Coral Reef Gallery

Lionfish on a reef

Lionfish (Pterois volitans) hunting smaller fish on a coral reef. The lionfish is a predator, often hunting in groups. It uses its widespread fins to force prey, mostly smaller fish, into a crevice in coral or rocks, before sucking it into its mouth with a huge gulp. The spines in the fins contain a potent toxin, which deter predators and can deliver a very painful sting. The lionfish inhabits reefs in the tropical Indo-Pacific region, and in recent years has been sighted in the Caribbean, probably due to escapees from aquaria. It can reach about 38 centimetres in length. Photographed in the Egyptian Red Sea

© GEORGETTE DOUWMA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Green turtle

Green turtle. Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) swimming beside a coral reef. This turtle uses its powerful paddle-like front limbs to propel itself through the water. Its name derives from the colour of its flesh. The green turtle is one of the largest turtles, growing up to 150 centimetres in length. Found in all warm tropical waters, C. mydas is almost completely aquatic. Only the female ever leaves the water: she does so to nest, returning to the beach where she was born to lay her eggs. Photographed off Palau Sipadan, Malaysia

© MATTHEW OLDFIELD/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Michael S. Nolan / SpecialistStock

Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) at cleaning station at Olowalu Reef on the west side of the island of Maui, Hawaii, USA. The range of this species extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world, with two distinct populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They are green because of their fat underneath their shell (carapace). As a species recognized as endangered by the IUCN and CITES, Chelonia mydas is protected from exploitation in most countries worldwide. It is illegal to collect, harm or kill individual turtles in the Hawaiian Islands

© NO ARCHIVING, NO THIRD PARTY USE, PLEASE DELETE AFTER AGREED USE SPECIALIST STOCK