Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

16th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Undisguised Lovemaking

Undisguised Lovemaking I was lucky to observe this monogamous twosome of Chameleons for about five hours and to take number of images in different postures with varying movements of their bodies. Though the male partner was small in size, it had an amiable and artistic temperament, being more colourful and much more ornamental than the female. The variability of his appealing, hidden colours attracted the female. They moved on to many different types of displays during the mating ritual, lying entwined on this captivating, spiky creeper which was at a height corresponding with my eye level. Their strong barely controlled feeling with the synchronous eager of embracement and love bites strengthened the pair bond. This seductive, refreshing image was taken in their lovable climax. The spellbinding zygodactylous feets, prehensile tail, swaying gait persuaded me to capture more images in different frames. The passion of distinctive old world lizards, Chamaeleo zeylanicus.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2017
Date Uploaded: 11.2018
Photo Location: Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X Mark II
Copyright: © Isuru Dayananda