Reptiles of Timor

Timor monitor lizard

This list includes the reptiles of Timor , the largest of the Lesser Sunda Islands in Southeast Asia . The island is divided into the Indonesian West Timor and the state of East Timor , which also includes the West Timor exclave Oe-Cusse Ambeno . Since the sources of information do not always make a clear separation possible, the islands of Atauro and Jaco, which belong to the state of East Timor, are also included here.

Timor belongs to the biogeographical transition zone Wallacea , which is why representatives of the Asian and Australian flora and fauna can be found on the island . In the case of the lizards, bow-finger geckos , hemiphyllodactylus species and kites come from the Southeast Asian fauna, rainbow skinks and forest skinks from the Indo-Papuan region and smooth night skinks from the fauna of Australia .

For several years, the biodiversity of the herpetofauna in East Timor has been studied more thoroughly, while previously research was limited to the Indonesian West Timor. A great variety of lizards comes to light, which may also include new, previously unknown species.

Lizards

Timor monitor lizard in lore

The Timor monitor lizard ( Varanus timorensis ) is named after the island and is found near the coast near palm trees and other trees that it uses as a refuge. Here he hunts smaller lizards and invertebrates. The Timor kite is a flying lizard that can sail 30 to 50 meters through the air. As elsewhere in Southeast Asia, the Tokeh lives in Timor , one of the largest geckos at 35 cm. The Eremiascincus timorensis , a smooth lizard species, is endemic to the island .

In the Pliocene , large lizards, similar to today's Komodo dragon , lived on Timor .

Lizards on Timor
Agamas (Agamidae)
image	German name	Scientific name	Name on Tetum	information
	Timor kite	Draco timoriensis	Teki liras ( winged gecko )	Missing in Ainaro , Aileu , Bobonaro and On Atauro. Regularly found at sea level, but can also be found up to 1200  m altitude.
Geckos (Gekkonidae)
image	German name	Scientific name	Name on Tetum	information
	Bow finger gecko	Cyrtodactylus sp.	Teki ain-fuan kleuk ( small gecko with striped toes )	First described in 2009, from the Gekkonidae family , rare. Two specimens were found in 2009 on the Trilolo , four kilometers north of Same . In 2010, one specimen was found on the northwest slope of Mano Côcos on Atauro and ten on the Abanat River in Oe-Cusse Ambeno. In 2011 more specimens of Atauro arrived at sea level and from the Lautém municipality of Com , Raça and near the Mainina hole , where the Irasiquero river disappears. In 2012 there were also populations from the coastal forest of Nancuro , in Venilale , near the village of Maganutu (at an altitude of 1036  m ) and in the village of Fiuren . In 2013 a second population was found in Com, which was physically larger than the first discovered in Com. The species seems to be very adaptable when it comes to colonizing new habitats. Probably there are at least seven different species of Cyrtodactylus . Four more of the discovered populations are not yet specified.
-	?	Cyrtodactylus celatus	?	Occurrence in the Indonesian West Timor.
	Four-clawed gecko ( common four- clawed gecko )	Gehyra mutilata	Teki kulit kanek ( small gecko with broken skin )	So far, specimens have been found on Timor in the communities of Baucau , Bobonaro, Lautém, Liquiça and Manatuto and on the island of Atauro, which belongs to Dili . Four-clawed geckos have been documented from sea level to 572  m on Atauro . In Lautém they were found from Com on the north coast to Raça , just below 400  m above sea level . There are also finds in the municipality of Liquiça near the confluence of the Comoro and Bemos rivers , in Nancuro , in the ruins of the Escola do Reino de Haudere ( Baguia ) and in Fiuren . Four-clawed geckos live in dry forests, but can also be found in huts and houses.
	Tokeh	Gekko gecko	Toke	The largest of the geckos on the Lesser Sunda Islands is considered an introduced species in Timor. It is to be found every day and its typical "toh-kai" calls can be heard day and night. The tokeh has not yet been detected in Aileu, Ainaro, Cova Lima and Ermera , but is likely to be found all over the island. He can also be found on Atauro.
	Asiatic house gecko	Hemidactylus frenatus	Teki uma baibain frenatus ( Small common house gecko )	The house gecko is the most common gecko found in Timor. They quickly occupy new buildings and can be found in clean hotel rooms, in the wilderness or even on rubbish heaps. So far it has not been found in Aileu, Ainaro, Bobonaro, Ermera and Lautém, but is likely to occur in all of Timor; At least up to heights of up to 600  m . Also found on Atauro. The house gecko may have come to Timor with traders in earlier centuries.
	Indo-Pacific gecko (maiden half-finger gecko)	Hemidactylus cf. garnotii	Teki uma baibain garnotii ( common small house gecko )	The Indo-Pacific gecko is easy to confuse with the more common H. frenatus or H. tenkatei . In 2012, for the first time in East Timor, seven specimens were caught and documented in a bamboo forest near Maganutu (at 1041  m to 1063  m altitude, on the slopes of the Leolaco ) and one in a partially cleared forest near Fiuren ( 463  m altitude). The Indo-Pacific gecko is a parthenogenic species, which means that females can lay unfertilized eggs from which young hatch. Although such a single female can found a completely new population, it is surprising that this species is not found more often in Timor. It is believed that the lack of genetic diversity is a competitive disadvantage compared to its bisexual relatives. Possibly this explains its occurrence on the Leolaco, at heights where no other gecko species have been found on Timor. However, the Indo-Pacific gecko is known as a colonizing species that can be found near the coast or in areas with high levels of human transport. The latter applies to Fiuren, but not to the Leolaco mountains. Therefore, the main population could also be a new species similar to the Indo-Pacific gecko. So far, however, no morphological differences have been found, also because no male geckos have been caught so far.
	Fringe-tailed house gecko	Hemidactylus platyurus	Teki ikun belar ( small flat-tailed gecko )	Not as common as other half-fingered geckos . Found in Cova Lima, Dili, Lautém, Liquiça, Manatuto, Oe-Cusse Ambeno and Viqueque.
-	Roti house gecko	Hemidactylus tenkatei	Teki uma baibain Roti ( Small common house gecko )	Known from Dili, Lautém, Liquiça and Oe-Cusse Ambeno. Since it has so far only been found directly on the north coast below 25  m above sea level, it is assumed that the roti house gecko was only recently introduced to Timor. In Dili, the population has increased significantly over the past five years compared to H. frenatus .
	Gypsy gecko ( common half-leaf finger gecko )	Hemiphyllodactylus cf. typus	Teki ai isin lotuk ( tree gecko with a very small body )	It wasn't until 2013 that scientists first discovered the smallest gecko in the region in Osso Huna on Timor . The gypsy gecko is widespread and reproduces parthenogenically . As a colonizing species, it is often found near the beach. Osso Huna is only 22 km from the north coast and 10 km from the south coast as the crow flies, but it is already at an altitude of 938  m and the way there is difficult. It is unclear whether it is the parthenogenic or a previously undescribed, sexually reproducing species. The captured specimens are a juvenile and an adult female. Molecular analyzes are planned.
-	?	Goniodactylus timorensis	-	Assignment not yet established, from the Gekkonidae family , rare
-	Timor gecko	Cnemaspis timoriensis	-
-	?	Gekko vittatus	-	engl. Name: Lined Gecko
Skinks (Scincidae)
image	German name	Scientific name	Name on Tetum	information
	Rainbow skinks	Carlia	Mamór liman-fuan haat ( four-finger skink )	Rainbow skinks differ from all other Timorese lizard species by their four-toed front feet. The individual species are difficult to distinguish from one another. Rainbow skinks are found in both dry and humid habitats. Unless the food supply is limited, the population density is high. Specializations of the individual taxa on Timor have not yet been observed. In males of the mountain form a noticeable color change could be observed during the mating season. C. peronii and C. spinauris from West Timor were considered the only rainbow skinks on Timor until 2009. The two species have not yet been found in East Timor, but representatives that, according to molecular analysis, could turn out to be four to five new species.
	-	Carlia sp. 'Maubisse'	-	Mountain shape made of Maubisse (see picture: A).
	-	Carlia sp. 'South Coast'	-	Flatland form from the villages of Loré , Beaco , Nancuro and from the south bank of the Lagoa Wetanas . Later finds were also made on the north coast in Com . Another specimen found from Betano is initially known as Carlia incertae sedis. Carlia sp. 'South Coast' documented (see picture: B).
	-	Carlia sp. 'Meleotegi River'	-	Mountain shape from the river Meleotegi, Eraulo (see picture: C).
	-	Carlia sp. 'Baucau'	-	Flatland form from Afacaimau and Venilale (municipality of Baucau) (see picture: D).
	-	Carlia sp. 'Abanat River'	-	Flatland form of the Abanat River in Oe-Cusse Ambeno.
	?	Carlia peronii ( Heteropus peronii )	-	Everyday lowland dweller. Known from the West Timorese Kupang and neighboring towns to the east.
	?	Carlia spinauris ( Lygosoma (Leiolopisma) spinauris )	-	Mountain dwellers. Known from the West Timorese towns of Lelogama and Soe .
	?	Carlia leucotaenia ( Heteropus leucotaenia )	-
	Leschault snake eye skink	Cryptoblepharus Leschenault	Mamór matan samea leschenault ( Leschault snake eye skink )	Not a common representative of the genus of the island skink . Known from the plains of Baucaus and Lautéms, the coastal forest of Manatutos Nancuro and the coast of Atauros. The skink is difficult to catch. When threatened, they quickly climb up the trunk of large hardwood trees.
-	Bakhita snake eye skink	Cryptoblepharus sp. 'Bakhita'	Mamór matan samea bakhita ( Bakhita snake eye skink )	The name "Bakhita" comes from the Sta. Bakhita Mission on the Meleotegi River (near Eraulo , Ermera municipality), where the skink was first documented by scientists in 2010. It is similar to the Leschault snake eye skink, but in the Bakhita snake eye skink the light back stripe on the neck does not split into two stripes. Final certainty that it really is a new species is still missing.
-	Schlegel snake eye skink	Cryptoblepharus cf.schlegelianus	Mamór matan samea tasi ibun utara ( North Coast Snake Eye Skink )	Specimens of the species have been found in Com (Lautém) , Tasitolu and Cristo Rei (Dili). Earlier reports that the species were also found in West Timor should be questioned. It is possible that specimens that were caught on the neighboring island of Semau in the 19th century were brought to Europe via the West Timorese port of Kupang and their origin was therefore incorrectly registered. The Schlegel snake-eye skink lacks the light back stripe of the other two snake-eye skink known from Timor. They were also found in densely populated colonies in rocky terrain or on shipyard walls by the sea, where waves hit the land, while the other two species appear to be loners who live on tall trees. The Schlegel snake eye skinks from East Timor are darker than the well-known species from Semau, which is why the assignment to C. schlegelianus is not entirely certain. Even a melanistic specimen was found in East Timor.
	Smooth night skink	Eremiascincus	Mamór kalan ( night skink )	Smooth night skinks can be found hidden under stones and tree trunks in Timor, both in damp and dry regions. So far, three types of smooth night skink have been recorded in Timor, two of them in West Timor. However, recent research suggests several new species for East Timor.
	-	Eremiascincus sp. 'Montane'	-	Documented in the highlands of Maubisse, municipality of Ainaro (USNM [CMD 365], SVL 66 mm, TL 185 mm, on picture: A ) and around Same, municipality of Manufahi . The animals are similar to E. timorensis , but could also represent a new taxon . They are slightly smaller ( head-trunk length 72 mm) and slimmer than the conventional E. timorensis , the underside is yellow instead of orange up to the snout.
	-	Eremiascincus sp. 'Lautém'	-	This slender, smaller Skinke (head-body length 51 mm) were lowland Lautéms (below 500 meters above sea level) of Lore I (mm 51 USNM [CMD 474], SVL, TL 101 mm, on image: B ) and Raça found . Possibly they form with E. sp. 'Jaco' a common species.
	-	Eremiascincus sp. 'Ermera'	-	Males and females of these skinks (head-trunk length 53 mm) have a yellow belly, but the color does not reach the throat, as in E. sp. 'Montane' . Its physique is also more like E. antoniorum , is slimmer and more elongated than the morphotype of E. timorensis . It was only found around the Meleotegi River in Ermera. The species is crepuscular and nocturnal and also occurs together with the larger E. timorensis . In wet weather you can find them under piles of stones, less often when it is dry. In the surrounding coffee plantations they were missing due to a lack of undergrowth and vegetation. Arthropods serve as food . The species does not lay eggs, but gives birth to its young.
	-	Eremiascincus sp. 'Jaco'	-	These slender, little skinks were found on Jaco Island . Possibly they form with E. sp. 'Lautém' a common species (head-torso length 39 mm), but have a less pronounced pattern of spots.
	-	Eremiascincus sp. 'Ataúro'	-	On Atauro, skinks were found on the coast that clearly differ from E. emigrans wetariensis on the neighboring island of Wetar .
	?	Eremiascincus antoniorum	-	A skinkart, everyday, in the central mountains of the Indonesian West Timor.
	?	Eremiascincus cf. emigrans	-	A small skinkart with shortened limbs and an elongated body. Determination still uncertain. Documented from Lore I , Lautém municipality.
	?	Eremiascincus timorensis	-	A large Skinkart, formerly Glaphyromorphus timorensis , with stocky limbs and a short body. The belly is colored orange. Proven in the central mountains of the Indonesian West Timor. On the river Meleotegi (municipality of Ermera), at an altitude of 1180  m , scientists registered animals that were classified as E. cf. timorensis . According to Birdlife International, it can also be found on Monte Mundo Perdido . E. timorensis are the largest representatives of the smooth night skinks on Timor (head-torso length: 96 mm).
	Multi-striped skink	Eutropis cf. multifasciata ( Mabuya multifasciata , Euprepes Sebae )	Mamór loro ( sun skin )	Everyday sight during the day in rain and dry forests, grassland and on the coast. Can also be found on roads and roadsides. Known from Atauro, Ermera (river Meleotegi and Sta. Bakhita Mission), Lautém, Manatuto (coastal forests of Nancuro ), Manufahi ( Betano ) and Oe-Cusse Ambeno. The species name E. mulifasciata is used for skinks from the Philippines and back India to Timor, but a thorough taxonomic revision is appropriate.
	Elbert emerald skink	Lamprolepis smaragdina cf. elberti ( Lygosoma smaragdinum , Dasia smaragdinum )	Mamór modok ( Green Skink )	Everyday sight. So far not detected in Aileu, Ainaro, the Dilis area on mainland Timor, Ermera and Liquiça. In Lautém, emerald skinks were found in Raça and Tutuala , in Manatuto in the coastal forests of Nancuro , in Cova Lima in western Suai and in Bobonaro in a heavily grassed forest near Fiuren . Most animals can be found on tree trunks at a height of three to seven meters. Investigations from 1918 assigned the emerald skink found on Timor to the Elbert subspecies, which was first described on the neighboring island of Wetar . Investigations in the 21st century confirm great differences in coloration and pholidosis within the taxon, which is why an assignment of the emerald skink in Timor to cs elberti is probably the most accurate.
	Not exactly identified forest skinks	Sphenomorphus spp.	Mamór ai laran ( forest skink )	Known from Ainaro (Maubisse), Baucau (in the Japanese tunnels of Venilale ), Ermera (Meleotegi River, near Eraulo), Lautém ( Raça , Lore , on Mainina-Ponor and Jaco Island ), Manatuto ( Nancuro ) and Manufahi (wetland near Betano ). With the forest skink of East Timor one can possibly differentiate between highland and lowland forms. Some lowland forms, both in the moist coastal forest of Nancuro and Betano and in the dry forest of Jacos, seem to be at least closely related or identical to Sphenomorphus melanopogon . These are quite sturdy and have long limbs. They usually sit upside down on tree trunks or buttress roots , from where they can quickly escape into the undergrowth. These forest skinks seem to have a high reproduction rate and population density, in contrast to the highland inhabitants, for example in the coffee forests on the Meleotegi river or the dry forests of the Fuiloro plateau of Lautém. Young animals are rarer with them, but the bodies are generally richer in color, especially on the belly. A more precise classification is not possible without further taxonomic studies. The Reptile Database states that the Flores forest skink ( Sphenomorphus florensis ) can also be found on Timor .
	-	Sphenomorphus cf. melanopogon	-	Also proven in West Timor. Flatland forms from Manatuto and Lautém can possibly be assigned to him, but there are some differences in color and shape. (Image: A)
	-	Sphenomorphus sp. 'Highland large'	-	Specimens found on the Meleotegi River and on the Fuiloro Plateau (Raça, Mainina-Ponor). They all show common morphological features, but are colored differently. There are similarities with the forest skinks on the island of Jaco.
	-	Sphenomorphus sp. 'Highland small'	-	Stripes and patches of forest skinks found in the Venilale tunnels are very different from the other specimens on Timor.
	-	Sphenomorphus sp. incertae sedis	-	The second type from the Meleotegi river and other forest skinks that have been discovered cannot currently be clearly assigned within the Sphenomorphus .
Monitor lizards (Varanidae)
image	German name	Scientific name	Name on Tetum	information
	Timor monitor lizard	Varanus timorensis	Lafaek rai-mara ( Dry Dirt-Large Lizard / Crocodile )	The Timor monitor lizard is the only representative of the monitor lizard on Timor. Earlier reports confused it again and again with Pacific monitor lizards ( Varanus indicus ) or water monitor monitors. The latter can only be found on Atauro, but not on Timor. It is possible that the Timor monitor and the Auffenberg monitor ( Varanus auffenbergi ) from the island of Roti form a common species. The Timor monitor is scientifically documented on the north coast of Manatuto, in Baucau, Cova Lima (northwest of Maubesi ), Lautém, Liquiça ( Maubara ) and Dili ( Lahane , Fatu Naba ). The reports from Liquiça date from 1898. The specimens of the animals captured at that time were lost in a fire in the museum and could no longer be examined using modern, scientific methods. The specimen from Maubesi differs in color, morphology and habitat (at 520  m above sea level) from the other Timor monitor lizards and is more like the Auffenberg monitor. The Timor monitor lizard can be found in cultivated and abandoned rice fields, also in the vicinity of human dwellings, possibly also in similar lowland habitats.
	Bandage monitor	Varanus cf. salvator	Lafaek raimaran Ataúro ( Atauro dragon )	Erroneously suspected to be in Timor, but occurring on Atauro. However, the assignment to the binding monitor has not yet been secured.

snakes

The island was named after the Timor water python ( Liasis mackloti ) and the Timor reef snake ( Aipysurus fuscus ) living in the sea . The Timor bronze snake ( Dendrelaphis inornatus timorensis ) is also found on Roti and Wetar . The non-poisonous snake feeds on frogs and small lizards. The island pit viper ( Trimeresurus insularis ) is the only snake in East Timor with its fangs in front. It reaches a length of up to one meter and is widespread in the lowlands on both coasts. An occurrence of the Timorpython (Malayopython timoriensis) is very unlikely on the island, despite its name, because no skin of the python appeared in the leather and live animal trade that has been carried out extensively in Timor over the past decades. It is believed that the animal on which the first description goes back was only exported via Timor and originally came from another island. Sea snakes can be found in the sea .

Snakes on Timor
image	German name	Scientific name	Name on Tetum	information
	Indian warthog or dwarf warthog	Acrochordus granulatus	Samea kulit krukut ( snake with rough skin )	With a maximum length of 1.6 m (most specimens do not grow to a meter long), the Indian warthog is the smallest of the three species of warthog that lives entirely in water . In contrast to the other two only nocturnal species, it is on the move day and night. She hunts fish both from ambush and actively, which she grabs with her mouth and then wraps her body around. The unusual warts on the snake's skin help hold onto the slippery prey. The fish are then devoured head first. It is spectacular that the tubercles also prevent the skin from drying out or serve as sensors to track down the prey. Wart snakes are viviparous. The Indian wart snake gives birth to one to twelve young directly in the water. The species has already been found at a depth of 10 to 15 km from the coast at a depth of 20 m, but is usually a coastal inhabitant. In East Timor it was found in the Metinaros mangrove swamp (Dili municipality). In West Timor it is known from Kupang and the Tuakdale lagoon .
	Indonesian climbing snake	Coelognathus subradiatus formerly Elaphe subradiat	Samea laho ( rat snake )	Not often. It has been scientifically proven near the places Baucau , Viqueque , Lospalos and Muapitine , at the port of Dili, on Atauro, in the south of the municipality of Manatuto and in the municipality of Liquiça. The researchers found a specimen run over in West Timor on the road from Atambua to Kefamenanu . The Indonesian climbing snake is active at dusk and at night. It is very diverse in the choice of its habitat. They can also be found in the vicinity of human dwellings, such as in grass steppes, monsoon forests and mountain rainforests. The prey, mostly small rodents, is strangled. Other small mammals, birds, small geckos, amphibians, fish and insects should also be part of their diet. If you feel threatened, straighten up in an S-shape, inflate your neck, suddenly jump forward and bite if possible. However, they are absolutely non-toxic, so the bite is more of a bluff. The Indonesian climbing snakes on Timor Roti and Semau are slimmer and with a length of 120 to 160 cm slightly smaller than on the other Lesser Sunda Islands.
	Timor bronze snake	Dendrelaphis inornatus timorensis	Samea kotuk kór kafé ( brown-backed snake )	The snake can be found regularly in the Indonesian West Timor. In East Timor they are known from the municipalities of Lautém (for example at sea level in Lore ), Viqueque, Manufahi ( Betano ) and Dili. They may also be found on Atauro and in Nancuro in the municipality of Manatuto. The subspecies D. i. Living on Timor . timorensis occurs on the neighboring islands of Roti , Semau , Pantar , Alor and Wetar . Timor bronze snakes are diurnal but quickly flee from threats. At the same time, it blends motionlessly with its surroundings, so that it is not easy to find. The Timor bronze snake is the only representative of its genus on Timor. Specimens that were mistaken for spotted bronze snakes (Dendrelaphis pictus) on Monte Mundo Perdido . The Timor bronze snake lives in regions with wooded hills and grass as ground vegetation. Timor bronze snakes lay 2 to 18 eggs.
	Hooded wolf tooth snake	Lycodon capucinus	Samea lobo ( wolf snake )	The snake can be found regularly on Atauro. It is scientifically documented in Timor in West Timor (as a run-over copy on the road from Atambua to Sacato ), Manufahi (near Same ), Dili, Lautém ( Malahara , Com and Raça ), Bobonaro ( Fiuren and on the road from Maliana to Balibo Vila ), Cova Lima (near Suai ), Baucau (near the city of Baucau ) and Aileu (near Lahae ). The hooded wolf tooth snake is widespread in general, but rarely encountered because it is nocturnal and usually hides. It is most likely to be found at night after heavy rainfall. It occurs almost everywhere. Scientists found them on Timor from near the coast to an altitude of 1150  m , both in human settlements (also in large cities) and in ancient coffee forests. In principle, the species lives on the ground, but can also climb trees and buildings. The hooded wolf tooth snake is usually no longer than 60 cm; specimens with a total length of 72 cm have also been found on Timor. If threatened, it bites. Geckos are mostly prey, but smooth lizards, mice, frogs and reptile eggs can also fall victim to them. The hooded wolf tooth snake itself lays up to eleven eggs. It used to be a subspecies of the Lycodon aulicus , which is why there can be confusion regarding the distribution of the two species.
	White-banded wolf tooth snake	Lycodon subcinctus	Samea kadali ( ring snake )	The white-banded wolf tooth snake is known in Timor from the vicinity of Same (Manufahi) and from Raça (Lautém). It is nocturnal and generally lives hidden in cloud forests and dry scrubland, both in the lowlands and at heights of up to 1800  m . They are also known from plantations, rice and other fields and in the vicinity of human settlements. In contrast to other species of wolf tooth snake , the white-banded wolf tooth snake is not only found on the ground, but also on trees. It reaches lengths of 80 to 120 cm and mainly hunts geckos and smooth lizards. With its size and its peculiarity to partially bury itself, the white-banded wolf tooth snake could have led to reports of a krait in Timor. In fact, the white-banded wolf tooth snake has similarities with the highly poisonous Bungarus candidus and B. fasciatus . The white-banded wolf tooth snake is divided into three subspecies. Those vipers on the Lesser Sunda Islands belong to the nominate form.
-	Timor slate snake	Stegonotus st.	Samea rai kór-kafé ( brown ground snake )	Until recently, no representatives of the non-poisonous and egg-laying species of the slate snake were known in Timor. The geographically closest representatives, S. florensis , live on Flores and Sumba . The first and two other specimens of this previously undescribed species from Timor were found in the coastal forest of Nancuro (Manatuto), a second in the wetland of Betano (Manufahi). The locations are coastal cloud forests in the south of the country.
-	Boulenger roller snake	Cylindrophis cf. boulengeri	Samea ulun rua ( two-headed snake )	The name in Tetum describes the behavior of the snake when threatened, which means that at first glance you cannot tell at which end of the animal the head is sitting. In Timor, the Boulenger roller snake is originally from finds in West Timor at the beginning of the 20th century and in 1935 a scientist found several specimens in Baguia (Baucau). In 2012, researchers in Baguia were unsuccessful. Locals didn't know the snake either. It was not until the end of 2012 that a Boulenger roller snake was found in Lospalos (Lautém municipality) and later in a banana plantation at the confluence of the Comoro and Bemos (Aileu). Roller snakes are nocturnal, live in hiding and sometimes bury themselves, which is why little is known to science about their way of life. It is believed that the Boulenger roller snake hunts blind snakes and skinks . Investigations into the exact determination of the specimens found on Timor are still ongoing.
	Laticauda colubrina or yellow lip sea snake	Laticauda colubrina	Samea-tasi kor kadeli ( Colored Rings-Snake )	The snake from Oe-Cusse Ambeno and Dili ( Cristo Rei administrative office ) is well known. It also occurs before Atauro. It lives both on land and in the sea, but unlike real sea snakes it is an egg-laying species. Clutches contain 6 to 20 eggs. It is so agile on land that it can even be found on cliffs and bushes and in the interior of smaller islands. The prey of snakes-Platt tails are fish, including even those species by mimicry try to be laticauda issue, such as the Ringelschlangenaal (Myrichthys colubrinus), which is available here plentiful. Despite its toxicity, the adder flattail is not aggressive and will not try to bite if caught. Sometimes the adder flattail is confused with L. laticaudate , but this does not occur that far west.
-	Cantor's water snake	Cantoria violacea		There is only one historical report of this type from the community of Dili. More recent investigations have not yet been able to find the Cantor's water snake in East Timor.
	Dog-headed water snake	Cerberus schneiderii	Samea natar ( rice field snake )	The specimens on Timor used to be counted to Cerberus rynchops , but more recent studies now count them to C. schneiderii. However, further studies are still necessary. The snake from Baucau (near the city of Baucau), Dili ( Bidau , Metinaro ), Bobonaro ( Lago Malai ) and Manufahi ( Betano ) is known. It is also said to occur in West Timor. In East Timor, the adder was found both in the brackish water of mangrove swamps and in fresh water in the rice fields of Baucau. It is poisonous and is said to feed exclusively on fish. Some scientists suspect that crustaceans, tadpoles and young rice frogs are also food. The adder is viviparous.
-	Cancer water snake	Fordonia leucobalia	Samea parapa kabun-mutin ( white-bellied mangrove snake )	There is only one report of the snake from West Timor from 1876. They were found in a mangrove swamp near Atapupu . Since 2011 discovered two more specimens in the mangrove swamp of Metinaro (municipality of Dili). Outside of Timor they are known from the mud of river mouths, but also 850 km upstream in fresh water. During the day the adder hides in the burrows of fiddler crabs ( Uca spp. ) Or mole crabs ( Thalassina anomala ). It only appears at night when the tide returns. She hunts crustaceans , especially crabs . The prey is grasped and the legs are broken off, after which the body is devoured. In the back of the jaw, the adder has poison teeth that are long enough to break through the shells of the crustaceans. The poison kills them. The females of the crab water snake give birth to 2 to 17 young live.
-	Timor water python	Liasis mackloti	Fohorai-atan ( slave python )	The species occurs in rice fields and overgrown streams near the Timor coast. The python is known from West Timor, Dili, Manatuto, Cova Lima and Baucau, but often only as a run-over specimen on the roadside. Mostly they become victims of road traffic in the rainy season when their living space increases. The nominate form from Timor reaches a maximum length of 160 cm, which puts it in the middle of the size comparison of the subspecies. In its habitat, the python is believed to be the top of the food chain. The strangler snake can catch small and medium-sized mammals and waterfowl. Some scientists also count bird eggs, reptiles, frogs and fish to the diet of the python, but more detailed studies are lacking. Like all pythons, the Timorese water python lays eggs. There are 8 to 14 pieces in a clutch.
	Reticulated python	Malayopython reticulatus reticulatus	Fohorai-boat ( great python )	Scientists found reticulated pythons in the communities of Dili, Viqueque, Manatuto ( Laleia ), Lautém ( Malahara ), Manufahi ( Fatucahi ), and Oe-Cusse Ambeno. Also known in West Timor. The reticulated python is the longest snake in the world. A specimen caught in Sulawesi in 1912 was 9.98 meters long. The longest reticulated python that has been registered in Timor so far reached 3.5 m from Becora (Dili). One reason for the smaller shape, which is also known from other islands in the region, could be an island dwarfing . Reticulated pythons live in rain and monsoon forests, mostly near watercourses. Young specimens hang from branches here, from where they drop into the water when they discover potential prey or threats. The reticulated python is a stalker who strangles its victims. These mainly include mammals, but also birds and larger lizards. The reticulated python is also known from bat caves, where it finds constant supplies of food in the inhabitants, and in cultivated land such as plantations. Individual specimens sometimes get lost in settlements, even in larger cities. Locals often find reticulated pythons in the outskirts of Dili. The species can be found from sea level up to 1500  m . Reticulated pythons lay up to 100 eggs in a clutch.
	Flower pot snake	Indotyphlops braminus formerly Ramphotyphlops braminus	Samea matan delek isin lotuk ( small-body blind snake )	Known from Manufahi ( Same ), Viqueque ( Loi-Huno ), Ainaro ( Maubisse at 1495  m altitude; possibly brought here in flowerpots), Dili, Lautém ( Com ) and Manufahi (Fatucahi). Also known in West Timor. The flower pot snake is up to 18 cm long and is often found in the root ball in flower pots or under the pot. Due to the trade in exotic plants and due to its purely parthenogenic reproduction, which is unique for snakes (no male representative of the species has been found so far), it is the most widespread snake species in the world. It digs into the ground and only comes out in heavy rain. One to eight eggs can be found in their clutch. The main prey is termites, ant larvae and eggs.
-	Blind snakes	Indotyphlops incertae sedis	Samea matan dele ( blind snake )	From Atauro and other places blind snakes are known, which differ from the flower pot snake. A specimen with longitudinal stripes ( Indotyphlops sp. 'Tilomar') was found in Tilomar (Cova Lima). A bluish blind snake ( Indotyphlops sp. 'Mundo Perdido') was discovered on Monte Mundo Perdido (Viqueque) at an altitude of 1162  m .
-	Timor blind snake	Sundatyphlops polygrammicus formerly Ramphotyphlops polygrammicus	Samea matan delek isin baibain ( normal sized blind snake )	Scientists discovered Timor blind snake on a sandstone cliff near Same (Manufahi) , Baguia (Baucau) and in Afacaimau (Baucau). Since the snake lives underground and usually only appears in heavy rain, it is difficult to find. It hunts soft-skinned arthropods , especially the larvae and eggs of termites and ants. Since it is larger than the flowerpot snake, it is also likely to hunt adult ants and termites, as well as beetle larvae. There are at least five subspecies of the Timor blind snake that are distributed across the Lesser Sunda Islands. The nominate form lives in Timor.
	Island pit viper or wetar pit viper	Trimeresurus insularis also Cryptelytrops insularis	Samodok	The snake is usually green, and occurs in a bright yellow form in East Timor and Wetar. Cyan-colored specimens exist on Komodo . Known from Baucau, Lautém (for example Raça and Com), Viqueque, Dili (also in Atauro), Liquiça, Manufahi (among others in Betano), Bobonaro, Nancuro in Manatuto and West Timor. It can be found there up to heights not exceeding 900  m . Due to their physique, the island pit viper is believed to live in trees, but researchers found them mostly on the ground during expeditions in East Timor. At night they waited in ambush in wetlands for their prey, mostly frogs (especially rice frogs ), but also possibly small mammals and lizards. The island pit viper is the only snake in Timor whose bite can be fatal to humans. She is a viviparous snake.
-	Timor reef snake	Aipysurus fuscus
-	?	Aipysurus duboisii		engl. Name: Reef shallows seasnake
-	Olive sea snake	Aipysurus laevis		engl. Name: Olive-brown seasnake
-	?	Brachyorrhos albus
-	?	Emydocephalus annulatus		engl. Name: Turtle-headed seasnake, Egg-eating Sea Snake

Turtles

Sea turtle laying eggs on Tutuala Beach

In 2007, a subspecies of the McCord's snake neck turtle ( Chelodina mccordi ) was first described in Lautém municipality . It occurs only in the area of ​​Lake Ira Lalaro , its backwaters and wetlands and possibly in the Irebere River . It shows features that they place between the McCord's snake necked turtle and the New Guinea snake necked turtle ( Chelodina novaeguineae ). Sometimes it is also regarded as a separate species Chelodina timorensis . On an East Timorese postage stamp from 2010 it is referred to as a Timor tortoise . Especially at the eastern end of Timor, sea ​​turtles come to the beaches to lay their eggs.

Turtles on Timor
image	German name	Scientific name	Name on Tetum	information
	Chinese three-keeled tortoise or big headed Chinese tortoise	Mauremys reevesii	Lenuk kakorok riskadu ( turtle with a striped neck )	Researchers were able to detect the Chinese three-keeled tortoise in the cities of Baucau and Dili (including in Becora and Comoro ). The turtle does not occur naturally on Timor. It was probably imported from mainland Asia as a food and for traditional Chinese medicine and escaped to freedom here. Here it has been present for several decades, takes care of itself in a human environment and reproduces successfully. This could be important because in its original homeland, in the temperate and tropical regions of China , North and South Korea , the species has become rare and is an endangered species. While there are other introduced populations in Hong Kong , Taiwan and Japan , these appear to be hybrids with the Japanese pond turtle ( Mauremys japonica ), while the East Timorese specimens still represent the pure species. In Chinese culture, the Chinese three-keeled turtle is a symbol of a long life.
-	Chinese softshell turtle	Pelodiscus sinensis
	Timor tortoise (McCord's snake necked tortoise)	Chelodina mccordi timorensis (outdated: Chelodina mccordi timorlstensis )	Lenuk kakorok ular ( snake neck turtle )	The snake necked turtle is only found in the Lautém municipality. It is unclear whether it is a subspecies of the McCord's snake- necked tortoise ( Chelodina mccordi ) or a separate species Chelodina timorensis . It is considered extremely rare.
	Amboina hinge turtle	Cuora amboinensis		Lives in much of Timor, but not in Ira Lalaro.
	Green Turtle (Green Sea Turtle)	Chelonia mydas	Lenuk tasi kór-matak ( Green Sea Turtle )	No live specimens have been found in East Timor, but the Red List of Endangered Species lists East Timor as a homeland of the species. Researchers found the remains of a green turtle above the coastline in Nancuro . The green turtle reaches a length of 1.5 m and a weight of up to 200 kg.
	Hawksbill sea turtle	Eretmochelys imbricata	Lenuk tasi ibun makitik ( hawk- billed sea ​​turtle )	So far, only the tank of a dead junior on the island of Jaco has been proven . Adult animals can reach a size of up to one meter and a weight of 80 kg.

Crocodiles

Warning notice of crocodiles in Dili

The estuarine crocodile, which lives in the sea and rivers, is of particular cultural importance in East Timor ( see The good crocodile ). In 2007/2008 there were three crocodile attacks with two dead and two injured. The crocodile can be seen regularly on Timor in the calmer rivers east of Dili and on the south coast. You can even come across them on the banks of the East Timorese capital, Dili. Around three hundred specimens live on the Ira Lalaro and its rivers without access to the sea. They live here exclusively in fresh water, nine kilometers away from the sea and separated from the coast by the Paitchau mountain range.

Crocodiles in Timor
image	German name	Scientific name	Name on Tetum	information
	Saltwater crocodile	Crocodylus porosus	Lafa'ek tasi ( sea ​​crocodile )	everyday

See also

• Fauna of Timor
• List of nature reserves of East Timor

Web links

Commons : Reptiles from East Timor  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Commons : Amphibians of East Timors  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Hinrich Kaiser u. a., PhD: The herpetofauna of Timor-Leste: a first report , Department of Biology, Victor Valley College
• Hinrich Kaiser u. a .: First Update to Herpetofaunal Records from Timor-Leste. (PDF; 1.7 MB) In: Asian Herpetological Research. 2012, 3 (2), pp. 114–126.
• Caitlin Sanchez et al. a .: First report on the herpetofauna of the Oecusse District, an exclave of Timor-Leste In: Herpetology Notes , volume 5: 137–149 (2012)
• Hinrich Kaiser u. a .: First Report on the Herpetofauna of Ataúro Island, Timor-Leste In: Check List 9 (4): 752–762, 2013 (PDF file).
• Mark O'Shea et al. a .: Herpetological Diversity of Timor-Leste Updates and a Review of species distributions In: Asian Herpetological Research. 2015, 6 (2): 73-131.
• United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste: Crocodile threat in Timor-Leste. September 17, 2008 (PDF file)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db} Mark O'Shea u. a .: Herpetological Diversity of Timor-Leste Updates and a Review of species distributions. In: Asian Herpetological Research. 2015, 6 (2): pp. 73-131., Accessed on July 17, 2015.
2. ^ ^{A b c d e} Government of Timor-Leste, November 28, 2010, Prime Minister officially launches the new stamp models for Timor-Leste
3. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g} Note: The pictures show, unless otherwise stated in the description, specimens from Timor
4. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad} Hinrich Kaiser u. a., PhD, Department of Biology, Victor Valley College: The herpetofauna of Timor-Leste: a first report
5. ↑ Mark O'Shea: TIMOR-LESTE 2009
6. ^ Cnemaspis timoriensis in The Reptile Database
7. ^ Gekko vittatus in The Reptile Database
8. ↑ ^{a b} Sanchez et al. a .: First report on the herpetofauna of the Oecusse District, an exclave of Timor-Leste In: Herpetology Notes , volume 5: 137-149 (2012), accessed June 7, 2014
9. ^ Carlia leucotaenia in The Reptile Database
10. ^ Cryptoblepharus schlegelianus in The Reptile Database
11. ↑ Sven Mecke and a .: First captive breeding of a night skink (Scincidae: Eremiascincus) from Timor-Leste, Lesser Sunda Islands, with remarks on the reproductive biology of the genus , accessed on June 22, 2016.
12. ^ ^{A b} Bird life International: A lost world in Timor-Leste. Mount Mundo Perdido. A profile of its biodiversity and conservation (PDF file; 737 kB)
13. ↑ Sphenomorphus florensis in The Reptile Database
14. ↑ Varanus indicus in The Reptile Database
15. ↑ DG Barker, TM Barker: The Lesser Sundas Python (Python timoriensis): Taxonomic History, Distribution, Husbandry, and Captive Reproduction . Advances in Herpetoculture 1996, pp. 103-108.
16. ^ Dendrelaphis inornatus in The Reptile Database
17. ↑ Fordonia leucobalia in Reptile Database
18. ↑ Malayopython reticulatus in The Reptile Database
19. ^ Ramphotyphlops polygrammicus in The Reptile Database
20. ^ Aipysurus fuscus in The Reptile Database
21. ↑ Aipysurus duboisii in The Reptile Database
22. ^ Aipysurus laevis in The Reptile Database
23. ↑ Brachyorrhos albus in Reptile Database
24. ^ Emydocephalus annulatus in The Reptile Database
25. ↑ ^{a b} Gerald Kuchling, Anders GJ Rhodin, Bonggi R. Ibarrondo, Colin R. Trainor: A New Subspecies of the Snakeneck Turtle Chelodina mccordi from Timor-Leste (East Timor) (Testudines: Chelidae) . In: Chelonian Conservation and Biology 6 (2): 213-222. 2007 doi : 10.2744 / 1071-8443 (2007) 6 [213: ANSOTS] 2.0.CO; 2 .
26. ↑ Pelodiscus sinensis in The Reptile Database
27. ↑ Yara Tibirica: Coastal Marine Ecotourism in Timor Leste, Final Report retrieved on December 28, 2015.