Venus comb murex. Scientists speculate that the distinctively long and narrow spines are a protection against fish and other mollusks and prevent the mollusk from sinking into the soft, sandy mud where it is commonly found.
Species: Venus comb murex, Murex pecten
Image ID: 12970
Fin whale underwater. The fin whale is the second longest and sixth most massive animal ever, reaching lengths of 88 feet.
Species: Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus
Image ID: 27594
Fin whale underwater. The fin whale is the second longest and sixth most massive animal ever, reaching lengths of 88 feet.
Species: Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus
Image ID: 27597
Closeup Portrait of the Face of a Giant Black Sea Bass, showing parasitic sea lice. These parasites find their nutrition from the skin and blood of the host giant sea bass. Smaller fishes such as senoritas and wrasses will commonly clean the sea lice off the giant sea bass.
Species: Giant black sea bass, Stereolepis gigas
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 39436
Sunset on the Del Mar Bluffs and Train Tracks, with North County coastline. The highest peaks in the distance are Santiago Peak and Modjeska Peak, the pair commonly known as Saddleback.
Location: Del Mar, California
Image ID: 37604
Sacre-Coeur Basilica. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, commonly known as Sacre-Coeur Basilica, is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Paris, France. A popular landmark, the basilica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city.
Location: Basilique du Sacre-Coeur, Paris, France
Image ID: 28118
Sacre-Coeur Basilica. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, commonly known as Sacre-Coeur Basilica, is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Paris, France. A popular landmark, the basilica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city.
Location: Basilique du Sacre-Coeur, Paris, France
Image ID: 28155
Ocotillo ablaze with springtime flowers. Ocotillo is a dramatic succulent, often confused with cactus, that is common throughout the desert regions of American southwest.
Species: Ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California
Image ID: 09161
Sacre-Coeur Basilica. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, commonly known as Sacre-Coeur Basilica, is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Paris, France. A popular landmark, the basilica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city.
Location: Sacré-Cœur, Paris, France
Image ID: 35607
Arizona lupine is a common early spring ephemeral wildflower of the Colorado Desert. The purple-pink flowers show a yellow spot on the upper petal, which changes in color to red once the flower has been pollinated to discourage insects from visiting it after pollination.
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 35174
Common Eland or Eland Antelope, Taurotragus oryx, Greater Masai Mara, Kenya. The eland is the largest species of antelope in the world.
Species: Eland, Taurotragus oryx
Location: Mara North Conservancy, Kenya
Image ID: 39717
Sunset on the Del Mar Bluffs and Train Tracks, with North County coastline. The highest peaks in the distance are Santiago Peak and Modjeska Peak, the pair commonly known as Saddleback.
Location: Del Mar, California
Image ID: 37603
Panorama dimensions: 5276 x 15919
Navajo sandstone forms the cliffs and walls of Zion National Park. The sandstone reaches a thickness of 2300 feet and consists of ancient cemented desert sand dunes. Horizontal lines, commonly called crossbedding, represent layers of wind-blown sand that built up into sand dunes. These dunes were then buried, and the sand grains glued together by calcite and iron oxide to form sandstone.
Location: Zion National Park, Utah
Image ID: 12519
Southern Pacific rattlesnake. The southern Pacific rattlesnake is common in southern California from the coast through the desert foothills to elevations of 10,000 feet. It reaches 4-5 feet (1.5m) in length.
Species: Southern pacific rattlesnake, Crotalus viridis helleri
Image ID: 12585