Species
Aardvark
Lootbox: None
By Kelly Abram - https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/175359469, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=134253363
Orycteropus afer
The aardvark is a burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa. They have large ears, sharp claws and long snouts and tongues that help them dig for insects. Aardvarks are pale yellow-gray with a thin coat and tough skin. Males are slightly larger and the sides of the face and tail are lighter in females and darker in males.
Range: Sub-Saharan Africa (except West and Central rainforest regions)
Habitat: Grassland and savannah
Size: 40-82 kg (88.11 to 180.62 lb); 100-158 cm (39.37-62.20 in)
Life Span: 18 years in the wild; 23 years in captivity
Feeding: Myrmecophagus, specialising in ants and termites.
Reproduction: Polygynous with a gestation of seven months to bear one cub. It is weaned between three to three and a half weeks and typically remains with its mother until the next mating season. Aardvarks are sexually mature at two years of age.
Conservation Status: Least concern and they adapt well to captivity.
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Full Classification:
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Tubulidentata |
| Family: | Orycteropodidae |
| Genus: | Orycteropus |
| Species: |
O. afer
|
Aardwolf
Lootbox: None
By Stefan Haag - Photo 107167442, (c) Stefan Haag, some rights reserved (CC BY), CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=121677777
Proteles cristatus
The aardwolf is a small, nocturnal hyaenidae. They have dark stripes on yellow to brown fur with a thick mane from the back of the head to the tail with a bushy black tail and black legs. Like other hyaenidaes, they have longer forelegs which gives them a sloped appearance. There is no sexual dimorphisim within the species.
Range: There are two distinct populations. The southern population is found in southern Zambia, Angola, Mozambique, northeastern Uganda and Somalia. The northeastern population is in central Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt.
Habitat: Savanna and grassland
Size: 8-14 kg (17.62 to 30.84 lb); 85-105 cm (33.46 to 41.34 in)
Life Span: Possibly 18 years in the wild; up to 20 years in captivity
Feeding: Insectivore only eating termites from the Trinevitermes and Hodotermes groups.
Reproduction: Polygynous. Gestation is 3 months and they give birth to 2 to 5 cubs. They remain underground for the first month and increase foraging distance every couple of months with parental supervision. Weaning is completed by 4 months of age, but they aren't independent until typically 1 year. Both the male and female care and protect the cubs until they are independent.
Conservation Status: Least concern. Difficult to adapt to captivity only because of their highly specialized diet.
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Full Classification:
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Hyaenidae |
| Genus: | Proteles |
| Species: | P. cristata |
African Buffalo
Lootbox: None
By Charles J. Sharp - Own work, from Sharp Photography, sharpphotography.co.uk, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68494466
Syncerus caffer
The African buffalo consists of multiple species of buffalo that are native to sub-Saharan Africa. A diverse population, there are typically three to five species currently recognized: the Cape buffalo, the forest buffalo, the Sudan buffalo, the Nile buffalo, and occasionally, the mountain buffalo. In ZARPG, we recognize the Cape, forest and Sudanese buffalo while the Nile and mountain buffalo fall within the Sudan subspecies. There is a high degree of sexual dimorphisim with males being larger with larger horns.
Range: Species of African buffalo can be found throughout the near entirety of central and south Africa but are often fragmented.
Habitat: Buffalo can inhabit any type of habitat as long as there is permanent water and grasses.
Size: Depending on the species, they can weigh less than 300 kgs (660 lbs) or over 835 kgs (1837 lbs).
Life Span: 11-22 years in the wild; 16-29 years in captivty.
Feeding: Herbivore
Reproduction: Polygynandrous. Mating can occur at any time but peak during wet seasons. They have a gestation period of 340 days and typically have 1 calf with twins being very rare. Calves can wean any time between 4 to 18 months depending on life circumstances, specifically if the mother is present or not. It takes calves 1-2 years for independence and they dont reach sexual maturity until 4.5 years for males and 5 years for females.
Conservation Status: Least concern as a whole but certain subspecies have different statuses. Adapt readily to captivity.
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Full Classification:
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Bovidae |
| Genus: | Syncerus |
| Species: | S. caffer |
American Alligator
Lootbox: None
By Bobyellow - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=106773651
Alligator mississippiensis
One of two extant species of alligator, the American alligator are apex predators that are traditionally found in freshwater in temperate regions. They are olive black in colour with short, thick limbs, a round snout and have no visible teeth when their mouth is closed. They are social animals, living in small, close-knit groups. Hatchlings are more social than adults, sticking together for safety.
Range: They are native to North America and are found from North Carolina to Florida to Texas.
Habitat: Freshwaters and very rarely in brackish waters. Larger males can be found in open water whereas smaller females tend to be closer to land.
Size: 91-360 kg (200.44 to 792.95 lb); 257-437 cm (101.18 to 172.05 in)
Life Span: 20-50 years in the wild; 20-70 years in captivity
Feeding: Carnivore
Reproduction: Polygynandrous. Alligators mate from April to early June. Eggs hatch 60 days after being laid. Sex is temperature dependent with females being hatched when temperature is 31C and lower and male being hatched when temperature is 33C or higher. At 32C, an even amount is hatched. Eggs are produced in multiple clutches with anywhere from 2-58 eggs laid at once. Females are highly maternal and protect the nest and can stay with her hatchlings up to a year. Sexual maturity is influenced by length instead of years, typically taking 10-20 years for females and 10-18 years for males.
Conservation Status: Least concern. Adapt readily to captivity given proper water parameters and space.
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Full Classification:
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Crocodylia |
| Family: | Crocodylidae |
| Genus: | Alligator |
| Species: | A. mississippiensis |