Although African crested porcupines Hystrix spp. represent 0.5–34% of lion Panthera leo kills, interactions between the two species are poorly documented. Here we review porcupine-lion interactions and their impact on lion behaviour, including: 1) lion predation on porcupines; 2) lions injured or killed by porcupine quills; and 3) a case of a lion severely injured by a porcupine quill. Porcupine quills can be effective weapons and sometimes seriously wound lions, resulting in death. Death from quills can be a slow process and under these circumstances, death may be the result of starvation or infection (septicaemia).

The minute, cleptoparasitic bee genus Chiasmognathus (Nomadinae: Ammobatini) is documented from western Kenya, representing the southernmost records of the lineage. Two species are recognized from the Great Rift Valley—Chiasmognathus aturksvenicus, from the southwestern side of Lake Turkana, and the other, C. riftensis, from further south near Lake Bogoria. The former was captured in association with its host, Nomioides (Nomioides) turanicus (Halictinae: Nomioidini). Chiasmognathus saheliensis is considered a new junior synonym of Pasites gnomus, and the latter epithet is transferred to Chiasmognathus: C. gnomus. We illustrate and discuss intraspecific variation in some morphological features of these tiny bees.

The Sokoke dog or bushy-tailed mongoose Bdeogale omnivora is poorly known and considered to be endemic to the East African coastal forests. Systematic camera trap surveys, comprising 9229 camera trap days on grids at six study sites, were used to determine the distribution and relative abundance of the Sokoke bushy-tailed mongoose in the two largest Kenyan coastal forests: Boni-Dodori Forest Complex (ca. 4000 km^2); and Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve (416 km^2). This species was captured in all surveyed forests with significantly more detections in Brachystegia woodland habitat (ca. 71 km²) of Arabuko-Sokoke and the Boni forest sectors (ca. 2000 km²) of the Boni-Dodori Forest Complex. Boni-Dodori Forest Complex, with an estimated occupancy of over 60% for this species, holds a significant population. The study generated over 1000 images of the Sokoke bushy-tailed mongoose in a total surveyed area of approximately 500 km² providing the first 24-hour activity data for the species. The circadian patterns confirm this species to be strictly nocturnal. This study strongly recommends that its Red List status remains ‘Vulnerable’. The few remaining coastal forests continue to face human pressure. Recent proposals to find and extract hydrocarbons from under the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, and the planned major development close to Boni-Dodori Forest Complex, raise serious conservation concerns for this exceptionally biodiverse ecosystem.