Curieuse is home to a significant collection of Seychelles’ endemic species, from giant tortoises introduced from Aldabra and endemic birds to the world’s biggest nut, the legendary Coco de Mer.

Once widespread in the Seychelles, it lived in closed-canopy forest, and its only predators were the native Wright's skink and an endemic snake, which stole eggs and chicks from the birds' nests.