New snake record for Singapore: Dendrelaphis haasi

This rare bronzeback snake was spotted at the boardwalk at Lower Peirce Reservoir and Upper Seletar Reservoir Park! You never know what you might find if your really look!

Kelvin K. P. Lim1 and Cheong Loong Fah share more about this amazing find on Nature in Singapore.

They share that the Haas’ bronzeback, Dendrelaphis haasi was described recently from Pulau Nias off the north-western coast of Sumatra by van Rooijen & Vogel (2008). The species is found in lowland rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia (including Pulau Tioman), Sumatra including Pulau Nias, the Mentawi Islands, Pulau Belitung), Borneo, and Java (Das, 2010: 275; van Rooijen & Vogel, 2008: 111−112).

Although previously unrecorded from Singapore, its presence there is confirmed with two preserved specimens in the Zoological Reference Collection (ZRC), Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research at the National University of Singapore (RMBR), and recent photographs of two live examples from the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

Read more about it on the Nature in Singapore website: Lim, K. K. P. & L. F. Cheong, 2011. Dendrelaphis haasi (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae), a new snake record for Singapore. Nature in Singapore, 4: 9–12. [PDF, 383 KB]

Also a new rattan record!

See also a paper about a new record for Singapore of a rattan, Plectocomiopsis geminiflora discovered in Macritchie Reservoir. The authors remark "It is surprising that the species has not been collected before considering its accessibility".

Tan, L. L., S. K. Y. Lum & A. H. B. Loo, 2011. Plectocomiopsis geminiflora (Griff.) Becc. (Arecaceae) — a new record for Singapore. Nature in Singapore, 4: 1–4. [PDF, 889 KB] [Corrigendum]

And the 'Penis' clam is not extinct!

With a more modest common name of watering pot or waterspout shell, the authors discuss many interesting aspects of this curious clam. From why the clam is better placed in the Genus Verpa, its status as 'extinct' in Singapore, and an awesome photo of live clams with their siphons sticking out the narrow end of the shell!

Tan, S. K., S. H. Tan & M. E. Y. Low, 2011. A reassessment of Verpa penis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Clavagelloidea), a species presumed nationally extinct. Nature in Singapore, 4: 5–8. [PDF, 192 KB]

And more about this awesome moth!

What does this pretty caterpillar turn into?
Find out in Leong, T. M. & A. Tay, 2011. Final instar caterpillar and metamorphosis of Acherontia styx medusa Moore, 1858 in Singapore (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae: Sphinginae: Acherontiini). Nature in Singapore, 4: 13–18. [PDF, 1.32 MB]