Andy Rouse / Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) portrait in sea-ice landscape. Wide angle / fish-eye shot. Svalbard, Norway, September.

Edwin Giesbers / Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) close up portrait, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia

Morley Read / Slow motion clip of a Forest whiptail lizard (Kentropyx pelviceps) blinking its eye, showing nictitating membrane crossing the eye, Amazon rainforest, Orellana Province, Ecuador. (non-ex)

Morley Read / Clown treefrog (Dendropsophus reticulatus) opening its eyes, Amazon rainforest, Orellana Province, Ecuador. (non-ex)

Nick Garbutt / Western red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) climbing in tree. Singalila National Park, India / Nepal border.

Andy Rouse / Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris) male, sub-adult aged three years, face portrait. Ranthambhore National Park, India.

Shane Gross / Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi), two from below, one close up. Caribbean Sea off Gardens of the Queen National Park, Cuba.

Jordi Chias / Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella), Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Ingo Arndt / Close-up of a Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) feeding, Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile, December.

Espen Bergersen / Killer whale / orca (Orcinus orca). Spyhopping very close, showing eye. Kvanangen, Troms, Norway. November

Edwin Giesbers / Lemon-yellow tree frog (Hyla savignyi) climbing up grass stem. Cyprus. April.

Morley Read / Leaf frog (Agalychnis hulli) blinking its eyes and turning around, Orellana Province, Ecuador. (non-ex)

Ernie Janes / Black howler (Alouatta caraya) captive, occurs in South America.

Willi Rolfes/ BIA / European Wolf (Canis lupus), Lower Saxony, Germany

Karine Aigner / Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) head, close up. Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India.

Thomas Marent / Buckley's Slender-legged Treefrog (Osteocephalus buckleyi), Putumayo, Colombia

Paul Williams / Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) close up portrait, captive.

Staffan Widstrand / Wild Wonders of China / Portrait of a Golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) full frame of the face, Foping Nature Reserve, Shaanxi, China. Endangered species

Ralph Pace / Silky Shark (Carcharhinus falciformis), Galapagos Shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis), Dusky Shark (Carcharhinus obscurus), and Black-tip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) group working with Yellowfin Tuna...

Ralph Pace / Silky Shark (Carcharhinus falciformis), Galapagos Shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis), Dusky Shark (Carcharhinus obscurus), and Black-tip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) group working with Yellowfin Tuna...

Phil Savoie / Pink lady mayfly (Epeorus albertae) close up of eye of male, Madison River, Montana, USA, August.

Theo Bosboom / Small red damselfly (Ceriagrion tenellum) close up portrait, warming up in the early morning. De Hatertse Vennen Nature Reserve, near Nijmegen, the Netherlands, July.

Theo Bosboom / Emerald damselfly (Lestes sponsa) hiding behind a stem, Meinerswijk, Arnhem, the Netherlands, July.

Theo Bosboom / Close-up of Emerald damselfly (Lestes sponsa) compound eye, covered in dewdrops, Hatertse vennen, the Netherlands, July.

Theo Bosboom / Common bluetail damselfly (Ischnura elegans) on leaf, Millingerwaard, the Netherlands, June.

Theo Bosboom / Close-up of a White-legged damselfly (Platycnemis pennipis) Meinerswijk, The Netherlands, June.

Theo Bosboom / Small red damselfly (Ceriagrion tenellum), warming up in the early morning, De Hatertse Vennen Nature Reserve, near Nijmegen, the Netherlands, July

Luke Massey / Close-up of a Wild boar (Sus scrofa) approaching a remote camera and knocking it over, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England, UK, May.

Staffan Widstrand / Wild Wonders of China / Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul) two sitting side by side, Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai, China

Staffan Widstrand / Wild Wonders of China / Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul) Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai, China

Tui De Roy / Swallow-tailed gull (Creagrus furcatus) calling, Genovesa Island, Galapagos

Cyril Ruoso / Mute swan (Cygnus olor) feeding underwater, Burgundy, France, November.

Steve Downer / Close-up of a Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) feeding from a bowl in a garden, Birmingham, England, UK, March.

James Dunbar / Rose chafer (Cetonia aurata) nectaring on a thistle flower, England, UK, September.

Steve Downer / Fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) close-up of eye.

Ingo Arndt / Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) adult resting, close up portrait, Everglades National Park, Florida, USA. January. Finalist in the Birds Category of the GDT Awards 2015.

Steve Downer / Yellow slug larva (Limax flavus) emerging from an egg case, controlled conditions.

Steve Downer / Yellow slug larva (Limax flavus) emerging from an egg case, controlled conditions.

Steve Downer / Banded snail (Cepaea nemoralis) on rear of a backlit rose leaf, controlled conditions.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Mountain hare (Lepus timidus) in a freshly dug snow hole, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK, December.

Sue Daly / Close up of the face of a Brill (Scophthalmus rhombus), swims out of frame, Sark, British Channel Islands, UK, August.

Sue Daly / Close up of a Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), swims away, Sark, British Channel Islands, UK, June.

Ammonite / Close up of a Common snail (Cornu aspersum) moving, with Woodlice (Oniscidea). Controlled conditions.

Ingo Arndt / Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) picture taken with a remote camera car, Alaska, July.

Ingo Arndt / Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas) eye closed with semi-transparent eyelid that allows it to see its surroundings even while resting, Costa Rica.

Ingo Arndt / Red-eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas) close- up of eye half open, the golden webbed semi-transparent eyelid allows to see its surrounding even while resting, Costa Rica.

Ingo Arndt / Close up of foot and eye of Red eyed tree frog {Agalychnis callidryas}

Francois Savigny / Close-up Indian elephant eye. Bandhavgarh Nationa Park, India

Nick Garbutt / Female Red-eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas) - Caribbean slope race (blue flanks) - obscured in rainforest foliage. Mid-altitude rainforest near Aranal, central Costa Rica.

Thomas Marent / Bonobo (Pan paniscus) staring, native to central Africa

Andrew Walmsley / Javan slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus), Juvenile temporarily captive to allow measurements to be made. Cipaganti, Garut, Java, Indonesia.

Alex Mustard / Tompot blenny (Parablennius gattorugine) portrait, Swanage Pier, Swanage, Dorset, UK, English Channel, August

Markus Varesvuo / Snowy owl (Bubo scandiaca) female face close up, Canada February

Suzi Eszterhas / Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) orphaned pup, three weeks old, Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward, Alaska

Nick Hawkins / Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) portrait. camera trap image, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica.

Neil Aldridge / Plain's zebra (Equus quagga) close up of face, Kariega Game Reserve. South Africa.

Neil Aldridge / Mud-covered face of bull African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) with a cateract in one eye, on the banks of the Chobe River, Chobe National Park, Botswana.

Danny Green / Coastal brown bear (Ursus arctos) eating a fish, Lake Clarke National Park, Alaska, September

Alex Hyde / Jumping spider (Salticidae) hunting among vegetation, San Jose, Costa Rica.

Colin Varndell / Grass snake (Natrix natrix) Dorset, UK May

Fiona Rogers / Mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei) female portrait, member of 'Humba' group . Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo, March.

Fiona Rogers / Mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei) female portrait , part of the 'Munyanga' group. Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo, March.

Fiona Rogers / Mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei) female portrait, member of 'Humba' group . Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo, March.

Andy Rouse / African Lion (Panthera leo) female carrying young cub. Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa. August.

Bence Mate / Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) close up with large fish in beak, Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary. February.

Bence Mate / Great egrets (Ardea alba) sky pointing, sizing each other up before fighting, Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary. January.

Bence Mate / Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) close up of neck and eye, Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary, February.

Bence Mate / Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) close up with fish in beak, Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary, February.

Mark Taylor / Tricolour merle Collie puppy, Indie, age 10 weeks.

Jan Hamrsky / Diving beetle (Colymbetes fuscus) close up head portrait. Europe, June. Controlled conditions.

Luis Quinta / Common genet (Genetta genetta) portrait, Arrabida Natural Park, Portugal, March.

Mark Taylor / Yellow Labrador Retriever puppy, age 9 weeks, lying with head up.

Alex Hyde / Harvestman (Leiobunum sp.) Triglav National Park, Julian Alps, Slovenia, July.

Alex Hyde / Painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) on flower, Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK. September.

Mark Taylor / Tabby kitten, 6 weeks, lying with head up and raised paw.

Mark Taylor / Silver tabby kitten, Loki, age 3 months, sitting up with paws outstretched.

Benjamin Barthelemy / Close-up of a Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) resting, with mountains in the background, Vanoise National Park, Rhone Alpes, France, October.

Wim van den Heever / Lion (Panthera leo) male with scars photographed with side-lit spot light at night. Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa, April.

Pedro Narra / Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) resting in the shallows of the coast, Bijagos Islands, Guinea Bissau. Endangered species.

Juan Carlos Munoz / Close up of horse wearing bridle, Sierra de Gredos, Avila, Castile and Leon, Spain.

Juan Carlos Munoz / Close up of horse wearing bridle, Sierra de Gredos, Avila, Castile and Leon, Spain.

Edwin Giesbers / Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) twin babies age 45 days resting on mother's chest, one suckling. captive, occurs in Central Africa. Critically endangered.

Wim van den Heever / Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in darkness, Masai Mara, Kenya.

Wim van den Heever / Lion (Panthera leo) male in darkness, Okavango Delta, Botswana.

MYN / JP Lawrence / Strawberry poison frog (Oophaga pumilio) Escudo de Veraguas, Panama. Meetyourneighbours.net project

Georgette Douwma / Big-eye fish (Priacanthus hamrur). Egypt, Red Sea.

Pedro Narra / Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) returning to sea, Bissagos Islands, Guinea Bissau. Endangered species. 3rd Place in the SOS Especes Menacees / SOS Endangered Species Portfolio category of the Terre Sau...

Pedro Narra / Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) two interacting at surface, Bissagos Islands, Guinea Bissau Endangered species. 3rd Place in the SOS Especes Menacees / SOS Endangered Species Portfolio category of the...

Juergen Freund / Mud crab (Scylla serrata) in shallow sandy water. Split level with island and thatched house on stilts. Moromahu Island, Wakatobi, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Second Place in the Portfolio Award of the...

Alex Mustard / Red eye medusa (Polyorchis penicillatus) with hitchhiking amphipods (Hyperia medusarum). Browning Pass, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. North East Pacific Ocean.

Alex Mustard / Portrait of Bigfin squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) hovering in open water above a coral reef at night. Dampier Strait, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Tropical West Pacific Ocean

Alex Mustard / Harlequin sweetlips (Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides) cleaned by a pair of bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus). South Atoll, Tubbataha Atolls, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Palawan, Philipp...

Anup Shah / Eastern chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurtheii) young baby of adolescent female 'Golden' suckling. Gombe National Park, Tanzania.

Suzi Eszterhas / Ring tailed lemur (Lemur catta) mother and very young (1-2 week) baby. Berenty Private Reserve, Madagascar.

Fiona Rogers / Eastern chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurtheii) infant male 'Gizmo' aged 2 years lying on the forest floor. Gombe National Park, Tanzania.