Mozambique

Reptiles found nowhere else than Mozambique include the Mount Mabu Chameleon (Guardian), the Gorongosa Pygmy Chameleon Rhampholeon gorongosae (Gorongosa WM), four additional species of Rhampholeon (Species New to Science), the Mecula Girdled Lizard (ResearchGate), the skinks Scolecoseps broadleyi (ResearchGate) and Scolecoseps boulengeri (GBIF), the Bazarutu Dwarf Burrowing Skink Scelotes insularis (p. 20 of Sabinet pdf), the Montane Skink (Extinct or Shy), the round-snouted worm lizards Zygaspis maraisi (ResearchGate) and Zygaspis violacea (GBIF), Loveridge's Flat Gecko (ResearchGate), the Gorongosa Flat Gecko (Species New to Science), the Namuli Dwarf Gecko Lygodactylus regulus (Reptile Database), the Montane Forest Tree Snake Dipsadoboa montisilva (GBIF), the Mozambique Centipede Eater (Reptile Database), and the Mount Mabu Forest Viper (ResearchGate).

Amphibians unique to Mozambique include the Yellow-spotted Reed Frog Hyperolius stictus (iNaturalist) (GBIF), a poorly known ridged frog Ptychadena boettgeri (IUCN), an apparently undescribed Arthroleptis from Mount Lico (fig. B at ResearchGate), an undescribed Breviceps from Mount Socone (fig. H at ResearchGate), and four species of mongrel frogs of the genus Nothophryne (Univ. Lurio WM pdf) including the Quirimbas Mongrel Frog Nothophryne unilurio (IUCN).

Endemic mammals include Vincent’s Bush Squirrel Paraxerus vincenti (colnect) (PLAZI), the Mount Mabu Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus mabuensis (Univ. Cambridge) (GBIF), the Namuli Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus namuli (BioOne), and the Gorongosa Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus gorongosae (Species New to Science).

Endemic birds include the Namuli Apalis Apalis lynesi (ARKive WM) (eBird) and the Mozambique Forest-warbler Artisornis sousae (xeno-canto).

Killifish unique to Mozambique include Nothobranchius hengstleri (WildNothos), Nothobranchius kadleci (WildNothos), and Nothobranchius krammeri (WildNothos). Other endemic freshwater fish include the elephantfishes Petrocephalus petersi (Mormyridae WM) and Pollimyrus weyli (figs. 15-16 at Wiley) and Marcusenius lucombesi (Mormyridae WM), the Gorongoza Kneria (p. 70 of Gorongosa WM pdf), the Broadtail Mountain Catfish Amphilius laticaudatus (p. 69 of Gorongosa WM pdf), the Estuary Sandlance (FishBase), a sleeper Eleotris soaresi (fig. 4 at BHL), and several cichlids: Maylandia nigrodorsalis (MalawiCarsten), Maylandia mossambica (malawi.si WM), Cynotilapia chilundu (IUCN), Melanochromis mossambiquensis (malawi.si WM), Melanochromis wochepa (IUCN), Copadichromis cyanocephalus (IUCN), Copadichromis parvus (malawi.si WM), Chetia brevicauda (ResearchGate), Chindongo saulosi (Malawicichlids.com), and Trematocranus pachychilus (ZooKeys).

Marine fish known only from Mozambique include the African Coffinfish Chaunax africanus (figs. 4-5 at ResearchGate), the Blackfin Sweeper Pempheris peza (FishBase), Elaine's Threadfin Bream Nemipterus elaine (GBIF), the Delagoa Halfbeak Hyporhamphus improvisus (BHL), the Yellowface Sandlance Ammodytoides xanthops (FishBase), the Mozambique Dragonet Callionymus stigmatopareius (p. 461 of SAIAB pdf), the SAIAB Goatfish Upeneus saiab (Zootaxa pdf), Ida's Deepwater Cardinalfish Epigonus idai (GBIF), and the Sparcethorn Skate Rajella paucispinosa (GBIF). The Streaky Clingfish Lissonanchus lusherae (GBIF) (BHL) represents an endemic genus.

Butterflies unique to Mozambique include Acraea dondoensis (iNaturalist), Neptis collinsi (Metamorphosis pdf), Iolaus malaikae (ResearchGate), Iolaus collinsi (GBIF), Cymothoe baylissi (ResearchGate) (flickr), Leptomyrina congdoni (ResearchGate), Afriodinia lico (ResearchGate), and Teriomima williami (figs. 21-24 on p. 42 of Metamorphosis pdf). Endemic moths include a prominent moth Thacona smithi (GBIF), a tuft moth Mecothrix maputuana (GBIF), and a lichen moth Tumicla arktos (GBIF).

Other endemic insects include the scarabs Cyclomera dispar (BioLib) and Adoretus nathaliae (p. 25 of BJE WM pdf), the dung beetles Onitis janssenii (IICT WM) and Sisyphus genierorum (GBIF) and Onthophagus mabuensis (ResearchGate) and Pedaria jossoi (Gorongosa pdf), a water beetle Haliplus watsoni (BBC WM), the longhorn beetles Litopus argentatus (Cerambycidae Species WM) and Aphelogaster thomsoni (p. 7 of IRD pdf), a darkling beetle Toktokkus o-serraferrus (BioOne), a mydas fly Nomoneuroides melas (Smithsonian), the katydids Gorongosa carri (GBIF) and Ovonotus abreuae (GBIF) and Gonamytta deboisselae (Species New to Science), a wasp Aetheopompilus obliquetruncatus (WaspWeb WM), and the ants Proceratium carri (AntWiki) and Technomyrmex taylori (AntWiki),

Other endemic invertebrates include a baboon spider Augacephalus ezendami (Tarantupedia), the spiders Xevioso cepfi (GBIF) and Caerostris linnaeus (fig. 7 at EZ Lab WM pdf), a scorpion Iomachus ineichi (Scorpion Files), a harvestman Tetebius latibunus (BDJ), an undescribed land crustacean (Gorongosa WM), the freshwater crabs Potamonautes gorongosa (Species New to Science) and Potamonautes bellarussus (ResearchGate), the millipedes Hadrobolus crassicollis (GBIF) and Zinophora lobata (ResearchGate), a centipede Orphnaeus heteropodus (p. 11 of SABINET pdf), the freshwater snails Eussoia leptodonta (fig. 45g at Google Books) and Pettancylus junodi (fig. 84d at Google Books), and several land snails: Achatina vassei (Wikipedia), Trachycystis vengoensis (figs. 3-4 at BHL), Afristreptaxis vengoensis (fig. 2 at BHL), Opeas cressyi (fig. 27 at BHL), Vertigo bandulana (fig. 24 at BHL), and Dadagulella delgada (GBIF). A family of termite nest inhabiting woodlice, the Schoebliidae (fig. 8b at BHL), has been described from Mozambique.

Marine invertebrates known only from Mozambique include a slipper lobster Eduarctus perspicillatus (p. 120 of AToL Decapoda pdf), a sea cucumber Holothuria pseudonotabilis (PLAZI), and several molluscs: a miter snail Charitodoron rosadoi (Eddie Hardy), a murex Orania rosadoi (Eddie Hardy), the nudibranchs Jorunna liviae (ZSE) and Aldisa fragraria (p. 6 of biofund WM pdf), a margin snail Marginella monicae (Eddie Hardy), a cockle Nasticardium neokenyanum (BHL), a nutmeg snail Trigonostoma mozambicense (Eddie Hardy), and a family of deep sea slugs Bathyhedylidae (PeerJ). A moss animal Mixtopelta indica (bryozoa.net) (Google Books), the sole member of the Mixtopeltdae, is known only from a depth of 2606 m off the coast of Mozambique.

Among the 235 vascular plant species restricted to Mozambique (PhytoKeys) are a cycad Encephalartos munchii (Cycad Pages WM), Triaspis suffulta (Flora of Mozambique), Hartliella txitongensis (Springer), Dorstenia zambesiaca (Flora of Mozambique), Aloe rulkensii (IUCN), Streptocarpus brachynema (Flora of Mozambique), Impatiens wuerstenii (Flora of Mozambique), Euphorbia unicornis (Flora of Mozambique), Carissa praetermissa (Flora of Mozambique), Ceropegia spatuliloba (Flora of Mozambique), Pavetta pumila (Flora of Mozambique), Viscum littorum (Flora of Mozambique), Barleria torrei (iNaturalist), Casearia celastroides (ResearchGate), Triainolepis sancta (iNaturalist), Maerua brunnescens (Flora of Mozambique), Crepidorhopalon droseroides (GBIF), a mistletoe Helixanthera schizocalyx (POWO), Solanum litoraneum (Flora of Mozambique), Siphonochilus kilimanensis (iNaturalist), and an iris Tritonia moggii (Flora of Mozambique).

Endemic vascular plant genera include Gyrodoma (Flora of Mozambique), Pterothamnus (GBIF), Baptorhachis (JSTOR), and the likely extinct Emicocarpus (JSTOR) (BHL).

Trees known only from Mozambique include Zanthoxylum delagoense (Flora of Mozambique), Jatropha subaequiloba (Flora of Mozambique), Dolichandrone alba (Flora of Mozambique), Memecylon incisilobum (Species New to Science), Ozoroa gomesiana (Flora of Mozambique), Vachellia torrei (POWO), Eriolaena rulkensii (Flora of Mozambique), Millettia mossambicensis (Flora of Mozambique), Tarenna longipedicellata (Flora of Mozambique), Carpolobia suaveolens (Flora of Mozambique), Warneckea cordiformis (IUCN), Croton inhambanensis (Flora of Mozambique), Xylopia tenuipetala (Flora of Mozambique), Brachystegia oblonga (IUCN), Occultia fragrans (GBIF), Thespesia mossambicensis (Flora of Mozambique), and Grewia limae (Flora of Mozambique). Endemic tree genera include Micklethwaitia (flickr) (IUCN) and Icuria (CES WM pdf) (IUCN).

Fungi known only from Mozambique include Hexagonia zambeziana (GBIF), Inonotus globosporus (GBIF), and Antrodiella ochracea (GBIF). Endemic non-vascular plants include a moss Daltonia constricta (GBIF WM).

Mozambique includes portions of three biodiversity hotspots: the Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa (Biodiversity Hotspots WM), the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany (Biodiversity Hotspots WM), and the Eastern Afromontane (Biodiversity Hotspots WM). The South East Africa Montane Archipelago ecoregion (Nature) is especially notable for endemism. The Zambezian Coastal Flooded Savanna (WWF WM) is an ecoregion unique to Mozambique. Important freshwater ecoregions include Lake Malawi (FEOW WM) and Coastal East Africa (FEOW WM). An overview of Mozambique's biodiversity can be found at (CBD pdf). Key Biodiversity Areas are described at (biofund WM pdf) and Important Plant Areas at (IIAM pdf).