Ankarana Special Reserve is a protected area in northern Madagascar created in 1956. It is a small, partially vegetated plateau composed of 150-million-year-old middle Jurassic limestone.[1] With an average annual rainfall of about 2,000 millimetres (79 in),[1] the underlying rocks have been eroded to produce caves and feed subterranean rivers—a karst topography. The rugged relief and the dense vegetation have helped protect the region from human intrusion.
The southern entrance of the park is in Mahamasina (commune of Tanambao Marivorahona) on the Route nationale 6 some 108 km south-west of Antsiranana and 29 km (18 mi) north-east of Ambilobe. There are also some hotels found at the entrance.
The plateau slopes gently to the east, but on the west it ends abruptly in the "Wall of Ankarana", a sheer cliff that extends 25 kilometres (16 mi) north to south, and rises up to 280 metres (920 ft).[2] To the south, the limestone mass breaks up into separate spires known as tower karst. In the center of the plateau, seismic activity and eons of rainfall have eroded the limestone, forming deep gorges and ribbons of flowstone. In places where the calcific upper layers have been completely eroded, the harder base rock has been etched into channels and ridges known in malagasy as tsingy. The area is littered with basalt boulders and basalt has also flowed deep into the canyons that dissect the Massif.[2]
Explorationedit
Beginning in the 1960s, expatriate Frenchman Jean Duflos (who after marriage changed his name to Jean Radofilao) undertook a huge amount of exploration of the cave systems and subterranean rivers of the Massif, much of it on his own or with visiting speleologists.[3][4][5] Around 100 kilometres (62 mi) of cave passages within the massif have been mapped.[6] La Grotte d'Andrafiabe, one of the most accessible caves, comprises at least 8.035 kilometres (4.993 mi) of horizontal passages. Indeed, the Massif contains the longest cave systems in Madagascar, and probably in the whole of Africa.[7]
Faunaedit
Crowned lemur photographed at the Ankarana Special Reserve
Expeditions that first began cataloguing the animals and plants of the Special Reserve created around the Ankarana Massif in the 1980s[8] are described in Dr Jane Wilson-Howarth's travel narrative Lemurs of the Lost World[9] and in the scientific press.[10][11][12][13] Discoveries included unexpected sub-fossil remains of large extinct lemurs[14][15][16][17] and surviving but previously undescribed species of blind fish,[18][19] shrimps[20] and other invertebrates.[21][22] Several expedition members contributed photos to an illustrated introductory guide to Madagascar which features the Crocodile Caves of Ankarana.[23]
During the 1986 expedition, Phil Chapman and Jean-Elie Randriamasy collated a bird list for the reserve and recorded 65 species from 32 families representing nearly a third of all bird species that breed in Madagascar. They also noted one interesting aspect of behaviour. They reported that there was an unusual strategy used by many of the small insect-eating songbirds. Species such as the paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone mutata), the common jery (Neomixis tenella), the greenbuls (Phyllastrephus zosterops and Phyllastrephus madagascariensis), the bulbul (Hypsipetes madagascariensis), the sunbird (Nectarinia souimanga) and the vagas (Lepopterus madagascarinus and Xenopirostris polleni) foraged together in mixed bands. Within each band different species seemed to specialise in where and how they searched out their insect prey. Some species concentrated on the trunk and branches of trees, some on slender boughs, others searched beneath the leaves. By acting together in this way they probably increased foraging efficiency as each species could catch others' escaped prey. They were also safer from attack by predators, as the group as a whole was more likely to spot approaching danger.[12]
^ abRossi, G. (1974). "Morphologie et Evolution d'un karst en milieu tropical. L'Ankarana (Extreme Nord de Madagascar)". Mémoires et Documents Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. 15: 279–298.
^Wilson, Jane M. (1987). "The Crocodile Caves of Ankarana, Madagascar". Oryx. 21 (1): 43–47. doi:10.1017/S0030605300020470.
^Wilson, Jane (2014). Lemurs of the Lost World: exploring the forests and Crocodile Caves of Madagascar. Impact, London. p. 216. ISBN9781874687481.
^Wilson, Jane M; et al. (1988). "Ankarana - a rediscovered nature reserve in northern Madagascar". Oryx. 22 (3): 163–171. doi:10.1017/S0030605300027794.
^ abWilson, J.M.; et al. (1989). "Ecology and Conservation of the Crowned Lemur at Ankarana, N. Madagascar with notes on Sanford's Lemur, Other Sympatrics and Subfossil Lemurs". Folia Primatologica. 52 (1–2): 1–26. doi:10.1159/000156379. PMID 2807091.
^ abFowler, S.V.; et al. (1989). "A survey and management proposals for a tropical deciduous forest reserve at Ankarana in northern Madagascar". Biological Conservation. 47 (4): 297–313. doi:10.1016/0006-3207(89)90072-4.
^Stewart, Paul D. (1988). "Ankarana damaged". Oryx. 22 (4): 240–241. doi:10.1017/S0030605300022390.
^Simons, E.L.; et al. (1990). "Discovery of new giant subfossil lemurs in the Ankarana Mountains of Northern Madagascar". Journal of Human Evolution. 19 (3): 311–319. doi:10.1016/0047-2484(90)90072-J.
^Simons, E.L.; et al. (1992). "A new giant subfossil lemur, Babakotia, and the evolution of sloth lemurs". Folia Primatologica. 58 (4): 197–203. doi:10.1159/000156629.
^ abGodfrey, L.R.; Wilson, Jane M.; Simons, E.L.; Stewart, Paul D.; Vuillaume-Randriamanantena, M. (1996). "Ankarana: window to Madagascar's past". Lemur News. 2: 16–17.
^ abWilson, Jane M.; Godfrey, L.R.; Simons, E.L.; Stewart, Paul D.; Vuillaume-Randriamanantena, M. (1995). "Past and Present Lemur Fauna at Ankarana, N. Madagascar". Primate Conservation. 16: 47–52.
^Banister, K.E. (1994). "Glossogobius ankaranensis, a new species of blind cave goby from Madagascar". Journal of Ichthyology & Aquatic Biology. 1 (3): 25–28.
^Wilson, Jane M. (1996). "Conservation and ecology of a new blind fish, Glossogobius ankaranensis from the Ankarana Caves, Madagascar". Oryx. 30 (3): 218–221. doi:10.1017/S0030605300021669.
^Gurney, A.R. (1984). "Freshwater shrimp genera Caridina and Parisia (Decopoda: Caridea: Atydae) of Madagascar with descriptions of new species". Journal of Natural History. 18: 567–590. doi:10.1080/00222938400770481.
^Jane M. Wilson (1982). "A review of world Troglopedetini (Insecta, Collembola, Paronellidae), including an identification table and descriptions of new species". Cave Science. 9 (3): 210–226.
^José G. Palacios-Vargas & Jane Wilson (1990). (PDF). International Journal of Speleology. 19 (1–4): 67–73. doi:10.5038/1827-806X.19.1.6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
^Bradt, Hilary, ed. (1988). Madagascar. Aston Publications, Bourne End, UK. p. 96. ISBN0-946627-28-2.
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External linksedit
Madagascar National Parks
April 12, 2024
ankarana, special, reserve, protected, area, northern, madagascar, created, 1956, small, partially, vegetated, plateau, composed, million, year, middle, jurassic, limestone, with, average, annual, rainfall, about, millimetres, underlying, rocks, have, been, er. Ankarana Special Reserve is a protected area in northern Madagascar created in 1956 It is a small partially vegetated plateau composed of 150 million year old middle Jurassic limestone 1 With an average annual rainfall of about 2 000 millimetres 79 in 1 the underlying rocks have been eroded to produce caves and feed subterranean rivers a karst topography The rugged relief and the dense vegetation have helped protect the region from human intrusion Ankarana Special ReserveIUCN category IV habitat species management area Ankarana reserveLocation of Ankarana ReserveLocationDiana Region MadagascarNearest cityAntsiranana Diego Suarez Coordinates13 4 22 S 48 54 53 E 13 07278 S 48 91472 E 13 07278 48 91472Area182 km2 70 sq mi Established20 February 1956Governing bodyMadagascar National ParksThe southern entrance of the park is in Mahamasina commune of Tanambao Marivorahona on the Route nationale 6 some 108 km south west of Antsiranana and 29 km 18 mi north east of Ambilobe There are also some hotels found at the entrance Ankarana Plateau showing tsingyContents 1 Geology 2 Exploration 3 Fauna 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksGeology editThe plateau slopes gently to the east but on the west it ends abruptly in the Wall of Ankarana a sheer cliff that extends 25 kilometres 16 mi north to south and rises up to 280 metres 920 ft 2 To the south the limestone mass breaks up into separate spires known as tower karst In the center of the plateau seismic activity and eons of rainfall have eroded the limestone forming deep gorges and ribbons of flowstone In places where the calcific upper layers have been completely eroded the harder base rock has been etched into channels and ridges known in malagasy as tsingy The area is littered with basalt boulders and basalt has also flowed deep into the canyons that dissect the Massif 2 Exploration editBeginning in the 1960s expatriate Frenchman Jean Duflos who after marriage changed his name to Jean Radofilao undertook a huge amount of exploration of the cave systems and subterranean rivers of the Massif much of it on his own or with visiting speleologists 3 4 5 Around 100 kilometres 62 mi of cave passages within the massif have been mapped 6 La Grotte d Andrafiabe one of the most accessible caves comprises at least 8 035 kilometres 4 993 mi of horizontal passages Indeed the Massif contains the longest cave systems in Madagascar and probably in the whole of Africa 7 Fauna edit nbsp Crowned lemur photographed at the Ankarana Special ReserveExpeditions that first began cataloguing the animals and plants of the Special Reserve created around the Ankarana Massif in the 1980s 8 are described in Dr Jane Wilson Howarth s travel narrative Lemurs of the Lost World 9 and in the scientific press 10 11 12 13 Discoveries included unexpected sub fossil remains of large extinct lemurs 14 15 16 17 and surviving but previously undescribed species of blind fish 18 19 shrimps 20 and other invertebrates 21 22 Several expedition members contributed photos to an illustrated introductory guide to Madagascar which features the Crocodile Caves of Ankarana 23 During the 1986 expedition Phil Chapman and Jean Elie Randriamasy collated a bird list for the reserve and recorded 65 species from 32 families representing nearly a third of all bird species that breed in Madagascar They also noted one interesting aspect of behaviour They reported that there was an unusual strategy used by many of the small insect eating songbirds Species such as the paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone mutata the common jery Neomixis tenella the greenbuls Phyllastrephus zosterops and Phyllastrephus madagascariensis the bulbul Hypsipetes madagascariensis the sunbird Nectarinia souimanga and the vagas Lepopterus madagascarinus and Xenopirostris polleni foraged together in mixed bands Within each band different species seemed to specialise in where and how they searched out their insect prey Some species concentrated on the trunk and branches of trees some on slender boughs others searched beneath the leaves By acting together in this way they probably increased foraging efficiency as each species could catch others escaped prey They were also safer from attack by predators as the group as a whole was more likely to spot approaching danger 12 The Ankarana Reserve is an important refuge for significant populations of the crowned lemur Eulemur coronatus Sanford s brown lemur Eulemur sanfordi and other mammal species 11 The following lemurs are also recorded from the area northern sportive lemur Lepilemur septentrionalis brown mouse lemur Microcebus rufus fat tailed dwarf lemur Cheirogalus medius fork marked lemur Phaner furcifer eastern woolly lemur Avahi laniger Perrier s sifaka Propithicus diadema perrieri aye aye Daubentonia madagascariensis and the western lesser bamboo lemur Hapalemur griseus occidentalis In addition subfossils of the following lemurs have been found at Ankarana greater bamboo lemur Prolemur simus indri Indri indri the sloth lemur Babakotia radofilai Mesopropithicus dolichobrachion and Palaeopropithicus cf ingens plus Pachylemur sp the huge Megaladapis cf madagascariensis grandidieri and the baboon lemur Archaeolemur sp 16 17 See also editMadagascar dry deciduous forests Crowned lemurReferences edit a b Rossi G 1974 Morphologie et Evolution d un karst en milieu tropical L Ankarana Extreme Nord de Madagascar Memoires et Documents Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 15 279 298 a b Reader s Digest 1980 Natural Wonders of the World p 48 ISBN 0 89577 087 3 Duflos J 1966 Bilan des explorations biospeleologique pour l annee 1965 Revue de Geographie 9 Universite de Madagascar 225 252 Duflos J 1968 Bilan des explorations speleologique pour l annee 1966 Revue de Geographie 12 Universite de Madagascar 121 129 Peyre J C Arthaud G Radofilao J et al 1982 Expedition Speleologique Madagascar 1982 Club Alpin Francais Federation Francaise de Speleologie 55pp a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Wilson Jane ed 1987 The Crocodile Caves of Ankarana Expedition to Northern Madagascar 1986 Cave Science 14 3 107 119 World Cave List Wilson Jane M 1987 The Crocodile Caves of Ankarana Madagascar Oryx 21 1 43 47 doi 10 1017 S0030605300020470 Wilson Jane 2014 Lemurs of the Lost World exploring the forests and Crocodile Caves of Madagascar Impact London p 216 ISBN 9781874687481 Wilson Jane M et al 1988 Ankarana a rediscovered nature reserve in northern Madagascar Oryx 22 3 163 171 doi 10 1017 S0030605300027794 a b Wilson J M et al 1989 Ecology and Conservation of the Crowned Lemur at Ankarana N Madagascar with notes on Sanford s Lemur Other Sympatrics and Subfossil Lemurs Folia Primatologica 52 1 2 1 26 doi 10 1159 000156379 PMID 2807091 a b Fowler S V et al 1989 A survey and management proposals for a tropical deciduous forest reserve at Ankarana in northern Madagascar Biological Conservation 47 4 297 313 doi 10 1016 0006 3207 89 90072 4 Stewart Paul D 1988 Ankarana damaged Oryx 22 4 240 241 doi 10 1017 S0030605300022390 Simons E L et al 1990 Discovery of new giant subfossil lemurs in the Ankarana Mountains of Northern Madagascar Journal of Human Evolution 19 3 311 319 doi 10 1016 0047 2484 90 90072 J Simons E L et al 1992 A new giant subfossil lemur Babakotia and the evolution of sloth lemurs Folia Primatologica 58 4 197 203 doi 10 1159 000156629 a b Godfrey L R Wilson Jane M Simons E L Stewart Paul D Vuillaume Randriamanantena M 1996 Ankarana window to Madagascar s past Lemur News 2 16 17 a b Wilson Jane M Godfrey L R Simons E L Stewart Paul D Vuillaume Randriamanantena M 1995 Past and Present Lemur Fauna at Ankarana N Madagascar Primate Conservation 16 47 52 Banister K E 1994 Glossogobius ankaranensis a new species of blind cave goby from Madagascar Journal of Ichthyology amp Aquatic Biology 1 3 25 28 Wilson Jane M 1996 Conservation and ecology of a new blind fish Glossogobius ankaranensis from the Ankarana Caves Madagascar Oryx 30 3 218 221 doi 10 1017 S0030605300021669 Gurney A R 1984 Freshwater shrimp genera Caridina and Parisia Decopoda Caridea Atydae of Madagascar with descriptions of new species Journal of Natural History 18 567 590 doi 10 1080 00222938400770481 Jane M Wilson 1982 A review of world Troglopedetini Insecta Collembola Paronellidae including an identification table and descriptions of new species Cave Science 9 3 210 226 Jose G Palacios Vargas amp Jane Wilson 1990 Troglobius coprophagus a new genus and species of cave collembolan from Madagascar with notes on its ecology PDF International Journal of Speleology 19 1 4 67 73 doi 10 5038 1827 806X 19 1 6 Archived from the original PDF on 2011 07 23 Retrieved 2011 07 24 Bradt Hilary ed 1988 Madagascar Aston Publications Bourne End UK p 96 ISBN 0 946627 28 2 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ankarana Special Reserve External links editMadagascar National Parks Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ankarana Special Reserve amp oldid 1216069142, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
