THE 20 MOST OUTSTANDING SALTWATER ANIMALS - BIOLOGY - 2025

There are more than 200 saltwater animals. These have evolved to suit a marine environment. They can have fin-like appendages, hydrodynamic body shapes, and different methods of dealing with extreme changes in temperature.

The ocean or salt water provides a habitat for a wide variety of animals, including mammals and cetaceans.

Saltwater animals obtain oxygen through their gills. Some have adapted to survive in the deepest soils of the ocean, where the pressure can be unbearable for other organisms.

The aquatic environment does not allow the absorption of light; As a result, many marine mammals do not have good eyesight and have evolved to use echolocation.

You may also be interested in this list of animals in danger of extinction.

The 20 most outstanding saltwater animals

1- Crab

It is a crustacean similar to shrimp and lobsters; there are more than 6700 species. Most of these species are found in shallower waters, as they tend to inhabit coral reefs and coastal stones.

Crabs have thick armor that protects them from immediate danger; They also have two clamps that allow them to grab their prey.

2- Angelfish

There are more than 100 species that roam the waters of the southern hemisphere. There are two main types of angelfish: freshwater ones, which live in South America; and those who inhabit the oceans.

The saltwater angelfish can grow up to 12 inches and is known for the very colorful markings on its body. Their colors vary according to the species.

3- Sea cucumber

They are echinoderms like starfish. There are 1,250 species and most are shaped like a smooth cucumber.

They live on or near the ocean floor, and are sometimes partially buried there.

4- Seals

The harbor seal lives in cold waters around the world. Many species inhabit the waters of the northern hemisphere.

They are often found in coastal waters, where there is an abundance of food and fewer predators.

There are believed to be more than 30 species of seals. These animals are closely related to sea lions and walruses.

5- Common dolphin

Common dolphins are found in deep salty waters; some populations of dolphins may be present in the same location, while others appear to have a migratory pattern.

Dolphins travel in groups of 10 to 50 members and frequently gather in flocks of 100 to 200 individuals. These animals are among the fastest in the sea, and they are very active and playful.

6- Blue whale

It is the largest animal on the planet, as it can weigh up to 200 tons. It is also the loudest animal, since it can sound louder than an airplane.

It has a low frequency that can be heard for hundreds of kilometers and is used to attract other blue whales.

7- Starfish

It is a star-shaped animal found in all oceans. It feeds on oysters and clams.

Starfish are known for their incredible ability to regenerate themselves and to change their gender as needed.

8- Shark

There are many species of sharks: from the largest and most aggressive to the smallest and calm.

For example, the zebra shark is very gentle and can live with other fish in an aquarium. The tiger shark eats everything (even mattresses have been found in their stomachs) and is one of the sharks that attacks humans the most.

The hammerhead shark has a peculiar appearance with wide eyes, and the great white shark attacks thousands of people each year.

9- Orcas

They are also known as killer whales. They feed on mammals (even other whales), seabirds, and fish using their teeth that reach 4 inches in length.

10- Corals

Despite popular belief, corals are animals and not plants; coral is an anemone-like animal.

About 70,000 species of coral are believed to exist in the oceans, but they are abundant in the southern hemisphere.

Depending on their species, they can live from 3 months to 30 years. Corals play an important role in maintaining the diversity of the oceans.

This is because they provide excellent places for animals to hide from predators and breed.

11- Oysters

It is an immobile mollusk found in saltwater environments around the world. It is one of the oldest animals on the planet. The most famous species are those that humans eat and those that produce pearls.

12- Hippocampus (sea horse)

It is a small species of vertebrate found in the world's shallow waters and on coral reefs.

It is usually around 10 centimeters tall, has a long snout and a long tail. The males are the ones that carry the eggs of the young. They are in danger of extinction.

13- Sea lion

They are found in all oceans except the Atlantic Ocean. These animals have four fins that allow them to walk on the ground and swim in water. They are very smart and playful.

14- Stripes

It is a flatfish that swims in hot salty waters and is believed to be related to sharks.

It is characterized by a stinger at the end of its tail, which it uses to pierce its prey before it escapes.

15- Squid

There are around 300 species of squid. They have a distinctive head and bilateral symmetry.

They have eight arms arranged in two pairs and two longer tentacles. They are very good swimmers.

16- Eels

They are elongated fish like snakes that can weigh from 30 grams to 25 kilograms. They live in shallow water and burrow in sand or rocks.

17- Barracuda

It is a fish known for its large size, terrifying appearance, and ferocious behavior; they have prominent fangs.

They are gray, green, white, or blue with silver sides. They kill their prey by tearing them apart with their teeth.

18- Shrimp

They are crustaceans characterized by having a semitransparent body, a tail that looks like a fan, and long antennae.

Many species are commercially important as food and vary in size, ranging from a few millimeters to more than 20 centimeters.

19- Octopuses

They are eight-armed cephalopods. They can measure from 5 centimeters to 5 meters.

They have an arm that can extend up to 30 feet. Their arms have cells with great suction power.

20- Lobsters

They are nocturnal saltwater crustaceans. Most are scavengers and look for dead animals, but they also eat live fish, algae, and small mollusks.

They have semi-rigid bodies and five pairs of legs, of which one or more pairs are pincers. Various species of lobsters are highly valuable to humans for their flavor.

References

1. Saltwater animals and plants. Recovered from wildtracks.wordpress.com
2. Crab. Recovered from az-animals.com
3. Octopus. Recovered from brittanica.com
4. Stingray. Recovered from az-animals.com
5. Eel. Recovered from wikipedia.org
6. Sea lion. Recovered from az-animals.com
7. Types of sharks. Recovered from kidzone.ws
8. Coral. Recovered from az-animals.com
9. Barracuda. Recovered from wikipedia.org
10. Starfish. Recovered from az-animals.com
11. Shrimp. Recovered from brittanica.com
12. Angelfish. Recovered from az-animals.com
13. Blue whale. Recovered from worldlife.org
14. Seal. Recovered from az-animals.com
15. Lobster. Recovered from brittanica.com
16. Oyster. Recovered from az-animals.com
17. Killer whale. Recovered from nationalgeographic.com
18. Seahorse. Recovered from az-animals.com
19. Squid. Recovered from wikipedia.org
20. Dolphin. Recovered from az-animals.com
21. Be cucumbers. Recovered from nationalgeographic.com