In 2014, myself along with four other people went to Madagascar to study the diverse wildlife. The island of the east coast of Africa is amazing and very bio-diverse. Like all tropical areas it is under great pressure from human activity;forests are being cut and burned. The remaining rain forest lies along the eastern edge of the island bordered by highlands which play a role in weather. The east coast rainforests are rich because of rain at certain times of year, contrasting with the dry desert like areas of the west and south. We studies insects, spiders, frogs and reptiles and photographed many species, many of which are new to science. I have hundreds of photos to publish here, so over the next few weeks I hope to have them all on. Many species have not been identified so if any people knowledgeable on Malagasy wildlife can help out, that would be great.
Flower chaffer
Nephilengys borbonica
Nephila madagascariensis
Mantella baroni
Mantella aurantaica
Malagasy Nightjar
Jack in the box bush cricket
lightening over Andasibe
Ithycyhpus perineti
Jumping spider Padilla sp
Oleander type hawkmoth
Day gecko Phelsuma sp
Sanzinia madagascariensis
Red fody
Thomisid crab spider
Thomisid crab spider
Phelsuma lineata
Phelsuma sp.juvenile
Many species of cockroaches abound, most of them native but many none natives also. some are very colourful.
Yellow and black giraffe weevils. Two males sparing, a female roles the leaf ready for egg laying.There have been found at least seven species of leaf roller weevils, most of them having long necks like the typical red giraffe weevil. I found six species.
Verdant hawk moth
Uralia madagascariensis
Plated lizard. Zonosaurus madagascariensis
Unidentified snake species.