Mammal · Ring-tailed Lemurs
Ring-tailed Lemur
A black-and-white ringed tail held high like a flag, and a habit of sunbathing upright: the lemur everyone knows. Groups are easy to find at Berenty, Isalo and Anja.
Meet the ring-tailed lemur
Mammal · Indri & Woolly Lemurs
Indri
The largest living lemur, a black-and-white tree-clinger with a haunting wailing song that carries for kilometres. Andasibe-Mantadia is the easiest place to hear and see it.
Meet the indri
Mammal · Aye-aye
Aye-aye
A nocturnal lemur with huge ears and one long finger it uses to tap on wood and pull out grubs. Rare and seldom seen; night walks on Nosy Mangabe give a chance.
Meet the aye-aye
Mammal · Fosa
Fosa
Madagascar's largest carnivoran looks like a long-legged cat but is related to mongooses. A fast climber that hunts lemurs, it is seen occasionally at Kirindy and elsewhere in the west.
Meet the fosa
Mammal · Sifakas
Verreaux's Sifaka
White with a dark cap, famous for the sideways bounding 'dance' it uses to cross open ground. Berenty, Isalo and Kirindy are good places to find it.
Meet the sifaka
Reptile · Furcifer Chameleons
Panther Chameleon
The male's turquoise, orange and green flanks vary with the region where it lives. Common in the north and east, especially around Nosy Be and Sainte Marie.
Meet the panther chameleon
Reptile · Leaf-tailed Geckos
Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko
A tiny gecko with a flat tail like a dead leaf and red eyes. One of the best camouflaged animals on Earth, found by torchlight in the eastern rainforest.
Meet the leaf-tailed geckoWildlife in Madagascar: Animals, Birds & Where to See Them
A free field guide to 1,355 animals in Madagascar: photos and identification notes for 246 mammals, 241 birds, 404 amphibians, 353 lizards, 98 snakes and 13 turtles and crocodiles, plus 22 of the best places to see wildlife in Madagascar, a trip planner and a personal sightings log. Free, with no sign-up.
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What is Wildlife of Madagascar?
Wildlife of Madagascar is a free online field guide to the wildlife of Madagascar: 1,355 species (246 mammals, 241 birds, 404 amphibians, 353 lizards, 98 snakes and 13 turtles and crocodiles) with photos and identification notes, 22 places to see wildlife, a trip planner and a personal sightings log. It is part of Wildlife of Everywhere, a family of free guides to wildlife destinations around the world.
What are the best places to see wildlife in Madagascar?
Highlights include Andasibe-Mantadia (Alaotra-Mangoro), Ranomafana National Park (Vatovavy-Fitovinany), Masoala National Park (Analanjirofo / Sava), Nosy Mangabe (Antongil Bay) and Marojejy National Park (Sava). The guide covers 22 places in all, each with the species it is known for and tips for visiting.
Where can I see the Ring-tailed Lemur in Madagascar?
The guide's best places for the Ring-tailed Lemur are Isalo National Park, Berenty Private Reserve, Andringitra National Park and Anja Community Reserve. A sandstone massif of canyons, natural pools and grassland in the south-west.
Where can I see the Indri in Madagascar?
The guide's best places for the Indri are Andasibe-Mantadia. The most visited rainforest on the island, a half-day drive east of Antananarivo.
Where can I see the Aye-aye in Madagascar?
The guide's best places for the Aye-aye are Masoala National Park, Nosy Mangabe and Marojejy National Park. The island's largest national park, a remote north-eastern peninsula where lowland rainforest meets coral reef and the sea.
Is Wildlife of Madagascar free, and does it work on my phone?
Yes. The guide is free with no sign-up, and works in any phone, tablet or computer browser. Your trip plan and sightings log are saved on your own device.
Where do the species names and photos come from?
Species list built from the Mammal Diversity Database, the AviList and Clements/eBird bird checklists, the Reptile Database, Catalogue of Life and GBIF records. Photos are openly licensed; tap the i on any photo for its credit. No conservation status is shown yet; unknown is shown as unknown.
Can I contribute my own wildlife photos?
Yes. Use the contribution form to send photos, an album link, a trip report or a species that is missing. Every contribution is checked before it is added, you keep your copyright, and you are credited by name.
Help us picture every species
Many of Madagascar's species still have no photo in this guide. If you have a good, openly licensed photo of one, we would love to use it, with credit.