Endemic Animals of Kenya

The Taita thrush (Turdus helleri ), also known as the Taita olive thrush or Heller's ground thrush, is an endangered bird from the family of thrushes (Turdidae), endemic to the Taita Hills in Kenya. Less

Sharpe's longclaw (Macronyx sharpei ) is a passerine bird in the longclaw family Motacillidae, which also includes the pipits and wagtails. It is endemic to Kenya.It is 16–17 cm long, with upperparts heavily marked with buff and rufous streaks, yellow underparts, and white outertail feathers in flight.This bird is endangered, with an estimated population of less than 20,000. Its grassland habitat is being replaced by cultivation and woodlots.The co ...
mmon name and Latin binomial name commemorate the British zoologist Richard Bowdler Sharpe. Less

Clarke's weaver (Ploceus golandi ) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae.It is endemic to Kenya.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.It is threatened by habitat loss.The species is named after Captain Goland Clarke, brother of Stephenson Robert Clarke, who described the species. Less

Williams's lark (Mirafra williamsi ) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. Discovered in 1955, much of its life and ecology is still a mystery to ornithology. Less

The Kikuyu white-eye (Zosterops kikuyensis ) is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It includes numerous subspecies, sometimes considered a subspecies of montane white-eye (Z. poliogastrus ). It is found in central Kenya, in the Aberdare Mountains and on Mount Kenya. IUCN categorizes it as of least concern. Less

The Taita apalis (Apalis fuscigularis ) is a bird in the family Cisticolidae that is endemic to the Taita Hills in Kenya. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the bar-throated apalis.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is one of the rarest birds in the world. The population is currently estimated at 300–650 mature individuals though a survey in 2009–2010 suggests the ...
species has suffered a severe population decline in extent of its habitat and its population may now be as low as 60–130 individuals. Most of the original forest has been cultivated or reforested with non-native timbers. Though little is known about this population crash as illegal logging and disturbance in the taita hills have been significantly reduced. However a serious drought in 2009 may have been a factor. The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers this species to be critically endangered due to its tiny occupied range of 1.5 km2 (0.58 sq mi) which is severely fragmented.This is a medium–sized arboreal warbler at 14–16 cm (5.5–6.3 in) long and 10–12 g (0.35–0.42 oz) in weight with dark grey upperparts slightly darker shade on wings and tail. The throat and breast is black and the underparts are white to off-white. The eye is silvery white. Call is a repeated pillipp, pillippp similar to that of the bar–throated apalis while the song of the male is a loud chwee, chwee or chewk, chewk, chewk, with which the female may duet, giving a high pitched song cheek. Less

Hinde's babbler (Turdoides hindei ), also known as Hinde's pied-babbler, is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It is endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, arable land, and plantations. It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

The Tana River cisticola (Cisticola restrictus ) is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae. It is found in Kenya and there is speculation that it may also be found in Somalia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist shrubland. Less

The Aberdare cisticola (Cisticola aberdare ) is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae. It is endemic to Kenya.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

Taita white-eye (Zosterops silvanus ) is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It includes numerous subspecies, sometimes considered a subspecies to montane white-eye (Z. poliogastrus ). It is only found in Taita Hills in southeastern Kenya. IUCN categorizes it as endangered. Less

Boulengerula taitana (common names: Taita African caecilian, Taita Hills caecilian, Taita Mountains caecilian) is a species of caecilian. It is endemic to the Taita Hills region of southeast Kenya. Less

Boulengerula niedeni, the Sagalla caecilian, is a worm-like amphibian first described in 2005. The species was described from a specimen discovered on Sagala Hill, an isolated mountain block of the Taita Hills in Kenya, and is not known from other areas.Little of the original forest remains on Sagalla Hill, but the species seems to adapt to human disturbance associated with small-scale farming activities; it is not found in the eucalyptus ...
plantations that cover much of the hill. Because of the small range of this species, it is as of 2013 listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, while previously from 2006 been listed as critically endangered. It has been listed as one of the top-10 "focal species" in 2008 by the Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) project. Less

Callulina dawida, also known as Taita warty frog, is a species of frogs in the family Brevicipitidae. It is endemic to Kenya, where it is only found in severely fragmented montane forests in Taita Hills in the south-eastern part of the country. Originally Callulina was thought to be monotypic and widely distributed through Eastern Arc Mountains in Tanzania and in southern Kenya. However, within the last decade eight new species has been ...
identified, many which are considered critically endangered by IUCN. C. dawida was described in 2009 by a team led by Simon Loader; it received its specific name after Dawida language, which is spoken in Taita Hills. Less

Boulengerula changamwensis, the Changamwe caecilian, is a species of amphibian in the family Herpelidae. It is also known as Changamwensis African caecilian and Changamwe lowland caecilian. It is found in southern Kenya (Changamwe and the Shimba Hills) and Malawi, and possibly in the intervening Tanzania and Mozambique.It is known from 10 to 20 specimens found in the Shimba Hills and three specimens were recorded in April 2012. According to ...
June 2012 research, it burrows and prefers forested areas and will rarely be seen outside forests. In August 2012, it was also found in agricultural areas within stream valleys in plantations for coconut palms, bananas and cashew nuts. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest.It is threatened by habitat loss for deforestation and collecting of firewood, agriculture and farming, herbicides and pesticides and expanding human settlement. It is protected by the Shimba Hills and parts of Shire Highlands but its protection in Kaya Forest may also be threatened by the deforestation and collecting of firewood. In 2012, the IUCN changed the status from Data Deficient to Endangered because it had a range of 990 km2 and was only known from three or four localities which have threats. Less

Hyperolius sheldricki (common names: Sheldrick's reed frog, Aruba Dam reed frog) is a species of small frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to southeast Kenya. The type locality is in the Tsavo East National Park. Less

Boulengerula denhardti (Denhardt's African caecilian) is a species of amphibian in the family Herpelidae. It is endemic to Kenya. It is only known from its type locality, the Tana River valley, as well as from the Ngaia Forest, Meru County. It is named for German explorer brothers Clemens Denhardt and Gustav Denhardt who explored the area where it was discovered.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily ...
degraded former forest.It is threatened by habitat loss, expanding agriculture, use of herbicides and pesticides and expanding human settlements. Less

Mertensophryne lonnbergi (common name: Lönnbergs toad or Lonnbergs toad) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Kenya and known from the highlands on both sides of the Great Rift Valley as well as from Mount Kenya.Its natural habitats are montane grasslands, moorlands, and forest patches; it can survive also on agricultural land. Breeding takes place in small and shallow permanent or semi-permanent pools. It is a ...
reasonably common species, but habitat modification could still be a threat. Less

Hyperolius montanus (common name: mountain reed frog or montane reed frog) is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to Kenya and known from the Kenya Highlands. It might represent more than one species. Less

Mertensophryne mocquardi (common names: Mocquards toad , Mocquard's toad) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Kenya and known from Mount Kenya, the Kinangop Plateau, and the highlands surrounding Nairobi. The specific name mocquardi refers to François Mocquard, a French herpetologist. It was put in synonymy of Mertensophryne lonnbergi in 1972, but re-validated in 1997. Less

Phrynobatrachus irangi is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is endemic to Kenya and is known only from two localities, its type locality, the eponymous Irangi Forest on the south-eastern slopes of Mount Kenya, and Kimande on the south-eastern slopes of the Aberdare Range. Common name Irangi puddle frog has been coined for it. Less

Sclerophrys turkanae, the Lake Turkana toad or Turkana toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Kenya, and is only known from two localities; Loiyangalani on the southeastern shores of Lake Turkana, and the Ewaso Ng'iro River in the Samburu National Reserve.Its is known from arid semi-desert regions with nearby permanent water (either lake or river). Breeding and larval development presumably takes place in water. ...
Threats to this poorly known species are unknown. Less

Hyperolius rubrovermiculatus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, moist savanna, swamps, intermittent freshwater marshes, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

Hyperolius cystocandicans is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae.It is endemic to Kenya.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, arable land, pastureland, and ponds.It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

Atheris desaixi, commonly known as the Mount Kenya bush viper, Ashe's bush viper, or Desaix's bush viper, is a venomous species of viper endemic to Kenya, where only two isolated populations are known. It is known for its striking black and yellow coloration. No subspecies are currently recognized. Less

Montatheris is a monotypic genus created for the venomous viper species, M. hindii. This is a small terrestrial species endemic to Kenya. There are no subspecies which are currently recognized as being valid. Less

Pelusios broadleyi, commonly known as the Turkana mud turtle, Broadley's mud turtle, or the Lake Turkana hinged terrapin, is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae. The species is native to eastern Africa. Less

Bitis worthingtoni, also known commonly as the Kenya horned viper and the Kenyan horned viper, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic Kenya. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid. Less

Echis pyramidum aliaborri is a venomous viper subspecies endemic to northern Kenya. Less

The Elmenteita agama or Elmenteita rock agama (Agama caudospinosa ) is a species of lizard from the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Kenya with the type locality being Lake Elmenteita, hence the common name. Less

Amblyodipsas teitana, also known as the Taita Hills purple-glossed snake or Teitana purple-glossed snake, is a species of venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Lamprophiidae. It is endemic to the Taita Hills in Kenya, and only known from the holotope, a 43 cm (16.9 in) female, first identified as Calamelaps unicolor by Arthur Loveridge in 1936. Less

Philochortus rudolfensis, the southern shield-backed lizard, is a species of lizard found in Kenya and Ethiopia. Less

Adolfus alleni, also known commonly as the alpine meadow lizard or the alpine-meadow lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Kenya. Less

Aparallactus turneri, or the Malindi centipede-eater, is a species of venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Lamprophiidae. The species is endemic to Kenya. Less

Adolfus mathewsensis is a species of lizard endemic to Kenya. Less

Drewes's worm snake (Epacrophis drewesi ) is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. Less

The golden-rumped elephant shrew (Rhynchocyon chrysopygus ) is a small African mammal. It is the largest species of the elephant shrew family along with its close relative the grey-faced sengi. It is classified as endangered. Less

The Tana River mangabey (Cercocebus galeritus ) is a highly endangered species of primate in the family Cercopithecidae. Some authorities have included the taxa agilis and sanjei as subspecies of this species, while others award these full species status.It is endemic to riverine forest patches along the lower Tana River in southeastern Kenya. It is threatened by habitat loss and degradation, which has increased in recent years. This species ...
was, together with the equally endangered Tana River red colobus, the main reason for the creation of the Tana River Primate Reserve in 1978, but human encroachment within this reserve continues. Recently, it has been suggested that 20,000 hectares of the Tana River Delta should be transformed into sugarcane plantations, but this has, temporarily at least, been stopped by the High Court of Kenya. Less

The Tana River red colobus (Piliocolobus rufomitratus ), also called the eastern red colobus, is a highly endangered species of primate in the family Cercopithecidae. It is endemic to a narrow zone of gallery forest near the Tana River in southeastern Kenya. Less

The coastal topi (Damaliscus lunatus topi ) is a highly social antelope of the genus Damaliscus. It is a subspecies of the common tsessebe. Less

The Aberdare mole shrew (Surdisorex norae ) is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae endemic to the Aberdare Mountains in Kenya. Its natural habitat is tropical high-altitude bamboo and grassland. Less

The ultimate shrew (Crocidura ultima ) is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

The Taita shrew (Suncus aequatorius ) is an extant species of white-toothed shrew from two localities in the Taita Hills mountain range in the Taita-Taveta District of southwestern Kenya. Given the continuing decline in the quality of this habitat, and the limitations in its range, the IUCN recognises the shrew as an endangered species. Less