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MR002
Chegga
Location Mauritania, Tiris Zemmour
Central coordinates 5o 40.00' West  25o 22.00' North
IBA criteria A3
Area 0 ha
Altitude 350 m
Year of IBA assessment 2001





Ornithological information See Box and Table 2 for key species. In addition, one species of the Sahel biome has been recorded from this site; see Table 2.

Site description Chegga is an ancient fort and water-source in the north-east of Mauritania, close to the international border with Algeria, on an escarpment known as El Hank. The limestone and chalk cliffs rise 100 m above the surrounding plains. It contains numerous water springs along the rock-face, and in among the rockfalls and slips are gueltas. The vegetation typical of the area includes: Phoenix dactylifera, Adiantum capillus veneris, Hyoscyamus muticus, Tamarix sp., Acacia raddiana, Rhus tripantitus, Capparis decidua, Leptadenia pyrotechnica, Maerua crassifolia, Salvadora persica, Balanites aegyptiaca and Panicum turgidum.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus resident  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Crowned Sandgrouse Pterocles coronatus resident  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
African Collared-dove Streptopelia roseogrisea resident  2001  -  -    Least Concern 
Pharaoh Eagle-owl Bubo ascalaphus resident  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Pale Crag-martin Hirundo obsoleta resident  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Greater Hoopoe-lark Alaemon alaudipes resident  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cinctura resident  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti resident  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Streaked Scrub-warbler Scotocerca inquieta resident  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Fulvous Chatterer Turdoides fulva resident  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga resident  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Desert Sparrow Passer simplex resident  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Not Recognised 
Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus resident  2001  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
unknown -

Other biodiversity None known to BirdLife International.

Management considerations No information. The site is in a very remote and sparsely populated area.

References Lamarche (1988).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Chegga. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife