Fauna of Africa, in its broader sense, is all the animal

Animal

Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...

s living on the Africa

Africa

Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

n continent and its surrounding seas and islands. The more characteristic African fauna is found in the Afrotropical ecoregion - formerly called Ethiopian (the Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...

). Lying almost entirely within the tropics

Tropics

The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately  N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at  S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...

, and equally to north and south of the equator creates favourable conditions for rich wildlife.

Origins of African fauna

Whereas the earliest traces of life in fossil record of Africa date to the earliest times, the formation of African fauna as we know it today, began with the splitting up of the Gondwana

Gondwana

In paleogeography, Gondwana , originally Gondwanaland, was the southernmost of two supercontinents that later became parts of the Pangaea supercontinent. It existed from approximately 510 to 180 million years ago . Gondwana is believed to have sutured between ca. 570 and 510 Mya,...

 supercontinent in the mid-Mesozoic era. After that, four to six faunal assemblages, the so called African Faunal Strata (AFSs) can be distinguished. The isolation of Africa was broken intermittently by discontinuous "filter routes" that linked it to some other Gondwanan continents (Madagascar

Madagascar

The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...

, South America

South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

, and perhaps India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

), but mainly to Laurasia

Laurasia

In paleogeography, Laurasia was the northernmost of two supercontinents that formed part of the Pangaea supercontinent from approximately...

. Interchanges with Gondwana were rare and mainly "out-of-Africa" dispersals, whereas interchanges with Laurasia were numerous and bidirectional, although mainly from Laurasia to Africa. Despite these connections, isolation resulted in remarkable absences, poor diversity, and emergence of endemic taxa in Africa. Madagascar separated from continental Africa during the break-up of Gondwanaland early in the Cretaceous

Cretaceous

The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...

, but was probably connected to the mainland again in the Eocene

Eocene

The Eocene Epoch, lasting from about 56 to 34 million years ago , is a major division of the geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Eocene spans the time from the end of the Palaeocene Epoch to the beginning of the Oligocene Epoch. The start of the...

.

The first Neogene faunal interchange took place in the Middle Miocene (the introduction of Myocricetodontinae, Democricetodontinae

Democricetodontinae

Democricetodontinae is a subfamily of fossil rodents from Miocene epoch.Democricetodontini was named by Lindsay in 1987. It is not extant. It was considered paraphyletic by Lindsay in 1987. It was reranked as the subfamily Democricetodontinae by Theocharopoulos in 2000 and was assigned to...

, and Dendromurinae

Dendromurinae

Dendromurinae is a subfamily of rodents in the family Nesomyidae and superfamily Muroidea. The dendromurines are currently restricted to Africa, as is the case for all extant members of the family Nesomyidae. The authorship of the subfamily has been contributed to both Alston, 1876, and to G. M...

).
A major terrestrial faunal exchange between North Africa and Europe began at about 6.1 Ma, some 0.4 Myr before the beginning of the Messinian salinity crisis

Messinian salinity crisis

The Messinian Salinity Crisis, also referred to as the Messinian Event, and in its latest stage as the Lago Mare event, was a geological event during which the Mediterranean Sea went into a cycle of partly or nearly complete desiccation throughout the latter part of the Messinian age of the Miocene...

(for example introduction of Murinae

Murinae

The Old World rats and mice, part of the subfamily Murinae in the family Muridae, comprise at least 519 species. This subfamily is larger than all mammal families except the Cricetidae and Muridae, and is larger than all mammal orders except the bats and the remainder of the...

, immigrants from southern Asia

Asia

Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...

)

During the early Tertiary

Tertiary

The Tertiary is a deprecated term for a geologic period 65 million to 2.6 million years ago. The Tertiary covered the time span between the superseded Secondary period and the Quaternary...

, Africa was covered by a vast evergreen forest inhabited by an endemic forest fauna with many types common to southern Asia. In the Pliocene

Pliocene

The Pliocene Epoch is the period in the geologic timescale that extends from 5.332 million to 2.588 million years before present. It is the second and youngest epoch of the Neogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Pliocene follows the Miocene Epoch and is followed by the Pleistocene Epoch...

 the climate became dry and most of the forest was destroyed, the forest animals taking refuge in the remaining forest islands. At the same time a broad land-bridge connected Africa with Asia and there was a great invasion of animals of the steppe

Steppe

In physical geography, steppe is an ecoregion, in the montane grasslands and shrublands and temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biomes, characterized by grassland plains without trees apart from those near rivers and lakes...

 fauna into Africa. At the beginning of the Pleistocene

Pleistocene

The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....

 a moist period set in and much of the forest was renewed while the grassland fauna was divided and isolated, as the forest fauna had previously been. The present forest fauna is therefore of double origin, partly descended from the endemic fauna and partly from steppe forms that adapted themselves to forest life, while the present savanna fauna is similarly explained. The isolation in past times has resulted in the presence of closely related subspecies in widely separated regions Africa, where humans originated, shows much less evidence of loss in the Pleistocene megafauna

Pleistocene megafauna

Pleistocene megafauna is the set of species of large animals — mammals, birds and reptiles — that lived on Earth during the Pleistocene epoch and became extinct in a Quaternary extinction event. These species appear to have died off as humans expanded out of Africa and southern Asia,...

l extinction, perhaps because co-evolution

Co-evolution

In biology, coevolution is "the change of a biological object triggered by the change of a related object." Coevolution can occur at many biological levels: it can be as microscopic as correlated mutations between amino acids in a protein, or as macroscopic as covarying traits between different...

 of large animals alongside early humans provided enough time for them to develop effective defenses. Its situation in the tropics spared it also from Pleistocene glaciations

Ice age

An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...

 and the climate has not changed much

The invertebrates

There are large gaps in human knowledge about African invertebrates. East Africa has a rich coral fauna with about 400 known species. More than 400 species of Echinoderms and 500 species of Bryozoa

Bryozoa

The Bryozoa, also known as Ectoprocta or commonly as moss animals, are a phylum of aquatic invertebrate animals. Typically about long, they are filter feeders that sieve food particles out of the water using a retractable lophophore, a "crown" of tentacles lined with cilia...

 live there too, as well as one Cubozoan species (Carybdea alata

Carybdea alata

Carybdea alata is an Australian species of box jellyfish, often referred to as a sea wasp. It is also found in the Arabian Sea along the beaches of Pakistan....

). Of Nematode

Nematode

The nematodes or roundworms are the most diverse phylum of pseudocoelomates, and one of the most diverse of all animals. Nematode species are very difficult to distinguish; over 28,000 have been described, of which over 16,000 are parasitic. It has been estimated that the total number of nematode...

s, the Onchocerca volvulus

Onchocerca volvulus

Onchocerca volvulus is a nematode that causes onchocerciasis or "river blindness" mostly in Africa. Long-term corneal inflammation, or keratitis, leads to thickening of the corneal stroma which ultimately leads to blindness. Humans are the only definitive host for O. volvulus. The intermediate host...

, Necator americanus

Necator americanus

Necator americanus is a species of Necator. It is a class within the phylum Nematodes and commonly known as New World hookworm. It is a parasitic nematode worm that lives in the small intestine of hosts such as humans, dogs and cats. It is responsible for Necatoriasis...

, Wuchereria bancrofti

Wuchereria bancrofti

Filaria, is a parasitic filarial nematode spread by a mosquito vector. It is one of the three parasites that cause lymphatic filariasis, an infection of the lymphatic system by filarial worms. It affects over 120 million people, primarily in Africa, South America, and other tropical and...

and Dracunculus medinensis

Dracunculus medinensis

Dracunculus medinensis is a nematode that causes dracunculiasis.Dracunculiasis, also known as Guinea worm disease, is caused by the large female nematode, Dracunculus medinensis, which is among the longest nematodes infecting humans. The adult female is primarily larger than the adult male. The...

are human parasites. Some of important plant-parasitic nematodes of crops include Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus

Pratylenchus

Pratylenchus is a genus of plant-parasitic nematodes responsible for root lesions on many plant hosts in temperate regions around the world. Lesion nematodes are migratory endoparasites that enter the host root for feeding and reproduction and move freely through or out of the root tissue. They do...

, Hirschmanniella, Radopholus, Scutellonema and Helicotylenchus

Helicotylenchus

Helicotylenchus is a genus of nematodes in the family Hoplolaimidae.-Diagnosis:Hoplolaimidae. Female : Body vermiform, spiral to straight. Labial region continuous to slightly offset, rounded or anteriorly flattened, generally annulated but never longitudinally striated; anterior lip annulus...

. Of the few Onychophorans Peripatus

Peripatus

Peripatus is a genus of Onychophora . It is an invertebrate which gives birth to live young rather than laying eggs. It is said to be a living fossil because it has been unchanged for approximately...

, Peripatopsis

Peripatopsis

Peripatopsis is a genus of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family.-P. alba Lawrence, 1931, White cave velvet worm :The white cave velvet worm is endemic to South Africa.Its natural habitat is caves....

and Opisthopatus

Opisthopatus

Opisthopatus is a genus of invertebrate in the Peripatopsidae family.It contains the following species:* Opisthopatus cinctipes Purcell, 1899* Opisthopatus herbertorum Ruhberg and Hamer, 2005...

live in Africa. Greatest diversity of freshwater mollusks is found in East African lakes. Of marine snails, less diversity is present in Atlantic coast, more in tropical Western Indian Ocean region (over 3000 species of gastropods with 81 endemic species). Cowry

Cowry

Cowry, also sometimes spelled cowrie, plural cowries, is the common name for a group of small to large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries...

 shells have been used as a money by native Africans. The land snail

Pulmonata

The Pulmonata, or "pulmonates", are an informal group of snails and slugs characterized by the ability to breathe air, by virtue of having a pallial lung instead of a gill, or gills...

 fauna is especially rich in Afromontane

Afromontane

Afromontane is a term used to describe the Afrotropic subregion and its plant and animal species common to the mountains of Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula...

 regions, and there are some endemic families in Africa (e.g. Achatinidae

Achatinidae

Achatinidae is a family of medium to large sized tropical land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks from Africa...

, Chlamydephoridae

Chlamydephoridae

Chlamydephoridae is a family of air-breathing land slugs, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the clade Eupulmonata .These snails are presumed to be true carnivores...

) but other tropical families are common too (Charopidae

Charopidae

Charopidae is a taxonomic family of small air-breathing land snails , terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Punctoidea .- Subfamilies and genera :The family Charopidae consists of the following subfamilies:* Charopinae Hutton, 1884 - synonyms:...

, Streptaxidae

Streptaxidae

Streptaxidae is a family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in theStylommatophora. Six Streptaxidae subfamilies are accepted in the 2005 taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi....

, Cyclophoridae

Cyclophoridae

Cyclophoridae is a taxonomic family of small to large tropical land snails with an operculum, terrestrial gastropod mollusks in the informal group Architaenioglossa belonging to the clade Caenogastropoda .- Taxonomy :This family consists of the following subfamilies according to the taxonomy of...

, Subulinidae

Subulinidae

Subulinidae is a family of small tropical air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Achatinoidea.- Anatomy :...

, Rhytididae

Rhytididae

Rhytididae is a taxonomic family of medium-sized predatory air-breathing land snails, carnivorous terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Rhytidoidea.This family has no subfamilies.-Anatomy:...

).
156 tardigrade species have been found, and about 8000 species of arachnid

Arachnid

Arachnids are a class of joint-legged invertebrate animals in the subphylum Chelicerata. All arachnids have eight legs, although in some species the front pair may convert to a sensory function. The term is derived from the Greek words , meaning "spider".Almost all extant arachnids are terrestrial...

s. The African millipede Archispirostreptus gigas

Archispirostreptus gigas

Archispirostreptus gigas, the giant African millipede, is one of the largest millipedes, growing up to in length, in circumference, and has 256 legs....

is one of the largest in the world. 20 genera of freshwater crab

Freshwater crab

There are around 1,300 species of freshwater crabs, distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics, divided among eight families. They show direct development and maternal care of a small number of offspring, in contrast to marine crabs which release thousands of planktonic larvae. This limits...

s are present.

The soil animal communities tropical Africa are poorly known. A few ecological studies have been undertaken on macrofauna, mainly in West Africa. Earthworms are being extensively studied in West and South Africa.

Insects

Approximately 100,000 species of insects have been described from sub-Saharan Africa, but there are very few overviews of the fauna as a whole (it has been estimated that the African insects make up about 10-20% of the global insect species richness, and about 15% of new species descriptions come from Afrotropics). The only endemic African insect order is Mantophasmatodea

Mantophasmatodea

Mantophasmatodea is a suborder of carnivorous African insects discovered in 2002, originally considered to be a new order, but since relegated to subordinal status, and comprising the single family Mantophasmatidae...

.

About 875 African species of dragonflies

Odonata

Odonata is an order of insects, encompassing dragonflies and damselflies . The word dragonfly is also sometimes used to refer to all Odonata, but the back-formation odonate is a more correct English name for the group as a whole...

 have been recorded.

The migratory locust

Migratory locust

The migratory locust is the most widespread locust species, and the only species in the genus Locusta. It occurs throughout Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. It used to be common in Europe but has now become rare there...

 and desert locust

Desert locust

Plagues of the desert locust have threatened agricultural production in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia for centuries. The livelihood of at least one-tenth of the world’s human population can be affected by this voracious insect...

 have been serious threats to African economies and human welfare.

Africa has the biggest number of termite

Termite

Termites are a group of eusocial insects that, until recently, were classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera , but are now accepted as the epifamily Termitoidae, of the cockroach order Blattodea...

 genera of all continents, and over 1,000 termite species.

Of Diptera

Diptera

Diptera , or true flies, is the order of insects possessing only a single pair of wings on the mesothorax; the metathorax bears a pair of drumstick like structures called the halteres, the remnants of the hind wings. It is a large order, containing an estimated 240,000 species, although under half...

, the number of described African species is about 17,000. Natalimyzidae, a new family of acalyptrate flies has been recently described from South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

. Anopheles gambiae

Anopheles gambiae

Anopheles gambiae is a complex of at least seven morphologically distinguishable species of mosquitoes in the genus Anopheles. This complex was recognised in the 1960s and includes the most important vectors of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa and the most efficient malaria vectors known.This species...

, Aedes aegypti

Aedes aegypti

The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti is a mosquito that can spread the dengue fever, Chikungunya and yellow fever viruses, and other diseases. The mosquito can be recognized by white markings on legs and a marking in the form of a lyre on the thorax...

and Tsetse fly

Tsetse fly

Tsetse , sometimes spelled tzetze and also known as tik-tik flies, are large biting flies that inhabit much of mid-continental Africa between the Sahara and the Kalahari deserts. They live by feeding on the blood of vertebrate animals and are the primary biological vectors of trypanosomes, which...

 are important vectors of diseases.
1600 species of bees

Apoidea

The superfamily Apoidea is a major group within the Hymenoptera, which includes two traditionally-recognized lineages, the "sphecoid" wasps, and the bees, who appear to be their descendants.- Nomenclature :...

 and 2000 species of ant

Ant

Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...

s among other Hymenoptera

Hymenoptera

Hymenoptera is one of the largest orders of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees and ants. There are over 130,000 recognized species, with many more remaining to be described. The name refers to the heavy wings of the insects, and is derived from the Ancient Greek ὑμήν : membrane and...

ns are known from Africa.

There live also 3,607 species of butterflies, being the best known group of insects. The caterpillars of mopani

Gonimbrasia belina

Gonimbrasia belina is a species of moth found in much of Southern Africa, whose large edible caterpillar, the mopani or mopane worm, is an important source of protein for millions of indigenous Southern Africans.-Vernacular names:...

 moth are part of the South African cuisine. Among the numerous species of African beetles are the famous sacred scarab dung beetle

Dung beetle

Dung beetles are beetles that feed partly or exclusively on feces. All of these species belong to the superfamily Scarabaeoidea; most of them to the subfamilies Scarabaeinae and Aphodiinae of the family Scarabaeidae. This beetle can also be referred to as the scarab beetle. As most species of...

 and enormous Goliath beetles

Goliathus

The Goliath beetles are among the largest insects on Earth, if measured in terms of size, bulk and weight. They are members of subfamily Cetoniinae, within the family Scarabaeidae. Goliath beetles can be found in many of Africa's tropical forests, where they feed primarily on tree sap and fruit...

.

Fish

Africa is the richest continent of freshwater

Freshwater

Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...

 fish, with about 3000 species. The East African Great Lakes (Victoria

Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to discover this lake....

, Malawi

Malawi

The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...

, and Tanganyika

Tanganyika

Tanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...

) are the center of biodiversity of many fish, especially cichlid

Cichlid

Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...

s (they harbor more than two-thirds of the estimated 2000 species in the family). The West African coastal rivers region covers only a fraction of West Africa, but harbours 322 of West African’s fish species, with 247 restricted to this area and 129 restricted even to smaller ranges. The central rivers fauna comprises 194 fish species, with 119 endemics and only 33 restricted to small areas. The marine diversity is greatest near the Indian Ocean shore with about 2000 species.

Characteristic to African fauna are Perciformes

Perciformes

The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, is one of the largest orders of vertebrates, containing about 40% of all bony fish. Perciformes means perch-like. They belong to the class of ray-finned fish and comprise over 7,000 species found in almost all aquatic environments...

 (Lates

Lates

Lates is a genus of freshwater and marine fish in the family Latidae of the order Perciformes. The type species is Lates niloticus, the Nile perch. The Lates species are native to the Indian and western Pacific Oceans and to rivers and lakes in Africa; several species are endemic to the Rift...

, tilapia

Tilapia

Tilapia , is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the tilapiine cichlid tribe. Tilapia inhabit a variety of fresh water habitats, including shallow streams, ponds, rivers and lakes. Historically, they have been of major importance in artisan fishing in Africa and the...

s, Dichistiidae, Anabantidae, Mudskipper

Mudskipper

Mudskippers are members of the subfamily Oxudercinae , within the family Gobiidae . They are completely amphibious fish, fish that can use their pectoral fins to walk on land...

s, Parachanna

Parachanna

Parachanna is a genus of the Channidae family of snakehead fishes. Species of Parachanna are found in tropical Africa.-Species:* African snakehead, Parachanna africana* †Parachanna fayumensis * Brown snakehead, Parachanna insignis...

, Acentrogobius, Croilia, Glossogobius

Glossogobius

Glossogobius is a ray-finned fish genus in the subfamily Gobiinae of the goby family . The Tank Goby is the largest member of the subfamily, growing to about 50 cm long.Species include:* Glossogobius ankaranensis...

, Hemichromis, Nanochromis

Nanochromis

Nanochromis is a genus of cichlids containing eight described species. These small fishes are endemic to the Congo River Basin in Central Africa.-Species:*Nanochromis consortus*Nanochromis minor*Nanochromis nudiceps...

, Oligolepis

Oligolepis

Oligolepis is a genus of fish in the Gobiidae family.It contains the following species:* Oligolepis acutipennis - Sharptail goby* Oligolepis cylindriceps * Oligolepis jaarmani...

, Oreochromis

Oreochromis

Oreochromis is a large genus of tilapiine cichlids, fishes endemic to Africa and the Middle East. Several species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range, and are important in aquaculture...

, Redigobius

Redigobius

Redigobius is a genus of fish in the Gobiidae family.It contains the following species:* bigmouth goby * checked goby...

, Sarotherodon

Sarotherodon

Sarotherodon is a genus of tilapiine cichlids, fishes endemic to Africa and the Middle East. A few species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range, and are important in aquaculture. They mainly inhabit fresh and brackish water, but a few can live in salt water...

, Stenogobius

Stenogobius

Stenogobius is a genus of fish in the Gobiidae family.It contains the following species:*Stenogobius alleni*Stenogobius beauforti*Stenogobius blokzeyli*Stenogobius caudimaculosus*Stenogobius fehlmanni*Stenogobius genivittatus...

and others), Gonorhynchiformes (Kneriidae

Kneriidae

The Kneriidae are a small family of freshwater gonorhynchiform fishes native to Africa.They typically live in fast-flowing highland streams, and are small fish, no more than in length. Some species are sexually dimorphic, with the male possessing a rosette on the gill covers that is absent in the...

, Phractolaemidae), some lungfishes (Protopterus

Protopterus

The African lungfishes are the genus Protopterus and constitute the four species of lungfish found in Africa. Protopterus is the sole genus in the family Protopteridae.-Description:...

), many Characiformes

Characiformes

The Characiformes are an order of ray-finned fish, comprising the characins and their allies. Grouped in 18 recognized families, there are a few thousand different species, including the well-known piranha and tetras.-Taxonomy:...

 (Distichodontidae

Distichodontidae

Distichodontidae is a family of fresh water African fish of the order Characiformes.There are two evolutionary grades in this family; micropredators and herbivores have a non-protractile upper jaw and a deep to shallow body, while carnivores have a movable upper jaw and have an elongate body...

, Hepsetidae, Citharinidae

Citharinidae

Citharinidae is a small family of characiform fish. They are fresh-water fish native to Africa, and are sufficiently abundant to be a significant food fish.They are deep-bodied, silvery fish, measuring up to in length and weighing up to...

, Alestiidae

Alestiidae

African tetras are a group of Characiformes fish exclusively found in Africa. This family contains about 18 genera and 110 species....

), Osteoglossiformes

Osteoglossiformes

Osteoglossiformes is a relatively primitive order of ray-finned fish that contains two sub-orders, the Osteoglossoidei and the Notopteroidei. All of the living species inhabit freshwater...

 (African knifefish

Xenomystus nigri

Xenomystus nigri, the African Brown Knife Fish or African Knife Fish, is the only species in the genus Xenomystus of the family Notopteridae. This fish inhabits coastal river basins in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, Benin and Cameroon...

, Gymnarchidae, Mormyridae

Mormyridae

The family Mormyridae, sometimes called "elephantfish" , are freshwater fish in the order Osteoglossiformes native to Africa. It is by far the largest family in the order with around 200 species. Members of the family are popular, if challenging, aquarium species...

, Pantodontidae), Siluriformes (Amphiliidae, Anchariidae

Anchariidae

Anchariidae is a family of catfishes order. This small family contains two genera, Ancharius and Gogo. Anchariids are a strictly freshwater group endemic to Madagascar. Anchariids are characterized by the presence of fringed barbels and a reduced anterior nuchal plate.Traditionally, Ancharius is...

, Ariidae

Ariidae

The Ariidae or ariid catfish are a family of catfish that mainly live in marine waters with many freshwater and brackish water species. They are found worldwide in tropical to warm temperate zones.-Taxonomy:...

, Austroglanididae, Clariidae, Claroteidae

Claroteidae

The Claroteidae are a family of catfish found in Africa. This family was separated from Bagridae. However, the monophyly of the family is sometimes contested....

, Malapteruridae, Mochokidae

Mochokidae

The Mochokidae are a family of catfishes that are known as the squeakers and upside-down catfish. There are 10 genera and about 188 species of mochokids. All the mochokids are freshwater species originating from Africa....

, Schilbeidae

Schilbeidae

The schilbid catfishes are a family of catfishes native to Africa and southern Asia. These fish tend to swim in open water....

), Osmeriformes

Osmeriformes

Osmeriformes is an order of ray-finned fish that includes the true or freshwater smelts and allies, such as the galaxiids and noodlefishes; they are also collectively called osmeriforms. They belong to the teleost superorder Protacanthopterygii, which also includes pike and salmon, among others...

 (Galaxiidae), Cyprinodontiformes

Cyprinodontiformes

The Cyprinodontiformes is an order of ray-finned fish, comprising mostly small, fresh-water fish. Many popular aquarium fish, such as killifish and live-bearers, are included. They are closely related to the Atheriniformes and are occasionally included with them...

 (Aplocheilidae

Aplocheilidae

Aplocheilidae are a family of bony fishes containing about 15 species. Formerly, the name "Aplocheilidae" was used for the Aplocheiloidei as a whole, i.e. including the Nothobranchiidae of Africa and the mainly South American Rivulidae as subfamilies. This obsolete system is sometimes still seen,...

, Poeciliidae

Poeciliidae

Poeciliidae is a family of fresh-water fish which are live-bearing aquarium fish . They belong to the order Cyprinodontiformes, tooth-carps, and include well-known aquarium fish such as the guppy, molly, platy, and swordtail...

) and Cypriniformes

Cypriniformes

The Cypriniformes are an order of ray-finned fish, including the carps, minnows, loaches and relatives. This order contains 5-6 families, over 320 genera, and more than 3,250 species, with new species being described every few months or so, and new genera being recognized regularly...

 (Labeobarbus

Labeobarbus

Labeobarbus is a mid-sized ray-finned fish genus in the family Cyprinidae. Its species are widely distributed throughout eastern Africa and especially southern Africa, but also in Lake Tana in Ethiopia. A common name, in particular for the southern species, is yellowfish...

, Pseudobarbus

Pseudobarbus

Pseudobarbus is a ray-finned fish genus in the family Cyprinidae. The type species is Burchell's Redfin . The scientific name is derived from the Ancient Greek pseudes and the Latin word barbus . This genus contains some of the South African redfins...

, Tanakia

Tanakia

Tanakia is a genus of cyprinid fish, consisting of five species that occurs in Eastern Asia. The type species is the Rhodeus oryzae.-Species:* Tanakia himantegus * Tanakia lanceolata...

and others).

Amphibians

Endemic to Africa are the families Arthroleptidae

Arthroleptidae

Arthroleptidae is a family of frogs found in Sub-Saharan Africa. They are also known as squeakers because of their high-pitched call. They are small, less than in length, terrestrial frogs found mostly in leaf litter on the forest floor. They completely bypass any aquatic stage, and therefore do...

, Astylosternidae, Heleophrynidae, Hemisotidae, Hyperoliidae

Hyperoliidae

Hyperoliidae is a family of small to medium sized, brightly colored, frogs which contains more than 250 species in 19 genera. Seventeen genera are native to sub-Saharan Africa. In addition,the monotypic genus Tachycnemis occurs on the Seychelles Islands, and the genus Heterixalus is endemic to...

, Petropedetidae, Mantellidae

Mantellidae

Mantellidae is a family of the order Anura. These frogs are found only in Madagascar and Mayotte.The habits, habitat and appearance of these frogs are widely variable. Most species are terrestrial, though some are arboreal or aquatic. Body size ranges from 3 to 10 centimetres in length...

. Also widespread are Bufonidae (Bufo

Bufo

Bufo is a large genus of about 150 species of true toads in the amphibian family Bufonidae. Bufo is a Latin word for toad.- Description :...

, Churamiti, Capensibufo

Capensibufo

Capensibufo is a small genus of true toads with only two species. The common English name is Cape Toads. Found at the Republic of South Africa from Breede River to north of Knysna, Western Cape Province.-Species:...

, Mertensophryne

Mertensophryne

Mertensophryne or "Snouted Frogs" is a genus of true toads native to Eastern and southern Democratic Republic of Congo to Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, southeastern Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique...

,Nectophryne

Nectophryne

Nectophryne is a small genus of true toads with only two species. They are native to western Africa - Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, northeastern Congo, Bioko and Equatorial Guinea. Nectophryne afra uses small bodies of water to lay its eggs which are then guarded by the male.-Species:-External...

,Nectophrynoides

Nectophrynoides

Nectophrynoides is a genus of true toads endemic to Tanzania. Some species in it have a most unusual reproductive feature. Species of the group are viviparous: fertilization is internal, and the females give live birth. They are the only toads in the world that do not lay eggs. They also do not...

,Schismaderma, Stephopaedes

Stephopaedes

Stephopaedes is a genus of true toads.-Species:* Stephopaedes anotis * Stephopaedes howelli Poynton & Clarke, 1999* Stephopaedes loveridgei Poynton, 1991* Stephopaedes usambarae Poynton & Clarke, 1999...

, Werneria

Werneria

Werneria is a genus of true toads endemic to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.-Species:-References:, 2004 Revision of the genus Werneria Poche, 1903, including the descriptions of two new species from Cameroon and Gabon Zootaxa 720: 1–28 -External links:. 2007. Amphibian Species of the World: an...

, Wolterstorffina

Wolterstorffina

Wolterstorffina is a genus of true toads native to Nigeria and Cameroon.-Species:-External links:. 2007. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 5.1 . . Electronic Database accessible at http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.php. American Museum of Natural...

), Microhylidae

Microhylidae

Microhylidae is a geographically widespread family of frogs. There are 413 species in 69 genera and nine subfamilies, which is the largest number of genera of any frog family.-Description:...

 (Breviceps

Breviceps

Breviceps is a genus of microhylid frogs. They are commonly known as Rain Frogs.-Species:* Breviceps acutirostris Poynton, 1963* Breviceps adspersus Peters, 1882* Breviceps bagginsi Minter, 2003* Breviceps fuscus Hewitt, 1925...

, Callulina

Callulina

Callulina is a small genus of microhylid frogs with only two members endemic to Tanzania.-Species:* Callulina kisiwamsitu de Sá, Loader & Channing, 2004.* Callulina kreffti Nieden, 1911....

, Probreviceps

Probreviceps

Probreviceps is a small genus of microhylid frogs with only four members living in Tanzania and Zimbabwe.-Species:* Probreviceps durirostris Loader, Channing, Menegon et al., 2006.* Probreviceps macrodactylus ....

, Cophylinae

Cophylinae

Cophylinae is a subfamily of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar. It has at least 58 species in seven genera.-Genera:* Anodonthyla Müller, 1892 * Cophyla Boettger, 1880 * Madecassophryne Guibé, 1974...

,Dyscophus, Melanobatrachinae

Melanobatrachinae

Melanobatrachinae is a subfamily of microhylid frogs.-Genera:* Hoplophryne Barbour & Loveridge, 1928* Melanobatrachus Beddome, 1878* Parhoplophryne Barbour & Loveridge, 1928...

, Scaphiophryninae

Scaphiophryninae

Scaphiophryninae is a subfamily of microhylid frogs native to Madagascar.-Genera:* Paradoxophyla Blommers-Schlösser & Blanc, 1991* Scaphiophryne Boulenger, 1882...

), Rhacophoridae

Rhacophoridae

Rhacophoridae is a family of frog species, which occur in tropical regions of Asia and Africa. They are commonly known as shrub frogs, or more ambiguously as "moss frogs" or "bush frogs". Some Rhacophoridae are called "tree frogs"...

 (Chiromantis

Chiromantis

Chiromantis is a genus of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae. Most live in the African tropics, but the recently described Chiromantis samkosensis is endemic to Cambodia.-Species:* Chiromantis kelleri Boettger, 1893....

), Ranidae (Afrana

Afrana

Afrana is a genus of true frogs.-Species:* Afrana amieti * Afrana angolensis — Angola River Frog, Common River Frog* Afrana desaegeri...

, Amietia

Amietia

Amietia is a genus of frogs in the Pyxicephalidae family, occurring in central and southern Africa. The genus was formerly named Afrana, and placed in the Ranidae family...

, Amnirana, Aubria

Aubria

Aubria is a small genus of frogs, with at least three known species. All members of this genus are found in West Africa.-Species:* Aubria masako - Masako fishing frog...

, Conraua

Conraua

Conraua is a genus of large true frogs from Sub-Saharan Africa that all are closely associated with water. Four of the six species in this genus are threatened.-Species:* Conraua alleni ....

, Hildebrandtia

Hildebrandtia (animal)

Hildebrandtia is a genus of true frogs.-Species:* Hildebrandtia macrotympanum .* Hildebrandtia ornata .* Hildebrandtia ornatissima ....

, Lanzarana, Ptychadena

Ptychadena

Ptychadena is a genus of true frogs.-Species:* Ptychadena aequiplicata .* Ptychadena anchietae .* Ptychadena ansorgii .* Ptychadena arnei Perret, 1997....

, Strongylopus

Strongylopus

Strongylopus is a genus of true frogs.-Species:* Strongylopus bonaespei .* Strongylopus fasciatus .* Strongylopus grayii .* Strongylopus hymenopus ....

, Tomopterna

Tomopterna

Tomopterna is a genus of true frogs from Sub-Saharan Africa.-Species:* Tomopterna cryptotis * Tomopterna damarensis Dawood & Channing, 2002* Tomopterna elegans* Tomopterna delalandii...

) and Pipidae

Pipidae

The Pipidae are a family of primitive, tongueless frogs. The thirty species in the family Pipidae are found in tropical South America and sub-Saharan Africa ....

 (Hymenochirus, Pseudhymenochirus, Xenopus

Xenopus

Xenopus is a genus of highly aquatic frogs native to Sub-Saharan Africa. There are 19 species in the Xenopus genus...

).
The 2002–2004 ‘Global Amphibian Assessment’ by IUCN, Conservation International and NatureServe revealed that for only about 50% of the Afrotropical amphibians, there is least concern about their conservation status; approximately 130 species are endangered, about one-fourth of which are at a critical stage. Almost all of the amphibians of Madagascar (238 species) are endemic to that region. The west African Goliath frog

Goliath frog

The goliath frog, Conraua goliath is the largest extant anuran on Earth. It can grow up to 33 cm in length from snout to vent, and weighs up to 3 kg . This animal has a relatively small habitat range, mainly in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea...

 is the largest frog species in the world.

Reptiles

The most species rich place of the chameleon

Chameleon

Chameleons are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of lizards. They are distinguished by their parrot-like zygodactylous feet, their separately mobile and stereoscopic eyes, their very long, highly modified, and rapidly extrudable tongues, their swaying gait, the possession by many of a...

s is Madagascar. Snakes found in Africa include atractaspidids

Atractaspididae

The Atractaspididae are a family of snakes found in Africa and the Middle East. Currently, 12 genera are recognized.-Description:This family includes many genera formerly classed in other families, on the basis of fang type. It includes fangless , rear-fanged , fixed-fanged , and viper-like species...

, elapids

Elapidae

Elapidae is a family of venomous snakes found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, terrestrially in Asia, Australia, Africa, North America and South America and aquatically in the Pacific and Indian Oceans...

 (cobras

Naja

Naja is a genus of venomous elapid snakes. Although there are several other genera that share the common name, Naja are the most recognized and most widespread group of snakes commonly known as cobras. The genus Naja consists of 20 to 22 species, but has undergone several taxonomic revisions in...

, Aspidelaps

Aspidelaps

Aspidelaps is a genus of venomous elapid snakes found in Africa. They are commonly called shield-nosed cobras or coral cobras after their cobra-hoods and enlarged rostral scales. However, the hood is not nearly as well developed in Aspidelaps as it is in Naja.- Species :...

, Boulengerina

Boulengerina

Boulengerina is a genus of elapid snakes known commonly as water cobras, so named because of their semi-aquatic nature. The genus has two recognized species, which are found in central and southern Africa...

, Dendroaspis, Elapsoidea

Elapsoidea

Elapsoidea is a genus of venomous elapid snake commonly known as venomous garter snakes or African garter snakes. Despite the name, they are unrelated to the harmless North American garter snake species.- Species :...

, Hemachatus, Homoroselaps and Paranaja), causines

Causinae

The Causinae are a monotypic subfamily of venomous vipers found only in subsaharan Africa. It was created for the genus Causus; a group considered to be among the most primitive members of the family Viperidae based on head scalation, oviparity, venom apparatus and the fact that they have round...

, viperines

Viperinae

The Viperinae, or viperines, are a subfamily of venomous vipers found in Europe, Asia and Africa. They are distinguished by their lack of the heat-sensing pit organs that characterize their sister group, the Crotalinae. Currently, 12 genera and 66 species are recognized...

 (Adenorhinos

Adenorhinos

Adenorhinos is a monotypic genus created for a venomous viper species, A. barbouri. This is a small and exceptionally rare terrestrial species found only in the Uzungwe and Ukinga mountains of south-central Tanzania in Africa. No subspecies are recognized.-Description:A small species reaching only...

, Atheris

Atheris

Atheris is a genus of venomous vipers found only in tropical subsaharan Africa, excluding southern Africa. Confined to rain forest areas, many members have isolated and fragmented distributions. In an interesting example of convergent evolution, they show many similarities to the arboreal pit...

, Bitis

Bitis

Bitis is a genus of venomous vipers found in Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula. It includes the largest and the smallest vipers in the world. Members are known for their characteristic threat displays that involves inflating and deflating their bodies while hissing and puffing loudly. The...

, Cerastes

Cerastes (genus)

Cerastes is a genus of small, venomous vipers found in the deserts and semi-deserts of northern North Africa eastward through Arabia and Iran. Three species are currently recognized.-Description:...

, Echis

Echis

Echis is a genus of venomous vipers found in the dry regions of Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. They have a characteristic threat display, rubbing sections of their body together to produce a "sizzling" warning sound...

, Macrovipera

Macrovipera

Macrovipera is a genus of venomous vipers that inhabit the semideserts and steppes of North Africa, the Near and Middle East, and the Milos Archipelago in the Aegean Sea. These snakes are responsible for a number of bites in Africa and western Asia every year...

, Montatheris

Montatheris

Montatheris is a monotypic genus created for a venomous viper species, M. hindii. This is a small terrestrial species found only at high altitude on Mount Kenya and the Aberdare mountain range in Kenya. No subspecies are currently recognized....

, Proatheris

Proatheris

Proatheris is a monotypic genus created for a venomous viper species, P. superciliaris. This is a small terrestrial species found in Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Description:...

, Vipera

Vipera

Vipera is a genus of venomous vipers. It has a very wide range, being found from North Africa to just within the Arctic Circle and from Great Britain to Pacific Asia. The name is possibly derived from the Latin words vivus and pario, meaning "alive" and "bear" or "bring forth"; likely a reference...

), colubrid

Colubrid

A colubrid is a member of the snake family Colubridae. This broad classification of snakes includes about two-thirds of all snake species on earth. The earliest species of the snake family date back to the Oligocene epoch. With 304 genera and 1,938 species, Colubridae is the largest snake family...

s (Dendrolycus

Dendrolycus

The Cameroon Rainforest Snake or Dendrolycus elapoides is a species of colubrid snake. It is monotypical of the genus, Dendrolycus....

, Dispholidus, Gonionotophis

Gonionotophis

Gonionotophis is a genus of colubrid snakes also known as the African Ground Snakes & File Snakes. As of November 2010, there are 15 recognized species in the genus:* Mocquard's African Ground Snake, Gonionotophis brussauxi...

, Grayia, Hormonotus

Hormonotus

Hormonotus is a genus of colubrid snakes. At present this genus is monotypic, as there is only one commonly accepted species in it, the Uganda house snake...

, Lamprophis

Lamprophis

Lamprophis is a genus of colubrid snakes commonly referred to as African house snakes. They are small, non-venomous snakes. They exhibit a wide variety of pattern variation, and may be spotted, striped, or solid colored...

, Psammophis

Psammophis

Psammophis is a genus of colubrid snakes.-Description:Maxillary teeth 10 to 13, one or two in the middle much enlarged and fang-like, preceded and followed by an interspace, the two posterior grooved. Anterior mandibular teeth long, posterior small. Head elongate and distinct from neck, with...

, Leioheterodon

Leioheterodon

Leioheterodon is a genus of harmless colubrids found only on the island of Madagascar. Three species are currently recognized.- Species :* Speckled Hognose Snake, Leioheterodon geayi...

, Madagascarophis

Madagascarophis

Madgascarophis is a genus of small, mildly venomous colubrid snakes native to the island of Madagascar. They are commonly referred to as Malagasy Cat-eyed Snakes...

, Poecilopholis

Poecilopholis

Poecilopholis is a monotypic genus created for the fangless venomous snake species, Poecilopholis cameronensis, which is endemic to Africa.-Geographic range:As the specific name implies, Poecilopholis cameronensis is found in Cameroon....

, Dasypeltis

Dasypeltis

Dasypeltis is a genus of colubrid snakes. It is one of only two taxonomic groups of snakes known to have adapted to feed exclusively on eggs...

etc.), the pythonids (Python

Python (genus)

Python, from the Greek word , is a genus of non-venomous pythons found in Africa, Asia and Australia. Currently, 7 species are recognised. A member of this group, P. reticulatus, is among the longest snakes known.-Geographic range:...

), typhlopids

Typhlopidae

The Typhlopidae are a family of blind snakes. They are found mostly in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and all mainland Australia and various islands. The rostral scale overhangs the mouth to form a shovel like burrowing structure. They live underground in burrows, and since...

 (Typhlops

Typhlops

Typhlops is a genus of blind snakes found in Europe, Africa, Asia and Central and South America. Currently, 120 species are recognized.-Geographic range:...

) and leptotyphlopids

Leptotyphlopidae

The Leptotyphlopidae are a family of snakes found in North and South America, Africa, and Asia. All are fossorial and adapted to burrowing, feeding on ants and termites...

 (Leptotyphlops

Leptotyphlops

Leptotyphlops is a genus of nonvenomous blind snakes found throughout North and South America, Africa and southwestern Asia. Currently, 86 species are recognized.-Description:...

, Rhinoleptus

Rhinoleptus

Rhinoleptus is a monotypic genus created for the blind snake species, R. koniagui, found in West Africa. It is among the smallest snakes in the world. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Geographic range:...

).

Of the lizards, many species of gecko

Gecko

Geckos are lizards belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from 1.6 cm to 60 cm....

s (Day geckos, Afroedura

Afroedura

- Classification of genus Afroedura :*African Rock Gecko, Afroedura africana*Amatola Rock Gecko, Afroedura amatolica*Bogert's Rock Gecko, Afroedura bogerti*Cape Rock Gecko or Hawequa Flat Gecko, Afroedura hawequensis...

, Afrogecko

Afrogecko

- Classification of genus Afrogecko :*Afrogecko ansorgii*Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko, Afrogecko porphyreus*Swartberg African Leaf-toed Gecko, Afrogecko swartbergensis...

, Colopus

Colopus

Colopus is a genus of Gekkonidae that is found in the Kalahari desert, in the nation states of Botswana, Namibia, and the Republic of South Africa.-Classification of genus Colopus:...

, Pachydactylus

Pachydactylus

Pachydactylus is a genus of arboreal insectivorous geckos, found primarily in Africa, and commonly known as Thick-toed Geckos.The genus is characterised by dilated toe tips, usually with undivided scansors. Body scales are small, granular and non-overlapping, with scattered, large keeled tubercles....

, Hemidactylus

Hemidactylus

Hemidactylus is a genus of the family of typical geckos, Gekkonidae. It is the second-most speciose genus in the family, with about 90 described species, newfound ones being described every few years. These geckos are found in all the tropical regions of the world, extending into the subtropical...

, Narudasia

Narudasia

Narudasia is a monotypic genus of geckos endemic to Namibia better known as Festive Gecko. They are related to the Quedenfeldtia of the Sahara....

, Paroedura

Paroedura

Paroedura is a genus of gecko, endemic to Madagascar and the Comores. These geckos are typically terrestrial, though the young of most species can climb until they are too heavy for their feet to support.-Species:...

, Pristurus

Pristurus

Pristurus is a genus of geckos endemic to Arabia and Socotra Island as well as Middle East and Horn of Africa. They are commonly known as Rock Geckos .-Classification of genus Pristurus:*Abdel Kuri Rock Gecko, Pristurus abdelkuri...

, Quedenfeldtia

Quedenfeldtia

Quedenfeldtia is a small genus of attractive gecko species, commonly known as Atlas Day Geckos. Despite their common name, they are not part of the Day Gecko family and do not resemble them in any way...

, Rhoptropus

Rhoptropus

Rhoptropus is a genus of geckos endemic to Southern Africa, better known as Namib Day Geckos.-Classification of genus Rhoptropus:*Common Namib Day Gecko, Rhoptropus afer*Barnard's Namib Day Gecko, Rhoptropus barnardi...

, Tropiocolotes

Tropiocolotes

Tropiocolotes is a small genus of very small geckos, mostly about 2" or less in total length, endemic to Northern Africa. They are commonly known as Dwarf or Pygmy Geckos. The have a very elongated body and the head is oval and equal or lesser in width to the body...

, Uroplatus

Uroplatus

Uroplatus is a genus of geckos commonly referred to as Flat or Leaf-tailed Geckos. All the comprising species are endemic to Madagascar or nearby islands, such as Nosy Be, where they are found in primary and secondary forests.-Etymology:...

), Cordylidae

Cordylidae

Cordylidae is a family of small to medium sized lizards that occur in southern and eastern Africa. They are commonly known as "Girdled", Spinytail lizards or Girdle-tail lizards. Girdled lizards are diurnal and insectivorous...

, as well as Lacertidae

Lacertidae

Lacertidae is the family of the wall lizards, true lizards, or sometimes simply lacertas, which are native to Europe, Africa, and Asia. The group includes the genus Lacerta, which contains some of the most commonly seen lizard species in Europe...

 (Nucras

Nucras

Nucras is a genus of wall lizards of the family Lacertidae.-Species:*Nucras boulengeri*Nucras caesicaudata*Nucras intertexta*Nucras lalandii*Nucras livida*Nucras scalaris*Nucras taeniolata*Nucras tessellata...

, Lacerta

Lacerta

Lacerta is one of the 88 modern constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union. Its name is Latin for lizard. A small, faint constellation, it was created in 1687 by the astronomer Johannes Hevelius. Its brightest stars form a "W" shape similar to that of Cassiopeia, and it is thus...

, Mesalina

Mesalina

Mesalina is a genus of wall lizards of the family Lacertidae. It has fourteen described species.-Species:*Mesalina adramitana - *Mesalina ayunensis - Arnold, 1980*Mesalina bahaeldini - Segoli Cohen & Werner, 2002...

, Acanthodactylus

Acanthodactylus

Acanthodactylus is a genus of lizards within the Lacertidae family, commonly referred to as fringe-fingered or fringe-toed lizards ....

, Pedioplanis

Pedioplanis

Pedioplanis is a genus of lizards of the family Lacertidae.-Species:*Pedioplanis benguelensis*Pedioplanis breviceps*Pedioplanis burchelli*Pedioplanis gaerdesi*Pedioplanis husabensis*Pedioplanis laticeps...

), Agamas

Agama (lizard)

An agama is any one of the various small, long-tailed, insect-eating lizards of the genus Agama. The agamid genus is composed of at least 37 species across Africa, where they are the most common lizard. They can be found in many sizes, from 12.5 to 30 cm in length and a wide variety of colours...

, skink

Skink

Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae. Together with several other lizard families, including Lacertidae , they comprise the superfamily or infraorder Scincomorpha...

s plated lizards and some Monitor lizard

Monitor lizard

Monitor lizards are usually large reptiles, although some can be as small as in length. They have long necks, powerful tails and claws, and well-developed limbs. Most species are terrestrial, but arboreal and semiaquatic monitors are also known...

s are common. There are 12 genera and 58 species of African Amphisbaenia

Amphisbaenia

The Amphisbaenia are a usually legless suborder of squamates closely related to lizards and snakes. As many species possess a pink body coloration and scales arranged in rings, they have a superficial resemblance to earthworms. They are very poorly understood, due to their burrowing lifestyle...

ns (e.g. Chirindia, Zygaspis, Monopeltis, Dalophia).

Several genera of tortoise

Tortoise

Tortoises are a family of land-dwelling reptiles of the order of turtles . Like their marine cousins, the sea turtles, tortoises are shielded from predators by a shell. The top part of the shell is the carapace, the underside is the plastron, and the two are connected by the bridge. The tortoise...

s (Kinixys

Kinixys

Kinixys is a genus of turtles in the family Testudinidae. They are native to Africa, and commonly known as hinged tortoises. Some of these species are herbivores , although some also feed on worms and insects.-Species:* Forest hinge-back tortoise * Home's hinge-back tortoise * Natal...

, Pelusios

Pelusios

Pelusios is a genus of African side-necked turtle. Several species have been described and there are probably numerous undescribed species. The taxonomy of the genus is very confused as these species show many local variations...

, Psammobates

Psammobates

Psammobates is a genus of tortoise. This genus contains three member species, all of which are indigenous to Southern Africa.-Species:*Geometric Tortoise, Psammobates geometricus*Serrated Star Tortoise, Psammobates oculifer...

, Geochelone

Geochelone

Geochelone is a genus of tortoises.Geochelone tortoises, which are also known as typical tortoises or terrestrial turtles, can be found in Africa and Asia. They primarily eat plants.The genus consists of three extant species:...

, Homopus

Homopus

Homopus is a genus of tiny tortoises in the Testudinidae family. As a group, they are commonly known as "Cape tortoises" or "padlopers" , and include the smallest tortoises in the world....

, Chersina), turtles (Pelomedusidae

Pelomedusidae

Pelomedusidae is a family of freshwater turtles, native to eastern and southern Africa. They range in size from to in shell length, and are generally roundish in shape...

, Cyclanorbis

Cyclanorbis

Cyclanorbis is a genus of softshell turtle in the Trionychidae family.It contains the following species:* Nubian flapshell turtle * Senegal flapshell turtle...

, Cycloderma

Cycloderma

Cycloderma is a genus of softshell turtle in the Trionychidae family.It contains the following two species:* Aubry's flapshell turtle - Cycloderma aubryi * Zambezi flapshell turtle - Cycloderma frenatum...

, Erymnochelys), and three species of crocodile

Crocodile

A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...

s (the Nile crocodile

Nile crocodile

The Nile crocodile or Common crocodile is an African crocodile which is common in Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Gabon, South Africa, Malawi, Sudan, Botswana, and Cameroon...

, Slender-snouted Crocodile

Slender-snouted Crocodile

The African Slender-snouted Crocodile is a species of crocodile. Recent studies in DNA and morphology suggest that it may belong in its own genus, Mecistops, but at present most continue to use Crocodylus for this species.African Slender-snouted Crocodile are native to freshwater habitats in...

 and Dwarf Crocodile

Dwarf Crocodile

The dwarf crocodile is an African species of crocodile. It is also the smallest extant crocodile species in the world. Recent sampling has identified three genetically distinct populations...

) are also present.

Birds

There live (temporarily or permanently) more than 2600 bird

Bird

Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...

 species in Africa (about 1500 of them Passerine

Passerine

A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...

s). Some 114 of them are threatened species.
The Afrotropic has various endemic bird

Bird

Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...

 families, including ostrich

Ostrich

The Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...

es (Struthionidae), Mesite

Mesite

The mesites are a family of birds of uncertain affinities. They are smallish, near flightless birds endemic to Madagascar. Generally brownish with paler undersides, they are of somewhat pheasant-like appearance and were initially placed with the Galliformes...

s, sunbird

Sunbird

The sunbirds and spiderhunters are a family, Nectariniidae, of very small passerine birds. There are 132 species in 15 genera. The family is distributed throughout Africa, southern Asia and just reaches northern Australia. Most sunbirds feed largely on nectar, but also take insects and spiders,...

s, Secretary bird

Secretary Bird

The Secretarybird or Secretary Bird is a large, mostly terrestrial bird of prey. Endemic to Africa, it is usually found in the open grasslands and savannah of the sub-Sahara...

 (Sagittariidae), guineafowl

Guineafowl

The guineafowl are a family of birds in the Galliformes order, although some authorities include the guineafowl as a subfamily, Numidinae, of the family Phasianidae...

 (Numididae), and mousebird

Mousebird

The mousebirds are a small group of birds which have no known close affinities to other groups, though they and the parrots and cockatoos may be closer to each other than to other birds. The mousebirds are therefore given order status as Coliiformes...

s (Coliidae). Also, several families of passerines are limited to the Afrotropics. These include rock-jumper

Rock-jumper

The Rock-jumpers are medium-sized insectivorous or omnivorous birds in the genus Chaetops, which constitutes the entire family Chaetopidae. The two species, the Rufous Rock-jumper, Chaetops frenatus, and the Drakensberg Rockjumper, Chaetops aurantius, are endemic residents of southern Africa...

s (Chaetopidae), Bushshrike

Bushshrike

The bushshrikes are smallish passerine bird species. They were formerly classed with the true shrikes in the family Laniidae, but are now considered sufficiently distinctive to be separated from that group as the family Malaconotidae....

 (Malaconotidae), Wattle-eye

Wattle-eye

Platysteiridae is a family of small stout passerine birds of the African tropics. The family contains the wattle-eyes, batises and shrike-flycatchers. They were previously classed as a subfamily of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae.These insect-eating birds are found in usually open...

s, (Platysteiridae) and rockfowl (Picathartidae). Other common birds include parrot

Parrot

Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...

s (Lovebird

Lovebird

A Lovebird is one of nine species of the genus Agapornis . They are a social and affectionate small parrot. Eight species are native to the African continent, while the Grey-headed Lovebird is native to Madagascar...

s, Poicephalus

Poicephalus

The genus Poicephalus comprises nine species of parrots native to various regions of the Afrotropic ecozone, including Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal in the west, Ethiopia in the east, and to Cape Horn in the south...

, Psittacus), various cranes

Crane (bird)

Cranes are a family, Gruidae, of large, long-legged and long-necked birds in the order Gruiformes. There are fifteen species of crane in four genera. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back...

 (Crowned Cranes

Balearica

The bird genus Balearica consists of two species in the crane family Gruidae: the Black Crowned Crane and the Grey Crowned Crane ....

, Blue Crane

Blue Crane

The Blue Crane , also known as the Stanley Crane and the Paradise Crane, is the national bird of South Africa. It is a tall, ground-dwelling bird, but is fairly small by the standards of the crane family. It is 100–120 cm tall and weighs 4.0–6.2 kg...

, Wattled Crane

Wattled Crane

The Wattled Crane, Bugeranus carunculatus is a large bird found in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. It is monotypical for its genus.At a height of up to , it is the largest crane in Africa and is the second tallest species of crane, after the Sarus Crane. The wingspan is , the length is...

), stork

Stork

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. They belong to the family Ciconiidae. They are the only family in the biological order Ciconiiformes, which was once much larger and held a number of families....

s (Slaty Egret

Slaty Egret

The Slaty Egret, Egretta vinaceigula, is a small, dark egret. It breeds in Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique. It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds applies...

, Black Heron

Black Heron

The Black Heron also known as the Black Egret, is an African heron. It is a medium-sized , black-plumaged heron with yellow legs and feet. It is found south of the Sahara Desert, including Madagascar, and prefers shallow open waters, such as the edges of freshwater lakes and ponds...

, Marabous

Marabou Stork

The Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It breeds in Africa south of the Sahara, occurring in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially waste tips...

, Abdim's Stork

Abdim's Stork

The Abdim's Stork, also known as White-bellied Stork, is a black stork with grey legs, red knees and feet, grey bill and white underparts. It has red facial skin in front of eye and blue skin near the bill in breeding season...

, Shoebill

Shoebill

The Shoebill also known as Whalehead or Shoe-billed Stork, is a very large stork-like bird. It derives its name from its massive shoe-shaped bill. The adult bird is tall, long, across the wingspan and weighs . Their beaks have an average length of length of . The adult is mainly grey while the...

), bustard

Bustard

Bustards, including floricans and korhaans, are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World...

s (Kori Bustard

Kori Bustard

The Kori Bustard is a large bird native to Africa. It is a member of the bustard family. It may be the heaviest bird capable of flight....

, Neotis

Neotis

Neotis is a genus of bird in the Otididae family. It contains the following species:* Heuglin's Bustard * Ludwig's Bustard * Nubian Bustard * Denham's Bustard...

, Eupodotis

Eupodotis

Eupodotis is a genus of bird in the bustard family Otididae. It contains the five species, all restricted to Africa. Species in the genera Afrotis and Lophotis are sometimes included in this genus.-Species:...

, Lissotis

Lissotis

Lissotis is a genus of bird in the bustard family, Otididae. Some authorities, such as the IUCN, consider it part of Eupodotis; the separation adopted here follows the Handbook of the Birds of the World....

), sandgrouse

Sandgrouse

The sandgrouse are a family, Pteroclididae, of 16 bird species, the only living members of the order Pteroclidiformes. They are restricted to treeless open country in the Old World, such as plains and semi-deserts. They are distributed across northern, southern and eastern Africa as well as...

 (Pterocles

Pterocles

Pterocles is a genus of near passerine birds in the sandgrouse family. It includes all the species in the family except for two central Asian species in Syrrhaptes...

), Coraciiformes

Coraciiformes

The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colorful near passerine birds including the kingfishers, the Hoopoe, the bee-eaters, the rollers, and the hornbills...

 (Bee-eater

Bee-eater

The bee-eaters are a group of near-passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa and Asia but others occur in southern Europe, Australia, and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies, and usually elongated central tail feathers...

s, Hornbills

Tockus

Tockus is a genus of the Bucerotidae family . They are found in Africa.-Species:* Crowned Hornbill, Tockus alboterminatus* Bradfield's Hornbill, Tockus bradfieldi* African Pied Hornbill, Tockus fasciatus...

, Ceratogymna

Ceratogymna

Ceratogymna is a genus of large, primarily frugivorous hornbills found in the humid forests of Central and West Africa. They are sexually dimorphic, with males being overall black, while females have brown heads and a smaller casque...

), Phasianid

Phasianidae

The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and partridges, including the junglefowl , Old World Quail, francolins, monals and peafowl. The family is a large one, and is occasionally broken up into two subfamilies, the Phasianinae, and the Perdicinae...

s (Francolin

Francolin

Francolins are birds that traditionally have been placed in the genus Francolinus, but now commonly are divided into multiple genera , although some of the major taxonomic listing sources have yet to divide them. They are members of the pheasant family, Phasianidae...

s, Congo Peafowl

Congo Peafowl

The Congo Peafowl is a species of peafowl. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Afropavo.The male is a large bird of up to in length. Its feathers are deep blue with a metallic green and violet tinge. It has bare red neck skin, grey feet, and a black tail with fourteen feathers...

, Blue Quail

Blue Quail

The Blue Quail or African Blue Quail, is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.-Geographic Range:The species ranges from Sierra Leone to Ethiopia, and south to Zambia, and eastward to Kenya, and is migratory...

, Harlequin Quail

Harlequin Quail

The Harlequin Quail is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Africa.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007....

, Stone Partridge

Stone Partridge

The Stone Partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus, is a bird of the pheasant family. This largely brown bird, which commonly holds its tail raised, is found in scrubland and lightly wooded habitats, often near rocks, from Kenya and Ethiopia to Gambia...

, Madagascar Partridge

Madagascar Partridge

The Madagascar Partridge is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family. It is found only in Madagascar.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes....

). The woodpeckers and allies

Piciformes

Nine families of largely arboreal birds make up the order Piciformes, the best-known of them being the Picidae, which includes the woodpeckers and close relatives...

 include Honeyguide

Honeyguide

Honeyguides are near passerine bird species of the order Piciformes. They are also known as indicator birds, or honey birds, although the latter term is also used more narrowly to refer to species of the genus Prodotiscus. They have an Old World tropical distribution, with the greatest number of...

s, African barbets, African Piculet

African Piculet

The African Piculet , sometimes placed in the monotypic genus Verreauxia, is a species of bird in the Picidae family....

, Ground Woodpecker

Ground Woodpecker

The Ground Woodpecker is one of only three ground-dwelling woodpeckers in the world . It inhabits rather barren, steep, boulder-strewn slopes in relatively cool hilly and mountainous areas of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland and has yet to be recorded outside of Southern Africa...

, Dendropicos

Dendropicos

Dendropicos is a genus of birds in the Picidae family.It contains the following species:* Little Grey Woodpecker * Speckle-breasted Woodpecker...

and Campethera

Campethera

Campethera is a genus of bird in the Picidae family.It contains the following species:* Fine-spotted Woodpecker * Bennett's Woodpecker * Speckle-throated Woodpecker...

. The birds of prey include the Buzzard

Buzzard

A buzzard is one of several large birds, but there are a number of meanings as detailed below.-Old World:In the Old World Buzzard can mean:* One of several medium-sized, wide-ranging raptors with a robust body and broad wings....

s, Harrier

Harrier (bird)

A harrier is any of the several species of diurnal hawks forming the Circinae sub-family of the Accipitridae family of birds of prey. Harriers characteristically hunt by flying low over open ground, feeding on small mammals, reptiles, or birds....

s, Old World vulture

Old World vulture

Old World vultures belong to the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, buzzards, kites, and hawks.Old World vultures are not closely related to the superficially similar New World vultures and condors, and do not share that group's good sense of smell. The similarities between the two...

s, Bateleur

Bateleur

The Bateleur is a medium-sized eagle in the bird family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as buzzards, kites and harriers...

, Circaetus

Circaetus

Circaetus, the snake eagles, is a genus of medium-sized eagles in the bird of prey family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as buzzards and harriers....

, Melierax

Melierax

Melierax is a genus of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family.It contains the following species:* Dark Chanting Goshawk * Pale Chanting Goshawk * Eastern Chanting Goshawk...

and others. Trogon

Trogon

The trogons and quetzals are birds in the order Trogoniformes which contains only one family, the Trogonidae. The family contains 39 species in eight genera. The fossil record of the trogons dates back 49 million years to the mid-Eocene. They might constitute a member of the basal radiation of...

s are represented by one genus (Apaloderma

Apaloderma

Apaloderma is a genus of African birds in the Trogonidae family.It contains the following species:* Narina Trogon * Bare-cheeked Trogon * Bar-tailed Trogon...

). African Penguin

African Penguin

The African Penguin , also known as the Black-footed Penguin is a species of penguin, confined to southern African waters. It is known as Brilpikkewyn in Afrikaans, Inguza or Unombombiya in Xhosa, Manchot Du Cap in French and Pingüino Del Cabo in Spanish...

 is the only penguin

Penguin

Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers...

 species. Madagascar was once home to the now extinct Elephant Bird

Elephant bird

Elephant birds are an extinct family of flightless birds found only on the island of Madagascar and comprising the genera Aepyornis and Mullerornis.-Description:...

s.

Africa is home to numerous songbird

Songbird

A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds . Another name that is sometimes seen as scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin oscen, "a songbird"...

s (Pipit

Pipit

The pipits are a cosmopolitan genus, Anthus, of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. Along with the wagtails and longclaws, the pipits make up the family Motacillidae...

s, Oriole

Oriole

Orioles are colourful Old World passerine birds in the genus Oriolus, the namesake of the corvoidean family Oriolidae. They are not related to the New World orioles, which are icterids and, belonging to the superfamily Passeroidea songbirds, are quite unrelated to the true orioles.The orioles are...

s, Antpecker

Antpecker

The antpeckers, Parmoptila, are a genus of songbirds that range across the tropical forests of western and central Africa. This genus has been placed in a number of families; at present it is placed tentatively with the estrildid finches due to similarities in breeding behaviour.Species are:*...

s, Brubru

Brubru

The Brubru is a member of the bushshrike family found in much of sub-Saharan Africa apart from the western rainforests and southern South Africa. It is the only member of the genus Nilaus.-Distribution and habitat:...

s, Cisticola

Cisticola

Cisticolas are a genus of very small insectivorous birds formerly classified in the Old World warbler family Sylviidae, but now usually considered to be in the separate family Cisticolidae, along with other southern warbler genera. They are believed to be quite closely related to the swallows and...

s, Negrofinch

Negrofinch

The negrofinches or nigritas are small passerine birds belonging to the genus Nigrita in the estrildid finch family Estrildidae. There are four species; they occur in forest, secondary growth and scrubland in West, Central and East Africa....

es, Olivebacks, Pytilia

Pytilia

Pytilia is a genus of birds in the family Estrildidae, containing four species:* Orange-winged Pytilia, Pytilia afra* Red-winged Pytilia, Pytilia phoenicoptera* Green-winged Pytilia, Pytilia melba* Red-faced Pytilia, Pytilia hypogrammica...

s, Green-backed Twinspot

Green-backed Twinspot

The Green-backed Twinspot is an estrildid finch found in sub-saharan Africa. This species is evaluated as Least Concern.-Subspecies:The Green-backed Twinspot has four sub-species:* Mandingoa nitidula chubbi...

, Crimson-wing

Crimson-wing

The crimson-wings are a genus of small passerine birds belonging to the estrildid finch family Estrildidae. There are four species. They are found in parts of Africa, particularly the Albertine Rift; all four species occur there and two, Shelley's and Dusky Crimson-wings, are found nowhere else...

s, Seedcracker

Seedcracker

The seedcrackers are the genus Pyrenestes of the estrildid finches. These birds are found in Africa. They are gregarious seed-eaters with short, very thick, grey bills. All have crimson on the face and tail. The members are:...

s, Bluebill

Bluebill

The bluebills are the genus Spermophaga of the estrildid finches. These birds are found in tropical Africa. They are gregarious seed-eaters with short, thick, blue and red bills...

s, Firefinch

Firefinch

The firefinches are a genus of bird in the Estrildidae family.There are about 11 species:* Bar-breasted Firefinch, Lagonosticta rufopicta* Brown Firefinch, Lagonosticta nitidula...

es, Waxbills

Estrilda

Estrilda is a genus of finch in the Estrildidae family. Most of the genus is found in Africa with one species, the Arabian Waxbill, ranging into Asia...

, Amandava

Amandava

Amandava is a genus of the estrildid finches. These birds are found in dense grass or scrub in Africa and South Asia. They are gregarious seed-eaters with short, red bills. In earlier literature, amadavat and amidavad have been used...

s, Quailfinches, Munias, Weavers, Tit-hylia

Tit-hylia

The Tit Hylia is a species of bird in the Remizidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Pholidornis....

, Amadina

Amadina

Amadina is a genus of African munias consisting of the following species:*Cut-throat Finch, Amadina fasciata*Red-headed Finch, Amadina erythrocephalaThey also share common features with the genus Pytilia, notably the mouth markings....

, Anthoscopus

Anthoscopus

Anthoscopus is a genus of birds in the penduline tit family Remizidae. The genus is restricted to sub-Saharan Africa, where it ranges from the Sahel to South Africa. Unlike many of the Eurasian penduline, these species are not generally migratory, instead remaining close to their breeding sites...

, Mirafra

Mirafra

Mirafra is a genus of lark in the Alaudidae family. Three of its species are sometimes separated in Calendulauda. Some Mirafra species are called "larks", while others are called "bushlarks".-Species list in taxonomic order:Mirafra larks...

, Hypargos, Eremomela

Eremomela

The eremomelas are a genus, Eremomela, of passerines in the cisticola family Cisticolidae. The genus was previously placed with the larger Old World warbler family Sylviidae prior to that genus being broken up into several families. The genus contains ten to eleven species, all of which are found...

, Euschistospiza

Euschistospiza

Euschistospiza is a genus of birds in the family Estrildidae, found in sub-Saharan Africa. It contains two species:* Dybowski's Twinspot Euschistospiza dybowskii * Dusky Twinspot Euschistospiza cinereovinacea ...

, Erythrocercus

Erythrocercus

Erythrocercus is a genus of bird in the Monarchidae family found in Africa.It contains the following species:* Yellow Flycatcher * Livingstone's Flycatcher...

, Malimbus

Malimbus

Malimbus is a genus of bird in the Ploceidae family. It contains the following species:* Gola Malimbe * Cassin's Malimbe * Red-crowned Malimbe...

, Pitta

Pitta (bird)

Pittas are a family, Pittidae, of passerine birds mainly found in tropical Asia and Australasia, although a couple of species live in Africa. Pittas are all similar in general structure and habits, and have often been placed in a single genus, although as of 2009 they are now split into three...

, Uraeginthus

Uraeginthus

Uraeginthus is a genus of bird in the Estrildidae family.It contains the following species:* Common Grenadier * Blue-breasted Cordon-bleu...

, Pied Crow

Pied Crow

The Pied Crow is a widely distributed African bird species in the crow genus.Structurally, the Pied Crow is better thought of as a small crow-sized Raven, especially as it can hybridise with the Somali Crow where their ranges meet in the Horn of Africa...

, White-necked Raven

White-necked Raven

The White-necked Raven, Corvus albicollis, is somewhat smaller than the Common Raven or indeed its nearest relative, the Thick-billed Raven C. crassirostris.-Description:...

, Thick-billed Raven

Thick-billed Raven

The Thick-billed Raven , a Corvid from the Horn of Africa, shares with the Common Raven the distinction of being the largest in the Corvid family, and indeed the largest of the bird order Passeriformes . They measure 60-64 cm in length and weigh 1.5 kg...

, Cape Crow

Cape Crow

The Cape Crow or Black Crow is slightly larger than the Carrion Crow and is completely black with a slight gloss of purple in the feathers. It has proportionately longer legs, wings and tail too and has a much longer, slimmer bill that seems to be designed for probing into the ground for...

 and others). The Red-billed Quelea

Red-billed Quelea

The Red-billed Quelea is the world's most abundant wild bird species, with an estimated adult breeding population of 1.5 billion pairs. Some estimates of the overall population have been as large as 10 billion...

 is the most abundant bird species in the world.

Of the 589 species of birds (excluding seabirds) that breed in the Palaearctic (temperate Europe and Asia), 40% spend the winter elsewhere. Of those species that leave for the winter, 98% travel south to Africa.
See also: Endemic birds of western and central Africa

Endemic birds of western and central Africa

This article is one of a series providing information about endemism among birds in the World's various zoogeographic zones. For an overview of this subject see Endemism in birds.-Endemic Bird Areas:...

, Endemic birds of southern Africa

Endemic birds of southern Africa

The following is a list of bird species endemic or near-endemic to southern Africa .* Grey-winged Francolin, Scleroptila africanus...

.

Mammals

More than 1100 mammal

Mammal

Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...

 species live in Africa.
Africa has three endemic orders of mammals, the Tubulidentata (aardvark

Aardvark

The aardvark is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa...

s), Afrosoricida

Afrosoricida

The order Afrosoricida contains the golden moles of southern Africa and the tenrecs of Madagascar and Africa, two families of small mammals that have traditionally been considered to be a part of the order Insectivora.Some biologists use Tenrecomorpha as the name for the tenrec-golden mole clade,...

 (tenrecs and golden mole

Golden mole

Golden moles are small, insectivorous burrowing mammals native to southern Africa. They form the family Chrysochloridae, and are taxonomically distinct from the true moles which they resemble due to convergence...

s), and Macroscelidea (elephant shrew

Elephant shrew

Elephant shrews or jumping shrews are small insectivorous mammals native to Africa, belonging to the family Macroscelididae, in the order Macroscelidea...

s). The current research of mammalian phylogeny has proposed an Afrotheria

Afrotheria

Afrotheria is a clade of mammals, the living members of which belong to groups from Africa or of African origin: golden moles, sengis , tenrecs, aardvarks, hyraxes, elephants and sea cows. The common ancestry of these animals was not recognized until the late 1990s...

 clade (including the exclusively African orders). The East-African plains

Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands

Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands are a grassland terrestrial biome located in semi-arid to semi-humid climate regions of subtropical and tropical latitudes. Grasslands are dominated by grass and other herbaceous plants. Savannas are grasslands with scattered trees...

 are well known for their diversity of large mammals.

African Soricomorpha

Soricomorpha

The order Soricomorpha is taxon within the class of mammals. In previous years it formed a significant group within the former order Insectivora...

 include the Myosoricinae

Myosoricinae

According to the current taxonomy, Myosoricinae is a subfamily of shrews. As such, they form one of three main types of shrew, the other two being the red-toothed shrews and the white-toothed shrews...

 and Crocidurinae subfamilies. Hedgehog

Hedgehog

A hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand . There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas...

s include Desert Hedgehog

Desert Hedgehog

The desert hedgehog is a species of mammal in the Erinaceidae family.-Description:The desert hedgehog is one of the smallest of hedgehogs. It is 5.5 to 11 inches long and weighs about 10-18 ounces. The spines on its back can be banded with coloring similar to the four-toed hedgehog...

, Atelerix

Atelerix

Atelerix is a genus of mammal in the Erinaceidae family. It contains four species.-Species:* Four-toed Hedgehog * North African Hedgehog * Southern African Hedgehog...

and others. The rodent

Rodent

Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....

s are represented by African bush squirrel

African bush squirrel

The African bush squirrels are a genus, Paraxerus, squirrels of the subfamily Xerinae. They are only found in Africa.There are 11 species in this genus:*Alexander's Bush Squirrel, Paraxerus alexandri*Boehm's Bush Squirrel, Paraxerus boehmi...

s, African ground squirrel

African ground squirrel

African ground squirrels form a taxon of squirrels under the subfamily Xerinae. They are only found in Africa.There is another African ground squirrel of the genus Atlantoxerus, the Atlantoxerus getulus present in southwestern Morocco and northern Western Sahara...

s, African striped squirrel

African striped squirrel

African striped squirrels , or rope squirrels, form a taxon of squirrels under the subfamily Xerinae and the tribe Protoxerini...

s, Gerbil

Gerbil

A gerbil is a small mammal of the order Rodentia. Once known simply as "desert rats", the gerbil subfamily includes about 110 species of African, Indian, and Asian rodents, including sand rats and jirds, all of which are adapted to arid habitats...

s, Cane rat

Cane rat

The genus Thryonomys, also known as cane rats, grass cutters, or cutting grass, is a genus of rodent found throughout Africa south of the Sahara, the only members of the family Thyronomyidae. They are eaten in some African countries and are a pest species on many crops.-Characteristics:Cane rats...

s, Acacia rats, Nesomyidae

Nesomyidae

Nesomyidae is a family of African rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes several subfamilies, all of which are native to either continental Africa or to Madagascar...

, Springhare

Springhare

The springhare , or springhaas, is not actually a hare, but a member of the order Rodentia. It is one of a number of species in the genus Pedetes, and is native to southern Africa. Synonyms are P. caffer or P...

, Mole rats, Dassie Rat

Dassie Rat

The dassie rat, Petromus typicus, is an African rodent found among rocky outcroppings. It is the only living member of its genus, Petromus, and family, Petromuridae. The name "dassie" means "hyrax" in Afrikaans, and the two animals are found in similar habitats...

s, Striped grass mice

Striped grass mouse

The eleven species in genus Lemniscomys are the striped grass mice. They are small rodents with striped fur, native to Africa.* Lemniscomys barbarus — Barbary Striped Grass Mouse...

, Sun squirrel

Sun squirrel

Sun squirrels , form a taxon of squirrels under the subfamily Xerinae and the tribe Protoxerini. They are only found in sub-Saharan Africa.The habit of basking in the sun on tree branches probably gave this group its common name....

s, Thicket rats, Old World porcupine

Old World porcupine

The Old World porcupines, or Hystricidae, are large terrestrial rodents, distinguished by the spiny covering from which they take their name. They range over the south of Europe, most of Africa, India, and the Maritime Southeast Asia as far east as Borneo...

s, Target Rat

Target Rat

The Target Rat, Stochomys longicaudatus, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only species in the genus Stochomys....

, Maned Rat

Maned Rat

The maned rat , is a nocturnal, long-haired and bushy-tailed East African rodent that superficially resembles a porcupine.-Characteristics:...

, Deomyinae

Deomyinae

The subfamily Deomyinae consists of four genera of mouse-like rodents that were placed in the subfamilies Murinae and Dendromurinae until very recently. They are sometimes called Acomyinae, particularly in references that predate the discovery that the link rat, Deomys ferugineus, is part of the...

, Aethomys

Aethomys

Aethomys is a genus of rodent from Africa. They are commonly referred to as rock rats, bush rats or rock mice.-Species:*Genus Aethomys**Aethomys bocagei - Bocage's Rock Rat...

, Arvicanthis

Arvicanthis

Arvicanthis is a genus of rodent from Africa. They are commonly referred to as unstriped grass mice, unstriped grass rats, and kusu rats-Species:Genus Arvicanthis - unstriped grass mice...

, Colomys, Dasymys

Dasymys

Dasymys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.It contains the following species:* Glover Allen's Shaggy Rat * Crawford-Cabral's Shaggy Rat * Fox's Shaggy Rat...

, Dephomys

Dephomys

Dephomys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.It contains the following species:* Defua Rat * Ivory Coast Rat...

, Epixerus

Epixerus

Epixerus ebii, also known as Ebian's Palm Squirrel, Temminck's Giant Squirrel, or the Western Palm Squirrel, is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family...

, Grammomys

Grammomys

Grammomys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.It contains the following species:* Arid Thicket Rat * Grammomys brevirostris* Bunting's Thicket Rat...

, Graphiurus

Graphiurus

The African dormice, Graphiurus, are a genus of dormouse that live throughout sub-Saharan Africa in a variety of habitats. They are very agile climbers and have bushy tails...

, Hybomys

Hybomys

Hybomys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.It contains the following species:* Eisentraut's Hybomys * Bioko Hybomys * Moon Striped Mouse...

, Hylomyscus

Hylomyscus

Hylomyscus is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.It contains the following species:Genus Hylomyscus - African wood mice*H. aeta group**Beaded Wood Mouse, Hylomyscus aeta**Hylomyscus grandis*H...

, Malacomys

Malacomys

Malacomys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.It contains the following species:* Cansdale's Swamp Rat * Edward's Swamp Rat * Big-eared Swamp Rat -References:...

, Mastomys

Mastomys

Mastomys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.It contains the following species:* Awash Mastomys * Southern Multimammate Mouse * Guinea Multimammate Mouse...

, Mus, Mylomys

Mylomys

Mylomys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.It contains the following species:* African Groove-toothed Rat * Ethiopian Mylomys -References:...

, Myomyscus

Myomyscus

Myomyscus is a genus of rodent. Species in this genus are often placed in the genus Myomys Thomas, 1915, but the type specimen for Myomys is actually a Mastomys...

, Oenomys

Oenomys

Oenomys is a genus of African rodents. Known as rufous-nosed rats or rusty-nosed rats, they occur from Sierra Leone east to Ethiopia and as far south as northern Angola...

, Otomys

Otomys

African vlei rats , also known as groove-toothed rats, live in many areas of sub-Saharan Africa. They live in marshlands and grasslands, and eat the green grass and herbs that grow there, occasionally supplementing this with roots and seeds...

, Parotomys

Parotomys

Parotomys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.It contains the following species:* Brants's Whistling Rat * Littledale's Whistling Rat...

, Pelomys

Pelomys

Pelomys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.It contains the following species:* Bell Groove-toothed Swamp Rat * Creek Groove-toothed Swamp Rat * Hopkins's Groove-toothed Swamp Rat...

, Praomys

Praomys

Praomys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.It contains the following species:* Praomys coetzeei* Dalton's Mouse, Praomys daltoni* De Graaff's Soft-furred Mouse, Praomys degraaffi...

, Rhabdomys

Rhabdomys

Rhabdomys is a small muroid rodent that is widespread and abundant in the southern African subregion...

, Stenocephalemys

Stenocephalemys

Stenocephalemys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.It contains the following species, all of which are found in or near Ethiopia:* Ethiopian White-footed Mouse...

and many others. African rabbits and hares include Riverine Rabbit

Riverine Rabbit

The Riverine Rabbit , also known as the Bushman Rabbit or Bushman Hare, is one of the rarest and most endangered mammals in the world, with probably no more than 200 individuals left. This rabbit has an extremely limited distribution area, found only in the central and southern regions of the Karoo...

, Bunyoro Rabbit

Bunyoro Rabbit

The Bunyoro Rabbit or Central African Rabbit is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Poelagus. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, and Uganda.-References:* Lagomorph Specialist...

, Cape Hare

Cape Hare

The Cape, Common or Brown Hare is a hare natively found throughout Africa, and has spread to many parts of the Europe, Middle East and Asia. The Cape Hare is a nocturnal herbivore.They are fast...

, Scrub Hare

Scrub Hare

The Scrub Hare, Lepus saxatilis, is a species of hare found in South Africa, parts of central Africa, and Namibia. It is found at about 1 - 2 km above sea level. Its dorsal fur is gray and black, while its ventral fur is white. It has a black and white tail, while it has lighter fur around its...

, Ethiopian Highland Hare

Ethiopian Highland Hare

The Ethiopian Highland Hare is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is endemic to the highlands of Ethiopia, where almost entirely restricted to altitudes above that of other African hares.-References:...

, African Savanna Hare

African Savanna Hare

The African Savanna Hare is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is found in Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa,...

, Abyssinian Hare

Abyssinian Hare

The Abyssinian Hare is a species of mammal in the Leporidae family. It is almost entirely restricted to the nations of the Horn of Africa, though it extends marginally into eastern Sudan and may also occur in far northern Kenya...

 and several species of Pronolagus.
Among the marine mammals there are several species of dolphin

Dolphin

Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...

s, 2 species of Sirenia

Sirenia

Sirenia is an order of fully aquatic, herbivorous mammals that inhabit swamps, rivers, estuaries, marine wetlands, and coastal marine waters. Four species are living, in two families and genera. These are the dugong and manatees...

ns and seals (e.g. Cape Fur Seal

Cape Fur Seal

The brown fur seal , also known as the Cape fur seal, South African fur seal and the Australian fur seal is a species of fur seal.-Description:...

). Of the Carnivore

Carnivore

A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...

s there are 60 species, including the conspicuous hyena

Hyena

Hyenas or Hyaenas are the animals of the family Hyaenidae of suborder feliforms of the Carnivora. It is the fourth smallest biological family in the Carnivora , and one of the smallest in the mammalia...

s, lion

Lion

The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...

s, leopard

Leopard

The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...

s, cheetah

Cheetah

The cheetah is a large-sized feline inhabiting most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. The cheetah is the only extant member of the genus Acinonyx, most notable for modifications in the species' paws...

s, serval

Serval

The serval , Leptailurus serval or Caracal serval, known in Afrikaans as Tierboskat, "tiger-forest-cat", is a medium-sized African wild cat. DNA studies have shown that the serval is closely related to the African golden cat and the caracal...

, as well as the less prominent Bat-eared Fox

Bat-eared Fox

The bat-eared fox is a canid of the African savanna, named for its large ears. Fossil records show this canid to first appear during the middle Pleistocene, about 800,000 years ago....

, African Polecat, African Striped Weasel

African striped weasel

The African striped weasel , the lone member of genus Poecilogale, is a small black and white weasel native to sub-Saharan Africa. It looks very much like a striped polecat, but it is much thinner and has shorter hair. It is a sleek, black color with a white tail and four white stripes running...

, Caracal

Caracal

The caracal is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat ranging over Western Asia, South Asia and Africa.The word caracal comes from the Turkish word "karakulak", meaning "black ear". In North India and Pakistan, the caracal is locally known as syahgosh or shyahgosh, which is a Persian term...

, Honey Badger, Speckle-throated Otter

Speckle-throated Otter

The spotted-necked otter , or speckle-throated otter, is an otter native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is a smallish otter 95-105 cm long, including the tail, and weighing 3 to 6.5 kg . Like other otters it is sleek and has webbed paws for swimming...

, several mongoose

Mongoose

Mongoose are a family of 33 living species of small carnivorans from southern Eurasia and mainland Africa. Four additional species from Madagascar in the subfamily Galidiinae, which were previously classified in this family, are also referred to as "mongooses" or "mongoose-like"...

s, jackal

Jackal

Although the word jackal has been historically used to refer to many small- to medium-sized species of the wolf genus of mammals, Canis, today it most properly and commonly refers to three species: the black-backed jackal and the side-striped jackal of sub-Saharan Africa, and the golden jackal of...

s, civet

Civet

The family Viverridae is made up of around 30 species of medium-sized mammal, including all of the genets, the binturong, most of the civets, and the two African linsangs....

s, etc. The family Eupleridae

Eupleridae

The family Eupleridae is a group of carnivorans endemic to Madagascar and comprising 10 known species in seven genera. Probably the best known species is the Fossa , in the subfamily Euplerinae...

 is restricted to Madagascar

Madagascar

The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...

The African list of ungulate

Ungulate

Ungulates are several groups of mammals, most of which use the tips of their toes, usually hoofed, to sustain their whole body weight while moving. They make up several orders of mammals, of which six to eight survive...

s is longer than in any other continent. The largest number of modern bovid

Bovid

A bovid is any of almost 140 species of cloven-hoofed ruminant mammal at least the males of which bear characteristic unbranching horns covered in a permanent sheath of keratin....

s is found in Africa (African Buffalo

African Buffalo

The African buffalo, affalo, nyati, Mbogo or Cape buffalo is a large African bovine. It is not closely related to the slightly larger wild Asian water buffalo, but its ancestry remains unclear...

, Duiker

Duiker

A duiker is any of about 21 small to medium-sized antelope species from the subfamily Cephalophinae native to Sub-Saharan Africa.Duikers are shy and elusive creatures with a fondness for dense cover; most are forest dwellers and even the species living in more open areas are quick to disappear...

s, Impala

Impala

An impala is a medium-sized African antelope. The name impala comes from the Zulu language meaning "gazelle"...

, Rhebok, Reduncinae

Reduncinae

The subfamily Reduncinae is composed 8 species of antelope all of which dwell in marshes, floodplains or other well-watered areas, including the waterbucks and reedbucks...

, Oryx

Oryx

Oryx is one of four large antelope species of the genus Oryx. Three of the species are native to arid parts of Africa, with a fourth native to the Arabian Peninsula. Their pelage is pale with contrasing dark markings in the face and on the legs, and their long horns are almost straight...

, Dik-dik

Dik-dik

A dik-dik, pronounced "dĭk’ dĭk", is a small antelope in the Genus Madoqua that lives in the bushes of eastern and southern Africa. Dik-diks stand 30–40 cm at the shoulder, are 50–70 cm long, weigh 3–6 kg and can live for up to 10 years...

, Klipspringer

Klipspringer

The Klipspringer, Oreotragus oreotragus, is a small species of African antelope.-Name:The word klipspringer literally means "rock jumper" in Afrikaans/Dutch...

, Oribi

Oribi

Oribi are graceful slender-legged, long-necked small antelope found in grassland almost throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.-Description:...

, Gerenuk

Gerenuk

The Gerenuk , also known as the Waller's Gazelle, is a long-necked species of antelope found in dry bushy scrub and steppe in East Africa, from Somalia and eastern Ethiopia through northern and eastern Kenya to northeastern Tanzania...

, True gazelles, Hartebeest

Hartebeest

The hartebeest is a grassland antelope found in West Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa. It is one of the three species classified in the genus Alcelaphus....

, Wildebeest

Wildebeest

The wildebeest , also called the gnu is an antelope of the genus Connochaetes. It is a hooved mammal...

, Dibatag

Dibatag

The dibatag , or Clarke's gazelle, is an antelope found in the sandy grasslands of Ethiopia and Somalia. Not a true gazelle, it is similarly marked, with a long, furry black tail which is raised in flight...

, Eland

Taurotragus

Taurotragus, commonly called Eland, is a genus of antelopes of the African savannah, containing two species: the Common Eland and the Giant Eland...

, Tragelaphus

Tragelaphus

The genus Tragelaphus contains several species of bovine, all of which are relatively antelope-like. Species in this genus tend to be large sized, lightly built, have long necks and considerable sexual dimorphism. The Common Eland was once classified in this genus as T. oryz...

, Hippotragus

Hippotragus

Hippotragus is a genus of antelope which includes three species. The species are:* Roan Antelope, Hippotragus equinus* Bluebuck, Hippotragus leucophaeus †* Sable Antelope, Hippotragus niger...

, Neotragus

Neotragus

Neotragus is a genus of antelope. The three species are native animals of Africa....

, Raphicerus

Raphicerus

Raphicerus is a genus of small antelopes of the Tribe Neotragini .Raphicerus is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Kenya in the north to the Western Cape in South Africa.The genus contains three species:...

, Damaliscus

Damaliscus

Damaliscus, known as sassabies is a genus of antelope with just four species in the family Bovidae, subfamily Alcelaphinae found in Africa....

). Other even-toed ungulates include Giraffe

Giraffe

The giraffe is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all extant land-living animal species, and the largest ruminant...

s, Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus

The hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...

es, Warthog

Warthog

The Warthog or Common Warthog is a wild member of the pig family that lives in grassland, savanna, and woodland in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the past it was commonly treated as a subspecies of P...

s, Giant forest hog

Giant forest hog

The Giant Forest Hog is native to wooded habitats in Africa and generally is considered the largest wild member of the Suidae . Despite its large size and relatively wide distribution, it was only described by scientists in 1904...

s, Red River Hog

Red River Hog

The red river hog , also known as the bush pig , is a wild member of the pig family living in Africa, with most of its distribution in the Guinean and Congolian forests...

s and Bushpig

Bushpig

The bushpig, Potamochoerus larvatus, is a member of the pig family and lives in forests, woodland, riverine vegetation and reedbeds in East and Southern Africa. Probably introduced populations are also present in Madagascar and the Comoros archipelago. Bushpigs are mainly nocturnal. There are...

s. Odd-toed ungulates are represented by three species of zebra

Zebra

Zebras are several species of African equids united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds...

s, African Wild Ass

African Wild Ass

The African Wild Ass is a wild member of the horse family, Equidae. This species is believed to be the ancestor of the domestic donkey which is usually placed within the same species. They live in the deserts and other arid areas of northeastern Africa, in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia; it...

, Black

Black Rhinoceros

The Black Rhinoceros or Hook-lipped Rhinoceros , is a species of rhinoceros, native to the eastern and central areas of Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Angola...

 and White Rhinoceros

White Rhinoceros

The White Rhinoceros or Square-lipped rhinoceros is one of the five species of rhinoceros that still exist. It has a wide mouth used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species...

. The biggest African mammal is the African Bush Elephant

African Bush Elephant

The African Bush Elephant or African Savanna Elephant is the larger of the two species of African elephant. Both it and the African Forest Elephant have usually been classified as a single species, known simply as the African Elephant...

, the second largest being its smaller counterpart, the African Forest Elephant

African Forest Elephant

The African Forest Elephant is a forest dwelling elephant of the Congo Basin. Formerly considered either a synonym or a subspecies of the African Savanna Elephant , a 2010 study established that the two are distinct species...

. In the past three years the elephant population has significantly increased in Africa and in some parts the population has increased by 300%. Four species of pangolin

Pangolin

A pangolin , also scaly anteater or Trenggiling, is a mammal of the order Pholidota. There is only one extant family and one genus of pangolins, comprising eight species. There are also a number of extinct taxa. Pangolins have large keratin scales covering their skin and are the only mammals with...

s can be found in Africa

African fauna contains 64 species of primates. Four species of Great Apes (Hominidae

Hominidae

The Hominidae or include them .), as the term is used here, form a taxonomic family, including four extant genera: chimpanzees , gorillas , humans , and orangutans ....

) are endemic to Africa: both species of Gorilla

Gorilla

Gorillas are the largest extant species of primates. They are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forests of central Africa. Gorillas are divided into two species and either four or five subspecies...

 (Western Gorilla, Gorilla gorilla, and Eastern Gorilla, Gorilla beringei) and both species of Chimpanzee

Chimpanzee

Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...

 (Common Chimpanzee

Common Chimpanzee

The common chimpanzee , also known as the robust chimpanzee, is a great ape. Colloquially, the common chimpanzee is often called the chimpanzee , though technically this term refers to both species in the genus Pan: the common chimpanzee and the closely related bonobo, formerly called the pygmy...

, Pan troglodytes, and Bonobo

Bonobo

The bonobo , Pan paniscus, previously called the pygmy chimpanzee and less often, the dwarf or gracile chimpanzee, is a great ape and one of the two species making up the genus Pan. The other species in genus Pan is Pan troglodytes, or the common chimpanzee...

, Pan paniscus). Human

Human

Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...

s and their ancestors originated in Africa. Other primates include Colobuses

Colobinae

Colobinae is a subfamily of the Old World monkey family that includes 59 species in 10 genera, including the skunk-like black-and-white colobus, the large-nosed proboscis monkey, and the gray langurs. Some classifications split the colobine monkeys into two tribes, while others split them into...

, Baboon

Baboon

Baboons are African and Arabian Old World monkeys belonging to the genus Papio, part of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. There are five species, which are some of the largest non-hominoid members of the primate order; only the mandrill and the drill are larger...

s, Gelada

Gelada

The gelada , sometimes called the gelada baboon, is a species of Old World monkey found only in the Ethiopian Highlands, with large populations in the Semien Mountains...

s, Vervet monkey

Vervet Monkey

The vervet monkey , 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....

s, Guenon

Guenon

The guenons are the genus Cercopithecus of Old World monkeys. Not all the members of this genus have the word "guenon" in their common names, and because of changes in scientific classification, some monkeys in other genera may have common names that do include the word "guenon"...

s, Macaque

Macaque

The macaques constitute a genus of Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. - Description :Aside from humans , the macaques are the most widespread primate genus, ranging from Japan to Afghanistan and, in the case of the barbary macaque, to North Africa...

s, Mandrill

Mandrillus

Mandrillus is the genus of the mandrill and its close relative the drill. These two species are closely related to the baboons, and until recently were lumped together as a single species of baboon. Both Mandrillus species have long furrows on either side of their elongated snouts. The adult male...

s, Crested mangabey

Crested mangabey

The crested mangabeys are West-African Old World monkeys, belonging to the genus Lophocebus. They tend to have dark skin, eyelids that match their facial skin, and crests of hair on their heads. Another genus of mangabeys, Cercocebus, was once thought to be very closely related, so much so that all...

s, White-eyelid mangabey

White-eyelid mangabey

The white-eyelid mangabeys are African Old World monkeys, belonging to the genus Cercocebus. They are characterized by their bare upper eyelids which are lighter than their facial skin colouring, and the uniformly coloured hairs of the fur...

s, Kipunji

Kipunji

The kipunji is a species of Old World monkey that lives in the highland forests of Tanzania. It is the only member of its genus. Also known as the highland mangabey, it is about three feet long and has long brown fur, which stands in tufts on the sides and top of its head. Its face and eyelids...

, Allen's Swamp Monkey

Allen's Swamp Monkey

Allen's swamp monkey is a primate species that is categorized in its own genus Allenopithecus in the Old World monkey family...

, Patas Monkey

Patas Monkey

The patas monkey , also known as the Wadi monkey or Hussar monkey, is a ground-dwelling monkey distributed over semi-arid areas of West Africa, and into East Africa. It is the only species classified in the genus Erythrocebus...

, Talapoin

Talapoin

Talapoins are the two species of Old World monkeys classified in genus Miopithecus. They live in central Africa and their range extends from Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Angola....

. Lemur

Lemur

Lemurs are a clade of strepsirrhine primates endemic to the island of Madagascar. They are named after the lemures of Roman mythology due to the ghostly vocalizations, reflective eyes, and the nocturnal habits of some species...

s and Aye-aye

Aye-aye

The aye-aye is a lemur, a strepsirrhine primate native to Madagascar that combines rodent-like teeth and a special thin middle finger to fill the same ecological niche as a woodpecker...

 are characteristic to Madagascar. See also Lists of mammals of Africa.

See also

• Afrotropic ecozone
• List of extinct animals of Africa
• Fauna of Asia
  Fauna of Asia
  Fauna of Asia is all the animals living in Asia and its surrounding seas and islands. Since there is no natural biogeographic boundary in the west between Europe and Asia, the term "fauna of Asia" is somewhat elusive...
  
  
• Fauna of Europe
  Fauna of Europe
  Fauna of Europe is all the animals living in Europe and its surrounding seas and islands. Since there is no natural biogeographic boundary in the east and south between Europe and Asia, the term "fauna of Europe" is somewhat elusive. Europe is the western part of the Palearctic ecozone...
  
  
• Fauna of Australia
  Fauna of Australia
  The fauna of Australia consists of a huge variety of animals; some 83% of mammals, 89% of reptiles, 90% of fish and insects and 93% of amphibians that inhabit the continent are endemic to Australia...
  
  

External links

• African Invertebrates