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Feather duster worm.
Image ID: 02544
Species: Feather duster worm, Eudistylia polymorpha
Location: San Miguel Island, California, USA | Simnia and egg cluster on gorgonian.
Image ID: 02556
Species: Simnia, Delonovolva aequalis
Location: Anacapa Island, California, USA | Nudibranch on calcareous coralline algae.
Image ID: 05285
Species: Opalescent nudibranch, Hermissenda crassicornis
Location: Monterey, California, USA |
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Chestnut cowrie with mantle extended.
Image ID: 01035
Species: Chestnut Cowrie, Date Cowrie, Cypraea spadicea
Location: San Miguel Island, California, USA | Anemone mouth.
Image ID: 02484
Species: Aggregating anemone, Anthopleura elegantissima
Location: San Miguel Island, California, USA | Orange cup coral.
Image ID: 02559
Species: Orange cup coral, Balanophyllia elegans
Location: Monterey, California, USA |
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A cluster of vibrantly-colored strawberry anemones (club-tipped anemone, more correctly a corallimorph) polyps clings to the rocky reef.
Image ID: 10168
Species: Strawberry anemone, Corynactis californica
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California, USA | Kelp fronds showing pneumatocysts, bouyant gas-filled bubble-like structures which float the kelp plant off the ocean bottom toward the surface, where it will spread to form a roof-like canopy. Santa Barbara Island.
Image ID: 10228
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California, USA | A bull elephant seal (adult male) surveys the beach. The huge proboscis is characteristic of the species. Scarring from combat with other males. Central California.
Image ID: 15460
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA |
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Male elephant seal rears up on its foreflippers and bellows to intimidate other males and to survey its beach territory. Winter, Central California.
Image ID: 15489
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | North Pacific humpback whale, mother and calf near ocean surface, cow/calf.
Image ID: 02998
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii, USA | Male humpback whale emits an underwater stream of bubbles as it swims quickly during competitive group activities.
Image ID: 04421
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii, USA |
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Primary escort male humpback whale bubble streaming during competitive group socializing. This primary escort is swimming behind a female. The bubble curtain may be a form of intimidation towards other male escorts that are interested in the female.
Image ID: 04432
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii, USA | Gray whale, raising fluke to dive.
Image ID: 05780
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: Big Sur, California, USA | Gray whale, raising fluke to dive.
Image ID: 05781
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: Big Sur, California, USA |
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Common dolphin at the edge of the ocean.
Image ID: 27017
Species: Common dolphin, Delphinus delphis
Location: Santa Barbara, California, USA | Common dolphin leaping from the ocean.
Image ID: 27018
Species: Common dolphin, Delphinus delphis
Location: Santa Barbara, California, USA | 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.
Image ID: 21566
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Monterey, California, USA |
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Water falling from a blue whale fluke as the whale dives to forage for food in the Santa Barbara Channel.
Image ID: 27023
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Location: Santa Rosa Island, California, USA | A sea otter eats a clam that it has taken from the shallow sandy bottom of Elkhorn Slough. Because sea otters have such a high metabolic rate, they eat up to 30% of their body weight each day in the form of clams, mussels, urchins, crabs and abalone. Sea otters are the only known tool-using marine mammal, using a stone or old shell to open the shells of their prey as they float on their backs.
Image ID: 21612
Species: Sea otter, Enhydra lutris
Location: Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Moss Landing, California, USA | Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Image ID: 35141
Species: Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA |
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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. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California.
Image ID: 35142
Species: Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | Bull elephant seal, adult male, bellowing. Its huge proboscis is characteristic of male elephant seals. Scarring from combat with other males.
Image ID: 35143
Species: Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Image ID: 35145
Species: Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA |
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Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Image ID: 35146
Species: Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Image ID: 35148
Species: Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Image ID: 35151
Species: Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA |
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Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Image ID: 35153
Species: Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Image ID: 35154
Species: Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Image ID: 35155
Species: Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA |
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