7 Vertebrates of Madagascar-Mid

Vertebrates of Madagascar FOCUS Question What makes Madagascar's vertebrates unique?

Island of Treasures A place of wonder lies off the southeast coast of Africa. This place has forests and mountains. It has deserts and beaches. It is also home to many unusual animals. And new ones are being discovered all the time. Welcome to Madagascar, the fourth-largest island on Earth! Madagascar was once attached to Africa and India. Millions of years ago, a small piece of land broke away from these two large landmasses It became the island of Madagascar.

The animals living on the island became separated from those on the mainland. Over many years, these animals changed. They became adapted to the different environments on the island. Madagascar has been an island for a very long time. As a result, many of the animals that live there are endemic. This means they do not live anywhere else on Earth. Madagascar has over one thousand endemic vertebrates (see chart below). Read on to learn about some of them. Math Moment According to the table 1,248 vertebrate species lived in Madagascar in 2010. How many of these species can also be found in other places?

Marvelous Mammals Madagascar is home to many kinds of mammals. More than one hundred species of lemurs live on the island. Lemurs are primates—the group of mammals that also includes monkeys, apes, and humans. Tenrecs are another large mammal group on Madagascar. These mammals look like a cross between hedgehogs and shrews. About thirty species make their homes in many different habitats. Some live on the ground. Others live in burrows, trees, or water. Wowser Madagascar has over forty species of bats. The largest is the Madagascar flying fox. Its wingspan— over 1.2 meters (4 ft.)—is as wide as a large hawk's!

Beautiful Birds Some of Earth's most unusual birds live in Madagascar. Cuckoo rollers have a large head and eyes set far back on their face. These birds are confusing to scientists because they have no close relatives. They may be the only surviving member of an ancient group of birds that died out everywhere else. Helmet vangas would be beautiful enough with just their black and rust-colored feathers. However, their huge blue bill gives them a striking appearance. Little is known about these shy birds. They often sit still in tall trees for long periods of time.

Remarkable Reptiles Most reptile groups can be found in Madagascar. The island has lizards, turtles, snakes and even a type of crocodile. Many chameleon species live on the island. One kind is tiny. It is one of the smallest vertebrates in the world. Madagascar also has many gecko species. Giant leaf-tailed geckos can grow to 30 centimeters (1 ft.) or more in length. Leaf-nosed snakes are another unusual reptile. Their thin body allows them to hide among vines and branches. Males have a long pointed growth on their nose, while females have a flat, leaf-shaped one.