Kids Come Collecting too!

This is my 13 year old son, Eoghan, fishing for Aphyolebias, late in the season. He's already got the "hang" of it!!

New Moema or Trigonectes? Your opinion counts!

I have heard both opinions. What is yours?

Please meet WildPERU's manager in Pto. Maldonado!!

William "Willy" Wither. Has lived and worked in the Pto. Maldonado area since the 1970's; first in tourism at some of the lodges that were being established here and later as a free-lance guide. Willys boundless energy and extensive knowledge of and contacts in the area make him the most valuable resource for our clients coming to visit the Madre de Dios. His enthusiasm and friendly personality makes everyone feel welcome!

New location for Checkerboard Cichlids and Apistogramma luellingi

New Allobates spp??

I have shown this to a number of Herpetologists, and none of them are certain what this is. It appears to be a member of the genus Allobates. Here are photos of the dorsal and ventral areas of the frog.

New Aphyolebias species???

I am still waiting to hear the verdict on whether this is a new species of Aphyolebias killifish or not! What is your opinion?

Orchid Discovery and Pampas del Heath

Our next outing will start February 1st, and officially open the 2010 collecting season. First we will be headed to the Pampas del Heath along the border with Boliva. This is one of the last savanna habitats existing in it's natural state in all of South America (many of them have been converted to grazing lands), and the only one of it's kind in Peru. PDH boasts a wonderful array of specialized wildlife from Giant anteaters & Toco Toucans to forest deer and wild dogs. After a week exploring this area, we are headed up to the Cloud forest. February is the wet season, and it will be, well, very wet! It is always wet in the Cloud forest, but February is "Primetime" for viewing orchids. So for putting up with a little rain (no problem for us Portlanders.... Haha!) we'll be in for a real visual treat. This region boasts nearly 60 species of Hummingbirds, & Cock-of-the-Rock. Spectacled Bear, Tayra and Tapir can be seen as well. The Cloud Forest is home to many new species of frogs that have so far await discovery and there are many streams that have never seen a net, let alone any systematic inventory or survey. See the video in the last post. This is one example of the fish that we will see.

Brian

Corydoras weitzmani in the wild.

The first video of Corydoras weitzmani in the wild, 2005.

This is a male Rivulus killifish collected at the location "La Casita Azul". It is a nice location for R. christinae.

Welcome to WildPeru

Welcome to the WildPERU Blog! We are just getting started!!! Bookmark us and come back frequently to see new information and progress.

Ciao,

Brian Perkins