| Madagascar spiny forests | |
|---|---|
 Spiny forest at Ifaty, featuring various Adansonia (baobab) species, Alluaudia procera (Madagascar ocotillo) and other vegetation | |
 | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Afrotropical |
| Biome | Deserts and xeric shrublands |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 43,400 km2 (16,800 sq mi) |
| Country | Madagascar |
| Elevation | 55–200 metres (180–656 ft) |
| Coordinates | 24°54′S 44°12′E / 24.900°S 44.200°E |
| Geology | Limestone and red sand |
| Climate type | Hot desert climate (BWh) |
| Soil types | sandy |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | critical/endangered |
| Global 200 | yes |
| Protected | 8.31%[1] |
The Madagascar spiny forests (also known as the Madagascar spiny thickets) is an ecoregion in the southwest of Madagascar. The vegetation type is found on poor substrates with low, erratic winter rainfall. The ecoregion contains an outstanding proportion of endemic plant species and is listed as one of the 200 most important ecological regions in the world; one of the Global 200.
- ^ Madagascar spiny thickets. DOPA Explorer. Accessed 7 September 2022