Pacific harbor seal swims in the protected waters of Childrens Pool in La Jolla, California. This group of harbor seals, which has formed a breeding colony at a small but popular beach near San Diego, is at the center of considerable controversy. While harbor seals are protected from harassment by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and other legislation, local interests would like to see the seals leave so that people can resume using the beach.
Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 03015
Pacific harbor seal swims in the protected waters of Childrens Pool in La Jolla, California. This group of harbor seals, which has formed a breeding colony at a small but popular beach near San Diego, is at the center of considerable controversy. While harbor seals are protected from harassment by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and other legislation, local interests would like to see the seals leave so that people can resume using the beach.
Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 03018
A young Pacific Harbor Seal pup with milk on its face from nursing. Mother harbor seals will only nurse their pups for about four to six weeks, at which point the small seal is weaned and must begin to forage and fend for itself. That short period of time is crucial for the young seal to learn how to hunt, socialize and swim.
Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 39130
Humpback whale lunge feeding on Antarctic krill, with mouth open and baleen visible. The humbpack's pink throat grooves are seen as its pleated throat becomes fully distended as the whale fills its mouth with krill and water. The water will be pushed out, while the baleen strains and retains the small krill.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Gerlache Strait, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica
Image ID: 25660
A bull elephant seal forceably mates (copulates) with a much smaller female, often biting her into submission and using his weight to keep her from fleeing. Males may up to 5000 lbs, triple the size of females. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 35133
Sunset at Clipperton Island, aerial panoramic photo showing the entire atoll. Clipperton Island, a minor territory of France also known as Ile de la Passion, is a small (2.3 sq mi) but spectacular coral atoll in the eastern Pacific. By permit HC / 1485 / CAB (France).
Location: Clipperton Island, France
Image ID: 32895
Panorama dimensions: 3902 x 8401
A bull elephant seal forceably mates (copulates) with a much smaller female, often biting her into submission and using his weight to keep her from fleeing. Males may up to 5000 lbs, triple the size of females. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 20388
Small waterfalls and autumn trees, along the left fork in North Creek Canyon, with maple and cottonwood trees turning fall colors.
Location: Zion National Park, Utah
Image ID: 26099
Sunrise at the Wedge. The Wedge, a notorious and famous shorebreak at the end of the Newport Peninsula, is seen here under a huge dawning sky and sporting a small but fun swell.
Location: The Wedge, Newport Beach, California
Image ID: 27991
A bull elephant seal forceably mates (copulates) with a much smaller female, often biting her into submission and using his weight to keep her from fleeing. Males may up to 5000 lbs, triple the size of females. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 35132
California golden gorgonian and small juvenile sheephead fishes on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. 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, Muricea californica
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 37057
Colorful dendronephthya soft corals and various hard corals, flourishing on a pristine healthy south pacific coral reef. The soft corals are inflated in strong ocean currents, capturing passing planktonic food with their many small polyps.
Species: Dendronephthya soft coral, Dendronephthya
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji
Image ID: 31579
Colorful dendronephthya soft corals and various hard corals, flourishing on a pristine healthy south pacific coral reef. The soft corals are inflated in strong ocean currents, capturing passing planktonic food with their many small polyps.
Species: Dendronephthya soft coral, Dendronephthya
Location: Fiji
Image ID: 31605
Injured tiger shark. This young and small tiger shark shows injuries about its face, likely from bites by other sharks.
Species: Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier
Location: Bahamas
Image ID: 31907
Injured tiger shark. This young and small tiger shark shows injuries about its face, likely from bites by other sharks.
Species: Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier
Location: Bahamas
Image ID: 31959
M/V Nautilus Undersea at Clipperton Island. Clipperton Island, a minor territory of France also known as Ile de la Passion, is a small (2.3 sq mi) but spectacular coral atoll in the eastern Pacific. By permit HC / 1485 / CAB (France).
Location: Clipperton Island, France
Image ID: 32842
Aerial panorama of Clipperton Island, showing the entire atoll. Clipperton Island, a minor territory of France also known as Ile de la Passion, is a small (2.3 sq mi) but spectacular coral atoll in the eastern Pacific. By permit HC / 1485 / CAB (France).
Location: Clipperton Island, France
Image ID: 32843
Panorama dimensions: 5161 x 11384
Aerial photo of M/V Nautilus Undersea at Clipperton Island. Clipperton Island, a minor territory of France also known as Ile de la Passion, is a small (2.3 sq mi) but spectacular coral atoll in the eastern Pacific. By permit HC / 1485 / CAB (France).
Location: Clipperton Island, France
Image ID: 32848
Panorama dimensions: 7944 x 5064
San Evaristo at dawn, panoramic view, a small fishing town, aerial photo, Sea of Cortez, Baja California.
Location: San Evaristo, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 33487
Panorama dimensions: 5360 x 11790
Snowy egret, Mission Bay, San Diego. The snowy egret can be found in marshes, swamps, shorelines, mudflats and ponds. The snowy egret eats shrimp, minnows and other small fish, crustaceans and frogs. It is found on all coasts of North America and, in winter, into South America.
Species: Snowy Egret, Egretta thula
Image ID: 36823
Snowy egret in flight gliding over the ocean in La Jolla. The snowy egret can be found in marshes, swamps, shorelines, mudflats and ponds. The snowy egret eats shrimp, minnows and other small fish, crustaceans and frogs. It is found on all coasts of North America and, in winter, into South America.
Species: Snowy Egret, Egretta thula
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38926
A small sea lion pup takes off on a huge wave, bodysurfing, Boomer Beach, La Jolla.
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 39001
A young Pacific Harbor Seal pup nursing. Mother harbor seals will only nurse their pups for about four to six weeks, at which point the small seal is weaned and must begin to forage and fend for itself. That short period of time is crucial for the young seal to learn how to hunt, socialize and swim.
Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 39081
Fern Springs, a small natural spring in Yosemite Valley near the Pohono Bridge, trickles quietly over rocks as it flows into the Merced River.
Location: Fern Springs, Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 12650
Red Irish Lord. The red irish lord lurks in shallow habitats where it feeds on crabs, shrimp, barnacles, mussels and small fishes.
Species: Red irish lord, Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus
Image ID: 13689