28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - ORIENTAL PIED HORNBILL (Anthracoceros albirostris)

The oriental pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) is an Indo-Malayan pied hornbill, a large canopy-dwelling bird belonging to the family Bucerotidae. Two other common names for this species are Sunda pied hornbill (convexus) and Malaysian pied hornbill.

The species is considered to be among the smallest and most common of the Asian hornbills. It has the largest distribution in the genus and is found in the Indian Subcontinent and throughout Southeast Asia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. The oriental pied hornbill's diet includes fruit, insects, shellfish, small reptiles and, sometimes, small mammals and birds including their eggs.

 

28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - BORNEAN ORANGUTAN

The Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) is a species of orangutan endemic to the island of Borneo. Together with the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) and Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis), it belongs to the only genus of great apes native to Asia. Like the other great apes, orangutans are highly intelligent, displaying tool use and distinct cultural patterns in the wild. Orangutans share approximately 97% of their DNA with humans. Also called mias by the local population, the Bornean orangutan is a critically endangered species, with deforestation, palm oil plantations, and hunting posing a serious threat to its continued existence.

 

28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - SOUTHEAST ASIA WATER MONITOR (JUVENILE) (Varanus salvator ssp. macromaculatus)

The bodies of Asian water monitors are muscular, with long, powerful, laterally compressed tails. Water monitors are often defined by their dark brown or blackish coloration with yellow spots found on their underside - these yellow markings have a tendency to disappear gradually with age. This species is also denoted by the blackish band with yellow edges extending back from each eye. These monitors have very long necks and elongated snouts. They use their powerful jaws, serrated teeth, and sharp claws for both predation and defense.

28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - GOULD'S FROGMOUTH (Batrachostomus stellatus)

Gould's frogmouth (Batrachostomus stellatus) is a nocturnal species of bird in the order Caprimulgiformes and the family Podargidae. It is one of the 12 species in the Batrachostomus genus. Its common name commemorates the English ornithologist and bird artist John Gould.

This species is found solely in Southeast Asia. More precisely, it is found in Brunei, certain regions of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and in Southern Thailand. However, it is mostly present in Malaysia and Singapore. The habitat of Gould's frogmouths is tropical rainforest. They are mostly found in forest with native tree species that has not been disturbed by humans. This species usually lives in lowland forests, up to 500 metres elevation.

 

28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - SOUTHEAST ASIAN WATER MONITOR (Varanus salvator ssp. macromaculatus)

This common species occurs throughout Southeast Asia in virtually all habitats including urban areas where it may sometimes be seen feasting on roadkill. It is particularly common, however, in mangrove areas as it is a strong swimmer and it can flourish on a diet of crabs and other large invertebrates. 

It can remain submerged underwater for a considerable time. It is also an agile climber, and a raider of bird's nests. The Malayan Water Monitor is distinguished from other monitors by the position of the nostrils, which lie near the tip of the snout.

 

28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - JUNE BEETLE (Tribe Melolonthini)

Melolonthini is a tribe of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae. There are over 250 genera in Melolonthini, occurring worldwide; there are over 300 species in North America alone, and more than 3000 worldwide. 

28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - ORANGE SHARPSHOOTER (Bothrogonia addita)

 Bothrogonia is a genus of leafhoppers with a large number of species distributed across the Old World. They can be told apart from others in their tribe by the pattern of setae on the hind tibia.

28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - NORTH BORNEAN GREY GIBBON (Hylobates funereus)

 

The eastern grey gibbon or northern grey gibbon (Hylobates funereus) is a primate in the gibbon family, Hylobatidae.

Formerly, the eastern grey gibbon and western grey gibbon (H. abbotti) were considered conspecific with the southern grey gibbon (H. muelleri), but more recent studies indicate that all three are distinct species, and both the IUCN Red List and the American Society of Mammalogists consider them such. However, they can still hybridize with one another where their ranges meet.

28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - AFRICAN GIANT SNAIL (Lissachatina fulica)

Lissachatina fulica is a species of large land snail that belongs in the subfamily Achatininae of the family Achatinidae. It is also known as the Giant African land snail. It shares the common name "giant African snail" with other species of snails such as Achatina achatina and Archachatina marginata. This snail species has been considered a significant cause of pest issues around the world. Internationally, it is the most frequently occurring invasive species of snail.

Outside of its native range, this snail thrives in many types of habitat in areas with mild climates. It feeds voraciously and is a vector for plant pathogens, causing severe damage to agricultural crops and native plants. It competes with native snail taxa, is a nuisance pest of urban areas, and spreads human disease. This snail is listed as one of the top 100 invasive species in the world.

 

28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - AFRICAN COROMANDEL (Asystasia intrusa)

 

28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - CREPE GINGER (Hellenia speciosa)

Cheilocostus speciosus, or crêpe ginger, is a species of flowering plant in the family Costaceae. Some botanists have now revived the synonym Hellenia speciosa for this species.

It is native to southeast Asia and surrounding regions, from India to China to Queensland, It is especially common on the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is also reportedly naturalized in Puerto Rico, Mauritius, Réunion, Fiji, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Belize, Melanesia, Micronesia, and the West Indies. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental.

 

29-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - SHORT WINGED RICE GRASSHOPPER (Pseudoxya diminuta)

Pseudoxya diminuta is a species of grasshopper in the monotypic genus Pseudoxya (subfamily Oxyinae).

This species occurs in Indochina, Malesia, and southern China. The holotype is a male from Yunnan, China.

 

28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - SENSITIVE PLANT (Mimosa pudica)

Mimosa pudica (from Latin pudica 'shy, bashful, or shrinking'; also called sensitive plant, sleepy plant, action plant, touch-me-not, or shameplant is a creeping annual or perennial flowering plant of the pea/legume family Fabaceae.

The species is native to the Caribbean and South and Central America, but is now a pantropical weed, and can now be found in the Southern United States, South Asia, East Asia, Micronesia, Australia, South Africa, and West Africa as well. It is not shade-tolerant and is primarily found on soils with low nutrient concentrations.

Mimosa pudica is well known for its rapid plant movement. Like a number of other plant species, it undergoes changes in leaf orientation termed "sleep" or nyctinastic movement. The foliage closes during darkness and reopens in light. This was first studied by French scientist Jean-Jacques d'Ortous de Mairan. Due to Mimosa's unique response to touch, it became an ideal plant for many experiments regarding plant habituation and memory.

28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - BRACKET FUNGI (Earliella scabrosa)

 

28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - HARVESTMAN SPIDER (Order Opiliones)

The Opiliones (formerly Phalangida) are an order of arachnids colloquially known as harvestmen, harvesters, harvest spiders, or daddy longlegs. As of April 2017, over 6,650 species of harvestmen have been discovered worldwide, although the total number of extant species may exceed 10,000. The order Opiliones includes five suborders: Cyphophthalmi, Eupnoi, Dyspnoi, Laniatores, and Tetrophthalmi, which were named in 2014.

Representatives of each extant suborder can be found on all continents except Antarctica.

Well-preserved fossils have been found in the 400-million-year-old Rhynie cherts of Scotland, and 305-million-year-old rocks in France. These fossils look surprisingly modern, indicating that their basic body shape developed very early on, and, at least in some taxa, has changed little since that time.

Their phylogenetic position within the Arachnida is disputed; their closest relatives may be the mites (Acari) or the Novogenuata (the Scorpiones, Pseudoscorpiones, and Solifugae). Although superficially similar to and often misidentified as spiders (order Araneae), the Opiliones are a distinct order that is not closely related to spiders. They can be easily distinguished from long-legged spiders by their fused body regions and single pair of eyes in the middle of the cephalothorax. Spiders have a distinct abdomen that is separated from the cephalothorax by a constriction, and they have three to four pairs of eyes, usually around the margins of the cephalothorax.

English speakers may colloquially refer to species of Opiliones as "daddy longlegs" or "granddaddy longlegs", but this name is also used for two other distantly related groups of arthropods, the crane flies of the superfamily Tipuloidea, and the cellar spiders of the family Pholcidae, (commonly referred to as "daddy long-leg spiders") most likely because of their similar appearance. Harvestmen are also referred to as "shepherd spiders" in reference to how their unusually long legs reminded observers of the ways that some European shepherds used stilts to better observe their wandering flocks from a distance.

27-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - BUFFY FISH OWL (Ketupa ketupu)

The buffy fish owl (Ketupa ketupu), also known as the Malay fish owl, is a fish owl in the family Strigidae. It is native to Southeast Asia and lives foremost in tropical forests and wetlands. Due to its wide distribution and assumed stable population, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2004.

The buffy fish owl is distributed from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and the Sunda Islands. On Cocos (Keeling) Island, it is non-breeding. It inhabits tropical forests and freshwater wetlands near rivers, lakes and aquaculture sites up to an elevation of 1,600 m (5,200 ft). It also lives in plantations, and rural and urban gardens.

The buffy fish owl feeds foremost on fish, crabs, frogs, small reptiles and birds. It also forages on carrion. Stomach content found in Javan buffy fish owls included insects, winged ants and winged termites, goldfish (Carassius auratus), gold-ringed cat snake (Boiga dendrophila), immature false gharials (Tomistoma schlegelii), red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), black rat (Rattus rattus), and fruit bats.

It has been recorded consuming remains of a crocodile and a Sunda stink badger (Mydaus javanensis). The buffy fish owl does not produce firm pellets as do most owls. Instead, bones, and frog and insect remains are ejected in pieces and fall to the ground below the roost. Prey remains have only been found within the nest, never around or below the nest as is commonly recorded in other owls. The buffy fish owl hunts mainly from the bank, swooping down much in the manner of a fish eagle but never getting its feathers wet. It also walks into shallow streams and brooks, additionally snatching food in such locations.

6-7-2023 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPINY TOAD (JUVENILE) (Bufo spinosus)

The spiny toad, spiny common toad, or giant toad (Bufo spinosus) is a species of toad native to the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, extreme northeastern Italy, and North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia). There is an isolated population in Jersey in the Channel Islands. For much of the 20th century, it was considered either a synonym or a subspecies of common toad Bufo bufo, but it is now classified as a separate species.

These toads feed on a number of invertebrates from earthworms to insects and woodlice.

 

6-7-2023 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPOTTED FLYCATCHER

Despite arriving relatively late, spotted flycatchers manage to rear two broods of young before departing at the end of August. The success of the second clutch is increased by fewer eggs being laid, meaning less mouths to fill. They will nest in gardens but the nest is usually well hidden on ledges or behind climbing plants.

Spotted flycatchers prefer large flying insects, including flies and butterflies. However, if the weather is cool and insects aren’t flying, they will take smaller invertebrates from leaves and branches. If poor weather persists, many nests fail as these smaller invertebrates tend to be eaten by the parents rather than fed to the young.

27-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - WHITE CROWNED SHAMA

The white-crowned shama (Copsychus stricklandii) is a bird in the Old World flycatcher family. It is endemic to the Southeast Asian island of Borneo.

The white-crowned shama is about 21–28 cm (8.3–11.0 in) in length (including a 7 cm (2.8 in) tail in adult males) and 31–42 g (1.1–1.5 oz) in weight. Mainly blue-black upperparts contrast with orange-rufous underparts. It has a white rump and black throat. It is largely similar in appearance to the white-rumped shama subspecies C. m. suavis, which replaces it in southern and western Borneo, and hybridises with it where the ranges meet.[6] It differs in having a white, rather than black, crown. The distinctive Maratua form C. s. barbouri is about 20% longer than the nominate, and has an all-black tail, rather than white outer rectrices.

White-crowned shamas are bred by local aviculturists in Borneo as cage-birds valued for their singing ability. They continue to be trapped as it is believed that wild-caught young birds are stronger, and better songsters, than those bred in captivity.

29-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - SULTAN DRAGONFLY (Camacinia gigantea)

 Camacinia is a small genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae. Species of Camacinia are found from South-east Asia to the Solomon Islands, Australia and New Guinea. There are three species.

27-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - ASIAN SAPPHIRE FLUTTERER DRAGONFLY BLUE (Rhyothemis triangularis)

Rhyothemis triangularis (sapphire flutterer, lesser blue wing) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is widespread in eastern and southern Asia.

It is a small blue colored dragonfly with bases of all wings have dark metallic blue patches. This species breeds in well vegetated ponds and similar habitats. From karyotyping it is known to have 13 chromosomes.

29-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - COMMON PARASOL DRAGONFLY (Neurothemis fluctuans)

 The Red Grasshawk, also known as Common Parasol, and Grasshawk dragonfly, (Neurothemis fluctuans) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is widespread in many Asian countries.

29-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - PEACOCK FLOWER (Caesalpinia pulcherrima)

Caesalpinia pulcherrima is a species of flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae, native to the tropics and subtropics of the Americas. It could be native to the West Indies, but its exact origin is unknown due to widespread cultivation. Common names for this species include poinciana, peacock flower, red bird of paradise, Mexican bird of paradise, dwarf poinciana, pride of Barbados, flos pavonis, and flamboyant-de-jardin.

 

26-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - JEWEL (Rhinocypha humeralis)

Rhinocypha humeralis is a species of insects with 90 observations

 

29-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - INDONESIAN RED WING DRAGONFLY (Neurothemis terminata)

Neurothemis terminata is a species of dragonfly in family Libellulidae. Neurothemis terminata is a widespread and often common species which can occur in man-made habitats, from Peninsular Malaysia and Japan to the Lesser Sundas in Indonesia.

Male N. terminata have red colour on its body and wings, while the female have yellowish colour. The adult has 8-11 cm body length.

 

16-5-2023 KOTA KINABALU NAT PRK, BORNEO - BLYTHE'S STRIKE BABBLER (Pteruthius aeralatus)

The white-browed shrike-babbler (Pteruthius aeralatus) is a bird species found in the eastern Himalayas and Southeast Asia from northern Burma to southern Cambodia. Like others in the genus it is found in montane forests. Males and females have different plumages and variations occur through its range with several populations being treated as subspecies. It is part of a cryptic species complex and was earlier lumped as a subspecies of the white-browed shrike-babbler. Clements lumps this bird into the white-browed shrike-babbler.

The white-browed shrike-babbler is sexually dimorphic. There are many variations between the populations and some are more distinctive than others but they may not be easy to diagnose in the field. In general appearance it is very similar to the Himalayan shrike-babbler but all subspecies with the exception of validirostris have the tertials of males partly coloured rufous and partly fulvous.

26-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - BORNEO WHITE LIPPED FROG (Chalcorana raniceps)

 Chalcorana raniceps, also known as the copper-cheeked frog, white-lipped frog, or Peters' Malaysian frog, is a species of "true frog" in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to Borneo, including Brunei Darussalam, Kalimantan (Indonesia), and Sarawak (Malaysia), although it is likely to occur more widely. Previously mixed with Chalcorana chalconota (treated as a junior synonym or a subspecies) and believed to have much wider distribution, its range was delimited to Borneo in the revision of "Rana chalconota" complex by Robert Inger and colleagues in 2009.

26-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - MALAY YEOMAN BUTTERFLY (Cirrochroa emalea)

 Cirrochroa emalea, the Malay yeoman, is an Indomalayan species of heliconiine butterfly described by Félix Édouard Guérin-Méneville in 1843.

27-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - CHOCOLATE PANSY BUTTERFLY (Junonia iphita)

Junonia iphita, the chocolate pansy or chocolate soldier, is a butterfly found in Asia.

The wingspan is about 5–6 cm (2.0–2.4 in) and the female can be told apart from the male by white markings on the oblique line on the underside of the hindwing. The wavy lines on the underside of the wings vary from wet- to dry-season forms.

Individuals maintain a territory and are usually found close to the ground level and often bask in the sun.

 

27-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - GIANT GOLDEN ORBWEAVER SPIDER (Nephila pilipes)

Nephila pilipes (northern golden orb weaver or giant golden orb weaver) is a species of golden orb-web spider. It resides all over countries in East and Southeast Asia as well as Oceania. It is commonly found in primary and secondary forests and gardens. Females are large and grow to a body size of 30–50 mm (overall size up to 20 cm), with males growing to 5–6 mm. It is the second largest of the orb-weaving spiders apart from the recently discovered Nephila komaci. The first, second, and fourth pairs of legs of juvenile females have dense hairy brushes, but these brushes disappear as the spider matures.

The N. pilipes golden web is vertical with a fine irregular mesh. It is not symmetrical, with the hub usually nearer the top. Rather than egg sacs being hung in the web, a pit is dug which is then covered with plant debris or soil.

Nephila spp. prey upon only a few species. Nephila spp. will remove some specific insects from their webs. They avoid vespid wasps, alate ants, and other insects that secrete distasteful compounds. Due to Nephila’s large body size, it can prey on insects with a broad size range, from 2 mm to even larger size than themselves. They adopt different strategies for different sizes of preys. Small preys are directly caught and removed from the web. For larger ones, they inject venom and wait for the decease of their prey. However, Nephila spp. have a dramatic change in predation style from the spiderling to adulthood. During the spiderling stage, they feed collectively on a common web. Upon reaching adulthood, they construct their own webs. Nephila spp. also reserve food caches to deal with periods of food shortage. They wrap surplus prey in silk and store them in the hub of the web. The silk covering can significantly reduce water loss due to evaporation. Food cache can reduce weight loss during periods with limited preys.

It has been reported that some N. pilipes can adjust the ultraviolet radiation reflected by stripes on their body to attract preys that are UV light oriented. The bands on the legs and body of N. pilipes can reflect UV radiation, so they are more visible to flying insects. The contrast of colors makes them look like food sources for insects, rather than a predator spider.