Beluga

Also called white whales, their unusual color makes the Beluga one of the most distinguishable of all whales.
Belugas are highly social and live in small groups called pods. These vocal communicators are often found in coastal waters of the Arctic.

Blue Whale

The largest animal known to have ever existed, the blue whale weighs around 200 tons. Adults eat up to four tons of tiny krill each day and live up to 90 years. These iconic giants are important to ocean health, distributing nutrients as they feed.

Hawksbill
Sea Turtle

This turtle spends much of its time in lagoons and coral reefs. They eat sponges which creates space for corals to grow. They keep jellyfish populations in check and feed on many other invertebrates.

Photo Courtesy of: © Christophe Mason-Parker/TNC Photo Contest 2018

Manatee

The manatee was once mistaken for a mermaid by European sailors. Manatees are primarily herbivores. They feed for up to eight hours a day, consuming about 4% to 9% of their body weight daily (up to 108 lbs).

Photo Courtesy of: © Nicholas Larghi/TNC Photo Contest 2021

Mangrove

Master survival artists, climate heroes and nature’s nursery, mangroves provide habitat and shelter for over 3000 fish species, can store more carbon per area than tropical upland forests, and provide livelihoods for over 120M people.

Photo Courtesy of: © Mark Godfrey-TNC

Manta Ray

Highly intelligent, highly threatened manta rays can have a wingspan of up to 30 feet. Manta means blanket or cloak in Spanish and when feeding, these rays swim with their mouths open wide to draw in plankton and krill.

Photo Courtesy of: © Isaak Schiller-TNC Photo Contest 2021

Parrotfish

The colorful parrotfish lives in coral reefs. Parrotfish eat algae and coral. They have teeth inside their throat that crushes the coral bits which become the white sands that form beautiful beaches.

Photo Courtesy of: © Peter Warren-TNC

Sea Lion

The sea lion lives in many parts of the world and particularly enjoys sandy shores or rocks by the ocean. Sea lions are social, playful and among the most vocal of all mammals. Often seen in big groups, they can swim in bursts of up to 25 miles per hour.

Photo Courtesy of: © Rachel Hancock Davis/TNC

Staghorn Coral

Staghorn coral is named after its resemblance to antlers. They are the fastest growing corals, growing up to 4-8 inches per year. Speedy as staghorn corals are, their skeletons can be easily damaged by storms and human activity.

Photo Courtesy of: © Peter Wandmaker/TNC Photo Contest 2021

Whale Shark

The whale shark is the largest fish alive today, growing an average 18-32 feet. Often called “gentle giants,” they feed on plankton and travel far distances to find food. Their white spotted coloration makes them easy to distinguish.

Photo Courtesy of: © Jess Hadden-TNC Photo Contest 2019