Posts in Category: crocadile
India! Mugger Crocodile
Mugger Crocodile: Chambal River near Rathambore, Rajasthan, India, March 2023 — Besides the Gharials the Chambal is home to another crocodile…the Mugger. It lacks the long thin snout of the Gharials and is, on average, slightly smaller…though these two are certainly big enough to inspire some respect. Sony Rx10iv at 534 and 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 160 and 200 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
India! Gharial
Gharial: Chambal River, Rajasthan, India, March 2023 — When I looked up this strange member of the crocodile family this morning, it turns out that it is among the rarest of its kind, residing in only a few rivers in India and Nepal. It is endangered throughout its range. I assume that like most crocodiles, the open mouth posture is for heat regulation. It uses that long snout with all those teeth to hunt fish in the deep pools of the rivers. Sony Rx10iv at 135-600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos, and assembled in FrameMagic. ISO 100 and 125 @ f4 @ 1/500th and 1/640th.
Uganda Edition: Croc #2
Nile Crocodile, Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — One Croc deserves another…this one is slightly smaller than the one I posted yesterday, but then most crocs would be. This is maybe 12 feet long, and not so massive…and is showing off all its teeth. As cold-blooded animals, Crocodiles hold their mouths open to lower their body temperatures on warm days. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixomator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 400 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Uganda Edition: Croc!
Nile Crocodile: Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — We were coming to the end of the trip and my friend Stan was complaining that he had not seen a “monster” croc yet…so, of course, we had to find him one from the tour boat on Lake Mburo. This gentleman had to be 15 feet long, and was just massive with it! Just the kind of croc who figures in the fables. Old and wily and wise…a true climax predator, without an ounce of mercy in his whole body! Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 500 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Crocodile, Hippo, and three Terripins
Crocodile, Hippopotamus, and three Hinged Terripins, Kruger National Park, South Africa
The few remaining watering holes at Kruger National Park in South Africa make for strange associations: in this case a Crocodile, a Hippopotamus, and three Hinged Terripins. None of these animals are much threat to the others. The Crocodile might be tempted by a Hippo calf, but it would be very unlikely to get by the fiercely protective mother, and no Croc messes with a full grown Hippo. I suppose the Croc might also try for the Terripins but I am sure their heavy shell is a deterrent. The Croc is sunning itself, using the membranes in its mouth to regulate its body temperature. The Hippo is resting in hopes (probably misplaced during this drought) of finding grass to feed on during the cool hours of the night. Hippo hide is very sensitive to the sun and they have to keep pretty much submerged all day. The Terripins appear to be both sunning and resting, taking advantage of the elevation and relative safety of the Hippo’s broad back.
Sony RX10iii at 600mm equivalent field of view. 1/800th @ ISO 100 @ f4. Processed and cropped to about 1200mm apparent field of view in Lightroom.