National Marine Sanctuaries photos

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Adult male humpback whale bubble streaming underwater.  The male escort humpback whale seen here is emitting a curtain of bubbles as it swims behind a female during competitive group activities.  The bubble curtain may be meant as warning or visual obstruction to other nearby male whales interested in the female, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Adult male humpback whale bubble streaming underwater. The male escort humpback whale seen here is emitting a curtain of bubbles as it swims behind a female during competitive group activities. The bubble curtain may be meant as warning or visual obstruction to other nearby male whales interested in the female.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 04444  
Large competitive group of humpback whales, eleven adult humpback whales seen in this image, part of a 16 whale competitive group, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Large competitive group of humpback whales, eleven adult humpback whales seen in this image, part of a 16 whale competitive group.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 04459  
Hawaiian humpback whale underwater, sun beams dappling the whale in clear oceanic waters, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Hawaiian humpback whale underwater, sun beams dappling the whale in clear oceanic waters.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 04501  
North Pacific humpback whale, head standing near surface, Maui
North Pacific humpback whale, head standing near surface.
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 05941  
Male North Pacific humpback whale streams a trail of bubbles.  The primary male escort whale (center) creates a curtain of bubbles underwater as it swims behind a female (right), with other challenging males trailing behind in a competitive group.  The bubbles may be a form of intimidation from the primary escort towards the challenging escorts, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Male North Pacific humpback whale streams a trail of bubbles. The primary male escort whale (center) creates a curtain of bubbles underwater as it swims behind a female (right), with other challenging males trailing behind in a competitive group. The bubbles may be a form of intimidation from the primary escort towards the challenging escorts.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 05968  
Humpback whale, abandoned calf alongside University of Hawaii research boat.  This young calf lived only a few days after being abandoned or separated from its mother, and was eventually attacked by tiger sharks, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Humpback whale, abandoned calf alongside University of Hawaii research boat. This young calf lived only a few days after being abandoned or separated from its mother, and was eventually attacked by tiger sharks.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 05979  
Adult male north Pacific humpback whale bubble streaming underwater in the midst of a competitive group.   The male escort humpback whale seen here is emitting a curtain of bubbles as it swims closely behind a female, .  The bubble curtain may be meant as warning or visual obstruction to other nearby males interested in the female, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Adult male north Pacific humpback whale bubble streaming underwater in the midst of a competitive group. The male escort humpback whale seen here is emitting a curtain of bubbles as it swims closely behind a female, . The bubble curtain may be meant as warning or visual obstruction to other nearby males interested in the female.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 05999  
Hawaiian humpback whale underwater, sun beams dappling the whale in clear oceanic waters, Maui
Hawaiian humpback whale underwater, sun beams dappling the whale in clear oceanic waters.
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 06007  
Adult male north Pacific humpback whale bubble streaming underwater in the midst of a competitive group.   The male escort humpback whale seen here is emitting a curtain of bubbles as it swims closely behind a female, .  The bubble curtain may be meant as warning or visual obstruction to other nearby males interested in the female, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Adult male north Pacific humpback whale bubble streaming underwater in the midst of a competitive group. The male escort humpback whale seen here is emitting a curtain of bubbles as it swims closely behind a female, . The bubble curtain may be meant as warning or visual obstruction to other nearby males interested in the female.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 06037  
Bull elephant seal, adult male, bellowing. Its huge proboscis is characteristic of male elephant seals. Scarring from combat with other males.  Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
Bull elephant seal, adult male, bellowing. Its huge proboscis is characteristic of male elephant seals. Scarring from combat with other males. Central California.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 15387  
This bull elephant seal, an old adult male, shows extreme scarring on his chest and proboscis from many winters fighting other males for territory and rights to a harem of females.  Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
This bull elephant seal, an old adult male, shows extreme scarring on his chest and proboscis from many winters fighting other males for territory and rights to a harem of females. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 15388  
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, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
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: 15408  
Male elephant seals (bulls) rear up on their foreflippers and fight in the surf for access for mating females that are in estrous.  Such fighting among elephant seals can take place on the beach or in the water.  They bite and tear at each other on the neck and shoulders, drawing blood and creating scars on the tough hides, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Male elephant seals (bulls) rear up on their foreflippers and fight in the surf for access for mating females that are in estrous. Such fighting among elephant seals can take place on the beach or in the water. They bite and tear at each other on the neck and shoulders, drawing blood and creating scars on the tough hides.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 20370  
Male elephant seals (bulls) rear up on their foreflippers and fight for territory and harems of females.  Bull elephant seals will haul out and fight from December through March, nearly fasting the entire time as they maintain their territory and harem.  They bite and tear at each other on the neck and shoulders, drawing blood and creating scars on the tough hides, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Male elephant seals (bulls) rear up on their foreflippers and fight for territory and harems of females. Bull elephant seals will haul out and fight from December through March, nearly fasting the entire time as they maintain their territory and harem. They bite and tear at each other on the neck and shoulders, drawing blood and creating scars on the tough hides.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 20371  
California sea lion, adult male, profile of head showing long whiskers and prominent sagittal crest (cranial crest bone), hauled out on rocks to rest, early morning sunrise light, Monterey breakwater rocks, Zalophus californianus
California sea lion, adult male, profile of head showing long whiskers and prominent sagittal crest (cranial crest bone), hauled out on rocks to rest, early morning sunrise light, Monterey breakwater rocks.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 21586  
A SCUBA diver enters a submarine cavern at Santa Barbara Island, underwater cave
A SCUBA diver enters a submarine cavern at Santa Barbara Island, underwater cave.
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 23423  
North Pacific humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
North Pacific humpback whale.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 00167  
Aggregating anemone detail, Anthopleura elegantissima, San Miguel Island
Aggregating anemone detail.
Species: Aggregating anemone, Anthopleura elegantissima
Location: San Miguel Island, California
Image ID: 00290  
California sea lion, juveniles at play in kelp forest, Zalophus californianus, Santa Barbara Island
California sea lion, juveniles at play in kelp forest.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 00619  
Northern elephant seal,  mother and neonate pup, gulls eating placenta, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seal, mother and neonate pup, gulls eating placenta.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 00945  
California sea lions gather on the surface in Monterey Harbor, central California coast, Zalophus californianus
California sea lions gather on the surface in Monterey Harbor, central California coast.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 00957  
Northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus, San Miguel Island
Northern fur seal.
Species: Northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus
Location: San Miguel Island, California
Image ID: 00965  
Northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus, San Miguel Island
Northern fur seal.
Species: Northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus
Location: San Miguel Island, California
Image ID: 00967  
Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus, Big Sur, California
Gray whale.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: Big Sur, California
Image ID: 01182  
California sea lion, Zalophus californianus, Monterey
California sea lion.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 01924  
California sea lion, thermoregulating, Zalophus californianus, Monterey
California sea lion, thermoregulating.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 01956  
North Pacific humpback whale raising its fluke before diving underwater to forage for herring in southeast Alaska, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
North Pacific humpback whale raising its fluke before diving underwater to forage for herring in southeast Alaska.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 02154  
Kelp frond in motion, time exposure, Macrocystis pyrifera, Santa Barbara Island
Kelp frond in motion, time exposure.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 02344  
Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts, Macrocystis pyrifera, Santa Barbara Island
Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 02436  
Kelp stipe and blades, Macrocystis pyrifera, Santa Barbara Island
Kelp stipe and blades.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 02498  
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All photographs copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.