18 Dec 2023
Socotra Cucumber Tree (Dendrosicyos socotranus) with bark snails
You can find these dormant (aestivating) land snails (Achatinelloides) sporadically throughout Socotra, but find them covering an entire Socotra cucumber tree…
15 Dec 2023
Socotra Cucumber Tree (Dendrosicyos socotranus)
A very young Socotra Cucumber Tree (Dendrosicyos socotranus) that has survived the insatiable appetite of the goats - only because it growing where they cannot…
4 Feb 2023
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
This is the only place I've encountered Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) on Socotra. It thrives here in the shadow of the tall cliffs of Socotra's northeast, and…
9 Nov 2016
Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)
This is a terribly lonely tortoise. It was removed from its homeland of Madagascar decades ago to this island (Bird Island) when the island was a coconut and…
7 Nov 2016
Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
This giant tortoise species is named after one of the largest atolls in the world, Aldabra, which is also its last stronghold after centuries of human…
6 Feb 2015
Cucumis prophetarum
The entirety of cucumis prophetarum plant is really fascinating, and I’ve never seen it before. Native range is Mauritania to Arabian Peninsula, West Asia to…
6 Feb 2015
Cucumis prophetarum
The entirety of cucumis prophetarum is really fascinating, and I've never seen it before, nor do I know if it's an endemic or not. Native range is Mauritania…
6 Feb 2015
Cucumis prophetarum
I don't know the color of the ripe fruit of cucumis prophetarum, but this one was swollen and seemed to be nearing it's final stages for seed dispersal. Native…
3 Feb 2015
Socotra Cucumber Tree (Dendrosicyos socotranus)
Socotra cucumber tree (Dendrosicyos socotranus) is less famous than the desert rose or bottle tree, but equally amazing with its oversized trunk compared to…