Up until this point, the sets I have been reviewing from Toymany have focussed primarily on amphibians and reptiles. Well, I am about to flip the script with a number of sets that may have some amphibians or reptiles in them (not all do), but contain other species that I am deeply fascinated by for myriad of reasons. That is where the Toymany 12-Piece Madagascar Figurine Playset comes in! Not only does Madagascar have some extremely interesting herpetofauna, the amount of endemism means that there are some extremely cool mammals as well (never thought I’d say that!). You will be familiar with these if you’ve ever watch the animated Madagascar films or spin-off TV series from Dreamworks. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the twelve animal figurines within this set and learn a little about each long the way.

Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)

Ring-tailed lemurs are among the most recognisable primates of Madagascar and those animals within this Toymany set. They can be found inhabiting the island’s dry forests, scrublands, and rocky canyons. Unlike many other lemur species, they are highly terrestrial, spending a significant amount of time on the ground as they forage and travel between feeding sites. Their diet is flexible and seasonally driven, consisting mainly of fruits, leaves, flowers, bark, and occasionally insects, which allows them to survive in Madagascar’s unpredictable and often harsh environments. Ring-tailed lemurs are diurnal and are especially known for sunbathing in the early morning, a behaviour thought to help regulate body temperature after cool nights (you may have seen this at a zoo near you). Socially, ring-tailed lemurs live in cohesive groups called troops, typically ranging from 10 to 30 individuals, and are notable for their female-dominant social structure. Females have priority access to food and mating choices, an unusual trait among primates. Communication within troops is complex and includes vocalisations, facial expressions, and scent marking, with males famously engaging in ‘stink fights’ during the breeding season. From a natural history perspective, ring-tailed lemurs play an important ecological role as seed dispersers, contributing to forest regeneration. However, habitat loss and fragmentation have led to significant population declines, making their conservation critical to the preservation of Madagascar’s unique biodiversity.

Black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata)

The black-and-white ruffed lemur is another striking primate native to the rainforests of eastern Madagascar, where it primarily inhabits the upper canopy of lowland and montane forests. Highly arboreal, this species relies on continuous forest cover to move, feed, and avoid predators. Its diet is dominated by fruit, supplemented with nectar, leaves, and seeds, making it one of the most frugivorous lemurs. As it consumes and disperses large quantities of seeds over wide areas, the black-and-white ruffed lemur is considered a keystone species in Madagascar’s rainforest ecosystems. In terms of natural history, black-and-white ruffed lemurs exhibit a flexible social system, often living in small, fluid groups that can change in size and composition depending on food availability. They are known for their loud, far-carrying vocalisations, which help maintain contact between groups in dense forests. Reproductively, they are unique among primates for building nests and giving birth to litters rather than single infants, with mothers parking their young while foraging. Despite their ecological importance, black-and-white ruffed lemurs are critically endangered due to extensive deforestation, hunting, and habitat fragmentation, highlighting the urgent need for rainforest conservation efforts in Madagascar.

Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur (Microcebus berthae)

Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur is the smallest known primate in the world and is endemic to the dry deciduous forests of western Madagascar, particularly in the Menabe region. This tiny, nocturnal lemur inhabits forest understories and lower canopies, where it moves nimbly among branches in search of food. Its ecology is closely tied to seasonal cycles, with a diet that includes insects, fruit, flowers, gum, and tree exudates, allowing it to adapt to periods of scarcity. During the dry season, individuals may enter short bouts of torpor to conserve energy when temperatures drop and food is limited. The natural history of Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur reflects both its small size and its highly specialised habitat requirements. It is largely solitary, with individuals maintaining overlapping home ranges and communicating through vocalisations and scent marking (you can probably see a trend emerging here). Reproduction is seasonal, timed to coincide with peaks in food availability to support offspring survival. Ecologically, this species plays a role in insect population control and seed dispersal, despite its diminutive size. However, its restricted range and dependence on intact forest make it extremely vulnerable to habitat loss, and it is currently classified as critically endangered, underscoring the importance of protecting Madagascar’s remaining dry forests (the observant among you will also see another trend emerging here).

Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi)

Verreaux’s sifaka is a medium-sized lemur native to the dry deciduous forests and spiny thickets of southern and western Madagascar. It is highly adapted to life in seasonal, drought-prone environments, where it feeds primarily on leaves, supplemented by flowers, fruits, and bark when available. An expert vertical clinger and leaper, Verreaux’s sifaka moves effortlessly between trees, while on the ground it is famous for its distinctive bipedal ‘side-hopping’ gait, as captured in this Toymany figurine. Its diurnal activity pattern and reliance on scattered food resources shape both its foraging strategies and habitat use. In its natural history, Verreaux’s sifaka is notable for living in small social groups, typically composed of two to ten individuals, and for its female-dominant social system. Group members maintain strong social bonds through grooming, vocal communication, and coordinated movement. Like other lemur species, breeding is seasonal, with births timed to occur when food availability is highest. Verreaux’s sifaka contributes to forest health through seed dispersal and selective browsing, which can influence plant growth patterns. Despite some tolerance for fragmented habitats, the species faces ongoing threats from deforestation, hunting, and climate change, making continued conservation efforts essential for its long-term survival.

Lowland streaked tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus)

The lowland streaked tenrec is a small, spiny mammal endemic to the humid lowland rainforests of eastern Madagascar, that loosely resembles a hedgehog. It is primarily terrestrial, inhabiting leaf litter and dense ground vegetation where it forages for invertebrates, especially earthworms, which make up the bulk of its diet. Nocturnal and secretive, this tenrec relies on camouflage and its spiny coat for protection, remaining well hidden during the day in burrows or under natural cover. Its activity and feeding patterns are closely linked to rainfall, with peak foraging occurring during the wet season when prey is most abundant. The lowland streaked tenrec is remarkable for its unique communication system, it is one of the few mammals known to use stridulation, producing sounds by rubbing specialised quills together to communicate with conspecifics (similar to a cricket). Reproduction is seasonal, and females give birth to relatively large litters compared to their body size. Despite being locally common in some areas, the lowland streaked tenrec is threatened by habitat loss.

Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)

The fossa is Madagascar’s largest native carnivorous mammal and the island’s top terrestrial predator, occupying a wide range of habitats from lowland rainforests to dry deciduous forests. Highly agile and both arboreal and terrestrial, the fossa is superbly adapted for hunting in trees as well as on the ground, using its long tail for balance and its flexible joints to pursue prey through complex forest structures. Its diet is dominated by lemurs, but also includes small mammals, birds, reptiles, and occasionally invertebrates, placing it at the apex of Madagascar’s food webs. Now you can see why King Julien XIII was so scared of the fossa! They are largely solitary, with individuals maintaining extensive home ranges that can overlap, particularly during the breeding season. Breeding is unusual, involving temporary mating trees where multiple males compete for access to a female. With widespread deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and human persecution due to livestock predation have led to population declines. The conservation of intact forests and coexistence strategies with local communities are essential for ensuring the long-term survival of this iconic Malagasy carnivore.

Western lesser bamboo lemur (Hapalemur occidentalis)

First of all, I hope I have the identification of this species correct. Assuming I have, the western lesser bamboo lemur is a small, bamboo-specialist primate found in the dry deciduous forests and riverine habitats of western and north-western Madagascar. Unlike its rainforest-dwelling relatives, this species occupies more seasonal and fragmented environments, often relying on bamboo stands growing along rivers and wetlands. Its diet is dominated by bamboo leaves, shoots, and stems, supplemented occasionally with grasses and other plant material, allowing it to persist in habitats with pronounced dry seasons. Who would have guessed it given the species’ name? The species is primarily arboreal and moves deliberately through dense vegetation, using bamboo thickets for both foraging and shelter. Like the other lemur species included in this set, the western lesser bamboo lemur lives in small social groups, typically consisting of a breeding pair and their offspring. It is mainly nocturnal or diurnal, with activity patterns that can shift in response to temperature and food availability. Reproduction is seasonal, with births timed to coincide with periods of increased bamboo growth. However, the species is threatened by habitat loss, degradation of riverine forests, and the decline of bamboo stands. If I’ve got the species ID wrong, please let me know in the comments. Mammals are not my forte and when there are multiple species that look the same, it complicates things further.

Nosy Hara leaf chameleon (Brookesia micra)

Now we can move onto the species I am most interested in this set, starting off with the Nosy Hara leaf chameleon. If you couldn’t already guess by the species’ scientific name, they one of the smallest reptiles in the world, and is endemic to a tiny area of north-western Madagascar, particularly the island of Nosy Hara. This diminutive chameleon inhabits dry forest leaf litter and low vegetation, where its minute size and cryptic colouration provide effective camouflage. Unlike larger, arboreal chameleons, the Nosy Hara leaf chameleon spends much of its time close to the ground, moving slowly among fallen leaves and twigs. Its ecology is closely tied to microhabitat conditions such as humidity, temperature, and forest structure, and it feeds primarily on tiny invertebrates including mites and small insects. The natural history of the species reflects extreme miniaturisation, which also influences its behaviour, physiology, and life cycle. It is diurnal and solitary, relying on stealth rather than speed to avoid predators. At night, individuals often climb slightly above the forest floor to sleep on low vegetation, possibly to reduce predation risk. Reproduction involves the laying of very small clutches (typically just a pair of eggs), consistent with its tiny body size. Its extremely limited range makes it highly vulnerable to habitat disturbance, and even small-scale deforestation or degradation poses a serious threat.

Tomato frog (Dyscophus antongilii)

The tomato frog is a brightly coloured amphibian native to the north-eastern rainforests of Madagascar, especially around the Antongil Bay region. Named for its vibrant reddish-orange skin, the tomato frog is primarily terrestrial and inhabits humid lowland forests and adjacent wetlands. Its ecology centres on moist environments where it breeds in temporary pools and slow-moving streams during the rainy season. The frog’s diet consists mainly of insects and other small invertebrates, which it hunts by ambush in leaf litter and undergrowth. The tomato frog exhibits fascinating defensive behaviours, including inflating its body to appear larger and secreting a sticky, toxic substance from its skin when threatened, which can deter predators. It is primarily nocturnal, spending much of the day hidden beneath leaves or burrowed in moist soil to avoid desiccation. Reproduction is seasonal, with females laying clusters of eggs in shallow water where tadpoles develop. Although locally common, the tomato frog faces threats from habitat loss, pollution, and collection for the pet trade.

Parson’s chameleon (Calumma parsonii)

Parson’s chameleon is the largest and possibly most striking chameleons native to the humid forests of eastern Madagascar. This arboreal reptile thrives in primary and secondary rainforests, where it spends much of its time navigating the canopy in search of insects, small vertebrates, and occasionally plant matter. Known for its impressive size (sometimes exceeding 60 centimetres in length) and vibrant colouration that can range from greens to blues and yellows, Parson’s chameleon uses its excellent camouflage to blend into the dense foliage while hunting and avoiding predators. Parson’s chameleons are generally solitary and territorial, relying on slow, deliberate movements and their independently mobile eyes to survey their surroundings. They have a relatively long lifespan for reptiles and reproduce through oviparity, with females laying clutches of up to 60 eggs after a lengthy incubation period. Their slow growth and low reproductive rate make them vulnerable to environmental changes. Threatened by habitat destruction and the pet trade, conservation of intact forest habitats is crucial to maintaining healthy populations of this iconic Malagasy species (and the others we have looked at so far).

Satanic leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus)

The satanic leaf-tailed gecko is a master of camouflage endemic to the rainforests of northern and eastern Madagascar. Known for its remarkable resemblance to a dead, decaying leaf, this small, nocturnal gecko uses its flattened body, irregular edges, and leaf-like tail to blend seamlessly into the forest floor and tree bark. Its ecology revolves around this exceptional camouflage, allowing it to avoid predators and ambush insect prey, which it hunts during the night among leaf litter and low vegetation. The satanic leaf-tailed gecko is a solitary and primarily arboreal species, spending daylight hours hidden in crevices or beneath leaves. Its unique morphology not only aids in concealment but also includes adaptations such as large, lidless eyes with vertical pupils for enhanced night vision. Reproduction involves laying small clutches of eggs in secure, hidden locations within the forest. Although it remains locally common in undisturbed habitats, ongoing deforestation and habitat degradation pose significant threats. Those impressive red eyes are what give this species its common name.

Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)

The radiated tortoise is a striking and iconic reptile native to the dry forests and scrublands of southern Madagascar. Renowned for its beautifully patterned shell, which features bright yellow star-like radiations on a dark background, this tortoise is primarily terrestrial and herbivorous. Its diet consists mainly of grasses, fruits, succulents, and flowers, playing a vital role in seed dispersal and maintaining the health of its dry forest ecosystem. Radiated tortoises are well adapted to the arid conditions of their habitat, able to survive long periods without water by relying on moisture from their food. They are generally solitary creatures with home ranges that they traverse slowly as they forage. Having a long lifespan, they often live for several decades, and reach sexual maturity slowly, which contributes to their vulnerability. Breeding typically occurs during the rainy season when food is abundant, with females laying small clutches of eggs in sandy nests. Unfortunately, the radiated tortoise faces severe threats from habitat loss, hunting, and illegal pet trade, leading to dramatic population declines. However, this has to be one of my favourite figurines from this set (after the chameleons).

That wraps up the Toymany 12-Piece Madagascar Figurine Playset! Which figurine was your favourite? I do like the hard work that Toymany puts in to try to ensure that each figurine is as realistic as possible, whether that be through the correct colouration of a species, small details like skin texture, or paying attention to the underside of the figurine (which isn’t usually seen). No corners were cut to help bring this playset to life and I hope the video below helps to show these miniature plastic animals in more detail. I am particularly happy to add the reptiles and amphibians to my growing collection of herpetofauna figurines. Hopefully, I’ll be able to share some of these with you in future blog posts and videos. For now though, this playset is ideal for encouraging imaginative play, storytelling, and early learning about animals and nature. Children can create their own adventures, re-enact scenes, or use the figurines as educational tools to explore wildlife diversity, especially seeing as many of the animals are from similar regions of Madagascar. You may however just want to buy the figurines for yourself, which of course, is perfectly fine too!

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