Niger River Delta - A Global Ecoregion
One of the largest deltas in the world
Snapshot: Ecoregion 155
Size:
53,000 sq. km (20,000 sq. miles)
Habitat type:
Large River Deltas
Geographic Location:
Western Africa, crossing through southern Nigeria
Conservation Status:
Critical/Endangered
Did You Know!
Hippopotamuses swim surprisingly fast and can hold their breath under water for up to 10 minutes!
About the Area
The Niger River Delta, formed when the Niger (Africa's third largest river) flows into the Gulf of Guinea, is one of the largest deltas in the world.
The Niger's relatively nutrient-rich, silt-laden whitewaters converge with the black and clear waters carried by other tributaries, creating an ecosystem that supports nearly 200 fish species as the delta lies at the crossroads of two distinct types of habitat for African fish.Local Species
Among the many fish in the delta are the only members of the Denticle herring (Denticipidae) and Hingemouth (Phractolaemidae) fish families. These two families each have only one species in them and are found only in Africa.
One of these fish, Phractolaemus ansorgii, has a swim bladder that functions as a lung and permits it to survive in unoxygenated waters by breathing air at the surface.
The delta also provides habitat for the Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), the vulnerable pygmy hippo (Choeropsis liberiensis), and West African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis).
Threats
The delta system is threatened by population growth, coastal urbanisation, oil and gas exploration, industrialisation, domestic and industrial waste discharges, the menace of introduced water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), coastal erosion, and problems associated with aquaculture.
Resources
• NationalGeographic.com
