Species Classifications
Systematic classification of Kenya's diverse flora and fauna across multiple ecosystems
235
Total Species Documented300
Distinct Ecosystems12.3%
Endemic SpeciesAnimal Kingdom (Animalia)
Mammals (Mammalia)
142 species
Carnivores: 23
Herbivores: 89
Primates: 8
Birds (Aves)
1,136 species
Raptors: 67
Waterbirds: 156
Endemic: 23
Reptiles (Reptilia)
156 species
Snakes: 89
Lizards: 45
Turtles: 7
Amphibians (Amphibia)
89 species
Frogs: 67
Toads: 18
Caecilians: 4
Fish (Pisces)
456 species
Marine: 278
Freshwater: 156
Cichlids: 89
Invertebrates
25,000+ species
Beetles: 8,500+
Butterflies: 1,200+
Spiders: 2,300+
Conservation Status Overview
Critically Endangered
12 species
Endangered
28 species
Vulnerable
45 species
Least Concern
1,850+ species
Plant Kingdom (Plantae)
Trees (Woody Plants)
387 species
Indigenous: 298
Exotic: 89
Fruit trees: 67
Shrubs & Bushes
543 species
Medicinal: 234
Ornamental: 156
Wild: 153
Herbs & Forbs
1,523 species
Medicinal: 890
Food: 345
Wild: 288
Grasses (Poaceae)
467 species
Savanna: 234
Wetland: 89
Pasture: 144
Ferns & Allies
78 species
Tree ferns: 12
Ground ferns: 55
Epiphytes: 11
Algae & Bryophytes
289 species
Marine algae: 156
Mosses: 89
Liverworts: 44
Economic Importance
Timber
67 species
Medicinal
1,124 species
Food/Crops
234 species
Ornamental
456 species
Ecosystem Distribution & Biodiversity Hotspots
Forest Ecosystems
Montane Forests: 15 distinct types
Above 1,500m elevation
Coastal Forests: 8 unique types
Endemic species rich
Dry Forests: 12 formations
Acacia and Commiphora dominated
Riverine Forests: 6 riparian types
Critical wildlife corridors
Savanna Ecosystems
Acacia Savannas: 6 distinct types
Umbrella thorn dominated
Grassland Savannas: 4 major types
Seasonal migration routes
Woodland Savannas: 5 formations
Miombo and Combretum woodlands
Bushland Savannas: 3 types
Arid and semi-arid lands
Aquatic Ecosystems
Freshwater Lakes: 8 major systems
Including Rift Valley lakes
Rivers & Streams: 200+ water bodies
Permanent and seasonal
Wetlands: 60 designated sites
Ramsar Convention sites
Marine Coastal: 4 distinct zones
Coral reefs and mangroves
Biodiversity Significance
Kenya encompasses only 0.8% of the world's land area but hosts approximately 5% of global biodiversity, making it one of the world's most biodiverse countries per unit area. The country serves as a critical corridor for species migration between the Afrotropical and Palearctic regions.
Taxonomic Classification System
Kingdom
Phylum/Division
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Classification Example
African Elephant
Loxodonta africana
Full Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Family: Elephantidae
Genus: Loxodonta
Species: L. africana
Loxodonta africana
Full Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Family: Elephantidae
Genus: Loxodonta
Species: L. africana
Did You Know?
Kenya has described approximately 35% of its estimated total biodiversity. New species are discovered annually, with an average of 15-20 new species documented each year by local and international researchers.Conservation Priorities & Status
Critically Endangered Species
Black Rhino
Diceros bicornis
Population: ~800
Diceros bicornis
Grevy's Zebra
Equus grevyii
Population: ~3,000
Equus grevyii
Hirola Antelope
Beatragus hunteri
Population: ~500
Beatragus hunteri
Tana River Red Colobus
Piliocolobus rufomitratus
Population: ~1,200
Piliocolobus rufomitratus
Endemic Species Highlights
Birds: 15% endemic
23 species found nowhere else
23 species found nowhere else
Mammals: 12% endemic
17 unique species
17 unique species
Reptiles: 20% endemic
31 unique species
31 unique species
Plants: 25% endemic
760+ unique species
760+ unique species
Conservation Success
Kenya's protected area network covers 12.7% of the country's land area and includes 54 national parks and reserves, supporting 89% of the country's documented wildlife species.Research & Monitoring Programs
Camera Trapping
Automated wildlife monitoring using motion-activated cameras
1,247 Camera Sites
500,000+ Images/Year
Monitoring 89% of large mammal species
Telemetry Studies
GPS collaring and tracking of wildlife movements
567 Animals Collared
45 Species Tracked
Migration routes and habitat use patterns
Population Surveys
Annual population counts and health assessments
Annual Censuses
1,200+ Survey Sites
Population trends and demographic data
Genetic Studies
DNA analysis for species identification and conservation genetics
15,000+ Samples
234 Species Analyzed
Genetic diversity and population structure
Research Partnerships
- Kenya Wildlife Service
- University of Nairobi
- Smithsonian Institution
- Max Planck Institute
- Wildlife Conservation Society
Recent Discoveries
- New chameleon species (2024)
- 3 new plant species (2024)
- Endemic butterfly genus (2023)
- New cichlid fish (2023)
- Rediscovered bird species (2023)
Data Sources & Scientific Databases
National Databases
Kenya Wildlife Service Database
Wildlife population and distribution data
2.1M records
Wildlife population and distribution data
National Museums of Kenya
Specimen collections and taxonomy
1.8M specimens
Specimen collections and taxonomy
Kenya Forest Service
Forest inventory and plant species
890K records
Forest inventory and plant species
Marine Fisheries Research
Marine and coastal biodiversity
456K records
Marine and coastal biodiversity
International Partnerships
GBIF Platform
Global Biodiversity Information Facility
3.2M records
Global Biodiversity Information Facility
IUCN Red List
Global conservation status assessments
156 assessments
Global conservation status assessments
CITES Database
International trade monitoring
89 species
International trade monitoring
iNaturalist Platform
Citizen science observations
267K observations
Citizen science observations
Data Integration Status
89%
Vertebrate Data Integrated
67%
Plant Data Digitized
34%
Invertebrate Records
78%
Spatial Data Coverage
Digital Resources
Species Checklist
Complete taxonomic listing
PDF
Complete taxonomic listing
Distribution Maps
Species occurrence data
GIS
Species occurrence data
Population Trends
Multi-year analysis
CSV
Multi-year analysis
Conservation Status
IUCN assessments
JSON
IUCN assessments
Photo Gallery
High-res species images
ZIP
High-res species images
API Documentation
Developer resources
API
Developer resources