Belum highlights

Environment

New species

A new species each of balsam, Didymocarpus herb, palm, ant, aquatic fly, stick insect, prawn, snail and jumping spider;

Two new leaf-beetles;

25 new caddisflies;

An undetermined number of new moths;

New records

Orchid Cleisostoma compliatum found for the first time in Malaysia;

A population of Rafflesia intermediate between R. hasseltii and R. cantleyi;

A total of 27 previously unrecorded leaf-beetles;

Four species of bats new to Malaysia;

Other unusual finds

Exposed limestone formations, previously unmapped;

The second ever collection of Ridley's Begonia, after 80 years;

The second Malaysian collection of the rare tree Grewia sclephylla;

Found at unusually low altitudes: several butterflies, two snakes, five montane birds;

Internationally-important numbers of hornbills;

Apparently resident peregrines of newly known population;

Three rare butterflies including first female of Tanaecia clathrata;

Ants that can bore their own holes into bamboo.

Source: 'Belum: A Rainforest in Malaysia' (RM118) by G.W.H. Davison, published by the Malaysian Nature Society; inquiries 03-632 9422.