Images Dated 12th May 2019

Shanghai elegant skink (Plestiodon elegans)

Shanghai elegant skink (Plestiodon elegans), with startling colours for survival: predators are attracted to the blue-purple tail that breaks off if grabbed. The skink escapes and hides while the predator is left with the vigorously wriggling tail. The skink grows a replacement, with the same colouring but shorter. Senkaku Islands, East China Sea, Japan

Reeves turtle (Mauremys reevesii)

Reeves turtle (Mauremys reevesii), head and neck protruding from the carapace. Considerable variation in head colouring is found from individual to individual. Shiga Prefecture, Japan

Animal, Animals, China, Chinemys Reevesii, Chinese Pond Turtle, Chinese Three Keeled Pond Turtle, Close Up, Endangered, Farmed In China, Fauna, Geoemydidae, Golden Turtle, Japanese Coin Turtle, Mauremys, One Animal, Pet, Pet Trade, Reevesís Turtle, Reptile, Reptilia, Shell, Species, Terrestrial, Testudines, Traditional Medicine, Turtle, Wildlife

A stick insect (Micadina phluctaenoides)

A stick insect (Micadina phluctaenoides), hatching. If it is male, it may reach 40 mm in length, if female, 57 mm, and its green colour will give it perfect camouflage in leaves. Its egg case also is camouflaged, as a seed of its host tree, Castanopsis sp., family Fagaceae. Japan

Case, Egg, Endemic To Japan, Insect, Mantid, March, Phasmatidae, Phasmid, Spring