#kryptosgenova

This Chiriquí robber frog (Pristimantis cruentus) is one of the more than 490 described species of Pristimantis living in Central and South America. They’re the most rich genus of Vertebrates on Earth. And this one is even more stunning, because like some other Pristimantis species, it can change the texture of its skin in just a few minutes. Between the first “warty-skin” image to the second “smooth-skin” one, it passed less than 2 minutes. #biodiversity #predatoridelmicrocosmo #amphibian #pickoftheday #pristimantis #cruentus #robber #frog #panama #kryptosgenova #macro #macrophotography #photography #unique #herp #herping #igerspanama (presso Chepo, Panamá Province)

>> swipe for more images >> Could you believe that this is the same species of my previous post? A Strawberry poison-dart frog (Oophaga pumilio)! And it wasn’t even very far from the other one, probably less than a km on a straight line! This is incredible. When I first saw this one, after seeing the previous one a few minutes before, I couldn’t believe it was always the same species. But hey, this is evolution and speciation at work, biodiversity matters folks! . . #amphibian #pickoftheday #biodiversity #conservation #predatoridelmicrocosmo #dendrobates #oophaga #pumilio #panama #tiny #jewel #forest #herp #herping #poisonarrowfrog #poison #toxic #aposematic #kryptosgenova #colorful #cute #cutenessoverload #animal #wildlife #wildlifeconservation #nature @ilcp_photographers (presso Panama)

A magnificent ladybug spider (Eresus sp. cf. kollari) male showing to me its warning colors. It amaze me how it vibrates reminding a velvet ant (Mutillidae). This species is surely among the most stunning spiders we can see in Europe. And it’s very seldom seen, quite rare indeed. #eresus #italy #spider #spidersofinstagram #predatoridelmicrocosmo #kryptosgenova #mostrakryptos #arthropod @ilcp_photographers

This is the astonishing fringed head of a mossy leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus sikorae), blending on the background of a trunk full of lichens. This species only lives into the rainforests of Madagascar and its habitat is heavily hit by deforestation. Mimicry is also the theme of my next exhibition that will open at the Genova Natural History Museum next 10 February, titled “Kryptos”. #madagascar #kryptos #mostrakryptos #kryptosgenova #uroplatus #sikorae (presso Ranomafana National Park)

The sand walker Adult female Namaqua chameleon waking on a dune in the morning. This is a harsh environment to live for a chameleon but this species is well adapted for it. Its only problems come from human origins and some of them are really odd. The movies like “Madmax” heavily impacted on such environment and such operations should always be avoided. . . . #conservation #namaqua #chameleon #reptiles #namibia #swakopmund #dorobnationalpark #naukluft #herping #herps #kryptosgenova #mostrakryptos @ilcp_photographers #madmax #desert #desertlife

Impressively camouflaged, an adult Malaysian Horned frog (Megophrys nasuta) is hiding among fallen leaves into the Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Borneo. #mimicry #kryptosgenova #predatoridelmicrocosmo #camouflage #leaf #megophrys #megophrysnasuta #amphibian #frog #toad #malaysia #sarawak #borneo #kubah @ilcp_photographers (presso Taman Negara Kubah) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnlqZshHx3k/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=k45rm74omehd

Among all the amazing beings I’m seeing and photographing here in Panama, this night my friend and guide Abel showed me this insect. At first I said “ah nice, an insect infected by a parasitoid fungus”, but then I realized it wasn’t dead at all! It was actually a Reduviidae (assassin bug) camouflaged AS IT WAS a dead insect parasitized by a fungus! My marvel never stops! Mimicry is a big field of study and no one could understand and know everything about this topic. #pickoftheday #strangebuttrue #predatoridelmicrocosmo #kryptosgenova #mostrakryptos #mimicry #mimetismo #camouflage #fungus #assassinbug #panama #disguise #wildlife #nature @ilcp_photographers (presso Panama, Panama)

Satanic leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus), Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. This is a highly portrayed gecko in Madagascar but it’s also one of the most stunning camouflage champions found in nature. I’ll post more images of this impressive “disguiser” in the next days. Its eyelashes hide the big eyes but it’s just a bit of the impressive mimicry it displays while perching on a branch. #satanic #leaf #gecko #herps #madagascar #mimicry #kryptos #kryptosgenova #mostrakryptos @ilcp_photographers