Chien C. Lee

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  • With half a dozen species, Borneo is famous for its horned frogs. These are denizens of the rainforest floor and as such are expertly camouflaged for hiding among leaf litter. Most species rely so much on crypsis to avoid detection they have neglected other adaptations to escape predators, such as having weak legs for jumping. This is the rarest of the Bornean species: the Mulu Horned Frog (Megophrys dringi) which has only been known from a handful of sightings. This paucity of records is undoubtedly due to the remote locality where it occurs: high-elevation moss forests adjacent to clear mountain streams. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Remarkable moss mimicry of a Madagascan stick insect (Antongilia lacinata). Visual camouflage adaptations such as this are predominantly aimed at protection from diurnal predators, hence these insects usually conceal themselves by day on mossy tree trunks. At night they roam about on the understory vegetation completely exposed while foraging for fresh leaves to feed on; their extravagant crypsis inconsequential in total darkness. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • It can be argued that the perfection of camouflage is largely driven by the acuity of a predator’s vision. In many insects, such as among the great diversity of stick insects (phasmids), this selective pressure probably derives from the keen eyesight of insectivorous birds. Here, a female phasmid (Hermagoras sigillatus) from the Bornean rainforest performs a remarkable crypsis by folding her front legs forward, their expanded flanges matching together to form the resemblance of a decaying twig. This disguise not only breaks up the outline of her head (at bottom in this photo), but also conceals her antennae which otherwise could give away her disguise. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • In the Borneo rainforest, leaves are not always what they seem. Here, a beam of sunlight filtering down from the canopy illuminates an extraordinary insect. Officially described and named just last year, this leaf katydid (Eulophophyllum lobulatum) is one of two species in its genus on mainland Borneo that share the unusual wings and leaf-like legs, rendering it a marvel of animal crypsis. Although this male specimen is lime-green, females bear a striking pinkish coloration. Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • With half a dozen species, Borneo is famous for its horned frogs. These are denizens of the rainforest floor and as such are expertly camouflaged for hiding among leaf litter. Most species rely so much on crypsis to avoid detection they have neglected other adaptations to escape predators, such as having weak legs for jumping. This is the rarest of the Bornean species: the Mulu Horned Frog (Megophrys dringi) which has only been known from a handful of sightings. This paucity of records is undoubtedly due to the remote locality where it occurs: high-elevation moss forests adjacent to clear mountain streams. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Flat-nosed Pitviper (Craspedocephalus puniceus). West Java, Indonesia.
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  • Flat-nosed Pitviper (Craspedocephalus puniceus). West Java, Indonesia.
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  • Borneo Short-tailed Python (Python breitensteini). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The superbly camouflaged Kinabalu Gliding Gecko (Gekko rhacophorus) is endemic to the montane forests of Mount Kinabalu in northern Borneo.  This poorly-known species is a nocturnal insectivorous tree-dweller and, like other geckos of this genus, possesses skin flaps to assist in a parachuting flight. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Rainbow frog (Scaphiophryne gottlebei). Isalo National Park, Madagascar.
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  • This moth (Pingasa ruginaria) escapes the notice of predators by concealing itself against the trunk of a tree where it rests by day. Its caterpillars feed on the leaves of a variety of trees including Litsea, Cinnamomum, and Nephelium. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A well-camouflaged Borneo Rainbow Toad (Ansonia latidisca) scales a mossy tree trunk in the submontane rainforest of western Borneo. Although little is known about the life history of this rare species, it is an agile climber and is probably highly arboreal. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Without a single sighting in nearly 90 years, the Borneo Rainbow Toad (Ansonia latidisca) was considered possibly extinct and listed by Conservation International as one of the "10 Most Wanted Amphibians". The species was rediscovered in 2011 by a team of herpetologists from the University of Malaysia Sarawak, although it remains extremely rare and little is known of its ecology or behavior. This brings a glimmer of hope in a time of global mass amphibian extinctions. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Gaboon Viper (Bitis gabonica). Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania.
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  • Few creatures possess a mastery of camouflage the way Madagascar’s leaf-tailed geckos do. This Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus sikorae) sleeps by day on a rainforest liana, its outline obscured by frilled dermal flaps that line its body. By always resting in a downward-facing position they may be able to quickly catch unsuspecting insects that climb up from the ground and also conceal their reflective lidless eyes from predators lurking above. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • With night vision hundreds of times more sensitive than ours and the ability to discern color even in near total darkness, Madagascar’s leaf-tailed geckos (Uroplatus spp.) are superbly adapted as nocturnal insect hunters. Large eyes, however, demand special maintenance. Like most geckos, Uroplatus have no eyelids and cannot blink; instead, they utilize their long tongues like windshield wipers, keeping their eyes moist and clean. This is a young male Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko (U. phantasticus), a denizen of the island’s rainforest zone and a superb mimic of dead foliage. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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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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  • Carefully sequestered on a perch not far above the rainforest floor, a Moyer’s Pygmy Chameleon (Rhampholeon moyeri) sleeps by night safely hidden from prowling nocturnal predators. Measuring less than 6 cm in total length, these are some of the smallest and most camouflaged in Africa – by day when they hunt for insects on the ground they are nearly invisible among the leaf litter. Recent research has shown that there is a surprising amount of diversity among Rhampholeon chameleons (26 currently recognized species), many of which are restricted to their own isolated mountain ranges. . Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania.
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  • The edges of this leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus sikorae) seem to blend seamlessly with the branch on which it rests. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Males of the Madagascar's Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus) can usually be distinguished by their elaborately notched tails, a trait which gives them better mimicry of a leaf that has been partially eaten by insects. Exactly why this is a sexually dimorphic feature in these geckos is unknown, but in some animals different camouflage patterns in males and females can arise where each sex spends their time hiding in different locations and thus face differing selective pressures on their appearance. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • The gaudy colors of this iridescent shield bug (Chrysocoris sp.) warn predators of its ability to secrete a noxious odor when disturbed. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A master of camouflage, the Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus sikorae) is almost completely undetectable when it is at rest on a small tree in the forest understory. Frilled flaps of skin along its body break up its outline, making it appear nearly seamless with the tree on which it rests. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Grainy Cochran Frog (Cochranella granulosa), egg mass suspended on leaf over stream. Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • Borneo Horned Frog (Pelobatrachus nasutus). Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Unseen since 1924, the Borneo Rainbow Toad (Ansonia latidisca) was previously listed as one of the "world's top 10 most wanted frogs" by Conservation International in their Global Search for Lost Frogs in 2010. It was rediscovered in Sarawak in 2011. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Sunda Frogmouth (Batrachostomus cornutus), female. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • With forests full of keen-eyed predatory birds, many of Madagascar’s smaller creatures have evolved incredibly cryptic appearances to evade detection. In the case of this Ghost Mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa), the remarkable leaf like mimicry serves also to conceal it from potential prey, which will be seized and eaten alive if they venture too close. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Widespread throughout much of Southeast Asia, the Sunbeam Snake ((Xenopeltis unicolor)) is a burrowing species commonly associated with cultivated areas. It is named after the rainbow-like iridescence of its scales. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A master of camouflage, this praying mantis (Theopompa borneana) conceals itself against the bark of a tree. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus). Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • A master of camouflage, the Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus sikorae) is almost completely undetectable when it is at rest on a small tree in the forest understory. Frilled flaps of skin along its body break up its outline, making it appear nearly seamless with the tree on which it rests. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Mangrove Jewel Bug (Calliphara nobilis). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • White-lipped Python (Leiopython albertisii). West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Plutodes cyclaria. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A master of camouflage, this rare stick insect (Trychopeplus laciniatus) is perfectly suited for its arboreal lifestyle in the mossy forests of Central America. It feeds exclusively on the foliage of several epiphytic orchid species. Cartago, Costa Rica.
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  • Borneo Horned Frog (Pelobatrachus nasutus), female, with Matang Narrow-mouthed Frog (Microhyla nepenthicola) - comparison between one of the largest and smallest frogs in Borneo. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Stonefish (Synanceia sp.). West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • The mimicry of a dead leaf is so precise for the Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus), they can often hide effectively in plain sight. It has been untested to what degree these geckos actively select a substrate that matches their individual patterns, but U. phantasticus appears to typically hide among dead foliage which suits it perfectly. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • With its unique patterns and remarkably long front legs, the Harlequin Beetle (Acrocinus longimanus) is one of the most impressive and distinctive insects of the Neotropics. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Males of the Madagascar's Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus) can usually be distinguished by their elaborately notched tails, a trait which gives them better mimicry of a leaf that has been partially eaten by insects. Exactly why this is a sexually dimorphic feature in these geckos is unknown, but in some animals different camouflage patterns in males and females can arise where each sex spends their time hiding in different locations and thus face differing selective pressures on their appearance. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Glasswing Butterfly (Cithaerias cliftoni), male. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Sun Glass Frog (Hyalinobatrachium aureoguttatum), male. Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Found throughout the lowland rainforests of Sarawak, the loud honking call of the Bornean Horned Frog (Pelobatrachus nasutus) is commonly heard before the onset of heavy thunderstorms. When disturbed it remains completely motionless, relying on its excellent camouflage to escape detection from potential predators. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus), female. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus sikorae). Mantadia National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus). Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • The rare Bornean Lungless Frog (Barbourula kalimantanensis) is fully aquatic and lives only in cool, clear, fast-flowing rocky streams. West Kalimantan, Indonesia (Borneo).
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  • Found throughout the lowland rainforests of Sarawak, the loud honking call of the Bornean Horned Frog (Pelobatrachus nasutus) is commonly heard before the onset of heavy thunderstorms.  When disturbed it remains completely motionless, relying on its excellent camouflage to escape detection from potential predators. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The mimicry of a dead leaf is so precise for the Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus), they can often hide effectively in plain sight. It has been untested to what degree these geckos actively select a substrate that matches their individual patterns, but U. phantasticus appears to typically hide among dead foliage which suits it perfectly. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • A study on perfection in mimicry: a Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus). One of 14 species of leaf-tailed geckos endemic to Madagascar, this nocturnal insectivore utilizes its incredible camouflage to hide among dead foliage by day. All Uroplatus geckos are under severe threat from deforestation and over-collecting for the international pet trade. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Feather Mantis (Toxodera fimbriata). Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Pulchriphyllium fredkugani, male. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Jade Hawkmoth (Daphnis hypothous). Bach Ma National Park, Vietnam.
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  • The glass-like quality of a White-spotted Clearwing (Greta annette) becomes revealed against the dappled light of the cloud forest understory. Although a great variety of marine organisms utilize transparency as a functional means of underwater invisibility, this type of optical camouflage is rare among terrestrial species for several reasons. Animals not living in water must protect their internal organs from damaging UV light and also possess rigid structural support for their bodies because they live in a non-buoyant medium; both of these are accomplished by pigments and opaque structures. In addition, the refractive index between living tissues and air means that reflections of light are a potential problem. Clearwing butterflies overcome this last hindrance by having the transparent portions of their wings covered with randomly-sized microscopic “nanopillars” – this results in their wings being remarkably unreflective from nearly all angles. Researchers studying this propose that these butterfly wings could be applied as a model to increase the efficiency of solar cells and in the manufacture of other non-reflective surfaces.  El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas, Mexico.
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  • As if fashioned from liquid gold, a nearly mature Nymphalid butterfly chrysalis (Euploea sp.) hangs from the underside of a ginger leaf. Highland Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Found throughout the lowland rainforests of Sarawak, the loud honking call of the Bornean Horned Frog (Pelobatrachus nasutus) is commonly heard before the onset of heavy thunderstorms.  When disturbed it remains completely motionless, relying on its excellent camouflage to escape detection from potential predators. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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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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  • One of Borneo’s most elusive and enigmatic amphibians: the Bornean Lungless Frog (Barbourula kalimantanensis). Looking like the prize-winning stone from a rock-skipping competition, albeit with four webbed feet, this frog’s bizarre appearance is an adaptation for its aquatic life in fast-flowing rocky streams. Despite numerous expeditions to the region, less than twenty specimens have ever been found by biologists, making it one of the least known of all frogs. It is also the only frog in the world to be completely lungless, and is believed to absorb oxygen directly through its skin like the similarly-adapted lungless salamanders. West Kalimantan, Indonesia (Borneo).
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  • A katydid (Promeca sp.) utilizes its excellent camouflage coloration to blend in with the lichens and epiphylls on the surface of a leaf. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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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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  • Fulvous Hawkmoth (Coelonia fulvinotata). Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania.
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  • Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys moultoni). Mount Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Ecuadorian Toadheaded Pitviper (Bothrocophias campbelli). Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador.
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  • When approached by a potential predator, these amazingly camouflaged leaf grasshoppers (Chorotypus sp.) align their flattened bodies with the leaf they are perched on and remain completely still to accentuate their mimicry. Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf katydid (Cratioma oculatum), female. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Bornean Frogmouth (Batrachostomus mixtus). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Hooktip moth caterpillar (family Drepanidae). Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo)
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  • Lichen huntsman spider (Pandercetes cf. nigrogularis). South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Hidden in the dense leaf litter of the rainforest floor, an Amazonian Horned Frog (Ceratophrys cornuta) lies in wait for its next meal. With a mouth wider than the length of its body, and a voracious appetite to boot, these frogs can consume prey as large as small reptiles and rodents. This species is widely distributed in the Amazon Basin, but nowhere particularly abundant. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • A Bird Dropping Crab Spider (Phrynarachne decipiens) lies in wait on a silken pad it has made to resemble the stain of bird excrement. The remains of two unfortunate flies, victims of the spider's clever deception, lie nearby. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Callambulyx amanda. Although this sphinx moth (family Sphingidae) is perfectly camouflaged against green foliage when it is resting, any disturbance from an animal will prompt it to flash its brightly colored hind wings and suspicious-looking eyespots. This startle tactic is the insect's only defense against predators and is a common coloration theme found in many moth species. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Flower mantis (Theopropus elegans), female. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Owl Moth (Brahmaea hearseyi). Mindanao, Philippines.
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  • This Collared Nightjar (Gactornis enarratus), a Madagascar endemic, hides itself among the leaf litter of the forest floor while it sleeps. Placed in its own genus, this species is distinct from all other nightjars (family Caprimulgidae) by its plumage, eggs, and behavior. Mantadia National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Black-throated Lichen Spider (Pandercetes nigrogularis), female guarding egg sac on suspended dead leaf. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys cf. lobata) standing guard over her egg sac. Such behavior might enable her to deter parasitoid wasps from destroying her brood, a common threat for mantises. Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • This unidentified caterpillar which feeds on epiphytic moss, is camouflaged to look like its preferred substrate. Arfak Mountains, West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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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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  • A well camouflaged tree-wrapping spider (Caerostris sp.) found in the rainforest of Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar. These spiders construct large orb webs to capture prey, but conceal themselves on a small branch when at rest. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Short-horned Chameleon (Calumma brevicorne), female. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Katydid (Lacipoda immunda), male. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Mating pair of stick insects (Staelonchodes sodalis) showing extreme dimorphism between male and female of the same species. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf-like pygmy grasshopper (Holoarcus belingae). Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Mantis (Enicophlebia hilara). Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Lasiocampid moth (Arguda insulindiana). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Parastheneboea neglecta, a rare stick insect known from only a few specimens from the rainforest of western Borneo. Batang Ai, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) is an ambush predator. Utilizing its superb camouflage it waits for unsuspecting insect prey to come withing striking distance. This juvenile specimen will lose some of its petal-like appearance when it matures. West Java, Indonesia.
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  • 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).
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  • A giant leaf katydid (Pseudophyllus hercules), one of the world's largest, rests in the rainforest understory. Active only at night, they use their superb camouflage to remain undetected by predators during the day. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • An undescribed species of moss-mimicking stick insect from the montane forest of Sulawesi. South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Translucent katydid (Lacipoda immunda), male concealing itself on the undersurface of a leaf. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Warty Chameleon (Furcifer verrucosus). Toliara, Madagascar.
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  • The Great Eared Nightjar (Lyncornis macrotis) is one of the largest in its family, reaching lengths of over 40cm. Like other nightjars, this cryptically-colored nocturnal bird relies on its camouflage to remain undetected while sleeping on or near the forest floor during the day. North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Mossy stick insect (Phobaeticus foliatus), juvenile female. Mount Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Although cryptically disguised as a dead leaf when at rest, the Peacock Katydid (Pterochroza ocellata) packs a big surprise for its secondary defense. When disturbed, it raises its wings to expose strikingly colored eyespots, which can be enough to startle a potential predator away. This large katydid exhibits a great deal of intraspecific variation such that the wings patterns and camouflage of no two individuals are ever the same, and entomologists at one time had described over a dozen species that are now attributed to P. ocellata. These variations in coloration help to prevent any predator from learning a search pattern to recognize this species and its defense. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys trigonodera). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Camouflaged moth (Ausaris sp.). West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • A juvenile leaf insect (Nanophyllium australianum) from the rainforest of Iron Range National Park. Queensland, Australia.
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  • Mossy masquerade: a young Moss Mimic Katydid (Championica montana) doing what it does best. If you specialize in eating moss it’s a big plus if you look like it as well. In the damp cloud forests of Costa Rica, every surface is covered with dripping wet bryophytes, such as the leaf this katydid is perched on. Although abundant, it’s not the most energy rich food in the world, so these insects conserve their energy by moving slowly while they graze. Faced with a potential threat, they simply lay flat against the mossy substrate and disappear. Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • Ant assassin bug (Inara flavopicta), nymph with ant carcasses glued to its back for concealment. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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