On land, wildlife is abundant in the rainforests and along rivers and watersides. Brunei still possesses a considerable amount of rainforest. These contain a large biodiversity but do not provide easy views of its abundant animal life. You really have to work at it to see any animals, even just a glimpse. You may hear the sound of a bird piercing the deep forest, seeing it is another matter. Monkeys noisily scamper through the canopy, but tree crowns are so dense that we may only just glimpse one. Cicadas famously provide the background entertainment at sunset, but few people have seen one.
The vast majority of species on land are invertebrates (animals lacking backbone, like all insects) and are described here first. Those creatures roam the forest floor or inhabit the soil, leaf litter and rotting wood, and form a complex community that plays a vital role in the functioning of this dynamic ecosystem. Invertebrates, although often not appreciated by many people, form a very interesting and easy topic for wildlife observation. In contrast, the vertebrates (like the amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) may seem more obvious but are far smaller in number and species diversity.
- Wild surgeons feed on patients' blood
- Walking sticks in the night
- Jolly jumpers of the forest
- Bugs are creating a stink
- There's a bug!
- Noisy courtship in the forest
- Atlas beetle is Brunei's insect rhino
- Flashers in the night
- Butterfly beauties
- Centipedes prove to be fearless predators
- Unusual tenant in a strange home
- Seismic communication in tree-top toe-taps
- Crested lizards are masters of colour disguise
- The shiny skink lizard
- A favourite for hunters
- The flight of the giant squirrel
- Musical whoops of the gibbons
© Panaga Natural History Society (PNHS) |
