This is a continuation of my adventure to Madagascar last May with the herp touring company Tropical Herping. I would have posted this earlier but a month-long herping trip in Arizona caused the delay (excuses, excuses).
Before I get into the wonderful herps of Andasibe National Park and surrounding regions I will list the previous Madagascar posts:
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
Madagascar Part 5: Ranomafana National Park
Madagascar Part 6: Ankanin'ny Nofy
Now onto Andasibe National Park. For a switch I will present the frogs before the lizards, snakes, mammals, birds, and cool-looking insects.
Boophis pyrrhus
Boophis pyrrhus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Boophis pyrrhus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Boophis luteus
Boophis luteus by mitchberk, on Flickr
Boophis madagascariensis
Boophis madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Boophis albilabris
Boophis albilabris by mitchberk, on Flickr
Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis
Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Heterixalus betsileo
Heterixalus betsileo by mitchberk, on Flickr
Heterixalus betsileo by mitchberk, on Flickr
Mantella aurantiaca
Mantella aurantiaca by mitchberk, on Flickr
Scaphiophryne marmorata
Scaphiophryne marmorata by mitchberk, on Flickr
Frog ID?
Guibemantis????? by mitchberk, on Flickr
Ptychadena mascareniensis
Ptychadena mascareniensis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Boophis guibei
Boophis guibei by mitchberk, on Flickr
Mantidactylus sp.???
Mantidactylus sp.????? by mitchberk, on Flickr
Boophis guibei
Boophis guibei by mitchberk, on Flickr
Geckos:
Uroplatus sikorae. Can you find the geckos in the following three pictures? I enhanced the contrast and other photo editing to aid visualization but in the wild it was exceedingly difficult to locate the animal. The local guides delighted to see us look in total bewilderment for the gecko. Three were found by the local guides.
Uroplatus sikorae by mitchberk, on Flickr
Uroplatus sikorae by mitchberk, on Flickr
Uroplatus sikorae by mitchberk, on Flickr
Uroplatus sikorae by mitchberk, on Flickr
Uroplatus sikorae placed on white background to really be able to visualize the gecko.
Uroplatus sikorae by mitchberk, on Flickr
Close-up of the head of Uroplatus sikorae demonstrating the fringes on the lower jaw which aid in breaking up the gecko's outline.
Uroplatus sikorae head shot by mitchberk, on Flickr
The day gecko, Phelsuma lineata, was routinely seen in the hotel's restaurant and grounds. So what else is new? Another hotel, another species of Phelsuma.
Phelsuma lineata by mitchberk, on Flickr
Phelsuma lineata appears similar to P. laticauda in that there is a black line between the forelegs and hindlegs. P. lineata but can be differentiated by the presence of irregular red blotches on its back whereas P. laticauda has three longitudinal streaks along the caudal part of its back.
Phelsuma lineata by mitchberk, on Flickr
Phelsuma madagascariensis is one of the largest day geckos in Madagascar only rivaled by P. standingi, which we saw in Ifaty.
Phelsuma madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Phelsuma madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Skinks:
Madascinus melanopleura
Madascinus melanopleura by mitchberk, on Flickr
Chameleons:
Calumma parsoni, female
Calumma parsoni, female by mitchberk, on Flickr
Calumma parsoni, female by mitchberk, on Flickr
Calumma parsoni parsoni, female by mitchberk, on Flickr
Calumma parsoni, female by mitchberk, on Flickr
Calumma parsoni, female by mitchberk, on Flickr
Calumma parsoni, male
Calumma parsoni, male by mitchberk, on Flickr
Calumma parsoni, male by mitchberk, on Flickr
Calumma parsoni, male by mitchberk, on Flickr
Calumma parsoni parsoni, male by mitchberk, on Flickr
Calumma parsoni parsoni, male by mitchberk, on Flickr
Calumma parsoni, male by mitchberk, on Flickr
Calumma parsoni, juvenile
Calumma parsoni, juvenile by mitchberk, on Flickr
Calumma parsoni, juvenile by mitchberk, on Flickr
Furcifer bifidus, male
Furcifer bifidus, male by mitchberk, on Flickr
Furcifer bifidus, male by mitchberk, on Flickr
Calumma gallus, male has a longer rostral appendage than the female.
Calumma gallus, male by mitchberk, on Flickr
Calumma gallus, female
Calumma gallus, female by mitchberk, on Flickr
Calumma nasutum. The rostral appendage is shorter and rounded compared to C. gallus.
Calumma nasutum by mitchberk, on Flickr
Snakes:
Dromicodryas bernieri
Dromicodryas bernieri by mitchberk, on Flickr
Sanzinia madagascariensis madagascariensis
Sanzinia madagascariensis madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Sanzinia madagascariensis madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Lemurs:
Indri indri
Indri indri by mitchberk, on Flickr
Indri indri by mitchberk, on Flickr
Diademed Sifaka (Propithecus diadema)
Diademed Sifaka by mitchberk, on Flickr
Common Brown Lemur (Eulemur fulvus)
Common Brown Lemur (Eulemur fulvus) by mitchberk, on Flickr
Common Brown Lemur (Eulemur fulvus) by mitchberk, on Flickr
Birds:
Madagascar Crested Drongo (Dicrurus forficatus)
Madagascar Crested Drongo (Dicrurus forficatus) by mitchberk, on Flickr
Red-tailed Vanga (Calicalicus madagascariensis)
Red-tailed Vanga (Calicalicus madagascariensis) by mitchberk, on Flickr
Madagascar Kingfisher (Alcedo vintsioides)
Madagascar Kingfisher (Alcedo vintsioides) by mitchberk, on Flickr
Blue Coua (Coua caerulea)
Blue Coua (Coua caerulea) by mitchberk, on Flickr
Invertebrates:
Giraffe Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa), female
Giraffe Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa), female by mitchberk, on Flickr
Giraffe Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa), male
Giraffe Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa), male by mitchberk, on Flickr
Giraffe Weevil lays its eggs in leaf
Giraffe Weevil eggs laid in leaf by mitchberk, on Flickr
Unidentified weevil
Weevil by mitchberk, on Flickr
Moth (species?)
Moth in Madagascar by mitchberk, on Flickr
Insect unidentified
Insect by mitchberk, on Flickr
Large unidentified snail
Snail in Madagascar by mitchberk, on Flickr
Leaf Hopper
Leaf Hopper by mitchberk, on Flickr
Huge millipede rolled up. We waited awhile but we finally left before it opened up.
Millipede by mitchberk, on Flickr
Unidentified spider
Spider by mitchberk, on Flickr
Preying mantis
Mantis by mitchberk, on Flickr
Madagascar Part 7: Andasibe National Park
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: Madagascar Part 7: Andasibe National Park
Fantastic photos and beautiful subjects! I always love seeing photos of Uroplatus in situ.
Re: Madagascar Part 7: Andasibe National Park
Awesome! Great to see so many of my old friends, and also many that I haven't seen. Madagascar is just fantastic.
A few guesses on your unknown frogs:
Frog ID?? #1 ("Guibemantis?????"): This could be a young Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis.
Frog ID?? #2: Young Boophis, perhaps B. guibei.
Frog ID?? #3: Agree that it looks like Mantidactylus, but no guess on species.
Frog ID?? #4: Pretty sure this is Boophis guibei (granular skin, yellow flanks, red iris)
John
A few guesses on your unknown frogs:
Frog ID?? #1 ("Guibemantis?????"): This could be a young Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis.
Frog ID?? #2: Young Boophis, perhaps B. guibei.
Frog ID?? #3: Agree that it looks like Mantidactylus, but no guess on species.
Frog ID?? #4: Pretty sure this is Boophis guibei (granular skin, yellow flanks, red iris)
John
Re: Madagascar Part 7: Andasibe National Park
Hi John,Ribbit wrote:Awesome! Great to see so many of my old friends, and also many that I haven't seen. Madagascar is just fantastic.
A few guesses on your unknown frogs:
Frog ID?? #1 ("Guibemantis?????"): This could be a young Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis.
Frog ID?? #2: Young Boophis, perhaps B. guibei.
Frog ID?? #3: Agree that it looks like Mantidactylus, but no guess on species.
Frog ID?? #4: Pretty sure this is Boophis guibei (granular skin, yellow flanks, red iris)
John
Thanks ever so much for your identifications. You are right on the mark about Boophis guibei. Good job! I have corrected the labels on the pictures. The frog I labeled as Guibemantis ????? as a young Aglyptodactylus mdagascariensis I am not so sure about. I will leave that identification for Frank Glaw and Miguel Vences, the authors of "A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar'. Madagascar is a fantastic place. I have got to go back some day and see the northern part of the country. Thanks again for your discerning eye for identification.
Mitch