wolf, a rare and endangered species, acts as an unexpected pollinator, challenging traditional views on plant-pollinator relationships. 

• The Ethiopian wolf feeds on the nectar of Ethiopian red hot poker flowers, potentially aiding in pollination by transferring pollen on its muzzle. 
  • The Ethiopian red hot poker is a red and yellow colored flower that produces a sweet nectar attracting a host of pollinators. 

• Ethiopian Wolf:  
  • It is a specialised rodent hunter in the Afroalpine ecosystem. 
    • Afroalpine ecosystems are unique high-altitude regions of Africa, particularly in the Ethiopian Highlands (3200 meters above sea level, cold and harsh climate).  
  • It is about the size of a large dog, with a reddish coat, white markings on its throat and chest, and a black bushy tail. 
  • With fewer than 500 alive today, it is Africa’s most endangered carnivore. 
  • It lives only in Ethiopia, in high-altitude "sky islands" above the tropical forests. 
    • Sky Islands are isolated mountains surrounded by radically different lowland environments. 
• Other Carnivore Pollinators: Bats are nectar-eating pollinator mammals.  
  • Small carnivore species such as civets or mongooses do pollination. 
  • Omnivorous bears, such as sun bears, may eat nectar too.  

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