Madagascar Part 2: Arboretum d'Antsokay
Posted: July 20th, 2017, 9:56 am
Arboretum d'Antsokay is in the arid southwestern part of Madagascar just outside the coastal town of Toliara. The arboretum contains many plant specimens from arid regions of Madagascar. It is a good place to find herps. The arboretum has accommodations and a restaurant, which is convenient for nocturnal hikes. The cottages and food are top notch. In this report I will start out with a chameleon, the large Furcifer verrucosus. This chameleon looks similar to Furcifer oustaleti, which will be described later, and their distribution overlaps in the southwest.
Furcifer verrucosus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Furcifer verrucosus by mitchberk, on Flickr
In the above pictures the chameleon is rather annoyed at me and its body and gular regions are inflated. In the picture below, the same chameleon is deflated appearing much "thinner".
Furcifer verrucosus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Furcifer verrucosus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Onto the geckos. Paroedura picta is a small nocturnal gecko found in arid forests in southern Madagascar. It is characterized by the diagonal banding on its body.
Paroedura picta by mitchberk, on Flickr
Paroedura picta by mitchberk, on Flickr
The eyes have the typical vertical pupil of nocturnal geckos.
Paroedura picta by mitchberk, on Flickr
The very fine restaurant at the arboretum did not lack for non-native nocturnal geckos as represented by Hemidactylus mercatorius.
Hemidactylus mercatorius by mitchberk, on Flickr
The very small Lygodactylus tuberosus is commonly associated with trees. This individual appears gravid.
Lygodactylus tuberosus by mitchberk, on Flickr
The fish-scale gecko, Geckolepis typica is capable of shedding its large scales when stressed. Luckily this did not happen to this individual during the photo session.
Geckolepis typica by mitchberk, on Flickr
Geckolepis typica by mitchberk, on Flickr
The arboretum also contained the day gecko, Phelsuma mutabilis as was also found in Ifaty.
Phelsuma mutabilis by mitchberk, on Flickr
I caught this Phelsuma mutabilis licking its eye.
Phelsuma mutabilis by mitchberk, on Flickr
A representative of the Gerrhosaurids, Tracheloptychus madagascariensis, was prevalent at the arboretum. They greeted us on the sidewalk before we even got to our cottage. Tracheloptychus madagascariensis looks similar to Tracheloptychus petersi that was found in Reniala National Forest. Tracheloptychus madagascariensis has three light-colored stripes bordered by two black stripes on its back while Tracheloptychus petersi has a dorsolateral black stripe bordered by a light colored stripe on each side. But most obvious is the brownish coloration of T. madagascariensis rather than the reddish coloration of T. petersi
Tracheloptychus madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr from Arboretum d'Antsokay
Tracheloptychus petersi by mitchberk, on Flickr from Reniala National Forest
As for skinks, Trachylepis aureopunctata was found perched on a tree stump adjacent to our cottage and along the road.
Trachylepis aureopunctata by mitchberk, on Flickr
Iguanids were represented by the spiny-tailed Oplurus cyclurus posed on logs around the cottages and in the dry forest. The one pictured immediately below has a regenerated tip of its tail, which is common.
Oplurus cyclurus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Oplurus cyclurus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Now for the snakes. Heteroliodon occipitalis
Heteroliodon occipitalis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Mimophis mahfalensis was found slithering into the outdoor restaurant at the Arboretum d Antsokay.
Mimophis mahfalensis by mitchberk, on Flickr
As for frogs, Scaphiophryne brevis made an appearance.
Scaphiophryne brevis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Birding was quit good. The Running Coua (Coua cursor) was habituated to the presence of humans.
Running Coua (Coua cursor) by mitchberk, on Flickr
Madagascar Magpie Robin (Copsychus albospecularis)
Madagascar Magpie Robin (Copsychus albospecularis) by mitchberk, on Flickr
Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis), male. This species is sexually dimorphic.
Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis), male by mitchberk, on Flickr
Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis), female
Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis), female by mitchberk, on Flickr
Madagascar Bee-eater (Merops superciliosus)
Madagascar Bee-eater (Merops superciliosus) by mitchberk, on Flickr
Madagascar Bulbul (Hypsipetes madagascariensis)
Madagascar Bulbul (Hypsipetes madagascariensis) by mitchberk, on Flickr
Invertebrates were represented by various species of spiders. I found this mygalomorph spider on the sandy floor of the restaurant prior to our nocturnal hike.
mygalomorph spider by mitchberk, on Flickr
Spider by mitchberk, on Flickr
This appears to be the same species of spider that we found in the Reniala Forest. I could not resist showing it again since it has such a striking banded pattern on its legs.
Spider by mitchberk, on Flickr
Many species of dragonflies make Madagascar home. I have not attempted to key them out.
Dragonfly by mitchberk, on Flickr
Madagascar Part 3 will cover the animals found in Isalo National Park. Spoiler alert: Both tree and ground boas were observed and photographed.
Furcifer verrucosus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Furcifer verrucosus by mitchberk, on Flickr
In the above pictures the chameleon is rather annoyed at me and its body and gular regions are inflated. In the picture below, the same chameleon is deflated appearing much "thinner".
Furcifer verrucosus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Furcifer verrucosus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Onto the geckos. Paroedura picta is a small nocturnal gecko found in arid forests in southern Madagascar. It is characterized by the diagonal banding on its body.
Paroedura picta by mitchberk, on Flickr
Paroedura picta by mitchberk, on Flickr
The eyes have the typical vertical pupil of nocturnal geckos.
Paroedura picta by mitchberk, on Flickr
The very fine restaurant at the arboretum did not lack for non-native nocturnal geckos as represented by Hemidactylus mercatorius.
Hemidactylus mercatorius by mitchberk, on Flickr
The very small Lygodactylus tuberosus is commonly associated with trees. This individual appears gravid.
Lygodactylus tuberosus by mitchberk, on Flickr
The fish-scale gecko, Geckolepis typica is capable of shedding its large scales when stressed. Luckily this did not happen to this individual during the photo session.
Geckolepis typica by mitchberk, on Flickr
Geckolepis typica by mitchberk, on Flickr
The arboretum also contained the day gecko, Phelsuma mutabilis as was also found in Ifaty.
Phelsuma mutabilis by mitchberk, on Flickr
I caught this Phelsuma mutabilis licking its eye.
Phelsuma mutabilis by mitchberk, on Flickr
A representative of the Gerrhosaurids, Tracheloptychus madagascariensis, was prevalent at the arboretum. They greeted us on the sidewalk before we even got to our cottage. Tracheloptychus madagascariensis looks similar to Tracheloptychus petersi that was found in Reniala National Forest. Tracheloptychus madagascariensis has three light-colored stripes bordered by two black stripes on its back while Tracheloptychus petersi has a dorsolateral black stripe bordered by a light colored stripe on each side. But most obvious is the brownish coloration of T. madagascariensis rather than the reddish coloration of T. petersi
Tracheloptychus madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr from Arboretum d'Antsokay
Tracheloptychus petersi by mitchberk, on Flickr from Reniala National Forest
As for skinks, Trachylepis aureopunctata was found perched on a tree stump adjacent to our cottage and along the road.
Trachylepis aureopunctata by mitchberk, on Flickr
Iguanids were represented by the spiny-tailed Oplurus cyclurus posed on logs around the cottages and in the dry forest. The one pictured immediately below has a regenerated tip of its tail, which is common.
Oplurus cyclurus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Oplurus cyclurus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Now for the snakes. Heteroliodon occipitalis
Heteroliodon occipitalis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Mimophis mahfalensis was found slithering into the outdoor restaurant at the Arboretum d Antsokay.
Mimophis mahfalensis by mitchberk, on Flickr
As for frogs, Scaphiophryne brevis made an appearance.
Scaphiophryne brevis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Birding was quit good. The Running Coua (Coua cursor) was habituated to the presence of humans.
Running Coua (Coua cursor) by mitchberk, on Flickr
Madagascar Magpie Robin (Copsychus albospecularis)
Madagascar Magpie Robin (Copsychus albospecularis) by mitchberk, on Flickr
Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis), male. This species is sexually dimorphic.
Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis), male by mitchberk, on Flickr
Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis), female
Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis), female by mitchberk, on Flickr
Madagascar Bee-eater (Merops superciliosus)
Madagascar Bee-eater (Merops superciliosus) by mitchberk, on Flickr
Madagascar Bulbul (Hypsipetes madagascariensis)
Madagascar Bulbul (Hypsipetes madagascariensis) by mitchberk, on Flickr
Invertebrates were represented by various species of spiders. I found this mygalomorph spider on the sandy floor of the restaurant prior to our nocturnal hike.
mygalomorph spider by mitchberk, on Flickr
Spider by mitchberk, on Flickr
This appears to be the same species of spider that we found in the Reniala Forest. I could not resist showing it again since it has such a striking banded pattern on its legs.
Spider by mitchberk, on Flickr
Many species of dragonflies make Madagascar home. I have not attempted to key them out.
Dragonfly by mitchberk, on Flickr
Madagascar Part 3 will cover the animals found in Isalo National Park. Spoiler alert: Both tree and ground boas were observed and photographed.