Upper Guinea BioProvince

This BioProvince (as defined by Armen Takhtajan) stretches along the Atlantic coast of Africa from southwestern Gambia to eastern Ghana as far as about zero degrees longitude. The tropical climate means that low temperatures, frost or snow are unknown, and the southwestern area, which comes under the influence of the moisture laden South-West Monsoon, receives year round rainfall. Northern territories, on the other hand, experience a distinct dry season mainly because of the influence of the dry Saharan wind known as the harmattan. Granites, gneisses, quartz and schists and occasional metamorphic rocks make up much of the ancient bedrock geology some of which has been dated to the Precambrian period. The extremely rich flora has many endemic genera including Dinkladeodoxa, Habropetalum, Maschalocephalus (the only Old World genus of the American family Rapateaceae) and a multitude of endemic species including Pitcairnia felicina (the only Old World species of the American family Bromeliaceae).

The following accounts for this BioProvince have been written or will be written with particular reference to endemic and locally important species. Accounts available are displayed in green or yellow. Those displayed in red are either in the pipeline or awaiting expert contributions.

 

Index
Major Ecosystems
Endemic Vascular Plant Flora
Bryophyte Flora
Fungus Flora
Lichen Flora
Invertebrate Fauna
Amphibian Fauna
Reptile Fauna
Bird Fauna
Mammal Fauna
Conservation Status