Wildlife Directory
Name:
African Elephant
Scientific Name:
Loxodonta africana
Longevity:
Approximately 60-70 years in the wild
Gestation:
Close to 22 months
Conservation Status:
On the CITES-list
Weight:
Males about 5000 kg; females about 3000 kg
Facts:
- Loxos = skewed; odontos = tooth
- Feeding on grasses and herbs in the rainy season and on woody plants in the dry season, selecting for the most nutritious and palatable of the common plants. Consumes daily about 4 to 6% of its own body weight
- Habitat: virtually any habitat providing adequate quantities of food and water, ideally with both grass and browse
- Largest land mammal
- Feeding on grasses and herbs in the rainy season and on woody plants in the dry season, selecting for the most nutritious and palatable of the common plants. Consumes daily about 4 to 6% of its own body weight
- Habitat: virtually any habitat providing adequate quantities of food and water, ideally with both grass and browse
- Largest land mammal
Name:
Black Rhinoceros
Scientific Name:
Diceros bicornis
Longevity:
Approximately 45 years in the wild
Gestation:
15 to 16 months
Conservation Status:
All subspecies fall under the most critical IUCN status
Weight:
Male between 996 kg and 1362 kg; female about 100 kg less
Facts:
- Diceros bicornis = two-horned two horn, also known as the hooked-lipped rhinoceros
- Habitat: transitional habitats between grassland and forest are preferred, although they can be found in a variety of habitats ranging from deserts to mountain forests. Water availability is important
- Selective browsers, feeding on leaves, twigs and branches, with a preference for leguminous herbs and shrubs
- Habitat: transitional habitats between grassland and forest are preferred, although they can be found in a variety of habitats ranging from deserts to mountain forests. Water availability is important
- Selective browsers, feeding on leaves, twigs and branches, with a preference for leguminous herbs and shrubs
Name:
Brown Hyena
Scientific Name:
Hyaena brunnea
Longevity:
Approximately 15 years in the wild
Gestation:
3-4 months
Conservation Status:
Extinct in South Africa except in northern districts of the Transvaal and Cape Province; lower risk – near threatened
Weight:
Between 35 and 50 kg, no significant difference between males and females
Facts:
- Hyaena = the hyaena, from the Greek word hus = a hog, on account of the bristly mane; brunneus = dark brown
- Opportunistic forager, scavenger of large mammals
- Opportunistic forager, scavenger of large mammals
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Name:
Buffalo
Scientific Name:
Syncerus caffer
Longevity:
Approximately 22 years in the wild
Gestation:
11.5 months
Conservation Status:
Lower risk – conservation dependent
Weight:
Males about 690 kg; females about 580 kg
Facts:
- Sun = together; keras = the horn of the animals, referring to the horns which are close together at the base; caffer = of Caffraria, the country of the Africans
- Bulk grazer, with occasional browsing
- Habitat: well-watered savanna, swamps and floodplains, montane grasslands, forests of major mountains. A good habitat usually affords a dense cover of for example thickets or reeds. Herds may also live in very open woodland
- Bulk grazer, with occasional browsing
- Habitat: well-watered savanna, swamps and floodplains, montane grasslands, forests of major mountains. A good habitat usually affords a dense cover of for example thickets or reeds. Herds may also live in very open woodland
Name:
Cheetah
Scientific Name:
Acinonyx jubatus
Longevity:
Approximately 10-15 years in the wild
Gestation:
90-95 days
Conservation Status:
South of the Sahara in the savannas and arid zones still widely distributed, however greatly reduced in range and numbers; vulnerable
Weight:
Between 35 kg and 65 kg, males about 10 kg heavier than females
Facts:
- Akaina = thorn; onux = a claw, referring to the non-retractile pointed claws; jubatus = mained
- Preys on gazelles and their close relations (e.g. springbok), impala,…
- Their optimum habitat includes cover as bushes, medium-length grass, trees, broken ground,…
- Fastest mammal reaching speeds of 90-112 km per hour (60-70 mph)
- Preys on gazelles and their close relations (e.g. springbok), impala,…
- Their optimum habitat includes cover as bushes, medium-length grass, trees, broken ground,…
- Fastest mammal reaching speeds of 90-112 km per hour (60-70 mph)
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Name:
Common Hippopotamus
Scientific Name:
Hippopotamus amphibius
Longevity:
Approximately 40 years in the wild
Gestation:
8 months
Conservation Status:
Lower risk/Least concern
Weight:
Male between 1600 kg and 3200 kg; female about 1400 kg
Facts:
- Hippos = a horse; potamos = a river; amphibius is referring to the fact that they live on land as well as in the water
- Graze a broad swath and harvest short grasses, daily consumption representing about 1 to 1.5 % of its body weight
- Habitat : where there is water deep enough to submerge in combined with a nearby grassland, a gentle sloping is preferred
- Graze a broad swath and harvest short grasses, daily consumption representing about 1 to 1.5 % of its body weight
- Habitat : where there is water deep enough to submerge in combined with a nearby grassland, a gentle sloping is preferred
Name:
Giraffe
Scientific Name:
Giraffa camelopardalis
Longevity:
Approximately 20 years in the wild
Gestation:
14 to 14.5 months
Conservation Status:
Lower risk and conservation dependent
Weight:
Male between 970 kg and 1400 kg; female between 700 and 950 kg
Facts:
- Giraffa = one who walks swiftly; camelopardalis describes the giraffe as a camel (camelus) marked like a leopard (pardus)
- Habitat: historically throughout the Northern and Southern Savanna, especially in the arid to mesic savanna with trees, but they are also found in grasslands and open woodlands
- Selective browsers. If enough food is available, females preferably feed on vegetation below 2 m high, with a preference for regenerating shrubs and trees. Male giraffes generally feed higher on the vegetation and prefer taller and thicker woodlands than females
- The tallest animal
- Habitat: historically throughout the Northern and Southern Savanna, especially in the arid to mesic savanna with trees, but they are also found in grasslands and open woodlands
- Selective browsers. If enough food is available, females preferably feed on vegetation below 2 m high, with a preference for regenerating shrubs and trees. Male giraffes generally feed higher on the vegetation and prefer taller and thicker woodlands than females
- The tallest animal
Name:
Leopard
Scientific Name:
Panthera pardus
Longevity:
Approximately 15-20 years in the wild
Gestation:
90-100 days
Conservation Status:
Quite common over much of Africa; least concern
Weight:
Male between 35 kg and 65 kg; female between 28 kg and 58 kg
Facts:
- Panthera = a panther or a leopard; pardus = a panther or a leopard
- Feeding on a variety of animal food, e.g. small and medium-sized mammals, young of larger antelopes, birds, hares, insects,… Often hiding its prey in a tree to return at night and continue feeding
- Habitat: successful wherever diversified habitats sustain a variety of possible prey
- Feeding on a variety of animal food, e.g. small and medium-sized mammals, young of larger antelopes, birds, hares, insects,… Often hiding its prey in a tree to return at night and continue feeding
- Habitat: successful wherever diversified habitats sustain a variety of possible prey
Name:
Lion
Scientific Name:
Panthera leo
Longevity:
Approximately 12-14 years in the wild
Gestation:
3.5 months
Conservation Status:
Eliminated or greatly reduced over much of Africa, still quite abundant in savanna and plains habitats; vulnerable
Weight:
Males about 190 kg; females about 130 kg
Facts:
- Panthera = a panther or a leopard; leo = a lion
- Feeding on a large variety of animal food, but their size and habitat are specifically adapted to prey on larger ungulates; scavenging and hunting
- Habitat: savanna and plains habitats
- Largest African carnivore
- Feeding on a large variety of animal food, but their size and habitat are specifically adapted to prey on larger ungulates; scavenging and hunting
- Habitat: savanna and plains habitats
- Largest African carnivore
Name:
Nyala
Scientific Name:
Tragelaphus angasii
Longevity:
Approximately 15 years in the wild
Gestation:
7 months
Conservation Status:
Lower risk and conservation dependent
Weight:
Male between 98 kg and 125 kg; female between 55 and 60 kg
Facts:
- Tragelaphus = goat-deer; angasii is referring to the English explorer, zoologist and artist George French Angas
- Habitat: the forest savanna mosaic with a preference for dense shrubs, thickets as well as dry and dense woodlands, riparian thicket habitats, floodplains and forests
- Mixed feeders with a specialized diet; grazing green grass in the rainy season and gradually browsing more in the dry season
- The sexual dimorphism is extremely pronounced in size as well as colour: females and young have a smooth, bright chestnut coat, with contrasting stripes and spots. Males are distinctly bigger and hairier, with a dark fringe from throat to hindquarters and a long and white erectile dorsal crest
Name:
Roan Antelope
Scientific Name:
Hippotragus equinus
Longevity:
Approximately 19 Years in the wild
Gestation:
Between 9 and 9.5 months
Conservation Status:
Lower risk and conservation dependent
Weight:
Male between 242 and 300 kg. Female between 223 and 280 kg
Facts:
- Hippotragus = horse-like goat;
equinus refers to the Latin name for horse
- Habitat: fairly dense to open savanna, sweet veld as well as sour veld, with a preference for lightly wooded savanna with medium to tall grass. Water vicinity appears to be important
- Selective grazers; generally two or three green grass climax species represent their diet
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Name:
Sable Antelope
Scientific Name:
Hippotragus niger niger
Longevity:
Approximately 18 years in the wild
Gestation:
8 to 9 months
Conservation Status:
Lower risk and conservation dependent
Weight:
Male between 216 kg and 263 kg; female between 204 kg and 232 kg
Facts:
- Hippotragus = horse-like goat;
niger = black, referring to the black coat of the males
- Habitat: open woodland savanna with medium to tall grass, a sparse layer of shrubs and a good tree cover. Water vicinity appears to be important
- Specialized diet consisting of foliage and herbs
niger = black, referring to the black coat of the males
- Habitat: open woodland savanna with medium to tall grass, a sparse layer of shrubs and a good tree cover. Water vicinity appears to be important
- Specialized diet consisting of foliage and herbs
Name:
Spotted Hyena
Scientific Name:
Crocuta crocuta
Longevity:
Approximately 20 years in the wild
Gestation:
16 weeks
Conservation Status:
Exterminated in most of South Africa and greatly reduced in many savanna areas. Can be relatively abundant in undisturbed savanna and plains; lower risk – conservation dependent
Weight:
Males about 60 kg; females about 70 kg
Facts:
- Crocuta is a rare Latin word originally meaning ‘an unknown wild animal of Ethiopia, perhaps the hyaena’, however it could also be referring to the Greek word krokōtos, meaning saffron-colored
- Carnivore, scavenging and hunting, feeding mainly on vertebrates and especially ungulates
- Carnivore, scavenging and hunting, feeding mainly on vertebrates and especially ungulates
Name:
White Rhinoceros
Scientific Name:
Ceratotherium simum
Longevity:
Approximately 40 years in the wild
Gestation:
16 months
Conservation Status:
Ceratotherium simum cottoni is classified as critically endangered, while Ceratotherium simum simum is near threatened
Weight:
Male between 2040 kg and 2260 kg; female about 1600 kg
Facts:
- Cerato = horn; therium = wild beast; simum refers to their flat nose and lips
- Habitat: savannas and open woodlands interspersed with grassy clearings. Water availability is also important
- Bulk grazers, eating 60 to 80 kg grass per day, selecting for grazing palatable species
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Name:
Wild dog or Cape Hunting Dog
Scientific Name:
Lycaon pictus
Longevity:
Approximately 10-15 years in the wild
Gestation:
69-73 days
Conservation Status:
General decline in numbers; endangered
Weight:
20-30 kg, males slightly larger than females
Facts:
- Lukaon = a wolf-like animal; pictus = painted, referring to the coat that looks as if white and orange splodges have been carelessly daubed on a black background
- Pack hunter of the commonest medium-sized antelopes
- Habitat: savannas and arid zones; dense scrub, woodland and montane habitats, wherever suitable prey is present
- Pack hunter of the commonest medium-sized antelopes
- Habitat: savannas and arid zones; dense scrub, woodland and montane habitats, wherever suitable prey is present