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Madagascar has been an isolated island for about 70 million years, breaking away from Africa around 165 million years ago, then from India nearly 100 million years later. Prior to the arrival of humans about 2,000 years ago the an island, or from species that later crossed the sea to Madagascar. Ecological niches were often filled by animals with quite different histories from those on the African mainland, often leading to Convergent Evolution . A large proportion of these endemic Malagasy animals have died out since the arrival of humans, most particularly the Megafauna . Despite this, and massive deforestation, Madagascar is still home to an incredible array of wildlife, the vast majority of which is unique in the world.''The Natural History of Madagascar'', 2003 Madagascar is a primary spot for ecotourism,''Madagascar Wildlife: A Visitor's Guide'', 2nd ed., 2001 with more than fifty national parks and other protected reserves. There are believed to have been only five colonization events of terrestrial mammals from mainland Africa. They are the Tenrec s, the Lemur s, the Malagasy Carnivoran s, the Nesomyinae , and the now-extinct Bibymalagasians . The other mammalian colonizations are the amphibious hippopotamuses (now extinct) and bats. MALAGASY FAUNA (LIVING) Lemur s: There are approximately 75 species of lemur, more than 25 of which have been described by zoologists in the last decade alone.''Lemurs of Madagascar'' (Conservation International Tropical Field Guide Series), 2006 They are almost all classified as rare, vulnerable, or endangered.''Lemurs of Madagascar and the Comoros: The IUCN Red Data Book'', 1990 '''s is the Fossa (''Cryptoprocta ferox''), a type of civet despite its feline appearance. Other Malagasy carnivores include the Fanaloka (''Fossa fossana''), which, despite its scientific name , should not be confused with the fossa. Nor should it be confused with the very similarly named Falanouc (''Eupleres goudotii''), also known as the Malagasy Small-toothed Civet. Five species of mongoose are also found in Madagascar, as is the Small Indian Civet , the only carnivore believed to have been introduced to the island. '''s) are found on the African mainland. The majority of tenrecs, around 30 species, are found in Madagascar. They have radiated into many different Niches . For example Web-footed Tenrec s ('' Limnogale Mergulus '') resemble river otters in appearance and behaviour. The Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec ('' Echinops Telfairi '') resembles its namesake the hedgehog. ''' subfamily Nesomyinae . These have also radiated into various niches, with Vole -like forms, arboreal mice, Fossorial varieties, and Rabbit -like forms. Bat s: Approximately 30 species of bat are known from Madagascar, more than half of which are endemic to the island. ''' species of Chameleons and is considered the radiation point for Day Geckos . MALAGASY FAUNA (EXTINCT) ''', three to five times as heavy as the extant species. The '' Megaladapis '', of which the were three species, could reach the size of Orangutan s. The Sloth Lemur s, which show remarkable Evolutionary Convergence with the South American Sloth s, with Chimpanzee -sized '' Palaeopropithecus '' being very similar in body form to South American tree sloths. The sloth lemur '' Archaeoindris '' was the largest Malagasy mammal, it could reach sizes as big as a male Gorilla . ''). The fossil record of Madagascar has yielded the remains of a giant, recently extinct fossa, which was about a quarter larger than the living species Goodman S. M., Rasoloarison R. M. and Ganzhorn J. U. (2004). On the specific identification of subfossil ''Cryptoprocta'' (Mammalia, Carnivora) from Madagascar. ''Zoosystema'', 26''' (1): 129-143. at http://www.mnhn.fr/museum/front/medias/publication/1334_z04n1a9.pdf , making it close to the size of an Ocelot . This species was believed to have preyed upon the larger lemurs that inhabited Madagascar until the island was settled by man. Malagasy Hippopotamus es: There are thought to have been three different species of dwarf or pygmy hippo in Madagascar,''Mammals of Madagascar'' by Nick Garbutt, 1999 the last of which died out no earlier than 1,000 years ago, probably as a result of human settlement of the island. ''' on the neighbouring island of Mauritius . REFERENCES SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |
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