Chien C. Lee

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  • Fruit piercing moths (Eudocima phalonia) converge on a cluster of ripe figs (Ficus fistulosa) to feed on the sweet juice. Many moths in this family have similar feeding habits and can be damaging to commercial fruit crops. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • An infrared camera trap reveals a secretive nocturnal visitor to the giant pitchers of Nepenthes rajah. The Kinabalu Rat (Rattus baluensis) is known only from the upper slopes of Mount Kinabalu in northern Borneo. New research has confirmed that this rodent shares a similar mutualistic relationship with these pitcher plants as the Mountain Treeshrew (Tupaia montana), by obtaining sweet nectar in exchange for their nitrogen-rich droppings. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The Long-tongued Nectar Bat (Macroglossus minimus) is an important pollinator of many rainforest trees. Here it is feeding on the nectar of banana flowers. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Lesser Bare-backed fruit Bat (Dobsonia minor), feeding on fig. Nimbokrang, Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Leaf of Colocasia gigantea with round holes left by feeding Chrysomelid beetle (Aplosonyx ancora). The beetle bites circular leaf trenches to drain the leaf of its toxic latex prior to consumption. Ha Giang, Vietnam.
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  • A damselfly (Coenagrionidae) feeding on a pygmy grasshopper (Tetrigidae) which it has caught during flight. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps), feeding on sap of Acacia tree. Wasur National Park, South Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Malagasy Green Sunbird (Cinnyris notatus) feeding at flowers of Ravenala grandis. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Little Green-Pigeon (Treron olax), male feeding on fruits of Glochidion rubrum. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Tithonus Birdwing (Ornithoptera tithonus), female, feeding at Impatiens flowers. Arfak Mountains, West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Maroon Langur (Presbytis rubicunda) feeding on leaves of Mikania micrantha, an invasive vine. Danum valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Rufous Mouse Lemur (Microcebus rufus), feeding on katydid. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Fruit-piercing moth (Eudocima phalonia) using its stout proboscis to feed on the sweet juice of wild figs (Ficus fistulosa). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • With highly toxic chemical defenses ranging from benzoquinones to cyanide compounds, millipedes are generally avoided by most predators. However, in nature no matter how well protected you are, everyone has their Achilles' heel. In this case we have the Ectrichodiinid bugs, better known as ' Millipede Assassins'. These specialized hunters feed exclusively on millipedes, stabbing them with a stout proboscis, immobilizing them with venom, and are undeterred by their prey's thick armor and toxins. It is suspected that some species may actually be able to sequester the chemicals of the millipede to incorporate into their own defenses, but this remains to be studied. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A Maroon Langur (Presbytis rubicunda) pauses for a break while munching on his chosen leaf. Endemic to Borneo and a few offshore islands, these leaf monkeys feed on a wide range of foliage and unripe fruits, traveling in groups of up to a dozen individuals. One theory regarding their distinctive bright orange coloration is that this may help to confuse some predators into mistaking them for a much larger and stronger Orangutan, and thus deter attacks. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A Pygmy Loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) makes a meal of a giant stick insect (Tirachoidea sp.).  Although primarily insectivorous, these nocturnal primates will also feed on fruit, sap, flowers, lizards, and nestling birds.  Captive. Endangered Primate Rescue Centre, Cuc Phuong National Park, Ninh Binh, Vietnam.
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  • A potter wasp (Omicroides singularis) returns to her nest with a paralyzed caterpillar. Each perfectly crafted urn will be filled with a dozen or so caterpillars before she deposits a single egg and seals the entrance. The developing wasp larvae will feed on the caterpillars before pupating and emerging as an adult. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Threatened with encroaching cultivation and forest loss, a Southern Purple-Faced Langur (Trachypithecus vetulus vetulus) enters a tea plantation to feed on the fresh young leaves. These endangered monkeys are endemic to Sri Lanka’s southern wet forests, and although once widespread, are now facing severe habitat fragmentation due to roads and settlements. This can lead to human conflicts where the monkeys are inevitably forced to exploit agricultural areas for food. Sinharaja National Park. Sri Lanka.
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  • A Red-shanked Douc (Pygathrix nemaeus) munches on a handful of young vine leaves it has picked in the forest canopy. Although these endangered monkeys feed on over sixty different species of plants, they select their food carefully and in particular avoid sweet fruits which can upset the balance of bacteria in their guts. Like other leaf-eating colobine monkeys, doucs have large chambered stomachs – making them the only ruminant primates and giving them their characteristic pot-bellied appearance. Son Tra Nature Reserve, Vietnam.
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  • A Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) living up to its name: here with a large black carpenter bee (Xylocopa sp.) it has caught in mid-air. While most bee-eaters prefer open woodlands and forest edges, this species is unusual in that it is typically found deep within rainforest. Flashy colors in birds are often possessed only by the males and typically function as a means of advertising for a mate. However, in this species both males and females sport a bright red face, which suggests that the coloration may serve a different purpose. One theory is that this may serve to attract flower-feeding insects to venture closer for a look - a convenient way for the bird to catch an easy meal. Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • 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).
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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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  • A male flower scarab (Mecynorhina harrisi), prepared to ward off rivals with his formidable horn, guards a female while she feeds on tree sap. Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania.
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  • With fewer than a thousand individuals remaining in the wild, the Critically Endangered Golden Bamboo Lemur (Hapalemur aureus) holds on to a tenuous existence in the rainforests of Madagascar. It’s discovery in the mid-1980’s was a crucial factor that led to the foundation of the now famous Ranomafana National Park – a reserve that protects over 400 sq. km. of tropical forest. Like other bamboo lemurs, it feeds primarily on bamboo shoots which, due to their high cyanide content, are lethally toxic to most other animals. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Ant-hunting spider (Mallinella sp.) predating a Giant Forest Ant (Dinomyrmex gigas ssp. borneensis), which it also mimics. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The complex ecosystem of the rainforest is filled with such a plethora of tiny hungry creatures that many predators may themselves become victims to something larger. Here, in the humid jungles of southern New Guinea, an unfortunate tree frog is being devoured by a large huntsman spider (family Sparassidae). With leg spans sometimes exceeding 15cm, these spiders spin no webs and instead rely on speed to catch their prey. South Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Marauder Ants (Carebara affinis) attacking a beetle grub. The minor workers are assisted by their larger sisters, the majors and super-majors, which use their powerful mandibles to cut the grub into smaller pieces. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Pitta-like Ground-roller (Atelornis pittoides) with earthworm. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Brehm's Tiger-parrot (Psittacella brehmii). West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Sri Lanka Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura dandolena). Central Province, Sri Lanka.
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  • A Short-nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus brachyotis) swoops in to select a ripe fig (Ficus fistulosa) growing directly on the trunk of the tree. Rather than eating on the spot, the bat will carry the fig off to a favorite perch where it can dine in safety, thus helping to spread the tree's seeds. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • This female Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher (Corythornis madagascariensis) has just been gifted a small lizard (Madascincus melanopleura) by her mate as part of a courtship ritual. Despite their name, these birds are not dependent on water, and typically hunt for insects and small vertebrates on the forest floor. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Huntsman spider preying on camel cricket, with parasitic midge. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Four-clawed Gecko (Gehyra mutilata) attending a lanternfly (Pyrops whiteheadi) for secreted honeydew. Host tree is Pometia pinnata. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Lynx spider (Hamadruas superba) preying on plant bug (Alydidae). Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A female pompilid wasp (Eragenia congrua) hauls a paralyzed spider (Corinna sp.) towards her nest, after having neatly amputated its legs to make the transport of her victim easier. This will not be food for her, but for her offspring. Her nest consists of a hole in the soft bark of a tree, and once depositing the spider inside she will lay a single egg, which upon hatching into a larva will consume the still-living host. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • A Harlequin Gliding Frog (Rhacophorus pardalis) struggles futilely as it is being slowly swallowed alive by a Black-Headed Cat Snake (Boiga nigriceps). Stagnant pools of water in the Borneo rainforest serve as important breeding grounds for many tree frogs which gather around in great numbers, a fact that some predators wisely take advantage of. Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Rather than being carnivorous, this unusual pitcher plant (Nepenthes lowii) derives its nutrition from the droppings of the Mountain Treeshrew (Tupaia montana). The animals are attracted to the plant's copious nectar secretions, and inevitably leave their scat in the pitchers which are designed like a natural toilet receptacle. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Bird Dropping Crab Spider (Phrynarachne decipiens) preying on cockroach (Ectobiidae). Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Red-thighed Bromeliad Spider (Cupiennius coccineus), with prey. Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • Huntsman spider (Heteropoda sp.) cannibalizing on another huntsman spider. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Buthid scorpion (Tityus sp.) preying on a smaller scorpion. Yasuní National Park, Orellana, Ecuador.
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  • After quickly selecting a ripe fig (Ficus fistulosa), a Short-nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus brachyotis) makes off with her prize to dine some distance away at a safe perch, thereby helping to disperse the tree's seeds that will ultimately lead to fruit for her future generations. Figs reach their pinnacle of diversity in Borneo with at least 150 species and, perhaps more than any other group of plants, are considered keystone species of the rainforest because of the complex interdependences they exhibit with countless animals and insects. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Usambiro Barbet (Trachyphonus darnaudii usambiro), carrying termites back to nest. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.
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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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  • Marauder Ants (Carebara affinis) attacking a beetle grub. The minor workers are assisted by their larger sisters, the majors and super-majors, which use their powerful mandibles to cut the grub into smaller pieces. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Bushy-crested Hornbill (Anorrhinus galeritus), eating fruits on a hanging vine (Adenia macrophylla). Sepilok Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Unable to fly with a load many times her own weight, a female Thread-waisted Sand Wasp (Ammophila beniniensis) hauls a large caterpillar which she has paralyzed with her sting. She is seeking a burrow she has prepared in advance and, even though it may be a considerable distance away, she shows a remarkable orientation ability even though there may be numerous obstacles in her path. Once placed inside, with the burrow sealed shut by small rocks and its entrance hidden from potential thieves, the ill-fated caterpillar will serve as live food for the single egg the wasp has deposited along with it. Fianarantsoa, Madagascar.
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  • A huntsman spider preying on a damselfly (Vestalis sp.). Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Huntsman spider (Sparassidae) preying on a young Madagascar day gecko (Phelsuma parva). Tomasina, Madagascar.
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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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  • Like most snail-eating snakes, the Blunt-headed Tree Snake (Aplopeltura boa) is small and slender with an abnormally large head. They posses an asymmetric arrangement of teeth in their lower jaw which enables them to pry snails from their shells (most of which swirl in a clockwise direction) by a process referred to as "mandible walking". Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Tug of war: a Giant Huntsman Spider (Heteropoda sp.) struggles to keep a hold on her precious egg sac as a hungry Banded Forest Gecko (Cyrtodactylus consobrinus) attempts to steal it away. With sometimes over 200 eggs within the papery sac, the female spider guards her eggs ferociously, carrying the bundle in her jaws for several weeks until they hatch. Fortunately for the gecko, this spider seems more concerned with maintaining her grip with her mandibles rather than risking a quick release to bite the offending gecko. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Sundew (Drosera burmannii) with trapped prey. Bokor National Park, Cambodia.
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  • Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) eating crab. Chocó, Colombia.
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  • In the insect world, even having a vicious sting isn’t enough to always save you from some larger predators. Here, in the dry spiny forest of southern Madagascar, a wasp has fallen prey to a giant robber fly (Microstylum sp.). With fast wings, excellent eyesight, and piercing mouthparts, robber flies catch other insects in mid flight and suck out their insides like a juice pack. Berenty Private Reserve, Amboasary, Madagascar.
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  • Ants (Stictoponera sp.) feeding on extrafloral nectaries on the stems of Leea aculeata. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • With its large stiff flower bracts and copious amounts of sucrose-laded nectar, Madagascar’s Traveler’s Palms (Ravenala spp.) have evolved to be pollinated almost exclusively by several species of lemurs. Here, a Common Brown Lemur (Eulemur fulvus) feeds at the infloresence of Ravenala hladikorum. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Mountain Treeshrew (Tupaia montana) feeding at Nepenthes rajah.  Recent research has shown the the world's largest pitcher plant Nepenthes rajah is not exclusively carnivorous. Like the related N. lowii, this species attracts treeshrews by secreting nectar on the undersurface of the lid. These animals frequently leave their droppings in the pitcher, which serves as a valuable nitrogen source in their impoverished mountain habitat. Mount Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Few things exemplify the incredible complexity of rainforest ecosystems more than that of mutualisms between species. Here, a group of Giant Forest Ants (Dinomyrmex gigas) tend to a pair of lanternflies (Pyrops cultellatus), a relationship that has a net benefit for both species. The lanternflies, feeding directly from the phloem of the tree with their piercing straw-like mouthparts, harvest much more sugar-rich fluid than they actually need; the excess being excreted intermittently as a squirt of honeydew droplets from their abdomen. The ants position themselves directly behind and below the lanternflies and intercept these droplets with their heads, then consume the fluid and share it with their nestmates. In return, the ants guard the lanternflies and will ferociously attack any potential threat. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • By means of its extensive skin membranes, the Sunda Colugo (Galeopterus variegatus borneanus), is capable of gliding impressive distances between trees. This adult is carrying a young offspring on its underside. Bearing no relation to true lemurs, colugos are in their own unique order and are only distantly related to primates and treeshrews. They are nocturnal, feeding on leaves, flowers, and sap. Recent research on morphological and genetic variations indicate that the Bornean and Javan subspecies may merit recognition as distinct species. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The Oriental Vine Snake (Ahaetulla prasina) is an agile climber, feeding on small birds and lizards with its excellent binocular vision. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Goodman's Mouse Lemur (Microcebus lehilahytsara), feeding on the nectar of night-blooming Dombeya flowers. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Ecuadorian Hillstar (Oreotrochilus chimborazo), female feeding juvenile female. Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador.
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  • At only 12cm in length, the Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx fallax) is one of the smallest kingfishers. It is a bird of the forest, feeding on small lizards and insects, and is endemic to Sulawesi and a few offshore islands, although scarce and patchily distributed. Gorontalo, Indonesia.
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  • In a strikingly specific instance of mimicry, the patterns on the wings of this moth (Macrocilix maia) appear to resemble two flies feeding at a glistening bird dropping. This, coupled with a pungent odor that the moth emits, may be enough to dissuade a predator from considering a meal. Although flies are certainly edible, they nevertheless sometimes serve as models for mimicry because they are so quick and agile that most birds won't bother pursuing them. Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Lanternfly (Pyrops sidereus), a rare species endemic to northern Borneo, here feeding on the sap of Garcinia sp. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • In a habitat that would be deadly to most other insects, the freezing temperatures high on the slopes of Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador are home to a very unusual walkingstick: Monticomorpha flavolimbata. Feeding on páramo vegetation that is frequently crusted over with frost, this species has been recorded at altitudes of up to 5000m, making it the highest elevation known for any stick insect. Presumably its dark coloration helps it to more efficiently absorb the sun’s fleeting warmth.
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  • The Spotted Cuscus (Spilocuscus maculatus chrysorrhous) is a widespread arboreal marsupial occurring in the lowland rainforests of New Guinea and northern Australia. It is solitary and nocturnal, feeding primarily on leaves and fruits. Central Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Bushy-crested Hornbill (Anorrhinus galeritus) feeding on fruit of Tabernaemontana macrocarpa. Sepilok Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Dung beetle (Proagoderus watanabei), male feeding on herbivore scat. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A robber fly (family Asilidae) killed by parasitic fungus (Ophiocordyceps dipterigena). This fungus specializes in feeding on adult flies. After consuming the interior of its host the cream-colored fruiting bodies emerge and release spores to infect new insects. North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • At only 12cm in length, the Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx fallax) is one of the smallest kingfishers. It is a bird of the forest, feeding on small lizards and insects, and is endemic to Sulawesi and a few offshore islands, although scarce and patchily distributed. Gorontalo, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • After several months of feeding on Aristolochia leaves, the mature caterpillar of this large birdwing butterfly (Troides andromache) prepares for its final moult into the pupal stage when metamorphosis will transform it into an adult. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The Spotted Cuscus (Spilocuscus maculatus chrysorrhous) is a widespread arboreal marsupial occurring in the lowland rainforests of New Guinea and northern Australia. It is solitary and nocturnal, feeding primarily on leaves and fruits. Central Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Weighing in at less than 1kg, the Ring-tailed Mongoose (Galidia elegans) is a quick and agile predator, feeding on a wide range of small animals and insects. Together with all of Madagascar’s endemic carnivores (in the family Eupleridae), it is believed to have descended from a single common ancestor that arrived on the island about 16-22 million years ago. Marojejy National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Within the chamber of a giant pitcher plant (Nepenthes rajah), an iridescent Elephant Mosquito (Toxorhynchites sp.) emerges from its pupal case. These large mosquitoes do not suck blood, feeding instead on flower nectar and plant sap. The larvae are voracious predators of aquatic insects, including the young of other mosquitoes. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Bornean Clouded Leopard (Neofelis diardi borneensis), captive female. This is the largest land predator in Borneo and possesses the longest canine teeth of any living feline. It is a nocturnal hunter and has been observed feeding on prey as large as large as Proboscis Monkeys. Recently this species was distinguished from the mainland Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Dark-eared Myza (Myza celebensis) feeding at a ginger inflorescence (Alpinia cf. monopleura). Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Sometimes gregarious while feeding on the sap of trees, the whitish color of these lanternflies (Pyrops sultanus) is a waxy substance which serves to protect them from parasites, mildew, and predators. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Like other langurs, Silvered Leaf Monkeys (Trachypithecus cristatus) are highly social and travel in cohesive groups numbering up to 40 or more individuals. They have a specialized diet, feeding almost exclusively on high-protein leaves. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Still wet from a passing rainstorm, a Sabah Bamboo Pitviper (Trimeresurus sabahi) lies in ambush on the side of a tree, waiting for the approach of suitable prey. By maintaining a low metabolism and sometimes remaining in a single position for weeks at a time, tropical vipers such as this can survive by feeding as infrequently as once every few months. Mount Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Mutualisms between ants and treehoppers are so effective that sometimes multiple species can occur together on the same plant without conflicts. Here, a Myrmecaria ant worker tends to a short-horned Tricentrus sp., while an extravagantly adorned Pyrgauchenia biuni feeds nearby. Both of these treehoppers feed on the plant phloem, tapping into the stem with their proboscis, and secrete excess sugary fluid which the ants gather. In return the ants not only fiercely protect the treehoppers from predators, but sometimes also assist in distributing the young hoppers to suitable branches on the host stem. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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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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  • Nycticebus menagensis. One of four species of Slow Loris found in Borneo. All Slow Loris are nocturnal arboreal primates which feed on small animals, insects and soft fruits. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The Black-bearded Tomb Bat (Taphozous melanopogon) roosts in caves and large rock crevices, emerging at night to feed on insects high above the forest canopy. It is found throughout much of mainland Southeast Asia as well as Borneo, Sumatra, and Java. It's echolocation calls while flying are audible as high pitched clicks. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A Giant Forest Ant (Dinomyrmex gigas) receives a droplet of sweet honeydew from the abdomen of a juvenile leaf-footed bug (Notobitus sp.). The bugs, which obtain more sugar than they need from the plant juices they feed on, are fiercely guarded by the ants in return. Mutually beneficial trophobiotic relationships such as this are very advantageous in the competitive ecosystem of the rainforest. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The least known of all of Sulawesi's monkeys, Heck's Macaque (Macaca hecki) occurs on the northwestern portion of the island. Five other endemic species of macaque are distributed in different regions of Sulawesi, occasionally producing hybrids where their ranges overlap. All are diurnal and feed largely on fruits. Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Pompelon marginata. This beautifully colored day-flying moth is a member of the Burnet Moth Family (Zygaenidae). It is widespread in Southeast Asia where its caterpillars feed on the leaves of wild cinnamon. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Lowland Streaked Tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus). Like a miniature porcupine, these indomitable tiny mammals protect themselves from predators by an armament of barbed spines. They feed on insects and other invertebrates which they find in the leaf litter of the forest floor using their long sensitive snout. All species of tenrec are endemic to Madagascar. Mantadia National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Looking like a cross between a dragonfly and a butterfly, owlflies (family Ascalaphidae) are in fact more closely related to ant lions and lacewings. These nocturnal predators feed on small insects that they catch on the wing. By day, they sleep concealed on twigs, or in this unusual case (Cordulecerus sp.), as a group together on a root hanging above a stream. Sleeping in an aggregation with their antennae held outstretched in a perimeter may help to better detect the approach of predators, keeping the group safer than sleeping alone. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • A miniature narrow-mouthed frog (Microhyla cf. borneensis) seeks the moist shelter within a carnivorous plant (Nepenthes bicalcarata) resting on the Borneo rainforest floor. Normally a deadly pitfall trap, this plant's pitcher has been chewed open on the side by a small mammal, probably in an attempt to feed on the trapped insects (or fluids) inside. Several species of Nepenthes such as this are used as tadpole nurseries for certain frogs, some of which will breed nowhere else. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The least known of all of Sulawesi's monkeys, Heck's Macaque occurs on the northwestern portion of the island. Five other endemic species of macaque are distributed in different regions of Sulawesi, occasionally producing hybrids where their ranges overlap. All are diurnal and feed largely on fruits. Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • A pair of blue fulgorid lanternflies (Pyrops maculatus) feed off the phloem of a tree in the lowland rainforest of Sinharaja National Park, Sri Lanka.
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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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  • 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).
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  • The least known of all of Sulawesi's monkeys, Heck's Macaque occurs on the northwestern portion of the island. Five other endemic species of macaque are distributed in different regions of Sulawesi, occasionally producing hybrids where their ranges overlap. All are diurnal and feed largely on fruits. Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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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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  • The Maroon Langur (Presbytis rubicunda) is endemic to Borneo and nearby Karimata Island, with several subspecies occurring throughout its range. Like other leaf monkeys they are almost completely arboreal and feed on foliage, seeds, and some fruits.  Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia.
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  • The Dusky Fruit Bat (Penthetor lucasi) roosts in large colonies in caves, though like most other fruit bats it is not capable of echolocation and relies on its keen eyesight for navigation.  It emerges at night to feed on a variety of fruits, often carrying food back to its roost to eat. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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