Chien C. Lee

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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 insect (Phyllium agnesagamaae) , male. Unlike their larger and more heavily bodied female counterparts, male Leaf Insects (family Phyllidae) have fully developed wings and are capable of flight. Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Silvered Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus cristatus). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Phyllium bioculatum.  Leaf insects (family Phylliidae) are found in tropical forested areas in South and Southeast Asia.  They are slow-moving foliage eaters and rely on their incredible camouflage for defense.  West Java, Indonesia.
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  • An adult male Silvered Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus cristatus) keeps a watchful eye out for any threats to his harem of females. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A juvenile leaf insect (Nanophyllium australianum) from the rainforest of Iron Range National Park. Queensland, Australia.
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  • Frog-legged Leaf Beetle (Sagra buqueti), male. Among the most beautiful of all beetles, a jeweled frog-legged leaf beetle perches on foliage in the Borneo rainforest. With over a dozen species in the genus, Sagra beetles are characterized by their metallic colors and enlarged hind limbs. Rather than being jumpers as their name would otherwise suggest, their spiny hind legs are used in defense and probably also male-male combat. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys trigonodera). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Frog-legged Leaf Beetle (Sagra buqueti), male. Among the most beautiful of all beetles, a jeweled frog-legged leaf beetle perches on foliage in the Borneo rainforest. With over a dozen species in the genus, Sagra beetles are characterized by their metallic colors and enlarged hind limbs. Rather than being jumpers as their name would otherwise suggest, their spiny hind legs are used in defense and probably also male-male combat. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A juvenile leaf insect (Nanophyllium australianum) from the rainforest of Iron Range National Park. Queensland, Australia.
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  • Silvered Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus cristatus). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Silvered Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus cristatus), rare white morph. Bako National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf beetles (family Chrysomelidae). Kibale National Park, Uganda.
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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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  • Leaf beetle (Promechus whitei). West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Leaf beetle (Callicolaspis heros). Napo, Ecuador.
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  • Leaf grasshopper (Systella sp.). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf katydid (Typophyllum mortuifolium), female. Napo, Ecuador.
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  • With uncanny precision, this grasshopper (Chorotypus sp.) displays its mimicry of a dead leaf down to the finest details. Why do some organisms go to such extreme lengths for their camouflage while others can get by with a much simpler appearance? The answer of course is largely due to what they are hiding from: there is a direct correlation between the detail of camouflage and the visual acuity of their specific predators. In this case, the sharp eyes of small insectivorous birds, like the hands of a master craftsman, provide the driving force to some of the most eccentric insect appearances. Batang Ai, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Lemur Leaf Frog (Agalychnis lemur). Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • Leaf insect (Phyllium zomproi), juvenile. Highland Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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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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  • Hispine leaf beetle (Alurnus dallieri). Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
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  • Gliding Leaf Frog (Agalychnis spurrelli). Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • Leaf insect (Cryptophyllium oyae), male. Usually considerably rarer than the flightless females, male Phyllium can also be distinguished by their narrower body shape and long antennae. The taxonomy of many Phyllium species remain poorly studied due to how infrequently they are observed. Ha Giang, Vietnam.
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  • Leaf beetle (Trichochrysea hirta). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • In the coastal forests of northern Borneo, a young Silvery Lutung (Trachypithecus cristatus) is groomed by its mother. Like many leaf monkey species, these highly social primates display brightly colored fur when born that gradually fades after several months into their adult coloration. The exact reason for this adaption is uncertain, but it may help in protection: members of the group can easily distinguish their vulnerable young at a glance, or locate them quickly in the dense foliage of the rainforest canopy. Another interesting theory is that certain predators such as Clouded Leopards, are red/green colorblind, so an orangish pelt may actually be an effective camouflage. Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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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 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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  • The Maroon Langur (Presbytis rubicunda), also known as the Red Leaf Monkey, 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. Sabah, Malaysia.
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  • Leaf-cutter Ants (Atta laevigata) return to their nest carring sections of leaves which will be used to feed their underground fungus gardens. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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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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  • Leaf-mining beetle (Botryonopa sp.). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf-mining beetle (Anisodera sp.), mating. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Despoina spinosa, male, on leaves of Ficus sp. This katydid (family Tettigoniidae) sleeps by day on the undersurface of a large fig leaf, using its perfectly camouflaged semi-translucent wings to conceal itself from predators. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf-mimic katydid (Typophyllum sp.), male. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • With some of the largest leaves of all orchids, this bizarre species (Bulbophyllum beccarii) spirals its way up a tree trunk in the lowland rainforest of Borneo. The leaves are designed to trap falling leaf litter which serves as a supply of nutrients for this entirely epiphytic plant. The blooms smell of rotting fish which attract swarms of flies as pollinators. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, 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 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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  • 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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  • 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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  • Katydid (Tympanophyllum atroterminatum), male concealing itself by laying flat on the underside of a leaf of its food plant (Ficus lepicarpa) during the day. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The Sumatran Surili (Presbytis melalophos) is endemic to the island of Sumatra.  Like other leaf monkeys, this species is primarily folivorous, but also consumes flowers and fruits. Kerinci Seblat National Park, West Sumatra, Indonesia.
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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. Sabah, Malaysia.
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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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  • 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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  • 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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  • 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 endangered Bear Monkey (Trachypithecus vetulus monticola) is endemic the mountain forests of Sri Lanka. Central Province, Sri Lanka.
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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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  • 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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  • Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus). Sungai Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A large group of Proboscis Monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) prepares for sleep in a tree overhanging a river. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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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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  • Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus), subadult male. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus), male. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A fan palm (Licuala valida) reaches towards the light in the understory of the Borneo rainforest. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Flat-nosed Pitviper (Craspedocephalus puniceus). West Java, Indonesia.
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  • The bright orange coloration of this infant Silvered Langur (Trachypithecus cristatus) helps them to be seen and hence guarded by the entire troop. They will gradually lose this coloration after 3 months of age. Bako National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The enormous caterpillars of the Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) consume huge amounts of leaves before they will pupate. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Flat-nosed Pitviper (Craspedocephalus puniceus). West Java, Indonesia.
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  • Under the cover of darkness, a female katydid (Tympanophyllum arcufolium) uses her stout ovipositor to deposit eggs under tree bark where they will be concealed from predators. Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Katydid (Lacipoda immunda), male. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Helmet Orchid (Corybas crenulatus). This species is endemic to Borneo, where it grows in thick moss on limestone rocks. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Southern Purple-faced Langur (Trachypithecus vetulus vetulus). Sinharaja National Park, Sri Lanka.
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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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  • Helmet Orchid (Corybas crenulatus). This species is endemic to Borneo, where it grows in thick moss on limestone rocks. Sarawak, Malaysia (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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  • Endemic to the Bird's Head Peninsula of western New Guinea, the Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus ursinus) has become increasingly threatened by habitat loss and hunting. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Sri Lanka Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura dandolena). Central Province, Sri Lanka.
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  • Katydid (Lacipoda immunda), female. Sarawak, 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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  • 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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  • 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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  • Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei). Volcanoes National Park, Ruhengeri, Rwanda.
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  • Giant Prickly Stick Insect (Extatosoma popa). Highland Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Restricted to the Atherton Tablelands, the Coppery Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus johnstonii) is one of several species nocturnal possums that together inhabit the same montane rainforests in far north Queensland. Although all are folivorous and feed on a wide variety of trees, these sympatric species are able to co-exist without direct competition by partitioning their diets; each has its own specific combination of food plants. Queensland, Australia.
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  • The impressive Sailfin Lizard (Hydrosaurus celebensis) is the largest agamid lizard in the world, reaching over 1 m in length.  They are very agile swimmers and are seldom found far from rivers.  They feed on leaves and insects. Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Endemic to the Bird's Head Peninsula of western New Guinea, the Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus ursinus) has become increasingly threatened by habitat loss and hunting. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • The Waigeo Spotted Cuscus (Spilocuscus papuensis) is endemic to a single island off the northwestern coast of West Papua. Closely related to possums, this is a pouched marsupial, spending its entire life in the trees where it feeds on leaves and occasional fruits.
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  • The Ornate Cuscus (Phalanger ornatus) is endemic to Halmahera and a few offshore islands including Morotai and Bacan. Like other Phalangerids it is nocturnal and feeds primarily on fruit and leaves. Halmahera, North Maluku, Indonesia.
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  • A captive Bear Cuscus (Ailurops ursinus) peers out of a small wooden cage behind a village in Central Sulawesi. Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, the Bear Cuscus is endemic to Sulawesi and a few offshore islands where it is restricted to undisturbed rainforest. Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Sri Lankan Grey Langur (Semnopithecus priam thersites). Yala National Park, Sri Lanka.
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  • Not all gaudy appearances are a disguise – some are simply a warning. Quite a number of moth species deceptively mimic the shape and color of stinging insects (such as wasps and bees), but others such as this Window-winged Moth (Glanycus coendersi) don’t appear to resemble any particular model. Instead, the bright aposematic coloration of this insect is believed to be a bold advertisement of its distastefulness. This defense works as an effective signal to predators, thereby allowing the moth to exploit other lifestyle advantages such as foraging during daylight hours (e.g. this is a diurnal species) while other moths must retreat into hiding until nightfall. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Tortoise beetles (Basiprionota decempustulata), mating. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • One of Borneo's most famous endemic mammals, the Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus) is restricted to coastal swamp forests and mangroves. Bako National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Red-eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas). Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • Looking like a bunch of trilobite sarcophagi, a cluster of tortoise beetle pupae remain huddled together as they wait to pupate into adults. Although blind, immobile and otherwise defenseless in this stage, each pupa is capable of flexing its body up and down when disturbed, and the combined motion of the entire group may serve to befuddle a potential predator or parasite. Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, Napo, Ecuador.
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  • Pulchriphyllium fredkugani, male. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Alocasia reginae. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Red-eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas). Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • Sylvia's Tree Frog (Cruziohyla sylviae). Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • Tortoise beetle (Basiprionota decempustulata). Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Lowland rainforest in Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Platycerium madagascaeriense, one of the most bizarre endemic plants of Madagascar. Like other staghorn ferns, this species is strictly an epiphyte, growing among the canopy branches of tall trees. It is becoming increasingly rare and difficult to find in the wild because of widespread deforestation in the wet submontane forests of the east coast. The unusual ruffled texture of the shield fronds is probably an adaptation to allow passageways for ants to live underneath – a relationship that is mutually beneficial for both plant and insect. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Tarsier Monkey-Frog (Phyllomedusa tarsius). Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • One of the world's most endangered primates, the Bornean Banded Langur (Presbytis chrysomelas chrysomelas) has been threatened by both habitat loss and hunting. Now, only a few isolated populations remain in coastal Sarawak, with an estimated total of just a few hundred individuals. They feed on foliage and fruits in lowland rainforest. 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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  • With their vertical pupils and opposable thumbs, Phyllomedusa are easily some of the most distinguishable of all tree frogs. However, it is their peculiar form of locomotion that is perhaps their most striking feature: when seen walking slowly down a branch with their bodies raised, they appear decidedly ‘un-froglike’. Studies into their anatomy reveal that they possess a specialized musculature that not only allows them to move their limbs independently (as opposed to the simultaneous bilateral hopping motions of most other frogs), but also gives them a ‘precision grip’ which enables steady movement over thin branches. This grasping ability is rare among animals and is shared predominantly with higher primates, hence leading to one of their common names: ‘Monkey Frogs’. Coca, Ecuador.
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  • Red-eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas). Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • Tortoise Beetle (Thlaspidosoma dohrni). Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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