The richest areas of the ocean

Lambis chiragra, the spider conch, an unusually large sea snail that grows up to 3.2 centimetres long – with the females bigger than the males. It is common off the coast of China, where it lives on coral reefs.

Ron O'Dor, chief scientist with the Census of Marine Life, says China's seas are part of the "golden triangle of biodiversity", along with Australia and Japan. He thinks that the high levels of biodiversity there are real, and not just an artefact of intensive exploration.

(Image: Shaoqing Wang)

The Census of Marine Life has published its reports on life in key regions of the sea.