TROPICAL EAST - US VIRGIN ISLANDS - Photo Ecosphere

Geographic Regions
TROPICAL EAST - US VIRGIN ISLANDS

GALLERY DESCRIPTION:

Underwater environments of mangrove and coral reefs, beach coastline, and the tropical rainforest ecosystems of St John and St Thomas, US Virgin Islands

U.S. TERRITORIES:

United States Virgin Islands (St. John, St. Thomas)

CRUZ BAY is the typical gateway onto ST. JOHN ISLAND and the VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK

HONEYMOON BEACH and SALOMON BAY

Clear shallow waters lead out from the shores of HAWKSNEST BAY

CINNAMON BAY

MAHO BAY

TRUNK BAY

Overlooking TRUNK BAY

MAHO BAY BEACH

A YELLOWTAIL PARROTFISH swims just above the more camouflaged female STOPLIGHT PARROTFISH

The much smaller BLUEHEAD fish swims next to a YELLOWTAIL PARROTFISH as a female STOPLIGHT PARROTFISH nibbles the coral rock below.

A male STOPLIGHT PARROTFISH surveys the coral rock for food

Warm greetings from a YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER (lower left) and a male STOPLIGHT PARROTFISH (lower right)

YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER

Looking down at the top of a YELLOWTAIL DAMSELFISH swimming over coral and LONG-SPINED SEA URCHINS

A school of BAR JACKS with a lone juvenile CLOWN WRASSE

YELLOWTAIL DAMSELFISH

STOPLIGHT PARROTFISH (male)

QUEEN PARROTFISH (male)

STOPLIGHT PARROTFISH (female)

BLUE TANG

STOPLIGHT PARROTFISH (male)

STOPLIGHT PARROTFISH (male)

A smiling female STOPLIGHT PARROTFISH

QUEEN PARROTFISH (female)

FLAT NEEDLEFISH

MUSSELS growing on the roots of RED MANGROVES

FRENCH GRUNT (below) and young YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER

YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER in the foreground with FRENCH GRUNT behind and other less distinguishable fish, crabs, and coral species in the background, including the LESSER STARLET CORAL

At center, a spherical-shaped SEA PEARL ALGA clings to base of a RED MANGROVE root, while Y BRANCHED ALGAE grows beyond

SPLIT-CROWN FEATHER DUSTER

DOCTORFISH with yellow-green hue in seagrass lit by sunlight

From the bottom up, turquoise SEA SPONGE, GOLFBALL CORAL, and BRANCHING FIRE CORAL grow along the root of a MANGROVE Tree

ORANGE SIEVE ENCRUSTING SPONGE along with algae grows on the roots of RED MANGROVES

ALGAE and SPONGE grow on the roots of MANGROVE to help feed reef life like SCHOOLMASTER and SERGEANT MAJOR

SERGEANT MAJOR fish swimming next to ORANGE SIEVE ENCRUSTING SPONGE

ALGAE floating among the RED MANGROVE roots

Clusters of MUSSELS, ALGAE, and SPONGES grow on the roots of RED MANGROVES

ORANGE SIEVE ENCRUSTING SPONGE

A LONG-SPINED URCHIN amongst RED MANGROVE roots

Look closely and you can spot a number of CRABS crawling amongst the blades of SEA GRASS

A GREAT BARRACUDA swims above copious amounts of a light-green hued GREEN NET ALGA

GREAT BARRACUDA swimming in GREEN NET ALGA

MUSSELS growing on RED MANGROVE roots

Rays of sunlight filter down amongst the algae-swallowed RED MANGROVE roots with rust red ROPE SPONGE visible beyond

A striped SCHOOLMASTER fish (right) feeds at a cluster of Y BRANCHED ALGAE with a clump of darker green WATERCRESS ALGAE noticable to the upper left

Close-up view of MUSSELS shells growing along RED MANGROVE roots

From the sandy botton of the MANGROVE reef grows MERMAID'S FAN ALGAE (green, upper right), stems of LARGE LEAF WATERCRESS ALGA (center left) and the white, thin strings of SPAGHETTI WORMS

Glass-like, SILVERSIDE HERRING FISH swim in the protected shoreline waters of RED MANGROVE roots covered by PINK BUSH ALGA with stems of MANATEE GRASS and TURTLE GRASS growing from the reef floor

A school of SILVERSIDE HERRING FISH

A GREAT BARRACUDA swims amongst the MANGROVE reef with green, round BRISTLE BRUSH growing from the sandy bottom

ORANGE SIEVE ENCRUSTING SPONGE cover hanging RED MANGROVE root stems

MANGROVE UPSIDEDOWN JELLY

MANGROVE UPSIDEDOWN JELLY

ORANGE SIEVE ENCRUSTING SPONGE and FUZZ BALL ALGAE grow on stems of hanging RED MANGROVE roots

A shoal of TOMTATES amongst RED MANGROVE roots covered in a variety of ENCRUSTING SPONGES

TOMTATES with a distinct yellow stripe across their midbody and FRENCH GRUNTS (marked by several wavy diagonal yellow stripes and a yellow tail) congregate amongst the roots of RED MANGROVES

A juvenile BEAUGREGORY (small blue and yellow fish) passes through some ERECT ROPE SPONGE

BEAUGREGORY (juvenile) poses over TURTLE GRASS, SPAGHETTI WORMS, turquoise SEA SPONGE, and BUSH ALGA growing out of the cracks of REEF CEMENT

YELLOWTAIL SNAPPERS and juvenile SLIPPERY DICK fish swim around a RED MANGROVE root encrusted with ORANGE SIEVE ENCRUSTING SPONGE

THREE-ROWED SEA CUCUMBER

BEAUGREGORY and juvenile BLUE TANG (all yellow)

A large school of small SILVERSIDE FISH dance between the concave roots of RED MANGROVES

A SMOOTH TRUNKFISH looking straight ahead

A SMOOTH TRUNKFISH stirs up the sandy bottom

SMOOTH TRUNKFISH

SMOOTH TRUNKFISH

DWARF SAND PERCH and juvenile FRENCH GRUNTS swim above BRANCHING FINGER CORAL and TURTLE GRASS with SYMMETRICAL BRAIN CORAL sitting to the far left

ERECT ROOT SPONGE (rust color) and BRANCHED FINGER CORAL with blades of TURTLE GRASS

WEST INDIAN TOP SNAIL with GIANT ANEMONE behind

A COMMON OCTOPUS is well camouflaged next to the reef rock

A FOUR-EYE BUTTERFLYFISH swims in front of a GIANT ANEMONE

GIANT ANEMONE

COMMON OCTOPUS

SERGEANT MAJOR swimming directly above a hidden COMMON OCTOPUS embedded between BRANCHED FINGER CORAL and ORANGECLAW HERMIT CRABS and WEST INDIAN TOP SNAILS crawling over reef rock

A SOUTHERN STINGRAY stirs up sand as it skates along the bottom of a sandy sea grass bed

A BAR JACK fish tags along while a SOUTHERN STINGRAY scours a sea grass bed for food

A GIANT HERMIT CRAB occupies a QUEEN CONCH shell

BLACK-BALL SPONGE with a few white strings of SPAGHETTI WORMS drapped over it

CUSHION SEA STAR

BOULDER BRAIN CORAL

COMMON SEA FAN

Round SEA GRAPES predominate a cornucopia of brown and green algae as a small GREAT BARRACUDA swims by

COMMON SEA FAN surrounded by a bed of TURTLE GRASS

Stems of TURTLE GRASS project above a coating of light-green GREEN NET ALGA

SCHOOLMASTER and JELLY SEAWEED

Large clusters of JELLY SEAWEED growing along coral rock

LONG-SPINED SEA URCHIN with a variety of small reef fish

LONG-SPINED SEA URCHINS, SERGEANT MAJOR, OCEAN SURGEONFISH

SERGEANT MAJORS, female STRIPED PARROTFISH, and OCEAN SURGEONFISH

BRANCHING TUBE SPONGE

A bright yellow juvenile BLUE TANG stands out against the pale, light-pink hued REEF CEMENT

FOUR-EYE BUTTERFLYFISH, BRANCHED FINGER CORAL, Y BRANCHED ALGAE, and TURTLE GRASS

The colorful plant and coral life of the CARIBBEAN REEF

LONGSPINE SQUIRRELFISH

A SERGEANT MAJOR stands out against the dark LONG-SPINED URCHIN, while a red SQUIRRELFISH attempts to hide under coral

LONGJAW SQUIRRELFISH (red) and BLUESTRIPED GRUNT (yellow) easily stand out, but take notice of a pair of CARIBBEAN SPINY LOBSTERS taking cover below a MASSIVE STARLET CORAL

LONGJAW SQUIRRELFISH, BLUESTRIPED GRUNT, FRENCH GRUNT, TOMTATE, CARIBBEAN SPINY LOBSTER, LONG-SPINED SEA URCHIN, MUSTARD HILL CORAL, BOULDER STAR CORAL, and LOW RELIEF LETTUCE CORAL can all be spotted in this scene

Coral, like the TEN-RAY STAR CORAL, and sponges, like the ERECT ROOT SPONGE and VERONGULA RIGIDA (a PITTED SPONGE), attract schools of reef fish

SQUIRRELFISH and GRUNTS

SQUIRRELFISH and GRUNTS with a variety of FEATHER DUSTERS (top and right) colored yellow-green, orange, and purple

FRENCH GRUNTS and SQUIRRELFISH swim over and around ERECT ROOT SPONGE and BRANCHED FINGER CORAL

BALLOONFISH along side ERECT ROOT SPONGE

BALLOONFISH

BALLOONFISH

QUEEN ANGELFISH

SCHOOLMASTER

CUSHION SEA STAR and LONG-SPINED URCHIN

COMMON SEA FAN

BLACK SEA ROD (left) and SEA PLUME

WILD DONKEY

WILD DONKEY

A WILD DONKEY peers through tree branches

GROUND ANOLE LIZARD

A CRESTED ANOLE with a well-defined stripe down its back

SAW PALMETTO growing along the REEF BAY TRAIL

SCRUB BRUSH ANTHURIUM growing on a tree stump

A pair of LAND SNAILS cling to the under part of a verdant broad leaf

A broad leaf plant grows along the REEF BAY TRAIL, which traverses through the heart of the island's mountaineous rainforested terrain

ANOLE

Tree trunks rising along REEF BAY TRAIL

JOSSIE GUT SUGAR ESTATE ruins

BRIDLED QUAIL-DOVE

EASTERN PUERTO RICAN CRESTED ANOLE

MONGOOSE

PUERTO RICAN CRESTED ANOLE

PUERTO RICAN CRESTED ANOLE

REEF BAY SUGAR MILL ruins

A fluttering ANTILLEAN CRESTED HUMMINGBIRD emerges from the shadows of a moist rock face

PETROGLYPHS

A still pool of water collected deep in the mountaineous terrain of the island's tropical rainforest

HERMIT CRAB

HERMIT CRAB

HERMIT CRAB

REEF BAY

Immature BROWN BOOBY

BROWN BOOBIES

Adult BROWN BOOBY (front) with an immature BROWN BOOBY (back)

A BROWN PELICAN soars over the coastline

BROWN PELICAN balances on a branch of a FRANGIPANI TREE

A BROWN PELICAN in a HOG PLUM tree

BROWN PELICAN

WATERLEMON BAY viewed from WATERLEMON CAY

Looking out towards LEINSTER BAY from WATERLEMON BAY

Old stone building along FRANCIS BAY TRAIL

Flowering trees and dense vegetation from MARY POINT

GREEN TURTLE

GREEN TURTLE

SCRAWLED COWFISH

SOUTHERN STINGRAY with BAR JACK

SOUTHERN STINGRAY

MUTTON SNAPPER

SPOTTED EAGLE RAY

SPOTTED EAGLE RAY

SPOTTED EAGLE RAY

BAR JACK

CARIBBEAN REEF SQUID

CARIBBEAN REEF SQUID

CARIBBEAN REEF SQUID

CARIBBEAN REEF SQUID

Juvenile FRENCH GRUNTS swim over BRANCHED FINGER CORAL and a MAGNIFICENT FEATHER DUSTER

Juvenile FRENCH GRUNTS

ROW PORE ROPE SPONGE

A SNAIL balances on the edge of a WEST INDIAN SEA EGG

TRUMPETFISH

BLUE TANG and a juvenile SLIPPERY DICK

FRENCH GRUNT and LONG-SPINED URCHINS

ORANGESPOTTED FILEFISH and adult SLIPPERY DICK

A TRUMPETFISH blends in with BENT SEA ROD coral

BLADE FIRE CORAL, adult BLUEHEAD (blue head and white stripe), and juvenile BLUEHEAD (yellow)

An adult BLUEHEAD watches over several juvenile BLUEHEADS (yellow and white) as they play hide-n-seek amongst BLADE FIRE CORAL

Front to back: COMMON SEA FAN, WIDE-MESH SEA FAN, VENUS SEA FAN

BLUE TANG and POROUS SEA ROD coral

TRUMPETFISH and a FLAMINGO TONGUE afixed to a COMMON SEA FAN

WHITE ENCRUSTING ZOANTHID growing on a coral rock bolder

WHITE ENCRUSTING ZOANTHID

WIDE-MESH SEA FAN

A juvenile YELLOWTAIL DAMSELFISH (billiant blue and covered with lighter spots) stands out against the yellow, brighter BLADE FIRE CORAL

SERGEANT MAJOR and BLADE FIRE CORAL

ELKHORN CORAL

BLUE TANG (above) and OCEAN SURGEONFISH

Coral reef scene filled with a variety of corals (ELKHORN, BENT SEA ROD, MUSTARD HILL, BLADE FIRE, and BRAIN) and fish species (BLUE TANG, OCEAN SURGEONFISH, DOCTORFISH, STOPLIGHT PARROTFISH, and LONGFIN DAMSELFISH

BOLDER BRAIN CORAL, MASSIVE STARLET CORAL, LOBED STAR CORAL, and MUSTARD HILL CORAL support a variety of reef fish from SCHOOLMASTER to BLUE TANG to OCEAN SURGEONFISH to PARROTFISH

SCHOOLMASTER, BLUE TANG, and OCEAN SURGEONFISH stand out in this reef scene

Coral reef

COMMON SEA FAN and ORANGE SPINY SEA ROD

ELKHORN CORAL with a BANDED BUTTERFLYFISH (bottom center), BLUE TANG, OCEAN SURGEONFISH, and SCHOOLMASTER

A CEASAR GRUNT (center) in a garden of SEA FANS and SEA RODS

Two SCHOOLMASTERS in amongst SEA FANS

MUTTON SNAPPER

SLIMY SEA PLUME with BOUDER BRAIN CORAL and WIDE-MESH SEA FAN

Several CHRISTMAS TREE WORMS are easily visible against the beige color of this SYMMETRICAL BRAIN CORAL

SLIPPERY DICK (initial phase)

SOUTHERN STINGRAY

SOUTHERN STINGRAY

SOUTHERN STINGRAY with BAR JACK

BICOLOR CONEY

FRENCH ANGELFISH (juvenile)

FRENCH ANGELFISH (juvenile) and STOPLIGHT PARROTFISH (female)

BLUE TANG and GRAYSBY (above)

GRAYSBY and BLUE TANG

BLUE TANG, FRENCH ANGELFISH, OCEAN SURGEONFISH, PARROTFISH

BLUE TANG (above) with a LONG-SPINED URCHIN (center) and a PORCUPINEFISH (below) peering out from underneath coral rock

PORCUPINEFISH

BLUE TANG and SERGEANT MAJOR

BLUE TANG, FRENCH GRUNT, BLUEHEAD, and SERGEANT MAJOR

Coral Reef

SERGEANT MAJORS and a BANDED BUTTERFLYFISH swim over coral reef

STOPLIGHT PARROTFISH (juvenile), BANDED BUTTERFLYFISH, SQUIRRELFISH, SERGEANT MAJOR, and FRENCH GRUNT can all be spotted swimming in and around coral and COMMON SEA FANS

BOULDER BRAIN CORAL with several CHRISTMAS TREE WORMS

A bright yellow juvenile BLUE TANG and several DWARF SAND PERCH swim around LONG-SPINED URCHINS

GREAT BARRACUDA

A TURTLE SEA GRASS bed lit by sun rays filtering down from above

A schoal of BLUE RUNNERS

BLUE RUNNERS

SPOTTED TRUNKFISH and MUSTARD HILL CORAL

BLUESTRIPED GRUNT

BLUESTRIPED GRUNT

FOUR-EYE BUTTERFLYFISH

BLUE TANG and YELLOW TUBE SPONGE

PUDDINGWIFE (initial phase)

BLUEHEAD ADULT

STRIPED PARROTFISH (terminal phase)

FRENCH ANGELFISH (intermediate phase)

COMMON SEA FANS and BLACK SEA ROD

BOULDER BRAIN CORAL

BOULDER BRAIN CORAL with a red-orange colored CHRISTMAS TREE WORM

BOULDER BRAIN CORAL with a red-orange colored CHRISTMAS TREE WORM

COMMON SEA FAN

ROCK-BORING URCHIN and MUSTARD HILL CORAL

SMOOTH TRUNKFISH

SMOOTH TRUNKFISH and juvenile BEAUGREGORY

ELKHORN CORAL

COMMON SEA FAN

BOULDER BRAIN CORAL

BLUE PARROTFISH

SWOLLEN-KNOB CANDELABRUM

YELLOW TUBE SPONGE

KNOBBY BRAIN CORAL

SYMMETRICAL BRAIN CORAL

BEAUGREGORY (juvenile) and TURTLE GRASS

COMMON SEA FAN

A large COMMON SEA FAN gently waves back and forth in the light ocean currents of the shallow coral reef

Several CHRISTMAS TREE WORMS in a variety of colors grow on BLADE FIRE CORAL with green algae growning below, while a bright yellow juvenile THREESPOT DAMSELFISH can be spotted to the far left just below some Low RELIEF LETTUCE CORAL

SUN ANEMONE is a living invertebrate found in coral reefs

BRANCHED FINGER CORAL

Darker green FLAT-TOP BRISTLE BRUSH algae litter a sandy SEA GRASS bed with SARGASSUM SEAWEED floating above on the shallow water's surface

LESSER STARLET CORAL

RIDGED CACTUS CORAL

YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER (forward), ELKHORN CORAL, and a SCHOOLMASTER (back)

YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER, a BAR JACK, and a WEST INDIAN SEA EGG

YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER and a BAR JACK

A school of YELLOWTAIL SNAPPERS pass over a field of FINGER CORAL with a FLAT NEEDLEFISH swimming above close to the ocean's surface

YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER and SAILORS CHOICE

BLUESTRIPED GRUNTS and SAILORS CHOICES

YELLOW TUBE SPONGE and FINGER CORAL

SYMMETRICAL BRAIN CORAL

Brilliant purple colored COMMON SEA FAN

SYMMETRICAL BRAIN CORAL

BLUEHEAD and BLACK SEA ROD

Female STOPLIGHT PARROTFISH (center) surrounded by yellow-striped SMALLMOUTH GRUNTS

Female STOPLIGHT PARROTFISH (front) and OCEAN SURGEONFISH

ROSE CORAL surrounded by Y BRANCHED ALGAE

FEATHER DUSTER

Yellow FEATHER DUSTER, turquoise SEA SPONGE, and red ROCK-BORING URCHIN

BOULDER BRAIN CORAL

ERECT ROPE SPONGE

MASSIVE STARLET CORAL

SEA GRAPES, MUSTARD HILL CORAL, and CLUBTIP FINGER CORAL

MAGNIFICENT FEATHER DUSTER and juvenile BEAUGREGORY

BUSH ALGAE and LONG-SPINED URCHIN

MAZE CORAL

MASSIVE STARLET CORAL

SEA GRAPES and GREEN FEATHER ALGA (top-right corner)

WHITE SCROLL ALGA

YELLOW TUBE SPONGE

FLAT-TOP BRISTLE BRUSH (green, circular), TURTLE GRASS, and YELLOW TUBE SPONGE

SEA PERL ALGAE growing on TUBULATE SPONGE

Shoal of SILVERSIDE FISH in MANGROVE REEF

GROOVED BRAIN CORAL next to Y BRANCHED ALGAE

GROOVED BRAIN CORAL, Y BRANCHED ALGA, and ERECT ROPE SPONGE

THREE-ROWED SEA CUCUMBER

GIANT ANEMONE

GIANT ANEMONE

RED MANGROVE reef

A school of SILVERSIDE FISH and FUZZ BALL ALGAE growing on RED MANGROVE roots

MAGNIFICIENT FEATHER DUSTER at center with a FROND OYSTER attached to the side of an ENCRUSTING TEN-RAY STAR CORAL

SPLIT-CROWN FEATHER DUSTER and Y BRANCHED ALGAE

Two young YELLOWTAIL SNAPPERS suspended over BOULDER BRAIN CORAL

GREEN FEATHER ALGA and GREEN BUSH ALGA

CALLYSPONGIA FALLAX sponge

YELLOW TUBE SPONGE

GREAT BARRACUDA

BROWN ENCRUSTING OCTOPUS SPONGE (dark orange-red color) is covered by a variety of algae, including TUBULAR THICKET ALGAE, Y BRANCHED ALGAE, BUSH ALGAE, and SEA PEARL ALGA

RED MANGROVE roots, TURTLE GRASS

Y BRANCHED ALGAE

BIPINNATE SEA PLUMES

GIANT ANEMONE

FRENCH GRUNTS swimming with a lone SMALLMOUTH GRUNT and YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER

FRENCH GRUNTS swim around ORANGE LUMPY ENCRUSTING SPONGE with SEA PEARL ALGA attached

FUZZ BALL ALGAE grows on the root of a RED MANGROVE

BOULDER BRAIN CORAL

BIPINNATE SEA PLUMES along side RED MANGROVE roots

BIPINNATE SEA PLUMES and a school of SILVERSIDE FISH

CUSHION SEA STAR

A bright red SPLIT-CROWN FEATHER DUSTER on BOULDER BRAIN CORAL

GREAT BARRACUDA

GREAT BARRACUDA

RED BRANCHING SPONGE

QUEEN CONCH surrounded by TURTLE GRASS and a BRISTLE BALL BUSH (to the right)

WHITE SPAGHETTI worms drapped over green SEA SPONGE

LONGSPINE SQUIRRELFISH

LONGSPINE SQUIRRELFISH, juvenile BEAUGREGORY, and several juvenile FRENCH GRUNTS

LONGSPINE SQUIRRELFISH

SAND-CANYON GOBY

MAGNIFICIENT FEATHER DUSTER

A school of TOMTATES

OCEAN SURGEONFISH

SCHOOLMASTER

Yellow FANWORM

PILLAR CORAL

BLUE TANG

BLADE FIRE CORAL

A female STOPLIGHT PARROTFISH swims between ELKHORN CORAL

WEST INDIAN SEA EGG

A school of BLUE TANG

BLUE TANG

BLUE TANG

TRUMPETFISH

BLUE TANG

Looking down into a NETTED BARREL SPONGE

A view from up high looking out towards HURRICANE HOLE and CORAL BAY

Sunset at CORAL HARBOR

Sunset over SALTPOND BAY

A night view of the lively CRUZ BAY

A ROOSTER, a common sighting in Caribbean Islands, struts along a beach

BROWN PELICANS come in for a landing in the shallow waters along the beach shore

A BROWN PELICAN flies just inches off the water along the beach shoreline

A BROWN PELICAN in flight

A BROWN PELICAN high above MAGEN'S BAY takes aim at the water below

Waves crash along MAGEN'S BAY BEACH shoreline covered in washed up seaweed

SEAGRAPE leaves

Looking out from under COCONUT PALM and SEAGRAPE TREES on MAGEN'S BAY BEACH

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