Indian Ocean Field Guides: Comoros
The first field guide ever on the unique fauna of the Comoros Archipelago!
The Galápagos, Hawai'i, the Canaries, Mauritius – dreams of travellers and natural observatories of biologists. Like these islands, the Comoros Archipelago has unique organisms, paradise beaches, and raw but threatened nature, but is barely explored and untouched by tourists. We will write the first field guide to the fauna of these islands! Support us, be among the first to read the book, and receive other gifts that will open a window to one of the least known, but most fascinating places on earth for you!
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Updates: https://www.facebook.com/indianoceanfieldguides/
Support our book project on our crowdfunding website!
We – Rémy and Oliver – have been working on the islands of the Western Indian Ocean since 2008. We love these islands, and we think that particularly the Comoros and Mayotte are true paradises of nature that do not receive the attention they deserve from the world. Like other islands of the region, they are full of unique species and ecosystems. We even found species that were previously unknown to science and described them scientifically! However, when we started our research, we were surprised that no comprehensive books on the fauna were available, and this has not changed to date. We therefore believe that it is our mission to change this by providing a book that will allow people from all around the world to get to know the unique animal species living in the Comoros from near and far. Our book will present photos and descriptions of the 120 most important species, including commonly seen ones and rarer ones that are remarkable for their peculiar biology, endemism, or looks. The book will be bilingual: French (which is the language of the region) and English (to reach out around the globe). Ebooks will also be produced in German and possibly in other languages. After the Comoros, we plan to produce books on other islands of the region, such as the Seychelles, Mauritius, Réunion, and parts of Madagascar. We hope that our books will not only help people living on these islands to better get to know their natural treasures, but will also attract attention from eco-tourists, scientists, and conservationists worldwide and thus help preserve these unique and fragile ecosystems.
New sample page here:
The Comoros and Mayotte are poorly known, but full of wonders!
Did you know...
Did you know...
The fauna of the Comoros Archipelago
Typically for islands, the fauna of the Comoros Archipelago is poorer in species than continental systems, but rich in endemics. Endemics are species that live only there and nowhere else in the world. The archipelago has 34 species of reptiles and amphibians, among them 22 endemics that live nowhere else in the world – and 7 of these were discovered by us! There are also 28 endemic bird species. Like most oceanic islands, the Comoros originally only had flying mammals, that is bats and flying foxes. But the origin of the lemurs is not clear: They may have arrived with the first human seafarers over a thousand years ago, but they may also have made the journey from Madagascar on their own.
Originally, the archipelago was mostly covered in tropical rainforest. Today, the lowlands are mostly covered in coconut and banana plantations, but rainforest is preserved at higher elevations of the volcanoes. Dry and mesic forests are still found in some areas on all islands, but mostly Mayotte. This islands also has large stands of mangroves. All islands are surrounded by coral reefs, the largest in the lagoon of Mayotte. The deeper waters are home of the mysterious coelacanth, a living fossil among fishes that already roamed the seas during the time of the dinosaurs.
Typically for islands, the fauna of the Comoros Archipelago is poorer in species than continental systems, but rich in endemics. Endemics are species that live only there and nowhere else in the world. The archipelago has 34 species of reptiles and amphibians, among them 22 endemics that live nowhere else in the world – and 7 of these were discovered by us! There are also 28 endemic bird species. Like most oceanic islands, the Comoros originally only had flying mammals, that is bats and flying foxes. But the origin of the lemurs is not clear: They may have arrived with the first human seafarers over a thousand years ago, but they may also have made the journey from Madagascar on their own.
Originally, the archipelago was mostly covered in tropical rainforest. Today, the lowlands are mostly covered in coconut and banana plantations, but rainforest is preserved at higher elevations of the volcanoes. Dry and mesic forests are still found in some areas on all islands, but mostly Mayotte. This islands also has large stands of mangroves. All islands are surrounded by coral reefs, the largest in the lagoon of Mayotte. The deeper waters are home of the mysterious coelacanth, a living fossil among fishes that already roamed the seas during the time of the dinosaurs.
Take our book and visit the Comoros and Mayotte!
When you are there, you should...
When you are there, you should...
Our work on the Comoros and Mayotte
Unlike many other island systems worldwide, the Comoros have received relatively little scientific attention. When we arrived there and started working by surveying the fauna, particularly the reptiles, we found our private playground.
Using the 'molecular clock' technique, we used the genetic variability of reptiles from these islands to estimate the geological ages of the islands they lived on, and we found that Grand Comoro is probably much older than thought based on geological estimates. Unbelievable that a small lizard can provide this information!
Check out some of our work here!
We think it is important to study not only 'pure' scientific questions, but also apply our findings to the conservation of the species and ecosystems we study. Based on our field surveys and satellite images we studied the state of the natural ecosystems, assessed the conservation status of the endemic reptiles, and provided data for the delimitation of nature reserves in Mayotte.
Unlike many other island systems worldwide, the Comoros have received relatively little scientific attention. When we arrived there and started working by surveying the fauna, particularly the reptiles, we found our private playground.
Using the 'molecular clock' technique, we used the genetic variability of reptiles from these islands to estimate the geological ages of the islands they lived on, and we found that Grand Comoro is probably much older than thought based on geological estimates. Unbelievable that a small lizard can provide this information!
Check out some of our work here!
We think it is important to study not only 'pure' scientific questions, but also apply our findings to the conservation of the species and ecosystems we study. Based on our field surveys and satellite images we studied the state of the natural ecosystems, assessed the conservation status of the endemic reptiles, and provided data for the delimitation of nature reserves in Mayotte.
Thanks to everyone who helped us in our travels and surveys!