This is a practical field manual for the identification of the 500 genera of native and naturalized Malagasy trees. Identification keys emphasise vegetative and gross morphological features. All genera are provided with full descriptions, distribution information, key characteristics, up-to-date taxonomic references and over 3,000 Malagasy vernacular names and almost all are illustrated. This is the first comprehensive guide to be published in both English and French.

The fossa closely resembles a small cougar. His body is thin and his limbs are muscular. As for its tail, it is if the rest of the body. The head and torso have a total length of between 70 and 80 cm, while the tail alone measures 65 to 70 cm. Its head, reminiscent of that of the mongoose, is extended by a wide and short muzzle. This head is flanked by rounded ears and brown eyes. Males are usually larger than females. These have a weight between 6 and 8 kg, while females have a weight generally between 5 and 6 kg.The fossas, which colonize the East and the North of Madagascar, are smaller than those that swarm in the west and the south. Individuals weighing 20 kg have already been recorded in some countries. The fossa has a fine sense of smell, good vision and exceptional hearing. This animal is rather robust and it is rare that the fossa raised in captivities develop pathologies. The fur of the males is identical to that of the females. It is red-brown on the back and ocher-yellow on the belly.From its scientific name Catharanthus roseus, Madagascar periwinkle is a herbaceous plant of the family Apocynaceae. Useful in the manufacture of pharmaceutical remedies, this beautiful plant specimen endemic to the Big Island has been successfully introduced in many tropical regions. But it is annual in temperate zones.Madagascar is a paradise place to observe different types of snakes, true wonders of nature. There are no species of serpents dangerous to humans. Because of their teeth, the most poisonous snake's endemic to Madagascar only make the victims of the size of the mouse. But this exception does not have to be a clearance to get too close because some of these reptiles can be aggressive in case of proven threat.The smallest chameleons in the world (family Chamaeleonidae) belong to the genus Brookesia (Gray, 1864) and are endemic to Madagascar. They are among the smallest species of reptiles in the world, the largest species Brookesia perarmata not exceeding 11 cm (including tail), and the smallest Brookesia minima measuring only 3 cm !! They are territorial and solitary, and feed on small insects Unfortunately, this is a montage. The real "Satanic leaf tailed Gecko"The island of Madagascar, also called the Republic of Madagascar, is an island state separated from the African continent by the Mozambique Channel. 1,580 kilometers long and 580 kilometers wide, its territory covers a little less than 600,000 km2, making it the fifth largest island on the planet.

This book is about phylogenetic diversity as an approach to reduce biodiversity losses in this period of mass extinction. Chapters in the first section deal with questions such as the way we value phylogenetic diversity among other criteria for biodiversity conservation; the choice of measures; the loss of phylogenetic diversity with extinction; the importance of organisms that are deeply branched in the tree of life, and the role of relict species. The second section is composed by contributions exploring methodological aspects, such as how to deal with abundance, sampling effort, or conflicting trees in analysis of phylogenetic diversity. The last section is devoted to applications, showing how phylogenetic diversity can be integrated in systematic conservation planning, in EDGE and HEDGE evaluations. This wide coverage makes the book a reference for academics, policy makers and stakeholders dealing with biodiversity conservation.

The most comprehensive single-volume field guide to Madagascar's wildlife The Indian Ocean island of Madagascar is one of the world's great natural treasures and ecotourism destinations. Despite being an island, it is home to nearly an entire continent’s variety of species, from the famous lemurs to a profusion of bizarre and beautiful birds, reptiles and amphibians. Wildlife of Madagascar is a compact and beautifully illustrated photographic guide, and an essential companion for any visitor or resident. With an eye-catching design, authoritative and accessible text and easy-to-use format, it provides information on identification, distribution, habitat, behaviour, biology and conservation for all the mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies likely to be seen. The most comprehensive single-volume field guide to Madagascar’s wildlife Attractive layout features more than 900 stunning colour photographs Covers the mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies, and some of the other invertebrates and plants, most likely to be seen Provides key information about identification, distribution, habitat, behaviour and conservation Introductory sections provide background information on Madagascar and its unique environments

The landscapes of Madagascar have long delighted zoologists, who have discovered, in and among the island’s baobab trees and thickets, a dizzying array of animals, including something approaching one hundred species of lemur. Madagascar’s mammal fauna, for example, is far more diverse, and more endemic, than early explorers and naturalists ever dreamed of. But in the past 2,500 or so years—a period associated with natural climatic shifts and ecological change, as well as partially coinciding with the arrival of the island’s first human settlers—a considerable proportion of Madagascar’s forests have disappeared; and in the wake of this loss, a number of species unique to Madagascar have vanished forever into extinction. In Extinct Madagascar, noted scientists Steven M. Goodman and William L. Jungers explore the recent past of these land animal extinctions. Beginning with an introduction to the geologic and ecological history of Madagascar that provides context for the evolution, diversification, and, in some cases, rapid decline of the Malagasy fauna, Goodman and Jungers then seek to recapture these extinct mammals in their environs. Aided in their quest by artist Velizar Simeonovski’s beautiful and haunting digital paintings—images of both individual species and ecosystem assemblages reproduced here in full color—Goodman and Jungers reconstruct the lives of these lost animals and trace their relationships to those still living. Published in conjunction with an exhibition of Simeonovski’s artwork set to open at the Field Museum, Chicago, in the fall of 2014, Goodman and Jungers’s awe-inspiring book will serve not only as a sobering reminder of the very real threat of extinction, but also as a stunning tribute to Madagascar’s biodiversity and a catalyst for further research and conservation.

Madagascar is a world hot-spot for orchids. The largest family of flowering plants on the island, almost 1000 species make up some 10% of Madagascar's flora; 90% of them are endemic. They occur in almost every habitat, from coastal and montane forests to cold mountain tops and dry spiny forest. This field guide, the first of its kind for Madagascan orchids, will enable you to identify these showy, and often spectacular plants.

This book's aim is to obtain and organize knowledge about the diversity of living things. Their epistomological and methodological fundamentals are explained in the framework of the biology of evolution. The methods of construction and use of phylogenetic trees are presented as well as the classification and description of taxa with the nomenclature rules.