Ornate Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus) – Indonesia
Strange and delicate, Solenostomus paradoxus defies the eye. This harlequin ghost pipefish, a master of camouflage, blends perfectly among gorgonian branches or seagrass beds, mimicking the shapes and colors of its surroundings. Hanging head-down, it seems to vanish into the background, eluding predators with ease. Its spectacular mimicry makes it one of the most fascinating illusionists of tropical reefs.
Concentrated Gelada (Theropithecus gelada) – Ethiopia
Sand torn from the ridge of a dune in the Sahara – Algeria
Pool player – Ethiopia
Massirah island – Oman
Pair of White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) – Spain
A small bird of fast-flowing rivers, the white-throated dipper fascinates with its aquatic lifestyle. Able to walk underwater against the current, it hunts aquatic insects, larvae, and small crustaceans along the stream bed. In this discreet dweller of cool waters, the bond between mates is strengthened through food exchanges: the male sometimes feeds the female — a gesture that seals their union before nesting begins.
Oman
Stars and rock structure at Tassili n’Ajjer, Sahara – Algeria
Gecko
Ethiopian wolves at play (Canis simensis), Ethiopia
Two adults ethiopian wolves clash in a burst of movement — a game, perhaps, or a reminder of rank — under the watchful, curious eye of a young pup. These moments of energy, bonding, and social learning are the heartbeat of Abyssinian wolf life. In this dusty flurry, we witness a society in motion.