Day Four - Part 1
Anyone that is hoping that I will finish these projects in time for the show might as well just wait until the fall or the next spring show. Ran into some personal problems that inhibits me from spending anymore on the projects. Sorry about that folks!
Instead of posting individual pictures, I have decided to do three separate slideshow instead. You will find the description, explanation or justification for each species outlined below. Now, I have decided since the Sulawesi is a weird blend of animals that is better off being split up into their own respective biotope (skinks and a few geckos to Solomons and the common species to the Kra Peninsula) since there is nothing that uniquely DEFINE the Sulawesi other than their fish, mostly Halfbeaks.
Kra Peninsula Animals
http://s222.photobucket.com/albums/dd293/Souggy/vivjournal/?action=view¤t=d5d81232.pbw
Cat Gecko
Aeluroscalabotes felinus is a unique arboreal gecko that has retractile claws, and a prehensile tails. This primitive gecko would be a candidate for my Paleo project; the other advantage to having one of these is that it narrow down the widespread skink and gecko species to a few localities to Malay Peninsula, Borneo and Sulawesi.
Forest Betta
A Betta pugnax; rather than taking a picture of each Betta species individually since they are highly variable in colour in captivity with various wildtype morphs as well, I have decided to represent this genus with one picture. Although the most common Betta in captivity is Betta splendens or Siamese Fighting Fish, these species are also available and are native to the Kra Peninsula: Betta akarensis, Betta anabatoides, Betta bellica, Betta coccina, Betta imbellis, Betta picta, Betta pugnax, and Betta taeniata.
Banded Forest Bent-toed Gecko
Cyrtodactylus consobrinus is native and commonly exported out of Malaysia. They are either arboreal or semi-arboreal, or at least the species within the genus lead the lifestyle of one or the other. I have not done my research, but I saw these in the online field guide and on an exporter list. Cyrtodactylus elok is also native and on the exporter's list, but I have not found a decent adult picture yet.
Walking Dwarf Snakehead
Channa orientalis are endemic to Sri Lanka, although it is on the list of aquarium fish of Malaysia. However numerous references online according to government reports indicate that either the native range is much more extensive than they have thought or that they are introduced. Nonetheless, it is quite common to see them on a Malay export list. They inhabit clear pools no deeper than their own body or slity rivers and rivulets. They maxes out at about 4" and can be safely kept with fish at least two-third of their body length..
Flying Asian House Gecko
This odd gliding gecko, Cosymbotus platyurus, can be found scattered throughout the Himalayas in north India, Nepal, Bhutan south Tibet, and southwest China; through much of Thailand and Indochina and through the Indo-Pacific from Taiwan to eastern tip of New Guinea. This will go great in my arboreal project.
Malaysian Bent-toed Gecko
Cyrtodactylus pulchellus, another Cyrtodactylus gecko available on the exporter list.
Marbled Bent-toed Gecko
Cyrtodactylus quadrivirgatus, smaller than the other Cyrtodactylus geckos. I suspect this is one of the semi-arboreal species.
Siamese Algae Eater
Crossocheilus siamensis are common aquarium fish that inhabits flooded forests, streams and rivers.
Olive Tree Skink
An arboreal skink species, Dasia olivacea, that can be found along the coastal region of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam with much of their range beginning in Java and mainland Malaysia and ending in Borneo. This would be my substitute for Lamprolepis smaragdina if I choose not to use the Sulawesi as my base.
Wrestling Halfbeak
Dermogenys pusilla can be found throughout most of the coastal regions of Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Burneo and Indonesia. Although this fish typically inhabit freshwater and brackish streams and rivers; it is not uncommon to find them in flooded forests and pools.
Common Flying Dragon
A commonly exported species, Draco volans, can be found throughout the Thai-Malay Peninsula and Jakarta. Someone was telling me a month or two back about a few other commonly exported species out of Vietnam. Much of the Draco radiation begin in the Philippines. Above all else, this is probably will be the best substitute for the Sulawesian Dracos.
However a lot of people seem to have difficulty keeping them alive, the ones that seem to do best are the ones with fans creating a current, a good humidity gradient, a tall enclosure, lot of UV, and lot of small insects such as 1/8" and 1/4" crickets, roach nymphs and fruitflies.
Western Mosquitofish
Gambusia affinis; highly invasive fish that seem to find itself in every tropical and subtropical water including the South Pacific.
Spotted Gecko
Gekko monarchus is found mostly west of New Guinea, with some population established on the west end of New Guinea. Their range reaches far north as the Philippines and as far west as mainland Malaysia.
Pacific Gecko
Gehyra muilata is a plain gecko that can be found throughout most of Southeast Asia and the Pacific. I can use the G. muilata for any Pacific or Southeast Asian project I have sans a few islands like New Caledonia. However in its place, I can always opt to use Gehyra vorax to live along with the Rhacodactylus.
Green Eyed Gecko
Gekko smithii inhabits similar habitats to the Sulawesi lowland forests, however it is not found east of Borneo. If I so choose to change my Sulawesi project for authenticity, then this would be a substitute for the G. vittatus.
Common House Gecko
Your average generic Hemidactylus frenatus. It is pretty much found throughout much of the tropical and subtropical worlds. I can use this species for pretty much all of my current projects, including the Pakistan idea I had, except for the Victoria Basin.
Fox Gecko
Hemidactylus garnotii, a fairly common gecko, widespread throughout Southeast China, down to Java, skipping the Sulawesi and extending itself to the west tip of New Guinea. Somehow they find themselves scattered throughout the South Pacific in places like New Caledonia. I suspect their distribution is through early migration routes of humans.
Mourning Gecko
Widespread from the coastal region of Vietnam and Cambodia, through Malaysia and the Indo-Pacific. Lepidodactylus lugubris could go into either or both of the Sulawesi and Solomon Islands project. Also can be used for New Caledonia as well.
Javanese Ricefish
Oryzias javanicus gets its common name from the habitats they inhabit. Not uncommon to find in rice paddies as they usually make ditches, canals and stagnant ponds their home.
Eel Loach
Pangio anguillaris inhabits low-flowing rivers and ponds and is often found buried in decaying vegetation and sand. This is probably one of the easier Pangio species to identify.
Kuhl's Flying Gecko
Ptychozoon kuhli is a novelty gecko that everyone seem to want and own at one point of their lifetime, but never seem to last long before being resold. It is limited to the Kra Peninsula, Borneo, Jakarta, Java and Sulawesi. This is yet another species that will limit the possibilities of a biotope to a few select areas.
Kuhli Loach
Pangio kuhli; commonplace, but there are many Pangio species with the same coloration or similar patterns. Sometimes I cannot be bothered to take a look at an inch or two long fish to encusre the identification is correct.
Smooth-back Flying Gecko
Ptychozoon lionotum is restricted to parts of Bangladesh, Thailand and Indochina with much of its concentration in mainland Malaysia. Co-habitant of the Ptychozoon kuhli if I ever decide to go west of the Borneo instead of the Sulawesi.
Spotted Kuhli
Pangio shelfordii prefers cooler water, which is not uncommon for many of the reptiles native to the biotopes I am doing.
Wallace's Flying Frog
Rhacophorus nigropalmatus; a photogenic frog that is frequently found gliding from the treetops to the ground.
Java Flying Frog
Rhacophorus reinwardtii, fairly diverse species of frog that can be found in numerous habitats throughout Southeast Asia.
