Fauna of Madagascar. Unusual animals of Madagascar Madagascar flora and fauna

The nature of the island has changed greatly under the influence of centuries-old agricultural activities of local pastoralists and farmers. Most of the country's territory was allocated for economic needs, and today many landscapes are secondary and cultivated. But there are many places in Madagascar that will delight travelers with their brightness and exoticism.

Madagascar has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round. Differences in climate on the island are explained by different altitudes, terrain and distance from the coast. It is humid in the north; the climate here is equatorial monsoon: in summer the north-eastern monsoon winds blow, in winter south-eastern. In the east, the island receives less moisture as it is intercepted by the Central Highlands.

Tropical island off Madagascar

Heavy rainfall throughout the year explains the large number of rivers on the island: in the east these are short rivers with rapids and steep slopes, in the west they are large and full-flowing, collecting water from tributaries that run down from the highlands.

Fauna and flora of Madagascar

It is necessary to separately describe the flora and fauna of the island, because, as you know, thanks to them Madagascar is one of the most unique places on the planet from a biological point of view. About 80% of Madagascar's flora and fauna are unique. You need to start with the lemur - the symbol of the island, the main component of all its biodiversity. Lemurs are prosimian primates that were once found throughout the world. The monkeys that appeared some time later replaced the lemurs, and only in Madagascar, in complete isolation, were they able to survive. Today there are 60 officially registered species of lemurs on the island, each with its own interesting behavioral characteristics: Indri lemurs sing like whales, Aye-Aye extract insects from tree bark with their fingers, and Verreaux's lemurs show amazing dances.

Madagascar lemur

Among Madagascar's predators, interesting animals include mungos and Malagasy civets. Also, a giant fossa used to live on the island, but due to the extermination of the giant lemurs it hunted, this species became extinct.

Half of the bat species on the island are unique, and seven species are even listed in the Red Book. 99% of the frogs in Madagascar are endemic species and are not found anywhere else. Madagascar is home to geckos, radiated tortoises, spider tortoises and Madagascar tortoises. About 80% of the plants are unique; the flora of the island is considered one of the richest. The famous baobab grows here - “a tree with roots at the top”; in the southwest there grows a prickly bush, similar to a cactus.

History of Madagascar

About two thousand years ago, the first people appeared in Madagascar - the Malasians, a mixture of Africans and Asians (some scientists, however, put forward theories about the earlier settlement of the island). Many of the settlers were Polynesians or Malays. In 800-900, Arab traders appeared on the island and traded along the northern coast.

Malagasy house

In 1500, the first European set foot on Madagascar - the Portuguese captain Diego Diaz, who was heading to India and lost his course. Having discovered Madagascar, he named it St. Lawrence Island. In the 15th century, England, Portugal and France tried to establish trading settlements on the island, but local Madagascar warriors stopped these attempts. Only at the end of the 16th century did Europeans manage to gain a foothold in Madagascar, the eastern coast of which at that time was controlled by pirates who used the island as a base to attack merchant ships heading from India to Europe.

The fourth largest among the islands. The territory of Madagascar is almost 600,000 square kilometers. The Arkhangelsk region occupies approximately the same amount. Out of almost 90 regions of Russia, it is in 8th place.

Madagascar was also once part, not of a country, but of the ancient continent of Gondwana. However, the island broke away 160,000,000 years ago. Isolation and, at the same time, an abundance of food and fresh water led to the development of the animal world.

Evolution led him in a special way. Bottom line: - more than 75% of Madagascar’s animals are endemic, that is, they are not found outside the republic. Madagascar gained sovereignty in the 1960s. Before this, the island belonged to France.

It was discovered by the Portuguese Diego Diaso. This happened in the 16th century. If you haven’t visited Madagascar since then, it’s time to discover the world of its inhabitants.

White-fronted Indri

Represents the Indriaceae family, which includes 17 species. All of them live only in Madagascar. White-fronted, for example, occupied forests from the north of the Mangoro River to the Anteynambalana River.

The animal belongs to the wet-nosed primates. Accordingly, it resembles a monkey with a wet nose. More precisely, the endemic is the lemur. This is a transitional stage from lower mammals to primates.

The white-fronted indri is named due to its color. The fur on the lemur's body is white, but the forehead area is accentuated by a black collar on the neck and a dark muzzle. The animal reaches a meter in length. This comes with the tail. The weight of an indri is 7-8 kilograms.

In the photo there is an indri lemur

Crowned lemur

This animal weighs only 2 kilos and is up to 90 centimeters long. Its slenderness allows it to jump long distances, from branch to branch. The tail helps with gliding. The lemur gets its name from the dark spot on its head.

The main color is orange. Like all lemurs, crowned lemurs live in packs. They are led by females. So King Juklian from the famous cartoon is a doubly fictional character.

Pictured is a crowned lemur

Lemur vari

Vari is one of the largest animals living in Madagascar. This refers to lemurs. Among them is a giant with a body length of about 120 centimeters. At the same time, the animals weigh only 4 kilos and, like their small counterparts, eat fruits, berries, and nectar.

Varna has a contrasting color. The muzzle is framed by white whiskers. The fur on the legs and back is also light. The remaining areas are “filled” with black. You can see the wari in the east of the island, in the mountains. Their height is approximately 1,200 meters above sea level.

In the photo there is a lemur

Ring-tailed lemur

These animals of Madagascar not only the height of a cat, but also their ears similar to it. The tail of representatives of the species is powerful, with black and white rings. The body is gray, pinkish or brownish on the back.

In the cartoon “Madagascar,” by the way, Julian represents the “cat” family. On the screen he holds his tail up. In nature, this is done to appear taller and to scare away enemies.

The second position of the tail is not described in the cartoon. The organ serves as the 5th leg, supporting the animal when standing on its hind legs and walking along thin branches.

Pictured is a ring-tailed lemur

Gapalemur

The primate is distinguished by its large big toes. The color of the animals is brown. The fur is dense and short. Brown eyes on a round head with almost invisible ears give the impression that the lemur was in a hurry. Therefore, representatives of the species are often called meek. The total length of gapa bodies does not exceed 80 centimeters, and their weight is 3 kilograms.

Gapas differ from other lemurs in their tendency to swim. Representatives of the species settled in bamboo thickets near Lake Alautra, in the northeast Madagascar. Animals in the photo often found in water rather than in trees.

However, hapalemurs still feed on vegetation. The stomachs of animals are able to neutralize cyanide contained in bamboo shoots. Therefore, like pandas in China, gapas are not poisoned by the plant.

Pictured is Gapalemur

Sifaka nut

In general, the little hand is a most curious creature that thousands of tourists are eager to see. The animal is, however, nocturnal. Under the shadow of darkness, it digs out from under the bark and stones with its long fingers.

In the photo there is a Madagascar little hand

Fossa

Fossas hunt lemurs and live solitarily on the ground. True, you have to climb trees to find lemurs. The hunter can be given away by a guttural growl reminiscent of a cat.

In the photo there is a fossa animal

Madagascar rat

Speaking what animals are in Madagascar are endemic, I would like to mention the giant one while it is possible. The species is dying out. Its habitat is only 20 square kilometers north of Morondava.

This is one of the cities of the republic. As you drive away from it, you see rats the size of and several similar to them. So, the animals have muscular hind legs. They are needed for jumping. The ears are elongated. Animals press them to their heads when they jump almost a meter in height and 3 in length.

The color of giant Madagascar rats is closer to beige. In nature they live in burrows and require the same in captivity. The first offspring outside the habitat were obtained in 1990. Since then, they have been trying to replenish the population artificially.

Pictured is a Madagascar rat

Striped tenrec

In the photo there is a tenrec animal

Madagascar comet

We are not talking about a cosmic body, but the largest in the world. It is classified as a peacock eye. All members of the family have bright, round patterns on their wings that resemble pupils.

The comet inhabits only the island of Madagascar and its animals not averse to feasting on the fleshy body of an insect. However, the butterfly only lives for a couple of days. Comets starve, using the resources accumulated in the caterpillar stage. Enough supplies for a maximum of four days.

The butterfly was named Comet because of the extensions on its hind wings. The “drops” at their ends reach 16 centimeters with a wingspan of 20 centimeters. The general color of the insect is yellow-orange.

Pictured is a comet butterfly

Madagascar cuckoos

From the cuckoo family, 2 endemics live on the island nearby. The first is the giant look. Its representatives reach 62 centimeters. The second type of endemics is highlighted in blue. True, the size of the birds is not much inferior to their giant relatives. Blue cuckoos reach 50 kilos and can weigh about 200.

Pictured is a Madagascar cuckoo

The total number of birds in Madagascar is limited to 250 species. Almost half of them are endemic. The same goes for insects. The comet butterfly is just one wonderful creature of the island. There are also giraffes.

Weevil giraffe

Their noses are so long and curved that they resemble a long neck. The body of insects, at the same time, is compact, like that of. A tomato frog can eat such a delight. She is orange-red.

Tomato frog

It’s problematic to eat it yourself. The endemic secretes a sticky substance that glues the predator’s mouth together and causes allergies. By the way, Madagascar itself is also called red. This is due to the color of local soils. They are colored by clay. So, this is the right place for tomato frogs on the “tomato” island.

In 1500, thanks to pure chance, the island of Madagascar was discovered. The team of the Portuguese navigator Diogo Dias was caught in a storm, which forced them to land on the only land nearby. This is how an island with extraordinary nature and rich fauna was discovered.

Unique island

Madagascar is located off the coast of East Africa, from which it separated more than 160 million years ago. Its unique landscape, which includes mountains, lakes, desert areas, and jungles, has contributed to the conservation of a huge number of animal species. There are more than 250 thousand of them on the island, and most of them are endemic, that is, they are not found in other areas of the globe. The fauna of Madagascar is unique. It is mainly represented by small animals and reptiles.

Many species of island fauna are now on the verge of extinction. People extract minerals, cut down the jungle, causing animals to suffer.

Recently, the number of reserves and specially protected areas has increased, where all conditions are created for the free existence of unique fauna. Scientists work to track different animal populations and fight for their prosperity.

Madagascar - the kingdom of lemurs

The largest part of the island fauna consists of such animals of Madagascar as lemurs. The indigenous people treat them with special respect, because they believe that the souls of the dead move into the body of prosimians. More than 20 species of these animals live on the island.

Lemurs are kept in families in which the female is dominant. These cute creatures are similar in appearance to their monkey ancestors, but have shorter limbs and a pointed muzzle. Nature has improved their appearance by adding large eyes. This mechanism allows for excellent orientation when obtaining food. The animals eat mainly insects and vegetation. They are very friendly, brave and curious.

Types of lemurs

The kata lemurs have the most striking appearance. They are distinguished by a white muzzle with dark “glasses” and a long striped tail. In size, representatives of this species are barely larger than a domestic cat. Thanks to the almost complete absence of predators, Madagascar animals such as kata are most widespread.

The smallest primate, the mouse lemur, lives in Madagascar. The body length of the baby is about 9 cm, with a tail - 27 cm. This species was discovered in 2000.

Another interesting representative is the little arm. Another name for the animal is aye-aye. It lives in trees and obtains its food using extremely long and tenacious fingers. The animal taps the trunks for larvae, using echolocation. His appearance is not particularly attractive: shaggy fur that sticks out in all directions, yellow, widely spaced eyes and large semicircular ears.

The largest lemur is the indri. Its weight reaches 10 kg, and its height is 90 cm. Despite its large dimensions, the animal deftly climbs trees. Each family has a strict habitat, which it protects by making loud noises.

Swamp Tenrec

The most elusive animals of Madagascar, strangely adapted to life in bodies of water. The limbs of the tenrec are equipped with membranes and a large amount of muscle tissue. The animal deftly runs through shallow water, catching tadpoles and fish. For hunting, it uses vibrissae - sensitive antennae that, like a locator, pick up vibrations in water. The appearance of the tenrec is also interesting: its size is about 15 cm, and a mixture of wool and needles covers the entire body. In appearance the animal looks like a small hedgehog, but in fact it belongs to the shrews.

Rare birds

The island is also rich in birds - about 150 species live there, a third of which are endemic. The most common class of birds in Madagascar is the red-headed pochard. Lack of food and drying up of water bodies due to human activity have put this species of duck at risk of extinction. These birds were thought to have disappeared forever, but in 2006 a small population of 20 individuals was discovered. Over 8 years of successful and painstaking work of zoologists, it was possible to increase it 4 times. The duck is very beautiful, it has a red-brown body, a gray beak and a white belly.

A true unique species is the blue cuckoo. The bird has an incredibly attractive appearance with deep blue plumage. Unlike her relatives, she hatches her offspring on her own. Due to its remarkable appearance, this endemic is under threat of complete extermination by poachers.

Fossa

Who would have thought that the largest island predator reaches only 1.5 m in length, half of which is occupied by a long tail. Strong, muscular animals have reddish-brown fur. Outwardly, these animals of Madagascar are similar to a cat and a marten, but belong to the civet family. The fossa's tail, coupled with its retractable claws, allows it to deftly climb steep cliffs and trees in search of prey. The population of these predators is very small and is on the verge of extinction.

Amphibians

The island of Madagascar abounds with a huge number of amphibian species, the main ones being frogs, lizards and chameleons.

They are considered rare and endangered species. Thanks to their incredible appearance, they easily avoid prying eyes. The amphibian reaches a length of 13 cm and has a tail that is barely distinguishable from a dried leaf. The amphibian's body is covered with skin reminiscent of tree bark.

Panther chameleons are distinguished by their bright colors, which easily change due to the special structure of the body cells. They use their skill for camouflage and communication. This species is notable for its ability to simultaneously observe different hunting objects with both eyes. Before releasing its sticky tongue, the chameleon focuses on the target.

The tropical rainforests of the island are home to many frogs. The most notable are the tomato narrowmouths. Females of this species have the rich color of a ripe tomato and black stripes on the sides of the body. When danger arises, their skin secretes an irritating secretion.

The vast territory of Madagascar has not yet been fully explored. Every year new species of animals are discovered. Scientists are achieving good results in increasing the population of endangered endemics of the island.

The amazing plants of the island of Madagascar are no less interesting than its landscapes. The tropical humid climate, the organization of nature reserves, the regulation of the flow of tourists - all these factors favor the conservation of the nature of Madagascar.

And, although in the recent past some of the forests were cut down, the government caught on in time, and now measures to preserve the unique vegetation are producing the first results.

“Tree of Travelers” - a Madagascar miracle

Ravenala is perhaps the most famous tree that grows on the island. It resembles a banana, but, unlike it, it has a real trunk. Huge leaves radiate from its top. In those places where the cuttings of large leaves connect to the trunk, there are special “pockets” that contain up to several liters of cool water.

Thirsty travelers are always glad to meet this amazing tree, which helps them quench their thirst. It’s like a “living well” among the sultry roads. That’s why they called the Madagascar ravenala “the tree of travelers.”

Lianas - amazing plants of the island

There are natural wonders in every corner of the island. Lianas are one of them. These miracle plants grow in hot soil of several species at once.

Many of them are used by local residents for economic purposes. Ropes, baskets and rugs made from stems are very durable and serve people for a long time.

The entada liana provides the island's inhabitants with its huge pods for arranging the roofs of their huts. Why not take advantage of what nature provides?!

After all, these pods are huge in size: the length is almost 2 meters, and the width is more than 1.5 meters! If you split 4-5 pods in half, then building a roof from them will not be difficult!

Liana stephanotis is a plant that has soft white beautiful flowers. Five crown-shaped petals decorate the forests of Madagascar everywhere.

Interesting fact. The vines of Madagascar are the only plants on the island that are not touched by nimble termites.

Trees of Madagascar “in the service” of humans

The island's dense evergreen forests are home to many trees, the wood of which is used in furniture making. Valuable species, for example, majestic rosewood, have expensive raw materials in black, pink, and purple colors.

There are also plenty of plants that produce valuable rubber in these places. Kapal tree resin provides material for making varnish.

Uvirandra - decoration of Madagascar reservoirs

Aponogeton Madagascar or uvirandra grows in the fresh waters of the island. In its natural environment it is in danger of extinction.
Aquarists all over the world use this plant for landscaping aquariums. It is very beautiful.

The tuberous rhizomes are edible. The oblong leaves reach a length of more than half a meter. Leaves in water are arranged horizontally.
The flower sways in the wind on a long stem (up to 1 meter in length). In the rivers of Madagascar, flowers rise above the water by almost 20 cm.

The plants of the island of Madagascar are for the most part endemic, that is, they are not found anywhere else in the world. Getting to know the beautiful natural world of Madagascar will enrich your understanding of how diverse and unique the plants of our planet are.

Plants of the island of Madagascar photo

A British photographer has led an epic 20-year foray into one of the world's strangest ecological systems. Nick Garbutt, 46, from Cumbria, has made 25 trips deep into the forests of Madagascar. He has visited the island every year since 1991. Over two decades, Nick has created an extraordinary collection of photographic photographs of unusual and colorful species of the island. An adult female fossa (Crytoprocta ferox) hunts prey in the forest at Kirindy Park in western Madagascar.
A male comet moth (Argema mittrei) dries its wings in the forest in Mantadia National Park, Madagascar. An adult male fossa (Crytoprocta ferox) wanders through a deciduous forest, western Madagascar. The island was cut off from the African mainland 160 million years ago. But the inhabitants of the island developed functions that are not found anywhere else. Many of the animals that are in Nick's photographs can only be found in Madagascar. Verreaux sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) passes through open space in thorny forests, southern Madagascar.
The concern is that a large number of the animals in these photographs could become extinct within the next 20 years. Poor local communities are cutting down forests to make way for crops such as rice. A huge amount of wood harvested from the destroyed forest is used to produce charcoal. Nick said: “In its pristine state, Madagascar was 85% forested, and now only 8% remains. Even more shocking is that 50% of the forest loss has occurred in the last 50 years and I have seen this massive destruction. Since I started coming here in 1991, I don’t have much hope for a revival. ” Male spear-nosed chameleon (Calumma Gallus) in the lowland rainforest near Mantadia, eastern Madagascar. Although the number of national parks on the island is growing, environmentalists fear that this is not enough to save many of the animals. “When I first visited Madagascar, there were only two national parks,” says Nick. “The number has now grown to 20, and they serve as a refuge for animals, where cutting trees is illegal, but in practice this does not always work.” An adult black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia Variegata) hangs on a branch in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, eastern Madagascar.
“It is inevitable that all national parks will be managed by island people, and that still equates to the loss of animals,” he says. “A large number of individuals will simply disappear and there will be no one left to protect in the parks. We need to slow the rate of destruction and preserve the amazing diversity.” Ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) bask in the sun at dawn, Berenty Private Reserve, southern Madagascar. Nick Garbutt with an orphaned ring-tailed lemur near Tsimanampetsotsa National Park in November 2009. Nick Garbutt at Ranomafana National Park in May 1991 on his first visit to the island.
A pygmy stump-tailed chameleon (Brookesia peyrierasi) on a finger in the Nosy Mangabe Nature Reserve, northeastern Madagascar.
Male giraffe-necked weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa) in the Vohiparara rainforest, Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. A leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus) climbs a tree trunk in Nosy Mangabe Park, northeastern Madagascar.
Nick Garbutt photographs a panther chameleon in Masoala National Park in October 2009.
Painted mantella frog (Mantella madagascariensis) in Mantadia National Park, eastern Madagascar.
A male panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) searches for prey in vegetation on a peninsula beach in Masoala National Park, northeastern Madagascar.
Amazing bird Helmet Vanga (Euryceros prevostii) near its nest in Masoala NP, northeast of Madagascar.
Male Parsons chameleon (Calumma parsonii) in the rainforest, Masoala National Park, Madagascar.
Huge baobab trees (Adansonia grandidieri) at dusk, near Morondava, western Madagascar.
A white-lipped tree frog (Boophis albilabris) sits in the rainforest of Ranomafana National Park, southeastern Madagascar.
During his fascinating travels, Nick also photographed the strange aye-aye. Having a long middle finger, it is able to rummage in the bark of a tree like a “fish” in water, looking for larvae and cutworms there.