The first whale sharks of 2012 have been sighted in Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef marine park. Growing up to 16m long, whale sharks are attracted to Ningaloo’s warm, pristine water after the mass spawning of coral in March each year

Photograph: Nikki To/Rex Features

(Source: Guardian)

Deep sea wildlife photo gallery by Lia Barrett

Flapjack (or pancake) devilfish (or octopus) are rarely seen swimming in open water, preferring to flatten themselves on the bottom, when the reason for their name becomes apparent

By Lia Barrett

A squat lobster perches on a coral fan 

by Lia Barrett

A pink frogmouth lurks on the ocean floor

by Lia Barrett

1. A juvenile tinsel fish

2. Adult tinsel fish

Deep sea wildlife photo gallery by Lia Barrett

1. The rough shark is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN

2. The bluntnose six-gill shark has, as its name suggests, six gill slits instead of the five more typical of sharks

Deep sea wildlife photo gallery by Lia Barrett

A longtom fish (Tylosurus crocodilus crocodiles) catches a smaller fish in its sharp teeth in the crystal clear waters of the Java Sea, in the Thousand Islands marine national park, Indonesia

Photograph: Barbara Walton/EPA

(Source: Guardian)

Hawksbill turtle in North Male Atoll, Maldives by Scubazoo

(Source: discoverwildlife.com)

Dwarf goby guarding eggs in Alila Gaafu Atol, Maldives by Scubazoo

Blackfooted anemonefish in the Maldives by Scubadive

(Source: discoverwildlife.com)

Several manta rays feeding near surface with school of blue seachub in Baa Atoll, Maldives by Scubazoo

Patterns in Nature: Sea Creatures

(via Whale Shark Picture - Underwater Wallpaper - National Geographic Photo of the Day)

Giant bell jellies swim in a large aquarium on display during a preview for The Jellies Experience exhibition at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California. The new $3.5m exhibition features 16 jellyfish species from around the world in a collection of live and interactive display

Photograph: Richard Green/Reuters

(Source: Guardian)