Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
southern end of the range near Taolagnaro forms a unique but fragile divide between the
evergreen rainforest to the east and the arid spiny forest beyond.
Littoral rainforest (sea level) Very little of Madagascar's unique coastal, or littoral, rain-
forest remains. Rooted in sand, washed with salty air, battered by cyclones and bordering
lagoons and marshes, coastal forests harbour a very unusual community. The architecture
of the forest is similar to the more widespread lowland forest, but the plants are different:
theyaresalt-tolerantandhighlyefficientatextractingwaterandnutrientsfromtheshallow,
porous sand beneath. Good example: Tampolo Forestry Station .
Lowland rainforest (0-800m) Most of the rainforest in Madagascar is lowland, that is,
below around 800m. This type of forest is hot and sticky, with humidity at 100% and an-
nual rainfall of up to 5,000mm. The forest canopy is 30m above the ground, with few trees
emerging beyond this level. Butterflies flutter as monstrous beetles and myriad ants and
termites patrol the forest floor.
Lemurs skip among the branches and lianas which serve as highways between the forest
floor and the world above. Preying on the lemurs, the fossa is at home among the canopy
branches,whileabovetheleavesbirdsofpreyandfruitbatspatrol.Tenrecsandforestbirds
rummage through the leaf litter, and the Madagascar striped civet and mongooses wait to
pick off any unsuspecting prey. Good examples: Masoala, Nosy Mangabe and the lower
parts of Marojejy .
Montane rainforest (800-1,300m) As altitude increases and air temperature drops, the
tree species of the lowland rainforests give way to those more able to tolerate the cooler
conditions. These species have lower canopies and are the foundation of the montane rain-
forest.Thechangefromlowlandtomontaneforestisagradualoneinfluencedbyanumber
offactors.InsouthernMadagascar,montaneforestoccurslowerdown;inthewarmernorth
lowland forest may continue up to around 900m.
Onceintruemontaneforestthelandscapeisverydifferent.Notonlyisthecanopylower
and the temperature much cooler, the understorey is far more dense. Tree ferns and bam-
boos litter the forest floor and there is a tight tangle of trunks, roots and woody lianas, all
sporting furry lichens and lines of bright fungi.
Montanereservesareexcellentplacestospotmammalsandbirds,includingmanylemur
species. Good examples: Ranomafana, Andasibe-Mantadia, Montagne d'Ambre and parts
of Marojejy .
Cloudforest (above 1,300m) The forest beyond 1,300m has an even lower canopy and is
characteristically thick with ferns and mosses. It is properly called high-altitude montane
rainforest, but because it is often cloaked in mists it is also known as cloudforest. The low
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