Hairy elephant-relative with baby
This bizarre animal, resembling a rodent, in Kenya is a southern tree hyrax (Dendrohyrax arboreus). Although the size of rabbit, the hyrax is actually closely related to the elephant and belongs to the Afrotheria clade that includes not only elephants, but manatees, sengis, tenrecs, and aardvarks. Four species of hyrax survive today. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Click to see more photos of...
Find the chameleon playing dead
Somewhere in this photo is the horned leaf chameleon (Brookesia superciliaris) playing dead. Native to Madagascar, Brookesia chameleons are among the world’s tiniest reptiles. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. To learn more about Brookesia chameleons, including just how small they really are, and see more photos: Brookesia chameleons. If you can’t find the chameleon, it is revealed...
Activism: CREDO joins the fight against the Belo Monte dam
Note: mongabay.com does not endorse the action below, but believes its readers may be interested in taking action or discussing the issue in comments. Credo, the progressive for-profit cell phone company, has thrown its hat in the ring in the environmental activists’ battle against the Belo Monte dam, joining International Rivers, Amazon Watch, and James Cameron. Credo now urges its activists to sign a petition, which states in...
Rarely seen: a baby bat
A baby bat, referred to as a pup, in Brazil. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Click to see more photos of this bat pup.
Elephant pair at the Chobe River
As the day ends numerous herds of Africa elephants (Loxodonta africana) come down to the Chobe River to drink and socialize. African elephants are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. They are threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and human-elephant conflict. On the positive side, African elephant populations are viewed as increasing on the continent. Photo by: Tiffany Roufs. Click to see more photos of...
Orphaned baby sloth
Orphaned baby three-toed sloth in the village of the Trio indigenous tribe in Suriname. The sloth was clinging to a stuffed panda bear. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Click to see more photos of the baby...
Wild ginger
Wild ginger flower on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Click to see more photos of wild ginger.
Songbirds to eat
While attention in the bushmeat trade is often given to mammals, birds–such as these songbirds for sale as food in Laos–are also eaten in many parts of the world. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Click to see more photos of the wildlife trade in Laos. Related Article: Laos Emerges as Key Source in Asia’s Illicit Wildlife...
Face to face
The Wolf Guenon (Cercopithecus wolfi) is native to central Africa. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Click to see more photos of the Wolf Guenon.
New Guinea from above
Winding river makes its way to the sea in the lowland rainforests of west New Guinea. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Click to see more photos of New...
Golden-fronted woodpecker
A lovely golden-fronted woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons) in Guatemala. This species is also present in Texas and Oklahoma of the US. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Click to see more photos of...
Woolly monkey hanging out
A woolly monkey hangs out in Amacayacu National Park, Colombia. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler . Click to see more photos of woolly monkeys.
Elephant in utero
Just 3 months into development, this image captures a rare look at a male Asian elephant in utero: showing off already its telltale trunk and big ears. Elephant mothers spend 22 months in pregnancy before giving birth. The elephant photographer here, named George, is now 6 months old and doing well. Asian elephants are classified as Endangered by the IUCN Red List. They are threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and human and wildlife...
Founder of mongabay.com stumbles upon undescribed species in Indonesia
According to a New Guinea beetle specialist, an apparently undescribed species of Tmesisternus longhorn beetle spotted by mongabay.com founder Rhett A. Butler in West Papua. If you have information on this possibly new species, please contact us. Photo by: Rhett A....
The eagle owl
The newest resident of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Central Park Zoo in New York City is Flaco, an eagle owl (Bulbo bulbo). Native to Europe and Asia, eagle owls are one of the world’s biggest owl species with a wingspan up to 79 inches. The species is considered Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. Photo by Julie Larsen...
From space: Nile at night
The Nile River Delta as seen from space at night. Photo courtesy of NASA.
Just how big is a giant earthworm?
A bottlecap allows one to see the true size, er length, of this giant earthworm photographed in Suriname. We haven’t been able to identify the species in this image. If you have ideas, please contact us. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler . Click to see more photos from...
Camel and government-built yurts
A camel stands in front of government-built yurts near Lake Karakul in the Xinjiang Province of north-western China. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler . Click to see more photos from Lake...
Rehabilitating a kinkajou
A kinkajou (Potos flavus)–also known as a honey bear or cat monkey–being rehabilitated in Costa Rica. Despite it’s many creative monikers, the kinkajou is most closely related to raccoons and coatis in the eclectic and omnivorous Procyonidae family. The kinkajou is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, although it is thought the population, which spreads from Central to South America, is in decline. Photo...
Masked frog croaking
Masked frog (Smilisca phaeota) croaking in a pool in Costa Rica. This species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. Photo by: Rhett Butler .
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