TIMOR-LESTE 2012

Victor Valley College Tropical Research Initiative
Herpetofauna of Timor-Leste
Phase VI

The logo of the Victor Valley College, Tropical Research Initiative, Timor-Leste Reptile and Amphibian Survey

January 24th to February 7th 2012
with side trips to Kuala Lumpur, Bali & Singapore

Map of Timor-Leste
(click to enlarge and view Phase VI fieldwork locations)

 

The Victor Valley College Tropical Research Initiative comprises the first ever intensive herpetofauna survey of Timor-Leste, the fifth youngest country in the world and Asia's newest country (at the the time of writing). For more information on the background to this project visit the Phase I home page.

Phase VI took place during late January and early February 2012 and included seven of the members from earlier phases of the survey. The entire team numbered 14, our largest field team to date. A list of participants for Phase VI follows:

Hinrich Kaiser (Instructor and Expedition Leader - Victor Valley College, Victorville, USA)
Mark O'Shea (Instructor and Deputy Leader)
Sven Mecke (Skink Specialist - Marburg University, Germany)
Caitlin Sanchez (Research Assistant - University of California, Riverside, USA)

Victor Valley College students:
Scott Heacox
David Taylor
Zach Brown - videographer
Melissa Carillo
Stephanie Hughes
Aaren Marsh
Gloria Morales
Justin Rader

Universidade Nacional do Timor-Leste students (The Jets):
Agivedo Ribeiro (Laca)
Zito Afranio Soares

One of "The Jets", Luis Lemos, had employment far from our study area and was unable to join us for Phase VI, and Benny was still in Sydney.

The VVC Phase VI team:
On their Troopies: Hinrich Kaiser & Mark O'Shea
Standing: Stephanie Hughes, Caitlin Sanchez, Zito Afranio Soares,
Agivedo (Laca) Ribeiro, Aaren Marsh & Sven Mecke
Kneeling: Scott Heacox, David Taylor, Melissa Carillo, Gloria Morales,
Justin Rader & Zach Brown

click to enlarge

The locations in Timor-Leste visited during Phase VI in 2012 are listed below.

During the project we also maintained a blog in the Expedition Field Notes section of this website.

1. Dili District:
a) Dili, Dili District
b) Metinaro mangrove swamp, Dili District
c) Dili to Ataúro Island, Dili District

2. Aileu District:
a) Lake Matin, Aileu District

3. Dili District (Ataúro Island):
a) Beloi, Ataúro, Dili District
b) Macadade, Ataúro, Dili District
c) Beloi ravines, Ataúro, Dili District
d) Beloi creeks, Ataúro, Dili District
e) Beloi swamp, Ataúro, Dili District
f) Return to Dili, Dili District

4. Ermera District:
a) Sta Bakhita Mission, Ermera District

b) Meleotegi River, Ermera District

1. Dili District:
d) Dili, Dili District

Expedition Results - a full life-list for the 2012/1 expedition to Timor-Leste.