<![CDATA[Aussie Pythons & Snakes - Field Herping and Reptile Studies]]> http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/ Where the serious herpers can show off their conquests. en Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:01:09 GMT vBulletin 10 http://cdn.aussiepythons.com/i/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[Aussie Pythons & Snakes - Field Herping and Reptile Studies]]> http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/ mt baw baw herping http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-and-reptile-studies-5373/mt-baw-baw-herping-131911 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:17:19 GMT hi again im going to mount baw baw tomorro mushroom rocks to be exact and i was just wondering if anyone else on this site has gone there and what i might be able to expect.... hi again
im going to mount baw baw tomorro mushroom rocks to be exact and i was just wondering if anyone else on this site has gone there and what i might be able to expect.
i realy wanna find some elapids. or dragons if theres any there.
ill post some pics tomorro night.

thanks in advance

]]> Field Herping and Reptile Studies geckos_are_great http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-and-reptile-studies-5373/mt-baw-baw-herping-131911 Another first for me, eastern blue tongue lizard. http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-and-reptile-studies-5373/another-first-for-me-eastern-blue-tongue-lizard-131904 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:35:10 GMT Yesterday my wife and I were out herping and everything was quiet. We found a lace monitor and a heap of skinks but that was it. Then as we were driving home, an eastern... Yesterday my wife and I were out herping and everything was quiet. We found a lace monitor and a heap of skinks but that was it.
Then as we were driving home, an eastern blue tongue lizard walked across the road, not too far from home either, only about 10 minutes away which was a real highlight for us both.
We have seen hundreds of blotched bluetongues this summer, but no easterns until yesterday.
I use to see a lot of these years ago, but the last few years, since i have been getting more involved in reptiles, and carrying a camera with me, i havnt seen a single one.
Unfortunately the only photos of it are of us holding it. I would much prefer to get a more natural photo of him on a log or rock, but as i was walking towards him he was bolting for the long grass, so if i didnt pick him up for a happy snap i would of missed out!!!
We photographed him for a couple of minutes only, then i sat him on a log to try and get a more natural photo, but he took off straight under the log!!LOL.....as i expected he would.









]]> Field Herping and Reptile Studies reptilerob http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-and-reptile-studies-5373/another-first-for-me-eastern-blue-tongue-lizard-131904 lizard ID http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-and-reptile-studies-5373/lizard-id-131846 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:35:01 GMT Hi, i was wondering if anybody would be so kind as to I.D. this little dragon for me. It was photographed by my wife Rett82 about 5 years ago in the Victorian alps. (mt... Hi, i was wondering if anybody would be so kind as to I.D. this little dragon for me. It was photographed by my wife Rett82 about 5 years ago in the Victorian alps. (mt buffalo to be exact).
It was photographed at an altitude of around 900metres above sea level on a north facing rock face.
Its not the best quality photo, but its all i have sorry.
Is it a mountain dragon?


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]]> Field Herping and Reptile Studies reptilerob http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-and-reptile-studies-5373/lizard-id-131846 Peruvian Amazon 7 -- Allpahuayo Mishana http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-and-reptile-studies-5373/peruvian-amazon-7-allpahuayo-mishana-131839 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:21:30 GMT My friends and I arrived in Iquitos four days before the start of the Margarita Tour. We also stayed an extra day after the completion of the tour. We spent most of these... My friends and I arrived in Iquitos four days before the start of the Margarita Tour. We also stayed an extra day after the completion of the tour. We spent most of these extra days out in the white sand forests of the Allpahuayo Mishana Reserve. This reserve was approximately 45 minutes by taxi from Iquitos and was along the Nauta Road. Allpahuayo Mishana was one of the few places near Iquitos that supported primary forest although this was stunted due to the nutrient deficient sands.

While the trees may not have been all that impressive, the bird life was superb and quite different to what we found at Madre Selva or Santa Cruz. The reserve was particularly good for forest birds and many of these were white sand specialists. Some of the birding highlights included our first Paradise Tanagers, Swallow Tanagers, Swallow-wings, Black Caracaras, Gould's Jewelfront, Brown-banded Puffbirds, Yellow-billed Nunbird, White-necked Puffbirds, Paradise Jacamar, Yellow-billed Jacamar, Ancient Antwren, Yellow-browed Antbird, Plain-throated Antwren, Zimmer's Antwren, Dwarf Tyrant Manakin, Sulphur-bellied Tyrant Manakin, Spangled Cotinga and many more. Especially memorable to me was the incredible call of Screaming Pihas. We heard them repeatedly but never actually saw the drably coloured birds. For those of you unfamiliar with this amazing sound, have a listen to the recording by Don Jones at this site. To me, it is one of the defining bird songs of South America.

xeno-canto :: bird sounds from around the world :: screaming piha


Although this site is not on the Margarita Tours itinerary, I would encourage those of you who go on the tour to also spend a little time out here. There was basic camping available but it was much easier to stay in Iquitos and arrange a taxi pickup at 5am for the trip out to the reserve. Our taxi was not expensive and the driver was reliable and always returned at the designated time.

If any of you head out that way, watch on the right for the km 25 roadside marker. Near this marker was a trail that headed into the white sand forest. This trail was about a kilometer or so before the main entrance to the reserve. We walked it several times but found it to be the best for birds soon after sunrise.

Vegetation along the trail included many myrmecophytic melastomes. Ants that lived within the melastomes were tiny but they could sting! I experienced their stings a few times when I was careless about where I walked while chasing antbirds.






The sand forests were the home of an absolutely stunning amphibian, the Red-backed Poison Frog (Dendrobates reticulatus). These frogs were usually seen as they sat atop leaves or fallen logs. They were tiny animals that also were wary. I was surprised at how far they could jump and I lost them often when then jumped a time or two and then plunged beneath the leaf litter. One afternoon, Ted spotted one of these several meters up in a tree. The frog hopped downwards from leaf to leaf and soon reached the leaf litter. These little frogs could obviously ascend into the canopy when they so desired.






There were several side trails off the main trail from km 25. We always had a guide here and I think that one would be important since there was a maze of trails. The forest was dense, the sky overcast and I soon became completely confused as to the direction that we were travelling.

The habitat along the side trails was rich with orchids and bromeliads. Our guide, Percy, mentioned the name for this stunted, epiphyte laden forest but I cannot remember it now.
1) Orchid
2) Orchid
3) flowering bromeliad




Ted and Percy, our Peruvian bird guide, in the stunted forest:


... terrestrial bromeliad:



We found an impressive beetle while we walked here. It crashed down from the canopy and thumped onto the trail in front of us. I was told that this is a Ceiba Borer, an enorums Buprestid.



Steams in the forest were heavily stained with tannins:



I found a damselfly with a red-banded wings that matched the colour of the flowering bromeliads:



Cocha Whiptail (Kentropyx altamazonica):



After returning to the road from the km 25 trail, we walked to the main entrance to the reserve. Birding along the road was always good and we saw species such as Gilded Barbets, Yellow-naped Woodpeckers, Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch, White-winged Parakeets, Cobalt-winged Parakeets, White-necked Puffbirds, Greyish Saltators and others.

Photo of our guide, Percy, and a ranger from the reserve (photo compliments of Ed):


Roadside insects were also interesting:
1) beautiful Chrysomelid
2) enormous hemipteran
3) dragonfly
4) rainbow grasshopper








These roadside trees had huge leaves:



... interesting flowers. The second one was a nice passion flower.




Scarlet Peacocks and Tropical Buckeyes were numerous on roadside flowers.




Main entrance sign along the highway:







We followed a trail that eventually reached a fruit orchard:



I found several of these amazing parasol-like fungi:




1) flower -- any ideas as to the family?
2) giant armoured millipede



I was told that this flower has the name "Hot Lips". I wonder why?



These butterflies with translucent wings were abundant. We saw them often as they flitted low across the trail.




Although not dazzling like the Dendrobates, I still liked the colour pattern of these Spotted-thighed Poison Frog (Epipedobates femoralis)





Ted took this photo of Cam, Ed and me:




Dick examined my photo and suggested that this may be an Ucayali Rocket Frog (Colostethus (Allobates) marchesianus). I only saw this single individual.



Crested Forest Toads (Bufo margaritifer complex) were encountered from time to time.






Bridled Forest Gecko (Gonatodes humeralis): We saw a few usually low on the trunks of trees.





This adult anole was most likely a Blue-lipped Forest Anole (Anolis bombiceps). I stopped to photograph a spider on the trail and then became aware of the lizard that was almost invisible as it stood in the leaf litter. Its colouration was remarkable ... so cryptic.




... juvenile that was climbing in a small shrub.




Anolis chrysolepis?



Anolis sp: Any ideas?



Western Leaf Lizard (Stenocercus fimbiratus): These lizards also blended well with the leaf litter. We saw a few but no doubt walked by others.




Common Swamp Snake (Liophis reginae): Unfortunately, I only have these bad photos of the snake. We had a ranger from the reserve with us and I did not know whether he would allow me to pose the snake. Later on the walk, the range was caught frogs for me to photo so handling the snake would have been okay.





Birding in the fruit orchard was very productive. We saw some lovely sights here including: Spangled Cotinga, Lettered Aracari, Black-headed Parrot, Magpie Tanagers, Black-tailed Tityras, Yellow-tufted Woodpeckers and Red-stained Woodpeckers. Swallow-wings were common on posts within the clearing as were Smooth-billed Anis. We also tried all sorts of strange, exotic fruits. Most were nice although completely different to our normal western fruits.





We also visited Allpahuayo Mishana at night with some of the other members of the Margarita Tour group.


We only found a single snake and this was a DOR juvenile Common Mussurana (Clelia clelia):



I like the eyes of this frog. Dick suggested its identity to be an Osteocephalis sp. cf fuscifacies.



Turnip-tailed Geckos (Thecadactylus rapicauda) were seen on structures near the headquarters.



Tropical House Gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia): We also saw a few of these on buildings at the headquarters.



We found this sleeping Morpho on a branch that was overhanging a creek. It inner wings were partially black and then a shimmering blue.




Plant Hopper (Lystra lanata, a fulgorid): Carl Olson of the Univ of Arizona has kindly helped Young and I with the identifications of a number of unusual insects.



Wax-tailed Plant Hopper (Lystra pulverulenta, a fulgorid): I think this to be an incredible insect. Carl and one of his colleagues supplied the following information:
Quote:
The females produce waxes in many species to cover the oviposition site or even the eggs to repel water, protect from temps, etc. They were saying this wax reflects UV which insects can see, and this may be a recognition for mating, etc., too. The eye thing is bizarre. I noticed that too, and will see what more Lois O'Brien can tell me about it. Apparently they have pores all over that allow secretion of wax, and some specialized structures for some of the fancy waxes produces. That is why they even cover the wings in Lystra. A relative the whitefly actually breaks off pieces with legs and spreads over body after emergence as adult.
... and
Quote:
in some species both sexes produce "wax", in others, only the female and nymphs ever seem to have any. My theory is that somehow the wax glands developed (lots of steps there!) and females often use the stuff to cover eggs, as it seems to deflect some parasites and predators. So it would be helpful to some nymphs, too. Sometimes there is even wax on the wings-I've never tried to look for the wax glands there-but we have a couple of species that are all male, and some that are all female, and one of the differences is where the wax is produced, producing a color pattern (in species in Lystra?) so maybe if we ever see a pair together or even on the same tree, we can associate them. It is reported to help some species slip out of spider webs. It is supposed to reflect sunlight, so when Cerogenes fly above the treetops in the evening they remind people on the ground of large snowflakes flashing.
... and, when I asked about the "double" compound eyes:
Quote:
I did learn about the eyes though. The upper red object is indeed the compound eye, but the lower red bulb is part of the antenna. Fulgoroids have a round bulbous first segment with a little hair projecting from it. Also there is some red below on the front of head but that is just pattern.



tail-less whip scorpion



Micrathena sp.



Tropical House Gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia): We saw a few of these on the walls of the inner courtyard of our hotel, Hospedaje de Pascana, in Iquitos:



Common Whipsnake (Chironius exoletus): I was jet-lagged when I first arrived in Peru so I was usually up and about at 4am. I had also talked with the hotel staff about the Margarita Tours. Early one morning before sunrise, I heard a knock on the door. The manager was distressed about finding a snake in his garden and he asked me to catch it. After a little searching, I found this beautiful Whipsnake. It certainly was responsive. It reminded me of a Leptophis the way that it would gape.







Regards,
David

]]> Field Herping and Reptile Studies moloch05 http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-and-reptile-studies-5373/peruvian-amazon-7-allpahuayo-mishana-131839 New Britain revisited http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-and-reptile-studies-5373/new-britain-revisited-131744 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:28:09 GMT In January this year I went back to PNG to spend a month in West New Britain compiling a some bird lists for several sites around the Walindi Plantation Resort. The idea was... In January this year I went back to PNG to spend a month in West New Britain compiling a some bird lists for several sites around the Walindi Plantation Resort. The idea was I (and my friends) recieved food and board at the resort in exchange for alot of bird survey work. Easier said than done as the only time we could all go was during the wet season (uni/work commitments are very annoying).

I'd never experienced such powerful, unremitting rain in my life (I've been in the Kimberley in the wet season). Fortunately the rain broke for several hours a day and during this time bird activity was frantic. At the end of it all we managed to get some good data and hope to publish our results (eventually).

It wasn't all fun though. Although I managed to get in some time snorkelling out on the reef in Kimbe Bay and climb a volcano, I spent a week taking care of my girlfriend who had managed to get Malaria, both Plasmodium falciparum and vivax despite taking anti-malarials. She's 100% now, and it appears that being treated in PNG was a far better option than back in Aus. Over there it's treated sucessfully everyday and doctors know what works.

On top of all that the 100% humidity meant that a patch of mould grew inside my tele-zoom camera lens and the constant hazy atmosphere meant that every photo I took had an ethereal, misty quality about it. I couldn't get out at night to any decent areas so my herping exploits were severly limited. I managed to find a few critters though and got some nice bird shots. Skinks were difficult to catch and even harder to pose so when I had time to photograph things I could hardly be bothered.

Here are a few of the photos.

The Bismarcks are a centre of endemism for Bats, pigeons, parrots, kingfishers and frogs.
This is a relatively common species, the bismarck flying-fox Pteropus capistratus that is endemic to the Bismarck Archipelago.


Island tube-nosed bat Nyctimene major were also common. Their high pitched calls were often heard at night.


Another endemic bat, this is a cave dwelling species: Andersen's Bare-backed fruit bat Dobsonia anderseni. They are distinguished by it's white claws.



]]> Field Herping and Reptile Studies Nephrurus http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-and-reptile-studies-5373/new-britain-revisited-131744 Rainy day snakes http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-and-reptile-studies-5373/rainy-day-snakes-131560 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:13:58 GMT Thought I would throw up a some pictures of a few snakes that are enjoying all the wet weather we are getting at the moment. Common Tree Snake Dendrelaphis punctulatus ... Thought I would throw up a some pictures of a few snakes that are enjoying all the wet weather we are getting at the moment.

Common Tree Snake Dendrelaphis punctulatus


Keelback Tropidonophis mairii






Red Bellied Black Snake Pseudechis porphyricus






]]> Field Herping and Reptile Studies Mattsnake http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-and-reptile-studies-5373/rainy-day-snakes-131560 ID help please http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-and-reptile-studies-5373/id-help-please-131512 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:18:16 GMT Hi, can anyone put a name to this baby bird please. The dead bird was regurged by a local RBBS and I am just interested in knowing what they are eating here. Hi, can anyone put a name to this baby bird please.
The dead bird was regurged by a local RBBS and I am just interested in knowing what they are eating here.


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]]> Field Herping and Reptile Studies cement http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-and-reptile-studies-5373/id-help-please-131512 A first for me...water dragons!!! http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-and-reptile-studies-5373/a-first-for-me-water-dragons-131453 Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:18:52 GMT A mate and I went for a drive today, up into a section of the NSW snowy mountains. We got to a really rocky north facing outcrop near a small creek, and i said to my mate,... A mate and I went for a drive today, up into a section of the NSW snowy mountains. We got to a really rocky north facing outcrop near a small creek, and i said to my mate, slow down here and we might see a jacky dragon, or even a blotched blue tongue lizard.
Instead my mate spotted this awesome looking eastern water dragon. Ive never seen one in my life, so this might be a bit boring for many people, especially people that use scientific names and confuse the **** out of me, but for me this was quite exciting!!!
I found 2 water dragons, a few skinks, a heap of wild rainbow trout, and we photographed this fantastic waterfall near Tumbarumba, called paddys falls.


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]]> Field Herping and Reptile Studies reptilerob http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/field-herping-and-reptile-studies-5373/a-first-for-me-water-dragons-131453