Sierra Leone
Freshwater
fish unique
to Sierra Leone include several killifish: Callopanchax huwaldi
(Killifish
of West Africa), Scriptaphyosemion
chaytori (Killifish
of West Africa), Scriptaphyosemion
etzeli (FishBase),
and Scriptaphyosemion
fredrodi (Killifish
of West Africa).
Other endemic freshwater fish
include an electric catfish Malapterurus
leonensis (ACSI),
an elephantfish Marcusenius
meronai (IRD
pdf file), a mochokid catfish Chiloglanis
polyodon (ACSI),
a bagrid catfish Notoglanidium
thomasi (ACSI),
and a barb Barbus
bagwensis (p. 79 of IRD
7 MB pdf file). Endemic genera include a cyprinid Prolabeo (p. 30 of IRD
7 MB pdf file), a bagrid catfish Liauchenoglanis
(ACSI),
and a mochokid catfish Mochokiella
(ScotCat).
Amphibians found nowhere else include the Freetown Long-fingered
Frog Cardioglossa
aureoli (ARKive)
and the Tingi Hills Toad Bufo
(or Amietophrynus)
cristiglans
(Internet
Archive).
The only specimen of the worm lizard Cynisca degrysi (p. 34 of AMNH Digital Library 19 MB pdf file) no longer exists and it is unclear if it actually originated in Sierra Leone.
An undescribed species of bat of the genus Neoromicia was collected during a recent survey of the upper Seli River Valley (de Gruyter).
Invertebrates known only from Sierra Leone include an endemic genus of
jumping spider Polemus
chrysochirus (p. 6 of Opuscula
Zoologica 3 MB pdf file), an endemic earthworm genus Dudichiodrilus spatulifer
(p. 2 of Opuscula
Zoologica pdf file), the freshwater snail genus Sierraia (Google
Books), the freshwater crabs Afrithelphusa leonensis
(IUCN Red
List) and Afrithelphusa
afzelii (IUCN Red List),
several butterflies (Afrotropical
Butterflies), a ground beetle Chlaenius sierraleonensis
(p.
41 of Entomofauna
pdf file), and perhaps a damselfly Argiagrion leoninum
(IUCN
Red List).
Among about 74 vascular plant species exclusive to Sierra Leone are the
orchids Bulbophyllum
parvum (Kew)
and Pteroglossaspis
(or Eulophia)
distans
(JSTOR),
a riverweed Ledermanniella
jaegeri (Podostemaceae),
Gladiolus leonensis
(Kew),
Sabicea
arachnoidea (JSTOR),
Croton leonensis
(JSTOR),
Afrotrilepis
jaegeri (JSTOR),
Scleria monticola
(JSTOR),
Mussaenda rufa
(JSTOR),
Tricalysia parva
(JSTOR),
Combretum
blepharopetala (JSTOR),
Byttneria
guineensis (JSTOR),
Eriocaulon
adamseii
(NYBG),
the
grasses Tristachya
(or Loudetia)
jaegeriana
(JSTOR)
and Loxodera strigosa
(Kew),
a screwpine Pandanus
freetownensis (JSTOR),
and a legume Anthonotha
elongata (JSTOR).
Habropetalum
dawei (JSTOR)(PROTA)
represents an endemic genus.
Sierra
Leone is part of the Guinean Forests of
West Africa biodiversity hotspot (Biodiversity
Hotspots). Portions of Sierra Leone
are included in the Guinean Montane Forests (EoE)
and the Western Guinean Lowland Forests (EoE)
terrestrial ecoregions. Sierra Leone is located in the
Northern Upper Guinea freshwater ecoregion (FEOW).