South Africa boasts unique fauna beyond the "Big Five"… lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinoceros and leopards… featuring bizarre and rare creatures like the elusive, termite-eating aardvark, the heavily armored ground pangolin, and the vicious honey badger. Other unusual species include the rock hyrax (a small mammal related to elephants), the nocturnal springhare, the colourful bontebok antelope, and the rare Riverine rabbit. Here are some of the most unusual South African fauna.
Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) The aardvark is a nocturnal, solitary burrower with a pig-like snout and kangaroo-like tail, uniquely adapted to eating ants and termites. 
Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis)
Renowned for extreme fearlessness and thick, loose skin that protects it from venomous snake bites and bee stings. The honey badger, also known as the ratel, is one of Africa’s most intriguing and yet seldom-seen creatures. A small, fierce, and endlessly entertaining mammal well-known for its fearless attitude, a honey badger is best described as a four-legged daredevil, an animal that seems to laugh in the face of danger. Known for its striking black and white coat and grumpy personality, the honey badger is often compared to a “hardened bush-warrior” with an almost mythical resistance to venom, unfathomable brute strength, and clever problem-solving skills. 
Riverine Rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis)
One of the world’s rarest mammals, found only in the Karoo region. The story of the riverine rabbit is a typically tragic one at this stage relying on man to help them avoid extinction. It is one of the most critically endangered mammals in Africa and one of the most threatened in the world, with an estimate of only 200 – 400 individuals remaining in the wild. The species occurs in a very specialized habitat in the central Karoo regions of the Northern and Western Cape. 
Bat-Eared Fox (Otocyon megalotis)
Its massive ears are used to locate insects and regulate body temperature in the desert. The bat-eared fox is the only extant of the genus Otocyon on Earth and is considered a basal canid species. They are widespread throughout the drier regions of Southern Africa. They live in small family groups dominated by monogamous pairs. They are largely insectivorous and 80% of their diet is made up of a specific termite. When unavailable, they will forage for bugs, spiders and small reptiles. Berries and fruit form a small part in their diet. 
Knysna Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion damaranum)
This slow-moving, specialized reptile found in the Western Cape. The Knysna dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion damaranum) is a species that is endemic to only a limited range of unique afromontane coastal forests near Knysna, South Africa. This species has the longest tail of all Bradypodion species and is known for its spectacular colors in males. These animals suffer from habitat loss, fragmentation of habitat, introduced predators such as cats and crows, and human activity. The Knysna Dwarf Chameleon is protected under South African conservation laws. 
Bontebok antelope (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus)
Among the many beautiful antelope species in Africa, the bontebok stands out as a symbol for species recovery in South Africa because of its miraculous conservation success story. A long history of collaborative conservation efforts brought the species back from the brink of extinction, bringing their numbers from a mere 17 in the early 1800s to a thriving metapopulation of over 9,000 today. The bontebok’s recovery would not have been possible without the collaboration and commitment of private farmers, game ranchers, and government conservation initiatives, all of which have allowed us to appreciate the existence and resilience of the iconic species today. |
Ground Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii)
Often called a "scaly anteater," this rare mammal curls into an impenetrable ball when threatened. The Ground Pangolin is one of four species of pangolin found in Africa. They have a body length between 50 and 60 cms (20 - 23.5 inches), a tail length between 40 and 50 cms (16 - 20 inches) and they weigh between 15 and 18 Kgs (33 - 40 lbs). With the exception of its underside, the Ground Pangolin is covered in extremely hard, brown coloured scales. It rolls up into a ball to protect itself when it is threatened and it can also use the scales on its long, broad tail as a form of defence, to slash at attackers. They also have anal scent glands that emit a foul, strong smelling fluid. Ground Pangolins have a very small head, small forelegs and powerful hind legs. They also have no teeth and they lack external ears. Their eyesight is poor but they have good hearing and a good sense of smell. Their tongue is extremely long, and it can reach lengths of up to 40 cms (16 inches). In a resting position the tongue is pulled back and stored in a pouch in its chest cavity. To enable them to catch termites and ants their salivary glands produce a sticky mucus which coats their tongue. They preen themselves by using their hind claws to lift their scales and scratch their skin. They also use their long, tongue to remove insects from beneath their scales. 
Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis) Despite looking like a rodent, genetic studies show this creature is closely related to the African elephant. The Rock Hyrax, also known as the Dassie, is small and stoutly built with short legs and a short rudimentary stump for a tail. In spite of its small rounded ears it has the appearance of a rabbit. A patch of black hair overlies a glandular area in the middle of the back. The feet are short and have rubbery pads with many sweat glands underneath. The sweat glands are important both for heat loss and provide the soles of the feet with remarkable traction on the rock surfaces. Although dassies look like rodents their evolutionary relationships are closest to the elephant and the dugong. 
Cape Golden Mole (Chrysochloridae)
The Cape Golden Moleis a small, blind, subterranean mammal that "swims" through sand. The Golden Mole’s most distinctive feature is its adaptation to a burrowing lifestyle. With streamlined bodies, powerful forelimbs, and shovel-like hands, these moles are well-equipped for a subterranean existence. The Golden Mole’s subterranean activities influence soil structure, seed dispersal, and insect control, highlighting their impact on ecosystem dynamics. Understanding and conserving these creatures is essential for maintaining the delicate balance of South Africa’s diverse ecosystems. Habitat loss due to urbanization, agriculture, and mining poses a significant challenge. Climate change, with its associated shifts in rainfall patterns, also affects these underground dwellers.. 
Klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus)
This tiny, agile antelope walks on the tips of its hooves, allowing it to navigate vertical rock faces. The common name is derived from Afrikaans and means “rock jumper”, as the klipspringer is extremely agile at moving across rocky outcrops and steep rocky slopes. A member of the dwarf antelopes, this small stocky antelope has a distinctive coat of coarse, hollow, spiny hair. The black tips of the hairs give the coat a grizzled appearance with the basic colour yellow-brown to grey-brown. The underparts, the chin and the muzzle surrounding the lips are almost white. The stocky appearance is the result of the hair that stands almost erect rather than lying flat as in a typical coat. The ears are large and rounded with black hair bordering the inner edge. Only the ram carries short, vertical horns, which are spiraled at the base. The females are slightly larger than the males and are hornless. Klipspringers have a characteristic stilted gait with a bouncing motion and walk on the very tips of their peg-like hooves. 
Giant African Millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas)
Also known as a "shongololo," these harmless, slow-moving creatures can have up to 400 legs. These animals are often found in specific ecosystems, such as the Karoo, Fynbos, or arid savannahs, and many are threatened or elusive, requiring specialized, patient searching to spot. |
