tshahan's Favourites

White Rock lake, Sunset Bay
Showing Off Those Breeding Colors
I love this time of year when the wood ducks are in full glory. So happy he came all the way to where I was standing on the edge of the lake. In the sunlight too. Probably looking for a family tossing bread. Which I don't do. Got some good closeups before he moved on down the shore.

About 20 Caprella alaskana (Alaskan Skeleton Shrimp), the largest 1" tall, entered the tank housing baby Pinto Abalone at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center with the sea water flushing through the tank. So I won't call them "captive." They look like little stick insects doing a dance. I've only seen these once before at the marina, and those were beige. Both times they have been in small groups.

Bamboo Pit Viper (Trimeresurus gramineus Shaw, 1802).

Habitat: It is found in bamboo groves and forests, usually near streams.

The range of this species has been restricted to southern India. It is also rarely seen near Harishchandragad and some other mountain ranges of Western Ghats aka Sahyadris in Maharashtra.

SURPRISED TO SEE SUCH A CASUAL YAWN, THANKS TO OUR CAMERAS THESE DAYS, THEY HAPPEN TO HELP IN SUCH MOMENTS, TAKEN WITH CANON 100-400MM SO HAD PROBLEMS WITH DEPTH OF FIELD.

'Sleeping beauty'

Resting in a depression on a large vine (lliana) along the trail. It is here for hours, until the rain poured.

Inasmuch as its venom is lethal, the viper is quite vulnerable in this passive state - can easily be picked up and killed by locals, especially for food in this region. In fact, this viper species, like the gaboon, is a popular animal protein source.
Being found behind, or beyond the cutline of the forest reserve determines survival - life, or death for the spectacular wildlife.

Espécie endêmica da região e relativamente frequente na vegetação ciliar de riachos encachoeirados nas encostas íngremes da Serra do Mar, sendo mais raramente encontrado em vegetação herbácea em áreas de brejos e alagados.
Indivíduo fêmea