Cheval tree

The cheval tree is native to North Island, part of the Agaléga Islands,[1] a territory of Mauritius. It is unique in its properties of minor adhesivity

The cheval tree is native to North Island, part of the Agaléga Islands,[1] a territory of Mauritius. It is unique in its properties of minor adhesivity, which attracts insects: specifically, heel walkers (belonging to the Mantophasmatodea) or Formosozoros newi (belonging to the Zoraptera). The tree was named for the glue-like secretion of its bark and the use of horse-hooves for glue in former times—the French word (French is the colonizing language of Agalega) for "horse" is "cheval".

The cheval and the Agalega day gecko

In a symbiotic relationship, the Agalega day gecko[2] (Phelsuma borbonica agalegae) feeds off the insects trapped in the viscous, though thin, sap while depositing its vitamin-rich droppings at the base of the tree. Though this may seem to more resemble commensalism than not, the droppings do in fact provide a registrable gain for the cheval tree, though it is not nearly as great as the free and ample sustenance gained by the gecko. Scientists have yet to come up with a satisfactory explanation for this strange "selflessness" on the cheval's behalf, and have set up a research station in the Agalega town of Vingt-Cinq[3] for further study.

References

  1. ^ "Agalega Island". Archived from the original on 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
  2. ^ Agalega Island Day Gecko – Phelsuma borbonica agalegae Archived September 1, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Government of Mauritius Archived 2012-09-19 at the Wayback Machine

Content Disclaimer

Informasi ini disarikan dari Wikipedia dan disajikan kembali untuk tujuan edukasi. Konten tersedia di bawah lisensi CC BY-SA 3.0. Kami tidak bertanggung jawab atas ketidakakuratan data yang bersumber dari kontribusi publik tersebut.

  1. The information displayed on this website is sourced in part or in whole from Wikipedia and has been adapted for the purpose of restating it. We strive to provide accurate and relevant information, however:
  2. There is no guarantee of absolute accuracy. Wikipedia is an open, collaborative project that can be edited by anyone, so information is subject to change.
  3. It is not intended to constitute professional advice. The content displayed is for informational and educational purposes only. For important decisions (e.g., medical, legal, or financial), please consult a professional.
  4. Content copyright. Wikipedia is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA). This means that content may be reused with appropriate attribution and shared under a similar license.
  5. Responsible use. Any risk arising from the use of information from this website is entirely the responsibility of the user.