Madagascar spiny forests

Madagascar spiny forests
Dry bush vegetation on red soil
Spiny forest at Ifaty, featuring various Adansonia (baobab) species, Alluaudia procera (Madagascar ocotillo) and other vegetation
Map showing location of spiny forests in the southwest of Madagascar
Ecology
RealmAfrotropical
BiomeDeserts and xeric shrublands
Borders
Geography
Area43,400 km2 (16,800 sq mi)
CountryMadagascar
Elevation55–200 metres (180–656 ft)
Coordinates24°54′S 44°12′E / 24.900°S 44.200°E / -24.900; 44.200
GeologyLimestone and red sand
Climate typeHot desert climate (BWh)
Soil typessandy
Conservation
Conservation statuscritical/endangered
Global 200yes
Protected8.31%[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.

  1. ^ Madagascar spiny thickets. DOPA Explorer. Accessed 7 September 2022