First evidence of the King Cobra, Ophiophagus hannah, occurring on Panay: in 2002 .

The Steere’s (or Philippine) honey buzzard (Pernis steerei), a Philippine endemic, was first recorded on Panay in 2004. This raptor was first seen flying in April 2004 in the NW Panay Peninsula near its highest elevation, Mt. Banderahan. The undulating flight upward with a wing-quiver ‘sky dance’ at its peak with fully extended wings, and an unbroken downward swoop forming a bigger undulation, differs characteristically from the similar but simpler display flight of European Honey-buzzard P. apivorus. Circumstances indicate that the display flight serves some nuptial or territorial functions. The observation by Gewers et al. (2006, Forktail 22: 163-165) is at the same time the first distributional record of the species on Panay Island. This observation was sadly corroborated by a bird shot dead in Barangay Cubay in 2006 (E. Curio, T. Kuenzel, unpublished).

A Philippine Sail-fin Lizard (Hydrosaurus pustulatus) with a forked tail, originating from a broken tail with a regrowing larger end (regeneration) was observed on Panay Island, thus confirming that agamid lizards can also regenerate their tail upon injury (color pictures in Gaulke & Demegillo, Sauria, 2006: 4, also published in our 13th annual project report, 2007).

The large Chinese Bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus rugulosus), probably an invasive (= alien) species in the Philippines, was found for the first time in NW Panay after it had been found previously in Luzon by other researchers (Gaulke & Operiano, Sauria 2006: 51, also published in our 13th annual project report, 2007).

A Banded Philippine Burrowing Snake (Oxyrhabdion leporinum visayanum) was first found in Panay at a river in the NW of island, after it had been known already from nearby Cebu and Negros Islands, a not too surprising discovery (Gaulke & Operiano, Sauria, 2006: 52, also published in our 13th annual project report, 2007).

More than 164 years ago C. L. Koch had first described the whip scorpion Minbosius manilanus (Arachnida, Uropygi) from Manila and Luzon. This Philippine endemic was believed to have been found on Panay Island for the first time in stomachs of older Marine Toads (Rhinella marina), a South American relocated species (Haupt 2007, Senckenbergiana biologica 87: 135-136). Meanwhile, further examination showed that the specimens were in fact immatures of a new species, the so-called Giant Whip Scorpion Telyphonoides panayensis gen. et sp. nov. (see details). As a group, the whip scorpions are found in the tropics around the world, though on Panay Island they have escaped notice of all of our project’s researchers and staff for more than 12 years. In spite of intense nightly searches at the collecting sites of the mentioned Marine Toads (Malumpati area of the NW Panay Peninsula), the species has proved so elusive that the first five individuals found had fallen prey to the toads, whilst not a single one had been a collector’s hit until H. Krehenwinkel found the type specimens.

The Colasisi of Panay Island (Loriculus philippensis regulus), a local race of one of the two Philippine endemic Hanging Parrot species, has been found breeding for the first time in the upland of the NW Panay Peninsula near the Sibaliw Research Station. The nest hole in a dead tree stump and eggs placed on green leaves, was possibly used three times in succession within one year by the same pair of birds. This is the second breeding record of the Colasisi, a previous one was from the island of Bohol (L. p. worcesteri). (Hembra, S.S., E. Curio & J. Jamangal 2008: Papageien 21: 173-174. German).