List of Grassland Mammals

From sweeping savannas to temperate prairies, grasslands host a diverse mix of grazers, burrowers and predators that shape open ecosystems and human livelihoods. This list focuses on mammals commonly associated with those habitats and the roles they play across continents.

There are 50 Grassland Mammals, ranging from African buffalo to White-tailed jackrabbit; for each entry, you’ll find the columns Scientific name,Typical weight (kg),Range — all listed below.

Which regions and habitats do these species represent?

The list includes representative species from major grassland types worldwide (e.g., African savanna, Eurasian steppe, North American prairie), so it shows geographic and ecological variety rather than every local or endemic species.

How should I interpret the weight and range columns for comparisons?

Typical weight (kg) gives a rough size benchmark (averages or common adult ranges), while Range indicates broad geographic distribution; use both together to compare ecological roles, but check primary sources for local variation or subspecies differences.

Grassland Mammals

Images and Descriptions

African savanna elephant

Largest land mammal, a bulk grazer that shapes savanna vegetation. Eats grasses and woody plants, forms matriarchal herds, migratory in dry seasons; vulnerable to poaching and habitat loss.

White rhinoceros

Massive grazer with a wide square lip adapted to short grasses. Lives in herds, important for grassland ecology; Near Threatened due to poaching for horn.

African buffalo

Large, herd-forming grazer that prefers open grasslands near water. Strong social structure and defensive behavior against predators; widespread but locally reduced.

Plains zebra

Striped grazing equid that feeds on grasses and migrates with rainfall. Uses speed and grouping to avoid predators; keystone grazer in large migrations.

Blue wildebeest

Highly visible migrant grazer, feeds mainly on short grasses. Forms huge herds in seasonal migrations, vital for nutrient cycling; common but regionally threatened.

Thomson’s gazelle

Small, agile grazer that browses and grazes on grasses and herbs. Known for speed and stotting display to confuse predators; abundant in protected areas.

Springbok

Medium-sized antelope that grazes and browses; famous for high “pronking” leaps. Well-adapted to arid grasslands and seasonal forage.

Impala

Mixed feeder that grazes grassy areas by day and browses in cover. Highly social, forms herds and is a key prey species for large carnivores.

Topi

Fast, long-legged antelope that prefers short, wet grasslands. Territorial males defend lekking areas; responsive to seasonal rains and grazing regimes.

Hartebeest

Large, long-faced grazer that feeds on taller grasses. Forms herds and migrates locally; several subspecies face conservation pressure from habitat loss.

Lion

Apex predator of savannas that hunts large ungulates in groups. Lives in prides with cooperative hunting; culturally iconic but vulnerable in many regions.

Cheetah

Built for speed, the fastest land mammal, specializing on small to medium grazing ungulates. Prefers open grassland for sprint hunting; threatened by habitat fragmentation.

Spotted hyena

Opportunistic predator and scavenger that thrives in grasslands. Strong jaws and complex social clans; key in carcass recycling and ecosystem balance.

African wild dog

Highly social pack hunter with cooperative strategies to pursue medium-sized grazers. Extremely efficient predators but Endangered due to disease and habitat fragmentation.

Saiga antelope

Striking bulbous nose filters dust in windy steppes. Migratory grazer of tussock and short grasses; populations have collapsed episodically due to hunting and disease.

Mongolian gazelle

Highly nomadic grazer that forms enormous seasonal aggregations. Feeds on steppe grasses, tolerates harsh continental climates; populations sensitive to disturbance.

Przewalski’s horse

Feral and reintroduced wild horse subspecies adapted to steppe grasslands. Grazer that historically ranged widely; conservation success story from captive breeding.

Asiatic wild ass (onager)

Large grazing equid adapted to open plains and arid grasslands. Solitary to small groups, strong long-distance mover important in steppe ecosystems.

Bobak marmot

Large ground squirrel that digs extensive burrows in steppe grasslands. Herbivorous, hibernates seasonally, influences soil and plant communities through digging.

Steppe lemming

Small, social rodent that forms colonies on the steppe, feeding on grasses and seeds. Populations show boom-bust cycles and are key prey for steppe predators.

Steppe pika

Small lagomorph adapted to flat grasslands, feeds on grasses and stores hay for winter. Important steppe herbivore and prey for raptors and foxes.

Corsac fox

Small, nomadic fox specialized for steppe life, feeding on rodents and insects. Relies on open grassland hunting grounds and shifting rodent densities.

European souslik

Burrowing ground squirrel that lives in colonies on temperate grasslands. Herbivorous, hibernates, and forms social colonies important for soil aeration.

Great gerbil

Colonial burrower that dominates many desert-steppes, feeding on roots and grasses. Creates visible mounds and is a key prey item for steppe predators.

Brandt’s vole

Small grazing rodent that can reach high densities, shaping vegetation and serving as prey for raptors and foxes; populations influence grazing dynamics.

European hare

Large hare that grazes grasses and herbs, using open fields for speed and cover. Important game species, adaptable to mosaic grassland habitats.

American bison

Iconic prairie grazer that shaped North American grasslands through grazing and wallowing. Lives in mixed-sex herds, historically vast migrations; conservation restored some populations.

Pronghorn

Fast runner adapted to open plains, feeding on forbs and grasses. Sole surviving member of North American pronghorn family, reliant on wide-open grasslands.

Black-tailed prairie dog

Colonial burrowing rodent that engineers prairie ecosystems, creating habitat heterogeneity. Herbivorous and social; local declines have cascade effects on grassland biodiversity.

Gunnison’s prairie dog

Smaller prairie dog species occupying higher-elevation grasslands. Burrowing, social, and important forage for predators like black-footed ferrets.

Black-footed ferret

Specialist predator largely dependent on prairie dogs for food and burrows. Once near-extinct, reintroduction programs are central to recovering grassland ecosystems.

Swift fox

Small fox adapted to open prairie hunting small mammals. Historically widespread; local conservation efforts focus on habitat restoration.

American badger

Fossorial carnivore that digs for rodents in prairies. Solitary, powerful digger that helps control rodent populations and influences soil turnover.

Thirteen-lined ground squirrel

Diurnal ground squirrel that stores food and hibernates. Eats seeds and insects, common in prairie remnants and roadside grasslands.

Prairie vole

Small, social vole that feeds on grasses and roots. Important prey for owls, foxes, and snakes; influences vegetation through intensive grazing.

Meadow vole

Common small rodent in moist grasslands, creating runways through vegetation. High reproductive rates make it a key food source for many predators.

White-tailed jackrabbit

Large hare adapted to open prairie with long ears and powerful hindlegs. Grazes grasses, relies on speed and camouflage to escape predators.

Patagonian mara

Large cavy that resembles a long-legged rabbit, monogamous and diurnal. Grazer on steppe grasses, forms pairs and communal warrens.

Pampas deer

Slender grazer endemic to South American grasslands. Shy and crepuscular, now locally threatened by habitat conversion and hunting.

Guanaco

Wild camelid adapted to open grasslands and scrub. Grazer on coarse grasses, forms family groups; ancestor of the domestic llama.

Plains viscacha

Burrowing rodent that builds large communal warrens and feeds on grasses. Influences soil and plant community structure across the pampas.

Pampas fox

Small omnivorous canid that hunts rodents and insects in grasslands. Highly adaptable and often found near agricultural grasslands.

Maned wolf

Tall, long-legged canid that hunts small mammals and eats fruit. Specialist of open savanna-woodlands and grasslands; Near Threatened from habitat loss.

Red kangaroo

Largest marsupial, a powerful grazing hopper adapted to Australia’s open grasslands. Males much larger than females; iconic for grazing and long-distance movement.

Eastern grey kangaroo

Common grazing macropod that feeds on grasses in open country. Social groups (“mobs”) and strong reproductive resilience in variable climates.

Springhare

Nocturnal, large-jumping rodent that feeds on grasses and tubers. Uses burrows for shelter and is adapted to open grassy habitats.

Vicuña

Wild camelid of high-altitude grasslands, prized for fine fiber. Grazes short puna grasses and is a conservation success story after historic overhunting.

Eland

Very large spiral-horned antelope that browses and grazes across mixed grasslands. Strong and adaptable, often forms small herds; less water-dependent than some species.

Dama gazelle

Graceful desert-steppe antelope that grazes sparse grasses and herbs. Critically Endangered in parts of its range due to hunting and habitat loss.

Striped hyena

Scavenging hyena that uses open country and semi-desert grasslands. Nocturnal, solitary to small groups, important in carcass recycling across grasslands.

Other Grassland Types