A sea animal is an animal that lives in salt water, such as the sea or the ocean. Sea animals include fish, marine mammals, crustaceans, and many other creatures that survive in ocean habitats.
Names of Sea Animals
Sea animals can be categorized by where they live in the ocean—floating with the currents, swimming in the water column, or living on the bottom. To make this list clearer, the sea animals below are grouped into simple categories.
Fish and Similar Sea Creatures
- Angelfish
- Clownfish
- Eel
- Seahorse
- Shark
- Stingray
- Swordfish
- Fish
Shellfish and Sea Invertebrates
- Clam
- Crab
- Cuttlefish
- Hermit Crab
- Jellyfish
- Lobster
- Mussel
- Octopus
- Oyster
- Scallop
- Sea Anemone
- Sea Urchin
- Shrimp
- Squid
- Starfish
Marine Mammals and Reptiles
- Sea Lion
- Seal
- Walrus
- Whale
- Turtle
- Otter
Seabirds
- Cormorant
- Pelican
- Penguin
- Seagull
Ocean Animals with Facts and Pictures
Clam
- Clams have two shells joined by a hinge.
- They filter water to feed, helping keep the ocean cleaner.
- Some clams can live over 100 years.
Clam
/klæm/
- We found a clam buried in the sand near the shore.
Crab
- Crabs have 10 legs, including their claws.
- They often walk sideways.
- Some crabs bury themselves in sand to hide from predators.
Crab
/kræb/
- We saw a crab moving quickly across the rocks.
Dolphin
- Dolphins are highly intelligent and can recognize themselves in mirrors.
- They use echolocation to find food and navigate.
- Dolphins live in social groups called pods.
Dolphin
/ˈdɑlfən/
- We watched a dolphin jump out of the water near the boat.
Mussel
- Mussels attach to rocks with strong threads.
- They filter water and help keep it clean.
- Some mussels can live in freshwater and saltwater.
Mussel
/ˈmʌsəl/
- We noticed a cluster of mussels stuck tightly to the rocks.
Octopus
- Octopuses have three hearts and blue blood.
- They can change color and texture to camouflage.
- Octopuses are very intelligent problem-solvers.
Octopus
/ˈɑktəˌpʊs/
- An octopus hid between the rocks and changed color to blend in.
Sea Urchin
- Sea urchins have spiny shells for protection.
- They eat algae and help keep coral reefs healthy.
- Some sea urchins can live over 30 years.
Sea Urchin
/si ˈɝːtʃɪn/
- Be careful—stepping on a sea urchin can be painful.
Fish
- Fish breathe through gills that extract oxygen from water.
- There are over 30,000 species of fish.
- Some fish, like clownfish, can change gender.
Fish
/fɪʃ/
- We could see fish swimming just below the surface.
Shrimp
- Shrimp have transparent bodies when young.
- They can swim backward quickly by flicking their tails.
- Shrimp are important cleaners of the ocean floor.
Shrimp
/ʃrɪmp/
- A small shrimp hid under the coral to stay safe.
Oyster
- Some oysters can produce pearls.
- They can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day.
- Oysters often form groups called reefs.
Oyster
/ˈɔɪstɚ/
- The oyster stayed attached to the rock and filtered seawater for food.
Otter
- Otters use tools, like rocks, to crack open shells.
- Sea otters hold hands while sleeping so they don’t drift apart.
- They have thick fur, the densest in the animal kingdom.
Otter
/ˈɑtɚ/
- The otter floated on its back while eating a clam.
Pelican
- Pelicans have a large throat pouch to catch fish.
- They can hold up to 3 gallons (11 liters) in their pouch.
- Pelicans often fish together in groups.
Pelican
/ˈpɛlɪkən/
- A pelican scooped fish from the water with its pouch.
Lobster
- Lobsters can regrow lost claws and legs.
- They have blue blood because their blood contains copper.
- Some lobsters can live over 50 years in the wild.
Lobster
/ˈlɑbstɚ/
- We saw a lobster hiding between rocks on the ocean floor.
Squid
- Squid have eight arms and two longer tentacles.
- They can squirt ink to escape predators.
- The giant squid can grow over 40 feet long.
Squid
/skwɪd/
- A squid released ink and disappeared into the dark water.
Jellyfish
- Jellyfish have no brain, heart, or bones.
- Some jellyfish glow in the dark (bioluminescence).
- The lion’s mane jellyfish can have tentacles over 100 feet long.
Jellyfish
/ˈdʒɛliˌfɪʃ/
- A jellyfish drifted near the surface with long, trailing tentacles.
Shark
- Sharks have skeletons made of cartilage, not bone.
- They can detect tiny electrical signals from prey.
- Some sharks must keep swimming to breathe.
Shark
/ʃɑrk/
- A shark can smell blood from far away.
Sea Lion
- Sea lions can walk on land using their flippers.
- They are very social and gather in large colonies.
- Sea lions can dive over 600 feet while hunting.
Sea Lion
/si ˈlaɪən/
- A sea lion rested on the rocks after swimming.
Starfish
- Starfish can regrow lost arms.
- They have no brain or blood and use seawater to move nutrients.
- Most starfish have five arms, but some have more.
Starfish
/ˈstɑrˌfɪʃ/
- A starfish slowly moved across the sea rocks.
Turtle
- Turtles have hard shells that are part of their skeleton.
- Sea turtles can hold their breath for hours.
- Some turtles migrate thousands of miles.
Turtle
/ˈtɝːtəl/
- A turtle surfaced for air and then swam back down.
Hermit Crab
- Hermit crabs use empty shells for protection.
- They change shells as they grow bigger.
- Hermit crabs are social and often live in groups.
Hermit Crab
/ˈhɝmɪt kræb/
- A hermit crab carried its shell as it crawled along the sand.
Seahorse
- Male seahorses carry the babies in a pouch.
- Seahorses swim upright, unlike most fish.
- They use their tails to hold onto sea plants.
Seahorse
/ˈsiˌhɔrs/
- The seahorse held onto seaweed with its curled tail.
Clownfish
- Clownfish live in anemones, which protect them with stinging tentacles.
- They are immune to the stings of their host anemone.
- All clownfish are born male, and some can become female.
Clownfish
/ˈklaʊnˌfɪʃ/
- A clownfish quickly swam back into its anemone for safety.
Whale
- Whales are mammals, not fish.
- The blue whale is the largest animal ever, reaching over 100 feet long.
- Whales sing complex songs to communicate.
Whale
/weɪl/
- The whale rose to the surface and sprayed water from its blowhole.
Penguin
- Penguins are flightless birds but excellent swimmers.
- Emperor penguins are the largest penguin species.
- Penguins take turns keeping eggs warm.
Penguin
/ˈpɛŋɡwɪn/
- A penguin dived into the water to catch fish.
Last Updated on February 3, 2026
