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Palawan Sun Skink

    Leaves, twigs, and barks that have fallen to the ground make up leaf litter, and it's home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Most of the tiny animals found in the leaf litter are invertebrates. They are important food source for toads, skinks, and other small amphibians and reptiles that rely on the shelter and moisture provided by the leaf litter. One of the many creatures living in the leaf litter habitats of Palawan is the Palawan Sun Skink ( Eutropis sahulinghangganan ), a newly described species of skink endemic to Palawan. The name Eutropis sahulinghangganan derives from the Tagalog "sa huling" or "sa huli ng" (meaning in the last), and "hangganan" (meaning frontier). Palawan Sun Skink     The Palawan Sun Skink inhabits thick coastal forests, mangroves, as well as secondary forests and primary forests up in the mountains. I have seen this skink near the peak of Mount Beaufort at elevations of around 1000 masl, but the population of thi...

Schultz’s Pit Viper - A spectacular venomous snake endemic to Palawan

Trimeresurus schultzei photo by Jojo De Peralta
     I have heard it said that Palawan has more snakes in the wild than anywhere else in the country. Maybe true, but there are species of snakes commonly seen in other places that are scarce in Palawan rainforest. We have enough vipers in the wild though.  Trimeresurus schultzei Griffin 1909 commonly known as the Schultz’s Pit Viper is one of the most spectacular snakes that can be found here. This snake is endemic to Palawan and its surrounding small islands.

Trimeresurus schultzei photo by Jojo De Peralta
Schultz’s Pit Viper
     The Schultz’s Pit Viper is primarily arboreal species. They’re capable, but rarely navigate and hunt on the ground. They’re slow and less camouflaged on the ground and therefore more vulnerable on the forest floor. Using its prehensile tail to hold onto branches, it prefers to perch on trees where its green color acts as camouflage while waiting for prey. It is an ambush hunting snake relying on its camouflage to catch food. The heat-sensing loreal pits are used to locate warm-blooded prey.

Trimeresurus schultzei photo by Jojo De Peralta
Schultz’s Pit Viper
     The species is generally associated with forest or wooded habitats. It has been found from sea level to around 800 masl. I have seen one near Thumb Peak near the mossy forest at the elevation of 818 masl. It was resting on top of a mossy branch beside the trail. These green viper's camouflage makes them more dangerous to hikers. Green on green is hard to see, and I know people who got bitten by this snake on the trail. This Pit Vipers’ green color helps them greatly to conceal from predators or potential prey and they usually remain concealed and immobile until a prey wanders within striking distance.

Trimeresurus schultzei photo by Jojo De Peralta
Schultz’s Pit Viper
     This viper is also known to bear live young instead of laying eggs. It seems territorial and known for its solitary nature, but we saw that it likes to stay not far from the juveniles after giving birth and is aggressive when protecting the young. Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution and because it has a tolerance to habitat modification, the Trimeresurus schultzei may not be in immediate danger to habitat loss. This species is present in five largest mountain ranges in Palawan and the most commonly-encountered pit viper on the trails.
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