New Caledonia is one of the world's smallest hotspots, and like Madagascar and New Zealand is a relic of the ancient super-continent Gondwanaland. Its long period of isolation has led to extremely high levels of endemism, especially amongst vascular plants with more than 2400 species, and reptiles, 60 out of 70 species occurring here being endemic. Amongst 20 endemic bird species, the kagu is the only member of its family and is severely threatened due to deforestation and predation by introduced species. New Caledonia has no native land mammals, but 9 native bat species, 6 of which are endemic.

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