* Freshwater animals: Found in lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams. Examples include fish, frogs, turtles, and some insects.
* Saltwater animals: Found in oceans, seas, and salt marshes. Examples include whales, sharks, dolphins, crabs, and jellyfish.
Key characteristics of aquatic animals:
* Adaptations for life in water: They have evolved specialized features like gills for breathing underwater, fins for swimming, and streamlined bodies to reduce resistance.
* Water-dependent: They rely on water for survival, for food, reproduction, and regulating body temperature.
* Wide variety of species: Aquatic animals represent a vast range of diversity, from microscopic plankton to giant whales.
Examples of aquatic animals:
* Fish: Includes a wide variety of species, from tiny minnows to massive sharks.
* Mammals: Some mammals, like whales and dolphins, are fully aquatic, while others, like otters and seals, spend most of their time in water.
* Reptiles: Sea turtles, crocodiles, and some snakes are examples of aquatic reptiles.
* Amphibians: Frogs, toads, and salamanders are amphibians that can live both in water and on land.
* Invertebrates: A huge variety of invertebrates, like jellyfish, crabs, lobsters, and shrimp, are aquatic.
Aquatic animals play crucial roles in marine and freshwater ecosystems, contributing to food chains, maintaining water quality, and supporting biodiversity.