This frog was found down near the waterfall on September 26, 2010, it is Stumpffia helenae (Helen's stump nosed frog). It has short digits and slow movements, but most importantly, it is only known from the fragmented forest of Ambohitantely. It is a poorly known species that was only discovered in 2000 and is thought to build a foam nest in the leaf litter. It has never been found in habitats that have been altered by humans.


Helena’s stump-toed frog is considered to be in decline by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.It is  critically endangered because its area of occupancy is probably less that 10 km. All individuals are in a single population and its habitat is declining. This is another reason to conserve and reforest Ambohitantely.

Reduvids mating

A neat ricaniid hopper @ Ambohitantely

A splash of color on the forest floor

Animated leaf

Forest beauty

The diversity and magnificence of this place convinces me of the need to save it for the future. Let's do all we can to ensure it remains the heritage of the Malagasy people.

Snazzy hopper

Minute Ambohitantely orchid

Cetonid with mites

Male Deinopus sp

cryptic Katydid (Cricket)

Forest beauty

Magnificent red spider, Ambohitantely Photo John Leroy

Vine flowering in the forest, Photo John Leroy

Camponotus in the forest, Photo Len deBeer

weird white headed fly Ambohitantely. Photo Len deBeer

Lycopodium sp Ambohitantely, Photographer Len deBeer.

Phyllocrania in Ambohitantely,Photographer Len de Beer

Forest caterpilar. Photographer Len de Beer

Bake sale to raise funds for trees.

6th grade at the American school of Antananarivo.

Dypsis decipiens at Itremo, in Ambatofinandrahana

This palm is endemic to the highlands and the type locality seems to be Ambohitantely it certainly has a measure of protection there. Many thanks to Mijoro Rakotoarinivo for the superb photo.

Frogfinding in the forest.

Ambohitantely mayfly

forest beauty.

Lichen in the forest.

Fire damage to Ambohitantely

Notice the massive fire damage at the upper left of the image, this is exactly the type of activity that we need to avoid if we are going to save this forest in perpetuity.

This is what we need to prevent.

Evidence of fire damage to intact forest at Ambohitantely.

Minute spiny weevil

Amazing what you can find if you keep your eyes open.

Abrus sp in the forest.

Ambohitantely from the air, (thanks to Google Earth).

Note the elongated character of the forest and the areas around it that were clearly forested in the past.

Ambohitantely paddle catterpillar (Acronicta sp)

Brookesia sp in Ambohitantely.

Cynorkis orchid in Ambohitantely.

Ceropegia affinis(?) in the forest.

Phallus indusiata, the lacy stinkhorn fungus in Ambohitantely.

Ambohitantely Reduvid or Assasin bug.

A Pandanus weevil in Ambohitantely.

Feather legged spider Uloboridae in Ambohitantely.

Calumma gastrotaenia in Ambohitantely

Ceropegia sp in Ambohitantely

Forest edge beauty.

Sonja de Beer and Students at Ambohitantely

From left, Sonja, Tina , Michael and Matthew.

Team from the American school of Antananarivo

This group of students are concerned with the re-building and reforestation of Ambohitantely.

Mantidactylus cowanii, Ambohitantely

Ambohitantely leaf tailed gecko

Ambohitantely chameleon

Habenaria orchid in the forest.

I found this beauty in a swampy section of the forest.

Eriauchenius workmanii, Pelican spider.

one of the worlds weirdest spiders. An Ambohitantely citizen that only eats other spiders.

Tortoise beetle, Ambohitantely

Mantella crocea, Ambohitantely