Victor Valley College Tropical Research Initiative
Herpetofauna of Timor-Leste
Phase IV
Lake Lenas, Manufahi District
The road got narrow
We made an excurision to a nearby lake, Lake Lenas, the aiming to find somewhere suitable for herping for frogs at night.
The short drive to the lake was through high grass and palms rather like that found in southern New Guinea, but it was not possible to get the vehicles right up to the lake as the road closed in and was almost too narrow to drive, let alone turn-around the "troopies" so the last part was on foot.
The habitat around the lake looked interesting but locals told us it was home to a Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) population and that villagers were occasionally taken.
This changed Hinrich and Mark's opinions on the suitability of the location as place where students could catch frogs and geckos at night, armed only with snake sticks, collecting bags and head-torches. We also discovered that actual access to the water's edge was difficult so we decided not to explore the lake further. We collected only two species during the excursion, the Rice-paddy frog (Fejervarya sp.) and a Four-fingered skink (Carlia sp.).
Lake Lenas and neighbouring lakes near Fatucahi
Lake Lenas is surrounded by grassland interspersed with palms.
Lake Lenas, too overgrown and inaccessible, and full of crocodiles, to herp for frogs at night
Click to enlarge images
Further investigation of maps uncovered several other lakes in the vicinity but the presence of man-eating crocodiles was a serious deterrent to visiting them at night. We returning to Nancuro.
