The Mikea Forest (or Forêt des Mikea ) is a forested region of southwestern Madagascar , between Manombo and Morombe . More specifically, it stretches from Route Nationale 9 to the west coast and from Mangoky south to the Manombo River . It lies at the transition between dry deciduous forest , which is more common further north in Madagascar, and spiny forest , which is dominant in southwestern Madagascar. Its underlying geology is unconsolidated sand, and the region contains several freshwater lakes. The Forêt des Mikea is one of the largest remaining continuous forest blocks in western and southern Madagascar, but it is not protected and it is threatened by human development.
10-508: This transitional terrain is one of the least protected of Madagascar's habitats. This soil composition has resulted in a collection of plant and animal species, even distinct from adjacent vegetation on limestone. Small terrestrial mammals found here include the rodents Macrotarsomys bastardi , Macrotarsomys petteri , and the introduced black rat ( Rattus rattus ); the tenrecs Tenrec ecaudatus , Setifer setosus , Echinops telfairi , Geogale aurita , and Microgale jenkinsae ; and
20-677: A network of community-based conservation areas. In 2001, Madagascar National Parks , known then as ANGAP, was considering a new national park in the area. By 2008, a national park encompassing 184,630 hectares (712.9 sq mi) in two parcels had been submitted to the Supreme Council for Nature Protection (a state entity that deals with natural resource management) and was in the process of being finalized. 22°36′S 43°24′E / 22.6°S 43.4°E / -22.6; 43.4 Macrotarsomys bastardi The bastard big-footed mouse ( Macrotarsomys bastardi )
30-499: Is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae . It is found only in Madagascar . Macrotarsomys bastardi is the smallest-bodied of the three species recognized within the genus Macrotarsomys . Two subspecies have been recognized ( M. b. occidentalis and M. b. bastardi ) however 2004 studies did not find consistent differences between the subspecies and recommended "subspecific epithets be abandoned for this species". This
40-536: Is a terrestrial species, found primarily in xeric habitats such as dry deciduous forests in the northwest and spiny forests in the south. This Muroid rodent article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Muroidea Platacanthomyidae Spalacidae Calomyscidae Nesomyidae Cricetidae Muridae sister: Dipodoidea The Muroidea are a large superfamily of rodents , including mice , rats , voles , hamsters , lemmings , gerbils , and many other relatives. Although
50-564: The 27 threatened species of bird in Madagascar, only two ( Monias benschi and Uratelornis chimaera ) were not found in protected areas, but both were fairly common within the unprotected forests of Mikea. Monias benschi had an estimated population of 115,000, while the Uratelornis chimaera population was estimated at fewer than 15,000. A survey published in 2005 reported that 59 species of reptile were identified near
60-559: The Muroidea originated in Eurasia, they occupy a vast variety of habitats on every continent except Antarctica . Some authorities have placed all members of this group into a single family, Muridae , due to difficulties in determining how the subfamilies are related to one another. Many of the families within the Muroidea superfamily have more variations between the families than between the different clades. A possible explanation for
70-440: The eastern shore of Lake Ranobe in the southern Mikea Forest, five of which were vulnerable . Some of these species include Matoatoa brevipes , Oplurus fierinensis , Furcifer antimena , Furcifer belalandaensis , Phelsuma standingi , and Pyxis arachnoides . The flora includes the baobabs Adansonia za and A. rubrostipa . Between the 1960s and the 2000s, forest cover had declined by 16% and deforestation
80-478: The shrew Suncus madagascariensis . Macrotarsomys petteri and Microgale jenkinsae are unique to the forest and were only discovered in the 2000s. The popular ring-tailed lemur ( Lemur catta ) also occurs in Mikea Forest, though it seems to always have been present in very low densities. Since the habitat has started to disappear, the remaining populations appear to have become isolated. As of 2000, of
90-513: The variations in rodents is because of the location of these rodents; these changes could have been due to radiation or the overall environment they migrated to or originated in. The following taxonomy is based on recent well-supported molecular phylogenies . The muroids are classified in six families , 19 subfamilies , around 280 genera , and at least 1,750 species . Five main clades are recognized by Jansa & Weksler (2004). Together, Muroidea and its sister group Dipodoidea form
100-412: Was accelerating, having doubled in the last five years of that time period. The factors behind the deforestation at that time were slash and burn agriculture for maize cultivation in the northern regions of the forest and charcoal production in the southern regions. As of 2000, recommendations had been made to establish a large protected area , to provide aid to improve agriculture, and to establish
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