The Sambirano region, also known as the Sambirano domain , is a biogeographic region of northwestern Madagascar . It has a distinctive lowland climate with year-round rain, differing from the rest of seasonally-dry western and northern Madagascar. The climate supports humid lowland rainforests, with greater similarity to those of eastern Madagascar than the dry deciduous forests characteristic of the Madagascar's western lowlands.
10-716: The region takes its name from the Sambirano River , which runs through the center of the region. The Sambirano region extends from the Ifasy River in the north to the Ampasindava Peninsula in the south, in the southwestern portion of Diana Region . It extends from the coast to the slopes of the Tsaratanana Massif , which bounds the region on the east. It also includes the islands of Nosy Be and Nosy Komba . The region receives summer monsoon rains characteristic of
20-641: Is a river of northwestern Madagascar in the region of Diana . It has its sources at the Maromokotra peak and flows through the Tsaratanana Reserve to the Indian Ocean . Its delta occupies 250 km . The ecosystem of the river, mainly forests and brushland, has many indigenous species, such as the Sambirano mouse lemur and Sambirano woolly lemur . The Madagascar dry deciduous forests occupy much of
30-465: Is rainiest month, averaging 538.4 mm. May to October are drier months, with the lowest rainfall (24.6 mm) in July. Mean annual temperature averages 25.7 °C at Ambanja, with little seasonal variation and humidity throughout most of the year. As one ascends the slopes of Tsaratanana, rainfall and humidity increase, and temperature and seasonal rainfall variation decrease. The predominant natural vegetation in
40-554: Is therefore transported with boats on the Sambirano river to Ambanja and the National road 6 This article related to a river in Madagascar is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Sambirano mouse lemur The Sambirano mouse lemur ( Microcebus sambiranensis ) is a small, recently discovered primate and like the other mouse lemurs can only be found on
50-641: The bamboo Cathariostachys capitata . Several species of lemur are endemic or mostly endemic to the Sambirano region, including the black lemur ( Eulemur macaco ), Pariente's fork-marked lemur ( Phaner parienti ), Nosy Be mouse lemur ( Microcebus mamiratra ), and Nosy Be sportive lemur ( Lepilemur tymerlachsoni ). The largest remaining area of lowland rainforest is in Lokobe National Park on Nosy Be. Manongarivo Special Reserve preserves some enclaves of humid forest along with transitional lowland dry forest. Sambirano River The Sambirano
60-862: The island of Madagascar . The dorsal side is both cinnamon and rufous-cinnamon and is grey ventrally. It has vibrissae that are dark in color. The species was discovered in northwestern Madagascar, in the Ankarana Special Reserve , where vegetation remains dense, after a survey was completed of the area. It was named as a separate species at the same time as the Madame Berthe's mouse lemur ( Microcebus berthae ) and northern rufous mouse lemur ( Microcebus tavaratra ). Foliage tree sleeping sites prevent predatorial species interaction with Sambirano Mouse Lemurs. Sambirano mouse lemurs are endemic to Madagascar and are currently prone to extinction. Long term reforestation in northwestern Madagascar may facilitate
70-419: The rainforest to scattered patches. Grasslands are maintained through regular burning, and are used for livestock grazing. Secondary forest, known as savoka , grows in areas which were cleared for shifting cultivation and then left fallow. The palm-like native plant Ravenala madagascariensis is common in disturbed areas. Introduced species are increasingly common, including citrus , Psidium (guava), and
80-667: The region is lowland rainforest, although little remains. Mature forests have a canopy of trees 25 to 30 meters high, festooned with abundant lianas . There is a middle stratum of smaller, shade-tolerant trees, and a sparse understory of ferns, dwarf palms, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Trees of the families Sarcolaenaceae and Myristicaceae , and genus Anthostema are characteristic canopy trees, along with trees of families Fabaceae ( Cynometra ), Lauraceae ( Ocotea and Cryptocarya agathophylla ), Ebenaceae ( Diospyros ), Euphorbiaceae , Arecaceae , Rubiaceae , Sapindaceae , and Anacardiaceae . Human disturbance, has reduced
90-404: The river basin, although mangroves are evident at parts of the coastal fringe. The valley of the Sambirano is the main cocoa producing area of Madagascar. 60% (or 7500 to 10 000 tons yearly) provide from this area. There is an unpaved piste from Ambanja to Marovato , via Benavony , Ambodimanga Ramena , Bemaneviky Ouest , Maevatanana that is hardly practicable. Most of the exported cocoa
100-527: The west coast, but also rain during the winter months from the easterly trade winds. The trade winds bring winter rain to eastern Madagascar but across most of the west are intercepted by Madagascar's central highlands. The convergence of easterly wind currents in the lee of the Tsaratanana Massif is responsible for the Sambirano region's higher rainfall. Average annual rainfall in Ambanja is 2171 mm. January
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