Madagascar split from India about 88 million years ago and its wildlife evolved in isolation

nature & planetWikivoyage

Madagascar split from India about 88 million years ago and its wildlife evolved in isolation

the gist

Madagascar broke away from the landmass that included India around 88 million years ago and drifted to its present position off the east coast of Africa. Its long isolation let animals and plants evolve on their own. Over 90 percent of its wildlife and about 80 percent of its plants occur nowhere else on Earth. Lemurs, which are primates found only on the island, are the best-known example of this isolated evolution.

how it works

Madagascar's separation from India and Africa left its animals and plants cut off from new arrivals and competitors. Over millions of years, the species that had reached the island diversified into forms found nowhere else, a pattern called adaptive radiation.

so what

Madagascar is a clear case of how continental drift and isolation create new species, and why islands hold such high shares of unique life. Its many endangered species also make it a priority for conservation.

fun fact

Nearly all wild lemurs live only on Madagascar, and they are one of the most threatened groups of mammals.

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background

Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country in the Indian Ocean that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's fourth-largest island, the second-largest island country, and the 46th-largest country overall. Its capital and largest city is Antananarivo.

Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from Africa during the Early Jurassic period, around 180 million years ago, and from the Indian subcontinent approximately 90 million years ago. This isolation allowed native plants and animals to evolve in relative seclusion. As a result, Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot and one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries, with over 90% of its wildlife being endemic. The island has a subtropical to tropical maritime climate.

From Wikipedia: Madagascar (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗ · text CC BY-SA 4.0

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Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

key facts

Country: Madagascar
Capital: Antananarivo
Population: 32.0 million
Area: 587,295 km²
Founded: 1960

Facts: Wikidata (CC0)

Adapted from Wikivoyage, the free travel guide · CC BY-SA 4.0

Illustrative photo · Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikivoyage ↗

politics

Trump and Netanyahu reportedly clash over whether to resume military action against Iran

the gist

Israeli reports also say the cabinet directed the military to prepare for a possible new attack on Iran.

so what

The United States and Israel have been closely aligned on Iran's nuclear programme and regional threats, so open disagreement between their leaders over military strategy is unusual and closely watched. Whether to resume strikes is a decision with consequences for shipping, oil markets and the wider Middle East.

fun fact

Benjamin Netanyahu has served as Prime Minister of Israel for more years in total than any other person.

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Data: GDELT Project

Illustrative photo · Israel Belkind and Fanny Abramovitch (original) “The Provis…, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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supplementary video · Epimetheus on YouTube ↗

world cultures & travelWikivoyageclassic9th–15th century · Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor was the largest pre-industrial city on Earth, covering about 3,000 square kilometres

the gist

Angkor, near Siem Reap in northern Cambodia, was the capital of the Khmer Empire, which ruled much of mainland Southeast Asia between roughly the 9th and 15th centuries. At its height the city spread across about 3,000 square kilometres, making it the largest pre-industrial city on Earth by area. Its growth depended on water: huge reservoirs called barays, along with canals and embankments, stored monsoon rain and carried it to rice fields. That system let farmers harvest more than once a year and fed a very large population through the dry season. The temple complex of Angkor Wat, built in the early 12th century, is the best-known monument and still stands at the heart of the park.

how it works

The Khmer kings built enormous rectangular reservoirs that caught monsoon rain during the wet season. Earthen dykes and canals moved that water into rice paddies, so farmers could grow crops across much of the year. The surplus food supported craftsmen, builders and the workforce that raised the temples.

so what

Angkor shows how a society without industrial machinery could build a city on a scale that rivals modern metropolises, using engineering and water management instead. Some historians link its decline to drought, flooding and shifts in its water systems, which makes it a long-running case study in how cities depend on managing water. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological landscapes in Southeast Asia.

fun fact

The outline of Angkor Wat appears on the national flag of Cambodia.