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[[Image:Anjajavyforestrazorback.jpg|thumb|270px|right|[[Aerial photo]] of a portion of the Anjajavy Forest, inset by a swath of [[mangrove]] [[riparian forest]].]]
'''Anjajavy Forest''' is an element of the [[Madagascar dry deciduous forests]] situated on the [[Indian Ocean]] of northwest [[Madagascar]]. The Anjajavy Forest surrounds the village of Anjajavy and provides the habitat for many [[rare species|rare]] and [[endangered species]]<ref name="Garbutt">Nick Garbutt, C. Michael Hogan, Hilton Hastings, Wendy Pollecutt, Tahiana Andriaharimalala, ''Anjajavy, the village and the forest'', Lumina Technologies, May 12, 2006</ref>. This forest consists of roughly 50 square kilometres and occupies a continuous zone of much of the land 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]] [[limestone]] formations of western [[Madagascar]]. It is due to the presence of expansive tsingy [[outcrop]]s as well as the remoteness of this part of Madagascar from the population center of the country at [[Antananarivo]] that the forest here has been less disturbed than many other forests in the country. For example, the central highland [[plateau]], readily accessible from the population center, has been decimated by decades of [[slash-and-burn]] farming by indigenous peoples, leading to massive [[desertification]] and [[erosion]]. The incidence of species [[endemism]] in the western dry forests is very high, including ten of the fourteen known [[lemur]] [[genus|genera]], five of the eight [[tenrec]] genera and 16 of the 17 [[Chiroptera]] genera of Madagascar represented.<ref name="Garbutt">Nick Garbutt, C. Michael Hogan, Hilton Hastings, Wendy Pollecutt, Tahiana Andriaharimalala, ''Anjajavy, the village and the forest'', Lumina Technologies, May 12, 2006</ref> There are a variety of [[mammal]]s, [[bird]]s, [[reptile]]s and [[arthropod]]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 (June through September), including at least two species of [[baobab]]s endemic to the western part of the island. Trees here have adapted to the warm [[arid]] climate by [[deciduous|shedding leaves]] in the dry season to reduce [[evapotranspiration]], and some species such as the [[baobab]] 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]] and [[fauna]]; this rate is thought to be higher than for the eastern [[rainforest]]s, although the [[biodiversity]], while extremely high, is slightly less than the eastern counterparts. Geologically the tsingy formations have numerous [[subterranean]] caverns (used by early tribesmen) and [[karst]] formations, which provide [[aquifer|underground water storage]].
==Flora==
[[Image:Baobabamrazorback.jpg|thumb|180px|left|Bifurcated trunk of ''[[Adansonia madagascariensis]]'' in Anjajavy Forest]]
The forest canopy contains numerous species of deciduous trees, including at least two species of baobab, ''[[Adansonia rubrostipa]]'' and ''[[Adansonia madagascariensis]]''. In addition, trees such as ''[[Grewia ciclea]]'' (Malagasy name, andilambarika) and ''[[Terminalia catappa]]'' (Malagasy name: antafana) occur. The latter tree provides a favourite food supply to the [[Coquerel's Lemur]], with both fruits and leaves being appealing.
Some of the common shrubs found in the Anjajavy forest are ''[[Vepris ampody]]'' (Malagasy name: ampoly) and ''[[Rhizorphora mucronata]]'' (Malagasy name: honkovavy). There are also abundant [[liana]]s (vines) as well as numerous herbs, including the Madagascar vanilla (''[[Vanilla madagascariensis]]'', whose Malagasy name is vahimatso).
The dry forest verges on [[mangrove]] [[swamp]]s in the vicinity of several coastal estuaries at the western verge of the Anjajavy Forest, where small streams discharge into the Indian Ocean.
==Mammals==
[[Image:Coquerel'sPropithecus.jpg|thumb|250px|Coquerel's sifaka in the wild, Anjajavy Forest]]
Lemurs 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 animal|diurnal]] species<ref>Russell Mittermeier et al., ''Lemurs of Madagascar'', Conservation International (2006) ISBN 1-881173887</ref> are [[Coquerel's Sifaka]] and the [[common brown lemur]]. Other lemurs of the Anjajavy Forest are the [[Milne-Edwards sportive lemur]] (''Lepilemur edwardsi'') and the Pale fork-marked lemur.
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]] (''Hipposideros commersoni''). The cave explorer will sight many bats in flight and some hanging from the ceiling on stalactite formations of the limestone cave interiors.
Also thought to be present in the Anjajavy Forest area is the endangered (EN – C2a classification per Redlist) [[Fossa]] (''Cryptoprocta ferox''), the largest [[mammal]]ian [[carnivore]] in Madagascar. The nocturnal Greater hedgehog [[tenrec]] (''[[Setifer setosus]]''} also occurs in the forest here.
==Birds==
[[Image:Magpie crow anjajavycmichaelhoganlowres.jpg|thumb|220px|left|Pied crow in the wild, Anjavy Forest, Madagascar]]
There is abundandant birdlife present in the Anjajavy Forest. One of the most notable is the [[Madagascar Fish Eagle]] (''[[Haliaeetus vociferoides]]''), 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]], with an estimated 99 breeding pairs estimated in total existence. Other raptors present in the forest are the [[Madagascar harrier hawk]] and the [[Madagascar cuckoo falcon]].
Some of the other bird species frequenting the Anjajavy Forest are the Helmeted guinea fowl, White throated rail, Glossy ibis, [[Madagascar White Ibis]], Greater flamingo Broad-billed roller, [[Madagascar wagtail]], [[Madagascar bulbul]], [[Madagascar hoopoe]], [[White-headed vanga]], [[Crested drongo]] and the [[Pied crow]].
==Reptiles==
[[Image:Collared lizard anjajavycmichaelhoganlowres.jpg|thumb|240px|Collared iguanid lizard in the wild in Anjajavy Forest]]
An assortment of [[chameleon]]s, [[lizard]]s and snakes occur in the Anjajavy Forest. Among these are the Collared iguanid lizard (''[[opluris cuveri]]'') and the Lined plated lizard (''[[Zonosaurus laticaudatus]]''). Local snakes include the Madagascar ground boa (''[[Acratophis madagascariensis]]'') and the Madagascar hog-nosed snake (''[[Leioheterodon madagascariensis]]''). Chameleon species present include Oustalet's chameleon (''[[Furcifer oustaleti]]'') and the Jewel chameleon (''[[Furcifer lateralis]]'').
== References==
<div style="font-size:90%;">
<references />
</div>
==See also==
*[[Baobab]]
*[[Madagascar dry deciduous forests]]
*[[Karst topography]]
{{coor title dms|15|02|4|S|47|13|28|E|region:MG-U_type:landmark}}
[[Category:Geography of Madagascar]]
'''Anjajavy Forest''' is an element of the [[Madagascar dry deciduous forests]] situated on the [[Indian Ocean]] of northwest [[Madagascar]]. The Anjajavy Forest surrounds the village of Anjajavy and provides the habitat for many [[rare species|rare]] and [[endangered species]]<ref name="Garbutt">Nick Garbutt, C. Michael Hogan, Hilton Hastings, Wendy Pollecutt, Tahiana Andriaharimalala, ''Anjajavy, the village and the forest'', Lumina Technologies, May 12, 2006</ref>. This forest consists of roughly 50 square kilometres and occupies a continuous zone of much of the land 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]] [[limestone]] formations of western [[Madagascar]]. It is due to the presence of expansive tsingy [[outcrop]]s as well as the remoteness of this part of Madagascar from the population center of the country at [[Antananarivo]] that the forest here has been less disturbed than many other forests in the country. For example, the central highland [[plateau]], readily accessible from the population center, has been decimated by decades of [[slash-and-burn]] farming by indigenous peoples, leading to massive [[desertification]] and [[erosion]]. The incidence of species [[endemism]] in the western dry forests is very high, including ten of the fourteen known [[lemur]] [[genus|genera]], five of the eight [[tenrec]] genera and 16 of the 17 [[Chiroptera]] genera of Madagascar represented.<ref name="Garbutt">Nick Garbutt, C. Michael Hogan, Hilton Hastings, Wendy Pollecutt, Tahiana Andriaharimalala, ''Anjajavy, the village and the forest'', Lumina Technologies, May 12, 2006</ref> There are a variety of [[mammal]]s, [[bird]]s, [[reptile]]s and [[arthropod]]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 (June through September), including at least two species of [[baobab]]s endemic to the western part of the island. Trees here have adapted to the warm [[arid]] climate by [[deciduous|shedding leaves]] in the dry season to reduce [[evapotranspiration]], and some species such as the [[baobab]] 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]] and [[fauna]]; this rate is thought to be higher than for the eastern [[rainforest]]s, although the [[biodiversity]], while extremely high, is slightly less than the eastern counterparts. Geologically the tsingy formations have numerous [[subterranean]] caverns (used by early tribesmen) and [[karst]] formations, which provide [[aquifer|underground water storage]].
==Flora==
[[Image:Baobabamrazorback.jpg|thumb|180px|left|Bifurcated trunk of ''[[Adansonia madagascariensis]]'' in Anjajavy Forest]]
The forest canopy contains numerous species of deciduous trees, including at least two species of baobab, ''[[Adansonia rubrostipa]]'' and ''[[Adansonia madagascariensis]]''. In addition, trees such as ''[[Grewia ciclea]]'' (Malagasy name, andilambarika) and ''[[Terminalia catappa]]'' (Malagasy name: antafana) occur. The latter tree provides a favourite food supply to the [[Coquerel's Lemur]], with both fruits and leaves being appealing.
Some of the common shrubs found in the Anjajavy forest are ''[[Vepris ampody]]'' (Malagasy name: ampoly) and ''[[Rhizorphora mucronata]]'' (Malagasy name: honkovavy). There are also abundant [[liana]]s (vines) as well as numerous herbs, including the Madagascar vanilla (''[[Vanilla madagascariensis]]'', whose Malagasy name is vahimatso).
The dry forest verges on [[mangrove]] [[swamp]]s in the vicinity of several coastal estuaries at the western verge of the Anjajavy Forest, where small streams discharge into the Indian Ocean.
==Mammals==
[[Image:Coquerel'sPropithecus.jpg|thumb|250px|Coquerel's sifaka in the wild, Anjajavy Forest]]
Lemurs 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 animal|diurnal]] species<ref>Russell Mittermeier et al., ''Lemurs of Madagascar'', Conservation International (2006) ISBN 1-881173887</ref> are [[Coquerel's Sifaka]] and the [[common brown lemur]]. Other lemurs of the Anjajavy Forest are the [[Milne-Edwards sportive lemur]] (''Lepilemur edwardsi'') and the Pale fork-marked lemur.
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]] (''Hipposideros commersoni''). The cave explorer will sight many bats in flight and some hanging from the ceiling on stalactite formations of the limestone cave interiors.
Also thought to be present in the Anjajavy Forest area is the endangered (EN – C2a classification per Redlist) [[Fossa]] (''Cryptoprocta ferox''), the largest [[mammal]]ian [[carnivore]] in Madagascar. The nocturnal Greater hedgehog [[tenrec]] (''[[Setifer setosus]]''} also occurs in the forest here.
==Birds==
[[Image:Magpie crow anjajavycmichaelhoganlowres.jpg|thumb|220px|left|Pied crow in the wild, Anjavy Forest, Madagascar]]
There is abundandant birdlife present in the Anjajavy Forest. One of the most notable is the [[Madagascar Fish Eagle]] (''[[Haliaeetus vociferoides]]''), 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]], with an estimated 99 breeding pairs estimated in total existence. Other raptors present in the forest are the [[Madagascar harrier hawk]] and the [[Madagascar cuckoo falcon]].
Some of the other bird species frequenting the Anjajavy Forest are the Helmeted guinea fowl, White throated rail, Glossy ibis, [[Madagascar White Ibis]], Greater flamingo Broad-billed roller, [[Madagascar wagtail]], [[Madagascar bulbul]], [[Madagascar hoopoe]], [[White-headed vanga]], [[Crested drongo]] and the [[Pied crow]].
==Reptiles==
[[Image:Collared lizard anjajavycmichaelhoganlowres.jpg|thumb|240px|Collared iguanid lizard in the wild in Anjajavy Forest]]
An assortment of [[chameleon]]s, [[lizard]]s and snakes occur in the Anjajavy Forest. Among these are the Collared iguanid lizard (''[[opluris cuveri]]'') and the Lined plated lizard (''[[Zonosaurus laticaudatus]]''). Local snakes include the Madagascar ground boa (''[[Acratophis madagascariensis]]'') and the Madagascar hog-nosed snake (''[[Leioheterodon madagascariensis]]''). Chameleon species present include Oustalet's chameleon (''[[Furcifer oustaleti]]'') and the Jewel chameleon (''[[Furcifer lateralis]]'').
== References==
<div style="font-size:90%;">
<references />
</div>
==See also==
*[[Baobab]]
*[[Madagascar dry deciduous forests]]
*[[Karst topography]]
{{coor title dms|15|02|4|S|47|13|28|E|region:MG-U_type:landmark}}
[[Category:Geography of Madagascar]]