LIKE A living balloon this baitball of sardines is ready to burst when threatened by a pointy nosed sailfish. The photographs, taken off the coast of Isla Mujeres, near Cancun, Mexico, show how these water creatures work cooperatively to cut off a portion of a school of sardines swimming close to the seafloor, and drive them to the surface. American photographer Doug Perrine, 60, managed to capture the moment the sailfish manage to herd the bait into a tightly packed ball, ready to pick off for dinner one-by-one. ‘The sailfish took-turns swimming through the bait ball slashing with their bills to kill the fish, which are quickly gobbled up,’ Doug said. ‘Sometimes they light up or change to a bright colour pattern.
SQUEEZING their furry faces through a hole in a tree, a trio of curious baby squirrels leave their nest for the first time to explore their surroundings .
A young otter wades through a lake with his eyes set on an older rival’s fish .
EXPERTLY camouflaged, this clever panther chameleon knows how to catch its prey by surprise .
A young orangutan comes over all shy as she hides her face behind a broken bucket .
LYING flat out on his back, this little meerkat makes the most of the English sunshine .
A SPECTACULAR array of stars fills the night sky as they soar over this active volcano .
FLOATING effortlessly on his back, this little otter laps up a rare glimmer of English spring sunshine .
A trio of ants are locked in a tug of war over a fly as they pull the bug by its legs .
ARM extended and head flung back, this little chipmunk performs a loose-limbed yoga move .
EAGERLY BITING his nails, this little squirrel is clearly nervous of looming predators as he searches for his meal .
DIPPING and diving their way through this bumpy journey, these giraffe's duck for cover as they dodge multiple cables and wires .
