Sudanian Savannas - A Global Ecoregion
Home to the most intact collection of large vertebrates in northern Africa
Snapshot: Ecoregion 89
Size:
917,581 sq. km (354,278 sq. miles)
917,581 sq. km (354,278 sq. miles)
Habitat type:
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands
Geographic Location:
Central and Southern Africa - Cameroon, CAR, Chad, Nigeria, DRC, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda
Conservation Status:
Critical/Endangered
Quiz Time!
Which is the largest antelope in Africa?
Answer:
The giant eland is the largest antelope in Africa, standing more than 6 feet tall and weighing more than a 1,000 kgs. These animals can run more than 42 miles per hour and are great jumpers - easily clearing more than 5 feet!
About the Area
The Sudanese savannas comprise of large expanses of acacia woodland areas. Most of the trees here are deciduous, characterised by an understory of grasses, shrubs, and herbs.
The ecoregion occupies just a portion of a larger area identified as a centre of diversity for plants, and hence important for plant conservation.Given the pronounced dry season, there is a large seasonal migration of animals, in addition to the visitation by large numbers of migrant birds on the Afrotropical-Palaearctic flyway.
Local Species
Selected species include the mouse (Mus goundae), Reichenow's firefinch (Lagonosticta umbrinodorsalis), Eastern giant eland (Taurotragus derbianus gigas), Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus), and Lewel hartebeest (Damaliscus lunatus lelwel).
Threats
Significant loss of original wooded savanna habitats has occurred in this ecoregion, but large blocks of relatively intact habitat remain even outside protected areas.
Threats include seasonal shifting cultivation, over-grazing by livestock, logging, burning woody material for charcoal, uncontrolled wild fires, trophy hunting, poaching, and climatic desiccation.
Resources
• NationalGeographic.com
