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Around 80% of Madagascar's wildlife is found nowhere else as a result of the island's strange geological history. Once part of the Gondwana supercontinent, Madagascar lost contact with Africa (160 million years ago), then with Antarctica, Australia and finally India. Many of its endemic species, such as the elephant bird, stuck with the island for the entire journey and gradually evolved into forms that differed from their cousins on other continents. But while Australia and India drifted far from Africa, Madagascar remained close - only 400km of sea separates them today. Animals and seeds swept out to sea from Tanzania's and Mozambique's rivers could conceivably make it across to the island as happened with the ancestors of Madagascar's lemurs around 54 million years ago, and its baobab trees 20Ma.
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Tiny lemur
A shrinking refuge for the world's smallest primate.
With an average body length of 92mm and a seasonal weight of around 30g, Madame Berthe's mouse lemur is the world's smallest living primate.
From Madagascar to the world
David Attenborough explains how Madagascar's unique wildlife inspired in a 1960s audience.
In 1960 David Attenborough and the BBC were the first people to make a documentary about the wildlife of Madagascar.
Sacred baobab
How a belief in spirits has protected the dry forest around a famous tree.
How a belief in spirits has protected the dry forest around a famous tree.
Mixed blessing
Rich timber and mineral resources threaten Madagascar's wildlife.
Rich timber and mineral resources threaten Madagascar's wildlife.
Replanting rainforest
Forest corridors between isolated populations promote genetic diversity.
Forest corridors between isolated populations promote genetic diversity.
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