From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Wed Apr 29 2009 - 20:19:04 EDT
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Eritrea - Fauna Mammals and Reptiles
In the past, Eritrea was home to a large range of animals, including
buffaloes, cheetahs, colobus monkeys, elephants, giraffes, hippos,
Nubian ibexes, leopards, lions and waterbucks. With the loss of the
forests and the decades of war, many of these animals have disappeared.
Mammals commonly seen today include the Abyssinian hare, African wild
cat, black-backed jackal, common jackal, genet, grounds quirrrel, pale
fox, Soemmering´s gazelle and warthog. Primates include the vervet
monkey and hamadryas baboon.
Lions, greater kudus and Tora hartebeests are said to occur in the
mountains of Gash-Setit province, north of Barentu.
In the Bure peninsula, dik-diks and dorcas gazelles can be seen. Less
common sightings include bushbucks, duikers, greater kudus,
klipspringers, leopards, oryxs and crocodiles. In the area between
Awgaro and Antore, Eritrea´s last population of elephants is said to
roam.
Birds
Eritrea´s range of habitats is surprisingly diverse, and its birdlife is
correspondingly rich. A total of 537 species of birds have been
recorded, including the rare blue saw-wing.
The isolated and uninhabited Dahlak Islands, and the rich feeding
grounds which surround them, attract large numbers of nesting sea birds
frol all over the Red Sea (and possibly also from the Meditreeanean and
Gulf). Some 109 species have been recorded on the islands, including the
Arabian bustard and osprey.
Eritrea also lies within a popular migratory fly way. Hundreds of
species of wintering and migratory coastal and sea birds can be seen
crossing between the continents of Africa and Arabia.
On the Bure peninsula, the ostrich and Arabian bustard are commonly
seen. Sea birds include gulls, terns, boobies and, on the coasline and
island, many species of wader.
In the lush, evergreen, tropical forests in the Semenawi Bahri area
north-east of Asmera, birdlife is particularly abundant. Species include
the near-endemic whitecheeked turaco, and the Narina trogon.
Marine Life
Major marine ecosystems include the coral reefs, sea-grass beds and
mangrove forests. In the Red Sea, at least 129 species of coral are
known to exist. Eritrea´s coral is mainly found as "patch reef"
extending from the surface to around 15m to 18m; beyond this depth,
coral development tends to be limited.
Lying on the northerly limits of the mangrove ranges, Eritrea is
nevertheless home to at least three, possibly four, species (Avicennia
marina, Rhizophora mucronata, Ceriops tagal and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza),
which are found along the coast and on the Dahlak Islands.
Five species of marine turtle have been recorde. Most common are the
green and hawksbill turtles; the leatherback is occasionally seen, and
the loggerhead and Ridley only rarely. The green turtle is quite often
spotted around the Dahlak Islands.
Dolphins are also frequently seen around the Dahlak Islands. Four
species occur: the common , humpback, bottelnose and spinner dophins.
Spinners are the very small type often seen in large groups. Shark
species include the white and black-tipped reef, mako, nurse, whale,
hammerhead and tiger sharks.
The dugong, or seacow , is now considered endagered. The Eritrean and
Sudanese coastlines are thought to be home to at least half the 4000 to
5000 dugong estimated to inhabit the Red Sea. Sightings of the dugong in
the sea are rarre; most often they are caught in the nets of fishermen.
According to Article 12 of the marine Reserves Act, spear guns are
forbidden in the waters of the Dahlak Islands, as is the collection of
coral, shells or any plant life from either the beaches or teh waters.
Leaving litter of any sort is also considered an offence, as is the
disruption of the habitat of endangered species such as turtle.
Click here for pictures.
<http://www.insideeritrea.com/Fauna/fauna01.htm>
http://www.insideeritrea.com/Fauna/fauna01.htm
Source of the text: http://www.lonelyplanet.com
<http://www.lonelyplanet.com/>
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