Claudio Contreras / Californian sea lion (Zalophus californianus) swimming in Southern sea palm (Eisenia arborea) and Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forest, San Benitos Islands, Baja California Pacific Islands Biosphe...

Claudio Contreras / California condor (Gymnogyps californianus), portrait. California condor recovery program, Sierra de San Pedro Martir National Park, Baja California Peninsula, Mexico.

Claudio Contreras / California condor (Gymnogyps californianus), two peched in tree, adult and juvenile. California condor recovery program, Sierra de San Pedro Martir National Park, Baja California Peninsula, Mexico.

Claudio Contreras / Devil's hand Tree (Chiranthodendron pentadactylon) flower, Filo de Caballos, Sierra Madre del Sur, southern Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Central American spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) juveniles hanging by tails and playing, Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, August

Claudio Contreras / Puente de Dios cascades, Tamasopo, Huasteca Region, Mexico, August

Claudio Contreras / Broadfoot mushroomtongue salamander (Bolitoglossa platydactyla), Catemaco Lake, Los Tuxtlas Rainforest, Mexico, July

Claudio Contreras / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) breaching, San Ignacio Lagoon, El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) tail, San Ignacio Lagoon, El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) calf, San Ignacio Lagoon, El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico, February

Claudio Contreras / Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) nesting, Arribada (mass nesting event), Playa Morro Ayuta, Oaxaca state, southern Mexico. Vulnerable species.

Claudio Contreras / Black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) and Caribbean Reef Shark (Carcharhinus perezi), Jardines de la Reina / Gardens of the Queen National Park, Caribbean Sea, Ciego de Avila, Cuba, January

Claudio Contreras / American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), underwater, Jardines de la Reina / Gardens of the Queen National Park, Caribbean Sea, Ciego de Avila, Cuba, January. Vulnerable species.

Claudio Contreras / Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) two swimming together, Jardines de la Reina / Gardens of the Queen National Park, Caribbean Sea, Ciego de Avila, Cuba, January. Vulnerable species.

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) breeding colony, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June. Finalist in the Portfolio Category of the Terre Sauvage Nature Images Awards...

Claudio Contreras / Young girl face to face with Peninsular Pronghorn Antelope (Antilocapra americana peninsularis) fawn at Peninsular Pronghorn recovery project, El Vizcaino Desert Biosphere Reserve, Baja California Pen...

Claudio Contreras / Aerial view of Espiritu Santo Island National Park, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, June, Honorary Mention in the third national contest 'Visions of our Nature' organised by Mexico...

Claudio Contreras / Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) trapped in fishing net, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, May, Third Place in the third National Contest 'Visions of our nature' organised by Mexico'...

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) chick under the wing of protective parent, breeding colony, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June.Finalist in the Portfolio Category...

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) chick age three days, standing in nest, breeding colony, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June, Finalist in the Portfolio Category o...

Claudio Contreras / Californian Sealion (Zalophus californianus) in kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forest, San Benito del Este Island, Baja California Peninsula Pacific Islands Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico, Ma...

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) chick creche in front of attentive adult flamingo group, breeding colony, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June, Finalist in the Por...

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) chick age 5 days, walking around nest, breeding colony, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June, Finalist in the Portfolio Category of...

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) sleeping in the breeding colony, brooding egg, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June, Finalist in the Portfolio Category of the Terr...

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) tending to newborn chick while another feed two day old chick, breeding colony, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June, Finalist in t...

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) chick group walking around the breeding colony, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June, Finalist in the Portfolio Category of the Ter...

Claudio Contreras / Aerial view of Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) breeding colony, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, May, Finalist in the Portfolio Category of the Terre Sauvage Nature...

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) preening chick in the breeding colony, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June Finalist in the Portfolio Category of the Terre Sauvage...

Claudio Contreras / Prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) growing on coastline, Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago National Park (Socorro Islands), Pacific Ocean, Western Mexico, November, Honorary Mention in the third natio...

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) building up mud whilst brooding egg, breeding colony, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June, Finalist in the Portfolio Category of...

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) feeding three day old chick at breeding colony, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June, June, Finalist in the Portfolio Category of t...

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) rolling egg to side in the nest, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June, June, Finalist in the Portfolio Category of the Terre Sauvag...

Claudio Contreras / Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) close up resting, West Point Island, Falkland Islands, October

Claudio Contreras / Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) departing from nest, San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve / Archipielago de Revillagigedo UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site (Socorro Isl...

Claudio Contreras / American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) rear view of animal swimming away over seagrass bed, Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve, Caribbean region, Mexico

Claudio Contreras / American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) exhaling bubbles underwater, Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve, Caribbean region, Mexico, May.

Claudio Contreras / American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) split level with animal resting at surface in shallow water over seagrass bed, Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve, Caribbean region, Mexico

Claudio Contreras / American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) rear view of animal resting in shallow water, close up of tail, Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve, Caribbean region, Mexico

Claudio Contreras / American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) resting just above seagrass underwater, Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve, Caribbean region, Mexico

Claudio Contreras / American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) extreme close up with jaws open, Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve, Caribbean region, Mexico

Claudio Contreras / Aerial view of Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) coastal lagoon, Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, Caribbean Sea, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Aerial view of Contoy island from the north, Contoy Island National Park, Mesoamerican Reef System, near Cancun, Caribbean Sea, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Social feather duster worm (Bispira brunnea) Cancun national Park, Caribbean Sea, Mexico, July

Claudio Contreras / Light entering Cenote Siete Bocas, near Puerto Morelos, Riviera Maya, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. January

Claudio Contreras / Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) swimming, viewed from below, Cozumel Reefs National Park, Cozumel Island, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, February

Claudio Contreras / Atlantic sailfish (Istiophorus albicans) attacking school of Sardine (Sardinella aurita) bait ball, Isla Mujeres, Caribbean Sea, Mexico, February

Claudio Contreras / Gulf coast ribbon snake (Thamnophis proximus orarius) Laredo Borderlands, Texas, USA. April

Claudio Contreras / Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) portrait, Laredo Borderlands, Texas, USA. April

Claudio Contreras / Volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi) captive endemic to Mexico. Critically endangered species.

Claudio Contreras / Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) Playa del Carmen, Caribbean Sea, Mexico, January.

Claudio Contreras / Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) silhouetted in sinkhole, Cenote Carwash, near Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) in sinkhole, Cenote Carwash, near Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) Akumal, Caribbean Sea, Mexico, January. Endangered species.

Claudio Contreras / Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) over sea floor, Akumal, Caribbean Sea, Mexico, January. Endangered species.

Claudio Contreras / Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) wide angle view of fin, Akumal, Caribbean Sea, Mexico, January. Endangered species.

Claudio Contreras / Giant barrel sponge (Xestospongia muta) Cozumel Reefs National Park, Cozumel Island, Caribbean Sea, Mexico, February

Claudio Contreras / Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) in sinkhole, Casa Cenote, near Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, April

Claudio Contreras / Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) feeding view of tail, Isla Mujeres, Caribbean Sea, Mexico, August. Vulnerable species.

Claudio Contreras / Mesoamerican slider turtle / terrapin (Trachemys scripta venusta) in sinkhole, Cenote Carwash, near Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Texas indigo snake (Drymarchon melanurus erebennus) close up amongst Vervain (Glandularia sp.) flowers, Laredo Borderlands, Texas, USA. April

Claudio Contreras / Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) with rays of sunlight, Akumal, Caribbean Sea, Mexico, January. Endangered species.

Claudio Contreras / Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella) flowers at twilight, Laredo Borderlands, Texas, USA. April

Claudio Contreras / Mexican blind brotula (Typhliasina pearsei) a blind cave fish, sinkhole near Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, August. Endangered species.

Claudio Contreras / Mesoamerican slider turtle / terrapin (Trachemys scripta venusta) in sinkhole, Cenote Carwash, near Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Checkered garter snake (Thamnophis marcianus) Laredo Borderlands, Texas, USA. April

Claudio Contreras / Greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) with nuptial gift calling mate, Laredo Borderlands, Texas, USA. April

Claudio Contreras / Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) portrait, Laredo Borderlands, Texas, USA. April

Claudio Contreras / Collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) Laredo Borderlands, Texas, USA. April

Claudio Contreras / Humpback orb-weaver Spider (Eustala sp.) on dew covered web, Laredo Borderlands, Texas, USA. April

Claudio Contreras / Grey fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) licking nose, captive, Mexico City

Claudio Contreras / Volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi) Mexico City, September. Captive, critically endangered species.

Claudio Contreras / Volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi) Mexico City, September. Captive, critically endangered species.

Claudio Contreras / Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) in sinkhole, Cenote Carwash, near Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Spotted drum fish (Equetus punctatus) Puerto Morelos National Park, Caribbean Sea, Mexico, February

Claudio Contreras / Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) backlit, Isla Mujeres, Caribbean Sea, Mexico, August. Vulnerable species.

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) preparing to sleep, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula Mexico, July. Bookplate.

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) adult feeding chick, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula Mexico, June. Winner of the CONABIO Nature Photography Competition 2015.

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) adults guarding chick, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula Mexico, June. Bookplate.

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) about to take off to roosting site, Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula Mexico, January. Best image taken in Mexico and specially commended in...

Claudio Contreras / American coot (Fulica americana americana) in mist, with Popocatepetl volcano behind, Xochimilco wetlands, Mexico City, Mexico. November.

Claudio Contreras / Canal between chinampas, a wetland agricultural system, at dawn, Xochimilco wetlands, Mexico City, November

Claudio Contreras / Red-bellied Squirrel (Sciurus aureogaster) peering round branch, Mexico City, Mexico, November.

Claudio Contreras / Black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) reflected in water, Xochimilco wetlands, Mexico City, March

Claudio Contreras / Waterfowl at dawn with mist, including Great blue heron (Ardea herodias herodias), American avocet (Recurvirostra americana), Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), Xochimilco wetlands, Mexico City, Mexic...

Claudio Contreras / Green heron (Butorides virescens), Xochimilco wetlands, Mexico City, June

Claudio Contreras / Boat on canal between chinampas, a wetland agricultural system. Xochimilco wetlands, Mexico City, September

Claudio Contreras / Aquatic plants (Typha sp.) with Mexico City buildings in the back, Xochimilco wetlands, Mexico City, January

Claudio Contreras / Giant Manta Ray (Manta birostris) at cleaning station with Clarion Angelfish (Holacanthus clarionensis) San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve (The Socorro Islands), Pacific...

Claudio Contreras / Giant Manta Ray (Manta birostris), San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve (Socorro Islands), Pacific Ocean, Western Mexico. Vulnerable species.

Claudio Contreras / Keel billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) calling, captive.

Claudio Contreras / Keel billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus), captive.

Claudio Contreras / Andean condor (Vultur gryphus), IUCN Near Threatened, captive.

Claudio Contreras / Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) in courtship display, San Quintin, Baja California Peninsula, Mexico,

Claudio Contreras / Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) in courtship display, San Quintin, Baja California Peninsula, Mexico,

Claudio Contreras / Californian sea lion (Zalophus californianus), Espiritu Santo Island National Park, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, April

Claudio Contreras / California condors (Gymnnogyps californicus) interacting. Captive. Endangered species.