African Mammals A – C          African Mammals D – J

African Mammals K – O         African Mammals P - Z

 

 

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Klippspringer

 

Kongoni

 

Kudu

 

Leopard

 

Leopard_Tortoise

 

Lichwe

 

Lion

 

Monitor_Lizard

 

Nile_Crocodile

 



Klippspringer


Oreotragus oreotragus

Distributions:

Mostly in the mountain of sub-Saharan area.

Habitat:

Rocky areas and mountains till 4.000 m.

Size:

Total length: 75 to 155 cm. Eight: 50 to 60 cm. Weight: 10 to 15 kg.

Behavior:

It lives in couple sometime it is possible to see it isolated. Its enemies are: leopards, pythons and hyenas.

Food:

Herbivorous. It feeds with bushes, flowers, fruits.

Reproduction:

A single offspring after 7 months of gestation.

Longevity:

About 10 years.

 

 

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Kongoni                            Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii

Distributions:

Actually it lives almost in all the sub Saharan areas. It is impossible to find it in northern Africa because in that area it was exterminated.

Habitat:

It prefers steppes and open spaces rich in bushes.

Size:

Total length: 175 to 245 cm. Shoulder height: 110 to 150 cm. Weight: 12 to 225 kg.

Behavior:

It occurs in herds generally composed by a number of specimens from 5 to 30.

Food:

Herbivorous.

Reproduction:

The calves born after a gestation period of 8 months.

Longevity:

They can reach 15 years.

 

 

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Kudu


Tragelaphus strepsiceros

Distributions:

Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and south Tanzania.

Habitat:

Open woodlands savanna semi-desert areas.

Size:

Male: 220 to 320 Kg. Female: 180 to 220 Kg. Shoulder height: Male 130 to 150 cm. Female 120 to 140 cm. The female has not the horns.

Behavior:

Diurnal. It moves during the first hours of the morning to feed. Then it rests for the rest of the day. Lives in small groups of females and calves. Its worst enemies are: lions, leopards and wild dogs.

Food:

Basically leaves and shrubs.

Reproduction:

A single calf after 7 months of gestation.

Longevity:

From 7 to 15 years.

 

 

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Leopard


Panthera pardus

Distributions:

It's easy to find it inside the African and Asiatic reserve. Although considered a hunting trophy it does not run the risk of extinction.

Habitat:

Almost everywhere in the African continent. From the deep forests to the desert border till the mountains. A frozen skeleton has been found in the Kilimanjaro.

Size:

Male: 60 to 80 kg. Female: 50 to 70 kg. Shoulder height: Both male and female 70 cm.

Behavior:

Mostly nocturnal.

Food:

It feeds with little or medium mammals, birds, but sometimes it can hunt preys much bigger than the previous ones. It does not need a lot of water because the liquids of its preys are enough for it.

Reproduction:

2 or 3 kittens every year after 3 to 5 months of gestation.

Longevity:

Almost 20 years.

 

 

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Leopard Tortoise


Testudo pardalis

Distributions:

Sub-Saharan Africa

Habitat:

Uplands savannah and steppes.

Size:

Plate length: 65 cm.

Behavior:

It's able to undertake long migration with the aim to get food. During the summer season it falls in a sort of estivation.

Food:

Grass and small pieces of bones.

 

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Lichwe


Hydrotragus leche

Distributions:

Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia.

Habitat:

Water -meadows. The environs of big lakes or slow rivers.

Size:

Male: 80 to 130 kg. Female: 60 to 100 kg. Height: Male 80 to 110 cm. Female 85 to 100 cm. The female has not the horns.

Behavior:

Diurnal. It lives in big herds near the lakes, where it can find food and shelter. Its enemies are: lions, hyenas and leopards.

Food:

Mostly herbivorous. It feeds with grass and water vegetation.

Reproduction:

A single offspring after 7 months of gestation.

Longevity:

Almost 15 years.

 

 

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Lion


Panthera leo

Distributions:

It can be found in the whole African continent and in some India's Natural reserve. It does not runs the risk of extinction.

Habitat:

From savannas to woodlands to the desert areas. It possible to find it near the mountains.

Size:

Male: 200 Kg. Female: 125 Kg. Shoulder Height: 120 cm.

Behavior:

It lives in herds of 30 specimens but it can also live alone. It prefers hunting in groups during the hour before dawn.

Food:

Every kind of protein, from the locust to the elephant, carrions included.

Reproduction:

3 to 5 offspring after 3,5 months of gestation.

Longevity:

From 15 to 30 years.

 

 

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Monitor Lizard


Varanus nilohius

Distributions:

The entire Sub -Saharan area.

Habitat:

It likes water so it is possible to find it near lakes and water-meadows.

Size:

Length: More than 2 m.

Behavior:

Mostly eggs, fishes and mollusks.

Food:

Mostly eggs, fishes and mollusks.

Reproduction:

It lays down its eggs inside termitaries. The eggs hatch after 170 days.

Longevity:

15 years.

 

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Nile Crocodile


Crocodylus niloticus

Distributions:

It is spread almost in the whole Africa, Madagascar included, but in some areas it's very rare.

Habitat:

Rivers and lakes of Africa.

Size:

Length until 7 m.

Behavior:

It spends the night in the water and the day on the ground.

Food:

Carnivorous, it attacks big sized animals too.

Reproduction:

The female lays more than 40 eggs that are brooded for 11 or 14 weeks.

Longevity:

Their real longevity is unknown, but they surely live more than 25 years.

 

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