This list includes 24 African animals that start with H, ranging from “Hadada ibis” to “Humpback whale”. They cover birds, mammals, reptiles, and marine species, useful for education, field identification, and casual reference.
African animals that start with H are species whose common names begin with H and that occur naturally in Africa. For example, the hadeda ibis is well known for its loud, echoing call in southern African towns.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, and Lifespan.
Common name: The everyday English name helps you quickly recognize and search for each species.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial gives precise identification and links you to formal species records.
Habitat: Broad habitat categories and regions show where you can expect to find each animal in the wild.
Lifespan: Typical wild lifespans give context for life history, and may differ notably in captivity.
African animals that start with H
| Common name | Scientific name | Primary habitat(s) & region | Typical lifespan (wild, years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hippopotamus | Hippopotamus amphibius | rivers & wetlands — Sub‑Saharan Africa | 40–50 |
| Honey badger | Mellivora capensis | savanna & woodland — Sub‑Saharan Africa | 7–10 |
| Hamerkop | Scopus umbretta | wetlands & rivers — Sub‑Saharan Africa | 10–15 |
| Helmeted guineafowl | Numida meleagris | savanna & farmland — Sub‑Saharan Africa | 10–12 |
| Hooded vulture | Necrosyrtes monachus | savanna & dry woodlands — Sub‑Saharan Africa | 15–20 |
| Hartebeest | Alcelaphus buselaphus | savanna & grassland — East & Southern Africa | 10–15 |
| Hairy frog | Trichobatrachus robustus | forest — Central & West Africa | 5–10 |
| Harlequin quail | Coturnix delegorguei | grassland & farmland — Sub‑Saharan Africa | 1–3 |
| Horned viper | Cerastes cerastes | desert & rocky — North Africa | 10–15 |
| Humpback whale | Megaptera novaeangliae | marine — Atlantic & Indian coasts of Africa | 45–50 |
| Heaviside’s dolphin | Cephalorhynchus heavisidii | coastal marine — Southern Africa | 18–25 |
| Honeyguide | Indicator indicator | woodland & savanna — Sub‑Saharan Africa | 5–8 |
| Hoopoe | Upupa epops | open woodlands & savanna — Widespread Africa | 3–6 |
| Hottentot golden mole | Amblysomus hottentotus | grassland & fynbos — Southern Africa | 3–6 |
| Hottentot seabream | Pachymetopon blochii | coastal reefs & rocky shorelines — Southern Africa | 10–15 |
| Hartlaub’s gull | Chroicocephalus hartlaubii | coastal & estuaries — Southern Africa | 10–20 |
| Hirola | Beatragus hunteri | semi‑arid grassland — Kenya & Somalia | 8–12 |
| Hamadryas baboon | Papio hamadryas | arid & rocky hills — Horn of Africa & Saudi coast (African range) | 20–30 |
| Hadada ibis | Bostrychia hagedash | wetlands, gardens & savanna — Sub‑Saharan Africa | 10–15 |
| Hartlaub’s duck | Pteronetta hartlaubii | forest rivers & swamps — West Africa | 10–12 |
| Hildebrandt’s horseshoe bat | Rhinolophus hildebrandtii | caves & forest — Sub‑Saharan Africa | 5–10 |
| Hinde’s babbler | Turdoides hindei | thorn scrub & acacia woodland — Kenya | 5–8 |
| Honey bee | Apis mellifera | savanna, woodlands & gardens — Widespread Africa | 0.12–3 |
| Honey buzzard | Pernis apivorus | woodland & savanna — migratory to Sub‑Saharan Africa | 10–15 |
Descriptions
Hippopotamus
Large, mostly aquatic herbivore up to several tonnes; grazes at night and defends territories in water. Vulnerable from habitat loss and hunting.
Honey badger
Bold, omnivorous carnivore known for toughness and intelligence; eats honey, eggs, small mammals and reptiles. Solitary and long‑lived for a mustelid.
Hamerkop
Medium wading bird with a distinct hammer‑shaped head and massive nest‑building habit. Feeds on fish, amphibians and invertebrates.
Helmeted guineafowl
Ground‑dwelling bird with spotted plumage, noisy flocks and omnivorous diet. Common near agriculture and valued for pest control.
Hooded vulture
Small, fragile vulture that scavenges carcasses; critically important for disease control. Critically endangered from poisoning and trade.
Hartebeest
Tall antelope with elongated face and fast gait. Grazes on grasses and occurs in open plains and mixed herds.
Hairy frog
Unusual frog known for retractable bony claws and “hair‑like” skin appendages in males; insectivore of forest streams.
Harlequin quail
Small ground bird prized for its mottled plumage; feeds on seeds and insects. Brief wild lifespan but high reproductive rate.
Horned viper
Desert ambush snake with distinctive supraocular “horns”; venomous, camouflaged in sand and adapted to arid habitats.
Humpback whale
Large migratory baleen whale famed for acrobatics and complex songs; feeds on krill and small fish during seasonal migrations.
Heaviside’s dolphin
Small, coastal dolphin off southwest Africa; compact body, curious behavior and localized populations vulnerable to bycatch.
Honeyguide
Small bird famous for leading people to bees’ nests; feeds on wax and larvae. Some species threatened by habitat loss.
Hoopoe
Crested bird with distinctive “hoop‑oo” call and insect‑probing bill; nests in cavities and is a familiar sight in many regions.
Hottentot golden mole
Fossorial insectivore with leathery snout and reduced eyes; important soil aerator in fynbos and grassland.
Hottentot seabream
Common reef fish with stout body, harvested locally; occurs around kelp beds and rocky reefs.
Hartlaub’s gull
Small coastal gull endemic to southern African shores; opportunistic feeder on fish and refuse.
Hirola
Critically endangered antelope with a reddish coat and narrow face; highly range‑restricted and of high conservation concern.
Hamadryas baboon
Social primate with distinctive silver‑mantled males and complex troop structure; lives in arid, rocky habitats.
Hadada ibis
Loud, distinctive call and long bill used to probe for invertebrates; common in urban and rural wet areas.
Hartlaub’s duck
Small, secretive duck of West African forests; uncommon and sensitive to wetland degradation.
Hildebrandt’s horseshoe bat
Insectivorous bat with horseshoe‑shaped noseleaf for echolocation; roosts in caves and old mines.
Hinde’s babbler
Social, cooperative passerine with rich vocal repertoire; near‑endemic and usually seen in small groups.
Honey bee
Crucial pollinator species: worker lifespan about six weeks (~0.12 years), queens can live several years; supports ecosystems and agriculture.
Honey buzzard
Migratory raptor that feeds on wasp and bee larvae; winters across tropical Africa after breeding in Eurasia.