My wife and I had a marvelous trip to Madagascar in late April to late May. Chameleons, day geckos, night geckos, skinks, snakes, and frogs were diverse and abundant. We hired Alejandro Arteaga and Jose Vieira of Tropical Herping (http://www.tropicalherping.com) as our guides. These folks are adept at finding the creatures to photograph with the additional assistance from local guides. For the rainforest part of our trip we visited Anjozorobe National Park, Andasibe National Park, the region of Ankanin'ny Nofy, and Ranomafana National Park in the eastern part of Madagascar. We then headed into the dry southwestestern part of Madagascar to visit Anjay Community Park, Isalo National Forest, Arboretum d'Antsokay near Toliara, and Reniala National Forest near the town of Ifaty.
madagascar trip by mitchberk, on Flickr
I will relate our adventure starting in the dry southwest at Reniala National Forest and in the adjacent town of Ifaty.
Reniala National Forest has a remnant stand of Baobab trees.
Baobab by mitchberk, on Flickr [url=https://flic.kr/p/WTy3FV]
Baobab by mitchberk, on Flickr
The hotel we stayed at in Ifaty was a haven for three species of day geckos (Phelsuma). I knocked two species off my list even before I got to my room! The large Phelsuma standingi was readily found at the restaurant and also in Reniala National Forest.
[/url]Phelsuma standingi by mitchberk, on Flickr
Phelsuma standingi by mitchberk, on Flickr
The smaller Phelsuma modesta preferred to inhabit the rooms.
Phelsuma modesta by mitchberk, on Flickr. Phelsuma modesta by mitchberk, on Flickr
Phelsuma mutabilis was found around the hotel grounds.
Phelsuma mutabilis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Phelsuma mutabilis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Staying on the gecko theme, Lygodactylus verticillatus is a small gecko that was found on the hotel grounds (trash heap) and in Reniala National Forest.
Lygodactylus verticillatus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Although Blaseodactylus sakalava is a nocturnal gecko, they were routinely found during the day near their tree hole or on a tree trunk. Only one was found at night. Go figure.
Blaseodactylus sakalava by mitchberk, on Flickr
Blaseodactylus sakalava by mitchberk, on Flickr
Finishing off the geckos, our local guide caught a couple of nocturnal Paroedura androyensis, which made up for the rather poor showing in the national forest the night before.
Paroedura androyensis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Representing the Iguanidae family is the interesting Chalarodon madagascariensis, which has a parietal eye that remarkably resembles the appearance of the eyes rendering a three-eyed look to this little iguanid. They were very plentiful in the early mourning hours in the national forest located on stumps and on the sandy soil typical of any good iguanid.
Chalarodon madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Chalarodon madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Chalarodon madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Oplurus cyclurus is a spiny-tailed iguanid found on tree trunks and to some extent on rocks.
Oplurus cyclurus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Now on to the plated lizard, the Gerrhosaurids. Tracheloptychus petersi is a rather attractive, colorful lizard. These were not as numerous as the abundant Chalarodon madagascariensis but each day we saw at least three of these handsome lizards. They were found on the ground.
Tracheloptychus petersi by mitchberk, on Flickr
Tracheloptychus petersi by mitchberk, on Flickr
As for skinks, Trachylepis aureopunctatus is a beautiful skink whose head and neck are lined by rows of white spots on a brownish-black ground color. They were commonly found on tree trunks and stumps.
Trachylepis aureopunctatus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Trachylepis aureopunctatus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Rounding out the skinks that I photographed is Trachylepis elegans, which is a rather diminutive skink, which can be differentiated from the more common Trachylepis gravenhorstii by the presence of a small patch of reddish scales rostral and dorsal to the forelimbs.
Trachylepis elegans by mitchberk, on Flickr
How could a visit to Madagascar not include chameleons? We saw 17 different species on this trip. The guides found a couple of large Furcifer verracosus at Reniala National Forest. Furcifer antimena is also found there but the guide said it had been too dry. So we settled for this impressive specimen.
Furcifer verracosus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Enough with the lizards and on to the snakes. Liophidium chabaudi is a rare snake found in a few localities in the arid southwest. It is has a penchant for burrowing in the sandy soil. The snake would burrow into the sand within seconds after its placement on the ground. The photo shows its emergence from the soil substrate.
Liophidium chabaudi emerging from sand by mitchberk, on Flickr
Liophidium chabaudi by mitchberk, on Flickr
Unlike the previous snake, Madagascarophis colubrinus is quit common.
Madagascarophis colubrinus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Equally common is the snake Mimophis mahfalensis, which is found in various habitats throughout Madagascar.
Mimophis mahfalensis by mitchberk, on Flickr
In addition to the herps of Reniala National Forest and Ifaty, l managed to get a decent picture of a sleeping Madagascar Green Sunbird (juvenile male).
Madagascar Green Sunbird, juvenile male by mitchberk, on Flickr
Not to be undone were the invertebrates. The night hike did reveal a strikingly marked spider (species??).
Spider by mitchberk, on Flickr
Preying mantis were commonly seen in various habitats and regions of Madagascar. The one pictured below was subsequently zapped by the tongue of a chameleon. I got the shot of the tongue directly hitting the mantis but unfortunately the focus was way off.
Preying Mantis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Preying Mantis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Although seemingly common, this cricket was caught in the act of laying eggs in the sandy soil.
Cricket laying eggs by mitchberk, on Flickr
This butterfly (species?) was very cooperative compared to others of this species in Isalo National Park. This one actually gave me many opportunities to photograph it with its wings open instead of closed.
Butterfly, Reniala National Forest by mitchberk, on Flickr
Our transportation to Reniala National Forest on our last day at Ifaty was rather unique. A two Zebu (Madagascar cattle) led cart carried Ale, Jose, Connie, and myself for the short ride. That was a memorable experience in itself!
Passenger cart by mitchberk, on Flickr
Ifaty is a fishing village with outrigger canoes and sail canoes rigged with homemade sails.
Fishing boat, Ifaty, Madagascar by mitchberk, on Flickr
Fishing canoe by mitchberk, on Flickr
The sunset at Ifaty beach was impressive.
Sunset at Ifaty beach, Madagascar by mitchberk, on Flickr
I will take you next to the Arboretum d' Antsokay which is located just east of the southwest coastal town of Toliara in the second installment of the Madagascar trip.
Madagascar Part 1: Ifaty and Reniala National Forest
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: Madagascar Part 1: Ifaty and Reniala National Forest
Wow, what a start to your Madagascar trip! I look forward to catching up on the rest.
John
John