The rainforests of Borneo & Southeast Asia

Sunday, 11 April 2021

Ant Mimic Crab Spider

Amyciaea forticeps is a species of crab spiders which mimics ants.

Amyciaea forticeps

New dark purple crab (Arachnothelphusa sp.) from southern Sarawak

Two new record of this purple crab (Arachnothelphusa sp.) - 1st new record: First time found this genus of crab inside the cave (usually this type of crab lives in the tree hole in the jungle). 2nd new record: It is found in southern Sarawak for the first time (Before this, researchers only found the distribution of this type of crab from northern Borneo until central Sarawak).

Arachnothelphusa sp.

Caving & crabbing in a new cave of Sarawak (29th Oct.2020)

In this expedition, we found 3 species of crab in the dark cave of Sarawak & 1 species of river crab outside the cave. One of them is probably a new species. It is unusual to see a purple crab inside the cave. Usually the cave crab is either white or dull colour.

Arachnothelphusa sp. - first time found a purple crab inside the cave. It is a new species. Usually Arachnothelphusa crab lives in the tree hole of the jungle, but now we found this crab in the limestone cave, interesting huh?

This is my first time to meet this "ghost" cave crab, Stygothelphusa antu in a limestone cave not far from my home. It has super long legs compared to other cave crab that I met before. (Note: antu = ghost in our local Iban language)

Arachnothelphusa sp.

Huntsman spider

Stygothelphusa antu

Isolapotamon consobrinum

Amyciaea forticeps is eating an ant. It is a species of crab spiders which mimics ants.

Amyciaea forticeps is a species of crab spiders which mimics ants

Arachnothelphusa sp.

Sunday, 21 March 2021

Jungle of western Sarawak (Oct.2020) - part 3

Visiting flora & fauna in the jungle near my home. (Oct.2020)

Water spider

Cryptocoryne striolata

Thismia aseroe (it is not a fungi, but mycoheterotrophs plant) from limestone hill

Nepenthes gracilis inside the pitcher of Nepenthes ampullaria

Begonia pendula

Thismia aseroe

Dossinia marmorata

Barclaya sp.

First time for me to meet this white flower bat lily (albinistic Tacca havilandii) in the jungle near my home. In the past, I walked pass it and thought the flower should be black colour when it hasn't bloom. One of the clump even got variegated leaf!