SOLOMON ISLANDS     the wilderness lodge      8° 47´S  158° 14´E

 

Mt Mariu - Kavolavata River Valley images

- all images on this page courtesy of Patrick Pikacha melanesiangeo.org a Marovo biologist specialising in frogs and bats with experience across many of the Solomons array of habitats, who is partnering with Wilderness to help identify the fauna and build conservation capacity at the village level on Gatokae. Accompanying Patrick on this trip in July 2006 were Tony Jamakolo from Kavolavata Village and Wilderness guides Dellington Bare and Robert Mala from Peava Village. This trip followed the route of the Kavolavata River Valley and Mt Mariu hikes outlined on our 'hiking' page.

 

 

Brachylodes elegans

 

 

 

 

Brachylodes wolfi

 

 

 

 

Ceratobatrachus guentheri

 

 

 

 

Brachylodes elegans variation

 

 

 

 

Ground orchid of the genus Appendicula sp.

 

 

 

 

New Georgia monarch  Monarcha richardsii

 

 

 

 

Solomon Islands white eye Zosterops kulambangrae

 

 

 

 

Possible new species of Platymantis frog found only on Mt Mariu on Gatokae. This
according Rafe Brown curator of frogs at Kansas University Museum, and Steve Richards of the
South Australian Museum.

 

 

 

 

Brachylodes elegans variation

The most abundant tree frog in forest understorey.

 

 

 

 

Ceratobatrachus guentheri

 

 

 

 

Brachylodes elegans

 

 

 

 

Unidentified

 

 

 

 

Platymantis weberi

One of four frog species endemic to Solomon Islands and one of the most widespread ground frogs in the Solomons.

 

 

 

 

Adult Brachylodes elegans

Small enough to fit on a persons finger.

 

 

 

 

Possibly Brachylodes elegans (different morphology)

 

 

 

 

Upper Kavolavata River covered in lush vegetation and dense primary forest.

 

 

 

 

Unidentified ground orchid

Trail to Mt Mariu.

 

 

 

 

Looking east from the track, crest of Mariu north ridge.

Magotu Beach centre, Male Male, Bulo, and Kicha islands at left.

 

 

 

 

View from the crest of Mariu north ridge.

 

 

 

 

New Georgia monarch  Monarcha richardsii

 

 

 

 

View at dusk of the beautiful yet fragile Marovo Lagoon from summit of Mariu

- looking northwest over Tingge Islands to Kele Bay and Bareke Peninsula.

 

 

 

 

Looking west towards the Mt Vangunu caldera from Mariu summit with Penjuku Lagoon in forground.

 

 

 

 

Cloudbound with bou palms, piropiro ginger and araolo climbing bamboo, Mariu summit.

 

 

 

 

Cloudbound just below summit of Mariu

 

 

 

 

Possible new species of Platymantis frog found only on Mt Mariu on Gatokae. This
according Rafe Brown curator of frogs at Kansas University Museum, and Steve Richards of the
South Australian Museum.

 

 

 

 

Skink, Mariu

 

 

 

 

Mossy montane forest with masses of epiphytes, mostly orchids, upper north ridge of Mariu.

 

 

 

 

Mossy montane forest with masses of epiphytes, mostly orchids, mid north ridge of Mariu.

 

 

 

 

Montane forest with many orchids, lower north ridge of Mariu.

 

 

 

 

Bulbophyllum orchid lower north ridge of Mariu.

 

 

 

 

Unidentified orchid

 

 

 

 

Unidentified flower

 

 

 

 

Unidentified orchid

 

 

 

 

the pristine primary forest of the upper Kavolavata River Valley, a living treasure.

 

 

 

 

Eggs of the montane frog laid in tree fern - the montane frogs have evolved to reproduce without permanent water.

 

 

 

 

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MORE SOON !