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  • Rising tide in front of the Dalebrook tidal pool in Kalk Bay, South Africa
    dalebrooke-tidal-pool-kalk-bay-south...tif
  • An Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) leaping out of the surf in South Africa
    indo-pacific-bottlenose-dolphin-surf...tif
  • About 4% of southern right whale calves are born with white and black pigmentation. These are referred to as brindle calves, and are always male. As they mature, these calves darken, but never turn completely dark. The contrast in pigmentation and the characteristic dark patterns on their bodies make these individuals easy to identify. About 6% of the southern right population have a partial brindle pattern. All of the partial brindle animals are female. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    brindle-calf-southern-right-whale-eu...tif
  • A southern right whale calf (Eubalaena australis), resting its head on top of its mother while looking at me. The callosities that are characteristic of this species are beginning to show on the calf’s head. Note also that the calf already carries a full complement of whale lice, what appear to be mostly or entirely Cyamus ovalis. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-calf-with-mothe...tif
  • Cyamus ovalis, one of three whale lice species known to associate with right whales. on my hand for scale. Whale lice are amphipods. This specimen is from a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) in South Africa. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    whale-lice-cyamus-ovalis-southern-ri...tif
  • Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) with pectoral fin raised above the ocean surface. This was a group of several whales, perhaps engaged in courtship/ mating activity. The whale with its pectoral fin in the air was the focal animal, which suggests there was a high probability it was female. Visible in the background are fields of canola, a major crop in South Africa. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-pectoral-fin-ra...tif
  • A pair of adult southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) in murky, relatively shallow water along the coast of South Africa. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-pair-eubalaena-...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
  • Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) playing at the ocean surface in murky green water. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-eubalaena-austr...tif
  • Everlasting snow flower blossom (Syncarpha vestita) on a hillside above Kalk Bay, South Africa
    everlasting-snow-flower-blossom-sync...tif
  • This is a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) brindle calf surfacing to breathe, facing away from the camera. Infesting the area around the calf’s blowholes are whale lice, likely Cyamus ovalis. About 4% of southern right whale calves are born with white and black pigmentation, as shown here. These calves are always male. As they mature, such calves darken but never turn completely dark like other southern rights. About 6% of southern right whales have a partial brindle pattern. All such whales are female. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-brindle-calf-eu...tif
  • Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin surfing the swells in South Africa. Tursiops aduncus
    indo-pacific-bottlenose-dolphin-surf...tif
  • A very young southern right whale calf breaching. Note that the calf’s callosities are just forming. There are no noticeable whale lice, barnacles, or other parasites attached to the calf or the calf’s callosities. This demonstrates that the community of parasites that are found on southern right whales colonize each animal as it matures. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    young-southern-right-whale-calf-brea...tif
  • Reaching over to take samples of whale lice (Cyamus ovalis) from one of the callosities on a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) that was stopped next to the boat. Visible on the lower jaw of the whale are hairs, outward signs demonstrating that the whale is a mammal. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    obtaining-whale-lice-samples-from-so...tif
  • Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) swimming just under the ocean surface. The whale’s callosities are clearly visible, arranged in a characteristic pattern on the whale’s head, with each individual’s pattern being unique. Callosity patterns can be used to identify individual whales. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-at-surface-2015...tif
  • Close-up view underwater of the distinct form of a southern right whale’s pectoral fin. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-pectoral-fin-un...tif
  • Southern right whale (Eubalena australis) with mouth open at the ocean surface, baleen clearly visible. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-baleen-mouth-op...tif
  • Three adult southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) engaged in social activity, viewed from the air. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    socializing-southern-right-whales-ae...tif
  • Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) leaping out of the water while surfing among swells in South Africa
    bottlenose-dolphin-surfing-tursiops-...tif
  • Detailed view of one of the callosities on the head of a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis). These rough bumps are populated by a number of organisms, the most prevalent of which are whale lice, seen here in great numbers. The species pictured here seems to be Cyamus ovalis. There are also barnacles and other organisms that I am unable to identify. The purpose of these callosities in unknown, as is the relationship between the whale and the organisms that make a home on and in these growths. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-callosity-commu...tif
  • Inquisitive southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) approaching to observe me. Note the callosity above the whale’s eye, which is populated by other organisms, including whale lice (Cyamus ovalis) and barnacles of indeterminate species. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-close-up-201507...tif
  • Young southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) breaching. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-breaching-eubal...tif
  • This is a horned isopod (Deto echinata), a species of air-breathing isopod that inhabits seashores of southern Africa. This isopod is a woodlouse, which is an isopod that is adapted to terrestrial rather than aquatic life. This species lives onshore, feeding in the intertidal zone on carrion and plant material washed up by the ocean, as well as small live prey. The horns on the backs of this species are longer in males than in females. This is a male, about two centimeters in length.
    horned-isopod-deto-echinata-201711-3...tif
  • Cyamus ovalis, one of three whale lice species known to associate with right whales. Whale lice are amphipods. This specimen is from a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) in South Africa. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    cyamus-ovalis-whale-louse-right-whal...tif
  • Close-up of a sunfish (Mola mola). This individual was floating on the ocean surface, relaxed and calm. The fish approached the boat numerous times, allowing me on one occasion to remove one of the copepod parasites visible in this photograph. When I entered the water and floated nearby, the fish bumped directly into me, resulting in this close encounter.
    mola-mola-sunfish-close-encounter-so...tif
  • Female Indo-pacific common dolphin (Delphinus delphis tropicalis) plunging back into the water to grab fish. This dolphin was part of a group systematically attacking a ball of bait fish.
    indo-pacific-common-dolphin-hunting-...tif
  • Three endangered African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) marching in unison, heading out to sea together in the morning to forage for food.
    african-penguin-marching-to-sea-2015...tif
  • This is an ocean sunfish (Mola mola), around 1.5m in length, basking on the ocean surface near land. One hypothesis concerning why these fish engage in such behavior is that they seek the help of ocean-going birds to remove parasites. Sunfish are host to many species of parasites, including copepods and nematodes.
    mola-mola-ocean-surface-pest-removal...tif
  • Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) executing a powerful tail slap, sending water flying in all directions.
    humpback-whale-tail-slap-south-afric...tif
  • Southern hemisphere humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) throwing up a wall of water while executing a massive tail slap.
    humpback-whale-tail-slap-south-afric...tif
  • Small plastic items collected from a tidal pool at Dalebrook, South Africa.
    plastic-garbage-from-tidal-pool-sout...tif
  • Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) lifting a pectoral fin out of the water near shore. Note the outline of the bones in the pectoral fin, which are analogous to the bones in human hands. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-near-shore-pect...tif
  • Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) creating a rainbow while breathing. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-rainbow-south-a...tif
  • Breaching humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) near Hout Bay, South Africa
    humpback-whale-breaching-south-afric...tif
  • Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) executing a tail slap while socializing with other dolphins on an overcast day.
    indo-pacific-bottlenose-dolphin-tail...tif
  • Fluke of a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) marked by injuries that appear to be the result of a propellor strike from a boat traveling at high speed. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-fluke-propellor...tif
  • Top-down view of the head of a southern right whale calf (Eubalaena australis), showing the development of the whale’s callosities. Note that colonization of the main callosity by whale lice (Cyamis ovalis) is at an early stage. There also do not appear to be any barnacles ensconced in the callosity at this point. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    southern-right-whale-calf-callosity-...tif
  • Steve and Emiko looking at a penguin graphic on a wall in Cape Town, South Africa
    african-penguin-graphic-cape-town-so...tif
  • Profile of an endangered African penguin (Spheniscus demersus)
    endangered-african-penguin-spheniscu...tif
  • Endangered African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) preparing to head out to sea to forage for food
    endangered-african-penguin-spheniscu...tif
  • Endangered African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) gathered at dusk, with one calling out in the distinctive donkey-like braying sound that these birds make, which is why they are also known as jackass penguins
    endangered-african-penguins-sphenisc...tif
  • Endangered African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) relaxing in the warmth of afternoon sun.
    african-penguin-spheniscus-demersus-...tif
  • Endangered African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) taking a break from sea
    african-penguin-endangered-201507-02...tif
  • Endangered African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) swimming in shallow water
    endangered-african-penguin-spheniscu...tif
  • Endangered African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) at dusk, with clustered penguins in the background
    endangered-african-penguin-spheniscu...tif
  • Endangered African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) yawning in the warm glow of the afternoon sun. The backward-facing fleshy spines that line the inside of these penguin’s mouths are clearly visible from this angle. These spines serve to secure fish when the penguin is hunting.
    endangered-african-penguin-mouth-ope...tif
  • A sleepy, endangered African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) resting with one eye open.
    african-penguin-sleepy-spheniscus-de...tif
  • This is the internal shell of a deep-water cephalopod called a Ram’s horn squid, also known as a little post horn squid (Spirula spirula). This cephalopod is the only known member of its genus. The internal shell is both robust and buoyant, so often found on beaches. This one washed up during a mass stranding of thousands of Physalia utriculus amd other animals of the open-ocean, pelagic community. Attached to the shell were pelagic goose barnacles (Lepas sp.).
    rams-horn-shell-spirula-goose-barnac...tif
  • This is a violet snail (Janthina janthina), also known as a bubble raft snail. These pelagic snails are found worldwide in temperate and tropical waters. They are considered pleuston, macroscopic organisms that live at the interface of air and water. To float at the ocean surface, these snails use thin secretions of chitin to envelope bubbles of air, thus creating a buoyancy support. They bob upside-down below the ocean surface and wait for prey such as Portuguese man-of-wars (Physalia sp.) and by-the-wind sailors (Velella velella). When they sense such prey, bubble raft snails extend their long cylindrical snouts and use a rasping mechanism to grab prey, as pictured here. These snails are protandrous sequential hermaphrodites, meaning they all commence life as males, then become female. This snail, with a shell of about three centimeters, was found washed ashore with a mass stranding of thousands of colonial siphonophores.
    janthina-janthina-violet-bubble-raft...tif
  • Southern right whale female with calf (Eubalaena australis) in shallow coastal water
    southern-right-whale-female-calf-eub...tif
  • This is a parasite that was associated with a Mola mola ocean sunfish. It is a copepod of the family Caligidae (possibly Caligus sp. or Lepeoptheirus sp.), the carapace slightly over 1cm in length. The long appendage visible at the rear end is one of two original appendages. The other one fell off. The one that is visible is actually split into two. Each slit carried a developing juvenile copepod. There is one remaining one visible at the distal end.
    parasitic-copepod-associated-with-mo...tif
  • Two adjacent flukes of a pair of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) diving in synchrony. Both flukes, but particularly the one in the rear, are covered with Coronula diadema barnacles, which are found exclusively on humpback whales.
    humpback-whale-flukes-coronula-diade...tif
  • Close encounter with a friendly sunfish (Mola mola) that was floating on the ocean surface, relaxed and calm. The fish approached the boat numerous times, allowing me on one occasion to remove one of the many copepod parasites visible in this photograph. Mola mola are known to host multiple species of parasites, including copepods and nematodes. The fish is floating on one side, with its mouth open, facing the camera.
    sunfish-mola-mouth-open-with-parasit...tif
  • Indo-pacific common dolphins (Delphinus delphis tropicalis) implementing a coordinated attack on a ball of baitfish. The dolphin in the middle is flipping into the water to grab a fish that it's seen.
    indo-pacific-common-dolphins-hunting...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
  • Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) splashing the ocean surface with its power fluke and caudal region.
    humpback-whale-splashing-ocean-20171...tif
  • Whale louse (Cyamus ovalis) taken from a Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), with a ruler for scale.
    cyamus-ovalis-whale-louse-southern-r...tif
  • Dorsal fin of southern humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) with acorn barnacles (Coronula diadema) and whale lice (Cyamus boopis) visible.
    southern-humpback-whale-dorsal-barna...tif
  • Profile photo of an endangered African penguin (Spheniscus demersus)
    endangered-african-penguin-portrait-...tif
  • A group of endangered African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) pausing before heading out to sea in the early morning to go hunt for fish
    african-penguins-heading-to-sea-sout...tif
  • Trio of African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) heading to sea in the early morning to forage for food.
    african-penguins-spheniscus-demersus...tif
  • Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) creating a beautiful wake as it slices through the surface of the ocean at high speed
    indo-pacific-bottlenose-dolphin-sout...tif
  • Aerial view of a dead humpback whale calf (Megaptera novaeangliae) stranded on a remote beach. This calf was female.
    dead-humpback-whale-calf-south-afric...tif
  • This is a Columbus crab (Planes major), a small oceanic crab that lives on floating objects such as seaweed, driftwood and other debris, or in association with animals such as by-the-wind sailors (Velella velella) or turtles. They can appear in different colors. This one was found together with a mass stranding of thousands of Portuguese man-of-war colonial siphonophores (Physalia utriculus) and by-the-wind sailors. The crab was between one and two centimeters. This species was previously known by the name Planes cyaneus.
    columbus-crab-planes-major-south-afr...tif
  • Group of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) riding a swell together, waiting for the right wave to surf.
    surfing-bottelnose-dolphins-south-af...tif
  • Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) breaching clear of the ocean surface. Note that the dolphin’s eye is closed.
    indo-pacific-bottlenose-dolphin-sout...tif
  • Indo-Pacific common dolphins (Delphinus delphis tropicalis) racing at high speed
    indo-pacific-common-dolphins-south-a...tif
  • Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) surfing. Note that the dolphin’s eye is closed. Also note the teeth rake marks on the dorsal surface of the animal. These are likely to be scars from encounters with other dolphins.
    indo-pacific-bottlenose-dolphin-sout...tif
  • A parasitic copepod that was associated with an ocean sunfish (Mola mola). Here, the copepod is backlit and focus-stacked in order to reveal the animal’s inner structure. The long appendage visible at the posterior of the copepod is one of two original appendages. The other appendage fell off during capture. Pictured here, the remaining appendage is split in two, such that the top and bottom halves are visible. The slits in these appendages carried juvenile copepods in various stages of development. This copepod is from the family Caligidae (possibly Caligus sp. or Lepeoptheirus sp.),
    copepod-parasite-mola-sunfish-south-...tif
  • Surface view of an adult female humpback whale’s hemispherical lobe and mammary slits. This whale surfaced in close proximity to our boat multiple times, rolling over so her belly was facing up and her mammary slits and hemispherical lobe exposed at surface for an extended period of time. She exhibited this and other social behaviour repeatedly, as if displaying. She was with another adult whale. My guess is that the other whale was male. Prominent are Coronula diadema acorn barnacles, which are found only on humpback whales, and Conchoderma auritum gooseneck barnacles, which are found only on Coronula diadema barnacles.
    humpback-whale-female-hemispheric-lo...tif
  • Indo-Pacific Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis tropicalis) leaping clear of the water while attacking a baitball of sardines.
    indo-pacific-common-dolphin-south-af...tif
  • Pair of resting greater flamingoes (Phoenicopterus roseus), photographed near Cape Town, South Africa. Their long necks momentarily formed a heart shape.
    greater-flamingo-pair-heart-shape-so...tif
  • A young southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) breaching. Note the development of the callosities. When the whale has matured and the callosities fully developed (complete with communities of commensal organisms), the pattern and layout of these callosities will facilitate photo identification. Photographed with the permission of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa.
    young-southern-right-whale-breaching...tif
  • Two adult southern hemisphere humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae australis) tail slapping together. This pair was traveling north together in the winter. The one on the left is female; the one on the right male.
    southern-humpback-whale-megaptera-no...tif
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