FIVE (5) AMAZING AFRICAN ANIMALS
1-The African Elephant
There are two elephant species. The African elephants and the smaller Asian elephants.
- The African Elephant is the largest land mammal alive today.
- Males can weigh over 6 kg and can be up to 4 meters tall at the shoulder.
- Both male and females of this species have tusks that can be up to 2 meters long. The tusks are actually the upper incisor teeth.
- These animals are herbivores and eat over three hundred pounds of food daily. They spend most of their day (often up to eighteen hours) searching for food such as grass, plants, and bark of plants to eat.
- These animals do not have great eyesight but do have a very good sense of smell and hearing.
- Male African elephants have rounded heads while female African elephants have squarer heads.
- Male African elephants can reach a weight of 7.5 tons
- African Elephants have a life span about as long as human beings.
2-Baboons
There are five different species of baboons they are:
- Chacma Baboon - lives in southern Africa
- Guinea Baboon (or Western, Red Baboon) - lives in western Africa
- Hamadryas Baboon - lives in the Horn of Africa and Arabia (south west)
- Olive Baboon - lives in savannas of North-Central Africa
- Yellow Baboon - lives in eastern and south-central Africa
- The lifespan of these African baboons is 20-30 years on average.
- These old world monkeys are omnivorous and eat a mixture of berries, grass, leaves, bark, plant sap, pods as well as various fish, birds, insects and even small antelope and gazelles.
- These mammal's predators include cheetahs, lions, leopards, hyenas, pythons and birds of prey.
- The main threat to baboons is humans. Not only are humans destroying this animal's habitat to make way for crops and settlements but they are also hunting them for their meat. They are sometimes killed simply because people perceive them as pests or consider them to be evil because of their looks.
- A baby baboon develops quickly. By 5-6 weeks old, a baby can ride on the mother's back and although mother and baby form a close bond, by 4-6 months old the two spend most of the day apart.
3-The African Giraffe
- The Giraffe is the tallest animal in the world. It can reach a height six meters.
- A males average weight is 1,600 kg.
- A females average weight is 830 kg.
- These African animals can run at speeds of up to 56 km/h.
- They inhabit the savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands of Sub-Saharan Africa in a wide range stretching from Chad (Central Africa) to South Africa.
- They can live for up to 25 years in the wild.
- Their main food is acacia leaves. Their long necks enable them to reach leaves other animals cannot reach.
- Male giraffes are called bulls, females are called cows, and babies are called calves.
- A Giraffe's heart can weigh more than 10 kg. It's heart must be able to generate enough blood pressure to pump blood all the way up its long neck to its brain.
- SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST: Dominant Giraffes will stretch their necks up high as a way of displaying their power. Non-dominant giraffes will bow their heads to show they are non-threating.
- A Giraffes front legs are longer than its back legs, which accounts for its sloping back.
4-The African Wild Dog
- The African Wild Dogs colorful coat is a mixture of different fur colors including red, yellow, brown, white, and black. No two patterns are exactly alike.
- These dogs have notably large, strong jaws with incredible biting force.
- African Wild Dogs have long legs, which help them run fast, and bushy tails accented with a white tip. It is believed that other pack members can spot the tail while hunting and stay in close contact.
- African Wild Dog General Facts
- These dogs are very social animals that live and travel in packs ranging in size from 6 to 20 dogs. Depending on the size of the pack they will sometimes share their food and even tend to the weak, young, and sick members of the pack.
- The African Wild Dog is a very vocal animal that makes a variety of sounds for different reasons. A short bark signifies alarm where a howl may signify that it's time to hunt.
- Running long distances at speeds up to 56 Km/h are common for the African Wild Dog.
- Natural predators of the African Wild Dog are few, with the spotted hyena and the lion being of greatest concern, especially for the young pups. The main predator for these dogs are humans. Humans have shot so many of these dogs that the population has drastically declined.
- Litters average about 10 pups with a gestation period of just 2.5 months.
- The lifespan of an African Wild Dog is in the range of 10 -12 years in the wild.
5- The Hyena
- The four species of Hyenas are spotted, stripe, brown, and aardwolf.
- Hyenas are generally nocturnal.
- Despite their small size hyenas are one of Africas most lethal animals. Occasionally even attacking humans.
- Ancient Egyptians domesticated hyenas and raised them for food.
- Hyenas can survive several days without water.
- Hyenas may look like some what like dogs but they are more closely related to cats.
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Learn amazing facts about African Animals