An eastern garter snake swallows a pickerel frog headfirst near a cottage in Ontario, Canada. Pickerel frogs secrete a toxic substance through their skin, making them unpalatable to most predators, but garter snakes are immune to the toxins.
Wild Goats Thrive in Turkey
Protected young wild goats roam among the rocky slopes of Tunceli in eastern Turkey. Strong local protection and anti-poaching efforts have helped the species thrive in the region.
Spotted Sandpiper Chick Forages
A young spotted sandpiper forages among rocks along the bank of the Umpqua River near Elkton, Oregon, US. Spotted sandpiper chicks leave the nest within hours of hatching and begin feeding themselves almost immediately, while their parents remain nearby to protect them.
Penguin Surfs in Rio
A juvenile Magellanic penguin rests on the sand at Arpoador beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – a popular tourist spot and surfers’ favourite. After recovering its strength, the penguin rode the waves back into the Atlantic ocean.
Egret in Bangkok
A young egret lurks on a tree in a garden north of Bangkok, Thailand.
Capuchin Monkey in Costa Rica
A Central American white-faced capuchin in the rainforest near Puerto Jiménez, Costa Rica. The species is known for its intelligence and has been observed using tools made of stone or sticks to access food – a rare trait among monkeys.
Bees on Sunflower
Bees get to work on a sunflower in Frankfurt, Germany.
Neil the Seal in Tasmania
Neil the Seal vents his rage on a shop sign in Tasmania, Australia. The 1,000kg elephant seal has been crushing fences, blocking traffic and bashing into parked cars, much to the delight of local residents. He has now returned to sea. “We’ll keep an eye out for him but otherwise the traffic cones and street signs of Tasmania can breathe a small sigh of relief,” the Tasmanian premier, Jeremy Rockliff, said on Thursday.
Ladybird on Queen Anne's Lace
A ladybird forages among the tiny flowers of a Queen Anne’s lace bloom near Elkton, Oregon, US.
Treehopper Nominated for Invertebrate of the Year
This treehopper would like you to consider it as a possible nominee for your invertebrate of the year. Yes, it’s our third Invertebrate of the Year contest. We want you to nominate your favourite spineless creature for the hugely popular annual Guardian jamboree, which celebrates the wonder and importance of the world’s invertebrates.
Storks on Power Pole
Storks admire the view from their nest on a power pole above corn fields near Frankfurt, Germany.
Desert Rain Frog Threatened by Mining
A desert rain frog, which lives on the sandy shore between the dunes and the sea in Namibia and South Africa. It is under threat due to diamond mining – yet another creature whose very existence is at risk thanks to destructive human activity.
Silk Moth Larva in South Korea
A cynthia silk moth larva gnaws on a leaf in a country garden in Sangju, South Korea.
White-clawed Crayfish Benefits from £60m Programme
A white-clawed crayfish – one of the species that will benefit from Natural England’s new £60m programme to support 130 projects to safeguard the future of 364 threatened species, some of which are only found in England.
Yellow-footed Tortoise in Venezuela
A yellow-footed tortoise wanders inside a building severely damaged by the earthquakes that hit the region, in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state, Venezuela.
Green Frog in Toronto
Smile for the camera … a green frog in a pond at Humber Arboretum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Puffin with Sand Eels on Skomer
An Atlantic puffin with a mouthful of sand eels flies in to land on Skomer Island, Wales, UK. Skomer, off the Pembrokeshire coast, hosts a record-breaking population of more than 52,000 Atlantic puffins.
