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Kakamega Forest
Kakamega Forest is a tropical rainforest situated in the Kakamega County, Kakamega, Vihiga County, Vihiga, and Nandi_County, Nandi counties of Kenya, northwest of the capital Nairobi, and near the border with Uganda. It is Kenya's only tropical rainforest and is said to be Kenya's last remnant of the ancient Guineo-Congolian region, Guineo-Congolian rainforest that once spanned the continent. Geography The forest lies on undulating terrain, mostly between 1500 and 1600 meters elevation. It is in the watershed of the Isiukhu and Yala River, Yala rivers, which originate on the Nandi Escarpment to the east and flow westwards through the forest before emptying into Lake Victoria. The forest including reserves encloses about 238 square kilometers, a little less than half of which currently remains as indigenous forest. In the north of the forest is the Kakamega National Reserve, given national forest reserve status in 1985. Just to the north is the Kisere Forest Reserve. Throughout ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kakamega Forest View
Kakamega is a town in western Kenya lying about 30 km north of the Equator. It is the headquarters of Kakamega County that has a population of 1,867,579 (2019 census). The town has an urban population of 107,227 (2019 census). Kakamega is 52 km north of Kisumu, and considered the heart of Luhya land. The average elevation of Kakamega is 1,535 metres. The county has 12 constituencies in total, namely Butere, Mumias East, Mumias West, Matungu, Khwisero, Shinyalu, Lurambi, ikolomani, Lugari, Malava, Navakholo and Likuyani. Naming Kakamega was so named because the word "kakamega" translates roughly to "pinch" in Luhya, a tribe occupying the region, which was used to describe how European colonists would eat the staple food, ugali. It is often told that Kakamega derives its modern name from the local dialect. The story goes that when European settlers first visited the area now known as Kakamega and were offered maize meal, the local staple food called Obusuma, and the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Victoria Basin Forest-savanna Mosaic
Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capital city of the Seychelles * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of victory Victoria may also refer to: Animals and plants * ''Victoria'' (moth), a moth genus in the family Geometridae * ''Victoria'' (plant), a waterlily genus in the family Nymphaeaceae * Victoria plum, a plum cultivar * Victoria (goose), the first goose to receive a prosthetic 3D printed beak * Victoria (grape), another name for the German/Italian wine grape Trollinger Arts and entertainment Films * ''Victoria'', a Russian 1917 silent film directed by Olga Preobrazhenskaya, based on the Knut Hamsun novel * ''Victoria'' (1935 film), a German film * ''Victoria'' (1972 film), a Mexican film based on Henry James' 1880 novel ''Washington Square'' * ''Victori ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
African Clawless Otter
The African clawless otter (''Aonyx capensis''), also known as the Cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second-largest freshwater otter species. It inhabits permanent water bodies in savannah and lowland forest areas through most of sub-Saharan Africa. It is characterised by partly webbed and clawless feet, from which their name is derived. The word 'aonyx' means clawless, derived from the prefix a- ("without") and onyx ("claw/hoof"). Taxonomy ''Aonyx capensis'' is a member of the weasel family (Mustelidae) and of the order Carnivora. The earliest known species of otter, '' Potamotherium valetoni'', occurred in the upper Oligocene of Europe: ''A. capensis'' first appears in the fossil record during the Pleistocene. ''Aonyx'' is closely related to the extinct giant Sardinian otter, ''Megalenhydris''. Subspecies ''Mammal Species of the World'' lists six subspecies of the African clawless otter: * '' A. c. capensis'' (Schinz, 1821) * ''A. c. hindei'' (Thomas, 1905) * ''A. c. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cape Bushbuck
The Cape bushbuck (''Tragelaphus sylvaticus''), also known as imbabala is a common, medium-sized bushland-dwelling, and a widespread species of antelope in sub-Saharan Africa. It is found in a wide range of habitats, such as rain forests, montane forests, forest-savanna mosaic, savanna, bushveld, and woodland. It stands around at the shoulder and weigh from . They are generally solitary, territorial Browsing_(herbivory), browsers. Taxonomy The taxonomy of bushbuck, and of the Tragelaphini tribe in general, has been contested. Bushbuck have been fractured into over 40 subspecies in the past. mtDNA profiles of a large number of samples were resolved in 2009 as belonging to 19 groups, some corresponding to previously described subspecies, while others were previously unrecognised and remained unnamed. These groups were then organised into two taxon, taxa - a Nominate subspecies, nominate northern subspecies (''T. s. scriptus'') and a southern subspecies ''T. s. sylvaticus''. In the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Duikers
A duiker is a small to medium-sized brown antelope native to sub-Saharan Africa, found in heavily wooded areas. The 22 extant species, including three sometimes considered to be subspecies of the other species, form the subfamily Cephalophinae or the tribe Cephalophini. Taxonomy and phylogeny The tribe Cephalophini (formerly the subfamily Cephalophinae) comprises three genera and 22 species, three of which are sometimes considered to be subspecies of the other species. The three genera include '' Cephalophus'' (15 species and three disputed taxa), '' Philantomba'' (three species), and '' Sylvicapra'' (one species). The subfamily was first described by British zoologist John Edward Gray in 1871 in '' Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London''. The scientific name "Cephalophinae" probably comes from the combination of the New Latin word ''cephal'', meaning head, and the Greek word ''lophos'', meaning crest. The three disputed species in ''Cephalophus'' are Brooke's du ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bush Pig
:''"Bush pig" may also refer to the red river hog.'' The bushpig (''Potamochoerus larvatus'') is a member of the pig family that inhabits forests, woodland, riverine vegetation and cultivated areas in East and Southern Africa. Probably introduced populations are also present in Madagascar. There have also been unverified reports of their presence on the Comoro island of Mayotte. Bushpigs are mainly nocturnal. There are several subspecies. The vernacular name 'bushpig' may be used for either '' Potamochoerus'' species. Description Adult bushpigs stand from at the shoulder, and mature boars can reach a weight of , although is more common. Sows are . They resemble the domestic pig, and can be identified by their pointed, tufted ears and face mask. Bushpigs vary in hair colour and skin colour over their range, southern ''koiropotamus'' and ''nyasae'' populations are dark reddish, sometimes almost black. The coat colour darkens with age. Their heads have a 'face mask' with a c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill
The black-and-white-casqued hornbill (''Bycanistes subcylindricus''), also known as the grey-cheeked hornbill, is a large black and white hornbill. It has an oversized blackish bill with a large casque on top. The female is slightly smaller than the male and has a significantly smaller casque. It is a monogamous species, and pairs nest in suitable tree cavities. The female usually lays up to two eggs. The diet consists mainly of figs, fruits, insects and small animals found in the trees. Widespread and still locally common, the black-and-white-casqued hornbill is assessed as least concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Taxonomy ''Bycanistes subcylindricus'' is part of the ''Bycanistes'' genus of sub-Saharian hornbills which currently include a total of six known species that all share a black and white plummage and are mostly frugivores. This genus has recently been related to the '' Bucorvus'' genus, known as Ground Hornbills. Most of the species in that genus ha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Great Blue Turaco
The great blue turaco (''Corythaeola cristata'') is a bird species of the family Musophagidae. At in length, it is the largest species of turaco. It has predominantly grey-blue plumage with an upright blue-black crest around high. The male and female have similar plumage. It is widespread throughout the African tropical rainforest. Taxonomy French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot described the great blue turaco as ''Musophaga cristata'' in 1816, before German ornithologist Ferdinand Heine placed it in its own genus in 1860. The great blue turaco is the sole member of the subfamily Corythaeolinae within the turaco family. Its closest relatives are the go-away birds and plantain eaters of the genus '' Crinifer''. The common ancestor of both diverged from the ancestor of all other turaco species. "Great blue turaco" has been designated the official common name by the International Ornithologists' Union (IOC). It is also called blue plantain eater. Description Generally, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Orchids
Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Orchids are cosmopolitan plants that are found in almost every habitat on Earth except glaciers. The world's richest diversity of orchid genera and species is in the tropics. Orchidaceae is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, the other being the Asteraceae. It contains about 28,000 currently accepted species in 702 genera. The Orchidaceae family encompasses about 6–11% of all species of seed plants. The largest genera are ''Bulbophyllum'' (2,000 species), ''Epidendrum'' (1,500 species), ''Dendrobium'' (1,400 species) and '' Pleurothallis'' (1,000 species). It also includes ''Vanilla'' (the genus of the vanilla plant), the type genus '' Orchis'', and many commonly cultivated plants such as '' Phalaenopsis'' and '' Cattleya''. Moreover, since the introduction of tropical species into cultivation ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aningeria Altissima
''Aningeria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Sapotaceae. The genus includes five species of trees which range across tropical Africa, from Guinea Bissau eastwards to Ethiopia and Kenya, and from South Sudan south to Zimbabwe.''Aningeria'' Aubrév. & Pellegr. ''''. Retrieved 6 June 2023. Species of ''Aningeria'' are sources of the wood anigre, which is used for and light carpentry. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Croton (plant)
''Croton'' is an extensive plant genus in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. The plants of this genus were described and introduced to Europeans by Georg Eberhard Rumphius. The common names for this genus are rushfoil and croton, but the latter also refers to '' Codiaeum variegatum''. The generic name comes from the Greek ('), which means "tick" and refers to the shape of the seeds of certain species. Description ''Croton'' is a diverse and complex taxonomic group of plants ranging from herbs and shrubs to trees. A well-known member of this genus is '' Croton tiglium'', a shrub native to Southeast Asia. It was first mentioned in European literature by Cristóbal Acosta in 1578 as "". The oil, used in herbal medicine as a violent purgative, is extracted from its seeds. Currently, it is considered unsafe and it is no longer listed in the pharmacopeia of many countries. Taxonomy Uses Food uses Cascarilla ('' C. eluteria'') bark is used to flavour the liquors Campari and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White Stinkwood
''Celtis africana'', the white stinkwood, is a deciduous tree in the family Cannabaceae. Its habit ranges from a tall tree in forest to a medium-sized tree in bushveld and open country, and a shrub on rocky soil. It occurs in Yemen and Somaliland and over large parts of Africa south of the Sahara. It is a common tree in the south and east of southern Africa, where the odour given off by freshly-cut green timber is similar to that of ''Ocotea bullata'' or black stinkwood. Description Habit Growing as an individual tree in the open and under favourable conditions, ''Celtis africana'' becomes a tree of medium height, typically up to 12 m or so. It then usually forms a dense, hemispherical canopy. The bole of a mature tree then is thick and buttressed, often forked fairly near the ground. In forest it may grow up to 25 m tall, with a single, clean bole, though such large specimens usually are more or less buttressed too. In an exposed, rocky position it may be a bonsai-like sm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
