MADAGASCAR'S
BIODIVERSITY 
WILDLIFE
Madagascar -- an isolated island about twice the size
of Arizona -- has some of the highest biodiversity on
the planet. Of roughly 200,000 known species found on
Madagascar, about 150,000 are endemic -- meaning they
exist nowhere else. Unique to the island are more than
50 types of lemurs, 99% of its frog species, and 36 genera
of birds. Madgascar houses 100% of the world's lemurs,
half of its chameleon species, 6% of its frogs, and none
of its toads. Some species found in Madagascar have their
closest relatives not in Africa but in the South Pacific
and South America.
Birds
Madagascar has "only" 258 bird species, although
115 of these are endemic (with 36 endemic genera, Madagascar
has more unique genera than any other African country.
Madagascar also possesses 5 endemic families of birds).
Fish
Madagascar's fish species are some of the most threatened
on the planet. Habitat loss -- especially the conversion
of native vegetation to rice paddies -- combined with
horrendous erosion resulting from deforestation and
the introduction of exotic species (especially Tilapia,
Snakeheads, Mosquito fish) have devastated endemic species.
Several of Madagascar's unique species are no longer
recorded in the wild.
Frogs
Madagascar is thought to have more than 300 species
of frogs, 99% of which are endemic. Frogs are the only
amphibians found in Madagascar -- there are no toads,
salamanders or newts.
Lemurs
Madagascar is world famous for its lemurs -- primates
that look something like a cat crossed with a squirrel
and a dog. These animals are unique to the island and
display a range of interesting behaviors from singing
like a whale (the indri) to sashaying across the sand
like a ballet dancer (the sifaka).
Reptiles
Madagascar is home to more than 300 species of reptiles
of which over 90% are endemic (36 of the 64 genera found
on the island are also found nowhere else). Madagascar's
reptile fauna includes lizards, snakes, turtles &
tortoises, and crocodiles.
Invertebrates
Madagascar is home to a tremendous number of invertebrates.
According to a survey by the California Academy of Science
80% of Madagascar's spiders are endemic, while 418 418
species and subspecies have been described on the island
(379 are endemic) but around 1,000 have been recorded
to date.
Reproduced with permission from WildMadagascar.org © 2005
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