Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 5.16 African elephants of the dry forests are larger than those of the forest, as
shown here in Samburu National Park, Kenya.
(Photo by author.)
kites, goshawks, eagles, hawk eagles, snake eagles, buzzards, and vultures roam the
skies searching for prey in the dry forests and scrublands. The Secretary Bird is found
in the more open woodlands of this biome. Birds play an important role in the Afri-
can Rainforest; they consume fruits and disperse seeds, eat invertebrates, reptiles,
frogs, rodents, primates, and other birds. Healthy populations of many of these tropi-
cal birds rely on intact forests that are quickly disappearing.
Reptiles and Amphibians
The warm climate of the African tropics makes it an ideal home for cold-blooded
reptiles and amphibians. A variety of lizards, turtles, chameleons, and snakes, as
well as a few frogs and toads are found in the varied seasonal forests. Research is
still needed in identifying and understanding the ecology of the herpetofauna of
African seasonal forests, as intensive research in the forest is often difficult because
of accessibility.
More than a hundred different species of snakes are found in the tropics of
Africa. The rock python, one of the world's largest snakes, was once abundant in
the seasonal forests, but due to heavy human predation and loss of habitat, they are
restricted mostly to reserves and savannas. Many dangerous snakes inhabit the
