Baby Swamp Eel

When my car porch got flooded, this snake-like creature came along. Probably it came from the nearby swamp. Not sure if it has tiny front legs as I did not inspect it closely.

It looks like an Asian Swamp Eel (locally known as Belut).

Could it be an Amphiuma or a Monopterus Albus?

Water Lizard - Biawak Air

Photo of a tropical monitor lizard. The specimen below is likely an Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator salvator).



Monitor lizards, also known as biawak or goannas, genus Varanus, are members of the family Varanidae.



Photo taken at Kem Permai, Kuching.

Tropical Dove

Photo of a tropical dove relaxing during her morning sun-bath. The bird in the photo look like a Bar-shouldered Dove (Geopilia humeralis) or a Peaceful Dove (Geopelia striata).



The photo is shot with 24x digital zoom, so the photo quality is not pleasing.

Red Powder Puff Flower - Sensitive Briar

Close up photo of tropical red Powder Puff Flower or Sensitive Briar. On a closer look, Powder Puff flower look like a Mimosa Pudica flower.



Calliandra haematocephala is a fast growing shrub that can grow tall but also spreads wide. If desired it can be kept smaller by trimming. Interesting enough the leaves close at night.

The buds before the flowers open look like raspberries. This large shrub can
be grown indoor if trimmed and grown in a pot but it will be best if you can grow it outside in a warm climate.



Powder Puffs come in white as well. Power Puff originated from Bolivia.

Recommended reading:
* Photo of Dillenia Suffroticosa - Simpoh Air
* Ixora Petal And Water Droplets
* Pitcher Plants, Nepenthes, Monkey Cup

Chilasa clytia butterfly

Chilasa clytia, a common tropical butterfly found in Borneo. If not for the gloomy weather, the photo shoot would be perfect. The Chilasa clytia was just perching still on a flower and the air was still. A steady shot but lighting was a let down.


About a foot away in normal macro mode (not zero macro).


I think the photo above is about 5x lens zoom.


A normal shot.

See my Flickr gallery as well for more tropical butterflies.

Dead Huntsman Spider

Photo of a dead Huntsman spider.



Recommended reading:
* Wasp spider of Borneo - Argiope bruennichi

Borneo Red Ants

Red ants or fire ants from Borneo.





The bodies of fire ants, like all insects' bodies, are broken up into three sections: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen, with three pairs of legs and a pair of antennae. Fire ants can be distinguished from other ants by their copper brown head and body with a darker abdomen. The worker ants are blackish to reddish, and their size varies from 2mm to 6 mm (0.12 in to 0.24 in). These different sizes of the ants can all exist in the same nest.

Recommended photos:
* Macro photos of red fire ants

Setora fletcheri slug caterpillar

Photo of a maroon spiky Setora fletcheri slug caterpillar. The slug caterpillar's decoration is not just for show. At any sign of danger, each cluster of spines blooms into a bristly sphere. Glands at the base of the spines produce venom rich in histamines--liquid peril for any would-be attacker.



Setora fletcheri showing warning coloration and spines loaded with toxins that erect when the slug is disturbed.

Photo shot at JP Jaban farm, 14th Mile Kuching Serian Road.