Not sure of the exact species here, but this is some sort of ghost crab that I met on the beach in Madagascar. Perhaps the brown seawater ghost crab or the horned ghost crab. I was camping on the beach on the island of Nosy Mangabe, which sits just off the mainland (also an island). Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 100, f/2.8 at 1/125th of a second.

The nose-horned chameleon is very small (they average 1 to 2.5 inches in length). Not a lot is known about this species. I came across this one on a night hike in Ranomafana National Park in central Madagascar. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 105mm with Canon 500D close up filter) ISO 400, f/20 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units.

The brown mouse lemur is one of the smallest primates in the world, although it isn’t the smallest lemur. That honor goes to the pygmy mouse lemur. But this guy is pretty small, as you can see from the piece of fruit there that was about the size of a lemon. I have no idea what that fruit is, but the lemur sure seemed to know what it was all about. Photographed on the island of Nosy Mangabe, which is off the east cast of the island nation of Madagascar. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units.

I believe this frog to be the species Boophis Goudotii, indigenous to Madagascar. I came across him/her on a night hike in Ranomafana National Park in the south central part of the country. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 92mm with Canon 500D close up filter attached) ISO 100, f/22 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units.

This is just one of many impressive frog species I encountered in Madagascar. I don’t know of a common name but the scientific name is Heterixalus betsileo. I saw a few of these little guys and they ranged in color from almost white to a bright yellow. This one was somewhere in the middle of those extremes. Heterixalus Betsileo also has varying degrees of those little dark flecks. I must say, this one had particularly outstanding flecks. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 200mm with Canon 500D close up filter) ISO 100, f/22 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units.

As I listen to the spring peepers outside my window, I’m reminded of some of my favorite frogs from past adventures. This was certainly one of the most conspicuous I’ve met — the appropriately named tomato frog. Like much of the wildlife on Madagascar, the tomato frog (of which there are three species) is endangered. The bright red females are much larger than the males (4 inches vs 2 to 3 in length). The males also lack the red coloring and are mostly brown. Photographed in Maroantsetra. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 80mm with Canon 500D close up filter) ISO 100, f/5.6 at 1/60th of a second.

The variety and diversity of lemurs is so great (roughly 100 unique species) that choosing just one to represent the family is almost impossible. But when most people think lemur, they more often than not think of the ring-tailed lemur. Perhaps that’s just my perception because of the animated King Julien. Or the fact that ring-tailed lemurs seem to be the most represented at zoos (many lemurs can’t even be kept in captivity). Or maybe it’s because the ring-tailed lemur is what first greeted me when I arrived in Madagascar back in May of 2007. They are a particular favorite species among a mammal that is most definitely a favorite. Here’s to getting back out there sometime soon. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 100, f/5.6 at 1/160th of a second.

I’ve been in a Madagascar mood lately so might as well finish up the week with a Coquerel’s sifaka. These guys are diurnal and live in the dry western forests of Madagascar. I photographed this one in Ankarafantsika National Park. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 200, f/2.8 at 1/200th of a second.

A little something different for today. I believe this to be some form of banana slug, perhaps Elisolimax madagascariensis. Just one of the many weird and wonderful creatures to be found in Madagascar. I was staying in the east-coast town of Maroantsetra when I spotted this handsome guy. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 200mm with Canon 500D close up filter) ISO 100, f/22 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units.

The black and white ruffed lemur is quite large for a lemur and can grow up to 4 feet tall. They are strictly diurnal and active during daylight hours only. Like most members of the family Lemuridae, they are endangered due to habitat loss and other factors. This one was living free on an island for rescued lemurs in central Madagascar. Nikon D40X with Nikkor 18-55mm lens (at 18mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/60th of a second.