Wildlife of Madagascar



Madagascar is sometimes called "the eighth continent" for its distinct biogeography.

Major wildlife regions
North AmericaCentral & South AmericaAfricaMadagascarEurasiaSouth & Southeast AsiaAustralasiaArcticSouthern Ocean

Understand

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Lemur
Map
Map of Wildlife of Madagascar

As Madagascar has been an isolated landmass for 88 million years, most species are unique to the island (80-90% endemic). New species are continuously found even in the 21st century.

Similar to Australasian wildlife, the Madagascar wildlife is a case study of convergent evolution, in which animal species (in particular mammals) have evolved body shapes and behaviors similar to unrelated species on other continents.

Mammals

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Lemurs are a superfamily of primates with around 100 species, endemic to Madagascar.

The fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) is a cat-like carnivore.

Tenrecs, also called otter shrews, are a family of mammals which resemble moles, hedgehogs and other small mammals on other continents.

Reptiles

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Of the 290+ reptile species in Madagascar, more than 90% are endemic.

Only discovered in 2021, the nano chameleon (Brookesia nana) is thought to be the world's smallest reptile. It's about the size of a cockroach and, unlike other chameleons, it stays a single color (a dusky shade of brown).

Flora

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Madagascar has nearly 15,000 known plant species, of which 80 per cent are only found on the island. The Madagascar orchids are particularly famous.

Destinations

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