Veronica: Madagascar is a source of amusement for the eye and a delight for the spirit. Hi! I’m Veronica for WatchMojo.com and today we’re at the Biodome to learn more about this island and its most popular resident’s the lemurs. So where is Madagascar?
Diane Mitchell: Madagascar is the fourth biggest island. It’s approximately 400 kilometer east of Africa. That species that we call the Ringtail lemurs lives in the South of Madagascar. It’s a kind of spiny, desert habitat.
Veronica: What’s the history of this island?
Diane Mitchell: Millions of years ago, all the continent were all together and eventually Madagascar broke up from Africa was still attached to India and just when East of Africa. During that time the lemurs were in Africa but eventually small lemurs went and floated to Madagascar. Eventually these—I think it was a unique species just became diversified and eventually we got those 90 different species only in Madagascar.
In fact 80% of all the plants and the animals are indigenous to Madagascar. We don’t find these animals or these plants nowhere else in the world.
Veronica: These lemurs have a great tail. What are their use for specifically?
Diane Mitchell: In fact it’s the only lemur that has a ring tail so it identify first to species then when they’re on the ground and they’re in the vegetation, their tail rises like a flag. So they know where the rest of the group is. Otherwise when they’re sleeping like they’re doing right now, they used their tail as a scarf. Also they jumped. They can jump 3 or 4 or 5 meters long.
So they used their tail as a balance and also there’s something really special about that type of lemur. They do stink. I’ve never seen that in other animals. In fact the males, they have glands on their body, on their wrist, on their shoulder and on their behind so they will just put odor on their tail. Just put their tail on top of their head and wag their tails so there are a lot of odors. We don’t smell it but those primitive primates have a good sense of smell so there’s a lot of information going on that way.
Veronica: What are the predators of the lemurs?
Diane Mitchell: In the natural habitat there’s a fossa. That’s the fossa that was caught talking in the film Madagascar. In fact fossa is a size of a cat and he is one of the main predators of the lemurs not just a ringtail lemurs but any type of lemurs. Also you will have the birds as preys and also human beings could be one.
Veronica: What are some other species that are only found in Madagascar?
Diane Mitchell: We have a boa, we have a few insects, we have chameleons. They’re fascinating animals, geckos, different types of fish and frogs. It’s interesting to see these animals especially when you know that they’re not find nowhere also in the world. They’re endemic to Madagascar.
Veronica: Thank you very much.
Diane Mitchell: You’re welcome.
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