Australian Geographic - 09.2019 - 10.2019

September. October 69

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DECORATOR

CRAB

Ross Gudgeon,

Western Australia

DECORATOR CRAB,

ACHAEUS SPINOSUS

Typically, decorator crabs attach

pieces of sponge and seaweed to

themselves to camouflage and hide

from predators (which makes them

very poor photographic subjects).

However, Achaeus spinosus attaches

stinging hydroids to itself

to ward off potential predators

(making it a very attractive subject

for photography).

Lembeh Strait, North East

Sulawesi, Indonesia

Canon EOS 7D Mk II, Canon

EF 100mm, f/2.8 macro USM,

1/250, f/16, ISO 200, INON

Z240 strobe with Retra Pro

light shaping device, handheld

4

BRIDE IN

THE BATH

Melissa Christi, Queensland

TERMITE,

UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES

Storms finally broke the dry grip of

drought, creating perfect conditions

for termite nuptial flights. Making

the most of their small window of

time, some were lucky, but others

were not – like this termite alate.

Entranced by the reflective surface,

it was trapped by the pond.

Serenely beautiful in death.

Mount Perry, Queensland

Nikon D610, Tamron 90mm,

1/125, f/5.6, ISO 250,

handheld

Animal Portrait

Winner Runner- up

1

CURIOUS

ENCOUNTER

Etienne Littlefair,
Northern Territory

MERTENS’ WATER MONITOR,
VARANUS MERTENSI
STATUS: ENDANGERED
Mertens’ water monitors are highly
inquisitive. This extremely bold
specimen ostentatiously approached
me to investigate the good-looking
lizard in my dome port while I
observed another nearby pair
engaged in courtship – sadly for
him he was staring at his own
reflection, not his dream mate.

Adelaide River,
Northern Territory
Olympus OMD EM-1 Mk II,
Olympus 8mm f/1.8, 1/125,
f/11, ISO 64, two
Sea & Sea YS-D2 strobes,
manual flash output, Nauticam
underwater housing, handheld

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JUST

HANGING ON

Neil Edwards, South Australia

GREY-HEADED FLYING-FOX,

PTEROPUS POLIOCEPHALUS

STATUS: VULNERABLE

On extremely hot evenings grey-

headed flying-foxes will dip their

bellies into the river so they can

lick their wet fur for a drink.

This female still carrying her young

misjudged her approach and nearly

dropped the baby on impact with

the river, but somehow it just

managed to hang on.

River Torrens, Adelaide,

South Australia

Canon 7D Mk II, Canon 100–

400mm f/4.5–5.6 L IS USM

and Canon Extender EF 1.4X

III, 1/1600, f/8, ISO 1600,

handheld

Threatened Species

Winner Runner- up

ANIMAL

PORTRAIT

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