Tracy KarplusViews:
“As a budding herpetologist, my adventures have taken me all over Southeast Asia in search of the coolest and rarest reptiles and amphibians. However, one of my most memorable encounters was on my tiny island home of Singapore. Despite being highly urbanised with small patches of tropical rainforest, Singapore’s biodiversity continues to punch above its weight. On this occasion, thanks to one of my friends, I was able to photograph the rare Selangor Mud Snake (Raclitia indica).
Restricted to freshwater swamp forests and cryptic in its behavior, this tiny homalopsid successfully evaded being spotted for 106 years in Singapore until its most recent rediscovery in 2020. Even in biodiverse Peninsular Malaysia, a live specimen was only first caught and photographed in 2018.
As such, this individual represents one of a handful of live sightings in Southeast Asia since its rediscovery, and it testifies to the significance of conserving the limited freshwater swamp forests that remain here in Singapore. On top of that, little is known about its prey and reproductive habits, leaving the door open to future discoveries.” – Robbin Tan
A huge thank you to Robbin Tan for sharing his incredible photo of the elusive Selangor Mud Snake! We hope your dedication to wildlife photography helps shed light on the hidden biodiversity of Singapore, and inspires many new budding herpetologists.
To see more of Robbin’s adventures and stunning reptile and amphibian photography, follow him on Instagram @robbintann. If you’re interested in learning more about Singapore’s incredible herpetofauna and getting involved in conservation efforts, check out the Herpetological Society of Singapore!
