Ocean Life

There are all kinds of animals that we call sea life. Crabs , worms, eels and sharks are all sea life. These animals live in water their entire life. Crabs, worms and many others are called invertebrates because they don't have a backbone.

Whales, dolphins and otters are called mammals. Eels, sharks and rays are all fish. These animals survive in the salty water we call ocean. Scientists say life began in the oceans. So without them, we may not exist today!

Use the table below to learn more about ocean life.

One way to explore ocean life is by scuba diving. Another way is to use a submarine like the Alvin.

Last modified June 1, 2010 by Lisa Gardiner.

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Crabs

Crabs are very neat animals! They have a hard shell that protects their soft bodies. They also have claws for grabbing food. There are many kinds of crabs. Some are a foot long, and others are very small....more

Worms

There are two types of worms. Flatworms are thin organisms that look like pretty pancakes! They are very colorful but hard to see because they hide during the day. Segmented worms are round. They look...more

Whales

Whales are the biggest animals known. The blue whale can reach 80 feet long! Even though they are huge, whales are usually friendly. It is people who are a threat to whales. Whales strain plankton from...more

Dolphins

Dolphins are the most playful animals in the sea! They are often seen jumping high in the air and then diving deeply into the water. Dolphins don't have very good eyesight, so they use echos to see. Echos...more

Otters

Have you ever seen an otter? They look like big rodents swimming in the water! Otters are very good swimmers, so they spend most their lives in the water. Otters eat fish, crabs, clams, sea urchins and...more

Eels

Eels are long, thin animals that look like snakes in the ocean! Eels are colorful but they still look scary. Sometimes they only look scary in case of danger, but they're really harmless. There are eels...more

Sharks

Look out! It's a shark! Don't worry! Sharks aren't as mean as they look. Sharks are more scared of you than you are of them. Most sharks eat fish or crustaceans. Humans aren't on their menu! The great...more

Rays

Rays are really neat animals. They flow through the water like silk. Rays have soft, wide bodies. Some of them are dangerous, so you shouldn't try to touch them! The manta ray is the biggest ray of all....more

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