Oscar Dewhurst / Great bittern (Botaurus stellaris) head and neck, looking up through reeds. Suffolk, UK. November.

Pedro Narra / Little owl (Athene noctua) Sado Estuary, Portugal. June

David Fleetham / Smooth trunkfish (Lactophrys triqueter), portrait. Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean.

Tui De Roy / Swallow-tailed gull (Creagrus furcatus) calling, Genovesa Island, Galapagos

Anup Shah / Mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei) infant portrait, member of 'Humba' group. Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo, March.

Jane Burton / British Shorthair kittens, Benedict, ginger, and Joan, silver tabby.

Wim van den Heever / Lion (Panthera leo) male with scars photographed with side-lit spot light at night. Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa, April.

Marie Read / Horned puffin (Fratercula corniculata) close-up portrait, St. Paul Island, Pribilofs, Alaska, USA, July.

Franco Banfi / Freshwater jellyfish (Craspedacusta sowerbii) Lake Lugano, Ticino, Switzerland. August. Invasive species.

Richard Robinson / Blue shark (Prionace glauca) just below surface, Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, New Zealand, June.

Richard Robinson / Blue shark (Prionace glauca) viewed from below, off the coast of Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, February.

Richard Robinson / A Blue shark (Prionace glauca) just below the surface, with nictitating membrane partially shut to protect its eye, Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, New Zealand, June.