The French Canopy Raft Program in Madagascar, Part 2: The Wildlife

These spiders were observed from the lower canopy to the upper canopy. They were aggressive and would strike out and bite anything that was placed near them. They were not uncommon in the tree holes we were examining.

The tree trunks of the Masoala Peninsula are covered in lichens, mosses, and ferns. We performed vertical transects and spent much time hanging from ropes and looking at the wildlife living on tree trunks. Countless mimics of mosses and lichens were observed. I’ve tried to include a few of them here. This is a lichen mimicking true bug or homopteran.

This lanternfly is a lichen and moss mimic.

Several species of caterpillars were observed that mimicked mosses and lichens.

Even a species of moth was observed that mimicked moss and lichen.

Phasmids, which can be stick or twig mimics, were observed on tree trunks. This is a juvenile phasmid.

Lichen and moss mimicking on the trunks of rainforest trees was not limited to invertebrates. The leaf tail geckos of the genus Uroplatus are famous for their cryptic appearance. This is U. fimbriatus.

Another leaf tail gecko (Uroplatus lineatus) was encountered in and around bamboo. In the stands of bamboo, these lizards are well camouflaged.

We came across quite a few Uroplatus sikorae which are spectacular moss and lichen mimics.

Uroplatus sikorae has beautiful eyes.

Another cryptic leaf tail gecko with which we had frequent encounters was this Uroplatus species (possibly Uroplatus giganteus).

After a downpour, this Uroplatus species licks the rain drops from its face.

Langaha madagascariensis is a cryptic snake from Madagascar that resembles twigs.

The carpet chameleon (Furcifer lateralis) is an inhabitant of the lower, mid and upper canopy.

One of the colorful day geckos of the area, Phelsuma seipii was a regular encounter on the trunks and branches of trees.

Phelsuma seipii inhabits lower, mid, and upper canopy levels along the Masoala Peninsula.

Geckos of the genus Parodeura were mostly observed in the lower canopy.

Brookesia superciliaris is a diminutive chameleon that lives in the leaf litter along the forest floor.

Living on the forest floor, the Tomato Frog (Dyscophus antongilii) is highly endangered. The habitat that this frog lives in has been largely altered. Small populations are all that remain.

Tenrecs root around on the forest floor looking for things to eat.

When Charles Darwin was still alive, he studied a strange orchid from Madagascar (Angraecum sesquipedale). The orchid has a nectary that is roughly 1/3rd of a meter in length (1 foot). Something with an exceptionally long tongue most pollinate it. The long tongue would be necessary to reach the nectar at the bottom of the nectary. Darwin predicted that the orchid was pollinated by a moth with a tongue roughly a foot in length. His prediction was controversial and many were critical. Years later, long after Darwin’s death, a moth was discovered that does in fact pollinate the orchid and has a tongue that is a foot in length. Notice the long nectary coming out of the back of the flower.

Heterixalus madagascariensis was found within the tops of Pandanus in water filled leaf axils.

Anodonthyla hutchisoni is a small microhylid frog that breeds in small water filled tree holes. The species was discovered during this project and we named it after Dr. V. Hutchison.

A group shot at a celebration lunch after Anodonthyla hutchisoni was named for Vic Hutchison. From left to right: Jim Stout, Vic Hutchison, Danté Fenolio, and Mark Walvoord.