Seychelles & Mascarenes Moist Forests - A Global Ecoregion
Fragments of the ancient supercontinent Gondwanaland
Snapshot: Ecoregion 11
Size:
5,400 sq. km (2,000 sq. miles)
Habitat type:
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Geographic Location:
Islands to the north and east of Madagascar, off the east coast of Africa
Conservation Status:
Critical/Endangered
Quiz Time!
Is it true that the coco-de-mer was once considered a good-luck charm?
Answer:
Ancient rulers paid vast sums to own a coco-de-mer, or sea coconut. They mistakenly believed that the nut came from forests under the sea and claimed it brought health and happiness to whoever owned one.
About the Area
The Seychelles and Mascarene Islands are made up of these terrestrial ecoregions: Granitic Seychelles forests; Mascarene forests; Aldabra Island xeric scrub. They include both coral atolls and large, rugged, volcanic, and the only granitic islands of the world.
The larger islands support unique rainforests, with most species being endemic due to the island's long isolation. Even the small islands of the Mascarenes have endemic species, and were once home to the now extinct Dodo.Local Species
Species include legless caecilians (a wormlike amphibian), Seychelles paradise flycatchers, Seychelles magpie-robins, Seychelles sheath-tailed bat, Seychelles kestrel (Falco araea), Seychelles swiflet (Collocalia elaphra), Seychelles wild vanilla orchid, stilt palm, Seychelles pitcher plant, and one of the rarest plants in the world, the jellyfish tree - with a total population of less than 30, it was thought to be extinct until rediscovered in 1970.
The forests of the Seychelles are also home to the extraordinary Coco de Mer palm (Lodoicea maldivica), with the world's largest nut - coco-de-mer, or sea coconut that weighs in at about 22.5 kilograms!
On Réunion, species include Réunion cuckoo-shrike (Coracina newtoni), Réunion stone chat (Saxicola tectes), and Olivaceous bulbul (Hypsipetes borbonicus). On Mauritius the Mauritius kestrel (Falco punctatus) has been successfully bred in captivity for reintroduction, and the pink pigeon (Columba mayeri) is also found there.
Unique reptiles and amphibians include the endemic frog family, Sooglossidae, and Aldabra giant tortoise (Dipsochelus gigantea). The heaviest recorded turtle in the world is Esmerelda, a 200-year-old giant land tortoise that weighs 320 kilograms.
Threats
In addition to extensive clearing of native forests for agriculture and development, particularly in the lowlands, the natural communities of the islands are seriously threatened by introduced animals such as goats, pigs, and cattle. Introduced cats, dogs, and tenrecs prey on native species, particularly seabirds, lizards, caecilians, and invertebrates.
Resources
• NationalGeographic.com
