Madagascar

Discover Madagascar

1 . 

CREDIT OF IMAGE : FRANK VASSEN FLICKR

With a total population under 100, the Madagascar Pochard is the rarest duck in the world. They are endemic to the marshes and freshwater lakes of Madagascar. This extremely rare species of duck is thought to be extinct for many years. But in 2006, around 20 Madagascar Pochards were rediscovered at lake Mastsaborimena.

In the same year, the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust initiated a breeding program. By 2013, the researchers have been successfully raised the population of the Madagascar Pochard to 80 from just 20. The initial declination in the population of Pochard duck is caused by the loss of nesting sites and by the introduction of new species to their habitat.

Still, the Pochard ducks are vulnerable to extinction due to the scarcity of food within their habitat. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) classified the Pochard duck as a critically endangered bird.

Madagascar Pochard is a medium sized duck, which, grows to 45-54 cm in length. They have attractive reddish-brown flanks, white belly and greyish beak. Pochard ducks have originally lived in the marshes and densely vegetated lakes of Madagascar. Today, the small remaining population of Pochard ducks faces the scarcity of food. Without proper rescue plans, they will soon disappear from this world.



2 .


CREDIT OF IMAGE : AXEL STRAUS WIKIMEDIA 

 
Giraffe weevil is a strange looking insect that endemic to forests of Madagascar. The giraffe weevil called so because of its enormously long neck. A male giraffe’s weevil’s neck is 2-3 times longer than the female’s. The male insects use their long neck to build nests and to compete with other males during the mating season.

With an average length of 2.5 cm, the giraffe weevil is among the largest insects of the weevil family. Most of the body parts of giraffe weevil are black. The most noticeable thing on giraffe weevils, other than its long neck is the red shell that covers their hind legs. It called as elytra. The giraffe weevils use these shells along with hind wings in flight.

At present, a large population of giraffe weevils lives in the forests of Madagascar. They spent most of their lives on small trees known as ‘giraffe beetle trees’. They also feed on leaves of these trees. Luckily, there are no known predators to the giraffe weevils. Unlike their strange look , the giraffe weevil is completely harmless. They show no aggression towards human or other species.



3 . 

CREDIT OF IMAGE : MIROSLAV VAJDIC WIKIMEDIA


With a size of a house cat, the panther chameleon is among the largest chameleons in the world. They measure 17-20 inches in length. This large species of the chameleon is native to the Madagascar Island. The panther chameleons are also famous for their striking technicolor skin.

Panther chameleons inhabit in the coastal areas and islands of central and Northwestern parts of Madagascar. The color pattern of their skin varies with the location they live in. The skin color ranges from orange, red, blue, dark green or blue-green with different stripes and spots. The male panther chameleons are more colorful than the females.

Panther chameleons have the power to change their color with incredible speed. This spectacular color changing doesn’t merely depend on the change of location. It is also affected by their state of emotion, health, temperature variation, and light intensity.

The male panther chameleons display such an amazing skin color transformation during breeding season or on defense. The female chameleons usually have a dull color of gray or brown. But, during breeding season they also become pale or orange to pink in color.



4 . 

CREDIT OF IMAGE : FRANCESCO VERONESI FLICKR

Tomato frogs are named after their vibrant orange-red colored skin. Only the female frogs have such a brilliant tomato like coloration. The male frogs have a duller brownish-orange color. Undoubtedly, tomato frogs are one of most colorful animals in the world. They only found in the forests of Madagascar Island.

In Madagascar , the tomato frogs inhabit in swamps, shallow pools or other wetter part of the Island. The brilliant coloration of tomato frogs is actually a warning to their predators. But tomato frogs are not so toxic. When threatened, their skin produces a thick, sticky fluid to deter the potential predators such as snakes.

The tomato frogs are ambush predators. That means, they sit in a particular spot and will make a surprise attack on their preys. The diet of tomato frogs mainly includes insects and small invertebrates.



5 . 

The fossa is the largest carnivore found only in the forest of Madagascar. This mammal can reach 6 feet in length and weigh up to 10 kg. At first look, the fossa give a glimpse of a cross between a mongoose and a cat. The fossas are also the top predator of Madagascar. Unfortunately, only a small population of Fossas are left in wild in the Madagascar. The habitat loss is the main cause of declination of fossa’s population in Madagascar.

The fossas have very strong, muscular body with short reddish-brown coat. The long tail is one of the most distinguishing features of fossas. The tail actually makes up almost half of the total length of a fossa.

The fossas are very agile climbers. The retractable claws and flexible ankle joints allow them to easily climb up on the trees. The long tail of fossas also provides them right balance on move along the tree branches. Like the humans, the fossas walk on the soles of their feet, one kind of locomotion known as ‘plantigrade’. It gives the fossas stability in jumping from branch to branch.

The fossa is the most efficient hunter among the Madagascar animals. It is an ambush predator, make surprise attack on its preys. The fossas hunt during both day and night. With the sharp claws and sharp tooth, fossas can quickly kill their prey. Lemurs are the main food of fossas. They also hunt on other small mammals, fishes, birds, frogs and lizards.




Source : TMW (The Mysterious World)