Madagascar has widely varying climates. The east coast and the east side of the mountain range along the east coast is rain forest area (wherever there is forest left). In the center and western parts of Madagascar it is quite dry. You can find grass lands there like the savannas in Africa. A unique ecosystem is the Spiny Forest. It consists of dry-adapted vegetation like cacti, euphorbias, and several indigenous plants, most of them succulents or plants with thorns. It can grow as a quite impenetrable forest.
Unfortunately Madagascar is loosing its natural resources fast. Only 10% to 15% of the forest cover is left, and more is disappearing at an alarming rate. I visited 3 nature reserves and here are some pictures that I took of the wildlife in Madagascar.
The most impressive animals are the Lemurs. They come in sizes from mouse-size to about 60 cm (24") tall. Some of them are nocturnal, others are diurnal. Some of them are solitary, like the mouse lemurs, others, like the ring-tailed Makis come in groups of 20-30.
Another group of animals that is quite spectacular are the reptiles (chameleons, geckos, and lizards). I saw some quite spectacular examples of those.
And of course the insects are well represented with some strange creatures like the giraffe beetle and walking sticks. Unfortunately mosquitoes are very well represented as well, which makes mosquito repellent and malaria prophylactic important. But this is a small price to pay for the opportunity to see this unique fauna and flora.
If you know the name of any of the animals or plants that are not named in these pages, please let me know so I can add the names to my pictures.
Here are some of the pictures from my trip about nature in Madagascar.
Pictures of birds in Madagascar and other nature pages are separate:
The eastern coast and the east side of the coastal mountains is rain forest. (1048k) Rain forest in eastern Madagascar. (901k) The central part of Madagascar is savanna. (763k) Some of the drier areas are carst-like with succulent vegetation that can store water. (1268k) Rocks in the evening light. (898k) Sedimentary rock mountain range. (1111k) There are interesting rock formations in the mountains. This is the Crocodile. (1251k) Rock formation. (1118k) Rock formation with multi-colored lichen. (1215k) Rock mountain. (1023k)
Flora
Lichen. (1.7M) Fern. (1.7M) Fern leaf with spores. (834k) Fern growing on a tree. (889k) Madagascar Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes madagascariensis) with several pitchers. (1248k) Pitcher of a Madagascar Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes madagascariensis). The fly on the inside of the top lid is living dangerously. The inner walls of the pitcher are very smooth and there is a liquid in the bottom of the pitcher. If a fly falls into the pitcher, it will not be able to climb up the wall to get out of the liquid. The liquid contains enzymes that digest the fly. (684k) Madagascar Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes madagascariensis) with a moth being digested. (685k) Lion's Ear (Leonotis nepetifolia, french: Oreille de lion). The stem of this plant continues growing out of the top of the fruit stands, and keeps growing more fruit stands like pearls on a string. (1217k) Close-up of the fruit stand of the Lion's Ear (Leonotis nepetifolia, french: Oreille de lion) with the stem growing out of the top. (953k) Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus, german: Rosafarbene Catharanthe, french: Pervenche de Madagascar). It is endemic to Madagascar. (1262k) Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus, german: Rosafarbene Catharanthe, french: Pervenche de Madagascar). (1274k) Flowers. (917k) Flower. (1150k) Flower. (928k) Flowers. (1.5M) Flower. (1017k) Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii, german: Wrights Stechapfel). (864k) Porcupine Tomato (Solanum pyracanthos). (977k) Yellow Ginger (Hedychium flavescens). (909k) Spider lily. (806k) Water lily. (850k) The fruits of Cerulean Flaxlily (Dianella ensifolia). They have a vibrant blue color. (820k) Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima, german: Weihnachtsstern, french: Poinsettia). (746k) Hibiscus (Hibiscus sp., german: Hibiskus). (902k) Trumpet Flower (Brugmansia sp., german: Engelstrompeten, french: Trompette des anges). (791k) Traveler's Palm (Ravenala madagascariensis, german: Baum der Reisenden, french: Arbre du voyageur) and Elephant Ears (Alocasia macrorrhizos, german: Riesenblättriges Pfeilblatt, french: Oreille d'éléphant). (1036k) Large flower of an Elephant Ear (Alocasia macrorrhizos, german: Riesenblättriges Pfeilblatt, french: Oreille d'éléphant). (912k) Flowering tree. (912k) One type of vegetation cover in Madagascar is the Spiny Forest. It consists of trees and bushes with thorns and succulents. (1290k) Spiny Forest at dusk. (565k) Another view of the Spiny Forest. The straight trees are Madagascar Ocotillo (Alluaudia procera, french: Ocotillo de Madagascar), trees, not Euphorbias. The wood is used for building houses, etc. The Madagascar Ocotillo is endemic to Madagascar. (1320k) A closeup of the Madagascar Ocotillo (Alluaudia procera, french: Ocotillo de Madagascar). It shows the small leaves, alternating with thorns. (1074k) Elephant's Ear Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe beharensis, french: Kalanchoé à oreilles d'éléphant). It is endemic to Madagascar. (1349k) Another plant of the Spiny Forest, sporting thorns on the central rib of the leaves. (794k) Elephant's Foot (Pachypodium rosulatum). This is a small plant with a woody stem, only about 40 cm (16") high. It looks like a small version of a Baobab. It is endemic to Madagascar. (1308k) A large blooming aloe. (1000k) A small Agave (Agave sp., german: Agaven). (1236k) Agaves (Agave sp., german: Agaven). The tips of the leaves have been harvested. (1096k) Huge Agave (Agave sp., german: Agaven). (1.7M) Huge Agave flower stalks. (850k) Prickly-pear Cactus (Opuntia sp., german: Opuntien). (1179k) Tree ferns grow quite tall in the rain forest. (1465k) Bamboo in the rainier parts of Madagascar. (1267k) Fruits on a tree. (853k) A succulent tree called Kalauchoa (Euphorbia plagiantha), a plant endemic to Madagascar. (1253k) Large palm tree. (1211k) Bismarckia Fan Palm (Bismarckia nobilis, german: Bismarckpalme, french: Palmier de Bismarck). It is endemic to Madagasca. (1203k) The Traveler's Palm (Ravenala madagascariensis, german: Baum der Reisenden, french: Arbre du voyageur) is endemic to Madagascar. It is a relative of the Bird-of-Paradise Flower. Its leaves grow in a flat fan shape. (1083k) A larger Traveler's Palm (Ravenala madagascariensis, german: Baum der Reisenden, french: Arbre du voyageur). (732k) Flowers of the Traveler's Palm. (984k) Acacia tree in the central savanna area. (925k) Madagascar Palm (Pachypodium lamerei, german: Madagaskarpalme). It is endemic to Madagascar. (1391k) Huge tree in Tana. (1061k) Baobab (Adansonia sp., german: Affenbrotbäume, french: Arbre bouteille). These strange looking trees grow in the central parts of Madagascar. (1259k) Baobab (Adansonia sp., german: Affenbrotbäume, french: Arbre bouteille). (844k) Baobab (Adansonia sp., german: Affenbrotbäume, french: Arbre bouteille). (1091k) Another Baobab (Adansonia sp., german: Affenbrotbäume, french: Arbre bouteille). This one is much thinner, but much taller. (1018k)
Fauna
Small termite mound. (1.7M) Termites. (1081k) An ant soldier. Note the big head and mandibles. (765k) A bright yellow wasp. This one was sitting on the strap of my backpack. (832k) Wasp nest. (779k) Lots of spiders with beautiful spider webs. This is a Golden Silk Orb Weaver (Nephila sp., german: Seidenspinnen, french: Néphiles). (1129k) This is a Crab Spider (Araneae fam., german: Webspinnen, french: Araignées). (926k) Spider pair (Araneae fam., german: Webspinnen, french: Araignées). The male is the little one. (563k) Large Spider hiding in its funnel web (Araneae fam., german: Webspinnen, french: Araignées). (1054k) Golden Silk Orb Weaver (Nephila sp., german: Seidenspinnen, french: Néphiles). (652k) Close-up of one of the Golden Silk Orb Weaver (Nephila sp., german: Seidenspinnen, french: Néphiles). (728k) Dew covered spider web. (1355k) The Giraffe Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa, german: Giraffenhalskäfer, french: Scarabée girafe) is an odd looking beetle. It has a long neck with a kink in it. The head is tiny at the very top of the neck. It is endemic to Madagascar. (704k) Click Beetle. (742k) Well camouflaged Grasshopper. (1119k) Some of the grasshoppers are huge. This one was about 15 cm (6") long. (934k) Praying mantis. (662k) Butterfly (Lepidoptera fam., german: Schmetterlinge, french: Papillons). (748k) Brown-striped Semilooper Moth (Mocis undata). (753k) Hypopyra malgassica Moth (Hypopyra malgassica). (856k) Angled Grass Yellow butterfly (Eurema desjardinsii). (1232k) African Monarch butterfly (Danaus chrysippus orientis, german: Kleiner Monarch, french: Petit monarque). (1248k) African Leopard butterfly (Phalanta phalantha aethiopica). (1087k) Great Eggfly butterfly (Hypolimnas bolina, german: Gewöhnliche Eierfliege). (811k) Royal Blue Pansy butterfly (Junonia rhadama). There were lots of beautiful butterflies. (1192k) Madagascar Red-tip butterfly (Colotis guenei). It is endemic to Madagascar. (917k) Hawk Moth (Batocnema coquerelii). There were also lots of moths. (593k) Large Emerald Pearl moth (Stemorrhages sericea). (709k) Triangles moth (Trigonodes hyppasia). This moth is very well camouflaged. (844k) Damselfly (Azuragrion sp.). (1196k) Dragonflies (Anisoptera fam., german: Großlibellen) are everywhere there is water. They come in amazing varieties. (796k) This one has transparent wings with black stripes at the end. (708k) Madagascar Emperor (Anax tumorifer). It is endemic to Madagascar. (722k) Madagascar Emperor (Anax tumorifer). (661k) Magenta Dropwing (Trithemis persephone). It is endemic to Madagascar. (740k) Turquoise Skimmer (Orthetrum sp., german: Blaupfeile, french: Orthétrum). (1174k) Mating dragonflies. They are quite the contortionists. (921k) The walking stick has one of the best camouflages that I have ever seen. (840k) This stick insect is extremely difficult to spot. It is big, about 35 cm (14") long. (923k) Malagasy Black Scorpion (Opisthacanthus madagascariensis, german: Kaiserskorpion). It is endemic to Madagascar. (1207k) Small frog. (1031k) Skink. (935k) Madagascan Three-eyed Lizard (Chalarodon madagascariensis, german: Madagaskar-Sandleguan). Note the eye spot on top of the head. It is endemic to Madagascar. (1027k) Merrem's Madagascar Swift (Oplurus cyclurus, german: Madagaskar-Stachelschwanzleguan). It is endemic to Madagascar. (978k) Geckos are everywhere, some of them in beautiful colors. This is a Madagascar Day Gecko ssp. boehmei (Phelsuma madagascariensis boehmei, german: Madagaskar-Taggecko, french: Gecko Géant de Madagascar), the largest gecko in Madagascar. It is endemic to Madagascar. (990k) A closeup of a Madagascar Day Gecko ssp. boehmei (Phelsuma madagascariensis boehmei, german: Madagaskar-Taggecko, french: Gecko Géant de Madagascar). (1073k) A closeup of one of the colorful geckos. (947k) Peacock Day Gecko ssp. quadriocellata (Phelsuma quadriocellata quadriocellata, german: Pfauenaugen-Taggecko, french: Gecko diurne à quatre ocelles). It is endemic to Madagascar. (912k) Colorful geckos. (686k) I spent two evenings watching geckos hunt. It was fascinating. This gecko has just caught a moth. They sit completely motionless for long periods of time near a light. When a moth lands close enough, they position themselves towards the moth and then grab it. They are incredibly fast when they pounce on the moth. (881k) Chameleon. (749k) Close-up of the chameleon. (709k) Head of the chameleon. Note the eye pointing back. (882k) Chameleons are fascinating creatures. This one was large with a body length of about 30 cm (12"). Its tail fell prey to some predator. (941k) Small chameleon. (539k) This is a small but colorful chameleon. Its body length was only about 6 cm (2.4"). (673k) Large chameleon. (824k) Closeup of a chameleons head. (760k) Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata, german: Strahlenschildkröte, french: Tortue rayonnée) in the Spiny Forest. It is endemic to Madagascar. (1.6M) This snake is harmless. There are no venomous snakes or venomous insects on Madagascar. (977k) A Madagascar Flying Fox (Pteropus rufus, german: Roter Flughund, french: Renard volant de Madagascar) in flight. We visited a nesting tree of these bats. They are very large bats with a wingspan of over 1 m (3 ft). It is endemic to Madagascar. (587k) A Lowland Streaked Tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus, german: Eigentlicher Streifentenrek, french: Tenrec zébré des terres basses), a small animal similar to a hedgehog. This one was a juvenile, only about 12 cm (5") long. It is endemic to Madagascar. (910k) Ring-tailed Vontsira (Galidia elegans, german: Ringelschwanzmungo, french: Mangouste à queue annelée). It is endemic to Madagascar. (806k) A Malagasy Civet (Fossa fossana, german: Fanaloka, french: Civette malgache), a cat-sized carnivore. It is endemic to Madagascar. (1239k) Now to the Lemurs. This is an Indri (Indri indri, german: Indri, french: Babakoto), the largest of the still living lemurs. Lemurs are primitive primates. They are endemic to Madagascar. (649k) A Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur ssp. variegata (Varecia variegata variegata, german: Schwarzweißer Vari, french: Vari noir et blanc). It is endemic to Madagascar. (737k) A White-footed Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur leucopus, german: Weißfuß-Wieselmaki, french: Lépilémur à pattes blanches). This is a nocturnal lemur. It is endemic to Madagascar. (728k) A Grey Mouse Lemur (Microcebus murinus, german: Grauer Mausmaki, french: Microcèbe mignon). This is the smallest of the living lemurs. It is about mouse-sized and nocturnal. It is endemic to Madagascar. (1187k) A Grey Mouse Lemur (Microcebus murinus, german: Grauer Mausmaki, french: Microcèbe mignon) feeding on a banana. (756k) Eastern Lesser Bamboo Lemur (Hapalemur griseus, german: Östlicher Bambuslemur, french: Hapalémur gris). It is endemic to Madagascar. (705k) Closer view of a Eastern Lesser Bamboo Lemur (Hapalemur griseus, german: Östlicher Bambuslemur, french: Hapalémur gris). (717k) Red-bellied Lemur (Eulemur rubriventer, german: Rotbauchmaki, french: Lémur à ventre roux). It is endemic to Madagascar. (1075k) Red-bellied Lemur, eating a banana. (947k) Brown Lemur (Eulemur fulvus, german: Brauner Maki, french: Lémur fauve). It is endemic to Madagascar and Mayotte. (913k) A Brown Lemur drinking water (Eulemur fulvus, german: Brauner Maki, french: Lémur fauve). (1285k) Brown Lemur head. (773k) A group of Ring-tailed Lemurs or Makis (Lemur catta, german: Katta, french: Lémur catta). These are the most inquisitive of the lemurs. They go into your hotel room and check out your luggage if you leave the door open. They are endemic to Madagascar. (1413k) A pair of Ring-tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta, german: Katta, french: Lémur catta) relaxing. (747k) The Ring-tailed Lemurs usually hold up their tail like this (Lemur catta, german: Katta, french: Lémur catta). (810k) Ring-tailed lemur walking. (848k) A ring-tailed lemur leaping between trees. (951k) Ring-tailed lemur perched on a treetop. (805k) Closeup of a ring-tailed lemur. (727k) The Ring-tailed Lemurs are very curious, they exlored our bus thoroughly. (811k) A Verreaux's Sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi, german: Larvensifaka, french: Sifaka de Verreaux), another species of lemur. It is endemic to Madagascar. (1140k) Closeup of a Verreaux's Sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi, german: Larvensifaka, french: Sifaka de Verreaux). (853k) The Verreaux's Sifaka always walk upright (Propithecus verreauxi, german: Larvensifaka, french: Sifaka de Verreaux). (904k) They hop, skip, and jump when they are on the ground. (921k) Malagasi Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus madagascariensis, german: Nilkrokodil, french: Crocodile du Nil). (1275k) Close-up of the Malagasi Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus madagascariensis, german: Nilkrokodil, french: Crocodile du Nil). (1362k)
Dr. Günther Eichhorn Travel Website
Soaring website