The lion (Panthera leo ) is a large cat of the genus Panthera native to Africa and India. It is the most widely recognized animal symbol in human culture and it has been extensively depicted in sculptures and paintings, on national flags, and in...
The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large cat native to Africa and central Iran. It is the fastest land animal, estimated to be capable of running at 80 to 128 km/h (50 to 80 mph) with the fastest reliably recorded speeds being 93 and 98 km/h (58...
The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the five extant species in the genus Panthera, a member of the cat family, Felidae. The leopard is distinguished by its well-camouflaged fur, opportunistic hunting behavior, broad diet, strength, and its...
The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is a large semiaquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae, the other being the Pygmy hippopotamus. Its name comes from the ancient Greek...
The Honey badger (Mellivora capensis) is a mammal widely distributed in Africa, Southwest Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. Despite its name, the Honey badger does not closely resemble other badger species; instead, it bears more anatomical...
The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is the largest wild canine in Africa, and the only extant member of the genus Lycaon; it is distinguished from Canis by dentition highly specialized for a hypercarnivorous diet, and by a lack of dewclaws....
The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa. Unlike most other insectivores, it has a long pig-like snout, which is used to sniff out food. It roams over most of the southern two-thirds of the...
The serval (Leptailurus serval ) is a wild cat native to Africa. It is rare in North Africa and the Sahel, but widespread in sub-Saharan countries, except rainforest regions. Across its range, it occurs in protected areas, and hunting it is either...
The caracal (Caracal caracal) is a medium-sized wild cat. It was first scientifically described by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in 1776. Typically nocturnal, the caracal is highly secretive and difficult to observe. It was...
The Fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) is a small crepuscular fox native to the deserts of North Africa. It is the smallest species of fox. Its coat, ears, and kidney functions have adapted to the desert environment with high temperatures and little water....
A highly misunderstood animal, the Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) has the reputation of being cowardly and sly, but it is actually a fascinating and intelligent creature with a very interesting social system. It looks like a dog but is closer...
African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) are large, heavy cow-like animals native to Africa. They are widely regarded as among the most dangerous animals on the African continent, and according to some estimates they gore, trample, and kill over 200 people...
The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) is one of two living African elephant species. It is the largest living terrestrial animal and is distributed across 37 African countries. Since 2021, it has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red...
The Common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) is a wild member of the pig family (Suidae) found in sub-Saharan Africa. It is the only pig species that has adapted to grazing and savanna habitats.
Hyenas are the most common large carnivore in Africa. Hyenas are neither members of the dog nor the cat family. They are unique, and so have their own family: Hyaenidae, which has four members: Striped hyenas, the “laughing” Spotted hyenas, Brown...
The Sand cat (Felis margarita) is a small wild cat that inhabits sandy and stony deserts far from water sources. The first Sand cat known to science was discovered in the Algerian Sahara and described in 1858. In the early 1970s, these adorable...
The African wildcat (Felis lybica) is a small wildcat species. In Cyprus, an African wildcat was found in a burial site next to a human skeleton in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B settlement Shillourokambos. The graves are estimated to have been...
The Rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) is a medium-sized terrestrial mammal native to Africa and the Middle East. It is also commonly referred to in South Africa as the dassie. These cute animals are the only extant terrestrial afrotherians in the...
The Scimitar oryx (Oryx dammah) is a Oryx species that was once widespread across North Africa. In 2000, it was declared extinct in the wild on the IUCN Red List. Scimitar oryx inhabited semideserts and deserts and were adapted to live in extreme...
The African golden wolf (Canis lupaster) is a canine that plays a prominent role in some African cultures. It was previously classified as an African variant of the Golden jackal. In 2015, a series of analyses on the species' mitochondrial DNA and...
The Greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is a woodland antelope found in Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, Greater kudus are sparsely populated in most areas due to declining habitat, deforestation, and poaching.
The addax (Addax nasomaculatus) is an antelope native to the Sahara Desert. The only member of the genus Addax, it was first described scientifically by Henri de Blainville in 1816. Addax are well-adapted to exist in their desert habitat, as they...
The Northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is the world’s tallest living animal native to North Africa. The giraffe has intrigued various ancient and modern cultures for its peculiar appearance and has often been featured in paintings, books, and...
The Northern lion (Panthera leo leo) is a lion subspecies, which is present in West Africa, northern Central Africa and India. In West and Central Africa, it is restricted to fragmented and isolated populations with a declining trajectory. The...
The waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) is a large antelope found in sub-Saharan Africa. It was first described by Irish naturalist William Ogilby in 1833. The waterbuck is predominantly a grazer and is mostly found on grassland.
The Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) is a species of caprine native to rocky mountains in North Africa. Although it is rare in its native North Africa, it has been introduced to North America, southern Europe, and elsewhere. Aoudad is another name...
The hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus) is an African antelope. It is the only member of the genus Alcelaphus. Hartebeest are gregarious animals. They are very alert and non-aggressive. Hartebeest were formerly widespread in Africa, but populations...
The Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus) is a species of pouched rat of the giant pouched rat genus Cricetomys. It is among the largest muroids in the world, growing to about 0.9 m (3 ft) long, including the tail, which makes up half of its...
The Giant eland (Taurotragus derbianus) is the largest species of antelope. It is also called "Lord Derby's eland" in honor of Edward Smith-Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby. It was due to his efforts that the Giant eland was first introduced to England...
The Common genet (Genetta genetta) is a small feliform mammal. It isnative to Africa and was introduced to southwestern Europe.
The Olive baboon (Papio anubis) is a member of the Old World monkeys. The species is the most wide-ranging of all baboons, being native to 25 countries throughout Africa.
The Ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) is an unusual animal that belongs to a group of pangolins which are among the most critically endangered and illegally trafficked animals in the world. They are armor-plated, distinguished from other mammals...
The Senegal bushbaby (Galago senegalensis) is a small, nocturnal primate, a member of the galago family Galagidae. It is sthought that the name "bush baby" may come either from the animals' cries or from their appearance.
The Crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) is a species of rodent native to Italy, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of the largest rodents in the world. Crested porcupines live up to 28 years, the second-longest of any rodent after the...
The Side-striped jackal (Lupulella adusta) is a canine native to Africa. Unlike the smaller and related Black-backed jackal, which dwells in open plains, the Side-striped jackal prefers to live in woodland and scrub areas.
The Banded mongoose (Mungos mungo) is a mongoose species native from the Sahel to Southern Africa. While most mongoose species live solitary lives, the Banded mongoose lives in colonies with a complex social structure and forages in groups.
The Four-toed hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) is a spiny mammal found in Africa. Its common name is derived from the number of toes found on its hind feet. The Four-toes hedgehog is a popular small pet in various countries, and has been successfully...
The roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus ) is a savanna antelope found in western, central, and southern Africa.The roan antelope is one of the largest species of antelope; only eland, bongo and large male greater kudu can exceed them in weight. They...
The sitatunga or marshbuck (Tragelaphus spekii ) is a swamp-dwelling antelope found throughout central Africa, centering on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, parts of Southern Sudan, Equatorial Guinea,...
The dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas ), also known as the ariel gazelle, is a small and common gazelle. The dorcas gazelle stands about 55–65 cm (1.8–2.1 feet) at the shoulder, with a head and body length of 90–110 cm (3–3.5 feet) and a weight of...
The African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis ), also known as the West African manatee, is a species of manatee that inhabits much of the western region of Africa – from Senegal to Angola. It is the only manatee species to be found in the Old World....
The African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis ), also known as the Cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second-largest freshwater otter species. It inhabits permanent water bodies in savannah and lowland forest areas through most of sub-Saharan...
