Unusual animals of Madagascar. Extinct giant animals of Madagascar Animals living in Madagascar

In 1500, thanks to pure chance, the island of Madagascar was discovered. The team of the Portuguese navigator Diogo Dias was caught in a storm, which forced them to land on the only land nearby. This is how an island with extraordinary nature and rich fauna was discovered.

Unique island

Madagascar is located off the coast of East Africa, from which it separated more than 160 million years ago. Its unique landscape, which includes mountains, lakes, desert areas, and jungles, has contributed to the conservation of a huge number of animal species. There are more than 250 thousand of them on the island, and most of them are endemic, that is, they are not found in other areas of the globe. The fauna of Madagascar is unique. It is mainly represented by small animals and reptiles.

Many species of island fauna are now on the verge of extinction. People extract minerals, cut down the jungle, causing animals to suffer.

Recently, the number of reserves and specially protected areas has increased, where all conditions are created for the free existence of unique fauna. Scientists work to track different animal populations and fight for their prosperity.

Madagascar - the kingdom of lemurs

The largest part of the island fauna consists of such animals of Madagascar as lemurs. The indigenous people treat them with special respect, because they believe that the souls of the dead move into the body of prosimians. More than 20 species of these animals live on the island.

Lemurs are kept in families in which the female is dominant. These cute creatures are similar in appearance to their monkey ancestors, but have shorter limbs and a pointed muzzle. Nature has improved their appearance by adding large eyes. This mechanism allows for excellent orientation when obtaining food. The animals eat mainly insects and vegetation. They are very friendly, brave and curious.

Types of lemurs

The kata lemurs have the most striking appearance. They are distinguished by a white muzzle with dark “glasses” and a long striped tail. In size, representatives of this species are barely larger than a domestic cat. Thanks to the almost complete absence of predators, Madagascar animals such as kata are most widespread.

The smallest primate, the mouse lemur, lives in Madagascar. The body length of the baby is about 9 cm, with a tail - 27 cm. This species was discovered in 2000.

Another interesting representative is the little arm. Another name for the animal is aye-aye. It lives in trees and obtains its food using extremely long and tenacious fingers. The animal taps the trunks for larvae, using echolocation. His appearance is not particularly attractive: shaggy hair that sticks out in all directions, yellow, widely spaced eyes and large semicircular ears.

The largest lemur is the indri. Its weight reaches 10 kg, and its height is 90 cm. Despite its large dimensions, the animal deftly climbs trees. Each family has a strict habitat, which it protects by making loud noises.

Swamp Tenrec

The most elusive animals of Madagascar, strangely adapted to life in bodies of water. The limbs of the tenrec are equipped with membranes and a large amount of muscle tissue. The animal deftly runs through shallow water, catching tadpoles and fish. For hunting, it uses vibrissae - sensitive antennae that, like a locator, pick up vibrations in water. The appearance of the tenrec is also interesting: its size is about 15 cm, and a mixture of wool and needles covers the entire body. In appearance the animal looks like a small hedgehog, but in fact it belongs to the shrews.

Rare birds

The island is also rich in birds - about 150 species live there, a third of which are endemic. The most common class of birds in Madagascar is the red-headed pochard. Lack of food and drying up of water bodies due to human activity have put this species of duck at risk of extinction. These birds were thought to have disappeared forever, but in 2006 a small population of 20 individuals was discovered. Over 8 years of successful and painstaking work of zoologists, it was possible to increase it 4 times. The duck is very beautiful, it has a red-brown body, a gray beak and a white belly.

A true unique species is the blue cuckoo. The bird has an incredibly attractive appearance with deep blue plumage. Unlike her relatives, she hatches her offspring on her own. Due to its remarkable appearance, this endemic is under threat of complete extermination by poachers.

Fossa

Who would have thought that the largest island predator reaches only 1.5 m in length, half of which is occupied by a long tail. Strong, muscular animals have reddish-brown fur. Outwardly, these animals of Madagascar are similar to a cat and a marten, but belong to the civet family. The fossa's tail, coupled with its retractable claws, allows it to deftly climb steep cliffs and trees in search of prey. The population of these predators is very small and is on the verge of extinction.

Amphibians

The island of Madagascar abounds with a huge number of amphibian species, the main ones being frogs, lizards and chameleons.

They are considered rare and endangered species. Thanks to their incredible appearance, they easily avoid prying eyes. The amphibian reaches a length of 13 cm and has a tail that is barely distinguishable from a dried leaf. The amphibian's body is covered with skin reminiscent of tree bark.

Panther chameleons are distinguished by their bright colors, which easily change due to the special structure of the body cells. They use their skill for camouflage and communication. This species is notable for its ability to simultaneously observe different hunting objects with both eyes. Before releasing its sticky tongue, the chameleon focuses on the target.

The tropical rainforests of the island are home to many frogs. The most notable are the tomato narrowmouths. Females of this species have the rich color of a ripe tomato and black stripes on the sides of the body. When danger arises, their skin secretes an irritating secretion.

The vast territory of Madagascar has not yet been fully explored. Every year new species of animals are discovered. Scientists are achieving good results in increasing the population of endangered endemics of the island.

Madagascar is home to some unique and unusual species of fauna. The island is home to almost 25,000 species of wildlife, many of which are endangered. Over the past 2,000 years, Madagascar's biologically rich forests have been reduced by almost 90%, largely due to agriculture and other commercial activities such as logging.

The massive outbreak has brought several island animals to the brink of extinction. Lemurs, which exclusively inhabit Madagascar, are the most endangered and are listed on the Red List of Threatened Species. The bamboo lemur, named after its favorite food, is critically endangered because its habitat has been reduced to 4% of its original size.

Madagascar is located in the Indian Ocean on the southeast coast of Africa, and is the 4th largest island in the world. This is a place dominated by endemic species of animals and plants that are found nowhere else in the world. The island was isolated for several million years, allowing animals and plants to evolve and diversify in a small area.

About 170 million years ago, Madagascar was a landlocked territory within the continent of Gondwana. As a result of the movement of the earth's crust, Madagascar and India separated from South America and Africa, and then from Antarctica and Australia. Around 88 million years ago, India also separated from Madagascar, allowing animals on the island to evolve in relative isolation.

Lemurs

Lemurs are primates that look like an animal similar to a dog, cat and squirrel. They exhibit incredibly unique and exciting behavior, including singing sounds reminiscent of whales. Today there are more than thirty species of lemurs in Madagascar, ranging in size from the 25 g dwarf mouse lemur to the largest indri lemur weighing over 12 kg. Lemurs are one of the most endangered animals on the entire planet, and according to the IUCN Red List, they are considered critically endangered, with 22 species critically endangered; 48 species are endangered and 20 are vulnerable.

Fossa

The Fossa lives in the forests of Madagascar and is a close relative of the mongoose. It grows up to 1.8 m in length from tail to nose and weighs up to 12 kg. The animal has a slender body and looks more like a mongoose than a mongoose. The Fossa uses its long tail to move quickly through the trees. The animal is classified as a critically endangered species and is listed on the IUCN Red List due to its habitat loss. Today, less than 10% of Madagascar's original forest cover remains, which is also the only home of the fossa.

Madagascar comet

Madagascar comet ( Argema Mittrei) is one of the most beautiful butterflies in the world, found only in Madagascar. The wingspan can reach 20 cm. The insect has a bright yellow color and long “tails” on the lower wings. Females are wider, their wings are round, and their tail is shorter than that of males. Until now, these beautiful animals do not have protected status, and their population size has not been established.

Panther chameleon

The panther chameleon is endemic to Madagascar and other nearby islands. It has the most variety of colors of any chameleon and is most sought after by reptile traders. Like other chameleons, the panther chameleon has a raised nape. When hunting, it uses its tongue with a suction cup at the end. This species is least endangered.

Fantastic leaf-tailed gecko

Fantastic leaf-tailed gecko ( Uroplatus Phantasticus) is a stunning reptile that can camouflage itself in its environment. Its body is similar to dead leaves, which helps the animal hide from predators. The gecko is covered in patterned skin and its tail looks like it has been chewed by insects. All these features help it blend in well with the surrounding foliage. Fantastic leaf-tailed geckos vary widely in color, but they are generally brownish with some spots on the belly, which sets them apart from other similar species.

They are nocturnal reptiles with large eyes that are suitable for hunting insects in the dark. They also have sticky scales under their toes and strong claws that allow them to move quickly through trees. Geckos live in a specific habitat and are not tolerant of any changes. Due to their appearance, leaf-tailed geckos are beloved pets and are one of the best-selling species. Recently, there has been a decline in population numbers in the wild.

Tomato frog

Also known as tomato narrowmouth frogs, these frogs are found only in Madagascar, mainly in the northwestern part of the island. As a rule, they lead a terrestrial lifestyle and are common in forested areas. Due to deforestation, their habitat has been destroyed, but they appear to adapt well to changed conditions and can be found in gardens and plantations.

There are three types of tomato frogs: Dazzophus antongilli, Dyscophus guineti And Dyscophus insularis. Of the three, D.antogilli is endangered due to deforestation and trapping for keeping as pets. These frogs mate during the rainy season, in shallow, slow-moving water. They are brightly colored and can secrete a nasty substance when threatened, although it is not toxic, it can irritate the mucous membrane.

Red foodie

Also called the Madagascar fody, this bird is native to Madagascar and other nearby islands such as the Comoros, Seychelles and Mauritius, and the species has recently been found as far away as the Arabian Peninsula. They grow to about 12.5-13.5 cm and weigh about 14-19 g. Males have bright plumage on the chest and head, while the wings, tail and eye area have dark feathers. The plumage varies widely from orange to yellowish, and during breeding the males molt and become olive-brown like the females. The species is least endangered.

Madagascar hissing cockroach

The Madagascar hissing cockroach is one of the most fascinating endemic animal species on the island. It has an oval shape and a shiny brown body without wings, but with a pair of raised horns in the males. During conflicts, these insects hiss, which is how they got their name. Unlike most insects, which create noise through body parts or vibration, the Madagascar cockroach hisses by contracting its abdomen and forcing air through its spiracles. The insects can live from two to five years and grow up to 5-7 cm in length.

Madagascar bat

The Madagascar bat is a nocturnal primate that lives primarily in trees. Their thumbs and long tails allow them to stay comfortable in trees while they use their echolocation to find food such as insects. They also have sensitive large ears and eyes that help them find food. Because of their bizarre appearance, they were considered a bad omen among the locals of Madagascar. The species is on the verge of extinction.

Madagascar long-eared owl

This bird has a body length of about 50 cm, making it the largest owl on the island. Females are usually larger than males. The owl is characterized by a brownish crown on the top of its head. She also has a brown facial disc. The Madagascar owl is primarily nocturnal. The species is least endangered.

Striped tenrec

The striped tenrec is common in the lowland northern and eastern parts of Madagascar. The animal has a long pointed snout, vestigial tail and limbs. The muzzle is black with yellow stripes, and the body is covered with spines. The striped tenrec is active both during the day and at night and feeds mainly on insects. The long muzzle is designed mainly for digging in the ground in search of prey. They can also feed on worms, small fish and even frogs. Tenrecs mainly breed in October and December depending on the availability of food. The gestation period is 58 days and the female can give birth to up to eight cubs. The species is of least concern.

Black mantella

Known as Mantella madagascariensis, the black mantella is a brightly colored frog with green, black, yellow or orange colors. The species is found only in eastern and central Madagascar. These frogs live in tropical forests bordering freshwater bodies. They can tolerate moderate temperatures between 24ºC and 27ºC during the day and slightly lower at night. The black mantella is a carnivorous animal that primarily feeds on insects. Frogs are active during the day, usually occupying small territories. The bright body color acts as a warning of danger to any predator. The species is in a vulnerable position.

The largest island of the Indian Ocean - Madagascar - is often called by geographers "a continent in miniature".

This is explained, firstly, by the extraordinary diversity of its landscapes, and secondly, by the unique flora and fauna that distinguishes it from nearby Africa and from other parts of the world.

The combination of tropical rainforests, tall grass savannas and even semi-deserts, mountain ranges, plateaus and coastal plains, extinct volcanoes and coral reefs, swampy lagoons and mangroves, monsoon and trade winds determines the existence of a wide variety of landscapes on the island, and the animals and plants of Madagascar, three quarters of which are found only here, are not at all similar to African ones, and if they have relatives, it is usually in Indochina and Indonesia, and even in South America.

Madagascar is a mountainous country. Almost half of it is occupied by the High Plateau, stretching across the entire island from north to south.

On the eastern coast, where trade winds bring moisture from the Indian Ocean, it rains, stormy and heavy, almost every day. Due to the strong wind accompanying them, the rain jets are directed almost horizontally, and no umbrellas or awnings can protect you from them.

Strictly speaking, there is a distinction between wet and dry seasons.

But the latter, lasting from May to November, differs only in that occasionally there are days without precipitation.

In July, at the height of winter, the thermometer shows plus sixteen, and in February the temperature reaches thirty-four degrees.

On the steep slopes of the plateau grow evergreen forests of ferns, tamarinds, palms and other tropical trees, entwined with vines and decorated with colorful orchids.

There are many valuable tree species in these forests. In different types of rosewood, for example, the wood can be purple, pink and even black. There are also rubber plants here. And varnish is made from the resin of the copal tree.

But of all the trees in Madagascar, the most famous is the ravenala.

In appearance, it looks like a banana, only the banana has leaves that grow straight from the ground, and the ravenala has a real trunk, from the top of which huge leaves diverge, like the spokes of a wheel, torn by the wind along the edges.

Where the leaf cuttings gather towards the trunk, there are special containers containing several liters of water.

Having met a ravenala, a tired traveler can always quench his thirst. It is not for nothing that it is also called the “travelers’ tree.”

The vines of Madagascar are unique. The pod of one of them, the entada vine, reaches two meters in length and one and a half meters in width!

Several of these pods, split in half, serve perfectly as a roof for a hut. Ropes are made from vines, baskets and mats are woven.

And some, especially durable ones, are used to build houses, since they are the only plants on the island that termites do not touch.

In the west, where the mountains do not allow rain clouds to pass through, savanna reigns, and in some places in the south there is a hot semi-desert, since precipitation here is rare and falls only in winter.

During the dry season, not a drop of moisture spills for months, and the temperature rises to forty degrees!

Forests in the west are found only in river valleys, and the savannah is overgrown with tough, brush-like grass, and only here and there small baobabs and fan palms grow.

Trees in the western part of the island shed their leaves in the winter so as not to evaporate moisture during the dry season.

The uniqueness of the fauna of Madagascar can only be compared with that of Australia.

The main treasure of the island's fauna is, of course, lemurs.

These funny animals, resembling a cross between a monkey and a cat, live in forests and are nocturnal.

They have large eyes that glow in the dark and a shrill voice that resembles the capricious cry of a child.

The largest of the lemurs are the indri.

They are easily tamed, and the inhabitants of the island - the Malagasy - often use them for hunting instead of dogs.

Another genus of lemur, with a fox-like head and a long tail, is the maquis.

They are very lively and active, keep in packs and often catch your eye in the evenings when they jump through the trees in search of tasty fruits.

The complete opposite of them is the slow loris.

This clumsy and clumsy baby is as slow as an Australian koala.

Also interesting is the aye-aye, or little hand-footed lemur, an angry flat-headed lemur with huge ears and a very long tail.

It lives in bamboo forests, feeds on the core of bamboo and sugar cane, and does not disdain beetles and larvae.

With its long fingers, the aye-aye easily extracts the contents from the trunks of bamboo and reeds. This gourmet is very afraid of light. As soon as the sun rises, he falls asleep with his head between his legs and his long tail wrapped around it.

The Malgash consider lemurs to be sacred animals. There is a legend that once upon a time they were people, and then, living in the forest, they grew hair and turned into animals.

When meeting a lemur in the forest, hunters always politely greet it, and animals that accidentally fall into a trap are certainly freed and released into the wild.

The only predator on the island is the reddish-black fossa - the ferret cat.

She is the size of a large dog, but not tall, since her legs are short.

Malgashi are very afraid of fossu. There are many legends and hunting stories about her bloodthirstiness and strength.

Found in Madagascar, the mongoose is the main snake killer.

And in the mountain forests live shy and timid eared hedgehogs - tenrecs (lat. Tenrecidae).

These rather large (about the size of a rabbit) animals emerge from their burrows only at dusk and busily begin to look for food - small insects.

In winter they hibernate.

The Madagascar bird world is vibrant and unusual.

Here you can find green parrots, bright red cardinals, blue pigeons, Sultan's hens, ibises and guinea fowl.

Once upon a time, huge apiornis birds, similar to giant cassowaries, lived on the island.

The height of these giants reached five meters! They became extinct quite recently, since Marco Polo mentioned them in his book. And later, in the 18th century, sailors sailing to the island heard the cries of these birds.

The giant egg of Aepyornis was equal in volume to 150 ostrich eggs. The Malgash made vessels from them that held eight liters of water.

There are no poisonous snakes in Madagascar, and the only truly dangerous animals here are crocodiles. The swamps and lakes of the island are literally teeming with them.

And among European collectors, the amazingly beautiful butterflies of Madagascar are held in special esteem.

Goliath - the largest of them - can easily be mistaken for a bird.

This is a brown butterfly with a pink belly. Urania is surprisingly picturesque, rightly considered the most beautiful butterfly in the world.

Her wings seem to shimmer with all possible colors. The Madagascar butterfly also amazes with its intricate pattern on its wings.

There are a lot of chameleons of various sizes on the island.

Because of their unattractive appearance, malgashes consider them to be evil and harmful creatures, although in fact they bring great benefit by exterminating flies and other annoying insects.

The chameleon, in fact, is a relative of lizards, but nature clearly deprived it of agility.

Sometimes it seems that in his veins there is not blood, but carpenter's glue - his movements are so viscous and slow.

And only the chameleon’s tongue is thrown forward with lightning speed when the prey is within reach.

The chameleon is known primarily for its extraordinary ability to change color to match the color of the surrounding background, which makes it completely invisible in the forest.

The unusual animals and plants of Madagascar are widely known, but there is an amazing place in the west, about the nature of which even the inhabitants of the island know little.

This is the Bemaraha plateau, located in the Manambolo River basin near the coast of the Mozambique Channel. Everything here is amazing: fantastic terrain, animals and plants; perhaps the last untouched corner of Madagascar’s wild nature has been preserved here.

The limestone plateau of Bemaraha rises 400 meters above the Manambolo Valley. The river cut through it a grandiose gorge with white layered walls. And around the gorge there is... a stone forest!

Bizarrely carved by karst processes, the rocky ridges - karrs - bristled with thousands of sharp peaks, between which the water made deep cracks, and turned each boulder into a sharp jagged sword.

The huge rocky labyrinth is practically impassable: limestone towers and walls overgrown with thorns have formed a network of natural bastions throughout the plateau, reliably protecting it from aliens.

The Bemaraha region is poor in precipitation: the dry season here lasts up to eight months. And in fractured limestones, even the moisture brought by rare rains quickly sinks into the depths, so only plants well adapted to drought can survive here.

An ebony tree, for example, turns green only during the rainy season, and the rest of the time it stands naked, saving water.

The baobab, on the contrary, accumulates water in its gnarled and powerful trunk, up to nine meters thick, and thanks to this it survives during the dry season.

Bizarre creatures inhabit the stone forest of Bemaraha.

It is an armored chameleon that resembles a small dragon or dinosaur with its spiny spines on its spine and pointed knobs on its head.

A peculiar Madagascar rat with large ears is also found here.

If you don't notice its long tail, it could easily be mistaken for a rabbit.

And on the trees that grow in the crevices of the rocks, little monkeys and poppies live, enlivening the deserted rocky landscape with their funny jumps and piercing screams.

Groups of outlier rocks formed by karst processes are found in other places in the world, for example, in the Qingling region of China or in Ha Long Bay in Vietnam.

But there these limestone pillars and towers always have a rounded or flat top. And only here, in Madagascar, such an amazing pointed stone forest arose.

The attractiveness of this corner also lies in the fact that not a single person has yet visited the depths of the plateau, and one can only guess what discoveries await scientists there.

The nature of Madagascar still keeps many secrets that will be revealed only to inquisitive travelers who have managed to overcome all the difficulties that arise for the pioneers of the mountains, jungles and mysterious rock labyrinths of this unique island.

In the dry deciduous forests of southwestern Madagascar lives a lemur that “dances” like a ballet dancer. – that’s what they call him here. This is one of the most popular species of lemur primate on the island off the southeast coast of Africa. Despite the fact that this species is endangered, dancing lemurs can still be found in some national parks of the country. They still attract a lot of tourists to the island every year.

Slightly larger than California, Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world. It was isolated from the African mainland about 160 million years ago, 80% of its flora and fauna are unique. Although the island is popular for its lemurs, it is also home to a number of other amazing creatures: spiny yellow and black insectivores that resemble miniature hedgehogs that make crushing chirping sounds when they are threatened, carnivorous mammals that look like a cross between a puma and dog, but are closely related to mongooses. The island is also home to more than half of all existing species, the amazingly beautiful neon green, which has become so popular recently among terrarium enthusiasts, and three times more species of palm trees than on the African mainland. On the island part of the continent you can find amazing frogs, among which (Dyscophus antongilii) occupies a special place

Needless to say, Madagascar's flora and fauna make it one of the most biologically unique places on the planet. Lemurs are a key component of Madagascar's biodiversity. They belong to a group of primates known as prosimians that were once distributed throughout the world and have today been largely replaced by monkeys. This is only because the lemurs, being isolated in Madagascar, managed to survive and reproduce.

There are currently about 60 officially recorded in Madagascar, a number that has increased in recent years with the discovery of several new species.

Despite this, the diversity of animals on the island has declined significantly compared to about 2,000 years ago. At that time, there lived giant lemurs the size of gorilla, monstrous, pygmy hippopotamuses and huge elephant birds (Aephornis maximus), about 3 m in height and weighing more than 500 kg, which laid eggs of such size that it was possible to make an omelette out of them feed 150 people. All these species became extinct after humans set foot in Madagascar. Since then, some lemur species on the island have been extirpated or become extinct due to habitat loss caused by climate change and human activity (especially land clearing by fire).

But, despite this, today’s species of lemurs in Madagascar are striking in their diversity, displaying a number of interesting behavioral characteristics. This is the whale-like song of the lemur Indri, extracting insects from the bark of a tree using a finger shaped like a long branch. But the most amazing thing is the “dance” of Verreaux’s sifaka lemurs. These animals also have the unique ability to jump from tree to tree in the forests of Madagascar, where almost every branch is covered with thorns or prickles. How they manage to do this without harming themselves remains a mystery.

The nature of the island has changed greatly under the influence of centuries-old agricultural activities of local pastoralists and farmers. Most of the country's territory was allocated for economic needs, and today many landscapes are secondary and cultivated. But there are many places in Madagascar that will delight travelers with their brightness and exoticism.

Madagascar has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round. Differences in climate on the island are explained by different altitudes, terrain and distance from the coast. It is humid in the north; the climate here is equatorial monsoon: in summer the north-eastern monsoon winds blow, in winter south-eastern. In the east, the island receives less moisture as it is intercepted by the Central Highlands.

Tropical island off Madagascar

Heavy rainfall throughout the year explains the large number of rivers on the island: in the east these are short rivers with rapids and steep slopes, in the west they are large and full-flowing, collecting water from tributaries that run down from the highlands.

Fauna and flora of Madagascar

It is necessary to separately describe the flora and fauna of the island, because, as you know, thanks to them Madagascar is one of the most unique places on the planet from a biological point of view. About 80% of Madagascar's flora and fauna are unique. You need to start with the lemur - the symbol of the island, the main component of all its biodiversity. Lemurs are prosimian primates that were once found throughout the world. The monkeys that appeared some time later replaced the lemurs, and only in Madagascar, in complete isolation, were they able to survive. Today there are 60 officially registered species of lemurs on the island, each with its own interesting behavioral characteristics: Indri lemurs sing like whales, Aye-Aye extract insects from tree bark with their fingers, and Verreaux's lemurs show amazing dances.

Madagascar lemur

Among Madagascar's predators, interesting animals include mungos and Malagasy civets. Also, a giant fossa used to live on the island, but due to the extermination of the giant lemurs it hunted, this species became extinct.

Half of the bat species on the island are unique, and seven species are even listed in the Red Book. 99% of the frogs in Madagascar are endemic species and are not found anywhere else. Madagascar is home to geckos, radiated tortoises, spider tortoises and Madagascar tortoises. About 80% of the plants are unique; the flora of the island is considered one of the richest. The famous baobab grows here - “a tree with roots at the top”; in the southwest there grows a prickly bush, similar to a cactus.

History of Madagascar

About two thousand years ago, the first people appeared in Madagascar - the Malasians, a mixture of Africans and Asians (some scientists, however, put forward theories about the earlier settlement of the island). Many of the settlers were Polynesians or Malays. In 800-900, Arab traders appeared on the island and traded along the northern coast.

Malagasy house

In 1500, the first European set foot on Madagascar - the Portuguese captain Diego Diaz, who was heading to India and lost his course. Having discovered Madagascar, he named it St. Lawrence Island. In the 15th century, England, Portugal and France tried to establish trading settlements on the island, but local Madagascar warriors stopped these attempts. Only at the end of the 16th century did Europeans manage to gain a foothold in Madagascar, the eastern coast of which at that time was controlled by pirates who used the island as a base to attack merchant ships heading from India to Europe.