Panthera leo (Linnaeus, 1758)

Amori, Giovanni, Segniagbeto, Gabriel Hoinsoude, Decher, Jan, Assou, Delagnon, Gippoliti, Spartaco & Luiselli, Luca, 2016, Non-marine mammals of Togo (West Africa): an annotated checklist, Zoosystema 38 (2), pp. 201-244 : 212-213

Panthera leo (Linnaeus, 1758) ◉

( Fig. 8 )

HISTORICAL LITERATURE. — The lion was recorded by Matschie (1893b) from Naparri, located not far from Bismarckburg (Adéle).

VOUCHERS. — Eight vouchers are deposited in the ZMB. These vouchers originated from Atakpamé, Tschandyo, and Mkalamo.

ORIGINAL DATA. — A full skin was observed at the Lomé fetish market in 2014 ( Fig. 8 ). Interviews conducted in villages around Fazao Malfakassa National Park and with park managers suggest that some lions might be still present in this park ( Segniagbeto et al. 2015b). Although there is no direct evidence/sign that this information is true, there is urgent need to undertake field surveys to eventually explore whether the presence of this emblematic species may be confirmed in this park.

REMARK

According to Chardonnet (2002), some individuals can be transient in Togo. It certainly occurred in Togo till the 1980s ( Chardonnet et al. 1990) but Henschel (2014) considered it now extinct.

Panthera pardus (Linnaeus, 1758) ▶

HISTORICAL LITERATURE. — This species was first recorded in Togo by Matschie (1893b) for Bismarkburg (Adéle) and Naparri. It was also recorded in Oti-Keran and Fazao Malkafassa National Parks ( Chardonnet et al. 1990).

VOUCHERS. — Six vouchers are deposited in the ZMB. These vouchers originated from unprecise localities in southern Togo and at Bowolem.

ORIGINAL DATA. — Leopards were recorded in 2013 in Djambé Faunal Reseve (A. Aidam et al. unpublished), and in 2014-2015 in Fazao Malkafassa National Park ( Segniagbeto et al. 2015b).

Figures

FIG. 8. — A lion (Panthera leo (Linnaeus, 1758)) skin at Lomé market (April 2013). These felids are probably extinct in Togo, although vagrant individuals are sometimes observed as they come from Benin. Photograph: Fabio Petrozzi.