Chien C. Lee

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  • Sandstone rock formations. Amuri Tepui, Canaima National Park, Bolivar, Venezuela.
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  • A labyrinth of wind-carved rock formations covers the tabletop plateau of Mount Roraima, one of Venezuela's most famous tepuis. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • This rare sundew (Drosera hirticalyx) is endemic to several mountains in Venezuela. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Ptari Tepui, one of a large number of sandstone tabletop mountains in Venezuela. The isolated summit plateaus host their own biota of endemic species of plants and animals. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • At nightfall, a Tepui Tree Frog (Tepuihyla obscura) emerges from the folds of a carnivorous bromeliad (Brocchinia reducta) in which it has sheltered for the day. Although receiving rain almost daily, the summits of Venezuela’s tepui mountains are exposed to volatile weather patterns, with mist often giving way to brutally intense sunlight over a span of a few minutes. A lack of shade-providing trees means that there is little to protect delicate animals such as amphibians, hence these water-filled bromeliads provide an ideal refuge from the harsh climate fluctuations. The slippery wax-coated leaves, which are designed to trap insects, are no hindrance to the frogs. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Summit vegetation on Mount Roraima, one of Venezuela's most famous tepuis. The isolated plateaus  on tepui summits host their own biota of endemic species of plants and animals. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Heliamphora sarracenioides, a carnivorous pitcher plant endemic to a single tepui mountain in Venezuela. Bright colors and the offer of nectar attract insect prey. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Heliamphora pulchella, a carnivorous pitcher plant endemic to several tepui mountains in Venezuela. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Venezuela’s fabled tabletop mountains may have once inspired Arthur Conan Doyle’s science fiction novel “The Lost World”, where he imagined the summits to be home to a plethora of gigantic prehistoric creatures that had been separated from the evolution of life on the rest of the planet for eons of time. Disappointingly, dinosaurs were never found on these mountains and, despite being home to many endemics and indeed a fair share of “living fossils”, recent genetic studies have shown that many species in fact have likely arrived well after the tepuis had been fully formed. This reveals that the imposing rocky cliffs, which seemingly isolate the summits from the jungles below, may not be as significant a physical barrier for dispersal as once believed. This young Boddaert's Tropical Racer (Mastigodryas boddaerti), encountered on the plateau of Auyán Tepui, is a widespread species in northern South America, and although prey is scarce on these mountaintops, it presumably hunts for endemic frogs.  Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • At nightfall, a Tepui Tree Frog (Tepuihyla obscura) emerges from the folds of a carnivorous bromeliad (Brocchinia reducta) in which it has sheltered for the day. Although receiving rain almost daily, the summits of Venezuela’s tepui mountains are exposed to volatile weather patterns, with mist often giving way to brutally intense sunlight over a span of a few minutes. A lack of shade-providing trees means that there is little to protect delicate animals such as amphibians, hence these water-filled bromeliads provide an ideal refuge from the harsh climate fluctuations. The slippery wax-coated leaves, which are designed to trap insects, are no hindrance to the frogs. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Heliamphora pulchella, a carnivorous pitcher plant endemic to the summits of only a few remote tepuis (tabletop mountains) in southeastern Venezuela. Insects which fall inside are prevented from escaping by the downward-pointing bristles and quickly drown. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Pitcher plant (Heliamphora uncinata). Canaima National Park, Bolivar, Venezuela.
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  • Sundew (Drosera roraimae). Amuri Tepui, Canaima National Park, Bolivar, Venezuela.
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  • Closeup of the flowers of a carnivorous bladderwort (Utricularia humboldtii). Canaima National Park, Bolivar, Venezuela.
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  • Jasper Falls. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • As pretty as a bouquet of flowers, but with a sinister intent: a clump of Sun Pitchers (Heliamphora sarracenioides) advertises its lethal traps with bright colors and the offer of sweet nectar, amid the stunted vegetation of a tepui summit. Unwary insects that venture onto the inner surface of the pitcher easily lose their foothold and tumble into the water below where they are quickly drowned and digested by the plant. With annual rainfall sometimes exceeding four meters and virtually no mineral-rich soil available, nutrients are in scarce supply on Venezuela’s tepui mountains. This has fueled the diversification of many carnivorous plant species here, chief among them being the near-endemic genus Heliamphora with over 20 species. This species (H. sarracenioides) grows on the summit of only a single isolated tabletop mountain, accessible only by helicopter. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Pitcher plant natural hybrid (Heliamphora nutans x glabra). Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Flowers of a giant carnivorous bladderwort (Utricularia humboldtii) emerging from swampy grassland at the base of Mount Roraima. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • An unusually hairy pitcher plant (Heliamphora minor var. pilosa), endemic to Auyan Tepui. Canaima National Park, Bolivar, Venezuela.
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  • Yellow-headed Poison Frog (Dendrobates leucomelas). As with other dendrobatids these brightly colored amphibians are protected from predators by highly potent toxins within their skin, making them deadly to eat. Bolivar, Venezuela.
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  • A waterfall cascades over the immense cliff of Mount Roraima, but dissipates into a fine mist before reaching the ground. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Orchid (Otostylis lepida) growing by streamside. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Guianan Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola rupicola), male. Bolivar, Venezuela.
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  • Pitcher plant (Heliamphora huberi). Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Leaf Anole (Anolis planiceps), male. Bolivar, Venezuela.
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  • Carnivorous sundews (Drosera arenicola), growing on the summit of Amuri Tepui. Canaima National Park, Bolivar, Venezuela.
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  • Leaf-cutter Ants (Atta laevigata) return to their nest carring sections of leaves which will be used to feed their underground fungus gardens. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Sundew (Drosera roraimae). Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Sandstone rock formations carved by wind and rain. Amuri Tepui, Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Pitcher plant (Heliamphora purpurascens). Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • A carnivoruos bromeliad (Brocchinia reducta) growing in marshy grassland of the Gran Sabana. Bolivar, Venezuela.
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  • Scarlet blooms of a carnivorous bladderwort (Utricularia quelchii). Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Cloud forest is a widespread biome in mountains of Central and South America, where hot humid equatorial air rises into the cool mountains.  Here the humidity and precipitation are so high that the trees frequently become covered with epiphytic bromeliads and orchids. Henri Pittier National Park, Venezuela.
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  • An inhabitant of montane cloud forest, this unusual harvestman (Phareicranaus curvipes) possesses claw-like pedipalps for securing prey. Henri Pittier National Park, Venezuela.
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  • A bromeliad (Brocchinia tatei) grows from a rock crevice on the rocky summit of Roraima Tepui. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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