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Menabe Antimena
Menabe Antimena is a protected area in Menabe region of western Madagascar. Menabe Antimena is on the west coast of Madagascar, south of the Mania River. It covers an area of dry forest, succulent woodland, mangroves, and secondary grassland and scrub. It includes the northern portion of the Kirindy Forest and the Avenue of the Baobabs. Large areas have been illegally logged, burned, and converted to maize fields, which threatens the area's wildlife, including the critically endangered Madame Berthe's mouse lemur (''Microcebus berthae''), the smallest primate in the world. Tsiribihina mangroves The Tsiribihina mangroves extend along the coast around the mouth of the Tsiribihina River. The mangroves are mostly within the reserve, with the portion north of the river outside it. There are about 20,000 hectares of mangroves, 8.5% of Madagascar's mangroves by area, along with lagoons, marshes, sandbanks, salt flats, and mud flats. About 40,000 waterbirds from 44 species live in th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Avenue Of The Baobabs
The Avenue of the Baobabs, or Alley of the Baobabs, is a prominent group of Grandidier's baobabs (''Adansonia grandidieri'') lining the dirt road between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina in the Menabe region of western Madagascar. Its striking landscape draws travelers from around the world, making it one of the most visited locations in the region. It has been a center of local conservation efforts, and was granted temporary protected status in July 2007 by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forestry – a step toward making it Madagascar's first natural monument. Description Along a stretch of the road is a grove of 20–25 ''Adansonia grandidieri'' baobabs. An additional 25 or so trees of this species are found growing over nearby rice paddies and meadows within of land. The trees, which are endemic to Madagascar, are about in height. The baobab trees, known locally as ''renala'' or ''reniala'' (from Malagasy ''reny ala'' "mother of the forest"), Ambrose-Oji, B. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lesser Flamingo
The lesser flamingo (''Phoeniconaias minor'') is a species of flamingo occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and western India. Birds are occasionally reported from further north, but these are generally considered Vagrancy (biology), vagrants. Characteristics The lesser flamingo is the smallest species of flamingo, though it is a tall and large bird by most standards. The species can weigh from . The standing height is around . The total length (from beak to tail) and wingspan are in the same range of measurements, from . Most of the plumage is pinkish white. The clearest difference between this species and the greater flamingo, the only other Old World species of flamingo, is the much more extensive black on the bill. Size is less helpful unless the species are together, since the sexes of each species also differ in height. The extinct species ''Phoeniconaias proeses'' in the same genus, from the Pliocene of Australia, is thought to have been even smaller. The lesser flamingo may ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
The hawksbill sea turtle (''Eretmochelys imbricata'') is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only extant species in the genus ''Eretmochelys''. The species has a global distribution, that is largely limited to tropical and subtropical marine and estuary ecosystems. The hawksbill's appearance is similar to that of other marine turtles. In general, it has a flattened body shape, a protective Carapace#Turtles and tortoises, carapace, and flipper (anatomy), flipper-like limbs, adapted for swimming in the open ocean. ''E. imbricata'' is easily distinguished from other sea turtles by its sharp, curving beak with prominent tomium, and the wikt:serration, saw-like appearance of its shell margins. Hawksbill shells slightly change colors, depending on water temperature. While this turtle lives part of its life in the open ocean, it spends more time in shallow lagoons and coral reefs. The IUCN, World Conservation Union, primarily as a result o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Madagascan Flying Fox
The Madagascan flying fox, Madagascar flying-fox, or Madagascar fruit bat (''Pteropus rufus'') is a species of megabat in the genus ''Pteropus''. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are diverse, and include moist lowland forests, dry forests, succulent woodlands, and spiny thickets, and mangroves. It eats figs and other fruits, flowers, and leaves. It is threatened by habitat loss. Description This is the largest bat in Madagascar, with a body length of 23.5–27 cm (9.1–10.5 in), a wingspan of 100–125 cm (39–49 in), and a body weight of 500–750 g (1.1-1.65 lb). Madagascan flying fox species have a brown color and the area on their chest and shoulders have a golden to slightly dark brown color. Its wings have a grey to black color, and both male and female Madagascan flying foxes look alike in appearance, but it is noted that the male has a slightly larger head than the females. Ecology The Madagascan flying fox roosts during ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Verreaux's Sifaka
Verreaux's sifaka (''Propithecus verreauxi''), or the white sifaka, is a medium-sized primate in one of the lemur families, the Indriidae. It lives in Madagascar and can be found in a variety of habitats from rainforest to dry deciduous forests of western Madagascar and the spiny thickets of the south. Its fur is thick and silky and generally white with brown on the sides, top of the head, and on the arms. Like all sifakas, it has a long tail that it uses as a balance when leaping from tree to tree. However, its body is so highly adapted to an arboreal existence, on the ground its only means of locomotion is hopping. The species lives in small troops which forage for food. Anatomy In adulthood, the full head and body length is between . The tail of a fully grown Verreaux's sifaka grows to be between long. In weight, adult females reach on average, and adult males . Verreaux's sifaka has a relatively low, flat braincase. The face is broader than that of most other indriids, b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Madagascar Pratincole
The Madagascar pratincole (''Glareola ocularis'') is a species of bird in the family Glareolidae. It is found in Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, possibly Mauritius, and possibly Réunion. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, rivers, freshwater lakes, rocky shores, and intertidal marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss. References External linksBirdLife Species Factsheet. Madagascar pratincole Birds of Madagascar Madagascar pratincole The Madagascar pratincole (''Glareola ocularis'') is a species of bird in the family Glareolidae. It is found in Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, possibly Mauritius, and possibly Réunion. Its natural habitat ... Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Taxa named by Jules Verreaux {{Charadriiformes-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Madagascar Plover
The Madagascar plover (''Charadrius thoracicus''), also known as the black-banded plover, is a small (37 g) monogamous shorebird in the family Charadriidae, native to western Madagascar. It inhabits shores of lagoons, coastal grasslands, and breeds in salt marshes. These plovers mainly nest in open grassland and dry mudflats surrounding alkaline lakes.Long, P.R., Zefania, S., ffrench-Constant, R.H. and Székely, T. (2008) ‘Estimating the population size of an endangered shorebird, the Madagascar plover, using a habitat suitability model’, Animal Conservation, 11(2), pp. 118–127Zefania, S., ffrench-Constant, R., Long, P. and Szekely, T. (2008) ‘Breeding distribution and ecology of the threatened Madagascar Plover Charadrius thoracicus’, Ostrich, 79(1), pp. 43–51 The species is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN because of its low breeding success, slow reproductive rate, and weak adaptation to increasing habitat loss, leading to declining population numbers. Descrip ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Madagascar Heron
Humblot's heron (''Ardea humbloti''), also known as the Madagascar heron, is a species of heron. In Madagascar, it is common on the north and west coasts of the island, but is also found inland, especially near Lake Alaotra. It is also present in the Comoro Islands and Mayotte. Humblot's heron is an endangered species, with a population estimated at only 1,500 mature individuals. Its population is apparently declining. The major threats the heron faces are poaching (both the bird itself and its eggs) and habitat destruction (the cutting of nesting trees and the disappearance of wetlands.) The scientific name commemorates the French naturalist Leon Humblot. References External linksBirdLife Species Factsheet. Humblot's heron Humblot's heron Birds of the Comoros Birds of Madagascar Humblot's heron Humblot's heron (''Ardea humbloti''), also known as the Madagascar heron, is a species of heron. In Madagascar, it is common on the north and west coasts of the island, but is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Malagasy Sacred Ibis
The Malagasy sacred ibis (''Threskiornis bernieri'') is a relatively large, heavily built ibis endemic to the west coast of Madagascar, and Aldabra on the Seychelles. Taxonomy and systematics The Malagasy sacred ibis was formerly considered a subspecies of the African sacred ibis.Holyoak D. 1970. Comments on the classification of the Old World ibises. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 90: 67-73.Hancock JA, Kushlan JA, Kahl MP. 1992. Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills of the World. Academic Press. It is now however classified as a separate species from the African sacred ibis due to considerable differences observed in the former’s ecology and morphology.Andrianarimisa A, Razafimanjato G. 2010. Madagascar sacred ibis Threskiornis bernieri: current population distribution, and implications for conservation. Pp. 120-130. In: Harebottle DM, Craig AJFK, Anderson MD, Rakotomana H, Muchai M.Proceedings of the 12th Pan-African Ornithological Congress, 2008. Cape Town, Animal Dem ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Madagascar Teal
Bernier's teal (''Anas bernieri''), also known as the Madagascar teal, is a species of duck in the genus ''Anas''. It is endemic to Madagascar, where it is found only along the west coast. Part of the "grey teal" complex found throughout Australasia, it is most closely related to the Andaman teal. Taxonomy The Bernier's teal was first described by the German ornithologist Gustav Hartlaub in 1860 under the binomial name ''Querquedula bernieri''. It is one of many dabbling ducks in the genus ''Anas''. It is one of the "grey teals", a group of related ducks found across Australasia. DNA studies suggest that it may have been a sister species with Sauzier's teal (which was found on the nearby islands of Mauritius and Réunion until it became extinct). Studies further suggest that its closest living relative is the Andaman teal, and confirm that it is related to the gray teal. There are no subspecies. The duck's common and species names both commemorate Chevalier Bernier, a Frenc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Madagascar Fish Eagle
The Madagascar fish eagle (''Haliaeetus vociferoides'') or Madagascar sea-eagle (to distinguish it from the ''Ichthyophaga'' fishing-eagles), is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers. It is endemic to the coastal strip in the northwest of Madagascar. It is about long and has a pale brown head, dark brown body and white tail. The Madagascan fish eagle has been suffering from a declining population and is threatened by habitat destruction and persecution, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being " critically endangered". Description The Madagascar fish eagle is a medium-sized sea eagle, long and with a wingspan of . The body and wings are dark brown, with a pale brown head and a white tail; the bill is blackish with a paler base, and the legs are pale grey. Males weigh , while the slightly larger females weigh . Its closest relati ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sanderling
The sanderling (''Calidris alba'') is a small wading bird. The name derives from Old English ''sand-yrðling'', "sand-ploughman". The genus name is from Ancient Greek ''kalidris'' or ''skalidris'', a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific, ''alba'', is Latin for "white". It is a circumpolar Arctic breeder, and is a long-distance migrant, wintering south to South America, South Europe, Africa, and Australia. It is highly gregarious in winter, sometimes forming large flocks on coastal mudflats or sandy beaches. It is somewhat unlike other sandpipers in appearance, which has led to the suggestion that it should be placed into a monotypic genus ''Crocethia''. A more recent review (Thomas ''et al.'', 2004) indicates, however, that the sanderling is a fairly typical "stint" or small sandpiper and should be separated from the large knots with its closest relatives in a distinct genus. This bird is similar in size to a dunlin, but stouter, with a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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