Africa is known for its diverse animal life and is home to some of the largest animals in the world. These creatures are beautiful to behold, and their impact on the planet is even larger than their footprints. Let’s take a look at the five largest animals of Africa.
1. African Elephant
The African Elephant is the largest animal in Africa, and also the largest land animal in the world, weighing up to 14,000 pounds. These animals have large ears as well as a trunk used for communication and handling food.
2. White Rhino
The white rhinoceros is the largest existing species of rhinoceros in the world, and the second largest of all the animals of Africa. It is a social creature and lives in grasslands as well as savannas. They weigh around 5000 pounds and maintain their size by grazing on short grains of grass with their distinctly broad mouths.
3. Hippopotamus
The third largest animal in Africa is the hippo. Despite its existence as a land animal, the hippopotamus is actually most closely related to whales. Additionally, these herbivorous animals have torsos shaped like barrels and large hairless bodies. Hippos are also considered to be among the most dangerous animals in Africa due to their wildly unpredictable behavior as well as their aggressive tendencies.
4. Giraffe
The tallest animal in Africa is the giraffe, averaging a height of just over 17 ft. Their necks alone can account for about six to seven feet of their height. They mainly eat acacia leaves, being among only a few animals who can reach them. Although they spend time in groups, giraffes do not generally participate in social bonding, as individuals come and go from these groups as frequently as every few hours.
5. African Buffalo
The African buffalo, like the hippopotamus, exhibits unpredictable behaviors and is therefore dangerous to humans. These large animals have robust builds and uniquely-shaped horns, and they weigh around 900-2000 pounds. Additionally, they prefer to live in swampy areas with dense cover and are known for being successful grazers. Though they can be hunted by lions, the African buffalo are relatively good at defending themselves when attacked.
Featured Image from Simon Greenwood/Unsplash
