For this post, we move away from birds and animals to focus on a reptile, which is today amongst the vulnerable species in India. We are talking about the Indian Monitor Lizard. In India, four kinds of Monitor Lizards are found. They are the Bengal Monitor Lizard, Water Monitor Lizard, Desert Monitor Lizard and the Yellow Monitor Lizard. However, excessive hunting and loss of habitat has pushed the Indian Monitor Lizard to the brink of endangered species list. Today they are categorized as Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act.
During one of our safaris in the Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka, India, we had a chance sighting of the Common Indian Monitor Lizard, also known as Bengal Monitor Lizard .
During one of our safaris in the Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka, India, we had a chance sighting of the Common Indian Monitor Lizard, also known as Bengal Monitor Lizard .
All images were taken handheld using the Jeep rails for support. The camera setup as usual was the D300, Nikon 300mm f2.8 lens and the 2x teleconvertor. All image, were taken at 600mm focal length, are slightly less than full frame and have been cropped for composition.
Image specs - f/8, 1/160s, ISO 800, 0EV
Image specs - f/8, 1/250s, ISO 800, 0EV
Image specs - f/8, 1/160s, ISO 800, 0EV
Image specs - f/8, 1/200s, ISO 800, 0EV
Image specs - f/8, 1/160s, ISO 800, 0EV
155 comments:
Very cool shots, he looks so big I had to look him up... I'd certainly mistake him for a small alligator or something from outer space here in the US ;-)
WOnderfull and detailed serie ... well done!
Lovely shot of the monitor hehehe and in Borneo, the tree lizard is elusive and shy than the water monitor lizard :)
Oh this is a terrific series of close ups.
Fantastic... just look at the claws on that fella!
Looks like he picked up a little hitchhiker on his back in that second photo... Awesome!
Phantastic Photos. Fine Details in all of your pictures.
Those are great shots! The difference between the lizards head position from shot 3 to 4 is interestingly strange.
Thomas, I do not like such animals...they are very ugly and I fear them...Yet I adore Your pictures and at this cycle with the pleasure. Kisses! Bea :)
I love lizards and always try to help them out of the house gently without hurting them when they wander inside.
These photos are probably the best I've seen and wow, I could hang out communicating with this guy...he is so wise looking.
Cool shots with great details. I wouldn't like to be in the way of those claws.
This is Superb and Unusual to see this type of endangered creature...Thanks for sharing this with us...:) Keep it Up!
Absolutely Stunning shots! :)
It's sad that an another creature is endangered.
Nice series with clear details. I like the 2 close-ups nr. 3 and 5.
Great captures of superb technical quality, Thomas. Looks like this creature is wearing a knight’s armor. Really amazing!
Such a beautiful creature. It looks as if it was smiling at you, the photographer.
Such a shame some of them are threatened...
Excellent images... very sharp and detailed... quite a funny guy this Monitor Lizard !
He's a beauty as are your photographs!I think I see a bee sitting on lizard's head.
Hello Thomas. Beautiful shots of the monitor.
We only have 2 kinds here, the Water Monitor and the Rock Monitor but they look exactly the same as this one of yours.
Wow. Too good !!!
Also like to photograph those lizards. Picture an alligator other day, near my house in Rio de Janeiro. See the direct link.
Superb work as always!
i don't know if in India have 'the same' lizard like Komodo in Indonesia.. nice photo btw, keep up the good work! :D
Thomas,
Good pics, so much detail and clarity ..I just love all the patterns on these creatures..but think I would definitely want to observe them from a far!!
That last picture is my fav, tho,...what a look..can't even begin to wonder was he was thinking but he doesn't look too relaxed..??
Simply stunning photography.
Red Hair Fellow
Nice shots Thomas Even the close ups are full of detail tack sharp as always :)
Fantastic photos! keep up the good work.
What a relic of ancient times. No wonder he is called the Dragon :)
Very impressive shots.
Great close-up, I particularly like the details of the skin of the lizard!
Wow amazing shots. They are all so crisp and sharp. This is an incredible animal!
such awesome photos of the bengal monitor lizard you got there thomas! The focus is so sharp and clear on its expressions, great work indeed!
That is a face only a mother could love...but incredible photos.
Amazing details. I can see each and every one of those scales so clearly.
Truly astounding shots!!!
Excellent - what else is there to say! Awesome bokeh!
Well done!
Cheers, Klaus
Excellent - you made him look so peaceful. I loved examining his outer layers!
what a scary little beast!
They look so solid and sturdy and down to earth. I hope they make a good recovery.
Excellent details yet again... love the texture in the skin, awesome.
Thinkers - it seems so.
sharp subject and excellent background
Wonderful close up's. This is amazing you got these photos from the Jeep. It looks like you are five inches away. Fantastic details.
Wow!!! These are amazing shots. I'm not big on lizards but I'm big on these photos. Great detail. No, actually it's amazing detail!
:-)
wow, fantastic reptile, amazing shots
wow, what amazing clarity you have in these closeups!! i can't tell how big he is tho, could be a dinosaur for all i know :) great series of shots!!
Nice ! It seems placid...
These are terrific. The scales on their skin is fascinating and your shots are so clear.
These are wonderful photos again. I'm not just sure I'd have the guts to be this near. :)
Is it possible to vote another time? LOL 'coz I'd do so if I can.
It is a pleasure to visit your blog. One comes away having the feeling of visiting a sanctuary and seeing animals at close.
Thomas: What a wonderfil capture of the endangered animal. It is amazing that you caugth a fly on the lizard in that second photo. This is a neat that you got to see it and get such a detailed view of the animal.
Very impressive animal - few days past i read a story about the Komodo Waran - very dangerous animals
The detail in this is fantastic! I stopped before I even got past the first one and added you to my blogroll. As always, first rate work!
wow a beautiful lizard, I wish to know how big is it
The India wilderness really rich and various! I don't know which camera you use here, but good control of noise. You catch many details and nice background (bokeh), Bravo.
Nice anmal cllection. Your website is better than a zoo!
These are really nice close up photos of this animal.
Nice photos of a great animal!
Hi thomas,
I reallt envy you. You have so many creatures around you, and you are able to take awesome pictures of them. This guy is very interesting, big and cute at the same time. Maybe because of the photo quality!!
He looks like he is smiling. I really like lizards, very interesting creatures.
Wonderful shots of the lizard. This is a new creature for me, so I will be off to find more information when I leave.
I think u shd be the naturalist, not ,me :) The post is like the extension of the programme..
Thomas you are full of surprises. Excellent details. I love the skin texture. Thanks for sharing. Anna :)
Wow, I have to say... Your photos are absolutely amazing! And little different than mine from Finland :-D Excotic.
Beautiful as it looks! wonderful work! Congrats.
bonsoir,
Amazing serie..Great detail..Bravo!
Preciosa coleccion de fotografias tomadas a este animal con esas texturas tan caracteristicas.
Saludos.
Marvelous photos! What a splendid reptile. Your photography is inspirational, and that you bring endangered creatures like this to the forefront of public thought with such beautiful imagery is a welcome gift. Thank you!
That good captures of this reptile. Good series!
great shots and info about the lizards of India also! What is being done to protect the little guys?
very well spotted, these images are really tack sharp! nice work!
These close-ups are amazing Thomas!
I love that you have included reptiles in your collection as they are such wonderful creatures, like all others, to photograph!
The details in their skin are outstanding!
Very beautiful embellish with images on this blog. Thank you for your comment
That is a very exotic animal Thomas. Great stuff.
Good morning Thomas :-)
A wonderful serie (as always). I like the details on its skin, ... I must say the lizard has beautiful eye(s).
Very nice level of details! Wonderful photography!
That eye it gives you ! Komodo monsters are fab !
Fantastic pictures Thomas. The details are amazing!
Those are amazing photos! I think I'd be afraid to see this fella in the wild for sure...only if he was a very slow mover (which I doubt). Wonderful photography as always, Thomas!
I'm not sure I thought I'd ever say this but that is one beautiful creature in your very capable hands, Thomas. You've got me inspired to pull out my teleconvertor with my 200 f2.8 lens to see what I can come up with. Of course, I might have to find something interesting to capture! :)
What a magnificent creature, such beauty captured perfectly by your exquisite photographs.
Wunderfull capture ! :-))
These images are just so incredible! What a great series!
Beautiful.. beautiful!
this is as usual, pictures of great quality that you perfectly master
Thomas - these are truly amazing photos. They are so close up, it's almost scary!
this shots are really brilliant!
Your 2x converter is doing a fantastic job for you. These are marvelous close ups with excellent color and detail. Excellent in every way.
Gotta love the details, beautiful series!
That is wonderful leather skin. Wonderful shots.
I love the little fly on his head! Not sure I would want to run into him in a dark alley. :)
Very cool. Jurassic park at home.
Superbes images. Magnifique rendu de la texture du lézard ... On aimerait pourvoir le toucher !
I enjoy very much the very hi quality of your images
http://krikis.aminus3.com
Amazing work - I can even see the bug on him in that one shot! I hope these lizards soon are off the endangered list!
Thanks for the info on taking the photos too!
When you see you are the comment number 92,there's anything left to write...
Stunning pictures,anyway...
Gran definición. Buen trabajo de aproximación y seguimiento.
I like your pictures! There's just wonderful. What camera do you use?
I wish these beauties were common in my country.
Nothing common about your images though:)
très belles images un peu répétitives , dommage !
Always, when I visit your blog I experience amazing wildlife. Your images are wonderful!
Fantastic series, such clear detail
Fabulous as usual.
My favourite is the second one. Nicely composed.
Your photos inspire people to protect these species and conserve habitat. Very informative. Thanks.
weird ears -- or is that just an extension of the jaw? big heads. lizards are funny looking eh :) great skin texture. man. very cool.
We just happen to love lizards -and are lucky enough to have some in our gardens (OK small ones!)
this is some excellent shots! The sharpness is wonderful - great job!
I bet that's a clever beast!
Really a nice guy. And good captured.
Your photos are of a very big beauty, this reptile seems to be dressed in an armor of the Middle Ages, still all my congratulations.
wow! great shots~ i really enjoy of your photography of animal :D BRAVO INDEED... :)
Very detail head pics. The position of the nostrils are key to ID of this sp.
Amazing shots! Love the details too.
Wow ! really impressive and somehow fascinating creature.
Your pictures are really splendid.
Very nice shot as always! Perfect focus and beautiful DOF.
Awesome photos, it really looks like he's trying to stare you down.
I like the closeup of it. You can see it's texture of the skin. It looks like a dragon. Nice picture.
Wow, these are great! And thanks for visiting my site. I'm looking forward to your next posts.
Just found your blog today and am thrilled. You take INCREDIBLE photos!
J'ai l'impression que le varan va sortir de l'écran tellement il a l'air réel! Excellentes photos, comme toujours, je suis en admiration!
Great photos.
Thank you for visiting my blog and for the kind words.
Excellent captures.
Very nice, Thomas. I'd like to see one of these in person sometime.
I'm impressed by your animal photos. Fantastic sharpness. Perfect work here again !
de très fins détails renforcés par une profondeur de champ très justement choisie..
Very nice close-up.
Excellent.
Bravo.
Yvon.
Very amazing shots !
Les détails sont d'une grande précision, un profil des plus surprenants...
i love all the little details nicely portrayed! you did a great job.
What an elegant creature.
Good composition and very well framed. The color realy nice too.
Thomas,
As usual, unusual !!!
I've said this before, you are the best nature photographer I have seen. Excellent sharpness and clarity as usual.
I esp like 1490.jpg - looks like he's wearing a hood, isnt' it, like one of those masked bandits!
and 1496.jpg - is that a grimace or a smile?!
We saw these lizards up close at Bharatpur, and I was amused at the way they just sat and sunbathed fixing us with baleful stares!
My pics are not a patch on these amazing ones, but do check it out at your leisure!
http://madraswanderer.blogspot.com/2009/01/obliging-monitors-of-bharatpur.html
I love the way you capture the eyes in all of your animal shots. Really incredible work as always.
Wow, cool shots, very sharp, nice details.
Your wildlife images are excellent Thomas. The details are amazing. I added you to my bookmarks toolbar. :)
Oh my god!! These shots are amazing although....i don't think I want to see a lizard that close
monitor lizards are soooooo cool.
pity there are none in the alps
Dale
http://alpinebirds.blogspot.com
Fantastic images -wonderful clarity and amazing to see this lizard! Great Work!
thank you for your kind words and appreciation about my blog.
I will be following your blog, and hopefully we can meet up some time (I will get to India some day!)
Those are fantastic shots, Thomas!
Nikkor 300/2.8 and TC-20 looks like a great combination.
Have a nice weekend.
Thanks for your comments.
Which one is your 2x teleconvertor??
Can i use one with my 18-135mm lens??
I am a big fan of reptile snaps- and this is a marvelous showcase. Great expression capture and superb handling of the textures of the skins.
Awesome series! Those are excellent photos of a beautiful creature.
thany you for this superb series. just stunning!
Wow, looks like a mini dragon or dinosaur! Great shots!
Great wildlife work, very sharp and well isolated from their background.
Beautiful animal, even if I am a bit scaried ;)
I love the fly on its neck !!! ;-)
WOW! Don't seen these creatures everyday! Great shots!
I like a lot the series abot this kind guy. Really a great job!
i never knew something like this can be found in India. Sad to know that they are in the endangered species list.
Very nice shots.
The details can be seen to the core.
These are beautiful. It's a shame these are on the verge of being endangered. Nice work in photographing this specimen. For the lighting you got a great deal of detail and sharpness.
wow great captures
Wow. Absolutely amazing shots!
The lizard shots are incredible. That clear and near.
Brilliant stuff. amazing lizards!
Great series and a really nice lizard
It looks gigantic from close ups.. and look at the veins...
Excellent pics
Read poems
You make very beautiful pictures!
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