List of Ethiopia’s Native Animals

Ethiopia’s varied landscapes — from highland plateaus and the Simien Mountains to the Rift Valley and lowland savannas — support a rich mix of mammals, birds and other wildlife. Whether you’re researching species for a visit or just curious about biodiversity, knowing where animals live and how they’re classified helps make sense of that variety.

There are 52 Ethiopia’s native animals, ranging from Aardvark to Yellow-fronted Parrot. The list is organized so each entry shows Scientific name,IUCN / size,Ethiopia range & habitat — details you’ll find below.

Which of these animals are found only in Ethiopia?

A few species are endemic, meaning they occur naturally only within Ethiopia’s borders; look for animals whose Ethiopia range is tightly restricted to highland plateaus or specific mountain systems. Notable endemics include the Ethiopian wolf, gelada and Walia ibex, and the list’s range column makes those distinctions clear.

How should I use the IUCN / size and range columns when planning to see wildlife?

Use the IUCN / size column to gauge how common or rare a species is and whether extra permits or guided trips are advised; the range & habitat column points to parks and elevational zones where sightings are most likely, and size helps set expectations for how easy a species will be to spot.

Ethiopia’s Native Animals

Images and Descriptions

Ethiopian Wolf

The world’s rarest canid, this slender, long-legged wolf has a striking red coat. It specializes in hunting high-altitude rodents like the giant mole-rat and is threatened by disease from domestic dogs.

Gelada

Often called the “bleeding-heart monkey” for its red chest patch. The world’s only grass-eating primate, they live in huge herds and communicate with complex vocalizations and lip-flips.

Walia Ibex

A magnificent wild goat endemic to Ethiopia, with huge, backward-curving horns. Once near extinction, conservation has helped numbers recover, but they remain confined to the breathtaking Simien escarpment.

Mountain Nyala

A large, majestic antelope with spiral horns and subtle white markings. Endemic to the Ethiopian highlands, this elusive browser is a flagship species for the conservation of its unique habitat.

Bale Monkey

A striking, tree-dwelling monkey endemic to Ethiopia’s southern highlands. It has a specialized diet, feeding primarily on bamboo. Its distinctive long white cheek whiskers make it a unique sight.

Grevy’s Zebra

The largest wild equid, distinguished by its narrow, close-set stripes and large, rounded ears. It’s more donkey-like than other zebras and is highly endangered due to habitat loss and competition for water.

African Wild Dog

Also known as the painted dog for its unique mottled coat. A highly social and efficient pack hunter, it’s one of Africa’s most endangered carnivores, facing threats from human conflict and disease.

Lion

The king of beasts, known for its powerful roar and social prides. Ethiopia is home to several populations, including some with famously dark or black manes, a symbol of national pride.

Cheetah

The world’s fastest land animal, built for incredible bursts of speed to catch prey. Its slender body, long legs, and distinctive “tear-marks” on its face make it an iconic savanna predator.

Leopard

The most adaptable of the big cats, the leopard is a master of stealth. This solitary and elusive predator is known for its rosette-patterned coat and its incredible strength for hauling kills into trees.

Swayne’s Hartebeest

An endangered subspecies of hartebeest endemic to Ethiopia. Recognized by its long face, high shoulders, and deeply ridged, U-shaped horns. Conservation efforts are focused in its namesake sanctuary.

Giant Forest Hog

The largest wild pig species in the world. Covered in coarse black hair, these shy, nocturnal animals live in small groups and use their large snouts to root for food in the forest undergrowth.

Hamadryas Baboon

A desert-dwelling baboon with a complex social structure. Males are impressive with a long, silver-grey cape of fur, while females are brown. They are often seen in large troops near cliffs.

Gerenuk

The “giraffe-necked” antelope, known for its remarkably long neck and legs. It has a unique feeding behavior, often standing on its hind legs to browse on tall acacia bushes that others can’t reach.

Soemmerring’s Gazelle

A large, pale-colored gazelle with striking lyre-shaped horns that curve backwards. It is well-adapted to arid environments but faces threats from habitat degradation and overhunting across its range.

Menelik’s Bushbuck

A dark, almost black subspecies of bushbuck found at high altitudes. Its shaggy, dark coat provides camouflage in the dense forests and heathlands of the Ethiopian highlands, making it a very handsome animal.

Starck’s Hare

An endemic hare perfectly adapted to Ethiopia’s high-altitude grasslands. Its thick, grizzled-grey fur provides insulation in the cold mountain climate. It is a primary prey species for the Ethiopian Wolf.

Giant Mole-rat

A bizarre-looking, large rodent endemic to the Bale Mountains. It spends most of its life underground, creating extensive burrow systems. It is the preferred prey of the endangered Ethiopian Wolf.

Spotted Hyena

Known for its iconic “laugh” and powerful bone-crushing jaws. This highly intelligent and social carnivore is both a scavenger and a formidable hunter, living in female-dominated clans.

Aardvark

A unique nocturnal mammal with powerful claws, a pig-like snout, and rabbit-like ears. It is an expert digger, feeding almost exclusively on ants and termites which it excavates from their mounds.

Caracal

A medium-sized wild cat with distinctive long, black-tufted ears. An incredibly agile hunter, it can leap high into the air to catch birds. Its stealth and power make it a formidable predator.

Serval

A slender, long-legged cat with a spotted coat and very large ears used for locating prey. It is an expert pouncer, using its long legs to leap onto small rodents and birds hidden in the grass.

African Elephant

The world’s largest land animal, known for its intelligence, complex social structures, and iconic trunk. Ethiopian populations are fragmented and face significant threats from poaching and habitat loss.

Hippopotamus

A large, semi-aquatic mammal that spends its days in water to keep cool. Despite its placid appearance, the hippo is one of Africa’s most dangerous animals, emerging at night to graze on grass.

Nile Crocodile

Africa’s largest crocodilian, a formidable apex predator of Ethiopia’s waterways. They are often seen basking on riverbanks and are famous for the “crocodile market” spectacle on Lake Chamo.

Guenther’s Dik-dik

A tiny antelope with a distinctive elongated, mobile snout. They are typically seen in monogamous pairs and use their prehensile noses to browse on leaves, shoots, and fruits in dry habitats.

Klipspringer

A small, sure-footed antelope that lives on rocky outcrops. It walks on the very tips of its cylindrical hooves, giving it a remarkable grip on steep rock faces as it navigates its vertical world.

Black-and-white Colobus

A striking monkey known for its black fur and long, flowing white mantle, shoulders, and tail. These leaf-eating monkeys are highly arboreal and are often seen making spectacular leaps between trees.

Olive Baboon

The most widespread baboon species, recognized by its olive-grey coat. They are highly adaptable and live in large, complex social troops, foraging on the ground for a wide variety of foods.

Thick-billed Raven

The world’s largest raven, endemic to the Horn of Africa. Its massive, deeply curved bill is unmistakable. It has a deep, croaking call and is an intelligent, opportunistic scavenger and predator.

Blue-winged Goose

A beautiful and unique goose endemic to the Ethiopian highlands. Its soft grey-brown plumage contrasts with striking blue wing coverts, visible in flight. It is often seen grazing in high-altitude wetlands.

Rouget’s Rail

A medium-sized, chestnut-brown rail endemic to the highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is a secretive but noisy bird, often found foraging along the edges of high-altitude streams and marshy grasslands.

Spot-breasted Lapwing

A handsome plover endemic to Ethiopia’s high-altitude moorlands. It has a distinctive black and white head pattern and a spotted breast. It is often seen in pairs or small flocks foraging on the ground.

White-cheeked Turaco

A spectacular, noisy bird with deep green and blue plumage, a prominent crest, and large white cheek patches. Its brilliant crimson wings are dramatically revealed when it flies through the forest canopy.

Abyssinian Longclaw

An elegant, pipit-like bird endemic to Ethiopia’s high grasslands. It boasts a brilliant yellow throat bordered by a black necklace. It is often seen perched on a tussock or fence post, singing its melodic song.

Wattled Ibis

An endemic ibis of the Ethiopian highlands, easily identified by its dark plumage, crest, and the slender fleshy wattle that hangs from its throat. It is very vocal and often travels in noisy flocks.

Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco

One of Ethiopia’s rarest and most sought-after endemic birds. This stunning turaco is mostly green with a distinctive white-tipped pinkish crest. Its survival is tied to the conservation of its small, specific habitat.

White-tailed Swallow

A critically localized endemic swallow found only in a small area of southern Ethiopia. It is identified by its glossy blue-black back and large white patches on its tail. It faces threats from habitat alteration.

Abyssinian Catbird

A grey, long-tailed songbird endemic to Ethiopia. It has a distinctive white forehead and eye-ring. It is a skulking bird, often heard more than seen, with a beautiful, fluting song.

Harwood’s Francolin

A little-known francolin endemic to central Ethiopia. It has finely barred plumage and a distinctive patch of bare red skin around its eye. It lives in dense thickets along steep river valleys.

Yellow-fronted Parrot

An endemic parrot of the Ethiopian highlands. It is primarily green with a striking bright yellow face and crown. They are typically found in pairs or small groups, feeding on fruits and seeds in the forest canopy.

Banded Barbet

A small, chunky barbet endemic to Ethiopia. It has a striking pattern with a red forehead, black and white barred body, and a yellow eye-ring. They nest in tree holes and have a distinctive, repetitive call.

Lammergeier

Also known as the Bearded Vulture, this huge bird of prey is a spectacular sight in Ethiopia’s mountains. It is famous for dropping bones from a great height to crack them open and eat the marrow.

Lappet-faced Vulture

One of Africa’s largest and most powerful vultures. Its massive bill can tear through tough hides that other vultures cannot. Its bare, reddish head and neck lappets give it a distinctive appearance.

Secretarybird

A very large, long-legged terrestrial bird of prey. It is famous for hunting snakes and other reptiles on foot, stomping on them with its powerful legs. Its long crest feathers resemble quill pens.

Kori Bustard

One of the world’s heaviest flying birds. This large, ground-dwelling bird struts slowly across the savanna, foraging for insects and small vertebrates. Males perform impressive courtship displays.

Ethiopian Mountain Adder

A large, beautifully patterned, and venomous viper endemic to Ethiopia. It has a stout body with striking yellow, black, and olive-green geometric patterns, providing excellent camouflage in the forest leaf litter.

Ethiopian Highland Tree Frog

A common but endemic tree frog found at high altitudes. It is typically bright green, helping it camouflage in vegetation. It is an important part of the highland ecosystem’s food web.

Ethiopian Banana Frog

A small, endangered frog endemic to southwest Ethiopia. It is named for its habit of laying eggs on the leaves of banana and enset plants. Its survival is linked to traditional farming practices.

Abyssinian Hare

A species of hare found across the Horn of Africa. Well adapted to arid and semi-arid environments, its sandy-grey coat provides camouflage against the dry landscape. It is a fast and agile runner.

Somali Wild Ass

A critically endangered ancestor of the domestic donkey. It is distinguished by its pale grey coat and horizontal black stripes on its legs. It is incredibly well-adapted to surviving in desert environments.

Salt’s Dik-dik

A tiny antelope, one of the smallest in Africa. It has a reddish-grey coat, a small crest of hair on its forehead, and lives in monogamous pairs, defending a small territory.