Species of Borneo

A free field guide to the wildlife of Borneo — 4,245 species, from mammals, birds and reptiles to insects, spiders, fish and plants, each with photos, Malay and Indonesian names, and the reserves and rivers where you're most likely to see them.

Wildlife of Borneo at a glance

Borneo is the third-largest island in the world, shared between the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, Indonesian Kalimantan and the sultanate of Brunei. This guide brings together 4,245 species recorded there, each with photographs, scientific names, Malay and Indonesian names and the places in Borneo where it has been seen. It is free, needs no account and works on a phone in the field.

If you are deciding what to look for, start with the groups below. If you already have a name in front of you, use the site search, and use the trip planner to turn a list of species into a plan.

Species of Borneo by group

• Mammals of Borneo — 237 species: orangutan, proboscis monkey, Bornean elephant, sun bear, five wild cats including the Sunda clouded leopard, plus pangolins, tarsiers, colugos and the bats.
• Birds of Borneo — 678 species: hornbills, pittas, broadbills, kingfishers and the Bornean bristlehead.
• Snakes of Borneo — 165 species: pythons, kraits, pit vipers and the king cobra.
• Frogs of Borneo — 122 species: frogs, toads and caecilians.
• Lizards of Borneo — 86 species: geckos, skinks, gliding dragons and monitors.
• Turtles & Crocodiles of Borneo — 18 species: freshwater turtles, tortoises and crocodilians.
• Freshwater Fish of Borneo — 82 species: rasboras, snakeheads and other river fish.
• Plants of Borneo — 77 species: pitcher plants, rafflesia, gingers and orchids, and trees.
• Moths of Borneo — 1,250 species: the largest group in the guide.
• Butterflies of Borneo — 667 species: including the birdwings.
• Dragonflies of Borneo — 376 species: dragonflies and damselflies.
• Insects of Borneo — 349 species: mantises, stick insects, beetles, lantern bugs, cicadas, grasshoppers, ants, wasps and true bugs.
• Arachnids of Borneo — 134 species: spiders, tarantulas and scorpions.
• Other invertebrates — 14 species: snails, centipedes, millipedes, crabs and leeches.

Where to see wildlife in Borneo

Every species page links to the places it has been recorded. The regions guide covers reserves and river systems across Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan, among them Kinabatangan, Danum Valley, Deramakot and Tabin, with the species to expect at each. For birds and reptiles specifically, see the birdwatching and herping guides, and for mammals the mammal-watching guide.

Common questions

How many species are in this Borneo wildlife guide?

The guide covers 4,245 species: 673 birds, 235 mammals, 164 snakes, 122 frogs and caecilians, 86 lizards, 18 turtles and crocodilians, 82 freshwater fish and 77 plants, plus 1,250 moths, 667 butterflies, 376 dragonflies, 349 other insects, 134 arachnids and 14 other invertebrates. That is what the guide has documented so far, not a claim about how many species live on the island, which nobody knows exactly.

Is the guide free?

Yes. Every species page, photograph and location page is free to use, with no account, no signup and no paywall.

How do I find a species I have seen?

Browse by group using the list above or the tabs below, or use the site search to look a species up by name. Each species page gives photographs, the scientific name, Malay and Indonesian names where known, and the places in Borneo where it has been recorded.

Browse every species