Sea Life Gallery

Nest of the White-spotted pufferfish (Torquigener albomaculosus)

Nest of the White-spotted pufferfish (Torquigener albomaculosus), a species discovered in 2014. The male creates the sand nest, about 2 m in diameter, on the ocean floor to attract a mate. The pair use it only once. It is the only pufferfish known to create such circular nests. Amami Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan

Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas)

Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) blowing a perfect bubble ring just for amusement. Belugas in their native environment commonly blow rings when travelling side by side in companionship. The ring-blowing in the aquarium is probably to reduce boredom and hqa taken the animals time to perfect. Aquas Aquarium, Hamada, Shimane, Japan

© Hiroya Minakuchi / AUSCAPE All rights reserved

Grey mangrove (Avicennia marina), New South Wales, Australia

Grey mangrove (Avicennia marina), found extensively along the coast. Mangrove wetlands have a unique fauna and support adjoining estaury fauna, eg. populations of fish and migratory wading birds, by providing detritus and nutrients for invertebrates that the waders and fish eat. Highly salt tolerant, the salt is actively eliminated through special glands in the leaves. New South Wales, Australia

© Barry Ashenhurst / AUSCAPE All rights reserved