Photo of the Day

Achilles tang fish swimming in the waters of the southern Line Islands
August 20, 2014

Achilles Tang

In other places around the world, coral has been decimated by bleaching and disease, but the southern Line Islands’ reefs retain their resilience. Scientists believe the key to coral health is intact ecosystems, where all the native species—including planktivores such as the vividly marked Achilles tang seen here—play their part.

See more pictures from the September 2014 feature story “A World Apart: The Southern Line Islands.”

Learn more about the Pristine Seas initiative »

Photograph by Brian Skerry, National Geographic
DON'T MISS THE REST OF THIS STORY!
Create a free account to continue and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles, plus newsletters.

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

Create your free account to continue reading

No credit card required. Unlimited access to free content.
Or get a Premium Subscription to access the best of Nat Geo - just $19
SUBSCRIBE