Endemic Animals of Ethiopia








Ethiopian Wolf
The Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) is a canine native to the Ethiopian Highlands. In southeastern Ethiopia, it is also known as the Horse jackal. Unlike most large canids, which are widespread, generalist feeders, the Ethiopian wolf is a highly specialized feeder of Afroalpine rodents with very specific habitat requirements. It is one of the world's rarest canids, and Africa's most endangered carnivore.
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Ethiopian Wolf
Gelada
The gelada (Theropithecus gelada) is a species of Old World monkey found only in the Ethiopian Highlands. Like its close relatives the baboons (genus Papio), it is largely terrestrial, spending much of its time foraging in grasslands. They are the last surviving member of a grass-grazing primate group, members of which were abundant and widespread in the past.
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Gelada
Big-Headed Mole-Rat
The big-headed African mole rat, (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus ), also known as the giant root-rat, Ethiopian African mole rat, or giant mole rat, is a rodent species in the family Spalacidae.It is endemic to Ethiopia's Bale Mountains. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, where it can reach densities of up to 2,600 individuals per square kilometre. It is threatened by habitat loss. Where the two species overlap, ...
it is the main prey of the endangered Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis ).Big-headed African mole rats are highly distinctive in their large size, especially that of their heads. They are a mottled golden-brown in color, and are soft-furred.While the other mole rats not only live but also feed underground, this species mostly forages above ground, by digging a new tunnel to a patch of herbage. It forages for about 20 minutes, until it has exhausted the supply of herbs about its tunnel, after which it blocks the tunnel it has built from the inside. It mostly eats grasses and herbs, with some individuals feeding mostly on roots. It retains its specialisations for digging tunnels because of the constant threat of predators, especially the Ethiopian wolf, which is specialised to a diet of mole rats. Ethiopian wolves catch mole rats by ambushing them after they have constructed a new foraging tunnel, chasing them into their tunnel, and then vigilantly waiting for them to resurface. These mole rats have evolved defenses other than flight, though, being very cautious and having incisors large enough to severely injure potential predators.
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Big-Headed Mole-Rat
Walia Ibex
The walia ibex (Capra walie, Amharic: ዋልያ wālyā ) is an endangered species of ibex. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the Alpine ibex. Threats against the species include habitat loss, poaching, and restricted range; only about 500 individuals survived in the mountains of Ethiopia, concentrated in the Semien Mountains, largely due to past poaching and habitat depletion. If the population were to increase, the surrounding mountain habitat ...
would be sufficient to sustain only 2,000 ibex. The adult walia ibex's only known wild predator is the hyena. However, young ibex are often hunted by a variety of fox and cat species. The ibex are members of the goat family, and the walia ibex is the southernmost of today's ibexes. In the late 1990s, the walia ibex went from endangered to critically endangered due to the declining population. The walia ibex is also known as the Abyssinian ibex.Given the small distribution range of the Walia ibex in its restricted mountain ecosystem, the presence of a large number of domestic goats may pose a serious threat that can directly affect the survival of the population.
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Walia Ibex
Mountain Nyala
The mountain nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni ) or balbok is an antelope found in high altitude woodland in a small part of central Ethiopia. It is a monotypic species (without any identified subspecies) first described by English naturalist Richard Lydekker in 1910. The males are typically 120–135 cm (47–53 in) tall while females stand 90–100 cm (35–39 in) at the shoulder. Males weigh 180–300 kg (400–660 lb) and females weigh 150–200 kg (330–440 lb). The coat is grey to bro ...
wn, marked with two to five poorly defined white strips extending from the back to the underside, and a row of six to ten white spots. White markings are present on the face, throat and legs as well. Males have a short dark erect crest, about 10 cm (3.9 in) high, running along the middle of the back. Only males possess horns.The mountain nyala are shy and elusive towards human beings. Four to five individuals may congregate for short intervals of time to form small herds. Males are not territorial. Primarily a browser, the mountain nyala may switch to grazing occasionally. Females start mating at two years of age, and males too become sexually mature by that time. Gestation lasts for eight to nine months, after which a single calf is born. The lifespan of a mountain nyala is around 15 to 20 years.The typical habitat for the mountain nyala is composed of montane woodlands at an altitude of 3,000–3,400 m (9,800–11,200 ft). Human settlement and large livestock population have forced the animal to occupy heath forests at an altitude of above 3,400 m (11,200 ft). Mountain nyala are endemic to the Ethiopian highlands east of the Rift Valley, between 6°N and 10°N. Up to half of the total population of the mountain nyala occurs in the 200 km2 (77 sq mi) area of Gaysay, in the northern part of the Bale Mountains National Park. The mountain nyala has been classified under the Endangered category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Their influence on Ethiopian culture is notable, with the mountain nyala being featured on the obverse of Ethiopian ten cents coins.
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Mountain Nyala
Bare-faced go-away-bird
The bare-faced go-away-bird (Crinifer personatus ) is a species of bird in the family Musophagidae which is native to the eastern Afrotropics. It is named for its distinctive and uniquely bare, black face.
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Bare-faced go-away-bird
Stresemann's bushcrow
Stresemann's bushcrow (Zavattariornis stresemanni ), also known as the Abyssinian pie, bush crow, Ethiopian bushcrow, or by its generic name Zavattariornis, is a rather starling-like bird, which is currently thought to be member of the crow family, Corvidae, though this is uncertain. It is slightly larger than the North American blue jay and is a bluish-grey in overall colour which becomes almost white on the forehead. The throat and chest are ...
creamy-white with the tail and wings a glossy black. The black feathers have a tendency to bleach to brown at their tips. The iris of the bird is brown and the eye is surrounded by a band of naked bright blue skin. The bill, legs, and feet are black.Feeding is usually in small groups and the bird takes mainly insects. Breeding usually starts in March, with the birds building their nest high in an acacia tree. The birds usually lay five to six cream eggs with lilac blotches. The nest itself is globular in shape with a tubular entrance on top. It is possible that more than just the breeding pair visit the nest and that the young of previous years help in rearing the young.The range of this species is quite restricted, it being confined to thorn acacia country in southern Ethiopia near Yavello (Javello), Mega, and Arero. It can be curiously absent from apparently suitable country near these areas; the reasons for this were formerly unclear, but are now thought to be related to the species requiring a "bubble" of lower temperature for proper foraging, which is only present within its small range, making it one of the few warm-blooded animals whose survival is wholly dependent on temperature (along with the sympatric white-tailed swallow). This requirement makes it extremely vulnerable to climate change, and massive declines and even potential extinction in the wild are projected in the future, making it one of the birds most threatened by climate change.
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Stresemann's bushcrow
Ruspoli's turaco
Ruspoli's turaco (Menelikornis ruspolii ), also known as Prince Ruspoli's turaco, is a species of bird in the family Musophagidae. It is endemic to southern Ethiopia where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
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Ruspoli's turaco
White-tailed swallow
The white-tailed swallow (Hirundo megaensis ) is a small swallow belonging to the family Hirundinidae and is endemic to Oromia, Ethiopia. It is commonly referred to as "Benson's swallow" after the ornithologist Constatine Walter Benson, who named the species. This small bird is classified as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as there is a progressive declination of the species which now consists ...
of less than 10,000 adult individuals worldwide. It has a surprisingly small range for a swallow, as it is wholly dependent on a cooler "bubble" surrounding its small range, likely for proper breeding success. It is one of the most threatened bird species by climate change and a massive range reduction is projected in the future.
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White-tailed swallow
Abyssinian longclaw
The Abyssinian longclaw (Macronyx flavicollis ) is a species of bird in the family Motacillidae.It is endemic to Ethiopia.
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Abyssinian longclaw
Harwood's spurfowl
Harwood's spurfowl (Pternistis harwoodi ) is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae. It is a grey-brown bird with red bill and tail, and red bare skin around the eyes. Both sexes have similar coloring, although the female is paler in color with a more extensive buff belly.This spurfowl is endemic to Ethiopia, having a range restricted to the Ethiopian highlands on either side of the Blue Nile River between Lake Tana and its confluence with ...
the Jamma River, as well as its tributaries between these points. Originally thought to inhabit Typha beds growing along small, shallow watercourses and acacia thickets, studies in 1996 found Harwood's spurfowl in a site with neither of these. It is threatened by habitat loss as population pressures force locals into the marginal scrublands favored by the bird as its habitat. Harwood's spurfowl is heavily hunted for food and is sometimes also caught for sale at local markets; its eggs are also a food source.
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Harwood's spurfowl
Erlanger's lark
Erlanger's lark (Calandrella blanfordi erlangeri ) is a small passerine bird of the lark family endemic to the highlands of Ethiopia. The name of this bird commemorates the German ornithologist Carlo von Erlanger.It is considered to be a subspecies of Blanford's lark. Alternate names include Erlanger's red-capped lark, Erlanger's short-toed lark and Ethiopian short-toed lark.
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Erlanger's lark
Salvadori's seedeater
Salvadori's seedeater or Salvadori's serin (Crithagra xantholaema ) is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found only in Ethiopia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.Salvadori's seedeater was formerly placed in the genus Serinus but phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences found that the genus ...
was polyphyletic. The genus was therefore split and a number of species including Salvadori's seedeater were moved to the resurrected genus Crithagra.
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Salvadori's seedeater
Blue-winged goose
The blue-winged goose (Cyanochen cyanoptera ) is a waterfowl species which is endemic to Ethiopia. It is the only member of the genus Cyanochen.
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Blue-winged goose
Yellow-fronted parrot
The yellow-fronted parrot (Poicephalus flavifrons ) is a parrot endemic to the Ethiopian Highlands. It is a mostly green with a yellow head. Relatively little is known about this bird.
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Yellow-fronted parrot
Nechisar nightjar
The Nechisar nightjar (Caprimulgus solala ) is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is endemic to Ethiopia.The species was first discovered in 1990 when researchers discovered a decomposing specimen in the Nechisar National Park. After bringing back a single wing from the specimen to the Natural History Museum in London, it was determined to be a previously unknown species. Its specific name, solala, means "only a wing".Its ...
natural habitat is subtropical. It is probably endemic to Nechisar NP. On an expedition led by Ian Sinclair in 2009 and involving birdwatcher V. Head, G. Nicholls and D. Weir, the species may have been rediscovered but no clear photographs or other proof remains.
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Nechisar nightjar
Ethiopian siskin
The Ethiopian siskin or Abyssinian siskin (Serinus nigriceps ) is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae.It is found only in Ethiopia, usually at altitudes above 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) in the Ethiopian Highlands.The bird's natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude Afromontane grassland.
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Ethiopian siskin
Spot-breasted lapwing
The spot-breasted lapwing (Vanellus melanocephalus ) is a species of bird in the family Charadriidae. It is endemic to the Ethiopian highlands.A chunky lapwing of the Ethiopian highlands. Note the black cap, white eyebrow, black throat, and coarse spots across the breast. Found in both wet and dry montane habitats, including grassland, moorland, and marsh
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Spot-breasted lapwing
Ankober serin
The Ankober serin (Crithagra ankoberensis ) is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is a small brown seedeater, about 12 centimeters or 5 inches in length with brown upperparts and its head and breast distinguished with heavy buffy-colored streaking. It is gregarious and is often encountered in flocks. Its song consists of a constant, low twitter.This bird is endemic to Ethiopia, inhabiting steep rocky slopes and high cliff-tops; ...
the reported range of the Ankober serin consists of several disjointed areas in northern Shewa and in the northern Amhara Region. It is threatened by habitat loss.The Ankober serin was formerly placed in the genus Serinus but phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences found that the genus was polyphyletic. The genus was therefore split and a number of species including the Ankober serin were moved to the resurrected genus Crithagra.
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Ankober serin
Moorland francolin
The moorland francolin (Scleroptila psilolaema ) is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae. It is endemic to Ethiopia.
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Moorland francolin
Yellow-throated seedeater
The yellow-throated seedeater (Crithagra flavigula ) is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae.It is found only in Ethiopia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.It is threatened by habitat loss.The voice of the bird is a jumbled chirpy song and its call is canary like zeee-zsreee.The bird favors semi-desert areas with thick patches of scrub on rocky hill sides, ...
scattered trees in savannah type areas. It also prefers highlands rather than low lands.The yellow-throated seedeater was formerly placed in the genus Serinus but phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences found that the genus was polyphyletic. The genus was therefore split and a number of species including the yellow-throated seedeater were moved to the resurrected genus Crithagra.
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Yellow-throated seedeater
Red-billed pytilia
The red-billed pytilia (Pytilia lineata ) is a species of estrildid finch found in Ethiopia. It was split from the red-winged pytilia.
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Red-billed pytilia
Black-fronted spurfowl
The black-fronted spurfowl (Pternistis atrifrons ) is a bird species in the family Phasianidae. It is a large species of francolin. It is endemic to Ethiopia. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the chestnut-naped spurfowl (Pternistis castaneicollis ).
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Black-fronted spurfowl
Afrixalus clarkei
Afrixalus clarkei is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to southwestern Ethiopia and has been recorded from near Chira, Jimma, Bonga, and Bodare. The specific name clarkei honours Mr and Mrs R. O. S. Clarke (hence emendation to plural clarkeorum, but such change is nevertheless considered unjustified under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature), who are acknowledged for their help and hospitality. Common name ...
Clarke's banana frog has been coined for this species.
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Afrixalus clarkei
Ptychadena neumanni
Ptychadena neumanni is a species of frog in the family Ptychadenidae.It is endemic to Ethiopia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, arable ...
land, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forest, ponds, and canals and ditches.It is threatened by habitat loss.
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Ptychadena neumanni
Ethiopian banana frog
The Ethiopian banana frog (Afrixalus enseticola ), also known as the Bonga banana frog, is a small species of frog that is endemic to Ethiopia. They live in altitudes of 1,700–2,750 m (5,580–9,020 ft) on both sides of the Great Rift Valley in the Ethiopian Highlands. It is classified as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List (2004) due to decline of forested habitat in the highlands.An adult Ethiopian Banana Frog only reaches a length of 20–28 mm (0.79–1. ...
10 in).
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Ethiopian banana frog
Sylvacaecilia
Sylvacaecilia is a monotypic genus of caecilian in the family Grandisoniidae. The only species is Sylvacaecilia grandisonae, also known as the Aleku caecilian or Ethiopian caecilian. It is endemic to southwestern Ethiopia and known from the Gambela, Oromia, and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Regions.
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Sylvacaecilia
Leptopelis yaldeni
Leptopelis yaldeni is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to Ethiopia and occurs in the montane highlands in Gojjam. Its range might be limited by the deep gorges of the Blue Nile. It is named in honour of Derek Yalden, a British zoologist who collected some of the types. Common names Yalden's tree frog and grassland forest treefrog have been coined for this species.
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Leptopelis yaldeni
Sclerophrys langanoensis
Sclerophrys langanoensis is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to northern Rift Valley in Ethiopia, where it has been recorded from Lake Langano (its type locality) and the Awash National Park; the latter population might represent a distinct species. It is likely that this species will also be found in Eritrea and Somalia. Common name Lake Langano toad has been coined for it.
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Sclerophrys langanoensis
Leptopelis gramineus
Leptopelis gramineus is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to Ethiopia and occurs on the Ethiopian Highlands on both sides of the Great Rift Valley. Common names Badditu forest treefrog and Ethiopian burrowing tree frog have been coined for it.
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Leptopelis gramineus
Malcolm's Ethiopian toad
Malcolm's Ethiopian toad or the Ethiopian mountain toad, Altiphrynoides malcolmi, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae endemic to the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia. Its natural habitats are Schefflera -Hagenia -Hypericum forests and Afro-alpine moorland, and the transition zone in between. It is threatened by habitat loss and is listed by the IUCN as being an "endangered species".
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Malcolm's Ethiopian toad
Leptopelis susanae
Leptopelis susanae is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to southwest Ethiopia and known from the Gughe Mountains and Saja Forest. The specific name susanae honours Susan, the wife of the describer, Malcolm Largen. Common names Susan's tree frog and Susana's forest treefrog have been coined for this species.
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Leptopelis susanae
Leptopelis vannutellii
Leptopelis vannutellii is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to the highlands of southwestern Ethiopia. Common names Vannutelli's tree frog and Dime forest treefrog have been coined for it. It is named after Leonardo Vannutelli, Italian navy officer who joined Vittorio Bottego's second expedition to East Africa.
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Leptopelis vannutellii
Leptopelis ragazzii
Leptopelis ragazzii is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. The species is endemic to the Ethiopian Highlands on both sides of the Great Rift Valley. Common names Ragazzi's tree frog and Shoa forest treefrog have been coined for it. It is named after Vincenzo Ragazzi (1856–1929), from the Modena Natural History Society, who explored and collected in Ethiopia.
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Leptopelis ragazzii
Paracassina kounhiensis
Paracassina kounhiensis (common names: Kouni Valley striped frog, Mocquard's mountain kassina) is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to Ethiopian highlands east of the Rift Valley.Its natural habitats is montane grassland, less commonly the margins of montane forest. It breeds in marshes and pools. While still locally abundant, it is threatened by habitat loss. A part of its range is within the Bale Mountains National ...
Park.
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Paracassina kounhiensis
Paracassina obscura
Paracassina obscura (common names: Ethiopia striped frog, Boulenger's mountain kassina) is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae.It is endemic to Ethiopian highlands west of the Rift Valley. Its natural habitats are montane grasslands, less commonly forest margins. It is also known from a few clearings in tropical deciduous forest, rural gardens, and urban areas. It could be threatened by habitat loss.
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Paracassina obscura
Hemidactylus awashensis
Hemidactylus awashensis is a species of house gecko from Ethiopia. It grows to 54.8 mm (2.16 in) in snout–vent length.
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Hemidactylus awashensis
Letheobia somalica
Letheobia somalica, also known as the highland beaked snake or Ethiopian blind snake, is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. It is endemic to Ethiopia.
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Letheobia somalica
Lamprophis erlangeri
Lamprophis erlangeri, also known as the Ethiopian house snake, is a species of snake in the family Lamprophiidae.It is endemic to Ethiopia.
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Lamprophis erlangeri
Bale Mountains vervet
The Bale Mountains vervet (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis ) is a terrestrial Old World monkey endemic to Ethiopia, found in the bamboo forests of the Bale Mountains. All species in Chlorocebus were formerly in the genus Cercopithecus. The Bale Mountains vervet is one of the least-known primates in Africa. They avoid tree-dominated and bushland areas as their habitat. These monkeys mainly reside in the bamboo forest (Odubullu Forest) of the Bale ...
Mountains due their dietary specialization on bamboo, but other factors, such as climate, forest history, soil quality, and disease, are likely to play a role in their choice to inhabit this area. The Bale Mountains vervet have a very quiet behavior and tend to flee when encountering a human being. It is also known as the Bale monkey.
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Bale Mountains vervet
Ethiopian highland hare
The Ethiopian highland hare (Lepus starcki ) or Starck's hare is a medium-sized species of mammal in the rabbit and hare family, Leporidae. Its dorsal pelage is grizzled, buff white and spotted and streaked with black, while its belly fur is pure white and fluffy. It is endemic to the Ethiopian Highlands, ranging over the Afroalpine regions of the Shoa, Bale, and Arsi Provinces of Ethiopia. A herbivore, it mostly feeds on moorland grasses. The ...
IUCN rates it as a species of least concern.
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Ethiopian highland hare
Ethiopian hare
The Ethiopian hare (Lepus fagani ) is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. It was first described in 1903, by the British mammalogist Oldfield Thomas. The dorsal pelage is brownish buff, and is finely grizzled with black. The ventral pelage is fluffy and white in colour. Endemic to Ethiopia, it is found in the Afromontane Biozone of Ethiopia, and in the borders of the Sudanian Savanna Biozone. It is rated as a least concern species by ...
the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
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Ethiopian hare
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