FONZ

The Nile crocodile or Common crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) is an African crocodile which is common in Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In antiquity, Nile crocodiles occurred in the Nile delta and the Zarqa River (Jordan), and they are recorded by Herodotus to have inhabited Lake Moeris. They are thought to have become extinct in the Seychelles in the early 19th century. It is known from fossil remains that they once inhabited Lake Edward. Nile crocodiles have a dark bronze colouration above, with black spots on the back and a dirty purple on the belly. The flanks, which are yellowish green in colour, have dark patches arranged in oblique stripes. There is some variation relative to environment; specimens from swift flowing waters tend to be lighter in colour than those dwelling in lakes or swamps. They have green eyes. They normally crawl along on their bellies, but they can also "high walk" with their trunks raised above the ground. Smaller specimens can gallop, and even larger crocodiles are capable of surprising bursts of speeds, briefly reaching up to 12 to 14 km/h (7.5 to 8.5 mi/h).

Females lay their eggs about two months after mating. Nesting is in November or December, which is the dry season in the north of Africa, and the rainy season in the south. Preferred nesting locations are sandy shores, dry stream beds, or riverbanks. The female then digs a hole a couple of meters from the bank and up to 500 mm (20 in) deep, and lays between 25 and 80 eggs. The number of eggs varies between different populations, but averages around 50. Multiple females may nest close together. The eggs resemble hen eggs, but have a much thinner shell. Unlike most other crocodilians, female Nile crocodiles will bury their eggs in sand rather than incubate them in rotting vegetation. After burying the eggs, the female then guards them for the 3 month incubation period.

The sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys) is an Old World monkey found in forests from Senegal east to Ghana. It is famous for being believed to be the monkey that HIV-2 might have originated in before jumping species. While overall rated as Vulnerable, the eastern race lunulatus, also known as the white-crowned or white-collared mangabey (leading to easy confusion with the collared mangabey), is considered Endangered by the IUCN. It is believed that a strain of the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) jumped from this species to humans to become the HIV-2 virus. The HIV-1 strain came from the common chimpanzee strain of SIV. The sooty mangabey can also contract leprosy, as can humans, the Nine-banded Armadillo, the common chimpanzee, and the crab-eating macaque.

The dromedary Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) is a large even-toed ungulate with one hump on its back. Its native range is unclear, but it was probably the Arabian Peninsula. The domesticated form occurs widely in North Africa and the Middle East the world's only population of dromedaries exhibiting wild behaviour is an introduced feral population in Australia. The dromedary camel is the largest member of the camel family. Other members of the camel family include the llama and the alpaca in South America. The Dromedary has one hump on its back, in contrast to the Bactrian camel, which has two.

The term peafowl can refer to the two species of bird in the genus Pavo of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. The African Congo Peafowl is placed in its own genus Afropavo and is not dealt with here. Peafowl are best known for the male's extravagant tail, which it displays as part of courtship. The male is called a peacock, and the female a peahen. The offspring are called peachicks. The female peafowl is brown or toned grey and brown. Peachicks can be between yellow, to a tawny colour with darker brown patches. The two species are:

Indian Peafowl, Pavo cristatus, a resident breeder in South Asia. The peacock is designated as the national bird of India and the provincial bird of the Punjab.

Green Peafowl, Pavo muticus. Breeds from Burma east to Java. The IUCN lists the Green Peafowl as vulnerable to extinction due to hunting and a reduction in extent and quality of habitat.

The Roloway monkey (Cercopithecus roloway) is a species of Old World monkey found in a small area of eastern Cote d'Ivoire and the forests of Ghana, between the Sassandra and Pra Rivers. The Roloway monkey is similar to other species of guenons but is distinguished by its lengthy beard. The Roloway Monkey's coat and face are predominantly black, while the throat and the interior side of its arms are white, and its hips and back are orange. The body length varies between 40 and 55 centimetres and its weight is between 4 and 7 kilograms. The species is arboreal, and forms social groups of 15 to 30 individuals. Its diet is composed of fruits, flowers, seeds and insects. The Roloway monkey is among the most threatened primates on the African continent, although exact figures for the species are not available.

Lunulatus-monkey, At a Close-up range with Offspring.

The Warthog, Wart-hog, Common Warthog, or African Lens-Pig (Phacochoerus africanus) is a wild member of the pig family that lives in grassland, savanna, and woodland in Sub-Saharan Africa. Warthogs range in size from 0.91 to 1.5 m (3.0 to 4.9 ft) in length and 50 to 75 kg (110 to 170 lb) in weight. A warthog is identifiable by the two pairs of tusks protruding from the mouth and curving upwards. The lower pair, which is far shorter than the upper pair, becomes razor sharp by rubbing against the upper pair every time the mouth is opened and closed. The warthog is the only pig species that has adapted to grazing and savanna habitats. Its diet is omnivorous, composed of grasses, roots, berries and other fruits, bark, fungi, eggs and carrion. The diet is seasonably variable, depending on availability of different food items. During the wet seasons warthogs graze on short perennial grasses

The Greater Cane Rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) is one of two species of cane rats, a small family of African hystricognath rodents. It inhabits Africa, south of the Saharan Desert. The cane rat lives by reedbeds and riverbanks. As humans move into such territories, the cane rats accepted plantations and cultivated areas. Cane rats can grow about two feet long in the longest individuals and weighs a little less than 19 lb (8.6 kg). It has rounded ears, short nose, and coarse bristly hair. Its forefeet are smaller than its hindfeet and supports its weight on only three toes. Cane rats live in small groups led by a single male. In the country of Ghana and other regions of West Africa, the Greater Cane Rat is usually called a grasscutter or cutting grass.

The Senegal Parrot (Poicephalus senegalus) is a Poicephalus parrot which is a resident breeder across a wide range of west Africa. It makes migrations within west Africa, according to the availability of the fruit, seeds and blossoms which make up its diet. It is considered a farm pest in Africa, often feeding on maize or millet. It is popular in aviculture. Senegal Parrots are about 23 cm (9 in.) long, weigh about 120 to 170 g. (4.2-6.0 oz.). They have a relatively large head and beak for their overall size, and feathers form a short broad tail Adults have a charcoal grey head, grey beak, bright yellow irises, green back and throat, and yellow underparts and rump. The yellow and green areas on a Senegal Parrot's front form a V-shape resembling a yellow vest worn over green.

The Ostrich, (Struthio camelus), is a large flightless bird native to Africa. It is the only living species of its family, Struthionidae and its genus, Struthio. Ostriches share the order Struthioniformes with the kiwis, emus, and other ratites. It is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs and the ability to run at maximum speeds of about 97.5 kilometres per hour (60.6 mph), the top land speed of any bird. The Ostrich is the largest living species of bird and lays the largest egg of any living bird (extinct elephant birds of Madagascar and the giant moa of New Zealand did lay larger eggs). The diet of the Ostrich mainly consists of plant matter, though it also eats invertebrates. Ostriches usually weigh from 63 to 130 kilograms (140-290 lb), with exceptional male Ostriches weighing up to 155 kilograms (340 lb). The feathers of adult males are mostly black, with white primaries and a white tail. However, the tail of one subspecies is buff. Females and young males are greyish-brown and white. The head and neck of both male and female Ostriches is nearly bare, with a thin layer of down. The long neck and legs keep their head 1.8 to 2.75 metres (6 to 9 ft) above the ground, and their eyes are said to be the largest of any land vertebrate - 50 millimetres (2.0 in) in diameter; they can therefore perceive predators at a great distance. The eyes are shaded from sun light falling from above.

By WAPCA: http://www.wapca.org

The hyena is a meat-eater that lives in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert, and in parts of the Middle East and Asia. Hyenas live in a variety of habitats, including savannas, dry plains, and brush. They are territorial, social animals that live in large groups called clans. Hyenas have an average life span of 12 years and can live up to 25 years.
When excited, a spotted hyena makes a giggling sound; this animal is often called the laughing hyena. There are many subspecies of hyenas, including the spotted hyena, the brown hyena, the striped hyena, and the aardwolf. The scientific name of the hyena is Crocuta crocuta. These strong runners are more closely related to mongooses and cats than they are to dogs (whom they superficially resemble).

Members of FONZ and WAPCA meets Nick Lindsay & Dave Morgan

Image by the Kind Courtesy of WAPCA: http://www.wapca.org

Image by the kind Courtesy of WAPCA: http://www.wapca.org