Fish
Basking shark
Cetorhinus maximus
The basking shark is the second-largest fish, usually 7–8.5 m (23–28 ft) long. Facts on its plankton diet, migrations, summer sightings and Endangered status.
Region · 21 species
Animals found worldwide
Animals found across the world's oceans, from blue whales, orcas and great white sharks to sea turtles, swordfish and the Portuguese man o' war.
Species profiles
Mammals
Blue whale
Balaenoptera musculus
The blue whale is the largest animal known to have lived, up to about 30 m long. Facts on its size, krill diet, deep calls, calves, range and slow recovery.
Mammals
Common bottlenose dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
The common bottlenose dolphin is a large, social toothed whale of warm and temperate seas. Facts on its size, whistles, hunting, lifespan, range and threats.
Fish
Giant oceanic manta ray
Mobula birostris
The giant oceanic manta ray is the world's largest ray, up to about 7 m (23 ft) across. Its size, plankton diet, big brain, slow breeding and Endangered status.
Mollusks
Giant squid
Architeuthis dux
The giant squid is a deep-sea squid up to 12–13 m long with tentacles and eyes as big as dinner plates. Its real size, diet, sperm whale foes and first films.
Fish
Great white shark
Carcharodon carcharias
The great white shark is the largest predatory fish, reaching about 6 m (20 ft). Its size, warm body, seal hunting, range, long life and Vulnerable status.
Reptiles
Green sea turtle
Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle is a large, plant-eating sea turtle of warm seas, named for its green body fat. Its size, seagrass diet, migrations, nesting and status.
Reptiles
Hawksbill sea turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
The hawksbill is a Critically Endangered reef turtle with a hawk-like beak and a richly patterned shell. Its size, sponge diet, nesting, range and main threats.
Fish
Humpback anglerfish
Melanocetus johnsonii
The humpback anglerfish is a small deep-sea fish with a glowing lure, a huge toothy mouth and tiny males. Its size, depth, diet, mating and first live filming.
Mammals
Humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
The humpback whale is a 14–17 m baleen whale famous for its long flippers, breaching, bubble nets and male song. Facts on size, diet, migration and recovery.
Reptiles
Leatherback sea turtle
Dermochelys coriacea
The leatherback is the largest living turtle, with a leathery shell, a jellyfish diet and dives past 1,000 m. Facts on size, migrations, nesting and threats.
Reptiles
Loggerhead sea turtle
Caretta caretta
The loggerhead is a big-headed, Vulnerable sea turtle that crushes crabs and whelks with huge jaws. Its size, diet, ocean migrations, nesting and threats.
Fish
Ocean sunfish
Mola mola
The ocean sunfish is a giant, disc-shaped bony fish with no true tail. Its size, deep dives for jellyfish and other prey, record egg count, range and threats.
Other Invertebrates
Portuguese man o' war
Physalia physalis
The Portuguese man o' war is a floating colony, not a jellyfish, with a gas-filled sail and stinging tentacles up to 30 m long. Size, diet, range and sting.
Fish
Shortfin mako
Isurus oxyrinchus
The shortfin mako is a fast, warm-bodied ocean shark found worldwide, usually 2–3.2 m long. Its speed, leaps, diet, slow breeding and Endangered status.
Mammals
Sperm whale
Physeter macrocephalus
The sperm whale is the largest toothed whale, with males about 16 m (52 ft) long. Its huge head, record brain, deep squid dives, clicks and Vulnerable status.
Fish
Tiger shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
The tiger shark is a large striped shark of warm seas, usually 3.3–4.7 m long. Its turtle-cutting teeth, huge diet, long migrations, big litters and real risk.
Fish
Whale shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish, recorded at about 18.8 m (62 ft). Facts on its spots, plankton diet, warm-sea range, gatherings and Endangered status.
