Located between Indonesia and Australia, well within the so-called Coral Triangle, Timor-Leste is one of the youngest and least-known countries in the world, after having regained its independence in 2002.

The sea around Timor-Leste reaches depths of more than 3,000 metres, and all sorts of fascinating underwater habitats can be found along its coast, most still in pristine condition.

On land, mountains soar to almost 3,000 metres above sea level, and mysterious forests can still be found in many of the remote areas. These are, for the people who live in their vicinity, sacred places.

“Timor-Leste: from the sea to the mountains” takes us on an unprecedented in-depth photographic journey through the nature of this country and its outstanding biodiversity.

Seven years in the making, this book includes photographs of more than 900 species of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and other marine animals, all of wild specimens in their natural habitats in the waters of Timor-Leste, as well as more than 100 species of birds, reptiles and mammals, many of them endemic. It is also an account of the experiences, often adventurous, of travelling to some of the most secluded places in this nation.

Aimed at raising awareness about this exceptional biological richness and fostering engagement with conservation efforts both locally and abroad, this book is also an invaluable resource for scuba divers, birdwatchers and the academic community. Species are identified by common and scientific names in their respective pages, and there's a comprehensive species index at the end organized by taxonomy, which also includes the detailed location of each photo.

The author, Gerardo C. Ângelo was born in Lisbon, Portugal, and pursued a career in engineering and management. Aside from these endeavours, Gerardo has long been fascinated by the natural world and has travelled worldwide in search of elusive species. Living in Timor-Leste for an extended period brought him the opportunity to thoroughly observe its intriguing natural features and a vast array of marine and terrestrial species.

All photos were taken by Gerardo C. Ângelo. This exciting new book can be purchased here. All other inquiries can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.