Chien C. Lee

  • Select Portfolio
  • About
  • Connect
    • Contact
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
  • Events
    • Guided Trips
    • Exhibitions
    • Talks & Workshops
  • Full Image Library
    • All Galleries
    • Search
    • Cart
    • Lightbox
    • Client Area
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
x

Search Results

Refine Search
Match all words
Match any word
Prints
Personal Use
Royalty-Free
Rights-Managed
(leave unchecked to
search all images)
64 images found
twitterlinkedinfacebook

Loading ()...

  • A deceptive beauty: this tiny epiphytic orchid (Dendrobium cuthbertsonii), which bears flowers that last for up to nine months and are larger than the entire plant itself, offers no nectar reward for visiting pollinators. However, it appears remarkably similar in appearance to nectar-rich Rhododendrons which have flowers the same color and size and grow nearby. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1713694.jpg
  • Spectacled Flying Fox (Pteropus conspicillatus). Waigeo Island, West Papua, Indonesia.
    cld1914213.jpg
  • Longhorn beetle (Sphingnotus mirabilis). Waigeo Island, West Papua, Indonesia.
    cld1913729.jpg
  • Endemic to the mossy cloud forests of Papua, a Mountain Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles albertisi) rests by the day in a thicket of vegetation. Biologists once believed that these strange cryptic birds (family Aegothelidae) were close relatives of the frogmouths due to their similar appearance and habits. Studies of their skulls has revealed that they are in fact more closely related to hummingbirds and swifts. Almost the entire family (7 of 10 species) is restricted to New Guinea. Arfak Mountains, West Papua, Indonesia.
    cld1608647.jpg
  • Wilson's Bird-of-paradise (Diphyllodes respublica), male courting female at his display ground. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea)
    cld1821702.jpg
  • Like some kind of karmic balance, it has often been remarked that the more plain-looking a bird is, the more beautiful its song, whereas those bestowed with gorgeous plumage tend to have simple calls. Research across hundreds of bird species has revealed a negative correlation between these traits, suggesting that there may be a trade-off in visual vs. acoustic signals when it comes to attracting mates. Likely falling at one end of this spectrum, Birds-of-paradise certainly are among the most extravagantly ornamented species in the world, but their highly varied calls often consist of harsh squawks and penetrating whistles, which although extremely loud are anything but melodious. Here, a male Wilson’s BoP (Cicinnurus respublica) raucously advertises his presence above his display ground, though if a female approaches he will fall silent and rely on his feathers for the real game of courtship. Waigeo Island, West Papua, Indonesia.
    cld1914615.jpg
  • Magnificent Bird-of-paradise (Diphyllodes magnificus), male calling from his display ground, showing the bright yellow inside of his mouth. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1820928.jpg
  • The enormous Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus), sometimes called the Goliath Cockatoo, is one of the largest parrots in Asia. It is found in the rainforests of New Guinea and northern Australia. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1313726.jpg
  • Large Green-banded Blue (Danis danis). West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld2223702.jpg
  • Rhododendron zoelleri. Widespread in New Guinea, this large and showy rhododendron grows high in the mountains in clearings, on rocky cliffs, or occasionally as an epiphyte. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1608831.jpg
  • One of the most brilliantly colored of all the bowerbirds, the Masked Bowerbird (Sericulus aureus), prepares only a rather simplistic 'U-shaped' avenue of sticks which is adorned with several leaves and blue-berries. The extravagance of bowerbird displays appears to be inversely proportional to the gaudiness of their plumage. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1823329.jpg
  • The incredible vibrance of many Birds-of-paradise is in part due to the deep black feathers which make their more colorful plumage simply ‘pop’. A recent study looking closely at these black feathers found that they had a unique nanostructure that is super-efficient in light absorption. This results in one of the darkest blacks found in nature, rivaling those of highly specialized synthetic materials. Here, a Vogelkop Superb Bird-of-paradise (Lophorina niedda) waits at his display (a fallen log) for the arrival of a female. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1820064.jpg
  • A large male rhinoceros beetle (Beckius beccarii). This species is endemic to the forested regions of New Guinea. West Papua, Indonesia.
    cld1713305.jpg
  • Vogelkop Ringtail (Pseudochirulus schlegeli), one of New Guinea’s least studied possums, being known from only a few specimens. Like other ringtails, they are strictly nocturnal, emerging at night to feed on fruit and leaves. Arfak Mountains, West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1713385.jpg
  • A Giant Green Jumping Spider (Mopsus mormon) from the tropical forests of Waigeo Island. With its bright green legs and distinctive hairstyle, this species (the only in its genus) is easily recognizable among the many hundreds of jumping spiders (family Salticidae) in New Guinea. An enormous pair of frontal eyes give this little predator excellent vision to locate and size-up potential prey, and six flanking eyes allow it to detect movement in virtually every direction. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1611612.jpg
  • With tail feathers nearly a meter long, a male Black Sicklebill (Epimachus fastosus) struts his incredible plumage on a display perch high in the Arfak Mountains of West Papua. One of the largest of all the birds-of-paradise, this shy sicklebill is found only in remote cloud forests on the island of New Guinea. Although normally keeping to the tree tops, the male carefully selects an exposed perch lower in the canopy from where he will call and display for females at dawn.
    cld1608771.jpg
  • Vogelkop Bowerbird (Amblyornis inornata). West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1313838.jpg
  • Camouflaged moth (Ausaris sp.). West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1611124.jpg
  • Unlike New World Heliconia which are famous for their colorful bracts, this  species (Heliconia papuana) from New Guinea and the South Pacific are distinguished by their predominantly green inflorescences. Most are pollinated by nectar-feeding bats. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1314165.jpg
  • This beautiful stag beetle (Neolamprima adolphinae) is native to the mountains of New Guinea. The oversized mandibles distinguish this male. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1504828.jpg
  • Western Crowned-pigeon (Goura cristata). Waigeo Island, West Papua, Indonesia.
    cld1822266.jpg
  • Tithonus Birdwing (Ornithoptera tithonus), female, feeding at Impatiens flowers. Arfak Mountains, West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1506124.jpg
  • Undescribed frog species (Callulops sp.). Waigeo Island, West Papua, Indonesia.
    cld1913995.jpg
  • Cophixalus rajampatensis, male. Waigeo Island, West Papua, Indonesia.
    cld1914515.jpg
  • Masked Bowerbird (Sericulus aureus) male repairing his bower after it was destroyed by a rival bird. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1823466.jpg
  • Pygmy Longbill (Oedistoma pygmaeum), a nectar-feeding bird showing convergent evolution with sunbirds and honeyeaters, but part of the New Guinean endemic family Melanocharitidae. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1821079.jpg
  • It’s impossible for a single image to capture all of the multifaceted ornamentation of a male Magnificent Bird-of-paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus). Depending on the viewpoint and which of his assets he chooses to flaunt, his display can range from a brilliant metallic green breast plate to a golden yellow nape fan. The remarkable curled tail wires, which often appear black in color, flash an incredible turquoise when the angle is just right – a tool he often uses to bedazzle female visitors to his courting ground. Arfak Mountains, West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1820901.jpg
  • This unidentified caterpillar which feeds on epiphytic moss, is camouflaged to look like its preferred substrate. Arfak Mountains, West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1609094.jpg
  • With a flair for home decor, the Vogelkop Bowerbird (Amblyornis inornata) produces perhaps the most artful creation of any animal, all in the name of romance. Here, a male bird shows off his collection of freshly collected flowers, fungi, beetle shells, and blue berries, neatly organized in piles laid out on a mat of meticulously cleaned moss. The twig hut in the back is not a nest - rather its construction is made entirely for the purpose of impressing a visiting female who will choose to mate with him only after a thorough inspection of his display. Arfak Mountains, West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1713491.jpg
  • Widespread in New Guinea, this pitcher plant (Nepenthes maxima) exhibits a great diversity of pitcher forms and colors. Pictured here is a variety from the Anggi Lakes region of the Arfak Mountains. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1413807.jpg
  • A Feline Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles insignis) rests in a dense thicket of vegetation by day. This unusual family of nocturnal insectivorous birds, whose center of distribution is in New Guinea, is neither closely related to owls nor nightjars, and are placed in their own order. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1313872.jpg
  • White-lipped Python (Leiopython albertisii). West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld2223771.jpg
  • Spectacled Flying Fox (Pteropus conspicillatus). Waigeo Island, West Papua, Indonesia.
    cld1914113.jpg
  • Endemic to the Bird's Head Peninsula of western New Guinea, the Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus ursinus) has become increasingly threatened by habitat loss and hunting. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1822654.jpg
  • Orchid (Dendrobium angiense). The genus Dendrobium reaches its greatest diversity in New Guinea, where about 560 species (over a third of the genus) have so far been recorded. Arfak Mountains, West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1314152.jpg
  • A carefully arranged pile of Aeschynanthus flowers forms the centerpiece of a Vogelkop Bowerbird's (Amblyornis inornata) display. The elaborately constructed twig hut with various colorful ornaments (here including flowers, beetle elytra, and fruit husks) is constructed by the male solely for the purpose of impressing female birds to select him as a mate. Each male will use their own artistic preferences in selecting various colors for their display, and theft of highly desirable items by competitors is a frequent occurrence. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1314004.jpg
  • The haunting hollow skeleton of a fly is all that remains after being consumed alive by a parasitoid fungi (Ophiocordyceps cf. dipterigena) in the New Guinean rainforest. Two different types of fruiting bodies have emerged from the fly's body: the dorsal 'mushrooms' (ascostroma) are perfectly positioned to release tiny spores on the fungi's next victim. The tropics hold a great diversity of these entomopathogenic fungi, with undoubtedly many undescribed species, each apparently tailored to target specific insect hosts. West Papua, Indonesia.
    cld1914721.jpg
  • Endemic to the Bird's Head Peninsula of western New Guinea, the Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus ursinus) has become increasingly threatened by habitat loss and hunting. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1822545.jpg
  • The Waigeo Spotted Cuscus (Spilocuscus papuensis) is endemic to a single island off the northwestern coast of West Papua. Closely related to possums, this is a pouched marsupial, spending its entire life in the trees where it feeds on leaves and occasional fruits.
    cld1822165.jpg
  • The seldom seen Archbold's Nightjar (Eurostopodus archboldi) is endemic to the highest mountains of New Guinea, where it can be found in open alpine habitats. Like other nightjars it sleeps by day on the ground using excellent camouflage to conceal itself. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1504731.jpg
  • The large tropical island of New Guinea hosts a high diversity of cicada species, such as this Baeturia sp., many of which are endemic to small regions. Batanta Island, West Papua, Indonesia.
    cld1313612.jpg
  • Stonefish (Synanceia sp.). West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1413827.jpg
  • This beautiful stag beetle (Neolamprima adolphinae) is native to the mountains of New Guinea. The oversized mandibles distinguish this male. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1504812.jpg
  • Inhabitants of cool mountain streams, Big-eyed Tree Frogs (Nyctimystes spp.) are nearly entirely restricted to the island of New Guinea (with a few species in Australia and the Moluccas). This species is endemic to the Arfak Mountains of western New Guinea. West Papua, Indonesia.
    cld1609079.jpg
  • Arfak Tree Frog (Litoria arfakiana) from the montane forests of Indonesian New Guinea. With nearly 300 species already described, and some estimates predicting at least double that amount awaiting discovery, the island is a hot spot for frog diversity. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1313812.jpg
  • This small pygmy grasshopper (Holoarcus truncatus) uses its excellent camouflage to escape detection from predators. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1313670.jpg
  • Superbly camouflaged, this lichen huntsman spider (Pandercetes gracilis) lies in wait for prey on the trunk of a tree in the Arfak Mountains of New Guinea. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1506384.jpg
  • Giant Banana (Musa ingens). Enormous trunks (c. 1m in diameter) of this giant wild banana which is endemic to the mountains of New Guinea. Although vegetatively the largest species of Musa, reaching over 15m in height, the fruits are small and inedible. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1504595.jpg
  • Leaf beetle (Promechus whitei). West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1505925.jpg
  • Brehm's Tiger-parrot (Psittacella brehmii). West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1820572.jpg
  • The Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus) is restricted to New Guinea, where it occurs throughout the island in suitable hill forest. Male birds clear a personal display site near the forest floor where they put on an impressive display of their vibrant plumage for visiting females. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1504762.jpg
  • Corsia arfakensis, a rare mycoheterotrophic plant from the mountains of western New Guinea. West Papua, Indonesia.
    cld1713315.jpg
  • Hydnophytum caminiferum. A closeup look at the chimney-like openings along the tuber of this unusual shrub. Although most Hydnophytum are ant-plants (myrmecophytes), it is still unknown what insects (or animals) this species plays host to. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1504885.jpg
  • The Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus) is restricted to New Guinea, where it occurs throughout the island in suitable hill forest. Male birds clear a personal display site near the forest floor where they put on an impressive display of their vibrant plumage for visiting females. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1506025.jpg
  • Weevil (Arachnobas sp.) with mites. Waigeo Island, West Papua, Indonesia.
    cld1913955.jpg
  • Hydnophytum caminiferum. A closeup look at the chimney-like openings along the tuber of this unusual shrub. Although most Hydnophytum are ant-plants (myrmecophytes), it is still unknown what insects (or animals) this species plays host to. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1504886.jpg
  • Broad-headed bugs (Riptortus sp.), juveniles showing mimicry of Oecophylla weaver ants. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1821021.jpg
  • The incredible labyrinth of limestone islands within Waigeo's Kabui Bay. Lying on the northern edge of Raja Ampat, this region is home to the world's richest marine life, including 1500 species of fish and 75% of all known coral species. The islands themselves also host a diverse assortment of rainforest flora and fauna, including slipper orchids, endemic marsupials, and birds of paradise. West Papua, Indonesia.
    cld1713777p.jpg
  • Rhododendron laetum. This large-flowered Rhododendron is known only from the mountains of the Vogelkop Peninsula in Indonesian New Guinea.
    cld1314134.jpg
  • Transforming into an extravagant bouquet of colors and shapes, a male Magnificent Bird-of-paradise (Diphyllodes magnificus) puts on his best show in the hopes of impressing a female visitor to his courting ground. She has a critical eye for imperfections as she will be selecting him based on the merits of his display alone – a testament to his overall fitness and desirable genes. This selective pressure is the driving force behind the evolution of some of the most incredible avian spectacles in the world.
    cld1820800.jpg
  • With his otherworldly plumage a male Wilson's Bird-of-paradise (Cicinnurus respublica) shows off his gaudy colors at a dancing ground he has cleared on the forest floor. Endemic to only two islands off the western coast of New Guinea, Wilson's BoP is surely one of the most bizarre in a family of birds already renowned for their exotic appearances.
    cld1608506.jpg
  • The large Arfak Cannibal Frog (Lechriodus platyceps) is endemic to the mountains of the mountains of the Vogelkop Peninsula of western New Guinea.
    cld1713270.jpg
  • Red Lacewing (Cethosia cydippe). West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
    cld1413770.jpg
  • Orchid (Dendrobium cf. riparium). The genus Dendrobium reaches its greatest diversity in New Guinea, where about 560 species (over a third of the genus) have so far been recorded. West Papua, Indonesia.
    cld1413665.jpg