Non-insect Invertebrates of Tabin Wildlife Reserve

Besides insects, the tropical forest fauna of Tabin includes numerous species of invertebrate including arthropods and mollusks.

One of the most prominent examples is the spiders. The presence of many spider species is announced by the webs (e.g. top right) that reflect the early morning light or cling to you as you walk through the forest.

Another prominent denizen of the jungle is the leech (below).

Right: Spider web (ICN photo)
The jungle leeches tend to be small and are only obvious during damp conditions when you brush against vegetation and give them a chance to hitch a ride and get a meal at your expense. Covering up and using leech socks reduces or eliminates leech incidents. Leeches don’t do much harm (indeed, they are still used in some medical treatments such as removal of “eye bags”) so many experienced jungle trekkers simply dress comfortably and detach the occasional hitch-hiking leech with a dab of salt, a shot of pepper sauce or the touch of a lit cigarette.

The jungle is home to several species of centipede and millipede (below). Some of these are tiny and others can be more than ten centimetres long. Some are venomous so don’t touch them! Others are amusing to watch such as the ones that curl into a ball when startled.

Above: Unidentified leech (Sabah Wildlife Dept. photo)
Among the molluscs to be encountered in the jungle of Tabin there is a large array of slugs, snails and freshwater clams. These and earthworms combine to serve as food for a wide range of vertebrates.

In the waters of Tabin there is a range of freshwater prawn and crab species that has yet to be fully surveyed and quantified. This includes species of the genus Macrobrachium, which are known internationally as “Malaysian prawns”.

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