Natural history Congo River

the beginning of livingstone falls (lower congo rapids) near kinshasa

the current course of congo river formed 1.5–2 million years bp, during pleistocene.

the congo s formation may have led allopatric speciation of bonobo , common chimpanzee recent common ancestor. bonobo endemic humid forests in region, other iconic species allen s swamp monkey, dryas monkey, aquatic genet, okapi , congo peafowl.

in terms of aquatic life, congo river basin has high species richness, , among highest known concentrations of endemics. until now, 700 fish species have been recorded congo river basin, , large sections remain virtually unstudied. far highest diversity of african river system (in comparison, next richest niger, volta , nile 210, 140 , 130 fish species, respectively). due , great ecological differences between regions in congo basin, divided multiple ecoregions (instead of treating single ecoregion). among these ecoregions, lower congo rapids alone has more 300 fish species, including approximately 80 endemics while southwestern part (kasai basin) alone has more 200 fish species, of quarter endemic. dominant fish families – @ least in parts of river – cyprinidae (carp/cyprinids, such labeo simpsoni), mormyridae (elephantfishes), alestidae (african tetras), mochokidae (squeaker catfishes), , cichlidae (cichlids). among natives in river huge, highly carnivorous giant tigerfish. 3 of more unusual endemics whitish (non-pigmented) , blind lamprologus lethops, believed live deep 160 metres (520 ft) below surface, heterochromis multidens, appears more closely related cichlids of americas other african cichlids, , caecobarbus geertsii, known cavefish in central africa. there numerous endemic frogs , snails. several hydroelectric dams planned on river, , these may lead extinction of many of endemics.

several species of turtles, , slender-snouted, nile , dwarf crocodile native congo river basin. african manatees inhabit lower parts of river.