Iringa akalat  (Sheppardia lowei)

The Iringa akalat is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1).

A small robin-like bird, the Iringa akalat (Sheppardia lowei) is a largely ground-dwelling species which is endemic to Tanzania. It has plain brown upperparts, with warm olive-brown on the breast and flanks, as well as a yellowish-buff throat and a whitish belly. There is a short, dull, yellowish-olive stripe from the base of the bill to the top of the eye (2) (3). The legs and feet are pale flesh coloured (3). 

The Iringa akalat’s song is a slow, rising and falling series of simple, loud, piping notes and slurs, and a whistled ‘wree wree’. The alarm call is a loud ‘tchak’ (2) (3).

A Tanzanian endemic, the Iringa akalat is known from only a small number of forests in the Ukaguru Mountains, Udzungwa Mountains and the Southern Highlands (3) (4) (5) (6). It may also occur in the Rubeho Mountains, between the Udzungwa and Ukaguru Mountains (3).

The Iringa akalat inhabits montane forest and thickets, at elevations of 1,450 to 2,500 metres (1) (3). A ground-dwelling species (3), the Iriniga akalat is typically found among dense undergrowth and thick vine tangles (2) (5).

The Iringa akalat primarily feeds on insects, which it catches amongst the leaf litter or gleans from tree trunks, low vines or branches. It is often observed around army ant swarms, where it feed on tiny insects that are flushed out by the ants (3) (7). The breeding season of the Iringa akalat begins in early November, following the onset of heavy rains (3).

The main threat to the Iringa akalat is the destruction of its forested habitat. Although the population is currently considered to be relatively secure in the Udzungwa Mountains, the population of this species in the Southern highlands is under much greater pressure from habitat loss and fragmentation, due to severe logging (1) (3).

Agricultural expansion and cultivation is a growing threat to the Iringa akalat throughout its range, with more and more land being converted to crops. This has resulted in the near total clearance of forest patches in some areas (3) (6) (7) (9). Fire is also a significant threat to this species, as each year large areas of the Southern Highlands are disturbed by fires of primarily human origin, causing a shift from forest to grassland (6) (8) (9) (10).

Due to its fairly restricted distribution at high altitudes, the Iringa akalat may potentially be vulnerable to climate change. Climate change predictions for the Eastern Arc region of Africa suggest that rainfall is likely to decrease and temperatures are likely to rise. The biggest impact will be on species that already exist close to the limit of their climatic tolerance, such those living at higher altitudes, which are unable to further shift their distribution to a more favourable climate (10) (11). 

The Iringa akalat is found in the Udzungwa Mountains National Park and in several Forest Reserves in the Ukaguru Mountains, affording it some level of protection against the major threats of habitat loss and agricultural expansion (1) (3).

Further surveys are required in the Rubeho Mountains, the Mahenge and Imagi forests and the area around Njombe, to determine the presence and population status of this species in these areas. Regular surveys should be carried out to monitor the population trends of the Iringa akalat, and protection measures should be strengthened for protected areas that are under threat (3).

Education and awareness programmes about sustainable forest use should also be developed, which work with villages and local communities to promote the protection of important forest habitats (6).

Find out more about the Iringa akalat:

• BirdLife International - Iringa akalat:
  http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=6587