Ingo Arndt / American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) split level, Everglades, USA, January.

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.

Melvin Grey / Purple gallinule (Porphyrula martinica) adult. Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida, USA, May.

MYN / JP Lawrence / Velvet ant (Dasymutilla quadriguttata) Oxford, Mississippi, USA. Meetyourneighbours.net project

MYN / JP Lawrence / Cave salamander (Eurycea lucifuga) Nachez Trace Parkway, Mississippi, USA. Meetyourneighbours.net project

MYN / JP Lawrence / 13-Year Periodical cicada (Magicicada tredecim) Oxford, Mississippi, USA. Meetyourneighbours.net project

Ernie Janes / Willets (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) feeding at sunset Gulf Coast, Florida, USA, March.

George Sanker / Snowy egret (Egretta thula) with plumes erect, St. Augustine, Florida, USA, April.

George Sanker / Great egret (Ardea alba) taking off with fish prey in mouth, Myakka River State Park, Florida, USA, March.

George Sanker / Barred owl (Strix varia) stretching wings, Corkscrew Swamp Audubon Sanctuary, Florida, USA, March.

George Sanker / Purple gallinule (Porphyrula martinica) in mangrove swamp. Everglades National Park, Florida, USA. March.

George Sanker / Great egret (Ardea alba) in flight, Florida, USA, March.