The African continent is home to a diverse range of species, which may be found in its deserts, savannas, vast valleys, and forests. Africa is home to the world’s largest land animal (the African elephant) and the tallest animal (the giraffe).
However, there are numerous other fascinating African species that you should be aware of. Here is a list of ten incredible animals found alone in Africa.
10. Greater Kudu
Greater kudu is a magnificent antelope found in Eastern and Southern Africa. They can be found in savannah forests and on rocky hillsides.
Greater kudus have some of the world’s longest horned antelopes. Only male kudus have these amazingly twisted horns. Their horns can reach a length of one meter and have two and a half twists. Male kudus defend themselves with their long horns against predators.
Male larger kudus can grow to be 2-2.5 meters long and weigh up to 315 kilograms. Female kudus are smaller than male kudus. They are 1.85-2.3 meters long and weigh up to 215 kg.
The coat of greater kudus is brown-grey with 5-12 vertical white stripes. In addition, they have a noticeable white stripe between their eyes.
Greater kudus are gregarious creatures. The female kudos form groups of up to 25 people. Only during mating season do male kudos join the groupings.
This larger antelope feeds primarily on leaves, grasses, fruits, and flowers. Greater kudus can live up to 7 years in the wild and up to 20 years in captivity.
9. Ostrich
The world’s largest bird is the flightless ostrich. They can grow to be 2-2.7 meters long and weigh up to 160 kilograms. Ostriches can be found in Central and Southern Africa’s savannas and deserts.
Ostriches are sometimes known as ‘camel birds’ due to their ability to survive extreme temperatures and exist for extended periods of time without water.
Adult male ostriches have black feathers that are silky and smooth, and their tail is white. Female ostriches have greyish-brown feathers, as opposed to males. Ostriches have a long, naked neck.
Ostriches can attain a top speed of 43 miles per hour thanks to their extremely long legs. Ostriches’ two-toed feet have razor-sharp claws. With a single kick, their legs are powerful enough to kill a human. Ostriches utilized their legs as their primary weapon to defend against predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas.
Ostriches dwell in tiny herds of 10-12 individuals.
Ostriches lay the world’s largest eggs, about 15 cm in length.
Ostriches are omnivorous, eating leaves, roots, seeds, as well as reptiles, insects, and snakes. They also ingest pebbles and small stones to crush up their meal.
8. Okapi
Okapi is the world’s sole remaining giraffe relative. They can only be found in the Republic of Congo’s jungles. Okapis are distinguished by the striped stripes on their backs, which give them a zebra-like look.
The Okapi is one of Africa’s most endangered species. The greatest dangers to this remarkable species are habitat loss and hunting.
Okapis can grow to be up to 8 feet long and weigh between 180 and 310 kilograms. Okapis, like members of the giraffe family, have long necks, though not as long as giraffes. It has a reddish-brown coat with zebra-like stripes on the rear limbs and front legs. It allows them to blend in with dense woodlands. Okapis also have an extremely large tongue that can grow to be 18 inches long.
Okapis typically travel 0.8-2.5 miles per day in quest of food. Their large tongue allows them to quickly peel leaves from plant buds.
Okapis have smell glands on each foot that secrete a tar-like substance. They utilized it to mark their territory and communicate with one another as they traveled large distances in quest of food.
7. Galago
Galagos, sometimes known as bushbabies, are little primates that can grow to be 6-8 inches long and weigh up to 10 ounces. They can be found in East Africa’s bushlands and woods.
Galagos have thick fur that is brown or grey in hue. They have incredibly large ears that can be folded, giving them an outstanding listening ability. This nocturnal species has huge eyes and exceptional night vision.
The little galagos are exceptional jumpers due to their powerful hind legs. Galagos can achieve a height of 2.25 meters in a single leap.
Galagos, unlike other primates, have an extra tongue that is hidden beneath the primary tongue.
Nocturnal galagos spend the majority of their time on trees. Their legs’ stretchy joints allow them to quickly glide between the branches.
Galagos mostly consume tree gums, fruits, and insects.
6. Shoebill
The shoebill is one of the most unusual-looking birds on the planet. They are named because their large shoe-like bill, which can grow to be 9 inches long. This beautiful bird can only be found in Eastern Africa’s wetlands and marshes.
Shoebills are one of the species that will most certainly become extinct in the near future. The greatest threats to shoebills are habitat loss and hunting.
Large shoebills can grow to be up to 4 feet long and weigh between 4-6 kilograms. Their plumage is bluish-grey, and their wings are large. Shoebills have broad, muscular brown bills that culminate in nail-like hooks.
Shoebills are ambush predators, which means they do not move until their prey approaches.
Then, utilizing their formidable bill, launch a surprise attack on them. Shoebills mostly feed on lizards, turtles, water snakes, and rodents.
The giant shoebill has one of the slowest flap rates of any bird species, at 150 flaps per minute.
One of the world’s most lonesome birds. They just get together to breed.
5. Mantled Guereza
The mantled guereza is one of the most beautiful African monkeys. They have a stunning glossy black and white fur and a lengthy tail. Mantled guerezas, commonly known as guerezas or black and white colobus, are a type of guereza. They live in West-Central and East African deciduous and evergreen forests.
Guereza is a huge species of monkey that can grow to be 21.2-28 inches long and 13.5 kg in weight.
Guerezas live in small groups of 3 to 15 monkeys.
These monkeys are active during the day but spend the majority of their time on trees. They also make time during the day to look for food sources.
Guerezas use many forms of calls to interact with one another.
Guerezas’ multi-chambered stomach has specific microorganisms that aid in the digestion of massive amounts of food.
Guerezas feed primarily on leaves, seeds, fruits, and arthropods.
4. Grey Crowned Crane
The grey crowned crane is a huge bird that lives in the savannahs, rivers, and marshes of Eastern and Southern Africa. It stands one meter tall and weighs more than four kilograms.
The crest of golden feathers is the most noticeable feature of this beautiful African bird. The grey crowned crane’s plumage is mostly grey, with a pale grey neck and black and white wings. They also have a lovely bright crimson pouch beneath their beak.
Grey-crowned cranes have one of the outstanding courtship displays of any bird species. To attract a mate, they dance, hop, and make fascinating cries.
Grey-crowned cranes have the highest average clutch of eggs in the crane family, gruidae, with 2-5 eggs per nest.
An omnivorous bird, the grey-crowned crane feeds on insects, lizards, grasses, seeds, fish, and amphibians.
3. Wildebeest
The bull-like wildebeests are actually members of the antelope family. The world’s antelopes are divided into two species: black wildebeest and blue wildebeest. Both wildebeest species are only found in Africa. They live in open woods and green plains.
Wildebeest can grow to be 8 feet long and weigh up to 275 kilograms. Male and female wildebeests both have horns. They are found in big herds.
When food sources become scarce between May and June, the wildebeests migrate north. There are 1.2-1.5 million wildebeests in the migratory group. Thousands of zebras and gazelles also accompany them. It is the world’s largest terrestrial mammal migration.
A wildebeest can go more than 30 miles in one day. They travel between 600 and 1000 miles during migration.
Wildebeests are grazers who eat mostly short grass. The principal predators of wildebeests are lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs.
2. Mandrill
Mandrills are the world’s largest monkey species. They can weigh up to 38 kg and have a body length of 25-34 inches. Mandrills are found in Western-Central African rainforests and subtropical woodlands.
Mandrills are unquestionably among the most colorful primates on the planet. They have thick, olive green fur and grayish underparts. Mandrills have an appealing long nose with a red stripe. Their rumps are likewise distinctively blue. Male monkeys are larger and more colorful than females.
Mandrills are exceptionally gregarious animals that live in big groups of up to 200 people.
Aside from their color and size, mandrill monkeys have long canine teeth, which is one of their best features. It can reach a length of 2.5 inches. Mandrils intimidate predators with their massive canine teeth.
Mandrills are active during the day. They have cheek pouches that they use to keep the food they acquire.
They eat fruits, seeds, insects, eggs, and worms and are omnivorous.
1. Lemur
The lemur is a remarkable primate found exclusively on the island of Madagascar, off the east coast of Southern Africa. There are 30 recognized species of lemurs, all of which are unique to Madagascar.
The smallest primate in the world is the madame berthe’s mouse lemur, which weighs only 30 g. The Indri, sometimes known as the Babakoto, is the largest extant lemur, weighing up to 9.5 kg.
Most lemurs are arboreal, which means they spend the majority of their time in trees. Most lemur species’ tails are likewise longer than their bodies.
Lemurs are gregarious creatures that live in groups. To communicate, lemurs use high-pitched calls and scent marks. They have exceptional hearing and smell abilities.
Lemurs are among the most intellectual animals on the planet. They are noted for their ability to use tools and memorize patterns.
The only natural predator of lemurs is the fossa.
Lemurs eat fruits, nuts, leaves, and flowers as part of their diet.
