California Academy of Sciences, Rainforest Gallery

Dendrobates auratus, also known as the green and black poison dart frog or the green and black poison arrow frog, and sometimes mint poison frog (not to be confused with the mint-green color morph of Phyllobates terribilis), is a brightly colored member of the order Anura native to Central America and northwestern parts of South America. It is one of the most variable of all poison dart frogs next to Dendrobates tinctorius and some Oophaga spp.... less ↑

The strawberry poison frog or strawberry poison-dart frog (Oophaga pumilio or Dendrobates pumilio) is a species of small amphibian poison dart frog found in Central America. It is common throughout its range, which extends from eastern central Nicaragua through Costa Rica and northwestern Panama. The species is often found in humid lowlands and premontane forest, but large populations are also found in disturbed areas such as plantations. The strawberry poison frog is perhaps most famous for... less ↑

Langaha madagascariensis (commonly known as the Madagascar or Malagasy leaf-nosed snake) is a medium-sized highly cryptic arboreal species. It is endemic to Madagascar and found in deciduous dry forests and rain forests. There is considerable sexual dimorphism within the species; the males are dorsally brown and ventrally yellow with a long tapering snout while the females are mottled grey with a leaf shaped snout. less ↑

Scaphiophryne gottlebei, commonly known as the Malagasy rainbow frog, the ornate hopper, the rainbow burrowing frog, the red rain frog or Gottlebe's narrow-mouthed frog, is one of the most highly decorated of the Madagascan frogs. In 2008, the Malagasy rainbow frog was named as "being among the rarest and most remarkable amphibians" on the planet by the Zoological Society of London. Thousands are captured every year for the pet trade. less ↑

The Oustalet's or Malagasy giant chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti) is a very large species of chameleon that is endemic to Madagascar, but also has been introduced near Nairobi in Kenya (though its current status there is unclear). It occurs in a wide range of habitats, even among degraded vegetation within villages, but is relatively rare in primary forest. With a maximum length of 68.5 cm (27 in), it is often considered the largest species of chameleon, though some suggest... less ↑

Katria katria is a vulnerable species of cichlid fish from the Mangoro and Nosivolo Rivers in east-central Madagascar. It is the only species in the genus Katria, but was formerly included in Ptychochromoides. The only other single-species cichlid genus in Madagascar is Oxylapia, and it is restricted to the same region as Katria. In 2010, the Nosivolo River was designated as a Ramsar Site. The Katria reaches about 13 centimetres (5.1 in) in length. less ↑

The pinstripe menarambo or pinstripe damba (Paretroplus menarambo) is a species of cichlid fish from floodplain lakes in the Sofia River system in northwestern Madagascar. It is threatened by invasive species and over-fishing. It is part of a captive breeding program by public institutions like London Zoo and Bolton Museum and among fishkeeping hobbyists. It was formerly classified as extinct in the wild by the IUCN, but a remnant population has recently been discovered in Lake... less ↑

Ptychochromis grandidieri is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family endemic to river basins along a large part of the eastern coast of Madagascar, although it has been recorded as far as 100 km (62 mi) inland. Uniquely in the genus Ptychochromis, this species also occurs in brackish water. It reaches 21.3 cm (8.4 in) in standard length. It shares a large part of its range with a cichlid from another genus, Paretroplus polyactis. less ↑

Heterixalus madagascariensis (commonly referred to as the blue-back reed frog, or occasionally the powder-blue reed frog) is a species of frogs in the Hyperoliidae family endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, swamps, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, sandy shores, arable land, urban areas, heavily degraded former forests, ponds, irrigated land, and seasonally flooded... less ↑

Brookesia is a genus of chameleons found in Madagascar, that range from small to very small in size, and are known collectively as leaf chameleons (though this name also commonly is used for species in the genera Rieppeleon and Rhampholeon). It includes the species considered to be the world's smallest chameleons, and are also among the smallest reptiles. They are largely brown and most are essentially terrestrial. A significant percentage of the species in the genus... less ↑

The golden mantella (Mantella aurantiaca) is a small, terrestrial frog endemic to Madagascar. It has an extremely restricted distribution in three distinct areas centered around the town of Moramanga - Beparasy and Ambohibary Communes, Torotorofotsy Wetland northwest of Andasibe, and in the area of Ambakoana.Mantella aurantiaca is one of Madagascar's most threatened amphibian species due to its limited distribution in an area under tremendous anthropogenic pressure. It may also be threatened by over-collection for the pet... less ↑

Phelsuma grandis Gray, 1870, is a diurnal arboreal species of day gecko (Phelsuma spp.). These geckos are part of the Phelsuma group, which consists of in excess of 70 species and subspecies. They are commonly referred to as the Madagascar giant day gecko, due to their large size. They are found in areas of tropical and subtropical forest in northern Madagascar. P. grandis feeds on various invertebrates, very small vertebrates, and nectars. less ↑

Heterixalus alboguttatus is a species of frogs in the Hyperoliidae family endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, swamps, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, arable land, heavily degraded former forests, ponds, irrigated land, and seasonally flooded agricultural land. less ↑

Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus henkeli), is a gecko that is found on the island Nosy Bé near Madagascar, as well as on the mainland Madagascar itself, in the region of Ankaranafantsika. These geckos live an arboreal lifestyle, often venturing down to the ground only to lay eggs in soft soil and leaflitter. There are two different morphs of these geckos; the Nosy Bé form, and the mainland Madagascar form, and they can be distinguished by their... less ↑