Fauna in Guinea-Bissau

Bird species

Guinea-Bissau is one of the most important centers in the world for bird watching activity. There are more than 370 species of birds in the country, among which stand out the terers (Sterna maxima and Sterna cospia), the grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus), the flamingos, pelicans, the African spoonful (Platalea alba), the black gaivinas (Chlidonias niger), the geese (Auritus De Nettapus and Plec- tropterus Gambens), the yellow-crested calas (Cockatoo galerita), the co brown-back sparrow (Eremopterix leucotis), the striated swallow (Cecropis abyssinica) and the chasco (Oenanthe heuglini). The Cufada Lagoons and the Cacheu area are especially rich in bird varieties.

Fauna

In the largest mangrove in West Africa, the Natural Park of the Tarrafes of the Cacheu River, one can find an exuberant faunal diversity, being among its most common species: the crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus); the African Python (Python sebae), called in this region of blind iran; the Gambian squirrel (Heliosciurus gambianus); the painted gazelle (Tragelaphus scriptus); mongoose (Herpestes paludinosus); the black bush pig (Phacochoerus aethiopicus africanus). Because it is an estuary (where there is a transition between a river and the sea), shrimps are born and grow in this locality. Among aquatic species of this region, one can find: catfish; carp; barracuda (Psittacus); corvina (Cilus gilberti); (Mugil cephalus).

The famous marine hippos (Hippopotamus amphibius) live in the mangroves of the island of Orango, which is part of the Bijagós Archipelago. During the dry season, these hippos spend the day in freshwater lagoons and at dusk move out to sea to get rid of parasites. In this place, lives the only colony of marine hippos that have records. There are other places in the world where hippos live in the sea and fresh water at the same time, but only in this place, hippos live permanently in the sea, needing fresh water just to drink. These animals are sacred to the bijagó community. On this same island, you can also find some species of turtles that make there their soning, crocodiles, the green monkey, the painted gazelle, manatees, otters and even dolphins.

The maritime extension of the Bijagós Archipelago is 10,000 km² and the seas surrounding its islands are not very deep, but its waters are rich in different aquatic animals, among them: sharks, rays, mountain fish, cape otters (Aonyx capensis), crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus and C. tetraspis), and up to four species of sea turtles. The Island of Poilão is the main sow area of the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) throughout the African continent.

In Guinea-Bissau there are some species of animals that are considered rare, such as the Fidalgo Monkey (Colobus polykomos polykomos) and the Bijagó Monkey or White Nose (Cercopithecus nictitans), several carnivorous species, such as the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), and several rodents, such as the flying squirrel (Finiusciurus becrofyi). Among endangered animals, one can mention the manatees of the species Trichechus senegalensis and the timneh parrot of the species Psittacus timneh.