Well to catch-up there have been four Madagascar posts previous to this one from the arid south and west.
Madagascar Part 1: Ifaty and Reniala National Forest
Madagascar Part 2: Arboretum d'Antsokay
Madagascar Part 3: Isalo National Park-Herps only
Madagascar Part 3: Isalo National Park-Invertebrates, lemurs
Madagascar Part 4: Anjay Community Park
Now let's head for the wet rainforests of the eastern mountains in Madagascar Part 5: Ranomafana National Park.
Rainforest at town of Ranomafana and Ranomafana River
Ranomafana, Madagascar by mitchberk, on Flickr
Ranomafana by mitchberk, on Flickr
Zebu (cattle) drive through the town of Ranomafana on way to market on the east coast.
Cattle drive through Ranomafana, Madagascar by mitchberk, on Flickr
Carts are used extensively in Madagascar to transport goods and in this case people.
Mode of transportation in Ranomafana by mitchberk, on Flickr
River coursing through the beginning of the path into Ranomafana National Park.
River, Ranomafana National Park by mitchberk, on Flickr
Waterfall within Ranomafana National Park
Untitled by mitchberk, on Flickr
Geckos:
The day gecko Phelsuma lineata lineata could be readily found within its usual habitat, which was the restaurant of our hotel.
Phelsuma lineata lineata by mitchberk, on Flickr
Phelsuma lineata lineata by mitchberk, on Flickr
The non-native gecko, Hemidactylus mercatorius, provided a nightly "wall show" instead of a floor show while we dined.
Hemidactylus mercatorius by mitchberk, on Flickr
Geckos were also found in the national park. The expert eye of the park guide caught sight of Uroplatus phantasticus sitting on a leaf. Its leaf like tail lies over the gecko's body.
Uroplatus phantasticus as first spotted on leaf by mitchberk, on Flickr
Here is the same lizard posed on a tree trunk.
Uroplatus phantasticus by mitchberk, on Flickr
This is another Uroplatus phantasticus shot as discovered in the tree branches.
Uroplatus phantasticus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Chameleons:
Night hikes are not allowed in the national park even with a guide but you are permitted to walk at night along the road adjacent to the park. The smaller chameleons reminded me of Christmas ornaments hanging from the branches of a Christmas tree.
Calumma gastronemia asleep while hanging from a leaf.
Calumma gastrotaenia by mitchberk, on Flickr
Female Calumma nasutum can be differentiated from the males by the lack of vertebral spines (also called dorsal crest).
Calumma nasutum, female by mitchberk, on Flickr
An impressive rostral appendage on this female Calumma nasutum.
Calumma nasutum, female by mitchberk, on Flickr
Male Calumma nasutum with its dorsal crest but rather underwhelming in stature compared to other chameleon species. Don't you just love that rostral appendage.
Calumma nasutum, male by mitchberk, on Flickr
Calumma nasutum, male by mitchberk, on Flickr
A juvenile Calumma crypticum is perfectly matched to its habitat. Camouflage well done. Dorsal crest of spines continue onto the tail.
Calumma crypticum by mitchberk, on Flickr
An adult female Calumma crypticum hanging onto a bunch of fruits. The female lacks the rostral appendage which is found in males.
Calumma crypticum by mitchberk, on Flickr
The parietal lobe, which is indicated by the red arrow in the picture below, is clearly evident in this female Calumma crypticum. When stressed, the chameleon can wave these lobes laterally reminiscent of the flapping ears of an elephant.
Calumma crypticum by mitchberk, on Flickr
This juvenile Calumma oshaughnessyi will be dramatically transformed into an adult.
Calumma oshaughnessyi, juvenile by mitchberk, on Flickr
Adult Calumma oshaughnessyi are quite large, have some large scales mixed in with the smaller ones on its sides. They have a characteristic turquoise strip along its lower jaw. This male demonstrates its dual rostral appendage.
Calumma oshaughnessyi, male by mitchberk, on Flickr
Calumma oshaughnessyi, male by mitchberk, on Flickr
A female Calumma oshaughnessyi lacks the rostral appendage of the male and has a green spot on its occipital lobe which makes differentiation of the sexes a snap.
Calumma oshaughnessyi, female by mitchberk, on Flickr
A not very attractive Calumma glawi shedding its skin but it is another chameleon species for the life list.
Calumma glawi by mitchberk, on Flickr
If you want an attractive chameleon than just take a look at this gorgeous female Furcifer balteatus. The diagonal white stripe is a key feature and also makes for one beautiful animal. The male of the species has a paired rostral appendage unlike the female. Unfortunately we did not come across a male.
Furcifer balteatus, female by mitchberk, on Flickr
Furcifer balteatus, female by mitchberk, on Flickr
In some individuals the diagonal stripe on the flank is reddish-brown instead of white as shown in this individual.
Furcifer balteatus, female by mitchberk, on Flickr
Male yellow-lipped morph of Calumma parsoni was a magnificent looking chameleon. It was located east of Ranomafana.
Calumma parsoni (yellow-lipped) by mitchberk, on Flickr
You have now seen the large and small chameleons so now its appropriate to demonstrate the really small genus Brookesia. Some how our guide found this Brookesia supercilliaris in the branches of a tree during the morning hours. B. supercilliaris is common in the rainforests of Madagascar. It has a row of later-vertebral spines along its flanks.
Brookesia supercilliaris by mitchberk, on Flickr
Brookesia supercilliaris can also be found on the ground as was this one in the footpath.
Brookesia supercilliaris by mitchberk, on Flickr
Our guide was very pleased to find the much different looking Brookesia nasus along the road. It has a pair of short tubercles projecting from its snout and lacks the latero-vertebral spines of B. supercilliaris along its flanks. Unlike B. supercilliaris it has a relatively limited distribution.
Brookesia nasus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Slinks:
Ranomafana was the only site that we found the little skink Madascinus melanopleura although it has a wide distribution in the eastern rainforests of Madagascar.
Madascinus melanopleura by mitchberk, on Flickr
Snakes:
Oddly enough the two snakes that I photographed were found around the hotel and not in the park. This very nice Madagascarophis colubrinus slithered past my wife and I as we headed to our cottage after dinner.
Madagascarophis colubrinus by mitchberk, on Flickr
The second snake, Typhlops domerguei, was found by Ale of Tropical Herping on the hotel grounds. It is only found in Ranomafana. It was amazing that he spotted it in the night.
Typhlops domerguei by mitchberk, on Flickr
Frogs:
Gephyromantis tschenki
Gephyromantis tschenki by mitchberk, on Flickr
Boophis marojezensis
Boophis marojezensis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Mantidactylus melanopleura
Mantidactylus melanopleura by mitchberk, on Flickr
Frog ID?
Frog ID? by mitchberk, on Flickr
Frog ID?.
Frog ID? by mitchberk, on Flickr
Boophis madagascariensis
Boophis madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Boophis madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Mantidactylus cowanii "small"
Mantidactylus cowanii "small" by mitchberk, on Flickr
Mantidactylus cowanii "small"
Mantidactylus cowanii "small" by mitchberk, on Flickr
Frog ID??
Frog ID? Ranomafana National Park by mitchberk, on Flickr
Frog ID?
Frog ID? by mitchberk, on Flickr
Invertebrates:
Grasshopper that does a really good Pinocchio imitation.
Grasshopper, Ranomafana National Park by mitchberk, on Flickr
Love the stripes on this grasshopper.
Grasshopper, Ranomafana NationalPark by mitchberk, on Flickr
Who knew that a cricket could look so cool.
Cricket, Ranomafana National Park by mitchberk, on Flickr
Preying mantis
Preying mantis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Caterpillar
Caterpillar, Ranomafana National Park by mitchberk, on Flickr
Caterpillar
Caterpillar, Ranomafana National Park by mitchberk, on Flickr
Caterpillar
Caterpillar at Ranomafana, Madagascar by mitchberk, on Flickr
Butterfly
Butterfly at Ranomafana National Park by mitchberk, on Flickr
Butterfly
Butterfly, Ranomafana National Park by mitchberk, on Flickr
Butterfly
Butterfly, Ranomafana National Park by mitchberk, on Flickr
The eye of this moth is incredible.
Butterfly, Ranomafana National Park by mitchberk, on Flickr
Butterfly in front of hotel in town of Ranomafana.
Butterfly, Ranomafana, Madagascar by mitchberk, on Flickr
Butterfly in front of hotel in town of Ranomafana.
Butterfly, Ranomafana, Madagascar by mitchberk, on Flickr
Butterfly
Moth at Ranomafana National Park by mitchberk, on Flickr
Insect
Insect at Ranomafana National Park by mitchberk, on Flickr
Iridescent green beetle
Insect in Ranomafana National Park by mitchberk, on Flickr
Dragonfly in front of hotel in Ranomafana.
Dragonfly, Ranomafana, Madagascar by mitchberk, on Flickr
Spider on a tightrope of silk munching on a snack.
Spider by mitchberk, on Flickr
What's for dinner? Food is wrapped up for later.
Spider with prey wrapped up by mitchberk, on Flickr
Red-legged golden orb-web spider (Nephilia inaurata)
Red-legged golden orb-web spider (Nephilia inaurata) by mitchberk, on Flickr
This flatworm was alongside the road during a rainy evening. Not colorful but the hammerhead is different.
Planarium by mitchberk, on Flickr
Vertebrates:
Blue Coua (Coua caerulea)
Blue Coua by mitchberk, on Flickr
Madagascar Red Fody (Foudia madagascariensis)
Madagascar Red Fody (Foudia madagascariensis) by mitchberk, on Flickr
Madagascar Wagtail (Motacilla flaviventris)
Madagascar Wagtail (Motacilla flaviventris) by mitchberk, on Flickr
Ring-tailed Mongoose (Galidia elegans) is much better looking than the small Asian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) exported to the Caribbean Islands and Hawaii.
Ring-tailed Mongoose (Galidia elegans) by mitchberk, on Flickr
Golden Bamboo Lemur (Hapalemur aureus), which was discovered in the 1980's. Its presence was the rationale for establishing Ranomafana National Park in 1991. Let's thank this lemur for preserving this piece of rainforest! As its name suggests it does feed on bamboo.
Golden Bamboo Lemur by mitchberk, on Flickr
Next stop is Ankanin'ny Nofy near the east coast in post Madagascar Part 6.
Madagascar Part 5: Ranomafana National Park
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: Madagascar Part 5: Ranomafana National Park
Uroplatus phantasticus is not only one of the best lizards in the world, but also has one of the best names. And that first one with its tail over its head, amazing!
That first Furcifer balteatus is unbelievable. And that second one is the most circular chameleon I've ever seen. I also really like that weird-looking Brookesia nasus.
Did the guides identify the species as you went along, or did you have to figure them all out yourself afterwards? (And if the guides did ID the species, why are there so many un-ID'ed frogs?)
I think your "cool cricket" is a juvenile katydid -- related, but not exactly a cricket.
John
That first Furcifer balteatus is unbelievable. And that second one is the most circular chameleon I've ever seen. I also really like that weird-looking Brookesia nasus.
Did the guides identify the species as you went along, or did you have to figure them all out yourself afterwards? (And if the guides did ID the species, why are there so many un-ID'ed frogs?)
I think your "cool cricket" is a juvenile katydid -- related, but not exactly a cricket.
John