I Thought I Gnu It Trivia Quiz

A type of antelope, the dik-dik can be found in the African grasslands though they're an interesting creature capable of withstanding terribly hot environments (like deserts) due to a low number of sweat glands. A prey animal rather than a predator, dik-diks are quick on their feet and generally flee from some of the more dangerous creatures of the savannah. Generally, if a dik-dik can spot out a predator from afar, which they can with their keen eyesight, then they should have no problem keeping a distance.

Found solely in the highlands of Ethiopia, gelada are primates that fall into the same family as baboons (though they're also known as bleeding-heart monkeys). Despite only being found in a small portion of Africa, gelada are plentiful creatures, occupying an expanse of grassland generally untouched by civilization. Feeding off grass for most of their diets, they have typically simple lives, especially since their homes, nestled into the cliffs, canyons, and gorges of Ethiopia, are quite safe from predators.

A smaller feline that can be found across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, the caracal is generally known, at a glance, by its distinctive ears. A nocturnal cat, most visitors to Africa would have a hard time finding this cat out in broad daylight, especially since it hunts alone and waits for lower temperatures to go about its business. Caracal also have a notable history in the continent with Ancient Egyptians valuing the cat as they did with most felines, placing them in art and architecture of all sorts.

The image here is that of the Southern Masked Weaver, a species commonly found throughout Southern Africa. Weavers are particularly fascinating because in addition to residing in colonies, they create nests by weaving large, circular homes out of brush and detritus, often near water.

In many instances you could find dozens of formed nests in savannah trees, all of which would house brightly-coloured, sparrow-like birds like these. Generally, weavers live south of the Sahara, regardless of species.

A yes, the ol' gnu. You gnu, didn't you?
The gnu is also known as the wildebeest and it's found throughout the south and east regions of Africa. Considered a grazing savannah animal, it's known for traveling in large herds, often with other animals in tow. Not unlike cattle, their diet consists of grasses and plants. Annually they'll travel long-distance with northern species joining other animals in the Serengeti's Great Migration.

An eagle, the bataleur's name comes from the French for 'street performer', which might not beget that this thing is a real bird of prey known for snatching up small creatures (snakes and reptiles included) to eat. Found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, the bataleur is relegated to a number of pockets of the continent due to its endangerment over the years. Nonetheless, the bird became the featured animal on the official emblem of Zimbabwe, appearing on their money, coats of arms, and several flag variants.

A type of antelope found in the savannahs and grasslands of Southern and Eastern Africa, the kudu comes in two species-- greater and lesser-- with their key attribute being a greater and lesser size. Known for their unique twisting horns, kudu are generally harmless grazing animals that survive on grasses and leaves, joining other ruminants in larger groups across the continent.

Naturally, they're prey animals for more dangerous beasts.

Considered 'scaly anteaters', pangolins are weird little guys that can mostly be found in Africa though some species carry over into India and Southeast Asia. Covered in scales, pangolins hide away in burrows and emerge at night to feed on insects. Because they are solitary creatures, the scales, made of hard keratin, are a good way to protect them from invasive predators, especially since their natural defence is to curl into a tough-to-crack ball, not unlike an armadillo.

The marabou stork is an ugly creature that isn't all too different from a vulture though it is considered a wading bird. Found throughout several different ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa, the marabou is a resilient bird known for eating scraps, carrion, and trash.

It's because of this that, like turkey vultures and buzzards in North America, marabou have frequently been seen around urban landfills in developed regions of Africa.

The okapi is a weird animal that shares its appearance with several other African mammals, so much so that it's also known as the forest giraffe and the zebra giraffe. These names probably direct the eye to its confusing blend of traits-- it has zebra stripes, but it is more associated with the giraffe in genetic makeup. An endangered creature, the okapi makes its home in the wild solely in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, generally in reserves near the Congo River.