Konrad Wothe / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) male in winter, stretching on branch, Upper Bavaria, Germany, Europe

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

David Pattyn / Spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) portrait with head just on water surface, Pantanal, Brazil

Cheryl-Samantha Owen / Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) approaching Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) in shallow water, Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles, Indian Ocean

Jack Dykinga / Sand storm cutting across the Mesquite Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, California, USA 2010

Andy Sands / Digger Wasp (Cerceris arenaria) emerging from burrow where it stores insects, paralysed to feed the wasp's larvae. London, England, UK, July.

Mark Bowler / Common Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus ssp. macrodon) in tree, calling, Peru, captive

Alex Hyde / Regal jumping spider (Phidippus regius) male originating from North America. Captive.

Laurie Campbell / Male Adder (Vipera berus) basking on rock, Northumberland National Park, England, May

Edwin Giesbers / Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) head portrait, The Netherlands, March

Pete Oxford / Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi) Jardines de la Reina National Park, Cuba

Pete Oxford / Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) The Orianne Indigo Snake Preserve, Telfair County, Georgia, USA, threatened species, captive

Luis Quinta / Baskian viper (Vipera seoanei) Geres National Park, Portugal, September.

Bert Willaert / Large Psammodromus Lizard (Psammodromus algirus) against sand. Ebro Delta, Spain.

Chadden Hunter / Close up of Husky dog eyes (Canis familiaris), note the different eye colour, Northern Canada. Taken on location for BBC Frozen Planet series, 2009

Konrad Wothe / Estuarine / Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) amongst mangrove roots, Daintree National Park, Queensland, Australia, October

Sven Zacek / Two Mute Swans (Cygnus olor). Estonia, Europe, February.

Andrew Parkinson / Red kite (Milvus milvus) in swooping dive, Gigrin Farm, Mid Wales, UK, March.

Laurent Geslin / Leopard (Panthera pardus) walking, watched by herd of Impala, Masai Mara reserve, Kenya

Klaus Echle / Black Viper / Adder (Vipera berus) head in profile. Black Forest, Germany, June.

Markus Varesvuo / Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) flying low over snow with talons brandished. Kuusamo, Finland, February.

Jeff Rotman / Bluefin Trevally (Caranx melampygus) hunting Caesio Bluefish / Lunar Fusilier (Caesio lunaris). The Red Sea, Egypt.

Philippe Clement / Alpine Chough / Yellow-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) flock in flight against mountains, Dolomites, Italy. Digital composite.

Colin Varndell / Adder (Vipera berus) basking on pebble beach. Abbotsbury, Dorset, UK, March.

Fabrice Cahez / Close-up portrait of a Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes). Vosges, France, June. Not available for ringtone/wallpaper use.

Juergen Freund / Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) West New Britain, Papua New Guinea

Eric Baccega / Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) showing tusk above water surface. Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, April.

Matthew Maran / Dramatic seas crashing onto a rocky shore. The Broken Group Islands from The Wild Pacific Trail, Ucluelet, West coast of Vancouver Island, Canada, September 2010.

Juergen Freund / Whitemargin stargazer (Uranoscopus sulphureus) half hidden in the sand. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Juergen Freund / Split-level shot of Black tip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) patrolling the shallows. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, January 2010

Alex Mustard / Large / Pot Bellied Seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis) face portrait. Blairgowrie Marina, Mornington Peninsular, Victoria, Australia, March.

Juergen Freund / Common lionfish (Pterois volitans) seen from the rear. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Tony Phelps / Southern Dwarf Adder (Bitis armata) climbing in dune thicket. De Hoop Nature Reserve, Western Cape, South Africa, January.

Anup Shah / African lion (Panthera leo) cubs aged 6-9 months approaching with curiosity watched by their mother, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. February

Anup Shah / Cape / African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) approaching camera with curiosity, wide angle perspective, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. September

Edwin Giesbers / Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) with its beak tucked under its wing. The Netherlands, June.

Alex Hyde / Beech woodland in dense fog. Derbyshire, UK, November

Russell Cooper / Common Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum striolatum) head and compound eyes, South London, UK, September

Edwin Giesbers / Asian giant forest scorpion (Heterometrus longimanus) with tail raised, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia

LYNN M. STONE / Portrait of Abyssinian Cat, Connecticut, USA

Andrew Parkinson / Coot (Fulica atra) portrait, revealing the size of its enormous feet as it crosses a frozen lake. Derbyshire, UK, January (non-ex) Highly commended in the Portfolio category of the BWPA Competition 20...

Daniel Heuclin / Arizona mountain kingsnakes (Lampropeltis pyromelana) Found in Chiricahua mountains, SE Arirona. Controlled conditions

Alex Mustard / A large female Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) swimming in open water. Grand Bahama, Bahamas. Tropical West Atlantic Ocean. March

Alex Mustard / Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) under sun rays. Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas. West Atlantic Ocean.

Alex Mustard / Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi) at the surface at sunset. Grand Bahama, Bahamas.

Alex Mustard / Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi) over sand ripples, Walkers Cay, Bahamas. Tropical West Atlantic Ocean. Taken with natural light.

Alex Mustard / A lone Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi) cruises over sand ripples. Walkers Cay, Northern Bahama Islands, Republic of Bahamas.

Christophe Courteau / Large adult male Leopard (Panthera pardus) walking through the bush at night, Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, South Africa, June

Alex Hyde / Ogre faced / Net-casting spider {Deinopis sp} with web held between legs that it will stretch over prey that walks below it. Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Madagascar tree boa {Sanzinia madagascariensis} tropical rainforest. Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Ogre faced / Net-casting spider {Deinopis sp} with web held between legs that it will stretch over prey that walks below it. Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Fosa / Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) male prowling in dry deciduous forest, Kirindy Forest, Western Madagascar, IUCN vulnerable species.

Laurent Geslin / Urban fox (Vulpes vulpes) portrait in suburban street at night, London, England.

Jouan & Rius / Smoke from bush fire in Pilbara region, Western Australia. August 2009

Ann & Steve Toon / Head portrait of Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) partically submerged, Crocodile Centre, St Lucia, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Captive

Edwin Giesbers / Head portrait of Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) with face half cast in shadow, and mouth open, captive

Edwin Giesbers / Close up head portrait of melanistic / black Leopard (Panthera pardus) captive

Stephen Dalton / Brown rat (Rattus norvegious) silhoutted in sewage piping, UK, controlled conditions

Edwin Giesbers / Grass snake {Natrix natrix} coiled, the Netherlands

Edwin Giesbers / Canebrake Rattlesnake {Crotalus horridus atricaudatus} captive;

Edwin Giesbers / Western diamondback rattlesnake {Crotalus atrox} captive, from Texas, USA

John Waters / Banded Mongoose (Mungos mungo) group on the move, crossing a track at Mweya Lodge, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda, E. Africa

Stephen Dalton / Brown rat {Rattus norvegicus} backlit, night, controlled conditions, UK

Laurie Campbell / Silhouette of Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) flying over water, hawking for insects, Berwickshire, Scotland, UK, July

Doug Perrine / Close up of teeth and mouth of Salmon shark {Lamna ditropis} captive, Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA (digitally edited)

Stephen Dalton / Green lacewing (Chrysopa sp) close up of head, UK

Stephen Dalton / House spider (Tegenaria sp) lurking at entrance of funnel web, UK, Agelenidae

Andy Rouse / Little owl (Athena noctua) head portrait, captive, UK

Andy Rouse / Black swan (Cygnus atratus) drinking with reflection in water, UK

David Shale / Viper fish {Chauliodus sloani}, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, North Atlantic Ocean

David Shale / Angler fish Melanocetus murrayi, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, North Atlantic Ocean

David Shale / Angler fish (Melanocetus murrayi) Mid-Atlantic Ridge, North Atlantic Ocean

Mark Bowler,Mark Bowler / Ball / Royal python (Python regius) coiled, moving away

Mark Bowler / Isula / Bullet ant (Paraponera clavata) close-up showing mandibles, Peru

Andy Rouse / European Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) in snow, UK, captive

Jeff Vanuga / Grizzly bear {Ursus arctos horribilis} beside water, long exposure image, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA, October

Ian McCarthy / Silhouette of mastiff dog crossing a bridge with Himalayas in the background, Upper Dolpo, Nepal

Jeff Vanuga / Coyote {Canis latrans} in snow, USA, September

Doug Perrine / Great white shark portrait {Carcharodon carcharias} Dyer Island, Gansbaai, South Africa (Non-ex).

Doug Perrine / Great white shark {Carcharodon carcharias} Dyer Island, Gansbaai, South Africa (Non-ex).

Pete Oxford / Whitetip reef sharks {Triaenodon obesus} in shallows near shore, Bartolome Is, Galapagos

Anup Shah / Male Lion (Panthera leo) walking to camera. Masai Mara NR, Kenya, East Africa

Anup Shah / Male Lion (Panthera leo) above other lion's back. Masai Mara NR, Kenya, East Africa

Anup Shah / Front view of Mugger or Marsh crocodile {Crocodylus palustris} walking on four limbs out of water, India

Sue Flood / Spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) group hunting at night, South Luangwa Valley, Zambia.

XI ZHINONG / Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) crossing road infront of a truck, Kekexili, Qinghai, China, January

Jabruson / Fungal fruiting stalks sprouting from rotting plant stems, they establish themselves before the spread of fungal spores back onto the forest floor. Bai Hokou, Dzanga-Ndoki National Park, Central Afric...

Jabruson / Fungal fruiting stalks sprouting from rotting plant stems, they establish themselves before the spread of fungal spores back onto the forest floor. Bai Hokou, Dzanga-Ndoki National Park, Central Afric...

Christophe Courteau / Brown capped capuchin (Cebus apella) looking menacing. Forest Is, Pantanal, Brazil.

Cheryl-Samantha Owen / Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) approaching Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) in shallow water, Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles, Indian Ocean

Cheryl-Samantha Owen / Blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) approaching Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) in shallow water, Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles, Indian Ocean

Doc White / Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus) near sea surface. Canadian Arctic, summer.

Edwin Giesbers / Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) brooding head portrait, in semi darkness, with ears back, and mouth open in threatening snarl, captive.

Edwin Giesbers / Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) brooding head portrait, in semi darkness, captive.

Aflo / N-16304 Waterfall crashing though rocks, Switzerland.

Edwin Giesbers / Close up head portrait of melanistic / black Leopard (Panthera pardus) Captive

Shattil & Rozinski / Grizzly bear {Ursus arctos horribilis} looking menacing, Denali NP, Alaska, USA