Madagascar wildlife: 15 species you can only see here
Madagascar split from other land masses around 88 million years ago, and its wildlife evolved in isolation. Roughly 90% of its species are endemic. Here are some of the most remarkable.
Mammals
The lemurs are the headline act, from the cat-sized indri to the tiny mouse lemur that fits in a palm. The fossa, a sleek cat-like predator, is the island's top hunter. Tenrecs, which look like hedgehogs or shrews but are unrelated to both, round out the strange mammal cast.
Reptiles and amphibians
Madagascar is a paradise for reptile lovers. It is home to around half the world's chameleon species, including the giant Parson's chameleon and the thumbnail-sized Brookesia. Leaf-tailed geckos vanish against bark, and brilliant mantella frogs glow on the rainforest floor.
Birds, insects and plants
Endemic birds like the ground-rollers, couas and the sunbird-asity reward patient birdwatchers. The spectacular comet moth, with its long golden tails, is among the largest moths on Earth. And the plants are extraordinary too: six species of baobab, the spiny octopus trees of the south, and orchids by the hundred.
A wildlife-focused route can take in rainforest, dry forest and spiny forest in one trip. Tell us what you want to see and we will plan it.