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Amazing animal x-rays show the artistic side of veterinary science

These stunning pictures show a series of animal x-rays taken by vets at a zoo – including a baby monkey still inside its mother.

Staff at the zoo say the striking x-rays demonstrate just how eye-catching veterinary science can be.

Some show specific conditions, while others simply reveal the internal beauty of animal biology.

The in-house vet team, based at Paignton Zoo, in Devon, captured images featuring creatures ranging from a tortoise to a lizard and seahorse to a chameleon.

The x-ray of the baby monkey inside its mother was described as the most striking and also showcased a moment of high tension.

Vet Jo Reynard said: “The colobus was in labour but not progressing to give birth. We stepped in and the baby was born by Caesarean section – the procedure was life saving for the mum.”

Both the seahorse from Living Coasts and the panther chameleon are also part of the set and described as “fascinating and novel animal portraits.”

The team was also asked to radiograph a four-eyed fish as it had a misshapen back and one image shows scoliosis (curvature of the spine).

The fish is currently enjoying a normal life in the aquarium at Living Coasts, and will be monitored for changes in the future.

A hingeback tortoise is also seen carrying two large eggs; both of which were laid naturally, without veterinary intervention.

There was also the radiograph of a beaded lizard that showed the pattern of small, round scales in exquisite detail.

Beaded lizards are venomous and found principally in Mexico and southern Guatemala and this female was having a routine radiograph to check for reproductive activity.

Jo added: “The caiman lizard presented with a distended abdomen, but a check found it to be in good health.

“The remains of a recent meal can be seen in the animal’s stomach.”