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Location and physical description |
The
reserve is situated in the province of Tuléar, 60Km northward
Morondava.
With an altitude between 0 and 100m and an area of 6 420 ha, the reserve
spreads on the coastal plain of Morondava limited to the North by the
minor road 8A connecting Belo / Tsiribihina to Morondava, to the South
and to the east by minor tracks.
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The climate |
The
sandy ground badly holds back the rainwater that falls essentially from
November to March. Precipitations are variable and the west part of
the reserve is the most watered. The dry season that spreads over 7-8
month provokes the drying up of most waterways that appear then in stretch
of water more or less permanent . The monthly temperature variation
is 17°C-27°C and 32,4°C.
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The flora |
The
reserve is composed of dry deciduous forest of the west domain: there
is a great similarity with the vegetation of Kirindy park which is not
far to the north the reserve ; remarkable presence of baobab species
(Adansonia grandidieri, Adansonia.za, Adansonia.fony). The baobabs A.grandidieri
can be found sporadically in the north of the reserve as well as other
xerophytic species as Euphorbia spp., Pachipodium sp.,and Adenia .
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The fauna |
The reserve shelters , among locally
endemic species , the tortoise Pyxis planicauda that seems to frequent
only the forests of Morndava region . A terrapin Erymnochelys madagascariensis
has been met in the region , as well as others reptiles : Paroedura
pictus, Chalarodon madagascariensis, and two boa Acrantophis in the
surronding of the reserve (A.madagascariensis and A. dumerilii.)
The mammalian fauna is composed of seven species of lemurs among them
the Propitecus verreauxi verreauxi, Phaner furcifer and Cheirogaleus
medius.
The carnivores Mungotictis decemlineata decemlineata can also be observed
in Andranomena special reserve as well as the greatest endemic rodent
Hypogeomyx antimena in the forests situated between river Andranomena
and Tsiribihina.
The greatest endemic carnivore Cryptoprocta ferox is abundant in the
region.
The presence of the fruit-eating bats Pteropus rufus and Eidolon helvum
is also to be mentionned . The invertebrate fauna is still unknown.
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