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    HomeGalleries- StoriesFeature Stories

    Nature's Jewels124

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    For many, the word iridescence conjures images of shiny jewellery, glittering seas, or sparkling diamonds. But it’s also a term that belongs in the animal kingdom. Creatures as diverse as insects, reptiles, birds and fish employ iridescence in a variety of ways, but we still don’t know for sure
    what benefits this resplendence affords the animals themselves.

    Download our full story PDF, including text, here.

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    Melvin Grey / Violet-Tailed sylph hummingbird (Aglaiocercus coelestis) flying to flower, Mindo Lomo, Ecuador
    01556977
    Melvin Grey / Violet-Tailed sylph hummingbird (Aglaiocercus coelestis) flying to flower, Mindo Lomo, Ecuador
    Alex Mustard / Tarpon fish (Megalops atlanticus) head portrait, East End, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies, Caribbean Sea.
    01378882
    Alex Mustard / Tarpon fish (Megalops atlanticus) head portrait, East End, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies, Caribbean Sea.
    Colin Varndell / Female emerald damselfly (Lestes sponsa) at rest. Studland Heath, Dorset, UK, July
    01424568
    Colin Varndell / Female emerald damselfly (Lestes sponsa) at rest. Studland Heath, Dorset, UK, July
    Claudio Contreras / Pink abalone (Haliotis corrugata) shell detail, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, January
    01308962
    Claudio Contreras / Pink abalone (Haliotis corrugata) shell detail, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, January
    Jiri Lochman / Jewel beetle (Stigmodera gratiosa) feeding on Leptospermum flower. Endemic to Western Australia.Stirling Range NP, Western Australia. December.
    01539203
    Jiri Lochman / Jewel beetle (Stigmodera gratiosa) feeding on Leptospermum flower. Endemic to Western Australia.Stirling Range NP, Western Australia. December.
    Visuals Unlimited / Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) male flying, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
    01438863
    Visuals Unlimited / Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) male flying, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
    Kim Taylor / A soap bubble floating in the air - colour refraction on surface
    01133494
    Kim Taylor / A soap bubble floating in the air - colour refraction on surface
    Paul Harcourt Davies / Peacock (Pavo cristatus feather close up showing iridescence at 10x magnification
    01594108
    Paul Harcourt Davies / Peacock (Pavo cristatus feather close up showing iridescence at 10x magnification
    Paul Harcourt Davies / Peacock (Pavo cristatus feather close up showing iridescence at 10x magnification
    01594107
    Paul Harcourt Davies / Peacock (Pavo cristatus feather close up showing iridescence at 10x magnification
    Adrian Davies / Blue Morpho butterfly (Morpho peleides showing iridescence with change of angle in relation to light source
    01594043
    Adrian Davies / Blue Morpho butterfly (Morpho peleides showing iridescence with change of angle in relation to light source
    Adrian Davies / Blue Spikemoss (Selaginella uncinata) showing iridescence through change of angle in relation to light source
    01594044
    Adrian Davies / Blue Spikemoss (Selaginella uncinata) showing iridescence through change of angle in relation to light source
    Emanuele Biggi / Golden green stag beetle (Lamprima sp.), adult male with big mandibles and a shiny iridescent coloration, Italy. Captive.
    01594070
    Emanuele Biggi / Golden green stag beetle (Lamprima sp.), adult male with big mandibles and a shiny iridescent coloration, Italy. Captive.
    Dr. Axel Gebauer / Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae) with light at angle where iridescence does not show. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tuscon, Arizona, USA, February.
    01594061
    Dr. Axel Gebauer / Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae) with light at angle where iridescence does not show. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tuscon, Arizona, USA, February.
    Dr. Axel Gebauer / Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae) perched on branch showing iridescence. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tuscon, Arizona, USA, Small repro only
    01594063
    Dr. Axel Gebauer / Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae) perched on branch showing iridescence. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tuscon, Arizona, USA, Small repro only
    Andres M. Dominguez / Bacteria (Lepthotryx discophora) causing iridescent patterns and White willow tree leaf (Salix alba) in river, Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, southern Spain, November.
    01533351
    Andres M. Dominguez / Bacteria (Lepthotryx discophora) causing iridescent patterns and White willow tree leaf (Salix alba) in river, Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, southern Spain, November.
    Phil Savoie / European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) flying at dawn. When backlit the tiny transparent barbs that make up the feather act like a prism revealing vivid colours in the early light. Monmouthshire, Wales...
    01575230
    Phil Savoie / European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) flying at dawn. When backlit the tiny transparent barbs that make up the feather act like a prism revealing vivid colours in the early light. Monmouthshire, Wales...
    Claudio Contreras / Orb Weaver Spider (Araneidae) web detail, Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve / Archipielago de Revillagigedo UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site (Socorro Islands), Pacific Ocea...
    01566556
    Claudio Contreras / Orb Weaver Spider (Araneidae) web detail, Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve / Archipielago de Revillagigedo UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site (Socorro Islands), Pacific Ocea...
    Kim Taylor / Sugar crystals viewed by polarised light.
    01574324
    Kim Taylor / Sugar crystals viewed by polarised light.
    Jabruson / Congo Golden Mole (Calcochloris leucorhinus) on leaf litter on rainforest floor. Lokoue Bai, Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of Congo.
    01458777
    Jabruson / Congo Golden Mole (Calcochloris leucorhinus) on leaf litter on rainforest floor. Lokoue Bai, Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of Congo.
    Shattil & Rozinski / Close up of irridescent gorget feathers of Anna's hummingbird {Calypte anna} USA
    01211349
    Shattil & Rozinski / Close up of irridescent gorget feathers of Anna's hummingbird {Calypte anna} USA
    Edwin Giesbers / Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) at night with full moon, double exposure, captive
    01290742
    Edwin Giesbers / Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) at night with full moon, double exposure, captive
    Visuals Unlimited / Black-blotched Porcupinefish (Diodon liturosus) face, Indonesia.
    01440834
    Visuals Unlimited / Black-blotched Porcupinefish (Diodon liturosus) face, Indonesia.
    Paul D Stewart / Male peacock (Pavo cristatus) displaying his ocellated tail feathers.
    01388417
    Paul D Stewart / Male peacock (Pavo cristatus) displaying his ocellated tail feathers.
    Lucas Bustamante / Violet-tailed sylph hummingbird (Aglaiocercus coelestis) Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador .
    01584669
    Lucas Bustamante / Violet-tailed sylph hummingbird (Aglaiocercus coelestis) Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador .
    Rod Williams / Splendid sunbird (Cinnyris coccinigastrus) male perched on branch, West and Central Tropical Africa, Captive.
    01392906
    Rod Williams / Splendid sunbird (Cinnyris coccinigastrus) male perched on branch, West and Central Tropical Africa, Captive.
    Nick Hawkins / Fiery throated hummingbird (Panterpe insignis) an endemic bird species. Talamanca Range, Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves / La Amistad National Park UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, Costa Rica.
    01577039
    Nick Hawkins / Fiery throated hummingbird (Panterpe insignis) an endemic bird species. Talamanca Range, Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves / La Amistad National Park UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, Costa Rica.
    Mary McDonald / Violet-crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania colombica) male perched in tree, Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba, Costa Rica, Central America.
    01301079
    Mary McDonald / Violet-crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania colombica) male perched in tree, Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba, Costa Rica, Central America.
    Guy Edwardes / Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) on ground foraging for food, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa, February
    01309841
    Guy Edwardes / Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) on ground foraging for food, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa, February
    Roland Seitre / Brush bronzewing (Phaps elegans) profile, Healesville Sanctuary, Victoria. Australia. Captive.
    01594129
    Roland Seitre / Brush bronzewing (Phaps elegans) profile, Healesville Sanctuary, Victoria. Australia. Captive.
    Andy Trowbridge / New Zealand Pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) perched on moss cover stump, endemic to New Zealand. Waikato, North Island, New Zealand, November.
    01424717
    Andy Trowbridge / New Zealand Pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) perched on moss cover stump, endemic to New Zealand. Waikato, North Island, New Zealand, November.
    Roland Seitre / Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) captive at Jurong Bird Park, Singapore.
    01594130
    Roland Seitre / Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) captive at Jurong Bird Park, Singapore.
    01278006
    Tim Laman / Ribbon tailed Astrapia Bird of Paradise (Astrapia mayeri) adult male with irridiscent plumage, Papua New Guinea
    01410768
    Tim Laman / Ribbon tailed Astrapia Bird of Paradise (Astrapia mayeri) adult male with irridiscent plumage, Papua New Guinea
    Cyril Ruoso / Pygmy kingfisher (Ceyx picta) portrait, Cross River State, Nigeria. Non-ex
    01508883
    Cyril Ruoso / Pygmy kingfisher (Ceyx picta) portrait, Cross River State, Nigeria. Non-ex
    01278991
    Andrew Walmsley / Rock pigeon (Columba livia) portrait, Christchurch, New Zealand, April
    01266280
    Andrew Walmsley / Rock pigeon (Columba livia) portrait, Christchurch, New Zealand, April
    Visuals Unlimited / Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) male swimming on a pond, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
    01438865
    Visuals Unlimited / Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) male swimming on a pond, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
    Michael D. Kern / Mountain peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron inopinatum) feather against black background.
    01471756
    Michael D. Kern / Mountain peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron inopinatum) feather against black background.
    Alex Hyde / Close up of feathers of cock Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus).
    01333326
    Alex Hyde / Close up of feathers of cock Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus).
    Tim Laman / Close up of feathers of the Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) native to islands of SE Asia and New Guinea region, captive
    01300374
    Tim Laman / Close up of feathers of the Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) native to islands of SE Asia and New Guinea region, captive
    Roland Seitre / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) close up of feathers, captive, from Meso-America.
    01450829
    Roland Seitre / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) close up of feathers, captive, from Meso-America.
    Georgette Douwma / Close up of a Peacock (Pavo cristatus) feather barbs.
    01509386
    Georgette Douwma / Close up of a Peacock (Pavo cristatus) feather barbs.
    Ashok Jain / Close-up of the eye of a Peacock feather. (Pavo cristatus)
    01018745
    Ashok Jain / Close-up of the eye of a Peacock feather. (Pavo cristatus)
    01594052
    Kim Taylor / Goldfish (Carassius auratus)
    01236728
    Kim Taylor / Goldfish (Carassius auratus)
    MYN / Martin Taylor / Cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) close to Santa Isabel do Rio Negro, Brazil
    01452921
    MYN / Martin Taylor / Cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) close to Santa Isabel do Rio Negro, Brazil
    01594055
    Michael Pitts / Red Sea Clownfish (Amphiprion bicinctus) endemic, Red Sea.
    01419506
    Michael Pitts / Red Sea Clownfish (Amphiprion bicinctus) endemic, Red Sea.
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