What eats dead animals in the ocean?

Many creatures in the ocean play a vital role in cleaning up dead animals, which are called scavengers. Here are some examples:

Fish:

* Sharks: Some shark species, like the sand tiger shark, are known for being opportunistic scavengers.

* Eels: Morays, conger eels, and other types of eels can be voracious scavengers.

* Groupers: Some grouper species are known to scavenge on dead fish and other marine animals.

* Triggerfish: These fish can be quite aggressive scavengers, especially the humphead wrasse, which has a reputation for being a "clean-up crew" on coral reefs.

Invertebrates:

* Crabs: Crabs of all shapes and sizes are common scavengers, especially hermit crabs and spider crabs.

* Lobsters: Lobsters are opportunistic feeders and will readily scavenge on dead animals.

* Shrimp: Some shrimp species, like the cleaner shrimp, are important scavengers on coral reefs.

* Sea stars: Some sea stars are scavengers, feeding on dead fish, invertebrates, and other debris.

Other:

* Seabirds: Many seabirds, like gulls and albatrosses, will scavenge on dead animals, especially on the surface of the ocean.

* Whales: Some whale species, like the humpback whale, are known to scavenge on dead animals.

* Bacteria: Bacteria play a vital role in decomposing dead animals in the ocean. They break down the flesh and bones, releasing nutrients back into the ecosystem.

It's important to remember that this is just a small sample of the many creatures that scavenge in the ocean. There are many other species that play a role in cleaning up the dead.