1116-51201 - Male Bluegill Triggerfish (Xanthichthys auromarginatus) with an erect spinous dorsal fin photographed under water off Maui, Hawaii, USA. He was circling above his prepared spawning area suggesting that this is a courtship display; Maui, Hawaii, United States of America
1350-1854 - A smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena), swims under the surface in open ocean, breaking the water with its dorsal fin, Sea of Cortez, Mexico
1116-47193 - Orca Whales (Orcinus Orca) Surface Near Juneau In Lynn Canal, Inside Passage, With The Coast Range In The Background, Alaska, United States Of America
1116-42864 - An Orca Whale (Orcinus Orca), A Male Indicated By The Height Of Its Dorsal Fin, Surfaces In Lynn Canal On A Summer Evening, Inside Passage, Alaska, United States Of America
1116-39678 - A young Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris), leaps into the air beside it's mother, off the island of Lanai, Lanai, Hawaii, United States of America
1116-39735 - The strings hanging off the dorsal fin of this Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) are parasitic copepods. Photographed just breaking the surface off Guadalupe Island, Mexico
990-173 - Tall dorsal fin of a Finback whale (Balaenoptera physalus) which is located far back along the dorsal ridge. This prominent feature is often used for identification. St. Lawrence estuary, Canada
990-172 - Finback whale (Balaenoptera physalus) arching its back in order to dive showing its tall dorsal fin and patches of green algae that cover its back. St. Lawrence estuary, Canada
1116-31122 - Hawaii, This image captures the split second when this breaching humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is completely airbore. An incredible feat for this enormous leviathan.
978-489 - Dorsal fins at the surface, telltale signs of the giant basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus), Coll, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe
999-3 - Mel, the Killer Whale or Orca (Orcinus orca) narrowly misses out on a South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens) that it was hunting, in Patagonia. Of the 18 only 7 have mastered the stranding behaviour whereby the Orca enters the shallow surf to feed on Sea Lion pups. Distinctive by his 2 metre dorsal fin, Mel is an expert hunter who feeds on Sea Lion pups before taking them back to his pod. This lucky Sea Lion however managed to escape the hunter's attentions.
999-4 - Mel, the Killer Whale or Orca (Orcinus orca) narrowly misses out on a South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens) that it was hunting, in Patagonia. Of the 18 only 7 have mastered the stranding behaviour whereby the Orca enters the shallow surf to feed on Sea Lion pups. Distinctive by his 2 metre dorsal fin, Mel is an expert hunter who feeds on Sea Lion pups before taking them back to his pod. This lucky Sea Lion however managed to escape the hunter's attentions.
999-1 - Mel, the Killer Whale or Orca (Orcinus orca) narrowly misses out on a South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens) that it was hunting, in Patagonia. Of the 18 only 7 have mastered the stranding behaviour whereby the Orca enters the shallow surf to feed on Sea Lion pups. Distinctive by his 2 metre dorsal fin, Mel is an expert hunter who feeds on Sea Lion pups before taking them back to his pod. This lucky Sea Lion however managed to escape the hunter's attentions.
999-2 - Mel, the Killer Whale or Orca (Orcinus orca) narrowly misses out on a South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens) that it was hunting, in Patagonia. Of the 18 only 7 have mastered the stranding behaviour whereby the Orca enters the shallow surf to feed on Sea Lion pups. Distinctive by his 2 metre dorsal fin, Mel is an expert hunter who feeds on Sea Lion pups before taking them back to his pod. This lucky Sea Lion however managed to escape the hunter's attentions.
999-5 - Mel, the Killer Whale or Orca (Orcinus orca) narrowly misses out on a South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens) that it was hunting, in Patagonia. Of the 18 only 7 have mastered the stranding behaviour whereby the Orca enters the shallow surf to feed on Sea Lion pups. Distinctive by his 2 metre dorsal fin, Mel is an expert hunter who feeds on Sea Lion pups before taking them back to his pod. This lucky Sea Lion however managed to escape the hunter's attentions.
930-35 - A group of resident bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) travel through the Moray Firth, Scotland. Natural nick marks can be seen on one dorsal fin, these marks are used for photographic identification by marine biologists.
930-88 - A heavily scarred dorsal fin of a Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) tells of many encounters, some violent, with other dolphins in the Moray Firth, Scotland
1022-81 - tallfin batfish (platax teira), juvenile, wild, day, marine protected area, diving off Coral Bay, Ningaloo reef, Western Australia, Indian Ocean. MORE INFO: with 3 dark bars, very long dorsal, anal and pelvic fins, feed on plankton from water column.
930-40 - An adult bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) breaching from the water in the early evening showing scarring on dorsal fin and body marks, Moray Firth, Scotland
988-235 - Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Tobermory Bay - home of Balamory TV show. This group of dolphins are resident in the Hebrides but are hard to find and not well understood. They rarely come into the this harbour but photographer Nic Davies was ready with his camera and kayak to get these great, low angle shots.
906-5 - Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) dorsal fin with evident calluses which may be linked to maturation of adult females. Also notable sloughing skin which occurs in both sexes. Endangered, Ionian Sea, Greece.
988-225 - Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Tobermory Bay - home of Balamory TV show. This group of dolphins are resident in the Hebrides but are hard to find and not well understood. They rarely come into the this harbour but photographer Nic Davies was ready with his camera and kayak to get these great, low angle shots.
988-23 - Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Damage to dorsal fins is often used for photo-identification purposes but even simply the shape of a 'clean' fin such as this may be identifiable. Hebrides, Scotland
988-230 - Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Tobermory Bay - home of Balamory TV show. This group of dolphins are resident in the Hebrides but are hard to find and not well understood. They rarely come into the this harbour but photographer Nic Davies was ready with his camera and kayak to get these great, low angle shots.
988-243 - Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Tobermory Bay - home of Balamory TV show. This group of dolphins are resident in the Hebrides but are hard to find and not well understood. They rarely come into the this harbour but photographer Nic Davies was ready with his camera and kayak to get these great, low angle shots.
1036-84 - Killer whale (Orcinus orca): this is a male but the dorsal fin has flopped over. This is probably genetic and not thought to be a big problem. Olafsvik, Iceland.
1036-71 - Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) with its eye and blow visible and characteristic scarring over its body and dorsal fin. Hebrides, Scotland.
1036-85 - Killer whale (Orcinus orca): this is a male but the dorsal fin has flopped over. This is probably genetic and not thought to be a big problem. Olafsvik, Iceland.
1036-130 - Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) showing characteristic shevron pigmentation and dorsal fin set relatively far down the back. Hebrides, Scotland.
931-113 - Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus). The typically mottled skin colouring of a blue whale and an equally typical dorsal fin. Gulf of California.
931-511 - Atlantic spotted dolphin (stenella frontalis) . A spotted dolphin with a small pink spot to the left side of its dorsal fin. Eastern Caribbean
931-124 - Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus). The huge tail stock of a blue whale showing lots of round scars thought to be from cookie cutter sharks. The tiny dorsal fin is clealry visible to the left. Gulf of California.
1067-28 - Zebra lionfish (Dendrochirus zebra) Adult animal displaying colo Gangga Island North Sulawesi Indonesia Pacific Ocean. More info: Like all lionfish this species has toxins associated with its dorsal and pectoral
917-342 - Hourglass Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus cruciger) rare unusual image, adult Male porpoising. Drake Passage, Southern Ocean. MORE INFO: Males of this species can be identified by the huge hooked dorsal fin and post-anal keel, both of which are visible on this animal.
917-273 - Hourglass Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus cruciger, Female Dolphin porpoising, Drake Passage, Southern Ocean. Females of this species can be identified by the smaller less-hooked dorsal fin and the lack of a post-anal keel.
917-272 - Hourglass Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus cruciger, Male Dolphin breaching at great speed, Drake Passage, Southern Ocean. Males of this species can be identified by the huge hooked dorsal fin and post-anal keel.
931-154 - A blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) surfaces alongside a panga with tourists. The tiny dorsal fin is visible to the left of the white hat.
Gulf of California. (RR)
917-271 - Hourglass Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus cruciger, Male Dolphin breaching at great speed, Drake Passage, Southern Ocean. Males of this species can be identified by the huge hooked dorsal fin and post-anal keel.
969-72 - Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) surfacing at speed in very calm waters. Eye, beak, flipper and dorsal fin visible above the surface. Hebrides, West coast of Scotland.
969-124 - Semi-resident male Killer whale (Orcinus orca) off Scotland, known as John Coe recognised by the old wound in his dorsal fin. Hebrides, West coast of Scotland.
969-170 - Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) with an old wound in its dorsal fin now used to recognise this individual by biologists every year in the Hebridean waters. West coast, Scotland