Madagascar

Molluscs Arachnids Insects Amphibians Reptiles Mammals Birds

With a land area slightly greater than that of France, Madagascar is the world's fourth-largest island, and is celebrated among conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts for its exceptional number of endemic species (of all the world's islands, only New Guinea is home to more unique species). The island is especially famous for two groups of animals: the lemurs, largely arboreal primates confined to Madagascar and the Comoros Islands, and the chameleons. These lizards may originally have evolved on Madagascar, and today over 50% of living species are found nowhere else. Lesser-known, but often featured in wildlife guides, are the mantellas (a large group of colourful frogs unique to the island), the often brightly-coloured day geckos, the large tomato frog, giant 'upside-down' baobab trees, and the bizarrely-shaped giraffe-necked weevil. As with many of the world's greatest centres of biodiversity, however, Madagascar faces the challenge of conserving its wildlife while raising standards of living in one of the world's poorest countries. Unsustainable slash-and-burn agriculture, rapid population growth and harvesting of trees to produce charcoal threaten Madagascar's remaining forests, 90% of which have been lost since humans colonised the island 2,000 years ago. Madagascar was among the first 25 biodiversity hotspots recognised by Conservation International, in recognition of high rates of habitat loss and the island's global significance for biodiversity.

MOLLUSCS

Madagascar may have as many as 4,000 species of land snail, with the highest concentration unsurprisingly in the humid tropics. The composition of the island's gastropod fauna is very different from that of the African mainland. Snails may represent an important group for studying ecosystem health, but the molluscan fauna of Madagascar is comparatively little-studied. The largest snails in Madagascar are introduced African species of the genus Achatina.

Giant African Land Snail

Achatina fulica

ARACHNIDS

Anywhere you visit in Madagascar, you are likely to encounter the giant golden orb weavers (Nephila madagascariensis), among the world's largest. As in other animal groups, spiders exhibit a high level of endemism in Madagascar, with one family restricted to the island, and numerous endemic genera. Scorpions are very common in areas of the dry south, with more than 60 species recorded from the island.

Scorpion	Opisthacanthus sp.
Scorpion	Opisthacanthus madagascariensis
Madagascar Golden Orb Weaver	Nephila inaurata madagascariensis

INSECTS

Upon seeing a long-necked orchid from Madagascar, Charles Darwin predicted the existence of a giant hawkmoth with an especially long tongue that had co-evolved to pollinate the flower. The later discovery of this insect remains a classic example of evolutionary adaptation. The island can also boast insects among its most iconic wildlife images, including the bizarre giraffe-necked weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa) and the spectacular giant comet or moon moth (Argema mittrei), a brilliant yellow insect with two long 'tails' (actually part of the wing). The remainder of Madagascar's diverse insect fauna is for the most part very poorly-known, but the island is regarded as a high conservation priority for this group.

Skimmer	Orthetrum sp.
Dragonfly	Neodythemis hildebrandti
Dragonfly	Palpopleura vestita
Dropwing	Trithemis sp.
Sprite	Pseudagrion sp.
Madagascar Giant Swallowtail	Pharmacophagus antenor
African Swallowtail	Papilio dardanus
Citrus Swallowtail	Papilio demodocus
Angled Grass-Yellow	Eurema desjardinsii
Butterfly	Acraea sp.
Madagascar Green-veined Charaxes	Charaxes antamboulou
Common Tiger	Danaus chrysippus
Blue Pansy	Junonia orithya
Brilliant Blue	Junonia rhadama
Banded Commodore	Precis andremiaja

AMPHIBIANS

Madagascar is home to more amphibian species, all frogs, than any other African country; remarkably, 100% of these species, and most genera, are endemic. Over 200 species have been formally described from the country, placing it 12th in the world in terms of amphibian diversity, however recent genetic evidence suggests that the total is closer to 450. Of these, the most famous are the dozen species of mantella, brightly-coloured, poisonous day-active frogs popular in the pet trade The large, bright red tomato frogs (Dyscophus antongilii) are likewise among Madagascar's well-known, charismatic but threatened wildlife. Some of the island's frog species are among the planet's most endangered, many of them tied to forest habitat which is dwindling rapidly.

Madagascar Common Frog	Ptychadena madagascariensis
Betsileo Shrub Frog	Heterixalus betsileo
Eastern White-lipped Tree Frog	Boophis albilabris
Madagascar Bright-eyed Frog	Boophis madagascariensis
Bright-eyed Frog	Boophis sp. aff. madagascariensis
Free Madagascar Frog	Guibemantis liber
Madagascar Glass Frog	Guibemantis pulcher
Frog	Guibemantis (Duboimantis) sp.
Frog	Guibemantis (Vatomantis) sp.
Grandidier's Stream Frog	Mantidactylus grandidieri
Frog	Mantidactylus sp.
Frog	Mantidactylus sp.
Tree Frog	Spinomantis aglavei

REPTILES

Madagascar's reptiles include some of the island's best-known residents. The island is home to over half the world's chameleons, including both the largest and the smallest as well as many of the most striking. Most of the world's day geckos (genus Phelsuma), known for their bright contrasting colours as the "living jewels of Madagascar", also occur only on the island; conversely, the bizarre leaf-tailed geckos (genus Uroplatus) are among the best-camouflaged, most cryptic animals in the world.. Madagascar is home to the world's most endangered tortoise, the plowshare or agonoka, and its relative the radiated tortoise (Geochelone radiata). Madagascar's iguanas and one lineage of turtles appear to be relics of the period when the island was attached to South America as part of the southern continent Gondwana. For a long time Madagascar's three species of "boa" were thought to share this origin, but are now known to be close relatives of the African rock python. One attraction for many visitors to the island may be that none of Madagascar's snakes are dangerously venomous, although the Malagasy people themselves are extremely superstitious of snakes and, tragically, kill them in large numbers.

Radiated Tortoise	Astrochelys subrufa
African Helmeted Turtle	Pelomedusa subrufa
Brown Leaf Chameleon	Brookesia superciliaris
Short-horned Chameleon	Calumma brevicorne
Short-nosed Chameleon	Calumma gastrotaenia
Nose-horned Chameleon	Calumma nasutum
Parson's Chameleon	Calumma parsonii
White-lined Chameleon	Furcifer lateralis
Panther Chameleon	Furcifer pardalis
Oustalet's Chameleon	Furcifer oustaleti
Warty Chameleon	Furcifer verrucosus
Three-eyed Lizard	Chalaradon madagascariensis
Merrem's Madagascar Swift	Oplurus cyclurus
Fish-scaled Gecko	Geckolepis sp.
Malaysian House Gecko	Hemidactylus frenatus
Madagascar Spiny-tailed Gecko	Paroedura bastardi
Panther Gecko	Paroedura picta
Gold Dust Day Gecko	Phelsuma laticauda
Lined Day Gecko	Phelsuma lineata
Thick-tailed Day Gecko	Phelsuma mutabilis
Dwarf Gecko	Lygodactylus tuberosus
Southern Leaf-tailed Gecko	Uroplatus sikorae
Western Girdled Lizard	Zonosaurus laticaudatus
Madagascar Girdled Lizard	Zonosaurus madagascariensis
Madagascar Keeled Plated Lizard	Tracheloptychus madagascariensis
Fire-tailed Skink	Madascincus igneocaudatus
Skink	Trachylepis dumasi
Bright Skink	Trachylepis elegans
Boulder Mabuya	Trachylepis vato
Madagascar Tree Boa	Sanzinia madagascariensis
Malagasy Giant Hognose Snake	Leioheterodon madagascariensis
Madagascar Blond Hognose Snake	Leioheterodon modestus
Snake	Liophidium triineatum
Big-eyed Snake	Mimophis mahfalensis
Nile Crocodile	Crocodylus niloticus

MAMMALS

The origins of Madagascar's unique native mammal fauna have long been mysterious; it was only in 2010 that convincing evidence came to light that the ancestors of Madagascar's mammals had 'rafted' to the island from the African mainland when the direction of ocean currents was reversed. Today, these animals include Madagascar's most famous inhabitants, as many as 100 species of lemur, prosimian primates found only on the island and the neighbouring Comoros. Best-known of the lemurs are the three-foot tall indri (Indri indri), whose call is a loud, mournful wail; sifakas (Propithecus sp.) which appear to 'dance' as they move along the ground on their hindlimbs; the ringtailed lemur (Lemur catta) with its vaguely racoon-like mask and tail, and the extraordinary nocturnal aye-aye. Madagascar is also home to another group of mammals nearly unique to Madagascar, the insectivorous tenrecs, most of which resemble shrews or hedgehogs, and to three endemic civets, the best-known being the fosa (sometimes spelt fossa). Apart from bats all of Madagascar's native mammals are endemic to the island, although a number of introduced species are present.

Brown Rat	Rattus norvegicus
Lowland Streaked Tenrec	Hemicentetes semispinosus
Grey Mouse Lemur	Microcebus murinus
Brown Mouse Lemur	Microcebus rufus
Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur	Cheirogaleus medius
Brown Lemur	Eulemur fulvus
Ring-tailed Lemur	Lemur catta
Red-ruffed Lemur	Varecia variegata rubra
Eastern Avahi	Avahi laniger
Verreaux's Sifaka	Propithecus verrauxi verrauxi
Indri	Indri indri

BIRDS

Given the proximity of mainland Africa and birds' ability to fly, the fact that nearly 60% of Madagascar's birds are found nowhere else is an impressive figure. In a familiar story, birds are represented in Madagascar by an endemic family (the Vangidae) and at least genus found only on the island (Coua, a group of cuckoos with a striking ring of exposed blue skin around the eye). Although couas and vangas may be Madagascar's best-known endemic birds, the island is home to numerous other unique species. Birds may also be the most seriously threatened animal group on the island; over a sixth of the bird species found in the region are endangered and, within the Madagascar-Seychelles hotspot as a whole, 32 of 45 recorded extinctions in historic times have involved birds.

Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea
Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea
White-faced Heron	Ardea novaehollandiae
Humblot's Heron	Ardea humbloti
Madagascar Pond Heron	Ardeola idea
Dimorphic Egret	Egretta dimorpha
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Green-backed Heron	Butorides striatus
Hamerkop	Scopus umbretta
White-faced Whistling Duck	Dendrocygna vidulata
Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk	Aviceda madagascariensis
Frances' Sparrowhawk	Accipiter francesiae
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus
Yellow-billed Kite	Milvus aegypticus
Madagascar Harrier Hawk	Polyboroides radiatus
Madagascar Buzzard	Buteo brachypterus
Caspian Tern	Sterna caspia
Madagascar Cuckoo	Cuculus rochii
Madagascar Coucal	Centropus toulou
Blue Coua	Coua caerulea
Crested Coua	Coua cristata
Giant Coua	Coua gigas
Madagascar Scops Owl	Otus rutilus
White-browed Owl	Ninox superciliaris
Namaqua Dove	Oena capensis
Grey-headed Lovebird	Agapornis canis
Lesser Vasa Parrot	Coracopsis nigra
Greater Vasa Parrot	Coracopsis vasa
Ashy Cuckoo-Shrike	Coracina cinerea
Sickle-billed Vanga	Falculea palliata
Crested Drongo	Dricrurus forficatus
Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher	Terpsiphone mutata
Madagascar Hoopoe	Upupa marginata
Madagascar Malachite Kingfisher	Alcedo vintsiodes
Madagascar Bee-eater	Merops superciliosus
Pitta-like Ground Roller	Atelornis pittoides
Madagascar Wagtail	Motacilla flaviventris
Red Fody	Foudia madagascariensis
Madagascar Mannakin	Lonchura nana
Pied Crow	Corvus albus

Species List - Analamazoatra Special Reserve

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Analamazoatra forms the major part of Parc Nationale d'Andasibe-Mantadia, often known simply as Andasibe after the nearest town. Vazaha (foreigners) and tourist materials, however, commonly still refer to the park by its colonial French name, Périnet. Périnet covers 15,500 ha of primary montane rainforest and is the most popular of Madagascar's national parks, due to a combination of the park's proximity to the capital Antananarivo (it's about a three-hour drive due east) and the presence of several indri troops habituated to human contact. Several other lemur species occur in the reserve, and in the larger Mantadia National Park, although Mantadia is somewhat difficult to access from Analamazoatra and many visitors don't make it there. Other wildlife for which the reserve is well-known include Parson's chameleon (Calumma parsonii), the world's largest, a species of leaf chameleon (Brookesia superciliaris), and leaf-tailed geckos. Much of this wildlife is also to be found in a smaller private reserve operated by the local NGO Mitsinjo, which protects secondary forest in a former eucalypt plantation near the Andasibe park entrance.

INSECTS

Both of Madagascar's best-known insects, the comet moth and the giraffe-necked weevil, can be found around Perinet. Grassy verges and waterbodies around the park boundary, and within the Mitsinjo reserve's orchid garden, are good places to look for disturbance-tolerant butterflies and dragonflies; the former can be especially numerous.

Dragonfly	Neodythemis hildebrandti
Sprite	Pseudagrion sp.
Butterfly	Acraea sp.
Common Tiger	Danaus chrysippus
Banded Commodore	Precis andremiaja

AMPHIBIANS

Streams run through both the Analamazoatra and Mitsinjo reserves; together with the moist climate this provides valuable habitat for frogs, and the Andasibe region boasts both one of the most diverse and one of the best-studied amphibian faunas on the island. Based on a recent analysis of cryptic speciation in Malagasy frogs, several more species are thought to await description in the area. Even in the dry season several species can be heard calling; shrub frogs (Heterixalus betsileo, left) will often be encountered while walking along the road to the village at night, while the Pandanus palms at the park entrance are a good place to search for Madagascar glass frogs (Guibemantis pulcher). However, the area is best-known for the golden mantella (Mantella aurantiaca), the sole wild populations of which occur within a few kilometres of the reserve.

Betsileo Shrub Frog	Heterixalus betsileo
Madagascar Bright-eyed Frog	Boophis madagascariensis
Madagascar Glass Frog	Guibemantis pulcher
Frog	Mantidactylus sp.
Tree Frog	Spinomantis aglavei

REPTILES

From personal experience, five species of chameleon may be seen within a day and night at the park, including the iconic Parson's and leaf chameleons. Thirty-nine reptile species have been recorded from the reserve in total, among them at least two species of leaf-tailed gecko (which the guides often plant near the park entrance to show eager visitors) and the Madagascar tree boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis). Day geckos are a common sight on reserve buildings and Pandanus leaf axils.

Brown Leaf Chameleon	Brookesia superciliaris
Short-horned Chameleon	Calumma brevicorne
Short-nosed Chameleon	Calumma gastrotaenia
Nose-horned Chameleon	Calumma nasutum
Parson's Chameleon	Calumma parsonii
Lined Day Gecko	Phelsuma lineata
Southern Leaf-tailed Gecko	Uroplatus sikorae
Madagascar Tree Boa	Sanzinia madagascariensis

MAMMALS

Eleven species of lemur occur in the combined reserve, although black-and-white ruffed lemurs and diademed sifakas are confined to Mantadia. Indri can be found in both parts of the park, although those in Mantadia have not been habituated to humans. Brown lemurs may be the most common in the park; guides can reliably locate the habituated groups of indri for visitors, although the way in which they do this - commonly, by playing recordings of the animals' distinctive call and listening for a response - may potentially disrupt the lemur's natural activity patterns and should be discouraged. Park staff themselves insist that they only play the calls at times of day when the indri is naturally active and calling, so visitors should use their own judgement. Nocturnal sightings can include spiny tenrecs, mouse lemurs, and the eastern avahi, the largest of the nocturnal lemurs.

Lowland Streaked Tenrec	Hemicentetes semispinosus
Brown Mouse Lemur	Microcebus rufus
Brown Lemur	Eulemur fulvus
Eastern Avahi	Avahi laniger
Indri	Indri indri

BIRDS

Many of Madagascar's rainforest endemics are to be found within Analamazoatra, and the reserve boasts a total of 115 bird species, among them blue and red-fronted couas and the Madgascar blue pigeon, while the surrounding marshland is a good place to see waterbirds.

Blue Coua	Coua caerulea
Lesser Vasa Parrot	Coracopsis nigra
Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher	Terpsiphone mutata
Pitta-like Ground Roller	Atelornis pittoides

Species List - Masoala Peninsula

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The Masoala Peninsula, protruding from the northeast side of the island, represents the last stronghold for Madagascar's vanishing rainforest. Protected by sparse settlement and terrain characterised by mountains and canyons that make most road-building unfeasible, larger tracts of virgin forest exist here than in any other part of the country. Masoala National Park, designated in 1997, is Madagascar's largest protected area, covering an area of 2,300 square kilometres and incorporating adjacent marine protected areas and the island of Nosy Mangabe, home to thriving populations of aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) and black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata). In 2007, Masoala was included within the Rainforests of the Anstinanana World Heritage Site. Makira, a large reserve jointly operated by Conservation International and the Wildlife Conservation Society, connects the national park with Marojejy to the peninsula's north, with the intent of creating a large area of lowland to mid-altitude forest where deforestation is limited or halted altogether in one of the most species-rich areas of the island. Masoala is the site of ongoing biodiversity and conservation research; Zoo Zürich supports a small research reserve at the park's edge. The area is home to some of Madagascar's most threatened species, but may also hold more undescribed forms than other regions of the island.

Despite this initiative, much of the landscape outside the national park boundary is already deforested and the remaining forest fragmented as a result of slash-and-burn agriculture. The peninsular region is still suffering the after-effects of uncontrolled logging during the 2009 political crisis. Hardwoods logged from Marojejy and Masoala are transported to centres on the peninsula - the ports of Antalaha and Sambava - for export to China and elsewhere. Indeed, Masoala National Park has the potentially unfortunate distinction of harbouring atypically large numbers of commercially valuable tree species. The large area and inaccessibility of the peninsula combined with limited funds to support park rangers mean that much of the area is under only nominal protection.

INSECTS

Much of Masoala is inaccessible and, consequently, rather poorly-known even for vertebrates. Typical insects of Madagascar's forests that can be found here include giraffe-necked weevils, comet moths and brightly-coloured, day-flying uraniid moths. The eastern rainforests represent the centre of endemism and diversity for Madagascar's dragonflies. In more settled areas of the peninsula, such as those on the route from Antalaha to Maroansetra, disturbance-tolerant butterflies and dragonflies occur in large numbers.

Skimmer	Orthetrum sp.
Dragonfly	Palpopleura vestita
Dropwing	Trithemis sp.
African Swallowtail	Papilio dardanus
Angled Grass-Yellow	Eurema desjardinsii
Common Tiger	Danaus chrysippus
Blue Pansy	Junonia orithya

AMPHIBIANS

Masoala's most striking amphibian is the tomato frog (Dyscophus antongilii), restricted to a small area close to the town of Maroansetra. In fact the peninsula is home to perhaps the greatest diversity of amphibian lineages on the island, and represents a hotspot for both amphibian diversity and, soberingly, the number of threatened amphibians it harbours. As well as being species-rich, the area is of biogeographical importance as the global centre of diversity for one of Madagascar's unique frog radiations, the forest-associated cophyline microhylids. Although the area has been a major collecting locality for amphibians and reptiles, it remains likely that numerous undiscovered species await description from this part of the island.

Madagascar Common Frog	Ptychadena madagascariensis
Eastern White-lipped Tree Frog	Boophis albilabris
Bright-eyed Frog	Boophis sp. aff. madagascariensis
Free Madagascar Frog	Guibemantis liber
Frog	Guibemantis (Duboimantis) sp.
Frog	Guibemantis (Vatomantis) sp.
Grandidier's Stream Frog	Mantidactylus grandidieri
Frog	Mantidactylus sp.

REPTILES

As with its amphibians, a high proportion of the peninsula's reptiles are endemic to the region, including species of chameleon, day gecko and leaf-tailed gecko. Parson's chameleon occurs within forest fragments and the main park along with many more restricted-range species; in disturbed areas the panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) is widespread and commonly seen. Some of the island's largest snakes also occur in the area, among them the Madagascar tree boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis) and the giant hognose snake Leioheterodon madagascariensis.

Panther Chameleon	Furcifer pardalis
Malaysian House Gecko	Hemidactylus frenatus
Gold Dust Day Gecko	Phelsuma laticauda
Madagascar Girdled Lizard	Zonosaurus madagascariensis
Malagasy Giant Hognose Snake	Leioheterodon madagascariensis

MAMMALS

The star attraction of the Masoala Peninsula is the aye-aye, which is quite often seen on the outlying island of Nosy Mangabe. The rest of the peninsula's lemur fauna should not, however, be overlooked, including as it does a regionally endemic subspecies of ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata), the critically endangered silky sifaka (Propithecus candidus), and at least seven other species. Among the area's other mammals, the sucker-footed bat (Myzopoda aurita) represents a family restricted to the island. Nine species of mongoose and civet, including the fossa, have been recorded.

Red-ruffed Lemur

Varecia variegata rubra

BIRDS

Rediscovered in the 1980s, the Madagascar serpent-eagle (Eutriorchis astur) was at one stage thought to be extinct. It is now believed that the Masoala Peninsula holds the largest surviving populations. In all, 19 of Madagascar's 22 bird of prey species occur in the area, including the rare Henst's goshawk and little-known red owl. The impressive helmet vanga (Euryceros prevostii) is another iconic bird of the eastern rainforests, while colourful residents include pygmy kingfishers, bee-eaters and ground-rollers.

Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Frances' Sparrowhawk	Accipiter francesiae
Madagascar Harrier Hawk	Polyboroides radiatus
Madagascar Buzzard	Buteo brachypterus
Madagascar Cuckoo	Cuculus rochii
Blue Coua	Coua caerulea
Namaqua Dove	Oena capensis
Grey-headed Lovebird	Agapornis canis
Greater Vasa Parrot	Coracopsis vasa
Crested Drongo	Dricrurus forficatus
Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher	Terpsiphone mutata
Madagascar Bee-eater	Merops superciliosus
Madagascar Wagtail	Motacilla flaviventris
Red Fody	Foudia madagascariensis
Madagascar Mannakin	Lonchura nana
Pied Crow	Corvus albus

Species List - Onilahy

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In 2001 and 2002, the conservation NGO Frontier conducted biodiversity surveys along a stretch of the Onilahy River from its source to the wetland area Antafoky Lake. As a result of this work, the area between the wetland areas of Sept Lacs and Antafoky was designated the core region of a proposed Parc Regionale de Belomotse in mid-2002 in recognition of the urgent need to protect highly diverse wetlands and areas of riparian and dry spiny forest in this part of southwest Madagascar, which harbour high levels of endemism and several globally threatened species. By September 2008, however, this protected area has still not formally been created. The area encompassed by the proposed reserve is at risk from subsistence agriculture, hunting and charcoal production in one of the poorest parts of the country. Exacerbating this situation, much of the charcoal burning is the work of migrants to the area taking resources without the consent of the local village communities that depend on them; in order to control this activity and the other threats, the conservation strategy for the region places a strong emphasis on enabling local communities to manage and develop their land sustainably.

Read more about the proposed Belomoste protected area and Frontier's research in the organisation's reports.

MOLLUSCS

Few snails are adapted to the arid conditions of Madagascar's dry south; the Frontier project identified only nine species in total. Indeed, the most common appeared to be the introduced African land snail Achatina fulica.

Giant African Land Snail

Achatina fulica

ARACHNIDS

Scorpions are commonly-encountered in Madagascar's dry forest region, and several species are present. The large orb weavers are also abundant

Scorpion	Opisthacanthus sp.
Scorpion	Opisthacanthus madagascariensis
Madagascar Golden Orb Weaver	Nephila inaurata madagascariensis

INSECTS

Madagascar's insect fauna is still poorly-known; however, as an important wetland area containing marshes, lakes and riparian habitats, the region is home to abundant dragonflies, while Frontier's butterfly surveys revealed 61 butterfly species, most of which were apparently confined to either riparian or spiny forest habitats.

Skimmer	Orthetrum sp.
Dropwing	Trithemis sp.
Madagascar Giant Swallowtail	Pharmacophagus antenor
Citrus Swallowtail	Papilio demodocus
Madagascar Green-veined Charaxes	Charaxes antamboulou
Brilliant Blue	Junonia rhadama

REPTILES

The proposed reserve, and especially the section of the core area that encompasses Antafoky Lake, may be nationally important for reptiles. Fifty-five species have been recorded from the region, one of the highest figures for any region in Madagascar, and around half of these are restricted to either riparian or dry spiny forest. These latter include two globally vulnerable species, the radiated tortoise and Standing's day gecko, while the locally endemic skink Euprepis dumasi is restricted to forest alongside the Onilahy River. Boas are purportedly common in the wet season, but many reptiles are less active and can be difficult to find once the dry season is underway.

Radiated Tortoise	Astrochelys subrufa
African Helmeted Turtle	Pelomedusa subrufa
White-lined Chameleon	Furcifer lateralis
Oustalet's Chameleon	Furcifer oustaleti
Warty Chameleon	Furcifer verrucosus
Three-eyed Lizard	Chalaradon madagascariensis
Merrem's Madagascar Swift	Oplurus cyclurus
Fish-scaled Gecko	Geckolepis sp.
Madagascar Spiny-tailed Gecko	Paroedura bastardi
Panther Gecko	Paroedura picta
Thick-tailed Day Gecko	Phelsuma mutabilis
Dwarf Gecko	Lygodactylus tuberosus
Western Girdled Lizard	Zonosaurus laticaudatus
Madagascar Keeled Plated Lizard	Tracheloptychus madagascariensis
Fire-tailed Skink	Madascincus igneocaudatus
Skink	Trachylepis dumasi
Bright Skink	Trachylepis elegans
Boulder Mabuya	Trachylepis vato
Madagascar Tree Boa	Sanzinia madagascariensis
Madagascar Blond Hognose Snake	Leioheterodon modestus
Snake	Liophidium triineatum
Big-eyed Snake	Mimophis mahfalensis
Nile Crocodile	Crocodylus niloticus

MAMMALS

Six species of lemur occur in the region, at least four of which are active well into the dry season and can be quite abundant. Ring-tailed lemurs and Verreaux's sifaka are common both around the village of Manderano and in Antafoky, although this appears to be a consequence of animals crowding into increasingly small areas of suitable habitat rather than a sign of a healthy ecosystem. The vulnerable Coquerel's dwarf lemur is quite common in little-disturbed forest. Hedgehog and shrew tenrecs can be found in the area, but become dormant in the dry season. Eight species of bat are known from the region, two of which may be previously undescribed. Local villagers also report the presence of fosa in this part of southwest Madagascar.

Brown Rat	Rattus norvegicus
Grey Mouse Lemur	Microcebus murinus
Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur	Cheirogaleus medius
Ring-tailed Lemur	Lemur catta
Verreaux's Sifaka	Propithecus verrauxi verrauxi

BIRDS

The marshes in the proposed reserve and the lake at Antafoky are both havens for scarce waterbirds; Humboldt's and Madagascar pond heron are globally rare species that Frontier researchers encountered on a near-daily basis in the marshland behind Manderano Village. Other nationally scarce species found in this part of the country include Madagascar sparrowhawk, peregrine falcon and several waterbirds. Over a quarter of the birds known from the area are regionally endemic.

Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea
Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea
White-faced Heron	Ardea novaehollandiae
Humblot's Heron	Ardea humbloti
Madagascar Pond Heron	Ardeola idea
Dimorphic Egret	Egretta dimorpha
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Green-backed Heron	Butorides striatus
Hamerkop	Scopus umbretta
White-faced Whistling Duck	Dendrocygna vidulata
Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk	Aviceda madagascariensis
Frances' Sparrowhawk	Accipiter francesiae
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus
Yellow-billed Kite	Milvus aegypticus
Madagascar Harrier Hawk	Polyboroides radiatus
Madagascar Buzzard	Buteo brachypterus
Caspian Tern	Sterna caspia
Madagascar Coucal	Centropus toulou
Crested Coua	Coua cristata
Giant Coua	Coua gigas
Madagascar Scops Owl	Otus rutilus
White-browed Owl	Ninox superciliaris
Grey-headed Lovebird	Agapornis canis
Greater Vasa Parrot	Coracopsis vasa
Ashy Cuckoo-Shrike	Coracina cinerea
Sickle-billed Vanga	Falculea palliata
Crested Drongo	Dricrurus forficatus
Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher	Terpsiphone mutata
Madagascar Hoopoe	Upupa marginata
Madagascar Malachite Kingfisher	Alcedo vintsiodes
Madagascar Bee-eater	Merops superciliosus
Pied Crow	Corvus albus