This species can be found in the Madagascar succulent woodlands , which comprises a mosaic of succulent xeric adapted and deciduous forests that represent critical for many of animals and plants restricted to the western region of . The succulent woodland ecoregion exhibits a tropical dry with a distinct dry season between May and October. During the wet season, November to April, rainfall may reach 750 (mm), within a yearly range of 575 mm to 1330 mm.
The geology of the western part of the comprises unconsolidated sands on the and Tertiary and sandstones inland. In the southern part of the ecoregion, there are also and igneous basement rocks. The are generally sandy with richer alluvial soils around areas. The flora species often have water storage adaptations, stem , and remain without leaves for long periods. Forests of the ecoregion may reach 15 m in height, with the endemic baobabs (Bombaceae family) Adansonia za and A. grandidieri as distinctive emergent species. Other canopy species belong to the families Euphorbiaceae and Leguminosae including several endemic species of Pachypodium. The shrub layer consists of the families Sapindaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Anacardiaceae, and Burseraceae.
Five mammals are endemic to this ecoregion: narrow striped mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata decemlineata), pale fork-marked lemur (Phaner furcifer pallescens), the giant jumping rat, Berthe's mouse lemur (Microcebus berthae) and the red-tailed sportive lemur (Lepilemur ruficaudatus). Near-endemics include the large-eared tenrec (Geogale aurita), the lesser hedgehog tenrec (Echinops telfairi), and Coquerel's dwarf lemur (Mirza coquerli). Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi), and the red-fronted brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus rufus) are both found in this ecoregion. Several animal species have the entirety of their very localized ranges within this ecoregion.
Among the bird taxa, Appert's greenbul (Xanthomixis apperti) and the white-breasted mesite (Mesitornis variegata), are considered endemic to this ecoregion. The following species are near-endemic: Madagascar teal (Anas bernieri), Madagascar plover (Charadrius thoracicus), and long-tailed ground-roller (Uratelornis chimaera). Out of the above birds, one is threatened (Madagascar teal), and three are considered vulnerable (white-breasted mesite, long-tailed ground-roller, Madagascar plover). The red-capped coua (Coua ruficeps) is found throughout this ecoregion.
Some of the ecoregion endemic include Oplurus cuvieri, Chalarodon madagascariensis, and the gecko Phelsuma standingi. Pyxis planicauda has a narrow distribution range within the . One gecko species, Paroedura vazimba, is only known from Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park. A least two frog species are endemic to this region: the hyperollid Heterixalus luteostriatus and the mycrohylid Dyscophus insularis. The rare snake Liophidium chabaudi occurs in this ecoregion, as well as numerous other species with limited distributions such as Mabuya tandrefana, Furcifer antimena, and Brookesia brygooi.
There are exactly six species found in the Madagascar succulent woodlands: Antsouhy tomato frog (Dyscophus insularis); Brown rainfrog (Scaphiophryne brevis); Dueril's bright-eyed frog (Boophis tephraeomystax); Goudot's bright-eyed frog (Boophis goudotii); Madagascar bullfrog (Boophis tephraeomystax); and Mocquard's rainfrog (Scaphiophryne calcarata).
Rights Holder: World Wildlife Fund & C.Michael Hogan
Bibliographic Citation: World Wildlife Fund and C.MIchael Hogan. 2015. Madagascar succulent woodlands. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and Environment. Washington DC
