Favorite Images from 2015

It is the time of the year to round up some of my favorite images taken in the year of 2015. Again, lots of herps (amphibians, reptiles) this year with many new species added to my collection.

AMPHIBIANS

More amphibians here.

#1 - I think this is possibly the cutest frog face in the world! Malaya Bug-eyed Frog (Theloderma leprosum). Malaysia.


#2 - One of the most awesome frogs I've ever seen - Malaya Bug-eyed Frog (Theloderma leprosum). Malaysia. It looks quite similar to Theloderma horridum that I've seen before, only much bigger.

#3 - Holy Smog! I love backlighting. It makes me look cool. It makes me look like Batman! Filmed entirely in a lowland forest in Malaysia. Starring: Juve Malayan Horned Frog (Megophrys nasuta).


#4 - Find me!


#5 - Malayan Flying Frog (Rhacophorus prominanus). Khao Sok National Park, Thailand.


#6 - Cute little juvenile Frilled Tree Frog (Kurixalus sp.) - ID suggested by Herp Guide Parinya. Khao Sok National Park, Thailand


#7 - Hylarana eschatia (Chalcorana eschatia) - a common but beautiful frog from Khao Sok National park.


#8 - Norhayati's Flying Frog (Rhacophorus norhayatii). Malaysia.


#9 - Go ahead, take a nap. Norhayati's Flying Frog (Rhacophorus norhayatii). Malaysia.


#10 - Metamorph Twin-spotted tree frog (Rhacophorus bipunctatus).  Malaysia.

#11 - Twin-spotted Flying Frog (Rhacophorus bipunctatus). on a wildflower. Montane forest, Pahang, Malaysia.

#12 - Twin-spotted Flying Frogs (Rhacophorus bipunctatus) in amplexus. Malaysia.


#13 - Twin-spotted Flying Frog (Rhacophorus bipunctatus), Malaysia.


#14 - Smooth-skinned wart frog (Theloderma licin). Malaysia. Lifer for me.

#15 - Larut Hills Rice Frog (Microhyla annectens). Pahang, Malaysia.


#16 - A tiny Tanahrata Wartfrog (Limnonectes nitidus).


#17 - I see you! Beautiful eyes of a Spotted Litter Frog (Leptobrachium hendricksoni). Malaysia.

#18 - Butler's rice frog / Painted Chorus Frog / Tubercled Pygmy Frog (Microhyla butleri) in amplexus. Pahang, Malaysia.


#19 - A pair of Ornate Narrow-mouthed Frog (Microhyla fissipes) in amplexus. The male has one bad eye. Pahang, Malaysia.


#20 - A pair of Dark-sided Chorus Frogs (Microhyla heymonsi) in amplexus. Pahang, Malaysia.


#21 - Chubby, colorful = cute! Meet Malacca Frog (Phrynella pulchra). Malaysia.


#22 - Saffron-bellied Frog (Chaperina fusca). Malaysia.


#23 - A really big River Toad (Phrynoidis aspera). 7.5 in from snout to vent. Malaysia.

SNAKES

More tropical snakes here.

#24 - This has to be one of the prettiest snakes I have ever seen in Malaysia. Speckled coral snake / Small-spotted coral snake (Calliophis maculiceps), Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia. Highly venomous!



#25 -  Speckled coral snake / Small-spotted coral snake (Calliophis maculiceps), Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia. Highly venomous!



#26 - This highly venomous but extremely shy Red-headed krait (Bungarus flaviceps) stayed still just for a moment before jumping into the river to escape. Malaysia.


#27 - A really beautiful Twin-barred Flying Snake (Chrysopelea pelias). Malaysia.

#28 - Twin-barred Flying Snake (Chrysopelea pelias). Malaysia.


#29 - Very lucky to have found this gorgeous Paradise Tree Snake (Chrysopelea paradisi). Malaysia.


#30 -



#31 - A happy Monty photographing the Striped Coral Snake (Calliophis intestinalis) he spotted. Pahang, Malaysia.



#32 - Pretty ribbon. Striped Coral Snake (Calliophis intestinalis) playing dead, again. They are really good at this! Highly venomous. Malaysia.


#33 - A young male Vogel's Pit Viper (Trimeresurus vogeli). Khao Yai National Park


#34 - Malayan Krait / Blue Krait (Bungarus candidus). This one twitched when I yelled (to get my friend to come over). Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia.


#35 - A medium sized White-bellied Rat Snake (Ptyas fusca) I found in Khao Sok. It was hunting and eating a skink but I didn't have my camera on a table nearby. De-ticked, photographed and released.



#36 - Red-necked Keelback (Rhabdophis subminiatus). Khao Sok National Park, Thailand.



#37 - A juvenile Gunther’s whip snake, Oriental Whipsnake, Asian vine snake, Jade Vine Snake (Ahaetulla prasina). Selangor, Malaysia.

#38 - While we were photographing this male Hagen's Pitviper (Trimeresurus hageni), a jumping spider (Salticidae - genus?) came to photobomb him! Malaysia.



#39 - Hagen's Pitviper (Trimeresurus hageni), Selangor, Malaysia.


#40 - A really beautiful juvenile female Wagler's Pit Viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri) with her forked tongue sticking out! Malaysia.


#41 - Williamson's Reed Snake (Collorhabdium williamsoni). Montane forest of Pahang, Malaysia.


#42 - Genting Highlands Reed Snake (Macrocalamus gentingensis), Pahang, Malaysia.

#43 - Low's Reed Snake / Lovi's Reed Snake (Calamaria lovii), Pahang, Malaysia.


#44 - Asian Slug Snake, Mountain Slug Snake, Mountain Snail Snake (Asthenodipsas vertebralis). Pahang, Malaysia.


#45 - Smedley's Keelback / Cameron's Keelback (Amphiesma sanguineum / Hebius sanguineum), Pahang, Malaysia.


#46 - Don't you just love the big big eyes of this super cute, even cartoonish juvenile Elegant Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis formosus)? Definitely one of the cutest snakes in Malaysia.


#47 - Cute little Blue-necked Keelback / Blueneck Keelback (Macropisthodon rhodomelas) with full stomach, Selangor, Malaysia.


#48


#49 - Spotted Keelback (Xenochrophis maculatus), Selangor, Malaysia.


#50 - Dwarf Reed Snake, Cantor's Dwarf Reed Snake (Pseudorabdion longiceps), Pahang, Malaysia.


#51 - Barred Kukri Snake / Banded Kukri Snake (Oligodon signatus), Selangor, Malaysia.

#52 - All curled up. Blunt-headed Slug Snake (Aplopeltura boa). Malaysia.


#53 - Cameron Highlands Pit Viper (Trimeresurus nebularis) with a Twin-spotted Flying Frog (Rhacophorus bipunctatus) prey. Pahang, Malaysia.



#54 - Mirkwood Forest Slug Snake (Asthenodipsas lasgalenensis). Montane forest of Pahang, Malaysia.


#55 - This medium sized Painted Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis pictus) wasn't too happy having its pics taken. Threatened to bite too!. Selangor, Malaysia.


#56 - If you like Ahaetulla sp.,  you'll love Ahaetulla mycterizans (Malayan Whip Snake). Just check out those big bulging eyes - super cute! Malaysia.

#57 - Strikingly beautiful juvenile Mangrove Snake/Golden Ringed Cat Snake (Boiga dendrophila). Malaysia.



LIZARDS

More tropical lizards here.

#58 - Juvenile Southern Titiwangsa Bent-toed Gecko (Cyrtodactylus australotitiwangsaensis). Pahang, Malaysia.

#59 - Green-eyed Forest Gecko / Large Forest Gecko (Gekko smithii). Malaysia.



#60 - Oldham's Bow Fingered Gecko (Cyrtodactylus oldhami complex). ID credit: Herp Guide Parinya. Khao Sok National Park, Thailand.

#61 - Oldham's Bow Fingered Gecko (Cyrtodactylus oldhami complex). ID credit: Herp Guide Parinya. Khao Sok National Park, Thailand.


#62- A well camouflaged Smooth-backed Gliding Gecko (Ptychozoon lionotum), Khao Yai National Park, Thailand.


#63 - Garnot's House gecko (Hemidactylus garnotii) with earwig prey. Khao Sok National Park, Thailand.

#64 - Extremely cute and photogenic little Brown's (Wolf) Gecko / Brown’s Fringe Gecko (Luperosaurus browni) licking its eye. Malaysia.


#65 - Kuhl's Flying Gecko (Ptychozoon kuhli). Always a treat to see them in the wild. Malaysia.


#66 - Malaya False Bloodsucker, Yellow-throated Forest Agamid, Yellow-throated False Garden Lizard (Pseudocalotes flavigula). Malaysia.


#67 - Acanthosaura cardamomensis, Khao Yai National Park:


#68 - Profile shot of a Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko). Khao Yai National Park:


#69 - Up close with a Bell's Anglehead Lizard (Gonocephalus bellii). Malaysia.


#70 - Up close with a blue-eyed Malayodracon robinsonii, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia. What should its new common name be? Robinson's Malayan Dragon?


COLEOPTERA

More beetles of Malaysia here.

#71 -Male Long-armed Scarab (Cheirotonus peracanus). Malaysia. Taken with the LaoWa 15mm wide angle macro lens.


#72 - I was looking for snakes during the day when I spotted this rather clumsy Trilobite beetle (Platerodrilus hoiseni). Langkawi Island, Malaysia. Laowa 15mm on 70D, no flash.


#73- Beautiful Long-horned beetle with showy, pom pom antennae. Khao Sok National Park, Thailand. Aristobia approximator - ID credit: Numpueng Yuwanda, Antonio Giudici.


#74 - Beautiful longhorn beetle (Aegosoma giganteum). Pahang, Malaysia.


#75 - Beetles threesome.......!!!
Khao Sok National Park. Thailand.


#76 - Mating pair of weevils. Gold Dust Weevil (Hypomeces squamosus). Khao Yai National Park


#77 - Stag beetle (Odontolabis femoralis). Taken with the Laowa 15mm F4 1:1 wide angle macro lens. 70D, diffused 270EX on hot shoe. Handheld.


#78 - Longhorn beetle (Batocera sp.) with mites. Selangor, Malaysia.

#79 - Trilobite beetle. Malaysia. Platerodrilus hoiseni, formerly Duliticola sp., (Family: Lycidae)


#80 - Up close with a wet jewel beetle (Chrysochroa fulminans) on a rainy night. Selangor, Malaysia.


#81 -


FULGORIDAE

More lantern bugs / lanternflies here.

#82 - Lanternfly /lantern bug (Fulgoridae) - Pyrops ducalis. Khao Yai National Park:


#83 - How many bugs do you see in this image? Name all of them. Answers at the bottom of this image.

Answers: Fulgoridae - Pyrops ducalis, Alydidae - Riptortus pedestris and a masked assassin (Reduviidae - Reduvius sp.?)

#84 - Lanternfly /lantern bug (Fulgoridae) - Pyrops candelaria. Khao Yai National Park.

#85 - Lanternfly / lantern bug (Fulgoridae) - Saiva gemmata. Khao Yai National Park:


#86 - Lanternflies / lantern bugs (Fulgoridae) - Saiva gemmata. Khao Yai National Park


#87 - Pyrops karenius, Surat Thani, Thailand.


#88 - Trophobiosis between lantern bug and carpenter ants (Camponotus sp.). The lantern bug are Pyrops cultellatus yoshiakii  Nagai & Porion, 2002. Malaysia.


#89 - Lanternfly / lantern bug (Fulgoridae) - Aphaena submaculata. Khao Yai National Park:


#90 - Lanternfly / lantern bug (Fulgoridae) - Aphaena cf. discolor. Khao Yai National Park:

ORTHOPTERA

More Orthoptera of Malaysia here.

#91 - Portrait shot of a handsome Dragon-head katydid (Lesina sp.). Malaysia.


#92 - Pinkish Raspy Cricket nymph (Gryllacrididae), highland of Pahang, Malaysia.


#93 - Nom nom nom. Cave cricket (Rhaphidophoridae) nymph enjoying fresh organic white mushroom. Selangor, Malaysia.


#94 - Beautiful katydid (Zulpha perlaria) from the highland of Pahang, Malaysia.


#95 - Katydid nymph (Condylodera tricondyloides?) that mimics Tricondyla sp. tiger beetle?



LEPIDOPTERA

More Lepidoptera here.

#96 - A stunning moth that was attracted to light at night. Montane forest, Malaysia. Erebus albicinctus, (Erebidae) - ID credit: JC Megabyte.



#97 - Beautiful moth we found in Langkawi while herping up on a mountain in Langkawi at night. Erebidae - Erebus macrops - ID credit: John Horstman.


#98 - Beautiful moth, Dysphania subrepleta. ID credit: Sankararaman Harihara Krishnan, Steven Chong, John Horstman.


#99 - Pink, hairy caterpillar (Trabala sp.) with a biting midge (Ceratopogonidae - Forcipomyia or Atrichopogon). Langkawi Island, Kedah, Malaysia. By habit, parasite of caterpillar, it may be Forcipomyia fuliginosa.- info credit: John Carr @ Diptera.info


#100 - Prominent Moth Caterpillar (Fentonia baibarana, Notodontidae) ID credit: John Horstman.


#101 - Moth: Erebidae, Arctiinae, Syntomini



#102 - Lexias dirtea merguia - ID credit: LC Goh, Antonio Giudici. Khao Sok National Park, Thailand.


#103 - Sphingidae, Smerinthinae - Amplypterus panopus panopus - suggested by Antonio Giudici.


#104 - Awesome camouflage. Fooled me! Nature is just so awesome! Erebidae, Erebinae, Hypopyrini - Hypopyra sp. - ID credit: Roger Kendrick.


#105 - Beautiful, elegant white moth with backlighting. Geometridae, Ennominae
Ourapteryx sp., ID credit: Roger Kendrick. Montane forest of Pahang, Malaysia.


#106 - Beautiful moth. Erebus ephesperis. Selangor, Malaysia.


#107 - Love that cyan part of the hind wings. Ischyja marapok (Erebidae, Erebinae) - ID credit: Rob de Vos. Malaysia.


#108 - Owlet Moth (Noctuidae). Montane forest, Pahang, Malaysia. Eudocima salaminia.- ID suggested by Nuwan Chathuranga.

NEUROPTERA

More Neuroptera of Malaysia here.

#109 - Adult antlion. Selangor, Malaysia. Distoleon sp.?



#110 - Beautiful antlion. Distoleon sp.? Malaysia.


HYMENOPTERA

More tropical ants here.

#111- At your service, Your Majesty! Two workers and a queen, Polyrhachis sp., Selangor, Malaysia.



ARACHNIDA

More tropical spiders here.

#112 - New skin old skin. Backlit shot of a newly molted house centipede (Scutigeridae) in "mantis shrimp" color scheme. Selangor, Malaysia.


#113 - A proud mom (Coremiocnemis hoggi) with her bunch of "slings": Andy, Betty, Charles, Diane, Eugene, Frank, Ginny, Hank, Ian......Zack..Malaysia.


#114 -  Lychas scutilus scorpion, Johor, Malaysia.


#115 - UV illuminated shot of a Lychas scutilus scorpion.  Johor, Malaysia.


#116 - Giant Forest Scorpion (Heterometrus spinifer). Malaysia.


#117 - Giant armored trapdoor spider. Liphistius malayanus. Pahang, Malaysia.

#119 - One of the coolest spiders of Malaysia, in my book. Long-horned Orb Weaver (Macracantha arcuata). Malaysia. Taken with the LaoWa 15mm F4 1:1 wide angle macro lens.


#120 - One of the coolest spiders ever! Mouhot's rolled leaf spider (Poltys mouhoti). Malaysia.


#121 - Tree-Stump Spider (Poltys sp) with spiky abdomen. Malaysia.


#122 - Check out this really cool "metallic" millipede! Malaysia. Reminds me of Driller the Decepticon in Transformer.


#123 - This amazing Edentistoma sp. centipede mimics millipedes and prey on them too. Pahang, Malaysia.

#124 - A mating pair of Vinegaroons (Thelyphonida).


MAMMALS

#125 - Pangolin


#126 - Mouse deer: Tragulus kanchil - Lesser mouse deer or Lesser Indo-Malayan Chevrotain. Lowland forest of Selangor, Malaysia.

#127 - Long-tailed giant rat (Leopoldamys sabanus) from lowland forest of Selangor, Malaysia.



MANTODEA

More mantids of Malaysia here.

#128 - One of the prettiest mantids of Malaysia - Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus). This one is a nymph. Malaysia.


#129 - Dead Leaf Mantids (Deroplatys lobata). Two males on one female! Malaysia.



#130 - Right place at the right time. Backlit shot of a molting Banded Flower Mantis nymph (Theopropus elegans). Malaysia.




OTHERS

#131 - Young female Jungle Nymph (Heteropteryx dilatata) - ID confirmation: Bruno Kneubhhler, Montane forest of Pahang, Malaysia. Laowa 15mm on 70D, natural light.


#132 - Mushrooms. Khao Sok National Park, Thailand. Laowa 15mm.


#133 - Robber fly (Asilidae - Ommatius sp.?) with shield bug prey.


#134 - Backlit teneral cicada resting on its old exoskeleton, while waiting for its body to harden before making its first flight. Malaysia.


#135


#136 - White shield bug nymph. Tessaratomidae

#137 - Female Scorpionfly. Khao Yai National Park



   
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