A List of the Different Types of Sea Animals

There are many different types of sea animals in existence today. The most common type of sea animals that people recognize are fish. However, sea life is very diverse and includes different groups, such as mammals, reptiles, sharks and cephalopods.

  1. Sea Mammals

    • Sea Mammals include whales, dolphins, manatees, true seals, eared seals, walruses, and even sea otters. Sea mammals have evolved from land mammals over time by adopting new features that help them survive in the water. Marine mammals breathe air instead of extracting oxygen from water. Marine mammals also give birth to offspring and they have a thick layer of blubber. There are around 120 total species of sea mammals known to be in existence as of June 2011.

    Sea Reptiles

    • Sea reptiles include marine iguanas, sea snakes, sea turtles and saltwater crocodiles. Some marine reptiles will spend time on land, and species such as sea turtles and saltwater crocodiles return to land to lay eggs. Many sea reptiles became extinct during the Cretaceous period leaving only the few remaining species today.

    Sharks

    • Sharks are a type of fish that have a cartilaginous skeleton. They have a streamlined body that helps them move fast in the water. Most sharks live in salt water, but there are a few types of sharks that can live in both fresh water and salt water. There are about 440 different species of sharks that are known. The great white shark, tiger shark, hammerhead shark and blue shark are some of the most well-known species.

    Cephalopods

    • Cephalopods are some of the most unique marine animals in the world. Species such as squids, octopuses and cuttlefish are considered cephalopods. They have tentacles and bilateral body symmetry. They also have a very prominent and abnormally large head. Not all of them can squirt ink, but many of the different species can. There are about 800 different cephalopod species in existence today.