Invertebrate Animals from Madagascar
Invertebrate animals make up about 95% of all animal species on Earth. Since the separation of Gondwana, an incredible number of invertebrates have evolved in Madagascar.
Today, no one really knows their number, but it is estimated that there are more than 100,000.
This brief section provides just a glimpse into the bizarre and wonderful forms found in Madagascar.
An observer will encounter many of these animals in the forests of Madagascar.
It is a fascinating world waiting to be explored!
It is always useful to look under rotten stones and logs (while still being careful of scorpions and centipedes), carefully inspecting the leaves and logs, especially to search for mimetic insects.
The Phasmids (Stick Insects) of Madagascar
Phasmids can be mistaken for small branches and moss, making them very difficult to spot.
The stick insects of Madagascar are very poorly known, as they have been neglected for almost a century.
General Overview of the Diversity of Stick Insects in Madagascar
With probably less than a quarter of the described native species, the stick insects in Madagascar are very poorly known.
The Madagascar stick insects are still among the least known insects. Ninety species have been cited on the island, but due to errors in geographical distribution and established synonyms, the actual number of known species is closer to seventy.
However, this does not reflect the richness of the Malagasy fauna, for which I know more unpublished species than described ones and for which I estimate the total number of species to be close to three hundred: The general collection of the entomological laboratory of the Paris Museum contains dozens of unpublished species, and each field mission reveals its share of novelties.
In addition, many Regions have never been explored for this species of insects.
Diversity of stick insects in Madagascar
Stick insects in Madagascar are divided into four groups: Achriopterini, Anisacanthididae, Antongiliinae, and Damasippoidididae.
The Antongiliinae and Damasippoididae are endemic to the Big Island, while the Achriopterini and Anisacanthidae are endemic to Madagascar and the Comoros.
The blue stick insects
The Blue Phasma (Achrioptera fallax) is native to Madagascar. It stands out from other stick insects due to its large size (26 cm in females) and the metallic blue color of the males.
To adapt for SEO, the title and headings have been slightly modified to include relevant keywords. The content has been structured with appropriate HTML tags for better readability and search engine optimization. To defend themselves, these stick insects will try to trap their attackers between their legs and their spiky body. They can also emit a sound with their wings.
Madagascar is known as a biodiversity hotspot.
The fauna of the stick insects of the Big Island is an excellent example of this fact: While this fauna is still poorly known with less than 75 described species, scientists have been able to count almost 120 species through preliminary studies.
While many specimens are still waiting to be explored in museum collections.
This is evidence that the inventory of Madagascar’s forests is far from complete.
These facts suggest the existence
Madagascar is home to at least 400 Malagasy species.
Madagascar is also home to three naturalized, or introduced species.
Millipedes and Centipedes
Millipedes and Giant African Millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas)
Archispirostreptus gigas is an arthropod from the class Diplopoda (millipedes). The giant African millipede, as it is called, is the longest of the millipedes: the largest recorded individuals measure 38.5 cm in length and 2.1 cm in diameter, with 256 legs.
In the tropical and humid parts of Madagascar, they are widespread, rarely found above 1,000 meters.
These arthropods are completely harmless and mainly live in forests, but also in coastal areas as long as they have at least a few trees.
Archispirostreptus gigas is black in color, but there are also beautifully orange & black striped specimens and another species that are green.
The red-legged fire millipede (Aphistogoniulus-corallipes)
This giant millipede, endemic to Madagascar, is threatened with extinction. Today, it only lives in a 10 km² forest fragment that is under severe pressure from slash-and-burn agriculture and deforestation.
The red-legged fire millipede is a myriapod. Therefore, it belongs to the large family of arthropods, such as spiders, bark beetles – often confused with millipedes -, insects, and scorpions.
His body is long, measuring between 9.8 and 13 cm in adult individuals and between 8 and 10 mm in width.
It consists of 48 to 50 rings – otherwise rings with feet – which are paired together: this is known as diplopodia. The red-legged fire millipede therefore belongs to the Diplopoda, not to the Chilopoda, the other group of millipedes.
Zoosphaerium neptunus
Zoosphaerium neptunus is the largest millipede pill in the world, measuring 90 mm (3.5 in) in length. They are endemic to Madagascar, and it is known that they swarm at certain times of the year.
The Zoosphaerium neptunus Zoosphaerium neptunus is an impressive Malagasy myriapod that feeds on algae, moss, and lichens in the wild, and on dead leaves, dead wood, and various plants in captivity. When threatened, they roll into a ball protected by their shell.
The first records of mass occurrences (swarming behavior) in giant pill millipedes are reported from Madagascar. Swarm behavior in the Sphaerotheriida order appears to be limited to a single species out of more than sixty described Malagasy species, the Zoosphaerium neptunus.
The world’s largest known giant pill millipede is in pill form.
Rolled-up individuals can reach the size of a baseball, tennis ball, or small orange, but only females reach this giant size, with males being smaller than a ping pong ball.
The individual swarm is limited to specimens of a single related size (and presumably age) class; often only sexually mature individuals; swarm behavior is obligatory, with most, if not all, individuals of the species in a particular area participating in such swarms; Z. neptunus specimens are rarely, if ever, found outside of a swarm.
The reasons for such mass events in millipedes are currently poorly understood.
However, a possible explanation for the mass occurrences in Z. neptunus could be a higher survival rate through predation combined with a close sibling relationship among members of a swarm.
The almost obligatory swarming behavior of the widespread Z. neptunus species could pose a conservation issue, as entire swarms and thus an entire generation in a specific area can be lost due to anthropogenic interventions such as excessive collection for the pet trade, habitat fragmentation, or vehicles.
Centipede
In the eastern rainforests, we can mention the presence of centipedes that are very colorful (yellow, red), a characteristic that indicates that these invertebrates are toxic to potential predators.
Where to find them in Madagascar?
Scolopendrians generally live in areas that are tendentially humid, with a particularly hot climate, meaning they like tropical places, so they can be found outside the highlands of Madagascar on all coasts.
You can encounter them in forested areas, tall grass, but also under rocks or in cracks in walls, and occasionally even in houses.
Scorpions
Scorpions are among the few animals that are dangerous to humans.
They are commonly found in rocky areas, under logs, and in dark, sheltered places.
Scorpions in Madagascar are active at night, while they hide under rocks and in crevices during the day. The most common species belong to the genus Grosphus.
There are 52 species of scorpions in Madagascar, whose sting is painful but not deadly. The largest scorpion in Madagascar, found on the island of Nosy Be, is non-venomous.
Scorpions from Madagascar are all endemic. They inhabit various habitats and are distributed throughout the island. In Madagascar, encountered scorpions are. Scorpions are generally not deadly. Paradoxically, the most dangerous species do not give the most painful stings.
Scorpions have two large pincer-like pedipalps and a long, segmented abdomen that ends in a venomous sting, which is sometimes used to kill prey, but mostly for self-defense.
They seek shelter in rock crevices or caves during the day and hunt at night, ranging in size from 6 mm to 20 cm, with the widely distributed species Scorpio viatoris found in Africa. They are animals that easily adapt to their environment and can withstand extremely high temperatures.
The scorpion is active at night. The rest of the time, it remains under rocks.
Hidden in rock crevices, the Opisthacanthus madagascariensis species only stings when threatened.
Opisthacanthus madagascariensis
A new species is described, Opisthacanthus titanus sp. n., known from the Torotorofotsy forest in eastern Madagascar.
The new species shows affinities to Opisthacanthus madagascariensis Kraepelin, 1894 known from the dry areas in the west of the island and Opisthacanthus, known only from the far southeast of the island.
The new species and O. madagascariensis have a similar external morphology, but their morphometric values are significantly different. Additionally, O. madagascariensis is found exclusively in the. In the dense thickets and open tree formations, the new species originates from the Torotorofotsy rainforest.
The total number of species in Madagascar has now increased to twelve.
Madagascar Moths & Butterflies
Madagascar is home to about 4000 species of moths and 300 diurnal species. Butterflies began to evolve long before the 
development of butterflies and were likely part of the Gondwanan fauna. However, moths arrived in Madagascar through diffusion from the African and Asian masses.
Butterflies are very abundant once you move away from.
Butterflies from Madagascar – More than three thousand species
More than three thousand species of butterflies, most of them endemic, have been observed in Madagascar. Their preferred habitat is the moist forests bordering the east coast of the Big Island.
These wonders of nature with magnificent colors and surprising shapes have funny names like Comet, Swallowtail, Cape Diego, Urania.
Chrysiridia rhipheus
Chrysiridia rhipheus is a species of diurnal Lepidoptera of the family Uraniidae and the genus Chrysiridia, one of the three genera of Uraniidae, which are found in cities. Day and night they come in various shapes and colors.
Butterflies are composed of butterflies. The imago of this species is sometimes considered one of the most beautiful butterflies in the world.
Its wingspan varies between 70 and 90 mm and can exceptionally reach 110 mm.
The upper side of the forewings has a black base color with golden markings, while the hindwings have a black base, a white, golden, and red central area, and several tails.
The underside of the forewings is light blue with black markings, while the hindwings have a small gold-green base and a wide band of gold.
And then in the anal area are shimmering red and pink. The tails are light blue and white.
These colors depend on the polarization of light.
It does not undergo diapause, but populations are more numerous from March to August.
The caterpillar stage lasts 2 to 3 months depending on the season.
It is a migration between the forests in the west and east of the island.
The Comet Moth or Argema mittrei
The Comet Moth or Argema mittrei is likely the largest butterfly in the world.
This impressive Lepidoptera has a yellow color and reddish-brown spots on each of its wings. The male, larger than the female, has a wingspan of up to 20 cm.
The female Madagascar comet moth, also known as Argema mittrei, can measure up to thirty centimeters.
The Madagascar comet moth, also known as Argema mittrei, is a butterfly from the Saturniidae family. It is one of the endemic species of Madagascar.
Originating from the rainforests of Madagascar, it is one of the largest butterflies in the world. In fact, it can measure between 12.5 and 30 cm in wingspan, with a tail. It is one of the largest silk-producing butterflies in the world.
The larvae spend 2 months of their lives in the caterpillar stage, feeding on. Fresh eucalyptus, liquidambar, and mimosa leaves are carefully selected by the Madagascar comet moth before it encloses itself in a cocoon to undergo its final transformation. It takes no less than two to six months to achieve the aesthetic perfection that characterizes its species.
The adult life of the Madagascar comet moth lasts only 4 or 5 days, dedicated to reproduction. It does not feed because its proboscis is atrophied. Despite being a moth, with some luck, you can observe the Madagascar comet moth in the early morning.
Unfortunately, all these wonderful creatures are now endangered due to excessive collection for commercial purposes and their habitat loss.
The territory shrinks every year like a skin of sorrow due to deforestation.
Leeches
When walking in the rainforests, it is possible (not to say common) to be disturbed by leeches.
They are small and do not live directly in the water, but take advantage of the very high humidity by attaching themselves to the leaves of trees. There, they wait for a warm-blooded victim.
Even though their bite may seem unpleasant, it is completely painless and poses no danger to humans.
To protect yourself, you must wear boots or shoes that are well closed. Once a leech is attached, it can be easily removed by applying salt or a flame to it.
When a spider has eaten, it can grow up to four times its normal size. This phenomenon is commonly observed in the mangroves. The Ranomafana National Park is particularly affected by this, but it can be assumed to occur in all rainforests.
Spiders from Madagascar
The last development of arachnological knowledge in Madagascar dates back to about seventy years. In 1948, J. Millot conducted an inventory of the arachnid fauna of the Big Island, realizing how insufficiently known this fauna still is.
Today, our conclusions will remain the same, even though numerous surveys and systematic hunting have significantly expanded our documentation of arachnids in the last two decades. Important collections are currently being examined, and it will be necessary to wait for the publication of their results before commenting on the value of the groups studied.
Pelican Spiders – Cannibals without Webs!
Pelican spiders (Eriauchenius milajaneae) do not weave webs, they owe their name to the pelican bird because of their unusually long necks and long claws, called chelicerae, which resemble a beak.
It is a rather surprising morphology that allows them to attack and immobilize their prey.
And as prey, this spider only hunts its own kind, as the pelican spider is a cannibal.
These newly identified spiders are true living fossils.
In fact, their ancestors have been found in fossils that are 165 million years old, and scientists had assumed that these species were extinct. Therefore, these living spiders now belong to the “Lazarus” kind, a type that is so named because they have returned from the dead.
Golden Nephila (Trichonephila inaurata)
Like all spiders of this family, the golden nephila has a unique morphology that allows it to thrive in its environment.
Nephila is a spider with a very elongated body and very long legs. Its legs are orange or red, and its abdomen (or opisthosoma) is golden or black. It is a passive and harmless spider, but its bite can be painful.
In adulthood, there is a significant sexual dimorphism in favor of females. Their bodies can measure several centimeters (between 6 and 13), while the male’s body averages only five millimeters or even just over a centimeter. The wingspan of the female is also larger than that of the male. Female golden Nephila spiders can reach about ten centimeters in size, while males barely exceed four centimeters.
The web of the golden Nephila is always tilted about 15° from the vertical, ensuring that the prey remains trapped and unable to escape. The female spider vibrates her web with her legs when she senses any movement, possibly to pinpoint the location of the captured insect.
The male spider lives in the female’s web, usually on the opposite side, feeding on the prey.
Spider silk – a precious and exquisite natural product
25,000. Spiders are necessary to produce 30 grams of spider silk.
The golden Nephila is an impressive spider, measuring up to 20 cm with a yellow and black body.
It can weave up to 12m of silk threads daily: a very special thread material, as it is so flexible that it can stretch very far without breaking.
Its resistance is so great that the web of the golden Nephila can stop a bird in its flight.
This weaving project Spider silk from Madagascar was harvested in 2012. This unique silk is the result of a collaboration between British Simon Peers, American Nicholas Goodley, skilled technicians from Madagascar, and one million spiders!
For five years, these spiders provided their silk to create this 4-meter long golden silk. The silk threads are extracted from 24 spiders simultaneously using a manual machine. A team of 70 people was recruited to capture the spiders and release them back into their natural habitat once the threads were collected. On average, between 23,000 and 25,000 spiders are needed to produce 30 grams of silk.
Spider silk technique inspired by the
Landy-Tradition
In the 1880s, Jesuit missionary Paul Camboué, a member of the Malagasy Academy and passionate arachnologist, constructed a machine in Antananarivo to harvest the threads of the golden Nephila spider. At that time, there was a workshop and a school in Madagascar specializing in silk techniques, inspired by traditional weaving methods. Unfortunately, this project proved to be very expensive, and the industrial use of these spiders led to the spread of mosquitoes, carriers of malaria.
In 1898, Mr. Noguè, one of the directors of the [original URL], decided to… [content continues] The vocational school for weaving was tasked with creating a new extractor for spider silk.
In Lyon, tests were conducted on spider eggs sent by Gal Gallieni, but the spiders did not survive the climate and journey, causing the project to be abandoned.
The last pieces made of spider silk date back to the late 19th century and were created for the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris: a set of bed canopies made entirely of spider silk from Madagascar. Unfortunately, this piece is now lost.
In 2011 and 2012, the golden spider silk cloak was crafted. Peers and Goodley are exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and at the Art Institute of Chicago.
The newly discovered Darwin Spider (Caerostris Darwini)
The Madagascan spider Caerostris Darwini, discovered last year in the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, ranks first on a list of the world’s most spectacular new species compiled by the International Institute for Species Exploration.
The Madagascan spider is far from being the largest in the world, but it is its web that sets it apart from others. Despite its size, the Darwin Spider is able to build an impressive 80-foot web. Due to its small size, the solitary Caerostris darwini spider, also known as the “Darwin spider”, is able to weave the strongest webs in the world, as well as the largest, which can reach up to 2.5 square meters in size, with threads up to 25 meters long.
Its gigantic traps can catch several dozen insects, enough to feed its small body, which is no more than two centimeters long. The Caerostris darwini spider has an average length of 6 mm in males and 2 cm in females.
This Madagascan spider was discovered in 2010 by a team of scientists from the University of Puerto Rico in the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park.
Discovered and classified by the International Institute for Species Exploration, the most surprising spider in the world is found in Madagascar.
Many other species of spiders can be observed in Madagascar, including Acrosomoides acrosomoides, the tiny jumping spider, crab spiders, green lynx spiders, and many more.
The best observations can be made in Ranomafana and Andasibe.
Beetles from Madagascar
Among the beetles of Madagascar, there are also some natural eccentricities to consider.
The Giraffe Beetle (Trachelophorus giraffa) is a long-necked beetle belonging to the Attelabidae family. The neck of the males is larger than that of the females, up to almost three times. The Giraffe Beetle, also known as the Giraffenkäfer, is a species endemic to Madagascar. Despite its French name, it is actually a weevil beetle. The Giraffe Beetle is a few centimeters long beetle (15-25 mm for a male, 12-55 mm for a female) with the unique feature of having a particularly long neck with a single hinge, which gave it its name.
This disproportionate neck is used to fight for a female during real tournaments. The Giraffe Beetle feeds on… The giraffe beetle feeds exclusively on plants, specifically on Melastom leaves, more precisely on Dichaetanthera cordifolia and Dichaetanthera arborea. These same leaves are used by the female to build a nest for its egg (see protection of the young). Surprisingly, the giraffe beetle has no known predators and does not attack other animals. The female constructs a nest using the half-cut leaf of a small tree (Dichaetanthera cordifolia), which she wraps around herself with her strong legs. By strategically cutting the leaf lengthwise and making small notches on the edges, she creates a kind of “zipper” that closes the building. Place and position that facilitates folding.
Then she lays her single egg by placing it in the formed tube.
While she is busy, the male stays nearby to exclude other potential competitors and drive away small parasitic arthropods that could enter the nest.
Once the nest is completed, the female lays a single egg inside before finally sealing the nest and cutting off the stem of the leaf used, so that.
The work falls to the ground where the larva develops into an adult.
Each of the nests created by each female seems to have its own unique appearance.
There is suspicion that small insects may consume the eggs in their nest on the ground, prompting the male to guard its offspring for as long as necessary, but this has not been proven yet.
