Which island nation is located in the Indian Ocean and is famous for its biodiversity? A) Maldives B) Madagascar C) Sri Lanka D) Mauritius
VerifiedAnswer: B) Madagascar
Explanation:
Madagascar is the correct answer because it stands out as one of the world's most remarkable biodiversity hotspots among all Indian Ocean island nations. This massive island, located off the southeastern coast of Africa, separated from the African continent approximately 160 million years ago, allowing its flora and fauna to evolve in complete isolation.
What makes Madagascar truly extraordinary is its endemic species - plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth. About 90% of its wildlife is endemic, including all lemur species, over 250 bird species, and thousands of plant varieties. The island hosts eight different climate zones, from tropical rainforests to dry deciduous forests and spiny deserts, creating diverse habitats that support this incredible variety of life.
Let's examine why the other options don't match this description as closely. The Maldives, while beautiful, consists of low-lying coral atolls with limited terrestrial biodiversity due to their small land area and uniform marine environment. Sri Lanka does have notable biodiversity and is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot, but it's much smaller than Madagascar and has fewer endemic species.
Mauritius also has unique species, including the famous extinct dodo bird, but again its biodiversity doesn't compare to Madagascar's vast array of life forms. Madagascar is often called the "eighth continent" by biologists because of its unique evolutionary history and the sheer number of species that exist nowhere else on our planet.
