Images Dated 2nd February 2005

Red deer stags

Red deer stags (Cervus elaphus) silhouetted against a sunset. The red deer is Britain's largest native mammal, with males growing to heights of 1.5 metres to the shoulder. It inhabits woodland and moorland, feeding on grass, but will also eat heather and small shrubs when grass is scarce. Males live in bachelor groups of up to 100 individuals for most of the year, only leaving them during the mating season. Only males have antlers, which are shed and regrown every year

© DAVID AUBREY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Leopard flounder

Leopard flounder (Bothus pantherinus) camouflaged on the seabed. When the leopard flounder is born it has an eye on each side of its body and swims upright. However, as it matures, its right eye migrates to the left side and the flounder begins to swim sideways. The flounder, which grows to about 35 centimetres in length, is able to change its colour to some extent to match its surroundings. This fish is found on the sandy bottoms of coastal coral reefs and lagoons in the Indo-Pacific. It often buries itself in the sand, leaving only its eyes exposed. From this position the fish will jump out on its prey, crustaceans and small fish. Photographed in Bunaken, Sulawesi, Indonesia

© GEORGETTE DOUWMA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Malleefowl / Lowan - pair at nest site

CAN-1098
Malleefowl / Lowan - pair at nest site
Australia
Leipoa ocellata
Also known as incubator bird / native pheasant or bush chook. Fm: Megapodes. Status: Vulnerable.
The malleefowl buries its eggs in the sand nest to incubate. The male tests the temperature of the nest mound by dipping his beak into it. If it is too warm or too cold he opens it up or adds more sand. Therefore he is able to keep the nest at a constant temperature of 34?C.
John Cancalosi
Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

© John Cancalosi/ardea.com