Animals in Africa

Rhinoceros

Scientific name

Black: Diceros bicornis
White: Ceratotherium simum

Weight

Black: 1 to 1.5 tn. (2,000 to 3,000 lb.)
White: More than 2 tn. (4,000+ lb.)

Size

About 60 in. at the shoulder

Life span

35 to 40 years

Habitat

Grassland and open savanna

Diet

Herbivorous

Gestation

16 months

Predators

Humans

CONSERVATION STATUS:

Critically Endangered

There are 2 species of African rhino

Rhinos can gallop up to 30 miles per hour

Black rhino population down 97.6% since 1960

Habitat

Where do rhinos live?

The African rhino is divided into two species, the black rhino and the white rhino. White rhinos mainly live in South Africa, but they have also been reintroduced to Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. Southern white rhinos have been introduced to Kenya, Zambia, and Cote d’Ivoire. The majority of the black rhino population—98%—is concentrated in four countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. South Africa houses 40% of the total black rhino population. There are some black rhinos in the region spread between Cameroon and Kenya. (Source)

African Elephant

Scientific Name
Loxodonta africana, Loxodonta cylotis

Common Names
African Bush Elephant, African Forest Elephant

Classification
Mammal

Close Relatives

Elephants are the largest land animals living in the world today, their great stature and thick grey skin gives them an overpowering presence. Africa is home for two of the three living elephant species: the African bush elephant and the African forest elephant. Select a link to access specific information, or continue reading for an overview of African elephants.

Both the African bush elephant and African forest elephant were once considered the same species, known simply as the African elephant. Their classification is still under debate which is a very common occurrence. Traditionally, a species is one that may interbreed with another; therefore it requires proof that African bush elephants may not breed with African forest elephants. Today, a more common approach is sequencing specific parts of the elephant's DNA and comparing the differences (phylogenetics); this may also serve as proof for a new classification. The exact requirements are 'fuzzy' at best, and therefore it is perhaps a decision left up to the reader. Differences in appearance (morphogenetics) are sometimes valid and helpful, but the variance between species can sometimes be misleading, even the variance between in-species males and females is often extreme.

Due to their size, elephants do not have any predators in the wild; even a keen hunter such as a lion may try, but is not able to overpower these creatures. Elephant calves however may be preyed upon particularly if the mother is not nearby, otherwise the mother will often assist in protecting the calf.

Continue on reading about their description

Giraffe

Scientific Name
Giraffa Camelopardalis

Common Names
See overview, below

Classification
Mammal

Close Relatives
Okapi

The giraffe is from the Giraffidae family which has only one other member, the Okapi. The giraffe has a very long list of common names to account for the high number of subspecies. There is only one accepted species of the giraffe, but many subspecies that may one day prove to be a new species. The scientific name Giraffidae camelopardalis represents the family (Giraffidae) and species (camelopardalis). To represent subspecies by their scientific name the species name is abbreviated, followed by the sub species scientific name. The following lists the large number of subspecies with their scientific names: Nubian Giraffe (G. c. camelopardalis), Somali or Reticulated Giraffe (G. c. reticulata), Smoky or Angolan Giraffe (G. c. angolensis), Kordofan Giraffe (G. c. antiquorum), Maasai or Kilimanjaro Giraffe (G. c. tippelskirchi), Rothschild, Baringo or Ugandan Giraffe (G. c. rothschildi), South African Giraffe (G. c. giraffa), Thornicroft or Rhodesian Giraffe (G. c. thornicrofti), and the West African or Nigerian Giraffe (G. c. peralta).

Giraffes move in loose herds on the open woodlands and grasslands of the African Savannah. Eating mostly at dusk and dawn on leaves and fruit, the Giraffe's main food source is the acacia tree. They will drink where possible, but can survive where it is in short supply. To drink, a Giraffe must spread its front legs so its head can reach the water. It has a distinctive walking style as it moves both legs on the same side forward at the same time. At a gallop, the Giraffe can reach speeds of up to 55 km/hour and rhythmically moves its head backwards and forwards to pull forward its weight. Even though the Giraffe is a quiet animal, it does make a distinctive flute-like noise as well as grunts and moans. It has a sharp sense of hearing and can alert animals of nearby predators. Giraffe are not territorial; however they will stay within a certain area and have a male hierarchy. Mating can occur at any time of the year and calves are born after a gestation of 16 months. When caring for their young, the female Giraffe will leave their calves together during the day to feed. A calf will grow very fast when young, even up to an inch per day. By two months, the calf will be feeding on leaves and by six months, it will be quite independent of its mother. Full grown, a Giraffe will grow up to four to six meters and live up to 28 years (in captivity, not as long in the wild). The Giraffe does not have many predators, but if threatened, the Giraffe has two defence methods, it will kick its aggressor with its front legs or it will use its long neck and densely boned skull as a mallet against another Giraffe. The main predator of the Giraffe is the human. Not many African animals will attack a full grown Giraffe, but a calf will be attacked, usually by a Hyena. 

Vervet Monkey

Scientific Name

Chlorocebus pygerythrus            

Common Names

Vervet 

Classification

Mammal             

Close Relatives

The vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), or simply vervet, is an Old World monkey of the family Cercopithecidae native to Africa. The term "vervet" is also used to refer to all the members of the genus Chlorocebus. The five distinct subspecies can be found mostly throughout Southern Africa, as well as some of the eastern countries. Vervets were transported to the islands of Barbados, Saint Kitts, and Nevis in conjunction with the African slave trade.  They inhabit East Africa near a source of water, these mostly vegetarian monkeys have black faces and grey body hair color, ranging in length from about 19 in (50 cm) for males to about 16 in (40 cm) for females.

In addition to very interesting behavioral research on natural populations, vervet monkeys serve as a nonhuman primate model for understanding genetic and social behaviors of humans. They have been noted for having human-like characteristics, such as hypertension, anxiety, and social and dependent alcohol use. Vervets live in social groups ranging from 10 to 70 individuals, with males changing groups at the time of sexual maturity. The most significant studies done on vervet monkeys involve their communication and alarm calls, specifically in regard to kin and group recognition and particular predator sightings.  Read more >>

Source: http://www.africanfauna.com/

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