Are you curious about animals with long faces? Perhaps you’ve seen a horse or a donkey and wondered what other creatures share this unique physical characteristic.
The animal kingdom is full of fascinating creatures with elongated features, from majestic giraffes to adorable aardvarks. In this article, we’ll explore 6 of the most interesting animals with long faces and discover what makes them unique.
Lelwel Hartebeest
The most striking feature of the lelwel hartebeest is its elongated face, which is both narrow and pointed. This unique facial structure is thought to be an adaptation to help the animal regulate its body temperature in hot, arid environments. With a larger surface area on its face, the lelwel hartebeest can dissipate heat more efficiently, helping it stay cool and avoid overheating.
This antelope species, also known as Jackson’s hartebeest, is native to several African countries, including the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Aardvark
The aardvark uses its long snout for digging into termite mounds and ant hills. Aardvarks are nocturnal animals and are rarely seen during the day. They are solitary animals that spend most of their time digging for food or sleeping in their burrows. They are excellent diggers and can dig a burrow in just a few hours.
Aardvarks feed mainly on ants and termites. They use their long, powerful claws to tear open termite mounds and ant hills. They have a long, thin, snakelike, protruding tongue as much as 30 cm long.
Aardvarks are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa in various habitats, including savannahs, woodlands, and rainforests. They prefer soft soil that is easy to dig and burrow in.
Moose
Moose is a large-sized deer species that belong to the genus Alces, family Cervidae. They are known for their enormous size and powerful legs and are the largest deer species. Mooses have a striking appearance because of their towering size, long legs, pendulous muzzle, and dangling hairy dewlap (called a bell).
One of the most striking features of the moose is its long face, which is characterised by its broad and lengthy muzzle, making up a good portion of the animal’s total head length. The moose’s face is also distinguished by its large nostrils and long ears capable of swivelling independently to detect sounds from different directions.
Giraffe
Regarding animals with long faces, the giraffe is one of the most recognisable creatures on the planet. These majestic animals are known for their long necks, reaching up to six feet in length.
Giraffes are native to Africa and can be found in various habitats, from grasslands to savannas. They are known for their distinctive spotted patterns, unique to each individual. In addition to their long necks, giraffes also have long legs that allow them to run at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour.
Saiga Antelope
The saiga antelope is one unique-looking animal. These fascinating creatures are easily recognisable by their long, tubular snouts, which curve downward and end in a bulbous, fleshy nose.
Saiga antelopes are native to Russia and Kazakhstan, where they inhabit semi-deserts, steppes, grasslands, and possibly open woodlands. They are known for forming vast herds and grazing on several species of plants, including some that are poisonous to other animals.
During a rut, an adult male attempts to control a group of 5 to 10 females, preventing females from mating with other males. This behaviour can lead to intense male competition, sometimes resulting in violent clashes.
Baboons
Baboons are a type of Old World monkey with long faces that almost resemble dog faces. They belong to the genus Papio, family Cercopithecidae, and are found in Africa and Arabia.
Baboons are social animals that live in groups called troops. Troops can range in size from a few individuals to over 100 individuals. The hierarchy within a troop is determined by size, strength, and age. The alpha male is the troop leader and is responsible for protecting the group from predators.
Baboons are known for their distinctive appearance, with long, sharp canine teeth and hairless faces. They also have a long tail that they use for balance when moving through trees. Baboons are intelligent animals and have been observed using tools like sticks to help them obtain food.