Addax can get all the water they need from diet (moisture in/on plants)
Coats can get lighter in the summer and darker in the winter
American Bison
(Bison bison)
North America
American Bison
(Bison bison)
Males: 1800-2400 lbs. (males weigh more than females)
Females: 1800-2400 lbs.
Males: 5.5-6.5 feet high at hump
Females: 5 feet at the hump
Captivity: 20 years
Wild: ~12-20 years
Fun Facts
Largest native species of land mammal in North America
Named the national mammal in 2016
Bison are important for preserving grasslands (hooves break up soil and spread nutrients; feces is fertilizer; seed dispersal via coats).
Can reach speeds up to 35 mph
Ankole-Watusi
(Bos taurus taurus watusi )
African Savannah
Ankole-Watusi
(Bos taurus taurus watusi )
Males: 1000-1600 lbs.
Females: 900-1200 lbs.
Males: 6.5 feet at shoulder
Females: 6.5 ft at shoulder
Captivity: 20-25 years
Wild: 20-25 years
Fun Facts
-Egyptian Long Horn
-Largest horn circumference of cattle species
-Typically red or red with speckles, but can come in a variety of colors
-Seldom slaughtered for meat, except for ceremonial purposes
-Their Milk is about 10% fat
-Athletic ability
Argentine Black and White Tegu
(Salvator merianae)
South America (Forest/shrubland)
Argentine Black and White Tegu
(Salvator merianae)
Males: 10+ pounds
Females: 5 to 10 pounds
Males: Up to 4 feet long
Females: Up to 3 feet long
Captivity: 15-20 years
Wild: 10-12 years
Fun Facts
-Go into Brumation in colder months, (a type of Hibernation for reptiles).
-Good swimmers using their tail as a rudder as well as in defense.
-one of the few partially warm-blooded lizards, having a temperature up to 10 degrees higher than the ambient temperature at night time. However, unlike true endotherms, these lizards only display temperature control during their reproductive
Asian Water Buffalo
(Bubalus bubalis)
the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and China
Asian Water Buffalo
(Bubalus bubalis)
Males: 1,500 to 2,650 pounds
Females: 1,500 to 2,650 pounds
Males: 5– 6 ft. At the shoulder
Females: 3.9 – 4.2 ft. At the shoulder
Captivity: 20-25 years
Wild: 20-25 years
Fun Facts
-The largest member of the Bovini tribe.
-Water Buffalo have been domesticated for more than 5,000 years.
-Nickname of "The Living Tractors of the East."
Ball Python
(Python reguis)
West and Central Africa
Ball Python
(Python reguis)
Males: 3-5 lbs ( 1000-2500 grams)
Females: 3-5 lbs ( 1000-2500 grams)
Males: 3-5 feet
Females: 3-5 feet
Captivity: 20-48 years
Wild: 10 years
Fun Facts
Other Name: Royal Python
This is the smallest of the African pythons!
The longevity record for ball pythons is 48 years!
The balling reflex is also thought to be a defense against being swallowed by other snakes!
Bearded Dragon
(Pogona vitticeps)
East-central Australia
Bearded Dragon
(Pogona vitticeps)
Males: 10-18 ounces (283.5-510.3 g)
Females: 10-18 ounces (283.5-510.3 g)
Males: 15.5-23 inches (39.4-58.4 cm)
Females: 15.5-23 inches (39.4-58.4 cm)
Captivity: 4 - 10 years.
Wild: 4 - 10 years
Fun Facts
These lizards are diurnal, which means that they are most active during the day.
There are eight species of bearded dragons recognized today.
During cooler seasons, wild bearded dragons may go through brumation, a type of hibernation, in which they stop eating and only drink water sporadically.
Bearded dragons will sometimes stand on three legs and wave one of their forelimbs in a circular motion. Scientists believe they do this as a form of species recognition and to show submission towards more dominant individuals.
Common Eland
(Tragelaphus oryx)
Eastern and Southern Africa
Common Eland
(Tragelaphus oryx)
Males: 1100-2200 lbs.
Females: 665-1300 lbs.
Males: 4.43-6 feet at shoulder
Females: 4.10-5 feet at shoulder
Captivity: 20+ years
Wild: 15-20 years
Fun Facts
-Genetically closely related to greater kudu
-Slowest antelope Species
-Creates a Clicking sound when walking, two halves of their hooves splay open and snap close when walking (tendon rubbing against bone) and produces a clicking sound. It is used as a form of communication (especially among rival males), indicating body size and social status.
-Can jump 8 feet from a standing start.
Common Ostrich
(Struthio camelus)
Eastern and Southern Africa
Common Ostrich
(Struthio camelus)
Males: 220 - 287 lbs.
Females: 198 - 242 lbs.
Males: 6.9 - 9 feet
Females: 5.7 - 6.2 feet
Captivity: Up to 50 (in rare cases)
Wild: 30 - 40 years
Fun Facts
Their intestines are 46 feet long
Males bellow
They are the largest non-flighted bird
Ostrich egg weighs ~3 lbs. (is the equivalent of 24 chicken eggs)
Grow a foot per month once hatched
4-inch claw on their big toe; only have 2 toes to a foot, unlike other birds
Ostrich farms do exist for a variety of reasons
Emu
(Dromaius novaehollandiae)
Australia
Emu
(Dromaius novaehollandiae)
Males: 80-120 lbs
Females: ~11 lbs *heavier* than males
Males: 4.5-6.2 feet
Females: 4.5-6.2 feet
Captivity: Up to 35 years
Wild: 10-20 years
Fun Facts
Males incubate the eggs
Second largest compared to ostrich
Great swimmers
Stride is 9 feet long when running
Body contains up to 3 gallons of oil
Can jump up to 7 feet
Help with pollination (seed dispersal)
Emu eggs are dark green and shiny (like an avocado)
Emu are the only birds with calf muscles
Grant’s Zebra
(Equus quagga boehmi)
Grasslands/savannahs of Africa
Grant’s Zebra
(Equus quagga boehmi)
Males: 500-700 lbs
Females: 500-600 lbs
Males: 56 inches at the shoulder
Females: 56 inches at the shoulder
Captivity: Up to 29
Wild: 20-25 years
Fun Facts
Young zebra stripes are brown and creamy white
Stripes on their flank meet up on their bellies so they are completely covered (unlike other species of zebra that do not have stripes on their bellies)
Only grazer to have upper and lower incisors – they can eat the tougher outer grasses to allow for antelope to be able to graze the nutritious inner layers of grass
No two zebras have the same stripe pattern
Greater Kudu
(Tragelaphus strepsiceros)
African Savannah
Greater Kudu
(Tragelaphus strepsiceros)
Males: 260-700 lbs.
Females: 260 lbs. and up
Males: 40-60 inches at shoulder
Females: 40-60 inches at shoulder
Captivity: 20+ years
Wild: 7-10 years
Fun Facts
-Two species of kudu – Greater and Lesser.
-Can clear 8 feet easily.
-They bark (similar to rottweiler dog sound)
Hartmann’s Zebra
(Equus zebra hartmannae )
SW Africa, rocky slopes
Hartmann’s Zebra
(Equus zebra hartmannae )
Males: 450-820 pounds
Females: 450-820 pounds
Males: 4-5 feet
Females: 4-5 feet
Captivity: 20-30 years
Wild: 12 years
Fun Facts
Capable climbers
No two zebras have the same stripe pattern
Coats can sometimes look reddish, due to them often rolling in mud (dust baths – keeps their skin cool and protects from insects)
In the wild, they respond to alarm calls of black wildebeest but not of other smaller antelopes
Thought to have incredible night vision (similar to an owl’s)
Heart weighs 3x that of a Grant’s due to increased oxygen-carrying red blood cells that are required because of their higher-altitude environments
Known for their playful demeanor
Impala
(Aepyceros melampus )
African Savannah
Impala
(Aepyceros melampus )
Males: 116-167 lbs. (53-76 kg)
Females: 88-116 lbs. (40-53 kg)
Males: 2.5-3 feet at shoulder
Females: 2-3 feet at shoulder
Captivity: 17 years
Wild: 13-15 years
Fun Facts
Leap distance is up to 33 feet when running and can clear up to 10 feet high
The name impala comes from a Zulu word, which means antelope
Impalas release a scent from glands on their heels to help them stick together. They have extremely good eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell. When danger approaches and they have to flee, they release a strong scent from small glands in their heels, which helps the herd follow one another.
Nile Lechwe
(Kobus megaceros )
East Africa wetlands
Nile Lechwe
(Kobus megaceros )
Males: 198-265 lbs.
Females: 132-198 lbs.
Males: 3.2-3.4 feet at shoulder
Females: 2.6-2.8 feet at shoulder
Captivity: 19
Wild: 9-12 years
Fun Facts
-Great swimmers
-Declare status (dominance display) by soaking beard in urine
-Nile lechwe are their own category, but the species lechwe has 3 subspecies, the Kafue, red, and black
-Can migrate distances of up to 80 km (50 miles)
Nyala
(Tragelaphus angasii)
Southern Africa
Nyala
(Tragelaphus angasii)
Males: 216-276 lbs.
Females: 121-150 lbs.
Males: 3.6 feet at the shoulder. 4.5-6.5 feet in length
Females: 2.95 feet at the shoulder
Captivity: Up 19 years
Wild: Up 19 years
Fun Facts
-They bark (like kudu)
-36 mph at top speed
-Developed a bond with baboons and vervet monkeys, their fellow residents in the trees. (They leave fruit and leaves behind for the Nyala to eat)
Experts at hide and seek usually live deep within a woodland or forest.
Reticulated Giraffe
(Giraffa reticulata)
African Savannah
Reticulated Giraffe
(Giraffa reticulata)
Males: 1800-2600 lbs
Females: 1800-2600 lbs
Males: 14-18 feet tall (to their head)
Females: 14-18 feet tall (to their head)
Captivity: 25 years
Wild: 25 years
Fun Facts
Ossicones
Prehensile Tongue
Roan Antelope
(Hippotragus equinus )
Sub-Sahara Africa: grasslands, woodlands, and savannah
Roan Antelope
(Hippotragus equinus )
Males: Up to 600 lbs.
Females: 375-460 lbs.
Males: 6-7.8 feet from head to base
Females: 4.2-4.5 feet at shoulder
Captivity: 20+ years
Wild: 17 years
Fun Facts
-Africa’s largest bovids
-Play hide and seek with their young
-Not the type of antelope to back down from a fight
-6 subspecies of roan
-Can run up to 35 mph
Southern White Rhinocerous
(Ceratotherium simum simum)
Savannah grasslands
Southern White Rhinocerous
(Ceratotherium simum simum)
Males: 4000-5000 pounds
Females: 4000-5000 pounds
Males: 5-6 feet tall at their shoulder, 10-16 feet long
Females:
Captivity: 40-50 years
Wild: 30 years
Fun Facts
-Largest and heaviest land mammal after elephants.
-Can charge at a speed of 35 MPH
Speckled Kingsnake
(Lampropeltis getula holbrooki)
Central and Southern US
Speckled Kingsnake
(Lampropeltis getula holbrooki)
Males: 3-5 lbs
Females: 3-5 lbs
Males:
Females:
Captivity: 20+ years
Wild: 15 years
Fun Facts
-When threatened, they will shake their tail to resemble a rattlesnake.
-Kingsnakes are known for eating other snakes even venomous ones .
-All snakes shed in one big piece including their eye caps.