The forest floor by day...

The same leaves at night.

Daylight...

The fungus is breaking down leaves from the Yacushapana Tree.

These lampyrid larvae can be found across Loreto's rainforest floors and produce a blue/white light.

This lampyrid has the ability to retract its head into the first segment of its body.

The head is normally extended outside of the first body segment while the larvae is walking around. One student on our trip, who observed this species glowing in the dark, felt that this anterior most segment also produces light.

This is a different lampyrid larvae that I encountered in Chile

As far as I could tell, only the terminal body segment produced light.

This is the bioluminescence produced by the terminal segment of the larvae.

The canopy walkway at ACTS traverses open spaces between giant rainforest trees.

View of the canopy walkway from a platform on one of the emergent rainforest trees.

The ACTS walkway has a mesh material that keeps visitors safely on the walkways.

Visitors to ACTS traverse streams and spans between trees on the same style of walkway.

Clusters of bromeliads grow on trees immediately adjacent to the walkway.

Dusk on the Canopy Walkway

I have always loved Hercules Beetles.

Great insects, like this shield mantis (Choeradodis stalli) are in the area.

This colorful Passion Vine Bug, a reduviid in the genus Anisoscelis, cleans its proboscis.

Metalic colors made this insect a fun encounter.

Night hikes are great because you never know what your flashlight will illuminate.

The Green Tree Boa (Corallus batesi).

Corallus batesi is an arboreal snake, sometimes sitting on the same branch for days on end.

These cricket nymphs were congregated on a branch.

Ecdysis, or the molting of an external cuticle, is always fun to watch.

Katydid nymphs often sport brilliant colors or cool patterns.

An Ornate Hopper (Family Fulgoridae) nymph.

An Ornate Hopper (Family Fulgoridae) nymph.

Its great catching a snake (Philodryas {Xenoxybelis} argenteus) sleeping at night.

In the past past, we used to see dozens of these rain frogs (Pristimantis ockendeni) on night hikes. Now, one or two in an evening is a good find.

On the forest floor, toads (Rhinella castaneotica) mimic leaves.

Arboreal snails were observed on every night hike.

There was a spectacular termite emergence after a hard rain. Predators were out at night to get their fill.

Tarantulas (Avicularia ancyclochira) are not uncommon in the area at night.

Tortoise beetles (Eugenysa sp.) appear to have shells like their namesake.

This leaf mimic (Typophyllum bolivari) is a katydid.

Bark Weevil (Rhinastus latisternus) faces are never boring.

A canopy dwelling lizard, the Amazon Thorneytail (Uracentron flaviceps), lives in family groups.

Adult males have salmon heads.

Juveniles and females have green heads and darker bodies.

Chiasmocleis bassleri is a microhylid endemic to the upper Amazon basin.

Ants were drinking from this ginger (Costus).

While it is generally rare to observe things munching on palm fronds, someone forgot to tell these caterpillars that palm fronds don't taste good.

Here is another spiny caterpillar feeding on a palm frond.

Amazon Horned Frogs (Ceratophrys cornuta) are difficult to see in the leaf litter where they live.

Matamatas (Chelus fimbriatus) can be just as difficult to distinguish in the leaf-litter strewn forest backwaters, where they can sometimes be found.

The Amazon Giant Snail (Megalobulimus popelairanus) is the heaviest terrestrial gastropod in the world.

Having enjoyed the tropical ecology class and the canopy walkway, I wanted to thank Bill Lamar and Meg Lowman for a great time. Left to Right: Danté Fenolio, Meg Lowman, Bill Lamar.

Nautilus have poor eyesight. They rely on smell and touch to hunt and find mates.

In contrast to other cephalopods, Nautilus don't have suction cups on their tentacles.

I've been lucky to see live Bobtail Squid (Rossia pacifica) off of the coasts of Japan and California. This is another deep water cephalopod.

Dumbo Octopi have interesting flaps on their "heads" that they use for locomotion. This is a species tentatively assigned to the genus Grimpoteuthis from the Monterey Bay Trench.

When feeling threatened, some Dumbo Octopods invert their bodies in this defensive pose.

Pristigenys alta, the Short Bigeye, typically lives along deep reefs in water up to 200m (656 feet) deep. The fish are tropical and subtropical ranging through the Caribbean north along the Atlantic coast of North America.

The deep reef dwelling Pristigenys alta, the Short Bigeye.

The Scalloped Ribbonfish (Zu cristatus) is a deep water marine fish that feeds on small fish and squid. It swims in the water column with its head upward pointing. They can grow to roughly 118 cm total length (~3.9 feet). This is a young individual photographed in the Sea of Japan (2007).

The Longfin Snipefish (Macroramphosus scolopax) feeds on copepods and other mesopelagic invertebrates in its juvenile state. Adults feed on benthic invertebrates. They are encountered between 25 and 600 meters depth (82 and 1968 feet). This individual was photographed in the Sea of Japan (2007) Courtesy of the Uozo Aquarium.

The Red Batfish (Halieutaea stellata) is found to 400 meters depth (~1312 feet). Batfish have a modified dorsal fin ray called an illicium protruding from their heads at the end of which is a fleshy lure, called an esca. The esca is used to attract prey. A special space in their face to accommodate the lure is called the illicial cavity. This individual was photographed in the Sea of Japan (2007). Courtesy of the Uozo Aquarium.

The Fathead (Malacocottus gibber) lives at depths that can excede 1000m (~3280 feet). Courtesy of the Uozo Aquarium.

Motyxia sequoia alia - orange phase

Motyxia sequoia alia - newly molted

Motyxia sequoia alia - bioluminescence

Motyxia sequoia alia - bioluminescence

Motyxia sequoia alia - bioluminescence

Motyxia sequoia alia - Fluorescence under black light

Motyxia sequoia alia - Fluorescence under black light

Bioluminescence in a species of Photinus fire fly from Georgia

Bioluminescence in a species of Photinus fire fly from Georgia

Bioluminescence in a species of Photinus fire fly from Georgia

Bioluminescence in a species of Photinus fire fly from Georgia

Bioluminescent Copepod (Gaussia princeps).

Brittlestar

Brittlestar

Brittlestar

Hyperiid Amphipod (Hyperia sp).

Marine Worm (probably Pelagogobia sp.).

Hyperiid amphipod (Cystisoma fabricii).

Midwater shrimp (Sergestes similis).

Krill (Euphausia pacifia).

Pteropod mollusk, a free swimming snail (Clio pyramidata).

Gammarid Amphipod (Paracallisoma coecus).

Gammarid Amphipod (Paracallisoma coecus).

Polychaete worm (Tomopterus sp.).

Unidentified natant decapod

Unidentified gastropod mollusk (Neptunea amianta?)

Bristlemouth/family Gonostomatidae (Cyclothone, probably acclinidens).

Bristlemouth/family Gonostomatidae (Cyclothone, probably acclinidens).

Larval Dover Sole (Microstomus pacificus).

Larval Dover Sole (Microstomus pacificus).

Juvenile midwater eelpout (Melanostigma pammelas), family Zoarcidae.

Midwater eelpout (Melanostigma pammelas), family Zoarcidae.

Hatchet fish/Family Sternoptychidae (Argyropelecus, probably lychnus).

Hatchet fish/Family Sternoptychidae (Argyropelecus, probably lychnus) - close up of photophores on lower body

Hatchet fish/Family Sternoptychidae, (Argyropelecus, probably lychnus).

Lanternfish/Family Myctophidae (Diaphus theta).

Lanternfish/Family Myctophidae (Diaphus theta).

Northern lampfish/Family Myctophidae (Stenobrachius leucopsarus).

Northern lampfish/Family Myctophidae (Stenobrachius leucopsarus).

Unidentified juvenile big scale, family Melamphaeidae

Unidentified snailfish/Family Liparidae (probably Lipariscus nanus).

Unidentified snailfish/Family Liparidae (probably Lipariscus nanus).

Tiger rockfish (Sebastes nigrocinctus).

Pacific Electric Ray (Torpedo californica).

Pacific Electric Ray (Torpedo californica).

White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus).

White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus).

Pretty much opaque…

I noticed that they like to lift their bodies up off the substrate and typically have a leg or two not in contact with it.

I like that you can see their digestive system through their carapace.

It is really interesting to watch these guys cruising the water column.

Looking down on them...

This is a good example of a shrimp resting on a couple of walking legs while the others are stuck out into the water column.

I like ventral shots because they tell you a bit about the body plan of the subject.

Hovering in the water column

I made a new friend at the National Zoo of Chile.

Andres Charrier relaxing with a friend.

The zoo has a rehabilitation program for birds injured by people. I got to meet a few of the owls. This is Bubo magellanicus, the Southern Horned Owl.

Another rehabbed owl in the facility at the national Zoo of Chile was this Pygmy Owl, Glaucidium nanum.

As common as they are, I still enjoyed playing around with my wide angle lens and shooting peacock feathers.

It was great to get to know some of the zoo's unusual animals such as this Rhea

Drilling the drain holes in the glass tanks

Keeping the diamond bit cool while drilling the terrarium glass

The bulkhead fitting inserted into the hole (the glass cutting from the drilling process in hand).

Bill cuts the bars of the rack to accomodate the drain lines in the bottoms of the terrariums.

Plumbing the terrariums

Miles of plumbing

Cleaning the edges of the egg crating for the false bottoms. Making the edges smooth helps for a tight fit into the terrariums.

Cutting the mesh that will sit on the egg crating - the components for the false bottoms.

The false bottoms for the terrariums to keep things drained

Preparing the lights

The lighting units fit nicely

The misting system went in nicely

Adding substrate (Chilean sphagnum moss) to the terrariums

Mixing the substrate for the collembola cultures. Collembola are small enough so that they make good food for baby frogs.

Preparing an army of collembola cultures for what will hopefully be plenty of baby Darwin's Frogs.

It feels good to see all of our efforts pay off.

One of the great features to the lab is that one wall is made of glass. This allows the visiting public to see into the lab and brings them to interpretive materials that explain the conservation project.

The labs provide plenty of working space for keepers, the floors all have angles leading to floor drains, and the entire inside of the facility is water tight.

I can't thank Bill Lamar enough for his time and assistance in getting the facility up and running.

Everyone was excited as the lab began to look more and more like a real frog room.

Once the facility was up and running, a celebratory dinner was in order. Again, I can't complement my Chilean collaborators enough for their unwaivering dedication to this project.

Some members of the beetle genus Rhadine are cave dwelling and are specialist feeders, eating cave cricket eggs. The long neck presumably allows them to reach into holes they dig or into cracks and crevices, where cave cricket eggs are hidden, to feed on them. This is Rhadine speca.

Harvestmen, or opilionids, are arachnids related to spiders and scorpions. There are many species that frequent caves and many other species that are obligate cave dwellers. This is Chinquipellobunus madlae. Opilionids are small predators, often feeding on tiny invertebrates. Obligate cave species can be white (often as juveniles or newly molted individuals and less commonly as adults), red, or orange.

The type locality for Eurycea latitans is Cascade Caverns, thus the common name “Cascade Caverns Salamander.” These specimens are from the type locality.

Eurycea latitans demonstrates quite a bit of phenotypic plasticity. Some populations, as with the population at the type locality, have functional eyes and some pigmentation remaining. In other cave dwelling populations, the salamanders have greatly reduced, non-functional eyes and little or no pigment.

Mexican blindcats of the genus Prietella are endemic to Mexico. These are P. phreatophila. I thank Dean Hendrickson for allowing me to photograph these specimens.

Spring netting is one method used to sample spring and aquifer dwelling fauna. Nets are placed in front of a spring’s discharge point to collect whatever wildlife may be expelled in the current. The nets are typically checked once a day.

USFWS aquatic invertebrate specialist Randy Gibson checks through the collected debris in one of his spring nets, looking for groundwater amphipods that had been captured in his nets.

One of the great cave fish biologists, Tom Poulson is depicted here at the International Congress of Speleology (Kerrville, TX, July 2009) examining preserved cave fish specimens. Tom was gracious enough, with help from his wife Liz, to look over specimens of a new blind cave Amblyopsid that I am helping to describe with a team of scientists including G.O. Graening, Matt Niemiller, Al Romero, and Stan Trauth.

Randy Gibson's sketch on making a collection bucket for a spring net.

These spiders were observed from the lower canopy to the upper canopy. They were aggressive and would strike out and bite anything that was placed near them. They were not uncommon in the tree holes we were examining.

The tree trunks of the Masoala Peninsula are covered in lichens, mosses, and ferns. We performed vertical transects and spent much time hanging from ropes and looking at the wildlife living on tree trunks. Countless mimics of mosses and lichens were observed. I’ve tried to include a few of them here. This is a lichen mimicking true bug or homopteran.

This lanternfly is a lichen and moss mimic.

Several species of caterpillars were observed that mimicked mosses and lichens.

Even a species of moth was observed that mimicked moss and lichen.

Phasmids, which can be stick or twig mimics, were observed on tree trunks. This is a juvenile phasmid.

Lichen and moss mimicking on the trunks of rainforest trees was not limited to invertebrates. The leaf tail geckos of the genus Uroplatus are famous for their cryptic appearance. This is U. fimbriatus.

Another leaf tail gecko (Uroplatus lineatus) was encountered in and around bamboo. In the stands of bamboo, these lizards are well camouflaged.

We came across quite a few Uroplatus sikorae which are spectacular moss and lichen mimics.

Uroplatus sikorae has beautiful eyes.

Another cryptic leaf tail gecko with which we had frequent encounters was this Uroplatus species (possibly Uroplatus giganteus).

After a downpour, this Uroplatus species licks the rain drops from its face.

Langaha madagascariensis is a cryptic snake from Madagascar that resembles twigs.

The carpet chameleon (Furcifer lateralis) is an inhabitant of the lower, mid and upper canopy.

One of the colorful day geckos of the area, Phelsuma seipii was a regular encounter on the trunks and branches of trees.

Phelsuma seipii inhabits lower, mid, and upper canopy levels along the Masoala Peninsula.

Geckos of the genus Parodeura were mostly observed in the lower canopy.

Brookesia superciliaris is a diminutive chameleon that lives in the leaf litter along the forest floor.

Living on the forest floor, the Tomato Frog (Dyscophus antongilii) is highly endangered. The habitat that this frog lives in has been largely altered. Small populations are all that remain.

Tenrecs root around on the forest floor looking for things to eat.

When Charles Darwin was still alive, he studied a strange orchid from Madagascar (Angraecum sesquipedale). The orchid has a nectary that is roughly 1/3rd of a meter in length (1 foot). Something with an exceptionally long tongue most pollinate it. The long tongue would be necessary to reach the nectar at the bottom of the nectary. Darwin predicted that the orchid was pollinated by a moth with a tongue roughly a foot in length. His prediction was controversial and many were critical. Years later, long after Darwin’s death, a moth was discovered that does in fact pollinate the orchid and has a tongue that is a foot in length. Notice the long nectary coming out of the back of the flower.

Heterixalus madagascariensis was found within the tops of Pandanus in water filled leaf axils.

Anodonthyla hutchisoni is a small microhylid frog that breeds in small water filled tree holes. The species was discovered during this project and we named it after Dr. V. Hutchison.

A group shot at a celebration lunch after Anodonthyla hutchisoni was named for Vic Hutchison. From left to right: Jim Stout, Vic Hutchison, Danté Fenolio, and Mark Walvoord.

Two pieces of equipment that the program employ are the blimp and the one-man balloon. Both pieces of equipment are typically employed in early morning hours when the winds are mild. The blimp carries the canopy raft and the canopy sled to points in the forest canopy. The one man balloon is tethered to a cable that crosses a section of rainforest canopy. The operator of the balloon can move along the cable and collect samples and make observations at their leisure.

The one man balloon was great to watch as different biologists used it to collect samples and make observations in the forest canopy.

An early morning balloon ride.

The French Canopy Raft Program is probably best known for its blimp and canopy raft. When I took this shot, I was in the top of an emergent tree about 33 meters (~100 feet) above the forest floor. The tree was on a steep slope of a mountain that edged the lowland forest. The vantage point was a good one for capturing the blimp carrying the canopy raft to a selected position in the rainforest canopy.

Long before dawn, the dedicated crew that manages the blimp prepares it for its daily flights. At dawn, the blimp is nearly ready to lift the canopy raft and crews of scientists into the forest canopy.

Living on the canopy raft was spectacular. The platform is formed of rigid air filled supports with mesh strewn between the supports. Sleeping on the canopy raft involves sleeping in a harness attached to the raft. Our evenings on the raft were great. Canopy dwelling fireflies passed by and the stars were clear. Rain showers were the only challenging part of the stay.

Our climbing partner, Nouie Baiben, gets up in the morning on the canopy raft and prepares something to eat.

The canopy sled is another tool that can be used to grant access for scientists to the forest canopy. The sled is suspended below the blimp and is literally drug along the tops of the forest canopy. This allows biologists to gather samples in a few hours from a broad area which would take days or months to cover by hand and rope.

Jim Stout and Mark Walvoord prepare for a trip up in the canopy sled.

This is a shot from inside the canopy sled. One of the strange occurrences during the canopy sled experience was running into a tree branch that had an arboreal ant nest in it. When the sled struck the branch, large black ants flowed out of the nest and over the rails of the sled like water. The ants bit and stung all morning and made sample collection a challenge.

The view looking upward from the canopy sled is an amazing one.

The French Canopy Raft Program employs another piece of equipment called an ICOS unit. These are basically mobile tree fort units. We lived in one of these units for an extended period at the top of an emergent tree, over 37 meters (~110 feet) above the forest floor. One night in a rain storm the wind picked up. The top of our tree was swaying nearly 5 meters (~15 feet) in the wind. It was a wild ride.

Looking downward from the upper platform of an ICOS unit where Mark Walvoord is preparing for a vertical transect.

Most of our days and nights were spent working on the ropes performing vertical transects.

Here is a view from an emergent tree. Nouie Baiben crosses a rope we have tied between two emergent trees. Notice the treetops many feet below Nouie, those are the tree tops of the upper canopy, roughly 19 meters (~57 feet) in height.

Mark Walvoord collects water samples from a tree hole in an emergent tree.

Checking water filled tree holes was a regular activity during our project. We were surprised to find both freshwater and marine crabs living in the phytotelmata of the Masoala Peninsula.

Jim Stout is displaying a clipping from an epiphytic fern in the genus Huperzia.

Mark Walvoord, Jim Stout, and I would like to acknowledge the skills and hard work that Nouie Baiben contributed to our project. Nouie was our climbing specialist and he made all of our activities on a daily basis possible.

The coast line along the Masoala Peninsula is stunning.

Streams running through our research area were strewn with moss covered boulders.

The forest floor below our research area was covered in ferns.