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Project Squamata - Philippines, Sto. Domingo, Manila (2026)

14/06/2026

These are two of the more common variations of the Philippine pit viper that we encounter in the area. While some individuals can show unusual or aberrant patterns, these are what they typically look like.

Some are spotted, others are plain, while some display this beautiful "tiger" morph, as we like to call it. It's another example of how much individual variation can exist within a single species.

I've been hoping to find a red-phase 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘰 again for quite some time. Hopefully I'll come across one soon and finally get the chance to take some proper photographs of it.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴.

🐍 Philippine pit viper (𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑢𝑠 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑠)
📍 Laguna, Philippines

Photography: Kyle Anadeo Tamayo

11/06/2026

After seeing multiple light grey 𝑇𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑑𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑒𝑚𝑢𝑠 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑠 in the area, we finally encountered a "normal-looking" green one. It might sound funny to get excited over the common color form, but after days of only finding grey individuals, I had been hoping to come across a green one again. It had been a while since our last encounter with one, likely because of the abundance of the light grey morphs in this particular area.

Whether this is simply a local color variation, a result of shared ancestry among individuals in this microhabitat, or something else entirely, it's fascinating to see just how much diversity can exist within a single species in such a small space. Just another reason why even the smallest wild spaces are worth protecting. You never know what unique stories or variations are hiding there until they're gone.

Since then, we've continued encountering different individuals and have even started recognizing them by their unique patterns and colorations. We've gone as far as giving some of them names just to keep track of who's who. Some disappear for weeks at a time, only to show up again unexpectedly, almost like a video game character respawning back into the map.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴.

🐍 Keel-throated pit viper (𝑇𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑑𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑒𝑚𝑢𝑠 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑠)
📍 Laguna, Philippines

Photography: Kyle Anadeo Tamayo

03/06/2026

𝐏𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐞?🦎🇵🇭

Check out this unique endemic skink we found while herping in the Philippines. Known as the spiny waterside skink or crocodile skink (𝑇𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑑𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑢𝑠 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑦𝑖), it gets its common names from its semi-aquatic lifestyle and the armored, heavily-keeled scales that cover its body, giving it a remarkably prehistoric appearance.

The genus name 𝑇𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑑𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑢𝑠 comes from the Greek 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘴 ("keel" or "ridge") and 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘴 ("bearer" or "carrier"), literally translating to "keel-bearer" or "ridge-bearer," a reference to the prominent keeled scales that characterize these skinks.

Although secretive by nature, they can be surprisingly abundant along streams and rivers in mountainous and agricultural areas bordering forests. They often take refuge among rocks, and we frequently find them tucked away in narrow crevices near the water's edge.

Beyond their striking appearance, these skinks play an important ecological role. As semi-aquatic predators, they form an important part of streamside food webs, feeding on a variety of invertebrates and occupying a unique niche along forest streams and rivers. Because they are closely associated with freshwater habitats, healthy populations can also reflect the condition of local stream ecosystems.

Unfortunately, being such a unique species comes at a cost. Populations are threatened by habitat destruction and collection for the illegal wildlife trade, placing increasing pressure on these remarkable reptiles and the habitats they depend on.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴.

🦎 Spiny Waterside Skink (𝑇𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑑𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑢𝑠 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑦𝑖)
📍 Laguna, Philippines

Photography: Kyle Anadeo Tamayo

02/06/2026

𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 🩵💚

Philippine vine snakes are polymorphic, meaning they can show a range of color variations in the wild. Some individuals are green, others are yellow, and some can even appear bluish like this one. They almost look unreal in person, almost like a Pokémon character.

This is an adult individual we encountered during our herping trip. Based on its size, I’m guessing it is an adult female. These snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning they do not lay eggs like most other snakes but instead give birth to live young.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴.

🐍 Philippine vine snake
(𝐴ℎ𝑎𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑎 𝑝𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑎 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑜𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑠)
📍 Laguna, Philippines

Photography: Kyle Anadeo Tamayo

30/05/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐫 🐍🇵🇭

Identification plate of 𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑢𝑠 𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑧𝑒𝑖 (Griffin, 1909), also known as the Schultze’s Pit Viper — 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻, 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀.

Named after German naturalist Wilhelm Schultze, who collected the holotype (PNM 315) in Palawan. The specimen was later destroyed during World War II along with many other Philippine type specimens.

After encountering multiple individuals during our herping trip in Palawan, I still can’t get enough of these snakes. We found several juveniles, but it wasn’t until we finally came across an adult that I was able to make an identification plate.

Hopefully these remarkable animals will continue to thrive so future generations can appreciate them. Perhaps one day, the persecution of snakes will also come to an end. They are magnificent creatures that deserve our respect and should not have to suffer because of our greed.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴.

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Ref: The snakes of the Philippine Islands :
Taylor, Edward Harrison, 1889-1978

Synopsis of the snakes of the Philippines: A synthesis of data from biodiversity repositories, field studies, and the literature. Leviton, A.E., C.D. Siler, J.L. Weinell & R.M. Brown. 2018

Photography: Kyle Anadeo Tamayo

25/05/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐥𝐟 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐞 🐍🇵🇭

Identification plate of 𝐷𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑖 formerly known as 𝐿𝑦𝑐𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑖 (Leviton, 1955), also known as the Seale’s Banded Asian Wolf Snake — 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻, 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀.

Another lifer for me and definitely one of the most interesting snakes we found during our trip to Palawan. The Palawan wolf snake, a species also found in Borneo, which makes sense considering Palawan shares strong biogeographic ties with the island. It’s only been about a month since this species was reassigned from the genus 𝐿𝑦𝑐𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛 to 𝐷𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛.

This individual didn’t show the distinct white crossbands that younger individuals usually have, since the pattern tends to fade as they mature. Honestly, it confused me at first because I had no idea what I was looking at. Like most wolf snakes, they’re nocturnal hunters, commonly seen moving through the forest at night in search of any prey they can overpower.

These snakes are non-venomous and generally harmless to humans. One thing I have to say though, the smell of their musk is unbelievably strong, easily one of the strongest I’ve encountered so far. They also like to bite and rattle their tails when threatened, something commonly seen in many wolf snakes.

One funny thing that happened while photographing this individual was that I had already made the identification plate, but while I was setting up my gear to photograph it in a more natural background, it escaped 😂. I only managed to get the natural background shot on my phone. Maybe next time.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴.

Follow our page for more! 🐍🇵🇭

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ref: Bernstein et al. 2026. Diversification and colonisation in the Indo-Australian Archipelago: genomic insights from Colubrid snakes. Journal of Biogeography 53: e70202.

The snakes of the Philippine Islands :
Taylor, Edward Harrison, 1889-1978

Synopsis of the snakes of the Philippines: A synthesis of data from biodiversity repositories, field studies, and the literature. Leviton, A.E., C.D. Siler, J.L. Weinell & R.M. Brown. 2018

Photography: Kyle Anadeo Tamayo

22/05/2026

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐬: 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐧-𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐞 🐍🇵🇭

𝑃𝑡𝑦𝑎𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑎 (Günther, 1864), also known as the Keeled Rat Snake — 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻, 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀.

Finally saw one during our trip. Although they’re not endemic to the Philippines, Palawan is currently the only place in the country with recorded sightings of them, which makes sense considering Palawan is biogeographically closer to Borneo and shares much of the same fauna, where this species naturally occurs.

These are massive non-venomous colubrids that can reach lengths of 10–13 feet, which is why locals often mistake them for the Sunda King cobra (𝑂𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑔𝑢𝑠 𝑏𝑢𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑟𝑢𝑠) due to their size, pattern, and coloration. Like king cobras, males are typically larger than females, likely because larger males have an advantage during ritual combat for mating rights.

Locals call them 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘒𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘴, meaning “three corners,” probably referring to their strongly keeled, almost triangular bodies, a feature that helps separate them from the generally stockier and rounder-bodied King cobras. Despite being non-venomous, they are still widely feared, and many are unalived on sight out of ignorance.

One of the saddest parts of this trip was finding an injured 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘒𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘴 trapped in a net, with severe head trauma after locals threw stones at it. Its injuries were beyond recovery, so we made the difficult decision to end its suffering. It wasn’t one of my proudest moments, but leaving it alive in that condition would have been far worse.

Thankfully, a few days later, we found this healthy juvenile in the wild. Seeing one alive and free was easily one of the highlights of the trip. We didn’t have much time to photograph it properly, and the snake was far too large and restless for my setup, so after a few quick shots, we promptly released it back into the wild.

Always prioritize the animal’s welfare over getting the “perfect shot.”

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴.

Follow our page for more! 🐍🇵🇭

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ref: The snakes of the Philippine Islands :
Taylor, Edward Harrison, 1889-1978

Synopsis of the snakes of the Philippines: A synthesis of data from biodiversity repositories, field studies, and the literature. Leviton, A.E., C.D. Siler, J.L. Weinell & R.M. Brown. 2018

Photography: Kyle Anadeo Tamayo

19/05/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐳𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 🐍🇵🇭

Identification plate of 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑖 (van Rooijen & Vogel, 2012), also known as Leviton’s Bronzeback — 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻, 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀.

Another lifer for me. We spotted this individual while on our way to film snakes we encountered during our Palawan trip. We saw multiple bronzeback tree snakes, but this one immediately stood out. At first, I assumed it was just another Maren’s bronzeback, but upon closer inspection I noticed distinct striping along the dorsum. I caught it first before it got away, just long enough to get a few clearer photos, then released it back into the shrubs.

These snakes are built for speed and fully arboreal, spending most of their time in trees where they actively hunt frogs and lizards. They are diurnal and typically rest coiled on vegetation after sundown. These bronzebacks are non-venomous and will usually bolt the moment they are disturbed, posing no real danger to humans.

Although the locals we spoke to are familiar with them, many were unaware that more than one species of bronzeback tree snake occurs in the area. Most simply leave them alone, knowing they are not prone to biting. It’s interesting how often an animal’s perceived “attitude” shapes whether people tolerate or persecute it, rather than its actual ecological role.

Either way, it was a great find. I’ll definitely be heading back to Palawan again. Hopefully next time we get lucky with another king cobra encounter.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴.

Follow our page for more! 🐍🇵🇭

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ref: Van Rooijen, J. & Vogel, G. (2012).�“A revision of the taxonomy of Dendrelaphis caudolineatus (Gray, 1834) (Serpentes: Colubridae)”

Synopsis of the snakes of the Philippines: A synthesis of data from biodiversity repositories, field studies, and the literature. Leviton, A.E., C.D. Siler, J.L. Weinell & R.M. Brown. 2018

Photography: Kyle Anadeo Tamayo

13/05/2026

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐧 🐍🇵🇭

Identification plate of 𝐵𝑜𝑖𝑔𝑎 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑎 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑎 (Boulenger, 1896), also known as the Palawan mangrove snake — 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻, 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀.

Probably one of the most common snakes you can encounter when visiting Palawan, tourists often spot them basking high on mangrove trees during the day. But once the sun starts to fade, some of these snakes begin cruising through streams and mangroves in search of prey and freshwater.

Many of the local fishermen we met are genuinely afraid of these snakes. They often describe them as aggressive animals that chase people, but in reality, they’re simply defensive and want to be left alone. Some also reported that they’re very curious with lights or just wanted to investigate. It’s honestly sad hearing stories from older residents who remember a time when these snakes were common in that particular mangrove area. Today, you’re already lucky to see even one there because of increasing human encroachment and disturbance in the area.

Being cat snakes, they are rear-fanged and mildly venomous to humans. Interestingly, mangrove snakes possess a venom component called denmotoxin, which is far more effective on birds than on mammals like us. It just goes to show that their venom evolved for survival and hunting, not for attacking people.

So if you ever see one, please leave it alone. These snakes are not going to chase someone just to bite them because that would be a terrible survival strategy for a wild animal. Keep a respectful distance, admire them from afar, and please don’t harm our wildlife. While bites from these snakes are often not medically serious in humans, reactions can still vary, so it’s always best to avoid handling them.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴.

Follow our page for more! 🐍🇵🇭

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ref: Minton, Sherman A.;Dunson, William A. 1978. Observations on the Palawan mangrove snake, Boiga dendrophila multicincta (Reptilia, Serpentes, Colubridae). Journal of Herpetology 12 (1): 107

Synopsis of the snakes of the Philippines: A synthesis of data from biodiversity repositories, field studies, and the literature. Leviton, A.E., C.D. Siler, J.L. Weinell & R.M. Brown. 2018

Photography: Kyle Anadeo Tamayo

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