Wonderful frog images. Are they still practicing the tactic of stabbing them in the stomach with pointed sticks to collect the "sweat" on their skin?
I'd love a chance to photograph them someday.
I'm glad to see someone else was willing to get dirty and chase around some pumilio. I was actually on Bastimentos in April, but only for a couple days. Wizards Beach turned up a slew of pumilio in all kinds of colors -- I started calling them M&Ms because of all the colors (just don't eat the red ones). I love the variety of herpetofauna in that area. I just wish I could get down there with a herpetologist so I could know what I'm shooting. It's great that you got around more than I did and saw the different territorial variations. I'm going to use your collection here to plot out a map for my next visit. I really need to learn Spanish, though.
Wow, Incredible collection of frogs and toads. The biodiversity is unimaginable. I hope to visit these areas someday.
Thanks for sharing and the photos are super.
Harsha
Desert Drake wrote:
Great photos. It was good to view the snakes on my screen. That was close enough for me.
Al
haha, thanks Al. Besides my adventures out to work with wild herps and other wildlife, I work closely with all types of reptiles every day.... including small alligators, a 10 ft yellow anaconda, and native venomous species. All in a day's work
teked wrote:
Hey, Peyton. Thanks for letting me know about your post. These are absolutely awesome. What a terrific opportunity to see all this.
Please take me along with you next time you go.
Cheers,
Ed
Thanks alot Ed. I may plan to do a trip the last few days of March/beginning of April. I'd like to miss the Easter weekend next time...I hope to have a 500L by then, but we'll see
b.a.smith wrote:
NIce tour of this beautiful, but deadly place, nice variety of frogs
Alan
Thanks Alan. Snakes are common, but in many of the more populated areas, they are not a huge worry. There's many other beautiful aspects of Panama I did not get to see/spend much time in, such as Boquette/David, and the eastern part in the Kuna Yala or Darien provinces.
thunderbird wrote:
Wonderful frog images. Are they still practicing the tactic of stabbing them in the stomach with pointed sticks to collect the "sweat" on their skin?
I'd love a chance to photograph them someday.
Andy
Thanks Andy. You're thinking of the native tribes in western Columbia. They use Phyllobates terribilis, the most toxic animal known to man to tip their darts. The frogs are not harmed, just detained in 'captivity' and used to tip darts then released back into the wild. The toxin is known as batrachotoxin and can remain lethal on their darts for up to 2 years. Out of the 250+ species of dart frog known, only a handful are considered dangerous to humans
DiPace wrote:
I'm glad to see someone else was willing to get dirty and chase around some pumilio. I was actually on Bastimentos in April, but only for a couple days. Wizards Beach turned up a slew of pumilio in all kinds of colors -- I started calling them M&Ms because of all the colors (just don't eat the red ones). I love the variety of herpetofauna in that area. I just wish I could get down there with a herpetologist so I could know what I'm shooting. It's great that you got around more than I did and saw the different territorial variations. I'm going to use your collection here to plot out a map for my next visit. I really need to learn Spanish, though.
Thanks Don! If you are interested in making a return trip and wanting to spend some time, let me know. I'll do what I can to get some time off next year and put in the effort. I went into Panama with a general understanding of the herptefauna, but quickly picked up the needed details. The biggest concern really is the abundance of equis aka fer-de-lance (Bothrops asper) - this animal is responsible for the majority of snakebites encountered in the country and is very well camouflaged. Unfortunately, the only individual we encountered had been killed and tortured by locals. Apparently their beliefs are if you kill a snake, you'll survive your next snakebite encounter....
I'd be happy to give you some information regarding hotspots and some of the other animals not included in this post. Drop me a PM.
harshaj1 wrote:
Wow, Incredible collection of frogs and toads. The biodiversity is unimaginable. I hope to visit these areas someday.
Thanks for sharing and the photos are super.
Harsha
Thanks Harsha. There is ALOT to see in a place like this, I consider myself incredibly lucky to see so much in a very short period of time. If you want some pointers on Panama, let me know - I'll do what I can to direct you for information/locations
Peyton, these are awesome captures! The frogs and snakes are so real, they give me the goosbumps. I don't like reptiles, especially snakes. Thank you for sharing. It is always nice to see images from places that I can only dream about visiting.
habitatprinces wrote:
I love those tiny little frogs, but I must admit that I prefer seeing them in your photos, or at the zoo...
Thank you for sharing your wonderful adventure!
Thanks. It's just nice to know that populations are still doing well in the wild despite the pressures of collection, habitat loss, and upwelling of disease issues.
