Jack-in-a-box has nothing over komodo-dragon-in-a-log.
Though, granted, you can play with the former a heck of a lot longer.
Images
Peru 2015 – Lotus Pads
Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)
Thinks Sally would be able to charge a lot more for her seashells if she sold them somewhere where they were less abundant.
Vietnamese Long Nosed Snake (Rhynchophis boulengeri)
What slight aerodynamic advantage they gain from the their pointy noise is lost by their scales pointing the wrong way.
They’ll figure it out eventually.
Alaotran gentle lemur (Hapalemur alaotrensis)
Suddenly realized that if the name of the band was “Alvin and the Chipmunks”, it must imply that either Alvin was not a chipmunk (if so, what was he?) or he was so egotistical that he counted himself twice.
Peru 2015 – Day Moth
I have no explanation for this one, so I’ll just describe what happened.
I was shooting the fish, which were up near the surface .. presumably because there’s more oxygen there and fewer predators than below.
Then I saw this moth flying near. It dropped in amongst the fish several times. At first, I thought that it has gotten nabbed and was having a hard time flying away, but it’s repeated behavior showed that it – for some reason – wanted to be there in the middle of all of the fish. Was it laying eggs? Did it want to be eaten? Maybe it was a reporter on assignment.
There’s no way to know. Sometimes all you can do is take the shot.
Yellow-blotched Palm-pitviper (Bothriechis aurifer)
Even though they’re named palm pitvipers, you probably shouldn’t keep one in your hand.
Exploratory biologists were liars.
Black and Gold Howler Monkey (Alouatta caraya)
Monkeys use their long tail for balance, so they don’t fall off of thin vines and branches.
Here you can see he’s holding on to a giant invisible rail.
Peru 2015 – Snake
With some snakes, if you pull on them, they’ll crawl on themselves. I’m not sure it’s good for the snakes to pull on them like this, but the naturalists didn’t object and I assume they know more about snakes than I do.
Barred Owl (Strix varia)
Many people think that this superb owl has bars, but in fact, it just perches on one.
Milky Eagle Owl (Bubo lacteus)
I got to see this superb owl in San Diego at the special bird breeding center (which they call the BBC but which is not involved with Doctor Who).
This is the first and only time I’ve seen a milky eagle owl.
Eagle Owl
It’s hard to photograph superb owls when it’s dark.
Screech Owl
A superb owl in the hand is worth two … well, practically anywhere else, really.
Not sure proverb writers are so obsessed with shrubbery.
Eagle Owl
It’s Superb Owl Sunday!
Prairie Dog performing As You Like It
He left a promise to return again
Within an hour, and pacing through the forest,
Chewing the food of sweet and bitter fancy
Andean Bear (Tremarctos ornatus)
I don’t always catch my balance just in the nick of time, but when I do, I pretend that I’m posing for a meme.
Peru 2015 – Bird
I couldn’t figure out what this bird was called from the online guides, but the guides seemed awfuly excited about it, so either it’s rare or it lays golden eggs.
Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)
You know you’ve crossed a line when an elephant z-snaps at you.
Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus)
There was a little girl,
Who had a little curl,
Right at the end of her tongue.
When she wanted honey,
She seldom spent her money,
But when she licked the hive, she was stung.
Peru 2015 – Hoatzin
Another view of the hoatzin from earlier. When they are chicks, they have claws on their wings so they can climb trees. There weren’t any of the young present when I was there though, so I have no proof of this.