<![CDATA[Aussie Pythons & Snakes - Field Herping and Reptile Studies]]> http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/ Where the serious herpers can show off their conquests. en Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:23:33 GMT vBulletin 10 http://www.aussiepythons.com/custom/i/misc/rss.png <![CDATA[Aussie Pythons & Snakes - Field Herping and Reptile Studies]]> http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/ Photos from the UAE, June 2013 http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-reptile-studies-5373/photos-uae-june-2013-a-205488/ Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:54:16 GMT I spent four nights in the UAE including two nights at Al Ain followed by the two nights in Oman (already posted) and then two nights at Fujairah. Here is a map that shows... I spent four nights in the UAE including two nights at Al Ain followed by the two nights in Oman (already posted) and then two nights at Fujairah. Here is a map that shows the areas where I searched for reptiles:

A: Al Ain area
B: Fujairah area
C: near Al Malaiha



Typical habitat to the north of Al Ain:


I arrived in Dubai at 4am, I hired a car and headed off immediately to Al Ain, about 2.5 hours southeast of Dubai. After stopping a few times, I reached dunes northwest of Al Ain at about 7:30am. It was hot already but not overly oppressive. I stopped and walked the dunes to see if any reptiles were active. I soon found these incredible Eastern Sand Skinks (Scincus mitranus). With the sun to my back, these skinks were conspicuous since their bodies glistened silver or gold in the early morning sun. These skinks are well named. They cruise along the surface of the sand with sometimes only the top of their heads and backs exposed. When frightened, the make a big "splash" and vanish instantly beneath the surface of the sand. The sand was extremely fine in texture and felt almost like powder.






Sandfish habitat:


Here is where one of the skinks made its dive:


Sandfish tracks:



When initially disturbed, they would usually partially submerge but keep their heads just above the surface:


I saw these skinks occasionally at night so they must change to the night shift while the days are so hot.


Flowers on the dunes:



These White-spotted Fringe-toed Lizards (Acanthodactylus schmidti) also lived on the dunes. To me, they looked a little like a cross between an Uma and a Aspidoscelis in form.



... habitat:




These Toad-headed Agamas were abundant on the dunes. I am not certain whether these were Spotted Toad-headed Agamas (Phrynocephalus maculatus) or Arabian Toad-headed Agama (Phrynocephalus arabicus). I think that I might have photos of both species that overlap in distribution.
Spotted Toad-headed Agama?





Arabian Toad-headed Agama?



Toad-headed Agama habitat:



Night walks on the dunes were very interesting. I found large numbers of these beautiful Arabian Sand Geckos (Stenodactylus arabicus) with webbed feet.






If you look closely, you can see fringe on the webbed feet:




I also saw several of these Dune Sand Gecko (Stenodactylus doriae).





... as found beneath a small shrub on the dunes. I suppose that this posture had something to do with thermoregulation. The sand was still hot so perhaps the gecko adopted this position to keep its body high off the sand.



Arabian Sand Boa (Eryx jayakari). This was one of the most exciting finds of the trip. It was on the surface around 9pm. When found it was slowly crawling along but after I flashed my light on it, it continously tried to dive beneath the surface. The lower jaw was reset for its sand burrowing life. I suppose that it must partially bury itself but leave its eyes above the surface. The seem so odd on top of the flat head. It was a gentle little snake and never attempted to bite.
... as discovered:









Tenebrionids:




Gerbil, maybe Cheesman's Gerbil. I saw these a few times in the dunes:




I stayed at the Mercure Hotel which is located at the summit of a mountain called Jebel Hafeet a little south of Al Ain






Mercure on top of Jebel Hafeet near Al Ain. I "roughed it" here for two nights. The hotel had a huge atrium that included several open sided tents with the low Arab furniture. At night, groups of Arabs would sit there and sip their sweet teas or coffees while chatting. Arabic music played softly in the background. It was really an exotic feeling walking through to the elevator.



The lawns of the the Mercure were green and attacted a few birds including this pair of Chukars:



Sinai Agama (Pseudotrapelus sinaitus), habitat and animal.




Egyptian Vultures were faily common on Jebel Hafeet:



Juvenile Hume's Wheatear in the gardens. I saw this species more often on the bare rocks of the mountain.



Mosque in a small town northwest of Al Ain.





... more tomorrow night ]]> Field Herping and Reptile Studies moloch05 http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-reptile-studies-5373/photos-uae-june-2013-a-205488/ Oman, June 2013 http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-reptile-studies-5373/oman-june-2013-a-205428/ Sat, 15 Jun 2013 11:30:45 GMT I am just back from a few days in the UAE and Oman. This report will cover my two nights in Oman. I stopped there while on the return trip from Spain where I worked for a... I am just back from a few days in the UAE and Oman. This report will cover my two nights in Oman. I stopped there while on the return trip from Spain where I worked for a couple of weeks. The UAE and Oman are great places for reptiles and have a good diversity of species. A new field guide to the reptiles will be out soon and that will help with identifications. For the moment, I use photos on the following birding site to help me sort out some of the species:

Photos-reptiles

With Dubai now becoming one of the world's major air hubs, access to these countries has become so much easier. The infrastructure of both countries is excellent and includes good highways/freeways. The people are also incredibly friendly and hospitable. For the second time now I was inivited to dinner with strangers who saw me out taking photos.

On this trip, I returned for two nights to the Bahla area in the Hajar Mountains of northern Oman. One day, I travelled to Jebel Akhdar and the next, I headed up Jebel Shams. In the map below, "A" is the Jebel Shams area and "B" the Jebel Akhdar area.



I visited Jebel Akhdar in February when the weather was cool so I was interested to see if there were many more animals active now in the summer. Here is a link to my February report:

Field Herp Forum • View topic - Photos from a quick trip to Oman

On this trip, the temperature in the lowlands was high and reached a peak of 43C one day. It was much cooler, though at the upper levels of the mountains known as Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams.

I visited scenic Jebel Akhdar area one afternoon. This area was especially nice in Feb when the air was clear and dry. On this trip, the skies were grey and the air was humid so scenery shots were difficult.
Jebel Akhdar area:



These little Rock Semaphore Geckos (Pristurus rupestris) were common in the above habitat. The were sunning in the open late in the day and usually would allow close approach.




At night, I tried a combination walking the wadis (drainages) and driving to find reptiles. Geckos on the first night were numerous. Strangely, I saw very little on the second night. I am not certain why but it may have been related to the slightly cooler, more humid conditions.

The most common gecko was one I quite like with its strange toes. I found Hasselquist's Fan-Footed (Ptyodactylus hasselquistii) on rock walls of the wadis, in a cave and even on the road.






habitat:



I returned to a small cave that I found in Feb. A small stream flows out of a fracture in the wall of the cave. This place was great for geckos and I usually saw at least 10 on a visit. The most common species was this large gecko with long legs. I believe that the males have a yellow tail and females a white tail.

cave (shot from Feb):


Asaccus platyrhynchus





I saw several of these smaller geckos on rocks near the cave as well as on a night walk further up Jebel Akhdar. I think that they are Gallagher's Leaf-toed Geckos (Asaccus gallagheri) and like A. platrhynchus, I think that the males had yellow tails whereas females had white tails.





Banded Ground Gecko (Bunopus spatalurus) were common, especially at the higher altitudes.




The following is what I assume to be Yerburis Leaf-Toed Gecko (Hemidactylus yerburii). These were big geckos that lived in the same places as Asaccus platyrhynchus.






Bosk's Fringe-toed Lizard (Acanthodactylus boskianus) were one of the fews species of diurnal lizards observed on the trip.
burrow:

habitat:

male




female


I found this Wadi Racer (Platyceps rhodorachis) at dusk as I walked from the road to the base of a wadi. It would hide under small stones and that was how I would lift these for a photo or two before the snake raced under new cover.



habitat:


Oman Saw-scaled Viper (Echis somanensis). I was very happy to find one of these on the road at night. It would side-wind on the road but crawled normally once on the rocky road shoulder. Unfortunately, it did not make a sound while I photographed it. I've read that saw-scales can make a loud, strange sound by rubbing their body scales together when alarmed.







Photos from the drive up Jebel Shams. This is a beautiful area and near the top of Jebel Shams is a small road that drives along a deep gorge known as the Grand Canyon of Oman. I did not go that far on this trip since conditions were hazy and would not have been good for photos. I plant to be back again in October so hopefully there will be less moisture in the air and I will be able to take a few shots of the place.



I saw these ancient ruins at the base of the acent to Jebel Shams. It looks like people have lived here for a very long time.


Sinai Agama (Pseudotrapelus sinaitus). I saw two of these spectacular lizards in the same area of Jebel Shams. Both were sitting at the tops of piles of rocks. They would do "push-ups" as I approached and then ran while I was still several meters from them.




This solifugid was enormous. Its legs had a spread similar to a tarantula. It was fast moving and was hard to follow. I attempted several photos but this was the best that I could come up with. Galeodes sp.?


Scarlet-tip (Colotis sp.)



Regards,
David ]]> Field Herping and Reptile Studies moloch05 http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-reptile-studies-5373/oman-june-2013-a-205428/ WA and Sydney Herping http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-reptile-studies-5373/wa-sydney-herping-205367/ Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:32:47 GMT A few of my more cool finds from this year Attachment 291218 (http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=291218) Inornate South Western Spiny Tailed... A few of my more cool finds from this year

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Inornate South Western Spiny Tailed Gecko (Strophurus spinigerus inornatus)
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Speckled Stone Gecko (Diplodactylus polyophthalmus)
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Red Crowned Toadlet
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Pogona minor mitchelli?
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]]> Field Herping and Reptile Studies BigDaddyO http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-reptile-studies-5373/wa-sydney-herping-205367/