Caterpillar eyes; a Giant Western Crane Fly; a Great Blue Heron eating an eel; a crow scolding a squirrel for stealing his nut; colorful snails trespassing over barnacles; a close look at sea star tube feet
Anoles are members of the Iguanid family, over 600 species of which inhabit the Americas. The common green anole is native to America and often displays a jagged white stripe along it back.  Males often display a distinctive ink throat flap when vying for territory. The crested anole is distinguished by the prominent crest along its head and back. I have not yet found another photo of this lizard showing those black spots behind the eye and behind the ear of the animal. Both green and crested anoles can change colors from green to brown; the transformation primarily dependent on emotion but also appears to change in relation to temperature as well.
For some real reptilian rhythm go here:Â Lizard Dance!
During a recent trip to New Orleans I found myself stranded in the downtown French Quarter of the city. Since I have an infinitely greater preference for wildlife safaris over cuisine I was chagrined not to be able to get out into bayous and swamps of the place; some of the best times of my life have been spent sloshing around swamps. Well, you can’t have everything. But the determined wildlife photographer can always find something somewhere so I took my camera out along the backyard fence lines of some homes in the area and, of course, I found something. At first I thought I was seeing nothing but variations of the common green anole, Anolis carolinenesis. After a bit of research, however, I discovered that I had also captured a crested anole, Anolis cristatellus, on film as well. Both are common reptiles found throughout the Southeast but the crested anole is an introduced species from the Caribbean. Combined with their ability to change colors these active, territorial, and aggressive reptiles very interesting to observe – and welcome relief from the frantic noise of downtown New Orleans.
There are many things I miss about Afghanistan. I grew to love the people, the land, and the wildlife. I have fond memories of that country. Reptiles always hold a special place in my heart, however, and the arid Afghan climate gives home to a plethora of these beautiful animals. Add to this the fact that most of the country’s reptiles, and wildlife in general, have not been thoroughly cataloged and you have a herpetologist’s paradise. Some day, when the insane people of the this world are defeated, this land will be a natural history and historical paradise. But for now – keep your head down.
The Afghan Tortoise is surprisingly common in parts of the county.  Sold in American pet stores as a Russian Tortoise the two cute specimens in this photos are definitely Afghans – lovingly raised by American GIs outside of Qalat. HOOAH! Saw Scaled Vipers are ubiquitous – and dangerous – venomous serpents found throughout the country. Due to the number of time it bites humans saw scales are rated as one of the most dangerous snakes in the world. This strikingly beautiful specimen posed for me in Kandahar. The largest snake I encountered over there is the Steppe Racer. Easily over 6 feet long this non-venomous snake gets a lot of attention when you run across one of them. They seem to prefer in the northern to northeastern part of the country. For lack of a good common name I’ll call this Erimias fasciata a Striped Racer. Common, colorful, and fast I usually found them in southern and central Afghanistan. Agamas lizards, as they do in the resto fo the workl, predominate in Afghanistan. Although they do not possess the extreme talents of its chameleon cousins, agama lizards actually do change colors. The little guy in my hand proved this right in front of my eyes. The prettiest lizard I discovered over there is the purple throat agama I found in great numbers around Zabul province. For more on the fascinating wildlife of Afghanistan visit:
Of all the animals I managed to photograph in Afghanistan none seem to have captured more attention than this little guy – a species of Afghan amphibian called a Skittering Frog, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis microspinulata. These are actual frogs, about the size of a US leopard frog, that live in a various places throughout the country; these particular specimens were found in Kandahar province. They are found in other parts of the country but this is the only area I witnessed them in. These little guys have an exceptional and interesting ability to jump across the water surface. When frightened they don’t just plunge under water like most frogs; they skip along the water surface sometimes covering more than seven feet before diving. Seeing twenty or thirty of these little frogs suddenly skitter across the surface of the water in different directions is an amazing – and very amusing – sight. Get a lot more of amazing wildlife from Afghanistan here:
Nosy and sometimes spooky, but I love them anyway.
Elk are a constant visitor on my property (no, I won’t give out the address). The Roosevelt Elk we have here in the Northwest are the largest of the elk species. Bulls come in at a half a ton and almost 10 feet long. Throw in the antlers and your looking at 10 feet tall (5 feet at the shoulder.) You have to get close in order to get a true appreciation of just how big this deer is. I’m fortunate enough to have this experience throughout the year.  I love to take photos with the flash in the evening or early morning – it really highlights the glowing eyes.
When you think of Saudi Arabia, birds are not usually the first thing that comes to mind. Depending on the source consulted there are 200 to 500 species of birds found on the Arabian Peninsula. It is surprisingly extensive for an arid land, but when viewed in the context of Saudi’s location – a link between Africa, India, and Europe – it becomes more understandable. Keep in mind too, that birds more than any other animal are migratory masters. Just because you see them in a certain location does not mean they breed there; many are just passing through. The visitor from America will find several familiar species here: swallows, martins, sparrows, doves, ospreys, falcons, even pelicans.Â
Doves are very common in Saudi; you hear their peaceful cooing first thing every day. Common mynahs are sort of like our crows and the colorful bee eaters are everywhere. The kingdom has its share of avian surprises, too – like the beautiful ring necked parakeets (they’re the size of parrots) that showed up one morning eating the sunflowers outside of my window, and the owl I found perched on a pole alongside a road in the middle of a desert nowhere. Get a more Saudi wildlife here: http://afghan-arabiawild.com/
There are several identifying characteristics but the eyes and ears are the primary giveaways. Mice have big eyes and big ears and a long tail. Voles sport smaller eyes and ears and a short tail. Shrews have even smaller eyes and ears, a short, naked tail and a pointed snout. In moles the eyes and ears almost too small to be seen but their most distinguishing feature is their powerful front limbs and claws built for digging.
The most beautiful of our shore crabs is the rainbow colored lined shore crab on the far left. Kelp crabs are part of a group called spider crabs due to their long limbs. Sometimes hard to see thanks to their drab green shell these guys often cover large areas of the sea bottom just off shore. Purple shore crabs are probably our most shoreline abundant species and are easily identified by their distinctive color. Unlike its little cousins the red rock crab on the right grows to a respectable dinner plate size – where it often ends up.Â
Anyone who has strolled along our Northwest sea shores and turned over a rock or chunk of driftwood cannot help but notice the abundance of crabs that inhabit our shore lines. Thousands and thousands of these little crustaceans make their living from our rolling tides as they scurry about eating everything from algae to dead animals. Of the sixty or so crab species that inhabit North America our Pacific Shores are home to about twenty different kinds, just about all of which can be seen from the shore or dockside. Crabs are identified by shape, color, and the number of spines behind the eyes.
As you can see from the pics above it was not hard to find fossils over there. Amonites and corals are everywhere but that enormous rock I’m kneeling in front of was the biggest thing I’ve ever found; some kind of plant life. But this thing stuck out of the ground just as you see it in the photo. Various types of coral fossils make up entire hillsides. It is amazing!
In all of my travels I have never encountered fossil beds as rich and abundant as those in Saudi Arabia. There is no need to dig or even search very hard; artifacts of ancient animals litter the ground. I have actually stumbled over remains of ancient coral. Entire hillsides and cliffs there are composed of fossils. The Riyadh Escarpment where I spent the bulk of my time is especially rich in pre-historic remains of sea life. I’ve seen thousands of acres of the desert floor covered with fossils; these ancient coral beds must have been an astounding site! The Arabian Peninsula was, obviously, at one time submerged beneath the sea. As the land mass broke away from the African continent it rose above the water. In the Riyadh area life fossils predominate, but elsewhere on the peninsula an array of fossils have been found that range from ancient mammals to early hominids. Go here for a lot more ofSaudi Fossils.
 
