Photos: "Glam Rock" Lizard Among New Madagascar Species

Tiniest Mouse Lemur

Photograph courtesy Harald Schuetz, WWF Madagascar

Researchers discovered the mouse lemur Microcebus berthae in 2000 within the dry forests of Kirindy Mitea National Park on Madagascar's western coast.

At 3.6 inches (9.2 centimeters) in length and 1 ounce (30 grams) in weight, M. berthae is the tiniest of 15 known mouse lemur species. It's also the smallest primate in the world, according to WWF Madagascar's Ratsifandrihamanana.

This mouse lemur's behavior isn't well known, but some species of plants rely entirely on lemurs for their survival.

"One lemur species eats the seeds of a tree, digests the outer coating, and poops it out. The tree doesn't grow unless processed like this by the lemur," Ratsifandrihamanana said.

"Each species in a habitat plays a specific role in keeping the balance of that natural system. Losing one leads to disruptions."

(Related: "Lemur Forests Pillaged by 'Gangs' as Madagascar Reels.")

Published June 6, 2011

Bright Pink Snake

Photograph courtesy Sebastian Gehring, WWF Madagascar

The snake Liophidium pattoni grows to about 16 inches (40 centimeters) and preys on small rodents and lizards.

"The bright pink markings on its back make it one of the most colorful snakes in all of Madagascar. It's very unusual," Ratsifandrihamanana said.

L. pattoni was first reported in 2010 in Masoala National Park in northeastern Madagascar.

Unfortunately, the park has had a big uptick in illegal logging of rosewood, which is often sold in Chinese markets. The resulting destruction threatens the snake and its habitat, conservationists say.

(See "Madagascar's Logging Crisis: Separating Myth From Fact.")

Published June 6, 2011

See-Through Tree Frog

Photograph courtesy Axel Strauss, WWF Madagascar

Although the tree frog Boophis bottaeisn't as transparent as one recently found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, some of B. bottae's organs are visible beyond its see-through skin.

First reported in 2002, B. bottae is 1 of 69 amphibians discovered on Madagascar in the past 11 years.

"Madagascar ranks fourth in the world in terms of amphibian-species biodiversity," Ratsifandrihamanana said.

This 1.5-inch (4-centimeter) frog lives about 2,600 feet (800 meters) above sea level, where it lives along streams and rain forest borders.

(See related pictures: "Over 200 New Amphibians Found in Madagascar.")

Published June 6, 2011

Gecko in Disguise

Photograph courtesy Ben Smith, WWF Madagascar

If you look closely, a 5-inch (13-centimeter) gecko is hanging upside-down on this tree trunk.

The cork bark leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus pietschmanni), found in 2004, is considered under threat by the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Its entire genus is also in danger.

Despite CITES protections, at least a hundred geckos are smuggled out of Madagascar each year, according to WWF.

Published June 6, 2011

Long-Nosed Chameleon

Photograph courtesy Axel Strauss, WWF Madagascar

Little is known about the chameleon Calumma crypticum, which sports an unusually long nose.

An unknown number of this and other poorly understood creatures live in Madagascar, and hemorrhaging habitat may wipe them out before they're discovered at all, conservationists say.

"We're in a crisis. We need support to environmental programs here to resume. The government by itself does not have the means to do that," Ratsifandrihamanana said.

"We need a strong and concerted effort to reach the poorest communities. They depend the most on illegal exploitation of resources, because they have few if any alternatives."

(See Madagascar pictures.)

Published June 6, 2011