Two Brown-hooded Parrots (Pyrilia haematotis) sitting on a branch, Costa Rica

Collared aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus) sitting on a branch, Costa Rica

Kuang Si waterfalls, Luang Prabang, Laos

Adult San Esteban spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura conspicuosa), endemic to Isla San Esteban, Baja California, Mexico, North America

Antiguan Anole Lizard (Anolis Leachii), with dewlap extended, Bermuda, North Atlantic, North America

A male hooded oriole (Icterus cucullatus), in courtship, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

Morpho Achilles butterfly, Mindo, Ecuador, South America

Galapagos Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus), large lizard can can grow to five feet long and live for 60 years, South Plaza island, Galapagos, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis chathamensis), can live for over 100 years, San Cristobal island, Galapagos, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

Two Grey Herons (Maakana) on the edge of a swimming pool overlooking the lagoon on an exotic Island in The Maldives, Indian Ocean

Bronze-winged jacana (metopidius indicus) in its natural habitat, Poovar island, Kerala, India, Asia

Antiguan Anole Lizard (Anolis Leachii), Bermuda, North Atlantic, North America

Adult Swallow-tailed gull (Creagrus furcatus) in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

Jungle myna (Acridotheres fuscus), looking for water at the Volivoli Resort grounds on Viti Levu, Fiji, South Pacific, Pacific

Turtle on a beach, Bird Island, Republic of Seychelles, Indian Ocean, Africa

Avenue leading into Cienfuegos Botanical Gardens, Cienfuegos Province, Cuba, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

The endemic Galapagos marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Islands, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

Footbridge at Monte Palace Tropical Garden, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Galapagos Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus), large lizard can can grow to five feet long and live for 60 years, South Plaza island, Galapagos, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

Brown booby (Sula leucogaster), in flight off small islet north of Isla San Marcos, Baja California Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

White-faced saki (Pithecia pithecia), Rainforest Pyramid, Moody Gardens, Galveston island, Gulf of Mexico, Texas, United States of America

Grey Heron (Maakana) on the edge of a swimming pool overlooking the lagoon on an exotic Island in The Maldives, Indian Ocean

Flock of sheep and palm grove in Ammeln valley with Djebel Lekst in background, near Tafraout, Anti-Atlas, Morocco

Florisuga mellivora (White-necked Jacobin) hovering, Soberania National Park, Republic of Panama, Central America

A pair of hooded orioles (Icterus cucullatus), in courtship, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

Magdalena Island, Magallanes Region, Punta Arenas, Chile, South America

Adult brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), taking flight on a small islet near Isla Salsipuedes, Baja California, Mexico, North America

Adult brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis), flying in formation, Isla Carmen, Baja California Sur, Mexico, North America

Black-necked stork, Queensland, Australia

Black-necked stork, Queensland, Australia

Major Mitchell Cockatoo perched on branch, Queensland, Australia

Southern Cassowary bird, Queensland, Australia

Forest Kingfisher perched on a branch in North Queensland, Australia

Sun Conure perched on a branch in North Queensland, Australia

Forest Kingfisher perched on a branch in North Queensland, Australia

Brolga, Queensland, Australia

Mexican aztec dress gods at Grand Palladium White Sand Resort and Spa in Riviera Maya, Yucatan Peninsula, Quintana Roo, Caribbean Coast, Mexico. Aztec clothing was generally loose fitting and did not completely cover the body. When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, the people were surprised to see them in their full armour, with only their faces exposed. Aztec clothes were generally made of cotton (which was imported) or ayate fiber, made from the Maguey Cactus (also called the Century Plant or American Aloe). Women would weave the fibers into clothing, a task girls were taught as young teenagers. Because of their vast trading network, the Aztecs were able to make use of a beautiful array of dyes, creating the brilliant

Aerial view of Punta Allen Sian Ka'an Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Red lagoon near Boca Paila Bridge. In the language of the Mayan peoples who once inhabited this region, Sian Ka'an means Origin of the Sky. Located on the east coast of the Yucatán peninsula, this biosphere reserve contains tropical forests, mangroves and marshes, as well as a large marine section intersected by a barrier reef. It provides a habitat for a remarkably rich flora and a fauna comprising more than 300 species of birds, as well as a large number of the region's characteristic terrestrial vertebrates, which cohabit in the diverse environment formed by its complex hydrological system. Along its roughly 120 kilometres of coastline, the property covers over 400,000 hectares of land ranging from sea level to only ten m.a.s.l. The property boasts diverse tropical forests, palm savannah, one of the most pristine wetlands in the region, lagoons, extensive mangrove stands, as well as sandy beaches and dunes. The 120,000 hectares of marine area protect a valuable part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and seagrass beds in the shallow bays. The lush green of the forests and the many shades of blue of the lagoons and the Caribbean Sea under a wide sky offer fascinating visual impressions.

Aerial view of Punta Allen Sian Ka'an Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Red lagoon near Boca Paila Bridge. In the language of the Mayan peoples who once inhabited this region, Sian Ka'an means Origin of the Sky. Located on the east coast of the Yucatán peninsula, this biosphere reserve contains tropical forests, mangroves and marshes, as well as a large marine section intersected by a barrier reef. It provides a habitat for a remarkably rich flora and a fauna comprising more than 300 species of birds, as well as a large number of the region's characteristic terrestrial vertebrates, which cohabit in the diverse environment formed by its complex hydrological system. Along its roughly 120 kilometres of coastline, the property covers over 400,000 hectares of land ranging from sea level to only ten m.a.s.l. The property boasts diverse tropical forests, palm savannah, one of the most pristine wetlands in the region, lagoons, extensive mangrove stands, as well as sandy beaches and dunes. The 120,000 hectares of marine area protect a valuable part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and seagrass beds in the shallow bays. The lush green of the forests and the many shades of blue of the lagoons and the Caribbean Sea under a wide sky offer fascinating visual impressions.

Aerial view of Punta Allen Sian Ka'an Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Red lagoon near Boca Paila Bridge. In the language of the Mayan peoples who once inhabited this region, Sian Ka'an means Origin of the Sky. Located on the east coast of the Yucatán peninsula, this biosphere reserve contains tropical forests, mangroves and marshes, as well as a large marine section intersected by a barrier reef. It provides a habitat for a remarkably rich flora and a fauna comprising more than 300 species of birds, as well as a large number of the region's characteristic terrestrial vertebrates, which cohabit in the diverse environment formed by its complex hydrological system. Along its roughly 120 kilometres of coastline, the property covers over 400,000 hectares of land ranging from sea level to only ten m.a.s.l. The property boasts diverse tropical forests, palm savannah, one of the most pristine wetlands in the region, lagoons, extensive mangrove stands, as well as sandy beaches and dunes. The 120,000 hectares of marine area protect a valuable part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and seagrass beds in the shallow bays. The lush green of the forests and the many shades of blue of the lagoons and the Caribbean Sea under a wide sky offer fascinating visual impressions.

A Mexican staff member holds a tucan at Grand Palladium White Sand Resort and Spa in Riviera Maya, Yucatan Peninsula, Quintana Roo, Caribbean Coast, Mexico

Mexican aztec dress gods at Grand Palladium White Sand Resort and Spa in Riviera Maya, Yucatan Peninsula, Quintana Roo, Caribbean Coast, Mexico. Aztec clothing was generally loose fitting and did not completely cover the body. When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, the people were surprised to see them in their full armour, with only their faces exposed. Aztec clothes were generally made of cotton (which was imported) or ayate fiber, made from the Maguey Cactus (also called the Century Plant or American Aloe). Women would weave the fibers into clothing, a task girls were taught as young teenagers. Because of their vast trading network, the Aztecs were able to make use of a beautiful array of dyes, creating the brilliant

Strawberry Poison Frog (Dendrobates pumilio), adult, Bastimentos National Park, Bocas del Toro, Panama. The strawberry poison frog or strawberry poison-dart frog (Oophaga pumilio or Dendrobates pumilio) is a species of small amphibian poison dart frog found in Central America. It is common throughout its range, which extends from eastern central Nicaragua through Costa Rica and northwestern Panama. The species is often found in humid lowlands and premontane forest, but large populations are also found in disturbed areas such as plantations. The strawberry poison frog is perhaps most famous for its widespread variation in coloration, comprising approximately 15���30 color morphs, most of which are presumed to be true-breeding. O. pumilio, while not the most poisonous of the dendrobatids, is the most toxic member of its genus. The species is most diverse in Panama with varieties in vivid shades of all red, orange, blue, yellow or green, green and yellow, white with red, orange or black and spotted varieties. The most colorful mix is found in Isla Bastimentos Marine National Park though not all in one place. Colors vary by location. A beach on the north side of the island is named after the species. Two of Southern Explorations' Panama tours visit red frog habitat. Both the eight-day Panama Adventure trip and eleven-day Panama Highlights trip spend time in Isla Bastimentos Marine National Park and the former also goes to Red Frog Beach. The red frog is not as poisonous as some of its cousins and is not a threat to humans. It subsists on a diet of ants that dine on poisonous plants, providing the red frog its protective skin toxin. Males attract females with a loud quick chirp. To hear the distinctive sound before you depart on your Panama tours, go to the University of Michigan Museum's biodiversity website (www.animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu.) After birth, the tadpoles climb aboard the mother who deposits them in different protected areas where she retu

French angelfish, Pomacanthus paru, Ilha rata, Fernando de Noronha national marine sanctuary, Pernambuco, Brazil (S. Atlantic)

Aerial view of Punta Allen Sian Ka'an Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Red lagoon near Boca Paila Bridge. In the language of the Mayan peoples who once inhabited this region, Sian Ka'an means Origin of the Sky. Located on the east coast of the Yucatán peninsula, this biosphere reserve contains tropical forests, mangroves and marshes, as well as a large marine section intersected by a barrier reef. It provides a habitat for a remarkably rich flora and a fauna comprising more than 300 species of birds, as well as a large number of the region's characteristic terrestrial vertebrates, which cohabit in the diverse environment formed by its complex hydrological system. Along its roughly 120 kilometres of coastline, the property covers over 400,000 hectares of land ranging from sea level to only ten m.a.s.l. The property boasts diverse tropical forests, palm savannah, one of the most pristine wetlands in the region, lagoons, extensive mangrove stands, as well as sandy beaches and dunes. The 120,000 hectares of marine area protect a valuable part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and seagrass beds in the shallow bays. The lush green of the forests and the many shades of blue of the lagoons and the Caribbean Sea under a wide sky offer fascinating visual impressions.

Palms and old pier in Punta Allen Sian Ka'an Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. In the language of the Mayan peoples who once inhabited this region, Sian Ka'an means Origin of the Sky. Located on the east coast of the Yucatán peninsula, this biosphere reserve contains tropical forests, mangroves and marshes, as well as a large marine section intersected by a barrier reef. It provides a habitat for a remarkably rich flora and a fauna comprising more than 300 species of birds, as well as a large number of the region's characteristic terrestrial vertebrates, which cohabit in the diverse environment formed by its complex hydrological system. Along its roughly 120 kilometres of coastline, the property covers over 400,000 hectares of land ranging from sea level to only ten m.a.s.l. The property boasts diverse tropical forests, palm savannah, one of the most pristine wetlands in the region, lagoons, extensive mangrove stands, as well as sandy beaches and dunes. The 120,000 hectares of marine area protect a valuable part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and seagrass beds in the shallow bays. The lush green of the forests and the many shades of blue of the lagoons and the Caribbean Sea under a wide sky offer fascinating visual impressions.

Underwater close up view of open coral polyp during a dive, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) sitting on a twig, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

A bird dries in the sunlight by the river, Cooinda, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

Close up of the head of a crocodile in the river, Cooinda, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

Detail view from the back of a crocodile, Cooinda, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

Close up of an eagle on a tree, Cooinda, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Pantherophis guttatus, Elaphe guttata guttata) eating a mouse

Red-eyed Treefrog (Agalychnis callidryas), rainforest, Costa Rica, Central America

Atlantic Porkfish or Paragrate Grunt (Anisotremus virginicus), Caribbean, Americas

Black-mandibled toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus) sitting on branch, rainforest, Costa Rica, Central America

Red fish and limes on an old wooden desk

Spanish Hogfish or Hog Fish (Bodianus rufus), Roatan, Honduras, Caribbean

Bottom view of Great Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) is resting on surface of water, Red sea, Egypt, Africa

Frontal portrait of Sea Cow (Dugong dugon) or Dugong accompanied by school of Golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus) fish feeding Smooth ribbon seagrass, Red sea, Egypt, Africa

Dorsal view of an exotic beetle (?), macro photo, magnification ABM 20 :1, Hesse, Germany, Europe

Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray, Taeniura lymma, Red Sea, Egypt

Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii), Australia

A Pearly Soldierfish (Myripristis kuntee) that was photographed under water while scuba diving at Molokini Crater which is located offshore of Maui; Molokini Crater, Maui, Hawaii, United States of America

A close look at the detail of Brain coral (Platygyra sinensis) during the day with the its polyps closed, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia

HUMMINGBIRD, Coppery headed Emerald, Costa Rica, South america, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Peace Lodge

White-whiskered Hermit hummingbird heading for blossom side view Milpe Reserve Ecuador South America Animals