AFRICA AND ITS ANIMALS 143 
closest. It is there alone that the other large manlike 
ape—the orang—dwells; and there is a group of brush- 
tailed porcupines common to these two districts, and 
unknown elsewhere throughout the wide world. Both 
faunas, however, in all probability trace their descent from 
the animals inhabiting Europe during the Pliocene and 
Miocene epochs, among which was an extinct species of 
water-chevrotain. As already mentioned, the okapi is 
restricted to the forest area, as is the beautiful white-striped 
bongo antelope, and its much smaller relative the zebra- 
antelope. 
The other great sub-regions include the open grazing 
grounds and mountains of South and East Africa, the fauna 
of which is quite different from that of the equatorial forest- 
tract. Minor divisions may also be recognised in this area, , 
the Cape having many animals not found farther north. | 
Among the latter are the extinct quagga, the pretty little 4 
meerkat (Suricata), and the Cape sand-mole (Bathyergus), 
which, by the way, has nothing to do with the true moles, 
being a member of the rodent order. The tract as a whole 
may be termed the east central sub-region ; and to it belong 
the great hosts of antelopes, the zebras, and the aard-wolf 
and hunting-dog. Very characteristic of the southern and ° 
eastern parts of this tract are the beautiful golden moles 
(Chrysochloris), unique among mammals for the lovely play 
of iridescent colours on the fur, and which have nothing 
in common with the moles of Europe and Asia. To 
the northward, in Abyssinia, this tract is the home of 
another very remarkable animal, the great gelada baboon 
(Theropithecus), easily recognised by the lionlike mantle of 
long hair on the forequarters, whose nearest relative is 
the Arabian baboon. 
Whether Somaliland should be included in this area, or 
