Mauritius - FAUNA

Mauritius is renowned for its unique and diverse fauna, much of which evolved in isolation and is found nowhere else in the world. 

The island's most famous extinct species is the dodo, a flightless bird that became a global symbol of human-driven extinction. Other species lost include the giant tortoises and the red rail.

Despite these losses, Mauritius still harbors remarkable endemic and native wildlife. 

Key surviving species include the Mauritius Kestrel, once the world’s rarest bird, the Pink Pigeon, and the Echo Parakeet, all of which have made significant recoveries thanks to intensive conservation efforts. 

The island is also home to several species of native bats, skinks, geckos, and invertebrates. 

Offshore, coral reefs support rich marine biodiversity, including reef fish, dolphins, and turtles.

Mauritius continues to be a global conservation hotspot, with ongoing efforts to protect and restore its unique fauna.

Mauritius has a total of 205 recorded native faunal species across key terrestrial groups (mammals, land birds, reptiles, butterflies, and snails), of which 122 are single-island endemics. Of these, 54 species (fauna) have gone extinct, representing significant biodiversity loss.

• Land birds are among the most impacted, with 19 out of 28 species endemic to Mauritius, and 16 species now extinct (57.1% extinction rate).
• Reptiles show even higher endemism with 16 out of 17 species endemic, and 9 species extinct (52.9% extinction rate).
• Mammals, represented by just two native species, include one endemic, of which one species has gone extinct.
• Among invertebrates:
• Butterflies have 5 endemic species out of 30, with 4 now extinct.
• Land snails show a striking pattern: 81 out of 125 species are endemic, and 36 are extinct, indicating a 44.4% extinction rate among endemics.

BIRDS

IUCN Red List

Extinct one includes Dodo

9 endemic landbirds are found in Mauritius. 

Mauritius List of (Nearly Threatened) Endangered endemics:

• Mauritius echo parakeet (Psittacula eques)

• Mauritius fody (Foudia rubra)

Rodrigues List of (Nearly Threatened) Endangered endemics:

• Yellow Rodrigues fody (Foudia flavicans)
• Rodrigues Warbler (Acrocephalus rodericanus).

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(BAR CHART)

Native Species (Existing + Extinct = Tot Native

Mauritius Land Birds 12 + 16 = 28

Rodrigues Land Birds 3 + 11 = 14

REPTILES

Of the 17 native reptile species that used to be found in Mauritius, only 12 remain of which 11 are endemic species, and 7 of these are restricted to offshore islets where they escaped extinction from rats. Five of these species are restricted to Round Island.

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Lesser night gecko (credit: Nik Cole (MWF)

Mauritius Reptiles 12 + 5 = 17

Rodrigues Reptiles 0+ 8 = 8

MAMMALS

Bats are the only native mammal in Mauritius and Rodrigues. Two species of fruit bat currently occur in the Republic of Mauritius: Pteropus niger in Mauritius and Pteropus rodricensis in Rodrigues.

Mauritius Fruit Bat [credit: Jacques de Spéville, MWF]

Mauritius Mammals  3 + 2 = 5

Rodrigues Mammals  1 + 1 = 2

BUTTERFLIES

Mauritius Butterflies 26 + 4 = 30

Rodrigues Butterflies 9 + 1 = 10

SNAILS

Mauritius Snails 82 + 43 = 125

Rodrigues Snails 23 + 7 = 30