27-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - NORTH BORNEAN GREY GIBBON (Hylobates funereus)

As arboreal primates, northern gray gibbons spend the majority of their time in the forest canopy, rarely descending to the ground. They prefer mature primary and secondary forests, including Borneo's tropical evergreen dipterocarp forests, which provide them with safety and abundant fruit.

The Northern Grey Gibbon (Hylobates funereus) [also known as North Borneo Gibbon] is a small species of gibbon endemic to the tropical rainforests of northern and eastern Borneo. This species was previously considered a subspecies of Mueller’s Gibbon (Hylobates muelleri funereus) [ aka Bornean Gibbon] but has recently been recognized as a distinct species.

Similar to other gibbon species, Northern Grey Gibbons are highly vocal. The ‘great call’ of the female is characterized by accelerating whoops followed by a rapid series of bubbly notes. Male-female duets are an iconic sound of the Bornean rainforest at dawn.

 

27-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - FLAT BACKED MILLIPEDE (Genus Stenoniodes)

Stenoniodes, commonly known as the Borneo tractor millipede, is a genus of millipede in the family Platyrhacidae. It contains six species, five of which occur on Borneo and one on Sibutu Island. Its common name originates from the likeness of its 20-segmented body to the tread of a tractor's tyre.

16-5-2023 KOTA KINABALU NAT PRK, BORNEO - BLACK CAPPED WHITE EYE (Zosterops atricapilla)

The black-capped white-eye (Zosterops atricapilla) is a small passerine from the family Zosteropidae.

It can reach a length between nine and eleven centimetres and looks slightly similar to the Sangkar white-eye. The back is olive green and the iris is brown. The bill and the feet are coloured black. The voice is characterized by soft twitters.

It inhabits mountain forests and alpine meadows in altitudes between 700 and 3000 m on mountains of Sumatra, and Borneo (especially Mount Kinabalu, Gunung Mulu, and Mount Batu Patap). 

27-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - YELLOW BELLIED PRINIA (Prinia flaviventris)

The yellow-bellied prinia (Prinia flaviventris) is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae. It is found in Pakistan, the southern Himalayan foothills, the northeastern Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia.

16-5-2023 KOTA KINABALU, BORNEO - WHITEHEAD'S BROADBILL (Calyptomena whiteheadi)

Whitehead's broadbill (Calyptomena whiteheadi) is a species of bird in the family Calyptomenidae. It is endemic to the mountain ranges of north-central Borneo, where it mainly inhabits montane forests and forest edges at elevations of 900–1,700 m (3,000–5,600 ft). It is 24–27 cm (9.4–10.6 in) long, with males weighing 142–171 g (5.0–6.0 oz) and females weighing 150–163 g (5.3–5.7 oz). Males are vivid green and have a black throat patch, black spots on the ear-coverts and back of the neck, and black markings and streaking all over the body. The tails and flight feathers are also blackish. Females are smaller and lack the black markings on the head and underparts. Juveniles look similar to adults but have fewer black markings.

Described by the British ornithologist Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1887, Whitehead's broadbill is named after the British explorer John Whitehead. It mainly feeds on fruit and supplements its diet with insects. Breeding probably occurs from March to June, with clutches containing one or two eggs. Although it is classified as being of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, it is threatened by habitat destruction and its population is thought to be decreasing.

27-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - BORNEAN AND PHILIPPINE PALM CIVET (Paradoxurus philippinensis ssp. philippinensis)

Paradoxurus is a genus of three palm civets within the viverrid family that was denominated and first described by Frédéric Cuvier in 1822. The Paradoxurus species have a broad head, a narrow muzzle with a large rhinarium that is deeply sulcate in the middle. Their large ears are rounded at the tip. The tail is nearly as long as the head and body.

The three species are the Asian palm civet, the Golden palm civet, and the Brown palm civet. 

Comparison of morphological data indicate that the Asian palm civet comprises three major clades that should be recognized as separate species: namely one in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia (as Paradoxurus hermaphroditus sensu stricto), one in Sumatra, Java and other small islands (Paradoxurus musanga), and the third in the Philippines and the Mentawai Islands (Paradoxurus philippensis). Genetic data, however, do not support species level distinction.

Philippine Palm Civet is a member of civet family which are carnivorous but also loves to eat fruits. This is the reason why they are living in forest with many fruit trees. Palm civets are also into coffee which made the famous and one of the expensive coffee beans - Kopi Luwak. Unfortunately, this made palm civet vulnerable in addition to forest degradation and hunting.

27-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - RHINOCEROS HORNBILL (Buceros rhinoceros)

The rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros) is a large species of forest hornbill (Bucerotidae). In captivity it can live for up to 35 years. It is found in lowland and montane, tropical and subtropical climates and in mountain rain forests up to 1,400 metres in Borneo, Sumatra, Java, the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, and southern Thailand.

The rhinoceros hornbill is the state bird of the Malaysian state of Sarawak and the country's national bird. Some Dayak people, especially the Ibanic groups, believe it to be the chief of worldly birds or the supreme worldly bird, and its statue is used to welcome the god of the augural birds, Sengalang Burong, to the feasts and celebrations of humankind. Contrary to some misunderstandings, the rhinoceros hornbill does not represent their war god, who is represented in this world by the brahminy kite. It is featured on the reverse of the 5 Malaysian ringgit bill.

Majestic and stately inhabitant of mature lowland and foothill forests. Pitch black with a white tail marked by a single dark bar. Enormous bill is bright orange with a prominent casque that is short and rectangular in females, long and upswept in males. Often seen in powerful flight over forests, typically in pairs or small groups. Gives low, resonant calls, usually in series: either a single-syllabled “rohh” or a disyllabic “roh-ow.”

27-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - CRESTED SERPENT EAGLE (Spilornis cheela)

The crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela) is a medium-sized bird of prey that is found in forested habitats across tropical Asia. Within its widespread range across the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and East Asia, there are considerable variations and some authorities prefer to treat several of its subspecies as completely separate species. In the past, several species including the Philippine serpent eagle (S. holospila), Andaman serpent eagle (S. elgini) and South Nicobar serpent eagle (S. klossi) were treated as subspecies of the Crested serpent eagle. All members within the species complex have a large looking head with long feathers on the back of the head giving them a maned and crested appearance. The face is bare and yellow joining up with the ceres while the powerful feet are unfeathered and heavily scaled. They fly over the forest canopy on broad wings and tail have wide white and black bars. They call often with a loud, piercing and familiar three or two-note call. They often feed on snakes, giving them their name and are placed along with the Circaetus snake-eagles in the subfamily Circaetinae.

The crested serpent eagle is a reptile eater which hunts over forests, often close to wet grassland, for snakes and lizards. It has also been observed to prey on birds, amphibians, mammals, fishes, termites and large earthworms. It is found mainly over areas with thick vegetation both on the low hills and the plains. This species is a resident species, but in some parts of their range they are found only in summer.

27-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - COLONEL BUTTERFLY ( Pandita sinope)

Pandita sinope sinope is the only representative of its genus in Malaysia and Singapore. It is confined to lowland forest and frequents the same localities as the Athyma and Moduza species. The butterfly is relatively active and is a rapid flyer like the Athyma species. It is alert and is not easily captured except when feeding at the blooms of flowering bushes. The caterpillar is believed to feed on Uncaria species.

 

29-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - MALAYSIAN BLUE FLYCATCHER (MALE) (Cyornis turcosus)

The Malaysian blue flycatcher (Cyornis turcosus) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Small flycatcher with brilliant blue upperparts, a pale orange throat and chest, and a white belly. Slightly paler female has a whitish throat, while male’s is blue; sexes are otherwise quite similar. Head is fairly uniformly blue, without boldly lighter or darker patches, unlike in many other “blue flycatchers”. Pale and restricted orange also serves as a helpful identifying feature. A lowland species, restricted to secluded riverine forests in Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, but found in a variety of dry and wet forests on Borneo. Song is a short smooth series of drawn-out piping whistles.

 

16-5-2023 KOTA KINABULU NAT PRK, BORNEO - BORNEAN LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis kinabaluensis)

The Bornean leafbird (Chloropsis kinabaluensis), also known as the Kinabalu leafbird, is a species of bird in the family Chloropseidae. It is found in humid forest in Borneo, to which it is endemic (elevated areas, including the Meratus Mountains). It has traditionally been considered a subspecies of the blue-winged leafbird (C. cochinchinensis), but differ in measurements and morphology, the female Bornean leafbird having a distinctive male-like plumage. The distribution of the two are known to approach each other, but there is no evidence of intergradation.

16-5-2023 KOTA KINABALU NAT PRK, BORNEO - FRUITHUNTER (Chlamydochaera jefferyi)

The fruithunter or fruit-hunter (Chlamydochaera jefferyi), also known as the black-breasted fruit-hunter, is an enigmatic species of bird currently placed with the typical thrushes in the family Turdidae. It is endemic to forests on the south-east Asian island of Borneo.

It is highly distinct from other thrushes, instead being convergent to Corvoidea such as trillers (Lalage) or true orioles (Oriolus). Thus it is placed in a monotypic genus Chlamydochaera.

29-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - SOUTHEAST ASIAN PILL MILLIPEDE (Family Zephroniidae)

Zephroniidae (sometimes misspelled "Zephronidae") is a family of giant pill millipedes in the taxonomic order Sphaerotheriida. They occur in southeast Asia from the Himalayas and China south and east to Sulawesi and to Australia, and also inhabit some Philippine islands.

29-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - JUNE BEETLE (Genus Apogonia)

Apogonia is a genus of scarab beetles. Some are pests of durian trees. 

29-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - FLAT TAILED HOUSE GECKO (Hemidactylus platyurus)

The flat-tailed house gecko (Hemidactylus platyurus), also known as the frilled house gecko or Asian house gecko, is a species of Gekkonidae native to southeastern and southern Asia. The species is sometimes classified under the genus Cosymbotus.

Distribution

Bangladesh, N India (Darjeeling, Sikkim), Nicobar Islands, Nepal, Bhutan, China (Guangdong, SE Xizang = Tibet),Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia (កម្ពុជា), Malaysia (incl. Pulau Tioman), Burma (= Myanmar), Vietnam, New Guinea (?), Philippine Islands (Palawan, Calamian Islands, Panay, Luzon), Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores).

They are also introduced in Florida (Pinellas, Alachua, Lee, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties) in the USA.

 

29-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - GREY CHEEKED BULBUL (Alophoixus tephrogenys)

The grey-cheeked bulbul (Alophoixus tephrogenys) is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found from the Malay Peninsula to the Greater Sunda Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - BORNEAN ORANGUTAN (Pongo pygmaeus)

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.

The Bornean orangutan lives in tropical rain forests in the Bornean lowlands, as well as montane rain forests in mountainous areas up to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) above sea level. This species lives throughout the canopy of primary and secondary forest, and moves large distances to find trees bearing fruit.

It is found in the two Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, and four of the five Indonesian Provinces of Kalimantan. Due to habitat destruction, the species distribution is now highly patchy throughout the island, the species has become rare in the southeast of the island, as well as in the forest between the Rajang River in central Sarawak and the Padas River in western Sabah. Its presence in Brunei is uncertain and unconfirmed.

In history, orangutans ranged throughout Southeast Asia and into southern China, as well as on the island of Java and in southern Sumatra. They primarily inhabit peat swamp forest, tropical heath forest, and mixed dipterocarp forest. Bornean orangutan are more solitary than their Sumatran relatives. Two or three orangutans with overlapping territories may interact, but only for short periods of time. Although orangutans are not territorial, adult males will display threatening behaviors upon meeting other males, and only socialize with females to mate. Males are considered the most solitary of the orangutans. The Bornean orangutan has a lifespan of 35–45 years in the wild; in captivity it can live to be about 60.

Despite being arboreal, the Bornean orangutan travels on the ground more than its Sumatran counterpart. This may be in part because no large terrestrial predators could threaten an orangutan in Borneo. In Sumatra, orangutans must face predation by the fierce Sumatran tiger.

The Bornean orangutan exhibits nest-building behavior. Nests are built for use at night or during the day. Young orangutans learn by observing their mother's nest-building behaviour. This skill is practiced by juvenile orangutans. Nests may be elaborate and involve a foundation and mattress made by intertwining leaves and branches and adding broken leafy branches. Additional features such as shade, waterproof roof, "pillow", and "blanket", all of which are made from branches, twigs and leaves, may also be added. Nest-building in primates is considered as an example of tool use and not animal architecture.

The Bornean orangutan diet is composed of over 400 types of food, including wild figs, durians (Durio zibethinus and D. graveolens), leaves, seeds, bird eggs, flowers, sap, vines, honey, fungi, spider webs, insects, and, to a lesser extent than the Sumatran orangutan, bark. They have also been known to consume the inner shoots of plants and vines. They will also occasionally eat nutrient rich soil. They get the necessary quantities of water from both fruit and from tree holes.

27-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - SOUTHERN PIG TAILED MACAQUE (Macaca nemestrina)

The southern pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina), also known as the Sundaland pig-tailed macaque and Sunda pig-tailed macaque, is a medium-sized macaque that lives in southern Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It is known locally as berok.

This macaque is mostly found in rainforest up to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), but will also enter plantations and gardens.

It is found in the southern half of the Malay Peninsula (only just extending into southernmost Thailand), Borneo, Sumatra and Bangka Island. There are reports of the species having been present in Singapore before 1950, but these were likely escaped pets. The only pig-tailed macaques in Singapore today are introduced monkeys.

28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - COMMON GRASS YELLOW BUTTERFLY (Eurema hecabe)

Eurema hecabe, the common grass yellow, is a small pierid butterfly species found in Asia, Africa and Australia. They are found flying close to the ground and are found in open grass and scrub habitats. It is simply known as "the grass yellow" in parts of its range; the general term otherwise refers to the entire genus Eurema.

The common grass yellow exhibits seasonal polyphenism. The lepidopteran has a darker summer morph, triggered by a long day exceeding 13 hours in duration, while the shorter diurnal period of 12 hours or less induces a fairer morph in the post-monsoon period.

29-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - 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.

Description and habitat

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.

 

27-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - BROWN PANSY BUTTERFLY (Junonia hedonia)

Junonia hedonia, the brown pansy, chocolate pansy, brown soldier or chocolate argus, is a butterfly found in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and Australia.

 

28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - MALAYSIAN BLUE FLYCATCHER (MALE) (Cyornis turcosus)

The Malaysian blue flycatcher (Cyornis turcosus) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

28-5-2023 TABIN RESERVE, BORNEO - MALAYAN EGGFLY BUTTERFLY (Hypolimnas anomala)

This species is present as various subspecies in South East Asia (Moluccas, New Guinea, Australia). It especially occurs in lowlands and tropical rainforests, wastelands, hill parks and natural reserves.

Females lay golden in colour globular eggs in a large cluster on the underside of the leaves. They hatch after about 3–4 days. The 6th (and final) instarcaterpillars are black with yellow spots and spines. Also the head is yellow. with long black cephalic horns. They are gregarious and usually occur in large numbers.