Republic of the Congo

The Republic of the Congo is especially rich in killifish species found nowhere else including Aphyosemion caudofasciatum (FishBase), Aphyosemion chauchei (Killifish of West Africa), Aphyosemion thysi (Killifish of West Africa), Aphyosemion plagitaenium (Killifish of West Africa), and Aphyosemion zygaima (Killifish of West Africa). Other endemic freshwater fish species include a cichlid Chromidotilapia elongata (Cichlid Room Companion), an amphiliid catfish Trachyglanis sanghensis (PlanetCatfish), an electric catfish Malapterurus monsembeensis (ACSI), an airbreathing catfish Channallabes sanghaensis (RBZS pdf file), and a bagrid catfish Auchenoglanis grandis (ACSI).

Marine fish known solely from the Republic of the Congo include a genus of eel Paruroconger drachi (FishBase) collected only once off Pointe Noire. Another eel, Bascanichthys congoensis (p. 23 of IRD pdf file) is also known only from off Pointe Noire.

The poorly known Velvet African Climbing Mouse Dendroprionomys rousseloti (Google Books) represents a genus unique to the Republic of the Congo. Two bat species are endemic: Adam’s Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus adami (IUCN Red List) and the recently described Myotis dieteri (BioOne) known from a cave at Loudima.

Butterflies restricted to the Republic of the Congo include Euphaedra asteria (metafro), Acraea odzalae (Dominique Bernaud), Charaxes galleyanus (BOLD), and Charaxes tessieri (BOLD). Other endemic invertebrates include a flower beetle Eudicella inexpectata (Beetles of Africa), a grasshopper Acorypha brazzavillei (SysTax), a cricket Paragryllodes deleportei (p. 20 of MNHN pdf file), a leaf-chafer Goniorrhina decarthra (Hannetons), the jumping spiders Goleba jocquei (Salticidae of the World) and Siraina kindamba (ZooKeys), and a velvetworm Mesoperipatus tholloni (IUCN Red List).

Plants unique to the Republic of the Congo include an orchid Bulbophyllum mayombeense (IOPSE), the legumes Didelotia pauli-sitai (JSTOR) and Aeschynomene batekensis (JSTOR), an aroid Nephthytis mayombensis (JSTOR), Synsepalum koechlinii (JSTOR), Manilkara koechlinii (JSTOR), Phyllanthus mindouliensis (JSTOR), Vangueriopsis rubiginosa (JSTOR), Calvoa sitaena (JSTOR), and Bertiera thollonii (JSTOR).

Important terrestrial ecoregions include the Atlantic Equatorial Coastal Forests (EoE) and the Northwest Congolian Lowland Forest Ecoregion (EoE). Important freshwater ecoregions include the Southern Gulf of Guinea Drainages (FEOW) and the Ogooue - Nyanga - Kouilou - Niari (FEOW). The Congo River (WWF) is one of the world's richest for freshwater species.