Chien C. Lee

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  • Long antennae are an important sensory apparatus for many insects but they can be a hindrance when it comes to concealing yourself. Some species, such as this mossy stick insect (Antongilia lacinata), have given them up (having only short antenna) in favor of better camouflage, probably a good trade-off considering this insect isn't highly mobile anyway. Photographed exactly as found on a mossy tree trunk. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • The trees in montane mossy forest are typically laden with epiphytic plants, such as on this mountain summit in Lore Lindu National Park. Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Mossy stick insect (Phobaeticus foliatus), female. Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Mossy cloud forest occurs at higher elevations on nearly all of Borneo's mountains. These habitats are characterized by high rainfall, frequent fog, cooler temperatures, and small trees which are covered with moss and a myriad of epiphytic plants. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A master of camouflage, this rare stick insect (Trychopeplus laciniatus) is perfectly suited for its arboreal lifestyle in the mossy forests of Central America. It feeds exclusively on the foliage of several epiphytic orchid species. Cartago, Costa Rica.
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  • Orthostheneboea exotica, female (Previously Parastheneboea), a moss-mimicking stick insect endemic to Borneo. Sarawak, Malaysia.
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  • At nearly 3000m elevation, this cold and wet montane cloud forest is completely draped with thick mosses. South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • With its fearsome clawed peristome, this pitcher plant (Nepenthes hamata) is one of the most spectacular and sought-after species in the entire genus. It is endemic to the higher mountains of Sulawesi where it grows on steep mossy ridges. Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • An unusually-shaped epiphytic orchid (Bulbophyllum uniflorum) blooms on a mossy tree in Sumatra's montane rainforest. West Sumatra, Indonesia.
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  • Nepenthes hamata, a rare species of pitcher plant found only in the cool and damp mossy forests on steep ridges in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Bulbophyllum elongatum. Although distributed throughout the tropics worldwide, orchids of the genus Bulbuphyllum reach their highest diversity in the cool montane forests of New Guinea, with over 600 recorded species. Papua, Indonesia.
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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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  • This unidentified caterpillar which feeds on epiphytic moss, is camouflaged to look like its preferred substrate. Arfak Mountains, West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • A moss-mimicking katydid from the rainforest of central Africa. Kibale National Park, Kabarole, Uganda.
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  • Few creatures possess a mastery of camouflage the way Madagascar’s leaf-tailed geckos do. This Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus sikorae) sleeps by day on a rainforest liana, its outline obscured by frilled dermal flaps that line its body. By always resting in a downward-facing position they may be able to quickly catch unsuspecting insects that climb up from the ground and also conceal their reflective lidless eyes from predators lurking above. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • With its rough skin texture and mottled green coloration, it’s easy to see how the Mossy Rain Frog (Pristimantis museosus) is well equipped to blend in with the damp forests in which it dwells. This frog is endemic to the mountains of central Panama, a region which has seen drastic declines in many amphibians over the past few decades due to the introduction of the virulent chytrid fungus. Like other species of Pristimantis, the females of P. museosus lay large eggs that do not require water – the tadpoles transform into froglets entirely within the egg itself. This adaptation may have provided this species with some protection against chytrid, since the fungus most easily transfers among those species which breed in bodies of water. Nevertheless, this frog remains highly threatened and has disappeared from multiple sites across its range. Panamá Oeste, Panama.
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  • A master of camouflage, the Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus sikorae) is almost completely undetectable when it is at rest on a small tree in the forest understory. Frilled flaps of skin along its body break up its outline, making it appear nearly seamless with the tree on which it rests. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Mossy stick insect (Phobaeticus foliatus), juvenile female. Mount Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Mossy stick insect (Neoclides laceratus), female. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo)
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  • Remarkable moss mimicry of a Madagascan stick insect (Antongilia lacinata). Visual camouflage adaptations such as this are predominantly aimed at protection from diurnal predators, hence these insects usually conceal themselves by day on mossy tree trunks. At night they roam about on the understory vegetation completely exposed while foraging for fresh leaves to feed on; their extravagant crypsis inconsequential in total darkness. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus sikorae). Mantadia National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Mossy stick insect (Taraxippus samarae), female. Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • Mossy Tree Frog (Philautus macroscelis), male. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A master of camouflage, the Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus sikorae) is almost completely undetectable when it is at rest on a small tree in the forest understory. Frilled flaps of skin along its body break up its outline, making it appear nearly seamless with the tree on which it rests. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • 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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  • 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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  • The rainforests of the remote Marojejy National Park in northern Madagascar are one of the best places to look for the island's unique leaf-tailed geckos. In addition to their superb camouflage, most species, like this Uroplatus giganteus, rest head downwards presumably to conceal the revealing reflections of their lidless eyes from arboreal predators.
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  • The rainforests of the remote Marojejy National Park in northern Madagascar are one of the best places to look for the island's unique leaf-tailed geckos. In addition to their superb camouflage, most species, like this Uroplatus giganteus, rest head downwards presumably to conceal the revealing reflections of their lidless eyes from arboreal predators.
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  • Hose’s Civet (Diplogale hosei), one of Borneo’s rarest and least known endemic mammals. This otter-like carnivore is an inhabitant of high elevation mossy forests where it hunts for frogs, fish, and other small animals. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • An unidentified hylid tree frog from the montane mossy forests of New Guinea. Papua, Indonesia.
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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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  • A tiny undescribed species of dwarf toad (Pelophryne sp.) perches on the lid of a carnivorous pitcher plant (Nepenthes villosa) high in the mossy forests of Mount Tambuyukon in northern Borneo. It is suspected that these toads and other amphibians utilize the water-filled pitchers in which to breed, but the remoteness of these locations makes this behavior difficult to study, and their exact relationship remains unconfirmed. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A newly discovered pitcher plant (Nepenthes appendiculata) from montane mossy forest in Sarawak. This species is remarkable by the unusual glandular appendage found at the tip of the pitcher lid, which probably serves to attract insect prey. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Variable Cross Frog (Oreophryne variabilis). Widespread in Sulawesi, the loud calls of this tiny bush frog are a common sound in cool and wet mossy montane forests. South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • A well-camouflaged Borneo Rainbow Toad (Ansonia latidisca) scales a mossy tree trunk in the submontane rainforest of western Borneo. Although little is known about the life history of this rare species, it is an agile climber and is probably highly arboreal. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • This camouflaged Pygmy Grasshopper (Discotettix sp.) is nearly indistinguishable from the mossy bark on which it rests. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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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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  • 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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  • Within the microcosm of a mossy tree stump, a tiny hidden predator lies patiently in wait. Still a juvenile, this praying mantis (Haania sp.) will eventually mature and shed most of its moss-like camouflage in favor of fully developed wings. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The bizarre gourd-shaped pitchers of this pitcher plant (Nepenthes lowii) are an unforgettable sight in the mossy forests of northern Borneo. It is has been shown that these function to trap animal droppings which serve as fertilizer for the plant. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • This miniature orchid (Bulbophyllum amauroloma) grows on small branches in the understory of mossy montane forest. It is endemic to the island of Sulawesi.
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  • Mossy-forest Sticky Frog (Kalophrynus dringi). Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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