Endemic Animals of DR Congo

The bonobo (Pan paniscus) is an endangered species of great ape found in a 500,000 km2 (190,000 sq mi) area of the Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa. Bonobos are one of the closest living relatives to humans, sharing DNA of more than 98%. They have profound intelligence and are complex beings with emotional expression and sensitivity. Compared to the competitive and male-dominated culture of the chimpanzee, ...
bonobo society is matriarchal, peaceful, and more egalitarian. Due to their compassionate and caring society, bonobos act as a strong symbol of cooperation and peace. Less

The okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is an artiodactyl mammal that is found only in central Africa. It was not discovered until 1901. Okapia johnstoni, its taxonomic name, honors its native Central African name, as well as the man who ‘discovered’ it, the British explorer Sir Harry Johnston, naturalist, and colonial administrator. Native pygmies in Central Africa had known about this animal, which they thought of as a type of horse, for generations, and thi ...
s was the description of it they gave to Sir Henry Morton Stanley (the man who found Dr. Livingtone, reportedly with the words, ‘Dr. Livingstone, I presume’). The okapi is, in fact, a forest-dwelling relative of the giraffe. Less

The lesula (Cercopithecus lomamiensis ) is a species of Old World monkey in the guenon family, found in the Lomami Basin of the Congo. Though known to locals, it was unknown to the international scientific community until it was discovered in 2007 and confirmed in a 2012 publication. The lesula is the second new species of African monkey to be discovered since 1984. This monkey is described to have human looking eyes and a blue bottom “And adult m ...
ales have a huge bare patch of skin in the buttocks, testicles and perianal area,” said John A. Hart, the researcher who described the monkey. “It’s a brilliant blue, really pretty spectacular.”The species was listed among the Top 10 New Species 2013 discovered in 2012 as selected by the International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University out of more than 140 nominated species. Its distinctiveness is its human-like eyes, genital area and booming dawn chorus. The selection was declared on 22 May 2013. Less

The golden-bellied mangabey (Cercocebus chrysogaster ) is a social Old World monkey found in swampy, humid forests south of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was previously considered a subspecies of the agile mangabey (C. agilis ).Little is published about the species and its behaviour has only been studied in captivity.The only known photograph of golden-bellied mangabeys in the wild is shown in this article and a ...
link to a video can be found in "External links" below. Less

The Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis), also known as the African peafowl or mbulu by the Bakôngo, is a species of peafowl native to the Congo Basin. It is one of three peafowl species and the only member of the subfamily Pavoninae native to Africa. The Congo peafowl has also been designated the national bird of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Less

The eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri ) or Grauer's gorilla is a Critically Endangered subspecies of eastern gorilla endemic to the mountainous forests of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Important populations of this gorilla live in the Kahuzi-Biega and Maiko National Parks and their adjacent forests, the Tayna Gorilla Reserve, the Usala forest and on the Itombwe Massif.It is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies. ...
It has a jet black coat like the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei ), although the hair is shorter on the head and body. The male's coat, like that of other gorillas, greys as the animal matures, resulting in the designation "silverback".There are far fewer eastern lowland gorillas compared to western lowland gorillas.According to a 2004 report there were only about 5,000 eastern lowland gorillas in the wild, down to fewer than 3,800 in 2016, compared to over 100,000 western lowland gorillas. Outside their native range, only one female eastern lowland gorilla lives in captivity, at the Antwerp Zoo in Belgium. Less

Wolf's mona monkey (Cercopithecus wolfi ), also called Wolf's guenon, is a colourful Old World monkey in the family Cercopithecidae. It is found in central Africa, primarily between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. It lives in primary and secondary lowland rainforest and swamp forest. Less

The yellow-crested helmetshrike (Prionops alberti ) is a species of bird in the Vanga family Vangidae, formerly usually included in the Malaconotidae.It is endemic to Democratic Republic of the Congo.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

Rockefeller's sunbird (Cinnyris rockefelleri ) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae.It is native to the western part of the Albertine Rift montane forests.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland.It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

Prigogine's nightjar (Caprimulgus prigoginei ) or the Itombwe nightjar, is a bird species of tropical central Africa. It is known from only one specimen taken at Malenge in the Itombwe Mountains in Zaire in August 1955.It appears to be a forest species, but nothing is known of its habits or breeding, although it is likely to nest on bare ground like its relatives. It is assumed to be a nocturnal insectivore like other nightjars.Prigogine's ...
nightjar is a small nightjar at 19 cm, short-tailed and large-headed. The adult female is dark brown with heavy speckling. In flight it is again mainly brown, without the white wing marking found in many of its relatives. There are pale brown wing spots, and whitish tail feather tips. The male is unknown.The male's song is unknown, but unidentified nightjar calls heard in the breeding area include a rapid churring and a knocking sound.The common name and binomial commemorates the ornithologist Alexandre Prigogine. Less

The Lufira masked weaver (Ploceus ruweti ), also known as Ruwet's masked weaver or the Lake Lufira weaver, is a species of bird in the weaver family, Ploceidae. It is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitat is swamps in the south-east part of the country. It is sometimes regarded as a subspecies of the Tanzanian masked weaver. Less

Prigogine's greenbul (Chlorocichla prigoginei ) is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae.It is found only in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

The Congo bay owl (Phodilus prigoginei ) is a species of owl in the barn owl family, Tytonidae. It is restricted to a small area in the Albertine Rift montane forests. Less

Bedford's paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone bedfordi ) is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae.It is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

The black-lored waxbill (Estrilda nigriloris ) is a species of estrildid finch found around the Lualaba River and Lake Upemba in the southern part of The Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of less than 2,600 km2. Less

The yellow-legged weaver (Ploceus flavipes ) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae.It is endemic to Democratic Republic of the Congo.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

The golden-naped weaver (Ploceus aureonucha ) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is found in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

Prigogine's double-collared sunbird (Cinnyris prigoginei ) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in the Marungu highlands of southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the greater double-collared sunbird. Less

Chapin's babbler (Turdoides chapini ) or Chapin's mountain-babbler, is a species of passerine bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.The common name and the Latin binomial commemorate the American ornithologist James Paul Chapin.Chapin's babbler was moved from the genus Kupeornis to Turdoides ...
based on the results of a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2018. Less

Chapin's crombec (Sylvietta leucophrys chapini ) is an enigmatic African warbler, formerly placed in the family Sylviidae. It is currently considered a subspecies of the white-browed crombec, but might be a distinct species; too little is known about it to determine this now with reasonable certainty.It is found only in the Lendu Plateau, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was removed from the IUCN Red List in 2007 as it is considered a ...
white-browed crombec subspecies, pending further research. It was previously considered a species of least concern, though actually it has not been encountered for some time, and might even be extinct. However, this is not very likely given the fairly low rates of bird extinctions in Africa - compared to, e.g., South America and Southeast Asia. In any case, the Second Congo War, and especially the Ituri conflict, have completely prevented any effort to relocate these birds.The common name commemorates the American ornithologist James Paul Chapin. Less

Chrysobatrachus is a genus of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species, Chrysobatrachus cupreonitens. It is endemic to the Itombwe Mountains in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.Chrysobatrachus cupreonitens is a species of montane grasslands, occurring at elevations of 2,400–3,000 m (7,900–9,800 ft) above sea level. During the dry season, it has been recorded in marshes and streams, grass ...
es and heathers. The marshes get flooded during the rainy season. Reproduction takes place in pools of water, as evidenced by calling males and pairs in amplexus.The species is considered "Endangered" because of its relatively small range and threats to its habitat from grazing, agriculture and mining. Less

Callixalus is a genus frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is monotypic, being represented by a single species, Callixalus pictus. It is found in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (including the Itombwe Mountains) and western Rwanda. It is sometimes known as the African painted frog. Less

Hyperolius leucotaenius is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae.It is endemic to Democratic Republic of the Congo.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, swamps, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marshes.It is threatened by habitat loss.At one time thought to be extinct, in 2011 Hyperolius leucotaenius was found and photographed on the banks of the Elila River, a tributary of the Lualaba. Less

The Zaire forest tree frog, Leptopelis fenestratus, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Its natural habitats are rivers, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marshes. Less

Cryptothylax minutus is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and possibly the Republic of the Congo.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, swamps, freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forests. Less

Arthroleptis hematogaster is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to the Itombwe and Kabobo highlands in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. This little known species is believed to live in montane forests at elevations of about 2,350–2,400 m (7,710–7,870 ft) above sea level. Less

Parker's tree toad (Laurentophryne parkeri ) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is the single species in the genus Laurentophryne, and is endemic to Kivu region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.It is threatened by habitat loss. To describe their features, they have a straight head and pointed snout that goes further than its mouth. They have dorsal skin ...
granular with multiple warts around their body more or less arranged in rows starting from the snout and moves to the shoulders and beyond; warts depicting a clear X on their backs typically colored grey or grey-whiteish.Diagnosis: "An African bufonid related to Nectophryne but differing in absence of lamelliform subdigital pads and in possession of a palatine bone; differing from Wolterstorffina, Bufo and Nectophrynoides in possessing only seven presacral vertebrae and in having the palatine reduced in extent, and from the last two genera also in the fusion of the sacrum and coccyx" (Tihen, 1960). Less

Hyperolius sankuruensis, also known as the Omaniundu reed frog, is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is known from its type locality, Omaniundu in the Sankuru Province, and from a number of unspecified other localities. It is one of the "lost" frogs that was rediscovered decades after the last previous sighting. Less

Hyperolius langi is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae.It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, possibly Rwanda, and possibly Uganda.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rivers, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marshes.It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

The Nyonga forest tree frog, Leptopelis lebeaui, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Its natural habitats are rivers, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marshes. As of 2004, the Upemba National Park was the only place in which they were being protected. Less

Afrixalus upembae is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is known from the lower Katanga Province (=Shaba Province), although its true distribution might be wider; possibly reaching eastern Angola. It belongs to the taxonomically unresolved "Afrixalus quadrivittatus complex", and it is not even clear that it is a valid species. Less

Leptopelis parvus, also known as the Kanole forest treefrog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is only known from the Upemba National Park (Katanga Province, southern DRC). Less

Arthroleptis vercammeni, also known as the Mwana screeching frog or Vercammen's squeaker, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and is only known from its type locality at Mwana in Mwenga Territory, South Kivu province. The specific name vercammeni honours Paul-Henry Vercammen-Grandjean, entomologist and virologist from France/Belgium. Less

Arthroleptis loveridgei is a species of frogs in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to Democratic Republic of the Congo and only known from its type locality, "Arebi (Uelé)", Ituri Province, in the northeastern part of the country. The specific name loveridgei honours Arthur Loveridge, an American herpetologist. Common names Loveridge's screeching frog and Loveridge's squeaking frog have been coined for it. Less

Hyperolius ghesquieri is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae.It is endemic to Democratic Republic of the Congo.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, swamps, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marshes. Less

Mertensophryne schmidti (commonly known as Schmidt's snouted frog) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Democratic Republic of the Congo and only known from the Upemba National Park.A poorly known species, it is assumed to be a Miombo savanna inhabitant.Threats to it are unknown. It is named after Karl Patterson Schmidt, American herpetologist. Less

Afrixalus leucostictus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to eastern and central Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its relationship with Afrixalus equatorialis is not fully understood. Common names Makese banana frog and speckled spiny reed frog have been proposed for it. Less

Arthroleptis phrynoides, the Lomami screeching frog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to Democratic Republic of the Congo and is known only from the type locality at Lomami near Lomela Territory. Less

Hyperolius diaphanus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and is known from near the Itombwe Mountains and the mountains to the west of Lake Kivu. Limits of its range are not clear and might extend into the adjacent Burundi and Rwanda. Common names Kigulube reed frog and translucent reed frog have been proposed for this species. Less

Hyperolius atrigularis is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae.It is endemic to Democratic Republic of the Congo.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, swamps, and intermittent freshwater marshes. Less

Hyperolius leleupi is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to the Itombwe Mountains in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. This little-known but likely rare species occurs in high-altitude bamboo forests at around 2,550 m (8,370 ft) above sea level. Habitat loss caused by agriculture, livestock and human settlements is likely a threat. Less

Kassina mertensi is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The specific name mertensi honours Robert Mertens, a German zoologist and herpetologist. Common name Mertens' running frog has been coined for it.Kassina mertensi might be conspecific with Kassina maculosa.Kassina mertensi occurs clearings in rainforest as well as in heavily degraded former forest (farm bush). Threats ...
to it are not known, but it appears to tolerate some habitat modification. Less