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  • This is blue whale feces, discharged by a whale that had surfaced after feeding on krill in deep water in southern Sri Lanka. The neon red-orange color of the defecation is due to the whale's krill-based diet. The feces dissolve rapidly, as is apparent from the fizzing around the large clumps in this image. Photo taken under permit.
    blue-whale-feces-krill-Balaenoptera-...tif
  • The shipping lanes south of Sri Lanka are among the busiest in the world. Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) and other cetaceans often congregate in these shipping lanes to feed on krill below. The potential for lethal ship strikes is clear.
    blue-whale-shipping-lane-sri-lanka-b...tif
  • This is the pectoral fin of a dead blue whale, found floating in the Indian Ocean south of Sri Lanka. Blue whales have relatively short pectoral fins in relation to their body size. This whale was probably killed by a ship strike in the busy shipping lanes that run directly through blue whale feeding grounds. Photo taken under permit.
    pectoral-fin-blue-whale-Balaenoptera...tif
  • This is a friendly blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) that approached the boat each time it surfaced after a twenty to thirty minute foraging dive. In total, I had seven in-water encounters with this blue whale over several hours, ending only because it was getting late and we had to head back to port.
    blue-whale-balaenoptera-musculus-ind...tif
  • Indian Ocean blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) swimming into the blue. From this angle the substantial width of the fluke is apparent, and some of the whale’s musculature that powers the fluke is also visible.
    blue-whale-balaenoptera-musculus-ind...tif
  • This was a young, relatively friendly blue whale. Over the course of several hours, this whale approached the boat I was in seven times when it surfaced from feeding in deeper water. From this angle, the whale’s powerful, well-muscled caudal region is visible. The whale’s flexibility and sinuous S-curve swimming motion is also apparent.
    blue-whale-caudal-musculature-sinuou...tif
  • Pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) diving into the blue, with pelagic fish (likely yellowfin tuna or similar open ocean predatory species) visible in the background
    pygmy-blue-whale-balaenoptera-muscul...tif
  • Fluke of a diving pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) with several remoras attached.
    blue-whale-fluke-with-remoras-201502...tif
  • Large adult pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) diving into the blue, perhaps to forage for food. Photographed in Sri Lanka.
    pygmy-blue-whale-balaenoptera-muscul...tif
  • This is an adult pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) entangled in a fishing net. The net was wrapped around the base of the whale's fluke, with substantial net and rope trailing behind. As is visible in this image, rope stretched up both sides of the whale and appeared to be caught in the whale's mouth. I came across this whale in shallow, green, murky water, approximately 60 meters depth. The whale was still able to swim, though it appeared exhausted. It did not fluke, and the netting was not visible from the surface. Sadly, this whale most likely died shortly after this encounter.
    blue-whale-entangled-fishing-net-bal...tif
  • This is an adult pygmy blue whale entangled in a fishing net. The net was wrapped around the base of the whale's fluke, with substantial net and rope trailing behind. Rope stretched up both sides of the whale and appeared to be caught in the whale's mouth. I came across this whale in shallow, green, murky water, approximately 60 meters depth. The whale was still able to swim, though it appeared exhausted. It did not fluke, and the netting was not visible from the surface. Sadly, this whale most likely died shortly after this encounter.
    entangled-pygmy-blue-whale-fishing-n...tif
  • Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) with its mouth open. Photographed at Blue Corner, Palau.
    Cheilinus-undulatus-Napoleon-wrasse-...tif
  • Close-up view of the throat grooves on a dead blue whale, found in the Indian Ocean of Sri Lanka. The whale was most likely the victim of a ship strike by a large container vessel. The main shipping channel south of Sri Lanka passes directly through feeding grounds of blue whales and other cetaceans, which gather in the area to feed on aggregations of krill in deep water. Photo taken under permit.
    throat-grooves-blue-whale-Balaenopte...tif
  • This male blue whale was most likely killed by a ship strike. There is a large wound in the animal's caudal area, suggesting a direct bow strike by a large vessel. There is a high level of shipping traffic south of Sri Lanka, where container vessels and other large ships travel through shipping lanes on a continuous basis. These shipping lanes are situated in the middle of feeding grounds for blue whales and other cetaceans, putting these animals at high risk of ship strikes. Photo taken under permit.
    dead-blue-whale-floating-ocean-surfa...tif
  • Large wound in the caudal region of a dead blue whale found in southern Sri Lanka. The whale was male. The wound was most likely the result of a direct collision from the bow of a large commercial vessel traveling in the major shipping lanes just south of Sri Lanka. These shipping lanes run directly through the feeding grounds of blue whales and other cetaceans. Photo taken under permit.
    dead-blue-whale-collision-container-...tif
  • Fluke of a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) diving to forage for krill in deep water. Note the distinctive crease on the whale's dorsal surface, just behind the dorsal fin. This, plus several white spots on this whale's body (including the two white spots visible on the right fluke), made this individual easy to recognize. Photograph taken under permit.
    blue-whale-fluke-Balaenoptera-muscul...tif
  • Indian Ocean blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) returning to deeper water to forage for krill after a brief surface interval to replenish air supply.
    blue-whale-indian-ocean-balaenoptera...tif
  • Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) diving next to a whale watching boat in the Sea of Cortez, Baja Peninsula, Mexico
    blue-whale-boat-sea-cortez-mexico-20...tif
  • Blue whale calf (Balaenoptera musculus) swimming beside its mother
    blue-whale-female-calf-cortez-201302...tif
  • My friend holding up fresh pygmy blue whale defecation. The brilliant orange-red color of the blue whale poop derives from krill diet of the cetacean.
    ron-leidich-holding-blue-whale-defec...tif
  • Japanese larch trees (Larix kaempferi) in the blue ice of Blue Pond in Biei, Hokkaido, Japan frozen over during winter.
    japanese-larch-trees-frozen-blue-pon...tif
  • Blue Pond in Biei, Hokkaido, Japan in the winter, with snow falling. The pond is manmade, and the trees growing through the water are Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi), deciduous conifers. 北海道の美瑛にある青い池です。
    blue-pond-in-winter-with-snow-hokkai...tif
  • Blue Pond in Biei, Hokkaido, Japan in the winter, with snow falling. The pond is manmade, and the trees growing through the water are Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi), deciduous conifers. 北海道の美瑛にある青い池です。
    blue-pond-in-winter-biei-hokkaido-ja...tif
  • Juvenile spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari) swimming in open water adjacent to Blue Corner dive site in Palau.
    spotted-eagle-ray-juvenile-aetobatus...tif
  • This is an adult pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) entangled in a fishing net. The net was wrapped around the base of the whale's fluke, with substantial net and rope trailing behind. Rope stretched up both sides of the whale and appeared to be caught in the whale's mouth. I came across this whale in shallow, green, murky water, approximately 60 meters depth. The whale was still able to swim, though it appeared exhausted. It did not fluke, and the netting was not visible from the surface. Sadly, this whale most likely died shortly after this encounter.
    blue-whale-entangled-fishing-net-sri...tif
  • Very close pass with a pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) in murky water. Note the patches of white pigmentation on the right nostril and left dorsal area. These make this whale easy to recognize, even from above water.
    pygmy-blue-whale-balaenoptera-muscul...tif
  • Ron Leidich and Terry Ward having a chat in our dinner tent at Blue Devil Beach, where we camped for the first three nights of our trip to explore the Rock Islands of Palau by kayak.
    palau-blue-devil-beach-koror-island-...tif
  • School of bluelined snapper (Lutjanus kasmira) at Blue Corner dive site in Palau
    bluelined-snapper-Lutjanus-kasmira-b...tif
  • School of bluelined snapper (Lutjanus kasmira) at Blue Corner dive site in Palau
    bluelined-snapper-Lutjanus-kasmira-b...tif
  • A pair of bigeye jacks (Caranx sexfasciatus), with the male temporarily turned black in preparation for spawning. Another pair of fish also getting ready to spawn is visible in the background. These fish were among a large school of several hundred jacks swimming above the Blue Corner dive site in Palau.
    bigeye-trevally-mating-spawning-blue...tif
  • Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) patrolling the reef at Palau's renowned dive site Blue Corner
    napoleon-wrasse-blue-corner-palau-Ch...tif
  • Pectoral fin of a dead blue whale, with a remora attached. This whale was most likely hit and killed by a large commercial vessel, which left a gaping wound in the cetacean's caudal area. Ship strikes may happen frequently in this area, just south of Mirissa in southern Sri Lanka. The shipping lanes here are very busy, with ships traveling at high speed through the feeding grounds of blue whales and other cetaceans.
    dead-blue-whale-pectoral-fin-Balaeno...tif
  • This is a male blue whale killed by a ship strike, floating at the ocean surface, in the Indian Ocean south of Sri Lanka. There is a high volume of container ship and other large vessel traffic in this area, with the ships traveling directly through the feeding grounds of blue whales and other cetaceans. Ship strikes are perhaps a regular occurence. Photo taken under permit.
    dead-blue-whale-killed-ship-strike-B...tif
  • This is the genital slit of a dead blue whale, found floating south of Mirissa in Sri Lanka. The tip of the whale's penis appears to be protruding from the animal. The whale was most likely struck by one of the many container ships in the busy shipping lanes that coincide with the feeding grounds of blue whales and other cetaceans in the area. Other photos of this whale show a deep scar in the whale's caudal area, suggestive of a direct bow strike by a large commercial ship. Photograph taken under permit.
    dead-blue-whale-genital-slit-penis-B...tif
  • This is a dead blue whale, probably killed by a ship strike from a large commercial ship, much like the one visible in the background. Major shipping lanes pass directly through the feeding grounds of blue whales and other cetaceans in southern Sri Lanka, increasing the chances for fatal ship strikes like this. This whale was male, with the cause of death being a wound to the animal's caudal area. Photo taken under permit.
    dead-blue-whale-container-ship-india...tif
  • Rear view of a blue whale killed by a ship strike in the Indian Ocean, south of Sri Lanka. This region is a feeding area for blue whales and other cetaceans. It is also a major shipping lane, with large container vessels and other big ships traveling through the feeding grounds on a constant basis. The large wound in the whale's caudal region may have been caused by a head-on collision by one of these ships. Photo taken under permit.
    blue-whale-killed-by-ship-strike-sri...tif
  • Fluke of a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) diving to forage for krill in deep water. Note the distinctive crease on the whale's dorsal surface, just behind the dorsal fin. This, plus several white spots on this whale's body (including the two white spots visible on the top of the right fluke), made this individual easy to recognize. Photograph taken under permit.
    blue-whale-fluke-sri-lanka-Balaenopt...tif
  • A blue whale diving down to feed on krill in the Indian Ocean, south of Sri Lanka. This whale was relatively inquisitive, proactively approaching on several occasions, and swimming along underneath our boat in one instance. This whale is easily recognizable by the white patch on the left side of its head. It also has a white area on the right side of its nose, two white spots on the right side of its fluke, and a large, visible indentation on the dorsal surface of its caudal region. Photograph taken under permit.
    blue-whale-diving-Balaenoptera-muscu...tif
  • Close-up view of the blowholes of a deceased blue whale. The whale was most likely struck and killed by a large commercial vessel. Major shipping lanes pass through the middle of blue whale feeding grounds to the south of Sri Lanka. Photo taken under permit.
    blowholes-blue-whale-sri-lanka-Balae...tif
  • A baby eagle ray at the world-famous Blue Corner dive site in Palau, with barracuda, redtooth triggerfish and dive boats visible in the background. The Palauan word for eagle ray and the Audobon shearwater bird are the same. Both eagle rays and shearwaters are considered gods in Palau culture.
    juvenile-eagle-ray-Aetobatus-narinar...tif
  • Dorsal view of a pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda)
    pygmy-blue-whale-dorsal-view-201502-...tif
  • Profile of a pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) commencing a dive to forage for food
    blue-whale-balaenoptera-musculus-bre...tif
  • Close-up view of the fluke of a pygmy blue whale. I had nine consecutive encounters with this inquisitive whale. During a couple of the encounters, the whale allowed me to swim along with it and even directly above it as if I were a remora. I was only able to do this because the whale slowed down to let me keep pace as it swam along at minimal speed near the surface. This was a mature whale, length exceeding 20 meters.
    blue-whale-fluke-underwater-close-up...tif
  • Pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) commencing its descent to forage for krill in the Indian Ocean, south of Sri Lanka.
    blue-whale-balaenoptera-musculus-bre...tif
  • Some of the prime feeding areas for blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) in waters of Sri Lanka coincide with commercial shipping lanes that pass to the south of the country, which are among the most heavily trafficked in the world. This overlap of cetacean foraging territory and commercial shipping traffic creates the potential for lethal ship strikes.
    blue-whale-shipping-lane-sri-lanka-b...tif
  • Pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) swimming at high speed, its fluke slicing through the water as the whale executed a rapid turn before diving into the deep.
    pygmy-blue-whale-balaenoptera-muscul...tif
  • Close encounter with a large school of bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) at the world-renowned Blue Corner dive site in Palau.
    bigeye-trevally-caranx-sexfasciatus-...tif
  • Grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) patrolling the reef at Blue Corner dive site in Palau
    grey-reef-shark-carcharhinus-amblyrh...tif
  • Large school of black and white snappers (Macolor niger) patrolling just off the reef at the Blue Corner dive site in Palau
    black-and-white-snapper-Macolor-nige...tif
  • This is a female hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) foraging for food on the reef at Blue Corner in Palau. Her head is facing down while she looks for something to eat, with her rear end flipped up such that it appears that the turtle is performing a handstand. Hawksbill turtles are critically endangered.
    hawksbill-turtle-blue-corner-palau-E...tif
  • Profile of a friendly Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) at the world-famous dive site Blue Corner, with a swarm of redtoothed triggerfish (Odonus niger) in the background
    napoleon-wrasse-blue-corner-palau-Ch...tif
  • Frontal view of a dead blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) in Sri Lanka. Major shipping lanes for container vessels and other large ships pass directly through blue whale feeding grounds. As a result, ship strikes may happen on a regular basis. This whale died from a large wound that cut away a major portion of its caudal region. Photo taken under permit.
    ship-strike-dead-blue-whale-sri-lank...tif
  • Head-on view of a dead blue whale, floating in the Indian Ocean south of Sri Lanka. The cause of death was most likely a ship strike, with a large vessel colliding with the caudal region of the whale. The carcass was relatively fresh, as there was no significant bloating and minimal decomposition. Photo taken under permit.
    ship-strike-dead-blue-whale-Balaenop...tif
  • Dead blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) floating at the ocean surface. This whale was most likely killed by a ship strike that took place in the shipping lanes just south of Sri Lanka. Container ships and other large boats use these shipping lanes day-in and day-out. The shipping lanes are situated in the middle of feeding grounds for blue whales and other cetaceans, which dive down to deep water to forage for krill and other food. Photo taken under permit.
    dead-blue-whale-Balaenoptera-musculu...tif
  • Dorsal fin of a blue whale. Note the distinctive crease on the dorsal surface behind the dorsal fin. This, plus several white spots on this whale's body (including the two white spots visible on the right fluke), made this individual easy to recognize. Photograph taken under permit.
    blue-whale-dorsal-fin-Balaenoptera-m...tif
  • A baby eagle ray at the world-famous Blue Corner dive site in Palau, with barracuda, redtooth triggerfish and dive boats visible in the background. The Palauan word for eagle ray and the Audobon shearwater bird are the same. Both eagle rays and shearwaters are considered gods in Palau culture.
    juvenile-spotted-eagle-ray-Aetobatus...tif
  • This is the fluke of a well-known blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) nicknamed Nubbin that has been sighted repeatedly in the Sea of Cortez. The distinctive scars and indentations on this whale's fluke provide an unambiguous reference for identification. Note the scratches, which were most likely the result of an encounter with orcas.
    blue-whale-injured-fluke-baja-penins...tif
  • Large Platygyra hard coral in shallow blue water in tropical water of Indonesia
    Platygyra-coral-against-blue-water-a..tiff
  • Large Platygyra hard coral in shallow blue water in tropical water of Indonesia
    Spherical-Playtgyra-coral-Ambon-2010..tiff
  • Inquisitive Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) investigating dive guide Clayton Johannes at Blue Corner dive site in Palau. Many of the fish at Blue Corner have grown accustomed to the presence of divers in the water. This behavior was unsolicited, with the wrasse initiating contact. Napoleon wrasses are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List. They are protected in Palauan waters.
    napoleon-wrasse-and-diver-palau-chei...tif
  • A pair of blue whales swimming in blue water of the Indian Ocean. This may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. They were engaged in social activity at the surface, and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    sri-lanka-pygmy-blue-whales-201104-0...tif
  • A pair of blue whales swimming in blue water of the Indian Ocean. This may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. They were engaged in social activity at the surface, and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    pygmy-blue-whales-in-sri-lanka-20110...tif
  • Top-down view of an Indo-Pacific Portuguese Man-of-War (Physalia utriculus). This is one of many thousands that were part of a mass stranding in South Africa. Such strandings happen from time to time, bringing these colonial siphonophores to shore, along with other associated animals such as Velella velella, Janthina janthina, and Planes major from the rarely seen open-ocean, blue-water community of life. The beautiful blue and green skirt surrounding the air pocket (pneumatophore) are loaded with nematocysts, which deliver potent venom
    blue-bottle-indo-pacific-portuguese-...tif
  • A pair of blue whales swimming in blue water of the Indian Ocean. This may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. They were engaged in social activity at the surface, and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    sri-lanka-blue-whales-201104-0376.tif
  • A pygmy blue whale swimming in blue water of the Indian Ocean. This may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. There was a pair engaged in social activity at the surface. The two dived and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    pygmy-blue-whale-in-sri-lanka-201104...tif
  • A pygmy blue whale swimming in blue water of the Indian Ocean. This may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. There was a pair engaged in social activity at the surface. The two dived and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    pygmy-blue-whale-sri-lanka-201104-03...tif
  • Top-down view of two blue whales, just after they swam past. This pair may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. They were engaged in social activity at the surface, and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    Pygmy-blue-whales-diving-sri-lanka-2...tif
  • A pair of blue whales swimming in blue water of the Indian Ocean. This may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. They were engaged in social activity at the surface, and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    blue-whales-blue-water-sri-lanka-201...tif
  • Travel writer Terry Ward sitting in front of tent during a trip led by Ron Leidich to explore Palau's Rock Islands by kayak
    terry-ward-blue-devil-beach-koror-is...tif
  • Napoleon wrasses are abundant and friendly in Palau, often approaching divers in the water in an inquisitive manner
    napoleon-wrasse-blue-corner-palau-Ch...tif
  • Top-down view of two blue whales, just after they swam past. This pair may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. They were engaged in social activity at the surface, and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    Two-pygmy-blue-whales-sri-lanka-2011...tif
  • Ron Leidich giving Terry Ward an early morning briefing about the geology and natural history of Palau's Rock Islands, before setting off to explore the islands and surrounding waterways by kayak.
    ron-leidich-terry-ward-blue-devil-be...tif
  • Ron Leidich explaining the geology and natural history of Palau's Rock Islands to Terry Ward. During this trip to explore the Rock Islands by kayak, Ron made a point of starting each day with an explanation of our schedule, the sites we would be visiting, and the unique biological, geological and historical aspects of what we would be seeing.
    blue-devil-beach-nikko-bay-koror-isl...tif
  • This is a blue ocean slug (Glaucus atlanticus) approaching the venom-filled tentacles of a blue bottle (Physalia utriculus). Both were washed ashore as part of a mass, multi-day stranding of thousands of blue bottles, which are colonial siphonophores that are also called Portuguese man-of-wars. The nudibranchs are part of the rarely seen blue community of the open ocean. They prey on other animals in that community, such as Physalia utriculus, by-the-wind-sailors (Velella velella), blue buttons (Porpita porpita), and violet snails (Janthina janthina). Glaucus nudibranchs are immune to the venom of the blue bottles that they consume. They store their prey’s nematocysts and deploy them in specialized cnidosacs at the tips of their ornate cerata. Because these nudibranchs concentrate the venom of their prey, they can produce a more powerful sting than Physalia.
    glaucus-atlanticus-nudibranch-with-p...tif
  • This is a blue ocean slug (Glaucus atlanticus) that was washed ashore with a mass, multi-day stranding of thousands of blue bottles (Physalia utriculus). These nudibranchs are part of the rarely seen blue community of the open ocean. They prey on other animals in that community, such as Physalia utriculus, by-the-wind-sailors (Velella velella), blue buttons (Porpita porpita), and violet snails (Janthina janthina). Glaucus nudibranchs are immune to the venom of the blue bottles that they consume. They store their prey’s nematocysts and deploy them in specialized cnidosacs at the tips of their ornate cerata. Because these nudibranchs concentrate the venom of their prey, they can produce a more powerful sting than Physalia.
    glaucus-atlanticus-nudibranch-201711...tif
  • Large school of bluestripe snapper (Lutjanus kasmira) swimming along the top of a shallow reef in Palau
    bluestripe-snapper-lutjanus-kasmira-...tif
  • A pair of blue whales swimming in blue water of the Indian Ocean. This may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda. They were engaged in social activity at the surface, and were relaxed when they swam past. I estimate that the whales were between 20 and 25 meters long.
    201104_Mirissa_Underwater_0377.tif
  • This is a pile of northern Pacific seastars (Asterias amurensis) and blue bat seastars (Patiria pectinifera) that are scavenging a dead giant pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini). It took several days for the entire octopus to be consumed.
    enteroctopus-dofleini-giant-pacific-...tif
  • This is a giant pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) investigating a pile of northern Pacific seastars (Asterias amurensis) and blue bat seastars (Patiria pectinifera) that are scavenging a dead giant pacific octopus. One arm of the dead octopus is visible. Most of the dead cephalopod had already been consumed. This octopus touched and caressed the remains of the dead octopus for a few minutes, then departed.
    enteroctopus-dofleini-giant-pacific-...tif
  • Female grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) with visible scarring from mating activity. During the mating season, many female sharks appear with scars like this, inflicted by amorous male sharks. Mating is a rough affair among sharks, ften with multiple males biting and holding on to female sharks. Photographed at Blue Corner dive site in Palau.
    grey-reef-shark-mating-scars-carchar...tif
  • A group of bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) swimming around a grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrynchos), with one of the fish rubbing its body against the shark's skin. Bigeye trevallies and other species of fish engage in this activity from time to time, perhaps to remove parasites or other irritations from their skin. For the most part, the sharks do not seem to mind, though they sometimes take off at high speed. Note also that one of the bigeye trevallies is dark. The change in coloration is associated with reproduction. Photographed at Blue Corner in Palau.
    bigeye-trevally-rubbing-against-grey...tif
  • Chevron barracuda (Sphyraena putnamae) in Palau, with one fish leading the others.
    chevron-barracuda-blue-corner-palau-...tif
  • Five-lined cardinalfish (Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus) with mouthful of yellow eggs
    cardinalfish-with-yellow-eggs-in-mou..tiff
  • A portion of tens of thousands of blue-lined sea bream (Symphorichthys spilurus) gathered for the purpose of mass spawning at Peleliu island in Palau. These fish are normally rare in shallow water. They appear two or three times a year in large numbers for reproduction.
    blue-lined-sea-bream-aggregation-for...tif
  • Profile of a blue-lined sea bream (Symphorichthys spilurus), photographed in Palau.
    blue-lined-sea-bream-symphorichthys-...tif
  • A beautiful blue-striped cave goby, photographed at Lion Island near Loloata Island Resort
    blue-striped-cave-goby-Trimma-tevega...tif
  • A krill specimen that was spit out by a blue whale I was with. As depicted here, the krill was about the size of my little finger. The blue whale had just come up from deeper water, where it was likely feeding.
    krill-from-blue-whale-sri-lanka-2015...tif
  • A relatively large krill specimen that was spit out by a blue whale I was with. The whale had just come up from deeper water, where it was likely feeding.
    krill-from-blue-whale-sri-lanka-2015...tif
  • Rear view of a manta ray swimming in blue water in along the ocean surface skimming for food, with both wings in the up position
    rear-view-juvenile-manta-ray-201104-...tif
  • These are developing embryos of a sculpin named Bero elegans, found in the northwest Pacific. The eggs of this species are blue in color and measure about 2mm to 3mm in size. Photographed at a magnification of two times life-size.
    bero-elegans-sculpin-eggs-japan-2019...tif
  • Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) in blue water, photographed in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
    brydes-whale-balaenoptera-edeni-sri-...tif
  • Aerial view of Palau's Rock Islands, abundant coral reefs and surrounding tropical blue ocean
    aerial-view-palau-rock-islands-coral...tif
  • Single sailfin snapper, or blue-lined sea bream (Symphorichthys spilurus), swimming in the opposite direction from the rest of the school. These fish were gathered by the tens of thousands for a spawning aggregation.
    sailfin-snappers-symphorichthys-spil...tif
  • Larval development of sailfin snapper (Symphorichthys spilurus) at 35 hours post-fertilization. The fertilized embryo was collected during a mass spawning aggregation involving tens of thousands of fish. Photographed in Palau.
    sailfin-snapper-embryo-symphorichthy...tif
  • Larval development of sailfin snapper (Symphorichthys spilurus) at 10 hours post-fertilization. The fertilized embryo was collected during a mass spawning aggregation involving tens of thousands of fish. Photographed in Palau.
    sailfin-snapper-embryo-symphorichthy...tif
  • Thousands of Chromis damselfish and Pseudanthias basslets swarming over a healthy Acropora hard coral formation in shallow water at Ashmore Reef in Australian waters.
    Acropora-hard-coral-with-thousands-o...tif
  • Massive aggregation comprising tens of thousands of sailfin snapper (Symphorichthys spilurus) in preparation for group spawning. These fish normally live in deep water. They gather several times a year for this spawning phenomenon. Photographed in Palau.
    sailfin-snapper-aggregation-for-grou...tif
  • Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) in flight in the middle of a beautiful Arctic summer night. This species undertakes an incredible pole to pole migration each year to spend summer in both the northern and the southern hemispheres.
    arctic-tern-flying-overhead-blue-sky...tif
  • Adult female sperm whale swimming upside-down in the blue waters of the Indian Ocean. This is a position frequently adopted by sperm whales near the surface to make use of their sonar to investigate floating objects like me. I may have been the first person she had ever come across. Notice that there is a small piece missing from the dorsal edge of her right pectoral fin.
    sperm-whale-blue-water-indian-ocean_...tif
  • Rear view of a manta ray (Mobula sp.) swimming in blue water along the ocean surface skimming for food, with both wings in the up position
    juvenile-manta-ray-blue-water-201104...tif
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Tony Wu Underwater Photography

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