Backbone of Biodiversity at Risk

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature, IUCN, maintains the Red List of Threatened Species, an inventory of the global conservation status of plants and animals. In a 2010 study, researchers concluded that one-fifth of the world's vertebrates (animals with backbones) are threatened with extinction. Meet some of the marine vertebrate species that are among those threatened in this image gallery.

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Hawaiian Monk Seal

Hawaiian Monk Seal:

Hawaiian monk seals are among the wildlife found within the Papahānaumokuākea World Heritage Site.

CREDIT: James Watt

North Atlantic Right Whale Breaching

North Atlantic Right Whale Breaching:

A right whale breaches, lifting its huge body out of the water.

CREDIT: Courtesy of the New England Aquarium

American Crocodile

American Crocodile:

An American crocodile resting on a seagrass bed near the roots of a mangrove tree.

Great White Shark at Surface

Great White Shark at sea surface – marvels of evolution.

Great White Shark at Surface:

Great white sharks – marvels of evolution.

CREDIT: © Michael Rutzen

Scalloped Hammerhead Shark

A scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) at Isla del Coco, Costa Rica.

Scalloped Hammerhead Shark:

A scalloped hammerhead shark at Isla del Coco, Costa Rica.

CREDIT: © Terry Goss 2008/Marine Photobank

Galapagos Sea Lion Yawning

Close-up photograph looking into the gaping mouth of a golden brown sea lion, lying on the sand.

Galapagos Sea Lion Yawning:

A Galapagos sea lion rests on a beach in Ecuador.

CREDIT: Rod Mast/Marine Photobank

Green Sea Turtle

Green Sea Turtle:

A diet of algae and seagrasses gives this turtle greenish colored fat—and its name.

CREDIT: Steve Turek

X-Ray Image of a White-Rimmed Stingray

X-Ray Image of a White-Rimmed Stingray:

This X-ray shows the mouth on the underside of a white-rimmed stingray, Himantura signifer.

Loggerhead Escapes from Fishing Net

Loggerhead Escapes from Fishing Net:

A Turtle Excluder Device (TED) enables a loggerhead turtle to escape from a net.

CREDIT: NOAA

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Comments

very nice photo............

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 9:59am.

Sad. Just sad.

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 11:43am.

Its vry sad to listen news that r ocean r also in danger nd also ocean life .More than human lfe i lve wild lfe nd want to save them

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 6:18am.

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Ocean Portal by The Smithsonian Institution