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Topic Review
African Bush Elephant
The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), also known as the African savanna elephant, is the largest living terrestrial animal with bulls reaching a shoulder height of up to 3.96 m (13.0 ft). Both sexes have tusks, which erupt when they are 1–3 years old and grow throughout life. It is distributed across 37 African countries and inhabits forests, grasslands and woodlands, wetlands and agricultural land. Since 2004, it has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. It is threatened foremost by habitat destruction, and in parts of its range also by poaching for meat and ivory. It is a social mammal, traveling in herds composed of cows and their offspring. Adult bulls usually live alone or in small bachelor groups. It is a herbivore, feeding on grasses, creepers, herbs, leaves and bark.
  • 988
  • 05 Dec 2022
Topic Review
African Civet
The African Civet (Civettictis civetta) is a nocturnal mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa, recognized for its distinctive appearance and unique musk-producing glands. Characterized by its elongated body, short legs, and black-and-white spotted fur, the African Civet inhabits a variety of habitats including forests, savannas, and grasslands. As an omnivorous scavenger, it plays a vital ecological role in maintaining ecosystem balance by feeding on a diverse range of prey, including insects, small mammals, fruits, and carrion.
  • 258
  • 28 Feb 2024
Topic Review
African Clawless Otter
The African Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis) is a fascinating semi-aquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. Renowned for its sleek, streamlined body and lack of visible claws on its forelimbs, this otter species is well-adapted to its aquatic lifestyle in freshwater habitats, including rivers, lakes, and wetlands. With a diet consisting primarily of fish, crustaceans, and amphibians, the African Clawless Otter plays a vital role in maintaining the health and balance of aquatic ecosystems across its range.
  • 295
  • 08 Feb 2024
Topic Review
African Golden Wolf
The African golden wolf (Canis lupaster) or African wolf is a canine native to North Africa, West Africa, the Sahel, northern East Africa, and the Horn of Africa. It is the descendant of a genetically admixed canid of 72% gray wolf (Canis lupus) and 28% Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) ancestry. It is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List. In the Atlas Mountains, it was sighted in elevations as high as 1,800 m (5,900 ft). It is primarily a predator, targeting invertebrates and mammals as large as gazelle fawns, though larger animals are sometimes taken. Its diet also includes animal carcasses, human refuse, and fruit. The African golden wolf is a monogamous and territorial species; offspring remain with the family to assist in raising their parents' younger pups. It was previously classified as an African variant of the golden jackal (Canis aureus), with at that time at least one subspecies (C. a. lupaster) having been classified as a wolf. In 2015, a series of analyses on the species' mitochondrial DNA and nuclear genome demonstrated that it was, in fact, distinct from the golden jackal, and more closely related to the gray wolf and the coyote (Canis latrans). It is nonetheless still close enough to the golden jackal to produce hybrid offspring, as indicated through genetic tests on jackals in Israel, and a 19th-century captive crossbreeding experiment. It plays a prominent role in some African cultures; in North African folklore, it is viewed as an untrustworthy animal whose body parts can be used for medicinal or ritualistic purposes, while it is held in high esteem in Senegal's Serer religion as being the first creature to be created by the god Roog.
  • 3.2K
  • 23 Nov 2022
Topic Review
African Iron Overload
African iron overload is a condition that involves absorption of too much iron from the diet. The excess iron is stored in the body's tissues and organs, particularly the liver, bone marrow, and spleen. Humans cannot increase the excretion of iron, although some iron is lost through bleeding or when cells of the intestine (enterocytes) are shed at the end of the cells' lifespan. Iron levels in the body are primarily regulated through control of how much iron is absorbed from the diet.
  • 430
  • 24 Dec 2020
Topic Review
African Palm Civet
The African Palm Civet (Nandinia binotata) is a small, nocturnal mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa, known for its distinctive appearance and secretive behavior. With its sleek body, long tail, and mask-like facial markings, this elusive civet species is well adapted to life in the dense tropical forests and savannas of its range. Despite its relative obscurity, the African Palm Civet plays a significant ecological role as a predator of small vertebrates and a disperser of seeds, contributing to the biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics of its habitat.
  • 205
  • 28 Feb 2024
Topic Review
African Sandalwood (Osyris lanceolata Hochst.)
The increasing demand for ornamental, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products is driving exploitation of plant species globally. Sub-Saharan Africa harbours unique and valuable plant resources and is now a target of plant resource depletion. African Sandalwood (Osyris lanceolata), a multi-purpose and drought-tolerant species, has seen increased exploitation for the last thirty years and is now declared endangered.
  • 2.4K
  • 17 Jan 2022
Topic Review
African Sheep Breeds
The African continent is home to more than 400 million heads of sheep, the majority of which are classified as indigenous and raised primarily for subsistence. They live and thrive well in a wide range of climatic and production conditions, ranging from unfavorable to favorable environments. 
  • 6.3K
  • 17 Sep 2021
Topic Review
African Striped Weasel
The African Striped Weasel (Poecilogale albinucha) stands as a captivating and elusive mustelid, native to the African continent. With its distinct striped coat and unique features, this small carnivore contributes to the rich tapestry of African wildlife, occupying a specialized niche in the ecosystems it inhabits.
  • 151
  • 04 Feb 2024
Topic Review
African Swine Fever Survey in a European Context
African swine fever (ASF) is currently the most threatening disease for domestic and wild pigs worldwide. Wild boar has been the main affected species in all EU countries except for Romania, where most notifications occur in domestic pigs. The spread of ASF in wild boar is challenging to control; risk factors are harder to identify and establish than in domestic pigs, which, together with an underestimation of the disease and the lack of treatment or an effective vaccine, are hindering control and eradication efforts. We distributed two online questionnaires, one for domestic pigs and one for wild boar, to experts of different background and countries in Europe, to explore risk factors in relation to ASF control connected to farming, hunting, trade, the environment, and domestic pig and wild boar populations.
  • 418
  • 09 Feb 2022
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