The Guineo-Congolian Region
The Guineo-Congolian Region encompasses the tropical rainforest belt of West and Central Africa along with the islands of the Gulf of Guinea. It is bordered to the north, east, and south by the African Region.
Species and subspecies
Two species of gorilla inhabit the Guineo-Congolian Region. The eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei) is the largest living primate. Two well-defined subspecies are found in remote areas of central Africa. Grauer’s gorilla (G. b. graueri) is often called the eastern lowland gorilla in spite of having the widest altitudinal range of any gorilla (approximately 600 –2900 m). It is endemic to the forests of the Albertine Rift escarpment in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where it has a discontinuous distribution from the lowlands east of the Lualaba River to the Mitumba Mountains and the Itombwe Massif. Mount Tshiaberimu in Virunga National Park is the northern limit of the range, while the southern limit is a subpopulation in the Hewa Bora region, Fizi District. Important populations live in the Kahuzi-Biega and Maiko national parks and their adjacent forests, the Tayna Gorilla Reserve, the Usala Forest, and on the Itombwe Massif. The western gorilla (G. gorilla) is generally smaller and lightercoloured than the eastern gorilla (G. beringei). There are two subspecies, which will also be discussed below.
The chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) is, along with the bonobo (P. paniscus – see below), the closest living human relative. Four subspecies are found discontinuously in the tropical rainforests and wet savanna woodlands of Western and Central Africa, where they are highly threatened almost everywhere by loss of habitat, Ebola, and hunting for their meat. The West African or western chimpanzee (P. t. verus) was historically found from southern Senegal all the way east to the Niger River, but has been greatly reduced by forest loss and bushmeat hunting. Today the largest numbers are found in Ivory Coast and Guinea (in particular, the Fouta Djallon Highlands, where some 17,700 survive). Considerable populations still also occur, although patchily, in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea-Bissau, with relicts in Ghana, Senegal, Mali, and western Nigeria. It is believed to have been extirpated from Gambia, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Togo relatively recently. Less than 65,000 remain. The East African or eastern chimpanzee (P. t. schweinfurthii) ranges from the Oubangui/Congo in south-eastern Central African Republic and Democratic Republic ofCongo to Burundi, Rwanda, western Uganda, and western Tanzania, with a small, relict population in South Sudan. The vast majority (about 173,000–248,000) live in the Democratic Republic of Congo, although there are still significant populations within the Albertine Rift. In 2010 the total population was estimated at 181,000–256,000. The other subspecies of chimpanzee will be discussed elsewhere.
The red-capped mangabey (Cercocebus torquatus) is a large terrestrial monkey found in the lowland rainforests as well as swamp and mangrove forests of central-western coastal Africa (southern Nigeria, western Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and western Gabon), where it is threatened by loss of habitat and bushmeat hunting.
L’Hoest’s monkey (Allochrocebus lhoesti) is a semiterrestrial species found patchily in lowland as well as montane forests of the central-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, north-western Burundi, south-western Rwanda, and southwestern Uganda, where it is threatened by loss of habitat and bushmeat hunting.
The guenons are a group of mostly small, often brightly coloured arboreal monkeys from the African tropical forest belt. While most remain common, a few have become threatened due to loss of habitat and bushmeat hunting. The owl-faced guenon (C. hamlyni) is a largely terrestrial species of monkey that lives in both lowland as well as montane forest in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The crowned guenon (C. pogonias) is divided into three subspecies. The golden-bellied crowned guenon (C. p. pogonias) is found in south-eastern Nigeria, north-western Cameroon, and the island of Bioko.
Temminck’s red colobus (Piliocolobus temminckii) is a type of leaf-eating monkey found patchily in both dry and moist forest fragments in southern Senegal, Guinea-Bissau,
and north-western Guinea. It has been seriously reduced by habitat destruction and bushmeat hunting.
Jentink’s duiker (Cephalophus jentinki) is a type of small antelope found patchily in south-eastern Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and western Ivory Coast. The banded duiker (C. zebra) is found in southern Sierra Leone, southern Guinea, central and eastern Liberia, and south-western Ivory Coast. Brooke’s duiker (C. brookei) is confined to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and south-western Ghana. All are threatened by loss of habitat and heavy hunting pressure.
The king genet (Genetta poensis) is known only from a few specimens collected from the Republic of Congo, Liberia, Ghana, Ivory Coast and the island of Bioko. It was last recorded in 1946. The crested genet (G. cristata) is a rare species found in southern Nigeria and western Cameroon, where it is threatened by loss of habitat and hunting.
The giant ground pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) is, as its name suggests, the largest species of pangolin or scaly anteater. While still fairly widespread in western and central Africa it is nevertheless under threat from habitat destruction and bushmeat hunting.
The black-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla) and the white-bellied tree pangolin (P. tricuspis) are both found widely in the forests of western and central Africa, but are everywhere threatened by habitat destruction and hunting.
The moon shrew (Crocidura selina) is known only from three swamp forest localities in central Uganda. A record from southern Kenya most likely refers to a different species.
Maclaud’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus maclaudi) is known only from a few scattered localities in western Guinea. Eisentraut’s horseshoe bat (R. guineensis) is known from fewer than 20 cave and mine roosts in southern Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Ivory Coast. The Ziama horseshoe bat (R. ziama) is known only from three specimens collected from the Ziama Massif in south-eastern Guinea and two others from Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The Lagos serotine bat (Eptesicus platyops) is known only from a few specimens collected in Nigeria, Senegal, and on Bioko.
Aellen’s roundleaf bat (Hipposideros marisae) is known only from a few localities in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast. The short-tailed roundleaf bat (H. curtus) is known from Cameroon, Nigeria, and Equatorial Guinea (including the island of Bioko). Both are threatened by loss of habitat and disturbance of their roosting sites.
The copper woolly bat (Kerivoula cuprosa) is known only from a few scattered records across western and central Africa.
The brown-cheeked hornbill (Bycanistes cylindricus) is found widely but patchily in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo, where it is threatened by hunting and habitat destruction.
The African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) remains widespread within western and central Africa from Ivory Coast to western Kenya and south to Angola, including islands in the Gulf of Guinea. The species is everywhere declining, however, by habitat destruction, hunting, and collection for the international pet trade. The closely related Timneh grey parrot (P. timneh) is found in Guinea-Bissau, southern Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and south-western Ivory Coast, where it too is threatened by loss of habitat and heavy trapping pressure.
The white-breasted guineafowl (Agelastes meleagrides) is a terrestrial species found patchily in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. It is threatened by loss of habitat and hunting.
The grey-necked rockfowl (Picathartes oreas) is confined to isolated rocky areas within the rainforests of south-eastern Nigeria, western and southern Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea (including the island of Bioko), and the Republic of Congo. It is everywhere threatened by loss of habitat.
The spotted ground thrush (Geokichla guttata) has a wide but very spotty distribution across sub-Saharan Africa, where a number of subspecies are threatened by loss of habitat. The South Sudan spotted ground thrush (G. g. maxis) from southern South Sudan and Lippens’ spotted ground thrush (G. g. lippensi) from south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are each known only from a single specimen.
The white-headed robin-chat (Cossypha heinrichi) is known from two localities in northern Angola and a third in south-western Democratic Republic of Congo.
The African river martin (Pseudochelidon eurystomina) is relatively widespread in central Africa, where it breeds in large but infrequent colonies along forested rivers that are highly vulnerable to exploitation.
The Lufira masked weaver (Ploceus ruweti) is confined to swamps and marshes bording the Lufira River and Lake Lufira in south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The Loango weaver (P. subpersonatus) is a rare species confined to a narrow coastal strip in Gabon, Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it lives in swamps, mangroves, and grassland areas.
The Anambra waxbill (Estrilda poliopareia) is found patchily in southern Nigeria and south-eastern Benin.
Turner’s eremomela (Eremomela turneri) is a warbler-like bird known from a few scattered localities in east-central Africa. The nominate form (E. t. turneri) is known from the Kakamega and South and North Nandi forests of western Kenya, with further historical records from two other undefined localities.
Müller’s worm lizard (Cynisca leonina) is known from the islands of Tumbo and Kassa in the Los Archipelago off the coast of south-western Guinea, as well as in a few gallery forest localities in the north-west.
The four-digit toad (Didynamipus sjostedti) was once thought to be the rarest toad in Africa, but in recent years has been found in a few mid-elevation sites in southwestern Cameroon, south-eastern Nigeria, and on the island of Bioko.
Bornmüller’s caecilian (Crotaphatrema bornmuelleri) is a type of burrowing, limbless amphibian known only from a single specimen collected from an undefined locality in southwestern Cameroon in the late nineteenth century.
Mountains and Highlands
The Guineo-Congolian Region features a number of mountainous areas rich in species endemism. During long periods the animals adapted to life on these high mountains, and were not disturbed. The inaccessibility, cold, damp climate and density of the vegetation were all obstacles to humans and their livestock. This has now changed, and people now penetrate with fire and cattle ever higher up the mountain slopes, violating the forests and threatening the animals living here. This process has created a series of widely separated and biologically important ‘sky islands’.
The western klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus porteousi) is a type of small antelope known only from the rocky margins of the Jos Plateau in north-central Nigeria and in Gashaka-Gumti National Park in eastern Nigeria, along with two other localities in northern Central African Republic.
Fox’s mole rat (Fukomys foxi) is known only from the Jos Plateau of central Nigeria and from another locality in western Cameroon.
The Cameroon soft-furred mouse (Praomys morio) is known only from Mount Cameroon and the island of Bioko.
Sladen’s swift (Apus sladeniae) is a mysterious species known from the mountains of Bioko (where six specimens were collected in 1903, although none since) and a few other, disjunct montane areas in south-eastern Nigeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.
The Mebebque frog (Arlequinus krebsi) was long known only from a few specimens collected from the Bamileke Plateau along with an additional one taken from the southern slopes of Mount Cameroon. Based on an old photograph the species is thought also to occur on Bioko, although this has yet to be confirmed. It appears to be fairly widespread in south-western Cameroon but naturally rare.
The Albertine Rift Mountains
The Albertine Rift is the western branch of the East African Rift and covers parts of Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and western Tanzania. It extends from the northern end of Lake Albert to the southern end of Lake Tanganyika. The geographical term includes both the valley and the surrounding mountains.
The mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is nowadays confined to two surviving populations in montane forests only 25 km apart, but isolated by land that is intensively cultivated and densely settled. One population is in the Virunga Mountains, in three separate national parks straddling the borders between the Democratic Republic of Congo
(Virunga National Park), Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park), and Uganda (Mgahinga Gorilla National Park). The other occurs in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda, with a small contiguous portion in Sarambwe Nature Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2018 the total population was just over 1000. These populations will be discussed at greater length below.
The ashy red colobus (Piliocolobus tephrosceles) is found discontinuously on the eastern border of the Rift Valley in western Uganda and western Tanzania, and possibly in parts of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi as well. It is everywhere threatened by bushmeat hunting and habitat destruction, and many populations have been extirpated.
The Ruwenzori black and white colobus (Colobus angolensis ruwenzorii) is a type of leaf-eating monkey found within a few montane forest pockets in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, southern Uganda, and western Tanzania.
Kemp’s thicket rat (Thamnomys kempi) has a fragmented distribution within the Albertine Rift Mountains of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda.
The medium-tailed brush-furred rat (Lophuromys medicaudatus) is a rare species known from high elevations on both sides of Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, with a single further record from the Bwindi Forest of Uganda.
De Graaff’s soft-furred mouse (Praomys degraaffi) is found patchily in the higher elevations of the Albertine Rift in Burundi, Rwanda, and south-western Uganda.
Delany’s swamp mouse (Delanymys brooksi) has a patchy distribution within the Albertine Rift of south-western Uganda, western Rwanda, Burundi, and extreme eastern
Democratic Republic of Congo, where it occurs in or very close to high-elevation swamps.
The Lemara shrew (Crocidura lanosa) and the Tarella shrew (C. tarella) are both known only from a few localities in the Albertine Rift.
The Ruwenzori shrew (Ruwenzorisorex suncoides) is a semi-aquatic species endemic to the Albertine Rift.
The Ruwenzori horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ruwenzorii) is confined to the Albertine Rift, where it has been recorded from Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda. Hill’s horseshoe bat (R. hilli) is known only from Nyungwe National Park in south-western Rwanda.
Rockefeller’s sunbird (Cinnyris rockefelleri) is confined to a small area of the northern Itombwe Mountains and other mountains to the north and west of Lake Kivu in eastern
Democratic Republic of Congo, where the total population is thought to be under 1500.
Prigogine’s greenbul (Chlorocichla prigoginei) is a type of passerine bird known only from a few high-elevation localities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where it is seriously threatened by habitat destruction.
Grauer’s broadbill (Pseudocalyptomena graueri) is confined to the montane forests of the Albertine Rift in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and south-western Uganda. At one time an almost legendary bird among ornithologists working in Africa, it remains rare and little-known.
The yellow-crested helmet-shrike (Prionops alberti) is known from the Albertine Rift of central-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, including the Itombwe Plateau and Mount Kabobo. The total population is thought to be small and threatened by loss of habitat.
Chapin’s flycatcher (Muscicapa lendu) is a rare species found patchily in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, south-western Uganda, western Kenya, and possibly Rwanda, where it is threatened by loss of habitat.
Grauer’s swamp warbler (Bradypterus graueri) is found patchily in Rwanda, Burundi, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and far south-western Uganda, where it is restricted to high-elevation marshy areas.
Shelley’s crimsonwing (Cryptospiza shelleyi) is a type of finch known from Burundi, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and western Uganda. It is threatened by loss of habitat.
Blochmann’s skink (Leptosiaphos blochmanni) is known only from the Nyungwe Forest in south-western Rwanda.
Leopold’s snake-eater (Polemon leopoldi) is a type of rearfanged snake known only from a single specimen collected in 1941 from the mountains of Rwanda.
The Karissimbi tree frog (Leptopelis karissimbensis) is found patchily in the highlands of far south-western Uganda, north-western and south-western Rwanda, and eastern
Democratic Republic of Congo, where it is threatened by loss of habitat.
Several species of reed frog (Hyperolius) are threatened by loss of habitat. The Nyungwe reed frog (H. jackie) is known only from Nyungwe National Park in south-western Rwanda.The diaphanous reed frog (H. diaphanous) is known only from a small area of the Itombwe Mountains and the mountains west of Lake Kivu. The white-striped reed frog (H. leucotaenius) is known only from a small area to the west of the southern Itombwe Highlands and from the northern slopes of the Kabobo Highlands. The starry reed frog (H. constellatus) is confined to the Itombwe and Kabobo plateaus west of Lake Tanganyika. Raven’s reed frog (H. raveni) is known only from its original collection in the 1930s from an undefined volcanic area north-east of Lake Kivu.
The Itombwe screeching frog (Arthroleptis hematogaster) is confined to the Itombwe and Kabobo highlands of east-central Democratic Republic of Congo. The Mosso screeching frog (A. mossoensis) is known only from its original collection in the 1950s from southern Burundi.
The Mukuzira long-fingered frog (Cardioglossa cyaneospila) is known only from a few ill-defined localities in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The yellow-throated puddle frog (Phrynobatrachus sulfureogularis) is known only from two small, disjunct areas of western Burundi and western Tanzania. Dalcq’s puddle frog (P. dalcqi) is known only from its original collection in the 1950s from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (southern Kivu province).
The Albertine Rift bamboo frog (Callixalus pictus) is a rare species known only from the Itombwe and Kabobo highlands of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Fischer’s caecilian (Boulengerula fischeri) is known only from the Cyamudongo Forest in south-western Rwanda, a relict of the larger Nyungwe Forest.
The Mitumba Mountains
The Mitumba Mountains stretch along the western shore of Lake Tanganyika in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Sud-Kivu and Nord-Kivu provinces). Part of it is protected by the Kahuzi-Biéga National Park, a World Heritage Site.
The grey brush-furred rat (Lophuromys cinereus) is known only from a few specimens collected at high elevations in Kahuzi-Biéga National Park.
The Kahuzi swamp shrew (Myosorex jejei) is similarly confined to areas of Kahuzi-Biéga National Park.
The Mwana screeching frog (Arthroleptis vercammeni) is known only from a single locality in the Mitumba Mountains.
Mount Kahuzi is an extinct volcano and the highest peak in the Mitumba Range.
The Kahuzi climbing mouse (Dendromus kahuziensis) is known only from two specimens collected in montane forest on Mount Kahuzi in 1969.
Mount Nzawa is located in south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Katanga province).
The Nzawa chameleon (Kinyongia mulyai) and the Nzawa pygmy chameleon (Rhampholeon hattinghi) are both known only from a small, highly fragmented forest remnant on Mount Nzawa.
The Lendu Plateau
The Lendu Plateau is located in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on the western side of Lake Albert.
Chapin’s crombec (Sylvietta chapini) is a very rare (possibly extinct) type of warbler known only from the Lendu Plateau.
The circular-scaled chameleon (Kinyongia gyrolepis) is known only from a few specimens collected mainly in the Lendu Plateau’s now mostly cleared forests.
The Lendu Plateau clawed frog (Xenopus lenduensis) is an aquatic species confined to the Lendu Plateau.
The Ruwenzori Mountains
The Ruwenzori Mountains (also known as the Rwenzori Mountains) is located between lakes Edward and Albert on the border between Uganda and north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The mountains are non-volcanic and its highest peaks are permanently snow-capped.
The Ruwenzori red duiker (Cephalophus nigrifrons rubidus) is confined to the Ruwenzori Mountains.
The montane shaggy rat (Dasymys montanus) is confined to the Ruwenzori Mountains.
The moon striped mouse (Hybomys lunaris) is confined to the Ruwenzori Mountains.
The montane mouse shrew (Myosorex blarina) is confined to the Ruwenzori Mountains.
The Ruwenzori skink (Leptosiaphos meleagris) is confined to the Ruwenzori Mountains.
The Ruwenzori yellowfish (Labeobarbus ruwenzori) is confined to the Mubuku and Sibwe rivers on the eastern flank of the Ruwenzori Mountains in Uganda.
Mount Teye is located in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Teye reed frog (Hyperolius xenorhinus) is known only from a single specimen collected on Mount Teye.
The Virunga Mountains
The Virunga Mountains are a chain of eight mostly dormant volcanoes located along the border of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Nord-Kivu province), northern Rwanda,
and western Uganda.
The mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) has, as indicated earlier, one of its two surviving populations in the Virunga Mountains, where it inhabits montane cloud forests ranging in altitude from 2200 to 4300 m. Most are found on the slopes of three dormant volcanoes (Karisimbi, Mikeno, and Visoke). The vegetation is very dense at the bottom of these mountains, becoming sparser at higher elevations, and the broad-leaved Hagenia forests where the gorillas live are often cloudy, misty, and cold. Since recovering from an all-time low of just 254 in 1981 the population has grown considerably to 480 by 2010, and is completely protected within three contiguous, well-patrolled national parks. Nevertheless, the animals are still threatened by habitat destruction and degradation, disease, and snares set by bushmeat poachers.
The golden guenon (Cercopithecus kandti) is confined to the Virunga Mountains of north-western Rwanda and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Albertine owlet (Glaucidium albertinum) is known only from a handful of specimens collected within the Itombwe Mountains and from a forest west of Lake Edward. The population is inferred to be very small, fragmented, and under threat from habitat destruction.
The Virunga forest tree frog (Leptopelis fenestratus) is known only from the Semliki sector of the Virunga Mountains in Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a large area of primeval forest located on the edge of the Albertine Rift, in southwestern Uganda. This forest contains one of the two remaining populations of mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei). As of 2006 approximately 300–340 gorillas were protected within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda), with a small contiguous portion in the Sarambwe Nature Reserve, Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Itombwe Mountains
The Itombwe Mountains (also known as the Itombwe Massif ) is a range of mountains running along the western shore of Lake Tanganyika in east-central Democratic Republic of Congo (Sud-Kivu province). It contains vast areas of both montane and lowland forest that is home to a variety of wildlife, including populations of Grauer’s gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri) and African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis). Unfortunately, it is still unprotected and under increasing threat by local people.
Grauer’s large-headed shrew (Paracrocidura graueri) is known only from a single specimen collected in the Itombwe Mountains in 1908.
Schaller’s mouse shrew (Myosorex schalleri) is known only from a single specimen collected in the Itombwe Mountains in 1966.
The Congo bay owl (Phodilus prigoginei) was long known only from a single specimen collected in 1951 at Muusi. However, another was captured in a mist-net in 1996 in the
south-east corner of Itombwe Forest. It is possible that the species occurs much more widely.
The Itombwe flycatcher (Muscicapa itombwensis) is confined to a narrow band of montane forest within the Itombwe Mountains.
Prigogine’s nightjar (Caprimulgus prigoginei) is known only from a single specimen collected in the Itombwe Mountains in 1955, although subsequent sound recordings indicate that it may be much more widespread in equatorial Africa.
Parker’s tree toad (Laurentophryne parkeri) is known only from its original collection in montane forest near Mwengwa in 1951.
The Itombwe forest tree frog (Leptopelis anebos) is known only from two localities in the Itombwe Mountains.
The Luvubu reed frog (Hyperolius leleupi) is confined to an area of high-elevation bamboo forest in the Itombwe Mountains, where it has not been seen since its original description in 1951.
The Itombwe golden frog (Chrysobatrachus cupreonitens) is confined to montane grassland and marshy areas in the Itombwe Mountains.
The Itombwe puddle frog (Phrynobatrachus asper) is confined to high-elevation swamps in the Itombwe Mountains.
The Itombwe clawed frog (Xenopus itombwensis) is an aquatic species confined to marshes and pools in the Itombwe Mountains.
The Kibara Mountains
The Kibara Mountains are located in south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Katanga province).
The Shaba reed frog (Hyperolius kibarae) is known only from the highlands of Upemba National Park.
Mount Bururi
Mount Bururi is located in south-western Burundi.
The Bururi forest shrew (Myosorex bururiensis) is a rare species confined to montane forest in the Bururi Nature Reserve.
Mount Kabobo
Mount Kabobo is located in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Prigogine’s black and white colobus (Colobus angolensis prigoginei) is a type of monkey confined to Mount Kabobo.
The Marungu Highlands
The Marungu Highlands are located west of the southern half of Lake Tanganyika in south-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Marungu reed frog (Hyperolius atrigularis) is known only from its original collection in the 1940s, in montane grassland of the Marungu Highlands.
The Cameroon Volcanic Line
The Cameroon Volcanic Line is a 1600-km chain of volcanoes stretching across the border between western Cameroon and eastern Nigeria. Geologically it also includes the islands of the Gulf of Guinea, which are dealt with separately.
The mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula) is a type of antelope divided into three subspecies found very disjunctly in eastern, western, and southern Africa, respectively. The western mountain reedbuck (R. f. adamauae) has been reduced to a few small populations in eastern Nigeria and western Cameroon, where it is threatened by hunting and loss of habitat.
Two subspecies of Preuss’ monkey (Allochrocebus preussi) are threatened by hunting and habitat destruction. The Cross River Preuss’ monkey (A. p. preussi) is largely confined to higher-elevation forest pockets in western Cameroon and south-eastern Nigeria.
Cooper’s mountain squirrel (Paraxerus cooperi) is a little known species found patchily in the mountains of western Cameroon and eastern Nigeria.
The western groove-toothed rat (Otomys occidentalis) is known only from the Gotel Mountains of eastern Nigeria and from Mount Oku and another nearby volcano in western Cameroon.
Hartwig’s soft-furred mouse (Praomys hartwigi) is known only from a few localities in western Cameroon.
The Bamenda shrew (Crocidura picea) is known only from the Bamenda Highlands and Mount Oku in western Cameroon.
The Heim de Balsac’s forest shrew (Sylvisorex camerunensis) is found widely but patchily in the mountains of eastern Nigeria and western Cameroon.
Eisentraut’s pipistrelle bat (Hypsugo eisentrauti) is likely confined to the montane forests of south-western Cameroon. There are records from four other countries, but it seems likely that these are misidentifications.
Bannerman’s turaco (Tauraco bannermani) is largely confined to montane forest fragments within the Bamenda Highlands of western Cameroon, although small populations
exist on nearby Mount Mbam as well as in two localities to the south-west.
The Kupe bush-shrike (Chlorophoneus kupeensis) was long thought to be confined to a small area of forest on Mount Kupe in western Cameroon, but has since been discovered at a few other localities in both western Cameroon and eastern Nigeria. The small remaining population is highly threatened by habitat destruction.
The green-breasted bush-shrike (Malaconotus gladiator) is a rare species found patchily in the highlands of western Cameroon and south-eastern Nigeria.
The white-throated mountain babbler (Kupeornis gilberti) is confined to a few localities in western Cameroon and eastern Nigeria.
Bannerman’s weaver (Ploceus bannermani) is a type of passerine bird found patchily in western Cameroon and south-eastern Nigeria.
Several chameleons of the genus Trioceros are threatened by habitat destruction and overcollection for the international pet trade. Perret’s montane chameleon (T. perreti) is confined to the Manengouba and Bakossi mountains of western Cameroon. Pfeffer’s two-horned chameleon (T. pfefferi) is confined to a few montane forest remnants in western Cameroon. The serrated chameleon (T. serratus) is known from a few localities in western Cameroon. Wiedersheim’s chameleon (T. wiedersheimi) is known only from two small areas in western Cameroon and another in eastern Nigeria.The four-horned chameleon (T. quadricornis) is found in a few scattered localities in western Cameroon and south-eastern Nigeria. The southern four-horned chamelon (T. q. quadricornis) occurs on Mount Kupe, Mount Manengouba, and the Bakossi Mountains. The northern four-horned chameleon (T. q. gracilior) is known from the Bamboutos Mountains, Bamenda Highlands and Mbulu Hills of western Cameroon, and from the Obudu Plateau in southeastern Nigeria.
Paulian’s skink (Leptosiaphos pauliani) is known only from two localities in western Cameroon (Mount Bamboutos and Mount Kupe).
Villiers’ toad (Sclerophrys villiersi) is confined to the mountains of western Cameroon, where it is threatened by habitat destruction and degradation.
The Cameroon Wolterstorff toad (Wolterstorffina parvipalmata) is found widely but patchily in western Cameroon and south-eastern Nigeria, where it is threatened by habitat destruction and most likely chytridiomycosis.
Several species of smalltongue toad (Werneria) are endemic to small areas of western Camerron, where they are threatened by loss of habitat. Preuss’ smalltongue toad (W. preussi) is known only from Mount Cameroon and Mount Kupe. The submontane smalltongue toad (W. submontana) is known only from Mount Kupe and the Bakossi Mountains. Tandy’s smalltongue toad (W. tandyi) is known only from Mount Manengouba and the Rumpi Hills. Mertens’ smalltongue toad (W. mertensiana) is known from a few scattered localities.
The Cameroon leaf-folding frog (Afrixalus lacteus) is known only from a few mountaintops in western Cameroon.
Steindachner’s puddle frog (Phrynobatrachus steindachneri) and Jim Zimkus’ puddle frog (P. jimzimkusi) are both confined to a small area of western Cameroon and southeastern Nigeria, where they are threatened by loss of habitat and possibly chytridiomycosis.
Perret’s water frog (Petropedetes perreti) is confined to a few localities in south-western Cameroon.
Mertens’ egg frog (Leptodactylodon mertensi) is known only from four localities within the mountains of western Cameroon (the Bamileke Plateau, Mount Nlonako, and Mount Manengouba). Perret’s egg frog (L. perreti) is known from the higher peaks of western Cameroon. The Buea egg frog (L. bueanus) is known only from the eastern slopes of Mount Cameroon and from nearby Bimbia Hill in southwestern Cameroon. The ornate egg frog (L. ornatus) is divided into two subspecies, with the nominate form (L. o. ornatus)
found on Mount Manengouba, Mount Nlonako, Mount Kupe, and from the Bonandam Hills and Ebonji Hills. All are threatened by loss of habitat and possibly chytridiomycosis.
Perret’s screeching frog (Arthroleptis perreti) is known for certain only from Mount Manengouba in south-western Cameroon, but may occur as well on nearby peaks and in the
Rumpi Hills.
The Nkongsamba white-lipped frog (Amnirana asperrima) is known from a few highland areas of south-eastern Nigeria and south-western Cameroon.
The decorated running frog (Kassina decorata) is known only from two widely separated areas of western Cameroon (the Bamileke Highlands and Mount Manengouba).
Perret’s night frog (Astylosternus perreti) and Amiet’s night frog (A. ranoides) are both known only from a few localities in western Cameroon.
Several species of long-fingered frog (Cardioglossa) are threatened by loss of habitat. The black long-fingered frog (Cardioglossa pulchra), Schiotz’s long-fingered frog (C.
schioetzi), lovely long-fingered frog (C. venusta), Alsco longfingered frog (C. alsco), and Amiet’s long-fingered frog (C. melanogaster) are all found patchily in the mountains of western Cameroon and south-eastern Nigeria, where they are threatened by loss of habitat.
The Western High Plateau
The Western High Plateau (also known as the Western Highlands or the Bamenda Highlands) lies along the Cameroon Volcanic Line in western Cameroon (North-West, West, and South-West regions). It is ill-defined area of mountain ranges and ancient volcanoes characterized by high relief, cool temperatures, heavy rainfall, and savanna vegetation.
The Bamenda forest shrew (Sylvisorex silvanorum) is known only from a few specimens collected from the Western High Plateau.
The Manenguba shrew (Crocidura manengubae) is known from two or three mountaintop localities on the Western High Plateau.
The Oku mouse shrew (Myosorex okuensis) is known from a few scattered localities in the Western High Plateau, including Mount Manenguba, Mount Oku, and Mount Lefo.
The banded wattle-eye (Platysteira laticincta) is a type of passerine bird confined to forest fragments within the Bamenda Highlands.
The Western High Plateau smalltongue toad (Werneria bambutensis) is confined to a few localities on the Western High Plateau.
The Oku long-fingered frog (Cardioglossa oreas) is confined to the Western High Plateau between Mount Oku and the Bamboutos Mountains.
The Oku Massif is a volcanic field located in central-western Cameroon (north-west region). It contains four major stratovolcanoes (Mount Oku, Mount Babanki, Mount Nyos, and Mount Nkambe) and three crater lakes (Lake Oku, Lake Nyos, and Lake Monoun).
The Oku rat (Lamottemys okuensis) is confined to the montane rainforest atop Mount Oku, where it is threatened by deforestation.
Dieterlen’s brush-furred mouse (Lophuromys dieterleni) is known only from a few specimens collected on Mount Oku.
The Oku wood mouse (Hylomyscus grandis) is known only from a few specimens collected on the upper slopes of Mount Oku.
Mittendorf’s striped grass mouse (Lemniscomys mittendorfi) is known only from a few specimens collected from a small area of grassland on Mount Oku.
Chirio’s Wolterstorff toad (Wolterstorffina chirioi) is known only from the summit of Mount Oku.
The Lake Oku puddle frog (Phrynobatrachus njiomock) is known only from a single forest fragment on Mount Oku near Lake Oku, a shallow crater lake, where it was last recorded in 2010. It may possibly be extinct due to chytridiomycosis. The spiny puddle frog (P. chukuchuku) is known only from a few high-elevation localities in and around Mount Oku.
The Oku clawed frog (Xenopus longipes) is confined to Lake Oku.
The Oku caecilian (Crotaphatrema lamottei) is confined to Mount Oku.
The Bamileke Plateau is located in central-western Cameroon (North-west region). Densely populated, most of its original forest cover has been lost.
The Lefo brush-furred rat (Lophuromys eisentrauti) is known only from its original collection in montane forest on Mount Lefo in 1978.
The Bamileke ornate egg frog (Leptodactylodon ornatus permaculatus) is confined to the southern and western slopes of the Bamileke Plateau.
The Bambouto Massif is located in western Cameroon (West region). It is dominated by Mount Bambouto.
Mire’s Wolterstorff toad (Wolterstorffina mirei) appears to be confined to the Bambouto Massif.
The Bamboutos egg frog (Leptodactylodon axillaris) is known only from Mount Bamboutos.
The Bakossi Mountains are located in western coastal Cameroon (south-west region). The highest peak in the range is Mount Kupe, which has been heavily deforested. Fortunately, other areas of cloud forest remain in the range, some of which are protected within the Bakossi Forest Reserve.
Weiler’s gecko (Urocotyledon weileri) is a little-known species possibly confined to Mount Kupe.
Dintelmann’s reed frog (Hyperolius dintelmanni) is known only from Mount Kupe and the Edib Hills.
Wild’s egg frog (Leptodactylodon wildi) is known only from a small area of the Bakossi Mountains.
The Adamawa Plateau
The Adamawa Plateau (Massif de l’Adamaoua in French) is located in south-eastern Nigeria (Adamawa and Borno states), north-central Cameroon (Adamawa and North Cameroon regions), and western parts of the Central African Republic.
The Djohong toad (Sclerophrys djohongensis) is known only from the Adamawa Plateau in north-central Cameroon, although it may also occur in adjacent areas of southeastern
Nigeria.
The Nganha night frog (Astylosternus nganhanus) is known only from five specimens collected in 1978 on Mount Nganha, Cameroon (Adamawa region).
The Tchabal Mbabo caecilian (Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis) is known only from three specimens collected in 1997 from Mount Tchabal Mbabo, Cameroon (Adamawa region).
The Gotel Mountains
The Gotel Mountains are located in south-eastern Nigeria (Taraba state) and north-central Cameroon (north-west region). It is partly protected by Gashaka Gumti National Park, Nigeria’s largest.
The Gotel soft-furred mouse (Praomys obscurus) is confined to the Gotel Mountains in south-eastern Nigeria.
The Rumpi Hills
The Rumpi Hills are located about 80 km north of Mount Cameroon in western Cameroon (south-west region). It has suffered severe forest loss due to smallholder farming activities, logging, and human settlement.
The Rumpi mouse shrew (Myosorex rumpii) is known only from a single specimen collected in 1967.
Eisentraut’s four-horned chameleon (Trioceros quadricornis eisentrauti) is confined to the Rumpi Hills.
The Jynx midwife frog (Alexteroon jynx) is known only from two localities on the eastern slopes of the Rumpi Hills.
Mount Manengouba
Mount Manengouba is located in south-western Cameroon (littoral region).
The Manengouba puddle frog (Phrynobatrachus manengoubensis) is known only from a shallow crater lake at 2000 m on Mount Manengouba.
The Nsoung long-fingered frog (Cardioglossa trifasciata) and the Manengouba Peak long-fingered frog (C. manengouba) are both confined to Mount Manengouba.
The redbelly egg frog (Leptodactylodon erythrogaster) is confined to the south-eastern slopes of Mount Manengouba.
Mount Cameroon
Mount Cameroon is an active volcano that sits near the coast in western Cameroon (south-west region). Its forested slopes are fairly intact and partially protected within Mount
Cameroon National Park.
Burton’s groove-toothed rat (Otomys burtoni) is known only from Mount Cameroon.
Eisentraut’s striped mouse (Hybomys badius) is confined to Mount Cameroon.
Eisentraut’s shrew (Crocidura eisentrauti) is confined to the summit of Mount Cameroon.
The Mount Cameroon forest shrew (Sylvisorex morio) is confined to the higher elevations of Mount Cameroon.
The Mount Cameroon francolin (Pternistis camerunensis) is a partridge-like bird confined to the south-eastern and north-eastern slopes, where it has become quite scarce in
recent years.
The Mount Cameroon white-eye (Zosterops melanocephalus) is a small, warbler-like bird is confined to a narrow altitudinal belt around Mount Cameroon, within which it is common.
Poliak’s killifish (Aphyosemion poliaki) is confined to brooks on the eastern slopes of Mount Cameroon.
The Guinea Highlands
The Guinea Highlands is a densely forested mountainous plateau extending from central Guinea through northern Sierra Leone and Liberia to western Ivory Coast. It includes a
number of distinct mountain ranges and plateaus.
The Nimba otter shrew (Micropotamogale lamottei) is a tiny, semi-aquatic species endemic to the small upland forest streams of the Nimba Range in Liberia, Guinea and Ivory
Coast, and the Putu Range in Liberia. It appears to be generally uncommon.
The white-eyed prinia (Schistolais leontica) is a type of passerine bird found patchily in submontane areas of the Guinea Highlands of Ivory Coast, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra
Leone. It is threatened by habitat destruction due to mining activity.
The Guinea Highlands day gecko (Cnemaspis occidentalis) is confined to a few disjunct areas of montane forest, including the Nimba Range on the Liberia / Guinea border, the Loma Mountains of Sierra Leone, the Ziama region of Guinea, and Mount Tonkoui in Ivory Coast. It is threatened by logging and mining activities.
The Nimba Range
The Nimba Range is a narrow ridge extending for approximately 40 km on the border between Liberia, Guinea, and Ivory Coast. One of the most interesting of the West African equatorial massifs, its isolation has produced hundreds of endemic plants and animals. Whether this remarkable number is due to the fact that the massif served as a refuge for species that had a wider distribution during previous pluvial periods or because they, through isolation, have evolved from ancestral forms, it is very important for research into evolution. Unfortuately, its forests have been severely reduced by logging, fires, clearing for agriculture, and large-scale mining activities, and its wildlife intensively hunted.
The Nimba viviparous toad (Nimbaphrynoides occidentalis) is known only from three small, non-connected montane grassland localities in the Nimba Range. The sites are only a few kilometres apart but are divided by unsuitable habitat.
Mount Richard-Molard (also known simply as Mount Nimba) is located on the south-eastern Guinea/Ivory Coast border. It is the highest peak in the Nimba Range.
Lamotte’s roundleaf bat (Hipposideros lamottei) is known only from Mount Richard-Molard.
The Nimba screeching frog (Arthroleptis nimbaensis) is known only from its original collection on Mount Richard-Molard in the mid-twentieth century.
The Fouta Djallon Highlands
The Fouta Djallon Highlands are a plateau region located in north-central Guinea and (marginally) south-eastern Senegal.
The Fouta Djallon aquatic skink (Cophoscincopus senegalensis) is known only from small, fast-flowing streams in the Fouta Djallon Highlands.
Idanre Hill
Idanre Hill is located in south-western Nigeria (Ondo state).
The Ondo Forest day gecko (Cnemaspis petrodroma) is confined to Idanre Hill.
Perret’s toad (Sclerophrys perreti) is confined to Idanre Hill, where it was long believed to be extinct until rediscovered in 2013.
The Jos Plateau
The Jos Plateau is located in central Nigeria (Plateau state).
Fox’s shaggy rat (Dasymys foxi) is confined to the central Jos Plateau.
The giant day gecko (Cnemaspis gigas) is confined to the Jos Plateau.
Dunger’s skink (Leptosiaphos dungeri) is known for certain only from high-altitude savanna on the Jos Plateau, although another population on the Adamawa Plateau in Cameroon may also be attributable to this species.
The Kigomo worm lizard (Cynisca kigomensis) is known only from a few specimens collected in the 1960s from the Jos Plateau.
The Simandou Massif
The Simandou Massif is a range of hills located in southeastern Guinea.
The Simandou white-lipped frog (Amnirana fonensis) is known only from the Simandou Massif.
Miscellaneous Mountains and Highlands
The South Cameroon Plateau is Cameroon’s dominant geographical feature, covering as it does more than half of the country’s total area. It lies south of the Adamawa Plateau and south-east of the Cameroon Volcanic Line.
The whitebelly egg frog (Leptodactylodon albiventris) is known for certain only from the western edge of the South Cameroon Plateau, where it is uncommon.
The Crystal Mountains (Monts de Cristal in French) are a group of low mountains (or high hills) inland of the Atlantic coast of Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola. They are actually the edge of the Woleu-Ntem Plateau against the coastal lowlands, and are characterized by a steep descent deeply cut by streams.
The Crystal Mountains forest tree frog (Leptopelis crystallinoron) was long known only froma single specimen, until fivemore were collected in 2009 from Crystal Mountains National Park.
The Chaillu Mountains are located on the border between southern Gabon and the Republic of Congo. The highest peaks are Mount Iboudji and Mount Mimongo.
Wuendsch’s killifish (Aphyosemion wuendschi) is confined to a single, swampy rainforest creek of the Ngounie River, in the central Chaillu Mountains of Gabon.
Mount Iboundji (Mont Iboundji in French) is located in south-central Gabon.
The Iboundji smalltongue toad (Werneria iboundji) is known only from two specimens collected from a rocky waterfall.
Lowland Tropical Rainforests and Swamp Forests
Most of Africa’s lowland rainforests are located within the Congo drainage basin between the Albertine Rift Valley in the east to the Atlantic Ocean, with additional patches occurring along coastal West Africa as far as Guinea. As a result of the damage done by man, the rainforests of Africa today cover less than a third of their former area. Nevertheless, about one-third of all the tropical rainforest in the world is in Africa. Western and Central African rainforests share many of the same plants and animals, suggesting that they may have once been connected in the past.
The African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) is found discontinuously in the lowland rainforests of western Africa in Ivory Coast and Ghana, and in central Africa from Cameroon to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The largest stable population lives in Gabon. The species is threatened in many areas by bushmeat hunting and ivory poaching.
The greater roundleaf bat (Hipposideros camerunensis) is known only from three widely spaced localities (western Cameroon, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Kakamega Forest of western Kenya).
The eastern wattled cuckoo-shrike (Lobotos oriolinus) is widely but patchily found in the lowland rainforests of central Africa, where it nevertheless appears to be very rare for reasons as yet unknown.
Home’s hinge-back tortoise (Kinixys homeana) is fairly widespread in the lowland rainforests of western and central Africa, but has undergone considerable declines due to loss of habitat and overcollection for food, ‘traditional medicine’, and the international pet trade.
Lowland Guinean Rainforests and Swamp Forests
The lowland Guinean rainforests and swamp forests are a discontinuous expanse of coastal tropical rainforest in West Africa. The Dahomey Gap, an area of savanna and dry forest in Togo and Benin, divides the Lower Guinean Forests from the Upper Guinean Forests to the west.
The yellow-casqued hornbill (Ceratogymna elata) is found widely but patchily in West Africa from Senegal to Cameroon, where it is threatened mainly by hunting.
Upper Guinean Lowland Rainforests and Swamp Forests
The Upper Guinean lowland rainforests and swamp forests extend from central and southern Guinea and Sierra Leone through Liberia, southern Ivory Coast, and south-western Ghana, with isolated patches in Togo and north-western Benin. The region has suffered massive deforestation.
The crescent-naped mangabey (Cercocebus lunulatus) is found in parts of Ivory Coast, south-western Burkina Faso, and south-western Ghana. It is threatened mainly by hunting and habitat destruction, and persecuted in some areas for crop-raiding.
Two closely related and relatively large species of guenon (Cercopithecus) are endemic to Upper Guinean lowland forests, where they are threatened by hunting and habitat destruction. The Diana guenon (C. diana) is found in coastal south-eastern Guinea to Sierra Leone, Liberia, and southern Ivory Coast west of the Sassandra River. The Roloway guenon (C. roloway) was historically found across southern Ivory Coast and southern Ghana, roughly from the Sassandra River to the Pra River. Today the species survives only in a few scattered forest patches in central coastal and south-eastern Ivory Coast and south-western Ghana.
Two colobus monkeys of the genus Colobus were historically widespread within the Upper Guinean lowland rainforests and gallery forests. During the nineteenth century these leafeating monkeys were nearly hunted into extinction for their beautiful fur, although today the main threat comes from loss of habitat and bushmeat hunting. The king colobus (C. polykomos) occurs in far western Africa from southern Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia east to the Sassandra River in Ivory Coast. The ursine colobus (C. vellerosus) is found in eastern Ivory Coast through southern Ghana, Togo, and Benin to south-western Nigeria.
Miss Waldron’s red colobus (Piliocolobus waldronae) was originally found in south-eastern Ivory Coast and southwestern Ghana. Habitat destruction and hunting have long since eliminated it from most of this area, and there have been no confirmed sightings since 1978. After the announcement of the species’ probable extinction in 2000, however, new evidence (i.e. skins and a photograph) gave hope that a small number may yet survive between the Ehy Forest and Tanoé River in extreme south-eastern Ivory Coast. The Upper Guinea red colobus (P. badius) occurs in fragmented populations in south-western Ivory Coast, southern Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, where it is threatened by bushmeat hunting.
The pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) historically ranged far more widely in equatorial Africa than it does today, although it appears to have always been rather rare. Considerably less aquatic than its more familiar cousin the common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), it is a secretive inhabitant of lowland forests near rivers and swamps where, in recent years, whole populations have disappeared and become isolated. The Upper Guinea pygmy hippopotamus (C. l. liberiensis) is found in Ivory Coast, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Fortunately, it breeds fairly well in captivity, a guarantee that it will not become extinct.
Bourlon’s genet (Genetta bourloni) is known only from a small number of specimens collected in southern Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and western Ivory Coast.
The West African linsang (Poiana leightoni) is a weasellike arboreal carnivore known only from a few localities in south-western Ivory Coast and eastern Liberia.
The Liberian mongoose (Liberiictis kuhni) occurs in Liberia, western Ivory Coast, and possibly southern Guinea, where it is heavily hunted.
Baer’s wood mouse (Hylomyscus baeri) is known only from a few scattered localities in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.
The groove-toothed forest mouse (Leimacomys buettneri) is known only from two specimens collected in west-central Togo in 1890. Two expeditions in the 1990s failed to rediscover the species, although local people were said to be familiar with it.
Wimmer’s shrew (Crocidura wimmeri) is confined to a small area of south-western Ivory Coast.
The rufous fishing-owl (Scotopelia ussheri) is found widely but patchily in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, northern Liberia, and Sierra Leone, where it is threatened by loss of habitat.
The white-necked rockfowl (Picathartes gymnocephalus) has a highly fragmented distribution in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Ghana, where most of its breeding colonies are small and isolated.
The yellow-bearded greenbul (Criniger olivaceus) is found widely but patchily in Sierra Leone, Liberia, south-eastern Guinea, southern Ivory Coast, and south-western Ghana, but is everywhere threatened by loss of habitat.
The western wattled cuckoo-shrike (Lobotos lobatus) is found widely across eastern Sierra Leone, Liberia, southeastern Guinea, southern Ivory Coast, and south-western Ghana, but is everywhere threatened by loss of habitat.
The Upper Guinean flycatcher (Melaenornis annamarulae) is found patchily in eastern Sierra Leone, Liberia, southeastern Guinea, south-western Ivory Coast, and south-central Ghana. Highly dependant upon lowland closed-canopy rainforest with large emergent trees, it is threatened by loss of habitat.
Ballmann’s malimbe (Malimbus ballmanni) is a rare type of weaverbird known only from a few disjunct populations in eastern Sierra Leone, Liberia, southern Guinea, and western Ivory Coast.
Necas’ chameleon (Chamaeleo necasi) is known only from a few localities in south-western Togo and southern Benin.
Williams’ worm lizard (Cynisca williamsi) is known only from a single specimen collected in the early 1960s from westcentral Ghana. Mueller’s worm lizard (C. muelleri) is known only from its original collection in the late nineteenth century in south-western Ghana. Degrys’ worm lizard (C. degrysi) is known only from a single specimen collected in the 1940s from the unspecified locality ‘Sierra Leone’.
Mann’s worm snake (Afrotyphlops manni) is known only from two specimens collected from two, widely separated localities (Mount Nimba, Guinea, and south-western Liberia). It is possible that one or both localities are incorrect.
The Liberian blind snake (Letheobia leucostictus) is known only from a single specimen collected in the late nineteenth century from the unspecified locality ‘Liberia’.
Broadley’s blind snake (Tricheilostoma broadleyi) is known only from two localities in south-central Ivory Coast.
The Monogaga toad (Sclerophrys danielae) is known only from a small area of south-western coastal Ivory Coast, where it was last recorded in the late 1970s. The Taï toad (S. taiensis) is known only from two disjunct localities (Taï National Park in south-western Ivory Coast and the Gola Forest in southeastern Sierra Leone).
Perret’s running frog (Kassina arboricola) is known only from a few localities over a relatively wide area of southern Ivory Coast and south-western Ghana. Lamotte’s running frog (K. lamottei) is known only from south-western Ivory Coast, but may also be found in eastern Liberia and southern Guinea. Both are threatened by loss of habitat.
Several reed frogs of the genus Hyperolius are threatened by loss of habitat. The Nimba reed frog (H. nimbae) is known only from a small area of western Ivory Coast. It went unrecorded from 1967 until its rediscovery in 2010. The Ukami reed frog (H. torrentis) is confined to a few localities in eastern Ghana and western Togo. The Bobiri reed frog (H. bobirensis) is confined to three widely separated protected areas in southern Ghana. Laurent’s reed frog (H. laurenti) is known only from a few localities in south-eastern Ivory Coast and southwestern Ghana.
The Ivory Coast reed frog (Morerella cyanophthalma) is known only from three widely scattered lowland rainforest localities in southern Ivory Coast.
Langer’s screeching frog (Arthroleptis langeri) is known only from two small, disjunct localities, one on the northern Liberia/southern Guinea border and the other in eastern Liberia.
Several species of puddle frog (Phrynobatrachus) are threatened by loss of habitat. Vogt’s puddle frog (P. vogti) is known only from its original collection in the 1920s in southwestern Ghana. The Accra puddle frog (P. albolabris) is known only from its original collection in 1938 from what is now the city of Accra, Ghana. Schiotz’s puddle frog (P. ghanensis) is confined to forest fragments in south-western Ghana and south-eastern Ivory Coast. The Ankasa puddle frog (P. intermedius) is known only from the Ankasa National Reserve in south-western Ghana. The ringed puddle frog (P. annulatus) is known only from three small, disjunct localities (the northern Liberia/southern Guinea border, south-western Ivory Coast, and south-western Ghana).
The Taï Forest in south-western Ivory Coast is the single largest tract of undisturbed tropical rainforest in West Africa. While officially protected as Taï National Park, the survival of the forest has been seriously threatened by the activities of slash-and-burn farmers, poachers, timber companies, and illegal gold miners.
The Taï hairy bush viper (Atheris hirsuta) is known only from its original collection in Taï National Park.
The Taï reed frog (Hyperolius nienokouensis) is known only from Taï National Park and another locality 30 km to the north.
The Taï puddle frog (Phrynobatrachus taiensis) is known only from a single locality within Taï National Park.
Lower Guinean Lowland Rainforests and Swamp Forests
The Lower Guinean lowland rainforests and swamp forests, as here defined, extend along the eastern coast of the Gulf of Guinea from south-eastern Benin through southern Nigeria and western Cameroon.
The white-throated guenon (Cercopithecus erythrogaster) occurs in scattered populations in isolated lowland forest patches, where they have been intensively hunted for their beautiful fur. There are two subspecies. The red-bellied white-throated guenon (C. e. erythrogaster) is found in southern Benin, including the Lama Classified Forest, and possibly Togo as well. What remains of its habitat is generally protected by both legal and religious strictures.
The black colobus (Colobus satanas) is divided into two subspecies. Leconte’s black colobus (C. s. anthracinus) is found in Equatorial Guinea, south-western Cameroon, and central and north-western Gabon, with possibly some additional small populations in northern Republic of Congo. It is threatened by hunting and habitat destruction.
Wilson’s palm squirrel (Epixerus ebii wilsoni) from Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon is threatened by habitat destruction.
The Campo-Ma’an fruit bat (Casinycteris campomaanensis) is known only from two specimens collected in the vicinity of Campo-Ma’an National Park, Cameroon (south region) and a possible third in neighbouring Nigeria.
Bates’ weaver (Ploceus batesi) is a very rare type of passerine bird from southern Cameroon.
The Lama Forest house gecko (Hemidactylus lamaensis) is known only from a single locality in southern Benin.
Greenwell’s blind snake (Tricheilostoma greenwelli) is known only from specimens collected in the Ibadan University Zoological Gardens of western Nigeria (Oyo state).
The Victoria caecilian (Herpele multiplicata) is known only from a now-lost type specimen collected in south-western Cameroon in 1912.
Nigerian Lowland Rainforests
The Nigerian lowland rainforests are located in south-western Nigeria. Very little of the original forest cover now remains.
The Ibadan malimbe (Malimbus ibadanensis) is a type of small passerine bird that was originally discovered in 1951, when it was considered to be fairly common. Today it is confined to a few remnant forest localities in southwestern Nigeria.
Niger Delta Swamp Forests
The Niger delta lies directly on the Gulf of Guinea in southwestern Nigeria. Densely populated, virtually all of the original swamp forest is now gone.
The Niger delta pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis heslopi) was an isolated population that lived from the Niger delta east to the Cross River in Nigeria. There have been no reliable reports of it since 1945, and it appears to be extinct.
The Nigerian white-throated guenon (Cercopithecus erythrogaster pococki) was long considered extinct until a small group was rediscovered in 1988. Although other populations have since been located within the Niger River delta, it remains highly threatened.
The Niger delta red colobus (Piliocolobus epieni) is endemic to the swamp forests of the Niger delta, where surviving populations are now highly fragmented and concentrated in a small area in the south-eastern part of their original range. It is not found in any protected areas.
Cross-Niger Transition Forests
The Cross-Niger transition forests are located in the low hills of south-eastern Nigeria (Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Imo states), between the Niger River on the west and the Cross River on the east. Historically covered by a mixture of tropical forest and savanna woodland, the region is today one of the most densely populated in Africa and most of the forest is gone.
Sclater’s guenon (Cercopithecus sclateri) is confined to fragmented and degraded forest remants in southern Nigeria from the eastern Niger delta east to the Cross River.
Gans’ worm lizard (Cynisca gansi) is known only from a single abandoned forest clearing in south-eastern Nigeria, where it may already be extinct.
Cross-Sanaga Coastal Forests
The Cross-Sanaga coastal forests are located in south-eastern Nigeria (Cross River state) and western Cameroon, between the Cross and Sanaga rivers and up to 300 km inland from the Atlantic coast. Important protected areas include Cross River National Park and Korup National Park.
The Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) is confined to remote forests on rough terrain along the Nigeria–Cameroon border, where it is separated from other gorilla populations by the Sanaga River. Although the subspecies has been known to science since the early twentieth century, little attention was paid to its conservation status until the late 1980s. Surveys undertaken between 1990 and 2005 estimated that only 250–300 still survived.
The Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti) is the most threatened subspecies of chimpanzee, being found, like the Cross River gorilla, only in the rainforests of the Cameroon/Nigeria border area west of the Sanaga River. Historically it was probably widespread in southern Nigeria as far as the Niger River, although today it is confined to a few isolated forest fragments where, in 2011, the total population was estimated at no more than 6000–9000.
Monkeys of the genus Mandrillus are short-tailed and notable for the adult males, which attain enormous sizes and are brightly coloured. Both species are threatened by hunting and loss of habitat. The drill (M. leucophaeus), which is divided into two subspecies, is one of the most endangered monkeys in Africa. The mainland drill (M. l. leucophaeus) is found only between the Cross and Sanaga river valleys in south-eastern Nigeria and western and south-western Cameroon. The total population is thought to be between 3000 and 8000. Animals recovered from illegal capture are held in semi-captivity at the Drill Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre in Nigeria, and there is an additional international captive population.
The rusty-mantled crested mangabey (Lophocebus osmani) is a found disjunctly in south-eastern Nigeria and west-central Cameroon.
The russet-eared guenon (Cercopithecus erythrotis) is divided into two subspecies. The Cross River russet-eared guenon (C. e. camerunensis) is found from south-eastern Nigeria to just south of the Sanaga River in Cameroon, where it is threatened by hunting and habitat destruction.
Preuss’ red colobus (Piliocolobus preussi) is a highly threatened species confined to the Cross River region. The largest and most important population occurs in Korup National Park and surrounding forests of south-western Cameroon, and in Cross River National Park in adjacent south-eastern Nigeria. Historically it was also found in the area of the Ebo Forest, although recent surveys have failed to detect it. It is heavily hunted for its meat, even within protected areas.
Schneider’s leaf-folding frog (Afrixalus schneideri) is known only from its original collection in the late nineteenth century in what is now the city of Douala, western Cameroon. Lindholm’s leaf-folding frog (A. lindholmi) is similarly known only from a single specimen collected in the early twentieth century from coastal western Cameroon.
The Nlonako screeching frog (Arthroleptis nlonakoensis) is known only from a few areas of rainforest in western Cameroon (littoral region), including the Ebo Forest.
The Makamunu Assumbo caecilian (Idiocranium russeli), one of the smallest of all caecilians, is known only from two localities in western Cameroon, but may occur more widely.
Lowland Congolian Rainforests and Swamp Forests
The Congolian forests are a broad belt of lowland rainforests and swamp forests extending across the basin of the Congo River and its tributaries in Central Africa in south-eastern Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, north-western Angola (Cabinda), the Republic of the Congo, northern and central Democratic Republic of Congo, and portions of southern and south-western Central African Republic. All told, they represent the world’s second largest tropical forest (after the Amazon), roughly a quarter of what remains in the world. The okapi (Okapia johnstoni), a large but secretive forest-dwelling relative of the giraffe, went unknown to science until 1901. It is still found over a wide area of central, northern and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo north and east of the Congo River, as well as in a smaller region west and to the south of it. Long hunted by local pygmies, since about 1980 expansion of settlement and deforestation have eliminated the species from many of its former strongholds, as for instance the southern and eastern parts of the Ituri Forest.
The western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) is the most widespread and abundant gorilla subspecies, being found over a large area of tropical forest and swamps that includes parts of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Cabinda exclave of Angola. The actual range can be defined as extending from the Sanaga River in the north-west and along the northern forest–savanna boundary to the Oubangui River, south to the Congo River, and west to the Atlantic coast. The total population is still relatively high (roughly between 300,000 and 350,000) but threatened by a number of factors including loss of habitat, poaching and disease. With very few historical exceptions this form is the only type of gorilla to be found in captivity.
The Central African chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) lives in areas that are the least disturbed by humans overall, mainly in Gabon, Cameroon, and the Republic of Congo, but with smaller populations in the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, the Cabinda exclave of Angola, south-eastern Nigeria, and possibly the coastal extension of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its range can be broadly defined as the area between the Sanaga River and the Congo/ Oubangui. The total population is likely between 47,000 and 78,000, although possibly as high as 140,000.
The bonobo or pygmy chimpanzee (Pan paniscus) can be distinguished by its relatively long legs, pink lips, dark face, and certain features of the hair. It has a discontinuous range in the low-lying basin of the Democratic Republic of the Congo south of the Congo River, where it has long been isolated from other chimpanzee populations. While still relatively abundant it, too, is threatened by poaching both for meat as well as for supposed ‘medicinal’ purposes, as well as by habitat destruction and infectious disease.
Several species of crested mangabey (Lophocebus) are threatened by habitat destruction and hunting. The Ugandan crested mangabey (L. ugandae) is confined to a few areas in Uganda and north-western Tanzania. The black crested mangabey (L. aterrimus) is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo south and west of the Congo–Lualaba drainage. Opdenbosch’s black crested mangabey (L. opdenoschi) is found in south-western Democratic Republic of Congo and northern Angola. The grey-cheeked crested mangabey (L. albigena) is found in southern Cameroon, south-western Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo. Johnston’s crested mangabey (L. johnstoni) is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, western Rwanda, western Burundi, and possibly South Sudan.
The golden-bellied mangabey (Cercocebus chrysogaster) is only known from a few localities in south-central and western Democratic Republic of Congo, where it is threatened by bushmeat hunting.
The sun-tailed monkey (Allochrocebus solatus) is confined to central Gabon, primarily within Lopé National Park and the unprotected Forêt des Abeilles. It is threatened mainly by bushmeat hunting.
Several species and subspecies of guenon (Cercopithecus) are threatened by bushmeat hunting. The Lesula guenon (C. lomamiensis) is found in central Democratic Republic of Congo between the Lomami and Tshuapa rivers. The Dundo diademed guenon (C. mitis mitis) is confined to western coastal Angola. The black-footed crowned guenon (C. pogonias nigripes) is found in Equatorial Guinea, western Gabon, and the Republic of Congo. Gray’s crowned guenon (C. p. grayi) occurs in southern Cameroon, south-western Central African Republic, north-western Democratic Republic of Congo, north-eastern Gabon, northern Republic of Congo, and possibly northern Angola (Cabinda). The white-nosed moustached guenon (C. cephus ngottoensis) is found in south-western Central African Republic, northern Republic of Congo, and possibly north-western Democratic Republic of Congo. The grey-tailed moustached guenon (C. c. cephodes) is found in western Gabon and western Republic of Congo.
Curry’s bat (Glauconycteris curryae) is a little-known species from southern Cameroon and north-western Democratic Republic of Congo.
Stevart’s egg frog (Leptodactylodon stevarti) is known for certain only from a small area of north-western Gabon, but may also occur in adjacent areas of Equatorial Guinea. The speckled egg frog (L. ventrimarmoratus) is found in southwestern Cameroon, south of the Sanaga River. Both are threatened by loss of habitat.
Lowland Congolian Terra Firma Forests
Terra firma literally means ‘firm earth’, and refers to rainforest that is not inundated by flooded rivers.
The mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), the world’s largest monkey, lives in the rainforests of west-central Africa south of the Sanaga River in Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. Current numbers are unknown, but it has undoubtedly declined in recent years. It is generally rare and has been locally exterminated in places.
The Tshuapa red colobus (Piliocolobus tholloni) is found patchily in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo south of the Congo River and west of the Lomami. Like other members of its genus, it has been greatly impacted by bushmeat hunting.
Du Chaillu’s striped squirrel (Funisciurus duchaillui) is known only from a small area of central Gabon between the Ogooué River and Massif du Chaillu.
Schouteden’s thicket rat (Thamnomys schoutedeni) is known only from two widely separated localities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The velvet African climbing mouse (Dendroprionomys rousseloti) is known only from a few specimens collected in the Zoological Garden of Brazzaville, in south-eastern Republic of Congo.
The greater Congo shrew (Congosorex polli) is known only from a single specimen collected in the 1950s at Lubondai, in southern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The lesser forest shrew (Sylvisorex oriundus) is known only from two localities in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Dieter’s mouse-eared bat (Myotis dieteri) is known only from a single cave in southern Congo.
Two species of horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus) are threatened mainly by disturbance of their cave-roosts. The forest horseshoe bat (R. silvestris) is known only from three localities in eastern Gabon and another in the Republic of Congo. Adam’s horseshoe bat (R. adami) is known only from a few specimens collected from Kimanika Cave, southern Republic of Congo (Kouilou department), in 1968.
Glen’s wattled bat (Glauconycteris gleni) is known only from two widely spaced localities (Cameroon and western Uganda). Machado’s butterfly bat (G. machadoi) is known only from a single locality in east-central Angola.
The Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis) still occurs over a wide area of central Democratic Republic of Congo, where it went unknown to science until 1936. It seems to be everywhere rare, with much of its range unpopulated.
The Angolan greenbul (Phyllastrephus albigularis viridiceps) is known only from two small areas in north-western Angola (Cuanza Norte and Cuanza Sul provinces).
The golden-naped weaver (Ploceus aureonucha) is confined to north-western Democratic Republic of Congo and adjacent areas of western Uganda.
The Congolian eremomela (Eremomela turneri kalindei) is a type of passerine bird known from a few scattered localities in east-central Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Urungu toad (Sclerophrys urunguensis) is known only from an area of remnant rainforest near the southern end of Lake Tanganyika, in the Tanzania/Zambia border area.
Blanc’s egg frog (Leptodactylodon blanci) is known only from specimens collected in Lopé National Park, central Gabon, and from Moukalaba-Doudou National Park in south-western Gabon. It is likely to also be found in a few intervening localities.
The Lomami screeching frog (Arthroleptis phrynoides) is known only from a single locality in central Democratic Republic of Congo. The Cambondo screeching frog (A. carquejai) is known only from a small area of north-western Angola (Cuanza Norte province).
The Ituri Rainforest is an area of lowland rainforest located in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Ituri province). First traversed by Henry Morton Stanley in 1887, it is notable for being home to the Mbuti pygmies, a hunter-gatherer people. About one-fifth of the forest is protected within the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a World Heritage Site.
The yellow-legged weaver (Ploceus flavipes) is a rare bird species known only from the central and eastern Ituri Forest.
The Ituri reed frog (Hyperolius ferrugineus) is known only from a single locality in the Ituri Forest.
Loveridge’s screeching frog (Arthroleptis loveridgei) is known only from two specimens collected in the Ituri Forest in 1925.
The Kakamega Forest is located in south-western Kenya near the border with Uganda. Kenya’s only area of tropical rainforest, it is a last remnant of the ancient Guineo-Congolian rainforest that once spanned the continent.
The Kakamega blind snake (Afrotyphlops kaimosae) is known only from a single specimen collected in the Kakamega Forest in 1935.
Mackay’s forest tree frog (Leptopelis mackayi) is known only from Kakamega Forest and its vicinity.
Lowland Congolian Swamp Forests
Located in both the Republic of the Congo and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the lowland Congolian swamp forests form one of the largest continuous areas of freshwater swamp forest in the world. They consist of flooded forest with a high canopy, dense undergrowth, and a muddy floor. Still little-disturbed by human interference due to their impenetrability, they remain almost unstudied.
The dryas guenon (Cercopithecus dryas) is an extremely rare species known only from a few locations in the Lomela and Wamba regions in central Democratic Republic of Congo. The remaining population (less than 200) is somewhat protected within the community-managed Kokolopori Reserve.
Bouvier’s red colobus (Piliocolobus bouvieri) is known from an area of swampy forest in west-central Republic of Congo. The species had not been reported since the 1970s, and was thought to be extinct prior to its rediscovery in Ntokou-Pikounda National Park in 2015.
Nahan’s partridge (Ptilopachus nahani) is known only from a few localities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Tumba tree frog (Cryptothylax minutus) is known only from the Lake Tumba area of west-central Democratic Republic of Congo.
Forest–Savanna Mosaic
Forest–savanna mosaic is a transitionary bioregion between the moist lowland rainforests of Equatorial Africa and the drier savannas and open woodlands to the north, south, and east.
Trevor’s free-tailed bat (Mops trevori) is known only from a few specimens collected over a very wide area of West and Central Africa.
Guinean Forest–Savanna Mosaic
The Guinean forest–savanna mosaic includes the transitional areas between the lowland Guinean rainforests of West Africa and of the West Sudanian savanna. It extends from Guinea- Bissau and Guinea in the west, through central Ivory Coast, south-eastern Ghana, southern Togo, southern Benin, and south-central Nigeria to the Cameroon Highlands of northern Cameroon. In the Dahomey Gap the forest–savanna mosaic extends to the coast, thereby separating the Upper and Lower Guinean forests.
Walter’s duiker (Philantomba walteri) is known from a few dozen skulls and carcasses taken from bushmeat markets in Benin, Togo, and southern Nigeria. They are believed to have originated from the Dahomey Gap.
Jackson’s fat mouse (Steatomys jacksoni) is known only from two localities (west-central Ghana and south-western Nigeria). While likely to be found in intervening areas, in particular the Penjari Biosphere Reserve in Benin, the species is hunted and appears on occasion in ‘medicinal’ markets.
Bouet’s spiny-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus boueti) is known only from a few specimens collected over a relatively wide area of West Africa (south-western Ghana, northern Togo, central Benin, and west-central Nigeria).
The ornate long-tailed lizard (Latastia ornata) is known only from a single specimen collected in 1938 from northwestern Guinea-Bissau.
The Kérouané mabuya skink (Trachylepis keroanensis) is known only from a small area of eastern Guinea.
The Cassine worm lizard (Cynisca oligopholis) is known only froma small area of north-western Guinea and southern Guinea- Bissau. The Ivory Coast worm lizard (C. rouxae) is known only from two widely separated localities in north-eastern and central Ivory Coast. Krauss’ worm lizard (C. kraussi) is known only from a single locality in south-central Ghana.
The Mokwa worm lizard (Baikia africana) is known only from a few specimens collected from a single locality in western Nigeria (Niger state).
Dunger’s file snake (Mehelya egbensis) is known only from a single specimen collected in the 1960s from westcentral Nigeria.
The beautiful screeching frog (Arthroleptis formosus) is known only from a small area of western Guinea.
Congolian Forest–Savanna Mosaic
The Congolian forest–savanna mosaic includes the transitional areas between the lowland Congolian rainforests of Central Africa and the East Sudanian savanna to the north, as well as to the drier areas to the east and south. It encompasses portions of Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, southern Gabon, southern Republic of Congo, north-western Angola, and south-western South Sudan.
Pousargues’ mongoose (Dologale dybowskii) is known only from a small number of specimens collected in eastern Central Africa Republic, northern Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and southern South Sudan.
The Lunda rope squirrel (Funisciurus bayonii) is known only from south-western Democratic Republic of Congo and north-eastern Angola.
Dollman’s tree mouse (Prionomys batesi) is known only from a few specimens collected from south-central Cameroon, south-western Central African Republic, and north-western Republic of Congo.
The Gounda mouse (Mus goundae) and the Oubangui mouse (M. oubanguii) are each known only from a single locality in the Central African Republic.
The fuscous shrew (Crocidura polia) is known only from its original collection in the north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in the early twentieth century.
Hayman’s dwarf epauletted fruit bat (Micropteropus intermedius) is a rare species known only from four localities in northern Angola and southern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The lesser Angolan epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus grandis) is known only from three specimens collected in the mid-twentienth century from north-eastern Angola and southwestern Republic of Congo.
The Niangara free-tailed bat (Mops niangarae) is known only from a single specimen collected in 1917 from northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The black-lored waxbill (Estrilda nigriloris) is a type of finch restricted to the area of the Lualaba River and Lake Upemba in the southern Democratic Republic of Congo. It was last recorded in 1950.
Makolowode’s house gecko (Hemidactylus makolowodei) is known only from a single locality in western Cameroon.
Jacobsen’s reed frog (Hyperolius jacobseni) is known only from a single locality in southern Central African Republic. Lakes, Rivers, and Marshes
Among the more important lakes, rivers, and marshes within the Guineo-Congolian Region are Lake Tanganyika and Lake Albert, along with the Congo, Volta, and Niger river systems.
The Congo clawless otter (Aonyx congicus) is found in the wetland areas of Central Africa, where it is heavily hunted for its valuable pelt.
The spotted-necked otter (Hydrictis maculicollis) is widespread and relatively common in the larger lakes and rivers of sub-Saharan Africa, but for some reason is often absent from what appear to be suitable habitats, particularly in East Africa and in the Zambezi below Victoria Falls. No doubt habitat destruction, pollution, and hunting have taken a toll on the species.
The aquatic genet (Genetta piscivora) from the forests of the central and eastern Congo has long been considered among the rarest of African carnivores. Known mainly from museum specimens, it has not been reported since the late 1970s.
The savanna swamp shrew (Crocidura longipes) is known only from two small and isolated swamps near Lake Kainji, in north-western Nigeria (Kebbi state).
The West African slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus) occurs discontinuously from southern Senegal to Cameroon. The Central African slender-snouted crocodile (M. leptorhynchus) is found from Cameroon through the Congo Basin to South Sudan and south to northern Angola and western Tanzania. Both are seriously threatened by loss of habitat and bushmeat hunting.
The African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) is the smallest living crocodile species. Two rather ill-defined subspecies are found in wetland areas across the Guineo-Congolian Region. The nominate form (O. t. tetraspis) historically ranged from Senegal to Uganda, while the Congo dwarf crocodile (O. t. osborni) is found in the Congo Basin south to northern Angola. Both have disappeared in many areas due to hunting and habitat destruction.
The Nubian flapshell turtle (Cyclanorbis elegans) is a large and distinctive species that formerly occurred across Western and Central Africa, but which had not been reported in recent decades. Populations have recently been discovered, however, along small tributaries of the White Nile in South Sudan, where they are seriously threatened by collection for food. The Senegal flapshell turtle (C. senegalensis) is found in three main disjunct populations across northern-central Africa: one extending from Senegal to western Nigeria; another from Lake Chad to northern Central African Republic; and a third in Sudan, South Sudan, and western Ethiopia. The species is declining everywhere but particularly in West Africa due to overcollection and loss of habitat.
The ocellated water snake (Hydraethiops laevis) is known only from a few specimens collected in Cameroon and Gabon.
The banded toad (Sclerophrys vittata) is a little-known species confined to marshy areas in Uganda.
The Gbanga forest tree frog (Leptopelis bequaerti) is known only from two widely separated localities in Liberia.
The Omaniundu reed frog (Hyperolius sankuruensis) is known only from swamps and marshes in south-central Democratic Republic of Congo. First discovered in 1979, it was not seen again until 2010. Rochbrune’s reed frog (H. rhizophilus) and the Cabinda reed frog (H. maestus) are both known only from the Cabinda enclave of northwestern Angola.
The slippery frogs (Conraua) inhabit swift-moving rivers within the rainforests of West Africa. The goliath or giant slippery frog (C. goliath) is the largest frog on Earth, being about the size of housecat. Found only in south-western Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, its numbers have dwindled due to overcollection for food and the pet trade. The Cameroon slippery frog (C. robusta) from Cameroon and Nigeria, Togo slippery frog (C. derooi) from the Togo-Volta Highlands. And Allen’s slippery frog (C. alleni) from northern Sierra Leone, southern Guinea, Liberia. and south-western Ivory Coast are all similarly threatened.
The Efulen water frog (Petropedetes palmipes) is known only from a few localities in south-western Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea. and north-western Gabon.
Ahl’s puddle frog (Phrynobatrachus brevipalmatus) is known only from its original collection in the early twentieth century in what is now the city of Luanda, north-western Angola. The Yambata puddle frog (P. giorgii) is known only from its original collection in the early twentieth century from somewhere in north-western Democratic Republic of Congo. The Kakamega puddle frog (P. kakamikro) is known only from a single locality in south-western Kenya.
Amiet’s river frog (Amietia chapini) is known only from a small area of east-central Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Fopouanga night frog (Astylosternus fallax), Apouh night frog (A. schioetzi) and Laurent’s night frog (A. laurenti) are all confined to a few small areas of western and southwestern Cameroon, where they are threatened by loss of habitat and overcollection for food.
Fea’s dwarf clawed frog (Hymenochirus feae) is known only from its original collection from the central coast of Gabon in the early twentieth century. Boulenger’s dwarf clawed frog (H. boulengeri) is known only from two localities in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Ugandan clawed frog (Xenopus ruwenzoriensis) is known only from two localities in western Uganda.
Two species of stingray (Fontitrygon) are threatened by overfishing and accidental by-catch. The pincushion stingray (F. ukpam) is found discontinuously in rivers and lakes from Cameroon and Nigeria to Gabon and the Congo River drainage. The smooth stingray (F. garouaensis) is confined to the Niger/Benue, Cross. and Sanaga rivers, where it has declined or disappeared in many areas.
The redbelly tilapia (Tilapia busumana) is a type of cichlid confined to a few river drainages and lakes in south-western Ghana and south-eastern Ivory Coast, where it is threatened by habitat degradation and pollution.
The clown tilapia (Coelotilapia joka) is known only from the lower courses of the Jong and Waanje rivers in coastal Sierra Leone, but may occur in western Liberia as well.
Holly’s tilapia (Coptodon camerunensis) is confined to the Meme, Mungo, and Wouri rivers of western Cameroon, where it is threatened by sedimentation and pollution. The discolor tilapia (C. discolor) is confined to a few lakes and rivers in southern Ghana and south-eastern Ivory Coast.
Linke’s cichlid (Chromidotilapia linkei) is confined to the Mungo and Wouri rivers of western Cameroon. The elongated cichlid (C. elongata) is known only from a few rivers and creeks within the Dimonika Biosphere Reserve, southern Republic of Congo.
The short-beaked cichlid (Parananochromis brevirostris) is known only from a few scattered localities in the Ivindo and Ntem river drainages of eastern Gabon and south-eastern Cameroon and from the Ogooué River drainage of western Gabon.
Several cichlids of the genus Benitochromis are threatened by sedimentation and pollution. Lamboj’s cichlid (B. conjunctus) is confined to rivers and creeks around Mount Cameroon and the middle Mungo drainage in western Cameroon. Finley’s cichlid (B. finleyi) is confined to the Mungo and Meme river drainages of western Cameroon. The black-bellied cichlid (B. nigrodorsalis) is confined to an ill-defined area of western Cameroon. Ufermann’s cichlid (B. ufermanni) is known only from a few rivers and creeks in Korup National Park, western Cameroon. The Rio Muni cichlid (B. riomuniensis) is confined to south-western Cameroon and Equatoria Guinea. Bates’ cichlid (B. batesii) is found in western Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.
The graceful barb (Barboides gracilis) occurs patchily in small, slow-moving forest rivers in the coastal lowlands of West Africa, where it is threatened by loss of habitat.
The red-eyed cichlid (Haplochromis erythromaculatus) is confined to Lake Burera, Lake Ruhondo, and the Mukungwa River in north-western Rwanda, where it is threatened by habitat destruction and overfishing.
A great many barbs of the genus Enteromius are threatened by overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction. The Nimba barb (E. eburneensis) is confined to streams and smaller rivers within the Nimba Range of western Ivory Coast, southern Guinea, and northern Liberia. Daget’s barb (E. dialonensis) is known from the upper Gambia, upper Niger, and upper Senegal River drainages of Guinea and eastern Senegal. Hopson’s barb (E. bawkuensis) is known only from the White Volta on the Ghana/Burkina Faso border and from the Sokoto River, a tributary of the Niger in north-western Nigeria. The Niokolo barb (E. niokoloensis) is known from the upper and middle Gambia River in Senegal and Guinea, as well as from the Bafing River in the upper Senegal River drainage of Mali. Raimbault’s barb (E. raimbaulti) is known from the Bafing River (a tributary of the Senegal River) and from the Niandan River (a tributary of the upper Niger River) in Guinea. Steindachner’s barb (E. liberiensis) is known only from three suspected localities in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Alicia’s barb (E. aliciae) is known only from the Saint John River in Liberia and from the Saint Paul River in Guinea. Bourdarie’s barb (E. bourdariei) is known only from Lake Monoun and the Noun River in western Cameroon. Stauch’s barb (E. stauchi) is known only from a few localities in the Loeme and Kouilou-Niari River drainages of south-western Congo. The silvan barb (E. sylvaticus) is known from the Iguidi River in southern Benin and from the lower Niger River delta in southern Nigeria. Hugueny’s barb (E. huguenyi) is known only from the Saint Paul River drainage in southeastern Guinea and from the Lofa River drainage in northwestern Liberia. Salesse’s barb (E. salessei) is confined to rivers ands streams in northern Guinea and northern Sierra Leone. Boulenger’s barb (E. taeniurus) is confined to the Dja, Kribi, and Ntem rivers of southern Cameroon. The Kribi barb (E. tegulifer) is known only from its original collection in the 1930s from south-western Cameroon. Walker’s barb (E. walkeri) is known only from a few rivers in southern Ghana and south-eastern Ivory Coast. Thy’s barb (E. thysi) is known from coastal rivers in western Cameroon and Bioko. Tiekoro’s barb (E. tiekoroi) is known from the Konkouré, Kolenté, and Little Scarcies rivers of Guinea and Sierra Leone. Collart’s barb (E. collarti) is confined to the Chiloango and Kouilou-Niari rivers of south-western Republic of Congo.
Several species of yellowfish (Labeobarbus) are threatened by sedimentation, pollution, overfishing, and introduced species. The Mungo yellowfish (L. mungoensis) is confined to the rivers of west-central Cameroon. Royli’s yellowfish (L. roylii) is confined to the Chiloango and Kouilou rivers of northern Angola and south-western Republic of Congo. Petitjean’s yellowfish (L. petitjeani) is confined to rivers in Guinea. The Tanganyika yellowfish (L. leleupanus) is confined to the northern part of Lake Tanganyika and to the Ruzizi River. Claudina’s yellowfish (L. claudinae) is confined to a few rivers in Rwanda and Burundi.
Alluaud’s labeo (Labeo alluaudi) is confined to a few rivers in Liberia, Ivory Coast ,and possibly Sierra Leone, where it is threatened by overfishing and habitat degradation.
The Sierra Leone trout barb (Raiamas scarciensis) is known only from the Little Scarcies River and the Waanje River of Sierra Leone and Guinea.
The Sierra Leone minnow (Leptocypris taiaensis) is known from the Taia, Little Scarcies, and Waanje rivers of Sierra Leone.
The denticle herring (Denticeps clupeoides) is confined to a few rivers in eastern Benin, southern Nigeria, and northwestern Cameroon.
Gerlach’s rasbora (Rasbora gerlachi) is known only from its initial collection in the 1920s from a single, undefined locality in Cameroon. The species is so poorly known that even its generic assignment is in question.
Ashby Smith’s climbing gourami (Ctenopoma ashbysmithi) is known only from an unnamed marsh near Kindu in east-central Democratic Republic of Congo.
Nichols’ climbing gourami (Microctenopoma lineatum) is known only from a few localities in the Central African Republic and northern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Axelrod’s tetra (Neolebias axelrodi) is known only from a few specimens collected from southern Nigeria and an unknown locality in Benin.
Roloff’s dwarf characin (Ladigesia roloffi) is known for certain only from a single rainforest brook in south-central Sierra Leone.
The Kribi citharine (Nannocharax micros) is known only from a single locality in south-western Cameroon.
The La Passa tetra (Brachypetersius notospilus) is known only from a single locality in the Ogooué River in southwestern Congo and another in the Kouilou River of southern Gabon.
Boulenger’s tetra (Neolebias spilotaenia) is known only from the Kouilou, Chiloango, and Loeme rivers in southeastern Congo.
Smykala’s tetra (Alestopetersius smykalai) is confined to the lower Niger and Ogun rivers in southern Nigeria.
The Niger tetra (Arnoldichthys spilopterus) is confined to the lower Ogun and lower Niger rivers in southern Niger, where it is threatened by habitat destruction.
The Adonis tetra (Lepidarchus adonis) is confined to a few small coastal basins in southern Ivory Coast and south-western Ghana, where it is mainly threatened by pollution.
Derham’s robber tetra (Brycinus derhami) is confined to a few small river drainages in south-western Ivory Coast. The short robber tetra (B. brevis) is known only from southern Ghana and southern Nigeria.
Good’s goby (Ebomegobius goodi) is known only from a single specimen collected from a brackish water stream near Kribi, in coastal Cameroon, in the 1940s.
A number of species and subspecies of panchax (Epiplatys) are threatened by habitat destruction and mining pollution. Many are population aquarium fish. The Belefuanai panchax (E. coccinatus) is known only from a single rainforest creek in northern Liberia. Etzel’s panchax (E. etzeli) is confined to a small area in and around Ono Lagoon and the Hébé River of south-eastern Ivory Coast. The Port Loko panchax (E. lokoensis) is known for certain only from swamps and streams of western Sierra Leone. Hildegard’s panchax (E. hildegardae) is known only from a small area of south-eastern Guinea within the upper drainage of the Saint John/Mani and Saint Paul/Oulé rivers. The Njala panchax (E. njalaensis) is confined to small rainforest rivers and creeks in south-eastern Sierra Leone. Roloff’s panchax (E. roloffi) is known only from two small areas of north-western Liberia. The Biafra panchax (E. biafranus) is found in small brooks and swamps within two disjunct areas of southern coastal Nigeria. The red-spotted panchax (E. lamottei) occurs in a number of river systems within southeastern Guinea and north-western Liberia. Olbrechts’ panchax (E. olbrechtsi) is divided into a number of subspecies. The nominate form (E. o. olbrechtsi) occurs in southern Liberia, Guinea, and Ivory Coast. Daures’ panchax (E. o. dauresi) is confined to forest streams within the Bandama River drainage, Ivory Coast. The Kassiapleu panchax (E. o. kassiapleuensis) is confined to western Ivory Coast. The azure panchax (E. o. azureus) is confined to the upper Gwen River, a tributary of the Nipoué (Cess) River in east-central Liberia. Puetz’s panchax (E. o. puetzi) is confined to a small area within the St. John River drainage of central Liberia. Josiana’s striped panchax (E. fasciolatus josianae) is known only from a few localities within the rainforests of eastern Sierra Leone. The Totota striped panchax (E. f. tototaensis) is confined to rainforest brooks and rivers in coastal Liberia. Spillman’s toothed panchax (E. chaperi spillmanni) is confined to marshes, creeks, and small rivers in central and south-eastern Ivory Coast. Sheljuzhko’s toothed panchax (E. c. sheljuzhkoi) is found in the river systems of southern Ivory Coast and western Ghana. Peters’ panchax (Nimbapanchax petersi) is confined to south-eastern Ivory Coast and south-western Ghana. The green panchax (N. viridis) is confined to the upper Saint Paul and upper Saint John rivers of south-eastern Guinea and north-western Liberia.
Todd’s panchax (Callopanchax toddi) is known from a few localities in Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Brachet’s lampeye (Micropanchax bracheti) is known only from two savanna brook localities in northern Togo. Keilhack’s lampeye (M. keilhacki) is confined to small rivers and brooks in southern Togo.
Three lampeyes of the genus Rhexipanchax are potentially threatened by deforestation and mining pollution. Lambert’s lampeye (R. lamberti) is confined to small forest streams and brooks in north-western Guinea. Daget’s lampeye (R. kabae) is known from small streams and rivers in south-central Guinea. The Nimba lampeye (R. nimbaensis) is confined to small rivers, brooks, and swamps in the montane forests of southern Guinea and northern Liberia.
Bustamante’s goby (Awaous bustamantei) is confined to rivers on the Gulf of Guinea islands of Bioko, São Tomé, Príncipe, and Annobón.
The Gulf of Guinea sleeper goby (Eleotris annobonensis) is confined to Bioko, São Tomé, Príncipe, and Annobón.
The Sierra Leone sleeper goby (Kribia leonensis) is known only from three localities in eastern Sierra Leone.
Several killifish of the genus Scriptaphyosemion are threatened by habitat destruction and degradation. Berthold’s killifish (S. bertholdi) occurs in shallow pools and small streams within the rainforests of eastern Sierra Leone. Bruening’s killifish (S. brueningi) is confined to the Bomi Hills area of western Liberia and eastern Sierra Leone. Schmitt’s killifish (S. schmitti) is known only from brooks and rainforest streams within a small area of eastern coastal Liberia, between the Cavally and Cess (Nipoué) rivers. Etzel’s killifish (S. etzeli) is confined to brooks and marshes within a small area of western Sierra Leone. Roloff’s killifish (S. roloffi) is confined to Sierra Leone and western Liberia.
Several killifish of the genus Aphyosemion are threatened by habitat degradation and overcollection for the international aquarium trade. The goby killifish (A. franzwerneri), Kake killifish (A. volcanum), Amoes’ killifish (A. amoenum), and the Edea killifish (A. edeanum) are all known only from western Cameroon. The sky-blue killifish (A. coeleste) is confined to southern Gabon and western Republic of Congo. The mourning killifish (A. lugens) is confined to south-western Cameroon and northern Equatorial Guinea. Seegers’ killifish (A. seegersi) is known only from north-eastern Gabon and north-western Democratic Republic of Congo. Pellegrin’s killifish (A. louessense) is known only from southern Gabon and south-western Republic of Congo. Schlupp’s killifish (A. schluppi) is confined to south-western Republic of Congo. Schouteden’s killifish (A. schoutedeni) is known only from its original collection in the 1920s from north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Ahl’s killifish (A. congicum) is known only from a few brooks between the Cuango and Gamba rivers south-east of Kinshasa, in western Democratic Republic of Congo. The primitive killifish (A. primigenium) is confined to southern Gabon. Wildekamp’s killifish (A. wildekampi) is known from south-eastern Cameroon, northeastern Gabon, south-western Central African Republic, and north-western Republic of Congo. Haas’ killifish (A. cameronense haasi) is known only from its original collection from a mountain stream in northern Gabon. The obscure killifish (A. c. obscurum) is confined to south-central Cameroon.
Amiet’s killifish (Fundulopanchax amieti), Kribi killifish (F. fallax), marbled killifish (F. marmoratus), Spoorenberg’s killifish (F. spoorenbergi), Robertson’s killifish (F. robertsoni), ruby-lipped killifish (F. rubrolabialis), and the cinnamon killifish (F. cinnamomeus) are all confined to western Cameroon, where they are threatened by habitat destruction and degradation.
The Bandama elephant-snout fish (Mormyrus subundulatus) is confined to the Bandama River in central Ivory Coast and to the Tano River in western Ghana. Felix’s elephant-snout fish (M. felixi) is known only from its original collection in the 1930s from an undefined locality in Cameroon. Thomas’ elephant-snout fish (M. thomasi) is known only from its original collection in the 1930s from the imprecise locality ‘French Congo’.
The Sierra Leone mormyrid (Marcusenius meronai) is known only from the Bagbé and Rokel rivers of northern Sierra Leone, where it is threatened by habitat destruction and drought. The Ntem mormyrid (M. ntemensis) is known from the Ntem River of southern Cameroon and the Ivindo River of northern Gabon, where it is threatened by habitat destruction and pollution.
Several electric mormyrids of the genus Paramormyrops are threatened by habitat destruction and pollution. The Makokou mormyrid (P. gabonensis) is known from a few scattered localities in Cameroon, Gabon, and north-central Democratic Republic of Congo. Hopkins’ mormyrid (P. hopkinsi) is known from the Ivindo River of north-eastern Gabon and from the Ntem River of south-western Cameroon. The long-tailed mormyrid (P. longicaudatus) is confined to the Ivindo and Ogooué rivers of Gabon.
The Ivory Coast mormyrid (Pollimyrus eburneensis) is confined to the Agnébi, San Pedro, and Banco river drainages of southern Ivory Coast.
Opdenbosch’s mormyrid (Ivindomyrus opdenboschi) is known only from a few localities in the Ivindo and Ntem rivers of south-western Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and northern Gabon.
Thomas’ catfish (Notoglanidium thomasi) is known only from three localities in southern Sierra Leone. Walker’s catfish (N. walkeri) is known only from the Ibi River in southern Ghana and the Agnébi River in southern Ivory Coast, where it is threatened by invasive aquatic weeds.
The Korup catfish (Amphilius korupi) is known only from a few coastal streams in western Cameroon. Laman’s catfish (A. lamani) is confined to a small area of western Democratic Republic of Congo.
Risch’s catfish (Chrysichthys aluuensis) is known from south-eastern Nigeria and south-western Cameroon. Teugels’ catfish (C. teugelsi) is confined to south-eastern Liberia and south-western Ivory Coast.
The blotched airbreathing catfish (Clarias submarginatus) is confined to a few river drainages in southern Cameroon, northern Gabon, and western Republic of Congo.
The asymmetrical-tailed suckermouth catfish (Chiloglanis asymetricaudalis) is a rare species confined to the Rusizi and Luiche rivers of north-eastern Burundi, south-western Rwanda, and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Kogon squeaker catfish (Synodontis kogonensis) is confined to the Kogon and Fatala rivers of western Guinea. The marbled squeaker catfish (S. marmoratus) is known only from a few specimens collected from western Cameroon. The Woleu squeaker catfish (S. woleuensis) is known only from a few rivers in Equatorial Guinea and north-eastern Gabon.
Teugels’ eel catfish (Channallabes teugelsi) is known only from the Ivindo River of eastern Gabon and the upper Ogooué River drainage in south-western Republic of Congo.
Skelton’s loach catfish (Doumea gracila) is known only from a few localities in south-western Cameroon, northern Equatorial Guinea and north-western Gabon. Chappuis’ loach catfish (D. chappuisi) is known only from a few rivers in Liberia and Guinea-Bissau.
Firestone’s loach catfish (Paramphilius firestonei) is known only from three localities in the coastal rivers of western Liberia. Teugels’ loach catfish (P. teugelsi) is confined to western Guinea.
The Taï spiny eel (Mastacembelus taiaensis) is known only from the Forecariah River drainage in Guinea and from four other localities in Sierra Leone.
The Liberian swamp eel (Monopterus boueti) is known only from a single specimen collected from a small freshwater rivulet flowing into a swamp near Monrovia, Liberia in 1922.
The Guinea-Bissau swamp eel (Ophisternon afrum) is known only from two specimens collected from a coastal river at Mansoa Point, Guinea-Bissau in the early twentieth century.
The Upemba Wetlands
The Upemba wetlands are an area of flooded grassland located along the Lualaba River in south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Katanga province).
The Upemba lechwe (Kobus leche anselli) is a type of antelope restricted to the Upemba wetlands. Now seriously threatened, its population has declined from about 20,000 in the 1980s to less than 1000 today, mainly as a result of poaching. It is at least nominally protected in the western part of Upemba National Park.
Zimmer’s shrew (Crocidura zimmeri) is known only from two specimens collected from Upemba National Park in 1936.
The Upemba masked weaver (Ploceus upembae) is known only from the Upemba wetlands.
Schmidt’s toad (Mertensophryne schmidti) is known only from Upemba National Park.
The Kanole forest tree frog (Leptopelis parvus) and the Nyonga forest tree frog (L. lebeaui) are both known only from Upemba National Park.
The Upemba leaf-folding frog (Afrixalus upembae) is known only from a small area of south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Lake Tanganyika
Located at the intersection of Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Zambia, Lake Tanganyika is one of the most interesting of the great lakes of Africa. It is the longest lake in the world (673 km) and 1470 m at its greatest depth; only Lake Baikal in Siberia is deeper or larger by volume. Its enormous age is reflected in its animal life. The degree of specialization of the animals to their environment, the pronounced speciation, and the astonishing number of unique species must be seen as the result of the long periods of time the lake has been isolated and without outlet. For example, the number of described species of the family Cichlidae alone in Lake Tanganyika is at least 250, virtually all of which are endemic. The various species have evolved during millions of years toward an effective utilization of every existing niche in the lake. This has resulted in an exceptionally high energy flow through various food chains – algae–plankton–fishes – resulting in an immense bioproductivity. Many African lakes show similar features, but for Lake Tanganyika it is remarkable, because below a depth of about 400 m there is no oxygen. This means that about two-thirds of the lake is a freshwater desert without life.
Yamaoka’s cichlid (Petrochromis macrognathus) is confined to Lake Tanganyika.
The white-spotted cichlid (Tropheus duboisi) is confined to three subpopulations within the northern part of Lake Tanganyika. It is in heavy demand by the international aquarium trade.
The zebra cichlid (Trematocara zebra) is confined to the rocky north-western shore of Lake Tanganyika.
Kendall’s cichlid (Lepidiolamprologus kendalli) is confined to the southern part of Lake Tanganyika.
The eccentric cichlid (Perissodus eccentricus) is a deepwater species known only from a single locality in Lake Tanganyika.
The Uvira cichlid (Lamprologus finalimus) is known only from a single specimen collected at the northern tip of Lake Tanganyika in 1931. The Kungwe Bay cichlid (L. kungweensis) is a rare species confined to Kungwe Bay, on the north-eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika.
Several cichlids of the genus Neolamprologus are endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where they are threatened by sedimentation. Christy’s cichlid (N. christyi) is known only from a strip along the central-eastern Tanzanian shoreline. Schreyen’s cichlid (N. schreyeni) is known only from the eastern shores of Burundi. Wauthion’s cichlid (N. wauthioni) is known only from a small area near Kalemi, Democratic Republic of Congo. The olive cichlid (N. olivaceous) is known only from the area of Ruhanga Bay, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Margaret’s cichlid (Pseudosimochromis margaretae) is confined to shallow waters off Kigoma, Tanzania. The margined cichlid (P. marginatus) is confined to shallow waters off the Ubwari Peninsula on the north-western shore of Lake Tanganyika.
Hecqu’s cichlid (Xenochromis hecqui) is confined to the deeper waters of Lake Tanganyika.
Poll’s herring cichlid (Cyprichromis microlepidotus) is confined to the northern part of Lake Tanganyika.
The Burton Bay sand cichlid (Xenotilapia burtoni) is confined to Burton Bay, where it is threatened by habitat disturbance and pollution.
The Tanganyika clown (Eretmodus cyanostictus) is widespread in southern Lake Tanganyika but confined to a very narrow band along the shoreline.
The bigeye lates (Lates mariae), Tanganyika lates (L. angustifrons), and forktail lates (L. microlepis) are perch-like fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika and the Ruzizi and Malagarasi river deltas, where they are heavily fished.
The Lake Tanganyika tetra (Micralestes vittatus) is confined to rivers and lagoons within the Lake Tanganyika basin.
Lake Albert
Lake Albert is located in the center of the African continent, on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the northernmost of the chain of lakes in the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift.
The Lake Albert lates (Lates macrophthalmus) is confined to waters deeper than 18 m in a lake that is becoming increasingly eutrophic, and which is likely to become anoxic unless organic pollution is reduced. It is also subject to heavy fishing.
Hulot’s yellowfish (Labeobarbus huloti) is known only from a single locality on the Vuda River in the Lake Albert basin.
Lake Rukwa
Lake Rukwa is an endorheic lake located in the Rift Valley of south-western Tanzania, midway between Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi. The lake has seen large fluctuations in its size over the years, due to the varying inflow of streams.
The Rukwa sardine (Chelaethiops rukwaensis) is confined to Lake Rukwa, where it is heavily fished.
The Katavi cichlid (Haplochromis katavi) is confined to the Katuma River in the Lake Rukwa basin.
The Rukwa tilapia (Oreochromis rukwaensis) is a type of cichlid confined to the Lake Rukwa basin.
The Rukwa barb (Enteromius pseudotoppini) is known only from the Lake Rukwa basin.
The Mbozi suckermouth catfish (Chiloglanis mbozi) is known only from a small stream in the Lake Rukwa basin. Similarly, the Rukwa suckermouth catfish (C. rukwaensis) is known only from two small rivers.
Lake George
Lake George is located north-east of Lake Edward in Uganda.
Two species of mouthbrooding cichlid (Haplochromis) are endemic to Lake Goerge, where they are threatened by water pollution. The Kashaka Crater Bay cichlid (H. petronius) is almost entirely confined to rocky bays in the vicinity of the fishing village of Kashaka. The bronze-coloured cichlid (H. aeneocolor) is confined to Lake Edward and the Kazinga Channel.
Lake Barombi-Mbo
Lake Barombi-Mbo is a relatively large and ancient volcanic crater lake located in south-western Cameroon (south-west region). Only the upper 40 m contains enough dissolved oxygen to sustain vertebrate life. Nevertheless, it is home to a large number of endemic species, all of which are threatened by pollution and sedimentation due to human activities and water extraction. Commercial fishing is forbidden in the lake, but extensive subsistence fishing has caused serious declines in cichlid stocks.
The Dikume cichlid (Konia dikume) and the Konye cichlid (K. eisentrauti) are both confined to Lake Barombi-Mbo. The Myaka cichlid (Myaka myaka) is confined to open, deeper waters in Lake Barombi-Mbo.
The Pungu cichlid (Pungu maclareni) is confined to the shallow, nearshore waters of Lake Barombi-Mbo.
The Nsess cichlid (Stomatepia mariae), Mongo cichlid (S. mongo) and Pindu cichlid (S. pindu) are all confined to Lake Barombi-Mbo.
The Fissi tilapia (Sarotherodon caroli), blackfin tilapia (S. linnellii), Keppi tilapia (S. lohbergeri), and Kululu tilapia (S. steinbachi) are all confined to Lake Barombi-Mbo. Maclaren’s airbreathing catfish (Clarias maclareni) is confined to Lake Barombi-Mbo.
Lake Bermin
Lake Bermin is a small, isolated volcanic crater lake located in south-western Cameroon (south-west region).
Nine small species of tilapia cichlid (Coptodon) are found only in this one small lake, representing one of the highest rates of endemism to area in the world. The Bakossi tilapia (C. bakossiorum), Bemin tilapia (C. bemini), Snyder’s tilapia (C. snyderae), Thys’ tilapia (C. thysi), goitered tilapia (C. gutturosa), bottom-walking tilapia (C. bythobates), spongotroktis tilapia (C. spongotroktis), blonde tilapia (C. flava), and imbriferna tilapia (C. imbriferna) are all highly threatened by pollution, sedimentation, and occasional volcanic carbon dioxide emissions.
Lake Ejagham
Lake Ejagham is a small non-volcanic lake located in southwestern Cameroon (south-west region). Like other isolated lakes in the area it has a high number of endemic cichlid species, all of which are threatened by pollution, sedimentation, and an introduced species of catfish.
The Ejagham tilapia (Coptodon ejagham), Deckert’s tilapia (C. deckerti), slender tilapia (C. fusiforme), and black tilapia (C. nigrans) are all confined to Lake Ejagham. Lamprecht’s tilapia (Sarotherodon lamprechti) and Knauer’s tilapia (S. knauerae) are confined to Lake Ejagham. The Ejagham blue killifish (Fundulopanchax gardneri lacustris) is confined to Lake Ejagham.
The Congo River Drainage
The Congo is the second longest river in Africa after the Nile and the second largest in the world by discharged volume of water (after the Amazon). It is also the world’s deepest river, with measured depths in excess of 220 m. The river and its many tributaries flow through the Congo Rainforest and provide habitat for a large number of endemic species.
Poll’s cichlid (Ctenochromis polli) is known only from a few localities within the lower and middle Congo, where it is threatened by pollution and urbanization.
Teugels’ cichlid (Lamprologus teugelsi) and Werner’s cichlid (L. werneri) are both known only from Stanley Pool and parts of the lower Congo.
The Dungu sprat (Microthrissa minuta) is known from a small number of localities spread throughout the Congo River drainage, but is threatened by overfishing and dam construction.
The Boma mormyrid (Stomatorhinus microps) is known for certain only from the lower Congo, although there are scattered unconfirmed records throughout the Congo Basin.
Teugels’ snake catfish (Clariallabes teugelsi) is known from Stanley Pool (Pool Malebo) and the lower Congo. The Upper Congo River
Upstream of Stanley Falls (Boyoma Falls), near Kisangani (Stanleyville), the Congo River is known as the Lualaba River. It is the primary source (headstream) of the Congo River drainage.
The elongated cichlid (Tylochromis elongatus) is confined to the upper Congo (Lualaba) River and Wagenia Falls.
The Kisangani cichlid (Congochromis pugnatus) is known only from a single locality near Kisangani, in the upper Congo (Lualaba) River.
Nichols’ barb (Enteromius nigrifilis) is known only from a single specimen collected in the 1920s from the junction of the Lualaba and Luvua rivers.
Leleup’s salmon (Opsaridium leleupi) is known only from the upper Congo (Lualaba) River in southern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Whitehead’s sawtooth pellonuline (Potamothrissa whiteheadi) is a type of herring known only from a few specimens collected within the Hombo River (a tributary of the Luhoko River) and the Lindi/Tshopo tributary, both in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Lukinda mormyrid (Petrocephalus squalostoma) is known only from the Lukinda and Luapula rivers in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Aelsbroeck’s mormyrid (Hippopotamyrus aelsbroecki) is known only from its original collection in the 1940s from south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The spotted-backed squeaker catfish (Synodontis dorsomaculatus) is confined to the upper Congo (Lualaba) River. It is threatened by overfishing and pollution.
The Katanga suckermouth catfish (Chiloglanis elisabethianus) is confined to a few tributaries of the upper Congo (Lualaba) in south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and northern Zambia.
Lake Mweru is located on the border between northern Zambia and south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The second largest lake in the Congo River drainage basin, it is fed mainly by the Luapula River which comes in through swamps from the south, and by the Kalungwishi River from the east.
The Mweru cichlid (Thoracochromis moeruensis) is confined to Lake Mweru, where it is threatened by overfishing.
The Mweru sprat (Poecilothrissa moeruensis) is confined to Lake Mweru.
Bredo’s mormyrid (Campylomormyrus bredoi) is known only from Lake Mweru.
The Lukinda River is located within the Lake Mweru basin of south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The line-spotted barb (Enteromius brachygramma) and the Lukinda barb (E. lukindae) are both known only from the Lukinda River drainage.
The Luvua River (also known as the Lowa River) is located in south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It flows from the northern end of Lake Mweru in a north-westerly direction to is confluence with the Upper Congo (Lualaba).
The Chambeshi River of north-eastern Zambia is the most remote headwater of the Congo River.
The Chambeshi barb (Enteromius lornae) is known only from the Chambeshi River drainage.
The Luapula River is a transitional river forming, for nearly all of its length, part of the border between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It joins Lake Bangweulu to Lake Mweru.
Bleher’ cichlid (Steatocranus bleheri) is known only from the Kafubu River, a tributary of the Luapula River.
The mola cichlid (Chetia mola) is confined to the Luongo River, a tributary of the Luapula River located in northern Zambia.
The Luongo tilapia (Orthochromis luongoensis) is a type of cichlid confined to the Luongo River, a tributary of the Luapula River in northern Zambia.
The Upemba yellowfish (Labeobarbus upembensis) and Gestetner’s yellowfish (L. gestetneri) are both known only from their original collection within the Kalumengonga River, a tributary of the Lualaba River, during the 1970s.
Myer’s barbel (Barbus myersi) is known only from its original collection in the 1930s from the Muniengashsi River, a tributary of the Luapula River.
Three species of killifish (Nothobranchius) within the Luapula River drainage are threatened by loss of their seasonal wetland habitats. Rosenstock’s killifish (N. rosenstocki) is confined to north-eastern Zambia. Malaisse’s killifish (N. malaissei) is confined to temporary pools and marshes within the Luapula River drainage of south-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Symoens’ killifish (N. symoensi) is confined to small temporary pools, swamps, and flooded grassy areas adjacent to rivers in northern Zambia and south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Malaisse’s shellear (Parakneria malaissei) is known only from the Luanza River, a tributary of the Luapula River in south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Luapula mormyrid (Campylomormyrus luapulaensis) is known only from two localities within the Luapula River.
The Luongo suckermouth catfish (Chiloglanis macropterus) is confined to the Luongo River, a tributary of the Luapula River located in northern Zambia.
The Lufira River is located in south-central and southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Lofoi Falls reed frog (Hyperolius polystictus) is known only from a single locality within the Lofoi River, a tributary of the Lufira River in south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Symoens’ cichlid (Lamprologus symoensi) is known only from two effluents of the Lufira River.
The Mwashia tilapia (Oreochromis salinicola) is confined to a few saline springs within the Lufira River drainage of south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Witte’s yellowfish (Labeobarbus wittei) and the Lufira yellowfish (L. iphthimostoma) are both confined to the Lufira River drainage.
Hasson’s killifish (Nothobranchius hassoni) and Poll’s killifish (N. polli) are both confined to temporary pools and swamps within the Lufira River drainage.
The Lufira shellear (Parakneria lufirae) is known only from a few specimens collected from the Lufira River and its effluents. Thys’ shellear (P. thysi) is known only from its original collection in the 1960s from the rapids above Kiubo Falls, in the Lufira River drainage.
The Lufira suckermouth catfish (Chiloglanis lufirae) is known only from the Muye River, an effluent of the Lufira River located within Upemba National Park.
The Lufira squeaker catfish (Synodontis lufirae) is confined to the Lufira River system and Lake Koni.
The Luhoho River is located in central-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Luhoho yellowfish (Labeobarbus longifilis), longfinned yellowfish (L. longidorsalis), and Braun’s yellowfish (L. brauni) are all known only from the Luhoho River drainage.
The Luhoho shellear (Parakneria kissi) is confined to the Luhoho River.
Marlier’s suckermouth catfish (Chiloglanis marlieri) is known only from the Ndakirwa River, an effluent of the Luhoho River.
The Kasuku River is located in east-central Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Kasuku barb (Enteromius papilio) is known only from an unnamed tributary of the Kasuku River.
Stanley Falls (now known as Boyoma Falls) is a series of cataracts, each no more than 5 m high, extending over more than 100 km along a curve of the Lualaba River between Ubundu and Kisangani. The seven cataracts have a total drop of 61 m, and form the largest waterfall by volume in the world.
Bentley’s mormyrid (Marcusenius bentleyi), Wagenia Falls whiptailed catfish (Phractura fasciata), Wagenia Rapids loach catfish (Dolichamphilius longiceps), and Wagenia Falls claroteid catfish (Amarginops platus) are all known only from Wagenia Falls, the last in the Stanley Falls cataract system.
The Middle Congo River
The middle or central Congo stretches from Kinshasa to Stanley Falls (Boyoma Falls).
The Monsembé cichlid (Pelmatochromis ocellifer) is known only from a single specimen collected from the central Congo in 1899.
Brichard’s cichlid (Teleogramma brichardi) is known only from the rapids near Kinsuku. The monogrammed cichlid (T. monogramma) is confined to a few localities within the Middle Congo drainage.
The small-toothed cichlid (Tylochromis microdon) is known only from Lake Tumba and possibly Lake Mai- N’Dombe, within the middle Congo River drainage.
The pygmy barb (Enteromius pygmaeus) is known only from a single rainforest stream within the middle Congo River drainage.
The Lulua labeo (Labeo luluae) is known from two specimens collected from the Lulua and Aruwimi rivers in the early twentieth century.
The smooth-belly pellonuline (Congothrissa gossei) is a type of herring known only from a few specimens collected from two localities within the middle Congo River drainage.
Schouteden’s pufferfish (Tetraodon schoutedeni) is known from Stanley Pool and the middle Sangha River.
Poll’s tetra (Alestopetersius nigropterus) is only known for certain from Lake Mai Ndombe, although it may occur in the Lengoué River as well.
Schouteden’s tetra (Clupeocharax schoutedeni) is found widely but patchily in the middle Congo drainage. Known localities include Lake Tumba, Lake Yandja (Yangambi), and the area in and around Lake Mai-Ndombe.
Philippe’s tetra (Neolebias philippei) is known only from two widely spaced localities within the middle Congo drainage (the Itimbiri and Tshuapa rivers).
The Kutu characin (Paraphago rostratus) is only known from a single locality in the central Congo River drainage.
Ladiges’ shellear (Parakneria ladigesi) is known only from the Cuango and Lulua rivers.
Two species of killifish (Aphyosemion) are threatened by overcollection for the international aquarium trade. The Léfini killifish (A. lefiniense) is known only from the Léfini River and from a small effluent of the Louna River, both within the Lesio-Louna Gorilla Reserve of south-western Republic of Congo. Chauche’s killifish (A. chauchei) is known only from the Likona River drainage of central Republic of Congo.
The New Antwerp mormyrid (Mormyrops microstoma) is known only from its original collection during the nineteenth century.
Simeons’ catfish (Clariallabes simeonsi) is known only from the Congo River drainage in north-central Democratic Republic of Congo.
Lambert’s upside-down catfish (Microsynodontis lamberti) is known only from the Lilanda River in north-central Democratic Republic of Congo.
Boulenger’s loach catfish (Tetracamphilius angustifrons) is known from the Oubangui River (upstreamof Bangui) and from another specimen collected from Stanley Pool (Pool Malebo).
The minute loach catfish (Trachyglanis minutus) is known for certain only from the Oubangui River, but may occur as well within the Lossi River (a tributary of the Sangha River).
The Chobe loach catfish (Zaireichthys dorae) is known only from the Luachimo River in north-eastern Angola. Lake Mai-Ndombe (formerly known as Lake Leopold II) is a large freshwater lake in western Democratic Republic of Congo. It is of irregular shape and is known to double in size during the rainy season. It drains to the south through the Fimi River into the Kwah and Congo.
The Mai-Ndombe jewel cichlid (Hemichromis cerasogaster) is confined to Lake Mai-Ndombe and some smaller satellite lakes.
The transvestite cichlid (Nanochromis transvestitus) is confined to Lake Mai-Ndombe and a few satellite lakes.
The Mai-Ndombe dwarf sprat (Nannothrissa stewarti) is confined to Lake Mai-Ndombe.
The Mai-Ndombe mountain catfish (Amphilius opisthophthalmus) is known only from a few specimens collected from Lake Mai-Ndombe.
Lake Tumba is a shallow lake in the middle Congo River drainage, north-western Democratic Republic of the Congo. All of the bigger fish in the lake have long disappeared due to overfishing.
The Tumba cichlid (Lamprologus tumbanus) is confined to Lake Tumba.
The Tumba robber tetra (Rhabdalestes aerates) is confined to Lake Tumba.
Stanley Pool (Pool Malebo) is a shallow, lake-like widening of the middle Congo River in south-eastern Congo and southwestern Democratic Republic of Congo. General threats include overfishing, urbanization, and pollution.
Dubois’ pufferfish (Tetraodon duboisi) is known only from a single locality in Stanley Pool, where it may already be extinct. There are a few specimens owned by private aquarists in the United States.
The Stanley Pool labeo (Labeo maleboensis) is known only from a single specimen collected from Stanley Pool in the 1990s.
The hummingbird lampeye (Poropanchax myersi) is known only from Stanley Pool, including its islands.
Chabanaud’s upside-down catfish (Atopochilus chabanaudi) is known only from an area of Stanley Pool near Brazzaville.
The Stanley Pool squeaker catfish (Synodontis pulcher) is known only from two specimens collected from Stanley Pool.
Brien’s loach catfish (Belonoglanis brieni) is known only from a single channel within Stanley Pool.
The Stanley pool loach catfish (Dolichamphilius brieni) is known only from a single channel in Stanley Pool.
The delicate loach catfish (Psammphiletria delicata) is known only from Stanley Pool.
The Itimbiri River is located in north-central Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Rubi mormyrid (Mormyrops intermedius) is known only from its original collection within the Rubi River, a tributary of the Itimbiri River.
The Kagola electric catfish (Paradoxoglanis cryptus) is known only from the Kagola River, a tributary of the Itimbiri River.
The Sangha River is formed at the confluence of the Mambéré River and the Kadéi River at Nola, in western Central African Republic. From there it flows along the border with Cameroon and then of the Republic of Congo before finally joining the Congo River.
The Sangha tetra (Phenacogrammus taeniatus) is known only from a single locality on the middle Sangha River.The
Sangha squeaker catfish (Synodontis longispinis) is known only from the Sangha River.
The Mbessy eel catfish (Channallabes sanghaensis) is known only from the Mbessy River, a tributary of the Sangha River.
The Sangha loach catfish (Trachyglanis sanghensis) is known only from a single locality on the Sangha River.
The Dja River (also known as the Ngoko River) forms part of the Cameroon/Republic of Congo border. It has a course of roughly 720 km. General threats include cobalt mining and overfishing.
The Bumba mormyrid (Mormyrops batesianus) is known only from the Bumba River, a small tributary of the Dja River in south-eastern Cameroon.
The leopard squeaker catfish (Synodontis pardalis) is a type of upside-down catfish known only from a few localities in the Dja River and its tributary, the Libi River, in southern Cameroon.
The Kasai River is a major left-bank (southern) tributary of the central Congo River, located in north-eastern Angola and south-western Democratic Republic of the Congo. Intense diamond mining and the resulting sedimentation and pollution are a major threat to small rivers within the Kasai drainage.
The Kasai cichlid (Paratilapia toddi) is known only from the Kasai River.
Thys’ cichlid (Sargochromis thysi) is known only from the Luembe River, a tributary of the Kasai River in north-eastern Angola.
Roux’s cichlid (Steatocranus rouxi) is known only from the Lulua River, a tributary of the Kasai River.
The Lulua cichlid (Haplochromis luluae) is known only from the Lulua River, a tributary of the Kasai River. Schwetz’s cichlid (H. schwetzi) is confined to the Cuango River drainage, a tributary of the Kasai River.
The middle-scaled barb (Enteromius mediosquamatus) is known from the Luachimo, Lucoge, and Lulua rivers, tributaries of the upper Kasai River. Machado’s barb (E. machadoi) is known only from a single pool within the Luachimo River drainage of north-eastern Angola. Petchkovsky’s barb (E. petchkovskyi) and the tail-signed barb (E. caudosignatus) are both known only from their original collection from the Cuilo River of north-eastern Angola.
Jubb’s yellowfish (Labeobarbus jubbi) is known from the Luembe, Luachimo, and Canhicuna rivers of northeastern Angola.
Bowen’s salmon (Opsaridium boweni) is known only from the Lulua River drainage of south-central Democratic Republic of Congo. Pellegrin’s salmon (O. maculicauda) is known only from its original collection in the 1920s from north-eastern Angola.
Poll’s citharine (Hemigrammocharax lineostriatus) is known only from the Cavuemba River, a tributary of the Kasai River in north-eastern Angola.
The Chicapa characin (Dundocharax bidentatus) is confined to the Chicapa River, a small tributary of the Lucoge River in north-eastern Angola.
The Dundo shellear (Parakneria vilhenae) is known only from the Dundo River, a tributary of the Kasai River in northeastern Angola.
The Tchimenji lampeye (Aplocheilichthys nigrolateralis) is known only from the Tchimenji River, a tributary of the Kasai River in north-eastern Angola.
The Kananga mormyrid (Pollimyrus maculipinnis) is known only from its original collection at Kananga (Luluabourg), south-central Democratic Republic of Congo.
The donkey-faced mormyrid (Campylomormyrus cassaicus) is known only from two specimens collected from the Luachimo River and another from the Kasai River main channel.
Poll’s mormyrid (Gnathonemus barbatus) is known only from a single locality within the Kasai River of northeastern Angola.
The Tshikapa mormyrid (Marcusenius macrophthalmus) is known only from its original collection in the 1920s from north-eastern Angola. The Zovo mormyrid (M. cuangoanus) is known only from a small area of the Cuango River. The Dundo mormyrid (M. dundoensis) is known only from a small area of the Kasai and Cuango rivers of northeastern Angola.
Machado’s airbreathing catfish (Platyclarias machadoi) is known only from a single locality within the Cuango River of north-eastern Angola.
Pellegrin’s upside-down catfish (Atopochilus pachychilus) is known only from the Lubilonji River, a tributary of the Kasai River. The Cuango upside-down catfish (A. macrocephalus) is known only from the Cuango River in the vicinity of Fort Don Carlos I, Angola.
Boulenger’s upside-down catfish (Euchilichthys boulengeri) is known only from the Lulua River, a tributary of the Kasai River.
The Kasai whiptailed catfish (Phractura macrura) is known only from the Uamba and Cuilo rivers in northeastern Angola.
Roberts’ squeaker catfish (Synodontis robertsi) is a type of upside-down catfish known only from specimens collected in the Lukenie River, east-central Democratic Republic of Congo, in 1974. The Cuango squeaker catfish (S. cuangoanus) is known only from a small area of the Cuango River.
The Lufume loach catfish (Zaireichthys flavomaculatus) is known only from the Lufume River, a tributary of the Kasai River.
The Lulua loach catfish (Trachyglanis intermedius) is known only from the Lulua River, a tributary of the Kasai River.
The Oubangui River (also called the Ubangui) is the largest right-bank (northern) tributary of the Congo River. The Uele River, which arises in the mountains near Lake Albert, is in turn the longest tributary of the Oubangui River.
The Mbomou cichlid (Steatocranus ubanguiensis) is known only from the Mbomou River, a tributary of the Oubangui River in the Central African Republic.
Schouteden’s barb (Clypeobarbus schoutedeni) is known only from the Dungu River, a tributary of the Uele River in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Fort Sibut barb (Enteromius castrasibutum) and the Tomi barb (E. tomiensis) are both known only from their original collection in the 1930s from south-western Central African Republic. The lemon barb (E. citrinus) is known only from a few specimens collected from the Oubangui and Uele rivers of northern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Oubangui trout barb (Raiamas longirostris) is known only from its original collection from north-western Democratic Republic of Congo in the early twentieth century.
The Dungu yellowfish (Labeobarbus urotaenia) is known only from the Dungu River, a tributary of the Uele River.
The ambiguous tetra (Micralestes ambiguus) is known only from the Bari River, a tributary of the Oubangui River in Democratic Republic of Congo (Équateur province).
Bleher’s tetra (Phenacogrammus bleheri) is confined to a small tributary of the Bari River, itself a tributary of the Oubangui River.
Abel’s robber tetra (Brycinus abeli) is known only from Fort Sibut on the Oubangui River.
Holly’s citharine (Nannocharax hollyi) and the Fort Sibut citharine (N. pteron) are both known only from their original collection in the 1930s from south-western Central African Republic.
Lang’s disichodus (Distichodus langi) is known only from Faradje in the Uele River drainage.
Decorse’s killifish (Aphyosemion decorsei) is known only from its original collection in south-western Central African Republic in the early twentieth century.
The Dungu mormyrid (Petrocephalus hutereaui) is known only from the Dungu River, a tributary of the Uele River.
The Bomekendi mormyrid (Hippopotamyrus macroterops) is known only from the Bomekendi River, an effluent of the Uele River. The Bima mormyrid (H. retrodorsalis) is known only from its original collection in the early twentieth century from a small rainforest brook (tributary of the Bima River), in the Uele River drainage.
The Uele catfish (Chrysichthys uniformis) is known only from a single specimen collected in the Uele River.
The dotted squeaker catfish (Synodontis multimaculatus) is known only from a single specimen collected in the early twentieth century from northern Democratic Republic of Congo. Vaillant’s squeaker catfish (S. vaillanti) is known only from its original collection in the late nineteenth century from the upper Oubangui River drainage.
The Oubangui loach catfish (Psammphiletria nasuta) is known only from the Oubangui River upstream of Bangui, Central African Republic.
The clandistine loach catfish (Tetracamphilius clandestinus) is known only from the Oubangui River upstream of Bangui, Central African Republic.
The Tshuapa River (also known as the Ruki or Ruka River) is located in north-central and north-western Democratic Republic of Congo.
Deguide’s barb (Enteromius deguidei) is known only from marshes along the Boteli River, a tributary of the Tshuapa River. Fowler’s barb (E. syntrechalepis) and the Oka barb (E. okae) are both known only from the Oka River, a tributary of the Tshuapa River.
The Boteli tetra (Neolebias gracilis) is known only from marshes along the Boteli River.
The Tshuapa squeaker catfish (Synodontis camelopardalis) is known only from its original collection in 1971.
The Ituri/Aruwimi River is located in north-eastern and north-central Democratic Republic of Congo. It arises near Lake Albert as the Ituri River and runs generally south-west before becoming the Aruwimi River where it is joined by the Nepoko River. From there it continues westward before finally joining the Congo River.
The Kavalli barb (Enteromius tetraspilus) is known only from the Kavalli and upper Ituri rivers.
The Epulu yellowfish (Labeobarbus macroceps) is known only from the Epulu River, a tributary of the Ituri River.
The Aruwimi catfish (Gephyroglanis gymnorhynchus) is confined to the Aruwimi River.
The Ituri squeaker catfish (Synodontis iturii) is known only from its original collection in the early twentieth century.
The Lower Congo River
The lower Congo comprises the lower section of the main river from its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean to the twin capitals of Brazzaville and Kinshasha. The Grand Inga Dam project is a series of seven proposed hydroelectric power stations located at Inga Falls. The first two existing dams have had minimal environmental impact, though the proposed dams, if built, will divert a significant amount of water flow and block a great part of the Congo mainstream.
The tidal cichlid (Tylochromis praecox) is known only from two localities in the tidal stretches of the lower Congo.
The Inga Dam cichlid (Steatocranus glaber) is confined to a small area of the lower Congo River.
The Inga Rapids cichlid (Nanochromis consortus) is confined to the Inga Rapids. The lesser cichlid (N. minor) is known from two localities within the lower Congo rapids, above the Inga 1 and 2 dams. The splendent cichlid (N. splendens) is confined to the lower Congo down to below the Inga 1 and 2 dams.
The gracile cichlid (Teleogramma gracile) is confined to the main channel of the lower Congo River.
The lower Congo tilapia (Oreochromis lepidurus) is a type of cichlid known only from the mouth of the Congo upstream as far as Boma.
The banded cichlid (Thorachromis fasciatus) is known only from a single locality within the lower Congo River. Demeus’ cichlid (T. demeusii) is confined to the Lower Congo and effluent streams.
The blind cichlid (Lamprologus lethops) is a nonpigmented and blind species known only from a single locality within the lower Congo. It is believed to live as deep as 160 m below the surface. The embroidered cichlid (L. tigripictilis) is confined to a small stretch of the lower Congo between Luozi and Matadi.
Kheel’s trout barb (Raiamas kheeli) is known only from a few specimens collected from two widely separated localities in the lower Congo River, although it likely extends more widely.
Laman’s barb (Enteromius lamani) is known only from its original collection from a small effluent of the lower Congo in the early twentieth century.
The Congo blind barb (Caecobarbus geertsii) occurs only in the Mbanzagungu Caves near Thysville in the lower Congo River drainage, where it has been protected. It is, however, extremely vulnerable to disturbance and can easily be wiped out.
Tshibwabwa’s labeo (Labeo rectipinnis) is known only from two localities in the lower Congo River.
Dartevelle’s yellowfish (Labeobarbus dartevellei) is known only from a single specimen collected in the 1940s from the lower Congo River.
Miller’s climbing gourami (Microctenopoma milleri) is known only from the lower Congo and its tributary, the Lunyonzo River.
The Schelly tetra (Micralestes schelly) and Günther’s tetra (M. holargyreus) are each known only from a single locality within the lower Congo River.
The Inga elephant-snout fish (Mormyrus iriodes) and the dark blue elephant-snout fish (M. cyaneus) are both known only from the lower Congo River drainage.
The small mormyrid (Mormyrops parvus) is confined to the lower Congo River.
Schouteden’s mormyrid (Stomatorhinus schoutedeni) is known only from its original collection from the lower Congo River in the 1940s. The Kidada mormyrid (S. ater) is known only from an effluent of the lower Congo River.
The pallid catfish (Notoglanidium pallidum) is known only from the lower Congo River.
The spiral-feeding catfish (Chrysichthys helicophagus), Poll’s catfish (C. polli), and the carpenter catfish (C. dendrophorus) are all confined to the lower Congo River.
The Lubozi catfish (Bagrus lubosicus) is known only from the Lubozi River, a tributary of the Luala River within the lower Congo River drainage. The sky-blue catfish (B. caeruleus) is known only from the lower Congo River.
Bove’s whiptailed catfish (Phractura bovei) is known only from its original collection from a single locality within the lower Congo River in the late nineteenth century.
Brichard’s squeaker catfish (Synodontis brichardi) is confined to the lower Congo River rapids.
The blind eel catfish (Gymnallabes nops) is known only from a few specimens collected from the lower Congo River.
The Kinsuka loach catfish (Zaireichthys zonatus) is known only from two specimens collected from the rapids just below Stanley Pool in the 1960s.
The bird-headed spiny eel (Mastacembelus aviceps), Crassus spiny eel (M. crassus), and the late spiny eel (M. latens) are all confined to a few areas of the lower Congo River.
The Inkisi River is the closest large tributary to the Congo River’s mouth. It flows in a northerly direction from Angola to its confluence with the Congo some 80 km downstream from Kinshasha/Brazzaville.
Roberts’ yellowfish (Labeobarbus robertsi) is known only from the Inkisi River.
The Inkisi butter catfish (Schilbe zairensis) is known only from the Inkisi River.
The M’pozo River is located in north-western Angola and south-western Democratic Republic of Congo.
The M’pozo cichlid (Steatocranus mpozoensis) is known only from the mouth of the M’pozo River and from the opposite bank in the main Congo River.
The Foulakari River is located in southern Republic of Congo.
The Foulakari barb (Enteromius erythrozonus) is known only from the Foulakari River.
The Kagera River
The Kagera River (also known as the Akagera River) is located in Burundi and Rwanda. It forms part of the upper headwaters of the Nile.
The Kagera squeaker catfish (Synodontis ruandae) is known only from the middle and upper Kagera River drainage.
The Nyabarongo River
The Nyabarongo River is located in the upper Kagera River drainage.
The Mukungwa River is an effluent of the Nyabarongo River located in northern Rwanda.
The Mukungwa yellowfish (Labeobarbus ruasae) and the broadmouth yellowfish (L. platystoma) are both known only from the Mukungwa River.
The Volta River Drainage
The Volta River is located in Burkina Faso, Togo, and Ghana. It includes Lake Volta, an impoundment of the Akosombo Dam on the lower Volta River, which is one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the world.
The Upper Volta robber tetra (Brycinus luteus) is known from a few rivers in the upper Volta drainage of Burkina Faso, where it is threatened by pollution and drought.
Two species of squeaker catfish (Synodontis) are endemic to the Volta River drainage, where they are threatened by habitat destruction and degradation. Poll’s squeaker catfish (S. macrophthalmus) is known only from a single locality in Ghana. Arnoult’s squeaker catfish (S. arnoulti) is known only from two localities in northern Togo and western Burkina Faso.
The Oti River
The Oti River (also known as the Pendjari River) rises on the Benin/Burkina Faso border and flows through northern Togo before finally joining the Volta River in Ghana.
The naked shellear (Cromeria occidentalis) is a sandburrowing freshwater fish known for certain only from the Oti River.
The Lower Volta River
The lower Volta empties into the Gulf of Guinea.
The Hedjo barb (Enteromius guildi) is known only from the Hedjo River, a tributary of the lower Volta located on the border between south-western Togo and south-eastern Ghana.
The Niger River
The Niger River (fleuve Niger in French) is the principal river of West Africa, extending as it does some 4180 km from the Guinea Highlands to the Gulf of Guinea.
The silver catfish (Bagrus filamentosus) is known only from a single specimen collected in the 1920s, most likely (but not certainly) from somewhere in the Niger River drainage.
The Upper Niger
The Upper Niger exhibits an unusual crescent-shaped course that baffled geographers for centuries. From its source in the highlands of south-eastern Guinea, just 240 km from the Atlantic Ocean, it runs directly away from the sea into the Sahara Desert before taking a sharp turn near the ancient city of Timbuktu.
Caroline’s robber tetra (Brycinus carolinae) is known only from the Niandan River and two other small rivers at the headwaters of the Niger in Guinea.
Oudot’s mormyrid (Mormyrops oudoti) is known only from a single specimen collected from the Niger River at Bamako, south-western Mali.
The Kissidougou River is located in the highlands of southeastern Guinea.
The Kissidougou barb (Enteromius kissiensis) is known only from the Kissidougou River.
The Benue River
The Benue River (la Bénoué in French) is the main tributary of the Niger. It originates in the Adamawa Plateau of northern Cameroon and flows west into eastern Nigeria.
The Bamenda garra (Garra allostoma) is confined to the mountains of north-western Cameroon, within the Benue River drainage.
The Benue killifish (Aphyosemion bualanum) is known only from the upper reaches of the Benue River drainage and the Mayo-Kébbi River drainage of the Central African Republic.
The Menchum River is a tributary of the Benue River located in western Cameroon.
The Bamenda suckermouth catfish (Chiloglanis niger) is known only from the Menchum River.
The Lower Niger and the Niger River Delta
The lower Niger is located in southern Mali, south-western Niger, northern Benin, and western Nigeria, with the delta itself covering a wide area of southern Nigeria. The latter, an important global oil terminal, is threatened by pollution and civil unrest.
The Niger delta climbing gourami (Ctenopoma nebulosum) is known only from a few localities within the Niger River delta.
Powell’s tetra (Neolebias powelli) is known only from a few rivers within the Niger River delta.
The long-finned panchax (Epiplatys longiventralis) is known from a few swampy areas and streams within the lower Niger River drainage, where it is threatened by habitat destruction and degradation.
Powell’s killifish (Fundulopanchax powelli) is known only from a single temporary pool on an unnamed island in the western part of the Niger delta. Arnold’s killifish (F. arnoldi) is known only from a few swampy areas and brooks within the Niger delta.
The Niger delta catfish (Notoglanidium akiri) is known only from a few rivers within the Niger River delta.
Buettikofer’s catfish (Parauchenoglanis buettikoferi) is known only from its original collection in the late nineteenth century in the Warri River, Niger River delta.
The spotted squeaker catfish (Synodontis guttatus) is known only from its original collection in 1865 from an undefined locality within the Niger River delta.
The Ogooué River
The Ogooué (or Ogowe) River runs some 1200 km in West- Central Africa. Its watershed drains nearly the entire country of Gabon, with some tributaries reaching into the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea.
The Ogooué cichlid (Parananochromis ornatus) is confined to a few localities within the Ogooué/Ivindo drainage.
Regan’s cichlid (Chromidotilapia regani) is known only from three localities with the Ogooué River drainage of Gabon.
The Franceville citharine (Nannocharax ogoensis) is known only from its original collection in the early twentieth century from south-eastern Gabon, within the Ogooué River drainage.
The Ogooué tetra (Neolebias kerguennae) is known only from three localities within the Ogooué/Ivindo drainage, where it is threatened by habitat destruction and degradation.
The flame lampeye (Plataplochilus chalcopyrus) is confined to a few localities in the lower Ogooué River of north-western Gabon and southern Equatorial Guinea. It is threatened by loss of habitat.
The chain lampeye (Hypsopanchax catenatus) is known only from a single rainforest brook within the Ogooué River drainage in south-eastern Gabon.
The red-striped lampeye (Plataplochilus miltotaenia) is known from a few localities within the lower Ogooué and Komo rivers of north-western Gabon, where it is threatened by the expansion of Libreville. Terver’s lampeye (P. terveri) is confined to the upper Ogooué River drainage of southeastern Gabon, where it is threatened by pollution and sedimentation.
Several species of killifish (Aphyosemion) are threatened by pollution and sedimentation resulting from deforestation. The caudal-stripe killifish (A. caudofasciatum) is known only from a single locality within the upper Ogooué River drainage of south-central Republic of Congo. The alpha killifish (A. alpha) is confined to a few coastal creeks between Libreville and Cap Esterias in north-western Gabon. The golden killifish (A. aureum) is confined to the upper Lolo and Yaou River drainages on the Du Chaillu Massif of southern Gabon. The Monts de Cristal killifish (A. etsamense) is known only from a few rainforest creeks within the Ogooué River drainage of northwestern Gabon. Hera’s killifish (A. hera) is known only from a single rainforest creek within the Ogooué River drainage of western Gabon. The Bateke killifish (A. rectogoense) is confined to the Bateke Highlands within the upper Lékoni-Djouya and upper M’passa River drainages of south-eastern Gabon.
The Gabon shellear (Grasseichthys gabonensis) is known only from the Ogooué/Ivindo drainage of Gabon.
The Ogooué mountain catfish (Amphilius caudosignatus) is confined to the south-eastern tributaries of the Ogooué River.
The scissortail squeaker catfish (Synodontis acanthoperca) is known only from the Massoukou Rapids on the Ogooue River and another locality on the Louétsi River, both in southcentral Gabon.
The Ngomo snake catfish (Clariallabes brevibarbis) is known only from a single locality on the Ogooué River in central coastal Gabon.
The Ogooué eel catfish (Channallabes ogooensis) is known only from specimens collected in the Franceville area of Gabon.
The Ivindo River
The Ivindo River is located in north-eastern Gabon. General threats include iron mining, commercial logging and slash-and-burn agriculture.
Axelrod’s cichlid (Parananochromis axelrodi) is known only from the Ivindo River drainage.
The Ivindo barb (Enteromius condei) is known only from a single locality in the Ivindo River drainage.
The Ivindo killifish (Aphyosemion fulgens) and the mosaic killifish (A. abacinum) are both known only from rainforest brooks and swamps within in the Ivindo River drainage, where they are threatened by habitat destruction and degradation.
The Biale Creek mormyrid (Stomatorhinus ivindoensis) is known only from small forest streams in the Ivindo River drainage.
The Ivindo eel catfish (Channallabes longicaudatus) is known only from the Ivindo River.
The Lekoudi River
The Lekoudi River is located in south-eastern Gabon.
Tirbak’s killifish (Aphyosemion tirbaki) is known only from two rainforest brooks within the Lekoudi River drainage.
The Ofoué River
The Ofoué River is located in south-central Gabon.
Passaro’s killifish (Aphyosemion passaroi) is known only from three small rainforest creeks flowing to the Onoy River, a tributary of the Ofoué River.
The Okano River
The Okano River is located in northern Gabon.
The Okano upside-down catfish (Microsynodontis nasutus) is known only from rapids in the Okano River.
The Ezanga River
The Ezanga River is located in western Gabon.
The Ezanga upside-down catfish (Microsynodontis notata) is known only from the Ezanga River.
The Ngounié River
The Ngounié River is located in western Gabon.
Barton’s robber tetra (Brycinus bartoni) is known only from a few specimens collected mainly (or entirely) from the Ngounié River.
The Konkouré River
The Konkouré River arises in the Fouta Djallon Highlands of west-central Guinea and flows into the Atlantic.
The Konkouré tilapia (Tilapia rheophile) is a type of cichlid confined to the Konkouré River drainage.
The Konkouré barb (Enteromius guineensis) and Cadenat’s barb (E. cadenati) are both confined to the upper Konkouré River drainage within the Fouta Djallon Highlands of western Guinea.
Leveque’s trout barb (Raiamas levequei) is confined to the middle reaches of the Konkouré River and the Kakrima River.
The Konkouré panchax (Epiplatys guineensis) is known only from a few streams within the middle Konkouré River drainage on the southern part of the Fouta Djallon Highlands. It is threatened by loss of habitat and pollution.
Dekimpe’s squeaker catfish (Synodontis dekimpei) is confined to the Konkouré River drainage.
The Kakrima River
The Kakrima River is a major tributary of the Konkouré River located in western Guinea.
Rouanet’s labeo (Labeo rouaneti) is confined to the Kakrima River.
The Kakrima minnow (Leptocypris konkourensis) is confined to the Kakrima River.
The Kakrima mountain catfish (Amphilius kakrimensis) is confined to the Kakrima River.
The Samou River
The Samou River is located in western Guinea.
Leveque’s catfish (Chrysichthys levequei) is confined to the Samou River.
The Pra River
The Pra River is located in south-western Ghana. Notable for its many cataracts, for most of its length it is not navigable even by canoe.
Robert’s cichlid (Limbochromis robertsi) is confined to the upper tributaries of the Pra River drainage, where it is threatened by habitat degradation due to mining activities.
Walker’s catfish (Chrysichthys walkeri) is confined to the Pra River drainage.
The Subin River
The Subin River is located in south-central Ghana.
The Subin barb (Enteromius subinensis) is confined to the Subin River.
The Cavalla River
The Cavalla River (also known as the Cavally River) originates in the mountains of Guinea and runs through Ivory Coast and Liberia before finally emptying into the Gulf of Guinea.
The Cavalla cichlid (Chromidotilapia cavalliensis) is confined to the upper and middle reaches of the Cavalla River in Ivory Coast.
The Cavalla barb (Enteromius traorei) is confined to the Cavalla River.
Lamotte’s suckermouth catfish (Chiloglanis lamottei) is known only from its original collection in 1948.
The Cross River
The Cross River (native name Oyono) is located in southeastern Nigeria and Cameroon. General threats include overfishing and deforestation.
The Cross River cichlid (Gobiocichla ethelwynnae) is known only from two localities within the upper Cross River drainage.
The redline pufferfish (Tetraodon pustulatus) is confined to two localities within the Cross River drainage (Korup National Park and the lower Cross River).
Reid’s citharine (Nannocharax reidi) is known only from one or two localities in the upper Cross River drainage, but may be more widespread.
Several species of killifish (Fundulopanchax) endemic to the Cross River drainage are threatened by deforestation and overcollection for the international aquarium trade. The miraculous killifish (F. mirabilis) is known only from a single locality within the upper Cross River drainage of western Cameroon. The Numba killifish (F. moensis) is confined to the Mo, Me, and Man rivers, tributaries of the upper Cross River in western Cameroon. Gresens’ killifish (F. gresensi) is confined to the Bagwor and Mack rivers, tributaries of the upper Cross River in western Cameroon. Scheel’s killifish (F. scheeli) is known only from a small area of south-eastern Nigeria within the Cross River drainage. The Mamfe blue killifish (F. gardneri mamfensis) is confined to the rainforest lowlands within the upper Cross River drainage of western Cameroon.
Teugels’ bichir (Polypterus teugelsi) is known only from the upper Cross River drainage.
Ahl’s catfish (Parauchenoglanis ahli) is known only from the upper Cross River drainage.
The Mamfue River
The Mamfue River is a tributary of the upper Cross River located in western Cameroon.
The Mamfue killifish (Fundulopanchax intermittens) is known only from two localities within the Mamfue River.
The Nguti River is located is western Cameroon.
The Nguti cichlid (Etia nguti) is confined to the Nguti River.
The Ngongolon River
The Ngongolon River is located in the upper Cross River drainage.
The Ngongolon killifish (Fundulopanchax traudeae) is confined to the Ngongolon River.
The Calabar River
The Calabar River is located in south-eastern Nigeria (Cross River state).
The russet squeaker catfish (Synodontis robbianus) is known only from its original collection in 1875 from the Calabar River.
The Nyong River
The Nyong River is located in south-western Cameroon.
The Nyong minnow (Prolabeops nyongensis) is known only from the Nyong River drainage.
Heinemann’s killifish (Aphyosemion heinemanni) is confined to tributaries (forest brooks) of the Nyong River.
The long-headed catfish (Parauchenoglanis longiceps) is known only from two localities within the Nyong River drainage.
The Nyong catfish (Chrysichthys nyongensis) is known only from the Nyong River drainage.
The Nyong butter catfish (Schilbe nyongensis) is known only from a single locality in the Nyong River.
The Sanaga River
The Sanaga River is located in western and central Cameroon. It originates with the confluence of the Djérem and Lom rivers in the Adamawa Plateau, and flows some 600 km to the Gulf of Guinea.
Jaeger’s yellowfish (Labeobarbus jaegeri) and the Mbam yellowfish (L. mbami) are both known only from the Sanaga River drainage.
The Sanaga pygmy herring (Thrattidion noctivagus) is known only from a few specimens collected in 1972 from the lower Sanaga River.
The Sanaga citharine (Nannocharax rubrolabiatus) is known only from three localities within the Sanaga River drainage.
The Bamileke killifish (Aphyosemion bamilekorum) and the Mbam killifish (A. dargei) are both confined to the Sanaga River drainage, where they are threatened by habitat destruction and degradation as well as by overcollection for the international aquarium trade.
The Sanaga mormyrid (Marcusenius sanagaensis) is confined to the Sanaga River drainage.
The Sanaga catfish (Chrysichthys longidorsalis) is confined to the Sanaga River drainage.
The Sanaga squeaker catfish (Synodontis rebeli) is confined to the Sanaga River drainage.
The Mbam River
The Mbam River is the main tributary of the Sanaga River.
The Djim catfish (Notoglanidium depierrei) is only known from specimens collected in the Djim River, a small tributary of the Mbam River.
The Kouilou-Niari River
The Kouilou-Niari River is located in south-western Gabon and south-western Congo. General threats include deforestation and mining activities.
The Baudon barb (Enteromius kuiluensis), Roux’s barb (E. rouxi), and the chained barb (E. catenarius) are both known only from their original collection in the mid-twentieth century from the Kouilou-Niari drainage of southern Republic of Congo. The blackish-yellow barb (E. nigroluteus) is known only from three localities in south-western Democratic Republic of Congo, where it is threatened by deforestation, mining pollution, and loss of habitat due to dam construction.
The Kouilou citharine (Nannocharax altus) is known only from two localities within the Kouilou River drainage in southwestern Congo.
Thys’ killifish (Aphyosemion thysi) is known only from the Louvisi and Niari rivers.
Daget’s catfish (Chrysichthys dageti) is confined to a few localities within the Kouilou-Niari River drainage.
The Louvisi River
The Louvisi River (also known as the Louesse River) is located in south-western Congo.
The Louvisi yellowfish (Labeobarbus semireticulatus) is known only from the Louvisi River.
The Louvisi whiptailed catfish (Phractura gladysae) is known only from the Louvisi River.
The Mpoulou River
The Mpoulou River is located in south-western Congo.
The Mpoulou catfish (Amphilius mamonekenensis) and the Dimonika catfish (A. dimonikensis) are both confined to the Mpoulou River, within the Dimonika Biosphere Reserve.
The Campo River
The Campo River (also known as the Ntem River) originates in Gabon and flows through Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon before emptying into the Gulf of Guinea.
The Campo catfish (Parauchenoglanis pantherinus) is known only from the Campo River drainage in southern Cameroon, where it is threatened by habitat destruction.
The Bolo River
The Bolo River (Rio Bolo in Portuguese) is located in Equatorial Guinea.
The Bolo barb (Enteromius aloyi) is known only from the Bolo River.
The Kyé River
The Kyé River (Rio Kyé in Portuguese) is located in Equatorial Guinea.
The Kyé upside-down catfish (Microsynodontis nannoculus) is known only from the Kyé River.
The Nye River
The Nye River is located in northern Gabon.
The Nye upside-down catfish (Microsynodontis hirsuta) is confined to the Nye River.
The Cuanza River
The Cuanza River (also known as the Kwanza River) is located in central Angola.
Ansorge’s trout barb (Raiamas ansorgii) is known only from its original collection in the early twentieth century from the Cuanza River.
Gulielm’s yellowfish (Labeobarbus gulielmi) is known only from its original collection in the early twentieth century from the Cuanza River.
The Cuanza mormyrid (Petrocephalus cunganus) is known only from the lower Cuanza River.
The Cuanza butter catfish (Schilbe angolensis) is known only from the upper Cuanza River.
The Cuemba River
The Cuemba River is located in central Angola. Greenwood’s barb (Enteromius greenwoodi) and the Cuemba barb (E. brevilateralis) are both known only from the Cuemba River.
The Cokema River
The Cokema River (also known as the Kokema River) is located in central Angola.
The Cokema shellear (Parakneria marmorata) is confined to the Cokema River.
The Cokema squeaker catfish (Synodontis laessoei) is confined to the Cokema River.
The Cokema spiny eel (Mastacembelus ansorgii) is confined to the Cokema River.
The Cunje River
The Cunje River is located in central Angola.
The Cunje yellowfish (Labeobarbus clarkeae) is known only from the Cunje River.
The Lucala River
The Lucala River is located in north-western Angola (Uíge, Malanje, and Cuanza Norte provinces).
Girard’s yellowfish (Labeobarbus girardi) is confined to the Lucala River.
Ansorge’s shellear (Kneria ansorgii) is confined to the Lucala River.
The Cuvo River
The Cuvo River is located in west-central Angola (Cuanza Sul province).
Wellman’s barbel (Enteromius wellmani) is confined to the upper reaches of the Cuvo River drainage.
The Cuvo catfish (Amphilius lentiginosus) is known only from Mount Moko, within the Cuvo River drainage.
The Nyanga River
The Nyanga River runs through southern Gabon and northern Republic of Congo.
Stiassny’s whiptailed catfish (Phractura stiassny) is known only from a single collection in the Nyanga River at Tchibanga, Gabon.
The Moukalaba River
The Moukalaba River is located in southern Gabon.
The Moukalaba cichlid (Chromidotilapia nana) is confined to the Moukalaba River.
The Chari River
The Chari River (also known as the Shari River) is located in Central Africa. It runs for some 1400 km through from the Central African Republic and Cameroon to Lake Chad.
The Chari mormyrid (Pollimyrus guttatus) is known only from a few specimens collected in the Chari River drainage.
The Logone River
The Logone River is located in northern Cameroon, eastern Nigeria, and south-western Chad.
The Lancrenon Falls garra (Garra lancrenonensis) is known only from a single locality in the upper Logone River.
The Saint Paul River
The Saint Paul River (also known as the Diani or Niandi River) is located in south-eastern Guinea and western Liberia.
The Saint Paul tilapia (Coptodon coffea) is a type of cichlid confined to a single locality within the Saint Paul River of Liberia.
The Monrovia panchax (Callopanchax monroviae) is known only from a single locality within the lower Saint Paul River of western Liberia.
The Via River
The Via River is located in north-western Liberia. It has been heavily impacted by deforestation, farming and mining activities.
The black-banded barb (Enteromius melanotaenia) and the sharklike barb (E. carcharhinoides) are both known only from the Via River.
Currie’s labeo (Labeo curriei) is known only from the Via River, where it was last collected in 1969.
The Mano River
The Mano River is located in northern Liberia and southeastern Guinea.
The Mano barb (Enteromius trispiloides) is known only from a single specimen collected in the 1980s from the Mano River.
Jeanpol’s panchax (Nimbapanchax jeanpoli) is known only from the upper Mano River drainage.
Miscellaneous Lakes, Rivers, and Marshes
Lake Edward is the smallest of the African Great Lakes. It is located on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, with its northern shore just a few kilometres south of the equator. It lies completely within the Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo) and the Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda), and does not have extensive human habitation on its shores.
The Lake Edward cichlid (Haplochromis paradoxus) is confined to the lake.
Lake Kivu lies on the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. It empties into the Ruzizi River, which flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika. Along with Lake Nyos and LakeMonoun, one of only three lakes in the world that experiences limnic eruptions.
Adolph Friedrich’s cichlid (Haplochromis adolphifrederici) is confined to Lake Kivu. Lake Kachira is a small lake located in western Uganda.
The Kachira cichlid (Haplochromis commutabilis) and Schraml’s cichlid (H. ampullarostratus) are both known only from Lake Kachira.
Lake Ruhondo (also know as Lake Luhondo) is a small lake located in north-western Rwanda.
The Ruhondo yellowfish (Labeobarbus microbarbis) is known only from a single specimen collected from Lake Ruhondo in the 1930s. It is possible, although not certain, that the species was described based upon a hybrid and therefore not valid.
Lake Barombi-ba-Kotto is a small crater lake located in western Cameroon.
The Barombi-ba-Kotto tilapia (Coptodon kottae) is confined to Lake Barombi-ba-Kotto and the smaller nearby Lake Mboandong.
The Corubal River is located in northern Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.
The Koumba barb (Enteromius anniae) is known only from the Koumba River, a tributary of the Corubal River in north-western Guinea.
The Senegal River is located in Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, and Guinea.
The Senegal River barb (Enteromius ditinensis) is confined to the Bafing and Téné rivers in the upper Senegal River drainage of Guinea.
The Lofa River (historically known as the Little Cape Mountain River) is located in Guinea and Liberia.
Lauzanne’s barb (Enteromius lauzannei) is known only from the upper course of the Lofa River.
The Dubreka River is located in Guinea.
Gruvel’s yellowfish (Labeobarbus gruveli) is known only from a single specimen collected in the Dubreka River.
The Farmington River is located in the Gibi Mountains of Liberia.
The Farmington barb (Enteromius boboi) is known only from the Farmington River.
The Kolenté River (also known as the Great Scarcies River) is located in Guinea and Sierra Leone.
The Kindia killifish (Scriptaphyosemion cauveti) is confined to the Santa River, a tributary of the Kolenté River.
The Bagbwe River is located in Sierra Leone.
The Bagbwe barb (Enteromius bagbwensis) is confined to the Bagbwe River drainage.
The Sewa River is located in Sierra Leone.
The Bagbwe suckermouth catfish (Chiloglanis polyodon) is known only from a single specimen collected in the headwaters of the Bagbwe River, one of the sources of the Sewa River.
The Cestos River (also known as the Nuon or Nipoué River) is located in central Liberia and western Ivory Coast.
The Cestos tilapia (Tilapia cessiana) is a type of cichlid confined to the Cestos River.
The Komoé River (also known as the Comoé River) is located in Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.
The Komoé tetra (Micralestes comoensis) is confined to a few localities in the upper Komoé, where it is threatened by drought and deforestation.
The Kogon River is located in western Guinea.
Teugels’ electric catfish (Malapterurus teugelsi) is confined to the Kogon River.
The Jong River (also known as the Taia River) is located in Sierra Leone.
The Jong catfish (Notoglanidium maculatum) is confined to the Jong River.
The Saint John River is located in Liberia.
Ruhkopf’s panchax (Epiplatys ruhkopfi) is known only from the upper Saint John River in north-central Liberia.
The Yewa River is located in Benin and Nigeria.
Clausen’s barb (Enteromius clauseni) is known only from its type locality in the upper course of the Yewa River.
The Ogun River is located in south-western Nigeria.
The Ogun mormyrid (Marcusenius brucii) is known for certain only from the Ogun River, within Oyo Oyo National Park.
The Kienké River is located in south-western Cameroon.
The Kienké tetra (Phenacogrammus stigmatura) is confined to the Kienké River.
The Mungo River is located in western Cameroon.
Celia’s killifish (Aphyosemion celiae celiae) is known from a few localities within the Mungo River.
The Lokoundje River is located in south-eastern Cameroon.
The Lokoundje suckermouth catfish (Chiloglanis harbinger) is known only from a single locality within the Lokoundje River.
The Little Scarcies River is located in central Guinea and northern Sierra Leone.
The Little Scarcies barb (Enteromius foutensis) is known only from the Little Scarcies River.
The Chiloango River (Rio Chiluango in Portuguese) is located in Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Republic of Congo.
The Chiloango spiny eel (Mastacembelus shiloangoensis) is confined to the Chiloango River drainage.
The Bengo River is located in north-western Angola.
The Bengo mormyrid (Heteromormyrus pauciradiatus) is confined to the Bengo River.
The Cubal River is located in central coastal Angola.
The Cubal shellear (Kneria sjolandersi) is known only from the Cubal River.
The Ruzizi River is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda.
The Ruzizi suckermouth catfish (Chiloglanis ruziziensis) is confined to rocky, fast-flowing stretches of the Ruzizi River.
The Komo River is located in north-western Gabon and southern Equatorial Guinea.
The Komo killifish (Aphyosemion kouamense) is confined to the Komo River drainage.
The Ecucu River is located in western Equatorial Guinea.
The Ecucu killifish (Fundulopanchax avichang) is known only from small temporary pools within the Ecucu River drainage.
Coasts and Satellite Islands
This section includes the West African coast from Gambia to the mouth of the Congo including the islands of the Gulf of Guinea.
The African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) inhabits coastal marine, brackish, and freshwater areas of West Africa from Senegal to Angola, including estuaries, lagoons, lakes, mangrove creeks, and adjacent rivers. In some of the latter, for instance the Niger River system, it can be found in upper watercourses a considerable distance from the coast (such individuals often die of starvation due to the periodic drying up of the river, leaving them stranded). Individuals have also been found as far as 75 km offshore. Although widespread and abundant they have long been heavily exploited everywhere for their meat and ‘traditional medicines’, in spite of the fact that hunting them is illegal in every country where they occur. Individuals are also frequently caught by accident in fishing nets.
Bioko
Bioko (formerly known as Fernando Po) is located 32 km off the coast of Cameroon. Part of the Cameroon Volcanic Line, the island used to be the end of a peninsula attached to the mainland but was cut off when sea levels rose 10,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. This isolation has resulted in a number of endemic species and subspecies, most of which are now highly threatened.
The Bioko drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus poensis) is a large terrestrial monkey confined to the south-western part of the island, where the population in 2006 was estimated to be less than 5000.
The Bioko russet-eared guenon (Cercopithecus erythrotis erythrotis) is confined to Bioko.
The Bioko red colobus (Piliocolobus pennantii) appears to be largely confined to south-western Bioko, where the total population is thought to be less than 5000.
The Bioko black colobus (Colobus satanas satanas) is confined to Bioko.
The Bioko needle-clawed galago (Euoticus pallidus pallidus) is confined to Bioko.
The Bioko squirrel galago (Sciurocheirus alleni alleni) is confined to Bioko.
Father Basilio’s striped mouse (Hybomys basilii) is known only from specimens collected in the early 1960s from highland areas.
The Bioko forest shrew (Sylvisorex isabellae) is known with certainty only from a few specimens.
The Bioko screeching frog (Arthroleptis bioko) was first described in 2010, and is known only from a handful of individuals.
Oeser’s killifish (Fundulopanchax oeseri) is a freshwater fish known only from single rainforest locality in northern Bioko. Mountains
Bioko is very mountainous and is made up of three overlapping shield volcanoes.
The Bioko Preuss’ monkey (Allochrocebus preussi insularis) is known from Pico Basilé National Park and the Gran Caldera Scientific Reserve.
The Bioko montane chameleon (Trioceros feae) is confined to montane forest, where it is rare and decreasing. Pico Basilé, located in north-central Bioko, is the highest peak on the island. It is protected within Pico Basilé National Park.
Eisentraut’s mouse shrew (Myosorex eisentrauti) is known only from Pico Basilé above 2000 m. It has not been recorded since 1968.
The Bioko white-eye (Zosterops brunneus) is a warbler-like bird known only from Pico Basilé, although it is possible that it could also occur on the nearby Caldera de Luba.
São Tomé
São Tomé lies just north of the equator about 240 km off the north-western coast of Gabon. The entire island is a massive shield volcano that rises from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, over 3000 m below sea level. The higher slopes of the island are forested and form part of Obo National Park.
The São Tomé shrew (Crocidura thomensis) is confined to São Tomé.
The São Tomé collared fruit bat (Myonycteris brachycephala) is known only from a few localities.
The São Tomé free-tailed bat (Chaerephon tomensis) is known only from three specimens.
The São Tomé scops owl (Otus hartlaubi) is confined to São Tomé.
The São Tomé dwarf ibis (Bostrychia bocagei) is confined to a few areas of São Tomé, where it is extremely rare and heavily hunted.
The São Tomé olive pigeon (Columba thomensis) is confined to São Tomé.
The São Tomé green pigeon (Treron sanctithomae) is confined to São Tomé, where it is threatened by hunting and habitat destruction.
The São Tomé grosbeak (Crithagra concolor) was long known only from three specimens collected during the nineteenth century. Rediscovered in 1991, it remains extremely rare and is known only from a few localities.
The São Tomé fiscal shrike (Lanius newtoni) was long known only from records in 1888 and 1928. Rediscovered in 1990, it remains very rare and localized.
The São Tomé short-tail (Motacilla bocagii) is a type of passerine bird confined to central and southern São Tomé.
The São Tomé giant sunbird (Dreptes thomensis) is confined to São Tomé.
The São Tomé oriole (Oriolus crassirostris) is confined to São Tomé.
The São Tomé reed frog (Hyperolius thomensis) is confined to primary forest remnants on São Tomé.
Newton’s ridged frog (Ptychadena newtoni) is confined to wetland areas on São Tomé.
Príncipe
Príncipe consists of a heavily eroded volcano surrounded by several smaller islands. Uninhabited when discovered by the Portuguese, the north and centre were thereafter converted into cocoa and sugar plantations which have since largely reverted to forest.
The Príncipe olive ibis (Bostrychia olivacea rothschildi) was long thought to be extinct. However, it was reportedly sighted in 1991 and a population of perhaps less than 10 may still survive.
The Príncipe thrush (Turdus xanthorhynchus) was long thought extinct until its rediscovery in small numbers in 1997.
The Príncipe white-eye (Zosterops ficedulinus) is a passerine bird confined to the forests of Príncipe.
The palm forest tree frog (Leptopelis palmatus) is known from a few localities on Príncipe.
Annobón
Annobón is another extinct volcano lying about 180 km southwest of São Tomé. Long uninhabited, it has evolved considerable biological diversity despite its small size.
The Annobón scops owl (Otus feae) is confined to higher elevation moist forests on Annobón, where the total population is thought to be between 50 and 250.
The Annobón white-eye (Zosterops griseovirescens) is a type of passerine bird confined to forest areas on Annobón.
The Annobón red-bellied paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone rufiventer smithii) is confined to Annobón.
The Annobón lidless skink (Afroablepharus annobonensis) is confined to dry forests on Annobón.
Miscellaneous Islands
McCarthy Island (also known as Lemain Island or Janjanbureh Island) is located approximately 270 km up the Gambia River, in eastern Gambia.
The Gambian blind snake (Myriopholis natatrix) is known only from McCarthy Island, where it has not definitely been recorded since before 1937.
Tumbo Island is located off the coast of Guinea.
The Tumbo screeching frog (Arthroleptis bivittatus) is known only from a single specimen collected from Tumbo Island.
Anthropogenic effects on the flora and fauna
Africa is considered by most paleoanthropologists to be the world’s oldest inhabited region, with humans having actually originated on the continent. The fossilized remains of several species of early ape-like humans have been discovered there dating back at least seven million years, which are believed to have evolved into modern humans (Homo sapiens sapiens) between 300,000 and 200,000 years ago. Since that time Africa has been continuously populated by groups of hunter-gatherers, some of whom began to migrate into first Europe and Asia and from there the rest of the globe around 70,000 years ago. Around 4000 bc, the Saharan climate started to become drier at an exceedingly fast pace. This caused lakes and rivers to shrink significantly and increased desertification, which in turn decreased the amount of land conducive to settlements. As a result, humans began to migrate into the more tropical climate of West Africa. The pygmies of the Congo Basin are thought to be the direct descendants of Middle Stone Age hunter-gatherers. While livestock, fire, cultivation, and hunting have all had an impact on the environment, these factors have had a much shorter time to affect the Guineo-Congolian Region than elsewhere in Africa, and indeed long term climatic changes during thousands of years have had a significantly greater impact on its fauna and climate.
European contact with Africa has been relatively brief. The Portugese first began to explore the West African coast in 1444, reaching what is now Sierra Leone by 1460. The latter were also the first to visit the islands of the Gulf of Guinea between 1472 and 1475, discovering the Congo River in 1482. However, unlike in Asia or the Americas, in Africa Europeans would be content to avoid the interior, instead setting up a system of coastal trading posts. True exploration would not resume until the late eighteenth century, when the Scottish explorer Mungo Park reached the upper Niger River, in what is now Mali, in 1796. A few years later, in 1805–06, he would descend that same river as far as the Bussa Rapids, where he was drowned. In 1798 the Brazilian-born Portuguese explorer Francisco de Lacerda travelled from Mozambique north-west to Lake Mweru in the Congo. In 1823 members of an Anglo-Scottish expedition became the first Europeans to sight Lake Chad, and in 1830 the English explorer Richard Lander and his brother John descended the Niger River for more than 640 km, from what is now northern Nigeria to the river’s mouth. In the 1860s the French explorer Paul Du Chaillu became the first European to confirm the existence of gorillas and, later, of pygmy tribes within the Congo Basin. During 1875–77 the Welsh-American journalist Henry Morton Stanley descended the Lualaba and Congo rivers to the sea. Years later, in 1887–89, Stanley traversed the Ituri Rainforest, explored the Ruwenzori and followed the Semliki River to its source, which he named Lake Edward.
In 1884–85 almost all of Africa was formally divided up between the European colonial powers, who defined boundaries that are still largely intact today among post-colonial states. Apart from hunting little damage was done to the environment and, indeed, it was during this period that the first national parks and environmental protections were established. During the mid-twentieth century African colonies began to achieve independence. Their populations also begin to explode, creating in the process extreme poverty, disease, corruption, and almost continuous warfare, all of which have put intense pressure on wildlife and habitats.
In recent historical time (i.e. since ad 1500), the Guineo-Congolian Region has lost at least one subspecies of vertebrates (a mammal). Another three species are possibly extinct, and one species is currently extinct in the wild.
In addition, there are 955 species/47 subspecies currently threatened with extinction (that is to say, either Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List, as well as certain forms either listed as Data Deficient or Not Assessed but which are clearly at some risk of extinction). Of these, 143 species/24 subspecies are mammals, 62 species/6 subspecies are birds, 50 species/3 subspecies are reptiles, 142 species/1 subspecies are amphibians, and 558 species/13 subspecies are freshwater fishes.