National Museums Of Kenya Research Articles

Modeling Habitat Suitability for Cerithidea rhizophorarum and Telescopium telescopium in Indo-West Pacific Mangroves.

Mangroves provide habitat for a diverse array of marine species, especially snails. We used a MaxEnt model to predict potential global suitable habitat for Cerithidea rhizophorarum and Telescopium telescopium in the family Potamididae. A total of 667 occurrence data were obtained from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) with the following sub-data set contribution, "iNaturalist Research Grade Observations" (85%), "International Barcode of Life project (iBOL)" (7%), "FBIP: SeaKeys_SANBI: Marine images iSpot_2013" (1%), "A dataset of marine macroinvertebrate diversity from Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe" (1%), occurrence data of some marine invertebrates and freshwater crabs housed in the natural history collection at the National Museums of Kenya (1%), and Natural History Museum Rotterdam-Specimens (1%). Our results showed that temperature with a contribution of above 80% in the present and future model is the most important driver of the distribution of mangrove snails. In the present and future models, the most potentially suitable habitats for C. rhizophorarum and T. telescopium were observed along coastal areas with a temperature between 20°C-21°C and 30°C, respectively. Our model predicts that by 2100, high-suitability areas will shrink as a result of global warming. The vulnerability of mangrove snails under future climate conditions is evident in our results. Our findings contribute significant insights into the intricate relationship between mangrove habitats and mangrove snails, offering a valuable foundation for conservation initiatives aimed at safeguarding the biodiversity and ecological functions of these crucial coastal ecosystems in the face of changing global environmental conditions.

The role of digital humanities in the preservation of indigenous knowledge at the National Museums of Kenya

Rationale of Study – Digital humanities offer new possibilities for preserving and sharing indigenous knowledge. This paper investigates the role of digital humanities in preserving indigenous knowledge at the National Museums of Kenya. The objectives are to determine the extent to which digital humanities are used in the management, preservation and showcase of indigenous knowledge at the National Museums of Kenya and establish the challenges and opportunities in the use of digital humanities in the preservation of indigenous knowledge.Methodology – A qualitative research method was adopted to collect qualitative data from the literature review and purposely selected museum staff through interviews. Data was analysed thematically.Findings – The findings indicate that preservation and management of indigenous knowledge are crucial for maintaining cultural identity, facilitating knowledge sharing, and raising awareness about the richness and diversity of indigenous cultures in Kenya and beyond.Implications – The study's results can serve as a model for similar initiatives in Africa and beyond.Originality – This is an original paper which investigates the role of digital humanities in preserving indigenous knowledge at the National Museums of Kenya.

Anthropology, indigenous methodology, and the restatement of African laws: lessons from research collaborations in Kenya

A research collaboration at the National Museums of Kenya since 2005 has resulted in the publication of several books. The project’s focus is the participatory documentation of the indigenous knowledge systems of the Amîîrû communities of the Kenyan central highlands. A confluence of disciplines and perspectives creates a forum for knowledge sharing, dissemination, and creation. This study describes the development of this collaboration, along with the challenges that have been overcome, including a methodological controversy: a gap exists between an anti-essentialist ethnography with empirical case studies, in which I have long-standing anthropological confidence, and indigenous essentialism, the approach of providing a generalised description of a culture, favoured by authors from the source communities. This study evaluates the latter approach within the socio-cultural contexts of the Amîîrû community and a controversy over the (un)certainty of African customary laws. I distinguish between two essentialisms – indigenous and strategic – and argue that the former can provide a bridge to the legal essentialism that characterises the Restatement of African Law books. I argue that this framework can inform the collaborative task of revising what is already in place to ascertain African law. Further, the task requires bridging the generalised description and empirical case methods.

Fostering Market Penetration Strategies for Sustainable Conservation of Heritage Sites in Nyeri County, Kenya

Sustainable conservation has become popular in tourism, accepted by developers and stakeholders as an economically viable, socially acceptable, and environmentally friendly model for heritage tourism development models. However, heritage tourism encounters challenges like cultural commercialization, deterioration, development pressure, marketing gaps, and insufficient maintenance. Consequently, Kenya has prioritized long-term heritage tourism development goals to realize Vision 2030. This paper examines how market penetration strategies can leverage the sustainable conservation of heritage sites in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive survey design, targeting the local community members, tourists visiting the heritage sites, key informants from the local government of Nyeri, officials from the National Museums of Kenya, and site supervisors. The sample size was 762 respondents, 11 were interviewed, and 752 were administered questionnaires. The results of correlation analysis revealed that market penetration strategies exhibited a positive and statistically significant relationship with sustainable conservation (r=0.620, P=0.000), explaining 38.4% of heritage sites' sustainable conservation variations. The study concludes that market penetration catalyzes the sustainable preservation of heritage sites. The study recommends integrating heritage sites into the County's economic plans and employing a comprehensive approach that engages the local community at all stages. This approach should encompass these sites' social, cultural, and economic importance for the local population. Furthermore, the findings highlight the need for a collaborative effort involving multiple government levels and diverse agencies to develop, expand, and market heritage products, with due consideration for biodiversity conservation. Keywords: Biodiversity, Heritage Sites, Market Penetration Strategies, Nyeri County, Sustainable Conservation, Tourism.

DIGITAL KITAMBO: DECOLONISING NARRATIVES AND BRINGING THE PAST INTO THE FUTURE AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF KENYA

The Swahili word ‘kitambo’, which refers to occurrences in the past that are understood to be at least indirectly connected to the speaker, can be used to describe experimental museology through digital cultural heritage. There is a need to improve access and enhance conservation goals within African cultural heritage institutions, and the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) has been developing innovative technologies and communication tools with the Kenya Heritage Resource Information System (KEHRIS). This paper will discuss Digital Kitambo—a pilot project completed at NMK from 2013 – 2019 to create the spatially integrated database KEHRIS, digitise 10,000 artefacts and specimens from the archaeology and palaeontology collections, and develop digital learning programmes to engage a wider audience. Qualitative research methodology included participant observation, qualitative interviews and focus groups with museum staff as well as focus groups with primary and secondary teachers to develop curricula for local schools. This paper traces the evolution of Digital Kitambo from its inception and reflects on both the successes and shortcomings of the initiative with particular attention to its goals of decolonising the museum’s collections and contributing to new national narratives by engaging the public through digital initiatives.

DIGITAL KITAMBO: DECOLONISING NARRATIVES AND BRINGING THE PAST INTO THE FUTURE AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF KENYA

The Swahili word ‘kitambo’, which refers to occurrences in the past that are understood to be at least indirectly connected to the speaker, can be used to describe experimental museology through digital cultural heritage. There is a need to improve access and enhance conservation goals within African cultural heritage institutions, and the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) has been developing innovative technologies and communication tools with the Kenya Heritage Resource Information System (KEHRIS). This paper will discuss Digital Kitambo—a pilot project completed at NMK from 2013 – 2019 to create the spatially integrated database KEHRIS, digitise 10,000 artefacts and specimens from the archaeology and palaeontology collections, and develop digital learning programmes to engage a wider audience. Qualitative research methodology included participant observation, qualitative interviews and focus groups with museum staff as well as focus groups with primary and secondary teachers to develop curricula for local schools. This paper traces the evolution of Digital Kitambo from its inception and reflects on both the successes and shortcomings of the initiative with particular attention to its goals of decolonising the museum’s collections and contributing to new national narratives by engaging the public through digital initiatives.

An assessment of selection and acquisition practices in meeting library users' information needs at Kenyan National Museum Library

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show how quality information materials are maintained in Kenyan museum libraries by examining collection development policy, skills and processes used by librarians in acquisition.Design/methodology/approachA total of 137 respondents, which included 130 registered library users and seven members of staff, completed the questionnaires. This included the principal librarian, for whom an interview schedule was used to collect the required data. A pilot study to ensure data validity and reliability was carried out at the Kenya Medical Research Institute Library. Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS) was used to analyze the research data.FindingsThe findings, which were presented both textually and graphically, show that the National Museum of Kenya library lacks a collection development policy to guide the acquisition process, as well as a diverse set of information resources that are both comprehensive and current to meet the current user information needs. Furthermore, the key impediment to the acquisition of information materials was revealed to be financial constraints, and there was a positive effort to involve library users in the acquisition process.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focus on library users and library staff at the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) library in Nairobi, it may not be, therefore, representative of the acquisition processes at all Kenyan museum libraries. Although NMK has other branches across the country, they were not included in this study.Practical implicationsThis paper purposes to provide the Kenyan museum library with important information about maintaining quality information materials from the perspectives of librarians and library users. Despite efforts to improve information materials, the management faces financial challenges.Social implicationsThe study unveils underlying picture in selection and acquisition practices which will inform on meeting library users information needs.Originality/valueThe paper is of value as a case study of Kenya Museums Library.

Morphological Identification of Edible Termites (Isoptera) in Luanda Sub-County, Kenya

Termites are social insects that live in colonies underground. Globally, there are 3000 termite species, of which 39% are found in Africa. Termites are used as food and livestock feed in most communities of the world. In Kenya, termites are consumed by many communities, especially in the western region. Termite species diversity across different parts of the Luanda sub-county was established as there are many edible and non-edible species in the area. This study assessed the species diversity of termites in Luanda sub-county, and characterized them morphologically. Termites were sampled in Luanda sub-county using the line transect method. The collected termites were preserved in tubes containing 70% Ethanol. The preserved samples were taken to the National Museums of Kenya for morphological identification up to species level. Species richness of each habitat was analyzed for diversity (Shannon-Wiener) index and Shannon index by using Vegan package version 1.16 - 32 in R. The differences in species composition and diversity of termites were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Morphological identification recorded seven species, namely, Macrotermes herus, Macrotermes spp1, Macrotermes sp1, Pseudocanthotermes grandiceps, Macrotermes bellicosus, Macrotermes spp2 and Pseudocanthotermes militaris. The results of this study showed that the Shannon diversity index H was 0.3606 while Simpson index D was 0.20644, which implied a high species diversity of termites in Luanda sub-county a leading producer of edible termites in Kenya.

Development of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Fingerprints for Warburgia Ugandensis Herbal Materials

Warbugia ugandensis (W. ugandensis) is among the 10 most utilised medicinal plants in East Africa. Stem bark and leaves are used as remedies for malaria, stomachache, coughs and skin diseases. Consequently, the plant is endangered because of uncontrolled harvest and lack of domestication. There is therefore fear of poor quality commercialised products due to lack of evaluation mechanisms. This study explored the chemical profiles that could be used to confirm its authenticity and purity. W. ugandensis used as reference during method development was harvested from Kenyatta University Medicinal Plant Research Garden (KUMPRG). Six other samples were obtained from different geographical locations in Kenya. The samples were identified by a botanist and a voucher specimen (MO/002- 008/2013) deposited in the East African Herbarium, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi. Samples were harvested and processed by World Health Organization (WHO) recommended methods. Chromatographic profiles of the leaf and stem bark were established based on parameters arrived at iteratively. The study characterised over 100 compounds in the leaf and stem bark. Based on area percent and known medicinal value, 22 compounds from the leaf and 38 from the stem bark were selected as major chemical profiles. The compounds in the stem bark included gamma-sitosterol (1.0%–2.5%), squalene (0.2%–4.6%), isolongifolene (1.2%–2.8%), phenol 2-methoxy (0.8%–1.8%) and nerolidol (0.3%–1.5%). Those in the leaf included nerolidol 2 (0.3%–1.1%), phytol (0.6%–1.7%), 2-methoxy phenol (0.2%– 2.2%), gamma-tocopherol (0.2%–0.9%), vitamin E (0.4%–1.5%) and gamma-sitosterol (1.8%–4.9%). Most of these compounds were characterised in W. ugandensis for the first time. The profiles therefore can form fingerprints for use to evaluate its quality, purity and authenticity.

Geographical and temporal distribution of hawkmoth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) species in Africa.

BackgroundHawkmoths consist of species where most adults are nocturnal, but there are some day-flying genera. Hawkmoth species have a wide variety of life-history traits, comprising species with adults (mostly nectarivorous though with some exceptions, honey-feeding), but there are also species that do not feed at all. The nectarivorous species are an important component of tropical ecosystems, with significant roles as major pollinators of both crops and wild flora with the pollination done by the adult stage. Pollinators are in decline world-wide and there is need for baseline data to provide information about their conservation strategies. Species occurrence data from Museum collections have been shown to be of great value as a tool for prioritising conservation actions in Africa. The National Museums of Kenya (NMK) have a large and active entomology collection that is in continuous growth. The NMK’s collection of hawkmoths had not been digitised prior to 2017. This moth family Sphingidae includes about 1,602 species and 205 genera worldwide (Kitching et al. 2018) with the majority of these species occurring in Africa. These moth species can also be used as indicators in biodiversity assessments as they can be easily sampled and identified. However, hawkmoths have rarely been surveyed over the long term for this purpose. Long-term datasets are of unquestionable significance for understanding and monitoring temporal changes in biodiversity. These hawkmoth data have addressed one of the most significant challenges to insect conservation, the lack of baseline information concerning species diversity and distribution and have provided key historic hawkmoth species diversity and distribution data that can be used to monitor their populations in the face of climate change and other environmental degradation issues that are facing the world today. The publication of the hawkmoth species occurrence data records in GBIF has enhanced data visibility to a wider audience promoting availability for use.New informationThe hawkmoth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) collection at the National Museums of Kenya was digitised from 2017 – 2020 and this paper presents details of species occurrence records as in the insect collection at the NMK, Nairobi, Kenya.The collection holds 5,095 voucher specimens consisting of 88 genera and 208 species. The collection covers the period between 1904 and 2020.The geographical distribution of the hawkmoths housed at the NMK covers East Africa at 81.41%, West Africa at 7.20%, Southern Africa at 6.89%, Central Africa at 4.02% and North Africa at 0.2%.

Three new species of the genus Toxoniella (Araneae, Liocranidae) from Mount Kenya National Park, Kenya

Three new species of the genusToxoniellaWarui & Jocqué, 2002 of the family Liocranidae Simon, 1897 are described from Kenya:T. tharakaOketch & Li,sp. nov.,T. waruiiOketch & Li,sp. nov., andT. nyeriOketch & Li,sp. nov.Types are deposited in the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), Nairobi, Kenya.

Two species of Talitridae (Crustacea, Amphipoda) from Kenya.

Two species of the family Talitridae Rafinesque, 1815 are described from English Point Beach, Mkomani, Mombasa, Kenya. One new species Floresorchestia mkomani Bichang'a Hou, sp. nov. is reported and Gazia gazi Lowry Springthorpe, 2019 is redescribed. The new species is characterized by the five dentate lacinia mobilis on the left mandible in male and only four in female, pereopod IV dactylus thickened proximally and having a small protrusion towards the mid of its posterior margin, a sexually dimorphic pereopod VII, and the presence of vertical slits just above the ventral margin of epimera II and III. Detailed morphological characteristics, as well as comparisons with closely related species are provided. To ascertain the species delimitation, molecular evidence is availed in this paper. Type material is deposited in National Museums of Kenya (NMK).

Homogeneity in cranial biometrics and bill morphology is verified by measurements from The Gambia, Botswana and Kenya in the case of the putative sub-species of the highly commensal Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus monachus and non-commensal Necrosyrte

We present biometrical data assembled from a combined total of 37 complete and partially cleaned skulls and feathered heads for the two putative subspecies of Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus monachus and N. m. pileatus (which Mundy et al. (1992) credibly argue should be N. m. carunculatus). We report on mostly insignificant variation in measurements taken from across three regions of the Hooded Vulture range. For N. m. pileatus (n = 22) the measurements are assembled from 13 live birds captured, tagged and released in Botswana between 2014-2017, seven museum specimens held in The National Museums of Kenya collected during 1913-1950, and two as described below. We compare with N. m. monachus (n = 14) where we measured eight specimens produced by road traffic accidents in The Gambia 2002-2019 of which seven are cleaned bare skulls and one a feathered study skin. We also measured six feathered heads and three skulls from several different countries in Africa, collected during 1832-1929 (n = 6 monachus, 2 pileatus, and 1 unknown) and held at the Natural History Museum, Tring, UK. Cranial materials for Hooded Vulture are scarce in world museums and the Gambian sample consisting of seven cleaned skulls represents the largest known number for a single country. Different populations across the regions vary considerably in both feeding habits and home ranges. We hypothesised that different foraging ecologies may have led to adaptation in bill morphology. Presented here for the first time are a series of skull morphometrics which test for variation in cranial biometrics and bill morphology from across the range of the Hooded Vulture. The Gambian bird has been DNA sequenced and a planned genetics study of other populations will resolve the long-standing taxonomic debate.

SEX DIFFERENCES IN THE ANTERIOR ACETABULAR RIDGE MORPHOLOGY

Objectives: The anterior acetabular ridge morphology, an important consideration in the design of hip prosthesis, shows marked interethnic variability. There is however a paucity of local data highlighting the prevalence of the various anterior acetabular ridge shapes. Furthermore, sex-related differences have hardly been documented. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the shapes of the anterior acetabular ridge in a sample Kenyan population and the sex differences therein. Methods: Ninety-four paired hip bones (44 female, 50 male) from the osteology collection at the National Museums of Kenya were studied. The shape of the anterior acetabular ridge was determined and recorded. Results: The anterior acetabular ridge was curved in 34% of cases, straight in 24.5%, angular in 21.3% and in irregular 20.2% of the cases. The curved type was more frequent in females (50.0%) compared to males (20.0%). Conclusion: Sexual dimorphism influences anterior acetabular ridge morphology and which should be borne in mind during acetabular reconstructive procedures and design of acetabular prosthesis.

Pests of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus Ostreatus) in Western Kenya

Productivity of oyster mushrooms has been hampered by pests but little is known about them. Pest spectrum of oyster mushroom on farms in western Kenya was investigated. Oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus was established at three sites namely; old mushroom farm, new mushroom farm and on-station during short rains, dry season and long rains in Butere constituency Kakamega County between September 2012 and August 2013. Pests were sampled weekly and identified using taxonomic keys at the National Museums of Kenya. The mite Pygmephorus spp. (Acaridae) and dipterans Megaselia scalaris (Phoridae), Bradysia spp. (Sciaridae), Culicoides spp. (Ceratopogonidae) and Anatrichus spp. (Chloropidae) were identified. All the other pests except Bradysia spp. were reported at the three sites across the three seasons. The incidences of all these pests were reported only during the incubation phase of oyster mushroom. Incidences of M. scalaris were 42% of the total four pests that were sampled followed by Culicoides spp. at 33% with that of Pygmephorus spp. being 17% while that of Anatrichus spp. being 8%. Pygmephorus spp. was vectored by M. scalaris hence the incidence of Pygmephorus spp. depended on M. scalaris. These two pests were found to be pests of economic importance in oyster mushroom production causing both direct and indirect damage on oyster mushroom. The old mushroom farm reported high incidences of these two pests, with the new mushroom farm recording the lowest incidences. Equally the short rains recorded high incidences these two pests with long rains recording low incidences. Although Bradysia spp. has been considered a major mushroom pest, it was found to be a minor in the area of study.

The Role of the National Construction Authority in the Conservation of Vernacular Architectural Heritage

Vernacular architecture is a malleable concept that encompasses structures produced by empirical/ experiential builders. It is sometimes referred to as indigenous, primitive, ethnic or even architecture without architects. Vernacular architectural heritage often found in rural areas and historic urban areas and villages represent a cultural heritage that has been handed down from one generation to the next. This heritage is under threat from modernising forces which cause deterioration in cultural and historical continuity. It is important to conserve this architecture and associated technologies for posterity. Both tangible and intangible heritage of vernacular architecture is threatened through blatant negligence, emergent and more profitable modes of construction, and lack of funds for minimum maintenance. To a large extent, this heritage is quickly deteriorating and disappearing into the hands of vandals and illegal traders due to the lack of appropriate conservation, sensitisation and training for the public and heritage professionals in the conservation of materials and practices. The paper explores the vernacular heritage in Kenya, the state of its conservation and the risks associated with its conservation. It is argued that since NCA is mandated inter alia to undertake research into any matter relating to the construction industry, it should complement the efforts of the National Museums of Kenya in the conservation of cultural heritage in so far as materials and building technologies are concerned. There is no clear legal framework for the conservation of vernacular architecture in place and it is often lumped together with other popular forms of architecture which have well-defined and documented historical trends. Emphasis has been on urban architecture in Kenya. The paper established that vernacular heritage has only been haphazardly conserved, with no clear management, documentation and preservation policies. The paper found that no resources are specifically set aside for the conservation of these heritages. The theoretical analysis concludes that vernacular architecture in Kenya has been neglected and exposed to deterioration. It also points out that the level of public sensitisation on the heritage is low and its conservation and management needs have been ignored. The study, therefore, recommends public sensitisation, preventive and interventive conservation and appropriate policies to save the heritage from imminent loss. It further suggests that detailed documentation of vernacular building materials and technology should be undertaken as a matter of urgency.

Preliminary Phytochemical Screening of Five Plants as Possible Antileishmaniasis Control Agent

Leishmaniasis is a major public health problem globally and manifests in three clinical forms including visceral cutaneous and mucocutaneous. Visceral leishmaniasis is fatal if left untreated for a period of 2 years, while cutaneous leishmaniasis cause crusted papules or ulcers on exposed skin. Plant families containing active compounds against other protozoan diseases may be suitable against leishmania parasites. This study report the compounds extracted from five plants (Olea europaea, Kigelia Africana, Terminalia mollis, Croton macrostachyus and Bridella micrantha extracts). The plants were collected from Baringo County in Kenya and authenticated at the National Museums of Kenya (Department of Botany). The plant samples were dried, pulverized into fine powders and extracted using methanol at the Center for Traditional Medicine and Drugs Research, KEMRI. The plant extracts contained varying amounts of phytochemical compounds such as tannins, phenols, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, saponins, anthraquinone, cardiac glycoside, polyphenols, cumarins, anthocyanins, trepenoids, glycosides and triterpenoids. The presence of tannins, flavanoids, alkaloids and saponins with known biological activities offer opportunity to test these compounds against leishmania parasites.

Sex determination from dimensions of distal tibiae in adult Kenyans: A discriminant function analysis

PurposeTo assess the utility of the dimensions of the distal tibial articular surface in determining the sex of an individual in a sample Kenyan population. Basic proceduresA total of 156 tibiae were obtained for the present study from the Department of Human Anatomy, University of Nairobi and the osteology collection of the National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi. Measurements were taken directly from the bone using a digital pair of vernier calipers (Sealey Professional Tools™). Morphometric data were analyzed and measurements were expressed in means ± standard deviation. The independent Student's t-test was used to determine statistically significant differences in the means of the measured morphometric variables between male and female subjects. A step-wise multivariate discriminant analysis was carried out to produce a linear function to compare the measurements of the tibia. Main findingsMale subjects had statistically significant (p <0.05) larger dimensions of the fibular incisura, tibial plafond and medial malleolus. The width of the tibial plafond had the highest discriminating power amongst the measured dimensions of the tibia correctly classifying 73.0% of tibiae. Principal conclusionThe width of the tibial plafond has high discriminative power in sex determination using the dimensions of the distal tibia. The linear equation derived from incorporating the length of the tibial plafond and the depth of the fibular incisura could correctly classify 75.7% of the tibiae. The dimensions of the distal tibial articular surfaces can therefore be used in determination of the sex of an individual with reasonable accuracy.

Swallowtail butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) species diversity and distribution in Africa: The Papilionidae collection at the National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya.

BackgroundSpecies data from the Museum collections have been shown to be of great value as a tool for prioritising conservation actions in Africa (Fjeldsa and Tushabe 2005). The National Museums of Kenya (NMK) have an entomology collection, housed in 4,000 drawers in cabinets that contain over 1.5 million specimens, including the largest butterfly collection in Africa (Arnett et al. 1997). Lampe and Striebing (2005) demonstrated how to digitise large insect collections in order to make their associated label data into databases that can be used for functions, such as creating distribution maps. The NMK’s swallowtail butterflies' collection had not been digitised and thus there was a need to capture the label data to create a database that can be used for mapping the distribution of the species in Kenya and elsewhere. These data have addressed one of the most significant challenges to insect conservation i.e. the lack of baseline information concerning species diversity and distribution (Summerville and Crist 2003). These data have provided key historic papilionid species diversity and distribution data that can be used to monitor their populations, as butterflies are declining due to changes in land use, intensive agriculture and pestcide use, diseases and pest and climate change (Potts et al. 2016; Bongaarts 2019). The publication of the occurrence data records in GBIF has been undertaken, thus making the data available to a wider audience and promoting availability for use.New informationThe swallowtail butterflies collection at the National Museums of Kenya was digitised from 2017–2019 and this paper presents details of the Papilionid collection at the Zoology Department, NMK, Nairobi, Kenya.The collection holds 7,345 voucher specimens, consisting of three genera and 133 species. The collection covers the period between 1850 to 2019.The distribution of the swallowtail butterflies, housed at the NMK, covers East Africa with 88%, Central Africa (6%), Western Africa (4%) and Southern Africa (2%).

Taxonomic studies on seven species of the genus Opopaea (Araneae, Oonopidae) from Kenya

Seven species of the genus Opopaea Simon, 1892 from Kenya are recognized, including five new species: O. berlandi (Simon &amp;amp; Fage, 1922), O. kulczynskii (Berland, 1914), O. makadara Tong &amp;amp; Li, sp. nov. (♀♂), O. ngangao Tong &amp;amp; Li, sp. nov. (♀♂), O. ngulia Tong &amp;amp; Li, sp. nov. (♂), O. sheldrick Tong &amp;amp; Li, sp. nov. (♀♂), and O. wundanyi Tong &amp;amp; Li, sp. nov. (♀♂). Morphological descriptions and illustrations of all the species are given. All types are preserved in the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi, Kenya (NMK).