It is that time of the year to round up some of my favorite images taken in the year of 2019. Again, lots of herps (amphibians, reptiles) this year. Mostly with a wide angle lens and/or a 60mm macro lens.
Snakes
#1 - Up close with a adult male Sumatra Pit Viper (Trimeresurus sumatranus) from the lowland forest of Sabah, Borneo.
Trimeresurus sumatranus_MG_6725 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#2 Sabah Pit Viper (Trimeresurus sabahi) from the highlands of Sabah, Borneo.
Trimeresurus sabahi_MG_6204 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#3 - A big male Sabah Pit Viper (Trimeresurus sabahi) from the highland of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.
Trimeresurus sabahi_MG_6184 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#4 - The cutest little cat snake ever! Doesn't look like any other Pale-spotted Cat Snake (Boiga drapiezii) I have ever seen. Mentawai Islands, Sumatra, Indonesia.
Boiga drapiezii_MG_4973 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#5 - The cutest little cat snake ever! Doesn't look like any other Pale-spotted Cat Snake (Boiga drapiezii) I have ever seen. Mentawai Islands, Sumatra, Indonesia.
Boiga drapiezii_MG_4995 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#6 - Juvenile Dog-toothed Cat Snake (Boiga cynodon) from the lowland forest of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.
Boiga cynodon_MG_4059 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#7 - Male Bornean Keeled Pit Viper (Tropidolaemus subannulatus). Lowland forest of Sabah, Borneo
Tropidolaemus subannulatus_MG_6759 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#8 - In-situ shot of a Male Bornean Keeled Pit Viper (Trimeresurus subannulatus) with ant heads on him. Lowland forest of Sabah, Borneo.
Tropidolaemus subannulatus_MG_5716 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#9 - Malayan Bridle Snake (Dryocalamus/Lycodon subannulatus) from the lowland forest of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.
Dryocalamus subannulatus_MG_5699 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#10 - Mangrove Pit Viper / Shore Pit Viper (Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus) from Kedah, West Malaysia.
Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus P8070206 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#11 - Check out the many color forms of Painted Mock Viper (Psammodynastes pictus). Lowland forest of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.
Psammodynastes pictus_MG_5523 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#12 - Beautiful little Gold-ringed Cat Snake (Boiga dendrophila) from the lowland forest of Kedah, West Malaysia.
Boiga dendrophila_MG_5069 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#13 - Dusky Wolf Snake / Dark Wolf Snake (Lepturophis albofucus / Lycodon albofuscus) from the lowland forest of Kedah, West Malaysia.
Lycodon albofuscus_MG_5492 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#14 - Black-headed Cat Snake / Pale-headed Cat Snake (Boiga nigriceps) from the lowland forest of Negeri Sembilan, West Malaysia.
Boiga nigriceps_MG_5433 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#15 - Jasper's Cat Snake (Boiga jaspidea).Probably one of the most beautiful cat snakes out there. Pahang, West Malaysia.
Boiga jaspidea_MG_5373 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#16 - Beautiful Pitviper (Trimeresurus venustus) from Southern Thailand.
Trimeresurus venustus_MG_4669 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#17 - Big female Sumatra Pit Viper (Trimeresurus sumatranus). Lowland forest of Sabah, Borneo.
Trimeresurus sumatranus_MG_6563 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#18 - Red-necked Keelback (Rhabdophis subminiatus) from Krabi, Thailand.
Rhabdophis subminiatus_MG_4444 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#19 - Red-headed Krait (Bungarus flaviceps) from the lowland forest of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Too shy to show its head.
Bungarus flaviceps baluensis_MG_4195 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#20 - Blue Coral Snake (Calliophis bivirgatus) from the lowland forest of Kedah, Malaysia
Calliophis bivirgatus_MG_5157 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#21 - Blue Coral Snake (Calliophis bivirgatus tetrataenia) from the lowland forest of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.
Calliophis bivirgatus tetrataenia_MG_3974 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#22 - Malayan ground pit viper, Malayan pit viper, Malayan ground snake, Malayan moccasin (Calloselasma rhodostoma). Krabi, Thailand.
Calloselasma rhodostoma_MG_4708 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#23 - Cute but bitey little juvenile Black Copper Rat Snake (Coelognathus flavolineatus), lowland forest of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.
Coelognathus flavolineatus_MG_4083 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#24 - Green Pit Viper (Trimeresurus sp. nov.) from the Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra, Indonesia.
Trimeresurus sp. nov._MG_4869 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#25 - Cute little Blunt-head Snail-eating Snake (Aplopeltura boa) from the Mentawai Islands, Sumatra.
Aplopeltura boa_MG_4941 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#26 - Golden Flying Snake (Chrysopelea ornata) from Krabi, Thailand.
Chrysopelea ornata_MG_4423 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#27 - Blue Krait / Malayan Krait (Bungarus candidus) from Krabi, Thailand.
Bungarus candidus_MG_4622 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#28 - Malayan Snail-eating Snake (Asthenodipsas malaccanus) from the lowland forest of Sabah, Borneo.
Asthenodipsas malaccanus_MG_6646 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#29 - Yellow-lined Reed Snake / Griswold's Reed Snake (Calamaria griswoldi) from the highlands of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.This one was a pain to photograph.
Calamaria griswoldi_MG_4359 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
Lizards
#30 - Ornate Earless Agama (Aphaniotis ornata), lowland forest of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.
Aphaniotis ornata_MG_5689 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#31 - Draco's are just awesome! Giant Flying Dragon (Draco maximus). Sabah, Borneo. It is always amazing to see them in "flight"
Draco maximus_MG_6866 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
Amphibians
#32 - Bornean Horned Frog (Megophrys nasuta). You can never get tired of them! Highlands of Sabah, about 1000m asl.
Megophrys nasuta_MG_6166 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#33 - Pied warty frog / Hill Garden Bug-eyed frog / Bird Poop Frog (Theloderma asperum) from the highland of Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia.
Theloderma asperum_MG_3943 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#34 - Masked Tree Frog (Leptomantis angulirostris) from the highlands of Sabah, Borneo.
Leptomantis angulirostris_MG_5913 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#35 - Hole-in-the-head Frog (Huia cavitympanum) from the highlands of Sabah, Borneo. Approximately 1000m asl.
Huia cavitympanum_MG_5991 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#36 - Malayan Flying Frog (Rhacophorus prominanus) from the lowland forest of Kedah, West Malaysia. Not the flashiest frog but still very photogenic.
Rhacophorus prominanus_MG_5044 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#37 - Juvenile Frilled Tree Frog (Kurixalus appendiculatus) from the highlands of Sabah, Borneo. Approximately 1000m asl.
Kurixalus appendiculatus_MG_5903 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#38 - Spotted Stream Frog (Pulchrana picturata) from the lowland forest of Sabah, Borneo.
Pulchrana picturata_MG_5615 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#39 - My second Sabah Earless Toad (Sabahphrynus maculatus). Highland of Sabah, Borneo.
Sabahphrynus maculatus_MG_6023 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#40 - Hose's Bush Frog (Philautus hosii) from the lowland forest of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.
Philautus hosii_MG_5603 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#41 - A stunning Mahogany Frog (Abavorana luctuosa) from the lowland forest of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo.
Abavorana luctuosa_MG_5898 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#42 - Edwardine's Horned Frog (Megophrys edwardinae) from the highlands of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.
Megophrys edwardinae_MG_5745 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#43 - Diagonal-lined Frog / Khao Wang Frog / Slashed-back Frog / Three-striped Frog (Humerana miopus) from the lowland forest of Kedah, West Malaysia. My first time seeing one.
Humerana miopus_MG_5091 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#44 - Siberut Island Frog (Pulchrana siberu) is one of the two frogs I photographed in Mentawai Islands. The other one is Phrynella pulchra. Mentawai Islands, Sumatra. April 2019.
Pulchrana siberu_MG_5020 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#45 - How photogenic is this cool Mossy Bush Frog (Philautus macroscelis). Formerly known as Rhacophorus everetti. Highlands of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.
Philautus macroscelis_MG_6797 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
Invertebrates
#46 - Female dobsonfly, Nevromus gloriosoi(?), Liu, Hayashi & Yang, 2012 (Corydalidae: Corydalinae laying eggs on a leaf. Highland of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.
Nevromus gloriosoi_MG_6136 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#47 - Newly emerged cicada from the highland of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. 1000m asl. Tosena depicta - ID credit: David.
Tosena depicta_MG_5985 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#48 - Longhorn Beetle, Rhaphipodus sp., probably Rhaphipodus bonni, māle, from the lowland forest of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.
Rhaphipodus bonni_MG_5671 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#49 - Scorpion-tailed Spider (Arachnura sp.) with a winged termite prey. Lowland forest of Kedah, West Malaysia.
Arachnura sp._MG_5036 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#50 - Tropical Swallowtail Moth (Lyssa zampa) from the lowland forest of Kedah, West Malaysia.
Lyssa zampa_MG_5053 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#51 - Dragon Mantis (Toxodera maculata Ouwens, 1913) we found one night, lowland forest of Sabah, Borneo.
Toxodera maculata_MG_6304 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
#52 - Straight-snouted Weevil (Eutrachelus temmincki). highlands of Sabah, Borneo.
Eutrachelus temmincki_MG_6895 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
Others
#53 - Western Tarsier or Horsfield’s Tarsier (Cephalopachus bancanus). Sepilok, Sandakan, Borneo.
Cephalopachus bancanus_MG_6913 copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr
https://orionmystery.blogspot.com/2019/ ... -2019.html
Best of 2019
Moderator: Scott Waters
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- Sky Islander
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Re: Best of 2019
Absolutely fantastic! I like best all the species of tree vipers and how I can see the swirls of colors that make up the less-detailed color we would see from a safe distance. How/why are there 2 ant heads on that subannulatus? It just seems improbable.
Thank you for this post!
Goose
Thank you for this post!
Goose
Re: Best of 2019
I'm quite in awe of the species you find and the pictures you take. Thank you very much Kurt.
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Re: Best of 2019
These pictures are surreal! And I know from experiece several of these species you don't come across every day! On the contrary..
Re: Best of 2019
WOW, good job Kurt. Awesome finds and amazing pics!
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Re: Best of 2019
Thanks, Goose. The ants must have latched to the vipers when it was on the move. Those ants won't let go even after they died.Sky Islander wrote: ↑December 28th, 2019, 9:32 am Absolutely fantastic! I like best all the species of tree vipers and how I can see the swirls of colors that make up the less-detailed color we would see from a safe distance. How/why are there 2 ant heads on that subannulatus? It just seems improbable.
Thank you for this post!
Goose
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Re: Best of 2019
Thanks, man. Got lucky with a few species! The one from Siberut has no official name yet!dendrelaphis wrote: ↑January 10th, 2020, 3:42 am These pictures are surreal! And I know from experiece several of these species you don't come across every day! On the contrary..
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Re: Best of 2019
Thanks, Mark. Finally got lucky at the highland and found a Bungarus flaviceps baluensis up on a tree during my last tour there. There was a viper on that tree earlier so I assumed the krait went up the tree to hunt for that viper.