Chien C. Lee

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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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  • Some of the most noticeable spiders of the Southeast Asian tropical rainforests are the huntsmans (family Sparassidae); not only do they reach impressive sizes and are often colorful but because they don’t use webs for their prey capture they can easily be seen hunting in understory vegetation at night. Some, such as this Lichen Huntsman (Pandercetes sp.) are harder to find than most due to their cryptic camouflage. This female specimen rests atop her equally camouflaged egg sac which has been neatly woven into the fold of a dead leaf. Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Hidden from predators and prey alike, a brown leaf mantis (Brancsikia aeroplana) is almost indistinguishable from the dead leaves of the rainforest floor. Once believed to be related to Southeast Asia’s brown leaf mantids (Deroplatys) this species is now placed in the unrelated Madagascan endemic family Majangidae; its cryptic appearance thus representing another case of convergence. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Stick insect (Paraloxopsis korystes) showing superb cryptic camouflage. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • 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.
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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 wing 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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  • 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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  • Among the most cryptically camouflaged of all invertebrates, leaf insects (Phyllium spp.) are difficult to find in their natural habitat. Many new species have been described from Southeast Asia in recent years. This is a subadult female (P. arthurchungi) from the rainforest of northern 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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  • Flat-nosed Pitviper (Craspedocephalus puniceus). West Java, Indonesia.
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  • Flower mantis (Theopropus elegans), female. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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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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  • Sunda Frogmouth (Batrachostomus cornutus), female. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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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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  • Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys moultoni). Mount Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Perez's Snouted Frog (Edalorhina perezi). Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • The mountains of Vietnam are home to several species of amphibians which are perfectly adapted for camouflage in the mossy cloud forests. Perched atop a small leaf, this Tiny Bubblenest Frog (Gracixalus supercornutus) can easily be mistaken for a clump of moss epiphylls. Bach Ma National Park, Vietnam.
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  • Leaf-like pygmy grasshopper (Holoarcus belingae). Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Bornean Oakleaf (Kallima buxtoni), sleeping at night among dead foliage. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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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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  • Ecuadorian Toadheaded Pitviper (Bothrocophias campbelli). Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador.
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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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  • 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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  • 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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  • Madagascan Nightjar (Caprimulgus madagascariensis). Tomasina, Madagascar.
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  • Leaf katydid (Cratioma oculatum), female. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf katydid (Eulophophyllum lobulatum), juvenile. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Primarily restricted to New Guinea, helmeted katydids (subfamily Phyllophorinae) are readily distinguished from others by the large shield-like process which extends over the front part of their body and is frequently armed on the sides with sharp spines. Also, in a family of insects which are famous for their ubiquitous calls, these katydids stand apart for the inability to sing. Lacking the typical sound-producing apparati of most katydids, the method by which females and males of these species are able to find each other at night in the tangled rainforest understory remains a mystery. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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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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  • 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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  • Fulvous Hawkmoth (Coelonia fulvinotata). Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania.
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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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  • Plutodes cyclaria. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The incredible camouflage of the Amazonian Horned Frog (Ceratophrys cornuta) becomes even more apparent when viewed from above. It is no wonder that these frogs are not strong jumpers; they prefer to remain motionless even upon the approach of a potential predator. Being sit-and-wait predators, they can sometimes spend several days staked out in the same spot, moving only nights of heavy rainfall. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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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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  • Bornean Frogmouth (Batrachostomus mixtus). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Common Mormon Swallowtail (Papilio polytes). This young butterfly caterpillar avoids predation by appearing unappealingly similar to a bird dropping. 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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  • 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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  • Superbly adapted for its specific microhabitat, this Bornean Bark Mantis (Theopompa borneana) blends almost seamlessly with the tree where it lives. These efficient predators hunt for insects on the sides of trees using their superb vision, speed, and spiny raptorial front legs. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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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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  • Net-casting Spider (Deinopis madagascariensis), at rest. Isalo National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Spiny helmeted katydid (Sasima sp.) from the rainforest of southern New Guinea. The bristly armaments on this juvenile specimen serve not only to deter predators, but also to disguise the insect in the mossy forest understory. Helmet katydids (Phyllophorinae) comprise some of the world's largest species. Digul River, South Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Sphinx moth (Marumba tigrina). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Bornean Horned Frog (Pelobatrachus nasutus). Found throughout the lowland rainforests of Borneo, the loud honking call of this frog 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. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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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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  • Almost indistinguishable from the branch on which it rests, a Papuan Frogmouth (Podargus papuensis) perches motionless next to its chick. Like other frogmouths, these birds scarcely build any nest at all and rely on camouflage to escape the detection of predators. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Bagworm caterpillars (moths of the family Psychidae) are known for their habit of hiding themselves in a portable shelter of plant materials that they secure with silken threads, with each species having its own preference of design. This species begins with small accurately trimmed twigs formed in a 3-sided spiral pyramid, and adds additional larger twigs at the end as the caterpillar grows in size, in a masterful example of miniature craftsmanship. East Kalimantan, Indonesia (Borneo).
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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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  • Owl Moth (Brahmaea hearseyi). Mindanao, Philippines.
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  • Flat-nosed Pitviper (Craspedocephalus puniceus). West Java, Indonesia.
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  • Although incapable of flight, this female Crowned Stick Insect (Onchestus rentzi) employs her wings for an entirely different purpose: defense. She has excellent camouflage when at rest but if discovered and threatened she will abruptly raise her wings as a startle tactic. The sudden increase in size and flash of color may cause some would-be predators to think twice before attacking. This species has a fascinating mode of reproduction: the females drop their small brown eggs at random on the forest floor where they are often mistaken for seeds by ants who then gather them for storage underground. The eggs then are able to mature in a relatively safe environment. Queensland, Australia.
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  • Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko (Saltuarius cornutus). Queensland, Australia.
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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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  • Mangrove Jewel Bug (Calliphara nobilis). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Bird Dropping Crab Spider (Phrynarachne sp.). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Peruvian Shield Mantis (Choeradodis rhombicollis). Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador.
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  • Mossy stick insect (Phobaeticus foliatus), female. Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus sikorae). Mantadia National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Katydid (Despoina spinosa), female. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Kuhl's Gliding Gecko (Gekko kuhli). By means of its large webbed feet and lateral skin flaps, this arboreal gecko is capable of gliding or parachuting between trees. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The Mindanao Horned Frog (Pelobatrachus stejnegeri) is endemic to the rainforests of the south-eastern Philippines where it is threatened by habitat loss. Mindanao, Philippines.
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  • Kuhl's Gliding Gecko (Gekko kuhli). Equipped with webbed feet and parasail-like flaps of skin all along its body, this tree-dwelling gecko is able to ‘parachute’ when leaping through the air to escape predators. This not only softens its landing but also enables it to glide a considerable distance. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • This large Huntsman spider (Gnathopalystes sp.) has captured a walking stick (Hermagoras hosei). Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Horsfield's Gliding Gecko (Gekko horsfieldii). Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • By day this large sphinx moth (Clanis stenosema) rests among dead leaves where it is well camouflaged. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A Pilbara Death Adder (Acanthophis wellsi) from the desert regions of Western Australia. Although superficially resembling vipers by their stout body and habit of ambushing prey, death adders are actually elapids and more closely related to cobras, kraits, and coral snakes. Cape Range National Park, Western Australia.
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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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  • 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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  • Bird Dropping Crab Spider (Phrynarachne sp.). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Hooktip moth caterpillar (family Drepanidae). Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo)
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  • Katydid (Promeca sp.), female. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Katydid (Chondroderella borneensis), male. Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • This unusual male katydid (Tympanophyllum atroterminatum) conceals itself by flattening its wings against the surface of a leaf. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf katydid (Tympanophyllum arcufolium), female. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Peacock Pansy (Junonia almana), a species exhbiting seasonal polyphenism. This shows the underside of the dry season form, with few markings. Bokor National Park, Cambodia.
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  • Dark Evening Brown (Melanitis phedima). Yunnan, China.
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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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  • Camouflaged fulgorid planthopper (Episcius sp.). Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus). Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Swallow-tailed Nightjar (Uropsalis segmentata). Parque Natural Chicaque, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
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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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  • 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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  • Walker's moth (Sosxetra grata). Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Glasswing Butterfly (Cithaerias cliftoni), male. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • While the majority of katydids masquerade as leaves, this species (Anaphidna sp.) takes on a different strategy: it rests with its wings raised in the air to mimic a lichen-covered twig. The long filamentous antennae of many insects, which can sometimes betray their camouflage to a predator and are thus often kept tucked away for concealment, are in this species deceptively disguised with bends and kinks. Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Although perfectly camouflaged among lichens when at rest, if a threat is detected this stick insect (Pseudodiacantha chieni) raises its butterfly-like wings as a warning to predators, whilst simultaneously emitting a strong chemical odor. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Sun Glass Frog (Hyalinobatrachium aureoguttatum), male. 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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  • 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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  • 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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  • The Diabolical Nightjar (Eurostopodus diabolicus) produces such an eerie call that local people in Sulawesi hold the superstitious belief that it is a demonic entity, hence its name. The life history of this rare bird is very poorly known as until recently only a single specimen had ever been found. Like other nightjars it rests by day on the ground, using its superb camouflage to escape detection from predators. Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Wingless stick inset (Dares ulula), juvenile. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Bagworm (family Psychidae) moth caterpillar. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Jumping spiders of the genus Portia prey almost exclusively on other spiders, which they hunt using their superior eyesight and deceptive mimicry of a piece of detritus. They are also capable of drumming spider webs in specialized patterns, luring the host spider to within striking distance. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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