Information and Facts about Ocean Animals

Animals That Live in the Sea


These facts about ocean animals will help interest kids of any age about amazing sea animals. There are five main including the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic Ocean and Southern Ocean. There are over 250,000 species of animals living in the world's oceans.

Types of Ocean Animals


  • Ocean animals are classified into 2 major categories. These categories include vertebrates and invertebrates. Invertebrates have a backbone, but invertebrates do not have a backbone.

  • There are six major classes of animals which are known as phylum. The six phyla include Cnidarians, Arthropods, Mollusks, Annelids (worms), Chordates, and Echinoderms. All six phyla include oceans animals.

  • All vertebrates are Chordates, which are animals with a doral nerve chord. Chordates include mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds and fish.

Ocean Vertebrates


Vertebrates include some of the most known sea animals including fish, whales, sharks and dolphins. Although there are millions of vertebrates in the oceans, there are not nearly as many vertebrates as invertebrates.

Sea Mammal Facts


  • Sea mammals are an order under mammals. There are several orders of sea mammals including Sirenia (dugongs and manatees) and Cetacea (whales, porpoises and dolphins).

  • There are two suborders of Cetacea, toothed whales and baleen whales. Toothed whales have teeth and eat like most land mammals by chewing their food. Baleen whales have a large filter called a baleen. As they swim, they can catch large amounts of food to eat in their baleen.

  • Mammals are a diverse group of animals. Their size, shape, and location where they live varies widely.

  • There are over 4000 different types of mammals.

  • Mammals that live in the ocean are warm-blooded. Their body must generate heat to maintain a normal temperature.

  • Whales are the largest animals on Earth. Whales are mammals that live in the ocean. The Blue Whale can grow to a length of over 100 feet (30 meters).

  • All ocean mammals have hair, including the whales, manatees, dugongs and other mammals that live in the ocean.

  • See more Mammal Facts.

Reptile Facts


  • Although most reptiles live on dry land or spend time in freshwater, there are reptiles that live in the oceans.

  • The most well-known reptiles that live in the ocean are sea turtles. Sea turtles can live for many years and can grow very large. In the ocean, they are able to swim effortlessly and dive very deep to find food or escape danger

  • Sea snakes are another type of reptile that lives in the ocean

  • All reptiles are cold-blooded animals, including the ones that live in the ocean.

  • Reptiles must breathe air. Sea Turtles and other reptiles that spend their time in the ocean must come to the surface for air.

  • All reptiles have dry scaly skin.

  • All ocean reptiles are born from eggs.

  • See more Reptile Facts.

Ocean Amphibian Facts


  • Even though amphibians typically live near water or wet ground, there are no known species of amphibians that live in the open ocean. There are some amphibian species, however, that have been observed to tolerate brackish saltwater on the edge of the sea.

  • See more Amphibian Facts.

types of ocean animals - whales

Whales, which are mammals, are the largest animals on Earth.

ocean animal facts - seahorse

Seahorse are a unique sea animal that spends its life in calm water near mangrove tree roots or near coral reefs.

Sea Animal information - starfish

Starfish are a type of echinoderm, which is an invertebrate.

Ocean animal facts - fish

There are many undiscovered fish in the vast oceans. Scientists discover a new type of fish about every other day.

Ocean Fish Facts


Invertebrate Facts


Invertebrates represent the largest number of animals in the ocean. There are 17 main groups of invertebrate identified by scientists which live in the sea.

More Facts about Ocean Animals

Facts about Whales

- Mammal Facts -

Facts about Whales

Facts about Whales: Learn all about whales including the blue whale, orca whale, humpback whale and more.

Manatee & Dugong Facts

- Mammal Facts -

Facts about Dolphins

- Mammal Facts -

Coral Reef Facts

- Invertebrate Facts -

Facts about Sharks

- Fish Facts -

Facts about Sea Turtles

- Reptile Facts -

Seahorse Facts

- Fish Facts -

Facts about Rays

- Fish Facts -

Facts about Jellyfish

- Invertebrate Facts -

Facts about Starfish

- Invertebrate Facts -

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