This list includes 33 African animals that start with L, from “Lammergeier” to “Long-tailed widowbird”. These species span birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects across savannas, forests, mountains, and deserts.
African animals that start with L are species native to Africa whose common names begin with the letter L. For example, the lammergeier features in mountain folklore for dropping bones to access marrow.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, Region, and Typical lifespan.
Common name: The widely used English name for each species, helping you recognize animals quickly across guides and lists.
Scientific name: The accepted Latin binomial gives you the precise species identity and helps locate authoritative references.
Habitat: Primary environments where the species lives, so you can understand ecological context and likely observation sites.
Region: Broad African areas or countries where the species occurs, useful for regional fieldwork or educational context.
Typical lifespan: Average lifespan in the wild, giving you expectations for generation time and population dynamics.
African animals that start with L
| Name | Scientific name | Primary habitat(s) & region | Typical wild lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lion | Panthera leo | Savanna, grassland; sub-Saharan Africa | 10-14 |
| Leopard | Panthera pardus | Forest, savanna, mountains; widespread Africa | 12-15 |
| Lappet-faced vulture | Torgos tracheliotos | Arid savanna, semi-desert; sub-Saharan Africa | 25-30 |
| Lammergeier | Gypaetus barbatus | Mountain cliffs, highlands; Ethiopia, East and North Africa | 20-25 |
| Leatherback turtle | Dermochelys coriacea | Open ocean, tropical coasts; Atlantic and Indian Ocean coasts of Africa | 30-50 |
| Leopard tortoise | Stigmochelys pardalis | Savanna, scrubland; Southern and Eastern Africa | 50-80 |
| Lanner falcon | Falco biarmicus | Open country, semi-desert; across Africa | 10-12 |
| Long-tailed pangolin | Phataginus tetradactyla | Tropical forest; Central and West Africa | 10-17 |
| Large-spotted genet | Genetta maculata | Forest edge, woodland, savanna; West to East Africa | 10 |
| Lesser kudu | Tragelaphus imberbis | Dry bush, acacia scrub; Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Somalia) | 10-12 |
| Lichtenstein’s hartebeest | Alcelaphus lichtensteinii | Open grassland, savanna; southern Africa | 12-15 |
| Little bustard | Tetrax tetrax | Open grassland and steppe; North Africa, parts of Sahel | 8-10 |
| Lilac-breasted roller | Coracias caudatus | Savanna, open woodland; sub-Saharan Africa | 8-10 |
| Long-legged buzzard | Buteo rufinus | Open country, semi-desert, cliffs; North Africa, Sahel | 12-15 |
| Long-eared hedgehog | Hemiechinus auritus | Semi-desert, steppe; North Africa, Sahel | 3-5 |
| Lesser flamingo | Phoenicopterus minor | Shallow alkaline lakes; East Africa Rift Valley | 20-30 |
| Little stint | Calidris minuta | Mudflats, wetlands; winters widely across sub-Saharan Africa | 6-10 |
| Little owl | Athene noctua | Open woodland, farmland; North Africa and parts of Mediterranean Africa | 3-6 |
| Little grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis | Freshwater ponds, marshes; widespread Africa | 5-8 |
| Long-tailed widowbird | Euplectes progne | Grassland, highveld; southern Africa | 3-6 |
| Long-billed pipit | Anthus similis | Open grassland and moorland; East and southern Africa highlands | 4-6 |
| Liben lark | Heteromirafra archeri | Dry grassland and semi-desert; Ethiopia–Somali border region | unknown |
| Long-crested eagle | Lophaetus occipitalis | Woodland, riverine areas; sub-Saharan Africa | 10-12 |
| Laughing dove | Spilopelia senegalensis | Urban areas, savanna, gardens; widespread Africa | 5-10 |
| Lesser galago (lesser bushbaby) | Galago senegalensis | Woodland, riverine forest, savanna; West to East Africa | 10-12 |
| Loggerhead sea turtle | Caretta caretta | Coastal beaches, open ocean; Mediterranean and African Atlantic/Indian coasts | 30-50 |
| Little tern | Sternula albifrons | Coastal beaches, estuaries; North and West African coasts | 10-15 |
| Little egret | Egretta garzetta | Wetlands, marshes, coasts; widespread Africa | 10-15 |
| Lesser kestrel | Falco naumanni | Open grassland, farmland; migratory, winters in sub-Saharan Africa | 8-12 |
| Lesser honeyguide | Indicator minor | Woodland, savanna; sub-Saharan Africa | unknown |
| Long-tailed cisticola | Cisticola angusticauda | Tall grassland, marsh edges; southern Africa | 3-5 |
| Lichtenstein’s sandgrouse | Pterocles lichtensteinii | Semi-desert, arid plains; North and East Africa | 8-12 |
| Lesser masked-weaver | Ploceus intermedius | Woodland edges, floodplain; sub-Saharan Africa | 3-6 |
Descriptions
Lion
Iconic social big cat living in prides; apex predator famous for male mane and group hunting.
Leopard
Solitary, adaptable big cat known for climbing and spotted coat; excellent ambush predator across varied habitats.
Lappet-faced vulture
Large scavenger with loose facial skin “lappets”; important carrion eater with powerful beak.
Lammergeier
Also called bearded vulture; drops bones to eat marrow and favors high, rocky habitats.
Leatherback turtle
Huge, soft-shelled sea turtle that dives deep and travels long distances; nests on African beaches.
Leopard tortoise
Spotted, robust tortoise common in dry habitats; long-lived herbivore with attractive shell pattern.
Lanner falcon
Powerful falcon that hunts birds in fast stoops; prized historically in falconry.
Long-tailed pangolin
Arboreal, scaly insectivore that eats ants and termites; threatened by poaching for scales.
Large-spotted genet
Small nocturnal carnivore with spotted coat and long tail; agile climber and opportunistic feeder.
Lesser kudu
Slender, spiral-horned antelope with striking stripes; secretive and adapted to dense thickets.
Lichtenstein’s hartebeest
Robust antelope with elongated head and curved horns; grazes in herds on plains.
Little bustard
Ground-dwelling bird known for display dances; prefers undisturbed grasslands.
Lilac-breasted roller
Vibrant, long-tailed bird often seen perched conspicuously; famous for colorful plumage.
Long-legged buzzard
Large raptor with long legs that hunts reptiles and small mammals in open habitats.
Long-eared hedgehog
Small nocturnal insectivore with distinctive long ears; shelters in burrows and forages at night.
Lesser flamingo
Small flamingo often forming huge, pink colonies feeding on algae; breeds at saline lakes.
Little stint
Tiny migratory wader seen in flocks on mudflats; notable for long-distance migrations.
Little owl
Small, daytime-and-night active owl with bold eyes; often near human settlements.
Little grebe
Tiny diving waterbird that nests among reeds; excellent swimmer and fish catcher.
Long-tailed widowbird
Male shows extreme long tail in breeding season; striking black-and-red plumage and dramatic displays.
Long-billed pipit
Ground-dwelling songbird with a long bill; forages for insects in tussocky grass.
Liben lark
Critically endangered lark with highly restricted range; ground-dwelling and poorly known to many birdwatchers.
Long-crested eagle
Medium-sized raptor with shaggy crest; hunts from perches for birds and reptiles.
Laughing dove
Small, gentle dove with soft cooing calls; tolerates human-modified landscapes.
Lesser galago (lesser bushbaby)
Nocturnal primate with large eyes and strong leaps; feeds on insects, fruit and gum.
Loggerhead sea turtle
Large marine turtle that nests on African beaches; strong-swimming omnivore with powerful jaws.
Little tern
Small, agile tern nesting on sandy shores; notable for graceful fishing flights.
Little egret
Slender white heron that forages in shallow water; often seen near people and boats.
Lesser kestrel
Small, colonial falcon that feeds on insects; migratory species present seasonally in Africa.
Lesser honeyguide
Small bird known for leading people or honey badgers to bees’ nests; brood parasite of other species.
Long-tailed cisticola
Small streaked warbler-like bird with a long tail; skulking and insectivorous.
Lichtenstein’s sandgrouse
Ground-dwelling bird adapted to dry habitats; flies to waterholes in tight flocks.
Lesser masked-weaver
Small, colonial weaver known for woven nests; males brightly colored in breeding season.