Madagascar - Island of the Lemurs - Nature

by Günther Eichhorn


One dollar, one tree, one planet.
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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 cactuses, 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 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.

VendorSee also the pictures about People in Madagascar

Here are some of the pictures from my trip about nature in Madagascar.

mdg waterfall The eastern coast and the east side of the coastal mountains is rain forest. (859k) mdg rainforest Rain forest in eastern Madagascar. (801k) mdg tree_fern Tree ferns grow quite tall in the rain forest. (1036k) mdg fern Fern leaf with spores. (590k) mdg savannah The central part of Madagascar is savanna (620k)
mdg carst Some of the drier areas are carst-like with succulent vegetation that can store water. (841k) mdg rock_crocodile There are interesting rock formations in the mountains. This is the Crocodile (684k) mdg acacia Acacia tree in the central savanna area. (731k) mdg bamboo Bamboo in the rainier parts of Madagascar. (1111k) mdg spiny_forest Another type of vegetation cover is the Spiny Forest. It consists of trees and bushes with thorns and succulents. This is an Alludia Procera. It is a tree, not a Euphorbia. Its wood is used for building houses, etc. (1032k)
mdg spiny_forest_dusk Spiny Forest at dusk (458k) mdg spiny_tree Another view of the Spiny Forest. (1048k) mdg spiny_tree_close A closeup of the Alludia Procera. It shows the small leaves, alternating with thorns. (850k) mdg succulent_tree A succulent tree called Kalauchoa (Euphorbia plagiantha), a plant endemic to Madagascar. (1108k) mdg succulent A small succulent plant. (887k)
mdg spiny_leafs Another plant of the Spiny Forest, sporting thorns on the central rib of the leaves. (750k) mdg elephant_foot This is a small plant with a woody stem, only about 40 cm high. It is called Elephants Foot (Pachypodium). It looks like a small version of a Baobab. (899k) mdg baobab Baobab (Adansonia sp.). These strange looking trees grow in the central parts of Madagascar. (718k) mdg baobab_2 Another baobab. This one is much thinner, but much taller. (743k) mdg travellers_tree The travelers (Ravenala madagascariensis)tree is indigenous to Madagascar. It is a relative of the Bird-of-Paradise Flower. Its leaves grow in a flat fan shape. (940k)
mdg travellers_tree_2 A larger travellers tree (Ravenala madagascariensis). (558k) mdg flower 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. (817k) mdg flower_close Close-up of the fruit stand with the stem growing out of the top. (493k) mdg periwinkle Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). (825k) mdg blue_fruits The fruits of a plant called Daniella. They have a vibrant blue color. (668k)
mdg trumpet_flower Trumpet flower. (598k) mdg big_aloe A large blooming aloe. (774k) mdg water_lilly Water lily. (697k) mdg pitcher_plant Pitcher plant (Nepenthes madagascariensis). This is a carnivorous plant. 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. (401k) mdg ant An ant soldier. Note the big head and mandibles. (617k)
mdg wasp A bright yellow wasp. This one was sitting on the strap of my backpack. (668k) mdg wasp_nest Wasp nest. (743k) mdg grasshopper Some of the grasshoppers are huge. This one was about 15 cm long. (720k) mdg spider Lots of spiders with beautiful spider webs. (813k) mdg crab_spider This is a crab spider. (495k)
mdg spider_pair Spider pair. The male is the little one. (513k) mdg giraffe_beetle The giraffe beetle (Trachelophorus giraffa) 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. (595k) mdg praying_mantis Praying mantis. (616k) mdg blue_butterfly There were lots of beautiful butterflies. (959k) mdg white_butterfly Another butterfly. (814k)
mdg large_moth There were also lots of moths. (503k) mdg silver_moth Nicely colored moth. (570k) mdg camouflaged_moth This moth is very well camouflaged. (654k) mdg black_dragonfly Dragon flies are everywhere there is water. They come in amazing varieties. (701k) mdg dragonfly_wings This one has transparent wings with black stripes at the end. (650k)
mdg red_dragonfly Red dragonfly. (445k) mdg bluegreen_dragonfly Blue-green dragonfly. (608k) mdg mating_dragonflies Mating dragonflies. They are quite the contortionists. (713k) mdg walking_stick The walking stick has one of the best camouflages that I have ever seen. I have other pictures in which it is almost impossible to identify the insect. (574k) mdg black_scorpion Black scorpion (Pandinus imperator) (665k)
mdg radiated_tortoise Radiated tortoise (Geochelone radiata) in the Spiny Forest. (1108k) mdg snake This snake is harmless. There are no poisonous snakes or insects in Madagascar. (776k) mdg gecko Geckos are everywhere, some of them in beautiful colors. (760k) mdg gecko_closeup A closeup of one of the colorful geckos. (695k) mdg gecko_moth 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. (604k)
mdg large_chamaeleon Chameleons are fascinating creatures. This one was large with a body length of about 30 cm. Its tail fell prey to some predator. (578k) mdg small_chamaeleon This is a small but colorful chameleon. Its body length was only about 6 cm. (653k) mdg chamaeleon Another one of the more colorful chameleons. (715k) mdg chamaeleon_head Closeup of a chameleons head. (613k) mdg chamaeleon_head_2 Closeup of a chameleons head. (735k)
mdg bird Madagascar Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone mutata). (548k) mdg egrets A flock of egrets. (775k) mdg hawk A female Madagascar kestrel (Falco newtoni). (586k) mdg crested_bird A Crested Drongo (Dicrurus forficatus). (707k) mdg fruit_bat A fruit bat (Eidolon dupreanum) in flight. We visited a nesting tree of fruit bats. They are very large bats with a wingspan of over 1 m. (650k)
mdg tenrec A tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus), a small animal similar to a hedgehog. This one was a juvenile, only about 12 cm long. (756k) mdg ringtailed_mongoose Ring-tailed mongoose (Galidia elegans). (711k) mdg civet A Civet (Fossa fossana), a cat-sized carnivore. (944k) mdg indri_indri Now to the Lemurs. This is an Indri Indri (Indri indri indri), the largest of the still living lemurs. Lemurs are primitive primates that live only on Madagascar. (617k) mdg ruffed_lemur A black and white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata) . (638k)
mdg sportive_lemur A white-footed sportive lemur (Lepilemur leucopus). This is a nocturnal lemur. (742k) mdg mouse_lemur A mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus). This is the smallest of the living lemurs. It is about mouse-sized and nocturnal. (873k) mdg grey_bamboo_lemur Grey bamboo lemur (Hapalemur griseus). (647k) mdg grey_bamboo_lemur_2 Closer view of a grey bamboo lemur. (587k) mdg red_bellied_lemur Red bellied lemur (Eulemur rubriventer). (742k)
mdg red_bellied_lemur_2 Red bellied lemur, eating a banana. (673k) mdg brown_lemur Brown lemur or Gidro (Eulemur fulvus). (653k) mdg brown_lemur_2 Another brown lemur. (770k) mdg brown_lemur_drinking A brown lemur drinking water. (813k) mdg brown_lemur_head Brown Lemur Head. (594k)
mdg ringtailed_lemur_group A group of ring-tailed lemurs or Makis (Lemur 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. (1107k) mdg ringtailed_lemur_pair A pair of ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) relaxing. (571k) mdg ringtailed_lemur They usually hold up their tail like this. (722k) mdg ringtailed_lemur_walking Ring-tailed lemur walking. (558k) mdg leaping_lemur A ring-tailed lemur leaping between trees. (603k)
mdg ringtailed_lemur_perched Ring-tailed lemur perched on a treetop. (690k) mdg ringtailed_lemur_closeup Closeup of a ring-tailed lemur. (500k) mdg sifaka_tree A Sifaka (Propithecus sp.), another species of lemur. (k) (716k) mdg sifaka_closeup Closeup of a Sifaka. (597k) mdg sifaka_walking The Sifaka always walk upright. (649k)
mdg sifaka_jumping They hop, skip, and jump when they are on the ground. (669k)



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All pictures are © Günther Eichhorn


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