Herper's paradise - Madagascar

For your reports/images, made outside Europe and the "Mediterranean" countries. Not to be too narrow minded and limited to our European/Mediterranean herps.

Herper's paradise - Madagascar

Postby Bastien Comment » Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:57 am

Dear all,

From the 30th of January 2012 until the 10th of February, I’ve travelled with my friend Yannick to one of the best countries in the world for herping, Madagascar. Obviously, I don’t know every countries (I’m sure Costa Rica is also highly worth the trip ;)) and the only down side of Madagascar is that there are no venomous snakes at all but still, after 2 weeks there, I can confirm that if you choose the right season, you won’t regret your trip. The thing is that Yannick had travelled there in July 2011 with his family so he had some good contacts with taxi guides and also for guides inside the national parks. We decided to go in January-February because it’s the rain season and a very good time to see lots of animals (during Yannick’s trip in July, it was winter in Madagascar so after a whole month of trip, he had seen less than 10 snakes and only a few cameleons).

Our targets were snakes and as you can imagine any other animals especially reptiles and amphibians. We’ve visited 3 areas, Andasibe at first (rainforest), Ankarafanstika (not as wet as Andasibe despite some heavy rains from time to time) and to finish, we’ve been to Ranomafana (rainforest). We also wanted to visit Isalo but as we were pretty tight with the timing (when you have to move from one place to another, it’s a one full day trip with the car), we’ve preferred to go to Ankarafanstika and to be honest, we haven’t regretted it (it’s the place where we’ve found the most snakes out of the three).

After a 2 weeks trip, the results speak for themselves: 16 different species of snakes, 46 pictured specimen. Not a single day without at least 1 snake but on the other hand, not more than 7 snakes a day. Even in Madagascar we’ve spent hours walking in the jungle without seeing anything and then you find 3 within a few meters. The specie we’ve found the most often was Sanzinia madagascariensis with a total of 9 specimen. Of course, we’ve also missed a few ones that we highly wanted to see: Ithycyphus perineti (you should have seen how bad our guide wanted to find one for us, I think I’ve never seen him drinking any water neither did he take any 2-3 minutes break) and Langaha madagascariensis for instance. But on the other hand, we’ve had some fantastic surprises like a night when we were looking for Stenophis arctifasciatus and found one in the vegetation. Our guide hadn’t seen one for years!

So, finally, I’ve taken the time to sort the pictures out and after my introduction, here we go with the rewards !

Andasibe 30th of January – 3rd of February 2012

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On the road to Andasibe.


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Some habitats.


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Night herping:

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First night, after 50 to 100 meters with the car to go to the spot, the first Sanzinia madagascariensis in the middle of the road! What a start!


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Two happy herpers.


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Another Sanzinia madagascariensis hidden in his hole with full stomach.


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Uh!?!




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One of the target, Uroplatus phantasticus.


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Ready to...


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...jump!


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Another Sanzinia madagascariensis also found at night crossing the road.


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You can see well how irridescent this boa looks.


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Bastien Comment
 
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Re: Herper's paradise - Madagascar

Postby Bastien Comment » Mon Dec 31, 2012 3:11 am

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One of the targets, a Stenophis arctifasciatus.


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Yes it's an arborical specie...


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What an amazing snake.


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Yannick with Donnah our guide in the park.


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It was really impressive to let it go up and down our arms. The way it moves is absolutely fantastic.


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Back home where we've found it, in the ferns.


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Day herping:

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Sanzinia madagascariensis.


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Another target, Uroplatus sikorae. What a camouflage!


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Could have been a caracter of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" with his trippy colours...


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Cobra style Bibilava infrasignatus (we've hesitated with Liopholidophis thieli but we believe it's a Bibilava, don't hesitate to comment if you want).


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In-situ Biblava stumpffi.


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Hide and seek...


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I think they've seen me...


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In-situ Sanzinia madagascariensis.


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The biggest cameleon we've found.


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Liophidium torquatum.


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With a nice rosy belly.


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Liopholidophis dolicocercus.


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This snake has a very long tail.


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In-situ Bibilava lateralis.
Bastien Comment
 
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Re: Herper's paradise - Madagascar

Postby Bastien Comment » Mon Dec 31, 2012 3:21 am

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Happy swiss herper with a Bibilava lateralis and a Bibilava stumpffi.


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This was Bibilava's favourite spot, we found 4-5 along it taking the sun.


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DOR Pseudoxyrhopus tritaeniatus.


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Bibilava stumpffi.


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Inhale...


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...and exhale!


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Bathing Sanzinia madagascariensis.


Ankarafantsika and Ranomafana to come in the next days...
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Re: Herper's paradise - Madagascar

Postby Stéphane Aubry » Mon Dec 31, 2012 10:11 am

Great !

Thank you Bastien for this long awaited post :D
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Re: Herper's paradise - Madagascar

Postby Guillaume Gomard » Mon Dec 31, 2012 10:22 am

Thanks for taking the time to post this, I took again a lot of pleasure to watch those pics. The habitat, the animals...everything is really great. There is even some nasty bugs :D Love it!
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Re: Herper's paradise - Madagascar

Postby Sebastian Holzki » Mon Dec 31, 2012 12:32 pm

Nice trip report with great pictures. Thanks for showing.
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Re: Herper's paradise - Madagascar

Postby Jürgen Gebhart » Mon Dec 31, 2012 12:40 pm

Very cool, I`m a big Fan of the Uroplatus-family, especially the phantasticus, they are my Favorite Gecko in the world!

Thanks for sharing!
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Re: Herper's paradise - Madagascar

Postby Bobby Bok » Mon Dec 31, 2012 10:20 pm

Rrrreally cool! Going there would be a dream come true, the monster Calumma is my favourite but also Uroplates and Brookesia are stunning!
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Re: Herper's paradise - Madagascar

Postby Borji Heras » Wed Jan 02, 2013 5:53 am

incredible
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Re: Herper's paradise - Madagascar

Postby GertJan Verspui » Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:20 am

Love it, great trip, the many tree frogs and gecko's are my favorite!!
Amphibian & Reptile Adventures http://www.gertjanverspui.com
Instagram: @gj.verspui_wildlife
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