MADAGASCAN
Tropical & Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forest (Rainforest)
(Rainforest along coast at Masoala National Park, Madagascar)Kingdom Plantae
Order Alismatales
Family Araceae
Pothos spp.
(Madagascar)A genus of over 50 species. Usually grow as vines flat up against tree trunks in the rainforest. They often have a 'double' leaf shaped like a candle and flame. Species are found in Australia, New Guinea, through south-east Asia and on islands of the tropical Indo-Pacific.
Order Arecales
Family Arecaceae: Palms
Raffia Palms
There are about 20 species ofRaffia Palm. One species is found in the Neotropics, with the rest native to Africa and Madagascar. They flower and fruit once in their lives, and then die. The fibre from the leaves is commonly used for a natural rope.
Order Rosales
Family Moraceae
Ficus sp. 'Fig'
(Masoala, Madagascar)A genus of over 850 species found throughout the tropics and warmer parts of the world, and are particularly diverse in tropical rainforests.
Kingdom Animalia
Class Arachnida
Order Araneae: Spiders
Nephila sp. 'Golden Orb Web Spiders'.
Class Insecta
(Pond Skater, Isalo)Order Odonata: 'Dragonflies' and 'Damselflies'
Order Hemiptera: Bugs
Family Gerridae: 'Water Striders', 'Pond Skaters'
(Masoala, Madagascar)'Pond Skater'.
Order Anura: 'Frogs'
Family Mantellidae
(Mount Amber National Park, Madagascar)Aglyptodactylus spp. 'Madagascan Jumping Frogs'. There are 6 species in this genus and they are all endemic to Madagascar.
For the page on the reptiles of the Madagascan rainforest
For the page on the birds of the Madagascan rainforest
Humans
For an edited version of one of my introductory lectures that I give on expedition ships about the people of Madagascar.
Places to experience the Madagascan rainforest
Madagascar has a number of national parks where you can explore the countries rainforest, including Amber Mountain National Park, and Masoala.