{"id":8071,"date":"2016-09-22T11:46:16","date_gmt":"2016-09-22T10:46:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/?p=8071"},"modified":"2017-05-22T15:51:20","modified_gmt":"2017-05-22T14:51:20","slug":"amazing-madagascar-unique-wildlife","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/amazing-madagascar-unique-wildlife\/","title":{"rendered":"Amazing Madagascar part 1: unique wildlife"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to\u00a0the first instalment in our new blog series Amazing Places! In this series we’ll be visiting the countries that Blue Ventures is fortunate enough to work in, and celebrating the natural and cultural wonders\u00a0that these places have to offer.<\/em><\/p>\n

In this blog we head to Madagascar, and take a look at some of the fascinating endemic wildlife that can be found there…<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Madagascar has been an isolated island for about 70 million years, and this has led to the evolution of unique wildlife – endemic species that are found nowhere else in the world.<\/p>\n

New research<\/a> has recently shown that lemurs are regularly found in Madagascar’s mangrove forests! See more of Louise Jasper’s wonderful photos here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most well-known of these endemic species are, of course, the lemurs.<\/p>\n

There are over 100 species of lemur, all of which are found only in Madagascar! They range from the ring-tailed lemurs (made famous by their singing and dancing\u00a0Dreamworks\u00a0representation<\/a>) to the acrobatic sifakas, who leap dramatically from tree to tree, to Madame Berthe\u2019s mouse lemur which is the smallest primate in the world and only weighs 30 grams. Just to put that in perspective, an \u201cAA\u201d size battery weighs 24g!<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>
Ring-tailed lemur | Photo: Louise Jasper<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Golden-brown mouse lemur | Photo: Louise Jasper<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Coquerel’s sifaka | Photo: Louise Jasper<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lemurs belong to a group of primates called the prosimians<\/i>, a word which means \u201cbefore monkeys\u201d. This is because they used to be globally widespread before the evolution of monkey species, who then drove most prosimians to extinction, but not the lemurs on Madagascar as they were protected by the island\u2019s isolation.<\/p>\n

In 2014 the IUCN classified 24 lemur species as critically endangered, 49 as endangered, and 20 as vulnerable. Lemurs live in a variety of habitats, ranging from the deciduous forests to the mangroves, but this high proportion of endangered lemur species is thought to be due to the degradation of their habitats through deforestation.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
Deforestation is destroying lemur habitats | Photo: Garth Cripps<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Photo: Garth Cripps<\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Photo: Garth Cripps<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

Another fascinating endemic mammal is the fossa, which actually hunts lemurs! <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s an extremely shy species, and rarely seen, but it looks a lot like a cat (despite actually being more closely related to the mongoose). Using its extremely long tail for balance, it stalks its prey in the canopies of Madagascar\u2019s forests.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just amazing mammals either! 90% of the reptile species in Madagascar are endemic, including geckos, tortoises, and \u2154 of the world\u2019s chameleon species! These impressive lizards have managed to adapt to an ecological niche in almost every habitat. There are also over 100 endemic bird species, and a huge proportion of unique amphibian and freshwater fish species too.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"cham\"

Some of the chameleon species have evolved to be tiny!<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/a>
Photo: Sarah Harris<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
The endangered and endemic spider tortoise | Photo: Emily Beaulieu<\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Photo: Louise Jasper<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

Madagascar is definitely the motherland of baobabs. There are 8 species worldwide, 6 are endemic, and the other 2 originated in Madagascar before floating to foreign shores.<\/span><\/p>\n

As for flora, more than 80% of Madagascar\u2019s 15,000 plant species are endemic, the most well known being the glorious baobab tree.<\/span><\/p>\n

The reason for the extraordinary trunk girth in baobabs is so that they can survive in a hot and dry environment. The giant trunks are capable of storing water very efficiently like a giant sponge! The growth rings of baobabs are very faint, and it\u2019s difficult to age them in the same way as other tree species, but the largest specimens in Madagascar are thought to be over 500 years old.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>
The trunks of some baobabs are just huge!<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Skyline of baobabs<\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Photo: Myriam Hemsteede<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\n

If this small insight into Madagascar’s wildlife has sparked your interest in this remarkable country, then look out for the next instalment of Amazing Places, which will focus on the Malagasy people and culture, coming soon to Beyond Conservation.<\/p>\n

Before you go, don’t forget to check out our volunteer expeditions<\/a>\u00a0where\u00a0you can experience Madagascar for yourself whilst contributing to valuable marine research and our community conservation work!<\/p>\n

\n

Huge thanks to Louise Jasper<\/a> for the incredible images of Madagascar’s lemurs. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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