African Animals | List of African Animals With Descriptions

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African Animals: Africa is the land of wonders; The species of plants, animals, and other habitats are most abundantly found in Africa. There can be an African animals list a-z with all varieties mentioned there. It is easier for kids to follow in the format of African animals names with pictures.

There are many animals of wonders like African mammals and African birds. Keeping this in mind, we have made a list of African animal names that will help you get detailed information on the same. Read the blog below to know more.

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List of African Animals

Name of African Animals

Description of the African animals on the list

Elephant

An elephant is the only largest land animal in existence; the most common two types of African elephants are African bush elephants and African forest elephants. They have much bigger and stronger features of teeth, tunk, ears and a huge head. They are greyish colour structures and live around the grassland and desert areas of Africa.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class mammalia
Order Proboscidea
Family Elephantidea
Genus Elephas
Scientific name Loxodonta

Buffalo

Buffalo is a female species of bison but mostly refers to the African domesticated species. They have a broad body with strong horns. They are also popularly called American bison at some places.

kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Family Bovidae
Genus Bison
Scientific name Bubalus bubalis

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Galagos

Galagos is are found around Saharan Africa parts, arboreal primates and are also commonly called bush babies. They weigh around 3-4 pounds are can live up to sixteen years. They have a yellow and brown colour to the skin, have a long upper body with soft furry tails.

Kingdom Animilia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mmammalia
Order Primates
Family Gray
Genus Galago
Scientific name Galagidae

Baboon

baboons are categorised as the primitive old-world monkeys spread throughout Africa and are the largest non-humanoid still existing. They have yellow or olive colours and more dark skin and can live up to 40 to 45 years. I have a height of 70 cm. The mentor and omnivorous diet and have predators like lion cheetah and leopards.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Primates
Family Cercopithecidae
Genus Papio Erxleben
Scientific name Papio

Zebra

Zebra is a unique African animal with a distinctive black and white pattern in their body; they look like a horse or ass and also belong to the same family. Although zebras may look like domestic animals, they are not friendly around people classified as whole animals. However, they can weigh up to 250 kg and have a life expectancy of 20 to 30 years, and zebras always maintain a healthy diet that consists of short grasses or stems.

Kingdom Animalai
Phylum Chordata
Class Mmmalia
Order Perissodactyla
Family Equidae
Genus Equus
Scientific name Equus equagga

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Lion

A lion belongs from Africa and is being most large cat fishy, which is still prevalent in the wild forest. the lions have a deep muscular chest and very big body with long hairs all over their call, and they have a carnivorous diet and feed upon almost many animals like deer, bison; they also symbolise courage and strength. The life expectancy for females is 10 to 15 years, and for the male set, it is 7 to 10 years; the average weight of lions can differ from 140 to 190 kg.

Kingdom Animalai
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
Family Felidae
Genus Panthera
Scientific name Panthera leo

Rhinoceros

Rhinoceros are one of the endangered or can also be said to be an extinct mammals of earth. They weigh around 500 to 900 kg and can mostly be the same around Africa’s dense and low land subtropical forests. However, the above information can differ with different species of rhinos. Rhinoceros can wait up to 50 years, can run almost 50 km per hour and is classified as an endangered species now.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mmmalia
Order Perissodactyla
Family Rhinocerotidae Owen
Genus Rhinoceros Linnaeus
Scientific name Rhinocerotidae

Hippopotamus

They are the most native sub-Saharan African habitats; they are also called a hippo or a river hippopotamus and is one of the largest animals. Most hippopotamus maintains omnivorous vegetation, and they can live up to 45-50 years, can run inland with a speed of 48km/h and almost weigh around 1,500kg.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Family Hippopotamidae
Genus Hippopotamus
Scientific name Hippopotamus

Gorilla

Gorilla is one of the giant animals of the land but with no such aggressive nature; being an ancient type of humans, they have human types of behaviour and can express emotions. They have a broad chest with hair covered with almost all of their body except their chest and face. It can live up to 30-40 years and weigh around 160kg.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Primates
Family Hominidae
Genus Gorilla Isidore Geoffroy, Saint- Hilaire
Scientific name Gorilla

Bongo

They are herbivorous animals and have stripes all over their bodies like zebra, but both sexes have slightly spiralled hones in white colour over brown skin. They eat burned wood as their preferred food after forest fires or storms, can live up to 12-19 years, but their population is not wide as they remain under covers most of the time.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Family Bovidae
Genus Tragelaphus
Scientific name Tragelaphus eurycerus

Hyena

Hyena is one of the smallest carnivorous animals in grassland, found abundantly in the wild forests of Africa; despite being small as they feed on dead animals, they are a crucial part of the ecosystem. They can weigh up to 40- 45 kg and run at 65 km/h. they appear very similar to dogs and have wild features.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
Family Hyaenidae Gray
Genus Hyaena
Scientific name Hyaenidae

Cheetah

The cheetah is the wildest animal of the cat family which are evenly distributed around Africa and central Iran. They are the fastest running animals on grassland, with a 90 to 130km/hr running speed, and the long, lightweight legs help them increase their speed. They weigh almost 70 kgs, but their population s decreasing gradually.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
Family Felidae
Genus Acinonyx
Scientific name Acinonyx jubatus

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Mountain Gorilla

As the name suggests, Mountain gorillas live in forests of high mountains in Africa, almost at the height of 10,000 to 13,000 ft. they have thick black, dark greyish fur, which allows them to stay warm in a harsh cold climate. They follow an omnivorous diet and are one of the largest mammals, can have a height of around 6 ft, weigh almost 400 pounds.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Primates
Family Hominidae
Genus Gorilla
Scientific name Gorilla beringei

Oribi

Oribi is an antelope found in Africa dominating east, south and west. They can weigh up to 15 kgs, live up to 24 years. They are active almost throughout the day and consume herbivorous foods like grass, herbs. However, being small, they are prey for many carnivorous animals like cheetah, lions, pythons.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mmmalia
Order Artiodactyla
Family Bovidae
Genus Ourebia Laurillard
Scientific name Ourebia Ourebi

Squirrels

Squirrels are small-sized rodents of different species, even if distributed around most parts of the world was originated in Africa. Squirrels of different types can fly, climb and perform more activities. They feed on small nuts and are eaten by snakes, foxes, hawks, eagles and more. They can live up to 10-15 years and weigh 3-4 kg.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mmmalia
Order Rodentia
Family Sciuridae Fischer de Waldheim
Genus Sciurus
Scientific name Sciuridae

Ostrich

An ostrich, a common flightless bird, is a very fast runner, and it occupies a large part of Africa. It is eaten for its tender meat, and its feathers are used for fashion and cleaning or maintenance of fine products. An ostrich bird can live up to 50 years, wight, 70- 140 kg, and run at 70 km per hour.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Order Struthionoformes
Family Struthionidae
Genus Struthio Linnaeus
Scientific name Struthio Camelus

Jackal

Jackal is a wild mammalian animal of Africa, but they, despite looking for prey, don’t hunt alone but in troops or pairs. Jackels are said to be a very smart animal that resembles a dog. They can weigh around7-10kgs, the height of 30-50cm and are food to few harsh animals like hyenas, leopards, cheetah and more.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mmmalia
Order Carnivora
Family Cnidae
Tribe Cnine
Scientific name Canis aureus

Elephant shrew

Elephant shrew is a small mammal of Africa, are also so-called jumping shrew or sengis. They have the looks of an elephant but all in a miniature form; they feed on grass, plants, nuts, berries, ants. They weigh around 3-5 kgs, have small slim bodies and prefer jogging or hopping than walking in the grassland.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Macroscelidae Butler
Family Macroscelidae Bonaparte
Genus Macroscelides
Scientific name Elephantulus rufescens

Sable antelope

Sable Antilla dominates around the east and southern parts of Africa, except for the natural contribution economically; they are very viable as they are the point of attraction for the eco-tourism industry. They live from 15 to 19 years and weigh around 200 kgs. B they have a long body like a deer with horns over their head.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylumn Chordara
Class Mammalia
Order Atiodactyla
Family Bovidae
Genus Hippoytagus
Scientific name Hippotragus niger

Bat-eared fox

Bat eared fox is a common species of fox found in African forests and is mostly seen at places of short grass, or plain land confined small insects to eat, and they have a speciality of having very large ears. They can live for almost 10 to 15 years and are eaten by large mammals like jackals, cheetah, wild dogs, and leopards.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mmammalia
Order Carnivora
Family Canidae
Genus Octoyon S. Muller
Scientific name Otocyon Megalotis

Waterbuck

Waterbuck is one of the largest antelope found in Africa. These animals mostly feed themselves on leftovers or types of grass or bushes short in height; also, the predators include crocodiles, lions, wolfdogs and cheetahs. They have a height of 1.2 to 1.4 m. They weigh from 152 to 300 kg live almost 25 years if kept in captivity.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Family Bovidae
Genus Kobus
Scientific name Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Wild dog

An African wild dog is the largest population of mammals which has dominated the African forest for a long time. They are almost on the verge of becoming extinct and are also the largest wild canine present. They are about 50 cm long and can weigh from 15 to 23 kgs, also to mention their bite force ranges from 317 PSI to 350 PSI.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
Family Cnidae
Genus Lycacon
Scientific name Lycaon pictus

Giraffe

The giraffe is the tallest living animal present in the world and has a source of Africa. Giraffe has special ability to live without water for almost three weeks they have a long neck which gives them access to long treetops to get fruits and leaves. They can weigh from 500 to 1200 kg, have a height of 4 to 6 m and almost sleeps for 4 to 5 hours a day.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Family Giraffidae
Genus Giraffa Brisson
Scientific name Giraffa

Impala

Impala is a medium-sized antelope that is distinguished by others with their large black face and big horns. The dominated the eastern and southernmost part of Africa around light Woodlands can also be seen around animals who reside grasses or herbs. They have a running speed of 70 to 90 km per hour in a zigzag form; their common predators are carnivorous animals like leopard, lion, hyena, and jackal.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Family Bovidae
Genus Aepyceros
Scientific name Aepyceros melampus

Antelopes

Antelope is a species of animal that widely dominates Africa’s forests and includes many animal species under it like cow-like eland, impala, and more. Forest antelope can adjust in mini e diverse climatic conditions do they can also be seen at extreme cold places or dessert places. We can earn at a speed of 40 to 80 kilometres per hour, weigh from 120 to 900 kg, live from 15 to 20 years, and prey for cheetahs, lions, dogs, and even humans.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mmammalia
Order Artiodactyla
family Bovidae

Lemurs

Lemurs are a monkey family species of Primates. They have a unique characteristic: a wet nose for which they have a strong sense of smell; also, they have a second tongue beneath their tongue that allows them to unwanted items. Dekhen live from 15 to 19 years, weigh from 2 to 8 kilos and become prey for hawks or other predatory animals.

Kingdom Aninmalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Primates
Family Lemuridae
Genus Lemur
Scientific name Lemuroidea

Dugongs

Dugongs are also called sea cows in Africa as they eat grasses from sea beds. Dugongs life expectancy rate of up to 70 years and can wait for almost 200 to 300 kg. These fall trees for large sharks, crocodiles and whales. They have a large flat still like that of a whale.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Sirenia
Family Dugongidae
Genus Dugong Lacepede
Scientific name Dugong dugon

Aardvark

Aardvark lives in almost all parts of Africa and can be widely found around Woodlands, grassland, or rainforests. They have a pig-like mouth structure and eat termites from time to time, and they can live for almost 20 to 23 years, defaulter re to lions, leopards, cheaters and are often hunted by humans.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mmmalia
Order Tubulidentata
Family Orycteropodidae
Genus Orycteropus
Scientific name Orycteropus afer

Dik-dik

Dik-dik is an antelope with yellow-grey, brown and black colours to it, and they are mostly the same around the southern and eastern parts of the African forest. They weigh 19 to 24 kilos 10 to 18 years, the fall free cheetah, jackals, big cats and pythons. They are more active during the nighttime, especially before dawn, and they live with their mates, not alone or with other groups.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Family Bovidae
Genus Madoqua
Scientific name Madoqua kirkii

Genet

Genet animals with beautiful dark spots in their whole body and tail are long like a cat. Ganit is two types that are aquatic and coming which can be of length from 4o to 50 cm convert from 1.5 to 1.8 kilos, live from 14 to 20 years. They are mostly carnivorous, but they also eat other vegetarian fruits and with that, they eat birds, eggs, frogs, scorpions etc.

Kingdom Animalia
phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
Family Viverridae
Genus Genetta Cuvier
Scientific name Genetta genetta

Hartebeest

Hartebeest looks very different from other and tulips of their species; they are very clumsy but are one of the fastest runners and can reach up to 70 km per hour. their weight is from 122 to 200 kg, they are often eaten by lions, leopards, wild dogs, cheetah and also hunted by animals.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Family Bovidae
Genus Alcelaphus
Scientific name Alcelaphus Buselaphus

Kudu

Kudu is an antelope found in the southern and eastern parts of Africa; they have a distinct feature of great horns, which are only present in the males; they also have a narrow body with slim and long legs. The running speed can go up to 70 km per hour weight 190 to 250 kg, and they eat various herbivorous, fruits, leaves and this recipe she is also a prayer for wild dog, lion, eagles and pythons.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Family Bovidae
genus Tragelaphus
Scientific name Tragelaphus strepsiceros

Civet

The civet is a small mammal that is seen in the tropical forests of Africa. They are closely related to cats and mongooses, the weight from 3 to 4.5 kg, can live off 10 to 20 years, their height can reach up to 40 cm. being very small, they are often eaten by lions leopards, most widely by crocodiles and snakes.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
Family Feliformia
Infraorder Viverroidea
Scientific name Viverridae

Oryx

It is one of the largest Antilop presents in Africa; they have dark marks on the legs and face with sharp horns above them. Running speed of 60 km per hour, live from 12 to 15 years, and weight around 72 to almost 300 kgs. They often fall 32 lions, wild dogs and hyenas.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Family Bovidae
Genus Oryx
Scientific name Leucoryx

Warthog

Warthog are wild pigs found in the grassland areas of Africa; they have large faces with the large nostril at the end of this now and have little FIR throughout their body. They often eat different types of grassroots and plants can weigh from 60 to 150 kgs; their height is 60 to 85 cm and average. Dekhen live up to 10 years and are often preditors to wild carnivorous animals like leopards and crocodiles.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Atiodactyla
Family Suidae
Genus Phacocheorus
Scientific name Phacochoerus

Dwarf mongoose

This is the smallest common mongoose found in Africa that eats small insects and rodents, lizards, or birds. Being small in size, they cover a large part of African forests; they weigh around 200 207 t g and have a length of approximately 20 CM.

kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
family Herpestidae
Genus Helogale
Scientific name Helogale Parvula

Gelada

this is a monkey which is the world’s most terrestrial primate after humans and has grass leaves as their diet, and they consume any other form of food like fruits or flowers. They can be found in the higher mountain areas or grassland areas that weigh 15 to 16 kgs and can live almost for 30 years.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Primates
Family Cecopithecidae
Genus Theropithecus
Scientific name Theropithecus geleda

African wading rat

An African wedding is a rodent that can live both on land and water. They are found in almost all the grasslands in Africa forest and do not cross this risk category; they wait for around 0.060 kg and are friendly in wild habitats.

Kingdom Animalia
phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Rodentia
Family Muridae
Genus Colomys
Scientific name Colomys goslingi

Vervet monkey

The Vervet monkey is considered an old-world monkey of Africa. They have a small structure and a small, black-coloured face with a green or silver body that predators of eagles, leopards, etc. They follow a vegetarian diet of fruit, flowers, bulls but also be supplemented with insects, eggs, baby birds, or any other small insects.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalai
Order Primates
Family Cercopithecidae
Genus Chlorocebus
Scientific name Chlorocebus pygerythus

Colobus monkey

Out of many species which are said to be of the old world or primitive stager, colobus or black and white colobus is one of those. They are not aggressive, but their friendly nature is slightly different from that of other monkeys; they can jump up to 50 feet. They mostly eat herbivores items but can kill and feed on red colobus monkeys.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mmammalia
Order Primates
family Cercopithecidae
Genus Colobus
Scientific name Colobus Guereza

Springhare

Springhare is a species of the rodent family that looks like to be from a cross bread of kangaroo and rabbit. It looks like a miniature form of kangaroo that hops away. They are herbivores and feed on grass, stems, leaves. They weigh around 3- 4 kgs and have long ears and the head structure of rabbits.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Rodentia
Family Pdetidae
Genus Pedetes
Scientific name Pedetes capensis

Porcupine

Porcupine is a large rodent that has visible every major form of defence to protect itself from predators. They have sharp quills that are stingy to many animals except a few, like wolves, owls, and lions. Porcupines vegetation is herbivorous and is active throughout the day.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mmmalia
Order Rodentia
Family Rodents
Genus Erethizon
Scientific name Erethizontidae

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Klipspringer

Klipspringer is an antelope seen around the eastern and southern rocky areas of Africa. Their activities revolve around daytime as it is easier to catch prey and take care of their offspring. They are mostly yellowish or reddish and can camouflage with rocks to catch prey. They weigh around 9-18 kg and can live up to 15 years.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalai
Order Artiodactyla
Family Bovidae
Genus Oreotragus
Scientific name Oreotragus Oreotragus

Otter

It is a marine mammal, and they live in the den, which is called a holt or couch. They have webbed feet and a special feature that allows them to breathe even underwater, and their food is mostly small fishes or frogs. It is a small animal and weighs around 40 kg and 2 ft: also, it can be bigger in some cases.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
Family Mustelidae
Genus Lutra
Scientific name Lutrinae

Pipidae

Pipidae is one of the most primitive frogs which has claws and no tongue. They are mostly found in the sub-Saharan part of Africa but are distributed through most African dry land and are mostly dark grey.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Amphibia
Order Anura
Family Pipidae Gray
Kinfdom Animalia
Scientific name Xenopus laevis

Xerces

It is one of the types of rare squirrels found in Africa which resembles dog characteristics in them. They have a long-haired tail, short ears, no stripes like regular squirrels, and go by the name of ground squirrels.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chotrdata
Class Mammalia
Order Rodentia
Family Sciuridae
Subfamily Xerinae
Scientific name Spermophilus iateralis

Yellow mongoose

A yellow mongoose is also called a red meerkat in Africa. They live in open desert or grassland areas of Africa and weigh about 0.40 kg. They are carnivore animals and feed themselves on small insects, flies, or burrow big prey to eat later.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
Family Herpestidae
Genus Cynictis Ogilby
Scientific name Cynictis Penicillate

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