Tag: Corals

A vivid orange clownfish with distinctive white and turquoise stripes nestles among the green tentacles of its host anemone. The perfect symbiosis between anemonefish and anemone is captured here in brilliant colours.
A majestic manta ray glides elegantly over a coral reef while small cleaner fish work along its underside. Further reef fish are visible in the background, surrounding this impressive cleaning station.
A frogfish (Antennariidae) — a specialised reef-dweller famous for its remarkable camouflage — mimics the appearance of sponges or rocks to conceal itself from predators and lure prey. These ambush hunters barely move, waiting patiently for prey to come within range.
An oriental sweetlips swims over a coral reef, with other reef fish visible in the blue water behind. The fish shows its characteristic blue and yellow longitudinal stripes and the distinctive yellow fins and striking yellow eye.
A majestic whale shark glides elegantly over the coral reef, its characteristic white spots clearly visible against the dark skin. Soft sunlight penetrates the crystal-clear deep blue water, creating a peaceful underwater atmosphere.
A magnificent jewel grouper rests on a coral-encrusted reef against deep blue water. The fish displays its characteristic orange-red colouration with the typical white spots distributed across its entire body.
A beautiful Chromodoris nudibranch with characteristic orange-brown body colouration with dark spots and a white mantle border crawls over encrusted reef rock. The gill tufts at the rear end are clearly visible, showing the typical form of this colourful sea slug.
A transparent cleaner shrimp with characteristic white spots and reddish markings on the tail fan is visible against the closed mouth of a giant moray. The shrimp displays its typical long white antennae and translucent body with striking colour accents.
A majestic reef manta glides elegantly over a coral bank in the blue water. The whitish underside with characteristic dark spots and gill slits is clearly visible, while small cleaner fish accompany the manta.
A large red frogfish rests among corals on the reef. The animal displays the characteristic warty skin texture and vivid red colouration, with small algae traces visible on its surface.
A well-camouflaged Halimeda-Ghostpipefish sits among corals and sponges on the reef floor. Particularly striking is a bright yellow tube sponge that stands out clearly from the surrounding brown and reddish encrustation.
A majestic manta ray glides elegantly over a colourful coral reef, while in the background the deep blue water and sunbeams form a dramatic backdrop. Small reef fish are visible along the coral slope, including a yellow butterflyfish.
A majestic manta ray glides elegantly through the blue water above a coral reef. The characteristic gill slits on the underside are clearly visible as the animal hovers in perfect posture through its element.
A majestic whale shark glides calmly over a coral reef. The characteristic white spots and stripes on the grey skin are clearly visible as the gentle giant swims elegantly through the clear blue water.
A mantis shrimp with its characteristic large compound eyes and powerful raptorial claws sits in a reef crevice surrounded by colourful coral growth. The bright red and orange corals form a vivid contrast to the brownish-green body of the crustacean.
A majestic reef manta glides elegantly over a coral reef while a diver in the background observes the impressive scene. The white underside of the manta is clearly visible with its characteristic gill slits.
A majestic manta ray glides elegantly through the blue water above a coral reef. The characteristic white underside with dark spot patterns is clearly visible as the manta spreads its large pectoral fins.
Two whip coral shrimps (Pontonides ankeri) rest on their host coral. These small shrimps live in a symbiotic relationship with whip corals and are perfectly adapted to the colour and structure of their host, making them extremely well camouflaged.
A black feather star perches on a large orange gorgonian fan, spreading its feathered arms elegantly into the blue water. The image shows the typical symbiosis between crinoids and gorgonians, with the feather star using the elevated position to filter-feed.
A zebra moray lies in a reef crevice, displaying its characteristic black-and-white striped pattern. The snake-like eel has hidden among corals and sponges, with the head region showing a confusing labyrinth pattern.
An oriental sweetlips swims elegantly in front of a reef wall, displaying its characteristic blue and yellow longitudinal stripes. The fish shows its typical pattern of horizontal body stripes and spotted fins as it rests in a natural reef crevice.
The image shows a sexy shrimp (Thor amboinensis), also known as the anemone shrimp, with its characteristic rocking tail posture.
An orange whip coral trunk is densely covered with yellow coral polyps protruding like small flowers from the stem. A small whitish shrimp is well camouflaged among the polyps.
A juvenile whitetip reef shark rests on the sandy seafloor beneath a reef overhang adorned with colourful corals and sponges, displaying the typical daytime resting behaviour of this species in sheltered areas.
A moray eel peers out from its hole in the reef. The characteristic yellow eye and open mouth with visible teeth reveal the impressive hunting behaviour of these reef predators.
A magnificent mantis shrimp with its characteristic large compound eyes and vivid red raptorial claws poses in a reef crevice. The complex eyes and powerful appendages are clearly recognisable as the animal seeks shelter among colourful corals and sponges.
An impressive school of bluestripe snappers circles a coral formation on the reef. Hundreds of fish with their characteristic yellow bodies and bluish longitudinal stripes form a dense, swirling cloud around the dark corals.
A colourful coral reef dominated by violet and pink soft corals forms a dramatic overhang. The vibrant reef wall displays a diverse coral fauna in various hues against the deep blue open water.
A magnificently coloured mandarinfish displays its characteristic vivid blue stripes and turquoise-green patterns on an orange base. The small fish is in a typical reef setting among corals, showing the intense colour splendour this species is known for.
A beautiful Acropora hard coral with violet-pink spherical polyp tips presenting itself against turquoise-blue water. The coral displays its characteristic cylindrical branches with clearly visible extended polyps in their full splendour.
A common cuttlefish rests on a colourful coral reef, displaying its characteristic brown-and-white colouring with striking large eyes. The animal is perfectly camouflaged among the corals and the encrusted substrate.
A spectacular underwater scene shows the wingtip of an aircraft wreck with vivid red and orange soft corals hanging like a natural curtain into the deep blue water. The intense colour of the corals forms a dramatic contrast against the clear blue background of the open water.
A large black feather star colony has settled on a colourful coral block encrusted with pink and yellow soft corals. The elegant feathery arms of the crinoids are spread wide, filtering plankton from the water column, while the clear blue water in the background underlines the health of the reef.
A colourful reef wall with various gorgonians in pink and orange tones extending elegantly into the deep blue water. The fan-like gorgonians and branching soft corals form a vibrant coral reef biotope.
A magnificent red gorgonian extends its fan-shaped branches against deep blue water. The soft coral displays its characteristic net-like structure with finely branched polyps, surrounded by colourful coral growth on the reef.
A colourful Christmas tree worm with its characteristic feathery gill crowns in vivid pink and orange tones protrudes from its calcareous tube. The fine, feather-like gill structures are clearly visible and show the typical spiral arrangement of these filter-feeding tube worms.
A diver swims above a huge coral formation of plate corals, whose undulating, layered structures form an impressive underwater landscape. The brownish-yellow coral plates extend like a natural staircase across the entire seabed.
A beautiful pygmy anthias swims elegantly above the coral reef. The vivid pink to violet colouring with orange-yellow accents and the characteristic bluish fin margins make this small reef dweller one of the most colourful fish in the tropical ocean.
A diver swims above a colourful coral reef on which a large group of feather stars has spread their characteristic feathery arms. The violet-pink feather stars form an impressive contrast against the orange and red soft corals in the foreground.
Two divers with cameras explore a heavily colonised wreck on the seabed. The aircraft wreck is covered with corals and other marine organisms and provides habitat for various reef animals visible among the rusty structures.
A reef shark swims elegantly above a colourful coral landscape in blue water. The shark displays the typical streamlined form and moves calmly through its territory while small fish populate the reef.
Sunken Japanese WWII aircraft wreck with propeller and engine visible from the front, encrusted with corals. Diver in the background.
Diver hovers above a sunken Japanese aircraft wreck from World War II. Giant clams and corals colonise the wreck. Wide-angle shot.
A group of small mysid shrimps moves across a tassled scorpionfish, with one sitting directly on its eye. The transparent crustaceans with their characteristic striped bodies and long antennae are seen in a typical setting.
Two beautiful chromodoris nudibranchs crawl closely entwined over the reef, displaying their characteristic cream base colouration with violet dots and bluish-violet mantle border. The delicate gills and rhinophores are clearly visible as the slugs glide over the sponge- and coral-covered substrate.
A whip coral goby sits on an orange-reddish whip coral against deep blue water. The small fish displays a greenish-blue colouration with striking yellow eyes and uses the coral for shelter or foraging.
A pink-reddish pygmy seahorse (approx. 1 cm) sits in its host coral.
A small striped goby with characteristic red longitudinal stripes and golden-yellow eyes rests on a yellowish coral. The delicate goby displays its typical fine fins and striking striped pattern.
A four-eyed blenny peers curiously out of its hole in the reef. The small fish displays its characteristic orange-greenish colouration with striking yellow eyes and the typical elongated body shape of blennies.
A beautiful sea slug with characteristic blue dots and white lines on a dark background crawls over a colourful coral or sponge. The orange-red rhinophores are clearly visible and the slug displays its typical striped pattern.
A spectacular underwater scene with several majestic manta rays gliding elegantly over a colourful coral reef. In the foreground, a large manta ray with characteristic white underside swims while further mantas are visible in formation in the background.
A magnificent mantis shrimp with its characteristic large compound eyes and vivid raptorial claws is visible in its hiding place among corals. The vivid colours of green, blue, red and orange demonstrate the impressive colour range of these highly evolved crustaceans.
A group of manta rays glides majestically through the blue water above a cleaning station on the reef. The large rays display their typical behaviour of being cleaned by small cleaner fish, as they hover elegantly above the coral-covered reef.
A family of true clownfish lives in perfect symbiosis with their white host anemone. The vivid orange-and-white anemonefish swim protected among the stinging tentacles, while the colourful coral reef with various hard and soft corals is visible in the background.
A colourful warty frogfish sits perfectly camouflaged on algae-covered reef substrate. The small anglerfish displays its characteristic warty skin protrusions in pink-violet tones, blending masterfully with its surroundings.
A vivid yellow boxfish with characteristic black spots hovers in front of a coral backdrop. The small fish clearly displays its typical box-shaped appearance with large eyes and forward-facing mouth.
A blue ribbon eel with a vivid blue body and yellow fins glides elegantly over the colourful coral reef. The moray displays its characteristic snake-like movement between the pink and reddish coral rocks.
A beautiful mandarinfish displays its characteristic vivid pattern with blue lines and orange rings on a brownish background. The small reef dweller sits among corals and shows its typical shy behaviour in its hiding place.
A colourful Chromodoris nudibranch with vivid yellow-violet colouration and characteristic blue spots sits on encrusted coral substrate. The white gill tufts and rhinophores are clearly visible, showing the typical appearance of this tropical sea slug.
A detail shot of soft corals shows several star-shaped polyps with brightly glowing yellow-green centres. The individual tentacles are clearly visible, forming characteristic eight-armed structures typical of soft corals.
An orange-and-white striped wire coral crab hides among the tentacles of a whip coral. The symbiotic relationship shows the small crab seeking shelter in the coral while simultaneously feeding on plankton.
A small nudibranch crawls over a reddish-brown coral surface. The delicate nudibranch displays a translucent body with characteristic undulating body margins and feathered gill tufts at the rear end.
The image shows a juvenile black and white snapper (Macolor niger). Juveniles have a striking black-and-white pattern that changes as they grow older.
A majestic hawksbill sea turtle swims elegantly over a colourful coral reef, while in the background a school of small reef fish moves through the sun-filled blue water. The reef displays an impressive diversity of hard corals, soft corals and yellow butterflyfish, forming a vibrant underwater landscape.
Two magnificently coloured mandarinfish in vivid blue, green and orange tones hover close together above the reef floor. The small fish display their characteristic psychedelic colour pattern with undulating lines and are likely engaged in courtship or mating behaviour.
A lizardfish portrait shows the slightly open jaw with characteristic needle-sharp teeth and the striking iridescent eye.
Two magnificent mandarinfish with their characteristic blue bodies and vivid orange and blue line patterns during their mating dance. The complex undulating patterns and spread fins reveal the extraordinary beauty of these small reef dwellers.
A colourful Chromodoris nudibranch moves elegantly across the coral reef. The nudibranch displays the characteristic bluish-white body colouration with yellow and black stripes and striking orange-yellow gills on its back.
A spearing mantis shrimp sits in its sand burrow, waiting in ambush for passing prey. The oval compound eyes are clearly recognisable.
A specimen of Polycladida, sometimes called marine flatworms in English. This specimen is of the type Pseudoceros bifurcus.
Two mandarinfish in magnificent courtship colouration display their characteristic mating behaviour on the reef. The small, brilliantly coloured fish with their typical blue base colouration and ornamental orange-green patterns are active during dusk.
A beautiful seahorse with a pink-whitish base colouration and characteristic orange-red spot patterns clings with its prehensile tail to a coral. The detailed macro shot shows the typical behaviour of these fascinating fish, which like to anchor themselves to corals or other structures.
A magnificent nudibranch with characteristic orange gills and a blue-white-yellow body sits on the reef ceiling. The striking colouration and feathery gill structures show the typical morphology of these elegant sea slugs.
Two colourful mandarinfish display their vivid blue and orange patterns among corals and sea anemones. The fish become active at dusk and perform their mating dance for only a few minutes.
A vivid yellow nudibranch with characteristic finger-like cerata on its back moves across colourful corals. The elegant sea slug displays its typical body shape with the striking dorsal projections that serve for respiration and digestion.
A vivid violet chromodoris nudibranch with orange-yellow gills crawls across the colourful coral reef. The sea slug displays its characteristic feathered dorsal gills and the typical intense colouration of this tropical sea slug species.
A magnificent dorid nudibranch with a cream-coloured body, characteristic black spots and a vivid violet mantle border crawls across the reef. Two shrips are hitching a ride on the nudibranch. The orange-red gill tufts and rhinophores of the nudibranch are clearly visible, showing the typical features of this colourful sea slug.
A yellow pygmy seahorse in its host coral. The tiny seahorse mimics the colour and structure of its host coral to achieve the best possible camouflage.
A beautiful nudibranch with characteristic orange-white colouration and violet accents crawls across the reef. The vivid orange gills and rhinophores (scent organs) are clearly visible, while the undulating body shows the typical form of this sea slug species.
Two magnificent chromodoris nudibranchs with characteristic white bodies and reddish-brown striped patterns during mating. The sea slugs display their typical feathered gills and rhinophores in vivid orange and red tones, surrounded by various corals and sponges.
A yellow seahorse with characteristic skin appendages and encrustation clings with its prehensile tail to a coral branch. The detailed macro shot clearly shows the distinctive eye and typical body posture of the animal.
A magnificent reef scene with vivid pink gorgonians (sea fans) spreading elegantly in the blue water. The soft corals form a vibrant reef community together with colourful sponges and other corals, while small reef fish swim in the background.
A colourful reef scene with vivid violet soft corals, orange sponges and various other sessile organisms. The soft corals dominate the scene with their extended polyps, while orange sponges and other reef dwellers form a vibrant underwater landscape.
A magnificent pink-violet soft coral dominates the left side of a reef scene. The coral stands in vivid colours against the deep blue water, while sunbeams penetrate from above and create dramatic illumination.
A vivid pink-violet soft coral projects elegantly from a colourful reef wall. The fan-shaped coral displays its characteristic branching polyps against the deep blue open water, while orange and yellow coral growth covers the reef structure in the background.
A large grouper swims majestically along a colourful coral wall, while in the background a dense school of small fish fills the blue water. The scene shows the impressive size and presence of this reef predator in its natural habitat.
A large grouper rests in a rock crevice between encrusted reef walls. The dark-coloured fish with its characteristic spotted pattern and prominent fins has positioned itself in the sheltered area between algae- and coral-covered rocks.
A magnificent gorgonian with vivid pink branches dominates this reef scene in deep blue water. The fan-shaped soft coral displays its characteristic branching structure, while further corals and sponges in the background complement the vibrant reef life.
A diver hovers over a vividly coloured coral reef with bright pink soft corals and yellowish sponges or corals. The scene shows the typical underwater landscape of a tropical reef with crystal-clear, deep blue water and dramatic lighting.
A colourful reef scene with vivid orange sponges and violet-pink gorgonians against deep blue water. The soft corals unfurl their delicate polyps in the current and together with the sponges form a magnificent Mediterranean reef habitat.
A colourful reef scene with vivid violet gorgonians and yellow-orange soft corals flooded with bright sunlight. The fan-shaped corals spread elegantly into open water, showing the typical structure of a healthy coral reef.
A large grouper hovers majestically over a colourful coral reef, surrounded by a shoal of small pink and blue anthias. The scene shows the typical community of a tropical coral reef with the imposing predator as the central subject against a vivid blue backdrop.
A colourful reef scene with magnificent violet-pink soft corals that have their polyps extended in the current. The corals form a beautiful formation against the radiant blue water, while sunlight illuminates the scene from above.
A large grouper rests between coral walls of a reef while small fish swim around it. The massive fish displays the characteristic stocky body shape and open mouth, surrounded by the colourful reef landscape with coral growth.
A magnificent gorgonian with vivid pink to violet polyps unfurls before a radiant blue background. The fan-shaped soft coral displays its characteristic growth form with numerous fine branches, while incoming sunlight creates a dramatic lighting atmosphere.
A colourful reef scene with vivid violet soft corals and yellow-orange sponges densely covering a coral boulder. In the background, a small reef fish swims through the crystal-clear blue water.
A diver explores a vividly coloured reef overgrown with bright pink and violet soft corals and orange gorgonians. The intense colour richness of the corals forms a spectacular contrast to the deep blue water in the background.
A magnificent coral reef with vivid orange soft corals dominates the scene, while a small pink-and-white anthias swims elegantly among the coral formations. The intense blue of the water and the warm orange tones of the corals create a beautiful contrast in this vibrant reef landscape.
A magnificent soft coral dominates this vibrant reef scene with its intensely pink, fan-like polyps. Further colourful corals in orange and other colours are visible in the background, while the deep blue water completes the tropical underwater landscape.
A large grouper swims majestically between the coral walls of a reef in blue water. The imposing predator displays its characteristic stocky body shape with the large mouth and powerful fins, while small reef fish are visible in the background.
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