I had gone for a short 3 day herping trip to Amboli during middle of May which usually is the end of dry season. It being dry season wasn't expecting much of frog activity but I was shocked with what I found on that trip. I was accompanied by Vishal and Indrajeet for herping.
Common Cat Snake by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
After taking the turn from National Highway 4 for Amboli, within 200mts we found a Common cat snake(Boiga trigonata) which was injured badly by a passing vehicle.
Buff Striped keelback by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
After travelling further towards Amboli, we found the next road kill of the night, this time a striped keelback(Amphiesma stolatum).
Indian Balloon Frog by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
On outskirts of Uttur, I heard the call of Balloon frog(Uperodon sp.), so we stopped the vehicle to investigate. to our surprise the call were being made by male Indian balloon frog(Uperodon globulosus). These frogs are only seen during the first 15 days of monsoons mating and calling, after which they vanish underground for rest of year. So finding these frogs in middle of dry season calling was unusual.
Finally after reaching Amboli, we went in search of snakes and frogs. First spot was the garden to search for some frogs, and as usual found these Malabar gliding frogs in that garden.
Malabar Gliding Frog by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Also in the same pond was a field mouse.
IMG_9187 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
After leaving the garden we heard a call of Amboli Bush frog(Pseudophilautus amboli) from the tree along the road that leads to the garden. After searching for 5-6 minutes finally spotted these tiny frogs calling from under the leaves. In the excitement of finding that frog we were reckless and didn't look in the branches above the head for snakes. All 3 of us were standing and photographing the frog with a Malabar pit viper sitting right on top of our head within striking distance. There is a pit viper over Indrajit's head and all 3 of us were recklessly photographing bush frog.(photo taken by Vishal)
DSC_0032 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
first Malabar pit viper of the night:
Malabar Pit Viper(Trimeresurus malabaricus) by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Malabar Pit Viper(Trimeresurus malabaricus) by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Malabar Pit Viper(Trimeresurus malabaricus) by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Malabar Pit Viper(Trimeresurus malabaricus) by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Sleeping Forest lizard(Calotes rouxii)
IMG_9212 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Next up while walking the road towards forest we found the 2nd pit viper of the night. This fellow was about 12 ft off the ground and then after we returned from the walk we found it had gone higher up in the tree.
IMG_9215 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
After calling it a night, we went to hotel rooms and slept for the night. In the morning at around 10am left for a morning walk towards the village of Chaukul. On the wall of Whistling woods hotel, we found another pit viper resting within the gap between blocks of chira rock.
Malabar Pit viper by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_9218 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Indrajeet and Vishal taking photos of the pit viper:
Indrajeet and Vishal photographing Malabar pit viper by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Blue tiger:
IMG_9221 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
After walking about 300mts we found a Vine snake(Ahaetulla nasuta).
IMG_9226 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_9228 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_9243 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_9253 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
After this vine snake we found 6-7 more vine snakes alongside the road within a time frame of another 30mins.
Tiger centipede(Scolopendra sp) sleeping in tree:
IMG_9259 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Burrowing spider(Thrigmopoeus sp.) male running in middle of the road, in search of female for mating.
IMG_9266 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Night 2 of herping:
On the 2nd night of herping, we went for walk along the same path to garden. Since it was early in the evening, we found Amboli bush frogs calling from their usual low branches.
IMG_9269 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_9276 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Next up was a Bombay bush frog(Raorchestes bombayensis) sitting in middle of road.
IMG_9279 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
A few feet from this spot we found a wolf spider with her babies on the back.
IMG_9284 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Next up on the same path was a Common krait(Bungarus caeruleus), this was one of the most aggressive krait I have come across in recent times.
IMG_9294 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Afterwards we went to the spot where we had spotted the tarantula in middle of road. To the surprise we found a male trapdoor spider in middle of road.
Idiops sp.
IMG_9307 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
The tarantula wall next to the place where we found burrowing spider in morning. This wall was maybe 10ft across and 5 ft high. it has around 40 tarantula burrows. In that patch of forest we found about 8-10 such walls filled with tarantulas.
IMG_9313 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_9315 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
After calling it a night we went to sleep.
Next morning we went to the fort nearby to check out the landscape and have some fun.
Mahadevgad:
IMG_9325 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
View from the fort of the valley below:
IMG_9328 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
we also saw some Forest lizards(calotes sp) and Fan throated lizard(Sitana sp). While having lunch in the hotel we saw some cnemaspis sp, on the rocks. For Vishal it was his first dwarf gecko and he was too excited to catch one. before catching it , he spotted a pit viper hiding in that rock.
Malabar pit viper and Cnemaspis sp. hatchling by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_9333 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
The owner of the hotel wasn't too comfortable having a venomous snake sharing the same place where customers were eating. So we removed the snake the released in the bushes nearby.
Malabar Pit Viper(Trimeresurus malabaricus) by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Malabar Pit Viper(Trimeresurus malabaricus) by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
After eating we went to the stream where usually the wrinkled frogs(Nyctibatrachus petraeus) are found. And as expected in the small drying pools we spotted quite a few of nycti's hanging around.
IMG_9341 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_9343 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_9345 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Night 3(last night of herping):
Again back to the same forest garden for herping, right at the entrance was a Russell's kukri snake(Oligodon taeniolatus) .
IMG_9351 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_9371 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
In the pond nearby, we saw the Malabar gliding frogs(Rhacophorus malabaricus) in amplexus in middle of dry season. Also saw some females building nests in the trees.
IMG_9375 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Under the trees nearby, was a newly described species of leaping frogs endemic to Amboli- Indirana chirvasi.
IMG_9382 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_9387 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
In the same garden, we spotted a Travancore wolf snake, forest scorpions(Heterometrus sp), Tiger toad(Xanthophryne tigerinus) (not photographed) and another Malabar pit viper.
IMG_9537 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
I made another trip to Amboli last week at the start of monsoons, and this time observed the explosive mating behaviour of Tiger toads. I will update the post soon with photos from that trip.
Amboli revisited (Mid May + Early June) *Updated
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- Muchobirdnerd
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Re: Amboli revisited (Towards the end of dry season-pre mons
Great finds, sounds like a fun trip!
- Hans Breuer (twoton)
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Re: Amboli revisited (Towards the end of dry season-pre mons
Thank you, that was great! We don't get to see too much stuff from your neck of the woods around here....
Re: Amboli revisited (Towards the end of dry season-pre mons
It indeed was a fun trip, trip to Amboli in June was even better. Will update this post once I get the photos from my friend.Ruxs wrote:Great finds, sounds like a fun trip!
You are welcome, for last 3 weeks I have been herping at some other spots here in northern ghats. I will share pics from those soon.Hans Breuer (twoton) wrote:Thank you, that was great! We don't get to see too much stuff from your neck of the woods around here....
Thanks a lot.Muchobirdnerd wrote:Awesome!
Re: Amboli revisited (Towards the end of dry season-pre mons
I need to visit you one of these days... I'm always excited to see what you're finding.
- orionmystery
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Re: Amboli revisited (Towards the end of dry season-pre mons
Nice one, Chaitanya. Love the Malabar Gliding frogs.
Re: Amboli revisited (Towards the end of dry season-pre mons
They are the coolest frogs found here in Sahyadris.orionmystery wrote:Nice one, Chaitanya. Love the Malabar Gliding frogs.
You should make a plan for monsoons, I have couple of special spots for herping packed with a lot of interesting highly endemic herps.justinm wrote:I need to visit you one of these days... I'm always excited to see what you're finding.
I am updated the pics from June visit as well. The group was pretty much the same but since first week of June is when normally monsoons arrive, the amphibian activity this time of the year was insane. I am just adding pics from the 2n visit of the year.
Forest lizard(Calotes rouxii)
IMG_7506 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
On night during just outside the resort we found the first snake of evening a Travancore wolf snake(Lycodon travancoricus)
IMG_7512 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Common Krait(Bungarus caeruleus)
IMG_7538 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_7552 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Blue mormon: state butterfly of Maharashtra
IMG_7533 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Blue Mormon(Papilio polymnestor) in flight by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Dwarf gecko(Cnemaspis sp.)
IMG_7558 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Elliot's shieldtail snake(Uropeltis ellioti)
IMG_7562 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_7567 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_7573 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Smithsonia viridiflora
IMG_7579 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Bombay Bush frog(Raorchestes bombayensis)
IMG_7596 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_7597 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_7603 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Amboli Bush frog(Pseudophilautus amboli)
IMG_7610 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_7618 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Malabar Gliding frog(Rhacophorus malabaricus)
IMG_7620 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_7621 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Common vine snake(Ahaetulla nasuta) feeding on a Dwarf gecko(Cnemaspis sp.)
IMG_7632 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Malabar Pit Viper(Trimeresurus malabaricus)
IMG_7699 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_7711 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Cat Snake(Boiga sp.)
IMG_8585 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_8591 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_8618 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Cat Snake(Boiga sp.) by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Another Malabar Pit viper morph(Trimeresurus malabaricus) found behind the rooms of resort where we were staying.
IMG_8646 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_8646 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_8658 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_8677 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_8663 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_8641 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Bombay bush frog
IMG_8653 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
The whole reason why I was late in updating the post was due to the fact that I was waiting for the pics of Amboli toad mating. That night I couldn't carry my camera as batteries had died. We went to field just after the first monsoon showers hit Amboli. That entire field was filled with 1000s of Amboli toads that had congregated for mating. We had to be careful while walking the field as there were toads calling, in amplexus barely few inches from each other. Also while walking some of the males were trying to mate with toes of our feet.
DSC_0764 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Amboli toads in Amplexus
DSC_0748 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
DSC_0758 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
DSC_0770 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Also on the same field there were mating balls in which the female was covered in 4-5 males. In two cases we even saw the female was killed by the males in that mating ball. One of those female had drowned in a pool of water and she still was covered in 5 males. Here is another female that was dead and still there were 4 males trying to mate while a 5th one in background is trying to join in.
DSC_0767 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Forest lizard(Calotes rouxii)
IMG_7506 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
On night during just outside the resort we found the first snake of evening a Travancore wolf snake(Lycodon travancoricus)
IMG_7512 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Common Krait(Bungarus caeruleus)
IMG_7538 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_7552 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Blue mormon: state butterfly of Maharashtra
IMG_7533 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Blue Mormon(Papilio polymnestor) in flight by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Dwarf gecko(Cnemaspis sp.)
IMG_7558 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Elliot's shieldtail snake(Uropeltis ellioti)
IMG_7562 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_7567 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_7573 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Smithsonia viridiflora
IMG_7579 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Bombay Bush frog(Raorchestes bombayensis)
IMG_7596 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_7597 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_7603 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Amboli Bush frog(Pseudophilautus amboli)
IMG_7610 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_7618 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Malabar Gliding frog(Rhacophorus malabaricus)
IMG_7620 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_7621 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Common vine snake(Ahaetulla nasuta) feeding on a Dwarf gecko(Cnemaspis sp.)
IMG_7632 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Malabar Pit Viper(Trimeresurus malabaricus)
IMG_7699 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_7711 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Cat Snake(Boiga sp.)
IMG_8585 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_8591 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_8618 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Cat Snake(Boiga sp.) by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Another Malabar Pit viper morph(Trimeresurus malabaricus) found behind the rooms of resort where we were staying.
IMG_8646 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_8646 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_8658 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_8677 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_8663 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
IMG_8641 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Bombay bush frog
IMG_8653 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
The whole reason why I was late in updating the post was due to the fact that I was waiting for the pics of Amboli toad mating. That night I couldn't carry my camera as batteries had died. We went to field just after the first monsoon showers hit Amboli. That entire field was filled with 1000s of Amboli toads that had congregated for mating. We had to be careful while walking the field as there were toads calling, in amplexus barely few inches from each other. Also while walking some of the males were trying to mate with toes of our feet.
DSC_0764 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Amboli toads in Amplexus
DSC_0748 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
DSC_0758 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
DSC_0770 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr
Also on the same field there were mating balls in which the female was covered in 4-5 males. In two cases we even saw the female was killed by the males in that mating ball. One of those female had drowned in a pool of water and she still was covered in 5 males. Here is another female that was dead and still there were 4 males trying to mate while a 5th one in background is trying to join in.
DSC_0767 by Chaitanya Shukla, on Flickr