my fish army is ever growing

Redfin Killifish or Cardinal Killifish (Nothobranchius rubripinnis), family Nothobranchiidae, order Cyprinodontiformes, endemic to Tanzania

ENDANGERED.

This species is naturally found in temporary bodies of water, and so have a life span of about 6 months in the wild.

Ornate Paradisefish or Spotted Gourami (Malpulutta kretseri), family Osphronemidae, order, Anabantiformes, endemic to Sri Lanka

ENDANGERED.

Suffering from severe habitat loss and degradation.

Ornate Sleeper Ray (Electrolux addisoni), family Narkidae, order Torpediniformes, Wild Coast, South Africa

New Zealand Sea Lion Phocarctos hookeri

It is endemic to New Zealand and primarily breeds on New Zealand's subantarctic Auckland and Campbell islands, and have in recent years been slowly breeding and recolonising around the coast of New Zealand's South and Stewart islands. The New Zealand sea lion numbers around 12,000 and is one of the world's rarest sea lion species.

In the breeding season, female New Zealand sea lions gradually move inland with their pups to protect them from harassment by males, wind, storms, and potential parasitic infections. They can move up to 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) inland, from sandy beaches to tall grasses, and into forests.

Spain

"I've always been fascinated by the resemblance between jellyfish and space rockets," says Bertran Regàs. "I was looking for a photograph that conveyed that connection: a rocket leaving Earth. To do this, I used a fisheye lens and took the photo just as the sun was rising. Snell's Window helped me create the Earth, the particles were the stars, and the sun luckily appeared behind it. I don't think I'll ever be as close to space as I was that day."

Toni Bertran Regàs

USA

"After years of studying the true pygmy seahorses, I finally encountered this dwarf seahorse during some downtime at a Florida conference," says Smith. "Although their conservation status is ‘Least Concern’, few people see them in the wild due to their incredible camouflage. The true pygmies have several adaptations for life in miniature, and although Hippocampus zosterae is equally small, it doesn’t share these extreme specialisations. Endemic to Florida and Gulf of Mexico waters, these tiny seahorses require a keen eye to locate. I found a pair thriving in 1-2 feet of water. This female was accompanied by her pregnant male partner, but only her colour matched the emerald green Halimeda algae she was clinging to."

Richard Smith

No matter where you live, you can speak up and take action now to protect the coast of California from offshore drilling.

The Trump administration's plan for new offshore oil and gas drilling in federal waters is expected any day. If finalized, drilling could begin off the California coast as soon as next year.

We need you—our Aquarium Tumblr community—to act right now.

📣 California residents: Tell your lawmakers to vote YES on AB 1448—closing loopholes that let old infrastructure fuel new drilling. Submit by August 3.

📣 Everyone: Tell NOAA to keep California's coastal protections strong. NOAA needs to hear from everyone who loves the California coast, no matter where you live. Public comments are due August 22.

Our coast can't wait. Take action now:

Bali, Indonesia

Two amphipods from the Cyproideidae family, each only measuring around 3mm in body length, rest on a coral. Commonly called "ladybugs of the sea", these tiny creatures display striking colouration and symmetry. "It required a lot of patience and precision to compose and light the shot properly," says Ivanov. "It was taken at a depth of 19 metres, during a sunny day with calm sea conditions. In total, it took me six dives to get the shot I wanted. The result reveals an intimate glimpse of underwater life that is often overlooked."

Yury Ivanov

The icon star appears to have been pieced together by an artist working with ornate panes of stained glass.

Pincushion stars fittingly resemble a pincushion, or perhaps a puffball mushroom.

The royal star has a brilliant purple center trimmed in blaze orange.