Description
Mangroves provide a shady canopy and rich habitat for a variety of animals. They grow in salty, water-logged conditions and endure the fluctuations of high and low tides. Rotting mangrove leaf combines with silt trapped beneath the mangrove trees to produce a very fertile area that sustains a
wide range of animals including shellfish and crabs. They produce delicate ecosystems that act as nursery areas for the fish and many other creatures living on nearby coral reefs.
The bark of mangroves varies in colour and can be red, grey, white, green, brown or black. It can also vary in texture and can be smooth, flaky, fissured or crumbly. A range of fauna use mangrove bark such as small reptiles like geckos and skinks and various insects.
