The Anjajavy's

Protected Area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...

is located on a peninsula of the town of Antonibe, in the district of Analalava and in the north-west region of

Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...

. It is part of the Sofia region of the independent province of Mahajanga and its position is between 47°13’ at 44°22’ of longitude east and 14°58 at 15°07’ of latitude south.. Anjajavyforestrazorback

Anjajavy's Protected Area is an element of the

Madagascar dry deciduous forests The Madagascar dry deciduous forests represent a tropical dry forest ecoregion situated in the western and northern part of Madagascar. The area has high numbers of endemic plant and animal species but has suffered large-scale clearance for agric ...

situated on the

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by th ...

of northwest

. The Anjajavy Forest surrounds the village of Anjajavy and provides a habitat for many rare and

endangered species An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...

.Nick Garbutt, C. Michael Hogan, Hilton Hastings, Wendy Pollecutt, Tahiana Andriaharimalala, ''Anjajavy, the village and the forest'', Lumina Technologies, May 12, 2006 It covers roughly fifty square kilometres, and occupies a continuous portion of the peninsula upon which Anjajavy village lies. The peninsula is bounded by Majajamba Bay to the south and Narinda Bay to the north. Anjajavy Forest has much in common with other dry deciduous forests rising out of the

tsingy Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistan ...

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

formations of western

. It is due to the presence of expansive tsingy

outcrop An outcrop or rocky outcrop is a visible exposure of bedrock or ancient superficial deposits on the surface of the Earth. Features Outcrops do not cover the majority of the Earth's land surface because in most places the bedrock or superficial ...

s as well as the remoteness of this part of Madagascar from the population center of the country at

Antananarivo Antananarivo ( French: ''Tananarive'', ), also known by its colonial shorthand form Tana, is the capital and largest city of Madagascar. The administrative area of the city, known as Antananarivo-Renivohitra ("Antananarivo-Mother Hill" or "An ...

that the forest here has been less disturbed than many other forests in the country. For example, the central highland

plateau In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; ), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Often one or more sides ha ...

, readily accessible from the population center, has been decimated by decades of

slash-and-burn Slash-and-burn agriculture is a farming method that involves the cutting and burning of plants in a forest or woodland to create a field called a swidden. The method begins by cutting down the trees and woody plants in an area. The downed vegeta ...

farming by indigenous peoples, leading to massive

desertification Desertification is a type of land degradation in drylands in which biological productivity is lost due to natural processes or induced by human activities whereby fertile areas become increasingly arid. It is the spread of arid areas caused by ...

and

erosion Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is distin ...

. The incidence of species

endemism Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

in the western dry forests is very high, including ten of the fourteen known

lemur Lemurs ( ) (from Latin ''lemures'' – ghosts or spirits) are Strepsirrhini, wet-nosed primates of the Superfamily (biology), superfamily Lemuroidea (), divided into 8 Family (biology), families and consisting of 15 genera and around 100 exist ...

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

, five of the eight

tenrec A tenrec is any species of mammal within the afrotherian family Tenrecidae endemic to Madagascar. Tenrecs are wildly diverse; as a result of convergent evolution some resemble hedgehogs, shrews, opossums, rats, and mice. They occupy aquatic, a ...

genera and 16 of the 17

Chiroptera Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most bir ...

genera of Madagascar represented. There are a variety of

mammal Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...

reptile Reptiles, as most commonly defined are the animals in the class Reptilia ( ), a paraphyletic grouping comprising all sauropsids except birds. Living reptiles comprise turtles, crocodilians, squamates (lizards and snakes) and rhynchocephalians ( ...

s and

arthropod Arthropods (, (gen. ποδός)) are invertebrate animals with an exoskeleton, a Segmentation (biology), segmented body, and paired jointed appendages. Arthropods form the phylum Arthropoda. They are distinguished by their jointed limbs and Arth ...

s present within the Anjajavy Forest. Like most of Madagascar's dry deciduous forests, the upper canopy is composed of trees which shed their leaves in the winter months (May through September), including at least two species of

baobab ''Adansonia'' is a genus made up of eight species of medium-to-large deciduous trees known as baobabs ( or ). They are placed in the Malvaceae family, subfamily Bombacoideae. They are native to Madagascar, mainland Africa, and Australia.Trop ...

s endemic to the western part of the island. Trees here have adapted to the warm

arid A region is arid when it severely lacks available water, to the extent of hindering or preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life. Regions with arid climates tend to lack vegetation and are called xeric or desertic. Most ar ...

climate by shedding leaves in the dry season to reduce

evapotranspiration Evapotranspiration (ET) is the combined processes by which water moves from the earth’s surface into the atmosphere. It covers both water evaporation (movement of water to the air directly from soil, canopies, and water bodies) and transpi ...

, and some species such as the

store large amounts of water in their bulbous trunks. There is a very high rate of species endemicity in all the western dry deciduous forests of Madagascar, for both

flora Flora is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous) native plants. Sometimes bacteria and fungi are also referred to as flora, as in the terms '' gut flora'' or '' skin flora''. E ...

and

fauna Fauna is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is ''flora'', and for fungi, it is '' funga''. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively referred to as '' biota''. Zoo ...

; this rate is thought to be higher than for the eastern

rainforest Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfores ...

s, although the

biodiversity Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (''genetic variability''), species (''species diversity''), and ecosystem (''ecosystem diversity'') l ...

, while extremely high, is slightly less than the eastern counterparts. Geologically the tsingy formations have numerous caverns (used by early tribesmen) and

karst Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistant ro ...

formations, which provide underground water storage.

Flora & Natural Habitats

A critically endangered habitat, Anjajavy's Protected Area is a rare and precious dry deciduous forest. Madagascar is a botanical paradise, with more than 13,000 indigenous species including 900

orchid Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...

varieties, 200

palm tree The Arecaceae is a family of perennial flowering plants in the monocot order Arecales. Their growth form can be climbers, shrubs, tree-like and stemless plants, all commonly known as palms. Those having a tree-like form are called palm trees ...

species and 130 species of

aloes Agarwood, aloeswood, eaglewood or gharuwood is a fragrant dark resinous wood used in incense, perfume, and small carvings. This resinous wood is most commonly referred to as "Oud" or "Oudh". It is formed in the heartwood of aquilaria trees when ...

. The island is so large and has such a diversity of habitats and climates that each corner of

has its own special community of plants. The

forest canopy In biology, the canopy is the aboveground portion of a plant cropping or crop, formed by the collection of individual plant crowns. In forest ecology, canopy also refers to the upper layer or habitat zone, formed by mature tree crowns an ...

contains numerous species of deciduous trees, including at least two species of baobab, '' Adansonia rubrostipa'' and ''

Adansonia madagascariensis ''Adansonia madagascariensis'' or Madagascar baobab is a small to large deciduous tree in the family Malvaceae. It is one of six species of baobab endemic to Madagascar, where it occurs in the Madagascar dry deciduous forests. Description This is ...

''. In addition, trees such as '' Grewia ciclea'' (Malagasy name, andilambarika) and ''

Terminalia catappa ''Terminalia catappa'' is a large tropical tree in the leadwood tree family, Combretaceae, native to Asia, Australia, the Pacific, Madagascar and Seychelles. Common names in English include country almond, Indian almond, Malabar almond, sea almon ...

'' (Malagasy name: antafana) occur. The latter tree provides a favourite food supply to the Coquerel's lemur, with both fruits and leaves being appealing. Anjajavy finds itself amongst the community of the dry deciduous forests of the North-West; an eco-region recognised by the major international organisations of nature conservation as a global critical priority for conservation. For naturalists and amateurs of plants, there is a lot to see: aloes, euphorbias, bottle-creepers, giant vanilla beans growing on the sharp limestone formations of the Tsingy. The endemic ebony and rosewood trees are also plentiful. Much of the flora in the Protected Area has not been identified. New species are regularly being discovered in particular from December to April throughout the rainy season. Some of the common shrubs found in the Anjajavy forest are '' Vepris ampody'' (Malagasy name: ampoly) and '' Rhizorphora mucronata'' (Malagasy name: honkovavy). There are also abundant

liana A liana is a long- stemmed, woody vine that is rooted in the soil at ground level and uses trees, as well as other means of vertical support, to climb up to the canopy in search of direct sunlight. The word ''liana'' does not refer to a ta ...

s (vines) as well as numerous herbs, including the Madagascar vanilla ('' Vanilla madagascariensis'', whose Malagasy name is vahimatso). Anjajavy baobabs (David Pattyn) (4)

The dry forest verges on

mangrove A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows in coastal saline water, saline or brackish water. The term is also used for tropical coastal vegetation consisting of such species. Mangroves are taxonomically diverse, as a result of convergent evoluti ...

swamp A swamp is a forested wetland.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p. Swamps are considered to be transition zones because both land and water play a role in ...

s in the vicinity of several coastal estuaries at the western verge of the Anjajavy Forest, where small streams discharge into the Indian Ocean. The Anjajavy's

and its surroundings include a geological phenomena of rare beauty: the

Tsingy Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistan ...

. This karstic and highly rugged landscape is the dramatic expression of an evolutionary stage of the earth, taking the shape of a “stone forest”, with limestone towers and spurs as high as 30 meters, all within the forest and in the middle of the sea. Nature has adapted itself to these labyrinths for millions of years and has formed unique natural shows of caves, grottos, highland areas, gorges and walls of rugged rocks. Due to their inaccessibility and their resistance to fire, the

has provided protection for numerous parts of the primary forest. The

baobab tree ''Adansonia'' is a genus made up of eight species of medium-to-large deciduous trees known as baobabs ( or ). They are placed in the Malvaceae family, subfamily Bombacoideae. They are native to Madagascar, mainland Africa, and Australia.Tropi ...

is an emblem of Madagascar. The large island is home to seven species of baobabs, of which six are endemic. In Anjajavy, there is three species of baobabs: the Grey (''Adansonia madagascariensis''), the African (''Adansonia digitata'') and the Fony Baobab (''Adansonia rubrostipa)''. The latter, endemic to the eco-region is red and gold in color with patterns looking as if they were hand-painted. The baobab trees clinging to the Tsingy islands in the turquoise waters of Moramba Bay shape one of Madagascar’s most spectacular and magical landscapes. These swollen giants have many outstanding qualities. They are the longest living flowering plants on earth - with some living up to 2,000 years. These trees are true survivors, withstanding terrible droughts and fierce storms, and they can grow on bare rock on sea isles. They can even live and grow wrapped around each other, as if in love. Every baobab has its own shape, its own character, its own story. It is therefore not surprising that these incredible trees are revered by the local people, and that some of them are held as sacred. People make offerings at the base of the baobab, such as

zebu The zebu (; ''Bos indicus'' or ''Bos taurus indicus''), sometimes known in the plural as indicine cattle or humped cattle, is a species or subspecies of domestic cattle originating in the Indian sub-continent. Zebu are characterised by a fatty ...

horns, coins, rum or honey in the hope of receiving protection from the ancestors. The Moramba Bay, the malagasy

Halong Bay Halong may refer to: * Ha Long, also known as Hong Gai, the capital city of Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam * Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Quảng Ninh province, Vietnam * Halong naval base, an Indonesian Navy (previously Dutch) ...

, is a diverse karstic land formation where Anjajavy meets the Mozambique Channel. Along the coast, the jagged cliffs of many marine

rise close to 30m out of the water. The Anjajavy

is protected to the north and west by three wide, separate mangroves and their winding tidal channels. These wetland ecosystems are an example of the vital service nature provides to human beings on a global scale. The

rivers flanking the Anjajavy Forest form excellent natural borders to the Protected Area and convenient transportation routes to visit. The mangroves of Anjajavy comprise a great number of species of trees and shrubs adapted to salty water. One of them, the Jajavy (''Salvador angustifolia'') has given its name to the village. The root entanglement forming stilts or buttresses, the thick mud and the daily tidal action forms an excellent haven, nursery and larder for terrestrial and aquatic fauna. Hundreds of species of fish, shellfish, insects and birds depend on this habitat for food and shelter. In Anjajavy, the mangrove swamps protect the natural Reserve of dry deciduous forest as well as the Marine Reserve. This

biotope A biotope is an area of uniform environmental conditions providing a living place for a specific assemblage of plants and animals. ''Biotope'' is almost synonymous with the term "habitat", which is more commonly used in English-speaking countrie ...

simultaneously serves as a curtain of protection against strong and salty winds, a fire-wall, a damp buffer useful to the forest during the dry season and as filter against the turbidity of the coastal waters. The two rivers of mangroves on both sides of the Anjajavy forest constitute excellent natural borders for the Protected Area as well as practical transportation routes which allow for better exploration. In general, the mangroves also provide human beings with vital services; the pneumatophore roots help to stabilise the soft soils and to protect the coast line against erosion and natural catastrophes. On a global scale, these habitats capture carbon in their sediments, where it can remain for centuries. The

mangroves A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows in coastal saline or brackish water. The term is also used for tropical coastal vegetation consisting of such species. Mangroves are taxonomically diverse, as a result of convergent evolution in several ...

are therefore one of the most efficient natural carbon sinks in the world, with rates or carbon sequestration up to 50 times greater than those of tropical forests. The

phytoplankton Phytoplankton () are the autotrophic (self-feeding) components of the plankton community and a key part of ocean and freshwater ecosystems. The name comes from the Greek words (), meaning 'plant', and (), meaning 'wanderer' or 'drifter'. Ph ...

and

plankton Plankton are the diverse collection of organisms found in Hydrosphere, water (or atmosphere, air) that are unable to propel themselves against a Ocean current, current (or wind). The individual organisms constituting plankton are called plankt ...

of the mud constitute the point of origin of food supply chains which provide to the precious fish needed for the second economic source of Anjajavy: the traditional fishing industry.

Fauna & Exceptional Biodiversity

The inventories and observations of the animal and plant species of Anjajavy are testimony to its great biological wealth, with no fewer than five critically

, 15 in danger of extinction and 13 vulnerable to extinction. The large majority of these species are endemic to Madagascar or to the nearby region.

Lemurs

The

lemurs Lemurs ( ) (from Latin ''lemures'' – ghosts or spirits) are wet-nosed primates of the superfamily Lemuroidea (), divided into 8 families and consisting of 15 genera and around 100 existing species. They are endemic to the island of Madaga ...

are easy to observe in their natural environment.

Lemurs Lemurs ( ) (from Latin ''lemures'' – ghosts or spirits) are wet-nosed primates of the superfamily Lemuroidea (), divided into 8 families and consisting of 15 genera and around 100 existing species. They are endemic to the island of Madaga ...

are a noted species in the Anjajavy Forest, since they are abundant in the trees and even sometimes on the forest floor . The most frequently seen diurnal species are

Coquerel's sifaka Coquerel's sifaka (''Propithecus coquereli'') is a diurnal, medium-sized lemur of the sifaka genus '' Propithecus''. It is native to northwest Madagascar. Coquerel's sifaka was once considered to be a subspecies of Verreaux's sifaka, but was ...

and the

common brown lemur The common brown lemur (''Eulemur fulvus'') is a species of lemur in the family Lemuridae. It is found in Madagascar and has been introduced to Mayotte. Taxonomy Five additional currently recognized species of lemur were until 2001 considered ...

both of which are completely wild but show no fear of humans gardens. Other, nocturnal lemurs of the Anjajavy Forest include three species of mouse lemur (''Microcebus'' spp.), one species of sportive lemur (''Lepilemur'' sp.) and the fat-tailed dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus medius). Since none of these nocturnal lemur populations have been researched by specialists, it is possible that some may represent new, undescribed species. Lemurs of the Anjajavy Forest are: * Milne Edward sportive lemur ('' Lepilemur edwardsi'') * Coquerel's sifaka ('' Propithecus coquereli'') * Fat-tailed dwarf lemur (''

Cheirogaleus medius The fat-tailed dwarf lemur (''Cheirogaleus medius''), also known as the lesser dwarf lemur, western fat-tailed dwarf lemur, or spiny forest dwarf lemur, is endemic to Madagascar. Hibernation Recent research has shown that ''C. medius'' hibernat ...

'') * Golden brown mouse lemur ('' Microcebus ravelobensis'') * Danfoss mouse lemur ('' Microcebus danfossi'') * Gray mouse lemur (''

Microcebus murinus The gray mouse lemur (''Microcebus murinus''), grey mouse lemur or lesser mouse lemur, is a small lemur, a type of strepsirrhine primate, found only on the island of Madagascar. Weighing , it is the largest of the mouse lemurs (genus ''Microceb ...

'') * Common brown lemur ('' Eulemur fulvus'') *Aye-Aye (''

Daubentonia madagascariensis The aye-aye (''Daubentonia madagascariensis'') is a long-fingered lemur, a strepsirrhine primate native to Madagascar with rodent-like teeth that perpetually grow and a special thin middle finger. It is the world's largest nocturnal primate. ...

'')

Bats

The tsingy caves provide special habitat for the bats of this region, offering cool shelter. Probably the most common member of the chiroptera family locally is the Commerson's leaf-nosed bat (''Hipposideros commersoni''). The cave explorers will also sight Tiavato bats ('' Paremballonura tiavato'') in flight and some hanging from the ceiling on stalactite formations of the limestone cave interiors. A cruise on the mangrove before sunset often shows skies with many Madagascar flying foxes ('' Pteropus rufus'').

Fossa

Also seen in the Anjajavy Forest area is the endangered Fossa (''

Cryptoprocta ferox ''Cryptoprocta'' is a genus of carnivoran endemic to Madagascar. It contains the living Fossa (animal), fossa and its larger, recently extinct relative, the giant fossa. The fossas are the largest of Madagascar's mammalian carnivores. References< ...

''), the largest mammalian carnivore is endemic to the island. Even though it looks similar to a puma, it is actually more closely related to the mongoose and civet. Very comfortable in trees, its long tail helps the animal to balance itself on the branches and its very flexible legs allow it to go down tree trunks head down. The main predator of the lemurs, this mammal is essential to the health of the lemur population as it kills the sick or weakest. Its territory is between 1,300 and 2,600 hectares in size. The Fossa is vulnerable to extinction. As a chicken and cattle hunter, it is seldom welcome around homes.

Birds

Anjajavy le Lodge by Jef & Louis Pattyn (237)

There is abundandant birdlife present in the Anjajavy Forest, a paradise for

birds Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...

and bird watchers. Inventories have documented the presence in the Protected Area of more than 134 different bird species. One of the most emblematic is the

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 a ...

, which has four breeding pairs in the Anjajavy Forest according to Garbutt and Hogan. This very large bird of prey is endemic to western Madagascar, and the species is critically endangered. The Malagasy

Fish Eagle A sea eagle or fish eagle (also called erne or ern, mostly in reference to the white-tailed eagle) is any of the birds of prey in the genus ''Haliaeetus'' in the bird of prey family Accipitridae. Taxonomy and evolution The genus ''Haliaeetus'' ...

(''Haliaeetus vociferoides'') called «Ankoay» in Malagasy, is a large bird of prey endemic to the coastal strip North-West of Madagascar. Various estimations place the number of remaining breeding pairs to be between 40 and 150. This bird may therefore be one of the rarest on

Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...

. We must act fast in order to protect the three to six pairs between Anjajavy's Protected Area and Moramba Bay. According to Anjajavy le Lodge continuous nature inventoryAnjajavy le Lodge continuous nature inventory
Anjajavy reserve Check List on www.inaturalist.org
/ref> bird species frequenting the Anjajavy Forest are:

Reptiles & Amphibians

Collared lizard anjajavycmichaelhoganlowres

Anjajavy is home to an amazing diversity of lizards and other

reptiles Reptiles, as most commonly defined are the animals in the Class (biology), class Reptilia ( ), a paraphyletic grouping comprising all sauropsid, sauropsids except birds. Living reptiles comprise turtles, crocodilians, Squamata, squamates (lizar ...

: the tropical climate and regular sunshine provide the perfect environment for about 40 species. Each tree seems to accommodate a gold-flecked gecko or a

chameleon Chameleons or chamaeleons (family Chamaeleonidae) are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of Old World lizards with 202 species described as of June 2015. The members of this family are best known for their distinct range of colors, bein ...

. After the dry season from May to October it is easy to see an assortment of chameleons, lizards and snakes in the Anjajavy Forest. Among the snakes (that are not dangerous) are : * Madagascar ground boa ('' Acrantophis madagascariensis'') that can swallow a lemur in half an hour * Madagascar hog-nosed snake (''

Leioheterodon madagascariensis ''Leioheterodon madagascariensis'', the Malagasy Giant Hognose, is a harmless species of snake that can be found in Madagascar, Nosy Be Nosy Be (formerly Nossi-bé and Nosse Be) is an island off the northwest coast of Madagascar. Nosy Be is ...

'')= * Madagascar tree boa (''

Sanzinia madagascariensis ''Sanzinia madagascariensis'', also known as the Malagasy tree boaMehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. . or Madagascar tree boa, is a boa species endemic to the island of Madagascar. It ...

'') * Cat eye snake ('' Madagascarophis colubrinus'') * Red eye snake ('' Stenophis variabilis'') * White hognose snake (''

Leioheterodon modestus ''Leioheterodon modestus'', also known as the blonde hognose snake, is a species of harmless snake in the family Pseudoxyrhophiidae. It is endemic to Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( ...

'') * Leaf nose snake ('' Langaha madagascariensis'') * Zebra snake ('' Langaha alluaudi'') * Sword tailed snake ('' Ithycyphus perineti'') * ('' Liophidium torquatum'') * Whip snake ('' Dromicodryas bernieri'') * ('' Dromicodryas quadrilineatus'') * Pencil snake ('' Mimophis mahfalensis'') * ('' Heteroliodon accipitalis'') * ('' Heteroliodon fohy'') Chameleon species present include: * Giant chameleon ('' Furcifer oustaleti'') * Panther chameleon (''

Furcifer pardalis The panther chameleon (''Furcifer pardalis'') is a species of chameleon found in the eastern and northern parts of Madagascar in a tropical forest biome. Additionally, it has been introduced to Réunion and Mauritius. Taxonomy The Nosy Be pant ...

'') * Long nose chameleon (''

Furcifer angeli The Angel's chameleon (''Furcifer angeli''), initially described as ''Chamaeleo angeli'', is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar, and was originally described by Édouard-Raoul Bry ...

'') * Pygmy caméleon ('' Brookesia ambreensis'') * Plated leaf chameleon ('' Brookesia stumpffi'')

Madagascan Big-Headed Turtle

This species of

freshwater turtle Turtles are an order of reptiles known as Testudines, characterized by a special shell developed mainly from their ribs. Modern turtles are divided into two major groups, the Pleurodira (side necked turtles) and Cryptodira (hidden necked tu ...

(''Erymnochelys madagascariensis'') enjoys the lakes and streams of the Malagasy North-West coast. Its habitat is in great danger of destruction in favor of rice cultivation. The species is also threatened by collecting for the markets of traditional Asian pharmacopeia. It is the focus of numerous conservation programmes. Anjajavy le Lodge is pursuing a project of conservation of this turtle through monitoring of reproduction sites and through community awareness-raising campaigns.

References

{{coord, 15, 02, 4, S, 47, 13, 28, E, region:MG-U_type:landmark, display=title Geography of Madagascar Forests of Madagascar Madagascar dry deciduous forests