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Description
In the midst of the new ice age, Africa hasn’t just collided with Europe to form a giant salt pan, the Great Rift Valley is also beginning to break off. Although not yet isolated and still connected to Africa, the split had caused East Africa to form a long (albeit incomplete) seaway. Despite this however, the ice age hasn’t environmentally affected Africa as much as all the other continents, as everything remained the same as always; savannas, forests, and deserts. Even its fauna aren’t all that different, barring a few changes. But then, something came through the long gulf. Whales. Tiny freshwater baleen whales.

Stilt cat
Ancestor: Serval
Size: 1.1 m (height), 1 m (length)
The stilt cat is a taller descendant of the serval, with its body converging with maned wolves from South America. Given that 5 million years have passed, this felid had very little changes compared to its ancestor, yet these characteristics still remain beneficial for survival in its environment. Adaptations include long legs to stride through the long grass, and large sensitive ears to listen for smaller prey under the grass.

Rockrat
Ancestor: Rock hyrax
Size: 50 cm (height), 66 cm (length)
The rockrat, despite its name, actually evolved from the elephant’s closest relative, the rock hyrax. Found in hot rocky terrain, the rockrat works similarly to a goat, with a gait perfectly adapted to jump from rock to rock. Like its ancestor, rockrats live in small family groups led by a slightly larger dominant male who defends his territory against intruders.

Redsnout baboon
Ancestor: Olive baboon
Size: 49 cm (height), 90 cm (length)
The redsnout baboon, named for its faint patch of red on its snout, is a rather unique baboon mainly because of how it grazes on grass similar to geladas of modern times, albeit still retaining its omnivorous diet. In such a short timespan, baboon society still remained the same, living in gregarious troops consisting of female redsnouts and their young lead by a dominant male.

Tearacal
Ancestor: Caracal
Size: 90 cm (height), 1 m (length)
A slightly taller descendant of the caracal, the tearacal perhaps fills the analogue of extinct large felids, including cheetahs. Unlike its ancestor, the tearacal is diurnal, thanks to its aptly named black tear-like markings that help it to reflect the sun’s glare when hunting. Its large ears also aid it in dissipating heat and locating prey.

Lake whale
Ancestor: Humpback whale
Size: 1.8 m (length)
Baleen whales may have been threatened by human activity and climate change, but not all species of whales are so endangered to the point of becoming extinct. The lake whale has evolved from a population of small humpback whales that traversed towards freshwater habitats to exploit new niches. That, of course, would mean decreasing its size in the process. Like all baleen whales, the lake whale is a filter feeder, scooping up sediments on the lakebeds to feed on smaller invertebrates.

Firehead stork
Ancestor: Marabou stork
Size: 1.6 m (height), 2 m (length)
Evolved from the already large marabou stork, the firehead stork is distinctive for its much more saturated bald neck and head. Perhaps it serves as not only an adaptation in keeping its head hygienic while feeding, but also as a purpose in displaying towards mates or intruders and interspecies signaling.

Special thanks to YellowPanda2001 !

Description
In the midst of the new ice age, Africa hasn’t just collided with Europe to form a giant salt pan, the Great Rift Valley is also beginning to break off. Although not yet isolated and still connected to Africa, the split had caused East Africa to form a long (albeit incomplete) seaway. Despite this however, the ice age hasn’t environmentally affected Africa as much as all the other continents, as everything remained the same as always; savannas, forests, and deserts. Even its fauna aren’t all that different, barring a few changes. But then, something came through the long gulf. Whales. Tiny freshwater baleen whales.

Stilt cat
Ancestor: Serval
Size: 1.1 m (height), 1 m (length)
The stilt cat is a taller descendant of the serval, with its body converging with maned wolves from South America. Given that 5 million years have passed, this felid had very little changes compared to its ancestor, yet these characteristics still remain beneficial for survival in its environment. Adaptations include long legs to stride through the long grass, and large sensitive ears to listen for smaller prey under the grass.

Rockrat
Ancestor: Rock hyrax
Size: 50 cm (height), 66 cm (length)
The rockrat, despite its name, actually evolved from the elephant’s closest relative, the rock hyrax. Found in hot rocky terrain, the rockrat works similarly to a goat, with a gait perfectly adapted to jump from rock to rock. Like its ancestor, rockrats live in small family groups led by a slightly larger dominant male who defends his territory against intruders.

Redsnout baboon
Ancestor: Olive baboon
Size: 49 cm (height), 90 cm (length)
The redsnout baboon, named for its faint patch of red on its snout, is a rather unique baboon mainly because of how it grazes on grass similar to geladas of modern times, albeit still retaining its omnivorous diet. In such a short timespan, baboon society still remained the same, living in gregarious troops consisting of female redsnouts and their young lead by a dominant male.

Tearacal
Ancestor: Caracal
Size: 90 cm (height), 1 m (length)
A slightly taller descendant of the caracal, the tearacal perhaps fills the analogue of extinct large felids, including cheetahs. Unlike its ancestor, the tearacal is diurnal, thanks to its aptly named black tear-like markings that help it to reflect the sun’s glare when hunting. Its large ears also aid it in dissipating heat and locating prey.

Lake whale
Ancestor: Humpback whale
Size: 1.8 m (length)
Baleen whales may have been threatened by human activity and climate change, but not all species of whales are so endangered to the point of becoming extinct. The lake whale has evolved from a population of small humpback whales that traversed towards freshwater habitats to exploit new niches. That, of course, would mean decreasing its size in the process. Like all baleen whales, the lake whale is a filter feeder, scooping up sediments on the lakebeds to feed on smaller invertebrates.

Firehead stork
Ancestor: Marabou stork
Size: 1.6 m (height), 2 m (length)
Evolved from the already large marabou stork, the firehead stork is distinctive for its much more saturated bald neck and head. Perhaps it serves as not only an adaptation in keeping its head hygienic while feeding, but also as a purpose in displaying towards mates or intruders and interspecies signaling.

Special thanks to YellowPanda2001 !