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A hotspot is an area with a high concentration of biodiversity.
About 75% of the species found in Madagascar live nowhere
else on the planet (endemic).
Approximately 5% of the world’s species live in Madagascar.
Hotspot original extent (km²)
600,461
Hotspot vegetation (km²)
60,046
Endemic plant species
11,600
Endemic threatened birds
57
Endemic threatened mammals
51
Endemic threatened amphibians
61
Extinct species
45
Human population density
(people/km²)
32
Area protected (km²)
18,482
The island has lost about 90%
of its original vegetation due to
deforestation, placing many
species in great danger.
Madagascar is thought to have
more critically endangered
primates than anywhere else in
the world.
Deep, red, nutrientrich soil in eastern and
central Madagascar
Madagascar eco-regions
An eco-region is an
area that contains a
distinct biodiversity
of flora and fauna
Broke away from mainland
Africa 160 million years ago so
species have evolved in
isolation. Human populations
arrived relatively late – 2000
years ago.
Fourth largest island in
the world containing a
diverse range of habitats
to accommodate a large
variety of species
The hotspot includes
the other small islands
near to Madagascar in
the Indian Ocean eg.
The Seychelles and
The Comoros Islands.
The Madagascar dry deciduous forest has high biological
importance. While the species diversity is not as high as in
the moist eastern forests, the levels of endemism are
higher. With estimated plant endemism at 70%.
The original forest has now been reduced to a few
isolated areas, some of which are now protected.
Endemic Species in this region:
Golden-crowned sifaka
Bottle Trees
Many plant species are unusual
looking as a result of adaptations to
the dry climate and hot, exposed
conditions.
Golden-crowned sifaka
Mongoose lemur
Golden-brown mouse lemur
Northern rufous mouse lemur
Western rufous mouse lemur
Perrier's sifaka
Milne-Edwards’s sportive lemur
Western forest mouse
Fossa
Side-neck turtle
Ploughshare tortoise
Various chameleon species, geckos,
skinks and lizards.
Temperature (°C) in Antananarivo
Rainfall (mm) in Antananarivo
(average per month)
Rainfall is approximately 1,500mm
per year and temperatures stay fairly
constant between 15°C and 25°C.
Endemic Species in this region:
Alaotran gentle lemur
A number of shrews, tenrecs and rodents
A very large number of birds and reptiles
Of the endemic and near-endemic mammal
species 12 species listed are on the IUCN
Red List, 9 species are considered
vulnerable, 2 are endangered and 1 (the
Alaotran gentle lemur) is critical.
Alaotran gentle lemur
The moist forests of eastern Madagascar are the most
diverse forests in the country, and contain exceptionally
high levels of endemism.
82% of plants here are endemic eg.
Malagasy palms and orchids
This region has the greatest diversity
of birds in Madagascar with 165
different species (42 found nowhere
else).
Aye-aye
All species of Madagascan primates are
found here including 15 endemic species of
lemur such as the aye-aye.
The mammals in these forests are also
highly threatened. Out of 25 endemic and
near-endemic species, 22 are threatened: 8
as critical, 9 as endangered and 5 as
vulnerable
About 50 species of
reptiles, 29 species of
amphibians and more
than 100 endemic
species of freshwater
fish, many of which
are severely
threatened, are
endemic to the
lowland forest region.
Endemic Species in this region:
The harsh, drought-prone environment has
produced extreme adaptations among the plants
found here. For example, extended root systems,
swollen storage organs, waxy or reduced leaves.
White-footed sportive lemur
Grandidier’s mongoose
Chameleons
Spider tortoise
Radiated tortoise
Rock dwelling iguana
Various species of gecko and snake
8 species of bird
The spiny desert
also has the highest
percentage of plant
endemism in
Madagascar.
Usually 3-6 metres in
height but some
plants even top 10
metres
Found along the Western coastline of
Madagascar.
The mangroves shelter many mollusc and
crustacean communities and have a
particularly high diversity among the fish
populations while also capturing sediment
that threatens reefs and sea grass beds.
Birds, sea turtles, the Nile crocodile and
dugongs all use mangroves, as do the local
people for rice farming, shrimp aquaculture
and to obtain construction materials.
The habitat is important for migratory bird
species eg. the common ringed plover, crab
plover, gray plover, African spoonbill and
great white egret.
Some sea turtles and hawksbill turtle nest
along the western coast and are
occasionally found in mangroves.
Endemic Species in this region:
Madagascar heron
Madagascar teal
Madagascar plover
Madagascar fish eagle
Madagascar kingfisher
Since humans arrived in Madagascar about 2000 years ago over 90% of the original forest
cover has disappeared, and forest destruction continues at a rapid pace. This means that
virtually all the unique habitats and endemic animals of Madagascar face significant threats. It
now has the greatest number of critically endangered primates of any country in the world.
Forests
- Intentional burning to clear land for grazing and agriculture (this also sparks uncontrolled wildfires)
- Legal and illegal commercial logging
- Increasing human population means there is an increased need to exploit resources available
- International trade of rare species and illegal collections
Desert
- Exploited for charcoal and firewood production
- Clearing for corn and maize crops and grazing domesticated
species eg. cattle and goats
- Climate change has lead to increased droughts
- Invasive species eg. prickly pear, rubber vine
Mangroves
River, wetland, and lake systems are threatened with
siltation resulting from deforestation, soil erosion and
surface run-off from the central highlands after urban
development. Lakes and wetland habitats are also being
destroyed through rice paddy cultivation, overfishing, and
invasive species (e.g. water hyacinth).
Focuses on building recognition of the importance of sustainable
management of natural resources within human society and the
conservation of biodiversity in the face of global climate change.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is globally recognized as the most authoritative,
objective analysis of species at risk of extinction. 221 Madagascan species are on the list.
Madagascan government set up a 5 year program for conservation and sustainable
management:
16,131 km² officially protected in national parks or reserves with plans to triple the area
protected with international investment.
Conservation International and other partners in Madagascar expanded identified a total of
132 Key Biodiversity Areas for future protection so these large areas are still currently
vulnerable.
A number of successful breeding programs have been set up in nature reserves including
lemurs and tortoises which have been reintroduced into the wild.
Lemur species, particularly the brown lemur
are critical to the regeneration of the forests
because they are some of the few and
potentially most important seed dispersers in
the forests.
Madagascar has 22 national parks
and reserves eg. Masoala National
Park
The Masoala National Park is a spectacular natural
laboratory for scientific research and there may be
thousands of species which remain to be
discovered and studied by science here.
The Masoala National Park is the largest
protected area in Madagascar and it alone
comes fifth in the world in terms of
biodiversity richness. The Masoala NP is
made up of seven different units, including
three marine parks. Masoala is the richest in
terms of rare species including palms, serpent
eagles and ten species of lemurs. The national
park is covered by rainforest and coastal forest
that together contain all of the species which
make the region famous for its biodiversity.
Some species like the red-ruffed lemur are
endemic here so are found nowhere else in
Madagascar or the world.
Madagascar's flora is one of the world's richest,
with huge numbers of species found nowhere
else. 80% of its 10,000 to 12,000 plant species
are endemic (including more than 1000 species
of orchids). Nine plant families are found
nowhere else in the world.
There are 7 species of
baobab tree in Madagascar
and only one found elsewhere in the world (in mainland Africa).
Unique to the island are around:
70 types of lemurs
223 out of the 226 known species of frog
Bush baby
33 species of tenrecs
Fossa
Ring-tailed
Lemurs
Madagascar’s
largest predator.