A Review of Fauna and Flora Associated with Coastal and Inland Saline Flats from Namibia with Special Reference to the Etosha Pan

Abstract

Coastal saline flats are often frequented by a plethora of migratory birds, mainly waders, and mammals such as the elusive Brown Hyaena (Hyaena brunnea) and Black-backed Jackal (Canis mesomelas). Inland saline flats, particularly Etosha Pan, which is fringed by broad- and fine-leafed arid savanna woodlands, teem with a variety of game. Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) and Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) also occasionally breed on the Etosha Pan depending on local rainfall. Only vegetation adapted to halophytic conditions occur in association with saline systems in Namibia. Grasses such as Sporobolus salsu and Sporobolus spicatus may occasionally occur on the Etosha Pan while the succulent-like perennial herbs such as Salicornia natalensis and Anthrocnemum africanum may grow in the coastal saline conditions. Although no fauna and flora are exclusively known to be associated with saline flats in Namibia, these habitats are important for wildlife mainly due to the vegetation (i.e. source of food and shelter) surrounding these flats, fountains (i.e. source of water) often associated with these flats and breeding/feeding/resting sites for migrant waders and other birds.