By: Kolten AndersenBy: Kolten Andersen

African AnimalsAfrican Animals

The CheetahThe Cheetah

These big cats are quite nimble

These big cats are quite nimble

at high speed and can make

at high speed and can make

quick and sudden turns in

quick and sudden turns in

pursuit of prey.

pursuit of prey.

The cheetah is the world's The cheetah is the world's fastest land mammal. With fastest land mammal. With acceleration that would leave acceleration that would leave most automobiles in the dust, most automobiles in the dust, a cheetah can go from 0 to 60 a cheetah can go from 0 to 60 miles (96 kilometers) an hour miles (96 kilometers) an hour in only three seconds.in only three seconds.

African Elephant

African elephants are the African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth. largest land animals on Earth. They are slightly larger than They are slightly larger than their Asian cousins and can be their Asian cousins and can be identified by their larger ears identified by their larger ears that look somewhat like the that look somewhat like the continent of Africa. (Asian continent of Africa. (Asian elephants have smaller, elephants have smaller, rounded ears.)rounded ears.)

African Lions

All of a pride's All of a pride's lionesses are lionesses are related, and female related, and female cubs typically stay cubs typically stay with the group as with the group as they age. Young they age. Young males eventually males eventually leave and establish leave and establish their own prides by their own prides by taking over a group taking over a group headed by another headed by another male.male.

Lions are the only cats that live in groups, Lions are the only cats that live in groups, which are called prides. Prides are family which are called prides. Prides are family units that may include up to three males, units that may include up to three males, a dozen or so females, and their young.a dozen or so females, and their young.

African Wild DogAfrican Wild Dog

The African wild dog, also The African wild dog, also called Cape hunting dog or called Cape hunting dog or painted dog, typically roams painted dog, typically roams the open plains and sparse the open plains and sparse woodlands of sub-Saharan woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa.Africa.

African wild dogs hunt in African wild dogs hunt in formidable, cooperative formidable, cooperative packs of 6 to 20 (or more) packs of 6 to 20 (or more) animals.animals.

Zebra

No animal has a more No animal has a more distinctive coat than the distinctive coat than the zebra. Each animal's stripes zebra. Each animal's stripes are as unique as fingerprintsare as unique as fingerprints—no two are exactly alike——no two are exactly alike—although each of the three although each of the three species has its own general species has its own general pattern.pattern.

Giraffe

Giraffes are the world's tallest Giraffes are the world's tallest mammals, thanks to their towering legs mammals, thanks to their towering legs

and long necks. A giraffe's legs alone and long necks. A giraffe's legs alone are taller than many humans—about 6 are taller than many humans—about 6 feet (1.8 meters). These long legs allow feet (1.8 meters). These long legs allow giraffes to run as fast as 35 miles (56 giraffes to run as fast as 35 miles (56

kilometers) an hour over short kilometers) an hour over short distances and cruise comfortably at 10 distances and cruise comfortably at 10

miles (16 kilometers) an hour over miles (16 kilometers) an hour over longer distances.longer distances.

Thomson’s Gazelles

Gazelles are medium-sized

Gazelles are medium-sized

antelopes found in Africa and in

antelopes found in Africa and in

Asia as far east as Mongolia.

Asia as far east as Mongolia.

There are some 19 different

There are some 19 different

species of gazelles.species of gazelles.

These grazing antelopes live in

These grazing antelopes live in

herds, which can consist of as

herds, which can consist of as

few as ten or as many as several

few as ten or as many as several

hundred animals. During the

hundred animals. During the

plentiful rainy season, thousands

plentiful rainy season, thousands

of animals can be seen

of animals can be seen

gathering in large groups.

gathering in large groups.

Wildebeest

The ungainly gnu earned the The ungainly gnu earned the Afrikaans name wildebeest, or Afrikaans name wildebeest, or "wild beast," for the menacing "wild beast," for the menacing appearance presented by its appearance presented by its large head, shaggy mane, large head, shaggy mane, pointed beard, and sharp, pointed beard, and sharp, curved horns. In fact, the curved horns. In fact, the wildebeest is better described as wildebeest is better described as a reliable source of food for the a reliable source of food for the truly menacing predators of the truly menacing predators of the African savanna: lions, cheetahs, African savanna: lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, and hyenas.wild dogs, and hyenas.

WarthogWarthogs are members of the same Warthogs are members of the same family as domestic pigs, but family as domestic pigs, but present a much different present a much different appearance. These sturdy hogs are appearance. These sturdy hogs are not among the world's most not among the world's most aesthetically pleasing animals—aesthetically pleasing animals—their large, flat heads are covered their large, flat heads are covered with "warts," which are actually with "warts," which are actually protective bumps. Warthogs also protective bumps. Warthogs also sport four sharp tusks. They are sport four sharp tusks. They are mostly bald, but they do have some mostly bald, but they do have some sparse hair and a thicker mane on sparse hair and a thicker mane on their backs.their backs.