Madagascar (C & NE)

Mud houses near Kelivondraka, Alaotra-Mangoro Region.

Crossing over to the other side: the funeral cortege of a well-to-do Malagasy man crosses the Ivoloina River at Nosibe, Atsinanana Region.

A “Festival of the Dead” (“Fête du Morts”, or “Radona” in Malagache) in Andapananguoy, Île Sainte-Marie, Analanjirofo Region. Bones are disinterred and processed slowly around the town in a bag, surrounded by a singing crowd.

Simon enjoys a drink in a coconut den, in the central market of Antananarivo. Photo by Hantavololona Andriamanantena.

Diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema), Andasibe, Alaotra-Mangoro Region. Known locally as the simpona, it is one of the largest lemurs. Family Indriidae.

The largest of the lemurs: an Indri (Indri indri), in Andasibe, Alaotra-Mangoro Region. Known locally as the babakoto. Family Indriidae.

Narrow-mouthed frog (Scaphiophryne marmorata), VOIMMA, Alaotra-Mangoro Region. Family Microhylidae.

Brown mantella (Mantidactylus melanopleura), Mantadia, Alaotra-Mangoro Region. Family Mantellidae.

Madagascar reed frog (Heterixalus betsileo), Mantadia, Alaotra-Mangoro Region. Family Hyperoliidae.

Lined day gecko (Phelsuma lineata), Andasibe, Alaotra-Mangoro Region. Family Gekkonidae.

Common flat-tail gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus), Forêt d’Ambohidea, Île Sainte-Marie, Analanjirofo Region. Family Gekkonidae.

Panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis), Ifotatra, Île Sainte-Marie, Analanjirofo Region. Family Chamaeleonidae.

The head of a panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis), Ifotatra, Île Sainte-Marie, Analanjirofo Region. Family Chamaeleonidae.

Nose-horned chameleon (Calumma nasuta), VOIMMA, Alaotra-Mangoro Region. This tiny lizard is also known as the Madagascar pimple-nose chameleon. Family Chamaeleonidae.

Malagasy tree boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis), VOIMMA, Alaotra-Mangoro Region. Family Boidae.

Scorpion (Grosphus madagascariensis), Sahafina, Atsinanana Region. Family Buthidae.

Spiny orb-weaver (Gasteracantha versicolor formosa), Andasibe, Alaotra-Mangoro Region. Family Araneidae.

Broad-headed bark spider (Caerostris extrusa), Andasibe, Alaotra-Mangoro Region. Family Araneidae.

Jumping spider (Thyene sp.) with prey, east of Andapananguoy, Île Sainte-Marie, Analanjirofo Region. Family Salticidae.

Red-legged fire millipede (Aphistogoniulus corallipes), Mantadia, Alaotra-Mangoro Region. Family Pachybolidae.

Emerald Madagascan pill millipede (Zoosphaerium neptunus), Mantadia, Alaotra-Mangoro Region. It can grow to 90mm long and is the world’s largest pill millipede. Family Arthrosphaeridae.

Hunchback fly (Acroceridae sp.), Mantadia, Alaotra-Mangoro Region. The head is the small black structure on the left. This is a poorly documented group of insects.

Wasp (Apocrita sp.), Andapananguoy, Île Sainte-Marie, Analanjirofo Region.

Unidentified planthopper (Ricaniidae sp.), Andasibe, Alaotra-Mangoro Region. Superficially its wings may resemble those of a butterfly, but it's actually a bug.

Lanternfly (Belbina servillei), Forêt d’Ambohidea, Île Sainte-Marie, Analanjirofo Region. Family Fulgoridae.

One of the two best-known Madagascan insects: the giraffe weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa), Andasibe, Alaotra-Mangoro Region. Family Attelabidae.

Metalmark butterfly (Saribia perroti), VOIMMA, Alaotra-Mangoro Region. Family Riodinidae.

Unidentified butterfly larva (Lepidoptera sp.), east of Andapananguoy, Île Sainte-Marie, Analanjirofo Region.

Slant-faced grasshoppers (Acrida sp.), east of Sahafina, Atsinanana Region. The female is much larger than the male. Family Acrididae.

Praying mantis (Mantodea sp.), Andapananguoy, Île Sainte-Marie, Analanjirofo Region.

Thorny stick insect (Parectatosoma aff. mocquerysi), Sahafina, Atsinanana Region. Family Anisacanthidae.