Nature dazzles us with beauty and impels us to stare in wonder at the spectacular wildlife found in this world. Animal photography requires skill, patience, and adaptability for the unknown. Some photos are stunning while others are more curious and posed due to shooting wildlife in captivity. Here are 29 rare and exotic animal photographs, from the bizarre to the beautiful.
Ocelot
(image credits: Walan Baker,Telegraph)
These ocelot kittens will grow to twice the size of an average house cat. They have deadly sharp fangs, fitting for a carnivore, are nocturnal, and enjoy the water. Their sleek coats have been considered extremely valuable, so the “Painted Leopard” was hunted and killed for their fur until the feline was classified as an endangered species. Ocelots are now protected and have moved to “least concern” on the conservation status list.
Sea Creatures
(image credits: Telegraph,National Geographic,oddee,National Geographic,Telegraph,Telegraph)
The bright orange fuzzy animal is a rare Hairy Frogfish from Indonesia. Some frogfish are experts at camouflage and creep along the seabed in search of food. The brownish sea creature is a Banded Toadfish and can be found in Western Australia. On the middle left, that scaly and creepy fanged fish is a Snakefish. They can survive out of water for three days and can devour new ecosystems where they moved. This creature also eats its young and can grow up to three feet long. The blue and yellow sea species is a Blue Ribbon Eel and can be found near the Fiji Islands. These eels can change sex. The Viperfish, the black scary sea creature with needle-like fangs, is one of the most vicious predators hunting in the dark depths of the ocean. It lures prey close with a Photosphore, a light producing organ, then snaps and chomps up its victim. The green and yellow Leafy Seadragon manages quite easily to hide in the calm cold water of Australia.
Primates
(image credits: Telegraph,Telegraph,Telegraph,Telegraph,Discovery)
The Pygmy Marmoset is a native to the rain forest canopies and is the smallest true monkey, weighing in at only 4.9 oz at maximum. Can primates love? You bet they can. In the upper right, a baby Bornean Orangutan kisses its mother. The yellowish-white and brown Sifaka Lemurs are originally found on the island of Madagascar. In captivity, the baby Sifaka clings to its mother’s back. The long-nosed Jimmy Durante of primate species is known as the Proboscis Monkey. Its all-famous nose can reach seven inches long. In the bottom left photograph, the big-eyed Tarsier stares out of its sanctuary in the Philippines. Tarsier primate species can be found in Southeast Asia. The black Bearded Saki primate will grow a bushy beard and thick bangs. When alarmed, the Saki twitches its tail and screams out a high-pitched whistle.
Too Cute To Be Ugly Monkeys?
(image credits: Julie Dermansky,Urban Jungle,wikipedia,Telegraph,Stefan Koeder)
In the upper left photo, this unique blue-eyed monkey dwells in a Bangkok zoo. However this poor little monkey is dead and stuffed, located now in the zoo’s museum. The Ring-tailed Lemur, like all lemurs, are native to the island of Madagascar. Their long bushy tails are ringed with 13 to 15 alternating black and white stripes, but always end with a black tip. In the upper right picture, the bearded monkey is called a Lion-tailed Macaque. It is easily distinguished from other primates by the silver-white mane that circles its head from its cheeks down to its chin. That bizarre little primate in the bottom left is called the Aye-aye and weighs a mere four pounds. Believe it or not, this beady-eyed beast was once thought to be magical and to bring death wherever it was seen. Therefore, Aye-aye would be killed on sight. It is no wonder that the monkey in the bottom right photograph is called an Emperor Mustache Tamarin. These primates live deep in the rain forest.
Photographs of Dinosaur Descendants
(image credits: Q8.classic,imgur,rocketboom,National Geograhpic,oddee,oddee)
This bright green and orange frog from the rain forest seems harmless enough as it dives in the water. So does the red and blue “Spiderman” lizard (Mwanza Flat Headed Agama lizard) but these beautiful species are descendants of the dinosaurs. That becomes a bit more evident with the gaping mouth and bulging eyes of the Hatchetfish which seem to gawk at us with a horrified expression. The Frilled Shark, though, was once thought extinct from the Jurassic period. This primitive shark dwells in the sea and was found off the coast of Japan. On the bottom left, the Giant Leaf-tailed Gecko stands with mouth wide open in a scream. That is what this little gecko does when it is upset in its rain forest home. The neon green serpent is as venomous as it is striking. Known as Gumprecht’s Green Pit Viper, this snake is endemic to Southeast Asia.
Pictures of Odd and Exotic Animals
(image credits: National Geographic,National Geographic,Telegraph,Telegraph,Telegraph,Telegraph)
The top left photo which appears as pupils staring at us, is actually a stunning camouflage on an African moth. The Emperor Speckled Moth frightens away predators by the “eyes” on its wings. Step carefully in the Namib Desert because this venomous viper blends against the ground (upper right). Péringuey’s Adder is an ambush hunter that buries itself beneath the surface of the sand and waits for prey. In the middle left photo, a very rare octopus swims in the depths of the ocean. It is called the Dumbo Octupus due to its big Dumbo-like ears. The “furry” blond lobster is called the Yeti Lobster but it is not truly a lobster. This creature from the depths of the South Pacific Ocean is more closely related to the hermit crab. In the bottom left photo, the Rainbow Jellyfish seems to glow. Yet the creature discovered near Australia is a master of illusion; the glow is actually light reflecting off the jellyfish’s cilia. Lastly, the bright Guineafowl Puffer fish can be found in the Pacific Ocean. Don’t be fooled by how cute it appears when it inflates past 19 inches around. Puffer fish are the second most poisonous vertebrate in the world.



