On this page you’ll discover all our Ocean Animals, but first…
Interesting Facts about Ocean Animals
There’s nothing as daring and adventurous as the ocean. Before you set sail, here is a sea of facts and ideas for your journey!
- Water covers more than two-thirds of the earth’s surface. But! More than 95% of that remains unexplored. In your next drawing add in some of the things that you think we have yet to discover! Who knows what we will find? Kids might be surprised just from talking to mom and dad or even their teen siblings about how much knowledge can change in just a few years.
- The largest known creature in the ocean is the blue whale weighing in at 150 tons and measuring up to 75 feet. On the other of the spectrum are tiny zooplanktons, which come in a variety of species that can be similar to shrimp or worms. Scientists are still discovering what role these little organisms play in ocean life.
- To find out what this looks like, research whales and zooplankton a little bit more and then do your best to find comparisons in your life. You might need a big tape measure AND a microscope for this one.
- Even though it’s all water, the ocean actually is made up of many varied and unique marine ecosystems. For example, brightly colored tropical fish, sponges, jellyfish, and more tend to live together near the warm environment of coral reefs. This environment is very different from organisms like the fangtooth fish or giant tubeworms that adapt to the dark, cold, and otherwise harsh conditions of the deep sea.
- Make your own ecosystem to see how a contained environment takes shape!
- Or alternatively, you can explore what this looks like in a real space. Designate parts of a house or room as different ecosystems and decorate them accordingly. A forest of kelp (streamer) in one corner and (glow-in-the-dark) painted anglerfish in another!
- Legends of sea creatures like the Leviathan or the Loch Ness monster go far back in history when they were sometimes featured on maps. That’s right, maps don’t just have to be a plain collection of facts and figures. You can even make your own medieval map. Use apps or programs like Google Earth to learn about a new region and map out a section-but it won’t be complete until it features your own sea monster and scary tale!
- Rainy day? Draw and daydream and put on a movie to make sure you don’t run dry. Finding Nemo, Shark Tale, The Little Mermaid, Ponyo, and more all feature beautifully rendered sea life. How many kinds can you name? You can even make your own bingo cards to check off while you watch.
