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

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