Sea Animals

No one has yet explored 100% of the ocean or observed all of its animals as of yet. Hence, you might find it challenging to discover certain facts about these aquatic animals because their exact identities are still a mystery.

But don’t you worry! I have compiled a list of sea animals that ought to address all of your fundamental inquiries. Let us find out more about them.

Types Of Sea Animals

Well, there are numerous types of species in the sea around 750,000. But I will not talk about all of them. I will try to give you a glimpse of a few sea animals in three categories –

01. Sea fishes	Dolphin fish, tuna, great white shark, swordfish, etc.
02. Sea turtles	Hawksbill, green sea turtle, flatback, olive ridley etc.
03. Seabirds	Albatrosses, penguins, auk, fulmars etc.

01. Sea fishes

Countless species of sea animals call the vast and peculiar ocean their home. There are brightly colored ones that inhabit coral reefs, and then there are the bizarre ones that dwell in the depths of the ocean. Let’s dive into their world –

From the sun-kissed surface all the way down to depths of more than 10,000 meters, fish inhabit every inch of the ocean. Every zone presents its own unique set of problems, and fish have evolved remarkable strategies to overcome these obstacles.

Fishes like tuna, salmon, banded butterflyfish, etc. numerous species of sea fishes are divided into three sections. For example, surface dwellers, bottom and beyond specific areas.

And a lot of factors, including their diet, breeding grounds, migration patterns, and ability to cope with specific environmental stresses, determine their oceanic location.

If you are curious about knowing the ins and outs of certain sea fish species, you can check the details in our other articles.

02. Sea turtles

What a remarkable creature, the sea turtle! For almost 100 million years, these large, air-breathing reptiles have been swimming in the oceans.

Mainly, sea turtles come in seven different varieties such as Leatherback, Green, Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Kemp’s Ridley, Olive Ridley, and Flatback. All of them are unique.

What do sea turtles eat? Well, if we try to understand their eating habits, we can do it in two ways. The first one is species-wise. Here, widely green sea turtles are seen to consume seagrass, algae, and other plant life after hatching.

Whereas, leatherback sea turtles are specifically conditioned to consume soft-bodied invertebrates, such as tunicates, and gelatinous foods, such as jellyfish.

Moreover, everything from fish to crabs, shrimp or lobster; or to sea urchins to mussels or to algae is fair game for the Olive Ridley Sea turtle. As carnivores in general, Kemp’s Ridley Sea turtles have a particular fondness for crabs.

Lastly, the diet of an adult flatback sea turtle can vary greatly, but it often consists of seaweed, crabs, mollusks, fish, and various sea plants.

03. Sea birds

Seabirds, often known as sea birds, are incredibly diverse in number and species. Over time, they adapted to life in the water. The ocean plays an essential role in seabirds’ lives, from feeding and mating to many stages of development. Some bird species may only visit the water on occasion.

Beginning with, the vast expanse of the ocean is the primary habitat for numerous seabirds, including petrels, albatrosses, and shearwaters.

They have strong wings and a sleek body, which allows them to fly well. They frequently navigate by following wind and ocean currents in search of food.

Some seabirds have adapted to life on the frozen tundra, such as penguins. Their thick feathers keep them warm, and their unique adaptations allow them to explore for food even in frigid waters.

Whereas the birds located near the water included pelicans, terns, and sandy beaches who referred to it as their home.

How Do Sea Animals Keep Themselves Safe?

There are many harmful things in the vast ocean, such as ferocious animals and hostile environments. Sea animals have come up with a lot of clever ways to stay safe. Many animals employ these methods –

Being hidden

Many sea animals have the remarkable ability to disappear into their natural habitats to protect themselves from predators.

As other flatfish spread out on the beach, seahorses wave like floating coral. A few of them even undergo color changes, much like sea chameleons.

Some animals use their ability to mimic the appearance of non-edible or harmful objects to frighten off predators.

Speed

Moreover, another great power of them is utilizing speed. Sea creatures such as squid, dolphins, and tuna may swiftly evade danger by utilizing their exceptional speed and remarkable ability to run.

Their rapid acceleration or deceleration, course correction, or the usage of their silky bodies are all mechanisms they employ for effective locomotion.

However, when it comes to turtles and hermit crabs, they are only two examples of the many species that use protective armor and hard shells to keep away from danger.

Whereas pufferfish and boxfish are only two examples of fish species that have evolved hard exoskeletons or plates to ward off predators.

Chemical defense

After speed comes the usage of chemicals as their defense. Some fish, sea cucumbers, and other animals secrete a poison that can sting, poison, or frighten off predators.

Another creative way in which creatures in the ocean generate light is by a process known as bioluminescence. In this way, they distract animals, direct predators’ attention to other animals and keep themselves safe.

Acting as a team

There are a number of fishes like Orcas, sea lions, dolphins, clownfish, etc. that migrate in large schools, making it difficult for predators to identify individual fish.

Because of this “safety in numbers” tactic, predators have a more challenging time catching prey, and individual survival rates go up.

Sea animals are diverse and their food habits, habitat, lifestyle everything varies according to their diverse species. I have discussed the sea animals’ basic overview.

However, lifting up any animals like “starfish” can hamper their regular lifestyle. So, we should not do such activities which can disrupt their way of life. If you want to know more about sea fishes, sea turtles or other creatures, you can check out our other articles.

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References

• https://www.ecomare.nl/en/in-depth/reading-material/animals/sea-fish/
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/seafood
• https://noc.ac.uk/news/do-deep-sea-fish-migrate
• https://www.marinebio.org/creatures/facts/
• https://promova.com/english-vocabulary/deep-sea-creatures