A small pod of pack Ice type B killer whales (Orcinus orca), just after making a Weddell seal kill in the Lemaire Channel, Antarctica, Polar Regions

A rare melanistic king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus), feeding its okum boy chick at Fortuna Bay, South Georgia Island, Polar Regions

Antarctic tern (Sterna vittata), on the wreck of the Guvernoren in the Enterprise Islands, Antarctica, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

A large pod of Gerlache Strait type B killer whales (Orcinus orca), traveling and socializing in Gerlache Strait, Antarctica, Polar Regions

A large pod of Gerlache Strait type B killer whales (Orcinus orca), traveling and socializing in Gerlache Strait, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Adult kelp gull (Larus dominicanus), nesting on lichen covered rocks on Half Moon Island in Antarctica, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Adult brown Skua (Catharacta antarctica), in flight near the Antarctic peninsula in the Southern Ocean, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Adult southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) at breeding and molting colony, Falkland Islands, South America

Young wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) on the wing near the Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Icebergs and sea ice in the Weddell Sea on the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula during the summer months, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Expedition ship Europa operating from Ushuaia, Argentina to the Antarctic Peninsula in Antarctica, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Expedition ship Europa operating from Ushuaia, Argentina to the Antarctic Peninsula in Antarctica, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) at sunrise on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) porpoising in Cooper Bay, South Georgia

A rare sighting of an adult blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) sub-surface feeding in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Adult black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) in flight in the Svalbard Archipelago, Barents Sea, Norway

A large pod of Gerlache Strait type B killer whales (Orcinus orca), traveling and socializing in Gerlache Strait, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Antarctic fur seal pups (Arctocephalus gazella) playing in Fortuna Bay on South Georgia, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Adult wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) on the wing near the Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Reflections of icebergs in the calm water photographed from an expedition ship operating in Antarctica, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Adult king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) in the act of feeding chick on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Young adult bull southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) holding young pup's head underwater trying to kill it, South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean

Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) adult surfacing near Puerto Pyramides, Peninsula Valdez, Argentina

Adult male hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) hauled out on pack-ice in seasof Denmark Strait, between Iceland and Greenland

Harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus), hauled out on the pack-ice in between Iceland and Greenland in the Denmark Strait, Denmark

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) weaner pup sleeping on the beach at Gold Harbour on South Georgia, Polar Regions

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica), at breeding colony at Half Moon Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Antarctic fur seal pup (Arctocephalus gazella) near the abandoned whaling station at Stromness Bay on South Georgia, Polar Regions

Adult fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) surfacing in the rich waters off the continental shelf near South Georgia, Polar Regions

Southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus) in flight against the sun near South Georgia, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Adult light-mantled sooty albatrosses (Phoebetria palpebrata) on the wing in Elsehul on South Georgia, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Young wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) on the wing near the Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) nesting colony at Jougla Point on Wiencke Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

A small pod of Type B killer whales (Orcinus nanus) just outside Duse Bay in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding and nesting colony on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

A large pod of Gerlache Strait type B killer whales (Orcinus orca), traveling and socializing in Gerlache Strait, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Adult crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophaga), hauled out on iceberg at Booth Island near the Antarctic Peninsula, Polar Regions

Adult macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) porpoising for speed while traveling to their breeding colony on South Georgia, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Wandering albatross. Diomedea exulans. On nest, albatross island, south georgia diomedea exulans

Assorted Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) teeth from lower jaws of beached Sperm Whales in the mid-riff region of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

Adult Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) fluke-up dive at sunset in the mid-riff region of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico. (Restricted Resolution - pls contact us)

Adult Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) fluke-up dive at sunset in the mid-riff region of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico. (Restricted Resolution - pls contact us)

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) chick head detail at colony on Useful Island near the Antarctic Peninsula. There are an estimated 2 million breeding pairs of chinstrap penguins in the Antarctic peninsula region alone, perhaps as many as 7.5 million breeding pairs in all of Antarctica. Their name derives from the narrow black band under their heads which makes it appear as if they are wearing black helmets, making them one of the most easily identified types of penguin. Other names for them are "Ringed Penguins", "Bearded Penguins", and "Stonecracker Penguins" due to their harsh call. They grow to 68 cm (27 in). The average adult weight of a Chinstrap Penguin is 4.5 kg (10 lbs). Weight can range from 3 to 6 kg (6.6-13.2 lbs), with males being slightly larger and weight varying based on where the penguin is in the breeding cycle. Their diet consists of krill, shrimp, and fish. On land they build circular nests from stones, and lay two eggs, which are incubated by both the male and the female for shifts of five to ten days. They can also breed on icebergs, though they prefer non-icy conditions. The chicks hatch after about 35 days, and have fluffy gray backs and white fronts. The chicks stay in the nest for 20?30 days before they go to join a creche. At around 50?60 days old, they moult, gaining their adult plumage and go to sea. The Chinstrap Penguin was first described by German naturalist Forster in 1781. Its specific epithet was often seen as antarctica, however a 2002 review determined the genus Pygoscelis was masculine, and hence the correct binomial name is Pygoscelis antarcticus.

An adult striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax) swimming slowly at the surface in the midriff region of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Baja California Norte, Mexico

Coral reef of soft leather corals (Sarcophyton sp.) and limestone islands. Misool, Raja Ampat, Papua, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean. More info: This region has the highest marine biological diversity in the world.

Coral reef and limestone islands. Misool, Raja Ampat, Papua, Indonesia. More info: This region is called the heart of marine biodiversity.

Young Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) spy-hopping (note the sloughing skin) in the mid-riff region of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

Sub-adult Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) surfacing (note the peeling skin) near Isla San Pedro Martir in the midriff region of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

CT measures (9'8") the lower right mandible (jawbone) of an adult bull Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the mid-riff region of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico. Model released.

Eight-inch tooth from lower right mandible (jawbone) of an adult bull Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the mid-riff region of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

Eight-inch tooth from lower right mandible (jawbone) of an adult bull Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the mid-riff region of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) surfacing in the mid-riff region of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

An adult striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax) swimming slowly at the surface in the midriff region of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Baja California Norte, Mexico

An adult striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax) swimming slowly at the surface in the midriff region of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Baja California Norte, Mexico

Adult polar bear (Ursus maritimus) with a frshly killed ringed seal on multi-year ice floes in the Storfjord Region of the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Offshore type bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) surfacing in the midriff region of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Baja California Norte, Mexico.

Adult polar bear (Ursus maritimus) with a frshly killed ringed seal on multi-year ice floes in the Storfjord Region of the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Offshore type bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) surfacing in the midriff region of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Baja California Norte, Mexico.

Offshore type bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) surfacing in the midriff region of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Baja California Norte, Mexico.

Helicopter flying above sea ice, Antarctica

Icebreaker Capt. Khlebnikov steering through pack ice off the coast of Franklin Island, Antarctica

Helicopter landing on the Capt. Khlebnikov icebreaker after a flight over the icebergs off the coast of Franklin Island, Antarctica

Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) one of the two species of cetaceans in the genus Globicephala, which it shares with the long-finned pilot whale (G. melas). They are part of the oceanic dolphin family (Delphinidae). Terceira island, Azores, Portugal, Atlantic Ocean

Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) one of the two species of cetaceans in the genus Globicephala, which it shares with the long-finned pilot whale (G. melas). They are part of the oceanic dolphin family (Delphinidae). Terceira island, Azores, Portugal, Atlantic Ocean

Loggerheads (Caretta caretta), is a species of oceanic turtle distributed throughout the world. But persistent population declines due to pollution, shrimp trawling, and development in their nesting areas. Listed as Vulnerable IUCN. Terceira island, Azores, Portugal, Atlantic Ocean