Chien C. Lee

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  • Although less pretentiously colored than its more gaudy cousins, the Kokoe Poison Frog (Phyllobates aurotaenia) nonetheless is recognized as one of the most lethally toxic in the family (perhaps second only to the legendary P. terribilis). Native to the Chocó forests of coastal Colombia, it is one of the few species that are actually utilized by indigenous people of the region to give their blowpipe darts a deadly potency. Choco, Colombia.
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  • Endemic to the lowland Chocó rainforests of northwestern Ecuador and southwestern Colombia, the Little Devil Poison Frog (Oophaga sylvatica) is another species whose continued existence is dependent on the preservation of these dwindling habitats. Although it can occasionally be found in secondary forests and agricultural plantations, it can only survive where nearby intact rainforest provides the epiphytic water-filled bromeliads it needs to breed. Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • The ghostly outline of a glass frog (Hyalinobatrachium aureoguttatum) shines through a leaf, the shadow of its heart and internal organs clearly visible. These small frogs are found near clear streams where the males typically call from the undersides of leaves. Threatened with habitat loss, H. aureoguttatum is restricted to the disappearing Chocó rainforest. Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Similar to the Dendrobatid poison frogs, harlequin toads (Atelopus spp.) are also brightly colored, day-active, and highly toxic. They also comprise one of the most endangered groups of amphibians in the neotropics, with many species listed as Critically Endangered and others presumed extinct in the wild. Aside from habitat loss and threats from introduced species, they appear particularly susceptible to the amphibian-killing chytrid fungus, which has completely wiped out many wild populations. This Atelopus spurrelli is endemic to the Chocóan rainforest of coastal Colombia.
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  • Tea Mangrove (Pelliciera rhizophorae) showing buttress roots for stability in the intertidal zone. Utría National Natural Park, Chocó, Colombia.
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  • Illuminated by a stray beam of sunlight, a Hognosed Viper (Porthidium nasutum) lies in wait on the forest floor, providing a reminder of why hikers are advised to wear high boots when walking in the Chocó rainforest off trails. These habitats are some of the richest in all South America, with a high number of endemic reptiles that are separated from their Amazonian relatives by the Andes mountain range. Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Understory palm (Asterogyne martiana). Utría National Natural Park, Chocó, Colombia.
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  • Crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania colombica). Utría National Natural Park, Chocó, Colombia.
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  • Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) eating crab. Chocó, Colombia.
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  • Camouflaged fulgorid planthopper (Episcius sp.). Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Sun Glass Frog (Hyalinobatrachium aureoguttatum), male. Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • The shady understory of the Ecuadorian rainforest hosts a great diversity of butterflies that are adapted specifically for this dimly lit ecosystem. Although we often rank butterflies on how gaudy and beautiful their wings patterns are, among the most remarkable of the understory are those that bear transparent wings, such as this Glasswing Butterfly (Dulcedo polita). When perched under the right conditions they can appear almost invisible. Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Smallest of all the anteaters, the Silky Anteater (Cyclopes didactylus) is seldom seen because it spends much of its life high in the rainforest canopy, often curled up as an indistinguishable ball of fluff. They have no teeth and can only defend themselves by means of their razor sharp sickle-like fore-claws, which are usually used for tearing open ant nests. Females bear a single youngster at a time, which is carried on their back until large enough to feed on its own. Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Smallest of all the anteaters, the Silky Anteater (Cyclopes didactylus) is seldom seen because it spends much of its life high in the rainforest canopy, often curled up as an indistinguishable ball of fluff. They have no teeth and can only defend themselves by means of their razor sharp sickle-like fore-claws, which are usually used for tearing open ant nests. Females bear a single youngster at a time, which is carried on their back until large enough to feed on its own. Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Boulenger's Green Anole (Anolis chloris), male displaying. Choco, Colombia.
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  • In the dim understory of the forest floor the color of this poison dart frog (Oophaga solanensis) seem almost too fantastic to be real. Like other dendrobatid frogs, these colors serve as a warning signal of their toxicity. This species is endemic to the coastal rainforests of Colombia. Choco, Colombia.
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  • In possession of one of the most painful stings in the insect world, tarantula wasps (Pepsis spp.) are avoided by just about every animal in the forest. This makes them a great thing to be mistaken for, especially if you happen to be an otherwise defenseless katydid such as this (Aganacris velutina). The katydid not only mimics the wasp’s distinctive coloration of a shiny black body with bright orange wings and antennae, but also its quick and jerky movements, making it appear decidedly ‘un-katydidlike’. This is particularly amazing considering katydids are family of insects normally renowned for their remarkable camouflage colorations. Canandé Reserve, Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Sun Glass Frog (Hyalinobatrachium aureoguttatum), male hiding on the underside of a leaf. The pattern on the back of this species mimics a cluster of the frog's eggs, which help to deter attacks by predatory wasps. Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • The Chocoan Rainforest along the Pacific coast of Panama, Colombia, and northern Ecuador is one of the world's most endangered rainforest habitats. It is separated from the Amazon rainforest by the Andes mountains, and is home to a great diversity of endemic species. Utría National Natural Park, Colombia.
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  • A sleeping habit shared with many other solitary bee species that don't have a hive to return to at night, this Orchid Bee (Euglossa sp.) passes the night suspended in the air by biting into a leaf. In addition to their beautiful metallic colorations, Euglossine bees are remarkable for their mutually-dependent relationships with orchids from which they derive unique fragrances essential for their courtship. Utría National Natural Park, Choco, Colombia.
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  • Incredible camouflage of a neotropical epiphyll-mimicking katydid (Clepsydronotus deciduus). Ephiphylls are tiny plants and lichens that grow on the surfaces of leaves in tropical rainforests, usually being detrimental to their host because they block light to the leaves. Having selected such an epiphyll-ridden leaf, the katydid is able to blend with the mottled colors and rough texture to conceal itself despite being completely exposed on the upper surface. Notice also how the katydid has carefully folded its long threadlike antennae under itself – if they were to stick out then the insect could be much more easily discovered by sharp-eyed birds. Choco, Colombia.
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  • A nesting Common Potoo (Nyctibius griseus) in the dense mangrove forest of Colombia’s Utría National Park. Rather than construct a nest, the bird deposits its single egg in a small depression along a branch. Active only by night, potoos sit motionless during the day, using their incredible camouflage to remain hidden. Choco, Colombia.
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  • Smallest of all the anteaters, the Silky Anteater (Cyclopes didactylus) is seldom seen because it spends much of its life high in the rainforest canopy, often curled up as an indistinguishable ball of fluff. They have no teeth and can only defend themselves by means of their razor sharp sickle-like fore-claws, which are usually used for tearing open ant nests. Females bear a single youngster at a time, which is carried on their back until large enough to feed on its own. Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Calathea sp. Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Giant silk moth (Grammopelta lineata). Canandé Reserve, Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Looking as if it were dipped in liquid gold, a jewel scarab (Chrysina argenteola) almost seems more mineral than insect. Renowned for their remarkable colorations, Chrysina beetles fetch high prices among collectors, with some species and color variations fetching hundreds of dollars. Recent research into the metallic nature of their exoskeletons reveals that it possesses unique properties in the way it reflects polarized light, essentially being 'optically ambidextrous'. The reason why they have such unusual colorations still remains a mystery, although it has been suggested that the highly reflective surface may serve to camouflage them under the right lighting conditions, or even perhaps dazzle predators. Canandé Reserve, Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Sun Glass Frog (Hyalinobatrachium aureoguttatum), male hiding on the underside of a leaf. The pattern on the back of this species mimics a cluster of the frog's eggs, which help to deter attacks by predatory wasps. Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Although the blooms of this rare mangrove tree (Pelliciera rhizophorae) are visited by hummingbirds in the day, the flowers remain open at night and exude a strong musty odor to attract an entirely different animal. Captured by an infrared camera trigger, a Leaf-nosed Bat (Glossophaga soricina) approaches an open flower to partake of the rich source of nectar. Nectar-feeding bats are common in the tropics and are responsible for the pollination of a great number of tree species. Choco, Colombia.
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  • The Chocoan Rainforest along the Pacific coast of Panama, Colombia, and northern Ecuador is one of the world's most endangered rainforest habitats. It is separated from the Amazon rainforest by the Andes mountains, and is home to a great diversity of endemic species. Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Tiger moth (Correbidia sp.) which mimics a toxic net-winged beetle (Lycidae). Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Lowland rainforest in Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Marbled Poison Frog (Epipedobates boulengeri). Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • In contrast with its rather unremarkable appearance, the Sapayoa (Sapayoa aenigma) is one of South America's most enigmatic birds because it has no known relatives in the neotropics. Genetic studies have placed it close to the Asian broadbills (Eurylaimidae). Utría National Natural Park, Choco, Colombia.
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  • Katydid (Pycnopalpa bicordata), female. Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Smallest of all the anteaters, the Silky Anteater (Cyclopes didactylus) is seldom seen because it spends much of its life high in the rainforest canopy, often curled up as an indistinguishable ball of fluff. They have no teeth and can only defend themselves by means of their razor sharp sickle-like fore-claws, which are usually used for tearing open ant nests. Females bear a single youngster at a time, which is carried on their back until large enough to feed on its own. Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Tiger moth (Cratoplastis diluta), mimicking a firefly beetle (Lampyridae). Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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