|
1-3 of 3 messages
|
Page 1 of 1
|
|
Species in East Timor
|
Reply
|
|
by Heatseeker on October 13, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Having worked as a peacekeeper in East Timor gave me the opportunity to observe different species in the wild. There was a very common "green pit viper" that you found everywhere, particularly during wet season. There was another one, quite similar to the green one, in yellow colour. Would this snake be "trimeresus trigonocephalus"?. The locals stated it was quite dangerous and sometimes fatal. Needless to say we used to observe it well clear from strike range.
I also spotted reticulated pythons (ranging from three to nearly ten feet), and what looked like a Krait (small black-white banded snake, this one was dead). The locals also stated that cobras were also indigenous to the island, though I didn't see any. A couple of times, while driving, I could see some black and very fast moving snakes on the roads, but I was unable to tell in they were actually cobras. Are they found in East Timor?.
We also could see some sea snakes (the black-white banded one) and saltwater crocs in their own environment. It was certainly a nice experience if it was not for the mosquitoes.
Thanks!!
Marcos, Spain
|
| |
|
RE: Species in East Timor
|
Reply
|
|
by Cro on October 15, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Marcos: In answer to your questions, yes, cobras are found on East Timor, as are kraits.
As far as the yellow colour pit viper, it was probably one of the Trimeresurus, but not likely trigonocephalus, as that snake is found mostly in Ceylon. I do not think that it ranges as far as Timor.
I will try to find out further information on what snakes you might have seen there, although information on snakes of that area is difficult to find. JohnZ
|
| |
|
RE: Species in East Timor
|
Reply
|
|
by Heatseeker on October 17, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Thanks for the info, John!!.
It'll be nice to learn from whatever you can add to what you've said already. I spotted no cobra whatsoever during the year I spent there, but it's nice to find out that they were actually there. Those small green vipers where everywhere, though. They were particularly dangerous given their habit of coiling in the bushes and trees, so if you had to walk in dense vegetation areas it was a good idea to carry a machete and to open wide both your eyes.
Thanks again!.
Regards!.
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Manager.
|
