Besides all the amazing pyramids and other historical things in Egypt, Harvey and his friends have enjoyed learning about some of the animals that live there. Here are a few that they found especially interesting.
Abyssinian
Size: 12 - 16 inches long, 6 - 10 pounds
Lifespan: 9 - 12 years
Personality: Very smart, playful, energetic, and loyal
Fun Fact: The Abyssinian is one of the oldest cat breeds in the world. It is believed that the pharaohs kept them as pets and treated them with great honor.
Camel
Size: 6 feet tall, 10 feet long, and over 1300 pounds!
Lifespan: 30 years
Personality: Strong, social animals who live in herds; known for spitting on people
Fun Fact: Camels' humps aren't always the same size. When their bodies use up the fat and water that's stored there, the humps shrink. When they eat and drink, the humps grow again.
Nile Crocodile
Size: 16 feet long, 500 pounds or more
Lifespan: 45 years in the wild or up to 80 years in captivity
Personality: Aggressive and territorial, meaning they will defend their homes and families. They are very devoted parents.
Fun Fact: Even though they are very large, crocodiles can go for long periods of time between meals because their bodies are so good at turning the food they eat into useful energy.
Hippopotamus
Size: 11 feet long, 5 feet tall, and a massive 7,000 pounds!
Lifespan: 40 - 50 years
Personality: Live in groups of about 10 - 20, active at night, great swimmers
Fun Fact: Hippos sweat an oily red liquid that keeps their skin from drying out and acts like a natural sunblock.
Jackal
Size: 16 inches tall, 27 - 33 inches long, 17 - 25 pounds
Lifespan: 8 - 9 years
Personality: Live in small family groups (one male, one female and their pups), and both males and females will defend their home and family. Jackals in the same family often hunt together and share their food.
Fun Fact: Once a male and female choose each other as mates, they will stay together for life.
Egyptian Cobra
Size: 3 - 6 feet
Lifespan: 20 years
Personality: Mainly active at night, they are not very sociable and like to be alone. They usually try to escape when approached but will attack if they feel threatened.
Fun Fact: The Egyptian cobra is one of the most venomous snakes in the world. There's enough poison in one bite to kill a human in 15 minutes.
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