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    HomeGalleries- StoriesFeature Stories

    Animal Illusions45

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    Two-headed giraffes! Phantom impala! Man-eating whales!

    See how chance timing and spontaneous camera work has turned these mind-bending nature photographs into tricks of the eye...
    Our full story PDF, including text, can be viewed here.

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    Tony Heald / Giraffes {Giraffa camelopardalis}, Etosha NP, Namibia
    01090825
    Tony Heald / Giraffes {Giraffa camelopardalis}, Etosha NP, Namibia
    Klein & Hubert / Two Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) climbing to rookery in spring, looking like one penguin with two sets of wings, Antarctica.
    01673337
    Klein & Hubert / Two Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) climbing to rookery in spring, looking like one penguin with two sets of wings, Antarctica.
    Dr. Gertrud Neumann-Denzau / Two male Indian Wild Asses (Equus hemionus khur), looking like they share a single head, Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, SW India.
    01673333
    Dr. Gertrud Neumann-Denzau / Two male Indian Wild Asses (Equus hemionus khur), looking like they share a single head, Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, SW India.
    Yva Momatiuk & John Eastcott / Impala (Aepyceros melampus) male at waterhole, with reflection of another male creating an optical illusion, Etosha National Park, Namibia
    00564661
    Yva Momatiuk & John Eastcott / Impala (Aepyceros melampus) male at waterhole, with reflection of another male creating an optical illusion, Etosha National Park, Namibia
    Yva Momatiuk & John Eastcott / Impala (Aepyceros melampus) females drinking at waterhole in dry season, with reflection of male creating an optical illusion, Etosha National Park, Namibia
    00564660
    Yva Momatiuk & John Eastcott / Impala (Aepyceros melampus) females drinking at waterhole in dry season, with reflection of male creating an optical illusion, Etosha National Park, Namibia
    Michael Pitts / Bull Elephant seal (Mirounga sp) portrait with penguin walking along beach, St Andrews Bay, South Georgia
    01264846
    Michael Pitts / Bull Elephant seal (Mirounga sp) portrait with penguin walking along beach, St Andrews Bay, South Georgia
    David Welling / Collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) interacting, two looking like one, Hidalgo Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA. (non-ex)
    01673328
    David Welling / Collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) interacting, two looking like one, Hidalgo Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA. (non-ex)
    Diane McAllister / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching in front of boat carrying tourists. Monterey Bay, California, USA.
    01673329
    Diane McAllister / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching in front of boat carrying tourists. Monterey Bay, California, USA.
    ZSSD / Red-headed Rock Agama (Agama agama) male jumping onto rock, native to Africa, San Diego Zoo, California
    00119481
    ZSSD / Red-headed Rock Agama (Agama agama) male jumping onto rock, native to Africa, San Diego Zoo, California
    Thomas Marent / Dracula Orchid (Dracula benedictii) flower, Las Orquideas Natural National Park, Colombia
    00587513
    Thomas Marent / Dracula Orchid (Dracula benedictii) flower, Las Orquideas Natural National Park, Colombia
    Michael Milicia/ BIA / Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) parent sheltering chicks, Massachusetts
    00579369
    Michael Milicia/ BIA / Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) parent sheltering chicks, Massachusetts
    Staffan Widstrand / African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana) hidden behind bush, trunk and tail visible, Marataba Private Reserve, Marakele National Park, Limpopo, South Africa
    01622883
    Staffan Widstrand / African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana) hidden behind bush, trunk and tail visible, Marataba Private Reserve, Marakele National Park, Limpopo, South Africa
    Ingo Arndt / Water Boatman (Notonecta glauca) with reflection underwater, a true bug of the Heteroptera suborder, Europe
    00762589
    Ingo Arndt / Water Boatman (Notonecta glauca) with reflection underwater, a true bug of the Heteroptera suborder, Europe
    Klein & Hubert / Two Harvest mice (Micromys minutus) investigating holes in Emmental cheese. Captive in studio.
    01673339
    Klein & Hubert / Two Harvest mice (Micromys minutus) investigating holes in Emmental cheese. Captive in studio.
    Klein & Hubert / Domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica) sow swimming in the sea with mouth wide open and people in a zodiac. Bahamas
    01675336
    Klein & Hubert / Domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica) sow swimming in the sea with mouth wide open and people in a zodiac. Bahamas
    David Allemand / Lappet-faced vultures (Torgos tracheliotu) looking like one double-headed bird, Etosha National Park, Namibia, Africa
    01673327
    David Allemand / Lappet-faced vultures (Torgos tracheliotu) looking like one double-headed bird, Etosha National Park, Namibia, Africa
    Jussi Murtosaari / Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus), young bird feeding on water, looking like a rock in the water, Finland. Sequence 1 of 2.
    01673336
    Jussi Murtosaari / Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus), young bird feeding on water, looking like a rock in the water, Finland. Sequence 1 of 2.
    Jussi Murtosaari / Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus), young bird on water, head raised, Finland. Sequence 2 of 2.
    01673335
    Jussi Murtosaari / Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus), young bird on water, head raised, Finland. Sequence 2 of 2.
    Franco Banfi / Wild Alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris) juvenile reflected on the water surface, Lago Nero, Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy.
    01671461
    Franco Banfi / Wild Alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris) juvenile reflected on the water surface, Lago Nero, Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy.
    Alex Mustard / Snorkeller swimming with Stingless golden jellyfish (Mastigias sp.) in a landlocked marine lake in the middle of an island. Their golden colour comes from endosymbiotic algae, which provide nutrition...
    01662115
    Alex Mustard / Snorkeller swimming with Stingless golden jellyfish (Mastigias sp.) in a landlocked marine lake in the middle of an island. Their golden colour comes from endosymbiotic algae, which provide nutrition...
    David Fleetham / California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) playing in a kelp forest off Santa Barbara Island, California, USA.
    01582769
    David Fleetham / California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) playing in a kelp forest off Santa Barbara Island, California, USA.
    Orsolya Haarberg,Orsolya Haarberg / Stoat (Mustela erminea) feeding on fish hanging from wire. In white winter coat. Vauldalen, Sor-Trondelag, Norway. April
    01433567
    Orsolya Haarberg,Orsolya Haarberg / Stoat (Mustela erminea) feeding on fish hanging from wire. In white winter coat. Vauldalen, Sor-Trondelag, Norway. April
    Stefan Christmann / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) pair in courtship. Atka Bay, Antarctica. May.
    01619645
    Stefan Christmann / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) pair in courtship. Atka Bay, Antarctica. May.
    Eric Dragesco / Two Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) in snow, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy.
    01673331
    Eric Dragesco / Two Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) in snow, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy.
    Claudio Contreras / Blue footed booby (Sula nebouxii) watching chick, Isabel Island National Park, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) Mexico.
    01673326
    Claudio Contreras / Blue footed booby (Sula nebouxii) watching chick, Isabel Island National Park, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) Mexico.
    Staffan Widstrand / Wild Wonders of China / Taiwan blue magpie, (Urocissa caerulea), in Taipei, Taiwan, endemic species
    01670462
    Staffan Widstrand / Wild Wonders of China / Taiwan blue magpie, (Urocissa caerulea), in Taipei, Taiwan, endemic species
    Mark Bowler / Sphinx hawk moth (Hemeroplanes triptolemus) caterpillar, snake mimic species, Amarakaeri Communal Reserve, Maijuna, Rio Napo, Peru
    01612089
    Mark Bowler / Sphinx hawk moth (Hemeroplanes triptolemus) caterpillar, snake mimic species, Amarakaeri Communal Reserve, Maijuna, Rio Napo, Peru
    Mark Bowler / Sphinx hawk moth (Hemeroplanes triptolemus) caterpillar, snake mimic species, Amarakaeri Communal Reserve, Maijuna, Rio Napo, Peru
    01612088
    Mark Bowler / Sphinx hawk moth (Hemeroplanes triptolemus) caterpillar, snake mimic species, Amarakaeri Communal Reserve, Maijuna, Rio Napo, Peru
    Mark Taylor / Forced perspective photo of a horse appearing to stand on a dog's back, UK.
    01675338
    Mark Taylor / Forced perspective photo of a horse appearing to stand on a dog's back, UK.
    Mark Taylor / Forced perspective photo of a young woman appearing to stand / balance on a dog's nose, UK.
    01675339
    Mark Taylor / Forced perspective photo of a young woman appearing to stand / balance on a dog's nose, UK.
    Maxime Aliaga / Forced perspective photo of a giantwoman in the saltflats of Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia.
    01675337
    Maxime Aliaga / Forced perspective photo of a giantwoman in the saltflats of Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia.
    Mark Taylor / Forced Perspective photo of a giant in the saltflats of Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia.
    01675340
    Mark Taylor / Forced Perspective photo of a giant in the saltflats of Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia.
    Mary McDonald / South African / Cape giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa), two males necking / mock fighting, looking like a double headed animal, Zimanga Private Game Reserve, Zululand, South Africa.
    01673341
    Mary McDonald / South African / Cape giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa), two males necking / mock fighting, looking like a double headed animal, Zimanga Private Game Reserve, Zululand, South Africa.
    Konrad Wothe / Ostrich (Struthio camelus) male preening, looking headless, Samburu Reserve, Kenya, Africa
    01673340
    Konrad Wothe / Ostrich (Struthio camelus) male preening, looking headless, Samburu Reserve, Kenya, Africa
    Heather Angel / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) parent feeding chick, another chick next to it looks headless, Antarctica
    01673334
    Heather Angel / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) parent feeding chick, another chick next to it looks headless, Antarctica
    Edwin Giesbers / Two Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in snow, looking like a single double-headed animal, Norway. Captive
    01673330
    Edwin Giesbers / Two Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in snow, looking like a single double-headed animal, Norway. Captive
    Fabrice Cahez / Common crane (Grus grus) in flight, looking like it has two sets of wings, France. Wings of second individual visible in the background
    01673332
    Fabrice Cahez / Common crane (Grus grus) in flight, looking like it has two sets of wings, France. Wings of second individual visible in the background
    Shane Gross / Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) swimming to take a breath, reflected in water surface. Eleuthera, Bahamas.
    01629685
    Shane Gross / Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) swimming to take a breath, reflected in water surface. Eleuthera, Bahamas.
    Sandesh Kadur / Sambar (Rusa unicolor), Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India. Antlers and ears of male visible behind female. Vulnerable species.
    01673345
    Sandesh Kadur / Sambar (Rusa unicolor), Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India. Antlers and ears of male visible behind female. Vulnerable species.
    Alex Mustard / Common backswimmer (Notonecta) reflected in the surface in its normal upside down pose. San Vito, Sardinia, Italy.
    01436114
    Alex Mustard / Common backswimmer (Notonecta) reflected in the surface in its normal upside down pose. San Vito, Sardinia, Italy.
    Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) sunbathing at den before foraging. Kalahari Desert, Africa. (Shadow gives illusion of handcuffs).
    01673338
    Klein & Hubert / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) sunbathing at den before foraging. Kalahari Desert, Africa. (Shadow gives illusion of handcuffs).
    Brandon Cole / Crocodile fish (Cymbacephalus beauforti) camouflaged, Egypt, Red Sea.
    01652367
    Brandon Cole / Crocodile fish (Cymbacephalus beauforti) camouflaged, Egypt, Red Sea.
    Cyril Ruoso / Road with mirage, El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
    00426040
    Cyril Ruoso / Road with mirage, El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
    Jeff Vanuga / Iceberg formation resembling a frosted human face. Antarctica.
    01656735
    Jeff Vanuga / Iceberg formation resembling a frosted human face. Antarctica.
    Richard Du Toit / Rock that is face shapped, Western Cape, South Africa
    00642893
    Richard Du Toit / Rock that is face shapped, Western Cape, South Africa
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