Fauna of Senegal Trivia Quiz

Answer: It lives in groups

Most species of mongooses live solitarily but the banded mongoose lives in large colonies. The banded mongoose lives primarily in southern Africa but there is a large population in the southern part of Senegal in the Sahara desert.

Answer: Giant eland

The western giant eland is critically endangered and lives only in Niokolo-Koba National park along Senegal's border with Guinea. The giant eland is a large antelope-like animal that tends to roam. Senegal is largely considered the primary location for conservation efforts of all species of giant elands.

Answer: Senegalese baboon

The animal native to Senegal is the Guinea baboon, not the Senegalese baboon. The Senegalese bushbaby is a small primate, also known as the lesser galago, that lives primarily in the Sahara Desert area.

The Senegal one-striped grass mouse is a small rodent that lives in the desert areas of Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire. The Senegal hartebeest, also called a korrigum, is an endangered species of antelope that primarily lives in Senegal and the surrounding countries, although their numbers have dwindled.

Answer: Lion

All of these cats make their home in Senegal but it is the lion that is the national animal. Many teams in Senegal are named after the lion and it also appears on the coat of arms. Despite this, the lion population is not as high in Senegal as it is in other African countries but conservation efforts have proven modestly successful in increasing their numbers.

Answer: African manatee

The African manatee is considered sacred amongst the Serer people because, in their mythology, the manatee possesses the secret of the future. In other local cultures, manatees are believed to be part woman and are also highly regarded. The manatee population in Senegal was the subject of controversy when the Diama Dam was built and cut off the manatees from the sea, trapping them in the river.

Answer: True

Ostriches and flamingoes are typically found in central and southern Africa. However, they can be found as far north as Senegal although their numbers are far sparser there than anywhere else. Ostriches were once more common in the area and even lived far more northern in places like Algeria but have disappeared from the area.

Answer: Starlings

Senegal is home to a large number of bird species, likely due to its location along the Atlantic Ocean which lies along a path many birds use to migrate. However, the country is also home to a number of permanent bird species such as starlings. Senegal is home to nearly a dozen varieties of the colorful starlings and other birds.

In total, there are over 600 unique bird species in Senegal.

Answer: Blackchin tilapia

The blackchin tilapia can sometimes be found in Lake Retba's water in the more brackish areas during the dry season. Because of recent flooding, Lake Retba's salt content has dropped dramatically and its bright pink color has faded. Scientists believe this could lead to more fish species finding a home in the lake.

Answer: Jumping

The Senegalese jumping spider is a very small species of spider found primarily wooded and forested areas but have also been discovered in cities. The species is relatively new, only being discovered in 2001. Its scientific name comes from Bianor, a Trojan in Greek myth.

Answer: Dragonfly

The phantom flutterer is a species of dragonfly commonly found in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in wetlands and swamps. Senegal is home to dozens of different kinds of dragonflies, many of them are only found in Africa. They are typically large in size and more colorful than those found in other places. Despite popular belief, very few species are actually harmful to humans.