African animals are discussed all over the world more than the animals of any other continent. Specially people like me always keep eyes and ears open to get a chance to read/hear about those extinct animal species which are not exist today. Here are ten amazing extinct African animals you should know about.

01. Canariomys

Canariomys is an extinct genus of rodents (Old World rats and mice) that once existed on the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, part of the Canary Islands, Spain. These giant rats could reach a weight of about 1 kg. The species was a herbivore; its diet was based on plant materials, probably soft vegetables as some roots, ferns, berries, but not grass.

Read more at wikipedia.

02. Giant Fossa

Cryptoprocta spelea, also known as the giant fossa,is an extinct species of carnivore from Madagascar in the family Eupleridae, which is most closely related to the mongooses and includes all Malagasy carnivorans. It was first described in 1902, and in 1935 was recognized as a separate species from its closest relative, the living fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox). C. spelea is larger than the fossa, but otherwise similar. The two have not always been accepted as distinct species. When and how the larger form went extinct is unknown; there is some anecdotal evidence, including reports of very large fossas, that there is more than one surviving species.

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03. Homotherium

Homotherium is an extinct genus of machairodontine saber-toothed cats, often termed scimitar-toothed cats, that ranged from North America, South America, Eurasia, and Africa during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs (5 mya–10,000 years ago), existing for approximately 5 million years.

It first became extinct in Africa some 1.5 million years ago. In Eurasia it survived until about 30,000 years ago.In South America it is only known from a few remains in the northern region (Venezuela), from the mid-Pleistocene.The last scimitar cat could have survived in North America until 10,000 years ago.

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04. Koala Lemur

Megaladapis, informally known as koala lemur,is an extinct genus belonging to the family Megaladapidae, consisting of three extinct species of lemurs that once inhabited the island of Madagascar. The largest measured between 1.3 to 1.5 m (4 to 5 ft) in length.

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05. Malagasy Hippopotamus

Several species of Malagasy hippopotamus (also known as Malagasy dwarf hippopotamus or Malagasy pygmy hippopotamus or Madagascan instead of Malagasy) lived on the island of Madagascar but are now believed to be extinct. The animals were very similar to the extant hippopotamus and pygmy hippopotamus. The fossil record suggests that at least one species of hippopotamus lived until about 1,000 years ago, and other evidence suggests that the species may have survived until much more recently. The taxonomy of these animals is not resolved and not widely studied. The various species are believed to have survived into the Holocene era.

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06. The Aurochs

The Aurochs is an extinct type of large wild cattle that inhabited Europe, Asia and North Africa. It is the ancestor of domestic cattle. The species survived in Europe until the last recorded aurochs died in the Jaktorów Forest, Poland in 1627.

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07. The Bluebuck

The bluebuck or blue antelope sometimes called blaubok, is an extinct species of antelope, the first large African mammal to disappear in historic times. It is related to the roan antelope and sable antelope, but slightly smaller than either. It lived in the southwestern coastal region of South Africa savannas, but was more widespread during the last glacial. It was probably a selective feeder, preferring high-quality grasses.

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08. Large Sloth Lemur

Palaeopropithecus was one of three recently extinct genera of sloth lemur that was found on Madagascar, and were closely related to living lemur species found there today. There were three known species, Palaeopropithecus ingens, P. maximus, and P. kelyus. New radiocarbon dates indicate that these large sloth lemurs may have still been living around 1500 CE.

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09. Small Mauritian flying fox

The small Mauritian flying fox or dark flying fox is an extinct species of megabat. It lived on the islands of Réunion and Mauritius in the Mascarene Islands of the Indian Ocean. It was abundant, with up to 400 sometimes crowding together at a single roost in a cave or in an ancient, hollow tree, while most other fruit bats prefer to roost in the branches of large trees. Local people believed there was only one male per roost, which may indicate the sexes roosted separately and the large roosts were maternity colonies. This flying fox was nocturnal and had delicate teeth, so it probably fed on nectar and possibly soft fruit.

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10. Quagga

The quagga  is an extinct subspecies of the plains zebra that lived in South Africa until the nineteenth century. It was long thought to be a distinct species, but recent genetic studies have shown it to be the southernmost subspecies of the plains zebra. It is considered particularly close to Burchell’s zebra. Its name is derived from its call, which sounds like “kwa-ha-ha”.

Read more at wikipedia.