Kara Kum Collection

Agama / Agamid Lizard - camouflaged by sand pattern on its back - sand dunes of Central Karakum desert - Turkmenistan
ANZ-1440 Agama / Agamid Lizard - camouflaged by sand pattern on its back sand dunes of Central Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - Spring - April Agamidae sp

Toadheaded Agamid Lizard - uses it's camouflage colouring to hide - presses itself into the sand - sand dunes of
ANZ-1424 Toadheaded Agamid Lizard - uses it's camouflage colouring to hide - presses itself into the sand sand dunes of Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - Spring - April Phrynocephalus mistaceus

Darkling Beetle - burrowing in the sand to escape heat of the day - sand dunes of Karakum desert - Turkmenistan
ANZ-1431 Darkling Beetle - burrowing in the sand to escape heat of the day sand dunes of Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - Spring - April Sympiezocnemis gigantea Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that

Common Wonder Gecko / Frog-eyed Gecko - looks for prey under a bush in sand dunes - licks his eye to prevent it
ANZ-1391 Common Wonder Gecko / Frog-eyed Gecko - looks for prey under a bush in sand dunes - licks his eye to prevent it from drying - feeds mostly on insects Central Karakum desert - nocturnal

Karakum / Qaraqum / Kara Kum / Garagum Canal - water comes from water pump in sluices - the main irrigation artery of
ANZ-1393 Karakum / Qaraqum / Kara Kum / Garagum Canal - water comes from water pump in sluices goes along Kopet-Dag Mountain Range - Turkmenistan - Spring - April the main irrigation artery of

Cockchafer Beetle (close relative of May bug) - adult female - at night - Central Karakum desert - hides in Saxaul bush
ANZ-1429 Cockchafer Beetle (close relative of May bug) - adult female - at night Central Karakum desert - hides in Saxaul bush during mating period - waiting for a male to come flying - Turkmenistan

Weevil - on Tamarisk (Tamaricaceae sp. ) beetle feeds on tamarisk plant - near Karakum canal - Turkmenistan - Spring
ANZ-1418 Weevil - on Tamarisk (Tamaricaceae sp.) beetle feeds on tamarisk plant near Karakum canal - Turkmenistan - Spring - April Curculionidae sp

Weevil beetle - on dry branch of a Saxaul bush - Central Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - Spring - April Tm31. 0498
ANZ-1434 Weevil beetle - on dry branch of a Saxaul bush - Central Karakum desert Turkmenistan - Spring - April Curculionidae sp

Toad - in sand dunes of Central Karakum desert at night - Turkmenistan - Spring - April Tm31. 0504
ANZ-1436 Toad - in sand dunes of Central Karakum desert at night Turkmenistan - Spring - April Bufo sp. Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Owlet moth caterpillar - in a bush at night feeding on bush foliage - Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - Spring - April
ANZ-1421 Owlet moth caterpillar - in a bush at night feeding on bush foliage Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - Spring - April Noctuidae sp

Toad - at night - sand dunes of Central Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - Spring - April Tm31. 0508
ANZ-1437 Toad - at night - sand dunes of Central Karakum desert Turkmenistan - Spring - April Bufo sp. Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Darkling Beetle - crosses tracks of other similar beetles - sand dunes of Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - Spring
ANZ-1430 Darkling Beetle - crosses tracks of other similar beetles sand dunes of Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - Spring - March Sympiezocnemis gigantea Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that prints are

Darkling Beetle - runs for a cover after feeding at dawn - sand dunes of Central Karacum desert - Turkmenistan - Spring
ANZ-1432 Darkling Beetle - runs for a cover after feeding at dawn sand dunes of Central Karacum desert - Turkmenistan - Spring - April Sympiezocnemis gigantea Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that prints

Darkling Beetle - in the evening - Turkmenistan - Central Karakum Desert - Spring - April Tm31. 0475
ANZ-1426 Darkling Beetle - in the evening Turkmenistan - Central Karakum Desert - Spring - April Sternodes caspicus Pallas Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that prints are for personal display purposes

Common Wonder / Frog-eyed Gecko - Central Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - former CIS - Spring - April Tm31. 0513
ANZ-1439 Common Wonder / Frog-eyed Gecko Central Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - former CIS - Spring - April Teratoscincus scincus Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that prints are for personal display

Darkling Beetle - emerges from day shelter in sand where he buries itself to escape heat of the day - sand dunes of
ANZ-1425 Darkling Beetle - emerges from day shelter in sand where he buries itself to escape heat of the day sand dunes of Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - Spring - March Sympiezocnemis gigantea

Darkling Beetle - emerges from day shelter where it buries itself in sand to escape heat of the day - sand dunes of
ANZ-1415 Darkling Beetle - emerges from day shelter where it buries itself in sand to escape heat of the day sand dunes of Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - Spring - March Sympiezocnemis gigantea

Agama / Agamid Lizard - sand dunes of Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - Spring - April Tm31. 0417
ANZ-1422 Agama / Agamid Lizard - sand dunes of Karakum desert Turkmenistan - Spring - April Agama sp. Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Ground Beetle - sand dunes of Central Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - Spring - April Tm31. 0477
ANZ-1428 Ground Beetle - sand dunes of Central Karakum desert Turkmenistan - Spring - April Scarites sp. Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Darkling Beetle - runs in sand dunes of Karakum desert in the evening - Turkmenistan - Central Karakum Desert - Spring
ANZ-1419 Darkling Beetle - runs in sand dunes of Karakum desert in the evening Turkmenistan - Central Karakum Desert - Spring - April Sternodes caspicus Pallas Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that

Dry salt marsh - surrounded by sand dunes - a typical scene in Central Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - former CIS
ANZ-1390 Dry salt marsh - surrounded by sand dunes - a typical scene in Central Karakum desert Turkmenistan - former CIS - Spring - April Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that prints are for personal

Small-spotted Lizard - in sand dunes of Central Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - former CIS - March Tm25. 0017
ANZ-1380 Small-spotted Lizard - in sand dunes of Central Karakum desert Turkmenistan - former CIS - March Mesalina guttulata Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that prints are for personal display purposes

Alarmed small Agamid lizard - during feeding at dusk - typical in sand dunes of Central Karakum desert - summer
ANZ-1387 Alarmed small Agamid lizard - during feeding at dusk - typical in sand dunes of Central Karakum desert summer - Turkmenistan - former CIS Agama sp

Village Arba - in sand dunes of Central Karakum desert - March - Turkmenistan - former CIS Tm31. 0157(0792)
ANZ-1385 Village Arba - in sand dunes of Central Karakum desert March - Turkmenistan - former CIS Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Darkling Beetle - active at dusk and dawn - feeds on grass sprouts in sand dunes of Central Karakum desert - one front
ANZ-1381 Darkling Beetle - active at dusk and dawn - feeds on grass sprouts in sand dunes of Central Karakum desert - one front leg is probably removed by a predator Turkmenistan - former CIS - March

Sand dunes in a wind - Karakum desert encroach on a road - near Kumdag - Turkmenistan - former CIS - Spring - April
ANZ-1408 Sand dunes in a wind - Karakum desert encroach on a road near Kumdag - Turkmenistan - former CIS - Spring - April Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that prints are for personal display purposes

Darkling Beetle - feeds on plants near Karakum water-canal - Turkmenistan - Spring - April Tm31. 0380
ANZ-1409 Darkling Beetle - feeds on plants near Karakum water-canal Turkmenistan - Spring - April Blaps sp. Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Darkling Beetle - along with various prints left on sand after night activity of beetles
ANZ-1411 Darkling Beetle - along with various prints left on sand after night activity of beetles, lizards and jerboa sand dunes of Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - former CIS - Spring - April

Dromedary / Arabian / One-humped Camel - after bathing in muddy puddle - in desert landscape near Nibetdag
ANZ-1407 Dromedary / Arabian / One-humped Camel - after bathing in muddy puddle in desert landscape near Nibetdag - Turkmenistan - Spring - April Camelus dromedarius Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that

Sand dunes of Karakum desert - sunset - Kopetdag mountains on background - Turkmenistan - former CIS - Spring - April
ANZ-1396 Sand dunes of Karakum desert - sunset Kopetdag mountains on background - Turkmenistan - former CIS - Spring - April Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that prints are for personal display purposes

Agama Lizard - on a dry bush watching for prey - Central Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - former CIS - March Tm25. 0004
ANZ-1379 Agama Lizard - on a dry bush watching for prey Central Karakum desert - Turkmenistan - former CIS - March Agama sanguinolenta Andrey Zvoznikov Please note that prints are for personal

Poppies flowering in the desert for a few days each spring, Kara Kum desert, Uzbekistan, C.I.S. Central Asia, Asia

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"Exploring the Enigmatic Kara Kum: A Glimpse into Turkmenistan's Desert Wildlife" In the vast expanse of Turkmenistan's Central Karakum desert, a hidden world comes to life during the enchanting spring month of April. Amongst the rolling sand dunes, an array of fascinating creatures thrive in this harsh and arid landscape. One such inhabitant is the Agama, an agamid lizard that cleverly camouflages itself with intricate sand patterns on its back. Blending seamlessly into its surroundings, it remains unseen by predators as it scampers across the desert floor. Similarly adept at concealment is the Toadheaded Agamid Lizard. This remarkable creature utilizes its camouflage coloring to hide from prying eyes. It presses itself deep into the soft sand, becoming one with its sandy domain. Beneath these shifting sands lies another resilient resident - the Darkling Beetle. Seeking refuge from scorching daytime temperatures, it burrows tirelessly through layers of sand to escape heat-induced adversity. Venturing further into this captivating ecosystem reveals yet another intriguing species - The Common Wonder Gecko or Frog-eyed Gecko. With keen eyesight and a unique defense mechanism against dryness, this nocturnal hunter prowls beneath bushes in search of unsuspecting prey while occasionally licking its eye for moisture preservation. The Karakum Canal stands as a testament to human ingenuity amidst nature's challenges. Stretching over 1, 375 kilometers in length and constructed between 1954 and 1988, it serves as a lifeline for irrigation within this expansive desert region – providing sustenance where water was once scarce. Returning our focus to wildlife inhabitants brings us face-to-face with peculiar creatures like Cockchafer Beetles hiding amongst Saxaul bushes during their mating period. Patiently awaiting airborne suitors under moonlit skies adds an air of romance to their existence within these sandy realms.