Below you can find a complete list of Mozambican animals. We currently track 266 animals in Mozambique and are adding more every day!
Mozambique is home to a large collection of unique wildlife. Some examples include zebras, crocodiles, hippos, pelicans, impala, common wildebeest, lions, and African wild dogs just to name a few. The African elephant is one of many popular animals to observe in this country.
Mozambique is a country of possibilities. At one time, the population of the African elephant fell so low, they were in terrible danger of becoming extinct. Now, their population is slowly recovering. At the same time, scientists continue to discover new species of animals in the forests of Mozambique. In the last ten years, several new species of butterfly have been discovered deep in the forests as well as a number of snakes.
When it comes to the various types of unique wildlife in Mozambique there are 740 species of bird, 236 mammal species, more than 225 reptile species, 90 amphibian species, and 1450 species of fish!
The Official National Animal of Mozambique
The official national animal of Mozambique is the African elephant. African elephants symbolize the strength and resilient spirit of this country. They live in Mozambique as well as 36 other countries in Africa. They are the biggest walking animals on the globe!
The African elephant itself is a resilient mammal. Its population has decreased over the decades due to poaching. Poachers killed these elephants for their ivory tusks in order to sell this material so people could make jewelry, dishes, and more. Their population has suffered from habitat loss as well. Not surprisingly, they faced the possibility of becoming extinct. However, this incredible animal continues to survive despite its history of challenges. Though its conservation status is Endangered, these elephants receive protection today in various national parks and nature preserves in Mozambique.
The Most Dangerous Animals in Mozambique
Every country has animals that are non-threatening and animals that are more aggressive. The most dangerous animals in Mozambique include:
- Mozambique Spitting Cobra – This venomous snake inflicts the majority of the 1.5 million snake bites that occur in sub-Saharan Africa each year. These snakes can spit up to 8 feet and have accurate aim! Its venom can be deadly to a human depending on how much the person receives. But even a small amount of this snake’s venom can cause pain, swelling, and blindness if a person is hit in the eyes. As a note, this unusual animal will try to hide or escape before resorting to using its venom.
- Lion – Since 2000, there are an estimated 100 lion attacks each year and around 70 of those attacks proved fatal. Lions are experiencing habitat loss, so they are encountering humans more today than in the past. These animals are powerful, fast, and are able to blend well into their environment.
- Hippopotamus – Hippos cause approximately 3,000 human deaths each year. They hold the title of the most dangerous animal in all of Africa. These popular animals have a reputation for being cute and slow-moving. But they are unpredictable and will attack if they think a human is invading their territory. The sheer size of these mammals along with their long, spike-like teeth and powerful jaws can prove deadly to an unsuspecting human.
- Crocodile – In 2018, there were 30 humans killed by crocodiles in Mozambique. These are dangerous animals due to the fact that they can swim silently and blend into their environment. They have strong jaws and are very fast. People who are fishing or collecting water for their households sometimes fall victim to this reptile.
Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in Mozambique
- African Elephant – These elephants live in savannahs and in dry woodlands. They can be seen in Banhine National Park and in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique.
- Zebra – Treeless grasslands and savanna woodlands are the habitats of zebras. Gorongosa National Park and Limpopo National Park are two places to see zebra in this country.
- African Buffalo – The habitat of African buffalo includes lowland rainforests and savannas. These unusual animals must live close to water. Chimanimani National Park and Gorongosa National Park are both home to African buffalo.
- Impala – Impala live on savannas and woodlands where they can eat grass most of the day. Zinave National Park is one place to see impala in this country.
- African Fish Eagle – This popular animal lives on grasslands as well as near swamps and marshes. It’s just one spectacular bird among many living in Gorongosa National Park.
- African Wild Dog – African wild dogs live on the open plains and woodlands of Mozambique. Quirimbas National Park is home to African wild dogs as well as other unusual wildlife.
Endangered Animals in Mozambique
Unfortunately, there are some endangered animals among all of the unique wildlife living in Mozambique. Loss of habitat and poaching are two reasons why some of these animals have this conservation status. Also, the civil war that took place in Mozambique a few decades ago has had a lasting effect on many animal populations. Some of the endangered animals in Mozambique include:
Flag of Mozambique
The flag of Mozambique is rich with color and symbolism. Three horizontal stripes in different colors adorn the flag. From the top down, the colors are green, black, and yellow. A thin white line runs between each stripe. To the left, is a bright red triangle, pointing to the inside of the flag. Nestled inside this triangle is a five-point yellow star. An open white book lays across the star, with three tools forming an X atop it. These tools are the Kalashnikov rifle, a bayonet, and a gardening hoe. Each color and symbol hold its own meaning. The green, black, and yellow represent wealth, the African continent, and mineral-rich soil, respectively. The book stands for the importance of education, while the hoe represents agriculture.
Mozambican Animals
Can move 2ft of soil in just 15 seconds!
The aardwolf has five toes on its front paws
The African bullfrog is one of only three species of frog that have “teeth.”
Can drink up to 50 gallons a day
Secretes up to 4g of musk every week!
African clawed frogs were used as pregnancy testers from the 1930s to the early 1960s.
Both male and female African elephants have tusks. In Asian elephants, only the males have tusks.
African fish eagles belong to the genus of sea eagles
The males raise the young
Solitary but gathers in groups!
Also known as the painted dog!
The agama forms small social groups that contain both dominant and subordinate males.
Despite its name, actually originated from Africa and the Middle East
First evolved 100 million years ago!
Renew their horns every year!
They are so named because they "march" in armies of worms from one crop to another in search of food
People spin clothing and fishing nets out of these spiders’ silk.
There are over 1768 known species!
Found everywhere around the world!
Older offspring help care for new hatchlings.
Detects prey using echolocation!
Bat-eared foxes can run up to 35 MPH!
Bed bugs feed for 4-12 minutes.
Rock paintings of bees date back 15,000 years
There are more than 350,000 different species
The bichir species is more than 400 million years old
Not all birds are able to fly!
Usambara vine snakes sit perfectly still and sway in the wind like a stick.
The biscuit beetle form a symbiotic relationship with yeast
Black mambas are the longest venomous snake in Africa, and second longest in the world.
They typically prey on insects!
The blind snake is often mistaken for a worm.
They inflict a painful, venomous sting
Boomslangs are primarily arboreal but sometimes come to the ground.
“Mild-Mannered Minimonsters”
Females glue egg cases to furniture
Can live its entire life indoors
"They look like you owe them money."
The most common species of bee!
In a series of leaps, this creature can cover almost 30 feet of distance in just a few seconds.
Bush vipers are predators, sinking their fangs into prey while dangling from a tree limb
There are thought to be up 17,500 species!
Some species' babies use their hooked or scraper-like teeth to peel off and eat their mother's skin
Has 20 different muscles in it's ears!
Carpenter ants can lift up to seven times their own weight with their teeth!
May have been domesticated up to 10,000 years ago.
The larvae of a moth or butterfly!
There are nearly 3,000 different species!
There are about 3,000 documented species!
There are more than 160 different species!
The fastest land mammal in the world!
First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!
Cicadas have one of the longest insect lifespans
There are more than 2 000 known species!
Dated to be around 300 million years old!
The largest terrestrial arthropod in the world
Pupae are able to undergo diapause to survive poor fruit yield years and winter.
The most common raptor in the UK!
The common furniture beetle feeds exclusively on wood
House spiders have the ability to eat most insects in a home.
They can fly 35 mph and dive 150 feet below water.
Cosmic caterpillars have spots on their back that look like eyes to scare off predators.
There are nearly 1.5 billion worldwide!
There are 93 different crab groups
Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings
Many are critically endangered species!
Male crickets can produce sounds by rubbing their wings together
Have changed little in 200 million years!
Crocodylomorphs include extinct ancient species as well as 26 living species today.
A group of these birds is called a Murder.
Dik-diks use a tar-like liquid from their eye glands to mark their territory!
First domesticated in South-East Asia!
Dog ticks feed on dogs and other mammals
First domesticated 5,000 years ago!
Found in Europe, Africa and Asia!
It's larvae are carnivorous!
Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!
The dung beetle can push objects many times its own weight
The Dusky Shark sometimes eats trash discarded by humans.
Has exceptional eyesight!
They are hermaphrodites, which means they have male and female organs
There are nearly 2,000 different species!
It is completely arboreal, and its green color is one of the adaptations that make life in the trees possible.
Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!
A duck species that resembles a goose when flying
Both females and males have horns.
The electric catfish can discharge an electric shock up to 450 volts
Spends around 22 hours a day eating!
Found exclusively on the African continent!
The fastest creatures on the planet!
False spiders actually prey on black widow spiders and other hazardous spiders
The fiddler crab gets its name from the motion the males make with their over-sized claw during the mating ritual.
The fire ball python morph is known for its rich golden and reddish-brown coloration.
The firefly produces some of the most efficient light in the world
Adult fleas can jump up to 7 inches in the air
There are more than 240,000 different species!
Only 12 species are considered "true foxes"
There are around 7,000 different species!
Among the largest bats in the world
Fruit flies are among the most common research animals in the world
They build a ramp from their nest, which leads to a nearby water source
Gaboon vipers are the largest vipers in Africa.
Named for the Arabic word for love poems
There are thought to be over 2,000 species!
Originally known as the Desert Rat!
The most common type of urban roach
The largest fish in its genus
Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!
Males form large mating swarms at dusk
Most closely related to the Sheep!
The golden mole is so named because of its iridescent coat, which gives it a shining, rainbow-like effect.
Migrates between Europe and Asia!
There are 11,000 known species!
Green mambas are fast, and can travel up to 7 miles per hour.
Found in a vairety of African habitats!
One of the most invasive species in the world
Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!
Can reach speeds of over 50 mph!
Many hawk moth caterpillars eat toxins from plants, but don’t sequester them the way milkweed butterflies do. Most toxins are excreted.
Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!
Inhabits wetlands around the world!
Has pink anti-bacterial sweat!
One of earth's bravest creatures!
There are only 8 recognized species!
Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!
Has evolved over 50 million years!
Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.
Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!
Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.
There are four different species!
Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!
Able to jump over 10 feet high
There are an estimated 30 million species!
The jacana has the ability to swim underwater
Can maintain speeds of 16 km/h!
Some can jump 50 times the length of their bodies
Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!
Klipspringers can jump as high as 10-12ft!
It's easily identified by its crest, large size, and wingspan
Lives in herds of up to 24 individuals!
There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!
Lappet-faced vultures are tidy and wash their heads in a body of water after they’ve eaten
Spends much of the time high in the trees!
The most widely distributed tortoise in Africa!
The lesser jacana is nomadic, often moving in search of temporary wetland habitats.
The offspring of a lion and tiger parents!
Lives in small groups called prides!
There are around 5,000 different species!
Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.
Mopane worms (larva) only live for 3 - 4 days after evolving into an adult (madora), during which they mate and lay eggss
Will only live in wet areas
They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!
The marabou stork does not have a voice box.
They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.
Some species have a poisonous bite!
Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!
Range in size from just 1 to 3 foot!
Has characteristics of two or more breeds!
Some species are thought to carry a weak venom!
There are around 260 known species!
Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!
Only the female mosquito actually sucks blood
There are 250,000 different species!
Found on every continent on Earth!
Mozambique Spitting Cobra is one of Africa's most dangerous snakes.
The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!
Nematodes range in size from 1/10 of an inch to 28 feet long
Named more than 1,000 years ago!
Unlike other reptiles, the male Nile crocodile will stay with a female to guard their nest of eggs.
The Nile monitor is the world's fourth-largest lizard!
There are more than 5,000 species.
They have a high-pitched alarm call that sounds like a barking dog.
Olive baboons will sometimes form strong friendships with each other
Oranda goldfish are one of the most popular fancy goldfish breeds
Females are about four times the size of males
Males oribis spend most of their time patrolling the borders of their territories; they can do this about 16 times an hour! However, 27% of their day is spent grazing.
They reuse nesting sites for 70 years!
There are 13 different species worldwide
The owl can rotate its head some 270 degrees
Bad eyesight, but great sense of smell
Can live for up to 100 years!
Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!
They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.
The mantis can turn its head 180 degrees.
This large snake is so-named because it will puff up its body to appear bigger than it is when directly threatened by a predator or person.
Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!
There are more than 300 different species!
Omnivores that eat anything!
Is the most populous bird in the world
It's horns are made from keratin!
Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!
There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!
Rock pythons may have crossbred with the escaped Burmese pythons in Florida.
The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, likes to be in and around bodies of water. Because of this, the Catholic Church in South America decided that it was a fish, and people were allowed to eat it during Lent and First Fridays.
Will mate with the entire flock!
Ferrets were used during the Revolutionary War to keep down the rat population.
The sand crab burrows beneath the sand with its tail
There are around 2,000 known species!
The sea eagle tends to mate for life with a single partner
Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!
Can leap more than 1 meter into the air!
Around 35 million in the English countryside!
The spinal column of the shrew Scutisorex somereni is so strong and reinforced that it can support the weight of an adult human.
There are 2,000 different species worldwide!
Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.
They glide around on one foot, which is aided by the slime they produce
Has up to 45 eggs per egg case
There are nearly 1,000 different species!
There are around 4,000 known species worldwide
The snouted cobra, also known as the banded snouted cobra, is one of the most venomous snakes in all of Africa.
There are 140 different species!
They prey on spiders to feed their larvae or they parasitize other spider wasps.
Spitting cobras are types of cobras that can spit venom at predators and prey.
Males battle each other over females and territory
Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!
There are more than 3,000 different species!
Because of their unique venom delivery system, stiletto snakes are almost impossible to hold safely in the usual way (with fingers behind the head) without being bitten.
They can’t sing like other birds.
Populations have been affected by pollution!
Tarantula hawks are excellent pollinators, especially for milkweed.
Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!
The American robin is called the robin because its red breast reminded European settlers of the robin back in the old country.
They inject hosts with a chemical that stops them from feeling the pain of the bite
The adult tiger beetle is one of the fastest land insects in the world
Can live until they are more than 150 years old!
They make music with their wings
Found in warmer jungles and forests!
Tsetse flies are large biting flies that live in the tropical regions of Africa.
Their name means “banana-eater,” but they rarely ever eat bananas.
Some species of aquatic turtles can get up to 70 percent of their oxygen through their butt.
Twig snakes are among the few rear-fanged colubrids whose bite is highly venomous and potentially fatal.
Rarely found more than 450m from trees!
A slender body and elongated snout give the vine snake a regal look.
Vinegaroons can spray 19 times before the glands are depleted
Vipers are one of the most widespread groups of snakes and inhabit most
There are 30 different species worldwide!
Has two sets of tusks on it's face!
There are around 75,000 recognised species!
Has been domesticated for thousands of years!
There are two different types of white ferrets!
The second largest animal on the land!
Can trek more than 1,000 miles every year!
Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.
This animal can roll up into a ball
There are 200 different species!
They feign death by making their bodies limp and closing their eyes.
Stripe patterns are unique to each individual!
There are around 75 different species!
The offspring of Zebra and Donkey parents!
The offspring of a Zebra and Horse parents!
Mozambican Animals List
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What animals live in Mozambique?
Some of the most amazing and unusual animals live in Mozambique. Some of the most notable members of Mozambique wildlife include African elephants, lions, African wild dogs, dolphins, hippos, zebras, ostriches, sea turtles, impala, and crocodiles. Don’t forget the Mozambique spitting cobra!
What is the national animal of Mozambique?
The national animal of Mozambique is the African elephant. These unusual animals perfectly symbolize resilience. Their population is slowly recovering from almost becoming extinct.
Are there monkeys in Mozambique?
Yes. The vervet monkey, the blue monkey, the chacma baboon and the yellow baboon all live in Mozambique.
Are there lions in Mozambique?
Yes, lions live in Mozambique. Gorongosa National Park is just one of the places where these unique animals live in a protected environment.