In 1500, due to pure chance, the island of Madagascar was discovered. The team of the Portuguese navigator Diogo Diasa fell into a storm, which forced them to land on the only land that was found nearby. So 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, including mountains, lakes, desert areas, the jungle, contributed to the conservation of a huge number of animal species. On the island there are more than 250 thousand, and most of them are endemic, that is, they are not found in other areas of the globe. The wildlife 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, which causes animals to suffer.
Recently, the number of reserves and specially protected territories has increased, where all conditions are created for the free existence of a unique fauna. Scientists work by tracking various animal populations and fighting for their prosperity.
Madagascar - the kingdom of lemurs
The largest part of the island fauna is made up of such animals of Madagascar as lemurs. Indigenous people treat them with special respect, because they believe that the souls of the dead move to the body of semi-monkeys. More than 20 species of these animals live on the island.
Lemurs are kept by families in which the female dominates. These cute creatures are similar in appearance to their ancestors - monkeys, but they have shorter limbs and a pointed muzzle. Nature perfected their appearance by adding large eyes. Such a mechanism allows nocturnal animals to orientate themselves perfectly in food production. Animals eat mainly insects and vegetation. They are very friendly, courageous and curious.
Types of Lemurs
The most striking appearance are different lemurs of kata. They are distinguished by a white muzzle with dark "glasses" and a long striped tail. In size, representatives of this species barely exceed a domestic cat. Due to the almost complete absence of predators, animals of Madagascar, such as kata, are most widespread.
The smallest primate inhabits Madagascar - mouse lemur. 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 a small arm. Another name for the animal is ah-ah. He lives in trees and obtains his own food using excessively long and tenacious fingers. The animal taps the trunks on the subject of larvae, using echolocation. His appearance is not particularly attractive: furry hair that sticks out in all directions, yellow wide-set eyes and large semicircular ears.
Indri is one of the largest lemurs. Its weight reaches 10 kg, and its height is 90 cm. Despite its large dimensions, the beast cleverly climbs trees. Each family has a strict range, which it protects by making loud noises.
Swamp Tenrek
The most elusive animals of Madagascar, strangely adapted to life in ponds. The limbs of tenrek are equipped with membranes and a large amount of muscle tissue. The animal deftly runs through the shallow water, catching tadpoles and fish. For hunting, he uses vibrissae - sensitive antennae, which, like a locator, pick up water vibrations. The appearance of the tenrek is also interesting: its size is about 15 cm, and a mixture of wool and needles covers the whole body. In appearance, the animal looks like a small hedgehog, in fact, it refers to shrews.
Rare birds
The island is also rich in birds - they are inhabited by about 150 species, of which one third are endemic. The rarest animals of Madagascar from the bird class are red-headed dives. Lack of food and drying out of water bodies due to human activities put this species of ducks at risk of extinction. It was believed that these birds disappeared forever, but in 2006 a small population of 20 individuals was discovered. Over 8 years of successful and painstaking work of zoologists, it has been able to increase 4 times. The dive is very beautiful, it has a red-brown body, a gray beak and a white abdomen.
The real only one is the blue cuckoo. The bird has an incredibly attractive appearance with a rich blue plumage. Unlike relatives, she hatches offspring on her own. For its remarkable appearance, this endemic has come under the 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 a long tail. Strong, muscular animals have a reddish-brown coat. Outwardly, these animals of Madagascar are similar to a cat and a marten, but belong to the civet family. The fossa tail, coupled with retractable claws, allows her 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 is replete with a huge number of species of amphibians, among which the main ones are frogs, lizards and chameleons.
Rare and endangered species include leaf-tailed geckos. Due to their incredible appearance, they easily avoid prying eyes. The amphibian reaches a length of 13 cm and has a tail, barely distinguishable from a dried leaf. The body of the amphibian is covered with skin resembling wood bark.
Panther chameleons are distinguished by a bright color, which easily changes due to the special structure of body cells. They use their skill to disguise and communicate. This species is notable for its ability to simultaneously observe with different eyes two different objects of hunting. Before throwing a sticky tongue, the chameleon focuses on the target.
There are many frogs in the tropical rainforests of the island. The most notable are tomato narrow-cuts. Females of this species have a rich color of ripe tomato and black stripes on the sides of the body. When danger arises, their skin secretes an irritating secret.
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 island endemic.