I am absolutely obsessed with lemurs and I consider them the cutest animals in Madagascar - and in the whole world actually. You could try to talk about politics or music with me - or anything really - and I would still be able to steer the conversation towards lemurs without you even noticing it. Yes, I am fun at parties. Joking aside, this little Wonderland has been blessed by evolution with the most awesome creatures you've ever seen (lemurs included, of course). Take a look at some of the weirdest, yet cutest animals in Madagascar and you'll instantly fall in love with this place.
1 The Aye Aye
Considering its devilish appearance and that long, creepy middle finger, many would probably run away screaming when faced with an aye aye. But if you dismiss your initial impulse of killing it with fire and take a closer look at it, I'm sure you'll agree with me: this lemur is definitely one of the cutest animals in Madagascar! Just look at those huge flappy ears and spiky hair! And those eyes! Oh, and the finger that creeps everybody out is not meant to bring hell on Earth – the aye aye just uses it to tap on trees and find insect larvae. Besides these, it only eats nuts, fruits, seeds, nectar, and the likes. Quite innocent, actually.
Frequently asked questions
2 Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur
If you haven't burned your PC after the first entry, prepare for cuteness overload. Madame Berthe's mouse lemur is the smallest primate in the world, having an average body length of 3.6 inches and weighing an amazing 1.1 oz. I just want to hug him and pet him and squeeze him and call him… Berthy?
3 The Tomato Frog
It's obvious why this little fella is called like this: due to its red tomato color. If you visit Madagascar and see a beautiful, juicy tomato lying randomly on the ground and are tempted to take a bite, you might want to poke it (gently) with a stick before picking it up. This guy is incredibly convincing in its disguise. Most importantly, it produces a sticky secretion that protects it from predators and that creates allergic reactions in humans.
4 The Blue Coua
The Blue Coua is a species of cuckoo endemic to Madagascar. As the name suggests, what makes it unique – and incredibly beautiful – is the striking blue color of the feathers. If you ever get the chance to see one all cuddled up in its nest, you won't be able to take your eyes off of it.
5 The Fossa
It's a cat… It's a dog… No, it's a fossa! And it's actually closely related to the mongoose! With a feline body and a doglike snout, the fossa is one of the very few predators that are native to Madagascar. This is such a majestic animal and its babies are cute as a button, but, unfortunately, the locals are not very fond of it – not as fond as the fossa is of their livestock.
6 The Brookesia Minima Chameleon
If you're a fan of chameleons, the Brookesia Minima will make you melt like ice cream on a hot summer day. Endemic to Nosy Be (Madagascar's busiest tourist resort), this tiny chameleon is one of the world's smallest reptiles, measuring less than an inch in length. And what's even more interesting about this cutie is that, when disturbed or frightened, it will drop to the ground immediately and play dead, trying to resemble a leaf. Aww!
7 The Lowland Streaked Tenrec
This… this… this one's just too hard to describe. It's like a cross between hedgehogs, shrews, mice, anteaters and… baby doves? The tenrec was often placed in the Insectivora order, but rather recent evidence suggests that it belongs to the Afrotheria group – along with elephants and sea cows! No matter who its cousins are, you have to admit that this little mammal is one of the cutest animals in Madagascar.
The list of adorable creatures in Madagascar could go on and on. Do you know about any other cute animals living here? I'd love to hear more about them!
