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Madagascar 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.
Disappearing species
Due to massive environmental degradation, Madagascar's species are some of the most threatened on the planet. Since the arrival of man less than 2000 years ago, Madagascar has lost more than 16 species of lemur including one the size of a gorilla, a pygmy hippo, the largest land bird to ever walk the planet, and giant tortoises. The IUCN Redlist currently includes 472 entries for Malagasy species at risk of going extinct, though it is likely that this is a significant undercount.
Roster of extinct species in Madagascar
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