Ankarana National Park

The Ankarana National Park is located in the Diana region in the northern part of Madagascar. The park lies 108 kilometres south of Antsiranana (Diego Suarez) and about 20 kilometres north of Ambilobe. The four rural disctricts of Marivorahona, Anivorano, Ambondrona and Antsaravibe surround the park. From Antsiranana it takes between two and three hours by taxi-brousse to reach the main entrance on the east-side at Mahamasina along the RN6. Most of the people living in the region belong to the Antakarana ethnic group.

Ankarana National Park has a total area of 18,225ha and an altitude of 206m. The predominant climate is dry tropical with an annual rainfall below 2,000mm. Most of the rain falls in January. The dry season lasts from April to November. March is the hottest month with a maximum temperature of 36.2°C and June is the coldest with a minimum temperature of 13.5°C.

The topography of Ankarana is characterised by limestone emerging from a basaltic plain 50m above sea level, forming the tsingy (sharp limestone karst pinnacles). Numerous underground caves and canyons traverse the massif. Four major rivers flow through the reserve: Besaboba eastward, Ankarana from the north, Antenan'Ankarana and Mananjeba from the south. The first three are underground rivers whose specific watercourses still remain unknown.

Fauna

For visitors of the reserve there is much to discover in the forest, rivers and caves. In 2010 a biological inventory identified:

• 50 shellfish species and a large number of tsingy snails
• 14 bat species, half the species of bats in Madagascar
• 60 species of reptiles and amphibians
• 11 species of lemurs
• 96 bird species
  
  

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 (springtail) and amphipods are endemic to the caves and streams of Ankarana.

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.

Reptiles / Amphibians

Ankarana has a very high diversity of reptiles and amphibians, at least 60 species have been inventoried. Following species are endemic to Ankarana:

• 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
    
    

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 madagascariensis
• Caprimulgus enarratus - Collared nightjar
  
  

Mammals

Ankarana is home to many species of mammals, including 14 species of bats, meaning that half of the bats of Madagascar live in the underground caves of Ankarana. Two amongst them are the smallest and biggest bats of the world: The Megachiroptere (Megabat) and the Microchiroptere (Microbat).

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
  
  

The best fauna most visible to tourists

Scientific name	English name	Description	Where to find	When to find
Eulemur coronatus	Crowned lemur	Crowned head lemur, male has a dark brown fur.	Prowls in the forest of the canyon near the camp and along the track to the Green Lake (Lac Vert).	Morning before noon and in the afternoon between 3pm and 5pm.
Eulemur fulvus sanfordi	Brown lemur / Sanford's lemur	More luxuriant hair on the head. Males have a bushy collar of beard.	On the Green Lake track and around the camp Andrafiabe.	Morning before noon and in the afternoon between 3pm and 5pm.
Lepilemur septentrionalis	Northern sportive lemur	Small lemur with big eyes.	Usually in a tree along the trail to the Green Lake and to the bats cave.	All day whilst sleeping.
Galidia elegans	Ring-tailed mongoose	Mongoose with deep reddish-brown fur and a long, bushy black and red striped tail.	Around the camp.	At any time of the day.
Uroplatus ebenaui	Spear-tailed gecko	Usually camouflaged in the colour of the tree trunk, sitting 1.50m above the ground.	On the slopes of the circuits but difficult to find because of its very effective camouflage.	During the morning.
Furcifer pardalis	Panther chameleon	Dark green chameleon with a red stripe, white on the stomach.	On the slopes of the circuits in the canyons, abundant in the rainy season.	At any time of the day.
Crocodylus niloticus	Nile crocodile	Black crocodile with short muzzle. Entire body lies in water, except the eyes and nose.	In the crocodile cave.	During the dry season at any time of the day.
Lophotibus cristata	Madagascar Crested Ibis	Bird with a bent stature, red and white feathers and short tail.	Along the trail to the Green Lake and in the canyon forest.	During the morning.
Mesitornis variegata	White-breasted mesite	A bird slightly larger than the green pigeons. Light brown mottled with white chest, pointed beak, often in groups of eight to ten.	Along the trail to the Green Lake and in the canyon forest.	During the morning and late afternoon.
Rousettus madagascarensis		Bats of larger size compared to other species, more elongated snout, gray/dark brown.	In several caves in Ankarana, several groups in the bats cave.	During the day.
Glossogobius ankaranensis		Blind fish, white and transparent.	In the underground rivers in the caves.	During the day.

The best flora most visible to tourists

Scientific name	English name	Description	Where to find
Adansonia madagascarensis	Baobab	Baobab with a large trunk and thick bark, high canopy. Edible fruits are rich in calcium.	Dominates the track of the Turrets of Tsingy.
Euphorbia ankaranensis		Tsingy vegetation, rough grass with spiny trunk and red flowers. Endemic to the reserve.	Grows between the rocks of the tsingy.
Adenia lapiazicola		Tsingy vegetation, liana similar to the shape of a demijohn, stores water in the dry season.	Grows between the rocks of the tsingy.
Cyphostema macrocarpa		Tsingy vegetation, bottle-shaped vine with bark that peels.	Grows between the rocks of the tsingy.
Commiphora spp	Paper tree or Vazaha tree	Tree with a gnarled trunk, bark peels in the dry season.	In the tsingy and dense dry forest.
Dalbergia spp	Palissandre	Tree with a huge trunk and hard bark, high canopy. Leafs rather small and composed.	In the semi-evergreen forest of the canyon (along the trail to the Green Lake and near the Camp of the Princes.
Ficus spp		Tree with a huge trunk and air roots.	In the semi-evergreen forests of the canyon along the Green Lake trail.
Tacca ankaranensis		Shrub with a long thin stem and leafs similar to a papaya.	Grows everywhere in the tsingy during the rainy season.