Unique Animals Of Africa – From the mighty lion to the tallest mammals on earth, here’s a look at five animals you’ll only find in Africa!
From the dusty dunes of the Sahara Desert to the thriving grasslands of the Serengeti, Africa is full of amazing wildlife. Thousands of species of unique animals call Africa home. Here’s a look at a few you won’t find anywhere else!
Unique Animals Of Africa
Towering over the savannah with its unique elongated neck and brilliantly patterned fur, the giraffe is one of Africa’s most iconic species. They can reach heights of up to 18 feet, making them the tallest mammals in the world. Giraffes use their incredibly long (up to six feet) necks to reach vegetation normally off-limits to most other mammals, such as acacia, mimosa and wild apricot. They can consume hundreds of pounds of leaves, seeds and fruit per week.
Fauna Of Africa
While giraffes once roamed vast tracts of land across the continent, today they are mostly spread across various protected areas in central and southern Africa. This is mainly due to poaching and habitat loss.
Giraffes are truly unique, these graceful giants are unmistakable as they move across the savanna in herds aptly called towers. Seeing a giraffe is an unusual sight that is on the bucket list of travelers. Although you might find a giraffe at your local zoo, there is only one place to see it in its natural habitat, the beautiful savannahs of Africa!
A species of wild boar found only in Africa, the warthog is a charismatic creature known for its large tusks, matted fur and voracious appetite. Famously portrayed as the beloved cartoon character Pumbaa in Disney’s The Lion King, the real warthog is less friendly but just as hungry as his cartoon counterpart!
Warthogs spend their days roaming the savanna in search of food, almost anything. They travel conditionally and feed on everything: from vegetation, roots and tubers to insects and other small invertebrates. They have even been known to scavenge the remains of corpses, eat rocks and attack farmers’ crops. If it’s edible in something, the warthog will eat it!
Of The Best Safaris In Africa
While seen as a nuisance to many communities (due to their ability to destroy crops), warthogs are an important part of their native ecosystems. They serve as prey for many local predators such as lions, leopards and hyenas. They also aerate the soil during digging and rooting, which promotes plant growth and provides free pest control. Warthogs are the underdogs, or “underdogs” of Savannah!
Known for their lean, muscular bodies, sharp facial expressions and prominent spots, cheetahs are one of Africa’s most iconic big cat species. Cheetahs, considered to be the fastest land animals on earth, can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just three seconds! These speedy felines use their impressive abilities to stalk fast prey such as impalas and gazelles.
Historically, cheetahs were widespread throughout Africa, the Middle East and even parts of Asia. Unfortunately, habitat loss and poaching have taken their toll. Today they are found only in small parts of the African continent, mostly in the grasslands, but some are also found in the Sahara desert. The rapid decline in the cheetah population has raised concerns among conservationists that the species is on the brink of extinction, leading to calls for additional land protection.
Africa is known for its extraordinary wildlife, and the cheetah is no exception. While you might find him at a zoo or stateside big cat rescue, there’s nothing like seeing one of these mysterious felines running at top speed on the open grasslands of the beautiful African savannah!
African Jungle Wonders: 9 Endangered Animals To Know
Another iconic African species, the zebra needs no introduction! These striped, horse-like creatures are found in eastern and southern Africa. Part of the even-toed family, zebras are closely related to horses and donkeys. They are incredibly social animals that live in groups and work together to protect the young and fend off predators.
Always on the move, zebras regularly travel and roam in herds that are aptly known to be dazzling for their almost kaleidoscopic visual effect. Some zoologists believe that this phenomenon should confuse predators, making it more difficult to distinguish a zebra from a group. During their travels, zebras play an important role in their ecosystem. Their grazing helps maintain and fertilize the soil, making room for new, nourished growth and killing insects. Zebras are also an important food source for many of Africa’s big cats, such as lions, cheetahs and leopards.
Their unique appearance and ecological importance put zebras at the top of the list of Africa’s most revered animals. Outside of a small town in California where an unlikely herd of ex-zoo zebras have taken up residence, Africa is the only place where you can see these amazing creatures roaming free.
There is no animal more synonymous with Africa than the mighty lion. These majestic felines are symbolic throughout African art, culture and folklore. Known for its piercing eyes, loud roar and never backing down, the African lion truly lives up to its name “King of the Beasts”.
Unique Examples Of Animal Adaptations
Historically, these fearless predators roamed the entire African continent (as well as parts of Europe and Asia), but today lions are mostly found in parts of the savanna throughout the sub-Saharan region. They are the most social of the big cats, living and raising their young together in groups known as prides. Lions also work together to hunt and retrieve large prey not normally seen in other wild cat species.
While lions are at the top of the food chain with no natural predators, they are not without threats to their survival. The greatest danger to lions is man. Unfortunately, humans alone have reduced the African lion population by 43% in the last two decades alone. Lions face many threats from humans, including habitat loss, agricultural conflicts and poaching. Fortunately for the lions, they also have plenty of people on their side, from wildlife biologists to anti-poaching task forces.
From the Serengeti to South Africa, the majestic beauty and spirit of lions remain unmatched. They are perhaps the largest species visitors to Africa hope to see on safari.
Lauren is a lover of all animals and works in the veterinary world, but now she writes about travel, wildlife and all things pets! She lives in Florida, but when she’s not writing, she’s usually planning another road trip with her partner in crime. Pickles is a mixed rescue dog who loves walks, trips and Starbucks just like his mom! The fauna of South Africa consists of the flora and fauna of this country in South Africa. The country has a number of different habitat types and an ecologically rich and diverse wildlife, especially many vascular plants, many of which are endemic to the country. There are few forest areas, many savanna grasslands, semi-arid vegetation in the Karru and finba in the Cape Floristic Region. Known for its national parks and big game, South Africa has 297 recorded species of mammals, as well as 849 species of birds and over 20,000 species of vascular plants.
Savanna Animals Names In English • 7esl
South Africa is located in the subtropical southern part of Africa, between 22° south latitude and 35° south latitude. Bordered by Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe to the north, Mozambique and Eswatini (Swaziland) to the northeast, washed by the Indian Ocean to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the coastline stretches for more than 2,500 km (1,600 mi). The interior of the country consists of a large, almost flat plateau with elevations ranging from 1,000 m (3,300 ft) to 2,100 m (6,900 ft). The eastern and highest part of this is Draxberg, the highest point being Mafadi (3,450 m (11,320 ft)), which is on the border with Lesotho, a country surrounded by South Africa.
The southern and southwestern parts of the plateau, approximately 1,100 to 1,800 m (3,600 to 5,900 ft) above sea level, and the adjacent plain below, approximately 700 to 800 m (2,300 to 2,600 ft) above sea level, known as the Great Bark and consist of sparsely populated bushes. In the north, the Great Karoo passes into the drier and drier Bushmanlands, which eventually become the Kalahari Desert in the extreme northwest of the country. The middle eastern and highest part of the plateau is known as the Highveld. Much of the country’s commercial farmland lies in this relatively well-watered area. North of the Highveld, the plateau slopes down into the Bushveld, which eventually transitions into the Limpopo Lowveld or Lowveld.
South Africa’s climate is influenced by its position between two oceans and its altitude. Winters are mild in coastal areas, especially in the Eastern Cape. Cold and warm coastal currents, which flow to the northwest and northeast respectively, account for the difference in climate between the west and east coasts. The weather pattern is also influenced by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. In the area of the plateau, the influence of the sea is weakened, the daily temperature range is much wider; summer days are very hot here
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