World Photography Day: The keen eye

Species: Fan-throated lizard

Location: Kolhapur, Maharashtra

They are small, ground-dwelling lizards that live in arid plateaus of India. The males of the species get to vantage points and fan their dewlap to grab the attention of females and also to ward off other males from its territory.

Species: Western tree frog

Location: Agumbe, Karnataka

They dwell in the evergreen rainforests of the Western Ghats. Seen in this image is a little froglet of the species and they were all over an Anthurium plant. 

Species: Malabar Gliding frog

Location: Amboli, Maharashtra

Malabar Gliding frogs are a nocturnal species. In the nights, the forests echo with their calls, and during the day, everything falls silent. I have always wondered where they disappear during the day until i found this specimen, holding on to a tender leaf, camouflaged, and fast asleep.

Species: Indirana Sp.

Location: Agumbe, Karnataka

The Indirana species of frog are colorful, and are mostly found in the leaf litter or around streams on the western ghats of India. They are fantastic leapers and often escape from predators in a single leap, covering great distance.

Species: Malabar Gliding frog

Location: Amboli, Maharashtra

The frogs are named so because of their ability to glide while making leaps from tree tops. They do that by stretching the red webbing between their toes.

Species: Tree frog

Location: Amboli, Maharashtra

Tree frogs, as their name suggests, dwell on trees. This particular guy was looking up to decide the next branch to hop onto.

Species: Millipede

Location: Amboli, Maharashtra

When coiled up, the spiral is a perfect representation of the Fibonacci series in nature. 

Species: Large-eyed Bronzeback

Location: Agumbe, Karnataka

Bronzebacks are tree snakes that slither across tree branches looking for lizards, frogs and small birds. 

Species: Malabar Pit Viper

Location: Agumbe, Karnataka

A portait of a Malabar Pit viper from Agumbe. These snakes are venomous and are endemic to the Western ghats of Southwestern India.

Species: Malabar Pit Viper

Location: Amboli, Maharashtra

Amboli is bustling with snake activity in the monsoons and it is one of my favorite haunts. The locals here mean no harm to these snakes and it is beautiful to see such biodiverse wildlife co-exist with humans. The Malabar Pit vipers coil up at a vantage point and remain there for weeks at end, waiting for the unsuspecting frog to come by. 

Species: Green Vine Snake

Location: Agumbe, Karnataka

Although quite common on the Western Ghats, the snakes could be tough to spot due to their perfect camouflage. They blend in as vines in the foliage.