Wildlife of Ivory Coast

Greater flamingo

The wildlife of the Ivory Coast is composed of its flora and fauna.

Overview

The southern Ivory Coast forest is full if mangrove swamps and rainforests; the rainforest canopy is 21–24 m above the forest floor, with isolated trees pushing up above 37 m. Farther north, the rainforests and mangrove swamps give way to scattered stands of deciduous trees, and mahogany is widespread. Still farther north, oil palm, acacia, breadfruit, and baobab characterize the transition to true savanna, where shea nut and traveler’s palm are common.

The jackal, hyena, panther, elephant, hippopotamus, numerous monkeys, and many other mammals are widely distributed. Crocodiles and chameleons, as well as venomous serpents (horned vipers, mambas, and many others) and pythons, are numerous. Among indigenous birds are vultures, cranes, pigeons, turtle doves, parrots, and herons. Venomous spiders and scorpions are abound. As of 2002, there were at least 230 species of mammals, 252 species of birds, and over 3,600 species of plants throughout the country.

Fauna

Mammals

Main article: List of mammals of Côte d'Ivoire

Carnivora

• Leopard
• African golden cat
• African civet

Even-toed ungulate

• Savage

Suidae

• Red river hog
• Giant forest hog

Bovind

• Jentink's duiker
• Zebra duiker
• Maxwell's duiker
• Bay duiker
• Yellow-backed duiker
• Bongo
• African buffalo

Hippopotamidae

• Pygmy hippopotamus

Primate

• Diana monkey
• Mona monkey
• Olive colobus
• Galago
• Potto
• Sooty mangabey
• King colobus
• Lesser spot-nosed monkey
• Greater spot-nosed monkey
• Western red colobus
• Common chimpanzee

Proboscidea

• African forest elephant

Birds

Main article: List of birds of Côte d'Ivoire