Photography

Flickr group: pic of the day – Nile crocodile Jun 10 2008

Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) are freshwater reptiles, closely related to alligators. According to the World Conservation Union, they are found widely in Africa.

They are the largest of African crocodilians, measuring between 3.3 and 5m (11 and 16ft), although they have been known to reach to 6m (20ft). Adult males weigh in at around 500kg (1 100lb), but can also reach up to 909kg (2 000lb).

This photo was taken by our Earth-Touch Flickr group member Jonas van de Voorde, using a Canon EOS 350D, in Pendjari National Park in Benin, West Africa.

It is our Earth-Touch Flickr group “picture of the day”.

Image © Jonas Van de Voorde 2008

Photography

Flickr group: pic of the day – capybara Jun 9 2008

The capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) is the world’s largest living rodent. Adult capybaras can grow up to 130cm (4.3ft), and weigh up to 65kg (140lb). They are herbivores, living on grasses and aquatic plants.

According to the World Conservation Union, capybaras are native to Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

This photo was taken by our Earth-Touch Flickr group member Luansol, using a Canon Rebel XTi, Canon Zoom Lens EF 75-300mm.

It is our Earth-Touch Flickr group “picture of the day”.

Image © Luansol 2008

Photography

Flickr group: pic of the day – leopard Jun 6 2008

Leopards (Panthera pardus), according to the World Conservation Union, are found widely in Africa, as well as parts of Asia and the Middle East. They are the smallest of the cats of the Panthera genus, which includes lions, tigers and jaguars.

They are classified as belonging to the “Least Concern” category, despite widespread loss of habitat. This is attributed to their adaptable nature and opportunistic hunting nature. They live in a wide range of habitats, from sub-tropical forest to desert.

This photo was taken by our Earth-Touch Flickr group member Colin (AKA Fotomaker123), using a Canon EOS 20D, in the Masai Mara, Kenya.

It is our Earth-Touch Flickr group “picture of the day”.

Image © Colin / Fotomaker 123 2008

Photography

Flickr group: pic of the day – southern yellow-billed hornbill Jun 5 2008

Southern yellow-billed hornbills (Tockus leucomelas) are medium-sized birds, with distinctive large yellow bills and red skin around their eyes.

Their diet consists of seeds, small insects, spiders and scorpions, which they forage from the ground. According to the World Conservation Union, they are native to Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

This photo was taken by our Earth-Touch Flickr group member Ian Baxter (AKA Mozambique-Moments), using a Panasonic Lumix FZ 20, at Nkulu picnic site in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

It is our Earth-Touch Flickr group “picture of the day”.

Image © Ian Baxter / Mozambique-Moments 2008

Photography

Flickr group: pic of the day – Texas tree lizard Jun 4 2008

Texas tree lizards (Urosaurus ornatus), also known as an ornate tree lizard, are thorny lizards which feed mostly on insects and insect larvae. They perch on rocks and trees, and are territorial, with a male and female (sometimes two females) occupying an area.

According to the World Conservation Union, they are native only to Mexico and the United States.

This photo was taken by our Earth-Touch Flickr group member Margaret (AKA Sunshadows), using a Canon Powershot SD750, in Austin, Texas, United States.

It is our Earth-Touch Flickr group “picture of the day”.

Image © Margaret / Sunshadows 2008

Photography

Flickr group: pic of the day – armadillo Jun 3 2008

Armadillos (Euphractus sexcinctus) are small mammals with distinctive bony shells covering most of their bodies. According to the World Conservation Union, they are native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Suriname and Uruguay.

Armadillos are close relatives of anteaters and sloths, and their diet consists of insects, worms, spiders, plant matter and fruit.

This photo was taken by our Earth-Touch Flickr group member Jose Hernández (AKA Jose_OHM), using a Canon Eos 350D Digital.

It is our Earth-Touch Flickr group “picture of the day”.

Image © Jose Hernández 2008

Photography

Flickr group: pic of the day – flap-neck chameleon Jun 2 2008

Flap-neck chameleons (Chamaeleo dilepis) are found widely in Southern Africa. They are named for the small protrusion or flap at the base of the heads. They raise this flap when threatened, in order to appear larger.

These photos were taken by our Earth-Touch Flickr group member Gregor Rohrig, using a Nikon D200, near Upington, in South Africa.

The top one is our Earth-Touch Flickr group “picture of the day”, while the second one provides a clearer view of the chameleon.

Gregor said: “I took these pictures with a wide angle lens (10-20mm) and think that the chameleon reacted to its reflection, as it constantly tried to follow the lens.”

Images © Gregor Rohrig 2008

Photography

Flickr group: pic of the day – red-winged blackbird May 30 2008

Red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) are native to the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.

Their diet consists mostly of seeds, and occasionally insects and berries. Interestingly, when they migrate north they travel in single-sex flocks. The females are mottled brown and white, unlike the distinctive black and red of the male that the species is named for.

This photo was taken by our Earth-Touch Flickr group member Ian Clamp, using a Canon EOS 5D, in Myakka River State Park in Florida, United States.

It is our Earth-Touch Flickr group “picture of the day”.

Image © Ian Clamp 2008

Photography

Flickr group: pic of the day – rockhopper penguin May 29 2008

Rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) are native to Argentina, Australia, Chile, the Falkland Islands, Uruguay and New Zealand.  There are also vagrant populations in Antarctica and Brazil.

They belong to the group known as crested penguins, because of the prominent, bright feathers on their heads.

According to the World Conservation Union, these birds are classified as “vulnerable” because the population appears to have decreased by 30% over the last 30 years.

This photo was taken by our Earth-Touch Flickr group member Zoe (AKA Sprigglet), using a Canon EOS 300D.

It is our Earth-Touch Flickr group “picture of the day”.

Image © Zoe / Sprigglet 2008

Photography

Flickr group: pic of the day – pitcher plant May 28 2008

Pitcher plants, also known as monkey cups, are carnivorous plants. They use their unusual, deep cup-shaped leaves to trap insects. The insides of the leaves are often slippery or sticky, preventing the insects’ escape.

The insects are initially attracted by the foliage colours and/or the smell of the plants’ sap. Once inside and exhausted by their attempts to escape, the insect often drowns in liquid in the bottom of the cup.

This photo of a lowland type of Nepenthes was taken by our Earth-Touch Flickr group member Arpita Basu, using a Nikon D80.

It is our Earth-Touch Flickr group “picture of the day”.

Arpita said: “This is an insectivorous plant. As incredible as it sounds, this plant actually does eat bugs. They grow in soil which is not so rich in minerals, so they make up for this by eating insects.”

Image © Arpita Basu 2008