Isalo National Park by mitchberk, on Flickr
Isalo National Park by mitchberk, on Flickr
Isalo National Park by mitchberk, on FlickrThere are a number of canyons with creeks although the surrounding grassy savanna is much drier. The water flow from the creeks provides water for the adjacent rice fields.
Isalo National Park by mitchberk, on FlickrOkay, I promised you boas so I won't put them off to the end of the narrative like I did with the other snakes in Parts 1 and 2. What do you expect from a lizard guy?
Our national park guide went off on his own into the forest looking for good herps for me to shoot while I looked for "stuff" along a creek. He didn't disappoint as he soon found an impressive Madagascar Tree Boa, Sanzinia madagascariensis volontany.
Sanzinia madagascariensis volontany by mitchberk, on Flickr
Sanzinia madagascariensis volontany by mitchberk, on FlickrBut wait, there's more! If the fantastic Tree Boa wasn't good enough we also came across a ground boa, Acrantophis dumerili, in the road as we were leaving the park at nightfall.
Acrantophis dumerili by mitchberk, on Flickr
Acrantophis dumerili by mitchberk, on FlickrNow that I got the big snakes out of the way here is a look at the smaller but equally impressive snakes seen in Isalo. Madagascarophis colubrinus was well-behaved for the photo session and didn't attempt to turn tail and run.
Madagascarophis colubrinus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Madagascarophis colubrinus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Madagascarophis colubrinus by mitchberk, on FlickrI only photographed on other species of snake, the obligatory Mimophis mahfalensis.
Mimophis mahfalensis by mitchberk, on FlickrAs to chameleons, Furcifer oustaleti were found on trees at the interface between the mountains and the savanna as we walked back to our car.
Furcifer oustaleti by mitchberk, on Flickr
Furcifer oustaleti by mitchberk, on Flickr
Furcifer oustaleti by mitchberk, on Flickr
Furcifer oustaleti by mitchberk, on FlickrMale Furcifer lateralis are green with a whitish lateral stripe. The casque is much smaller than F. oustaleti.
Furcifer lateralis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Furcifer lateralis by mitchberk, on FlickrFemale Furcifer lateralis are strikingly colored compared to the drab green males.
Furcifer lateralis, female by mitchberk, on FlickrNocturnal Geckos:
Paroedura bastardi which is easily distinguished by the presence of two transverse bands from P. picta, which has four diagonal bands on its body.
Paroedura bastardi by mitchberk, on Flickr
Paroedura bastardi by mitchberk, on FlickrParoedura picta
Paroedura picta by mitchberk, on Flickr
Paroedura picta by mitchberk, on FlickrI am not sure of this species of Lygodactylus. My best informed opinion is L. tuberosus.
Lygodactylus tuberosus? by mitchberk, on FlickrDay geckos:
Phelsuma hielsheri has a limited distribution which includes Isalo national Park. Unfortunately this individual never brightened up from its subdued dark coloration.
Phelsuma hielscheri by mitchberk, on FlickrPhelsuma mutabilis was found at the beginning of the trail leading into a canyon.
Phelsuma mutabilis by mitchberk, on FlickrI got lucky and found a member of the Gerrhosauridae family, Zonosaurus ornatus near a creek. It is a particularly colorful species with two yellow dorsolateral stripes bordered on each side by two black stripes.
Zonosaurus ornatus by mitchberk, on FlickrSkinks:
Trachylepis gravenhorstii is a common skink that I found at many of the locations that we visited in Madagascar. It has a wide black stripe bordered ventrally by a white stripe on its flanks.
Trachylepis gravenhorstii by mitchberk, on Flickr
Trachylepis gravenhorstii by mitchberk, on Flickr
Trachylepis gravenhorstii by mitchberk, on FlickrIguanids:
Oplurus cyclurus
Oplurus cyclurus by mitchberk, on FlickrHey, what about the frogs? As I mentioned above, creeks in the canyons and irrigated rice fields at the base of the mountains provide water. Just add frogs. I must admit I had great difficulty in identifying many of the specimens that we encountered. Please inform me if I have made mistakes.
Heterixalus luteostriatus. Don't you just love those blue eyes?
Heterixalus luteostriatus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Heterixalus luteostrialis by mitchberk, on FlickrBoophis doulioti
Boophis doulioti by mitchberk, on FlickrBoophis occidentalis
Boophis occidentalis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Boophis occidentalis by mitchberk, on FlickrMantidactylus species??
Mantidactylus species?? by mitchberk, on FlickrMantidactylus sp. aff. ulcerosus "Isalo" ?
Mantidactylus sp. aff. ulcerosus "Isalo" by mitchberk, on FlickrFrog Identification??
Frog species?? by mitchberk, on FlickrFrog identification??
Frog ID? by mitchberk, on FlickrLaliostoma labrosum
Laliostoma labrosum by mitchberk, on FlickrThat's all for the herps of Isalo National Park. I will post pics of the invertebrates, lemurs, and birds in a separate post for those interested. Some of the insects are incredible.
