acrylic on illustration board 18” x 24” $8,400 One of the most
variable species of Chameleon is Madagascar's Panther Chameleon
(Furcifer pardalis), whose colors range the spectrum,
from greens marked with yellow and violet, through browns, grays
and oranges—from the pure blue individuals on the island
of Nosy Bé to the spectacular wine-colored males of Nosy
Mangabé. This small island in the Bay of Antongíl,
just northwest of the main island, is heavily forested, much
more so than other areas typically inhabited by this species.
Another common Nosy Mangabé resident is the unmistakable
Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata), which moves through
the canopy in groups of up to 16 individuals in search of fruits,
which make up the bulk of its diet. Nosy Mangabé lies
at the northern extreme of this species' range, and here it seems
more social than further south. Incidental subjects here include
a Pollen's Vanga (Xenopirostris polleni), Flat-tailed
Gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus), arboreal hermit crab (Coenobita
sp.), an orb spider (family Araneidae) and a stick insect (subfamily
Pachymorphinae). |
