Stephane Granzotto / Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota) standing alert outside burrow, takes fright and runs inside, Rhone-Alpes, France, July.

Jussi Murtosaari / Peacock Butterfly (Inachis io) closeup of wings, South Karelia, southern Finland, September.

Edwin Giesbers / Close-up of an eye of a Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), captive, native to Sumatra, Indonesia.

Edwin Giesbers / Close-up portrait of a European grey wolf (Canis lupus), captive, Norway, February.

Edwin Giesbers / Face portrait of a European lynx (Lynx lynx), captive, Norway, February.

Radomir Jakubowski / Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) closeup resting, Dovrefjell national park, Norway, September

Marie Read / American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), closeup of individual feeding by using its chisel-shaped bill to pry open shellfish, Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, March.

David Fleetham / Painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus) with first dorsal spine and lure extended to attract prey. Dumaguete, Philippines.

David Fleetham / Imperial commensal shrimp (Periclimenes imperator / Zenopontonia rex) on Spanish dancer nudibranch (Hexabranchus sanguineus) at night. Philippines.

Ernie Janes / Black poplar (Populus nigra) leaf skeleton macro closeup

Ernie Janes / Hydrangea paniculata 'Pinky Winky' in border, Norfolk, England, UK. September.

Stephane Granzotto / Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota) emerging from burrow, standing alert and looking around, Rhone-Alpes, France, July.

Stephane Granzotto / Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) feeding in snow, digging with hooves, Rhone-Alpes, France, December.

Stephane Granzotto / Close-up of an Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) chewing, shot moves to eye, Rhone-Alpes, France, December.

Bert Willaert / Closeup of a Orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides), Kimbe Bay, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea

Roy Mangersnes / Kelp goose (Chloephaga hybrida) closeup from Gypsy Cove on the Falkland Islands.

Fred Olivier / African elephant (Loxodonta africana) reaching with its trunk to feed from a tree, Serengeti NP, Tanzania.

Kim Taylor / Common earwig (Forficula auricularia) closeup of head. Surrey, England, September. Digitally manipulated.

Steve O. Taylor (GHF) / Miners panning for diamonds in a pool, Kono District, Sierra Leone, 2007.

Ingo Arndt / Greater Burnet (Acaena magellanica) Cumberland East Bay, South Georgia Island, February

Ingo Arndt / Grevillea flower (Grevillea dryandri) Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia, December

Peter Schwarz/ BIA / Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) head closeup, Hesse, Germany

Marie Read / Western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis), closeup of adult swimming with chicks riding on its back, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Utah, USA, May.

Marie Read / Western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis), closeup of adult swimming with chicks riding on its back, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Tuah, USA, May.

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

Alex Hyde / Spiny-headed harvestman (Megabunus diadema) showing prominent spines above eyes. Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK. May.

Alex Hyde / Close-up of underside of wing of Painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) showing detail of scales. Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK. September.

Alex Hyde / Painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) showing proboscis extending into buddleia flower. Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK. September.

Marie Read / Tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata), sleeping, closeup, St. Paul Island, Pribilofs, Alaska, USA, July.

Ernie Janes / Pink and white rose, 'Birthday Girl' closeup of petals with water droplets.

Ernie Janes / Pink and white rose, 'Birthday Girl' closeup of petals with water droplets.

Andy Rouse / Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) closeup of male 'Sultan T72' resting, Ranthambore National Park, India.

Brent Stephenson / Adult Takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri) closeup showing the massive bill and frontal shield as it walks through grassland. Tiritiri Matangi Island, Auckland, New Zealand, February. Endangered species.

Brent Stephenson / Adult Takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri) closeup showing the massive bill and frontal shield. Tiritiri Matangi Island, Auckland, New Zealand, April. Endangered species.

Brent Stephenson / Pied cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius) closeup of head showing the brightly coloured caruncle and eye-ring. Kaikoura, Canterbury, New Zealand, October.

Brent Stephenson / Pair of adult Blue duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos hymenolaimus) perched on a rock within a fast flowing river, closeup. The female is front right, male to the left. Ruatiti Domain, Maunganui-o-teao...

Brent Stephenson / Adult Grey teal (Anas gracilis) closeup showing the bright red eye, suggestive that this bird is a male. Te Awanga Lagoon, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, September.

Brent Stephenson / Salvin's albatross (Thalassarche salvini) flying at sea, closeup of head. Kaikoura, Canterbury, New Zealand, September. Vulnerable species.

Brent Stephenson / Adult Blue duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos malacorhynchos) perched on a rock by fast flowing river, closeup. Hollyford River, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand, February. Endangered species.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum hircinum) closeup, on limestone grassland. San Giovanni Rotondo, Gargano, Puglia, Italy, May.

Fabrice Cahez / Closeup of Globe flower (Trollius europaeus) Aubrac, France, July

Georgette Douwma / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) showing embedded spicules / sclerites. Egypt, Red Sea.

Georgette Douwma / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) showing embedded spicules / sclerites. Egypt, Red Sea.

Georgette Douwma / Soft coral (Dendronephthya sp) showing embedded spicules / sclerites, with a Soft coral goby (Pleurosicya boldinghi) Egypt, Red Sea.

Georgette Douwma / Fire coral (Millepora dichotoma) a hydroid, showing the hairs that are covered in cells called nematocysts, used mainly as a defense mechanism against fish which may feed upon it as well as against pr...

Fiona Rogers / Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) mature mae 'Halik' aged 26 years portrait. Gunung Leuser National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia. Apr 2012. Rehabilitated and released (or descended from those which were r...

Fiona Rogers / Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) mature male 'Halik' aged 26 years peering through branches - portrait. Gunung Leuser National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia. Apr 2012. Rehabilitated and released (or desce...

Fiona Rogers / Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) mature male 'Halik' aged 26 years peering through branches - portrait. Gunung Leuser National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia. Apr 2012. Rehabilitated and released (or desce...

Edwin Giesbers / Red panda (Ailurus fulgens), captive, native to the Himalayas.

Edwin Giesbers / Close-up of an eye of a Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), captive, native to Sumatra, Indonesia.

Edwin Giesbers / Close-up of an eye of a Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), captive, native to Sumatra, Indonesia.

Edwin Giesbers / Close-up of the fur pattern of a Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni), captive, native to the Malayan Peninsula.

Edwin Giesbers / Close-up of the spot pattern on skin / fur of a Jaguar (Panthera onca), captive, native to Southern and Central America.

Edwin Giesbers / Close-up of the spot pattern on skin / fur of a Jaguar (Panthera onca), captive, native to Southern and Central America.

Will Watson / Large hail stones collected on the ground after a storm, Herefordshire, England, UK, December.

MYN / Dirk Funhoff / Signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) Idar-Oberstein, Hunsruck, Germany, January. Meetyourneighbours.net project

MYN / Dirk Funhoff / Signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) Idar-Oberstein, Hunsruck, Germany, January. Meetyourneighbours.net project

Edwin Giesbers / Close-up portrait of a European grey wolf (Canis lupus), captive, Norway, February.

Edwin Giesbers / Close-up portrait of a European grey wolf (Canis lupus), captive, Norway, February.

Edwin Giesbers / Close-up portrait of a European grey wolf (Canis lupus), captive, Norway, February.

Edwin Giesbers / Close-up portrait of a European grey wolf (Canis lupus), captive, Norway, February.

Edwin Giesbers / Face portrait of a European lynx (Lynx lynx), captive, Norway, February.

Edwin Giesbers / Portrait of a European grey wof (Canis lupus), captive, Norway, February.

Edwin Giesbers / Close-up of the front paws of a European Lynx (Lynx lynx) showing the large gap between toes that allows it to move easily in heavy snow, captive, Norway, February.

Edwin Giesbers / Portrait of a European lynx (Lynx lynx), captive, Norway, February.

Edwin Giesbers / Portrait of a European grey wolf (Canis lupus), captive, Norway, February.

Colin Varndell / Close-up of Dandelion (Taraxacum vulgaria) flower, Dorset, UK. May

Chris Mattison / Red-eyed leaf frog (Agalychnis callidryas) close-up of eye showing patterned lower eyelid.

Chris Mattison / Mossy New Caledonian gecko (Mniarogekko / Rhacodactylus chahoua) close-up of eye, captive from New Caledonia.

Jabruson / Low angle shot of a herd of Hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius) feeding in the Rutshuru River, before the slaughter of the hippos in the region during the overthrow of President Mobutu Sese Seko i...

Jabruson / Low angle shot of a herd of Hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius) in the Rutshuru River, before the slaughter of the hippos in the region during the overthrow of President Mobutu Sese Seko in the mi...

Jouan Rius / Close up of Whipple cholla (Cylindropuntia whipplei) spikes, Saguaro National Park, Arizona, USA, December 2012.

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstr / Giant peacock moth (Saturnia pyri) close-up of wing, Studen Kladenets reserve, Eastern Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria, May.

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstr / Exmoor ponies, one of the oldest and most primitive horse breeds in Europe, Keent Nature Reserve, The Netherlands, September.

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstrand / Highland cattle cow (Bos taurus) cleaning nose with tongue, Aurochs breeding site run by The Taurus Foundation, Keent Nature Reserve, The Netherlands, September.

Juan Carlos Munoz / Iberian pig close-up of head and ears, Sierra de Aracena Natural Park, Huelva, Andalucia, Spain, Europe. Breed used to produce Iberico ham / Jamon Iberico

Juan Carlos Munoz / Iberian pig close-up of hind legs and tail, Sierra de Aracena Natural Park, Huelva, Andalucia, Spain, Europe. Breed used to produce Iberico ham / Jamon Iberico

Cheryl-Samantha Owen / Cape gannet (Morus capensis) covered in oil, during rehabilitation at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) South Africa, November 2011

Jeff Rotman / Close-up of skin scrawled filefish (Aluterus scripta). Cocos Island, Costa Rica, Pacific Ocean

Jeff Rotman / Close up of skin of a dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippuris). Cocos Island, Costa Rica, Pacific Ocean.

Jeff Rotman / Tail of a Rainbow parrotfish (Scarus guacamaia) Bahamas, Caribbean.

Jeff Rotman / Short spined porcupine fish (Diodon holacanthus) in Lembeh Strait, Celebes Sea, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Jeff Rotman / Rusty parrotfish (Scarus ferrugineus) pectoral fin. Red Sea, Egypt.

Jeff Rotman / Rusty parrotfish (Scarus ferrugineus) pectoral fin. Red Sea, Egypt.

Adrian Davies / Close-up of a Sunflower (Helianthus), Surrey, England, UK, July.

Denis-Huot / Ostrich (Struthio camelus) female close up of wings, Masai-Mara Game Reserve, Kenya

Staffan Widstrand / Girl with bindi and nose piercing, Tongal village, Pulicat Lake, Tamil Nadu, India, January 2013.

Adrian Davies / Orange Tip Butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines) on food plant, Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis) and newly laid eggs on the stems of the plant, Surrey, May

Suzi Eszterhas / Bearded Weevil (Rhinostomus barbirostris) close up of long hairy nose, Northern Costa Rica, Central America

Alex Mustard / A close up of the eye of a Tassled wobbegong shark (Eucrossorhinus dasypogon) illuminated with light from a snoot tube, Batanta Island, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

Alex Mustard / The skin of a Tassled wobbegong shark (Eucrossorhinus dasypogon), showing the rough placoid scales, commonly called denticles. These scales have the same structure as the shark's teeth and are as roug...

Roland Seitre / New Caledonia Giant Gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus) close-up of head, captive, Australian Reptile Park, Gosford, New South Wales, Australia

Roland Seitre / New Caledonia Giant Gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus) close-up of eye, captive, Australian Reptile Park, Gosford, New South Wales, Australia

Alex Mustard / Portrait of a green iguana (Iguana iguana) amongst grass. Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Alex Mustard / Portrait of Male Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) showing teeth. Adams River, British Columbia, Canada, October.

Konrad Wothe / Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) male in zoo, face portrait, West Africa