 |
Ladiki coffee-forest location
|
Ladiki and Mirbuti are locations beyond Same that we also visited in 2009.
Ladiki is a coffee-forest area close to Same where we have previously collected Brahminy blindsnakes (Ramphotyphlops braminus) under stones and rocks on either side of the road to the river. We returned to the same location but discovered the road had suffered badly from erosion and access was much more limited than two years ago.
|
|
|
| An interesting road sign outside Same |
... but maybe not so far from the truth ! |
Coffee-forest habitat leading to the river |
| Click on the images to enlarge |
Despite turning many rocks, logs and palm fronds along the track to the Trilolo River, we did not find any blindsnakes. However, a local man drew our attention to a snake sleeping inside the low trunk of a tree which turned out to be a Common wolfsnake (Lycodon capucinus). Heavy rain made fieldwork uncomfortable but on our return to the vehicle we were rewarded by another Timor flying lizard (Draco timoriensis) on a fallen tree over the track. When the lizard glided to escape Laca it landed on the track and was surrounded by half the team members.
 |
 |
Common wolfsnake
Lycodon capucinus |
|
 |
 |
Timor flying lizard
Draco timoriensis |
From Ladiki we drove up into the mountains beyond the settlement of Mirbuti, hoping to find pristine forest above the coffee-forest habitat. We drove as far as we could until we came to a treefall which blocked the road at an altitude of approximately 1000 m. Dropping back to a flat area where we could part the vehicles, we spread out to search the wooded hillsides. The rain was heavy but an intensive search of rocks produced several Night skinks (Eremiascincus sp.) and a Forest skink (Sphenomorphus sp.), the latter with a stunning throat coloration and seemingly a different species from those we have collected in other parts of Timor, with other wedge skinks evading capture on the trunks of trees. We were also subjected to the ravages of leeches, brought out by the continual rainfall.
 |
| The area above Mirbuti is a protected area |
 |
| The mountains above Same and Mirbuti |
| Click on image to enlarge |
|
|
Night skink
Eremiascincus. sp.
|
|
|
Forest skink
Sphenomorphus sp. |
|
