Three elephants side by side, two zebras, two rhinos, giraffes, lions, cheetahs and hippos around one waterhole.
The largest living bird; it cannot fly but can run about 70 km/h.
The Cape buffalo's horns meet in a heavy shield (the boss) across the forehead. Herds defend each other against lions. Never domesticated.
Some scientists divide giraffes into four species; IUCN still lists one species with several subspecies.
The closest living land relatives of whales.
Each dog's patchwork coat is unique. It has four toes on each foot (dholes have five on the front). Packs sneeze to vote on when to set off on a hunt.
The fastest land animal, around 100 km/h in short bursts.
The only big cat found in both Africa and Asia. Leopards haul kills into trees, out of reach of lions and hyenas. Rosettes have no central spot (jaguars have one).
The only truly social cat. A small population of Asiatic lions survives in India's Gir Forest.
The largest wild equid, with narrow stripes and big round ears; found mainly in Kenya and Ethiopia.
Each zebra's stripe pattern is unique. Why zebras were never tamed is a classic case in the domestication puzzle.
Smaller than the white rhino, with a pointed hooked lip for browsing.
Brought back from fewer than 100 animals around 1900 by South African protection. The northern subspecies has only two females left.
An African tree pangolin with a gripping tail. Four pangolin species live in Africa and four in Asia.
The largest land animal. Split from the forest elephant as a separate species; IUCN listed both separately in 2021.
Smaller, with straighter tusks and rounder ears than the bush elephant. Rarely kept in zoos.
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Lessons: The Mammal Hall: From shrew to whalePreviewThe Mammal Hall: Predict the dietPreviewThe Living Earth: The Habitat Field GuidePreviewEcosystems: Populations and carrying capacityPreview
Drawer: Zoo: African savanna
Quiz: African savanna quiz · 5 questions
Next door: Natural history: the mammal room