FieldHerpForum

...hit the pub to snarf some grog.

I went out in quite heavy rain last night to see what would emerge by the creekside trail leading to this lovely waterfall. What did emerge were the usual suspects - Bufo bankorensis and B. melanostictus, both in enormous numbers. Strangely enough, almost no frogs, apart from one very pretty Swinhoe's Frog (Rana swinhoana, endemic to Taiwan). I did, however, spot two of my favorite centipedes, Thereuopoda longicornis, an Asian version of the House centipede, and a highly efficient predator every bit as badass as it looks, plus some red and black banded millipedes (No idea about the species, millipedes seem sorely underdocumented around these here parts, can anyone help?). Oh, and yet another Taiwan Slug Snake It's high time the night temps start rising, too!

Rana swinhoana




Bufo melanostictus, red-splotched variety


NoID millipede. Check out the spaceship eyes.




Thereuopoda longicornis

Nice photos! Your Millipede looks like a Spirobolus walkeri but I could be wrong.

Robbie Webb.

You're not! Thanks a million for that, Robbie - I've been despairing about my inability to ID these buggers for quite a while now...

Your posts are always interesting. I like the inverts, especially the millipede with the strange eyes. How big was it?

Regards,
David

Thanks, moloch. The millipede was about 10 cm long. They get bigger, though. Weirdly enough, they seem to be diurnal AND nocturnal. They're also very gregarious - I often find trees with dozens of them all over the trunks, day and night....

I second that emotion.

Thank you, Warren! But the video doesn't open - goes straight to the YouTube homepage.

By the way: while these millipedes make for great photos if you let them crawl around on your sleeve or telephoto lens, be very afraid: they will diarrhea the place up in no time. The first time that happened I thought it to be a reaction to a bad Mexican dinner at the local Cucina Milpiés, but so far every single 'pede has done it to me. Guess it's like with certain people: if they don't have anything positive to say, they'll just crap all over you...

Okay, I know we have some computer guys on the forum. Does anyone know why my link works for me in Canada but goes to the YouTube homepage when Twoton tries it from Taiwan?

Sez right on the top: "This video is not available in your country. "

Explanation here:
http://www.labnol.org/internet/video/yo ... ntry/2680/