Journey to northern Batang Saribas basin

[kuching]

This is the most fruitful trip in this rainy season. The rainy season is almost ended, so there is not much rainfall in February, compared to last month.

I was told that Crypt. bullosa & Crypt. ciliata were found growing together in a small river which is a freshwater tidal zone. So, I decided to go there & check it out. These 2 species of Cryptocoryne (aroid) are mostly found in 2 different habitat: bullosa is from up river, far away from tidal zone but ciliata is mostly found in brackishwater area which the river got tidal influence.

However, in this "special" river, both species are growing in the same area!!! ciliata grows on the muddy riverbank while bullosa growing on the sandy (with gravel) river bed!!! This is so incredible! 1 river with 2 microhabitats, so these 2 different Crypt. can grow together! Amazing!!!


Other interesting things are as follow:

(1) 2 species of beautiful freshwater snails found abundantly in that river. One got black spotted shell and the other one got spiny shell!!! Never seen those freshwater snails before!



(2) Betta taeniata (wild fighting fish) was found in a stream in the most northern part of Batang Saribas basin. This is a new location, and so far, this spot is further north from it's recorded coverage area!!!


(3) Found some unidentified species of algae eating shrimps & a rasbora.


(4) Found Nepenthes mirabilis variety echinostoma (pitcher plant) in a peat swamp. (new location to me)


(5) Found that beautiful swamp orchid, Papilionanthe hookeriana in a new location.



Good morning, Sarawak!!!

[kuching]

Early in the morning, I spotted a purple coloured orchid while driving pass a swamp. That is the "sexy" swamp orchid called Papilionanthe hookeriana (old name is Vanda hookeriana). This is one of my favourite orchids which is mostly found in peat swamp or freshwater swamp. It always found growing with Hanguana spp.





Another species of orchid found in the swamp. I think I saw it before in peat swamp area at Perak of West Malaysia.







Cryptocoryne bullosa




Cryptocoryne ciliata

[hwchoy]

What kind of substrate is hookeriana growing on? I want to see pix of that rasbora and shrimps! and please check if the spotted snails can be used in the tank?

[kuching]

Probably this freshwater snail is Neritina pulligera. The shell has some tiny black spots! Beautiful!!!





This freshwater snail got very interesting shell....which got spines!




Probably this is a new species of freshwater snail (Neritina sp.???)!!!





Will take more photos of my fish & snails tomorrow. Now need to rest now....too tired!!! I spent one whole day in the field.....the journey took me almost 12 hours!

[kuching]

What kind of substrate is hookeriana growing on? I want to see pix of that rasbora and shrimps! and please check if the spotted snails can be used in the tank?

I'm so exhausted now. Will take more pix tomorrow. Substrate of the orchid = peat soil.

[kuching]

Freshwater snail, Neritina sp. - species A (The most beautiful freshwater snail I ever found in Sarawak!!!)




Neritina sp. - species A





Neritina sp. - species B

[kuching]

Betta taeniata "Barang Saribas" - the Betta looks a bit different from B. taeniata from other area but colour is not showing up, so need to re-take the pix again.




Rasbora sp. - again, colour is not showing up. It has a black stripe across the body.




Freshwater shrimp- species A. Any idea what genus is this?






Freshwater shrimp- species B (deep purple colour when it was caught in the river)

[hwchoy]

mikey, those snails look like they will do a good job of cleaning algae, both brown and green spots. try in your tank?

the shrimps probably need a brackish larval stage with the eggs so small. the pointy nose guy looks like a member of the Caridina gracililostris species group.

[kuching]

mikey, those snails look like they will do a good job of cleaning algae, both brown and green spots. try in your tank?

the shrimps probably need a brackish larval stage with the eggs so small. the pointy nose guy looks like a member of the Caridina gracililostris species group.

Yes,I'll introduce the snails to my tank.

So, both shrimps are Caridina ???

[hwchoy]

possibly only, shrimps are very difficult to identify without really close up of body parts or specimens. now I really need to talk to you about the Sundaland shrimp project!

In any case, Neocaridina do not range into southeast Asia.

[kuching]

possibly only, shrimps are very difficult to identify without really close up of body parts or specimens. now I really need to talk to you about the Sundaland shrimp project!

In any case, Neocaridina do not range into southeast Asia.

Thanks. Since when u are doing the research for the shrimp? Or just helping researchers in NUS?

[kuching]

First location:

Papilionanthe hookeriana & Hanguana malayana in the swamp.





The leaves of Hanguana malayana is very big & long....& this plant is taller than me!







Close-up of the sexy swamp orchid, Papilionanthe hookeriana






Side view:

[kuching]

2nd location:

A river where Crypt bullosa & Crypt ciliata growing together.


Photo below: A clump of Crypt. bullosa covered by black hair algae:






Crypt. bullosa in situ:




Crypt. ciliata in situ:

[kuching]

3rd location: A disturbed peat swamp forest. (logging area) No fish ot water plant were found in this area.

The common bird-nest fern (Asplenium nidus) growing on a tree:







Nepenthes mirabilis var. echinostoma found in an open space outside the peat swamp, near the roadside:





This variety of N. mirabilis has very wide peristome. And some of them even got the hairy / spiny peristome.






A red-coloured Nepenthes mirabilis var. echinostoma:

[kuching]

Last location: This is a jungle stream where Betta taeniata was found. This area is the most northern part of its distribution area; almost near Rajang river basin!!!





Most probably Schismatoglottis erecta; which has an erect stem (aroid):






Most likely it's Schismatoglottis motleyana (Aroid):




Sarawak is too big to explore. There is always got very interesting flora & fauna out there for you to discover. I hope I can have more time to explore, especially the interior of Sarawak.


THE END.

[kuching]

Photos taken last Sunday; here:

http://www.ibanorum.netfirms.com/saribas.htm

[Plantbrain]

The algae is most like Lyngbya, a nasty Cyanobacterial filamentous weed.
I hate the stuff.

It's common in such tropical systems.

Our California pitcher plants are at 7000-8500ft up near the tree line in peat bog seeps.



Regards,
Tom Barr

[kuching]

The algae is most like Lyngbya, a nasty Cyanobacterial filamentous weed.
I hate the stuff.

It's common in such tropical systems.

Our California pitcher plants are at 7000-8500ft up near the tree line in peat bog seeps.



Regards,
Tom Barr

Have u seen the pitcher plant in ur country before? Any photo to share? Why got peat bog in such a high altitude?

[Plantbrain]

I camp next to the plants when we go backpacking up near Mt Shasta.
There is a lot of Sphagnum and pine trees in the mountain here. Like the Northern Boral forest, it's cold and damp up there.

[Plantbrain]

Ah, here's the Pitcher plant:

Darlingtonia at 8000ft right next to the middle larger lake. I'm at about 10,000ft in the picture, the other is some weird bladder like alpine plant, very strange, but most alpine plants and trees tend to be. As spring comes to CA, the wild flowers bloom in defined patterns up the coast moving northward.
We have places with plants below sea level (Death Valley, Salton Sea) and some of the hottest places on Earth (Death Valley is without a doubt, the hottest place consistently), several high mountain ranges, many edaphic species, Rainforest to deserts. It's really amazing what you can find in your own back yard if you venture out beyond the beaten path.

California has some very varied climates, ecological niches and fog/rain patterns.

I'm jealous you can find Crypts when you travel though!
If I had one genus I'd want to search for when heading out, it would be that.