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.

The rhinoceros chameleon is so named for that impressive snout. The males have a more pronounced protrusion. As with most chameleons, their color varies and changes due to many factors. These guys grow to about a foot in length and live primarily in the dry western forests of Madagascar. They are considered a vulnerable species to extinction due to the continued logging of the forests that they call home. I photographed this one on a night walk in Ankarafantsika National Park. 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.

The diademed sifaka is just one of the many species of lemur that inhabit Madagascar. Depending on who’s doing the counting, there are roughly a hundred species still in existence. They come in all shapes and sizes. And pretty much all of them are endangered. The main culprit being the wide-scale deforestation that continues to decimate their habitat. I saw diademed sifakas both in the wild and on an island for rescued lemurs. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 200, f/2.8 at 1/40th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units.

Here’s a species I’ve never posted before — the Malagasy kestrel. As the name suggests, it is native to Madagascar. It’s a small bird of prey that has many other common names, including the Malagasy spotted kestrel, Newton’s kestrel, Madagascar spotted kestrel, katiti and hitsikitsika. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm f/5.6 manual focus lens, ISO 200, f/8 at 1/320th of a second.

This was one of the very first lemurs I saw when I got to Madagascar. Been thinking more and more about this magical place and wanting to get back before what I remembered from back in 2007 is gone. Most lemur species are critically endangered due to habitat loss. Eco-tourism is vital to preserve the remaining forest but like most everywhere else, travel has been restricted by Covid. Unlike some other parts of the globe that have been re-wilding as a result of the pandemic — from what I hear — that hasn’t been the case in the land of the lemurs. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 200, f/3.5 at 1/500th of a second.