Karkar Island
Madang Province
28 October - 4 November 2006
Page 3 - The Husk Pile Herps

Map showing Karkar Island, Madang Province, PNG.
click to enlarge map

[see also visits to Karkar Island in 1990, 1993, 1994, 2000 & 2008]

The species illustrated here are those intimately associated with coconut husk piles, although they may be found elsewhere in other habitats on the island. This is not an exclusive list of husk pile herps for Karkar Island, but rather those species encountered during the 2006 visit. For other species found in husk piles visit the other Karkar Island expedition pages for the years 1990-2008 above and for non-husk pile species click here.

The amphibian encountered in the husk piles is the direct-breeding Papuan wrinkled frog (Platymantis cf. papuensis), a highly variable frog which may be more than one species.

FROGS from KARKAR ISLAND HUSK PILES click on an image to enlarge
Rough-skinned Papuan wrinkled frog, Platymantis cf. papuensis
Smooth-skinned Papuan wrinkled frog, Platymantis cf. papuensis

The most frequently encountered lizard within the husk piles is the Pelagic gecko (Nactus cf. pelagicus), as many as 20 being found in a single husk pile. Also present on and in the husk piles in 2006 were Dusky skinks (Emoia obscura), elongate Wolf's forest skink (Sphenomorphus wolfii), the saurophagous Brown sheen skink (Eugongylus rufescens) and the incredible Papuan crocodile skink (Tribolonotus gracilis), one of my two favourite lizards in the world. Other skinks have been recorded on other visits to Karkar.

LIZARDS from KARKAR ISLAND HUSK PILES click on an image to enlarge
Pelagic gecko, Nactus cf. pelagicus
Dusky skink, Emoia obscura
Wolf's forest skink, Sphenomorphus wolfii
Brown sheen skink, Eugongylus rufescens adult
Papuan crocodile skink, Tribolonotus gracilis juvenile
Papuan crocodile skink,Tribolonotus gracilis adult

Although colubrids are sometimes found in coconut husk piles none were found there in 2006. The commonest snake encountered was the New Guinea ground boa (Candoia aspera schmidti). We worked hard, searching numerous husk piles for the New Guinea small-eyed snake (Micropechis ikaheka) and were eventually successful, finding two in the same husk pile, the first time I have done that.

SNAKES from KARKAR ISLAND HUSK PILES click on an image to enlarge
New Guinea ground boa, Candoia aspera schmidti
The husk pile under cocoa trees where we captured two New Guinea small-eyed snakes, Micropechis ikaheka
New Guinea small-eyed snake, Micropechis ikaheka

[Page 1 - The Island]
[Page 2 - The Island Herps]
[Page 4 - The Husk Pile Inverts]

[see also visits to Karkar Island in 1990, 1993, 1994, 2000 & 2008]