The ‘Little Five’ added to the

The ‘Little Five’ added to the list of ‘must-sees’ in South Africa

You’ve heard of the Big Five, but how many Little Five animals can you name? And how many have you seen?

The ‘Little Five’ added to the

For so long, the Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard – have dominated the list of must-sees on a South African safari.

Now, there is a shift towards the importance of acknowledging the smaller animals, and in particular, five small animals called the ‘Little Five’. They’re not as popular as other non-Big Five animals, like giraffe, hippo and whale, but they are just as important and there is a group of people wanting to bring the Little Five into the South African safari limelight.

Here’s the list of SA’s finest little creatures:

  1. The ant lion (Myrmeleontidae)

The ant lion is an odd member of the bushveld, but one you’re quite likely to recognise. These creatures dig conical depressions in dry, soft sand and use these as a trap to catch ants.

Ant lions sometimes develop wings and resemble dragonflies, although they are not particularly well-adapted for flight.

 

2. The buffalo weaver (Bubarlornis niger)

Red-billed buffalo weavers are known to be social birds that build their nests in the forked branches of tall trees. They nest in open, noisy colonies and their nests are easily recognised by their messy construction.

 

 

3. The rhinoceros beetle (Scarabaeinae dynastinae) 

One of the largest beetles in Southern Africa, the rhino beetle has horns on its head that resemble a rhino’s. Both males and females are horned, but only the males are known to use their horns for aggressive behaviour such as fighting rivals. Other uses for the horns include digging, climbing and mating.

 

4. The leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis)

Getting its name from the colour of its shell, the leopard tortoise is one of the largest breeds of tortoise in Southern Africa. A mature leopard tortoise can weigh over 23 kilograms, with a shell circumference of up to one metre. Leopard tortoises live in savannah and grassland areas and like to be close to water.

 

5. The elephant shrew (Elephantulus myurus)

This tiny insectivore is named because of its long, trunk-like snout. The shrews are found all over South Africa in grasslands and rocky outcrops and only grow to a length of about 250mm, with an average weight of 60 grams. Due to their speed and size, the chance of spotting one of these in the wild is slim, so seeing one before you see an actual elephant is something to be proud of!

The Little Five is based on the “Small 5005” concept developed by South African wildlife author and scientist Rael Loon. This original article was posted on Brand SA’s website.