From imperious lions to leaping lizards, there are some stunning shots in the running for the Natural History Museum’s wildlife photographer of the year award.

The selection below highlights some of the images chosen for the final reckoning.

To view a full gallery and vote for your favourite, go to https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/peoples-choice

Burrowing owls
(Karine Aigner/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2020
(Sam Sloss/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)
Long-nosed dragon
(Gary Meredith/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)
A lion
(Wim van den Heever/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)
Turtles
(Thomas Peschak/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2020
(Guillermo Esteves/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2020
(Laurent Ballesta/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2020
(Petri Pietilainen/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)
An 'alpha' mandrill
(Mogens Trolle/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2020
(Kirsten Luce/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2020
(Joseph Dominic Anthony/Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2020
(Neil Anderson/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)