Please DON'T cut down this old tree at Eu Tong Sen St This venerable old tree along Eu Tong Sen street has borne witness to great changes in the area over the years. STOMPer Fire Phoenix hopes that the authorities will spare it for many more to come. Here's what the STOMPer had to say:"I passed by Eu Tong Sen Street and saw that workers were cutting the branches of this old tree at the corner of the former CID compound."The tree had grown to embrace the iron fence and workers were chipping the trees's branches and leaves from the fence."I hope they were just trimming the tree and not cutting it down." Monday Morgue: 27th July 2009 White sea urchin (Salmacis sp.)Changi, 16th November 2008Wild Fact Sheets Pangolin spotted on Hillcrest Road A STOMPer came across this pangolin taking a nap when he was cycling along Hillcrest Road.Peter told STOMP via email today (Jul 25):"Just wanted to send a picture of a pangolin at the end of Hillcrest Road as I was cycling."It was all curled up sleeping."Hillcrest Road is relatively close to the forests of the Central Catchment Area, so I'm not surprised to see a pangolin sighting in the area. Still, it is a nice sighting of the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica), although I am a little puzzled as to why it was sleeping out in the open in broad daylight. Yucks! Mystery creepy crawly invades my house STOMPer Dickson was disturbed to find this bizarre creature crawling around on the floor. He sent in a video hoping someone would know what it was. Here's what the STOMPer wrote in an email today (July 23): "What is this creature? "Is it some kind of new bug or something else? "Tell me please."Do check out the video posted on STOMP.It appears that this is a silverfish (F. Lepismatidae), but the video quality is simply too lousy to discern any identifying features that would help in narrowing down the species.It is possible that it is a common silverfish (Lepisma saccharina), a cosmopolitan species that can be found in homes all over the world.Common silverfish;(Photo by misterjingo)The silverfish gets its name partly due to its smooth silvery appearance, as well as the tiny scales that cover its body.Common silverfish;(Photo by johnhallmen)Silverfish like dark, cool and damp places, so it is not uncommon to encounter them hiding inside cupboards where dried foodstuffs or books are kept, or beneath sinks. They feed largely on substances containing starch, which includes all sorts of items, such as glue, book bindings, paper, cereals, sugar, and even hair and dandruff. This helps explain why silverfish are often seen hiding among old books or piles of old newspapers. Apparently they can survive for up to a year without food.These insects can become pests and cause serious damage to books and textiles, but do not pose any threat to human health. However, their feeding habits pose a challenge for those who wish to preserve and maintain old books, works of art and other items of cultural significance in good condition.I suppose the risk of damage to books because of silverfish infestation is a major reason why libraries in Singapore are so unbearably cold. The lowered temperature and humidity must make it more challenging for undesirable organisms (silverfish included) from establishing themselves and reproducing.Common silverfish;(Photo by keith tooley)Silverfish belong to the family Lepismatidae, which in turn are the largest family in a very primitive group of insects known as the Zygentoma. Zygentomans are among the most primitive living insects; only the bristletails (Microcoryphia) are thought to be more basal. These 2 groups were once classified with other tiny 6-legged arthropods such as the springtails (Collembola), proturans (Protura) and two-pronged bristletails (Diplura), and this group was known as Apterygota, as members of this group lacked wings at all stages of their lives. However, more recent research shows that such a grouping is artificial, and that while bristletails and silverfish are very primitive insects, the other 3 groups fall outside of the Insecta.The common silverfish is not the only species in its family that is adapted to living in our homes. A close relative of the common silverfish is known as the firebrat (Thermobia domestica), and it prefers much warmer places than the silverfish. Hence, this insect can be found living close to ovens, furnaces, fireplaces and water heaters.Firebrat;(Photo by Mundo Poco)While doing research for this post, I found out that the common silverfish and firebrat are not the only species that can be found living in homes.There is the four-lined silverfish (Ctenolepisma lineata).Four-lined silverfish;(Photo by Goshzilla - Dan)There is also a species known as the grey silverfish (Ctenolepisma longicaudata).Grey silverfish;(Photo by Bettaman)The grey silverfish bears a very close resemblance to the common silverfish, but grows to a larger size, reaching 19 millimetres in length compared to the common silverfish, which maxes out at about a centimetre or so. There are several other anatomical details that can be used to differentiate the various species. For example, common silverfish have broad and flattened femora (the first segment of the leg), whereas the grey silverfish is somewhat stout-bodied compared to the slender build of the common silverfish. Unfortunately, these details can be hard to spot in such tiny insects.Grey silverfish;(Photo by Bettaman)Because of this, I suspect that the insect in the video is a grey silverfish, since it does appear to be quite large compared to the silverfish I used to find in my cupboards. Still, given the quality of the video, it is difficult to make such a conclusion with any certainty. I don't even know if the grey silverfish is present in Singapore or not.Silverfish are not the only insects that a bibliophile should worry about; the Psocoptera has several wingless members that are commonly known as booklice. These tiny insects belong to the family Limnoscelidae, in the genus Limnoscelis. Like silverfish, they can be found in homes worldwide, where they nibble on the paste used in book bindings. They can also be found hiding beneath peeling wallpaper, or feeding on flour and other cereal products.One species of booklouse in particular, Liposcelis bostrychophila, has a worldwide distribution;(Photo by Alby Oakshott)A wide variety of arthropods have adapted to living in our homes, so much so that it can be impossible to find them living in a so-called 'natural' or 'wild' state. We are familiar with various species of cockroach, flies and ants, but we tend to overlook the multitude of other critters that find a ready source of food and shelter in our homes.For many of them, it just so happens that we have an abundance of the food they have specialised to munch on. Various species of beetles, moths and mites are significant pests, feeding on food products to clothes, carpets, and furniture. Some beetles are especially partial to museum specimens, and can ruin entire collections of insects or furs. These in turn attract a host of predators, such as spiders, centipedes and pseudoscorpions.Chelifer cancroides is a cosmopolitan species of pseudoscorpion that can be encountered in the home, where it feeds on mites and tiny insects;(Photo by Erling Ólafsson)Like it or not, our homes form an entire unique ecosystem, full of tiny creatures living in our midst. Given the worldwide distribution of many of these species, it would be interesting to study how they managed to colonise new areas, usually by hitching a ride as we move goods and cargo to and fro. The growth and development of transportation networks all over the world has certainly assisted in the spread of these little commensals. Banks of S'pore River covered in beautiful sakura-like petals These lovely flowers, which resemble the Japanese sakura, were spotted not in Japan but along the banks of our very own Singapore River.The flowers are actually not cherry blossoms but are called Tabebuia rosea, says STOMPer Arborist.Perhaps they can be considered Singapore's version of the beautiful cherry blossoms found in Japan.In an email dated July 22, STOMPer Arborist says:"These two pictures were taken at the Singapore River."The tall trees (Tabebuia rosea) usually bloom at this time of the year and when the flowers drop you can see a carpet of white and pink flowers on the ground."The flowers are bisexual, large and showy, purplish pink to white."The sepals are fused into a tubular structure about 2 cm long."These trees are very attractive from afar as they often catch your attention with a spectacular display of flowers after a dry spell."In Japan, the cherry blossom (sakura) is the unofficial national flower. It has been celebrated for many centuries and holds a very important position in Japanese culture."Similar stories:Cherry blossom-like trees along Geylang RiverCherry blossoms do happen in S'pore...at least something like itBeautiful pink flowers in Jurong resemble cherry blossomsBeautiful pink and white flowers at CCK cemetery- Is it sakura?Related posts: Cherry blossom-like trees along Geylang River (21st July 2009)Cherry blossoms do happen in S'pore...at least something like it (9th April 2009)Beautiful pink flowers in Jurong resemble cherry blossoms (16th March 2009)Beautiful pink and white flowers at CCK cemetery- Is it sakura? (27th February 2009) Cherry blossom-like trees along Geylang River These cherry blossom-like trees were spotted along Geylang River by STOMPer Lee Hock Seng who hopes that NParks would plant more of these trees so that Singaporeans can enjoy its beautiful blooms. In an email to STOMP today (July 21), the STOMPer wrote: "These cherry pink and blossom white trees are situated beside Geylang River, at Jalan Benaan Kapal. "NParks should consider planting more these type of trees beside rivers and parks, so Singaporeans can enjoy the sight. "This can even become a tourist attraction, like the cherry blossom season in Japan."Related posts: Cherry blossoms do happen in S'pore...at least something like it (9th April 2009)Beautiful pink flowers in Jurong resemble cherry blossoms (16th March 2009)Beautiful pink and white flowers at CCK cemetery- Is it sakura? (27th February 2009)I guess it was the spate of hot weather that we'd been having recently, which was followed by heavy rain. I do remember seeing quite a number of roadside trees in flower, and the various flowering bushes and other ornamental plants in the planters in front of my block were also in full bloom over the weekend. 'Gangs' responsible for graffiti at Pasir Ris mangrove site STOMPer MangroveMan is upset that there is so much graffiti at this Pasir Ris mangrove site, and suspects that gangs are responsible for the mess. In an email to STOMP yesterday (Jul 20), the STOMPer said: "I am a regular visitor to Pasir Ris mangrove. "The place is quite popular especially with couples and school children. "Sometimes, entire gangs congregate there, and I simply take a different path to avoid them, thus, I never really minded their presence there. "However, things changed on my visit today when I found that they had sprayed graffiti on the boardwalk, as well as on an informative signboard. "There was a gang present at the platform over the river, but I could not be sure it was them who did it. Neither was I foolhardy enough to confront any of them in the presence of the whole gang. "As a nature lover, I am disappointed that they have done such things. Such places are rare in urban Singapore, and Pasir Ris mangrove is already quite a polluted place, so defacing the signboards that once provided good information on the area is like destroying something treasured. "What's done is done, the relevant authorities would probably undo the damage in time to come, but I hope that the vandals would leave this place in peace."Well, this certainly pisses me off. I get very irritated by irresponsible and inconsiderate people who deliberately vandalise and deface the amenities in many of our nature areas. Whether it's littering, or the immature act of carving one's name into the boardwalk, I always end up wishing I could have caught the culprits in action so that I could give them a real piece of my mind.Such idiots probably ought to be tied up and left for the monitor lizards. Biotope garden: A source of cleansing rainwater A STOMPer is amazed with NPark's novel way to save water loss by building this biotope garden where rainwater can be cleansed for us to use safely.Water Engineer says:"These pictures were taken at the Alexandra Park Connector near to Dawson Road."NParks have built a biotope garden where aquatic plants are planted and some fish are kept in the water."Plants can be used to clean up the canal water."Rainwater which flows into the catchment area can be filtered and pumped to our households."The term 'biotope' means a small uniform environment occupied by a community of organisms."In this garden the cleansing biotope is an area planted with wetland species and aquatic plants."During a storm, rainwater runs off the roofs of buildings into the cleansing biotope."Canal water can also be pumped into the cleansing biotope."The water filters through the plant root systems where contaminants are removed and treated by bacterial activity on the root surface."The cleansed water is stored in an underground cistern and eventually piped underground to the reservoirs."Since Singapore has no mountains and big rivers, every drop of rainwater is important and the cleansing biotope is one way to increase our meagre water supply from natural sources." Pest control called in to handle the birds, says TC Tanjong Pagar Town Council said that it has called in pest control to handle the bird and pigeon population, following a STOMPer's contribution.According to STOMPer I hate birds, the pigeons and birds at Redhill Hawker Centre make the place unhygienic for people to eat there.In an email to STOMP today (July 20), a Town Council spokesman wrote: "We wish to thank STOMPer I hate birds for the feedback. "The Town Council has informed our pest control contractor to monitor this situation closely to ensure that the birds and pigeons population is kept under control."Earlier article:No happy meal at Redhill Hawker Centre with these dirty, pesky birds aroundRelated articles: Invasion of the birds (19th July 2009) (Mirror)Related posts: No happy meal at Redhill Hawker Centre with these dirty, pesky birds around (18th July 2009)Poisoned birds left to suffer all around Toa Payoh estate (17th July 2009)Killing of pigeons is last resort, public also has role to play, says East Coast Town Council (17th July 2009)Pigeons poisoned because people won't stop feeding them (14th July 2009)"No avian flu here but this bird can spread other diseases" (6th March 2009)Bird droppings everywhere because of too many pigeons (29th January 2009)Crazy pigeon is not afraid of people and steals food from their plates (23rd January 2009)Dead birds found near Taman Jurong market (4th January 2009) Monkey business in Toa Payoh At first, STOMPer Dylan thought a cat was walking towards him, but after seeing its long tail, he realised that it was a monkey.In an email to STOMP today (Jul 20), the STOMPer says:"From far, I thought it was a cat walking towards us. But it looked weird as its tail was extremely long! Then I realised that it was a monkey!"Finally I get to see the real thing which I heard has been roaming around in the Toa Payoh Lor 7-8 area for some time. Just nice I have my DSLR with me this time and managed to snap some shots before it ran away."Quite harmless I must say but you never know when they can attack when hungry."Thought of informing the police but what the heck, they would take ages to arrive and later have to give some description to them for something we won’t get to see in front of us again."Forget the trouble. If it must be caught, it must be red-handed. Hopefully someone else will be luckier."Related post: A surprising sight: Monkey forages for food at Toa Payoh (28th April 2009) Monday Morgue: 20th July 2009 Horseshoe crab (F. Limulidae)Chek Jawa, 20th September 2008Note to self: I need to inspect all horseshoe crab carcasses and moults more carefully in future. I've been automatically assuming that any horseshoe crabs (or remains of horseshoe crabs) encountered outside of a mangrove setting are coastal horseshoe crab (Tachypleus gigas), when there is a high chance that they could have been mangrove horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda).Wild Fact SheetsOnline Guide to Chek JawaA Guide to Seashore LifeA Guide to the Mangroves of Singapore No happy meal at Redhill Hawker Centre with these dirty, pesky birds around STOMPer I hate birds was upset to see the birds and pigeons at Redhill Hawker Centre, saying that they were making the place unhygienic for people eating there.Said the STOMPer:"This is another case at Blk 85, Redhill Hawker center."There are so many birds and pigeons."These birds are everywhere and they will infiltrate the dining area which I thought are extremely unhygienic."Similar stories:Pigeons poisoned because people won't stop feeding themKilling of pigeons is last resort, public also has role to play, says East Coast Town CouncilHow unhygienic! Pigeons feast on leftover food at Bendemeer MarketRelated posts: Poisoned birds left to suffer all around Toa Payoh estate (17th July 2009)Killing of pigeons is last resort, public also has role to play, says East Coast Town Council (17th July 2009)Pigeons poisoned because people won't stop feeding them (14th July 2009)"No avian flu here but this bird can spread other diseases" (6th March 2009)Bird droppings everywhere because of too many pigeons (29th January 2009)Crazy pigeon is not afraid of people and steals food from their plates (23rd January 2009)Dead birds found near Taman Jurong market (4th January 2009) Poisoned birds left to suffer all around Toa Payoh estate A STOMPer wonders what happened to these birds, which were spotted fighting for their lives at Toa Payoh Lorong 4.In an MMS to STOMP, the sender suggests that they could be victims of poisoning.The STOMPer says:"These pictures were taken at Blk 62 Toa Payoh Lorong 4."Three birds were found poisoned and dead."The third was in a drain suffering!"Related posts: Killing of pigeons is last resort, public also has role to play, says East Coast Town Council (17th July 2009)Pigeons poisoned because people won't stop feeding them (14th July 2009)Dead bird spotted in Ang Mo Kio. How did it die? (24th February)Dead birds found near Taman Jurong market (4th January 2009)Is this an example of collateral damage? As far as I know, there is no deliberate culling of common myna (Acridotheres tristis) or Javan myna (Acridotheres javanicus). Did these mynas consume poison that was intended for feral pigeons (Columba livia)? Killing of pigeons is last resort, public also has role to play, says East Coast Town Council Pigeon culling is used as a last resort to prevent spread of diseases, says East Coast Town Council. A new standard of procedure has also been implemented so that pigeon carcasses will now be cleared after each culling exercise. In response to a STOMPer's concerns over pigeon poisoning exercises at Upper Changi Road, the council also says that the measure is used because residents have not refrained from feeding the pigeons despite being told not to do so.East Coast Town Council says in an email:"With reference to the post 'Pigeons poisoned because people won't stop feeding them', we appreciate STOMPer David's feedback."The culling of the pigeons is always our last resort to curb the population of the pigeons."We have instructed our staff and pest control contractor to be more vigilant the next time they carry out such an exercise."They will stay on site to remove all dead pigeons and remaining breadcrumbs immediately, after the treatment."We have been receiving complaints on the nuisance created by pigeons in the neighborhood for the past few months."Although we have advised and educated our residents not to feed pigeons, the pigeon population has increased drastically."Some residents even try to feed the pigeons by throwing down food from their kitchen window which makes it more difficult for us to identify the culprits."Pigeon droppings are known to transmit Cryptococcosis and other diseases. Humans with weaker immune system are susceptible to such infections."We will continue to educate our residents and work closely with the National Environment Agency (NEA) to take enforcement action against the culprits, who fail to heed our advice."Once again, we thank the residents for their understanding and we will continue working together for a safe and healthy environment for our Town."Related story:Pigeons poisoned because people won't stop feeding themRelated posts: Pigeons poisoned because people won't stop feeding them (14th July 2009)Geylang RC member feeding birds result in unhygienic bird poo all over the place (7th June 2009)Old woman feeds pigeons and crows illegally in park, chases student away (24th May 2009)How unhygienic! Pigeons feast on leftover food at Bendemeer Market (12th April 2009)Dead bird spotted in Ang Mo Kio. How did it die? (24th February)Bird droppings everywhere because of too many pigeons (29th January 2009)Crazy pigeon is not afraid of people and steals food from their plates (23rd January 2009)Uncle feeds pigeons despite 'No Feeding' sign at Bencoolen Street (22nd January 2009)Neighbour always leaves food for birds! (21st January 2009)Dead birds found near Taman Jurong market (4th January 2009) Somebody do something to save our coastline! STOMPer Sailorman says that our beach at West Coast Park is in danger as the breakwater is badly damaged and coastline is so badly eroded.In an email to STOMP today (Jul 16), the STOMPer says:"These pictures were taken at the beach between a canal and the pier at West Coast Park. The pier is a short distance from the McDonald's outlet. Many boats are moored at the mouth of the Sungei Pandan."The breakwater is badly damaged and the broken pieces have sharp edges. These are hazardous to swimmers and fishermen."The coconut tree is now slanting at a dangerous angle. If the base is further eroded the whole tree will topple over."One tree has fallen and only the base with the roots and turf are left."The coastline is so badly eroded as both soil and grass have been carried away by the pounding waves."The shoreline is now near the edge of the jogging track and if nothing is done, the sea will gradually eat up our land and vegetation."I hope NParks will look into this problem."Related posts: Stones dislodged from damaged breakwaters are a danger to swimmers (15th July 2009)The glory and the sad end of a giant tree (20th June 2009)Serious soil erosion at Pasir Ris Park (14th June 2009)More trees will be destroyed by waves hitting shoreline (5th June 2009)Waves seriously eroding our northern shoreline at Kranji Reservoir (31st May 2009) Stones dislodged from damaged breakwaters are a danger to swimmers A STOMPer hopes that the damaged breakwaters in Sembawang's beach will be repaired soon as swimmers have a high risk of getting injured by the dislodged stones.He also hopes that after repairing them, coastal erosion will be reduced too. Save our coastline before it's too late, says the STOMPer.Marine engineer told STOMP via email today (Jul 15):"These pictures were taken at the beach at the end of Sembawang Road near the former Wak Hassan kampung."The breakwater was built some years back to protect the shoreline but now holes have appeared owing to the daily pounding of the waves from the Johor Straits."Parts of the breakwater had been damaged and the stones were dislodged and strewn all over the beach."Some are now covered with barnacles and these are hazardous to swimmers."The ground above the tide level has green grass but because of soil erosion the grass and soil have disappeared. The sandy beach is now nearer to the shore line."Some mangrove trees have exposed roots and in time to come they will fall and perish in a watery grave."I hope the breakwater can be repaired and something can be done to save our mangrove trees and the soil before the waves make more inroads into our coastline."Since NParks has been maintaining the Sembawang Park nearby, why not build some boardwalks here so that the public can have a place to relax during the weekends."Related posts: The glory and the sad end of a giant tree (20th June 2009)Serious soil erosion at Pasir Ris Park (14th June 2009)More trees will be destroyed by waves hitting shoreline (5th June 2009)Waves seriously eroding our northern shoreline at Kranji Reservoir (31st May 2009) Stop littering and polluting our beaches! STOMPer Beachcomber was put off by the unsightly rubbish left behind at a beach in Sembawang and hopes that the relevant authorities will do something about the pollution.He told STOMP via email today (Jul 15):"These pictures were taken at the beach beside Jalan Selimang."On the field carpeted with grass I saw this pile of discarded plastic bottles, bags and food wrappers."Somebody must have been burning here as you can see burnt ashes in an otherwise beautiful field covered with green grass."There is a stream of water which flows into the sea."When I visited the beach last week I found that the water was tainted with oil and when the sun was shining, the water appeared as a stream of rainbow-coloured water."I hope NEA will stop all these pollution and make our beach a better place for weekend visitors." Similar stories: NO thanks to pollution, Sembawang beach is now unsuitable for swimmingMarine life destroyed by massive pollution at Kranji ReservoirFilthy beaches in our 'garden city'Related posts: Litter and pollution at East Coast ruins leisurely swim (9th July 2009)Clean up Lim Chu Kang beach before it turns into marine graveyard" (28th June 2009)Disgusting littering at West Coast Park shows failure of our education system (7th June 2009)What's left after Friday night fun at East Coast (6th June 2009)Pollution makes Sembawang beach unsuitable for swimming (26th April 2009)Look at this filthy Admiralty Road beach! (4th Match 2009) Psst! Not just FREE durians here, there are FREE rambutans too One STOMPer had previously told us about the free durians at the wooded area around Bukit Batok. Now, another STOMPer, Durian Addict, has found a spot where one can get free durians and rambutans.He said:"These pictures were taken at a forest at Jalan Mempurong in Sembawang."These forests abound with rambutans and durians."During lunch time as I drove past this road I saw many workers busily picking free rambutans."They used bamboo sticks, stones and even iron rods to induce the rambutans to drop."One of them offered me some yellow rambutans which tasted very sweet."I was told that on Sundays legions of foreign workers usually came to pick durians and rambutans and enjoyed themselves by going to the nearby beach to swim."Related posts: Free fruits in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (7th July 2009)All night vigil for free durians at Jln Kampong Chantek (6th July 2009)Durian paradise uncovered in Lim Chu Kang (6th July 2009)Psst! Here's the secret of where to get durians in S'pore -- FREE (3rd July 2009)Wild buah langsat at Jalan Murai a treat for foreign workers (28th June 2009) Selimang beach: New place to go for flower crabs STOMPer Swimmer caught sight of these flower crabs washed ashore the Jalan Selimang beach and shares this with STOMPers. He says:"These pictures were taken at the beach between Jalan Selimang and the Straits of Johor."The beach is sandy and during high tide this place is ideal for swimming and fishing."On Sundays the place is crowded with picnickers and foreign workers."This angler was enjoying himself by fishing near the sea."At low tide I could see lots of flower crabs (Portunus pelagicus) being washed ashore."These are aquatic crabs and cannot live long outside water. They are caught with traps and nets."Flower crabs are carnivores, coming in with the tide to hunt fish and other animals living in the sand."The blood cockle (Anadara granosa) is a bivalve found at the area where the river discharges into the sea."The red pigment in the cockle is haemoglobin, similar to that in human blood. The haemoglobin in the cockle assists in transporting oxygen within the body and may help the clams live in the oxygen-poor habitats."It is usually added raw to our favourite 'char kuay teow'."The common name for this bivalve is 'see hum'."The shell surface is ribbed with small, rounded beads on the ribs."Flower crabs (Portunus pelagicus) are very commonly encountered on most of Singapore's shores, especially in sandy or muddy areas, or with seagrasses and seaweeds.Recent research has revealed that what was traditionally thought to be a single species called the flower crab is actually a species complex with 4 separate species. Besides Portunus pelagicus, the other 3 species are P. armatus, P. reticulatus and P. segnis. Hopefully, more details will be published soon. A similar situation has occurred for the mud crabs (Scylla spp.), which were previously all considered to belong to a single species.Both the flower crabs and mud crabs belong to the family known as the swimming crabs (F. Portunidae). This family is very distinctive, as the last pair of legs is modified into paddles, enabling the crab to swim at great speed when threatened.Swimming crabs can be quite aggressive, and will often turn to face a potential threat with pincers outstretched, ready to give a painful nip if necessary. On more than one occasion, I've learned that my gloves are quite useless against swimming crab pincers.These crabs are active predators, and will feed on a wide range of prey. The mud crabs seem to be fond of molluscs such as snails and bivalves; the shells are no match against the crushing force exerted by the pincers. Other species are capable of catching fish.Chocolate swimming crab (Thalamita spinimana) with halfbeak (F. Hemiramphidae) prey, Pulau Hantu;(Photo by Ria)Many species of swimming crab have been recorded to occur in Singapore, and the following are some of the species which have been encountered on our shore trips.Flower crab (Portunus pelagicus), Cyrene Reef;(Photo by Marcus)The most widespread and common species is probably the flower crab.Purple mud crab (Scylla tranquebarica), Pulau Semakau;(Photo by Marcus)The mud crabs are rarely if ever encountered on our shore trips. However, it is likely that every Singaporean has seen mud crabs before, given how much we love chilli crab and black pepper crab.Chilli crab;(Photo by Silver Surfer2005)There was a great deal of taxonomic confusion in the past, and a single species was recognised, the giant mud crab (Scylla serrata). However, further research has shown genetic and anatomical differences, indicating that there are actually 4 distinct species, and that little if any hybridisation occurs between the species.The purple mud crab is often found in mangroves with reduced salinity, which is also the preferred habitat of the orange mud crab (Scylla olivacea). Another species, the green mud crab (Scylla paramamosain), is associated with coral rubble and sandier areas in Singapore. So far, the only species that has been encountered on our shore trips is the purple mud crab, in places such as Pasir Ris, Pulau Semakau and Chek Jawa. I once spotted an orange mud crab in the mangroves of Pasir Ris, and for several months last year, another orange mud crab used to lurk in a burrow close to the boardwalk at Chek Jawa. So far, I don't think any of us has spotted the green mud crab in the wild yet.Giant mud crab? (Scylla serrata), Changi;(Photo by Ria)This photo is quite intriguing however, as based on the coloration, the closest match I can think of is the giant mud crab. If this is indeed a giant mud crab, it would be a notable discovery, as I believe that no conclusive records of this species exist for our waters. Even if giant mud crabs have been recorded in Singapore, it is possible that these were of captive origin; some Buddhist devotees are known to purchase mud crabs for release into the wild, in a misguided attempt to gain karma. Compared to its relatives, the giant mud crab prefers mangroves with a stronger marine influence, which are regularly inundated by full-strength seawater. This is the largest species of mud crab, and is commonly known as the 'Sri Lanka crab'.Other species of swimming crab found in Singapore are not as heavily exploited for seafood as the flower crab and mud crabs.Three-spot swimming crab (Portunus sanguinolentus), Thailand;(Photo by Crab Hunter)The three-spot swimming crab is a major seafood species elsewhere, although I've yet to see it for sale in Singapore. This is a species that we haven't encountered on our shore trips. There is however a preserved specimen in the public gallery of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research.Sentinel swimming crab (Podophthalmus vigil), Thailand;(Photo by Crab Hunter)Similarly, none of us have encountered the sentinel swimming crab on our shores, but there's a specimen in the RMBR public gallery, and it's also been featured in books on our marine life, such as Rhythm of the Sea: The Life and Times of Labrador Beach and Private Lives: an exposé of Singapore's shores.Among the more common swimming crabs are various species belonging to the genus Thalamita. These seem to prefer rocky areas, reefs and coral rubble.Notched swimming crab? (Thalamita crenata), Tanah Merah;Blue swimming crab (Thalamita ?danae), Kusu Island;(Photo by Ria)Blue-spined swimming crab (Thalamita ?prymna), Sentosa;(Photo by Ria)Red swimming crab (Thalamita spinimana), Sisters' Islands;(Photo by Ria)Chocolate swimming crab, Pulau Sekudu;(Photo by Ria)The so-called chocolate swimming crab is possibly the same species as the red swimming crab.The taxonomy of our Thalamita crabs is a little unclear; Nonn Panitvong aka Crab Hunter has offered his expert opinion as to the identity of our swimming crabs. For now, these are still tentative, and I hope that we'll receive further confirmation in the near future.Another important genus is Charybdis, which are seen less often on our shores compared to Portunus and Thalamita.Purple-legged swimming crab (Charybdis hellerii), Chek Jawa;(Photo by Ria)Banded-leg swimming crab (Charybdis annulata), Labrador;(Photo by Ria)Crucifix crab (Charybdis feriata), Thailand;(Photo by Crab Hunter)The crucifix crab is another species that is heavily utilised for seafood in the region. It was spotted once at Chek Jawa in 2005.I find it interesting that some of the genus names given to the swimming crabs are based on ancient Greek or Roman mythology. In Greek mythology, Scylla and Charybdis are infamous sea monsters, while Portunus is a Roman god.Gazami crab (Portunus trituberculatus);(Picture from Wikipedia)A close relative of the flower crab, the gazami crab is the most widely fished species of crab in the world, and is especially important in Japanese cuisine. Given its wide distribution in the Indo-Pacific, it is likely that this species exists in Singapore's waters. I won't be surprised if we have actually encountered gazami crabs before, but assumed that they were just flower crabs.Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), Louisiana;(Photo by jere7my)North Americans will be very familiar with the blue crab, a native of the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.Like the flower crabs and mud crabs, the blood cockle (Anadara granosa) is a very important seafood species in the region. Although much reduced in number, large populations of this bivalve can be found in some of the silty and slightly muddy shores along the northern parts of Singapore.Blood cockle (also known locally as "see ham"), Vietnam;(Photo by stefan77dd)The blood cockle's body is reddish as it contains haemoglobin, the very same iron-based compound that makes our blood red. The haemoglobin assists in transportation of oxygen in the body, and apparently help the cockle survive in anoxic environments.The blood cockle supports the largest molluscan fishery in Malaysia, with an annual catch of more than 75,000 metric tonnes. Here in Singapore, it is most commonly seen as an ingredient in char kuay teow and laksa, or boiled and eaten on its own with a dash of chilli sauce.Boiled blood cockles, Lau Pa Sat;(Photo by ex0rzist) Left: Anadara nodifera, Straits of Malacca;Right: Anadara antiquata, Bintan;(Photos from seashellhub)There are actually several species of blood cockle known from Singapore. There is a larger species known as Anadara nodifera that is sometimes sold alongside A. granosa; this species appears to prefer sandier habitats than A. granosa. A. antiquata is suspected to occur locally, as empty shells belonging to this species have been found washed up on some of our shores.Anadara inaequivalvis, Thailand;(Photo from seashellhub)Another species, A. inaequivalvis, is sufficiently different that it is given the subgenus Scapharca, which in turn is sometimes considered to be an entirely separate genus from Anadara. Several related species from the seas around Japan are known as akagai (赤貝), and feature prominently in sushi and sashimi.The blood cockles belong to the family known as ark shells (F. Arcidae). As confusing as it sounds, blood cockles are only distantly related to the true cockles, which form a separate family (F. Cardiidae).Among the true cockle species that can be found in Singapore include several species of large cockle (Trachycardium spp.). Despite looking similar to the blood cockles in external appearance, these large cockles lack haemoglobin in their tissues. In Japan, they are known as torigai (鳥貝). Left: Trachycardium asiaticum, Singapore;Right: Trachycardium flavum, Bintan;(Photos from seashellhub)Another species of cockle that we find occasionally on our shores is the heart cockle (Corculum cardissa).Heart cockle, Pulau Semakau;(Photo by Ria)Hopefully, the population of flower crabs and blood cockles along this stretch of shore is large and stable enough to support some level of collection; it would certainly be tragic to have yet another area decimated by thoughtless people who fail to understand the concept of sustainable seafood. Pigeons poisoned because people won't stop feeding them STOMPer David was appalled to find that pigeon poisoning exercises had been commissioned near his home in Upper Changi Road recently simply because educational efforts to prevent feeding have failed.Such knew-jerk solutions do not solve the problem but create more problems such as accidental poisoning of pets and other animals.The sight of dead pigeons is also unpleasant and scary for young children in the neighbourhood.In an email, STOMPer David says:"This morning (July 13) at 12.35pm, I came across three dead pigeons and a dying pigeon at the back of Blk 28 New Upper Changi Road."This property officer later confirmed that the pest controller was told to carry out the poisoning as education of the residents to refrain from feeding the pigeons have failed."However, I feel that poisoning the pigeons is ineffective as these recalcitrant residents will continue to throw food down."These real human culprits must be the ones caught and fined."The knee-jerk solution of poisoning the pigeons is a waste of resources and also poses danger to pet dogs which may just eat the bread crumps baited with poison."A few kids who saw dead pigeons and the dying pigeon were horrified!"The property officer must have the courage and patience to explain to complainants, including the RC members, that the most effective solution is still education and catching the human culprits."Related posts: Geylang RC member feeding birds result in unhygienic bird poo all over the place (7th June 2009)Old woman feeds pigeons and crows illegally in park, chases student away (24th May 2009)How unhygienic! Pigeons feast on leftover food at Bendemeer Market (12th April 2009)Dead bird spotted in Ang Mo Kio. How did it die? (24th February)Bird droppings everywhere because of too many pigeons (29th January 2009)Crazy pigeon is not afraid of people and steals food from their plates (23rd January 2009)Uncle feeds pigeons despite 'No Feeding' sign at Bencoolen Street (22nd January 2009)Neighbour always leaves food for birds! (21st January 2009)Dead birds found near Taman Jurong market (4th January 2009)Do check out the video posted on STOMP.This person does raise a very good point. This problem isn't exactly caused by the birds, which are merely responding to the fact that well-meaning people are offering them food. We can poison as many pigeons as we want, maybe even go to the extent of killing every pigeon in the neighbourhood, but it's only a short-term solution. As long as feral pigeons (Columba livia) exist somewhere in the vicinity, they're just going to keep flying in to replace those removed by poisoning. Ultimately, it is the people's behaviour which needs to be managed and controlled if this so-called pigeon 'problem' is to be resolved. What a shame: Jurong forest treated as dumping ground STOMPer Robin Hood feels disappointed that this forested area in Jurong is so ill-maintained and polluted. He says:"These pictures were taken at the forested area near Jurong Road, opposite Jurong Canal Drive."Some lorries come in the night to unload their garbage along this godforsaken road."You can see old ropes, cupboards, pails and even durian husks."Some lorries unload their building debris, concrete pillars, wooden boards and plastic bags."Even an old tyre was left behind and this has collected water and soon the mosquitoes will breed in abundance."There are no kerbs and many lorries and buses usually park on the side of the road resulting in the destruction of the turf."You can see deep tyre marks and on rainy days the tracks usually collect stagnant water."This is also a source of mosquito breeding."I hope NEA officials and the traffic police will visit this area more often to nab the culprits who have chosen to pollute the environment and cause damage to our roads." Ex-squatter settlement now a forest with rare cacao trees This forest, located in Jurong, used to be a bustling area occupied by squatters. Today, it has become a nature trek, says STOMPer Nature Lover, who spotted a cacoa tree there.The cacao tree bears cacao beans that are used to make chocolate.In an email, STOMPer Nature Lover says:"These pictures were taken at the forest near Track 22, Jurong Road."This area was once inhabited by squatters who are now settled in the HDB estates at Jurong East and Jurong West."As I was walking through the forest I saw this old clock on a tree trunk and this was probably left behind by the previous squatters."I also saw a yellow-brown insect that lives in the secondary forest."There was also a cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) which grows to a height of 8 metres. Its seeds are used to make cocoa and chocolate."Cacao flowers are pollinated by tiny flies. The fruit is ovoid, ripening to yellow and weighs about 500 g."The pod contains many seeds, usually called beans, embedded in a white pulp. Each seed contains fat and theobromine, a compound similar to caffeine." Monday Morgue: 13th July 2009 Olive snail (F. Olividae)Tanah Merah, 8th February 2009Wild Fact Sheets What a strange-looking tree! A STOMPer noticed this tree with branches lying at a strange angle and would like to share with the rest why that is so.STOMPer Arborist says:"These pictures were taken at the East Coast Park."This tree called the Sea Hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus) has branches that are very long and the stem gets tired after some time."So the stem has to take a rest and then re-grow at an angle, and so you see only an angled branch of a tree."The tree bears flowers with yellow petals which in the afternoon fade to a dull orange colour with a maroon eye."The capsules are spherical topped by the persistent sepals."This tree is found in beaches and mangrove swamps."Similar stories: Check out this Leaning Tree of SingaporeBranch hanging on for dear life"The stem gets tired after some time"? Seriously?!I'm no self-proclaimed arborist, but I strongly doubt the accuracy of his statements.Besides, he fails to account for all the other normal-looking sea hibiscus (Talipariti tiliaceum) that can be seen growing in coastal areas all over Singapore.I think it's far more likely that in this case, the original trunk had been broken off before, close to the ground, and that the 2 branches subsequently sprouted from the stump that remained. It might not be correct, but I think it's far more reasonable and plausible than some incredibly ridiculous nonsense about the trunk needing to rest after getting tired from having to support such long branches. Pythons in my neighbourhood Reticulated python (Broghammerus reticulatus), Singapore Zoo;(Photo by dbillian)Although I've yet to find a wild reticulated python (Broghammerus reticulatus), I'm aware that they are relatively common, and are often encountered even in urban areas of Singapore. Still, I was greatly surprised to find a news article that revealed the presence of at least one large python in my neighbourhood.$550 to catch snake? I'd do it myselfHDB flat owner grabs snake's head; puts it in pillowcase, then into empty fish tankJuly 09, 2009SHE was doing her ironing in the living room of her HDB flat when she heard a loud thud.Thinking that something had fallen, Mrs Allysia Tan checked the flat, but did not find anything amiss.Five minutes later, she heard another, softer, thud.This time, when she went into the master bedroom, she was horrified to see a snake about 3m long, slithering on the floor.Frightened by the snake, which she described as grey with green spots and huge fangs, she ran out of the room.The incident happened at about 12.20pm on Monday when Mrs Tan and her daughter, Chrissia, 6, were in their four-room flat at Block 409, Tampines Street 41.Their unit is on the 12th storey, the highest in the block.Mrs Tan, 40, said she called the police and was told by an officer that he would call her back.She said that when she called the Tampines Town Council, she was told that it could not help as the snake was not in a public area.Mrs Tan then called her housing agent husband, Mr Christopher Tan, 52, and SMSed her eldest daughter, Miss Charmaine Tan, 24.Mr Tan told The New Paper: 'I thought my wife was exaggerating about the size of the snake. I didn't expect that such a huge snake can be found in a HDB flat.'Mrs Tan figured that the snake probably made its way into the house through the master bedroom window.'The first sound I heard could be from it falling onto the aircon compressor, and the second sound from it falling on the room's floor,' she said.She said the police officer called her back at about 12.45pm and gave her the number of a pest control company, PestBusters.By this time, Mr Tan had rushed home from his office in Toa Payoh.When Mrs Tan called PestBusters, she said she was quoted $120 for the snake to be removed. She agreed to the price.Mr Tan found the snake in the wardrobe of the master bedroom.'I moved a plastic box inside and saw the snake,' he said.'I jumped back in shock. It was coiled up around the metal poles of the shelves.'Pest controllersWhile waiting for the pest controllers, Mr Tan tried to catch the snake using a bamboo pole with the help of The New Paper photojournalist Kelvin Chng, who arrived at the scene at 1.45pm.But the snake tried to attack them, and they gave up.At 2.30pm, Miss Tan, a part-time sales assistant, arrived home after work.She said that based on her knowledge of reptiles, the snake looked like a reticulated python. Native to South-east Asia, it's the world's longest snake and can grow up to 9m.Miss Tan showed us a book on reptiles and also called her younger brother, Mark, a 20-year-old NSF, who was in camp.Based on her description, he agreed that it was most probably a reticulated python.He told Miss Tan that they should use gloves to grab the snake and put it into a pillow case.At 2.45pm, two pest controllers arrived.After seeing the snake, they told the Tans they would have to charge them $550 as the snake was longer than they expected. (See report above, right).Mr Tan said: '$550? I might as well do it myself.'Then, he grabbed the snake's head, while Miss Tan caught hold of the tail.They put the snake inside a pillow case, tied and put the case into a empty fish tank, which they covered with a metal sheet, with bricks on top.Miss Tan's boyfriend then carried the tank and placed it outside their flat.Miss Tan said she contacted wildlife charity Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) on Monday night to pick up the snake.When The New Paper checked with her last night, she said the snake was still outside their unit.The Tans threw out the shelves in their wardrobe as the snake had urinated on them.Miss Tan joked: 'Maybe the snake was scared too.'Audrey Tan Ruiping, newsroom internA python of this size is certainly capable of posing some threat to human life. I'm pleased to see that the family didn't panic and try to kill the snake, and that the python was eventually caught unharmed.I've handled some of the smaller, more harmless snakes with my bare hands before; these included Brahminy blind snakes (Ramphotyphlops braminus), a house wolf snake (Lycodon capucinus, and a yellow-lipped water snake (Gerarda prevostiana). I've gotten close to an Oriental whip snake (Ahaetulla prasina) and a paradise tree snake (Chrysopelea paradisi), and have also posed for pictures with captive reticulated pythons draped over my shoulders. Still, I would probably hesitate before attempting to wrestle with a python of this size, and would stand back while waiting for professional assistance.Erie Zoo;(Photo by Butterfly923)A reticulated python has a mouth full of long sharp teeth, which are useful for getting a firm grip on prey covered in fur or feathers. These teeth can certainly do a lot of damage should the python strike at a person in self-defense, leaving deep lacerations.Pythons are thought to be non-venomous, so a python bite, while messy and bloody, shouldn't be life-threatening. However, the open wounds may become infected, so it is important to ensure that they are promptly cleaned and disinfected.And it's not just the head that any potential snake wrangler needs to look out for; a frightened snake will sometimes evacuate its bowels and leave a disgusting mess. Naturally, the larger the snake, the bigger the mess. I presume this is what happened with the shelves in the wardrobe, since snakes don't really urinate the way mammals do.Even if a single person is able to overpower a python and grab the head and tail, the python may still throw its coils around the perceived threat, which can quickly escalate into a dangerous situation if the snake should start tightening its grip. This is one reason why it is foolhardy and risky to attempt to handle large constrictors alone, even if it's a captive that seems tame and docile. One can never underestimate the power and strength of these snakes.It is nice to know that this story has a happy ending for all.Captured python released in forestTampines family declines AVA offer to take snake to zooJuly 10, 2009THE 3m-long python which terrified a family in their Tampines flat is now back in the wild where it belongs.After being caught on Monday, the reptile spent the night in an enclosed empty fish tank in the corridor outside the flat.Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) officers yesterday offered to take the snake to the zoo.But Miss Charmaine Tan, 24, a part-time sales assistant, and her brother chose to release it into the wild instead.At about 3pm, her boyfriend dropped by to pick up the tank and drove to a forested area in Mandai to release the snake.Said Miss Tan: 'My brother and I feel responsible for the python, and since it's a wild animal, we thought that it shouldn't be held captive.'The New Paper reported yesterday that the python had made its way into the Tans' 12th-floor flat in Tampines.The family called a pest control company, but they ended up catching the python themselves after they couldn't agree on a price.Miss Tan and her father, Christopher, 52, a housing agent, then put it into a pillowcase and secured it by tying a knot.They placed the pillowcase into a 50cm-long fish tank that Miss Tan's boyfriend had brought.Very strongThe family placed a metal sheet on top of the tank and weighed it down with bricks so the snake, which Mr Tan described as strong, could not escape.Mr Tan covered the glass portion of the tank so that their neighbours would not be alarmed.'We knew that the snake couldn't escape since it was tied up inside the pillow case and was in the glass tank,' said Miss Tan.When her brother, full-time national serviceman Mark Tan, 20, returned home at about 7pm on Monday night, he called the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) to pick up the snake.But he was told that Acres could not keep the snake.'Instead, they told us to release it into a heavily forested area,' said Miss Tan.She said that she knew of only two forests - in Mandai and MacRitchie. Since the Mandai forest is more isolated, Miss Tan and her brother decided to release the snake there.An AVA spokesman said that it was not illegal to release the snake into the jungle.Audrey Tan Ruiping, newsroom internIt does make me wonder how a python of such size could have ended up on the 12th storey of an apartment block. There are plenty of records of large pythons in residential areas, but it is intriguing to read about one being found on the upper levels. While we cannot discount the possibility of it being someone's escaped pet, I am willing to believe that this was a wild python.Block 409 is just next to Sunplaza Park, which isn't exactly a biodiversity hotspot, but which probably does support a healthy population of urban wildlife. There are also large areas of forested land nearby, just across Sungei Tampines. So it's possible that the python had wandered into the housing estate from these areas, or that it had been living in the canal all along, moving around via the drains and sewers.Singapore Zoo;(Photo by apocalypse22001)Did the python come crawling up the sewers, emerging from the toilet bowl in the Tans' flat? An escaped reticulated python showed up in a New York toilet earlier this year. Here in Singapore, there is an earlier case of a python that was found in a Depot Road apartment, only to escape via the toilet, where it was found and caught 2 days later. I recall an article from the early 90s about a poor chap who was sitting on the toilet bowl, only to get bitten in a most sensitive spot by a python.Very interesting encounter, and at least it's one that doesn't end with the snake getting hacked into pieces or having its head bashed in. Hopefully one day, I'll get to find a python in my neighbourhood.For more posts on pythons, check out the following posts:Beware of pythons in S'pore: Just look at this snake swallowing a kangaroo (12th May 2009)Snake on the loose slithers down Woodlands street (29th April 2009)Snake found in Yuan Ching Sec (7th February 2009)10 ft python found at Pasir Ris HDB void deck (15th January 2009) TC: Overgrown hedges at Hougang that attract insects have been trimmed Aljunied Town Council says they have sent horticulturists to trim the overgrown hedges at Hougang.In an earlier post dated July 4, STOMPer Mouse wrote in saying that the overgrown hedges at Hougang Ave 6 besides the Punggol Community Centre attract bees and hornets, and is dangerous to pedestrians.In an email to STOMP today (Jul 9), a spokesperson from Aljunied Town Council says:"We refer to the story 'Overgrown hedges at Hougang attract hornets and bees' posted on STOMP dated July 4 2009."We'd like to thank STOMPer for the feedback on the overgrown hedges beside Punggol Community Club."We are pleased to inform that the Aljunied Town Council's horticulturists have since trimmed the hedges and completed all landscaping works. "Picture above shows the trimmed hedges."Residents may also contact the Town Council at 6744 1033 if they have any other feedback or suggestions." Related article: Overgrown hedges at Hougang attract hornets and beesBefore hedges were trimmedRelated post: Overgrown hedges at Hougang attract hornets and bees (5th July 2009) Litter and pollution at East Coast ruins leisurely swim While at East Coast Park for a relaxing swim, STOMPer Swimmer was appalled by the dirt and pollution op the beach and in the air. Not only was the shore covered in litter left behind by visitors, the air was also polluted by nearby ships. In an email, STOMPer Swimmer says: "These pictures were taken at East Coast Park last week. "When I visited the beach, I was shocked to see the filth left behind at low tide. "The beach was strewn with bottles, plastic bags, cigarette boxes and also flotsam and jetsam washed ashore by the tide. "I was also able to see the black smoke being emitted for hours from the funnels of the ships anchored not far from the shore. "This caused serious air pollution and might affect the health of those residents in the HDB estates as they are exposed to such polluted air throughout the day. "I hope NParks can keep this beach clean for swimmers and picnickers and NEA can punish those ships which foul up our clean air and dirty our shores." Music not only entertains but helps attract fish to line too A STOMPer visited Bedok Jetty last week and learnt from an angler that music attracts fish to the bait.Fisherman told STOMP today (Jul 9):"These pictures were taken at the Bedok Jetty near the East Coast Park."Everyday hordes of anglers make their way to this jetty to enjoy the thrill of fishing from a pier."They come on foot, bicycles or motorbikes."The squid that was caught and kept in a polystyrene box."Last week I visited Bedok Jetty and found that anglers come here everyday of the week."They came with their fishing gear, hooks, baits and even stools and canvas to keep out the sun."One angler told me he was there for two days and he had a good catch including eels, crabs, squids and some ikan chermin."He liked the jetty as it is close to the public toilets and food centre."He also brought along his radio and DVD player as he believes that music somehow attracts fish to his line and he was glad he had a good catch for two days."I see a trumpeter perch ( Pelates quadrilineatus), flower crab (Portunus pelagicus), and what is probably a blue-spined swimming crab (Thalamita prymna) in the first photo.That's not a squid in the fourth picture, but an octopus.Ikan chermin is a local name for Indian threadfin (Alectis indicus), a pelagic predator of coastal waters.Indian threadfin, Bedok Jetty;(Photo by lkc_stib)The eel is probably a brown-spotted moray eel (Gymnothorax reevesii).Oh, and I'm not too sure if fish are really attracted by music, although I won't be surprised if they might be drawn by the vibrations that are transmitted to the water. The underwater realm is far from silent, and a great deal of marine species use sound to communicate. Free fruits in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve A STOMPer was in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve when he realized that people has been plucking fruits off the trees in the forest. Through these pictures he told a story of the forest and its free fruits.Arborist told STOMP via email today (Jul 7):"These pictures were taken at Rifle Range Road near the forest at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve."A motor-cyclist came early in the morning to pick rambutans and durians growing on state land."Anyway these are free as there is no notice put up to tell visitors that picking of fruits is prohibited."The problem is that when the fruit hunters left, they left behind broken branches from the denuded rambutan tree."Many rambutan trees became bare after the raid by these fruit hunters and they left behind the broken branches as evidence of their trespass."At times three or four foreign workers would climb up a tall rambutan tree and the stem became slanted as the tree could not take the combined weight of the fruit hunters."The more religious workers brought along items for praying as they kept a vigil for the durians."They brought newspapers, eggs, oranges and pineapples to pray to the spirits of the forest so that they would not be harassed by the spirits and also to appease them."However, when the workers left, the monkeys came down from the trees to enjoy the free eggs on the forest floor."Soon the squirrels would come to feast on the free pineapples provided by the human visitors."Related posts: All night vigil for free durians at Jln Kampong Chantek (6th July 2009)Durian paradise uncovered in Lim Chu Kang (6th July 2009)Psst! Here's the secret of where to get durians in S'pore -- FREE (3rd July 2009)Wild buah langsat at Jalan Murai a treat for foreign workers (28th June 2009) Singapore Zoo welcomes baby pygmy hippo! Meet Divo, the latest addition to the pygmy hippo family at Singapore Zoo.A spokesperson from Singapore Zoo says:"Say 'hello' to the Singapore Zoo's underwater ballerina!"Latest addition to the pygmy hippo family at Singapore Zoo - a male baby named Divo born on 4 June 2009 seen in picture with mom, Minah. Weighing 6.2 kg at birth, Divo is the eighth successful birth for proud parents Mina and Babu."Found mostly along coastal and riverine systems within a small area of West Africa, pygmy hippo cannot swim as its body is too dense to float, instead it tiptoes along riverbeds gracefully, earning the title of "underwater ballerina of West Africa."The pygmy hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis) is currently endangered, so it's good news that the Singapore Zoo is doing its part to sustain the captive population. I was at the zoo recently, but I think I just missed the appearance of the baby, since I only saw 1 adult, while a family of visitors who had been there when I arrived were still talking about the baby and mother that had presumably just gone into the den to seek some privacy.I'm particularly fond of this exhibit, as it features an underwater viewing gallery, where visitors can get an excellent view of the hippos as they gambol and frolic about in the water, accompanied by schools of African cichlids. Pygmy hippo underwater, Singapore Zoo;(Photo by mariellewagner)The pygmy hippopotamus is a native of rivers and swamps of west Africa, in the dense rainforests of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast. A second population, thought to represent a second subspecies, was documented to live in the Niger River Delta, but most likely became extinct by the middle of the 20th century. The primary threats to its survival are habitat destruction, poaching for the bushmeat trade, and armed conflict. Less than 3,000 pygmy hippos are thought to remain in the wild, and the discovery that there were some still living in Sapo National Park in Liberia was a good sign that the hippos have managed to survive despite 2 civil wars, illegal logging, and poaching.Pygmy hippo in the wild, Liberia;(Photo from the EDGE blog)Compared to the hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), the only other extant member of the Hippopotamidae, the pygmy hippo is tiny, less than half the size of its larger cousin, and weighing only about a quarter as much.Life-size cutouts comparing size of hippopotamus and pygmy hippopotamus, Singapore Zoo;(Photo by pink_emmie_bat)Graphic comparing weights of hippopotamus and pygmy hippopotamus, Singapore Zoo;(Photo by iamgist)Both species of hippo spend a lot of time in the water, but emerge at night to graze on land. The pygmy hippo is somewhat more terrestrial than the hippopotamus, and is largely solitary. Pygmy hippo, Singapore Zoo;(Photo by Amsk)The hippopotamus (also known as the Nile hippo to avoid confusion with the pygmy hippo) has a wide distribution across much of sub-Saharan Africa; historically, it ranged all the way up to the mouth of the Nile, and during warmer periods of the Pleistocene, also inhabited north Africa and even parts of Europe. However, its range is now very much reduced due to hunting and loss of suitable habitat; hippos and humans don't get along very well. The stronghold for this species is in the network of parks and reserves found in east and southern Africa, where large herds can still be found in rivers and lakes.Hippopotamus, Kenya;(Photo by Rob Inh00d)Hippopotamus herd, Tanzania;(Photo by elosoenpersona)It has to be emphasised that despite their comical appearance, hippos are certainly no laughing matter. Those tusks, which are used to resolve disputes between these massive ill-tempered herbivores, can do very serious damage. Territorial bulls and mothers with young calves are especially dangerous, especially to hapless people in flimsy little boats. This, combined with an irritable disposition and a willingness to charge at anything perceived to be a threat, makes the hippopotamus one of Africa's deadliest animals.Hippopotamus fighting, Kenya;(Photo by Jayanand)Hippopotamus yawning, Tanzania;(Photo by Alejandro Tawil)Hippopotamus, Kenya;(Photo by Edgar Thissen)Several other species of hippopotamus are known to have lived during the Pleistocene and early Holocene; these included 4 species of hippo on several islands of the Mediterranean, as well as 3 species on Madagascar. These island species appear to have become dwarves as a result of insular dwarfism. It is likely that humans encountered many of these species, although it is unknown whether hunting contributed to the eventual extinction of these island forms.Pygmy hippo, Singapore Zoo;(Photo by Peter Garnhum)More information about the pygmy hippo is available here at the EDGE of Existence site, with blog updates about measures to learn more about the pygmy hippo in the wild.