Summer of 2009: Rainforest 5

Today let me show you some non-insect creatures that I have recorded in the rain forest. These will be the last post of rain forest series.

after a heavy but short rain, a cute small lizard came out.

It was abnormal that Amphibian was very rare in tropical jungle in rainy season. This was the only toad we found in the night.

an ugly snail

huge spiders the size of a palm are everywhere in the jungle.

We intended collecting beetles and other odd things under bright lights but received disappointment. What was also disappointed like us was the spider waiting there.

Achatina fulica, the giant snail originally from East Africa, is widely distributed all around world’s tropical area and has become one of the most harmful invading species.

Frogs & Tadpoles in Botanical Garden

There is a stream and several ponds in the Botanical Garden. So I went there three times for aqutaic insects. Of course, I can always find different frogs and their offsprings during the exploring.

In March, a lot of eggs could be found in the stream.

I took some to my dormitory and they grow very fast. You can find tadlopes swimming after one week.

Eggs of a toad, quite different from frog’s.

One month later, masses of tadpoles appear in ponds. Every child in the garden was holding nets and cans to catch some.

I also took some to feed my dragonflies.

Toad’s tadlopes are black and abundant while frog’s are gray and only can be found in running streams.

It’s time to…

a frog found in stream

I’m not sure if it is the same species with the above one

A young toad

They hide under the stones in the stream, so you have to turn oven stones to find them

Am I beautiful ?