This list includes 40 African animals that start with B, from “Bald ibis” to “Bushpig”. It covers birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates across Africa, useful for research, education, or casual reading.
African animals that start with B are species whose common names begin with B and occur naturally in Africa. For example, baboons feature in ancient Egyptian art and remain familiar across much of Africa.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, Region, and Typical lifespan (wild).
Common name: The everyday name used for each species, so you can scan the list to find familiar animals quickly.
Scientific name: The accepted binomial helps you locate precise species information and avoid confusion between similar common names.
Habitat: Main habitat categories and typical settings where the species lives, useful for understanding ecology and field spotting.
Region: Broad African range or subregions where the species is native, helping you focus on geography and distribution.
Typical lifespan (wild): Average or typical lifespan in the wild, so you understand life history and differences from captive ages.
African animals that start with B
| Name | Scientific name | Primary habitat(s) and region | Typical lifespan (wild, years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banded mongoose | Mungos mungo | savanna, grassland; sub-Saharan Africa | 6–10 years |
| Bat-eared fox | Otocyon megalotis | arid savanna, grassland; southern and East Africa | 6–10 years |
| Barbary macaque | Macaca sylvanus | woodland, cedar forest; Morocco and Algeria (North Africa) and Gibraltar | ~20 years |
| Barbary sheep | Ammotragus lervia | rocky mountains, arid hills; North Africa (Sahara fringes) | 10–15 years |
| Blesbok | Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi | open grassland; endemic to South Africa | 10–12 years |
| Bontebok | Damaliscus pygargus pygargus | coastal grassland and fynbos; South Africa | 10–15 years |
| Bonobo | Pan paniscus | lowland rainforest; Democratic Republic of Congo | 30–40 years |
| Bongo | Tragelaphus eurycerus | dense tropical forest; Central and West Africa | 12–15 years |
| Black rhinoceros | Diceros bicornis | savanna, shrubland; eastern and southern Africa | 35–50 years |
| Black wildebeest | Connochaetes gnou | open grassland and plains; southern Africa | 12–15 years |
| Blue wildebeest | Connochaetes taurinus | savanna and floodplain; East and southern Africa | ~20 years |
| Buffalo (African) | Syncerus caffer | savanna, floodplain, woodland; sub-Saharan Africa | 15–25 years |
| Black-backed jackal | Canis mesomelas | savanna, scrub, arid regions; southern and East Africa | 6–10 years |
| Black-footed cat | Felis nigripes | arid scrub and grassland; southern Africa | 5–8 years |
| Bushbuck | Tragelaphus scriptus | forest edges, riverine woodland, savanna; sub-Saharan Africa | 10–12 years |
| Bushpig | Potamochoerus larvatus | forest, woodland, and scrub; East and southern Africa | 10–15 years |
| Brown hyena | Parahyaena brunnea | arid scrub, desert, coastal plains; southern Africa | 12–15 years |
| Blue duiker | Philantomba monticola | lowland rainforest and gallery forest; West-Central and East Africa | 10–14 years |
| Brown greater galago | Otolemur crassicaudatus | woodland, savanna, riverine forest; sub-Saharan Africa | 10–15 years |
| Bateleur | Terathopius ecaudatus | woodland, open savanna; sub-Saharan Africa | 15–20 years |
| Blue crane | Anthropoides paradiseus | grassland and wetlands; endemic to South Africa and nearby regions | 20–25 years |
| Bearded vulture | Gypaetus barbatus | montane cliffs and highlands; limited populations in North and East Africa | 25–35 years |
| Black stork | Ciconia nigra | wetlands, rivers, marshes; migratory species wintering and breeding in parts of Africa | ~20 years |
| Black kite | Milvus migrans | wetland edges, savanna, urban areas; widespread Africa | 15–20 years |
| Blacksmith lapwing | Vanellus armatus | wet grassland, riverbanks; southern and East Africa | 10–15 years |
| Black-bellied bustard | Lissotis melanogaster | open grassland and savanna; sub-Saharan Africa | 10–15 years |
| Brown-headed parrot | Poicephalus cryptoxanthus | woodland and miombo; southern Africa | 20–30 years |
| Blue-cheeked bee-eater | Merops persicus | open woodland and Sahel; northern and sub-Saharan Africa seasonally | 5–7 years |
| Brown snake-eagle | Circaetus cinereus | savanna and open woodland; sub-Saharan Africa | 15–20 years |
| Barn owl | Tyto alba | open country, farmland, savanna; widespread across Africa | 4–10 years |
| Bottlenose dolphin | Tursiops truncatus | coastal temperate and tropical waters; along African coasts | 20–40 years |
| Blue shark | Prionace glauca | open ocean, pelagic waters off African coasts | 20–30 years |
| Bull shark | Carcharhinus leucas | coastal waters, estuaries and rivers; West and East African coasts and some rivers | 16–25 years |
| Black mamba | Dendroaspis polylepis | savanna, woodland, rocky outcrops; East and southern Africa | ~11 years |
| Boomslang | Dispholidus typus | woodland, forest edges and savanna; sub-Saharan Africa | 8–12 years |
| Black-necked spitting cobra | Naja nigricollis | savanna, farmland, woodland; widespread sub-Saharan Africa | 10–15 years |
| Brown house snake | Boaedon capensis | urban, farmland, savanna; widespread sub-Saharan Africa | 10–15 years |
| Banded rubber frog | Phrynomantis bifasciatus | savanna pans and temporary pools; southern and eastern Africa | ~5 years (uncertain) |
| Bald ibis | Geronticus eremita | rocky semi-desert and coastal cliffs; remnant populations in Morocco and small reintroductions | 10–20 years |
| Bay duiker | Cephalophus dorsalis | lowland rainforest; West and Central Africa | 10–15 years |
Descriptions
Banded mongoose
Small social carnivore with dark horizontal bands and loud calls. Lives in large clans, diurnal insectivore; Least Concern. Known for cooperative hunting and babysitting.
Bat-eared fox
Small fox with enormous ears for locating termites. Nocturnal/crepuscular insectivore; distinctive black-and-white facial markings and long ears.
Barbary macaque
Rare North African monkey without a tail. Endangered in parts of range due to habitat loss and capture for pet trade; lives in troops and shows complex social behavior.
Barbary sheep
Goat-like antelope with shaggy mane and curved horns. Adapted to steep rocky terrain; vulnerable in the wild from hunting and habitat loss.
Blesbok
Grassland antelope with a white blaze and brown coat. Once reduced by hunting, now managed in reserves; forms grazing herds.
Bontebok
Distinctive brown antelope with white face and rump patch. Endangered historically but recovered under strict protection; grazes in small herds.
Bonobo
Close relative of chimpanzees with dark face and peaceful social behavior. Endangered; lives in matriarchal groups and known for strong social bonds.
Bongo
Large, reddish-brown forest antelope with white stripes and spiraled horns. Shy, nocturnal; critically endangered subspecies in some areas.
Black rhinoceros
Stocky, two-horned browser with hooked upper lip. Critically Endangered from poaching; solitary and highly territorial.
Black wildebeest
Dark, shaggy antelope with curved horns and a horse-like face. Native to South Africa; forms large migratory herds.
Blue wildebeest
Robust grazer with slate-blue coat and sweeping horns. Famous for massive migrations across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.
Buffalo (African)
Large, powerful bovine with heavy horns and social herds. Dangerous to humans; important ecosystem grazer. Susceptible to disease and hunting.
Black-backed jackal
Medium-sized canid with black saddle and reddish flanks. Omnivorous opportunist, often seen in pairs or small family groups.
Black-footed cat
Tiny, elusive wild cat with dark feet and spotted coat. One of Africa’s smallest felids; highly nocturnal and a skilled hunter.
Bushbuck
Shy, solitary spiral-horned antelope with variable coat and white spots. Prefers dense cover and is a widespread browser.
Bushpig
Wild pig with coarse dark fur and tusks. Nocturnal rooter common in woodlands and farmland margins; can be aggressive.
Brown hyena
Shaggy, brown scavenger with a bushy mane and sloping back. Mostly nocturnal and solitary-scavenging; vulnerable from habitat loss.
Blue duiker
Tiny forest antelope with blue-tinged coat. Secretive and solitary; one of Africa’s smallest ungulates.
Brown greater galago
Large nocturnal primate (bushbaby) with big eyes and strong leaping ability. Uses loud calls and galagos are skilled insectivores/fruit eaters.
Bateleur
Striking black-and-red eagle with short tail and acrobatic flight. Vulnerable in places due to poisoning and habitat loss.
Blue crane
South Africa’s national bird with elegant blue-grey plumage and slow, ritualized dances. Vulnerable from habitat change and agriculture.
Bearded vulture
Large scavenging raptor that feeds on bone marrow by dropping bones to crack them. Threatened and locally rare in Africa.
Black stork
Slender black-and-white wading bird that avoids human settlements. Solitary or in pairs; migratory visitor in many African regions.
Black kite
Common scavenging raptor with forked tail and adaptable habits. Frequently seen near human settlements and rubbish dumps.
Blacksmith lapwing
Plover with black-and-white plumage and metallic “hammering” calls. Territorial near water bodies; nests on bare ground.
Black-bellied bustard
Ground-dwelling bustard with streaked back and distinctive booming call. Secretive but conspicuous during display flights.
Brown-headed parrot
Stout green parrot with brown head and noisy calls. Often in small flocks; common in miombo woodlands.
Blue-cheeked bee-eater
Colorful bird with blue cheeks and long central tail streamers. Catches insects mid-air and migrates seasonally.
Brown snake-eagle
Specialist raptor that hunts large snakes from low perches. Robust build and grey-brown plumage; important predator of snakes.
Barn owl
Silent night hunter with heart-shaped face and pale plumage. Widespread and adaptable; rodent specialist.
Bottlenose dolphin
Robust, friendly dolphin with curved dorsal fin. Highly intelligent, forms complex social groups and often approaches boats.
Blue shark
Slender, deep-blue pelagic shark with long pectoral fins. Migratory and widespread; often caught as bycatch.
Bull shark
Powerful, bulky shark tolerant of freshwater. Known for venturing into rivers and estuaries; considered potentially dangerous.
Black mamba
Large, fast, highly venomous snake with olive-to-grey body and coffin-shaped head. Shy but dangerous if cornered.
Boomslang
Arboreal rear-fanged snake with large eyes and potent hemotoxic venom. Color varies by sex and region.
Black-necked spitting cobra
Spits venom as defense and can deliver bites. Black-and-brown hooded cobra common near human settlements.
Brown house snake
Small, docile nocturnal snake often found near houses preying on rodents. Kept sometimes as a tame pet.
Banded rubber frog
Small, smooth-skinned frog with vivid bands. Breeds in seasonal pools; secretes skin toxins as defense.
Bald ibis
Long decurved bill and bare red face. Critically Endangered historically; rare North African ibis with conservation programs.
Bay duiker
Small, reddish-brown forest duiker. Secretive and solitary browser of understory fruits and leaves; hunted for bushmeat.