Africa’s little five – weird and wonderful on a small scale

Everyone knows about the African Big Five, but did you know that there exists the African Little Five? They are small, somewhat elusive and definitely very interesting. Next time you’re on safari why not try to tick off these little creatures on your ‘must-see’ list.

Elephant Shrew

The elephant shrew is an insect-eating mammal with a long nose, it is a very shy little creature and isn’t seen often. Elephant shrews are terrestrial and are active during the day. Their ears and eyes are large, and, when alarmed, they run on their toes swiftly along paths they construct and maintain, sometimes leaping over obstacles. When foraging, they move along the pathways, using their paws and the constantly moving their snout to turn over leaves and soil in search of prey, which consists of small insects (especially ants and termites) and earthworms.

Where to see it: Dense forests to open plains in Kenya and Tanzania

Ant Lion

The larvae of antlions are sometimes referred to as "doodlebugs" because of the meandering trails some species leave in the sand as they wander around looking for a place to settle in and find some food. Don't let the cute nickname or the accidental artwork fool you, though.  While adult antlions can be beautiful, with a slender dragonfly-like body and delicate wings that are crisscrossed by veins, the larvae are grotesque looking, even by the standards of insects. Their bodies are bulging and hairy, and their flat heads sit on elongated necks and feature a pair of sickle-shaped mandibles. And those cute little doodles they leave on the ground? They end when the larva finds the perfect place to build a death trap. 

Where to see it: Sandy areas in South Africa

Buffalo Weaver Bird

There are two kinds of buffalo weaver – the common black buffalo weaver and the white-headed buffalo weaver. The White-headed Buffalo-Weaver feeds primarily on insects. It also dines on fruits and seeds. It forages in groups of 3-6 birds, and often with other species such as Sturnidae. In Kenya, it is found in open woodlands in mixed-species flocks. It forages on or near the ground in thorny bushes. Its strong bill allows it to crack open the hard seeds. They feed in acrobatic way and can hang upside-down, almost similar to the parrots. When they climb among foliage and branches in trees, they are very noisy. They are territorial and can be aggressive towards intruders, but the encounters are mainly vocal. Usually, they are sociable and feed, breed and roost together.

Where to see it: Woodlands of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania

Rhino Beetle

Rhino beetles are one of the larger beetles with hard black armour covering their bodies. These are among the largest species of beetles in the world. The Rhinoceros Beetle is aptly named because it has horns on its head, very much like the rhinoceros does. Rhino Beetles can reach up to 60 millimetres in length. They have two horns, one on the top of the head and the other projecting forward from the middle of the thorax. The two horns almost meet and by moving its head the beetle can pinch weakly with them. The male Rhinoceros Beetles use their horns in mating battles against other males. Scientists believe that the beetle has become so strong to be able to forage through heavy litter on the jungle floor and dig its way to safety. Using its horns, it can dig its way out of a sticky situation by burying itself underground, escaping danger.

Where to see it: In the undergrowth on every continent except Antarctica

Leopard Tortoise

Bringing up the rear (slowly and steadily) is the Leopard Tortoise. Leopard tortoises are herbivorous. They are more defensive than offensive, retracting feet and head into their shell for protection. This often results in a hissing sound, probably due to the squeezing of air from the lungs as the limbs and head are retracted. Adult leopard tortoises measure from 10 to 18 inches long depending on the geographic origin and subspecies. The South African subspecies may grow to 24 inches and the giants from Ethiopia and Somalia may approach 30 inches. Due to wide geographic variations there are no set standards. Leopard tortoises live between 50 and 100 years in the wild.

Where to see it: Grassland and semi-arid areas throughout Southern Africa