ANIMALS

Photographer Takes Pictures of an Amazing Creature Cunningly Concealed in the Sand

When someone calls themselves an animal lover, it means they like wildlife in general, but not all species, especially reptiles and amphibians. When it comes to snakes, people often think of their scary eyes, long tongue, and venomous fangs. Residents in some regions even see this creature as a symbol of evil and poison.

In fact, the snake is an elusive animal with incredible abilities that help them survive under harsh environmental conditions. That’s why it represents rebirth, transformation, and immortality in many cultures. The serpent has been associated with some of the oldest rituals known to mankind. If you look at this creature closer, you’ll realize how stunning it is!

One of their amazing skills to avoid enemies and protect themselves is the ability to blend in with the surroundings. Let’s meet the Peringuey’s adder, one of the smallest vipers in the world to see how well it adapts to the desert where it lives!

Source: MARISA ISHIMATSU

Marisa Ishimatsu, a Japanese photographer and herpetologist, travels around the world during her vacations to catch beautiful moments of reptiles and amphibians. Lately, she went to Nambia with her herpetologist photographer friends to find the six species of vipers, including the Peringuey’s adder.

Living in desert, this viper species buries itself under the sand. The photographers had to hire the tour agency The Naturalist Collection and went to the destination with their guide Dayne Braine.

“As the sand is so soft, you can often see tracks showing where the snakes have traversed from one bush to another overnight,” Ishimatsu explained. “If you’re very good at tracking (like Dayne is), you can follow the tracks and find the snake at the end of them. It sounds simple, but the sands move so much that the tracks are blown away soon after they’re made.”

Source: MARISA ISHIMATSU

Ishimatsu and her team tried their best to photograph the reptiles without scaring them or placing strain on them. With the help of an experienced tour guide, they managed to track the snakes and catch several stunning pics. One of the photos astounded everyone with the beauty of a sneaky Peringuey’s adder.

“This has been my most successful photo to date,” Ishimatsu shared. “I’ve been a photographer for over 10 years, largely of reptiles and amphibians. I have photographed hundreds of snakes from all over the world … There’s something about this shot that inspires a strong reaction. I think it’s like one of those Magic Eye puzzles — it takes a minute for you to see the snake’s eyes, and then when you do see them, it’s startling to realize it’s staring right at you.”

Source: MARISA ISHIMATSU

You may feel confused when looking at the photo for the first time. It’s not easy to figure out what appears in the image. However, once you spot the viper, you can’t take your eyes off him.

The group ensured the creature was fine after they’d done their job. They finally caught pictures of all six of the snakes they planned to find, but the pics of the Peringuey’s adder were the best.

Source: MARISA ISHIMATSU

Ishimatsu hopes people can see the charm and wonder of snakes in her photos. “I hope that this photo helps people appreciate how special snakes are,” Ishimatsu said. “Peringuey’s adders are perfectly adapted to their environment, and they, like all snakes, are worth protecting. I hope people can see the beauty in snakes, even if they find them frightening. With a little respect and understanding, we can coexist.”

What do you think of this viper? What’s your impression of snakes in general? Let us know your thoughts in the comment segment below, and don’t forget to hit the subscribe button to get more fascinating photos and ideas from us!

ANIMALS

Amazing Video of Unseen Ocean Creatures in the Ningaloo Canyons

The Schmidt Ocean Institute recently explored the Ningaloo Canyons on the western coast of Australia using a robotic underwater vehicle called the ROV Sebastian. Check out the amazing video of what they discovered in the deep parts of the Indian Ocean.

More info: Youtube

ANIMALS

These Pics Are Art and the Artists Are Insects

Flying insects move so quickly that they are hard to follow, but new technology and some smart ideas have helped Spanish photographer Xavi Bou do just that. After spending 10 years focusing on birds in flight for his Ornithographies project, he turned his attention to insects.

For Entomographies, he uses high-speed video footage taken by Adrian Smith, an insect expert at North Carolina State University, to study and record how insects move. Bou then picks multiple frames and combines them into single images that show the fast movements of one or more insects through space and time.

With Smith’s help, Bou has captured the aerial tricks of wasps, the jumps of leafhoppers, and the fluttering of butterflies in amazing detail. He hopes that by doing this, he can make people more aware of the decline in important insect populations around the world.

1. Zebra longwing

This butterfly, which is common in many areas of the Americas, really fits its name. It can fly very high with just a few flaps of its large wings.