Sea Bed Collection (page 8)

Sea urchins (Astropyga radiata). Sea urchins are echinoderms, relatives of the starfish. They possess a rigid body covered in numerous movable venomous spines, which protect them from predators

Crinoid on coral
Crinoid, or featherstar, on coral. Crinoids feed by filtering food particles from the water using their feathery arms, the hairs of which pass food to a central mouth

Broadclub cuttlefish about to lay eggs
Broadclub cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) female preparing to lay eggs in fire coral (Millepora sp.). The eggs harden after they are laid

Mimic octopus (Octopus sp.). This octopus changes its body shape and colour to confuse predators. It can take the form of a flatfish, sea snake, shrimp, jellyfish, crab, lionfish and many others

Red sea urchin (Astropyga radiata). Photographed in Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Octopus hunting
Reef octopus (Octopus cyanea) hunting on coral rubble. It is using the membrane between its arms to trap small animals inside the coral on which it is perched

Blue-spotted fantail ray

Flower urchin (Toxopneustes pileolus). This sea urchin is very poisonous and lethal to humans. Sea urchins feed mainly on algae, but will also eat invertebrates such as mussels

Common octopus hunting
Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) hunting on the seabed. It is being followed by a Spanish hogfish (Bodianus rufus), which is hoping to catch any small animal the octopus flushes out

Male broadclub cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) in its courting colours. This cuttlefish feeds on crustaceans. It changes its colour according to its surroundings by dilating or contracting pigment cells

Pharaoh cuttlefish reproduction
Pharaoh cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis) reproduction. Male pharaoh cuttlefish (bottom) protecting a female (top) while she lays her eggs

Marine mollusc on the seabed

Veined octopus (Octopus marginatus) in a tin can. This octopus can bury itself in sand or mud but frequently hides in large shells, discarded coconut shells or, as in this case, a discarded tin can

Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) hunting on the sea floor. A grouper fish (lower right) is waiting for prey that might escape

Horned sea star, or chocolate chip starfish (Protoreaster nodosus), on the seabed. This starfish inhabits the tropical Indo-Pacific region, where it feeds on carrion, algae

Masked butterfly fish (Chaetodon semilarvatus) feeding amongst coral. The masked, or bluecheek, butterfly fish inhabits the western Indian Ocean. Photographed in the Red Sea, Egypt

Seamoth, or short dragonfish (Eurypegasus draconis) camouflaged on the seabed. This fish is found inhabiting bays and lagoons from the Indian Ocean to the Central Pacific

Schoolmaster snapper hunting
Schoolmaster snappers (Lutjanus apodus) hunting for prey amongst coral rubble. Behind the snappers is a trevally (silver), while at lower left is a sharptail eel (Myrichthys breviceps)

Blue-spotted mask-ray (Dasyatis kuhlii). This species is a small group of stingray with a dark band across their eyes. It is common in the Indo- West Pacific region over coral reefs and sand flats

Slender grouper and chinese trumpetfish
Slender grouper (Anyperodon leucogrammicus, spotted) being shadowed by a chinese trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis, yellow). Photographed in the Andaman Sea, Thailand

Left-eyed flounder (Bothus sp.) camouflaged on the seabed. When the left-eyed flounder is born it has an eye on each side of its body and swims upright

Splendour wrasse and longbarbel goatfish. Banded splendour wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus, top) following a feeding longbarbel goatfish (Parupeneus macronema)

Filefish and plant. Filefish (family Balistidae) swimming next to a marine plant. This fish is camouflaged to look like the plant. The imitation of plants by animals is known as phytomimesis

Trumpetfish with a Spanish hogfish
Trumpetfish (Aulostomus maculatus, brown) following a Spanish hogfish (Bodianus rufus) as it hunts for food. The trumpetfish is waiting to pounce on any animal disturbed by the hogfishs

Red emperor (Lutjanus sebae) feeding on a Grey bonnet (Phalium glaucum). The Red emperor can grow up to around 116 cm long and is found in the Indo- west Pacific region

Strapweed filefish (Pseudomonacanthus macrurus). This fish can grow up to 18 centimetres in length and it can be found in shallow coastal algae reefs and estuaries

Leopard flounder (Bothus pantherinus) camouflaged on the seabed. When the leopard flounder is born it has an eye on each side of its body and swims upright

Devilfish, or two-stick stingfish (Inimicus filamentosus), lying in wait for prey on the seabed. This fish inhabits reefs and sandy areas in the tropical Indo-Pacific region

Bluespotted ribbon ray (Taeniura lymma). This ray is found in the Indo-West Pacific region and feeds on molluscs, worms, shrimps, and crabs. It grows to a maximum length of around 70 centimetres

Cross-hatch butterflyfish (Chaetodon xanthurus). Pair of cross-hatch butterflyfish on a coral reef. This butterflyfish can reach up to 14 centimetres in length and is found in the western Pacific

Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) camouflaged against rocks on the seabed. The camouflage makes it indistinguishable when it buries itself in sand or hides amongst rocks and reefs to ambush its prey

Splendour wrasse and Red Sea goatfish. Abudjubbes splendour wrasse (Cheilinus abudjubbe, top) following a feeding Red Sea goatfish (Parupeneus forsskali)

Whitemargin stargazer fish
Whitemargin stargazer (Uranoscopus sulphureus). This fish usually lies almost completely covered in sand, with only its upward-looking eyes visible

Shrimp goby with its partner shrimp
Metallic shrimp goby (Amblyeleotris latifasciata) with its partner, an alpheid shrimp. This goby lives in a symbiotic association with the shrimp. The shrimp digs a burrow in which they both live

Juvenile star puffer (Arothron stellatus) foraging on a seafloor. Photographed in Bali, Indonesia

Scorpionfish (order Scorpaeniformes) on the seabed. This fish uses camouflage and ambush techniques to hunt its prey

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Exploring the hidden depths of our Earth's oceans reveals a mesmerizing world beneath the waves, known as the sea bed. Just like the diverse landscapes on land, the sea bed boasts its own unique topographic and bathymetric map that unravels mysteries waiting to be discovered. One of nature's most awe-inspiring wonders lies in the Mariana Trench sea floor topography. Plummeting to unfathomable depths, this trench showcases an intricate network of underwater canyons and ridges that rival any mountain range on land. Here, amidst this rugged terrain, elusive creatures like the enigmatic sea cucumber thrive in their natural habitat. Venturing towards Australia's coastal waters unveils another captivating sight on our journey through oceanic landscapes. The topographic map portrays a stunning array of coral reefs teeming with life; it is here where graceful green turtles gracefully glide through vibrant underwater gardens. As we continue our exploration across Earth's vast expanse, we encounter enchanting scenes reminiscent of fairy tales. Imagine The Little Mermaid before a statue submerged in the deep blue sea – an illustration from Hans Christian Andersen's timeless story comes alive beneath gentle currents. Inspired by literature once more, Kingsley's Water Babies transports us into an imaginative realm inhabited by fascinating creatures such as mantis shrimp. These colorful crustaceans wield astonishing strength and agility while navigating their sandy homes at remarkable speeds. Journeying further inland brings us to Africa - a continent renowned for its breathtaking landscapes both above and below water. Its topographic map showcases majestic mountains intertwining with sprawling plains leading us to discover yet another marvel: Huxley’s Sambourne 1888 depicts African wildlife coexisting harmoniously within these aquatic realms alongside magnificent species like Wonderpus octopus. The sea bed remains an enigma awaiting exploration; it holds secrets untold and treasures unseen by human eyes until now.