Incredible!
Upupa epops- Hoopoe Bird
The Hoopoe bird can be found throughout large parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Due to their strong facial muscles they are capable of opening their bills in the ground when hunting for insects. The Hoopoe also enjoys sunbathing and taking dust baths. Their favorite foods are crickets, locusts, beetles, earwigs, ant lions, cicadas, ants and other bugs as well.
Photographer unknown.
Moloch horridus - Horny Mountain Devil
The Horny Mountain Devil lives in Australia, largely in the western and central deserts. They have spikes and camouflage to protect them. They can also lower their head to reveal large bumps that resemble a head. These lizards are slow moving, they grow up to 8 inches and live up to 20 years. Like many lizards they are insectivores, and can they collect dew which they are able to channel to their mouths.
Photo © pojic All Rights Reserved
Theloderma corticale - Mossy Frog
These mossy looking frogs live in tropical and subtropical forests, marshes, and rocky terrains in Northern Vietnam, and maybe some parts of China. These tree frogs are unusual not only due to their appearance, but also because when threatened they feign death. As with all tree frogs they are insectivores. The moss like bumps covering them is for camouflage and are somewhat rigid, they do have soft underbellies though. Overall an amazing creature.
Photo © Joel Sartore All Rights Reserved
Lychee Stink Bug Nymph - Tesseratoma (papillosa)
This specific specimen may not be a T. papillosa, but if not it is closely related. They are generally considered pests in China, as they feed on Lychee leaves and harm crops of those trees. The nymphs are brightly colored and grow to about 1-1 1/2 inches. The adults are much more drab, but can fly. When threaten these beautiful bugs release pungent smelling secretions to scare off predators.
Photo © Rundstedt B. Rovillos All Rights Reserved.
(Piebald) Mussurana - Clelia clelia
The Mussurana grows 5-6 feet long on average, and are slender yet powerful snakes. Mussurana tend to inhabit South American (Guatemala, Argentina) forests that border bodies of water, and are known to cross over water. Mussurana are mildly venomous constrictors, they inject venom with rear facing fangs. It is believed they may be immune to other snake venoms, and they consume birds, lizards, and many other, much more venomous snakes.
Photo © BlackPearlReptiles
Egretta rufescens - Reddish Egret
The Reddish Egret is an active hunter of swamps and marshes. They live in the Gulf Coast, Central America, The Bahamas, The Caribbean, and Mexico. There are about 1,500-2,000 breeding pairs in the US. The Reddish Egret’s wingspan is 46-49inches, and they only weigh up to 2 pounds. They have a very unusual feeding ritual as well. They are listed somewhere between Least Concern and Near Threatened.
Photo by American Bird Conservancy
Falco sparverius - American Kestrel (Sparrow Falcon)
The American Kestrel is the smallest and most common falcon in North America. Their summer breeding range extends into Alaska and throughout most of Canada, and they live year round throughout the US, Central, and South America. Kestrels have up to a two foot wingspan, and they are slightly sexually dimorphic with females being generally larger, and having less colorful plumage. Kestrels are basically the cutest falcons in America.
Photo © Seth Reams
