Green iguanas are strong climbers that spend much of their lives in trees, often choosing branches that overhang rivers and streams. If threatened, they can plunge into the water below and swim away with surprising speed, using their powerful tails to propel themselves through the current. This one, as you can see, had a little nip taken out of that tail. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 6400, f/5.6 at 1/250th of a second.
I captured this guy years ago in May, when bull elk are growing a new set of antlers, one of the fastest-growing tissues in the animal kingdom. At the same time, they’re shedding their thick winter coats, leaving them looking a bit ragged as they transition into summer and prepare for the fall rut months ahead. Despite the appearance, however, I think this guy was feeling pretty good about himself. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 102mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1320th of a second.
The beisa oryx is exceptionally well adapted to life in arid environments, able to survive for long periods without drinking by obtaining moisture from the plants it eats. In places like Samburu, it often remains active during the cooler hours of morning and evening, when the desert landscape begins to come alive. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 560, f/5.6 at 1/250th of a second.
Mantled howler monkeys are best known for their deep, booming calls, which can carry for several miles through the rainforest and help neighboring groups avoid unnecessary conflicts. Despite their large size and powerful voices, they spend much of the day resting and feeding on leaves, conserving energy from their relatively low-calorie diet. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1400, f/5.6 at 1/320th of a second.
The collared trogon is a quiet, sit-and-wait hunter found throughout the forests of Central and South America, including the Tuichi River region of Bolivia. Rather than constantly searching for food, it often remains motionless on a perch before darting out to capture insects or pluck fruit. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 500, f/5 at 1/60th of a second.
Coppery titi monkeys are agile canopy dwellers that spend nearly their entire lives in the treetops, moving through the forest with quick, deliberate bounds. Their long tails provide balance as they navigate even the thinnest branches. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1600, f/5.6 at 1/320th of a second.
My first and only bandicoot sighting, the long-nosed bandicoot is a nocturnal marsupial that spends much of the night probing the ground with its sensitive snout in search of insects, worms, and other invertebrates. In the forests of the Atherton Tablelands of eastern Australia, these solitary foragers play an important ecological role, turning over soil and leaf litter as they feed, helping to aerate the forest floor and disperse nutrients. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm f/5.6 manual focus lens, ISO 200, f/5.6 at 1/60th of a second, Nikon SB-600 flash.
The Patagonian gray fox often uses low shrubs and dense vegetation for shelter, resting during the day while remaining alert for potential threats. An opportunistic omnivore, it feeds on everything from rodents and birds to insects, fruit, and carrion, helping it thrive in the challenging environment of southern Patagonia. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 300mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/3200th of a second.
The ringed kingfisher is the largest kingfisher in the Americas, often seen patrolling rivers and wetlands from a high perch or in direct flight just above the water. It hunts primarily fish, plunging headfirst into the water before returning to a perch to swallow its catch. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 5000, f/5.6 at 1/2500th of a second.
The fanaloka, also known as the Malagasy civet, is a nocturnal carnivore found only in Madagascar’s forests. It spends its nights hunting small vertebrates, insects, and other prey, relying on keen senses and camouflage to move through the darkness largely unseen. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 92mm) ISO 200, f/5 at 1/60th of a second, Nikon SB-600 flash units.