Media Gallery: Photos Z-A

  • Photo of a sperm whale just below the water's surface.

    Sperm Whale, Dominica
    Jun 21 2011 - 12:28pm
    “For the past few years I have visited the island of Dominica to enjoy its beauty both above and below the surface. This photo was taken during a lucky encounter with a member of the ‘group of 7’ pod...
  • Spider conch near China

    Spider Conch from China
    Aug 3 2010 - 9:54am
    This beautiful spider conch (Lambis chiragra) was collected by Census of Marine Life scientists conducting research near China.  
  • spinner dolphins in Hawaii

    Spinner Dolphins in Hawaii
    Aug 16 2010 - 12:41pm
    Graceful spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) swim through the dazzling blue waters of the Papahānaumokuākea National Monument, northwest of the main Hawaiian archipelago. Papahānaumokuākea was...
  • <p>“I took this photograph of spinner dolphins in calm waters off the Ogasawara Islands, an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean about 600 miles south of Tokyo. When the sun briefly broke through the clouds, our shadow was mirrored in the water’s surface—and for a moment we were united with the dolphins and the sky.” -- <strong><a href="http://www.naturesbestphotography.com">Nature's Best</a></strong> photographer,&nbsp;Toshio Minami</p>

    Spinner Dolphins Ogasawara Island, Tokyo, Japan
    Jun 21 2011 - 2:35pm
    “I took this photograph of spinner dolphins in calm waters off the Ogasawara Islands, an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean about 600 miles south of Tokyo.When the sun briefly broke through the clouds...
  • This crab was collected on a NOAA/MAR-ECO cruise to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in 2009.

    Spiny Deepsea King Crab
    Dec 7 2009 - 11:04pm
    This crab (Neolithodes sp.) was collected on a NOAA/MAR-ECO cruise to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the summer of 2009. Its red color provides camouflage and protection from predators. Red wavelengths...
  • It took a while for scientists to identify what made this spiral track.

    Spiral Track on Ocean Floor
    Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am
    It took a while for scientists to identify what made this spiral track. At first they had only glimpses of the track-maker from fuzzy photographs. Finally, after studying a specimen and clearer...
  • A bottlenose dolphin carries a sponge, which it uses as a tool to dig up prey from the seafloor.

    Sponge-Wielding Bottlenose Dolphin
    May 11 2012 - 2:05pm
    A female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops sp.) carries a sponge, which it uses as a tool to dig up prey from the seafloor. The only dolphins known to use sponges as tools this way are the female members...
  • This lionfish, with fins and venomous spines extended, is an aggressive predator.

    Spotfin Lionfish
    Nov 22 2012 - 11:28am
    The spotfin lionfish (Pterois antennata), with venomous spines extended, is native to Indo-Pacific reefs, but has invaded reefs in Florida, the Caribbean and is moving up the Atlantic coast. It...
  • This brightly colored squat lobster collected in Moorea is a common find among the coral heads. Although called lobsters, this group of crustaceans is more closely related to hermit crabs than to true lobsters.

    Squat Lobster
    Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am
    This brightly colored squat lobster collected in Moorea is a common find among the coral heads. Although called lobsters, this group of crustaceans is more closely related to hermit crabs than to...
  • <p>Scientist Martha Nizinski holds a squat lobster (<em>Eumunida picta</em>) collected at the <em>Lophelia</em> reefs off Cape Lookout, North Carolina. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

    Squat Lobster from Reefs of North Carolina
    Jul 27 2011 - 11:45am
    Scientist Martha Nizinski holds a squat lobster (Eumunida picta) collected at the Lophelia reefs off Cape Lookout, North Carolina. Squat lobsters are extremely abundant there and are usually found...
  • Squid at Sunset Reef Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

    Squid at Sunset Reef Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
    Jan 15 2013 - 10:51am
    “Upon returning from the reef after a night dive, I swam toward a bright reflection and came eye-to-eye with this beautiful, curious squid," said Charles Viggers, a Nature's Best photographer.
  • Photograph of many tiny transparent larval squid surrounding the head of a dissecting pin.

    Squid Babies
    Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am
    These newly hatched squid larvae (Doryteuthis plei) are tinier than the head of a dissecting pin, which is even smaller than a common sewing pin. More about the giant squid can be found in our Giant...