OT Staff
The whale shark, the largest fish in the sea, can grow over 40 feet long. These gentle giants are found in tropical waters feeding on plankton and small fish, often spotted off the coasts of Mexico, the Philippines, and Australia, particularly around Ningaloo Reef.
Manta rays, with wingspans exceeding 23 feet, are graceful filter feeders consuming plankton and small fish. Known for their intelligence and social behaviours, they inhabit tropical and subtropical waters, with popular viewing spots in the Maldives, Hawaii, and the Great Barrier Reef.
Great white sharks, reaching up to 20 feet long and weighing over 2,000 pounds, are apex predators feeding on seals, fish, and other sharks. They are found in coastal waters worldwide, notably off South Africa, Australia, and California.
Blue whales, the largest animals ever known, can reach up to 100 feet and weigh around 200 tons. They feed on krill, consuming up to 4 tons daily. Blue whales inhabit all the world’s oceans, with significant populations in the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Southern Ocean.
Dugongs, large marine mammals related to manatees, grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over 1,000 pounds. These herbivores feed primarily on seagrass and are found in warm coastal waters from East Africa to Australia, including the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean.
Leafy sea dragons, related to seahorses, are known for their leaf-like appendages that provide excellent camouflage among seaweed and kelp. They can grow up to 14 inches long and are endemic to the waters of southern and western Australia.
The giant Pacific octopus, the largest octopus species, has arm spans up to 20 feet and can weigh over 150 pounds. Known for their intelligence and problem-solving abilities, they inhabit the coastal North Pacific, from California to Alaska, and across to Japan.
Humpback whales, famous for majestic breaches and intricate songs, can reach 60 feet in length and weigh 40 tons. These whales migrate vast distances between feeding and breeding grounds and are found in oceans worldwide, particularly in the North Atlantic and Pacific.
The Portuguese man o’ war, a siphonophore, is a colonial organism with venomous tentacles that can deliver painful stings. They float on the surface of warm waters in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
Emperor penguins, the largest penguin species, stand up to 48 inches tall and weigh around 88 pounds. Known for their unique breeding, males incubate eggs during Antarctica's harsh winter. These penguins are found exclusively in Antarctica near the Ross and Weddell Seas.