Savanna animals are creatures that have unique traits allowing them to survive in the savanna regions around the world. This reference aims to help English learners expand their vocabulary by exploring sections like “savanna animals names,” including “what is a savanna?”, “what are savanna animals?”, and “a list of savanna animals,” along with “savanna animals with facts and pictures.”
Contents
Savanna Animals Names
List of Savanna Animals
- Zebra
- Wildebeest
- Buffalo
- Antelope
- Elephant
- Rhinoceros
- Giraffe
- Warthog
- Hippo
- Wild pig
- Rodent
- Insects
- Lion
- Cheetah
- Leopard
- Hyena
- Dingo
- Fox
- African wild dog
- Monkey
- Ape
- Snakes
- Birds
- Small cats
- Lizards
- Reptiles
- Kangaroo
- Wallaby
- Amphibians
- Aardvark
- Flying fox
- Meerkat
What Is Savanna?
A savanna region is characterized by large open spaces of grassland with widely spaced trees. Savanna regions generally have widely differing seasons of wet and dry weather, with wet seasons producing as much as four feet of rain, while the dry offers just a few inches. Because of this, these regions cannot support a lot of tree life. Those trees that do survive in this climate tend to store water in their roots, or produce leaves only during the wet seasons, shedding them when the weather turns dry.
While most people think of Africa when a savanna is mentioned, these regions actually occur in six of the seven continents, covering about twenty percent of the earth’s surface. Also, the African type of savannas, such as the popular Serengeti region, is not the only type of savanna region recognized.
There are three classifications of savannas: climatic, edaphic, and derived. A climatic savanna is defined by the climate, which simply cannot support the growth of many tree species. The edaphic savanna is caused by the soil type or depth, either of which is not enough to support tree life. A defined savanna is one created by human intervention, such as clearing out a large area of trees to form a pasture. Areas of grassland that regularly flood, hindering the growth of trees, are also considered savannas.
What Are Savanna Animals?
The abundant grasses provide food for many kinds of grazing animals, which usually serve as prey animals. Herd animals, such as zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, and antelopes are abundant. Other grazers include elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, warthogs, hippos, wild pig species, and rodents. Many types of insects, which also provide food for other animals, are found in abundance.
Predators include lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, dingos, foxes, and African wild dogs.
All sorts of monkey and ape species, snakes, birds, small cats, lizards, and other reptiles, kangaroo, wallaby, and amphibians live here also.
Savanna Animals with Facts and Pictures
Aardvark
Besides the popular large African species, savannas house some unusual animals that are worth investigating. For instance, aardvarks are rather large, long-nosed anteaters that sleep during the hot day and search for termite mounds at night, which they tear apart with long front claws. The aardvark then slups them up with its long, sticky tongue.
Endangered Pangolin
The endangered pangolin is an insect-eating mammal with large scales and a long tail. When threatened, it can curl into a tight ball, and its sharp-edged scales can cut a potential predator.
Flying Fox
The flying fox is the world’s largest bat, located in the savannas of both Africa and Australia. Unlike most other bats, these giants eat nectar and fruit.
They are named for their large size and fox-like faces, and are known for their ability to fly long distances using their wings, which can span up to six feet. Flying foxes primarily feed on fruit and nectar, and play an important role in pollinating plants and spreading seeds.
Meerkat
Meerkats come from the mongoose family. They live in families and survive on insects. They can stand straight upright when looking for family members or potential threats.
With all the diverse areas of savanna, it stands to reason that the animal life in these areas is just as diverse, and is far more interesting than most people realize.
African Wild Dog
The African wild dog, also known as the painted dog, is a highly social and intelligent species found in sub-Saharan Africa. They are known for their unique coat pattern, which features a mix of brown, black, and white spots. African wild dogs are skilled hunters and primarily feed on antelopes and other small to medium-sized mammals.
They live in packs of up to 30 individuals and have a complex social hierarchy. Unfortunately, African wild dog populations have declined significantly due to habitat loss and conflict with humans. They are now considered an endangered species, with only around 6,000 individuals left in the wild. Conservation efforts are underway to protect these fascinating and important animals.
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