The amazing and bizarre wildlife of Indonesia

Indonesia is home to a variety of bizarre and amazing creatures; some of which you've probably never even heard of before! Here's a list of six fascinating animals that will be sure to make you want to book a trip to Indonesia ASAP. These are presented by Carly, the author of The Featured Creature, a website that showcases unusual and incredible creatures. Check out her site for many more unbelievable animals!

1. Trefoil Horseshoe Bat

image credit: mamuin.blogspot.com

image credit: sudanajang.com

While it may look like an unpleasant feature to have, the Trefoil Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus trifoliatus) would be lost without its elaborate, albeit rather ugly, noseleaf as it's called.

This bat is one of 30 species of Horseshoe Bats that are masters of echolocation - using its voice to screech and then listening for the echoes bouncing off of its prey - all thanks to its wonderful, wrinkly face (and huge ears of course)! The grooves in the nose allow it to notice slight variations when detecting echoes, allowing for a much more precise hunting tool.

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2. Flying Dragon

image credit: Reddit user Biophilia_curiosus

image credit: Reddit user Biophilia_curiosus

This is the real life Toruk from Avatar, also known as the Draco volans, a flying lizard that measures 8 inches from head to tail tip. If you look in the 2nd photo you'll notice what look like veins running through the wings. These are actually its ribs! The lizard is able to expand & contract its chest in order to use its wings (or not). These flying lizards are able to glide up to 55 yards!

3. Mouse Deer

image credit: news.bbc.co.uk

image credit: zooborns.com

Growing to just 18 inches tall and 4.4 pounds, the mouse deer is quite funny-looking with its big eyes, long toothpick-like legs, and a pointed little snout. But just look how cute the baby is!!! It's just so itty bitty!


4. Black and Red Broadbills

image credit: Mr No Good

image credit: Mr No Good

These breathtakingly beautiful birds are Black-and-Red Broadbills (Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos). They have a black head, back, and tail feathers with crimson underparts. The bill is most striking, as it is a wonderful light turquoise on top with yellow underneath.

Now I couldn't find any info on this but if you'll notice in some of the pictures you can see long "hairs" near the birds' faces. They almost look like Salvador Dali mustaches!

5. Orchid Mantis

image credit: wilmott.com

image credit: Nitsirk Eel

image credit: Igor Siwanowicz, via photo.net

 Orchid Praying Mantises are tricky. Very tricky. Maybe even... too tricky?

You see if I ever go to Malaysia, Indonesia and Sumatra you should know that my #1 priority would be to find an Orchid Mantis. But here's my dilemma... it blends in so freaking well that I'm not sure I could ever possibly find one!!

I mean look at this thing, its walking legs look exactly like petals and the body coloration will tend to match wherever the Orchid Mantis was raised. It IS an orchid. So like I said... it's verging on too tricky for me.

Even as babies (or nymphs) the Orchid Mantises are masters of disguise. Young nymphs resemble ants with black bodies and red-ish legs. So they transform from ants into orchids? That really is an Ugly-Duckling-To-Swan Story if I've ever heard one!

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6. Nudibranchs

image credit: Hung & Pan

image credit: Hung & Pan

image credit: Andy Albatross

Not much to say on this guy known by its scientific name Doto sp., just thought it was an exceptionally beautiful nudibranch!

It's sometimes referred to as a doughnut nudibranch though because of its circular cerata that appear to be stacked in groups of 3 or 4 discs.

These are just one example of nudibranch species found in Indonesian waters! View more photos of them here.

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After seeing all of these incredible creatures, don't you just want to hop on a plane to Indonesia and start searching for them? If that's not entirely possible at the moment, head over to The Featured Creature to get your photo fill instead!