A little clownfish opens its mouth to reveal a blood sucking intruder living on its tongue. The louse-like parasite, which entered through the gills of the small fish, is now so big that its stripy, orange host can barely close its mouth. The unfortunate clownfish was spotted by 44-year-old photographer and law professor Lars Oliver Michaelis in the shallow waters of the Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
NEVER mind being careful not to choke on your food, this mother bird has a bigger challenge on her hands, as her ravenous offspring impatiently launches its head down into her stomach .
SWIMMING next to 40 tonne whales, dare-devil divers take the plunge with these gentle giants of the sea .
Throwing a right hook as he launches onto his opponent with his gnarling teeth at the ready, this is the OTTER-LY ruthless showdown between two otters .
AN ADORABLE one-eyed kitten has been dubbed the 'pirate cat' because of his pirate-like facial expressions .
BURSTING colours of reds, pinks and purples give the illusion of a collection of stunning flowers .
Animal rescue volunteers have told how a cat riddled with cancer was forced to ripped off its own ears after it was abandoned by its owners .
FLAUNTING its new accessory, a fashionable green dumpy tree frog poses for the camera while wearing a SNAIL as a hat .
BLOWING bubbles underwater, this adorable polar bear slides into his tank for a playful dip .
Suspended FIFTY metres in the air, this is the last place that you would expect to find a fine dining experience .
ARM extended and head flung back, this little chipmunk performs a loose-limbed yoga move .
FULL OF STUNNING colours and swirling shapes, the furrows on these fields create a mix of mesmerising patterns .
This cheeky macaque gets up close and personal as he examines the dental hygiene of his fellow primate .