danscantle
New member
I'm currently on Hispaniola in Pedernales, La Republica Dominicana on a quest for the smallest gecko - S. ariasae (and 20+ other species). Overall, this trip has been an overwhelming success so far. However, Hispaniola keeps throwing one challenge after another at me. Currently, it's a matter of reaching the type locality (the only known locality on the mainland). There are no roads that get closer than 16 miles, and hiking would involve bushwhacking through xeric scrub (= several species of cacti and spiny, thorn ridden plants) on a razor-edged limestone substrate. Oh yeah, as soon as the sun rises the temperature soars and by 10:00am it's hot enough to scramble one's brain. Unfortunately, the seas are too rough for a boat and probably will not settle until the time I've scheduled for this portion of the country has expired.
What to do? My colleagues and I are spending the days prospecting for new localities. This involves climbing into sinkholes (which support the vegetation ariasae seems to require) and getting stung by wasps (I'm up to 6 stings over the last 2 days). This morning we attempted to survey some coastal localities near Cabo Rojo and were met with this protest blockade - no one was allowed through. The situation was ****ing unbelievably stupid and resulted in the loss of an hour and surveying habitat we were unprepared for.
Here's a shot of the road block.
Here are some shots of some of the proceeding highlights of the trip.
1) Me eating mondongo after promising the crew I would eat this classic dish if everyone caught at least 3 sphaeros that day; I aimed way, way, way too low and ate shit because of it. Reach for the stars, kids.
The rest, figure it out for yourselves!
3 gecko species left to find in this country...
What to do? My colleagues and I are spending the days prospecting for new localities. This involves climbing into sinkholes (which support the vegetation ariasae seems to require) and getting stung by wasps (I'm up to 6 stings over the last 2 days). This morning we attempted to survey some coastal localities near Cabo Rojo and were met with this protest blockade - no one was allowed through. The situation was ****ing unbelievably stupid and resulted in the loss of an hour and surveying habitat we were unprepared for.
Here's a shot of the road block.
Here are some shots of some of the proceeding highlights of the trip.
1) Me eating mondongo after promising the crew I would eat this classic dish if everyone caught at least 3 sphaeros that day; I aimed way, way, way too low and ate shit because of it. Reach for the stars, kids.
The rest, figure it out for yourselves!
3 gecko species left to find in this country...
