(17th to) 18th October 2015. Kirindy, Madagascar.
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The first three images are at nighttime by torchlight. They should really have been in the previous post for the previous day but I missed them because the time I had set on one of my cameras was out by seven hours.
You can see how this gecko could be fairly well camouflaged in the leaf litter. It is Mocquard’s Madagascar Ground Gecko or Paroedura bastardi. Why bastardi I have no idea.
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A large spider on the trunk of a tree, no doubt well camouflaged in many situations.
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Probably a Vanga.
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Back in the morning of the correct day, this is a red-fronted lemur. This is how you grasp the trunk of a tree with your foot.
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We came to Kirindy, with its very primitive accommodation, for a chance of seeing a Fosa (formerly, fossa). The fosa is Madagascar’s top carnivore.
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It is about 1.7 metres in length, including the long tail. It mainly preys on lemurs, which comprise 50% of its diet.
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Originally thought a cat or a civet or a mongoose, DNA has established it has an ancient ancestry with no close relatives. It has no problem climbing trees. It is widespread but rare in all locations and is thus vulnerable, especially to habitat destruction.
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We walked around in the forest in the morning, hoping to see one, only to find it visiting the camp when we returned for lunch. The camp attendants were feeding it. Ah well, not truly a wild sighting but at least we did see one.
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A bright magenta dragonfly.
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Red-fronted brown lemur.
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Iguana – Opluris cuvieri.
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Murray Foote 
Pretty amazing
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Thanks very much!
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Wonderful animal shots, Murray. I love how in some the animals seem to be posing for you, the iguana, fosa and lemur particularly.
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The fosa was. The lemur maybe, perhaps more checking us out. The iguana was just there, as we found him.
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I like to think that they posed for you, just special 🙂
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Outstanding wildlife photography, I have really enjoyed this series!
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Thanks heaps! Lots more to come.
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Stunning photos 🙂
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Thank you!
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Wonderful images. As a biologist, (Now a retired surgeon), I am thrilled to see species that are new to me. I wish I had started a life book.
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Madagascar is amazing. A whole kaleidoscope of endemic species!
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[…] is listed as vulnerable due to habitat loss from land clearing. Its main natural predator is the Fosa, though I presume there are no fosas […]
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[…] Fosa! […]
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