Charismatic Marine Fauna

photo of the week for Sunday, 2008, April 27
Photographer: Paul Brown

There are charismatic terrestrial fauna, and then there are charismatic marine fauna. And I'd offer that this butterfly fish that Paul Brown focused on in the waters of National Park of American Samoa surely falls into the latter category.

Definitely makes you want to take up skin- or scuba-diving, no?

On the Web: http://www.nps.gov/npsa

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Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on April 29, 2008 - 5:25am.

Is it just me, or is there a sudden urge by NPT editors/writers/readers to voyage to the South Pacific, thanks to recent NPAS coverage?! :)

There's another great picture at http://www.nps.gov/pwr/pgallerycontent/p/l/20060706133325.jpg The water isn't as clear, though.

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on April 29, 2008 - 6:30am.

After the winter we've had, you bet the South Seas sound wonderful!

Kurt

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on April 30, 2008 - 6:59am.

It's so sad that the coral reefs providing vital habitat for this gorgeous fish and a host of other marine species are being destroyed or degraded all over the world at an alarming rate. The reef losses have reached critical levels in many areas, leaving us to wonder if some of the affected species may soon be wiped out completely. Biscayne, Dry Tortugas, Virgin Islands, and our other marine national parks are not immune to these problems.