Photos from the field: Montagne d’Ambre, 2017–2018

From November 2017 to January 2018, I was in Madagascar conducting research on the herpetofauna of Montagne d’Ambre, an isolated rainforest mountain in the north of the island. I have posted about the research we were conducting separately before it began, during the fieldwork, and at the end, but largely with the photos that were available to me at that moment. Here is a better selection of photographs from the trip. Some of these photos are taken by Ella Z. Lattenkamp, who joined us in the field for the last month.

The University of Antananarivo quotient of the team; from left to right: Dr. Andolalao Rakotoarison (postdoc), Onja Randriamalala (master’s student), Ricky T. Rakotonindrina (master’s student), Rija (temporary student with us), and Safidy Malala Rasolonjavato (PhD candidate)

Camp at 1050 m in Montagne d’Ambre

Field lab at 1050 m

Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) bellyi was one of the focal species of the expedition, particularly for Safidy’s research

Boophis entingae

Stumpffia madagascariensis

Paracontias brocchi, a rare skink

Liophidium torquatum

Calumma ambreense, adult male, one of the focal species of our research

Our pitfall trap line at 1050 m.

Cascade Antakarana

Camp at 1150 m

Forest at 1150 m

A pandanus, home to many frogs and spiders

Calumma linotum, adult male

Gephyromantis (Asperomantis) ambohitra

Calumma amber, adult male, one of the focal species of our research

Calumma ambreense, adult male at ca. 1250 m

The students of the expedition, from left to right: Onja, Safidy, Ricky, and Jary

Carp, a locally invasive species

Cophyla puellarum

Brookesia antakarana

The team at the peak, from left to right: Angeluc Razafimanantsoa, yours truly, Onja Randriamalala, Safidy Malala Rasolonjavato, Andolalao Rakotoarison, Justin, Jary H. Razafindraibe, Ricky T. Rakotonindrina

Cynorkis nutans, a common orchid

Furcifer pardalis

Uroplatus giganteus in the dry forest of the western slope of Montagne d’Ambre

Uroplatus alluaudi

Gephyromantis pseudoasper

Geckolepis cf. maculata

A forest glade at 1250 m

Leaving 1250 m for lower altitudes with less rain

Boophis blommersae, female

Calumma ambreense, adult male

Calumma amber, adult female

Furcifer timoni, adult female

Furcifer oustaleti, adult male

Eggs of Guibemantis liber

Guibemantis liber with eggs

Blommersia wittei with eggs

Leaves loaded with eggs and frogs

The team after Christmas at the Gite, left to right, top to bottom: Big John, Angeluc Razafimanantsoa, Justin, Jary Razafindriabe, yours truly, Ricky T. Rakotonindrina, Ella Z. Lattenkamp, Andolalao Rakotoarison, Safidy M. Rasolonjavato, and Onja Randriamalala