Land fauna
Land animals of Africa
Africa's land fauna is recognised worldwide — great cats, primates, and the large herbivores of the savanna, plus the unique animals of Madagascar. Habitats range from rainforest and savanna to desert.
43 featured animals · representative selection, not a complete range map
Major habitats
Representative mammals
Mainly sub-Saharan Africa, with a tiny remnant population in Iran.
SavannaGrasslandVerified rangeSource: Animal Diversity Web, Encyclopaedia Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Forests and savanna-woodland of equatorial Africa.
ForestSavannaVerified rangeSource: Animal Diversity Web, Encyclopaedia Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
African elephants occur across sub-Saharan Africa; the Asian elephant lives in South and Southeast Asia.
SavannaForestGrasslandVerified rangeSource: Animal Diversity Web, Encyclopaedia Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Native to sub-Saharan Africa.
SavannaGrasslandVerified rangeSource: Animal Diversity Web, Animal Diversity Web
Equatorial African rainforests.
ForestMountainVerified rangeSource: Animal Diversity Web, Encyclopaedia Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Native to Europe, Asia, and Africa — not naturally to the Americas or Australia.
ForestGrasslandUrban-adaptedVerified rangeSource: Animal Diversity Web, Encyclopaedia Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Found only on Madagascar, off the south-east African coast.
ForestVerified rangeSource: Animal Diversity Web, Encyclopaedia Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Found across much of sub-Saharan Africa, with a small population in the Gir Forest of India.
SavannaGrasslandVerified rangeSource: Animal Diversity Web, Britannica, Smithsonian's National Zoo
Dry savanna and deserts of southern Africa.
DesertSavannaVerified rangeSource: Animal Diversity Web, Encyclopaedia Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Native to eastern and southern Africa.
SavannaGrasslandVerified rangeSource: Animal Diversity Web, Animal Diversity Web
Bats occur on every continent except Antarctica.
ForestUrban-adaptedCoastalBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Encyclopaedia Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
The red fox is one of the most widespread wild carnivores; foxes also occur on other continents.
ForestGrasslandUrban-adaptedTundraBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Animal Diversity Web
Across Africa and into parts of the Middle East and Asia.
SavannaGrasslandDesertBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Encyclopaedia Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Widely distributed across Africa and parts of Asia.
ForestSavannaMountainBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Encyclopaedia Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Otter species occur on most continents.
FreshwaterWetlandCoastalBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Old World and New World porcupines occur across several continents.
ForestGrasslandDesertBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Encyclopaedia Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Seals occur on coasts and in cold seas worldwide, including around Antarctica.
CoastalPolarBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Representative birds
Southern Hemisphere; several species are associated with Antarctic coasts and the Southern Ocean.
CoastalPolarIslandVerified rangeSource: Animal Diversity Web, Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Eagle species occur on several continents.
MountainForestCoastalBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
The peregrine falcon is among the most widely distributed birds.
GrasslandMountainUrban-adaptedBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Flamingo species occur in Africa, the Americas, and parts of Eurasia.
WetlandCoastalBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, National Audubon Society, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Owls occur on every continent except Antarctica.
ForestGrasslandUrban-adaptedBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Animal Diversity Web
Pelicans occur on coasts and inland waters across continents.
CoastalWetlandBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
The rock dove is found worldwide, especially around cities.
Urban-adaptedCoastalBroad / widespreadIntroduced in placesSource: Animal Diversity Web, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Encyclopaedia Britannica
The house sparrow has spread across much of the world alongside people.
Urban-adaptedGrasslandBroad / widespreadIntroduced in placesSource: Animal Diversity Web, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
The white stork breeds across Europe, with migrations to Africa and Asia.
WetlandGrasslandBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, National Audubon Society, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Old World and New World vultures occur across several continents.
SavannaMountainBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Woodpeckers occur on most continents (absent from Australia and Antarctica).
ForestBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Encyclopaedia Britannica
Representative reptiles & amphibians
Most chameleon species live in Africa and Madagascar, with some in southern Europe and Asia.
ForestSavannaBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Encyclopaedia Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Crocodile species occur in Africa, Asia, and northern Australia.
WetlandFreshwaterCoastalBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Frogs occur on every continent except Antarctica.
WetlandFreshwaterForestBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Geckos are a large, widespread group across warm regions of the world.
ForestDesertUrban-adaptedBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Encyclopaedia Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Monitor lizards occur across Africa, Asia, and Australia.
ForestSavannaWetlandBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Encyclopaedia Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Snakes occur on every continent except Antarctica.
ForestGrasslandDesertWetlandBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
True toads are widespread across continents.
GrasslandForestUrban-adaptedBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Encyclopaedia Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Freshwater and terrestrial turtles occur widely across continents.
FreshwaterWetlandBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Britannica, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Notable invertebrates
Ants occur on every continent except Antarctica.
ForestGrasslandUrban-adaptedBroad / widespreadBees occur on every continent except Antarctica.
GrasslandForestUrban-adaptedBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Encyclopaedia Britannica
Butterflies occur on every continent except Antarctica.
GrasslandForestBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Encyclopaedia Britannica
Dragonflies are found near fresh water across every continent except Antarctica.
WetlandFreshwaterBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Encyclopaedia Britannica
Lady beetles are widespread across the world's land continents.
GrasslandUrban-adaptedBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Encyclopaedia Britannica
Mantises occur in warmer regions across many continents.
GrasslandForestBroad / widespreadSpiders occur on every continent except Antarctica.
ForestGrasslandUrban-adaptedBroad / widespreadSource: Animal Diversity Web, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Encyclopaedia Britannica
Source & range methodology
- Distribution notes are cautious educational summaries drawn from the authoritative source linked on each animal — not complete range maps.
- A confidence label is shown on every record; introduced and domestic contexts are flagged, and we avoid unsupported “native to” claims.
- Captive or zoo presence is never treated as wild range, and continent membership is not a political claim about borders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this every animal in Africa?
Are these animals all native to Africa?
Last updated: