{"id":3916,"date":"2016-05-15T22:59:32","date_gmt":"2016-05-15T21:59:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/?p=3916"},"modified":"2025-10-16T14:46:37","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T13:46:37","slug":"madagascar-paying-attention-to-the-little-things","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/?p=3916","title":{"rendered":"Madagascar:  Paying Attention to the Little Things"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a title=\"Dragonfly\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/tazmpictures\/26369867014\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/26369867014_6ea265c121_z.jpg?resize=640%2C427&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Dragonfly\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n Walking through the jungle in Madagascar in search of lemurs, it&#8217;s easy to overlook the little things&#8230;and trample them underfoot. \u00a0Bugs, tiny plants, lizards. \u00a0There are upwards of 100,000 species of insects in Madagascar. \u00a0We didn&#8217;t see the <a href=\"http:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/naturelibrary\/images\/ic\/credit\/640x395\/g\/gi\/giraffe_weevil\/giraffe_weevil_1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">long-necked giraffe weevil<\/a>, but we saw lots of other interesting creepy crawlies. \u00a0For instance, this little guy, perched on the door of our hotel room. \u00a0Twice. \u00a0I don&#8217;t know if it&#8217;s a moth or what&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Moth\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/tazmpictures\/26369866614\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/26369866614_08dc8f4300_z.jpg?resize=640%2C425&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Moth\" width=\"640\" height=\"425\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Some other numbers to put it in perspective: \u00a080 species of stick insects. \u00a0100 species of cockroaches. \u00a0235 species of mosquito. \u00a0And the world&#8217;s smallest bee, at 2 mm in length.<\/p>\n<h6>4 following photos by Anne<\/h6>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1026.jpg?ssl=1\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3917\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3917\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1026.jpg?resize=600%2C357&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"DSC_1026\" width=\"600\" height=\"357\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1026.jpg?resize=600%2C357&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1026.jpg?resize=300%2C179&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1026.jpg?resize=768%2C457&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1026.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1026.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1023.jpg?ssl=1\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3918\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3918\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1023.jpg?resize=600%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"DSC_1023\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1023.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1023.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1023.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1023.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1023.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0147.jpg?ssl=1\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3919\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3919\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0147.jpg?resize=600%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"DSC_0147\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0147.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0147.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0147.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0147.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0147.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The butterfly above is one of the few critters I was able to identify. \u00a0It looks like a leaf with its wings closed, complete with the central vein, and when it opens its wings, they are bright white with black spots. \u00a0It&#8217;s the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.learnaboutbutterflies.com\/Africa%20-%20Protogoniomorpha%20anacardii.htm\" target=\"_blank\">clouded mother of pearl,<\/a> <span lang=\"en-gb\">Protogoniomorpha <\/span>anacardii,<span lang=\"en-gb\">\u00a0<\/span>which occurs all over Africa.<\/p>\n<p>Our guide also showed us a number of termite nests, which are built on the ground, and ant nests, which are attached to trees and can be as large as two to three feet in diameter. \u00a0And so I saw this one &#8211; I didn&#8217;t see a single ant &#8211; but I found the nest to be&#8230;.grotesque<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Ant Colony\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/tazmpictures\/26975167865\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/26975167865_a32f51e62a_z.jpg?resize=425%2C640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Ant Colony\" width=\"425\" height=\"640\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Ant Colony Closeup\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/tazmpictures\/26370947173\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/26370947173_589e06f1ec_z.jpg?resize=640%2C425&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Ant Colony Closeup\" width=\"640\" height=\"425\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Ant Colony Closeup\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/tazmpictures\/26941722356\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/26941722356_ac26225641_z.jpg?resize=640%2C425&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Ant Colony Closeup\" width=\"640\" height=\"425\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>And then there were the spiders. \u00a0Below is what I think is a type of &#8220;orb spider.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0964.jpg?ssl=1\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3920\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3920\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0964.jpg?resize=600%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"DSC_0964\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0964.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0964.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0964.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0964.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0964.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>And there were LOTS of spiders. \u00a0Crossing a footbridge, it is not uncommon to see that spiders have somehow strung their webs across the span between trees on opposite banks. \u00a0Some of them were pretty creepy looking spiders.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Spider\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/tazmpictures\/26369865654\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/26369865654_3dcfcf7f4e_z.jpg?resize=425%2C640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Spider\" width=\"425\" height=\"640\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Spider\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/tazmpictures\/26701727110\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/26701727110_a261fcbd0f_z.jpg?resize=640%2C425&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Spider\" width=\"640\" height=\"425\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Besides insects and arachnids, madagascar has a variety of <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.scientificamerican.com\/artful-amoeba\/seven-new-species-of-pill-millipede-found-in-madagascar\/\" target=\"_blank\">pill millipedes (Sphaerotherium)<\/a>. \u00a0I learned about them as we were driving up the rutted dirt road to Mantadia National Park, the driver suddenly slammed on the brakes and indicated there was something in the road. \u00a0I jumped out and there were a good two-dozen copper-green bugs that resembled two-inch giant roly-poly bugs. \u00a0Only they are millipedes that can roll up into a ball.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Pill Millipede\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/tazmpictures\/26906686381\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/26906686381_5244f413af_z.jpg?resize=640%2C425&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Pill Millipede\" width=\"640\" height=\"425\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>After snapping a couple of photos I had to spend a couple of minutes clearing them from the road so that they wouldn&#8217;t be crushed by the passing vehicle. \u00a0I wondered if the driver thought I was foolish, but when I got in, he said, &#8220;Thank you.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>There are some 260 species of reptiles in Madagascar, in just a few types &#8211; between 40 to 60 percent of the world&#8217;s chameleon species, a handful of tortoises, a bunch of geckos. \u00a0About 90 percent of the reptiles in Madagascar occur nowhere else. \u00a0One was the lined day gecko, phelsuma lineata lineata. \u00a0In Andasibe&#8217;s nature reserve, there were these plants that looked like agaves, but grew as tall as small trees, and each one seemed to have its own lined day gecko.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSCF8412.jpg?ssl=1\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3921\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3921\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSCF8412.jpg?resize=600%2C399&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"DSCF8412\" width=\"600\" height=\"399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSCF8412.jpg?resize=600%2C399&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSCF8412.jpg?resize=300%2C199&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSCF8412.jpg?resize=768%2C510&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSCF8412.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSCF8412.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0781.jpg?ssl=1\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3922\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3922\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0781.jpg?resize=600%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"DSC_0781\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0781.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0781.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0781.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0781.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0781.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>And then there are the birds. \u00a0Madagascar has about 280 species of birds, 100 of which are endemic. \u00a0Not as high a percentage as some of the other animal types &#8211; but birds do get around, what with wings and all! \u00a0I wanted to share a few of the bird photos Anne managed to grab. \u00a0The first is a red fody or Madagascar fody (Foudia madagascariensis); some sort of sunbird, and the\u00a0Madagascar kingfisher (Corythornis vintsioides). \u00a0I remember the guide getting particularly excited when we saw a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Madagascan_green_pigeon\" target=\"_blank\">Madagascan green pigeon<\/a>, saying that birders come for a week on end to try and spot this bird; as well as the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nuthatch_vanga\" target=\"_blank\">nuthatch vanga<\/a>. \u00a0We saw both but didn&#8217;t get any good photos.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0983.jpg?ssl=1\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3923\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3923\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0983.jpg?resize=600%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"DSC_0983\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0983.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0983.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0983.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0983.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0983.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0984.jpg?ssl=1\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3924\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3924\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0984.jpg?resize=600%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"DSC_0984\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0984.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0984.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0984.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0984.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0984.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0992.jpg?ssl=1\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3925\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3925\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0992.jpg?resize=600%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"DSC_0992\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0992.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0992.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0992.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0992.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_0992.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Finally, it&#8217;s not just the fauna that are so interesting in Madagascar &#8211; it&#8217;s also plants&#8230;and fungi!<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Likchen\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/tazmpictures\/26975162315\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/26975162315_aac363177d_z.jpg?resize=425%2C640&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Likchen\" width=\"425\" height=\"640\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Given that between 9,000 and 12,000 plant species occur only in Madagascar, we were keenly aware of the likelihood that we were seeing the plants all around us for the very first time. \u00a0Which seemed weird, but then again plants generally look pretty much the same. \u00a0 As do mushrooms, right?<\/p>\n<p>But in one of our hikes we ran into a particular fungus which caught our attention. \u00a0It&#8217;s not endemic to Madagascar, but it&#8217;s weird.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Stinkhorn Fungus\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/tazmpictures\/26370945353\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/26370945353_4d80a769c7_z.jpg?resize=640%2C425&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Stinkhorn Fungus\" width=\"640\" height=\"425\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>At the bottom of a stairway carved into one of the hills was this odd, 10-inch-tall mushroom with a delicate white, veil-like lattice cap, topped with a brown knob that had the full attention of about a dozen flies. \u00a0This is the\u00a0<em>phallus indusiatus,<\/em> or &#8220;stinkhorn fungus.&#8221; \u00a0They grow in tropical areas all over the world, but are interesting to see because they emerge from a small egg-shaped fungus in the ground, grow to the form in the photo, and then disappear back into the ground, all in the space of about 12 hours.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1113.jpg?ssl=1\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3926\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3926\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1113.jpg?resize=600%2C900&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"DSC_1113\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1113.jpg?resize=600%2C900&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1113.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1113.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1113.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1113.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1116.jpg?ssl=1\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3927\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3927\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1116.jpg?resize=600%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"DSC_1116\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1116.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1116.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1116.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1116.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/DSC_1116.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>One of many interesting things about this fungus is that the brown tip gives off the odor of rotting flesh, which attracts flies, which in turn aid in dispersing the spores. \u00a0The whole family apparently has this characteristic. \u00a0But interestingly, one of the close cousins of this fungus, found in Hawaii, has been identified as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dl.begellhouse.com\/download\/article\/6f3ed2921c9f3802\/IJM%200302-3%20(162).pdf\" target=\"_blank\">causing a spontaneous orgasm in 6 of 16 women who sniffed the odd mushroom!<\/a>\u00a0 We didn&#8217;t have the opportunity to test whether this is the case for this particular pungent cousin. \u00a0And despite its odd appearance, it seems that these are regularly dried and eaten in some markets&#8230;not something I would have guessed.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;d like to see mor photos of Madagascar, including life forms both great and small, you can refer to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/tazmpictures\/albums\/72157633123269905\" target=\"_blank\">this Flickr album.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Walking through the jungle in Madagascar in search of lemurs, it&#8217;s easy to overlook the little things&#8230;and trample them underfoot. \u00a0Bugs, tiny plants, lizards. \u00a0There are upwards of 100,000 species of insects in Madagascar. \u00a0We didn&#8217;t see the long-necked giraffe weevil, but we saw lots of other interesting creepy crawlies. \u00a0For instance, this little guy, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[641,107],"tags":[642,1819,1816,1817,1827,1829,1828,400,1823,1825,1826,718,1820,1831,1824,1821,1818,1822,441,1830],"class_list":["post-3916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-madagascar","category-wildlife","tag-andasibe","tag-ant-nest","tag-arachnids","tag-clouded-mother-of-pearl","tag-corythornis-vintsioides","tag-foudia-madagascariensis","tag-foudia-madagascariensis-some-sort-of-sunbird","tag-insects","tag-lined-day-gecko","tag-madagascar-fody","tag-madagascar-kingfisher","tag-mantadia","tag-orb-spider","tag-phallus-indusiatus","tag-phelsuma-lineata-lineata","tag-pill-millipede","tag-protogoniomorpha-anacardii","tag-sphaerotherium","tag-spider","tag-stinkhorn"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3916"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3916\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6568,"href":"https:\/\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3916\/revisions\/6568"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}