While I was away, Hilton being very lonely, was quite eager to take in a lodger. She was a sleek looking gal, slightly cool, but would hug him tight!
This is a beautiful, female Tree Boa Constrictor sporting a beautiful hue of different greens.
She was discovered by Andre on the road next to our swimming pool at Green Leaves Village. Hilton of course could not resist the urge to inspect her closely......I believe Andre and the driver observed from a safe distance, on the other side of the road, although Andre was brave enough to take these photographs!
One interesting snake in Madagascar that is greatly feared by local people is the harmless "fandrefiala" (ithcyphus miniatus). The Malagasy believe this arboreal (living in or among trees, treelike) snake drops tail-first from trees while stiffening its body like a spear to stab people or zebu cattle passing below. Another bizarre snake is the spear-nosed snake, Langaha madagascariensis, which mimics a twig with its unusual nasal appendage. Looking for photos of these snakes? My information is gleaned from wildmadagascar.org. I haven't personally come across these last two snakes.
NEXT UP.....Jimjam the famous "shower" frog, now featured in a best selling children's story: Jimjam the Frog!! by Heather Natalie Gilfillan!! (I wish!!)
I do not know the scientific name for Jimjam. I tried to indentify him but got so muddled up when searching through the photos that I will just let him be. He is himself! A star to the best of my knowledge with an amazing adventure or two to call his own. The first adventure was sharing my shower for a number of days! Ha! He could spin a yarn or two.........and then he decided to fly off on some crazy adventure with my grandies, Amber, Jesse and Zacc!
Waiting in the shadows of the spinach leaves while a mushroom fairy city is being built, we meet this little fellow:
Nice one. Now they tell me! There are thought to be more than 300 species of frogs on this mad magical island, 99% of which are endemic. Frogs are the only amphibians found in Madagascar - there are no toads (plenty of "turds" though!), salamanders or newts.....(methinks there have to be a few "neuts" here!!) No seriously......there is a bright red frog called a Tomato frog.
Moving along.......while swimming at our spectacular pool I met this water scorpion. I am the photographer.
They possess special grasping forelimbs that are similar to the anterior pincers of land scorpions. Also, their elongated siphon resembles the stinging tail of scorpions. However, unlike the tail of land scorpions, the siphon of these water bugs lacks the venomous spine, thank goodness!
These little insects are flyers with well-developed wings but prefer to walk in the mud or between aquatic plants. Ha! they are poor swimmers and spend most of their life near the shoreline. So prey tell me little water scorpion what were you doing at my pool? These insects feed on small fish, tadpoles and other aquatic insects. Did you re-direct your flight, your walk to visit me? I guess you didn't realise that I'm a bit large to seize with your hind legs, inject your digestive enzyme, suck out my body fluids to satisfy your hunger.....no way, you could suck all you like for as long as you like, there ain't no way you're gonna be able to leave an empty shell behind, ah ha!
CROCODILUS NILOTICUS...this has a quaint musical lilt to it if you repeat it quickly and make up your own tune.....other wise known by its simple name, Nile crocodile, is supposedly found in fresh water habitats in Madagascar.
This species was once widely abundant and greatly feared in the country but years of hunting for its skin has made it a threatened species. I have mixed feelings about crocodiles, no actually I'm terrified of them so if I really fancied croc skin and the products produced from it, I would probably be sporting a handbag, a purse, shoes etc......but croc skin products don't really appeal to me so I guess I'm sad they are a threatened species but really ecstatic they are no more found in abundance in the fresh water here on this island! Sorry! But I promise to keep a beady eye open when swimming in the rivers and lakes.
THE OTHER interesting creature is the chameleon.....
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Madagascar is home to about half the world's 150 or so species of chameleons including both subfamilies, typical chameleons and dwarf chameleons.
Contrary to popular belief, a chameleon typically does not change colours to match its surroundings. Instead this clever creature changes colour usually to convey emotions, defend territories and communicate with mates.
Some interesting facts: chameleons are diurnal,(active by day) solitary, and often aggressive towards members of their own species (marked by rapid colour change and aggressive posturing). They are opportunistic hunters that wait for prey to pass within range of their long tongues. Chameleons have a bizarre way of moving in which they slowly rock back and forth between each step taken, often in time with the movement of nearby leaves being blown by the wind. It's not a case of "walk like an Egyptian," but "rock like a chameleon!" Casts a different light on that song: "Kamma, kamma, kamma chameleon" - no pun intended of course!
The name "Chameleon" is derived from the Greek words chamai (on the ground, on the earth) and leon (lion) so their name means "earth lion." Cool hey? This cute, clever, aggessive creature demands a bit of respect. Something like, LMS......little man syndrome.
In some areas Malagasy fear chameleons. They are also the subject of some well-known local proverbs including "Manaova toy ny dian-tana jerena ny aloha, todihina ny afara," which translates to "like the chameleon, one eye on the future, one eye on the past."
LAST but not least of this creature saga is this beautiful, little Scops Owl.
Truly has a wise face and was checking us out wondering what we were doing out in the heat of the day disturbing an owl's rest!
We all know owls are nocturnal (which is the opposite to diurnal) in case you missed this word earlier! They roost during the day in dense foliage, between branches or perched up against a tree trunk, exactly where we found this chap.
This owl feeds on insects especially moths and beetles, maybe some small vertebrates. Hunts by flying from tree to tree often taking prey like moths on the wing, but also capturing prey on the ground. The Scops owl is found in the north and east of Madagascar.
Never would I have ever imagined developing an interest in "creatures" great and small! There is something to be said about the magic of this island.......but indeed these "creatures" must be fascinating if they are finding their way into my stories of imagination.
A sad note to end with..... this bright, happy little kitty, thoughtlessly adopted by an ex-pat family who are back in SA more than on this island has sadly been neglected, become pregnant, had her kittens while I was in SA, apparently lost them, I know not where, wanders around crying.......I feed her away from my house. There are no veterinarians here where I stay....all animals, even so called domestic ones are pretty much left to their own devices......It serves no purpose me bringing this cat into my home because I too leave the island periodically. So she continues to wander and cry out pitifully.
Just a cat I am,
Once a mommy cat, I believe.
Before I too was a kitty,
where did my mommy go?
I imagine I hear them.
I knew them briefly,
suckling, mewing, scratching.
So soft.
The gnawing in my tummy is unbearable
but far, far worse is the unknown. by HADAR
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