Hi Everyone,
Within this photograph blog entry, I will be in the Mitsinjo Forest Reserve (Analamazaotra Forest Station) and the Parc a Orchidees (Orchid Park) for another night hike (You do see so much at Night, my focus was upon nocturnal walks after a while, going on them every day).
This particular evening was fantastic for finding Chameleon species it seemed, especially when it came to finding young Short-horned Chameleon (Calumma brevicorne), Perinet Striped Chameleon (Calumma gastrotaenia) and Pygmy Leaf-nosed Chameleons (Calumma nasutum).
The amount of species I saw this night were as follows:
Mammals (Mammalia ): 1 (Amphibia) : 10 (Reptilia) : 5Arthropoda ): 12Aves ): 0
Beautifully coloured Short-horned Chameleon (Calumma brevicorne) hatchling specimen. © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. Without having to venture to far, we came across a very young Short-horned Chameleon (Calumma brevicorne) specimen, just off the stone steps that lead down to the entrance of the forest. © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. It was so small, couldn’t have been very old at all. © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved.
Not far away though, I could hear the sound of a Flamed Bright-eyed Frog (Boophis pyrrhus) calling. Positioned perfectly upon this little collection of leaves. © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. Once disturbed however, he decided it was time to move, perhaps to a less obvious (to the human eye) position. © 2015 – Joshua Ralph. It appeared that it was the time of emergence for the offspring of my species of Chameleon, as we found several if not more Perinet Striped Chameleons (Calumma gastroteania) in single area. © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. And another Short-horned Chameleon (Calumma brevicorne) hatchling, found deeper within the forest this time! © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. My second Amphibian species for the evening was another I hadn’t encountered before, Boulenger’s Jumping Frog (Gephyromantis boulengeri). Seemed completely unphased by me observing it. © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. Boulenger’s Jumping Frog (Gephyromantis boulengeri). © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. Here we go again, another species of Malagasy Arachnid that is unknown. Beautiful and striking colouration. © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. A young male Malagasy Common Canary Frog (Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis) specimen making his waythrough the forest, coming from the direction of the Parc a Orchidees lake. © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. There happened to be quite a few Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis specimens making their way from the lake, really can’t wait to see them in their breeding colours! © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. What I did love, was coming across (upclose this time) one of the smaller species of the Calumma genus, the Pygmy Leaf-nosed Chameleon (Calumma nasutum). Dangling from the smallest of twigs. © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. One of the first of many Green Bright-eyed Frogs (Boophis viridis) specimens I came across during my travels. So Vibrant. © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. Doesn’t matter how many times I came across them, Lowland Streaked Tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus) never fail to make me smile! © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. Lowland Streaked Tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus) is such a stunning species. © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. Lowland Streaked Tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus) © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. And this is what happens when they panic whilst you are holding them! © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. An amphibian species to through into the mix, another I hadn’t come across until this night, the Betsileo Reed Frog (Heterixalus betsileo). © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. There were a few of these Mantid species scattered throughout the Parc a Orchidees, some in quite close proximity to each other. © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. We may have seen quite a few hatchling Calumma brevicorne specimens however, this was the first we encountered in adult form that evening. © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. As you can see, this female Short-horned Chameleon (Calumma brevicorne) was not to happy about being woken up! © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. As the evening drew to an end, we unexpectedly stumbled across this absolutely stunning male Christopher’s Parson’s Chameleon (Calumma parsonii cristifer). © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. This Calumma parsonii cristifer was the most strikingly coloured I have ever seen. © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved. Perfect twin horns upon his snot and a gorgeous colouration. Amazing find to round of a great evening. © 2015 – Joshua Ralph – All Rights Reserved.
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Madagascan Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 