clau000065 hours ago2 min readPhotographers reveal the first-ever images of a living individual of a rare snake that hasn't been seen in Singapore in 64 years.On October 12, 2024, two photographers were "herping"—that is, looking for amphibians or reptiles—near Upper Seletar Reservoir.They had no idea how significant their visit to the Lorong Banir stream would be for the documentation of species in Singapore and around the world.Unidentified snakeAround 11:30 p.m. that day, Hamad Azam and Trin Chantong, who had only begun taking pictures of reptiles in 2023, were strolling in the swamp forest habitat.Chantong noticed a snake's head protruding from the plants above the water as the two of them searched the stream and the flora for any obvious signs of scales and slithy critters.Upon closer inspection, they both expressed some skepticism and uncertainty to Mothership.They had never seen anything like this snake in particular, with its vivid coloring and unique patterns.Even though they were still skeptical, they decided that the snake was a spotted keelback, a species they had seen and photographed numerous times.No longer mysteriousLaw Ing Sind, a local snake expert and co-founder of the Herpetological Society of Singapore, was contacted by a friend who also descended to take pictures of this enigmatic snake.It appears that Hamad and Chantong's skepticism was justified after comparing it to an existing specimen in the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum.Law and a few others came to the conclusion that the mysterious man the two saw was, in fact, the Peters' keelback, a species that had not been observed in Singapore for sixty-four years.Only four specimens have been obtained in Singapore, with the fourth being collected in 1960, according to a biodiversity record that was published in the journal "Nature in Singapore" on November 29.As a result, the species was thought to be extinct in the area.The first images of a live snake ever published globally are those that Hamad took of the snake and posted on the Singapore Wildlife Sightings Facebook page.As stated by Hamad, the species is criminally understudied.There aren't many photographs or results when searching for "Hebius petersii" on Google.In addition to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia also have it."The rediscovery of Hebius petersii constitutes a significant addition to the herpetofauna of the Nee Soon swamp forest area," according to the biodiversity database."This finding underscores the critical importance of safe-guarding and protecting our last remaining swamp forest where other significant discoveries and rediscoveries have been made. It also highlights the need for further research to be conducted in the swamp-forest."The final remaining freshwater swamp forest habitat in Singapore is Nee Soon Swamp Forest.To prevent damage of the biodiversity, it is off-limits to the general public.There have previously been reports of new species in the region.
On October 12, 2024, two photographers were "herping"—that is, looking for amphibians or reptiles—near Upper Seletar Reservoir.They had no idea how significant their visit to the Lorong Banir stream would be for the documentation of species in Singapore and around the world.Unidentified snakeAround 11:30 p.m. that day, Hamad Azam and Trin Chantong, who had only begun taking pictures of reptiles in 2023, were strolling in the swamp forest habitat.Chantong noticed a snake's head protruding from the plants above the water as the two of them searched the stream and the flora for any obvious signs of scales and slithy critters.Upon closer inspection, they both expressed some skepticism and uncertainty to Mothership.They had never seen anything like this snake in particular, with its vivid coloring and unique patterns.Even though they were still skeptical, they decided that the snake was a spotted keelback, a species they had seen and photographed numerous times.No longer mysteriousLaw Ing Sind, a local snake expert and co-founder of the Herpetological Society of Singapore, was contacted by a friend who also descended to take pictures of this enigmatic snake.It appears that Hamad and Chantong's skepticism was justified after comparing it to an existing specimen in the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum.Law and a few others came to the conclusion that the mysterious man the two saw was, in fact, the Peters' keelback, a species that had not been observed in Singapore for sixty-four years.Only four specimens have been obtained in Singapore, with the fourth being collected in 1960, according to a biodiversity record that was published in the journal "Nature in Singapore" on November 29.As a result, the species was thought to be extinct in the area.The first images of a live snake ever published globally are those that Hamad took of the snake and posted on the Singapore Wildlife Sightings Facebook page.As stated by Hamad, the species is criminally understudied.There aren't many photographs or results when searching for "Hebius petersii" on Google.In addition to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia also have it."The rediscovery of Hebius petersii constitutes a significant addition to the herpetofauna of the Nee Soon swamp forest area," according to the biodiversity database."This finding underscores the critical importance of safe-guarding and protecting our last remaining swamp forest where other significant discoveries and rediscoveries have been made. It also highlights the need for further research to be conducted in the swamp-forest."The final remaining freshwater swamp forest habitat in Singapore is Nee Soon Swamp Forest.To prevent damage of the biodiversity, it is off-limits to the general public.There have previously been reports of new species in the region.
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