14-5-2023 PULAU UBIN, SINGAPORE - ORCHID (Genus Dendrobium)

Dendrobium is a genus of mostly epiphytic and lithophytic orchids in the family Orchidaceae. It is a very large genus, containing more than 1,800 species that are found in diverse habitats throughout much of south, east and southeast Asia, including China, Japan, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, New Guinea, Vietnam and many of the islands of the Pacific. Orchids in this genus have roots that creep over the surface of trees or rocks, rarely having their roots in soil. Up to six leaves develop in a tuft at the tip of a shoot and from one to a large number of flowers are arranged along an unbranched flowering stem. Several attempts have been made to separate Dendrobium into smaller genera, but most have not been accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.

14-5-2023 PULAU UBIN, SINGAPORE - ASIAN GLOSSY STARLING (Aplonis panayensis)

The Asian glossy starling (Aplonis panayensis) is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan (introduced) and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical mangrove forest. There is also a huge number of this species inhabiting towns and cities, where they take refuge in abandoned buildings and trees. They often move in large groups and are considered one of the noisiest species of birds. In the Philippines, it is known as kulansiyang, galansiyang, or kuling-dagat

1-6-2023 GITGIT WATERFALLS, BALI - YELLOW VENTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus goiavier)

The yellow-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier), or eastern yellow-vented bulbul, is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is a resident breeder in southeastern Asia from Indochina to the Philippines. It is found in a wide variety of open habitats but not the deep forest. It is one of the most common birds in cultivated areas. They appear to be nomadic and roam from place to place regularly.

1-6-2023 GITGIT WATERFALLS, BALI - YELLOW LINED FOREST SKINK (Sphenomorphus sanctus)

The Java forest skink (Sphenomorphus sanctus) is a species of skink found in Indonesia and Malaysia.

The Java forest skink (Sphenomorphus sanctus) is a species of skink found in Indonesia and Malaysia.

1-6-2023 GITGIT WATERFALLS, BALI - RED PERCHER DRAGONFLY (Neurothemis ramburii)

Neurothemis ramburii is a bright red dragonfly found throughout SE Asia.

A deep red dragonfly with clear wingtips. Typically there is only one cross vein in the cubital space of the hind wing (behind the median space) and females are as deeply colored as males.

Wing span = 56mm

Body length = 36mm

Abdomen = 24mm

Hind wing = 26mm

 

9-6-2023 MANDAI BIRD PARADISE, SINGAPORE - FIRE TUFTED BARBET (Psilopogon pyrolophus)

The fire-tufted barbet (Psilopogon pyrolophus) is a species of bird in the Asian barbet family Megalaimidae. It is native to Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, where it inhabits tropical moist lowland and montane forests. It has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2004. Its scientific name was proposed by Salomon Müller in 1836, who described a barbet from Sumatra.

The fire-tufted barbet inhabits broad-leaved evergreen montane forests between 1,070 and 2,010 m (3,510 and 6,590 ft) on the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra.

The fire-tufted barbet is a resident bird and feeds on figs, other fruits, arthropods and insects. Its call is very similar to that of cicadas.

The primary threat to this species appears to be illegal capture and trade as a pet.

1-6-2023 GITGIT WATERFALLS, BALI - MEXICAN MARIGOLD (Tagetes erecta)

Tagetes erecta, the Aztec marigold, Mexican marigold, big marigold, cempazúchitl or cempasúchil, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Tagetes native to Mexico. Despite being native to the Americas, it is often called the African marigold. In Mexico, this plant is found in the wild in the states of México, Michoacán, Puebla, and Veracruz.

This plant reaches heights of between 20 and 90 cm (7.9 and 35.4 in). The Aztecs gathered the wild plant as well as cultivating it for medicinal, ceremonial and decorative purposes. It is widely cultivated commercially with many cultivars in use as ornamental plants, and for the cut-flower trade.

 

1-6-2023 GITGIT WATERFALLS, BALI - LONG TAILED MACAQUE (Macaca fascicularis)

The crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis), also known as the long-tailed macaque and referred to as the cynomolgus monkey in laboratories, is a cercopithecine primate native to Southeast Asia. A species of macaque, the crab-eating macaque has a long history alongside humans. The species has been alternately seen as an agricultural pest, a sacred animal, and, more recently, the subject of medical experiments.

The crab-eating macaque lives in matrilineal social groups of up to eight individuals dominated by females. Male members leave the group when they reach puberty. It is an opportunistic omnivore and has been documented using tools to obtain food in Thailand and Myanmar. The crab-eating macaque is a known invasive species and a threat to biodiversity in several locations, including Hong Kong and western New Guinea. The significant overlap in macaque and human living space has resulted in greater habitat loss, synanthropic living, and inter- and intraspecies conflicts over resources.

 

1-6-2023 GITGIT WATERFALLS, BALI - AMARYLLIS (Hippeastrum hybridum)

 Hippeastrum hybridum is a species of plants with 1384 observations.

Amaryllis (Scientific name: Hippeastrum hybridum) is native to Latin America and is a semi-cold resistant bulbous plant (perennial plant) of the family Amaryllidaceae.

1-6-2023 GITGIT WATERFALLS, BALI - HIMALAYAN JESTER BUTTERFLY (Symbrenthia hypselis)

Symbrenthia hypselis, the Himalayan jester, is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in South Asia, and some islands in South East Asia (Sumatra, Java)

 

18-5-2023 SEPILOK, BORNEO - BLUE HEADED PITTA (Hydrornis baudii)

The blue-headed pitta (Hydrornis baudii) is a species of bird in the pitta family Pittidae. It is endemic to Borneo.

The species is endemic to the island of Borneo, where it occurs in Brunei, Kalimantan (Indonesia), Sarawak and Sabah (Malaysia). Its natural habitat is tropical lowland evergreen forests. While it does occur in disturbed of secondary forests, it is most common in primary forest. It usually occurs below 600 m (2,000 ft), it has been recorded up to 1,200 m (3,900 ft), but this record has not been verified. 

1-6-2023 GITGIT WATERFALLS, BALI - GOLDEN SHRIMP PLANT (Pachystachys lutea)

Pachystachys lutea, known as the golden shrimp plant or lollipop plant, is a tropical, soft-stemmed evergreen shrub between 0.5 and 2.5 meters tall, native to Peru. The zygomorphic, long-throated, short-lived white flowers emerge sequentially from overlapping bright yellow bracts on racemes that are produced throughout the warm months.

The Latin specific epithet lutea means “yellow”.

It is cultivated as an ornamental, but in cold temperate regions it requires protection from temperatures below 10 °C (50 °F).[4] It has won the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.

 

1-6-2023 GITGIT WATERFALLS, BALI - DULL OAK BLUE (Arhopala centaurus)

Arhopala centaurus, the centaur oakblue or dull oakblue, is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in India and southeast Asia to the Philippines.

1-6-2023 GITGIT WATERFALLS, BALI - CRIMSON TAILED MARSH HAWK DRAGONFLY (Orthetrum pruinosum)

Orthetrum pruinosum, the crimson-tailed marsh hawk, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is a widespread species occurring from west India to Japan and south to Java and the Sunda Islands. A molecular phylogenetics study of Orthetrum dragonflies revealed that Orthetrum pruinosum is a cryptic species.

It breeds in ponds, lakes and sluggish streams.

1-6-2023 GITGIT WATERFALLS, BALI - COMMON SUN SKINK (Eutropis multifasciata)

 Eutropis multifasciata, commonly known as the East Indian brown mabuya, many-lined sun skink, many-striped skink, common sun skink or (ambiguously) as golden skink, is a species of skink.

You can often find the Common Sun Skink (Eutropis multifasciata) basking in the sun on the forest edge or along footpaths, or slithering among leaf litter in Singapore’s wooded areas, mangroves and parks. Measuring about 130mm from snout to vent, this shy little reptile moves very quickly.

1-6-2023 GITGIT WATERFALLS, BALI - BLUE MARSH HAWK DRAGONFLY (Orthetrum glaucum)

Orthetrum glaucum is an Asian dragonfly species, common across much of tropical and subtropical Asia. The common name for this species is blue marsh hawk.

It is a medium sized dragonfly with dark face and greenish blue eyes. The thorax of old males are dark blue due to pruinescence. Its wings are transparent with dark amber-yellow tint in the extreme base. Its abdomen is pruinosed with blue color up to segment 8; last two segments are black. It breeds in marshes associated with forest streams, plantations and canals.

1-6-2023 GITGIT WATERFALLS, BALI - BLACK STRIPED ORCHARD SPIDER (Leucauge celebesiana)

Leucauge celebesiana, commonly called the black-striped orchard spider, is a species of spider belonging to the family Tetragnathidae. It is found from India to China, Japan, Sulawesi and New Guinea.

Like many of its congeners, this is a colourful and distinctive spider. It has a body length (excluding legs) of 13 mm (0.51 in). The abdomen is white with yellow-green sides with black stripes separating the white from the coloured flanks. Another black stripe runs right down the middle. This species constructs a web inclined at 45° and several individuals often build these webs close together.

1-6-2023 GITGIT WATERFALLS, BALI - BILLY GOAT WEED (Ageratum conyzoides)

Ageratum conyzoides (billygoat-weed, chick weed, goatweed, whiteweed, mentrasto) is native to Tropical America, especially Brazil, and is an invasive weed in many other regions. It is an herb that is 0.5–1 m. high, with ovate leaves 2–6 cm long, and flowers are white to mauve.

In Vietnamese, the plant is called cứt lợn (meaning "pig feces") due to its growth in dirty areas.

As a medicinal plant, Ageratum conyzoides is widely used by many traditional cultures, against dysentery and diarrhea. It is also an insecticide and nematicide.

Ingesting A. conyzoides can cause liver lesions and tumors. There was a mass poisoning incident in Ethiopia as a result of contamination of grain with A. conyzoides. The plant contains the pyrrolizidine alkaloids lycopsamine and echinatine.

1-6-2023 GITGIT WATERFALLS, BALI - BENGAL TRUMPET (Thunbergia grandiflora)

Thunbergia grandiflora is an evergreen vine in the family Acanthaceae. It is native to China, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indochina and Myanmar and widely naturalised elsewhere. Common names include Bengal clockvine, Bengal trumpet, blue skyflower, blue thunbergia, blue trumpetvine, clockvine, skyflower and skyvine.

Plants may grow to about 20 metres in height and have a long root system with a deep tap root. The stalked, opposite leaves, which have a rough surface, are quite variable in shape. They may be triangular or ovate and the margins may be toothed, lobed or entire. Length is up to 200 mm and width is up to 60 mm, which are typically smaller than the very similar T. laurifolia.

The blue to mauve flowers are about 8 cm across with a 4 cm long tube that is pale yellow inside. These are followed by pods containing seeds that are ejected several metres upon ripening. Plants also reproduce from segments that are washed down watercourses.

 

1-6-2023 GITGIT WATERFALLS, BALI - BEE FLY (Ligyra tantalus)

 Ligyra tantalus is a species of insect in the Bombyliidae family, commonly known as bee flies. It has an orange and brown thorax and a black abdomen with a white ring and four spots on it, although the rearmost two spots can be joined together in some specimens. The wings are purplish-black and swept back from the body when at rest.

Distribution

It is found in Asia in areas such as China (mainland) and Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines (Palawan), Taiwan, and Thailand and also in Australia.