All About Water Animals

The earth’s surface is mostly made up of water, as 70% of it is the ocean. However, humans have only properly explored about 5% of the bodies of water. In doing so we have discovered an estimated 230,000 animal species that live underwater. With so much more to explore, we can expect that there are numerous other species that have yet to be discovered. We have some facts about water animals that will help you get a better understanding of them.

1. What is a water animal?

Water animals are both vertebrates and invertebrates that live in water. They have gills or lungs that allow them to extract oxygen from water. You can find two types of water animals, those that live in freshwater, rivers, and those that live in salt waters, oceans and sea.

2. What do they eat?

With over 230,000 discovered species underwater, you can expect that there is a difference in the diet for them. Some smaller water animals survive on sponges, corals, planktons, and so on. While larger water animals rely on eating fish, shrimps, and so on. Some even feed or carcasses of other animals they find in the water.

Facts about different water animals

  • Dolphins are considered to be one of the most clever water animals. They sleep with one eye open and also half of their brain is active while sleeping, which allows them to escape if they spot a predator coming.
  • The blue whale produces the loudest sound out of all the animals on earth at 188 decibels.
  • An Octopus is the only water animal with 3 hearts.
  • Turtles can be found on every continent except for Antarctica.
  • The shrimp’s heart is situated in its head.
  • Dolphins have 100 teeth in their mouth but don’t chew their food, they swallow it whole.
  • The crab’s teeth are not in their mouth but in their stomach.
  • An average blue whale can fit about one hundred humans in its mouth. However, they only eat small fishes.