Victor Valley College Tropical Research Initiative
Herpetofauna of Timor-Leste
Phase III
Loi Huna, Viqueque District
Map showing location of Loi Huna in northern Viqueque District. (click to enlarge)
Google Earth view of Loi Huna and Timor Lodge Hotel, northern Viqueque District,
showing collection localities of two Island pitvipers Cryptelytrops insularis. (click to enlarge)
The region around Loi Huna was wetter during out 2010 visit than previously and heavy rain prevented or curtailed herping after dark. The Rio Cuha also seemed to be carrying more water than in 2009.
My vehicle outside the Timor Village Hotel, note Cross of St George flag, England was still in the World Cup.
Much of the surrounding were waterlogged and boggy from heavy rain.
Hinrich holds court in the verandah laboratory. L-R: Benny, Andrew, Caitlin and Dominique.
The massif to the east.
The massif to the south.
The flooded water-meadow between the hotel and the Rio Cuha where the 2010 Island pitviper, Cryptelytrops insularis, was captured.
The heavy rain really impacted on our herping. We caught Striped treefrogs (Polypedates cf. leucomystax) but did not find Rice paddy frogs (Fejervarya sp.) despite being able to hear them call. Hinrich spent the evenings trying to record the call of one rice paddy frog he termed the "machine-gun frog" and was eventually successful.
On the reptile front our only success was a young Island pitviper (Cryptelytrops insularis) I caught on the flooded water-meadow as it lay in ambush for frogs.
Herps from Loi Huna
Striped treefrog, Polypedates cf. leucomystax
Island pitviper, Cryptelytrops insularis, in ambush for frogs
I have an interest in arachnids (spiders and scorpions) and Christy LeDuc was making a parallel collection of insects, primarily mantids (Mantidae) and bush crickets (Tettigonidae).
Inverts from Loi Huna
Pantropical jumping spider, Plexippus paykulli Salticidae, males, one with a missing pedipalp
Giant Asian praying mantis, Hierodula sp. Mantidae
