LAND ONCE UNITED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22807, 17 February 1936, Page 13

LAND ONCE UNITED

A PROFESSOR’S CLAIM

Proof that Madagascar was once united with the continent of Africa is claimed to have been discovered by Professor Lesno, assistant director of the Laboratory of Entomology in the Museum of Natural Science. In a paper, read in the French Academy of Science, he describes his discovery during an expedition to Mozambique of a species of beetle similar to one which exists on Madagascar.

I visited the professor in his laboratory, and he showed me specimens of both species—insects about an eighth of an inch in length and to the layman indistinguishable: but one species was collected in Madagascar, the other in Mozambique, far from the sea coast, says a writer in an overseas journal.

The professor made a study of the Madagascar variety some years ago, and recognised the affinity of the continental variety as soon as ho found it. He calls it Enneadesmus Marine; it lives in dead or cut-down forests.

French scientists have pointed out that with the exception of general species found everywhere on the earth the fauna of Madagascar are quite different from those of the African continent. These tihy beetles are one of the first, if not the first, known common species.

Professor Lesnc thinks that in a previous geological period, perhaps in the tertiary, the island was united with the continent. He docs not think the insects could cross the channel.