Dark Tropic

Magnificent Hummingbird (female), Eugenes fulgens, Panama highlands

2010-07-05T07:16:00.004-05:00

ISO 100 | 100mm | 1/200 | f/3.2

A female hummingbird in the highlands of Panama.

Note the presence of bird mites on the dorsal base

of the beak. These warm climate parasites might

be transmitted between birds at common

feeders.

Hyla rosenbergi, Panama

2010-07-02T05:45:00.001-05:00

Pool frog (male), Rana lessonae, Baden-Württemberg, Deutschland

2010-06-30T04:11:00.004-05:00

ISO 200 | f/5.6 | 300 mm | 1/80

During the spring and summer breeding season

these common pond-dwellers are vocally active

during the day and night. Males, like the one pictured

here, engage in vocal and physical disputes with other

males in the breeding aggregation. Their song has a

'squeeky' quality, is of variable duration, and is radiated

through bilateral vocal sacs located directly beneath

the ear drums.

a mountain gem (genus Lampornis) in the highlands of western Panama

2010-06-06T07:12:00.001-05:00

nocturnal quiescence

2010-03-01T22:32:00.001-06:00

Tun-gara...Tun-gara-ra-ra

2008-07-18T10:16:00.000-05:00

f/5.6 1/100 ISO100 100mm

Tungara Frog

2008-07-15T19:18:00.002-05:00

f/8 1/100 ISO100 100mm

A male tungara frog deflates his submerged

lungs as he waits for safety to begin calling

again.

Scinax rubra

2008-07-15T16:36:00.002-05:00

f/5.6 1/100 ISO100 100mm

Tungara Frog

2008-07-13T13:59:00.002-05:00

f/3.2 1/100 ISO100 100mm

Every night during the wet season is a star-

struck night of romance for the male

Tungara frog.

A male tungara frog

2008-07-11T22:08:00.003-05:00

f/2.8 1/125 ISO100 100mm

Despite its toad-like appearance Physalaemus

pustulosus is in fact a frog and a prolific

frog at that. This is one of the most abundant and

broadly distributed amphibians in the neotropics.

In pursuit of this honor males congregate at ephemeral

pools of rainwater during the wet season and chorus to

attract females, whom control mate choice and select

males on the basis of a male's song. As with males of most

animal species, a male tungara frog spends considerable

time courting with little, if any, mating opportunity.

Hyla ebraccata calls above embryos

2008-07-10T17:25:00.001-05:00

f/10 1/100 ISO100 100mm

more Scinax rubra

2008-07-09T20:33:00.002-05:00

f/3.2 1/100th ISO 100 100mm

Scinax rubra considers flight.

Scinax rubra

2008-07-09T01:29:00.002-05:00

f/4.0 1/100 ISO 100 100mm

This Scinax species is famous for its willingness

to jump off tall aerial stuctures, gliding down

to the earth safely with its body stretched out

like a base-jumper.

Hyla rosenbergi, Gladiator Tree Frog

2008-07-08T14:22:00.003-05:00

f/5.6 ISO 100 100mm 1/100th

I believe this species is the most affectionate of

Panama's frogs - you can see the personality in

their eyes. It is not uncommon for a gladiator

to lunge from a branch onto a human observer,

climbing up onto one's shoulder and perching

patiently for an opportunity to sing. Precious.

Leptodactylus labialis y aguacate

2007-12-22T12:19:00.000-06:00

Panamá, 2006

This image is the 4th in a series that belongs to

"Tropical frogs and fruit: disingenuous color
combinations from the forests and streetstalls of
Panama"

Agalychnis callidryas y maracujá

2007-12-20T17:15:00.001-06:00

Panamá, 2006

This image is the 3rd in a series that belongs to

"Tropical frogs and fruit: disingenuous color
combinations from the forests and streetstalls of
Panama"

Hyla ebraccata y piña

2007-12-16T12:18:00.001-06:00

Panamá, 2006

This image is the 2nd in a series that belongs to

"Tropical frogs and fruit: disingenuous color
combinations from the forests and streetstalls of
Panamá"

Agalychnis callidryas y granadilla

2007-12-16T12:09:00.000-06:00

Panamá, 2006

This is the first image in a series that belongs to

"Tropical frogs and fruit: disingenuous color
combinations from the forests and streetstalls of
Panamá"

Smilisca phaeota: a glance

2007-11-01T10:59:00.000-05:00

ISO 100 f/2.8 1/20 100mm macro
June 2007, Panamá

Seeing Sound

2007-10-17T11:32:00.001-05:00

ISO 100 1/125 f/16 100mm macro

The nighttime serenade of the male tungara frog has
visual, acoustic, and aquatic vibration components.

Jamaican Fruit Eating Bat on the Wing

2007-10-12T21:04:00.000-05:00

ISO 100 1/100 f/8 100mm macro

Hyla rufitela, Red Webbed Tree Frog

2007-09-28T14:00:00.001-05:00

ISO 100 1/100 f/9 100mm macro

This kaliedoscopically colored tree frog advertises
vocally from leaves hanging above small tropical
streams.

Jamaican Fruit Eating Bat

2007-09-26T15:56:00.001-05:00

ISO 100 1/100 f/8 100 mm macro

Tungara Turf War

2007-09-23T10:40:00.001-05:00

2007-09-22T17:41:00.000-05:00

ISO 100 1/125 f/10 100 mm macro

Metamorphic Hourglass Tree Frog

2007-09-21T21:05:00.000-05:00

ISO 100 1/100 f/3.5 100 mm macro

Leptodactylus pentadactylus, The Smoki Jungle Frog or South American Bullfrog

2007-09-19T10:44:00.001-05:00

ISO 100 1/125 f/2.8 100mm macro

As the largest of the neotropical frogs, the muscular
L. pentadactylus preys on other frog species and is largely
left alone by predators due to a toxic skin secretion.

emerald eyes - deep and bright inside

2007-09-17T21:00:00.002-05:00

ISO 100 1/50 f/4.0 100mm macro

Tungara Magic!

2007-08-04T22:25:00.001-05:00

Gamboa, Panama 2006

Phrog and Frotographer

2007-07-18T16:39:00.002-05:00

ISO 400 1/100 f/2.8 20mm

- I wonder

Smilisca phaeota

2007-07-12T15:09:00.000-05:00

ISO 100 1/6 f/3.5 100mm

Portrait of a masked tree frog.

Atta sp., Leafcutter Ant

2007-07-05T22:36:00.001-05:00

ISO 200 1/100 f/20 100mm

Smilisca phaeota, Water Conservation Posture

2007-07-05T02:14:00.000-05:00

ISO 100 f/2.5 1/3 100mm

Unknown Beetle

2007-07-02T01:08:00.001-05:00

ISO 200 1/125 f/18 100mm
Gamboa, Panama 2005

Unknown beetle species photographed at a frog
chorus pond.

Morninglight

2007-06-29T08:41:00.000-05:00

ISO 100 1/2 f/14 20mm
Gamboa, Panama 2006

A long exposure of diffuse light showering
through the canopy understory.

Megalopta byroni

2007-06-27T21:39:00.000-05:00

ISO 100 1/100 f/18 100mm
Gamboa, Panama 2005

This sweat bee is a brood parasite on related bees
in the genus Megalopta. In response to these threats
it appears as if the bee species attacked have evolved
nocturnalism to reduce this parasite's impact.
Capturing stationary images of flying insects like this
bee requires photographing the animal the instant
before it buzzes off.

Smilisca phaeota: Perspective

2007-06-27T02:11:00.001-05:00

ISO 100 1/25 f/2.8 100mm

Smilisca phaeota, Masked Tree Frog

2007-06-26T02:32:00.001-05:00

ISO 100 1/8 f/2.8 100mm
Gamboa, Panama 2007

This masked tree frog is adopting a "water conservation
posture" and in doing so the animal reduces surface to
air contact, minimizing evaporation from its skin.
Despite being a visually gorgeous frog, its a surprise
that its hoarse mating call doesn't repel females.

Dendrobates auratus, Green and Black Poison Frog

2007-06-25T14:19:00.000-05:00

ISO 100 1/20 f/18 100mm
Barro Colorado Island, Panama 2007

Unlike most frogs this mildly toxic poison frog is active
during the day. Unless moving on the forest floor or
inside a treehole, these frogs are difficult to detect.
Notoriously unwilling to pose for the photographer,
their highly contrasting coloration also makes them
difficult to capture with a single exposure.

Partly Cloudy on the Panama Canal

2007-06-23T13:13:00.001-05:00

ISO 100 1/100 f/22 20mm
Panama Canal, 2007

The translucent green waters of the Canal are a
terrific temperature for swimming, and to do so amongst
large crocodilians and transoceanic freight ships
reminds one of life's palpability.

Bufo marinus, The Cane Toad

2007-06-22T23:25:00.000-05:00

ISO 100 4/10 f/3.2 100mm
Barro Colorado Island, Panama 2007

The Cane Toad is an abundant amphibian year round,
and unlike many anurans (frogs and toads) it breeds
during the dry season. While many find this toad to be
an unattractive member of the Amphibia, these animals
have a particular charm - notice the brilliant gold reticulations
on the iris.

Hyla rosenbergi, Gladiator Tree Frog

2007-06-20T18:37:00.000-05:00

For those familiar with Gamboa, note the reflection of Building 183 in this frog's pupil.

Rio Chagres, Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes

2007-06-18T12:03:00.001-05:00

Agalychnis callidryas, A Metamorphic Red-Eyed Tree Frog

2007-06-16T16:45:00.001-05:00

Iguana Iguana, A Juvenile Iguana

2007-06-15T00:14:00.000-05:00

Uroderma bilobatum, The Tent-Making Bat

2007-06-13T19:59:00.000-05:00

The Red-Eyed Grasshopper

2007-06-12T21:16:00.001-05:00

Trachops cirrhosus, The Fringe-Lipped Bat

2007-06-12T01:53:00.001-05:00

Hyla rosenbergi, The Gladiator Frog

2007-06-12T00:32:00.001-05:00

Hyla microcephala, The Yellow Cricket Tree Frog

2007-06-11T00:52:00.001-05:00

Physalaemus pustulosus, The Tungara Frog

2007-06-07T16:17:00.001-05:00