- Wildlife of São Tomé and Príncipe
The wildlife of
São Tomé and Príncipe includes itsflora andfauna and their naturalhabitats . São Tomé andPríncipe are oceanic islands which have always been separate from mainlandWest Africa and so there is a relatively low diversity of species, restricted to those that have managed to cross the sea to the islands. However the level ofendemism is high with many species occurring nowhere else in the world.Fauna
Mammals
The diversity of
mammal s is low and there is only one endemic terrestrial mammal, theSão Tomé Shrew . There are severalbat s including the recently-describedSão Tomé Free-tailed Bat . Variouscetacean s such as theHumpback Whale occur offshore andwhaling formerly took place. A number of species have been introduced by man such as theMona Monkey ,rat s and feral pigs.Birds
At least 114
bird species have occurred on the islands and there are about 26 endemics, depending on taxonomy. At least three have no close relatives and are classified in genera of their own, theSão Tomé Short-tail ,São Tomé Grosbeak andDohrn's Thrush-babbler . The islands' birds include the world's largestsunbird (theGiant Sunbird ) and the smallestibis (Dwarf Olive Ibis ). Largeseabird colonies are found on some of the smaller islets. Several of the country's birds are considered to be threatened with extinction and three, the Dwarf Olive Ibis,São Tomé Fiscal and São Tomé Grosbeak, arecritically endangered .Flora
There are about 895 species of
vascular plant native to the islands, of which 95 are restricted to São Tomé and 37 occur only on Príncipe. The familiesOrchidaceae ,Rubiaceae andEuphorbiaceae are well-represented as are the genera "Calvoa " and "Begonia ". The giant endemic begonias "Begonia crateris " and "Begonia baccata " can reach three metres in height. The islands are also rich infern s.Rainforest covers about 74% of the country. Much of this issecondary forest that has grown on abandonedplantation s. A large area of forest is protected byObo National Park . Other habitats includesavanna andmangrove s.References
*African Bird Club (2008) " [http://www.africanbirdclub.org/countries/SaoTome/introduction.html Birding São Tomé and Príncipe] ". Accessed
1 July 2008 .
*Gulf of Guinea Conservation Group (1999-2006) " [http://www.ggcg.st/ Gulf of Guinea Biodiversity Network] ". Accessed1 July 2008 .
*Warne, Sophie (2003) "Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe: the Bradt Travel Guide", Bradt. ISBN 1841620734
*World Wildlife Fund (2001) " [http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/at/at0127_full.html Sao Tome, Principe and Annobon moist lowland forests (AT0127)] ". Accessed1 July 2008 .
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