Mangroves hold many species
Asurvey of wildlife in the mangrove forests of Cambodia, Southeast Asia, has revealed that more than 700 animal species live there. Mangrove forests grow in areas along the coast, where the trees have adapted to grow in salty water.
The new study, which took place in two protected areas, used equipment such as automatic cameras to identify animals. Among the species spotted on camera was the rare fishing cat. Unlike lots of other felines, the fishing cat is happy in water and has partly webbed toes to help it swim in the water and walk on muddy ground. Researchers also found an even rarer species: the hairy-nosed otter. This mammal uses hairs around its nose to detect prey, Sadly, though, it is on the brink of extinction.
Other species spotted during the survey included long-tailed macaques (a type of monkey) and large-spotted civets (a small cat-like animal with a long body and short legs), as well as 74 species of fish, 150 bird species and several species of bat.
Stefanie Rog, the leader of the survey team, told The Guardian newspaper, “Mangroves are places of roots and mud, and they are difficult for humans to get into, which is why they provide precious sanctuaries for these vulnerable animals.”