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Endemic Species of the Albertine Rift
An 'Endemic Species' is one that is only found in a particular region and nowhere else in the world. Since these species are not widespread and may be confined to only one or two protected areas, they are of great conservation concern.
The Albertine Rift has more endemic species of vertebrate than any other region of mainland Africa. Until recently, complete lists of endemic species had not existed. WCS has been working with other scientists and conservation organizations to complete these lists presented here for each taxon (Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Butterflies) we have managed to compile data for:
Mammals
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L'hoest's Guenon | 34 species of endemic mammal are found in the Rift. Many of these are small mammals such as shrews, rats and bats. A few of the larger ones include the Rwenzori duiker (Cephalophus rubidus), which only occurs at high altitudes in the Rwenzori massif, and the Golden monkey (Cercopithecus kandti) which is confined to the Virunga Volcanoes. The Mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei) is an endemic subspecies. A few larger mammals are near-endemic species, such as Grauer's gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) and L'hoest's guenon (Cercopithecus l'hoesti). Click here for our latest survey list.
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Rwenzori double-collared sunbird |
Birds
A total of 41 species of bird are endemic to the Albertine Rift. This list combines two of Birdlife International's endemic bird areas (Albertine Rift and Eastern Zairean Lowlands) because there is overlap in the distribution of some of these species. Click here for our latest survey list.
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Johnson's Chameleon |
Reptiles
Sixteen reptile species have been classified as endemic to the Albertine Rift with a further three near-endemic. Seven of these are Chamaeleons and six Skinks. Few snakes are endemic to this region. Click here for our latest survey list.
Amphibians
At least 34 amphibians are endemic to the Albertine Rift with a further three near-endemic. Many of these species have some form of IUCN classification as they are considered threatened or little is known about their distribution. Click here for our latest survey list.
Butterflies
A total of 117 endemic butterfly species have been identified and published as a butterfly checklist by Dr Tim Davenport, a WCS researcher in Tanzania. This list is the first to attempt to define endemic butterflies in the Albertine Rift. Click here for the latest survey list.
Dragonflies
A list of endemic dragonflies for the Albertine Rift has been created by Klaas-Douwe B. Dijkstra (Gortestraat 11, 2311 MS Leiden, The Netherland) – his summary is given here:
Thirteen species are endemic to the Albertine Rift (AR). A number of species have been recorded further east into Uganda (→EU), sometimes as far as Kakamega or Mt Elgon in western Kenya (→WK), or in the adjacent northeastern or southeastern DRC (→ND/SD). These fourteen species are listed as near endemics (NE). Those that have been found in adjacent areas on both sides of the AR are not included, although they do occur in the region (40 species altogether, including the (near) endemics). For reference, Uganda has about 230 species in total. Four AR/NE species are undescribed; one was only described in 2004. Many of the species are only known from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) but this has been one of the more intensively studied forests. As only Uganda has been fairly well studied in the Albertine Rift, this suggests that known species will be found in more AR forests and also that new ones will be discovered. The IUCN classifications are preliminary and may change slightly in the forthcoming Red List.
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Family |
Species |
IUCN |
AR |
Range in AR and beyond |
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Chlorocyphidae |
Chlorocypha hasta Pinhey, 1960 |
DD |
AR |
Mahale |
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Chlorocyphidae |
Chlorocypha jacksoni Pinhey, 1952 |
VU |
AR |
BINP, eastern DRC |
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Chlorocyphidae |
Chlorocypha molindica Fraser, 1948 |
EN |
AR |
BINP, Kalinzu, Ituri |
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Chlorocyphidae |
Chlorocypha schmidti Pinhey, 1967 |
EN |
AR |
eastern DRC |
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Chlorocyphidae |
Chlorocypha tenuis Longfield, 1936 |
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NE |
widespread |
→WK |
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Chlorocyphidae |
Platycypha pinheyi Fraser, 1950 |
CR |
AR |
around northern end Lake Tanganyika |
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Platycnemididae |
Chlorocnemis superba Schmidt, 1951 |
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NE |
widespread |
→EU |
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Coenagrionidae |
Africallagma pseudelongatum (Longfield, 1936) |
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NE |
widespread |
→WK |
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Coenagrionidae |
Agriocnemis palaeforma Pinhey, 1959 |
NT |
NE |
BINP |
→EU |
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Coenagrionidae |
Pseudagrion rufocinctum Pinhey, 1956 |
VU |
NE |
BINP, Ituri, Irangi |
→EU |
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Gomphidae |
Neurogomphus wittei Schouteden, 1934 |
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AR |
Lake Tanganyika |
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Gomphidae |
Notogomphus flavifrons Fraser, 1952 |
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AR |
BINP |
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Gomphidae |
Notogomphus lujai (Schouteden, 1934) |
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NE |
widespread |
→WK |
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Gomphidae |
Notogomphus sp. n. near leroyi (Schouteden, 1934) |
DD |
AR |
BINP |
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Gomphidae |
Onychogomphus bwambae Pinhey, 1961 |
DD |
AR |
Semliki Valley |
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Gomphidae |
Onychogomphus styx Pinhey, 1961 |
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NE |
widespread |
→WK |
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Gomphidae |
Paragomphus lacustris (Karsch, 1890) |
DD |
NE |
Lake Tanganyika |
→ND/SD |
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Gomphidae |
Paragomphus viridior Pinhey, 1961 |
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NE |
widespread |
→WK |
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Corduliidae |
Idomacromia jillianae Dijkstra & Kisakye, 2004 |
VU |
AR |
BINP |
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Libellulidae |
Atoconeura eudoxia (Kirby, 1909) |
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NE |
widespread |
→WK |
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Libellulidae |
Atoconeura pseudeudoxia Longfield, 1953 |
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NE |
widespread |
→SD |
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Libellulidae |
Neodythemis sp. n. 1 near gorillae Pinhey, 1961 |
DD |
AR |
BINP |
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Libellulidae |
Neodythemis sp. n. 2 near gorillae Pinhey, 1961 |
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AR |
Nyungwe |
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Libellulidae |
Tetrathemis corduliformis Longfield, 1936 |
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NE |
Budongo, Rutshuru |
→WK |
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Libellulidae |
Tetrathemis denticauda Fraser, 1954 |
EN |
NE |
“Fort Portal” |
→ND |
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Libellulidae |
Tetrathemis ruwensoriensis Fraser, 1941 |
CR |
AR |
Ruwenzori |
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Libellulidae |
Trithemis sp. n. near basitincta Ris, 1912 |
NT |
NE |
Mahale, Budongo |
→EU |
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