The Anjajavy's

Protected Area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources (e.g. firewood ...

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

Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's List of islands by area, f ...

. It is part of the Sofia region of the independent province of

Mahajanga Mahajangā (French: Majunga) is a city and an administrative district on the northwest coast of Madagascar. The city of Mahajanga (Mahajanga I) is the capital of the Boeny Region. The district (identical to the city) had a population of 258,068 ...

and its position is between 47°13’ at 44°22’ of longitude east and 14°58 at 15°07’ of latitude south.. Anjajavyforestrazorback

It can be accessed by an unpaved provincial road from Antonibe and

Anjiamangirana I Anjiamangirana I is a rural municipality in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Antsohihy, which is a part of Sofia Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 12,000 in 2001 commune census. Primary and junior le ...

( RN 6). Anjajavy's Protected Area is an element of the

Madagascar dry deciduous forests The Madagascar dry deciduous forests represent a tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, tropical dry forest ecoregion situated in the western and northern part of Madagascar. The area has high numbers of Endemism, endemic plant and anima ...

situated on the

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or approximately 20% of the water area of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia (continent), ...

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, 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 Tsingy may refer to: * Tsingy, a type of karst topography Karst () is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble carbonate rocks such as limestone and Dolomite (rock), dolomite. It is characterized by features like poljes above and ...

limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...

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 and other terrestrial planets. Features Outcrops do not cover the majority of the Earth's land surface because in most p ...

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

Antananarivo Antananarivo (Malagasy language, Malagasy: ; French language, French: ''Tananarive'', ), also known by its colonial shorthand form Tana (), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Madagascar. The administrative area of the city, known ...

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 (; ; : plateaus or plateaux), 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. ...

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

slash-and-burn Slash-and-burn agriculture is a form of shifting cultivation that involves the cutting and burning of plants in a forest or woodland to create a Field (agriculture), field called a swidden. The method begins by cutting down the trees and woody p ...

farming by indigenous peoples, leading to massive

desertification Desertification is a type of gradual land degradation of Soil fertility, fertile land into arid desert due to a combination of natural processes and human activities. The immediate cause of desertification is the loss of most vegetation. This i ...

and

erosion Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as Surface runoff, water flow or wind) that removes soil, Rock (geology), rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust#Crust, Earth's crust and then sediment transport, tran ...

. The incidence of species

endemism Endemism is the state of a species being found only 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 foun ...

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

lemur Lemurs ( ; from Latin ) 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 existing species. They are Endemism, ...

genera Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...

, five of the eight

tenrec A tenrec () is a mammal belonging to any species within the afrotherian family Tenrecidae, which is endemic to Madagascar. Tenrecs are a very diverse group, as a result of adaptive radiation, and exhibit convergent evolution, some resemble hed ...

genera and 16 of the 17

Chiroptera Bats are flying mammals of the order Chiroptera (). 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 birds, flying with their very long spread-out ...

genera of Madagascar represented. There are a variety of

mammal A mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the Class (biology), class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three ...

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class (biology), class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the Oviparity, laying of Eggshell, hard-shelled eggs, a high Metabolism, metabolic rate, a fou ...

reptile Reptiles, as commonly defined, are a group of tetrapods with an ectothermic metabolism and Amniotic egg, amniotic development. Living traditional reptiles comprise four Order (biology), orders: Testudines, Crocodilia, Squamata, and Rhynchocepha ...

s and

arthropod Arthropods ( ) are invertebrates in the phylum Arthropoda. They possess an arthropod exoskeleton, exoskeleton with a cuticle made of chitin, often Mineralization (biology), mineralised with calcium carbonate, a body with differentiated (Metam ...

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 of medium-to-large deciduous trees known as baobabs ( or ). The eight species of ''Adansonia'' are native to Africa, Australia, and Madagascar but have also been introduced to other regions of the world, including Barb ...

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

arid Aridity is the condition of geographical regions which make up approximately 43% of total global available land area, characterized by low annual precipitation, increased temperatures, and limited water availability.Perez-Aguilar, L. Y., Plata ...

climate by shedding leaves in the dry season to reduce

evapotranspiration Evapotranspiration (ET) refers to the combined processes which move water from the Earth's surface (open water and ice surfaces, bare soil and vegetation) into the Atmosphere of Earth, atmosphere. It covers both water evaporation (movement of w ...

, 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 (: floras or florae) is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous (ecology), indigenous) native plant, native plants. The corresponding term for animals is ''fauna'', and for f ...

and

fauna Fauna (: faunae or faunas) is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding terms for plants and fungi are ''flora'' and '' funga'', respectively. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively ...

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

rainforest Rainforests are forests characterized by a closed and continuous tree Canopy (biology), canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforests can be generally classified as tropi ...

s, although the

biodiversity Biodiversity is the variability of life, life on Earth. It can be measured on various levels. There is for example genetic variability, species diversity, ecosystem diversity and Phylogenetics, phylogenetic diversity. Diversity is not distribut ...

, 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 carbonate rocks such as limestone and Dolomite (rock), dolomite. It is characterized by features like poljes above and drainage systems with sinkholes and caves underground. Ther ...

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. Orchids are cosmopolitan plants that are found in almost every habitat on Eart ...

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 colloquially c ...

species and 130 species of

aloes Agarwood, aloeswood, eaglewood, gharuwood or the Wood of Gods, commonly referred to as oud or oudh (from , ), is a fragrant, dark and resinous wood used in incense, perfume, and small hand carvings. It forms in the heartwood of ''Aquilaria' ...

. 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, the canopy is the upper layer or habitat zone, formed by mature tree crowns and includ ...

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

Adansonia rubrostipa ''Adansonia rubrostipa'', commonly known as fony baobab, is a deciduous tree in the Malvaceae family. Of eight species of baobab currently recognized, six are indigenous to Madagascar, including fony baobab. It is endemic to western Madagascar, ...

'' 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 ...

''. In addition, trees such as ''

Grewia ciclea ''Grewia'' is a large flowering plant genus in the mallow family Malvaceae, in the expanded sense as proposed by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group. Formerly, ''Grewia'' was placed in either the family Tiliaceae or the Sparrmanniaceae. However, th ...

'' (Malagasy name, andilambarika) and ''

Terminalia catappa ''Terminalia catappa'' is a large Tropics, 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, ...

'' (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 ''Vepris'' is a genus of plant in family Rutaceae. It comprises around 90 species, mainly from tropical Africa, Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands and at a lesser extent Arabia and India. Species , Plants of the World Online (PoWO) accepted t ...

'' (Malagasy name: ampoly) and '' Rhizorphora mucronata'' (Malagasy name: honkovavy). There are also abundant

liana A liana is a long-Plant stem, stemmed Woody plant, 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 (biology), canopy in search of direct sunlight. T ...

s (vines) as well as numerous herbs, including the Madagascar vanilla ('' Vanilla madagascariensis'', whose Malagasy name is vahimatso). The dry forest verges on

mangrove A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows mainly in coastal saline water, saline or brackish water. Mangroves grow in an equatorial climate, typically along coastlines and tidal rivers. They have particular adaptations to take in extra oxygen a ...

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 Tsingy may refer to: * Tsingy, a type of karst topography Karst () is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble carbonate rocks such as limestone and Dolomite (rock), dolomite. It is characterized by features like poljes above and ...

. 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 of medium-to-large deciduous trees known as baobabs ( or ). The eight species of ''Adansonia'' are native to Africa, Australia, and Madagascar but have also been introduced to other regions of the world, including Barb ...

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''), also known as indicine cattle and humped cattle, is a species or subspecies of Bos taurus, domestic cattle originating in South Asia. Zebu, like many Sanga cattle breeds, differs from taurine cattle by a fatty hump ...

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 Ha may refer to: Agencies and organizations * Health authority, a former type of administrative organisation of the NHS in England and Wales * Hells Angels Motorcycle Club * Highways Agency (renamed ''Highways En ...

, 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 flora (plants), plants and fauna (animals), animals. ''Biotope'' is almost synonymous with the term habitat (ecology), "habitat", which ...

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

s 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 Aquatic ecosystem, ecosystems. The name comes from the Greek language, Greek words (), meaning 'plant', and (), mea ...

and

plankton Plankton are the diverse collection of organisms that drift in Hydrosphere, water (or atmosphere, air) but are unable to actively propel themselves against ocean current, currents (or wind). The individual organisms constituting plankton are ca ...

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 ) 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 Madagascar. Most existing lemurs are s ...

are easy to observe in their natural environment.

Lemur Lemurs ( ; from Latin ) 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 existing species. They are Endemism, ...

s 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 Diurnality, diurnal, medium-sized lemur of the sifaka genus ''Sifaka, Propithecus''. It is native to northwest Madagascar. Coquerel's sifaka was once considered a subspecies of Verreaux's sifaka ...

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 s ...

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'') * 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 ''Microcebu ...

'') * Common brown lemur (''

Eulemur fulvus 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 s ...

'') *Aye-Aye ('' Daubentonia madagascariensis'')

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 Commerson's roundleaf bat (''Macronycteris commersoni''), also known as Commerson's leaf-nosed bat, is a species of bat endemic to Madagascar. It is named after French naturalist Philibert Commerson (1727-1773). Bat populations of Africa or São ...

(''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 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, d ...

'').

Fossa

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

Cryptoprocta ferox The fossa (''Cryptoprocta ferox''; or ; ) is a slender, long-tailed, cat-like mammal that is endemic to Madagascar. It is a member of the carnivoran family Eupleridae. The fossa is the largest mammalian carnivore on Madagascar and has been ...

''), 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

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

s and

bird watchers Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device such as binoculars or a telescope, ...

. 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 (''Icthyophaga 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 ...

, 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 An IUCN Red List critically endangered (CR or sometimes CE) species is one that has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. As of December 2023, of t ...

. 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 subfamily Haliaeetinae of the bird of prey family Accipitridae. Ten extant species exist, currently described w ...

(''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 Planetary habitability, harbor life. This is enabled by Earth being an ocean world, the only one in the Solar System sustaining liquid surface water. Almost all ...

. 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

lizard Lizard is the common name used for all Squamata, squamate reptiles other than snakes (and to a lesser extent amphisbaenians), encompassing over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most Island#Oceanic isla ...

s and other

s: 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 (biology), family Chamaeleonidae) are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of Old World lizards with 200 species described as of June 2015. The members of this Family (biology), family are best known for ...

. 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 ''Acrantophis madagascariensis'' is a species of Boidae, boid snake in the subfamily Sanziniinae that is Endemism, endemic to the island of Madagascar. Its common names include the Madagascar ground boa and Malagasy ground boa. Description This ...

'') that can swallow a lemur in half an hour * Madagascar hog-nosed snake (''

Leioheterodon madagascariensis ''Leioheterodon madagascariensis'', the Malagasy, Madagascar or Madagascan giant hognose (snake), is a harmless species of pseudoxyrhophiid snake endemic to the island nation of Madagascar. The species is also found on the country's smaller isl ...

'')= * Madagascar tree boa (''

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

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

Leioheterodon modestus ''Leioheterodon modestus,'' also known as the blonde hognose snake or the Madagascan golden hognose, is a species of rear-fanged ( opisthoglyphous) snake in the family Pseudoxyrhophiidae (previously considered a subfamily of Colubridae). '' Leiohe ...

'') * 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 The Malagasy giant chameleon or Oustalet's chameleon (''Furcifer oustaleti'') is a large species of chameleon which is native to entire Madagascar, but also has been introduced near Nairobi in Kenya (though its current status there is unclear) a ...

'') * 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 species, introduced to Réunion and Mauritius, as well ...

'') * 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 reptiles of the order (biology), order Testudines, characterized by a special turtle shell, shell developed mainly from their ribs. Modern turtles are divided into two major groups, the Pleurodira (side necked turtles) and Crypt ...

(''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 Protected areas in Diana Region