127:
698:
119:
754:
22:
447:
392:, flourished in immense quantities, and little else is found in the way of vegetation. South Africa is largely destitute of forest, save in the lower valleys and coast regions. Tropical flora disappears, and in the semi-desert plains the fleshy, leafless, contorted species of kapsias,
432:) and ironwood. Extensive miniature woods of heaths are found in almost endless variety and covered throughout the greater part of the year with innumerable blossoms in which red is very prevalent. Of the grasses of Africa, alfa is very abundant in the plateaus of the Atlas range.
238:
The more humid regions have a richer vegetation; dense forest where the rainfall is greatest and variations of temperature least, conditions found chiefly on the tropical coasts, and in the west
African equatorial basin with its extension towards the upper
583:
of northern Africa presents a close resemblance to that of southern Europe, scarcely a species being found which does not also occur in the other countries bordering the
Mediterranean. Among the birds most characteristic of Africa are the
525:(though its range has become restricted through the attacks of hunters) is found both in the savannas and forest regions, the latter being otherwise poor in large game, though the special habitat of the
556:, the former entirely confined to Africa. The vast herds of game, formerly so characteristic of many parts of Africa, have much diminished with the increase of intercourse with the interior.
296:
or silk cotton trees attain gigantic proportions in the forests, which are the home of the India rubber-producing plants and of many valuable kinds of timber trees, such as odum (
1040:
223:, the conditions alter. The zones of minimum rainfall have a very scanty flora, consisting of plants adapted to resist the great dryness. Characteristic of the
369:. The higher mountains have a special flora showing close agreement over wide intervals of space, as well as affinities with the mountain flora of the eastern
1250:
1163:
1642:
1637:
1632:
1627:
1617:
1612:
1607:
1602:
1597:
1592:
1587:
1582:
1501:
247:
interspersed with trees on the greater part of the plateaus, passing as the desert regions are approached into a scrub vegetation consisting of
1523:
251:, etc. Forests also occur on the humid slopes of mountain ranges up to a certain elevation. In the coast regions, the typical tree is the
1538:
1045:
978:
686:, whose bite is fatal to all domestic animals, is common in many districts of South and East Africa. It is found nowhere outside Africa.
775:
86:
1240:
39:
58:
766:
1153:
389:
1496:
861:
849:
808:
65:
1416:
1245:
1138:
1182:
576:, etc., while measures for the protection of wild animals were laid down in an international convention signed in May 1900.
156:
is the study and description of organisms and natural objects, especially their origins, evolution, and interrelationships.
1469:
1202:
336:). The climbing plants in the tropical forests are exceedingly luxuriant and the undergrowth or "bush" is extremely dense.
72:
1449:
961:
1699:
54:
1454:
1143:
105:
461:
The fauna again shows the effect of the characteristics of the vegetation. The open savannas are the home of large
1664:
1050:
821:
131:
1513:
1290:
1235:
893:
888:
231:, which flourishes where other vegetation can scarcely maintain existence, while in the semidesert regions the
43:
1255:
172:
follows very closely the distribution of heat and moisture. The northern and southern temperate zones have a
1275:
971:
801:
1434:
1285:
1009:
966:
951:
79:
1533:
1339:
1065:
1055:
994:
923:
844:
400:
and other succulent plants make their appearance. There are, too, valuable timber trees, such as the
1559:
1329:
1265:
1168:
1097:
935:
918:
126:
1324:
1319:
1209:
1004:
176:
distinct from that of the continent generally, which is tropical. In the countries bordering the
32:
1528:
1508:
1488:
1371:
1187:
1148:
1014:
999:
898:
794:
565:
450:
1158:
759:
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
908:
406:
545:, as a domestic animal, is especially characteristic of the northern deserts and steppes.
8:
1344:
1334:
1260:
1133:
1128:
1028:
930:
913:
856:
569:
370:
324:
298:
1518:
1411:
1391:
1349:
1314:
1270:
1197:
878:
605:
341:
312:
1657:
1474:
1359:
1280:
1223:
903:
871:
829:
346:
280:
177:
1444:
1381:
1173:
393:
339:
In the savannas the most characteristic trees are the monkey-bread tree or baobab (
1673:
1545:
1426:
1406:
1401:
1396:
1386:
1085:
956:
883:
866:
441:
286:
220:
153:
1622:
1577:
1572:
1567:
1192:
1070:
633:
181:
1693:
1678:
1439:
1123:
770:
760:
703:
589:
248:
213:
1464:
1080:
561:
557:
549:
478:
358:
118:
1459:
1376:
1090:
1075:
601:
580:
526:
506:
505:(a genus restricted to Africa) is found only in the dense forests of the
267:
1111:
779:. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 323.
683:
629:
613:
573:
486:
425:
421:
401:
378:
318:
165:
290:(bamboo palm), not found, generally speaking, in the savanna regions.
648:
621:
609:
553:
411:
354:
275:
228:
201:
147:
143:
21:
679:
670:
is the proverbial scourge of the continent, and the ravages of the
659:
655:, though these are not so numerous as in other tropical countries.
538:
522:
466:
462:
446:
374:
366:
307:
271:
252:
193:
786:
711:
675:
671:
640:
617:
585:
541:, with few exceptions, are peculiar to Africa. The single-humped
530:
494:
470:
385:
362:
329:
244:
209:
817:
667:
663:
644:
625:
597:
593:
592:. The ostrich is widely dispersed, but is found chiefly in the
534:
482:
416:
292:
263:
232:
224:
205:
169:
652:
542:
502:
498:
474:
303:
256:
185:
173:
514:
510:
490:
397:
240:
197:
666:, Africa has many thousand different kinds; of these the
518:
189:
600:
regions. The secretarybird is common in the south. The
693:
46:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
636:, are noted for the brilliance of their feathers.
235:, from which gum arabic is obtained, is abundant.
765:Heawood, Edward; Cana, Frank Richardson (1911). "
388:and associated plants, including the soft-wooded
1691:
651:are common, and there are a number of venomous
608:, are abundant, as are, among game-birds, the
361:grows wild in such widely separated places as
802:
255:, which flourishes wherever the soil is of a
548:The rivers in the tropical zone abound with
764:
384:In the swamp regions of north-east Africa,
270:contain, in addition to a great variety of
809:
795:
747:
616:. Many of the smaller birds, such as the
106:Learn how and when to remove this message
745:
743:
741:
739:
737:
735:
733:
731:
729:
727:
445:
125:
117:
1692:
122:A composite satellite image of Africa.
790:
724:
674:are almost incredible. The spread of
44:adding citations to reliable sources
15:
816:
560:have, however, been established in
142:encompasses some of the well known
13:
513:are confined to the Atlas region,
14:
1711:
1455:Confederation of African Football
489:; and of carnivores, such as the
752:
696:
604:and their allies, including the
20:
31:needs additional citations for
1:
717:
132:Köppen climate classification
7:
1183:International organisations
689:
55:"Natural history of Africa"
10:
1716:
1435:Africa Cricket Association
1241:Countries by GDP (nominal)
439:
1700:Natural history of Africa
1651:
1558:
1487:
1450:Australian-rules football
1425:
1367:
1358:
1310:
1303:
1231:
1222:
1119:
1110:
1041:Countries and territories
1036:
1027:
987:
944:
837:
828:
455:Panthera leo bleyenberghi
140:natural history of Africa
632:, as well as the larger
435:
159:
1497:Countries by population
1210:United States of Africa
776:Encyclopædia Britannica
1246:Countries by GDP (PPP)
1188:Pan-African Parliament
979:Science and technology
473:(peculiar to Africa),
458:
451:Southwest African lion
180:, there are groves of
135:
123:
899:European colonisation
862:Pre-colonial kingdoms
521:to North Africa. The
449:
129:
121:
1470:Stadiums by capacity
1417:World Heritage Sites
894:European exploration
485:and four species of
407:Podocarpus elongatus
40:improve this article
1154:Freedom of religion
1139:Heads of government
931:Scramble for Africa
606:long-tailed whydahs
325:Oldfieldia africana
299:Chlorophora excelsa
879:Indian Ocean trade
459:
342:Adansonia digitata
313:Khaya senegalensis
200:, intermixed with
136:
124:
1687:
1686:
1554:
1553:
1483:
1482:
1299:
1298:
1276:Natural resources
1218:
1217:
1164:Linguistic rights
1106:
1105:
1023:
1022:
394:mesembryanthemums
281:Elaeis guineensis
188:trees, evergreen
116:
115:
108:
90:
1707:
1667:
1660:
1445:Afro-Asian Games
1365:
1364:
1308:
1307:
1286:Renewable energy
1251:Countries by HDI
1229:
1228:
1117:
1116:
1034:
1033:
835:
834:
811:
804:
797:
788:
787:
781:
780:
758:
756:
755:
749:
706:
701:
700:
699:
662:is abundant. Of
430:Pteroxylon utile
111:
104:
100:
97:
91:
89:
48:
24:
16:
1715:
1714:
1710:
1709:
1708:
1706:
1705:
1704:
1690:
1689:
1688:
1683:
1670:
1663:
1656:
1647:
1550:
1546:Youth in Africa
1524:Life expectancy
1479:
1421:
1397:Africanfuturism
1354:
1295:
1291:Stock exchanges
1214:
1102:
1061:Natural history
1019:
983:
940:
889:Muslim conquest
884:Bantu expansion
824:
815:
785:
784:
753:
751:
750:
725:
720:
702:
697:
695:
692:
682:is common. The
634:plantain-eaters
444:
442:Fauna of Africa
438:
287:Raphia vinifera
284:(oil palm) and
221:Atlas Mountains
162:
154:Natural history
112:
101:
95:
92:
49:
47:
37:
25:
12:
11:
5:
1713:
1703:
1702:
1685:
1684:
1682:
1681:
1676:
1669:
1668:
1661:
1653:
1652:
1649:
1648:
1646:
1645:
1640:
1635:
1630:
1625:
1620:
1615:
1610:
1605:
1600:
1595:
1590:
1585:
1580:
1575:
1570:
1564:
1562:
1556:
1555:
1552:
1551:
1549:
1548:
1543:
1542:
1541:
1536:
1526:
1521:
1516:
1511:
1506:
1505:
1504:
1493:
1491:
1485:
1484:
1481:
1480:
1478:
1477:
1475:Tour d'Afrique
1472:
1467:
1462:
1457:
1452:
1447:
1442:
1437:
1431:
1429:
1423:
1422:
1420:
1419:
1414:
1409:
1404:
1399:
1394:
1389:
1384:
1379:
1374:
1368:
1362:
1356:
1355:
1353:
1352:
1347:
1342:
1337:
1332:
1330:Climate change
1327:
1322:
1317:
1311:
1305:
1301:
1300:
1297:
1296:
1294:
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1266:Infrastructure
1263:
1258:
1253:
1248:
1243:
1238:
1232:
1226:
1220:
1219:
1216:
1215:
1213:
1212:
1207:
1206:
1205:
1195:
1193:Pan-Africanism
1190:
1185:
1180:
1179:
1178:
1177:
1176:
1169:Women's rights
1166:
1161:
1156:
1146:
1144:Heads of state
1141:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1120:
1114:
1108:
1107:
1104:
1103:
1101:
1100:
1095:
1094:
1093:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1073:
1063:
1058:
1053:
1051:Impact craters
1048:
1046:Highest points
1043:
1037:
1031:
1025:
1024:
1021:
1020:
1018:
1017:
1012:
1007:
1002:
997:
991:
989:
985:
984:
982:
981:
976:
975:
974:
964:
962:Historiography
959:
954:
948:
946:
942:
941:
939:
938:
936:Decolonisation
933:
928:
927:
926:
921:
916:
911:
901:
896:
891:
886:
881:
876:
875:
874:
869:
859:
854:
853:
852:
841:
839:
832:
826:
825:
814:
813:
806:
799:
791:
783:
782:
771:Chisholm, Hugh
722:
721:
719:
716:
715:
714:
708:
707:
691:
688:
566:Central Africa
440:Main article:
437:
434:
249:thorny acacias
161:
158:
130:Africa map of
114:
113:
28:
26:
19:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1712:
1701:
1698:
1697:
1695:
1680:
1677:
1675:
1672:
1671:
1666:
1662:
1659:
1655:
1654:
1650:
1644:
1641:
1639:
1636:
1634:
1631:
1629:
1626:
1624:
1621:
1619:
1616:
1614:
1611:
1609:
1606:
1604:
1601:
1599:
1596:
1594:
1591:
1589:
1586:
1584:
1581:
1579:
1576:
1574:
1571:
1569:
1566:
1565:
1563:
1561:
1557:
1547:
1544:
1540:
1537:
1535:
1532:
1531:
1530:
1527:
1525:
1522:
1520:
1517:
1515:
1514:Ethnic groups
1512:
1510:
1507:
1503:
1500:
1499:
1498:
1495:
1494:
1492:
1490:
1486:
1476:
1473:
1471:
1468:
1466:
1463:
1461:
1458:
1456:
1453:
1451:
1448:
1446:
1443:
1441:
1440:African Games
1438:
1436:
1433:
1432:
1430:
1428:
1424:
1418:
1415:
1413:
1410:
1408:
1405:
1403:
1400:
1398:
1395:
1393:
1390:
1388:
1385:
1383:
1380:
1378:
1375:
1373:
1370:
1369:
1366:
1363:
1361:
1357:
1351:
1348:
1346:
1343:
1341:
1338:
1336:
1333:
1331:
1328:
1326:
1325:Caste systems
1323:
1321:
1320:Birth control
1318:
1316:
1313:
1312:
1309:
1306:
1302:
1292:
1289:
1287:
1284:
1282:
1279:
1277:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1247:
1244:
1242:
1239:
1237:
1236:Central banks
1234:
1233:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1221:
1211:
1208:
1204:
1201:
1200:
1199:
1196:
1194:
1191:
1189:
1186:
1184:
1181:
1175:
1172:
1171:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1152:
1151:
1150:
1147:
1145:
1142:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1124:African Union
1122:
1121:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1109:
1099:
1096:
1092:
1089:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1079:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1069:
1068:
1067:
1064:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1039:
1038:
1035:
1032:
1030:
1026:
1016:
1013:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
992:
990:
986:
980:
977:
973:
970:
969:
968:
965:
963:
960:
958:
955:
953:
950:
949:
947:
943:
937:
934:
932:
929:
925:
924:Trans-Saharan
922:
920:
917:
915:
912:
910:
907:
906:
905:
902:
900:
897:
895:
892:
890:
887:
885:
882:
880:
877:
873:
870:
868:
865:
864:
863:
860:
858:
855:
851:
848:
847:
846:
843:
842:
840:
836:
833:
831:
827:
823:
819:
812:
807:
805:
800:
798:
793:
792:
789:
778:
777:
772:
768:
762:
761:public domain
748:
746:
744:
742:
740:
738:
736:
734:
732:
730:
728:
723:
713:
710:
709:
705:
704:Africa portal
694:
687:
685:
681:
677:
673:
669:
665:
661:
656:
654:
650:
646:
642:
637:
635:
631:
627:
623:
619:
615:
611:
607:
603:
599:
595:
591:
590:secretarybird
587:
582:
577:
575:
571:
567:
563:
559:
558:Game reserves
555:
551:
546:
544:
540:
536:
532:
528:
524:
520:
516:
512:
508:
504:
500:
496:
492:
488:
484:
480:
476:
472:
468:
465:, especially
464:
456:
452:
448:
443:
433:
431:
427:
423:
419:
418:
413:
409:
408:
403:
399:
395:
391:
387:
382:
380:
376:
372:
371:Mediterranean
368:
365:and southern
364:
360:
356:
352:
348:
344:
343:
337:
335:
334:Baphia nitida
331:
327:
326:
321:
320:
315:
314:
309:
305:
301:
300:
295:
294:
289:
288:
283:
282:
277:
273:
269:
265:
260:
258:
254:
250:
246:
242:
236:
234:
230:
226:
222:
219:South of the
217:
215:
212:and fragrant
211:
207:
203:
199:
195:
191:
187:
183:
179:
178:Mediterranean
175:
171:
167:
157:
155:
151:
149:
145:
141:
133:
128:
120:
110:
107:
99:
88:
85:
81:
78:
74:
71:
67:
64:
60:
57: –
56:
52:
51:Find sources:
45:
41:
35:
34:
29:This article
27:
23:
18:
17:
1529:Urbanization
1489:Demographics
1465:Rugby Africa
1372:Architecture
1256:Billionaires
1149:Human rights
1060:
919:Indian Ocean
850:North Africa
774:
678:by means of
657:
638:
602:weaver birds
578:
562:South Africa
547:
460:
454:
429:
415:
405:
383:
359:coffee plant
350:
340:
338:
333:
323:
317:
311:
297:
291:
285:
279:
261:
237:
218:
163:
152:
139:
137:
102:
93:
83:
76:
69:
62:
50:
38:Please help
33:verification
30:
1539:urban areas
1460:FIBA Africa
1159:LGBT rights
857:Archaeology
630:kingfishers
581:ornithology
570:East Africa
550:hippopotami
501:, etc. The
268:West Africa
259:character.
214:tree-heaths
1509:Emigration
1412:Philosophy
1392:Literature
838:Chronology
718:References
684:tsetse fly
680:mosquitoes
622:bee-eaters
614:guineafowl
574:Somaliland
554:crocodiles
527:chimpanzee
487:rhinoceros
426:Cape ebony
422:sneezewood
402:yellowwood
379:Indo-China
355:euphorbias
319:Oldfieldia
262:The dense
196:trees and
166:vegetation
66:newspapers
1345:Languages
1335:Etiquette
1261:Education
1134:Democracy
1129:Elections
1029:Geography
988:By region
972:conflicts
845:Antiquity
649:chameleon
610:francolin
539:mandrills
467:antelopes
463:ungulates
412:stinkwood
347:doum palm
272:hardwoods
229:date palm
202:cypresses
148:continent
144:megafauna
96:July 2008
1694:Category
1674:Category
1519:HIV/AIDS
1350:Religion
1315:Abortion
1271:Internet
1198:Politics
1174:feminism
1112:Politics
967:Military
945:By topic
909:Atlantic
872:Sahelian
822:articles
690:See also
672:termites
660:scorpion
641:reptiles
618:sunbirds
588:and the
523:elephant
375:Himalaya
367:Ethiopia
351:Hyphaene
308:mahogany
253:mangrove
146:of that
1658:Outline
1560:By year
1502:density
1387:Cuisine
1360:Culture
1304:Society
1281:Poverty
1224:Economy
1203:parties
1071:Central
1066:Regions
1056:Islands
995:Central
957:Empires
952:Economy
914:Barbary
904:Slavery
867:Empires
830:History
773:(ed.).
763::
712:Ecology
676:malaria
664:insects
626:parrots
586:ostrich
535:Baboons
531:gorilla
509:basin.
495:leopard
481:, wild
479:buffalo
471:giraffe
386:papyrus
363:Liberia
330:camwood
264:forests
245:savanna
227:is the
210:arbutus
206:myrtles
80:scholar
1679:Portal
1534:cities
1382:Cinema
1340:Health
1098:Rivers
820:
818:Africa
769:". In
767:Africa
757:
668:locust
653:snakes
645:lizard
643:, the
624:, the
598:steppe
594:desert
515:wolves
483:donkey
469:, the
417:Ocotea
390:ambach
373:, the
357:. The
353:) and
328:) and
293:Bombax
274:, two
243:; and
233:acacia
225:Sahara
182:orange
170:Africa
82:
75:
68:
61:
53:
1665:Index
1427:Sport
1407:Music
1402:Media
1086:South
1081:North
1010:South
1005:North
543:camel
519:foxes
511:Bears
507:Congo
503:okapi
499:hyena
475:zebra
436:Fauna
398:aloes
304:ebony
276:palms
257:swamp
198:pines
186:olive
174:flora
160:Flora
87:JSTOR
73:books
1643:2020
1638:2019
1633:2018
1628:2017
1623:2016
1618:2015
1613:2014
1608:2013
1603:2012
1598:2011
1593:2010
1588:2009
1583:2008
1578:2007
1573:2006
1568:2005
1091:West
1076:East
1015:West
1000:East
658:The
647:and
628:and
612:and
596:and
579:The
552:and
537:and
529:and
517:and
491:lion
377:and
241:Nile
194:cork
190:oaks
184:and
164:The
138:The
59:news
1377:Art
639:Of
424:or
420:),
410:),
345:),
316:),
302:),
266:of
168:of
42:by
1696::
726:^
620:,
572:,
568:,
564:,
533:.
497:,
493:,
477:,
457:).
396:,
381:.
306:,
278:,
216:.
208:,
204:,
192:,
150:.
810:e
803:t
796:v
453:(
428:(
414:(
404:(
349:(
332:(
322:(
310:(
134:.
109:)
103:(
98:)
94:(
84:·
77:·
70:·
63:·
36:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
.jpg)
