Wildlife
Mangrove forests grow on tropical coasts with soft soils and are flooded twice daily by the tide. They are important nursery areas for many species of fish. Mangroves and coral reefs have a symbiotic relationship – the reef protects the coast where the mangroves grow from being eroded by the sea, and the forest traps sediment washed from the land that would otherwise smother the reef.
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Born of mud
The incredible mangrove ecosystem is born of thick, glutinous, nutrient-rich mud.
The incredible mangrove ecosystem is born of thick, glutinous, nutrient-rich mud.
Sundarbans wildlife
Inhabitants of the mangrove forests require unusual water tolerance.
Inhabitants of the mangrove forests require unusual water tolerance.
A nose for swamp food
A proboscis monkey can stomach mangrove leaves thanks to friendly bacteria.
Monkeys are so adaptable that - like us - they are able to live almost anywhere. In south east Asia, mangrove leaves look unappetising, but there is one monkey that has learned to exploit the environment - the proboscis monkey. The male's nose is especially huge and apparently irresistible to the opposite sex. Good looks are important if you want to make an impression in a large group. Proboscis monkeys eat large amounts of tough mangrove leaves. Just like cows, they have special bacteria to digest their food by fermentation. This makes them look permanently bloated.
Mangrove predators
Tarpon use spring tides and fresh air to exploit new territory.
Tarpon use spring tides and fresh air to exploit new territory.
Mangrove paradise
Supporting a wealth of wildlife, the mangroves are a unique habitat.
Mangroves are like botanical amphibians, and form some of the most productive ecosystems on Earth. They provide food, shelter, firewood and construction materials that have been harvested sustainably for thousands of years. However, in the last 30 years we have lost 20% of mangrove forests around the world through pollution, coastal construction and, most significantly, shrimp farming which alone represents a quarter of the destruction. Mangroves have seen recent respite in some areas though, since their ability to protect coastlines was noticed following the 2004 tsunami. Grassroots efforts to save mangroves areas from development are now gaining popular support.
Malayan colugo
Pygmy three-toed sloth
Clouded leopard
Jaguar
Leopard
Otter
Raccoon
Tiger
François' langur
Slow lorises
Western red colobus
Asian elephant
African fish eagle
Harris hawk
Peregrine falcon
Ring-necked parakeet
King bird of paradise
Lesser black-backed gull
Little egret
Wood stork
American crocodile
Nile crocodile
Amethystine python
Banded sea krait
Brown basilisk
King cobra
Mangrove cat snake
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes 25° N and 25° S. The remaining mangrove forest areas of the world in 2000 was 53,190 square miles (137, 760 km²) spanning to 118 countries and territories The word is used in at least three senses: (1) most broadly to refer to the habitat and entire plant assemblage or mangal, for which the terms mangrove forest biome, mangrove swamp and mangrove forest are also used, (2) to refer to all trees and large shrubs in the mangrove swamp, and (3) narrowly to refer to the mangrove family of plants, the Rhizophoraceae, or even more specifically just to mangrove trees of the genus Rhizophora. The term "mangrove" comes to English from Spanish (perhaps by way of Portuguese), and is of Caribbean origin, likely Taíno. It was earlier "mangrow" (from Portugues mangue or Spanish mangle), but this was corrupted via folk etymology influence of "grove".
The mangrove biome, or mangal, is a distinct saline woodland or shrubland habitat characterized by a depositional coastal environments, where fine sediments (often with high organic content) collect in areas protected from high-energy wave action. Mangroves dominate three quarters of tropical coastlines. The saline conditions tolerated by various mangrove species range from brackish water, through pure seawater (30 to 40 ppt), to water concentrated by evaporation to over twice the salinity of ocean seawater (up to 90 ppt).
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Useful behaviours for this habitat
Ecozones where this habitat is found
Other Terrestrial habitats
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Lemon shark
Gobies