Tropical Chameleon - Green crested lizard - earth lion

Chameleons (family Chamaeleonidae) are squamates that belong to one of the best-known lizard families. The name "chameleon" means "Earth lion" and is derived from the Greek words chamai (on the ground, on the earth) and leon (lion).

The chameleon in this post is known as Green Crested Lizard (Bronchocela Cristatella).


Chameleon changing of colour

Some chameleon species are able to change their skin colour, which has made them one of the most famous lizard families. Changing colour is an expression of the physical and physiological condition of the lizard. The colour also plays an important part in communication.

Despite popular belief, chameleons cannot change colour to their surroundings. Chameleons are naturally coloured for their surroundings as a camouflage.

Chameleons have specialized cells, collectively called chromatophores, that lie in layers under their transparent outer skin. The cells in the upper layer, called xanthophores and erythrophores, contain yellow and red pigments respectively. Below these is another layer of cells called iridophores or guanophores, and they contain the colourless crystalline substance guanine. These reflect, among others, the blue part of incident light. If the upper layer of chromatophores appears mainly yellow, the reflected light becomes green (blue plus yellow). A layer of dark melanin containing melanophores is situated even deeper under the reflective iridophores. The melanophores influence the 'lightness' of the reflected light. All these different pigment cells can rapidly relocate their pigments, thereby influencing the colour of the chameleon.


Click Chameleon gallery for more hi-res photos of chameleon (earth lion).

Technorati Tags: Chameleon, Earth Lion

Ixora coccinea flower, Flame of the Woods, Jungle Flame

Ixora coccinea, known as the Jungle Geranium, Flame of the Woods, and Jungle Flame, is a common flowering shrub native to Asia. Its name derives from an Indian deity. Although there are some 400 species in the genus Ixora, only a handful are commonly cultivated, and the common name, Ixora, is usually used for I. coccinea.

I. coccinea is a dense, multi-branched evergreen shrub, commonly 4-6 ft (1.2-2 m) in height, but capable of reaching up to 12 ft (3.6 m) high. It has a rounded form, with a spread that may exceed its height. The glossy, leathery, oblong leaves are about 4 in (10 cm) long, with entire margins, and are carried in opposite pairs or whorled on the stems.


Pink Ixora, Yellow Ixora, Red Ixora, Orange Ixora

Small tubular, scarlet flowers in dense rounded clusters 2-5 in (5-13 cm) across are produced almost all year long. There are numerous named cultivars differing in flower colour (yellow, pink, orange) and plant size. Several popular cultivars are dwarfs, usually staying under 3 ft (1 m) in height. Ixora 'Nora Grant' is a popular dwarf and 'Super King' is a popular hybrid with much larger flower clusters than the species.

I. coccinea is native to tropical south-east Asia, including Southern India and Sri Lanka. It has become one of the most popular flowering shrubs in South Florida gardens and landscapes.

Ixora is also known as "Santan" in Malaysia and Philippines.

Click for more Ixora photo gallery.

Technorati Tags: Ixora, Santan, Flame of the Woods, Jungle Flame

Tropical Wild Mushroom, Fungi, Series 2

There are three photos in this 2nd series on Tropical Wild Mushroom or fungi, being temporarily named as "Durian Mushroom", "Mushroom Spores" and finally, "Manhood Mushroom".

1. Durian Mushroom


The mushrooms above grow on a dead Durian branch that have fallen on the ground. The dead branch was relatively too hard for mushroom to grow since mushroom usually prefer to sprout on semi-rotten wood. See larger image of the above mushroom.

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2. Mushroom Spores


The photo above show tiny mushroom spores growing on a burned log. The spore is a size of a match stick. See larger image of the spores.

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3. Manhood Mushroom


Now for the fun part. I assured you that the above photo is real. It's another kind of mushroom jutting out from a hole previously drilled by an insect on a dead log. The mushroom diameter is slightly wider than a crayon. See larger image.

Related topics:
* Tropical Wild Mushroom, Fungi, Series 1
* More pictures on Tropical Wild Mushroom

Tropical Wild Mushroom, Fungi

These wild mushrooms (or fungi) grows on the sides of dead wood. Not sure if this fungi are poisonous to people, but they are not eaten either. Their flesh is too tough and leathery. This fungus helps people by decomposing old trees so that nutrients can be recycled by new plants and animals. It also grow by itself or in small groups.

Excellent use for screen wallpaper. Let me know if you want a bigger size.

I am unable to identify this fungi but is very similar to "Turkey Tail" species (scientifically called "Trametes versicolor"). See www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/organism_menu.htm for technical data.

The picture was taken Sep 08, 2007 at Semengok Wildlife Center about 12 miles from Kuching, Sarawak.

More pictures on Tropical Wild Mushroom


Related topics:
* White Mushroom, Crepidotus applanatus

Nepenthes which is the only genus of the Nepenthaceae family are herbaceous non-woody tropical plants which generally grow as long twining vines with pitchers. The pitchers are actually highly specialized leaves that act as passive pitfall traps (for little insects). Pitcher Plant are also known locally as Monkey Cup and can also be use for cooking glutinous rice.

Pitcher Plant being a protected species is extremely exotic and can be found on the lowlands and highlands jungles of Borneo and other part of the world. Each species may often be endemic on certain areas.

The photos below were taken at Pitcher Plant & Wild Orchid Garden, located at Kota Padawan township, 10 miles from Kuching, Sarawak.

More pitcher plants photos

Branched coconut tree

I have seen hundreds of coconut trees (if not thousand) with one straight stem up to the nuts cache (fruit brunches) and foliage burst until recently.

The coconut (Cocos nucifera) is a branchless trunk and branched coconut tree is very rare. It is not a freak of nature that the tree branched out and branching may occur due to injury caused by insect pests.

At a private land in Kuching, Sarawak, one coconut tree produced a branch as depicted below:



More photos on branched coconut tree.

Further readings:
* Coconut freaks, Roland Bourdeix of France.
* A forked coconut tree at Fort Sindhudurg, India.

Rajang Port, Sibu, Sarawak, East Malaysia

Rajang Port Authority (or Lembaga Pelabuhan Rajang) was established in 1970 and it's operation commenced in May 1971. It is situated at the confluence of the Rajang and Igan rivers, about 50 miles (80 km) from the South China Sea coast. As a river port, it serves small oceangoing vessels and exports timber, rubber, and pepper.

The headquarter is located in Sibu and it's primary function is to co-ordinate the activities of the five ports placed under its jurisdiction: Sibu Center, Tanjung Manis Center, Sarikei Centre, Bintangor Center and the Sungai Merah Oil Jetty. It manages operations in all the ports except the Bintangor Centre.

RPA HQ at Sibu

Related topics:
* Rajang Port Authority website.
* More photos on Rajang Port

Menara Kidurong, Bintulu, Sarawak, East Malaysia

Menara Kidurong is sited next to the old Bintulu Port Sdn Bhd (BPSB) administration block. Menara Kidurong is owned by the Bintulu Port Authority (BPA). Bintulu Port is privately operated and managed by BPSB but is governs by BPA.

The building itself is ultra-modern and among the tallest in Bintulu, possessed high-tech design but unfortunately quite vacant. The structure on top most of the building (the one that look like a "Star Trek space ship") is actually an observation tower.

More photos on Menara Kidurong