In the territory of Africa more than 1000 species of mammals, 2500 - birds, 3000 - freshwater fishes and also about 100000 species of insects live. The variety of fauna is caused by the fact that the African continent crosses several climatic zones including the equator.
Existence of large animals (giraffes, elephants, buffalo s, rhinoceroses), predatory (lions, cheetahs), birds (a flamingo, ostriches, a marabou) and also monkeys, snakes and lizards is characteristic of savannas which occupy slightly less than a half of the area of all Africa. In deserts, turtles, hyenas, jerboas, snakes meet. In territories of tropics and subtropics, monkeys, okap, crocodiles, birds and invertebrates live.
One of the chief representatives of the African fauna is the lion. It is the largest predator on this continent. Lions prefer to lodge prides till 7-10 of individuals with the leader at the head. They live at watering places, that is mainly in the savanna, but not in deserts as it is considered to be. The best hunters in a pride are lionesses. They are capable to win alone against young hippopotamuses, elephants, large antelopes and the house hoofed cattle. The African elephant – the largest of land animals who reaches about 4 meters in height and weighs more than 7 tons. Elephants live in the savanna and partially in tropical forests. Contrary to common opinion on slowness of these animals they quite easily swim and overcome obstacles. In spite of the fact that in the wild nature nobody threatens elephants, except the person, they prefer to live in flocks till 10-12 of individuals whose leaders most often are elephant cows. A rhinoceros – the biggest mammal, the second after an elephant, on the land and one more "hallmark" of the African savannas. It is interesting that this giant very badly floats, but likes to roll about in dust and dirt and also quickly gets used to the chosen habitat and does not leave it practically throughout all life. Despite poor eyesight, rhinoceroses have excellent hearing. They like to live one by one and are seldom aggressive to similar. The African ostrich lives in the wild nature only on this continent. They eat vegetation and small birds, lizards. Ostriches gather speed to 70 km/h. They prefer to lodge packs and is often frictionless live together with antelopes or zebras. Protecting the pack, males can make the sounds similar to a lion's roar. Okap – one of the most little-known species of the African animals. An area of their dwelling is the river basin of Congo. Okap are similar to horses, but actually represent a separate look which was open only in the 20th century. They eat leaves of trees, live alone and seldom come to open spaces. These are extremely clean animals, and okapa language so long that they can lick themselves behind an ear.