Sunday 2 June 2013

The Seychelles Islands Forest

Source google.com.pk
The Seychelles  Islands Forest
The Seychelles Islands were formed millions of years ago from bits of Gondwanaland that were cast adrift when the Indian continent drifted north toward Asia. The Seychelles are made up of 115 islands that can be divided into 2 types: the 42 granitic islands that make up this ecoregion, and low limestone islands.

The Seychelles Islands are justly famous for their coral reefs and the remote Aldabra Atoll - the largest raised atoll in the world. It supports a huge coral diversity and rare land species like the giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys elephantina), vast seabird colonies and important sea turtle breeding beaches. In recognition of its status it is listed as a natural World Heritage site by UNESCO.

The Mascarene forests include the Réunion Islands, Rodrigues Island and Mauritius that were once home to the now extinct Dodo. The Aldabra Islands are also called the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean with most of its surface being the remains of an ancient coral reef.

All the islands experience a humid tropical climate with monsoon rains from November to April.
Size:
5,400 sq. km (2,000 sq. miles)
Habitat type:
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Geographic Location:
Islands to the north and east of Madagascar, off the east coast of Africa
In Seychelles, species include legless caecilians (a wormlike amphibian), Seychelles paradise flycatchers, Seychelles magpie-robins (Copsychus sechellarum), Seychelles sheath-tailed bat (Coleura seychellensis), Seychelles kestrel (Falco araea), Seychelles swiflet (Collocalia elaphra), Seychelles wild vanilla orchid, stilt palm, Seychelles pitcher plant, and one of the rarest plants in the world, the jellyfish tree - with a total population of less than 30, it was thought to be extinct until rediscovered in 1970. The forests of the Seychelles are also home to the extraordinary Coco de Mer palm (Lodoicea maldivica), with the world's largest nut - coco-de-mer, or sea coconut that weighs in at about 22.5 kilograms!



Seychelles, one of the world’s very last frontiers, promises adventure and breathtaking natural beauty in pristine surrounds still untouched by man.









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