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Ankarana National Park

228 bytes added, 20:54, 14 December 2011
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== Invertebrates ==
Ankarana is home to at least 50 shellfish species, including 10 water species. Amongst the most interesting species is the great land snail ''Tropidophora''. Several species of Collembola collembola ([[springtail]]) and amphipods are endemic to the caves and streams of Ankarana.<br><br>
== Vertebrates ==
=== Fishes ===
The species ''Glossogobius ankaranensis '' is endemic to Ankarana. ''Glossogobius callidus '' ([[River goby]]) and ''Pachypanchax sp '' are also present in the streams of Ankarana.<br><br>
=== Reptiles / Amphibians ===
* '''Frogs'''
** ''Anodonthyla sp '' nov** ''Mantidactylus sp '' nov
* '''Skink'''
** ''Amphiglossus sp '' nov
* '''Snakes'''
** ''Alluaudina moquardi''** ''Liophidium therezieni''** ''Liophidium sp '' nov** ''Heteroliodon sp '' nov** ''Stenophis sp '' nov 1** ''Stenophis sp '' nov 2
* '''Lizard'''
** ''Lygodactylus expectatus''
* '''Gecko'''
** ''Uroplatus ebenaui '' - [[Spear-tailed gecko]] (endemic to the far north)
* '''Crocodile'''
** ''Crocodylus niloticus '' - [[Nile crocodile]]<br><br>
=== Birds ===
There are at least 96 bird species in Ankarana, many of which are of great importance for conservation. They are:
* ''Mesitornis variegatus '' - [[White-breasted mesite]]* ''Tyto soumagnei '' - [[Madagascan red owl]]* ''Ardea humbloti '' - [[Humblot's heron]]* ''Ardeola idea '' - [[Malagasy pond heron]]* ''Lophotibis cristata '' - [[Madagascan crested ibis]]* ''Haliaetus vociferoïdes''* ''Aviceda madagascariensis '' - [[Madagascan cuckoo-hawk]]* ''Accipiter madagascariensismadagascariensi''s* ''Caprimulgus enarratus '' - [[Collared nightjar]]<br><br>
=== Mammals ===
Of the 11 lemur species present in Ankarana, the most commonly observed are:
* ''Eulemur coronatus '' - [[Crowned lemur]]* ''Eulemur fulvus sanfordi '' - [[Brown lemur]], sub-species [[Sanford's lemur]]* ''Hapalemur griseus occidentalis '' - [[Bamboo lemur]]* ''Lepilemur septentrionalis '' - [[Northern sportive lemur]]* ''Phaner furcifer electromontis '' - [[Fork-marked lemur]]* ''Daubentonia madagascariensis '' - [[Aye-aye]]* ''Avahi occidentalis '' - [[Woolly lemur]]* ''Microcebus tavaratra '' - [[Northern rufous mouse lemur]] - endemic* ''Eliurus sp. '' nov. - [[Tufted-tailed rat]] - endemic
The famous ''Propithecus diadema perrieri'', known as [[Black sifaka]] / [[Diademed sifaka]], was last seen by park rangers in 1995 and 1996. Meanwhile, the presence of ''Microcebus myoxinus '' ([[Peters's mouse lemur]]) still needs to be to reconfirmed.
Endemic carnivores living in Ankarana are:
* ''Cryptoprocta ferox '' - [[Fossa]]* ''Galidia elegans '' - [[Ring-tailed mongoose]]* ''Fossa Fossana '' - [[Malagasy civet]]<br><br>
== The best fauna most visible to tourists ==
<td>When to find</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Eulemur coronatus''</td>
<td>Crowned lemur</td>
<td>Crowned head lemur, male has a dark brown fur.</td>
<td>Morning before noon and in the afternoon between 3pm and 5pm.</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Eulemur fulvus sanfordi''</td>
<td>Brown lemur / Sanford's lemur</td>
<td>More luxuriant hair on the head. Males have a bushy collar of beard.</td>
<td>Morning before noon and in the afternoon between 3pm and 5pm.</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Lepilemur septentrionalis''</td>
<td>Northern sportive lemur</td>
<td>Small lemur with big eyes.</td>
<td>All day whilst sleeping.</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Galidia elegans''</td>
<td>Ring-tailed mongoose</td>
<td>Mongoose with deep reddish-brown fur and a long, bushy black and red striped tail.</td>
<td>At any time of the day.</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Uroplatus ebenaui''</td>
<td>Spear-tailed gecko</td>
<td>Usually camouflaged in the colour of the tree trunk, sitting 1.50m above the ground.</td>
<td>During the morning.</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Furcifer pardalis''</td>
<td>Panther chameleon</td>
<td>Dark green chameleon with a red stripe, white on the stomach.</td>
<td>At any time of the day.</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Crocodylus niloticus''</td>
<td>Nile crocodile</td>
<td>Black crocodile with short muzzle. Entire body lies in water, except the eyes and nose.</td>
<td>During the dry season at any time of the day.</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Lophotibus cristata''</td>
<td>Madagascar Crested Ibis</td>
<td>Bird with a bent stature, red and white feathers and short tail.</td>
<td>During the morning.</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Mesitornis variegata''</td>
<td>White-breasted mesite</td>
<td>A bird slightly larger than the green pigeons. Light brown mottled with white chest, pointed beak, often in groups of eight to ten.</td>
<td>During the morning and late afternoon.</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Rousettus madagascarensis''</td>
<td></td>
<td>Bats of larger size compared to other species, more elongated snout, gray/dark brown.</td>
<td>During the day.</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Glossogobius ankaranensis''</td>
<td></td>
<td>Blind fish, white and transparent.</td>
<td>Where to find</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Adansonia madagascarensis''</td>
<td>Baobab</td>
<td>Baobab with a large trunk and thick bark, high canopy. Edible fruits are rich in calcium.</td>
<td>Dominates the track of the Turrets of Tsingy.</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Euphorbia ankaranensis''</td>
<td></td>
<td>Tsingy vegetation, rough grass with spiny trunk and red flowers. Endemic to the reserve.</td>
<td>Grows between the rocks of the tsingy.</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Adenia lapiazicola''</td>
<td></td>
<td>Tsingy vegetation, liana similar to the shape of a demijohn, stores water in the dry season.</td>
<td>Grows between the rocks of the tsingy.</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Cyphostema macrocarpa''</td>
<td></td>
<td>Tsingy vegetation, bottle-shaped vine with bark that peels.</td>
<td>Grows between the rocks of the tsingy.</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Commiphora spp.''</td>
<td>Paper tree or Vazaha tree</td>
<td>Tree with a gnarled trunk, bark peels in the dry season.</td>
<td>In the tsingy and dense dry forest.</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Dalbergia spp.''</td>
<td>Palissandre</td>
<td>Tree with a huge trunk and hard bark, high canopy. Leafs rather small and composed.</td>
<td>In the semi-evergreen forest of the canyon (along the trail to the Green Lake and near the Camp of the Princes.</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Ficus spp''</td>
<td></td>
<td>Tree with a huge trunk and air roots.</td>
<td>In the semi-evergreen forests of the canyon along the Green Lake trail.</td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>''Tacca ankaranensis''</td>
<td></td>
<td>Shrub with a long thin stem and leafs similar to a papaya.</td>
<td>Grows everywhere in the tsingy during the rainy season.</td></tr></table><br><br>

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