The Indian Ocean island of Madagascar is one of the world's great natural treasures and ecotourism destinations. Like Galápagos, it is a laboratory of evolution, but on a much larger scale, since it is home to nearly an entire continent's variety of species, from the famous lemurs to a profusion of bizarre and beautiful birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Small and portable yet thorough, this is the most comprehensive single-volume field guide to Madagascar's wildlife and the first to provide extensive coverage of the island's butterflies.
More than 500 stunning color photographs illustrate the vast majority of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and butterflies that a visitor is likely to see, along with a selection of insects and plants. Wildlife of Madagascar is organized by group – from mammals to plants – and its authoritative and accessible text provides key information about identification, habitat, behavior, and conservation.
Ideal for everyone from casual tourists and nature lovers to experienced naturalists and professional biologists, this is an essential guide to the natural wonders of Madagascar.
Ken Behrens is a naturalist and photographer who lives in Madagascar and works as a guide for Tropical Birding, a birdwatching, wildlife, and photography tour operator.
Keith Barnes, a native of South Africa, is a founder and director of Tropical Birding. He holds a PhD from the Percy FitzPatrick Institute in African Ornithology at the University of Cape Town. Barnes and Behrens are also the authors of Birding Ethiopia and Wild Rwanda.
"With lovely images and well-written text, Wildlife of Madagascar covers a lot of groups and species and fills an important niche for English-speaking ecotourists visiting the island. The text is organized to allow quick access to details about different groups in the wild."
– Steven Goodman, Field Museum of Natural History