Brandts's Whistling Rat

Gallery: WildlifePosted July 12, 2014112 views4 comments

I'm looking forward to my return to South Africa in a week. During my last visit, we took Morkel's advice and ventured out to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, on the fringes of the Kalahari Desert. It was a challenge, photographically-speaking, but fun seeing a lot of new species.

One of those new critters was the Brandts's Whistling Rat. A couple of them had dug burrows close to the road, so we were able to get a couple shots out the window. It does look like it's playing a whistle here, but in fact they get their name from the high-pitched squeak they emit (without the help of an instrument).

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4x TC
ISO 400
1/1600th
f/8

Max

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by Thomas Haney on July 13, 2014 at 10:41 AM

Really interesting behavioral shot Max, and I like your choice for the composition.

Registered on April 7, 2013, 138 Posts, 537 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on July 13, 2014 at 8:31 PM

Interesting photo. I always like to see good photos of the smaller creatures, and this is one. Like that you captured this rat doing something. Good exposure and composition. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on July 13, 2014 at 8:38 PM

Hi Max,

Nice to see some less well-known species in here - hadn't heard of these before (and certainly hadn't seen an image of them). I like the inclusion of the twig that he's "playing" - definitely adds some interest to the shot.

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on July 15, 2014 at 8:19 AM

Cool image of a cool character, Max.
I hope you will return to the Kgalagadi again one day - any trip can be "hit and miss" in Africa

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments