

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".


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.


The eyes have the typical vertical pupil of nocturnal geckos.

The very fine restaurant at the arboretum did not lack for non-native nocturnal geckos as represented by Hemidactylus mercatorius.

The very small Lygodactylus tuberosus is commonly associated with trees. This individual appears gravid.

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.


The arboretum also contained the day gecko, Phelsuma mutabilis as was also found in Ifaty.

I caught this Phelsuma mutabilis licking its eye.

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


As for skinks, Trachylepis aureopunctata was found perched on a tree stump adjacent to our cottage and along the road.

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.


Now for the snakes. Heteroliodon occipitalis

Mimophis mahfalensis was found slithering into the outdoor restaurant at the Arboretum d Antsokay.

As for frogs, Scaphiophryne brevis made an appearance.

Birding was quit good. The Running Coua (Coua cursor) was habituated to the presence of humans.

Madagascar Magpie Robin (Copsychus albospecularis)

Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis), male. This species is sexually dimorphic.

Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis), female

Madagascar Bee-eater (Merops superciliosus)

Madagascar Bulbul (Hypsipetes madagascariensis)

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.


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.

Many species of dragonflies make Madagascar home. I have not attempted to key them out.

Madagascar Part 3 will cover the animals found in Isalo National Park. Spoiler alert: Both tree and ground boas were observed and photographed.