Renowned amphibian and reptile photographer Matthijs Kuijpers has released his first book, “Cold Instinct”. Kuijpers says the aim of the work is “for the viewer to abandon the fear and negative thoughts that often surround these animals”. What’s left is the bizarre beauty of these creatures in their simplest form – no backgrounds and no distractions. Here: The Guiana shield leaf toad (Rhinella lescurei). (Photo by Matthijs Kuijpers/The Guardian)





Siamese peninsula pit viper (Popeia fucata). (Photo by Matthijs Kuijpers/The Guardian)





The plumed basilisk (Basiliscus-plumifrons). (Photo by Matthijs Kuijpers/The Guardian)





Blue rock iguana (Cyclura lewisi). (Photo by Matthijs Kuijpers/The Guardian)





Red salamander (Pseudotriton ruber). (Photo by Matthijs Kuijpers/The Guardian)





Hairy bush viper (Atheris hispida). (Photo by Matthijs Kuijpers/The Guardian)





Yellow-banded poison dart frog (Dendrobates leucomelas). (Photo by Matthijs Kuijpers/The Guardian)





Two-headed snake (Pantherophis guttata). (Photo by Matthijs Kuijpers/The Guardian)





Cameroon dwarf gecko (Lygodactylus conraui). (Photo by Matthijs Kuijpers/The Guardian)





White-lipped island pit viper (Trimeresurus albolabris insularis). (Photo by Matthijs Kuijpers/The Guardian)





Doi Suthep Bent-toed gecko, (Cyrtodactylus doisuthep). (Photo by Matthijs Kuijpers/The Guardian)





Strawberry poison-dart frog (Oophaga pumilio “escudo”). (Photo by Matthijs Kuijpers/The Guardian)





Albino alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). (Photo by Matthijs Kuijpers/The Guardian)





Blue poison-dart frog, (Dendrobates tinctorius azureus, Suriname). (Photo by Matthijs Kuijpers/The Guardian)





Mossy frog (Theloderma corticale). (Photo by Matthijs Kuijpers/The Guardian)





Baja blue rock lizard (Petrosaurus thalassinus). (Photo by Matthijs Kuijpers/The Guardian)





Gran Canaria blue-tailed skink (Chalcides sexlineatus). (Photo by Matthijs Kuijpers/The Guardian)