FAUNA OF THE AFRICAN LAKES. 519 



found in all the lalces under review *, but definite records are not 

 in every case available. 



In addition to the hippopotamus, there are two species of otter 

 which occur over the greater part of Africa, and there is little 

 doubt that both of these frequent the waters of the big lakes, 

 A specimen of the larger form — now known as Aonyx capensis — 

 from Lake Victoria is in the collection of the British Museum. 

 The smaller otter is known ;i.s Lntra maculicolUs. Hore refers to 

 the occurrence of otters in Tanganyika (101, p. 150), and both 

 Grogan and Bockelmann speak of them in Kivu (91, p. 123 : 

 16, p. 371), but actunl records are wanting in most cases. It 

 may nevertheless be safely assumed that both species form a part 

 of the fauna of the lakes with which this paper is concerned. 



As far as I am aware, these are the only Mammals t which are 

 recorded from tlie lakes. 



Crocodilia. 



The largest reptile and the one most in evidence in the Afi-ican 

 lakes, is, of course, the crocodile, which is extremely widely 

 distributed in tropical Africa. Two species % have been recoixled 

 as occurring in Lake Tanganyika. 



1 . CroGodilus niloticus. 



This is the common African crocodile with the most extended 

 distribution, ranging from Palestine to Natal and known also 

 from Madagascar. It is found in Nyasa and Victoria Nyanza as 

 well as in Tanganyika (see British Museum Catalogue (19) and 

 lists given by Tornier (192, 193, and 194)), but, as far as I can 

 ascertain, it has not been definitely recorded from the other big 

 lakes, though it very probably occurs in them all ||. 



2. Crocodilus cataplir actus. 



Recorded from Ujiji, eastern shore of Tanganyika, by Tornier 

 (194, p. 570). Essentially a West and Central African form, 

 extending from the Henegal to the Galjoon and nearly all over 

 the Congo. 



Ophidia. 



Four snakes adapted to an essentially aquatic life have been 

 found on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. In addition to these 



* Gvoi;-aii states tlmt tlic hippupotanius is not tbuiid in Kivu (91, ]). 122), and 

 T'oclci'hnann and ITuiideshagen vcfw to this also (16, p. 371 : 103, j). 201.). 



t Carl Peters, iu his book "New Light on Dark Africa," English translation 

 London 1891, speaks on iiage llo of having seen porpoises in the Victoria N\-an/.a. 

 There is to my mind little donht that he was misled, either bj' the apjiearance of an 

 otter or even perhaps by one of the great fishes of the lake. 



^ For spocitic distinctions and synonymy consult Honlenger (19, ]). 278 et sen.). 



\\ A statement is made by Sclndiot/, (156, )). \ix) that there are no crocodiles in 

 Lake Kdward, but this does not agree with the accounts given liy ^tlier ti-avidlcrs. 

 Grogan (91, p. 122), Hockelmann (16, p. 371), and 1 Imidcshagm (103, ]>. 2ill). 

 however, speak of the absence of crocodiles from Kivu. 



