Madagascar is a land where lizards scream and monkey-like lemurs sing songs of inexpressible
beauty. Know as the Great Red Island it is a place where fosse and tenures van gas and aye
ayes thrive in a true 'Lost World' along with bizarre plants like the octopus tree and the
three-cornered palm. And where the ancestors of the Malagasy as the island's 18 tribes are
collectively known come alive in rollicking ceremonies known as turning the bones. This book
is a natural and cultural history of Madagascar and is a fascinating exploration of what makes
this island so extraordinary. Join Peter Tyson on a diverting odyssey with four scientists
investigating the fascinating natural and cultural mysteries of this remarkable land. The
Eighth Continent is the only book that covers cutting-edge science and conservation with
adventure travel and historical narrative. It is a perfect primer for the literate reader who
is about to travel to Madagascar or who just wants to learn more. It also has fascinating
historical material that will be new to many readers familiar with Madagascar even researchers
who have worked there for years.
