Red-eyed Reef Crab (Eriphia smithii)

Red-eyed Reef Crab (Eriphia smithii)

The marine life around Socotra is rich and diverse, but I am focusing on the flora and fauna on land. However, I had a short window of opportunity during low…


Red Sea Ghost Crab (Ocypode saratan)

Red Sea Ghost Crab (Ocypode saratan)

Erissel is the easternmost point of Socotra. It is a windswept low-lying area governed by the elements. During cyclones the wind and sea wreak havoc on the…


Red Sea Ghost Crab (Ocypode saratan)

Red Sea Ghost Crab (Ocypode saratan)

Erissel is the easternmost point of Socotra. It is a windswept low-lying area governed by the elements. During cyclones the wind and sea wreak havoc on the…


Red Sea Ghost Crab (Ocypode saratan)

Red Sea Ghost Crab (Ocypode saratan)

The north-facing beach of the tip of Erissel is wide and deep, with a large part only tasting the waves during monsoons. This is perfect conditions for the…


Inversed Fiddler Crab (Cranuca inversa)

Inversed Fiddler Crab (Cranuca inversa)

I found plenty of this species at this location and no signs of competing species. They thrive here next to a large date grove, where I rested in their…


Southern Steenbuck (Raphicerus campestris ssp. campestris)

Southern Steenbuck (Raphicerus campestris ssp. campestris)

The steenbuck is blending well with the dry grasses, both in color and small size as it reaches no more than 60 cm (24") in height.


Gaur (Bos gaurus)

Gaur (Bos gaurus)

This magnificent animal is the largest of all wild cattle. Unfortunately humanity's insatiable desire to destroy habitats has decimated its numbers. Thus the…


Gaur (Bos gaurus)

Gaur (Bos gaurus)

This is a magnificent giant that only fears humans and tigers. It is the largest of all wild cattle and is also called Indian bison by many. Like so many other…


Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus)

Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus)

In what seemed like a quite morning with little wildlife in Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary, I almost passed by a large group of Himalayan tahrs grazing near the…


Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus)

Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus)

My goal was to get a glimpse of this high altitude species, and on my first morning I did see a lone adult male quite near in. I did get a decent image and was…