Alex Mustard / Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) descending after breathing at the surface. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Ceram Sea. Tropical West Pacific Ocean.

Alex Mustard / California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) uses a Panamic cushion star (Pentaceraster cumingi) as a toy. The sealions pick up the starfish and then drop them and chase after them as they sink. Los I...

Alex Mustard / Group of predators hunting together, in an example of 'Nuclear foraging'. The Moray eel (Gymnothorax javanicus) flushes out prey, and is followed by a Napolean wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) and a Bluef...

David Noton / Cyclists riding bikes along riverside path at dawn, near Vang Vieng, Laos, March 2009.

Pascal Kobeh / Female humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) with its very young calf at the surface, Rurutu island, Australs Archipelago, French Polynesia. Pacific Ocean.

Ernie Janes,Ernie Janes / Newly hatched ducklings with eggs.

Paul D Stewart / 1881 portrait of Charles Robert Darwin (12 February 1809 - 19 April 1882) English Naturalist and author of the Origin of Species. 1922 Hand coloured portrait aquatint of Darwin by G. Sidney Hunt after...

Jack Dykinga / Life returning after seasonal rains to burnt forest, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest devastation of the 'Wallow Fire', Arizona, USA August 2011

Alex Hyde / African moon moth (Argema mimosae) digital composite sequence, showing wings expanding after emerging from cocoon, photographed against a white background, orginating from Africa. Captive.

Juan Carlos Munoz / Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) leaping out of the water after prey. False Bay, South Africa, July 2010

Doug Perrine / Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera brydei / edeni) expeling air and water from mouth through baleen plates after engulfing part of a baitball of Sardines (Clupeidae) with California sea lion (Tetreapturus au...

Roberto Rinaldi / Wreck of crude oil super-tanker "Amoco Milford Haven", populated by shoals Swallowtail anthias (Anthias anthias) and Bogues (Boops boops). The tanker sank on April 14th, 1991 after three days of fire....

Roberto Rinaldi / Stern of crude oil super-tanker "Milford Haven", which sank on April 14th, 1991 after three days of fire. Genoa, Italy, 2007.

Juergen Freund / Richard Fitzpatrick releases Grey reef shark {Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos} after inserting transmitter into its belly, as part of the Coral Reef census, Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia, April 2008

Solvin Zankl / Immediately after hatching from their aquatic larval skin the subadult male Long-tailed / Tisza mayfly (Palingania longicauda) flies towards the river bank to land on a leaf. Here it will undergo its...

Michael Durham / Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) eggs at ten weeks after spawning, Washington

Mark Payne-Gill / Imprinted Whooper swan flies after its owners on Loch Lommond, Scotland, UK, during filming for BBC NHU 'Journey of Life'

Alex Mustard / Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) entangled in discarded fishing gear. After taking this photo the photographer was able to free the turtle. Indian Ocean, off Sri Lanka.

Nick Upton / Derelict dewpond after renovation and repointing work organised by the Reptile and Amphibian Group for Somerset to encourage use by Great crested newts (Triturus cristatus) and other pond life, Mendip...

Ashley Cooper / Paving slabs which have been ripped up and tossed 30 feet across the street after severe storm, Aberystwyth, Wales, UK. January 2014

Alex Mustard / Poss's scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis possi) is trapped in a discarded fishing net, which has continued ghost fishing and is still killing fish. The photographer released this fish from the net after tak...

Alex Mustard / California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) using a Panamic cushion star (Pentaceraster cumingi) as a toy. The sealions pick up the starfish and then drop them and chase after them as they sink. Los...

Stephen Dalton / Common toad (Bufo bufo) toadlet,, in fallen foxglove, shortly after leaving its previous aquatic habitat. Sussex, England, UK. June. Small repro only

Kim Taylor / Brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni) with wings almost fully expanded after after emerging from pupa, Surrey, England, July. Sequence 8 of 8.

Kim Taylor / Brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni) expanding wings after emerging from pupa. Surrey, England, July. Sequence 7 of 8.

Kim Taylor / Brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni) expanding wings after emerging from pupa. Surrey, England, July. Sequence 6 of 8.

MYN / Dirk Funhoff / Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) exuvia or shed exoskeleton, left behind after metamorphosis, Rhineland, Germany, August. Meetyourneighbours.net project

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Spey Fisheries Board biologist releasing Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fry back into the river Dulnain after catching them for annual counts and measurements, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK, S...

Cyril Ruoso / Dicotyledon seed leaves - seed starting to grow, after heavy rains. South Texas, USA, April

Pete Oxford / MAR Alliance research team returning tagged Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi) to water after collecting samles to determine methyl mercury levels. Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize. May 2015.

Pete Oxford / MAR Alliance researchers taking samples from Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) with Nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) in the water below after samples have been taken. The samples are to deter...

Pete Oxford / Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi) about to be released after sampling to determine methyl mercury levels by MAR Alliance, Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize.

Sumio Harada / Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) and Bear Grass (Xerophyllum tenax) two months after fire, Glacier National Park, Montana

Sumio Harada / Bear Grass (Xerophyllum tenax) roots re-growing two months after fire, Glacier National Park, Montana

Sumio Harada / Bear Grass (Xerophyllum tenax) roots re-growing two months after fire, Glacier National Park, Montana

Sumio Harada / Bear Grass (Xerophyllum tenax) roots re-growing two months after fire, Glacier National Park, Montana

Nick Upton / British Divers Marine Life Rescue animal medics Michelle Clement and Rachel Shorland carrying injured Grey seal pup (Halichoerus grypus) 'Jenga', in a bag after rescuing it from a beach, Widemouth Ba...

Nick Upton / Sue Sayer of the Cornwall Seal Group using unique coat patterns to identify a Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) - photographed by Alec and Enid Farr on the Lizard. This seal was released after treatment...

Nick Upton / Sick Grey seal pup (Halichoerus grypus) 'Boggle' wrapped in a towel by a British Divers Marine Life Rescue medic while being inspected for for injuries, after being found on a Cornish beach, Crackingt...

Nick Upton / Injured grey seal pup (Halichoerus grypus) 'Jenga' after initial veterinary treatment at a British Divers Marine Life Rescue seal pup treatment facility before going on to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary,...

Nick Upton / Injured grey seal pup (Halichoerus grypus) 'Jenga' after initial veterinary treatment at a British Divers Marine Life Rescue seal pup treatment facility before going on to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary,...

Nick Upton / British Divers Marine Life Rescue animal medics Michelle Clement and Rachel Shorland carrying a very weak, injured, grey seal pup (Halichoerus grypus) 'Jenga', in a bag after rescuing it from a beach,...

Nick Upton / British Divers Marine Life Rescue animal medics Michelle Clement and Rachel Shorland carry a very weak, injured, grey seal pup (Halichoerus grypus) 'Jenga', in a bag after rescuing it from Black Rock...

Alex Mustard / Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) diving down to reef, after breathing at surface. Rocky Island, Egypt. Red Sea.

Krista Schlyer / Osceola's Plume (Stenanthium densum) blooming after controlled fire, Conecuh National Forest, Alabama, USA. May 2014.

Nick Upton / Dr. Fiona Mathews hanging a Greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) on an underground quarry wall after taking measurements during a hibernation survey in an old Bath stone mine, Bath and No...

David Tipling / Wall art from an excavated room known as the 'Vulture Shrine', with the Vulture removing the head / soul of the deceased. Catal Huyuk, an ancient site, dating back to 6500 BCE still being excavated at...

Jan Hamrsky / Empty caddisfly cases after emerging (Trichoptera) Europe, August, controlled conditions

Thomas Marent / Cicada (Cicadidae) drying after emerging from nymphal case, Palmerston National Park, Australia

D. Parer & E. Parer-Cook / Tammar Wallaby (Macropus eugenii) baby after clearing through the fetal membrane with its sharp claws, it begins to climb up toward the pouch with a swimming motion, Australia

D. Parer & E. Parer-Cook / Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) dead in river after migrating and spawning, British Columbia, Canada

Igor Shpilenok / Dead male Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) after spawning. Kronotsky Zapovednik Nature Reserve, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Far East, September.

Igor Shpilenok / Dead male Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) after spawning. Kronotsky Zapovednik Nature Reserve, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Far East, September.

Scott Leslie / Plant emerging from burnt tree stump after forest fire, Canada

Hiroya Minakuchi / Great Mormon (Papilio memnon) butterfly drying wings after emerging from chrysalis, Malaysia

Jack Dykinga / Aspen saplings growing in burnt forest, life returning after seasonal rains, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest devastation of the 'Wallow Fire', Arizona, USA August 2011

Jack Dykinga / Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in burnt forest, devastation of the 'Wallow Fire' with life returning after seasonal rain, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Arizona, USA 2011

Piotr Naskrecki / Cycad (Cycas sp) new leaf with burned trunk after fire, South Africa

Chien Lee / Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) male allowing its wings to expand and harden after merging from cocoon, Kuching, Borneo, Malaysia, sequence 4 of 5

Chien Lee / Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) male allowing its wings to expand and harden after merging from cocoon, Kuching, Borneo, Malaysia, sequence 5 of 5

Chien Lee / Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) male allowing its wings to expand and harden after merging from cocoon, Kuching, Borneo, Malaysia, sequence 3 of 5

Chien Lee / Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) male allowing its wings to expand and harden after merging from cocoon, Kuching, Borneo, Malaysia, sequence 2 of 5

Chien Lee / Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) male allowing its wings to expand and harden after emerging from cocoon, Kuching, Borneo, Malaysia, sequence 1 of 5

Jane Burton / Green swordtail {Xiphophorus helleri} male with young females in the background, this male started life as a female and, after giving birth to several broods, underwent a sex change to become a fully...

Solvin Zankl / Male deep-sea Anglerfish {Lophiiformes}, while females may reach a length of 18 centimetres or more, males remain under 3 centimetres. After a larval and adolescent free-living stage, they spend the r...

Michael Durham / Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) alevin moments after hatching from egg, Washington

Michael Durham / Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) eggs at ten weeks after spawning, Washington

Michael Durham / Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) egg at ten weeks after spawning, Washington

Michael Durham / Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) eggs at ten weeks after spawning, Washington

Ingo Arndt / Owl Butterfly (Caligo memnon) larva eating egg shell after hatching, Costa Rica

Fabio Liverani / Freshwater crab {Potamon fluviatile} moves away from shed skin after ecdysis, Resina river, Umbria, Italy

Jane Burton / Common Frog (Rana temporaria) 10-week-old froglet leaves water after completing metamorphosis

Pete Oxford / White-lined Leaf Frog (Phyllomedusa vaillanti) two weeks after metamorphosing from tadpole, Amazon, Ecuador

Pete Oxford / White-lined Leaf Frog (Phyllomedusa vaillanti) two weeks after metamorphosing from tadpole, Amazon, Ecuador

Mark Payne-Gill / Imprinted Whooper swans fly after their owners on Loch Lommond, Scotland, UK , during filming for BBC NHU 'Journey of Life'

Juergen Freund / Children collect young Christmas island red crabs to release in the forest {Gecarcoidea natalis} Christmas island, Pacific. Young crabs migrate from sea to forest after one month

Juergen Freund / Children collect baby Christmas island red crabs to release in the forest {Gecarcoidea natalis} Young crabs migrate from sea to forest after one month

Richard Du Toit / Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) female standing immediately after giving birth, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa, sequence 3 of 4

Richard Du Toit / Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) female standing immediately after giving birth, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa, sequence 2 of 4

Paul D Stewart / 1881 portrait of Charles Robert Darwin ( 12 February 1809 - 19 April 1882), English Naturalist and author of the Origin of Species. 1922 Hand coloured portrait aquatint of Darwin by G. Sidney Hunt aft...

Paul D Stewart / Toxodon platensis fossil teeth together with the illustrations featured in George Sharf's life-sized lithograph (pl. IV) from 'The Zoology of the Voyage of HMS Beagle' under the supervision of Charles...

Paul D Stewart / Toxodon platensis fossil teeth together with teeth featured in George Sharf's life-sized lithograph (plate IV) from 'The Zoology of the Voyage of HMS Beagle' under the supervision of Charles Darwin, P...

Paul D Stewart / Portrait of Friedrich Alexander von Humboldt (14th September 1769 - 6th May 1859), Lizars' Steel engraving c 1830 with hand colouring after the 1806 painting by Friedrich Weitsch. A German explorer an...

Paul D Stewart / Illustration of American Mastodon (Mammut americanum) tooth. 'The back grinding tooth of the mammoth or Mastodon of Ohio, weight 4lb and 11oz, drawn and engraved by Springsguth from life'. Forming the...

Andy Sands / Azure damselfly (Coenagrion puella) adult 20 minutes after emerging from larval case on Sedge stem, East Sussex, England, UK. May. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Stemonitis flavogenita) sporangia showing capilittium with most spores dispersed, Hertfordshire, England, UK. May. Focus stacked. Taken 24 hours after picture 3. Sequence 4 of 4.

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Stemonitis flavogenita) sporangia showing the colour change from original yellow colour, Hertfordshire, England, UK. May. Focus stacked. Taken 12 hours after picture 2. Sequence 3 of 4.

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Stemonitis flavogenita) sporangia showing the change in colour change from yellow, Hertfordshire, England, UK. May. Focus stacked. Taken 6 hours after picture 1. Sequence 2 of 4.

Jack Dykinga / Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) and Owl's clover (Castilleja exserta) in flower amongst Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) studded slopes, Sonoran Desert, Tonto National Monument, Arizona, USA, A...

Jack Dykinga / Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) and Owl's clover (Castilleja exserta) in flower amongst Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) studded slopes, Sonoran Desert, Tonto National Monument, Arizona, USA, A...

Jack Dykinga / Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) and Owl's clover (Castilleja exserta) in flower amongst Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) studded slopes, Sonoran Desert, Tonto National Monument, Arizona, USA, A...

Jack Dykinga / Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) and Owl's clover (Castilleja exserta) in flower amongst Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) studded slopes, Sonoran Desert, Tonto National Monument, Arizona, USA, A...

Roman Willi / Cicada (Fidicinini) portrait, after moulting, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica.

Tui De Roy / Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) hatchlings moving across beach towards sea after leaving nest, Grande Riviere, Trinidad Island, Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean.

Tui De Roy / Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) on beach after emerging from nest, Grande Riviere, Trinidad Island, Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean.

Tui De Roy / Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) hatchlings moving across beach towards sea after emerging from nest, Grande Riviere, Trinidad Island, Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean.