The following Mammal Guide provides a useful description of some prominent
mammal species in the Kruger National Park:
| Small Mammals |
General Species Information |
Ecozones
|
- Aardvark (Antbear)
|
- Size:
- Length: 1.6 m Weight: 52 kgs
- Characteristics:
- long, pig-like snout used to search for ants and termites; usually
solitary and almost completely nocturnal; resides in burrows.
|
Unknown
|
- Banded mongoose
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 55 cm Weight: 1.3 kgs
- Characteristics:
- grey to brown colour with 10 to 12 dark brown to black transverse
bands. Diet includes various insects, termites, millipedes, snakes,
and fruits of the Kruger National Park.
|
All
|
- Cape hare
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 52 cm Weight: up to 2 kg
- Characteristics:
- colouring varies from greyish-white to medium-brown
|
All |
- Chacma baboon
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 1.4 m Weight: 16-30 kg
- Characteristics:
- diurnal; groups of up to 50; aggressive - do not feed
|
H |
- Dwarf mongoose
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 38 cm Weight: 260 g
- Characteristics:
- dens are near or in termitaria; groups of up to 20; fur is glossy
& rough
|
A,B,C,D,P
|
- Lesser bushbaby
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 40 cm Weight: 150g
- Characteristics:
- entirely nocturnal; bushy tail is longer than entire body; red
eyes glow when struck by beams of light
|
A,B,C,D,G
|
- Pangolin
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: up to 1 m Weight: 8 kg
- Characteristics:
- large brown scales; curls into tight ball for protection; lives in
burrows
|
A,B,C,D,P
|
- Porcupine
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 76 cm Weight: 14 kg
- Characteristics:
- black and white quills; nocturnal; quills rattle when alarmed
|
Varies
|
- Rock Hyrax (Dassie)
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 54 cm Weight: 2.5-4.6 kg
- Characteristics:
- prefers rocky hills and outcrops; urine is thought to be
medicinal; diurnal
|
L,P |
- Samango Monkey
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 1.2-1.4 m Weight: 5-7 kg
- Characteristics:
- distinctive bark; larger and darker than Vervet monkey
|
Recently Re-introduced |
- Scrub hare
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 55 cm Weight: 1.3 kg
- Characteristics:
- strong hindlegs; very long ears; nocturnal
|
All |
- Thick-tailed bushbaby
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 60 cm Weight: 1.1 kg
- Characteristics:
- red eyes glow; nocturnal
|
B,C,D,G,H |
- Tree squirrel
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 35 cm Weight: 190 g
- Characteristics:
- very common and lives near human habitation; diurnal
|
All |
- Vervet monkey
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 1 m Weight: 5 kg
- Characteristics:
- troops of up to 20; sociable; pale grey fur with black hands and
feet; mischievous; diurnal
|
H |
- Yellow-spotted rock hyrax (Dassie)
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 45 cm Weight: up to 4 kg
- Characteristics:
- rocky habitat; better climber than the Common rock hyrax; mainly
diurnal
|
H,L,M,N |
| Herbivores |
General Species Information |
Ecozones |
- African elephant
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 2.5-3.4 m Weight: cows up to 3.5 tons and bulls up to 6.3
tons
- Characteristics:
- largest land mammal; six sets of molars during lifespan; short
distance speed of up to 40 kph; browser and grazer
|
A,D,F,G,H,J,L,O,P |
- African buffalo
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 1.6 m Weight: 750 kg
- Characteristics:
- herds up to 500; stares and will charge if threatened; more
nocturnal than diurnal
|
All |
- Black rhino
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 1.6 m Weight: 800-1100 kg
- Characteristics:
- pointed lip; browser; near-sighted vision; dung contains sticks
|
D |
- Blue wildebeest
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: up to 1.5 m Weight: 180-250 kg
- Characteristics:
- herds of 2-15; brownish to greyish with beard and mane; highly
gregarious; grazer
|
A,E,F,G,K,L,P |
- Burchell's zebra
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 1.3 m Weight: 230 kg
- Characteristics:
- black and white stripes each having its own pattern; birth usually
coincides with rainy season; grazer
|
A,E,F,G,I,J,K,L,N,P |
- Bushbuck
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 70-80 cm Weight: 35-60 kg
- Characteristics:
- brown and always has two white patches on throat; nocturnal more
than diurnal; browsers
|
D,H,M,O |
- Bushpig
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 55-88 cm Weight: 55-80 kg
- Characteristics:
- tails points downward when running; more body hair than domestic
pigs; mostly nocturnal
|
H,M,N |
- Common duiker
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 50-52 cm Weight: 18-20 kg
- Characteristics:
- brownish to yellowish coloured fur; black markings on face and
forelegs; principally browsers
|
All |
- Common reedbuck
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 80-90 cm Weight: 70-80 kg
- Characteristics:
- yellowish to reddish brown; grazers
|
B,C |
- Common waterbuck
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 1.35 m Weight: 230-260 kg
- Characteristics:
- distinct white circle on buttocks; herds of 10-30; grazers
|
C,F,G,H,I,J,M |
- Eland
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 1.5-1.7 m Weight: 450-700 kg
- Characteristics:
- largest Southern African antelope; ox-like appearance; straight
horns on both sexes with shallow spiral; browser
|
L,P |
- Grey Rhebok
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 75 cm Weight: 20 kg
- Characteristics:
- grey to brown in colour with thick fur; white rings around eyes;
hooves hold glands producing an foul odour; grazers
|
All |
- Hippopotamus
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 1.5 m Weight: 1500 kg
- Characteristics:
- considered extremely dangerous if threatened; teeth made of ivory;
lives in predominantly aquatic environment; grazers
|
D,H |
- Impala
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 85-91 cm Weight: 45-65 kg
- Characteristics:
- herds of 20-400; distinct vertical black stripe on buttocks;
unique tuft of black hair above hooves on hindlegs; grazers and
browsers
|
All, except L |
- Klipspringer
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 60 cm Weight: 11-13 kg
- Characteristics:
- very territorial; habitat is only on rocky outcrops and mountains;
grey to brown in colour; agile; only antelope to walk on tips of
hooves; browsers
|
A,B,C,D,I,J,P |
- Kudu
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 1.25-1.4 m Weight: 150-260 kg
- Characteristics:
- only male has massive spiralled horns; vertical white stripes on
body; browsers
|
All, except L |
- Lichtenstein's hartebeest
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 1.25 m Weight: 170-180 kg
- Characteristics:
- hump and sloping back; yellowish brown; s-shaped horns; grazers
|
Varies |
- Mountain reedbuck
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 72 cm Weight: 30 kg
- Characteristics:
- grey to tan in colour; prefers hills and mountains; grazers
|
B,C |
- Nyala
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 1-1.1 m Weight: 108 kg
- Characteristics:
- white stripes along body; males carry lyre-shaped horns; browsers
|
H,M,N,O |
- Oribi
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 60 cm Weight: 14 kg
- Characteristics:
- brown with white underside; tail has black tip; grazers
|
Varies |
- Red duiker
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 43 cm Weight: 14 kg
- Characteristics:
- distinctive slit-shaped facial gland; reddish brown fur; tuft of
hair on head; browsers
|
Varies |
- Roan antelope
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 1.4 m Weight: 270 kg
- Characteristics:
- horse-like in appearance; black and white markings on face; very
long ears; horns sweep backwards, grazers
|
L |
- Sable antelope
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 1.35 m Weight: 230 kg
- Characteristics:
- bulls have solid black coat with white underparts; cows have
brownish coats; impressive backsweeping horns; grazers
|
A,B,C,E,F,K,L,O,P |
- Sharpe's grysbok
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 50 cm Weight: 8 kg
- Characteristics:
- lightly brown; nocturnal; shy; browser
|
I,L,M,N,O |
- Southern Giraffe
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 2.0-3.5 m Weight: 1200 kg
- Characteristics:
- tallest mammal in the world; usually only vulnerable when drinking
or on uneven surfaces; males, horns are smooth and females, horns have
tufts of hair; browsers
|
All, except L |
- Steenbok
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 55 cm Weight: 11 kg
- Characteristics:
- large ears and eyes; brown with white undersides; browsers
|
F,L |
- Suni
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 35 cm Weight: 5 kg
- Characteristics:
- secretive antelope; rarely seen; fawn to chestnut in colour; long
white-tipped tail; browsers
|
Varies |
- Tsessebe
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 1.2 m Weight: 120-140 kg
- Characteristics:
- long face; similar to a hartebeest; prefer open savannah north of
Letaba River; grazers
|
L |
- Warthog
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 65 cm Weight: 55-80 kg
- Characteristics:
- tail is erect when running; grey body; four warts on a male's face
and two on a female's face; browsers and grazers; usually kneel when
feeding
|
D,E,F |
- White rhino
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 1.8 m Weight: 1.4-2.3 tons
- Characteristics:
- larger and longer horns than the black rhino; square-lipped;
distinctive hump on neck; grazers
|
A,B,C,D,G |
| Carnivores |
General Species Information |
Ecozones |
- Aardwolf
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 50 cm Weight: 10 kg
- Characteristics:
- similar in appearance to a Hyaena but smaller; pale colour with
vertical black stripes on the side of the body; large and pointed ears
|
Varies |
- African wild cat
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 35 cm Weight: 4-5 kg
- Characteristics:
- similar in appearance to the domestic cat, but larger; nocturnal
|
Varies |
- Bat-eared fox
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 14 cm Weight: 5 kg
- Characteristics:
- similar to a jackal; very large ears; mainly nocturnal; agile
-
-
|
Varies |
- Black-backed jackal
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 38 cm Weight: 6-9 kg
- Characteristics:
- black back with white markings; "true dog" with five toes on each
front paw and four on the back; mainly nocturnal; distinctive scream;
cunning
|
E,F,L |
- Brown hyaena
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 80 cm Weight: 50 kg
- Characteristics:
- brown, shaggy hair; sloping back;
- nocturnal
|
Varies |
- Cape clawless otter
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 1.3 m Weight: 13 kg
- Characteristics:
- only hind feet have webbed toes; dark brown; diurnal and nocturnal
|
H |
- Caracal
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 45 cm Weight: 11 kg
- Characteristics:
- powerfully built cat with sleek coat; dark hairs on tips of
pointed ears; longer hind legs; mainly nocturnal
|
Varies |
- Cheetah
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 75 cm Weight: 40-50 kg
- Characteristics:
- black teardrops around eyes; round spots evenly distributed along
body; black-ringed tail with white tip; very fast, up to 114 kph;
diurnal
|
E,F,G,K,L |
- Civet
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 40 cm Weight: 9-15 kg
- Characteristics:
- greyish-brown with black spots; pointed muzzle; perfume is made
from the secretion of their anal glands; nocturnal
|
Varies |
- Honey badger (Ratel)
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 95 cm Weight: 12 kg
- Characteristics:
- black and silvery coat; erects tail when walking; bear-like claws;
hisses when threatened; nocturnal
|
All |
- Large grey mongoose (Egyptian)
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 1 m Weight: up to 4 kg
- Characteristics:
- long spiked grey hair; black lower body; black-tipped tail; checks
surroundings on hind legs; diurnal
|
Varies |
- Large-spotted genet
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 1 m Weight: 2 kg
- Characteristics:
- large rusty-brown spots; soft and short hair; whitechin; dark tail
tip; nocturnal
|
All |
- Leopard
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 70 cm Weight: 60-80 kg
- Characteristics:
- irregular circles on coat; muscular; eat prey in trees; nocturnal
and diurnal
|
D,G,H,I,J,L,M |
- Lion
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 1 m Weight: males 180-230 kg; females 113-160 kg
- Characteristics:
- largest African cat; has mane of long hair; upper body coat is
golden in colour; prides vary from a few to 30; nocturnal and diurnal
|
All |
- Serval
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 60 cm Weight: 10-13 kg
- Characteristics:
- long-legged cat with yellow coat and black spots; large ears;
mainly nocturnal
|
Varies |
- Side-striped jackal
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 40 cm Weight: 8-10 kg
- Characteristics:
- greyish-fawn coat; wolf-like in appearance due to dark muzzle;
quieter than the black-backed jackal; nocturnal
|
A,B,L,P |
- Slender mongoose
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 58 cm Weight: .7 kg
- Characteristics:
- colour varies from grey to brown to chestnut-orange; when running,
tail is often curved over back; diurnal
|
Varies |
- Small-spotted genet
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 92 cm Weight: 2 kg
- Characteristics:
- unlike the large-spotted genet, this genet has a crest of black
hair on its back which is raised when alarmed; nocturnal
|
All |
- Spotted Hyaena
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 85 cm Weight: 65 kg
- Characteristics:
- powerfully built; brown spots; sloping ears; watches vultures to
locate a carcass; nocturnal; clans of 5 to 20 are average
|
A,C,D,E,F,G,J,K,N,O,P |
- Striped polecat
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 62 cm Weight: (M) 950 g, (F) 700 g
- Characteristics:
- black hair with four distinctive wide white stripes running along
its back; releases anal secretion that produces seriously unpleasant
odour to ward off enemies; nocturnal
|
Varies |
- Water mongoose
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 80 cm-1 m Weight: up to 5.5 kg
- Characteristics:
- colour varies from dark brown to reddish-brown shaggy hair;
nocturnal
|
Varies |
- White-tailed mongoose
-
-
|
- Size:
- Length: 1.2 m Weight: 5.2 kg
- Characteristics:
- very large; brownish-greyish coat; long legs; distinctive
white-haired tail; nocturnal
|
Varies |
- Wild dog
-
-
|
- Size:
- Height: 72 cm Weight: 24-30 kg
- Characteristics:
- largest member of dog family; colour blotches include brown,
black, white, and yellow; each dog possesses its own pattern; round
ears; only related to the domestic dog by the same genus; diurnal
|
A,B,C,D,N,O |
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|
