Marine Life of South Florida
Red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) are common along south Florida’s coasts.
A bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum) swims over an enormous Orbicella annularis colony in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park off Key Largo, FL.
A silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) off Jupiter, FL.
A silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) off Jupiter, FL.
Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus)
Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus)
A filefish swims among fragments of staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) at the Rescue a Reef Program Key Biscayne coral nursery off Miami, FL.
A spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari) cruises over the sand in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park off Key Largo, FL.
Pseudodiploria clivosa with its tentacles extended.
A silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) off Jupiter, FL.
A hermit crab at night in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo, FL.
A curious cowfish off Key Biscayne, FL.
A nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) swims over the reef in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus)
Scrawled filefish (Aluterus scriptus)
A smooth trunkfish (Lactophrys triqueter)
Caribbean reef squid (Sepioteuthis sepioidea)
Diploria labrynthiformis colony growing on the seawall along Fisher Island, FL.
Small fish protect themselves near the tentacles of a moon jelly off the coast of Jupiter, FL. A silky shark swims behind.
Christmas tree worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) grows on a colony of great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
A sea star in Biscayne National Park.
An invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) at Fisher Island, FL.
A dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) off Jupiter, FL.
A stingray off Delray Beach, FL.
A colony of Orbicella faveolata in Key Largo, FL.
A hogfish swims amongst soft corals at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
Small fish protect themselves near the tentacles of a moon jelly off the coast of Jupiter, FL.
A sharptail eef (Myrichthys breviceps) glides over a mat of Palythoa caribaeorum in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
A french angelfish (Pomacanthus paru) swims by a colony of Orbicella faveolata at Emerald Reef.
A manatee swims in the shallow waters of Biscayne National Park.
Gorgeous colony of Siderastrea siderea in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
A large sea fan (Gorgonia ventalina) waving in the current at Emerald Reef.
A yellow stingray (Urobatic jamaicensis) glides over the bottom at Emerald Reef off Miami, FL.
A nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
A freediver photographs a dusky shark and a silky shark off Jupiter, FL.
A group of large filefish feed on a jelly near Key Largo, FL.
An atlantic guitarfish (Rhinobatos lentiginosus) slides over the sand off Delray Beach, FL.
A juvenile remora (barely 4 inches long) at Emerald Reef off Miami, FL.
A bearded fire worm (Hermodice carunculata) on a coral colony near Fisher Island, FL.
A barracuda lurks in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
A ridged cactus coral (Mycetophyllia lamarckiana) at Emerald Reef, FL.
A french angelfish (Pomacanthus paru) glides over the reef.
A sea urchin with colorful spines and tube feet.
Many Christmas tree worms (Spirobranchus giganteus) adorn this Orbicella faveolata colony.
Christmas tree worms and Pseudodiploria clivosa.
A young nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) swims along the reef.
A reef teeming with sergeant major (Abudefduf saxatilis) and gorgonians in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
A Porites astreoides colony adorned with Christmas tree worms and gorgonians in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
A Portuguese man o' war stranded on the sand in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.
A Portuguese man o' war washed up on the shore of Key Biscayne.