Atlas · Zimbabwe / Knowledge Base
With data in Atlas
Angolafull · 18 datasets Beninfull · 14 datasets Cameroonfull · 47 datasets Comorosfull · 16 datasets Côte d'Ivoirefull · 14 datasets Democratic Republic of the Congofull · 44 datasets Djiboutifull · 15 datasets Egyptfull · 18 datasets Equatorial Guineafull · 13 datasets Eritreafull · 15 datasets Gabonfull · 28 datasets Ghanafull · 16 datasets Guineafull · 15 datasets Guinea-Bissaufull · 14 datasets Kenyafull · 344 datasets Liberiafull · 13 datasets Madagascarfull · 18 datasets Mauritaniafull · 16 datasets Mauritiusfull · 9 datasets Mozambiquefull · 35 datasets Nigeriafull · 16 datasets Republic of the Congofull · 41 datasets Senegalfull · 15 datasets Seychellesfull · 9 datasets Sierra Leonefull · 14 datasets Somaliafull · 13 datasets South Africafull · 26 datasets Sudanfull · 16 datasets São Tomé and Principefull · 14 datasets Tanzaniafull · 170 datasets The Gambiafull · 14 datasets Togofull · 15 datasets Algeriareference · 5 datasets Botswanareference · 32 datasets Burkina Fasoreference · 2 datasets Burundireference · 2 datasets Central African Republicreference · 2 datasets Chadreference · 2 datasets Ethiopiareference · 2 datasets Kingdom of eSwatinireference · 1 datasets Lesothoreference · 2 datasets Libyareference · 3 datasets Malawireference · 2 datasets Malireference · 2 datasets Moroccoreference · 6 datasets Namibiareference · 56 datasets Nigerreference · 1 datasets Republic of Cabo Verdereference · 1 datasets Rwandareference · 7 datasets South Sudanreference · 1 datasets Tunisiareference · 3 datasets Ugandareference · 29 datasets Western Saharareference · 1 datasets Zambiareference · 54 datasets Zimbabwereference · 31 datasets
Compare all countries
KNOWLEDGE BASE

The mangrove species of East Africa

Nine true mangrove species occur along the East African coast; four dominate the Lamu map.

All knowledge base Ask the analyst about this
Intermediate 2 min read speciesecologyKenyaidentification

Nine true mangrove species are usually listed for the Kenyan coast. They differ in roots, leaves and the zone they prefer.

Species How to recognise it Usual zone
Rhizophora mucronata Tall stilt roots, long pencil-like seedlings Middle, regularly flooded
Avicennia marina Pencil roots rising from the mud, silvery leaf undersides Seaward fringe and drier flats
Ceriops tagal Small, many-stemmed, buttressed base Inner, drier zone
Sonneratia alba Cone-shaped breathing roots, round leaves Open seaward fringe
Bruguiera gymnorhiza Knee roots, large buttress Inner zone
Xylocarpus granatum Large buttresses, round woody fruit Inner, creek edges
Lumnitzera racemosa Small tree with white flowers Landward edge
Heritiera littoralis Large, ridged fruit Landward edge
Pemphis acidula Shrub on rocky shores Rocky, coral coasts

Atlas names four in its formation classes (Rhizophora, Avicennia, Ceriops and Sonneratia) because those are the ones the Lamu mapping team could separate from the air.

Why species matter. Rhizophora is the traditional building-pole species and is cut most; Avicennia tolerates the most salt and often recolonises damaged ground; Ceriops is sought for firewood and tannin.

Limits. Species lists vary slightly between authors; the table is a field guide summary, not a taxonomic authority.

Related reading

The Lamu seascape

Lamu has Kenya's largest continuous mangrove forest and is the best-mapped area in Atlas.

Mangrove zonation: why different species grow in bands

Tide, salt and mud decide which mangrove species grows where, so forests form bands from sea to land.

More in Knowledge Base

Still have a question?

The AI analyst answers from these articles and from the data.

Ask Atlas
11h 56mleft
Guest preview Atlas is free, before and after you log in. Explore as a guest for 11h 56m more, then create an account to keep going.
Log in Create an account
Ask Atlas