Final answer:
Madagascar, east of Mozambique in the Indian Ocean, is home to a multitude of butterfly species. Its significant biodiversity is attributed to geographic isolation and varied ecosystems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The large island country in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique, known for its rich biodiversity and home to hundreds of butterfly species, is Madagascar.
Madagascar is renowned for its high level of endemic species due to its long-term geological isolation from the mainland. This isolation has allowed unique flora and fauna to evolve, with approximately five percent of the world's animal and plant species. Areas of tropical rainforests, especially on the eastern part of the island, contribute to this biodiversity. The central highlands, reaching up to 9,435 feet, play a role in the island's varying climate and habitats, affecting species distribution.
Furthermore, Madagascar's distinctive environmental conditions, such as the rainfall patterns influenced by the central highlands' rain shadow effect on the western side, have created a variety of ecosystems. This environmental diversity, coupled with geographic isolation, has been crucial in the evolution of the island's endemic species, making Madagascar a global conservation priority.