Natural History Notes

Cordyceps not only kills its host, but also brainwashes it to climb before dying. The humid and dense rainforest provides an ideal environment for parasitic fungi, such as those of the genus Cordyceps to thrive. These fungi primarily target insects, including ants, moths and their larvae. When a spore lands on a suitable insect host, it germinates and penetrates the exoskeleton of its unfortunate victim. Once inside, the fungus takes control of the host's nervous system, influencing it to seek an elevated position, such as the underside of a leaf in the lower canopy, rather than remaining on the forest floor. This behavior ensures more effective dispersal of the fungus's spores. Eventually, the fungal fruiting bodies emerge from the dead insect, as depicted in the photo.

Blooming Rafflesia keithii Rafflesia is a remarkable plant not only because of its huge flower but also due to its unusual life history. Found in forested areas across southeast Asia, this parasitic plant lacks leaves and stem. As such, it is incapable to produce its own food via photosynthesis. Instead, it fully relies on its host, a ground rooted woody vine also called lianas. It penetrates its host using specialized root-like structure known as houstoria, spreading into the host’s vascular tissue to gain access to nutrients and water. Rafflesia flower bud The unisexual flower grows up to 3 feet wide and weighs up to 10 kilograms or so. Blooming occurs for less than a week, and like most flowers, Rafflesia flowers produce smell to attract insects. But unlike most flowers, the smell is unpleasant and often likened to the smell of carrion. Reportedly, this foul smell attracts its pollinator, a type of flies that travel over large distance and live for a few days, making...

A moth in camouflage among the dead palm fronds. Camouflage or crypsis is crucial for the survival of insects like moths whose predators rely much on sight when hunting. As such many species of moths in the rainforest have coloration and pattern that resemble the surrounding on which they settle. In addition, some species behave in a particular way to optimize their camouflage. For example, the moth in the picture not only has the same coloration as the dead palm fronds, but it also adopts a position which makes its horn-like appendage appear like the thorn on the frond.

The rainforest ecosystem in Southeast Asia is home to many species of gingers (family Zingiberaceae), each with distinctive flowers that may greatly aid identification. The most famous because of its value as a garden plant is the Torch Ginger ( Etlingera elatior ), which has a large flower borne on a rather long stem that grows vertically from the soil. Etlingera littoralis flower A lesser known ginger of the genus Etlingera is E. littoralis . In contrast to E. elatior , it has red flower that grows directly on the ground. Some forms of this ginger have yellow-bordered flower petals particularly those found around southern Thailand. Both species is beneficial as food and medication. For instance, the flower of E. elatior and the fruit of E. littoralis are edible. The former is also helpful in treating headache and stomachache. Inflorescence of Costus speciosus More conspicuous than those species mentioned earlier is Costus specious , because of its ability to grow ...

Gliding lizards utilize camouflage to avoid predator. To avoid predation, many reptiles in the rainforest including gliding lizard (also called Draco lizard or flying dragon) take advantage of camouflage as shown in the photo above. Its body colour mixed very well with the tree bark.  The irregular blotches on its body also blended with the variable colours and patterns of the surrounding thus producing an effective camouflage. If it did not raise its head but instead place it on the vertical trunk with its tail extended, it would almost certainly be unnoticed. In addition to camouflage, gliding lizard also relies on speed to flee from potential predator. It can scurry up tree trunk, and then stays motionless to minimize detection. Remarkably, gliding lizard, as its name implies, can escape predator by making a steep glide, then maneuver itself for some distance  before landing on a another tree, using its claw to cling on tree trunk.

Perhaps one of the most likely plants one will encounter in disturbed parts of the rainforest is the trees of the genus Macaranga . They are well known pioneer plants, a species that first colonized cleared and vacated areas after disturbance whether it man made or natural such as due to logging or fire. Macaranga trees are well equipped to live in this habitat characterized by high amount of sunlight, among others. Their leaves are large so as to be able to collect large amount of light. One example of pioneer species, Macaranga gigantea aptly displays this adaptation by having a huge leave that reach up to almost a meter long. A Macaranga tree growing in sunlight-exposed part of a riverbank As a pioneer species in primary succession of the rainforest, Macaranga trees grow rather fast and out-compete other species.  Trees that initially grow under their shade would then take over as the process of succession continues. Starlings are regular visitor to fruiting Maca...

Striped Bronzeback Tree Snake Not only the tropical rainforest is rich in avifauna and plant diversity, but  also snakes which include various species of arboreal or tree dwelling snakes. The Striped Bronzeback ( Dendrelaphis caudolineatus ), a beautiful snake with red and black stripes and relatively large eyes is one of them. Although it spends much of its time in the rainforest trees, it does come down to the ground like the individual in the picture. Since it is a non-venomous snake, the snake's bite is not fatal but it can cause a minor cut.  In the wild the Striped Bronzedback are known to prey on other small animal in the rainforest such as a tree lizard. Related Post Non-Venomous Colubrid Snakes

A leafbird is difficult to spot in the forest canopy True to its name, the leafbirds' plumage closely matches the green foliage of the rainforest trees. This is a female of one of several species found in the forest of Southeast Asia. Unlike the females, the males typically have distinct markings on throat and head.

The diverse microhabitats that exist in the tropical forest have provided many species of plants with different form and structure to flourish. Among them is the Bird’s Nest fern ( Asplenium sp.) which typically lives as epiphyte, but it grows on the ground as well. It is unmistakable in appearance, with many long, lanceoate leaves that spring from the short rhizomes. The leaves of the Bird's Nest Fern are almost stalkless, thick, glossy green with a dark midrib and arranged in a rosette which resemble the shuttlecock. Bird's Nest Fern is an epiphyte Such leaves arrangement has important survival implication, for it traps fallen leaves and other organic materials from the canopy. Then, in due time, those material with decompose and provide a rich source of food for the plants. Water is absorbed by the mass of roots, which soaked rain water as it run down along the branches and trunk.   A huge Bird's Nest Fern on a tall rainforest tree. Some local tribes consume ...

Plantain Squirrel The Plantain Squirrel is a common mammal of the rainforest. This  small mammal has a rufous belly with black and buff lines on flanks. The bushy tail has a rufous tinge at the tip. Plainain Squirrel is regularly seen feeding on bark of the rainforest plants. But it also takes fruits, including cultivated ones. It is usually seen singly, or sometimes in pair. A very active and agile squirrel, it climb trees and jumping among branches of the rainforest trees with ease.

Grashoppers among the forest litters Related Post Crickets and Grasshoppers