| FishBase | Complete | Literature | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Families | Species | Families | |||
| Marine | No | |||||
| Freshwater | 3 | 2 | Yes | Vatova, A., 1975 | ||
| Total | 3 | 2 | No | |||
| Conservation | The following information is to be sought: - Status of knowledge of the freshwater fauna; - Existence of conservation plans; - Information on major aquatic habitats or sites within the country; - Current major threats to species; - Future potential threats to species; - Contact(s) for further information. |
| Geography and Climate |
Burundi has a surface area of 27,830 km2. Most of the country consists of grassy uplands and hills reaching an altitude of 2,600 m. The Ruzizi Valley and the very narrow shores surrounding Lake Tanganyika in the west are somewhat lower in altitude.
Although it is situated just south of the equator, the upland temperatures of Burundi are low because of its altitude. The Ruzizi Valley and the shores of Lake Tanganyika are somewhat warmer. There is a short dry season in January; major rains occur from February to May. The major dry season lasts from May to September, and is followed by a second rainy spell. Ref. Vanden Bossche, J.-P. and G.M. Bernacsek, 1990 |
| Hydrography |
Lakes: The largest body of water in Burundi is the northeastern corner of Lake Tanganyika. About 2,600 km2 of this lake lie within the boundaries of the country, representing about 8% of its total area. The lake is very deep and the shoreline plunges steeply downward. There are some small lakes (Upper Kagera (also called Akagera) Lakes Complex) in the north of the country associated with the Akanyaru River. Largest of these are Lakes Cyohoha South and Rugwero, which are situated between Burundi and Rwanda. Three smaller lakes (Kazigiri, Lirwihindi and Kakamurindi) complete the series.
Rivers, floodplains and swamps: There are no rivers in Burundi of major importance to fisheries. The Ruzizi River, which flows from Lake Kivu toward Lake Tanganyika, is relatively small and swift flowing. In the northern part of the country the tributaries of the Akanyaru River drain toward the Kagera in Rwanda and eventually Lake Victoria in Tanzania. The main rivers are the Ruvubu (130 km in Burundi), the Kagera (border with Rwanda in the north), and the Malagarazi (border with Tanzania in the southeast), i.e., about 400 km in Burundi with a surface area of about 80 km2 (Ministère de l'Agriculture et de l'Elevage/FAO, 1988 (Ref. 12095).
There are a number of small floodplains and swamps in the north and southeast. Ref. Vanden Bossche, J.-P. and G.M. Bernacsek, 1990 |