Weird and wonderful images from Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition

Looking for love by Tony Wu.

These striking images are all highly commended entries in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Now in its 54th year, the competition, run by the Natural History Museum in London, is a showcase for the world's best nature photography.

This year's competition attracted more than 45,000 entries from professionals and amateurs across 95 countries. Overall winners are announced on October 16.

American Tony Wu found this Asian sheepshead wrasse in the western Pacific Ocean near Japan's remote Sado Island. Wrasse start out as females, and when they reach a certain age and size - up to a metre long - can transform into males. This mature pastel-coloured specimen uses its pink forehead to head-butt rivals. The curious creature feeds on shellfish and crustaceans, though little more is known about it.

Cool cat by Isak Pretorius.

Isak Pretorius from South Africa found this lioness drinking in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. Pretorius positioned his vehicle on the opposite side of the waterhole, steadying his long lens in the low light on a bean bag. The lioness appeared through the tall, rainy-season grass and hunched down to drink. With perfect timing, Isak caught her gaze and her tongue, lapping the water, framed by the wall of lush green.

Witness by Emily Garthwaite.

British photographer Emily Garthwaite found this sun bear in a filthy cage behind the scenes at a zoo in Sumatra, Indonesia, in conditions described as "appalling". Sun bears are the world's smallest bears, now critically endangered. In the lowland forests of Southeast Asia, they spend much of their time in trees, eating fruit and small animals, using their claws to prise open rotten wood in search of grubs. They are threatened by rampant deforestation and the demand for their bile and organs for traditional Chinese medicine.

The victor by Adam Hakim Hogg.

Adam Hakim Hogg of Malaysia spotted the Titiwangsa horned tree lizard on the road near his home in the mountains of Pahang. The lizard was in a furious life-and-death battle with a venomous Malaysian jewel centipede. After the struggle, which the lizard won, Hogg jumped into a ditch and crawled towards the lizard for an eye-level portrait of the victor standing over its prize. The species is highly sought-after by poachers for the pet trade.

Life among litter by Greg Lecoeur.

Greg Lecoeur of France spotted this Sargassum fish when returning from a dive on the biodiverse reefs of the Indonesian archipelago of Raja Ampat. A master of camouflage and an ambush predator, the Sargassumfish stalks its prey on claw-like fins through the fronds of these floating islands, concealed by its tan colour and feathery outline. The nearby frond of Sargassum seaweed was a far cry from the free-floating rafts of the seaweed that more normally shelter this frogfish.

Eye to eye by Emanuele Biggi.

Emanuele Biggi from Italy found this sealion corpse on the desert coast of Peru's Paracas National Reserve. A young male Peru Pacific iguana with distinctive black chevrons on its throat had joined the feast within.

Flight by Sue Forbes.

Sue Forbes from Britain spotted a single juvenile red-footed booby trying to grab a flying fish northeast of D'Arros Island in the Outer Islands of the Seychelles. These birds are nimble enough to grab flying fish in mid-air.