Southern Thailand, september 2016

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Thor Hakonsen
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Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by Thor Hakonsen »

In early september me and two other photographers travelled to Thailand to photograph pit vipers, and off course all other herps we encountered. I was a short trip in Khao Yai National Park i december, and then I teamed up with Tony Smits from Tontan Travel - this was such a great experience that we also teamed up with the team from Tontan Travel also for this trip. Something we do not regret one second!

We saw in total ca 90 species of herps, 23 of them snakes. (list in the end)

We landed in Bangkok the morning of 01.september (my 40th birthday, and what a way to celebrate), and took a taxi to Cha-Am where we met up with Tony, Tan and the "new guy" in their team, Aood.

The first day and a half we where in the outskirts of Kaeng Krachan Naional Park, the we travelled to Ranong for one day and night - then the next three days we where in Khao Sok National Park before we travelled to Phuket and then Krabi for 1 day each. Afther this we where one day and night in Khao Luang before we used the last day and night in the botanical garden in Trang for the MVP

Here are some pictures from the trip..

01-02.september (Kaeng Krachan and Cha-Am)

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Ahaetulla prasina

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Calotes emma

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Acanthosaura crucigera

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Trimeresurus popeiorum

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Cortydactylus petchaburiensis

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Kaloula pulchra

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Dixionis siamensis

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Ahaetulla nasuta

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Lycodon capucinus


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Trimeresurus albolabris

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Leiolepeis belliana
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Thor Hakonsen
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by Thor Hakonsen »

03-04.september - Ranong-district

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Bungarus fasciatus


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Boiga cyanea


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Xenochrophis punctulatus


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Duttaphrynes cf.melanosticus

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Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus
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Thor Hakonsen
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016 (pic heavy)

Post by Thor Hakonsen »

Khao Sok National Park - 04-06.september

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Cyrtodactylus oldhami


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Bronchocela rayanesis


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Aplopeltura boa


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Brachytarsophrys carinense


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Draco taeniopterus


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Kaloula latidisca

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Ptychozoon lionotum

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Calamaria pavimentata

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Calotes emma


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Boiga dendrophila


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Dendrelaphis cyanochloris

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Trimeresurus fucatus


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Acanthosaura phuketensis


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Boiga nigriceps

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Megophrys cf.longipes


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Alcalus tasanae

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Rhacophorus nigropalmatus

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Draco blanfordii
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Thor Hakonsen
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by Thor Hakonsen »

Phuket - 06-07.september

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Tropidolaemus wagleri


Krabi - 07-08.september

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Boiga cyanea

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Cortydactylus peguensis



Khao Luang - 08-09.september

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Trimeresurus venustus


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Trimeresurus fucatus


Trang - 09-10.september

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Calloselasma rhodostoma


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Ahaetulla prasina
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Thor Hakonsen
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by Thor Hakonsen »

So, this is some of the pictures and animals I got to encounter on this amazing and incredibly wet trip :)

Here is the total list of species we saw :

Snakes:
Ahaetulla nasuta - Long-nosed Vine Snake: 2
Ahaetulla prasina - Oriental Vine Snake: 12
Aplopeltura boa - Blunt-headed Slug Snake: 1
Boiga cyanea - Green Cat Snake: 2
Boiga dendrophila - Mangrove Cat Snake: 1
Boiga nigriceps - Red Cat Snake: 1
Bungarus fasciatus - Banded Krait: 1
Calamaria pavimentata - Collared Reed Snake: 2
Calloselasma rhodostoma - Malayan Pit Viper: 10
Chrysopelea ornata? - Golden Tree Snake: 1 (possible C. paradisi)
Dendrelaphis caudolineatus - Striped Bronzeback: 1
Dendrelaphis formosus - Elegant Bronzeback: 1
Dryocalamus subannulatus - Malayan Bridle Snake: 1
Lycodon capucinus - Common Wolf Snake: 1
Pareas carinatus - Keeled Slug Snake: 1
Trimeresurus albolabris - White-lipped Pit Viper: 2
Trimeresurus fucatus - Banded Pit Viper: 4 (Khao Luang)
Trimeresurus cf. fucatus - Banded Pit Viper: 2 (Khao Sok)
Trimeresurus popeiorum - Pope's Pit Viper: 1
Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus - Mangrove Pit Viper: 2
Trimeresurus venustus - Beautiful Pit Viper: 4
Tropidolaemus wagleri - Wagler's Pit Viper: 4
Xenochrophis punctulatus - Spotted Keelback: 1
Total snake species: 23
Total number of snakes: 58

And the only species we did not find, but did photograph as our friend Rushen found it:
Dendrelaphis cyanochloris - Blue Bronzeback: 1

Geckos:
Cnemaspis chanardi - Chanard's Rock Gecko
Cnemaspis phuketensis - Phuket Rock Gecko
Cnemaspis vandeventeri - VanDeventer's Rock Gecko
Cyrtodactylus lekaguli - Lekagul's Bent-toed Gecko
Cyrtodactylus oldhami - Oldham's Bent-toed Gecko
Cyrtodactylus peguensis - Spotted Bent-toed Gecko
Cyrtodactylus phetchaburiensis - Phetchaburi Bent-toed Gecko
Cyrtodactylus quadrivirgatus - Four-lined Bent-toed Gecko
Dixonius siamensis - Siamese Ground Gecko
Gehyra mutilata - Common Four-clawed Gecko
Gekko gecko - Tokay Gecko
Gekko smithii - Smith's Tokay Gecko
Hemidactylus frenatus - Spiny-tailed House Gecko
Hemidactylus garnotii - Garnot's House Gecko
Hemidactylus platyurus - Flat-tailed Gecko
Hemiphyllodactylus typus - Malayan Dwarf Gecko
Ptychozoon kuhli - Kuhl's Parachute Gecko
Ptychozoon lionotum - Smooth-backed Parachute Gecko
Total gecko species: 18

Agamids:
Acanthosaura crucigera - Cross-bearing Tree Lizard
Acanthosaura cf. crucigera - Cross-bearing Tree Lizard (Krabi)
Acanthosaura phuketensis - Phuket Horned Tree Lizard
Bronchocela rayaensis - Gunung Raya Green Crested Lizard
Calotes emma - Crested Forest Lizard
Calotes versicolor - Oriental Garden Lizard
Draco blanfordii - Blanford's Gliding Lizard
Draco maculatus - Spotted Gliding Lizard
Draco taeniopterus - Barred Gliding Lizard
Leiolepis belliana - Common Butterfly Lizard
Pseudocalotes khaonanensis - Khao Nan Long-headed Lizard
Total agamid species: 11

Skinks:
Eutropis macularia - Variable Sun Skink
Eutropis multifasciata - Many-lined Sun Skink
Lygosoma herberti - Herbert’s Supple Skink
Lygosoma quadrupes - Short-limbed Supple Skink
Sphenomorphus maculatus - Spotted Forest Skink
Total skink species: 5

Varanids:
Varanus nebulosus - Clouded Monitor Lizard
Varanus salvator - Water Monitor Lizard
Total monitor lizard species: 2

Turtles:
Cyclemys enigmatica - Dark Leaf Turtle
Total turtle species: 1

Frogs & toads:
Alcalus tasanae - Tasan Frog
Amolops panhai - Tenasserim Cascade Frog
Brachytarsophrys carinense - Burmese Horned Frog
Clinotarsus penelope - Hill Frog
Duttaphrynus melanostictus - Black-spined Toad
Duttaphrynus cf. melanostictus - - Black-spined Toad (Ranong)
Fejervarya limnocharis - Cricket Frog
Fejervarya moodiei - Brackish Frog
Hydrophylax eschatia - Eschat Golden-backed Frog
Hylarana erythraea - Green Paddy Frog
Hylarana glandulosa - Glandular Frog
Hylarana nigrovittata - Dark-sided Frog
Ingerophrynus parvus - Dwarf Toad
Kaloula latidisca - Wide-disced Bullfrog
Kaloula pulchra - Banded Bullfrog
Kurixalus appendiculatus - Frilled Bushfrog
Kurixalus verrucosus - Boulenger's Bushfrog
Limnonectes blythii - Blyth's River Frog
Limnonectes doriae - Doria's Frog
Megophrys cf. longipes - Red-legged Horned Frog
Microhyla berdmorei - Berdmore's Chorus Frog
Microhyla butleri - Butler's Chorus Frog
Microhyla heymonsi - Dark-sided Chorus Frog
Microhyla mukhlesuri - Mukhlesur's Chorus Frog
Microhyla cf. annectens - Boulenger's Chorus Frog
Occidozyga martensii - Round-tongued Floating Frog
Odorrana hosii - Hose's Frog
Phrynoidis asper - Giant River Toad
Polypedates leucomystax - Four-lined Tree Frog
Rhacophorus nigropalmatus - Wallace's Flying Frog
Total frog species: 30

Caecilians:
Ichthyophis sp. (Khao Sok) - Caecilian species unidentified
Ichthyophis sp. (Trang) - Caecilian species unidentified
Total caecilian species: 1 or 2 (could have been the same, but impossible to tell from the tiny juveniles we found)
Jimi
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by Jimi »

Sounds like A Great Trip!

Nice images, I have learned to look at your stuff specifically. May you be able to leave "the great white north" again soon!

cheers
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Martti Niskanen
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by Martti Niskanen »

Great finds and shots as always, Thor.
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by NACairns »

Beautiful shots, spectacular diversity.
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by Ribbit »

Fantastic photos! They really capture some personality in the animals. I think my favorite in that regard is the Leiolepeis belliana.

John
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by krisbell »

Masterful work as always Thor - very jealous.
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blacktara
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by blacktara »

Great stuff. Ton and Tan are great
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Thor Hakonsen
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by Thor Hakonsen »

Jimi wrote:Sounds like A Great Trip!

Nice images, I have learned to look at your stuff specifically. May you be able to leave "the great white north" again soon!

cheers
Thanks!

Unfortunatly it seems like it will be some thime before I get the chance now.. I might have to start a Kickstarter :)
blacktara wrote:Great stuff. Ton and Tan are great
Yes they are, and add the new herp guy Aood to that equation, and the team is amazing!
krisbell wrote:Masterful work as always Thor - very jealous.
:)

Well that goes both ways when you've been out on a trip.
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by dendrelaphis »

wonderful observations and amazing pictures! I want to go!
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Thor Hakonsen
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by Thor Hakonsen »

There will always be more photos that is worth editing after a trip like this - here is the first one

ImageTrimeresurus fucatus by Thor Hakonsen, on Flickr
Trimeresurus fucatus
Khao Luang
dendrelaphis
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by dendrelaphis »

Truely amazing pictures and finds. I wish I had been so succeful during my last trip to Thailand.
I doubt that that is a X. punctulatus. Do you have more pictures?
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Hans Breuer (twoton)
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by Hans Breuer (twoton) »

BRAVO, THOR!!!!!!
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dwakefield
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by dwakefield »

Wow, those are some stunning animals and photos! I particularly love the arboreal pit vipers.
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Thor Hakonsen
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by Thor Hakonsen »

Thanks guys!

Here is a picture that was saved because publication in a magazine..

ImageTrimeresurus purpureomaculatus by Thor Hakonsen, on Flickr
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Thor Hakonsen
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by Thor Hakonsen »

dendrelaphis wrote:Truely amazing pictures and finds. I wish I had been so succeful during my last trip to Thailand.
I doubt that that is a X. punctulatus. Do you have more pictures?
Why the doubt ? I'm not competent to say one or another on the ID - but I do trust Aood with the ID of the snake.

I do have more pics, but not sure if I got pictures that can shed light on the ID - what do you need to see ?
We where 4 who took pictures of the snake, so there is not many angles not documented..
dendrelaphis
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by dendrelaphis »

Sorry, stupid mistake of me, I read "flavipunctatus".
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VinceAdam2015
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by VinceAdam2015 »

The green viper with white spots could be Trimeresurus hageni
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by Badgerberling »

Incredible. Thank you for posting. :thumb:
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by ClosetHerper »

Mind blown by your photography. Beautiful images throughout, and a great assortment of reptiles. Thanks for sharing your talents.
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Hans Breuer (twoton)
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by Hans Breuer (twoton) »

Being the practical, boring German that I am, I've never been a fan of artsy, shallow DOF. I like my photos to show everything clearly and in focus, field guide style. F/22 and above is my realm. That's also the reason why even my bedroom is as brightly lit as a lab bench.

But I really, really love your style, Thor. I want to plaster my walls with your photos! And the more I look at them, the more I want to go out and try it for myself.

Thanks for the inspiration!

Hans
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Thor Hakonsen
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by Thor Hakonsen »

VinceAdam2015 wrote:The green viper with white spots could be Trimeresurus hageni
I did not see this message before now..

What do you base this on ?
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Thor Hakonsen
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by Thor Hakonsen »

Hans Breuer (twoton) wrote:Being the practical, boring German that I am, I've never been a fan of artsy, shallow DOF. I like my photos to show everything clearly and in focus, field guide style. F/22 and above is my realm. That's also the reason why even my bedroom is as brightly lit as a lab bench.

But I really, really love your style, Thor. I want to plaster my walls with your photos! And the more I look at them, the more I want to go out and try it for myself.

Thanks for the inspiration!

Hans
You are making me blush Hans - and that is not very nice on a norwegian in wintertime, as you know we are pale as ghosts this time of year :)

I will be sure to bring you a print when I come you your neck of the woods!
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Hans Breuer (twoton)
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Re: Southern Thailand, september 2016

Post by Hans Breuer (twoton) »

Why, thank you very much, Thor! I'd appreciate that!
Thor Hakonsen wrote:
Hans Breuer (twoton) wrote:Being the practical, boring German that I am, I've never been a fan of artsy, shallow DOF. I like my photos to show everything clearly and in focus, field guide style. F/22 and above is my realm. That's also the reason why even my bedroom is as brightly lit as a lab bench.

But I really, really love your style, Thor. I want to plaster my walls with your photos! And the more I look at them, the more I want to go out and try it for myself.

Thanks for the inspiration!

Hans
You are making me blush Hans - and that is not very nice on a norwegian in wintertime, as you know we are pale as ghosts this time of year :)

I will be sure to bring you a print when I come you your neck of the woods!
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