| FishBase | Complete | Literature | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Families | Species | Families | |||
| Marine | No | |||||
| Freshwater | 56 | 12 | No | Daget, J., J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde, 1984 | ||
| Total | 57 | 12 | 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 |
Swaziland is a landlocked country, a highland plateau dipping to the south.
The climate varies from humid near-temperate in the highlands to almost tropical subhumid at lower elevations. Rainfall is concentrated into a few violent storms. Ref. Vanden Bossche, J.-P. and G.M. Bernacsek, 1990 |
| Hydrography |
Swaziland is fairly rich in water resources, being traversed by five large rivers and with sufficient rainfall for rainfed agriculture in the highveld and middleveld. The water quality is generally good for fish farming.
Lakes: none of significant size.
Rivers, floodplains and swamps: Swaziland is drained by five major rivers: the Mlumati, Nkomazi, Mbuluzi, Lusutfu and Ngwavuma. Of these, only two (the Mbuluzi and Ngwavuma) originate within Swaziland; the other three originate in South Africa. All these major rivers flow in an easterly direction, crossing the highveld, middleveld, lowveld and the Lubombo plateau, draining into the Indian Ocean.
Swaziland has no natural lakes, swamps or floodplain areas of economic importance.
Reservoirs: During the past 20-30 years a number of dams and reservoirs have been built for irrigation, community water supply, animal drinking and power generation. The dams and reservoirs range in size from a few large constructions, such as Mojoli Dam (8,400 ha), through many medium-sized reservoirs of 40-100 ha, to a large number of small reservoirs of 0.5-2 ha.
Coastal lagoons: none; Swaziland is landlocked. Ref. Vanden Bossche, J.-P. and G.M. Bernacsek, 1990 |