Media Gallery: Photos A-Z

  • <p>The Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino site in Mexico was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1993. The sanctuary contains important breeding and wintering sites for the grey whale (<em>Eschrichtius robustus</em> – pictured here), harbor seal (<em>Phoca vitulina</em>), California sea lion (<em>Zalophus californianus</em>), northern elephant seal (<em>Mirounga angustirostris</em>), and blue whale (<em>Balaenoptera musculus</em>). The lagoons are also home to four species of endangered marine turtles: leatherback (<em>Dermochelys coriacea</em>), green (<em>Chelonia mydas</em>), hawksbill (<em>Eretmochelys imbricata</em>), and olive ridley (<em>Lepidochelys olivacea</em>).</p>

    Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino, Mexico
    Nov 8 2010 - 2:03pm
    The Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino site in Mexico was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1993.
  • A whale shark swims with a diver off the coast of East Africa.

    Whale Shark Off Coast of East Africa
    Feb 25 2013 - 10:33am
    When you think of African animals, what do you think of? Probably the “Big Five:” lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo and rhinos. But Africa also has an incredible amount of marine diversity in the...
  • This radio device is used to track North Atlantic right whales. Suction cups hold the device to a whale's back, where it records data such as depth, water, temperature, and underwater sounds.

    Whale Tracking Device
    Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am
    This radio device is used to track North Atlantic right whales. Suction cups hold the device to a whale's back, where it records data such as depth, water, temperature, and underwater sounds. Read...
  • This illustration shows whalers of the early 1800s with their highly profitable catch.

    Whalers in the early 1800s
    Jan 26 2010 - 11:46am
    This illustration shows whalers of the early 1800s with their highly profitable catch.
  • Vertebrates evolved in the sea and eventually moved onto land. The ancestors of whales later returned to the sea.

    Whales Returned to the Sea
    Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am
    Vertebrates evolved in the sea and eventually moved onto land. The ancestors of whales later returned to the sea, taking advantage of its rich food supplies. As early whales adapted to their new...
  • What is coral? The answer is coral is an animal. This cutaway diagram of a coral polyp shows the location of its photosynthetic algae, or zooxanthellae, which coral needs to survive.

    What Is Coral? A Coral Polyp and Zooxanthellae
    Jan 26 2010 - 11:46am
    What are corals? Corals themselves are animals. But tropical reef-building corals have tiny plant-like organisms living in their tissue. The corals couldn’t survive without these microscopic algae–...
  • Shark Sizes: Whale Shark 46 feet, Basking Shark 33 feet, Great White Shark 23 feet, Megamouth Shark 15 feet, Nurse Shark 13 feet, Mako Shark 8 feet, Blacktip Reef Shark 6.5 feet, Bonnethead Shark 3.4 feet, Dwaf Lantern Shark 6 inches

    What is the Biggest Shark? A Chart Shows the Diversity of Shark Sizes
    Dec 17 2009 - 7:10pm
    Sharks come in all sizes. The largest is the whale shark, which has been known to get as large as 18 meters (60 feet). The smallest fits in your hand.
  • Squid size comparison chart: Lycoteuthis springeri (10-12cm), Leachia atlantica (up to 12cm), Promachoteuthis sp. (up to 5cm), Batoteuthis scolops (up to 20cm).

    What is the Largest Squid? A Squid Size Comparison Chart
    Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am
    Squids come in a wide range of sizes but despite differences in size and shape, all work basically the same way inside. More about the giant squid can be found in the Giant Squid section.
  • This squid diagram shows that squids come in a wide range of sizes, from smaller-than-your-thumb to the enormous giant squid.

    What is the Largest Squid? A Squid Size Diversity Chart
    Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am
    Squids come in a wide range of sizes, from smaller-than-your-thumb to the enormous giant squid. Giant squid grow up to 16 meters (50 feet). Learn more the life, range, and ecology of the giant squid...
  • Whale size comparison chart: Blue whale (69-90+ feet) , Finback (72-82 feet), Right whale (45-60 feet), Humpback (42-50 feet), Sperm whale (35-60 feet), Minke whale (28-30 feet), Killer whale (23-31 feet), Beluga (13-15 feet), and Narwhal (13-15 feet).

    What is the Largest Whale? A Cetacea Size Comparison Chart.
    Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am
    How do right whales size up? North Atlantic Right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) are big, but they're not the biggest whales. That distinction goes to the Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), the...
  • Phoenix’s mother, Stumpy (number 1004), was killed in a collision with a ship near Virginia in February 2004. She was pregnant with her sixth known calf.

    When Ships Strike
    Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am
    Phoenix’s mother, Stumpy (#1004), was killed in a collision with a ship near Virginia in February 2004. She was pregnant with her sixth known calf. More about whales can be found in our Tale of a...
  • <p>This festive worm (<em>Spirobranchus giganteus</em>) lives on tropical coral reefs and resembles a fluffy fir tree adorned with ornaments. The multi-functional branch-like appendages are used by the worm to breathe and to catch meals of plankton floating by.</p>

    White Christmas Tree Worm
    Dec 20 2012 - 10:40am
    The festive Christmas tree worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) lives on tropical coral reefs and resembles a fluffy fir tree adorned with ornaments. The multi-functional branch-like appendages are used by...