Some of the world's most unexpectedly dangerous and endangered animals: Stunning images reveal the piercing eyes of the albino alligator, the Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko and the luminous belly of the Purple Harlequin toad


  • The images were taken over 27 years by expert Matthijs Kuijpers and have been published in his new book
  • It includes shots of 72 different species of endangered amphibian and reptile from all around the world
  • A childhood passion for photography and wild animals saw Mr Kuijpers leave school to go to Madagascar
  • He has been working with and taking photographs of animals around the world from a young age




Stunning images taken by an amphibian and reptile expert reveal the mysterious hidden world of some of Earth's most dangerous cold-blooded animals.
The incredible photographs showcase a range of animals found on all continents - except Antarctica - and include the bright eyes of an albino alligator, the well camouflaged Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko and the luminous underbelly of the Purple Harlequin toad.
Other shots show the omnivore Western Blue-Tongued Skink lizard, the plant-like Vietnamese mossy frog and a two-headed corn-snake.
The remarkable photographs are showcased in photographer Matthijs Kuijpers' new book, Cold Instinct.


The photo shows an Albino alligator (Alligator missippienssis) photographed in captivity in the Everglades, North America and featured in the book, Cold Instinct. Also known as the white alligator, it is native to the Louisiana swamps and is one of the rarest animals in the world, with only 12 known to exist



Mr Kuijpers says he has had some near-death experiences, including being bitten by a venous snake. Pictured is an Atheris hispida, a venomous viper species found only in Central Africa with distinct upturned scales and a bristly appearance. The venom is mainly neurotoxic and a bite can be fatal to humans. There have been reports of bites that have led to severe haemorrhaging of internal organs



The book features 72 creatures in total and the image above shows an Azure dart frog, which is found in Suriname in South America. Its black spots are unique to each animal and can be used for identification. Some regard it as its own species but others consider it to be a variant of the dyeing dart frog which is classed as 'least concern' by the IUCN

He has spent the last 30 years travelling in search of these species and a total of 72 animals are included.


'Amphibians might look scary at first, but they are much more vulnerable than they appear,' states the info on the Kickstarter page.
'Their survival is challenged daily by threats of climate change, pollution and poaching. Habitat loss is the greatest threat to cold species in Europe.
'Some reptiles and amphibians have cleverly adapted to the threatening conditions, but they are in constant need of protection.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6958581/Stunning-Images-showcase-worlds-endangered-animals.html