Ian Lockwood

Trimeresurus grouping at the MZU Department of Zoology.

In the winter of 2017 and then summer of 2018 our family was in Mizoram for family weddings. Both visits gave me an opportunity to reconnect with like-minded naturalists look for and photograph some of the area’s unique biodiversity. This post share some of the visual highlights.

My brother in law, Kuka (a.k.a Rochamliana  or Khuluaia Aineh) now spends a good deal of time photographing different species, especially birds across the state. In the last year he has also been collaborating with others on an effort to get a birdwatching guest house set up at Sailam (about fours south of Aizawl). Through Kuka I met Phelly Pachuau and several other young wildlife photographers. Phelly and her husband found the Green Cat Snake (Boiga cyanea) that was photographed at Kuka’s home. Another important contact in Aizawl is HT Lalramsenga of Mizoram University’s Department of Zoology. He and his team (Bza Chawngthu and Lal Muan Sanga) gave us a tour of their lab and allowed me to photograph the pit vipers and other interesting residents.

Green Cat Snake(Boiga cyanea), Aizawl, Mizoram

Green Cat Snake (Boiga cyanea) in Aizawl. (July 2018)

Spot-tailed Pit Viper (Trimeresurus erythrurus) at Aizawl. (December 2017)

Striped Trinket Snake (Orthriophis taeniurus) at Aizawl. (July 2017)

Pope’s Pit Viper (Trimeresurus popeiorum).(July 2018)

Tail detail of Pope’s Pit Viper (Trimeresurus popeiorum) at Mizoram University’s Department of Zoology (July 2018).

Pope’s Pit Viper (Trimeresurus popeiorum) at Mizoram University’s Department of Zoology (July 2018).

Pope’s Pit Viper (Trimeresurus popeiorum) at Mizoram University’s Department of Zoology (July 2018).

Serchip Horned frog (Megophrys serchhipii) photographed in broad daylight in the middle of a forest road at Sailam.

Dorsal view: Serchip Horned frog (Megophrys serchhipii) photographed in broad daylight in the middle of a forest road at Sailam.

Butterfly (to be identified) on the road to ReiEk.

Butterfly (to be identified) on the road to Sailan.

Tails of pit vipers (Trimeresurus popeiorum & T. erythrurus) at the Department of Zoology at Mizoram University. (July 2018)

PAST MIZORAM POSTS

Lockwood, Ian. “New Hope for Wildlife in Mizoram.” Ian Lockwood Blog.  July 2014. Web.

Lockwood, Ian. “Bamboolands: Land Use Patterns in Mizoram’s Rural & Urban Areas.” Ian Lockwood Blog.  March 2012. Web.

Lockwood, Ian. “Bamboolands…Mizoram in the winter of 2008.” Ian Lockwood Blog.  March 2009. Web.

REFERENCES

Ahmeed, Firoz, Abhijit Das and Shushil Kr. Datta. Reptiles & Amphibians of the North East: A Photographic Guide. Guwahati: Aaranyak, 2009. Print.

Das, Indraneil. A Field Guide to the Snakes of Southeast Asia. London: Bloomsbury Natural History, 2016. Print.

Das, Indraneil. A Naturalist’s Guide to the Snakes of Southeast Asia. Oxford: John Beaufoy Publishing, 2015. Print.

Grimmett, Richard, Carol Inskipp and Tim Inskipp. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent, 2^nd Edition. Helms Field Guides. 2011. Print.

Lalremsanga, H.T. & Sailo, Saipari & , Chinliansiama. “Diversity of Snakes (Reptilia: Squamata) and Role of Environmental Factors in Their Distribution in Mizoram, Northeast India.” Conference: Advances in Environmental Chemistry.  September 2018. Web.

Mathew, R., and N. Sen. 2010. Pictorial Guide to Amphibians of North East India.  Kolkata, India: Zoological Survey of India.

Snakes of India. Web.

Whitaker Romulus & Captain, Ashok. Snakes of India: The Field Guide. Draco Books, Print. 2004.