Grey mangrove

Mangroves growing in the salt water of the Gulf of Aden – a green refuge for Djibouti’s fish, birds and coral reefs.

The most salt- and heat-tolerant of mangrove trees, usually growing to a few metres, taller in favourable conditions. Hundreds of pencil-like breathing roots (pneumatophores) rise from the mud around the trunk, allowing it to breathe in oxygen-poor ground. It excretes excess salt through glands on its leaves – salt crystals can be seen on their surface. Mangroves protect coasts from erosion and serve as nurseries for fish and shrimp.

Significance in the country

The mangroves of Godoria and Khor Angar on the northern coast and around the Moucha and Maskali islands are among Djibouti’s most important coastal habitats, protecting the reefs and providing nesting sites for waterbirds.

Where it grows

On shallow, muddy coasts: the largest stands are at Godoria and Khor Angar (Obock region), as well as on the Moucha and Maskali islands and in the inlets of the Gulf of Tadjoura.

More: Wikipedia (en)