by Mimja Tue Jun 16, 2009 5:34 am
The oceans teem with both animal and plant life, some very familiar, some strange.
Cetaceans (whales and dolphins) along with Pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) represent two orders of ocean animals often seen close to shore and familiar to almost everyone.
The intertidal zone, another phrase that means close to shore, refers to the area between the ocean and the land that regularly reveals itself as the twice daily tide moves to and from the shoreline. It also provides a home to many interesting ocean animals.
The types of intertidal animals present in any give place, often depends on the type of intertidal zone in question, rocky or sandy. Sand dollars, for example, are found along sandy beaches at low tide, while chiton are typically found on rocky beaches along the rocky intertidal zone.
An ocean (from Greek O?ea???, Okeanos (Oceanus)) is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere.
Most of the ocean animals listed here are found close to shore and in the intertidal zone, as well as throughout the oceans.
Using the more scientific term of phylum (large groups of animals organized by physical similarities), the animals here represent six of the most common ocean animal phyla:
* Phylum: Mollusca - Mollusks (Chiton, Limpet, Sea Hare)
* Phylum Echinodermata - Echinoderms (Sea Cucumber, Sea Star, Sand Dollar)
* Phylum Arthropoda - Anthroods (Striped Shore Crab, Spiny Lobster, Hermit Crab)
* Phylum Chordata - Chordates (Seahorse and the Marine Mammals)
* Phylum Cnidaria - Cnidarians (Jellyfish and Sea Anemone)
* Phylum Annelida - Annelids (Sea Worm)
Sea Life
Ichthyology: The science and study of Fish.
Fish Species Lists
Crustaceans: Shrimps, Lobsters, Crabs, Barnacles
Cnidaria: Jelly Fish, Corals, Sea Anemones
Mollusks: Cephalopods (Octopi, Squids, Cuttle Fish, Nautilus)
Bivalves (Clams, Oysters, Scallops, Mussels)
Gastropods (Snails and Slugs)
Polyplacophora (Chitons)
Porifera: Sponges
Echinoderms: Star Fish, Sea Urchins, Sea Cucumbers
Anguilliformes: Eels
Tetraodontidae: Puffers, Blowfish, Porcupine Fish
Syngnathidae: Seahorse, Pipefish, Seadragons
Sea Turtles Sea Turtle Information for Florida and around the world
Sharks & Rays
Marine Mammals: Dolphins & Whales (Cetaceans)
Manatee/Dugongs (Sirenids)
Walrus, Seals, Sea Lions (Pinnipeds)
Sea Otter
Sea Birds Penguins, Puffins
Sea Life Protection Adopt a Sea Critter and Conservation Information
Biological
Oceanography
Aquariums Aquariums and Fish Cams
Cryptozoology Legendary Sea Creatures (Sea Serpents, Sea Monsters, etc.)
Oceans cover almost 3/4 of the Earth's surface and contain roughly 97% of the Earth's water supply. Life on Earth originated in the salty seas, and contines to be home to an incredibly diverse web of life.
The Earth's oceans are all connected to one another. There are five oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern. There are also many seas (smaller branches of an ocean); seas are partly enclosed by land. The largest seas are the South China Sea, the Caribbean Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea.
To find out why the oceans are salty and what causes waves and tides, click here.