Angola is a coastal country in southwestern Africa. A biologically diverse nation, scientists and conservationists have long been interested in the country. In 2019, researchers published a book detailing Angola’s nearly 2,000 species of flora and fauna, of which hundreds are animals indigenous to Angola.
Animals in Angola
According to the latest counts, approximately 291 mammals, 117 amphibians, 278 reptiles, and a whopping 983 bird species have been observed in Angola.
Common mammals you may stumble upon in Angola include giant otter shrews, Congo golden moles, aardvarks, red-tailed monkeys, plains zebra, Beecroft’s flying squirrels, antelopes, and hedgehogs. Fischer’s thick-toed geckos, large-scale grass lizards, and olive marsh snakes are typical representatives of the country’s reptilian population. In terms of amphibians, a variety of frogs, toads, and squeakers call Angola home.
A birding haven, Angola’s skies see nearly 1,000 avian species every year. Common bird species in the region include common ostriches, albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels, herons, egrets, flamingos, and storks. Angola also has a couple of African penguin populations, which are endangered.
Threatened Animals in Angola
Below is an incomplete list of notable endangered animals here.
Animal | Scientific Name | IUCN Classification |
---|---|---|
African Penguin | Spheniscus demersus | Endangered |
African Bush Elephant | Loxodonta africana | Vulnerable |
African golden cat | Caracal aurata | Vulnerable |
Plains zebra | Equus quagga | Near Threatened |
Mountain zebra | Equus zebra | Vulnerable |
South-central black rhinoceros | Diceros bicornis minor | Critically Endangered |
South-western black rhinoceros | Diceros bicornis occidentalis | Near Threatened |
Cape buffalo | Syncerus caffer | Near Threatened |
Royal sable antelope | Hippotragus niger variani | Critically Endangered |
Spikenose Wedgefish | Rhynchobatus luebberti | Critically Endangered |
Extinct Animals in Angola
Since archeologists spend lots of time researching Angola wildlife, the country’s fossil record is impressive. And while most animals from the dinosaur eras are, technically, extinct animals in this country, no modern species that inhabit the country have died off.
Throughout the 20th century, conservationists believed the giant sable antelope to be extinct. However, a pregnant female was photographed by a wildlife camera in 2006, confirming that at least a small population still existed in the wild.
Animals Indigenous to Angola
There are hundreds of animals native to Angola. Examples include:
- Gabela helmetshrike
- Red-crested turaco
- Giant sable antelope
- Angolan dwarf galago
- Vernay’s African climbing mouse
- Gnathonemus barbatus
- Lacustricola mediolateralis
- Angolan adder
- Branch’s swamp snake
- Ashy reed frog
Dangerous Animals in Angola
Angola’s lands, air, and surrounding waters host several potentially lethal animals. The seven most dangerous animals here are Nile crocodiles, Cape buffalo, puff adders, African lion, black rhinos, mosquitos, and common hippos.
National Animal of Angola
The giant sable antelope — also known as the royal sable antelope — is the national animal of Angola. Instead of “national animal,” however, Angolans call it the “national icon.”
Below you can find a complete list of Angolan animals. We currently track 133 animals in Angola and are adding more every day!
Angolan Animals

Aardvark
Can move 2ft of soil in just 15 seconds!

African Bullfrog
The African bullfrog is one of only three species of frog that have “teeth.”

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 Palm Civet
Solitary but gathers in groups!

Ant
First evolved 100 million years ago!

Antelope
Renew their horns every year!

Baboon
Can travel more than four miles a day!

Barb
There are over 2,000 known species!

Barn Owl
Found everywhere around the world!

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 Widow Spider
They typically prey on insects!

Bumblebee
The most common species of bee!

Butterfly
There are thought to be up 20,000 species!

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!

Centipede
There are about 3,000 documented 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!

Cicada
Cicadas have one of the longest insect lifespans

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!

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!

Earwig
There are nearly 2,000 different species!

Eel
Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!

Elephant
Spends around 22 hours a day eating!

Elephant Shrew
Found exclusively on the African continent!

Falcon
The fastest creatures on the planet!

Fly
There are more than 240,000 different species!

Fox
There are 12 different species in the world!

Frog
There are around 7,000 different species!

Gecko
There are thought to be over 2,000 species!

Gerbil
Originally known as the Desert Rat!

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!

Grasshopper
There are 11,000 known species!

Green Bee-Eater
Mainly eats honeybees!

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 8 recognized species!

Hoopoe
Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!

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

Insects
There are an estimated 30 million species!

Jackal
Can maintain speeds of 16 km/h!

Kingfisher
Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!

Kudu
Lives in herds of up to 24 individuals!

Ladybug
There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!

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!

Locust
Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.

Magpie
They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!

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!

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!

Mouse
Found on every continent on Earth!

Mule
The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!

Nightingale
Named more than 1,000 years ago!

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!

Peregrine Falcon
Fastest animal on Earth

Pheasant
Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!

Pigeon
They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.

Quail
Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!

Rabbit
There are more than 50 different species!

Rat
Omnivores that eat anything!

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!

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!

Sheep
Around 35 million in the English countryside!

Shrimp
There are 2,000 different species worldwide!

Snail
There are nearly 1,000 different species!

Snake
There are around 3,000 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!

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!

White Rhinoceros
The second largest animal on the land!

Wolf Spider
Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.

Woodlouse
Actually a crustacean, not an insect!

Woodpecker
There are 200 different species!

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!
Angolan Animals List
- Aardvark
- African Bullfrog
- African Bush Elephant
- African Civet
- African Clawed Frog
- African Palm Civet
- Ant
- Antelope
- Baboon
- Barb
- Barn Owl
- Bat
- Beetle
- Bichir
- Bird
- Black Widow Spider
- Bumblebee
- Butterfly
- Caracal
- Cat
- Caterpillar
- Catfish
- Centipede
- Chameleon
- Cheetah
- Chicken
- Cicada
- Cichlid
- Cockroach
- Common Buzzard
- Cow
- Crab
- Crane
- Crocodile
- Dog
- Donkey
- Dormouse
- Dragonfly
- Duck
- Earwig
- Eel
- Elephant
- Elephant Shrew
- Falcon
- Fly
- Fox
- Frog
- Gecko
- Gerbil
- Glass Lizard
- Glow Worm
- Goat
- Golden Oriole
- Grasshopper
- Green Bee-Eater
- Guinea Fowl
- Hamster
- Hare
- Hedgehog
- Heron
- Hippopotamus
- Honey Badger
- Honey Bee
- Hoopoe
- Horse
- Human
- Hyena
- Ibis
- Impala
- Insects
- Jackal
- Kingfisher
- Kudu
- Ladybug
- Leopard
- Leopard Tortoise
- Liger
- Lion
- Lizard
- Locust
- Magpie
- Mayfly
- Meerkat
- Millipede
- Mole
- Mongoose
- Mongrel
- Monitor Lizard
- Monkey
- Moorhen
- Moth
- Mouse
- Mule
- Nightingale
- Ostrich
- Otter
- Pangolin
- Parrot
- Peregrine Falcon
- Pheasant
- Pigeon
- Quail
- Rabbit
- Rat
- Rhinoceros
- River Turtle
- Robin
- Scorpion
- Seahorse
- Serval
- Sheep
- Shrimp
- Snail
- Snake
- Sparrow
- Squirrel
- Stick Insect
- Swan
- Termite
- Tortoise
- Tree Frog
- Vulture
- Warthog
- Wasp
- Water Buffalo
- White Rhinoceros
- Wolf Spider
- Woodlouse
- Woodpecker
- Zebra
- Zebu
- Zonkey
- Zorse