KnowKi

Key Places for biodiversity

Learn the wildlife of Borneo

Indonesia · Malaysia · Brunei

Borneo is one of E.O. Wilson's Key Places, irreplaceable for life on Earth. 11,621 species have research-grade observations there on iNaturalist, and KnowKi turns the most recorded into short lessons with real photos.

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Āki the kiwi, KnowKi's guide

Most recorded here

The species with the most research-grade observations on iNaturalist, and how many each has. Most recorded doesn't mean native.

Birds

  1. Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris1,573
  2. Black Hornbill Anthracoceros malayanus1,418
  3. Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier1,228
  4. Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis1,141
  5. Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis1,051
  6. Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela1,043
  7. Rhinoceros Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros1,042
  8. Brown-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis1,023
  9. Blue-throated Bee-eater Merops viridis939
  10. Pacific Swallow Hirundo javanica937

Plants

  1. Flask-shaped pitcher plant Nepenthes ampullaria680
  2. Fringed pitcher-plant Nepenthes tentaculata562
  3. Slender Pitcher-Plant Nepenthes gracilis470
  4. Rafflesia keithii449
  5. Raffles' pitcher-plant Nepenthes rafflesiana422
  6. Common Swamp Pitcher-Plant Nepenthes mirabilis347
  7. African Coromandel Asystasia intrusa344
  8. Simpoh Air Dillenia suffruticosa306
  9. Reinwardt's pitcher-plant Nepenthes reinwardtiana302
  10. Bamboo Orchid Arundina graminifolia294

Mammals

  1. Proboscis Monkey Nasalis larvatus2,717
  2. Bornean Orangutan Pongo pygmaeus2,588
  3. Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis2,221
  4. Southern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina1,468
  5. Prevost's Squirrel Callosciurus prevostii1,082
  6. Silvered Leaf Monkey Trachypithecus cristatus987
  7. Maroon Leaf Monkey Presbytis rubicunda919
  8. Asian Elephant Elephas maximus835
  9. Plantain Squirrel Callosciurus notatus737
  10. Pale Giant Squirrel Ratufa affinis670

Insects

  1. Giant Forest Ant Dinomyrmex gigas1,118
  2. Orange Skimmer Orthetrum testaceum883
  3. Great Eggfly Hypolimnas bolina855
  4. Common Parasol Neurothemis fluctuans795
  5. Asian Weaver Ant Oecophylla smaragdina660
  6. Pyrops whiteheadi654
  7. Moellenkampi Beetle Chalcosoma moellenkampi618
  8. Brown Pansy Junonia hedonia601
  9. Clipper Parthenos sylvia590
  10. Treehugger Tyriobapta torrida569

Spiders and kin

  1. Heteropoda boiei580
  2. Giant Golden Orbweaver Nephila pilipes440
  3. Asian Forest Scorpion Heterometrus longimanus340
  4. Asian Hermit Spider Nephilengys malabarensis308
  5. Long-horned Orbweaver Macracantha arcuata301
  6. Heteropoda borneensis200
  7. Argiope reinwardti173
  8. David Bowie Spider Heteropoda davidbowie128

Reptiles

  1. Common Water Monitor Varanus salvator2,107
  2. Bornean Keeled Pit Viper Tropidolaemus subannulatus1,961
  3. Green Crested Lizard Bronchocela cristatella1,393
  4. Saltwater Crocodile Crocodylus porosus1,271
  5. Flat-tailed House Gecko Hemidactylus platyurus1,242
  6. Borneo Forest Dragon Gonocephalus bornensis1,212
  7. Double-spotted Gecko Gekko monarchus854
  8. Borneo Skink Dasia vittata809
  9. Indian Garden Lizard Calotes versicolor618
  10. Rough Mabuya Eutropis rudis610

Amphibians

  1. File-eared Tree Frog Polypedates otilophus1,040
  2. Harlequin Tree Frog Rhacophorus pardalis999
  3. Dark-eared Tree Frog Polypedates macrotis853
  4. Black-spotted Rock Skipper Staurois guttatus797
  5. Long-nosed Horned Frog Pelobatrachus nasutus789
  6. Bornean Copper-cheeked Frog Hylarana raniceps779
  7. Common Southeast Asian Tree Frog Polypedates leucomystax642
  8. Green Paddy Frog Hylarana erythraea555
  9. Asian Common Toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus544
  10. Crested Toad Ingerophrynus divergens536

How a trip works

A trip has its own trail of lessons: meet six species, match them to new photos, then practice with four choices. Species you learn go into your Fieldbook, and starting a trip earns its Passport stamp. Your home place stays as it is.

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Species lists and counts from research-grade observations on iNaturalist, as of October 2026. KnowKi is not affiliated with the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation. Free, with no ads, no account and no purchases.