Coastal cliffs between Porto Mosquito and Baia do Inferno (6139)
Cape Verde, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2022
National site name: Coastal cliffs between Porto Mosquito and Baia do Inferno
Central coordinates: Latitude: 15.0302, Longitude: -23.7218
System: terrestrial, marine
Elevation (m): 0 to 200
Area of KBA (km2): 36.25385
Protected area coverage (%): 0.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site comprises a c.14,8 km stretch of rugged cliffs along the south-western coast of the island of Santiago, from the fishers’ village of Porto Mosquito to the South of the fishers’ village of Porto Rincão, a large and relatively well-sheltered bay. At Baía do Inferno the cliffs are exceedingly steep and the maximum height, on the hill Angra, is 577 m. This is simultaneously one of the highest points in the Natural Park of Baía do Inferno and Monte Angra, the highest coastal cliff in Cabo Verde and one of the highest in the entire North Atlantic.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The colony of the Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) on the southern cliffs of Baía do Inferno is the largest in Cabo Verde and holds c.3000 individuals (2022 estimate). The site also holds one of the largest colonies of the Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) in Cabo Verde. The site is also an important breeding area for other bird species such as Calonectris edwardsii, Hydrobates jabejabe, Puffinus boydi, Passer iagoensis, Apus alexandri and Falco alexandri. One or two pairs of Pandion haliaetus and some pairs of Egretta garzetta also breed along the cliffs. The site probably holds the largest colony of Acacia caboverdeana, an endemic tree species. The endemic terrestrial reptile Delalande's Skink (Chioninia delalandii) can be also observed at the site.
Manageability of the site: Site identified based on BirdLife International's Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, under which manageability is strongly recommended but not explicitly documented
Additional information
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership