Guide Tangkoko Nationalpark

TANGKOKO NATIONAL PARK

Area & History
Located at the foot of Dua Saudara Mountain, the area is comprised of rolling hills and valleys with a variety of hardwood trees and unusual plant & animal life. The reserve covers an area of 8,700 hectares and includes three mountains: Mount Tangkoko (1,109 meters), Mount Dua Saudara (1,361 meters) and Mount Batu Angus (450 meters)

The first conservation area at Mount Tangkoko was established in 1919. To this the Dua Saudara area has been added in 1978, and the Batu Angus and Batu Putih areas in 1981. Visitation is only allowed in the Batu Putih area. 
Several Indonesian and international environmental organizations are involved with the conservation of the reserve, including Sulut Bosami, Wildlife Conservation Society and Tarantula.
Habitat destruction and hunting pose serious threats to the reserve. As result of hunting, between 1978 and 1993 the number of crested macaques declined by 75%, Maleo birds by 90% and bear cuscus by 95%. A survey of the three surrounding villages conducted in  2005 found that while the most frequently hunted species were rats, locals still hunted for macaques and cuscus both for meat and to be sold on the market.

 

 It was in and around this very jungle that Alfred Russell Wallace devised his theory that there is a physical divide between the animals in Sulawesi, which were Australasian in origin, and the animals in nearby Borneo that are classically Asian. The separation was due, in theory, to land movement. The divide has since become known as the “Wallace Line”.

Wallace, in correspondence with his hero Charles Darwin, collaborated on the theory of evolution and was jointly published with Darwin’s papers.

 Area & History

 

The Wallace Line is a faunal boundary line drawn in 1859 by the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace that separates the eco zones of Asia and Wallacea, a transitional zone between Asia and Australia

Wallacea was originally almost completely forested, mostly tropical moist broadleaf forests, with some areas of tropical dry broadleaf forest. The higher mountains are home to montane and subalpine forests, and mangroves are common in coastal areas.

 

Flora & Fauna

Tangkoko Nature Reserve protects at least 127 mammal, 233 bird and 104 reptile and amphibian species. Of these 79 mammals, 103 bird and 29 reptile and amphibian species are endemic to the island. Threatened mammals include the Celebes crested macaque; of which about 5,500 remain on the island, the Sulawesi bear cuscus and Sulawesi dwarf cuscus.

MAMALS

Crested Black Macaque (Macaca nigra) is the most conspicuous mammal species in the reserve. It is endemic to the forests of North Sulawesi to Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve near Kotamobagu. Crested

Black Macaques are entirely black, except for their hind parts, which are called ichial callosities (sitting pads that are very hard, very much like the calluses on human hands). Older adult males sometimes have slightly grey backs, like silverback mountain gorilla males. Early natural historians called them 'black apes' because of the apparent lack of a tail. However, they posses very short tails. Adult females are easily recognized by their inflated red behind which indicates that they are in estrus (sexual swelling). When their behind looks like a big red balloon, it means they are at the peak of estrus,  around two weeks after the beginning of their menstrual cycle. Newborn babies up to two months old have thin sparse fur and cling to their mothers

Spectral Tarsier (Tarsius spectrum) is a Sulawesi endemic species, comprised of four subspecies, that is

distributed throughout Sulawesi but whose population is found in pockets in North, Central, and South Sulawesi. They are called tarsiers because of their elongated tarsal region in which their tibia and fibula bones are fused thus allowing their great leaping ability. They are tiny animals (their head and body length at approximately 10 cm weighing approximately little over 100 g). The ears and eyes are enormous. The tail is much longer than the body and nearly naked except for the last third portion of the tail that is tufted. They have nails like humans except for the 'toilet claws' on the second and third digits of their feet. These toilet claws are used for grooming. The tarsier is a nocturnal animal, hunting for insects like katydids (i.e. long-horned grasshoppers), crickets, and roaches. They often cling to a tree trunk and use their highly sensitive eyes and mobile ears to detect their prey. Once the prey is located, they pounce upon them with their grasping hands. Their social group is made up of a mated pairs and their infant. Tarsiers occur mostly in lower elevations in scrub and lowland rainforest habitats. At evening you will hear the vocal duets and choruses in early evening and before dawn

Bear Cuscus

The bear Cuscus is one of two endemic cuscus species belong to the Phalangeridae family that occur on Sulawesi. It is a marsupial (females lacking a complete placenta, and most species having females with an

abdominal pouch in which the infant is carried). It's body and head length measures 56 cm and the tail which is prehensile (i.e. grasping) measures 54 cm, and can weigh up to 8 kg. The body is mostly dark brown and grey with the upper chest cream colored. It has the tiny ears and dark brown eyes. Bear cuscus occupy the high strata of the forest structure feeding on leaves and fruits. The social group is comprised of only the mother and her infant (up to 8 months). Otherwise, the adult males and females are solitary except for mating.


Sulawesi Dwarf Cuscus
For night viewing, you can take your flashlight to look for them along the beach trail and in gardens

along the Batu Putih roads. As with the Bear Cuscus, they are marsupials. The head and body measures 30 cm, the tail approximately 35 cm, and it weighs 1.5-2 kg. It has orangish brown fur on its back and a black stripe across the top of the head and neck. Its underside is cream colored. It has tiny ears and blue eyes with black pupils. Unlike the Bear Cuscus, the Dwarf Cuscus is primarily eating fruits. Little information is available on which fruits they feed on, but they are known to raid crops to feed on bananas, mangoes, and papaya. Its social grouping is though to be a mated pair.

Bats
Bats make up approximately half of all the mammal species in Sulawesi. Even though the island is substantially smaller than Borneo, Sumatra, or New Guinea, it boasts a greater number of species of old-world fruit bats (Pteropodidae). It also has the greatest number of cave-dwelling fruit bat species found anywhere in the world. Sulawesi fruit bats range in size from large, 700-gram, black flying foxes (Pteropus alecto) to the petite black-capped fruit bat (Chironax melancephalus), which, at only 12 to 17 grams, is one of the smallest flying foxes in the world. Many have distinct features; the Harlequin bat (Styloctenium wallacei) has badger-like facial stripes; Neopteryx is distinguished by a reticulated pattern on its wing membrane; and the signal-winged flying fox (Acerodon celebensis) has blond fur.

Sulawesi is home to no less than 62 species of bats.
Very little is known about the bats living at Tangkoko, partly because no one has looked! The two

commonest species are Sulawesi Rousette (Rousettus celebensis) and Lesser Dog-faced Fruit Bat (Cynopterus brachyotis) and one occasionally catches sight of them in a spotlight beam. The Rousette is the larger species with a wingspan of some 50 cm and is dark brown in color;
it roosts in caves along the coast from Pos 3. The Lesser Dog-faced Fruit Bat is smaller with a wingspan of about 40 cm, and has a ruff of bright orange fur, which is particularly striking in males. This species makes its roost in trees and small groups of 5-10 bats can be found hanging under the large leaves of palm trees and, in scrub forest, banana plants.

Squirrel





There are two types of squirrel that are commonly seen in the forest, both of which are endemic to Sulawesi. The first species, the Northern Dwarf Squirrel (Prosciurillus murinus) is a small, has brown fur and a gray belly. It is very common at Tangkoko and can often be seen running on the ground or racing up tree trunks. 

Pale Dwarf Squirrel (Prosciurillus leucomus) is also brown with a grayish belly but has a very obvious band of silver-gray fur on the back of the head extending on to the ears. Again this is a common species at Tangkoko, but it spends less time on the ground that its cousin the Northern Dwarf Squirrel. Both squirrels are very noisy and their repetitive, high-pitched chattering’s are a common sound a Tangkoko.

Sulawesi Forest Pig (Sus celebensis) is thought to be a relatively recent arrival to Sulawesi. It measures

90-150 cm. Coloration varies between dark gray to black. The body is covered with thick long bristles with the tail covered with short hairs. They are mostly found in closed canopy forests traveling in groups of 2-5. They feed mostly on fallen fruits, roots rhizomes, and tubers, but also go after agricultural crops. It survives in most habitats and can live in altitudes of up to 2,500 meters (8,202.1 feet).  The best chance of seeing them is on the Puncak trail. Due too hunting and domestication it is now scarce in south and northeast Sulawesi and may be extinct on nearby Selayar Island.

Timor Deer (Cervus timorensis) is thought to be an introduced species from Java and Bali. The head and
body length is 1.4-1.8 m and the tail length is approximately 20 cm, and it weighs around 70 kg in males and 50 kg in females. The antlers are lyre like and have three tines. The coat is dull brown in color. They are quite rare in the reserve; the last sighting of a large deer group was a few years ago of twelve animals along the alang-alang grass fields past Pos 1. They also occur along the coastal edges where they feed on shoots, grasses that come up after a fire has occurred, and the charred debris of sodium. The also feed on herbs and shrubs, and have been reported to drink seawater. Breeding occurs throughout the year with a mating peak June to August and a birth peak around March to April

BIRDS
More than 150 of Sulawesi’s 379 bird species have been recorded in Tangkoko, including 47 Sulawesi endemic. In addition to endemic kingfishers and hornbills, Tangkoko boasts six endemic parrots, Green and Sulawesi hanging-parrots, Red spotted and Golden-mantled racquet tail, Blue-backed parrot and Ornate loriket. The cautious birder may also observe colorful Hooded and Blue-winged pitas and Chestnut backed thrushes in the open forest understorey.

31% of Sulawesi's birds are found nowhere else. One endemic bird is the largely ground-dwelling, chicken-sized Maleo, a megapode that uses hot sand close to the island's volcanic vents to incubate its eggs. There are around 350 known bird species in Sulawesi.

 
Maleo
The Maleo is endemic to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. It is

found in the tropical lowland and hill forests, but nests in the open sandy areas, volcanic soils or beaches that are heated by the sun or geothermal energy for incubation. The Maleo's egg is large, about five times as large as that of the domestic chicken. The female lays and covers each egg in a deep hole in the sand and allows the incubation to take place through solar or volcanic heating. After the eggs hatch, the young birds work their way up through the sand and hide in the forest. The young birds are able to fly and are totally independent. They must find food and defend themselves from predators such as monitor lizard, reticulated python, wild pig and cats. The Maleo is monogamous, and members of a pair stay close to each other all the time. Its diet consists mainly of fruits, seeds, mollusks, ants, termites, beetles and other small invertebrates.
A large number of former nesting sites have been abandoned as a result of egg poaching and land conversion to agriculture. Of the 142 known nesting grounds, only 4 are currently considered non-threatened. The shrinking and fragmentation of forest habitats on the island pose serious threats to the surviving and future populations of the species.
Since 1972, the Indonesian government has protected this species. As of 2005, it is estimated that only 4,000-7,000 breeding pairs currently exist in the wild and these numbers are rapidly declining

White-rumped Cuckoo-Shrike.

White-rumped Cuckoo-shrike 29 cm. Male has dark ashy-grey head and upperparts, white lower rump and uppertail-coverts. The White-rumped Cuckoo-shrike is relatively common in Tangkoko National Park, feeds on insects and spends most of its time in the canopy and occasionally on the ground level


Yellow Billed Malkoha

The Yellow Billed Malkoha is another member of the cuckoo family and one of the highlight of Tangkoko National Park. The Yellow Billed Malkoha is easily identified by its very long tail feathers and brightly colored chest and beak. The Yellow Billed Malkoha is one of two species that live in symbiosis with the black macaques, jumping from tree to tree like a squirrel waiting for the macaques to scare insects out from their hiding places under leaves and branches. Call is a short winding up rattle.

Sacred Kingfisher

The Sacred Kingfisher is known from the entire west-pacific, from New Zealand to Micronesia and Indonesia. The sacred kingfisher is 19–23 cm (7.5–9.1 in) long, and feeds on insects, small crustaceans, fish, small rodents and reptiles, and there are a few reports of them eating small finches. Usually, a bird will sit on a low branch and wait for prey to pass by. It swoops down to grab the prey and returns to its perch to eat, much like a hawk. They are mostly turquoise, with white underparts and collar feathers. Both sexes are similar, but females are usually more dull-colored. Juveniles have rusty-brown edges on the collar and underparts.

Striated Heron / Little Heron

Adults have a blue-grey back and wings, white underparts, a black cap, a dark line extends from the bill to under the eye and short yellow legs. Juveniles are browner above and streaked below.
These birds stand still at the water's edge and wait to ambush prey, but are easier to see than many small heron species. They mainly eat small fish, frogs and aquatic insects. They sometimes use bait, dropping a feather or leaf carefully on the water surface and picking fish that come to investigate. The Striated Heron is known from all of Indonesia and far beyond.

Pacific Reef Egret/Pacific Reef Heron

Pacific reef herons are medium-sized herons, reaching 57 to 66 cm in length. They have a wingspan of between 90 and 110 cm and reach an average weight of 400 grams. The species displays an unusual, non-sexual dimorphism, with some members having entirely white plumage and others (the larger portion) being charcoal-grey. The reason for the colour variation or "morph", is unknown, though it is most commonly thought to be related to camouflage. 

Pacific Swallow

The Pacific swallow (Hirundo tahitica) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It breeds in tropical southern Asia and the islands of the south Pacific. It is resident apart from some local seasonal movements. This bird is associated with coasts, but is increasingly spreading to forested uplands. This species is a small swallow at 13 cm. It has a blue back with browner wings and tail, a red face and throat, and dusky underparts. It differs from the barn swallow and the closely related welcome swallow in its shorter and less forked tail.

Golden Bellied Flyeater

A very small member of the thornbill family the Golden Bellied Flyeater grows to only 10cm in total length but has one of the most beautiful calls of all the birds in Tangkoko National Park. The Golden Bellied Flyeater is found throughout Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines but prefer low-lying forests. The Golden Bellied Flyeater is one of many species described by Alfred Russell Wallace. 
 

 Pink-Necked Green Pigeon

This amazingly beautiful pigeon is found throughout South East Asia and Tangkoko National Park is one of the best places to find them in the wild. The Pink-Necked Green Pigeon prefer montane forests and tropical mangrove forrests. 









Drongo

The Drongo and the Yellow Billed Malkoha are the two species of bird in Tangkoko that take direct advantage of the presence of the large groups of black crested Macaques that roam through the dense jungle in Tangkoko National Park. The Drongo will follow the Macaques closely and will steal any insects that the Macaques accidentally scare out from their hiden places. The Drongo has a very distinctive tail and are relatively common in Tangkoko and can be found . The black feathers are iridescent and the call is a series of four dual toned beeps.


Sulawesi dwartf kingfisher

The Sulawesi dwarf kingfisher is a species of the Alcedinidae family that is endemic to Sulawesi Island, Indonesia.
This species inhabits primary lowland forest up to 1,000 m, chiefly below 600 m, and has also been recorded from tall secondary and selectively logged forest
Forest destruction within its elevation range has been extensive in recent decades through logging and conversion to agriculture, and its populations must have suffered a commensurate decline.


Lilac Cheeked Kingfisher
He is a resident breeding bird in the lowlands of the Indonesia

island of Sulawesi and the neighboring Sangihe and Talaud Islands.
The Lilac kingfisher is 28 cm (11 in.) long. It has the typical kingfisher shape, with a short tail and long bill.
It perches motionless on a low branch watching for its prey, mainly large insects, on the ground below. Little else is known of the behavior of this species, and no nests have been found. This species has a restricted range and fragmented distribution, and is uncommon, with no records from south Sulawesi. Lowland deforestation has been extensive in recent decades, and the loss of its habitat has led to lilac kingfisher being classed as near threatened.

Green Backed Kingfisher

The Green-backed kingfisher (Actenoides monachus) is a species of the Alcedinidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia, where it is restricted to north and central Sulawesi, and the islands of Manadotua and Lembeh. It can be found in the protected areas of Lore Lindu, Bogani Nani Wartabone and Tangkoko Batuangus.
Its natural habitat is dense tropical moist lowland forests up to 900 m elevation. It is threatened by habitat loss (deforestation).
It is 31–32 cm long and weighs 150 g.

Great-Billed Kingfisher 

The Great-billed kingfisher or Glack-billed kingfisher (Pelargopsis melanorhyncha) is a species of the Alcedinidae family. It is endemic to the Sulawesi region of Indonesia.
Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.
It is 35 cm in size and weighs up to 203 g. A pied plumage, large bill, characterizes the kingfisher.

Great Barefaced Rail 

30 cm. It can fly for short distances.
Its has highly distinctive appearance with conspicuous patches of pale cobalt blue bare skin behind eye, and black under parts. Immature and juvenile described.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist scrubland, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Golden - Mantled Racket Tail

The Golden-mantled racket-tail (Prioniturus platurus) is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is endemic to Indonesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests up to an altitude of about 3,000 meters (9,800 ft.). Adults are about 28 cm (11 in) long and weigh about 220 g. The male is mainly green with a rose red spot surrounded by a grey blotch above the eye and an orange collar across the mantle. The under parts are pale green. The golden-mantled racket-tail often forms small flocks. The diet consists of seeds and fruit found in the forest and the bird sometimes visits mango plantations to feed. Breeding takes place in October and holes in trees are used as nesting sites.

Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill

The Sulawesi hornbill (Penelopides exarhatus), also known as the Sulawesi tarictic hornbill, Temminck's hornbill or Sulawesi dwarf hornbill, is a relatively small, approximately 45 cm (18 in) long, black hornbill.

An Indonesian endemic, the Sulawesi hornbill is distributed in the tropical lowland, swamps and primary forests of Sulawesi and nearby islands, from sea level to altitude up to 1,100 meters.
The Sulawesi hornbill is a social species that lives in groups of up to 20 individuals. It is believed that only the dominant pair breeds, while the remaining members of the group act as helpers. The diet consists mainly of fruits, figs and insects. The female seals herself inside a tree hole to lay her eggs. During this time, the male and helpers provide food for the female and the young.
Widespread and common throughout its native range, the Sulawesi hornbill is evaluated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Knobbed Hornbill

The knobbed hornbill (Rhyticeros cassidix), also known as Sulawesi wrinkled hornbill, is a colourful hornbill native to Indonesia. This is a large black hornbill with a yellow bill, white tail feathers, pale blue skin around eye, blackish feet and bare dark blue throat.
As Indonesian endemic, the knobbed hornbill is found in Sulawesi, Buton, Lembeh, Togian and Muna Island. It inhabits evergreen forest at an elevation of up to 1,800 m and also makes use of secondary forest, woodland and plantations for foraging.
As with other hornbills, the knobbed hornbill is believed to be monogamous. Its diet consists mainly of fruits, but it will also take insects and small vertebrates. The female seals itself inside a tree hole for egg laying using its own feces. During this time, the male will provide foods for the female and the young through a slit in the seal. The species is currently classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. Despite being locally very common, they are threatened by habitat destruction from logging (since they depend on large and mature trees for breeding) and to some extent by hunting.

Spot Tailed Goshawk
The spot tailed sparrow hawk or spot-tailed goshawk (Accipiter trinotatus) is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family. It is endemic to Sulawesi in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. The population trend appears to be stable.

Sulawesi Hanging Parrot

The Great hanging parrot (Loriculus stigmatus), also called Celebes hanging parrot, Sulawesi hanging parrot and Maroon rumped hanging parrot, is a species of parrot in the Psittaculidae family. It is endemic to Sulawesi and nearby smaller islands in Indonesia, where it occurs in forest, secondary growth and tall mangrove.
With a total length of approximately 15 cm, it is a small parrot, but the largest species of hanging parrot. The plumage is overall green with an indistinct yellowish tinge to the mantle, and a red chin. Sulawesi Hanging parrots nest in tree cavities.

Pygmy Hanging Parrot

The 10–11 cm small Pygmy hanging parrot, Red billed hanging parrot or Green hanging parrot (Loriculus exilis) is a tiny species of parrot in the Psittaculidae family. It is endemic to the hill and lowland forests, mangroves forests and other wooded habitats from sea level to 1000 m on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is overall green with a red rump and a small red chin-spot bordered by blue. 

Minahasa owl
The Minahassa masked owl (Tyto inexspectata), also known as the Minahassa barn owl, Sulawesi owl or Sulawesi golden owl, is an endemic barn owl living on Sulawesi. The name is derived from the Minahassa Peninsula, where it was first described as a breeding bird; however, it is also known to live in north-central Sulawesi.
The Minahassa masked owl has short wings with wingspan of 240–250 mm well suited to its habitat in deep forests. It appears to prefer undisturbed or lightly disturbed rainforest at an altitude of 100-1,600 m. As the primary lowland forests on the Minahasa peninsula has been destroyed, the survival of the species depends on the more inaccessible montane forests. The remaining population is estimated to be 2,500–10,000.

The crest of the Minahasa Regency includes an owl, as the owl is the symbol for wisdom, with sharp eyes and a head capable of turning 360 degrees, and it also warns people in case of danger.
The Minahasa people consider Owls very wise. They call the owl 'Burung Manguni'. Every time someone wants to travel, they listen to the owls. The owls make two different sounds; the first means it is safe to go, and the second means it's better to stay at home. The Minahasa, people around Manado, take those warnings very seriously. They stay at home when Manguni says so.

Sulawesi Scops Owl

The Owl is 19-23 cm in length and weighs up to 93 g.
The Sulawesi Scops-owl is frequently heard in the humid forests of Sulawesi. This small owl is highly nocturnal, becoming active at dusk. It spends the day in tree where it sleeps and rests, perched at about two meters above the ground or in the lower canopy, close to open areas such as clearings, ponds or rivers. 
The eyes are yellow. The greyish to brownish-yellow legs are feathered. The toes and the claws are fairly weak.
The Sulawesi Scops-owl is resident in humid forests, clearings and edges. The species occurs from lowlands and hills up to 2500 meters.
It feeds primarily on nocturnal insects such as moths, beetles and crickets. It hawks the flying insects from a perch.
The owls of genus Otus are usually monogamous and have long-term pair bonds. To strengthen or renew the pair bonds, the male begins singing 3-4 weeks before the nesting period starts. The Sulawesi Scops-owl nests in cavities such as tree holes. The young often leave the nest before to be able to fly.  
The Sulawesi Scops-owl appears to be widespread in Sulawesi, but as numerous forested species, it is threatened by deforestation. 

Ochre-Bellied Hawk Owl

The Ochre bellied hawk owl (Ninox ochracea) is a species of owl in the Strigidae family. It is threatened by habitat loss.
It occurs in primary and tall secondary lowland forest, riverine and lower montane forest up to 1,000 m, with an assertion that it is chiefly a species of drier formations. It roosts in dense vegetation such as rattan palm by day

Speckled Hawk Owl

The speckled hawk owl or boobook, also called the Oriental hawk-owl, (Ninox punctulata) is a small owl at 20–17 cm. It is a reddish brown hawk owl with a white-spotted head, back and wings, a white throat patch, black facial disk, and white eyebrows.
This owl is found on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia and lives mainly in forests near streams, open woodland, and cultivated regions with scattered trees. It is mainly found below 1100 meters, but is occasionally seen at up to 2300 meters above sea level. It is fairly common throughout its range.

Sulawesi Nightjar

The Sulawesi nightjar (Caprimulgus celebensis) is a species the Caprimulgidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia, where it occurs in North Sulawesi and the Sula Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction. It grows up to 30 cm. 

Red-Bellied Pitta

The Red bellied pitta (Erythropitta erythrogaster) is a species of bird in the Pittidae family. It is found in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
It grows up to 16–18 cm and can weigh up to 65 - 70 g.

Rusty Backed Thrush

The Red backed thrush or Rusty backed thrush (Zoothera erythronota) is a species of bird in the Turdidae family. It is endemic to forests on Sulawesi and the nearby islands of Buton and Kabaena in Indonesia. It is becoming rare due to habitat loss. They inhabit wooded areas and often feed on the ground. They are insectivorous, but most species also eat worms, snails, and fruit. Thrushes build cup-shaped nests, sometimes lining them with mud. Both parents help in raising the young. The songs of some species are considered to be among the most beautiful in the avian world.

Sulawesi Myna

The Sulawesi myna (Basilornis celebensis) is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family. It is endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia and habitats the subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
The Sulawesi myna grows to a length of 23 to 27 cm (9.1 to 10.6 in). It is a glossy black bird with a permanently raised crest. The sides of the face and throat have white patches. A bluish-black ring of bare skin surrounds the eye. The beak is pale bluish-green and the legs are yellowish. Juvenile birds are chocolate brown.
It is also present on the smaller islands of Lembeh, Muna and Buton. The Sulawesi myna is a forest bird that usually feeds high in the canopy. It usually occurs in pairs or small family groups. Immature individuals may join flocks of fiery-browed starling (Enodes erythrophris) and are often associates with groups of other fruit-eating birds. They are not globally threatened, but considered variously as the rarest of the Sulawesi starlings.

White Necked Myna

The White-necked myna (Streptocitta albicollis) is a large, long-tailed species of starling in the Sturnidae family. Due to its superficial resemblance to a magpie, it has been referred to as the Celebes magpie or Sulawesi magpie in the past. It is endemic to forests on Sulawesi and adjacent smaller islands in Indonesia.
Little is known about this species' natural history but this cavity-nesting species prefers holes in dead trees and is probably monogamous. These birds tend to live in pairs or small groups although it will join mixed species flocks to feed.

Finch Billed Myna

The Grosbeak starling (Scissirostrum dubium), also known as the Grosbeak myna, Finch billed myna or Scissor billed starling, is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family. It is endemic to Sulawesi.
Its natural habitat is the tropical lowland and sometimes subtropical montane, lightly wooded forest areas and wetlands.
This species nests in colonies, which frequently contain hundreds of pairs. Its nests are bored in rotting or dying tree trunks in woodpecker style.
All activities (courtship, mating, egg laying and raising of the young) appear to be synchronized - so that all the juveniles seem to be close to the same age.
It eats fruit, insects, and grain. Grosbeak starlings are highly vocal, at their colonies and in feeding flocks.
Their large bills remind us of the beaks of seed-eating finches, except larger - hence their common name "Finch-billed Mynas." The name "Grosbeak" is derived from the French word "gros-bec," meaning "big beak."

Green Imperial Pigeon

This is a forest species, which is a widespread bird in tropical southern Asia from India east to Indonesia. The Green imperial pigeon is a large, plump pigeon, 45 cm in length. Its back, wings and tail are metallic green. The head and under parts are white, apart from maroon under tail coverts. Sexes are similar. The bird's call is deep and resonant, and is often the first indication of the presence of this treetop species. This is an arboreal dove, feeding on plant material in the tree canopy. Its flight is fast and direct, with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the wings, which are characteristic of pigeons in general. It builds a stick nest in a tree and lays a single white egg. The birds are not very gregarious, but will form small flocks.

Ashy Woodpecker

The Ashy woodpecker (Mulleripicus fulvus) is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is endemic to Sulawesi and surrounding islands in Indonesia.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS & ARTHROPODS

Lined Gliding Lizard

This medium-sized Gliding Lizard is between 5-10cm long and confined to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, being particularly common in the Tangkoko National Park of North Sulawesi, where these images were taken.
The patagium of the male is of yellow color, with a network of brown lines radiating from the anterior. The gular flag is yellow, and rounded in shape.

Asian Water Monitor Lizard

The water monitor (Varanus salvator) is a large lizard native to South and Southeast Asia. Water monitors are one of the most common monitor lizards found throughout Asia, living in areas close to water.
The species can survive where other large carnivores cannot, as they are very omnivorous and cold-blooded (hence efficient). Their bodies are muscular, with long, powerful, laterally compressed tails. Adults rarely exceed 1.5–2 m (4.9–6.6 ft.) in length.
The generic name Varanus is derived from the Arabic waral, which translates as "monitor". The specific name is the Latin word for "saviour", denoting a possible religious connotation.
In Thailand, the local word for a water monitor hia, is used as an insulting word for bad and evil things, including bad persons. The word is also thought to bring bad luck, so some people prefer to call the animals 'silver-and-gold' to avoid the jinx.
The origin of this offensive meaning can be traced back to a time when more people lived in rural areas in close proximity to monitor lizards. Traditionally, Thai villagers lived in two-story houses; the top floor was for living, while the ground floor was designed to be a space for domestic animals such as pigs, chickens, and dogs. Water monitors would enter the ground floor and eat or maim the domestic animals, also hence the other name dtua gin gai (‘chicken eater’).
In Indonesian and Malay, the water monitor is called biawak air, to differentiate it from the biawak pasir ("sand lizard”).

Common Sun Skink

Snout to base of tail is up to 13.7 cm.
Side coloration is highly variable, sometimes bronze and sometimes dark with white speckles, often with reddish or orangish coloration on the front part of the sides. Original tail is about one and a half times as long as body. If the skink has lost its tail, the regenerated tail may be as long as its body or shorter. Throat and underbelly are cream to yellow. Found in open areas, including forest clearings and edges, riverbanks, rock outcroppings, parks, empty lots, and near human habitations. Often seen basking on low branches, brush, or walls. Helps control insect, spider, and worm populations. Will eat smaller reptiles, including smaller skinks and blind snakes. Will often bite when handled and can draw blood, but is not dangerous. Is a widespread and common species has no known conservation threats.

Tokay Gecko

The Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) is a nocturnal arboreal gecko. Its native habitat is rainforest trees and cliffs, and it also frequently adapts to rural human habitations, roaming walls and ceilings at night in search of insect prey. Increasing urbanization is reducing its range. The Tokay Gecko is the second largest Gecko species, attaining lengths of about 11–20 inches (28–51 cm), with weights of only 150–400 grams (5.3–14.1 oz.). They are distinctive in appearance, with a bluish or grayish body, sporting spots ranging from light yellow to bright red. Males are very territorial, and will attack other male Tokays as well as other Gecko species, as well as anything else in their territory. They are solitary and only meet during the mating season. Tokay Geckos feed on insects and small vertebrates. Their strong bite is needed to crack the shell of hard cockroaches that live in the rainforests. They are also extremely strong climbers and their footpads can support their entire weight on a vertical surface for a long amount of time without any effort. Their mating call, a loud croak, is variously described as sounding like token, gekk-gekk or poo-kay where both the common and the scientific name come from.
Tokay geckos are culturally significant in many East Asian countries. Regional folklore has attributed supernatural powers to the gecko. Examples of such myths are the belief that they are harbingers of good luck that they can see into the future, and that they are the descendants of dragons.
 

Reticulated Python

The reticulated python (Python reticulatus) is a species of python found in Southeast Asia. They are the world's longest snakes and longest reptiles. Like all pythons, they are nonvenomous constrictors and normally not considered dangerous to humans.
The specific name, reticulatus, is Latin meaning "net-like", or reticulated, and is a reference to the complex color pattern.
It length ranges from 1.5 to 6.5 m (4.9 to 21.3 ft.) and its weight ranges from 1 to 75 kg (2.2 to 165.3 lb.)
One of the largest scientifically measured specimens, from Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, was measured under anesthesia at 6.95 m (22.8 ft.) and weighed 59 kg (130 lb.) after not having eaten for nearly 3 months. The reticulated python lives in rain forests, woodlands, and nearby grasslands. It is also associated with rivers and is found in areas with nearby streams and lakes. An excellent swimmer, it has even been reported far out at sea and has consequently colonized many small islands within its range. Their natural diet includes mammals and occasionally birds. Small specimens eat mainly rodents such as rats, whereas larger individuals switch to prey such as Viverridae (e.g. civets and binturongs), even primates and pigs. Near human habitation, they are known to snatch stray chickens, cats, and dogs on occasion.
 

Brown Tree Snake

The Brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) is an arboreal rear-fanged snake. Native to eastern and northern coastal Australia, eastern Indonesia (Sulawesi to Papua), Papua New Guinea, and a large number of islands in northwestern Melanesia. This snake is infamous for being an invasive species responsible for devastating the majority of the native bird population in Guam.
The brown tree snake preys upon birds, lizards, bats, and rats and other small rodents in its native range. Due to the placement of the fangs and their grooved rather than hollow architecture, the venom is difficult to convey into a bite on a human, and thus is only delivered in small doses. The venom appears to be weakly neurotoxic but is not considered dangerous to an adult human.

Oriental Whip Snake

Ahaetulla prasina is a species of snake in the family Colubridae native to southern Asia.
The body form is extremely slender with a long, pointed, projecting snout, which is rather more than twice as long as the eye. Adult coloration varies from light brown to dull yellow-green and often a startling fluorescent green.
The Asian vine snake feeds on small reptiles and amphibians, particularly lizards and tree frogs.

Green Pit Viper 

Tropidolaemus subannulatus is a venomous pit viper species native to Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
This species occurs in similar habitats to Wagler's Pit Viper including lowland primary or mature secondary forest, as well as riverine and coastal forest
As with other pit vipers, this is a venomous snake, with heat-sensing pits on the sides of the head. It is exclusively arboreal, and may be found at heights ranging from low vegetation to mid-canopy levels of around 20 meters or so. Its diet comprises birds and arboreal rodents.

Tropidolaemus Laticinctus

Tropidolaemus laticinctus this new species, was described recently by Kuch, Gumprecht and Melaun (2007). It is found on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
Its a venomous pit viper species endemic to the island of Sulawesi
These species are primarily arboreal, and are excellent climbers. They spend most of their time nearly motionless, in wait for prey to pass by. They may be diurnal or nocturnal, with their activity period depending on the temperature.

Bufo Celebensis

The Celebes toad (Ingerophrynus celebensis) is a species in the Bufonidae family. It is endemic to Sulawesi. It is a common and abundant species found in a wide range of habitats, including primary rainforest, secondary forest, plantations, cultivated land and towns. Breeding takes place in ponds, paddy fields, and pools within slow-moving streams.

Giant Golden Orb Weaver

The golden silk orb-weavers (Nephila) are a genus of araneomorph spiders noted for the impressive webs they weave. It can be found in through out SE Asia. It is commonly found in primary and secondary forests and gardens. Females are large and grow to a body size of 30–50 mm (overall size up to 20 cm), with males growing to 5–6 mm. It is one of the biggest spiders in the world.
The genus name Nephila is derived from Ancient Greek, meaning "fond of spinning". The Nephila’s golden web is vertical with a fine irregular mesh and not symmetrical, with the hub usually nearer the top. Rather than egg sacks being hung in the web, a pit is dug which is then covered with plant debris or soil.
The venom of the golden silk orb-weaver is potent but not lethal to humans. It has a neurotoxic effect similar to that of the black widow spider; however, its venom is not nearly as powerful. The bite causes local pain, redness, and blisters that normally disappear within a 24-hour interval.
 

Tarantula

Cyriopagopus sp. "Sulawesi Black", should rather be called "Sulawesi Grey Velvet" as it has a vibrant grey velvety appearance when freshly molted. It is an old world tarantula. Old World Tarantulas, especially those native to Asia, differ from the New World tarantulas as those species lack urticating hairs. Instead they use biting as a defensive mechanism. In addition, these Old World spiders are far less docile and more likely to try and bite an adversary (including humans) if provoked. It is a large arboreal tarantula nesting in the subfamily Ornithoctoninae. With its uniform grey colouration and velvety appearance it's a different Cyriopagopus species for sure. This is a very large spider with a leg span of 25 cm, and a carapace length above 3 cm. Primary lowland monsoon forest where it lives in hollow trees. Adult females are almost entirely found in large mature trees, but younger animals can be found behind loose bark. It is common that the female eat or destroy the male after mating and this is usually a sign of a successful mating.

INSECTS

Forrester Moth

The Zygaenidae moths are a family of Lepidoptera. The majority of Zygaenids are tropical, but they are nevertheless quite well represented in temperate regions. Some of the 1000 or so species are commonly known as burnet or forester moths, often qualified by the number of spots, although other families also have 'foresters'. They are also sometimes called smoky moths.
Zygaenid moths are typically day flying with a slow, fluttering flight, and with rather clubbed antennae. They generally have a metallic sheen and often have prominent spots of red or yellow. The bright colors are a warning to predators that the moths are distasteful - they contain hydrogen cyanide (HCN) throughout all stages of their lifecycle. Unlike most insects with such toxins, they obtain glycosides from feeding on birds-foot trefoil (Lotus) so they can use HCN as a defense. However, they are capable of making HCN themselves, and when in an environment poor in cyanide-producing plants, synthesize it themselves.
 
Sphinx Moth

The Sphingidae are a family of moth, commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths, and hornworms; it includes about 1,450 species. It is best represented in the tropics, but species are found in every region. They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid, sustained flying ability. Their narrow wings and streamlined abdomens are adaptations for rapid flight.  Sphingidae have been much studied for their flying ability, especially their ability to move rapidly from side to side while hovering, called 'swing-hovering' or 'side-slipping'. This is thought to have evolved to deal with ambush predators that lie in wait in flowers. Sphingids are some of the faster flying insects; some are capable of flying at over 5.3 m/s (12 miles per hour). They have wingspans from 4 to over 10 cm.  Spotted along village fencerow bordering overgrown lot. Surrounding habitat is thin strip of disturbed coastal freshwater swamp & sago swamp forest paralleling ocean beach.
 
Handkerchief Butterfly

The Nymphalidae are the largest family of butterflies with about 6,000 species distributed throughout most of the world. These are usually medium-sized to large butterflies. Most species have a reduced pair of forelegs and many hold their colorful wings flat when resting. They are also called brush-footed butterflies or four-footed butterflies, because they are known to stand on only four legs while the other two are curled up. Many species are brightly colored. However, the under wings are, in contrast, often dull and in some species look remarkably like dead leaves, or are much paler, producing a cryptic effect that helps the butterflies disappear into their surroundings.

Green Spotted Swallowtail

Graphium is a genus of mostly tropical swallowtail butterflies commonly known as swordtails, kite swallowtails, or ladies. Native to Eurasia, Africa, and Oceania, the genus is represented by over 100 species. Their coloration is as variable as the habitats they frequent, from rainforest to savannah. Some possess tails, which may be long and sword like, while others lack any hind wing extensions. Graphium species are often sighted at mud puddles.

Helena Birdwing

The Common Birdwing (Troides helena) is a butterfly belonging to the family Papilionidae. The butterfly has seventeen subspecies.
The Common Birdwing is protected in Indonesia and may also require protection in peninsular Malaya also. Due to their size and brightly colored males, they are popular among collectors of butterflies, but all birdwings are now listed by CITES, thereby limiting (and in the case of O. alexandrae completely banning) international trade.

Sulawesi Blue Nawab

Polyura Schreiber is the genus of Nawab butterflies. They are native to the Indomalaya and Australasian Eco zones that belong to the brush-footed butterfly subfamily Charaxinae, or leaf wing butterflies.
Wingspan reaches from 92 to116 mm
 


Delias Zebuda

It is a beautiful butterfly in various shades of yellow, black, white & red. Wingspan is up to 75mm
There are about 250 species of Delias, found in South Asia and Australia. Delias is considered to have its evolutionary origins in the Australian region.
 

Red Winged Dragonfly

Neurothemis terminata is a species of dragonfly in family Libellulidae. it is a widespread species which can also occur in man-made habitats, from Peninsular Malaysia and Japan to the Lesser Sundas in Indonesia.
There are several species of Neurothemis whose males typically have dark red-pigmented wings with some clear areas, usually at the tips. The females however usually have clear wings with some darker markings.
 

Praying Mantis

The Mantises or Mantodea are an order of insects that contains over 2,400 species and about 430 genera in 15 families, by far the largest family being the Mantidae ("mantids"). They are distributed worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. They have triangular heads with bulging eyes supported on flexible necks. Their elongated bodies may or may not have wings, but all have fore legs that are greatly enlarged and adapted for catching and gripping prey; their upright posture, while remaining stationary with fore arms folded, has led to the name praying mantises.
They are mostly ambush predators, but a few ground-dwelling species actively pursue their prey. They normally live for about a year in cooler climates. Females sometimes practice sexual cannibalism, eating their mates after copulation, or occasionally decapitating the males just before or during mating. The closest relatives of mantises are the termites and cockroaches. Mantises are sometimes confused with stick insects (Phasmatodea), other elongated insects such as grasshoppers (Orthoptera). Mantises were considered to have supernatural powers by early civilizations, including Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, and Assyria. A cultural trope popular in cartoons imagines the female mantis as a femme fatale. Mantises are among the insects most commonly kept as pets.
 
Leaf Insect

The family Phylliidae contains the true leaf insects or walking leaves, which include some of the most remarkably, camouflaged leaf mimics in the entire animal kingdom. They occur from South Asia through Southeast Asia to Australia. Leaf insects are camouflaged to take on the appearance of leaves. They do this so accurately that predators often are not able to distinguish them from real leaves. In some species the edge of the leaf insect's body even has the appearance of bite marks. When the leaf insect walks, it rocks back and forth, to mimic a real leaf being blown by the wind. A 47 million year old fossil of Eophyllium messelensis, a prehistoric ancestor of Phylliidae, displays many of the same characteristics of modern leaf insects, indicating that this family has changed little over time.
The scholar Antonio Pigafetta probably was the first to document the creature. Sailing with Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigational expedition, he studied and chronicled the fauna on the island of Cimbonbon as the fleet hauled ashore for repairs. During this time he documented the Phyllium species with the following passage.
 
Stick Insect

The Phasmatodea are an order of insects, whose members are variously known as stick insects or walking sticks, ghost insects, leaf insects. The group's name is derived from the Ancient Greek φάσμα phasma, meaning an apparition or phantom, referring to the resemblance of many species to sticks or leaves. Their natural camouflage makes them difficult for predators to detect, but many species have a secondary line of defense in the form of startle displays, spines or toxic secretions. The genus Phobaeticus includes the world's longest insects, ranging from 1.5 cm (0.6 in) to over 30 cm (12 in) in length. Females of the genus Phobaeticus are the world's longest insects, measuring up to 56.7 cm (22.3 in) in total length in the case of Phobaeticus chani, including the outstretched legs.
The heaviest species of phasmid is likely to be Heteropteryx dilatata, the females of which may weigh as much as 65 g (2.3 oz.). They are most numerous in the tropics and subtropics but members of the order are found all over the world except for the Antarctic and Patagonia. They are herbivorous with many species living unobtrusively in the tree canopy.
Mating behavior in Phasmatodea is impressive because of the extraordinarily long duration of some pairings. A record among insects, the stick insect Necroscia sparaxes, found in India, is sometimes coupled for 79 days at a time. It is not uncommon for this species to assume the mating posture for days or weeks on end, and among some species, pairing can last three to 136 hours in captivity.
Stick insects can shed and regenerate their limbs to escape attacks by predators. The stick insect simply gives up the leg, using a special muscle to break it off at a weak joint. Juvenile stick insects will regenerate the missing limb the next time they molt. In some cases, adult stick insects can even force themselves to molt again to regain a lost leg.

Tortoise Beetle

The Cassidinae (tortoise and leaf-mining beetles) are a subfamily of the leaf beetles, or Chrysomelidae.
Most members are elongated beetles with parallel margins, with antennae bases close together on their small heads. The "cassidines" have a rounded outline with the edges of the pronotum (cuticles) and elytra spreading out to cover the legs and head.
Most species are 5 to 8 mm long. Cassidines are often colorful and metallic, with the ability to change the color, which is present in the living tissue below the translucent cuticle. Although these shields are thought to provide defense, no evidence exists for such a role.
Most tortoise beetles feed on sweet potato and closely related plants such as morning glory and bindweed.


Rhinoceros Beetle

Dynastinae or rhinoceros beetles are a subfamily of the scarab beetle family (Scarabaeidae). Over 300 species of rhinoceros beetles are known.
Many rhinoceros beetles are well known for their unique shapes and large sizes.
The Dynastinae are among the largest of beetles, reaching more than 150 mm (6 in) in length, but are completely harmless to humans because they cannot bite or sting. Their common names refer to the characteristic horns borne only by the males of most species in the group. Each has a horn on the head and another horn pointing forward from the center of the thorax. The horns are used in fighting other males during mating season, and for digging. Rhinoceros beetles have become popular pets in parts of Asia, due to being relatively clean, easy to maintain, and safe to handle. Also in Asia, male beetles are used for gambling fights. To get the two male beetles to lock in combat, a female beetle or a small noisemaker is used to duplicate the female's mating call.
Entomologist Séverin Tchibozo suggests the larvae contain much more protein (40%), than chicken (20%) and beef (approximately 18%) and they could become a protein source for a large [human] population.
Dr. MinJun Kim, leading a team of engineers in National Science Foundation-funded research, examined the function and aerodynamics of the Allomyrina dichotoma beetle, with the help of researchers in Drexel University's Mechanical Engineering Department and in collaboration with Konkuk University in South Korea. Rhinoceros beetles could play a big part in the next generation of aircraft design.

Millipede

Millipedes are arthropods in the class Diplopoda characterised by having two pairs of jointed legs on most body segments. Although the name "millipede" derives from the Latin for "thousand feet", no known species has 1,000; the record of 750 legs belongs to Illacme plenipes. There are approximately 12,000 named species.
Most millipedes are slow-moving detritivores, eating decaying leaves and other dead plant matter. Millipedes are generally harmless to humans. Most millipedes defend themselves with a variety of defensive chemicals secreted from pores along the body.
Millipedes are some of the oldest known land animals, first appearing in the Silurian period. A 428 million old specimen turned up just a few years ago in a fossil bed in Scotland, which back then was in the tropics!
Some members of prehistoric groups grew to over 2 m (6 ft. 7 in), while the largest modern species reach maximum lengths of 27 to 38 cm (11 to 15 in).
Millipedes can be distinguished from the somewhat similar but only distantly related centipedes (class Chilopoda), which move rapidly, are carnivorous, and have only a single pair of legs on each body segment.

FLORA

Several high-quality woods can be found in these two natural reserves, such as Ebony, Ironwood, Gopasa, Nantu, Meranti, etc. Rattan and colorful orchids as well as various wild palms and other plant species grow in abundance in the forest throughout the region.
You will find a secondary tropical forest where are trees and pioneer plants such as Forest betel. Pioneer species are hardy species, which are the first to colonize previously disrupted or damaged ecosystems, beginning a chain of ecological succession that ultimately leads to a more bio diverse steady-state ecosystem.
 
Ebony

Ebony is a dense black wood, most commonly yielded by several different species in the genus Diospyros. Ebony is dense enough to sink in water. It is finely textured and has a very smooth finish when polished, making it valuable as an ornamental wood. The word ebony derives from the Ancient Egyptian hbny, via the Ancient Greek ἔβενος (ébenos), by way of Latin and Middle English. As a result of unsustainable harvesting, many species yielding ebony are now considered threatened.

True Fig Shell

Ficus variegata has been described by Carl Ludwig Blume in 1825Ficus variegata is a well distributed species of tropical fig tree. It occurs in many parts of Asia, islands of the Pacific and as far south east as Australia. There is a large variety of local common names including common red stem fig, green fruited fig and variegated fig. A non strangling fig which may reach 30 metres in height. In Australia the fruit are eaten by cassowaries and double-eyed fig parrots.[1]

False Banyon

Ficus altissima is commonly known as the council tree. It is a species of flowering plant, a fig tree in the family Moraceae. Ficus altissima is a large, evergreen forest tree with a buttressed trunk and a spreading crown, growing to 30 m (98 ft.). The bark is smooth and grey, with small pale brown pustules. The branches are spreading and the twigs are hairy when young. 






Weeping Fig

The Weeping fig, (Ficus benjamina), also known as the Benjamin's fig, or Ficus tree and often sold in stores, is a species of flowering plant in the family Moraceae, native to Asia and Australia. It is the official tree of Bangkok.
Ficus benjamina is a tree reaching 30 m (98 ft.) tall in natural conditions, with gracefully drooping branches and glossy leaves.





 Liana

A liana is any of various long-stemmed, woody vines that are rooted in the soil at ground level and use trees, as well as other means of vertical support, to climb up to the canopy to get access to well-lit areas of the forest. Lianas are especially characteristic of tropical moist forests and rainforests, including temperate rainforests. Lianas can form bridges amidst the forest canopy, providing arboreal animals with paths across the forest. These bridges can protect weaker trees from strong winds. Lianas compete with forest trees for sunlight, water and nutrients from the soil. 



Pitcher Plant

Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants which have modified leaves known as pitfall traps—a prey-trapping mechanism featuring a deep cavity filled with digestive fluid liquid. The traps of what we consider to be "true" pitcher plants are created from modified leaves, however they are not simply folded into a tube, the process is far more complicated.
These Old World pitcher plants, the pitchers are borne at the end of tendrils that extend from the midrib of an otherwise unexceptional leaf. 'Old world' pitcher plants (genus: Nepenthes) are typically characterized as having reduced and symmetrical pitchers with a comprehensive waxy coating on the surface of the inner pitcher wall. The plants themselves are often climbers, accessing the canopy of their habitats using the aforementioned tendrils, although others are found on the ground in forest clearings, or as epiphytes on trees. The New World pitcher plants (Sarraceniaceae), which comprise three genera, are ground-dwelling herbs whose pitchers arise from a horizontal rhizome
 
Arum Flower

Amorphophallus comes from the ancient Greek amorphos, "without form, misshapen" + phallos, "penis", referring to the shape of the prominent spadix.
Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, the Elephant foot yam or White spot giant arum or Stink lily, is a tropical tuber crop grown primarily in Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the tropical Pacific islands. Because of its production potential and popularity as a vegetable in various cuisines, it can be raised as a cash crop. The plant gives off a putrid smell.

Sea Poison Tree

It is a small to medium-sized tree growing to 7–25 m tall. Fruit are known as the Box Fruit, due to distinct square like form.
The fruit is dispersed in the same way as a coconut – by ocean current – and is extremely water-resistant and buoyant. It can survive afloat for up to fifteen years. It was one of the first plants to colonize Anak Krakatau when this island first appeared after the Krakatau eruption. When washed ashore, and soaked by rainwater, the seeds germinate. All parts of the tree are poisonous. The active poisons include saponins. Box fruits are potent enough to be used as a fish poison. The seeds have been used ground to a powder to stun or kill fish for easy capture, suffocating the fish where the flesh is unaffected.

Forest Betel

The betel plant is an evergreen perennial, with glossy heart-shaped leaves and white catkin. The betel plant originated from South and South East Asia.