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Tobago: |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416  View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 28 May 2004 We're very fortunate in that we're going to Tobago this coming Christmas . The island has no venomous species and this has made me curious . Is venom the main reason for reptiles recieving such a hard time? I'll be interested to see what kind of attitude locals have towards their resident herps . I do know that they eat iguana eggs , but i'm wondering if they are more relaxed about their snakes as they know none are venomous . In other countries that i'm familiar with snakes are often killed just because they're a snake , in UK , Turkey, Greece , St Lucia . Do you think this is the case? All you have to do is throw one venomous species into the equation then those that do not understand will often kill the non venomous just out of ignorance or fear. I wonder Alan O-> O+> |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 28 May 2004 Interesting thought Al, some cultures seem quite happy to welcome venomous, especially where rats would be more of a problem. Be interesting to find out what the attitude is in Tobago. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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calumma Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2003 No. of posts: 351 View other posts by calumma |
Posted: 28 May 2004 There are only rear fanged venomous snakes in Madagascar (and even then not many), yet people's attitudes to snakes is similar to the general public's in this country. People tolerate boas around their houses because the boas keep rats down. Tortoises are often kept with chickens because they are believed to keep parasite loads down. Yet other reptiles (such as Uroplatus) are viewed with disdain and may be killed on sight. Of course the people of Madagascar originate from many places, including Asia and mainland Africa - so the attitudes of today's Malagasy may simply be reflecting past prejudices. Lee Lee Brady Kent Herpetofauna Recorder | Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Wolfgang Wuster Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 326 View other posts by Wolfgang Wuster |
Posted: 28 May 2004 On the other venomous snake-free Caribbean islands (e.g., Dominica), the locals fear and kill snakes, including boas. Unfortunately, the fact that they are not venomous does not seem to have much an effect on their attitudes. Cheers, Wolfgang Wolfgang Wüster School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/ |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 28 May 2004 Thanks for your thoughts folks :¼) Yup , must admit I am expecting attitudes to be no different from anywhere else . Cheers, Al O-> O+> |
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Colin Dunlop Member Joined: 15 Mar 2004 No. of posts: 20 View other posts by Colin Dunlop |
Posted: 29 May 2004 Hi Alan I have done a lot of work (11 trips) to T&T. Most of it was done on Trinidad but I did spend some time on Tobago. From experience I have seen Leptotyphlops boot lace snakes killed on sight by locals who thought they were venemous and also Amphisbaena legless lizards. On both ocassions I had local help in examining leaf cutting ants nests and these animals were found and chopped by machetes before i had a chance to even speak!!! In Trinidad you often see be-headed Lachesis and Bothrops snakes at the side of the road. I once tried to stop a guy from killing a fer de lance and i almost got the machete through my neck (not quite that bad but...) so they do feel very strongly about getting rid of the venemous ones. Its not just the snakes though! Polychrus lizards are thought to be venemous and they call them the 24 hour lizard... it bites you, holds on for 24 hrs then you die. You will actually find that many locals are scared of the frogs too, including marine toads and Hyla boans Once you get to tobago you have to get a day or two in trinidad, its chalk and cheese... the internal flights can cost as little as ú30 return... before going make sure you get Murphy's book! It is very accurate and covers both islands well... here it is on Amazon... http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/089464971X/ref=sr_aps_books_1_1/202-6918106-2560636 Hope this helps you out...
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 29 May 2004 Hi Colin , Thanks very much for all that info , most helpfull. I've just recieved the book you mention after Wolfgang recommended it to me , and it is a good read . You're certainly very lucky to have been there so much . Is the island of tobago as beautiful as they say? Also , what species on tobago were the most common and widespread? I read that the Amieva is the most reguarly seen lizard. I'd love to hear about the species you encountered as well as those that remained hidden . Thanks, Alan PS Glad you didn't loose your head to that machete ;) O-> O+> |
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Colin Dunlop Member Joined: 15 Mar 2004 No. of posts: 20 View other posts by Colin Dunlop |
Posted: 30 May 2004 LOL no problem Yes, there are still some very beatifull parts to Tobago, and i beleive even parts of primary rainforest right in the middle of the island but if you go there make sure you dont have your cameras and binocculars etc on full view unless you are in a group or have made friends with some locals... In Trinidad especially there are groups of 'bandits' to watch out for... i was usually caked in swamp mud so didnt look like one of the rich american bird watchers... be prepared for some strange looks and even a few laughs at your expense if you tell people what you are looking to see :) Most are there for the bird life. Also, worth getting a license to go and look at the turtle nests, dont know where the wildlife authority is on tobago??? The most commonly seen lizards are geckos like the Thecadactylus and Gonatodes which are stunning wee things but Amievas can be seen basking themselves and watch out for some with names painted on them!!!! Local kids catch them and paint names on them! You probably wont see Iguana unless you are really lucky. Same with any snakes unless you are actively out looking for them. Commonest amphibians will be Bufo marinus and Hyla boans. But you may get to see/hear Physalaemus and Leptodactylus in puddles after rain or driving into the forest at night are lots of little Eleutherodactylus that seem to be everywhere. Ever see the BBC Bristol's Weird Nature series? A lot of the frog work was done by myself in Trinidad like the Pipa pipa and also did some work with Peripatis velvet worms Just ask if you need more info, as i said, didnt spend nearly as much time in tobago but its all relevent Cheers C |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 30 May 2004 Hi Again Colin , and thank you. It's great to be able to get information from someone that knows . No worries on the ridicule , i'm used to this sort of thing when looking for snakes both here and in Turkey . Anyhow ,although Herps are my first love i'm really into all kinds of nature , insects, mammals, and birds also , raptors mostly. So i'll just talk birdies too ;¼) So may I ask , what was your Job on the Weird Nature series ? I did catch some of the programmes . Righto , thanks again . I'm not very good on scientific names so i'm off to look up those species you mentioned. Cheers, Alan O-> O+> |
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Colin Dunlop Member Joined: 15 Mar 2004 No. of posts: 20 View other posts by Colin Dunlop |
Posted: 30 May 2004 Alan, basically, my job was to find a list of beasties for the crew to film and to bring some back for the studio. (under licence). This included Peripatis, Pipa, some glow beetles and a few other odds and sods... The Pipa frogs actually spawned here and the whole hatching out of the back sequence got filmed too! I beleive the animals went to London Zoo after filming. None of the animals are CITES listed. Sorry for all the sci names but many dont have common ones :) here is a cool site of pics of Trini frogs... http://uk.geocities.com/craspedopus/frogs_on_line/trinfrogs.html http://uk.geocities.com/craspedopus/frogs_on_line/tobagofrogs.html |
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