Little work has been done on the lichens of Madagascar, so while over 500 species of lichens have been documented, more are expected.^[1] Madagascar can be divided into two major habitats that can be associated with lichen distribution. Wet tropical areas of siliceous bedrock make up approximately two-thirds of the country, and are where most of the lichens have been documented. Dry tropical areas of granitic and limestone bedrock make up the other one-third of the country with just over 20 species documented in these habitats.^[1] The following table lists the species known from the dry tropical habitats. The majority are corticolous species that grow on the bark of trees or shrubs. A few are saxicolous; species that grow on rocks.

While many of the lichens found to date in Madagascar are relatively widespread, tropical species,^[1] some are endemic. Isalonactis madagascariensis, for example, is known only from its type locality near Isalo National Park,^[2] and new species continue to be found.^[1]

Gallery

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  Lichens at Tsimanampetsotsa National Park, Madagascar
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  Lichens at Isalo National Park
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  Dermatiscum thunbergii, a lichen on the rocks at Isalo National Park
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  lichens growing on the rocks at Isalo National Park, Madagascar
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  lichens growing on the rocks at Isalo National Park, Madagascar

References