Sea Bed Collection (page 9)

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

Manila pufferfish (Arothron manilensis) with cleaner shrimps. This is a symbiotic relationship; the shrimps remove parasites from the fish, which they then eat

Clown coris (Coris aygula) hunting for prey on a sea grass bed. This fish feeds on hard- shelled invertebrates such as shelled molluscs, crustaceans and sea urchins

Hairy frogfish (Antennarius sp.). This frogfish has skin formations that provide camouflage, allowing it to hide among algae and coral

Whitespotted puffer feeding on a starfish
Whitespotted puffer (Arothron hispidus) feeding on a comb starfish (Astropecten polyacanthus). Photographed in Bali, Indonesia

Ribbon eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita) emerging from a hole. This species of eel can grow up to 130cm long and is found in the Indo-Pacific region among seaward reefs and in lagoon areas

Abudjubbes splendour wrasse (Cheilinus abudjubbe) resting on the seabed. This fish, which grows to lengths of 28 centimetres, is found in areas with sandy seabeds in the Indo-Pacific region

White margate (Haemulon album) in a small school. This fish can reach a length of up to 79 centimetres and is found throughout the western Atlantic

Maiden goby pair
Maiden gobies (Valenciennea puellaris) on the seabed. This fish inhabits shallow sandy seabeds in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. It is usually found in pairs

Scissor-tailed fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea) at a cleaning station. This fish, also known as the blue-and-gold fusilier, can grow up to 35 centimetres in length

Shaggy frogfish (Antennarius hispidus). This fish can grow up to 20 cm long and is found in the Indo-west Pacific region. Its main source of food is other smaller fish

Pinecone soldierfish (Myripristis murdjan) inhabit lagoons and reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. They feed on plankton and grow up to 60 centimetres in length. Photographed in the Indian Ocean

Potato cod with diver
MODEL RELEASED. Potato cod (Epinephelus tukula) with a scuba diver. Despite its name this fish is actually a grouper. It is found near reefs in the Indo-Pacific, feeding on other fish, skate

Maiden goby (Valenciennea puellaris) on the seabed. This fish inhabits shallow sandy seabeds in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. It is usually found in pairs

Sand perch on a granulated starfish
Sand perch (Parapercis sp.) resting on a granulated starfish (Choriaster granulatus). Sand perch are often used by fishermen as bait. They inhabit shallow waters and sandy areas

Bluestreak fusilier (Pterocaesio tile) swimming over a coral reef. This fish can grow up to 30 cm in length and is found in the Indo-Pacific region around coral reefs

Starry pufferfish (Arothron stellatus) on the seabed. The body of this pufferfish contains the deadly poison tetrodotoxin (TTX), one of the most lethal poisons known

Redbelly yellowtail fusiliers (Caesio cuning) over a coral reef. This fish, also known as the deep-bodied fusilier, can grow up to 60 centimetres in length

Coney grouper and eel
Coney grouper (Cephalopholis fulvus) following a sharptail eel (Myrichthys breviceps) as it rootles amongst sand and rocks for food. The grouper will take any small food item unearthed by the eel

Female leopard sharks (Triakis semifasciata). Pregnant female leopard sharks in a shallow bay. This shark is found in the coastal waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean

Crocodile fish (Cymbacephalus beauforti) camouflaged on the seabed. This bottom-dwelling fish inhabits the shallow tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region

Black-spotted porcupinefish (Arothron hystrix) inflating itself. The porcupinefish swallows water to inflate itself as a form of defence from predators

Coelacanth fish

Sand eels (Ammodytes sp.) schooling. These fish feed on microscopic animals (zooplankton) and also on bottom-dwelling crustaceans. They are eaten by many marine animals. Photographed off Britain

Bluestreak fusilier (Pterocaesio tile) school swimming over a coral reef. This fish can grow up to 30 cm in length and is found in the Indo-West Pacific region around coral reefs

Hairy frogfish (Antennarius hispidus). This frogfish has skin formations that provide camouflage, allowing it to hide among algae and coral

Male sergeant major (Abudefduf saxatilis) guarding a females eggs. This fish is usually silver with black bars, but the colour of the male changes to blue when it is guarding the eggs

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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.