Casa Gruta, Sisal, Valladolid, Yucatán, Mexico,

Salvador Román Hernández, Adela Mortéra Villarreal,

Is this amphibian a visitor from outer space? 🛸 Nope… it’s the Yucatan casque-headed tree frog (Triprion petasatus), a species that can be found in parts of Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. How does it put its head to use? When the weather is dry, this frog has been observed nestling into tree holes. It plugs the opening with its hard head, using it as a barrier against the outside world. This is thought to help the frog retain extra moisture in its skin!

Guardian Of The Underworld

In Mayan culture, the crocodile is a sacred creature. It links earth, air and water. It is linked not only to nature, but also to the underworld, the place where souls wander. For the Mayans of Yucatan, cenotes are doorways to the underworld. And in mythology, the crocodile floated on the edge between the world of the living and that of the dead. This image of the crocodile, floating on the surface of this cenote, perfectly illustrates this sacred legend.

Rodolphe Guignard