Africa is one of the world’s eight ecozones. Scientifically known as the Afrotropical Realm, the Equator bifurcates the continent, which contributes to its biodiversity.
Incredible African Animals and Wildlife Facts
- Africa holds between 10 to 20 percent of the world’s insect population.
- Africa has more types of freshwater fish than any other continent.
- Madagascar, an island nation off the east coast of Mozambique, is the epicenter of chameleon diversity.
- Goliath frogs, the Earth’s largest frog species, can only be found in Africa.
- Africa has more ungulates — hoofed animals — than any other continent.
- The largest terrestrial animal, the African elephant, calls the continent home.
- Nile Crocodiles are the largest reptiles in Africa.
- Gorillas are the largest primates on Earth and can only be found in Africa.
- Ostriches, the largest birds on the planet, are endemic to Africa. Males can grow up to 2.8 meters tall while females usually only make it to 2 meters.
African Geography
Billions of years ago, Africa came into existence when the Mesozoic mega-continent of Gondwana split. At the time, and for millennia after, a giant evergreen forest covered the landmass. Over time, climate changes and shifting continental plates carved out the Africa of today, with its mix of desert, jungle, coastlines, and arable farming land.
Africa: Land of Iconic Animals
Africa is home to scores of amazing animals, making it a popular safari destination. Lions, cheetahs, leopards, hippos, elephants, and giraffes run, rest, and rummage together in a hakuna matata utopia set against a beautiful minimalist landscape.
Common African Animals
When weaving Africa’s animal quilt, Mother Nature used a complex pattern. Approximately 100,000 insect species and 1,100 mammals, in addition to tens of thousands of reptiles, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and fish populate the continent.
African Land Mammals
Africa is the birthplace of three taxonomic mammalian orders: aardvarks (Tubulidentata), golden moles (Afrosoricida), and elephant shrews (Macroscelidea). Today, 60 carnivore species are spread across the landmass, including hyenas, lions, servals, mongooses, jackals, and honey badgers. Primates are also plentiful. Sixty-four species live out their lives in the Afrotropical region, including four great apes.
Africa is known for the “big five” animal pack: lions, rhinos, leopards, elephants, and cape buffalos. Originally a hunting term, they are the five species that people most hope to see on safari when in Africa.
Cheetahs, the world’s fastest land species, are another popular African animal. Spectacularly, the big cats can reach speeds of up to 75 miles per hour.
African Birds
Over 2,600 bird species live some portion of the year in Africa. Ostriches, which can run up to 60 miles per hour, sunbirds, and guineafowl are all endemic to the continent and maintain healthy populations. Surprisingly, penguins, which are most often associated with colder climates, even live in Africa along the South African cape.
African Fish and Marine Mammals
The waters surrounding Africa are brimming with marine mammals, and over 3,000 species of freshwater fish can be found on the continent.
A Note About Madagascar
Madagascar is an African Island nation off the continent’s east coast. A wildlife marvel, it plays host to several types of animals that can only be found in the country, like lemurs and aye-aye.
A historic country in Africa’s northeastern corner, Egypt is famous for the ancient Pyramids at Giza, the temple at Abu Simbel, and a unique wildlife legacy crafted by millenia of climate and cultural change.
African Countries Animals Lists
Click any of the countries below to see a detailed list of animals located in that country!
- Animals in Angola
- Animals in Burkina Faso
- Animals in Burundi
- Animals in Benin
- Animals in Botswana
- Animals in Democratic Republic of Congo
- Animals in Central African Republic
- Animals in Republic of Congo
- Animals in Côte d'Ivoire
- Animals in Cameroon
- Animals in Djibouti
- Animals in Algeria
- Animals in Egypt
- Animals in Eritrea
- Animals in Ethiopia
- Animals in Gabon
- Animals in Ghana
- Animals in Gambia
- Animals in Guinea
- Animals in Equatorial Guinea
- Animals in Guinea-Bissau
- Animals in Kenya
- Animals in Liberia
- Animals in Lesotho
- Animals in Libya
- Animals in Morocco
- Animals in Madagascar
- Animals in Mali
- Animals in Mauritania
- Animals in Malawi
- Animals in Mozambique
- Animals in Namibia
- Animals in Niger
- Animals in Nigeria
- Animals in Rwanda
- Animals in Sudan
- Animals in Sierra Leone
- Animals in Senegal
- Animals in Somalia
- Animals in South Sudan
- Animals in Swaziland
- Animals in Chad
- Animals in Togo
- Animals in Tunisia
- Animals in Tanzania
- Animals in Uganda
- Animals in South Africa
- Animals in Zambia
- Animals in Zimbabwe
- Animals in Western Sahara
African Animals
Aardvark
Can move 2ft of soil in just 15 seconds!
Abyssinian
The oldest breed of cat in the world!
African Bush Elephant
Can drink up to 50 gallons a day
African Civet
Secretes up to 4g of musk every week!
African Clawed Frog
A particularly ferocious amphibian!
African Forest Elephant
Have large rounded ears to help keep them cool!
African Palm Civet
Solitary but gathers in groups!
African Penguin
The only penguin species in Africa!
African Tree Toad
Found in tropical moist lowland forests!
African Wild Dog
Also known as the painted dog!
Albatross
The largest wingspan of any bird in the world!
Ant
First evolved 100 million years ago!
Antelope
Renew their horns every year!
Aye Aye
Thought to be extinct until 1957!
Baboon
Can travel more than four miles a day!
Barb
There are over 2,000 known species!
Barn Owl
Found everywhere around the world!
Basenji Dog
Alert, affectionate and energetic!
Bat
Detects prey using echolocation!
Beetle
There are more than 350,000 different species
Bichir
The bichir species is more than 400 million years old
Bird
Not all birds are able to fly!
Black Rhinoceros
Horns can grow to 1.5m!
Black Widow Spider
They typically prey on insects!
Bongo
Long and heavy spiralled horns!
Bonobo
Shares 97% of the same DNA as humans!
Buffalo
Has no real natural predators!
Bumblebee
The most common species of bee!
Butterfly
There are thought to be up 20,000 species!
Camel
Can survive without water for 10 months!
Caracal
Has 20 different muscles in it's ears!
Cat
First domesticated by the Ancient Egyptians!
Caterpillar
The larvae of a moth or butterfly!
Catfish
There are nearly 3,000 different species!
Chameleon
There are more than 160 different species!
Cheetah
The fastest land mammal in the world!
Chicken
First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!
Chimpanzee
Has 32 teeth including fang-like canines!
Cichlid
There are more than 2 000 known species!
Cockroach
Dated to be around 300 million years old!
Common Buzzard
The most common raptor in the UK!
Cow
There are nearly 1.5 million worldwide!
Crab
There are 93 different crab groups
Crane
Many are critically endangered species!
Crocodile
Have changed little in 200 million years!
Cross River Gorilla
Less than 300 remaining!
Dog
First domesticated in South-East Asia!
Donkey
First domesticated 5,000 years ago!
Dragonfly
It's larvae are carnivorous!
Duck
Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!
Dwarf Crocodile
Digs burrows in river banks to rest!
Earwig
There are nearly 2,000 different species!
Eastern Gorilla
The largest primate in the world!
Eastern Lowland Gorilla
Less than 5,000 in the wild!
Eel
Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!
Egyptian Mau
An ancient breed of domestic cat!
Elephant
Spends around 22 hours a day eating!
Elephant Shrew
Found exclusively on the African continent!
Falcon
The fastest creatures on the planet!
Fennec Fox
Found in the African Sahara Desert!
Flamingo
Sleeps on just one leg!
Fly
There are more than 240,000 different species!
Fossa
Most closely related to the Mongoose!
Fox
There are 12 different species in the world!
Frog
There are around 5,000 different species!
Gecko
There are thought to be over 2,000 species!
Gerbil
Originally known as the Desert Rat!
Giant African Land Snail
The biggest snail species on land!
Giraffe
Long, black tongue can grow to 18 inches long!
Glass Lizard
Can grow up to 4ft long!
Glow Worm
Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!
Goat
Most closely related to the Sheep!
Golden Oriole
Migrates between Europe and Asia!
Gorilla
The biggest of the world's primates!
Grasshopper
There are 11,000 known species!
Green Bee-Eater
Mainly eats honeybees!
Grey Mouse Lemur
The largest species of mouse lemur!
Guinea Fowl
Found in a vairety of African habitats!
Hamster
Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!
Hare
Can reach speeds of over 40 mph!
Hedgehog
Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!
Heron
Inhabits wetlands around the world!
Hippopotamus
Has pink anti-bacterial sweat!
Honey Badger
One of earth's bravest creatures!
Honey Bee
There are only 7 recognised species!
Hoopoe
Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!
Hornbill
The bird has a massive horn on its bill!
Horse
Has evolved over 50 million years!
Human
Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!
Hyena
There are four different species!
Ibis
Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!
Impala
Able to jump over 10 feet high
Indri
The largest species of Lemur!
Insects
There are an estimated 30 million species!
Jackal
Can maintain speeds of 16 km/h!
Jerboa
Tiny rodent with a kangaroo-like jump!
Kingfisher
Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!
Kudu
Lives in herds of up to 24 individuals!
Ladybug
There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!
Leaf-Tailed Gecko
Only found on Madagascar!
Lemur
Natively found on the island of Madagascar!
Leopard
Spends much of the time high in the trees!
Leopard Tortoise
The most widely distributed tortoise in Africa!
Liger
The offspring of a lion and tiger parents!
Lion
Lives in small groups called prides!
Lizard
There are around 5,000 different species!
Lungfish
The lungfish first evolved almost 400 million years ago.
Magpie
They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!
Mandrill
Distinctively coloured noses and rumps!
Mayfly
There are 2,500 known species worldwide!
Meerkat
One will stand on guard to watch for predators!
Millipede
Some species have a poisonous bite!
Mole
Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!
Monarch Butterfly
During migration, Monarch Butterflies may travel 250 or more miles each day.
Mongoose
Range in size from just 1 to 3 foot!
Mongrel
Has characteristics of two or more breeds!
Monitor Lizard
Some species are thought to carry a weak venom!
Monkey
There are around 260 known species!
Moorhen
Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!
Moth
There are 250,000 different species!
Mountain Gorilla
Isolated populations found in the mountains!
Mouse
Found on every continent on Earth!
Mule
The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!
Nightingale
Named more than 1,000 years ago!
Okapi
Eats more than 100 different types of plant!
Ostrich
The largest bird in the world!
Otter
There are 13 different species worldwide
Pangolin
Bad eyesight, but great sense of smell
Parrot
Can live for up to 100 years!
Patas Monkey
The fastest species of primate in the world!
Peacock
Most commonly found on the Indian mainland!
Peregrine Falcon
Fastest animal on Earth
Pheasant
Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!
Puss Moth
Caterpillars squirt formic acid!
Pygmy Hippopotamus
Spends more time on land than in water!
Quail
Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!
Rabbit
There are more than 50 different species!
Radiated Tortoise
The most protected tortoise in the world!
Rat
Omnivores that eat anything!
Red Fox
The red fox actually has many different variations of fur, including silver and brown.
Rhinoceros
It's horns are made from keratin!
River Turtle
Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!
Robin
There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!
Rock Hyrax
Actually related to Elephants and Manatees!
Scimitar-horned Oryx
Believed to be the inspiration for unicorn myths!
Scorpion
There are around 2,000 known species!
Seahorse
Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!
Serval
Can leap more than 1 meter into the air!
Shrimp
There are 2,000 different species worldwide!
Snail
There are nearly 1,000 different species!
Snake
There are around 2,700 known species worldwide
Sparrow
There are 140 different species!
Squirrel
Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!
Stick Insect
There are more than 3,000 different species!
Swan
Populations have been affected by pollution!
Termite
Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!
Tortoise
Can live until they are more than 150 years old!
Tree Frog
Found in warmer jungles and forests!
Vervet Monkey
Rarely found more than 450m from trees!
Vulture
There are 30 different species worldwide!
Warthog
Has two sets of tusks on it's face!
Wasp
There are around 75,000 recognised species!
Water Buffalo
Has been domesticated for thousands of years!
Western Gorilla
There are two sub-species!
Western Lowland Gorilla
One of the great apes!
White Rhinoceros
The second largest animal on the land!
Wildebeest
Can trek more than 1,000 miles every year!
Wolf
Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!
Wolf Spider
Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.
Woodlouse
Actually a crustacean, not an insect!
Woodpecker
There are 200 different species!
Xerus
Squirrel that lives in burrows in Africa.
Zebra
Stripe patterns are unique to each individual!
Zebu
There are around 75 different species!
Zonkey
The offspring of Zebra and Donkey parents!
Zorse
The offspring of a Zebra and Horse parents!
African Animals List
- Aardvark
- Abyssinian
- African Bush Elephant
- African Civet
- African Clawed Frog
- African Forest Elephant
- African Palm Civet
- African Penguin
- African Tree Toad
- African Wild Dog
- Albatross
- Ant
- Antelope
- Aye Aye
- Baboon
- Barb
- Barn Owl
- Basenji Dog
- Bat
- Beetle
- Bichir
- Bird
- Black Rhinoceros
- Black Widow Spider
- Bongo
- Bonobo
- Buffalo
- Bumblebee
- Butterfly
- Camel
- Caracal
- Cat
- Caterpillar
- Catfish
- Chameleon
- Cheetah
- Chicken
- Chimpanzee
- Cichlid
- Cockroach
- Common Buzzard
- Cow
- Crab
- Crane
- Crocodile
- Cross River Gorilla
- Dog
- Donkey
- Dormouse
- Dragonfly
- Duck
- Dwarf Crocodile
- Earwig
- Eastern Gorilla
- Eastern Lowland Gorilla
- Eel
- Egyptian Mau
- Elephant
- Elephant Shrew
- Falcon
- Fennec Fox
- Flamingo
- Fly
- Fossa
- Fox
- Frog
- Gecko
- Gerbil
- Giant African Land Snail
- Giraffe
- Glass Lizard
- Glow Worm
- Goat
- Golden Oriole
- Gorilla
- Grasshopper
- Green Bee-Eater
- Grey Mouse Lemur
- Guinea Fowl
- Hamster
- Hare
- Hedgehog
- Heron
- Hippopotamus
- Honey Badger
- Honey Bee
- Hoopoe
- Hornbill
- Horse
- Human
- Hyena
- Ibis
- Impala
- Indri
- Insects
- Jackal
- Jerboa
- Kingfisher
- Kudu
- Ladybug
- Leaf-Tailed Gecko
- Lemur
- Leopard
- Leopard Tortoise
- Liger
- Lion
- Lizard
- Lungfish
- Magpie
- Mandrill
- Mayfly
- Meerkat
- Millipede
- Mole
- Monarch Butterfly
- Mongoose
- Mongrel
- Monitor Lizard
- Monkey
- Moorhen
- Moth
- Mountain Gorilla
- Mouse
- Mule
- Nightingale
- Okapi
- Ostrich
- Otter
- Pangolin
- Parrot
- Patas Monkey
- Peacock
- Peregrine Falcon
- Pheasant
- Puss Moth
- Pygmy Hippopotamus
- Quail
- Rabbit
- Radiated Tortoise
- Rat
- Red Fox
- Rhinoceros
- River Turtle
- Robin
- Rock Hyrax
- Scimitar-horned Oryx
- Scorpion
- Seahorse
- Serval
- Shrimp
- Snail
- Snake
- Sparrow
- Squirrel
- Stick Insect
- Swan
- Termite
- Tortoise
- Tree Frog
- Vervet Monkey
- Vulture
- Warthog
- Wasp
- Water Buffalo
- Western Gorilla
- Western Lowland Gorilla
- White Rhinoceros
- Wildebeest
- Wolf
- Wolf Spider
- Woodlouse
- Woodpecker
- Xerus
- Zebra
- Zebu
- Zonkey
- Zorse