Flora and Fauna of Anjouan

The four Comoros Islands are distinctive in size, shape, and topography, and contain a variety of habitat types. The two larger islands, Grande Comoro and Anjouan have significant topographic relief and support lowland and montane rainforests. Like many Indo-Pacific islands, the Comoros host a diverse array of endemic species, including more than 500 species of plants, 21 species of birds, 9 species of reptiles, and two species of fruit bats. However, forest cover is rapidly declining and less than 30 percent of the original area is left today; many of the endemic species are severely threatened from habitat loss and invasive species, and others have already gone extinct.  
 

On Anjouan there are two remaining forest tracts of approximately 10 km2 in extent. This provides the only remaining habitat for the surviving population of the Anjouan scops owl (Otus capnodes) as well as the majority of habitat for the Livingstone’s fruit bat (Pteropus livingstonii). The Sunbird is common even within the grounds of the airport area, and the Anjouan Scops Owl very difficult indeed to see. The species richness of the fauna is relatively low on the Comoros, although it is higher than most other Indian Ocean Islands due to its proximity to both Madagascar and continental Africa. There are only 8 species of extant native terrestrial mammals include three species of fruit bats, 3 insectivorous bat species and two lemurs. There are 25 species of terrestrial reptiles and two species of sea turtle, including green turtle (Chelonia mydas) that nest on the beaches of these islands, and hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), which are seen in the waters around the islands. Species diversity in birds and amphibians is also rather low.  Anjouan has suffered considerably from human pressure, although patches of forest still cling to its spectacularly rugged mountains. 

By: Shabina Sanad
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