Tag Archives: Africa

Timbuktu

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Timbuktu

Timbuktu is just that place way over there. Where? Somewhere far away.

  • Timbuktu is a city located on the sands of the Sahara Desert in Mali, north-west Africa, and in 2009, it had a population of nearly 54,500 individuals.
  • ‘Tombouctou’ is the French spelling for ‘Timbuktu’, and other spellings have included ‘Timbuktoo’ and ‘Timbuctoo’, and due to the mythical and mysterious way it has been portrayed in literature, many people do not believe the place exists.
  • Timbuktu is a place of cultural and spiritual significance, as it was a popular trading centre for ivory, gold, salt and slaves, as well as a major hub for Islam and education in its peak during the 1400s and 1500s, and during that time it had about 100,000 inhabitants, a quarter of which were students.
  • The UNESCO World Heritage Convention designated Timbuktu as a World Heritage Site in 1988 after originally being turned down in 1979, and it has been on the List of World Heritage in Danger more than once.
  • Evidence of groups of people living in the area of Timbuktu around 400 BC have been discovered, and people settling more permanently in the area was likely to be around the 1100s.

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Part of Timbuktu
Image courtesy of Jeanne Menj/Flickr
  • Timbuktu has been captured and lived in by a variety of people groups, including the Mali from the early 1300s to 1400s, the Songhai from the late 1400s to late 1500s, and the Arma from the early 1600s to 1800s.
  • The French discovered and subsequently conquered Timbuktu in 1893, known primarily as ‘French Sudan’, during the small French invasion, and the city later became independent as part of the Mali community in 1960.
  • Timbuktu is constantly hammered by both extremes of disasters – droughts and floods, which, in combination with other events, has led to the city’s poor nature.
  • Due to Timbuktu’s heritage, it is home to historically important mosques and mausoleums, as well as between 100,000 and 700,000 historic manuscripts.
  • Visitor numbers to Timbuktu have decreased over the years due to a number of terrorist attacks on tourists there in recent times, and the city, including some of its significant monuments have been under threat or destroyed due to religious attacks in the area.
Bibliography:
Timbuktu, 2015, UNESCO World Heritage Convention, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/119
Timbuktu, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timbuktu

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Okavango Delta

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Okavango Delta

Okavango Delta is worth its weight in gold.

  • Okavango Delta is a lush delta that is listed as one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders, located in Botswana in southern Africa, and it has no outflow to the ocean.
  • Okavango River flows into the Okavango Delta, and each year the delta is fed by the flooded river, and 60% of the 1.1 × 10¹³ litres (11 kilometres cubed or 2.6 cubic miles) of the water is transpired through plants, while 36% evaporates.
  • Habitats of Okavango Delta include grasslands, swamps, forests and lagoons, with the lowest and highest points of elevation sporting a difference of only 2 metres (6.6 feet).
  • Constant flooding and termite nest building have contributed to the numerous islands found in the Okavango Delta, while the biggest is Chief’s Island, although it was formed through movement of the earth due to a fault line.
  • The UNESCO World Heritage Convention designated Okavango Delta a World Heritage Site in 2014, and it was the 1000th site to be listed.

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Okavango Delta
Image courtesy of Justin Hall/Flickr
  • Salt accumulates on the islands in the Okavango Delta around plant roots, and in some areas on the islands the soil has become too infused with salt so that vegetation is unable to grow.
  • Countless species of wildlife, some of which are endangered, favour the Okavango Delta, including catfish, giraffes, baboons, elephants, hyenas, large cat species, antelopes, rhinoceroses, buffalo, tigerfish and lechwe, the latter boasting the most population in the area of any species.
  • Five primary tribes make up the native people of the Okavango Delta, and they use the area for fishing, crops and hunting.
  • Multiple reserves have been initiated to protect the diverse ecosystem of Okavango Delta, including the Moremi Game Reserve, and the delta has in excess of a thousand plant species.
  • Okavango Delta, also known as ‘Okavango Grassland’, is of great size, and has an area that covers more than 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 square miles).
Bibliography:
Okavango Delta, 2015, UNESCO World Heritage Convention,  http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1432
Okavango Delta, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okavango_Delta
Okavango Delta, n.d, Okavango Delta, http://www.okavangodelta.com/
Powers L, Okavanga Delta – Part 2, 2009, Africa Bespoke Blog, http://blog.africabespoke.com/okavango-delta-part-2/

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Goliath Frog

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Goliath Frog

No need to listen for goliath frogs – they’re big enough to see!

  • Goliath frogs are the biggest extant frogs in the world and they are native to specific sandy rivers in Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon in West Africa.
  • The scientific name of a goliath frog is Conraua goliath, and it is from the Conrauidae family, the family of slippery frogs.
  • Goliath frogs grow to sizes of 17 to 32 centimetres (6.7 to 12.6 inches) and range from 0.6 to 3.3 kilograms (1.3 to 7.3 pounds) in weight.
  • Goliath frogs feature webbed feet, and they can leap a distance of up to 3 metres (10 feet).
  • The diet of goliath frogs includes Dicraeia warmingii – vegetation that grows in water and is eaten by the tadpoles, while the frog eats insects, worms, small amphibians, crabs and other crustaceans, turtles, fish, and snakes.
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Goliath Frog
Image courtesy of Peter Linehan/Flickr
  • ‘Goliath frogs’ are also known as ‘giant slippery frogs’, though they should not be confused with Conraua robusta, the ‘Cameroon slippery frog’.
  • Due to the absence of a vocal sac, goliath frogs cannot create typical noises, although they do produce a whistle, and they are said to have extensive hearing.
  • The skin on the top side of goliath frogs is a dark shade of green in colour, while the belly is generally a greenish-yellow colour.
  • Many hundreds of eggs are produced by a female goliath frog at one time, and they are laid in vegetation in nearby water, while the eggs and tadpoles that develop are of similar size to other species.
  • Goliath frogs are classified as endangered due to the threats of illegal trade, hunting for eating, and habitat loss.
Bibliography:
Goliath Frog (Conrava Goliath), n.d, Wildscreen Arkive, http://www.arkive.org/goliath-frog/conraua-goliath/
Goliath Frog, 2015, San Diego Zoo, http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/goliath-frog
Goliath Frog, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goliath_frog
Khandelwal S, Conraua goliath, 2008, Animal Diversity, http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Conraua_goliath

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Cichlid

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Cichlid

Cichlids are cute little fish with a vicious appetite.

  • Cichlids are a family of fish, of small to medium size, with in excess of 1600 discovered species out of the estimated 2000 to 3000 in total.
  • The scientific name of a cichlid is Cichlidae, and it is from the suborder Labroidei, the suborder that also includes wrasses, surfperches and damselfish, among others.
  • Cichlids are found in freshwater regions in many countries across the globe, and they are native primarily to South America, southern North America and Africa, and some are also found in certain areas in Asia.
  • The size of cichlids ranges quite widely among species, from 2.5 to 100 centimetres (1 to 39.4 inches).
  • Cichlids are popularly kept in aquariums as pets, with many different hybrids bred specifically for the pet industry.
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A Cichlid
Image courtesy of Marcell Sigg/Flickr
  • The diet of cichlids, depending on the species, consists primarily of plants, fish – even from the same family, algae, parasites and insect larvae.
  • Cichlids are often fished as a sport, and some species are mass-bred for commercial reasons, commonly for food or as pets.
  • The colours of cichlids range from black, yellow, orange, green, blue, red, silver or white, and they are commonly patterned in their colouring.
  • An average of 200 eggs is produced by a female cichlid at one time, and the fry are generally cared for by both parents until the babies are capable of swimming alone.
  • Cichlids typically live to be 5 to 60 years of age; and fellow fish, eels, birds and humans are common predators.
Bibliography:
Cichlid, 2015, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/cichlid/
Cichlid, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cichlid

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Grandidier’s Baobab

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Grandidier’s Baobab

Grandidier’s baobab is surely quite grand.

  • Grandidier’s baobabs, also known as ‘giant baobabs’ and ‘reniala’ or ‘renala’ (which means ‘mother of the forest’ in the local language), are very tall trees that are native only to the island of Madagascar in Africa.
  • The scientific name of Grandidier’s baobab is Adansonia grandidieri, and it is from the family Malvaceae, the family of mallows.
  • Grandidier’s baobabs typically grow to heights of 25 to 30 metres (80 to 100 feet), with a trunk averaging around 3 metres (10 feet) in diameter, and most or all of the branches and foliage sit at the top of the tree, thus accentuating the trunk.
  • Grandidier’s baobab trees usually bloom in the months of May to August, and produce edible fruit that ripens during November and December, while the tree usually has leaves only in the wet season, from October to May.
  • The trunk of Grandidier’s baobabs is large and cylindrical; red-grey in colour; and the thick bark has a smooth texture.

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Grandidier’s Baobab
Image courtesy of Frank Vassen/Flickr
  • The large flowers of Grandidier’s baobabs have numerous stamens; white-coloured petals that open only during the night; and the petals turn yellow as they age.
  • A Grandidier’s baobab tree can store large quantities of water in its trunk, which swells according to content; and the bark of the tree is useful for making ropes while oil can be obtained from the seeds, and the fruit and seeds are commonly eaten.
  • Grandidier’s baobabs are endangered due to land clearing for agriculture purposes, and as a result of habitat changes, the species has had difficulty reproducing.
  • Grandidier’s baobabs have flowers that are pollinated by insects and lemurs, and the blooms are said to release an odour of sour watermelon.
  • The scientific name of a Grandidier’s baobab is derived from Frenchman Alfred Grandidier, a botanist and explorer from the 1800s, who studied the island of Madagascar over a number of years.
Bibliography:
Adansonia grandidieri, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia_grandidieri
Adansonia grandidieri Baill, n.d, PROTA4U, http://www.prota4u.info/protav8.asp?h=M4&t=Adansonia,Grandidieri&p=Adansonia+grandidieri
Andansonia Grandidiera Seeds (Giant Baobab), n.d, Rare Exotic Seeds, http://www.rarexoticseeds.com/en/adansonia-grandidieri-seeds-giant-baobab-seeds.html

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Jackal

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Jackal

Go Egyptian with jackals.

  • Jackals are mammals that are native to southwestern Asia, southeastern Europe and Africa.
  • The jackal term covers three species: the ‘black-backed’ – Canis mesomelas; the ‘golden’ – Canis aureus; and the ‘side-striped’ – Canis adustus, all belonging to the Canis genus, and they are from the family Canidae, the family of dogs.
  • Jackals grow to be 38 to 51 centimetres (15 to 20 inches) in height, up to 81 cm (32 inches) in length, and generally weigh between 6 to 14 kilograms (13 to 31 pounds).
  • The fur of a jackal’s body is generally coloured a combination of brown, tan, grey and white, while the golden species is usually mostly a golden brown colour; and the black-backed and the side-striped have black or dark coloured markings on either their back or sides respectively.
  • Jackals may gather in groups of up to 30, hunting as packs, although they often live by themselves or as a pair, in a lifelong partnership with the opposite sex.
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Black-backed Jackal
Image courtesy of Åsa Berndtsson/Flickr
  • The habitat of jackals is primarily wooded areas or grassy plains, depending on the species, and they preyed upon by eagles, leopards and hyenas.
  • The diet of jackals is primarily carnivorous, often consisting of reptiles, antelopes, birds and insects, as well as the occasional plant.
  • Jackals mark their territory with their own body waste, to indicate to fellow animals that they are not permitted to enter their zone, and violations typically result in attacks.
  • Female jackals have litters of between two to six pups, that are born and raised in dens, with the young being relocated every fortnight or so, and they generally have a lifespan of between 8 to 15 years.
  • Jackals have good stamina and can run at speeds of 16 km/hour (10 miles/hour) for extended times, and they have the ability to run at speeds of up to 32 km/hour (20 miles/hour).
Bibliography:
Jackal, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/jackal/
Jackal, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackal
Jackal, n.d, Out of Africa, http://www.outtoafrica.nl/animals/engjackal.html

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