Central Highlands (Madagascar)

The Central Highlands, Central High Plateau, or Hautes-Terres are a mountainous biogeographical region in central Madagascar. They include the contiguous part of the island's interior above 800 m (2,600 ft) elevation.^[1] The Central Highlands are separated from the Northern Highlands of the northern tip of Madagascar by a low-lying valley, the Mandritsara Window, which has apparently acted as a barrier to dispersal for species in the highlands, leading to species pairs such as Voalavo gymnocaudus and Voalavo antsahabensis in the Northern and Central Highlands.^[2] Species restricted to the Central Highlands include the bats Miniopterus manavi^[3] and Miniopterus sororculus;^[4] the rodents Brachyuromys betsileoensis^[5] and Voalavo antsahabensis;^[6] the tenrecs Hemicentetes nigriceps^[7] and Oryzorictes tetradactylus;^[8] and the lemur Cheirogaleus sibreei.^[9] Because of the continuous habitat of the Central Highlands, there is little local endemism, unlike the Northern Highlands.^[10]

Landscape in the Central Highlands region

See also

• Madagascar subhumid forests