Rainforests
In popular terms, we know them as "jungles" (although, this is a corruption of a Hindi word meaning "waste ground"), more accurately they are tropical rainforests and are the most biodiverse land habitats that exist. They occupy less than 3% of the world’s surface area, but are home to more than 50% of all known animal and plant species.
Drenched by rain, shrouded in mists, uncomfortably humid and home to unfathomable numbers of irritating and unpleasant biting insects etc. rainforests are frustrating but fantastic places to photograph. Heaven according to Nick, not Hell. He has spent more time photographing wildlife in rainforests, than any other habitat. The challenges the environment poses are many, the wildlife often unco-operative, yet the pleasures and rewards are so great that his passion for rainforests grows with every visit.
"Elephant" Spider (Poltys sp. - possibly Poltys idea) waiting in ambush in its web at night. Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo.
Bornean Angle-headed Lizard (Gonocephalus borneensis). Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo.
Bornean Horned Frog (Megophrys nasuta) amongst leaf-litter on forest floor. Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo.
View across the forest from the canopy walkway. Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo.
Colugo or Flying Lemur (Cynocephalus variegatus) feeding on algae on tree bark. Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo.
Dawn sunlight streaming through rainforest canopy. Napo River, Yasuni National Park, Amazonia, Ecuador.
Flat-headed Cat (Felis planiceps) hunting frogs in the river margins at night. Menanggol River, Sabah, Borneo.
Herd of Forest Elephants (Loxodonta africana cyclotis) at Langoue Baie, Ivindo National Park, Gabon, Central Africa.
Giant Huntsman Spider (species unkown). Sukau, Sabah, Borneo.
Male Giraffe-necked Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa) on leaf of favourite host tree (Dichaetanthera cordifolia). Mantadia National Park, eastern Madagascar.
"Satanic" Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus) moving amongst dead and shrivelled leaves. Ranomafana National Park, Eastern Madagascar.
Young Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) feeding on ripe figs (Ficus sp.). Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Borneo.
