Twenty species of lava lizard are recognized as distinct species. Ten of those species are endemic to the Galápagos Islands. They all have their particular coloring, shape and behavior depending on the island they are found. Those on dark, lava-rock islands tend to be darker than those on lighter sandy islands. This guy was on Santiago Island. I caught him mid-facial peel. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 105 macro lens, ISO 400, f/8 at 1/400th of a second.
This moose cow ventured out to the middle of the lake to dine on the nutrient-rich vegetation growing underwater. Although she certainly looks like I caught her eating something that she shouldn’t have been. Photographed in Baxter State Park in Maine. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm manual focus f/5.6 lens, ISO 200, f/8 at 1/350th of a second.
I took this portrait of a snow monkey, aka Japanese macaque, on my trip to Japan back in 2008. I was using state of the art equipment at the time. The monkey wasn’t impressed. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 200, f/3.2 at 1/125th of a second.
Many years ago I photographed these three mountain goat kids at Mount Evans in Colorado. The middle goat seems quite pleased to be sandwiched between the two siblings. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 200, f/8 at 1/640th of a second.
Always fun to watch lion cubs asserting themselves in displays of bravado. This one was snarling at his sibling — all in good fun while the parents were taking an afternoon nap. Photographed in the Masai Mara of Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/6.3 at 1/200th of a second.
Kind of like a squirrel, but not really (I mean, look at those elegant legs — nothing like our eastern greys). These guys are known as Central America’s gardeners because of their habit of burying nuts and seeds and then forgetting where they put them, inadvertently growing trees and other plants. I photographed this one many years ago on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 250, f/3.2 at 1/10th of a second.
Galápagos sea lions are virtually everywhere in the Galápagos archipelago. In some places, you have to be careful not to trip over them. Their ubiquity, as well as their playful and welcoming nature have earned them the title of “welcoming party” for the islands. In this instance, I was able to capture a tender moment between a mother and her pup. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/6.3 at 1/640th of a second.
All lemurs are acrobatic, but the eastern lesser bamboo lemur, also known as the eastern grey bamboo lemur, takes it to another level. These guys are quick and athletic and can disappear in an instant into the thick forest. This one hung around just long enough for me to grab a few shots before it bounded off, looking for bamboo I suppose, in Madagascar’s Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 80-200mm lens (at 120mm) ISO 400, f/2.8 at 1/125th of a second.
It’s been quite a while since I’ve been to Bosque Del Apache in New Mexico. This image is from back in 2009. Two snow geese coming in for a landing. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 250mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/500th of a second.
The red colobus monkey was one of eight species of primate I photographed on my first trip to Uganda. Interesting fact about these monkeys — they will often eat charcoal or clay to help combat the cyanide that exists in some of the leaves they eat. This “medicinal cure” appears to be passed down from mother to child. Just one of the adaptations to their completely vegetarian, but extremely varied diet. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/125th of a second.