Chien C. Lee

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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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  • 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. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Buthid scorpion (Tityus sp.) preying on a smaller scorpion. Yasuní National Park, Orellana, Ecuador.
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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 damselfly (Coenagrionidae) feeding on a pygmy grasshopper (Tetrigidae) which it has caught during flight. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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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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  • This large Huntsman spider (Gnathopalystes sp.) has captured a walking stick (Hermagoras hosei). Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Extremely agile on the wing, the Bat Hawk (Macheiramphus alcinus) is a specialist predator of bats and swiftlets, often waiting near cave entrances for its prey to emerge. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Huntsman spider preying on camel cricket, with parasitic midge. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Sundew (Drosera burmannii) with trapped prey. Bokor National Park, Cambodia.
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  • Red-thighed Bromeliad Spider (Cupiennius coccineus), with prey. Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • A huntsman spider preying on a damselfly (Vestalis sp.). Mulu National Park, Sarawak, 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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  • Huntsman spider (Sparassidae) preying on a young Madagascar day gecko (Phelsuma parva). Tomasina, 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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  • 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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  • Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela). Sungai Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Sabah, 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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  • Pitta-like Ground-roller (Atelornis pittoides) with earthworm. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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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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  • 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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  • 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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  • 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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  • Huntsman spider (Heteropoda sp.) cannibalizing on another huntsman spider. Sarawak, 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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  • 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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  • Once considered a subspecies of the widespread Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela), the Sulawesi Serpent Eagle has a distinctive plumage and is endemic to Sulawesi. Like other serpent eagles it feeds on snakes, lizards, and occasional small mammals. Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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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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  • Rufous Mouse Lemur (Microcebus rufus), feeding on katydid. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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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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  • Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) eating crab. Chocó, Colombia.
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  • Like an eager fisherman, a Madagascan Net-casting Spider (Deinopis madagascariensis) waits patiently above the stem of a small bush, ready to ensnare a passing insect with its sticky web. Sometimes called ‘Ogre-faced Spiders’ due to their enormous front eyes, these nocturnal predators have highly acute vision and are able to detect small movements even in complete darkness. Their method of capturing prey is unique among all spiders: the web they spin for this purpose is composed of highly stretchable, sticky fibers – it is swept over an insect in a blindingly fast scooping motion of the front legs, with the resulting struggling prey quickly immobilized by a venomous bite. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • A fast and aggressive predator, this Malaysian Cherry-red Centipede (Scolopendra dehaani) can reach over 20cm in length and can consume prey as large as a mouse. Like other centipedes, its first pair of legs are modified to deliver a painful venom which is effective both in subduing prey and in defense. Penang, Malaysia.
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  • Hidden in the dense leaf litter of the rainforest floor, an Amazonian Horned Frog (Ceratophrys cornuta) lies in wait for its next meal. With a mouth wider than the length of its body, and a voracious appetite to boot, these frogs can consume prey as large as small reptiles and rodents. This species is widely distributed in the Amazon Basin, but nowhere particularly abundant. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • A nocturnal Net-casting Spider (Asianopis sp.) lies in wait for an insect to venture beneath. Between its front legs it holds an expandable sticky white web which it will use to fling over its prey, ensnaring it.  These are sometimes referred to as 'Ogre-faced Spiders' because of the extremely large posterior median eyes which allow them to see in darkness. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • With forests full of keen-eyed predatory birds, many of Madagascar’s smaller creatures have evolved incredibly cryptic appearances to evade detection. In the case of this Ghost Mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa), the remarkable leaf like mimicry serves also to conceal it from potential prey, which will be seized and eaten alive if they venture too close. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Ubiquitous throughout the forests of the island, the Madagascar Crested Drongo (Dicrurus forficatus) is well-respected by other birds for its pugnacious and aggressive attitude. They are extremely agile on the wing, swooping out from perches to snatch insects in mid-air, and have even been known to take prey as large as small chameleons and geckos. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • With its gaudy appearance and bold stance on top of a leaf, one might think that this tiny metalmark moth (Brenthia sp.) would make easy prey for a small predator like a jumping spider. However, if you blur your eyes just a little, you might be able to see why jumping spiders hesitate before attacking these moths: their wing patterns look remarkably similar to another jumping spider. Note particularly the “fuzzy legs” (dark bands) held to the side and the eyespots with reflections at the top. Jumping spiders may not have as acute eyesight as we do, but they are nevertheless visually-oriented predators, and they also avoid risky conflicts with others of their kind. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Drosera ultramafica. This recently (2011) described sundew species occurs on ultramafic mountains in Borneo, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and Palawan.  Like other sundews it is insectivorous and traps prey by means of its sticky mobile tentacles. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The largest terrestrial and river predator in the world, the Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) can reach lengths of over 6 m and consumes a wide range of animal prey. They are commonly found in mangroves, lagoons, and large rivers along the coastline of Borneo.  Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Iridescent Bark Mantis (Metallyticus splendidus). One of the most beautiful of all praying mantises, these rare mantids are unique in their metallic coloration. They are found on and underneath bark of rainforest trees and are believed to prey exclusively on cockroaches. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Crab spiders of the genus Amyciaea are excellent mimics of Weaver Ants (Oecophylla), their preferred prey. In this manner they are able to both avoid predators and easily approach within striking distance of the ants. North Maluku, Indonesia.
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  • A juvenile Oriental Vine Snake (Ahaetulla prasina) basks in a beam of sunlight in the rainforest of Tangkoko National Park. These highly arboreal snakes are excellent climbers and are adept at hunting lizards, their favored prey. North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • The Bornean Keeled Green Pit Viper (Tropidolaemus subannulatus) is an arboreal species, often laying in wait for prey on the same branch for weeks at a time. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Like other small animals of the forest understory, this Borneo Forest Dragon (Gonocephalus bornensis) must juggle his attention between searching for prey (insects and spiders) while keeping a watchful eye out for larger predators. Although this species is unable to glide like the closely-related Dracos, it is nevertheless an agile climber and can move swiftly up and down trees. The impressive mane on the back of this male signifies his maturity - we will readily defend his territory against rival males. Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • An adult male Giant Golden Orbweaver (Nephila pilipes) is dwarfed by a gigantic female of the same species.  The male's tiny size allows him to approach the agressive female unnoticed, or at least be considered nothing more than an insignificantly small prey item. Sarawak, 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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  • One of the most dangerous snakes in New Guinea: the Smooth-scaled Death Adder (Acanthophis laevis). Like vipers, these snakes are thick-bodied with a wide triangular head and are relatively slow moving, preferring to lie in wait for suitable prey to venture within striking distance. However, their resemblance to vipers (and true adders) is only superficial - they are actually members of the family Elapidae, which includes cobras, kraits, and coral snakes. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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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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  • A large male O'Shaughnessy's Chameleon (Calumma oshaughnessyi) stalks up a forest liana, keeping an eye out for both prey and predator alike. With 360-degree vision, remarkable image acuity, and monocular depth perception, chameleons can detect insects that might be well out of reach, judge their distance accurately, and even distinguishing them from their surroundings when the insect is completely still. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • The Oriental Bay-Owl (Phodilus badius) is a denizen of dense rainforest; with its short and rounded wings it is able to manoeuvre between branches and twisted understory lianas while hunting for small animals, often stopping to perch peculiarly on vertical saplings as seen here. Like its larger relatives, the barn owls, the concave shape of the face is designed to focus sounds towards its ears, enabling the bird to hone in on even the faintest sounds of prey. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A Horsfield's Tarsier (Cephalopachus bancanus) on the prowl for food in the rainforest of western Borneo. These tiny primates are exclusively carnivorous, hunting insects, small lizards, and even snakes by leaping deftly through the thick forest understory and snatching prey with their long nimble fingers. Unlike most other nocturnal mammals which possess a reflective layer behind their retina to help with night vision, tarsiers instead compensate by having enormous eyes. In fact, this species sports the largest eyes in relation to its body size of any mammal in the world - these are locked in place and the animal is only able to shift its vision by rotating its head. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Hidden in the dense leaf litter of the rainforest floor, an Amazonian Horned Frog (Ceratophrys cornuta) lies in wait for its next meal. With a mouth wider than the length of its body, and a voracious appetite to boot, these frogs can consume prey as large as small reptiles and rodents. This species is widely distributed in the Amazon Basin, but nowhere particularly abundant. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • A colony on the move: a swarm of giant stinging ants (Leptogenys chalybaea) moves across the Borneo rainforest floor carrying their brood (grubs, pupa, and winged reproductives). These are Asia’s equivalent of ‘army ants’: nomadic hunters that deplete their prey in one area before moving their entire nest to a new site every few days. Leptogenys ants, and this species in particular, are aggressive and possess a painful sting, reasons that they are well respected by other animals in the forest. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A colony on the move: a swarm of giant stinging ants (Leptogenys chalybaea) moves across the Borneo rainforest floor carrying their brood (grubs, pupa, and winged reproductives). These are Asia’s equivalent of ‘army ants’: nomadic hunters that deplete their prey in one area before moving their entire nest to a new site every few days. Leptogenys ants, and this species in particular, are aggressive and possess a painful sting, reasons that they are well respected by other animals in the forest. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Patents don’t exist in nature, and no species has a monopoly on clever designs. Here, a mantidfly (Mantispidae) makes use of spiny raptorial front legs to catch prey, much like a praying mantis. Mantidflies are actually more closely related to lacewings and ant-lions, and like their relatives they have no chemical or otherwise painful defenses against predators. Because of this, many mantidflies mimic wasps and in this particular species it appears to specifically mimic an orange Night Wasp (Provespa anomala). Anyone who has ventured into the Bornean rainforest after dark knows that night wasps are to be avoided: they possess an extremely painful sting that can cause skin necrosis. Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The dreaded Bullet Ant (Paraponera clavata), in possession of the most painful sting on the planet, here has fallen prey to an even more sinister organism: a parasitoid fungus (Ophiocordycipitaceae). The ‘zombification’ of insects in tropical rainforests has been well documented, but the incredibly precise way that these fungi control the behavior of their hosts prior to consuming them is not yet fully understood. Recent research indicates that, rather than invading the brain which might kill the insect prematurely, the fungus may directly control the muscles of its host like a puppet. In this way it can lead the ant to a location where it is more likely to infect others. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • World within: the watery chamber of a carnivorous pitcher plant (Nepenthes ampullaria) hosts a myriad of tiny specialized creatures. An amplexing pair of the Matang Narrow-mouthed Frog (Microhyla nepenthicola), one of the world’s smallest amphibians, has visited the plant to deposit their eggs – they will breed nowhere else. They are flanked by a developing tadpole and the pupa of a predatory Elephant Mosquito (Toxorhynchites sp.). The plant benefits from everything entering the pitcher: detritus falling from the canopy above, insect prey that are drowned inside, or small visiting organisms like these that may help to break down the contents and leave their waste behind. Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A nocturnal Net-casting Spider (Asianopis sp.) lies in wait for an insect to venture beneath. Between its front legs it holds an expandable sticky white web which it will use to fling over its prey, ensnaring it.  These are sometimes referred to as 'Ogre-faced Spiders' because of the extremely large posterior median eyes which allow them to see in darkness. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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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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  • Deep within a cave in Mulu National Park, the sticky threads secreted by the larvae of a fungus midge (family Mycetophilidae) function as a trap for small flying insects.  When ensnared in this trap, prey are reeled in and eaten. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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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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  • A Lesser False Vampire Bat (Megaderma spasma) roosting near the entrance of a shallow limestone cave. Named because of their superficial resemblance to true vampire bats (which are restricted to Central and South America), Megaderma are insectivorous and do not drink blood. This species sometimes attains a large size (nearly 35g in weight) and is known to occasionally take more substantial prey including lizards, small birds, mammals, and even other bats. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The bizzare Naked Bat (Cheiromeles torquatus) is the heaviest insectivorous bat in the world and, as its name suggests, is almost completely hairless. It often hunts insects above the forest canopy or along rivers, but also occasionally descends to the ground to catch crawling prey. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) is an ambush predator. Utilizing its superb camouflage it waits for unsuspecting insect prey to come withing striking distance. This juvenile specimen will lose some of its petal-like appearance when it matures. West Java, Indonesia.
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  • 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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  • Venezuela’s fabled tabletop mountains may have once inspired Arthur Conan Doyle’s science fiction novel “The Lost World”, where he imagined the summits to be home to a plethora of gigantic prehistoric creatures that had been separated from the evolution of life on the rest of the planet for eons of time. Disappointingly, dinosaurs were never found on these mountains and, despite being home to many endemics and indeed a fair share of “living fossils”, recent genetic studies have shown that many species in fact have likely arrived well after the tepuis had been fully formed. This reveals that the imposing rocky cliffs, which seemingly isolate the summits from the jungles below, may not be as significant a physical barrier for dispersal as once believed. This young Boddaert's Tropical Racer (Mastigodryas boddaerti), encountered on the plateau of Auyán Tepui, is a widespread species in northern South America, and although prey is scarce on these mountaintops, it presumably hunts for endemic frogs.  Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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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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  • Natalia's Spiny Lizard (Acanthosaura nataliae). Many lizards sport spines for display or protection, but Acanthosaura take this development to an extreme. Despite their fearsome appearance these arboreal reptiles still fall prey to certain snakes, and thus need to sleep on thin branches such as this during the night. Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam.
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  • What could seem more unappetizing to a bird than the prospect of eating its own droppings? The incredible masquerade of bird-dropping crab spiders (Phrynarachne spp.) enables them thus to hide in plain sight, usually perched exposed on the upper surface of a leaf. Not only does the spider itself look (and smell) like dung, but it also skillfully uses its own silk to simulate white stains of the splatter of a bird dropping – at times even crafting ‘drip lines’ down the furrows of a leaf. This disguise not only helps them avoid predators but it also attracts hungry flies which are hoping for a meal. Most spiders usually discard the remains of their prey after consuming them, but Phrynarachne sometimes incorporate the carcasses, as shown here, into convincing extensions of their facade. Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Although the ‘zombie ants’ are undoubtedly the most infamous, entomopathogenic fungi come in a great diversity of species, many of which specialize in a particular type of prey. Here, a weevil has been killed by Ophiocordyceps curculionum, and is now a host to three fruiting bodies that have been releasing new spores. Like the mind-controlling fungi in ants, this pathogen similarly manipulates the weevil like a puppeteer to position itself in the ideal spot before it dies. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • With its fearsome appearance, the Spiny Devil (Panacanthus cuspidatus) surely ranks as one of the most impressive of all katydids. Endemic to the upper Amazon Basin, this large insect uses its prickly front legs in self-defense and also to capture prey – it feeds both on vegetation and other insects. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Miniature hitchhiker: a tiny pseudoscorpion catches a ride on the leg of a mite (itself only a few millimeters in size). Distant relatives of scorpions, pseudoscorpions lack a stinging tail, instead some are capable of delivering poison through their oversized pincers. They prey on even tinier invertebrates and are often found among decaying leaf litter or rotten wood. Many species utilize other creatures for rapid transport (phoresis): some ride beetles or flies and even one species has been found hitchhiking on bats. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • With their spring-loaded jaws capable of snapping shut at over 200km/h, trap-jaw ants (Odontomachus sp.) have some of the fastest predatory strikes in the animal kingdom. However, this isn’t their only weapon: they also possess a powerful wasp-like sting that can either subdue prey or serve as an effective deterrent against any animal foolish enough to disturb their nest. There are over 70 species distributed throughout the tropics, shown here is one of the largest: O. tyrannicus from the steamy lowland jungles of New Guinea, its mandibles retracted and ready to strike. Papua, Indonesia.
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  • One of the world’s least studied crocodilians, the False Gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii) is a rare inhabitant of the dark tannin colored waters of peat swamps in Borneo, Sumatra, and Malaysia. Due to their narrow snout they were once believed to feed exclusively on fish, however large specimens can reach lengths of over 5 meters and have more recently been observed to consume prey as large as Proboscis Monkeys, or in one unfortunate instance, a grown man. Although much remains unknown about their life history, it is clear that they are rapidly becoming endangered due to destruction of their peat swamp habitats. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Few warning signals in nature are as blatant as the colors of the Aquatic Coral Snake (Micrurus surinamensis), and for good reason: it possesses a highly potent neurotoxic venom. Unique among South American elapid snakes, its venom appears to be specialized for its favored prey of fish and eels, although can undoubtedly be fatal for mammals as well. They are, however, very non-aggressive and bite only when attacked or accidentally stepped on – the latter of which is rare thanks to their gaudy coloration. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • An infrared camera trap captures a male Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) on his daily hunt for prey in the Chocóan cloud forest of western Ecuador. One of six species of wild cats in this region, the shy and seldom-seen Ocelot is a predator of small animals including birds, rodents, and reptiles. Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, Ecuador.
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  • Blister beetle (Horia debyi). The larvae of blister beetles of the genus Horia prey on the larvae of Xylocarpa carpenter bees. This is an adult male, evidenced by the enlarged hind femora. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Mantispid (family Mantispidae), also known as a ‘mantidfly’. Looking something like a praying mantis crossed with a lacewing, this tiny predator uses the same raptorial front legs to grab its prey and hold them fast while eating them alive. Contrary to their appearance, they are not closely related to mantids, implying that this effective hunting strategy has evolved on more than one occasion in the insect kingdom. Pulong Tau National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) is an ambush predator. Utilizing its superb camouflage it waits for unsuspecting insect prey to come withing striking distance. This juvenile specimen will lose some of its petal-like appearance when it matures. West Java, Indonesia.
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  • A pair of Lesser False Vampire Bats (Megaderma spasma) roosting near the entrance of a shallow limestone cave. Named because of their superficial resemblance to true vampire bats (which are restricted to Central and South America), Megaderma are insectivorous and do not drink blood. This species sometimes attains a large size (nearly 35g in weight) and is known to occasionally take more substantial prey including lizards, small birds, mammals, and even other bats. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A Giant Green Jumping Spider (Mopsus mormon) from the tropical forests of Waigeo Island. With its bright green legs and distinctive hairstyle, this species (the only in its genus) is easily recognizable among the many hundreds of jumping spiders (family Salticidae) in New Guinea. An enormous pair of frontal eyes give this little predator excellent vision to locate and size-up potential prey, and six flanking eyes allow it to detect movement in virtually every direction. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Stick insects are often thought of as being some of the most cryptically-colored of all animals, an adaptation that enables them to blend in perfectly with their surroundings and avoid detection from predators. However, some species such as this red-and-blue Calvisia sp. from central Borneo, take a completely different approach to defense; its bright coloration likely warns of a noxious chemical defense. Predators are quick to learn that prey insects which aren’t hiding themselves, are probably hiding a surprise instead. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A pair of Lesser False Vampire Bats (Megaderma spasma) roosting near the entrance of a shallow limestone cave. Named because of their superficial resemblance to true vampire bats (which are restricted to Central and South America), Megaderma are insectivorous and do not drink blood. This species sometimes attains a large size (nearly 35g in weight) and is known to occasionally take more substantial prey including lizards, small birds, mammals, and even other bats. 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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  • An inhabitant of montane cloud forest, this unusual harvestman (Phareicranaus curvipes) possesses claw-like pedipalps for securing prey. Henri Pittier National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Heliamphora sarracenioides, a carnivorous pitcher plant endemic to a single tepui mountain in Venezuela. Bright colors and the offer of nectar attract insect prey. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • This unusual species of pitcher plant (Nepenthes klossii) bears a concealed opening to deceive insect prey. It is extremely rare, only growing in remote high elevaton swampy forests in New Guinea. Papua, Indonesia.
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  • The Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) is an ambush predator.  Utilizing its superb camouflage it waits for unsuspecting insect prey to come withing striking distance.  Pictured here is a juvenile specimen. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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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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  • The toilet-shaped upper pitchers of this carnivorous pitcher plant (Nepenthes jamban) are exceedingly funnel-shaped and filled with a thick mucilaginous liquid which may aid in prey capture. It is endemic to a single mountain in North Sumatra, Indonesia.
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  • Feather-legged Assassin Bug (Ptilocerus venosus). Members of this subfamily (Holoptilinae) are specialist predators on ants, some species even having a glandular trichome on their abdomens which serves to attract prey. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Perched at the edge of a quiet stream in the Bornean rainforest, a Flexible-legged Spider (Hygropoda sp.) waits patiently for the telltale signs of struggling prey before racing across the water to grab its meal. Rather than spend the effort in building a web to ensnare insects, this species has made use of the water as its personal trap. Its remarkably long front legs are delicately placed on the water surface; these are able to detect the minute ripples created by a drowning insect. 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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  • Mantispid (family Mantispidae), also known as a ‘mantidfly’. Looking something like a praying mantis crossed with a lacewing, this tiny predator uses the same raptorial front legs to grab its prey and hold them fast while eating them alive. Contrary to their appearance, they are not closely related to mantids, implying that this effective hunting strategy has evolved on more than one occasion in the insect kingdom. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Superbly camouflaged, this lichen huntsman spider (Pandercetes gracilis) lies in wait for prey on the trunk of a tree in the Arfak Mountains of New Guinea. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Endemic to New Guinea, the Hook-billed Kingfisher (Melidora macrorrhina) is a true forest species, preying on lizards, frogs, and large insects. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • A large male Bornean Clouded Leopard (Neofelis diardi) is caught on camera trap as he patrols his territory in the rainforest of Danum Valley, Sabah. Borneo's largest cat species, the clouded leopard preys on a variety of smaller wildlife ranging from deer and wild boar to monkeys. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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