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Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Borneo Herping Trip - Part I


blog_MG_9631 copy

In March 2016, I spent 3 nights herping at a montane forest of Sabah with 3 guests of mine. Because of the extremely dry weather, we didn't find many species of snakes despite looking hard. However, finding a Hypsicalotes kinabaluensis more than made up for all these! More pictures of this stunning lizard later!

If you are interested in joining me on either a herping trip or macro photography workshop, please feel free to contact me.

You can find Part II of the herping trip here.

Snakes

I spotted this pale salmon-colored White-spotted Cat Snake (Boiga drapiezii) while walking back to the guesthouse on our final night of herping at the montane forest!
Boiga drapiezii_MG_0078 copy


What a beauty! Very different from all other Boiga drapiezii I have seen and photographed before!
Boiga drapiezii_MG_0054 copy

White-spotted Cat Snake (Boiga drapiezii)
Boiga drapiezii_MG_0060 copy

We saw many of these Schmidt's Reed Snake (Calamaria schmidti)
Calamaria schmidti_MG_9186 copy

Schmidt's Reed Snake (Calamaria schmidti)
Calamaria schmidti_MG_9189 copy

Schmidt's Reed Snake (Calamaria schmidti)
Calamaria schmidti_MG_9454 copy

Lady Luck smiled upon me and I found this stunning Griswold's Reed Snake (Calamaria griswoldi) on our final night there.
Calamaria griswoldi_MG_9974 copy

More pics of this beauty! Griswold's Reed Snake (Calamaria griswoldi)
Calamaria griswoldi_MG_9930 copy

It has beautiful bright, orange venter! Griswold's Reed Snake (Calamaria griswoldi)
Calamaria griswoldi_MG_9946 copy

Griswold's Reed Snake (Calamaria griswoldi)
Calamaria griswoldi_MG_9960 copy

Lizards

This was probably the highlight of all our finds at this location: Kinabalu Crested Dragon (Hypsicalotes kinabaluensis)
Hypsicalotes kinabaluensis_MG_9825 copy

Another portrait of this handsome dragon. Kinabalu Crested Dragon (Hypsicalotes kinabaluensis)
Hypsicalotes kinabaluensis_MG_9529 copy

Full body shot of this gorgeous Hypsicalotes kinabaluensis
Hypsicalotes kinabaluensis_MG_9631 copy

Kinabalu Crested Dragon (Hypsicalotes kinabaluensis)
Hypsicalotes kinabaluensis_MG_9600 copy

Kinabalu Crested Dragon (Hypsicalotes kinabaluensis)
Hypsicalotes kinabaluensis_MG_9735 copy

Kinabalu Crested Dragon (Hypsicalotes kinabaluensis)
Hypsicalotes kinabaluensis_MG_9671 copy

Undescribed(?) species of Green Crested Lizard (Bronchocela cf. shenlong).
Bronchocela cf. shenlong_MG_9258 copy

Beautiful lizard, Phoxophrys cephalum
Phoxophrys cephalum IMG_1172 copy

Phoxophrys cephalum IMG_2329 copy

Phoxophrys cf. cephalum.
Phoxophrys cf. cephalum IMG_2399 copy

Phoxophrys cf. cephalum.
Phoxophrys cf. cephalum IMG_2404 copy

Kinabalu Bent-toed Gecko (Cyrtodactylus baluensis)
Cyrtodactylus baluensis_MG_9404 copy

Another Kinabalu Bent-toed Gecko (Cyrtodactylus baluensis)
Cyrtodactylus baluensis_MG_0034 copy

Another Kinabalu Bent-toed Gecko (Cyrtodactylus baluensis)
Cyrtodactylus baluensis_MG_9125 copy

Frogs

Despite the extremely dry weather, we still managed to find lots of frogs.

Montane Large-eyed Litter Frog (Leptobrachium montanum)
Leptobrachium montanum_MG_9117 copy

Montane Large-eyed Litter Frog (Leptobrachium montanum)
Leptobrachium montanum_MG_9124 copy

A metamorph of Montane Large-eyed  Litter Frog (Leptobrachium montanum)
Leptobrachium montanum_MG_9892 copy

Montane Large-eyed  Litter Frog (Leptobrachium montanum)
Leptobrachium montanum_MG_9149 copy

Golden-legged Bush Frog (Philautus aurantium)
Philautus aurantium_MG_9139 copy

Golden-legged Bush Frog (Philautus aurantium)
Philautus aurantium_MG_9135 copy

Golden-legged Bush Frog (Philautus aurantium)
Philautus aurantium_MG_9137 copy (2)

Kinabalu Torrent Frog (Meristogenys kinabaluensis)
Meristogenys kinabaluensis_MG_9236 copy

Kinabalu Torrent Frog (Meristogenys kinabaluensis)
Meristogenys kinabaluensis_MG_9237 copy

Juvenile Kinabalu Torrent Frog (Meristogenys kinabaluensis)
Meristogenys kinabaluensis_MG_9220 copy

Juvenile Kuhl's Creek Frog (Limnonectes kuhlii)
Limnonectes kuhlii_MG_9212 copy

A bigger Kuhl's Creek Frog (Limnonectes kuhlii)
Limnonectes kuhlii_MG_9899 copy

A bigger Kuhl's Creek Frog (Limnonectes kuhlii)
Limnonectes kuhlii_MG_9908 copy

An even bigger Kuhl's Creek Frog (Limnonectes kuhlii)
Limnonectes kuhlii_MG_9539 copy

Moutain Slender Litter Frog (Leptolalax sabahmontanus)
Leptolalax sabahmontanus_MG_9431 copy

Moutain Slender Litter Frog (Leptolalax sabahmontanus)
Leptolalax sabahmontanus_MG_9430 copy

Moutain Slender Litter Frog (Leptolalax sabahmontanus)
Leptolalax sabahmontanus_MG_9175 copy

Masked Tree Frog (Rhacophorus angulirostris)
Rhacophorus angulirostris_MG_9481 copy

Masked Tree Frog (Rhacophorus angulirostris)
Rhacophorus angulirostris_MG_9468 copy

Masked Tree Frog (Rhacophorus angulirostris), a different individual.
Rhacophorus angulirostris_MG_9999 copy

Kinabalu Tree Frog (Rhacophorus baluensis)
IMG_1517 copy

Kinabalu Tree Frog (Rhacophorus baluensis)
IMG_1476 copy

A juvenile Mossy Bush Frog (Philautus macroscelis)
Philautus macroscelis_MG_9870 copy

A juvenile Mossy Bush Frog (Philautus macroscelis)
Philautus macroscelis_MG_9873 copy

A juvenile Mossy Bush Frog (Philautus macroscelis)
Philautus macroscelis_MG_9882 copy

Mossy Bush Frog (Philautus macroscelis)
Philautus macroscelis IMG_2182 copy

Mossy Bush Frog (Philautus macroscelis)
Philautus macroscelis IMG_2416 copy

Mossy Bush Frog (Philautus macroscelis)
Philautus macroscelis IMG_2364 copy

Mossy Bush Frog (Philautus macroscelis)
Mossy Tree Frog (Philautus macroscelis) IMG_1350 stk copy

Green Spotted Rock Skipper (Staurois tuberilinguis)
Staurois tuberilinguis_MG_9910 copy

Mjoberg's Bush Frog (Philautus nephophilus).
Philautus mjobergi_MG_9983 copy

Mjoberg's Bush Frog (Philautus nephophilus).
Philautus mjobergi_MG_9986 copy

Mountain Torrent Frog (Meristogenys amoropalamus)
Meristogenys amoropalamus_MG_9196 copy

Mountain Torrent Frog (Meristogenys amoropalamus)
Meristogenys amoropalamus_MG_9201 copy

Peter's Bush Frog (Philautus petersi)
Philautus petersi IMG_1927 copy

Philautus petersi IMG_1937 copy

Shrill Bush Frog (Philautus acutus)
Philautus acutus IMG_1956 copy

Kinabalu Slender Toad (Ansonia hanitschi)
Ansonia hanitschi_MG_9223 copy

Kinabalu Slender Toad (Ansonia hanitschi)
Ansonia hanitschi_MG_9227 copy

Xenophrys baluensis with a leech on its body
Xenophrys baluensis IMG_1889 copy

Xenophrys baluensis IMG_1887 copy

Others

Lantern bug / lanternfly, Pyrops heringi
Pyrops heringi IMG_2000 copy

Pyrops heringi IMG_2027 copy

Big, fluffy Jumping Spider (Hyllus cf giganteus)
Hyllus giganteus IMG_2032 copy

Hyllus giganteus IMG_2033 copy

Delias cinerascens cinerascens.
Delias cinerascens cinerascens  _MG_7146 copy

Beautiful Green Dragontail butterfly (Lamproptera meges meges)
Green Dragontail _MG_7144 copy

Darkling Beetle (Tenebrionidae) with red mites
Tenebrionidae_MG_0010 copy

Darkling Beetle (Tenebrionidae) with red mites
Tenebrionidae_MG_0015 copy

Darkling Beetle (Tenebrionidae). Cerogria sp? Suggested by Simon Shim.
Darkling Beetle_MG_9170 copy

Green beetle.  Pseudochalcothea sp., possibly P. spathulifera. ID credit: Simon Shim, Spidery Claudy.
Pseudochalcothea spathulifera_MG_0018 copy

Green beetle.  Pseudochalcothea sp., possibly P. spathulifera. ID credit: Simon Shim, Spidery Claudy.
Pseudochalcothea spathulifera_MG_0023 copy

Tiny red Longhorn Beetle (Cerambycidae) Probably, Astathes (Tetraophthalmus) japonica (Thomson, 1857). - ID credit: Francesco Vitali.
Astathes japonica_MG_9340 copy

 Probably, Astathes (Tetraophthalmus) japonica (Thomson, 1857). - ID credit: Francesco Vitali.
Astathes japonica_MG_9363 copy

 Probably, Astathes (Tetraophthalmus) japonica (Thomson, 1857). - ID credit: Francesco Vitali.
Astathes japonica_MG_9284 copy

We found many Trilobite Beetle (Platerodrilus sp.)
Platerodrilus sp._MG_0036 copy

Click Beetle (Elateridae). Sinuaria aenescens - ID suggested by Simon Shim
Sinuaria aenescens_MG_9302 copy

Click Beetle (Elateridae). Sinuaria aenescens - ID suggested by Simon Shim
Sinuaria aenescens_MG_9309 copy

Click Beetle (Elateridae). Sinuaria aenescens - ID suggested by Simon Shim
Sinuaria aenescens_MG_9320 copy

Unidentified Longhorn Beetle (Cerambycidae).
_MG_9368 copy

Longhorn Beetle (Cerambycidae). Eburiomorpha guttata - ID credit: Simon Shim.
Eburiomorpha guttata_MG_9385 copy

Longhorn Beetle (Cerambycidae). Eburiomorpha guttata - ID credit: Simon Shim.
Eburiomorpha guttata_MG_9377 copy

Beautiful Leaf Beetle (Chrysomelidae). Agasta formosa - suggested by Simon Shim.
Agasta formosa_MG_9459 copy

Agasta formosa - suggested by Simon Shim.
Agasta formosa_MG_9460 copy

Harvestman (Opiliones) eating something
Opiliones_MG_0040 copy

Harvestman with the carcass of an assassin bug.
Harvestman_MG_9246 copy

Leaf Rolling Cricket (Gryllacrididae )
Gryllacrididae _MG_9084 copy

Katydid, Mecopoda elongata
Mecopoda elongata_MG_9536 copy

Unidentified katydid
Red katydid_MG_9491 copy

Juvenile female Dragon-head Katydid (Lesina sp.)
Lesina sp._MG_9508 copy

Juvenile female Dragon-head Katydid (Lesina sp.)
Lesina sp._MG_9521 copy

Dragon-head Katydid (Lesina sp.)
Lesina sp._MG_9417 copy

Dragon-head Katydid (Lesina sp.)
Lesina sp._MG_9784 copy

Dragon-head Katydid (Lesina sp.)
Lesina sp._MG_9760 v2 copy

Blattodea
Blattodea_MG_9088 copy

A different species of Blattodea
Blattodea_MG_9113 copy

Blattodea
Cockroach_MG_9151 copy

Unidentified tarantula
Unidentified Tarantula_MG_9107 copy

Another tarantula
_MG_9142 copy

And another tarantula
Unidentified tarantula_MG_9407 copy

A different, and smaller type of tarantula
Unidentified tarantula_MG_9543 copy

A different, and smaller type of tarantula
Unidentified tarantula_MG_9544 copy

We came across many stick insects. Here are some of the more interesting ones:
Stick Insect_MG_9130 copy

Mating pair of stick insect
Mating phasmids_MG_9408 copy

Spiny stick insect. Adult female of Parastheneboea exotica
Parastheneboea exotica_MG_9414 copy

Spiny stick insect. Adult female of Parastheneboea exotica
Parastheneboea exotica_MG_9415 copy

Adult male of Nescicroa terminalis  (ID credit Francis Seow-Choen)
Nescicroa terminalis_MG_9145 copy

Stick Insect (Phasmid)
Stick Insect_MG_9248 copy

Stick insect in the middle of molting
Stick insect molting_MG_9501 copy

Really cool stick insect: Pseudodiacantha sp. - ID suggested by Bruno Kneubuhler.
Pseudodiacantha sp._MG_9835 copy

 Pseudodiacantha sp. - ID suggested by Bruno Kneubuhler.
Pseudodiacantha sp._MG_9855 copy

Pseudodiacantha sp. - ID suggested by Bruno Kneubuhler.
Pseudodiacantha sp._MG_9853 copy

Land Snail. Kalamantania whiteheadi - ID credit: Menno Schilthuizen
Kalamantania whiteheadi_MG_9167 copy

Twig Spider (Ariamnes sp.)
Ariamnes sp._MG_9190 copy

Caterpillar
Caterpillar_MG_9251 copy

Arctiinae, Erebidae - ID credit: John Horstman.
Unidentified caterpillar_MG_9494 copy

The biggest Hammerhead Worm (Bipalium sp.) I have ever seen. This one was at least 8 inches long!
Bipalium sp._MG_9256 copy

Flies sleeping on the same perch at night
Dipteran gathering_MG_9439 copy

Pink mushrooms (!) with a cricket on one of them.
Pink Mushrooms_MG_9426 copy

If you are interested in joining me on either a herping trip or macro photography workshop, please feel free to contact me.


   
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1 comment:

  1. These are some seriously amazing pictures of wild life. Mother nature is truly fascinating and never ceases to amaze. This is a great post. Well done on it. Do keep us posted with more.

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