Nest site selection and digging attempts of green turtles (Chelonia mydas, family Cheloniidae) at Pantai Kerachut and Telok Kampi, Penang Island, Peninsular Malaysia

The Pantai Kerachut Turtle Conservation Centre represents the centre of research study of sea turtles in Penang Island. For the study of nest site selection, 37 nests were located between 10-40m from the high tide line at Pantai Kerachut than at the same distance (10-40 m) from high tide line at Telok Kampi. It is believed that 3 nests were located at a distance of 0-10m from the high tide line because the location is near to the water’s edge and the sand which is exposed to high relative humidity (1.6-1.7%) is unsuitable for Green Turtles Chelonia mydas to lay eggs. At locations beyond 40 m from the high tide line, the sand is too dry (30-31ºC) and the low relative humidity (0.6-0.7%) makes it unsuitable for turtles to dig nests. For the study of nest site selection in relation to vegetation zone, more nests were distributed within the vegetation zone at both beaches. Green Turtles prefer to land and nest within the vegetation of Merambong (Scaevola taccada) due to the shelter, protection, and dark environment. At the open beach, Green Turtles are exposed to disturbance from feral dogs, while grass areas provide less shelter than Merambong trees

Reproductive parameters of Chalcorana labialis (Anura: Ranidae) from Peninsular Malaysia

Egg clutches of Chalcorana labialis were collected from their natural habitat at Sungai Junjong, Kedah, between March 1998 and February 1999. Egg clutches were typically encountered in temporary pools, rock pools and isolated pools at the edge of the river. In the laboratory several reproductive parameters including clutch size, egg diameter, hatching and metamorphosis rates were measured. The mean ± SD (range, N) of clutch size, egg diameter, hatching and metamorphosis rates of C. labialis were 1365.4 ± 421.1 (787-2100, 10) eggs, 1.36 ± 0.15 (1.12-1.68, 20) mm, 97.30 ± 0.99% (95.87-98.86, 10) and 4.15 ± 0.74% (3.1-5.8, 10), respectively. These results indicated that the successfully rate of larvae to become froglets is relatively low, although it was reared in the laboratory. To keep survived, almost all species of frogs produced eggs in a large quantity

An Annotated Checklist Of Herpetofauna Of Langkawi Island, Kedah, Malaysia.

The herpetofauna ofLangkawi Island was recorded during the Scientific & Heritage Expedition ofthe Langkawi Islands, Kedah from 10 -15 April 2003. The reptiles such as snakes, lizards and turtles and amphibians such as toads and frogs were captured or observed and then identified. The reptiles and amphibians were captured and observed during trekking bouts along used and unused trails, along rivers and streams and during chance encounter

Hatching success and nesting depth of Chelonia mydas (family: cheloniidae) in eggs relocation programme at Penang Island, Peninsular Malaysia

A study on hatching success and nesting depth of Chelonia mydas was conducted at Penang Island, Peninsular Malaysia from 1 December 2009 to 31 December 2010. Twenty nine natural nests were relocated for ex situ incubation, and incubated at 55, 65, and 75 cm depth. Two hatcheries plots, one covered (Hatchery A) and another one uncovered (Hatchery B), were prepared. This study found that nest temperature influenced the hatching success, incubation period, and hatchling sizes. High hatching success and less days of incubation period were found in Hatchery B as the plot was uncovered and exposed to sunlight, thus had higher temperature than covered Hatchery A. The mean nest temperature in Hatchery A was 28.0°C, which was lower than Hatchery B, 29.5°C. There was a significant difference in nest temperature at 55, 65, and 75 cm nesting depths in both plots (p<0.01). As the nesting depth increased, the nest temperature also increased. The mean hatching success was 50.5% in Hatchery A and 59.8% in Hatchery B. The mean incubation period was 54.9 days in Hatchery A and 50.7 days in Hatchery B. There was a linear relationship between nesting depth and hatching success, p<0.01. Due to warmer temperature, Hatchery B produced hatchlings with bigger sizes. In conclusion, nest temperature does affect the hatching success (p<0.01) and morphological characteristics of hatchlings (p<0.01). Eggs should be incubated in an uncovered plot with nesting depth of 55 cm for a maximum hatching success

Breeding activities of ingerophrynus parvus(Anura: Bufonidae) in Kedah, Malaysia

The breeding activities of the Dwarf toad, Ingerophrynus parvus were observed under natural conditions at Sungai Junjong, Kulim, Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia for a period of 12 months. Breeding parameters, such as calling activities, amplecant pairs, eggs deposition and presence of tadpoles were examined every week in each month. Pearson correlation was used to analyse the relationship between rainfall and each breeding parameter. The results showed positive relationships between rainfall and calling activities (r=0.74), between rainfall and amplexus activities (r=0.52), and between rainfall and spawning activities (0.81)

Diversity and temporal distribution of birds in rice-growing landscape,Northern Peninsular Malaysia

Rice fields are traditional landscape in Malaysia that sustains various species of birds. Waterbirds, raptors, Passeriformes and Columbiformes were observed and counted using point count method at rice fields in Bandar Baharu, Kedah from March 2009 to February 2010. The current status of birds in the rice fields of Malaysia has not been widely researched. The objective of this study was to document the bird species richness and diversity and temporal bird distribution during the annual rice growing cycle. There were 5120 birds representing 67 species belonging to 29 families being recorded. The diversity index (Shannon-Wiener) varied monthly between 2.154 and 3.321. The most abundant bird family observed was Ardeidae (29.09%), followed by Sturnidae (10.15%) and Hirundinidae (7.86%). Rice growing seasons involve three main stages; direct seedling/transplanting, growing and harvesting. Each stage attracts different bird species to exist in the rice field and surrounding areas. Statistical analysis showed the alternative hypothesis that states abundance of bird species is different monthly was accepted (F11, 24 = 3.033, p< 0.05). Farming activities and rice growing seasons regularly influenced birds’ presence in the rice fields and attracted different bird species. Reclamation and urban development on the rice fields is a major concern. Conservation efforts and strict regulation of pesticide use should be implemented to develop sustainable agriculture practices that are beneficial to human and wildlife communities

Identification and a new record from Penang Island of the rare redbellied reed snake (Calamaria albiventer) (Gray, 1835) (Serpentes: Calamariinae)

Quah, Evan S. H., Lim, Kelvin K.P., Leong, Eric H.H., M.S, Shahrul Anuar (2018): Identification and a new record from Penang Island of the rare redbellied reed snake (Calamaria albiventer) (Gray, 1835) (Serpentes: Calamariinae). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 66: 486-493, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.535954

A taxonomic reappraisal of the Smooth Slug Snake Asthenodipsas laevis (Boie, 1827) (Squamata: Pareidae) in Borneo with the description of two new species

Quah, Evan S.H., Grismer, L. Lee, Lim, Kelvin K.P., Anuar, M.S. Shahrul, Imbun, Paul Y. (2019): A taxonomic reappraisal of the Smooth Slug Snake Asthenodipsas laevis (Boie, 1827) (Squamata: Pareidae) in Borneo with the description of two new species. Zootaxa 4646 (3): 501-526, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4646.3.

A taxonomic revision of Asthenodipsas malaccana Peters, 1864 (Squamata Pareidae) with a description of a new species from Borneo

Quah, Evan S.H., Grismer, L. Lee, Lim, Kelvin K.P., Anuar, M.S. Shahrul, Chan, Kin Onn (2020): A taxonomic revision of Asthenodipsas malaccana Peters, 1864 (Squamata Pareidae) with a description of a new species from Borneo. Zootaxa 4729 (1): 1-24, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4729.1.