Scientific name: subfamily: erinaceinae
His forHippopotamus
A hippopotamus, or hippo for short, is a large animal that lives in lakes and waterways in Africa. They live in large groups, and can live to 40 years old. A male hippo is called a bull, a female is called a cow and a baby hippo is called a calf.
Scientific name: family: hyaenidae
Hyenas look a little like dogs but are not related - they are actually very very distantly related to mongooses. Hyenas have very strong teeth and jaws and can crush bones. Their back legs are shorter than their front legs, so they walk a little like a bear does.
Hyenas live in arid regions in Africa. They hunt larger animals for food, but will also eat dead animals that they find. Hyenas hunt in groups.
Scientific name: suricata suricatta
Meerkats are members of the mongoose family that is native to parts of Africa. They live in large groups, with 20 to 30 members in a group. They live in burrows underground. Meerkats eat mostly insects but will also eat anything else small they can catch. They are immune to scorpion venom.
When meerkats are out looking for food during the day, some members of their group will stand guard and tell the group of they see any predators coming.
Scientific name: family: herpestidae
Scientific name: Families: erethizontidae and hystricidae
Porcupines are a large rodent related to the beaver. They are spiny like hedgehogs and echidnas but are not related to either of them.
Porcupines come in many shapes and sizes, but all have sharp quills. Porcupines can lose their quills, so if something bites a porcupine they get a mouthful of spikes.
Ris forRhinoceros
Scientific name: family: rhinocerotidae
Rhinoceros (or rhino for short) are a very large animal found in Africa, the Middle East and southern Asia. They have one or two horns in the middle of their head. They have very thick skin, and can live to be 50 years old. A male rhino is called a bull, a female rhino is called a cow and a baby rhino is called a calf.
Scientific name: phacochoerus africanus
The warthog is a king of pig that lives in Africa. It has a lumpy face, hence the name warthog. Warthogs have two pairs of tusks which they use to fight and dig for food.
