The beach on Peucang Island, Java. Photo by Rhett A. Butler.
Picture: tropical beach in Indonesia
March 28th, 2012Picture: Hammerhead shark
March 28th, 2012
Hammerhead shark. Photo by Rhett A. Butler.
Picture: Red-eyed tree frog
March 26th, 2012
Photo by Rhett A. Butler.
1,000 new species discovered in New Guinea
June 27th, 2011
Varanus macraei, a monitor lizard first described in 2001, lives on the island of Batanta. WWF calls it “one of the most spectacular reptile discoveries anywhere… with a mesmerising pattern of turquoise and blue.” Photo © Lutz Obelgonner.
Scientists discovered more than 1,000 previously unknown species during a decade of research in New Guinea (slideshow), says a new report from WWF.
Final Frontier: Newly Discovered species of New Guinea (1998 – 2008) is a tally of 10 years’ worth of discoveries by scientists working on the world’s second largest island.
While the majority of 1,060 species listed are plants and insects, the inventory includes 134 amphibians, 71 fish, 43 reptiles, 12 mammals, and 2 birds.
More pictures at Turquoise ‘dragon’ among 1,000 new species discovered in New Guinea.
What does a baby moose look like? (photos)
June 12th, 2011
Moose and mom are doing fine. Photo courtesy of ZSL’s Whipsnade Zoo.
It’s true that moose, also known as European elk (Alces alces), are odd looking animals, yet that doesn’t prevent their babies from being as endearing as any others. This baby moose, named Chocolate (get it?), was born at Zoological Society of London’s (ZSL) Whipsnade Zoo in late May.
The moose are apart of the European Breeding Program. Photo courtesy of ZSL’s Whipsnade Zoo.
A closer look at Chocolate, the moose. Photo courtesy of ZSL’s Whipsnade Zoo.
Happy world oceans day! (photos)
June 8th, 2011
Coastline in Colombia. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
Celebrated since 1992, today is World Oceans Day! As apart of the day’s festivities, conservation organization Oceana is asking people to become Ocean Heroes by pledging to recycle, clean up a local waterway, or eat only sustainable seafood for the summer!
Purple-striped jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
Leopard shark in a kelp forest at Monterey Bay Aquarium. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
Overlooking the ocean at dawn on Bunaken Island in Indonesia. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
Tufted puffin in Alaska. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
Mangroves and seagrass in Belize. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
Red starfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
Rain coming in over beach in Suriname. Photo by: Jeremy Hance..
Moon jellyfish (Aurelia labiata)at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
Critically Endangered leatherback sea turtle returning to the sea in Suriname after laying eggs. Photo by: Jeremy Hance..
Islands off Bird’s Head, northern New Guinea . Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
Humpback breaching in Alaska. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
Green sea anemone at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
Overlooking the ocean at sunset on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
Antelope release! (photos)
June 7th, 2011
Red hartebeest release. Photo courtesy of Colchester Zoo: Action for the Wild.
Three antelope species were recently released at the Umphafa Private Nature Reserve in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa in an ongoing effort to restore an over-cultivated area. In all 7 impala, 21 red hartebeest, and 22 blue wildebeest were released.
“These recent releases are exciting developments for UmPhafa. The releases of the wildebeest represent the first for this species on UmPhafa and the new populations of red hartebeest and impala will serve to top up our existing herds. It is hoped that these species will go on to breed in the future and help us on our way to reaching carrying capacity for these species,” said Rebecca Perry, Conservation Director, in a press release.
The reserve was opened in 2006 by Action for the Wild, the conservation organization of Colchester Zoo. To date, 13 species have been released in the 5,000 hectare protected area, including giraffe, zebra, blesbok, servals, African rock pythons, common reedbuck, nyala, waterbuck, leopard tortoises and white rhinos.
Impala release. Photo courtesy of Colchester Zoo: Action for the Wild.
Blue wildebeest release. Photo courtesy of Colchester Zoo: Action for the Wild.
Happy world turtle day! (photos)
May 23rd, 2011
Baby marine turtle taking its first step out to sea in Costa Rica. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
Yes, there is a World Turtle Day created by the American Tortoise Rescue! And today (May 23rd) is that day!
Ancient leopard tortoise in Uganda. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
Sumatran freshwater turtle. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
Sumatran freshwater turtle. Photo by: Jeremy Hance.
Radiated tortoise in Madagascar. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
T-rex leech discovered in a person’s nose just one of the top ten new species of 2010 (photos)
May 23rd, 2011
The International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University has selected its top ten new species from 2010. While all the species are extraordinary, one was discovered in a most baffling, manner: taken from the nasal mucous membrane of a person in a Peruvian clinic. This 2-inch leech is named Tyrannobdella rex, which means ‘tyrant leech king’, because of a resemblance to the extinct T-Rex: both share a massive jaw and gigantic teeth. Imagine having that up your nose! The image above shows the Tyrannobdella rex’s anterior sucker exhibiting velar mouth and longitudinal slit through which the dorsal jaw protrudes when feeding. Scale bar is 1 mm. .
The T-rex nose-embedding leech is not the only species though. There’s also the Mozart glowing mushroom, the fruit-eating giant lizard, the spider that weaves the strongest silk, the antediluvian cockroach, among other biological marvels!
To read more and see photos:
Photos: the top ten new species discovered in 2010
(05/23/2011) If we had to characterize our understanding of life on Earth as either ignorant or knowledgeable, the former would be most correct. In 250 years of rigorous taxonomic work researchers have cataloged nearly two million species, however scientists estimate the total number of species on Earth is at least five million and perhaps up to a hundred million. This means every year thousands of new species are discovered by researchers, and from these thousands, the International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University selects ten especially notable new species.
Pictures: Primary forests included, secondary forests excluded in Indonesia’s moratorium
May 21st, 2011This week Indonesia officially signed a moratorium on the granting of new logging and plantation permits in primary forests and peatlands. Secondary forests are excluded from the measure.
In recognition of the moratorium, below is a selection of photos from Indonesian rainforests. All photos have been taken by Rhett Butler since 2009.
Strangler fig in North Sulawesi
Giant Dipterocarp in North Sumatra
Rainforest in West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), in Indonesian New Guinea
Borneo rainforest
North Sumatra
Strangler fig in North Sulawesi
Rainforest in West Kalimantan on the island of Borneo
Rainforest canopy seen from the base of a compass tree, Sumatra
Rain forest along the Bohorok River, Sumatra
Gunung Leuser rain forest, Sumatra
Rainforest in West Kalimantan, Borneo
Rainforest in West Kalimantan, Borneo
Rainforest in Indonesian Borneo
Arfak cloud forest
Rainforest in Indonesian Borneo
Indonesian Borneo
North Sulawesi
West Kalimantan, Borneo
West Kalimantan, Borneo
West Kalimantan, Borneo
Indonesian Borneo
Indonesian Borneo
Sumatra rain forest
River valley in the Arfak mountains, West Papua
West Kalimantan, Borneo
Indonesian Borneo
Wild Geranium in Indonesian Borneo
Cloud forest in New Guinea
Rainforest creek in Taman Hutan Raya, South Kalimantan, Borneo
Tangkoko, North Sulawesi
Rainforest in West Kalimantan
Rainforest in Indonesian Borneo
Triangular buttress roots in Indonesian Borneo
Giant rain forest tree with a warning on the trunk, West Kalimantan
Note: Nearly all the forests pictured above can be classified as “secondary forests” and therefore subject to logging under the moratorium
