Search results for Oceans

California Sea Lions Underwater, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 36467  

Parasitic zoanthid anemones cover, encrust and overwhelm a golden gorgonian. The gorgonian on the left has been completely parasitized by zoanthid anemones, while the gorgonian to the right remains free of zoanthids (for now). A garibaldi swims below the two sea fans. The golden gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Each individual polyp is a distinct animal, together they secrete calcium that forms the structure of the colony. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by.
Species: California Golden Gorgonian, Luminescent Parazoanthid, Zoanthid Anemone, Giant Kelp, Garibaldi, Muricea californica, Parazoanthus lucificum, Savalia lucifica, Macrocystis pyrifera, Hypsypops rubicundus
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 38493  

The Kelp Forest and Rocky Reef of San Clemente Island. Giant kelp grows rapidly, up to 2' per day, from the rocky reef on the ocean bottom to which it is anchored, toward the ocean surface where it spreads to form a thick canopy. Myriad species of fishes, mammals and invertebrates form a rich community in the kelp forest. Lush forests of kelp are found throughout California's Southern Channel Islands.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 38494  

The Kelp Forest and Rocky Reef of San Clemente Island. Giant kelp grows rapidly, up to 2' per day, from the rocky reef on the ocean bottom to which it is anchored, toward the ocean surface where it spreads to form a thick canopy. Myriad species of fishes, mammals and invertebrates form a rich community in the kelp forest. Lush forests of kelp are found throughout California's Southern Channel Islands.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 38495  

Red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Gorgonians are typically oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by.
Species: Red gorgonian, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 38496  

Red Gorgonians form a lush colorful garden below a submarine arch, while two scuba divers pass through the opening to the cavern.
Species: Red gorgonian, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 38497  

Huge California Sea Lion Male Underwater, a bull, patrolling his breeding harem and territory, Coronado Islands, Mexico. His sagittal crest, the bony bump on his head that distinguishes adult male sea lions, is clearly seen. This particular sea lion bears an orange tag on his left foreflipper, probably as a result of rescue and release as a young sea lion years earlier.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 38655  

Two Giant Black Sea Bass in a Courtship Posture, in Kelp at Catalina Island. In summer months, black seabass gather in kelp forests in California to form mating aggregations. Courtship behaviors include circling of pairs of giant sea bass, production of booming sounds by presumed males, and nudging of females by males in what is though to be an effort to encourage spawning.
Species: Giant black sea bass, Stereolepis gigas
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 39432  

Spanish shawl nudibranch, Flabellinopsis iodinea, Midriff Islands, Sea of Cortez.
Species: Spanish Shawl Nudibranch, Flabellinopsis iodinea
Location: Islas San Lorenzo, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 40475  

Scythe-mark butterflyfish, Prognathodes falcifer, Catalina Island.
Species: Scythe-mark butterflyfish, Prognathodes falcifer
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 40516  

Tiger shark.
Species: Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier
Location: Bahamas
Image ID: 31897  

Tiger shark close up view, including nostrils and ampullae of Lorenzini.
Species: Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier
Location: Bahamas
Image ID: 31901  

Corynactis anemone polyp, a corallimorph, extends its arms into passing ocean currents to catch food.
Species: Strawberry anemone, Corynactis californica
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 33472  

Great hammerhead shark.
Species: Great hammerhead shark, Sphyrna mokarran
Location: Bimini, Bahamas
Image ID: 31968  

Caribbean reef shark.
Species: Caribbean reef shark, Carcharhinus perezi
Location: Bahamas
Image ID: 31977  

Caribbean reef shark swims over sponges and coral reef.
Species: Caribbean reef shark, Carcharhinus perezi
Location: Bahamas
Image ID: 31978  

Loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, Grand Cayman Island.
Location: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Image ID: 32137  

California sea lion surfing in a wave at La Jolla Cove, San Diego.
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40089  

Mother sea lion teaches her young pup to bodysurf on waves.
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40169  

A California sea lions leap high out of the water, jumping clear of a wave while bodysurfing at Boomer Beach in La Jolla.
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40835  

Two adult female California Sea Lions, Portrait, La Jolla.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 36811  

California Sea Lion Resting in the Sun, on rocky reef.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 36860  

California sea lions bodysurfing and leaping way out of the water, in La Jolla at Boomer Beach.
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38989  

A California sea lions leap high out of the water, jumping clear of a wave while bodysurfing at Boomer Beach in La Jolla.
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38990  

Magnificent frigatebird, adult male on nest, with throat pouch inflated, a courtship display to attract females.
Species: Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens
Location: North Seymour Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Image ID: 16725  

Hammerhead sharks swim in a school underwater at Wolf Island in the Galapagos archipelago. The hammerheads eyes and other sensor organs are placed far apart on its wide head to give the shark greater ability to sense the location of prey.
Species: Scalloped hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini
Location: Wolf Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Image ID: 16271  

A great white shark swims underwater through the ocean at Guadalupe Island.
Species: Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias
Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 21348  

Great White Shark, South Neptune Islands, South Australia.
Species: Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias
Location: South Neptune Islands, South Australia
Image ID: 39142  

Great White Shark, South Neptune Islands, South Australia.
Species: Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias
Location: South Neptune Islands, South Australia
Image ID: 39143  

California sea lion on drift kelp paddy, underwater. This adult female California sea lion was hanging out underneath a paddy of drift kelp, well offshore the coastline of San Diego.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 38532