Category: Animals
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Giraffe is the tallest mammal; with very long neck, short upstanding mane, and high shoulders that slope steeply to the hindquarters. It is called Àgùnfôn in Yoruba. The end of the Pliocene epoch (2.5-6 million years ago) saw a number of long necked giraffids evolve, subsequently migrating out of Eurasia into Africa by way of…
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Graceful Chameleon, Chamaeleo gracilis, is a species of Chameleon native to Central African region, a specialized clad of lizard measuring about 40 cm, that can change color but which are basically olive green with white or black spots. The Graceful chameleon is very sensitive to temperature and humidity, enjoying only temperatures ranging from 17-23°C. In…
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Greater Cane Rat, Thryonomys swinderianus, also known as Grasscutter, is one of the two species of Cane Rat, a large rodent genus distinguished by its stocky body, and a large, blunt head. Because of its size, this animal, called Oya in Yoruba, is valued for food and has become popular meat in western Africa. The…
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Green Monkey is a vegetarian, frugivorous primate with a black face, light greyish coat belonging in the Suborder Simiae and family, Cercopthecidae. Vervet monkeys (also called Grivet or Green Monkey) have a head-body length of 41 to 62 cm and a tail length of 53-72 cm. They have cheek-pouches allowing them to forage and store…
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Grey Climbing Mouse, Dendromus melanotis, also called Dark-eared climbing mouse, is a species of rodent in the family of African rodents, Nesomyidae, found in Nigeria only in the Jos plateau as D. m. exoneratus. The grey climbing mouse may have ochraceuos-red or ash-grey upperparts with indistinct or dark dorsal stripe and white underparts. Their prehensile tails…
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Haussa Genet, Genetta thierryi, also called Thierry’s genet is a carnivorian, cat-like mammal with wide distribution range in West Africa. They generally prefer the moist to dry savannahs and woodlands of the north, but have been found in the rainforest. The species’ distribution range in Nigeria therefore excludes the far north and the Niger Delta.…
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Hippos are a semi-aquatic mammal, usually inhabiting shallow lakes, rivers, and swamps. Indeed, the name hippopotamus is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘river horse’ due to its semi-aquatic lifestyle. Hippos, the third largest known mammal, share with whales a tendency to be aquatic. This has been shown in a recent research to be more…
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Tortoise of the forest, the Home’s hinge-back tortoise, Kinixys homeana, has considerable range over the continuous Guinea-Congo rainforest region. Its long agile legs, large eyes and secretive habits are adaptations to a forest habitat. The pronounced vertical drop at the end distinguishes the carapace of the Home’s hinge-back tortoise. The shape of the carapace also…
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Honey badger, or ratel, Mellivora capensis is a relatively large mustelid (6–14 kg). Unlike most mustelidae family species, however, it does not show the typical mustelid pattern of intrasexual territoriality, instead males have large home-ranges that overlap extensively with other males and encompass the smaller home-ranges of up to 13 females with a promiscuous mating…
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Atlantic Humpback Dolphin, Sousa teuszii, has been suggested to have most likely inhabited the Niger Delta before the large scale oil exploration and has been said by one D.W. Rice to have originated from Nigeria’s 853 km coastline bordering the northern Gulf of Guinea. Generally, the species is endemic to the eastern tropical Atlantic, where…