Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
African seasonal forests, including the golden vipers, rhinoceros vipers, bush
vipers, mole vipers, night adders, puff adders, snake eaters, and quill-snouted
snakes. Elapids such as forest cobras, black spitting cobras, and green and black
mambas reside in the seasonal forests. Mambas are considered the most dangerous
snakes in Africa. The black mamba is the largest venomous snake in Africa. Its
extremely potent venom attacks the nervous system and is 100 percent fatal with-
out antivenom. Mambas have been reported to be able to bring down animals as
large as buffalos with their venom.
Lizards are perhaps the most common reptile in the African seasonal forest.
Monitor lizards, agamas, skinks, and chameleons inhabit the forest. Lizards' pri-
mary food is invertebrates, but some will eat soft leaves from young plants. Moni-
tor lizards are the largest lizard in Africa—the Nile monitor lizard can grow to
6.5 ft (2 m) long. Agamas, also known as Old World iguanas, are widespread
throughout Africa and Asia. Agamas are diurnal and relatively large with scaly,
spiky bodies and large heads. Most male agamas have brightly colored heads. They
can be found sunning on top of rocks in open areas. Skinks are fast-moving lizards
living on the forest floor. Chameleons differ from other lizards in shape and size.
They are slow-moving reptiles that live in trees and bushes. Chameleons are best
known for the ability to blend into their environment. They can change color in dif-
ferent environments turning from green to brown or yellow to blend in with the sur-
roundings. Along with the African seasonal forests, the dry forests of Madagascar
house many species of chameleons.
The African seasonal forest is also home to amphibians, particularly frogs and
toads. Tree frogs, rocket frogs, reed frogs, and bullfrogs are found in these forests.
Many species of toads are also present. Toads vary in color; many can blend in well
with the leaf litter or trees, making them almost invisible. True toads or bufonids
have been successful in both Africa and South America. Africa is thought to be the
place of origin of these toads, which later dispersed into the Americas. Several
frogs and toads are endemic, with limited distribution within forested areas.
Insects and Other Invertebrates
Insects, arachnids, and crustaceans inhabit the seasonal forests of Africa. Beetles
are a diverse order of insects in Africa with specialized niches. Many eat plants and
others are associated with every kind of decomposing matter, while others are para-
sitic. New beetle species continue to be discovered as research is increased in these
forests. Butterflies and moths are another group found in these forests. In the sea-
sonal forests, butterflies and moths appear seasonally with the flowering of plants.
Thousands of species are estimated to occur in the forests, although no current
count is available. Some butterflies take in nectar while others choose fruit, dung,
dead animals, and even animal perspiration as sources of nourishment. The butter-
fly families that are common in African forests are swallowtails, monarchs, brown
butterflies, snout butterflies, the whites, the blues, and nymphs. None of these fam-
ilies is unique to Africa.
