Fauna of Madagascar
Ecological niches were often filled by animals with quite different histories from those on the African mainland, often leading to convergent evolution.
Despite this, and massive deforestation, Madagascar is still home to an incredible array of wildlife, the vast majority of which is unique in the world.
In the absence of monkeys and other competitors, these primates have adapted to a wide range of habitats and diversified into numerous species.
Rodents are poorly represented on the island with only a handful of native species, all belonging to the subfamily Nesomyinae.
[6] Eupleridae: Primary among these malagasy carnivores is the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox), an animal similar in appearance to a feline.
Five species of mongoose are also found in Madagascar, as is the small Indian civet, one of the carnivores believed to have been introduced to the island.
For example, web-footed tenrecs (Limnogale mergulus) resemble river otters in appearance and behaviour.
Plesiorycteropus (P. germainepetterae, P. madagascariensis): One or two species of mysterious aardvark-like tenrec relatives that may have gone extinct about 1000 years ago.
This species was believed to have preyed upon the larger lemurs that inhabited Madagascar until the island was settled by man.
There are five bird families unique to Madagascar or shared only with the Comoro Islands: the mesites, the ground-rollers, the cuckoo-roller, the asities and the vangas.
In addition, recent studies suggest that several songbirds should be grouped together in a new endemic family: the Malagasy warblers.
Elephant birds (e.g. Aepyornis maximus) were flightless ratites up to over three metres tall and half a tonne in weight.
Genetic studies have revealed that their closest living relatives are the kiwi of New Zealand, rather than the nearby ostriches of Africa; i.e., their presence on the island appears to be due to long-range dispersal rather than vicariance.
Madagascar is a stronghold for a wide diversity of endemic species of chameleons and is considered the radiation point for day geckos.
[19][20] Additionally, several genera are endemic to Madagascar, including cichlids (Katria, Oxylapia, Paratilapia, Paretroplus, Ptychochromis and Ptychochromoides), round herrings (Sauvagella and Spratellomorpha), Old World silverside (Teramulus), sleeper gobies (Ratsirakia and the troglobitic Typhleotris), and aplocheilid killifish (Pachypanchax – strictly speaking near-endemic, as there is a single species from the Seychelles).
The geographic history of Madagascar (long isolated, but part of Gondwana) has resulted in unusual biogeographic patterns, comparable to those seen in other animal and plant groups of the island.
[23] The freshwater fish fauna in Madagascar has declined drastically due to habitat loss (pollution, siltation following deforestation, damming and alike), overfishing and introduced species (tilapia, Nile perch, African arowana, blotched snakehead, green swordtail and many other), with some suggesting that only a remnant of the natives can be saved.
The mosquitoes of Madagascar include 235 species, among which 138 (59%) are endemic and 64 (27%) have a known medical or veterinary interest because they can transmit diseases.
[29] Madagascar is home to the smallest bee in the World, Liotrigona bitika (Brooks & Michener 1988) with a body length of less than 2 mm, and to several other species of Meliponini.
[36] There is a still a large area of mangrove swamp around the coast, particularly in the west, and there are extensive coral reefs around the island.
[39] Selected Malagasy fish names:[40][41][42][43] Most of Madagascar's habitats are in danger; they are being threatened by today's demands and growing needs.
