Exploring the night creatures of lowland forest

Going solo for the first time without a Herpetologist expert can be a bit daunting. Luckily there is Mr CY Tan to accompany me in my maiden trip to look at nocturnal creatures. The condition was a bit dry and hot - yes it can be hot even at night over here. Nevertheless we saw some interesting arachnids, amphibians, and moths.

One of the nicer looking moth. Looks like one of those Erebidae moths from the Ssp Ischyja.

Another Erebid moth. 

This moth looks rather plain. This could be one of those Owlet moth - Spirama Ssp.

Another drab looking moth.

This moth has a unique pattern on its back but unfortunately it flew away before I could get another photo.

This fella looks like a butterfly but it's actually a moth.

This one is a butterfly - it's a 'Lesser Darkwing' (Allotinus unicolor unicolor). It was fast asleep I believe.

This one is likely a jungle cockroach.

This is the unmistakable Asian Common Toad  (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) 

This one pulak is a Four-lined Tree Frog (Polypedates leucomystax)

This mating couple here are called Asian Grass Frog (Fejervarya limnocharis) 

We saw plenty of spiders on this trip. Most of them are related to a species of spiders called 'Huntsman Spider'.

The above spider is a very rare spider. It's scientific name is "Heteropoda davidbowie". Yes it was named after the British rock singer by a German arachnologist Dr Peter Jager in 2008, based on a specimen caught in Cameroon Highlands in 2007 by G. Ackermann. According to iNaturalist  record, there were only about 88 confirmed sightings of this unique spider in Malaysia from 2008. The figure might probably be slightly more if we include those unreported ones.

This is the front view of the same spider. It's a female apparently. The male is reportedly more reddish in color.

We saw plenty of this 'Huntsman" spiders on the forest floor.

Another 'Huntsman' spider.

These spiders apparently don't wait for their prey. They will hunt them instead.

This is another different type of 'Huntsman' spider.

A view of KL after dark - 9.30pm

Most of the city folks were fast asleep by now - 12.30am

GOOD NIGHT FOR NOW !!

The Flora and Fauna of Malaysia's Forest (Part 3)

In this final part of the Malaysian Flora and Fauna, I will show you some of the reptiles, amphibians and birds which I have encountered and photographed since early this year.

This is a Malayan Horned Frog (Megophrys nasuta). 

Some literature also named it as 'Long-nosed horned frog'. You can see why in the photo.

It was so docile that we can approach it without scarring it.

This frog is fully protected under the Malaysian Wildlife Act 2010 (Act 716)

This is a Four-lined Tree Frog (Polypedates leucomystax) which venture into my house.

Apparently this frog makes quacking sound at night.

This is a "Blue Bronzeback" (Dendrelaphis cyanochloris)

It has a long and slim body and it was spotted at almost noon time.

This one is called a "Keeled Rat Snake" (Ptas carinata). At an initial glance it looks a "Pambu" especially when it raised its head and body.

It has a bluish tongue and apparently this species comes in many forms.

The above is actually a skink. It's a male Eutropis rugifera or commonly called "Rough-scaled skink"

 

This one below is a forest cicak.

It looks like a marbled bent-toed gecko.

It came out from the jungle to chase some insects and then went back again.

You can see my dark silhouette from the back of its eyes.

This is the mother of all snakes in this region.

This hisss a Reticulated Python.

It was slithering inside a drain.

Locally it is called "Ular Sawa Batik". You can see why.

You can see lots of Mount Fuji images on its body.

Local herpetologist say this is an adult - it was about 2 - 3 meters long.

The above lizard is called a "Giant Anglehead Lizard" (Gonocephalus grandis). It was sleeping with its eyes wide opened.

Common Green Crested Lizard (Bronchocela cristatella)

They say he was once a handsome prince.

Seeing is believing !

This is an adult scorpion seen in ultra violet light. Image was taken with the assistance from Steven Wong.

Okay now back to my favourite subject - birds.

This is a Verditer Flycatcher caught chilling out in a cool stream.

After that it flew to an expose branch to dry itself.

I believe the above is a juvenile Spectacle Bulbul.

I seldom come across a family of "Black and Yellow Broadbill".

The above is most likely a juvenile.

This should be the mama Black & Yellow Broadbill

The papa Black & Yellow Broadbill was also nearby.

A Scaly-breasted Bulbul feasting on a fig.

This Lineated Barbet picked an even bigger fig to eat.

I think the above is a Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo. Saw it in early August.

This is a juvenile Tiger Shrike. Saw it in August too - an early arrival I guess.

 

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch. I used to call it an upside down nuthatch.

Spectacle Spiderhunter

Yellow-bellied Prinia. Its face always looks like that !

The above is a Grey-cheeked Bulbul

Apparently eBird Malaysia has flagged this bird as "sensitive"

THAT'S ALL FOLKS !