Mammals of Tanzania
Glossary
Mammals of Tanzania
Glossary
Herbivores
ImpalaHartebeest
Lichtenstein Hartebeest
Scaly-tailed squirrel
African brush-tailed Porcupine
Red forest Duiker
Harvey's Duiker
Abbott's Duiker
Nyasa wildebeest
Blue wildebeest
Mole rat
Topi
Tree hyrax
Eastern black Rhinoceros
Grant's Zebra
Prince Demidoff's Bushbaby
Grant's gazelle
Thomson's gazelle
Masai Giraffe
Hippopotamus
Roan Antelope
Sable Antelope
Cape Porcupine
Crested Porcupine
Waterbuck
Puku
Cape Hare
Lièvre de savane
Gerenuk
Savannah Elephant
Dik-dik
Kllipspringer
Aardvark
Oryx
Oribi
Blue Duiker
Rock hyrax
Red rock Hare
Steenbok
Sharpe's Grysbok
Mountain Reedbuck
Southern Reedbuck
Bush common Duiker
African buffalo
Eland
Greater cane rat
Lesser Kudu
Bushbuck
Sitatunga
Greater Kudu
Carnivores
Tanzanian CheetahAfrican clawless Otter
Marsh mongoose
Bushy-tailed mongoose
Jackson's mongoose
Side-striped Jackal
Golden Jackal
Black-baked Jackal
Caracal
African Civet
Spotted hyena
wildcat
Slender mongoose
Genet
Genette servaline
Common dwarf mongoose
Egyptian Mongoose
Long-nosed mongoose
Striped hyena
Striped Polecat
Serval
Est-african Wild dog
Honey badger
Banded Mongoose
Nandinie
Bat-heared Fox
African Lion
Leopard
African striped Weasel
Giant otter shrew
Aardwolf
Meller's mongoose
Omnivores
Four-toed HedgehogStuhlmann's golden mole
Giant forest Hog
Giant pangolin
Ground pangolin
Tree pangolin
Warthog
Bushpig
Primates
Red tailed MonkeyBlue Monkey
Vervet monkey
Angola Colobus
Kilimanjaro Guereza
Patas Monkey
Mohol Bushbaby
Rondo dwarf Galago
Senegal Bushbaby
Prince Demidoff's Bushbaby
Grant's Bushbaby
Uluguru Bushbaby
Thomas' Bushbaby
Zanzibar Bushbaby
Sanje Mangabey
Northern greater Galago
Brown greater Galago
Chimpanzee
Olive Baboon
Yellow Baboon
Udzungwa red Colobus
Zanzibar red Colobus
Tanzanian Cheetah
The cheetah is built for speed; it has long, slim, muscular legs and a small, rounded head. The fur is a yellowish beige with distinct black spots across most of the body. Cheetahs are found in a wide variety of habitats, ranging from desert to woodland. They feed on a wide range of prey, from hares up to adult wildebeests, though they prefer prey the size of gazelles & impalas. Cheetahs have a unique social system whereby adult males hold small territories (approx. 50km²) while females and non-territorial males roam across larger areas. Females are solitary or accompanied by dependent cubs, while males can live in coalition of 2-3 individuals, usually brothers. They are predominantly diurnal, being most active in the early morning and evening.
Impala
A graceful, slender antelope with a smooth, shiny coat. The upperparts are a rich reddish-brown, while underparts are light brown to white. Distinctive black stripes on the back of each thigh. Ear tips are black. Only males have S-curved horns (56-83cm). Impala favours open woodland and bushland. They are mainly diurnal and feed on grasses and browse. Female impala lives in kin-related clans of 30-120 animals with fixed home range. Territorial males will mate with any receptive female passing through teir territory, and will attemps to prevent females from leaving, by snorting and roaring.
Hartebeest
A large antelope with and elongated face and a sloping back. Body is light brown above and paler below. Both sexes have horns (38-57cm). The tail is white wit black hair at the tip. It is found in grassland and wooded grassland. They are diurnal and strictly grazzers. Females and youngs live n small family groups of 5-20 individuals. Males have small territories, often advertising their presence by standing on termites mounds. Males without territories live in bachelors groups of up to 25 individuals.
Lichtenstein Hartebeest
A large antelope with a sloping back and an elongated face. The body is yellow-brown. This species often rubs its face on upper shoulder and sides, leaving a dark stain due to sticky black liquid form its orbital glands. Horns (38-64cm) are present in both sexes. It favours grassland on the edge of woodland, is mostly diurnal and fees mostly on grass. Males are territorial and associate with groups of 3-5 females and young. Larger aggregation of 50-60 individuals may gather in the dry season.
Scaly-tailed squirrel
L'écureuil volant de Derby est un rongeur anomaluride. Il vit dans des forêts tropicales et subtropicales.
African clawless Otter
A large otter with a light brown to dark brown body and a large white patch that extends from the face to the neck and throat. It can be found in freshwater rivers, forest streams and montane habitat. They remain close to river as they required freshwater to clean their fur. Crabs form the majority of their diet, they also eat frogs, invertebrates and occasionally birds and small mammals. They are mainly crepuscular and move alone or in pairs, sometimes in groups of two adults and 2-3 youngs.
Four-toed Hedgehog
A small animal with numerous shorts spines (1.5-2.5cm) covering the upperparts of the body. Underparts and body face are white, while the ears and nose are black. They are found in a wide variety of habitats including open grassland, wooded savanna, open forests, urban gardens and agricultural land. Their diet consist mostly of small invertebrates although they will also consume small rodents, small reptiles, eggs, roots and fruits. They are nocturnal and mostly solitary, occasionally seen in mother-offsprings pairs. When disturbed, they will roll into a tight ball, using their spine as a defense mechanism.
African brush-tailed Porcupine
C'est un rongeur de taille moyenne dont le corps est couvert de soies brun-jaune, avec sur le dos des poils piquants couchés, bruns à base blanche, devenant progressivement plus grands vers l'arrière.
Marsh mongoose
A large, heavy bodied mongoose with black guard hairs, the Marsh mangooses are found in a variety of habitats, favourite haunts are marshes, riverbeds and estuaries. They are excellent swimmers and divers, solitary and nocturnal. They feed on a wide range of prey including crabs, snails, rodents, frogs and birds.
Bushy-tailed mongoose
A medium-sized mangoose with a very bushy tail and four toes on the front and hind feet. Coat colour is usually black or dark brown. Legs and tail are black. It is found in areas of dense vegetation including lowland and montane forests. They are mostly insectivorous but also eat small rodents, amphibians and reptiles. They are solitary and strictly nocturnal.
Jackson's mongoose
A large mongoose with a grizzled grey white body, black legs and a white bushy tail. It has round, broad ears and a blunt muzzle. In Tanzania, it is only known from lowland swamp forests with mixed evergreen and deciduous trees. It feeds primarily on invertebrates, especially ants but also rodents, birds, amphibians and reptiles. This species is solitary and strictly nocturnal, with most activity accuring between 07PM & midnight.
Side-striped Jackal
This is the largest jackal in Tanzania. Body of dull gray colour, with a white side stripe. Legs are light grey brown and the underside of cream colour. It has a dog-like face with smal ears. The tail is mostly black with a distinctive white tip. This jackal can be found in a wide variery of habitats and have a varied diet consisting of fruits, seeds, small rodents, hares or gazelle fawns. They for a monogamous, territorial pair, even though family groups of up to 7 individuals can be seen. Home range is usually 12-20 km²
Golden Jackal
A scruffy-looking jackal with a sandy or yellow-brown body and a relatively long muzzle. The back has black, white and brown streaks of hair. The legs are reddish and the lower part of the tailis black. Males are slightly larger than females. They are restricted to arid, open grasslands and bushlands. They are highly adaptable to human presence and can be found around villages. They are omnivorous, feeding on invertebrates, fruits, reptiles, rodents, birds and small ungulates. Adult jackals form monogamous pairs that defend a permanent territory of 2-4km². In Serengeti groups can occur of up to 5 individuals. They may be active at all hours of the day but are mistly nocturnal around human habitat.
Black-baked Jackal
Found in a wide range if habitats including grassland, wooden savanna and agricultural land, Black backed jackal is a generalist feeder, eating birds, invertebrates, plants as well as small animals. Mostly nocturnal and crepuscular, adults form monogamous pairs defending a territory of 0.7-4km².
Caracal
The caracal (Caracal caracal) is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and India. It is characterised by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long tufted ears, and long canine teeth. Its coat is uniformly reddish tan or sandy, while the ventral parts are lighter with small reddish markings. It reaches 40–50 cm (16–20 in) at the shoulder and weighs 8–18 kg (18–40 lb). It was first scientifically described by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in 1776. Three subspecies are recognised since 2017.
Typically nocturnal, the caracal is highly secretive and difficult to observe. It is territorial, and lives mainly alone or in pairs. The caracal is a carnivore that typically preys upon small mammals, birds, and rodents. It can leap higher than 12 ft (3.7 m) and catch birds in midair. It stalks its prey until it is within 5 m (16 ft) of it, after which it runs it down, the prey being killed by a bite to the throat or to the back of the neck. Breeding takes place throughout the year, with both sexes becoming sexually mature by the time they are a year old. Gestation lasts between two and three months, resulting in a litter of one to six kittens. Juveniles leave their mothers at nine to ten months, though a few females stay back with their mothers. The average lifespan of the caracal in captivity is nearly 16 years.
Caracals have been tamed and used for hunting since the time of ancient Egypt.
Red forest Duiker
A medium-sized duiker. Both sexes have short, conical horns (4-10cm). It is found in a variety of habitats including coastal bushland, thicket, and montane forests. Secretive animal, it will often run & dive into thick cover when disturbed. They are diurnal and mostly solitary or in pairs. They feed on leaves and fruits and a water-dependant.
Harvey's Duiker
A medium-sized duiker. Both sexes have short, conical horns (4-10cm). It is found in a variety of habitats including coastal bushland, thicket, and montane forests. Secretive animal, it will often run & dive into thick cover when disturbed. They are diurnal and mostly solitary or in pairs. They feed on leaves and fruits and a water-dependant.
Abbott's Duiker
A large duiker with a dark brown or black body. The face and neck are lighter in colour than the rest of the body. It has a white upperlip and a distinctive red crest on the top of its head. Both sexes have small horns (8-12cm). This is strictly a forest species, on Mt Kilimanjaro, it favours valleus with dense vegetation cover, in Udzungwa, more swampy areas. It is mainly nocturnal, believed to be solitary and is primarily a fruit-eater.
Red tailed Monkey
Medium sized monkey with a grizzled brown back, dark or black legs, white throat and underparts. Upper half of the tail of same colour as the body, while the lower half is red with a black tip. Heart shapped white spot on the nose, the facial skin being blue or black. Ears are white, long white whiskers in the cheeks. Males are usually 30% larger than females.
Blue Monkey
Medium sized monkey with a long tail and dense fur. Back colour is very variable, ranging through blue grey to green, orange or red. Front forelimbs are black and hind legs are dark grey. Long facial hair, white throat, white or black brow and a black cap.
Vervet monkey
Small monkey with a grizzled, olive brown or tan back, grey legs and white underparts. Long grey and white tail. Black face surrounded by white fringe and neck & upper head are olive brown. Legs and feet are black. Skin at the base of the tail is red, males have a vivid blue scrotum and a bright red penis.
Stuhlmann's golden mole
The dunes host the golden, carnivorous mole, which passes most of the day buried in the sand. Discovered in 1837, it was not seen again until 1963. Devoid of eyes and ears, it makes its way through the dunes thanks to a small piece of flesh that allows it
African Civet
Medium-sized carnivore with a long, shaggy coat and a stocky build, african civets are found in a large variety of habitats that offer suitable cover. Omnivorous, they feed on fruit, grass, invertebrates, reptiles, small mammals and birds. They are nocturnal and rarely seen during the day. They are solitary and their social behaviour is poorly known.
Angola Colobus
A large monkey with a silky black body, long white hairs forming epaulettes on the shoulder and long dense white hairs on the cheeks. The face is black and hairless, with a narrow white band on the forehead separating the face from the black head. The tail is long, with the amount of white on the tip varying by subspecies.
Kilimanjaro Guereza
A large monkey with a black body and a mantle of long white hairs around the shoulders, flanks, and lower back. The tailis long and bushy, and mostly white with a black base. The chin, cheeks and a narrow strip across the forehead are white, and the face and top of the head are black. Individuals living at higher altitudes at Mt Kilimanjaro husually have longer and thicker fur.
Nyasa wildebeest
A large antelope with a thick neck and shoulders and a slightly sloping back. Wildebeests inhabit short grassland and open bushland. They are mainly diurnal and strictly grazers. Wildebeests are social animals with highly dynamic social systems that range from permanently sedentary to highly migratory populations. Males monopolize harems of 6-30 females and calves in small territories of less than 2Ha.
The Great Migration sees over 1.5 million wildebeest, 200 000 zebra and a host of other antelope travelling cross-country. It is the largest overland migration in the world. The animals travel a total of 800km or more during each cycle. During the migration, around 250,000 wildebeest and 30,000 zebra are killed every year because of predators, but also from thirst, hunger, and exhaustion.
Spotted hyena
The hyena is Africa's most common large carnivore. Reputed to be cowardly and timid, the hyena can be bold and dangerous, attacking animals and humans. It is found in a wide variety of habitats including grassland, woodland and montane forest. Hyenas live in clans of up to 80 individuals with females socially dominant to males. Clan members frequently split in sub-groups or travel alone. The spotted hyena is a skillful hunter but also a scavenger, feeding on medium and large sized preys such as zebras, hartebeest and gazelles and they also eat fruit. They have massive and powerful jaws able to chew bones. They are mostly nocturnal or active at dawn and dusk.
Mole rat
A medium-sized rodent. The fur is thick and evenly colored, usually grey or brown. In some specimens there is white spot on the head. Common mole-rats form colonies, essentially family groups with the largest female and male being the only reproductive pair. They can live in a wide range of substrates. They are herbivorous, mainly eating geophytes (plants with underground storage organs) and grass rhizomes. Common mole-rats are very widespread, thus their abundance is not well known. This species shows signs of localization due to soil requirements.
Topi
Topi live in open and seasonnaly flooded grassland. They are diurnal and strictly grazers. In the Serengeti NP males defend small territories of approximately 1-4km and have semi stable harems of 6-24 females and young. The dominant female also play a role in keeping other males and females out of the territory. In some areas during dry season herds of 1000 individuals can occur.
Tree hyrax
Large, arboreal hyraxes with long, soft fur and long sensory guard hairs scattered throughout the pelage. There is a patch of erectile hair covering a dorsal gland. Color grizzked gray to brown coat with creamy white dorsal gland hair, cream or white belly with white patches on lower and upper lip to the cheeks.
Eastern black Rhinoceros
The Black Rhino has various habitats such as bushland, wooded grassland and woodland habitats. It is predominantly a browser, feeds on shrubs, fruit, shoots and leaves. It favours areas with permanent water and although generally solitary, ten or more individuals may congregate briefly around waterholes. Like many diurnal animals, they may become nocturnal in areas of heavy poaching. It is believed that there are less than a hundred black Rhinos living in Tanzania.
Grant's Zebra
Most frequently found in open savannah and areas with permanent water, plain Zebras are social animals that live in small, stable harems of one male and 1-8 females and offspring. Large herds consist of many family groups moving together in herds of several hundred to several thousand individuals. The group adjusts its traveling pace to accommodate the old and the weak. Zebras commonly associate with other species like Hartebeest, Elands & Wildebeest. They are almost exclusively grazers.
Patas Monkey
Medium sized monkey with a slender body, small head and very long legs. Brown on most of the body while shoulders are grey and underparts are white. Males are much larger than females and have bare red skin around the anus & a blue scrotum. Bare black skin on the face and white haire on the cheeks. Long tail.
wildcat
The wildcat is very similar in size and appearance to the domestic cat, but is larger and has longer legs. Most individuals in Tanzania have a light grey coat. Chin and underparts are white. The tail has several dark bands and a black tip. They occur and a wide range of habitats but avoid thick forests. Rodents are their main prey. They are mainly nocturnal but can be active in early morning or late afternoon. Little is know about their social behaviour, they are solitary and probably territorial.
Mohol Bushbaby
Small galago with a soft, wooly pelage, color from grey to light brown. Yellowish tints on the limb, and narrow white stripe running down the nose. They occur in open acacia and savanna woodland. They generally avoid dense forest, appearing only in edges. They are nocturnal with peak activity before sunset and sunrise. Small groups of 6 . They usually forage alone
Rondo dwarf Galago
One of the rarest primates in the world. A tiny galago with a brown back, flanks and limbs with creamy white underparts. Tail is bottle shaped and reddish black. It is endemic to Tanzania and found in patches of dense forest along the coast. They feed mostly on invertebrates, sometimes fruits, flowers & tree gum. They are usually solitary, seen sometimes in pairs or small groups.
Senegal Bushbaby
Small galago with a soft, wooly pelage, color from grey to light brown. Yellowish tints on the limb, and narrow white stripe running down the nose. They occur in open acacia and savanna woodland. They generally avoid dense forest, appearing only in edges. They are nocturnal with peak activity before sunset and sunrise. Small groups of 6 . They usually forage alone.
Prince Demidoff's Bushbaby
A stocky hyrax with short legs, ears and face, giving it a snub-nosed appearance. The dorsal fur is brown and the underparts are cream-coloured in adults, slightly paler in juveniles. There is a patch of erectile hair covering a dorsal gland, which can be
Prince Demidoff's Bushbaby
Demidoff’s galago is a very small, mouse-sized galago with a light brown back and light brown underparts. Tail has short hairs and is the same colour as body. It is found only in seasonnaly flooded swamps, live in dispersed groups of up to 12 individuals. It typically nests in self made vegetation lower than 5m off the ground
Grant's Bushbaby
A small galago that is light tbrown above and creamy yellow underparts. The forehead us grey and black hears. It has an incremental advertising call, which rises and then falls in volume, the number of notes within each phase gradually increases during th
Uluguru Bushbaby
A tiny galago that is dark brown above, creamy white below, with a bushy tail. It is restricted to moist submontane and montane forest below 2.600m. It lives in dispersed groups of up to 9 individuals but forage alone. It feeds on invertebrates, tree gum
Thomas' Bushbaby
Known in Tanzania only from seasonnaly flooded swamp forest. They live in groups of 8/12 individuals, although they usually forage alone. Their main diet is invertebrates, fruit and tree gum. Thomas’s Galago build nests high up in the Canopy or utilize tree holes
Zanzibar Bushbaby
A very small galago from yellowish grey to grey brown, white or yellow below. Grey brown tail. This galago makes a series of single unit rolling calls, becoming louder and increasing in frequency. A crescendo is reached then trails off.
Slender mongoose
A small mongoose with a long, slender body and a long tail, this species inhabits a wide range of habitats including open savanna, swamps and dense forests, and is often seen in farmlands. It can climb trees for chasing prey or to escape when threatened. It is solitary and strictly nocturnal. It feeds mostly on invertebrates, small vertebrates, amphibians and reptiles.
Grant's gazelle
Grant’s Gazelle are found in open savanna grassland, open bushland and woodland. They feed on browse and grasses, and are largerly water dependant. They move in herds of 10 female and fawns controlled by a dominant male or in larger herds of 40+ individuals. Temporary of 400+ aggregations can occur. Males are sometimes territorial, during wet season they can be of 2.5-10km². Serengeti’s Grants Gazelles are migratory, occupying short grass pleins in dry season and woodlands in wet season.
Thomson's gazelle
A small gazelle with a sandy coloured back and a prominent black horizontal band along the side with paler brown above and a white belly. Males have strong horns (30-45cm), much smaller (8-15cm) in females. They are mostly found in open grassland with short grasses and occasionally farmland. They usually avoid tall grasses and bushland except during the migration. In the Serengeti NP they follow similar movements to migratory wildebeest and zebra populations but they do not migrate as far north. Females move together in unstables aggregations of up to 200 individuals. Males form small territories or live in bachelors herds. During migrations social groups break down in several thousands individuals that move together in a loose association.
Genet
The common Genet has a small head, long ears and a long tail. The background colour is grey and the spots are small, rusty coloured or black. There is a large strip of black hairs on its back that can be raised into a crest when alarmed. It is found in open woodland and semi-arid bushland. It avoids areas of dense vegetation, but frequents area of human habitation. It is nocturnal and mainly solitary, occasionally seen in pairs. Its diet consists mainly of small mammals, but also reptiles, birds, invertebrates and fruits.
Genette servaline
The servaline genet has short fur and numerous spots aligned tightly together over a light grey-yellow coat. The tail has 8-12 white and black stripes. It has a narrow face, relatively long legs and no dorsal crest. It is found in dense montane (up to 1.000m) forests. On Zanzibar it inhabits dense lowland forest and coral rag. This species is strictly nocturnal and is usually solitary, feeding mainly on rodents. Little is know about its behaviour.
Masai Giraffe
The Giraffe is the tallest land mammal, with large males reaching almost 6m in height. Giraffes can be seen in open Acacia woodland, bushland and grassland. They are non-territorial, forming temporary groups of 2-30 individuals. Only females and their youngsters form stable units while males frequently move alone. Home range varies from 22-280 km² depending on variety/abundance of food. Males have a complex dominance system establishing superiority with neck fighting. Many of these fights are highly ritualized and non-lethal. They are browsers and feed mainly on Acacia.
Common dwarf mongoose
The smallest carnivore in Africa. The fur is smooth and ranges in colour from light reddish grey to yellowish grey. The tail is the same colour as the body. It is found in a wide variey of savanna and woodlands habitats. It is strictly diurnal, social animal that lives in cohesive groups. In the Serengeti, groups size can be up to 21 individuals, led by one dominant breeding pair, and all group help feed and care for the youngs. It feed mostly on invertebrates.
Egyptian Mongoose
A large, grizzled mangoose with a relatively long head and body and short legs. Face and legs are black, and the tailis long with a back tuft at the tip. When running it has a distinctive smooth gait and kees very low to the ground. Widely distributed in savanna habitat including edges of rivers, swamps and lakes. Strictly diurnal, it is usually solitary or can be seen in pairs. It feeds on a variety of foods including birds, frogs, reptiles, crabs and invertebrates. It is capable of killing large snakes as it is found to be only lightly affected to some snakes’ venom.
Long-nosed mongoose
The long-nose mongoose lives near and around marshy habitats which allows them to feed on freshwater animals around their environment. The long-nose mongoose is dependent on a watery environment. It is is a solitary mongoose, unlike other mongooses that form in packs. The long-nosed mongoose is also a nocturnal animal.
Hippopotamus
The Hippo is found in rivers, lakes and permanently flooded wetlands, where individuals can remain submerged for up to six minutes. They feed mostly at night, spending the day resting in water or basking on land. Amazingly agile for their bulk, hippos are good climbers and often cross rather steep banks each night to graze on grass. They live in herds of up to 50 individuals, dominated by a single male that defends a water zone of 50-500m. Non-territorial males form bachelor herds.
Roan Antelope
The second largest antelope in Tanzania after the Common Eland. Males are slighty larger than females. Upper body of light sandy brown and the underparts are white or yellowish. Both sexes have a black-tipped mane that runs from the head to the shoulders. The face has a distinctive black and white pattern, and both sexes have long, heavy horns (56-81cm) that curve backwards. It prefers habita of open woodland-savanna with medium-tall grassses and close te permanent water sources. The species is predominantly a grazer and is water-dependant. Females and young live in groups of 5-20 animals, while male are generaly solitary.
Sable Antelope
A very large antelope with a thick neck and huge, curved horns, usually larger in males (95-122cm). It is sexually dimorphic, males being typicall black while youngs and females are russet brown. Both sexes have an uprigth mane, and distinctive white facial markings.
Typically found in woodland, Sable Antelopes often move into valley bottoms to find water during dry season. They are grazers and territorial, often observed in herds of 15-25 females and their youngs, sometimes 75 individuals during dry season. These groups have stable hierarchy led by the top-ranking female. Male defend the territory and will often walk at the rear of the groups.
Striped hyena
A hyena with long, shaggy hair, a large head and a back that slopes down to the hindquarters. The fur is white or grey white, with vertical black stripes on the back and horizontal stripes on the legs. The ears are long and pointed and the tailis white, long and bushy. Males are slightly larger than females. It occurs in dry, open habitat or acacia bushland to a max altitude of 3.300m. Mainly a carrion scavenger, it also feeds on small vertebrates, invertebrates and fruits. Their powerful jaws can crush bones. They are solitary when foraging but often rest in pairs or in small groups. During conflicts with other individuals, they will often erect their long mane hair, which can make their body size 30% larger than usual. They are non territorial, active throughout the night, and generally silent as they are not known to make the whooping call typical of the spotted hyena.
Giant forest Hog
A medium-sized pig with a long muzzle. Coat colour is highly variable ranging from light red to almost black. There is a prominent dorsal crest that is usually back-tipped with white hairs. The lower tusks are long (up to 23cm) and the upper tusks are much shorter and very sharp. They occur wherever there is dense cover and regular water supply. They are omnivorous, feeding on small birds and mammals, fruits, grass and crops. They use their long snouts to root through soil leaving distinctive patches or upturned vegetation. They are mainly nocturnal and live in groups of 4-16 individuals led by a dominant male and a dominant female.
Cape Porcupine
Both Crested and Cape Porcupines are large rodents with long, very sharp, black and white quills on the lower back. Legs and underparts are covered with short black hair, and the short tai lis covered with short quills. Cape porcupine have white quills on the crump, Crest porcupine have black quills on the crump. They are found in a wide variety of habitats including savanna grassland, bushland, and both lowland and montane forests. They feed on fruits, roots and bark. When threatened, they raise their quills and back rapidly towards the predator, stabbing it with their quills that detach easily from the loose skin. Their are monogamous and live in small families.
Crested Porcupine
Both Crested and Cape Porcupines are large rodents with long, very sharp, black and white quills on the lower back. Legs and underparts are covered with short black hair, and the short tai lis covered with short quills. Cape porcupine have white quills on the crump, Crest porcupine have black quills on the crump. They are found in a wide variety of habitats including savanna grassland, bushland, and both lowland and montane forests. They feed on fruits, roots and bark. When threatened, they raise their quills and back rapidly towards the predator, stabbing it with their quills that detach easily from the loose skin. Their are monogamous and live in small families.
Striped Polecat
A small weaselwith long body hair and four distinctive black & white stripes running from the head to the tail. The underside and legs are black and the tail is mostly white. Males are 50% heavier than females. It is found in a wide variety of habitats including dense forests, open savannas, dry bushland and cultivated lands. It is solitary and strictly nocturnal. When disturbed, itwill erect the fur on body and tail, that will rise up in the air. It can also eject a smelling liquid from its anal glands, which is difficult to remove and can last for days. It feeds on rodents & invertebrates, and sometimes also amphibians, birds and reptiles including large snakes.
Waterbuck
A large antelope with a shaggy coat, varying from dark grey to grey brown. Females are usually paler than males. There is a white collar around the throat and sides of the neck, extending to eyes and ears. Only males have horns (64-89cm). Its coat is covered with an oil secretion and exudes a strong musky scent. It can be found in floodplains and open woodlands, but always near to water. It is mainly a grazzer. It is a social animal, forming herds of 5-25 individuals. Males travel in bachelor groups till 5-6 years old then establish in firm territories. Females form non-territorial nursery herds.
Puku
Mid-sized antilope with a shaggy coat that is tan to golden yellow. Pukus are strictly grazers and inhabit grassland around marshers and rivers. Adult males form territories of around 4km², while non territorials males live in groups up to 40 individuals, while female live in loose associations of 6-23 animals. Pukus are diurnal and crepuscular, with peak of activity at dawn and dusk.
Serval
A slender, spotted cat with long legs, small head and short tail. Coat of yellowish colour with elongated black spots merging in stripes on the upper neck. White underparts and tail of same colour than body. They are primarily found in savanna habitat, but also common in subalpine land, agricultural land and along the margins of forests. Hares and rodents form the major part of their diet. They are solitary and territorial. They are active at all hours of the day, but peak activity occurs at night.
Cape Hare
A medium sized hare with long ears and well developped hind legs. It is paler than the African Savanna Hare with a brown and grey coat. It is usually found in open grassland. It feeds on grasses, is solitary and mostly nocturnal, but can be active during later afternoon. It frequenty runs into the open when disturbed, while the African Savanna Hare usually runs for cover.
Lièvre de savane
Un lièvre de taille moyenne aux oreilles longues et aux pattes postérieures bien développées.
Gerenuk
La gazelle de Waller est une espèce d’antilope de taille moyenne, se distinguant par son long cou lui valant parfois l’appellation d’antilope-girafe.
Sa présence se limite aux zones arides au nord du pays, depuis les rives orientales du lac Natron jusqu'aux versants inférieurs de l'ouest du mont Kilimandjaro. On en trouve également dans le sud de Tarangire. Elle est diurne et se nourrit de feuilles et de pousses. Les mâles adultes sont territoriaux (0,8-3 km²) et habituellement solitaires. Elle se regroupe jusqu’à dix individus.
Sanje Mangabey
Medium sized monkey with a long tail and long legs. Long fur, grey and black on the legs. The bare skin on the face is pink or grey and the brow is black. Tailis of same colour as body. Males are larger and more thickset than females
Savannah Elephant
The largest living land mammal. Both sexes have tusks but they are typically larger in males (record from late XIXthcentury: 103kg for one single tusk). They are highly adaptable animals that live in nearly any habitat that has adequate quantities of food and water. They feed preferentially on grasses and other types of vegetation. Smell is the most highly developed sense and they make low-frequency calls, many of which are too low for humans to hear. These sounds allow elephants to communicate with one another at distances of up to six miles. They have multiple, hierarchical social groupings from mother-infant to clans with varying levels of social interaction. Females live in family groups of up to 50 individuals led by the oldest female, the matriarch. Males leave the group at the age of 8-12 to join bachelor groups. Ivory poaching represents a significant threat to the elephant population, along with agriculture.
Did you know?
African Elephants only have four teeth with which to chew their food.
Est-african Wild dog
A tall, lean canide with long legs, a bushy tail and distinctive large, round hears. The fur is white, black and brown with each individual having a unique colour pattern. Males are slightly larger than females. They are found in a wide variety of habitats and have even been recorded at the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro (5 895m) ! They feed mostly on medium-size ungulates, particularly Impalas, and rarely scavenge. They occasionnaly take sheep and goats where wild preys are depleted. They are higlhy social and live in packs from 6-13 adults, usually dominant male & female will breed while other members take care of the pups.
Dik-dik
A small, slender antelope with long, dainty legs, and large ears and eyes. The nose is pointed and very flexible. The coat is grizzled grey on the neck, back and haunches, and reddish on the sides, face and legs. The male has short, heavily ridges horns (6-10cm). It is found in savanna grassland, bushland and open woddland. It feeds mostly on shrubs, trees and seeds. It lives in pairs, and often bond with same partner for life. Pairs are typically accompanied by 1-2 juvenile offsprings till 7-12months. Dik-dik is active at day and night.
Giant pangolin
A large, heavy-set pangolin with very large rounded scales. The face is naked with a long muzzle. Giant pangolins have relatively long front legs and adopt a more quadrupedal stance than other pangolins. The tail is shorter than the body and has a pointed tip. They are solitary and water dependant. This species is nocturnal, during the day they rest in thick vegetation or nest from other species. They feed mainly on termites and ants, and also invertebrates and larvae. They are believed to aestivate for long periods during times of poor food supply. When disturbed, they will curp up into a tight ball for protection and swing their heavy tail at an intruder.
Ground pangolin
Ground pangolins are covered in large 11 -13 rows of brown scales made of fused hair. The head is small and the nose is short and pointed, the tailis very muscular. They live in savanna and woodland and are absent from forests, swamps & deserts. They feed exclusively on ants and termites, which they lick with an enormous (25-40cm) tongue. When alarmed, they roll into a tight ball. They are solitary and nocturnal, although subadults are more active during the day
Tree pangolin
A small pangolin with a very long tail and small scales, absent on the chin, belly and inside the legs. They are found in woodland and forests. They are nocturnal, solitary and semi-arboreal. Their main food source is termites which they lick up with their long (30cm) tongue. They feed mostly on the ground, although they will also break open ants’ nests up in the trees.
Honey badger
A powerfully built, stocky carnivore with short, muscular legs and a short tail. The upperparts are white or grey surrounded by a white border, while the underparts are black. The front legs have large (4cm) claws. Anal glands secrete a smeling liquid when stressed, possibly as a defense mechanism. They occur in a wide range of habitats from dry open countries to grassland, agricultural lands and montane forests. They eat a wide variety of food including invertebrates, small mammals, birds and vegetation. They are generally seen alone or in pairs. The species has the reputation of being very aggressve and devoid of fear : they are known for stealing kills of adult male lions and bite car tyres.
Banded Mongoose
A medium-sized mongoose with a pointed face, short tail and long legs. They have 10-15 dark and light stripes from shoulders to the base of the tail. Banded mongooseslive in a wide variety of habitats, are strictly diurnal and social, living in groups of 10 to 45 individuals. They feed on invertebrates but will also eat reptiles, amphibians, small mammals and fruit. They are highly vocal, and communicate constantly through a twittering call. Banded mongooses communally look after and protect the young, elderly, and injured.
When threatened, banded mongooses gather in tight, compact groups to challenge the attackers, hissing loudly.
Nandinie
A medium sized carnivore with a long shaggy coat and a stocky build. Females are larger than males. The coat is white or grey white with irregular black stripes and spots. There are distinctive black and white stripes on the neck. Legs are black. They are found in a wide variety of habitats that offer suitable cover. Omnivorous, they feed on fruits, grass, invertebrates, reptiles, small mammals and birds. They are nocturnal and rarely seen during the day. They are solitary and little is known about their social habits.
Kllipspringer
A small, stocky antelope with a rounded back and a dense coarse coat that has a grizzled appearance. The underparts are white. The horns are vertical (8-15cm). The Klipspringer walks on the tips of its hoops and has a very uprigth stance, it inhabits rocky terrain, inclding small hills, rock kopjes, mountain slopes and escarpment. They live in monogamous pairs or groups of 4-5 individuals. Males will often stand motionless on a high rock keeping watch for predators or rivals. When alarmed, they can leap from boulder to boulder with great agility. They are mostly diurnal and feed on leaves, herbs, flowers and fruits.
Aardvark
A thickset animal with a rounded body and long tapered tail, and a small pig-like head with a very long nose and ears. The body colour ranges from light brown to pinkish-grey and the legs are black. Young animas are usually quite hairy while adults are mostly hairless on the back. Four large claws on the front foot and five on the hind foot. Males and females are the same size.
Oryx
A large, thick-necked antelope with straight, pointed horns, similar to both sexes (71-86cm). Coat is of light tan brown, separated from the white belly by a black side stripe. The face has black and white markings and there are black stripes on the forelegs. It inhabits arid grassland, bushland and open woodland. It feeds mostly on grasses and can go for long periods without water. Mixed sex herds of 15-50 individuals, occasionally up to 250 animals can be seen, moving all together.
Bat-heared Fox
A small fox with a long, bushy tail, a dense coat, and large, bat-like ears. The body is grizzled grey and the legs are black. The forehead is white and there’s a dark band around the eyes. The tail is light beige at the base a black at the tip. It is found in open grassland and woodland with enough cover. They feed mostly on termites and small invertebrates, rodents or fruits. They are nocturnal but sometimes active during the day. They live in stable family groups consisting of a male and up to 3 closely related females and cubs.
Northern greater Galago
A large galago with big, hairless ears, coat colour ranging from light grey to dark brown. The hair on the tail is long and bushy. It inhabits forest, and open woodlands. It is also found in urban areas with suitable tree cover. It is strictly nocturnal and arboreal. It is the most social of all galagos, travelling in large mixt groups. Both sexes are territorial, and feed on tree gum, invertebrates and fruits.
Brown greater Galago
A large galago with brown or grey brown back and creamy underparts. The ears are large and hairless. The upper half of the tail is of same colour than the back while the lower half is darker. It is found in a large variety of forest types including coastal, riverine and submontane forests up to 2.400m. It is nocturnal and arboreal but unlike most galagos, it is solitary. Their main food invertebrates and fruits.
Oribi
The Oribi is a small, gracefull long legged antilope with a long neck, living in flat of hilly open grasslands and floodplains, and dry swamps areas. They are grazers and browsers. They live in pairs or small groups 3-6 individuals. Dominant males will occasionnally tolerate other males in their territory. They can run very fast and reproduce loud whistles when alarmed.
Chimpanzee
A large, powerfully built ape with black fur, even though older individual can be bald and also have white hair on their chin and lower back. The skin on the face and hands is mostly black, but can be pink or mottled. As with all great apes, chimpanzees have no tail. They are quadrupedal and walk on their knuckles.
African Lion
Lions are found in a wide range of habitats including savannah grassland, bushland, woodland and forest. They hunt a wide range of prey, from gazelles to buffalos and occasionally giraffes and young elephants. They also scavenge from other predators and may even kill cattle. If hunting can occur any time during the day, most activity is at night. Females do most of the hunting while males can take part when catching larger prey. Lions live in prides of closely related females (3-10 individuals) and 1-3 adult males. Males taking over a new pride will usually kill all the cubs, ensuring paternity of the new offspring.
Leopard
A large cat with a distinctly spotted coat. Spots are black on the inside and brown on the outside. Leopards occupy a very diverse range of habitats including forests, woodland, swamps, mountains and urban areas. They eat a wide variety of food including beetles, rodents, hares and birds but also much larger preys such as antelopes and monkeys. Their prey is often stashed in trees to feed on later. They have a good sense of smell and mark their ranges with urine; they also leave claw marks on trees to warn other leopards to stay away. Leopards are solitary, although mating pairs with 1 or 2 cubs are sometimes seen together. Leopards are mostly nocturnal, although in areas of low human disturbance they are frequently active during the day.
Olive Baboon
An olive-brown or brown monkey with lightly speckled coat and a kinked tail close to its base. Olive Baboons are found in a wide range of habitats, from savannah to montane forest as well as agricultural land. They live in groups of 30-200 individuals. Males have a dominance hierarchy that determines breeding success with the highest-ranking male securing most matings. Clans typically avoid each other but can share a sleeping site. Baboons are omnivorous, feeding on fruit, grasses and leaves, as well as invertebrates and small mammals, including young impalas.
Yellow Baboon
Medium sized monkey with a lighlty speckled coat. Tail is kinked and close to its base. Muzzle is black and hairless. Males are twice the size of females and gave a distinct mane around the head and shoulders.
Warthog
Common warthogs occur wherever there is dense cover and water supply, including bushland, forests and agricultural lands. They are omnivorous feeding on a wide range of foods. They use their long snouts to root through soil leaving distinctive patches or vegetation. They are mainly nocturnal and live in groups of 4-16 individuals, led by dominant male and female. Home range from 0.2 to 10km².
Blue Duiker
A very small antelope ranging in colour from light brown to dark blue grey. Short tail with a white underside. Female may have horns. It is found in a range of habitats that offer plenty of cover like dense bushland, forests and agricultural lands. They live in monogamous pairs and their diet consists in fruits, flowers and leaves. Theu are diurnal and crepuscular, with peak activity in early morning and late afternoon.
Udzungwa red Colobus
A medium sized monkey with a distinctive bright red cap, white underparts and dark back. The long limbs have black outer sides and white innder sides. Feet and hands are black. Tail has a black upper and bicolored underside. Nose and lips are pink and the facial skin is black. Prominent white cheeks. Males & females are similarly patterned but males are larger.
African striped Weasel
A small black and white weasel with a very long body and short legs. The coat is black with four white stripes down the back, and a white tail. Males are larger then females. They are found in a variety of habitats including forest edge, grassland and marshes. It is usually seen singly but mother-offspring groups of 3-4 individuals can occur. It is mainly nocturnal, and is a rodent specialist : its low, slender body allowing it to follow and hunt rodents, digging them out of the ground. If threatened, it can secrete a strong smelling yellow liquid from its anal glands.
Giant otter shrew
The giant otter shrew is a mammal superficially similar to an otter in appearance. It is characterized by a long, flat tail, which it uses for swimming by sideways undulation like a fish. It has a muzzle covered with bristles, and flat shielded nostrils. It has dense, soft hair, silky on the tail. It has small eyes and external ears. Its fur consists of a dense undercoat and coarse guard hairs. It possesses counter-shading with dark brown on its back and whitish or yellowish under parts. The tail is covered with a short, silky coat of fur. This species prefers fresh water aquatic microhabitats in the rainforest. Preferred environments include fast flowing rivers, streams, swamps, coastal rivers, and during rainy season some may retreat to small forest pools. The giant otter shrew builds burrows among riverbank crevices. attacks prey using sharp bites, sometimes pinning the prey with its fore feet, and flipping crabs over to attack their weaker ventral surface.
Bushpig
A medium-sized pig with a long muzzle. Coat colour is highly variable ranging from light red to almost black. There is a prominent dorsal crest that is usually back-tipped with white hairs. The lower tusks are long (up to 23cm) and the upper tusks are much shorter and very sharp. They occur wherever there is dense cover and regular water supply. They are omnivorous, feeding on small birds and mammals, fruits, grass and crops. They use their long snouts to root through soil leaving distinctive patches or upturned vegetation. They are mainly nocturnal and live in groups of 4-16 individuals led by a dominant male and a dominant female.
Rock hyrax
A stocky hyrax with short legs, ears and face, giving it a snub-nosed appearance. The dorsal fur is brown and the underparts are cream-coloured in adults, slightly paler in juveniles. There is a patch of erectile hair covering a dorsal gland, which can be yellow, orange or brown. The fur is dense and there are long, scattered guard hairs across the body.
Zanzibar red Colobus
A medium size monkey with a red back, black shoulders and white underparts. The face is black with a pink nose and lips, the back of the head and the neck are red. The legs are black. Long tail red and white. There is a color variation between individuals. Females are slightly larger and more robust than males.
Red rock Hare
A medium-sized hare with dense, soft fur. The back is a grizzled brown or grey colour and the underside is creamy. The tailis bushy with a black tip. The ears are short and not longer than the head. This hare occupies rocky hillsides and ravines with boulders and rock crevices that offer suitable cover. It is mostly nocturnal and generally solitary. It feeds mostly on grasses.
Aardwolf
A small, jackal sized hyena, the Aardwolf is found in open grassland and bushland in arid areas. Its distribution is tied to availability of its food source. It feeds by licking termites off the soil surface and may consume as many as 300 000 termites in one night. It is mostly solitary and nocturnal, when its pray is active. The specy is monogamous and forms stable adult pairs. Average territory is 1-5km².
Steenbok
A small, slender antelope with a rufous-brown coat and white underparts. The ears are very large. Only the males have horns (7-11cm) which are nearly vertical and ridged only at the base. The tailis very short. Steebok is active both during day and night, and is either solitary or found in pairs. Its preferred habitat is grassland and open woodland. It feeds on grass and browse and can be water-independant. Pairs share a territory of 5-60ha, they move and rest separatly, at a distance of 200 to 300m.
Sharpe's Grysbok
A small, stocky antelope with a brown coat with distinctive white hairs. The throat, neck and underparts are white. Only the males have short (3-5cm) horns. Their presence is closely associated with woodland, prefering areas with thick ground cover. They are mostly nocturnal. Males and females form monogamous pairs that defend a territory. They are generally seen alone, in pairs during mating season. They feed mostly on browse, but also fruits, seeds and grass.
Mountain Reedbuck
A medium-sized antelope with a soft, wooly coat. Fur is grey above with bright white underparts. Bushy tail and a black patch below each ears. Found on mountain ridges, grassy hills and rocky slopes where there is permanent water. It feeds on green grasses and avoid dry areas. They live in small families of 3-10 individuals. Males are solitary. They are diurnal with active peaks during cooler periods.
Southern Reedbuck
A medium-sized antelope. Dorsal colour ranges from light to dark brown. The chin and throat are paler and the underparts are white. Black stripes running down the front of forelegs. The tail is very bushy. Only males have horns (30cm). They are found in valleys and glades with tall grass, always close to permanent water. They are diurnal and for monogamous pairs, can also be found singly or in small family parties. They are mostly fresh grass eaters.
Meller's mongoose
Meller’s mongoose is a medium to large-size mongoose with a light to dark brown body and a long tail. It measures about 80 cm in length overall and weighs 2–3 kg. The tail is slightly less than half the overall length.[3] The tail is variable in colour and may be black, brown or white, although dark brown to black is the most usual. At close quarters the upper parts of Meller’s mongoose are coarsely grizzled. The lower parts of the limbs are darker than the upper parts of the body. The under parts are generally lighter in colour than the upper parts. Meller’s mongoose may be confused with the white-tailed mongoose, however it is smaller and blacker overall than this species. It may also be confused with Selous’s and bushy-tailed mongooses.
Bush common Duiker
A medium-sized duiker with a leaner build and a longer body than other duikers. Coat colour may vary follwoing the region, from yellow brown to grey brown. It utilizes a wide range of habitats including savana, bushland and can be seen in alpine moorland desert. Their diet includes leaves, fruits and shoots, with invertebrates and little birds. They are solitary but can be seen in pairs. The species is both diurnal and nocturnal.
African buffalo
A very large, muscular animal resembling a stocky cow. Coat colour can vary from reddish-brown to black. Found in a wide range of habitats including forest, savannah, swamp, wetland and montane grassland. They are strictly grazers and form discrete population units that share a home range. In the savannah, herd sizes can vary from 20 to 2 500 animals. Males can be solitary or form small bachelor groups. They are most active in mornings & evenings, preferring to rest in the shade during the heat of the day.
Eland
This is the second largest antelope in Africa. Body colour ranges from brown to dark grey. Both sexes have a dewlap. The white stripes that run down from the back to the flanks can vary in number (2-15). Male horns are shorter than females. They have a long and bushy tail. It is found in a wide variety of habitats but avoid thick forests. They live in single sex or mixt groups of up to 12 individuals through aggregation of 300-500 can occur, groups are dynamic and frequently change in size and composition as they are highly migratory. They are active both day and night an feed on grasses.
Greater cane rat
The greater cane has rounded ears, a short nose, and coarse bristly hair. Its forefeet are smaller than its hind feet, each with three toes. Cane rats live in small groups led by a single male. They are nocturnal and make nests from grasses or burrow underground. Individuals of the species may live in excess of four years. If frightened, they grunt and run towards water. So far, their conservation status is lower risk.
Lesser Kudu
Alarge antelope. Males are grey becoming darker with age and females are grey brown. Both sexes have 11-13 white stripes running from the back to the belly with 2 white patches under the neck and forehead. Only the males have long horns (61-92cm). They are found principall in dense, thickset and bushland. Active day and night, they feed on leaves, fruits and seedpods. They live singly or on small single sex groups of 3-6 animals. Males are generaly solitary and join groups only for breeding.
Bushbuck
A small antelope with a wide variety of coat colour and patterning. Male ranges from red-brown to almost black, females are usually red. Both sexes have a white patch on the base of the neck. They have a bushy tail of same colour than body. Only males have horns which are nearly straight. They occur in any area with dense cover. They are mainly browsers that feed on leaves but will also eat grass and fruits. They are solitary and non territorial. They are active at all hours of the day with peak activity early in the morning and right after sunset.
Sitatunga
A medium-sized antelope. Males are dark brown while females can vary from light brown to deep red in colour. Both sexes have 2 white patches on their neck. The hair is long and oily, only males have horns. It is a swamp specialist found mostly in permanent marches and wetlands. Mostly diurnal and active in mornings and late afternoons. It is an excellent swimmer and can submerge when threatened with only eyes and nostrils visible above water. It lives alone or in small groups of 2-4 females and 1 male.
Greater Kudu
A very larged, long-legged antelope. Females and youngs have a tawny brown body becoming grey brown in older males. There is a distinct hump on the shoulders and a mane that runs from the back of the neck to the base of shoulders. There are 4-12 white stripes on the neck. Males have huge spirales horns than can reach 160cm. Their preferred habitat is bushland and savanna woodland. They feed mainly on browse and can be largely water-independant. They are both diurnal and nocturnal. They are social and live in groups of 3-25 individuals, while male are either solitary or form bachelor herds.