SLIPPER ORCHID Paphiopedilum rothschildianum

Grow in cooler climate.Can only be found at lower slopes of Mount Kinabalu in three locations.Endemic to Sabah.Protected specie.Can be seen at Kinabalu Park.

WHALE SHARK Rhincodon typus

World largest fish.Tropical and sub-tropical waters.Pelagic and filter feeder, consuming planktons,krills, and other small fishes.Seasonal visits between January to May and can be seen off Kota Kinabalu and Mengalum Island.

BORNEO PYGMY ELEPHANT Elephas maximus borneensis

Only in Sabah and small number in northern Kalimantan.Smaller than most other Asian elephants.Grow to less than 2.5 meters height. Concentrated mainly in flood plains and tributaries.Herbivores, eating mostly palms,grasses and wild bananas. Can be encountered at Sukau,along the Kinabatangan river, and Danum valley.Highly endangered.Placed under Appendix I of CITES.

RAFFLESIA Rafflesia arnoldii

The biggest flower in the world.Can grow to 100cm in diameter.It has no stem,leaves,and true roots.About 19 different species.Official state flower of Sabah. Seasonal. Can be seen,if in season, at Kg.Kokob,Ranau and Km 52 Kota Kinabalu-Tambunan Road.

SUMATRAN RHINO Dicerorhinos sumatrensis

The only two-horned rhino. Habitat mostly in thick undergrowth of primary and secondary jungles. Body length of 8-8.5 ft and height of 4.5 ft and weighing between 2200 to 4400 pounds.Solitary and very elusive.Eat fruits, seeds,bamboo shoots and other plants.Only about 50 estimated left in Sabah forests.A few spotted at Tabin Wildlife Reserve.The chance of encountering one is very slim.Coming to extinction.Highly endangered.

PROBOSCIS MONKEY Nasalis larvatus

It has large protruding nose and big belly.Male can grow to around to 75 cm and female to around 60 cm.Female prefer males with big nose.They live in mangrove swamps and along riverine forests.Feed on fruits,seeds,and leaves.Arboreal and amphibious.Can be seen at Sukau, Kinabatangan,and Klias river.Endangered.Placed under Appendix I of CITES list of endangered species

ORANGUTANS Pongo pygmaeus

Endemic to Borneo and Sumatra, this animal is arboreal and adults are solitary.Female can grow to about 4.5 ft and male to about 6 ft.By far the most intelligent in the animalia kingdom.Young ones stay with the mothers until about 8 to 9 years old.They feed on fruits and leaves from certain trees.Can be seen at Sepilok . Endangered.Placed under Appendix I of CITES list of endangered species.

CLOWN TRIGGERFISH Balistoides conspicillum

Usually in clear seaward reefs,drop offs, and coral terraces from 1 to 75 meter.Grow to 50 cm.Photo taken in Sipadan,Sabah,Malaysian Borneo.

BIG EYE TREVALLY Caranx sexfasciatus

Widespread throughout most oceans.Found along lagoons,channels, and reef drop offs.In schools and grow up to 80 cm or about 4kg.Photo taken at Sipadan,Sabah,Malaysian Borneo.

EMPEROR NAUTILUS Nautilus pompilius

Widespread in Indo-Pacific.Mostly on coral reef walls and drop offs and in deep water.Grow up to 17 cm.There are 6 known species.Photo taken at Kapalai,Sabah,Malaysian Borneo.

BLUELINED SNAPPER Lutjanus kasmira

Mosly in tropical water in shallow sheltered reefs.Grow up to 35 cm.Very often in large schools around coral formation.Numerous similar species. Can be found up to a depth of 250 meter.Photo taken at Sipadan, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

BARRACUDA Sphyraena

Found in most tropical seas except Eastern Pacific.In schools or bigger ones solitary.Can grow up to 200 cm.Wide range of habitats from esturine to open water and to sheltered inner reefs. About 26 known species. Bigger ones are pelagic and can grow up to 50 kg or more.Photo taken at Sipadan, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

BUMPHEAD PARROTFISH Bolbometopon muricatum

Found in many oceans from Red Sea, Taiwan to the Ryuk. Mostly in lagoons and typically in schools at depth of 1 to 30 meter.Grow to 130 cm, about 50 kg.Vulnerable to over fishing.Photo taken at Sipadan, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

DURBAN HINGE-BEAK SHRIMP Rhynchocinetes durbanensis

Found in abundance throughout Indo-Pacific from South Africa to Japan. Usually in large numbers inside crevices, holes, and overhangs.Very colourful and grow up to 4 cm. Photo taken at Kapalai, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

SKUNK ANEMONEFISH Amphiprion sandaracinos

Found in sheltered areas of coral reefs between 5 to 20 meters.Size up to 14 cm.Distributed in mostly tropical Pacific to western Australia.Size up to 12 cm.Photo taken at Kapalai, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

NUDIBRANCH/SEA SLUG Chromodoris coi

Soft bodied and size varies from 40 to 600mm.More than 3000 known species.Distributed worldwide and can be found down to 700 meter depth. Photo taken at Kapalai, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

BLUE-RINGED OCTOPUS Hapalochlaena lunulata

Found in mostly shallow water from 0 - 20 meter.Usually under jetties, bottom of coral reefs and rubble.At least four to five different species.Main distribution from eastern Borneo, Sulawesi to the Great Barrier Reef.Highly venomous and can carry enough poision to kill 26 adults in minutes. Size up to 10 cm.All blue-ringed are deadly and should never to be touched.Photo taken at Kapalai, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.