Taiwan (June 2024)
Deinagkistrodon acutus
This year we’ve decided to repeat the short getaway during a long public holiday weekend, this time with a few friends, including Woody. Thanks for joining us, it was great to finally meet you!
We spent a couple of nights in Fuxing District again, road cruising and walking in search of snakes. This time we hit the jackpot with the weather as we encountered 13 different species (plus two other, sadly dead on the road) in just two nights, including some stunners and species we hoped to see.
Both nights were very busy for us, with a 3-4am finish for some members of our team. The first night started with many brown-spotted pit vipers Protobothrops mucrosquamatus, wolf snakes of both species common to that area (Lycodon rufozonatus and Lycodon ruhstrati) and… a magnificent sharp-nosed pit viper also known as the hundred-pacer (refers to a local belief that after being bitten the victim will only be able to walk 100 steps before dying), Deinagkistrodon acutus.
Deinagkistrodon acutus
The snake was found on the side of the road by a wonderful family of 4. The parents were very supportive of their children’s passion for the wildlife, especially snakes. It’s fantastic to meet such people as it gives hope for the future of creatures that usually aren’t much appreciated by the public!
Calamaria pavimentata
Trimeresurus stejnegeri
We also encountered a few reed snakes (Calamaria pavimentata) and, as expected, Chinese green tree vipers (Trimeresurus stejnegeri) along the way. The remaining exciting finds of the first night waited for us almost until the very end, which was basically early morning hours: Taiwan mountain pit viper, also known to locals as “stawberry head” (Ovophis makazayazaya) and a gorgeous Taiwanese bamboo ratsnake (Oreocryptophis porphyraceus ssp. kawakamii).
Ovophis makazayazaya
Ovophis makazayazaya
Oreocryptophis porphyraceus ssp. kawakamii
Deinagkistrodon acutus, the same individual spotted again on the first night
The temperatures slightly dropped on the second night and some of the species we saw were also different. While road cruising, we spotted an ornate kukri snake (Oligodon ornatus) followed by a sighting of a coral snake (Sinomicrurus swinhoei).
Oligodon ornatus
Sinomicrurus swinhoei
A massive female brown-spotted pit viper (Protobothrops mucrosquamatus) was a lovely encounter too.
Protobothrops mucrosquamatus
Protobothrops mucrosquamatus
After finding a fresh DOR (dead on the road) slug snake, we were hoping to find a live specimen before leaving and, to Karolina’s delight, a lovely juvenile specimen made its appearance.
Pareas formosensis
It’s probably clear by now that the main focus of this trip were snakes. We did see some frogs, lizards and inverts but there wasn’t enough time to photograph them all. Some examples below.
Boiga kraepelini
Elaphe taeniura ssp. friesi
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