Wildlife of Benin
Encyclopedia
Benin has varied resources of wildlife comprising flora and fauna, which are primarily protected in its two contiguous protected areas of the Pendjari National Park
and W National Park
. The former is known for many species of avifauna and the latter park is rich in mammals and predators. In addition, many other forest reserves are noted in the country but are not easily accessible, well protected or adequately surveyed for its wildlife resources. The protected area system of Benin defined as National Protected Area System is situated in the northern Benin, mostly with a woody savanna ecosystem. It covers 10.3% of the national territory and is part of the three nation transboundary W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) complex (with area distribution of 43% in Benin, 36% in Burkina Faso
and 21% in Niger
).
Forests of particular note are the Riparian forest
s which form a dominant ecosystem
, accounting for ⅓ of the estimated flora of 3,000 species in Benin. These forests are found along river banks consisting of semi-deciduous, dry, and open forest and woodland savanna. However, these systems have been subject to severe misuse by way of deforestation, which necessitated the enforcement of a Law, which imposes restrictions on cutting of these forests.
In south Benin, where malaria
is a common disease as in the rest of Africa, medicinal plants are used for treatment as an alternative to allopathic medicine
.
, Benin and Burkina Faso
, as a part of the Niger River
, encompasses an area of 563280 hectares (1,391,894 acre) in Benin; the prefix "W" is after the W-shaped bends in the Niger River that border's the park and which is fed the Tapoa River
in the north, and the Mékrou River
in the south. It is set in attitudinal range of 170 to 338 m. In addition, the buffer zones are the hunting zones of Mékrou 102640 hectares (253,628.7 acre), Djona 115200 hectares (284,665.1 acre) and Kompa
15000 hectares (37,065.8 acre), apart from transition areas in a 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) zone. This area in the West Africa
n savanna belt covers terrestrial, semi-aquatic and aquatic ecosystems. Primarily of semi-arid to semi-humid Sudanese wooded savanna, 500 plant species have been identified. Sudanese savanna fauna consists of 70 diurnal mammals and more than 112 species of fish including monkfish
Squatina aculeata. The park has about 200,000 people living within it and on its periphery, which creates conflicts between park managers, herders and farmers.
and Niger
. The hills and cliffs of the Atakora range make the north-west one the most scenic areas of Benin. They provide a wonderful backdrop to the Pendjari National Park, which, in its isolation, remains one of the most interesting in West Africa.
Riparian forest
s in Benin are important conservation sites that need more care than is currently available. These forests, which are flood-dependent and the flora that is dependent on this source of water, are seen in many parts of Benin. However, forest and savanna species are also part of this ecosystem as they have a combination of plants from various forest and savanna types. Hence, the riparian forests have been found to be more diverse than those of the single one-ecosystem-based vegetation. They also provide the needed categories of food for many animal and other forest species to survive.
The riparian forests ecosystem is in a limited area and spread in a linear shape. The forests account for at least one-third of the estimated 3,000 species of flora of Benin, with several valuable, rare or even endemic species. These forests are woodlands of semi-deciduous, dry, and open forest, and woodland savanna that occur along riverbanks or along streams. The physiognomy of this type of forest is highly variable with trees of average height of 14–18 m (45.9–59.1 ) and some places as high 20–25 m (65.6–82 ) with dense understorey. Adjacent more open ecosystems also affect the vegetation in these forests.
However, this ecosystem of hygrophile and edaphic
freshwater forests is of general structural complexity and extent. It was in a state of extinction due to "shifting cultivation, grazing, selective cutting of valuable or rare tree species, road and dam construction, and over-exploitation of non-timber forest products" to meet the basic needs of rural community. This misuse also resulted in degradation of the ecosystem of rare plants and animals. It reached a chronic stage when indigenous multilayered plant communities became extinct in several areas with resultant creation of open fields, shrubs or grass savanna of least value. Thus, degradation of the ecologically rich system necessitated intervention at the Government level through enabling legislation to stop further damage to the ecosystem. The government of the Republic of Benin
enacted a new forest law (no. 93-009) in July 1993, under which the uniqueness of riparian forests as refuge ecosystem for plant and wildlife of many kinds, was duly recognized. The rules enacted clearly defined that "clearance of wood and shrubs is not allowed within 25 metres (82 ft) at both sides of any waterway (article 28). Moreover, in the management plans of most forest reserves in Benin, gallery forests are to be left uncut, and rare species (e.g. Khaya spp. (Meliaceae), Milicia exelsa (Moraceae)) outside the gallery forests will not be cut either." In spite of such a legislation the enforcement is not effective as it is reported that uncontrolled and unplanned, mostly illegal utilisation of the forests resources continues, particularly in non-protected areas.
(panthera leo), the largest predator of Africa
(found in both the parks); the leopard
(panthera pardus) secretive large African cat (found even outside the two parks); cheetah
(Acinonyx jubatus) in the national parks but a rare sight; several (Felis silvestris), a smaller cat; the caracal
(Caracal caracal), the African wild cat
(Felis sylvestris); the African hunting dog (Lycaon pictus) said to be in W. Park (may be extinct); side-striped jackal
(Canis adustus); the black-backed jackal
(Canis mesomelas); the spotted hyena
(Crocuta crocuta) found in both parks.
Nocturnal predators include: the African civet
(civettictis civetta) – a bulky long haired animal; small-spotted genet (Genetta genetta) and the large-spotted genet
(Genetta tigrina) found in both parks; the spotted-necked otter (Lutra maculicollis), ratel
or honey badger (Mellivora capensis); many mongoose
species such as the Marsh mongoose
(Atilax paludinosus), the Egyptian large grey mongoose
(Herpestes ichneumon), cusimanse (Crossarchus obscurus), the White-tailed Mongoose
(Ichneumia albicauda); slender or pygmy mongoose (Galerella sanguinea), solitary inhabitant of the savanna; and Gambian Mongoose
(mungos gambianus).
Mammals found here include: West African elephants (loxodonta Africana) found widely in savannas, deserts, rainforest, and in the national parks; hippopotamus
(Hippopotamus amphibius) found in rivers of both parks; the African buffalo
(Syncerus caffer) an ox like animal in large herds in savannas and in smaller groups in parks; warthog
(Phacochoerus africanus) in both parks; the aardwark (Orycteropus afer) insectivore
found in savannas; pangolin
s; hedgehog
; porcupine
species; rock hyrax (Procavia capensis); unstriped ground squirrel
(Xerus inauris).
Antelopes
The parks and other areas have a major population of Antelope. 17 species are identified, out of which the endangered species are Sitatunga
(Tragelaphus spekii), Bongo (antelope)
(ragelaphus eurycerus eurycerus) and Korrigum
(Damaliscus korrigum korrigum). Other species of various status are: Grey Duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia); Bushbuck
; Maxwell's Duiker
(Philantomba maxwellii); Red-flanked Duiker
(Cephalophus rufilatus); Black Duiker
(Cephalophus niger); Yellow-backed Duiker
(Cephalophus silvicultor) (vulnerable); Grey Duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia); Bohor Reeedbuck (Redunca redunca); Waterbuck
(Kobus ellipsiprymnus) found near water sources; Buffon’s Kob
(Kobus kob); Roan Antelope
(Hippotragus equinus) found more in both parks but more in Pendjari; Western Hartebeest
(Alcelaphus buselaphus major) ungainly in appearance; Red-fronted Gazelle
(Eudorcas rufifrons); and Oribi
(Ourebia ourebi), more abundant in Pendjari Park than in W National Park.
Primates
Primates reported include: olive baboon
(Papio anubis) of large size with inverted “U” shaped tail; the green monkey
(cercopithecus sabaeus), the most common monkey species; the red monkey
or patas
(Erythrocebus patas) with an orange tinged coat) found in Northern Benin.
s (Crocodylus niloticus) the largest living reptile seen in river banks and ponds in the two protected parks, the Dwarf caiman, smaller and docile species of chameleons in 100 colour variations.
Tortoises are: leopard tortoise
(Stigmochelys pardalis), several species of terrapin
and turtles – out of eight species of marine turtles four are found in Benin coast, namely, the green sea turtle
(Chelonia mydas), olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and leatherback sea turtle
(Dermochelys coriacea). The indigenous hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is the source of traditional tortoiseshell
).
Lizards found are harmless and of two types, the water and savanna monitors – Varanus niloticus and Varanus exanthematicus – both are predatory species; house gecko
(Hemidactylus mabouia), a translucent white lizard; agama
species in large size of varied mixed colours and the skinks.
to deserts in Benin, which have two main climatic zones, namely the thick tropical vegetation in the south and the dry savannas and light woodlands in the north. The birding sites for coastal wader
s are the coastal lagoons of Les Bouches du Roi and the backwaters of Ouidha beach. Water birds and forest birds are found in the Lake Nokoué
and Lake Ahémé. Feathered birds are found in granite rock hills near Dassa-Zoume
. The national parks are full of savanna specific birds.
The weaver
species reported are: 12 species of Weavers of Ploceidae family are found in Benin, out of the overall 111 of the genus Ploceus
(true weavers) identified; they are larger than a sparrow
, males are more colourful than female species. Other reported species are golden weaver
, masked weaver (Ploceus velatus) , common Vieillot's Black Weaver
(Ploceus nigerrimus), Black weaver
s (Ploceus melanogaster), Grosbeak Weaver
(Amblyospiza albifrons), sparrow
and buffalo weavers Dideric Cuckoo
(Chrysococcyx caprius), a handsome white cuckoo (Coracina pectoralis) which lays its eggs in weavers nests. More species of birds are: Guinea fowl
(Numida meleagris), black-and-white-chicken-like cuckoo found in North Benin, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus), a large distinctive bird; the Marabou Stork
(Leptoptilos crumeniferus); the crowned crane
(Balearica pavonina), a tall grey-black bird; the Jabiru stork
(Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis), a large white bird with black wings. Birds also include puff adder
and mamba
.
Raptors
are vultures (Gyps
) species found in both parks, which are carion-eating birds. A common sight is the African Fish Eagle
(Haliaeetus vocifer) species, which is black and white in colour.
species found in Benin include the tsetse fly
and many vectors of epidemic diseases.
, palmyra palms, oil palms are seen up to Abomey
, where after vegetation is savanna merged with that of Guinea and Sudan. Other tree species noted are ebony
, shea nut, kapok
, fromager
, and Senegal mahogany
trees.
The W National Park constitutes the southern limit of tiger bush
plateau distribution. Riverine and gallery forests are noted on the banks of the Mekrou River (with seasonal flows), and other tributaries of the Niger River. The plains have extensive coverage of grasses. In the savanna woodlands, grassland and stunted savanna woodlands, the plant species recorded are the Terminalia avicennioides
, Anogeissus leiocarpus
, hackberry Clematis integrifolia
clematis
, Boscia senegalensis
, Balanites aegyptiaca
, kapok tree (Bombax costatum
), African locust
(Parkia biglobosa
), Camel’s Foot Tree
, Senna reticulata
, baobab
(Adansonia digitata), tamarind
(Tamarindus indica), Prosopis africana
, (Piliostigma reticulatum
). In the evergreen gallery forests, sausage tree, (Kigelia africana
) and African mahogany
(Khaya senegalensis) are found. Orchid species recorded are the Eulophia cucculata
and Eulophia guineensis
.
The Pendjari park consists of; grasslands which have no trees or shrubs; shrub lands which are fully covered by grass; Arborous savanna vegetation; wooded savanna formations with contiherbaceous layer but with no undergrowth; forests along the river, thin forests with plenty of trees of size of 8–16 m; and gallery forests which are dense with shrubs. The rocky cliffs of the Pendjari National Park are sparsely wooded. The Volta depression has savanna ecosystem with woodlands and rare species such as Burkea africana
, Anogeissus leiocarpus
, Pterocarpus erinaceus
, Detarium microcarpum
, Lannea acida, Sterculia setigera, Combretum ghasalense and Acacia
spp. On the deep soils of some of the summits and the Atakora escarpment one finds a greater variety of plant species with Isoberlinia doka
and Afzelia africana
. The Pendjari River has an impressive gallery forest
and river forest. The park includes both Sudan
and North Guinea savannas, with areas of grassland dominated by Acacia sieberiana
and Terminalia macroptera
.
The most common species found in the "riparian forests" are: Pterocarpus santalinoides
(Papilionaceae), Cola laurifolia (Sterculiaceae
) and Syzygium guineense (Myrtaceae
), out of which a few species are endemic and valuable.
Herbal cure
Malaria, which is a virulent disease in Benin as in the rest of Africa, is treated by alternative medicines. The alternative treatment locally practiced in southern Benin is based on several plant species that are extracted and administered orally. Such extracts are also used for bathing. Plant species listed for treatment are 85, which are used to make 35 mixtures for treatment.
Botanical garden
The phytodiversity of Western Africa is being preserved at the Papatia Botanical Garden
in northern Benin. This garden, which is spread over an area of 12 ha, is a species-rich savanna area where an inventory of hundred woody plants and several hundred of herbaceous species has been maintained. A tree-nursery is part of this garden created to increase rare species.
Pendjari National Park
The Pendjari National Park lies in north western Benin, adjoining the Arli National Park in Burkina Faso. Named for the Pendjari River, the national park is known for its wildlife and his home to some of the last populations of big game like elephants, West African lions, hippopotamuses, buffalo...
and W National Park
W National Park
The W National Park is a major national park in West Africa around a meander in the River Niger shaped like a "W". The park includes areas of the three countries Niger, Benin and Burkina Faso, and is governed by the three governments...
. The former is known for many species of avifauna and the latter park is rich in mammals and predators. In addition, many other forest reserves are noted in the country but are not easily accessible, well protected or adequately surveyed for its wildlife resources. The protected area system of Benin defined as National Protected Area System is situated in the northern Benin, mostly with a woody savanna ecosystem. It covers 10.3% of the national territory and is part of the three nation transboundary W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) complex (with area distribution of 43% in Benin, 36% in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
and 21% in Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
).
Forests of particular note are the Riparian forest
Riparian forest
A riparian forest is a forested area of land adjacent to a body of water such as a river, stream, pond, lake, marshland, estuary, canal, sink or reservoir. -Etymology:...
s which form a dominant ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
, accounting for ⅓ of the estimated flora of 3,000 species in Benin. These forests are found along river banks consisting of semi-deciduous, dry, and open forest and woodland savanna. However, these systems have been subject to severe misuse by way of deforestation, which necessitated the enforcement of a Law, which imposes restrictions on cutting of these forests.
In south Benin, where malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
is a common disease as in the rest of Africa, medicinal plants are used for treatment as an alternative to allopathic medicine
Allopathic medicine
Allopathic medicine refers to the practice of conventional medicine that uses pharmacologically active agents or physical interventions to treat or suppress symptoms or pathophysiologic processes of diseases or conditions. It was coined by Samuel Hahnemann , a homeopath, in 1810...
.
W National Park
W National Park, IUCN Management Category II, a transboundary park among NigerNiger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
, Benin and Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
, as a part of the Niger River
Niger River
The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea...
, encompasses an area of 563280 hectares (1,391,894 acre) in Benin; the prefix "W" is after the W-shaped bends in the Niger River that border's the park and which is fed the Tapoa River
Tapoa River
The Tapoa River is a tributary of the Niger River. It flows through the Tapoa Province in Burkina Faso and forms a small part of the international border between Burkina Faso and Niger, after which it flows into the Niger River in southwestern Niger....
in the north, and the Mékrou River
Mekrou River
The Mékrou River is a river of Benin and Niger. It flows through the W National Park.A tributary of the Niger River, it forms a border between Benin and Niger. The proposed construction of the Dyondyonga electricity dam on the river has caused some concern amongst environmentalists....
in the south. It is set in attitudinal range of 170 to 338 m. In addition, the buffer zones are the hunting zones of Mékrou 102640 hectares (253,628.7 acre), Djona 115200 hectares (284,665.1 acre) and Kompa
Kompa
Compas is a musical genre derivative of the Haitian Méringue, the national music of Haiti that people have been dancing and playing since the 1800s. written as Compas Direct in French, and Kompa or konpa in Haitian Creole. Worldwide, several festivals annually feature Compas music and other aspects...
15000 hectares (37,065.8 acre), apart from transition areas in a 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) zone. This area in the West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n savanna belt covers terrestrial, semi-aquatic and aquatic ecosystems. Primarily of semi-arid to semi-humid Sudanese wooded savanna, 500 plant species have been identified. Sudanese savanna fauna consists of 70 diurnal mammals and more than 112 species of fish including monkfish
Monkfish
Monkfish is the English name of a number of types of fish in the northwest Atlantic, most notably the species of the anglerfish genus Lophius and the angelshark genus Squatina...
Squatina aculeata. The park has about 200,000 people living within it and on its periphery, which creates conflicts between park managers, herders and farmers.
Pendjari National Park
The Pendjari National Park is an area of 275500 hectares (680,774.7 acre), located entirely in Benin, in the far north-west of Benin. In addition it has buffer zones namely, the Pendjari (348,000 ha) that incorporates the hunting zones of Pendjari-Porga (76,000 ha), Batia (75,500 ha) and Konkombri (25,900 ha). Initially known as forest reserve, it was declared a National Park on May 6, 1961 after the independence of Benin. In June 1986, it was classified as a MAB Biosphere Reserve (including the adjoining hunting zones of Pendjari and Atacora) and in February 2007, the Pendjari River Valley was recognized as a Ramsar Site of wetland importance. The park is part of the W-Arli-Pendjari complex (WAP), which is a vast protected area in Benin, Burkina FasoBurkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
and Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
. The hills and cliffs of the Atakora range make the north-west one the most scenic areas of Benin. They provide a wonderful backdrop to the Pendjari National Park, which, in its isolation, remains one of the most interesting in West Africa.
Riparian forests
Riparian forest
A riparian forest is a forested area of land adjacent to a body of water such as a river, stream, pond, lake, marshland, estuary, canal, sink or reservoir. -Etymology:...
s in Benin are important conservation sites that need more care than is currently available. These forests, which are flood-dependent and the flora that is dependent on this source of water, are seen in many parts of Benin. However, forest and savanna species are also part of this ecosystem as they have a combination of plants from various forest and savanna types. Hence, the riparian forests have been found to be more diverse than those of the single one-ecosystem-based vegetation. They also provide the needed categories of food for many animal and other forest species to survive.
The riparian forests ecosystem is in a limited area and spread in a linear shape. The forests account for at least one-third of the estimated 3,000 species of flora of Benin, with several valuable, rare or even endemic species. These forests are woodlands of semi-deciduous, dry, and open forest, and woodland savanna that occur along riverbanks or along streams. The physiognomy of this type of forest is highly variable with trees of average height of 14–18 m (45.9–59.1 ) and some places as high 20–25 m (65.6–82 ) with dense understorey. Adjacent more open ecosystems also affect the vegetation in these forests.
However, this ecosystem of hygrophile and edaphic
Edaphic
Edaphic is a nature related to soil. Edaphic qualities may characterize the soil itself, including drainage, texture, or chemical properties such as pH. Edaphic may also characterize organisms, such as plant communities, where it specifies their relationships with soil...
freshwater forests is of general structural complexity and extent. It was in a state of extinction due to "shifting cultivation, grazing, selective cutting of valuable or rare tree species, road and dam construction, and over-exploitation of non-timber forest products" to meet the basic needs of rural community. This misuse also resulted in degradation of the ecosystem of rare plants and animals. It reached a chronic stage when indigenous multilayered plant communities became extinct in several areas with resultant creation of open fields, shrubs or grass savanna of least value. Thus, degradation of the ecologically rich system necessitated intervention at the Government level through enabling legislation to stop further damage to the ecosystem. The government of the Republic of Benin
Republic of Benin
The short-lived Republic of Benin, in Nigeria's coastal Bight of Benin, was named after its capital Benin City. It was known as Mid-Western state in Nigeria until August 1967 when it was occupied by Biafra as its forces advanced towards Lagos...
enacted a new forest law (no. 93-009) in July 1993, under which the uniqueness of riparian forests as refuge ecosystem for plant and wildlife of many kinds, was duly recognized. The rules enacted clearly defined that "clearance of wood and shrubs is not allowed within 25 metres (82 ft) at both sides of any waterway (article 28). Moreover, in the management plans of most forest reserves in Benin, gallery forests are to be left uncut, and rare species (e.g. Khaya spp. (Meliaceae), Milicia exelsa (Moraceae)) outside the gallery forests will not be cut either." In spite of such a legislation the enforcement is not effective as it is reported that uncontrolled and unplanned, mostly illegal utilisation of the forests resources continues, particularly in non-protected areas.
Mammals
Predators include: LionLion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
(panthera leo), the largest predator of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
(found in both the parks); the leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
(panthera pardus) secretive large African cat (found even outside the two parks); cheetah
Cheetah
The cheetah is a large-sized feline inhabiting most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. The cheetah is the only extant member of the genus Acinonyx, most notable for modifications in the species' paws...
(Acinonyx jubatus) in the national parks but a rare sight; several (Felis silvestris), a smaller cat; the caracal
Caracal
The caracal is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat ranging over Western Asia, South Asia and Africa.The word caracal comes from the Turkish word "karakulak", meaning "black ear". In North India and Pakistan, the caracal is locally known as syahgosh or shyahgosh, which is a Persian term...
(Caracal caracal), the African wild cat
African wild cat
The African wildcat is a wildcat subspecies that occurs across northern Africa and extends around the periphery of the Arabian Peninsula to the Caspian Sea. As it is the most common and widely distributed wild cat, it is listed as Least Concern by IUCN since 2002.African wildcats appear to have...
(Felis sylvestris); the African hunting dog (Lycaon pictus) said to be in W. Park (may be extinct); side-striped jackal
Side-striped Jackal
The side-striped jackal is a species of jackal, native to central and southern Africa. Unlike its cousin, the smaller black-backed jackal, which dwells in open plains, the side-striped jackal primarily dwells in woodland and scrub areas....
(Canis adustus); the black-backed jackal
Black-backed Jackal
The black-backed jackal , also known as the silver-backed or red jackal, is a species of jackal which inhabits two areas of the African continent separated by roughly 900 km. One region includes the southern-most tip of the continent, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe...
(Canis mesomelas); the spotted hyena
Spotted Hyena
The spotted hyena also known as laughing hyena, is a carnivorous mammal of the family Hyaenidae, of which it is the largest extant member. Though the species' prehistoric range included Eurasia extending from Atlantic Europe to China, it now only occurs in all of Africa south of the Sahara save...
(Crocuta crocuta) found in both parks.
Nocturnal predators include: the African civet
African Civet
The African Civet is the largest representative of the African Viverridae. It is the sole member of its genus. African Civets can be found from coast to coast across sub-Saharan Africa. They are primarily nocturnal and spend the day sleeping in dense vegetation...
(civettictis civetta) – a bulky long haired animal; small-spotted genet (Genetta genetta) and the large-spotted genet
Cape Genet
The Cape Genet , also known as the Blotched Genet, Large-spotted Genet or muskeljaatkat in Afrikaans, is a carnivore mammal, related to the African Linsang and to the civets. It can be found in Africa from Senegal to Somalia, and south to Namibia and South Africa, though it is absent from the...
(Genetta tigrina) found in both parks; the spotted-necked otter (Lutra maculicollis), ratel
Ratel
The honey badger , also known as the ratel, is a species of mustelid native to Africa, the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. Despite its name, the honey badger does not closely resemble other badger species, instead bearing more anatomical similarities to weasels...
or honey badger (Mellivora capensis); many mongoose
Mongoose
Mongoose are a family of 33 living species of small carnivorans from southern Eurasia and mainland Africa. Four additional species from Madagascar in the subfamily Galidiinae, which were previously classified in this family, are also referred to as "mongooses" or "mongoose-like"...
species such as the Marsh mongoose
Marsh Mongoose
The Marsh Mongoose, or Water Mongoose, is a medium-sized mammal but a large mongoose. Weight can range from , with an average range of . From the head to the base of the tail, these animals range from , with the tail adding . It is a member of the mongoose family and the only member of its genus...
(Atilax paludinosus), the Egyptian large grey mongoose
Egyptian mongoose
The Egyptian Mongoose , also known as the Ichneumon, is a species of mongoose. It may be a reservoir host for Visceral leishmaniasis in Sudan.-Range and habitat:...
(Herpestes ichneumon), cusimanse (Crossarchus obscurus), the White-tailed Mongoose
White-tailed Mongoose
The White-tailed Mongoose is the largest species of mongoose. It is the only member of the genus Ichneumia.-Range and Habitat:...
(Ichneumia albicauda); slender or pygmy mongoose (Galerella sanguinea), solitary inhabitant of the savanna; and Gambian Mongoose
Gambian Mongoose
The Gambian mongoose is widely distributed in the moist savannahs of north-western Africa, from Gambia to Nigeria.-Appearance:The Gambian mongoose is generally a brownish-grey color. They have a dark streak of fur on the sides of its light-colored neck. The short, tapered tail is not bushy. They...
(mungos gambianus).
Mammals found here include: West African elephants (loxodonta Africana) found widely in savannas, deserts, rainforest, and in the national parks; hippopotamus
Hippopotamus
The hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...
(Hippopotamus amphibius) found in rivers of both parks; the African buffalo
African Buffalo
The African buffalo, affalo, nyati, Mbogo or Cape buffalo is a large African bovine. It is not closely related to the slightly larger wild Asian water buffalo, but its ancestry remains unclear...
(Syncerus caffer) an ox like animal in large herds in savannas and in smaller groups in parks; warthog
Warthog
The Warthog or Common Warthog is a wild member of the pig family that lives in grassland, savanna, and woodland in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the past it was commonly treated as a subspecies of P...
(Phacochoerus africanus) in both parks; the aardwark (Orycteropus afer) insectivore
Insectivore
An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures. An alternate term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of eating insects....
found in savannas; pangolin
Pangolin
A pangolin , also scaly anteater or Trenggiling, is a mammal of the order Pholidota. There is only one extant family and one genus of pangolins, comprising eight species. There are also a number of extinct taxa. Pangolins have large keratin scales covering their skin and are the only mammals with...
s; hedgehog
Hedgehog
A hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand . There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas...
; porcupine
Porcupine
Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend or camouflage them from predators. They are indigenous to the Americas, southern Asia, and Africa. Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. Most porcupines are about long, with...
species; rock hyrax (Procavia capensis); unstriped ground squirrel
Squirrel
Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...
(Xerus inauris).
Antelopes
The parks and other areas have a major population of Antelope. 17 species are identified, out of which the endangered species are Sitatunga
Sitatunga
The situtunga or marshbuck is a swamp-dwelling antelope found throughout Central Africa, centering on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon and parts of Southern Sudan as well as in Ghana, Botswana, Zambia, Gabon, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.-Description:Situtunga stand about one and a...
(Tragelaphus spekii), Bongo (antelope)
Bongo (antelope)
The western or lowland bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus eurycerus, is a herbivorous, mostly nocturnal forest ungulate and among the largest of the African forest antelope species....
(ragelaphus eurycerus eurycerus) and Korrigum
Korrigum
The Korrigum , also known as Tiang, is a subspecies of the Topi. It was formerly classified as Damaliscus lunatus korrigum....
(Damaliscus korrigum korrigum). Other species of various status are: Grey Duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia); Bushbuck
Bushbuck
The bushbuck is the most widespread antelope in Sub-Saharan Africa, and is found in rain forests, montane forests, forest-savanna mosaics and bush savannaforest and woodland. Recently, genetic studies have shown that the bushbuck, is in fact a complex of two geographically and phenotypically...
; Maxwell's Duiker
Maxwell's Duiker
Maxwell's Duiker , is a small antelope found in western Africa.They grow to 30 inches in length with a typical shoulder height of 14.5–16 inches and weigh around 11 pounds . Its coat is either grey-brown or grey, with a white underbelly and white markings on its face...
(Philantomba maxwellii); Red-flanked Duiker
Red-flanked Duiker
The Red-flanked Duiker , is a tiny antelope found in western and central Africa.Red-flanked Duikers grow to almost 15 inches in height and weigh up to 31 pounds...
(Cephalophus rufilatus); Black Duiker
Black Duiker
Black duiker is a forest dwelling duiker found in the southern parts of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Benin and Nigeria....
(Cephalophus niger); Yellow-backed Duiker
Yellow-backed Duiker
The Yellow-backed Duiker , is an antelope found in central and western Africa. They have the widest range of any duiker in the genus Cephalophus....
(Cephalophus silvicultor) (vulnerable); Grey Duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia); Bohor Reeedbuck (Redunca redunca); Waterbuck
Waterbuck
The Waterbuck is a large antelope found widely in Sub-Saharan Africa.Waterbuck stand at the shoulder. Males weigh and females . Their coats are reddish brown in colour and become progressively darker with age; they have a white 'bib' under their throats and white on their rumps...
(Kobus ellipsiprymnus) found near water sources; Buffon’s Kob
Kob
The Kob is an antelope found across Sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to South Sudan. Found along the Northern Savanna, often seen in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda; Garamba and Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as grassy floodplains of...
(Kobus kob); Roan Antelope
Roan Antelope
The Roan Antelope is a savanna antelope found in West, Central, East Africa and Southern Africa.Roan Antelope stand about a metre and half at the shoulder and weigh around 250 kilograms. Named for the "roan' colour , they have a lighter underbelly, white eyebrows and cheeks and a black face,...
(Hippotragus equinus) found more in both parks but more in Pendjari; Western Hartebeest
Western Hartebeest
The Western Hartebeest is an antelope native to the medium to tall grassland plains of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo. It is possibly extirpated from Gambia.Average adult Western...
(Alcelaphus buselaphus major) ungainly in appearance; Red-fronted Gazelle
Red-fronted Gazelle
The Red-fronted gazelle is a species of gazelle that is widely but unevenly distributed across the middle Africa from Senegal to north-eastern Ethiopia. It is mainly resident in the Sahel zone, a narrow cross-Africa band south of the Sahara, where it prefers arid grasslands, wooded savannas and...
(Eudorcas rufifrons); and Oribi
Oribi
Oribi are graceful slender-legged, long-necked small antelope found in grassland almost throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.-Description:...
(Ourebia ourebi), more abundant in Pendjari Park than in W National Park.
Primates
Primates reported include: olive baboon
Olive Baboon
The olive baboon , also called the Anubis baboon, is a member of the family Cercopithecidae . The species is the most widely spread of all baboons: it is found in 25 countries throughout Africa, extending south from Mali to Ethiopia and to Tanzania. Isolated populations are also found in some...
(Papio anubis) of large size with inverted “U” shaped tail; the green monkey
Green Monkey
The green monkey , also known as the Callithrix monkey, is an Old World monkey with golden-green fur and pale hands and feet. The tip of the tail is golden yellow as are the backs of the thighs and cheek whiskers. It does not have a distinguishing band of fur on the brow, like other Chlorocebus...
(cercopithecus sabaeus), the most common monkey species; the red monkey
Patas Monkey
The patas monkey , also known as the Wadi monkey or Hussar monkey, is a ground-dwelling monkey distributed over semi-arid areas of West Africa, and into East Africa. It is the only species classified in the genus Erythrocebus...
or patas
Pataš
Pataš is a village and municipality in the Dunajská Streda District in the Trnava Region of south-west Slovakia. The municipality also comprises Milinovice and Pásztómajor settlements...
(Erythrocebus patas) with an orange tinged coat) found in Northern Benin.
Reptiles
Nile crocodileNile crocodile
The Nile crocodile or Common crocodile is an African crocodile which is common in Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Gabon, South Africa, Malawi, Sudan, Botswana, and Cameroon...
s (Crocodylus niloticus) the largest living reptile seen in river banks and ponds in the two protected parks, the Dwarf caiman, smaller and docile species of chameleons in 100 colour variations.
Tortoises are: leopard tortoise
Leopard Tortoise
The Leopard tortoise is a large and attractively marked tortoise found in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa, from Sudan to the southern Cape. It is the only member of the genus Stigmochelys, but in the past it was commonly placed in Geochelone instead...
(Stigmochelys pardalis), several species of terrapin
Terrapin
A terrapin is a turtle living in fresh or brackish water.Terrapin may also refer to:* Terrapin , a transport vehicle used for amphibious assault by the Allies during the Second World War...
and turtles – out of eight species of marine turtles four are found in Benin coast, namely, the green sea turtle
Green Sea Turtle
The Green sea turtle or green turtle is a large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus Chelonia. Its range extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world, with two distinct populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...
(Chelonia mydas), olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and leatherback sea turtle
Leatherback Sea Turtle
The leatherback sea turtle is the largest of all living sea turtles and the fourth largest modern reptile behind three crocodilians. It is the only living species in the genus Dermochelys. It can easily be differentiated from other modern sea turtles by its lack of a bony shell. Instead, its...
(Dermochelys coriacea). The indigenous hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is the source of traditional tortoiseshell
Tortoiseshell material
Tortoiseshell or tortoise shell is a material produced mainly from the shell of the hawksbill turtle, an endangered species. It was widely used in the 1960s and 1970s in the manufacture of items such as combs, sunglasses, guitar picks and knitting needles...
).
Lizards found are harmless and of two types, the water and savanna monitors – Varanus niloticus and Varanus exanthematicus – both are predatory species; house gecko
House Gecko
The Common House Gecko, scientific name Hemidactylus frenatus, is a native of southeastern Asia. It is also known as the Pacific house gecko, the Asian house gecko, or simply, the house lizard. They can be seen climbing walls of houses and other buildings in search of insects attracted to porch...
(Hemidactylus mabouia), a translucent white lizard; agama
Agama
Agama is a term for scriptures in Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism:* Āgama * Āgama * Āgama The corresponding adjective is Agamic.Agama can also refer to:...
species in large size of varied mixed colours and the skinks.
Birds
Birds are a special feature in all types of habitats ranging from rainforestRainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
to deserts in Benin, which have two main climatic zones, namely the thick tropical vegetation in the south and the dry savannas and light woodlands in the north. The birding sites for coastal wader
Wader
Waders, called shorebirds in North America , are members of the order Charadriiformes, excluding the more marine web-footed seabird groups. The latter are the skuas , gulls , terns , skimmers , and auks...
s are the coastal lagoons of Les Bouches du Roi and the backwaters of Ouidha beach. Water birds and forest birds are found in the Lake Nokoué
Lake Nokoué
Lake Nokoué is a lake in southern Benin. It is 20 km wide and 11 km long and is located at , north of Cotonou. On the northern edge is the famous water town of Ganvié. Lake Nokoué is an important site for the birds.- External links :*...
and Lake Ahémé. Feathered birds are found in granite rock hills near Dassa-Zoume
Dassa-Zoumé
Dassa-Zoumé, often shortened to Dassa, is a city in Benin, on the Cotonou to Parakou railway and the main north-south highway. The commune covers an area of 1711 square kilometres and as of 2002 had a population of 93,967 people....
. The national parks are full of savanna specific birds.
The weaver
Weaver
The Ploceidae, or weavers, are small passerine birds related to the finches.These are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills, most of which are from Sub-Saharan Africa, with fewer species in tropical Asia. A few species have been introduced outside their native range. The weaver group is...
species reported are: 12 species of Weavers of Ploceidae family are found in Benin, out of the overall 111 of the genus Ploceus
Ploceus
Ploceus is a genus of birds in the weaver family Ploceidae.-Species list in taxonomic order:* Compact Weaver, Ploceus superciliosus - sometimes separated in monotypic genus Pachyphantes* Black-chinned Weaver, Ploceus nigrimentus...
(true weavers) identified; they are larger than a sparrow
Sparrow
The sparrows are a family of small passerine birds, Passeridae. They are also known as true sparrows, or Old World sparrows, names also used for a genus of the family, Passer...
, males are more colourful than female species. Other reported species are golden weaver
Holub's Golden-weaver
The Holub's Golden Weaver , previously called the African Golden Weaver is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family....
, masked weaver (Ploceus velatus) , common Vieillot's Black Weaver
Vieillot's Black Weaver
The Vieillot's Black Weaver is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia,...
(Ploceus nigerrimus), Black weaver
Black-billed Weaver
The Black-billed Weaver is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family.It is found in Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.-References:...
s (Ploceus melanogaster), Grosbeak Weaver
Grosbeak Weaver
The Thick-billed Weaver or Thick-billed Weaver is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Amblyospiza....
(Amblyospiza albifrons), sparrow
Sparrow
The sparrows are a family of small passerine birds, Passeridae. They are also known as true sparrows, or Old World sparrows, names also used for a genus of the family, Passer...
and buffalo weavers Dideric Cuckoo
Dideric Cuckoo
The Diederik Cuckoo , formerly Dideric Cuckoo or Didric Cuckoo, is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, which also includes the roadrunners, the anis, and the Hoatzin....
(Chrysococcyx caprius), a handsome white cuckoo (Coracina pectoralis) which lays its eggs in weavers nests. More species of birds are: Guinea fowl
Helmeted Guineafowl
The Helmeted Guineafowl is the best known of the guineafowl bird family, Numididae, and the only member of the genus Numida...
(Numida meleagris), black-and-white-chicken-like cuckoo found in North Benin, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus), a large distinctive bird; the Marabou Stork
Marabou Stork
The Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It breeds in Africa south of the Sahara, occurring in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially waste tips...
(Leptoptilos crumeniferus); the crowned crane
Black Crowned Crane
The Black Crowned Crane is a bird in the crane family Gruidae. It was once called also Kaffir Crane.It occurs in dry savannah in Africa south of the Sahara, although in nests in somewhat wetter habitats. There are two subspecies: B. p. pavonina in the west and the more numerous B. p...
(Balearica pavonina), a tall grey-black bird; the Jabiru stork
Saddle-billed Stork
The Saddle-billed Stork is a large wading bird in the stork family, Ciconiidae. It is a widespread species which is a resident breeder in sub-Saharan Africa from Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya south to South Africa, and in The Gambia, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Chad in west Africa.This is a close...
(Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis), a large white bird with black wings. Birds also include puff adder
Puff adder
Puff adder is the common name of several snake species:* Bitis arietans, a venomous snake species found in Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula* Bitis, any other member of this genus...
and mamba
Mamba
Mambas, of the genus Dendroaspis , are a group of highly venomous, fast-moving land-dwelling snakes of Africa. They belong to the family of Elapidae which includes cobras, coral snakes, taipans, brown snakes, tiger snakes, death adders, kraits and, debatably, sea snakes...
.
Raptors
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
are vultures (Gyps
Gyps
The Gyps vultures are a genus of Old World vultures in the bird family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks....
) species found in both parks, which are carion-eating birds. A common sight is the African Fish Eagle
African Fish Eagle
The African Fish Eagle or – to distinguish it from the true fish eagles , the African Sea Eagle – is a large species of eagle that is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa wherever large bodies of open water occur that have an abundant food supply. As a result of its large range, it is known in many...
(Haliaeetus vocifer) species, which is black and white in colour.
Insect
InsectInsect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
species found in Benin include the tsetse fly
Tsetse fly
Tsetse , sometimes spelled tzetze and also known as tik-tik flies, are large biting flies that inhabit much of mid-continental Africa between the Sahara and the Kalahari deserts. They live by feeding on the blood of vertebrate animals and are the primary biological vectors of trypanosomes, which...
and many vectors of epidemic diseases.
Flora
Dense forests are not recorded in Benin. Along the coastal areas coconutCoconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
, palmyra palms, oil palms are seen up to Abomey
Abomey
When UNESCO designated the royal palaces of Abomey as a World Heritage Site in 1985 it statedFrom 1993, 50 of the 56 bas-reliefs that formerly decorated the walls of King Glèlè have been located and replaced on the rebuilt structure...
, where after vegetation is savanna merged with that of Guinea and Sudan. Other tree species noted are ebony
Ebony
Ebony is a dense black wood, most commonly yielded by several species in the genus Diospyros, but ebony may also refer to other heavy, black woods from unrelated species. Ebony is dense enough to sink in water. Its fine texture, and very smooth finish when polished, make it valuable as an...
, shea nut, kapok
Kapok
Ceiba pentandra is a tropical tree of the order Malvales and the family Malvaceae , native to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, northern South America, and to tropical west Africa...
, fromager
Fromager
Fromager is one of the 19 regions of Côte d'Ivoire. The region's capital is Gagnoa. Covering 6,900 km², its population is 679,900.The region is divided into two departments: Gagnoa and Oumé....
, and Senegal mahogany
Mahogany
The name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-colored hardwood. It is a native American word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany....
trees.
The W National Park constitutes the southern limit of tiger bush
Tiger bush
Tiger bush is a patterned vegetation community consisting of alternating bands of trees or shrubs, separated by bare ground or low herb cover, that run roughly parallel to contour lines of equal elevation...
plateau distribution. Riverine and gallery forests are noted on the banks of the Mekrou River (with seasonal flows), and other tributaries of the Niger River. The plains have extensive coverage of grasses. In the savanna woodlands, grassland and stunted savanna woodlands, the plant species recorded are the Terminalia avicennioides
Terminalia (plant)
Terminalia is a genus of large trees of the flowering plant family Combretaceae, comprising around 100 species distributed in tropical regions of the world. This genus gets it name from Latin terminus, referring to the fact that the leaves appear at the very tips of the shoots.Trees of this genus...
, Anogeissus leiocarpus
Anogeissus leiocarpus
Anogeissus leiocarpa is a tall evergreen tree native to savannas of Tropical Africa. It is the sole West African species of the genus Anogeissus, a genus otherwise distributed from tropical central and east Africa through tropical Southeast Asia. A...
, hackberry Clematis integrifolia
Clematis integrifolia
Clematis integrifolia is a flowering vine of the genus Clematis. Like many members of that genus, it is prized by gardeners for its showy flowers....
clematis
Clematis
Clematis is a genus of about 300 species within the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. Their garden hybrids have been popular among gardeners beginning with Clematis × jackmanii, a garden standby since 1862; more hybrid cultivars are being produced constantly. They are mainly of Chinese and Japanese...
, Boscia senegalensis
Boscia senegalensis
Boscia senegalensis or Aizen, is a member of the family Capparaceae. The plant originated from West Africa. Still a traditional food plant in Africa, this little-known fruit has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare.-External...
, Balanites aegyptiaca
Balanites aegyptiaca
Balanites aegyptiaca is a species of tree, classified either as a member of the Zygophyllaceae or the Balanitaceae. This tree is native to much of Africa and parts of the Middle East....
, kapok tree (Bombax costatum
Bombax costatum
Bombax costatum is a tree usually reaching a height of 5 - 15 m. It is flowering in the dry season before the leaves appear.-Distribution:...
), African locust
Locust tree
Locust tree can mean:* Any of a number of tree species in the genera Gleditsia or Robinia* Honey locust, a leguminous tree with pods having a sweet, edible pulp* Black locust, a leguminous tree with toxic pods but useful for making honey...
(Parkia biglobosa
Parkia biglobosa
Parkia biglobosa or Néré is a tree of the genus Parkia in the family Fabaceae. In West Africa, its fruits are fermented to a condiment called "soumbala" or "dawa-dawa"....
), Camel’s Foot Tree
Bauhinia variegata
Bauhinia variegata is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to southeastern Asia, from southern China west to Pakistan and India. Common names include Orchid tree, Camel's Foot Tree and Mountain-ebony...
, Senna reticulata
Senna reticulata
Senna reticulata, the mangerioba grande or maria mole in Portuguese, is a plant species found in South America.It is used in the local folk medicine for liver problems and rheumatism. 1,3,8-Trihydroxyanthraquinone is an organic compound found in alcoholic extracts of the wood of the plant...
, baobab
Baobab
Adansonia is a genus of eight species of tree, six native to Madagascar, one native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and one to Australia. The mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island....
(Adansonia digitata), tamarind
Tamarind
Tamarind is a tree in the family Fabaceae. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic .-Origin:...
(Tamarindus indica), Prosopis africana
Prosopis
Prosopis is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae. It contains around 45 species of spiny trees and shrubs found in subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas, Africa, Western Asia, and South Asia. They often thrive in arid soil and are resistant to drought, on occasion...
, (Piliostigma reticulatum
West African Giraffe
The West African Giraffe, Niger Giraffe or Nigerian Giraffe is a subspecies of giraffe distinguished by its light colored spots, which is found in the Sahel regions of West Africa...
). In the evergreen gallery forests, sausage tree, (Kigelia africana
Kigelia
Kigelia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae. The genus comprises only one species, Kigelia africana, which occurs throughout tropical Africa from Eritrea and Chad south to northern South Africa, and west to Senegal and Namibia.-Etymology:The genus name comes from the...
) and African mahogany
Afzelia
Afzelia is a genus in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae of the family Fabaceae . The thirteen species all are trees, native to tropical Africa or Asia.- Uses :...
(Khaya senegalensis) are found. Orchid species recorded are the Eulophia cucculata
Eulophia
The genus Eulophia, which also constitutes the monogeneric alliance Eulophia, includes 210 species of orchids. It was first described by John Lindley in 1821. The name "Eulophia" was derived from the Greek words "eu" and "lophos" , referring to the crested ridges of the labellum in most species...
and Eulophia guineensis
Eulophia guineensis
Eulophia guineensis is a species of orchid. It is the type species of the genus Eulophia. It is found in the Cape Verde islands, tropical Africa and the Arabian Peninsula....
.
The Pendjari park consists of; grasslands which have no trees or shrubs; shrub lands which are fully covered by grass; Arborous savanna vegetation; wooded savanna formations with contiherbaceous layer but with no undergrowth; forests along the river, thin forests with plenty of trees of size of 8–16 m; and gallery forests which are dense with shrubs. The rocky cliffs of the Pendjari National Park are sparsely wooded. The Volta depression has savanna ecosystem with woodlands and rare species such as Burkea africana
Burkea africana
Burkea africana Hook. f. is a deciduous, medium-sized, spreading, flat-topped tree belonging to the family Caesalpiniaceae.Widespread in tropical Africa, it is found in Chad, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Zaire, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Mali,...
, Anogeissus leiocarpus
Anogeissus leiocarpus
Anogeissus leiocarpa is a tall evergreen tree native to savannas of Tropical Africa. It is the sole West African species of the genus Anogeissus, a genus otherwise distributed from tropical central and east Africa through tropical Southeast Asia. A...
, Pterocarpus erinaceus
Pterocarpus erinaceus
The tree Pterocarpus erinaceus is native to Sahelian region of West Africa and is used for fuel wood, for medicinal purposes, as a woodworking material, and that is useful as a nitrogen-fixing plant that helps to improve nutrient-depleted farming land...
, Detarium microcarpum
Detarium
Detarium is a plant genus of the family Fabaceae . It contains 3 species of tree in west African forests.The genus produces timber that may serve as a mahogany substitute. The fruit is edible.-References :...
, Lannea acida, Sterculia setigera, Combretum ghasalense and Acacia
Acacia
Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1773. Many non-Australian species tend to be thorny, whereas the majority of Australian acacias are not...
spp. On the deep soils of some of the summits and the Atakora escarpment one finds a greater variety of plant species with Isoberlinia doka
Isoberlinia doka
Isoberlinia doka is a hardwood tree native to African tropical savannas and Guinean forest-savanna mosaic dry forests where it can form single species stands. The tree is exploited for its economic value as a commercial timber. The leaves and shoots of the tree dominate the diet of the Giant...
and Afzelia africana
Afzelia africana
Afzelia africana is a tree species in the Fabaceae family. It occurs in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan,...
. The Pendjari River has an impressive gallery forest
Gallery forest
Gallery forests are evergreen forests that form as corridors along rivers or wetlands and project into landscapes that are otherwise only sparsely treed such as savannas, grasslands or deserts....
and river forest. The park includes both Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and North Guinea savannas, with areas of grassland dominated by Acacia sieberiana
Acacia sieberiana
Acacia sieberiana is a perennial tree native to Africa and introduced into Pakistan. It is known in South Africa as the Paperbark Thorn.This tree grows 3–25 m in height, with a trunk diameter of 0.6–1.8 m....
and Terminalia macroptera
Terminalia (plant)
Terminalia is a genus of large trees of the flowering plant family Combretaceae, comprising around 100 species distributed in tropical regions of the world. This genus gets it name from Latin terminus, referring to the fact that the leaves appear at the very tips of the shoots.Trees of this genus...
.
The most common species found in the "riparian forests" are: Pterocarpus santalinoides
Pterocarpus santalinoides
Pterocarpus santalinoides is a tree species in the legume family ; it is locally known as mututi.It has a remarkable bi-continental distribution, native to tropical western Africa and also to South America Pterocarpus santalinoides is a tree species in the legume family (biology) (Fabaceae); it...
(Papilionaceae), Cola laurifolia (Sterculiaceae
Sterculiaceae
Sterculiaceae is a botanical name for a group of flowering plants at the rank of family, which is now considered obsolete. As is true for any botanical name, the circumscription, status and placement of the taxon has varied with taxonomic point of view...
) and Syzygium guineense (Myrtaceae
Myrtaceae
The Myrtaceae or Myrtle family are a family of dicotyledon plants, placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, clove, guava, feijoa, allspice, and eucalyptus belong here. All species are woody, with essential oils, and flower parts in multiples of four or five...
), out of which a few species are endemic and valuable.
Herbal cure
Malaria, which is a virulent disease in Benin as in the rest of Africa, is treated by alternative medicines. The alternative treatment locally practiced in southern Benin is based on several plant species that are extracted and administered orally. Such extracts are also used for bathing. Plant species listed for treatment are 85, which are used to make 35 mixtures for treatment.
Botanical garden
The phytodiversity of Western Africa is being preserved at the Papatia Botanical Garden
Papatia Botanical Garden
The Botanic Garden of Papatia is located in Papatia, Sina-Issire, Northern Benin. Founded in 2001, it was the first garden created in Northern Benin. It was created by the local Fula people, a traditionally semi-nomadic ethnicity, support was provided by an NGO, the Goethe University Frankfurt and...
in northern Benin. This garden, which is spread over an area of 12 ha, is a species-rich savanna area where an inventory of hundred woody plants and several hundred of herbaceous species has been maintained. A tree-nursery is part of this garden created to increase rare species.