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Kenya

 

 
Map of Eastern Africa and offshore islandsThe Phelsuma fauna of Kenya consists only of one species; Phelsuma dubia. The centre of the distribution range along Kenya's southern coast is the ancient merchant port of Mombassa.

The climate of this region is tropical, with average temperatures above 25ºC, little variation in day length, and generally high humidity. Most rainfall comes in distinctive rainy seasons, although showers can also occur at other times. The rain falls between April and June. One of the main characteristics of the region is the extreme variability in rainfall from year to year, with dry seasons that sometimes extend into droughts and rainy seasons that can cause severe flooding.

The human population of the area is relatively high (around 100 persons per km2 in the rural areas). Part of the complexity of vegetation types is natural, but the influence of anthropogenic activities over thousands of years have been vital in shaping the ‘natural’ vegetation now found in the area. The region supports a large number of endemic species, at a density among the highest in the world. These endemics are concentrated in the forest areas, but are also found in drier bush land and grassland habitats. Of the 94 reptile species occurring in the coastal area, 47 are forest-dependent and 34 are strictly endemic. Key endemic reptile groups include geckos (Gekkonidae), chameleons (Chameleonidae), skinks (Scincidae), lacertid lizards (Lacertidae), worm-snakes (Typhlopidae), and true snakes (Atractaspididae, Elapidae, and Colubridae). The amphibians are also diverse and exhibit a moderate rate of endemism. Poynton (in Burgess and Clark 2000) list 14 species as largely confined to coastal forests, with 2 species being strictly endemic (Afrixalus sylvaticus and Stephopaedes sp.).

Phelsuma species

Phelsuma dubia

  

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