I usually don’t photograph birds at night (with the exception of owls and other nocturnal species) but while hiking on the island of Nosy Mangabe — which is just off the northeast coast of Madagascar — and searching for lemurs, geckos and chameleons, I came across this pygmy kingfisher that was up after bedtime. As the name would suggest, this is a very small bird. I only took two quick shots as not to disturb its sleep any more than I already had.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 165mm) ISO 320, f/5.6 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units

It’s never too soon to post another lemur image. This time it’s the sexually dimorphic crowned lemur. What is sexual dimorphism? The differences in appearance between the male and the female. The male crowned lemur on the right, has almost the exact inverse coloration patterns of the female on the left.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 165mm) ISO 400, f/4.5 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units

In Madagascar, it’s all about the camo. Especially for geckos. This leaf-tailed gecko was up and at it but while at rest, its mossy skin blends in perfectly with the tree bark in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 80mm, with Canon 500D close up filter) ISO 100, f/22 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units

Lemur classification can get confusing and there’s no clear cut answer as to just how many species there actually are. Most experts, however, agree that there are roughly 100 recognized species. About half are nocturnal and half diurnal. This is the red-fronted brown lemur. It is both. Mostly diurnal, but increases its nocturnal activity in the dry season.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 200, f/5.6 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units

Been thinking a lot about Madagascar lately and how much I’d love to get back there before it hardly resembles what I saw back in 2007. Not only for the lemurs, but also the staggering variety of chameleons — nearly half of the world’s 150 or so species. This is a Parson’s chameleon, the largest in the world by weight. Photographed at Pereyras Nature Farm on the way to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 80mm with Canon 500 close up filter) ISO 100, f/5.6 at 1/10th of as second

The indri, also called the babakoto, is the largest living lemur and can grow to about three feet tall and weigh more than twenty pounds. It can also turn that head around 180 degrees. It was a bit unnerving to see them in the trees and on the forest floor with their backs to me, but staring directly at camera. I photographed this one in the wilds of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, which of course, is in Madagascar.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/60th of a second

I’ve posted other shots of the diademed sifaka lemur before, but it deserves another look. With its ruby red eyes and yellow, black and white coat, it is considered one of the finest looking of all the lemurs.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 100, f/5.6 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units

A few weeks ago I posted a white-fronted brown lemur photographed on the small island of Nosy Mangabe, just off the much larger island of Madagascar to which it belongs. Here’s another of the colorful locals from Nosy Mangabe. This time a small tree frog called the green-backed mantella. Unfortunately, this beauty is endangered due to habitat loss. It is also popular in the pet trade, although highly regulated due to its conservation status.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 200mm) with Canon 500D close up filter attached, ISO 100, f/22 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units

It may be a simple brown lemur, but in my estimation, the white-fronted brown lemur is one of the finest looking of them all. Something elegant about this little guy. This is a male. Females don’t have the light colored head, and are more uniformly brown. I photographed him on the island of Nosy Mangabe, which is off the east coast of the mainland of Madagascar.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm manual focus f/5.6 lens, ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/250th of a second

This white-footed sportive lemur was resting in a forest of thorn trees. It’s a nocturnal species, but this one took a quick look up before resuming his/her nap. I was in the extreme south of Madagascar at the Berenty Reserve.
Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 100, f/5.6 at .3 seconds