10 Fun Facts About Seychelles Animals 

Home to 115 islands, 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and around 60 endemic animal species, the Seychelles is a fascinating country to learn about.

In this blog, we will travel through forests, plantations, mangroves, beaches, and oceans throughout the archipelago to learn about the fascinating Seychelles animals that reside here. 

10 Fun Facts About Seychelles Animals

Seychelles fruit bat has a wingspan the size of a surfboard.

With a wingspan of up to 1.2 metres, the Seychelles fruit bat is found throughout central Granitic Islands. 

Home to 13 endemic land bird species 

The Seychelles is an IBA (Important Bird Area) with 280 species residing or visiting the area, including 13 endemic land birds. Bird’s endemic to this area all have Seychelles in their English names, including Seychelles magpie robin and Seychelles kestrel.

The only surviving member of an ancient lineage

The Seychelles tiger chameleon is the only species in the Archaius genus. It was resurrected in 1865. They are endemic to Mahé, Silhouette, and Praslin and have one of the smallest ranges of any known chameleon species, 45Km². 

Mahé is a dolphin watcher’s paradise

The Indian oceanic striped dolphin is often spotted performing aerial manoeuvres and jumps from Mahé. 

The presence of Seychelles wolf snakes is an environmental indicator 

Their presence shows a balanced environment with ample prey of small reptiles. This species has a unique hunting strategy that combines speed, stealth, and ambush.

The spider so big, it’s often mistaken for a tarantula 

Giant Crab Spider (Rhitymna valida) is a species of huntsman endemic to the Granitic and Coralline Islands. Its legs reach 12cm long! 

Home to the world’s largest population of giant tortoise 

The Aldabra giant tortoise nearly went extinct in the 18th -19th centuries due to overconsumption by sailors. Through conservation efforts, the species is now stable (although still at risk), with 100,000 found in Aldabra Atoll. 

Seychelles scops owl was thought extinct for over 50 years

In 1906, the Seychelles scops owl was recorded as extinct. It was then rediscovered by Phillippe Loustau-Lalannen in 1959. They can only be found in Morne Seychellois National Park, Mahé, with a declining population of 200-280 individuals.

Curieuse Island is home to a shark nursery 

Female sicklefin lemon sharks return to their birthplace to give birth. Pups are born in the mangrove system of Curieuse Island in September and December.

The Seychelles giant millipede is vital to Cousine Island 

The Seychelles giant millipede grows to 15cm long and is one of the largest millipede species in the world. It’s endemic to 14 Seychelles islands, but Cousine Island, in particular, relies on the millipede’s nutrient cycling to maintain the island’s ecology. 

We hope you enjoyed our facts about Seychelles animals! What country would you like to see animal fun facts from next?