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Creatures from the Deep

by National Library of Australia Commons

The oceans teem with life so it should not be surprising that the National Library’s Pictures collection contains a multitude of images of various sea creatures, both large and small. Here is a small selection showing some of our marine friends. Whether they have feathers, fins, tentacles or spines — they all call the sea their home.

20 photos · 397 views

Man standing next to a 756 pound tuna, surrounded by a crowd, England, 1934 / Michael Terry

Exposed coral near the anchorage, Low Islands, Queensland, ca. 1928, 1 / C.M. Yonge

Albatross rookery on edge of cliff

World record tiger shark catch off Sydney Heads, New South Wales, 22 February 1939

[Green turtle nesting on Heron Island, Queensland, 1] [Frank Hurley]

[Coral seen from above, British Antarctic Expedition, 1907-1909]

Six Aboriginal men holding a hammerhead shark, Broome, Western Australia, ca. 1926 / photos by R. A. Bourue

Adelie penguin & chicks / H. G. Ponting

Burrowing clams, Queensland, ca. 1928 / C.M. Yonge

Sea urchins, Queensland, ca. 1928 / C.M. Yonge

Weddell seal and cub / H. G. Ponting

Three Aboriginal men with their catch of a dugong, turtle and shark, Broome, Western Australia, ca. 1926 / photos by R. A. Bourue

[Penguin nesting on rocks, Macquarie Island?, Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914] Percy Correll

Giant clam showing manite edges, Queensland, ca. 1928 / C.M. Yonge

Kingfish, Low Islands, Queensland, ca. 1928 / C.M. Yonge

Antarctic marine life, [2] Correll

A starfish, Antarctic marine life, [1] Correll

Young boy inspects a manta ray that has washed ashore, Broome, Western Australia, ca. 1926 / photos by R. A. Bourue

Octupus in a tank, Great Barrier Reef, ca. 1930s / Frank Hurley

Killer whale known as Hooky from the shape of its fin, Twofold Bay