Melanesia Collection (page 15)

A slightly bleached staghorn coral colony in the Solomon Islands
A slightly bleached staghorn coral colony grows in shallow water in the Solomon Islands. This Melanesian region is known for its spectacular marine biodiversity

A crown-of-thorns starfish feeds on a table coral
A crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) feeds on a table coral on a reef in the Solomon Islands. This region, in the eastern part of the Coral Triangle

Imperator Commensal Shrimp on Eyed Sea Cucumber
Imperator Commensal Shrimp (Periclimenes imperator) on Eyed Sea Cucumber (Bohadschia argus), Fiji

A scuba diver swims past a large yellow gorgonian fan, Fiji
An underwater photographer swims past a large yellow gorgonian fan with a bed of red soft corals beneath it, Fiji

A bull shark turns sharply to avoid the photographer, Fiji

A diver looks on at sea fans, Solomon Islands
A diver looks on at sea fans (Subergorgia sp.), Solomon Islands

A diver explores the wreck of a U. S. truck, Solomon Islands
A diver explores the wreck of a U.S. truck dumped at the end of World War 2, Solomon Islands

Lochs chromodoris nudibranch amongst coral. Solomons
Lochs chromodoris (Chromodoris lochi) amongst coral, depth 12 metres, Florida Islands, Solomons

A bigscale soldierfish, Fiji
A bigscale soldierfish (Myripristis berndti), Beqa Lagoon, Fiji

A velvet ghost pipefish, Solomon Islands
A velvet ghost pipefish (Solenostomus sp.), grey in colour, Solomon Islands

Diver swimms above soft coral, Fiji

Small grouper, Beqa Lagoon, Fiji

Phyllidia coelestis nudibranch on blue background, Beqa Lagoon, Fiji

Shrimp goby stands guard at the entrance of its hole, Fiji

Close-up of a popcorn shrmp on an anemone
Close-up of a popcorn shrmp (Periclimenes brevicarpalis) on an anenome on a Fijian Reef

Teardrop Butterflyfish swim within a protective coral arch, Fiji

A blue ribbon eel displays its open mouth to the photographer, Fiji
A beautiful Ribbon Eel displays its open mouth to the photographer, Fiji

Large plate coral or Acropora pulchra, Fiji

Fijian dive guide feeds a school of Scissortail Sergeant Major fish, Fiji

Titan triggerfish picking at coral, Solomon Islands
Titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) picking at coral with Barracuda school visible in background, Solomon Islands

A coral reef grows in shallow water in the Solomon Islands
A colorful coral reef grows in shallow water in the Solomon Islands. This Melanesian region is known for its spectacular marine biodiversity

A diver explores the Lerus Cut underwater cavern, Solomons
A diver explores the amazing underwater cavern known as Lerus Cut, Russell Islands, Solomons

Sea fans, Fiji

Nudibranch, Fiji

Commensal shrimp, Fiji

Golden damselfish swimming in soft coral, Fiji

Phyllidia coelestis nudibranch, Beqa Lagoon, Fiji

A beautiful flatworm feeds on algae, Fiji

Lemon Shark chomps down on a large tuna head, Fiji

A black and yellow ornate ghost pipefish against coral
A black and yellow ornate ghost pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus) pictured against coral, Russell Islands, Solomons

Ruffled nudibranch on coral, Solomons
Nudibranch (Glossodoris hikuerensis) on coral at a depth of 10 metres, Florida Islands, Solomons

A flabellina nudibranch amongst coral
A flabellina nudibranch (Flabellina exoptata) amongst coral at a depth of 10 metres, Florida Islands, Solomons

Sea fan, Fiji

Golden damselfish, side view, Fiji

Small lizardfish, Fiji
Small lizardfish (Synodus variegatus), Fiji

A large gorgonian sea fan on a Fijian reef

Juvenille lionfish hides in an inshore Fijian weed bed
Juvenille lionfish hides in the shallows of an inshore Fijian weed bed

A Phyllidiella pustulosa nudibrnch grazes on coral encrusted by algae, Fiji

A bull shark picks up a large tuna head off of the reef floor, Fiji
A bull shark swoops and picks up one of the many large tuna heads laying on the reef floor, Fiji

Hawksbill turtle resting on a reef outcrop, Solomon Islands
Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) resting on a reef outcrop, with rebreather diver looking on, Solomon Islands

Hairy squat lobster on pink sponge, Solomon Islands
Hairy squat lobster (Lauriea siagiani) on pink sponge, Solomon Islands

Whip-coral goby on common wire coral
Whip-coral goby (Bryaninops yongei) on common wire coral (Cirrhipathes anguina), Solomon Islands

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Melanesia, a captivating region in the South Pacific, is home to an array of breathtaking wonders. Among them is the magnificent Ornithoptera alexandrae, also known as Queen Alexandra's birdwing butterfly. Its vibrant colors and graceful flight make it a true gem of Melanesian biodiversity. Venturing into the rainforests of New Caledonia, one may encounter the striking Kagu with its crest erect. This unique bird species showcases its beauty amidst lush greenery, reminding us of the rich diversity found within these pristine habitats. Exploring beneath Melanesia's azure waters reveals another fascinating creature—the Bull Shark in Fiji. Known for their formidable presence and adaptability to both saltwater and freshwater environments, they command respect as one of nature's most impressive predators. In West Papua, Indonesia lies an underwater spectacle that seems straight out of a discotheque—the Electric fileclam or Disco clam (Ctenoides ales). Its mesmerizing light display captivates all who witness it, adding yet another layer to Melanesia's natural marvels. The Western clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) finds solace among the tentacles of the Magnificent sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica), forming a symbiotic relationship that exemplifies harmony in this aquatic paradise. Delving deeper into Melanesian waters unveils an enigmatic creature—the Bigfin squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana). Hovering effortlessly above open water, its portrait evokes wonder and curiosity about what other mysteries lie hidden below. Beyond its awe-inspiring wildlife, Melanesia boasts historical significance too. With cartography at heart—represented by compass roses on maps—it has been intricately linked to navigation across vast oceans like the Indian Ocean. The Mercator projection aids our understanding of this vast region's geography while highlighting Melanesia's place on Earth’s tapestry. Melanesia's cultural tapestry is equally captivating.