Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know there are not many snakes, but I was wondering if there was some cool stuff I should be looking for on vacation.

Jake

Actually there are no snakes on maui, and here are very strict regulations on their importation. While out and about, check for geckos and chameleons. I was out there a few months ago and saw a few of each. Have fun!

there are snakes. Some have been introduced to the islands. I know blind snakes are there (Ramphotyphlops I believe) and I think I heard about the introduction of some sort of tree snake (but I might have heard wrong...don't remember).
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Andy Maddox
AIM: thekingofproduct
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

"A yellow ribbon instead of a swastika. Nothin' proper about ya propaganda. Fools follow rules when the set commands ya. Said it was blue when ya blood was red. That's how ya got a bullet blasted through ya head"- Rage Against the Machine

I spent a weekend there, and the hotel i was staying at was crawling with creatures:

TMTC - House Geckos
Only one - Stump-toed Gecko (the only one i came across during the three months i spent exploring all the Islands).
About a dozen - Green Anoles
TMTC - Giant Toads

Not far from that location Skinks and Blind Snakes were found. I found that the snakes were so common that nearly every rock overturned housed 1 to 3 individuals.

That sounds like a blast - what part of the island were you staying on? I think we will be pretty far south.

I presently dont have a map with me and it was years ago when i visited Maui. However, I was at the major tourist town on the west portion of the island. I think its call Kona or something like that. Later we rented a car and circled the island. The east portion of the island is a lush jungle that should not be missed.

I thought Kona was on big island? Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel fairly certain is on Hawaii (big island).
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Andy Maddox
AIM: thekingofproduct
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

"A yellow ribbon instead of a swastika. Nothin' proper about ya propaganda. Fools follow rules when the set commands ya. Said it was blue when ya blood was red. That's how ya got a bullet blasted through ya head"- Rage Against the Machine

I found this female Jackson's last November in the town of Makawao. That's part way up the volcano. Apparently they are very common in that area. I've read that Veiled chameleons are also now established in the area.

Check around your hotel or condo during the day for giant toads, anoles, skinks, and possibly day geckos. I found thousands of metamorph toads in a shaded drainage along a little beach. Nocturnal geckos should be under most lights at night and on the walls and ceilings in rooms and restaraunts. In Hana, there were house geckos under the hotel lights while the mourning geckos were under lights along the pathways. I didn't turn over many rocks so I didn't see any blind snakes, but I've seen them on other islands and I know they are very common on Maui.

Don't forget the green seaturtles. You can see them from shore or while snorkeling.

There are also recently-introduced Puerto Rican Coqui frogs on Maui. Their calls are driving the locals crazy. Efforts are underway to eradicate them as their population explodes.

There is a good field guide to the islands written by Sean McKeown.

Good luck.

I've heard of Jackson's Chameleons at Makawao, but I thought it was like a city. Did you have trouble with peoples property, or is there an open area you can hike around in?

That picture is great! I would love to see something like that.

Thanks for the info,

Jake

Someone with family there told me that he saw the chameleons in trees and shrubs around the town and that they were more common in the inhabited areas. They like the diversity of ornamental shrubbery and the humidity from watering as well as from the cooler climate there on the mountainside. I found 3 in some high shrubs lining a public road. I also saw a lot of green anoles while looking for the chameleons.