Sam Hobson / Blood samples collected by scientists working with urban goshawks (Accipiter gentilis). Berlin, Germany, May 2014. Nominated in the Melvita Nature Images Awards competition 2014.

Jabruson / Hammer Headed bats (Hypsignathus monstrosus) in gloved hand - live mist net catch for blood sampling in search of the unknown reservoir host for Ebola virus. Ebola outbreaks in Mbomo in 2003 killed 12...

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) in fish separator on board Shetland pelagic trawler 'Charisma', with crew member David Anderson taking a sample for measurement. Shetland Isles, Scotland, UK, Octo...

Solvin Zankl / Spines of sea urchins from sand sample from Raja Ampat, Indonesia, the wide range of colours of these animals become visible. Diagonal of frame approx. 5 mm Digital focus stacking image

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / RSPB research ecologist Chloe Hardman using sweep net to sample invertebrate populations, RSPB Hope Farm reserve, Cambridgeshire, England, UK, May. Model released. 2020VISION Book Plate.

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / RSPB research ecologist, Chloe Hardman, using sweep net to sample invertebrate populations at Hope Farm, Cambridgeshire, UK, May 2011, model released

John Cancalosi / Pyrite (FeS2, iron sulfide), known as 'Fool's Gold'. Formerly used in the production of sulfuric acid. Sample from Concepcion de Oro, Zacatecas State, Mexico.

John Cancalosi / Apatite (Ca5(PO4)3F, fluorapatite), used in the production of phosphate fertilizers and the production of salts of phosphoric acid and phosporous, a common mineral. Sample from Slyudyanka, Baikal regi...

John Cancalosi / Staurolite (iron aluminum silicate hydroxide), always crystallized often with two indivuals intergrown at right angles forming a cross. Sometimes used as amulets or ornaments. A fairly common metamorh...

Jurgen Freund / Jo Browne and Kade Mills use a cylinder cone shaped plankton net to sample gelatinous zooplankton for Coral Reef census, Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia, April 2008. Not released

Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) blood taken from an anaesthetised platypus captured in field. It will be put into a test tube for later analysis. Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May 2018.

Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) researcher taking cheek pouch samples from an anaesthetized platypus that was captured earlier from in the Snowy River, Dalgety, NSW, Australia. Dalgety, NSW, Austr...

Doug Gimesy / Anaesthetised Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is readied for a radio transponder to be surgically implanted in a make-shift surgical theatre in a lounge room. This transponder will allow researche...

Doug Gimesy / Scientist taking blood sample from Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May 2018. Model release supplied.

Doug Gimesy / Scientist taking blood sample from Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May 2018. Model release supplied.

Doug Gimesy / Platypus researchers weighs a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) whilst another researcher writes down data. Warburton, Victoria, Australia. October, 2018. Model released.

Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) urine sample placed in a test tube from a platypus caught in the field. Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May 2018.

Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) researcher taking cheek pouch samples from an anaesthetized platypus, Snowy River, Dalgety, NSW, Australia. Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May 2018. Model relea...

Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) researcher taking a cheek pouch samples. Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia . May 2018. Model released

Doug Gimesy / Researcher taking samples from river to test for Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) DNA. Cardinia Creek, Beaconsfield, June, 2017. Model release supplied.

Doug Gimesy / Two researchers examine an anaesthetised platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). Body measurements, blood, urine and DNA samples will be taken, and a temporary radio transponder could be glued to its t...

Doug Gimesy / Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) urine sample are placed into a test tube from a platypus caught in the field, for later analysis. Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia. May 2018.

Doug Gimesy / Platypus researchers taking a small skin sample is from the webbing between the toes of a Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). Chum Creek, Healsville, Victoria, Australia. May, 2017.Model released.

Doug Gimesy / Researchers reviewing the data from a river water sample to determine whether any traces of platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) DNA exist. Just a small trace means there are definitely platypus upstr...

Theo Bosboom / Scientists with stranded Guillemot (Uria aalge), taking a blood sample to investigate the health of the bird and to control if it is ready to be released, Texel, the Netherlands. February 2019.

Francisco Marquez / Researcher collecting a blood sample from a Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) juvenile's leg during the ringing process, Fuente de Piedra lagoon, Malaga, Spain. August.

Nick Hawkins / Larval American lobster (Homarus americanus) and various larval fish species obtained from a plankton sample in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Canada. June

David Perpinan / Microscopic image of oxyurid nematode parasites in the faecal sample of a captive Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) Small repro only.

Karine Aigner / Scientist Nathan Cooper takes a feather sample from an endangered Kirtland's Warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii) Cat Island, Bahamas, April 2017.

Karine Aigner / Kirtland's warblers (Setophaga kirtlandii) fecal sample blots. Cat Island, Bahamas. April 2017.

Karine Aigner / Blood sample collecting from Kirkland's warblers (Setophaga kirtlandii) Cat Island, Bahamas. April 2017.

David Perpinan / Field workers collecting blood from Blue-fronted amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva) chicks, Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Ashley Cooper / Medecins sans Frontieres clinic in Makhanga testing local people, many of whom now have malaria. A result of the January 2015 floods, the drying up flood waters provided an ideal breeding grounds for...

Ashley Cooper / Scientist taking measurements as part of a study to measure the speed of the Russelll Glacier near Kangerlussuag Greenland, July 2008

Ashley Cooper / Scientist taking measurements as part of a study to measure the speed of the Russelll Glacier near Kangerlussuag Greenland, July 2008

Ashley Cooper / Scientist using GPS equipment measuring the speed of the Russelll Glacier near Kangerlussuag, Greenland, July 2008

Ashley Cooper / Scientist taking readings from the meltwater river at the snout of the Russell Glacier near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. July 2008

Ashley Cooper / Scientist using dye tracing techniques as part of a study to measure the speed of the Russell Glacier near Kangerlussuag Greenland. July 2008

Ashley Cooper / Scientist taking measurements as part of a study to measure the speed of the Russell Glacier near Kangerlussuag, Greenland. July 2008

Ashley Cooper / Scientist using dye tracing techniques as part of a study to measure the speed of the Russell Glacier, near Kangerlussuag, Greenland. July 2008

Ashley Cooper / Scientist taking measurements as part of a study to measure the speed of the Russell Glacier near Kangerlussuag, Greenland. July 2008

Ashley Cooper / Scientist using dye tracing techniques as part of a study to measure the speed of the Russell Glacier, near Kangerlussuag, Greenland. July 2008

Ashley Cooper / Scientist using dye tracing techniques as part of a study to measure the speed of the Russell Glacier, near Kangerlussuag Greenland. July 2008

Ashley Cooper / Scientist using dye tracing techniques as part of a study to measure the speed of the Russell Glacier, near Kangerlussuag Greenland. July 2008

Ashley Cooper / Thermometer taking the air temperature as part of a study to measure the speed of the Russell Glacier near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland.

Ashley Cooper / Thermometer taking the air temperature as part of a study to measure the speed of the Russell Glacier near Kangerlussuaq Greenland. July 2008.

Jen Guyton / Ayla Kaltenecker releases an African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) that was captured in a leg-hold trap to be studied by raptor biologists. The researchers took measurements and a blood sample befor...

Terry Whittaker / Water vole (Arvicola amphibius) being anaesthetised for health check, prior to release into the wild. Head Vet Nurse Leasa Neame and Vet Nurse Laura Wilson check the vole's heart rate and warm its tai...

Eric Baccega / Veterinarian taking a blood sample from female Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) under anaesthetic, before a check with an MRI scanner, Beauval Zoo, France, October 2017.

SINCLAIR STAMMERS / Hairyback / Gastrochich (Gastrotricha) a micropscopic organism, moving through sample of freshwater, from River Teifi, Wales, UK. October. Taken with Differential Interference Contrast microscopy.

SINCLAIR STAMMERS / Microscopic freshwater Ostracod crustacean (Cypris) in a freshwater sample from the River Teifi, Wales, UK. October.

SINCLAIR STAMMERS / Ciliate Protozoan, a micropscopic organism. Slow motion footage of it spinning around in sample of freshwater, from River Teifi, Wales, UK. October. Taken with High Magnification Differential Interfer...

SINCLAIR STAMMERS / Ciliate Protozoan, a micropscopic organism. Slow motion footage of it moving through sample of freshwater, from River Teifi, Wales, UK. October. Taken with High Magnification Differential Interference...

SINCLAIR STAMMERS / Ciliate Protozoan, a micropscopic organism. Slow motion footage of it moving through sample of freshwater, from River Teifi, Wales, UK. October. Taken with High Magnification Differential Interference...

SINCLAIR STAMMERS / Ciliate Protozoan, a micropscopic organism. Slow motion footage of it moving through sample of freshwater, from River Teifi, Wales, UK. October. Taken with High Magnification Differential Interference...

SINCLAIR STAMMERS / Ciliate Protozoan, a micropscopic organism. Slow motion footage of it moving through sample of freshwater, from River Teifi, Wales, UK. October. Taken with High Magnification Differential Interference...

SINCLAIR STAMMERS / Ciliate Protozoan, a micropscopic organism. Slow motion footage of it moving through sample of freshwater, from River Teifi, Wales, UK. October. Taken with High Magnification Differential Interference...

Doug Perrine / Volunteers restraining a recently weaned male Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi) while Marine Mammal Center veterinarian Michelle Barbiers takes a blood sample prior to tagging. Keokea Bea...

Ingo Arndt / Rat tail sample for DNA tests, Norway / Brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), King Edward Point Research Station, South Georgia Heritage Trust Rat Eradication Project, South Georgia, March 2011

Ingo Arndt / Researcher studies sample from Alpine marmot {Marmota marmota} Austria, Hohe Tauern

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Vet from The Royal Zoological Society Scotland / RZSS taking a blood sample from a sedated Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris grampia) male. Inside RZSS mobile vet unit, Strathsprey, Cairngorms Nation...

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Veterinarian from The Royal Zoological Society Scotland / RZSS with blood sample from Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris grampia). To be used for genetic testing. Inside RZSS mobile vet unit, Strathsp...

Niall Benvie / Granite rock sample, Fionnphort, Mull, Scotland

Niall Benvie / Granite rock sample, Fionnphort, Mull, Scotland

Niall Benvie / Granite rock sample, Fionnphort, Mull, Scotland

Niall Benvie / Granite rock sample, Fionnphort, Mull, Scotland

Niall Benvie / Granite rock sample, Fionnphort, Mull, Scotland

Niall Benvie / Granite rock sample, Fionnphort, Mull, Scotland

Philippe Clement / Smoky quartz, grey, translucent variety of quartz, a silicon dioxide crystal on white background

Philippe Clement / Basalt, extrusive igneous volcanic rock specimen on white background

Philippe Clement / Amethyst specimen, violet variety of quartz on white background

Philippe Clement / Citrine quartz specimen on white background

Philippe Clement / Druse of agathe specimen, cryptocrystalline variety of silica, on white background

Philippe Clement / Fuchsite / chrome mica specimen on white background

Philippe Clement / Sodalite, royal blue tectosilicate mineral specimen, on white background

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Scientist from the Heriot Watt scientific dive team collecting Horse mussel (Modiolus modiolus) samples to assess biodiversity. Within a Marine Protected Area, Shetland, Scotland, UK, September 2012.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Scientist from the Heriot Watt scientific dive team taking samples to assess the biodiversity of a Marine Protected Area, Shetland, Scotland, UK, September 2012.

John Cancalosi / Obsidian sample from California, USA.

John Cancalosi / Obsidian rock sample on black background.

John Cancalosi / Travertine, sometimes referred to as rainbow onyx. A limestone rock deposited by mineral springs. Sample from Pakistan.

John Cancalosi / Turquoise sample from Tonapah, Nevada, USA. Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminium

John Cancalosi / Fossil Stromatolites, also called microbial carbonates are among the oldest forms of the Earth life. This sample is from Torgo River Basin, Russia. Precambrian period.

Cyril Ruoso / Professor Matsui's work team studying cases of hybridisation Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) and introduced Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus). Removing tissue sample from spe...

Solvin Zankl / Scientists with equipment to sample deep sea marine life, Atlantic Ocean, close to Cape Verde. December 2015

Solvin Zankl / Plankton sample with Pelagic snail, Ostracods and Foraminifera. Captive deep sea species from Atlantic Ocean off Cape Verde.

Nick Turner / Will Masefield of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust taking samples for survey of biodiversity on River Windrush, GWT Brassey Nature Reserve, Gloucestershire, UK. August 2015.

Nick Turner / Will Masefield of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust taking samples for survey of biodiversity on River Windrush, GWT Brassey Nature Reserve, Gloucestershire, UK. August 2015.

Nick Upton / British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) vet Darryl Thorpe takes a blood sample from an injured grey seal pup (Halichoerus grypus) 'Jenga', at BDMLR seal pup treatment facility before its transfer to...

Jeff Rotman / Biologists from Alaska Fish and Game catch and sample returning Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Naknek River, Bristol Bay, Alaska, USA, July 2015.

Jeff Rotman / Biologists from Alaska Fish and Game catch and sample returning sockeye salmon. Naknek River, Bristol Bay, Alaska.

Jeff Rotman / Biologists from Alaska Fish and Game catching and sample returning Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Naknek River, Bristol Bay, Alaska, USA, July.

Nick Upton / British Divers Marine Life Rescue vet Darryl Thorpe taking a blood sample from an injured grey seal pup (Halichoerus grypus) 'Jenga' in a cubicle at a BDMLR seal pup treatment facility before its tran...

Philippe Clement / Collection of colourful marble samples

Philippe Clement / Collection of colourful marble samples

Suzi Eszterhas / Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) stranding supervisor, Halley Werner, taking blood sample from three week old orphaned pup, Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward, Alaska

Nick Upton / Veterinarian Romain Pizzi of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland taking a blood sample from the tail of an Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber). Beaver from an escaped population on the Otter River. Pr...