I’ve seen and photographed giant river otters in a few countries in South America, but I definitely had my best opportunities in Brazil. This image of a mother with her pup (and an unfortunate fish) was taken in Brazil’s Pantanal region. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 270mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1320th of a second.

Aracaris are medium-sized toucans. This is the chestnut-eared aracari, fairly common throughout the western and southern Amazon basin. It was photographed in Brazil’s Pantanal early morning when it landed near our lodge, looking to feast on the mangoes that were growing nearby. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/1250th of a second.

Sometimes called the southern spectacled caiman, these crocodilians are endemic to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay. I photographed this one in the Pantanal of Brazil where some 10 million live, up considerably since the 1980s when they were hunted for their leather. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens. (at 350mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/500th of a second.

For animals that everyone seems to want to eat, capybaras can appear rather relaxed at times. These guys are the main food source for apex predators like jaguars and caiman in Brazil’s Pantanal region. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 550mm with 1.4 TC attached) ISO 800, f/8 at 1/200th of a second.

The toco toucan is the largest species of toucan. It ranges throughout much of central South America. I photographed this one in the Pantanal region of Brazil. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 280mm) ISO 400, f/8 at 1/800th of a second.

Giant river otters certainly live up to their name. They can grow to almost six feet in length. Their size was most apparent when I saw them out of the water, like this one running along a riverbank in the Pantanal of Brazil. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 450mm with 1.4 TC attached) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/4000th of a second.

This howler monkey didn’t like the look of me as we drifted past on a boat in Brazil’s Pantanal. Hopefully this post sends out an email. I’ve been having all sorts of trouble with my notifications not working. If you missed a few posts, use the “previous” button under each photo to see the previous posts. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (with 1.4 extender for 550mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.

I’ve photographed roseate spoonbills in Florida and Texas, but capturing a few images of them in the Pantanal of Brazil is even better. Much like flamingos, roseate spoonbills get their pink coloring from the carotenoids in the foods they eat, including crustaceans and other aquatic invertebrates. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/8000th of a second.

I believe this to be a giant broad-headed frog. It was photographed in north central Brazil. I don’t know much more other than that. And even that might not be correct. Frogs, birds and bugs can sometimes be a challenge to identify. Any herpetologists out there agree or disagree (of course, I realize not much to go on with the hidden body)? Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 180mm with Canon 500D close up filter attached) ISO 125, f/22 at 1/60th of a second.