Madagascar Part 7: Andasibe National Park

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mothman
Posts: 62
Joined: June 25th, 2014, 11:34 am
Location: Huntington, West Virginia

Madagascar Part 7: Andasibe National Park

Post by mothman »

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

ImageBoophis pyrrhus by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageBoophis pyrrhus by mitchberk, on Flickr


Boophis luteus

ImageBoophis luteus by mitchberk, on Flickr


Boophis madagascariensis

ImageBoophis madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr


Boophis albilabris

ImageBoophis albilabris by mitchberk, on Flickr


Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis

ImageAglyptodactylus madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr


Heterixalus betsileo

ImageHeterixalus betsileo by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageHeterixalus betsileo by mitchberk, on Flickr


Mantella aurantiaca

ImageMantella aurantiaca by mitchberk, on Flickr


Scaphiophryne marmorata

ImageScaphiophryne marmorata by mitchberk, on Flickr


Frog ID?

ImageGuibemantis????? by mitchberk, on Flickr


Ptychadena mascareniensis

ImagePtychadena mascareniensis by mitchberk, on Flickr


Boophis guibei

ImageBoophis guibei by mitchberk, on Flickr


Mantidactylus sp.???

ImageMantidactylus sp.????? by mitchberk, on Flickr


Boophis guibei

ImageBoophis 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.

ImageUroplatus sikorae by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageUroplatus sikorae by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageUroplatus sikorae by mitchberk, on Flickr



ImageUroplatus sikorae by mitchberk, on Flickr


Uroplatus sikorae placed on white background to really be able to visualize the gecko.

ImageUroplatus 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.

ImageUroplatus 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.

ImagePhelsuma 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.

ImagePhelsuma 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.

ImagePhelsuma madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImagePhelsuma madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr


Skinks:


Madascinus melanopleura

ImageMadascinus melanopleura by mitchberk, on Flickr


Chameleons:

Calumma parsoni, female

ImageCalumma parsoni, female by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageCalumma parsoni, female by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageCalumma parsoni parsoni, female by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageCalumma parsoni, female by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageCalumma parsoni, female by mitchberk, on Flickr


Calumma parsoni, male

ImageCalumma parsoni, male by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageCalumma parsoni, male by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageCalumma parsoni, male by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageCalumma parsoni parsoni, male by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageCalumma parsoni parsoni, male by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageCalumma parsoni, male by mitchberk, on Flickr


Calumma parsoni, juvenile

ImageCalumma parsoni, juvenile by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageCalumma parsoni, juvenile by mitchberk, on Flickr


Furcifer bifidus, male

ImageFurcifer bifidus, male by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageFurcifer bifidus, male by mitchberk, on Flickr


Calumma gallus, male has a longer rostral appendage than the female.


ImageCalumma gallus, male by mitchberk, on Flickr

Calumma gallus, female

ImageCalumma gallus, female by mitchberk, on Flickr


Calumma nasutum. The rostral appendage is shorter and rounded compared to C. gallus.

ImageCalumma nasutum by mitchberk, on Flickr


Snakes:


Dromicodryas bernieri

ImageDromicodryas bernieri by mitchberk, on Flickr


Sanzinia madagascariensis madagascariensis

ImageSanzinia madagascariensis madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageSanzinia madagascariensis madagascariensis by mitchberk, on Flickr


Lemurs:


Indri indri

ImageIndri indri by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageIndri indri by mitchberk, on Flickr


Diademed Sifaka (Propithecus diadema)

ImageDiademed Sifaka by mitchberk, on Flickr


Common Brown Lemur (Eulemur fulvus)

ImageCommon Brown Lemur (Eulemur fulvus) by mitchberk, on Flickr


ImageCommon Brown Lemur (Eulemur fulvus) by mitchberk, on Flickr

Birds:


Madagascar Crested Drongo (Dicrurus forficatus)

ImageMadagascar Crested Drongo (Dicrurus forficatus) by mitchberk, on Flickr


Red-tailed Vanga (Calicalicus madagascariensis)

ImageRed-tailed Vanga (Calicalicus madagascariensis) by mitchberk, on Flickr


Madagascar Kingfisher (Alcedo vintsioides)

ImageMadagascar Kingfisher (Alcedo vintsioides) by mitchberk, on Flickr


Blue Coua (Coua caerulea)

ImageBlue Coua (Coua caerulea) by mitchberk, on Flickr


Invertebrates:


Giraffe Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa), female

ImageGiraffe Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa), female by mitchberk, on Flickr


Giraffe Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa), male

ImageGiraffe Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa), male by mitchberk, on Flickr


Giraffe Weevil lays its eggs in leaf

ImageGiraffe Weevil eggs laid in leaf by mitchberk, on Flickr


Unidentified weevil

ImageWeevil by mitchberk, on Flickr


Moth (species?)

ImageMoth in Madagascar by mitchberk, on Flickr


Insect unidentified

ImageInsect by mitchberk, on Flickr


Large unidentified snail

ImageSnail in Madagascar by mitchberk, on Flickr

Leaf Hopper

ImageLeaf Hopper by mitchberk, on Flickr


Huge millipede rolled up. We waited awhile but we finally left before it opened up.

ImageMillipede by mitchberk, on Flickr

Unidentified spider

ImageSpider by mitchberk, on Flickr


Preying mantis

ImageMantis by mitchberk, on Flickr
daniel
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Joined: July 2nd, 2013, 10:29 am
Location: California

Re: Madagascar Part 7: Andasibe National Park

Post by daniel »

Fantastic photos and beautiful subjects! I always love seeing photos of Uroplatus in situ.
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Ribbit
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Re: Madagascar Part 7: Andasibe National Park

Post by Ribbit »

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
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mothman
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Re: Madagascar Part 7: Andasibe National Park

Post by mothman »

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
Hi 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
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