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What is the collective name for a group of lions?

Mammals - African Mammals

From lions to meerkats, African mammals have clever adaptations for heat, drought, and predators. Test your knowledge of their habitats, diets, and the clues that help identify them.

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Fascinating Fact

Elephants use their trunks for breathing, smelling, drinking, and picking up food, and the same trunk can lift both a twig and a heavy branch.

African mammals live in a wide range of habitats, including savannah, deserts, mountains, and rainforests. You can often identify them by their body shape, coat pattern, footprints, droppings, and behaviour, such as grazing, hunting, or moving in herds. Many species are active at cooler times of day, and some rely on camouflage, speed, or teamwork to avoid predators and find food.

Key Terms

Savannah: A grassland habitat with scattered trees, often found in warm regions with wet and dry seasons.
Herbivore: A mammal that eats plants, such as grasses, leaves, or fruit.
Nocturnal: Active mainly at night, often to avoid heat and reduce the risk of being seen.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What are the Big Five animals in Africa?

The Big Five are lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo. The name originally came from how difficult they were to hunt on foot, not from size.

How do African mammals stay cool in hot weather?

Many rest in shade during the hottest hours, become more active at dawn, dusk, or night, and use behaviours like panting, licking, or wallowing in mud or water.

What is the difference between a carnivore and a herbivore?

A carnivore mainly eats other animals, while a herbivore mainly eats plants. Some mammals are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals.

Try These Related Quizzes

To see a larger image, click on the picture.

1 .

Can you name this African mammal?

Photograph courtesy of Haplochromis

Olive Baboon

Blue Monkey

Yellow Baboon

Patas Monkey

Order: Primates
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genus: Papio
Species: P. anubis
Live in troops with between 20 to 80 individuals.
An adult male is formidable and only the lion and leopard are its concern.
Can become a nuisance at camps and picnic sites, stealing the food from humans.
Also known as the Anubis baboon.
Found in 25 countries throughout Africa.

2 .

Can you identify this African mammal?

Photograph courtesy of Masteraah

Giant Anteater

Ground Pangolin

Northern Tamandua

Aardvark

Order: Pholidota
Family: Manidae
Genus: Manis
Species: M. temminckii
Rare and notoriously hard to spot.
It is mostly nocturnal.
Has a very long sticky tongue for catching termites and ants.
Can grow to approximately 1 metre, with a disproportionately small head.

3 .

A cheetah is unable to do what?

Photograph courtesy of www.flickr.com/photos/malczyk/

Purr

Roar

Hiss

Spit

Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Acinonyx
Species: A. jubatus
The fastest of the world's land mammals.
Often robbed of its kill by scavenging lions or hyenas.
The only cat that relies on speed to capture prey.

4 .

How many toes does an aardvark's front feet have?

Photograph courtesy of Scotto Bear

Order: Tubulidentata
Family: Orycteropodidae
Genus: Orycteropus
Species: O. afer
A shy, nocturnal mammal native to Africa.
Its name means 'earth pig' although it is not related to the pig.
Much larger than most people expect, weighing about the same as an adult Cheetah at around 40 kg.

Its back feet have 5 toes!

5 .

What is the plural of the word hippopotamus?

Photograph courtesy of Vidnaray

Hippopotamuses

Hippopotammuses

Hippopotamusses

Hippopotammusses

Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Hippopotamidae
Genus: Hippopotamus
Species: H. amphibius
Known as 'river horses' to the ancient Greeks.
The Hippo's closest living relatives are whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Is well adapted for an amphibious life as its eyes, ears and nostrils are all placed on the very top of the head.

Hippopotami can also be used.

6 .

Giraffes are the tallest living animal. How tall are they?

Photograph courtesy of www.flickr.com/photos/kevenlaw/

Up to 2.9 metres (10 ft)

Up to 3.9 metres (13 ft)

Up to 4.9 metres (16 ft)

Up to 5.9 metres (19 ft)

Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Giraffidae
Genus: Giraffa
Species: G. camelopardalis
Tallest animal in the world.
The acacia tree is its preferred food.
They usually sleep standing up.
Its tongue can be up to 53 cms long!
Can go for weeks without drinking water.

Males are between 5 – 5.9 m, and females 4.3 – 5.2 m

7 .

What is the collective name for a group of lions?

Photograph courtesy of Ltshears - Trisha M Shears

Pack

Lair

Pride

Colony

Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Panthera
Species: P. leo
Known as 'King of Beasts', a favourite on safari.
A group of Spotted Hyenas is able to dispossess lions of their prey.
'Lion' was the nickname of warriors with a brave reputation - think of Richard the Lionheart.

8 .

What are rhino horns made of?

Photograph courtesy of Esculapio

Ivory

Hair

Keratin

Bone

Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Rhinocerotidae
Genus: Ceratotherium
Species: C. simum
The white rhino is a grazer of grass.
Apart from man, adult rhinos have no natural enemies.
Females are rarely solitary, however males are less sociable.
An adult male can weigh an average of 2,000 kg.

Our hair and fingernails are also made of keratin.

9 .

Can you identify this African mammal?

Photograph courtesy of alex roberts

Patas monkey

Senegal Bushbaby

Moustached Guenon

De Brazza's Monkey

Order: Primates
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genus: Erythrocebus
Species: E. patas
Of the primates, this monkey is the fastest reaching speeds of up to 55 km/h (34 mph).
Prefers the open savanna and semi-deserts than dense woodlands.
Feeds on tubers, seeds, insects and gum.

10 .

What is the gestation period of a female elephant?

Photograph courtesy of www.flickr.com/photos/exfordy/

16 months

18 months

20 months

22 months

Order: Proboscidea
Family: Elephantidae
Genus: Loxodonta
Species: L. africana
The largest land mammal and much-loved by tourists.
They feed for up to 16 hours a day!
It is rare to see a lone elephant.
Elephants can live for as long as 60 years.

It is the longest gestation period among mammals.

Author: Sarah Garratty

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