Ocean
Saltwater environments covering more than 70% of the Earth's surface, home to a vast variety of marine life.
Animals of the Ocean
Species recorded in this habitat.
Atlantic Bonito
Sarda sarda
The Atlantic Bonito is a fast-swimming, predatory fish found in the warm and temperate waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Recognized by its streamlined, torpedo-shaped body and distinct dark, diagonal stripes along its back, this fish is often mistaken for tuna due to its similar body shape. Atlantic Bonitos are known for their speed and agility, making them popular among sport fishers. Typically traveling in schools, they are vital predators in their ecosystem, feeding primarily on smaller fish and invertebrates.
Atlantic mole crab
Emerita talpoida
The Atlantic mole crab is a small, burrowing crustacean commonly found along sandy beaches of the western Atlantic Ocean. Recognizable by its oval, domed body and lack of claws, this crab is an expert at digging backward into the sand, where it spends most of its life. It filters plankton and organic matter from the water using its feathery antennae, emerging at the edge of the surf to feed and reproduce. The species is vital to coastal ecosystems, serving as both prey for shorebirds and fish and as a key player in nutrient cycling.
Atlantic spadefish
Chaetodipterus faber
The Atlantic spadefish is a striking, disc-shaped marine fish recognized for its silvery body adorned with bold, vertical black bands. Commonly found in large schools, it frequents coastal waters, shipwrecks, reefs, and piers along the western Atlantic Ocean. Juveniles often mimic dead leaves as camouflage, while adults are active swimmers that can be seen gliding gracefully through the water. This species is highly adaptable and social, contributing to its abundance in suitable habitats.
Atlantic Wolf Fish
Anarhichas lupus
The Atlantic wolf fish is a large, elongated marine fish known for its powerful jaws and prominent canine-like teeth, which it uses to crush hard-shelled prey such as sea urchins, crabs, and mollusks. This impressive predator inhabits the cold, rocky bottoms of the North Atlantic Ocean, often at depths ranging from 20 to 500 meters. Its thick, eel-like body and mottled coloration offer excellent camouflage among rocks and seaweed. The wolf fish is solitary and territorial, spending most of its life in a single den or crevice.
Australian Sea Lion
Neophoca cinerea
The Australian Sea Lion is a rare and charismatic marine mammal native to the southern and western coasts of Australia. It has a robust body, short fur, and is easily identified by its creamy to yellowish coloring on the face and underparts, contrasted with a dark brown back. Known for their playful behavior, Australian Sea Lions are also strong swimmers, often seen surfing waves close to shore. Their breeding colonies are found on isolated sandy beaches and rocky coasts, and they have a very unusual 17-18 month breeding cycle, one of the longest among pinnipeds.
Barred knifejaw
Oplegnathus fasciatus
The barred knifejaw is a striking marine fish known for its deep, laterally compressed body and distinct black vertical bars running across a silvery-gray background. Found primarily in the northwest Pacific, this species inhabits rocky coastal reefs and is notable for its tough, beak-like jaws adapted for crushing hard-shelled prey. Juveniles display more pronounced striping, which often fades with age, and adults can reach up to 80 cm in length. The barred knifejaw is a popular catch among anglers and is sometimes seen in public aquariums due to its unique appearance and strong swimming capability.
Bioluminescent Comb Jelly
Mnemiopsis leidyi
The bioluminescent comb jelly, Mnemiopsis leidyi, is a mesmerizing marine invertebrate known for its shimmering, light-producing abilities. Its transparent, oval-shaped body is lined with eight rows of cilia, called 'combs,' which refract light and give the animal an iridescent appearance as it moves gracefully through the water. This species can emit a beautiful bluish-green glow when disturbed, a phenomenon used to startle predators or communicate. Native to the western Atlantic Ocean but now found in many parts of the world, comb jellies play a significant role in marine ecosystems as both predator and prey.
Blue dragon (sea slug)
Glaucus atlanticus
The blue dragon (Glaucus atlanticus) is a strikingly colored species of small, pelagic sea slug found floating on the surface of warm ocean waters. Renowned for its iridescent blue and silver coloration, this nudibranch uses its unique appearance as camouflage against both predators above and below. It preys on venomous siphonophores such as the Portuguese man o' war, storing their stinging cells within its own tissues to use for its own defense. Despite its delicate, almost fantastical appearance, the blue dragon is a fierce carnivore and an expert drifter, traveling vast distances propelled by ocean currents.
Blue Sea Star
Linckia laevigata
The Blue Sea Star is a striking echinoderm known for its vibrant blue coloration and five slender arms. Found throughout the shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific, it is a common sight on coral reefs, sandy bottoms, and seagrass beds. This species can reach up to 30 centimeters in diameter and is known for its ability to regenerate lost limbs. Blue Sea Stars play a vital role in reef ecosystems, providing habitat for small invertebrates and participating in the food web.
Blue Whale
Balaenoptera musculus
The blue whale is the largest animal known to have ever existed, reaching lengths of up to 30 meters (98 feet) and weighing as much as 180 metric tons. Its long, slender body is bluish-grey with lighter spots, and it is equipped with a massive mouth that contains baleen plates for filter-feeding. Blue whales are found in all the world's oceans except the Arctic, typically migrating between feeding and breeding grounds. These gentle giants feed primarily on tiny shrimp-like creatures called krill, consuming up to 4 tons per day during peak feeding season. Despite their immense size and power, blue whales are vulnerable to various threats, and their populations remain endangered.
Blue-footed Booby
Sula nebouxii
The Blue-footed Booby is a striking seabird known for its vibrant turquoise-blue feet, which play a crucial role in courtship displays. Native to the eastern Pacific Ocean, especially the GalĂĄpagos Islands, this bird is easily recognized by its brown and white plumage, long pointed wings, and dagger-like bill. Blue-footed Boobies are expert divers, plunging from great heights to catch fish beneath the water's surface. They nest in colonies on coastal islands, where their unique mating rituals and quirky behaviors make them a favorite among wildlife observers.
Bluefin Tuna
Thunnus thynnus
The Bluefin Tuna is a large, powerful fish known for its streamlined body and incredible speed in the open ocean. Recognized by its metallic blue top and silver underside, it is one of the most commercially valuable fish species due to its prized flesh, especially for sushi and sashimi. Bluefin Tuna are highly migratory, traveling thousands of kilometers between spawning and feeding grounds in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. These apex predators can dive to great depths and regulate their body temperature, allowing them to thrive in a variety of marine environments.
Other habitats
Various Continental RegionsGrassland
Open areas dominated by grasses rather than trees, supporting numerous herbivores and their predators.
Elevated TerrainMountain
High-altitude environments with varying climates and specialized wildlife adapted to rugged terrain and thin air.
Tropical RegionsRainforest
Dense, wet forests with the highest biodiversity on Earth, containing more than half of the world's plant and animal species.
Polar and Subpolar RegionsTundra
Cold, treeless regions with permafrost supporting specialized cold-adapted wildlife.
Polar RegionsArctic
Cold, frozen landscapes around the North Pole with specialized wildlife adapted to extreme cold.
Arid RegionsDesert
Arid lands with minimal rainfall, extreme temperatures, and specialized wildlife adapted to harsh conditions.