Underwater Scene of Blacktip Reef Shark Swimming Above Common Stingrays on Sandy Seafloor with Ethereal Sunlight Filtering Through Turquoise Waters of Moorea Lagoon in French Polynesia

A blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) patrols the crystal-clear waters above several common stingrays gliding along the sandy bottom of a shallow lagoon in Moorea, French Polynesia. These two ancient species, having evolved their distinctive body forms over millions of years, exemplify the delicate balance of predator and prey relationships that characterize healthy marine ecosystems throughout the tropical Pacific, where protected areas are helping to maintain biodiversity against increasing human pressures.