Herping in Bali

 

I put the offer out to all of the birding group for the opportunity for a night herping - aka looking for frogs and reptiles in Bali. Only myself and one Bob James answered the call.

Bali Reptile Park were our hosts. More specifically two if the Park's employees - Galang Putra Begawan [Mr Galang] and Erlan Yusuf Usmany. Both were enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Galang, in particular, is super fixated on snakes. He is an excellent handler. Erlan, too, knows his stuff, and has our extra thanks for driving us him after the event when taxis proved hard to come by!   

The tour started with a guided tour of their reptile collection. Their plan is to phase out exotic reptiles and replace them with a good representation of  a variety of Indonesian taxa.

Their collection already is good although there is room for improvement on signage and sometimes the signs are placed in shadows such that they are very difficult to read.

Information on reptiles and frogs on the many many islands of Indonesia is limited, although there is a handy guide to the frogs and reptiles of Bali. It would be fantastic to see volumes developed for the many other Indonesian islands. 

We were very happy with the variety of animals seen, which included some birds - Savanna Nightjar and Barred Buttonquail!

But reptiles and frogs were the targets.

Oriental Long-tailed Grass Lizard Takydromus sexlineatus

Takydromus sexlineatus, the Asian grass lizard, six-striped long-tailed grass lizard, or long-tailed grass lizard, is an arboreal, diurnal species of lizard. The tail length is usually over three times the body (snout to vent) length in this species.

Males and females are similar, males being distinguishable by the presence of pre-anal pores. On average they grow to around 12 cm snout-to-vent length, with the addition of a distinctive, prehensile long tail. Some individuals may have small circular spots on the sides of the bodies. 

The long-tailed grass lizard is easily identifiable by its long tail, and has a white to cream coloured underbelly with a brown, green or beige back, often adorned with brown stripes of different shades. It typically has a small head with a sharply pointed snout and black or pink tongue. Its body is slightly elongated and thin with small pointy scales beneath the chin resembling a beard. Males have white spots on their sides, while females do not. Males have tails that thicken past the vent and are generally thicker than the female's down the entire length of the tail. The light stripes on the length of the body are yellower than the female's, which are more cream coloured. They grow up to 30 cm. long, with the tail usually being three times their body length.

Takydromus sexlineatus is found throughout South East Asia, and is native to a number of countries including India, China, Thailand, and Indonesia.

These are entirely diurnal lizards that emerge in the early morning to bask in the sun. If a potential predator approaches they will first remain completely still, and then if the danger persists, they will flee to the safety of foliage. Both sexes use arm-waving gestures (similar to a front crawl swimming action), apparently to communicate with each other. They are very agile and fast.

Takydromus sexlineatus feeds on small insects such as flies. Unlike some larger reptiles, these lizards have extremely fast reactions and have been observed jumping into the air to catch flying prey such as flies.

from Wikipedia

Oriental Long-tailed Grass Lizard Takydromus sexlineatus

Oriental Long-tailed Grass Lizard Takydromus sexlineatus

Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator
T. s. suscitator (Gmelin, JF, 1789) – Sumatra, Belitung and Bangka Island (east of south Sumatra), Java, Bawean (north of east Java) and Bali

Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator

Tokay Gecko [Gecko gecko]

The tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) is a nocturnal arboreal gecko in the genus Gekko, the true geckos. It is native to Asia and some Pacific Islands.

The word "tokay" is an onomatopoeia of the sound made by males of this species. The common and scientific names, as well as the family name Gekkonidae and the generic term "gecko" come from this species, too, from ge'kok in Javanese, corresponding to tokek in Malay.

This species is found in northeast India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh; throughout Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia; and toward western New Guinea. Its native habitat is rainforests, where it lives on trees and cliffs, and it frequently adapts to rural human habitations, roaming walls and ceilings at night in search of insect prey. 

The tokay gecko is a large nocturnal gecko, reaching a total length (including tail) of 25–30 cm on average, but some grow as large as 40 cm long. It is believed to be the third-largest species of gecko, after the giant leaf-tail gecko (Uroplatus giganteus) and New Caledonian giant gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus). The eyes have vertical pupils.

The skin is soft to the touch and is generally blue-gray with red or orange spots and speckles, but the animal can change the color of its skin to blend into the environment. The species is sexually dimorphic, with the males being more brightly coloured and slightly larger than females. 

It is a strong climber with foot pads that can support the entire weight of its body on a vertical surface for a long period of time. Compared to other gecko species, the tokay gecko has a robust build, with a semi-prehensile tail, a large head, and muscular jaws.

Tokay geckos are generally aggressive and territorial, and can inflict a strong bite. Females lay clutches of one or two hard-shelled eggs and guard them until they hatch. Communal nesting has been observed in Cambodia with as many as four adults guarding the clutch of about eleven eggs.

The tokay gecko feeds on insects and small vertebrates.

The tokay gecko is culturally significant in many East Asian countries. Regional folklore has attributed supernatural powers to the gecko. In Southeast Asia it is a symbol of good luck and fertility. It is believed to be descended from dragons.

The species is protected under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meaning international trade (including in parts and derivatives) is subject to the CITES permitting system.     from Wikipedia

Subdoluseps bowringii, also known commonly as Bowring's supple skink, Bowring's writhing skink, and the Christmas Island grass-skink, is a species of lizard in the subfamily Lygosominae of the family Scincidae. The species is native to Southeast Asia.

Bowring’s Supple Skink Subdoluseps bowringii

Bowring’s Supple Skink Subdoluseps bowringii

Great Crested Canopy Lizard  Bronchocela jubata

Great Crested Canopy Lizard  Bronchocela jubata

Gold-ringed Cat Snake Boiga dendrophila

Boiga dendrophila, commonly called the mangrove snake or the gold-ringed cat snake, is a species of rear-fanged venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to southeast Asia. It is one of the biggest cat snake species, averaging 2.4–2.7 m in length. It is considered mildly venomous. Although moderate envenomations resulting in intense swelling have been reported, there has never been a confirmed fatality.

B. dendrophila has the following characteristics: Snout longer than eye; rostral broader than deep, visible from above; internasals as long as or shorter than the prae-frontals; frontal as long as or slightly shorter than its distance from the tip of the snout; loreal at least as long as deep; a praeocular extending to the upper surface of the head, not reaching the frontal; two postoculars; temporals 2 + 2 or 2 + 3; eight (nine) upper labials, third to fifth entering the eye; four or five lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields; latter as long as or longer than the posterior; anterior palatine teeth not much larger than the posterior. Scales in 21 rows, vertebral row enlarged; ventrals 209–239; anal entire; subcaudals 89. Black above, with yellow transverse bands, continuous or not extending across the back; labials yellow, with black edges. Lower surface black or bluish, uniform or speckled with yellow; throat yellow.

Mostly nocturnal, B. dendrophila is a potentially aggressive snake. Even captive bred specimens can be nervous and may strike repeatedly. Although many specimens will calm down and allow handling, it is normally easily stressed and may refuse food for extended periods of time if disturbed.

B. dendrophila is present across Southeast Asia and Indochina, found in Cambodia, Indonesia (Bangka, Belitung, Borneo, Java, the Riau Archipelago, Sulawesi, Sumatra), Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Subspecies - Including the nominotypical subspecies, nine subspecies are recognized as being valid. Boiga dendrophila dendrophila (F. Boie, 1827) – Indonesia (Java).

Despite one of its common names, mangrove snake, B. dendrophila is found more often in lowland rainforests than in the mangrove swamps from which its common name is derived.

Gold-ringed Cat Snake Boiga dendrophila

Gold-ringed Cat Snake Boiga dendrophila

Gold-ringed Cat Snake Boiga dendrophila

Gold-ringed Cat Snake Boiga dendrophila

Great Crested Canopy Lizard  Bronchocela jubata

Great Crested Canopy Lizard Bronchocela jubata

Bronchocela jubata, commonly known as the maned forest lizard, is a species of agamid lizard found mainly in Indonesia on the islands of Singkep, Java, Bali, Sulawesi, Karakelang, Salibabu; Nias Island, Singkap Island, Borneo (Kalimantan) also in Thailand, Cambodia and Philippines. 

Bronchocela jubata is 550 mm in total length, with a long hanging tail making up four fifths of its total length. It has a jagged crest on its neck which more closely resemble hairs, as opposed to the crest of its close relative, B. cristatella, which more closely resembles the points on a crown. The crest consists of elongated scales, although it is flabby like skin.

The head is square in shape, and there is a soft sack under the chin. It has large, flexible eyelids made of fine speckled scales.

The dorsal area is coloured from light green to dark green, and the lizard can change to brown or black if feeling threatened. A rusty-coloured stain appears under the throat. More spots, often blurring to form a stripe, appear on the shoulder and the front lateral side. Towards the back of the lizard, the colour becomes duller.

The underside of the lizard is yellowish to white under the chin, neck, stomach and the back of the legs. The bottom of the hands and feet are a yellowish brown. The tail is coloured green at its base, with bluish stains. Towards the end of the tail, the colour becomes a dull brown with whitish spots on the tip. The scales of Bronchocela jubata are hard, course and strong. The tail has an angular feel.

Bronchocela jubata is generally to be found in low bushes or hidden in dense trees. It can frequently be seen having fallen from the bushes or trees while chasing its prey, although it will quickly run back into the security of the nearest bush or tree. The lizard preys on butterflies, moths, dragonflies, flies and other small insects. To catch its prey, Bronchocela jubata will generally wait in silence at the top of a tree, or it will rock slowly back and forth as if swaying in the breeze. It can also frequently be found utilising domestic electricity cables to cross from one place to another.

Bronchocela jubata lays its eggs in loose earth, sand or humus. Like most members of the Agamidae, the mother lizard excavates the earth to form a hollow for the eggs with her snout. The eggs are white, waxy, and leathery in texture.

A study carried out in the Situgede jungle, near Bogor, noted that the eggs of Bronchocela jubata were buried in sandy soil beneath a layer of humus, directly beneath bushes in a fairly open part of the forest. The two eggs were elongated, approximately 7 x 40mm in length, placed side by side, and covered by a thin layer of soil. In Walat Mountain, Sukabumi, there were eggs covered by a thin layer of humus in the middle of a jungle path.

Crab eating Frog

Katy, one of the guide's best friends, with a Boiga Gold-ringed Cat Snake Boiga dendrophila

Asian Sunbeam Snake Xenopeltis unicolor

Asian Sunbeam Snake Xenopeltis unicolor

Asian Sunbeam Snake Xenopeltis unicolor

Xenopeltis unicolor, commonly known as the sunbeam snake, common sunbeam snake or iridescent snake, is a non-venomous sunbeam snake species found in Southeast Asia and some regions of Indonesia. This is a primitive snake known for both its highly iridescent scales and its ability to reproduce quickly, as it is oviparous and as such can lay up to 10 eggs at a time. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Grows to an average of about 1 m. A fossorial species, the head is wedge-shaped and narrow with little neck delineation, which makes it easy to push through the soil. Its most defining characteristic is its iridescent, highly polished scales that give this snake its common name. They have a layer of dark pigmentation just below the surface on each scale that enhances the iridescence. The youngs look very similar to the adults, except that they have a strong white "collar" of scales evident just below the head. This coloration fades within the first year. They have two cone opsins allowing for the potential of dichromatic color vision.

This is a primitive form of snake with both boid and python characteristics; which family it belongs to is still a matter of debate.

Found in China (Guangdong and Yunnan), Myanmar, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, West Malaysia, Penang Island, Singapore Island, East Malaysia (Sarawak), Indonesia (the Riau Archipelago, Bangka, Billiton, Sumatra, We, Simalur, Nias, the Mentawai Islands [Siberut], Borneo, Java and Sulawesi) and the Philippines (Balabac, Bongao, Jolo and Palawan). The type locality given is "Java".

Tends to live in open areas such as forest clearings, gardens and parks. Often encountered in rice paddies.

These snake are constrictors, killing their prey by suffocation in their muscular coils. They are fossorial and spend most of their time below ground. They may bite readily if handled roughly, but mostly just try to escape if picked up. They are also observed to vibrate their tails in a rattlesnake-like fashion when they feel threatened.

The diet is varied, consisting primarily of frogs, reptiles, including other snakes, and small mammals. 

Oviparous, with females laying up to 10 eggs at a time.   From Wikipedia

Asian Sunbeam Snake Xenopeltis unicolor

Asian Sunbeam Snake Xenopeltis unicolor

Asian Sunbeam Snake Xenopeltis unicolor

Double-spotted Gecko Gekko monarchus

Double-spotted Gecko Gekko monarchus

Gekko monarchus, also called the spotted house gecko, is a species of gecko found in the Malay Peninsula (including southern Thailand and Singapore), some smaller Malaysian islands, Borneo (Brunei, East Malaysia and Kalimantan), the Philippines, many Indonesian islands including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and New Guinea (Irian Jaya and Papua New Guinea).

This lizard has the typical body build of the genus Gekko - it appears flat and has a rough skin with small bumps on its back.

Their tails regenerate once dropped, as with most gecko species. The regenerated tail will never look the same as the original (it has a different texture and slightly odd color)

Similar to common house geckos and dtellas, males make quiet clicking sounds when courting a female; both sexes are capable of chirping and "barking". When startled or alarmed, the gecko waves its tail quickly and may breathe heavily, making a sound not unlike hissing.

They have a W spot on the backs of their heads, typical for this species.

Monarch geckos are strictly insectivorous, feeding on various types of insects (roaches, crickets, flies, spiders, even wasps).   from Wikipedia.