Raffles Museum Treasures: Hill myna

Hill myna (Gracula religiosa)
Collected from Pulau Ubin, January 1923
Native to Singapore

Oriental Bird Images
xeno-canto Asia
BirdLife
IUCN Red List
Mangoverde World Bird Guide
Animal Diversity Web


(Photo by Jose Sousa)

Raffles Museum Treasures: Oleander hawk moth

Oleander hawk moth (Daphnis nerii)
Native to Singapore


The Sphingidae of Southeast-Asia
An Identification Guide of Japanese Moths Compiled by Everyone
Digital Moths of Japan
Moths Great and Small
Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic
Sphingidae of the Western Palaearctic
UKmoths
The Butterflies and Moths of Northern Ireland
Sphingidae of the United States
CATE Sphingidae
ARKive


(Photo by yoel_tw)

Raffles Museum Treasures: Common tree nymph

Common tree nymph (Idea stolli logani)
Collected from Rifle Range Road, June 1976
Native to Singapore

Butterfly of the Month - October 2008
ButterflyCircle Photo Checklist
NParks FaunaWeb


(Photo by HenryKoh)

Monday Morgue: 5th July 2010

Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, 17th May 2010

Wild Fact Sheets
NParks FaunaWeb
Ecology Asia
Reptile Database
IUCN Red List
WWF
ARKive
Animal Diversity Web
National Geographic Animal Facts
SeaLifeBase
MarineBio.org
NOAA Fisheries
Oceanic Resource Foundation
Sea Turtle Conservation Travel

Raffles Museum Treasures: Sunda clouded leopard

Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi)
Purchased in Singapore in 1898, claimed to have been killed in Changi

In 2007, the clouded leopard populations found on Sumatra and Borneo were determined to be sufficiently distinct from those in mainland Southeast Asia to be considered an entirely separate species. And so, where there was formerly a single species of clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), the clouded leopards of Sumatra and Borneo now belong to a different species, the Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi).

Given that Singapore is close to the Malay Peninsula, it is far more likely that any clouded leopards found in Singapore would belong to the mainland species, so the locality where this individual was "collected" is probably in error.

Info on both clouded leopard species:
The Clouded Leopard Project
IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group - Cat Species Information
Cat Survival Trust
WWF
Animal Diversity Web
National Geographic Animal Facts

Sunda clouded leopard:
Bornean Clouded Leopard Programme
Tetrapod Zoology: Belated welcome to a 'new' clouded leopard.. named in 1823
IUCN Red List
ARKive

Clouded leopard:
IUCN Red List
ARKive


Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi)
(Photo by canorus)


Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
(Photo by felt_tip_felon®)

Raffles Museum Treasures: Raccoon dog

Raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

Many specialists now think that the Japanese populations of raccoon dog are sufficiently distinct to be considered a separate species, known as the Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes viverrinus). This situation is similar to that of the European badger (Meles meles); once thought to range across the whole of temperate Eurasia from Ireland in the west to Japan in the East, the Asian populations have been split off into 2 distinct species: the Asian badger (Meles leucurus) of mainland temperate Asia, and the Japanese badger (Meles anakuma) of Japan.

Canid Species Accounts
The Raccoon Dog: a successful canid
Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Dogs - 2004 Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan
IUCN Red List
ARKive
Animal Diversity Web
Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories for Europe
Cumulative Index for the Mammalian Species


(Photo by Lolamon)

Raffles Museum Treasures: Smooth Otter

Smooth otter (Lutrogale perspicillata)
Collected from Lazarus Island, July 1938
Native to Singapore: Critically Endangered

Wild Fact Sheets
Mangrove and wetland wildlife at Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve
Guide to the Mangroves of Singapore
Ecology Asia
IUCN Otter Specialist Group
IUCN Red List
ARKive
Animal Diversity Web
Cumulative Index for the Mammalian Species


(Photo by Mendis)

So scary! Look at the size of this swarm of bees at Hougang block

These huge swarms of bees descended upon the building facade of a flat in Hougang as well as the staircase landing, alarming STOMPer Edmund. He has never seen swarms of this size before.

The STOMPer wrote:

"Large swarms of bees were spotted along the building facade of Blk 698D at Hougang Street 52, and also on the ceiling of the staircase landing.

"This is the largest swarm of bees I've seen before.

"There have been previous swarms but none of this size.

"I live in the opposite block so I can see that my neighbours have shut their windows completely.

"As it was raining, more of the bees on the facade swarmed into the staircase landing.

"Hope the authorities can take action soon."

Raffles Museum Treasures: Sun bear

Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)

The ecology of Malayan sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) in the lowland tropical rainforest of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo
Bears of the World
BearDen.org
WWF
IUCN Red List
IUCN Species of the Day
ARKive
Animal Diversity Web
National Geographic Animal Facts
Cumulative Index for the Mammalian Species
Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre


(Photo by theroadhere)

For real? If you see a white moth, the spirit of a loved one is visiting you

Raffles Museum Treasures: Binturong

Binturong (Arctictis binturong)
Native to Singapore: Locally Extinct

While the binturong is thought to be locally extinct here in Singapore, an individual was captured in Bukit Panjang in May 2004. There has been no information on whether this particular binturong was a former captive, or if it might indicate that binturong still linger on in our forest reserves.

Synopsis of Philippine Mammals
IUCN Red List
ARKive
Animal Diversity Web


(Photo by Chi Liu)

Raffles Museum Treasures: Dhole

Dhole or Asiatic Wild Dog (Cuon alpinus)

Dhole Home Page
Canid Species Accounts
Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Dogs - 2004 Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan
CITES
WWF
IUCN Red List
ARKive
Animal Diversity Web
Cumulative Index for the Mammalian Species


(Photo by yathin)

$2,000 reward for finding beloved pet parrot, no questions asked

STOMPer Sin Pei Lee has yet to find her beloved pet parrot, Hong Hong. She is offering $2,000 as a reward to anyone who finds Hong Hong.

The owners previously offered $1,000 in an earlier article.

The STOMPer said:

“My pet parrot, Hong Hong, flew out of our flat at Blk 262A Compassvale Street at about 9pm of June 3. Hong Hong is a Congo African Grey parrot, tame and talkative.

"The reward is $2000 if found and retrieved. No questions asked. Please contact [redacted].

"Thursday night marked the 3rd week since Hong Hong was lost and as I sat alone in my living room, I finally cried out for the first time.

"I cried because as I recite Hong Hong favorite line; "Nie hou ma?"(How are you? in Mandarin), I realised I no longer know how Hong Hong is and whether or not Hong Hong is being well treated. Hong Hong, nie hou ma?

"I kept staring at Hong Hong's cage & playstand while my crying continues. Both the cage & playstand is filled with toys for Hong Hong to chew & play with.

"Hong Hong, are you having any toys now?

"In the past 3 weeks, my husband and I has done loads of things to find Hong Hong. We kept ticking on one after another action that can be done to find Hong Hong...

"We contacted the SPCA, AVA, Jurong Birdpark, posted on websites & forums, posting flyers to mailboxes, getting contractor to post more flyers to HDB door-to-door, visiting birdshops, walking & calling Hong Hong at HDB floor by floor and checking out online day after day.

"Yet Hong Hong is still missing.

"We have also encountered many helpful & compassionate people and would like to thank them as below:

"1) Ivan of Jurong Birdpark, Ridzuan of AVA & staff of SPCA (contacted me via phone so I forgot the name)

"2) Our fellow neighbour at Block 290A Sengkang who informed us of Hong Hong flying in then out of his house (again, we didn't get his name)

"3) Mr. John of ATW, our flyer contractor who prioritize our flyer distribution to within the 1st week.

"4) Staff at STOMP for posting out my story. (including this, the 3rd time)

"5) Mr Chew of Colchester Grove who contacted us on an african grey parrot flying into his garden on June 17 (it's not Hong Hong and we were unable to help since the parrot also flew off when my husband reach there)

"6) Mr. KY Wong of Shin Min Daily News who noticed the STOMP story & followed up with a newspaper article on June 21

"7) Supportive fellow members of various forums, bird shops owner and many others.

"We no longer have any further actions that can be done aside from posting online.

"Please help us to find Hong Hong back."

I guess this owner must really adore her African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus); this is the 3rd time she has posted about her missing parrot, with the previous reports dating to 20th June and 7th June.

Raffles Museum Treasures: Hog badger

Hog badger (Arctonyx collaris)

Monday Morgue: 28th June 2010

Lesser Asian yellow house bat (Scotophilus kuhlii)
Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, 17th May 2010

Wildlife Singapore
Ecology Asia
Synopsis of Philippine Mammals
IUCN Red List

Raffles Museum Treasures: Leatherback turtle

Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
Collected from Siglap, December 1883
Vagrant

Although this species is known to nest on the beaches of Terengganu on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, this individual is the only leatherback turtle ever recorded in Singapore territorial waters.

Phuket leatherback sea turtle eggs fail to hatch (Mirror)
One dead, dozens treated after consuming turtle meat in West Sumatra (Mirror)
Leatherback turtles return to Phuket (Mirror)
'Greater Phuket' Wins Back a Giant Leatherback (Mirror)
'Greater Phuket' Giant Shows How It's Done (Mirror)
Vast protected area proposed for leatherbacks of California West Coast
Christmas with the leatherbacks
For giant turtles, beach offers a precarious start to life (Mirror)
Scientists identify world's largest leatherback turtle population
Effort to Protect Rare Turtles in Indonesia Shows Need to Address Human Problems as Well (Mirror)
Great Turtle Race Mixes Competition, Conservation
Prehistoric Turtle Threatened by Modern Menace (Mirror)
Nine leatherback turtle found on Terengganu shores last year (Mirror)
Change of habits could help save leatherbacks (Mirror)
Gigantothermy: Size Matters
National Geographic Features
The Great Turtle Race
Reptile Database
IUCN Red List
IUCN Species of the Day
WWF
ARKive
Animal Diversity Web
National Geographic Animal Facts
SeaLifeBase
MarineBio.org
NOAA Fisheries
The Leatherback Trust
Oceanic Resource Foundation
Sea Turtle Conservation Travel


(Photo by ~Steph~)

Raffles Museum Treasures: Common Asian toad

Common Asian toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus)
Native to Singapore

Wildlife Singapore
NParks FaunaWeb
Ecology Asia
Amphibians & Reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia
Frogs of Borneo
AmphibiaWeb
Amphibian Species of the World
The Online Field Guide
IUCN Red List


(Photo by James)

Raffles Museum Treasures: Tokay gecko

Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko)
Native to Singapore: Critically Endangered

Wildlife Singapore: Where are our Tokay Geckos?
Ecology Asia
Reptile Database
GeckoWeb
Biodiversity in Belize
tokay-gecko.com
TokayGecko.org
The Online Field Guide
Animal Diversity Web


(Photo by seblidove)

Another fallen tree halts traffic crushing a taxi along with

Yet another vehicle falls prey to a fallen tree due to bad weather says STOMPer km memphis.

In an email, the STOMPer said:

"It seems like Singapore couldn't take more than a few hours of storm.

"This fallen tree at Tanglin Halt is more than 40 years old and has always been solid. But today, the storm caused the trees come falling down, crashing a taxi, and the opposite bus stop.

"Hence the road was closed for an hour just for the debris to be cleared."

Raffles Museum Treasures: Gaur

Gaur (Bos gaurus)
Bull from Jerantut, Pahang
Presented to the Musuem in 1927

Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group
Wild Cattle Conservation
Ultimate Ungulate
IUCN Red List
ARKive
Animal Diversity Web
CITES


(Photo by nadi0)