This list includes 25 African animals that start with E, from “East African eland” to “Eurasian spoonbill”. These species span mammals, birds, and reptiles, offering identification, classroom use, and quick field reference.
African animals that start with E are species across Africa whose common names begin with the letter E. Many, like the eland, feature in local folklore and traditional hunting stories across eastern and southern regions.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Primary habitat(s), and Typical lifespan (wild).
Common name: The widely used English name for the species, helping you recognize animals in field guides and lists.
Scientific name: The accepted Latin binomial gives precise identification so you can cross-check species across sources.
Primary habitat(s): Broad habitat categories and region notes show where the species commonly lives and where you might find it.
Typical lifespan (wild): Average lifespan estimates in the wild give context for ecology and help compare species’ life histories.
African animals that start with E
| Common name | Scientific name | Primary habitat(s) & region | Typical lifespan (wild, years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eland | Taurotragus oryx | Savanna, grassland; Southern, Eastern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania) | 20 |
| East African eland | Taurotragus oryx livingstonii | Savanna, woodland; East Africa (Tanzania, Kenya) | 20 |
| Egyptian goose | Alopochen aegyptiaca | Wetland, riverine; Sub-Saharan & North Africa (Egypt, South Africa) | 10 |
| Egyptian vulture | Neophron percnopterus | Open country, arid; North & East Africa (Egypt, Sahel, Horn) | 20 |
| Egyptian mongoose | Herpestes ichneumon | Scrub, savanna; North & West Africa (Egypt, Morocco, Senegal) | 7 |
| Egyptian cobra | Naja haje | Desert, savanna; North Africa, Sahel (Egypt, Morocco, Sudan) | 20 |
| Egyptian tortoise | Testudo kleinmanni | Desert scrub, sand dunes; North Africa (Egypt, Libya, Tunisia) | 80 |
| Egyptian plover | Pluvianus aegyptius | Riverbanks, sandy shores; West & Central Africa (Senegal to Sudan, Nile) | 10 |
| Egyptian fruit bat | Rousettus aegyptiacus | Caves, woodland; Sub-Saharan & North Africa (Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa) | 15 |
| Egyptian weasel | Mustela subpalmata | Cropland, scrub; Egypt and Nile Delta; North Africa | 5 |
| Ethiopian wolf | Canis simensis | Montane grassland; East Africa (Ethiopian Highlands) | 8 |
| Eastern gorilla | Gorilla beringei | Montane & lowland forest; East-Central Africa (DRC, Rwanda, Uganda) | 35 |
| Eastern lowland gorilla | Gorilla beringei graueri | Lowland & montane forest; East-Central Africa (DRC) | 35 |
| Eastern chimpanzee | Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii | Tropical forest, woodland; East-Central Africa (Uganda, DRC, Tanzania) | 40 |
| Eastern black rhinoceros | Diceros bicornis michaeli | Savanna, bushland; East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania) | 35 |
| Eastern green mamba | Dendroaspis angusticeps | Forest edge, woodland; East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique) | 10 |
| Eastern rock elephant-shrew | Elephantulus myurus | Rocky hills, scrub; Southern & East Africa (South Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique) | 3 |
| Emerald-spotted wood dove | Turtur chalcospilos | Woodland, savanna; Sub-Saharan Africa (West to East Africa) | 5 |
| Emin’s pouched rat | Cricetomys emini | Savanna, forest edge; Central & East Africa (DRC, Uganda, Tanzania) | 8 |
| Eurasian bee-eater | Merops apiaster | Open country, riverbanks; North & North-West Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) | 7 |
| Eurasian kestrel | Falco tinnunculus | Open country, farmland; North & Sub-Saharan Africa (widespread) | 10 |
| Eurasian hoopoe | Upupa epops | Woodland, savanna; North Africa & parts of Sub-Saharan Africa | 6 |
| Eastern yellow-billed hornbill | Tockus flavirostris | Savanna, dry woodland; East Africa (Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia) | 12 |
| Eurasian spoonbill | Platalea leucorodia | Wetland, shallow lakes; North & West Africa (wintering and some breeding populations) | 10 |
| Ethiopian swallow | Hirundo aethiopica | Open country, savanna; East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia) | 4 |
Descriptions
Eland
Large spiral-horned antelope of open savannas, social herds, grazes and browses with impressive twisting horns.
East African eland
East African subspecies of eland, slightly smaller than southern forms, calm and gregarious grazers found in mixed habitat.
Egyptian goose
Stocky waterfowl with distinctive face markings, common on lakes and rivers and adaptable to parks and farmland.
Egyptian vulture
Small white vulture that feeds on carrion and eggs, known for smart foraging and threatened in parts of its range.
Egyptian mongoose
Day-active carnivore hunting reptiles and small mammals near water and farms, often seen around human settlements.
Egyptian cobra
Large hooded venomous snake of North Africa; wary but potentially dangerous, often found near water and villages.
Egyptian tortoise
Tiny, long-lived tortoise adapted to arid dunes; vulnerable from habitat loss and illegal collection.
Egyptian plover
Striking black-and-white plover seen on river sandbars, famed in folklore for ‘cleaning’ crocodile teeth.
Egyptian fruit bat
Nocturnal fruit-eating bat that roosts in caves, an important seed disperser across many African landscapes.
Egyptian weasel
Small, slender mustelid living near people, feeding on rodents and birds, rarely seen but widespread locally.
Ethiopian wolf
Rare, reddish endemic that hunts highland rodents; one of Africa’s most endangered carnivores, restricted to cool mountain plateaus.
Eastern gorilla
One of two gorilla species, large and mainly herbivorous, living in tight family groups in dense forests.
Eastern lowland gorilla
The largest gorilla subspecies found in eastern DRC, facing threats from habitat loss and conflict.
Eastern chimpanzee
Chimpanzee subspecies of East Africa, highly intelligent, tool-using primates with complex social lives.
Eastern black rhinoceros
Critically endangered black rhino subspecies native to East Africa, solitary browser with two horns.
Eastern green mamba
Slender, highly venomous tree-dwelling snake with bright green scales, preferring coastal and riverine forests.
Eastern rock elephant-shrew
Small insectivorous sengi with a long nose and rabbit-like movements, active at dawn and dusk.
Emerald-spotted wood dove
Delicate ground-dove with greenish wing spots, common in open woodlands and gardens, forages on seeds.
Emin’s pouched rat
Large nocturnal rodent with cheek pouches, a skillful forager sometimes trained for detection work.
Eurasian bee-eater
Colorful migrant that nests in sandy banks and feeds on flying insects, breeds in parts of North Africa.
Eurasian kestrel
Common small falcon that hovers over fields hunting rodents and insects, present as resident or migrant throughout Africa.
Eurasian hoopoe
Crested bird with a dramatic crown, probes soil for insects; breeds in North Africa and migratory populations visit southwards.
Eastern yellow-billed hornbill
Medium hornbill with a pale yellow bill, common in dry savannas, feeding on insects and fruit.
Eurasian spoonbill
White wading bird with a spatulate bill that sweeps for small fish and invertebrates, seen in coastal and inland wetlands.
Ethiopian swallow
Small, agile swallow of East Africa, feeds on flying insects and often nests near water and human habitation.