Socotra Cucumber Tree (Dendrosicyos socotranus) with bark snails

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…


Socotra Cucumber Tree (Dendrosicyos socotranus)

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…


Commelina albescens

Commelina albescens

Native range of Commelina albescens is Eritrea to Malawi, Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan to West India Elevation: 641 meters.


Aletris pauciflora var. pauciflora

Aletris pauciflora var. pauciflora

Aletris pauciflora var. pauciflora is found in Sikkim's temperate to alpine biomes up to around 5000 meters elevation. Elevation: 3789 meters. Naitive range is…


Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)

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…


Southern Kori (Ardeotis kori ssp. kori)

Southern Kori (Ardeotis kori ssp. kori)

Bustards are very large birds, and the southern kori (Ardeotis kori ssp. kori) is the largest flying bird in Africa. They have a wingspan of up to 275 cm (9…


Kori bustard (Ardeotis kori)

Kori bustard (Ardeotis kori)

Kori bustard (Ardeotis kori) is an amazing bird, one of the largest flying bird species on the planet. Yet you rarely see it fly, but when you do it's very…


Rüppell's Korhaan (Eupodotis rueppellii)

Rüppell’s Korhaan (Eupodotis rueppellii)

Bustards blend in perfectly with the desert landscape and in withered vegetation, and often not seen unless they are moving. It sounds like this:


Cucumis prophetarum

Cucumis prophetarum

The entirety of this cucumber plant is really fascinating, and I’ve never seen it before. This is likely Cucumis prophetarum ssp dissectum, as it is more…