Doug Perrine / Bryde's whale {Balaenoptera brydei / edeni} with throat pleats expanded after feeding on baitball of Sardines {Sardinops sagax} off Baja California, Mexico, Eastern Pacific Ocean. Veolia Environnement...

Claudio Contreras / Californian sea lion (Zalophus californianus) swimming in Southern sea palm (Eisenia arborea) and Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forest, San Benitos Islands, Baja California Pacific Islands Biosphe...

Chase Dekker / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) pod gulp feeding on Northern Anchovy (Engraulis mordax), Monterey Bay, California

Chase Dekker / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calf breaching, Monterey Bay, California

Chase Dekker / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calf breaching, Monterey Bay, California

Chase Dekker / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calf breaching, Monterey Bay, California

Chase Dekker / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching at sunset, Monterey Bay, California

Chase Dekker / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching, Monterey Bay, California

Claudio Contreras / California condor (Gymnogyps californianus), portrait. California condor recovery program, Sierra de San Pedro Martir National Park, Baja California Peninsula, Mexico.

Claudio Contreras / California condor (Gymnogyps californianus), two peched in tree, adult and juvenile. California condor recovery program, Sierra de San Pedro Martir National Park, Baja California Peninsula, Mexico.

Alex Mustard / California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) pups in an underwater cave. Los Islotes, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Sea of Cortez, Gulf of California, East Pacific Ocean.

Alex Mustard / Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) close to the camera with a golden trevally fish (Gnathanodon speciosus) and outline of another whale shark behind , in the plankton-rich green waters of La Paz bay, Baja...

Franco Banfi / School of Munk's devil ray, pygmy devil ray, (Mobula munkiana), feeding on plankton at night, photographed on a long exposure, Espiritu Santo Island, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacif...

Mark Carwardine / Aerial view Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) lunge-feeding in the southern Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Baja California, Mexico.

Mark Carwardine / Aerial view of Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) lunge-feeding, with throat pouch distended, southern Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Baja California, Mexico.

Mark Carwardine / Aerial view Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) lunge-feeding in the southern Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Baja California, Mexico.

Mark Carwardine / Aerial view Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) lunge-feeding in the southern Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Baja California, Mexico.

Ralph Pace / Swell Shark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum) egg case and embryo, Monterey, California

Franco Banfi / Striped marlin (Kajikia audax) hunting Sardine (Sardinops sagax) in bait ball. Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Franco Banfi / California sealion (Zalophus californianus) swimming. Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Pacific Ocean, Mexico

Franco Banfi / Striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax) feeding on Sardine (Sardinops sagax). Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Pacific Ocean, Mexico.

Chase Dekker / Orca (Orcinus orca) male tail slapping, Monterey Bay, California

Chase Dekker / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) gulp feeding on Northern Anchovy (Engraulis mordax), Monterey Bay, California

Chase Dekker / Long-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) pod porpoising, Monterey Bay, California

Chase Dekker / Common Loon (Gavia immer) spreading wings, Monterey Bay, California

Chase Dekker / Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus), Monterey Bay, California

Chase Dekker / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) pod gulp feeding, Monterey Bay, California

Mark Carwardine / Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) aerial. Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Munk's pygmy devil ray / Munk's mobula (Mobula munkiana) large school from the air with one leaping out of the water, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) aerial view, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Munk's pygmy devil ray / Munk's mobula (Mobula munkiana) large school from the air, Baja California, Mexico.

David Fleetham / Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), two below surface. Guadalupe Island, Mexico.

David Fleetham / Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) dorsal fin visible on surface. Guadalupe Island, Mexico.

David Fleetham / Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) breaking surface with mouth open. Guadalupe Island, Mexico.

Claudio Contreras / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) breaching, San Ignacio Lagoon, El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) tail, San Ignacio Lagoon, El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) calf, San Ignacio Lagoon, El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico, February

Jeff Foott / Wild California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) near San Pedro Martir National Park, Northern Baja California, Mexico.

David Fleetham / California yellowtail (Seriola lalandi dorsalis) Guadalupe Island, Mexico.

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) pup, Elkhorn Slough, Monterey Bay, California

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) pup, Elkhorn Slough, Monterey Bay, California

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 / Schools of Pacific creolefish (Cephalopholis colonus) and Panamic sergeant major (Abudefduf troschelii) swimming through sun beams inside an underwater cavern. Los Islotes, La Paz, Baja California Sur...

Mark Carwardine / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) at water surface with mouth open showing baleen plates, San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico

Claudio Contreras / Aerial view of Espiritu Santo Island National Park, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, June, Honorary Mention in the third national contest 'Visions of our Nature' organised by Mexico...

Claudio Contreras / Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) trapped in fishing net, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, May, Third Place in the third National Contest 'Visions of our nature' organised by Mexico'...

Claudio Contreras / Californian Sealion (Zalophus californianus) in kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forest, San Benito del Este Island, Baja California Peninsula Pacific Islands Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico, Ma...

Hiroya Minakuchi / Orca (Orcinus orca) female surfacing, Monterey Bay, California

Hiroya Minakuchi / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) pair gulp feeding and gulls hunting Northern Anchovy (Engraulis mordax), Monterey Bay, California

Alex Mustard / California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) adult female swimming through sunbeams in an underwater cave. Los Isotes, La Paz, Mexico. Sea of Cortez, East Pacific Ocean.

Alex Mustard / Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) from above. Guadalupe Island, Baja California, Mexico. East Pacific Ocean

Alex Mustard / Great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) males beneath the surface. Guadalupe Island, Baja California, Mexico. East Pacific Ocean

Suzi Eszterhas / Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) mother with three day old newborn pup, Monterey Bay, California

Suzi Eszterhas / Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) mother and three day old newborn pup, Monterey Bay, California

Suzi Eszterhas / Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) mother and three day old newborn pup, Monterey Bay, California

Suzi Eszterhas / Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) mother and six day old newborn pup, Monterey Bay, California

Tony Wu / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) calf at ocean surface, with its mother visible, Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico.

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Agricultural land surrounded by natural habitat, Santa Cruz Mountains, Monterey Bay, California

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Mountain Lion (Puma concolor) biologist, Paul Houghtaling, using telemetry to track mother and cubs near houses, Santa Cruz Puma Project, Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, California

Franco Banfi / Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) Guadalupe Island, Mexico, Pacific Ocean. Vulnerable.

Franco Banfi / Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) attracted to 'squid jig' bait which glows at night off Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean.

Franco Banfi / Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) at night off Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean.

Franco Banfi / Scuba diver and Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) at night off Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean. August 2007.

Franco Banfi / Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) cannibalising another squid of the same species at night off Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean.

Franco Banfi / Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) at night off Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean.

Franco Banfi / Mexican fisherman boat at dusk, fishing Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) , at night off Santa Rosalia, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean.

Franco Banfi / Beak and tentacles of Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) at night off Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean.

Suzi Eszterhas / Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) mother and pup nuzzling, Monterey Bay, California

Suzi Eszterhas / Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) mother and three week old pup, Monterey Bay, California

Suzi Eszterhas / Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) raft, Monterey Bay, California, digitally manipulated

Suzi Eszterhas / Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) feeding on clam, Monterey Bay, California

Suzi Eszterhas / Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) feeding on clam, Monterey Bay, California

Alex Mustard / Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) portrait, Guadalupe Island, Mexico. Pacific Ocean.

Franco Banfi / California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), Los Islotes, Sea of Cortez, Baja California peninsula, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean.

Jack Dykinga / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) fluke marked with barnacle attachments, CONANP protected area, Baja Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico. February.

Pascal Kobeh / Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) in open water, Guadalupe island, Mexico. Pacific Ocean.

Jack Dykinga / Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) near Isla Animas, Sea of Cortez, Baja Sur, Mexico.

Jack Dykinga / Common Dolphins (Delphinus delphis) swimming near Isla Animas, Sea of Cortez, Baja Sur, Mexico.

Alex Mustard,Alex Mustard / A signal blenny (Emblemaria hypacanthus) displays its showy dorsal fin as it extends out of its tube home. La Paz, Mexico. Sea Of Cortez, East Pacific Ocean.

Claudio Contreras / Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) in courtship display, San Quintin, Baja California Peninsula, Mexico,

Claudio Contreras / Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) in courtship display, San Quintin, Baja California Peninsula, Mexico,

Claudio Contreras / Californian sea lion (Zalophus californianus), Espiritu Santo Island National Park, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, April

Claudio Contreras / Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) fishing, Cabo Pulmo National Park, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, July

Claudio Contreras / Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) with fish catch, Cabo Pulmo National Park, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, July

Claudio Contreras / Tricoloured heron (Egretta tricolor), Guerrero Negro, Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, May

Chris Mattison,Chris Mattison / Cedros gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer insulanus / Pituophis insulanus) Cedros Island, Baja California, Mexico

Claudio Contreras / Black Rat (Rattus rattus) young. Introduced species on Maria Magdalena Island, Marias Islands Biosphere Reserve, Gulf of California, Mexico, September.

Mark Carwardine / Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) aerial view of juvenile with two people swimming alongside, La Paz Bay, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Baja California, Mexico, March 2009

Mark Carwardine / Hands of a tourist leaning from boat to touch the mouth of a friendly Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) lying on the surface, San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico, April 2009

Mark Carwardine / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) underwater, San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Split-level of tourist in small boat leaning out to touch a Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico, April 2009

Mark Carwardine / Tourists watching Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spyhopping, San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico, February 2010

Mark Carwardine / Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spyhopping, San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) aerial view of juvenile with two people swimming alongside, La Paz Bay, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Baja California, Mexico, March 2009

Mark Carwardine / Tourists in small boat leaning out to touch a curious Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico, March 2007