Wildlife

Environmental Problems Humpback Whale Marine Life Ocean Sunfish

Photos of Boat Strikes of Marine Animals

Boat strikes of marine animals are increasingly common, for obvious reasons. It is disappointing to observe a marine animal severely or mortally wounded by a collision with a boat. We have encountered several marine animals bearing unmistakable boat propeller scars: North Pacific humpback whale showing extensive scarring, almost certainly from…

adminMarch 8, 2005

Sharks Underwater Life

Caribbean Reef Shark Photo

These Caribbean reef sharks (Carcharhinus perezi) were photographed a few weeks ago in the northern Bahamas: Caribbean reef shark, ampullae of Lorenzini visible on snout.Image ID: 10550Species: Caribbean reef shark, Carcharhinus pereziLocation: Bahamas Caribbean reef shark.Image ID: 10549Species: Caribbean reef shark, Carcharhinus pereziLocation: Bahamas Caribbean reef shark swims over a…

adminMarch 4, 2005

California Invertebrate Monterey Underwater Life

Photo of Hermissenda Crassicornis Nudibranch

This photo of a Hermissenda crassicornis, also known as an "Opalescent nudibranch", was shot in the early 90's near Carmel on the Monterey Peninsula. We rented a house in the town of Carmel for a week. Anticipating foggy skies and cold murky water, we did not expect to do much…

adminMarch 3, 2005

Birds Galapagos Diaries Seabird

Boobie Photos

For some reason many visitors to this web site have been searching for boobie photos. We simply do not understand the intense interest in photos of boobies, or in boobies in general. Boobies are just a bunch of seabirds and not even particularly rare. The blue boobies seem to elicit…

adminMarch 2, 2005

Birds

Photos of Atlantic Puffins at Machias Seal Island

Machias Seal Island is one of the best places in the world to observe Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica), and is certainly a fun place to get to. Machias Seal Island, near the US border with Canada in the Gulf of Maine, is accessed by a short boat from the easternmost…

adminFebruary 27, 2005

California Harbor Seal La Jolla

Humane Society Sues to Protect Seals

From the San Diego Union Tribune: U.S. Humane Society sues S.D., demands rope barrier for seals By Ray Huard UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER February 26, 2005 The Humane Society of the United States filed suit yesterday against the city of San Diego, demanding that officials restore a rope barrier at La…

adminFebruary 26, 2005

California San Diego Sharks Underwater Life

Photo of Blue Shark and Yellowtail

Some years ago I was freediving around an open ocean kelp paddy with Mike Johnson. We were photographing a few blue sharks that we had attracted to the paddy with a small bucket of chum. Two small yellowtail jacks were flanking one of the blue sharks, swimming closely beside it…

adminFebruary 24, 2005

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Smiling Great White Shark

One great white shark photo on our website that is viewed more than almost all others is this one: A great white shark underwater. A large great white shark cruises the clear oceanic waters of Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe). Image ID: 10119 Species: Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias Location: Guadalupe…

adminFebruary 22, 2005

California Fish Marine Life Underwater Life

Photo of California Sheephead Wrasse

The California sheephead wrasse, Semicossyphus pulcher, is an interesting fish. It begins its life as a female and remains so until adulthood. When the region's dominant adult male dies or leaves then switcheroo! one of the remaining adult females will switch genders to assume the role of dominant male of…

adminFebruary 13, 2005

Hawaii Humpback Whale

Photos of Humpback Whale Pectoral Fin Displays

Humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, are known for displaying a wide range of surface behaviors (i.e., behaviors seen from above water), such as breaching, head lunging, tail lobbing and spyhopping. Among these behaviors, pectoral fin displays are some of the most interesting. Humpback whales have the longest pectoral fins of all…

adminFebruary 11, 2005

California Central Coast Elephant Seal

Newborn Northern Elephant Seal, Central California

Mother and newborn pup Northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris, central California coast. This newborn pup had just been born minutes before this photo was taken. Placental material, seen in the background, has attracted sea gulls who will consume it. The pup will be weaned surprisingly fast, in as little 2-3…

adminFebruary 8, 2005

California San Diego Sharks Underwater Life

Blue Shark Eye to Eye

Blue shark showing ampullae of Lorenzini, eye and small portion of nictitating membrane.Image ID: 01076Species: Blue shark, Prionace glaucaLocation: San Diego, California, USA This is a photograph of a blue shark, Prionace glauca. We bait for them offshore of San Diego, anywhere from 5 to 20 miles offshore (however far…

adminFebruary 4, 2005

Blue Whale Natural World Underwater Life

The Blue Whale, Largest Animal On Earth

The blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus, is the largest animal ever to have lived on Earth. Depending on which expert is cited, blue whales once attained lengths of 100 to 120 feet (32 meters) and have weighed up to 160 tons (145 metric tonnes). Blue whales are found throughout the worlds…

adminFebruary 4, 2005

California Fish Ocean Sunfish San Diego

Ocean Sunfish Floating On The Ocean Surface

Here's a photograph we licensed today for a book in Australia. Can you guess what the bright white object is? Ocean sunfish.Image ID: 02030Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola molaLocation: San Diego, California, USA It is an OCEAN SUNFISH (Mola mola), laying flat on the ocean's surface, far offshore of the San…

adminFebruary 3, 2005

Fish Florida Underwater Life

Photo of Mangrove Snapper in Three Sisters Spring

Mangrove snapper. Image ID: 02685 Species: Mangrove snapper, Lutjanus griseus Location: Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River, Florida, USA I spent a week one winter hanging out at the Three Sisters spring in Crystal River, Florida, photographing manatees. Early in the week the weather was cold so plenty of manatees were…

adminFebruary 2, 2005

California Harbor Seal La Jolla

Photos of La Jolla Seals

Controversy over the La Jolla seals continues. To make a long story short: a group of Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) has taken up residence on the sand at the Children's Pool, a small pocket cove in La Jolla, California also known as Casa Cove. Their presence there has led…

adminFebruary 1, 2005

Florida Manatee Marine Life Underwater Life

Photo of West Indian Manatee, Crystal River, Florida

A West Indian manatee, also known as a Florida manatee, at the Three Sisters Springs on the Crystal River, Florida. A Florida manatee, or West Indian Manatee, swims slowly through the clear waters of Crystal River. Image ID: 02696 Species: West Indian manatee, Trichechus manatus Location: Three Sisters Springs, Crystal…