This is the fanaloka. Native to Madagascar. I only saw one. They are strictly nocturnal like their civet cousins in other parts of the world. This one was spotted in Ranomafana National Park in the central part of the country, on a night hike. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 92mm) ISO 200, f/5 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units.

Lemurs seem to get a lot of variations on their common names. This is the white-fronted brown lemur. But he’ll also answer to the white-headed lemur, the white-headed brown lemur, or the white-fronted lemur. I only saw a few of them while in Madagascar, on the island of Nosy Mangabe. And speaking of names, today’s word of the day is cathemerality. Which of course means active sporadically throughout the 24 hour day/night cycle. These guys are that. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm f/5.6mm manual focus lens, ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/125th of a second.

After yesterday’s shorebird with questionable eating habits, I promised something a bit more adorable. So here’s another look at a brown mouse lemur, one of the world’s smallest primates. Photographed on the island of Nosy Mangabe, off the coast of the island of Madagascar. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 185mm) ISO 200, f/10 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units.

The golden mantella is a critically endangered species endemic to Madagascar. It’s bright coloration is actually the complete opposite of camouflage, used as a warning sign to let would-be predators know to stay away due to high toxicity. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 155 with Canon 500D close up filter attached) ISO 100, f/22 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units.

The lesser mouse lemur, also known as the gray mouse lemur, is one of the smallest primates in the world. They can be very quick in the trees, and also nocturnal, making them a challenge to photograph. I encountered this one on a late-night hike in central Madagascar. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 320, f/8 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units.

Madagascar isn’t just about the lemurs and chameleons. It is also teeming with frogs and is thought to have over 300 species, 99% of which are endemic. Interestingly, frogs are the only amphibians found in Madagascar. There are no toads, newts or salamanders. This guy is the Goudot’s Bright-eyed Frog, spotted in the central part of the country at Ranomafana National Park on a night hike. 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 crowned lemur was a member of a free-ranging troop that took residence in Park Ivoloina on the east coast of Madagascar. Typically, these endangered lemurs are restricted to the northern, dry forests. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm (at 145mm) ISO 400, f/4.5 at 1/60th of a second.

I was in a small boat traveling upriver when we spotted this panther chameleon crawling through the reeds near the town of Maroansetra in Madagascar. Almost half the world’s chameleons live in Madagascar, with many of those species existing nowhere else on earth.
Nikon D40X with Nikkor 18-55mm lens (at 38mm) ISO 200, f/4.8 at 1/320th of a second

The eastern grey bamboo lemur wasn’t one of the more colorful of the 23 different lemur species that I was able to photograph in Madagascar, but definitely one of the sweetest looking. I saw a few of these little lemurs, this one in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park on the east coast of the island nation. They are mostly diurnal, but this one was out after the sun had set.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm (at 175mm) ISO 320, f/6.3 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units

I photographed this tree frog in the town of Perinet in Madagascar. Scientific name is Boophis Elenae but common name is Elena’s tree frog. I was on my way into the big national park adjacent to the town for some nocturnal spotlighting but didn’t have to go far before meeting some of the late night locals.
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