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Animals

Very few people know what lurks in the deepest parts of the ocean, but one man who does is <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rfedortsov_official_account/">Roman Fedortsov</a>. For the last few years, this fisherman has reeled&nbsp;in various&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/deep-sea-fish/ashley-reign">horrifying deep sea creatures</a>, which he then&nbsp;photographs&nbsp;for the world to gawk at. Depicting everything from&nbsp;strange-looking sharks to nightmarish parasites, Fedorstov's&nbsp;pictures fuel both a fascination and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-diver-stories/rosa-pasquarella">fear of the deep</a>, one of the least explored areas in&nbsp;the world.To be clear, Fedortsov does not&nbsp;kill these creatures&nbsp;as trophies. Through his work on a Russian fishing trawler, he&nbsp;comes across these terrifying deep sea animals&nbsp;in his nets. He then&nbsp;catalogues&nbsp;each&nbsp;one on Twitter and Instagram, sometimes asking for help with&nbsp;identification. His&nbsp;pictures, some of which depict creatures no one has yet identified, have gone insanely viral. But regardless of their scientific classification, these terrifying undersea animals all qualify as nightmare fuel.

Sea Creatures

Do you occasionally enjoy the peace and quiet of a nice day out on the waves? Love the occasional cute sea creature that pops up to say hello when you&rsquo;re chilling at the beach? Well, then you may have come to the wrong place! Here we&rsquo;ve collected a list of some of the most disturbing scary sea creatures that roam beneath the waves. We&rsquo;ve scoured the depths of the deepest waters to find a list of creepy creatures and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scariest-fish-list/ranker-science" target="_blank">scary fish</a> that prove that the deep sea and ocean depths are the most horrifying places on Earth.

You may think twice about taking up Scuba-diving after getting a load of some of these deep sea fish, who range from weird to terrifying. While some of these creatures,&nbsp;such as the Dumbo octopus, could possibly be considered cute in the right light, others such as the goblin shark are just plain terrifying. Among this collection, you&rsquo;ll find both deep sea dwellers that have been known to mankind for quite some time, as well as others that were only discovered as recently as the past decade and remain relatively mysterious.&nbsp;

So if you&rsquo;re ready to get a load of what lurks beneath the surface, take a look at some of the most bizarre deep sea creatures the oceans have to offer. We&rsquo;ve got a wide range of creatures from the harmless to the lethal, all of which sport the wildly bizarre looks that can only be found way beneath the waves. Whether they&rsquo;re bottom-dwellers or deep sea swimmers, many of these freaky fish have looks that only a mother fish could love.

As technology keeps getting better,&nbsp;rare photos&nbsp;of undersea creatures are making their way to the surface.&nbsp;These baffling and sometimes terrifying pictures are exciting the scientific community worldwide.&nbsp;The realm that exists in our&nbsp;dark,&nbsp;deep oceans is a mystery. Ocean animals&nbsp;already mystify us - from mesmerizing&nbsp;physical features&nbsp;to odd mating rituals&nbsp;- and those deep underneath the surface have <a href="/list/scary-sea-monster-legends/edira-putri">captivated the masses for centuries</a>.&nbsp;

Some have estimated scientists have&nbsp;only studied a small percentage&nbsp;of the ocean&nbsp;floor. The little&nbsp;known about what lurks <a href="/list/historical-photos-of-the-ocean/mallory-weiler/" target="_blank">deep in the ocean</a>&nbsp;pales in comparison to what there is to learn, which is why each&nbsp;discovery of aquatic animals that are rarely seen is exciting. Never-before-seen&nbsp;creatures&nbsp;incur even more curiosity about what other mysterious undersea beings may dwell beneath the waves.

Here&rsquo;s a look at some of the first ever photographs of maritime monsters in all their glory.

Upon first seeing these&nbsp;beautiful sea squirts, you might think to yourself: what is a sea squirt? Though&nbsp;it resembles a plant, the sea squirt&nbsp;actually falls under the classification of&nbsp;invertebrate animals.&nbsp;In fact, their notochord and nerve cords both&nbsp;make&nbsp;sea squirts&nbsp;more similar to vertebrates than to coral or sponges. Sea squirts eat by sucking water through their body cavity and capturing&nbsp;food and nutrients as it passes through. &nbsp;Their body is one continuous tissue and sports no skeleton, so pictures of sea squirts reveal a s<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/colorful-animals/ashley-reign" target="_blank">pecies of various colors</a> and sizes.&nbsp;Both sexes release sperm and eggs into the water, where they fertilize and eventually hatch.Since the squirt will latch onto wherever it hatches, pictures of sea squirts show these invertebrates living on all sorts of oceanic surfaces. They are just another example of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/marine-invertebrates-photos/ranker-science" target="_blank">beautiful ocean creatures</a> that brighten up the ocean floor. Some sea squirts fluctuate between dark and bright colors, while others possess no color at all, simply translucent tubes waving in the currents. Overall, sea squirt pictures demonstrate their incredible variation in form as well as their numerous habitats. Few creatures spread themselves that far, and fewer still do it so colorfully.

Science doesn&#39;t have to be serious, and that definitely shows when it comes to tautonymous&nbsp;fish names. When an animal&#39;s genus and species are the same words, it&#39;s a gift of taxinomical magic. Which means this list of funny fish names is educational and hilarious.

Tautonym nomenclature for fish is particularly wonderful, delivering species with names like &quot;Boops boops,&quot; &quot;Anableps anableps,&quot; &quot;Vimba vimba,&quot; and a host of other names that are hilariously scientific. Ichthyologists may have to solemnly discuss the perch-like &quot;Banjos banjos,&quot; but you get to vote up which tautonym is the funniest fish name.

Weird

It is often said about the sea, that we know even less about it than we do about the cosmos. Whenever something grotesque and enigmatic washes ashore from the deepest depths, we get a grisly reminder of that fact.Here's a collection of sea creatures that washed up on beaches and other weird washed-up animals. Some have been relieved of their mystery by modern biology, while some have passed into legend as myths. But as long as they appear, we'll always be fascinated, or grossed out, by these animals that washed up onshore and by all manner of creepy beached sea creatures.

Even sea creatures want to strut their stuff on the runway. It's science. Unfortunately, some things that live in the ocean are flat-out ugly. But not nudibranchs! Nudibranchs are super cool, brightly-colored, and maybe even a little bit flashy. Other fish and marine life will just have to deal with it, though, because many nudibranchs are just too high fashion for their own good.The beautiful nudibranchs on this list are, at their core, high fashion dresses and designs. Just look at them! They are veritable Ferragamos! With their bold colors, haute couture designs, and stylish statements, every single nudibranch in these pictures is runway-ready like you wouldn't believe.So don't wait. Upvote the most stylish and gorgeous nudibranchs who might as well be in an ocean floor fashion show today. Then learn some more about these under the sea creatures by clicking <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/nudibranch-types/ranker-science">right here</a>.

Interesting

Octopuses are incredibly intelligent animals, despite their brains being only about the size of a walnut. Octopuses' innovative survival techniques, their tricks performed in captivity, and numerous remarkable octopus escape stories are all evidence of their high IQs. This list covers the full range of incredible octopus abilities, even the report that they may have psychic powers (!).Octopuses may not have a single bone in their bodies, but they're tough critters, and you certainly don't want to mess with them. These octopus facts are sure to blow your mind.

Albinism&nbsp;reduces the melanin pigmentation of an animal's&nbsp;skin, hair, and&nbsp;eyes&nbsp;or, in the case of albino aquatic animals, their scales, shells, and fins.&nbsp;These rare <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/albino-animal-pictures/ranker-science?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">albino animals</a> are aquatic oddities&nbsp;completely devoid of color. As a result, they appear&nbsp;almost&nbsp;unreal in&nbsp;their porcelain white&nbsp;appearances, sculpted as if out of ivory or marble. While plenty of fish exist in the sea, finding <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/rare-color-animal-pictures/lee-emjay">animals with rare colors</a>&nbsp;proves to be much more difficult, making these pictures of&nbsp;albino animals that live in the water a real treat for any marine life lover.Feast your eyes on an&nbsp;array of water-dwelling, albino life forms, hailing&nbsp;from the depths of the oceans to the cozy aquariums of people's homes! While not as <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/colorful-animals/ashley-reign">colorful as other animals</a>,&nbsp;these albinos demonstrate how a little less luster can actually work in their favor. These beautiful snapshots of&nbsp;uncanny underwater&nbsp;creatures might just swim right into that cute &quot;animals folder&quot; on your workplace desktop.

Sea Urchin

Everyone loves seafood, including people who are allergic to shellfish. But what are the best kinds of seafood? This is a list of all of your favorite crustaceans, cephalopods, and mollusks, ranked by how often you would like to eat them. Each sea creature is listed here for you to vote up if you think it is delicious. Some great things about seafood include that they are mostly protein and that they are mostly water, which means virtually no calories. You can eat 14 lbs. of shrimp and not gain a single human pound. Also, many / most types of sea animals can be eaten grilled, boiled, or even raw, so it comes right to your plate looking like it just accidentally took a detour out of the sea and not disguised like something else. Eat it how it is, or just add a little lemon juice or butter if you want. Just don't forget to remove the head LOL!What is your favorite type of seafood? What kind of platter do you want at Joe's Crab Shack or Red Lobster or wherever you are taking your crush tonight? Maybe you can order a lobster tail like an aristocrat, or shrimp prepared six different ways like the local comptroller. Does your menu offer a dozen or even a bucket of clams? If so, you might have to decide between those and the mussels with the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-french-fries?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">French fries</a>, just like Napoleon Bonaparte once did. If your favorite seafood is crab, crawfish, or sea urchin, it is your lucky day, because those items are on this list for you to vote up up up as you please.For the sake of brevity, this list doesn't include actual fish that are just regular fish. You know what that means. It is great if you are like, &quot;My favorite seafood is fish,&quot; but this list is only about non-fish. Great; please vote up the animals that you think are the best kinds of seafoods to eat. If you are like &quot;Yuck, I hate all seafood and/or am allergic to it,&quot;&nbsp;no need to do anything at all!&nbsp;

Cephalopods are a group of invertebrates that includes squids, octopuses, and cuttlefish. Scientists are constantly learning new things about the intelligence of these animals. This list includes the most interesting things we know about cephalopod intelligence.So how smart are cephalopods? Their intelligence is actually pretty difficult to assess&nbsp;since cephalopods display intelligence in ways that are very different from humans. But we'll give you the facts about the smartest cephalopods and let you decide how mind-blowing they are. Vote up the fact that you think is the coolest.

There&rsquo;s still so much mystery regarding the ocean. All of its vast, murky depths have yet to be explored, but we do at least know there are some terrifyingly gigantic creatures lurking about down there.

Some of the largest ocean animals are among the biggest creatures anywhere on Earth, reaching massive sizes you won&rsquo;t believe. Check out the list below to learn about the biggest things in the ocean (that we know of).

We all wonder what alien life might look like, but there are some strange creatures swimming in our oceans that are more bizarre than anything Hollywood has imagined. About 71 percent of the surface of the Earth is covered in water and we are still only beginning to discover the incredible biodiversity and unusual denizens of the oceans. Ocean life and sea animals are full of surprises, and there are all kinds of cool fish (and a few <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scariest-fish-list/ranker-science" target="_blank">scary ones</a>) living in the ocean.What fascinating fish facts should you know about the many creatures of the ocean depths? Did you know that until 2013, no one had ever recorded a video of a giant squid alive? The coelacanth was thought to be extinct for millions of years until one was caught alive in 1938. There are also an array of alien-like jellyfish and terrifying deep-sea monsters that look like something out of a horror movie.So what is the weirdest, wildest ocean creature alive? Believe it or not, all the ocean animals and fish below are 100% real. Vote up the most interesting and maybe slightly scary facts about ocean life below!

The ocean covers 70%&nbsp;of the world&#39;s surface, and it is&nbsp;full of countless mysteries and undiscovered secrets. What scientists know about the ocean is expanding every day, though. Complicated sonar mapping offers further insights, as does the&nbsp;discovery of new, sometimes terrifying&nbsp;species. There is a lot left to learn, but the facts about the ocean we know now are already strange and astounding.

Oceans greatly affect&nbsp;life on Earth, so our fascination with these large bodies of water makes sense. Despite their sometimes&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-places-in-the-oceans/edira-putri" target="_blank">terrifying natures</a>, oceans and the creepy <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/scary-fish-facts/ranker-science" target="_blank">creatures</a> that live in them&nbsp;are worthy research topics.

If you're the kind of person who loves to travel, or just enjoys stalking travel bloggers to explore the world from your desk, you know mother nature is freaking fantastic. From the magnificence of the mountains, lush forests, to the exquisiteness of exotic beaches and underwater wonders. Pretty awesome, right? Most people would agree, without even taking into account this less-famous but still gorgeous formation: beautiful sea caves.Sea caves are products of erosion caused by wave action of the sea. They’re also products of natural beauty achieved by the unique combination of the sea’s charm and earthly minerals, sometimes added with the grandeur of a castle or some sea creature inhabitants. The world is home to countless cool sea caves that will leave you in awe just by looking at their pictures.What are the most beautiful sea caves from across the globe? Add these places to your travel bucket list right away, because you won't be able to resist the beauty of these sea cave pictures.

An estimated 71% of planet Earth is ocean, home to more than 230,000 species of fauna and flora. This photo gallery includes impressive pics of over 75 marine invertebrates, including cephalopods, crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, and more cool animals. Octopuses, crabs, jellyfish, and starfish may be the main attractions at public aquariums, but there is much, much more to the deep blue sea. For example, there are more than 3,000 unique species of nudibranch (NOO-dee-brank) sea slugs, many in impossibly bright colors that warn predators that they are poisonous. On the other end of the spectrum, the predatory flamboyant cuttlefish and peacock mantis shrimp boast bold colors to distract prey while they use unique tactics to stun and kill them. It's all very ghastly. Enjoy these fascinating photos of sea creatures you never knew existed, and never forget that the ocean is a dangerous place!

Jellyfish are incredibly weird animals. They are about 98 percent <a href="http://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/jellyfish.htm" target="_blank">water</a>, they don't have a heart or a brain, and a lot of them can't even propel themselves. They survive by catching prey with their tentacles and bringing it into their stomach, where they digest it, and distribute nutrients to the rest of their bodies. But what you'll learn from this list is not every jellyfish uses the same survival strategy. Different kinds of jellyfish thrive in different ways.This list is full of cool jellyfish that have amazing abilities, or might just be captivating to look at. Vote up the most amazing jelly creatures below and think about what their life must be like!

If you're allergic to color, please put on your sunglasses. The world's colorful coral reefs are undersea mansions that are home to more species of marine life than any other habitat. Coral reefs are beautiful rocky mounds built by living animals - not plants! - through the accumulation and deposition of lime deposits. If you've never seen pictures of coral reefs, then you are in for a real treat.Coral reefs are found all around the world in tropical and subtropical oceans. They usually thrive in shallow areas at a depth of less than 150 feet, which is good news for&nbsp;snorkelers, but some&nbsp;can be found as deep as 450 feet.&nbsp;Coral only covers one percent of the ocean floor - a total area about the size of France - but it has a huge effect on the overall health of the planet's oceans.&nbsp;According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), &quot;Coral reef plants and animals are important sources of new medicines being developed to treat cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, viruses and other diseases.&quot; Clearly, there's more to the coral reef images here than just beauty! &nbsp; The denizens of coral reefs tend to be as garishly colored as the coral itself ,in order to blend in with the surroundings and not stand out to predators. This creates some striking scenery, as you can see below. Which picture makes you want to buy some snorkel gear and book a trip to the Bahamas right now? Vote up the photos below that make you crazy for coral.

Life is strange in the deep ocean, and the animals that dwell in its&nbsp;pitch blackness are&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/deep-sea-fish/ashley-reign " target="_blank">like nothing else on Earth</a>. The only light that illuminates the abyss is the bioluminescence of the organisms that live there. That&#39;s a good thing,&nbsp;too, because many of them are absolutely terrifying to behold.&nbsp;

Some of these monstrosities are gargantuan in size, as life in the deep sea tends to make animals&nbsp;larger. Meters-long tentacles, enormous teeth, and prodigious jaws are all common near the ocean floor. These are the creepiest sea creatures in the deep ocean, and once you realize they&#39;re down there, it may be difficult to step into the water again.

Seafood

Blue Crab

Do you like crab? Do you like eating crabmeat? This is a list of the best kinds of crabs to eat. Go on and vote for your favorites! Crab meat is among the very <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-seafood/carly-kiel">best seafoods</a>, and it is fun to eat crab claws, legs, and bodies. Some crabs have long, creepy,&nbsp;spidery legs and pincers, and other ones have little stubby legs that are not threatening at all. What is your favorite kind of crab to order at a crab restaurant? While many folks opt for the king crab legs, others are into Dungeness crabs. Blue crabs are a treat because you get their entire bodies and then snap them right in half and peel apart their insides. Talk about a food adventure! Takes a little work, but <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/foods-that-are-difficult-to-eat/jacob-shelton">totally worth it</a>. Do you like to eat soft-shell crab? It's really not a type of crab so much as a crab that has only recently molted so its skin is soft and you can eat it - but don't worry, it is still on this list.&nbsp;What can you do with crab meat other than eat it straight from the carcass? Well, you can make crab cake, Crab Louie, crab cocktail probably, or maybe you can pay like $16 extra to have lump crabmeat added to your salad. The possibilities are endless! Crab legs are nice steamed or prepared other ways, like being grilled, baked, or fried. If you play your cards right, your crab dish might come with a little chunk of corn on the cob, a few new potatoes, and maybe even a sprig of parsley! Then you can pull out the crab's meat and eat it. What if the restaurant has given you a thing that looks like a nutcracker? That is so you can break the crab shell! Or sometimes, you might even get a mallet. Just be careful not to get carried away as you dissect your crab, or you might end up with pieces of shell in your mouth or skin. Oh boy. Vote up your faves. Also, be sure to visit this other list to vote for your <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-seafood/carly-kiel">favorite seafoods</a>.

Under the Sea

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Sometimes being a human is just the worst. Wouldn't life be way more fun if you were a freewheeling, carefree, floating, swimming, sea creature? When life gets to be too much, just imagine yourself in the fins of a dolphin or zipping around like a jellyfish. As the most famous movie crab once said, &quot;Life under the sea is better than anything we've got up [here].&quot;What makes life as <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/strange-sea-creatures-camoflauge/cynthia-griffith?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">a sea creature</a> so much fun? Well for one, it's nice and quiet. No cars honking at all! At most you might accidentally pick up on another dolphin's echolocation, which isn't really that bad in the grand scheme of things. Sure, a shark could eat you (unless you ARE the shark!!!!) or you could run into the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, but you don't have to file taxes or worry about your bank account for even one moment.So, which cool sea creature do you want to be? Which ocean dweller represents your true self? Vote up the sea creatures you'd most want to live as and add any other cool sea life that isn't already listed!

What Sea Creature Do You Want to Be?

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Orca

The killer whale or orca (Orcinus orca) is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member. Killer whales have a diverse diet, although individual populations often specialize in particular types of prey. Some feed exclusively on fish, while others hunt marine mammals such as seals and other species of dolphin. They have been known to attack baleen whale calves, and even adult whales. Killer whales are apex predators, as no animal preys on them.  A cosmopolitan species, they can be found in each of the world's oceans in a variety of marine environments, from Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas, absent only from the Baltic and Black seas, and some areas of the Arctic Ocean.
Killer whales are highly social; some populations are composed of matrilineal family groups (pods) which are the most stable of any animal species. Their sophisticated hunting techniques and vocal behaviours, which are often specific to a particular group and passed across generations, have been described as manifestations of animal culture.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature assesses the orca's conservation status as data deficient because of the likelihood that two or more killer whale types are separate species. Some local populations are considered threatened or endangered due to prey depletion, habitat loss, pollution (by PCBs), capture for marine mammal parks, and conflicts with human fisheries. In late 2005, the southern resident killer whales, which swim in British Columbia and Washington state waters, were placed on the U.S. Endangered Species list.
Wild killer whales are not considered a threat to humans, but there have been cases of captive orcas killing or injuring their handlers at marine theme parks. Killer whales feature strongly in the mythologies of indigenous cultures, with their reputation ranging from being the souls of humans to merciless killers.

Dolphin

Dolphin is a common name of aquatic mammals within the infraorder Cetacea. The term dolphin usually refers to the extant families Delphinidae (the oceanic dolphins), Platanistidae (the Indian river dolphins), Iniidae (the new world river dolphins), and Pontoporiidae (the brackish dolphins), and the extinct Lipotidae (baiji or Chinese river dolphin). There are 40 extant species named as dolphins. 
Dolphins range in size from the 1.7 m (5.6 ft) long and 50 kg (110 lb) Maui's dolphin to the 9.5 m (31 ft) and 10 t (11 short tons) killer whale. Several species exhibit sexual dimorphism, in that the males are larger than females. They have streamlined bodies and two limbs that are modified into flippers. Though not quite as flexible as seals, some dolphins can travel at 55.5 km/h (34.5 mph). Dolphins use their conical shaped teeth to capture fast moving prey. They have well-developed hearing which is adapted for both air and water and is so well developed that some can survive even if they are blind. Some species are well adapted for diving to great depths. They have a layer of fat, or blubber, under the skin to keep warm in the cold water.
Although dolphins are widespread, most species prefer the warmer waters of the tropic zones, but some, like the right whale dolphin, prefer colder climates. Dolphins feed largely on fish and squid, but a few, like the killer whale, feed on large mammals, like seals. Male dolphins typically mate with multiple females every year, but females only mate every two to three years. Calves are typically born in the spring and summer months and females bear all the responsibility for raising them. Mothers of some species fast and nurse their young for a relatively long period of time. Dolphins produce a variety of vocalizations, usually in the form of clicks and whistles.
Dolphins are sometimes hunted in places such as Japan, in an activity known as dolphin drive hunting. Besides drive hunting, they also face threats from bycatch, habitat loss, and marine pollution. Dolphins have been depicted in various cultures worldwide. Dolphins occasionally feature in literature and film, as in the film series Free Willy. Dolphins are sometimes kept in captivity and trained to perform tricks. The most common dolphin species in captivity is the bottlenose dolphin, while there are around 60 captive killer whales.

Shark

Sharks are a group of elasmobranch fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven gill slits on the sides of the head, and pectoral fins that are not fused to the head. Modern sharks are classified within the clade Selachimorpha (or Selachii) and are the sister group to the rays. However, the term "shark" has also been used for extinct members of the subclass Elasmobranchii outside the Selachimorpha, such as Cladoselache and Xenacanthus, as well as other Chondrichthyes such as the holocephalid eugenedontidans.
Under this broader definition, the earliest known sharks date back to more than 420 million years ago. Acanthodians are often referred to as "spiny sharks"; though they are not part of Chondrichthyes proper, they are a paraphyletic assemblage leading to cartilaginous fish as a whole.  Since then, sharks have diversified into over 500 species. They range in size from the small dwarf lanternshark (Etmopterus perryi), a deep sea species of only 17 centimetres (6.7 in) in length, to the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), the largest fish in the world, which reaches approximately 12 metres (40 ft) in length. Sharks are found in all seas and are common to depths of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). They generally do not live in freshwater although there are a few known exceptions, such as the bull shark and the river shark, which can be found in both seawater and freshwater. Sharks have a covering of dermal denticles that protects their skin from damage and parasites in addition to improving their fluid dynamics. They have numerous sets of replaceable teeth.Well-known species such as the great white shark, tiger shark, blue shark, mako shark, thresher shark, and hammerhead shark are apex predators—organisms at the top of their underwater food chain. Many shark populations are threatened by human activities.

Sea turtle

Sea turtles (superfamily Chelonioidea), sometimes called marine turtles, are reptiles of the order Testudines and of the suborder Cryptodira. The seven existing species of sea turtles are the green sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, Kemp's ridley sea turtle, olive ridley sea turtle, hawksbill sea turtle, flatback sea turtle, and leatherback sea turtle.

Manta ray

Manta rays are large rays belonging to the genus Manta. The larger species, M. birostris, reaches 7 m (23 ft) in width, while the smaller, M. alfredi, reaches 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in). Both have triangular pectoral fins, horn-shaped cephalic fins and large, forward-facing mouths. They are classified among the Myliobatiformes (stingrays and relatives) and are placed in the family Myliobatidae (eagle rays).
Mantas are found in warm temperate, subtropical and tropical waters. Both species are pelagic; M. birostris migrates across open oceans, singly or in groups, while M. alfredi tends to be resident and coastal. They are filter feeders and eat large quantities of zooplankton, which they gather with their open mouths as they swim. However, research suggests that the majority of their diet (73%) actually comes from mesopelagic sources; that is, they are actually deep sea predators, feeding on fish and other organisms that inhabit areas of the sea between 200–1,000 metres (650–3,330 ft) below the surface.Gestation lasts over a year and mantas give birth to live pups. Mantas may visit cleaning stations for the removal of parasites. Like whales, they breach for unknown reasons.
Both species are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Anthropogenic threats include pollution, entanglement in fishing nets, and direct harvesting for their gill rakers for use in Chinese medicine. Their slow reproductive rate exacerbates these threats. They are protected in international waters by the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals, but are more vulnerable closer to shore. Areas where mantas congregate are popular with tourists. Only a few public aquariums are large enough to house them.



Octopus

An octopus is a cephalopod mollusc of the order Octopoda. It has two eyes and four pairs of arms and, like other cephalopods, it is bilaterally symmetric. An octopus has a hard beak, with its mouth at the center point of the arms. An octopus has no internal or external skeleton, allowing it to squeeze through tight places. Octopuses are among the most intelligent and behaviorally flexible of all invertebrates.
Octopuses inhabit many diverse regions of the ocean, including coral reefs, pelagic waters, and the ocean floor. They have numerous strategies for defending themselves against predators, including the expulsion of ink, the use of camouflage and deimatic displays, their ability to jet quickly through the water, and their ability to hide. An octopus trails its eight arms behind it as it swims. All octopuses are venomous, but only one group, the blue-ringed octopus, is known to be deadly to humans.
Around 300 species are recognized, which is over one-third of the total number of known cephalopod species. The term 'octopus' may also be used to refer specifically to the genus Octopus.

Whale

Whales are a widely distributed and diverse group of fully aquatic placental marine mammals. They are an informal grouping within the infraorder Cetacea, usually excluding dolphins and porpoises. Whales, dolphins and porpoises belong to the order Cetartiodactyla, which consists of even-toed ungulates. Their closest living relatives are the hippopotamuses, having diverged about 40 million years ago. The two parvorders of whales, baleen whales (Mysticeti) and toothed whales (Odontoceti), are thought to have split apart around 34 million years ago.  Whales consist of eight extant families: Balaenopteridae (the rorquals), Balaenidae (right whales), Cetotheriidae (the pygmy right whale), Eschrichtiidae (the grey whale), Monodontidae (belugas and narwhals), Physeteridae (the sperm whale), Kogiidae (the dwarf and pygmy sperm whale), and Ziphiidae (the beaked whales).
Whales are creatures of the open ocean; they feed, mate, give birth, suckle and raise their young at sea. So extreme is their adaptation to life underwater that they are unable to survive on land. Whales range in size from the 2.6 metres (8.5 ft) and 135 kilograms (298 lb) dwarf sperm whale to the 29.9 metres (98 ft) and 190 metric tons (210 short tons) blue whale, which is the largest creature that has ever lived. The sperm whale is the largest toothed predator on earth. Several species exhibit sexual dimorphism, in that the females are larger than males. Baleen whales have no teeth; instead they have plates of baleen, a fringe-like structure used to expel water while retaining the krill and plankton which they feed on. They use their throat pleats to expand the mouth to take in huge gulps of water. Balaenids have heads that can make up 40% of their body mass to take in water. Toothed whales, on the other hand, have conical teeth adapted to catching fish or squid. Baleen whales have a well developed sense of "smell", whereas toothed whales have well-developed hearing − their hearing, that is adapted for both air and water, is so well developed that some can survive even if they are blind. Some species, such as sperm whales, are well adapted for diving to great depths to catch squid and other favoured prey.
Whales have evolved from land-living mammals. As such, whales must breathe air regularly, although they can remain submerged under water for long periods of time. Some species such as the sperm whale are able to stay submerged for as much as 90 minutes. They have blowholes (modified nostrils) located on top of their heads, through which air is taken in and expelled. They are warm-blooded, and have a layer of fat, or blubber, under the skin. With streamlined fusiform bodies and two limbs that are modified into flippers, whales can travel at up to 20 knots, though they are not as flexible or agile as seals. Whales produce a great variety of vocalizations, notably the extended songs of the humpback whale. Although whales are widespread, most species prefer the colder waters of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and migrate to the equator to give birth. Species such as humpbacks and blue whales are capable of travelling thousands of miles without feeding. Males typically mate with multiple females every year, but females only mate every two to three years. Calves are typically born in the spring and summer months and females bear all the responsibility for raising them. Mothers of some species fast and nurse their young for one to two years.
Once relentlessly hunted for their products, whales are now protected by international law. The North Atlantic right whales nearly became extinct in the twentieth century, with a population low of 450, and the North Pacific grey whale population is ranked Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Besides whaling, they also face threats from bycatch and marine pollution. The meat, blubber and baleen of whales have traditionally been used by indigenous peoples of the Arctic. Whales have been depicted in various cultures worldwide, notably by the Inuit and the coastal peoples of Vietnam and Ghana, who sometimes hold whale funerals. Whales occasionally feature in literature and film, as in the great white whale of Herman Melville's Moby Dick. Small whales, such as belugas, are sometimes kept in captivity and trained to perform tricks, but breeding success has been poor and the animals often die within a few months of capture. Whale watching has become a form of tourism around the world.

Sea Otter

The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg (31 and 99 lb), making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals. Unlike most marine mammals, the sea otter's primary form of insulation is an exceptionally thick coat of fur, the densest in the animal kingdom. Although it can walk on land, the sea otter is capable of living exclusively in the ocean.
The sea otter inhabits nearshore environments, where it dives to the sea floor to forage. It preys mostly on marine invertebrates such as sea urchins, various molluscs and crustaceans, and some species of fish. Its foraging and eating habits are noteworthy in several respects. First, its use of rocks to dislodge prey and to open shells makes it one of the few mammal species to use tools. In most of its range, it is a keystone species, controlling sea urchin populations which would otherwise inflict extensive damage to kelp forest ecosystems. Its diet includes prey species that are also valued by humans as food, leading to conflicts between sea otters and fisheries.
Sea otters, whose numbers were once estimated at 150,000–300,000, were hunted extensively for their fur between 1741 and 1911, and the world population fell to 1,000–2,000 individuals living in a fraction of their historic range. A subsequent international ban on hunting, conservation efforts, and reintroduction programs into previously populated areas have contributed to numbers rebounding, and the species occupies about two-thirds of its former range. The recovery of the sea otter is considered an important success in marine conservation, although populations in the Aleutian Islands and California have recently declined or have plateaued at depressed levels. For these reasons, the sea otter remains classified as an endangered species.

Narwhal

The narwhal (Monodon monoceros), or narwhale, is a medium-sized toothed whale that possesses a large "tusk" from a protruding canine tooth. It lives year-round in the Arctic waters around Greenland, Canada, and Russia. It is one of two living species of whale in the family Monodontidae, along with the beluga whale. The narwhal males are distinguished by a long, straight, helical tusk, which is an elongated upper left canine. The narwhal was one of many species described by Carl Linnaeus in his publication Systema Naturae in 1758.
Like the beluga, narwhals are medium-sized whales. For both sexes, excluding the male's tusk, the total body size can range from 3.95 to 5.5 m (13 to 18 ft); the males are slightly larger than the females. The average weight of an adult narwhal is 800 to 1,600 kg (1,760 to 3,530 lb). At around 11 to 13 years old, the males become sexually mature; females become sexually mature at about 5 to 8 years old. Narwhals do not have a dorsal fin, and their neck vertebrae are jointed like those of most other mammals, not fused as in dolphins and most whales.
Found primarily in Canadian Arctic and Greenlandic and Russian waters, the narwhal is a uniquely specialized Arctic predator. In winter, it feeds on benthic prey, mostly flatfish, under dense pack ice. During the summer, narwhals eat mostly Arctic cod and Greenland halibut, with other fish such as polar cod making up the remainder of their diet. Each year, they migrate from bays into the ocean as summer comes. In the winter, the male narwhals occasionally dive up to 1,500 m (4,920 ft) in depth, with dives lasting up to 25 minutes. Narwhals, like most toothed whales, communicate with "clicks", "whistles", and "knocks".
Narwhals can live up to 50 years. They are often killed by suffocation after being trapped due to the formation of sea ice. Other causes of death, specifically among young whales, are starvation and predation by orcas. As previous estimates of the world narwhal population were below 50,000, narwhals are categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Nearly Threatened. More recent estimates list higher populations (upwards of 170,000), thus lowering the status to Least Concern. Narwhals have been harvested for hundreds of years by Inuit people in northern Canada and Greenland for meat and ivory, and a regulated subsistence hunt continues.

Grey Seal

The grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a large seal of the family Phocidae which are commonly referred to as "true seals" or "earless seals". It is the only species classified in the genus Halichoerus. Its name is spelled gray seal in the US; it is also known as Atlantic seal and the horsehead seal.

Hammerhead shark

The hammerhead sharks are a group of sharks in the family Sphyrnidae, so named for the unusual and distinctive structure of their heads, which are flattened and laterally extended into a "hammer" shape called a cephalofoil. Most hammerhead species are placed in the genus Sphyrna, while the winghead shark is placed in its own genus, Eusphyra. Many, but not necessarily mutually exclusive, functions have been postulated for the cephalofoil, including sensory reception, manoeuvering, and prey manipulation. Hammerheads are found worldwide in warmer waters along coastlines and continental shelves. Unlike most sharks, some hammerhead species usually swim in schools during the day, becoming solitary hunters at night. Some of these schools can be found near Malpelo Island in Colombia, the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, Cocos Island off Costa Rica, near Molokai in Hawaii, and off southern and eastern Africa.

Beluga

The beluga whale () (Delphinapterus leucas) is an Arctic and sub-Arctic cetacean. It is one of two members of the family Monodontidae, along with the narwhal, and the only member of the genus Delphinapterus. It is also known as the white whale, as it is the only marine mammal of this colour; the sea canary, due to its high-pitched calls; and the melonhead, though that more commonly refers to the melon-headed whale, which is an oceanic dolphin.
The beluga is adapted to life in the Arctic, so has anatomical and physiological characteristics that differentiate it from other cetaceans. Amongst these are its all-white colour and the absence of a dorsal fin, which allows them to swim under ice with ease. It possesses a distinctive protuberance at the front of its head which houses an echolocation organ called the melon, which in this species is large and deformable. The beluga's body size is between that of a dolphin's and a true whale's, with males growing up to 5.5 m (18 ft) long and weighing up to 1,600 kg (3,530 lb). This whale has a stocky body. A large percentage of its weight is blubber (subcutaneous fat), as is true of many cetaceans. Its sense of hearing is highly developed and its echolocation allows it to move about and find breathing holes under sheet ice.
Belugas are gregarious and form groups of up to 10 animals on average, although during the summer, they can gather in the hundreds or even thousands in estuaries and shallow coastal areas. They are slow swimmers, but can dive to 700 m (2,300 ft) below the surface. They are opportunistic feeders and their diets vary according to their locations and the season. The majority of belugas live in the Arctic Ocean and the seas and coasts around North America, Russia and Greenland; their worldwide population is thought to number around 150,000. They are migratory and the majority of groups spend the winter around the Arctic ice cap; when the sea ice melts in summer, they move to warmer river estuaries and coastal areas. Some populations are sedentary and do not migrate over great distances during the year.
The native peoples of North America and Russia have hunted belugas for many centuries. They were also hunted by non-natives during the 19th century and part of the 20th century. Hunting of belugas is not controlled by the International Whaling Commission, and each country has developed its own regulations in different years. Currently some Inuit in Canada and Greenland, Alaska Native groups and Russians are allowed to hunt belugas to consume and sell; aboriginal whaling is excluded from the International Whaling Commission 1986 moratorium on hunting. The numbers have dropped substantially in Russia and Greenland, but not in Alaska and Canada. Other threats include natural predators (polar bears and killer whales), contamination of rivers (as with Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) which bioaccumulate up the food chain) and infectious diseases. The beluga was placed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List in 2008 as being "near threatened"; the subpopulation from the Cook Inlet in Alaska, however, is considered critically endangered and is under the protection of the United States' Endangered Species Act. Of seven Canadian beluga populations, those inhabiting eastern Hudson Bay, Ungava Bay and the St. Lawrence River are listed as endangered.
Belugas are one of the most commonly kept cetaceans in captivity and are housed in aquariums, dolphinariums and wildlife parks in North America, Europe and Asia. They are popular with the public due to their colour and expression.

Sperm Whale

The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) or cachalot  is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. It is the only living member of the genus Physeter and one of three extant species in the sperm whale family, along with the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale of the genus Kogia.
The sperm whale is a pelagic mammal with a worldwide range, and will migrate seasonally for feeding and breeding.  Females and young males live together in groups, while mature males (bulls) live solitary lives outside of the mating season. The females cooperate to protect and nurse their young. Females give birth every four to 20 years, and care for the calves for more than a decade. A mature sperm whale has few natural predators, although calves and weakened adults are sometimes killed by pods of killer whales (orcas).
Mature males average 16 metres (52 ft) in length but some may reach 20.5 metres (67 ft), with the head representing up to one-third of the animal's length. Plunging to 2,250 metres (7,382 ft), it is the second deepest diving mammal, followed only by Cuvier's beaked whale.The sperm whale uses echolocation and vocalization as loud as 230 decibels (re 1 µPa m) underwater. It has the largest brain on Earth, more than five times heavier than a human's. Sperm whales can live for more than 60 years.Spermaceti (sperm oil), from which the whale derives its name, was a prime target of the whaling industry, and was sought after for use in oil lamps, lubricants, and candles. Ambergris, a solid waxy waste product sometimes present in its digestive system, is still highly valued as a fixative in perfumes, among other uses. Beachcombers look out for ambergris as flotsam. Sperm whaling was a major industry in the 19th century, immortalised in the novel Moby-Dick. The species is protected by the International Whaling Commission moratorium, and is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Captain_Newt

Leafy sea dragon

The leafy seadragon or Glauert's seadragon, Phycodurus eques, is a marine fish in the family Syngnathidae, which includes  seadragons, pipefish, and seahorses. It is the only member of the genus Phycodurus.
It is found along the southern and western coasts of Australia. The name is derived from the appearance, with long leaf-like protrusions coming from all over the body. These protrusions are not used for propulsion; they serve only as camouflage. The leafy seadragon propels itself by means of a pectoral fin on the ridge of its neck and a dorsal fin on its back closer to the tail end. These small fins are almost completely transparent and difficult to see as they undulate minutely to move the creature sedately through the water, completing the illusion of floating seaweed.
Popularly known as "leafies", it is the marine emblem of the state of South Australia and a focus for local marine conservation.



BenNicholson

Swordfish

Swordfish (Xiphias gladius), also known as broadbills in some countries (and Hibaru in Maldivian language), are large, highly migratory, predatory fish characterized by a long, flat, pointed bill. They are a popular sport fish of the billfish category, though elusive. Swordfish are elongated, round-bodied, and lose all teeth and scales by adulthood. These fish are found widely in tropical and temperate parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and can typically be found from near the surface to a depth of 550 m (1,800 ft). They commonly reach 3 m (9.8 ft) in length, and the maximum reported is 4.55 m (14.9 ft) in length and 650 kg (1,430 lb) in weight.They are the sole member of their family, Xiphiidae.

Giant squid

The giant squid (genus Architeuthis) is a deep-ocean dwelling squid in the family Architeuthidae. Giant squid can grow to a tremendous size due to deep-sea gigantism: recent estimates put the maximum size at 13 m (43 ft) for females and 10 m (33 ft) for males from the posterior fins to the tip of the two long tentacles (second only to the colossal squid at an estimated 14 m (46 ft), one of the largest living organisms). The mantle is about 2 m (6 ft 7 in) long (more for females, less for males), and the length of the squid excluding its tentacles (but including head and arms) rarely exceeds 5 m (16 ft). Claims of specimens measuring 20 m (66 ft) or more have not been scientifically documented.
The number of different giant squid species has been debated, but recent genetic research suggests that only one species exists.In 2004, Japanese researchers took the first images of a live giant squid in its natural habitat, and in July 2012, a live adult was first filmed in its natural habitat off Chichijima. In 2015, another video sighting was released. In June 2019, scientists reported the video appearance, for the second time, and for the first time in waters of the United States, of a giant squid in its deepwater habitat.

Common seahorse

Hippocampus kuda, also known as the common seahorse, estuary seahorse, yellow seahorse or spotted seahorse is a seahorse of the family Syngnathidae native to the Indo-Pacific. The common name sea pony has been used for this species under its synonym Hippocampus fuscus.

Seferin

Walrus

The walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) is a large flippered marine mammal with a discontinuous distribution about the North Pole in the Arctic Ocean and subarctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. The walrus is the only living species in the family Odobenidae and genus Odobenus. This species is subdivided into two subspecies: the Atlantic walrus (O. r. rosmarus) which lives in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific walrus (O. r. divergens) which lives in the Pacific Ocean.
Adult walrus are easily recognized by their prominent tusks, whiskers,  and bulk. Adult males in the Pacific can weigh more than 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) and, among pinnipeds, are exceeded in size only by the two species of elephant seals. Walruses live mostly in shallow waters above the continental shelves, spending significant amounts of their lives on the sea ice looking for benthic bivalve mollusks to eat. Walruses are relatively long-lived, social animals, and they are considered to be a "keystone species" in the Arctic marine regions.
The walrus has played a prominent role in the cultures of many indigenous Arctic peoples, who have hunted the walrus for its meat, fat, skin, tusks, and bone. During the 19th century and the early 20th century, walruses were widely hunted and killed for their blubber, walrus ivory, and meat. The population of walruses dropped rapidly all around the Arctic region. Their population has rebounded somewhat since then, though the populations of Atlantic and Laptev walruses remain fragmented and at low levels compared with the time before human interference.

Jellyfish

Jellyfish and sea jellies are the informal common names given to the medusa-phase of certain gelatinous members of the subphylum Medusozoa, a major part of the phylum Cnidaria. Jellyfish are mainly free-swimming marine animals with umbrella-shaped bells and trailing tentacles, although a few are not mobile, being anchored to the seabed by stalks.  The bell can pulsate to provide propulsion and highly efficient locomotion. The tentacles are armed with stinging cells and may be used to capture prey and defend against predators. Jellyfish have a complex life cycle; the medusa is normally the sexual phase, the planula larva can disperse widely and is followed by a sedentary polyp phase.
Jellyfish are found all over the world, from surface waters to the deep sea. Scyphozoans (the "true jellyfish") are exclusively marine, but some hydrozoans with a similar appearance live in freshwater. Large, often colorful, jellyfish are common in coastal zones worldwide. The medusae of most species are fast growing, mature within a few months and die soon after breeding, but the polyp stage, attached to the seabed, may be much more long-lived. Jellyfish have been in existence for at least 500 million years, and possibly 700 million years or more, making them the oldest multi-organ animal group.Jellyfish are eaten by humans in certain cultures, being considered a delicacy in some Asian countries, where species in the Rhizostomae order are pressed and salted to remove excess water. They are also used in research, where the green fluorescent protein, used by some species to cause bioluminescence, has been adapted as a fluorescent marker for genes inserted into other cells or organisms. The stinging cells used by jellyfish to subdue their prey can also injure humans. Many thousands of swimmers are stung every year, with effects ranging from mild discomfort to serious injury or even death; small box jellyfish are responsible for many of these deaths. When conditions are favourable, jellyfish can form vast swarms. These can be responsible for damage to fishing gear by filling fishing nets, and sometimes clog the cooling systems of power and desalination plants which draw their water from the sea.

Anglerfish

Anglerfishes are fish that are members of the teleost order Lophiiformes. They are bony fish named for their characteristic mode of predation, in which a fleshy growth from the fish's head acts as a lure.
Anglerfish are also notable for extreme sexual dimorphism seen in the suborder Ceratioidei, and sexual parasitism of male anglerfish. In these species, males may be several orders of magnitude smaller than females.
Anglerfish occur worldwide. Some are pelagic, while others are benthic; some live in the deep sea while others on the continental shelf. Pelagic forms are most laterally compressed, whereas the benthic forms are often extremely dorsoventrally compressed, often with large upward-pointing mouths.

Weedy sea dragon

Phyllopteryx is a genus of small fishes, commonly called seadragons, in the family Syngnathidae that are found along the western and southern coasts of Australia. Since the 19th century, the weedy or common seadragon was the only known species, until the description of the ruby seadragon in 2015. They are closely related to other members of the Syngnathidae such as the leafy seadragon, pipefish and seahorses, which all exhibit male pregnancy.

Lionfish

Red Lionfish

The red lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a venomous coral reef fish in the family Scorpaenidae, order Scorpaeniformes. P. volitans is natively found in the Indo-Pacific region, but has become an invasive problem in the Caribbean Sea, as well as along the East Coast of the United States and East Mediterranean. This and a similar species, Pterois miles, have both been deemed invasive species. Red lionfish are clad in white stripes alternated with red/maroon/brown stripes. Adults in this species can grow as large as  47 cm (18.5 in) in length, making it one of the largest species of lionfish in the  ocean, while juveniles are typically shorter than 1 inch (2.5 cm). The average red lionfish lives around 10 years. As with many species within the family Scopaenidae, it has large, venomous spines that protrude from the body, similar to a mane, giving it the common name  lionfish. The venomous spines make the fish inedible or deter most potential predators. Lionfish reproduce monthly and are able to quickly disperse during their larval stage for expansion of their invasive region. No definitive predators of the lionfish are known, and many organizations are promoting the harvest and consumption of lionfish in efforts to prevent further increases in the already high population densities.



Pufferfish

Tetraodontidae is a family of primarily marine and estuarine fish of the order Tetraodontiformes. The family includes many familiar species, which are variously called pufferfish, puffers, balloonfish, blowfish, bubblefish, globefish, swellfish, toadfish, toadies, honey toads, sugar toads, and sea squab. They are morphologically similar to the closely related porcupinefish, which have large external spines. The scientific name refers to the four large teeth, fused into an upper and lower plate, which are used for crushing the shells of crustaceans and mollusks, their natural prey.
Pufferfish are generally believed to be the second-most poisonous vertebrates in the world, after the golden poison frog. Certain internal organs, such as liver, and sometimes the skin, contain tetrodotoxin and are highly toxic to most animals when eaten; nevertheless, the meat of some species is considered a delicacy in Japan, Korea, and China when prepared by specially trained chefs who know which part is safe to eat and in what quantity.

New Zealand Sea Lion

The New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri), also known as Hooker's sea lion, and whakahao in Māori, is a species of sea lion that primarily breeds on New Zealand's subantarctic Auckland and Campbell islands and to some extent around the coast of New Zealand's South and Stewart islands. The New Zealand sea lion numbers around 10,000 and is perhaps the world's rarest sea lion species. They are the only species of the genus Phocarctos.

uzforte

An eel is any fish belonging to the order Anguilliformes, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and about 800 species. Most eels are predators. The term "eel" is also used for some other similarly shaped fish, such as electric eels and spiny eels, but these are not members of the Anguilliformes order.

Sometimes being a human is just the worst. Wouldn't life be way more fun if you were a freewheeling, carefree, floating, swimming, sea creature? When life ...