Photoblog-wildlife News

Humpback whale breaching in Alaska

Humpback breaching in Alaska's Inside Passage. Photos by Rhett A. Butler 2007. It is still unclear why whales breach. Theories range from social signaling (danger, dominance, courting), stunning prey, to…

The world’s largest parrot

Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus). The Hyacinth Macaw of central South America is the world's largest parrot (in terms of length--the Kakapo of New Zealand is heavier). The species, which is…

Beautiful, but unknown nymph

This is an insect nymph I spotted in Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar. I have no idea what it is. The photo doesn't do it justice: the colors were incredible.

Shoebill

Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex). Photo taken by Rhett A. Butler in 2006 Uganda's wetland ecosystems are increasingly under pressure from industrial agriculture and plantation development. Local protests have thwarted several projects…

Hidden jewels of the rainforest: leafhoppers

Costa Rica Over the past couple of years I have unintentionally encountered an incredible diversity of leafhoppers, small insects that most people probably don't notice despite their incredible coloration. Beyond…

Eye-gouging tree frog

Gladiator tree frog (Hyla rosenbergi), Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica The Gladiator tree frog (Hyla rosenbergi) is named for the fighting behavior of males among some populations. The male Gladiator tree…

Christmas chameleon

Male panther chameleon near Maroantsetra, Madagascar The male panther chameleons found near Maroantsetra, Madagascar are known for their striking red-and-green coloration, especially during the breeding season when they are competing…

Owl butterfly

Owl butterfly (Caligo idomeneus) The Owl butterfly (Caligo idomeneus) is a large tropical butterfly characterized by eye-spots which are meant to startle or confuse predators, providing an opportunity for escape.…

Lion cubs in Tanzania

Lion cubs in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. While lions may seem abundant when one visits a national park in Kenya, Tanzania, or South Africa, Africa's lion population has plunged by…

Black Howler Monkey in Belize

Black Howler Monkey in the Community Baboon Sanctuary in Belize. With males averaging 25 pounds and females 14 pounds, the Yucatan Black Howler (Alouatta pigra) is the largest of the…

Turquoise and green chameleon

Male panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) in Madagascar. Major banks and shipping companies are facilitating the destruction of Madagascar's species-rich rainforests, but ultimately it is consumers in China, the United States,…

Giant monkey frog

Giant monkey frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor). The giant monkey frog of Peru is known for its mind-altering skin secretions. Shamans in the Amazon rain forest have used this species in hunting…

Baby gorilla

An orphaned gorilla near Loango National Park in Gabon. The baby gorilla was being treated for a cold at a rehabilitation facility on Evengue island, near Loango National Park. It…

A beautiful moth

I have no idea of the identity of this species of moth, but it made an impression when I came across it in Las Cruces, Costa Rica in 2008. More…

Jaguar in the Pantanal

Jaguar in the Pantanal. This jaguar came a little too close for comfort on a trip to the Pantanal this past April. The big cat emerged from a swampy area…

‘Muppet’ bird

Male scale-crested pygmy tyrant in Costa Rica, 2008 The Scale-crested pygmy tyrant (Lophotriccus pileatus) ranges from Costa Rica to Peru and Venezuela. It is found in subtropical montane and tropical…

Dancing lemurs

These male sifakas are in the midst of a territorial dispute. The dominant male is chasing off another male Verreaux's sifaka from southern Madagascar is known as the dancing lemur…

Ocellated Turkey

The Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) is a species of turkey found in the Yucatán Peninsula, including parts of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. Ocellated Turkeys are considerably smaller than any of…
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