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Monday, December 29, 2014

Favorite Images from 2014

It is the time of the year to round up some of my favorite images taken in the year of 2014. Lots of herps (amphibians, reptiles) this year with many new species added to my collection. Instead of just 36 favorite images like the past few year, there are 108 favorites this year.

If you would like to see more of any of the species posted here, just click that image and that will take you to my Flickr where you can find more images of that particular species.

AMPHIBIANS.

If you would like to see more amphibians, click here.

#1 Up close with a Spotted Litter Frog (Leptobrachium hendricksoni). Selangor, Malaysia.
Leptobrachium hendricksoni _MG_3977 stk copy

#2 Up close with a Robinson's Flying Frog (Rhacophorus robinsonii). Malaysia.
Rhacophorus robinsonii_MG_3994 copy

#3 Adult Mossy Bush Frog (Philautus macroscelis), montane forest of Sabah (Borneo).
Philautus macroscelis IMG_2416 copy

#4 Just another bird dropping, I thought, but I checked it out anyway, because, sometimes they turned out to be crab spiders in camouflage. This one, however, was a froglet! I was totally amazed. After a little bit of research, we found out that this was a Wallace's Flying Froglet  (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus). SVL approx. 10mm. Totally different from the green adult!
Rhacophorus nigropalmatus IMG_5791 copy

#5 Another mysterious frog we found at night. But it turned out to be a juvenile Wallace's Flying Frog (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus). Totally different from the green adult! SVL approx. 30mm
Rhacophorus nigropalmatus IMG_5964 copy

#6 A very well camouflaged little Malayan Horned Frog (Megophrys nasuta). Selangor, Malaysia.
Megophrys nasuta IMG_2984 copy

#7 Leptolalax cf. heteropus. ID credit: Evan Quah. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Leptolalax cf. heteropus IMG_4118 stk copy

#8 Wallace's Flying Frog (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus). There is a bonus springtail in this frame too. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Rhacophorus nigropalmatus IMG_5629 copy

#9 Adding a new species to my frog photo collection - Frilled Tree Frog (Kurixalus (Rhacophorus) appendiculatus). Selangor, Malaysia. 
Kurixalus appendiculatus IMG_4041 copy

#10 Norhayati's Flying Frogs (Rhacophorus norhayatii) in amplexus on vegetation overhanging a dry puddle. Selangor, Malaysia.
Rhacophorus norhayatii in amplexus IMG_3052 copy

#11 My first Malayan Horned Frog (Megophrys nasuta). Night herping, Selangor, Malaysia.
Megophrys nasuta IMG_6088 stk copy

#12 Beautiful Malacca Frog (Phrynella pulchra - ID credit: M.A. Muin). Found this beauty perching on a leaf about 8 to 9 feet above ground level. Selangor, Malaysia. 
Phrynella pulchra IMG_5549 copy

#13 A White Lipped Frog (Hylarana labialis) in the process of molting, and eating its own molt too. Malaysia. 
Hylarana labialis molting IMG_1601 copy

#14  A newly described (2013) -  Malayan Slender Tree Frog (Polypedates discantus). Confused previously with Polypedates leucomystax. Selangor, Malaysia. ID confirmation: Herp Guide Parinya.
Polypedates discantus IMG_4000 copy

#15  I was checking this big tree for gecko when I spotted this photogenic Spiny Wart Frog (Theloderma horridum - ID credit: Steven Wong ) some 6 ft above the ground. Selangor, Malaysia.
Theloderma horridum IMG_7052 copy

#16 Leptolalax sabahmontanus, a species that was described only this year, by Masafumi Matsui, Kanto Nishikawa, Paul Yambun. Borneo. ID credit: Prof. Alexander Haas.
Leptolalax sabahmontanus IMG_2328 copy

SNAKES

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#17 Up close with a beautiful female Wagler's Pit Viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri). Malaysia.
Tropidolaemus wagleri IMG_2526 copy

#18 Red-tailed Racer (Gonyosoma oxycephalum). Selangor, Malaysia. 
Gonyosoma oxycephalum IMG_3310 copy

#19 The cutest snake in the world: Blunt-head Slug Snake (Aplopeltura boa). Selangor, Malaysia.
Aplopeltura boa IMG_9722 stk copy

#20 One of my best finds of the year!!! Leonard's Pipe Snake (Anomochilus leonardi). ID credit: Mohd Abdul Muin, Evan Quah. Selangor, Malaysia.
Anomochilus leonardi IMG_3964 copy

#21 Muack! Cute and beautiful juvenile Black-headed Cat Snake (Boiga nigriceps). Selangor, Malaysia.
Boiga nigriceps IMG_7258 stk copy

#22 Up close with a beautiful Blue Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis cyanochloris). Selangor, Malaysia. ID credit: Law Ingsind, M.A. Muin, Evan Quah.
Dendrelaphis cyanochloris IMG_3176 copy

#23 My first krait, yeay! It was both exciting and scary! Red-headed Krait (Bungarus flaviceps). Two species of Kraits within 5 days! . Selangor, Malaysia.
Bungarus flaviceps_MG_5023 copy

#24 I spotted this Malayan Krait / Blue Krait (Bungarus candidus) from some 15 to 20 ft away. My second krait just 4 nights after finding the first one! Selangor, Malaysia.
Bungarus candidus_MG_5152 copy

#25 Siamese Peninsula Pit Viper. (Trimeresurus fucatus), montane forest of Banjaran Bintang. Perak, Malaysia.

Trimeresurus fucatus IMG_4868 copy

#26 Up close with a beautiful but highly venomous Striped Corral Snake (Calliophis intestinalis). Selangor, Malaysia.
Calliophis intestinalis_MG_4643 copy

#27   Up close with a Dog-toothed Cat Snake (Boiga cynodon). Selangor, Malaysia.
Boiga cynodon IMG_2929 stk copy

#28   You look better with your tongue sticking out! Barred Kukri Snake (Oligodon signatus). Selangor, Malaysia.
Oligodon signatus IMG_0647b copy

#29  Beautiful Vertebral Slug Snake (Asthenodipsas vertebralis). Pahang, Malaysia.
Athenodipsas vertebralis IMG_9917 copy

#30  Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus). About 6 feet long. Selangor, Malaysia.
Reticulated Python IMG_9079 copy

LIZARDS

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#31 Malaysia Bow-fingered Gecko / White-eyed Forest Gecko / Beautiful Bent-toed Gecko (Cyrtodactylus elok). Selangor, Malaysia.
Cyrtodactylus elok IMG_9628 copy

#32 A juvenile Malayan Forest Gecko (Cyrtodactylus bintangtinggi). Montane forest of Banjaran Bintang, Perak, Malaysia.
Cyrtodactylus bintangtinggi IMG_4789 copy

#33 Marbled Bent-toed Gecko (Cyrtodactylus quadrivirgatus) waiting beside a few lantern bug nymphs (Zanna terminalis), presumably waiting for their honeydew excretes. Night find, Selangor, Malaysia.

Gecko & Fulgorid Trophobiosis IMG_6487 copy (2)

#34 Chinese Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus - ID credit: M.A. Muin). Penang, Malaysia. I saw the tail first and thought it was a Gonocephalus grandis, then I saw the head, which resembled that of a Bronchocela cristatella .
Physignathus cocincinus IMG_8323 copy

#35 Open your mouth and say "ah...". No cavity. Come back in 3 months. Beautiful Green Crested Lizard (Bronchocela cristatella). Selangor, Malaysia.
Bronchocela cristatella IMG_6577 copy

#36 Beautiful Bell's Angle-head Lizard (Gonocephalus bellii). Night herping, Selangor, Malaysia.
Bell's Anglehead Lizard IMG_6085 copy

#37 Beautiful adult Crytodactylus pulchellus. Penang, Malaysia.
Cyrtodactylus pulchellus IMG_2448 copy

#38 Up close with a beautiful lizard, Phoxophrys cf. cephalum. Borneo.
Phoxophrys cf. cephalum IMG_2401 copy

#39 Beautiful lizard, Phoxophrys cephalum. Sabah (Borneo), Malaysia. 
Phoxophrys cephalum IMG_2333 copy

#40 Hypnotizing eyes of a gorgeous Cat Gecko (Aeluroscalabotes felinus). I think it's one of the most beautiful geckos in Malaysia.
Aeluroscalabotes felinus IMG_0286 copy

#41 Up close with a Peters' Forest Gecko (Cyrtodactylus consobrinus). Selangor, Malaysia.
Cyrtodactylus consobrinus IMG_9568 copy

#42  One of the most awesome geckos in Malaysia IMHO. Super cool and photogenic Kuhl's Flying Gecko (Ptychozoon kuhli). Malaysia.
Ptychozoon kuhli_MG_4656 copy

#43  A really cute Brown's (Wolf) Gecko (Luperosaurus browni). ID credit: M.A. Muin. West Malaysia.
Luperosaurus browni IMG_0102 merged copy

#44 Up close with a Malayan soft-shell turtle (Dogania subplana) ID credit: Mohd Abdul Muin. Isn't it cute?
Dogania subplana IMG_4288 copy

NEUROPTERANS

If you would like to see more Neuropterans, click here.

#45 Beautiful lacewing. Been looking for this species for a long time and finally found one with help from a friend :). Italochrysa cf. japonica. ID suggested by Ks Wong.
Italochrysa cf. japonica_MG_3737 copy

#46 Beautiful antlion (Myrmeleontidae) a friend spotted high up on a twig on a rainy night. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Dendroleon sp,,  close to caelestis. Possibly a new species - IDed by Виктор Кривохатский and Davide Badano.
Antlion Dendroleon sp. IMG_9352_3 merged copy

#47 Up close with a beautiful lacewing with really reflective wings. Italochrysa sp., near I. insignis - ID credit: Roberto A. Pantaleoni. Selangor, Malaysia.
Italochrysa cf. insignis _MG_4518 copy

MAMMALS

#48 Slow Loris looking at me. Malaysia. Closest I've ever been to a slow loris, probably about 6 to 7 ft away! Isn't he/she a cutie? . Malaysia.
Slow Loris IMG_3633 copy

#49 So i got within 2.86 meters (9'4 inches) of this Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) before it disappeared. I spotted the exact same cat again a little bit down the road, and this time, I got within 1.43 meters (4'8") of it! This image was cropped though. Taken with a 60mm macro lens.
Prionailurus bengalensis IMG_5123 copy

#50 Cute little Pencil-tailed tree mouse (Chiropodomys gliroides ) with a nut . The friendliest ever. I've seen many but this was the first one that posed for me. Heavily cropped. ID credit: Muhammad Rasul Abdullah Halim, Neoh Hor Kee. Selangor, Malaysia.
Chiropodomys gliroides _MG_5213 copy

#51   This Tube-nosed bat (Murina sp. - ID suggested by M.A. Muin)  was caught in a Caerostris sp. spider's web. The bat managed to break lose and fell onto the undergrowth after about 5 minutes. We looked but couldn't find it though. Selangor, Malaysia.
Bat in spider web IMG_6712 copy

ORTHOPTERANS

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#52 Up close with a Dragon Head Katydid. A male Lesina sp.. (IDed with the help of Ming Kai Tan) Selangor, Malaysia.
Lesina sp. IMG_3109 copy

#53 Meet the amazing Dead Leaf grasshopper (Chorotypus sp.). You'll need a little bit of luck to find this guy even when it's on green vegetation. Good luck if it's on forest floor. Selangor, Malaysia.
Chorotypus sp. IMG_3869 copy

#54  Profile of a Pseudophyllinae katydid nymph. Selangor, Malaysia.
Pseudophyllinae katydid IMG_3901 copy

#55 A Pseudophyllinae katydid nymph, and an unidentified bug. Selangor, Malaysia.
Pseudophyllinae IMG_4550 copy

#56 Beautiful monkey grasshopper.  Erucius sp.- ID credit: Tan Ming Kai. Banjaran Bintang montane forest, Perak, Malaysia.
Monkey Grasshopper IMG_4863 copy

#57  A katydid in threat pose, signalling me not to get any closer . Night find, Selangor, Malaysia. Probably Capnogryllacris fruhstorferi - ID credit: Tan Ming Kai.
Katydid Threat Pose IMG_5875 copy

HYMENOPTERANS

If you would like to see more tropical ants, click here.

If you would like to see more bees and wasps, click here.

#58 Insects love (to bite) me!!! A Camponotus sp. ant with her mandibles locking onto my flesh. Ouch. Selangor, Malaysia. I was photographing another Carpenter ant when I felt sharp pain on my left wrist! It was this ant!
Carpenter Ant biting me IMG_0914 copy

#59  Two Bee(s), or Not Two Bees. Okay, that's really lame .Sleeping bees (Genus: Amegilla; sub-genus: Glossamegilla - info credit: Zestin Soh and Doug Yanega) I found at night. They flew away after just 3 shots . Selangor, Malaysia.
Two bees...IMG_8492 stk copy

#60  A paper wasp guarding her eggs and pupae. Shot at around 2X only. MP-E65, MT-24EX and concave diffuser. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ropalidia sp. ID credit: Rob Longair, Doug Yanega.  Bell-shaped 2nd metasomal segment.
Ropadilia sp. IMG_5561 copy

#61  Pseudoneoponera sp. ant carrying a pupa. ID credit: Dave General. Malaysia.
Pseudoneoponera sp. IMG_1677 copy

#62  The nest of a Stenogastrine (hover wasp), almost certainly Eustenogaster sp. ID credit: James Kwb and John Lee.
Eustenogaster nest IMG_3061 copy, cl

CHILOPODA

#63  Up close with a strikingly beautiful Centipede. Malaysian Cherry Red (Scolopendra dehaani). ID credit: Lee Chia How. Malaysia.
Scolopendra dehaani IMG_5186 copy


ARACHNIDS

If you would like to see more arachnids, click here.

#64  Mouhot’s Rolled-leaf spider (Poltys mouhoti). Selangor, Malaysia. Unlike all those I've come across before, this one has red "butt" instead of the usual yellow. 
Poltys mouhoti IMG_4014 copy

#65  Big, fluffy Jumping Spider (Hyllus cf giganteus - ID suggested by Faiz Qifa) Sabah (Borneo).
Hyllus giganteus IMG_2032 copy

#66  Beautiful Eight-spotted Crab Spider (Platythomisus sp., P. octomaculatus?)  my buddies found for me . Singapore.
Platythomisus sp. _MG_4292 copy

#67  Cute and tame unidentified tarantula we found at night. Selangor, Malaysia. 
Tarantula IMG_8187 copy

#68  Cute Big-headed Bark Spider (Caerostris sp.). Selangor, Malaysia.
Caerostris sp. IMG_6427 copy

#69 A Heteropoda sp. huntsman spider with frog prey (Vermiculate Bush Frog - Philautus vermiculatus). Night herping, montane forest of Banjaran Bintang, Perak, Malaysia. 
Heteropoda sp. huntsman with frog prey IMG_5286 copy

#70  Sandokanidae harvestmans trying to enjoy some intimate moments while a Polyrhachis ant came intruding on them. OK the photographer was guilty as charged too! Selangor, Malaysia.
Sandokanidae harvestmans mating _MG_4106 copy

#71  Malaysian Black & Gold Huntsman (Thelcticopis sp.) with a Conehead Katydid (Macroxiphus sumatranus) for supper. Night find, Selangor, Malaysia. 
Thelcticopis sp. with katydid prey IMG_6990 copy

#72  Shrimp sashimi. Freshness guaranteed. A Fishing Spider (Dolomedes sp.) feasting on a fresh water prawn. Penang, Malaysia.
Dolomedes sp. IMG_2461 copy

#73 A Harvestman enjoying the remain of a beetle(?). Sabah, Borneo.
Opiliones IMG_2095 copy

#74  Yellow jumping spider with fly prey. Selangor, Malaysia.
Salticidae _MG_4900 copy

#75  Big dinner! Crab spider with cricket prey. Selangor, Malaysia. Podoscirtinae nymph, or perhaps Gryllinae - ID credit: Ming Kai Tan.
Crab spider IMG_4406 copy

#76  My precious! Momma huntsman with her newly hatched spiderlings. Aww . Selangor, Malaysia.
Huntsman Spider wtih spiderlings IMG_6797 copy

#77  Wrap-around Spider (Dolophones sp.). Selangor, Malaysia.
Dolophones sp. spider IMG_9847 copy

COLEOPTERANS

If you would like to see more tropical beetles of Malaysia, click here.

#78 Lampyridae firefly (Lamprigera sp. - ID credit: Michael Geiser, Gene Mesher) preying on and later eating a Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica. ID credit: Tan Siong-Kiat, Marcus Ng) that it killed earlier. Selangor, Malaysia.
Lamprigera sp. preying on Giant African Snail IMG_4383 copy

#79 Beautiful Longhorn Beetle (Cerambycidae). Banjaran Bintang, Perak, Malaysia. Eurybatus (Eurybatus) decempunctatus Westwood, 1848 (ID credit: Francesco Vitali)
Red longhorn beetle IMG_4963 copy


#80  Massicus pascoei - ID confirmed by Francesco Vitali. A largish, male Longhorn beetle. It found a female and was mating with her when we came back a few hours later . Selangor, Malaysia. 
Massicus pascoei IMG_9518 stk copy

#81  This is what a Trilobite beetle looks like underneath. Malaysia. Platerodrilus sp., formerly Duliticola sp., (Family: Lycidae)
Trilobite Beetle IMG_1762 copy

#82  Beautiful longhorn beetle from Sabah (Borneo). Aegosoma osseum - ID credit: Alain Drumont.
Aegosoma ossea IMG_2284 copy

#83  Beautiful longhorn beetle. Pseudoeuchitonia barbarae Bentanachs, Morati, Vives, 2010 cf. ID credit: Enrico Ruzzier. Sabah (Borneo).
Pseudoeuchitonia barbarae IMG_2053 copy

LEPIDOPTERANS

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#84 Beautiful Limacodid(?) caterpillar we found at night. Banjaran Bintang, Perak, Malaysia.
Colorful Limacodid caterpillar IMG_5197 copy

#85  Cup Moth Caterpillars (Limacodidae - suggested by GC Gan) having bamboo leaf for supper. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Limacodidae caterpillars IMG_4072 copy

#86  Beautiful moth we found at night. Selangor, Malaysia. Samia tetrica - ID credit: Marcus Ng.
Samia tetrica IMG_3430 copy

#87  Great Orangetip butterfly (Hebomoia glaucippe). Selangor, Malaysia.
Great Orangetip IMG_2719 copy

#88  I was photographing a green dragon tail at first and this beauty was extremely cooperative. Didn't move a bit despite the strong wind and my approaching him/her. Delias cinerascens cinerascens. ID credit: Les Day.
Delias cinerascens cinerascens  _MG_7148 copy

#89   Beautiful Green Dragontail butterfly (Lamproptera meges meges - ID credit: Lc Goh ). Sabah (Borneo).
Green Dragontail _MG_7144 copy

#90  Beautiful moth. Selangor, Malaysia. Geometridae - Dysphania militaris?
Dysphania militaris IMG_1124 copy


FULGORIDAE

If you would like to see more lantern bugs / lanternflies of Malaysia, click here.

#91  One of the most beautiful and elegant lantern bugs / lantern flies IMO. Pyrops heringi. Borneo. 
Pyrops heringi IMG_2029 copy

#92  Trophobiosis between lantern bug and cockroach. The lantern bug are Pyrops cultellatus yoshiakii  Nagai & Porion, 2002.  The roach was Dorylaea sp., either D. flavicincta, D. robinsoni or D. saundersi. ID credit: Stefan Phalagorn.  Selangor, Malaysia.
Pyrops cultellatus yoshiaki IMG_8131 copy

ASILIDAE

More robber flies of Malaysia here.

#93 This female robber fly should be sleeping at night but there she was, having a winged termite for late dinner. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  Asilidae, Asilinae, near Promachus - ID credit: Manuel Ayala L
Promachus sp. with winged termite prey IMG_4203 copy

#94  Orange Robber fly (Clephydroneura sp.) with prey - a Prosena sp. fly. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. MP-E65, MT-24EX, concave diffuser. Manually stitched from two horizontal shots. The robber fly was too big for the MP-E65.
Clephydroneura sp. with prey IMG_5479 merged copy

OTHERS

#95 Cute as a bug. Pill millipede on green moss. Selangor, Malaysia.
Pill millipede IMG_9443 copy

#96 Jewel Bug (Scutelleridae). Selangor, Malaysia. 
Jewel Bug IMG_1494 copy

#97  Strikingly beautiful shield bug. I spotted it as soon as I looked up on the underside of leaves. Selangor, Malaysia.
ID? Scutelleridae IMG_3046 copy

#98  A green and yellow  bug (Urostylididae - Urolabida sp. ID credit: John Horstman, Philippe Magnien, Ashish Nimkar ) Selangor, Malaysia.
Urolabida sp. IMG_3137 copy

#99  Bubble bath time! A beautiful froghopper (Cercopidae). Banjaran Bintang, Perak, Malaysia. 
Froghopper foam bath IMG_5090 copy

#100  Leaf-footed bug (Coreidae) with cool antennae. Selangor, Malaysia. Dalader sp. - ID credit: Doug Yanega.
Dalader sp. _MG_4370 copy

#101  A male roach trying to impress a female, I think. Epilamprine or near. Selangor, Malaysia.
Roaches Courting Display IMG_6645 copy

#102 Adult female Malayan Jungle Nymph (Heteropteryx dilatata - ID confirmation: Bruno Kneubuhler). They're totally cool! Selangor, Malaysia.
Heteropteryx dilatata IMG_4487 copy

#103    An emerging cicada. Dundubia vaginata? (Jade-green Cicada)? Selangor, Malaysia.
Cicada emergence IMG_8442 copy


#104  Flatidae planthopper nymph. Selangor, Malaysia.
Flatidae hopper nymph IMG_6592 copy


#105 Optical fibers . A passion-vine Ricaniid planthopper nymph. Night macro, Selangor, Malaysia. 40D, 60mm, diffused 270EX, 1/200, F13, ISO200, night macro, handheld.
Ricaniid planthopper nymph IMG_8571 copy


#106  A molting stick insect. Montane forest, Pahang, Malaysia. Haaniella sp. - ID credit: Bruno Kneubühler & Cain Eyre. 
Haaniella sp. IMG_1369 copy

#107 A walking leaf! What an amazing insect! Possibly an adult female Leaf Insect, Phyllium bioculatum. But for a more accurate ID, photos of eggs and the male would be needed too - ID via Bruno Kneubuhler. 
Phyllium bioculatum IMG_3072 copy

#108 Treehopper nymphs (Membracidae- Centrotypus pactolus. ID credit: Munetoshi Maruyama ) being tended to by a few unidentified ants (Crematogaster). Selangor, Malaysia.
Centrotypus pactolus_MG_3828 copy


   
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