Genus Elattoneura

1) Elattoneura analis is superficially like the common Prodasineura verticalis. The two species are sometimes found flying together, but they differ significantly in color and markings and have slightly different venation. In particular the male Elattoneura analis has a prominent orange spot at the tip of the abdomen which is lacking in Prodasineura verticalis, and the orange color is less intense.

Elattoneura analis is sometimes quite common on backwaters of small clear streams in dipterocarp forest but it also occurs in alluvial and freshwater swamp forest.

2) Elattoneura aurantiaca is another common species. It is mainly golden yellow-orange with a broad metallic blue-green band on the dorsum of the synthorax. It looks superficially rather like the common coenagrionid Teinobasis rajah but it is more slightly built and has very different wing venation, notably the strong reduction of the anal vein. It is found locally in all types of swamp forest but is probably more common in the south.

3) Elattoneura longispina is very similar to Elattoneura analis in its markings but the ventral spine on the superior anal appendage of the male is exceptionally long and thin . On average it is a little smaller than Elattoneura analis.

5) Elattoneura erythromma is a small, fine insect with dark russet antehumeral bands from the south. In life, its eyes are red.

Backwater of a small clear stream in dipterocarp forest. Some species from the Family Protoneuridae are found in these type of wet drain in the quiet part of the forest.

Dipterocarp is the main tree species in the forests of Southeast Asia. In Borneo Island, more than 20% of the trees in the lowland and highland forests are dipterocarp trees. These tall trees formed the most important layer if forest canopy, more than 50% of the canopy trees are from this Dipterocarp.

The dipterocarp tree can be described as the dominant species in the tropical rainforest of Borneo. This phenomenon that a single tree family dominates the entire forest does not appear in other major tropical rainforests. This make Southeast Asian tropical rainforest very unique.

婆羅洲以其地方生物多樣性而聞名，除了多種特殊動物之外，這島嶼也是15,000種植物的生長之地。

東南亞的森林以龍腦香為主要樹種，根據學者們的記錄，在婆羅洲，低地和高地森林中超過20%的樹木是龍腦香樹，這些高大樹木是樹冠層最主要的成員，超過50%的樹冠層樹木來自於這個家族。

龍腦香樹可謂婆羅洲熱帶雨林的優勢物種，這種由單一家族主宰整片森林的這種現象，並沒出現在其他主要熱帶雨林裡，因此，東南亞熱帶雨林是非常獨特的。

The pterostigma is usually dark and never very long (at most about 1.5 times as long as broad), most commonly lozenge- or diamond-shaped.
The male abdomen is 1.5 times the length of the hind wing; the female abdomen is only a little shorter and more robust.
Most species are marked in either red, orange or blue or are unmarked. The ground color is usually matt black, only occasionally with a bronzy sheen.
Male anal appendages are robust and squat, typically about as long as the last abdominal segment. The upper pair usually have a strong ventral spine but this may be difficult to interpret when its inner margin is hidden behind the tenth segment. The short lower pair often terminate in a thin distal process curling inwards. Although male terminalia of the different species are similar in general form, slight differences can be very useful in diagnosis. Likewise the posterior lobe of the female prothorax varies considerably and can be a good character for separating close species.

Most protoneurids are found near slowly flowing water in swampy places, in sluggish streams or in backwaters of fast running rivers. They are almost confined to forested areas in the lowlands. Although they are often abundant, little is known of their biology. Females oviposit in root masses under banks, typically in tandem with the male erect in the 'sentinel' position, but sometimes alone. The larvae are short and stout with broad heads and proportionally long legs. The caudal lamellae are flattened, short, broad and rounded with the central gill shorter than the lateral ones. Mouthparts, including the mask and its arrangement of setae, are basically similar to those found in some Coenagrionidae and it may be difficult to separate larvae of these families. They are found in silty areas and among root masses.

Here are index to damselflies sorted according to colour for our quick identification:

Out of the global 10 families of damselflies, the following 6 families are found in Borneo Island :

Damselfly head include :
1- compound eyes,
2- ocelli,
3- antennae,
4- mouth structures

Dragonflies of Borneo
"With 275 named species so far recorded in Borneo, the island has one of the richest and most exciting dragonfly faunas in the world. More than 40% of species occur nowhere else, making it the most distinctive sub-region of Sundaland." A Guide to the Dragonflies of Borneo by Albert G. Orr

GO FURTHER

FLORA

Fig trees of Sabah

Borneo has 150 species of wild fig trees. Most of them are found in forests of Sabah.

FISHERIES

Tiger Prawn Farms in Tawau

Prawn farming is a main commercial activities in Tawau. Spawners from Tawau are graded the best in Malaysia. For decades, Tawau has been exporting high-grade tiger prawns to several countries such as Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Egypt and Australia.

A Guide to Common Spiders in BORNEO ISLAND