| FishBase | Complete | Literature | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Families | Species | Families | |||
| Marine | 519 | 158 | No | Quéro, J.-C., J.-C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.), 1990 | ||
| Freshwater | 286 | 33 | No | Daget, J., J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde, 1984 | ||
| Total | 787 | 177 | No | |||
| Conservation | The following information is to be sought: - Status of knowledge of the freshwater fauna; - Existence of conservation plans; - Information on major aquatic habitats or sites within the country; - Current major threats to species; - Future potential threats to species; - Contact(s) for further information. |
| Geography and Climate |
Gabon is divided into two main zones:
(a) a low-lying coastal region; and
(b) an interior plateau which is transected by river valleys and mountain chains of about 900 m in altitude. The highest peak is 1,550 m.
The climate is hot and humid with a long cold dry season from June to September, a short rainy season from October to December, a short dry season from December to January, and a long rainy season from January to May.
Gabon is very sparsely populated. The main commercial activity is forestry, the majority of the country being thickly wooded. Ref. Vanden Bossche, J.-P. and G.M. Bernacsek, 1990 |
| Hydrography |
Lakes: there are several freshwater lakes associated with the Ogoouè River floodplain (Lake Onague, Azingo, Anengue, Gome, Nkonie and Nguene). Lake Mandji lies on the lower Nyanga River. A complex of four small lakes near Bongo (Lakes Longo-longo, Kisoro, Mafoumi and Gore) discharge into Ndogo Lagoon.
Rivers, floodplains and swamps: the main river in the country is Ogoouè which rises in the highlands of the Congo but flows for 820 km through Gabon to discharge into the Atlantic at Port Gentil. There are several other rivers draining this wet and forested country, i.e., the Nyanga, the Benito and a series of tributaries of the Ogoouè. Floodplains are developed on the lower Ogoouè and its two tributaries, the Ngounie and the Ivindo.
Reservoirs: none.
Coastal lagoons: there are four major (Nkomi, Ngobe, Ndogo and Mbia) and several minor lagoons. Ref. Vanden Bossche, J.-P. and G.M. Bernacsek, 1990 |