This Week's Most Frequently Viewed Images

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Starfish (sea star), detail showing tube feet ending in small suckers, Pisaster giganteus, La Jolla, California
Starfish (sea star), detail showing tube feet ending in small suckers.
Species: Giant sea star, Pisaster giganteus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 07015  
This Joshua tree exhibits live dagger-like leaves at its branch ends as well as dead leaves covering its bark, Yucca brevifolia, Joshua Tree National Park, California
This Joshua tree exhibits live dagger-like leaves at its branch ends as well as dead leaves covering its bark.
Species: Joshua tree, Yucca brevifolia
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California
Image ID: 09152  
Garibaldi with a tiny bit of juvenile blue coloration, Hypsypops rubicundus
Garibaldi with a tiny bit of juvenile blue coloration.
Species: Garibaldi, Hypsypops rubicundus
Location: California
Image ID: 02514  
Ceiling art detail, Chateau de Versailles, Paris, France
Ceiling art detail.
Location: Chateau de Versailles, Paris, France
Image ID: 28069  
Panorama dimensions: 5392 x 6250
Sea otters mating. The male holds the female's head or nose with his jaws during copulation. Visible scars are often present on females from this behavior. Sea otters have a polygynous mating system. Many males actively defend territories and will mate with females that inhabit their territory or seek out females in estrus if no territory is established. Males and females typically bond for the duration of estrus, or about 3 days, Enhydra lutris, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Moss Landing, California
Sea otters mating. The male holds the female's head or nose with his jaws during copulation. Visible scars are often present on females from this behavior. Sea otters have a polygynous mating system. Many males actively defend territories and will mate with females that inhabit their territory or seek out females in estrus if no territory is established. Males and females typically bond for the duration of estrus, or about 3 days.
Species: Sea otter, Enhydra lutris
Location: Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Moss Landing, California
Image ID: 21606  
Brilliantlly colorful coral reef, with swarms of anthias fishes and soft corals, Fiji, Dendronephthya, Pseudanthias, Bligh Waters
Brilliantlly colorful coral reef, with swarms of anthias fishes and soft corals, Fiji.
Species: Anthias, Dendronephthya soft coral, Dendronephthya, Pseudanthias
Location: Bligh Waters, Fiji
Image ID: 34708  
UCSD Library glows with light in this night time exposure (Geisel Library, UCSD Central Library), University of California, San Diego, La Jolla
UCSD Library glows with light in this night time exposure (Geisel Library, UCSD Central Library).
Location: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla
Image ID: 20145  
Cardon cactus, near La Paz, Baja California, Mexico. Known as the elephant cactus or Mexican giant cactus, cardon is largest cactus in the world and is endemic to the deserts of the Baja California peninsula. Some specimens of cardon have been measured over 21m (70) high. These slow-growing plants live up to 300 years and can weigh 25 tons. Cardon is often mistaken for the superficially similar saguaro of Arizona and Sonora, but the saguaro does not occupy Baja California, Pachycereus pringlei
Cardon cactus, near La Paz, Baja California, Mexico. Known as the elephant cactus or Mexican giant cactus, cardon is largest cactus in the world and is endemic to the deserts of the Baja California peninsula. Some specimens of cardon have been measured over 21m (70) high. These slow-growing plants live up to 300 years and can weigh 25 tons. Cardon is often mistaken for the superficially similar saguaro of Arizona and Sonora, but the saguaro does not occupy Baja California.
Species: Cardon cactus, Elephant cactus, Pachycereus pringlei
Location: La Paz, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 05498  
Waves break on the coral reef and wash ashore at Clipperton Island, aerial photo. Clipperton Island, a minor territory of France also known as Ile de la Passion, is a spectacular coral atoll in the eastern Pacific. By permit HC / 1485 / CAB (France)
Waves break on the coral reef and wash ashore at Clipperton Island, aerial photo. Clipperton Island, a minor territory of France also known as Ile de la Passion, is a spectacular coral atoll in the eastern Pacific. By permit HC / 1485 / CAB (France).
Location: Clipperton Island, France
Image ID: 32925  
The French tricolor flag flies over Clipperton Island at sunset. Clipperton Island, a minor territory of France also known as Ile de la Passion, is a spectacular coral atoll in the eastern Pacific. By permit HC / 1485 / CAB (France)
The French tricolor flag flies over Clipperton Island at sunset. Clipperton Island, a minor territory of France also known as Ile de la Passion, is a spectacular coral atoll in the eastern Pacific. By permit HC / 1485 / CAB (France).
Location: Clipperton Island, France
Image ID: 32902  
San Diego city skyline at sunrise, showing the buildings of downtown San Diego rising above San Diego Harbor, viewed from Harbor Island
San Diego city skyline at sunrise, showing the buildings of downtown San Diego rising above San Diego Harbor, viewed from Harbor Island.
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 27889  
Panorama dimensions: 3497 x 12426
Manta ray and freediver, Manta birostris, San Benedicto Island (Islas Revillagigedos)
Manta ray and freediver.
Species: Giant manta ray, Manta birostris
Location: San Benedicto Island (Islas Revillagigedos), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 02462  
Mountain lion, Sierra Nevada foothills, Mariposa, California, Puma concolor
Mountain lion, Sierra Nevada foothills, Mariposa, California.
Species: Mountain lion, Puma concolor
Image ID: 15791  
Banggai Cardinalfish. Once thought to be found at Banggai Island near Sulawesi, Indonesia, it has recently been found at Lembeh Strait and elsewhere. The male incubates the egg mass in his mouth, then shelters a brood of 10-15 babies in his mouth after they hatch, the only fish known to exhibit this behaviour. Unfortunately, the aquarium trade is threatening the survival of this species in the wild, Pterapogon kauderni
Banggai Cardinalfish. Once thought to be found at Banggai Island near Sulawesi, Indonesia, it has recently been found at Lembeh Strait and elsewhere. The male incubates the egg mass in his mouth, then shelters a brood of 10-15 babies in his mouth after they hatch, the only fish known to exhibit this behaviour. Unfortunately, the aquarium trade is threatening the survival of this species in the wild.
Species: Banggai cardinalfish, Pterapogon kauderni
Image ID: 08900  
Clipperton Rock, a 95' high volcanic remnant, is the highest point on Clipperton Island, a spectacular coral atoll in the eastern Pacific. By permit HC / 1485 / CAB (France)
Clipperton Rock, a 95' high volcanic remnant, is the highest point on Clipperton Island, a spectacular coral atoll in the eastern Pacific. By permit HC / 1485 / CAB (France).
Location: Clipperton Island, France
Image ID: 32829  
A great white shark swims underwater through the ocean at Guadalupe Island, Carcharodon carcharias, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)
A great white shark swims underwater through the ocean at Guadalupe Island.
Species: Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias
Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 21347  
Desert bighorn sheep, female ewe. The desert bighorn sheep occupies dry, rocky mountain ranges in the Mojave and Sonoran desert regions of California, Nevada and Mexico. The desert bighorn sheep is highly endangered in the United States, having a population of only about 4000 individuals, and is under survival pressure due to habitat loss, disease, over-hunting, competition with livestock, and human encroachment, Ovis canadensis nelsoni
Desert bighorn sheep, female ewe. The desert bighorn sheep occupies dry, rocky mountain ranges in the Mojave and Sonoran desert regions of California, Nevada and Mexico. The desert bighorn sheep is highly endangered in the United States, having a population of only about 4000 individuals, and is under survival pressure due to habitat loss, disease, over-hunting, competition with livestock, and human encroachment.
Species: Desert bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis nelsoni
Image ID: 14667  
Horn shark, Heterodontus francisci, San Clemente Island
Horn shark.
Species: Horn shark, Heterodontus francisci
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01071  
Oakum boys, juvenile king penguins at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia Island. Named 'oakum boys' by sailors for the resemblance of their brown fluffy plumage to the color of oakum used to caulk timbers on sailing ships, these year-old penguins will soon shed their fluffy brown plumage and adopt the colors of an adult, Aptenodytes patagonicus
Oakum boys, juvenile king penguins at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia Island. Named 'oakum boys' by sailors for the resemblance of their brown fluffy plumage to the color of oakum used to caulk timbers on sailing ships, these year-old penguins will soon shed their fluffy brown plumage and adopt the colors of an adult.
Species: King penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus
Location: Salisbury Plain, South Georgia Island
Image ID: 24405  
Sentinel Rock, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California
Sentinel Rock, Yosemite Valley.
Location: Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 07041  
Mountain lion, Puma concolor
Mountain lion.
Species: Mountain lion, Puma concolor
Image ID: 12279  
Oak Alley Plantation and its famous shaded tunnel of 300-year-old southern live oak trees (Quercus virginiana). The plantation is now designated as a National Historic Landmark, Quercus virginiana, Vacherie, Louisiana
Oak Alley Plantation and its famous shaded tunnel of 300-year-old southern live oak trees (Quercus virginiana). The plantation is now designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Species: Southern live oak, Quercus virginiana
Location: Oak Alley Plantation, Vacherie, Louisiana
Image ID: 31005  
Coconut palm trees on Clipperton Island, aerial photo. Clipperton Island is a spectacular coral atoll in the eastern Pacific. By permit HC / 1485 / CAB (France)
Coconut palm trees on Clipperton Island, aerial photo. Clipperton Island is a spectacular coral atoll in the eastern Pacific. By permit HC / 1485 / CAB (France).
Location: Clipperton Island, France
Image ID: 32846  
Kelp fronds, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp fronds.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01273  
Kelp fronds reach the surface and spread out to form a canopy, Santa Barbara Island, Macrocystis pyrifera
Kelp fronds reach the surface and spread out to form a canopy, Santa Barbara Island.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 06107  
White southern right whale calf underwater, Eubalaena australis. About five per cent of southern right whales are born white due to a condition known as grey morphism and will gradually turn dark as they age. They are not albino (which is a complete lack of pigmentation). Sometimes referred to as "brindled", the white coloration is a recessive genetic trait and only lasts a few months. Typically, but not always, white calves will become much darker as they mature but will still be somewhat lighter than normal even as adults, Eubalaena australis, Puerto Piramides, Chubut, Argentina
White southern right whale calf underwater, Eubalaena australis. About five per cent of southern right whales are born white due to a condition known as grey morphism and will gradually turn dark as they age. They are not albino (which is a complete lack of pigmentation). Sometimes referred to as "brindled", the white coloration is a recessive genetic trait and only lasts a few months. Typically, but not always, white calves will become much darker as they mature but will still be somewhat lighter than normal even as adults.
Species: Southern Right Whale, Eubalaena australis
Location: Puerto Piramides, Chubut, Argentina
Image ID: 35908  
Devils Golf Course, California. Evaporated salt has formed into gnarled, complex crystalline shapes in on the salt pan of Death Valley National Park, one of the largest salt pans in the world. The shapes are constantly evolving as occasional floods submerge the salt concretions before receding and depositing more salt
Devils Golf Course, California. Evaporated salt has formed into gnarled, complex crystalline shapes in on the salt pan of Death Valley National Park, one of the largest salt pans in the world. The shapes are constantly evolving as occasional floods submerge the salt concretions before receding and depositing more salt.
Location: Devils Golf Course, Death Valley National Park, California
Image ID: 15598  
Sheephead wrasse, adult male coloration, Semicossyphus pulcher, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)
Sheephead wrasse, adult male coloration.
Species: California sheephead wrasse, Semicossyphus pulcher
Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 09631  
Bluebanded goby, Catalina, Lythrypnus dalli, Catalina Island
Bluebanded goby, Catalina.
Species: Bluebanded goby, Lythrypnus dalli
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 04597  
African lungfish, Protopterus annectens
African lungfish.
Species: African lungfish, Protopterus annectens
Image ID: 14684  
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All photographs copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.