Africa Animals
Cheetah
The Cheetah is the fastest land mammal in the world and can reach speeds of
80-100 km/h. However, it is only able to keep up this speed for a short period
of time. The cheetah has a slender body, a small head, and long legs, which
makes it ideal for speed, it is also the only cat without retractable claws
which allows the claws to always be exposed, makes for better traction when
running. The tail is also adapted to help maintain balance at high speeds and
during quick turns.
Elephant
The African Elephant has a marked dip between its fore and hindquarters giving
a concave curvature to its back. It's ears are large and fan-like and are also
used to control body temperature; blood circulating through the large vessels
in the ears is cooled by flapping. They have acute hearing.
Giraffes
The Giraffe is the tallest of all mammals, on average they are 6ft tall at birth.
They are well known for their long necks, long legs, and spotted patterns; each
giraffe has it's own unique pattern. Giraffes have small "horns" or
knobs on top of their heads that grow to be about five inches long. These knobs
are used to protect the head in fights.
Hippopotamus
There are two species of hippopotamuses; the Pygmy Hippo which is the smaller
species, standing about waist-high to an adult human, and the river or common
hippopotamus. The common/river hippopotamus which is world's third largest and
heaviest land animals, weighing up to about 4,000 kg.
Lion
Lions are unique in that they are the only cats to live in groups (prides).
They are the largest member of the cat family and the largest of all the African
carnivores. They are are the top predator in any African ecosystem where they
live. Lions are Tawny in colour, varying from silvery yellow to reddish brown
with paler undersides (female belly yellowish to almost white); yellow to black
mane. Faint, leopard like spots are generally found on the young which is sometimeskept
into maturity.
Rhinoceros
The are two type of Rhino found in Africa - the Black Rhino and the White Rhino.
Black Rhinos are more rare than White Rhino The white rhino has a more prominent
square lip, are larger than black rhino and are not as aggressive as black rhinos.
Black Rhinos have a pointed mouth with a hooked lip. Black and White Rhinos
are grey in colour.
Warthog
A member of the pig family warthogs are black, grey or brown in colour, with
dark mane and tail; white cheek whiskers. Their bodies are covered with sparse
coarse bristly hair. They have a long face with fleshy warts and protruding
tusks. Warthogs are sociable animals and are usually found in groups consisting
of 1 or 2 sows and young offspring. Males (boars) usually travel alone. Boars
have more prominent warts than sows. They are primarily used to protect the
face during fights.
Zebra
Related to the horse, a Burchell's Zebra is of stocky build with wide black
and white stripes that run diagonally and lengthways on the rump and continue
on to the belly, all the way down to hooves. The mane is upright and striped
to match the neck. The tail is striped with a dark tassle. Zebra stripes are
as individual as a human fingerprint.
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