Cyril Ruoso / Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi) in Madagascar ocotillo (Alluaudia procera) trees Berenty, Madagascar.

Daniel Heuclin / Red coachwip or Red racer (Masticophis flagellum piceus) eating Sceloporus lizard, Catalina foothill, Arizona, June.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Western Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum testaceus), young. Laredo, Webb County, South Texas, USA, April.

Daniel Heuclin / Close-up of Red Coachwhip Snake (Masticophis flagellum cingulum) scales. Controlled conditions. Near Tombstone, Arizona, USA, September.

Jack Dykinga / Ocotillo cactus (Fouquieria splendens) in desert landscape strewn with rod lava rock, Cabeza Prieta Mountains in the distance, dawn, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona, USA

Daniel Heuclin / Sonoran coachwhip snake (Masticophis flagellum cingulum). Catalina State Park, Arizona, USA.

Daniel Heuclin / Sonoran coachwhip snake (Masticophis flagellum cingulum). Catalina State Park, Arizona, USA.

Oriol Alamany / Eastern Whipbird (Psophodes olivaceus), rainforest of Green Mountains, Lamington National Park, Rainforests of Australia UNESCO World Heritage Site, Queensland, Australia

Barry Mansell / Eastern coachwhip snake (Masticophis flagellum flagellum) North Florida, USA, April.

Barry Mansell / Eastern coachwhip snake (Masticophis flagellum flagellum) North Florida, USA, April.

Barry Mansell / Eastern coachwhip snake (Masticophis flagellum flagellum) North Florida,USA, April.

Pete Oxford / Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum) head detail. Little St Simon's Island, Barrier Islands, Georgia, USA, March.

Pete Oxford / Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum) tail. Little St Simon's Island, Barrier Islands, Georgia, USA, March.

Clay Bolt / Coachwhip snake (Masticophis flagellum) in coastal dune grassland, Little Saint Simon's Island, Georgia, USA, May.

Daniel Heuclin / Red coachwip or Red racer (Masticophis flagellum piceus) eating Sceloporus lizard, Catalina foothill, Arizona, June.

Daniel Heuclin / Red coachwip or Red racer (Masticophis flagellum piceus) eating Sceloporus lizard, Catalina foothill, Arizona, June.

Daniel Heuclin / Red coachwip or Red racer (Masticophis flagellum piceus), Amargosa desert, Nevada, May.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Western Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum testaceus), young. Laredo, Webb County, South Texas, USA, April.

Rolf Nussbaumer / RF- Young Western coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum testaceus). Laredo, Webb County, South Texas, USA. April. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

Rolf Nussbaumer / Western Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum testaceus), young. Laredo, Webb County, South Texas, USA, April.

David Welling / Western Coachwhip Snake (Masticophis flagellum testaceus) by water. Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA, May.

David Welling / Western Coachwhip Snake (Masticophis flagellum testaceus) in water. Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA, May.

David Welling / Western Coachwhip Snake (Masticophis flagellum testaceus) by water. Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA, May.

Daniel Heuclin / Close-up of Red Coachwhip Snake (Masticophis flagellum cingulum) tasting the air. Controlled conditions. Near Tombstone, Arizona, USA, September.

Daniel Heuclin / Red Coachwhip Snake (Masticophis flagellum cingulum) in stony habitat. Controlled conditions. Near Tombstone, Arizona, USA, September.

Daniel Heuclin / Red Coachwhip Snake (Masticophis flagellum cingulum) in stony habitat. Controlled conditions. Near Tombstone, Arizona, USA, September.

Jack Dykinga / Ocotillos (Fouquieria splendens) after summer rains, amongst Velvet-pod mimosa (Mimosa dysocarpa) in the grassy foothills of the Atascosa Mountains, Coronado National Forest, Arizona

Nigel Bean / Ocotillo plant {Fouquieria splendens} in leaf following the rains, Sonoran desert, Arizona, USA

Doug Wechsler / Ocotillo plant {Fouquieria splendens} in leaf and flower following the rains, Organ Pipe cactus NM, Arizona, USA

Nigel Bean / Ocotillo plant {Fouquieria splendens} in leaf following the rains, Sonoran desert, Arizona, USA

Philippe Clement / Ocotillo {Fouquieria splendens} in bloom and Saguaro cactus {Carnegiea gigantea}, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona, USA

Philippe Clement / Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) in flower. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona, USA

Philippe Clement / Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) in flower. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona, USA

Philippe Clement / Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) in flower. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona, USA

Philippe Clement / Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) flowers and thorns. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona, USA.

Jack Dykinga / Flowering Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) at sunrise, Cabeza Prieta Mountains, Cabeza Prieta National Wildelife Refuge, Arizona

Jack Dykinga / Close-up of colourful leaves and spines of an Ocotillo (Fouguieria splendens), leaves turn red in dry season after the wet season, Tinajas Atlas Mountains, Goldwater Range, Arizona

Jack Dykinga / Ocotillos (Fouquieria splendens) established on the Pincata Lava flow, dawn, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Reserve, Arizona

Rob Tilley / Ocotillo / Coachwhip / Jacob's Staff in flower (Fouquieria splendens) against the sky, Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Todd Pusser / Coachwip snake {Masticophis flagellum} in long grass, North Carolina, USA

Todd Pusser / Coachwip snake {Masticophis flagellum}North Carolina, USA

Todd Pusser / Coachwip snake {Masticophis flagellum} held in hand, North Carolina, USA

Barry Mansell / Coachwhip snake {Masticophis flagellum} Florida, USA

Pete Oxford / Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum) in defensive posture, Little Saint Simon's Island, Georgia

Pete Oxford / Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum) flicking tongue, Little Saint Simon's Island, Georgia

Pete Oxford / Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum), Little Saint Simon's Island, Georgia

Michael & Patricia Fogden / Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum) widespread snake with many color variations, USA and Mexico

Michael & Patricia Fogden / Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum) snake drinking, Sonoran Desert, Arizona