Madagascar is the only place you will find some animals. The island is blessed with some of the rarest wildlife that can’t be seen in other parts of the world.
In this article, we will list the top 12 animals that can only be found in Madagascar.
The Top 12 Animals That Can Only Be Found in Madagascar
1. Ring-tailed Lemur
Scientific name: Lemur catta
The Ring-tailed Lemur is among the lemur species that can only be found in Madagascar. They are known for their long, striped tails and friendly nature.
Ring-tailed lemurs are the most internationally recognized lemur species, not only because of their ringed tail but also because of the character named “King Julian” from the Madagascar animated film.
They are found in dry and rocky areas of Madagascar. Check out our article on where to see lemurs in Madagascar.
2. Fossa
Scientific name: Cryptoprocta ferox
Just by looking at the picture of the Fossa, you will notice that this slender, cat-like mammal does not look like any other big cats you will find in the jungle.
The Fossa is endemic to Madagascar. It is also the largest mammalian carnivore that is found in Madagascar.
This animal has many cat-like features, which make it resemble a cat. Its semi-retractable claws and flexibility make it possible to climb up and down trees head-first and use the forest as support when hunting for lemurs and other animals that jump from tree to tree.
3. Comet Moth
Scientific name: Argema mittrei
The comet moth is also known as the Madagascan moon moth. This moth is native to the rainforests of Madagascar.
They have some unique features that distinguish them from other closely related species. These features include a bright yellow color and long, tail-like extensions on its wings.
Male comet moths are one of the largest silk moths in the world due to their wingspan of 20 cm (7.9 inches) and tail span of 15 cm (5.9 inches).
4. Panther Chameleon
Scientific name: Furcifer pardalis
The panther chameleon is another wonderful creature that is native to Madagascar. They are among the largest chameleon species, with a growth size of 16–20″ (40–51 cm).
These chameleon species have dazzling color patterns that vary depending on where they live in Madagascar.
You will find the blue Panther chameleons in areas like Nosy Be, Ankify, and Ambanja, while red, green, or orange ones are found in Ambilobe, Antsiranana, and Sambava. This does not mean that they are not scattered across the island.
The panther chameleons can be found in regions with rainforests and drier, broken forests.
5. Aye-Aye
Scientific name: Daubentonia madagascariensis
The Aye-Aye is a long-fingered lemur species. Just like other lemurs, they are native to Madagascar.
The Aye-Aye is the largest nocturnal primate in the world. They are known for their distinctively long middle finger for finding food.
Since they are nocturnal lemurs, they are mostly active at night. Some individuals might describe their looks as being scary, but they are gentle and feed mostly on seeds, nuts, fruits, nectar, plant exudates, and fungi.
6. Giraffe Weevil
Scientific name: Trachelophorus giraffa
The Giraffe Weevil got its name from its extended neck, which is similar to the giraffe’s extended neck.
This weevil species is native to Madagascar. Many people will say they have a weird appearance, which has its benefits.
They can reach an average size of 2.5cm and have a distinctive black body and bright red elytra covering their wings.
The Giraffe Weevil spends most of their lives on trees, where they feed on leaves in the forests of Madagascar.
7. Radiated Tortoise
Scientific name: Astrochelys radiata
The radiated tortoise is a tortoise species with star-patterned shells. They are native to Madagascar, especially in the extreme southern and southwestern parts of the island.
Adult male radiated tortoises are larger with a carapace length of 26 to 38 centimeters (10 to 15 in) and weigh 2.5 to 8.8 kilograms.
They can also live for a long period of time. The oldest known radiated tortoise ever recorded was Tu’i Malila, which lived for 188 years.
8. Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko
Scientific name: Uroplatus phantasticus
The Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko is also known as the eyelash leaf-tailed gecko or the phantastic leaf-tailed gecko.
These geckos are masters of camouflage since they mimic dead leaves and camouflage perfectly to evade predators. Their bodies look like leaves, and they occur in a variety of colors, like orange, tan, yellow, and mottled brown.
The Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko is indigenous to the island of Madagascar. They are nocturnal reptiles that hunt insects at night.
An adult leaf-tailed gecko can reach up to 90mm in total length, and this includes its tail.
9. Madagascar Long-eared Owl
Scientific name: Asio madagascariensis
The Madagascar Long-eared Owl is native to the island of Madagascar. This owl is known for its distinctive long ears and nocturnal habits.
This owl is found in forests in Madagascar, where it feeds on small mammals.
10. Tomato Frog
Scientific name: Dyscophus antongilii
Tomato frogs are a species of frog that is native to Madagascar. They got their name from their skin color, which is similar to that of a tomato.
The tomato frogs can be found in swamps, shallow pools, or other wet parts of the island. They also secrete a thick substance from their skin when they are frightened. This substance affects predators and causes allergic reactions in humans.
You can also read our article on the most dangerous animals in Madagascar.
11. Tenrecs
Scientific name: Tenrecidae
Tenrecs are small mammals that resemble hedgehogs, shrews, opossums, rats, and mice. They are native to the island of Madagascar.
Tenrecs can be found in the Madagascar dry forests and humid forests, where they feed on fruits, insects, and their larvae.
Most species of tenrecs are nocturnal and have poor eyesight. However, they have other well-developed senses that they use to interact with the environment.
12. Blue coua
Scientific name: Coua
caerulea
The blue coua is among the large population of birds that can only be found in Madagascar. They got their name from their deep blue feathers, which give them a distinctive look.
The blue coua is a species of cuckoo bird that builds its nests with leaves and twigs.
Other names for the blue coua are Madagascar coucal or Madagascar cuckoo.
Conclusion
Madagascar is the only place in the world where you can see some of the rarest wildlife and have a close encounter with them. In this article, we have provided the top 12 animals that can only be found in Madagascar.
If you love wildlife, then you may consider visiting Madagascar to get a feel for the unique array of life on the island.
Have you encountered these animals before? Let us know in the comments.
Hi, I’m Louis Ojibe, and I grew up around wildlife in Africa. I have always been fascinated by animals and nature across the world.
As a child, my parents used to take me to see wild animals like lions, elephants, gorillas, tortoises, and many others at our local zoo.
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