Wild Kei Island Bluetongues + Observational Information

[Dakota]

I'll start off with some pictures of them in the wild, or just caught from the wild:

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Their locality is Ngadi, Dullah Utara, Tual City, Tual, Maluku. Here are some places they can easily be found within the village:

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He observed them eating "kersen" fruit, which I understand to be a type of cherry:

kersen.jpg

He also stated he has observed them eating human feces. He says he has never seen them eating insects, but sees remains of them in their feces. He will getting more pictures of them in the wild for me to share with you guys.

He gave me full permission to share these images with you guys.

ETA: He stated that he has never observed them in the act of basking. They are always hiding.

[Hammock]

Good post Dakota. Please keep up with your friend on this. It is very interesting to see and learn about their natural life and enviroment.
Mike

[Richard.C]

That all looks like open habitat,and use of human rubbish ect,veru scincoides like,being so hot where they are from i doubt they really need to bask to maintain preffered body temps like temperate species

Kind of like centralians,which in hot times of year actually become quite active in the evening long after the suns buggered off

I dont doubt the pooh claims,as have found many an eastern and blotchie devouring rhe dog variety,oppatunistic omnivours and all

Some good info none the less,be great to hear alot more of this sort of thing from other indonesians to see if theres any common patterns

[Dakota]

Yup. I was absolutely not surprised with that, either. Well, maybe the fact is was human, but ...

I am trying to locate natives in Halmahera, Jailolo, Sorong, Aru Islands, Port Moresby, Babar, and Merauke to see if we can get any valuable pictures and/or information on their native Bluetongues. Not much luck yet, but I think we scored with the T. g. keyensis!

[Edward]

Thank you very much for sharing these and please keep us updated if you get any more photos.

[Dakota]

I came into contact with some locals of Merauke and Halmahera. No pictures of them, but in the language spoken there, the BTS there are called "Jii wapkok".

Here are some more pictures of T. g. keyensis.

Freshly caught:

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50 cm, in shed, freshly caught:

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This is what happens when locals meet reptiles:

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[RoryBreaker]

From an Aussie point of view (where we can only keep native Australian reptiles), Keis are one of the foreign blueys I would love to keep.

Nice find with this info Dakota.

[Dakota]

Thank you Dave.

If any of you guys have any questions for the generous man supplying these photos and information, send me a PM and I will ask him for you.

[Ophidiophile]

This is what happens when locals meet reptiles:

thread60.jpg

That's a gorgeous Kei. Very similar to two in my collection. A real shame...

[Robert Hitz]

Hi Dakota

I found your interesting contribution on Tiliqua gigas keyensis today after entering in Blue Tongued Skinks.

Have you more informations on the climate and the vegetation on the Kei and Aru Islands? Seasons, temperatures? Are there publications on these subjects?
Is your friend there still able to be reached for questions?

Are you on Facebook? I have posted ther an album Tiliqua, Blauzungenskinke with pictures of my work with Tiliqua.
I would be glad to here from you. Many thanks in advance.

Best regards, Robert Hitz