Category: Uncategorized
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Gradually the rains are decreasing…
Gradually, the rains have decreased this past few weeks which have allowed for some visits to the forest without getting wet! Two recent visits to different parts of the island resulted in the same male of Trimeresurus phuketensis being found together with two Dryocalamus subannulatus, a Pareas carinatus, Rhabdophis nigrocinctus and an individual of Psammodynastes pulverulentus sitting in…
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Monday surprise: blood python!
Normally, Mondays are Mondays and nothing more. However this Monday Kat called me to say that a Blood python (Python brongersmai) had passed through the sanctuary where she works as a volunteer. Since I had to pick her up in any case I headed over after work to take some photos of the snake which…
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Phuket pit viper!
After having arrived in Phuket two months ago we were finally able to see the endemic snake of Phuket yesterday: the Phuket pit viper (Trimeresurus phuketensis). As well as this beautiful male viper we also found two Vine snakes (Ahaetulla prasina) and Smith’s litter frog (Leptobrachium smithi). Furthermore, a few evenings previously we found a…
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Wagler’s pit viper!
A few outings this weekend resulted in some nice findings, one of which was a species I have seen before in Thailand, but not in Phuket: Wagler’s pit viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri). Furthermore, several Cerberus rynchops the mangroves like those in the previous post, a mock viper and a little amphibian that I had not seen…
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Weekend 1st October
ENG: On Friday evening, Paul and myself found some nice endemic species such as Cnemaspis phuketensis, Cyrtodactylus phuketensis, Acanthosaura phuketensis and Dryocalamus subannulatus. Furthermore, after some torrential rains started, we came across an individual of a Horned frog species, probably Megophrys parva although it seems that no one knows for sure. On Saturday evening, we also found a nice individual of…
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Large monocled cobra!
Yesterday after arriving home from work, my neighbour Dave dropped by to say there was a big snake in his yard. Although I couldn’t find it at first, after five minutes or so we located a big Monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia) which was captured and the released in a suitable location. This is the third…
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Forest hike: 17th September
On Saturday evening we went for a short walk to a local waterfall with our colleague and neighbour Adrian. We saw several Phuket spiny lizards (Acanthosaura phuketensis) while they were sleeping and then a Mock viper (Psammodynastes pulverulentus). While driving home we also saw a Brown hawk owl (Ninox scutulata), a species I have seen several times…
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Night walk 15th September
After very heavy rain, storms and flooding on the island this week myself, Kat and Paul headed out last night to see what was moving around. Amphibians were loving the conditions but we only found one snake despite my expectations that the conditions were perfect! A black-striped leaf turtle (Cyclemys oldhamii) was also seen in…
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Night hike and a cobra!
On Friday evening, together with Paul Carter from the UK, we headed out to some inland forest to see what we could find. Species encountered included a juvenile of what I believe to be the endemic Phuket bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus phuketensis), two Mock vipers (Psammodynastes pulverulentus) as well as the usual sleeping diurnal lizards. Some agricultural elephants…
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Tree frogs breeding
Despite a lack of rain recently, an amplexus pair of Common tree frogs (Polypedates megacephalus) crossed my path a couple of evenings ago. The only amplexus pair of frogs I have seen so far which indicates to me that these frogs have a longer breeding period than many of the other common amphibians on the island.…