We have two batches of photos today. The first is from reader Pyers, who described these as “Macaques, taken on the Rock of Gibraltar a year or so back.”
These are in fact Barbary macaques, Macaca sylvanus, and according to Wikipedia were introduced by the Moors before the British took over the Rock in the early eighteenth century. They’re also the only wild population of monkeys in Europe (the article apparently exempts humans). Wikipedia also has a separate piece about the Gibraltar colony, describing how they were considered adjunct members of the British Army, were given names and ranks, and were subject to roll call. About 300 animals now inhabit the area.
And reader Michael Bonagurio sent some nice photos that he took in the Official Website Archipelago™:
Galápagos Albatross, Phoebastria irrorata:
Sally Lightfoot Crab, Grapsus grapsus. Here’s John Steinbeck’s description in his wonderful book The Log from the Sea of Cortez:
Many people have spoken at length of the Sally Lightfoots. In fact, everyone who has seen them has been delighted with them. The very name they are called by reflects the delight of the name. These little crabs, with brilliant cloisonné carapaces, walk on their tiptoes, They have remarkable eyes and an extremely fast reaction time. In spite of the fact that they swarm on the rocks at the Cape [San Lucas], and to a less degree inside the Gulf [of California], they are exceedingly hard to catch. They seem to be able to run in any of four directions; but more than this, perhaps because of their rapid reaction time, they appear to read the mind of their hunter. They escape the long-handled net, anticipating from what direction it is coming. If you walk slowly, they move slowly ahead of you in droves. If you hurry, they hurry. When you plunge at them, they seem to disappear in a puff of blue smoke—at any rate, they disappear. It is impossible to creep up on them. They are very beautiful, with clear brilliant colors, red and blues and warm browns.
Marine Iguana (in nest with eggs), Amblyrhynchus cristatus:
Galápagos Hawk, Buteo galapagoensis:
Trio of Marine Iguana:
Nice shots, thanks!
Very good.
There is another passage in The Log From the Sea of Cortez: “Man reacts peculiarly but consistently in his relationship with Sally Lightfoot. His tendency eventually is to scream curses, to hurl himself at them, and to come up foaming with rage bruises all over his chest.”
“They’re also the only wild population of monkeys in Europe (the article apparently exempts humans).”
Maybe because humans aren’t wild, they’re domesticated?
You obviously haven’t met my family!
One imagines a Moorish general shouting “The British are coming! Release the macaques!“
Lovely pix!