The Gambia, known simply as Gambia, is the smallest country on the African continent. Aside from an 80 kilometer strip of land fronting the Atlantic ocean, Gambia is surrounded by Senegal. The entire country consists of a narrow band of land along the banks of the Gambia River before the river empties into the Atlantic Ocean.
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Actophilornis africana - The African jacana is a shorebird with an extensive range covering the areas of Africa below the Sahel Desert. The jacana has extremely long toes and claws. This anatomical feature enables the bird to walk on the vegetation floating on the surface of wetlands, their preferred habitat. Their close adaptation to watery environments is demonstrated by their ability to build floating nests. This serves a dual purpose; it puts the parents closer to a food source and helps protect the eggs and hatchlings from predators.
