 Czech version
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“I can
declare that
Madagascar is truly the naturalist’s promised land. There, nature
appears
to have isolated itself within a unique sanctuary to work on models
other
than those to which she is subjugated elsewhere. One encounters the
most
bizarre and marvelous forms at every footstep.”
Phillibert Commerson
Nature is the most interesting, splendid and remarkable
element of Madagascar.
The world’s fourth largest island, it separated from Africa 160 million
years ago and from the Indian subcontinent 88 million years ago. Since
this time Madagascar has existed independently of other continents. Due
to its long isolation, Madagascar whole ecosystems has developed
differently
from the rest of the world; unique plants, animals and fungi flourish
across
the isle. Heterogenic climate conditions created great diversity of
habitats
and organisms. Two ecosystems resulting from this condition are the
sambirano
in the north part of island and the spiny bush (or spiny forest) in the
south.
The diversity of species on Madagascar is truly phenomenal.
Only
a few other sites in the world could be so worthly of the title
“hotspot”
or the distinction “megadiverse” (i.e. Amazon Basin, Papua New Guinea,
the Central African Rainforests, etc.).
Tbl. I: Families of vascular plants and
vertebrates
endemic to Madagascar (only lemurs belong to a superfamily).
Great diversity is linked to great endemism. Biologists
estimate
60 % of Madagascar animals and plants live only on Madagascar. The
endemism
of several whole taxonomic groups (like genus, tribes or families) is
or
is nearly 100% – (i.e. lemurs, amphibians etc.). Also remarcable is the
high endemism of such mobile animals as birds (45%).
| vascular
plants |
12.000 species
|
| animals |
100.000 species
|
Tbl. II: Animals and plants species of
Madagascar
(estimated)
|
