Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Greenbottle blue tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens) - see original image number 01482830 EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015

Alex Mustard / Grooved brain coral (Diploria labyrinthiformis) at night with polyps extended to feed, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies. Caribbean Sea.

Morley Read / Slow motion clip of a large group of Butterflies (Pieridae) taking flight after puddling, absorbing nutrients or minerals from damp soil, Orellana Province, Amazon rainforest, Ecuador. (non-ex)

Morley Read / Large group of Butterflies (Pieridae) taking flight after puddling, absorbing nutrients or minerals from damp soil, Orellana Province, Amazon rainforest, Ecuador. (non-ex)

Milan Radisics / Aerial shot of yellow mineral sediments flowing into the Atlantic Ocean, near Stokkseyri, Southern Iceland, August 2018.

Milan Radisics / Aerial shot of the Austurfljot glacial river, southern Iceland, August 2018.

Milan Radisics / Aerial shot of the Austurfljot glacial river, southern Iceland, August 2018.

Milan Radisics / Aerial shot of the Hafursa glacial river running over black sand, southern Iceland, August 2018.

Milan Radisics / Aerial shot of steam geysers at Gunnhuver Hot Springs, Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland, August 2018.

Milan Radisics / Aerial shot of the estuary of the Holmsa and Kudafljot glacial rivers, Grafarkirkja, Iceland, August 2018.

Milan Radisics / Aerial shot of Gunnuhver steam geyser, Gunnhuver Hot Springs, Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland, August 2018.

Milan Radisics / Aerial shot of Thjorsa glacial river, southern Iceland, August 2018.

Milan Radisics / Aerial shot of Thjorsa glacial river, southern Iceland, August 2018.

Milan Radisics / Aerial shot of Kudafljot glacial river flowing over black volcanic soil, Iceland, August 2018.

Milan Radisics / Aerial shot of Kudafljot glacial river flowing over black volcanic soil, Iceland, August 2018.

Milan Radisics / Aerial shot of a confluence of three tributaries flowing over black sand at the mouth of the Affall River, Landeyjar area, Southern Iceland, August 2018.

Paul Williams / Kinabalu Giant red leech (Mimobdella buettikoferi) feeding on Kinabalu Giant earthworm (Pheretima darnleiensis), Mount Kinabalu, Borneo.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Orange jewel anemones (Corynactis viridis) Sula Sgeir, Scotland, UK, February.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) using freshwater pools along the shore line and in the adjacent fields as place to learn to swim, Orkney, Scotland, UK, April.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Cuckoo wrasse (Labrus bergylta) and Ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) on the wreck of Jayne, Shetland

Milan Radisics / Aerial shot zooming out from a dead tree by an artificial lake, polluted by extractive mining operations, Minas de Riotinto, Andalusia, Spain, January 2019.

Milan Radisics / Aerial shot of a dead tree by an artificial lake, polluted by extractive mining operations, Minas de Riotinto, Andalusia, Spain, January 2019.

Milan Radisics / Tracking aerial shot of the source of the Rio Tinto river, the river is coloured by minerals leeching from the surrounding terrain, Andalusia, Spain, January 2019.

Milan Radisics / Aerial shot of dead trees encrusted in mud in a dry artificial lake, polluted by extractive mining operations, Minas de Riotinto, Andalusia, Spain, January 2019.

Wim van den Heever / King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) at sunrise. Two males and a female, with the males fighting for the attention of the female. Falklands Islands. 2018 Wildlife Photographer of the Year LUMIX Peo...

Steven David Miller / Rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus) on a branch, Cania Gorge National Park, Queensland, Australia. September.

Steven David Miller / Eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) female perched in a tree, The Wildlife Habitat Zoo, Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia. August. Captive.

Marie Read / Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) holding an acorn in its bill whilst perched on tree stump, with autumn foliage, New York, USA, October.

Marie Read / Eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) male fluttering wings while perched on cherry (Prunus sp.) branch in spring, New York, USA, April.

John Chan / Male Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna) cleaning its beak on a twig, Southern California, USA, January.

Daniel Heuclin / Whistling heron (Syrigma sibilatrix sibilatrix), southern subspecies, native to Bolivia. Captive.

Paul Hobson / Rufous motmot (Baryphthengus martii) perched on branch. Rancho Naturalista, Cartago, Costa Rica.

Paul Hobson / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) male perched on branch. Costa Rica.

Paul Hobson / Keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) perched on branch with beak open. Laguna del Lagarto, Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Jack Dykinga / Steep valleys in the foothills of the Temblor Range, carpeted with Coreopsis (yellow) and Phacelia (purple) with patches of orange California poppy (Eschscholzia californica). Carrizo Plain, Californi...

Jack Dykinga / Yellow California goldfields (Lasthenia californica) and orange California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) carpet the hillside, with flowering Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia) in the forground. Antel...

Jack Dykinga / Yellow California goldfields (Lasthenia californica) and orange California poppies (Eschscholzia californica), with lupins intermixed. Antelope Butte, near the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve...

Jack Dykinga / Foothills of the Temblor Range, carpeted with Coreopsis (yellow) and Purple Owl's Clover (Castilleja exserta) flowers. Carrizo Plain, California, USA. 30th March 2019.

Jack Dykinga / Steep valleys in the foothills of the Temblor Range, carpeted with Coreopsis (yellow) and Phacelia (purple) with patches of orange California poppy (Eschscholzia californica). Carrizo Plain, Californi...

Jack Dykinga / Yellow California goldfields (Lasthenia californica) and orange California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica), with a flowering Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia). Antelope Butte, near the Antelope Valley...

Jack Dykinga / Yellow California goldfields (Lasthenia californica) and orange California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica), with a flowering Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia). Antelope Butte, near the Antelope Valley...

Jack Dykinga / Sunrise on Kruger Peak, reflected in Lago O'Higgins with flowering asters emerging from water. Los Mellisos, Cordon Peineta, Aysén Province, Chile.

Jack Dykinga / Aurora Borealis reflected in Polar Lake, conifers silhouetted at edge. Near Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada. September 2018.

Jack Dykinga / Aurora Borealis display above conifers and Polar Lake. Near Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada. September 2018.

Jack Dykinga / Aurora Borealis reflected in Polar Lake, wetland and conifers silhouetted along shore. Near Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada. September 2018.

Juergen Freund / Wildlife carer wrapping a Spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) baby in blankets, Tolga Bat Hospital, Queensland, Australia.

Nick Garbutt / Red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus) flock flying in front of clay lick. Heath River, Tambopata / Bahuaja-Sonene Reserves, Amazonia, Peru / Bolivia border.

David Fleetham / Close up of the pattern on the Hawaiian spotted flatworm (Pseudobiceros) endemic to Hawaii.

David Fleetham / Fire Dartfish / Fire Goby (Nemateleotris magnifica) against colourful coral. Fiji's outer reef.

David Fleetham / Schooling Raccoon butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula) framed in a lava formation off the island of Lanai, Hawaii.

David Fleetham / Pixy hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus) in area of rich coral growth. Bali, Indonesia.

David Fleetham / Pair of squat lobsters (Galathea sp) on Gorgonian coral, Komodo, Indonesia.

David Fleetham / Gammarid isopods (Cyproidea sp) on tunicate (Tunicata). Komodo, Indonesia.

Franco Banfi / Three False clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) in Sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica) Lighthouse Reef, Cabilao Island, Bohol, Central Visayas, Philippines, Pacific Ocean.

Bruno D'Amicis / Common mulleins (Verbascum thapsus), Poppies (Papaver rhoeas), and Daisies flowering in mountain pasture. Gran Sasso National Park, Central Apennines, Abruzzo, Italy, June.

Staffan Widstrand / Wilson's bird-of-paradise (Cicinnurus respublica), Waigeo, Raja Ampat, Western Papua, Indonesian New Guinea

Pal Hermansen / Aerial shot of trees casting long shadows in low winter sunlight, Golsfjell, Buskerund, Norway, January 2018.

Robert Thompson / Elephant hawk moth (Deilephila elpenor) portrait, Brackagh Moss National Nature Reserve, Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. April.

Robert Thompson / Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) flying to fuchsia flower, Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland.

Jack Dykinga / Mass wildflower display Lanceleaf monolopia (Monolopia lanceolata) Great Valley phacelia (Phacelia civiliata) and purple Lemmon's mustard, (Caulanthus anceps) The Temblor Range in evening light in th...

Jack Dykinga / Massive wildflower display Lanceleaf monolopia 1+Monolopia lanceolata+2 Great Valley phacelia 1+Phacelia civiliata+2 and purple Lemmon's mustard 1+Caulanthus anceps+2 The Temblor Range in evening...

Jack Dykinga / Massive wildflower display with Lanceleaf monolopia 1+Monolopia lanceolata+2, and Orange fiddle neck 1+Amsinckia intermedia+2 The Temblor Range, also carpeted in flowers, in evening light in the backg...

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Puffin (Fratercula arctica), with Thrift (Armeria maritima) in the foreground, Fair Isle, Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK, July.

Konrad Wothe / Leafcutter ants (Atta cephalotes) carrying leaves and filaments along a trail, Panguana Reserve, Huanuco Province, Peru.

Ingo Arndt / Compilation of various corals including many Fan corals (Gorgonacea sp) from collection at Senckenberg Museum, Frankfurt, Germany.

Ingo Arndt / Burned trees in front of Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA, September 2011.

Ingo Arndt / Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA, September 2011.

Ingo Arndt / Grass-Yellow butterflies (Eurema sp.) on tropical rainforest floor, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean, Australian Territory

Ingo Arndt / Fallow Deer (Dama dama) at sunrise, in mist covered landscape, Moenchbruch, Germany

Ingo Arndt / Fallow Deer (Dama dama) at sunrise, in mist covered landscape, Moenchbruch, Germany

Ingo Arndt / King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) plumage detail, St Andrews Bay, South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean, Antarctic Convergence.

Ingo Arndt / Southeast Asian atlas moth (Attacus atlas)

Ingo Arndt / Slug caterpillar moth larvae mimicry {Limacodidae} Comoe NP, Ivory Coast

Ingo Arndt / Slug caterpillar moth larva mimics bug {Limacodidae} Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Ingo Arndt / Moon moth caterpillar with defence spines {Automeris chaconia} Peru

Ingo Arndt / Saturniid moth caterpillar with warning colouration {Syssphinx mexicana} Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Ingo Arndt / Cecropia moth caterpillar with warning coloration {Hyalophora cecropia} North America

Ingo Arndt / Red eyed tree frog portrait {Agalychnis callidryas} Central America

Jack Dykinga / Whipple Mountain foothills, with flowering Notch-leaf scorpion-weed (Phacelia crenulata) and Heartleaf evening primrose (Camissonia cardiophylla) with the Riverside and Big Maria Mountains in the back...

Jack Dykinga / Flowering Sand verbena (Abronia) and Birdcage evening primrose (Oenothera deltoides) close up, Anza-Borrego State Park, California, USA. March 2017. These plants are flowering during on largest 'supe...

Ingo Arndt / Land snail (Polymita picta) collection of shells showing variation in patterning, Cuba. Endemic species.

Alex Mustard / Ribbon sweetlips (Plectorhinchus polytaenia) USAT Liberty Wreck, Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia. Java Sea

John Abbott / Paper wasp (Polistes metricus) flying from flower, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, USA Controlled conditions. September

Alex Mustard / Maldivian anemonefish (Amphiprion nigripes) shelters against a closed magnificent sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica). Male Atoll, Maldives. Indian Ocean.

Alex Mustard / Young California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) playing in the canopy of a forest of Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera). Santa Barbara Island, Channel Islands. California, USA. North East Pacific Oc...

Danny Green / Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) preening in late evening light, Heimaey, Westman Isles, Iceland, June

Pal Hermansen / Puffin (Fratercula arctica) portrait, Iceland, June.

Ann & Steve Toon / Spring wildflowers, Papkuilsfontein farm, Nieuwoudtville, Northern Cape, South Africa, September 2015

Ann & Steve Toon / Spring wildflowers, Papkuilsfontein farm, Nieuwoudtville, Northern Cape, South Africa, September 2015

Ann & Steve Toon / Spring wildflowers, Papkuilsfontein farm, Nieuwoudtville, Northern Cape, South Africa, September 2015

Bence Mate / European bee eaters (Merops apiaster) one taking off another perched, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary. May.

Bence Mate / Leaf cutter ants (Atta sp) carrying colourful plant matter, reflected in water, Laguna del Lagarto, Santa Rita, Costa Rica

Bence Mate / Leaf cutter ants (Atta sp) carrying colourful plant matter, reflected in water, Laguna del Lagarto, Santa Rita, Costa Rica

Bence Mate / European roller (Coracias garrulus) in flight, Pusztaszer, Hungary, May.