Amazing 30+ Carnivores

Carnivores in Zambia come in all shapes and sizes, including two members of the Big five group.

Importance of carnivores

Carnivores play a very important role in the ecosystem as they control the herbivore levels, their prey. Uncontrolled herbivore numbers lead to overgrazing and this is destructive to the flora in that ecosystem. An often-cited example is the negative effect of the eradication of grey wolves in Yellowstone national park (Wyoming), on that environment. It is therefore critical to have healthy carnivore numbers in any ecosystem.

Time to World Carnivore Month (January)

Carnivores are meat eaters but not all carnivores are the same in terms of the percentage of meat in their diet. Carnivore can be divided into 4 main groups:

Obligate carnivores

These carnivores can only survive on meat as they can not digest plants properly. They include all cats, from the house cat to the king of the savanna, the Lion. The African wild dog is also an obligate carnivore as well as snakes, lizards, and most amphibians.

Hypercarnivores

The hypercarnivore diet has more than 70 percent meat. The rest of the diet is fungi, plants, and other nutrients. They include hyenas and Mongooses. All obligate carnivores also belong to the hypercarnivore group.

Mesocarnivores

The mesocarnivore diet has between 30 and 70 percent meat. They include Domestic dogs, African civets, and some mongooses.

Hypocarnivores

The hypocarnivores diet has less than 30 percent meat. Some Hypocarnivores are also considered omnivores.

Animals fall into one of these five groups, based on their feeding habits:

Obligate herbivore

Facultative herbivore

Omnivore

Facultative carnivore

Obligate herbivore

Facultative means contingent or optional, therefore the facultative carnivore mainly eats meat but can also survive on plant matter. They can survive for short periods without meat. The reverse is true for facultative herbivores.

Hypercarnivores are considered facultative carnivores. Some mesocarnivores are considered facultative carnivores and others omnivores. Lastly, hypocarnivores are a mixture of omnivores and facultative herbivores.

Zambia is a showcase for the African carnivore with good populations in most national parks.

Carnivores in Zambia and where they are found

The African Civet is found across the whole of Zambia.

(Civettictis civetta) The African Civet looks like a raccoon and hyena crossbreed, and very tolerant to snake venom.

The African Civet has a grey coat with black and white markings that can grow to a body length of 90cm (35.4in), 40cm (15.7) shoulder height, and 20kg (44lb) weight. They are nocturnal and live alone or in pairs.

The African Clawless Otter is found in Kafue and Lochinvar.

(Aonyx capensis) The African Clawless Otter has long fingers without claws that it uses to find food hidden under the rocks. It has a bigger body-to-brain ratio than all other carnivores in the country.

Dark brown coat (white under the head), can grow to a body length of 110cm (43.3in), 35cm (13.8in) shoulder height, and 25kg (55lb) weight. It is generally solitary and mainly active during dusk and dawn, crepuscular .

African Striped Weasel is found in most parts of the country except the southwest corner, of Zambia.

(Poecilogale albinucha) The African Striped Weasel the smallest carnivore in Africa. Females can be called ‘jill‘ and males ‘jack‘, and a group, a ‘boogle’.

The African Striped Weasel has a black coat with a white cap and yellowish stripes down the back; can grow to a body length of 35cm (14in), 7cm (2.8in) shoulder height, and 350g (0.8lb) weight. Predominantly nocturnal carnivores and lives alone, in pairs or small family groups.

The African Wildcat is found across the whole of Zambia.

(Felis lybica) The African Wildcat was first domesticated by Ancient Egyptians and is seen on pyramid walls.

The African Wildcat has varied colours but has reddish-brown marking in various areas; can grow to a body length of 65cm (25.6in), 35cm (13.8in) shoulder height, and 8kg (17.6lb) weight. They are solitary animals and can live in a variety of dens. They are mainly nocturnal and terrestrial carnivores.

The Angolan Genet is Found in most places expect the northern corner of Zambia.

(Genetta angolensis) The Angolan Genet can stand bipedally, unlike other Viverridae species.

The Angolan Genet has a dark grey or dark reddish-grey with black to brown spots. It can grow to a body length of 50cm (19.7in) and 2kg (4.4lb) weight. Mostly arboreal, nocturnal, and solitary carnivores.

Very few Cape Wild Dogs left, they are found in the Luangwa Valley, Lower Zambezi, Kafue National Park, and parts of the Western Province.

(Lycaon pictus pictus [ “painted wolf” ]) The Cape Wild Dog is neither wolf nor dog but separate canine species. At maturity, it is the females that leave to join other packs.

The Cape Wild Dog has blotchy yellow-brown, black and white coats. Can grow to a body length of 110cm (43.3in), 75cm (29.5in) shoulder height and 25kg (55lb) weight. It lives in packs of up to 15 animals. Mainly hunts in early mornings and late afternoon. With an 80% success rate, it is one of Africa’s best hunters.

The Caracal is found in Kafue National Park and Luangwa valley.

(Caracal caracal) Like fingerprints, each Caracal whisker is attached in a unique pattern.

The Caracal is a lynx-like cat with a brown to red coat; can grow to a body length of 76cm (29.9in), 45cm (17.7in) shoulder height, and 19kg (41.9lb) weight. Mainly nocturnal and solitary carnivores.

Common Genet is found in all parts of Zambia.

(Genetta maculata) The Common Genet has a mane from the shoulders to the tail.

The Common Genet has pale grey to yellowish-brown with rows of black dots. It can grow to a body length of 60cm (23.6in) and 3.2kg (7lb) weight. They are nocturnal and solitary carnivores.

Leopard

See Big five

Amazing 30+ Carnivores 1 — Leopard | Jaguar

Amazing 30+ Carnivores 2 — Leopard | Jaguar

The leopard and jaguar are sometimes confused with each other. The smaller leopard (up to 90 kg [198 lb]) is found in Africa and Asia. The bulkier jaguar (up to 158 kg [348 lb]) is found in Central and South America. The leopard is the strongest climber of the large cats, whilst the jaguar has the strongest bite force.

Valley of the Leopard in South Luangwa National Park, Eastern Zambia, boasts Africa’s highest concentration of leopards.

Lion (second fastest carnivores)

See Big five

Nine species of mongoose (but not the meerkat) are found in Zambia, all quite common and quite easily seen; one, the marsh mongoose is only found near water and swims well, often being mistaken for an otter.

Banded mongoose

The Banded mongoose found across the whole of Zambia.

(Mungo mungo) The Banded mongoose sometimes eats ticks off warthogs, symbiotic relationship.
Can grow to a body length of 40cm (15.8in), 20cm (7.9in) shoulder height, and 1.6kg (3.5lb) weight.

Bushy-tailed mongoose

The Bushy-tailed mongoose is found on the eastern parts of Zambia.

(Bdeogale crassicauda) The Bushy-tailed mongoose is found in woodlands and moist savannahs.
Can grow to a body length of 42cm (16.5in) and 2.1kg (4.6lb) weight.

Dwarf mongoose

The Dwarf mongoose is found across the whole of Zambia.

(Helogale parvula) The Dwarf mongoose hierarchy is reversed, with the youngest individuals ranking higher.
Can grow to a body length of 20cm (7.9in), 7cm (2.8in) shoulder height, and 350g (0.8lb) weight.

Large grey mongoose

The Large grey mongoose is Found across the whole of Zambia.

(Herpestes ichneumon)
The Large grey mongoose is grey with a yellowish tinge. Can grow to a body length of 54cm (21.3in) and 4kg (8.8lb) weight.

Meller’s mongoose

The Meller’s mongoose is found in the central and southern parts of Zambia.

(Rhynchogale melleri) The Meller’s mongoose mainly feeds on termites.
The Meller’s mongoose has a dark brown coat. Can grow to a body length of 59cm (23.2in) and 3kg (6.6lb) weight.

Selous’s mongoose

The Selous’s mongoose is found in the southern half of Zambia.

(Paracynictis selousi) The Selous’s mongoose expels a strong-smelling secretion to defend itself.
The Selous’s mongoose is grey to tawny grey with a lighter underside. Can grow to a body length of 47cm (18.5in) and 2kg (4.4lb) weight. Usually solitary and nocturnal carnivores.

Slender mongoose

The Slender mongoose is found across the whole of Zambia.

(Galerella [herpestes] sanguinea) The Slender mongoose eagerly climbs trees, unlike other mongoose species.
The Slender mongoose is a dark reddish-brown to orange-brown coat. Can grow to a body length of 35cm (13.8in) and 800g (1.8lb) weight. Usually solitary and exclusively diurnal, and commonly seen carnivores.

Water (Marsh) mongoose

The Water (Marsh) mongoose is found across the whole of Zambia.

(Atilax paludinosus) The Water (Marsh) mongoose stands on its hind legs to survey its territory.
The Water (Marsh) mongoose has a uniformly dark reddish-brown coat. Can grow to a body length of 60cm (23.6in), 22cm (8.7in) shoulder height, and 5.5kg (12.1lb) weight.

White-tailed mongoose

The White-tailed mongoose is found across the whole of Zambia.

(Ichneumia albicauda) Unlike other mongoose species, the White-tailed mongoose does not sit on its hind legs.
The White-tailed mongoose is brown-grey to dark grey with a shaggy whitetail. Can grow to a body length of 102cm (40.2in) and 5.2kg (11.5lb) weight. Nocturnal and usually solitary.

The Ratel is found across the whole of Zambia.

(Honeybadger, Mellivora capensis) “World’s Most Fearless Creature,” Guinness Book of World Records

The Ratel or Honeybadger is silver-grey cap with black underparts. Can grow to a body length of 75cm (29.5in), 30cm (11.8in) shoulder height, and 14kg (30.9lb) weight. It is very aggressive, even attacking elephants. Usually solitary but also lives in pairs or small family groups. It is mainly nocturnal, and eat anything and everything.
It partners with the honeyguide bird to find food.

The Serval is found across the whole of Zambia.

(Leptailurus serval) The Serval has the largest ears of any cat. Can leap m (9ft) vertically and m (12ft) horizontally.

The Serval has a yellow-fawn coat with black spots and bands. It can grow to a body length of 82cm (32.3in), 60cm (23.6in) shoulder height, and 13kg (28.7lb) weight. They are solitary and usually nocturnal carnivores.

The Side-Striped Jackal is found across the whole country. Common in Kafue National Park

(Canis adustus) The Side-Striped Jackal has long been related to religious myth, death, and evil spirits.

The Side-Striped Jackal has a grey coat with light and dark side stripes. It can grow to a body length of 80cm (31.5in), 48cm (18.9in) shoulder height, and 12kg (26.5lb) weight. They are mainly nocturnal and usually live in pairs.

The Small-Spotted Genet is found in the southwestern corner of the country.

(Genetta genetta) The Small-Spotted Genet easily interacts with humans, especially at safari lodges.

The Small-Spotted Genet has greyish-white with blackish spots and bars. It can grow to a body length of 50cm (19.7in) and 2.6kg (5.7lb) weight. Usually solitary but can live in pairs during mating season, and is nocturnal.

The South African Cheetah is found on the plains of northern Kafue, Kafue National Park.

(Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) Can only purr loudly and not roar, unlike other big cats. As the fastest land animal, it reaches

Pale yellow coat with black dots with underparts and black ‘tear-mark’ black lines, on its face. It can grow to a body length of 140cm (55.1in), 80cm (31.5in) shoulder height, and 60kg (132.3lb) weight. It hunts in the daytime

The Speckle-Throated Otter is not found in the eastern third of the country.

(Lutra maculicollis) The Speckle-Throated Otter lives in an above-ground ‘couch’ or underground ‘holts’.

The Speckle-Throated Otter usually is dark brown with white specks on the throat, upper lip, and neck. can grow to a body length of 50cm (19.7in) and 6.2kg (13.7lb) weight. Usually lives in groups of up to 6 animals and normally crepuscular or nocturnal.

The Spotted Hyena is found across the whole of Zambia.

(Crocuta crocuta) Although it resembles a dog, the Spotted Hyena is closer in relation to cats.

The Spotted Hyena has a fawn-yellow to grey coat with dark brown blotches. It can grow to a body length of 155cm (61in), 85cm (33.5in) shoulder height, and 80kg (176.4lb) weight.
It leaves in female-led clans of up to 15 animals and usually nocturnal carnivores.

The Striped Polecat is found across the whole of Zambia.

(zorilla, Ictonyx striatus) If threatened the Striped Polecat hisses, screams, and emits a foul-smelling fluid.

The Striped Polecat is long, skunk-like, black with a white stripes coat. It can grow to a body length of 41cm (16.1in), 15cm (5.9in) shoulder height, and 1.5kg (3.3lb) weight. Normally solitary and strictly nocturnal carnivores.

PARK/ RESERVE	SIGHTINGS
South Luangwa National Park	Rare

Carnivorous plants

Not all carnivores have four legs and chase their prey across the lush savanna, some have roots and wait patiently for their prey. There are more than 600 species of carnivorous plants in the world. Zambia has carnivorous plants in the genera Aldrovanda vesiculosa, Drosera, Genlisea, and Utricularia. They have specialized leaves that lure and then trap unsuspecting insects.

Conservation of carnivores

See the Zambian Carnivore Programme and help in the conservation of our beautiful carnivores.