TIMOR-LESTE REPTILE & AMPHIBIAN SURVEY
PHASE VII: CRISS-CROSSING TIMOR

On the way down the southern side of the mountains the vegetation changes to a lusher and more verdant rainforest, unlike the dry rain-shadow north coast. On the road we encountered a large dead snake, a Lesser Sunda racer (Coelognathus subradiatus), which had clearly been clubbed, noosed and then dragged onto the road. This large specimen was fresh enough to collect.

Lesser Sunda racer (DOR) Coelognathus subradiatus	The road and habitat where we collected the racer

Eventually, in darkness, we reached Natarbora on the south coast of Manututo District and, turning west again, drove over a bridge into Manufahi District. A short distance beyond, near the village of Fatucahi, we located the Convent of St. Antonio d'Lisboa where Father Cornelius, a friend from our previous visit, again made us welcome. This was to be our base for two nights.

Almost immediately we encountered the frog which made this convent so interesting. On our previous visit here we had encountered the three common frogs of Timor (Asian black-spined toad, Rice-paddy frog and Striped treefrog) but we had also encountered a small microhylid frog, the Pumpkin or Bullfrog (Kaloula cf. baleata) within the ground of the convent.

The drive here was only around 200 kms, but on Timorese district roads it had taken about 10 hours including the break in Baucau. We were tired from the journey but even so it was important to take the time to process and preserve the two dead snakes, and the tick found on the racer.

Pumpkin frog Kaloula cf. baleata	Caitlin and Sven fix the racer
Tick (Acari) removed from Lesser Sunda racer