Aardvark - Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau became a Portuguese colony in the 15th century known as Portuguese Guinea and then as the Overseas Province of Guinea. Gaining independence in 1974, the new country’s official title added the name of its largest city as a means of distinguishing itself from the other entities known as “Guinea.”

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Oryteropus afer - The aardvark is the only living member of the Orycteropodidae family. Its name is derived from the Afrikaans “erdvark;” a translation of “earth pig.” The long snout resembles the muzzle of a pig and can sniff out hidden food, primarily ants and termites. The powerful claws are ideal for digging burrows used as shelters and to secure the young. The aardvark is not related to pigs nor the anteater. Its closest living relative is the elephant shrew. The range for the aardvark covers the entire sub-Saharan region of Africa.

Mascarene Grass Frog - Guinea-Bissau

Ptychadena mascareniensis - The Mascarene grass frog, also known as the African marsh frog, originated in Madagascar and is now distributed over wide areas of Africa. It is a hardy amphibian able to survive in environments ranging from swamps to high mountain forests. Males are smaller than females and are recognized by the slits on the side of the head. These slits contain the vocal sacs used for attracting females and warning neighboring males of where the territorial boundaries lie.

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The area of present day Guinea-Bissau had been part of the Kaaba Kingdom, a Mandinka state existing from 1537 to 1867. It had also been part of the Manden Kurufaba Kingdom, another Mandinka state existing from 1230 to 1600.  Alvise Cadamosto, an Italian explorer sent out by Portugal’s Prince Henry the Navigator, explored the coastal area and set the stage for Portuguese colonization. The colony derived a substantial profit from the slave trade and was known as the Slave Coast.