The akalats are medium-sized forest-dwelling birds that are endemic to Africa where they can be found in forest areas..
They were formerly placed in the thrush family (Turdidae), but are more now often treated as part of the Old World flycatcher (Muscicapidae).
Their main diet consists of insects.
Species are:
- Bocage’s Akalat, Sheppardia bocagei
- Lowland Akalat, Sheppardia cyornithopsis
- Equatorial Akalat, Sheppardia aequatorialis
- Sharpe’s Akalat, Sheppardia sharpei
- East Coast Akalat, Sheppardia gunningi
- Gabela Akalat, Sheppardia gabela
- Usambara Akalat, Sheppardia montana
- Iringa Akalat, Sheppardia lowei
- Rubeho Akalat, Sheppardia aurantiithorax