Sand Fish
In the desert of the UAE - Also known as the Eastern Sand Skink (Scincus mitranus) – these guys live in the deep dunes and eat insects and anything else edible that falls on the leeward side of the dunes - when threatened they dive into the sand and “swim” under the sand and pop up elsewere - while I was watching – brown-necked ravens were trying to catch these guys but to no avail – one of my local friends confirms that locals will eat these guys - apparently a tasty snack when thrown on an open campfire—at least in the days before oil was found.
Sand Fish belongs to the following groups:
Art of the Middle East, Just Brown, Nature's Wonders and Wild Nature Photography & Writing Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints and Laminated Prints
rodsfotos
Superb details on this little guy Dave, even the sand is so detailed you can see the individual sand grains, I believe they run quite fast so you did incredibly well to get such a fine detailed image,
Regards, Rod.
David Clark replied
Hi Rod
- thanks much – they do run quite fast and this guy went into the sand a few times but came back out and was quite cooperative -daveBonnie Pelton
wELL DONE ! GREAT SHOT !
David Clark replied
Hi Bonnie – thanks very much – dave
Lynda McDonald
what an amazing little creature,,,,,,,,,,,,i’m sure i watched a nature program on these guys, very nicely captured, isolated from a busy background, just an image to be proud of is all i can say !
David Clark replied
Aww – thanks Linda
- I see these guys fairly regular (if I get out early enough) but most times they head into the sand and hide -this one performed for us – so had time to actually think about photos—they are great little critters – davJKKimball
this could not be any better Dave!
David Clark replied
Hi John—thanks very much – dave
LumenLux
Fine capture and fun new knowledge. Now, what size are these creatures?
David Clark replied
Thanks – always something new to learn
- these guys are about 6-8 inches -pretty big for where they live – there are geckos and agamas in the same areas and they are only 2-3 inches long – daveHagen
Nice shot
David Clark replied
thanks much – maybe it can be a cartoon character? – dave
LudaNayvelt
excellent image, David
David Clark replied
Hi Luda – thanks very much – dave
Béla Török
Gorgeous capture, Dave!
David Clark replied
Hi Bela – thanks very much – hope you are having a great late spring/early summer – dave
Kaliquo
Great shot as always! It’s cool to see how the pattern on his back matches the sand :)
David Clark replied
thanks Kali – the camoflouge on the desert creatures is pretty incredible they have nothing to hide under so they have to hide in plain sight – dave
vadim19
Great capture, David!
David Clark replied
Hi Vadim—thanks again – dave
danapace
The lighting and pose couldn’t be better..a real beauty.
David Clark replied
Hi Dana – thank you very much—these little guys are fun to try to photograph – dave
Sharon Mau
It is an exotic creature! I love the patterns and colours. The warm sunlight is wonderful. The sand is gorgeous!! I love how the light sparkles and dances and how the patterns on the back of the Eastern Sand Skink match the beautiful golden sand so perfectly. Your commentary is fascinating as well. Aloha David, this is a beautiful photograph and I love your title!
David Clark replied
Hi Sharon
- thanks very much – such a nice comment – haven’t been on the site for a while -I am on vacation in the US right now—hope you are doing wonderful – daveDonDavisUK
Hi Dave, this is exceptionally lovely, I love the detail of the patterns on the Sand Fish’s back. Great viewed larger.
Jens Helmstedt
This is a wonderful capture Dave! Great shot!
Lucindawind
fantastic capture !
Lois Bryan
Oh, Dave … your amazing photography is so crisp I think we could easily count the grains of sand!!!! Incredible and fun story to go with your sand fish critter!!!! I love how his coloring camouflages him!!
Beve Brown-Clark
O my he would blend right in when laying flat…awesome capture!!
Sharon Mau
Just a note to say ….. Aloha!
I am thinking of you today and hope you are doing well David.
David Clark replied
Hi Sharon – how very very nice of you – thanks for thinking about me – I am flattered – I am fine
- not too much photo opportunities here in the summer -now is getting better – in fact this morning I wasout getting photos of small lizards in the sand—thanks again you are a complete sweetheart – daveChrisCoombes
Great photo Dave. We have similar sand swimmers (Eremiascincus sp.) here that do similar things and i have seen similar looking and behaving skinks in Namibia as well. Apparently better if you don’t cook them though if you are stranded in the desert, the extra moisture is a bonus.
Teresa Zieba
Fantastic shot Dave. Amazing detail and colours.