This Secondary Area supports Benson's Rock-thrush Monticola bensoni, which was formerly known to breed only from the area between the Mangoky and Onilahy rivers in south-west Madagascar, chiefly in and around the Isalo massif at 700-1,000 m (see map, p. 330). Breeding populations have now also been found in the high-mountain zone of the Andringitra Strict Nature Reserve in the East Malagasy wet forests (EBA 094) west to Ankazoabo in the West Malagasy dry forests (EBA 093) (S. M. Goodman in litt. 1996). The characteristic vegetation of the Secondary Area is evergreen, sclerophyllous Uapaca woodland, a very restricted vegetation type, which has mostly been replaced by artificial, fire-induced grassland (Du Puy and Moat 1996). However, M. bensoni is probably more common in canyons and rocky areas where there is still substantial vegetation, usually either of a western deciduous forest or eastern humid forest type, depending on the substrate and depth of sheltering rock (A. F. A. Hawkins in litt. 1996). Although no threats to the species are known, it is listed as Vulnerable: the Isalo National Park in which it occurs is burnt regularly and total numbers of the species may prove to be small (Collar et al. 1994).

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Endemic Bird Area factsheet: Isalo massif. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/eba/factsheet/348 on 22/11/2024.