General information
COMMON NAME: African elephants
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Loxodonta
TYPE: Mammals
DIET: Herbivore
GROUP NAME: Herd
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: Up to 70 years
SIZE: Height at the shoulder, 8.2 to 13 feet
WEIGHT: 2.5 to seven tons
Trunk
Trunks are highly multifunctional and sensitive organs with around 150 000 muscle units. They are used for not only drinking and eating but to keep the body cool by throwing sand over their bodies and picking up small items using the tips of the trunk. The trunk is also used to grasp and pull down branches, trunks of trees and reach high vegetation.
Trunks are also used as communication between the herd by embracing and touching each other in affection. This organ is also used as a warning and emits a loud trumpeting sound and can sniff the air to detect danger.
A young calf has no control over the trunk. As the calf matures, it learns to manipulate this very useful organ but this takes a long while for proficiency to develop.
Eyes
Elephants do not have good eyesight and their eyes are located on the side of the head, not facing forward. Their other senses are used to compensate for their poor eyesight.
Their eyes are only slightly larger than an adult human, and like a human have many different colorings. An elephant is colorblind however they are able to see in the dark due to their arrhythmic vision.
A calf is born nearly blind and relies heavily on its mothers and the herd for protection.
Ears
Those enormous ears are like a fan and help to keep the elephant cool. They are also made up of 100’s of blood vessels that are close to the surface of the skin. This helps regulate the animal's temperature. The ears are perfectly adapted to hear sounds and other animal calls from 2 to 6 miles away. And just when you think that is impressive, they also use their ears to communicate through body language. Those flapping ears are very intimidating.
Tusks
Those very impressive tusks are enlarged incisors made of ivory and continue to grow throughout the elephant's life span. Calves begin to grow tusks at around 2 years of age. Tusks are used for pulling bark off trees, digging, moving heavy items as well as a defense mechanism when fighting, or defending itself.
Tracks and feet
An elephant's legs and feet are so beautifully adapted to the size and weight of the animal and they spend much of their lives walking. The pads of their large flat feet act as a shock absorber which enables them to walk so quietly. They are also highly sensitive and are used to feel and ‘hear’ the vibrations of the ground underfoot.
Each elephant foot has 5 toes, but not all toes have nails.
The track of these magnificent animals is not easy to spot and the back of the track often appears smooth. They develop unique patterns on the pad of the foot, much like the fingerprints humans have.
Skin
The folds and wrinkles in the skin retain moisture well and help to keep the animal cool. The skin is also incredibly thick at 2.5cm thick in most places. They regularly take mud or dust baths to keep the skin clean and to prevent sunburn.
Like all mammals, elephants also have hair that is more visible on their head, chin, or tip of their tails. Elephants don't sweat so the thin hairs assist in releasing heat from the body.
Brain
The saying that ‘elephants never forget’ is due to their large and dense temporal lobe. This is the area of the brain that is associated with memories.
COMMON NAME: Hippopotamus
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hippopotamus amphibious
TYPE: Mammals
DIET: Herbivore
GROUP NAME: School
AVERAGE LIFESPAN IN THE WILD: Up to 40 years
SIZE: Head and body: 9.5 to 14 feet; tail: 13.75 to 19.75 inches
WEIGHT: 1.5 to 4 tons
Skin and Body
To keep their gigantic bodies cool under the blazing African heat, hippos spend up to 16 hours a day immersed in rivers and lakes and are well adapted to this lifestyle. Hippos also sun themselves on the beach and emit an oily red fluid, giving birth to the legend that they sweat blood. The liquid is actually a skin moisturizer and sunscreen that may also offer germ protection.
Hippos cannot sweat so they need to protect themselves from overheating. Despite them spending so much time in water, hippos can't swim.
Nose
Hippos cannot breathe underwater and need to resurface every few minutes to breathe, even when sleeping! The act of surfacing to breathe is automatic so there is no risk of drowning. Their nostrils are positioned on the upper part of their head.
Eyes
The hippos eyes are positioned on the upper part of their head so they can see while remaining submerged underwater. They have good eyesight and a clear membrane covers and protects their eyes while allowing them to see underwater.
Tail and Poop
The male hippos use their poop to mark their territory. They fling their poop all around by wagging and spinning the tail. It is also used as a way to show the status of individuals.
Mouth
The hippo has a really impressive mouth with a full set of incisors, canines and molars. These animals are herbivores and eat an incredible 100 pounds of vegetation to keep up the weight. Combined with strength and special lips, hippos are able to pull plants out of the mud and ground. They feed at night, coming onto land to forage.
Opening their mouths wide is one way to display their dangerous teeth but could also just be a big yawn. Their mouth is known to be one of the strongest mouths on earth.
Feet
The hippo has webbed toes and hooves covering each toe. These hooves are more like nails. Hippos' legs and feet are perfectly adapted to moving around in rivers and other bodies of water.
COMMON NAME: Rhinoceros
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Rhinocerotidae
TYPE: Mammals
DIET: Herbivore
GROUP NAME: Crash
AVERAGE LIFESPAN IN THE WILD: 39 to 43 years
SIZE: Head and body: Up to 12 feet
WEIGHT: Up to 7,900 pounds
Mouth
The black rhino is distinguished by their hooked upper lip while the white rhino has a square lip. The black rhino are known as browsers and the white rhino is more of a grazer. These animals are important as they shape the African landscape and help balance the ecosystem. Rhinos do have teeth! They are used for grinding vegetation.
Horn
The rhino horn is made of keratin which is a protein that also forms the basis of human hair and nails. Rhino horns grow up to 7cm each year and can be as long as 4.5ft long. The horn is sought after by humans, which makes this animal vulnerable.
Body
Both black and white rhinos are grey in color. Male rhinos are called bulls and the female is called a cow. They communicate through honks, snorts/sneezes and faeces! They use their urine and faeces to identify each other. White rhinos are the largest and weigh up to 3500kgs. Rhinos love a good roll in the mud. This serves as a mud coat which protects the skin, keeps them cool and stops insect bites and parasites.
Eyes
Rhinos do not have good vision and cannot see a motionless person. They have been know to charge for no rhyme or reason. They are also color blind.
Legs and Feet
Rhinos are 3 toes hoofed animals and each toe has a shell casing called a hoof. Their legs are slim considering their size and they can run up to 28mph.
Ears
Rhinos are able to move their ears, have excellent hearing. Their ears are fringed with hair although rhinos do not have hair on their bodies.
COMMON NAME: Giraffe
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Giraffa camelopardalis
TYPE: Mammals
DIET: Herbivore
GROUP NAME: Herd
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 25 years
SIZE: 14 to 19 feet
WEIGHT: 1,750 to 2,800 pounds
Body
Giraffes are the tallest mammals and have a very distinct hide patterning. This is very individual and no two giraffes have the same pattern. Because of their height and great vision, giraffes have a panoramic perspective of the grasslands they live in, making predators easy to notice from afar. Although the neck is long, a giraffe cannot bend its neck to the ground. They need to spread their front legs or kneel to drink which makes them vulnerable. They spend most of their lives standing and even give birth standing up. A calf can walk within an hour of being born.
Legs
Those lanky legs enable the giraffe to run as fast as 35 miles per hour over short distances or slower at about 10miles per hour for longer distances.
head
Giraffe can bellow, snort, hiss and emit other low pitched noises that are beyond a humans hearing range. They have 2 distinct hair-covered horns which the male uses to fight with other males.
Tongue
A Giraffe’s tongue is generally blue, black or purple and quite long at 18 to 20 inches. They can use their muscular tongue to grasp and manipulate objects. They are able to remove juicy leaves and shoots from even the thorniest plants.
COMMON NAME: Crocodile
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Crocodylia
TYPE: Reptilia
DIET: Carnivore and an apex predator
GROUP NAME: In water they are called a Float; on land they are a Bask
AVERAGE LIFESPAN IN THE WILD: 35 - 75 years
SIZE: Males grow to around 9.75 ft
WEIGHT: up to 150 lb for a male
Mouth
Crocodiles have the strongest bite force, and when the mouth is closed all of its teeth on both top and bottom jaws are visible. Most crocs have between 60 and 70 teeth. Teeth are frequently lost or broken so crocodiles have 4-5 backup sets of teeth to replace with. When swallowing on land a croc will tip its head back and throw the food towards the back of its throat. Crocodiles are ambush predators and use their teeth as clamps to keep their prey from escaping. To rip off meat, they employ the death roll. This has a 2 fold job, to drown the prey as well as to rip meat. Crocs are excellent parents and once the eggs hatch, the mother will carry her young in her mouth to the water.
Skin
The skin on their back contains a bony structure which makes the skin bulletproof. Only the belly has soft and gentle skin.
Eyes
Crocodile eyes are very complex. They have a horizontal streak of receptors which extends the crocs scope of sight and they have good night vision. When spotting a croc at night, their eyes can be seen as red dots. Their eyes face forward and near each other. This is a tool they use to detect how close they are to their prey. They also have a more panoramic vision which is an effective hunting tool. They have a lower, upper and a third eyelid which is like a clear membrane to protect the eyes when underwater. When a crocodile eats they produce tears, not because they are feeling sorry for their prey.
Tail
A crocodile tail is a very useful weapon and it uses it to slash at prey to disable it or throw/draw it into the water. It uses its tail to propel itself through the water with a strong whipping backward and forward motion. They can even use that tail to propel themselves out of water.
Legs and Feet
Crocs have short but very powerful legs. On the front legs there are 5 toes and the back legs there are 4 toes which are partially or wholly webbed. The hind legs are much more powerful than the forelegs. In the water the legs are used to steer or push the animal in particular directions, however they are not always needed so fold back against the body to reduce drag. On land the croc lifts its body up on all four legs and uses the tail for balance. A crocodile is not as fast on land as in water.
Nose
The nostrils are placed high on the end of the snout. This enables the croc to submerge most of the body underwater yet continue to breathe. A membrane on the nose can be closed to keep water out. The crocodile has a highly developed sense of smell and they can detect prey or carcasses in the water or on land.
Ears
The ears of the croc are narrow openings situated near the eyes and towards the rear of the head. The inner ear is sophisticated. Like the nostrils and eyes, the ear folds shut to prevent water from entering the ears. The crocs' hearing is highly developed and assists with hunting and tracking prey.
COMMON NAME: Buffalo
SCIENTIFIC NAME:Syncerus caffer
TYPE: Mammal
DIET: Herbivore
GROUP NAME:Herd / Gang
AVERAGE LIFESPAN IN THE WILD:11 to 22 years
SIZE: 4 to 5 feet tall
WEIGHT:660 to 1,840 pounds
Nose
Buffalo have a well developed sense of smell however their sight and hearing are rather poor.
Horns
Buffalo horns are permanent and continue to grow till the animal is around 5 to 6 years of age. They have a keratin covering which surrounds a core of live bone. Each animals horns are very distinct from each other and add to the imposing stature of the animal and help determine their age and sex.
Legs and Feet
Considering their huge size buffalo can reach a top speed of 35 mph. They have powerful legs and this assists in moving that massive body weight. This is not an animal to underestimate. Although they are fast, they can't sustain speeds for a long period of time. Humans are not easily able to outrun a buffalo charge.
Body
These animals are aggressive and come with a bad attitude, so are best treated with great respect. Buffalo’s give birth to their first calf at around 4 to 5 years of age and generally only give birth every 2 years. The birth of offspring tends to correlate with the rainy season so the cow has sufficient nutrients to nurse her young. Buffalo are very protective of their young and will charge or stampede other animals or humans if they feel threatened.
Mouth
Buffalo tend to feed on fresh green grass and devote much of their time to grazing. If they have insufficient food they deteriorate quite rapidly. After feeding they spend time chewing their cud in order to extract even more nutrients from their food. They vocalize by making a low pitched sound emitted by domestic cattle. When feeling aggressive they make explosive grunts or rumbling growls.
COMMON NAME:Kudu
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Tragelaphus strepsiceros
TYPE: Bovidae
DIET: Herbivores
GROUP NAME:Herd
AVERAGE LIFESPAN IN THE WILD: 7 to 8 years
SIZE: 5.9 to 7.8 foot
WEIGHT:Up to 595 pounds
Mouth
They make a gruff bark and it is one of the loudest sounds from an antelope.Kudu’s are browsers and get most of their moisture content from the vegetation they eat. They will drink water when the food source is insufficient.
Body
Adult kudus are an important food source for many larger predators. These majestic animals are one of the largest antelopes. Sexual maturity is reached between 1 to 2 years and the gestation period is between 6 and 7 months.1 - 2 calves are born at a time. Their hide coloring ranges from browns through to bluish grays and red browns. They also have distinctive vertical stripes on their torso and white ‘v’ markings between the eyes.
Horns
Kudu have long horns that spiral with 2 and half twists, which begin to grow when a bull is 6 to 12 months of age.These horns allow males to spar by interlocking horns. Once the horns are locked the animals push and twist until one is knocked off balance or thrown to the ground. There are known cases of males found dead with horns still locked.
:Legs and Feet
Kudu are nimble on mountains and rocky hillsides however they are not fast enough to escape predators on open terrain. They tend to escape by jumping over scrubs and small buses to escape.
Ears
These animals are very alert and hard to approach as their hearing is quite acute. Once alerted to danger they give out loud calls to warn the herd.
Eyes
Kudu have excellent eyesight which enables them to spot danger from approaching predators
COMMON NAME: Lion
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Panthera leo
TYPE: Cat
DIET: Carnivorous and all meat elimination
GROUP NAME:Pride
AVERAGE LIFESPAN IN THE WILD: 10 - 15 years
SIZE: An adult grows up to 8.3ft
WEIGHT: From 330 to 570 pounds for an adult
Body
Known for its double portion of laziness, the lion also has some thick skin boasting a double layer of fur. Lions are sensitive to heat and find it difficult to cool down. The lion is also known for its ultra masculinity, this cat has strong forelegs and a deep chest. A lion needs all its weight in order to hunt large prey and defend their pride.
Roar
Lions are the only animals that roar together. The pride roars together to mark their territory. You can hear their roar as far as 5 miles.
Mane
The male grows an impressive mane as they get older and this is a sign of dominance in the pride. The mane is used to attract females as well as protect their neck and head from injury during fights.
Mouth and Teeth
The jaw and teeth of this predator are designed to shred and tear their prey and meat. Their large heads support those canine teeth and strong muscles in the jaw. Lions are able to scrape meat off the bones as they have sharp-pointed rasps called papillae and can eat around a quarter of their body weight in meat.
Tail and hindquarters
Lions will mark their borders and territory using their urine. They will also defecate conspicuously and scrape feet on the ground where they have urinated. This effectively ensures that all other males and females are aware of when they are encroaching.
Eyes
Lions tend to hunt in the evenings and at night as their eyesight is excellent and has adapted to the dark which is a huge advantage over some of their prey. Lions cannot see in full color and only see variations of red and green. They also have the ability to see about eight times as far as humans. That is impressive indeed.
Legs and Paws
Lions are able to run at about 50mph for short distances and can leap about 36 ft. Their legs have incredibly strong muscles which are used for sprinting and grabbing onto prey. They have a very impressive set of sharp and retractable claws much like a house cat. The 5th claw on the front paws acts very much like our thumb and allows the lion to grab onto their prey.
Hunting
Males are not the primary hunters in the pride although they will hunt. The lionesses have specific roles while out hunting and the cumulative efforts of the pride improve the odds of catching their prey. The male however will always be the first to eat from the spoils. Hunting during a storm is an advantage as the noise helps to detract from their presence and makes them harder to hear and see.
Whiskers
The lion's whiskers are very sensitive hairs on the face and are close to the nose. These whiskers are used to feel the things around them.
COMMON NAME: Lioness
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Panthera leo
TYPE: Cat
DIET: Carnivorous and all meat elimination
GROUP NAME:Pride
AVERAGE LIFESPAN IN THE WILD: 10 to 15 years
SIZE: An adult grows to around 5ft
WEIGHT:From 270 to 400 pounds for an adult
Hunter
Of all the lions, the lioness is the real hard worker and pride of the pack. The lioness is the hunter and possesses a very distinct skill of planning and attack. The females work together to position themselves at the center and west wing to get their meal and provide for their cubs.
Tail and Bottom
Lionesses will mark their borders and territory using their urine on bushes and objects around them. This effectively ensures all other males and females are aware of when they are encroaching.
Eyes
Lionesses tend to hunt in the evenings and at night as their eyesight is excellent and has adapted to the dark which is a huge advantage over some of their prey. Lionesses cannot see in full color and only see variations of red and green. They also have the ability to see about eight times as far as humans. That is impressive indeed.
Tail and Bottom
Lionesses will mark their borders and territory using their urine on bushes and objects around them. This effectively ensures all other males and females are aware of when they are encroaching.
Legs and Paws
Lionesses are able to run at about 50mph for short distances and can leap about 36 ft. Their legs are incredibly strong muscles which are used for sprinting and grabbing onto prey. They have a very impressive set of sharp and retractable claws much like a house cat. The 5th claw on the front paws acts very much like our thumb and allows the lion to grab onto their prey.
COMMON NAME:Springbuck
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Antidorcas marsupialis
TYPE: Bovidae
DIET: Herbivore
GROUP NAME:Pod / Bob / Harem / Herd / rookery.
AVERAGE LIFESPAN IN THE WILD: Up to 10 years
SIZE:28 to 34 in at the shoulder
WEIGHT:Between 60 and 93 lb
Mouth
This animal is primarily a browser but will graze occasionally. They enjoy scrubs and succulents as their main diet. They do not need to drink water as the vegetation provides enough moisture. Springbok are generally quiet animals, they however may make occasional low-pitched bellows as a greeting and high-pitched snorts when alarmed.
Legs and Feet
Springbuck are incredibly graceful and fast, and can reach speeds of 60 miles per hour. Springbok can jump 6.5 to 9 feet from the ground, and consecutive leaps are known as pronking. Pronking is a way of communicating strength, information on the surroundings and also sends olfactory messages to other springbuck around. Pronking is a defensive strategy to evade predators and is quite amazing to witness.
Body
These are a relatively small antelope. They are distinguishable by their white faces and dark stripes running from their eyes to their mouths. They have a red brown colored coat with a white underbelly. In South Africa, the people view this antelope as an emblem and even have a rugby team named after them. They are the National Animal of South Africa.
Ears and Horns
Springbuck have narrow pointed ears and both males and females carry ringed curved black horns. These horns are not shed and are composed of keratin.
Eyes
Springbuck have a keen eyesight and are always on the lookout for predators. They tend to be quite skittish.
COMMON NAME: Burchell's Zebra
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Equus quagga burchellii
TYPE: Mammalia
DIET:Herbivore
GROUP NAME:Dazzle / Herd or Zeal
AVERAGE LIFESPAN IN THE WILD: 20 to 30 years years
SIZE: 3 ft 7 in to 4 ft 7 in (at the shoulder)
WEIGHT:Between 500 and 700 lb
Mouth
Zebras are grazers and occasionally browsers. They are constantly on the move for green grass to eat. They may occasionally eat dryer grass but then need a source of water nearby. Their teeth are also used as a defense mechanism and can cause great damage when needed.
Legs and Feet
Zebra’s have the ability to sleep standing up due to their locking joints. This ensures a quick escape when in danger. They do need to lie down to enjoy a deep sleep. Zebra’s have the ability to cause damage with their powerful kicks and can be quite aggressive. They can exert a force of nearly 3000 pounds and can kill a grown lion with one kick. When being chased, they will run in a zig-zag pattern to throw off the predator.
Body
The distinguishing marks on a zebra are most definitely their stripes which are as unique as a human's fingerprints. Each species of Zebra has its own general stripe pattern. Their strips may have a social purpose in helping individuals identify each other. The stripes are also used for camouflage to confuse predators when mingling together, and may help to keep the animal cool. A newborn calf foal can stand 6 minutes after being born and will be running about 40 minutes after birth.
Eyes
Zebra’s have good eyesight and are one of the few mammals that can see in color. They however cannot see orange and a few other colors. Zebras can also communicate with their eyes.
Ears
A zebra can use their ears to communicate by being calm or tense. If the ears are held erect the animal is calm, if pushed forward the zebra is feeling tense or frightened. They have the ability to turn their ears in almost any direction and have excellent hearing.
COMMON NAME:Leopard
SCIENTIFIC NAME:Panthera Pardus
TYPE:Cat
DIET:Carnivore
GROUP NAME:Leap
AVERAGE LIFESPAN IN THE WILD: 12 - 17 years
SIZE:They grow to only 3 to 6.2 feet long
WEIGHT:Between 110 to 200 pounds.
Body
The leopard is astoundingly strong, and pound for pound compared to other large cats, they are one of the strongest. They carry their prey with ease into the trees and branches so that they are not stolen by other hunters. Leopards are well known for their agility both on the ground and above.
Spots
Leopard spots, better known as leopard print in the fashion world, are one of the inspirations of many collections.This shows just how amazing they are. Their spots are also known as Rosettes. The dark spots on the golden fur pop out beautifully unless these super hunters don’t want you to see them as they hunt for the prey of the day.
Legs and Paws
This solitary cat has retractable claws and uses these to mark trees and leave a warning to anyone who wants to take ownership of territory. The leopard's claws are very sharp, helping the leopard dash with strength and take down its prey. Leopards are able to run at speeds of 36mph and leap 10 feet into the air.
Eyes
The eye of the Leopard, as it is known, is a powerful weapon. The leopard can see 7 times brighter in the dark than human beings. These light coloured eyes are a prey’s deception, prowling and ready to attack.
Tail
The leopard's tail is an amazing communication tool for this big cat. It tells you about its mood or when it's experiencing irritation. It is also an aiding tool of affection when it's mating season. That long tail is also valuable in steering movement and maintaining balance while pulling prey into the trees.
Ears
It comes as no surprise that the leopard is the ultimate stalker of note. These cats' ears are as sharp as their paws. They can hear almost 5 - 7 times more than human beings. Leopards are thought to be able to hear even small animals moving around or underground. This incredible sense is very helpful at night which is when these animals come out to hunt.
Mouth and Teeth
The leopard has 32 teeth and a versatile 3 types of teeth. Certainly geared up for the hunt and protecting their young ones, the leopard has carnassial molars, incisors and canine teeth. Although quite a nocturnal animal, this makes the leopard a strong contender in the hunting game
