Underwater Neighbours
One aspect of the dazzling tropical biodiversity that is rarely highlighted is the amazing flora and fauna of rainforest streams and rivers. On a recent trip to Cocobolo Nature Reserve in eastern Panama, I decided to photograph a random sampling of these underwater beauties. Here’s a quick composite of just a few of those species – all found in in an area not much larger than an average living room… Photographed by RTPI President Twan Leenders for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project.
Read MoreAmazon Gladiator Tree Frog (Hypsiboas boans)
An Amazon Gladiator Tree Frog (Hypsiboas boans) returns to its tree top home after being released. I caught it the night before in Cocobolo Nature Reserve in Panama where we are carrying out a research project on the frog-killing chytrid fungus and its effect on local amphibians, including several endangered species. More to come on that soon! Twan Leenders RTPI President
Read MoreSnake Caterpillar?
While transferring photographs from my recent Panama trip onto my computer, another quick pick jumped out at me. This large caterpillar was found by Dave Huth on our first night in Cocobolo Nature Reserve and the longer I watched it, the more its resemblance to a snake blew me away. The indication of scales in just the right places, spots suggesting nostrils, even the white ‘catchlight’ in its fake eyes…and it moves in just the right ways too! I know my Central American snakes pretty well, but even a cursory glance at this caterpillar tripped all sorts of alarm bells in my...
Read MoreGladiator Tree Frog (Hypsiboas boans)
Our crew is back from the field! RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser writes that this Gladiator Tree Frog (Hypsiboas boans) was a great way to end the trip. Sitting on the river side Sean says the call is unmistakable this time of year at the gorgeous Cocobolo Nature Reserve in Panama. There will be much more to come from a very successful week, including great photos and awesome finds, from Sean and RTPI President Twan Leenders soon.
Read MoreLimosa Harlequin Toad (Atelopus limosus) & RTPI in New Scientist
In the 60 years that the illustrious journal New Scientist has been around they’ve never run a photo-led feature. I’m very proud and honored that they decided to break with that tradition with a story on our work with endangered frogs in Panama. Our research on a population of the exceedingly rare Limosa Harlequin Toad (Atelopus limosus) in Cocobolo Nature Reserve in Panama will hopefully give us more information on why these frogs are seemingly doing alright while its surrounding populations are going extinct. And with some luck, that information can help direct conservation...
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