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Ghana 2017

PostPosted: Sat Jul 29, 2017 9:32 pm
by Yannick Francioli
Hi everyone!
I went to Ghana for the third year in a row. The first time I went there, I went with an entomologist friend and I was focused on insects (mostly the amazing Goliathus regius). The second time (last year) was with my family, and sadly the weather was really bad for herps and insects (very dry, not a drop of rain even if we were in the rainy season...)
This time though, I was focused on herping.

I joined some entomologist friends in Ankasa national park for a full week, and while they were looking for their insects of interest, I was looking for herps.
This time thankfully, we had a lot of rain ! And so waaay more activity in the forest than last year.


Trachylepis affinis-IMG_8648.JPG
Trachylepis affinis

Agama agama-IMG_9318.JPG
Agama agama

Achatina achatina-IMG_9281.JPG
Achatina achatina

Cardioglossa leucomystax-IMG_8665.JPG
Cardioglossa leucomystax

Phrynobatrachus plicatus-IMG_0357.JPG
Phrynobatrachus plicatus

Phrynobatrachus plicatus-IMG_8793.JPG
Phrynobatrachus plicatus

Phrynobatrachus plicatus-IMG_9265.JPG
Phrynobatrachus plicatus

Phrynobatrachus plicatus-IMG_9282.JPG
Phrynobatrachus plicatus

Phrynobatrachus sp.-IMG_0447.JPG
Phrynobatrachus sp.

Phrynobatrachus sp.-IMG_9066.JPG
Phrynobatrachus sp.

Phrynobatrachus sp.-IMG_9284.JPG
Phrynobatrachus sp.

Amietophrynus regularis-IMG_9192.JPG
Amietophrynus regularis in the hotel

Toxicodryas blandigii-IMG_0213.JPG
Toxicodryas blandigii

Toxicodryas blandigii-IMG_9849.JPG
Toxicodryas blandigii

Sternotomis sp.-IMG_9757.JPG
Sternotomis sp.

Tithoes maculatus-IMG_0679.JPG
Tithoes maculatus

Leptopelis hyloides-IMG_0338.JPG
Leptopelis hyloides

Leptopelis hyloides-IMG_0332.JPG
Leptopelis hyloides


And finally! My dream came true, a wild Bitis!!! My driver and guide found it on the road under a heavy rain 2 minutes after dropping me at the hotel, so they quickly came back to get me. I put the nice little viper into a box for the night, and released it the next day in the forest.

Bitis rhinoceros-IMG_9723.JPG
Bitis rhinoceros

Bitis rhinoceros-IMG_9679.JPG
Bitis rhinoceros

Bitis rhinoceros-IMG_9525.JPG
Bitis rhinoceros

Hyperolius picturatus-IMG_8907.JPG
Hyperolius picturatus

Hyperolius picturatus-IMG_8944.JPG
Hyperolius picturatus

Hyperolius guttulatus-IMG_9046.JPG
Hyperolius guttulatus
Hyperolius guttulatus-IMG_9051.JPG
Hyperolius guttulatus

Nephila turneri-IMG_0242.JPG
Nephila turneri

Damon sp.-IMG_8672.JPG
Damon sp.

Pseudocreobotra ocellata-IMG_0464.JPG
Pseudocreobotra ocellata

Amnirana occidentalis-IMG_0364.JPG
Amnirana occidentalis

Hyperolius concolor-IMG_9067.JPG
Hyperolius concolor

Chiromantis rufescens-IMG_9156.JPG
Chiromantis rufescens

Chiromantis rufescens-IMG_9158.JPG
Chiromantis rufescens

Hemidactylus brookii-IMG_9160.JPG
Hemidactylus brookii

Kingfisher-IMG_9033.JPG
Kingfisher

Spider-IMG_0369.JPG
A huge and nice spider, please let me know if you recognize the species


I spent my last night in Kakum national park, where I was lucky enough to find my third snake of the trip, not a viper, but still a cool species.

Amnirana occidentalis-IMG_0823.JPG
Amnirana occidentalis
Amnirana occidentalis-IMG_0844.JPG
Amnirana occidentalis

Saturnidae-IMG_0861.JPG
Saturnidae

Dipsadoboa underwoodi-IMG_0839.JPG
Dipsadoboa underwoodi

Hyperolius picturatus-IMG_0858.JPG
Hyperolius picturatus


Overall a great trip, lots of wonderful frogs, some nice snakes, although I really would have like to see one more viper ( the Atheris chlorchis in particular). I guess I'll have to come back a fourth time ! Which is very likely to happen.

I did my best to identify the species, but of course feel free to correct/add identifications.

Re: Ghana 2017

PostPosted: Sat Jul 29, 2017 10:01 pm
by Neil Rowntree
Hey Yannick,

Massive congrats on the Bitis! Looks like a great trip with some cool species - plus top notch photography too! I especially like your Leptopelis hyloides shots.

Neil

hanks for sharing

PostPosted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 6:34 am
by Mario Schweiger
great pictures, Yannick!
What a diversity on tailless amphibians :o
Thanks for sharing!

Re: Ghana 2017

PostPosted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 9:39 am
by Guillaume Gomard
Toxicodryas blandigii in its typical position :lol:

It's a great gallery you are showing here. Also love the diversity of frogs. The Nephilia turneri is really one of the most beautiful one in its genus. Regarding the not-ID spider, good question... maybe keep looking for Sparassidae in West Africa... How big was the spider by the way?

Re: Ghana 2017

PostPosted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 12:31 pm
by Yannick Francioli
Thanks everyone!

Guillaume Gomard wrote:Toxicodryas blandigii in its typical position :lol:

It's a great gallery you are showing here. Also love the diversity of frogs. The Nephilia turneri is really one of the most beautiful one in its genus. Regarding the not-ID spider, good question... maybe keep looking for Sparassidae in West Africa... How big was the spider by the way?


I've thought about Sparassidae, but I could not find anything that looked even close to this one, especially regarding the eyes arrangement. However I didn't search a lot.
Cephalothorax + abdomen length was around 5 cm, at first glance I thought it was a tarantula.

Edit: Someone find the genus for me, it's Piloctenus, Ctenidae familly

Re: Ghana 2017

PostPosted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 6:16 pm
by Matthieu Berroneau
Very impressive result for anuran despite dry weather ! Our results was poor at the start of the year in Uganda compared to yours...

Re: Ghana 2017

PostPosted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 6:58 pm
by Jeroen Speybroeck
Beautiful! I need to get to know African herps...

Re: Ghana 2017

PostPosted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 7:59 pm
by Yannick Francioli
Matthieu Berroneau wrote:Very impressive result for anuran despite dry weather !


The weather was actually very wet this time. Last year was very dry, and there was practically no activity in the forest.

Matthieu Berroneau wrote:Our results was poor at the start of the year in Uganda compared to yours...


Well, I admit I would trade a few anuran for a Bitis nasicornis and an Atheris ;)
But still, I didn't expect such a success with frog, and as an arboreal frog fan, I was very happy!

Re: Ghana 2017

PostPosted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 8:54 pm
by Pablo Deschepper
Thanks for sharing and lovely snakes you found! The unidentified spider may be a wandering spider (Ctenidae), maybe of the Piloctenus genus.

Re: Ghana 2017

PostPosted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 6:21 am
by Jürgen Gebhart
Good Job Yannick! Some nice pics, but the Goal is of course the Bitis, love it!!!